Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

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You've made yourself comfortable in the guest room, a hammock set up lovingly.

You made a deal, now you've got to commit to it.

Its been so long since you've been able to rest. It feels harder than it should be.

You're not long before Opera checks in on you, look of concern on her.

Charon: Hey.

Opera: Hey, things going alright?

Charon: Honestly about as I expected.

Opera: Is that good?

Charon: ...No.

Opera: What's up?

Charon: It's complicated.

Opera: Yeah? I mean you can explain it to me you know. Nobody's going to understand you more than well..

Charon: Aye, another version of me.

Opera: Mmhmm.

She look you over closely.

Opera: Clothes took a lot of wear and tear.

Charon: Been getting jumped repeatedly, nobody's meant to fight this much in a day.

Opera: No kidding..

Her eyes zoom in on the stains of various colors across your body, the dried gold of a fiend especially catching things.

Opera: You got hurt..

Charon: Nothing too bad.

Opera: You should've asked someone to come with you...

Charon: Didn't know what this place was, felt Rook and I were enough...

Opera: A proxy and a fancy sword's not enough to keep you safe forever you know.. folks in a tough place end up just as hard you know? Whatever power you got back home's a little less so in  a pocket like this..

Charon: I'm already struggling to keep up back there.

Opera: Bucket's not normal-

Charon: Neither is Ali, neither is anyone looking to gain from that auction-

Opera: Which is why we're working as a team, right? Our friends, me and paige, you and rook.. you live and die by that.

Charon: Mm...

Opera: Like I know you wanna take the load off people but if you break first-

Charon: I know...

Opera: We should get you dressed in something lighter for now, make sure you're cozy..

She grabs your cloak, it instinctively pulls away.

Opera: I just want to clean it-

Charon: I can't take it off anymore..

Opera: Wait, what do you mean?

Charon: It's become part of me.

You can tell she's trying really hard not to make a face.

Opera: Can I take a look?"

Charon: Mm...

She gently grabs the cloak, examining it carefully. Paige takes a peek as well.

Opera: Think you see something?

The sheet ghost gives a little nod and whispers something into her ear.

You can faintly make out some noise, they're audible...

Charon: What did she say?

Opera: Uh...  looks like a membrane? Like bat wings.

Charon: In other words-

Opera: This place did something to you...

Charon: Pocket always does ever since I killed Styx.

Opera:... Were there other things?

Charon: Mm... had issues with physical development as a kid. Fiend body was soft, fluid, unstable around the limbs.

Opera: Right, the braces. Never stopped needing them...

Charon: Never, because they melded to me.

Opera:... Wait, what?

Charon: Fiends are capable of rooting in materials to aid in healing and replacing chunks after fights. Usually pieces of things like wood, coral, bone, other living beings are used for that. Metal braces are a trick fiends use to help form parts that are unstable because truly inorganic material tends to be rejected.

Opera: And yours latched on?

Charon: became part of me, the inner core of the gauntlet became part of my own body like raw muscle. The other layers that protect them on the other hand are not. One layer was growing with me and the rest was becoming too tight to bare. We had to go with a modular shift, something where I can adjust and replace the shell's parts as needed and on the fly. It was difficult. It provided much needed stability but its hard on a body to carry all that extra weight, have plates rattling against you, risk exposure to heat and cold turning against you quickly.

Opera: I didn't know that...

Charon: You haven't been around in a long time, couldn't have.

Opera: And your eyes...

Charon: Likely another change. Whatever merging with Styx did to me has caused me to further and further distance physically from those around me.

Opera: Other people know, right?

Charon: The folks who need to obviously; Grandma Erica, Geezer, the Blancs.. not really a big list admittedly. Couldn't hide it if I wanted too, they'd see it themselves day to day.

Opera: I mean its important, should let the rest of the team know too.

Charon: Mm... I tend to bring a cane around to help me with long walks but it's not very ideal in a place where you'll be fighting so constantly. I left it back home..

Opera: Yeah I saw you using that earlier... maybe Anura can help?

Charon: We can ask, worst case scenario I could pry around Styx's place... suppose it is my castle now at this point. Feels wrong.

Opera: Every good knight needs a castle to protect, right?

Charon: I suppose..

Opera: Think we should get you leaned up first though, get you some new duds, check in on Rook honestly they seem pretty bushed..

Charon: They did good work today, they need this more than I do...

Opera: You both can have time to relax. You got into what, 4 different sword fights in a couple of days before jumping in here? 4 where you got beat down pretty hard...

Charon: I won the ones that mattered...

Opera: I know.. really appreciate you coming in clutch...

