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#Post#: 541--------------------------------------------------
Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: crowgokek
Date: December 25, 2024, 5:11 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gMDYmMA.jpg[/float]
[center] Zane
HTML https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZN4Ymbj-1OeLjIklw1MWrb8JQKcOCeLXlk4u-s2ZYlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Crow | Arrow | Enbie
Can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.
[/center]
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Physical therapy and care from the Coles had resulted in my
quick and able recovery. In that time, I’d officially changed my
legal name to Max Cole – I know, it sounded like something out
of a comic book, but I would have no more to do with the Harts,
and I hated having a name that enforced a femininity I didn’t
feel – and thrown myself into learning everything I could about
the world I’d found myself thrust into.
Magic. What a fucking trip, right?
So a year and half after waking up with broken ribs and a hole
in my side the size of my fist, along with numerous other
assorted bumps, bruises, and contusions, here I am walking the
streets as a full-fledged Crow, and isn’t that six jokes in one.
I also joined? Got drafted by? The Adamantine Arrows, so I can
officially say with a straight face that I am a Crow and Arrow
and punch anyone who laughs.
It’s a thing.
My Witness – some of them have names, but if mine does, they
haven’t told me yet – is being obnoxious. The giant Death-spirit
masquerading as a crow invisible to everyone but me is perched
on various fixtures, cawing at me to get my attention. It
clearly wants me to follow.
“What is it, girl?” I ask the Death-spirit. “Did Timmy fall down
a well?”
The Witness’s caw is plainly disgusted. I raise my hands in
surrender. “All right, all right. Lead on, I’ll follow.”
The dead are everywhere.
You see them all the time, as a Crow. Hear them, too. Sometimes,
it can be difficult to tell them from the living. We call it a
curse, but none of us are really serious about that. The burden
is part of the charge. Couldn’t do our job without it, honestly.
The Witness flies off, keeping ahead as I follow through the
progressively narrower and more winding streets. I’m not super
cool about the neighborhood we’re headed to. I may identify as
nonbinary, but I am keenly aware that most folks are going to
see a tomboy, a girl in men’s clothing, and not a very big one
at that.
“You better be ready to hide a body,” I mutter at my Witness.
Did you know they can caw so it sounds like they’re laughing at
you?
Bastard.
Finally, the Witness reaches an old, abandoned church – a lovely
old pile, really – and sails in through the open doors. I follow
more warily, one hand brushing dark hair out of my face, nearly
black eyes scanning the interior.
“Hello?” I call, feeling like a) an utter idiot and b) an extra
from the cold open to a horror movie.
You know the ones.
#Post#: 542--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: EvilSqueegee
Date: December 25, 2024, 5:40 pm
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[float=right
max=45%]
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[center]Opt1x
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/13GYx3ut4bHXQ_Fi5hIN3ILtsoPt26yqJYMb02u--mq0/edit?tab=t.0[/center]
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--- Quote ---
> Wits + Computer: How well is he doing right now in his
videogame?
> 10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 2, 1 = exceptional success!
--- End Quote ---
“Get SHANKED, bitch!” I snicker, nearly silently, into the
microphone. Ambushes never fail me. The other end of the
voice-chat starts whining about campers, but I could care less
-- My I’m already 19 and 1 and I’m only getting more steam as I
roll through the enemy team: my killstreak reward is airstrikes
unlocked.
I’m winning this game so hard -- or at least, I would be winning
if I didn’t suddenly hear someone breaking and entering. Or, at
least, entering. There’s not much breaking required… been
meaning to get locks installed.
Anyways. The point is, only the Krewe knows about this place.
All our living friends are out on mission right now, and our
ghost friends tend not to make footsteps that you can hear.
”Aye, intruders,” murmurs the Captain in the back of my mind.
I take off my headset and set down the controller, leaving my
batman-esque wall of monitors alone. I make a three-point turn
in the wheelchair, readying my glock and positioning myself
around a corner from where I can hear the dusty-ass floorboards
creaking.
I’ve got the gun trained on them before they round the corner.
