Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: There is an even more liminal space within the void within the world that happens when the rebels succeed.
There is an iridescent, almost scaly nature to you, Halcyon, especially as the shard of Chloe's failure manifests into this crystal, this something that melts into you. You don't remember specifically if ever in your life you were an architect or if you designed castles or if you had anything even related to that. But for some reason, in your hands at this moment is some sort of, honestly, like a character design apparatus, a sort of like, tablet of a world created before you, where you get to design what exactly this new hideout looks like.
[00:00:58] Speaker B: So Halcyon, in this kind of threshold space, in this transitionary period, is kind of drawn to this idea of movement, of return.
And naturally being as morbid as they are, the first thing that. That pops into that, or I should say clicks into place in their head, is that this space is this kind of giant, cavernous hearse. So there's this feeling of movement, of moving towards something, of finality, of process, and also maybe this kind of almost energy of grief and acceptance that comes here. But I if a hearse could be a limo as well.
It's kind of this big traveling space is almost what it feels like.
And of course, naturally, there is a coffin in there, occupying this space as they kind of mold it into action.
This motif of scales and iridescence, of almost like a living, breathing kind of the way a snake undulates, starts to fill the space and make it feel this paradoxical manifestation of both living and dead at the same time.
And, you know, it's got the traditional, like, it's a hearse. So I would say it's black, but there's this iridescence over the black that kind of starts to twinkle into place.
[00:02:48] Speaker C: Yeah. So for Chloe, her first assumption is that this is a limo, not a hearse.
And so she's a little disoriented but excited. But is there actually just, like, is there a casket in here, or is it just the sort of shape.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: There is a casket sitting in there. But it might not be the first thing that draws Chloe's eye at least, right?
[00:03:13] Speaker C: Yeah, I think Chloe is the first sense is like, oh, vehicle. A big vehicle, fancy vehicle, limo for us, that makes sense. We deserve it.
And then as the sort of world comes back and she realizes both the sort of otherness of the space and also just, you know, finally clocks the casket, she sort of freezes and sits very still and is not very comfortable with the idea of death and is therefore pretty uncomfortable in this hideout.
[00:03:55] Speaker D: I think for Arjun, he's. Well, at first, at least, he's kind of looking around. He's rather taken in by, honestly, just the aesthetic, because this is hitting that aesthetic tingle in his brain just super hard right now. So he's just looking around. All the colors, iridescence, the scale. Like, if you didn't know him any better, you could tell, like, he was just, like, starstruck. But if you. Those who did know him, he might or may, he may or may not be getting ideas for his play, like, settings and backdrops for this. So this is like, this is getting the right amount of, like, creative juices flowing for him, honestly. Even the casket at some point, like, it. He clocks it like, he eventually does clock it. And.
But it also sort of, as much as it creeps him out a little bit, like, okay, wait, wait. We're in a hearse, but a really nice hearse. But wait, this is.
[00:04:50] Speaker A: Wait.
[00:04:50] Speaker D: The dichotomy of this is fascinating. And then he starts. You could see this brain start turning as he starts slowly analyzing, over analyzing the aesthetic and just the dichotomy of, like, the ideas between death and just having it be so, like, iridescent and otherworldly and almost colorful in a way. So it's like he's. He's going. Just not creeped out. Like, he's very, very excited, essentially, the best way I could say it.
[00:05:16] Speaker A: Yeah. And is anything said to Halcyon as Halcyon is the very clear, like, creator and designer of this space.
[00:05:25] Speaker D: He'll look at how Arjun will basically look at Halcyon and just essentially give her, like, a very nice, like, okay, sound. Like, honestly, very nice aesthetic sense. Like, this is beautiful, Halcyon.
[00:05:39] Speaker B: Well, thank you. I'm glad you like it.
It kind of just came to me, you know, you would know. You're an artist.
[00:05:50] Speaker D: How would you feel about being a set designer for my. For when we started doing the clay at the community center?
[00:05:55] Speaker B: Huh? A set designer.
Never done it before, but who am I to turn down a job offer?
[00:06:04] Speaker D: I mean, clearly you have the talent for it.
[00:06:06] Speaker B: Oh, my God. You're making me blush. Stop.
[00:06:09] Speaker E: No.
[00:06:09] Speaker B: Say something. Give me another compliment. No, I'm kidding. Stop.
And then I think Halcyon's gonna kind of look at everybody in the group and be like, well, is there. Since I'm kind of making this, is there anything that you guys want in here? This is our space, and I know that in my heart. So I think it should be representative of all of us. It's kind of just feeling like me right now.
