"YOU SMELL OF DEAD FLOWERS..." @aroace-fleetway - Tumblr Blog

[ Kylie screamed- falling through some sort of mirror-.. ]

[ Unfortunately landing right in front of Reactor. ]

OW! FUCK, holy-

[ She hissed, loudly whispering- head snapping up to look at Reactor and went silent immediately. ]

@asexualkylie

[REACTOR WAS RATHER RUDELY INTERRUPTED FROM WHAT HE WAS DOING— CLEANING A WEAPON HE KEPT STORED.]

[A... POORLY PAINTED PIKO PIKO HAMMER.]

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HER FROM OVER HIS GLASSES, SEEMING RATHER... UNIMPRESSED. PUTTING DOWN THE CLOTH, HE TWIRLED THE SHAFT OF THE HAMMER BEFORE RESTING IT ON HIS SHOULDER...]

[...AND... OFFERED HER A HAND UP?]

YOU GOOD? SWEAR I'VE KNOWN A FACE LIKE YOURS BEFORE..

asexualkylie

[ Kylie took his hand...- Before immediately wrenching the hammer out of his hands and looking straight up at where she fell from. ]

HEY, DUDE- don't know who you are or how you got here- how I got here, 'scuse my manners- but-

[ Something fell into the room with her- thick and viscous. She gritted her teeth, bracing herself to swing the hammer- knocking it right out the window. She stood up properly, brushing quills back and any stray strands of hair out of her face. ]

Fwoo..

Haven't known a face like yours outside of comic books. Who are you?

[ She so naturally held the hammer- almost seeming to forget she just ripped it out of his hands. She immediately realized after assuming a casual posture, handing it back awkwardly- regardless of how coolly she tried to brush it off. ]

[ Despite returning the weapon, she still eyed Reactor. Albeit in his eyes, she may be the intruder- Kylie is just as clueless as to how she got here as him. She, if need be- was obviously prepared to whoop his ass. ]

[HE TILTED HIS HEAD CURIOUSLY, LEANING TOWARDS THE WINDOW TO TRY AND SEE THE THING SHE'D HIT. A LITTLE CHUFF OF AMUSEMENT ESCAPED HIM.]

HUH. WOULDJA LOOK AT THAT.

[THE HAZARD DUSTED OFF THE WEAPON AS SHE HANDED IT BECAUSE, SETTING IT BACK ON THE TABLE BEHIND HIM AND LEANING ON IT, CROSSING HIS ARMS.]

TH' NAME'S REACTOR. MAKES SENSE YOU'D RECOGNIZE ME FROM A COMIC, I AM TECHNICALLY A VARIATION OF A COMIC CHARACTER...

[FOURTH WALL BREAK!]

[HE HELD OUT A HAND FOR HER TO SHAKE, LOOKING AT THE OTHER TO CHECK OUT HIS CLAWS.]

RADIOACTIVE RODENT, NUCLEAR MENACE, YOU GET THE IDEA. DON'T HOLD ON FOR TOO LONG, I BURN.

[REACTOR GRINNED, SHOWING OFF SHARP TEETH.]

MIND TELLIN' ME WHAT YOU'RE DOIN' IN MY SHED?

[ Kylie screamed- falling through some sort of mirror-.. ]

[ Unfortunately landing right in front of Reactor. ]

OW! FUCK, holy-

[ She hissed, loudly whispering- head snapping up to look at Reactor and went silent immediately. ]

@asexualkylie

[REACTOR WAS RATHER RUDELY INTERRUPTED FROM WHAT HE WAS DOING— CLEANING A WEAPON HE KEPT STORED.]

[A... POORLY PAINTED PIKO PIKO HAMMER.]

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HER FROM OVER HIS GLASSES, SEEMING RATHER... UNIMPRESSED. PUTTING DOWN THE CLOTH, HE TWIRLED THE SHAFT OF THE HAMMER BEFORE RESTING IT ON HIS SHOULDER...]

[...AND... OFFERED HER A HAND UP?]

YOU GOOD? SWEAR I'VE KNOWN A FACE LIKE YOURS BEFORE..

#REACTORWAY'S ASKBOX

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

"What did you say before that happened, Reactor?"

( Maizey's eyelashes fluttered with very gentle blinking, pursing her lips slightly before sucking them back in. )

"I agree, that shouldn't have been done behind your back- violence is to be expected upon sudden intrusions.. But I wonder where it went awry. After that explanation- what was your response?" "What prompted that seemingly uncharacteristic comment from her?"

( Maizey's mouth twitched, but she didn't show any outward signs of having an outburst or yelling, she was genuinely trying to level with him. It seems all she's had to do in the past while made masking frustration or even terror a bit more difficult. )

"Let us work through this."

I...

[HE CLEARED HIS THROAT, AVERTING HIS GAZE TO ANYTHING AT ALL— EVENTUALLY JUST STARING AT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM.]

I SAID IT WASN'T MY PROBLEM.

( The chirping of birds and cicadas immediately went quiet. )

"..come again?"

