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@errorskypersondoesnotexist
(Intro post)
This is a rp blog run by @zalpacka for my sky person oc called Fathom. They are an RQ oc mainly, but they have some knowledge of TSS.
Basically, they have memory loss and can't remember certain parts of the timelines of RQ and TSS. For a while, they didn't know their own name, and they still don't know where they came from, but now they can interact with the people they could only watch, so maybe it doesn't matter?
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[The couch squishes slightly beneath their almost-nothing weight. Its leather coating has rips and tears, showing inner stuffing. But the candles lighting up the little room make it feel cozy and welcome, despite the lackluster introduction earlier.]
I certainly hope so.
[He fiddles with his armor again, tail swishing gently.]
...that apprentice was certainly strange, that's for sure.
*Fathom starts to mimic him messing with his armor, but pauses when they spot his tail. They watch it for a moment, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing it. They don't tug on it or necessarily grab it with much force, they just wanted to try to catch it.*
"Yeah, the apprentice was kinda weird. I liked them though, I bet that they're really nice!"
[He flinches, not expecting them to grab his tail, but relaxed once he knew they weren't pulling on it. It's sleek and smooth like his armor.]
Almost too nice...
[He shrugs.]
But maybe that's just my opinion.
*Fathom doesn't miss him flinching, but doesn't know what to make of it, so they don't point it out. They also don't understand his point of the apprentice being too nice, so they focus more on now petting his tail. They decide that they like how it feels.*
"I don't think there's such thing as being too nice, but if you say so!"
*They look over to the nearest window, hoping to be able to get an idea form how dark it is outside, but seeing as they're all covered, they don't get any help from it. It did look to be pretty dark outside while they were out there, though.*
"You should probably go sleep- otherwise I'm going to claim a bunk before you can!"
[It was practically pitch black outside by the time they got inside. Elite huffs, but laughs tiredly.]
You sure? I've got more than enough experience with sleep deprivation, we can just take turns.
*Fathom frowns, not feeling reassured by that at all. They don't want him to be sleep deprived! That sounds like the exact opposite of what they want!*
"Wh-? Nuh uh! Go to bed, Elite! I will drag you there if I have to!"
Okay, okay, fine-
[He does take a glance at the the windows again, tail thrashing a little bit.]
*They let go of his tail and stand up, expecting him to get up as well. they're going to make sure that he actually goes to sleep, even if it means that they watch him all night.*
"Yeah, it's bedtime for you!"
[He does get up. With his helmet and armor still on, he starts walking towards the bedroom.]
Alright, alright, but you must sleep as well-
[...it would be hard to see if he's asleep with all that on. Certainly that can't be comfortable?]
*Fathom follows him closely behind, huffing at the idea of having to go to sleep. Normally, they wouldn't mind, but what if... what if being able to interact with others only lasts as long as they are awake? What if they're on some kind of time limit and they'll be right back to not being known when it's up? They have no idea if this power is something that will be taken away from them, and the idea of it going away is terrifying enough for them to be willing to give up sleeping for tonight to try to avoid finding out. They'd rather be tired and have their voice heard then set back to being forced to only watch, drowned out by nothingness.*
"Mmmnn... Shouldn't you take off the armor? I don' think you're gonna get very good slumbering in while being wrapped up like an emo candy cane..."
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[The couch squishes slightly beneath their almost-nothing weight. Its leather coating has rips and tears, showing inner stuffing. But the candles lighting up the little room make it feel cozy and welcome, despite the lackluster introduction earlier.]
I certainly hope so.
[He fiddles with his armor again, tail swishing gently.]
...that apprentice was certainly strange, that's for sure.
*Fathom starts to mimic him messing with his armor, but pauses when they spot his tail. They watch it for a moment, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing it. They don't tug on it or necessarily grab it with much force, they just wanted to try to catch it.*
"Yeah, the apprentice was kinda weird. I liked them though, I bet that they're really nice!"
[He flinches, not expecting them to grab his tail, but relaxed once he knew they weren't pulling on it. It's sleek and smooth like his armor.]
Almost too nice...
[He shrugs.]
But maybe that's just my opinion.
