The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Nineteen

"Yes, yes. A long time ago, you asked Opium if she could help, but she couldn't. I couldn't, in the past. If you find that you, or your family, or one of us," he gestured toward himself, "needs help, you may let me know. I'll find some way to help."

Steven held out his right hand, and Morpheus shook it in sign of agreement between them. "You've been no small help in the past, Murph, but I will call you."

Morpheus had smiled. "I can teach you the specific summon, but do you think you could get me one of those mobile things?"

"No problem, I'll hook you up." He looked like it would be fun for him.

Ganymede had become Morpheus' next accomplice. "You explain to me how it works," Morpheus told him, "I want pictures, audio and video, right? To go onto this public part of the Internet. And I want them to see my name is Morpheus, but also let them think that my real Human name is Tyron Smith."

"So...Three-quarter-Angel, pretending to be Human, aspiring to be a rock star, pretending to be a Grecian God?"

Morpheus nodded.

"One, we need a bunch of videos of you in public spaces dancing, or performing acoustic cover versions of rock songs. Two, you get on every social network. Three, charge money for your work. Four, profit."

"You wanna help?"

"Absolutely, as long as we're back at the Burrow for Christmas."

Another holiday. Morpheus returned with Ganymede to the palace, after flitting around the world shooting parkour and dance videos near landmarks, and playing Christmas carols and Classic Rock in public parks. It was night, and much of the surrogate family were in the home theatre watching a movie. Shade was out with young, Human friends. Julien was absent.

"Rickman's in this?" Ganymede asked, dropping to a front, center seat beside Steven.

"You never saw Die Hard?" Steven asked.

"Heard of it."

"It's near the beginning, I'll restart." Steven waved his hand. Nothing seemed to happen.

"Just use the remote," Ganymede complained.

"No. This works, just wait." Steven swiped his right hand through the air like some Jedi. "You want to join us, Murph?"

"I've seen it."

Ganymede laughed and affected a stilted manner of speech, "I'm afraid I can't do that for you, Mr. Stark."

Morpheus looked to Joy, who sat on another of the couches with Athen, Spider, and Melalie. "Have you watched Gremlins, yet?"

She smiled up at him; they both remembered typical Christmas in Nede. "Not yet. Spider's already got a request in for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang."

"Athen's in for The Thin Man."

"If Shade's back we'll all be watching Hogfather," Athen said, "for hours."

"Time, we have," Melalie said.

"Hogfather's brilliant, but if that's allowed, then I vote for Sorcerer's Stone."

"MOVIE SIGN!"

Morpheus went along the hall to Julien's studio. Julien was working at the corner desk; he didn't turn to look, but must have at least sensed a presence, as he greeted Morpheus. "Your back? Tour finished?"

"Yeah. Got you something."

Julien finally turned away from his workstation and looked at Morpheus. He smiled, then laughed. "What are you-? Oh my Gawd!" Morpheus was wearing red, plaid bondage pants, a dark peacoat, and a biker cap. "I used to have one of those!"