text: [Themes: Superhero, supernatural]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  The car is large and comfortable, but it's still just a traveling cage, upholstered in sleek grey. The control panel on his side flashes discreet symbols you never learned to read, but in the center of the dashboard is the stereo, and above it hangs a mirror. The car has a back seat as well as a front; usually his kind comes in groups. There's only a plain black briefcase back there, though.
  
  Galen is driving the car.
  
  The car stops. Galen touches the cuff around your wrist and looks past you at the men coming out of the house, loathing on his face. Then, coldly, he smiles and the cuff binding you, binding your power, opens. You are free, and all your fear transforms into exultation, and rage that seeks a target. Coming out of the house, your grandfather. And after-
  
  ***He'll never cage anybody again.***
  
  > ask Galen about the stereo
  He doesn't bother to respond.
  
  A large house comes into view around a gentle bend. Dread knots your stomach.
  
  > ask Galen about the fear
  You lean against the door, hugging your backpack and ask quietly, "Are you afraid of my grandfather?"
  
  You can see his jaw clench suddenly. Then he says quietly, "I'm afraid of being helpless." He pauses and then shrugs. "With your grandfather sometimes it's the same thing."
  
  > ask Galen about the revenge
  His eyes flick towards you and then back outside.
  
  More rain.
  
  > ask Galen about the love
  You can't figure out how to bring that topic up.
  
  The wind gusts, blowing the rain horizontal. The car stops. Galen leans back, sighing. He runs a hand through his hair, looking at you, something mysterious in his eyes. The front door of the house opens, and men in black suits come out. And after them- your grandfather. Galen releases the cuff from around his wrist and raises his hand to touch your cheek gently. "I'm sorry, Enra." Despair has never tasted so bitter.
  
  ***You did not escape***
  
  > examine your glasses
  Coppery round metal frames with iridescent butterflies dancing along the earpieces. They help you focus sometimes.
  
  A large house comes into view around a gentle bend. Dread knots your stomach.
  
  > tell Galen about yourself
  You sit quietly, looking at the rain streaming down the window. "My favorite flower is wisteria. My father's estate had an arbor just covered in it, and the scent would be so strong it dizzied me."
  
  "I know," he says softly.
  
  You glance at him quickly. "How do you know?"
  
  "You dream about it," he says simply.
  
  > tell Galen about the daddy
  His eyes flick towards you and then back outside.
  
  The car stops. Galen leans back, sighing. He runs a hand through his hair, looking at you, something mysterious in his eyes. The front door of the house opens, and men in black suits come out. And after them- your grandfather. Galen releases the cuff from around his wrist and raises his hand to touch your cheek gently. "I'm sorry, Enra." Despair has never tasted so bitter.
  
  ***You did not escape***
  
  > tell Galen about yourself
  You sit quietly, looking at the rain streaming down the window. "My favorite flower is wisteria. My father's estate had an arbor just covered in it, and the scent would be so strong it dizzied me."
  
  "I know," he says softly.
  
  You glance at him quickly. "How do you know?"
  
  "You dream about it," he says simply.
  
  The wind gusts, blowing the rain horizontal.
  
  > tell Galen about yourself
  The plan to make him see you as a person seems to be foiled by the strange looks he keeps giving you and the distinct impression you get that he already sees you quite personally.
  
  More rain.
  
  More lightning.
  
  > tell Galen about Bobby
  "I wonder if I'll ever see Bobby again," you muse.
  
  "Probably not," he says, his words clipped and angry.
  
  Thunder.
  
  > tell Galen about Grandfather
  "Do you know what kind of man my grandfather is?" you demand. "He's not a kindly old man. He doesn't want to spoil me rotten. He wants to put me in his lab and take me apart."
  
  White knuckles. He takes a deep breath and mutters, "I wish I knew what to do."
  
  > tell Galen about yourself
  You clear your throat. "I was pretty upset at you for kidnapping me." You hesitate. "But since it seems like you were in the same situation as myself... I don't think we need to worry about it anymore."
  
  He studies you. "That's kind of you. Since I'd like to talk to you again in the future..."
  
  > Keep going
  You're not sure you trust him... but in the end, you just got scared a little. You can forgive that, under the circumstances.
  
