"How big is the cave?" Eddy asked as they made their way, about halfway there.

"Big enough to stand up in. Though if you're a grownup or a big kid you might have to crouch." Shawn had briefly explored the place; when you got far enough back it just ended. "I haven't been all the way back though. It could be anything in there."

"Oh shitballs!" Eddy mused out loud. "That's gonna be a friggin' great place to hide." Then his face turned solemn.

"Wait? Do other kids know about it?" He asked, somewhat downtrodden. It was a familiar look on Eddy's face: the idea that bigger kids may have already spoiled a great find.

"I don't know - I've never seen anyone there any of the other times I've been there. Or anything that looks like people were there before." This was true, and most of the reason Shawn was taking him there; it was isolated, out of the way, and despite the cave, there really wasn't much worth exploring. "Plus, I don't think bigger kids would fit really well in the cave. My might be the first people inside the cave in years!"

Eddy grabbed a stick and looked up at Shawn "Just in case." he said. "You never know if we're going into a cave. There could be gay...things there. Or maybe rats. Cave have rats you know. I'd slap them like this!" Eddy gave two quick whacks on the ground with his stick, the effect slightly spoiled by the fact that the stick broke on the second swipe. He threw the remains back onto the ground.

Then he kept walking alongside Shawn. "What kind of treasure is there?"

Shawn made himself look reassured as Eddy waved the stick around, as if he was impressed and happy at his bravery. "I don't know - that's the fun of it! I've only been a little bit in, so there could be anything further back there. Treasure chests, secret passages, old machinery... Heck, maybe it's an old gold mine and there's still nuggets in there!"

"Shit yeah! Shit yeah! I bet Bobby will be real jealous." He announced. Eddy was all excitement now. His eyes wide open, his hands opening and closing, his movements rapid and his pace quick--not quite running, but walking faster and faster.

They arrived at the destination, the sun now a large, sweltering and blinding mass overhead. Shawn's back was sweating, his shirt sticking to his skin. It was a hot day in August. The usually hot kind where waves of heat could be seen rising from the pavement.

"There!?" Eddy announced, pointing towards the entrance.

"Yep! I don't go in the cave all that much, because this is mostly where I come to practice my card tricks. Like this!" Shawn's cards were close at hand, and he didn't give Eddy a chance to reply before he had them out and was doing the trick

OOC: 08:06, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 5,7,8,5,2,6,2. Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

08:06, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 1,3,4,3,5,9(+9,9,5),8,2.  Presence + Empathy + Striking Looks + WP.

Oops, forgot to take 9-again off the second roll; that roll should only be 2 successes.

"Oh..." Eddy said, head snapping towards Shawn, eyes wide following Shawn's hands. "Cool..."

"Cool card tricks.." Eddy said, almost memorized. He took several more steps towards the cave.

"Are you...are you gonna do card tricks in the cave. In...there?" Eddy asked, hopefully

"Yeah, sure! Don't want to stand out here in the sun all day." Shawn led Eddy into the cave entrance, far enough to be in the shade, but close enough that Eddy would still be able to see the trick. He performed it again, the dimmer light making the cards seem to dance in mid-air. "What do you think?"

OOC: 07:55, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 9(+1),1,1,6,1,6,1. Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

07:55, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 8,8,2,3,7.  Presence + Empathy + Striking Looks.

The lining of the cave, even in the shade, reminded Shawn of that night when he saw those wolves, heard them snarling. The shadows now provided relief from the heat outside. The boys didn't wander far into the cave, just close enough to feel the relief of the wind that passed through its entrance. The smell of moss and peaty earth filled their nostrils. Eddy's face remained fixed on the cards, his smile ear to ear.

"Yeah." He said. "I like how it's always the ace of spades when you shuffle it the first time. How do you get it to change like that?" Before Shawn could answer, Eddy said.

"Do it again! So friggin' cool!" 
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:56, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

Shawn tried to do it again, but this time he dropped the ace of spades before it finished. He quickly snatched it up before Eddy had time to say anything and performed the trick again, this time properly. "Whoops! See, that's why I still have to practice. But yeah, that's the whole trick with the ace. It's hard to describe, but if you look real close you can probably figure out how I do it."

OOC: 22:51, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 2,4,6,2,6,4,7. Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

22:51, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 4,7,3,8,6,7,8.  Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

22:52, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,6,8,1,7.  Presence + Empathy + Striking Looks.

21:18, Today: Shawn's Acquaintance - Eddy Hughs failed (no successes) using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((4,7,3,6)).

Eddy's face turned suspiciously downward towards the ace of spades when Shawn dropped it, momentarily putting at risk the entire trick, or plan even. But Shawn scooped it up quickly, trying to make sure that Eddy didn't see.

Eddy, craned his neck trying to see if he could catch Shawn in the act this time.

"You messed it up." He said accusingly, voice somewhat disappointed, angry even. There was also a hint that he might be trying to figure out the trick, the mesmerized voice suddenly gone.

Then, as Shawn did the trick again, Eddy smiled. "Yeah. That's better."

"I hate it when you mess up like a dufuss." Eddy scolded Shawn, the smile never leaving Eddy's face, Eddy's eyes fixed on the cards. His words were harsh, but his tone was getting softer. "Don't do it again." His warning lacked the normal briskness that Shawn was accustomed to Eddy speaking.

"Shit that's cool. Do it one more time before we do whatever we came here...ummm..to do." Eddy stammered.

"Right, sorry Eddy. I'm still getting better, right?" Shawn flicked the cards again, really concentrating on the results this time. This time it flowed much more smoothly, much more powerfully. "What did we come here to do again?"

