#oc refoulement

[vulpixisananimal]

[A: 6 C: 113] - Crimson Knight

[TW: Child Endangerment, near death experience, graphic depiction of blood and violence.]

(Petronillé)

(The Saudade were right.)

(Every hair on your body was standing on end, and your legs were starting to feel cold, numb. Your hands were balled up into fists, and you could feel a migraine threatening to break out at the back of your head. Your whole body was screaming at you, telling you to turn back. Like hell you are.)

(At first, you smelt it. Burnt Sugar, it was only getting stronger as the castle, or, keep, grew closer. Next, you could hear it, the blowing wind, the choked sobbing cut short. You could taste the blood in the air, you could feel the sand caked in tears under your feet.)

(And then, you could see it. Sadness. Dead sadness. Dozens upon dozens of dead sadness. Big, small, it didn’t matter. There were so many you’d never seen before, Change, the sadness you fought off in Wolworth had nothing on th- oh sweet--!!) “Th-that’s--”

“O-oh Change--”

“Ignore it.” (Odile orders. You try your best, but, you can’t tear your eyes off the dead body. Dead human body.)

(Light skin, dark-grey hair, a-and a uniform. There’s just, stumps where the arms should be. C-crab, you look away and shake your head clear, c’mon, just, focus on there’s another one. Oh Change they don’t have a head and they have the same outfit oh fucking- fuck, fuck--)

(Altiare grabs your arm. Ah, crab, they had stopped and you nearly walked right past them.) “Thanks, uh. . .”

“Thank me later.” (Altiare was looking dead ahead, their brow furrowed in, concentration? Pain?) “Just, don’t, don’t. . .”

(Altiare was staring at the castle gate. There was blood spilled across the walls, both human and sadness. Arrows were strewn all over the place, as well as blast markings that you could swear looked familiar. The main gate was a large wooden door with no handle, but dozens of slash marks adorned it.)

(Standing in front of the Castle gate, hovering a foot or two off of the ground, was a sadness. Or, what you assume is a sadness. It looked like it had armor, batlike ears, and what looks like part cape, part tail, part wings. It left afterimages in the air that made it hard to look at, and its entire body seemed to absorb light itself.)

“Did, d-did that sadness. . .”

“I. . . Gems, I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“Nothing, M’dame?!”

“Nothing. I could assume some things, but that’s it.”

“Hey, Alt, you okay?” (You pat her shoulder.) “Y’ look strained.”

“‘Cause I am.” (He grumbles) “It feels someone tied me to boulder and threw me into the ocean, except, mentally.”

“Ouch.” (Isabeau glances down at the d- the things on the ground.) “. . . I uh, I think it’s targeting people like you, Altiare.”

“Explain.” (Fae start rubbing faer temples.) “Can’t, think, right now.”

“It’s the-, the uniform these people have.” (Isabeau closes his eyes.) “That crab, Gornemant, he wore the same one.”

(Altiare lets out a very audible groan of frustration.) “Damnit-- might, get Nihil- my head feels like it’s in a vice!”

“DO.” (Came the gruff, threatening voice of Mirabelle’s sadness.) “DANGER. EXTREME DANGER. HIDE, SNEAK, RUN, DON’T FIGHT.”

“Good idea.” (Mirabelle pats Refoulements cheek.) “But, how?”

“That is the question. Is it even hostile?” (Odile flips through her notes.) “I take it reading its mind is impossible?”

“What do you think?!” (Altiare rolled xir eyes.) “I’ve been getting better working with sadness, but even without this, aura dragging me down, it’s like there’s nothing there at all. I’d have better luck reading a carpet.”

(. . . . . . No. . . .)

(You look back up at the sadness that still hasn’t moved. That. . . No, you’re crazy, right? Change, it’s just a coincidence! It’s just your, your crabbed up mind looking for anything to grasp onto. Even if the only other person who didn’t give a crab about mind craft was, was, was. . . Stop thinking about it, Petronillé! Just, focus! You need to find a way to-)

*Call out.

“Bonnie. . . ?” 

(The word was out of your mouth before you realize you’re even talking, and before you can do anything, the sadness moves.)

(It slowly turns its head one hundred and eighty degrees to look at you, before the rest of its body turns to you by folding in on itself. It has long arms, long legs, a deadly looking blade, and a white scar on its chest in the shape of a star. Your whole body feels numb. Your hands, they’re shaking. It’s staring at you, you think. There’s a light on its face that’s moving around, almost like an eye.)

“. . . ? ? ! ?”

(It made a noise, that's something??) “Bonnie. . . I-is, that. . . . .”

“? ? ? . . . !”

“! ? . . ! ? ! ? !”

(The light on its face shifts so it looks like it's smiling, then, it starts laughing.)

“I don’t think that’s Bonnie, Petronillé!” (Odile took a step back, ready for anything.)

“You don’t know!!” (You snap back.) “With bat traits and being anti-mind craft it- it could. . .”

“Not a good time to argue, guys!” (Isabeau took a stance.) “What do we do?!”

(Mirabelle had her sword ready.) “We should, w-we should run before it attacks! O-or maybe--” 

(The sadness stopped laughing.)

“. . . Go.” (Altiare took a step back, his eyes were wide with panic. Altiare? Panicked?!?) “Go, now, now now now!!”

Visit Original Link

(As you turned to make sure Altiare’s still okay, as Odile and Mirabelle prepare their craft skill, and as Isabeau tries to protect you all, time stops. Then, the sadness breathes in. . .)

(And roars.)

(Time stays frozen for just long enough for you to meet Altiare’s eyes. Then, with a sound like lightning, the sadness slashed at Altiare, its blade leaving a crimson gash in the air itself that quickly sealed shut. The card counter was flung across the sand dunes, unmoving.)

“ALT!!!!” (Mirabelle screamed and ran to help her as Refoulement leaped at the sadness. It screamed and slashed at the sadness relentlessly! Clawing into it, roaring, tearing with its teeth!! The sadness just stood there and laughed.)

“Group up!! We need to get outta here!!” (Isabeau held a fist and used [We! Will! Win!!!].) “M’dame, can you slow it down?!?”

“Of course.” (Odile held out a paper sign and used--)

(There was a high pitched reverberating tone, and, you think you could see stars! Not a second later, a blast of crimson that was extremely familiar came from the sadness, it hit Odile in the chest, and glanced off of Isabeau’s arm. When the dust cleared, only shreds of Refoulement’s dress remained. The sadness was holding out a hand, middle and index finger pointed at you, thumb upright, and the last two fingers folded in.)

(There’s a thwump as Mirabelle hits the ground.)

“Crabcrabcrabcrabcrab-” (This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. You grip your hammer and stand defiantly between the sadness and your friends.) “WHATDOIDO!”

“Fffuck--” (Isabeau gasps as he gets back up.) “Y-you gotta, check on, Mira!”

“I know that!!!” (You dare not look away from the sadness.) “I, just, if I move, then--”

(You felt something hovering close behind your head. In a heartbeat, the sadness pulled back, sword poised to strike right at your heart! You’re numb, you can’t move, you-!)

*Breathe.

(The sadness strikes at you like an arrow, and you deflect it with the arm of your hammer. It’s behind you, already turning to strike at you again. You step back, and it blazes past you. You moved and deflected again and again and again. Before you know it, the sadness’ stopped its flurry, and you only felt a little cut on your shoulder.)

“. . . Holy crab Nille!!!” (You glance to the side, Isabeau’s nearly made it to Mirabelle.) “That was AWESOME!!!”

“THANKS!?” (You think?!? What, what just happened?!?! How did you, do that?!?!) 

“AS I WAS SAYING! [Slow IV]!!!” (Slowing gemstones flew past you and hit the sadness. You turn around to see Odile up on one knee with a menacing look on her face.) “Don’t forget. It’s still just a sadness!”

“MIRA’S ALIVE!!!” (Isabeau’s relieved cry immediately helped you relax. You feel the north wind blew fiercely. ) “JUST IN SHOCK- LOOK OUT!!!”

*Breathe in

(The Sadness slashed at you with a mighty overhead swing that you just barely dodged with a leap backwards. Your moment of confidence was cut short however by the gale that exploded outwards when the sword hit the sand. It sent you tumbling onto your back and before you knew it, the sadness was looming over you, poised to strike again!)

(Just then, a beam of pale-blue light cut through the arm of the sadness, making it flinch just enough for you to scramble out from underneath it! What the, what crab?!?)

(A new voice called out.) “MAKE A RUN FOR IT!!!” 

(Your head whips up to see a figure atop the walls of the keep with a head of long white hair and bow in hand. Your vision narrows. Isabeau recognized her first.) “ARK!!!!!”

“NOW!!” (She orders, and not a moment too soon. The sadness flips its sword in the air and catches it as it turns into a knife, which it then throws at Ark. The knife explodes into thousands of knives, targeting you, Isabeau, Ark, everyone!! You get low and try to fend off what you could with your hammer.)

(Two spinning blades of light hit the sadness solidly in the back. You glance to the side and smile as you see Ramos wiping blood from their nose holding out their rock/scissors sign!)

“RAMOS!” (You cheer.) “You’re ALIVE!?”

“Gonna take- stars, gonna take more than that!” (They were very clearly limping, but alive.) “We need a strategy right crabbing now!!!”

“RIGHT!” (Uh, uh, crab you need a plan!) “Who has healing crafts?!?”

“I got it!” (Altiare, from nowhere, limped towards Mirabelle and used [Fold]. The Jackpot gauge was cleared, but Mirabelle was starting to come around. Your chest feels tight.)

*Breathe out.

