#stystatic

[hyperfixationfanart]

Finally got around to Line!Apo!

Tried to make the design ambiguous since she wasn’t out yet, while sticking to the skin. Hope it turned out ok :)

The whole crew (ignore that 4C and Luanne are lower quality, it’s because I used 2 different programs on 2 different devices) (also realised that Katie is a bit short and slightly disproportionate so I might redo her at some point)

[setacin]

this too could be crumbsduo crumbs

[sharffffff]

So. The Line SMP is only 4 days old, and yet here I am, trying to write an analysis of the characters I am most interested in. It will most likely not be the most accurate, but at 4 days old, characters aren't really fully formed either. What I have found out, however, is quite interesting to me.

I will discuss the characters first, and dynamics between some of them after. In this post, I will focus on the four guys I am rotating in my head - 4C, Apo, graaavel and StyStatic. You have no idea how interesting these guys are to me.

As much as I want to go in alphabetical order, line!4C is a creature I don't understand completely still, so I will keep him for last. So, starting with Apo instead.

Apo is an interesting case, mostly because of how people on the server mischaracterize them. Most of the server members look at her and all they see is the yellow circle that means he has killed someone - refusing to understand the circumstances of that kill.

Yeah, it was a social experiment to find out if someone actually would do it, but Abolish wanted to die. He spent the first two hours on the server afk with a sign asking to kill him, and Apo was the one who actually did it - because Abolish was literally asking to be killed. From Apo’s point of view, they just did what was asked of them, and they see nothing wrong with that - and gets angry and confused when people call them out as a killer. Sometimes he tries to play into the role, threatening to kill someone or jokingly critting someone out, but he cares about people still. He is loyal to a certain few, and despite his reputation, tries to do good - disrupted by occasional mischief, of course. It wouldn't be Apo if they didn't cause mischief.

While certainly not on a good side of the alignment spectrum, Apo isn't evil, either - despite what some people would portray them as. If anything, they're closer to chaotic neutral, but with quite a lot of care for other people, despite what their attitude might suggest. But he certainly isn't the most chaotic neutral person out of the four characters here, and certainly isn't the one most leaning towards evil. And this is what makes him so interesting - the disconnect between how the world sees him vs how he sees himself.

graaavel will also be left for later because of. cough cough. reasons. So. StyStatic time! I love this guy! He is my new blorbo. I am not sharing him with any of you guys. You are not allowed to have him. I’ll bite you. You have no idea I’m not normal about this guy. I love him so much.

Anyways. StyStatic, huh? His morality is so interesting to me and became even more interesting after today’s (yesterday's, let's be honest here) stream. Thing is, he tries to portray himself to the majority of people as true neutral. As someone trying to keep balance and right the wrongs. But oh man if it isn't the biggest lie ever. No, oh no, this guy is chaotic good to the core. Not even chaotic neutral, no, there's no neutrality in this guy whatsoever. He does whatever he thinks is funny or interesting, unless it stops him from helping people. Which he does unconditionally. He farmed 10 sets of diamond armor to give out to everyone just to keep them from dying, because he is desperately afraid of death, it is one of his biggest fears in the world. He is so, so, so scared of death and of anyone suffering from it, and will drop any bit going on if there's even a chance the other person involved might die in the process.

And even though today he tried to hide that fact by pushing down Apo after they pushed Gravel, he knew it was safe to do so - there were almost ten people there, ready to revive them, and they were instantly given a gap to reset the number of downs they could have. It was a very controlled situation, very safe one, and Sty would've never done this attempt to ‘keep balance’ if he knew nobody would've resuscitated Apo.

