>>819957
Yemoja is entitled to her opinion and anger.
Anansi fucked up. He gets that. He knows what he did.
Coming home after everything isn't going to be all dew drops and spider silk. It's going to take work.
Maybe Yemoja will forgive him eventually. Maybe she won't. Who can say?
Anansi will do his best either way. It's all he can do.

>>819957
You can always offer to listen.

>She’s acting like a stupid, entitled brat!
...it's okay. I was pretty scary, last time she saw me. Don't be mad at her for me.

>>819957
Ask her if she smelled anyone else.

I mean, the time traveler is only showing up when you're alone; what if they're not real and it's a hallucination brought about by a powerful wish to change the past?

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/02(Wed)19:07 No. 820151 ID: a606da
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“Hey, indulge me.” I step closer to her. “When you were tracking me down, did you smell anyone else?”

“Huh? I didn’t notice any other trails, really. But, uh, one moment.” Mbweha closes her eyes, then leans over and sniffs me a bit. Her nose wiggles a little. She opens her eyes and leans back, seeming somewhat embarrassed. “Um… I don’t know. There’s a couple scents I can’t identify, but those could be from a lot of things. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” I shrug. “This place is pretty isolated, huh?”

“Like I said, that’s why we chose this place for Yemoja. To give her privacy.” Mbweha’s expression sours again. “She’s done nothing but complain about it ever since. And now she’s bringing you into it, too.”

“…it’s okay. I was pretty scary, last time she saw me.” My exoskeleton feels heavy. I slump. “Maybe Yemoja will forgive me eventually, or maybe she won’t. She’s entitled to her opinion. And her anger.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about!” As we come out onto the road where we parked, Mbweha turns to look at me, anger running through her face. “She has no idea who you are! You’re a good person, Anansi.”

“I do my best. It’s all I can do.” I shake my head. “I knew coming home would take work. Don’t be mad at her for me.”

“Don’t let people walk all over you!” Mbweha snaps. “Nyame, Yemoja… All this time, they’ve been acting like you’re pure evil. They have no idea what it’s like!”

“Excuse me?” I pause. “What do you mean by that?”

“One mistake doesn’t make you a monster!” Mbweha bares her teeth. “Do you think I don’t remember what happened? I’ve had a hundred nightmares about that day! I still have nightmares about it!”

“I’m sorry. ” I look away. “I fucked up. I get that.”

“No, Nancy, that’s not what I - aaargh!” Mbweha stamps her foot on the ground in frustration. “I mean that I have nightmares about going through what you went through! Every time I go hunting, I wonder whether it’s going to happen.”

“Don’t.” I mutter.

“I’m so scared that I’ll come home after eating, and then look down and see myself covered in human blood.” Her voice cracks. “I - I can’t even imagine what you must have felt. I still remember your face when you stumbled inside, and when the whole family stared at you - ”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/02(Wed)19:08 No. 820153 ID: a606da
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“Stop!” I hiss, lunging at her. I grip her shoulder with a claw, letting my true face show. My legs writhe under my shirt. “I know what I did. I know what I am.”

“Ah!” She recoils briefly, and the anger drains from her face. “Anansi, what…?”

“As if I could ever be normal. As if I could ever be human!” I curl my lip, letting my chelicerae slide out. “Look at me, Mbweha!”

“You can be human, Anansi. We all can. Bibi said - ”

“Bibi hated me!” I narrow my eyes. “You didn’t see her face. That look she gave me. She saw me for what I was: a murderer! A monster!”

“…Wait.” Mbweha goes very quiet, looking at me with wide eyes. “Do you think you’re a monster, Anansi?”

Yes, and I'm comfortable with it. Why count your blessings as curses? You can't always choose the what of your life, but you can choose the how, and I pick contentedness!

>>820153
Tell her to look back on what you almost did when she found you. Would you have tried to do that if you didn't accept your monstrous nature?

Oh. I'm sorry, you're right Mbweha. Plotting to murder and eat people who I've never met and who've done nothing wrong isn't monstrous at all. Thank you.

I dunno yet.

If I'm going to be something else, I'll have to find it here.

>>820153
"What other choice do I have?! Look at me, Mbweha! Look at what I've done! Out of a family of monsters, I am the monstrous one! I don't want to be this way, but I can't change it! I NEVER HAD A CHOICE! I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN!"

>“Do you think you’re a monster, Anansi?”
Deflate a little.

...I think I'm already past the point where I can be a good person. There's part of me that feels I have to be a monster. That there's not a choice.

And I'll be one, for sure, as soon as it happens again, and it isn't an accident.

You saw how close I was to that.

You're all monsters. You can try your best to be good, but sometimes it's too hard. Sometimes you slip up. That's who you are. That's *what* you are; and no amount of polish will make a gun unloaded.
All you can do is keep it away from innocents in a place where it can't hurt others.

I honestly feel Mc should keep away from humans. Doesn't mean he doesn't deserve happiness, I just think everyone else would be safer with him keeping to his own kind.

"Don't tell me what I am. I decide what I am, not you, not Bibi, and certainly not the rest of the world who would smile inside for being able to blame me for all their problems."

You could always say "I yam what I yam, and dats ALL what I yam."

You know.

Like Popeye.

The sailor man.

>>820259
TOOT TOOT

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/14(Mon)02:46 No. 822607 ID: a606da
File 150270396706.png - (790.06KB , 800x800 , tftl55.png )

>think everyone else would be safer with [you] keeping to [your] own kind.

I wish I knew where the rest of my kind were! Maybe there’s a million other spider-creatures sneaking around like I am, and I just haven’t found any yet. Or… maybe there are no others, and I’m just some freak of nature. I don’t know.

“Look back at what I was trying to do when you found me, Mbweha!” I yell. “Yeah, sorry, you’re right; Plotting to murder and eat people who I’ve never met and who’ve done nothing wrong isn’t monstrous at all!”

“Keep your voice down.” Mbweha glances down the road, but there’s nobody there, of course. We’re in the middle of nowhere. “Also, about your ‘dating profile’, Anansi…”

“What about it?”

“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but, um… You couldn’t have looked more like a murderer if you’d tried.” She looks almost apologetic. “What was that description you wrote, again…? ‘Looking to meet people who are lonely! My ideal partner is someone without any family, friends, or important responsibilities.’ I think it was something like that.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” I sigh.

“It was, Anansi. It really, really was.” Mbweha bites her lip. “Do you remember that first message you sent me, replying to my ‘Hi!’? It was: ‘Feel like visiting me at my apartment late at night? It’ll be our secret. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going, and come alone.’ Oh, and I think you told me to shower, too.”

“What’s wrong with that?” I grimace. “I hate the taste of sweat.”

“Point being: you weren’t going to get any dates, except maybe with the police.” Mbweha watches my expression, curiosity in her gaze. “I think you knew that, too. Are you really into this whole ‘murder’ thing?”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/14(Mon)02:47 No. 822608 ID: a606da
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“What other choice do I have?!” I unhinge my jaw, letting it expand. “Look at me, Mbweha! Out of a family of monsters, I am the monstrous one! I didn’t want to be this way, but I can’t change it!”

