My labour of love to the Rayman franchise: Recalescence.
Set right after the ending of Rayman Origins, Ales Mansay is defeated and while his plans have crumbled, others have just begun to unfold.
Words: 1526
Characters: Mr. Dark, Ales Mansay
Content and warnings: Hurt/Comfort, mentions of trauma (bullying), inferiority complex, venting/unintended trauma dumping, emotional catharsis
Summary: A failed expedition takes another turn when Mr. Dark addresses Ales' concerning behaviour, leading them to face those demons together.
Sudden rainfall was never unexpected in the depths of Jibberish Jungle. The dense tree tops offered mild protection from the cascade above, just enough for two visitors to not get drenched. Seeking shelter now that their mission to obtain more lums had failed, they scannered the area for a proper haven, the smallest of the two piping up by spotting one.
”Over there!” Throwing his bag of tools over his shoulder, the teensie hurried into the small cave he had discovered. Behind him, his companion wandered with slow steps as he was in no rush to get out of the rain. Instead he observed the other, his hidden eyes narrowing more while predicting what would happen next.
Once inside, the sorcerer in blue crouched down to sit and effortlessly dried himself off with a simple handwave. The water soaked into his garments evaporated in seconds, leaving him content but not satisfied. Looking over at his ally again, he saw him scramble to get everything into place. The bag of nets and cages only got more damaged as the teensie tried to sort it out, sealing it all up with a small huff.
”Sorry the weather didn’t stay nice for that long, I had hoped our first expedition together had been longer. I was so surprised when you asked to come along!” Wandering back over while wringing the water out of his sleeve, the teensie had barely sat down before he stood right up again hastily. ”It’s been a long day, you must be hungry! Stay here, I’ll get you something to eat!”
Before the wizard could respond, he watched his minion rush back out into the pouring rain. Just as expected. Without any motion or any shift of expression in his eyes, the villain waited displeased.
After a long span of time, the sound of small feet echoed in the cave as the teensie arrived, holding his hat which appeared to be distorted in shape. His return didn’t prompt the sorcerer to look in his direction, listening to the sounds of fruit being put in front of him instead.
”I found a lot of fresh stuff! Only the best for you and- Oh, that’s right. You only eat alone.” Forgetting that detail about his idol, he pondered some before coming up with a solution and continuing his ramble. ”That’s okay! I can just go outside, wait until you’re done and-”
”STOP.”
Being cut off by the sudden command and the aggravated tone, the small creature flinched greatly with obsidian eyes widening in combined confusion and fear. Looking up hesitantly, he was met with a harsh, burning glare by the mage. He glanced down with nervous fidgets of his hands, too anxious to talk or look at him. Yet his vision lifted right back up by hearing more stern words.
”You always do this, Ales.” Voicing his irritation with obvious pent up anger, the limbless nightmare kept his focus right on his ally who trembled visibly by the accusation. ”You always put my needs above your own. Always throwing yourself into danger and distress. This pampering of yours… I do not appreciate it.”
Pausing slightly to let everything sink in, the sorcerer saw how it affected his minion who seemed at a loss for words. His lips pressed together in shame while he processed it all, only to pivot back to his usual response.
”I’m sorry, Mr. Dark… I-…” Nothing else left him before he was cut off again with a swift hand motion from the villain, drawing a small wail out of the teensie.
”And stop apologizing! You apologize for everything, whether it is your doing or not!” Now his tone had hit the boiling point of frustration, his claws slightly digging into his blue cloak. While knowing how much it stung for the teensie to hear it, he also knew it was the only way to get him to listen. Seeing the regret in Ales’ eyes did cause him to soften his voice, having gotten the biggest point across.
”I joined you today because I need to talk to you, away from home with no distractions or interuptions. We can not go on like this. Now explain.” Mr. Dark demanded with his hands resting in his lap, watching his ally’s expression sink into further confusion.
