Worlds Beyond Number - World Turner: Episode 2 - Sundown Part 2

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

Fireworks sing above the bay and tensions rise with the tide. New arrivals at the harbor throw party plans into chaos. Love and heartbreak duke it out as our heroes face the Sundown.Content Warning: This episode contains depictions of alcohol consumption and violence.We are:Brennan Lee MulliganErika IshiiAlly BeardsleyLou WilsonWorld Turner was produced by Worlds Beyond NumberEdit and Sound Design by Jino Jang-Hansen at Big Giant HeadScore by Will Savinohttps://wsavino.com/The voice of Tony Geloni was performed by Chris Wagner.Director of Operations: Melanie BowmanSocial Media Manager: Shannon HLorekeeper and Transcriptionist: Jack Morgan E.F. Lavandowska Recording Engineer: Rainie TollCharacter Art by Elisabeth MkheidzeCover Art by Lu TomkiewiczAdditional Game Design by Mazey VeselakYou can find transcripts of all our episodes on our Patreon. Just navigate to the post for the episode and the transcript will be attached. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is the sound. This is the sound. This is the sound. This is the sound of Worlds Beyond Number. Yaxil, we're going to cut to you on the ferry just briefly. You're taking the ferry from Northak over to the South Ferry Terminal. You're up on the upper deck, where the wind is sharper and the whole harbor opens around you. Red painted benches run along the sides and beneath a partial canopy while the forward rail gives you a clear view over the bow.

The deck smells of salt and wet rope and the faint sweetness of spilled drinks from last night's crossing. Northak recedes. It's leaving behind its green patina bronze and clipped trees. The water broadens, and Ackabor opens ahead in bricks, domes, chimneys, and harbor light. And above it all, stands yearkeeping.

Even from the water, it refuses scale. Its trunk rises from Founders Park like a cliff face, wide enough that the buildings around it seem arranged at its feet rather than beside it. Higher still, the bark darkens into haze, and the canopy spreads so wide it seems to gather parts of the sky into itself. White bloom has settled across the harbor in drifting streaks and soft clumps, catching in the waves and along the fairies wake like a pale foam. The city appears arranged around gear keep, simply because of its size.

Yaxil takes a really deep breath in with all this pollen around just to see if he's also allergic to the thing his mom is having a hard time with. Give me a medicine check. 14. Not really. I mean, I think that there's a little bit of, like, people get hay fever who have those kinds of allergies, but that kind of, there is more particulate in the air during the bloom, but I don't think it's such that you're not like breathing in clumps of this stuff.

Yeah, yeah. I think I've just always had such a connection to yearkeeper, so it just feels weird to me that it would, you know, cause any sort of adverse reaction. Yeah, he's standing here, kind of taking in the view. I think he has like a cotton bag. He stopped on the way to the ferry and picked up just some nice, snacks to give Abigail and Terry or whatever the fuck his name is. And it's like goat cheese and strawberry and balsamic sandwiches and some chips

and a couple of like carbonated like lemonade or something just to be like, oh, it was probably a long journey. You want to really make sure I take care of them. And then he's just like, who was that Sarah chick? That's just kind of, kind of, kind of all that he's thinking about. Your mind lands on Sarah. Gorgeous, blonde hair. Her cute friend, Brigitte, who maybe Colin could date.

Then you guys would be like best friends. Maybe that third friend would be there. The third one. Maybe she'd just fuck off. Who knows? Who knows what she'd get up to, man? Who knows? Wildcard.

Is mom sick? God. God, Sarah seems pretty cool. Yeah. Hope I see her. That hope carries you across the whole. Harvard. As the ferry turns toward the South Egg terminal, the engine drops into a slower rhythm as the harbor approaches. You hear a deep horn sound from across the water, and off the port side,

you see a passenger packet arriving from beyond the city. Several times larger than your ferry with a dark hole rising high above the water and three stacked decks wrapped in white railings, rows of square windows run along the sides, while travelers crowd the upper problem. beneath canvas awnings leaning over to get their first view of Ackabour. You can pretty certainly say this is probably the ship that Abigail and Tobias are on. You step off the ferry into the terminal, which is like mostly an open harbor built beneath some broad iron and glass canopies. As you see Harley begin to approach from the train station. Wow.

I've had my trolley nap and everything's going to be. Okay. That's what I'm talking about. Okay, let's grab one of these things. We grab kind of like a wooden cart so that we can help with any like baggage or whatever. I'm glad we're meeting them before calling. Yeah, I think we can, you know what we should do? Yeah.

Hide and just see what they look like walking off of the ship. Are they touching at all? Yeah, let's get a little into. Body language. We kind of hide behind the cart. Go ahead and give me a stealth check. Yeah. It's not good, I'll tell you that.

Oh my God, I got a one. No! Oh, no! I got a nine. Not one and a nine. Oh, no! Harley, where do you suggest we hide? Okay, here's what we're going to do.

Great. Man, is that we get up close and we just sneak up as close as we can to see, because what if they're, like, whispering or something? You're right. We should kind of flank the gang plank. Yeah, but the gang plank. Yeah. And then squeeze in right.

behind them. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's a great idea. You guys get really close to where the kind of gangplank off the ship is going to land and are hiding super close so you can hear if they're whispering and to jump out and surprise them. Yeah, yeah. Great. The gangplank is dropped. Porters start carrying bags off. Immediately, porters are trying to put bags around. Excuse me, can you guys move? Shh. What? Yeah, shh. Hey.

Keep it down, man. Hey, I'm sorry. The bluer cover. Your cover. This is... Nope, this is our cart. Excuse me. I don't need your cart.

I just... This area is for passengers disembarking from the ship. Are we gonna have a problem? Will you guys please move? Oh, God. Okay. Hey, man.

I don't think you know who you're talking to. Do you know who his dad is? I don't care who his dad is. I got bags to drop. Shit. All right. Okay. You see...

Drop them here in front of us. You see coming down from the gangplank. You hear you hear. our voice go, Yaxil? I'm going to bar fall over you if you don't back up. Hey, oh, biological. No, thank you. No, thank you.

I'm trying to stack up the, you guys who try to stack up suitcases. Oh, hey. Hi, Abigail. Yaxil? Yes. Harley. Oh, hi, abs. What's up, guys? What's up? Welcome. Come on down.

Yay. Yes. You see that descending from the vessel is Abigail. Flax and hair. loosely pinned back for the wind on the ship, an open, sun-touched look of someone who's raised outdoors, practical clothes, strong pusher, and clearly an ease as she, like, moves through this pace. The porter is holding bags that she takes and goes, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And you see, he goes, uh, yeah, are these your friends? She goes, yes, they are. I don't have to barf anymore. So sorry about that. Our cover was blown. Thanks, man.