“Monsters? You believe we’re all…? ” Mbweha trails off. Her face falls, and she looks hurt. “You think of me as a monster?”

“What? I… No. No, of course I don’t.” I stutter, deflating a bit. I back away from her, letting my face go back to normal. “I just… I don’t want to be this way, but I can’t change it. There’s not a choice.”

“You always have a choice, Nancy.” Mbweha pats my cheek. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”

“No, Mbweha. Not anymore. Not for me.” I shake my head. “I’m already past the point where I can be a good person. I have to be a monster, and I’ll be one, for sure, as soon as it happens again.”

“It won’t.” Mbweha frowns. “I know you’re not the kind of person who enjoys hurting others. Let me help you.”

“Don’t tell me what I am! I decide what I am!” I stamp my foot on the ground, dramatically. “I yam what I yam, and dat’s all what I yam!”

“No, Nancy, that’s - !” She pauses. She gives me a hard stare. “…Is that from Popeye?”

I meet her eyes with a serious look. “Toot toot.” I whisper.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/14(Mon)02:49 No. 822609 ID: a606da
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She stands there for a moment, blinking. Then she doubles over, laughing madly. She finally lifts her head up, wiping a tear from her eye. “In the middle - the middle of a serious talk! And then - BOOM! - Popeye out of nowhere!”

“It’s never a bad time for Popeye.” I shrug, feeling myself start to grin. “I mean, he’s Popeye! The sailor man!”

“If you think you’re going to dodge the issue with that, you’re mistaken.” She giggles. “Even Popeye can’t save you forever!”

“But he’s the sailor man, Mbweha! The sailor man!”

“Oh, stop it!” She wrinkles her nose and sticks her tongue out at me, curling it playfully. “See, now you’re acting like the Nancy I remember! Funny, friendly, and just a little bit stupid; The perfect big brother.”

“I’m hardly perfect.” My smile fades a touch. “Honestly, though… It’s been really nice, coming back to the house.”

“It’ll always be there for you.” Mbweha gives me a hug. “And so will I. Whatever you do, wherever you go, just drop me a line and I’ll come running. Even if you do become a repeat murderist. Though, um… I really kind of hope you don’t.”

“If I’m going to be something else, I’ll have to find it here.” I pat her hair. It’s all soft and floofy, almost like fur. “…So, were we still going to drive back to the house?”

“Oh, right!” She pulls away, fumbles for her keys, and then we hop into her truck and hit the road. “What do you want to do when we get home?”

“I’m not sure. Unpack, maybe?”

“I could use some help around the house, actually. Sorry, I know we’ve been hanging out a bunch, but…” Mbweha takes a slow turn through the woods, and we curl back out onto the main road. “I have two things I was hoping to get done today, and I don’t think I’ll be able to finish either alone.”

“What’s on the agenda?”

“I want to start fixing up your old room, the one that exploded. It’s been on my mind for a while, and I bought all the supplies today. Either that, or… oh, it’s silly.” She adjusts her hair, embarrassed. “See, the meet-ups with Yemoja have been getting super brief, lately. The family just shows up, says hi, and then bails. I imagine that might be why she’s been so stressed out. So I’ve been thinking, and I had this idea: Why don’t we all get together and have a big family picnic beside her lake?”

“That sounds fun.”

“Yeah, but, uh… Well, we’d have to organize everyone, and you know how crazy all our diets can be. It would take a lot of work to make that happen before it gets too late in the day.” She takes the last turn up the hill, and we start to pull into the house’s driveway. “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

I want to get reacquainted with Yemoja, so let's get to work on that. Invites first, then shopping for those that respond.

>“You think of me as a monster?”
Fine line you gotta walk with the self loathing, Nancy, if you don't want to lump them in with you.

>what do
Sure, let's plan a picnic.

Maybe the invites for the picnic today, but I think it would be better to give Yemoja some time to cool down.

>She wrinkles her nose and sticks her tongue out at me, curling it playfully.
Monster or not, your sister is adorable.

Let's have a good ass picnic.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/23(Wed)21:35 No. 824698 ID: a606da
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>Monster or not, your sister is adorable.

Yeah, she is. In a lot of ways, she’s still the energetic little girl I remember. I’m glad she’s held on to that part of herself.

“Sure, let’s plan a picnic!” I smile, enjoying the change in topic. “We should be able to get the invites out today, right? I mean, I don’t know where everybody is, these days, but…”

“Huh?” Mbweha blinks. “Oh, no, I just meant a picnic with who we have at the house. Although, now that I think about it… heck, why not? We haven’t all been in one place for a while. We can get the band back together!”

“Let’s get to work on that!” We get out of the car and head into the house, only to immediately run into two strangers in the living room.

“Oh! There you are!” A tall lady with extremely long hair strides up to us, looking frustrated. “Where on Earth have you been? We’ve been ready to go for a while now.”

“Anansi wanted to say hi to Yem.” Mbweha explains, a discontented quietness in her voice. “It didn’t go over well.”

“You went without us?” The tall lady frowns. “What happened?”

“She freaked out on Anansi, and then we got into another argument. Family visit’s off for today, I think.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” The tall lady grimaces. “We can’t leave her on her own just because we feel like it! It wasn’t her fault that she had to leave. She’s not even eighteen, yet. She needs us to be there for her.”

“I know that!” Mbweha sulks. “But I can’t be around her. Not today, not after that. It would just make both of us miserable.”

“Excuse me.” I politely interrupt. “Do I know you?”

“Oh, sorry.” The tall lady glances at me. “I’m Asase Ya. I’m using something called a Maskstone, and it - ”

“No need to go into it. ” Mbweha interjects. “I already showed him how they worked.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/23(Wed)21:37 No. 824699 ID: a606da
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“I see.” I nod, peering around Asase Ya. “So, if you’re Asase Ya, then this must be…?”

“Olokun.” Asase Ya tugs him forward, and I notice that she’s been holding his hand the whole time. “He’s Olokun today.”

Olokun’s illusion looks like an extremely thin and pale boy wearing a long loose-fitting white nightgown. If I didn’t know he was Olokun, I probably would have thought he was a girl, so I bet he doesn’t look much different when he’s Olorun. His eyes remain closed constantly, and he doesn’t react to the sound of our voices. I assume that means that he’s still blind and deaf during the day. I’d been hoping that Nyame had found a way around that, but I guess even magic can’t solve every problem.

“Hey, there, Ollie.” I put my claw in his free hand. “It’s been a while.”

He furrows his brow, puzzled. “…Is that Anansi?” His voice is thin and stilted. He must not use it much.

I tap his palm twice in quick succession, the way we all used to say yes to him.

“I see. I thought I tasted the dust of your mind, yesterday. But I wasn’t sure.” Olokun nods slowly. “I will visit, when you rest again.”

“Works for me.” I tap his palm twice, then let go of his hand. There’s no sense trying to talk until we can do it properly.

“Anyway…” Asase Ya glares at Mbweha. “We’re going. Yemoja needs love and support.”

“I think it would be better to give Yemoja some time to cool down.” I sigh. “I’ll stay here.”

“I’m staying, too.” Mbweha is practically pouting. “I don’t want to see her.”