“Hands where I can see ‘em!” I shout, training my sights on the
person walking around the corner. Last thing I need is someone
coming in here to steal any of the electronic equipment. That’s
just about the only explanation I can think of for someone to
wander in here.
It’s dark, and the only light comes from the 10 or so computer
monitors, and the 3 or so towers that are rigged up with more
RGB than a pride parade. The monitors are all playing various
video feeds -- security cams, bodycams from Krewe members, that
sort of thing.
--- Quote ---
> CAn they make out who it is? Wits + Composure
> 10, 9, 7, 2, 1 = 3 successes
--- End Quote ---
But even still, I’d recognize that startled expression anywhere.
And it’s been on my mind for years, too -- been looking for Zane
almost as hard as I’ve been looking for Felicia.
I lower the gun.
“You rat bastich,” I finally exclaim.
#Post#: 543--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: crowgokek
Date: December 25, 2024, 5:58 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gMDYmMA.jpg[/float]
[center] Zane
HTML https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZN4Ymbj-1OeLjIklw1MWrb8JQKcOCeLXlk4u-s2ZYlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Crow | Arrow | Enbie
Can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.
[/center]
---------------------------------------------------------
At the shout of “Hands where I can see them” my hands shoot into
the air like rockets.
I give my Witness a glare that could peel paint, even as I’m
saying, “Whoa, whoa whoa! No need for shooting anyone!”
Then the voice registers, as the figure wheels itself out, and
the Witness lands on the back of the chair, looking entirely too
pleased with itself, and I’m looking at Jack’s face.
If I weighed any more than a hundred and nothing, the force with
which I hit Jack in his chair would probably have knocked us
both over. My arms go around his neck, and I probably choke him
a little, I’m hugging him so hard, and then I’m pressing my lips
to his.
Wait.
Fuck.
I jerk back, the startled face he recognizes painted once again
across my features, and then fear – that I’ve fucked this all
up. Shit. Shit.
Then my mouth swoops in to save the day it just ruined.
“Crow bastich, actually,” I say, and stand up, only to park
myself in his lap. I mean, why the fuck not. Might as well own
it. I’m tense as a fucking harpstring and only hope he doesn’t
throw me off, but.
The Witness is laughing itself silly right now. Fucking death
bird. Have you ever heard a crow laugh? It’s creepy.
“Jesus. I’ve spent the last two years thinking you were dead,
Wheels. Sorry about the, uh…”
I am, and I’m not, and what the fuck is that about, but
whatever.
“...anyway.” To distract both of us, I slap him upside the head.
“How could you not tell Mom and Dad? What the fuck, dude?”
#Post#: 544--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: EvilSqueegee
Date: December 25, 2024, 6:13 pm
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max=45%]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/d01cb363-c56d-417b-a49d-83a483011b50.jpg[/float]
[center]Opt1x
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/13GYx3ut4bHXQ_Fi5hIN3ILtsoPt26yqJYMb02u--mq0/edit?tab=t.0[/center]
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There’s a Witness on the back of my chair. I try to give it room
to breathe… well, you know what I mean.
And then Zane is tacklehugging me.
“OOF,” I choke out, patting them on the back.
“What--” I’m interrupted by a kiss.
A kiss?
A kiss.
A KISS!?
And then they’re in my lap and while I’m busy being stunned,
they quip back at me about being a Crow.
I’ve never met one. I’ve heard rumors. I’ve encountered
witnesses before, but never one of their charges.
“I--” Bonk!
Christ, make up your mind, sib! Kiss me, hit me, which is it?
“Ow.” I rub the back of my head. I look over my shoulder to the
Witness and make a face at it. “Yeah sure laugh it up,
chucklehead,” I grunt.
Anyways. Back to Zane.
”Oh no worries, Mom. I’m just dead. No big. I’d be a walking
corpse if I weren’t me, you know? Anyways I’m dropping out of
college to become a paranormal investigator, I hope that’s
alright.”
I give Zane a face that emphasizes how ridiculous what I just
said was.
“Besides, you’re not squeaky clean yourself, Mx,” I pinch their
cheek like an old lady and give it a shake. “Thought YOU were
dead. Been scouring multiple planes of existence looking for
you.”