 (There was a sound like lightning, and the sadness slashed at Ramos, its sword leaving that crimson trail yet again. For one horrible second you thought they got cut in two, but no! Ramos had bent over backwards to avoid the swipe! The sadness struck again, but they were able to barely move out of the way in time, and when the third swipe was coming, you were already running in! You swung your hammer, poised to deflect the slash!!)

(The sword met your hammer and there was a loud booming noise. Your teeth rattled, and your ears rang. You shook your head, the- S-stars your CRABBING EARS! It looks like Ramos is okay, and the sadness was staring at you, what, confused?!?) “. . . Heh.”

“ARE YOU ALL BLINDING INSANE?!?” (Ark screams from atop the wall.) “THE CRIMSON KNIGHT’LL KILL YOU!!”

(Crimson Knight?)

“LIKE I’D LET IT!!!!!” (Ramos yells back, before turning back to the sadness.) “HEY BATFACE! Big surprise, WE’RE STILL ALIVE!!!”

“RAMOS!” (You feel a strong warmth flow over you as Isabeau uses [COME ON!!!]. You feel lightheaded. He’s standing protectively over Mirabelle.) “DON’T TAUNT THE BIG SCARY KNIGHT!”

*Breathe in.

(The Crimson Knight points towards you and Ramos, and you hear that strange whining noise again. Sparks of crimson energy are coming off the Knights fingers- SHIT!!) “GET DOWN!!!”

(Just in time, everyone dives for cover. You yelp as a beam of crimson energy hits your side, but you’re alive!! You’re still alive! You’re okay- FfffAAAAH THAT HURTS OH CHANGE!!!)

(Odile rushes from cover to your side, pausing only to cast [Craft Break Δ].) “Let me see the wound, where does it hurt?”

“Side-!” (You gesture to your abdomen where something feels like it’s burning.) “F-ff-”

(Odile swiftly moves to investigate where you got hit, and winces.) “Impact and a burn, third degree, we’d need-”

(You feel something warm impact you from behind and see a spinning disk of light hit Odile a second later; the pain dulls, then disappears as the wound knits itself shut. You turn to look behind you and Mirabelle’s up, holding her paper/scissors sign out having used [Mega Sparkle Heal]!! She’s okay!!!)

(You saw Mira open her mouth to say something, but instead she ended up coughing up a storm and doubling over. She’s okay, but CLEARLY something’s still wrong! Time to move, girl! You grab Odile’s arm,) “Let’s go!” (And you make a mad dash out from your cover towards Mirabelle and Isabeau.)

“GEMS- PETRONILLÉ!!! (Odile stumbled as she was dragged along. You feel the north and east winds blowing fiercely.) “Some warning would be appreciated!!!”

(You open your mouth to respond-)

*Breathe out.

(There’s a boom from behind you and a gust sends Odile and yourself flying! You tumble forward in the sand and end up recovering back up to a kneeling position. Looking up, you can just barely make out a familiar masked figure weaving around the Crimson Knights attacks, the wind pulling at its cape overdramatically. At least you had Nihil’s help, but. . .)

(You scramble over to Mirabelle, Odile hot on your heels. Isabeau was already prepared to help her up if she collapsed, but now that you’re here, he gives you a nod and runs after Nihil.) 

“Hey Miss!” (You skid to a stop and lean down to be on Mirabelle’s level.) “Fuck for a second I thought you were off to the Change Gods Afterparty!!”

“Faah. . !” (Mirabelle tries to speak, fails, and tries again.) “Fee-elt, fffeltlike, it.”

“Try not to exert yourself too much, Mirabelle. Look at me and smile.” (Odile puts a hand under her chin and tilts her head up. Mirabelle smiles, but half her face is drooping.) “. . . Cutting- of course.”

“Of course what?!” (You grumble impatiently.) 

“I hope I am wrong, but.” (Odile lets go of Mirabelle and lets out a loud and distressed groan.) “Mirabelle likely has a concussion.”

“Bonk on the head?”

“Ooh!” (Your vision narrows. Mirabelle tries to laugh.) “I’ll a, I’ll beeh- be fine!”

“You will not!” (Odile turns to you. Your head is spinning.) “Her brain has been damaged. We need to get her serious medical treatment.”

*Breathe in.

(Mirabelle grabs you and Odile and pulls you all down, something cuts your shoulder, and the next thing you know Mirabelle’s using [Holy Care Shield!] to deflect the storm of blades passing just inches above your head.)

(No sooner than when the knives stop flying you hop to your feet and sprint to the source. You could see the shadow of the Knight despite the sand clouding your vision. You grip your hammer in one hand, and make a fist with the other! You’ve never used this skill, but, here goes!! You throw your hammer with all your strength and use [2-by-4 toss!!].)

(Your hammer spins end over end like a boomerang at the Knight and disappears into the stirred up sand. There’s a meaty THWUNK followed by a sadness’ screech! YES!!!)

(The hammer nails you in the groin as it completes its arc.)

“FFFHHHHHH---!!!” (You double over, clutching yourself. Stupid, CRABBING DUMBASS!!!!) “H-HHHHHGG-!!”

“Ouch!” (Who th- Change it’s Isabeau! He’s got a hand on your back CHANGE that stings!!) “Ten on the execution, but maybe work on the Uh. . . what’s that sound?”

“What’s--?” (You glare up at him, but. . . Yeah, what’s th- LAUGHTER?!?) “Th’ hell?!?”

“Hey!!! That’s not funny!!!” (Isabeau yells back.) “Getting hit right there hurts a lot!!!”

(The laughter dies down a bit, replaced instead by. . . You swear it sounds like barely stifled snickering. UGH!!! You grimace and slowly try getting up.) “What an asshole.”

“Absolutely no manners.” (Isabeau huffs, and helps you back to your feet.) “What’s this things problem?!”

“While I’ve never seen anything like this sadness before. . .” (Odile calls from behind you.) “This Crimson Knight is obviously extremely powerful, but it is also arrogant, volatile, audacious, and somewhat maniacal.”

“AND DEADLY!” (Ark takes another potshot at the sadness from the ramparts.) “WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST STANDING AROUND?!?”

“We can’t just run away!!” (Ramos calls from somewhere in the kicked up sand. Wasn’t Nihil just fronting-? Nevermind that!!) “Help us fight it off!!!”

“Will do!!” (Ark stands up from behind where she was taking cover. You feel surrounded.) “I’ll try and time my shots with your attacks!”

“Sounds g-!!”

*Breathe out.

(There’s a whoosh as a sword flies between you and Isabeau, with the big guy only barely diving back in time! Before you knew it, you were isolated, trapped, surrounded by spinning swords! Oh when does this nightmare END!!!)

(You’re too slow, and in your panic, the Knight leaves a gash in your leg as it lunges at you. No time, you take a step to dodge the next attack, and a third attack you’re able to deflect with your hammer! You dodge the forth, but your leg gives out from under you and you’re sent tumbling back, landing with your head just an inch from one of the swords.)

“TOO CLOSE!!” (Isabeau skids to a stop by your side, and uses [BREAK BREAK!!!] to make some distance.) “WAY too close!!! Can you stand??”

“Y-yeah, yeah!” (You affirm, sitting up and inspecting the wound. It hurts, but you can walk.)

(Nihil dashed at the Crimson Knight, leaving it distracted enough for you to recover. It was impressive, watching the two sadness fight; one was fast, the other was fluid. Isabeau helps you up. The problem is that you have no idea how long Nihil could keep this up.)

(Mirabelle and Odile were on the opposite side of the fight. Odile landed a [Scissors III] on the sadness, and as it turned to her Nihil used [Blast] right in its chest!! They’re keeping it distracted! Heh, it’s like they knew just exactly what to do without saying a word.)

(Ark didn’t let the Knight recover as a pale-blue beam of light punched through the Knights head and forced it to its knees. It tried to recover, to stand and fight back, but you saw it wouldn’t have a chance. You saw Mirabelle holding something in her hand, you saw her clap her hands together, and you saw her cast that lightless disk of change right at the sadness, using [Soothing restful song]!!!)

(In a blink, the Crimson Knight was frozen in time.)

“WHOOO!!!”

“Finally!!”

“YES!!!”

“H-HAHOLY CRAB!!!”

(Isabeau ran towards the rest of the group, Odile sat back on the ground, Nihil was trying to switch out, and Mirabelle stood there, panting. She collapsed to her knees, staring at the frozen form of the sadness. Change, you start limping over to make sure she’s okay. . . Uhrg, now that you weren’t fighting for your life, that sugary smell was back and giving you a headache--)

(*CRACK!*)

(Your heart skips a beat, and your head whips around to the sadness. There’s a crack)

(*CRACK!*   *CRA-TING!*)

(Odile was back up on one knee, Isabeau was stunned on the spot, you- y-you couldn't move! No, no no no!! A finger on one hand, it, had burst through a crack, it’s, it’s MOVING!! You smelt the sugar, burnt sugar, it’s getting strong, stronger, and stronger!!! No no NO NO NONONONO!!! NO!!!!!!)

“RUN! RUN!!!” (Ramos sprinted past you towards Mirabelle, and helped her to her feet before making their way to the keep’s gate.) “QUICK!! NOW!!”

(*CRACK!CRACK!CRACK!CRACK!CRACK!CRACK!CRACK!*)

(You back away. Odile ran past you, Isabeau was trying to pull you along. Your heartbeat becomes twisted.)

*Breathe in.

(Frozen time shatters, there's a bloodcurdling roar, and the Crimson Knight lunges.)

(Your body moves faster than your mind ever could. You step back, block, turn, anything that could keep that crimson blade from harming you. Why you? Why you?!? Crab- were you just the closest one!?! Stupid, STUPID!!!!)

