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

[A_Mi_Manera]

You're flopped in bed. You are.... Lex you think?

With this sort of thing you're not entirely sure.

That's okay, I forgive you for being new to this.

That's.... my thought right?

Nope, it's mine.

Jam?

Yep. And you're Lex. Now that you got it figured out talk to me.

That went smoother than I thought.

He still doesn't trust us entirely. Well... me specifically. 

He'll warm up. Geezer is uh... something though.

He's a dork. You know, you're new to this too.Surprised you were ready to accept this so easy.

I'm open to making new friends.... even if they're in my head I think. 

Yeah. 

You doing okay?

Course I am. You?

Yeah. Nervous about tomorrow, not gonna lie to you.

You'll be fine, you got a couple of experienced fighters with you and you're not too shabby yourself. As long as you don't get swarmed by numbers he said right? And in daytime at a theme park that's pretty hard.

I'm sure they'll be bundled in the back of some dark ride during the day. 

Maybe they'll suck you into a world where animatronics are sentient.

Don't say that...

I mean they could be chill right?

I guess. Animatronics are kind of weird and uncanny though. They're like corpses rigged to repeat the same animation loop.

You're just saying that from a construct perspective.

No shit! They're probably made reusing parts from people on the island now that I'm thinking about it...

Wouldn't a sentient animatronic just be a person then anyway?

You know.... you're right on that? Funny actually, live actors for a dark ride.

Must be expensive upkeep. 

Absolutely. Okay so um..... I think I forgot who I am again uh...

You're Lex! Here, let me clear things up for you.



You're in a colorful concrete plain. Jam holds out her hand to you. You take it.

Lex: What's this?

Jam: Offering to dance with you. We never got to play games like I promised we would.

Lex: Oh, you mean like....

Jam: The arcade? Yeah... I mean if we got time to shed. Dreams go by fast, this is like our fourth fifth REM cycle or something I think.

Lex: I don't know what that means.

Jam: You took a psychology course or two in college right? REM?

Lex: Kinda rings a bell.

Jam: Either way, you're dreaming alright? No worries. 

Lex: Guess so..... maybe I'll hold off on it for now. Do need my rest, got a busy day tomorrow.

Jam: Maybe. You know we've had this conversation a few times before tonight.

Lex: Really?

Jam: Yep. Hopefully you'll remember before the next dream cycle kicks in.

Lex: That's existential.

Jam: Sure is! You go to sleep and wake up a different you just a little than the one that dreamed 6 times.

Lex: Ugh... you're gonna give me anxiety. 

Jam: Good.

Lex: Fuck you.

Jam: You said it! You said fuck!

Lex: Nobody will know.  Where are we anyway?

Jam: Your mind palace! Where everything you think about intensively kind of just compiled into a pretty little castle in the sky. You've been here plenty of times.

Lex: Yeah... Guess I have. I think? Feels familiar enough anyway. Remember it vaguely.

Jam: It's just the two of us, everyone else is kind of just made out of your thoughts and memories. I don't wanna go to deep because then Dotty is gonna have to shake you awake but...

Lex: I got time. Show me around.