4674 replies to this topic

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

That's completely understandable, Mara. I feel the same way when I'm trying to lengthen my fics by putting in filler chapters.... I hate that feeling. I feel your pain, dude... (Sheen quote, couldn't resist! )

[Mara=^.^=]

**worships Katie**

Hooray! Now I can work on finishing up this mofo...


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

**worships Katie**

That's what friends are for.

Hooray! Now I can work on finishing up this mofo...


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

Y'all ready for this? It's the Final Countdown.

[curiochibi]

Y'all ready for this? It's the Final Countdown.

Supply of epic soundtrack music





=Jessi=

[Zoey <3]

Its the moment we all been waiting for

[Mara=^.^=]

Weeeeeell, it's not the moment you've all been waiting for, but the first 8 pages of the chapter are up. I kind of hate them, but I need to post SOMETHING, for fear of the lynch mob that will soon be on my doorstep if I don't

All I can say is...Future Carl cramps my style

Chapter 38: Winner Take All

EDIT: STUPID MAINSITE WON'T LET ME UPDATE DAMMIT

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[curiochibi]

All I can say is...Future Carl cramps my style

Don't let Beks hear you say that...

EDIT: STUPID MAINSITE WON'T LET ME UPDATE DAMMIT

D8


=Jessi=

[Mara=^.^=]

Ah, f*ck it. I don't normally do this, but the stupid mainsite won't work, so I'll just post the update here:

