paradise scenes

1. [[You Must Be Anya's Brother]] 2. [[You can think of something better]]

NULLITY: You gather the items your sister requested you get and (link-reveal: "head for the counter ")[ NULLITY: Part of you still feels like a big fucking idiot for doing your grocery shopping at the gas station, but (link-reveal: "what the hell else are you going to do? ")[ NULLITY: (link-reveal: " Anya told you to. ")[ NULLITY: The clerk watches you approach with mild disinterest as (link-reveal: "the other clerk... ")[ NULLITY: The other clerk is standing behind them, knocking cigarette packs off the wall every few seconds. At least, you think he's a clerk, though his outfit is both outrageous and entirely out of uniform. (link-reveal: "Or they allow you to wear flip flops here. ")[ NULLITY: His hand stops on a Pack of Mules(c) as he notices you staring, as you realize you're staring. Silently, he mouths something like "no way," and pulls the pack out without breaking eye contact. [[the first clerk greets you.]] ]]]]]

Ripley: (link-reveal: "Howdy.")[ ALEX: [[Hey.]] [[Um? (point at their coworker)]] [[(Nothing)->Hey.]] ]

RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "Is that everything?")[ ALEX: [[Yep.]] [[No, I need stamps. For my Sister. She's the one that still uses stamps. Not me. I don't use stamps.]] [[Is he okay?]] ]

NULLITY: Ripley looks behind themself, where you're gesturing. They look down at the packets on the floor, (link-reveal: "and then back to you.")[ RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "Store is haunted.")[ ALEX: (link-reveal: "What?")[ RIPLEY: Anyway, [[Is that everything?->Hey.]] ]]]

RIPLEY: That doesn't (link-reveal: "seem right. ")[ NULLITY: They squint at (link-reveal: "you.</s>")[ RIPLEY: Are you (link-reveal: "Alex?")[ ALEX: [[Yeah...?->Yes?]] [[Yes?]] [[How did you know my name?]] ]]]

RIPLEY: Oh, hi Alex! ALEX: (link-reveal: "What?")[ (link-reveal: "What?")[ (link-reveal: "What?")[ RIPLEY: You're Anya's brother, right? She mentioned you'd be coming and uh-No one else buys stamps here. RIPLEY:(link-reveal:"I'm Ripley.")[ ALEX: [[You know my sister?]] [[You're friends?]] [[Oh god, I'm sorry.]] ]]]]

OTHER CLERK: I have a (link-reveal: "name.")[ NULLITY: Ripley doesn't notice, (link-reveal: "or doesn't care.")[ RIPLEY: The store is (link-reveal: "haunted.")[ OTHER CLERK: I'm not a (link-reveal: "ghost!")[ RIPLEY: I don't know, man. (link-reveal: "I really wouldn't worry about it.")[ ALEX: (link-reveal: "...Alright, if you say so.")[ OTHER CLERK: Wait, (link-reveal:"I know you can see me!")[ OTHER CLERK: Don't just- RIPLEY: [[Anyway... ->Hey.]] ]]]]]]]

OTHER CLERK: You know my sister? NULLITY: His tone is mocking and abrasive. If Ripley heard their coworker, they're a master of ignoring him. If Ripley didn't hear their coworker, that says something concerning about you. NULLITY: Another pack of cigarettes hits the ground. He watches you for a reaction. RIPLEY: I know her. She's alright. NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, and entirely, incurably wrong. The longer you look, the weirder he starts to be... ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]]

OTHER CLERK: You're friends? NULLITY: His tone is mocking and abrasive. If Ripley heard their coworker, they're a master of ignoring him. If Ripley didn't hear their coworker, that says something concerning about you. NULLITY: Another pack of cigarettes hits the ground. He watches you for a reaction. RIPLEY: I know her. She's alright. NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, and entirely, incurably wrong. ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]]

OTHER CLERK: Oh god, I'm sorry NULLITY: His tone is mocking and abrasive. If Ripley heard their coworker, they're a master of ignoring him. If Ripley didn't hear their coworker, that says something concerning about you. NULLITY: Another pack of cigarettes hits the ground. He watches you for a reaction. RIPLEY: Sorry for what? NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, and entirely, incurably wrong. The longer you look, the weirder he starts to be... ALEX: I'm sorry you've had to deal with her. She's a bit of a-</s> RIPLEY: -Kind and caring person with some serious neurosis about the wellbeing of her little brother?</s> ALEX: Yeah, you could say that.</s> NULLITY: thwack. thwack. thwack. RIPLEY: She's a nice person, a little bit excitable, but nice.</s> ALEX: Yeah. she-</s> NULLITY: thwack. thwack. thwack. RIPLEY: RIPLEY: She's alright. We aren't like, close friends or whatever, she just likes to talk. Other Clerk: Oh come on, fuckin' look at me!</s> ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]]

