Discord
You think over taking a walk through the garden, but...
...better to nap while you're able.
You're too tired to even bother pulling out the bed part of your couch, instead choosing to flop over where you sit.
You reposition one of the cushions to act as a pillow and decide that's the maximum amount of effort you've allotted for this nap.
With your eyes closed, your thoughts drift back to the task ahead of you once you're up: Your proxy.
You may have given it a fancy name already, but it doesn't look like much of anything.
Every time you've tried to summon it, it's hardly appeared at all - just a weird little shadow thing - and it usually fizzles out within a few seconds.
A few times it's lasted a several minutes, during which time you tried talking to it.
You're not sure what that guide you read online was talking about, though; talking hasn't helped it form better.
Not like it's much for conversation regardless.
You turn over on the couch.
You're not even sure if you're doing it right.
You could just be screwing up from the start and forming the shadow thing out of your smoke instead.
Or maybe it just can't work for you.
There's a possibility it's just out of your skill range.
Or that something's just inherently wrong with you in this department.
You might be too anxious to sleep.
The rain over the lake always looks pretty from up here.
Even when it's storming.
You'd say that adds to it, actually.
All the dark clouds overhead glow with deep blue-greys and give a nice look to it.
Even if you're soaked.
The train rounding the lake looks pretty, too.
The rain's rolling over it and falling off the sides.
It's splashing along the tracks.
Are you about done?
Am I about done?
Hang on
You jolt.
Lightning strikes one of the giant trees alongside the train tracks.
You stand up.
The tree wobbles, then fa l / s .
It slams onto the third train car, almost bisecting it.
The deafening yelp of rending metal rings through the air.
The train wheels screech on the tracks as the later cars crash into the third.
The train derails.
Cars pile up seemingly at random, some sliding hundreds of feet away while others topple over each other into awkward stacks.
You rush
down the hill.
You make it a few steps.
Your foot slips out from under you.
You fall onto your back and slide the rest of the way down.
Grass stains the back of your jacket.
Ever the theatric one.
You slide to a stop and get to your feet as quick as you can.
There had to have been people on that train, right?
You near the fiery wreck.
Your face glows orange.
You can feel the heat from here.
You hesitate.
Flames leap from one of the windows just in front of you, lapping at you like waves.
You cover your face and collapse backwards.
...Were you always this spineless?
Does that really qualify here?
Someone still might need help.
You get back to your feet.
A figure stands above you, on top of the wreck.
Their face is dark, it's hard to discern them.
The strongest light is coming from behind them, where another car from the train pile sits, this one more ablaze than the others.
You squint.
...Canine?
Maybe?
The figure turns away from you, and walks directly into the flaming train car behind them.
You want to say something to stop them, but you're all choked up.
...You need to help them.
They'll die in there.
Yes, I'm sure they need your help.
Good luck with that.
What remains of the tree that caused the crash is propped up against the car, creating the perfect bridge.
...You're not serious, are you?
You hop on, making your way up.
I shouldn't have asked.
It cracks underneath your feet.
You look down.
It's burning from the inside.
As it breaks, you leap to the train.
You snag the side, just barely.
What were you expecting, exactly?
You pull yourself up and dash into the burning train car.
Sparks rise into your view.
The church's paint is peeling off the walls.
A pillar collapses, demolishing some of the pews.
Boards fall from new hole in the ceiling.
You narrowly avoid them, careful not to fall.
You breathe in and cough.
S m o k e f i l l s y o u r l u n g s .
You drop to the floor.
Fire swirls around you.
...Rescue's coming, right?
'Rescue.'
I thought you jumped in to save that person.
Haven't you practiced since then?
Or was all that time spent a waste?
You raise your claw.
And concentrate.
The smoke filters away.
You get to your feet, funneling as much as you can out a nearby window, taking heaving breaths of clean air.
You stumble your way through the nearby doorway into the hall, pulling out more smoke as you go.
The figure you saw before is nearing the end of the hall, far away from you.
You call out their name.
Which is what again?
They turn to you over their shoulder.
You get a good look this time.
...Definitely canine.
The floor cracks beneath your feet.
You look down.
There's a tear in the floor under you.
It's burning from the inside.
It rips apart, opening up to swallow you as you fall.
You're tangled up.
You try and wriggle free, but quickly realize the ...wires? that you're tangled in are the only things keeping you from falling into the black void below.
You search around nearby, looking for anything to grab on to.
A bright light catches you off guard popping on a few feet away.
It's... static.
A TV?
Looks like it.
It's only showing colored static, buzzing with that blizzard-like sound.
Though, you can hear something else.
Inside the static.
It's...
...a voice?
You can't make out what it's saying.
Shouldn't you be able to?
You lean closer, trying to listen.