She goes, cover, what are you guys talking about? We were going to try to surprise you. Surprise. Hey, you got your own bag? Well, I got these two, and then turning back, you see, descending the gangplankist Tobias, broad shoulders, plainly dressed, handsome, without appearing especially aware of it. His sleeves are rolled up to the forearm, revealing strong hands marked by small cuts and calluses and old work scars. You see, he's carrying two heavier luggage.

bags and immediately goes Abigail, I've got our bags. You just go, thank you, Toby. Colin, racing. Your shirt is trenched in sweat. Your hair is stuck to your forehead. I made it in time to make a good impression. I made it in time to be here when they got here.

And I'll see it'll be so good. You as you're approaching see this. little cluster you see your friends Yaxel and Harley. Wish Colin could make it but he had to go into work on important business. At an important laboratory. Oh, yes. Well, of course, the VIX.

At the VIX. Yeah. So we were here to pick you up. So he can do his important stuff. Well, of course, yeah, he's got, I mean, it's a demanding job. He's told me. Hey. Hey. Oh, Cullen. Oh, you made it. Are you? Are you okay? Good. Good, good, good, good, just ran.

Okay. Over. I almost, I met, I was, the reason I was running is I missed. I almost missed the. Yeah, just like a second. Charlie. Oh, that's sick that you made it. You're so fast. Nothing gets by this guy. Wow, and you, you just blew through your work.

There's a secret. Hey, yeah. Hey, what's going on? Hey, huge hug, big hug. Toby, have you smelled the sea air? I grabbed this guy like, By the shoulders, and we try to lead him off to, like, see a nice view. You see that he is holding two bags, so he just kind of, like, elbows your hand and goes, it's been quite nice.

It's been quite nice. I physically move this man, if I can. Welcome to Ackabor. Go ahead and give me an athletics check. I don't think he is fighting you, per se? Yeah, because that would be weird. That would be weird. That would be a little weird.

So I think he's just, like, he is strong enough that... 17. 17. You see that you are pushing him in the bags, and he goes, wow. Oh, well, yes. You see he's moving with you kind of gently away. The sea air. Please see our fish stalls. That's my boys.

That's my boys, Harls and Yaxel. You see that Abigail is in your embrace, your hot, warm, kind of slightly damp embrace. And you see, you feel her hands kind of come across the middle of your back as she returns the embrace. And I think the embrace is both like, you have to hug your girlfriend when she gets off a ship. but also I'm like suddenly aware of my body and also aware that we have this unresolved tension. So it's like arms way out and then I tuck my elbows in so I'm not. And then it's like a, hey, good. And like, it's good hug, good hug.

With an eight on an inside check, I think as you're lingering in the hug, you feel Abigail be like hug over, but it's not, you're not ready. So it's that moment of feeling the person be like, I kind of want to get out of this. I think I think that she's reaching to hug me more as her hand goes up and then it doesn't touch back down. And you feel her come back into you with your effort. I leave the hug abruptly. Hey, it's so good to see you. Are you okay? You look.

I'm sorry. I haven't seen you at a month. It's good. It's good. You're here at the harbor. You want to get a strawberry shake. The guy, and I look over, he, the, I just. Actually, I actually am going to sit down.

I sit down just in the middle of the pier, just sit down. I ran too hard. Are you okay? Cullen, come. Let's get a bench. I've got water. Yeah. Oh, I'll get some, I guess some, I can you some water.

No, I have, I have water. You have water? Yeah, you can have some. Oh, good. Yeah. She brings you over to like a wooden bench just off. Sit down. The side and sits down.

You see that she stays standing. Yeah, I'm sorry. I was supposed to be here. The doctor, these doctors at the, at the, at the, fucking institute are like insane i'm like getting called in i got a letter to come in this morning how was the trip by the way did you get the this trip was easy no it was it was fun uh toby brought a little like travel chess sets we just played and then you know and i think you want to sorry to interrupt you can finish your thought no it was just like it was nice to pass the time

earlier and i was just telling you know like different stuff i want he brought he brought multiple travel chess sets no he brought one just one travel one travel one once you're just one travel one travel chess set but he brought it so we played and then i was just honestly it was like i was just like i like made a list of stuff like i wanted him to see while he was here so it was just like having we're going through the list and i was like telling him about stuff and telling him about you and you know um do you want to do you want to um sorry yeah do you finish your thought uh i was just telling him about you and how i was excited to see because i think you've been living in the apartment we got Like I was excited to see it.

Well, yeah, it's, yeah, it is a, it's a year-long lease. So it would not be, it would be crazy for me not to, you know, yeah, I have to, I have to. Yeah. I have to live there. So I was just telling them about that. So, so I got your, so this morning, you know, the letter kind of just beat you by a few hours. Oh, yeah. The one you sent.

Mm-hmm. And obviously, all of this has said, the big umbrella over all of this is that I'm so happy you're back. I love you. And I know you know that. And I love you so much. And this is ultimately going to be one of those things that I frankly think that, like, you know, speed. We've had speed bumps before. And it always brings you closer together.

Yeah, always. To have something that comes up that you. But I guess I just wanted to touch base about, you know, I sort of like made my feelings clear. And you, the way that a band, that. boundaries work is everyone always gets them and you're allowed to have them and they're allowed to be what they need to be for you to feel good and safe. So like my feelings don't have to be what your feelings are and you can do what you want to do with your feelings and not as long as you're not, as long as my boundaries are being okay. But the but the main thing was just like I guess when I sent

my letter about feeling uncomfortable with this very precious time that we have sort of being like, our first time apart really ever, our first serious time apart ever, and we get this one weekend, it's like a very special weekend, like our first summer weekend in Acapable with the Sundown, it was, it seems like it had been made about Toby. And I could be more enlightened than I am and I could be more selfless than I am. But I guess I want to know why that's being asked of me because, it feels like there has to be something important about Toby for it to be the focus of this very special time. And so I guess I just wanted to. And I, you know, your letter just said, he's coming, which I appreciate that boundary. And I want to respect that. But my question, sorry, I'm just like rambling. I just, can I jump in? Is that okay? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I got your letter. I read it. And like, I like get it. Like, I don't know. You have a. You have a. like met Toby you don't know him that well like Toby well like I mean like but you like have like met

met him you know not like gotten to know him yeah but I mean like I was a freshman when he was a junior of C no how was he a senior yeah cool when he he but like yeah like you don't like know him like that so like I could understand like you know like in your way of like overthinking things like but neither of us how much well it's just been like well has just been like he's just been he's I actually would like to finish my thought, sorry. Okay. I would like to, I would actually just like to ask, you've been back in Wicklow for like less than a month.