*Fathom doesn't miss him flinching, but doesn't know what to make of it, so they don't point it out. They also don't understand his point of the apprentice being too nice, so they focus more on now petting his tail. They decide that they like how it feels.*
"I don't think there's such thing as being too nice, but if you say so!"
*They look over to the nearest window, hoping to be able to get an idea form how dark it is outside, but seeing as they're all covered, they don't get any help from it. It did look to be pretty dark outside while they were out there, though.*
"You should probably go sleep- otherwise I'm going to claim a bunk before you can!"
[It was practically pitch black outside by the time they got inside. Elite huffs, but laughs tiredly.]
You sure? I've got more than enough experience with sleep deprivation, we can just take turns.
*Fathom frowns, not feeling reassured by that at all. They don't want him to be sleep deprived! That sounds like the exact opposite of what they want!*
"Wh-? Nuh uh! Go to bed, Elite! I will drag you there if I have to!"
Okay, okay, fine-
[He does take a glance at the the windows again, tail thrashing a little bit.]
*They let go of his tail and stand up, expecting him to get up as well. they're going to make sure that he actually goes to sleep, even if it means that they watch him all night.*
"Yeah, it's bedtime for you!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[The couch squishes slightly beneath their almost-nothing weight. Its leather coating has rips and tears, showing inner stuffing. But the candles lighting up the little room make it feel cozy and welcome, despite the lackluster introduction earlier.]
I certainly hope so.
[He fiddles with his armor again, tail swishing gently.]
...that apprentice was certainly strange, that's for sure.
*Fathom starts to mimic him messing with his armor, but pauses when they spot his tail. They watch it for a moment, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing it. They don't tug on it or necessarily grab it with much force, they just wanted to try to catch it.*
"Yeah, the apprentice was kinda weird. I liked them though, I bet that they're really nice!"
[He flinches, not expecting them to grab his tail, but relaxed once he knew they weren't pulling on it. It's sleek and smooth like his armor.]
Almost too nice...
[He shrugs.]
But maybe that's just my opinion.
*Fathom doesn't miss him flinching, but doesn't know what to make of it, so they don't point it out. They also don't understand his point of the apprentice being too nice, so they focus more on now petting his tail. They decide that they like how it feels.*
"I don't think there's such thing as being too nice, but if you say so!"
*They look over to the nearest window, hoping to be able to get an idea form how dark it is outside, but seeing as they're all covered, they don't get any help from it. It did look to be pretty dark outside while they were out there, though.*
"You should probably go sleep- otherwise I'm going to claim a bunk before you can!"
[It was practically pitch black outside by the time they got inside. Elite huffs, but laughs tiredly.]
You sure? I've got more than enough experience with sleep deprivation, we can just take turns.
*Fathom frowns, not feeling reassured by that at all. They don't want him to be sleep deprived! That sounds like the exact opposite of what they want!*
"Wh-? Nuh uh! Go to bed, Elite! I will drag you there if I have to!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[The couch squishes slightly beneath their almost-nothing weight. Its leather coating has rips and tears, showing inner stuffing. But the candles lighting up the little room make it feel cozy and welcome, despite the lackluster introduction earlier.]
I certainly hope so.
[He fiddles with his armor again, tail swishing gently.]
...that apprentice was certainly strange, that's for sure.
*Fathom starts to mimic him messing with his armor, but pauses when they spot his tail. They watch it for a moment, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing it. They don't tug on it or necessarily grab it with much force, they just wanted to try to catch it.*
"Yeah, the apprentice was kinda weird. I liked them though, I bet that they're really nice!"
[He flinches, not expecting them to grab his tail, but relaxed once he knew they weren't pulling on it. It's sleek and smooth like his armor.]
Almost too nice...
[He shrugs.]
But maybe that's just my opinion.
*Fathom doesn't miss him flinching, but doesn't know what to make of it, so they don't point it out. They also don't understand his point of the apprentice being too nice, so they focus more on now petting his tail. They decide that they like how it feels.*
"I don't think there's such thing as being too nice, but if you say so!"