“Alright!” Asase Ya sighs in exasperation. “Alright. I haven’t driven in a while, but I still have my license. I’ll take Olokun with me.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/23(Wed)21:40 No. 824700 ID: a606da
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“The illusions these Maskstones make are pretty interesting.” I raise an eyebrow at the strange fashions Olokun and Asase Ya are sporting. A stainless white nightgown and a strange sort of long poncho, respectfully. “Nyame built the stones, right? Did he come up with all the clothing when he made them?”

“Ah… not exactly?” Mbweha thinks about it. “I mean, you can change some things when you turn the stone on, but it has a kind of base shape set in. It works a little like my illusions.”

“They are your illusions.” Asase Ya nods. She notices my confusion, and adds: “Mbweha made the Maskstones, technically.”

“Oh, come on, that doesn’t count!” Mbweha looks away from me, and I catch a hint of awkwardness in her movement. “I didn’t really do anything. Honestly.”

“I was watching over their construction, just in case something went wrong.” Asase Ya gives Mbweha an odd little smile. “It sure looked like you were doing it.”

“I don’t understand.” I look between the two of them, baffled. “Didn’t you say that Nyame made them?”

“Did Nyame never tell you? That’s where his magic comes from: he borrows it.” Asase Ya gently pats Mbweha’s shoulder. “And, to make the Maskstones, he ‘borrowed’ Mbweha for a while.”

“He did it a couple of times. He wanted to figure out how my tricks worked.” Mbweha stiffens, pulling away from Asase Ya. “When are you two going to leave, exactly?”

“I’m waiting for you to give me the keys. Also, hang on… does talking about the puppetry bother you?” Asase Ya’s eyes widen. “I’m sorry. I just thought it was an interesting story.”

“It’s fine.” Mbweha starts fishing through her pockets for her keys, then yanks them out and shoves them into whatever is disguised as Asase Ya’s hand. “Call me if you have any troubles driving. Give Yem my best. Goodbye!”

“Ah… okay.” Asase Ya looks a little sad. “Are you still up for watching that movie tonight?”

“I don’t know.” Mbweha turns away, crossing her arms. “Ask me when you get back. Goodbye.”

“See you.” Asase Ya briefly waves to us, and then she heads out, leading Olokun by the hand.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/08/23(Wed)21:42 No. 824702 ID: a606da
File 150354972044.png - (684.45KB , 800x800 , tftl61.png )

As soon as they leave, Mbweha stomps into the dining room and collapses into a chair. She leans forward, letting her forehead rest on the table. Her face is hidden by her hair, but I can still tell that she’s upset. I want to comfort her, but I’m not sure how.

“Some days, being in this family really, really sucks.” Her voice comes out muffled. “Okay, so, invites?”

“Right, sure.” I find a few sheets of paper and a pen, and I sit down across from her, ready to write. “Let’s start with Oshosi. Where does he live?”

“A couple towns over, in Medford. He’s been going to a culinary school there.”

“What, really?” I blink. “How strange. Isn’t discovery an issue?”

“Nah. He pretty much wears his Maskstone nonstop.” She lifts her head up a bit, and I can spot one of her eyes peeking up at me through her hair. “He got into a big fight with Nyame over leaving, but he really wanted to go.”

“Good for him, I suppose. Do you have his address?”

“No, but I have his number. I’ll just call him.”

“Okay, then. Next up: Eshu. Where is he, nowadays?”

“He’s still in town, but he moved in with his girlfriend. We could probably invite them in person, though. They’re only fifteen minutes away.”

“He has a girlfriend?” I drop my pen. “Who? How? She’s not… I mean, she isn’t human, is she?”

“She is, believe it or not!” Mbweha laughs. “Her name’s Ryleigh, and she’s actually really cool. She comes over for game night, sometimes.”

“How does he keep her from finding out?” I pick my pen back up off the floor. “I mean, about him, you know? About us. About what we are.”

“He doesn’t hide it. He told her really early on, and then he brought her over and introduced her to all of us.” Mbweha giggles to herself. “Nyame practically had a seizure when he found out about it! He was half a second from, like, wiping her mind, but we stopped him. She laughed it off, thankfully. Like I said, she’s cool.”

“Huh.” I pause. The family sure changed a lot in seven years. In the old days, Bibi was so worried about us getting discovered that she wouldn’t even let us leave the property. “What about Nyame?”

“No.” Mbweha’s smile vanishes. “We’re not inviting Nyame.”

“Why not? He’s family, isn’t he?

“Well, yes, but…” Mbweha considers it for a little bit, then shakes her head violently. “No. No! Absolutely no! If we invite him, all we’ll get is drama. Bad drama. The kind that ruins picnics.”

“Won’t we eventually get drama if we leave him out, though?”

“I guess.” Mbweha grumbles. “I mean, yeah, probably. Whatever.”

“Are we inviting him or not?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Mbweha flops her head down on the table again. “But I’ll leave it up to you. If you really want to invite him, we can. Do you?”

Well, can we hear where all this drama is coming from first? What's wrong with Nyame? He a creep? A crook? What's the story there?

Sounds like we should only invite him after we try and work the drama out. C'mon, Mbweha, tell me about it. I owe you plenty of help anyway.

Well, you're inviting me back, so the appearance of Nyame will only alter drama levels, not create it.
Asase's got the car and we've run through all the names to invite. Want to work on the room after all once we write these up?

>>824702
I think we need a bit more information about why Nyame causes drama.

If he's not coming then we should just make it a house-only picnic. Or leave both Nyame and Oshosi out. Excluding him and only him sounds like a bad idea.

>>824711
>house-only picnic
Yeah. Get caught up with everybody you're going to be sharing kitchen space with first, save the full family reunion for... hm, maybe friday? Decent chance you'll know about time travel by then.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/09/07(Thu)20:05 No. 828771 ID: a606da
File 150483995526.png - (719.70KB , 800x800 , tftl62.png )

>we've run through all the names to invite.

Actually, we still haven’t gone over Ori, Shopona, or the others. But that can wait for a moment.

“You’re inviting me back.” I tense slightly, wondering how the rest of the family might receive me. “Nyame would only alter the drama level, not create it.”

“I guess. Different kinds of drama, I suppose.” Mbweha thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs. “With you it’s like one big burst of drama over, uh… that one thing, but with him it’s just a constant.”

“Well, can I hear where all this drama is coming from, then?” I try to hold my curiosity in check, but it’s there. “What’s wrong with Nyame?”

“Nothing’s wrong with him, exactly. Or… I don’t know, maybe there is, but only a little.” Mbweha sighs, sitting up in her chair. Her hair falls over her eyes, and she doesn’t bother to move it. “He changed, is all. After… well, it began after you left, actually.”

“What happened?” I put the pen and paper down. “Did he start acting like a creep? A crook?”

“Not exactly. He became a control freak, is all. He started telling people what they should and shouldn’t do, tried to get curfews going, even ordered us to all get individual GPS locators so he and Bibi would always be able to find us. I think he felt like he had to watch over us, being the oldest.”

“Did you? Get a locator, I mean.”