So like how much... Well, I don't have a fucking job in Wicklow, okay? The internship didn't work out. I've got a lot of free time and I've been desperately trying to figure out what to do with myself so I'm not just fucking staring in the mirror thinking I'm a fucking failure, right? And it's just, Toby is like just been like around. and down to hang out, and it's been awesome to get my mind off of things, because you're here, and I'm there.

So, like, I don't... You asked, I, you, you, and Yaxel and Harley and everybody screamed at me not to quit the internship. Yes, because it's a huge deal. But it doesn't, it's not as huge deal as us. What, and then, what, I'm supposed to feel bad all summer that I dragged you back to Wicklow? Well, how do I keep... So, so, so, so, so you wanted me to come back, but didn't want to ask for it. I didn't want you to come back.

It's like, you can't come back. So what am I supposed to do with myself? Like you're saying, it's our first time apart. I don't, like, if we're not together, I don't know. If you had been sad in Ackabor all summer, I would have been in Toby's position. What? If you had been, you're saying that you don't have a job in Wicklow and you're bummed out, there if you, why wouldn't you choose to be bummed with me?

I, why wouldn't you choose to be bummed with me? In like, pay rent in Ackabor without a job? I wouldn't have made you pay rent. I would have, take, I would have bartended. How am I supposed to put that on you? Then it's my whole thing. Why are we fighting? We're fighting because you dragged King Townie to Port Acapore in the 48 hours we had together. Tony Jolone, I know about the Crystal Hall. We could have had a magic. I could have, I, I, I, I, I,

You see that she puts both of her hands on your shoulders in this moment and goes, Cole, we're still going to have a great time. And if, if tomorrow you want me to ditch Toby and it's just us, we can do that. I didn't, I think, I think maybe I over, maybe I underthought, I think how big a deal this was for you. you. I am not going to ask you. I want to.

Let me show Toby the city. I brought him here. I'd feel bad if I just, like, abandoned him. But tomorrow, it's me and you. And I'll give Toby a map of North Ack and he can go to the Grand Exchange or whatever. Okay. I really, I really appreciate that. I don't, I really, I really appreciate that.

And I don't like raising my... I think that it's hard being... I'm struggling with being apart because normally we get to talk through things as they're happening. And instead, I'm sure it's the same situation with you. I've had nothing but weeks of being alone in the apartment to like feel these feelings and spin out.

And I'm sorry, I got upset. It's okay. It makes sense. I've been like a mess without you. I, it has been told to me that I have not been doing well either, and I believe it. Well, let's make each other better. Okay, I miss you. I'm sorry. That's right. Two feet of wood whittled down to a single reed.

That's incredible. Isn't that cool? You gay, homie? What? Just. That's quite interesting. What did you say? I just asked to. Yaxley? Yaxel.

Oh, Yaxel. Yeah, yeah. What did you ask me? Are you gay? Am I gay? Am I attracted to the same sex? Yeah. No, I'm not.

Oh, okay, okay, cool. Just curious. No. I mean, I have a lot of friends who are. Oh. Yeah, down at the boat yards where I work. That's cool. I built ships.

Wow. I heard that about you. That is so cool. Yeah. This blanket is for you. Oh. It's, um, smells of nasty. Yeah.

Yeah. She's actually experiencing her first hangover, believe it or not. Oh, how's that going? Uh, it's a lot better. It turns out that, uh, uh, food and rehydration and, uh, a little trolley nap can just do wonders. But I'm sure you've been hung over quite a lot. Oh, yes. Yeah. Yeah. I enjoy, I enjoy alcohol thoroughly. Oh, well, you're going to have fun tonight. Yes. Yes. Do you hear we're going to this party?

The summer sundown situation. What are you looking for? Can we help you out in any way? Uh, no. Or do you already have a girlfriend? No, I don't have a girlfriend. Wow. Give me an inside check. Not one. He doesn't have a girlfriend.

And maybe he's lying about being gay. God fucking damn it. 19. 19. There's like a beat. There's something in that. There's something in that Harles that you can't help but. There's something in that. There's something in that there is a half second between him saying that girlfriend and his next thought.

Oh, but is there's so, is there, is there someone you got your eye on? Like a, like a nice towny girl, town girl by any chance. Does a fisherman dream of the sea? That's so homie. Hey, I'm realizing I may have read you the wrong way, but I have a sandwich that you're either going to think sounds delicious or nasty. And I pull out this sandwich and I offer it to them. What's in it? It's a strawberry, go cheese, and a balsamic.

reduction. I'm good. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll get you, we'll get you like a ham and cheese. Let's go. Can we look over and see if they're doing okay? Yeah, you see that Abigail and Colin have stood up and are kind of walking to rejoin the group. Beautiful. I try to non-verbally communicate through eye contact with Colin. Go ahead and give me a deception check to avoid being perceived as you guys chat. Okay, four. I'm trying to stare really hard at how Toby and Abigail are interacting. Go ahead and give me an inside check.

And dirty 20. Dirty 20. What are you guys trying to say to each other? What are you trying to communicate? You're good. I'm going to give a tiny little thumbs up without raising my arm. So it's just the hand at the side. Okay, cool.

Goes thumb up. 16. 16. I would say you watch Tobias turn to look at Abigail and you feel his face just kind of brighten as you see Abigail go. Okay. We were going to drop our bags at Quinn's over in Twin Bay. just before we all got hung out. I didn't, there's probably not room at our place for Tobias.

So I was thinking we would just put our bags at Quinn's. But then I'll come and I'll come to our place tomorrow. Cool. Oh, do you want to, do you want to? It is impossible for me not to react physically to this. Yeah. I'll go, I'll go, okay, so Tobias is going to be at Quinn's tonight. Yes.

And then we'll, and then you want to, from the band shell, we'll head back to. To our place. And then I can pick up my stuff tomorrow. Do you want to... Or, or, because we have, we could probably keep stuff at storage. Oh, okay, yeah, let's go to storage. Yeah. How far are we from Old Town, from, like, my, our apartment?

Pretty, I mean, it's either a ferry ride and a walk or a trolley ride. Gotcha. Sorry, just above table. Was she just saying they're putting their stuff at this house, both going to sleep there, and she'll go to Collins in the morning? I think she is kind of like in between. I think that... She was proposing that and then kind of pivoted.

She is saying like I was... I think she expected to stay at Quinn's tonight. Yes. Yeah. And then... Where he's staying. Where they are staying, yes. Wow.

And I think Colin hears that and just acts like it didn't get... And then just kind of says the other thing. He's like, right? So you'll come stay with me. That's what I thought I heard. Okay, got it. But I don't... But I don't think if any of you guys are looking at Colin,

and his eyes are made of glass. He's locked on. Where he's also, where he's literally like, instead of reacting to what he just heard, he's gone full lizard brain of like play the chess moves. Like, yes, trick your girlfriend into wanting to stay the night with you with word games. Yes. Then your relationship will be doing good. And so he's like, yes, he'll come stay.