(Your leg gives out   from -      under   - you       fe -    -  -      

B -   ur -    rning-    -      

“AH-!!!” 

The   -   -  

    -

   -umbling  -     Pai-    

       -

     br-       -      -

Br-       b-    

BREATHE!! 

BREATHE!!!! FfffffFFFUUCK!!! You- y-you wh-  

  i -   -ted out for a second  -  GHH-  - H A-

 AAAAAHHHH! 

You take another agonizing breath- FUCK!! W-who’s, who’s screaming?! Your  cht,  -w  w hat-   

 ---GHHHA!!!! I-is someone, yelling!? your whole body HU  R TS!! Your vision’s a blur, s-someone-- a- a figure, w-who, fh-fff ff ffih---)

*Breathe in.

(You take as deep a breath in as you possibly can and it HURTS! IT-- -      -         - -p   -p-pop, you hear a pop, chest, a-and-- CRABS you can breathe!!! You greedily gulp down oxygen and roll onto your side. Your whole body hurts, your chest, your leg, your side--- GHHH!!! You grit your teeth and will yourself up to all fours, then to a knee. You look up, how, what’s--)

(The Crimson Knight is staring at you, unmoving and unflinching even as Ramos and Isabeau strike at its body making it crackle and fizz. Why is it- w-why is its hand, w-why is, glowing-- Why, is it, s-staring at. . .)

(You call for your sibling, your voice barely a whisper.)

(The Knight flinches, then coils into a ball, legs tucked close to its chest. You can hear that high pitched whining noise again, but it's louder this time and only getting more intense! Energy's crackling, bolts of crimson, s-stars, y-you see stars. Ramos, trying to run to you, thrown away by crimson lightning, your friends, trying to get to cover, trying to get to you. You try and get up, you try and get up, you, t-try and, get, g-get. . .)

(There was a mighty explosion of noise that could rival any scream of agony, any wail of loss, any roar of uncontained fury. It shook the sands and rattled the skies. It echoed in your stomach and pulsed in your heart, and rode your emotions like an untamed sea!)

(Crimson bolts of cracking energy seared every inch of the battlefield and sent stars flying in every direction on impact. You didn't know if your friends were alive, you didn't know if they got to safety in time! You squeeze your eyes shut, you didn't even know when you'd get hit by a stray bolt and die.)

(But, it never happened. After what felt like an eternity, the assaulting roar and hail of crimson stopped. You tentatively open your eyes. The whole world's a blur, and not an inch of the sand was untouched by the Crimson wrath except for exactly where you were laying. Did, did it-)

*Breathe out. 

(No time for that! The Crimson Knight is facing away from you just a few feet away kneeling on the ground! You need to move!! You hop to your feet, grab your hammer, and charge at the living shadow with all your might!!!)

(The Knight turns to look at you, but you made sure it didn’t have time to react! Before you knew it, you had one leg planted solidly in the ground and were swinging your hammer with your whole weight behind it!!!)

(Your strike sends the Crimson Knight flying limp through the air. After several agonizing seconds where time itself once again seemed to slow, you start seeing cracks in the Knights armor. Flecks of pure darkness crumbled away and disappeared as it flew through the air, slowly revealing the sadness’ owner.)

(You were running before Bonnie hit the ground.)

(Thud.)

(You skid to a stop next to your sibling. Dark circles under eyes, messy hair, torn cloak, blood, their blood?!?!? You’re already unpinning their cloak and checking for wounds. Blood, where did that blood come from, if they’re hurt then you n- You freeze.)

(Bonbon's shirt was torn at the chest, and through it you could see a large, star shaped scar. There was a glimmer of something in the center. Y-you shake your head and try to ignore it! There’s no wounds so you check their breathing.)

(. . . . . .)

(. . . NO!!!)

“T-THEY’RE NOT BREATHING!!!” (You scream as you search frantically for a heartbeat, pressing your hand to their neck, wrist, chest, w-where, where is it? Where is it?!? Why can’t you feel it?!? WHY CAN’T YOU FEEL IT?!?!?!)

(Someone else here, who- I-Isabeau! Is he talking?!? Y-you can’t hear him why can’t you- WHY CAN’T YOU FEEL THEIR HEART!!!!)

“NILLE!!!” (His yelling snaps you back. He guides your hand back to Bonnie's mouth.) “They’re okay! See??”

(. . . T-they, they’re. . . They’re breathing.)

(You scoop your sibling into your arms, almost collapsing in the process. You think you’re crying? You can’t even tell! You hold them close, tight, protective, like if you loosened your grip they’d disappear and the nightmare would return. H-ha, haha, y-you think- you think you can feel their heart now. Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum. . .)

“Everything’s okay, Petronillé. Here, let me.” (Isabeau talks softly, and has his arms out like he wants to take Bonnie from you. You hold tighter. He backs off.)  “. . . On second thought let’s just get to safety.”

(You nod, and get up. Bonnie feels light, which you try not to think about. Instead you shift them so they’re more comfortable in your arms. You feel something warm, Mirabelle’s healing you? She’s saying something, but you can’t hear it. Your leg isn’t burning anymore, Ramos is patting your back, Odile’s saying something about recovery and crafts, but all you’re focused on is the keep’s main door and the not-so-young bundle in your arms.)

(Your head got clearer with every step you took. Huh? There’s no handle on the grand wooden door, how do you open it? Ark yells something, and a second later, an unknown figure opens the door.)

“Inside! Now!”  (Says the girl holding the door. She’s tall, has slightly tanned skin, and white hair with a streak of black running through it. She wore a chainmail shirt, adorned with, what you assume is, the remains of some full-plate armor. One eye was cloudy, and brandished a very visible scar. Finally, there was a strange device strapped to her belt alongside a sword.) “Before anything new shows up- Stars above it was just a kid?!?”

“That’s her little sibling you crab!” (Ramos snaps, grabbing the door and pulling it open wider.) “We’ll explain later.”

(You wanted to say thank you, but your words are still failing you.) 

“Yeah whatever just get inside!!” (You get rushed along, a strange mix of emotion coming over you as you cross the threshold. Relief, and. . . Dread?) “One, two. . . That everyone?”

“All six!” (Isabeau confirmed as Ramos ran inside, his tone was dripping with relief.) “Change, thank you uh. . . What’s your name?”

“I’m Aurola, she/her, but most people call me La.” (She closes and bars the door, and then turns to you all, hand on her sword.) “Now, which one’a you is stinking of mint!”

- - -

[Aurola is from @cyten0's Symphony in Crimson AU.]

[vulpixisananimal]

[A: 6 C: 109] - Sands of Change

(Mirabelle) {Refoulement} 

(You sat watch under the shade of one of the many, many giant bones littering this endless desert. It felt like you hadn’t made any progress in days! Not since you had found Antoine resting at that oasis. This journey was getting exhausting, and it was hot! But weirdly, not as hot as it should be? You think? H-heh, this place is strange. You’ve tried to wrap your head around it, but. . . It always gives you a headache!)

(You look over to Antoine. Their eyes were closed and they were resting happily against one of the giant bones. He’d been having trouble with the sand, but that wasn’t anything a bit of patience couldn’t get past. Besides, it’s not like he’s slowing you down or anything like they keep saying they are. Honestly, having someone else to talk to was, good!)

(Well, someone to talk to who’s not, Refoulement or Horizon.)

(You look down at the dark star Crest in your hand. . . Oh Horizon. . . If, i-if only you could understand it! It saved your life when you first got here, and had stuck by you ever since. The issue is that it’s. . . W-well, first off, it looked like how Siffrin described it in headspace, except it was, hard to look at? It was like looking through cloudy or broken glasses. A-and then second off, you couldn’t talk to it! The only sound it could make was some, garbled, white noise.)

(On top of all that, a few minutes after it appeared, it, turned into the charm that you’re now holding. It had turned back to help fight off some sadness, and to try to talk to you, but. . . That was it. . . Does it even remember you?)

“DOUBTING?” (Refoulement appears, looming over your shoulder.) “SAVED YOU. YES?”

(You're not as surprised as you should be when Refoulement poofs into existence. Honestly it was really growing on you! Hehe.) “Y-yes it did! I-I’m just, worried. . .”

“MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT.”  (Despite how, traditionally, someone would be creeped out by a sadness draped over them, for you it was comforting.) “FRIENDS. FAMILY. SADNESS. PERCIVAL. SURVIVAL. HORIZON IS NOT ONE OF THEM.”

“I guess you’re right. . .” (You roll the star crest over your fingers mindlessly. It was right, you already have a lot to worry about, like what to do or where to go. You had been making your way to the distant tower that held the sun. You’re not really sure why, it’s. . . Just, it’s the only solid direction you could go.)

(Where is everyone else? Ramos, Bonnie, Isabeau, Odile, Pétronille, Siffrin. . . Considering Horizon was here of all places, that last one worried you the most. What happened to Siffrin? The last thing you could remember was some screaming, running into Sif, Isa, and Ramos’ room, seeing something bright, and. . . Poof! You’re here!)

(Well, not HERE, in this desert. At first you were in a weird place that was almost dreamlike. It was hard to remember, but you remember. . . You remember remembering, remembering things about your journey, both before and after beating the King. You didn’t know what was going on, but, Refoulement showed up, and got you out, and you landed here.)

(But what even was here? Why is Horizon here? Why is Refoulement so. . . Solid? And how did you meet Antoine? You would say that you’re dreaming, but you didn’t wake up when you got hit by a sadness, it felt too real. . . Maybe you’re hallucinating? O-or maybe-)

(The ground shook and the sands shifted as you felt a noise in your belly and taste its sugar in your mouth! You jolted to your feet, having almost had a heart attack!)