"No- no, itmf ftq tqxx pup kag vgef fqxx yq? Itmf ftq tqxx pup kag emk? Dqbqmf kagdeqxr."

IT WASN'T MY—

[HE SHRUNK DOWN WITH THE CHANGE OF VOICE, EARS LOWERING AS HE HELD HIMSELF TIGHTER.]

I WAS— I WAS ANGRY IN TH' MOMENT— I GET THAT WASN'T RIGHT OF ME TO SAY. I—

"..Wasn't your what?"

( Maizey closed her eyes for a second, reopening them after she seemed to have regained her composure. )

"I'm incredibly disappointed. Oh, goodness- your caution is justified but after hearing her admission of struggle, you decide to prove her initial terror of you right?"

"I do not care how angry you might've been, Reactor. I've seen much better from you and surprising amounts of self control and composure. I.. Understand everyone has their limits-"

"..."

"No point beating a point into you that you- already understand! Hah. Well, take me there. I'll see if I can fix this, you don't have to worry about it."

...MY PROBLEM.

[HE MUTTERED, TURNING IN THE AIR TO LEAD HER BACK TO HIS HOME, GLOW SIGNIFICANTLY DULLED.]

. . .

[AND THEN THEY WERE STARING AT THE STILL-FRESHLY CHARRED CORPSE ON THE FLOOR.]

[REACTOR LOOKED VISIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE, LETTING OUT A SHAKY LITTLE SIGH NOW THAT HE WAS FORCED TO ACTUALLY TAKE IN WHAT HE'D DONE.]

...I DON'T...

( Maizey crouched down next to the corpse, deciding to save comforting Reactor for after she dealt with the.. )

( She stared at that version of herself- charred and lifeless. )

( She gently rested her hands upon the lifeless version of herself, eyes fluttering closed. Instead of restoring Crow- she was bringing the other Maizey back as herself. ) ( She tentatively ran her fingers over the scars- gentle as she restored the tissue entirely. She softly hummed, after having restored the outside- her hands still lingered as though they were aiding the other Maizey's insides. )

[ Little white colored blooms sprouted in the other's fluff and hair. ]

"..There we go, she should wake up any moment now."

[MIRRORING HER ACTION, HE SAT BACK ON HIS HAUNCHES, GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT HIS 'HANDIWORK.']

I SHOULD... APOLOGIZE, TO HER. WH-WHEN SHE'S UP.

[HE RAN A HANDS THROUGH HIS QUILLS, BROWS CREASED, TAIL OCCASIONALLY FLICKING AS HE WAITED.]

'S THE LEAST I COULD DO.

@vandjonah

[The other Maizey sits up with a gasp, almost bumping heads with the other two. She looks around frantically, even behind her before looking back at the ones who had both killed and saved her.]

" Oh- I always hated feeling like that. .. dear godsdd .

"Dear- how did you.. Get like that? The- blue fur?"

( Maizey thought maybe.. Just maybe a few things could wait to be addressed before that big question. )

"Take your time, breathe-"

[The other Maizey only needed a few seconds of squeezing her eyes shut before she could calm herself down.]

Nono I get it- I need to work fast . I… we failed, we didn’t know we could help Them and we couldn’t stop the dayT . Every part of us was slowly replaced and no matter how I tried to heal them before the wounds overtook no matter if I tried to fight- dammit .

It’s his fault , right . ?

[REACTOR LOOKED AWAY GUILTILY, RUBBING HIS SHOULDER.]

IT... IT IS, YEAH. I DID THAT.

I UH... WANTED TO SAY SORRY.

[HIS EARS LOWERED BEFORE LOOKING BACK AT HER, FULLY SERIOUS.]

IT, UH, WASN'T RIGHT F'ME TO DO THAT. WHAT I DID. I WAS ANGRY, TIRED, CONFUSED, IT WAS EARLY— BUT I STILL SHOULDN'TVE.

I CAN'T MAKE UP FOR WHAT I DID, I GET THAT. BUT, UH... AT LEAST TAKE MY APOLOGY. Y'DON'T HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.

[HIS APOLOGY SOUNDED EARNEST, AT LEAST. THERE WAS THAT.]

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

"What did you say before that happened, Reactor?"

( Maizey's eyelashes fluttered with very gentle blinking, pursing her lips slightly before sucking them back in. )

"I agree, that shouldn't have been done behind your back- violence is to be expected upon sudden intrusions.. But I wonder where it went awry. After that explanation- what was your response?" "What prompted that seemingly uncharacteristic comment from her?"

( Maizey's mouth twitched, but she didn't show any outward signs of having an outburst or yelling, she was genuinely trying to level with him. It seems all she's had to do in the past while made masking frustration or even terror a bit more difficult. )

"Let us work through this."

I...

[HE CLEARED HIS THROAT, AVERTING HIS GAZE TO ANYTHING AT ALL— EVENTUALLY JUST STARING AT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM.]

I SAID IT WASN'T MY PROBLEM.

( The chirping of birds and cicadas immediately went quiet. )

"..come again?"

