Intro To Existing Again

Cabrary

It was best to prepare for things early, which by Meeple standards meant a day or two before an event, but an hour early was fine enough judging by Fan's apparent standard of planning an event the day before it's scheduled. By the time 3GS was ready to leave it was about... 4:08... So more waiting. How wonderful.

—

3GS stared out of one of the windows in the lobby. He didn't notice Test Tube was also there until she started talking to him.

"Hi!" She said. 3GS gave her an acknowledging glance before turning back to the window. "What're you looking at?"

"I'm waiting for Fan," He replied. "He told me he'd come here to get me for the sleepover."

"Well, he might be a while," Test Tube said. "What time did he say? Five?"

"Five."

"Expect him at five-thirty," Test Tube laughed.

"Oh."

Test Tube talked to 3GS for a while, mostly asking for updates on his life. It was nice. 3GS didn't get to talk to Test Tube as much as he'd like. She just spent so much time in her lab, and even though it was the first room of Hotel OJ that 3GS had ever been in, it was kind of a harsh environment. A little too bright and a little too sterile for his tastes.

When Fan showed up, Cabby and Bot were with him.

"Test Tube!" He exclaimed as he entered the hotel. He gave Test Tube a big hug before turning his attention to MePhone3GS. "Hi, 3GS! You ready to go?"

"Yes," 3GS said. He picked up the backpack next to him on the couch, then slung it over his shoulders. Salt demanded to buy the backpack for him because he had nothing to keep his things in. He appreciated her concern.

"Cool!" Said Fan. Cabby approached 3GS.

"Hello again!" She said with a smile. "I see you've been using your headphones. How are they helping you?"

"I mean... I don't wanna rip my insides out when it's too loud, so..."

"Good! Please do not rip your insides out."

"I won't. Um, you folks live in... a library, right?"

"Indeed! But it does have living quarters attached to it. It would be quite inconvenient if it didn't, wouldn't you agree?"
Cabby laughed awkwardly. 3GS didn't see what was funny.

Fan, Test Tube, and Bot talked to each other for a good while. 3GS waited for them to wrap up their conversation before Fan led him, Bot, and Cabby to a seemingly random location.

"What's this stage for?" 3GS asked as the group approached a... well... stage. It was made of wood that was wearing away in some parts. Facing it was a set of slightly-rotted wooden bleachers.

"This is the elimination area!" Fan replied. "I mean, it was the elimination area. They made a different one when they switched to contestant voting and we kind of never used this one again, y'know? Anyways, where's that rejection portal?"

Bot climbed onto the stage and pulled back one of the faded red curtains. "Where it usually is," They said, turning to the group and pointing backwards with their thumb.

What on earth did "rejection portal" mean? 3GS kind of didn't want to ask. Cabby momentarily set her crutches against the stage so that Bot could help her up onto it. Once she was up there she knelt down and picked them up again. Fan got on the stage next, then offered 3GS a hand, which he took with a bit of caution. When he was hoisted up, he was greeted by something very odd.

Swirling endlessly on the ground was a circle of yellow and pink light. Was that the rejection portal? He didn't know what he expected, but it certainly wasn't an actual wormhole.