“Are you kidding? No way. Most of us ignored him. The more he tried to order us around, the more we rebelled, and the more ridiculous he got.” Mbweha pauses for a moment, as if remembering something. “Ori, the Ollies, and Yemoja did do what he wanted, but they barely ever left the house anyway.”

“I’m surprised he’s not still at the house, if he’s so controlling.”

“When Bibi… after Bibi was gone, he got more distant. He started going on all these mystery trips, leaving the house and then showing up at random. In some ways, seeing him less makes him more bearable, but he’s become even more micromanage-y when he’s here. In really weird ways, too.”

“Like what?”

“Like puppeting people.” Mbweha rubs her wrists, oddly. “Literally.”

“Huh.” I notice her discomfort. “What, like, he can possess other people?”

“No, he puppets. Like, with strings. Invisible magic strings.” She shivers. “It sort of looks like you’re possessed, from the outside, but it feels more like someone’s tugging on your skeleton to make you do things. He usually asks first, thankfully.”

“Is that what Asase Ya was talking about, earlier?”

Mbweha blinks, then narrows her eyes, looking unhappy. “I don’t really want to talk about this anymore.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/09/07(Thu)20:10 No. 828773 ID: a606da
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“Well, we could go back to working on the list.” I pick up the pen and paper again, ready to write something - anything, at this point. The paper’s still blank. “After that, we can go work on the room.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Mbweha grumbles. She leans down and opens her messenger bag, pulling a smaller bag out of it. Out of that bag, in turn, she pulls a glass pipe and a little jar filled with a green herb. Then she begins packing the pipe with whatever was in the jar. “I’m feeling really stressed, honestly. I think I might smoke a little.”

“I didn’t realize you smoked.” I stare at the pipe. “What is that?”

“Hm? Oh!” She looks up, startled, as if she’d forgotten I was there. She seems a little embarrassed. “…It’s weed. Cannabis. Sort of.”

“Where’d you get it?”

“Asase Ya. She grew it herself. Blended it out of a couple of different plants. She says it’s super healthy, like, she made it so it actually improves your respiratory system.”

“Huh.”

“Do you, uh… do you want to smoke with me?” She asks, shyly offering me the pipe. “If you want, I mean. It always helps me to chill out. It might do the same for you.”

>>828773
Yes.

"NO. Last time I baked, two girls at the local den were blinded. Until I find out why my body reacts to narcotics with suicidal rage, I'm sticking to alcohol and bath salts."

I guess I can try.
As an arachnid, is it even possible for me to smoke?

No! Don't become the crack spider's bitch, Anansi!

Yeah give it a try if you haven't before. If you have and you know it's something you like, go for it.

Don't forget about your rabbit either.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/10/02(Mon)20:32 No. 834207 ID: a606da
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“I guess I can try, yes.” I shrug. “I’ve never had the chance, before. As an arachnid, is it even possible for me to smoke?”

“I think I saw an article saying spiders could get high.” She pauses to think. “I think. Well, anyway, you’re barely an arachnid.”

“I’m pretty arachniddish.” I wiggle my extra legs under my shirt, for emphasis.

“You’ve got a nose, dude.”

“What, this one?” I point to my face-nose. “It’s fake. I can shape my skin however I want. I smell with my legs.”

“Huh. Neat.” She blinks. Then, after a moment, she passes the pipe over to me. “Well, here it is, if you want it.”

I turn the pipe over in my hands, baffled. “How do I, um…?”

“Uh, let me see… put your mouth on the other end from the bowl - yeah, that one. Okay, now cover that hole on the side, there. You got it? Okay, good. Now inhale. When you’re ready, let go of the hole, hold your breath for a bit, and then exhale.”

I do my best to follow her instructions. I suddenly start wheezing and coughing, letting great gouts of smoke out.

“Holy crap!” She coughs a bit, too. “That’s the biggest hit I’ve ever seen! Are you okay?”

“I - hrrh - I’m… I’m okay.” I wheeze. “That hurt.”

“Yeah, I bet! Take it easy, next time.” She tries her best to wave the smoke away, but there’s just too much of it. “Damn, dude. Hotboxed with a single toke.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means we’re going outside while we let this place air out. Go relax on one of the lawn chairs on the side porch. I’ll join you out there in a bit.”

“Where are you going?” I cough again.

“Just getting changed into work clothes. Old t-shirt, shorts, you know, that sort of thing. Also doubles as lounging gear.” She smiles. “Also… well, I was hoping to take a few hits from the pipe, and you kind of torched the bowl. I have to re-pack it now.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine, Nancy.” Mbweha wears a wry smirk. “Asase Ya’s stuff is pretty potent, though. You’re in for a bit of a ride.”

“Maybe. If it even works on me.” I sigh. “I’ll meet you outside.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/10/02(Mon)20:35 No. 834208 ID: a606da
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I wait outside. I don’t really feel anything except for a little shortness of breath, but that might just be from all the smoke. Oh well.

>Don't forget about your rabbit either.

Oh yeah. That sounds really good right now actually. But it’s so far away though. I’d have to go all the way back inside.

Mbweha comes out of the door next to me, then sits down on the chair next to me. I briefly notice my reflection in a window next to me. Lots of next-to-me things happening.

“Hey, sorry it took me so long. How are you doing?” She turns to look at me, then giggles. “Why are you sitting like that?”

“Sitting like what?” I’m confused.

“Like…” She starts to gesture, then shakes her head, grinning. “Oh, never mind. Just enjoy yourself.”

“Okay.” I nod. “I don’t know if it’s working though.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.” She laughs again. She has a nice laugh. “Hey, before you get too zonked-out, can I ask you a few things?”

“Okay.” I nod again. “I still think I’m probably immune, so you can ask me anything whenever. Everything’s cool.”

“Whatever you say, man.” She starts packing the pipe again. “So, uh, how are you feeling about being back at the house? Did you miss this place, while you were out and about in the world? Also… well, this might sound a little weird, but what do you think of me? I mean, based on the time we've spent together, what kind of person would you say that I am?”

Yes, no, maybe, and wow did you just get taller or did I get shorter.

>>834208
"Everything's cool. I'm cool, the house is cool, you're cool. It's all cool. Cool. Cooooool. Coo-ul. Ha ha."

>>834208
Last question-
She's the best person ever and she deserves to be happy forever.(for real though, most people deserve to be happy)

>So, uh, how are you feeling about being back at the house?
It's different, and strange, but also familiar. I don't know if it's what I expected, I had kind of thought I wasn't coming back.

>Did you miss this place, while you were out and about in the world?
Yeah.

>what do you think of me? I mean, based on the time we've spent together, what kind of person would you say that I am?
"I'm kinda jealous, to be honest."

Then go rambling about how awesome she is like >>834213 and >>834235 suggest.

>>834213
This.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/11/25(Sat)02:49 No. 847897 ID: a606da
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“I’m kind of jealous, to be honest.” I cough. “You’re cool. Best person ever. You deserve to be happy forever. For real though, most people deserve to be happy.”

“Uh… Sure.” Mbweha looks at me, and her face falls a bit. Not sure why. “I guess you’re really high, huh?”