And the fact that he who is so afraid of death has doom written all over him, destined to die by an eldritch entity, makes it so much more tasty and fun. Oh, doombringer, you have doomed yourself in the process. Let us hope you can survive.

line!graaavel. Gravel, Gravel, Gravelgravelgravel, oh the guy you are. Oh they guy you are indeed. The definition of lawful neutral if I ever seen one, so tied to his own moral code that he can't allow it to be disrespected even for a second. If you go against the community, you go against him, if you go against him, you go against the community, and are not welcome in it anymore. He has built a gated community to protect the people of the server from the many threats out there in the world, and keeps anyone he sees as a threat away from it, not allowing them nor their allies to enter. He stands against chaos, he hates chaos, and whenever someone spreads chaos they are seen as a potential threat. And if they continue? Well, they are no longer welcome. They deserve the deaths that will inevitably come to them. They deserve doom, they deserve to suffer, they don't deserve safety. Gravel always tries to give people a second chance, but if they refuse to take it, they're seen as unable to change, as monsters, as someone to be defeated and banished. And Gravel will mourn them in the process, but he will be the one to banish them from safety. Oh Gravel, how I love your character.

And here we come to him. Line!4C, oh line!4C. I love you, line!4C. You are so interesting to me. I have watched so many hours of you, and one would think I would know you pretty well, but while I do, I feel like there are so many layers I am just missing completely.

What makes him so interesting? Well, on this hardcore server his only goal is to die. He craves death, he dances with death, he doesn't fear it in the slightest - no, no no no, death is his friend, death is his final goal, he has accepted his own mortality ages ago and is just here to have fun! He will live life on the edge, he will sow chaos, he will cause mischief, he will teach ghosts how to kill and how to break blocks, something they're not supposed to be able to do. He will risk his life in numerous ways without a care in the world, he will almost drown just to hang out with some ghosts, he will repeatedly shoot himself out of a cannon and down himself in the process, all just to have fun. If you're not living every moment of your life to the fullest, are you even living life?

And yet. There's something there, behind all that. He is so easy to convince to steal, to break parts of someone's build, to attack someone as a joke. He loves to joke about killing people, he loves giving ghosts ideas on how to cause destruction and mayhem and death. Yes, his final goal might be his own death - but there is a chance there are more deaths that will precede it. I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the server he has an orange or a red coin, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he remains green. What is the most likely, though, is him utilizing ghosts for his attempts at murder. After all, if it's not him doing the deed, will it even count for him? He has so much potential behind him, and the spark of chaos is burning brighter with each passing stream. The emphasis of the tnt in his final performance… I feel like there's a chance the tnt doesn't kill him, yes, but kills everyone in the audience. 4C would be the one to plan to take out everyone if he takes out himself.

And this is me not even mentioning the fact that he feels like he is already a ghost, like he belongs with the ghosts, he just has to shed his body. He doesn't belong amongst the living, he feels like he is already dead. Oh, line!4C, the creature you are. Chaotic neutral in its purest form, with a great chance to dip into evil alignment. I hope you fulfill that chance.

And now, we go to dynamics. I’d love to go to doombringers first, they are my guys, after all, but no. I have kept it within me for too long already.

Guys. Guys. line!4c and line!graaavel are just so. They are so, so interesting to me. They are great antagonists to each other and it's not even intentional. Especially if 4c goes full into the more chaotic side of his character, it has a potential to develop even further into this, but even already, their dynamic is getting close to perfection.

4c is sowing chaos. He is taking down walls around Gravel, he is taking down a roof above his head, he is intentionally doing things to annoy Gravel just because he finds his reactions funny, because he loves to instigate, because he loves mayhem. And Gravel isn't having any of that.

Gravel burned down 4C’s ship as a response and warned him to never again go against the people, never again go against him. He gave him a second chance, a benefit of a doubt, an olive branch as an opportunity to change. But even then, he never fully trusted that 4C would change, telling Sty to seek out less morally ambiguous allies. And he was right. 4C goes against Gravel again, proving that Gravel was right to doubt him, forcing Gravel to banish him from the community, forbid him entry into its walls, forcing Gravel to promise that he would deal with him for the safety of the people. And this is without any players getting hurt. If anyone did? Oh, it would only get worse.

For understanding, there are only two people that are banned from the community, and those people are Apo, who killed someone - and 4C, for his potential to cause an infinite amount of trouble. And Sty got caught in the crossfire, too, getting soft banned because of just being teamed with 4C.

Gravel despises 4C for what he is, and 4C just loooves to mess with Gravel. Their dynamic is quite something.