Charon: Geezer could've had it in the bag frankly. Bucket was never going to go all out against someone needed for the job. Erica prepped Geezer to take down any one of us, she's got a lot of faith in him for a reason.

Opera: Yeah... should maybe ask Mercury to make sure he doesn't bite more than he can chew up there. Between Bucket and Styx?

Charon: And Zana...

Opera: Really? I mean I know she's got issues with stress and all but-

Charon: She did shoot him on accident day one.

Opera: Yeeeah. Loose definition of accident..

Charon: And she's shot him on purpose before.

Opera: I mean Plat's there to anchor her, he seems really nice.

Charon: He is, you two need to go out for a day while you're here.

Opera: Yeah?

Charon: The Keith stories...

Opera: Who's Keith?

Charon: You'll have to find out... can you do me a big favor while you're up actually?

Opera: Sure thing.

Charon: Can you check on Rook?

Opera: Mmhmm, just a sec..

She steps out of the room.

You feel at ease, there's something-

You overhear talking.

Anura: Is that your friend outside?

Opera: Hmm? What do you mean-

Anura: I see another proxy out there.

Opera:.. What? Who's- jesus christ...

Anura: Should I go talk to them-

Opera: You're going to stay here.

Anura: Please don't pull out a firearm in my home-

Opera: It's being handled outside.

You hear the door slam open.

No time for rest just yet..

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

???: Please put the weapon down...

Opera: Anura, you know them at all?

Anura: Like I said, I assumed they were with you. I don't gauge any hostility from them and their appearance here seems... deliberate?

???: I'm here looking for someone but if they don't want to be found-

Opera: Who?

???: A dog and a proxy. Are you a friend of theirs?

The snake tilts their head at Opera.

She tries her best to maintain a poker face.

???: Mm.. can I at least pass along a request?

Opera: Keep it on point-

You step in, you've heard enough.

You can feel Rook trailing behind you.

Charon: You can tell me yourself.

Opera gives you a look.

Charon: I'll be fine. So?

The snake gives you a nod.

???: I heard you've got the Book in a bunch, screaming their heads off for the past day.

Charon: They call themselves that?

???: Suppose so, you'd know more than I do. Think you the devil.. don't think I can see it.

Charon: Makes me more of a candidate, no?

???: Depends, are you?

Charon: On a good day maybe. So?

???: Suppose I want to know your secret, lots of folks in my village do. You willing to make a stop by? You can bring anyone you want..

Mar: What's your bid?

You were surprised, Rook seemingly switched out while you weren't looking.

Charon: How'd you get here?

Mar: Just.. figured you could use a little help. Others are bushed and new guy's a little shy about showing their face.

Charon: New guy? As in a fourth?

Mar: Mm...

The snake looks Mar up and down.

???: You have more than one?

Charon: Not exactly-

Mar: Fractured, one proxy body with four selves...

???: Got a few multiproxies but never seen that play out.

Mar: Can we get a few names? Introductions feel due..

Mar steps up and offers the snake a armless courtesy

The snake's cheeks turned red.

???: Dither, and you might be?

Mar: Mar Judgment. Charon here is my partner in crime.. yours?

Dither: No, mine's been long gone... all of us at home are in the same boat.

Mar: I'm sorry to hear that...

Dither: You're fine, better to fill you in ahead.

Opera: You said there's a whole town?

She lowers her gun.

Dither: Mmhmm! A couple hundred of us living there, managed to piece it together pretty nice I think. We could set you up with bed and breakfast too if you need to stay the night.

Anura: Realistically you would have to, too late to spend a significant amount of time there and make it back safely. Night's are rather difficult wen you have a target on your head..

Dither: That's why I figured I'd offer.

Charon: And what do you want from me in particular? Don't go seeking out another man's devil without a deal in mind.

Dither: Wanna wait til we get back to fill you in fully but truth be told, we got a common enemy and you're especially good at putting them in the dirt.

Charon: You need knight?

Dither: We need a hero, up to task?

You look over at Opera.

Opera: I'm game. Gramps?

Anura: I could use the trek.

You turn back toward the snake. Mar gives you a shoulder nudge.

She wants you to help her go in for the kill.

Charon: I'll see what I can do. Any chance to know you a little more when we get there?

Dither: I'm not all that interesting..

Mar: I'm sure that's not true. With a face like that you've got a few stories, maybe over a nice brunch?

Dither: I can't commit to much right now but... maybe when the dust's settled?

Their tail lightly swishes around.

Mar: Keep a open mind.

Dither: Absolutely...

Paige makes a squeaky little cackle from Opera's shoulder.

She squishes the sheet ghost's head down

Opera: Be nice..

Dither: I mean it's not wrong..