NULLITY: You can't take it anymore. You snap at the other clerk. ALEX: I mean, it's none of my buisness, right, that's your problem, but it's not fair that you're being a jackass! NULLITY: Ripley stares at you, dumbfounded, for a long moment. The other clerk's jaw hangs slack as he stares, and then the corners of his mouth turn up. He starts to laugh, first a nervous chuckle into a boisterous fit. (link-reveal: "ALEX: What?! Why are you laughing?")[ RIPLEY: What the hell are you talking about? (link-reveal: "ALEX: Your--")[ NULLITY: You point at their coworker again. There's a crawling part of you that is quickly realizing they cannot see their coworker. This is a hallucination. Probably the most fully formed one you've had, since it has a face and voice. Ripley takes a glance back, then to face you again. The confusion on their face, peppered with the genuine indifference of a service worker, sends you to a bad place. They think you are crazy. The other clerk wipes an eye and looks up to watch the scene. Then, realization spreads across Ripley's face. RIPLEY: Oh, oh, I get it. I've been in your situation before. (link-reveal: "ALEX: You... have?")[ RIPLEY: Some kind of weird bullshit, right? I don't want any part of it, if you'll pardon my language. (link-reveal: "ALEX: Bullshit...? No, what?")[ RIPLEY: Genuinely, I don't want to know. I do not want to know. I already did this, I'm over it. It's a ghost. Not my problem. Sounds like it might be yours, though. (link-reveal: "ALEX: Can you uh... explain better?")[ RIPLEY: Ha! No. That's how you become the mentor character, and those guys always die. RIPLEY: I'm perfectly content being the shopkeeper, if that's my role to play. Did you need anything else? ALEX: [[What? Uh, no. no, that's all. Thank you.]] ]]]]]

(link-reveal: "NULLITY: The guy picks up a packet of cigarettes...")[ NULLITY: And throws it past Ripley's head, very nearly hitting them. OTHER CLERK: GODDAMNIT! Stop moving! RIPLEY: Do you need anything else? ALEX: [[What? Uh, no. no, that's all. Thank you.]] [[I- wh- cat? cat food?]] [[You didn't see that?]] ]

(link-reveal: "NULLITY: The guy picks up a packet of cigarettes...")[ NULLITY: And throws it past Ripley's head, very nearly hitting them. OTHER CLERK: GODDAMNIT! Stop moving! NULLITY: Ripley is unphased, still focused on the point of service. RIPLEY: Do you need anything else? ALEX: [[What? Uh, no. no, that's all. Thank you.]] [[I- wh- cat? cat food?]] [[You didn't see that?]] ]

RIPLEY: Yeah, anytime. NULLITY: Ripley finishes ringing you up and indicates for you to pay. You tap your card. The recipt prints, and for a brief moment Ripley looks to be considering balling it up and eating it. Instead, they toss it. RIPLEY: Look, you should head home. The stamps are going to get cold. ALEX: What? RIPLEY: Just get out of here. NULLITY: You take your bag of nonsense and go. That was... incredibly strange. [[(end scene)->Scenes]]

RIPLEY: This is a corner store. RIPLEY: ... RIPLEY: You did miss it. It's on the far end, near the paper towels. ALEX: I'll just uh-- NULLITY: There is telltale sound of a cellophane wrapped pack of cancer hitting the floor again. ALEX: I'll pick it up next time. RIPLEY: Yeah, swing by anytime. NULLITY: Ripley finishes ringing you up and indicates for you to pay. You tap your card. The recipt prints, and for a brief moment Ripley looks to be considering balling it up and eating it. Instead, they toss it. RIPLEY: Look, you should head home. The stamps are going to get cold. ALEX: What? RIPLEY: Just get out of here. NULLITY: They smile. You take your bag of nonsense and go. That was... incredibly strange. [[(end scene)->Scenes]]

RIPLEY: See what? RIPLEY: ... NULLITY: Ripley finishes ringing you up and indicates for you to pay. You tap your card. The recipt prints, and for a brief moment Ripley looks to be considering balling it up and eating it. Instead, they toss it. RIPLEY: Look, you should head home. The stamps are going to get cold. ALEX: What? RIPLEY: Just get out of here. NULLITY: You take your bag of nonsense and go. That was... incredibly strange. [[(end scene)->Scenes]]

RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "Cool!")[ RIPLEY: Your sister called ahead. (link-reveal: "Told me you'd be coming.")[ RIPLEY: And to be nice. And to rate your (link-reveal: "social skills.")[ RIPLEY: ...AND to remind you to get (link-reveal:"stamps.")[ RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "Sorry.")[ OTHER CLERK: snrk ALEX: [[She did... what?]] [[She did WHAT?]] [[So how did I do?]] ]]]]]