“Mmmm. Yes, no. Maybe. Wow, did you just get taller or did I get shorter? ”

“Same height as I ever was.” She fiddles with her hair, bored. “Damn it. Shouldn’t have offered.”

“Everything’s cool. The house is cool. Coooool. Coo-ul. Ha ha.”

“Forget about it.” She snuffs out her pipe and puts it aside, sighing. “You’ll be fine, Anansi. I’m here. I’ll take care of you. Same as everybody else.”

“I’m fine, you know.” I mumble. “I’m fine.”

“Mmhmm.” She lays back, staring blankly up at the bottom of the awning above the porch.

We sort of lay there for a while, on our respective chairs. The tiniest rays of sunlight sneak in to warm my skin, and a pleasant breeze wafts over me. I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed.

It’s nice.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/11/25(Sat)02:51 No. 847898 ID: a606da
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…

Where am I?

This is in the woods, I think.

The woods.

The forest near the house.

But not too near, of course.

Someone is laughing nearby. Giggling. It’s cute.

Familiar.

“Who are you?” I ask.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/11/25(Sat)02:53 No. 847899 ID: a606da
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“Who are you?” The giggling voice echoes back. Doesn’t sound right. Not familiar. Not the same as it was. “Who are you? Who are you?”

“What do you want?”

“, doesn’t it?” After a pause, she snorts in disbelief. “Yeah, okay, whatever you say. But it does.”

That’s a piece, I think. A fragment from somewhere.

“I don’t understand.”

I feel like I’m going to throw up, but I can’t focus on why. Just hold it in.

“What do you want? I don’t understand. don’t understand. But it does. doesn’t it? understand.” She stops giggling. “Anansi?! I don’t understand. What do you want? What. are you? don’t understand. Anansi?!”

She goes silent. Does she want a response? What should I say?

My head hurts. I feel sick.

Ignore them and remain silent. Maybe barf to the side. Never touch the devil-grass again.

>>847899
Tell them yes, you are Anansi, and you are a spider.

And what you want is to find a place where you belong.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/11/25(Sat)05:54 No. 847913 ID: a606da
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“Yes, I am Anansi. I am a spider.” I groan, feeling terribly nauseous. “And what I want is a place to belong.”

“Anansi. I was waiting for you.” She whispers. “It’s freezing out here.”

Something catches on that bit. I recall a flash of conversation.

“Were you waiting long?” I mutter.

“I’ll say this: My nightgown’s frosted over.”

“It’s a pretty nightgown.” I play my part, dully reciting lines. It’s just the script. It’s not my fault.

“Trying to flatter your way out of this, huh? Tell the truth.” She sobs. Hang on, she wasn’t crying, at least not then. This isn’t right. “It looks like an old bedsheet, doesn’t it?”

“I…” I can’t take this. I won’t say another word. Not this time.

“Anansi?! I don’t understand.” She flickers. Tears stream down her face. “It looks like a bedsheet, doesn’t it? My nightgown.”

“Davi - “ I reach out for her.

She screams. Hoarse and terrible. It rings through my head, slicing at my insides.

No, that isn’t how it went. That’s not what happened. It wasn’t like in the movies. She never screamed, not even once. She was very quiet, very still.

But she did cry.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/11/25(Sat)05:56 No. 847914 ID: a606da
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“Pardon the interruption.” A voice like a hummingbird splits the scream. “Anansi?”

I gape at the strange figure hovering in front of me.

“My other half told you I would visit, did he not? Though we did not expect you to rest so soon.” The figure twists her neck strangely, this way and that. Searching. “I can taste the dust of your mind, Anansi. This place is tied to you. But if you are here, then you aren’t, not really. You’ve failed to draft a visible form.”

“What are you?” I gasp. “No, I know you. But I can’t know you. You’re not - but you are.” My head hurts.

“Oh. You’re not lucid. Pity.” She tilts her head. “My name is Olorun, and Olokun. I am your sister, but I am also your brother. This is a dream, Anansi. A nightmare. Yours, at least halfway.”

“Ridiculous!” I sputter.

“Well, if it isn’t a nightmare, would you mind particularly if I were to eat it?”

>would you mind particularly if I were to eat it?
...I shouldn't be free of what I did that easily.

And you said yourself, it's only halfway mine. I can't give it away by myself.

I'm sorry.

"Go ahead. Even if I needed to hold onto my trauma, this particular play has seen more re-edits than Bioshock Infinite. Nothing but mindless pain here."

>>847914
>>847932
Agreed.

>>847914
"NO! No. Don't eat it. I can't... I can't forget what happened. What I did. It wouldn't be right."

I've already forgotten the significance of this so yeah, bite me.

Guys I don't think eating the nightmare will remove the memory. It'll just prevent the nightmare from recurring.

Which is a good thing.

>>847941
seconded

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/12/11(Mon)21:24 No. 851185 ID: a606da
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“No! Don’t eat it. I shouldn't be free of what I did that easily." A distant vision flits at the edges of my consciousness, but I try not to hold on to it. Force it away. Keep it buried. "I’m sorry. I've forgotten the significance of this, but I can't... I can't forget what happened, what I did. It wouldn't be right."

“You would forget nothing, Anansi. Dreams embark from memories, but it is a tenuous road, and only the rarest few journey back to recollection. This nightmare is painfully common. It will likely be forgotten regardless.” Olorun pauses, glancing at the flickering girl. “Besides… if tormenting yourself with this moment is something you do out of guilt, then keeping her here to experience it strikes me as counter-productive.”

“Her? You mean...?” I stare at her. “No, isn’t she…?”

“Yes.” Olorun nods. “But she remains.”

“How?!”

“Do you think the dead do not dream, Anansi?” Olorun hums to me in melodic whispers. Her voice is always so calming, even if her words confuse me. “It is they who dream most of all.”

“dead?” The wispy figure goes still. “I am. dead?”

“You said this was a dream. My dream. So she’s a figment, right?” I start to panic. “She isn’t real, is she?”

“The dust of your mind is here. So are the ashes of hers."

"I don't understand. What does that mean? Speak clearly!"

"Dreams are rarely clear things, Anansi.” Olorun rises into the sky, fading slightly. "Please, brother, let me devour this nightmare for you while it is young. Staying will only bring you pain."

"pain." Davi blinks. I catch an inkling of awareness in her, and it terrifies me. “dead? ashes? nightmare? I don't understand. Anansi? I waited for you."

“Davi.” I breathe. “I never meant... I mean, you were my…"

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/12/11(Mon)21:25 No. 851186 ID: a606da
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“Don't do this to yourself, Anansi." Olorun interrupts. "She’s not who she was. She is composed of memory, and so speaks the language of echoes. Echoes of her, echoes of others, but echoes only. She won't hear you for you, nor you her.”

"You don't know that!"

"I do. The two of you have shared this dream, or variants of it, on every night for the past seven years." Olorun sighs, her appearance turning a gloomy translucent. "I have tried to help you through it, Anansi. Many, many times. Believe me, I want to help the two of you to understand, to move on, but it always ends the same."

"What happens, then?"

"As I said, this is a nightmare. It comprises a memory. Of what, I'll let you guess."

I almost know. It claws at my mind. So close, so dangerously close. If I remember...