________________


Chapter 37: Winner Take All

**Meanwhile, back in reality, Future Carl has arrived at his destination: the bliss room. He sags against the wall, sighing as gravity eases him down into a slump. He closes his eyes and unbuttons the collar of his white shirt, searching for solace in the warm, soupy sensation that steals over him. His breathing slows and, for the first time, a look of peace settles on his features. He gazes dreamily into space as he toys with a lock of hair**
FUTURE CARL: Who cares if it’s not real? It doesn’t matter…
**A mere two rooms away, his younger counterpart is still stuck on the threshold of the room, frantically trying to find a way out of his predicament. He extends the tip of his foot just past the doorjamb and prods Jimmy and Sheen with his toe, but the fallen sleepers remain where they are**
CARL: Oh! Why won’t they wake up? I gotta think...gotta do something….
**The redhead anxiously plucks at the paperclips which dangle from his oversized Goth belt. From there, his gaze travels down to Goddard, and an idea strikes him**
CARL: Goddard! I know I can’t understand you, but you can still understand what I’m saying, right?
GODDARD: Bark bark!
CARL: Uh…was that a yes?
GODDARD: Bark bark!
CARL: (scratching his head) I think that’s a yes…
**Adjusting his glasses with one hand, Carl points at the far wall, carefully enunciating his words for the robot dog**
CARL: Goddard – remember how, in that other room that nobody wanted to leave, Jimmy had you shoot a hole in the wall to break the spell? Well, maybe that’ll work here too. Do you think you can do that for me?
**In answer, Goddard opens his mouth and blasts the target, spraying rubble every which-way. Coughing, Carl fans the air in front of his mouth as plumes of dust flood the room. He drops his hand after a moment and squints through the murk to see the results**
CARL: Did it work?
**As the dust settles, particulate debris piles up on the kids like volcanic ash. Carl waits and watches in agonized suspense, but his friends do not stir**
CARL: Oh! What do I do now?! Guys, wake up! WAKE UP!
**He shouts their names one by one, his pleas growing more frantic with each call. Scared, alone, and in way over his head, Carl tilts his head toward the ceiling and yells at the top of his lungs**
CARL: SOMEBODY HELP US!!
**Back in the bliss room, Future Carl nearly has a heart attack when an explosion rocks the maze. He leaps to his feet, quaking in preparation for flight. Instead, a muffled cry reaches his ears from somewhere deeper in the maze, and he lingers in place**
FUTURE CARL: Is someone…in there? How could someone have gotten in there without tripping an alarm?
**He gingerly picks his way toward the exit, intent on reporting his discovery to Dictator Jimmy. At the last second he pauses and looks back over his shoulder**
FUTURE CARL: Come to think of it, that kind of sounded like a little kid’s voice…
**Future Carl hesitates, weighing his options. Should he follow protocol and report the incident? That would probably be the safest bet. Then again, it had sounded like a child’s plea for help… He fretfully combs his fingers through his hair, poised on the brink of indecision. At last he reverses course and heads back toward the source of the noise**
FUTURE CARL: (rubbing his forehead) I must be going crazy…maybe this place is finally getting to me. Chasing after voices! What’s next? Little people?
**Turning the knob, he pulls open the bliss room’s other door, and a rush of smoke floods in. Wheezing, he swings it shut again**
FUTURE CARL: Agh! What…what could be going on in there? Did Aurora set an explosive or something? It doesn’t make any sense…how could she have gotten in there in the first place?
**With a concerned frown, he re-buttons his shirt. Pulling the collar up over his nose as a mask, he grabs the handle again**
FUTURE CARL: Guess I’d better go investigate…
**He takes a deep breath and, narrowing his eyes against the smoke’s sharp sting, strikes out into the gloom**
VOICE: (indistinct) ..eed …elp!
FUTURE CARL: H-Hello? Is someone there?
**He reaches the door at the far end of the room and, after stopping for a brief coughing episode, reaches out to grab the knob. It is only then that he looks to his left and sees that a huge hole has been blasted in the wall**
FUTURE CARL: What the...?
**He goes ahead and opens the door, and a blast of hot air flows over him. As the smoke clears, he makes out a short, stocky silhouette on the other side of the room. He focuses on the figure: a heavy-set body, matted curls, freckles, and round glasses set on an even rounder face. Carl sees him too, and they regard each other in quizzical silence for a long moment before simultaneously blurting out**
BOTH: Who’re you?
CARL: You look just like...
BOTH: ...me...
CARL: ...You must be the older me!
**Before Future Carl has had a chance to come to terms with the red-headed boy in front of him, he perceives that they are not alone. His attention moves to Goddard, and then to the other four kids, who are sprawled in a tangle on the floor**
FUTURE CARL: No way... Am I...am I seeing things?
