Ok. I finally managed to get this stupid thing to work. For context, I’m attempting to use the internet on a very old video game console so you could imagine how awful the connection is.
Anyway. It’s me, October. Fortunately they didn’t kill me so that’s good... But, I’m trapped in this weird… city. Nothing… is happening. Why are they teaching me to grow vegetables? Who are these people? What is this place?
I’ve been here in this.. motel for a few hours now. My phone can’t connect to the internet and so far, the only way I can communicate outside of here is through this “Wii” console (what an odd name..). I’ve been also avoiding the residents here whenever possible. At least there’s some familiar faces with Sterling and Mr. Parker…
I .. don’t think I’m in any immediate danger at the moment but.. I don’t feel safe. I feel like I should leave but I don’t know how. It.. reminds me of when I was trapped in Baltimore again. No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get past city limits. I can’t leave. I can’t leave. I can’t leave—
Motherfucker it would've been so easy just to give us nomal laptops-
Anyway hi! I'm okay! The only way I can contact the outside world is through a Wii! I'm so fucking exausted! I'm trapped in... River City, a.. I assume that it was based off of some sort of video game? A farming one, we're supposed to be growing vegetables and shit. I... haven't been doing so well with that, born and raised in the city and all. It's okay, though I can't fucking sleep for more than two hours at a time.
MJ I love you so much and I miss you, and Cecil I hope you aren't freaking out too much about the double patrols. I can't do much right now- physical intervention against a reality bender is.. inadvisable and I can't talk to Warp- but this place is already destabilizing a little bit so I should be home in a few days. I just gotta be patient.
After about three days of being pissy and just overall miserable, Sterling finally had a bit of an epiphany while he was pacing like a cornered animal. Em was clearly a little bit out of the loop on how people generally reacted to something like this, and how things affect others, kinda like Ez forgetting that appearing from a mirror would scare Bryce. Not malicious, just a bit impulsive and not situationally mindful.
Speaking of, that was another thing Em clearly didn't think too much about, ma's guests had dependents. October and himself being the most at the forefront of Sterling's mind, but he wasn't so sure on Mr.Parker, as he hadn't interacted with the other much. He did however know October had Pax and Miles he needed to keep an eye on to insure that the NH virus didn't resurge, and the two didn't relapse, while Sterling had two very traumatized young boys at home.
This made things complicated.
Em may run him the wrong way, but he could see them trying to be well meaning, and he had a hunch he could reason with them. At least, he hoped he could. Em seemed to have a bit of a soft spot for kids, so perhaps he could use that as a way to convince Ma to at least let him leave. The others he couldn't speak on, but if his sense of smell was to be trusted, they were both under extreme amounts of stress. October was extremely worrying, as Sterling had a hunch the other wasn't eating or drinking.
Pausing his pacing, Sterling moved to sit on the bed and consider his next move. The only option he could see was to talk to Em, which required leaving the room. Or maybe…
"Em? Can I speak with you please?"
If this worked, Sterling was going to have to choose his words carefully.
"Yes!" Em replied from behind him, perhaps too eager.
As Sterling turned, he could see them step out of empty space. They had a small handful of flowers tightly enclosed in their fist.
"Alright, I'm actually kinda glad that worked, I don't actually like trying to find someone in a place I'm not overly familiar with."
Turning so he was cross-legged on the bed, he motioned to the other spider to sit.
"This probably isn't going to be a fun conversation for either of us, but I think it's needed."
Sterling took the tone he used when explaining something to Harry and the kid was having trouble with the empathy aspect of it. Not patronizing, but steady and even.
"If we can get through this, I'll gladly sit and chat with you for a few hours about whatever you want, is that fair to you?"
Their brow furrowed, but they sat down across from him, "You're not having fun, are you? And- and nobody else is- and they're all so mad..."
Em's voice hitched a bit and they went quiet the way Ez did when they couldn't continue without bursting into tears.
"Hey, hey, hey; no need to cry, alright? I just need you to listen to me okay? It will probably help you understand why."
Sterling soothed, reaching out and rubbing ma's shoulder in a comforting gesture, like he would with Ez.
"The long and the short of it is that we have a lot of problems, and things we have to attend to that we need to plan for before going on vacations. For instance, October needs to account for who would monitor Pax incase she experienced complications do to the virus, Mr. Parker has to be mindful of Cecil and what they can handle on their own without putting themselves or others at risk, and I have to be mindful of my kids and make proper arrangements for them. And while warnings are appreciated, these things take more than a day or two to sort out. Had we had the time to make sure things were taken care of, I know I personally would be enjoying this quite a bit."
"I don't... I knew they wouldn't give me a chance unless I made them... But I made it worse, didn't I?" Em whispered, "God, how am I gonna fix this?"
"Apologizing probably help here, but right now, neither are exactly happy to chat with you as they are both very paranoid individuals. I am happy to try for you though. Because that's the other thing Em, the worlds we come from aren't kind, not like how you've made this one perhaps one of the kindest. Our worlds put us in a state of constant hyper vigilance, and that doesn't go away when we are put in calmer environments, it actually makes it worse. I forgot the exact reason behind it, but I know it needs therapy to be fixed properly."
Sterling looked off at the wall for a moment, considering how to phrase things.
"They probably would have accepted, if you had socialized and made friends organically. That takes time and effort, but it would put everyone at ease I think. If you are anything like the Ez we know, it won't be hard to endear yourself to us, but I will restate that it will take time. And the best way to start on that path right now is to apologize and explain why you did this, as that probably will go a long way to helping this."
How an antisocial person like Sterling is was in anyway qualified for this, he didn't know, but he hoped it worked.
"You may also want to reconsider interacting with Mihai. He has been... Very possessive and stalkerish to October if I remember right, and your positive interactions probably have made the poor man fear that Mihai is in on this I'd imagine."
"That sounds hard," Em sighed, wiping their face, "Yeah, I know he's a bit of a creep. I thought... It's stupid, but I thought I might be able to help him."
They gestured vaguely at their surroundings, joking flatly, "All things considered, I might be onto something, right?"
Ma paused again.
"Yeah. I guess I'll... Send you guys home. I mean, Parker really, really sucks at gardening but it did make me feel better that he tried. That's beside the point, though."
"He's a city boy, not that I can talk much, but my youngest has taught me a bit. I'll never match his green thumb however."
Em nodded, smiling slightly. They looked down at the flowers in their hand, then put them down on the bed.
"Yeah... My mom's a gardener. Though I guess you probably know that from Ez."
"I believe so, I'll be honest, we try to not talk much about family that isn't directly in our social circles."
He smiled a bit sheepishly.
"Now, why don't you show me around town? I probably could use the sun."
He stood and offered a hand to them.
"I think I'd rather hear it from you then the kid anyway, we get along like baking soda and vinegar."
Em scoffed and took his hand, "Bad taste. Everyone loves Tony!"
Outside, the clouds cleared away and the sun shone more brilliantly than ever.
[AN UNKNOWN DEVICE IS ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT TO THIS CONSOLE... PLEASE HOLD…]
Finally. I managed to get connected again. I feel.. so exhausted. I can’t sleep.
What if Mihai’s in on this? He could’ve convinced Em to keep me trapped here so he could see me whenever he wants, like a bird trapped in a cage. I’m too scared to let my guard down. Even when I’m here, I feel like he’s still following me. Just out of the corner of my eye.
I haven’t eaten much. Or drank much either. What if it’s poisoned? What if it’s going to do something to me?
So I’ve locked myself in my room. I refuse to leave unless absolutely necessary. They’re going to have to kill me if they want me to participate.