"No- no, itmf ftq tqxx pup kag vgef fqxx yq? Itmf ftq tqxx pup kag emk? Dqbqmf kagdeqxr."

IT WASN'T MY—

[HE SHRUNK DOWN WITH THE CHANGE OF VOICE, EARS LOWERING AS HE HELD HIMSELF TIGHTER.]

I WAS— I WAS ANGRY IN TH' MOMENT— I GET THAT WASN'T RIGHT OF ME TO SAY. I—

"..Wasn't your what?"

( Maizey closed her eyes for a second, reopening them after she seemed to have regained her composure. )

"I'm incredibly disappointed. Oh, goodness- your caution is justified but after hearing her admission of struggle, you decide to prove her initial terror of you right?"

"I do not care how angry you might've been, Reactor. I've seen much better from you and surprising amounts of self control and composure. I.. Understand everyone has their limits-"

"..."

"No point beating a point into you that you- already understand! Hah. Well, take me there. I'll see if I can fix this, you don't have to worry about it."

...MY PROBLEM.

[HE MUTTERED, TURNING IN THE AIR TO LEAD HER BACK TO HIS HOME, GLOW SIGNIFICANTLY DULLED.]

. . .

[AND THEN THEY WERE STARING AT THE STILL-FRESHLY CHARRED CORPSE ON THE FLOOR.]

[REACTOR LOOKED VISIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE, LETTING OUT A SHAKY LITTLE SIGH NOW THAT HE WAS FORCED TO ACTUALLY TAKE IN WHAT HE'D DONE.]

...I DON'T...

( Maizey crouched down next to the corpse, deciding to save comforting Reactor for after she dealt with the.. )

( She stared at that version of herself- charred and lifeless. )

( She gently rested her hands upon the lifeless version of herself, eyes fluttering closed. Instead of restoring Crow- she was bringing the other Maizey back as herself. ) ( She tentatively ran her fingers over the scars- gentle as she restored the tissue entirely. She softly hummed, after having restored the outside- her hands still lingered as though they were aiding the other Maizey's insides. )

[ Little white colored blooms sprouted in the other's fluff and hair. ]

"..There we go, she should wake up any moment now."

[MIRRORING HER ACTION, HE SAT BACK ON HIS HAUNCHES, GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT HIS 'HANDIWORK.']

I SHOULD... APOLOGIZE, TO HER. WH-WHEN SHE'S UP.

[HE RAN A HANDS THROUGH HIS QUILLS, BROWS CREASED, TAIL OCCASIONALLY FLICKING AS HE WAITED.]

'S THE LEAST I COULD DO.

@vandjonah

[ My bonnie lies over the ocean.... ]

Majin stood there, hands folded behind his back- eyes cast towards the ground. Before he spoke, his lip twitched- showing sharper canines hidden below his lips.

He sat down on the ground, hand gesturing towards the spot next to him.

How about you sit, friend?

@afaceyouknewbefore

EH—

WHA— ER— MAJ? AREN'T... YOU...

[THEY IMMEDIATELY SHRANK DOWN UPON HEARING HIS TONE, LIKE A FEARFUL DOG. EYES WIDE, HE IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN ON HIS KNEES, STARING AT HIS LAP.]

[OOOH... I FUCKED UP.]

afaceyouknewbefore

Do not try to lie to me or leave out key details- I have been seeing quite a lot just recently.. Your violence included. Do not insult me by trying to beat around the bush.

Majin brushed back his quills. His fingers flicked to a grey- just barely visible to be noticeable.

. . . Oh, but seriously- why would you care even? What were the words you used?.. Quite dignified ones, truly. Never doubted you were a man of many words. Hm.

IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.

Is that right? After personally insulting that girl- you found you were in the right to be angry with her? And I agree, this should've been communicated- but..

. . .

Ha! HA- oh, Reactor, I am on your side but you best pray there is some sort of remedy to what you have just done. Crow was quite the important girl- as Maizey herself, She's an anchor. Where does the ship go without one, Reactor? Where's it headed? Tell me. If you were so incredibly RASH I feel you'd-

Majin shut his trap, deciding to let Reactor speak- clearly biting back a lot more words that he felt he needed to share.

[THEIR MOUTH WENT FLAT, FUMBLING WITH THEIR HANDS.]

I— I WASN'T IN TH' RIGHT STATE OF MIND. I WAS TIRED, ANGRY, IT WAS EARLY— I GET THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID OR DONE THAT, BUT...

I DIDN'T KNOW. I SWEAR TO GAIA, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS THAT IMPORTANT.

[THEIR EARS DROOPED, TAIL GOING LIMP AGAINST THE GROUND.]

...I FUCKED UP. I GET THAT.

afaceyouknewbefore

Majin inhaled, putting his head in his hands and pulling at his under-eyes - seeming to be absolutely regretting his heavy-handed confrontation.

I've come to know you quite well, and I know you have better self control than what you had displayed there. .. Not much of a point beating a dead horse- but d'ya really GET that? Maizey, she's brimming with life- Better go fetch her. Hope to hell she can solve it. .. Times running short. But- you can make up for this, I trust that.

