Hallucinogen_NA

". . . Essex," Hal said, stepping backwards slowly. ". . . When you invite friends. . . why can't they be sweet little girls who like having tea parties?"

Bah! Me and my big mouth!

Oh yes indeed. Essex is probably going to say something now, and I play piano and write music as well as fiction. I'm no performer, but I may want to try to write professionally someday.

Think I'd forgotten about this? No!

And by the way, I should attribute these. First one to Prodiguy, second to Essex.

From Cosmic Chess, by Khellendrosiic. . .

Best. Post. EVER.

[ QUOTE ]
"Ow!" Balsk said as the ball of energy slammed into him, knocking him roughly to the ground and scorching the scales on his chest.

The wave of light hit the prone draconian, sending him rolling toward the cliff edge. Slowly getting up and rolling his shoulder, procuring a loud snap, Balsk gave everyone gathered the finger and fell backwards over the cliff.

"Life sucks and then you die!" Balsk shouted as he fell into the mists.


[/ QUOTE ]

I just can't stop laughing at this. I don't know why. I just can't.

"So, uh. . ." Hal stammered, trying to find something to say. "Um, come to think of it, I haven't asked you how you've been doing lately. . ."

". . .How have you been doing lately?" he finished feebly.

"I'm not an illusion, my appearance is," Hal objected. "Well, I was created, so I suppose I'm not entirely real, but. . . Ugh, never mind. Who the hell made me so hard to understand?"

((*evil grin*))

Hal appeared out of nowhere in the water several feet away from her. He looked exactly the same as always.

"I really have to stop doing that," he said. "But I just feel safer when I'm invisible. . . yeah, I changed while you were gone, but you can't really tell, honestly. . ."

"No, we're planning to leave you miserable and alone," Hal replied. "Don't worry. If they come back, I'll know what they're capable of."

He glanced at Archlich. "And might I ask exactly what YOU are doing here?

"Where did they come from?" Hal said, turning to Ian. "Who were they? You know. Just tell us already so we can help!"

"Ah, hello, Priestess," Moonscribe said, looking up calmly at Essex as though she were a portrait he found mildly interesting. "Yes, I dabble a little in the performance arts. I am not really very good, but I enjoy it. But I would be happy to accompany you to dinner, Priestess."

He got up from his piano, and it vanished instantly, returning the room to normal, although it still looked vaguely stretched. "Shall we then?" he said calmly, stepping out into the hall.

((And since I never managed to fit it in. . . he's playing from memory.))

"Mr. Newman. . . I think something's going on, sir!" the man in the cubicle next to Percy said under his breath as he peered over the wall at his head of department. "There are alarms going off. . ."

Percy sighed. "Do not concern yourself with that, sir. It is likely of little importance. If there is a problem, the security guards shall handle it."

"But. . . but what if the building is on fire, or someone's breaking in or something, sir?" the programmer continued. He did not comment on Percy's addressing him as 'sir'. Anyone who did would simply be told that as their superior, he would be calling them whatever he wished, and few people asked about it anymore.

"Well, I have not yet noticed that our lives are in danger," Percy returned calmly, continuing to type. "If that situation changes, then I would assume we would simply follow the guidelines for evacuation. Please, sir, do not ask foolish questions. I get enough of those from the marketing department."

Several of my characters come from stories I have already written. So yes, I write off the forums. I have only one finished story worth much of anything at present, though.

Reginald simply sat still, his invisibility dropping, and watched.

"Reggie!" the Oracle said, appearing on his back. "You can't just sit here!"

". . . Though time itself turn back, and all creation be rewritten. . ."

The Oracle's eyes widened. "What on earth. . . Attack the portal already!"

Reginald calmly pulled out an arrow, attached another grenade to it, and let it fly at the portal.

". . .It is complete, isn't it?" Reginald said, turning to the Oracle behind him. "I have already fulfilled it."

"Reggie, please!" the Oracle said irritably. "Just, well. . ."

". . .So fine. Your destiny is complete. I don't know how or why you've realized it. But there is more to live for than destiny. There is still a life ahead of you. FIGHT for it."

((I really can't form an opinion about this, it seems. . . I'm too conflicted. But regardless, don't end the day Friday night, because the Pocket D party will probably make everyone miss the cutoff.))

((EDIT: And now I agree with Mechagogue. ))

"For some reason," came Reginald's voice again, "I don't really like the look of this."