Great. Okay. So we'll, yeah, we can drop stuff off at wins. Yeah. And then we can just go to storage. Let's just go to storage. Let's go to stories. You got to go there for a pre-party anyway.

Yeah. And, you know, honestly, I'm not, I don't have to lug my stuff around. So why don't I just grab your bags? Which are your bags and which are Tobias's bags? I'm the two big ones that Tobias is carrying and then he's this one. Tobias, I got her bags, man. Oh, I got her bags, man. Yeah, of course.

Yeah. Cullen, right? We know each other, dude. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, we met. I was a freshman. Oh, that's right. I was freshman you were a senior.

Good to see you again. Heard a lot of great things. Hey, that's really kind, man. I appreciate that. Hey, go Butchers, right? Honestly, do you follow the butchers? I'm not a glad ball man. Oh, wow.

What? No, it's nothing. It's just that's kind of our life out here in Ackabor. I mean, I guess if I had the Butchers as my local team, I really wouldn't be as into it either. Now you're pissing me off. Now you're pissing me on. Yeah, Toby, he works at the docks. He doesn't like sports.

I'm going to go. It's a boat yard. It's a boat yard. You work at the docks, right? It's a boat yard next to the docks, but I don't work at the docks per se. They got a dock there. Yeah, there is. But I work at the boat yard.

Gotcha, man. Well, I got the bags, dude. So I got it. Abigail looks at you both that goes, okay, we're going to storage. We're going to storage. I offer her a sandwich. She says, oh, delicious. I really love this one.

You guys. Toby doesn't like it. Well, that makes sense. Toby only eats ham. And he's like, I love ham. We're going to find you some ham. My guy. God loves ham, hates sports, works at the dock.

Let's go. Let's go, baby. I got you tobes. I got you toads. Oh, you razzing me? Yeah, welcome to Ackabor, bitch. Let's go to storage. You guys hop a trolley, take it back toward the old quarter.

And eventually, I think on the trolley with the railing, I'm like in that way using when you're on public transportation, my face is like touching Yaxel and Harley's face in terms of, or like that like leaning in as we're all like in a packed trolley. And I'm leaning in and being like, you guys, this is so fucked. You guys have to run interference. Yeah, definitely. Oh yeah. I love the elbows I saw you throwing. Let's, let's pivot and let's run pure sweetheart.

We want this dude. We want this dude to. Oh, yeah, yeah. I got you. Just like, can you just magneton him? Straight up, I'm getting him like a triple deck or ham sandwich the second we get. God, you, I think you have. You know what I'm so.

You see that, you see that Toby is on the train, bags are down. You see he's grabbed on, you know, he's looking at Abigail. He's like, this is, I've never taken one of these. He's like, yeah, it's kind of the thing. You see that he grabs onto the railing and does like two pull-ups. I would like to do an acrobatics check to do a flip. Okay. Sorry, I'll do athletic to do a flip.

Great. DC-16. No. I got a nine. No. Trolley is moving. Tobias does two pull-ups. Cullen, you stand up and say...

I say nothing. I don't announce it. They're not looking at me before I'm halfway through whatever this is going to be. You got a nine total? Nine total. Roll a four on the die,

plus five athletics for a nine. You take four points of jammages. You feel your tongue bleed in your mouth as your jaw catches on the floor and you see Abigail go Oh my cold Bro sick dude Are you okay? Are you okay?

You see that Tobias leans down Cullen are you all right Someone shoved me Dude that lady shoved him You see it the oldest woman in the world Not her A strong woman I have A really buff woman just stepped on that old lady

And shoved Cole and because he was like Don't step on that old lady. You're a hero, man. I wouldn't let her come to her. Oh, God. Here, let me, can I, I'm going to, I'm going to do a little medicine check. Yeah, go ahead. Please give me a medicine check.

Oh, God. You see that Abigail turns up to Tobias and goes, it's city bits, you know. And he goes, all right, city bits. A bit of a city bit. 11. 11. 11. Yeah, I mean, he's just his bit, his tongue.

I think there's definitely something at the stores that can help fix that out. You're going to be okay, man. Man, it's all right. It's all right. Now you've got battle scars, battle scars from your altercation. I am looking at you really frightened because I don't remember making the conscious choice to flip. Fuck. Yeah, yeah.

It's all right. We got you. I put my arm around him, give his shoulder a little squeeze. Yes. In my mind, that was so out of control. And I think I saw like a slight look of pity on Abigail's face when that happened. So in my mind, I'm kind of pivoting the plan a little bit. You guys arrive at University Station, hit up, and make your way to storage.

Sick. Of course, the old groundskeeper cottage that Gaxil has access to because of his job as a landscaper on the groundskeeper team during the university summer. You guys move through the entrance room, which, of course, is the actual storage portion where rakes and pruning shears, ladders, and coils of hose, crowd the water. moving into the cool space that has become one of your regular hangout spots, filled with old couches and low tables, scarred by years of glasses and cards, translucent windows run along the walls, turning the gardens outside into soft layers of green and gold, as passers-by in blurred shapes move through.

At the center on the tables, it's the jug. Of course, the ceramic vessel that's a different mixture of, like, liquors that refill it. left. Yes, exactly. It gets poured in. It's cooler than the streets beyond smells of old fabric and cut grass as you guys bags get loaded up and you hear the first of a firework outside overhead as there's a flash of white in the windows that then settles back into the green golden afternoon glow. We got a little more alcohol. Okay. At my buddy's place, we got to go pick up in the cart and I flash my keys. Cullen, you want to go with?

Yeah. We're just going to go pick up some extra booze. You guys put all your stuff down. Oh, okay. It'll just be really quick. We're just going to bip out. Okay. Do all three of us want to go or should...

It's just two-seater. We're going to throw some stuff in it. Yeah. I will give you a little tour. Oh, yes. And I wink like a... Like we're winning these two over. Uh-huh.

And I wink back. Of this room? Yes. Okay. Of storage. Toby? Our sanctum sanctorum. This is Ackabor baby.

Every square inch has its own story, okay? Yeah, plus we've got the remnants of the jug. Toby has taken like the cork opening out of the smells it. Whoa, that's strong. Yeah. Big strong, Ackabor. That's a saying here. That's a saying here.

Okay, big, strong, acabore. Strong. I'm going to walk out. Yeah, you guys walk out. I'm looking to go, I'm spiraling. You're spiraling, dude. So what happened? Why did she fucking bring this guy?

I, I, we didn't get there. We found an off ramp before I could, like, get into it. Like, that's the thing. It's, like, she keeps, she keeps saying, like, what I want to hear. You know what I mean? like she's soothing my nerves but not solving the mystery. You know what I mean? It's like, you have nothing to worry about.

