Before either of the girls can answer, things are in motion again, the memory resuming.
"I do!" Xenia exclaims, too loud by several measures. Her voice half-flattens the grubby crowd; they all rear back from her like it's microphone feedback, hands clapped over their ears, yelling.
Then, all at once -- miraculously -- they start to laugh. First one, then another.
"Wow, it actually works," one says.
"Yeah, that's cool."
"Weird."
"Maybe try your inside voice."
And Xenia laughs too, looking at once unsure and relieved and very pleased with herself.
Behind her, as the scene quiets back down, a neat slit appears in the air. A portal back to Peckenpaugh.
[MEMORY COMPLETE! Linchpin acquired, replies met. You can continue to thread here or head back to Peckenpaugh through the portal!]
MEMORY: It Works! - COMPLETE!
"I do!" Xenia exclaims, too loud by several measures. Her voice half-flattens the grubby crowd; they all rear back from her like it's microphone feedback, hands clapped over their ears, yelling.
Then, all at once -- miraculously -- they start to laugh. First one, then another.
"Wow, it actually works," one says.
"Yeah, that's cool."
"Weird."
"Maybe try your inside voice."
And Xenia laughs too, looking at once unsure and relieved and very pleased with herself.
Behind her, as the scene quiets back down, a neat slit appears in the air. A portal back to Peckenpaugh.
[MEMORY COMPLETE! Linchpin acquired, replies met. You can continue to thread here or head back to Peckenpaugh through the portal!]