**He removes his glasses and polishes them on the bottom of his shirt. After wiping his eyes vigorously, he replaces the glasses, blinking in disbelief**
FUTURE CARL: There's no way...it can't be us. It must be an illusion of some kind – a hologram or a bunch of androids or something, put here to make me lose what sense I have left. Or maybe I've already lost it…maybe I’ve paid one too many visits to the bliss room lately…
**He shakes his head fiercely, pressing his fingers against his temples. Noticing the newcomer's mental quandary, Carl raises a hand**
CARL: Uh, ‘scuse me. I have no idea what the 'bliss room' is, but I can tell you for sure that we’re not holograms or clones.
FUTURE CARL: (swallowing) You…you’re talking to me…
CARL: Yup. Not an illusion. We’re as solid as solid can be. See?
**He thumps himself on the chest, then coughs weakly**
CARL: Oww…hit myself too hard…
**He rubs the sore spot, and Future Carl continues to stare, flummoxed**
FUTURE CARL: (vaguely) It finally happened. I finally cracked…
CARL: Boy, can I ever sympathize. Since coming to this universe, I’ve felt like I was going nuts more times than I can count!
**Future Carl throws him a sharp look**
FUTURE CARL: This universe?
CARL: Ooooh…right. No wonder you’re so confused. Oh dear…I could never explain it as well as Jimmy, but I’ll do my best. Basically what happened is this: one of Jimmy’s inventions messed up like they always do, and we ended up getting sucked out of our universe and into this one. Jimmy says there are lots of them, enough to go on forever, but I don’t really understand any of that stuff. Anyway, when we got here…
**Carl pours out the story in a disjointed, wandering soliloquy. The whole time he is recounting the tale, his older self merely stands and gapes, stricken dumb by what he is hearing. Lost amid a hundred contrary thoughts, it isn't until he hears the boy's final statement that Future Carl achieves any semblance of clarity**
CARL…And that’s why we’re here now. We’re gonna find him and give him the cure, so he’ll stop being evil!
FUTURE CARL: Stop...being......evil?
**Carl continues babbling on, but to Future Carl, it is as if the entire room has receded into the distance**
CARL: That’s right. Aurora has one copy of the antidote, and she’s going after him right now. Cindy has the other…which is why I was shouting for help in the first place. We need to get out of here so we can go meet up with the others and help Aurora…but how can we do that if they won’t wake up? I tried putting a hole in the wall to turn off the room, but they’re still out cold! Please, you have to help me!
**Future Carl closes his eyes, trying to gather his wits. When he opens them again, the initial shock of the meeting has subsided, and for the first time he notices what Carl is wearing. He is so distracted by this revelation that he is unable to formulate a relevant response to Carl’s supplication**
FUTURE CARL: Your…uh…outfit is…um…
**Carl averts his gaze, his cheeks growing rosy**
CARL: I don’t normally wear stuff like this. None of us do. Aurora made us wear these space suits. Something about radiation…
**Future Carl nods, then closes his eyes again. This time, when he opens them, he is able to focus on the matter at hand**
FUTURE CARL: I’m sorry, what happened here exactly?
CARL: (shuffling anxiously) To tell you the truth, I don’t really know. Jimmy stepped over the threshold and, bam! He fell down in a dead sleep. Cindy chased after him, and then Libby, and Sheen after her. It all happened so fast, I didn’t know what to do. Please, what happened to them? How do we wake them up?
**Future Carl looks around the vicinity, frowning ever so slightly**
FUTURE CARL: If I recall, this room is meant to isolate trespassers inside their own minds and then turn their destructive tendencies against them. It’s practically impossible to wake yourself up, even once the room’s been turned off. Someone else has to bring you out of it, from the outside.
CARL: How? Tell me how, and I’ll do it!
FUTURE CARL: The quickest way to bring them back into their bodies is to cause them physical pain.
**Concern passes over Carl's face like a shadow**
CARL: Pain? How much pain?
FUTURE CARL: Nothing too serious. A sharp pinch to the neck should be enough to wake them up.
CARL: You mean like this?
**Carl tiptoes forward, pinches Jimmy on the neck, and then quickly draws back his hand, as if burned. Jimmy flinches slightly, but remains otherwise unaffected. Carl observes, puzzled**
CARL: I don’t get it. He’s still asleep. I thought you said that if I –
FUTURE CARL: (striding forward) You’re not doing it hard enough. You need to use your fingernails, like this…
**He walks down the row of sleepers, pinching them each in quick succession. They twitch and shudder as the pinch-sites slowly redden into unsightly circles. After a couple seconds, Jimmy begins to convulse wildly, clawing at his arms, and Libby raises both fists and starts banging them against an invisible barrier over her head**
LIBBY: (screeching) Let me out!!