I love you. We're going to make it work. I'm so excited. She said all of this stuff. Yeah, yeah. God, did she say, I love you? Okay, so how did she meet this guy? What the fuck is going on with him?

I don't know, man. I don't know. It's like, I literally want her to turn to me and be like, Toby's dying before the end of the year. That would, I'm trying to think of what the fuck would explain this other than Toby has a fucking bad disease and is not long for the world. Toby's husband passed away this summer. You see two people.

I don't think he's gay. He's not. You see two people dressed in kind of Ackabor Blue point out and go, Yo, Yax, are you going to Shane? Yes, we are. We're at it over there now. Nice. We're picking up some stuff.

We'll meet you there. Okay, hell yeah, hell yeah. I mean, she really just flat out was like she's fucked up about not having a job. Like, you know, she. That'll be 27. 50? Thank you so much, she's like in this fucked up,

you know, she's like, it's like really clear that like the internship she was just talking about like talking to him because she doesn't have anything to do in Wicklow.

And I'm like, but that's my thing is I go like, I'm getting these answers and I'm getting like soothing and like her being like I don't have anything to worry about but then I go like well,

if you were going to be miserable and feel like shit in Wicklow, why not be miserable and feel like shit here? With you. With me? Yes. Is that, like, am I crazy or does that make sense?

Hmm. Hey, yaks. Shanks? Yeah, yeah, we're going over there right now. All right, we'll see you there. If you see a really big guy with us, punch the shit out of him. Okay, let's go.

Bigger than you? Yeah, just by a little bit. And I just have this whole list of things that need to get done. And this next one up here is my first kiss. Is that? Oh, you're first, you've never been kissed. by someone? No.

I mean, it's, that feels crazy, morals. I know, I know, right? It's just I've never kind of gotten around to it. Who has the time for that sort of thing? But like, you got the time for that sort of thing, right? Tobs? Can I tell you tobs? You can call me Tobs?

You're asking if I kiss someone? Well, I mean, it seems like you probably got lots of time to kiss, kiss people. Well, a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell. Oh. You see Abigail looks at him and goes, okay, sure. And you're a gentleman then, huh? Well, I'd like to think so. Okay, well, can't you share anything with a young, eager learner?

Hey, get a few, oh, about kissing. Mm-hmm. Don't use too much tongue. Oh, okay, okay. And don't be afraid to focus on the bottom lip. I think there's something really, I think people really enjoy it. Bottom lip. Yeah, if you think, don't think about their mouth as being like one big thing.

Think of it like a ship, you know? She's made up of different parts. And you want to give equal time, love, and attention. Right, like the aft and the stern. Yeah, I mean, maybe the metaphor was not my best. But, you know, I think it's just about you want to think about kissing as variable. You know, it's not just mouth on mouth. There are different ways to meet the lips.

What's up? Oh. Do we talk about? I was. I was gauging Tobias' interest in... In... What are you talking about kissing? Kissing.

Yeah. Cool. Well, kiss these, kiss this. Kiss your worries goodbye because we got drinks. Oh, okay. Let's pour these up. Okay, I start pouring some stuff. Yeah, you guys make some drinks.

I have a round or two. I might sidebar with cold just in a hush tone before we get in and be like, as your friend Yeah I just want to tell you that I think he's smaller than he seems I think you're paying attention

to just like his projected shadow on a wall Okay She feels like she took an L and that you're a winner And she's a loser And it would feel bad for her To have you love her no matter what

Wow Why why That's just my read on it I think she feels like She kind of took an L this summer So it's like my fault that I'm a winner? I tried to be a loser. I think what you have to do is be patient that she feels like a loser right now

because she will be a winner. She's awesome. She's going to bounce back. But she just needs not to feel unconditional love right now. She's just hanging out with this guy to have something to do. It really doesn't seem like it's like this is my new guy. She's just like, I feel like shit right now. And I found someone else who kind of like matches where I'm at.

And we have a lot in common right now. Oh. She's like hanging. She thinks Toby's a loser. I mean, kind of. Okay. I think it feels when she hangs out with you, it's like a mirror that you got a big cool thing this summer and she didn't. So it's a little bit hard to hang out with you right now.

Got it. Okay, this is just my galaxy brain on it. You don't have to take this. But I just think he's harmless. No, this is, here's my thing. I feel actually kind of like I've been, I know, I know that I've been a shitty friend. I know that I've been a shitty friend the past couple weeks. The reality is as much as I, like, I throw up a lot of elbows because being the one guy at college who's been in like a multi-year relationship, people razz you for it.

But the reality is as much as I razz you for kind of dating, you know, for dating and dating around. I date a little bit. You know a lot. And the reason people like you is not just because you're charming. It's because you're a good, you're a listener. empathetic and you're wise. I think you're a wise person and I think that really helps me screw my head on straight man. Dude, thank you so much, man.

I love you, bro. Call? Toby and I are going to head out. What the fuck? Sorry, what's up? We're going to head out? What do you mean you're going to head out? We're going to do shangs and then Tony? Shangs? Yes. My list. Yes, we're going to meet you guys at Shanks.

Where are you going now? I want to take Toby up to the northern promenade to see the glow lamps turn on. Yaxil is bright white. Axel's a ghost in his own body. I go. I go. Great. I'll come with. I have to go there anyway for work. Oh, I don't want to pull you away from Shanks. No, no, I literally have to. I actually, even if you guys picked a different... Why don't we all go?

You all want to come? Yeah. Just we got to make sure that everybody is on task because we are supposed to show up on the earlier side at Shanks because we're kind of helping throw the party. You know how you normally help throw parties and stuff? Well, we... Yeah, of course. has been delegated to us now to show people a good time because we're a good time. Okay, we can go. Then let's just go to Shanks. Okay.

Okay. Yeah, let's do it. Well, I actually have to go to the glow lamps for work. All right. That's great. Okay, cool. We'll all go to the party. You go to the glow lamps.

So the four of you go to the party because of what I said before wasn't a lie. Yeah, of course. I have to go to the glow lamps for work. You're going to go to the Northern Promenon. You pop to the Northern Promenon and then you can meet us at the party. Uh. Toby, I got to go there for work, man. Do you want to head over there with me and go see them?

No, I'm okay. Thought you wanted to see the glow lamps. What gives? Well, I just want, Abigail wanted me to see the glow lamps. I mean, Lady gets what she wants. Colleen, can I talk to you? Oh, sweetie, you want to talk?

Oh, yeah, sure. Yeah, we converge on Toby. You guys converge on Toby. What the fuck was that? What was what? What the fuck was that? I don't know what you're talking about. I actually am kind of stressed because they're making me work on a Saturday.