Gravel and Apokuna are quite curious as well. Gravel has admitted to Apo’s face that he is scared of him. He is afraid of what Apo can do because of what Apo has already done. And he promised that he will kill Apo if he has to do it to protect himself and his people - and Apo, in turn, promised that he would kill Gravel after being pushed to his doom by Gravel twice (second time was Sty but it was because of Gravel). Gravel is afraid of the fact that Apo has shown both ability and willingness to kill, and the yellow coin above his head will forever be a reminder of that. Apo, in turn, is annoyed by that fear, and by Gravel’s misunderstanding of him. And, most of all, by Gravel’s attempts to kill him.

And this is without mentioning that those two so far share the only moment of serious lore on this server, and hate each other beyond belief. Except Gravel’s hate is fueled by fear, and Apo’s hate is fueled by rage.

At this point I’m leaving doombringer for last, so, Apo and 4c. Lovely guys. My favorite instigators. Those who cause mischief together. 4C loves to enable Apo, and Apo loves to enable 4C. They bring out the worst in each other, and that's what makes them the best. They love to cause as much trouble as possible, they nudge each other towards chaos, and they love every second of it. 4C doesn't care about Apo having a mark of a killer - he likes Apo, he likes to hang out with him, and he would never let something as small as murder change his opinion of him. Meanwhile Apo cares about 4C immensely and fears for his life. Each time 4C threads the line between life and death and does something meaninglessly dangerous, Apo worries beyond belief, trying to save him from himself. 4C is one of the few people Apo truly cares about and would never even think about harming him. And he is oh so afraid of losing him.

Doombringer duo time! These two have doomed the server to destruction by bringing it to the attention of an eldritch entity of indescribable power, and that isn't even the reason I love them so much.

I think the moment that solidified my love for Sty and 4C as a duo was the moment where Gravel told Sty to look for less morally ambiguous allies, and Sty didn't even humor him.

Sty knows 4C is morally ambiguous, he sees the potential for chaos and destruction in him, and still decides to stay around, to stick as close to him as possible, and seems to only like him more the more chaos he causes. Sty isn't even afraid to nudge 4C towards more chaos, but more subtly and less roughly than Apo, thus allowing himself to go more under the radar. And he cares about 4c so much. He doesn't ever really leave his side - because even when they're away from each other, Sty is almost always looking through his chat, asking 4C to be careful, to not risk himself, and freaks out every time 4C even jokes about his final goal being death. The person who is afraid of death and a person who embraces it being teamed is just so lovely to me. Oh the potential here. I hope 4c kills himself in front of Sty to change the trajectory of his life forever.

Oh and 4C also cares about Sty quite a lot, he just doesn't show that care much - but the one time Sty got downed, 4C freaked out because he knew he would never be able to get to him in time. He had to rely on other people to resuscitate Sty, and blamed himself for not being there when Sty needed it. Sty didn't die, of course, but I think if he did, 4C would feel so lost there. He feels at home with the ghosts, he is friends with death, but he knows just how afraid Sty is of death and wishes for him to escape it for as long as possible.

I wish for 4C to take out as many people as possible and then come to Sty, covered in blood, and finish himself off in front of him, both fulfilling his own dream and keeping Sty alive through everything. I live for doombringer duo.

[setacin]

LICHTENBURG FIGURES

[sharffffff]

Every moment that passed, every second that was spent looking at 4C, at his carefree smile, listening to his cheerful laughter and discussions of tomorrow was like torture to Sty. He couldn't believe that slime would talk so casually about abandoning him, abandoning all of the pirates, his newfound family, and taking his life just for what? For some sick joke? Some excuse at entertainment? Just to be a ghost and have a chance to come back - a chance so impossibly slim that it would be a miracle? Why, why couldn't he just stay alive? Why couldn't he stay with them, keep building the ship, keep with their plans, keep with their team - and not do some stupid trick which would end with dying in the most dumb way possible? Why would he treat death as a joke and not something serious, not something final, not something Sty could not see him go through? Why couldn't he just… hear him out? Why couldn't he listen to what other people tried telling him, for once? Why couldn't he understand just how much he would be missed?

