The Dreamer

3 - Lion Skin

After we met up with this women-couple - one with short, black hair, and the other with purple divided hair that seem to not know the definition of being lovey-dovey privately - and their gorgeous "car", which seems to be a transportation machine operated by apparatuses I don't know the slightest thing about, Helios stood up and folded his chair, and we all went in this car.

It turns out that they live quite far from where I got here from, and so we've been "driving" for a good hour and a half, and Hunter, the current chauffeur, informs us that we might have to sit tight for another good 3.

"So... what brings you, actually - and hopefully you don't find it impertinent of me to even ask - to a place far away from where you live?" I asked. "Unless you actually expected for a witch like me to arrive here, on Earth.

And so planned this action out by arriving here, waiting for the right time, and when I did arrive you would pick me up. Therefore this is why I'm here.

If so, why?"

"This is not an elaborate conspiracy." Helios said. "If you were asking.

And believe me when I say that you - when you say that we rehearsed this whole play out, like we're play-cats, or theatrics, histrions, or directors and actors - are totally mistaken in that regard.

Believe me when I also state that you coming to Earth, in a place where we just so happen to be, is nothing more and nothing less than one giant betide-stance.

And as to why we're here? We just wanted to try out this pizza here in the States'. Specifically, in the Big Apple. It's called "the Lovers' Delight". Also specifically, Luz and Amity wanted to try it out as soon as they heard that it was being sold for the first time.

Turns out that this pizza might've been more trouble than it was worth, considering we both got separated by your haste and carelessness, Luz! Which is why we lost contact with you for a long time and had to embarrass ourselves in front of a complete stranger - no offense, Bruno - until we finally fucking found you!

And not to mention that this pizza of yours was miles away! Fucking miles! Which is why we wasted an entire day for your antics! I transformed into the Death Monster so many times, sometimes in public, that he just begs me to go to sleep, I'm that stressed out by your completely pointless bullshit.

So thank you so very much, Luz!"

"Pointless?" Luz defended. "It was good! Plus we shared some!"

"Yeah!" Amity said. "I think you're just stressed because of the long drive we took to get here - which was totally worth it for the pizza by the way, the crust is crunchy and the sauce combined with the cheese, the ham, and the pineapples were to die for - and the long drive we have to take to go back home.

Does Heli need a head pat?"

"... *lip bite* Maybe..." Helios uttered, holding back tears.

Helios then puts his head on Amity's lap, where Luz and Amity pet it, caressing it near-lovingly, like a lesbian-couple's child's bonding moment, therapeutic and a litmus test for conservative nationalists.

"Because you all don't know me," I said, out of nowhere: "my name is Bruno Squint.

I hail from the Boiling Isles; I was in the Emperor's Coven for a good 3 years until I quit; I'm 21; and I'm a merchant, so to speak.

Or rather, I was. Had to give up my wares to enter the Gateway."

"Cool." Luz said. "I'm Luz Noceda-Blight [age 20].

And this hot potato is my other half, Amity Noceda-Blight [age 20]."

"Hello." Amity said, still patting Helios' head.