NSFCD

Past SHOP Employees of the Month
Silver - The clumsy but lovable owner of the pancake shack.
Mack - The brains and manager of the operations.
??? - The sassy chef with a taste bud for delicious.
Magnum - The fun and goofy busboy.
Skye - The likable Latino package boy introvert.
Rob - The fiery temp with a mind for politics.
Boar DeFanboye - A testosterone-filled actor with a pretty face and a love for whiskey.
Night - The vampire-like night-shift taciturn.
Super - The superintendent of the shack who is followed constantly by rumors.

The Ingredient Cabinet (SUMMARIES ONLY)
Chapter One - All the Little Things
[spoiler]KJ, a waitress at the small pancake shack, reflects on her crappy life waiting on the disgusting customers who come for breakfast at Silver's House of Pancakes. She admits that the staff at the shack are like her family, and they are the reason she doesn't leave. She also adds that the view at the beach shack is beautiful, and she often watches the sunset. It is during these times that she thinks about the person she has become and wonders about the choices she has made. Although the answers are never easy, she states that the person she is can be seen somewhere "between the lines", yet she doesn't manage to give a solid response to the question. Instead, she leaves the question lingering in the wind for the reader to puzzle over.[/spoiler]

Chapter Two - The Seal of Fate
[spoiler]KJ begins the chapter by talking about an obscure title, "Web Surfer". She hints at its importance to her life, but changes the subject before going into the details. Instead, she rewinds back in time to "three trivial events" that "sealed [her] fate". The first event was Silver (the lovable owner of the shack) dropping a plate. KJ wonders how her life may have been different had this not happened, but decides "what if" questions aren't worth worrying over. In any case, she steps in the plate and is rushed to the hospital, although why this event is significant remains unexplained (although she mentions feeling "euphoric" after the trip to the emergency room). The second event is someone slapping her ass, and instead of brushing it off, she attacks the pervert. Her coworkers pull her off and she is brought to Mack the Manager's office, where she realizes what she did and begins to freak out at the realization of what she did. And "the final event that sealed [her] fate"... not getting fired from her job.[/spoiler]

Chapter Three - A Beach With No Name
[spoiler]KJ took a week's leave from her job as waitress to scrub the dishes. She feels guilt about what she did and is paranoid about what the others might be saying about her now. Two coworkers are introduced during this period: Magnum (a goofy skater working as busboy) and Skye (a shy delivery boy with an unexplained hatred towards Mack the Manager). Magnum jokes around with KJ about her outburst at one of the customers, which helps relieve some of her stress about things changing between her and the others. She still feels a strange power within her, but she locks it away. When she goes back to waitressing, things seem easier than before, but the sudden lack of Silver disturbs her. She wasn't the only one. Rob the temp (a college student and very active in the Labor Union) demanded that Silver leave his office, which caused a flock of employees to rally behind Rob. KJ leaves, fearing that Silver's disappearance has something to do with her.

Instead, she takes a walk along the beach and thinks about it's history. The unnamed beach was a nice community for all.But then came a selfish entrepreneur named Judas Faraway. His only job was making money and he quickly destroyed anything he touched (which included SHOP). He bought out the beach and named it (North-South Faraway Crab Den or NSFCD). Turmoil spread, SHOP was destroyed, and then suddenly Judas disappeared. Silver had to buy back his shack and start over, and things were never as busy and grand as they once were. KJ ends her story by saying she never actually was around at that time, coming to live at the beach a little over a year after Judas' strange disappearance. She then brings us abruptly back to reality and mentions a cave she enjoys spending her time in that can only be reached during low tide. The chapter ends with her falling asleep inside the cave, setting up the drama for the next chapter.[/spoiler]

Chapter Four - Born to Die
[spoiler]This chapter begins with many paradoxes. KJ is in a hallway, attempting to reach the "final door". She seems to understand where she is, although she doesn't let the reader in on the secret. She mentions "the men in black" again, whom she hasn't talked about since chapter two. But as she reaches the final door, water bursts out of it and she drowns, only to wake up in the cave - really drowning. In her final moments she makes peace with death, only for a new her to emerge and save her from the clutches of death. When KJ describes this, she does not call this person "me" or "I", she calls this person "she", hinting that they are not the same people. And then KJ goes on to mention that she did not find out about this incident until later, although she won't explain further. Instead, she challenges the reader to think about what else she may be lying about in her story.

KJ goes back to the pancake shack well after dark and hides in the delivery room to change. But during this time, she hears a strange conversation between Skye and a distorted voice. The voice talks about saving everyone and calls Skye a coward for not acting fast enough. Skye seems frightened and asks the voice for more time. Before KJ can hear more, she falls over and causes Skye to find her. She quickly lies and says she heard nothing, then rushes out of there. In the kitchen, she finds Magnum and Rob still around. They explain that Silver won't come out and they don't know why. KJ feels like it's her fault and resolves to confront Silver.[/spoiler]

Chapter Five - Trust your Instincts
[spoiler]KJ enters Silver's office and takes a look around. The awards on the walls give the first hint at the timeline of events. Silver appears out of sorts and asks for Mack the Manager, so KJ obliges to find him. When she finds Mack, they go back to Silver's office to have a secret meeting. Silver and Mack inform KJ of a new job offer and hand her a confidential letter which she is to take home and look over. They seem to be acting strangely, but KJ can't figure out why. As she leaves the office, she brings with her mixed emotions of loneliness, departure and regret.[/spoiler]

Chapter Six - The Number Six
[spoiler]This chapter opens up with the confidential letter. Unfortunately, it gives very little, if any, information. KJ decides it was a prank and throws it out. Then she goes back to work at 5 AM sharp. On her way to work, she sees Night (who works the night shift) leaving. There's a tense moment between them, followed by relief when he leaves. KJ has a strange conversation with car aficionado Spencer and package delivery boy Skye. KJ's breakfast consists of a bottle of syrup from Skye, and then she gets to work. Later on in the day, Silver meets up with her and they have a short conversation. But before anything else, KJ begins to feel dizzy and passes out.[/spoiler]

Chapter Seven - Ask the Questions
[spoiler]This chapter opens up with a bit more background info on KJ's arrival in town. She came in a little after Judas' disappearance and lived life like a bum as she worked her job at SHOP. During this time she met the DJ Zovi and the clown Junior, who were just leaving town on their bus. They helped KJ learn the ropes around town so she wouldn't have to sleep in the sand, and then left. She never saw them again. The past fades into the present, where KJ wakes up sick with a man in a suit greeting her. She vomits and then passes out again, only to wake up in a strange room, wet, wearing someone else's clothes.

The man in black is there and talks to KJ, but he refuses to answer any of her questions. Instead, he tells her to find the truths for herself. He leaves her more confused then before. She is now in a strange room, wearing strange clothes, with no explanation as to what has happened to her life. She goes toward the door, wondering if she can leave without any trouble. The door creaks open and ends on a lingering question... Is she finally free?[/spoiler]

Chapter Eight - Seek the Answers
[spoiler]KJ exits the room and wonders what to do next. She allows her feet to lead her, hoping to find her way out of the seemingly deserted cave. She reflects on her life and all the strange events that have led her to this place, just wishing to go back to SHOP, the one place she has been able to truly call home. Eventually along the walk, her body seems to act of it's own accord and jerks into a strange position. And then, the cave wall opens up into a room covered in light. The only solid thing is a pedestal in the center of the room, which KJ walks towards without another thought. She finds an item on the pedestal and grabs it without thinking (without ever getting to see what she picked up). At that moment, the room becomes pitch black and a man's voice (the strange man from chapter seven) echoes throughout the room. They have a short conversation discussing truths and seeking answers, but he doesn't seem to be very helpful or informative, which frustrates KJ. When his voice no longer answers her cries, KJ realizes she must be alone and falls to the ground, defeated. Confused, tired and unable to comprehend anything else, she passes out.[/spoiler]

This is certainly an enjoyable and interesting take on NSF, if not concerning as well, to some degree.

...but why did it end on a cliffhanger?

This was a highly enjoyable read, I must say.

Quote from: MasterYoungLink on September 06, 2010, 09:48:44 PM
This is certainly an enjoyable and interesting take on NSF, if not concerning as well, to some degree.

...but why did it end on a cliffhanger?

What cliffhanger? (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatCliffhanger)

But if want a better answer, think of it as symbolic. Can any human being really be defined in simple terms? Sure, you could try. But there are so many layers to us all, and we change all the time (depending on our experiences). It's nearly impossible to put an accurate label on ourselves. The narrator realized that, and so she ended it on a blank note, rather than attempt to describe herself in menial words.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 06, 2010, 10:25:01 PM
This was a highly enjoyable read, I must say.

Anything with Silver breaking things in it is highly enjoyable :3

...well, I didn't expect both a link to TVtropes and something so deep, considering what you wrote before it. But I'll accept it, nonetheless. When do you plan on starting the next part?

I demand KJ X MYL shipping in the next chapter!

Nah, that's getting as old as the Silver breaks stuff joke. Seriously, I liked it.

Quote from: MasterYoungLink on September 09, 2010, 02:17:53 PM
...well, I didn't expect both a link to TVtropes and something so deep, considering what you wrote before it. But I'll accept it, nonetheless. When do you plan on starting the next part?

I'll hopefully have the next chapter up by tonight or tomorrow night. Depends on how quickly things come to me. That first chapter I wrote in about ten or fifteen minutes. It was almost completely random and basically wrote itself. Sometimes it's harder and I actually have to think. Which usually results in not-as-good.

Quote from: MagnumSonic on September 09, 2010, 03:14:02 PM
I demand KJ X MYL shipping in the next chapter!

Nah, that's getting as old as the Silver breaks stuff joke. Seriously, I liked it.

Hm... Maybe for a change of pace I'll try a whole new ship! ...Like Magnum x MYL. Wouldn't that just be a sexy pairing?

Quote from: Kill Joy on September 09, 2010, 03:44:02 PM
Hm... Maybe for a change of pace I'll try a whole new ship! ...Like Magnum x MYL. Wouldn't that just be a sexy pairing?

[spoiler](http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad143/HolyMagnum/Reaction%20images/2hhnjv7.jpg)[/spoiler]

Quote from: Kill Joy on September 09, 2010, 03:44:02 PM
Hm... Maybe for a change of pace I'll try a whole new ship! ...Like Magnum x MYL. Wouldn't that just be a sexy pairing?

We may as well just go ask Night to write another fanfiction.

Chapter Two - The Seal of Fate

[spoiler]A Web Surfer's life is never easy.

Doing what no one's done before... A new profession that has cast its hold upon our nation. It started as a simple idea but, like all things, it grew...

The creators were in need of beta testers for what they called "a revolutionary new system". Nothing more was said about it. No information about what people would be signing up for was revealed. It was the mystery that enticed people. The allure of danger that this strange form of propaganda seemed to hint at only excited people, and they openly fantasized about what it could possibly be. I doubt a single one of them came close.

The creators looked for people who could be erased from the system without the bat of an eye. They looked for people who didn't matter. Low income, no family, crap job...

I fit the bill. Every requirement? I met it. It was the first test I passed with flying colors, and I didn't even show up for it.

I heard hundreds of people applied to be a tester. From that number, maybe a handful were chosen. From that handful, maybe one or two actually went through with it. I wasn't among them. I hadn't applied. They weren't even on my radar.

