Discord
[You should come]
[I'm on my way]
[Here.]
[?]
[Say words]
[was sleep sry]
[nah its not rly my thing]
[People you know here]
[Friends]
[theyre your friends]
[they dont rly know me and i dont rly know them]
[They like when you come hang out]
[eh i dunno about that]
[look its cool. you hang out]
[not my thing. and you need somethin fun 2 do]
[What are you going to do]
[i got some of that pineapple cider]
[thats as much of a celebration as new year deserves]
[Besides drink]
[nothin. play games. like i said its cool]
[Doesn't sound fun]
[Sounds bad]
[well i dont do big stuff like you do]
[its just a number ticking over anyway]
[When you don't do anything for holidays you get sad]
[youre worrying way too much. lol]
[its fiiiine. go have fun]
[Tell me you'll have a good time]
[i mean im gonna be sitting at home]
[woohoo itll be very much fun]
[its cool. dwai]
[Then tell me you're good at least]
[i said its cool]
[And you're good?]
[salem]
[See]
[Sad.]
[ok. and]
[its the holidays lots of ppl are sad]
[boohoo]
[Come to the party]
[It's my party so it's good]
[I swear]
[dont wanna be stressed out around strangers]
[You know them]
[i hang out with you with them]
[they dont talk to me. why would they]
[theyre your friends theyre there for u]
[just how things work n thats fine]
[They like you]
[ok cool. dont wanna go to a party]
[It's better than nothing]
[you say that but not to me]
[really not as big of a deal as youre making it]
[im an adult. i can be a little sad on a holiday]
[ill survive]
[so go have fun and quit worrying about me]
[ok?]
[OK]
[cool. thank u]
[u can tell me abt it after]
[Left early]
[what why]
[salem]
[i said im good]
[????]
[did u go home??]
[msg me back ok? whered u go]
[Here]
[--LOCATION SHARE--]
[Come here]
[what]
[Not a party]
[salem thats all the way downtown]
[buses arent even running]
[Rails are]
[You can make it]
[tell me what its for]
[It's a surprise]
[what about the party]
[Party over. Come on]
[its not even close to midnight yet]
[Let me do a thing for you]
[I already left]
[Don't want to count down all by myself]
[i dont wanna leave]
[It'll just be us]
[I'm by myself]
[Promise]
[its cold]
[Won't kill you]
[ok but will u]
[is this like some elaborate plot to murder me]
[I wouldn't need to do that]
[I have a key to your apartment]
[so is that a yes]
[Not tonight]
[You're safe for now]
[Please]
[i need to shower and stuff]
[I have time]
[you dont need to go to so much trouble for me]
[Too late]
[I'm doing it for me too]
[If that makes you feel better]
[what about the party]
[There'll be more]
[Come hang out with me]
[ok]
[im barely gonna get there before midnight]
[will u be ok out there on your own]
[Cornerstore close by]
[I'll hang out there]
[I'll get a slushie]
[ok. fine]
[be safe ok?]
[Always safe]
"...no way in hell."
"Yep.
You can do it. I got through just fine."
"I-" The axolotl rubs its temple,
looking over the gap at the bottom of the chain link fence.
"Okay A: I'm way bigger than you.
B: I wore my good jacket."
"The wing one?"
"Yeah, the wing one.
It's gonna get all torn up from s-
Look, can't we just go down by the docks?"
"Believe it or not, they have better fences down there.
More worried about the boats than the warehouses, I guess.
Plus, the fog's thicker by the water.
If we wanna see fireworks, we need to get up high."
"Look, I
...I'm not lookin' to start off the new year by getting caught up with cops."
"It's completely empty down here."
"Yeah, but--"
"If cops come around they'll just tell us to get down.
Maybe we get a fine at worst."
"And I'm broke! You know I'm broke, I can't-
I get caught with that and I'm--" "I'll pay it."
"...How?"
"End of year. I got a big bonus."
"You're willing to blow it on this?"
"To have a good time with you?
Yeah."
"...I mean, I-
I'd feel fuckin'... bad if you had to--"
"Bones.
It'll be okay.
Trust me."
The crow reaches out her wing-like hand from the other side of the fence.
"C'mon."
The axolotl hesitates,
looking skyward with a shake of its head.
Knowing it's about to say yes.
That it would regardless.
"...fffffffffine.
If it'll make you happy."
"That's the spirit."
"Here.
First..."
It removes its jacket, wincing from the cold.
The axolotl delicately folds it up before passing it under the fence for the bird to take.
"Cool.
This is all I wanted, actually."
"Uh-huh."
"It's a killer jacket."
"You've already got wings, save me some."
"I got, like... 'wing-hands'.
Not the same."
"Too bad."
She tucks the jacket under her arm,
reaching down to help pull the salamander under the fence.
The axolotl gasps.
She freezes.
"What--" "fUCkin, oWw-OW-OW--"
It reaches a hand up,
finding one of its frills pierced by a sharp point of the fence.
"Help, helphelp-fffFF-
GOD--"
"Hold still, hold still. I got it."
The axolotl freezes on command, biting its lip.
Salem quickly and carefully looses the sharp metal point from its frill.
A trickle of blood runs down, dripping on the pavement.
"Done."
The axolotl rubs at it.
"...hate how stupidly sensitive these things are.
Stings like hell anytime I nick one... ugh."
The crow wastes no time in pulling a spare napkin from her pocket,
pressing it against the wound.
"Weren't you wanting a piercing?"
"I mean fuck, you're right.
This was your present, then?"
"Mhm. Happy New Year's."
"Awesome.
...Is whatever you're putting on it sterile?"
"I dunno. It's fine.
Disinfect it later.
Better than bleeding everywhere."
She pulls it away.
"Looks like it stopped anyway."
The crow blinks,
then pats its shoulder as she hands back its jacket.
"Let's go up."
Her head gestures to the ladder.
"...yay."
The crow reaches the top first, spreading her arms in a stretch.
She reaches into her pocket,
pulling out a cigarette and pinching it between her beak.
"Uh--"
Her head tilts back to the ladder.
Bones is clinging tightly to the top rung.
"Look, I'm. Like-
Have I told you I can get like,
really bad vertigo?
Like I'm not scared of heights, but like--"
She leans down by the ladder, mumbling past her cigarette.
"I'm n't g'nna l'shoo fall."
"...What?"
The crow reaches out her hand, gesturing for Bones to grab it.
It takes it,
and is swiftly hefted up to the rooftop,
where it clings to the metal surface.
She pulls her cigarette out.
"Look. Roof's almost flat, and it's got railings."
"...Yeah... y-yeah, just like-
I'm--" It takes a breath, snagging a railing and managing a sitting position.
"I'm good, I'm good."
"There ya go."
She plops down next to it,
eliciting the faintest of creaks from the metal roof.
"You uh... sure this roof is like, stable?"
"I've been up here dozens of times."
"Yeah, and I'm way heavier than--"
She reaches over, lightly grabbing its head and turning it to look at her.
"Bones.
All
you've been doing
the whole time
we've been here
is Worrying.
We're up here.
We made it.
And it's..." She pulls out her phone. "...like twenty minutes to next year.
