Ready Player One

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[First thing Michael notices is that his ass isn't planted in the beanbag chair he fell asleep in. What is being a senior for other than late night video game benders with your best friend in the world, right? Yeah.

Man is he stiff, though. He groans and shifts around, trying to get comfortable again. It fails miserably.

A moment later he opens his eyes with a big frown and sits up.

Definitely not his bean bag. Not his room??? He didn't even drink last night what gives...]

Yo, Jeremy, this isn't funny.

[He stumbles to his feet and stretches to get life back into his limbs. He's in some like old-fashioned sitting room? In a really uncomfortable chair. There's like a fireplace and shit.]

Who's house even is this?! How did you get me here? Jeremyyyyyyy!

Comments

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[A very uncomfortable lightbulb moment goes off for Michael. Jake and Rich came right from the hospital... but he doesn't think they're missing.

For the second time in his life, Michael is very, very glad he is exactly the kind of nerd that he is. He can make almost immediate sense of that thanks to his love of the fantasy genre. He takes a breath and lifts a hand to gesture with.]

No, it wasn't. It was the end of the year for me. Summer has just started. We must have gotten taken from... different points on the timeline? Possibly you and Rich came together because you had close proximity. That's good to know...

I love this icon because it can be angery or thinkin real hard

[jakeyd]

[Jake tilts his head a bit as he thinks this over, arms crossed.]

So you're like...future Micheal, then? I guess this is definitely some sort of weird other dimension, then. Like, I thought maybe it could just be a magic castle floating over earth and no one had noticed because magic, but. Not if time travel is involved.

[Guess that means trying to make parachutes is out.]

Oh! Have I apologized to you yet? Like, in the future?

god i love his face

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[Michael nods along. Yes, he is Future Michael then, probably. Weird. He could get into that, though. The future is pretty tight, all things considered.]

No, dude, I'm pretty sure this is another dimension or a pocket reality or some shit.

[Please don't try to parachute. Please.]

Yeah, you have. [His face softens and he fidgets a little.] Really, bro, it's okay. You don't need to apologize as much as you do. We're cool now, promise.

smooshes all their faces

[jakeyd]

Pocket reality? So it's small?

[I dunno man maybe they could at least find out what's down there, if anything. It might not be so 'pocket' if they do! Getting back up here could be a problem, though.]

I mean--if you're sure? [Jake goes a bit pink, and he rubs the back of his neck; looking away for a minute.]

I just wish I'd been treating everyone right from the start, you know?

smooshes their faces TOGETHER

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Smaller than a whole Universe maybe. Depends on if there's anything.... you know. Past the edge.

[Michael is usually all for adventure dude but that sounds suicidal. No thanks.]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[He smiles encouragingly, waits until Jake is looking at him again and slings an arm around his shoulders.]

If we never made mistakes we'd never learn anything new, dude. It's fine. You're a good guy just trying to survive high school. Like all of us.

g o o d

[jakeyd]

Just clouds, as far as I can tell. I wish we had one of those drone things to find out for sure, but I haven't found any real tech here so far.

[That's probably gonna come as terrible news to Micheal. But at least he got a sheepish smile out of Jake, so maybe that can help soften the blow a bit?]

Aha, yeah, I guess it's pretty dumb to be so hard on myself when everyone's basically living mistake machines from the day we're born.

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Now that would be ni- oh no you're kidding me, right?

[No technology.... in the whole castle.... he was hoping all this medieval shit was just aesthetic! He is going to d i e. His face actually gets a little pale. Well, as pale as he ever can be.]

Th-there's gotta be some tech around here somewhere....

[Priorities, Mell. He gives Jake a friendly jostle.]

Yeah, that's right! I mean shit, look at all the rest of us. The squip debacle just turned it all up to eleven, but yeah. It's chill, dude. High school is the prime time for mistakes. At least you're trying to be a good person. I know you haven't done it yet, but you've been a great influence on me, dude. Seriously.

now I get to use this as a determined face too.

[jakeyd]

I mean, maybe there is some tech hiding around here? It's a pretty big place and we've only been here a few days. You okay bro?

[He seems pretty surprised by the 'great influence' bit.]

Oh, really dude? How--wait, no, don't tell me! I'll figure it out myself. That sort of stuff is supposed to happen naturally.

[Jake crosses his arms and nods with a determined look on his face. He's not even thinking about messing up timelines, he just thinks it'll count more if he does it without knowing anything.]

I'll get there eventually!

perfect

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No, dude, not really.

[He has lived most of his life with some form of tech in his hands okay he doesn't know what to do with himself without video games or weed. And he currently has neither. This is a crisis situation.

At least Jake is a delight. Michael huffs a laugh and crosses his arms right back with a smile.]

All right. You lemme know when you think you've got it, alright?

[jakeyd]

I will! [But as far as Jake's concerned that part of the conversation is now over because Micheal isn't alright. His determination melts into concern.]

Do you need like, fresh air or something? Should I get you to the garden instead? Or a bed? Water? [What else helps people suddenly not feeling well?]

Should I carry you?

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[Oh no this is not what he wanted. Michael is suddenly deeply embarrassed and tries to hold his hands up and shake his head to dismiss Jake's worries.]

Oh, shit, no, man! It's nothing like that! I'm just being all dramatic about suddenly being in the stone age. I didn't mean to make you all seriously worried about me!

[He touches Jake's arm comfortingly.]

You're a peach, dude, but I'm fine. [A beat] Do you... actually think you could carry me, though, dude? I'm not a small guy.

[Positive... subject.... change?]

[jakeyd]

Oh! Ohhh...I thought you were having problems with the altitude or something, since. Floating castle, and all. [He scratches the back of his head and shrugs.]