  Galen throws an annoyed look up at the sky.
  
  > tell Galen about Grandfather
  "My grandfather, the bastard." you comment.
  
  "You're too kind," he observes.
  
  You shrug. "I'm keeping it PG."
  
  Galen stretches his hand, watching as it closes into a fist.
  
  > tell Galen about Bobby
  "I hope he's not too worried about me."
  
  "I'm sure he isn't."
  
  > tell Galen about Bobby
  "You are a bastard, but that doesn't mean you're bad," you inform him thoughtfully.
  
  "Thanks," he says dryly.
  
  He seems to have a poor opinion of Bobby.
  
  > ask Galen about Bobby
  "Come on, what is this problem you have with Bobby?"
  
  Galen growls, "He's a worm. If he'd understood what you were, I could have paid him to turn you over to me. Anyone could have, and he wouldn't have asked for very much. He let me have you at the park."
  
  > ask Galen about Bobby
  You hesitate. "Really?"
  
  He pauses, and his voice is a bit softer. "I've learned to recognise the scent, and I've seen his dreams."
  
  Galen takes the next exit, which is an interchange. You're now running parallel to the storm rather than driving into it.
  
  > ask Galen about Bobby
  "What was in his dreams?" you ask nervously.
  
  "Your nightmares. Domination. Degredation," he says.
  
  The car takes the upcoming offramp.
  
  > ask Galen about Bobby
  You're not sure you believe him, but you always knew, deep inside, that Bobby was charming, not virtuous. You wanted something human.
  
  Galen glances over at you, an odd look on his face.
  
  > tell Galen about Bobby
  "I really liked Bobby,' you say sadly.
  
  He sighs. "I know."
  
  Galen leans back in his seat. This is a rather nice part of the city, but not where you would have expected to find yourself.
  
  > ask Galen about Galen
  "So, what are you going to do now?" you ask.
  
  "Oh, I'll be paying one last visit to your grandfather. He won't like that very much at all." Galen smiles unpleasantly.
  
  It looks like the freeway is curving back around to the city.
  
  > ask Galen about Galen
  "Um. What will you do after you... visit... my grandfather?"
  
  He glances over at you. "I haven't decided."
  
  As you pass by a park, the car turns into the parking lot. A moment later, Galen has parked the car. He turns toward you, a half-smile on his face. Then he brushes his fingers on the panel and the door beside you clicks as well.
  
  "Go on, get out of here."
  
  > ask Galen about Galen
  There's suddenly so much to ask that a thousand unasked questions beat each other into the silence that emerges. You'll clearly need some time to put your thoughts in order before you can interrogate Galen further.
  
  A bird flies across the front of the car.
  
  > look at Galen
  He's actually kind of attractive, now that you think about it. Not pretty, like Bobby, but there's something there that makes him not unpleasant to look at.
  
  His suit is very fine, although it bears the signs of being driven in for many hours. It's typical Man In Black garb. His hair has been tousled from its previous immaculate state.
  
  > ask Galen about the hair
  His eyes flick towards you and then back outside.
  
  > ask Galen about human
  He doesn't bother to respond.
  
  A gaggle of children races down the sidewalk into the park.
  
  > turn on the stereo
  You tuck a strand of hair behind an ear and flick the stereo on. Running your fingers across the touchpad, you make haunting cello strains fill the vehicle.
  
  The beautiful sonorous chords of cello music flood the car.
  
  > tell Galen about the dreams
  "I remember you, from my dreams." You close your eyes. "You were a presence watching me. At first I thought you were just another of the ephemera, but there's something different about your presence there." He is quiet, but you can sense that he is listening closely to you.
  
  The cement is drying outside.
  
  > tell Galen about the dreams
  "You didn't intrude, for which I'm grateful." There's a bit of heat in your cheeks. "You were just on the edges, a shadow in a cloak of black wings, with burning eyes, watching. And getting closer."
  
  He smiles faintly at your description of him.
  
  > listen
  The beautiful sonorous chords of cello music flood the car.
  
  For a moment there's a bit of blue sky in the shifting clouds overhead.
  
  > ask Galen about the wings
  Look, it's plain to see, he doesn't have wings. Just a rumpled suit. And you don't have wings (which is a pity), and there aren't any pet birds in the car.
  