You're bullshitting me. I'm not. Yes, you are. Bullshitting you about what? About going to the Northern Promenade glow light. Like, you have to go see those for work. Do you want me to pull up the email on my phone? We don't have phones in this world.

Do you want me? I'll go, I'll go, I don't have, oh, I don't? Is that why I'm walking around with these whispers that I have to test at the Northern Promenade under the light of the glow lamps? And I'll take two whispers out of my bag. What are those? They are whispers. I got from work, and it proves that what I said about having to go to the glow lamps is also true.

Cole, what the fuck is going on? Why are you acting like this? I'm actually doing... I'm actually doing fine? No, you're not. No, you're not. You're acting... You keep bursting.

Like, you know, you are a cool cucumber. Like, this is... You keep blowing up... You did a fucking flip on the trolley? I was shoved by a stroll. You fucking were. No, you fucking weren't. What the fuck is going on?

Does Toby have a wasting disease? What? Is Toby sick as hell? No. Then why did he have to come on this weekend? Because I wanted to show him the city. Then you should get to do that. And if you, I actually have all night to go to the glow lamps,

I wanted to do it before we were partying. But if you would like private time with Toby to go to the glow lamps... Honestly, what I need is just a second away from you. Oh, yeah, because it's been way too much time. The 45 minutes we've been together. Yeah, head out to the glow lamps. That's cool. Head out.

Head out. Okay. Obviously, the reason for coming to Port Acobor was not to see me was to show these glow lamps to Toby. And I get it because, honestly, he can do things for you that I can't do for you because you're... So sick of this. I'm so fucking... You know, no, it's good. Literally, obviously.

Let's hang out tomorrow when you fucking figure this out. I don't need to apologize for making you feel. I'm not asking you to apologize. Okay. I'm sorry that being around me makes you feel bad. If that's how you want to look at it, I'm not going to stop you. Great, because you can't stop me. Yeah.

No one can't. Great. Toby, let's go see the glow lamps. Oh. And you see Toby goes, oh, well, I mean, I'd love to. learn that card game later but uh yeah it's it's a barn burner have uh we'll see you guys look around are we you see that you see that cullen is kind of like they've gone into the main storage portion of storage and you see that cullen is kind of hanging his head just out of frame

as abigail is kind of leaned in and been like all right let's go uh you see that toby goes all right we'll get our bags later nice to meet the two of you and i'll see you at chanks Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And you see that Abigail turns to you and goes, we might make it to Shanks. Oh. I'll look at Abigail. Is Toby near her?

Yeah, Toby's coming pretty close. Like, you see that Toby has pushed their bags into, like, a corner. Are they taking their bags to the glow lamps? No. Well, do you guys want me to take your bags to Shangs, or do you want me to leave them here? We'll come back and get them. Okay. Well, I have fun to glow lamps.

There are so many of them, and they are all glowing, so I can understand why it would take you a while to get the shangs, and, you know, enjoy your time. And I'm glad that, you know, Toby, you get to, you get a world-class tour of Ava Boar, man. So enjoy yourself. Thanks, Cole. It's great. Okay, bye.

Cool. You see that Abigail and Tobias leave from storage. I'll turn to my friends and just go. if you have to hold on to it so tightly that it's hurting your fingers, then you never really had it to begin with. Dude, that's so wide. I'm going to search their backs for love letters.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hope, I help. I hope. No, no, I'm helping you. We're sorting three. Go ahead and give me an investigation checks. Yeah, definitely. I have a plus five. Can you give me advantage?

Oh, yes, yes, definitely. Not 20. Oh, my God. Listen, listen. Cole, there could be a perfectly normal explanation for this. You can fully... There could be Harley, and it's a diagnosis of something that's going to take him off the planet by the end of the year. Okay?

Or he's being drafted. Something. You tear through their bags, going through everything. In Abigail's bags, you find lingerie, clothes for the weekend, picture of the two of you together. In Toby's bag, you find just a lot of practical clothes, not much. What is Cole looking for? Colin in this moment, and probably for many moments thus far, is someone who theoretically in the long-distant past was cool and chill.

And I'm playing a character that we're catching in the worst days of their life. And he is like, I'm going to open Tobias's bag, and it's going to be eight bottles of lube and a man you want to have a big dick. And it's going to prove beyond a big dick. It's going to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Or that I think a more rational part of his brain is like there's going to be Abigail's keys and something for her. Like with this photo she's giving, like there's going to be an empty suitcase so she can pack up the stuff from our apartment that she left. Like looking for is she planning on removing the belongings of hers that are in the apartment?

You look through everything On a Nat 20 You tear open You find every compartment, everything It's a bag full of her stuff And a bag full of his stuff No overlap No key to the mystery

And I think as you finish And kind of come out of this moment You have torn their bags apart Their stuff is everywhere The zipper on one of his bags Seems to be if like Torn off in a way that Will obviously be noticeable

Nat 20 thoroughly. You've checked every piece of luggage and stuff they brought. Okay, so we say that some lady broke in. Super old lady. I think we should throw these bags in the bay. I'm with you. I'm with you, brother. Yax, my boy.

Make it look like a robbery. Like there's been a burglary here. But I got to tell you, man, I, I, I, I don't think that there's anything going on there right now. But I think our friend Tobias is waiting in the wings, just waiting for any old misstep. And I think that we can't, we can't let him have it for free. God damn, you're right.

He's a fucking buzzard. He's a fucking buzzard. He's just waiting for an apex predator like you to make a kill so that he can mooch, so they can mooch off of it. I really thought I had a beat on this situation. And when she said that they were heading out, I lost it, dude. This is bad. Dude, I lost it.

This is nuclear. I know that I'm not handling this well. No. I'm not being treated well right now. Right? Like, why can't I come? Why can't I come to the glow? No, totally.

There's something that she needs to kind of like have as her. Maybe she feels like you have Vicks as your thing And it feels nice for her to have some Even if even if they haven't even touched When we go home to Wickler for the summer We are like king and queen Ackabor Like we have the mystique of Ackabor Of poor Acapore at home

So maybe she's like Queen Acabor And she's getting to show a townie and be that like But it's just so fucking set I think that you have the correct reading on this Yax I just never I just truly have not seen Abigail vibe like this. I've just never seen her like this. Has she ever been categorically a loser?

Or is this her first major failure? Oh, is this your theory about her trying to date a loser? Exactly what I was telling you. I was like a loser. It was befriended a loser. That's what I meant. A bunch of fireworks go off. You guys, I got to.

a bunch of girls to me. One of them's really into you. The other one could really be into you if I knew one thing about her. The one that was reading the Hunts Harters? Yeah, yeah, that third one. Let's get to the party. Here is my deal, man, is that shit or get off the pot. Are you going to have a good time tonight? Because if you're not going to have a good time, that's fine.

