Vestigial Library/Books: Difference between revisions

|line=-and the rain continued to pour down on the two boys. They rushed underneath the overhanging roof of a nearby cafe, for they were completely soaked.

|content=������ shivered feverently. ���� absentmindedly held ������ close to preserve their shared warmth.<br>������ felt safe in ����s embrace, a feeling that he cherished beyond anything else.

|line=����?

|content=Yeah?<br>What do you see yourself becoming in the future<br>What do you mean by that?<br>Well like, are you gonna be like a chef or something?<br>Im not sure myself… What about you?<br>I want to be a detective.

|line=������ lets out a long drawn out groan. But like, what do we want out of our lives?

|content=I mean, I wanna be rich. ���� jokingly remarks as he idly caresses ������s hair.<br>But like, were literally doing nothing right now. What are we gonna tell our kids when they ask what we did as kids for fun? I dont think sitting around in the sun is a particularly exciting response.<br>Oh, er-... Our kids?<br>Yeah dude like when you get married to that one froyo girl you always make passes at and have a ton of babies.<br>���� sighs. Uh, oh… Yeah… No, shes not really my type. Were just cool, thats all.<br>You never tell me about any girls you like.<br>Im not really into… anyone right now.<br>Hmmm. I see.

|line=Rise and fall.

|content=The silence of the humid summer day was only disturbed by the gentle noise of ������s breathing. He was asleep, his head in ����s lap. ���� silently ran his fingers through ������s soft black hair.<br>The gentleness of ������s hair against ����s skin only made him fall more in love with the other boy.<br>This tranquility, this peace. A place where ������ felt safe and secure was something ���� was willing to die to protect.

|line=May I have this dance? ���� asks. Holding out a hand to ������.

|content=������ smiles. Dude, its raining so hard.<br>So what? ���� scoffs. A little bit of rain never stopped us.<br>Shut up, you flirt. ������ jabs back, eliciting a mad red blush on ����s face. Before he could take his hand back, ������ stands up and grasps it. Lets dance then, idiot.<br>���� lets out an exuberant chuckle, and both metaphorically and quite literally sweeps ������ off his feet.

|line=������~... ���� whines, fanning himself while turning on a third electric fan. How do you survive in this heat?

|content=������ looks up from his book, clearly undisturbed by the intense summer heat. Im just too cool for this kind of weather.<br>Is that soooo… ���� sits next to ������, passing him a plastic cup filled with cold juice. Whatcha readin?<br>������ flashes the cover of the book. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, its a good book.<br>Hmmm… ���� rests his head on ������s shoulder. ���� glances over at ������s face. His eyebrows furrowed softly in concentration. At the moment, ���� was very aware of the space (or rather the near-lack-of) between their two faces. And a dangerous and risky idea enters his head.<br>He didnt go through with it, thankfully.

|line=... and his heart pounds at the thought. Just like every time he thinks about that; being with another boy. There are so many people who could hate him for that and it makes him so nervous.

|line=He doesnt like me that way. Hell never be in love with me the way I do. Its so hard to breathe.

|line=Superliminal Theory is the idea that there is a boundless space filled with alternative realities and there are specific weak points in the world that allow multiple realities to touch or overlap.

|line=The waves of the universe churn underneath these lost halls. The universes loved, reality's forgotten. The drops of oblivion trickle down the pipeline of experience. Experiences become stories, stories become myths. Myths are forgotten. They drop, they splash. And become lost forever, in the Eternal Tide.

|line=Do you truly understand what people say? Is it accurate to assume that the word that comes from another persons mouth is the truth? Truth is a flexible aspect, one that intertwines itself with the fabric of humanity in such a vital way that tearing it would cause the entire braid to unwind.

|line=I cant breathe. I cant breathe. I cant breathe.<br>

|content=Let me out.<br><br><br>

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR?|Let me go.}}{{DialogueLine|YOU?|Please stop, just stop.}}{{DialogueLine|NOT YOU.|Let GO OF ME.}}{{DialogueLine|LET GO.|LET GO.}}{{DialogueLine|let him breathe let him breathe let him breathe let|LET ME GO.}}

|line=dont try to understand.

|content=Why are you dragging me back home?<br>Why cant you just let me run away?

|line=Wow… Its so beautiful…

{{DialogueLine|����|I knew you would like it.}}

{{DialogueLine|������|Yeah…}}

{{DialogueLine|����|������… You should probably get down from that railing.<br>Wait, ������, what are you doing?}}

{{DialogueLine|������|Its easier to see it this way.}}

{{DialogueLine|����|Wait, ������, youre gonna fall, get back on this side.}}

{{DialogueLine|������|What if I did fall… Its so easy for me to just let go… Then id be in the water… Of course, youd jump in to save me.<br> ...I wouldnt want to burden you like that.}}