![[Image: I8lEbTH.gif]](https://homebrewdeviants.com/static/imgur_mirrors/I8lEbTH.gif)
...What is that?
Is it really speaking words?
You still can't really make it out, but maybe if you got closer...
Alright, this has been all sorts of fun,
...But I'd appreciate it if you woke up now.
The TV crackles in front of you.
And explo
You jolt awake with a gasp.
There's an immediate sensation of rain hitting your face as you whip your head around to figure out where you are.
Thunder rumbles overhead.
Within a few moments, you adjust enough to realize you're out in Maria's garden, laying on one of the benches.
The particular area is mostly secluded by high lattice and flowering vines; it's always been a favorite spot of yours.
"Are you all there now?"
You look side-to-side, seeing no one.
...Are you still asleep?
"Herrera."
You hear the snap of a finger and turn in that direction.
You still don't see anything.
No, wait.
You see... the outline of a figure in the rain, only visible by the rain deflecting off that spot in an odd manner.
It's standing on two legs, you think, but beyond that it has very little definition.
"...Who are you?
Why are you invisible?"
"I'm not. I have no body yet."
"...Goooot it.
Scrap ghost.
Are you here already because you heard I got the job?
Need help, bud?"
"Herrera, I'm not a scrap ghost."
You stare.
They sigh.
"Last time you spoke to me, you said you'd be busy looking for jobs."
"...
...Springtide?"
"...Close enough."
"Oh my god, then it finally worked.
Didn't even have to be conscious for it this time."
"Herrera."
"Wait, have you always been able to talk?
'Cause you never--"
"Herrera.
Focus.
I don't have a lot of time."
"What, you have somewhere to be?"
"How long were you able to keep me around every other time you've tried this."
"Rightright, fuck. Okay.
What's up?"
"I'll keep this simple:
I can't form properly because you never used a base.
So, I need you to--"
"A base? What, like I'm cooking something?
I think--"
"How wonderful for you, that you think.
I very much appreciate whatever quip you had prepared, but now that you're not talking anymore, I'd like for us to get back on track.
Can we do that, Herrera?"
"...no need to be--"
"Can we do that?"
"On track, got it. Yes."
"Alright.
Go get me a base object to form myself with.
It can be any object, but ideally something small enough to fit in your hand.
If it holds personal significance to you, even better."
"Personal- Okay, uh... I can find..." You jump to your feet.
"Quickly." "On it."
You make your way to the side of the roof and hop back up to your balcony, soon making your way into your apartment.
As fast as you're able, you sift through your possessions for anything fitting your proxy's description.
It's not long before you're back with a handful of things, making your way over to the spot from before.
You step under a nearby picnic umbrella, and the rainy figure follows suit.
"More than one?"
"I didn't know which you'd want, okay."
"It's not an issue.
Put each down under the umbrella and explain why they're significant to you."
"...Uhh... Do I have to explain why?
Don't really share that kind--"
"Yes."
"Fffffine."
You lay them all down.
"So there's my VHS of Leech Lake III - favorite movie.
In this one, the protagonist from the second one becomes friends with the monster from the first one and they take down the new monster together. It's wild.
But uh... it's my favorite because... for a while when I first moved out on my own, it was the only movie I had.
So I watched it over and over, and sometimes I would leave it on when I slept - so it felt like I wasn't by myself.
And I liked the two of them coming together, it's kind of...
...Anyways, still need to see the fourth one, but I bet it's bad." "Herrera."
"Next, the magic amulet thing my sibling gave me when they left for college, before we stopped talking.
It's really just a thing from a cartoon we watched as kids. Just a little plastic jewel-looking thing.
Got a cool symbol on it, though, so... y'know.
...And it's... kinda the last thing I have that makes me think of them. Y'know... hanging out and watching stuff together and... all that.
Back when it felt like we were actually siblings, and we had each other's backs.
...We aren't in touch anymore and that's probably a good thing even though it sucks, but, it makes me remember the good times with them, I guess."
"Then last one's an old brass key I found.
I was out exploring abandoned places around in our hometown, since there wasn't anything else to do. One was this old drive-in movie theater. Filled with bugs that tried to sting me-
Anyway, this was the coolest thing I ever found while doing that, and I found it there.
Kinda feels like... a mystery, I guess. Like 'what's it go to?'
Probably some shed or whatever, but... makes me remember exploring and finding new places and discovering stuff, and how I miss doing that.
Easy to forget how much cool stuff you used to do as a kid, when you get older..."
"...So... yeah.
That's what I got."
You bounce on your feet as you wait for a response, partially from the cold.
"...Can you pick one at random, or something?
I feel weird and... self-conscious talking about all this stuff.
And I'm soaked."
"Sh," the figure shushes you gently.
"I know I don't have long, but I need to think."