*They look over to the nearest window, hoping to be able to get an idea form how dark it is outside, but seeing as they're all covered, they don't get any help from it. It did look to be pretty dark outside while they were out there, though.*
"You should probably go sleep- otherwise I'm going to claim a bunk before you can!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[The couch squishes slightly beneath their almost-nothing weight. Its leather coating has rips and tears, showing inner stuffing. But the candles lighting up the little room make it feel cozy and welcome, despite the lackluster introduction earlier.]
I certainly hope so.
[He fiddles with his armor again, tail swishing gently.]
...that apprentice was certainly strange, that's for sure.
*Fathom starts to mimic him messing with his armor, but pauses when they spot his tail. They watch it for a moment, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing it. They don't tug on it or necessarily grab it with much force, they just wanted to try to catch it.*
"Yeah, the apprentice was kinda weird. I liked them though, I bet that they're really nice!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
Same, same...
[He goes around making sure every window is closed, locked, and covered, before checking the back and front doors. Yep, as expected, a guard is standing just outside either one.]
...that whole dagger definitely caught me off guard..
[Now that they're finally out of sight from that whole mess, he sighs, finally resting on the couch.]
...gods, that was way more than necessary.
*Fathom follows around Elite like a duckling, but doesn't actually understand why he's doing whatever it is that he's doing. They're just happy to be involved. They sit down next to him on the couch, taking a second to admire the fact that they can actually feel the couch. Instead of the nothingness they would have once felt, they can actually feel the texture of the furniture beneath them. They hope that they never lose this ability.*
"Yeppers, that was pretty scary... but hey! It's over and now we're safe! That's good, right?"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Elite instinctually pulls Fathom's hand into his protectively. The small Violet Steve looks at him with tired yet kind eyes, and he takes Amethyst's hand, leading him away to find the place Elite will stay.]
Follow.
[Elite does as he's told, practically carrying Fathom along. The darkened streets still are decorated cheerily even as the group of Violet Steves disperse around them like a murder of crows. It doesn't take long, but it certainly feels like centuries as they walk down the night-cooled streets...Eventually, they stop at a small, single story home.]
This will do. Go in now - we will have guards posted until dawn. If we catch you leaving before then, we will ban you both.
[Amethyst's eyes glare at them, but the apprentice tugs at his hand and his expression softens.]
Tch...darkness...
[It's a bit rundown, with broken shutters and peeling paint, but it's warm inside. There's a bedroom with bunk beds, a small bathroom, and a combination kitchen and living room with a worn out couch. It's, frankly, nicer than anything Elite usually gets anyways.]
*Fathom follows along closely, feeling comforted by their hand being held by Elite's. Even though they can still feel the eyes of the violet steves on them and they're still a bit afraid from accidentally making things worse, having Elite there with them and holding their hand makes them feel safer. They stick close to him, even when they get to the house.*
"Y'know, I didn't realize that violet steves could be so scary until now. They're usually so nice!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[All the Violet Steves' heads whip around towards the sound of Fathom's voice. Amethyst steps back, eyes narrowing again.]
And what might this be, hm? Another shadowy trick? Another chance at tricking us?
No! This- look, I don't know how they got here or why they're invisible- but this invisible being is Fathom. They're harmless, and don't mean to cause any chaos around here, I swear.
[As Elite spoke, a smaller Violet Steve with soft, round eyes and hair in a bun steps forward. They whisper something into the leader's ear. Both Fathom and Elite can see that their arm is withered away, gray scars leaving the limb weak and broken.]
...Fine, fine....but I'm not taking chances..
[Amethyst turns back to Elite, sheathing the dagger.]
Ugh. My apprentice has determined that it's best to leave you be... For now, you may take shelter....but only if we can keep guards posted at the doors.
I...I'll take it, thank you..
[He glances at the apprentice with confusion. Why would they just convince their leader to let him stay, just switch it like in a snap of their fingers..?]