#FOR BELIEVIN' IN ME WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID.#GIVE EM HELL #LIKE YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME.

HERE'S HOPING.

[HE NODDED, RUNNING A HAND THROUGH HIS QUILLS AS HE CHEWED HIS LIP.]

SHE'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND— AND I'LL TRY MY DAMNDEST.

. . .

...THANKS, MAJ.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

"What did you say before that happened, Reactor?"

( Maizey's eyelashes fluttered with very gentle blinking, pursing her lips slightly before sucking them back in. )

"I agree, that shouldn't have been done behind your back- violence is to be expected upon sudden intrusions.. But I wonder where it went awry. After that explanation- what was your response?" "What prompted that seemingly uncharacteristic comment from her?"

( Maizey's mouth twitched, but she didn't show any outward signs of having an outburst or yelling, she was genuinely trying to level with him. It seems all she's had to do in the past while made masking frustration or even terror a bit more difficult. )

"Let us work through this."

I...

[HE CLEARED HIS THROAT, AVERTING HIS GAZE TO ANYTHING AT ALL— EVENTUALLY JUST STARING AT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM.]

I SAID IT WASN'T MY PROBLEM.

( The chirping of birds and cicadas immediately went quiet. )

"..come again?"

"No- no, itmf ftq tqxx pup kag vgef fqxx yq? Itmf ftq tqxx pup kag emk? Dqbqmf kagdeqxr."

IT WASN'T MY—

[HE SHRUNK DOWN WITH THE CHANGE OF VOICE, EARS LOWERING AS HE HELD HIMSELF TIGHTER.]

I WAS— I WAS ANGRY IN TH' MOMENT— I GET THAT WASN'T RIGHT OF ME TO SAY. I—

"..Wasn't your what?"

( Maizey closed her eyes for a second, reopening them after she seemed to have regained her composure. )

"I'm incredibly disappointed. Oh, goodness- your caution is justified but after hearing her admission of struggle, you decide to prove her initial terror of you right?"

"I do not care how angry you might've been, Reactor. I've seen much better from you and surprising amounts of self control and composure. I.. Understand everyone has their limits-"

"..."

"No point beating a point into you that you- already understand! Hah. Well, take me there. I'll see if I can fix this, you don't have to worry about it."

...MY PROBLEM.

[HE MUTTERED, TURNING IN THE AIR TO LEAD HER BACK TO HIS HOME, GLOW SIGNIFICANTLY DULLED.]

. . .

[AND THEN THEY WERE STARING AT THE STILL-FRESHLY CHARRED CORPSE ON THE FLOOR.]

[REACTOR LOOKED VISIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE, LETTING OUT A SHAKY LITTLE SIGH NOW THAT HE WAS FORCED TO ACTUALLY TAKE IN WHAT HE'D DONE.]

...I DON'T...

[ My bonnie lies over the ocean.... ]

Majin stood there, hands folded behind his back- eyes cast towards the ground. Before he spoke, his lip twitched- showing sharper canines hidden below his lips.

He sat down on the ground, hand gesturing towards the spot next to him.

How about you sit, friend?

@afaceyouknewbefore

EH—

WHA— ER— MAJ? AREN'T... YOU...

[THEY IMMEDIATELY SHRANK DOWN UPON HEARING HIS TONE, LIKE A FEARFUL DOG. EYES WIDE, HE IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN ON HIS KNEES, STARING AT HIS LAP.]

[OOOH... I FUCKED UP.]

afaceyouknewbefore

Do not try to lie to me or leave out key details- I have been seeing quite a lot just recently.. Your violence included. Do not insult me by trying to beat around the bush.

Majin brushed back his quills. His fingers flicked to a grey- just barely visible to be noticeable.

. . . Oh, but seriously- why would you care even? What were the words you used?.. Quite dignified ones, truly. Never doubted you were a man of many words. Hm.

IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.

Is that right? After personally insulting that girl- you found you were in the right to be angry with her? And I agree, this should've been communicated- but..

. . .

Ha! HA- oh, Reactor, I am on your side but you best pray there is some sort of remedy to what you have just done. Crow was quite the important girl- as Maizey herself, She's an anchor. Where does the ship go without one, Reactor? Where's it headed? Tell me. If you were so incredibly RASH I feel you'd-

Majin shut his trap, deciding to let Reactor speak- clearly biting back a lot more words that he felt he needed to share.

[THEIR MOUTH WENT FLAT, FUMBLING WITH THEIR HANDS.]

I— I WASN'T IN TH' RIGHT STATE OF MIND. I WAS TIRED, ANGRY, IT WAS EARLY— I GET THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID OR DONE THAT, BUT...

I DIDN'T KNOW. I SWEAR TO GAIA, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS THAT IMPORTANT.

[THEIR EARS DROOPED, TAIL GOING LIMP AGAINST THE GROUND.]

...I FUCKED UP. I GET THAT.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

"What did you say before that happened, Reactor?"