CARL: W-what’s going on?
FUTURE CARL: Shh, just give them a minute. Watch.
**Cindy lets out an ear-splitting shriek, and both Carls jump. She clutches her head in her hands and thrashes from side to side, wailing incoherently. Sheen hears the sound and jolts upright, rolls into a crouching position, and then springs at the nearest target, which happens to be Cindy. They grapple with one another without being cognizant of each other’s presence**
CINDY: I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m awful! I’m the worst kind of person, I ruined it, ruined everything! Jimmy, I’m sorry! I didn’t want to be this way, I don’t want to be this, please help me! Save me from me! Please! I’m sorry!
**Sheen simply laughs**
SHEEN: I’ve got you now, whatever you are. I’m going to turn you into what I am. Don’t you want to be what I am? I didn’t want to at first, but now I know better…
**He bends closer, salivating**
SHEEN: Just one bite is all it'll take...
LIBBY: (hysterically) Let me out!! I don’t want to be alone. God, I can’t see anything! There’s nobody here! Please, I’ll do whatever you want! Just let me out!
JIMMY: Make it stop! I want to move! Let me up! Let me move! You sadistic, sick, perfidious reprobate! I refuse to be what you are! I won't let it happen!
**Carl backs up a step, lips trembling**
CARL: How awful! We have to do something!
FUTURE CARL: Shh. Just wait.
**The seconds tick by, and gradually their cries become less urgent. After a few minutes, they fall silent. Millimeters away from snacking on Cindy's throat, Sheen is the first to sit up, blinking in disorientation**
SHEEN: What the heck? I'm back here?
**Libby snaps upright a moment later, breathing hard. She mops the sweat off her forehead, then buries her face in her hands**
LIBBY: Thank God...it was just a dream...
**Regaining his senses, Sheen looks beneath him and realizes that he's awkwardly straddling Cindy**
SHEEN: Uhhh...
**As he climbs off, he spots the red pinch-mark on Cindy's neck, and the corners of his mouth curl down into a mortified pout. He throws himself to one side, face contorted in disgust**
SHEEN: (wiping his mouth) Sweet mother of Ultralord…I hit on Jimmy, got humped by Goddard, and gave Cindy Vortex a hickey, ALL IN ONE DAY?
**This catches Libby's attention, and she glances over**
LIBBY: You did what?!
**Carl speeds over to reassure his newly-awoken friends**
CARL: (offering him a hand) Don't worry, Sheen. We just pinched all your necks to wake you up again.
**He pulls Sheen up**
LIBBY: No funny business?
CARL: Nope! No funny business.
**Carl helps Libby to her feet next, and Sheen breathes a sigh of relief**
SHEEN: Phew, ah man, for a second there I was...hey, wait a minute! Did you say 'we'?
**It is at this point that both he and Libby first notice Future Carl. The three regard each other, silent, until Sheen spoils the contemplative lull with one of his characteristic outbursts**
SHEEN: Whoa! What happened to you? You stop eating or something?
CARL: Sheen!
**Sheen pauses, reflecting**
SHEEN: Wow. Older Jimmy's evil, Future Carl's skinny, both girls are babes...man, I can't wait to meet future me! I wonder if I'll be as jacked as Ultralord…you know, minus that huge goofy chin. I take after my mom's side, and we all have very delicate jaw lines...
**Future Carl surprises him by answering**
FUTURE CARL: He may not be what you expect, Sheen. Some…stuff has happened to him over the years, and it's changed him a lot.
SHEEN: Stuff? Like what?
**Future Carl fails to produce an answer, and Libby interjects nervously**
LIBBY: Guys? What's goin' on with Jimmy and Cindy? Why haven't they – ?
FUTURE CARL: Be patient. They're coming out of it now...
**Sure enough, Jimmy rolls over and brings his knees to his chest, then props himself up into a sitting position. He studies his hands, opening and closing his fingers**
JIMMY: (breathless) I...I can move again...
**Cindy snaps upright last of all, her widened eyes nearly crazed with fear and self-loathing. She glances round her, barely seeing, until her gaze falls on Jimmy. Cindy catches him completely off guard when she throws herself at him. He nearly falls over, and she clings to him, pale, trembling, and slicked with cold sweat**
CINDY: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Sorry for everything! For the pushing and the jokes and the megalomanium and the yelling and the cheating lying jealous mean nasty things I've said! I'm sorry for all of it! I'm sorry I am the way I am. I don't want to be like this, I swear!
**Jimmy, still unnerved by his own experience, isn't prepared to deal with this sudden onslaught of hysterical apologies. Nevertheless, stayed by compassion, he resists his initial urge to throw her off and instead pats her awkwardly**
JIMMY: Shh, it's OK...just uh, just try to calm down...