“Change-!” (Antoine gasped awake and grabbed their cane, scrambling to get up.) “What th’ crab?!?”

“I-I don’t know, are you alright?!?” (You look over at him, wide eyed.) 

“I’m fine, miss.” (They casually pointed in a direction.) “That on the other hand. . .”

(Turning to look, you saw a large dark spire in the distance. It reached up and up into the skies, and the whole world felt a bit cooler. Refoulement chittered from over your shoulder.)

“STRONG.” (It leans forward more.) “FEEL STRONG. DANGEROUS.”

“Dangerous?” (Antoine looks at it, concerned.) “To us? Or. . .”

“ENERGY. WANT TO HUNT.” {You look at him.} “OTHER SADNESS. WILL BE THE SAME.”

“O-oh!” (Well! You make a face, then gather your things.) “W-well, then now is probably a good time to move.”

“Fine by me.” (Antoine shudders as he, and you, glance back at the fountain. After a few seconds, the darkness started to fade.) “. . . At least we have another direction to go.”

“I suppose, but. . .” (You rub your chin.) 

*Go to the fountain.

“No, you’re right.” (You nod, clapping your hands together.) “Someone might need our help there.”

“Sounds good. Let’s get movin’.”

>>>

“It killed the other one!?” (Antoine exclaimed, shield at the ready.)

“And made itself stronger, yes.” (You cast [Heal Prayer], and the gash in your side starts to close.) “I-I think, I’ve heard about this type of sadness before actually.”

“Oh really?” (Antoine smirks, glancing at the sadness that looked like someone cut in half.) “Another little thing from the heroine days?”

“Er, kinda?” (You shrug, glancing around.) “It’s a long story-”

“FOCUS.” {You lash out from behind Mirabelle, diving at the sadness, and stab stab stab STAB STAB!} “STILL DANGER.”

(The sadness screamed at Refoulement and charged at it. Refoulement dodged the charge, and the sadness continued on, aiming now for Antoine! Luckily, they deflected the blow with his shield arm, and struck back with the cane he had in the other. Apparently, it was REALLY good for thwacking things!)

“Yes!!” (Your turn! You take a stance, before slashing forward, piercing the sadness, and jumping up and away with an uppercut of your sword.) “Just a little more!”

(The sadness screamed loud enough to make you wince, but was cut off by the roar of your own sadness as it lunged and pierced it through! It started tearing away at it. By the time you landed from your leap, Refoulement was stabbing its very, very dead corpse over and over.)

[Mirabelle is now level 62.]

[Antoine is now level 24.]

[Refoulement is now level 67.]

“Phew.” (Antoine puts his shield away and makes their way over.) “It don’t mess around, eh?”

“Y-yeah! It’s. . .” (You glance at Refoulement.) “. . . Very thorough!”

“I’ll say.” (He smirks.) “‘Ey Foul! I think it’s dead!”

(Your sadness looked up, before quickly slithering back to your shadow. Metaphorically? Physically? Both? You don’t know. You reach a hand around to cup its face.) “You did good! Thanks!”

“. . .” (It doesn’t respond, in any way you can comprehend anyways.) “. . . STRANGE THING. UNDER. SADNESS.”

“Strange?” (You tilt your head.) “Strange how?”

“. . . UNSURE. NOT. DANGEROUS.”

“Spooky.” (Antoine shook their head.) “Look at you two. A maiden and her sadness, there’s somethin’ about somethin’ in there. Heh, it could be a book!”

“Oh definitely!!” (You nod enthusiastically as you lean over the dead sadness.) “Oh!!! Maybe you should join our book club!!!”

“I’d love to!” (They follow.) “Who else’s in it?”

“Isabeau, Odile, a-and sometimes Ramos and Siffrin.” (Because it’s really Alex and Loop who likes to join. You glance up and smile at Antoine.) “We should find a horror-fantasy about a sadness!!!”

“Heh, sounds like a plan.” (Antoine chuckles.) “I wonder though. . . ‘Cause not every sadness is friendly like yours, right?”

“Right!” (You nod. Refoulement is pulling your attention to something under the sadness.) “I-I’ve met a few others like Refoulement, s-so it’s not uncommon O-oh! Apparently Perci’s the same with his sadness, too.”

“Oh yeah?” (He circles around as you start moving the sadness off of the spot.) “What’s it look like? He never did tell me.”

“Oh! Like a rabbit. Er, he has multiple actually!” (Refoulement reaches around to help you move the sadness.) “A cute, fluffy thing! It’s kinda. . .”

(O-oh. Er. . .)

{BREATHE. IT IS DEAD.}

“. . . Oh, ah.” (Altiare looked over your shoulder.) “Kinda like that, huh.”

“Y-yeah. . .”

(What Refoulement had found was, in fact, the body of a Saudade. It was being held in the arm of the sadness that was killed by the other, almost like it was being protected. Not that it was now, the poor thing. . .)

“. . . Cute?” (Antoine grimaced.) “Is’at weird to say about the dead sadness of my not-so-ex boyfriend?”

“Uhm, no? Maybe?” (You reach out to the rabbit, hesitate, then pinch one of its ears.) “Oh you poor thing. . .”

(One second you were just rubbing its ears affectionately, and in the next it disappeared in a flash. You recoiled back, and looked again to see a point of light floating where it once was. So, it’s not a coincidence. . .)

“Like last time?” (Antoine’s voice was quiet.) 

“Yes, like last time.” (You said with a solid tone.) “I’ll check it, but you might want to. . .”

“Yeah, one sec.” (Antoine turned and walked a few feet away, before giving a thumbs up. Change. . . You, really don’t blame him, for, not wanting to see this. . .)

(You reach out towards the light.)

“Blood.” I curse, and get up from my unsteady spot on the Gleipnir’s port side. It had barely been a day, and my traveling companion had gotten himself into trouble. I rush over to the bow where I can already see no less than three people attacking my good friend, and a small crowd of others cheering them on. I yell and push through the group. “That’s enough!! Let him go!!”

“Aye? Says who!” A burly man who looked too well trimmed to be kind glared at me. He was nursing a bruised eye, clearly my friend’s doing. “Well then what’d you have me do to someone who strikes his captain, sir!”

The honorific was spat out like it had offended him in some way. Well, it wasn’t unearned.  Zac had been looking for a new crew, and I happened to negotiate a very good working contract for him and the captain of the Gleipnir, something we both were fast regretting.

“Get him a round of beers, minimum.” I cheekily grin and roll my eyes, moving on in the conversation before the captain could react. “Jokes aside, in most cases I’d have him off my ship on the next port! That’s what reputable captains do, correct?”

“Reputable-!” The captain cuts himself off. “An’ what do you mean most cases.”

“Oh come on. Haven’t you met one person who’s just been begging to be smacked in the face.” I fold my hands behind my back, emphasising my ridiculousness. “Like, say, an officer closing down a pub, or a merc who doesn’t care about people. Blood, I wake up every day and see someone like that in the mirror!”

That got the crew laughing. Perfect. Manipulate through mirth; make them laugh, make them like you, and then it doesn’t matter what you say, as long as it sounds smart. The captain looked angry, but it was hard for him to do much now.

“Alright alright!” He grumbles. “We’ll let him off at next port, but if he can’t follow orders he ain’t working!” 

“Whota’ pile o’ shite.” Zac finally gets up from the ground, curses at the ready. “No wonder you’re short a’ crew, noone wants a captain who’s got piss for brains!”

“Watch it you-!!!”

“That’s enough! We don’t want to cause any more of a scene in front of everyone, do we?" I stifle a laugh, and hold a hand out to Zac. “Come on, let’s find a cabin.”

“And see ya’ keep to it.” I hear the captain grumble as I help Zac up. Surely an attempt to regain control. Cute. I take a few steps away, letting that bastard think he’s got the last laugh, before finally glancing back.

“Ah that reminds me.” I lock eyes with the captain, whose name I never did bother to commit to memory. “I have to compliment you on your integrity, captain, as I’m sure you will have Zac’s pay ready at the end of the trip, as it is a minimum guarantee regardless of work-hours.”

I swiftly turn away, head down to hide a smile. Before the captain could realize what I meant, my companion and I were well below deck. 

Finding our little corner of the ship was simple. I was a passenger, not crew, and had one of the more accommodating cabins. Zac already offered to sleep on the floor, since he could apparently sleep anywhere, and because apparently ‘you look like someone who’d break his back sleeping on anything a little lumpy’. Charming.

“I gotta ask, Perci.” Zac takes a seat and grins up at me. “Arent you worried about sinking the ship with that giant pair o’ steel balls ya’ got there?”

“I'm sure she can handle it.” I reply cheekily, patting the ship wall as I sit down. “So, when will we get to Goethia?” 

“Worried about a knife in the back?” Zac scoffs. “Prolly smart. We’ll round %$^#&!#@ tonight, and after that it’ll be two more days.”

“Well then let’s make sure we make it then, eh?” I chuckle, and get my pen and notebook out of my pack. “I needed time to write in either case.”

“You ever take a break from that book or are you bonded to it?” 

“We’re divorced, actually.”

“Ah now that’s more like it!”

(Change, that was a weird one. You rub your face and take a few deep breaths. It took a few seconds to get your balance back into place; the rocking of the boat felt so. . . Real. . . Hmm, are these memories you’re seeing even going to be useful?)

(You turn back to Antoine.) “All done!”

“Didn’t take long.” (Antoine makes their way back over.) “It felt like ages when I got stuck in the last one.”

