Tenement square. Kampe doing what they do best: lounging sinuously across a bench. The party snake has been going hard on the lotus flower. It's had them seeing double, and gazing, fascinated into the botanical paintings on the walls of Askalaphos' workshop. It's had them staring up into the pretty blue-white lights twinkling above. Sssssparklyyyyy.
But now, the edge of the high is starting to turn, revealing something more troubling.
The radio plays: "Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing..."
Kampe jerks upright, and their focus shifts, to reveal the masked figure in front of them.
Kampe and the masked figure kneel together in front of the radio. Kampe puts a hand to the speakers, as the music continues to play. Feeling for the pulse. Nothing. Their panic increasing, they hammer at the switch: on / off / on / off. No change: the sound continues uninterrupted.
They turn to stare at their companion, eyes widening in horror. It's all fake...
Kampe checks their companion's pulse and takes a relieved breath. There, something living. They hold the masked figure tight. They take their new companion's hand and place it on their own heart. What about me? They spring back in terror. They know too much.
In the city, the terrible secret at the heart of things is just a bad trip away.