CINDY: Oh Neutron, it was horrible! She was horrible...I am horrible! I broke everything, made the sky come down!
**Jimmy realizes that she is recalling her nightmare, and feels a twinge of sympathy**
JIMMY: (patting her hair) There, there, it wasn't real. The stuff that we just saw...it wasn't us.
CINDY: No, that's just the thing, Jimmy. I think it was us. The part of us that we keep hidden way down deep...
**He grabs her by the shoulders and pushes her back, then peers intently into her face**
JIMMY: (firmly) No. It wasn't us. It can't be us. Say it.
CINDY: But –
JIMMY: Say it!
CINDY: It...wasn't us.
JIMMY: That's right. Remember that. Your thoughts, your dreams, your imaginings...they aren't you. Your actions are you. And I for one will never let myself become depraved enough to deliberately hurt my own friends.
**She sniffles**
CINDY: Um...Neutron...you're actually hurting me right now...
**He releases his grip where he had been clenching her arms, then turns his face away, embarrassed**
JIMMY: Sorry.
CINDY: It's fine.
**There is a moment of silence. Future Carl stares intently at Jimmy and Cindy, seemingly spellbound by their actions. Carl opens his mouth to interrupt, but his older counterpart puts a finger to his lips to shush him**
CINDY: Jimmy?
JIMMY: Ya?
CINDY: Do you…hate me?
JIMMY: (taken aback) Wha - ?
**Cindy's word's pour out in a rush**
CINDY: I mean, I wouldn’t blame you if you did – the way I act when I'm around you – well, you really have no reason to feel anything other than detestation and I’m not sure how you can ever forgive me seeing as I wouldn’t even forgive myself for everything and –
**Jimmy holds up his hands to stave off the babbling*
JIMMY: Cindy, I don’t hate you. And, while yes, your conduct has been a metaphorical pain in the lateral portion of my external oblique muscle for what seems like eons now, it's not like you've done anything completely unforgivable. So whatever dream you just had, put it out of your mind. It won't do you any good to dwell on it. OK?
**Cindy wipes her nose**
CINDY: OK.
**She sniffles again, and he forces a grin to lighten the mood**
JIMMY: Now, I wouldn’t be averse to you doing a couple of favors to make it up to me – say, cleaning the invisible hamster’s cage for the next three months...
CINDY: (hopefully) Does that mean I'll have free range of your lab?
JIMMY: Free range? Keep dreaming, Vortex. You’ll be spraying down that cage on the driveway with the hose.
CINDY: Neutron!
SHEEN: (unable to keep quiet any longer) I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but...Earth to Jimmy and Cindy! Helloooooo! Anyone home?
**Cindy and Jimmy both look up in alarm, suddenly aware that they've been ignoring the entire rest of the room**
JIMMY: Sorry everyone, I just –
**He trails off when his eyes fall on the man standing just behind his other friends**
JIMMY: Leapin' leptons, is that...?
**Carl nods**
CARL: Yup! It's older me! Isn't it great? I already told him all about how we got here and how we're going to turn Evil Jimmy good again...
**The genius and the servant stare at one another, the air charged with emotive reticence**
JIMMY: That's Future Carl? But he's...um...well...
SHEEN: No longer a tub of lard?
LIBBY: Badly in a need of a tan?
CARL: (indignant) Hey you two, that's not fair! I am not a tub of lard! I'm just...big-boned, that's all. And I'll have you know, I have a very fair complexion, so I can't just go out into the sun willy-nilly...
SHEEN: (cutting him off) Carl, quit fooling yourself, man. You can't label yourself “big-boned” if you grow up to have SKINNY bones, unless your bones are like, top secret agent shape-shifters or something...
LIBBY: Sheen, that doesn't make any sense, even for you.
SHEEN: All I'm saying is, he can't keep going around saying he has big bones. He should man up and face the fact that he's a chubber.
JIMMY: Well, technically, there are several degenerative diseases that could affect the human skeleton, causing it to –
**He launches into a lengthy description that nobody particularly wants to hear; eventually Sheen interrupts, Carl makes a stupid comment, Cindy berates him, Libby shakes her head, and they all begin to squabble boisterously amongst themselves. All the while, Future Carl watches the group with an air of wistfulness**
FUTURE CARL: (murmuring) It's all so familiar, but so different...
**Libby yells to break up the discussion**
LIBBY: Whoa, whoa guys, hold up! We can't get to arguin' here. We’ve got a job to do, remember?
CINDY: Libby's right. Aurora and the rest could need our help right now, and we wouldn't even know it, because we're still stuck in this stupid maze! We need to get moving again, pronto.
**Libby turns to face Future Carl**
LIBBY: Yo, skinny grown-up Carl, you must know the best way out of here, right?
CINDY: And probably where the Dictator is, too...
**Carl puffs out his chest and answers for him**
CARL: (proudly) Yes he does, AND he’s going to help us!
JIMMY: Wait, really? You're going to help us?