*Fathom stays trying to hide behind Elite, still afraid from the situation. At least things seem to have ended well? As well as this can be taken, at least. They stare at the apprentice, trying to figure out why they stepped in to help. If that scarring is from what they think it is, then it just seems more confusing as to why they're helping. Fathom would love to ask, but for once, they're too on edge to try to speak to anyone. It looks like Elite has this covered for right now, so they keep quiet and continue to cower. How did Sabre ever have the confidence to deal with situations like this, Fathom wonders. They can't recall if he ever did have to deal with something like this. Maybe they won't remember dealing with this later either. *
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[As Amethyst goes to speak again, he pauses upon being suddenly touched by a mysterious force. His eyes widen, and a small golden dagger appears from within the folds of his skirt and into his hands. However, instead of going for Fathom, he glares at Elite.]
Are you working for who I think you are?
[He hisses.]
Your kind aren't welcome here.
[Elite backs up, raising his hands.]
I don't know what you mean, but I have never stepped foot within your village or any similar ones before. I'm JUST looking for a place to rest, that's it.
How can I confirm this, then, hm? I cannot risk any chances of my peoples' destruction.
[Looking around, they can see that many Violet Steves have dark, rough scars, some that cover almost half their bodies. Elite quietly curses to himself - the environment isn't damaged, so of course he wouldn't have seen this until now. Dammit.]
Look, I....did not cause any damage around here. I do not know what happened here or why. I am only here to rest for the night, and leave in the morning. I even traveled here from a Yellow village that welcomed me in, no harm no foul.
[Amethyst huffs, slowly lowering the dagger, though still gripping it tightly.]
Fine then. Remove your helmet, so I can determine that to be true. If I do recognize you...then you must leave and never, EVER return.
Fathom quickly removes their hand, seeing their plan completely backfire. They know that this isn't going well, and this isn't at all what they wanted to happen. They need to help! Their mind races with knowing that they need to fix this- they need to help and fix this mess they made-
"W-wait! Uh- don't do that-? Please? He really doesn't mean any harm, I can confirm!"
Looks like they aren't going to be pretending to be a ghost after all. They were never good at trying to be scary anyways. Hopefully they aren't digging their grave deeper... They also move to be behind Elite with one hand (much more gently than how they were with Amethyst) on his shoulder, trying to hide from sight even though they're invisible.
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[The Violet Steve's dark magenta eyes seem to pass by them with something that's not quite a glare, but not quite a welcoming look either. His long eyelashes are like tiny bats' wings flitting about in the dead of night, sparkly eyeshadow glimmering in the lantern light. Elite stares back at him with a similar look. Despite how seemingly friendly everything is, that twinge of discomfort is palpable to Elite too. He's not taking chances on anything.]
Hm, I don't believe I've seen you before. Who might you be?
[Despite the fact that Fathom is neither seen nor heard, his ears seem to perk up in their direction. Elite's tail flicks a little, trying to also sense if there is any malicious intent behind his fancy, friendly demeanor.]
You can call me Elite. I've simply come to seek shelter, as I've been unable to find my route back home yet.
Oh? And why might that be?
[Elite's eyes narrow.]
Have you not noticed? The land's changed on us. Nothing is where it should be.
So you do not come here seeking to equally spread us thin until we are crushable?
Of course not!
...Hm.
[His eyes narrow, examining Elite in detail. Around them, Elite and Fathom can see other Violet Steves starting to get closer, curiosity winning them over one by one. It's, frankly, a bit creepy.]
.....Very well. I am Amethyst, the Violet Leader.
*Fathom wants to be cheerful and excited right now, but this person isn't exactly giving off "I'm friendly" vibes to them right now. They still try to keep up a smile, knowing that Elite can handle this just fine. He has that title for a reason! Well- they can't actually recall what that reason is, but surely it's important! The pressure of the crowd- one that they'd normally love to weave into, feels too targeted towards them and Elite. They aren't used to having eyes on them in general, nevermind the minds of a crowd actively on them. It's frightening, and they don't know what to do about it without giving away their presence so soon. So, they do the first thing that comes to mind and silently move to be floating a bit above the ground behind the Violet Leader. They place a hand on his shoulder, purposefully trying to make their grip tight enough to be noticed. Maybe if they can get him a bit intimidated, it could help Elite? They're really just throwing spaghetti at the wall right now.*
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[The dark oak wood fades softly into the evening's last rays of light as lanterns and string lights line the streets with a sweet, warm glow. They soon pass by a plot full of flowers, with a few fireflies flitting about above it. A soft, cool breeze floats through the branches of trees as they come to the first houses in the village. A few Steves have finally spotted them, most only seeing Elite's ominously glowing red emblem. Rumor spreads quickly, as one goes to tell another and then both gossip with two others and it continues on that way.]