We're gonna hang out up here for a few more minutes,
because: Look."
She turns its head again.
The bright, colorful lights at the other side of the city reflect across the black water of the lake;
shimmering streaks of gold, red, pink, blue;
all refracted into hundreds of constantly shifting, confetti-like patterns.
The fog, in turn, lights up with every hue like a smoky aurora,
with not another soul in sight to witness it save for the two of them.
The axolotl stares in awe.
"Surprise."
"...okay. ............Yeah." It slowly smiles.
"There you go.
...It'll look even better when the fireworks start."
"...mhm..."
She glances over at the axolotl,
watching it watch the lake.
Salem puts her cigarette away.
" . . .
...Which is why I need payment."
It looks over quizzically.
"I'm cold."
"Oh.
I mean,
I GUESS you can borrow my jacket." It plays up the drama.
"It's just my ~O o o nly~ nice thing I Haaave!
But If you're really Rrreally--" "Nope."
She flops against Bones instead.
"You-
. . .
Bastard."
"Yea."
It snickers.
"You're like a parasite."
"I'm a very, very scary parasite.
I'm feeding off your brain."
"That's my chest.
You gonna bite my tits off, then?"
"Yyesss."
"Damn.
Free top surgery."
The crow cracks up, turning her head to the side to try and stop herself.
Bones just looks down at her, meeting her face.
It shakes its head at her slowly.
"And after I worked So hard to get these."
She properly sits up, waving a wing dismissively at it as she desperately works to suppress her giggling.
"Hell of a way to go."
She bats at its shoulder, cackling,
her laughter gradually turning into a small coughing fit.
"Oh-
Fuck, you good?"
"Your fault.
Making me laugh."
"...I mean, to be fair,
you're like the only person I can ever get with my dumbass jokes."
" . . .
...You should try actually joking around more with other people.
Like, when you hang out my friends, you're all...
...uptight all of a sudden."
"Eh, I'm not, like, actually funny, it's just--"
"Bones, would you-
. . . "
" . . .
...What?"
She settles back into her spot against its chest.
"Nothing."
"You... sure you don't--?"
"Not right now."
"...okay."
The axolotl's eyes glance down at her.
She's not smiling.
Not quite frowning.
" . . .
...how much time left?"
She pulls out her phone.
"Nine-ish minutes."
"...I got a thing."
"Oh yeah?"
It nods.
"So.
New Year's Thing."
"Resolutions?
Cause I've got none."
"No, who even remembers those like, even a day later?
This is like-
So--" "So."
"...So it's like...
You kinda... review this year a bit.
Like not rating it but just kinda, thoughts on this past year.
And we take turns.
And after that, we take turns talking about like...
what we want for next year."
"...So reviewing last year, then resolutions."
"No, no it's like-
It's not about like, setting yourself up for failure by,
y'know,
making some big goal or whatever.
It's just...
...like it can be stuff you Hope you do more of,
but you're not making it a big goal,
and it can be other stuff, too.
Stuff you hope happens, stuff you hope you do, stuff you hope is different, just...
How you hope the year'll go."
The crow breathes in the cold air.
"...Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I wanna."
"Okay, so y--" "You go first, though."
"W-
Why do I hav--" "I need examples."
" . . .
...fffffair, I guess."
"And go fast. Don't have a lot of time."
"Fast?
But-
Okay, fuck,
uh..."
The axolotl bounces its foot.
"Okay, this year
sucked
like a whole
whole lot.
Like, there was some good things here n' there-
Like
got my diagnosis- Diagnoses,
and--"
"Wait, like
for your hand stuff?"
"What?
...Oh,
no. No, like
...brain...
stuff."
"...What did you get?
You didn't talk about that."
"It's-
I don't... wanna, right now.
Just-
Anyway, so-
Mostly sucked.
Mostly on my own.
Mostly cooped up inside.
Mostly doing nothing.
Mostly just... I dunno, deteriorating physically and mentally.
Keep getting depressed and like-
... "
It sees her looking up at itself.
"But-
Like, good stuff, too.
Just...
not a lot.
. . .
I think it's more just,
me handling stuff less well, really.
Like... it's somethin' I can fix.
And I'm still doin' therapy; have been the whole year,
so it like-
Yeah.
Anyway, uh
this is
a nice way to end it.
And I'm glad we got some time together this year.
That was... most of the good stuff, honestly,
was just hangin' out with you."
" . . . "
"...Sorry.
Holidays make me like
sappy.
I dunno.
...Your turn."
"You're fine.
Thinking."
It nods.
Trying not to think too much.
"This year did suck.
Old job fucking fizzling out, like it did.
And everything with Cameron--"
"Fuck Cameron."
"Fuck Cameron.
And like
health problems.
...You hit thirty and your spine just shrivels up.
Like a raisin."
"You used to sleep on your floor."
"Yeah, how?
I don't know how I did."
"No I mean like,
might be related."
"...Well.
Better not be.
...Only good parts of this year were friend stuff, and going places.
Got to see a few new things.
Do a few new things.
...work made it hard, but
got that figured out now.
Used to the new schedule and, actually getting days off now.
The parties and hangouts and trips together have been the best part.
...And I'm glad you've actually been at some of 'em."
It nods, gaze focused away.
She nudges its shoulder.
"Hey.
I mean it."
"...I know you do."
" . . .
...That's it, I guess."
Another nudge.
"Next year. Go."
"...uh
Thinkin', sorry."
It steadies itself.
" . . .
...You want me to be honest?"
"Yes."
"...
...I don't, like
I mean not to be like... a downer, or anything,
but
just
don't have much hope that things'll like
get better.
And since I can't work,
it's not like I've got much control over my situation, or
my life, really, anyway.
So like... if things get better, they get better,
and if they get worse, they get worse."
"...OK.
But this is about what you Want to happen."
"I mean, I-
It's just gonna... make me feel shittier to think about, but it-
. . .
...It'd be nice to like, actually make some friends.
Most people're gone already or just don't talk to me anymore.
And I'm... fuckin' awful at talking to other people.
And like I want to, y'know... socialize
talk to people;
I know I'm s'posed to.
And I know I'm Supposed to like, express Myself, but it's like
. . .
...nobody's really
buyin' what I'm sellin', or-
Wrong way to use that phrase, just-
I know I'm just
a really, kinda... odd person; and even if I ignore my brain tryin' to tell me that's a bad thing,
it doesn't make it any easier to fit in around other people.
...Bein' the odd one out
out of literally
every group of anybody that I'm ever around,
and havin' people just like
not really Want that; and why would they?
Like
...I dunno.
Got off topic, I think.
Shit just sucks.
...I hope I make new friends, somehow.
Hope I can... leave the fuckin' apartment without bein' like
...terrified, of
anyone
and everyone;
not even like, 'oh they'll hurt me' but just
like
I don't want anyone to see me...
existing.
I don't wanna fuck up things for anybody.
I don't wanna cause problems.
...I dunno.
...maybe a miracle'll happen.
...sorry.
Downer.
...Things probably aren't that bad, just
feelin' shitty right now. Holidays.
I'm alright."
" . . .
You don't do any of that.
...I'm just glad you're here."
