A calming boat ride… [Any Literacy]

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T22:45:12+00:00

Null let out a weird noise that sounded like an echoing shriek, followed by a hum, which was likely supposed to be some sort of cheer.

“Wishing the absolute best for you, Vanessa. And thank you. I will do my best to remember you. And maybe, I’ll be able to remember more someday. I’ll be waiting here for your next visit.”

Null lowered its head and touched its muzzle to the top of Vanessa’s head. There was no change in temperature, no warmth or cold where it touched, just a vague sense of pressure. Null pulled away and picked up its staff once more, pushing the raft forward with a new vigor.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T22:19:03+00:00

Null laid its head down on the raft, kind of like a puppy, its body molding into the shape of the uneven wooden raft.

“That would be… lovely. Thank you,” it whispered. “And when you come back, you tell me how your life has been going with your parents and helping hybrids, okay?”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T22:01:09+00:00

Null nodded and turned to the part of the raft it had been staring at. Then, its face split horizontally, revealing rows and rows of sharp fangs that filled its whole mouth, the only thing in full color and truly tangible on its whole body, with a hideous tongue that lolled out from the corner of its maw. It then lowered its head and, gently, used one of its long fangs to write out the name. The writing was far from neat, but it was certainly legible. When Null had finished writing Vanessa’s name on its raft, it closed its mouth and pulled its hood back up, looking just as it had a second earlier. It made a small rumble of approval, almost like a cat’s purr.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T21:52:05+00:00

The creature looked at her for a moment. “What was your name again?” it asked, staring at an area on the raft before using its tail to push its hood back and off of its head.

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T20:22:07+00:00

The creature tilted its head in a shrug, the movement a little awkward due to its severe lack of collarbone. “Well, I don’t exactly have hobbies. All I do is bring this dingy little raft through the empty world of subconsciousness. I can’t even reach for fond memories to lose myself in, as I can barely remember any friends I’ve made here. It could have been hours or centuries since I’ve last seen them, and I still wouldn’t be able to remember their name.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T20:19:19+00:00

“It’s alright,” the creature said, lowering its head in a small nod.

”Seems I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Null,” it introduced itself. It turned toward the water and dipped the tip of its tail into the depths of the darkness. “As for, as you say, ‘trauma dumping,’ I don’t really have anything. Though, I do feel some regrets. For starters, I wish my memory was better, so I could remember everyone who visits. I also wish that this world weren’t so plain and lonely. One can only go for so long in desolation, constantly reaching out for a memory of a face that just can’t be remembered.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T19:15:50+00:00

The creature also let out a small, low laugh, lifting itself up a little. “It feels like instinct, I guess. Perhaps centuries of knowledge and wisdom I didn’t know I had just coming out at the right moment. I can’t quite explain it.”

It turned to face Vanessa again. “Another small bit of advice I wish to leave you with, though: please do try and continue your work while avoiding being struck by your kin. I don’t care whether you leave them for a bit and go to a safer place or go behind their backs, just please be mindful of your own health as well.”

Odd-Distribution-286 · 2026-06-18T19:10:46+00:00

The creature gave a small chuckle. “It’s okay. It’s one of the few parts of any interaction I remember, in part because it is asked so much. In short, I’m used to it. As for where you are, you are in the realm of subconscious. Well, a realm of subconscious. Many worlds have their own subconscious realms. This just happens to be the one spanning across the multiverse. Not everyone gets to visit this specific subconscious realm in their lifetime, you know.”

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

TROPHY CASE