[00:06:35] Speaker A: So those here, as y'all think about it, what sort of space, metaphorically even provides comfort or exhilaration in whatever sort of design in this subconscious almost?
What sort of space begins to map and carve itself out into this hearse world?
[00:07:02] Speaker B: Well, can I? And you can. This can be a no answer because I don't know if you have an idea for the coffin, but I kind of like the idea of the coffin opening up into this basement area. Yeah, that's up. I'm going down the stairs now and going into a space that could be like Halcyon's own Vi. And I feel like it's almost like this vibey, chilled out kind of like, you know, like, coffee house kind of lounge thing where there's, you know, like, it's kind of what you would expect to see on, like, a college campus or something as a space for people to kind of get together.
Very plush again, still iridescent and undulating and weirdly animalistic in a sense, but a little bit more chilled out and cool.
[00:08:01] Speaker A: So fucking cool. I love it.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: Shucks.
[00:08:05] Speaker D: I'd imagine for Arjun's little space, as it's sort of carved out, you pretty much hit it right on the nose, Joe. You essentially start seeing this auditorium slash theater stage start carving itself out into the world, like, almost like a grand stage.
Few rows of seats in front of it with, like a. Almost like what looks to be like a mezzanine kind of seating also off to the sides of it.
But instead of there being, like, props and sets on stage, you just find a simple. A simple, like, wooden chair. Almost like you. Almost like something you'd find, like, in a. In, like, a green room or, like a. And, like, backstage, kind of like where actors sit to, like, get their makeup done while they look in lines, almost.
That's because if this is, like, a place for us to relax, that's the. That's kind of the way I imagine our journal, like, doing it. He feels most comfortable when he's. Almost.
When he's relaxing, looking at his lines, or even. Hell, even getting his makeup done before his. Before any kind of role or anything. That's the one time he feels like he can truly relax, be it when it's both acting and.
[00:09:09] Speaker B: Mm.
[00:09:09] Speaker D: Yeah. So, still kind of has that kind of. Still kind of grandeur of the stage there, but is also a little bit more intimate just for him kind of vibe. I don't know if that makes sense.
[00:09:21] Speaker A: Yeah, perfect.
[00:09:22] Speaker C: Yeah. And for Chloe, I think that it's not that there is a piece of the space carved out for her particularly. It's just that there's the sense of the bits that are still a hearse and are this, like, undulating snake pattern of iridescence. Like, we can see out into the world through windows, but the world can't see in. And that is what Chloe really needs right now to be feeling safe.
[00:09:59] Speaker E: Okay, so I was thinking, like, kind of playing on all the themes.
I was thinking that wren's room is. You're walking further, and you kind of, like, are going down this very narrow hallway that borders on claustrophobic. And as you're walking through, this darkness engulfs you. You can't see anything. You can't even see your hands or your feet.
You start losing the sense of yourself as you walk through.
And then eventually, the hallway that you can't even see. You just know that you're walking through. The darkness opens up, and you hear the sound of the ocean. And you look up, and you can see countless stars. There is nothing here except for the sound of the ocean and the galaxy twinkling in the sky. Nothing is visible except for the constellations.
And so you can breathe in. You can feel that you are the heart of this vast universe. You are so important, but you're also nothing in the grand scheme of the world.
And I think that's where wren goes to relax. I feel like to.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: Just an easy breezy. Yeah, yeah.
[00:11:18] Speaker E: Like, just like a. This is where I am to chill out. I don't have any pressure. I'm everything and nothing. And that's me.
[00:11:27] Speaker F: Yeah. I think for Varun, there is an immediate tranquility that exists within the space.
And I think that comes in the form of red maple leaves sitting on branches as we continue our journey. And you hear that faint rustling. That's rhythmic, that is consistent, almost like the offbeats of a metronome.
Enough to tether yourself here, but also enough to tether yourself elsewhere.
And all that is left is kind of the peace and tranquility that exists within the space.
I also would like to humbly suggest that maybe there's a cute little fountain that's nearby that also kind of accompanies the branches rustling. There's also the tiny trickling of water droplets as from, like, a three tiered fountain. It is not opulent or grand. It's elegant. And it's probably made out of some very subtle glass sculpture. Very intricate. And instead of cascading out violently, it just gently pours out of the raised walls of each tier and trickles downward. And then the cycle continues. Once again, I like to think that within the glasswork we see bits of snake informed design, whether it is scales or just the movement of the body within the glass itself of moving and undulating as well as the water begins to cascade downwards.
