Sara woke up to the sound of her door swinging open and hitting the wall stopper, the rubber 'thonnnnnnnnnng' sound vibrating like a tuning fork in her head.

Bright sunny light shone through the window and into Sara's eyes.

"Sara!" Sara's Dad shouted. "Come on! Get up! I need your help with this. Mom said I can't leave you in the house alone because you aren't behaving or something like that." Dad said in a rush.

"We've got to go. Now. The race is almost starting."

Sara sat up, confused. A race? And was she being reverse-grounded or something? That was a new one. Mom must've been upset. "What kind of race?!" she shouted back, whilst getting dressed in a hurry.

Dad opened the closet and started to throw clothing onto the bed. Shirts, pants, socks. None of them matching. They all fell twisted and disarrayed in a chaotic storm landing on Sara's bed, with the expectation that she would get dressed.

Sara tried to think of the "race", her mind still a blurr of dreaming thoughts and half-remembered oddities from a dreamworld that was fading fast

OOC: Sara Rolls Intelligence + Composure +2(the "race" happens often)

Of course she knew...

OOC: 19:01, Today: Sara rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((2,10(+8),3,3,3,9,8)).

The thoughts came rushing in. The reality of the waking world quickly replacing the dream world that seemed so real just moments ago.

It wasn't her race.

It was a horse race. It was Off Track Betting. A place that wasn't even at the horse racing event. A smokey bar filled with middle aged men. A place Sara had been many times before. Dad wanted to conquer horse betting not because it was hard, but because it was said to be impossible. When he cracked it, he claimed that he would never gamble again.

Sara had been to the race track perhaps dozens of times with Dad. It usually happened because Mom didn't trust Sara to leave her alone at home for extended periods of time. So had to watch her. And rather than stay at home, Dad usually wanted to gamble.

Right. Right, of course. Her head was still sort of jumbled from recent events. The last few days were like a different, more interesting life...

But this had a certain thrill to it as well, if only because she figured Mom didn't much like this option either.

"Okay, I'm ready!" she declared, having put on her jeans and jacket.

And they were there, rushing down the stairs so fast it sounded like rolling thunder. Dad had an urgent, sweaty pace about him. He swung open the door, not bothering to check to see if Sara was hit by it as it came back, boomeranging towards her.

Before Sara could get her way onto the porch, Dad had already started the car.
He opened the side door with impatience, at the same time honking the horn.

'BEEEP!'

'BEEEP!'

The car blared obnoxiously. Though Sara was already on the front lawn.

"Hurry up!" Dad barked in her direction.

Sara fumed, but ran towards the car.

No sooner had Sara sat in the car and strapped in, than Dad pushed that gas. The car door on the passenger side slammed shut --nearly on Sara's foot.

Dad layed wheel on the pavement, and there was a screeching sound followed by the smell of burned rubber. It was all very unnecessary as he pulled out of the neighborhood down the road.  A bicyclist was crossing the road and it looked like Dad might crash right into the man.

"JESUS!!!" Dad yelled, bracing for impact that would surely kill the man.

Sara clenched her teeth and widened her eyes, as she realised what was going on.

Sara's Dad slammed his fist on the horn

"BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!"

The startled eyes of the bicyclist grew wide and as dinner plates, a look of terror forming over his face.


Dad swerved to the right and narrowly avoided killing the man.

"What the FUCK!?" Dad screamed, emphasizing the work 'Fuck.' "Can you believe that idiot? A stupid, fucking idiot is what he is. Stupid idiot. Jesus titty-fucking Christ! Some people are so stupid. You know what I mean?" He said, clearly expecting some kind of agreement from Sara.

Sara nodded, still a little wide-eyed. Of course he was right, but it occurred to her the same went for him too. "Yeah, they are," she managed, "so watch where you're going!"

If she died today because of his reckless driving, she'd probably go to Hell or become a ghost. Truth be told, she wasn't in a hurry to do either.

The car sped along and onto the main road. "Come on...Come on..." Dad said as he pulled up behind another car that was waiting at the stop light.

"This is Bullshit!" Dad yelled. "It's taking too long. Come On! Go! Don't they know that people have places to go. We better not get there late. Or I'm going to be fucking pissed."

"More than you are now?" Sara wondered. "Wait... what if we are late?" Then... they'd have to stay at home? She didn't like the idea at all. Of course, she'd probably just escape then.

"What?" Dad said, not really paying attention to Sara. It sounded like he was more talking to himself.