Mar: It's fine, I like a little honesty. Says a lot about a person-

Anura: If I could politely interrupt, we should make arrangements to travel soon. Daytime is burning away and if it's alright I'd like to give my grandchildren a little privacy when they um...

He gestures to you, Mar, and Dither.

Anura: It's sweet but..

Charon: No you have a fair point. Mar?

Mar: Grandchild...

Charon: Aye.

Anura: Is.. that a big deal?

Mar: Don't get acknowledged by family much in such regard...

Anura: You're family too as far as I'm concerned but.. if you'd prefer something else-

Mar: No, I quite like that. Grandpa Anura?

Anura: Yes?

Mar: I'm ready to go whenever I think.  

Opera: Same.

Anura: I'll grab your stuff and then lock up proper then, don't wait for me.

Dither: It's no big issue-

Anura: Just trust me when I say I'll catch up. I'm a bad mouse but a master rat.

The snake looks at you with a confused expression.

Charon: Don't know either.. you heard him then.

The snake starts making way, Mar leaning on their shoulder.

A town of proxy...

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You arrive to a town behind a large gated wall without much trouble. Only glances of a few taller buildings can be seen from your spot.

A sentryman stands in front, a proxy of mechanical nature with a certain retro aesthetic and a cynical gaze headed your way.

???: You came back with some friends.

Dither: It's why I went out in the first place.

???: They know anything about all the noise going on?

Dither: At least one of them does, might be of your interest?

???: Doubt it, folks aren't too keen on visitors late. Know the Mass has been rattled lately, don't want them snooping here if we can help it...

Dither: You're going to want to see this, promise.

???: Don't think I do but...

The mechanical proxy tilts his head at your group before Dither points you out in particular.

???: Wizard dog? Can't even look people in the eye..

Charon: Not quite.

???: Seen plenty like you, gotta show me one hell of a trick for me to let you in.

Dither nudges your shoulder.

Charon: Mmm?

Dither: Do the pose..

Charon: Uhhh...

You whip out your sword from your cloak, the sentryman immediately raising his guard.

???: Okay no.

Dither: No?

???: That's the guy right? One that's got them all freaked out?

He leans in a little closer.

???: 5 Casualties, 2 dead today. That true?

Charon:...That does check out, didn't stick around to see who survived.

The Proxy rapidly whips in toward you.

???: Then you're gonna have to prove to me where your loyalties lie quick.

Opera: Hey, need you to back up a bit-

Charon: I've got this one for now.

???: Two other strangers here, they your friends?

Charon: Mm, package deal.

???: Real sense of danger from you, how do I know you're someone I can count on?

Charon: If I wasn't you'd be on the floor by now.

???: That a threat?

Charon: It's the honest truth-

You feel a rattling sensation in your spine, your blood chilling.

Your reflexes send a jolt across every nerve, your cape rattling like a fly seeing a swatter coming.

Faster than you've ever moved, faster than you've ever seen someone..

The proxy has halted time and you're the only one who can see it coming.

Your body isn't fast enough, he's immediately diving in toward Anura and Opera.

At that speed it's genuinely dangerous enough to maim if not outright kill.

Mar...

You can feel her nodding at you mentally, she surprises the sentryman by redirecting his lunge directly into you.

You can move just fast enough to make a little magic happen.

Tank the attack with your blade, time begins to move at full speed again.

Opera: H-Hey what are you do-

You see her reach into her cloak pocket, Anura stopping her immediately

Anura: Let it play out.

The amount of kinetic force you just absorbed, you need to fire it off quickly or it'll ruin your body.

With your free hand you pound the ground with enough force to audibly startle the entire town in front of you.

Dither and the sentryman are both immediately caught by surprise.

You transition back into position to guard a second time if needed.

???: You were able to react to it?

Charon: Just barely, don't think you'll get a second chan-

Time slows to a crawl again, you can feel it coming directly this time.

Mar immediately swoops in to tackle the sentryman enough to make the parry easy.

Force tanked, time resumes, you immediately redirect the energy toward your feet to kick yourself off the ground and pin down the sentryman by the throat.

Charon: Need you to back off-

Again, this time even shorter lived than ever, the two of you trade headbutts with the exchange going heavily in your favor

???: H-How are you doing that?!

Charon: It's a long story, Mar?

Mar: I helped where I could.. glad I came in when I could...

Charon: Broth doing alright?

Mar: Tired... we're taking turns to ease the workload..

Charon: You've done fantastic..

You give her a look up and down, didn't really catch it before but her body seems to have shifted closer to her internal appearance.

The sentryman looks over to her.

???: He your operator?

Mar: Mm, for a long time.

???: What's your little trick? Probability manipulation? Power nullification? Same deal as me?

