World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)

He liked me. But… closeted men were so annoying. It may not be appropriate, but who the fuck cared we were now dead to everyone we loved. Did they even get a chance to bury us or did we just disappear.

Who was going to take care of my dad now? He was alone. We had relied on each other for all of my life. No one else would miss me.

“You have people back home?” I asked trying to make conversation.

Alex shrugged. “You mean that will miss me?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Maybe my parents. My team will be disappointed about being out of a job.”

“A team. That caters to your every whim.” I laughed. He was also spoiled and pampered.

“They make sure I did what I needed to do.” Alex just shrugged it off like it was common place.

My mouth betrayed me as I quipped. “I get it, and made sure you looked the way you were supposed to.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Just … nothing. We can talk about it when you aren’t with ear shot of people.” I said.

The clink of utensiles and glass with the hover of conversation drew me away from Alex even as his stomach rumbled again.

“Food will just have to do here.” I said and walked towards the open air dinning arrangment. There was no smell of cooking, but there were plenty of denizens sitting at tables with piping hot meals.

The area was magical and serene in a nice way. There was no frills and exploitation of magic. Just normal people, doing normal things. I watched a family with three small children walk up to a kiosk and the mother punched in some information on a holographic panel and their food materialized from nothing in the microwave looking box to the left of the panel.

“I think you can get whatever it is you want here.” I said out loud. I wasn’t sure Alex followed me and I didn’t wait to find out as I stood in line behind an elderly man who’s race I couldn’t determine. He was my height, thinner than me by a long shot, almost like he was nothing but skin and bones. His hair was white which gave him the elderly appearance but maybe he wasn’t.

He looked back at me and I smiled. “Hi.” I said.

The sounds that left his mouth didn’t match the words I heard in my head. “New here.” That was an odd feeling.

“I am. Just got in today.”

“One of the IREP brats.” He scoffed and turned around and ignored my presence.

“He don’t like you much. I was beginning to think everyone liked you.” Alex shot at me.

I chuckled and bit my bottom lip glad that he followed me. “Not everyone likes me.” I said in agreement.

“Coulda fooled me.” Alex said. “Maybe we should get rid of these bags.”

“Might be a good idea with the looks we are getting.”

After the old man left it was our turn to order something. We both stared at the holographic panel and wondered. I touched the screen and while my eyes saw runes I didn’t understand I seemed to be able to decipher it none-the-less. It was odd. This whole translation thing was odd.

There was a tug on my waist. “Cuse me mister. You need help?”

I looked down to find metallic spherical head with great big glowing eyes staring back up at me. Long slender mechanical fingers tugged on a loop on my jeans.

“Uh. Yeah. Hi. Yeah we need help. I have no idea how to work this thing.”

A whimsical man dressed in bold greens and blues and covered in oil and glittery magical essence stepped closer and smiled. I took one step back seeing the glitter fluttering around his person.

“It’s not contagious.” He chuckled.

“If you say so.” I grinned but I didn’t step back into his aura.

He spoke softly. “Let me help you.” He touched the panel and it whirred into a magical display with runes and words I didn’t fully understand — yet did with these new magical eyes.

He said, “You’ll get used to the disembodied feeling of Everlight. Now just think of the meal you’d most like to eat.” He took my hand and placed it on the circle on the holo screen. “It will generate whatever it is here.”

I shrugged and said, “Okay.” And thought of a steak dinner with all the fixings — mashed potatoes, green beans and loaf of hot crusty bread and butter. It’s what I would have had with my dad tonight for his birthday. I sighed as it magically appeared piping hot in the box. A glass of red wine appeared with it and I laughed — Dad would have ordered one for me though he knew I didn’t drink.

I pulled the tray from the box. “That’s handy. How do I pay?”

The man chuckled. “Rosie covered it. She can’t operate the machine herself as she isn’t flesh and blood.”

He pointed to Alex. “You next.”

Alex placed his hand on the circle and I could tell he was thinking real hard about what he wanted to eat. The magic was fluttering.

“Just think of one thing.” Rosie added.

“I can’t make up my mind.” Alex said. “That looks so good, but I really wanted a burger.”

“We can always come back again.” I said.

Alex looked at me with those bright blue eyes and I wanted to melt into him. I felt such a strong connection and attraction to him, I almost wondered if magic were at play.

“You promise?” Alex said.

“I do. I’d cross my heart and hope to die if my hands were full.”

Alex smirked and turned back to his order and it rendered perfectly this time. A similar tray to mine — minus the green beans. He also included a slice of the most delectable looking chocolate cake I’d ever seen. My mouth watered.

Alex turned around and headed for a table with a wide smirk on his face.

“I think he ordered that for you.” The man said.

“You and Rosie will join us?”

The man looked at Alex sitting down at a small table. “Maybe another time. I’m Lucious Merrymaker. You can find me here.” He handed me a blank card. “Your IREP device can read it.”

“It was nice meeting you, Lucious. And you too Rosie, thank you for dinner. Or breakfast, or whatever meal it is right now.”

“Middle of the day lad.”

“I’m Nox.” I smiled, “That’s Alex. You sure you won’t join us?”

Lucious looked back at Alex watching us and he nodded. “I’m sure. Looks like he wants you to himself.”

I shrugged. “I dunno. We’ll fight most likely.”

“Sometimes those are the best ones.” Lucious winked and stepped up to the holo and made his order.

I took my leave and headed to sit down with Alex, wondering to myself about the cake and Alex. And this fucking world we just got dropped into.

The Whole Story

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