#Post#: 545--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: crowgokek
Date: December 25, 2024, 6:25 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gMDYmMA.jpg[/float]
[center] Zane
HTML https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZN4Ymbj-1OeLjIklw1MWrb8JQKcOCeLXlk4u-s2ZYlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Crow | Arrow | Enbie
Can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.
[/center]
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All right, I have successfully distracted him. We won’t talk
about it. I’m good with that.
He can see my Witness. I’m starting to put shit together here.
“It’s an asshole,” I tell Jack. Then my face goes kind of
serious. As serious as I ever get. Which…can be a lot, actually.
“So. You didn’t almost die. You went the whole road.”
I blow out a breath, running a hand through short, dark hair.
“Fuck, what a mess. Well. Your folks took me in, paid for my
hospital bills, everything. So I changed my legal name. Might
have fucked up how you were looking for me, sorry about that.
But when I got out, I, well, got out. Had some help. You can
call me Zane, for teh record.”
I’m not really the girly type. Never have been. I don’t even
think of myself as a girl, most of the time. But sitting here –
Jack’s been my best friend ever since I got away from my family,
a little before, to be honest, and he and his family are the
best thing that ever happened to me. I honestly do think of him
as my brother. And girl, boy, or somewhere in between like me,
we all crave comfort that comes from simple touch from time to
time. I can relax a little, because it really isn’t any more
than that.
Even so…
“Fuck, what a mess,” I breathe. “I should probably get off you
so you can show me around.”
#Post#: 546--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: EvilSqueegee
Date: December 25, 2024, 6:52 pm
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[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/d01cb363-c56d-417b-a49d-83a483011b50.jpg[/float]
[center]Opt1x
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/13GYx3ut4bHXQ_Fi5hIN3ILtsoPt26yqJYMb02u--mq0/edit?tab=t.0[/center]
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Oh so we’re just going to kiss me and not talk about it?
Fine. I’m good with that, I guess.
“Oh yeah,” I say to their comment about me taking the whole
road. “Drowning? One star review. Sucks. Would not eat there
again.”
“Damn chair weighed me down in the water when the ship sank.
That’s when the Captain found me. Soon as I realized there was
life after death, all I could think about was finding Felicia,
and then finding you. So when he offered to hoist me up from the
bottom of the ocean, I took him up on it. He lurks around,” I
say, looking around. He doesn’t seem to be projecting his image
at the moment, though.
“Anyways. Plus side? Cool powers. Been using that and my
technical know-how to help out the disenfranchised on both sides
of the veil while I searched for you and Felicia. Made a few
friends, living and dead, along the way. You are looking,” I
wheel us both around in the chair and make a grand motion with
my arm to the wall of monitors. “At my batcave.”
“It’s this and the bedrooms,” I say, pointing off to the side.
“Converted the old offices so the living folks would have a
place to sleep.”
“Not a whole lot to show off.”
#Post#: 548--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: crowgokek
Date: December 25, 2024, 7:44 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gMDYmMA.jpg[/float]
[center] Zane
HTML https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZN4Ymbj-1OeLjIklw1MWrb8JQKcOCeLXlk4u-s2ZYlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Crow | Arrow | Enbie
Can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.
[/center]
---------------------------------------------------------
“Yikes, drowning. From what they tell me, I had some broken
bones and about nine inches of railing through me.” I gesture at
my side. Still have a gnarly scar there. “Six month coma, and I
wake up to some creepy old dude and two of these kakking
assholes sitting by my bed. No one else could see them.” I wave
dismissively at the Witness, who is beginning to eye me. “The
powers that be probably did something to keep you from finding
me. I had a lot of training and adjustment to get through.
Learning to deal with seeing and hearing the dead 24-7 was no
cakewalk, believe me.”
Let’s make some distance. The Witness looks ready to move from
eyeing to pecking.
I ease myself off of Jack’s lap – you expect a dead guy,
especially a drowned corpse, to be cold, but he’s warm – and
brush myself off. I look around at the space he indicates,
crossing my arms over my Locked Tomb T-shirt – it has DEATH
FIRST TO VULTURES AND SCAVENGERS scrawled across it in ragged
white letters, I love it for the irony – and nod judiciously.