Dad pulled into the parking lot of the Off-Track-Betting place. A dilapidated building with a cracked parking lot, the pavement kicking up dust from asphalt long ago abandoned. Oil stains were everywhere on the ground. and there seemed to be the strong smell of cigarette smoke that penetrated into the interior of the car.

"Out!" Dad yelled getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. It slammed on the seatbelt, leaving it open.

Sara got out, cringing at the smell. Yep, that was the place alright...

Sara stepped on a bit of chewed gum in the parking lot, the substance sticking to the bottom of her sneaker.

"Alright, we're here." Dad said with bridled enthusiasm.

'Clap!'

Dad slapped his hands together, as if they both had achieved something. "Come on, let's go inside."

Sara grimaced some more, on noticing the gum. She dragged her sneaker along the asphalt in a vain effort to rub off some part of it. Then, despairing, she went with her dad, wondering if she would be the only kid there this time.

The first thing that Sara saw and felt was the wall of smoke that she passed through as Dad and her pushed into the smikey interior of the Off Track Betting. The second thing were all of the TV's. They were everywhere. TVs with different horse races.

All around were older men. Dad's age and older. They were smoking. Or at least around smoke.

Dad sat down at a nearby table that had a used ash tray and several cigarettes in it.

"This is the best place ever!" He announced with total sincerity and enthusiasm.

Sara sat down as well. She didn't like the smoke, and the races kind of bored her, but there was a tiny little thrill to being here, all the same. She glanced at the TVs, then looked at the men, searching for any familiar faces.

No sooner did Sara sit down then her father completely forgot about her.

Dad lit a cigarette, the whisp of smoke going up to the ceiling and joining the haze. His eyes were fixed on the television screen with the practiced, entranced look of someone who had been here thousands of times before. His face looked both eager and heavy. He slowly reached down underneath the table and brought out his wallet.

It was like Sara wasn't even there.

Well, if she wasn't there, he wouldn't mind if she got up and walked around, to see if there was anyone or anything more interesting here. Something worth stealing, maybe... not that she was going to do that... unless she decided that she was.

Sara got up from the table and Dad's vision was still fixed on the TV. He didn't even notice. Or if he noticed, he didn't care that she was standing up from the table.

'And the race is on!' A loud speaker announced, and Dad's eyebrows raised.

She favoured it with another glance and a shrug. Did Dad bet on anything?

Sara stood there as Dad looked at the screen with anticipation. In her father's hand was a cheap, inky betting book, the kind that anyone who comes into the place could easy pick up at any table. Dad's eyes wandered down to look through the pages, his fingers already dirty with the smudgy ink of turning its pages.

Sara was familiar with the ritual.

Dad was going to take about a half an hour in which he would intensely study that book. During that time, he would probably order several beers. Also during that time, he would completely pay absolutely no attention to Sara at all, unless she did something that would take him away from this routine.

In other words, it was time to explore and see if there was anything worth getting into trouble over.

Sara looked around. There was an arcade in the far back corner, next to the restroom sign. To the left, there was a bar with a bunch of empty bar stools next to old men that were smoke and chatting with the bar tender. And on the far side of the room, a glowing jute box which looked like it hadn't been played for a while.

What games did they have in the arcade?

The arcade lights flickered as if beckoning any drunk or wayward gamblers away from the television screen. Decals bright yellow, neon pink and green displayed many classics that Sara had heard of: Pac Man, Golgatha and even Super Mario Brothers. In the corner of the arcade, was a game called 'Ring King.'

Something about the machine - maybe just its positioning - drew Sara's curiosity; she went towards it, while rummaging for pennies.

Sara found just one quarter in her pocket. But just as quickly as she headed towards the machine a kid, much larger and taller, cut in front of her.

"Beat it." He said to her, back already facing her. And then, turning his focus to the machine. "Alright! Ring King!"

Sara fumed silently, while sidestepping so she could watch and find the right moment.

The right moment came a few minutes later, when the big kid lost the game. Sara could see the screen that read Continue?...8...7...6

"Stupid game." The kid said, and without noticing Sara, he walked away back towards the crowd of old man, perhaps searching for whomever he came with.

"Stupid loser." Sara replied, watching him leave. There she was, thinking about a good way to sabotage him, but he lost without her having to do anything. Oh, well! Time to have a go at it herself.

Sara put a quarter in, and the game started. It was a boxing game, pretty simple. The other fighter came out swinging and Sara's player took a punch.

OOC: Sara Rolls Composure + Wits + 2

12:59, Today: Sara rolled 1 success using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((5,6,3,5,2,3,9)).

Sara jammed on the blue button of the arcade...a quick upper-cut and the video game opponent-boxer was down. The count began: 9...8..7...6...5

Then something strange happened.

