Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

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You’re standing in a void, unable to make out anything but a faint object in the distance.

Despite all this, you feel a certain deja vu to the entire experience, one you’re struggling to pin down as your own or someone else’s.

You take a good moment to gather yourself, a certain haze clouding you until the world surrounding feels as true to life as any other moment.

You don’t remember making it to the bed, he must’ve helped you, the cute pumpkin rabbit..

What was his name?

You should probably ask…

You make your way over to the one light in this entire endless mess, a singular tarot card much like many you’ve seen in your days as a witch.

You reach out, immediately spooked as your hand is made visible by its glow..

It’s not certainly not your own, at least not in the way you usually think of..

But despite that, it feels correct in its own way. A remnant of another life perhaps…

You grab the card, immediately feeling it heavy between your fingers in a way you weren’t particularly expecting.

A voice emanates from it, one that brings a long missed comfort and warmth.

???: You came for me..

???: It’d been awhile I think.

???: Charon?

Charon: Mm, it’s me..

???: It’s been long since that hard time I think…

???: Do you remember me?

Charon:... Extreme Retention.

???: Mmhmm..

???: Well, in some form or another. You may call me… hmm..

???: I don’t really know honestly? Rook is a name that feels incorrect lately.

???: I think I’d like to spend some time to ponder that but.. For now let’s speak.

???: What was left by your side for a long time is well.. Nothing but a husk of my  former self but…

???: It was nice to see you with my own eyes again I think.

???: You’ve changed a lot, grown stronger.

???: Wish I could say the same for myself..

Charon:.. I don’t think I entirely understand.

???: Oh?

Charon: My proxy never left, I don’t think…

Charon: I’ve been able to call on you, have I not?

???: What remains is not the same person, someone else in my body. Not an invader but…

???: Something that was there to finish the job.

???: Until today I suppose. After that fight well.. I felt a need to come out and protect you.

???: And I’m just.. Glad you’re okay really.

Charon: I’m sorry for scaring you like that…

???: It’s my job to be here for you, I should be apologizing for vanishing for so long..

???: And to leave things in the hands of someone else without any warning.

???: I should thank them…

???: I don’t remember you being a cat though….

Charon: I have complicated feelings on that myself…

???: I think it’s a good fit on you personally but.. That’s just me…

???: Who’s protecting you these days?

Charon: Don’t really know.. But from the look of things there’s at least three people now.

???: I should really get the chance to meet them sometime..

???: If I recall, there’s a good chance they might be at the castle.. We’re somewhere in there right now perhaps?

???: Allow me to just….

The lights flicker on, the room becoming visible.

???: There we go… Can you see me fine?

In front of you stands a mannequin like setup, an armored layer of a person left in a fragmented state.

Charon:... Are you okay?

???: I think I’m recovering…

???: I’m not hurting but I don’t think I’m done either.

Charon: I think there’s someone in this place who can take care of you, a nurse-

???: I’ll be fine for now.. I promise you that you don’t need to worry about me like that..

???: I’m just happy that you made it..

Charon: I did…

???: Though our time together was short I..

???: I massively valued that I suppose. We went through great hardship together, I wish I could’ve protected you from all of it but..

???: I had my limits, but I wasn't good enough in the end..

Charon: You did more than anyone could’ve asked you to….

Charon: Don’t want to hear anything else.

???: Are you… tearing up?

Charon: I don’t need you putting yourself down like that, alright?

???: Ah.. I wouldn't have if I knew it’d upset you like this.. I’m sorry…

???: …What’s that card you’re holding?

Charon: This?

You flash it to the proxy.

???: The Empress, yet another possibility. A piece of yourself you have yet to explore…

???: In other words, what you could've been. To be honest I feel a strange closeness to that card but.. I have to think on why perhaps?

???: It's not my own but... while you wield it, you tap into another you and everything that comes with it.

???: Each of the cards Styx presented was a possibility, one of many interpretations at least.

???: You were given three, a handful of a deck of many as is to hone your options but...

???: I am more than glad you picked me..

Charon: You’re the manifestation of Death then?

???: Mmhmm.. That’s a way to put it.

???: Though I think that’s a grim sounding name..

???: Could you do me a favor?

Charon: Anything.

???: I’d like to go upstairs, I feel the others up there..

???: Though I may need help, it’s-

Charon: I’ll carry you, don’t worry.