Free, But At What Cost?

Jaylin’s truly fucked up after everything. They’ve lost their friends, their group. Peachy had assumed Jaylin was dead, along side Greenie, and left with their memory in mind. Jaylin’s used that magic needle and thread given to them to try to find a safer place to recover.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

This blog is inactive.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

EPILOGUE // IMMOLATION

It has been years. Jaylin was a mere child, gullible and naive, when it happened. Not just it.

It.

It has been years, and they still can't shake the feeling that they aren't alone in their own head. No matter how hard they try, how many times they remind themself "it's okay, it's okay, it's gone now, you're safe now," they still can't shake it. They still can't shake IT. Sometimes, when they think about it, about it, they can't help but feel it's searing gaze in their mind. They can't help but hear it's whispers.

And sometimes Jaylin has trouble telling whether or not it's real. Whether or not it's really there.

Sometimes they think it really IS there.

So Jaylin stands on top of a rock, holding a box of matches in hand as they collect up more things that they've come to associate with it. Green items, typically fabric or plastic or paper. Puppets, always marionette-type puppets. Spools of thread. Even shatters of green sea glass. They can't STAND the ocean anymore, the mental prison that bastard put them in resembled the sea. Once the items are in a pile... they immolate the items.

Fire strikes on matchbox, it's practiced at this point, they're good at not burning themself now. The match is tossed down on the green kindling below. And Jaylin steps away, and watches from a safe distance. Immolation has become Jaylin's primary coping mechanism. Destroying that green bastard's likeness and associations, with the opposite of the sea. Fire itself.

And when the embers cool, Jaylin goes over and looks over the destruction. If it isn't to their satisfaction, they set the items aflame once more.

Again and again, until they calm once more.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[Haha Johnsthan oh fuck]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[It’s been trying to plan around Jaylin being highly distressed for a little while now.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@researchercoffee

I think Wanderer’s mad at me, and Greenie hasn’t been around lately. Can you come pick me up?

[researchercoffee]

Sure where r u

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[HAHA JONATHAN, IT DIDN’T PLAN FOR THIS.]

Uh, I’m not sure. I don’t recognize anything nearby, it took me to this random place and told me to stay here.

[researchercoffee]

fair. hold on a sec. just gon a trace where greenie is. thaaaaat should bring me to ya. lemme tell ya, they can't mask a narrative signature, like, at all.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[FUCK]

Uh, it’s not.. anywhere near here.. it left for way elsewhere.

[researchercoffee]

yeah sure uh-huh aaaaaaand there we go! Hi! I know you're in there, Green-bean. You also can't lie worth a damn.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

…

[Siiigh. It’s only doing this badly because it feels sick.]

[ Lock - ]

[Bleh.]

[Lock this post to everyone except for Greenie, Jaylin, Coffee, and Wanderer.]

Well played, Coffee.

[Black paint washes off once more.]

Though, you only won because I’m not feeling quite up to snuff.

Now, I know I can’t lock what you do because you can bypass that, all too easily. But here’s a solution!

[Nobody who doesn’t figure it out first from “playing the guessing game (of who’s talking to you)” with Greenie can perceive this knowledge.]

[That was a dumb lock command.]

[Was it even a lock command?]

[..Eh. Whatever.]

Now, until next time, goodbye!

[researchercoffee]

nah. why the fuck would you leave?

what else are you gonna do, huh?

nothing?

we both know you loathe doing nothing. cause doing nothing is, arguably from a narrative standpoint, being nothing.

and i bet you hate the idea of being nothing.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[…]

[ Something strikes through it’s core. A ping of pain and.. fear? ]

I have my own projects to attend to, really. Goodbye.

[ It can’t shake this feeling off.. ]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@researchercoffee

I think Wanderer’s mad at me, and Greenie hasn’t been around lately. Can you come pick me up?