I'm actually in for that with you because we are the trio. We are the gang. and I will not have a good time with you and have a great time doing that, or you can come with us and try to have a good time. I couldn't agree more. We're either going to throw all these clothes into the bay, or we're going to a really sick party, and we're just going to kind of keep our mind off of whether she's going to walk into the front door or not.

I will amend my list. If it's throw clothes in the bay, we're doing it. throw clothes in the bay or party down I'll take a small marker out of my I realize I come in my work clothes I didn't change back out

because I was so worried about time I draw a small curvy line on my finger and hold it over my lip as a mustache and I go Like the real tattoo you have Like the real tattoo I have

Yeah And I go Mustache crew for life Mustache crew for life That's right Porcino los dos let's throw these bags in the bay and then go to the party. Oh, okay.

You got to talk to Brigitte. It's just one little convoy. My thing is this. You know I can lock in Harley. Yeah. I'm having a bad time. You will not hear about it for the rest of this evening because I'll tell you what this evening is about. This evening is not about me finding a way to kill Tobias.

And it's not about Brigitte as much as she's maybe into me. Maybe. This is about the fact that Tony Joloni and his band have a secret place that they go play at. What? After the sundown. What? Where? They go and drink at the Crystal Hall.

Oh my God, wait. Crystal Hall. That's where my parents had their fourth date and where my dad proposed and I've been meeting to go there forever. And it's Tony Jolone's there? Don't tell a fucking soul. The secret will get out. We're going to go there after the sundown. They drink.

They play all night. And you can sit next to them. They're playing at a fucking table, bro. I'm telling you. So, horrors, sadness, sorrow. Yeah. Click, click, click, click, click, click. Locked away because this is going to be the night that we go to the Crystal Hall.

But I don't want you to think about your parents dating because tonight's tonight you get your first kiss. You're going to go kiss at the Crystal Hall. Kiss in the Crystal Hall. Puck her up. It's Crystal Hall time. You guys bang out of here headed down to the Bayview House. You're swinging by the bay. You guys toss all this shit in the United States.

The moment that we are about to hustle it in, I go, hold on. This is so crazy and wrong. I'm going to carry these bags for the rest of the night. Really? Yeah, I'm going to carry these bags for the rest of the night. I already threw my. We just crammed everything. I was through mine.

I'm so sorry. There is. Tobias just flings out. As you say that, you guys toss all this shit into the bay. That's a problem for tomorrow, you motherfuckers. You guys swing to Shanks place. They live in this awesome, ratty-ass apartment building that's called Bay. view house. It sits right above the

band shell. You guys enter from the side that doesn't face the harbor. It's an aging five-story block of faded brick and narrow windows, iron fire escapes and a roofline that has begun to sag in several directions. Students can afford it because the pipes complain and the floors tilt and the windows

rattle in bad weather. The city has tried to tear this place down several times and each time has been met by petitions, protest, and at least one occupation of the city council chambers. The students have for this place. It is the sickest place to live because it sits right over the band shell. As you guys approach, the summer sundown is in full volume. You hear Tony Joloni and the Ackabur Brass

Society are warming up below. People are getting excited. You hear fireworks cracking more frequently from the harbor. As you guys move towards the front door, people are already carrying bottles, food, folding chairs, whatever they think this party might require as you guys head up to the fifth story landing. Shang lives up on the top floor. Little two bedroom place built for maybe like four people but currently attempting to hold like almost 50.

You guys have gotten there a little bit later than you plan so every square inch is already doing some kind of work. There's a respectable student climbing up on a chair trying to do a toast to the summer. It's sundown half of the room is watching. The other half doesn't give a shit. It's not full chaos yet, but you can tell this place is already full.

Looking out of the windows as you enter the apartment the Bayview Band shall close below, framed by the crowded promenade and a sea of people spreading across the lawns and path. The musicians are taking their stands, testing their valves. Out in the harbor, you see ferries moving steadily through traffic while pleasure boats cluster close to the shore, packed with people hoping to hear the music.

Farther out, you see these two broad barges that sit anchored in place that are beginning to shoot fireworks off and will do so as part of the show. Everywhere you look there are people, lawns, railings, boats, windows, rooftops. The whole harbor is a live and present for this moment at the summer sand down as you guys enter the apartment. And immediately, Shang runs up and punches you as hard as you can in the stomach. Yaxel and goes, I told you I needed you to set the tone.

I'm so sorry, we're having a total emergency with cold. Hey, would somebody who doesn't know how to set a tone have brand new super secret technology? What the fuck are you talking about? Oh, and I hold up one of the whispers. With my power over Technobotany and all the secrets of the VIX Institute. And I write cock and ball's and have it appear on the whisper over. Whoa. Holy shit.

The time has come for cock and balls. Cockat balls. Sick. Do you hold on to one or are you letting both? I absolutely, do I see Harley passing out the other one? Yeah, yeah. I go like, ha, ha, ha. party time, and I'm a hawk on top of that other one.

You see that people are riding. Oh, there's excitement as those get passed around. Yeah, I'm like, ha, ha, ha, the second I can get my hands back on that. You're like kind of following them. Oh. Dude, and you know what's crazy that they can do? Let me show you. Let me show you.

Let me see. Yeah. Let me see. You guys move into the party space. Things are electric here. You do see talking to another glide ball player. Tav, a member of your team, tall, dark skin, strong shoulders,

and like a short curly hair. You see that he is talking to Sarah as you approach. It goes, oh, there he is. And you see that Sarah, Brigitte, and the third one, smile and wave. What's up? As you guys, as they move towards you and you guys kind of meet in the center of this cluster.

You made it! Yeah! Big hug! We were here for a minute. We were, like, we were about to go. Oh, my God. I thought you weren't going to show up. Yeah, we were. definitely running late. My friend

over there, I kind of point out, Colin, he's having a really hard time with his girlfriend of a long time. You see Brigitte looks over and goes, I can fix that. And don't worry, the track has been laid. Okay. Wait, also, by the way, I'm so sorry,

it didn't get your name. Are you talking to the third one? She goes, oh, my name is, and you see Teph pushes her out of the way and goes, dude, we got to hit the roof. We got to hit the roof. This more woman. Dude, roof? Roof. Roof.

He pulls up like a kind of flat bat for like glide ball and has a trash can filled with crushed beer cans. So sick. And it's just like, I thought we could smack him. So, you know what I saw? I saw someone hit a fucking firework with a bat. You think we could time it right? Dude, I'll send someone to grab one. You think we could time it right?

