Chapter 14: Underground Customs
I. The Rules Under the Surface
The world taught its children simple lessons—don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t eat the last cookie without asking, respect your friends’ boundaries. But for those on the Railroad, these sayings took on a life of their own, morphing into a hidden code—a way to talk about much more than snacks or borrowed jackets.
In survivor circles, “reaching in the cookie jar” meant taking part in energy exchanges, bonds, or relationships without first checking in with your team or clan. It wasn’t about policing intimacy—it was about respect, transparency, and the ripple effect every connection created. If you crossed a line without consensus, you risked not just hard feelings, but a subtle fracture in trust and resonance.
“Stop borrowing my things without asking” became the underground’s way of teaching energy hygiene. Every connection left traces. Partner swapping, emotional attachments, even sharing secrets—all these actions were felt by the network. You couldn’t hide the imprint, and pretending otherwise only caused more confusion and resentment.
⸻
II. Customs Not in the Manuals
These customs weren’t written in any official guide. No government, school, or clan issued rulebooks on astral or virtual boundaries. The only place to learn was through the underground: whispered stories, field notes, encoded music sets, and late-night conversations among survivors who knew how to feel the shifts.
Railroad operatives developed rituals to clear energy, check in with their circles, and repair trust after accidental crossings. “Before you reach, ask permission.” “Declare your intent, not just your desire.” “If you feel someone else’s frequency on you, name it, claim it, and clear it.”
⸻
III. The Real Cost
When people ignored these customs—treating partners, secrets, or emotional bonds as disposable—the consequences weren’t just personal. Whole teams destabilized, clan alliances faltered, and survivors lost their place on the Railroad. There were no official punishments, just the natural cost: • Isolation when trust was broken. • Confusion when too many frequencies tangled. • Burnout when energy was drained or never restored.
For Kellyanna’s circle, keeping these underground customs alive became a matter of survival, not just etiquette. They weren’t about controlling each other, but about making sure everyone could move safely, heal fully, and thrive in a world where official channels looked the other way.
⸻
IV. The Teaching Continues
The next generation learned these lessons the old way: in stories, in code, in the quiet honesty of circles where everyone had made a mistake and everyone was trying to do better. Kellyanna and her circle kept teaching—sometimes with humor, sometimes with hard-won wisdom.
Maybe someday the world would catch up. Until then, the Railroad kept the customs safe, one trusted friend at a time.
To be continued…
#customs #boundaries #underground #railroad #consent #energy #fieldnotes #trust #survivors