THE WEAVE:
“So,” begins Minthe,
as she takes a sip of coffee
and hands Athena a steaming cup,
“How’s the escape-dingy coming?”
"Good," Athena replies as she receives it, "I found this door on the Ocean, and I believe it will serve as a solid foundation," Athena gestures, at a weathered and graying barn door, splayed out on the planks before them. Minthe looks down and jumps up, spilling her coffee all over it. She drops her cup, and runs to hide behind a briny barrel on the deck, "How do you know that's not The Ocean Door?" Minthe asks from where she peeks. "I tested it," Athena says, as her eyes track Minthe's tin cup, bouncing and clattering on the deck, until it pops into the Ocean, bobbing aWay. She returns her focus to the door, "See," she says as she opens the latch, keeping the hinge side to the planks, "It opens into someWhen else..." Minthe creeps over to the edge of the opening. Where the deck once was, there is only Darkness and an occasional iridescence sparkling, "WTF is that?" "I don't know yet," Athena says, breaking her gaze a Way, and looking up at Minthe, "But don't fucking tell anybody. I'm keeping it. It could be useful." "It could be detrimental." "Yeah, but we don't know that yet." "Well I won't tell," Minthe agrees, "IF you keep a fucking lock on it." "Okay," Athena beams, "Does this mean we're friends?" "Sure Athena, why not," Minthe rolls her eyes. Athena jumps right in, "So as your friend, conspirator, and confidant, why are you afraid of the Ocean Door, Minthe?" "I'm not," Minthe lilts, and looks aWay, "It just seems intense, you know? To Love that much... I need more coffee. Lock that fucking door, Athena." Minthe says as she points her finger, turns on her heel, and walks back inside the ship.
“Within it stirs
a rusted soul. It comes creaking
into consciousness. It bubbles
up, from dormant depths,
to cogitate it’s captive…”
– The Oracle of Passeridae