2.32 When We're Dead

"I think he's just too far in his own world," Finley says, gritting her teeth when Junpei tells her about his recent encounter with Timmothy, and how Timmothy wants to save her and Reve from aliens. "Best not to question."

Junpei didn't want to bring the incident up at all, but it was another one of those things Finley would eventually find out about and then be angry if she wasn't informed. He hates those things. "I think I'll place more protective spells around the house," he offers.

"Yeah. Sounds practical," she says.

"You're... not mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"I used someone's worst fear against them," he points out. "Someone you loved."

Finley lets out a short attempt at a laugh. Intended to sound cold and dismissive, it fails to hide her melancholy feelings from her brother. "I don't even know that man anymore."

Finley should have her own office at this point in her career... but that's not why she is sulking.

"What should I have done differently?" she asks herself.

"Don't blame yourself," Reisa says. 

And when she says nothing else, Finley wonders what's happened, what's changed, to make her friend stop actively and excitedly engaging in drama.

 

Have they gotten too old? 

 

Artists in Reve's family have traditionally been painters, or more rarely, musicians or authors... but since early childhood Reve has had a fascination with the camera. He wakes up early in the morning to catch the best lighting.

 

The school bus is honking at you, Junpei pokes Reve telepathically, forcing him out of his intense focus.

"UGH, I HATE SCHOOL," Reve moans aloud.

"Me too, you aren't special!" one of his classmates calls from inside the bus.

Reve begrudgingly boards the bus.

Newton follows Reve home that afternoon, like usual. They spend all evening ignoring their homework in favor of video games. 

 

Newton is just about to suggest starting on that homework when Reve tactically announces his intentions to go to the graveyard to get the 'perfect' spooky shot at dusk.

"Well that's random," Newton comments, hesitantly.

"It's not random at all. Mom cut my allowance after I toilet papered the principal's office. HOWEVER, I can get paid if I submit photos to the news station and they use them in a segment."

"The news station? That means your mom is in a position to either help your chances or sabotage them..."

Reve frowns. "Well! You got me there!"

They end up at the graveyard anyway.

Newton has tagged along for support, but doesn't like it here one bit. "Ghosts or no ghosts... this place gives me the creeps. We're going to spend enough time here when we're dead, why start now...?"

"There are no ghosts, my grandmother took care of that."

"Then what are you trying to photograph?"

"The ambiance."

Reve has taken photos all over town, and some of them make it into the Daily Springs.

His mother wants him to know that nepotism was not involved.

"I want you to know I had nothing to do with your pictures being chosen. You have real skill."

 

"I'm the best amateur photographer in this teeny tiny town, go me, woo," Reve responds, monotone.  

"If you can keep your nose clean, we might be able to offer you a job after graduation. A steady gig doing something you enjoy while you figure out what you want to do might not be so bad..."

"Keep my nose clean?" Reve grumbles.

"No more being brought home by the cops."

"It's not my fault this lame town has cops with no actual crimes to attend to, so they harass kids..."

"Lame town?" Finley seems legitimately hurt.

"Unfortunately with these dumb psychic genetics, I can't handle a bigger town than this. I'd go loopy with all those voices in my head. Crazy. Nuts. Insane. Wacko!"

"I didn't realize you felt that way..."

"Sorry."

"Reve, are you okay? Is something going on?"

Reve sighs. "Yeah, Mom. I mean no. Everything is fine."

 

 

 

"Why do I need a job though?"

Finley stares at him. "Money? If not for some personal satisfaction in what you do, the motivating factor is usually money?"

"I could literally just walk up to someone and brainhack them to give me all their money."

"Reve!"

"Capitalism is a scam!"

"You know what's not a scam? Murder faeries that show up and kill you for abusing your powers."

"I could be smart about it..."

"NO. Nothing about that is smart! You're going to give me gray hair, Reve."

"I am worried about this child," Finley confides in her twin.

"I have picked up on that vibe," Junpei says.

"Please say something reassuring."

"Reve loves you. He would never do anything to risk our safety."

"Thank you."

Finley interviews her son's bestie for an article she's writing about the school.

"How can it be improved? I'm just a kid, shouldn't you be interviewing a teacher?"

"I like to gather multiple perspectives."

 

 

Junpei acquires a flock of chickens for the family. The supermarket eggs are not good enough for him. He doesn't trust that they're cruelty free. At first Finley was a little angry about the purchase—chickens being so noisy and all—but she warms up to them quickly.