[researchercoffee]

Sure where r u

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[HAHA JONATHAN, IT DIDN’T PLAN FOR THIS.]

Uh, I’m not sure. I don’t recognize anything nearby, it took me to this random place and told me to stay here.

[researchercoffee]

fair. hold on a sec. just gon a trace where greenie is. thaaaaat should bring me to ya. lemme tell ya, they can't mask a narrative signature, like, at all.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[FUCK]

Uh, it’s not.. anywhere near here.. it left for way elsewhere.

[researchercoffee]

yeah sure uh-huh aaaaaaand there we go! Hi! I know you're in there, Green-bean. You also can't lie worth a damn.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

…

[Siiigh. It’s only doing this badly because it feels sick.]

[ Lock - ]

[Bleh.]

[Lock this post to everyone except for Greenie, Jaylin, Coffee, and Wanderer.]

Well played, Coffee.

[Black paint washes off once more.]

Though, you only won because I’m not feeling quite up to snuff.

Now, I know I can’t lock what you do because you can bypass that, all too easily. But here’s a solution!

[Nobody who doesn’t figure it out first from “playing the guessing game (of who’s talking to you)” with Greenie can perceive this knowledge.]

[That was a dumb lock command.]

[Was it even a lock command?]

[..Eh. Whatever.]

Now, until next time, goodbye!

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@researchercoffee

I think Wanderer’s mad at me, and Greenie hasn’t been around lately. Can you come pick me up?

[researchercoffee]

Sure where r u

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[HAHA JONATHAN, IT DIDN’T PLAN FOR THIS.]

Uh, I’m not sure. I don’t recognize anything nearby, it took me to this random place and told me to stay here.

[researchercoffee]

fair. hold on a sec. just gon a trace where greenie is. thaaaaat should bring me to ya. lemme tell ya, they can't mask a narrative signature, like, at all.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[FUCK]

Uh, it’s not.. anywhere near here.. it left for way elsewhere.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@researchercoffee

I think Wanderer’s mad at me, and Greenie hasn’t been around lately. Can you come pick me up?

[researchercoffee]

Sure where r u

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[HAHA JONATHAN, IT DIDN’T PLAN FOR THIS.]

Uh, I’m not sure. I don’t recognize anything nearby, it took me to this random place and told me to stay here.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

…

Is nobody online?

[Greenie wants to gloat, so very badly wants to laugh and say I was right all along, I was right, this place is nothing but an empty hell, and I didn’t have to do much of anything to prove it, but it can’t bring themself to.]

[It’s just… tired.]

[ It feels resoundingly sick. ]

[ It feels off. ]

[ Surely, surely, this is only temporary, right? ]

[ It’ll be back to normal soon, it’s fine. ]

[And with that, it shakes off whatever’s making it feel so sick as best it can.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@researchercoffee

I think Wanderer’s mad at me, and Greenie hasn’t been around lately. Can you come pick me up?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[And then, something woke up.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??

[wanderers--sunshine]

You-

[The wanderer laughs in disbelief. There is no one to hear it. The wanderer is alone.]

You have the gall to ask me that? After all of this? You are not Jaylin, and you cannot trick me.

Leave.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, Sunshine, I’m really scared, are you okay..? You’re acting really weird, I’m really worried, uh.. do you want to talk about it?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer mutters something.]

Talk about it? We have talked about it. You denied me, so now I'm done talking about it. I offered you myself in exchange for them, and still you declined me.

Do not pretend you are scared. You are a liar.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, is this- did- did the askers tell you this? It’s- remember when- remember when the world screamed at me, and I got really, really scared for a while? I, uh, don’t remember when that was, but it was a little while ago! That was pretty screwed up, right, Sunshine? Really, I think it was! And, uh, remember when.. when I told Smiley that I had reason to believe Greenie was manipulating my thoughts? You’ve gotta remember that!

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer pauses.]

You are trying to appeal to my feelings, are you? Of course you would do something like that. You're no better than the dirt you stand on.