Heh, I guess we'll see how well they'll handle a ghostly apparition.
[His dark eyes rapidly glance around, his shoulders stiffening even as he speaks calmly. He's very diligent about not being caught off-guard, checking behind them every once in a while. A few Violet Steves can be seen looking out their windows, but most of them keep their distance.]
[However, as they go deeper into the fairytale-colored village, a rather tall and fancy Violet Steve with long, braided hair steps out towards the pair. His long-lashed eyes stare down towards Elite, tension in the air.]
*Fathom laughs happily at the encouragement for pretending to be a ghost, seeing no way that this can go wrong. Despite how eerie this place can come off as due to the dark and gossiping steves, they still feel bright with excitement. They aren't scared, not when they have Elite with them. Surely, no one would try to start a fight or any complications with HIM! ... Right? Then again, they can't quite push down or ignore the unease burrowed deep inside their chest that revealed itself form the sight of this particular violet steve. They're sure that without a doubt, this person will be great to talk with, but they can't explain why they suddenly feel the urge to go silent and stay hidden. It's not like they can remember anything that would picture someone like this as dangerous... Either way, they don't say anything, trusting Elite to handle this. How else are they don't to sell the idea that they're a ghost?*
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[He shrugs. At the moment, Elite is hoping that's true. He has no idea what to do with himself, and even with some (invisible) company, it's not like that gets any easier. He certainly appreciates the seeming lack of worry they have for his crimes.]
Hopefully that's true.
[Now that they're within maybe 50 blocks of the village, they can see the allium-colored Steves wandering about as they wrap up their daily festivities. Most have very fluffy, long hair, and skirts that flit about as they rush along. It indeed seems to be quite peaceful. None of them have yet noticed the armored individual and his mysterious companion coming towards them.]
"I'm sure that it will be! OoOo-! I'll pretend to be a ghOoOSt!!! Hehehe-"
*They let go of his hand to spin in a circle with their arms outstretched, overjoyed with their circumstances. Sure, this is all strange and confusing, but they couldn't be happier to be a part of it all.*
*They finish spinning and grabs Elite's hand again, perfectly content to be by his side like this. In contrast to their joy, they seem to process that it looks to be a mainly violet steve inhabited they're heading to and quiets down. They're still happy about this, but it puts them off slightly.
"Oh! I think this is a Violet Village! That's! Uh... Probably going to be fun and safe! I'm sure it'll be good- no, GREAT!"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
It was indeed peaceful, but...it had its share of scars from the war. It was mostly unscathed, but it was there. IIIII won't question that, then-
[It's funny though, isn't it? The man they're holding hands with is no less of a war criminal, and yet, he's feeling oddly peaceful himself. Perhaps the Yellow Steves have brought a little kindness to his heart now.]
"Ooohh... huh."
They nod, pretending like they completely understood that. They have an idea of it, but the gaps of what they can recall about any war at all make it a bit hard to understand fully. They also couldn't be bothered to care that they likely shouldn't be showing any kindness to this man considering all he's done, it's not like they can think of anything he's done wrong from their honeycombed mind.
"Maybe this one will be better! Just telling from what we can see now, I'm sure that it'll be great! Aaand even if it's not, at least I still get to be around you! :D"
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Thanks to his face being completely obscured, Elite doesn't suppress the small smile on his face. He raises his visor back up to see a little better, revealing his dark eyes squinting contentedly.]
It's been awhile since I've been to one that's looked so....peaceful. ...red armor, huh? I don't know, guess we'll find out eventually.
*They just now have realized that they're holding his hand and decides against commenting on it out of fear that he'd let go if they did. They'd always try to grab the hand of whoever they were watching before, but now that the person they're with can actually feel this, they aren't sure if they should actually keep that habit. Maybe just for now, it'd be fine though, since Elite doesn't look upset. They're really happy that he seems to be the opposite of upset, actually. They're already beaming with joy, but recognizing that he's happy too just adds onto it.*
"YAY! Wait, wasn't the Yellow Village peaceful? I mean I guess this one also looks cool cuz it's all magenta-y, but I thought that one counted as peaceful too- and that's saying something since I'm uhhh- not continuing this sentence."