{{DialogueLine|����|������… Hey- lets… Lets go home now, its getting late.}}

|line=Hey, Tristy.

|content=I-uh… I hope this message finds you well… n stuff…<br> Make sure to take your meds, Ill be coming by soon.<br>... I know you dont want to talk about what happened last night but…<br>I, uh… Youve been… You know, the things youve been saying… I just…<br>Youre worth it, dude. I know things are hard right now, and I wanna help…<br>J-just… call me back… At um-when you can, okay?<br> I miss you

|line=''You look into the mirror and you see two boys walking along a beach boardwalk.''

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Theres a Starbucks around the corner if you want to sit down.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Im fine, thanks.<br>You really dont have to coddle me all the time, Im fine. Really.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|I like coddling you though.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Of course you do.<br>Oh, theres a spot.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY runs into the sand and puts down a long beach towel on the ground. RYNN follows behind.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Im gonna go to Starbucks now and get our stuff.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Alright.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN runs off to fetch their drinks. TRISTY sighs and sits down on the beach towel.<br>The weather is nice here. The sky is a clear and calming alice blue. And the sounds of waves and people seem to melt into a calming white noise. TRISTY feels himself drift off.<br>RYNN returns to a half-asleep TRISTY. He presses the cold drink against TRISTYs half-lucid face.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Here.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Oh. Thanks.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN sits down next to TRISTY, staring wistfully at the water.''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|I thought you were gonna swim.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|I dont feel like taking my coat off.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Hmm.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|What? Wanted to see me shirtless?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|I really dont.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Yeah, I figured.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|... ha... }}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''They stay this way for awhile. TRISTY rests his eyes for a bit.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Tristy. Triiiisty… Tristy!}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|huh... what?}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Here!}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN holds out an orange shell to TRISTY.''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|...<br>...?}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Its for you!}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|A… Shell.<br> Im not a girl, dude.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|So? I cant give my best friend a shell?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Fine, Ill take it.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN passes the shell to TRISTY, who places it into his bag. RYNN sits down next to TRISTY.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|This is nice.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY leans over to rest his head on RYNNs shoulder. RYNN reaches out to grab TRISTYs hand, and their fingers interlace.''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Yeah. It is.}}

|line=It's you.

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Rynn, Rynn!! Look at them! Theyre so pretty…}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Yeah… Its so...-}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Magical...}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Yeah...}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Rynn, what are you-<br>Ah- ! Dude!}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Ha!}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Dude...}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Is this a new one?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Yeah, The Night Circus. Its a good read.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Well I know that, I consider you a great judge of literature quality.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Shut up.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Its true!}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Huh?}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Its not my best work.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Its so pretty…}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|You should keep it somewhere safe, before all the petals go all gross.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Yknow I could try to preserve them with one of those chemical sprays.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Wow, you really must like it.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Well, I… Uh. I really like… Everything you make. So…}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Sap.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Nerd!}}

|line=hrrrgh...

|line=youre going deeper, child.<br>pray that it doesnt consume you.

|line=''You see two boys walking along the waterfront, there are tons of restaurants and businesses along the pier. Its dark, and the city glowed like a starry sky.''

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|It smells like seaweed here.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|I think thats just you.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|...}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|We should get something to eat.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Ivars?}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Ivars!}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''The two boys run off to fetch some food. They spend their time by the water eating in silence. The two occasionally trading glances at the other.<br>Once they finish, RYNN and TRISTY spend some time looking out into the night sky. Its chilly, but it doesn't bother the two.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Wanna go on the ferris wheel?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Isnt that like, a couple thing?}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Arent we a couple?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Not in the way they mean.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Still...!<br>...we can just go on a walk then…}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Sounds good.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''The two take a night stroll through the city, taking in the sights and the smells. They stop by a couple of stores, RYNN constantly being enticed by shiny objects. TRISTY sighs and grabs RYNNs hand.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|!!!}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Lets go, nerd.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''The two exit the store hand-in-hand, and make their way to RYNNs car.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Wait one moment.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|RYNN rummages in his pockets, pulling out a fancy expensive pen. He holds it out to TRISTY.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|I bought it while you werent looking.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|I- dude, Rynn!}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|What? Take it!}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN presses the pen into TRISTYs hands. TRISTY looks down at the pen, and then up into RYNNs eyes. He sighs''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|I know what youre trying to do.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Huh? What do you… mean?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|If you dont wanna hang out with me, it's fine. You don't have to drag me out of my house all the time. It's fine, Im… Uh, Im getting better.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN steps forward, getting closer to TRISTY.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|I do these things because I like being with you.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''Theres a moment of silent understanding exchanged between the two.<br>And then RYNN closes the gap between himself and TRISTY.<br>They kiss. It was a short, sweet kiss. But it felt like forever to the two. RYNN breaks the kiss and steps back, scratching the back of his head.<br>TRISTY lets out a long sigh, steps forward and hugs RYNN close.''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Okay.<br>You win.<br>Lets just go home now.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''The ride back to TRISTYs place is quiet. As neither of them knew what to say. Or what to think. Or what today meant for them.''}}

|line=THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE GODS.

