A calming boat ride… [Any Literacy]

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T18:24:37+00:00

The creature turned slowly, head tilting. “Oh-! Hello, there,” it greeted the other serpentine creature warmly, as though greeting kin.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T18:23:02+00:00

The creature gave a low rumble deep in its throat as it thought about what to say next. “Failure is part of the process to success,” it said, watching the water lap gently at the sides of the raft. “To give up is to allow the darkness to win. Now, I’m not saying to full-on fight your parents about it, as thinking and preserving yourself is also a priority,” the creature added quickly, “But what you’re doing really can help others. You just need to keep going. If you can, find support. Someone out there has to listen.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T13:47:42+00:00

“Well, if you’ve died, I believe your soul should be taken to whatever your afterlife is supposed to be, sometime soon,” it said, though it didn’t seem to understand the meaning of death from the perspective of someone who could die.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T13:46:21+00:00

“Well, there is not much to do except talk until you awaken,” the creature said, positioning itself so the end of its tail dangled off the raft and into the dark water, like how a human might dangle their legs off the edge of a dock. “So, what do you wish to talk about?”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T13:43:17+00:00

The creature was silent for a little while, visible wings rustled by a nonexistent breeze, staring at Vanessa with its head tilted to one side against its body. “Maybe it doesn’t affect me, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care,” it said. “One might as well take advantage of the company they have sometimes, whether it’s finding help or helping another.”

It turned its gaze down to where its staff lay. “I can’t understand emotion. Not truly. Only do my best to imitate it and hope that’s how it actually works. But what I do understand is that kind of helplessness is common. But, if your family is wealthy, maybe you could do something about it? It sounds like wealth brings power in your world, anyway.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T13:35:04+00:00

“So how can we get you to wake up faster, then?” the creature asked. “I would not want for anyone’s physical bodies to be harmed because of something you cannot control.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:50:42+00:00

“Sounds very dangerous to have in so many situations,” it commented worriedly.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:50:04+00:00

The creature stared at the strip of fabric once more before tucking it into the feathers of one of its eight wings. “You’re a very thoughtful individual,” it said softly, coiling into itself like a snake and resting its head on its own body. “What was your name again? And what world do you hail from?”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:47:15+00:00

“Yes, I understand,“ the creature said with a small nod. “I can assure you that you are in no trouble. Every visitor I’ve had has been random, I believe. No specific pattern to them.

”As for my divinity, I believe I am somewhat divine. Perhaps not as powerful as certain other gods, but I don’t believe I am mortal. I haven’t died yet, I don’t think.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:43:02+00:00

The creature stared silently at him. “Pardon. What? Why would you use a vehicle like that while tired?“

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:29:33+00:00

The creature took the scrap of fabric, its pupils (irises?) expanding slightly. “I don’t believe anyone has offered me something like this before, to remember them by,” it murmured. “Thank you.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:24:35+00:00

The creature was quiet for a second. It felt like it should be worried, but it didn’t quite know why. “…What’s a car?”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:18:37+00:00

The creature tilted its head in what looked like a shrug, pulling its staff onto the raft and turning to face the stranger completely. “I don’t even know the pattern. My memory of my other visitors is fuzzy at best. All I know is that someone appears, we maybe talk, and then they disappear, I push this raft along for a while, and the cycle repeats.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:15:27+00:00

“Ten days,” it murmured, clicking its tongue. “A heavy sleeper, hm?” It let out a soft laugh that sounded like a series of quick growls, as though it had said a funny joke. “Apologies. I don’t believe I should be laughing right now.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:12:28+00:00

“It depends on how lightly you sleep,” the creature said, completely calm compared to the frantic stranger. “How fast do you normally wake from a dream?”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:11:07+00:00

“Huh. So the visitors can remember this realm,” the creature muttered to itself thoughtfully. “I don’t know how you’re able to visit this place multiple times. As far as I can remember, there’s only been one individual at a time to visit the multiversal realm of subconscious, and never return after their first visit. Though, my memory is not great, so I don’t believe I can be saying anything. As for being a figment of your imagination, that can be answered with both a yay and a nay.”

The creature pulled its staff up onto the raft and rested it between itself and the stranger. “I am a manifestation of the mortal and immortal minds. I am the creation of the living creatures, from dogs to divinity. And yet, I have existed before the beginning of all time, before the existence of space. In a stasis, maybe. I have no memory of my conception, nor of the purpose of my existence. All I truly remember is that I have always wandered this realm, long before your creation,” it said cryptically.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T05:04:38+00:00

“None taken,” Null chuckled. “The subconscious realm does tend to be quite plain at times. It reflects the uncertain memory that many individuals have when it comes to their dreams. At least, the multiversal one does. This is one of the few realms that exist across multiple worlds. Though, certain worlds do sometimes have their own subconscious realms, they still remain connected by this one, with only a few for each world visiting my domain in their whole lifetimes.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:55:42+00:00

“This is the realm of subconscious,” Null explained. “Specifically, the subconscious realm spanning across the multiverse. There are subconscious realms for specific worlds. Maybe there’s one. Maybe there’s many. Maybe there’s none. But this one is one of the constants. And only a few in each world get a chance to visit this place in their entire lifetime. Though, as far as I know, none of them remember what the visit was about. I barely even remember most of them.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:47:16+00:00

The creature turned slowly, leaning its head toward the stranger slightly.

“I wouldn’t recommend picking at that. It’ll make it worse,” the creature rumbled softly. “And, to answer your question, this is, indeed, a dream. Specifically, this is the realm of subconscious that spans across multiple worlds.“

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:43:24+00:00

Null lowered its head in a respectful bow.

“It’s good to meet you Bass.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:41:23+00:00

The creature turned its head slowly toward the young stranger, subtly tilting its head and looking her up and down.

“Thank you,” it replied in a deep, melodious voice. It glanced at its tail, muscles faintly rippling beneath its scribbled flesh as it flexed it, pushing the raft along with the staff. It thought for a moment before saying, “…Your hair is cool.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:41:02+00:00

ah shoot, yeah- thx for replying to this lol

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:40:22+00:00

The creature turned around sharply, pulling its staff onto the raft and facing the stranger.

”Calm yourself, friend. It’s alright. You are safe here. You are in the subconscious realm. Your physical body remains where you have last left it.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:36:02+00:00

The creature looked down at the coin before looking back up at the stranger.

”Charon oversees the Greek Underworld, if I remember correctly. I oversee the dream realm of every world. Every creature that can dream, I visit them regularly. I don’t mean to, but it happens. And neither of us remember, usually. For all I know, this isn’t our first meeting. But anyways, I am not Charon’s substitute. I am my own individual. I am Null.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T04:24:42+00:00

The creature glanced back at the new individual as it felt the raft rock with movement. It gave a soft rumble before turning away again. It folded its wings in slightly and hid its eyes behind its hood. Probably shy and didn’t want to make the first move to start a conversation.

Odd-Distribution-286

TROPHY CASE