#queue ⇝ antler queue

[wiskayoks]

“We could talk about laser vision. Wouldn’t that be fun?” he suggested as he absentmindedly tapped a pencil against his desk. Free topic for their group presentation meant they could write about literally anything, as long as it was appropriate for a school setting. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Randy, but I’m pretty sure no one in recorded history has ever had laser vision.” he rolled his eyes at @perfectionreached — what a spoilsport! “Tell that to Superman and all the monsters in Power Rangers. TV can’t be wrong, Taissa.”

[wiskayoks]

“I need you to focus.” he nodded at @wildernesslost’s request as an instinctive response to a command, not because he’s actually processed its meaning yet. Asking Randy to focus was like asking a hummingbird to stop flapping its wings — it was possible, he wouldn’t die, but it didn’t mean the request was actually understood. The same happened every time his mother asked him to help her out around the house: he nodded by instinct, he couldn't exactly refuse her requests, but he had to ask follow-up questions every single time. “Focused. Yes, I’m focused. What exactly do you want me to focus on?”

[wiskayoks]

The interrogation with that FBI agent had left him scared shitless. The guy had actually slapped him, warned him against leaving town, threatened him with a dremel — he didn’t even want to imagine the kind of things someone could do with a tool like that. The agent had only been interested in Natalie and the weird purple people… but, if they kept digging, how much could come out about what he and Jeff had done? He has to be sure, confirm that the feds haven’t been asking other people involved in the whole thing. “This better be important.” He can hear a tone in @ladyintree's voice; one he perceives as annoyance. “I just have a couple o‘ questions, I promise to skedaddle right after. —Has the FBI been in touch with you recently?” 

[wiskayoks]

He has been mesmerized, silently watching as @lingeringscars washes their clothes. It looks simultaneously like the most complicated and most basic task. Back home, he had never given laundry much thought. His mom took care of it for them. Grass stains? Mud? Grease? Gone after she applied whatever magic potion she had for that. They don’t have any of that out here, but the team still manages to do something that makes their clothes look a little better. “Can I help?” he asks Mari, even though he’s unsure he’s able to do what she’s doing at all.

[wiskayoks]

“@darkconsumed,” he whispered to his sleeping brother. “Trav,” he called again, shaking his shoulder slightly. He wasn’t a little boy anymore; he knew the Coco wasn’t real. But that didn’t mean the thought of going outside in the middle of the night by himself didn’t bring back memories of the lullaby their mother used to sing and the images it evoked. Duérmete mi niño, duérmete ya que viene el Coco y te comerá… Sleep my child, sleep or else the Coco will come and eat you. There was no way he’d face the wilderness after dark on his own. Maybe he could just hold it until sunrise.

[wiskayoks]

“Do you have homecoming and prom back in Korea?” Maybe it’s a silly question, but he is genuinely curious. He’s never met anyone like @songb1rd before. Thinking about it… he’s not even sure where Korea is. He’s seen a map, for sure, but World Geography is not a course he’s taken yet — he can barely remember where all 50 states are. How far had she traveled to end up in Wiskayok of all places? “My mom grew up in Mexico. She told me she had a graduation party, not prom.”

[wiskayoks]

He has to be strong. Strong for his mom, for Travis, for his dad — who is slowly becoming food for the trees that will one day grow as tall as Wiskayok’s water tower. He reaches for the ring around his neck, rolling it between his fingers. As long as he has a part of him, it’s almost like he’s still around, just momentarily out of sight. He can fool himself into thinking he’ll soon return and things will be okay again. There is so much to do, so much he can focus on instead, like helping @doomdays pick berries, find the ones that they can eat. “You said to stay away from the ones with the small pointy hairs, right?” he asks Akilah, confirming he’s remembered her guidance correctly.

[wiskayoks]

He had known @shipdecki since the day she was born. He remembered getting the call from Jeff while he was at work: Shauna was in labor and they were on their way to the hospital. He had been able to make it to the hospital just in time to meet the newborn. But, knowing a kid for over 16 years didn't mean he was any good at talking to them. What did kids talk about these days, anyway? Back then, he would have loved to talk about Pearl Jam or Carmen Electra...Ooooh, Carmen, in that red bathing suit that hugged her in all the right places... He doubted Callie had interest in talking about either of those things. “How's school?” he asked her casually. “You, huh, you getting good grades? You sweet on anyone?”