Yet somehow the men in black showed up at Silver's quaint little pancake shack with my name. They hadn't been in a single one of my thoughts, but for some reason I was in theirs.

But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren't we? There are three trivial events I should highlight first. Three small things that, looking back, sealed my fate. Which I guess ranks them higher than merely "trivial", but at the time, that's all they were to me. Small, unimportant details in my blurry life. What were they? Well, let's start with the first event. It was nothing special, nothing new. In fact, it happened often enough. But on this occasion it was different, and with me unaware, it set in motion my future.

Silver dropped a plate.

I don't know if my life would have been different if this didn't happen. But sometimes I wonder. Maybe if I hadn't been in the kitchen at that time or if I warned Silver that he didn't dry his hands enough. If I worked harder to get all the dishes done before Silver offered to pitch in... Maybe, if I had done something different, none of this would have happened.

Or maybe fate would have stepped in and obstructed my path with another obstacle. It's impossible to know and "what if" questions are like a form of torture... But I can't stop myself from sometimes wondering.

Regardless of what might have been, the fact of the matter is, Silver dropped a plate. And I, barefoot (like everyone at the beach is), stepped right in the glass.

It was a hot, searing pain. I jumped back and howled. Silver apologized profusely. I told him it was fine, I was okay, there was no need to... HOLY HELL THIS HURTS FUCKING SHIT GOT DAMN... No, no I'm fine... Really, don't call the ambulance... FUCKING HELL WHAT THE FUCK I WANT TO DIE THE PAIN OH GOD... No, no, it's barely touching the bone really I'm okay, really. Don't worry, I'm fine... WHY GOD WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME FUCK YOU THIS HURTS TAKE IT BACK... It's barely bleeding, the glass didn't go all the way through my bone stopped it so it's okay... I THINK IT CRACKED SOMETHING FUCK THIS SHIT IT HURTS FUCK FUCK MOTHER FUCKER. Oh, the ambulance is here...? I'm really okay, but if it means I get to get out of work early then why not? STOP LYIN THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE GET ME OUT OF HERE SO YOU CAN FUCKING TREAT ME. See you guys later, have fun working while I get to relax in a comfy bed GOD DAMMIT ENOUGH WITH THE PLEASANTRIES GET ME TO THE FUCKING HOSPITAL.

Really, it wasn't that bad. After the initial shock wore off, I started laughing. And I couldn't stop. Then my eyes began to tear up long after my foot went numb, long after the pain died away, and only shortly after the laughing stopped. And then I was at the hospital.

The doctor took the glass out and stitched me up. Six stitches and a pretty scar right on the bottom of my foot. Apparently the glass did go partially through my bone, but they told me they fixed it. I don't know what they did, since I was out cold for the operation, but I felt great when I woke up.

Better than great. I felt euphoric. I felt more fit than I had been before getting stabbed in the foot. They told me it was the meds and the feeling would wear off in a day or two. It was half a lie.

The feeling did wear off. But it wasn't because of the meds, it was because I become used to feeling that way.

Harder, better, faster, stronger. That's exactly how I felt.

I was back at work the next day. The next event demonstrated the possibilities of my future.

Someone slapped my ass.

Normally I'd roll my eyes and move on, but something was different now. I didn't give a slight start, I didn't sigh or give a fake smile, and I didn't inwardly complain about my crap job. I grabbed his retreating hand and snapped it back. He cried out.

"What the intercourse , lady? You ninny!"

"Pervert." He cradled his hand, eyes watering. I watched him for a moment, suddenly realizing what I did. For a second, I was stunned and just gaped at him. He looked at me, gritting his teeth, then spit at me. He missed. But something boiled up within me and I grabbed him by the neck with both hands and pushed him against a pole.

"Want to try doing that again?" I threatened. He did try. He tried, but he couldn't breath and he was struggling to work his throat. Then he stopped trying and turned bright red. His eyes widened and he began flailing. Some other customers began noticing and making noise. I blocked out all other voices, even my own, and just focused on the dying man in front of me.

Finally, someone attempted to pull me off of him. I pushed them back with a shoulder shrug. Then, more arms wrapped themselves around me. I struggled to shrug them off, and even released a hand to push them back, but they finally took me down. They were my own co-workers. The man whose neck I had my hands wrapped around fell to the floor, sputtering.

I was dragged away. I didn't struggle, but my eyes never left my victim's face.

I was put into a chair. My surroundings began to take form around me and my own voice began to pound inside my head.

Oh god. What did you just do? That wasn't you... was it? I don't remember... I wasn't in control... What did you do?

"What did you do?"

I looked up. Mack the Manager was in front of me. I was sitting in a chair, alone with him in his office. I blinked.

He repeated himself. "What did you do?"

"I... don't know."

What did I do? What did I do? I was shaking. I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

"Am I fired?"

And the final event that sealed my fate...

"No."[/spoiler]

And thus, the plot thickens.

But yeah, I'm digging this.

For the record, I don't break stuff that much...;_;
Just kidding. I like it. MORE IS DEMANDED.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 10, 2010, 10:18:03 PM
For the record, I don't break stuff that much...;_;

Yet, you managed to break your laptop just recently.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 10, 2010, 10:18:03 PM
For the record, I don't break stuff that much...;_;
Just kidding. I like it. MORE IS DEMANDED.

Don't worry, your breaking of things will wane down in upcoming chapters. It was a necessary plot device.

The next installment will feature a lot of the beach itself's history, as well as some cameos from more of SHOP's employees.

Quote from: MasterYoungLink on September 11, 2010, 04:04:09 PM
Yet, you managed to break your laptop just recently.

Don't blame HP's shoddy manufacturing techniques on me. D:

Chapter Three - A Beach With No Name

[spoiler]I took a week's leave from waitressing. Instead, I spent all my time doing the dishes. In a way this was good because it gave a full-time extra hand which means that Silver didn't have to. In fact, he was spending more and more time in his office once I took over the cleaning duties. I began to feel like he was avoiding me.

It's hard to live down shame. My head bowed any time Mack the Manager walked by to review my work. And I felt paranoid, like people were whispering behind my back...

"When do you think she'll snap next?"

"What the intercourse  is wrong with her?"

"I thought she was normal..."

It was just my imagination, but it was enough to make me embarrassed. The one thing that made my job tolerable, my friends, was now becoming the most sickening part of my day. I began to long for those moments in the other room, serving food to the insufferable customers. It was on one of these days, as I scrubbed away at a particularly stubborn yellow stain, that someone else arrived in the kitchen.

He rode a skateboard right through. A blur of purple and black. The noise made me turn and look. It was Magnum, wearing his trademark purple bandanna and a goofy grin. He stopped inches from the freezer and flipped his skateboard up, then left it leaning against the wall. Then he strode over to me.

"How's the choker doing?" he asked jokingly, obviously referring to me.

"Oh god," I groaned, "you heard?"

"Skye told me," he replied.

"Damn it, Skye..." I muttered.

Skye was a young Hispanic kid who worked in the room next door. He packaged boxes with our brand items in them and then loaded them into the truck to be shipped to stores. He worked hard and was well-liked, but everyone has their demons. Skye's was his dislike for Mack the Manger. But no one could figure out why he hated him so much.

"But, hey, you're back!" I said happily. "That's so good because I had to take over your job while you were gone, you know."

Magnum had been out of work for about three days after an accident with his skateboard. He didn't break or tear anything, it was just a minor sprain that needed a few days of resting to heal. At least that's what he later told me.

"Yeah, apparently being a busboy drives people insane and causes them to choke their customers!"

I groaned. Would I ever live that down?

Things got back to normal pretty quickly. After a week of dishes, I went back to waitressing. I kept my temper in check and smiled, but I did notice there was less ass slapping than usual. No one's complaining about that, though. In fact, things seemed to get better. It was still a crappy job with a crappy pay, but I had less work with Magnum back at the force and the customers were easier to deal with. I still felt something inside of me... It wasn't rage. It felt more like... power. An unknown strength boiling beneath the surface, crawling under my skin. But I kept it locked away. I had made a promise that I would never lose myself like that again. And I intended to keep it.

The only difference that disturbed me was Silver's absence. Even with me out of the kitchen, he still did not dare to tread out of his office. At first I had thought he was angry or disappointed with me, but I knew Silver didn't hold grudges for over a couple of days, let alone a full week. I didn't say anything about his absence, still self-conscious about my previous rage, but someone else did.

Rob. He often raged and revolted, but at least he acted when something needed to be done. He was an active member of the Labor Union, so he knew his stuff. He worked as a part-time temp, doing anything that needed getting done for that day. But he wasn't always around like most of the other employees, since he had other jobs and college to attend. He was working to pay off his student loans, which were high.

Anyway, he noticed Silver's absence, too, and he demanded entrance into Silver's office.

"Silver, open up you giant vagina cleaning device!" he yelled, banging on the door.

No reply.

Others began gathering around to check out what was going on. Skye left his packaging position, Magnum flocked towards the commotion and even Mack the Manager retreated out of his office.

I, on the other hand, scurried away. I felt blamed, somehow, for Silver's lack of interaction. And so I didn't think I deserved to be a part of the crowd.

Instead, I left my post as waitress and walked out of the pancake shack and onto the sandy beach surface. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I needed to get away. Prolonging my stay only forced those memories to creep back up. I closed my eyes tightly, wishing them away. Life was so much better when I just hated my job.

My feet took me to my favorite place. It was low tide, and so I could walk across the water with it not reaching above my ankles. I followed the side of a cliff until I got pretty far out. The water reached my knees. Normally, had this been high tide, it would have been dangerous to swim out so far. Especially at this beach, NSFCD, where the waves get high and mighty and the riptide is strong.

NSFCD... I haven't mentioned the name of the beach before, have I? Ah, the beach. It has quite a history... A history worth sharing. NSFCD stands for the North-South Faraway Crab Den. Apparently it was once owned by a man named Judas Faraway. He was a rich traveler and skilled entrepreneur. A very well-liked man, back in the day. Until, that is, he made one wrong business move.

This beach wasn't owned by anyone. It was a free place for the community to use at their own leisure. No private property, no costs, not even a lifeguard, just a beach. Silver's House of Pancakes resided on the beach at that time, too. It was a better place then, I've heard. I didn't work there back in the day. But it was cleaner, the business was better, and it was always packed and filled with life. Judas found the beach (which was then unnamed) by visiting the pancake shack. It got around by word of mouth, like all the best things do.

Judas befriended the workers and everyone liked him. But secretly, as a businessman, he had a plan of his own. With Silver's guard down (and Mack not a manager at the time), Judas was able to acquire the rights of Silver's House of Pancakes. Apparently, that was all he had needed to finish his plot: to buy beach.

That's right. Without anyone knowing it, he had bought the beach from the state, then weaseled his way into the pancake shack to gain the last plot of property that he needed to own every single acre.

And thus, he named the beach. North-South, because it stretched as far as you can see in both directions, Faraway in a selfish tribute to his own last name, and Crab Den because he was going to turn the entire place into a crab-hunting and selling facility.