[00:13:25] Speaker A: Speaking of, is this where your void crocodile lives? When I would love for our little crocodile pal to sit here.
[00:13:35] Speaker F: Shall I describe our little crocodile pal?
Yes, I think. Within the waters of the fountain itself, we see amidst the tranquility of the surface of the water. Suddenly, a pair of very cute, round eyes peer up from beneath the water surface and raise their head up towards where Varun is. And we see a very odd little creature. It is some sort of cross between an alligator and a fish and a serpent. It seems like a tiny, like a. A slightly smaller version of a sea monster that's been given sharp scales and tusks in the front of its mouth and these four legs of this long, thick, alligator like tail.
And it is a makara. It is a type of mythical creature that exists within the hindu folklore.
And as it raises up its little eyes at us, it begins to kind of, like, immediately pull itself out of the water and rest its long snout over onto the side of the fountain, looking at not only Varun, but also at everybody who's here.
Almost like a dog expecting for either a treat or a. As it rests its head upon your.
[00:15:12] Speaker A: Lap, as, again, the hideout makes itself clear, makes itself essentially one of the safe room, like one of, like a large, ever expanding safe room within the void. As the world comes back after tense leaving of each other, after tense dinners, and maybe a tense opportunity where halcyon tries to see what some college students are up to. We get into our next day, and I want to ask my rebels that I have with me so far.
Each day, every rebel can perform two everyday actions, or one every day and one rebel action. Let's start with everyday actions. Everyday actions. Is wolf at the door? Check in. Let go. Let your hair down. Read the wind.
[00:16:11] Speaker F: I have an idea for Varun.
It is as healthy a coping mechanism as anything.
[00:16:22] Speaker A: I don't believe you. Okay, let's see.
[00:16:25] Speaker F: I think I would like to read the wind. I think Varun, in the wake of everything that just happened with Mitra, and I don't think he's slept well, there's tension in the house.
He hasn't necessarily shared with the rebels at this stage, how he's feeling.
So instead, he will avoid his problems and go for a nice little jaunt around the city, you know, puts on his most, like, airy little button up and nicely, like, tailored fitted trousers. He wears this, his signature kind of like, autumnal colored bandana around his neck.
Takes a messenger bag and hits the town to window shop. Get a feel for the city. Go and visit all his favorite shops. I'm sure there's, like, a fancy, like, kitchen shop that exists. And he goes and he looks at all the knives, all their fancy aprons that are meant for, like, professional chefs. And he just has a good time and is just taking the time to take in the city.
[00:17:42] Speaker A: So pick a detail for me to introduce into this scene as you play through it, would you like a new way, your targets hurting people?
Just like a horrible crime happening, an unexpected meeting with an NPC or a sense of the overall mood of the city? How kind of willing to interact with Varun is he right now as the provider?
[00:18:08] Speaker F: Let's go. Okay. You get rights. GM a new way. Your target's hurting people. I rolled a die for it.
[00:18:17] Speaker A: Okay. More and more with the sense of understanding the void and the world as like, although two separate entities, two sides of the same coin, as far as universes, as far as worlds goes, material objects. Now, even when Chloe was your first target, things with words on them, things with faces and digitized information going through, there is this slight red feeling of, like, static electricity that just, like, doesn't burn necessarily, doesn't itch, necessarily.
Spidey sense, perhaps you're passing through in this kitchen store. And of course there are magazines on a coffee table or something along those lines or on a taller counter and just brushing against your elbow. There is this, like, visceral, dissociative feeling, this look at the side of your eye that your periphery of just red static. And there is a picture of Natasha Sheridan, the woman that you maybe briefly, really saw yesterday. Didn't really get to, like, fully take her all in, considering the overwhelming sensory overload of a conversation with your brother.
Her face is on what seems to be the front cover of the local Caldera magazine.
You are noticing. You're seeing that. There seems to be a little interview line where she answers some people's questions who are, like, small business owners.
And maybe it's not even outright hurting in a very conventional sense, but I think you're seeing what seems to be a very influential person in the community attempt to influence it in a way that will almost outright burn it out within less than a year.
[00:20:27] Speaker F: Gotcha.
Yeah, I think Varun's essentially kind of like seeing the threads and the pieces kind of slowly sink into place.
And I think when he first sees this magazine, Varun notices it and walks on over, picks it up from the stand, gives it a read over and mutters to himself, she's the journalist that's been bothering Arjun, I think, and then begins to flip through the pages of this magazine.