No matter how much Sty kept asking 4C to rethink it, to please not die, to please stay alive - for pirates, for him, - that he wouldn't be able to keep going with 4C gone for good, the blue slime kept dismissing it with a laugh or a smile or just silence. And hell, Sty wanted to hate him for that so much. It would be easier to see him die if he hated him - at least it wouldn't be so painful, at least it wouldn’t be so devastating, at least it would fail to ruin Sty’s life when 4C’s plan to end his own is done. But hate never came. Sty cared too much about every pirate, and he cared too much about 4C to ever be able to hate him, and he hated his inability to hate. What wouldn't he give to make 4C change his course, and he refused to believe that he would actually follow through with his plans. Sty refused to believe, but he knew it would happen. And it hurt the most, that his closest friend wouldn't try living even if it meant hurting everyone who ever cared about him. All for some bit, just to end this arc of his life with a bang. God, he wanted to hate him so much.

What hurt even more was others starting to accept 4C’s death before he even did it. Luanne stopped trying to persuade him to live, Apo encouraged him to make the death more entertaining, even Lincu helped 4C prepare for his final deeds - and Sty couldn't understand why. Why, why would they ever accept him dooming himself? Why would they allow him to go through with this stupid plan? Sty didn't get it, Sty hated not getting it, and Sty hated the very idea that 4C might be gone in just a few days. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing him gone. God, it hurt so much.

“Why do you have to go? Why do you have to leave me?” Sty’s voice was shaking as he asked this question. It wasn't the first time he had asked it, but as both of them looked towards the sun rising over their cove, he felt like 4C would answer truthfully, for once.

4C turned away from the rising sun after a long second, taking a look at Sty, as if seeing him for the first time in a while, and tilted his head slightly, as if thinking over the answer. Usually he just answered with a quip without a second thought, so him pausing only confirmed Sty’s worst fears - it was close. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow - but 4C was going to do it soon. It was terrifying to realize this fact.

“Death is inevitable,” he shrugged, “especially in a world such as this. Would I really be experiencing it fully if I hadn't become a ghost at least once? If I hadn't died at least once? I died before, in other worlds, but never a death as final as this. And I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't die in such a world. Too much wasted potential.”

As rational as 4C tried to sound, it didn't make sense to Sty. Nothing about this made sense, and it only made Sty more mad. What other worlds? What death that wasn't as final? He tried to understand, he tried to at least pretend to understand, because he felt like 4C wasn't lying, but it just wasn't making sense, and it was making Sty desperate.

“But why? Why now? Why so soon? Why can't you wait until this world is close to its doom? You could still be a ghost then, but stay with us for that much longer! Please, 4C. Please don't die.” Sty saw 4C flinch a little at him asking him to stay alive, but as much as he regretted it when the slime had finally opened up, he really didn't want to lose him. He couldn't bear losing him.

“It's easier to die early on. Less things weighing you down, more chances to come back. To experience everything, I would have to experience revival - and the sooner I die, the more chances I’ll get, isn't it right?” 4C smiled, and for the first time in a while, this smile actually brought some relief to Sty. He wasn't planning to just die. He was planning to come back. He would be back. He would be back! He had to be back. Sty needed him to do everything in his power to come back - he needed him back at all and any cost. But he wasn't planning to stay a ghost forever! This was the best thing Sty could've heard from this conversation - because he knew he wasn't going to ever hear 4C changing his mind.

“You have to promise to come back. Please, promise me. Promise you will come back.” Sty grabbed 4C’s shoulders and turned him towards him, staring right into the slime’s unblinking black inkpools of the eyes as he said that. He wasn't going to let go until he got that promise, and his desperate grip onto 4C’s arms made it very clear.

“Sty, I promise. Once I’m ready, I will do everything in my power to come back. Whatever it takes.” 4C nodded and got out of Sty’s grasp, before letting out a brief laugh and patting Sty on the head - something he knew Sty hated, but for whatever reason he was okay with it right now. It could be the last time 4C has a chance to do it, and there was something comforting about it. “I promise I’ll come back.”