**Five pairs of curious eyes turn his way, and Future Carl looks down at his brown loafers**
FUTURE CARL: Sure, but first, I have a question...how did you guys get in here in the first place? I know there are no sensors in the maze itself, but you must have gotten inside somehow. How did you sneak in without setting off the life signs detector? I mean, we picked up on Aurora, April, and the others as soon as they set foot in the base. But you guys...you came in like ghosts!
JIMMY: Oh, that. Goddard is broadcasting a signal that interferes with the life sign detectors. It effectively blocks out our vitals: as far as the base is concerned, we don’t exist.
**Future Carl’s brows shoot up subtly – a muted, concealed gesture, as all his expressions seem to be**
FUTURE CARL: So that’s why –
JIMMY: (finishing for him) – we haven’t been caught. Exactly. It’s a pretty substantial advantage on our part.
**Future Carl just stares at them with the barest hint of expression in his gaze, and Jimmy finds himself uncomfortably unsure of his new ally’s state of mind. It is nearly impossible to read someone so inaccessible, someone whose whole being lies hidden behind flashing glasses and blank, gray eyes. Turning to the side, Jimmy lowers his voice and addresses his fellows**
JIMMY: Maybe it's just me, but is anyone else just a wee bit uncomfortable with this arrangement? We've known Future Carl a grand total of what... five minutes?...and in those five minutes, he pops up randomly, watches us, conducts a quick interrogation, and then decides to come along? A bit weird, don't you think?
**Cindy throws a suspicious look his way**
CINDY: (whispering) Come to think of it, you're right. I mean, what do we really know about the guy? Are you sure we can trust him? After all, he HAS been working for the most evil guy in the galaxy for the last decade. That's hardly the kind of resumé I like to see from someone who could potentially be holding my life in their hands.
CARL: Guys, this is me we're talking about! I know he wants to help us! I can tell!
CINDY: Can you, Carl? Or is it just wishful thinking on your part?
CARL: You have to trust me! Sure, maybe it looks like he's done bad things over the years, but what if Evil Jimmy was threatening him the whole time? Maybe he didn't want to work for him.
JIMMY: You mean, what if he was coerced? I wouldn't be surprised if that played into it somehow, but still...
CINDY: But still, we shouldn't let our guard down just because he seems helpful – one word from him, and we'd be outed!
**Libby breaks in**
LIBBY: Chill, guys! I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, he was the one who helped Aurora escape, wasn't he?
JIMMY: (considering) Well, there is that...
SHEEN: Hey, what are we standing around arguing for? Why don't we just ask him?
**Before the others can stop him, Sheen struts over to Future Carl and blurts out the question**
SHEEN: Yo Carl, you're not just stringing us along, are you?
FUTURE CARL: S-stringing you along?
SHEEN: Ya, you know...yanking our chains...playing us for a sap…pulling the wool over our eyes… leading our horses to water but finding yourself unable to make them drink...
**Jimmy steps forward and lays a hand on Sheen's arm**
JIMMY: Slow down Sheen, you're mixing your metaphors.
**Future Carl just stands there, confused**
JIMMY: What my idiomatically-challenged friend here is trying to say, is that we have good reason to be suspicious of you. You show up out of nowhere in this godforsaken maze, wake us up, and then just spontaneously decide to switch sides? No offense, but if you were so eager to lend your aid to the opposition, why didn't you do it long ago?
FUTURE CARL: (stuttering) It w-wasn’t just spontaneous... earlier today... you have to understand, this hasn't been easy...
CINDY: What are you trying to say? Stop waffling and just spit it out!
**Future Carl flinches at her harsh tone of voice**
FUTURE CARL: I guess I just... I never wanted to do bad things. I never wanted to help build weapons, or see people be tortured, or witness all those awful experiments. What he did to Sheen and Aurora – I can barely live with myself. But what else was I supposed to do? I could never betray Jimmy. He'd kill me if I did, and nothing would even come of it. I would never want to betray him anyway. Somewhere deep down, he's still my best friend, and I owe it to that friend to never put him in harm's way.
JIMMY: So why the change of heart now?
FUTURE CARL: I haven't had a change of heart. I'm not betraying him, because you ARE him. If you guys had come to kill him, I would stop you. But you didn't. You're here to save him…to turn him back into who he was before. When Carl told me about your plan, I knew immediately that I would have to join you. You see, I always used to wonder if the Megalomanium would wear off on its own, but it never did. Now things are different – if I help you, I won't have to wait around any longer.
**He reaches out a hand**
FUTURE CARL: So, what do you say? Will you give me a chance?


