"Through rusted chains and abandoned hooks, you transcended your past flesh and emerged through the thicket of history, peeling away this false prison once again...
You step not into the dark unknown, but to the light at the end of these twisting tunnels. Though you have lost pieces of yourself, you did not lost what makes you you...
Damsel and Fury propaganda is real. I can't stop thinking about Damsel being the first person who's gentle to Fury, since Cold is so apathetic and cruel towards her.
"You're The Fury?" Damsel questioned, wide eyes glancing upward to face the woman sat on the floor.
"Yes. I am." Fury's voice was scratchy and ragged, eyes tired. "Why are you here? A place like this is not befitting of someone so..." So pretty, so kind-faced and gentle. But Fury didn't say that.
"Hmm? I'm here because, I want to be!" Damsel laughed, bouncing forth as she walked and stooping to sit beside Fury. The blood on the ground stained the edges of her fluffy dress, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Hah! You would willingly be in a place like this? Flesh and gore, it is not befitting for a princess to be here." Laughter bitter and cold, Fury's voice bounced off of the walls of the room.
"You're a princess, too. By that logic, doesn't it mean you shouldn't be here, either?" Damsel questioned, tilting her head like a curious puppy.
"I'm a princess, but I'm not like you. You're pretty, and accepting, and everyone loves you. The others can't stand the sight of me." Fury gave Damsel a sidelong glance before tearing her gaze away, unable to stare at the girl for too long.
A hand cupped Fury's cheek, causing her to flinch as a warm, smooth palm rested against emaciated flesh, fingers brushing away sweat-damped curls.
"I think you're pretty!" Damsel gave her a grin, blinding and cute, and Fury felt something spark in her heart. Something other than a need for violence, something other than an overwhelming apathy. It was warm, like a blanket curling around her shoulders to keep her safe.
Fury only realised the tears had dripped down her face when she felt Damsel's fingers brush them away.
The Princess and the Protagonist have left. However, the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound remain. Of course they do, only a small part of them broke free and left the Cabin together. The Protagonist didn’t kill the Shifting Mound and they left the Hero and the Contrarian behind when they departed.
The Hero was right, the other voices didn’t take long to turn up. The Princesses came too. Some we know from the game and others are new.
At the heart of the Cabin sit the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound. Look at them one way and you’ll see two separate beings, side by side. Look at them another way and you’ll see them overlap and melded together. No matter how you look, you’ll see that they love each other.
Sometimes, a bit of the Long Quiet or the Shifting Mound will brake away and become their own person. This does not diminish the Long Quiet or the Shifting Mound in any way. If you take something from infinity, you still have infinity left. Some of those people choose to re-enter the whole, other stay separate.
The Smitten and the Damsel are never far from each other but they do have other friends. The Smitten writes epic poems of courtly love, all dedicated to his beloved. The Damsel sings and paints beautiful pictures. If you ask her, she will paint you and show you what you look like (there are no mirrors in the Cabin).
The Stubborn and the Adversary fight and fight and fight. They’ll stop to chat with the others if anyone wants to talk though. It’s a weird relationship. It would be horribly unhealthy for anyone else but it works for them.
The Nightmare gets a bit of a wide berth from most the others but she is loved too. Sometimes, she rejoins the Shifting Mound other times, she hangs out with one of the newer Voices. He’s called the Phobophilia (lover of fear) and he loves her dark creativity.
The Cold is learning to feel again, the Paranoid is learning to trust and the Hunted is learning how to feel safe.
The Cabin is no longer a prison; it is a heart, a home and a world. It grows and changes to fit the needs of those who live within it. They can leave if they want to but most choose to stay.
If they do leave, it’s almost always a Princess and a Voice together. The only expectation was the Contrarian. The Contrarian left alone; they were also the only one who came back.
The Hero and the Thorn are thinking about leaving together. They’ve been in the Cabin a long time. Hero and Thorn are friends with everyone. They’ve helped make this Cabin a home for them all. However, any of them can do that if they want.
It might be time for a new adventure, outside of themselves and where they aren’t in control of their whole world. Hero and Thorn haven’t decided yet.
There is Cabin in the Woods. The Cabin is a heart and the Woods are a body. They are the Shifting Mound and the Long Quiet. They are one being, they are two beings and they are many beings all at the same time.
SHENANIGANS: Where Mai gives headcanons to the Voices in your Head ™️ based purely off vibes!!