". . .Ah! I'm sorry!" Hal exclaimed, jumping and rubbing the back of his head. He turned to Experiment.

"I'm sorry, heh. . . She's just so. . . well, you know."

Hal watched Essex run off, smiling to himself vaguely. . .

* * * * * *

"Ah yes, I am quite fond of this one," said Moonscribe, and began playing "Gladiolus Rag", hardly seeming to tire.

[ QUOTE ]
*hides behind her Large Toy plushie* D:

Very well written. That having been said....

*cries!*

[/ QUOTE ]

If I do this too much it will become a habit, and I shall become boring and uncreative, thus helping Schizo bring about the end of the world. That having been said. . .

QFT.

Hal followed her gaze. "So can you, uh, go in water then?" he said under his breath. "Well, uh. . . I do kind of like to swim, actually. . . I never get a chance to. . ."

[ QUOTE ]
"Uh..." Experiment stood up straight, lowering his arms with a very confused face.

"...So... Do we win? Can we arrest them now?"

[/ QUOTE ]

"I certainly hope so," Hal's voice came from all directions, as he was invisible again. The Phantasm was floating in the air, hands glowing, ready to fire at any ninja that got to its feet. "Oh, and Essex, thanks a million. You're a lifesaver."

"Um, yes. . ." Hal said, backing away slowly. "Uh, Essex, Experiment, wanna go. . .somewhere else? Like, I dunno, away from these guys?"

"Aaah!" Schizo yelled as he reappeared, and Hallucinogen's green smoke returned. "Whadda hell was DAT allabout?"

PART TWO

He had been waiting for at least two and a half hours now.

. . . Had she gotten lost somehow? She did seem to do that a lot, but for half an hour? Well, maybe, but wouldn’t she have tried to contact him?

Of course! Hal pulled out his communicator. Even if she was lost, she surely would at least have brought her communicator. . . “Essex?” he said into the device.

<Beep beep BEEP> We’re sorry, but the number you have dialed does not exist. Please try your call again.

“. . . WHAT?!?” Hal exclaimed, making people in the station around him jump. “But. . .but I use that line all the time, it can’t have changed. . .I guess her communicator could be broken, but I would think Dr. West would already have fixed it. . .unless. . .”

And then he was gone again in a flash of light. An old man leaning against the wall sighed. “Kids these days, always in a hurry.”

* * * * * *

A green blur tore through the laboratory Dr. West maintained in Paragon City.

“Where is everybody?” Hal said frantically. “Dr. West! Are you here? Hello? Isn’t anybody. . .”

The temperature suddenly seemed to drop slightly as a dark blue robot floated out of a corner. It sat with its legs crossed in midair, surrounded by a force field constantly.

“Oh. . . Hallucinogen. . . what exactly. . . are you doing. . . here. . . might I ask. . .?” the robot said, its voice a low, sluggish drone. It sounded as though it hadn’t ever spoken before.

“Deep Tide!” Hal said, running at the android and colliding with its force field. “Ow! Why do you always have that thing up?”

“Well. . . if it ever dropped. . . my personal aura. . . would likely. . . freeze everything solid,” Deep Tide responded, so slowly that Hal winced every time he paused. “It is for the protection. . . of others. . . not me. . .”

“Look, I don’t care!” Hal said impatiently. “Have you seen Essex? Or Dr. West, or, well, ANYONE?”

“Dr. West. . . and the others. . . have all left. . . for the Rogue Isles,” Deep Tide said, folding his hands as though in slow motion.

“What?!?” Hal exclaimed. “But, did Essex. . .”

“She. . . did not go. . . she said. . . she was going to meet you. . . Dr. West. . . was worried. . . for her safety. . .”

“But she didn’t ever arrive!” Hal exclaimed. “Where is she?”

“I assume. . . she would be. . . at the station. . . where she said. . . she would meet you,” Deep Tide returned.

“BUT SHE ISN’T!!!” Hal yelled at the top of his lungs. “Dangit, can’t you help at all?!?”

“I am sorry. . . Hallucinogen,” Deep Tide said as he floated off. “I’m afraid. . . being helpful. . . is really. . . not my function.”

“You can say that again,” Hallucinogen said, facepalming as he rushed back to the station. . .

"Eh," Hallucinogen said. "I'm okay at cooking, but I haven't had much practice. . ."

"Not bad," he said as Helper prepared a large number of potatoes. "I'm kind of hungry. . . I'm not sure Essex can eat those, though, they're not sweet. . ."

((Indeed.))