|line=Sludge pours from the window. It smells rotten. Flowers bloom from it.

|line=''You see one boy sitting on the floor against the wall. Rays of morning light flicker across the floor and meet his face.''

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|...<br>...}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY sighs. His head dips. For a while he stays that way, until RYNN walks in. He notices TRISTY. He walks over and kneels in front of him.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Hey… Can I join you?Hey… Can I join you?}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY nods silently. RYNN sits right next to him.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Hey, can I-}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY immediately hugs RYNN, pressing his face into RYNNs shirt. RYNN comforts him and caresses TRISTYs hair.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|... <br>Do you want to talk about it?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|... <br>Im not ready for this.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Thats okay.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Its not that Im not ready to commit or anything. <br>Its…}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY sighs, holding RYNN tighter.''}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|I… I dont know if I can commit… <br>... to me.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN quietly hums, tracing circles on TRISTYs back. He kisses the top of TRISTYs head.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Its alright. Dont worry about it. Lets go at our own pace. <br>Everything is alright.}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|... <br>thank you. <br>im sorry…}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Dont be sorry.<br>... I love you.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY untenses and unwinds in RYNNs arms. They spend that part of the morning in tight embrace, as the morning light flickers across the room like dancing flames.''}}

|line=From the rearview mirror, ������ saw the sun rising on his neck.<br>You're nervous.  

|content=���� shook his head but said nothing <br>How long has it been? ������ asked, tilting his gaze away from ����'s reflection.<br>A couple of years. <br>������ sighs, shifting in his seat. The silence they fell into was only interrupted by the occasional hum of the engine as they pass through fields and fields of grass. <br>You didn't have to bring me. I didn't have to come. ���� said, looking out the side window. If you're that worried how I'll be, or how your family... <br>If I didn't ask you, you wouldn't come along. ���� said. It's a firm, calm statement-yet tense nonetheless. He shook his head. I want you here. <br>���� took a hand off the wheel to pat ������ on the head. It'll be fun. Trust me. My hometown's no circus' <br> ������ smirked. Oh really? I assumed so. Considering you're the biggest clown I know. <br>The sun continued to rise, in a blinding curve of light that bisected the grasslands. The car didn't break down, and neither did they.  

|line=...and then ������ saw it, the glow. The endless sky, the untouched stars. A boundless, infinite, unknowing unknown that stretched far beyond the grass beneath his pals.  

|content=The world, the world he knew-one of so much pain and struggle-dwarfed and miniscule in the grandest contexts.<br>In that moment, he couldn't make sense of it-why such a wide and boundless world would ever allow him to cross paths with ����.<br>The night sky is endless, and the stars are countless. <br>The abrupt closing of a car door disturbed this peaceful panorama as ������ quickly sat up, dusting himself off. He'd look back at ����, who was walking over from the car.<br>My uncle would take me and my cousins here once a month, ���� began as he sat down beside ������. He'd sit us down right over there-next to the river. He'd tell us that all those stars and the land beneath them were made for us. And the beauty of this world belonged to those who are willing to see it.  <br>���� shrugged, then layed down on the grass. He tried being a poet, but no publisher would touch his manuscripts. <br>������ snickered, letting his gaze lay upon the Spokane river which bisected the land. I don't think your uncle has the poetic mind they're looking for.<br>Then he lifted his head up, to see the world beyond his own. <br>...But he does know the best places to stargaze.  

