[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 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.