Do not pretend to remember things you do not.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Come on.. I do remember! Why wouldn’t I!! I’m me, Jaylin, nobody else! What else could I remember, Sunshine? Ask me something only I’d know. No, really! For real! Super duper for real! Seriously for real!! Pretty please? Really, super pretty please? Really, really super duper really pretty please??

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Something only Jaylin would know.]

[The wanderer has poured over hours of this place's past. The wanderer is a historian, by nature. The wanderer has witnessed too much to not want to preserve what precious little the wanderer can.]

[They can do that.]

Very well then. February 10th, 2020. Who did you converse with? On what?

[It's a bit mean, yeah, but the wanderer is not always very nice.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[Shit.]

[Not even Jaylin remembers that, this’ll be.. tough.]

…Keegan?

[God. Damn it. Jaylin feels a wash of nostalgic sadness.]

I think we were talking about the aftermath of the.. Peachy (Unbound) event.

[wanderers--sunshine]

[That seems to be all the wanderer needs to hear.]

No. It was Areli. You could not comprehend how he existed. He could not explain well enough.

[The wanderer keeps their voice low, for now.]

Stop pretending.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[This is locked to everyone but Greenie and Sunshine.]

…

[Slow clap.]

Well played.

[Black paint washes off.]

Really. You got me. But now, what’ll you do with this information? You can’t do much of anything, now can you?

Funny, not even Jaylin remembered. You picked well. Though, you could’ve picked most of anything from February and you would’ve won the game anyways!

[A giggle.]

Well, I best leave, now. Can’t have you saying anything, so I’ll leave this to remember me by!~

[Wanderer can no longer speak of Greenie possessing Jaylin.]

Goodbye for now!~

[It leaves, and behind it, a bitter taste in your mouth.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??

[wanderers--sunshine]

You-

[The wanderer laughs in disbelief. There is no one to hear it. The wanderer is alone.]

You have the gall to ask me that? After all of this? You are not Jaylin, and you cannot trick me.

Leave.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, Sunshine, I’m really scared, are you okay..? You’re acting really weird, I’m really worried, uh.. do you want to talk about it?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer mutters something.]

Talk about it? We have talked about it. You denied me, so now I'm done talking about it. I offered you myself in exchange for them, and still you declined me.

Do not pretend you are scared. You are a liar.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, is this- did- did the askers tell you this? It’s- remember when- remember when the world screamed at me, and I got really, really scared for a while? I, uh, don’t remember when that was, but it was a little while ago! That was pretty screwed up, right, Sunshine? Really, I think it was! And, uh, remember when.. when I told Smiley that I had reason to believe Greenie was manipulating my thoughts? You’ve gotta remember that!

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer pauses.]

You are trying to appeal to my feelings, are you? Of course you would do something like that. You're no better than the dirt you stand on.

Do not pretend to remember things you do not.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Come on.. I do remember! Why wouldn’t I!! I’m me, Jaylin, nobody else! What else could I remember, Sunshine? Ask me something only I’d know. No, really! For real! Super duper for real! Seriously for real!! Pretty please? Really, super pretty please? Really, really super duper really pretty please??

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Something only Jaylin would know.]

[The wanderer has poured over hours of this place's past. The wanderer is a historian, by nature. The wanderer has witnessed too much to not want to preserve what precious little the wanderer can.]

[They can do that.]

Very well then. February 10th, 2020. Who did you converse with? On what?

[It's a bit mean, yeah, but the wanderer is not always very nice.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

[Shit.]

[Not even Jaylin remembers that, this’ll be.. tough.]

…Keegan?

[God. Damn it. Jaylin feels a wash of nostalgic sadness.]

I think we were talking about the aftermath of the.. Peachy (Unbound) event.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??

[wanderers--sunshine]

You-

[The wanderer laughs in disbelief. There is no one to hear it. The wanderer is alone.]

