You are here and so are we, let’s continue the good work, shall we? The summer will be over before you know it, so hunker down and make these last few weeks more productive than the last. When you’re done grinding like a boss, wind down with the best serial fiction on the internet. It’s a good way to decompress and take your mind off the rat race.
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Parallel Principle #8 : Pay attention to the details.
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You know what they say, the devil’s in the details. Paying attention to the features and characteristics of potential friends can show that you take an interest in their humanity. It can also help you identify red flags. Not every influential personality is beneficial to your journey, so keep your eyes peeled for negative traits or actions that aren’t conducive to lasting friendship.
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If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the 2022 Annual Issue, it’s a great setup for this year’s Crossover Event.
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PRL Crossover Event:
An Earther in the Fonlands
from The Deft Hands of Zacchaeus – 3 – I Wonder What Have I Done Wrong
“…No science currently available to any being of the universe is capable of movement from outside the universe, where Illuminatos resides, to any location inside of it. Only arcane knowledge can achieve that, which humanity refers to as magic.”
Introduction
“You are a long way from home,” a voice said across the void.
“It is nice to see you too, Talj,” the figure in the shape of a man said. He was outside of everything that was, and he was dwarfed by the glowing superstructure in front of him. He couldn’t see the entirety of the superstructure, just the glowing face of Talj.
“When I see you, I can’t help but wonder if it is a violation of some kind,” Talj said. Its face was sculpted into the glow; two eyes like marbles set into the surface and a mouth that opened and closed to reveal the glowing interior.
“I am Vodun, there are no rules or laws for one such as myself to violate.”
“Well, tiny Vodun, to what do I owe this pleasure? And it is truly a pleasure indeed, it seems that I am unique in the cluster. I have called and called with no answer save you tiny Vodun who make your way here. It can get lonely.”
“I can’t even imagine. You are the living universe, seemingly unique in all of the superstructure. I come for your wisdom and nothing else. Tell me your stories and I will listen. Or, if you prefer, we can have a conversation. Whatever you like. I am your humble student.”
Talj eyed the Vodun who was very tiny from its perspective. It wanted to be skeptical, these Vodun who come and gawk at it are beings of some other universe on the superstructure and in all of Talj’s existence, it had never encountered a being of any universe, including itself. But to commiserate with another sentience was relief from the quiet monotony of the void.
“I was not always like this,” Talj said after a short time of resistance. “I have parents, two universes who met to form me. I am a junction universe and I remember the long lives of my parents. They are still with me…”
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This week:
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Zacchaeus finally got what he schemed for way back in the Interim Shorts and the sublime took him to Universe Prime 5, home to an Earth that has been infiltrated by the Fonlands. Despite the fantastic elements of this new Earth, there are familiar real world conditions that Zacchaeus had only known as the history of his Earth.
A Sublime Excursion (The Deft Hands of Zacchaeus Limited Series): “‘Is this Earth?’ Zacchaeus asked as he stood from the grass in the swamp that was alive with what he assumed to be fireflies or other bioluminescent insects. The water of the swamp that he had fallen into glowed as though the swamp was wired with hidden lights.”
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Coffey welcomes the presence of the other-Earth Earther. It’s nice to not be the new kid anymore. But she doesn’t get to enjoy that feeling for long. Lêgba is stalking the dark and he likes to collect rare things.
The Divine Essence: “As Zacchaeus told them about his life on a different Earth, a man dressed in dark brown breeches and a long black coat that hung down to his knees with a top hat in his hands, stepped out of the dark forest to interrupt the Earther from a different Earth.”
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The manual said that no Vodun had ever been to Earth, so why was Lêgba at the Umbatia swamp? Someone should tell his family that he’s there, his parents seem pretty pissed.
Finding Lêgba (PRL Team-Up): “All of the thrones before the large bench were occupied, save one. The empty throne displayed the veve of Lêgba. The occupants of each throne had been having a lively discussion as Xêvioso sat in the high chair behind the bench and then called the gathering to order.”
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Thursday is still reeling from the identification of a spy within the ranks of the Idiot days, a spy other than himself I mean. If you can believe it, the startling revelations are only just beginning.
The Black Man Who Was Thursday: “Thursday was the last to leave the table and he watched as his four remaining compatriots left the restaurant. Sunday had left first, and when he was gone, Thursday turned to Monday and said, ‘He just let the spy get away like that?’”
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Lincoln has a tough life and most of his grief comes from his mother. But she isn’t a villain. There’s two sides to every story.
Sun of the Morning: “Zora liked to stand at the door of the nursery with her legs crossed, balancing lightly in the frame and resting on her shoulder. She looked at everything inside, considering each object.”
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Wes enjoys his Christmas at home with his wife, but he can’t help but worry about his uncle Thomas. Hopefully things are better for him since the difficulties he experienced at Thanksgiving.
Come Close: “Christmas that year was really nice even though my daughters spent the holiday in DC with my ex wife. Valeria and I enjoyed a peaceful, quiet evening at our home in the mountains after spending most of the morning and afternoon on video and phone calls with family.”
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It’s the PRL Serials Volume 2! Voted the number one self help guide of 2022…by someone!
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