Once they got back to the Consulate, they went straight downstairs to the R&D lab and to the projector machine so Tove could inform Ronja and Alaia that the mission had been a success and that they could go home. Illien had informed all the other planes, but apparently the connection to plane 7 was still so fresh, that they needed her to forge it properly. "Personal connections always make the line stronger," Illien had said at some point.
Alaia started crying as soon as Tove told them she was coming home.
"Go home, Alaia," she said softly. Seeing Alaia's earnest display of emotion really made a wave of relief wash over her as well. It had really been stressful hadn't it? Tove hadn't really had a chance to process a lot of what had happened, since she'd been actually been unconscious for so much of the time. But for Alaia and Ronja it had been days. "Get some sleep, both of you. I'll see you soon."
"You really had us worried," Ronja said with a shake of her head as she wrapped an arm around the still sobbing Alaia. "That was very mean of you. I expect some kind of compensation for all our emotional damage."
Tove laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I know," she said. "I'll make it up to you somehow. Now get your butts out from the cold and seriously get some sleep."
She stepped off the projector.
"What happens now?" she asked the Director. Misceo tugged at her pant leg and she picked it up again. "I'm guessing some kinds of... tests?" It bristled. It didn't seem to like the idea.
"If we can just find out a way to travel between the planes, that's all we need," the Director said. "So if the Imp--"
"Misceo," Tove corrected.
"Yes, of course. If Misceo can somehow... show us, that would be ideal."
Tove looked at Misceo. It looked back up. It yawned, its mouth opening wide. The inside of its mouth was as pure white as its eyes. It kept looking at her.
"I... don't think they can talk in this form?" Tove said. It nodded. At least it could communicate a little. She asked it, "Would it be possible to teach them how to open portals between planes?"
It was still for a moment, or as still as it could be with its form constantly fluctuating ever so slightly. Then it nodded.
"Would it take long?" she asked. Its eyes narrowed and she clarified, "Would it take longer than a few days?" It nodded again.
"Longer than a month?" the Director asked. It paused again, thinking. It shook its head. "A few weeks then, probably. That is fine. Our people probably have some things they need to finish up before coming home anyway."
"I... would like to go home tonight," Tove said. "Well, this morning," she said after checking her watch.
"Of course, but..." the Director started, glanced at Misceo.
"Don't worry, they'll come back here after," Tove said, smiling down at it. "Won't you?" It nodded enthusiastically. "And here," she reached into her bag and pulled out her lip balm. "You can have this. In case you need to contact me for any reason, you can use this."
The Director accepted it and passed it onto the short man Tove had seen manning the machine the last time she'd been down here too. He took it and produced a plastic bag from somewhere, sealed it, labeled it and placed it in a filing cabinet behind the terminal.
"You can probably also keep Ronja's hair tie," Tove said, motioning over to the tray it lay upon. "She really would love this place, by the way. She's a bit of a machine enthusiast."
"Then perhaps she'd appreciate this," said Illien -- who Tove had almost forgotten was also there, he was so quiet -- stepping up and handing her a small metallic box. It fit into her palm and had a few buttons and a screen that was currently black.
"Oh wow," Tove said. "I wasn't expecting anything, really, but thank you so much." She turned the thing in her hand. "What is it, exactly?"
Illien smiled, and that was probably the first time she'd seen his expression change. "That's for her to find out," he said and then he took a step back again.
"Okay," said Tove. "I'm... gonna get going then?" She turned to Celind, who may or may not have looked like they were about to cry. "It was great meeting you all. And once you figure out that plane jumping thing, come visit me, maybe? I'd love to see what the people in Embärfjell think of an actual dragon walking around." Celind let out a laugh and then sniffled. Then they pulled her into a tight hug. Tove patted their back with a smile.
When they finally let go, they said, "Wait, we gotta take a picture before you leave! And then I'm gonna walk you to a crossing point."
~X~
They took a picture. The camera was a lot smaller than Tove was expecting, and they were able to immediately print out a copy of the picture, so Tove got one as a parting gift. Celind indeed walked with her, which was good because Tove still had no idea of the layout of the city. Some places looked just familiar enough of her own city to confuse her poor brain.
Misceo was the one leading the way though, and it led them to the same spot Tove had crossed to get here. Celind hugged her one last time, and then she waved them goodbye and took Misceo in her arms again. The wall crackled open. She stepped through.
For a moment it was black, with bright, colorful flecks whipping past her and then she was standing in an alley that looked very similar to the one she'd been in a moment ago, except this one was empty.
No, not empty. There was a bucket of cod livers sitting on the ground and it smelled foul.