"I'm not going to watch it all happen again, Anansi. But if you don't want me to devour it, then I won't." The world lurches, giving me a vague sense of throwing up, and suddenly everything is different. Davi is gone. I can't see Olorun anywhere - but then I hear her voice. "Your nightmare remains. We're just no longer in it."

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2017/12/11(Mon)21:27 No. 851187 ID: a606da
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"We're not?" I look around at the chaotic scenery. "Then where - ?"

"Hah!" A bellowing cackle booms throughout the world. Its origin becomes obvious: Nearby, a lithe man is dodging nimbly around as odd floating ribbons try to grasp at him. "Nice try, brother, but you'll have to be quicker than that! Quickly, now, quick! Oh, what am I saying? You'll never catch me!”

"Who is that? They look strangely familiar.”

“This is Eshu’s dream, I believe.” Olorun whispers to me. “It has been a few years since you’ve seen him, hasn’t it? He’s changed so much.”

“You’ll never be her, you know, and I’ll never be you!” Eshu laughs as he dances, spouting the occasional twirl of flame to shred the ribbons that venture too close. “For that, I shall forever be grateful!”

“Why hasn’t he noticed that we’re here? Can he even see us?”

“No, though I can make myself visible to him, if I wish. You, however, have no form for Eshu to perceive. He’s not lucid, and this is not your dream. If you want to interact with him, then you’ll have to take the place of one of his figments.” Olorun pauses. “But none seem present, at the moment. Besides, I brought you here so we could talk, not Eshu.”

“What is it you want to talk about?”

“You’ve returned home. Out there, I mean. On one hand, it’s nice to finally have you back with us. I love you, Anansi; You’re my brother. But I have known your nightmares, and they scare me. I’m not sure who you are anymore, not really. I fear for the safety of my sisters, as well as my own. Out there, I am frail and senseless. In here is all that I have.”

“What are you saying?”

“I don’t enjoy ultimatums or threats. Still, I must be blunt.” Olorun’s soft voice suddenly sharpens, and it chills me. “Tell me why I should let you wake up.”

Because I am physically incapable of eating my siblings. Can't argue with the rules of nature.

>>851187
Because Mbweha would be sad if you didn't.

Also eat the nightmare.

>>851187
Mbweha.
If you trap me in a dream, force me to remain asleep, then Mbweha -WILL- find out.
And when she does, when she realizes what you have done, she will never, ever stop hounding you until you release me.
And she may not be the only one.

I wake up every morning knowing what I have done and it haunts me, I know deep down what could happen if I wake and I'm scared of it. Even so the worst nightmare I could possibly have is of loosing control and harming you... My family. All I want is for you to be safe, if I have to leave to make sure of that I will, if I need to fall into an everlasting sleep I will, if anything less causes you harm than I will do my best to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I do and am. I'm sorry.

>“Tell me why I should let you wake up.”
Huh. That's refreshing, honestly.

>Because Mbweha would be sad if you didn't.
Mbweha would blame herself if I never woke up. She'd think it was her fault for giving me those drugs. If you do choose to do something to me, I'd ask that you please do it in a way that spares her that. Make her think I left again, or something.

I'm supposed to go time traveling with someone on Thursday, apparently. Eventually you're supposed to meet them too, and I think you got on well. That probably doesn't happen if I never wake up. ...and it probably doesn't happen if I wake up and go crazy on my family either.

You've seen how long and how much that nightmare has tormented me. Do you think I would, or could, add to that?

>I’m not sure who you are anymore, not really
I'm not sure who I am, either. I still wonder. And if you've been watching my dreams and nightmares all this time and couldn't figure it out either... *sigh*

I won't fight you, if you think you have to protect them. I respect that. I love you all too much for that.

>Also eat the nightmare.
Nah, I say stick with stubbornness for now.

Eat the nightmare, obstinance won't do you any good! Besides, you already don't remember it when you wake up so all this would do is improve your sleep.

"Because I will do to you what I did to her if you keep me in YOUR head."

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/28(Thu)01:56 No. 890373 ID: a606da
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“I won’t fight you, if you think you have to protect them. I respect that. I love you all too much for that.” I speak faintly. I know that this is what I deserve, really. It always was. “All I want is for you to be safe. If I have to leave, I will. If I need to fall into an everlasting sleep, I will. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything I do and am. I’m sorry!” The last apology comes out as a sob, which is a bit of a shock, since I can’t actually cry.

“It’s alright, Anansi. You don’t need to apologize.” Olorun whispers, her calmness fading a little. “I love you. Things have been hard for all of us, and especially for you. Your life has been twisted down a sad path through little fault of your own. You are family, Anansi, and you always will be. And even if you are stuck here, I still - ”

“Wait.” I croak. “Mbweha. If I don’t wake up, she’ll be sad. She’ll think it was her fault.”

“Ah.” Olorun pauses. “We can visit her, if you’d like.”

“She’s already asleep?” I’m surprised. It was the middle of the day when I conked out. Then again, I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep.

“Only daydreaming. Just enough for us to visit.”

“Ha!” Eshu laughs loudly, startling me. His clothing keeps shifting in appearance, as though his outfit can’t decide what it is. He’s still dancing with the odd curling red lines in the air, however. He dodges them quickly and cleverly, to and fro. He’s also still yelling at apparently no one. “Try again, brother. Try, try, try! You might keep the rest of our family bound in your love and blood, but I refuse to live my life in hiding. There will be no more masquerades for me!”

The lines begin to swivel more frantically in the air, like snakes, each trying to wrap itself around Eshu. Eshu just giggles again, slipping through the lines’ path. Suddenly, he leaps forward, gripping one of the cords tightly. It glimmers with heat, as though his fingertips are burning through it. He grins victoriously. “Give it up, brother. Let her go.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/28(Thu)02:00 No. 890376 ID: a606da
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A visage of Nyame sprouts from the mists of Eshu’s dream. This Nyame looks older than I remember, more tired, but unmistakably himself. At his side sits a short human woman I don’t recognize, who appears to be under some spell of Nyame’s. Nyame’s arm is somehow the source of the red lines, and he winces in pain as Eshu grips the captive strand. “Whatever. Just shut up and let me save your life.”

“Whose life are you trying to save?” Eshu snorts. “Don’t play the victim with me. All you’re doing is looking after your precious little home life!”

“I’m doing this for you, you idiot.” Nyame glowers at Eshu, annoyance cracking his curt expression slightly. “What do you think that humans will do to you, when they find out? What do you imagine will happen to our family?”

“I trust her. She won’t tell anyone. And even if she did, that falls on me and me only!”

Nyame sneers. It’s a strange expression, and one I’ve never seen him make. “I can’t take that chance.” He spits.

“Too bad!” Eshu shrieks, his emotion bubbling to the surface. “I love her, and you won’t stand in my way!”

Nyame and Eshu glare at each other, hatred evident in their looks. I take the silence as an opportunity to ask Olorun questions. “Did this really happen?”

“As I’ve said: dreams embark from memory, but few return there. This is Eshu’s dream, and is likewise tilted in his favor. Here, he is the hero, and Nyame the villain. Things are rarely so clear-cut, however.”