Confusion ensued. Silver was evicted. Everyone lost their jobs and for a time, no one was allowed on the beach while Judas Faraway called it his "private property". For several months, it was like this. Until one day, Judas just disappeared. No one knows what became of him. Not even today. But what they do know is that the state bought back the beach, but kept the name (shortening it to NSFCD). Silver had to buy the rights to his business and property once again. But this time, not as many people came. Less jobs were filled and less customers stopped by. Not as many people visited the beach anymore. Something had been tarnished. The good name of the unnamed beach had been ruined. It cost money to enter the beach now, the government owned it and set regulations, and worst of all, people forgot about it. In several months, they found other beaches and other activities. The name Faraway was a cause for disgust and riots. A beach with that name in it could not survive. And so, NSFCD was no longer the grand beach it had once been.

It prevailed, of course. People still visited. Tourists, new people who had no reason to hate Faraway, and old loyalists. Silver's House of Pancakes got some new and old employees, and a whole new cast of clients. It wasn't a booming business like the old days, but it was surviving. It still sold the best quality pancakes in the world (as far as anyone knows), but unfortunate circumstances forced the pancake shack to never quite recover completely. None of NSFCD ever recovered from Judas Faraway's involvement. A sad tale, indeed...

Of course, I hadn't been around for those days. I had moved to that town and to the beach a little over a year later. And I was there for over a year, working at Silver's House of Pancakes, slowly learning of the details of the past through snippets of conversations and stories etched into faces.

Before I forgot myself in history, I was talking about walking deeper into the ocean during low tide, adjacent to me was a cliff, marking the end of NSFCD territory. Farther out, in an area that can only be seen during low tide, is a small cave hidden in the side of the cliff, normally impossible to reach because of the dangerous and unforgiving ocean water. In times of crisis, or when I just need to be alone, I would find myself going there. And so on that day, I walked the long path to the cave and went inside.

The cave was small, dark and damp. There wasn't much there other than a few boulders to sit on and lots of seaweed. Sometimes I might find shells or a sea dollar. A few times there were shored fish and crabs. On this occasion, it was completely clean. I leaned against the boulder, tired from my walk, but mostly tired of thinking. I just wanted the bad memories to disappear. They were eating away at me. And so, while back at Silver's House of Pancakes the employees were banging on Silver's door with Mack the Manager trying to fend everyone off, I slowly drifted off to sleep...[/spoiler]

This is getting good.
I like it.
Also I can imagine Rob doing exactly that in real life.

I should read this

This is evolving from the slice of life I thought it was going to be, but it's also getting better. It's nice how you're incorporating some of our past into the story in such a way that it fits with the setting.

...but why Skye?

ok just read all the chapters (I can read really fast). Fantastic. Love the history - even though you weren't here for it.

Quote from: Mace on September 15, 2010, 03:05:39 PM
ok just read all the chapters (I can read really fast). Fantastic. Love the history - even though you weren't here for it.

She's got it all correct, though. I like that.

Quote from: MasterYoungLink on September 15, 2010, 02:59:05 PM
...but why Skye?

Because I think Skye is a cool name.

Quote from: Mace on September 15, 2010, 03:05:39 PM
ok just read all the chapters (I can read really fast). Fantastic. Love the history - even though you weren't here for it.

Wow, you can read fast (not that my chapters were extremely long, though). Glad you read and liked it.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 15, 2010, 03:58:16 PM
She's got it all correct, though. I like that.

I did my research. Good thing I have a brother who was here for it and a bulletin board chalk full of the action.

Quote from: South Bend on September 15, 2010, 04:29:09 PM
Because I think Skye is a cool name.

Okay then, I'm cool with this.

Quote from: storyHe rode a skateboard right through. A blur of purple and black. The noise made me turn and look. It was Magnum, wearing his trademark purple bandanna and a goofy grin. He stopped inches from the freezer and flipped his skateboard up, then left it leaning against the wall. Then he strode over to me.

Well it's official. I am so badass. And you actually gave me the same position I have in real life. Busboy. Kudos

Quote from: MagnumSonic on September 15, 2010, 04:51:54 PM
Well it's official. I am so badass. And you actually gave me the same position I have in real life. Busboy. Kudos

Haha, I actually got that from a thread you made. You said you were a busboy and couldn't work for a while because of a bike accident. I gave you a similar part in this story. Except in the story you ride a skateboard and you were only out for a few days.

Also, next chapter will be up soon. Either tonight or tomorrow night.

Chapter Four - Born to Die

[spoiler]I was standing in a dark hallway. There was nothing special about this hallway. Or at least, there shouldn't have been. It was probably the most boring hallway in existence. Generic and dull. And yet, it was alluring and exotic. I felt at ease, and yet I was very cautious. I didn't want to be there, but I knew it was where I wanted to be. Everything about it was conflicting, but I felt peaceful. Still, the farther down that hallway I walked, and the more my opinions began to change.

I knew I wasn't supposed to be there. Not this far down the hallway. The third door was as far as my identity would allow. Only high-ranking officers, like the men in black, could reach the final door. But I didn't let that stop me from trying.

I had never been this far before. Nothing physically changed when I passed the third door, but everything changed. Suddenly there was no ease, there was no peacefulness and there was nothing alluring. The only thing that kept me pushing forward was that strong desire. That burning curiosity. The search for the truth.

But I felt like I was choking. It was like I was swimming against the currents. With each step closer to that door, I was sealing my fate. I was dying. I was going to drown before I even reached the knob. All that work... All my efforts... Were they in vain? Was this how it was going to end?

I couldn't breathe. I really was swimming. Even gravity was against me. I was floating in air, doggie-paddling my way through the hall. I tried to gasp for air, but I sputtered and coughed up water. Water? But there was no water in the hallway... That's when I saw it.

The final door. Right in front of me. And it was dripping. Water was leaking out of every crack. And I realized it then. I realized the truth. I tried to gasp and turn away, but I was trapped in the currents of the water. There was a final blast and the door unhinged. That dark blue sea rammed into me and sent me crashing into the floor below. Except there was no longer any floor. Only water... water as far as the eye can see. Water the color of blackness. Pure darkness all around.

When I opened my eyes, all I saw was darkness. I was suddenly scared and twisted around. I was floating in the water. It had risen to incredible heights in such a short time. How long had I been asleep? My body was pressed against the roof of the cave. I squirmed and involuntarily took a deep breath, only to swallow a mouthful of salty ocean. Frantically, I began swimming in a direction, any direction, hoping it would lead me to the kind sun and the delicious oxygen that I yearned for.

A different kind of blackness crept into the corner of my eyes. It was the blackness of death. But instead of panicking, this news calmed me. I was about to die. And I let my mind go. And as I began to die... A new me was born.

This new person understood exactly what to do. With a forceful kick, she torpedoed right out of the cave and began swimming towards the light. She broke through the glassy surface and drank large gasps of that air. But there was no time for rest, and she knew that. The ocean was an unforgiving place, especially at NSFCD. She began fighting the current, navigating around riptides. As I was dead in those moments, even I can't be completely aware of how this new girl managed it.

But she did. She reached the shore and she collapsed in exhaustion.

I, of course, know what happens next. In a few moments, I will open my eyes and wonder how I got onto that sandy shore and what happened. The last thing I will remember is falling asleep in the cave. I will deduce that I sleepwalked onto the shore, getting myself extremely wet in my clumsy plight, and rested on the shore. And I will assume that I was asleep on the shore for the entire time that low-tide became high-tide.

How then, did I acquire the truth? For how much time did I believe this lie before I finally allowed my mind to become clear? And what else in my story is merely just a false memory or a rough conclusion?

Those questions aren't meant to be answered yet. What comes next is merely a tired walk from the shore back to Silver's House of Pancakes. Even though I felt more exhausted then when I had first began my trek, at least I was no longer thinking about that embarrassing experience. For the moment, it had left my mind.

It was dark when I returned. I snuck through the back door, where the packaging room is, so I could dry my drenched clothes. I searched around for Skye, but he was no where to be found. It was strange, but I didn't give it another thought. At that moment, I was glad I could have some peace while I changed. So I found an area covered with boxes and away from the cameras and stripped down to the bare minimum, then laid my clothes out amongst the packages. I sat there for a while, tired and almost nodding off.

Just as my eyes were about to fully close, I heard the door. Quickly, I snapped awake and grabbed my things. They weren't completely dry, so they stuck to me as I struggled to put my clothes back on. Hiding behind the shelves of boxes, I tried to get a good look at who had entered, but I couldn't see them. I heard their conversation, though.

"It's him. I know it's him." I wasn't sure who was speaking. It didn't sound like a voice I had ever heard before. It sounded distorted, like something out of The Shining, so I strained to listen more carefully.

"And I've been following all of your leads." I was surprised to hear Skye's voice, especially sounding so secretive and conflicted. Although in retrospect, I should have assumed one of the voices would be his, since he spent most, if not all, of his time in the packaging room.

"You've been pathetic," replied the mysterious stranger.

"I agreed something is off, didn't I? It's not like I'm working against you."

"Like you could work against me."

"...True..."

"But you had the opportunity and you didn't cease upon it!"

"I-I know... I couldn't..."

"Your being moved by emotions! Stop being so passionate and act with cold calculation."

"Next time-"

"No, now."

"N-Now?"

"Yes. Go now. There is still a chance we have an opening. We can still make it!"

"N-No... No way can I go now! I'll do it. But I can't go now..."

"Then when? You'll never do it if I don't force you. Our entire lives could be at stake! You could save everyone, if you just grew some balls!"

"I... I..."

I was pulling my pants on, but I stepped on them and ended up falling over. I crashed into one of the shelves and sent a few boxes flying. The shelf trembled, but did not topple over.

Silence.

I jumped up, finally securing the final article of clothing on. I looked up to see Skye in front of me. I squeaked in surprise before composing myself enough to find the words to speak.

"...Uh, hey, Skye. I was just..." I searched through my brain, looking for any excuse.

"..." He didn't seem to have any response. He was looking at me with what looked like fear.

"I didn't hear anything," I ended lamely. He just nodded slowly. "S-So... I'll just... go..." I inched away, and when he didn't make a move to stop me, I turned around a burst into a run. On my way out, I didn't see anyone else. Who had Skye been talking to?

The commotion in the kitchen had died down. I found Rob and Magnum whispering together in one corner of the room. I walked over to them. Magnum noticed me first and tapped Rob on the shoulder, who abruptly stopped talking and turned to notice me to.

"Hey guys," I said. "What happened with Silver?"

"You weren't here?" Rob asked.

"Not trying to kill more customers, I hope."

"N-No... I was on my break."

"Took a swim?" Magnum asked, grinning. I wriggled in my damp clothes and shrugged.

"Silver still refuses to come out," Rob explained. "Mack ended the party. He's no fun."

"Skye seemed... upset," I added, thinking.

"Probably because of Mack," Rob said.

"Yeah, I bet he thinks Mack is covering up some big conspiracy or something," Magnum added with a chuckle. I nodded and laughed, but I knew there had to be more to it than that. Who had Skye been talking to?

"So basically nothing got done?" I asked.

"Basically."

"Yep, that's us in a nutshell."

I sighed. It was all coming down to this. I had to face Silver, one on one, and find out what exactly was going on. I glanced at his office door, butterflies dancing in my stomach. Did I really have to confront him? My past actions boiled up inside of me. All of my shame resurfaced.

Yes, yes I did.[/spoiler]

Dream sequence confused me for a moment there, when I first read it. Who knew that there would be so much mystery in a retelling of NSF where it's portrayed as a pancake joint?

