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

[precognit]

[Alice isn't letting go of you anytime soon, Duck Mom. Except, well, she eventually does because she's hyperaware that she's Very Strong and Della is, after all, but a duck. So she'll find herself on her feet again soon enough, and Alice is wiping away phantom tears that her body refuses to actually make.]

You have no idea. [In one graceful motion, Alice sits down in the sand, legs folded criss-cross applesauce in front of Della.] I'm so happy you're all here and safe!

[nothingcanstop]

[ Yes, it's very good thing they're on the ground again. Della reaches out and brushes her fingers across some of Alice's hair gently. ]

No kidding. Oh... Alice... You can go home. See your family again.

[precognit]

Yes! And you...

[Alice smiles, looking like she's on the verge of tears, looking so completely happy to be right where she is right now.]

Della, you can see your boys. Things are going to be okay, I think.