* * *
Elete
* * *

The ocean nips my bare toes. I notice it simply because it's better than noticing anything else.

The water this time of year is that deep, electric cold that, when it contacts your skin, has its own peculiar burning heat. As I stand there, my feet sinking into the wet sand, I watch the bare skin on top of my feet first turn a shocking pink, then a grayish-purple.

I don't have to wonder how it would feel to sink into that frigid surf, feel the ice close over my head and steal the air from my lungs. My wife remembered it for me as she died, and my daughter -- I am grateful that my daughter was unable to do the same. I have only my own imagination to tell the fine details of her demise.

A little drabble, in which Lyric attempts to drive a car. Written right after a blonde speeded by me in a green Jaguar convertible.

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"So I can choose any one of them?" Lyric asked, looking around the crowded area.

"Yes, so long as you are willing to pay for any damages that may occur, along with the labeled price."

"Great. Ohh, that green one is pretty!" He had spotted his chose at the far side of the space, hidden behind a few other of a similar shape.

The salesman became flustered, "Sir, I don’t think- That one is really more for people with experience, and well this is your first time-" The blonde was already halfway across the pavement, eyes intent on his prize. "I really suggest you consider another type."

"You said I could choose any of them. I chose this one." He had reached his destination, eyes roving over the gleaming, sparkling green surface.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

I can't find Elete. Something's nagging me in the back of my mind about that - probably Diyn trying to get a smart word in or two. I won't let him ruffle me this time. I'm so close.

Close to what?

Ah, it's Katherine. I shake my head. Of course she's following me - I asked her to, didn't I? Yes, with... who?

Where am I?

Something's bothering me about this - I know on some level that something is wrong, and I shouldn't have appeared here. But I ignore that, just like sometimes I ignore Diyn's voice.

Where are you? Katherine is an even more persistent nag when she wants to be, though.

I give her a sense of my whereabouts, and then she appears beside me. Then I continue to look for Elete, but still something seems wrong.

"...'Sy, we're in the Void."

Ah. That would be it.

* * *
Katherine
* * *

* * *
Julia
* * *

The fight is glorious. Cary finally gave me the go-ahead and do my worst, saying that another Poet's necessary work had finished up. I don't care for any of that mystic shit - all I care is that Gwen and I are cutting through everything in our path as if it weren't even there.

Then they really aren't, and I'm left looking for the next nonexistant opponent as several other Armed and an entire crew of pirates do the exact same thing. I duck a few swipes from our supposed 'comrades' as confusion spreads over the battlefield. On the one hand, I suppose disappearing to let us attack ourselves is a clever battle tactic.

On the other hand, there's no sign of the spiders at all, not even a leg, not even a drop of blood. It's as if they were never even there. Instead, there's a bearded man in the middle of the courtyard in strange apparel--