...yet, I can't help but find it a bit scary that the way I'm portrayed is pretty much spot on.

what a meanie am I :'(

Quote from: Mace on September 20, 2010, 04:08:55 PM
what a meanie am I :'(

no fun /=/ meanie

Also, I'm slowly starting to think I'm going to do something REALLY stupid that's going to screw us over.

F

I'm dying to hear why I refuse to come out.
D:

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 20, 2010, 05:21:18 PM
I'm dying to hear why I refuse to come out.
D:

[spoiler]It turns out you were fapping to preggo porn with your headphones on.[/spoiler]

Yeah Silver, come out of the closet... I mean office.

Quote from: SkyMyl on September 20, 2010, 05:22:36 PM
[spoiler]It turns out you were fapping to preggo porn with your headphones on.[/spoiler]

(http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/oh_you.jpg)

Quote from: SkyMyl on September 20, 2010, 03:14:39 PM
Dream sequence confused me for a moment there, when I first read it. Who knew that there would be so much mystery in a retelling of NSF where it's portrayed as a pancake joint?

...yet, I can't help but find it a bit scary that the way I'm portrayed is pretty much spot on.

Yes, the dream sequence was meant to be confusing. And I'm glad you think I've got your character down. That helps with my writing characters confidence.

Quote from: Mace on September 20, 2010, 04:08:55 PM
what a meanie am I :'(

You've always got Silver's back. Sometimes that means being an ass to the revolting employees.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 20, 2010, 05:21:18 PM
I'm dying to hear why I refuse to come out.
D:

You'll be in the next chapter. As for why you refuse to come out... I don't know, guess you'll have to wait and see what happens.

I'm expecting a new chapter ASAP plox

Quote from: Magnum on September 24, 2010, 10:30:25 PM
I'm expecting a new chapter ASAP plox

Your wish is my command:

Chapter Five - Trust your Instincts

[spoiler]I knocked once.

Twice...

Thrice...

"Come in."

Silver's office wasn't big. It consisted of a desk, some chairs, and a few decorative plants (most of which were losing color). The pride and joy of Silver's office was his awards. On the wall behind his desk, shining in silver frames, were different certificates. "Best Pancakes - 2012", "SHOP Employee of the Month - September 2012", and "MOO Winner Award 2013". I noticed that there were no awards after Judas' interference with the pancake shack.

Beneath the awards was Silver. He didn't look up when I entered. He looked pale and tired, writing something hastily.

"Silver?"

Still no response. I wondered if he had heard me. But just as I was forming the vowels to speak again, he spoke in a hoarse, unused voice. "Where is Mack?"

"Mack?" I was dumbfounded by the way Silver was acting. He still hadn't looked up and he was looking rather sick. It took me a moment to recover. "Um, I'm not sure... Probably in his office?"

"Find him and bring him here."

"O-Okay." Silver looked so serious and weak that I didn't even think to question him. My brain didn't have time to process this new, strange Silver. So I left his office without another word, hoping to clear my head on my way to find Mack the Manager.

Mack the Manger's office was on the other side of the kitchen. By the time I left Silver's, the place was empty. It was way past closing, everyone else had gone home. I glanced to my left, where the packaging room was, and wondered if Skye and that mysterious voice were still around.

That voice... I had never heard anyone like it before. It was definitely a man's voice, that much I could ascertain. But what did he want, and why was he talking to Skye? He wanted Skye to do something, go somewhere, or else everyone would die? I couldn't understand it. But that look on Skye's face... Something was definitely up.

Mack the Manager's door. The last time I had been there... He hadn't fired me. I was grateful, but confused. He should have fired me. What I did was inexcusable. So why was I still around?

I knocked once.

Twice...

The door opened. I jumped back. Mack the Manager stood in the doorway.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Hi, Mack," I replied. "Silver-"

"Wants to see me, yes," Mack the Manager finished. "Let's go."

He began walking. I didn't move. 'Let's go'? He wanted me there, too? There was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Mack the Manager hadn't fired me, but I had a feeling that Silver disagreed with his manager's judgment...

I followed weakly. This was it. I was about to be fired. Over a year I spent working at Silver's House of Pancakes. Over a year I found myself there, with most of my memories surrounding the good 'ol pancake shack. And now... Now where would I go? Home is where the heart is. The question is, where did my heart belong?

Here, I thought, a grimace on my face. This is where I want to be. Please don't make me go away this is where I belong. I make enough money to survive, I've made good friends, how can you think to take all of this away from me? How could you? How could you? This is my home...

It's true what they say, you never realize how important something is to you until it's gone.

I never realized how much I loved my life until I lost it all.

And this was the start of it... Right here is where I lost it all.

Looking back on this moment now... Yes, this was the end of it all. I made one fatal mistake, and it would prove be the end of me.

Silver's door creaked open. Mack the Manager ushered me into a seat. I sat. Silver was sitting behind his desk, just finishing up writing something on a piece of paper. He finally looked up.

And I saw that his eyes were glistening with tears.

"You've worked here for one year and three months now," Silver began, his voice uneven.

No one spoke for a while. I realized it wasn't a rhetorical question and nodded.

"You've been a waitress for three hundred and forty days of that time," Mack the Manager continued.

"Yes sir. I was a hostess for the first few months," I explained, although they already knew that.

"You've been a waitress for quite a long time," Mack the Manager said. "You don't believe you deserve a promotion?"

"I... what?" I stopped and looked back and forth between the two of them. "Pro...motion?"

"Yes, that is what I said."

"I thought you wanted to fire me," I whispered, glancing at Silver, then looking down.

"I hate firing people," Silver said. "That's Mack's job." He seemed to have gained his composure. His voice was light and a smile was on his face. I began to wonder if I imagined Silver's solemn expressions and teary eyes? My own fear manifested itself in my imagination, causing Silver to appear the way I felt. A defense mechanism... Projection.

"So how about a promotion?" Silver asked.

"I'm... not sure," I said. "There are so many better people for the job. People who have been here much, much longer."

"True," Silver agreed. Mack the Manager gave him a sideways glance, and Silver coughed. "But," he continued, "we feel as though this job would be perfect for you."

"And you alone."

"Well, if you need me to help out, I could lend an extra hand behind-the-scenes..."

"No," Mack cut in. "We want you to work a little higher-up than just some moderation in the back room."

"I don't understand."

"We want you to stay as our waitress, if you feel like you have time for both jobs," Silver added quickly.

"But you've been sought after by a certain someone. It is in your best interest to take up the job, as it is in ours to communicate the job offer to you."

"So you're saying, by promotion, you really mean there's a better job out there that I could get?" I asked, wanting clarification.

"Exactly so," Mack the Manager replied.

"But we aren't firing you," Silver added. "We expect you to show up at 5 AM sharp for opening."

"We are just obligated to hand this form over to you. Even we do not know the details of the job. We only know that your assistance has been requested. I'm sure the form will explain things further to you." Mack took a document labeled 'CONFIDENTIAL' in large, red letters off of Silver's desk and handed it over to me.

"You can go home," Silver said, "and enjoy your night. Sorry for all this trouble after closing."

"This is a secret meeting," Mack said, a warning hidden in his words. "So please, keep it as such."

"R-Right... Thank you, Silver. Mack."

"5 AM sharp for work tomorrow," Silver called on my way out. "Don't forget!"

A confidential letter informing me of a job... A secret that even Mack the Manager and Silver had limited knowledge of... What could it be? And why did I have this nagging feeling of loneliness? Of departure? ...Of regret...?

You know what they say. You should always...[/spoiler]

Expect a short hiatus. School is starting to pick up with work and I have colleges to visit and apply to. But I won't forget about this and the chapters will keep coming whenever I can find the time to write them.

Quote from: Poet Laureate on September 26, 2010, 07:46:59 AM
[spoiler]Here, I thought, a grimace on my face. This is where I want to be. Please don't make me go away this is where I belong. I make enough money to survive, I've made good friends, how can you think to take all of this away from me? How could you? How could you? This is my home...

It's true what they say, you never realize how important something is to you until it's gone.

I never realized how much I loved my life until I lost it all.

And this was the start of it... Right here is where I lost it all.

Looking back on this moment now... Yes, this was the end of it all. I made one fatal mistake, and it would prove be the end of me.[/spoiler]

BAD END imminent?

Quote from: SkyMyl on September 26, 2010, 10:56:14 AM
BAD END imminent?

Well, Joss Whedon is my [male] idol.

But I only have the outline of the entire story planned out. The picture has yet to be painted, as they say, so who knows what could become of the future? All we really know from that statement is that there seems to be some sort of imminent downfall of the titular character, assuming she is a reliable narrator. That doesn't necessarily mean a bad ending.

The suspense is killing me.
Also it seems like I've posted that exact post after each new chapter.
also also, what on earth is a MOO Award

Good chapter, but I noticed that there wasn't any badassness. You know, adding in that Magnum fellow would probably help with that.

:3

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 27, 2010, 09:13:24 PM
The suspense is killing me.
Also it seems like I've posted that exact post after each new chapter.
also also, what on earth is a MOO Award

I knew what a MOO Award was at the time. But I wrote that a while back and now I've forgotten what the last 'O' stood for. It was "Maple Oak 'something'"... I'm guessing "Maple Oak Overall" award, as in you won 'Best Overall'. Maple Oak is a pancake/syrup company. A highly prestigious one, at that. The MOO Award is their highest honor.

Quote from: Magnum on October 01, 2010, 11:19:12 AM
Good chapter, but I noticed that there wasn't any badassness. You know, adding in that Magnum fellow would probably help with that.

:3

Oh yay, you're back. So your computer is fixed? And yes, yes, I've got something in the works that will have you in it, don't worry.

Expect a new "chapter" soon. Hopefully in the next few hours.

[spoiler]"30 years... Wow... Really?"

"Yep, this placed survived for thirty long years."

"Three decades."

"10800 days."

"One third of a century."

"...Okay, I think I get it."

"In case you were wondering, yes we did have all those numbers planned out."

"Don't spoil our secrets!"

"Sh, sh! He's coming!"

"I don't hear any-"

"Shuddup!"

Darkness. Did I mention the blackness? Like emerged in a pool of murky, black paint. I couldn't tell who was talking. I wasn't even sure if my own words were escaping my lips or if they were stuck forever in limbo. Did these voices have faces, or were they bodiless words manifesting in my mind? No, I couldn't have made them up. I couldn't do math that fast.

Did that make this real? Could something nonexistent exist? In pure blackness, nothing has a place.

Blinding light. Cheers. Horns. Confetti.

Life.

"Happy anniversary, Silver!"

Noise all around. Smiles. A pat on the back to your neighbor. Shaking hands.

Silver dropped his bag and there was a crack. Broken plates, glass everywhere.

Roars of laughter. A sea of smiles.

A poster was displayed on the wall. Normally, the pancake shack's poster boy, Boar DeFanboye, was displayed as Silver's House of Pancakes' face for all the ads. But today someone photo shopped  a picture of Silver on a giant yellow piece of paper and plastered it to the wall like wallpaper. There was Silver in all his acne-filled glory, cross-eyed and smiling avidly.

"You guys... suck," Silver said, staring at the poster. Boar looked at the poster, with his abs in the shot, only with Silver's face covering his own.