( Maizey's eyelashes fluttered with very gentle blinking, pursing her lips slightly before sucking them back in. )

"I agree, that shouldn't have been done behind your back- violence is to be expected upon sudden intrusions.. But I wonder where it went awry. After that explanation- what was your response?" "What prompted that seemingly uncharacteristic comment from her?"

( Maizey's mouth twitched, but she didn't show any outward signs of having an outburst or yelling, she was genuinely trying to level with him. It seems all she's had to do in the past while made masking frustration or even terror a bit more difficult. )

"Let us work through this."

I...

[HE CLEARED HIS THROAT, AVERTING HIS GAZE TO ANYTHING AT ALL— EVENTUALLY JUST STARING AT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM.]

I SAID IT WASN'T MY PROBLEM.

( The chirping of birds and cicadas immediately went quiet. )

"..come again?"

"No- no, itmf ftq tqxx pup kag vgef fqxx yq? Itmf ftq tqxx pup kag emk? Dqbqmf kagdeqxr."

IT WASN'T MY—

[HE SHRUNK DOWN WITH THE CHANGE OF VOICE, EARS LOWERING AS HE HELD HIMSELF TIGHTER.]

I WAS— I WAS ANGRY IN TH' MOMENT— I GET THAT WASN'T RIGHT OF ME TO SAY. I—

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

"What did you say before that happened, Reactor?"

( Maizey's eyelashes fluttered with very gentle blinking, pursing her lips slightly before sucking them back in. )

"I agree, that shouldn't have been done behind your back- violence is to be expected upon sudden intrusions.. But I wonder where it went awry. After that explanation- what was your response?" "What prompted that seemingly uncharacteristic comment from her?"

( Maizey's mouth twitched, but she didn't show any outward signs of having an outburst or yelling, she was genuinely trying to level with him. It seems all she's had to do in the past while made masking frustration or even terror a bit more difficult. )

"Let us work through this."

I...

[HE CLEARED HIS THROAT, AVERTING HIS GAZE TO ANYTHING AT ALL— EVENTUALLY JUST STARING AT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM.]

I SAID IT WASN'T MY PROBLEM.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

"Reactor, did she say why? Why she took those things?"

[ Maizey continued to look at him blankly, her voice strangely soft for the overall deadpan expression. ]

"From what I know, she's been nothing but helpful. She had gone out of her way to attempt to warn me of something- albeit being interrupted.. I struggle to believe her break in is malicious. Can you please help me understand why she was there before we move onto anything else? Because I feel that might be a bit more important, Reactor."

SAID SOMETHIN'... ABOUT HER— NO, THEIR CONNECTION TO US. TALKED ABOUT HOW HER FRIENDS WERE— WERE DYING? DYIN', OR GETTIN' HURT, AND SHE WANTED TO "SEVER THE CONNECTION" OR SOMETHING.

[HE SQUIRMED A BIT UNDER HER GAZE, REACHING AROUND TO FIDGET WITH HIS TAIL NERVOUSLY.]

AND THEN SHE SAID SOMETHIN' ABOUT PEOPLE CLOSE T' ME DYING— AND THEN I JUST... SNAPPED.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

"..."

( Maizey stared blankly at Reactor. )

"You killed the Blailsling who was supposedly linked to me- Is that what I'm hearing? Crow--"

..

"Why would she do that?"

I— WELL, I-I THINK SO. [HE SHRUGGED, STILL LOOKING CONCERNED.]

I DON'T KNOW WHY— I REALLY DON'T. BUT... SHE'S DEAD. AND— PROBABLY STILL ON THE FLOOR OF MY HOUSE.

[HE CROSSED HIS ARMS, HOLDING HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE SIGH.]

I— I JUST—

MAIZEY, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE SOMETHIN' TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

"Slow down, slow down. Squeeze me all you need."

( Maizey tilted her head, crouching slightly to have her eyes level with his. )

"What's happening?"

[HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH, LETTING GO OF HER TO DRAG HIS HANDS DOWN HIS FACE.]

OKAY, SO...

I KILLED SOMEONE. BIG DEAL. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[THE HAZARD, SURPRISINGLY, LOOKED A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT THIS. HE GESTURED WITH HIS HANDS A BIT AS HE SPOKE.]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE JUSTIFIED... BUT— BLAILSLINGS. ONE BROKE INTO MY HOUSE, RIGHT? STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE, TOOK MY BLOOD, STOLE MY SHIT— YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A LITTLE JUSTIFIED WHEN SHE SAID SOME SHIT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

BUT— BUT WHEN I KILLED HER...

[HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS HANDS, BROWS KNITTING TOGETHER.]

SHE TURNED INTO YOU, MAIZEY.

SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU— IT WAS SO FUCKIN' SCARY— I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

MAIZEY!! MAI— MAIZEY, MA— SOMETHING. ANSWER, PLEASE— WHERE ARE YOU?!

[HE SHRIEKED, BOLTING INTO THE FOREST SHE USUALLY INHABITED, FORM BORDERLINE SOLID GREEN FROM HOW PANICKED HE WAS.]

