[He reads it, all of it, twice. And all Stephen can think is how very much that sounds like one of the many terrifying things lain deep in the multiverse, universes and worlds away; the innumerable dangers that the Ancient One had warned him about, years ago.
Whatever Jack is describing to him certainly qualifies.]
Makes for great reading. And exactly the kind of thing the sorcerers in our world are meant to protect against.
Nothing like that in your world? No conglomeration of colorful heroes to deal with those nasty, eldritch threats?
So you taking ownership of the gas station was before or after you realized the extent of was lying beneath it? Can’t imagine you see it as a job perk as this point.
The short version is... something wants it. The owners wouldn't sell it to them, I guess because they knew about what was underneath it. I'd been working there since I graduated from high school. They died a few weeks ago under (not very) mysterious circumstances, and it turns out they left it to me.
I knew it was weird, I just didn't know why it was weird until they started trying to take it from me.
That's why I really need to get back. The longer I'm gone, the longer it's vulnerable.
friend versus the cosmic horrors surrounding the gas station? And a baseball bat. No offense, but it’s impressive that you’ve held out so long.
We all want to get back to our worlds, and you seem like one of the more extreme examples of why it’s so important. But I think the only way that’s going to happen is if we focus on the here and now of *this* one, so we can figure out how returning is even possible.
[Stephen also left a very big responsibility behind, so he gets it.]
Well, I'm also friends with a cop and a girl that sometimes floats, still not really sure what's up with that. They both think I'm a murderer right now, though, which kind of takes them off the table a little. We used to have the Dark God on our side, who was surprisingly awesome contrary to the frankly awful branding associated with the name, but then some asshole blew him up.
So. Yeah. Just me, Jerry's head, and Ricardo. My bat.
If I'm being honest, the only reason I've made it this long is because of some really specific... magical... restraint... bullshit on the thing trying to take over. It's one of those 'bad guy gets sent to a tiny town as punishment for cosmic crimes with a new inability to harm humans, so he finds fucked up loopholes' situations. He's not even the final boss. When that gets to town I'm fucked.
Anyway, yeah, I figured that out.
But I'm not gonna lie, I'm still pretty pissed they won't help, or even at least just teach people how to do whatever magic they're using. I'm leaving them a really, really shitty Yelp review. 2 stars. The bathrooms are pretty clean or it would be 1, but the custodial staff deserves recognition.
A dark god? Sounds convenient, except the blowing up part. Overall, I wish I could help, but my hands are tied just as anyone else’s. No crossing multiverses for me to help those in need.
[Though.]
To ADI, magic = bad. I can’t blame them, given what I’ve heard. My magic doesn’t work the same as it does in this world, either, but I can always share with you the basics of what I know. With any luck, it might be vaguely useful to you whenever we return home.
And if you’re not so lucky? Then I guess you can be an honorary sorcerer if you ever visit my universe instead.
Yeah, he branded the title back when it had a different connotation. At least, that's what he said anyway. I don't know if I can really imagine anyone selling that as a good thing at any point in human history, but I don't even watch movies made before 1979. What do I know?
If they're not using magic to stop it, what are they even planning to do? Nuke the apocalypse?
Anyway, I'll take any help I can get. Like, literally anything.
And let me just... apologize in advance if I start zoning out. I swear it won't be because you're boring, it'll be because my brain sucks more than a blowjob at the Hoover factory.
No, absolutely not medical. ADI establishes a "no magic" policy, remember? I don't think they'd take kindly to the idea of me sharing any kind of magical knowledge with you, so best to keep that part to ourselves. I'm over at the flophouse when I'm not working.
And don't worry. I'll find ways to keep your attention.
[OMINOUS? Well, not particularly. If Jack doesn't mind a few subtle startlements now and again.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Whatever Jack is describing to him certainly qualifies.]
Makes for great reading. And exactly the kind of thing the sorcerers in our world are meant to protect against.
Nothing like that in your world? No conglomeration of colorful heroes to deal with those nasty, eldritch threats?
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It's going great so far.
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So you taking ownership of the gas station was before or after you realized the extent of was lying beneath it? Can’t imagine you see it as a job perk as this point.
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The short version is... something wants it. The owners wouldn't sell it to them, I guess because they knew about what was underneath it. I'd been working there since I graduated from high school. They died a few weeks ago under (not very) mysterious circumstances, and it turns out they left it to me.
I knew it was weird, I just didn't know why it was weird until they started trying to take it from me.
That's why I really need to get back. The longer I'm gone, the longer it's vulnerable.
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[?? That thing in the cooler]
friend versus the cosmic horrors surrounding the gas station? And a baseball bat. No offense, but it’s impressive that you’ve held out so long.
We all want to get back to our worlds, and you seem like one of the more extreme examples of why it’s so important. But I think the only way that’s going to happen is if we focus on the here and now of *this* one, so we can figure out how returning is even possible.
[Stephen also left a very big responsibility behind, so he gets it.]
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So. Yeah. Just me, Jerry's head, and Ricardo. My bat.
If I'm being honest, the only reason I've made it this long is because of some really specific... magical... restraint... bullshit on the thing trying to take over. It's one of those 'bad guy gets sent to a tiny town as punishment for cosmic crimes with a new inability to harm humans, so he finds fucked up loopholes' situations. He's not even the final boss. When that gets to town I'm fucked.
Anyway, yeah, I figured that out.
But I'm not gonna lie, I'm still pretty pissed they won't help, or even at least just teach people how to do whatever magic they're using. I'm leaving them a really, really shitty Yelp review. 2 stars. The bathrooms are pretty clean or it would be 1, but the custodial staff deserves recognition.
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[Though.]
To ADI, magic = bad. I can’t blame them, given what I’ve heard. My magic doesn’t work the same as it does in this world, either, but I can always share with you the basics of what I know. With any luck, it might be vaguely useful to you whenever we return home.
And if you’re not so lucky? Then I guess you can be an honorary sorcerer if you ever visit my universe instead.
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If they're not using magic to stop it, what are they even planning to do? Nuke the apocalypse?
Anyway, I'll take any help I can get. Like, literally anything.
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Not much to be done about the entities, but the people? They’re still very mortal.
As for help with magic, if you don’t mind my limited resources (you’ll probably just be lectured at), then drop by wherever you have the time.
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And let me just... apologize in advance if I start zoning out. I swear it won't be because you're boring, it'll be because my brain sucks more than a blowjob at the Hoover factory.
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And don't worry. I'll find ways to keep your attention.
[OMINOUS? Well, not particularly. If Jack doesn't mind a few subtle startlements now and again.]
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Oh, cool. Alright. I'm in room 1, so that's pretty convenient.
Thank you.
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I’m in room 10 if you ever need anything.