OOC: 21:37, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 3,6,1,1,8,2,9(+2).  Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

21:38, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 8d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,5,10(+1),9,2,1,9,7.  Presence + Empathy + Striking Looks + WP.

Eddy didn't answer this time. He just stared at Shawn's hands and the cards. They were moving freely now, and each pass and  movement seemed to be in sync with Shawn's feelings and plans. Shawn could see, for the first time, that they were also in sync with the movements of Eddy's eyes.

Each time Eddy blinked, it seemed to correspond to the overall movement of the cards. After a few rounds, it became the signal that the beginning of the card trick was about to happen all over again. Eddy wasn't controlling it. It just seemed to be synchronized somehow.

Shawn could feel his own hand speeding up. The trick was going faster and faster now. The rhythm more and more. It was like watching a VHS tape on fast forward. The movements of Shawn's hands were rapid, the cards now moving so quickly that they left blurring streaks in the air. Eddy had stopped blinking all together, eyes to large, open orbs in receiving mode. The stare of an idiot.

This wasn't something that Griffix had showed Shawn...

OOC: Shawn makes a decision

1 - Shawn Stops doing the card trick

2 - Shawn sees where it goes, letting things continue

---

If Shawn chooses 1, then Shawn rolls

Strength + Occult with the following results:

0 Successes - Shawn is unable to stop doing the trick

1-3 Successes - Shawn stops doing the trick, but it takes a while, hands slowly returning to normal before stopping all together

4 Successes - Shawn stops doing the trick immediately

---

If Shawn chooses 2, then Shawn rolls Wits + Occult

Shawn felt his hands moving outside his control, but he made no effort to stop - how could he, when he had no idea what he'd tell Eddy if he did. It all seemed completely outside of his control...

OOC: 22:02, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,3,2,7,4,6. Wits + Occult + WP.

The air around Shawn seemed to shimmer as his hands moved faster and faster. Eddy's eyes had stopped blinking, the expression growing wider and wider, the eyelids themselves receding impossibly far back. His mouth was open, and Shawn could see Eddy's tongue, it protruded from the boy's mouth in a limp and sagging manner like some kind of catatonic retard.

The cards were moving at such a fast pace now. Each movement left bright streaks of yellow, red and blue in the air. Shawn could feel the euphoria of the movements. He didn't even have to look at the cards, he knew what each card was before he touched it. There was a deep connection now, between his hands, his mind, the suits of the cards, their numbers: the Queen of Hearts, the King of Diamonds, even the Two of Spades. They all had a unique shape. A unique movement and dark story to tell. And Shawn was the master of the orchestra. He was on the verge of something great. He could feel it. There was more to learn. More to experience. A greater joy than anything he had ever known. The pressure from Mom, Dad's work, Acting, even school. These things seemed suddenly like distant memories in the past. A different life. The life of someone else.

Then, just as it seemed like he was on the verge of something great, everything seemed to slow down. Like a Carnival ride or Carousel that had run out of Quarters. The music an colors had all ended.

Shawn looked up:

Eddy was still staring at nothing. Eyes not blinking. Mouth wide open. His catatonic face was streaked with what looked like tears. They were coming down his face. Though Shawn couldn't tell whether it was Eddy crying or his eyes just watering from not blinking.

Shawn reached over and gently touched Eddy's face where the tears were flowing. Whatever had...just happened, he hadn't learned anything from it, hadn't quite made it over the edge. But he'd performed the trick properly, right? But he still wasn't entirely sure what exactly he had done to Eddy. "Hey Eddy, you there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:44, Fri 01 Sept 2017.

Eddy stared eyes open wide, thoughts distant. Tears continued to flow from those wide eyes, and it struck Shawn that the tears, even thought they were clear, resembled more blood than tears. It was way the tears flowed. They ran down his face and pooled at the base of his neck. Eddy's face was stiff. His body stuck in a permanent state of shock, all leaning forward and still interested.

It looked, for all intents and purposes, like Eddy was frozen in time.

Shawn, a little ashamed at his own ruthlessness, carefully took the little vial out of his pocket and filled it with tears. Only then, after he'd carefully put it away did he start to even think about Eddy. He grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him. "Eddy! Wake up!"

Eddy just stared through Shawn. His eyes were blank, his face completely white, drained of color. The eyes of dreamer caught and stuck in the middle of a dream. A statue.

Unlike the Eddy, the still environment around the two boys continued to evolve. It felt like a desert outside that was singed-brown. Scrawling sounds filled the air. The land was flat and barren. Only the odd brittle bush broke up the emptiness of the desert. A screaming hawk flew overhead. Unlike Shawn and Eddy who were just inside the cave, it was being basted and blazed by the sun.

Shawn, caught up in what was going on with Eddy, hadn't noticed that they'd seemed to move to a different location. Briefly, he took a look outside, to see if he could tell where they were. If he couldn't, and he couldn't wake up Eddy, the only other thing he could think of was trying the card trick again. If it got them here, it might get them away, right?

Eddy continued to stare blankly into the nothingness. The world seemed foreign, spinning over and over. Endless desert baked in the hot sun. It was like they were in a different world now. The endless wastes of Eddy's mind. A barren, deserted landscape of destitution laid waste by the magic of Shawn's card trick, by the magic of the Circus.

OOC: Shawn rolls 'the card trick'

Hesitantly, with no other option, Shawn did the card trick once more, hesitantly at first, but then with more confidence.

OOC: 09:20, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 2,1,10(+5),1,5,5,4. Wits + Subterfuge + Striking Looks.

09:20, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,2,1,6,10(+10,7).  Presence + Empathy + Striking Looks.

OOC: Shawn Joins Thread

Shawn: Back to Reality