"The likeness is uncanny," someone said with a grin.

Boar mixed a drink of whiskey and downed it. "No. But you do have a sexy body."

And the party began. People got into their groups, sat and talked, partied. Because the beach had been around 30 long years and Silver's House of Pancakes shared a day with NSFCD, on this day they were one and the same. It was a congratulations of sorts that they survived. They were still alive, even after all the hardships they had to face.

They were alive.

"How long you been around, package boy?" Boar asked, attempting to mingle with the "lesser men", the ones who weren't as well paid or as famous.

"Seeing as how I don't have anywhere else to go, I've been here since the beginning," Skye replied.

I walked past them with a secret smile. The loyal package boy talking with the star-status model. Who would have thought?

"You need a life."

"I guess so."

Boar walked away after refilling his whiskey, and I moved away before he noticed me and began spewing some of his great bad advice that he was so well-known for. Because if there was one thing people said about Boar, it was that he always gave bad advice and that he believed alcohol could fix any problem. I had never actually held a conversation with him, as he never visited the pancake shack except on special occasions when free whiskey was involved. Like today.

Anyway, I found myself camouflaged between two people playing a card game. It was a smart idea, because I knew Boar would never get within a few yards of anything that didn't involve alcohol, women, or tons of testosterone. And this definitely didn't involve any of those things. Magnum was playing a card game against the only person among our staff that worked the night shift. No one even knew his real name, they just called him 'Night'.

Seriously, I don't know anything about Night. In fact, this was the second time I had ever seen him before. The first... well, that's a story for another day. Anyway, his name is pretty accurate. He's about as shrouded in mystery as the very blackness that swallows the thick, night sky. A skinny, pale kid. One of those people who just looks smart, you don't even have to ask. And by his palate, I'd guess he's seen less of the sun than a vampire. Unless... No, not getting into that here. Not yet.

I stepped on one of the cards when backing up. Magnum jumped up and Night gave me a cold stare.

"Arr, matey. Avast!" Magnum shouted, pointing at me. "Yer bloody feet are the culprits in this crime!"

"Uh... What?" I asked.

Magnum grinned and pointed to the card sticking to the bottom of my shoe. "I think you stepped in gum, in plebian terms."

I tried to shake the card off, but it wouldn't budge. Finally, I lifted my shoe up and peeled the card off. Sure enough, some pink bubble gum came with it. "Ew... As sharp as always, Magnum." I handed him back the card, an embarrassed smile on my face. "Heh, heh... Here ya go. Uh, sorry."

"Eh, wasn't mine anyway," Magnum said with a shrug. He flicked the card at Night. With his piercing, unblinking eyes, he stared at me. Magnum leaned in close and whispered, "Now you've gone and done it. You'll have to face his wrath." Then he leaned back and shouted, "Witch! Witch! Burn her at the stake! She be a witch!" Night nodded solemnly, then turned back to his game.

I raised my eyes at Magnum. Then shook my head. "You guys are... weird."

"Thanks," Magnum said genuinely. "Wouldn't it be boring to be anything otherwise?" I smiled back, maybe sharing that sentiment... maybe slightly.

"Whatever floats your boat." And I left them to their game, afraid of Night's glowering eyes.

I noticed Silver, Mack the Manager, and the pancake shack's super, Celio (although people liked to call him Super affectionately, or Super Celio, and he endorsed it) talking together at one side of the room.

Super was another person that wasn't seen often. He had a lot of money (there were rumors that he made $1,122,329 a year - I know, pretty specific sum for a rumor...) and was said to have built the pancake shack with his own two hands. Although only rumors surround this character. I can't be sure of what he's actually done or when he's lying. In fact, the only thing I know for sure about Super is that he has an older brother that is a lot like him. Or, I should say, Super is a lot like his older brother. Following in the footsteps, as they say. But I know even less about Super's older brother, only that more wild rumors follow him. And that he's the most hated and most beloved and respected person that ever had anything to do with Silver's House of Pancakes.

Anyway, I decided to leave the staff to their own little conversation. They were probably reminiscing about the good old days, something I would know little about. As I turned to find a new conversation to join in on, I found Rob. He was running around the room, spreading something. And knowing Rob, that meant drama was afoot. I decided to head his way. It's shameful, but it seems humans are attracted to bad news like moths to the light.

"What's up, Rob?" I said, approaching him.

"Check this out," he said, glancing around to make sure we were alone before shoving his phone into my face.

"What?" I asked.

"Read it!" he urged me, shaking the phone in his hand. I grabbed his phone from him to stop him from shaking it and read the text that was on it. It read:

'Guess who? Happy birthday to your little breakfast club. We might... crash in, if we're that bored.'

I handed Rob back his phone and said, "Who's that from?"

"Guess."

"Scribble? Custom? Sync?"

"And Syd."

"All four of them?"

"Yep. They're coming here."

"What does this look like, The Wedding Crashers?"

"If they're coming, expect it to be a little less... harmless fun."

"Because pancakes are serious business?"

"Exactly."

"Oh boy..."[/spoiler]

Yes, it's a little late. I was supposed to finish it by the end of September, but I got busy. Anyway, thought I'd join in on the celebrations with a filler chapter dedicated to NSFCD's 3rd anniversary. A part two may be added eventually, if you guys want it.

And to go with this filler, I thought I'd reveal another thing I'm working on: Filler chapters focused on characters other than the narrator. Once in a while, if I need a break from the usual plot line, I want to write side stories that follow the lives of some of the other pancake shack staff. So if you have opinions on characters you'd like to see get their own chapter, go ahead and throw out ideas.

Jesus, you don't know how scared I was of that chapter. You knew me WAY to well. Ask anyone I know, that is exactly something I would do 0_o

Also, I do want part two so I can see what these guys are up to.

I giggled once I read Custom and Sync after Scribble.

Also, we need to get Bored to read that so we can see how accurate your portrayal of him is.

I ban certain people from eating pancakes :|

Quote from: Magnum on October 02, 2010, 09:32:03 AM
Jesus, you don't know how scared I was of that chapter. You knew me WAY to well. Ask anyone I know, that is exactly something I would do 0_o

Also, I do want part two so I can see what these guys are up to.

Did I really? Heh, that's pretty sweet.

Quote from: SkyMyl on October 02, 2010, 09:58:13 AM
I giggled once I read Custom and Sync after Scribble.

Also, we need to get Bored to read that so we can see how accurate your portrayal of him is.

I was playing it safe a little with Bored, but I hope I still did somewhat alright with his character.

Quote from: Mace on October 02, 2010, 04:06:52 PM
I ban certain people from eating pancakes :|

I wonder who...

QuoteThere was Silver in all his acne-filled glory, cross-eyed and smiling avidly.

I lol'd.

If the game was poker, that's manly.  Maybe they were playing Magic or some other CCG.

I do love whiskey and occassionaly giving people ridiculous advice.  But other than that, I dunno.

Characters are all based on perception and dramatic license, so it doesn't really matter.  I know you want to get people right, but feel free to say "intercourse  it" and write them how you feel they are.  If anyone comes in here and says "Dur that not how I am," tell 'em to intercourse  off because you're creating something.

Keep it up, you're doing a good job.

Quote from: BOREDFANBOY on October 03, 2010, 09:59:08 PM
If the game was poker, that's manly.  Maybe they were playing Magic or some other CCG.

I do love whiskey and occassionaly giving people ridiculous advice.  But other than that, I dunno.

Characters are all based on perception and dramatic license, so it doesn't really matter.  I know you want to get people right, but feel free to say "intercourse  it" and write them how you feel they are.  If anyone comes in here and says "Dur that not how I am," tell 'em to intercourse  off because you're creating something.

Keep it up, you're doing a good job.

This means Bored is glad you are highlighting him as an Adonis.

I think KJ died. :(
Or she's just busy but that would make way too much sense.

KJ's still alive. She's just busy is all.

Don't worry guys, Allegretto has her number. I'll have him ask her if she's still alive.

Quote from: Magnum on October 12, 2010, 03:09:27 PM
Don't worry guys, Allegretto has her number. I'll have him ask her if she's still alive.

Why does Allegretto have KJ's number?

Quote from: SkyMyl on October 12, 2010, 05:28:09 PM
Why does Allegretto have KJ's number?

Someone's jealous.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on October 13, 2010, 12:39:31 PM
Someone's jealous.

And how do you know I don't already have her number?

Quote from: SkyMyl on October 13, 2010, 02:35:58 PM
And how do you know I don't already have her number?

because I texted her and asked

Quote from: SkyMyl on October 13, 2010, 02:35:58 PM
And how do you know I don't already have her number?

Because I called her and asked, of course.
:3
I do actually have her number.

Yes, yes, everyone has my number. I take calls and texts from anyone, so let's not hate.

Anyway, this isn't dead, I just have college stuff to do. Everything is due soon so I have paperworks to fill out and applications to finish. And my dream school is very competitive in the field I want to go into, and I don't have a lot of experience, so I'm out getting experience to prove I'm worth accepting.

Unfortunately, you guys are going to have to take a backseat while I fight to achieve my goal. But this should all be over with by the end of November. So hopefully I'll be back to writing by then, if not earlier.

I'm starting work on chapter six now. So you guys should expect regular updates again shortly.

Posting so that when she posts we'll know

Awesome, the story gets to continue.

KJ didn't forget, did she? ;_;

I'm guessing Writer's Block (http://i54.tinypic.com/2yl1g7d.png).

*cough* OKAY, HERE IT IS. RIGHT ON TIME, OF COURSE. *cue MYL with his amazing trope references to "blatant lies" or whatever else he can find*

Chapter Six - The Number Six

[spoiler]Dear Trainee #6,

We eagerly anticipate your involvement in our project. Unfortunately, detailed knowledge of what has been previously expressed can not be so openly disclosed. Because of this fact, in order for you to learn more you must enter the realm itself and seek the answers.

You have exactly one (1) day less than a full business week. In other words, four (4) days, to decide. We hope you choose the correct option regarding this project. Furthermore, we believe you would substantially regret denying yourself this opportunity. In fact, it sounds like quite a deadly mistake indeed.

Thank you for reading. Please consider your choices carefully. We expect to see you soon.

~The Beta Testing Committee (TBTC)

I read the letter over and over again. It didn't seem to make sense. At all. And worse yet, it didn't give me a location. If I wanted to visit with these people, how exactly was I supposed to do that? In the end, I decided the letter was some stupid prank pulled on me by the entire pancake shack. They were getting back at me for going completely axe crazy out on them that one time...

So I threw the letter out and went to work at 5 AM sharp.

It was early and the sun was just starting to rise when I arrived. Night, Spencer and Skye were the only ones there that I could see. Night was just finishing up his shift and leaving. I skirted around him, avoiding eye contact and walking as quickly as I could towards my two friends. I could feel Night's icy gaze digging into the back of my head. I didn't let out a single breath of air until the tense moment passed and he was out of sight. And then I let out a sigh of relief (and a gasp for air), which alerted Skye and Spencer of my presence.

Spencer was right by his beautiful car, painted nicely with the SHOP logo. The trunk was open and Skye was carrying boxes and loading them up. Spencer's job is to drive from store to store (or house to house) selling the SHOP products. He works closely with Skye, who does the packaging and sometimes delivers as well. And he's a huge car fanatic, as well. Honestly, he may very well get off on talking about motors. A true aficionado, as it were.