Sty sighed heavily, but the burden on his heart felt lighter. Maybe this wasn't the end of the world. Maybe things would turn for the better, once 4C decides to come back. Maybe having to watch his best friend die in front of his eyes would be just a tinge less devastating than before.

But patting on the head had to stop. It started becoming annoying again, and Sty knew just the way to retaliate - pat him back. “Oh, you better come back!” He exclaimed, letting his hand tousle the slime’s “hair”, instantly starting a usual playfight. Everything was back to normal - but a tinge of sadness lingered in the air.

The performance was more torturous than Sty ever expected, and each time 4C got hurt, he flinched more and more, feeling something snap inside him every time. He had a plan for this performance, because despite their conversation, Sty wasn't going to let 4C just end his own life like that. No, no, he would still let him die - he knew there was no stopping this slime once he started, and he believed in his promise to find a way to come back - but he wasn't going to let some random dolphin or, even worse, a cactus, claim 4C’s life. If 4C was going to die, it would only happen one way - by his hand, by his dagger taking the last of his life, with 4C’s death tainting Sty forever, linking them together through the bond of the killer and the killed. 4C would die, and Sty’s emblem would turn yellow, and that was that.

And so Sty waited, and waited, and calculated each bit of damage 4C took, waiting for his moment to enter the stage. He hid behind the curtains, waiting for the slime to jump out towards the cactus to take that final blow - but instead 4C found Sty and his dagger, digging straight into 4C’s heart. The look of surprise and shock on the slime’s face quickly gave way to a wide grin, and he sank deeper onto the dagger, deeper into Sty’s hands, life quickly draining from his eyes. His last breath, his last words were so quiet, Sty thought he had imagined them, but they kept ringing in his ears as the blood dripped down the dagger’s hilt and down his arms, coating his clothes in dark blue and his emblem slowly turning bright yellow, like the shining sun.

Sty kept clutching onto the knife and onto 4C’s body as others tried to pry them from his hands, still trying to fully process what he had just done. He didn know why he had done it, he didn't know what came over him, but he knew it had to be him. And yet 4C’s words kept ringing in his mind, as loud now as quiet they were when he said them.

“I knew you had it in you.”

[sharffffff]

Oh, StyStatic tried. He tried so hard to remain the voice of reason, the level-headed one amongst the pirates, try and hold others back from doing something excessively stupid - he tried, but being reasonable didn’t pay off. Oh no, no, instead it backfired in the worst way possible.

As their chests burned, Sty sat there in silence, inhaling the smoke and burning up more and more with each breath. How could Graaavel - how dared Graaavel - come here, to their ship, blow it up and then return and burn down everything they ever owned before the clock he set had even ticked down? How dared he go against the terms of his own deal, how dared he act so smug about his actions? Sty just didn't understand it, his vision filling with rage, so uncontrollable and raw that if he saw Graaavel this exact second, he would not hesitate and take him out, damned be just one life.

But, alas, he was not within Sty’s reach, and so Sty was left alone with his thoughts, left to pace around waiting to hear from 4C - he hoped, he truly hoped, that somehow 4C managed to learn about what happened and burn Graaavel’s entire town to the ground, level it and not leave a single pebble in memory of its existence. He wanted to make Graaavel suffer like he suffered, and then graciously end his suffering. After all, ghosts don't suffer. And if they do - it's only for the better.

When 4C finally returned, Sty was still standing in the same place, right above the ashes of their lost items, unnaturally still and barely breathing, his entire body akin to a tightened spring, ready to unfold and strike into action. He wasn't saying a word nor moving a muscle, his focus entirely on the ashes on the ground.

After Sty didn't respond to the first few attempts to reach him, too focused in his cold rage, 4C did what he would always do - ruffled Sty’s hair, getting him out of this trance, and making him focus his vision on the slime, who he seemed to have only just noticed.

“Sty? Sty? Sty… Are you okay?” - 4C sounded concerned about him, most likely because of his unresponsiveness moments prior. Sty just shook his head, before locking eyes with 4C. He knew the slime felt the same burning rage as he did, even if it wasn't as strong as his - he could forgive him for still believing in allowing people to live, even when they didn't deserve it.