"I mean, I'm... really glad you're here, t--"
"Want you to see that."
"...yeah...
...your turn. Next year."
"This is part of it. Of mine.
Want you to actually see that I give a- That the people that know you... like you being here.
That it makes a difference.
That you're like..."
She shakes her head.
"...That's part of it.
The rest?
...I want to leave, I think.
This city was what I needed years ago.
But I moved on and I have more I want to do.
I don't wanna be stuck here longer.
There's new things out there to me.
I want to move on."
"...your...
You just got your job figured out, though."
"I can figure out a new one.
Not leaving right this second."
"And you like that apartment you're renting, right?"
"Yeah.
But I was thinking I could find a little house to rent somewhere, eventually."
"It's... just a big change,
and you haven't been here that long.
Things're just now, like... starting to stabilize, for you."
"They can stabilize somewhere else."
"I'd just
...I'd kinda... kill for that, honestly.
Moving around everywhere sucks."
She shrugs, leaning to the side against it to better see the lake.
"You sure it's not just, like
cause moving around's what you've been used to?
Like... I bet it probably feels weird, staying in one place a while."
" . . .
I feel restless, anyway.
The reason doesn't really matter.
And I still want more."
"...If you left...
. . . "
"...You could come with me, you know."
"...I can't make money..."
"I'd help."
"I don't... wanna do that to you."
"I'm offering."
"...I..."
Fireworks explode in the distance,
barely visible.
The crow pulls out her phone.
"...They started early.
Thirty seconds til, now."
She squints at the horizon.
Then, she stands up.
"Hey-
Careful--"
"Fog's in the way otherwise.
...I can just barely see over it like this.
You'd probably have a perfect view."
"I... dunno, the like... vertigo--"
"Here."
She reaches down a wing hand.
"Watch the fireworks with me.
I want you to."
"Salem--"
"I'm not gonna let you fall."
"But you might fall,
it's not worth--"
"I won't.
And you won't let me, either, right?"
The axolotl hesitates
then reaches up a shaky hand
to take hers.
She pulls it up slowly, carefully.
Making sure it's steady.
"Lean back just a little bit.
If you feel like you're getting vertigo,
just let your legs drop.
You won't fall off."
"O-O...kay..."
They stand in silence.
Watching the fireworks.
She looks at her phone.
"...I'd miss you, too."
Bones glances over.
"If you didn't come with me."
" . . . "
"...think about it."
".........yeah...."
"...Okay.
And-
Ten." "..."
"Nine." "..."
"Eight." "..."
"Seven." "..."
"Six." "...Six."
She squeezes its hand.
"Five." "Five."
"Four." "Four."
It closes its eyes.
"Three." "Three."
"Two." "Two."
"One." "One."
The brightest of fireworks flashes across the lake.
"Happy--"
The roof collapses out from under them.
cognition
fades in
Bones is
vertical
Hanging by
Its jacket.
The shoulder of its jacket.
Caught on a bent metal rafter
inside the warehouse.
It's panting heavily.
It remembers the fall.
Ignoring everything else,
the axolotl looks about the warehouse
eventually spotting the crow
not all that far away
to the side
on the floor
not moving.
"SALEM!!"
The beam its caught on suddenly bends as it flails.
Bones gasps, looking up.
The threads of the jacket sleeve are starting to rip.
The beam bends further, creaking loudly.
It looks directly below itself.
A large, square container there - at least four feet taller than Bones.
Its walls almost seem translucent.
It squints at them,
spotting a glint in the light.
glass.
With a whimper,
the axolotl looks back up,
spotting another beam within reach above itself.
Carefully,
it reaches.
The beam suddenly bends with a metallic cacophony.
The sleeve rips.
It falls,
ripping straight through the container's ceiling
as if it were made of cardboard.
It yelps in pain as it lands, quickly checking over itself
finding less cuts than it'd expected.
And no shards of glass.
Nothing of the sort.
Looking up, the hole doesn't make it look like glass, either;
not having broken in any way that glass might.
It has a slight iridescence in the light.
salem.
Bones stands
and falls back down with a sharp cry.
Blood drips through the leg of its jeans,
forming a small puddle.
It hurts like hell.
The axolotl groans, tensing on instinct.
"Sss-
Sa-lem...!
Are y-
Are you okay?!"
No response.
"...fff...ffuck, ...fuck fuck fuck..."
With shaky breath, it tries to steel itself to get back up,
unsure if it can.
It has to.
It stops.
A claw grasps the top of its head.
Bones can't move anymore.
"Not one of them, then?"
Bones realizes it is no longer breathing.
But it doesn't feel like it's choking.
"No, not at all.
Clueless.
And yet,
your accident
happened to free me
on such an occasion."
Bones finds itself able to move
just barely.
Resuming breathing.
Heavy, staggered.
It still can't stand, or pull away, or do much of anything.
Yet,
it finds itself lifted up,
into the air.
Turned to face the voice.
"It must be fate."
It can't see much.
A serpent-like figure; long, slender, tall; far taller than itself.
Short, thin limbs.
Patterns that shift like liquid, rings of light;
silver, sky blue.
A smile without teeth.
It can't see more.
It's dark.
It's growing darker.
It can hear its own blood dripping.
Even thinking about its leg causes it to hurt again.
It fails to suppress a whimper.
The stranger watches its leg.
Drip.
Drip.
"You'll die soon, won't you?
Fragile things."
They simply stare.
As if this means nothing.
Taking their time to think, while it bleeds out.
"Without my intervention, you will.
...Hmm.
I suppose I could
take on a project.
I'll need something to do
with my newfound freedom.
And besides,
I'm very curious
about how You
relate to Me.
It couldn't be a coincidence."
Bones
does its best to put up the slightest of struggles.
Hardly conscious, at this point.
One thing on its mind.
"...You would rather die?
That seems foolish."
The figure tilts its head,
leaning in.
"...No.
Something
you want.
...Very well.
An exchange.
She likely would
survive
without my help
but I will
ensure it.
I know
you will say Yes."
The figure's spare claw reaches into their own pattern,
pulling at their hide,
as one of the rings of light unravels;
pulled out like a string.
They wrap it around the axolotl's neck.
The string disappears.
Something else is there, now.
But Bones can't tell what.
"And just like that,
your thread
ties to mine.
I look forward to You
seeing Me
once more.
Until then,
let's see
where your fate leads,
Shall we?"
The figure reaches their clawtip forward
and taps the axolotl's forehead.
Bones sees
vast oceans
a wave
cr
The last tray
at the far, far end of the buffet line
contains a gelatin dessert;
molded into a ridged ring shape.
Deep, black-blue,
with tiny chunks of various other colors;
twinkling in the light like multicolored stars.
Currently untouched.
"...See?
I told you nobody would eat it."
Muriel shakes her head with a sigh.
"...I'll just take it home after this, then.
Norm'll eat it.
...I should go cover it back up."
She scoots her chair out, readying herself to get up from the table,
only for the woman next to her to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, stop, Muriel.
Honestly...
It's only because you kept the foil on until twenty minutes ago.
Everyone already went through the line an hour ago; saw it covered up--"
"Well!
It's not like they would've eaten it, anyway."