 

Junpei gets irrationally nervous when she handles the chicks.

The Disco Tech has a "teen" night once a week.

 

It's the last night before prom, and the last chance for Newton to find a date. Except Newton stubbornly continues to not be interested! Reve hoped Deirdre Winterly—Newton's "secret" crush—might be here, but she's as introverted as Newton is so Reve's plan to play matchmaker was dead on arrival.

Newton glues his attention to the arcade games. Reve is right there beside him, but Reve's attention is fairly split up around the room, listening to everybody's thoughts. Half of the established high school couples have had nasty breakups already and there's plenty of drama swirling around.

 

Dexter seeks out his favorite targets to heckle.

Reve just ignores it, but Newton is visibly bothered.

 

 

Julie has had enough and starts boo'ing Dexter. 

 

Dexter appears to enjoy it.

 

 

 Reve turns around to watch Akantha and Harriet on the dance floor. Akantha's partially exposed, swaying hips are a natural draw, but Reve's always had a thing for Harriet.

 

Maybe it's something about her mind, all fractured with anxiety that she beats down oh so very successfully every moment of every day just to smile and take part in life. Maybe it's that eyeshadow.

 

Reve psychically picks up on all the things Harriet is deeply insecure about, and compliments her on them. He enjoys watching her beautiful, practiced smile turn awkward and genuine as she gets flustered.

Parley butts in to remind Reve how bad it looks that the guy taking her to prom is flirting with other girls the night before prom.

"Let me make it up to you," Reve offers. "Let's go upstairs. I'll buy you a drink."

Upstairs is the bar area. Akantha's mom, Nicola Song, is the bartender, and already in the process of explaining to her daughter that there will be no real booze served to teens. Only fake booze.

"This is so unfair," Akantha moans, sliding out of her seat so she can stalk away dramatically.

 

"And don't even think about going near the bubble bars, Little Miss. Adults only."

 

"Mom! You're embarrassing me!"

"One fake mai-tai please," Reve requests. "And a fake cosmo for the lady."

Parley gives him a withering stare. "What if that's not what I was going to order?"

Reve seems startled. "Well it was, wasn't it?"

"I mean... yes, actually..." She won't stop glaring though.

Upstairs is also where the study corner has popped up.

"Can't believe our teacher scheduled a big test the day of prom," Juan Ruiz complains.

Sonia shrugs. Her boyfriend couldn't make it tonight so she's playing tutor. Not only can Sonia sing like a goddess and write emotionally stirring poetry, she's brilliant with math. She's definitely going somewhere in life. Already planning to leave Hidden Springs behind.

Reve tries to have a romantic moment with Parley under the stars, on the dining / bubble bar terrace, but their classmate Thisbe somehow missed that they went out here to be alone and decides to join them. Thisbe and Parley make some boring small talk Reve doesn't care about while his mind's eye wanders. 

 

 

 Jasmine's back there. Her mind is as blurry and impossible to read as ever.

It's a different kind of blurry than what Reve senses from the few adults lurking around getting their bubble highs. One of them in particular is very off though. Erratic. Paranoid. 

 

Not a bad trip, something worse.

 

"Reve? You alright?" Parley's voice seems to come from far away.

"Oh, absolutely, I'm just dissociating," Reve answers, before he can stop himself.

"Oh dear. I think that's Reve's father," Thisbe says quietly. She inclines her head ever so slightly towards the man blowing bubbles behind them. 

"Oh man. Only the creepiest adults show up here on teen night." Parley shudders, and shoots Reve a sympathetic look. "Sorry."

"We are not talking about this," Reve grumbles.

"He's staring at us," Thisbe murmurs.

Timmothy does worse than stare. After a few minutes he gets up, and starts walking over to them.

 

Reve can sense the chaos in that man's mind. The scattered, intense emotions of seeing his estranged son. Guilt, fear. Junpei used magic against Timmothy in the hopes of scaring him off for good, but obviously it didn't work. He's more convinced than ever that something is wrong with Reve. But as much as he's afraid of his own teenage son, he's afraid for Reve, too, because he's got this idea in his head that the green skinned girls are aliens and they are up to something.

 

They're stalking his son. He knows it.

 

Actually, YOU'RE stalking me, Reve wants to snap. But he can't make himself confront Timmothy.

"I'm out, see you tomorrow," he whispers hurriedly to Parley before scurrying away.