*They were going to say that they're scared of yellow steves, but realized that 1, they didn't want to sound like a scared little kid in front of him, and 2, it also just didn't sound right.*
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
[Though his gloves are thick, he gets the vague idea that there's far, far more to them than he could ever imagine. So, after a moment of hesitation, he lets them continue to hold his hand. As the sun falls over the horizon, the small village comes into full view. Though it's getting dark, the pair can faintly see another two villages just beyond it, one which is within a sandy desert.]
Makes sense, I guess.
[He softly sighs under his breath as they approach the well-lit village. Sure, the last village he ended up at was more than happy to assist him, but...this is so strange to him still. What happened to the world? Why IS Fathom suddenly able to speak to him, when it's clearly been such a long time of being unable to? What changed?]
*Fathom smiles widely as they get closer to the village(s), already having so many ideas on what to do now that they can be heard. It's mostly all just wanting to try out things that Sabre did while they were bound to him, wanting to experience those things for themself, but there are other things they want to do too. Plus, it's a bit hard to do most of the things Sabre did while completely invisible... oh well.*
"It's been a while since I've visited a village! Hopefully there'll be another magic set of red armor involved this time! ... Or maybe not, actually, I can't remember how that ended."
*Fathom continues to hold Elite's hand as they ramble with no intentions of stopping any time soon. They've lacked the ability to talk to someone for this long, they're going to waste as little time as possible by not interacting with people. Of course, they also have absolutely zero clue on what happened here, but they can finally be able to talk to their favorite person- so is it really that bad..?*
[Fathom has ended up in a strange, strange dimension. It seems to be built with disjointed chunks and pieces of structures cobbled together....Oddly, though, it feels...familiar. Almost comfortable.]
[As they flit through the air, wholly invisible to the world and its people, they come across a dark figure that feels especially familiar. A person in black armor, with a glowing red center in the middle of their chestplate. They're carrying a single apple in their armored hands, staring at it wistfully.]
...What do I do now? That throw sent me.....very, very far....I don't even know where the village is anymore...
[They raise their visor up just enough to look around at the strange world around them. A pair of pure black eyes peek out from the shadows.]
*Fathom immediately decides to stay as close to this person as possible without touching them. They're unsure if they can actually touch anyone and isn't sure if they want to find out. They choose to do what they do best, and that is watch and see what happens, going along for the ride. They attempt to make a confused humming sound, not thinking that they can be heard like this.*
[After a few seconds being seemingly frozen, he puts the apple away. Justttt as he's about to tilt the visor back over, he glances in their general direction, their body tensing up.]
..What was that?
*Fathom looks behind themself, confused as to what he heard. They're so used to not being able to be heard that they genuinely think that he heard something else. They speak this time, their voice holding a level of distortion that makes it a bit difficult to understand, but past that, they sound like they're a teenager- maybe a bit younger than Alux and Pedro?*
"what was that..?"
[He now fully pauses, before pulling the visor up fully. His dark eyes scan the area, but he sees absolutely nothing. Still, he tries to put his usual guard act back on, speaking in a gruffer, rougher voice.]
Who goes there-!
*Fathom does a full 360 spin trying to figure out who he's talking to. There's no way that it could possibly be them... right? No, that idea is so foreign to them that it feels impossible. Even so, just to entertain themself, they speak again, this time more upbeat and clearly not talking their own words nor this situation seriously.*
"Who go-eth here indeed-? wh- say 'apple' if you can hear me- heheh-"
[He finally attempts to throw a punch in their direction, harmlessly cutting through the air where their body would be.]
What ARE you-?? Come out of hiding!
*Fathom looks down at where the punch was, starting to feel a bit unnerved by this. It really feels like he can hear them... surely that's impossible, though, right? after Origin knows how long of not being able to interact with anyone, why would they be able to now? Their amusement begins to die to be replace with genuine confusion.*
"Okay- my favorite-st of favorite people, genuinely who and/or what are you talking to right now???"