And his eyes get like wider and wider. His burrows furrow more and more as he just kind of like, mutters again to himself, somehow this is all going to be. And he starts placing all these pieces together of this, especially if folks have, like, called in or submitted questions and the answers are recorded in this magazine.
He, I think what he ends up seeing is like, he notes the names of these places. And what he will do is immediately after this, instead of window shopping even more, he goes to some of these listed places from the magazine and tries to kind of like, observe if there is a strain, if there is even improvement that there experiencing.
Before coming to the conclusion of what you've just described of this seems to be burning out our mom and pop shops more than it is helping them. And we see Varun sat at a bench, kind of observing maybe one of the places of business.
And he sits cross legged and has he. And is hugging his own body as he rests his hand on his chin.
Well, I mean, is she.
I don't know, but maybe, maybe I should tell the others, figure out if this is something we need to act on.
Well, better to help folks out now. And I just play around with the idea then not to make any progress at all then.
And he looks around at, like, all, maybe like an older couple that's milling in front of this business.
What is the end game here? And there's a moment where Chloe's face kind of flashes across Varun's mind's eye. He says, chloe, it's, you know, duty as the alderman and all the politics that goes into it. What's the Tasha scheme? And I will sit there. Varun will sit there pondering, kind of placing his fingers against his stubble, contemplating that.
[00:23:37] Speaker D: I think I can have Arjun go next. He's probably gonna do a wolf at the door.
[00:23:41] Speaker A: Wolf at the door. Okay, so which of those crises would you like to quell or keep the wheels turning for?
[00:23:55] Speaker D: Probably he's gonna be putting in some work.
He needs. He needs some time to get his mind off of what just happened, especially with Natasha, the whole files thing. He needs some time to kind of process that. And I think some time away might at his other job might help him with that.
[00:24:12] Speaker A: Gotcha. So put in the work mark and condition and say what you do and how it wears on you. So we are at the gilded lotus. Yes.
[00:24:20] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:24:21] Speaker A: Do you want to describe a little bit of, like, what does it look like upon first entry?
[00:24:28] Speaker D: So upon first entry, you're honestly true to its namesake. You're trying to almost, the first thing you see, like right before you enter the door, is essentially like this almost archway, I guess like this archway is basically composed of almost like a hedge archway, almost. But it's almost, it's kind of like adorned with like lotus, lotus flowers, basically. Whether that be fake lotus decorations, paper lotuses, or just real lotuses that have been grafted on. It's very lotus heavy, essentially. If you couldn't really tell on the inside, however, it's very, very vibrant.
You can see inspirations come from different parts of asian culture. Whether that be some like a little bit of. A little bit of japanese influence by the bar, some indian influence from the, from the core, the color palette, and even some like thai, philippine influence as well. Coming in from the general lighting.
[00:25:47] Speaker F: And.
[00:25:47] Speaker D: Architecture, almost, it's pretty much like a giant blend of asian culture has been put into the inside of this cocktail lounge. All in all, it's a very sort of chill vibe. It doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of busy people. It's not a whole lot of busyness going, like, at the time. At least when Arjun gets there, he does know that there's gonna be a bit of a rush coming in from, for nighttime hours. So he does wanna get in early while he can.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: Absolutely everything considering this is you, this is Arjun keeping the wheels turning.
Arjun, you not only volunteer, you have this job that requires late hours of you, and you are also putting together the community centers like a play of some sort and a ghost kind of, of your past has very much proved that she is still around. Natasha, what is the condition that you would like to mark for putting in the work?
[00:26:57] Speaker D: I think definitely it's teetering between angry and overwhelmed, for sure.
Because honestly, I'm honestly probably, probably leaning more towards anger because this is the God knows how many, this is God knows how many times Natasha has basically popped up in his life regarding something. And it's always, almost always negatively affected him or his image in some way, shape or form. And she's just like, why are you here? Why, why are you so bothering me right now? Please just leave me alone.
Like, that's essentially what all the thoughts going through his head. Just why? Just why me? Leave me alone. I do not want to have to deal with you.
[00:27:40] Speaker A: I want to ask, how do you.
How are you treating your customers so far with this, like, angry?
I think any normal person with no connection to the void and the world perhaps may be basically, like, about to burn out. But what is still driving you? But how are you still treating people.
[00:28:08] Speaker D: So normally when Arjun's serving customers, you can tell he's not exactly like he normally doesn't say, has a huge smile plaster on his face. He has the customer service smile plaster on his face usually, but it's not like, almost like a genuine excitement, almost. But, like, even today, even if you. If for people who've been here long enough and know him like regulars at the bar, they can tell, like, hey, he's not his usual self. Even. He's being a little more stoic and angry than usual. Like, it's. Even. Even with all his acting chops, it's. It's. His emotions are still kind of showing a little bit through the.