Sara's opponent on the screen lifted his head up in the middle of the ring. The referee on the screen who was giving the count turned his head:

That's when Sara saw that it was the Rabbit. The same Peter Rabbit that was in her dream.

"It's me. Peter Rabbit." The Rabbit-referee on the screen said with a buoyant laugh that was 8-bit. "I think you might have won. Are you going to come back and visit us?"

Sara blinked. "Uhhh... how do I do that?"

Now the stuffed Rabbit stopped counting and the game seemed to slow down. Everything moved at a snail's pace. The sound also slowed as if time itself was moving through a strange tunnel. Everything except the Rabbit's voice and Sara's voice.

"You just....concentrate." Peter Rabbit said

OOC: Sara Rolls Wits + Occult with the following results

0 Successes: I can't concentrate! (Fail)

1 Success: OK, I'll try

2 Successes: I'm feeling...very, very...sleepy

3+ Successes: I'm so relaxed...I think I'm open to any kind of concentration

Sara might've struggled, but... this promised to be a lot more interesting than what was happening here. So she did her best to do as she was told. She wasn't the most focused kid, but not because she couldn't concentrate when she really wanted to...

18:17, Today: Sara rolled 1 success using 1d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD, Chance Die system with a target of 10, rerolling 10s ((10(+8))). Wow.

Sara concentrated, and blinked. Within a moment, Sara found that she wasn't just watching the game. She was inside the game.

The 8-bit crowd cheered. Sara watched as she saw her 8-bit opponent on the ground, squirming to get up and start the fight.

"Oh my! You can concentrate." Peter Rabbit said. "Are you going to keep fighting? Or do you want to get out of here?"

Sara looked around, wondering idly if she was just gone as far as her dad was concerned. Well... that was something for later. Her attention snapped back to Peter Rabbit. "Let's go!"

The Rabbit pulled out a small pocket watch, the kind that Sara might have seen in Alice and Wonderland. Then it hopped over the ropes at ringside and looked up at Sara.

"Should we go to get some tea? Or do you have any questions? Should we meet the rest of the gang? Or do you want to learn how to hide when it comes? Maybe we should just blow the whole thing off and go down to the garden to pick some of the things growing there?"

It sent a flurry of suggestions Sara's way, each one not explained at all.

Sara followed the talking toy over the ropes. "The gang?" she asked. "You mean the chickens?"

"No, not the chickens. Well, maybe. Actually, yes. There are some chickens. But I mean the others. The ones from Wonderful, Happy, Fun, Land. Why, there's Gus the Donkey and Harry the Chicken. And others too!" The Rabbit and Sara were walking up the runway now, and the crowd, perhaps realizing that the boxing match had ended in a rather odd way, was now booing.

Sara ignored the booing. "Are they all animals?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes! Most of us are. But to get to where we are going, you have to be happy! Are you happy?The Rabbit asked Sara in an almost maniacal joy. Meanwhile the crowd began to pelt both Sara and the Rabbit with bits of debris

Sara wasn't. She was curious, but also irked and confused. But rather than say that, she picked up one of the missiles and threw it back into the crowd.

The rubbish flew into the darkness of the crowd and dissappeared among their 8-bit screamings and taunts.



"Hmmmm."The Rabbit mused in dissappointment, as both he and Sara entered the coverage of the walkway, leading to the interior of the 8-bit stadium.

"You aren't happy." It said with sadness. But then, it brightened up, plush ears perking slightly. "I know what would change things! I know! If you had something that you really liked. Maybe something to eat? Maybe a type of sweet or candy? What is it that you like? I've been hopping around this world for what seems like forever, but I've never to been to where you had been. What is it that you like?"

Sara squinted. There was no way to tell if she hit anyone or not. Damn...

Pouting, she let the rabbit lead her away. "Ice cream?" She never did get any, that day.

"Ice Cream!."The Rabbit jumped up and down with glee.

"This way, quick!" and he started hopping down the dark hallway, quickly.

It was now not a hallway at all, but some kind of system of tunnels. Sara followed the noise of the Rabbit, but it was clear he was moving quicker and quicker and she was falling behind.

OOC: Sara Rolls Dexterity + Stamina

12:26, Today: Sara failed (no successes) using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((5,7,3,1,1)).

How was the plush toy so fast? On some level, Sara knew she shouldn't question it, but it just felt unfair...

Deeper and deeper into the tunnels, the 8-bit, video-game environment gave way to earthy smells and rocky sub-terrain. The tunnels were tight and constricting, and the way the rabbit twisted and turned, making a quick movement to dash into one of three tunnel entrances, it could be described more like a rat in rat's nest than a plush toy.