MAIIZEYYY!!

@aroace-fleetway

"Reactor?!"

( Maizey rushed to him upon hearing him screaming, wings flaring out and propelling herself forward. )

"Reactor- sweetheart, what happened?!"

OH, THANK GAIA—

[HE GASPED, THROWING HIMSELF AT HER AND WRAPPING HER INTO A HUG.]

[EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED OFF, HOLDING HER BY THE SHOULDERS WITH THE MOST TERRIFIED EXPRESSION HE COULD MUSTER.]

SOME— SOMETHING HAPPENED. I— I THINK IT'S BAD. I—

[HE WAS TALKING AT A HARDLY UNDERSTANDABLE RATE, BUT UPON RECALLING EVENTS, IT ONLY GOT WORSE.]

ABLAILSLINGBROKEINTOMYFUCKIN'HOUSEANDSTOLEMYBLOODANDMYSTUFFANDSHEPISSEDMEOFFANDIKILLEDHERANDSHE—

SHE—

[HE WAS PRACTICALLY HYPERVENTILATING AT THIS POINT. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING, LETTING GO OF HER WITH ONE HAND TO RUN IT THROUGH HIS QUILLS STRESSFULLY.]

[ My bonnie lies over the ocean.... ]

Majin stood there, hands folded behind his back- eyes cast towards the ground. Before he spoke, his lip twitched- showing sharper canines hidden below his lips.

He sat down on the ground, hand gesturing towards the spot next to him.

How about you sit, friend?

@afaceyouknewbefore

EH—

WHA— ER— MAJ? AREN'T... YOU...

[THEY IMMEDIATELY SHRANK DOWN UPON HEARING HIS TONE, LIKE A FEARFUL DOG. EYES WIDE, HE IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN ON HIS KNEES, STARING AT HIS LAP.]

[OOOH... I FUCKED UP.]

#REACTORWAY'S ASKBOX

[Reactor wakes up to an ache in his arms that shoots up his arm, rending the limb dull and useless. It’s a feeling that feels like something has been taken out, the body reacting in pain to the sudden emptiness. Blood’s been taken, but there’s no sign of injury- must’ve been taken through a needle.]

[Footsteps can be heard fading away, likely running to the exit.]

@vandjonah

...HHWHAT—

[REACTOR QUICKLY SHOOK OFF THE GROGGINESS OF HIS NAP, NOTICING THE BEAD OF BLACK BLOOD STAINING HIS INNER ELBOW.]

YOU.

[EAR FLICKING TOWARDS THE NOISE, HE CLENCHED HIS FIST AND GOT UP, HEAVY BOOTS THUMPING AGAINST THE FLOOR AS HE RACED AFTER THE SOUND TO FIND THE INTRUDER.]

SON OF A BITCH— COME FACE ME!!

[The perpetrator stops in their tracks, barely distinguishable in the dark.]

[She’s holding the small plushie Cave had given him a while ago. Seems like that gesture was a lie after all.]

YOU—

[AS HIS EYES LANDING UPON WHAT'S IN HER HAND, HE TWITCHES.]

[STANDING THERE, STILL, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.]

[AND HE LUNGES.]

[FULL BODY POUNCING AT HER, CLAWS UNSHEATHED AND OUTSTRETCHED— LIKE A GODDAMN PREDATOR.]

GIVE THAT BACK—!!

[The girl couldn’t even get a step back before-

She’s not Blails.]

[She only screamed for a second before force sent them both down, her pleas and desperate stuttering to explain why she’s there turning into throaty rattles and clicks as Reactor’s hands on her shoulders burned through the clothes.]

WH—

[HE PAUSES, HEAD DRAWING BACK BY A FRACTION AS HE STUDIES HER FACE.]

—YOU'RE NOT...

[EARS FLATTENING AGAINST HIS HEAD, HE RELEASED ONE HAND TO RAISE IT ABOVE HER FACE DANGEROUSLY, FINGERS OUTSTRETCHED LIKE HE'S READY TO GOUGE HER EYES OUT.]

[AND HE CHUCKLES.]

[IT'S LOW AND QUIET, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THREATENING ABOUT IT. THE HAZARD SHAKES HIS HEAD, BEFORE HIS GAZE LANDS BACK ON CROW'S, PINK EYES PRACTICALLY BORING INTO HER SKULL.]

ALRIGHT. I'M FEELING NICE.

YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE DOIN' IN MY HOUSE, STEALIN' MY SHIT, DRAWIN' MY BLOOD, AND YOU'RE GONNA DO IT FAST BEFORE I TURN YOUR FACE SO UNRECOGNIZABLE NOT EVEN THAT BLUE BASTARD WILL KNOW IT'S YOU.

No no no please ! Please, I just need to do this to save my friends ! Your blood can help all of us- and- we’ll finally leave you alone . Forever .

Please don’t kill me . Please . Yin can’t lose anyone else .

[She had gone stone cold in their grip. Of course they’re scared of a literal radioactive force threatening to kill her. Despite this, looking back into those vibrant swirls, she takes a second to calm herself down.]