Dude, I'll send a frost to go grab one. Up to the roof. Okay, I try to grab my boys. You call up to the roof and immediately a crowd of people. starts to move up to the roof. Awesome. Cullen, Harley, as Tev and the actual start to lead a crowd of people up to the roof, where do we find you two? I'll go over to girl number three. If I see the girls from, that you befriended before,

I'll go over to girl number three. Hey, you met my friend. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's super cool. Very cool. I think Sarah, I can't. I didn't. Sarah's been talking about them all day. Wow. Okay. Good, good wing womaning. I love that. What can I say, you know? Well, I wanted to talk to you for a second because I didn't get your name from before. Oh, of course. My name is...

Delivery! You see Jaxel runs it, grabs you by the back and puts a beer in your hand and he gets to drag you off to the lines. Oh, it's up. All right. God, she's not memorable. Harley, where do we find you? I'm already up on the roof. I had sort of been part of a scouting part.

party, but, and so by the time that everybody's making it up. There are a couple of places in the roof that you're not supposed to go, and I think you've went, you went into full manager mode and have already placed a few chairs over spaces that people aren't supposed to step. It's kind of a death trap up here. It is. Yeah, I've scoped out, and then there's this one spot right near the, I guess, north edge of it, where you can see directly down onto the band.

Yes. And I'm saving spots for my pals. and this is going to be, technically this is number two for seeing Tony Jolone. Damn right. In person. And it's going to be perfect. It's going to be perfect.

And tonight's the night, baby. You are right there at the edge, which is protected by like a short parapet, that no one really trusts, but it stands there. There are already several people who are leaning on it next to you, drinks and hand,

looking out over the harbor. As the two of you guys get up to the roof, which definitely feels like the kind of place you're not supposed to go, You guys hear from the band shell down below. You hear Tony Joloni's voice carries up, warm and theatrical. Happy Summer Sunday! The band kicks in in almost the same moment.

The first real firework shoots up from one of the barges. Bursting out over the water in gold, briefly lighting the haze that is rolling in off the bay. The boats, the roof, every upturned face around you looks up as the brass comes in fully beneath the crowd's roar, and for a moment the whole harbor feels perfectly timed as Tony Joloni and his band kick in. Hackabar, it's time to wake up for sundown. Take the floor and shake the ground. One night the city's lost in sound.

Yaxul, you see the Tev is on one side of the roof and has given you the bat and is throwing beer cans to you to hit with the flat bat. beautifully. You see that Sarah is like, nice. Yeah. Great here. Hey, I, uh, I wanted to apologize for earlier. I kind of left without saying anything. I'm glad you guys made it.

Hey, I told you, I know I've been around like father people. It's like they can get uptight. Yeah, that's definitely my dad. So, yeah, I just really had to. Also, there's something we were maybe going to do there in the museum that, you know, hopefully we can get back to later.

Yeah, yeah. When you said, like, it's not black or white, it's everything. Yeah. I thought that was just, like, really deep. Hey, well, I'm full of that. I got a lot more thoughts. Yeah, really? Yeah, I try to make out with her.

You kiss her as Tev hits you in the side of the face. I don't, I don't give a fuck. She, like, pulls away after a peck and it's just like, okay. All right. Cullen, you've dropped down one of the. the whispers. The other one is still out there amongst folks. Go ahead and give me an investigation check.

Investigation is a 22. You find a drunk guy who is dangling one of the whispers over the roof. Oh my God. Oh my God. Hey man. What would that do? You grab it back. Everyone give me a perception check.

Stuffing the whispers into my pockets. 19. 20, not nat. Only a 16. As you all look out at this beautiful moment, Having secured the whispers, Sarah takes a step back from you smiling. Harley watching Tony Joloni and the Ackabor Brass Society do their thing.

The haze thickens over the harbor. At first, it only softens the light of the boats, then rolls farther in, swallowing the fireworks barges until the signal lamps become faint red smears behind the gray. Tony Joloni and the Ackabor Brassist's side. society in full swings, horns climb over drums, the crowd moves with the rhythm. Another firework launches somewhere inside of the haze and a bright streak rising out before bursting high up of the bay in white and gold. For a moment, the music and the fireworks become indistinguishable.

And then you hear the sound cuts across the harbor with enough force that you feel it in your teeth. Conversation stops. Every head on the roof turns towards Southak. The Ember Works, one of the city's biggest Illyrium refineries, glows through the haze in red and black. Their steep towers lit from within by refined Illyra. You watch as one of the refinery tower shears away. Steel walkways fold, glass conduits burst.

A great piece of the tower peels outward and falls, trailing sparks, masonry, and molten Illira. The red material pours from the broken structure. in a luminous sheet spilling down the side of the refinery and into the harbor. Water erupts beneath its steam rises in a white wall, then comes the explosion. Not the clean crack of a firework, but a deep, expanding, concussion that strikes you in your chest and says every bottle on the rooftop trembling, windows burst along the waterfront. A red flash passes through the scene, followed by roiling black smoke. Then, for one, for one,

impossible moment, everything is still. At first it looks like another refinery tower, then the outline shifts, a shoulder rises above the emberworks, a vast, uneven black mass through the smoke, something like an arm or a forelim or something else moves against the broken red light. It's taller than the refinery. It lurches, the harbor surges around it and something is thrown from the water. At first it's a dark shape lifting through the haze, small, distant, turning slowly in the air, Then the horn sounds. A long, wounded blast rolls across the harbor as the shape passes through the steam and begins to grow. A roofline, windows, a long black hall.

Closer now. Too fast. The vessel rolls. Yaxil. You see the color of the upper deck. Deep Harbor red. The same ferry you rode on this afternoon. The very same red railing.

The same red canopy. The ferry, it's coming towards you closer, larger. Close enough that you see shattered windows and benches breaking loose across the upper decks. Close enough that you can see a single passenger pressed against the glass. One hand raised. that's racing against the fall. The horn continues to sound. Impact!

The rooftop leaps beneath your feet. Brick, glass, and red paint still burst upwards toward you as the ferry drives through the building below. The force throws your body across tar, paper, splits the parapet and sits half of the roof pitching sharply towards the harbor. Then the sound disappears.

No screaming, no music, no collapsing stone. Only a high ringing inside your skull. Dust rolls off of the rooftop. White bloom drifts through it, slow, almost peaceful. A crack appears in the tar paper below you. It races across the roof and a jagged black line, widening as the building shifts beneath you.

Tev is on the other side. For a brief moment, the actual you and Tev's eyes meet. When the section beneath him gives way, Teb drops with it, disappearing into dust and darkness below. Beneath you, the building shifts. You know, with absolute certainty, this building is coming down. That was Erika Ishii as Harley-Mori. Brennan Lee Mulligan as Cullen Tup, Ali Beardsley as Yaxil Larson, and Lou Wilson as everyone and everything else.

World Turner is produced by Worlds Beyond Number, edit and sound designed by Gino Jang Hanson at Big Giant Head, score by Will Savino. For even more stories like this, join us on our Patreon. We'll see you by the fireside.