"Hey," Spencer greeted. "I heard you went all Christine on us a few weeks back."

Was that ever going to go away? "You heard, too?"

"Skye told me."

"You and the rest of the shack."

"Stay shiny. Even if you get a little bit of grease in your engines, you can still run like a true beauty." Car talk for 'cheer up, kiddo, it's not that bad'.

"Hey, I've been sane since that one little incident. So I try to choke a guy once and now I'm all greasy or whatever? Once. It was one time. I think we should all remember that."

"Sure. You skid in the mud, now you know to watch out the next time. You've got that warning signal, the puddle, to look out for and you can swerve to avoid it."

"Yes. Right. Swerve. But what if I'm going sixty five in a thirty five zone and I'm tuning into the radio?"

"Keep your eyes on the road or you'll crash and burn. You gotta take it slow, easy on the pedal. But don't make the brake your best friend, either. You gotta treat every part like family."

"Um... What?" We turned to see Skye standing there, carrying a rather big box and attempting to look over it at us.

"Sky's the limit," Spencer replied, taking the box from him, "if you put your mind to it."

"Why limit yourself to the sky? I'd at least like to get to Jupiter," I mused.

"Too windy and not a good visual. On a clear day, sky is your best bet. There's a silver lining to everything. Just drive."

Skye looked confused. And I'll admit, so was I. His made-up proverbs were becoming more and more obscure that even I was having trouble following.

"Well, I better start opening up shop and... serving people food," I said with a sigh.

"Here," Skye mumbled, handing me a bottle of SHOP syrup. "If you want it, you can have some of this."

"It's the oil that feeds us early risers," added Spencer.

"Oh thanks," I said, taking it. "Do I get waffles with this?"

"Sorry," Skye apologized.

I shrugged. "Ah well, the syrupy goodness will just have to do." I opened the cap and squirted a bit into my mouth, allowing the warm, sugary liquid to slide down my throat.

"How is it?" he asked, watching me.

"It's... good. But I don't think I'm big on condiments for breakfast. Besides, one squeeze is enough sugar to last me for the day."

I left them to their dealings, giving Skye the syrup back, and opened up the shack for business. It was a slow morning. A really slow morning. As in, well, I might have sort of fallen asleep at one point in the back while no one else was around kind of slow morning. But as long as I don't say it out loud, we can pretend that event never happened and no one will ever have to know about that! Since sleeping on the job might kind of sort of not be a good thing. Moving on...

Mack the Manager was the first one to come in, as usual. He didn't even spare me a glance as he went into his office. But that wasn't unusual. He was a busy guy who didn't have time for friendly chatter around the water cooler like the rest of us. He actually did his job, and he did it well. Silver came in next, while I was cleaning the dishes, talking with Super. I couldn't help but remember that other time that Silver encountered me when we were near dishes, and I unconsciously shifted my feet at the memory.

"I'll probably get the money to you... soon," Silver said plainly to Super. Talking about the monthly bills, no doubt.

"By the end of the month," Super said dryly. "That should be self explanatory."

"Right, I'll get it you by then... hopefully."

"The end of the month was three days ago. You're late."

Silver looked at his watch, then back up at Super with a guilty grin. "Oops."

"And didn't you promise it to me by October 24th?"

"Things happen, stuff breaks..."

"Tomorrow." And without waiting for a response, Super left. For some reason, that conversation was reminiscent of something similar that happened to me... I just couldn't put my finger on the significance. Oh well, I shook off the feeling and greeted Silver.

"Hi Silver."

"Oh hey, good you came."

"Course I came. I said I would, and I still work here, and this is my shift, so..." But my voice trailed off. Instead, I blinked dumbly. Things started to shift and change colors right before my very eyes.

"I wanted to talk to you about..."

But his voice drifted away. Everything was drifting away. I gasped, realizing when it was too late what was happening. The last thing I saw was Silver's surprised and concerned face as I collapsed onto the ground. Out cold.[/spoiler]

Sorry, this is more of a "transition" chapter. Something in between a filler and plot chapter. It's a little on the boring side, but it's important because it brings you towards the rising action and is chalk full of references to things and details for later (or just for fun).

OH MY GOD! SKY KILLED KJ!

Quote from: Poet Laureate on November 03, 2010, 06:43:06 PM
I opened the cap and squirted a bit into my mouth, allowing the warm, sugary liquid to slide down my throat.

I'm not entirely sure if I want the mental image this provided me.

Quote from: Magnum on November 03, 2010, 07:07:18 PM
OH MY GOD! SKY KILLED KJ!

Hey, I didn't do anything to the syrup! Maybe the cryptic car proverbs of Spencer got to her in a delayed reaction sort of way.

It seems my telekinesis classes have paid off.

it wasn't exciting, but set the tone for some later reads

I started work on the next chapter today. So expect it up next week sometime...

And this chapter should provide background information on the main character, introduce more staff, and set up the plot that was briefly mentioned in the first chapter.

Bump so KJ doesn't forget about it.
And just because.

Technically, I'm only a day late. And here we are, the next chapter!

Chapter Seven - Ask the Questions

[spoiler]I first moved to the town in June of last year. A little over a year after Judas had left. Disappeared, without a trace... The people at the Pancake Shack were welcoming, to say the least. They let me right in and gave me a few advances in pay, despite having so little, so that I could afford a roof under my head.

I dug a hole in the sand. In the middle of the night, checking every few seconds to make sure no one was around. Paranoid. Empty, black. I crawled into the hole and gently piled the sand over me, save for my face. It was warm and comfortable enough. The icy water would wake me up before I drowned. I could sleep there and no one would notice...

"Ow!" I opened my eyes and cried in pain. There was a foot on my face. A cry and they pulled their foot back.

A guy stood in front of me. He blinked a few times, then, the scene in front of him registering in his mind, jumped back. Then another guy, dressed in a clown outfit, ran into him.

"What did you stop for-" He started, but then also saw me. As soon as it registered, he began laughing hysterically.

I had been frozen, but at that moment I felt my face turn red and I struggled out of my sand domain.

"I, uh, must of fallen asleep after... uh," I sputtered, but the laughing clown derailed my thoughts. "I'm... gonna go."

"Wait, hold on," the man wearing normal clothes, along with headphones, said. He was also smirking, but seemed a bit nicer. I stopped, waiting, my back turned. "If you don't have anywhere else to go, there's a pancake shack nearby with extra room."

"What, we're going to let a girl in? I think everyone would die," the clown grunted.

"We have a girl chef," the other reminded the clown. Then he turned back to me. "Hi, I'm Zovi. I DJ at the place. This clown here is Junior. He's exactly what he looks like."

"You might think I'm a clown, but once you get to know me you realize I'm not a clown. Then you really get to know me and you realize I really am a clown," Junior said.

It didn't make any sense to me. I just nodded slowly, pretending to comprehend. In truth, I was tired and achy, and I just wanted a bed to sleep in.

When Zovi noticed I wasn't fit to do much walking (sleeping like that for a week does some things to you), he got his colorful bus and drove it over. It blared music, all of his own creation, and lit up the entire beach. He ushered me into it, Junior not helping (except to laugh some more when he thought about me sleeping in sand), and brought me to the shack.

I didn't get to have much of a conversation with either one of them. They showed me to a little area I could sleep in, then said good night (Junior in the gaps he had in between laughing), and left. I never saw either one of them again. I learned that the DJ and clown act were leaving the shack to pursue other venues. Apparently the decline in clients because of Judas was really hurting their business. I never had a chance to say goodbye or even thank you. But it was thanks to them that I found a home.

The next day, everyone knew about my "home" in the sand. Everyone seemed to think it was hilarious, but they were quick to help. Silver called in Super and set me up with a cheap home. I was so surprised, yet honored by their generosity. It took me months to pay them all back, but eventually I did it. After almost a year, I was beginning to make a real income, rather than just scrounging around trying to repay debts.

Life was simple.

Now? Not so simple.

I woke up with a head ache. Where the hell was I? It was dark, cramped, cold. Excruciatingly cold. Hard to breath... I gasped for air. My eyes began to adjust and focused past the dark. Where was I? It seemed to be a long tunnel, with no visible beginning or end. My heart began to race. How did I get here? Where was the exit? Did anyone know where I was?

I stood up, wobbled slightly, but managed to stand upright. I was still so weak... Then my mind began to pain pictures in my head. I was at work... at Silver's House of Pancakes... Right? But how... I remembered falling. And I touched my head. Winced. Dried blood. But I was okay. Right? What the hell happened?

"Hello."

Sharp gasp, swing around, head swirls, I feel my breakfast rushing up my throat. I'm on the floor again. The syrup from the morning is everywhere. I groan and attempt to fight the pain and get back up.

He's in front of me. Standing right there. No wait, there's two of him. Who are they? Reaching out a hand, wanting me to take it... I try to move away. Something's not right. I'm on the ground again, can't stop it. It burns my throat, sends my stomach into a pit of fire, my eyes tear up.

"What the f-" But I can't finish my sentence, more of the syrup is bubbling up and pouring out. I just groan and stop trying.

I lay limp... falling asleep again...

When I woke up next, I was in a bed, wearing a large, clean shirt - not mine - and I felt... wet. I also felt immensely better. There was a dim light in the room, so I could see my surroundings for the most part. It was a small, clean room. Brown rug floor, cream walls. Only enough room for a bed and dresser. Otherwise empty. I wrung out my hair, water dripped everywhere. Had I been swimming? It was still cold, so I clung to the warm shirt I had on.

It took a moment for my eyes to really adjust. Behind me, I heard the voice again.

"Hello."

I turned around slowly. This time there was only one of him. Had there been a twin, or was I just seeing double?

"Who are you?" I asked. No time for formalities. I needed to know what was going on. "Is this a... hospital?"

He chuckled. "No, I'm afraid not. The best I could do for you, though. Must have had a small reaction to something you ate, perhaps?" He had a clear, formal voice, with a soft touch of amusement. Almost as if every sentence was hinting at something else, like he knew the answers but refused to give anything away unless it was in riddles.

"Maybe..." I waited a moment. He still hadn't answered my other question. He stood still, wearing a black tuxedo, smiling warmly. He reminded me a little of James Bond, and I almost expected him to greet me in the same way. "Sorry... Your name?"

"Ah, yes, of course," he said, continuing to smile. But he didn't answer my question. Instead he took a pair of black sunglasses out of his pocket and put them on. "It is not my job to give you truths."

"...What?"

"You must find the answers for yourself."

I blinked, dumbfounded. What was this guy telling me? "So, you aren't going to tell me why I'm here? Where the intercourse  I am? Or who the hell you are?"

"The answers are all around you. I never repeat myself."

"What. The. Fuck. Is. Going. On." It wasn't even a question. I just poured venom out into every word. Something inside me was roaring. I wanted answers. I was at my familiar workplace one second, somewhere else the next - waking up intercourse ing sick and delusional - and then I was in a small room, suddenly wearing only a shirt that I definitely didn't own and being talked to like a subordinate to some well-dressed guy wearing sunglasses in a dark, gloomy room.

"You are one of them," he finally said. He sounded as if he was reassuring someone, not him or me, of that fact. As if he was talking to someone that wasn't there.