"Oh you don't know that." She waves a paw dismissively.
Muriel puts her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand.
Staring at the buffet line.
"I mean it, Deb.
...I just don't think I got the flavor right.
The black cherry mix with those little... glitter-y gummy candies;
it makes it look like fireworks - I think so, at least -
but I don't know if the flavors work together.
It's probably too sweet..."
"Oh, it's fiiine, I'm sure.
And it looks lovely."
"...you think so?"
"Sure do.
Just leave it out til the end of the party.
You'll see."
A man approaches the buffet line, eyeing the desserts.
Deb nudges Muriel.
"There, there; look.
I bet Donny'll take a piece right now."
With bated breath,
the two women watch the bored, slouching man
hover over the dessert trays.
Scattered chatter the only sound in the room.
He delicately takes the serving knife
and cuts off a piece of gelatin dessert.
And then,
a second piece.
"Two!
He took two.
I told you so."
Muriel's gaze follows the bored man to his seat
at his table,
by himself.
Continuing to observe.
"What's wrong now?"
"...He still may not like it, Deb."
"See, now you're being paranoid."
Her eyes fix on the man,
and his plate
and his slices.
With his fork,
he pulls up a bite
watching the gelatin wobble about strangely.
He bites.
Swallows.
Without any hint of expression,
he carves apart the next piece with his fork,
inspecting it like an open geode.
He reaches his fingers in
digging out a piece of twinkling gummy candy,
which he eats
by itself.
Repeating the process.
Again,
again.
Muriel's shoulders droop.
"...I told you."
"Oh, don't think about at Donny.
Bad example; look at him!
He's eating at it like a... worm, or something. Digging around.
Who does that?"
"The flavors don't work."
"What kind of judge of that is he?
Here-" Deb stands. "I want a slice--"
"No, noooo, it's fine--"
The lights in the open dining room dim,
while the lights on the little stage brighten.
Someone makes their way up onto the stage,
picking up the microphone from the stand.
They clear their throat.
"Thank you all for coming to another Gradient End-of-year Party.
I won't lie and say it hasn't been a tough year for our company,
and while it will always be tough to continue without Mx. Osborne;
we are strong.
Gradient is strong.
Even in just the last few months, we've had quite a turnaround.
...And we have you all to thank for that."
They adjust their glasses in silence.
"At any rate,
I know I'm looking forward to another successful year,
and I'm sure you are, too.
...But, I'm not who you should hear from tonight.
You should hear, tonight, from the man most responsible for our success in this difficult time;
Our Managing Director and Spokesman,
Mr. Wolf Wedmore."
They clap,
and others in the audience follow suit,
as a suited, gray feline makes his way up towards the stage,
giving the occasional wave to tables he passes.
He reaches the stage,
giving another wave and a smile to the audience,
as he fluidly removes the mic from the stand,
propping it confidently into the air.
" . . .
Well, hi there. Good to see you all.
I'm sure those of you, at this branch,
weren't expecting to see me here.
I can only be at One... company-mandated holiday party at once, can't I?
How did I choose?
Well.
The truth is-
Believe it or not,
this branch - Sirocco Branch, your branch -
had our most successful profit margins in every fiscal quarter of this past year.
All of You achieved that,
so I think you owe yourselves a round of applause."
He tilts the microphone away as the crowd applauds themselves,
tapping his free paw to his wrist to join in with the them.
"...Now,
seeing as you all have earned such an outstanding achievement,
I think you're owed an extra treat.
We have this party, of course - but that's every year, isn't it?
So, I thought
'Why not something special?'
As I'm sure you know,
we have a yearly preview of our new products and services;
every year, with our board of directors and various investors.
We film it.
We send it out a few days later in our monthly email to all of our employees;
showing you just a taste of what Gradient has in store.
But this year...
We have our presentation ready; right now, right in this room,
for all of you.
Of course, our cameras in the back-" He points them out. "-are filming this,
to show to our board;
but you, Sirocco, get to see our yearly Gradient Showcase,
live in person!"
He claps again.
Some follow suit.
A projector screen descends behind him.
"Yes, it's quite a privilege, of course.
But more than that,
we may even have a few free samples of our New products for after the party,
so make sure to stick around!"
This time, a bit of excitement picks up in the crowd,
and he smiles, nodding to them.
"Now, without further ado,
let's get this show on the road
and really show you what Gradient has to offer in the new year!"
He pulls up a remote from his pocket,
wielding it in his other paw,
pointing it up at the projector on the ceiling
pressing a button.
The projector doesn't turn on.
Wolf tilts his head hardly an inch.
Pressing the button again.
Still nothing.
"...Apologies, everyone,
we seem to be having a few... technical--"
The spotlights gradually move away from the cat,
traveling downstage
stopping on an empty spot.
Nothing there.
The crowd murmurs.
"...Excuse me,
...lights?
Could I ask who's running the li--"
The illuminated space on the stage
twinkles with yellow lights,
flitting about like fireflies.
"I'm sorry, could...
...someone check...the..."
The lights crackle audibly,
as they begin to form together.
Growing brighter
more colorful.
A drumroll echoes,
not coming from any speakers.
Blinding light forms a shape
sparking.
Some stand up from their tables.
Most stay seated. It must be part of the presentation.
The light dissipates in one final flash.
The audience gasps.
A body drops from the light,
nearly falling as it lands unsteadily on its feet.
A bipedal balloon dog.
With a painted-on face, that still somehow animates:
A Flexin.
This one, only three or four feet tall.
Bright teal, with patterns of white and gold.
A yellow halo bobbing above its head,
with tiny, matching wings floating behind its back.
A spiked collar around its neck.
Silver, with sky blue points.
Its leg is dangerously leaking air.
Disembodied, cartoonish fanfare plays once the flexin spawns in.
Confetti drops across the stage.
Both recede into nothing within a moment.
The projector flicks on, blinding the balloon dog.
It raises its hand in front of its face to block the light,
but it shines straight through, tinted by the flexin's translucent surface.
It stumbles a step to the side.
Dazed.
Shaky breath.
Barely upright.
Looking out at the audience.
"........Sss... Sa... lem...?"
It collapses with a dull squeak.
Bones's eyes are open,
ever-so-slightly.
It doesn't remember how long they have been.
They scan across the room.
Stale walls. Curtains across a window; dark outside.
Chair to the side.
Television on the wall in front.
Machines... beeping nearby.
Hospital room.
It must've survived the fall.
But-
It tries to sit up,
only to twitch with pain.
Its leg hurts.
And its arm is caught on something.
It checks.
An IV, plugged into-
No, it's-
It looks almost like
an air pump, or condenser of some kind.
The sort you might use to fill up tires, but more... medical.
On a stand.
why would-
It raises its arm carefully.
It stares at
the
balloon-like arm.
Plastic, or PVC, or
something thinner.
It doesn't know much about-
But this can't be its arm.
It might move when it tries to move its arm,
Bones might be able to feel it,
but
that can't be its arm.
It checks the clock on the bedside table.
It's 12:48 AM.
There's a phone on the same stand,
but it's just far enough away that it'd need to get Out of the hospital bed to reach it.
It
can figure all this out.
This likely isn't real, anyway.