“Time flies when you’re. . . Reliving memories?” (You unhelpfully suggest.) “This one was Perci traveling on a boat. . .”

“Probably to get away from home.” (He lets out a wistful breath of air.) “Let’s move on.”

“O-of course! Let’s go.”

>>>

(Wheeeeere. . . do you go now?)

(You’d been doing your best to follow where the pillar of darkness was, but over time you’d gotten more and more off track. Things looked off, and your only point of reference- the sun -had been shifting inconsistently. The sands seemed to morph under your feet, and mess with your eyes.)

(You had to pause for a second and close your eyes. Change. . . Oh you should be used to this Mirabelle! Everything is strange and changing, shouldn’t you be used to that? You are a housemaiden OF Change!! UGH!!!)

“STOP.” (Refoulement grabs you by the hair and leans over your shoulder.) “NOT AT, FAULT.”

“S-sorry- I-I mean-!” (You grimace as it lets go of your hair, and starts to fix it.) “NOT sorry! I-I am not sorry, j-just- Change. . .”

“. . . We gotta find your meds, miss.” (Antoine gives you an affirming smile from where he’s resting.) “Having your sadness pop up from nowhere every few hours does NOT help the heart!”

“S-so--” (You cut yourself off, and clear your throat.) “W-well, I’ll, do my best t-to, uhm. . .”

“Oh stop worrying about it! It’sa joke!” (Antoine ruffled your hair, then got a hiss from Refoulement, who had JUST fixed it!) “Ha! Well, any idea where to go?”

“No, sor- n-no.” (You shuffle on the spot.) “Should we just, go with our gut? O-or uhm. . .”

(Interrupting your thinking and fretting, you feel something move in your pocket. You start going through your pockets until you bring out the culprit, a certain Star Charm! It was jolting in your hand, until it launched itself in the air and in a flash, turned into the dark-hole headed sadness known as Horizon.)

“Welcome back?” (Antoine says, unsure.) 

“Hello Horizon!!” (You say with a bit more enthusiasm.) “Do you need something?”

“##$%$###^$!$(((###&&&!!!!!!!” (Horizon’s form was being rapidly jerked around on the spot, glitching.) “&&:@$!*???/?”

“Nnnnnnope, sorry.” (Antoine leaned on his cane.) “Still can’t understand what you’re saying.” 

“U-uhm, you can point to something? Maybe? O-or uhm. . .”

“&%$#.” (Horizon floated on the spot, before rapidly zipping in a direction, now sounding much more distant.) “&&$%$#!! #%$!$!!”

“Oh!” (You’re smiling again! Yes! A lead!) “It wants us to follow it!!”

“Well then, after you.” (Antoine does a jokey half-bow.) 

(You cheekily curtsey back.) “Oh thank you good xir!”

(The two of you start your journey again, sliding down the sands and moving between dunes. Horizon calls from a short distance away, and each time you get close, it zips back again. It is definitely, definitely leading you somewhere. Honestly? Having an actual guide had given you and Antoine a second wind, and you were making great time!)

(Horizon’s time as a guide didn’t last for long, though. After a little bit of playing chase, it made some low-pitched noise, and reverted back into a charm. But now that it had given a direction, the two of you were able to continue on your own. For a time, anyways.)

(Eventually, you had to pause for a minute. You may have trekked across Vaugarde for about a year, but Antoine was missing a leg and happily settled down. It was during this, you sitting on the dune and Antoine laying on its slope, when you noticed something.)

(Well, it’s less you noticed something, more. . . more that you noticed the lack of something. There wasn’t much wind, and there weren’t any dust clouds. The horizon was clear, and there was almost no sand blocking the view! Well, almost, because there were a few little dust ‘puffs’ that showed up every now and then. Now that you were thinking about it. . .)

(You close your eyes, stand up straight, cup your ears with your hands, and listen closely. . . . The odd gust of light wind. . . A noise of some animal. . . And. . . A person yelled?)

(Someone's out here!!!)

“Antoine!!!” (You drop down next to them.) “Antoine I-I think I heard someone!!”

“Huh?!” (He sits up.) “What?! Really?!?”

“Y-yes! I’m sure of it, just- listen for a second.”

(You both stop for a minute to listen. After a moment, Antoine gasps.) “I hear ‘em!”

“!!! Which way??”

“I think. . . . That way, let’s getta’ move on!!”

(In a flash you were both off again. Please don’t let this just be a hallucination. You’d gotten so tired of being alone here, of not having your friends around, of being stuck USELESS and not making ANY progress!!! Change, even if it wasn’t your friends, if it was just, ANYONE, you’d be happy!!)

(Your feet sunk into the sand with each step, like the world was grabbing you by your doubts and dragging you down. You won’t let it, you WON’T! There’s no way you’re going to let this world tear you away from the people you care about! It’s getting louder, slowly but surely. You hear something hit something metallic, a scream, yelling, crafts- wait!! WAIT PLEASE BE WHO YOU THINK IT IS!!!)

(You crest the the dune with hope in your heart, only for it to be rewarded as a smile spreads across your face.)

(Isabeau, Odile, and Nihil. Nihil? How was it- you know what? You don’t care, because your friends are here and fighting off a sadness!!! Odile was hurt, Isabeau was holding off two of the sadness hands, and Nihil was trying to pin down a third! There’s no time to waste!!)

(You leap and slide down the side of the slope, clapping your hands together as you do and casting [Mega Sparkle Heal]!!!) “E-EVERYONE!!!”

(Isabeau looks over his shoulder at your voice, eyes going wide seeing you.) “MIRA!!!”

“Mirabelle?!?” (Odile gasps, the crafted discs of light stitching up her leg.) “Gems alive where have you been?!”

{Not now. Fight.} (Nihil’s “voice” echoes in your mind as it skips back from one of the hands.) {Good. To see.}

“Glad you’re okay too!!” (You slash at one of the hands, giving Isabeau a chance to back off.) “What are we fighting?!”

“I suspect a sadness from the house.” (Odile flips through her book.) “Six hands. We’ve beaten three, now we have two paper and one rock hand left.”

“And the weird spaghetti looking body is taking pretty big hits.” (Isabeau says through gritted teeth.) “But this’ll be a piece of cake now oh Change Mirabelle I missed you!!!”

“Missed you too, hehe.” (You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling if you tried.) “. . . I, think I have an idea, try and surround it!”

(And you’re off! You went right, Isa and Nihil went left, and Odile stood her ground. You slashed at a hand as you whizzed past, and Isabeau struck the body as he planted himself opposite from you. Nihil got across from Odile, and jumped away as the sadness attacked it. Odile took the chance and used [Slow IV]. Now’s your time!)

{With a thought, you moved from Mirabelle's shoulder, to her palm. A tear. Dormant.}

(You clasp the frozen tear, Refoulement, between your palms, close your eyes, focus, and use [Soothing Restful Song]!!!) “DISAPPEAR!!!”

(A single spinning disc of light with inverted shades spun out from between your hands, weaved around the limbs protecting the body, and struck that big sadness right in the face! In an instant, the sadness stopped, frozen in time. After a few seconds of waiting, the sadness crumbled into bits, and the hands fell to the ground.)

[Odile is now level 65.]

[Mirabelle is now level 63.]

“O-ohChange-” (You collapse onto your butt as a wave of exhaustion washes over you.) “O-ohthankChange that worked.”

“MIRAAAAA!!!!” (Isa hug-tackles you into the sand.) “Oh I am SO GLAD to see you right now!!!”

“It’s good to see you are unharmed.” (Odile’s face softens into a smile.) “And even better to see you wielding crafts so easily.”

“H-heh, it wasn’t that easy.” (You smile, hugging Isabeau back really tight.) “W-well, the time freezing one I mean, it still takes me out.”

“WELL WELL WELL!!” (You hear a certain beautiful voice call down from the dune above you. Antoine’s relief was audible as he spoke, working his way down the dune.) “If it isn’t everyone’s favorite troublemakers!!!”

“Ah, Antoine, yes?” (Odile bobbed her head.) “I’ve heard quite a bit about you. Would it be safe to say Mirabelle and yourself have been traveling together?”

“Yep. Crab, if I had a coin for every time she saved me. . .” (He chuckled, finally getting to the base of the dune. They turned to Nihil.) “And uh, who’s this?”

“Oh yeah! Uh, that’s. . .” (Isabeau finally lets go of you and glances at Nihil.) “. . . . Rrrraaaammmooooossss?”

“Twink that visited with Mira?” (Antoine raised an eyebrow.) “Gotta say, some pretty cool looking Changes if that’s the case.”

“Uh, yeeees. Changes. . .” (Isabeau looks awkwardly to you, then back to Nihil.) “S-should uh-”

{I am Ramos’ Sadness.} (Nihil beamed the thoughts into your head, and it looks like everyone else's too.) {Controlling body for now. World is broken, reality mix with unreality. Side effect: me.}

“What the-” (Antoine spun to look at everyone.)

“It, and Ramos, knows Mind Craft. Did Percival tell you of such a craft?” (Odile explains.) “It cannot speak, so instead sends us its words more directly. Also, its name is Nihil.”

{Hello :] }

“. . . Well, ‘aight!” (Antoine waves to Nihil.) “Good t’ meet you Nihil! This one of those other people who’re buddy buddy with their sadness, miss?”

“O-oh! Yes!” (You properly sit up and dust yourself off.) “It’s a very long story, and I’m not sure it’s even mine to tell.”

“‘Fair nuff, I won’t pry.” (Antoine sits down next to you.) “Mind if we take a break for a bit? I only got half the legs you all do.”