Through his kind of facade that he's trying to put on for working.
[00:28:49] Speaker A: Absolutely.
And I think your presence, as animated as it can be, as influential as it is, like, there's definitely a.
We're just gonna get, like, we're not gonna get anything crazy today cocktail wise.
[00:29:05] Speaker D: No, yeah, definitely not. He's definitely less. Less. A little less flamboyant, I guess you could call it. This is. Yeah, this is definitely would be a time for Arjun to, like, show off in some sort of.
[00:29:16] Speaker A: You're not blending anything today.
[00:29:18] Speaker D: No. Like, he's. He's definitely just sticking to, like, the basic. Of basic cocktails today. Like, if they want it cool, you can have it. No, like artistic flair? No, like flair bartending? No, no, like fancy tricks or anything. Like, it's just simple.
Just. It's usually just simple bartending. Just pour some spirits, pour some ice, shake, woo a couple times, plop it down, and here you go.
[00:29:44] Speaker E: I think Wren is gonna check in with her younger brother and see how that goes.
[00:29:50] Speaker A: Totally. Okay, checking in. When you meet with a minor covenant, the architect will tell you what pressing need of theirs you can meet to win their trust. Okay, so let's see how this goes, because this is with your younger brother. Your younger brother, who is, remind me if I'm wrong, standoffish. And a reminder every day that Varun instead was your younger brother.
[00:30:13] Speaker E: Yes.
Yeah, that's pretty much it. But he attends the university, so.
[00:30:19] Speaker A: Yes, a grind set guy.
Do you have tarot cards around, or would you like me to draw something? Because we can actually randomly generate this.
[00:30:31] Speaker E: Oh, yeah, I'd love it if you could draw.
[00:30:33] Speaker A: Totally.
Okay, so we're. This is the minor Arcana that we are touching on.
Okay. So this is the knight of wands, or in the covenant list, the envoy.
Find them a patron who let them spread their wings.
[00:30:57] Speaker E: Oh, great.
[00:30:58] Speaker A: Interesting. Okay.
[00:31:00] Speaker E: Very interesting.
[00:31:01] Speaker A: Okay.
You're gonna get one of those rare texts, messages from Adam, where he's essentially. The text is like, are you working right now?
Somehow you can hear him be kind of embarrassed and shy through just the no punctuation or capitalization of his text.
[00:31:28] Speaker E: This is perfect. Cause this is exactly how Ren texts. So she's gonna text back. Nope. And, like, probably, like, a heart emoji. What's up?
[00:31:39] Speaker A: Can we go to a cafe?
[00:31:41] Speaker E: Wren will just, like, basically text him, like, send him the Google maps or the maps to the cafe that's on campus and be like, this is easy for you, right?
[00:31:55] Speaker A: Yeah, it is.
[00:31:56] Speaker E: Okay, cool. And she sends the saluting emoji, and then.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh.
[00:32:03] Speaker E: And she'd be like, don't worry. I'll see you there.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: And sure enough.
Cafe near campus. Adam shows up in what seems to be, like, I think maybe.
How did Adam used to dress around you, like, when you live together at home?
[00:32:22] Speaker E: Yeah. Like, button up gray slacks with a belt.
Button up? Like, you know, the belt. Like, the black belt, the gray slacks. Like, just very tiny businessmen. That dresses really well, but also, like, why are you dressing like you're 30 when you're 18?
[00:32:48] Speaker A: Yeah, literally.
I think there's definitely something very. All of the elements are still there, but it's gotten fratty. The collar is a little bit more popped, and the hair is a little bit more spiky in the duckbutt kind of way. There's an expensive watch that I don't think you've seen him have really, before, but the way that he sits down really attempts to evoke 30 when he looks 13.
And again, there is this kind of quality of him feeling embarrassed or kind of vulnerable right now. He just orders an iced Americano.
[00:33:36] Speaker E: Ren's probably gonna order the sugar, like, the most. The drink that has the most sugar. The sugariest drink on the menu. It's pink. It has whipped cream. And then she's also gonna order, like, a little scone for him, because this never happens.
And she's just gonna sit across from him and be like, so, yeah, you look great, my guy.
[00:34:11] Speaker A: And somehow he doesn't even say anything about your drink, which is how awkward he feels. He says, thanks.
My friends are like, you should put a little bit more flair into it so I don't look, like, old or something. Yeah.
[00:34:28] Speaker E: Yeah. Cause you.
