Proxy's Memories: Supplimentary Side Stories and More

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Snare
CWs: Discussions of past trauma, death of family.
A hard reunion with a proxy long thought gone...
Perspective: A Different Charon.

You wander into the abyss, its rooms rotating with the passing of time.

It's taken you a good while to navigate around but..

You've got a hunch you've finally found the right path.

You open the door of a prison long hidden from the light of day.
???: Wearing that mask won’t protect you, should’ve never stepped in here.

She tilts her neck at you, a curious look without a face. The mask she holds up with a metal mesh taking up the place of a face.

It's clear some curious servant may have wandered in here by accident once..

???: It’s you. That’s.. Worrying.

???: That said…

???: You found me, that’s nice..

???: It’s been a long time.

Charon: You’re…  really still here?

???: Where else would I be?

???: Dead? Forgotten?

???: I’m surprised you were able to remember me honestly…

???: You seem so surprised…

Charon: I’m sorry..

???: You should be.

???: You sound.. Different than I expected.

Charon: It’s a lot to explain..

???: I have plenty of time, not going anywhere on my own…

???: Though.. I can feel something resonating from you.

???: Anger. That’s good, you should stop pretending.

???: Is it toward me? Did Rein finally find out?

???: Is this some last ditch attempt to offer me salvation? Because I don’t think what you can give me is enough to-

Charon: Rein is dead.

Charon: Has been for awhile now..

Charon: I.. thought you were too, to be honest.

???:...You’re lying. How?

Charon: Bucket-

???: Finally grew a spine. About time somebody did.

???: Owe me that much after locking me up.

???: I’m surprised you’re both still allowed in this region…

Charon: I…

Charon: They’re dead.I’m all that’s left now.

Charon: Rein, Bucket, Spit.. it’s all gone.

???:... I…

???: What did you do?

Charon: What I had to, nothing more than that.

Charon: I’ve.., been having to learn a ton really quickly.

Charon: Ton has changed since you’ve been gone.

Charon: Haven’t had much time to really do anything but..

Charon: I wanted to know if you were still here..

Charon: I know you’ve probably got a lot of hard feelings and… I don’t know if I could ever make that up to you but-

???: I didn’t want that..

???: You should’ve never let them hide me.

???: You could’ve killed Rein yourself if I was with you.

???: Why didn’t you come and find me earlier?

Charon: I wasn’t here when it happened..

???: They spent so much time worried about what would happen if Rein caught us.

???: Worried Rein would hurt us both if they found out we managed to smuggle in that kind of magic.

???: Insane to me, irrational.

???: If they had supported us, we could’ve become strong enough to do the task ourselves…

Charon: You don’t know that-

???: I do.

???: Because despite everything, I’m still rotting here.

???: I should’ve faded so long ago, and yet I live..

???: And Spit..

???: Was she in this encounter?

Charon: My doing.

???: How..

Charon: I’d like to go over that somewhere nicer than this.

Charon: Come home with me…

???: There’s a rancid energy coming from you, I know you’re not lying.

???: But if you managed to do her in, there has to be a way.

???: And I can smell it.

???:.. What did you do to yourself?

Metal wiring limbs start to block off the entrance.

???: Show me your face, or I’ll take it.

Charon: I will just..

You slowly remove your mask and undo your hair, letting the mess spread.

Charon: I had to call in some favors, take some drastic measures.

Charon: Got to know a lot of family for the first time.

Charon: It’s been.. A lot honestly.

???:... You’re like me..

???:.. Can I get closer?

You get within range where the proxy can reach toward you.

She’s held down by restraint.

Charon: Let me help you loose.

???: I could kill you the moment you do..

???: Rip your head off and replace you without anyone noticing.

Charon: Go ahead but…

Charon: You really can’t.

???:... Why are you so confident?

???: You’re not joking.

Charon: I’m not.

The proxy seems to pull away,

???: What did you do?

???: Are you even the same person anymore?

Charon: It’s been 10 years.. Nobody is.

Charon: Not in the same way.

???:...

Charon: Let’s get you home, for real..

You reach for the shackles that tie her up, you can see many efforts to struggle were made.

Bucket…

You manage to cut them loose, getting nearly nicked by the thorns.

Charon: You didn’t have these before…

???: Neither did you..

???: You’re all grown up.

Charon: You too.

???: So…

???: Why do you need me?

???: It can’t be that you missed me.

Charon: I mean..

???: You’ve had plenty of time to meet new people.

???: Stronger people.

???: Is that why you didn’t show up earlier?

???: Not enough to help you with Spit?

???: Robbing me of every chance at catharsis?

You pull her in for a hug.

You can feel every thorn and wire latch on, threatening you if you make so much as a move.

???:  Let go.

Charon: I can heal you.

Every edge started to dig in.

???: I don’t need your help..

Charon: Just.. let me do this for you. It’s the least I owe you..

Cuts and scrapes and marks from being snared for so long started to fade.

???:... Why?

Charon: I missed you.

Charon: You were my only friend back then, you know?

Charon: I didn’t want you to have to come back into all that hurt, the fighting…

Charon: You can rest now..

The proxy relaxes into your hug, releasing you.

Your wounds mend themselves instantly, as do hers.

After a long rest, she finally pulls away, taking a good look at herself.

???: I’m still rough.. Jagged…

Charon: Me too…

???: Must be terrible to see me like this..

Charon: I think you’re pretty.

???: You would say that..

???: …You really wish for me to stay with you?

Charon: Mmhmm..

???:... Is our room still there?

Charon: Things have been moved around but… for the most part it's the same.

???: Take me there…

She reaches her hand out to you.

You take it and wrap your fingers around hers.

Charon: Do you… have anything you’d want me to call you?

Charon: We never settled on it back then.

???: I’ve thought about it sometimes…

???: For a long time I prayed you’d come and save me.. And I suppose you did.

Charon: Want to share?

???: Lets.. get back home first.

???: And we can catch up proper…