The lack of tech definitely sucks, but the magic stuff is pretty cool. [Oh! Arm touch. Okay, Jake is sufficiently comforted...and as soon as the subject changes to being able to carry people, he brightens immediately.]

Oh, for sure dude! [Rather than simply brag, Jake immediately scoops Micheal into a princess carry as easily as if he were picking up a pet or small child.]

See? I've carried people to the nurses office tons of times! Plus Rich for like, fun, and bro is like ninety percent muscle mass.

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No, dude, you're sweet though.

[Seriously what a Mom Friend what a gentle boy. Michael had always had the impression Jake was a sweet, if kind of odd guy, under all his jock-head attitude, but this is more than even he suspected.]

What other magic stuff is there, beyond us just poofing here?

[He tries to ignore the soft little warm feeling he gets about that arm touch seeming to do so much to comfort Jake. Cute???? As fuck????

But then-holy shit- he's being scooped up like it's nothing and being held like a bride on her wedding day. Okay. This is. Fine. He yelps a little and puts his arms around Jake's neck on instinct. His voice is a little high-pitched and he has to clear his throat and swallow.]

Right, yeah, def he is. Yep, wow, you're swole as hell, bro.

Micheal's probably going to have to ask to be put down. If he wants to be put down, that is.

[jakey_d]

[He laughs.] Surprised? Pretty sure it's the baggy shirts; people keep telling me I should wear more fitting clothes but I like to be able to move, y'know?

[Jake looks up as he considers Micheal's question, squinting at the ceiling as if it's going to help him remember everything before looking back down.]

Uhhh, well, sometimes the rooms move. Not all rooms, though--and there's like a cake room where there's always fresh cake? But there's jewelry in the cake. Oh! Okay this is a really rad one: If you think of something you need it usually shows up, though that didn't happen when me and Rich wanted phones, so I don't know if it'd work for technology. Haven't tried very hard. I've just been able to find extra blankets and food and junk when I needed it. Also bathrooms, plus maybe that one kitchen?

he needs an adult

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[Nervous giggle.] Not surprised that you're strong but like. This is more than expected.

[He respects that, but also, the idea of Jake in a tight shirt is now going to haunt him.

He is still hanging there, held up, arms around Jake's neck. Like a princess with a twisted ankle or something, while Jake talks. Why didn't he just put him back down? Why does Michael just want to snuggle in and stay here?! Focus, Mell, he's talking to you.]

I guess that's pretty neat magic. Kinda creepy, but neat. Uh.... You don't need to... keep me up, you know. I'm totally impressed. Unless you're having fun, then you know knock yourself out dude.

[He maybe doesn't necessarily want to be put down.]

i think there's like four adults in the entire castle

[jakeyd]

Creepy how?

[Jake tilts his head a bit, obviously confused by Micheal's non-committal ramble on whether Jake should put him down or not.]

Uh, I dunno, I like carrying people but you seem kinda uncomfortable?
[He wants Micheal to be ready to be put down either way, though, not just gonna drop a dude without warning. Gotta make sure they're prepared to stand again. Rich is pretty much the only person he doesn't have to warn, and only because they've done it so often.]

rip in fuck then

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'Cause like, it's a house that can read your mind? Anything that can read your mind is creepy! I'm not sure if it's better or worse it's an inanimate object.

[It's okay, Michael is confused too.]

Mostly surprised! Catches a dude off guard to suddenly be held like a princess!

basically carrying micheal to where the beds are rn nbd tho

[jakeyd]

Oh, was that all? [If Micheal was just a little surprised then the obvious answer to making things less awkward is to just start walking, right? Definitely. Now he's just carrying Big M on the tour, no big deal. Jake can always put Mike down later if he really does seem uncomfortable.]

Huh, do you think it really has to read our minds for that? I was thinkin' more like...how amazon predicts what you might wanna buy from the shit you already ordered. Maybe it just senses--actually, wait, that's creepy too. I just didn't think about this hard enough. Shit.

Okay, you're right, we're trapped in a stalker castle.

thats gay

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[Holy shit aren't your arms getting tired yet dude? Michael isn't swole like Rich but he's still a big boy. He becomes hyperaware of his arms, now that this is obviously going to continue and he isn't sure if they should be there???? or???? down in his lap????? How is Jake just not fussed about this at all is this boy just so comfortable in his sexuality??? Or just not at all attracted to Michael. Yeah of course that's it. Of course he isn't flustered he's just a happy friendly dude.

Michael fucking say something.]

Sorry to burst your bubble, homie. I just don't like anyone or anything that isn't me being able to know what I'm thinking, you know? Hard pass, man.

Soooooooo. Where're we goin?

sure is

[jakeyd]

I was taking you to the dorm area so you know where it is, but now I'm kinda wondering if we should just swipe the mattresses and live outside once we find Rich. I mean, there's not a whole lot out there but like, the place probably can't read our minds out there.

[Or at least, he thinks it can't?]

I dunno, man.

[He hasn't stopped walking, though; and his arms are fine. Micheal may be big but he's very soft and nice to carry! Not that Jake's actually going to consider how nice until later, Mike's really giving him too much credit for not being distracted by their conversation. He's just comfortable because his mind is on which hallways are which and how to avoid having a building hear their thoughts.]

I'm so glad

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I dunno, dude, the whole floating island is probably still part of the castle, right? If it can fly and fucking teleport us out of wherever we were to wherever this is....

I'd rather have a roof over my head, even if it means stalker castle. At least he can't talk, right? So it can't blab secrets or anything.

[Extra blankets on command sounds kind of sweet honestly.]

Maybe we can practice meditation or some shit.