You don't. Yeah. You're so young, dude. You don't.
[00:34:37] Speaker A: I don't think. I've never learned how to dress, I think is what I realized, isn't it?
[00:34:43] Speaker E: Cause you just wanted to look like dad. I thought you just.
[00:34:47] Speaker A: He just. Yeah, he was, like, giving me, like, Ralph Lauren and shit. Like, I thought it was cool, but then I like everyone in my field, we're, you know, we're dressing, like, nice and everything, but I'm, like, realizing, like, I didn't know who to ask about this. Okay. Like, I still don't even like. But, like, you. You, like, do you cut hair or something? Do you, like. Do you know anybody that can help me style myself, I guess.
[00:35:21] Speaker E: Oh, that's it? That's. Oh, yeah, obviously. I mean, look at me, right? And.
Obviously.
Oh, but you want me to introduce the two of you? Or do you want to be like a down? Oh, okay.
[00:35:37] Speaker A: Because, like, I don't want what you got going on. Like, it's a little too much for me, I think.
[00:35:42] Speaker E: What does that mean?
[00:35:44] Speaker A: I'm not ready.
[00:35:45] Speaker E: For what?
[00:35:48] Speaker A: Can you have self awareness, please? Like, look what you're wearing and then on me.
[00:35:53] Speaker E: Good. What?
Okay, so you come to me for help and then you insult me.
[00:36:02] Speaker A: I almost called you Chloe. Donna, what is Wren wearing right now?
[00:36:09] Speaker E: Wren is probably wearing a graphic tee that has, like. It's a white graphic tee with, like, a sparkly cat that has word art that says princess. And then her skirt is, like, pink and cuts off, like, kind of fashionably, just right above the knee. And she's wearing knee high white lacy socks and her standard three inch platform shoes.
[00:36:40] Speaker A: So you're saying I should wear that?
[00:36:42] Speaker E: No, but I'm saying that it's not a bad look.
[00:36:48] Speaker A: Can you. Yeah. Do you have any other people? Do you.
Do you have anybody that I could ask that isn't just you? Because it's also. That's awkward.
[00:36:59] Speaker E: Why is it awkward?
I mean. I mean, yeah, I have people, but, like, why is it awkward?
[00:37:06] Speaker A: I mean, I don't know. You moved out, like, a while ago, and it's like, I don't really know what you do anymore.
[00:37:17] Speaker E: Oh, my God. I mean, it's not like you ask, right?
[00:37:22] Speaker A: That's true.
[00:37:24] Speaker E: Yeah.
When do you need me to find these people for? I mean, not find. Contact my friends and get them in touch with you. When do you need that? Bye.
[00:37:40] Speaker A: Um, I mean, I have a presentation that I have to do.
It's like one of those weird, like local conference things or something that's like in two weeks.
[00:37:52] Speaker E: Oh, too easy. Easy.
Wren pulls out her phone and immediately texts Sarjen and is like all caps. Do you know a stylist in the area that would do this pro bono? Like all caps. And she is hitting enter every word. So Archie gets like twelve texts that is just like, do you know question, question mark?
And she puts her phone down and she's like, yeah, don't. Two weeks. Oh, wow. That's so easy. Oh, my God. Easy, Adam. So easy. Wow. My young friend is already on his way.
[00:38:42] Speaker A: Everything you say is just so unconvincing and wild. Okay. Thank you.
[00:38:49] Speaker E: What?
[00:38:49] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:38:50] Speaker E: Yeah. You're welcome.
I mean, listen, just because I left the house doesn't mean that I'm not your older sister.
So you can text me whenever you want.
I mean, you know, not just about fashion or your hair or the way that you looked, but, you know, if you need advice on anything.
I'm pretty good at everything. I guess not. I guess I know I'm really good at everything.
[00:39:27] Speaker A: I'm really good at everything.
That being sort of the last a few minutes of this little, like, surprisingly wholesome get together.
You can mark world here and you can make Adam a major covenant if you would like.
[00:39:45] Speaker E: Let's go. Thanks, Arjun.
[00:39:49] Speaker A: Excellent.
[00:39:51] Speaker B: Okay. Halcyon is gonna let their hair down. So.
Because I'm a wee bit angry still from. From seeing people steal the items of the dead.
So that is a role against lack, I believe.
[00:40:11] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:40:12] Speaker B: Which I got two ticks in that right now.
[00:40:14] Speaker A: So lack is the stress gauge, the precarity of your social situation. The more ticks, the closer you are to homelessness and deprivation.