TO BE CONTINUED BLAH BLAH

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[David]

OCRAP IT EXISTS MUST READ BRB

EDIT: MOAR

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

That... was... EPIC!!!!! I'm SO glad they woke up! You ROCK, Mara! That was the best TOSOT update yet! I can't WAIT to read the rest!! EEEEEEP!!!!

[curiochibi]

Future Carl makes me smile. He's the redeeming part of this whole mess...or is he? O__________o -mind goes at hyperspeed with conspiracy theories-

Unfortunately, I don't think he'll...well, let's just say I think he'll be "sleeping with the fishes" by the end, if you know what I mean.





=Jessi=

[Zoey <3]

That was amazing! They finally met Future Carl. I love the interaction between Jimmy and Cindy! I hope it lets you upload to the main site soon.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

LOVE this if you know what I mean. It's so exciting if you know what I mean. I really can't wait to see more if you know what I mean.

[Macey]

NEW SPINOFF: "EVERYONE HATES FUTURE CARL." It'll be just like Everybody Loves Raymond, except it's Future Carl and everyone hates/distrusts/excludes him except Beks. Yeah.

THIS IS AMAZING, MARA, ILU.

[okmeamithinknow]

Um yeah. Amazing brilliant wonderful stupendous and makes me salivate for more. I love that the reason he wants to help is because they don't want to kill DJ, just "fix" him.

~Crys~

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Now that's what I like to hear!

[Beks]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESS!!! *fangasm* I'm speechless in the presence of sheer FC-ness!

It's ok, Mara. FC is just my style.

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Beks, I saw your vid in your sig about your response to FC. I absolutely cracked UP!!! Why do you think Alex needs help?? It was funny, but I didn't get it. Explain?

[Pigquet3]

YAY! A lovely new installment to TOSOT! I absolutely loved this! Don't think its not as important, Mara. Of course I can't wait for the epic DJ vs. Aurora showdown, but the interactions between the kids and FC, and seeing them awake from their nightmares was really great, too!