"Who? One of who? I work for Silver's-"

"Not them." It was curt, not particularly angry, but quickly brushed away. "Something much, much greater than them."

"I... Well I think my family might have had some money. But they weren't that great, I mean-"

"No, I believe they weren't, were they? Genes, yes they had fine genes. Which, I suppose, is all that really matters to us."

I didn't respond. Did this guy actually know anything about my parents, or was he just saying whatever came to his mind? But he didn't seem to have anything left to say to me. With his smile, he turned around and headed for the door.

"Wait," I said quickly, fear rising at the thought of being alone. Suffocating, alone. "Where am I? Can I go?"

His back to the door, his hand on the knob. "You won't know until you try." And then gone. The door shutting quietly behind him. But even that noise bounced around my small room, resounding, and I shivered.
What the intercourse  was going on?

I don't know how long I stood there, doing nothing, not even breathing. It felt like forever. Silence had engulfed me. The world stopped turning, yet I was rooted to the spot.

Then, something broke.

I rushed to the door, freezing with my fingers grasping the handle. Will it open? What's on the other side? Can I go? Can I go?

...Can I go?

Where am I?

...I am one of them...

Who?

Who am I?

The answers are all around...

Find the answers for yourself...

...Find the answers...

...yourself...

I twisted the knob. One-eighty.

The door creaked open. My eyes widened.

Free?[/spoiler]

Very interesting. I'm wondering what's gonna happen aaaaaaaa

Also,

QuoteSilver called in Super and set me up with a cheap home. I was so surprised, yet honored by their generosity. It took me months to pay them all back, but eventually I did it.

(http://www.techdigest.tv/assets_c/2009/03/tom-nook-thumb-300x385-82623.jpg)

WOULD YOU LIKE TO UPGRADE YOUR HOUSE SIZE? ONLY 100,000 BELLS.

Silly Silver, you know she gets no say in the matter.

I'm pretty sure that dude speaks entirely in movie trailer quotes.

Quote from: KJ on November 21, 2010, 09:57:13 AM
"Hi, I'm Zovi. I DJ at the place. This clown here is Junior. He's exactly what he looks like."

Wow, a Zovi mention along with a Jr mention. Awesome.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on November 21, 2010, 10:20:34 AM
(http://www.techdigest.tv/assets_c/2009/03/tom-nook-thumb-300x385-82623.jpg)

WOULD YOU LIKE TO UPGRADE YOUR HOUSE SIZE? ONLY 100,000 BELLS.

>No

The cloaked guy is her brother, THEBIRD!

Cue dramatic music

New chapter soon?

I laugh every time I see that Tom Nook thing. I did not notice that. If I had just read that quote, I might have thought this was an Animal Crossing fan fic.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on December 01, 2010, 08:50:51 AM
New chapter soon?

I'm going to start working on it next week and hopefully I'll be done by the end of the week. Things are starting to get heavy with plot, so it'll be more fun for me to write. Which means once I start, I should get a lot done in one go (if not all of it). It's the starting that's hard.

It's been barely over a week. I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINT!

Quote from: Magnum on December 08, 2010, 10:31:42 PM
It's been barely over a week. I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINT!

(http://malcolm816.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/cache/27__h=x_exploding-knees.png)

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on December 09, 2010, 12:06:24 AM
(http://malcolm816.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/cache/27__h=x_exploding-knees.png)

Quote from: Magnum on December 08, 2010, 10:31:42 PM
It's been barely over a week. I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINT!

Heh... And you might have to wait longer, too. I've got another writing sample I've put priority over and I want to finish it by the end of this week.

Did Silver's House of Pancakes go out of business? ;_;

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on December 18, 2010, 11:16:26 AM
Did Silver's House of Pancakes go out of business? ;_;

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on December 18, 2010, 11:16:26 AM
Did Silver's House of Pancakes go out of business? ;_;

Sorry, but I don't think I'm going to be able to continue making these. It's a lot of work and I've got college things to prepare. Now that I've been accepted to the college I want to go to, I need to make sure I have the money to pay for it (since it's intercourse ing expensive). Focusing on that is a little more important, I'm afraid. So this story is going to have to come to a close early... I'm really, really sorry, I had great plans for it, but it's just not convenient any-

Wait, what?

Just kidding. Silver's House of Pancakes isn't going out of business! It's just closing for the holidays. I would have got another chapter in (like I had promised), but unfortunately the "100 Questions" surprise took up about three days out of my life and I didn't get a chance to work on a chapter for this. My excuses above are also somewhat valid, but it no way is college payments going to keep me from writing this. So after New Year's I'll begin production again, possibly sooner, but I wouldn't expect anything until after vacation.

Quote from: KJ on December 18, 2010, 10:07:20 PM
Sorry, but I don't think I'm going to be able to continue making these. It's a lot of work and I've got college things to prepare. Now that I've been accepted to the college I want to go to, I need to make sure I have the money to pay for it (since it's intercourse ing expensive). Focusing on that is a little more important, I'm afraid. So this story is going to have to come to a close early... I'm really, really sorry, I had great plans for it, but it's just not convenient any-

(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8696/1291733356945.gif)

Quote from: KJ on December 18, 2010, 10:07:20 PM
Wait, what?

Just kidding. Silver's House of Pancakes isn't going out of business! It's just closing for the holidays. I would have got another chapter in (like I had promised), but unfortunately the "100 Questions" surprise took up about three days out of my life and I didn't get a chance to work on a chapter for this. My excuses above are also somewhat valid, but it no way is college payments going to keep me from writing this. So after New Year's I'll begin production again, possibly sooner, but I wouldn't expect anything until after vacation.

(http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4552/1291298468201.png)

Update? ;_;

Quote from: Culex on January 05, 2011, 12:00:35 AM
Update? ;_;

Yes, actually. I'm getting back on track with writing this story. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight. Either way, expect the next chapter soon.

Quote from: KJ on January 13, 2011, 09:00:41 AM
Yes, actually. I'm getting back on track with writing this story. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight. Either way, expect the next chapter soon.

(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1796/1292922212519.png)

Quote from: KJ on January 13, 2011, 09:00:41 AM
Yes, actually. I'm getting back on track with writing this story. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight. Either way, expect the next chapter soon.

(http://gyazo.com/84d4b76aebd3fea5149da01c0fe05a00.png)

Quote from: KJ on January 13, 2011, 09:00:41 AM
Yes, actually. I'm getting back on track with writing this story. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight. Either way, expect the next chapter soon.

(http://gslounge.com/files/u44/ExcitementFull.jpg)

Quote from: KJ on January 13, 2011, 09:00:41 AM
Yes, actually. I'm getting back on track with writing this story. Hopefully I'll finish it by tonight. Either way, expect the next chapter soon.

It's been five days. SOON IS NO LONGER VALID!

(http://keikakudoori.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/umi2-12.jpg?w=350&h=194)

leave her alone kids

Quote from: Sin Jecht on January 18, 2011, 12:08:19 AM
It's been five days. SOON IS NO LONGER VALID!

(http://keikakudoori.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/umi2-12.jpg?w=350&h=194)

I think within a week counts as soon. Anyway, here's the next installment:

Chapter Eight - Seek the Answers
[spoiler]The hallway was dimly lit. The walls shimmered and looked as if they were cut from rock. I stumbled out of the room I had been confined in. There didn't seem to be anything or anyone in either direction. Although I couldn't see very far, the halls quickly were engulfed in darkness on both sides... My heart was racing, so I took a few deep breaths to attempt to calm myself down. I stepped forward, finally relinquishing my grip on the doorknob, and my bare foot stepped into a muddy puddle. I recoiled and wiped my foot off against the door. It seemed as if I was in some sort of cave-turned-base...

Answers... Why was it that I never could seem to get any of those? I wasn't sure where to go or what to do. But my body worked mechanically, choosing to begin walking down the right path and see where that would take me. I didn't think or do, it just happened. It took several steps before I even realized what I was doing. But I didn't hesitate, I followed through with my choice.

I looked down at my muddy left foot. I wondered absentmindedly if any of the dirt seeped through the scar that was left on the bottom of it from a certain experience with a broken plate, and half worried about any infections that might cause. But then again, stitches weren't made to let things seep through them. And those doctors had done a very nice job with the procedure. Still, an infection at a time like this... With my luck, that was only too plausible. I thought grimly back to all the horrible things that seemed to hit me at every corner. Where was my one perfect day? After all this bad luck, my day to shine had to be just around the corner...

I turned a corner. I wasn't sure if the hallway went on or not, the lights had since disappeared and I was stepping blindly into the unknown. Still, I allowed my feet to lead me on, so I took a left turn and was not met with a wall. That was a good sign, and so I continued my walk down this new path.

I'm not sure how long I was walking for. It felt like forever. But eventually, the dark cave seemed to light up... if only slightly. As if I was on a runway, a small line of lights lit up on either side of the path, leading me further into the unknown. And I don't know how long after that, but the lights began to expand. In every crack that the cave possessed, light filled it. My eyes began to water at the sudden strain this bright pathway was giving them. I had nearly forgotten how bright light could be. I had been so used and accustomed to the darkness of the cave.

Still, I pressed on. This light had to be a good sign. My feet were leading me in the right direction. Soon my walking would yield results...

And so I walked.

And walked.

And just for a change of pace, I skipped.

And finally, I walked some more.

But still, the path just continued on. I felt like I was walking down a winding path. It was very subtle, but I could see curves in the wall once in a while, and although the path seemed flat, sometimes I noticed a change in depth as my feet fell an extra centimeter before finding solid ground. Yet instead of growing darker, the cave became lighter still. Was I nearing the exit? That could be the only explanation, I thought. Soon I'd be home...

I was beginning to miss Silver's House of Pancakes more than ever. Back when things were normal. Which right then, seemed like a long time ago indeed. The scar on my foot began to itch, and I irritably thought about the day when that cut happened. I came back to work and made a mess of things, but I wasn't fired. Then that letter came... I had written it off as a prank, but it had still been strange. And Silver and Mack had still insisted on my continued service at their shack... Now I was here. And I talked with that man... that man who seemed to know my family. But then again, he couldn't really know them, he only talked very generically. It had to have been just a ruse, trying to rile me up...

In all honesty, I had never had what you might consider an "easy life", although many might have thought so by looking at me. Sure, I had food, shelter, security... But I never had a home. Not really. It was Silver's House of Pancakes that gave me that, even if work was... less than satisfactory. But honestly, there are very few people in the world who can say they love their jobs. And when you work at a place with customers like the pancake shack, you can't love your job that much. Still, the staff was the greatest, they're like family. And that's what made Silver's House of Pancakes home.

As I was walking down the path, mechanically by now, reminiscing, something strange happened. I jerked. My whole body just jerked to one side, and my left foot stretched out at an awkward position and stepped down with the heel, making it look as though I was attempting to do a split. I wasn't exactly sure what happened. It was one of those uncontrollable acts, like the twitch of an eye or a reflex, that seemed to cause my entire body to act of it's own accord.

I stood, dumbstruck, for a few seconds before I snapped my body back into it's normal shape. And then the strangest thing happened... the wall opened up. The light started at the bottom, and it grew larger and larger until the entire entrance in front of me was shining in light. And my jaw dropped at what I saw inside the room that had just appeared before me.