You sigh and take a seat at the picnic table.
As you watch, your proxy selects an item.
...better to nap while you're able.
You're too tired to even bother pulling out the bed part of your couch, instead choosing to flop over where you sit.
You reposition one of the cushions to act as a pillow and decide that's the maximum amount of effort you've allotted for this nap.
With your eyes closed, your thoughts drift back to the task ahead of you once you're up: Your proxy.
You may have given it a fancy name already, but it doesn't look like much of anything.
Every time you've tried to summon it, it's hardly appeared at all - just a weird little shadow thing - and it usually fizzles out within a few seconds.
A few times it's lasted a several minutes, during which time you tried talking to it.
You're not sure what that guide you read online was talking about, though; talking hasn't helped it form better.
Not like it's much for conversation regardless.
You turn over on the couch.
You're not even sure if you're doing it right.
You could just be screwing up from the start and forming the shadow thing out of your smoke instead.
Or maybe it just can't work for you.
There's a possibility it's just out of your skill range.
Or that something's just inherently wrong with you in this department.
You might be too anxious to sleep.
The rain over the lake always looks pretty from up here.
Even when it's storming.
You'd say that adds to it, actually.
All the dark clouds overhead glow with deep blue-greys and give a nice look to it.
Even if you're soaked.
The train rounding the lake looks pretty, too.
The rain's rolling over it and falling off the sides.
It's splashing along the tracks.
Are you about done?
Am I about done?
Hang on
You jolt.
Lightning strikes one of the giant trees alongside the train tracks.
You stand up.
The tree wobbles, then fa l / s .
It slams onto the third train car, almost bisecting it.
The deafening yelp of rending metal rings through the air.
The train wheels screech on the tracks as the later cars crash into the third.
The train derails.
Cars pile up seemingly at random, some sliding hundreds of feet away while others topple over each other into awkward stacks.
You rush
down the hill.
You make it a few steps.
Your foot slips out from under you.
You fall onto your back and slide the rest of the way down.
Grass stains the back of your jacket.
Ever the theatric one.
You slide to a stop and get to your feet as quick as you can.
There had to have been people on that train, right?
You near the fiery wreck.
Your face glows orange.
You can feel the heat from here.
You hesitate.
Flames leap from one of the windows just in front of you, lapping at you like waves.
You cover your face and collapse backwards.
...Were you always this spineless?
Does that really qualify here?
Someone still might need help.
You get back to your feet.
A figure stands above you, on top of the wreck.
Their face is dark, it's hard to discern them.
The strongest light is coming from behind them, where another car from the train pile sits, this one more ablaze than the others.
You squint.
...Canine?
Maybe?
The figure turns away from you, and walks directly into the flaming train car behind them.
You want to say something to stop them, but you're all choked up.
...You need to help them.
They'll die in there.
Yes, I'm sure they need your help.
Good luck with that.
What remains of the tree that caused the crash is propped up against the car, creating the perfect bridge.
...You're not serious, are you?
You hop on, making your way up.
I shouldn't have asked.
It cracks underneath your feet.
You look down.
It's burning from the inside.
As it breaks, you leap to the train.
You snag the side, just barely.
What were you expecting, exactly?
You pull yourself up and dash into the burning train car.
Sparks rise into your view.
The church's paint is peeling off the walls.
A pillar collapses, demolishing some of the pews.
Boards fall from new hole in the ceiling.
You narrowly avoid them, careful not to fall.
You breathe in and cough.
S m o k e f i l l s y o u r l u n g s .
You drop to the floor.
Fire swirls around you.
...Rescue's coming, right?
'Rescue.'
I thought you jumped in to save that person.
Haven't you practiced since then?
Or was all that time spent a waste?
You raise your claw.
And concentrate.
The smoke filters away.
You get to your feet, funneling as much as you can out a nearby window, taking heaving breaths of clean air.
You stumble your way through the nearby doorway into the hall, pulling out more smoke as you go.
The figure you saw before is nearing the end of the hall, far away from you.
You call out their name.
Which is what again?
They turn to you over their shoulder.
You get a good look this time.
...Definitely canine.
The floor cracks beneath your feet.
You look down.
There's a tear in the floor under you.
It's burning from the inside.
It rips apart, opening up to swallow you as you fall.
You're tangled up.
You try and wriggle free, but quickly realize the ...wires? that you're tangled in are the only things keeping you from falling into the black void below.
You search around nearby, looking for anything to grab on to.
A bright light catches you off guard popping on a few feet away.
It's... static.
A TV?
Looks like it.
It's only showing colored static, buzzing with that blizzard-like sound.
Though, you can hear something else.
Inside the static.
It's...
...a voice?
You can't make out what it's saying.
Shouldn't you be able to?