“I want him dead.” - Sty’s voice was cold and steady, but his entire being burned with anger, and as 4C put a hand on his shoulder he could feel Sty shaking with tension.

“I want it all gone. I want it all to burn. I cleared the water in the time he gave me!” - 4C’s voice began to shake, as rage started to consume him too, allowing the colors Sty enjoyed seeing shine through. He liked being able to know that 4C cared about this, about the ship, about everything they've lost.

“His town will be leveled when I’m done with it. I want it all gone.” - The steadiness in Sty’s vocals started to give way to the rage fueling him, his hands instinctively grabbing onto the shield and the hilt of his sword. If he could, he would go and fulfill his promise right now - and he was raring to go, he only needed 4C to say the word and he would rain hell upon Graaavel and his town, not leaving a brick untouched.

“Sty. When Apo comes back, it’s all going down.” Right, Apo. Sty almost forgot about him being a ghost after the chaos of today. He wanted to blurt out that they didn't need Apo to have this done, but he couldn't lie - having someone else there, someone else willing to kill would be quite handy, and it is easier to destroy with more people. And so, Sty just nodded in agreement. Apo was a good call, they would just have to hope he can be brought back.

“We're going to make it burn.” - Sty turned away, starting to gather what remained of their things on the ship - which wasn't much, but had to be saved regardless. After all, they weren't going to remain here any longer. This base was compromised the moment it was built within Graaavel’s reach, and thus needed to be replaced. He would miss it, he would avenge it, but they needed a new ship.

“It will all be gone,” - 4C nodded and rushed to help Sty with packing everything up. Sty could feel his tension, but he also sensed something else, deep under it, something that confused him a lot. Satisfaction. It felt almost like 4C was hoping for this outcome, but… it didn't make any sense. Sty shook his head, chasing that thought out of his mind. Maybe 4C was just satisfied about them being on the same page regarding Pleasant Woods. That would make the most sense.

Once they were done with packing everything that remained, Sty, 4C and Luanne set the remaining skeleton of the ship ablaze. It wasn't to destroy it, no - it was to display the ruins of their lives to everyone else in this world. This charred skeleton was all that remained of their home, and its flames burned in sync with Sty’s flaming rage.

And as they sailed away from it, all Sty could see in the fire consuming the ship that they called home until just a moment ago was Pleasant Woods being enveloped in an inferno so grand it turned everything to ash. And Sty was certain that this vision would come to reality, sooner or later, but it would happen at his hands. The world would burn for what it's done to them.

Everything would burn.

[sharffffff]

“You should really team with someone less morally ambiguous.”

These words rang in Sty’s ears, and while he didn't care in the slightest about Gravel’s opinions on his teammate, he couldn't help but agree on one point - there was an uncertainty about 4C’s sense of morality, but one Sty seemed to understand. It was skewed, for sure, and it looked like 4C was willing to do anything for his own benefit - but that benefit wasn't materialistic, oh no, it was purely that of getting as much excitement out of life while he still could.

Sty knew that for certain, since each time he tried giving 4C something, the slime didn't even attempt to jump on that offer, most of the time just missing it entirely - unless, of course, he had something fun to do. Yeah, he would ask Sty for iron or lapis or gold, but it wasn't to benefit himself in any way other than doing something exciting, all while wearing half-broken iron armor. Hell, Sty had to throw the diamond armor on the ground before 4C for him to even consider picking it up!

That's what made the blue slime so interesting to Sty. He did do some morally questionable things, a lot of them, actually - but none of them in the name of personal gain. He took so many risks, almost died so many times, and Sty couldn't help but admire 4C’s desire to leave a life most full and exciting before his inevitable death - nobody escapes it, after all.

And Sty feared death, he feared it a lot. The fact 4C didn't, the fact he accepted it, the fact he toyed with it, threading the line without a care in the world? It made Sty feel like he could never team with anyone else but him. Not to save him, no, Sty knew 4C didn't need saving and there was no persuading him from turning from his path, but to be close to him. To be in the eye of the storm.