It was a swift but dignified pace. Until he rounded the corner, and suddenly it wasn't. Suddenly it was a breakneck scramble down the stairs and towards the exit.

"Reve? Hey!" Newton's concerned yelp causes Reve to freeze mid-step.

"Dude, what happened?"

 

"It's nothing, it's whatever, I just got nauseous," Reve defends himself. He leans against the glass outside and takes a deep breath of cold evening air. "Needed some fresh air."

Newton has never seen his friend look scared before. Not once. Not ever. He's not sure what to make of this.

"Why don't, uh, why don't we get out of here? You hate parties anyway," Reve suggests.

"I had an okay time." Newton shrugs. "I beat Abbot in Musubi Hunter."

"You were playing arcade games with Dexter?"

"I don't think we bonded or anything, but it passed the time."

"I see. You know what? It's time for you to establish dominance. Ask the school bully to prom."

"I'd rather jump in front of a train."

"Yeah," Reve says absently. "That's fair."

Newton and his mother live in this giant riverside house Minzi inherited from her parents.

Minzi isn't home to forbid it, so Newton lets Reve hang out a while. The backyard has a stunning view of the water, plus a pool, a gazebo, and playground equipment from when Minzi was just a child. Newton has fond memories of his grandparents playing with him here, but once they passed on this big house became very lonely for him. Minzi spent little time with him, and hated having guests over... especially kid-guests. So Reve and Newton never got to play on these swings when they were younger.

"My father was upstairs, at the club," Reve admits.

Newton frowns. "Did he talk to you?"

"No. I ran the other way first."

"I don't blame you."

"I've never seen him before. Not since before I can remember, anyway. But I knew it was him, and I got the... weird... feeling... that he has seen me. Like, around." Reve can't just say he sees flashes of other people's memories inside his own mind. He wishes he could. But he can't.

"You're just spooked out. It'll be okay."

 

"Yeah. Thanks."

 

 

"So, uh, looking forward to tomorrow?" Newton ventures.

"Prom? I don't give a sh*t about prom," Reve laughs. "I wasn't planning on going, but Parley asked, so... I'll go."

"Why did you want me to go so bad then?"

"I just think you should tell Deidre how you feel."

"In my own time, okay? In my own time."

"What if we don't got time?"

"What do you mean?"

 

"...I don't know. I don't know what came over me."

They talk about the future, after that. Still a nebulous and far away concept. How will they spend their time, after they are released from the shackles of school?

"There's always more school," Newton teases.

"College? Oh hell no. Nooo." Reve makes a face of disgust.

 

"My mother has floated the idea. Hinted strongly."

 

"You always knew she'd try to kick you out of the house as soon as she could."

 

"Right," Newton sulks.

 

"I'm not being alarmist. Just saying. You could always stay with me."

 

"There's barely space for three people in your house as it is." 

"Ohhh well I'm sorry it's not the The Ritz like this place."

"Are you going to keep living there with your mom and uncle?" Newton asks.

"Probably," Reve admits.

For the first night in weeks, Reve decides to go home before curfew.

Hidden Springs is such a small town that Mayor Kelley Vanderburg's charity gala is newsworthy. Finley and Minzi dress up all nice so they can eat fancy food and listen to Kelley's endless speeches.

Alongside Kelley is his doting wife. No scandal there.

 

Hidden Springs is such a small town that any event, public or private, can feel like a high school reunion. Off to Kelley's right are three of the usual suspects — Carlen Nali, Rusty Menon, and Jag Alto.

It's almost newsworthy that Jag and Minzi are standing so close to each other without arguing...

"I know you're a witch," a quiet, familiar voice behind Finley makes her freeze up.

"I just had to see you." Timmothy hugs his arms to his chest, uncertain if he should approach any further.

"I doubt you're supposed to be here," Finley whispers, keeping her voice as low as his so they don't attract the attention of the crowd.

Timmothy takes a deep breath, then a step closer, then another. "I'm... I'm sorry," he manages to say. "I'm sorry you couldn't tell me. I wish you could have. I wish things were different."

Finley stares, feeling empty, as if her stomach has dropped to the floor. "What are you talking about?"

"It just... clicked. After your brother used some kind of magic on me. It gave me flashbacks something fierce, but... suddenly things made sense. You and Reve are like that too, aren't you?"

"Timmothy, I'm going to call someone..."

 

"I know, I know." Timmothy's head drops a little, in shame. "You're a good witch, aren't you, Finley?"

Finley frowns at him, silent. He's seen this pitying look a hundred times, from so many.