RIPLEY: I'm Psychic! (link-reveal: "NULLITY: You and their coworker both stare dumbfounded for a moment.")[ Then, another cigarette pack hits the floor. RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "I'm kidding.")[ RIPLEY: Your sister called ahead. (link-reveal: "Told me you'd be coming.")[ RIPLEY: And to be nice. (link-reveal: "And to rate your social skills.")[ RIPLEY: ...AND to remind you to get (link-reveal: "stamps.")[ RIPLEY: (link-reveal: "Sorry.")[ OTHER CLERK: snrk ALEX: [[She did... what?]] [[She did WHAT?]] [[So how did I do?]] ]]]]]]

RIPLEY: She called ahead. Little overbearing if you ask me, you seem perfectly capable of going to the corner store on (link-reveal: "your own.")[ NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, (link-reveal: "and entirely, incalculably wrong.")[ ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]] ]]

RIPLEY: She called ahead. Don't shoot the messanger, (link-reveal: "okay?")[ NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, (link-reveal: " and entirely, incalculably wrong.")[ ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]] ]]

RIPLEY: A Solid (link-reveal: "4/10.")[ NULLITY: Their coworker barks a laugh. (link-reveal: "Loud.")[ RIPLEY: That's not bad, by the way. Anya usually would get a (link-reveal: "2/10.")[ NULLITY: He doubles over laughing. Ripley stoicly continues like he doesn't exist. (link-reveal: "Does he exist?")[ NULLITY: They start ringing you up, ignoring another pack of cigarettes hitting the floor. You look at their coworker again, and he's DARING you to say something. The grin is shit eating, and entirely, (link-reveal: "incalculably wrong.")[ ALEX: [[What the fuck is wrong with you?]] [[Did I miss the cat food?]] [[(look at Ripley, ignore the other guy) Anya's... not so bad once you get to know her.]] ]]]]]

NULLITY: You're driving towards your house, content with a days work. For once your mood is light, (link-reveal: "happy even.")[ You're tired, and you're running low on gas, but you're done and you can go (link-reveal: "relax at home now.")[ Oh. And you haven't seen Jones all day. Something deep in you hopes that's the last your brain will conjure of him, but you know he'll be back, claming something about getting bored and wandering off. It was a good day as far as deliveries went. Worth it in terms of the gas at the very least. You're content. (link-reveal: "At least until you turn the corner.")[ Down at the far end of the street you can see your house. The sun casts a shadow down in front of you, but you can still make out a shillouette on the doorstep. If it's feet were on the ground, you might think it was an actual person. He turns to face you. He knows you see him. (link-reveal:"Some part of you knows he's smiling, even from this far away.")[ As you get closer, slowing to a near stop to pass over a speed bump, you become shockingly aware that this is the furthest away you've ever seen Jones. It probably doesn't mean anything, but it doesn't help the creeping dread in your chest. (link-reveal:"Closer still, and details start to come into focus.")[ (link-reveal:"The way he's leaning back, head turned as though he had been staring at the wall.")[ (link-reveal:"Below him is some kind of large, bulbous mass, reddish and leaking across the porch.")[ (link-reveal:"The same sheen is on his shirt and hands, and trails up onto the wall.")[ (link-reveal:"There's blood on his hands.")[ (link-reveal:"There's blood on the wall.")[ (link-reveal:"There's blood on the ground.")[ (link-reveal:"That is a body.")[ You hit the next speed bump far faster than you should and keep driving, pulling up within seconds. There is pulsing, pounding in your ears as you shut the car door, as you jog around the corner. (link-reveal:"This can't be real.")[ (link-reveal:"This is a hallucination,")[ it has to be. You fumble for your phone, and Jones gets in your way. It registers that he says something, but you can't hear it. The smell is nauseating. (link-reveal:"With a click, you pull the camera up on your cell phone.")[ Hallucinations don't show up in photos. You need to calm down. But the body, the blood, all of it appears. Jones does not, you can see the person's body right through him. You exit the phone and go to call the police. Jones snatches it from your hands at the first dial note. JONES: Woah, no, bad idea. JONES: do you want to get arrested? [[ALEX: What the Fuck?]] [[ALEX: What the Fuck?]] [[ALEX: What the Fuck?]] ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

ALEX: What the Fuck? JONES: I told you, he was trying to break into your house. I took care of it. You're welcome. [[ALEX: You killed someone!]] [[ALEX: I have to tell someone.]] [[ALEX: What the hell?]]