[I'm on my way]
[Here.]
[?]
[Say words]
[was sleep sry]
[nah its not rly my thing]
[People you know here]
[Friends]
[theyre your friends]
[they dont rly know me and i dont rly know them]
[They like when you come hang out]
[eh i dunno about that]
[look its cool. you hang out]
[not my thing. and you need somethin fun 2 do]
[What are you going to do]
[i got some of that pineapple cider]
[thats as much of a celebration as new year deserves]
[Besides drink]
[nothin. play games. like i said its cool]
[Doesn't sound fun]
[Sounds bad]
[well i dont do big stuff like you do]
[its just a number ticking over anyway]
[When you don't do anything for holidays you get sad]
[youre worrying way too much. lol]
[its fiiiine. go have fun]
[Tell me you'll have a good time]
[i mean im gonna be sitting at home]
[woohoo itll be very much fun]
[its cool. dwai]
[Then tell me you're good at least]
[i said its cool]
[And you're good?]
[salem]
[See]
[Sad.]
[ok. and]
[its the holidays lots of ppl are sad]
[boohoo]
[Come to the party]
[It's my party so it's good]
[I swear]
[dont wanna be stressed out around strangers]
[You know them]
[i hang out with you with them]
[they dont talk to me. why would they]
[theyre your friends theyre there for u]
[just how things work n thats fine]
[They like you]
[ok cool. dont wanna go to a party]
[It's better than nothing]
[you say that but not to me]
[really not as big of a deal as youre making it]
[im an adult. i can be a little sad on a holiday]
[ill survive]
[so go have fun and quit worrying about me]
[ok?]
[OK]
[cool. thank u]
[u can tell me abt it after]
[Left early]
[what why]
[salem]
[i said im good]
[????]
[did u go home??]
[msg me back ok? whered u go]
[Here]
[--LOCATION SHARE--]
[Come here]
[what]
[Not a party]
[salem thats all the way downtown]
[buses arent even running]
[Rails are]
[You can make it]
[tell me what its for]
[It's a surprise]
[what about the party]
[Party over. Come on]
[its not even close to midnight yet]
[Let me do a thing for you]
[I already left]
[Don't want to count down all by myself]
[i dont wanna leave]
[It'll just be us]
[I'm by myself]
[Promise]
[its cold]
[Won't kill you]
[ok but will u]
[is this like some elaborate plot to murder me]
[I wouldn't need to do that]
[I have a key to your apartment]
[so is that a yes]
[Not tonight]
[You're safe for now]
[Please]
[i need to shower and stuff]
[I have time]
[you dont need to go to so much trouble for me]
[Too late]
[I'm doing it for me too]
[If that makes you feel better]
[what about the party]
[There'll be more]
[Come hang out with me]
[ok]
[im barely gonna get there before midnight]
[will u be ok out there on your own]
[Cornerstore close by]
[I'll hang out there]
[I'll get a slushie]
[ok. fine]
[be safe ok?]
[Always safe]
"...no way in hell."
"Yep.
You can do it. I got through just fine."
"I-" The axolotl rubs its temple,
looking over the gap at the bottom of the chain link fence.
"Okay A: I'm way bigger than you.
B: I wore my good jacket."
"The wing one?"
"Yeah, the wing one.
It's gonna get all torn up from s-
Look, can't we just go down by the docks?"
"Believe it or not, they have better fences down there.
More worried about the boats than the warehouses, I guess.
Plus, the fog's thicker by the water.
If we wanna see fireworks, we need to get up high."
"Look, I
...I'm not lookin' to start off the new year by getting caught up with cops."
"It's completely empty down here."
"Yeah, but--"
"If cops come around they'll just tell us to get down.
Maybe we get a fine at worst."
"And I'm broke! You know I'm broke, I can't-
I get caught with that and I'm--" "I'll pay it."
"...How?"
"End of year. I got a big bonus."
"You're willing to blow it on this?"
"To have a good time with you?
Yeah."
"...I mean, I-
I'd feel fuckin'... bad if you had to--"
"Bones.
It'll be okay.
Trust me."
The crow reaches out her wing-like hand from the other side of the fence.
"C'mon."
The axolotl hesitates,
looking skyward with a shake of its head.
Knowing it's about to say yes.
That it would regardless.
"...fffffffffine.
If it'll make you happy."
"That's the spirit."
"Here.
First..."
It removes its jacket, wincing from the cold.
The axolotl delicately folds it up before passing it under the fence for the bird to take.
"Cool.
This is all I wanted, actually."
"Uh-huh."
"It's a killer jacket."
"You've already got wings, save me some."
"I got, like... 'wing-hands'.
Not the same."
"Too bad."
She tucks the jacket under her arm,
reaching down to help pull the salamander under the fence.
The axolotl gasps.
She freezes.
"What--" "fUCkin, oWw-OW-OW--"
It reaches a hand up,
finding one of its frills pierced by a sharp point of the fence.
"Help, helphelp-fffFF-
GOD--"
"Hold still, hold still. I got it."
The axolotl freezes on command, biting its lip.
Salem quickly and carefully looses the sharp metal point from its frill.
A trickle of blood runs down, dripping on the pavement.
"Done."
The axolotl rubs at it.
"...hate how stupidly sensitive these things are.
Stings like hell anytime I nick one... ugh."
The crow wastes no time in pulling a spare napkin from her pocket,
pressing it against the wound.
"Weren't you wanting a piercing?"
"I mean fuck, you're right.
This was your present, then?"
"Mhm. Happy New Year's."
"Awesome.
...Is whatever you're putting on it sterile?"
"I dunno. It's fine.
Disinfect it later.
Better than bleeding everywhere."
She pulls it away.
"Looks like it stopped anyway."
The crow blinks,
then pats its shoulder as she hands back its jacket.
"Let's go up."
Her head gestures to the ladder.
"...yay."
The crow reaches the top first, spreading her arms in a stretch.
She reaches into her pocket,
pulling out a cigarette and pinching it between her beak.
"Uh--"
Her head tilts back to the ladder.
Bones is clinging tightly to the top rung.
"Look, I'm. Like-
Have I told you I can get like,
really bad vertigo?
Like I'm not scared of heights, but like--"
She leans down by the ladder, mumbling past her cigarette.
"I'm n't g'nna l'shoo fall."
"...What?"
The crow reaches out her hand, gesturing for Bones to grab it.
It takes it,
and is swiftly hefted up to the rooftop,
where it clings to the metal surface.
She pulls her cigarette out.
"Look. Roof's almost flat, and it's got railings."
"...Yeah... y-yeah, just like-
I'm--" It takes a breath, snagging a railing and managing a sitting position.
"I'm good, I'm good."
"There ya go."
She plops down next to it,
eliciting the faintest of creaks from the metal roof.
"You uh... sure this roof is like, stable?"
"I've been up here dozens of times."
"Yeah, and I'm way heavier than--"
She reaches over, lightly grabbing its head and turning it to look at her.
"Bones.
All
you've been doing
the whole time
we've been here
is Worrying.
We're up here.
We made it.
And it's..." She pulls out her phone. "...like twenty minutes to next year.