"You just wanted to protect our son, and I didn't listen. I'm a terrible dad. Reve deserved better." Timmothy takes a difficult, shuddering deep breath. Thinking that he's speaking to a witch is more terrifying for him than he thought it would be. "I just wanted to see you. I knew it would break my heart in two all over again... you are so beautiful. You really are."

"Before you throw me out of your fancy party, please just hear me out."

"Timmothy, I won't get dragged into the past," Finley finds her voice.

"It's one of those alien girls, Fin. I know how this sounds, but I've seen—"

 

 

 "You really believe this stuff, don't you." She can see in his tangled mind that he does. She looks through him instead of at him. "That my brother is a mage. That Accalia is an alien. I'm sorry about what happened to you, Tim, and I'd change it if I had that kind of power. Isn't it proof I'm no witch, that I don't have that kind of power?"

"Finley—"

 

 

Rusty is the first to notice them, and moves between Finley and Timmothy in an attempt to defuse the situation he's imagined is going on. He asks Finley if she's alright, and tries to soothe Timmothy with promises that he's going to call a social worker to help him home. Timmothy makes some noises of frustration and hides his face in his hands.

Finley nods mutely, watching Rusty and Jag lead Timmothy away from her. 

They'll never not see her as a victim—the poor woman who almost had to watch her baby die after her boyfriend went nuts.

 

 

 "Stop it, Reve." Junpei's gentle protests are ignored as the household's troubled teen takes his anxiety out on the kitchen floors.

 

To the adolescent Reve Archer, all targets are acceptable for mockery and defacement.

Being Parley's date for prom turns out to be a huge pain. First, there's this terrible itchy suit that's the fashion for proms, and second, the Colby parents insist on having their daughters' dates pose with them for pictures.

Reve does try, but cannot make his smile look sincere.

 Seeing his daughters with their prom dates makes Lewis feel old enough for a midlife crisis.

Parley's twin Sonia is giving Reve quite the threatening vibe.

Reve wonders if Parley told Sonia anything about that phone conversation from last chapter.

Zzz...

Trust the narrator, there is surely an exciting time of a shindig being had in that school right now. 

And before you know it, prom's over.

Some post-prom making out.

"I had a really good time," Parley says, even though all they did was dance a little and drink the punch and watch Sonia and her date be crowned queen and king.

Harriet is dating Juan Ruiz now.

"So... my parents are home," Parley warns, averting her eyes. "What about yours?"

 

Reve pulls his gaze away from Harriet with difficulty. "Huh?"

 

Parley blushes, and her words get a little squeaky, "I'm just trying to think of someplace private we can go. Hint. Hint."

Why am I thinking about Harriet right now? Reve chides himself.

"I'm not actually holding you to that dumb joke..." he says.

Parley frowns. "You were just teasing me? What, am I not good enough for Mr. Archer?"

"Err... no... I mean, yes. I mean. I'd make out with you any day of the week, Sonia."

"Did you just call me by my sister's name?!"

"Crap! I mean Parley!"

 

 

 

"WE DON'T EVEN LOOK ALIKE!" Parley roars.

"I... I was just thinking about how much your sister hates me!" Reve desperately tries to recover the situation. "You're the hot one, Parley. Everyone knows that."

Well, somehow it all worked out.

 

 

Making out with less clothes is a far as it goes, but that's further than things have ever gone before so it's memorable for them.

They're also technically in a public place. 

 

The risk of getting caught only makes it more exciting.

That night Reve lays awake, staring at the ceiling and listening to the thoughts of the town as it tries to sleep. It's comforting to know they're all, mostly, completely messed up inside. Just like he is.

 

Reve focuses on no one. It'd be creepy if he did. Worries and hopes and dreams wash over him from different sources and are let go of just as easily. The town has a pulse, a beat, an orchestra. 

Everyone know each other. Interconnected. Safe. 

Reve is unlike his predecessors, his mother and her twin, who are sensitive to great disturbances but must concentrate to hear anything else. For Reve, telepathy is like drawing breath. The effort is in turning it off. Stopping the voices is like clenching a muscle, and that means he can never relax, and never sleep, without having to listen to them.

And then something strikes him as unfamiliar. Foreign.

There is a new presence. A new mind, somewhere.

There wouldn't be much of a story if he just ignored the plot hook, would there?

So Reve snuck out to see what was going on. He was, like his mother, close-to-fearless... and he was dangerously curious... and he couldn't have comprehended the events he was about to unknowingly set into motion.