My eyes linger on the woman Nyame holds captive, her body jerking wildly around as her face spews something that looks like electric blood. “How accurate is this recreation?” I feel queasy just looking at it.

Olorun is quiet for a moment. “I have no idea, Anansi. Dreams like this are the only way that I perceive the waking world.”

“Oh.” Embarrassment fills me. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I get the sense she’s uncomfortable, as she quickly changes the subject. “Would you like to greet Eshu before we leave? You could inhabit one of those figments and say hello.”

“Figments?”

“The image of either Nyame or the woman beside him.” Olorun explains. “You can control and speak through one of them, though it would no doubt turn Eshu’s dream lucid. Would you prefer to do that, or simply continue on to see Mbweha?”

>>890376
Speaking of Mbweha, you do realize that if you stick me in a coma and she finds out, she'll do absolutely unspeakable things to your body until you undo it, right? Like, I don't know what you're hoping to accomplish here. Are you trying to destabilize the family more than it already is? I think perhaps your unique way of perceiving the world blinds you to reality, Olorun.

He's not even here two days and you're trying to break the family up again. Good grief, Olorun.

Possess Nyame and see what it's like having his abilities for a while. Maybe you can weave webs out of those strands.

Maybe now’s not the time to antagonize anyone. Possess Nyame and do the whole “testing, testing” schpeel. Maybe broach the topic of an invitation.

>>890376
The woman's not really doing anything in the story of this dream, she seems like she's more a plot device than character. So no guilt for stepping into her place and making her a character.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/30(Sat)19:34 No. 890636 ID: a606da
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“I’ve already walked around looking like one sibling today, so I might as well make it two. I’ll use Nyame.” I decide, but then realize I have no idea how to do that. “Um, what do I…?”

“Just focus on manipulating the image. Think of it like a marionette.”

“I was never a fan of puppets.” I mutter. “I just can’t see the appeal. Might have been my lack of fingers.”

“Okay, then, think of it like you’re molding clay.”

I did do that, once. Bibi bought some clay at the store and brought it home. The whole family spent an afternoon playing together and making little urns and such. I look at the figment of Nyame and imagine I’m curling my claws around it, shaping it as it spins -

And it slips into my control. From a distance, at first, which is disorienting, but I manage to slide my perception so that I’m looking out from its eyes. It isn’t at all how I imagined it’d feel. Rather than inhabiting a body, it’s more like I’m piloting a robot made out of paper-maché.

I tug at the figment’s arm, pulling back the red strands and undoing whatever’s happened to the female figment beside me. I lift the figment’s arms gingerly, in a gesture of surrender. I make the Nyame figment talk. “Hey, Eshu. You’re dreaming.”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/30(Sat)19:36 No. 890637 ID: a606da
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Instantly, Eshu lunges forward, wildly shapeshifting to extend his arms and pull the woman aside. Then he rounds on the Nyame figment, grabbing it by the collar. “Dreaming, huh? At least I have dreams, you maniacal idiot!”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” I have the figment sigh wearily. Ironically, that’s probably the most accurate Nyame impression it’s done. “You’re inside a dream. This isn’t really happening. I’m Anansi.”

“Anansi?! Don’t you dare talk about Anansi, after how you and Bibi treated him! It wasn’t his fault, but you - ” Eshu trails off, blinking. “Dream?”

“Yes.” I make the figment nod. “You’re asleep.”

Eshu scowls. “I don’t believe you. This is a trick, and not a good one. Tricks are my thing, and don’t you dare forget it, you - you Poindexter Gandalf!”

I laugh at that, unintentionally making the Nyame figment laugh as well.

Eshu recoils, shocked by the sound of Nyame’s laughter. I’m not surprised; Nyame rarely laughs at jokes. He’ll smile, once in a while, but he’s typically a very quiet person.

“You said you’re Anansi?” Eshu asks, confused. “And… I’m dreaming. Did Olokun bring you here?”

“Olokun’s awake, out visiting Yemoja with Asase Ya. Olorun’s the dreamer right now.” I explain.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/30(Sat)19:38 No. 890639 ID: a606da
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“I’m asleep. This is a dream.” Eshu repeats that quietly, as if trying to convince himself. He smiles, apparently having succeeded. “Okay. I think I’m lucid. Olorun? Are you there?”

“I’m here. We’re just passing through. I hope you don’t mind.” Olorun speaks in a pleasant tone, but doesn’t show herself. “Plus, I wanted to let you know that Anansi’s come home.”

“You’re Anansi, right?” Eshu looks at the Nyame figment. “Wait, you’re back? Like, for real?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I make the figment shrug. “For however long it lasts, anyway.”

“Yes. Yes!” Eshu hops up and down with gleeful abandon. “Man, I can’t wait to see you! Olorun, can you wake me up now? Please?”

“After we leave, certainly.”

“Fantastic! Thanks a bunch.” Eshu laughs, bouncing from one foot to the other. “Welcome home, brother! This is going to be an amazing night, just wait and see! Oh, I’ve missed you. You’re at the house, yeah?”

I make the figment nod.

“Perfect. I’m bringing Ryleigh over right now!” He waves to me, shooing me away. “Go on, now, get out of here, I need to stop dozing and get ready to go!”

“Alright.” I make the figment wave. “Love you, brother.”

“Love you too!”

A moment later, Eshu’s dream fades away, and I’m somewhere else, bodiless once more.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/06/30(Sat)19:39 No. 890640 ID: a606da
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It seems like a party of some kind, or maybe a club, but the environment isn’t detailed enough to say for sure. A catchy beat-oriented song plays distantly in the background, and various vague figures are dancing to it.

An area near the back wall, however, seems far more clearly defined. There, a person who looks very much like Mbweha is speaking with a short woman with a smile on her face.

“You’re so stiff!” The smiling woman pokes Mbweha in the arm. “Loosen up!”

“I’m scared of relaxing too much. I might lose control.” Mbweha is clumsily shuffling around to the beat. “And I don’t do much stuff with my body. I’ve never danced, or played sports, or… um, anything physical. It all feels so far away.”

“Aw, that’s nothing to worry about! Everyone has to learn new things sooner or later!” The lady beside her laughs pleasantly, lightly dancing side to side. “Consider it a part of the human experience.”

Mbweha frowns. “I don’t think that applies to me.”

“Of course it does! You’re human, after all!”

“Oh. Uh, I guess I am, aren’t I?” Mbweha looks down at herself, smiling nervously. “I - I am normal, right? I’m okay?”

“You are! And there’s nothing wrong with you. So, just take it easy, find your rhythm, and dance with me!”

“Can I kiss you?” Mbweha blurts out, blushing.

“Sure!” The small lady giggles, and immediately engages Mbweha in a passionate make-out session.

“This is Mbweha’s daydream?” I ask Olorun, feeling my anxiety start to build.

“Yes.” Olorun replies, simply enough.

“Ah.” I pause. “Do I still need to, er, pick a figment to occupy, and all that?”

“Yes.” Olorun repeats.

“Would one of the other dancers work?” I ask, desperately.

“Figments are detailed. The dancers are a backdrop. I’m sorry.” Olorun murmurs sympathetically. “If you want to talk to her, there’s currently only one avenue open to you.”