  > examine the mirror
  Yourself. You usually avoid mirrors because they always make you feel like you're falling, like if you don't hang on you'll slip to the other side and never find your way back.
  
  > Kiss galen
  The mood has to be right...
  
  > ask Galen about the mirror
  He just shakes his head, very slightly.
  
  A kid on a scooter zooms by.
  
  > ask Galen about dreams
  You frown. "How did you find me in my dreams? You did it, I know it was you chasing me."
  
  He turns to look at you. "I know about you, Enra. I haven't just read the files, I've been in your dreams. Whatever you are, you make me look ordinary."
  
  > ask Galen about Galen
  There's suddenly so much to ask that a thousand unasked questions beat each other into the silence that emerges. You'll clearly need some time to put your thoughts in order before you can interrogate Galen further.
  
  > ask Galen about the dreams
  "How did you get into my dreams?" You enunciate carefully.
  
  He sighs. "I just do it. I've always been able to do it. It's just something I do."
  
  > ask Galen about the dreams
  Man, his special abilities aren't well-documented at all.
  
  Galen looks out the window.
  
  > tell Galen about the stephen
  He has nothing but silence to offer you.
  
  Galen shifts in his seat.
  
  > look at the galen's eyes
  Good humor flickers in his eyes as he keeps an eye on you as well as the surrounding park.
  
  A baseball flies over the roof of the car. A moment later, a girl scrambles after it.
  
  > ask Galen about the home
  There's not a flicker of expression on that face.
  
  "So where are you from?" you ask.
  
  He says, "Oh, the city."
  
  Galen rubs a spot under his eye.
  
  > ask Galen about the city
  "Do you like the city?" you ask.
  
  He looks out the window. "It's not too bad," he says.
  
  > ask Galen about family
  "Do you have any family?" you ask.
  
  He smiles. "Siblings only."
  
  > ask Galen about the siblings
  "What's it like, having siblings?" you ask.
  
  "We fight a lot," he admits. "There's always some drama going on. I miss them."
  
  > ask Galen about the siblings
  "So, are you going home to your siblings after this?" you ask.
  
  "I suppose I will eventually." He gives you a little smile. "But not yet, I think."
  
  > ask Galen about the home
  "Are you really from the city?" you ask him suspiciously.
  
  He chuckles. "A city, certainly."
  
  > ask Galen about the sword
  He just shakes his head, very slightly.
  
  > ask Galen about the home
  "What's your home like, then?" you ask.
  
  "My home in this city is an apartment. I keep my collections there," he explains.
  
  > ask Galen about the collections
  "What do you collect?" you ask.
  
  "Stained glass. Old maps." He shrugs. "They pass the time, and remind me of home."
  
  > ask Galen about the stained glass
  "Don't you enjoy your hobbies?" you ask curiously.
  
  Another shrug. "It's better than stamps." He considers. "I suppose I have grown fond of some of the pieces."
  
  > ask Galen about the stained glass
  His collection sounds very pretty, and you'd love to hear more about it. But conversations like that are best had while sprawled on a couch, surrounded by the subject matter.
  
  > ask Galen about the maps
  His collection sounds very pretty, and you'd love to hear more about it. But conversations like that are best had while sprawled on a couch, surrounded by the subject matter.
  
  A homeless lady with two full shopping bags wanders by.
  
  > ask Galen about the love
  The word "thank" is not necessary in this story.
  
  You have a feeling that'd be an uncomfortable conversation for both of you at this point.
  
  Galen rubs a spot under his eye.
  
  > ask Galen about the hopes
  He has nothing but silence to offer you.
  
  Galen looks out the window. A dog races down the sidewalk, its leash trailing behind it. A shouting, grinning child chases after.
  
  > ask Galen about the car
  "So, how about this car," you murmur.
  
  He glances at you. "I didn't catch that."
  
  "Never mind," you say.
  
  > take the cuff
  You are already carrying the cuff.
  
  > tell Galen about the car
  You say thoughtfully, "I guess it's not a terrible car. It needs a wash, though."
  
  He simply doesn't bother to answer that.
  
  > wear the cuff
  No way.
  