There was no floor, only light. There was no ceiling, only light. There were no walls either, only light. In fact, the only solid object in the room was a small rocky pedestal. It was gray and covered in mossy green vines. A bluish glow seemed to emanate from it. And in the silence, I thought I could hear whispering...

Seek the answers...

Seek them...

Seek the answers...

The answers...

Seek...

Without thinking, with my eyes locked on the pedestal, I stepped forward. I didn't hesitate. I led with my left foot into the room. It was a strange feeling, like walking on water. The light was warm to the touch of my feet, and I only wobbled slightly when both feet were off solid ground. I continued forward, my hand stretched out... I didn't realize what I was reaching for until I was right in front of the pedestal and realized something else was on it. But what was it?

The second that I touched the object, everything vanished. The light was gone, the pedestal was gone... only darkness remained. But I felt something cool and solid in my hands and realized that the object on the pedestal was still in my tight grip. Although now I had even less of a chance of seeing what it was...

"Congratulations," a voice echoed around the dark room. I couldn't tell where it was coming from, but I had a fleeting suspicion on who it was talking...

"You," I whispered, tightening my grip on the object. "What do you want?"

"We met only a few hours ago, yet you already recognize my voice? Very good, young one."

"Of course I recognize that disgusting croak," I snapped. Although it was a lie, the voice was deep and booming, but soothing and lyrical at the same time. As much as rage boiled inside of me at the recognition of the man who owned the voice, I couldn't help but admire the powerful vocal chords he possessed...

"Lies are unbecoming," the voice responded with a curt laugh. "I've only come to congratulate you."

"Great, thanks," I said dryly. "And now you have. So turn on the lights and let me go!"

"You don't even want to know why I'm congratulating you?" he asked, sounding hurt, but I could tell it was a façade.

"No," I lied.

"Tsk, tsk, you have a lot to learn... But do what you must. If you wish to deny yourself the truth, the consequences will catch up to you. Fine, you're free to go."

He's bluffing, I thought. What consequences? I thought about the item in my hand. I hadn't gotten a chance to look at it, perhaps it was dangerous? My grip loosened, suddenly scared of the ticking time bomb I might have been carrying. I wanted to drop it suddenly, get rid of it, but my brain seemed incapable of sending that impulse to my hand, and my grip only tightened again...

"No," came the voice again, "I didn't think you'd go."

I swore silently. I had hesitated too long, he realized that his empty threats had gotten to me... Once again, it looked like he had the upper hand.

"What do you want?" I shouted, looking around for the source of his voice, but could see nothing.

"You got our letter, I suppose?" he asked.

"Letter... What letter?" But the image of a crumpled up letter flashed through my mind and I realized before I finished asking the question what the letter was. "Oh. You're-"

"The Beta Testing Committee? Yes, I work with them. Starting to figure things out, are you?"

"What do you want?"

"I stand by what I said last time we talked, of course. I can not give you the answers you seek. Only you can."

"I can't give myself answers to things I know nothing about! The letter said you would explain things if I came to you..."

"You didn't come to us."

"No... You kidnapped me!"

"Did we? I surely don't remember that happening..."

"Then how the hell did I end up here?"

"The answers, the answers... How do you expect to find them sitting around here yelling at a shadow?"

"Turn on the darn lights then! Bring me to your leader!" I grimaced at my last statement, wishing I had said something different. But the words were out of my mouth now, and I could only wait for a response...

"The lights aren't off," the voice replied. "That is just you shutting your mind out of the truth. A pesky human trait you will have to learn to fight against. Rewiring your brain will be the hard part."

"Shut up," I said weakly. "If you're going to talk in riddles, please just shut up."

"On the contrary, I'm being rather straightforward. More so than I usually allow."

"Not to me, you aren't. I don't know why I'm here, or how I got here, and I don't know anything about this testing committee thing. I didn't sign up for it. I just want to get home. That's where I was trying to go..."

"That's what you think you think."

"...What?"

"That's what you think you think. But obviously, it is not what you truly think, for you have brought yourself to this room, allowed yourself entry, and picked up the item of destiny. If you truly wished to go home, none of these things you would have done."

"How was I supposed to know that was where I was going? For all I knew, I was going home. And I didn't open the door to this room, it did that on it's own!"

"You are quite adamant in shutting your mind to the truth. I can not help you. I've answered everything neatly and explained the situation rather accurately. If you refuse to listen, then my time here is done. The rest, as they say, is up to you."

"Explained? You haven't explained anything!" I shouted, and my voice echoed strangely against the walls. There was no reply, and I realized with a lump in my throat, that I was very much alone.

"Come back here!" I yelled. "Turn on the darn lights! Show yourself! Explain what the intercourse  is going on!"

But there was no reply. I fell onto my knees. Tired, confused, and out of brain cell to comprehend anything else. I let one solitary tear roll down my cheek. The item was still clutched in my hand, but I no longer cared what it was or what horrors it could do to me. My brain seemed to shut off and I slid to the ground, passed out.[/spoiler]

What I read: Chapter 8 of SHOP
What I expected: Plot development
What I got: [spoiler](http://www.goquiz.com/upload/7d34434419bce823510056cc0519c5e5_kingdom_hearts.jpg)
[spoiler]Not saying I'm disappointed, or anything.[/spoiler][/spoiler]

Quote from: KJ on January 18, 2011, 12:00:55 PM
I think within a week counts as soon.

Oh alright.  =3
Thanks!

Interesting. Beta Testing Committee, eh?

Don't you die on me. :(

Here's the deal: I'm going on a cruise without any internet access for a week (during February vacation). I'll try to get an episode up before then, otherwise you guys will have to wait until March for an update. Heh, sorry!

Quote from: KJ on February 07, 2011, 08:30:07 PM
Here's the deal: I'm going on a cruise without any internet access for a week (during February vacation). I'll try to get an episode up before then, otherwise you guys will have to wait until March for an update. Heh, sorry!

Dude(tte). Wait til March.

This way, it'll let the creative juices flow as you flow across the water.

Well I finished the summaries of each chapter. So you guys can catch up on summaries if you've forgotten what's been going on.

And I have an outline of the next chapter forming in my head. We're actually getting into the stuff now, which means it will be easier for me to write. Actual plot is easier then slowly pushing something along with fillers and hints and set-ups.

Did this die for real?

If that's the case, I think it's time I get the trumpets.

Kind of. It's more like, my laptop with all the information died, and therefore I can't use my laptop for a while until it finally kicks its issues.

I'm forced to use the public, shared computer until that issue gets fixed. Although that laptop always has problems and it always bounces back. So sorry for the technical difficulties, folks, but you can enjoy your regularly scheduled the program after these messages from our sponsors:

Vita-Grow!
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Call NOW and we'll throw in a MOISTENING VURRRBATION - if a girl won't blow, you always have Vurrrbation that never says no!

*Shipping is $24.99, not sold in stores.

Quote from: KJ on March 23, 2011, 09:55:18 AM
Kind of. It's more like, my laptop with all the information died, and therefore I can't use my laptop for a while until it finally kicks its issues.

I'm forced to use the public, shared computer until that issue gets fixed. Although that laptop always has problems and it always bounces back. So sorry for the technical difficulties, folks, but you can enjoy your regularly scheduled the program after these messages from our sponsors:

Vita-Grow!
Do you have dreams of touching the sky? Have you ever looked out the window of a skyscraper and thought 'wow, I love the view from up here!'. Well now you can experience all these things AND MORE! Vita-Growth will see you growing over 50 feet in just one night! All you have to do is take ONE SMALL TABLET, inserted orally, every day for JUST SIX WEEKS! Call TODAY and receive TWO BOTTLES instead of one for JUST $19.95. That's right, just $19.95 for TWO BOTTLES - that's over 100 feet!

It's vital to grow - so Vita-Grow!

Vurrrbation!
Boys - are you tired of the girls getting all the fun? Do you see girls sneaking off into bathrooms with their vibrators? Have you often been rejected to go to the prom and then seen the girl of your dreams there dancing with her... vibrator? Well now you don't have to miss out on this wonderful, orgasmic experience! Buy Vurrrbation for the quick and easy way to have fun with yourself, when no girl is there to do it for you! It's free* and easy! There is absolutely no reason not to get it!

All you have to do is hold the long, smooth stick with the hole section on top. Insert your penis into the hole and apply pressure on the bottom of the stick with your fist. Without having to do any work, Vurrrbation will start vibrating and moving across your penis for maximum satisfaction!

Call NOW and we'll throw in a MOISTENING VURRRBATION - if a girl won't blow, you always have Vurrrbation that never says no!

*Shipping is $24.99, not sold in stores.

One of these products is relevant to my interests, but I won't say which.

Quote from: Marty McFly on March 23, 2011, 08:54:25 PM
One of these products is relevant to my interests, but I won't say which.

Cough up $25 and it's yours.

Quote from: KJ on March 24, 2011, 11:25:21 AM
Cough up $25 and it's yours.

Why pay the extra $5?
>_>
<_<

LIIIIVE.

I officially lost that laptop, which also means all the data.

So this, like everything else of mine, is on leave. Whether permanent or temporary I do not know yet.

Quote from: Dog Food on May 05, 2011, 12:42:55 PM
I officially lost that laptop, which also means all the data.

So this, like everything else of mine, is on leave. Whether permanent or temporary I do not know yet.

(http://i.imgur.com/jIuTI.jpg)

Quote from: Dog Food on May 05, 2011, 12:42:55 PM
I officially lost that laptop, which also means all the data.

So this, like everything else of mine, is on leave. Whether permanent or temporary I do not know yet.

(http://i52.tinypic.com/2hdaaoh.jpg)

What's the big deal about this
I never even read it
What is it/what's it about

Quote from: Kayo on May 07, 2011, 02:16:38 PM
What's the big deal about this
I never even read it
What is it/what's it about

If you're so anxious to know, why don't you read it instead of having someone explain. It's only a few chapters.

Quote from: JRose on May 07, 2011, 02:52:24 PM
If you're so anxious to know, why don't you read it instead of having someone explain. It's only a few chapters.

I want a brief two sentence summary. I hate being behind on things.

Quote from: Kayo on May 07, 2011, 09:26:14 PM
I want a brief two sentence summary. I hate being behind on things.

NSFCD as a pancake shack where KJ is the main character

Quote from: Kayo on May 07, 2011, 09:26:14 PM
I want a brief two sentence summary. I hate being behind on things.

or you could just read it since there won't be updates for a while

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on May 09, 2011, 09:58:29 AM
or you could just read it since there won't be updates for a while

Or I could just not.

Quote from: Kayo on May 09, 2011, 12:13:57 PM
Or I could just not.

Just read a couple of the chapter summaries in the first post if you want to know.

Reading is fun.

This still on a uh, break?

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on July 01, 2011, 01:11:07 PM
This still on a uh, break?

The writer is such a Killjoy.

Quote from: Silverhawk79 on July 01, 2011, 01:11:07 PM
This still on a uh, break?

Yes... But, I'm getting a new laptop for college. And once that comes in, I may be able to start this up again.

...Of course it may go a little off track since I lost all of my notes on plot and characters...

Quote from: Dog Food on July 19, 2011, 09:42:59 AM
Yes... But, I'm getting a new laptop for college. And once that comes in, I may be able to start this up again.

...Of course it may go a little off track since I lost all of my notes on plot and characters...

Just read through the story and pick everything back up in your head.