We're gonna hang out up here for a few more minutes,
because: Look."
She turns its head again.
The bright, colorful lights at the other side of the city reflect across the black water of the lake;
shimmering streaks of gold, red, pink, blue;
all refracted into hundreds of constantly shifting, confetti-like patterns.
The fog, in turn, lights up with every hue like a smoky aurora,
with not another soul in sight to witness it save for the two of them.
The axolotl stares in awe.
"Surprise."
"...okay. ............Yeah." It slowly smiles.
"There you go.
...It'll look even better when the fireworks start."
"...mhm..."
She glances over at the axolotl,
watching it watch the lake.
Salem puts her cigarette away.
" . . .
...Which is why I need payment."
It looks over quizzically.
"I'm cold."
"Oh.
I mean,
I GUESS you can borrow my jacket." It plays up the drama.
"It's just my ~O o o nly~ nice thing I Haaave!
But If you're really Rrreally--" "Nope."
She flops against Bones instead.
"You-
. . .
Bastard."
"Yea."
It snickers.
"You're like a parasite."
"I'm a very, very scary parasite.
I'm feeding off your brain."
"That's my chest.
You gonna bite my tits off, then?"
"Yyesss."
"Damn.
Free top surgery."
The crow cracks up, turning her head to the side to try and stop herself.
Bones just looks down at her, meeting her face.
It shakes its head at her slowly.
"And after I worked So hard to get these."
She properly sits up, waving a wing dismissively at it as she desperately works to suppress her giggling.
"Hell of a way to go."
She bats at its shoulder, cackling,
her laughter gradually turning into a small coughing fit.
"Oh-
Fuck, you good?"
"Your fault.
Making me laugh."
"...I mean, to be fair,
you're like the only person I can ever get with my dumbass jokes."
" . . .
...You should try actually joking around more with other people.
Like, when you hang out my friends, you're all...
...uptight all of a sudden."
"Eh, I'm not, like, actually funny, it's just--"
"Bones, would you-
. . . "
" . . .
...What?"
She settles back into her spot against its chest.
"Nothing."
"You... sure you don't--?"
"Not right now."
"...okay."
The axolotl's eyes glance down at her.
She's not smiling.
Not quite frowning.
" . . .
...how much time left?"
She pulls out her phone.
"Nine-ish minutes."
"...I got a thing."
"Oh yeah?"
It nods.
"So.
New Year's Thing."
"Resolutions?
Cause I've got none."
"No, who even remembers those like, even a day later?
This is like-
So--" "So."
"...So it's like...
You kinda... review this year a bit.
Like not rating it but just kinda, thoughts on this past year.
And we take turns.
And after that, we take turns talking about like...
what we want for next year."
"...So reviewing last year, then resolutions."
"No, no it's like-
It's not about like, setting yourself up for failure by,
y'know,
making some big goal or whatever.
It's just...
...like it can be stuff you Hope you do more of,
but you're not making it a big goal,
and it can be other stuff, too.
Stuff you hope happens, stuff you hope you do, stuff you hope is different, just...
How you hope the year'll go."
The crow breathes in the cold air.
"...Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I wanna."
"Okay, so y--" "You go first, though."
"W-
Why do I hav--" "I need examples."
" . . .
...fffffair, I guess."
"And go fast. Don't have a lot of time."
"Fast?
But-
Okay, fuck,
uh..."
The axolotl bounces its foot.
"Okay, this year
sucked
like a whole
whole lot.
Like, there was some good things here n' there-
Like
got my diagnosis- Diagnoses,
and--"
"Wait, like
for your hand stuff?"
"What?
...Oh,
no. No, like
...brain...
stuff."
"...What did you get?
You didn't talk about that."
"It's-
I don't... wanna, right now.
Just-
Anyway, so-
Mostly sucked.
Mostly on my own.
Mostly cooped up inside.
Mostly doing nothing.
Mostly just... I dunno, deteriorating physically and mentally.
Keep getting depressed and like-
... "
It sees her looking up at itself.
"But-
Like, good stuff, too.
Just...
not a lot.
. . .
I think it's more just,
me handling stuff less well, really.
Like... it's somethin' I can fix.
And I'm still doin' therapy; have been the whole year,
so it like-
Yeah.
Anyway, uh
this is
a nice way to end it.
And I'm glad we got some time together this year.
That was... most of the good stuff, honestly,
was just hangin' out with you."
" . . . "
"...Sorry.
Holidays make me like
sappy.
I dunno.
...Your turn."
"You're fine.
Thinking."
It nods.
Trying not to think too much.
"This year did suck.
Old job fucking fizzling out, like it did.
And everything with Cameron--"
"Fuck Cameron."
"Fuck Cameron.
And like
health problems.
...You hit thirty and your spine just shrivels up.
Like a raisin."
"You used to sleep on your floor."
"Yeah, how?
I don't know how I did."
"No I mean like,
might be related."
"...Well.
Better not be.
...Only good parts of this year were friend stuff, and going places.
Got to see a few new things.
Do a few new things.
...work made it hard, but
got that figured out now.
Used to the new schedule and, actually getting days off now.
The parties and hangouts and trips together have been the best part.
...And I'm glad you've actually been at some of 'em."
It nods, gaze focused away.
She nudges its shoulder.
"Hey.
I mean it."
"...I know you do."
" . . .
...That's it, I guess."
Another nudge.
"Next year. Go."
"...uh
Thinkin', sorry."
It steadies itself.
" . . .
...You want me to be honest?"
"Yes."
"...
...I don't, like
I mean not to be like... a downer, or anything,
but
just
don't have much hope that things'll like
get better.
And since I can't work,
it's not like I've got much control over my situation, or
my life, really, anyway.
So like... if things get better, they get better,
and if they get worse, they get worse."
"...OK.
But this is about what you Want to happen."
"I mean, I-
It's just gonna... make me feel shittier to think about, but it-
. . .
...It'd be nice to like, actually make some friends.
Most people're gone already or just don't talk to me anymore.
And I'm... fuckin' awful at talking to other people.
And like I want to, y'know... socialize
talk to people;
I know I'm s'posed to.
And I know I'm Supposed to like, express Myself, but it's like
. . .
...nobody's really
buyin' what I'm sellin', or-
Wrong way to use that phrase, just-
I know I'm just
a really, kinda... odd person; and even if I ignore my brain tryin' to tell me that's a bad thing,
it doesn't make it any easier to fit in around other people.
...Bein' the odd one out
out of literally
every group of anybody that I'm ever around,
and havin' people just like
not really Want that; and why would they?
Like
...I dunno.
Got off topic, I think.
Shit just sucks.
...I hope I make new friends, somehow.
Hope I can... leave the fuckin' apartment without bein' like
...terrified, of
anyone
and everyone;
not even like, 'oh they'll hurt me' but just
like
I don't want anyone to see me...
existing.
I don't wanna fuck up things for anybody.
I don't wanna cause problems.
...I dunno.
...maybe a miracle'll happen.
...sorry.
Downer.
...Things probably aren't that bad, just
feelin' shitty right now. Holidays.
I'm alright."
" . . .
You don't do any of that.
...I'm just glad you're here."
"I mean, I'm... really glad you're here, t--"
"Want you to see that."