"Ew, did you bring me all the way here, so you could bring those back with you?" she asked, waving her hand in front of her face. It didn't do much for the smell. Misceo chittered, which she interpreted as laughter. It had a weird echo in it. Tove sighed and shook her head. "That's fine, I guess, you do eat that stuff. And this one is much closer to home than the others." She glanced around. She wasn't sure where specifically this specific alley was, but as soon as she walked out she was sure she could make her way.
She looked down. Misceo was fidgeting with a piece of liver, which was a bit gross. It seemed hesitant to go back.
"Hey, come on," she said. It looked up. "You don't have to be alone anymore. I know you've been kinda lashing out, but it's all fine now. You'll go back and Celind will be there and then you'll go to the Consulate and I'm sure they'll be nice to you if you're nice to them." She paused. "And if they're not, I'm sure you can always escape again."
Another chitter, shorter this time. Tove squatted down and petted its head.
"Go on then," she said. "Don't keep Celind waiting. I'm always right here, if you want to have another weird dream talk." It nodded. Picked up the bucket.
The wall opened up again and then Misceo was gone. After the wall closed again, against the red brick a round symbol was left behind.
Tove sighed, her breath forming a white puff in front of her face. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets, and started on her walk home.
~X~
The next morning wasn't morning anymore when Tove woke up. It had been closer to five in the morning when she'd gotten home and collapsed onto her bed and it was almost noon when she'd finally woken up again. She contemplated staying in bed -- she was still very tired -- but decided that she needed to go find Alaia and Ronja. She called the office while she downed a large cup of coffee to see if the two had clocked in already, but apparently they hadn't. Which meant they were probably at Alaia's.
The walk was only a few blocks, but it felt like the longest two blocks ever. Why was she so nervous? They'd be happy to see her, and she'd be thrilled to see them, there was no need to be anxious about this. Still her heart was beating loud in her ears when she finally stood at the apartment door and rung the doorbell.
For a moment there was silence. And then muttered Fjellish cursing as someone stomped towards the door.
"We don't want no damn preachers here--!" Ronja started as she swung the door open but she froze when she saw who it was. They stood there, both silent, just staring.
"Hey," Tove said and then Ronja had thrown her arms around her neck and was hugging her so tight she felt like she would suffocate but she hugged her right back. Her hair hair was in her face and it smelled like Alaia's shampoo. Tove didn't know what smell that was, but it's not like it mattered.
Finally Ronja let go and then proceeded to punch Tove in the arm. "Fucking dumdum," she said and she was barely holding back tears. "Disappearing on us like that. How dare you."
"I know, I'm very sorry," Tove said and caught the second fist Ronja threw at her. "Can I come in, or do you wanna stand here in the hall in just your shirt the whole day?"
"I don't care about that," Ronja said, tugging at the large t-shirt she'd clearly been using as a pajama, but she stepped aside to let Tove into the apartment. "Alaia's still sleeping," she said as she pulled the door closed.
"That's fine, we should let her sleep," Tove said, as she began to pull off her coat and scarf. "I have a present for you."
"Ooh, souvenirs!" Ronja said with a little clap. Tove pulled out the metal box Illien had gave her and handed it over. Ronja almost snatched it from her hands and started to fiddle with it immediately. "What is it?" she asked.
"I don't know, I was told that was for you to figure out," Tove said.
"Challenge accepted," Ronja said, nodding a few times and then she was completely engrossed in the machine. Tove took a hold of her by the shoulders and walked her over to the couch, where she sat her down. Then she went over to the kitchen to start preparing a pot of coffee.
About ten minutes later she heard shuffling from the bedroom and then the door opened.
"Ronja?" she heard Alaia's sleep thick voice. "Did you make coffee?"
"I did," Tove said, stepping out of the kitchen. Alaia looked over and squinted a little. Her eyes bleary, hair a mess and she had her duvet wrapped around her as she stood in the middle of her living room.
"Tove," she said. She blinked. "Tove?"
"Hey," Tove said and then Alaia's form collided with her. She hadn't let go of the duvet, so it was now wrapped around the both of them as she hugged her midsection. Tove wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "Hey," she said again.
Alaia just stood there for a long while. Tove let her. Occasional, soft clicking noises were coming from the sofa.
"I'm tired," Alaia told Tove's collarbone.
"You want coffee, or do you want to go back to bed?" Tove asked.
"I don't know yet," Alaia said. "I'm just glad you're home."
Tove smiled and stroked her back.
"Me too."
________________________________________________________________________________
WHEW!
Sorry this is a bit late, I got a surprise eye infection and had to go to bed early on the 24th and then we did Mutu's new puzzle the entire day the 25th oops! I just love how all these sicknesses keep piling up, like yeah, I totally wanted to spend my entire Christmas break like shit, that was my only wish, hOw Did YOu kNoW??!?
Anyway, this is done now and I'm going to bed TOODLES
Pie out.
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