“O-of course!”

“That will give us plenty of time to catch up as well.” (Odile makes a little space for herself to sit.) “Now, Isabeau, since Ramos nor Bonnie is available right now, can you-”

“B-Bonnie?! Bonnie was here?!?” (You sit up straight, staring at Odile.) “W-what happened to them?!?”

(Odile winces, and she and Isabeau share a pained glance.) “. . . W-well. . . Er. . .”

{Hand.} (In a blink, Nihil is next to you and Antoine.) {Faster this way. Hand.}

(You barely hesitate at all before taking its cold hand, but Antoine pauses.) “Uh. . .”

“You can trust it, Antoine.” (You smile at them.) “It might feel a bit strange, but it’s faster.”

“. . . Oooo-kay then.” (Antoine gingerly takes Nihil's hand.)  “I trust you, miss.” 

(After a few seconds of nothing, you smelt a sharp wave of mint, and your head started to spin. You weren’t ready for it- C-crab you thought you were but this-- Images, garden sadness, butterflies, light, a moth? Forest, people, caves--)

“SLOW.” (You feel a hissing from your sadness.) “TOO MUCH. HUMANS.”

(It felt like someone yanked you back as you were about to fall. You take a few breaths, and then, the memories begin to flow again. Slower, this time, more selective. You could feel some memories at half strength, more directed. After a second, you realized it was likely Nihil showing you some memories, but not Antoine. . . .)

(. . . . .)

(. . . . . . .)

(. . . . . . . . . . .)

(!!!!!)

“B-BONNIE!!!” (You gasp and tug away from Nihil's grasp. T-that--) “W-wh, N-no!!”

“Wha? Huh??” (Antoine took his hand back and shook his head.) “I didn’t see what happened, you okay, miss??”

“M-Mirabelle! I- C-crab, sorry!” (Isabeau was in front of you and put a hand on your shoulder.) “I- I should’ve given you more warning or- or just talked to you I’m, c-crab I’m so sorry--”

“T-that, that didn’t. . .” (You were hyperventilating.) “D-didn’t happen, did it? Did it?!”

“Take a deep breath, Mira. Like Sif does, okay?”

(You nod, and follow along. Taking a deep breath in. . . And out. . . In. . . And out. . .)

(. . . . . . You feel calmer now. A little bit, anyways.)

“. . . . . D-don’t answer. I don’t want an answer, please.” (You finally say softly, closing your eyes.) “I’m- I’ll be okay, I just need a minute. . .”

“Take your time.” (Antoine encourages.) “We got plenty, here.”

(You nod. Isabeau sits down next to you, and you lean against him to hopefully get some rest.)

[vulpixisananimal]

[A: 6 C: 110] - King

(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine|

{Refoulement was glaring at you. It had been glaring at you ever since Mirabelle arrived. You, as is polite, looked back. You did not understand this strange communication. It was appreciated. Mirabelle was resting, leaning against Isabeau who was doing the same. You sat next to Isabeau. Refoulement clung to Mirabelle's side. Odile and Antoine talked a few feet away. You sat here. Unmoving.}

{. . .}

|Y-you, you okay?|

{You were surprised. You are here, little one?}

|Yeah, uhm’ k-kinda blurry, ‘n dizzy. Like when it rains super hard.|

{Yes. Darkness is abundant. I will try to ease off front.}

|N-nono you don’t gotta force it uhm, j-just, worried. . .|

{Worried. . . ?}

|’Bout you. . .|

{. . . I will be alright. Have more worry, for yourself. Walking, soothes over time, as if the sands take it in.}

|Like dirt with water? Or a sponge with, uhm, water?|

{. . . Yes. The flood is over, now, a stream. It will, ebb, and flow, again.}

“WHAT.” {Refoulement finally addresses you.} “ARE, YOU.”

{Nihil. Sadness. As you are. But different. We are, one at a time. You and Mirabelle, two for one. Why?}

“NON ANSWER.” {Refoulement growls quietly.} “I, STAGNATION, SELFISHNESS, REGRET. YOU?”

{Nothing. Nihilism. Nihil. Ramos’ fear of being a nobody. Alex’s fear of being forgotten. Jasmine’s fear of being ignored. Altiare's fear of being normal. Others fear, too. Others. Too far, too buried. Answer?}

“. . . UNSURE.” {It settled over Mirabelle protectively.} “I, PROTECT, ADVISE, NORMALLY DISTANT. NOW, ALIVE.”

|Maybe ‘Belle doesn't have, uhm, brain rules? Like us?|

{True. Our mind, governed by different rules. Mira’s mind, not as solid. Fluid. Abstract. More open to making up rules? If you tied more to her mind, more limited by rules. Strange?}

“. . . VERY.” {It keeps looking at you.} “. . . . . . . WHAT. WOULD YOU WANT. TO BE.”

{. . . ?}

“MIRABELLE ASKS. LONG AGO.” {Refoulement is starting to relax.} “I HAVE, NO ANSWER. YOU?”

{. . . You. . .}

{You. . . Would like to be a bug. Or, you would like to make a well, and live in it. You. . .}

|C’mon, what if you had your own body with your own hands and feet and stuff!!|

{. . . . . . . Protect.}

“. . . PROTECT?” 

{Protect. Stand guard. Vigilant. A statue amongst homes. Weapon ready. Stone, unmoving, yet ready to protect. To lash out, dark on dark, to return to stone. . . . To see the world go by. . . To feel loved. Not as a person. As.. A statue. As, me.}

|Watchin’ kids grow up ‘n stuff?|

{. . .Yes.}

“. . .” {Refoulement made a sound between a grumble and a purr, and settled down properly.} “BE GENTLE, WITH, HUMANS. DELICATE. EMOTIONAL. BREAKABLE.”

{You know this. You remember. Remember Ramos, struggling against the void. Drowning, yet defiant. . . You feel, stronger, yes?}

“YES.” {It lazily stabs the sand and starts stirring it.} “DESPAIR. VERY PREVILANT. HOPE, EVEN STRONGER. DARKNESS. . .”

|There’s a lotta scared people out there. Even if they’re stuck someplace, or are just dreaming or something? But I bet they’re scared like us. . . Scared and stuck. . . You don’t like it. Shuddering. You wanna go home. . .|

{. . . . . . . . There, there. You shuffle slightly. Come. Safety, now. Here.}

|You sit down in Nihil's lap and hide your face in th’ cloak.| “‘M scared. . . .”

“. . . THE WORLD, PEOPLE. SEEKING, A SAVIOR.” {Refoulement was trying to talk more quietly.} “WISHES, FOR CHANGE. TO STOP THIS ENDLESS, DREAM.”

{. . . And that, we will do.}

>>>

{You lead the pack, vigilant. Your steps may sink into the sand, but you keep moving. Doubt. Dread. Darkness. You do not let it get to you. No. In fact, you feel calm. Calm enough to co-front with Jasmine, who is behind you, holding Mirabelle’s hand. This is good. You are all making good pace.}

“Okay, new question.” {Isabeau ponders aloud.} “Why does Nihil look different from what we fought back in Jouvente?”

{. . .}

|Uhm, that is a good question. . . Is that okay, Nihil?|

{Yes. It is. You do not know why, however.}

“Dunno.” |You reply, still trotting along.| “Nihil doesn’t know either.”

“It’s a valid question. . .” {Mirabelle thinks.} “Refoulement never really changed, a-and neither did Mal du Pays, right?”

“Yeah! Well, kinda.” {Isabeau shrugged.} “Its look in Sifs head changed to have a veil and flowers.”

“The same veil you made it?” {Odile raises an eyebrow.} “Interesting.”

“U-UH- W-well-” {He clears his throat.} “I uh, don’t remember which came first. Me making the veil or it looking like that in headspace.”

“Heh, so Schrödinger’s veil.” {Antoine chuckles.} “Well, y’said all of this is based off of perception and such, right? How things look in the head?”

“In essence, yes.” {Odile nods.} “Mal du Pays is a being of self hatred and homesickness, and was described as an inversion of Siffrin that, over time, changed to also wear a veil and flowers. With its dark cloak, it almost looks like it’s in mourning.”

“Mourning?” {Isabeau, soft tone.} “For. . .”

“Home, I imagine.”

“R-right. . .”

“. . . Whata’ bout Foul?” |You look up at Mira and the sadness over her shoulder.| “Doesn’t look very different?”

“That is the point, I imagine.” |’Dile nods.| “Since Refoulement is-”

“U-uhm!!” |Mirabelle’s interrupting, waving her free hand.| “I’d like to!! Not!! Talk about that right now!!”

“Ah, yes.” {Odile clears her throat.} “I apologize, I do not want to expose your personal. . .”

“Things?”

“Yes, things.”

“T-thank you madame.” |Mira slouches over a bit.| “S-sorry I just! I didn’t mean to interrupt and stop you it’s just I’m already going through a lot and--”

“Hey!!” |You reach up and bonk Mira.| “Stop ‘at!! You’re being silly!!”

“Listen to the deer, Mira.” |Isa’s grinning. You’re a deer! :D!| “They know what’s up.”

“R-right! Right. I’m s-” |She stops herself and tries again.| “Thank you, Jasmine. Hehe.”

“Hehehe!!” |:D!!!!|

{Odile cleared her throat.} “I would like to continue our discussion. We still don’t know why Nihil looks like this.”

“. . . Well.” {Isabeau takes a patient breath.} “Ramos. . . They said that, the reason they did all that was because they wanted to be strong. Or uh, they. . . Wanted to be like me, kinda.”