[He gives them the most incredulous look as he steps back, still staring at where they should be. Now he just sounds utterly confused.]
You-????
[And not to mention...favorite? What? Who in their right mind....?]
*For a few moments, Fathom just stays silent in utter bafflement. This goes against everything they know- that no one could hear them no matter how loud they screamed- and yet here they are. They glance around again, double checking that there isn't anyone else here. Surely, they must have figured it out by now-*
"Is there like a demon steve or something that I can't hear-? It's not like you can hear me talking."
[He finally sighs, very very loudly. Holy darkness, what is happening right now? Did TGO send an apparition to bother him until he rejoined the fight??? He gives them a tired glance before pulling the visor back down.]
Yes, you. You weird, invisible being that is stalking me right this minute.
*Fathom already had absolutely zero idea on what was happening already, but then he says all of that and they freeze up. As they've been telling themself, there's no way he can ACTUALLY hear them! There's never happened before! Being so used to this, being able to be heard now both terrifies and excites them. For a moment, they become a stuttering, baffled mess.*
"Wh- uh- no- that's- no- what-? You- you shouldn't be able to- huh??? How- ??? What in the name of The Judge-?"
*Out of pure curiosity now, they try to read out and put a hand on top of his head, wanting to know if they suddenly can touch things too.*
[He almost steps back, but he feels a slight, almost fog-like weight rest upon him. He simply stares up in their direction, frozen as he tries to calculate the chances of this being a deadly interaction.]
...I would guess this is not the norm for you, either...?
*Fathom removes their hand from Shadow's head, their terror starting to be outweighed by the excitement.*
"No! I can't say that it is..."
*For a second, they go quiet, before they start laughing, sounding extremely hyper and amazed. they sound happy, but it's also a bit menacing at the same time.*
"This- this is AMAZING!!! FINALLY!! FINALLY!!! I CAN- I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU!!!"
[He pulls back a little, surprised by the sudden laughter.]
Finally-? What, have you been trying for...a while?
*Their laughter falters a bit as they try to think of how long it's been. It's hard to tell, but they think that they have a rough estimate or os.*
"YES!!! I think it's been uhhh... a couple years? Yeah- a few years! And- FINALLY! I can actually have a conversation and- and TALK to you! You can know I exist!! Someone can ACTUALLY know I'm here- I- I can help now!"
*Their laughter has died down now, but they still end up laughing a bit along their words.*
[He blinks, taking in this information. Well. He doubts they're lying, though the thought of someone unseen watching well......everything, the war, the...attack on the kingdom, it's...a strange thought.]
Years, huh? So...I guess you already know I'm a member of the Elite Dark Guard?
"Yeah! Of course I do! You're my favorite-st person to watch ever!!!"
*They seem to realize how weird that sounds after having said it. They move back slightly, their voice losing a small bit of its enthusiasm.*
"That doesn't sound like what I meant it to- uh- I mean- I think you're really entertaining..? No that's worse- uh- I'M GOING TO START OVER."
"Yeah, I know that you're a member of the Dark Guard. I kinda forgot how you became apart of it though... eh- it's prolly not important then-"
[He contemplated trying to get them to explain further before electing to just. Pretend they never mentioned that in the first place. He sighs, fidgeting with his armored gloves.]
Alllllllllrighty then. Well, mystery person, do you have a name?
*They get excited again, swinging back into their upbeat tone again. They also closely watch his fidgeting, before starting to mimic it the best they can since they don't have gloves on.*
"Yep! It's- uh... uhhh- UhH-"
*They start to sound a bit panicked, not being able to recall their own name. How bad has it been where it takes this long to remember their own name..?*
"F... Fathom! Right, my name is Fathom!! Yeah- that sounds right!"
Fathom, eh? Yeah, I can see how that'd make sense.
[He pauses, looking up towards the sun. It's about three quarters til evening. Who knows what'll come out at night..]
...Well, Fathom, have you seen where uh...anything happens to be? I do believe I'm not where I'm supposed to be.