You lean closer, trying to listen.
...What is that?
Is it really speaking words?
You still can't really make it out, but maybe if you got closer...
Alright, this has been all sorts of fun,
...But I'd appreciate it if you woke up now.
The TV crackles in front of you.
And explo
You jolt awake with a gasp.
There's an immediate sensation of rain hitting your face as you whip your head around to figure out where you are.
Thunder rumbles overhead.
Within a few moments, you adjust enough to realize you're out in Maria's garden, laying on one of the benches.
The particular area is mostly secluded by high lattice and flowering vines; it's always been a favorite spot of yours.
"Are you all there now?"
You look side-to-side, seeing no one.
...Are you still asleep?
"Herrera."
You hear the snap of a finger and turn in that direction.
You still don't see anything.
No, wait.
You see... the outline of a figure in the rain, only visible by the rain deflecting off that spot in an odd manner.
It's standing on two legs, you think, but beyond that it has very little definition.
"...Who are you?
Why are you invisible?"
"I'm not. I have no body yet."
"...Goooot it.
Scrap ghost.
Are you here already because you heard I got the job?
Need help, bud?"
"Herrera, I'm not a scrap ghost."
You stare.
They sigh.
"Last time you spoke to me, you said you'd be busy looking for jobs."
"...
...Springtide?"
"...Close enough."
"Oh my god, then it finally worked.
Didn't even have to be conscious for it this time."
"Herrera."
"Wait, have you always been able to talk?
'Cause you never--"
"Herrera.
Focus.
I don't have a lot of time."
"What, you have somewhere to be?"
"How long were you able to keep me around every other time you've tried this."
"Rightright, fuck. Okay.
What's up?"
"I'll keep this simple:
I can't form properly because you never used a base.
So, I need you to--"
"A base? What, like I'm cooking something?
I think--"
"How wonderful for you, that you think.
I very much appreciate whatever quip you had prepared, but now that you're not talking anymore, I'd like for us to get back on track.
Can we do that, Herrera?"
"...no need to be--"
"Can we do that?"
"On track, got it. Yes."
"Alright.
Go get me a base object to form myself with.
It can be any object, but ideally something small enough to fit in your hand.
If it holds personal significance to you, even better."
"Personal- Okay, uh... I can find..." You jump to your feet.
"Quickly." "On it."
You make your way to the side of the roof and hop back up to your balcony, soon making your way into your apartment.
As fast as you're able, you sift through your possessions for anything fitting your proxy's description.
It's not long before you're back with a handful of things, making your way over to the spot from before.
You step under a nearby picnic umbrella, and the rainy figure follows suit.
"More than one?"
"I didn't know which you'd want, okay."
"It's not an issue.
Put each down under the umbrella and explain why they're significant to you."
"...Uhh... Do I have to explain why?
Don't really share that kind--"
"Yes."
"Fffffine."
You lay them all down.
"So there's my VHS of Leech Lake III - favorite movie.
In this one, the protagonist from the second one becomes friends with the monster from the first one and they take down the new monster together. It's wild.
But uh... it's my favorite because... for a while when I first moved out on my own, it was the only movie I had.
So I watched it over and over, and sometimes I would leave it on when I slept - so it felt like I wasn't by myself.
And I liked the two of them coming together, it's kind of...
...Anyways, still need to see the fourth one, but I bet it's bad." "Herrera."
"Next, the magic amulet thing my sibling gave me when they left for college, before we stopped talking.
It's really just a thing from a cartoon we watched as kids. Just a little plastic jewel-looking thing.
Got a cool symbol on it, though, so... y'know.
...And it's... kinda the last thing I have that makes me think of them. Y'know... hanging out and watching stuff together and... all that.
Back when it felt like we were actually siblings, and we had each other's backs.
...We aren't in touch anymore and that's probably a good thing even though it sucks, but, it makes me remember the good times with them, I guess."
"Then last one's an old brass key I found.
I was out exploring abandoned places around in our hometown, since there wasn't anything else to do. One was this old drive-in movie theater. Filled with bugs that tried to sting me-
Anyway, this was the coolest thing I ever found while doing that, and I found it there.
Kinda feels like... a mystery, I guess. Like 'what's it go to?'
Probably some shed or whatever, but... makes me remember exploring and finding new places and discovering stuff, and how I miss doing that.
Easy to forget how much cool stuff you used to do as a kid, when you get older..."
"...So... yeah.
That's what I got."
You bounce on your feet as you wait for a response, partially from the cold.
"...Can you pick one at random, or something?
I feel weird and... self-conscious talking about all this stuff.
And I'm soaked."
"Sh," the figure shushes you gently.
"I know I don't have long, but I need to think."
You sigh and take a seat at the picnic table.
As you watch, your proxy selects an item.
