Crankshaft/Masa Specials and More

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

CRANKSHAFT SUMMER 2021 ARC: 1/3
CW: Existentialism 

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 You are Jam, you are in a void deeper and darker than you've seen in your life.

 Something about it feels oddly familiar in both a warm and terrifying way.

 You've been diving for hours, searching for your best friend who's been missing for a awful long time after your last encounter with the supernatural.

 You miss her....

 After digging down far enough you encounter someone..

 It's her. 

 You approach her casually. She's clearly been crying a lot lately.

 Jam: Hey.

 Lex: Hey.

 Jam: Been a really long time since we last talked.

 Lex: Haven't had the option much, kinda just... been here.

 Jam: Yeah, can't say it was easy digging this far down, glad to see you're here in one piece though.

 Lex: Not really in a way I'd like though.

 You approach Lex slowly, she scoots away from you.

 Jam: Why you hiding? Everything alright?

 Lex: Really don't want you to look at me like this. 

 Jam: You're fine, whatever it is it'll wash off..

 Lex: I'm seriously gross right now, don't get any closer.

 Jam: You want a little bit of space.

 She nods at you. 

 Jam: Right... talk to me then, what's been up with you?

 Lex: I dunno, just... feel like I'm going nowhere you know? Haven't been able to keep a stable job,
mental health has been shot for a decade, and I keep getting my ass handed whenever I jump in on a fight.

 Jam: You keep getting up in the end though right?

 Lex: That's not really enough! I just... I don't know if I'll ever be anything. Don't know if I'll ever fix stuff with my family, or be able to live life without always being tight on cash, or ever see life outside of Plaza.

 Jam: Last one always did bug us huh?

 Lex: Yeah....

 Jam: Getting called a flunkie by teachers and family cause grades were never all that good. Being the weird kid to a lot of people.

 Lex: Having to pull all sorts of hustles to keep money in our pockets. 

 Jam: Been better about that much no? Dueling career was picking up last season you know. And you managed to keep a job longer than the seasonal rush!

 Lex: Not anywhere enough. Still got smoked plenty.

 Jam: There's time to get ready for next season, I'm sure you'd do better.

 Lex: Still a while away, just finished up with the last run, right?

 Jam: Our last run was in winter.

 Lex: Yeah?

 Jam: Lex, how long do you think you've been here for?

 Lex: Couple weeks maybe? Hard to really tell when you're alone but that feels right.

 Jam: Lex...

 Lex: ....It's only been a couple of weeks right?

 Jam: Been a helluva lot longer than that.

 Her body jolted in response.

 Lex: Like... a month? Two months?

 Jam: It's been half a year... you've been dormant a really long ass time. 

 Lex: ....

 Jam: We had to call in professionals, set up this big elaborate thing. Been to doctors, priests, and occultists. It's been hard... really hard.

 Lex: Like, 6 months...?

 Jam: 7. Everyone misses you. Dotty knows, same with a lot of your friends at this point. Only people who aren't in the loop are your boss and your parents and they're both catching onto the fact that something's super off.

 Lex: You had to talk to our parents...?

 Jam: Yeah, you know how they check up on occasion. They know shit's off but they don't seem to have any clue what. 

 Lex: Fuck.... I'm sorry you had to go through with that.

 Jam: It's no worries, it was something to get to talk to them again but like.... I'll be honest I don't think I'm ready to explain myself like that considering...

 Lex: Yeah...

 Jam: We kinda became us through some fucked up means I guess. 

 Lex: Yeah. I mean they knew about the witchcraft stuff but..

 Jam: They never knew we went so far that we became two people. I dunno. I mean I guess I'm more just a proxy you grew up with huh? But I’ve been there enough that it feels like my life too.

 Lex: Yeah... I mean it is. It's our life. Christ... everyone who knows been good about it?

 Jam: Yeah! Yeah actually. Dotty obviously, she's been doing her best to handle this emotionally but she super misses you. Spice, Targe, hell Kurt.

 Lex: You talked to Kurt recently?

 Jam: Kurt moved back into town actually! 

 Lex: Really? God, we haven't really hung out proper since before he joined the trade ships.

 Jam: I mean he's a proper engineer now, works at Capital you know? 

 Lex: Damn.. the city or the park?

 Jam: Both! Got a job in a lot of safety stuff I think?

 Lex: That's good! God I wanna just catch up with everyone now...

 Jam: Yeah... there's a lot of that to do honestly. Truth be told the world's actually had a lot go on since you've been gone.

 Lex: Oh?

 Jam: Yeah like... There's been kind of a infestation of angel spawn so the place has become a hotspot for witches and knights. Actually a lot of demand for both of those in general, and a lot of duelists are jumping on board.

 Lex: Don't know if I'd be up for that...

 Jam: You might have to be honestly. Leagues kinda went through a big merger that mean even lower circuits are tapping into a lot of the "high brow" dueling culture. Shaken up things a hell of a lot.

 Lex: Ugh, feel like I'm gonna have to relearn everything when I get back...

 Jam: Uh... Spice claims to have "ascended bunny" or some shit.

 Lex: He talks about that a lot, what'd he do? 

 Jam: He bought a gun?

 Lex: Like... a magic gun?

 Jam: Like a gun, gun.

 Lex: Those even legal around here without a knighting permit?

 Jam: He got one actually. Targe isn't happy about it but they'll figure it out I'm sure.

 Lex: Damn... 

 Jam: Oh and uh... Dotty's been looking into joining in on the knighting boom you know. But.. she kinda wants you to be there too if she does. 

 Lex: Really?

 Jam: It's something she's good at and it pays well. Like, scary good. She really wants you in on it too... Honestly I'd do it myself but I'm not much of a fighter...

 Lex: I mean.... I'd be down for it. God I really hope she's doing okay....

 Jam: Hard to say but... would do a lot for her if you came back you know.

 Lex: Yeah...

 Jam: What do you say?

 Lex: Yeah. Yeah please. 

 She reaches out for your hand. 

 You grab on and haul her toward you.

 Jam: Gonna be a bit of a walk as a heads up.

 Lex: Mm.... 

 Jam: You ready? Got everything you need?

 Lex: Yeah... Take me home please.