“Didn’t y’all fight Ramos for a bit?” {Antoine finally speaks up from his place solidly in the middle of your marching order.} “Looking like the bad guy and all?”

“Y-yeah, it shocked me pretty bad.”

“Hm, maybe that’s it.” {They punch Isa in the shoulder.} “Maybe they were scared of bein’ the bad guy of your story.”

|. . .|

{. . . This. Is true.}

“Huh?” {Mira and the others looked up at you.} “Did, you realize something?”

{Yes. Ramos had fear, fear of becoming nothing. Then they met Percival, made deal. With the change, Fear changed.  Fear, fear of being seen as a villain. Using craft to look good. Afraid of being found out. Of being persecuted. Fear of losing friends. . .}

“. . . Crab.” {Isabeau grumbled.} “And then I talked to Ramos, and that just fed that fear more. But then Sif came out looking the way he did, and combined with what Perci was doing. . .”

{A sadness, changed. I was different, for a time. I am different now. In time, as Ramos changes, I may, again.}

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . . I wanna go home.” |You tug on Mira’s arm.|

“. . . We’ll get there, Jasmine.” |She pats your head.| “Promise.”

>>>

“Sweet Change in a candyshop, what th’ crab happened here?!”

{Antoine’s exclamations were well deserved. After hours of walking, you had finally reached the edge of the desert. An ocean spreads itself before you. To the left, to the right, it stretched, endless. Ahead of you, about a kilometer away, a dais sat at the edge of the water. There was someone sitting alone on it. A dock stretched out from the dais.}

{Between you and the dais, lay a sadness. A dead sadness. Larger than any of the leviathans you had seen before. It was cleft in twain. You could still see tears, blood, leaking from it. A fresh kill. Something had come through here. Like a storm. A squall.}

“What kind of strength could have. . .” {Odile started, but-} (Boniface, what did you do?)

“. . . Whatever it was, let’s get going before it comes back.” {Isabeau started off towards-} (Gotta find Bonnie.)

{. . .}

{Scatterbrain. You join Isabeau and swiftly head towards the dais.}

(Hello? Hello??)

{?!?}

{Oh. Ramos. You are back.}

(Woahg- w-what? What just, w-wwhy am I suddenly here what happened?!?)

{Nothing. Whims of the mind. That alone is reason.}

(R-right. You transition from sliding on the sands to jogging alongside Isabeau.) “Hey Izza!”

“!!!” (Isabeau spun around and scooped you up into a hug.) “BUDDY! You doin’ okay??”

“B-better- ack!!”

“Sorry! Sorry!” (He puts you down.) “I-I’ve just been so worried, y’know? Since, Nihil took front right after, a-after the bridge so I thought maybe something was wrong, or. . .”

“I’m fine, Isa.” (You sigh, softly) “Nihil’s just, frontstuck. I think.”

“Do you ever wait for anyone or anything?” {Odile curses as she stumbles from the sand dune.} “Have you considered this could be another trap? Or that sadnesses could consider this corpse something like a whalefall!?”

“U-uh.” {Isa sinks down into his coat.} “I mean, yesn’t? I-if it is a whalefall then sadness would be everywhere! So waiting would just give sadness more time to find it and crowd up the place.”

“And if it’s a trap?”

“Uh, we can take em?” {Fighter puffed out his chest.} “C’mon, if it was a trap, we’d be attacked already!”

(You wait for the dramatic timing for a surprise attack to pass.)

{No trap. You grab Isabeau's hand and continue towards the dais.}

“Ah-?!”

“Ha!”

“Hehe, cute.” (Mira moves up next to you as you walk.) “Y'know? Nihil reminds me of Mal in some ways.”

“Huh?” (You tilt your head.) “What’dya mean?”

{No.}

“I mean it just grabs Isa and drags him off!!” {She giggles, then gasps.} “Maybe Isabeau’s a sadness tamer!”

{. . .}

“Heh, you might be right.” (You lean close to Mira.) “I’ve caught it hanging around close to Isa when in front.”

“No way!!” (She squealed back.) “That’s so cute. . .”

“New issue guys!” {Isabeau called to the rest of the party. You had both made it to the edge of the dais.} “Something’s blocking the way!”

“What?” {Odile squinted, and walked towards you a bit faster}

“I don’t see anything.” {Mirabelle furrowed her brow.} “Oh is it, invisible?”

{You nod. Then punch towards the dais. Your hand strikes against an invisible wall.}

“OW-!” (You flinch and clench your hand.) “Hey!!”

“Oh you’ll be fine, you’re young.” (Odile brushes you off and steps up, placing a hand on the invisible wall.) “Interesting. . .”

“This place really has everything huh.” {Antoine laughs to themself and steps up.} “Giant sadness, light and dark all over the place, now an invisible wall? Wild. . .”

“It is a form of dreamscape, after all.” {Odile replies.} “Or mindscape. I doubt the differentiation matters much now.”

“Heh, maybe if it’s an invisible wall, maybe there’s an invisible fella talking on the other invisible side.” {Antoine leans forward and presses an ear towards the wall.}

(Maybe it’s. . .) (. . . You turn to Isabeau, and open your mouth to say something.)

“WHATTHE-”

(There’s a yelp, and a crash, and a gasp. When you turn back around ready to see what new kind of hell’s shown up, you instead see Antoine. They were laying face down on the dais, almost like they fell forwards.)

“A-ANTOINE?!?”

“Are you okay?!?”

“‘COURSE I’M NOT!” {They scrabbled to an upright sitting position.} “Fell flat on my face!! Invisible wall my crabbing ass!!”

“That’s weird. Hmm. . .” {Isabeau scrunches his face up, and copies what Antoine did. He came in contact with the wall.} “Yeah, thought not.”

“Worth a try?” {Mirabelle reached up to start chewing fingernails. But she stopped.} “How did you even do that?!?”

“No clue!” {Antoine chuckled nervously, then looked behind him to the figure still sitting at the far end of the dais.} “I’d really like t’not be here alone, though.”

“Wait.” (Odile puts a hand to her forehead, smiling, yet shaking her head.) “Gems I swear- Antoine, please step back here for a moment.”

“Aight?” {He does so. Easily.}

“Please take my hand and lead me onto the dais.” 

“Ooo-kay then!”

“Oooooohhh.” (You nod, understanding.) “One of those things.”

“Smart Odile, off being smart yet again.” (Isa chuckles, arms crossed.)

{Antoine takes Odiles hand. The two walk onto the dais unimpeded.}

“Wow!!” (Mirabelle shook her hands excitedly.) “So it’s another barrier that only some can see!”

“Hiroshi, Eden, Antoine. A friendly acquaintance, a close friend, and a partner.” (Isa holds out a hand for Antoine.) “Deffinately not a coincidence.”

“Won’t look a gift horse in the mouth though!” {Antoine chuckles. They help Isabeau through. Then Mirabelle. He holds a hand out to you, and pauses.} “. . . Which one a’ you is coming through?”

“They are.” (You point to Nihil.)

{You hold out a hand.}

“Alrighty!” {They take your hand, and pull y-}(-ou througHOAUGHGHASDNFGSAND--)

(O-OKAY. REAL DIZZY NOW! HOKAY- S-STARS!!! You stumble and fall flat on your face as Antoine pulls you through oooohh Change your headhurts- n-nnooo nothurts just dizzy and- hhauwah. . . Ha. . . Ha. . .)

(It. . . It felt like you were drowning, miles, miles down, with pressure threatening to explode your lungs, and then, suddenly, you’re near the surface of the water. Y-your lungs aren’t gonna explode anymore but you still! Can’t Breathe!!!)

“Ramos?!?” [That doesn’t make any blinding sense! Oh Isabeau’s talking to us.] “Hey buddy! Y-you alive?!”

(Haha, y-yeah, you know. You get up on one knee.) “Y-yeah. Just, sudden switch.” (Nihil? Are you still here?)

{. . . Yes.}

(What just happened?!)

{. . . I feel calm.}

(Huh?! Nihil what does that- o-oh! Okay! Alright bye then! Change. . . Oh, Isabeau’s holding a hand out for you. You take it.) “O-okay. Okay. All good.”

“You sure?” (Isabeau shuffles uncomfortably.) “If something’s wrong, then. . .”

“No no, I’m fine. Promise.” (Phew. You sit up straight, shake your head, and pat Isa on the shoulder.) “Just a dizzy spell.”

“If, you’re sure!” (Isabeau smiles softly, but he’s worried.) 

“Maybe y’need more iron in your diet, kid.” (Antoine leans on his cane.) 

“Har har.” (You roll your eyes and brush yourself off from Isa.) “Come on, I don’t wanna linger.”

(Walking forward, Odile was waiting patiently with her hands behind her back. A few meters behind her, Mirabelle was slowly walking towards the figure on the far side of the dais. She was standing up straight, and had her shoulders squared. Oh she’s in SERIOUS mode.)

“Everything alright?” (Antoine asks Odile as you all catch up with Mira.) “She looks none too happy about something.”

“I am not sure. Mirabelle was staring at that figure, and then started storming towards it.” (Odile huffed.) “She must recognise who it is.”

“Huh? Really?” (Isabeau squinted at the figure.) “From all the way over here?”

“Let’s catch up.” (You pick up the pace.)

[Y’know this dais looks like a great place to fight someone.]

(Not helping, Alex!)

[I mean come on! This place is all about thematics and interpretation.]

(But this is too obvious! It’s too clearly a place to fight! You catch up to Mira and put a hand on her arm.) “Everything okay?

<Are you trying to double bluff the rules? Mira jumps and turns to you.> “Ramos! C-crab you scared me-! N-no! I mean yes! I mean-”

“Just breathe, it’s okay.” (Don’t point it OUT, Altiare!) “With me?”