"...yeah...
...your turn. Next year."
"This is part of it. Of mine.
Want you to actually see that I give a- That the people that know you... like you being here.
That it makes a difference.
That you're like..."
She shakes her head.
"...That's part of it.
The rest?
...I want to leave, I think.
This city was what I needed years ago.
But I moved on and I have more I want to do.
I don't wanna be stuck here longer.
There's new things out there to me.
I want to move on."
"...your...
You just got your job figured out, though."
"I can figure out a new one.
Not leaving right this second."
"And you like that apartment you're renting, right?"
"Yeah.
But I was thinking I could find a little house to rent somewhere, eventually."
"It's... just a big change,
and you haven't been here that long.
Things're just now, like... starting to stabilize, for you."
"They can stabilize somewhere else."
"I'd just
...I'd kinda... kill for that, honestly.
Moving around everywhere sucks."
She shrugs, leaning to the side against it to better see the lake.
"You sure it's not just, like
cause moving around's what you've been used to?
Like... I bet it probably feels weird, staying in one place a while."
" . . .
I feel restless, anyway.
The reason doesn't really matter.
And I still want more."
"...If you left...
. . . "
"...You could come with me, you know."
"...I can't make money..."
"I'd help."
"I don't... wanna do that to you."
"I'm offering."
"...I..."
Fireworks explode in the distance,
barely visible.
The crow pulls out her phone.
"...They started early.
Thirty seconds til, now."
She squints at the horizon.
Then, she stands up.
"Hey-
Careful--"
"Fog's in the way otherwise.
...I can just barely see over it like this.
You'd probably have a perfect view."
"I... dunno, the like... vertigo--"
"Here."
She reaches down a wing hand.
"Watch the fireworks with me.
I want you to."
"Salem--"
"I'm not gonna let you fall."
"But you might fall,
it's not worth--"
"I won't.
And you won't let me, either, right?"
The axolotl hesitates
then reaches up a shaky hand
to take hers.
She pulls it up slowly, carefully.
Making sure it's steady.
"Lean back just a little bit.
If you feel like you're getting vertigo,
just let your legs drop.
You won't fall off."
"O-O...kay..."
They stand in silence.
Watching the fireworks.
She looks at her phone.
"...I'd miss you, too."
Bones glances over.
"If you didn't come with me."
" . . . "
"...think about it."
".........yeah...."
"...Okay.
And-
Ten." "..."
"Nine." "..."
"Eight." "..."
"Seven." "..."
"Six." "...Six."
She squeezes its hand.
"Five." "Five."
"Four." "Four."
It closes its eyes.
"Three." "Three."
"Two." "Two."
"One." "One."
The brightest of fireworks flashes across the lake.
"Happy--"
The roof collapses out from under them.
cognition
fades in
Bones is
vertical
Hanging by
Its jacket.
The shoulder of its jacket.
Caught on a bent metal rafter
inside the warehouse.
It's panting heavily.
It remembers the fall.
Ignoring everything else,
the axolotl looks about the warehouse
eventually spotting the crow
not all that far away
to the side
on the floor
not moving.
"SALEM!!"
The beam its caught on suddenly bends as it flails.
Bones gasps, looking up.
The threads of the jacket sleeve are starting to rip.
The beam bends further, creaking loudly.
It looks directly below itself.
A large, square container there - at least four feet taller than Bones.
Its walls almost seem translucent.
It squints at them,
spotting a glint in the light.
glass.
With a whimper,
the axolotl looks back up,
spotting another beam within reach above itself.
Carefully,
it reaches.
The beam suddenly bends with a metallic cacophony.
The sleeve rips.
It falls,
ripping straight through the container's ceiling
as if it were made of cardboard.
It yelps in pain as it lands, quickly checking over itself
finding less cuts than it'd expected.
And no shards of glass.
Nothing of the sort.
Looking up, the hole doesn't make it look like glass, either;
not having broken in any way that glass might.
It has a slight iridescence in the light.
salem.
Bones stands
and falls back down with a sharp cry.
Blood drips through the leg of its jeans,
forming a small puddle.
It hurts like hell.
The axolotl groans, tensing on instinct.
"Sss-
Sa-lem...!
Are y-
Are you okay?!"
No response.
"...fff...ffuck, ...fuck fuck fuck..."
With shaky breath, it tries to steel itself to get back up,
unsure if it can.
It has to.
It stops.
A claw grasps the top of its head.
Bones can't move anymore.
"Not one of them, then?"
Bones realizes it is no longer breathing.
But it doesn't feel like it's choking.
"No, not at all.
Clueless.
And yet,
your accident
happened to free me
on such an occasion."
Bones finds itself able to move
just barely.
Resuming breathing.
Heavy, staggered.
It still can't stand, or pull away, or do much of anything.
Yet,
it finds itself lifted up,
into the air.
Turned to face the voice.
"It must be fate."
It can't see much.
A serpent-like figure; long, slender, tall; far taller than itself.
Short, thin limbs.
Patterns that shift like liquid, rings of light;
silver, sky blue.
A smile without teeth.
It can't see more.
It's dark.
It's growing darker.
It can hear its own blood dripping.
Even thinking about its leg causes it to hurt again.
It fails to suppress a whimper.
The stranger watches its leg.
Drip.
Drip.
"You'll die soon, won't you?
Fragile things."
They simply stare.
As if this means nothing.
Taking their time to think, while it bleeds out.
"Without my intervention, you will.
...Hmm.
I suppose I could
take on a project.
I'll need something to do
with my newfound freedom.
And besides,
I'm very curious
about how You
relate to Me.
It couldn't be a coincidence."
Bones
does its best to put up the slightest of struggles.
Hardly conscious, at this point.
One thing on its mind.
"...You would rather die?
That seems foolish."
The figure tilts its head,
leaning in.
"...No.
Something
you want.
...Very well.
An exchange.
She likely would
survive
without my help
but I will
ensure it.
I know
you will say Yes."
The figure's spare claw reaches into their own pattern,
pulling at their hide,
as one of the rings of light unravels;
pulled out like a string.
They wrap it around the axolotl's neck.
The string disappears.
Something else is there, now.
But Bones can't tell what.
"And just like that,
your thread
ties to mine.
I look forward to You
seeing Me
once more.
Until then,
let's see
where your fate leads,
Shall we?"
The figure reaches their clawtip forward
and taps the axolotl's forehead.
Bones sees
vast oceans
a wave
cr
The last tray
at the far, far end of the buffet line
contains a gelatin dessert;
molded into a ridged ring shape.
Deep, black-blue,
with tiny chunks of various other colors;
twinkling in the light like multicolored stars.
Currently untouched.
"...See?
I told you nobody would eat it."
Muriel shakes her head with a sigh.
"...I'll just take it home after this, then.
Norm'll eat it.
...I should go cover it back up."
She scoots her chair out, readying herself to get up from the table,
only for the woman next to her to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, stop, Muriel.
Honestly...
It's only because you kept the foil on until twenty minutes ago.
Everyone already went through the line an hour ago; saw it covered up--"
"Well!
It's not like they would've eaten it, anyway."