JONES: I'm not proud of it, but what if he had stolen your sister's stuff? What if he was planting cameras to peep on you? I couldn't have called someone to help, So I did what I could. I'll say it again. You're welcome. [[ALEX: What the Fuck?]] [[ALEX: What the hell?]]

ALEX: I have to tell someone. <span-class:"JONES">JONES: And get arrested? If you tell them it was me, the floating person only you can see, you’re going to get arrested. There’s no cameras here, no one to corroborate that it wasn’t you. And your sister already thinks you’re loony. You call the cops, you’re the easy fall. You wouldn't make it in the big house, buddy. You're incredibly smart. You can control your emotions. (link-reveal:"Listen to me.")[ <span-class"nullity">NULLITY: Jones floats a little lower than he was, and grabs either side of your face. His hands are ice cold. You squirm, knowing damn well there's blood on your face. (link-reveal:"You can think of something better.")[ [[ALEX: How am I supposed to clean this before Anya gets home?]] [[ALEX: Did anyone see you?]] [[ALEX: Wait, if you're a hallucination, how did you kill this guy?]] ]]

<span-class:"JONES">JONES: Alex. Take a deep breath. Listen to me. You'll make it through this. [[ALEX: What the Fuck?]] [[ALEX: You killed someone!]]

<span-class="JONES">JONES: That's not my problem. <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: (link-reveal:"There is a beat.")[ He stares at you, and you stare back in confoundment. You have to physically resist punching him. Apparently he’s strong enough to slam a guy into the wall until his head splits and choke him to death. Who would have guessed. Makes physically assaulting him a less than great idea. <span-class="JONES">JONES: What? (link-reveal: "I've been trying to figure out how to get the blood out of this shirt.")[ <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: He frowns and tugs on the front of it to prove his point. <span-class="JONES">JONES: (link-reveal:"It's my favorite.")[ <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: Before you have a chance to respond, a dark look crosses over his face. He backs up. Leans against the door. <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: He had been hiding it from you, before. Keeping you from looking at it on purpose. Now he wants you to see it. The longer you look, the more certain you are this man is innocent. <span-class="JONES"> JONES: You can’t do it on your own, can you? You’ll get caught, won't you? You can’t stomach it? I really don't know where you'd be without me. JONES: (link-reveal:"So what's it gonna be?")[ <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: Nonchallantly, he uses his nail to pick between his teeth, then licks the blood from his thumb. He never breaks his gaze, waiting for an answer. You're shaken, your thoughts may as well be in a blender, and you can't keep still. You clench and unclench your fists nervously. He's right, you can't call the cops. <span-class="ALEX">[[ALEX: Okay, what do I need to do?]] [[ALEX: You're right, I can't do it. I need help]] [[ALEX: I don't need you, I can handle it on my own.]] ]]]]

<span-class="JONES">JONES: Of course not. That's a stupid question. JONES: You're the only one that can see me. <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: He moves to make sure you can see him. Every time you glance away, or try to take a look around him, he reacts in kind. He won't let you see the body. [[ALEX: I have to tell someone.]]

<span-class="JONES">JONES: (link-reveal: "Yeah, about that.")[ JONES: I Lied. <span-class="ALEX">ALEX: (link-reveal: "What? Why?")[ <span-class="JONES">JONES: Listen. Imagine for a second you're me. You haven't been seen by an actual person since... Well, in a really long time. JONES: And out of the blue, someone, a brilliant, interesting, someone is able to see you! JONES: But he thinks you're a hallucination. What would you say? <span-class="ALEX">ALEX: (link-reveal: "I'm not a hallucination?")[ <span-class="JONES">JONES: Mhmm. Sounds like something a hallucination would say. It was easier to play along. JONES: Look, I know it's not easy to understand, I'm just asking that you fuckin' try. <span-class="ALEX">ALEX: (link-reveal:"Wait, then how come no one can see you?")[ <span-class="JONES">JONES: I'm not real. Not entirely, at least. There isn't so much a "not existing" and "existing" as there is a spectrum of-- <span-class="nullity">NULLITY: You hear a siren on the main street, across a few rows of houses. You both listen with baited breath (link-reveal: "until the sound is distant.")[ <span-class="JONES">JONES: We don't have time right now. I'll explain in the car but first. Go inside, get some trash bags, the biggest knife you have, and maybe some gloves. I'll go pull the hose around and start rinsing the wall off. [[Fixing it]] ]]]]]

NULLITY: Jones smiles. JONES: You have to make it not exist. It can't have ever existed. ALEX: Are you telling me to will it out of existance? JONES: No, that's stupid. JONES: You're going to hack the body to pieces. Go inside, get garbage bags and the biggest knife you have. Gloves too. I'll pull the hose around and start rinsing the wall. [[Fixing it]]

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