[00:40:22] Speaker B: Okay, I got a six and a one.
[00:40:27] Speaker A: That is a hit. Not a strong hit, but a hit. You can mark world and heal that condition.
[00:40:34] Speaker B: Let's go.
I'm not angry anymore.
[00:40:37] Speaker A: What do you do just throughout your daily life to wind down?
[00:40:42] Speaker B: So, yeah, I would say this might be Halcyon's day off. Or maybe Halcyon, honestly, for the first time ever, took a day off to kind of process everything that happened and that kind of involves, I think Halcyon's kind of a gym rat and kind of discovered like going to the gym. So I think letting their hair down is going to the gym, having like a really, really good workout, not talking to anybody, just kind of being like one with their physical body and pushing it to the limit a little bit. And then after that, you know, a nice long shower, flopping into bed and just kind of resting and existing until like a really nice nap just kind of happens. The kind that you, like, close your eyes, and then you open and you're rested and you feel awake and alive and at peace. The same kind of way, like when you drink water after you're really, really thirsty or you have like, a good meal when you're really, really hungry, that kind of relief. And in that relief comes, you know, the feeling of being centered and feeling good, feeling a little bit less angry.
[00:42:10] Speaker A: Laying your head down for this napkin. Every now and then you'll experience and remember something called a dream. Halcyon.
[00:42:21] Speaker E: Ooo.
[00:42:23] Speaker A: Okay, there is a vision here. There seems to be glamorous women dressed in what seems to be this, like, like these designer white clothing in a room, like almost a computer lab. And as the quote unquote like camera angle or your perception of this dream, like, begins to flash and go in all sorts of directions, the woman finally turns around and her entire face seems to be a computer screen or like a monitor.
There are four other people that are in this computer lab that seem to be approximately like your age or heightendez, whatever that means. Exactly. And all four of them also have computers for faces, but all of them have the same emoticon, which is just like a standard colon, parentheses, cheeky kind of smile, but in different ways, they also begin to glitch. And there also seems to be a the greater than bracket to make scary eyebrows over one of them or another one. The smile begins to melt and become more of the indecisive backslash of a mouth.
And all of them, with the leadership of the woman with the first computer monitor face, are on computers, and they are. There seem to be little text boxes, like, floating up and into the air. This was a waste of money. This is a waste of space. You're a waste of space. You're ugly. No one actually wants you to be around, and no one would miss you. No one misses dead people. No one misses dead people that they never want to see anymore. And then the only emoticon, the only, like, smile that ever remains or stays the same is the colon and parentheses on the face of the first woman in her computer monitor face.
And then from your nap, which may, it could truly be one of those naps that feel like you overslept for 2 hours. But I think genuinely, whenever you stir, it could have been maybe like five minutes long at that point until you were jilted.
[00:45:00] Speaker B: And would I at this point, do I understand that these dreams are more, again, more spiritual, more than just dreams? Do I have that feeling and that kind of understanding?
[00:45:13] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. Okay.
[00:45:16] Speaker B: I think. I think it's the type of. Type of a jolt awake. Like, whoa.
But in the sleep calls back, especially because I agree. I think that was like one of those shorter, like, impossibly long dreams in the span of a moment.
[00:45:36] Speaker D: You know what I mean?
[00:45:36] Speaker B: It's like I was there for hours, except you were asleep for literally five minutes.
And I think because their body has been so spent, sleep calls again and they're willing to fade into it, maybe even in the hope that there will be further understanding that maybe doesn't come. But, you know when you wake up from a dream and you're like, I wish. Even if it's, like, a little scary, you're like, I wish I understood what my brain was getting at there.
So maybe an attempt in an attempt to find some understanding as well.
[00:46:12] Speaker A: Absolutely. With all of that information, Halcyon in your head now, your new memories as not necessarily immortal, sort of the ability to dream as a corporeal being, as all of that sits in your process, it is time to finally get into the rebel action phase of the investigation. Let's go, Halcyon.
What is that? Text message.
[00:46:44] Speaker B: Yeah. So that kind of text message frantically sent in between napping is. It reads written out, not like the emoticon, like, smiley face.
Computer people need help.
Meet soon, smiley face with a bunch of exclamation points after it. And then they promptly fall back asleep and do not respond to any texts that come afterward.
[00:47:11] Speaker F: Oh, that's a very distressing message to receive.
Varun says when he does inevitably, like, read the text, probably between work and volunteering.
[00:47:26] Speaker E: Ren's gonna send just emojis back. Like the woman with a laptop, the detective emoji, salute, salute, salute. And then I. And then, like, maybe the question mark emoji. But that's. That's it. No words.