”E-explain what?” Ales peeped, knowing full well yet wanting to avoid the conversation.
”Explain why you do these things.” The mage emphasized, trying his best to stay patient. His response made the teensie stare into thin air with eyes shifting from side to side, scrambling to find answers for a while before speaking.
”I… I just want to be good enough for you...” His vision started to blur slightly as the urge to cry grew, yet it vanished instantly by the resurfacing of old rage. ”I’ve never been good enough! Are you going to blame me for wanting to be the best I can be!? You know what I’ve been through!”
Ales’ anger sparked more as he stared his idol right in the eyes and pointed at him with little to no reaction from the nightmare, the latter merely listening while giving him space to rant. ”I’ll never be good enough for anyone! I can’t do the one thing I should have been gifted with! Magic was my birthright and I was robbed of it! How do you think I felt being reminded every day that I am a failure as a teensie!? Everyone abandoned me, even my parents! And you have the nerve to-…!”
Clasping his hands over his mouth after a short gasp, the teensie’s eyes dilated by realizing the amount of trapped feelings he had unleashed out of his control. He expected to be scolded more for daring to stand up to the mage. Yet nothing was uttered. Removing his shaky hands and putting them down by his hips, Ales peered up to face whatever was in store for him.
However, he was met with a gentle gaze from the sorcerer whose body language had become relaxed and strangely vulnerable.
”Do I make you feel like you are not good enough?” Mr. Dark asked with a voice of genuine concern, the question causing the teensie to instantly jump and reply frantically.
”N-no! It’s not you, it’s me! It’s only me. I don’t make myself feel good enough... I’m sorry…”
Looking down in discomfiture, Ales held himself while sitting down with a low huff and a clear attempt to not cry. It did not go unnoticed as the mage sighed muffled, reaching his hand out slowly. The every ends of his fingertips rested underneath the teensie’s chin and tipped it up carefully, watching his claws. The move surprised the little being and his beady eyes homed in on the wizard in anticipation.
”I am sorry for pushing you like this. It seemed that you would have held it all in forever if I had not intervened. But it was still cruel of me.” Mr. Dark confessed with an even more humane touch to his voice, his apology bewildering the teensie and intensifying his attention.
”I know you have been hurt and I can not take that pain away from you. Condemn those who wronged you, not yourself. You do not need to apologize for anything you do. You do not need to impress me. I have already accepted you.”
Speaking with rare kindness, the sorcerer shifted his palm to instead align with the teensie’s cheek followed by the faintest of caresses.
”You are good enough, Ales. You have always good enough for me. You do not need to be anything else but yourself. Do not put yourself down.”
Ending his speech and withdrawing his hand, the wizard remembered how drenched his ally still was and lifted one finger upwards to steam the water out of the black clothing with his magic. Ales’ eyes did not move at all by feeling the warmth return to his body, staring enamored at his friend and replaying his words in his mind. With one blink finally, he shuddered by suddenly feeling tears stream down his face and used both hands to wipe them away with an expression of befuddlement.
”What, I-..” The teensie sputtered by the overwhelming emotion and inability to stop himself from crying, trying to turn away but stopping by feeling a tender hand on his shoulder.
”Do not hold back. Cry all you need.”
Hearing more caring words from the mage only had the teensie in more tears, impulsively launching forwards to cling to his idol for comfort. The action startled the both of them as neither were used to physical contact, the smaller of the two instantly parting his lips to apologize. But he paused and said nothing instead, shaking slightly by the feeling of acting on his own whims without shame.
Hiding his face away in the deep blue fabric, Ales sobbed softly and curled in on himself with a whine by the sorcerer placing his palm along his back to soothe him. With no words shared between them and without the need to, only the sound of the outside rain was heard for a long time.
Figured I should make an update; I have not given up on my comic, far from. Motivation has been very, very low. But now that the christmas season is over, I plan to return to updating Recalescence in the new year. Can't stop now when it's backstory time.
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