“It’s you,” I tell him, and then grin. “Broken down, in
disrepair, none of its best qualities visible…”
#Post#: 552--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: EvilSqueegee
Date: December 25, 2024, 8:50 pm
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[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/d01cb363-c56d-417b-a49d-83a483011b50.jpg[/float]
[center]Opt1x
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/13GYx3ut4bHXQ_Fi5hIN3ILtsoPt26yqJYMb02u--mq0/edit?tab=t.0[/center]
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“It doesn’t help that I was, you know, looking for a ghost.
Thought you died with me.”
I snicker. “Don’t need to believe, I know. That’s one of my
aforementioned cool powers; I walk in both worlds now.”
“If I shared my best qualities with the world I’d be arrested
for indecent exposure,” I crack right back at them.
Speaking of sharing with the world.
I wheel back over to the keyboard and type up a storm for a
moment, concentrating on what I’m doing.
“I’m letting the Krewe know I found you. I operate a small ring
of folks, some living and some dead, that spend their time
putting their talents to good use for people who aren’t as lucky
as we were. We call ourselves ghost.net. And here…”
I bring it up on one of the monitors, motioning to it -- that
one, up there.
“...is our manifesto. If this code of conduct seems cool to you,
I can let everyone know we’ve got a new member. Mostly it’s
charity work, some psycho-pomping, resolving injustices however
we can -- sometimes that means a beatdown, sometimes that means
getting a killer behind bars, and sometimes that means getting
services to underserviced neighborhoods.”
The manifesto is simple:
No man, woman or enbie left behind.
Justice for the dead before the comfort of the living.
Brose before those: The krewe looks after each other first and
foremost.
I fold my hands in my lap while they read and think.
#Post#: 553--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: crowgokek
Date: December 25, 2024, 9:00 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/gMDYmMA.jpg[/float]
[center] Zane
HTML https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZN4Ymbj-1OeLjIklw1MWrb8JQKcOCeLXlk4u-s2ZYlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Crow | Arrow | Enbie
Can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.
[/center]
---------------------------------------------------------
I snicker at his joke, nodding at his explanations, and read the
manifesto he puts up on the screen.
Then I look at my Witness, and if a bird can look expectant…
“Jack?” I tell him. “I thought you knew. This?” I point at the
monitor. “This is what the Crows do. They always told us the
dead always know. But yeah. Sign me the fuck up. I’m down to be
a superhero. Just understand, you know, I have other bosses I
need to answer to, so…yeah.”
I mean, it doesn’t happen often, but it could happen.
And then, because he is my brother, I lean down behind his chair
and hug him again.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell him quietly. Vulnerability is not
something I do well or often. But I trust Jack. He was the first
person I came out to, the first to stand with me when my family
denied me, the person who found me a place in his own home and a
family that didn’t care that I didn’t want to be a girl.
“Let’s get to work,” I tell him, letting him go, and ruffle his
hair.
#Post#: 556--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reunion: Zane and Jack
DIR By: EvilSqueegee
Date: December 25, 2024, 9:27 pm
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[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/d01cb363-c56d-417b-a49d-83a483011b50.jpg[/float]
[center]Opt1x
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/13GYx3ut4bHXQ_Fi5hIN3ILtsoPt26yqJYMb02u--mq0/edit?tab=t.0[/center]
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“Hey, it’s not like I’m just going to assume you want in,” I
laugh. “It’s a choice. Gotta let you make it.”
I figured they’d want in. That’s likely why the Witness lead
them here.
They ruffle my hair and I bat their hand away playfully.
“Alright, alright. I’ve got a small job lined up; just gotta go
investigate what’s probably a cursed object in an old lady’s
apartment. Police won’t take her seriously. We will. Got a
connection in a local pawnshop that can handle that sort of
thing.”
With that, I wheel myself out front. Got a small van I’ve
airbrushed to look like the Mystery Machine. I can walk just
enough to get my wheelchair into the back of the van -- and with
Zane helping, it’s even easier.
We hash out who’s driving, and off we go.
~Fin?~
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