This episode: THE VOICES IN COOKING/BAKING
So we are back here again. Time to whip out the cakes and be sure to NOT forget to turn off the oven! Uhh spoilers kinda
Voice of the HERO: Look, I love Hero. And she is admittedly good with a lot of things. Fighting, leading (when push comes to shove), negotiating, gardening...but COOKING is where she struggles. Like, she's not bad that warrants a ban from the kitchen, and she can cook. It's just not great. And she beats herself up over it. The food itself is fine, maybe a lil burnt but serviceable.
Voice of the SMITTEN: do I need to say why he would be a good cook? This is a canon fact!what else is there to say?! Well...I can say he prefers to experiment and go overboard. Leftovers are NOT allowed when he's in charge, so everyone leaves stuffed.
Voice of the SKEPTIC: this may just be me, but Skeptic is the guy you go to for if you want something good and simple. He's not the best, but unlike hero he doesn't beat himself up over it. He makes a lot and there is plenty for tomorrow, if you feel like it. The Prince of Comfort Food.
Voice of of the CHEATED: luck may not be on her side, but the culinary gods sure are! She is EXTREMELY careful so there's no spill to trip over, no accidental knife tricks, no using the wrong ingredients or spices, unless they just don't have something. She basically "cheat-proof" the kitchen the best of her abilities. Sometimes she fails, and that sends her spiraling. But when she succeeds, she is so happy!! Oh, and her food is OK. What? Smitten takes the crown of Cooking King, she ain't beating him.
Voice of the PARANOID: surprise, surprise, he stress bakes. But only in the oddest of hours during bouts of nightmare and insomnia. Sure he doesn't do it ALL the time, but hey, can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies at 2 AM with some Chai. Default Comfort Food King of the Voices.
Voice of the STUBBORN: In line with my hc of him being Aussie: let the man GRILL. He is meticulous in prepping, cutting, marinating the best meats he can get his hands on. He treats the kitchen like a battleground (which is why someone needs to help him clean up). But you don't wanna eat JUST that every day. Luckily, when he cooks, there's plenty for the next month or so. That's plenty of time to cleanse your palette.
Voice of the BROKEN: due to her legs, she can't exactly stand still and make a meal for 10 other people. But she is willing to help with cooking all the same. It makes her feel useful. Often with Hero or Cheated, you'd find her on a chair or in the corner, diligently peeling onions, potatoes, and such with automation not unlike a robot. Her appetite, though, leads her to not being able to join them for meal time. But it's ok, she grabs a plate later and enjoys it then. Sometimes you don't gotta force your gut.
Voice of the OPPORTUNIST: As a diligent boyfriend, he has picked up a recipe or two to show Thorn. Much like Hero, his meals are fine. Not good, not bad. The issue comes from actually being left alone to do anything. Most of the time, he doesn't like cooking for himself, let alone for the others. It's just something he picked up out of necessity. He'd settle with any leftovers if Smitten didn't had a say in that. However, they have a chore wheel for a reason so every 2 weeks, he sucks it up and cooks. He would just intentionally suck ass to not be put up to this, but that's not who he is, anymore.
Voice of the COLD: much like his hair still being silky smoothe for no reason, so is his "non-existent" cooking skills. Every time it's his turn, there's only one thing and it's a stew from some kind. Its a good stew, but since they never see him do anything, everyone thinks he just got Belle over to cook for him. Cold is not answering their questions, so it's a mystery. (Skeptic has tried to catch Belle, with no luck).
Voice of HUNTED: he doesn't cook, case close. He hates the conflicting smells and spices, he hates the stoves and oven, he hates how there are so many knives in one place. Sometimes he's more paranoid than Paranoid, in the kitchen. If you let him cook, it's something that won't straight up kill you, but he woule be uncomfortable through the process. Though, if it's just to watch others cook, he is perfectly fine, excited even. Because he's not alone and he can step in and help them if they get injured.
Voice of the CONTRARIAN: you'd think she's chaotic and...you'd be absolutely right. Weird food cravings and combos, odd snacks and drinks, Connie is the food fiend and OFFICALLY banned from the kitchen. That sign doesn't stop her bc she can't read tho. So rather than entering the kitchen alone, she sneaks in to modify that day's meal. This is where Hunted comes into play. It's a cat and mouse game, in there. Still, no one can stop her from eating stuff like lady fingers dipped in ranch dressing. Or bacon wrapped strawberries. (Smitten absolutely had a heart attack)
BONUS: COOKING TOGETHER.
They rarely cook together, like all in one, since they only have one kitchen. But it's their best memories together. Sometimes they invite the Princesses so they can make much more than usual. It becomes a psudeo date/picnic with everyone enjoying each other's company.
And they always save 2 plates for Shifty and Larry. They may be Gods who are experiencing everything through their voices and vessels, but they still deserve a plate at the table. (They appreciate it)