*They hum loudly in thought, changing their tone as if trying to talk while humming. They glance around trying to wager where they are, before answering.*
"Uhh... if you want, I can do a thingy where I can check... It kinda hurts my entire consciousness and I black out for a few minutes, but I can find out for you! Uh- where ARE we, actually-?"
That. Is kind of the problem, actually.
[He gives the landscape another quick glance around. The world is still a strange, cobbled-together mess.]
I was on my way back from the Yellow village- hell, maybe just barely out of sight- when I blinked and....seemingly, everything changed...I've been walking for about a day, and nothing around here looks right.
*They go quiet for a second, trying to think if they can figure out where they are. Unfortunately, they've got no idea whatsoever. How helpful.*
"Huh... weird. You don't usually see this behavior in worlds."
*They quietly laugh a bit at their own joke.*
"Alright, I'll see what I can do! Uh- please still be here when I get back..."
*Without providing any kind of context (nor attempting to elaborate on why they sounded scared at that last part), they go silent. They also go completely still, as if their mind just completely left their body...*
O-okay....?
[He sighs, before deciding to just. Stay under a nearby tree. Might as well try to see what this "Fathom" person can cook up, because he's got nothing.]
*It takes a few minutes, like they had said it might, but they eventually "return". Their voice sounds again, but now it sounds pained and afraid, lacking all of the enthusiasm they had before.*
"I- 'm back..."
*They clear their throat before speaking again, now sounding upbeat again. Although, it's definitely a bit forced this time around.*
"So! I uh... Am not exactly very sure on what's going on- like at all-, but I think we're near a village? I wasn't able to get much, but I think we're near civilizations! Yay!"
Ah...I see.
[Though his own face is obscured still by his helmet, his voice also sounds a little more anxious than when they first met.]
Well...that's good at least. I can't see any on the horizon, though, so I guess we better get moving.
*Fathom nods and then realizes that Elite can't see that.*
"Sounds good to me!! I'll be happy with wherever we end up as long as I get to travel with you!!"
*They sound so genuinely happy to be around him. They only wish that they could have told him how happy they've been to be around him sooner.*
[Elite nods, stretching a little before standing back up.]
Okay, then. Let's head out, shall we?
[It's....strange, to be able to calmly chat with someone now. Besides the Yellow Steves, god, when was the last time he got to do that..? He's not too sure, but he might as well appreciate it while it's here.]
[As the sun slowly sets, the red glow in his armor brightens, casting a slightly eerie shadow against trees and other flora. They pass by a small lake, before finally catching sight of a village in a pale pink glow. Whether that tint is from the lights or the sunset, it's hard to tell. But whatever it is, it'll be better than sleeping outdoors for the night. Hopefully safer too.]
*They nod enthusiastically, forgetting that they can't be seen immediately. They hum loudly again, high pitched and excited. They do the thing where it sounds like they're talking with their tone changing, but just by humming again. They happily try to walk beside him, almost reaching out to grab his hand, but stopping themself once they remember that he can feel it now. The lake they pass looked cool, but the village in the distance catches their attention and steals it away.*
"OooOo..! Pretty!!! Everything always looks cooler when I can see it using eyes of my own... I... really hope that I can keep my ability to do all of this for a while. I like being able to actually talk to you, Shadow!"
[He doesn't pull away when they do almost grab his hand. He looks slightly confused when Fathom refers to his as "Shadow," though - he's an Elite, not a shadow of a person.]
[Right?]
[Whatever. He has bigger things to worry about. He gives them a small nod of acknowledgement.]
I can imagine it's been quite lonely for you, so I hope so too.
*They don't realization what they called him, not even having realized that it confused him. They falter a bit again at the mention of how lonely it's been. They try not to think about it too hard. Technically, they've always been around people! Those people just couldn't see them, or hear them, or could have even begun to be shown a fraction of the love Fathom holds for them, nor did they know that they even existed... Okay, it was incredibly lonely, yeah.*
"I... guess you could say that, yeah. It gets a bit tiring after a while of only being able to have one-sided conversations- ha... BuT HEY! I have you now! That's more than perfect in my eyes!"
*Without thinking about it, they reach out and actually grab his hand this time. Although they're unaware of how jarring it may be, the stitches on their hand can be felt if Elite focuses on it enough.*