He had a good idea of how far away and in what direction the disturbance would be. He just didn't realize this would lead him so deep into the forest. 

Turn back, a voice says. 

He mistakes it for his own and tells it to shut up.

"The crap am I looking at?" Reve whispers.

When he stumbled upon the conversing fairies, he didn't, immediately, guess they were fairies.

They're taller than he is, after all. 

Aren't faeries supposed to be small?

It dawns on him that he's witnessing something paranormal, as opposed to some midnight LARPing. 

Reve tries to remain calm, to keep his psychic spying passive. These magical folk would likely notice instantly if he were too forceful about prying into their business.

The bright yellow one, the fairy on the left, holds up a strand of purple between his thumb and index finger. It gleams oddly in the light pouring off their wings. It's hair, Reve realizes.

The fairy on the right glances balefully at the offering. He closes his fist around it and drops both hands to his sides. Reve is transfixed by this fairy, and becomes lost staring at its wings, trying to decide what color they are, or if they have a color at all. They remind him of rippling water. 

 

"It won't work."

"Is it not enough? You could at least try," Larkspur pleads.

"It won't work."

"I see. A single hair isn't enough for you to base a spell on. It's not that you don't want to help me, I just haven't provided the right tools."

 "My answer is no."

"Then... I will bring Foxglove here," Larkspur interrupts. "I will take that risk."

"Who would she be, if I did as you asked?"

"She would be who she is meant to be! She'd be cured of the humans' influence."

"You have not thought this through."

Larkspur frowns piteously. "I don't know what you mean."

"Of course you don't." The pale fairy sounds more tired and resigned than judgmental. "If you were one for complex solutions, you would not still be bound to the will of those mortals."

"At least I am not bound to a river..."

"I am the river."

"Semantics... Father."

"You have no idea how much I have sacrificed for you already."

"No, I wouldn't know anything about that!" Larkspur sneers. "None of the elderfae moved to save me... or... to save S... S.. Sn... Sna..." He can't say it. He's tearing up.

"We did in our own way."

 

Larkspur's anger flares up. The bright flashing on his wings changes to reflect this, like a heartbeat, faster and faster. "You gave Snapdragon the power to make people forget. If only you would do the same for me, I could save my daughter myself! I could make her forget what the humans taught her, I could raise her properly! She could be happy! Instead of... whatever she is now!"

"I will not steal her memory from her."

"She is dangerous! To the humans as well as to her own kind!"

"Enough."

"I think you are old and... and lazy," Larkspur's tone is somewhere between venomously angry, and fearful of offending.

"Those human insults mean nothing to me. However, if you wish to play by their rules and vices, I have an insult for you in return: you are reckless. If you bring Foxglove here, you will be caught."

"You cannot be sure that will happen."

"Can't I?" The gentle sound of the water flowing becomes an unbearable, tense, almost tangible thing. Those wings moving, hypnotic. "Even now, the humans are watching you."

Distantly, as if it's happening to someone else, Reve feels his stomach somersault. 

His muscles prepare to run, but his mind refuses to catch up.

Was it his imagination... or did the pale one incline its head towards him, ever so slightly?

It's surely of no importance. The winged people. Unimportant. There are better things to worry about.

Reve is so tired.

Where is he? And what is he doing here?

He can't remember.

Only those who know the true names of the elderfae may look upon them without suffering a consequence. They are, by their nature, maddening to behold.

However, the dryad in this valley have a pact with these waters, and need not fear them.

 

 

A young couple out in the woods tonight heard the noise when Reve fell to the ground.

 

"I can't believe it," Jasmine gapes. "All this time I've wondered how to get Reve Archer here, and the fool comes right to us..."

 

 

Her companion falls to his knees in a hasty bow. 

"Forget the human," he hisses. "The river has awakened!"

______________________________________________

Etc.: The river was never asleep, it just didn't want to talk.

I always knew I'd be back to resolve the dangling plot thread of Jasmine Shawkti. I didn't know it would take me this long. Life just keeps kicking me and my free time dissolves into the anxiety void instead of games.

My Goldbeard RLC contains some background context about this and the next few entries. If you're not up to reading up to the start of generation 5, no worries, it's not necessary. Some scenes are just meant to make more sense when taken in context.

In a case of a broken clock being right twice a day, Timmothy knows something about those green sims, and he's noticed Jasmine is stalking his son! But what does Jasmine actually want with Reve?