For each time 4C did something especially questionable, Sty could see a spark in his eyes burning brighter and brighter. Yes, it started with a little thieving and angering of entities that should not be angered, but it grew. It continued. The idea of the arena was his, and the spark of laughter in 4C’s voice when he joked about killing everyone in that arena suggested that it was more than just a joke.

And then 4C did the impossible - he gave ghosts the ability to interact with the world in a major way. The ability to destroy, the ability to kill. And his voice when he explained it? The calmness in it and the burning fire in his eyes? Sty knew he had to stay as close to him as possible, that the storm would consume everything else but him. And hell, was he excited to see it all go down.

And he knew for sure that he wouldn't leave 4C’s side for the entire world. Not just for the safety from the storm, but for the front row seat for its destruction. Why not live a little, after all? Why not have a little fun while you still can? No matter what Gravel says, this is the best teammate Sty could've ever hoped for.

[sharffffff]

A betrayal done out of love. It is the worst kind of betrayal one can ever commit, to hurt someone in such a way, to stab them in the back and twist a knife - and not out of hatred, not out of malice, but out of attempt to save them from themselves. Betrayal can be understood when the traitor hates the person they are betraying - whether they hated them the whole time, or have grown resentful of their ways doesn’t matter, for it has become justified in their own eyes through the fact that they can’t stand behind those actions no longer. But betrayal done out of love? One done out of attempt to not let your loved one hurt themself, thus hurting them more than their actions ever could? Such betrayal cannot be forgiven, it cannot be explained, it cannot be justified. And it never works, either, for the spite driving the one who has been betrayed will only make them hurt themself more, rendering the whole thing pointless. Rendering the traitor both devastated through the loss of their friend, and unsuccessful in their plans. Making the rift that is so large, it would take far too long to even begin to repair, requiring time and effort from both parties - and while the traitor might try to fix things, would the betrayed ever be able to trust them again? Would they ever be able to forgive them?

Deep down, Sty knew that this plan would fail. He knew it was a bad idea, he knew it would never work, he knew 4C would hate him for doing it, but he had to try. He just had to try, he had to take the chance to save his fellow pirate from himself, and if he could’ve saved his life even if it cost them their friendship, he would’ve taken that chance. And he did. And he failed. And he failed oh so miserably.

When Gravel suggested trapping 4C, doing everything to keep him safe, protecting him from himself, Sty was hesitant. He felt weird working with his enemy, and he felt weird about this whole plan - he didn’t want 4C dead, but he didn’t want him trapped in a box either. Yes, a nicely decorated box, but an obsidian box nonetheless. But as more time went by, as 4C’s scheduled death began rapidly approaching, Sty’s mind got set on this idea fully. He hated it, he hated the fact that he had to trap his friend in this place, but he felt like he had to do it. There was no other way to protect him. No other way to make sure he would stay alive. And god, Sty just couldn’t lose him. He didn’t know if he could live if 4C was dead. The world just wouldn’t be the same. And so he went through with the plan, despite all the outs 4C tried giving him, despite the fact he knew that 4C knew that he was lying, despite the devastation in 4C’s voice when they approached the trap. Sty knew that his plan was found out long before the slime ended up locked in the room, but he refused to believe it, refused to think that 4C would let him betray his trust like that, refused to accept that his attempt to save him - his betrayal - would be not just found out, but followed through. 

So when 4C got locked away, when he got trapped, when he realized that Sty wasn’t going to admit to the betrayal - Sty heard his voice change, he could’ve sworn he saw a glint of anger in his eyes even through the wall, and gods, he never heard 4C that angry before. Even when their ship was burned, even when they lost everything, the slime was rather calm. Yes, calm in his anger, but calm nonetheless. Now, however? Now Sty could feel the anger, the rage, the hatred in waves even through the obsidian walls, he could feel the tension and disappointment and distrust seeping through the cracks, and, worst of all, he could hear the acid in his voice and know that it was directed at him, at the one who betrayed his trust. The one who promised he would never betray him, the one who 4C trusted and who abused his trust. And the one who couldn’t even go in and see him, because of Gravel blocking the way, because of Gravel telling it was for the best. Sty couldn’t even tell him why he did this, he couldn’t even explain how much he cared about him, he couldn’t explain what his death would do to him. But leaving 4C to be alone instead was almost more of the betrayal than this whole box. 