This is so uncomfortable. I don’t know what to do.

You can just do that when you wake up, then. if Olorun has anything to say, he can go say it.

>>890640
Uh maybe you should just wait until the dream changes. They never stay the same for long.

>Eshu coming over immediately to see you
Well that's going to be awkward if you never wake up.

>The small lady giggles, and immediately engages Mbweha in a passionate make-out session.
>If you want to talk to her, there’s currently only one avenue open to you.
Maybe wait for the make out session to end? Or for something in the dream to change.

Just as an aside, I want to say that I absolutely D E S P I S E Olorun.
On topic, we are in a very precarious situation. If we wait too long for a chance to insert ourself, then Mbweha may stop daydreaming, and we'll lose our window of opportunity.
If we do insert ourself, what do we say? Do we just say nothing about our predicament or do we try to enlist Mbweha's aid? If we try to get her help, do we drop subtle hints so as not to draw Olorun's ire or do we just be direct and tell her Olorun is being a bastard?
So many choices!

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/07/02(Mon)21:18 No. 890932 ID: a606da
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I decide, diplomatically, to wait. It doesn’t take too long, as it turns out. Mbweha suddenly shoves the other woman away, with a dull shock in her expression.

“Did I do something wrong?” The woman asks, blinking.

“This is stupid.” Mbweha shakes her head. “I don’t even know your name. I just saw you once, when I was out shopping.”

“It’s okay to fantasize about me.” The short woman laughs happily. “I don’t mind!”

“Stop it.” Mbweha stares off into empty space. “I’m such an idiot. I can’t do this. I shouldn’t even want this.”

The woman and all the dancers instantly freeze in place, and the dream starts to get more disorganized. Perspective begins to fail itself, distance distorts, and the music’s tempo begins to speed up rapidly.

“Screw you, Eshu.” Mbweha bites her lip, hard, as a few tears roll down her cheeks. “Screw you for making me imagine that this could even happen. I hate you. I hate your gorgeous girlfriend. I hate me.”

The visuality of the world starts to snap, bend, blur, and break. I don’t need Olorun to tell me what’s happening here: Mbweha’s daydream is dying.

I impulsively take control of the female figment, holding it together even as the rest of the environment starts to crumple under its own weight. Now I can speak to Mbweha. I just need to figure out what I’m going to say, first.

Hugs. Tell her you're body-jacking her imaginary girlfriend. Tell her that you're certain that she can manage something, she is clever after all. She should talk to someone, someone who isn't about to vanish, make a plan, start small or something...

They like their families and hate betrayal. If one can be accepted into a family and then reveal their species in some way that isn't a betrayal...

"MBWEHA WAIT IT'S ANANSI I NEED TO TALK I NEED HELP"

If this is a dream, can't you have the figment behave in ways that would be impossible in the waking world? Unfold your fangs or take off a disguise or something. "You thought that was a cute girl? It was actually me, Anansi!"

>>891006
>"You thought that was a cute girl? It was actually me, Anansi!"
This is pretty much perfect. Bonus points if the head / mask you take off goes rolling across the floor the way Mbweha's disguise did in the beginning.

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/07/08(Sun)20:50 No. 891784 ID: a606da
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“Mbweha, wait!” I make the figment jump towards her, grabbing her by the shoulder.

“What?” Mbweha blinks, and the world trembles. “Why are you… what’s happening? I didn’t imagine you saying that.”

“Um…” I think for a good way to break the tension. “So, uh, you thought that was your imaginary girlfriend? It was actually me: Anansi! Now we’re even.”

“What?!” She gapes. “You’re not Anansi. Anansi is lying right next to me, aslee…” She trails off, going pale. “Olorun. Oh no.”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“What are you doing here?!” She forces herself to stay calm, but the world around us is still warping. “Why are you in my brain? Get out of my brain, Anansi!”

“Sorry.” I make the figment grimace. “I need your help. Olorun’s going to put me into a - a coma, I guess. I’m just here to make sure you don’t freak out.”

“Excuse me?” Mbweha stares dumbfounded at the figment. “Olorun is going to what?”

“Put me into a coma.” The figment’s voice is quiet. “I mean... What if I hurt someone else, Mbweha?”

“Olorun!” Mbweha ignores me, shouting into the nothingness instead. “Olorun, I know you’re there! Stop hiding!”

Olorun appears, hesitantly. “Hello, Mbweha.”

“What have you got to say for yourself?” Mbweha demands. “Is it true, what Anansi just said?”

“Yes.” Olorun says. “Listen, Mbweha, I know you care about him, so do I, but - ”

Anansi!5tTWT1eydY 2018/07/08(Sun)20:54 No. 891788 ID: a606da
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“Bullshit! Stop falling for Nyame’s garbage!” Mbweha roars. “Anansi’s not even been here for two days, and already you’re trying to break up the family again! You are acting like a fucking child!”

“Look, you haven’t seen his dreams,” Olorun backs away from our furious sister. “You don’t know - ”

Mbweha howls, lunging forward. Her shape is twisting, sharpening… oh no. “Wake him up, or I will do unspeakable things to your body! I will skin you and rip you apart and eat your pieces and - !”

“Mbweha, you’re losing control.” I make the figment urgently remind her, but she’s not listening. “Mbweha!”

“Get out!” Mbweha shrieks, clawing repeatedly at Olorun as the world breaks down around her. “I hate you all! None of you do things properly like Bibi taught us to do! I’m trying to be human, every second of every day. It takes everything I have to just hold myself together. I’m nineteen; I’m just a kid! So how is it that you get to fall in love, and I don’t? Why the hell do I have to take care of you?! Grow up!”

“She’s going to break down, if you stay here. You need to swap out with Olokun.” I speak to Olorun, but keep the figment silent. “Go wake up.”

Olorun whimpers. “But... I’m not tired.”

“Go.” I hiss. “Now!”

Olorun hesitantly flickers out. It feels like a cord snapping, and suddenly the figment feels a lot more like a body. Without anyone to guide me out, there’s nowhere else for me to go.

“Mbweha, she’s gone. I’m the only one here.” I say, urgently patting her shoulder. “You’re okay. Olorun’s waking up. You’re okay.”

Mbweha just screams out in miserable frustration, and the whole dream flickers again. If she stays like this, she could hurt someone. That can’t happen. I won’t let it. I have to calm her down.

I search desperately for something to say, something to help Mbweha come to her senses.

"I know I ripped your head off earlier, but could you leave mine alone?"

"Ok fine I won't do it jeez"

This is still a dream. Dreams are for venting those frustrations. When you wake up (and you better wake up), thank her. She needs a reminder that her remarkable restraint is paying off, slowly.

"If you'd like some good news to maybe cheer you up, I got in contact with Eshu and he said's coming over to visit. Oh, and thank you for saving me."

"... You know, when was the last time any of us talked to someone sane? Because from where I'm standing, I think all the movies and video games we've been playing have warped us more than our monster sides ever will.

... @#$% it, let's hire prostitutes to go on dates with us."

Deploy hugs. Keep her talking. See if she can cry some of it out. It won't fix anything directly, but talking about things usually helps.