A few notes on my favorite parts:

Chapter 37: Winner Take All

Love the chapter title! WIN.

FUTURE CARL: Stop...being...evil?

This part gave me chills.

SHEEN: (wiping his mouth) Sweet mother of Ultralord…I hit on Jimmy, got humped by Goddard, and gave Cindy Vortex a hickey, ALL IN ONE DAY?

I loved this line so much! LOL!

**Cindy snaps upright last of all, her widened eyes nearly crazed with fear and self-loathing. She glances round her, barely seeing, until her gaze falls on Jimmy. Cindy catches him completely off guard when she throws herself at him. He nearly falls over, and she clings to him, pale, trembling, and slicked with cold sweat**
CINDY: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Sorry for everything! For the pushing and the jokes and the megalomanium and the yelling and the cheating lying jealous mean nasty things I've said! I'm sorry for all of it! I'm sorry I am the way I am. I don't want to be like this, I swear!
**Jimmy, still unnerved by his own experience, isn't prepared to deal with this sudden onslaught of hysterical apologies. Nevertheless, stayed by compassion, he resists his initial urge to throw her off and instead pats her awkwardly**
JIMMY: Shh, it's OK...just uh, just try to calm down...
CINDY: Oh Neutron, it was horrible! She was horrible...I am horrible! I broke everything, made the sky come down!
**Jimmy realizes that she is recalling her nightmare, and feels a twinge of sympathy**
JIMMY: (patting her hair) There, there, it wasn't real. The stuff that we just saw...it wasn't us.
CINDY: No, that's just the thing, Jimmy. I think it was us. The part of us that we keep hidden way down deep...
**He grabs her by the shoulders and pushes her back, then peers intently into her face**
JIMMY: (firmly) No. It wasn't us. It can't be us. Say it.
CINDY: But –
JIMMY: Say it!
CINDY: It...wasn't us.
JIMMY: That's right. Remember that. Your thoughts, your dreams, your imaginings...they aren't you. Your actions are you. And I for one will never let myself become depraved enough to deliberately hurt my own friends.

This...was perfect. It taught the lessons the dream sequence intended to, I believe, without having to go on and on with them, and got the story moving...showing the story isn't JUST about the adult character's lives, but the kid's, too. Loved the little J/C dialouge.

SHEEN: Hey, what are we standing around arguing for? Why don't we just ask him?
**Before the others can stop him, Sheen struts over to Future Carl and blurts out the question**
SHEEN: Yo Carl, you're not just stringing us along, are you?
FUTURE CARL: S-stringing you along?
SHEEN: Ya, you know...yanking our chains...playing us for a sap…pulling the wool over our eyes… leading our horses to water but finding yourself unable to make them drink...

I love how blunt Sheen is.

TO BE CONTINUED BLAH BLAH

NOOOOOOOO!!!! Well, better than nothin'! Was at the edge of my bed reading this Mara. Hope it can be uploaded to the mainsite soon. In the meantime, thanks for being so generous enough to share it with us here! Keep up the great work, but don't rush about it. This was terrific for now!

Beks, I saw your vid in your sig about your response to FC. I absolutely cracked UP!!! Why do you think Alex needs help?? It was funny, but I didn't get it. Explain?

It was a video response to Alex's video he did on a dare from the Truth or Dare topic. You should reallly see that one first. Its AMAZING!!! LOL. So, that's what she was referring, too. And, yesh, I agree. Beks, that was an AWESOME retaliation.




Thanks, again, Mara!


Pigquet

P.S. I really don't like Future Carl...*sighs* But, still, where would the fic be without him? lol

[Lizz]

That was the most awesome update ever! I actually came to like Future Carl (still nervous if he'll stay on the good side for much longer). I also loved the dialogue with the kids after they woke up (especially Jimmy and Cindy). I hope you post more soon. At this point, I'd like to read it, perfect or not.