On the Train:\\ \\ 2010-11-04 22:40:51: The Once-Wiise Ashtu climbs on at Nepeta Halt. The Conductor inspects his First Class Rail Pass and deferentially produces a ticket punch. Ka-tchik!\\ 2010-11-04 22:43:22: The Wiicked sAshtu climbs on right behind her brother. She, too, offers a First Class Rail Pass to the Conductor. Ka-tchik!\\ 2010-11-04 22:46:08: The Wiicked sAshtu says, "Okay, Bro, you called for this trip. What do you want?"\\ 2010-11-04 22:47:46: The Once-Wiise Ashtu hesitates. "Well - I think we need to - discuss - some things."\\ 2010-11-04 22:51:43: The Wiicked sAshtu raises an eyebrow. "Like what? Your last bender in the Common Ground?"\\ 2010-11-04 22:56:51: The Once-Wiise Ashtu takes a deep breathe and counts to ten. "And just why do you think I've been drinking so much lately, Sis? Particularly since you arrived?"\\ 2010-11-04 22:57:30: The Wiicked sAshtu turns and stares out the window.\\ 2010-11-04 23:06:30: The Wiicked sAshtu says quietly, "I didn't ask to come here, you know." She continues staring out the window. They appear to be rolling by NewHome.\\ 2010-11-04 23:09:13: The Once-Wiise Ashtu nods. "I know."\\ 2010-11-04 23:13:14: The Wiicked sAshtu sounds disgusted. "Yeah, sure you do."\\ 2010-11-04 23:18:38: The Wiicked sAshtu spins away from the window to glare at him. "How could you know? You were gone. Volunteered to come to this freakin' Island, just because your precious Internet servers didn't work anymore!" She turns back to the window.\\ 2010-11-04 23:22:41: The Once-Wiise Ashtu winces. "Look, Sis, you don't understand. There wasn't anything there for me anymore. I had to leave, before I lost my mind!"\\ 2010-11-04 23:29:49: The Wiicked sAshtu shakes her head, looking at her reflection in the window. "No, Bro, it was too late. You had already lost your mind." She whirls around to face him. "Wasn't anything there for you?? What about Mom? What about our home? What about ME??"\\ 2010-11-04 23:32:12: The Wiicked sAshtu drops her head and stares at her lap. She's quieter now. "We were twins, Bro. We shared everything. and you walked away from it."\\ 2010-11-04 23:45:02: //. . . . . . . . . . . . . .The sound of the engine deepens as it begins climbing into the mountains surrounding CC404.//\\ 2010-11-04 23:51:09: The Wiicked sAshtu looks up at her much-older-looking twin brother. "What happened, Bro? After Mom - went away - I came looking for you. Finally found my way to this bloody Island. Hunted all over for you, asking people, dodging monsters - and to find what?"\\ 2010-11-05 00:06:38: The Once-Wiise Ashtu looks away.\\ 2010-11-05 00:11:06: The Wiicked sAshtu is almost whispering now. "To find you. Looking - and acting - like you're what - ten, fifteen, twenty years older than me now? Is that what your damned improbability does to you?"\\ 2010-11-05 00:17:51: The Once-Wiise Ashtu looks at their reflections in the window. How long had it been?\\ 2010-11-05 00:23:06: The Wiicked sAshtu stares down at her lap again. A single tear slides down her nose, hesitates a moment, and drops to her hand.\\ 2010-11-05 00:29:11: The Once-Wiise Ashtu blinkblinks several times. He seems to have something in his eye. He rubs at it with his palm, then slowly, gently, reaches down to take his little twin sister's hand.\\ 2010-11-05 00:37:42: //. . . . . . . .When their hands touch, a light mist, a haze, seems to rise up, unnoticed, from their tears. It slowly swirls around them both for a few moments, the settles into her spiky hair.//\\ 2010-11-05 00:45:48: The Wiistful sAshtu startles and shakes her head. She felt like she had been very - angry? - about something. Ah, well, must not have been important. She squeezes her big twin brother's hand and grins up at him.\\ 2010-11-05 00:50:32: //. . . . . . . . . . . The train's wheels squeal in protest as it pulls into The Terminus.//\\ 2010-11-05 00:56:11: The Once-Wiise Ashtu grins down at his sister. "C'mon, Sis. Let's see what's new here!" He jumps from the train almost before it stops moving.\\ 2010-11-05 00:58:04: The Wiistful sAshtu follows him to the platform. She doesn't have much choice, since they're still holding hands.\\ \\ [[bulletin_board|Drop back in trash]]