  > examine the necklace
  The pendant is a flat, seven-sided crystal, in which a tiny downy feather has been imprisoned. The chain melds organically to the pendant, the links narrowing to a tiny filigree as they intersect the pendant. Holding it in your hand, you can feel the quiet thrum of an alien power in the artifact.
  
  > put the necklace on Galen
  There's no good surface on Galen.
  
  A pair of students with brightly colored hair wander by, arguing loudly.
  
  > Wear necklace
  You slip the chain over your head.
  
  > Break cuff
  Stomping on it won't work. And it'd be best if this sort of thing couldn't cage you ever again. So you decide to spend the time and focus yourself on the cuff, analyzing every aspect of it. When you're done, you tell the cuff to stop existing. With a puff of dust, it is gone.
  
  A child carrying a pair of rollerblades marches past.
  
  > ask Galen about the family
  He's got siblings somewhere that he misses, but he's not going home yet. Hmm.
  
  > ask Galen about Grandfather
  You're certain, based on recent events, that he hates your grandfather as much as you do. Maybe even more.
  
  Galen leans back in his seat.
  
  > ask Galen about the destination
  You're there now.
  
  A man carrying a sign saying 'God Loves' wanders by.
  
  > ask Galen about the future
  He just shakes his head, very slightly.
  
  > ask Galen about yourself
  "So," you say. "You're not mad at me or anything, right?"
  
  He gives you a quizzical look. "I'm very happy with you."
  
  The sun peeks out from behind the clouds for just a moment.
  
  > Kiss galen
  The mood has to be right...
  
  Galen shifts in his seat.
  
  > examine the sun
  The sun's just behind that cloud.
  
  > examine seat
  (the front seat)
  A comfortable bucket seat.
  
  > Recline seat
  Thick, puffy clouds, so pale as to be white, almost cover the sky.
  
  Galen throws an annoyed look up at the sky.
  
  The word "recline" is not necessary in this story.
  
  > go outside
  (first opening the car door)
  You open the door.
  You slide out of the car.
  
  There's comfortable scent of wet sidewalk and shattered ozone. Whirling autumn leaves race down the gutter as the late afternoon sky brightens overhead. To the south, there's a park, and beyond that, the embrace of the city awaits.
  
  > go north
  The car is large and comfortable, upholstered in sleek grey. The control panel on his side flashes discreet symbols you never learned to read, but in the center of the dashboard is the stereo, and above it hangs a mirror. The car has a back seat as well as a front; usually his kind comes in groups. There's only a plain black briefcase back there, though.
  
  Galen is lounging inside the car.
  
  The beautiful sonorous chords of cello music flood the car.
  
  > Go outside
  You slide out of the car.
  
  There's comfortable scent of wet sidewalk and shattered ozone. Whirling autumn leaves race down the gutter as the late afternoon sky brightens overhead. To the south, there's a park, and beyond that, the embrace of the city awaits.
  
  > Go east
  You can't go that way. Obvious exits lead back to the north and south.
  
  > examine the park
  You can see a playground with a merry-go-round and swings, as well as a large field where some children are chasing a black dog across the wet grass.
  
  > look at car
  The car that took you so far... Man, it's dirty.
  
  It's open.
  
  > Close car
  Closed.
  
  > open the car
  Opened.
  
  > go north
  The car is large and comfortable, upholstered in sleek grey. The control panel on his side flashes discreet symbols you never learned to read, but in the center of the dashboard is the stereo, and above it hangs a mirror. The car has a back seat as well as a front; usually his kind comes in groups. There's only a plain black briefcase back there, though.
  
  Galen is lounging inside the car.
  
  The beautiful sonorous chords of cello music flood the car.
  
  A pair of teenagers wander by, sharing a cigarette.
  
  > give the necklace to Galen
  (first taking the necklace off)
  You offer the necklace back to him, dangling from your fingers.
  
  "Keep it," he says. "I do not want it."
  
  > give the shades to Galen
  Galen considers the sunglasses, and then shrugs dismissively.
  
  > give your sunglasses to Galen
  Galen considers the sunglasses, and then shrugs dismissively.
  
  A squirrel drags a little paper bag across the parking lot.
  
  > hug Galen
  You lean over and hug Galen. He seems to enjoy it, in a reserved and silent kind of way.
  
  > hug you
  Galen just shakes his head.