Oh. Almost forgot. I had gone to visit the Necropolis Caretaker (N.C.), because I had some new gear that I wanted to show him, and I just wanted to visit him. Now, the Necropolis is surrounded by something like the river Styx, so I knew I had to be protected against that Styx-like environment.
Thought the new gear would do that.
Suited up. Made the jump. Wake up in a hospital.
Whoops.
“Good, you’re awake. I told them you were more resilient than you appear. Now if only you were as wise as you appear. What in my world or yours made you think you could do that?” N.C. looked like a thin elderly man. Dark sunglasses hit the solid black globes that mimics eyes. To anyone else, he appeared dangerously thin and gaunt. I smiled to see him sitting next to me.
“Um. Because I have new gear? And I’m stubborn like that?” He sighed, rolled his useless eyes and patted me roughly on the head.
“Yea, you’ll be alright. Look, my friend. I can cross that river anytime. You, can’t. You really just wanted to just be with me?” I nodded. “Even after what you saw before?” I nodded again. “Why?”
“Why did you and Stormhoof come after me in the hijacked daydream?” He didn’t answer, but I saw the first hint of warmth in his face. “Well, that’s why.”
He sighed, stood up, and put his fedora on his head. (Nice hat!) “Well, once you’ve recovered, I’ll see what I can do for getting you your own boat to cross that river with. The gear will help you survive on the other side, long enough to reach my cabin. But I’d rather you not make the trip without letting me know first, so I can be there if something goes wrong.”
“Oy vey! Now I have two fathers to deal with?”
He kissed me on the top of my head. “You have no idea how many eyes are on you, my friend. No idea.” He turned to go and paused at the door. “You know a new [hardware store] just opened up down the street. Go explore there, and leave the world-jumping alone for a while.”
And that’s what I did, as the previous post attests to.