[00:47:47] Speaker F: You receive.
Varun respond with beat today, sparkles emoji.
[00:47:56] Speaker D: I think Arjun's gonna be like, he's gonna reply to. He's gonna send a reply to one of Halcyon's like, messages. Like, I'm sorry, did you say computer people?
[00:48:08] Speaker B: Yeah. Halcyon fully doesn't reply for like, 2 hours.
And then when they wake up, clarifies with meet now, meet now, see you soon, smiley face.
And then another text that says community center.
[00:48:25] Speaker A: Yeah. And notably, through all this, Chloe has not responded in the group chat.
[00:48:32] Speaker F: Interesting, fantastic. I text arjun.
[00:48:36] Speaker D: Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic.
[00:48:40] Speaker F: I text Arjun because I can't text wren about this.
Halcyon has a very interesting texting etiquette.
I have.
[00:48:54] Speaker E: Halcyon's the interesting one, exclusively emoji. But Halcyon's the issue.
[00:49:01] Speaker F: It's not because of the texting necessarily, but. So Varun texts Arjun and says, chloe hasn't really responded to the rebel group chat in a while since that one. Do you think I should message her? Dot, dot, dot. Question mark. Nervous emoji are just gonna be like.
[00:49:24] Speaker D: I mean, no one's stopping you. Why did you put the nervous emoji in there? And you can. He's like. He's, like, recording. He's like, not even, like, typing this out. He's doing a voice memo.
[00:49:36] Speaker F: And Varun replies to your voice memo with more text being like, I don't know. My brother was being pretty tense about the whole Chloe situation, and I don't know if that's connected or if it's because of that weird little, uh, situation that happened in the community center.
I don't know. I don't. I. I don't want Chloe to feel left out.
[00:50:09] Speaker D: Oh, sparkle emoji.
Okay. I mean, that's nice and all that. You want to have her feel included, but I mean, like, maybe let's not get your brother even more mad at you and possibly me.
[00:50:25] Speaker F: All right, I'll see.
Sorry. He texts like, well, all right. And it's shrugging emoji and then immediately follows it up with, see at the community center then.
And it's the winky face emoji and then hearts.
[00:50:46] Speaker D: You're just gonna hear Arjun do like. You see Arjun Post, like, a couple of, like, facepalm, like emojis. Like, yep. All right, I'll see you there.
[00:50:54] Speaker F: I head on over.
[00:50:57] Speaker A: Josephine at Scary Dog Friend plays the architect and edits the show. The biggest thanks to Minerva Mick Janda for creating our system void heart symphony. You can find Josephine producing actual plays at Badhouse RPG and Namdeh Domain. Other podcasts you can find her include someplace to be, a system hopping actual play with an indie focus and monster anonymous rating and dating your favorite monsters everywhere. You listen to your podcasts. Thanks again to goblets and gaze for hosting us. And all the music you hear today is from epidemic sound.
[00:51:26] Speaker D: Abhishek. He him plays Arjun Kumar. You can find him voice acting as well as starring in other TTrPG AP's such as Zenith over at Sword and key, premiering August 29, as well as Iron sworn the Valley season two over at nerds with Dice, premiering September 5. You can also find him being a huge tokusatsu nerd over at neon Raiden.
[00:51:49] Speaker C: Twitter.com dot alyssa disasterqueer plays Chloe penitent. You can find them here on goblets and gays for our Pathfinder series Tyranny of the Dark Star, as well as on an unwavering of course, a Star wars actual play.
[00:52:03] Speaker E: Donna she her plays Ren Kong. You can find her voice acting, playing other ttRpgs, and overall being a goofy gal at shabro.
[00:52:11] Speaker B: On twitter.com Lianna Albany's any pronouns plays halcyon. You can find them acting, producing, and generally goofing around. Liannaalbany's on all platforms.
[00:52:22] Speaker F: Valiantdorian at valiantdorian or at Oxal spirit Fair plays Varun Pillai. You can find him as a main cast member of Transplant RPG's the Chaos Protocol, hosting his TTRPG talk show Dicey banter and designing wild hearted monstrous games like his in development. TTRPG the beasts within a grungy action rpg with a were beast twisted.
[00:52:56] Speaker A: I'm going to take that back so he doesn't sound like, so gay.
[00:53:01] Speaker F: We're all gay here.
[00:53:03] Speaker A: We're all gay.
[00:53:04] Speaker D: Oh my God.
[00:53:06] Speaker A: I'm sorry.