I’ll explain everything, okay ? Just let go. You’re burning my arms . I won’t run- promise . I think you damaged my wings anyways …

WHY MY BLOOD IN PARTICULAR? Y'COULDN'T BREAK INTO SOMEBODY'S ELSE'S HOUSE FOR THAT?

[HE LEANED IN, TIGHTENING HIS GRIP EVER SO SLIGHTLY...]

WHAT MAKES ME SO SPECIAL, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 'N PETUNIAS?

[...BEFORE LETTING GO.]

[HIS TAIL WHIPPED AROUND BEHIND HIM DANGEROUSLY AS HE PULLED OFF, ARMS CROSSED AS HE CONTINUED TO GLARE AT THE POOR FOX.]

[SHE WON'T BE LEAVING. UNLESS HE GETS ANSWERS THAT SATISFY HIM.]

I was going to ask multiple people but nothing had been properly set up yet . And when Yang was hospitalised… I panicked . [Away from Reactor now, she pulls up her broken left sleeve to cover up the burn. She doesn’t do it for the other arm though. Strange.]

It’s because of that stupid connection we have to your worlds . To your people . All of you are just so fine with pain and violence but we aren’t- we’re mortal ! Because you all hate each other half of my friends are suffering or dead and I hate being able to do nothing about it ! Even I wake up to broken fingers somedays and I hate it ! The children received the worst but haven’t done anything to deserve it . We just need some blood samples so we can figure out a way to sever this connection . That’s why .

[HE SQUINTS, JAW SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH AS HE LISTENS TO HER TALK.]

...HUH.

[TAPPING HIS FOOT IMPATIENTLY, REACTOR TILTS HIS HEAD, LOOKING AT HER THROUGH HIS BROWS.]

SUCKS FOR YOU. NOT MY PROBLEM, THOUGH. BUT I'LL BE—

[HIS TAIL LASHES OUT, SNATCHING THE DOLL FROM HER HAND.]

—TAKING THIS BACK. NOW, I'M GONNA CLOSE MY EYES AND COUNT TO FIVE. AND YOU'RE GONNA BE GONE FROM MY GODDAMN HOUSE WHEN I OPEN MY EYES, OR SOMETHING BAD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU.

[AND HE CLOSES HIS EYES.]

FIVE.

Hey- the doll’s actually … alright . [She grumbled, walking in an agitated circle for a second before making her way to the door.]

I thought even you could care about someone close to you dying, but I guess not .

[HIS EAR FLICKED AT THE 'CLOSE' COMMENT. IN A BLINK, HE WAS IN FRONT OF HER, EYES WIDE AND DERANGED, CLAWS DIGGING INTO HER SHOULDERS IN A VICE GRIP.]

AAAHH... HAHAHA— AAHAHHAAHAAHH!!

[HE LAUGHED, WIPING A TEAR FROM HIS EYE BEFORE GRIPPING ENOUGH TO DRAW BLOOD.]

YOU'RE FUNNY, LITTLE FOX. BUT YOU'RE DEAD WRONG.

I'VE LOST THE TWO PEOPLE I CARED ABOUT MOST ALREADY.

I'VE GOT NOTHIN' LEFT TO LOSE. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, WOULD YOU?

BUT, [HE CLICKS HIS TEETH.] NOT TO WORRY. I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET TO LOSE SOMETHIN' YOU CARE ABOUT.

CLOSE YOUR EYES, DOLL. I'M GONNA MAKE THIS HURT.

[AND THAT DID IT.]

[FIRE.]

[WRETCHED, NUCLEAR FIRE, LAPPED AT HER FACE.]

[SCALDING HOT, IT BUBBLED UP HIS THROAT AND BLASTED HER FACE.]

[BURNING, BURNING, MELTING— HER SKIN SINGED, BURNED, CHARRED LIKE LEATHER.]

[Maizey’s corpse falls to the floor, the blue fur falling off replaced by purple as the blood splatter across and pools like a second skin being rid of.]

[It’s Maizey- it’s actually Maizey. But that couldn’t be real. Could it?]

[It looks exactly like Maizey, purple fur, charred face, throat bubbling with hot blood, hundreds of carvings across her body, wearing Crow’s clothes.]

WH—

[HE GOES SILENT, STARING DOWN AT THE CORPSE IN THE LOW LIGHT.]

[EYES BLOWN WIDE, HE FLEES.]

[Reactor wakes up to an ache in his arms that shoots up his arm, rending the limb dull and useless. It’s a feeling that feels like something has been taken out, the body reacting in pain to the sudden emptiness. Blood’s been taken, but there’s no sign of injury- must’ve been taken through a needle.]

[Footsteps can be heard fading away, likely running to the exit.]

@vandjonah

...HHWHAT—

[REACTOR QUICKLY SHOOK OFF THE GROGGINESS OF HIS NAP, NOTICING THE BEAD OF BLACK BLOOD STAINING HIS INNER ELBOW.]

YOU.