And when Sty returned, having gathered all his thoughts, all his explanations in a single book, he could feel that it was already too late. When he broke through despite Gravel’s protests, when he gave the book to 4C, when he tried to get him out - he knew 4C’s plans have already changed. He knew 4C was going to die here, not giving Sty a chance to get him out first, not giving him a chance to apologize, not giving him a chance to react - only watch on, in horror, as it was about to happen. Not knowing how, not knowing when, but knowing that the death would happen soon, and leaving Sty to wonder and to dread. And when 4C didn’t even read the book, when 4C refused to even look Sty in the eyes except to let Sty know just how badly he messed up, when Sty saw 4C’s eyes be even deeper, darker black when they usually are, Sty couldn’t help but feel like the worst person in this world. And maybe at the moment, he was. Because he betrayed his closest friend out of love, out of selfishness, out of wish to protect him but in fact to protect himself from being hurt, and it was all for nothing. Because he knew it was always going to end this way.

And when Apokuna came, the harbinger of death, the slayer of those who wish for it, Sty didn’t even try to get in their way. He knew that it would only make things worse, he knew that he already betrayed 4C once - he couldn’t do it again. He couldn’t save him from death if he wanted it so much, and stopping Apo would’ve felt like yet another betrayal. And so he watched. He felt that if he turned away, when 4C wanted him to see it, that if he broke the eye contact the slime was still keeping with him, he would be even more of a traitor. 

It took three strikes. Two slashes and a sword straight through the heart, giving 4C barely any chance to even react. Sty could’ve sworn he saw a shock in 4C’s eyes from how quickly it went - but that couldn’t be it, not with the slime’s confidence in his death. And then Apo left, as quickly as they appeared, leaving Sty all alone in this room before 4C’s body even hit the ground. 

And a second later Sty felt his limbs go into motion, barely able to catch him, while almost falling to the ground himself. The slime was gone. Apo knew what he was doing - death being swift and final, no chance for final words, no chance to say goodbye. Sty felt like he didn’t even deserve to be here, he didn’t even deserve to hold 4C’s body after what he has done, didn’t deserve the chance to cry over his loss. Didn’t deserve a chance to say sorry, even if 4C couldn’t hear him. He betrayed him, and he knew he did, and it hurt, it hurt so much. How could he have done it? What overcame him to do such a thing?

Sty could try to justify his actions for as long as needed, but he knew there was no justification for it. And now, 4C would never even have a chance to hear him say it.

“Our time together on this server has meant everything to me, 4C. I just couldn’t let it end. But it ended anyway, didn’t it? It was always going to end this way, and I messed up. We could’ve spent your final moments doing what you wanted to do, and instead you had to spend them in a box. And for that, I’m sorry, though I don’t expect you to forgive me. Goodbye, my friend.”

Sty’s mouth was so dry he could barely speak, and by the time he finished, his tears had run dry as well. This was all his fault. This day went so horribly wrong, and it was all because of him. And knowing this had felt just oh so horrible. 

Sty carried 4C’s body out by himself - he couldn’t trust anyone else to bury him, but at this point, he didn’t know if he should even trust himself. Dark blue blood had stained his hands and his clothes, but that was the least of his worries, not after the book he found on 4C’s body while preparing to go out of the box. Not after the book that was clearly written days ago, and now stained with blood - but still having readable text. Not after the book that was dedicated to him, not after the book that spoke of how 4C’s biggest fear was Sty’s betrayal. Not after the book that Sty accidentally had proven right. Not after having fulfilled 4C’s biggest fear on this server, not after the betrayal that was so devastating, nobody involved had been left standing. And now Sty had to bury 4C, alone, while not knowing if he even deserved to do it. And god, it hurt.

It hurt so much, knowing that the future was always set in stone. It hurt so much, knowing that it was always going to happen. It hurt so, so fucking much.