Crankshaft Rafflesian: We're Past the Tutorial Thank God!

[A_Mi_Manera]

Geezer: So I'm gonna do a reading with my deck proper, you might have some potential I spotted earlier. Any radiation from that lizard's weird uh... space and time messing Pardner nonsense should be gone by now. I'm gonna pull out of you the card that holds your potential.

Lex: With all due respect and stuff... I tackled down that pardner fine.

Dotty: She did actually. She's a more than alright fighter when it comes down to it. She should come with us.

Geezer: She finish the fight?

Dotty: Um.....

Lex: Dotty knocked it out.

Geezer: Then we're doing this. You ever done one of these before?

Lex: Yeah, I had a paranormal phase that lasted until the end of college.

Geezer: Cool, cool. You never did something you shouldn't have right? The world knows and remembers your mistakes.

Lex: Define that.

Geezer: Laying curses on others, crushing scraps for meal, that sort of thing?

Lex: Eww no, I just wanted to meet a nice shade or a otherworlder and hang out.
Geezer: ....Why?

Lex: I was lonely and a kid, shit doesn't make sense back then. You kinda pray some weird magical dork will take you to a place where you feel important one way or another. 

Geezer: The other side isn't all that great but you make some good friends there. God I gotta catch up with some folks....

Dotty: So you both aren't implying the things you are right?

Geezer: Huh?

Dotty: Like, you're talking about magic and other worlds... most of that's fake or just theory right? That's not what we're talking about here?

Geezer: That's exactly what we're talking. Otherworld magic, summoning ghosts, dealing with critters that shouldn't exist. That pardner you brought in, the big lizard? They're supposed to be way smaller and way less formed than that in a healthy environment. Someone made a big boo boo. Speaking of......

He looks at you with concern.

Lex: Is everything okay?

Geezer: So earlier I noticed you weren't exactly uh... you. I pulled out the deck because I wanted to gauge you and... you got someone else in there don't you? You got a proxy.

Lex: Uh......

Geezer: You didn't personify it right? Moment you treat it like someone else, it becomes someone else. You don't want your soul to find a separate sentience like that. That's bad for stuff.

You try to find a excuse but can't get it past your throat.

Geezer: What'd you name it? 

Lex: They already got a name actually-



Geezer: Yeah no, you're gonna have to confront it. You fuck it up, you don't got a chance against what we're facing. Handling one pardner? No biggie for anyone brave or scrappy enough. A bunch of these are bad business. I'm gonna do something to help you fix it. You ready?

Lex: ....Yeah.



Mist seeps from the ground, wrapping around you until it swallows you whole.

You find yourself in a familiar place.



Lex: I remember this.

You sure do, remember going out here with Dotty?

Lex: Mmhmm. What about it?

I liked that. You kept thinking about trying to hold her hand that night and then you didn't so I had to intervene. You didn't even notice it until she commented! 

Lex: I was nervous!

Really? You got no fear tackling someone bigger than you but hand holding does you in? So many times you could have died! I'm here too, I don't wanna die because you did something dumb you know.

Lex: I'm sorry! Uh, Jam right?

Yeah. You had a weird witch phase. I'm here to remind you that I guess.

Lex: Yeah. So uh.... why are you showing me this?

Setting the mood. This seems good right? A place for out fight?

Lex: Our fight?!

Yeah, our fight. You have to duel me. I want a nice backdrop for it.... This looks neat...



Lex: I don't wanna go that far back..... God I looked so gross in college.

How did that resolve? That day as a whole?

Lex: I don't remember. God I miss Kurt, we could talk stupid for hours. 

Where'd he go?

Lex: Government job, hoping it would get him some work in engineering or something. Haven't heard from him since, wonder if he remembers me at all. 

I'm sure he does. How abouuuut this then?

You're taken back to the arcade at the mall near your house. 



Lex: I like that. That's not the real thing right? 

All in your head, don't worry about breaking things.

Lex: I want that. Pick that one.

You will break things.