“O-okay, okay.” (She takes a deep breath in. . . And out. . .) “Okay! I’m okay!”

“Good.” <You punch Mira’s shoulder.> “Now, you know who that is?”

“Hello to you too, Altiare.” <Isabeau puts an arm around you.> “Wanna wait for the rest of us to catch up?”

(Mira giggles, but she was constantly side-eyeing the stranger.) “I, I dunno. He, I know him! I-I just. . .”

{DENIAL.}

(Huh?!? Foul?! Denial? Odile raises an eyebrow.) “He?”

<It means she's in denial.> “. . . Let’s go see who he is, then.”

(You lead the charge. Antoine and Odile keep a step behind you, as Mirabelle and Isabeau march alongside you. That stranger still wasn’t moving, even after all the noise you made earlier.)

(Mirabelle’s tense. She puts a hand on your shoulder as she takes point, walking confidently up to the stranger. Getting closer, you could make out details. Flowing white hair, heavy and dark-tinted armor, a crown. . .)

<Shit.>

(?!?!? Wha?! What's wrong?! Isabeau sharply inhales, Odile quietly gasps. Altiare?!?)

“Excuse me.” (Mirabelle clears her throat; her voice with a splash of. . . Authority?!?) “What are you doing here?”

<You can feel the hairs raise on the back of your hand, the tingles on Isabeau's neck, phantom pain acting up in Antoine’s leg. For a second, the stranger didn’t even react, as if he was deaf to the world. But just another two seconds later, he came to life, straightened himself, and slowly turned to face you all.>

“. . . .”

<Between the weavings of white, silky hair, you could barely make out his face, a face sullen to the world as if this sand had personally wounded him. He had eye-bags, and sleepless, bloodshot eyes to go with them. He looked pathetic, but also. . .>

“. . . . Oh. . . Saviors. . .” (The voice shot ice cold water right into your veins.) “Housemaiden. . . . . Are you. . . Real. . ?”

(Isabeau stepped in front of you, and you could feel Odile storing energy for a craft skill. Yet Mirabelle stood defiantly against the King, even when fear was dragging your heart back to void.) “Yes. I’m here and I’m real. Now please answer my question.”

“Oh. . . You. . .” <The King, neither looking as he once did as a tyrant nor how he was frozen, reached a hand towards Mirabelle. Refoulement jumped from over Mirabelle's shoulder after only a few inches and swiped at his hand. He slowly retrieved the limb and stared at it.> “. . . Ha. . . Ha. . . Y-you are real. . . .”

<The King collapses in front of Mirabelle, sobbing. His forehead against stone in a way that almost looked like a bow. Mirabelle steps back, shocked.> “W-what-?!”

“Please. . . Oooh Housemaiden please. . . Take me back. Take me back home. Take me home, I beg of you, please. . .” (He was sobbing even harder, and choked on his words.) “I. . . I know not what you did, but please. . . My dream. . . My home. . . I could finally see it. . . But, it was stolen from me! Now I am here with that place at the edge of my mind, please, please Housemaiden! Help me go back!!”

“What in void. . ?” (Your voice is a whisper as you stare, shocked, at the once-tyrant.) “Izza? Was he. . . Like this, before?”

“No.” (Isabeau’s voice, by contrast, was very controlled.) “No he wasn’t. If anything, he was. . .”

“He was a man of absolute, ruthless determination.” (Odile’s voice is one-tone and cold.) “Devotion to his cause, unwavering in will; an immovable object even to a time-looping unstoppable force.”

“I-I, I don’t. . .” <Mirabelle was at a loss.> “D-do you mean when I, I-I. . .”

“Yes, yes. . ! Please, I beg of you, send me back, please!” <The King pleaded.> “All I wish. . . Is to sleep once again. . . And dream of home. . .”

“That’s really him?” (Antoine sounded skeptacle, and even walked over next to Mira.) “. . . Well, miss?”

“I. . . I can try.” (She breathes in and out.) “The craft that froze you was your own, reflected back. B-but. . .”

<The King looked up at her, begging, clearly a question left waiting on his tongue.>

“. . . I-I can do it. I-it’s a long story but, I can. J-just. . .” <She looks up to Antoine, then the rest of you, for support.> “. . . Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Oh. . . Oh Housemaiden of Change. . .” <There was almost a smile on his face.> “I have wished. . . For nothing more. . . I would trade my whole life for a chance to remember, please. .”

<Mirabelle looked down, then grabbed the frozen tear around her neck.> “Alright. I’ll do it.”

<Antoine takes a step back as Mira grasps the tear in both hands, breathed, and used [Soothing Restful Song]. A shade-negative disk of change gently floated into the begging figure at her feet, and a moment later, he was frozen once again. You don’t know if you should feel sorry for the guy or not. . .>

(Alex, you there? You feel okay?)

[. . .]

<Leave ‘em. She’s probably just thinking about- >

(An echoing, radiant, pain fueled scream echoed through your body, soul, ears, heart, and mind. You saw it, you tasted it, you smelled it! It saturated every single part of your ego! It tasted like fried mint leaves, hurt like defiant mourning. Forcing your eyes open, you could see the sun upon the distant tower burning bright in rage!)

<Burnt sugar! You grit your teeth, pull Mirabelle back just in case, that-- P-perci you undercooked piss stain!!!>

(The waves pass, and you start to blink the light out of your eyes. . . Change. . . Everyone looked okay, t-that’s good. But, crab. . . The King, he wasn’t frozen anymore. He was lying on his side, back to you, silently sobbing to himself.)

“Ah crabin’ hell. . .” <Antoine groaned, either feeling pain for themself, or sympathy for the king.> “What was that?”

“Perci.” <You reply, gritting your teeth and sitting on the stone dais.> “Don’t think he liked that very much.”

“‘Aight, but why?!”

“. . . If I were to guess. . .” <Madame sighed, looking away from the sobbing man.> “Percival is looking for any way he could remember. . . Whatever it was he lost. He likely wants to keep the King around so he can poke in his mind.”

“O-oh. . .” (Mirabelle nearly started biting her nails, before fiddling with them instead.) “. . . I-I, I don’t know what to do. . .”

“Yeah. I dunno if there’s much we can do, huh. . .” (Isa rubbed his temples.) “Would he still be unfrozen if everything goes back to normal?”

“O-oh, uhm. . .” (Mirabelle looks down at the King, before kneeling down and, very hesitantly, putting a hand on his shoulder.) “. . . We’re going to fix this, okay? A-and once we’ll do, I’ll. . . I-I’ll come back a-and. . . Uhm. . . Y-you know. . .”

(The King mumbled something in response that took you a second to register. It was “Thank you”. Crabbing stars. . . Why do you, almost feel bad for him?)

<Don’t lower your guard. Don't you remember what they told you about him from Siffrin's little trip through time?>

(O-oh yeah, I do. You pat Isa on the back.) “Guess. . . Maybe we should get going?”

“One moment, Ramos.” (Odile steps up, a glare armed and ready on her face.) “I have a question for him.”

“Be gentle with him m’dame.” (Antoine sat down next to the King.) “Got bigger baddies than th’ King right now.”

“I am well aware.” (An eye twitch, ah, Odile was holding back some Words.) “King. Have you seen anyone, or anything, pass this way?”

“. . . Oh. . . Yes. A few.” (The King takes a shaky breath, still not turning around.) “All small groups. . . Each took a boat. . . Oh. . . And many dressed similarly.”

“Similarly?”

“I. . . Oh, I do not remember.” (He sobbed again.) “But. . . There was one who was. . . Was. . .”

“Go on, we don’t have all day.”

“. . . It killed the sadness you passed to get here, and moved like. . .” (It took him a minute to get the right word.) “. . . Like a searing, lightless lightning that left that strange shade in its wake. . .”

“. . .” (Odile pondered this as Mirabelle got up.) “. . . Where was it heading?”

“Across the water.” (The King’s sobbing was dying down now, at least.) “Like all the others. . .”

“Thank you, that is all.” (Odile rubbed her temple and wordlessly headed for the docks.) 

“Finally.” <You let out a sigh of relief.> “C’mon, let’s go.”

“Y’all go on without me.” <Antoine makes himself comfortable next to the King.> “I’ll keep him company until y’all save the day again.”

“Huh?!” <You could taste the confusion from Mirabelle.> “A-are you sure?! What if you’re attacked?!”

“Or if we need your help again.” <Isa adds.>

“Eh, I’ll be fine.” (Antoine waves his cane at you all.) “‘N if you need my help with somethin’ just come back and get me.”

“That’s very shortsighted and optimistic.” <You shake your head.> “A thousand things could go wrong, you’re going all in on double-zero’s, buddy.”

“It uh, might be fine actually.” (You counter.) “Antoine already helped us get here, so we should be on the same, uh, level of access?”

“You don’t know that for certain.” <You scowl at Ramos.> “And what, you’d bet everyones lives on that?”

“No they’re right.” (THANK you Mirabelle!) “We’ll find a way. Just take care of yourself, okay? Please?”

“Promise.” (Antoine waves at you, smiling.) “Hopelfuly next time I see ya it’s in Dormont!”

“Good luck!”

“Here’s hoping, take care Antoine!”

“Keep him on a tight leash for us, Antoine!”

“HEH! Will do!”

(You all joined Odile and stepped off the dais. A part of you was worried for Antoine, worried about what could go wrong. Another part was worried about the people who took these boats, another about what Perci must be going through right now. But the biggest part of you was worried about Bonnie. Bonnie. . .)

(. . . Pétronille is going to kill you so much.)