"Oh you don't know that." She waves a paw dismissively.
Muriel puts her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand.
Staring at the buffet line.
"I mean it, Deb.
...I just don't think I got the flavor right.
The black cherry mix with those little... glitter-y gummy candies;
it makes it look like fireworks - I think so, at least -
but I don't know if the flavors work together.
It's probably too sweet..."
"Oh, it's fiiine, I'm sure.
And it looks lovely."
"...you think so?"
"Sure do.
Just leave it out til the end of the party.
You'll see."
A man approaches the buffet line, eyeing the desserts.
Deb nudges Muriel.
"There, there; look.
I bet Donny'll take a piece right now."
With bated breath,
the two women watch the bored, slouching man
hover over the dessert trays.
Scattered chatter the only sound in the room.
He delicately takes the serving knife
and cuts off a piece of gelatin dessert.
And then,
a second piece.
"Two!
He took two.
I told you so."
Muriel's gaze follows the bored man to his seat
at his table,
by himself.
Continuing to observe.
"What's wrong now?"
"...He still may not like it, Deb."
"See, now you're being paranoid."
Her eyes fix on the man,
and his plate
and his slices.
With his fork,
he pulls up a bite
watching the gelatin wobble about strangely.
He bites.
Swallows.
Without any hint of expression,
he carves apart the next piece with his fork,
inspecting it like an open geode.
He reaches his fingers in
digging out a piece of twinkling gummy candy,
which he eats
by itself.
Repeating the process.
Again,
again.
Muriel's shoulders droop.
"...I told you."
"Oh, don't think about at Donny.
Bad example; look at him!
He's eating at it like a... worm, or something. Digging around.
Who does that?"
"The flavors don't work."
"What kind of judge of that is he?
Here-" Deb stands. "I want a slice--"
"No, noooo, it's fine--"
The lights in the open dining room dim,
while the lights on the little stage brighten.
Someone makes their way up onto the stage,
picking up the microphone from the stand.
They clear their throat.
"Thank you all for coming to another Gradient End-of-year Party.
I won't lie and say it hasn't been a tough year for our company,
and while it will always be tough to continue without Mx. Osborne;
we are strong.
Gradient is strong.
Even in just the last few months, we've had quite a turnaround.
...And we have you all to thank for that."
They adjust their glasses in silence.
"At any rate,
I know I'm looking forward to another successful year,
and I'm sure you are, too.
...But, I'm not who you should hear from tonight.
You should hear, tonight, from the man most responsible for our success in this difficult time;
Our Managing Director and Spokesman,
Mr. Wolf Wedmore."
They clap,
and others in the audience follow suit,
as a suited, gray feline makes his way up towards the stage,
giving the occasional wave to tables he passes.
He reaches the stage,
giving another wave and a smile to the audience,
as he fluidly removes the mic from the stand,
propping it confidently into the air.
" . . .
Well, hi there. Good to see you all.
I'm sure those of you, at this branch,
weren't expecting to see me here.
I can only be at One... company-mandated holiday party at once, can't I?
How did I choose?
Well.
The truth is-
Believe it or not,
this branch - Sirocco Branch, your branch -
had our most successful profit margins in every fiscal quarter of this past year.
All of You achieved that,
so I think you owe yourselves a round of applause."
He tilts the microphone away as the crowd applauds themselves,
tapping his free paw to his wrist to join in with the them.
"...Now,
seeing as you all have earned such an outstanding achievement,
I think you're owed an extra treat.
We have this party, of course - but that's every year, isn't it?
So, I thought
'Why not something special?'
As I'm sure you know,
we have a yearly preview of our new products and services;
every year, with our board of directors and various investors.
We film it.
We send it out a few days later in our monthly email to all of our employees;
showing you just a taste of what Gradient has in store.
But this year...
We have our presentation ready; right now, right in this room,
for all of you.
Of course, our cameras in the back-" He points them out. "-are filming this,
to show to our board;
but you, Sirocco, get to see our yearly Gradient Showcase,
live in person!"
He claps again.
Some follow suit.
A projector screen descends behind him.
"Yes, it's quite a privilege, of course.
But more than that,
we may even have a few free samples of our New products for after the party,
so make sure to stick around!"
This time, a bit of excitement picks up in the crowd,
and he smiles, nodding to them.
"Now, without further ado,
let's get this show on the road
and really show you what Gradient has to offer in the new year!"
He pulls up a remote from his pocket,
wielding it in his other paw,
pointing it up at the projector on the ceiling
pressing a button.
The projector doesn't turn on.
Wolf tilts his head hardly an inch.
Pressing the button again.
Still nothing.
"...Apologies, everyone,
we seem to be having a few... technical--"
The spotlights gradually move away from the cat,
traveling downstage
stopping on an empty spot.
Nothing there.
The crowd murmurs.
"...Excuse me,
...lights?
Could I ask who's running the li--"
The illuminated space on the stage
twinkles with yellow lights,
flitting about like fireflies.
"I'm sorry, could...
...someone check...the..."
The lights crackle audibly,
as they begin to form together.
Growing brighter
more colorful.
A drumroll echoes,
not coming from any speakers.
Blinding light forms a shape
sparking.
Some stand up from their tables.
Most stay seated. It must be part of the presentation.
The light dissipates in one final flash.
The audience gasps.
A body drops from the light,
nearly falling as it lands unsteadily on its feet.
A bipedal balloon dog.
With a painted-on face, that still somehow animates:
A Flexin.
This one, only three or four feet tall.
Bright teal, with patterns of white and gold.
A yellow halo bobbing above its head,
with tiny, matching wings floating behind its back.
A spiked collar around its neck.
Silver, with sky blue points.
Its leg is dangerously leaking air.
Disembodied, cartoonish fanfare plays once the flexin spawns in.
Confetti drops across the stage.
Both recede into nothing within a moment.
The projector flicks on, blinding the balloon dog.
It raises its hand in front of its face to block the light,
but it shines straight through, tinted by the flexin's translucent surface.
It stumbles a step to the side.
Dazed.
Shaky breath.
Barely upright.
Looking out at the audience.
"........Sss... Sa... lem...?"
It collapses with a dull squeak.
Bones's eyes are open,
ever-so-slightly.
It doesn't remember how long they have been.
They scan across the room.
Stale walls. Curtains across a window; dark outside.
Chair to the side.
Television on the wall in front.
Machines... beeping nearby.
Hospital room.
It must've survived the fall.
But-
It tries to sit up,
only to twitch with pain.
Its leg hurts.
And its arm is caught on something.
It checks.
An IV, plugged into-
No, it's-
It looks almost like
an air pump, or condenser of some kind.
The sort you might use to fill up tires, but more... medical.
On a stand.
why would-
It raises its arm carefully.
It stares at
the
balloon-like arm.
Plastic, or PVC, or
something thinner.
It doesn't know much about-
But this can't be its arm.
It might move when it tries to move its arm,
Bones might be able to feel it,
but
that can't be its arm.
It checks the clock on the bedside table.
It's 12:48 AM.
There's a phone on the same stand,
but it's just far enough away that it'd need to get Out of the hospital bed to reach it.
It
can figure all this out.
This likely isn't real, anyway.
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