|content=Hey! ���� slid out the door and onto the street, turning to looking straight at ������. He was slightly out of breath, and his wide eyes narrowed as he walked up to the other boy.<br>You good? <br>������ just rolled his eyes and turned to look back up at the sky. Peachy. I just needed some air. <br>���� just shook his head. Dude, my family has been asking about you. Are you like, actually fine? What's going on?<br>Lay off, ����. ������ said, not turning to look back at him. <br>No, you need to tell me what's wrong. We need to resolve this. You can talk to me! You can't just keep shutting me out! ���� pleaded as he ran a hand through his hair. <br>������ scoffed, then turned to glare back at ����. Okay?<br>...I need us to be a team, man. This trip is for me and I just... ���� tilted his head, frowning. I need something from you once.  <br>Well, if you don't want me to protect your feelings, ������ shrugged. I don't like your family.<br>...What?  <br>I don't like the way your family looks at me. I don't like the way they talk to me. I don't like the way you talk about me when you're around them-like I'm not even in the room with you. ������ said, getting more tense with each passing word. It sucks. <br> The shock on ���� wasn't what stung, but how that shock turned into disbelief.<br>They are my family. You... You can't just say those things! I... <br>It's the truth. ������ wanted to be hurtful, to hurt him in that moment. But truthfully, his resolve broke the moment those words left his mouth.<br>It's... It's just how I feel. Sorry. <br>���� sighs. Can you just, like, bear with it? For one night! Just one night. I promise I'll make it up to you.<br>������ didn't say anything. He just nodded. He didn't want to fight with ���� tonight. <br>At the nods, ���� dropped his hands to his sides. He then stepped forward, embracing ������.<br>You'll get through this. Just... do it for me, please? <br>The air was warm, and the cars passing by were loud. There were no stars in the sky, but lights everywhere to be seen. And there he was, rooted where he stood.<br>Only for you.

|line=are you with the alliance? are you a catoptrist?<br><br>whats a catoptrist?<br>never mind…

|content=despite our efforts, we weren't able to evacuate everyone. now were scattered in pockets all throughout this place--waiting for something to change.

|content=however, us questants and custodians dont seem to be affected by it.

|content=its nice to see another lost down here. <br>dont mind the questants… theyve been down here with me since i fell. <br>i need to rest. stay safe.

|line=everything is alright.

|line=Various miscellaneous writings, nothing too eye-catching.

|content=dont try to interfere.

|line=''You glimpse into the mirror, and you see many high school students milling around the stone and grass of a highschool campus.''

|content=''You see TRISTY talking to a few other classmates. On the surface, he looked exceptionally brighter, happier even.<br>RYNN watched from the doorway, not wanting to interrupt this natural moment.<br>A few minutes pass, TRISTY spots RYNN and makes his way over to him. As he gets closer, RYNN notices how tired TRISTY looks.''

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Sup.}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Hey.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY yawns, then rubs his eyes. He seems to sway where he stands.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Is everything alright?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Just a lil tired…}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''TRISTY trods closer to RYNN and leans heavily on him.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|Oh, okay, hey, lets uh-}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN leads TRISTY inside and underneath a staircase. He sits TRISTY down by the wall.''}}

{{DialogueLine|RYNN|You good?}}

{{DialogueLine|TRISTY|Just... A minor headache. Im fine.}}

{{DialogueLine|MIRROR|''RYNN sits down next to TRISTY, who slumps against him.<br>TRISTYs breathing shallows and he falls asleep against RYNN, who starts to feel pretty tired himself.<br>RYNN reminisces about the time hes had with TRISTY. As the clock ticks by, he finds himself cherishing every moment he has with the other.<br>In this short moment, in time, they share a private moment under the stairs.<br>And thats okay, RYNN knows that he has all the time in the world. And they can take it slow.''

|line=...

|content=its a bit early in the narrative, but i couldnt help myself.<br>it wont matter in the long run, you most likely dont have enough context to understand whats happening right now. and thats alright

|line=Hey, ����.

|content=Whats up?<br>Actually, nevermind.<br>Whats on your mind?<br>... Well…<br>…Do you think… Well ever stop being friends?<br>What do you mean?<br>I mean like, would you ever forget me…?<br>Or forget… us<br>I dont think thats going to ever happen, dude.<br>But why are you asking?<br>...No reason.<br>No reason at all.<br><br>{{DialogueLine|RYNN|#B06500}}

|line=Its such a sunny day, wont you join me for a stroll on Alki Beach

|content=Haha, leaving notes is super old-school, but Im feeling pretty different today.<br>-����

|line=Dreaming of Cherry Blossoms is a symbol of passionate and ardent love. Seeing it in a dream is a good omen in which any interpret as a meeting with ones soul mate.

== The Hideaway (Authors Abode Room) ==

|line=oh, welcome to HIDEAWAY. feel free to stay for as long as u want !!!

|line=i love eating books.

|line=welcome !!!

|line=a few of us questants have been scattered since the NEW AUTHOR showed up.

|content=everything changed, AUTHORS ABODE subsequently became derelict and ruined.

|name=CUSTODIAN

|line=...

# [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FDdqKxiQrMCGN9Gj0BfC8OfxXksKwkKfVRwyk7ta-Zc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.vuep29h6j10w| Documentation of the games by Aki]