[EAR FLICKING TOWARDS THE NOISE, HE CLENCHED HIS FIST AND GOT UP, HEAVY BOOTS THUMPING AGAINST THE FLOOR AS HE RACED AFTER THE SOUND TO FIND THE INTRUDER.]

SON OF A BITCH— COME FACE ME!!

[The perpetrator stops in their tracks, barely distinguishable in the dark.]

[She’s holding the small plushie Cave had given him a while ago. Seems like that gesture was a lie after all.]

YOU—

[AS HIS EYES LANDING UPON WHAT'S IN HER HAND, HE TWITCHES.]

[STANDING THERE, STILL, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.]

[AND HE LUNGES.]

[FULL BODY POUNCING AT HER, CLAWS UNSHEATHED AND OUTSTRETCHED— LIKE A GODDAMN PREDATOR.]

GIVE THAT BACK—!!

[The girl couldn’t even get a step back before-

She’s not Blails.]

[She only screamed for a second before force sent them both down, her pleas and desperate stuttering to explain why she’s there turning into throaty rattles and clicks as Reactor’s hands on her shoulders burned through the clothes.]

WH—

[HE PAUSES, HEAD DRAWING BACK BY A FRACTION AS HE STUDIES HER FACE.]

—YOU'RE NOT...

[EARS FLATTENING AGAINST HIS HEAD, HE RELEASED ONE HAND TO RAISE IT ABOVE HER FACE DANGEROUSLY, FINGERS OUTSTRETCHED LIKE HE'S READY TO GOUGE HER EYES OUT.]

[AND HE CHUCKLES.]

[IT'S LOW AND QUIET, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THREATENING ABOUT IT. THE HAZARD SHAKES HIS HEAD, BEFORE HIS GAZE LANDS BACK ON CROW'S, PINK EYES PRACTICALLY BORING INTO HER SKULL.]

ALRIGHT. I'M FEELING NICE.

YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE DOIN' IN MY HOUSE, STEALIN' MY SHIT, DRAWIN' MY BLOOD, AND YOU'RE GONNA DO IT FAST BEFORE I TURN YOUR FACE SO UNRECOGNIZABLE NOT EVEN THAT BLUE BASTARD WILL KNOW IT'S YOU.

No no no please ! Please, I just need to do this to save my friends ! Your blood can help all of us- and- we’ll finally leave you alone . Forever .

Please don’t kill me . Please . Yin can’t lose anyone else .

[She had gone stone cold in their grip. Of course they’re scared of a literal radioactive force threatening to kill her. Despite this, looking back into those vibrant swirls, she takes a second to calm herself down.]

I’ll explain everything, okay ? Just let go. You’re burning my arms . I won’t run- promise . I think you damaged my wings anyways …

WHY MY BLOOD IN PARTICULAR? Y'COULDN'T BREAK INTO SOMEBODY'S ELSE'S HOUSE FOR THAT?

[HE LEANED IN, TIGHTENING HIS GRIP EVER SO SLIGHTLY...]

WHAT MAKES ME SO SPECIAL, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 'N PETUNIAS?

[...BEFORE LETTING GO.]

[HIS TAIL WHIPPED AROUND BEHIND HIM DANGEROUSLY AS HE PULLED OFF, ARMS CROSSED AS HE CONTINUED TO GLARE AT THE POOR FOX.]

[SHE WON'T BE LEAVING. UNLESS HE GETS ANSWERS THAT SATISFY HIM.]

I was going to ask multiple people but nothing had been properly set up yet . And when Yang was hospitalised… I panicked . [Away from Reactor now, she pulls up her broken left sleeve to cover up the burn. She doesn’t do it for the other arm though. Strange.]

It’s because of that stupid connection we have to your worlds . To your people . All of you are just so fine with pain and violence but we aren’t- we’re mortal ! Because you all hate each other half of my friends are suffering or dead and I hate being able to do nothing about it ! Even I wake up to broken fingers somedays and I hate it ! The children received the worst but haven’t done anything to deserve it . We just need some blood samples so we can figure out a way to sever this connection . That’s why .

[HE SQUINTS, JAW SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH AS HE LISTENS TO HER TALK.]

...HUH.

[TAPPING HIS FOOT IMPATIENTLY, REACTOR TILTS HIS HEAD, LOOKING AT HER THROUGH HIS BROWS.]

SUCKS FOR YOU. NOT MY PROBLEM, THOUGH. BUT I'LL BE—

[HIS TAIL LASHES OUT, SNATCHING THE DOLL FROM HER HAND.]

—TAKING THIS BACK. NOW, I'M GONNA CLOSE MY EYES AND COUNT TO FIVE. AND YOU'RE GONNA BE GONE FROM MY GODDAMN HOUSE WHEN I OPEN MY EYES, OR SOMETHING BAD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU.

[AND HE CLOSES HIS EYES.]

FIVE.

Hey- the doll’s actually … alright . [She grumbled, walking in an agitated circle for a second before making her way to the door.]

I thought even you could care about someone close to you dying, but I guess not .