Paracosm

Hello, Old Friend

Magda

Magda watches as the Fire Island comes into sight. The dock is busy with people running about, doing their jobs, conversing, children playing. Magda's not sure why she imagined something called 'Fire Island' like Hell.
Her boat docks and she's greeted by a man escorting her off the boat "it is safe with me".
"Thank you," she bows, following his bow.

The people here are dressed like Dolag, nothing but thin, bright material. Compared to Magda who has layers of clothes on. It's a lot hotter on the Fire Island. The trees amongst the Cleansed River blocks some of the sun, there's not a tree here to be seen.

Magda makes her way through the crowd, looking for anyone to give her directions. The people seem friendly, but are too caught up in their own activities to notice Magda.
A tall man stands amongst them, he's dressed different to them, he wears a green suit with heavy armour over it, his boots almost look metal, as if they're not real feet but prosthetics. Much like Dextro but this man doesn't have a mask on.

"Excuse me," Magda taps him.
He turns around.
"Oh my God," Magda pulls him into a tight hug "Fionn.....how?".
She notices he doesn't hug her back, instead he pushes her off and excuses himself from the man he'd just been talking to.

"Don't call me that," he whispers and looks around.
"What?" She frowns.
"I'm here on business," he says.
"What happened your eyes?" She asks.
"Got into an accident".

She looks him up and down "you're him, you're Dextro".
"Please for the love of God, Magda, keep your voice down," he appears to ease up as a group of people who'd been standing nearby disperse.
"All that time, every minute you were with us, you pretended not to know us," she scoffs.
"It was for my own protection," he says.
"What?".
"Dolag wasn't sure what Maon would make of her having someone from the bunker, she thought you were being held prisoner, she saved my life and brought me here, and if it wasn't for her I'd be dead," he says "so I owe her this secret".
"But I'm clearly not Maon's prisoner,".
"I know," he rolls his eyes "but the lie is too far gone now, we can't tell him now and break his trust".

"Joe and Lenka think you're dead," she says.
"So," he laughs "I don't like them, I barely tolerated you".
"I see not much has changed".
Dextro shrugs "it is what it is, why are you here anyway?".
"Maon wants me to meet with Hayes as I know him best, but you've been sitting under his nose this whole time," she says.
He leaves out a long, exaggerated sigh "they've all been resting, Dolag is meeting with them today, I haven't seen or spoken to any of them. Nor do I want to".

"I get it," she gulps "I feel that way too".
"Okay," he pats her shoulder "I'm gonna go, I've work to do, you didn't see me, and if you tell anyone you did, you'll be on the stakes".
"What a nice welcome," she smiles sarcastically "I just want to know where Dolag is".
He points to a high stone tower "top floor".

She watches as Fionn, Dextro, walks away. She never liked him but she's just glad he's not dead.

Magda makes her way through the town. It's so full of life, so full of joy. Sometimes Maon's camp feels like it's the end of the world, it feels like all they do is work and train. Here, things feel normal. No wonder they moved off the Mainland.

The entrance of the tower comes into sight, it's lined by soldiers. Magda takes out Maon's flag of Ollphéist, a giant snake from old folklore.
The soldiers open the doors.

It feels as if she's been walking for an eternity. Stairs after stairs. She doesn't know how Dolag does this on the regular. She comes to the top of the stairs, leading into two large rooms, a bedroom on one side of the wall and a large meeting room in the other.

She makes her way into the meeting room. A stone table in the middle of the room has a map of Paracosm carved into it. The room's covered in candles. Magda notices Dolag standing out on the balcony overlooking the town. Her light pink dress blowing slighting in the hot breeze. Her long blonde hair touches her hips. She's the type of women Magda always wanted to be, beautiful and feminine. Instead Magda approaches her in rags upon rags and fur around her neck, her hair tied back off her face and God only knows what her face looks like.

"I was not expecting anyone to come this early," she turns to face Magda, while turning Magda notices her stomach through her see-through dress, it looks bigger and more round than the last time she'd seen her, Magda doesn't allow her eyes to focus on it for too long.

"Maon sent me," Magda says.
"I know," she smiles slightly "I am sure Hayes is well rested by now".
"Is he coming here," Magda asks.
"No, he is not welcomed here yet, we cannot trust him as of now," she says "do you trust him?".
"No," Magda says without hesitation.
"Honesty is good," Dolag passes her, putting on a thicker dress over her own "he is staying on the bottom floor, there's guards on watch outside of your people's doors".

"Are they all down there?" Magda asks as they walk down the stairs.
"Yes," she says "I am sorry about your mother".
  "Thank you".
"It cannot be easy," Dolag smiles sympathetically "I never met my mother so I cannot understand your pain, but many people here do, you can be sure of that".
"I know," Magda appreciates her empathy, perhaps she's not as cold as she thought.

"I am sure you do not want to be doing this, I understand Maon's reasoning for sending you but I would not have sent you," she says as they approach the doors.
"It has to be done, I suppose," Magda watches as the guards move out of their way.
"Yes, I suppose," Dolag opens the doors.