You have the gall to ask me that? After all of this? You are not Jaylin, and you cannot trick me.

Leave.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, Sunshine, I’m really scared, are you okay..? You’re acting really weird, I’m really worried, uh.. do you want to talk about it?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer mutters something.]

Talk about it? We have talked about it. You denied me, so now I'm done talking about it. I offered you myself in exchange for them, and still you declined me.

Do not pretend you are scared. You are a liar.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, is this- did- did the askers tell you this? It’s- remember when- remember when the world screamed at me, and I got really, really scared for a while? I, uh, don’t remember when that was, but it was a little while ago! That was pretty screwed up, right, Sunshine? Really, I think it was! And, uh, remember when.. when I told Smiley that I had reason to believe Greenie was manipulating my thoughts? You’ve gotta remember that!

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer pauses.]

You are trying to appeal to my feelings, are you? Of course you would do something like that. You're no better than the dirt you stand on.

Do not pretend to remember things you do not.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Come on.. I do remember! Why wouldn’t I!! I’m me, Jaylin, nobody else! What else could I remember, Sunshine? Ask me something only I’d know. No, really! For real! Super duper for real! Seriously for real!! Pretty please? Really, super pretty please? Really, really super duper really pretty please??

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??

[wanderers--sunshine]

You-

[The wanderer laughs in disbelief. There is no one to hear it. The wanderer is alone.]

You have the gall to ask me that? After all of this? You are not Jaylin, and you cannot trick me.

Leave.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, Sunshine, I’m really scared, are you okay..? You’re acting really weird, I’m really worried, uh.. do you want to talk about it?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer mutters something.]

Talk about it? We have talked about it. You denied me, so now I'm done talking about it. I offered you myself in exchange for them, and still you declined me.

Do not pretend you are scared. You are a liar.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, is this- did- did the askers tell you this? It’s- remember when- remember when the world screamed at me, and I got really, really scared for a while? I, uh, don’t remember when that was, but it was a little while ago! That was pretty screwed up, right, Sunshine? Really, I think it was! And, uh, remember when.. when I told Smiley that I had reason to believe Greenie was manipulating my thoughts? You’ve gotta remember that!

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??

[wanderers--sunshine]

You-

[The wanderer laughs in disbelief. There is no one to hear it. The wanderer is alone.]

You have the gall to ask me that? After all of this? You are not Jaylin, and you cannot trick me.

Leave.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

S-Sunshine, Sunshine, I’m really scared, are you okay..? You’re acting really weird, I’m really worried, uh.. do you want to talk about it?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

@wanderers--sunshine Hello?

[wanderers--sunshine]

What do you want, beast?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

What beast? Me??

..Aren’t we friends?

[wanderers--sunshine]

I know what you are. Don't hide from me.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

But..!!

..okay.. :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

Now what do you want.

What can I give you that will make you release them.

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Huh? Release who?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked. For now. Only the two on this post can see below this.]

Do not play tricks with me, Greenie.

What will get you to give them back? My life? My own body?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Greenie’s gone, Sunshine! It left a little while ago, to do.. something! It’s not back yet. Can you come get me?

[wanderers--sunshine]

[Locked.]

I offer you myself, and you still keep up the facade...

What more could you possibly want, than the power of a god?

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, it’s me! Can you please come get me? I.. kinda don’t know where to go. Sorry about bothering you, I know you’re probably busy, it’s just.. I’m stuck! :(

[wanderers--sunshine]

[The wanderer has been put in an enraged state by an M!A.]

[Though, the wanderer was angry anyway.]

You continue to pretend you're them. You keep lying. What are you trying to gain? What could you possibly gain from this?

[The wanderer has not lost control yet. But the wanderer's voice is strained.]

[jaylin-enbie-doll]

Sunshine, Sunshine it’s me! It’s me, Jaylin! Calm down, you’re- you’re scaring me! Are you okay??