First Gen Draft, pt. 2
Note: This is a random excerpt from a story I’m currently working on. Here’s the jist…
Earth is not the only messed-up place in the universe. Across the portals, there lies a land with an eternally full moon and an ever-changing sun. A land full of nations, struggles, and cultures completely foreign to Earth known as the Realms. Whenever the Earth and the Realms are both dark- with a new moon and new sun- their realities form a bond- creating portals between the two worlds. Though accidents have happened before, portals are mere swirls of energy- energy that’s good at finding anomalies and sending them back where they came from.
The fate of the Realms changed drastically when not one but two ruling families found their heirs missing- both now at home in Brookwood, Colorado. One a teenager, the other a baby- both make their homes on Earth, unaware of their origins. Years go by, and the former- crown heir to Murdoch- finds himself a hotel manager with an ever-changing roster of kids and a faith unheard of back home, while the latter, is slowly growing into the giant king he was born to be- finding himself spending half his Walmart paycheck on food.
However, they will not be the only people portal-jumping. The lost heirs and some of their fellow Earth wanderers band together, crossing over to the Realms for good. They stay together in Mondon, the heart of Murdoch, before splitting across the map of the Realms. They each work to make their home in the Realms somehow- becoming powerful, having families, or just trying to survive. Yet, as their ideals begin to clash, the group crumbles, paving a way for the next generation to reform a once strong alliance. All of them sit in the wake of their own destinies- anxious, curious, and excited to see them unfold but, most of all, wanting freedom.
This is kinda what I picture Joseph (left) and Sevrin (right) looking like (minus the cigarette). (I also did NOT do this drawing. I believe it was burdgebug but I’m not sure.)
Sevrin’s rocks, Joseph’s window. Same stuff, different day.
It was around 5:30pm and the sun yawned as Sevrin pelted pebble after pebble at his favorite neighbor’s window. Up till a couple weeks ago, he’d always just used the desert landscaping outside Joseph’s house but they’d made such a routine of the thing the desert landscaping was just dirt at this point. So, Sevrin improvised. First night he used stolen Legos- which launched a week-long battle between him and his little brother. Next night he used marbles, but that actually chipped the window and Joseph about had an aneurism over having to tell his dad. So he literally bought rocks. Like went to Home Depot and bought a bag of rocks.
Now the joke is that it’s not real friendship until someone buys a bag of rocks for the sole purpose of annoying the other.
It took ten rocks for Joseph to finally notice anything over the blasting Mozart. He pulled it open, half rolling his eyes, “You know the backdoors always open.”
Sevrin shrugged, “This is way more fun, honestly. You still coming to dinner? It’s taco night.”
“Sure thing, just give me a sec.” Sevrin heard him slam the window and tapped his foot till he came down.
The driveway was empty as usual. He sighed. He always felt a bit bad for Joseph, with him being all alone all the time. Sure, he was a bit of a loner anyway, but still- he was always in the echo chamber of his own house- with literally nobody else ever home except maybe his dad every blue moon. But he did what he could. Joseph only lived a house or two away, so Sevrin liked to pester him. Coming from a family of 7 to 10, Sevrin treated Joseph’s silent mansion like a retreat sometimes. It took a lot to get on his nerves anyway, but sometimes getting to only hear one video game or movie at a time was nice.
The door clicked open and shut. Out walked the small frame of Joseph, flicking his straight black hair out of his critical emerald eyes. Meeting up on the sidewalk, the pair walked into the sunset toward the Carlisle’s humble, bustling abode.
“So, how’re you doing today?” Joseph asked.
Sevrin shrugged, “Pretty good honestly, homework’s been rough lately though. The new twins like to keep us up all night so I guess pre-calc will be a fat C- and that’s about it.” He poked his eyes over, curling his lips, “unless, ya know, somebody-”
Joseph laughed, “Okay, okay I’ll take a look, alright? I only looked at the textbook once, but I’ll see what I remember.”
“Which will be everything,” Sevrin made a rainbow with his hands, flashing Joseph a cheeky smile.
“Hey, we don’t talk about it like that. I’m not fully a computer,” He retorted.
“Darn close.”
He shook his head, “Whatever, it’s a blessing for homework, curse for other things. Just let it be, okay?” He sighed, his voice softening, “I’ll look at it after dinner.”
Sevrin smiled, looking up, “I’m already drooling over these tacos. Dad’s pork tacos are actually Heaven on earth.” He cheered, walking up to his front door. The house was a full rectangle, big, wide, and used. Shadows jumped and played in the windows with the sounds of chatter and laughter growing as the boys approached the entrance. Sevrin knocked on the screen door, rattling the frame.
A voice burst from inside, “Cal! Get the door will you?” Within a few moments, a shirtless little boy wrapped in a rubber ducky throw answered the door, gazing up at his brother with big, blue eyes. He glared for a second at his own brother. “No soliciting,” He chirped- slamming the door shut and pitter-pattering away.
“Cal!” Sevrin hollered. He turned to Joseph, chuckling, “He’s not exactly our best behaved one,” He turned to the door again and shouted “Mom! Calvin thinks I’m a salesman!”
A frizzy-haired, kind-eyed woman opened the door, clutching a big baby in her arms, “I don’t know why I expected anything else,” she sighed with a smile, “Come on in, boys, Dad just finished.”
The boys charged in, “Thanks, Ma.” “Thanks, Mrs. Carlisle.” and made their way to the kitchen table, claiming their wooden thrones.
The house smelled of tacos and crayons and aged flowers. Georgia Carlisle took a seat by Sev, placing the baby in the high chair beside her. “Glad you could join us, Joseph, I’ve been missing you these days,” she gave him a warm smile as she wrestled the chubby toddler into the chair.
“Yeah, I’ve just been caught up in schoolwork and stuff lately.”
“Oh, really, Sev tells me you’re doing online college now. How do you like it?”
“It’s weird, but I like getting to do a lot at once,” He shrugged.
“Dinner’s ready!” Mr. Carlisle hollered from the kitchen, sweat rolling down his brow. “Would you boys mind helping me put out all the food?”
Sevrin and Joseph got up and helped put down the plates of meat, veggies, cheese, and tortillas on the big, wooden table as footsteps pounded down the stairs. Soon, all the plates were down and all 10 chairs were full. School days were murmured about, groans were heard, little ones were brought and sat up- with all the chatter dying as Mr. Carlisle took the final seat at the head of the table. “Junior, would you do the honors?” He motioned to Sevrin.
“Of course, Dad.” He closed his eyes, instinctively grabbing his mom and Joseph’s hand as the rest of his family did the same with their neighbors. “Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for all of us today. Be with those who were once with us but are with others now. Thank you for the work you’ve given us and the love you’ve shown us. Amen.” Sevrin opened his eyes, seeing Joseph glancing around.
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