Then Sara, after trying to keep up, finally came to a choice of three tunnels. One went all the way down, like some kind of theme-park slide. Only this tunnel went right into the darkness.

The other was more or less a continuation of the same tunnel she was in.

Still a third seemed to ascend somewhere up into the roof of the tight cave, stalactites and all dripping with unknown moisture.

Where did that rabbit go? Sara squinted, but only saw that it was hopeless to try and figure out where he was. So she pushed on straight ahead, too spiteful to call out.

Sara pushed ahead. Taking two steps into the dark tunnel in front of her. The air was tight, the tunnel narrowing.

Just then, she felt a hand close on her left shoulder.....

Sara almost jumped up. Instead, she turned around sharply.

Or rather, it wasn't a hand. But a plush paw.



"Don't go down that way."Peter Rabbit warned with ominous undertone.

"That isn't the way to Wonderful, Happy, Fun, Land" and he shook his stuffed-animal head one way and the next, making the fluffy ears lapse to one side.

"If you go that way, there's no telling where you might end up. And that would be really really really bad. These tunnels go to different worlds. You don't want to go to the wrong place. Or you may never come back..." The Rabbit said, losing all semblance of his optimistic voice.

"This way!" And just like that, he hopped off, heading down one of the tunnels and expecting Sara to follow.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:12, Tue 05 Feb 2019.

Seething, Sara followed the rabbit... for now. She paused and looked back, not really sure why she was doing that. She supposed she really wanted the ice cream.

As Sara turned around, there was nothing there but the worm-work of tunnels everywhere, burrowed into the rock.



"OK then!"Peter Rabbit said, continuing down his chosen tunnel, and expecting Sara to follow.

"What is your favorite color?" The Rabbit said, trying to make small talk.

"Blue," Sara still followed. "Wait a sec, didn't you say you'll next visit me during a dream?" Or was this whole morning a dream? Sure didn't seem like it until that game...

"BL^UUUUUUUEEEEE!"Peter Rabbit rejoiced.

"Did I say that?" The Rabbit asked, as if unsure

"Well, you wrote it." Sara frowned.

"Oh my!"Peter Rabbit said with embarrassment as they exited the stadium and were now walking on a path outside. The jeers of the crowd were fading into the background and he took out his watch.

"I did write that." The Rabbit said in an almost confessional, apologetic tone. "But writing is not saying. And saying is not writing. Even if sometimes saying and writing are both thinking. And if you think something and write it and then don't say it. Does that make it a lie? Or if you write something down without saying it, maybe it is a lie too."


The Rabbit looked down at his pocket watch. "Oh, but let's forget all about what I wrote and said. What is more important, keep track of things? Or having fun?" It asked Sara whimsically in a playful manner.

"Just where are we going?" Sara asked, keeping pace.

"We've got to get to the Party. We've just got to!"Peter Rabbit replied, now slightly pulling ahead of Sara.

The path gave way to more shrubbery and the beginnings of what looked like a forest.

Then suddenly, the stuffed Rabbit reached out a paw and poked Sara.

"Tag! You're it!" And it ran down the path, hopping forward with all the glee of a cartoon rabbit.

"What-" Sara was about to ask 'what party', but the rabbit's tag interrupted her. Swearing not to let him get away again, she ran after him into the woods.

Sara kept running into the forest. The track snaked around the trees and disappeared from sight. It was well worn but narrow and broken with knotted roots. Branches overhung in their quest for more sunlight, making circular archway of brown and green vines.  She was about to break into a jog when she noticed a recently fallen tree, it lay chopped at the side, the wood still fresh and bleeding sap. A bird tweeted nearby ans she watched Peter Rabbit hop through the first two circle and then look back at her before moving forward and hopping through the third.


"Follow me!" He yelled.

Then he was gone.

Not gone as in 'dodging this way and that' like he had in the tunnels. He disappeared. After passing through the third ring, the Rabbit disappeared from sight. Disappeared in thin air. One moment he was there. The next he was gone.

Sara frowned, then ran after, through the rings.

OOC: Sara Rolls Occult +5 with the following results

0 Successes: Lost! The Rabbit Gets Away, Sara's travel doesn't go as intended

1-3 Successes: Following the Rabbit Into the Hole

4+ Successes: That's it! Sara sees the Rabbit but accidentally passes it, Sara's travel doesn't go as intended

19:22, Today: Sara rolled 1 success using 2d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((9,2)).

OOC: Sara Joins Thread

Sara: Tea Time!