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Well this is not correct.
Absentmindedly, the man unfolded his coat and donned it, breath fogging the air as he surveyed the cramped space illuminated by the portal’s light.
Empty other than a pile of rags at his feet. Ugh. A hand? Was that a corpse in there?
Stupid compass.
The compass in question rattled as he shook it vigorously, needle undeterred from its now slow, relentless spin, as if mocking him for even trying.
Here it is. Your home. This lovely little jail cell.
The portal flared again, and soft feet tapped down behind him. He whirled on the new arrival.
“Is this some kind of sick joke?”
Laurence faltered at the tone, eyes flicking around the cramped space, “N-no! Certainly not a joke. I just thought….”
“Thought what, that I wasn't tired of embarrassing myself? That I should be ashamed?”
“I-”
CRACK
The buzz of the portal cut out abruptly, silence punctuated by a pained gasp and chattering teeth.
“And now I need to unfold a light. What help you are.”
“I’m sorry, I-....sir. It was just… I thought we’d find….”
“Iris?”
The sound creaked out of the pile of rags, barely bleeding past cracked and frozen lips.
The man nudged the heap with his boot, unrolling what - at some point - was probably a Lily. It turned weakly, hand blindly grasping for him.
“Iris, is that you?”
Revolted, he stepped back, “Laurence, enough of your games. Get me back to my lab and then clean up this mess.”
There was a beat before Laurence straightened, hand falling away from the mark left on his face, “Yes, sir.”
The man sighed fondly, pausing halfway through the new portal, “For the last time, Laurence. We’ve known each other forever. You can call me Irid.”
The room went quiet and dark once more, before a wheezing sob was choked back into silence.
“Oh no no. I'm so sorry. Lillium?” Warm hands, gentle on his broken body, the voice all wrong.
“Are you … no. Stupid question, “ the hum began anew as Laurence opened another portal.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
Lillium didn't have any tears left to cry.