[EVENT] The Simulation Ends

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: 6I Fountain Park & Elsewhere
WHEN: April 1
OPEN TO: ALL - Mingle
WARNINGS: N/A

---

In the snug circle of an old park, a fountain sits burbling beneath a broad, midday sky.

Once-neat paving stones have buckled and cracked from the slow nudge of wayward roots. Benches stand covered in lichen and rust. Three paths push into the underbrush like the spokes on a wheel, the encroaching forest creating lush tunnels through the dark.

But the fountain stands singular and pristine, brightly splashing in open rebellion of the deep, muffled sounds of a place long ago gone to seed. A vibration hums through the ground, there and quickly gone, and the water in the fountain trembles, lapping against the high walls of its cool, pale reservoir.

Far, far away, in a place that isn't really there, people begin to blink out of existance.

It is the first of April.

It is precisely ten o'clock in the morning.



[Please see event details and guidelines here.]

Comments

[onlyeverdoubted]

Bodhi's just been quiet since he managed to haul himself out. He wants to be doing... something, though nothing presents itself. It's just gotten so hard to care. One more stupid thing. He's spent more than a year now trying to find some sense in what's going on, annoying the people around him with his persistent pursuit of something resembling truth, and now it's all been pulled out from under them. Again. For no discernible reason. The urge to start all over just isn't there. He's kept an eye out for people, because he can't bring himself not to, but is there a point to that, either? He clearly doesn't have any real effect on whether they're alright.

He's mostly just pacing and trying to banish any hint that he's upset before he bothers anyone else with it. Certainly less aware than he should be. He completely misses Baze's approach, busy being agitated and miserable.

His reaction is to shove as hard as he can before he has any idea who's responsible. He's not a big guy in any dimensions, dwarfed by Baze in particular, but he's stronger than he looks and the response is pure, frantic instinct.

[chirrutsluck]

Baze probably shouldn't have led with the hug. Johanna at least is familiar with his occasional attempts at affection. He lets go immediately and steps back, holding up his hands. "Sorry," he says, not particularly surprised, a little chagrined, and a little annoyed at himself for not thinking about it. Bodhi is jumpy. Bodhi still isn't entirely comfortable with him. How is he surprised the kid reacted badly to him?

[onlyeverdoubted]

Bodhi doesn't really hear him. This has nothing to do with Baze, and anchoring himself to this time and place again is the first step. "S-sorry," Bodhi stammers, an automatic placeholder with no eye contact attached. It's not so bad. It's not. He can tell himself that forever. He's had far worse responses, so this, by definition, is fine. His heartbeat in his ears is too loud and his skin feels crawly and hot despite the cold water he hasn't really dealt with, but it's fine. A few deep, shuddering breaths and he can half trust his voice again. Only for another quick, flat, "Sorry."

[chirrutsluck]

"Now we are echoing each other," Baze points out, lowering his hands and frowning at the pilot. "I should not have startled you." But this is an obvious over-reaction. Where did that come from? "Calm down," he suggests, in as calming a voice as he's capable of. Which isn't honestly that calming, but he's trying, here.

[onlyeverdoubted]

Baze is not a very calming presence, even now that Bodhi's figured out the man doesn't mean him any particular harm and may, in fact, wish him good. But he's right. Should be calm. Shouldn't fall apart so easily like this. It's not usually so bad. ...It's usually kind of bad, though. "Calming. It--it's fine, I'll get there, don't worry about, about waiting around..." He hates to be an inconvenience.