⚠️ Content Warnings ⤴
Info
Content Warnings
- Language
- Implied and alluded to sexual content
- Themes of toxic codependency and trauma
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The skies of Level 201 shatter as Spec, Alexis, and half of a street manifest in the powdery sand of the Sunset Coast. Sparks of unstable energy run across Spec's body, diffusing into the air ever so slowly.
Spec rises shakily to his feet, regaining his balance after the intense experience. Unfortunately, he wasn't exactly a stranger to these kinds of things— not after that incident a year ago. Spec instinctively grabs his right hand, but is only greeted by the feeling of cold metal. He loathed the sensation.
"Where the hell—" Spec swivels his head around, trying to get an idea of where he's landed. "Weird screen-like sky… vaporwave aesthetics everywhere… is this 201? I seem to remember a G.P.D. poster in Level 1 a while back…" Deciding to confirm his answer, Spec pulls up the General Public Database on his phone. The Wi-Fi signal seemed to be rather strong here, might as well use it.
"Sunset Coast… Web Sea… Neon City… VHS effect? Yeah, this all definitely checks out…"
Spec stretches his neck as he pockets his phone, deciding to just force his way out of the level. "I'll aim for Level 3. It should be able to handle the backlash—" Just as Spec is about to noclip himself away, a groan coming from across the broken level 11 roadway catches his ear.
"Shit. I completely forgot about the other guy…"
"HEY! ALEXIS, WAS IT? YOU OK?" Spec calls out, making his way towards the noise. He finds Alexis lying back in a pile of rubble, and he offers him a hand up.
"Spec? Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking. What the hell is wrong with you?" He replies coldly, slapping away Spec's hand as he drags himself free. He's a little scraped up, but it's nothing uncommon by the standards of the Backrooms.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help you. What's your problem?" Spec replies.
Alexis huffs, shrugging in irritation, his arms falling back to his sides. "It's… oh, I don't know, maybe that I just wanted my god damn lunch, and now I'm stuck in some 2000s millennial AeSthEtiC level." He says, making air quotes around the word. "Plus, you're about to take off and leave me here. Nice move by the way, real considerate."
Spec is about to clap back, but stops himself. "I was only leaving because I'd assumed you were dead." He murmurs.
"Well, no such luck for you. Go on then, clip away from the consequences. Don't worry about me, I'll be fiiiiiine. It's not like I just got ripped out of the safety of 11 into the middle of VHS tape hell or anything." Alexis replies dryly, making Spec sigh and shake his head.
"I'm not going to do that. Now that I know you're here, I feel vaguely responsible for seeing you out. For what it's worth, I did NOT cause this on purpose." Alexis just continues to glare at him with crossed arms, saying nothing.
"Fine, silent treatment then? I'm not asking you to be my best friend or anything, I just want to get us out of here. You don't have to like me, but don't be an idiot and wander off. I checked the G.P.D., there's actually a page on this place— while it's relatively safe, there's a few things we need to keep track of. Put aside your pride for a minute, and I'll put aside mine."
"Fine, how the hell do we get out of here?" Alexis grumbles. "I'm going to guess it's some random oddly specific thing— it always feels like it is…"
Spec snorts. "Yeah, you can say that again. According to the G.P.D., the exits are either via taking a risky path through that ocean behind us—" Spec gestures to the Web Sea behind them. "Or by taking a much more consistent path into the city."
Alexis tilts his head to the side. "Why even bother with the city? The ocean's right here."
Spec gives him an uneasy look. "Because the ocean is full of fish that disintegrate you."
Alexis rolls his eyes. "Of course it is. And the city?"
Spec sighs, pointing off into the distance. "It's roughly 10 million miles thhhhataway."
Alexis and Spec meet each other's gaze, exchanging words silently. After a few seconds, Spec speaks up. "City?"
