There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[philoxenia]

[ Underneath that, she hears that she'll never have to be alone again. And it means the world to her. For several terrifying moments, during the confrontation with Maelstrom, she'd thought she'd have to go back to her own world, never to leave again. But they hadn't accepted any of that. Mira knows it wasn't because of her, but--

She's relieved. So relieved that it makes her dizzy. The grateful smile she gives Ema, she hopes, says that. ]

Mm, well... I do have something to do back in my world first, remember? [ She nudges her gently. Ema was the one who put the idea in her head, after all. ] ... Actually... I don't want to drag you away from any pressing matters, but... what do you say about joining me?

[ The way she says it... well, she's hopeful. But she knows Ema might have important things to do, so there's certainly a bit of hesitation there.

... Alright, more than a bit. ]

You could put "talked to actual gods" on your resume if you wanted.

[snackooed]

I was hoping that'd be first on your agenda.

[ She says, with an impish little smirk and half of a Snackoo between her teeth-- ]

Even if I had something urgent on my hands, I'd drop it for something that important, Mira. I was going to see if I could help Ghostworth and his lady in red track down some persons of interest, but that can absolutely wait. And unless things got really crazy at the forensics lab without me there, nothing at home is more important than helping out my best friend in a pinch.

[ She puts out her fist, for a quick bump. ]

Screw the resume. And screw anyone else who tells me that I'm not going. I already promised you that I'd help you however I can, remember? I wouldn't break it at the last second, not for anything.

[philoxenia]

[ Ema... You're gonna make her cry again. She sniffles a little, before bumping her fist against Ema's. ]

... Have I told you that you're the best? Y-you really are. The best friend I could ask for... at least, best girl friend. I'm still counting Aiden, you know. [ Okay, deep breaths. She smiles, though, bright and open. ] I bet you could really give them an absolute earful.

I'm looking forward to it.

[snackooed]

I'm fine with having the number two spot! Anyone who messes you isn't gonna hear the end of it from me!

[ When the two of them bump fists, her eyes suddenly light up-- ]

Follow my lead on this, okay?

[ She bumps the top of Mira's fist twice, the bottom of it once, and goes back in for a normal pound...before reeling her hand back with an open palm and a "pchew!" sound effect, like a kid on the schoolyard, and capping it off with a high-five. ]

And now we have a secret handshake.

[philoxenia]

[ Ah, she missed that look. It reminds her of the look Ema gets in her eyes when she talks about what she does--that passion, that excitement. That Mira's seeing it now, when they're just talking like this... well.

It makes her so happy. And curious, though that's resolved pretty soon. Never underestimate her ability to learn quickly, because she follows Ema's lead easily. ]

A secret handshake! I've never had one of those, actually... [ But she laughs a little, and nudges Ema. ] You're the biggest dork I know, Ema Skye.

And I'm proud to call you my best friend.

[snackooed]

[ Ema can't keep herself from laughing. It's true, that was pretty dorky. And under any other circumstances, she would probably be a bit embarrassed to do come up with something like that, like she's about ten years younger. But the mood is so much lighter here than it's been in months, as though the way she feels in the softer moments she usually has with Mira has been amplified a hundredfold. ]

Two titles I'll wear with pride. Maybe one a little more than the other.

[ She's never felt so...well, alive. Of course, she was never really dead to begin with, but, even so! ]

And when we get Noah back, that's exactly how I'll introduce myself. "I'm Ema Skye, forensic investigator, Mira's best friend and the biggest dork she knows--"

[philoxenia]

[ She laughs, too; part of it's because she's so happy. Part of it is because Ema's laughter is so dang infectious. And another is because... she missed her so, so much. Gently, she nudges her. ]

Maybe give him a little time to recover before you shock him like that. [ But she's only teasing. ] ... I really do think he'll love you, Ema. He'd have to be way less smart than he is not to.

[snackooed]

[ She smiles when Mira pushes her, and realizes she finally, finally has the chance to get her. With one swift motion, Ema pulls off her secret sniping talent, and flicks one of her precious munchies off the top of Mira's head...where it bounces off with an immensely satisfying little ka-tonk! noise.

She Snackooed her. ]

I can't wait to get to meet him. I know how much he means to you, so...it'll mean a lot to me, too, to help you see him again. And besides, if you're gonna bully me in front of my older sister, it's only right that I get to keep it even...

[philoxenia]

Ah-- hey!

[ It had startled her, for sure! But she's laughing, and she swipes that bag away from Ema. Be proud of her, Therion.

Chomp. Say goodbye to another snack!! ]

I suppose that's fair... [ She huffs, gives a little pout... but there's no actual force behind it. And then a thought strikes her, and she perks up. ] ... Ah, he should meet Lana! I bet they'd get along very well.

[snackooed]

Woah! Well now, you did get a bit faster than I remember...

[ Therion might not be such a bad teacher, really. Not that she's going to just say that out loud. ]

I feel like our older siblings meeting is a disaster waiting to happen, though. Lana's got embarrassing stories about me that go on for days, and I'm sure Noah has ones about you for longer than that...

[ Lifetimes, really. ]

If they start comparing notes, we might both be toast...