Anura: Defiance. She's the embodiment of Death and Defiance. In the eyes of the saint, all mortals are equal and nothing is beyond her reach..

???: Doesn't explain what happens after...

Charon: I drained the attack's momentum, and I suppose it cancelled out everything else with it...

Mar: I'd guess so.. Grandpa?

Anura: Seems like a solid theory on that.

You start to pull yourself off of the sentryman.

???: What are you doing? Not gonna finish the job?

Dither: Cero!

Cero: Gonna make me look like an asshole..

Charon: Don't want to fight you anymore, this place needs a protector as strong as you.

Cero: You sure you don't want to take my job after all that? We..

He looks at Mar again.

Cero: Seem to got a lot in common.

Mar: Do we..?

He looks you dead in the eye.

The proxy plays up a flustered gesture in response.

Cero: I know what you are... come inside then, all of you. Dither will give you the tour.

Dither: You seemed so sure-

Cero: If him and his friends are a danger like that, not much we could really do...

He presses up the side of his head.

Cero: Entry for two operators, two visiting proxy, a local entity, returning resident. Keep the welcome party warm but alert.

He offers you a hand. The gates behind him start to open.

Cero: Welcome to The Signal.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

CW: Violence

Cero: Don't cause any trouble, yeah?

You give him a little bow.

Charon: Don't intend to.

Cero: Seriously, putting a lot of trust in you right now. Don't fuck this up, this place is all these folks have.

Charon: Of course...

Opera: I'll put in my best foot too, don't you worry about it.

Cero: Don't go whipping around your piece, yeah? Already make it so obvious you're carrying.

Dither: I'll guide you all around, so stay close.

You and your group go past the large gate, being waved goodbye for now by the sentryman.

The old rat give a little sign.

Anura: I'll miss him.

Dither:.. He's just outside?

Anura: Yes.

Dither: You two just met.

Anura: All the same, what a memorable lad.

Dither: You entity are so odd sometimes..

Charon: Used to it by now.  

You're met by many gazes as you enter the streets and take in the local sights.

A few smiles.

A number of curious stares.

The occasional tired shrug.

Dither: Try not to bother people too much right now, many are in the process of winding down their days..

Charon: Noted, where are we heading toward right now?

Dither: Checking you in. Party for... 5? Two proxy, two operator, and a entity?

Charon: I'm... 4? 5? Technically more...

Dither: Really? How?

Charon: Shattered proxy, multiple conscious embodying aspects-

Dither: Oh! Okay we've actually got a few of those. Not exactly a common thing..

Charon: It's a rather new thing for us so I'd like the chance to get resources on this.

Dither: Mm, I'll see if the good folks at the Fozzie house are available.

Opera's ears twitch.

Opera: You guys really called it that?

Dither: Is there something wrong with the name?

Opera: Just.. show that uh... like a bear and a frog and..

Dither shakes their head at you.

Opera: Whole thing, 'nother world..

Dither: Mm, plenty in common already.

The snake made a little snicker at their own joke.

Charon: Cute laugh.

Dither: You like that?

Charon: Bet I'll hear it again.

Dither: I'm sure you will... though just making things clear now, I'm not really looking for anything like that if..

Charon: I understand.

Dither: Maybe a dinner or two though while you're here, things are just a bit hectic on my end..

Mar: A chance to hold that hand would be more than enough to leave me happy by the time I've moved on...

Dither's cheeks turn pink.

Dither: Put well... is that really all you want though?

Mar: Perhaps a better look at that tail, if it's...

Opera: Maybe you should hold this off til later...

Anura makes a sad noise.

Opera: You got something to say?

Anura: I've never seen my children or grandchildren mingle like this before, it makes me happy to see them thrive...

Opera: You're so silly..

Anura: I want to see a wedding one day..

Opera: Don't count on things this early...

Anura: I know-
 

???: Hey! A party of newcomers?

A uncannily familiar looking proxy peeks her head in.

You feel your spine shiver, Mar's tiled dress rattling on sight.

???: They look like adventurers...

Opera slides a hand under her coat.

Anura taps her shoulder, convincing her to relax her grip without a word.

???: Are you hear to help the town out?

Dither: More than likely, this is-

You immediately step up and introduce yourself.

Charon: Charon Judgment.. and you are-

???:.... Rook Rosca. I um-

Dither: Rescue from not too long ago, local cult were quite fixated on her for a good time.

Rosca: The folks here have been nothing but kind..

She tilts her head at Opera.

Opera: You got something to say to me.

Rosca: Have a big favor to ask, I think I saw a few folks break in.

Dither: How exactly?

Rosca Flew in, large one carrying the others out. Big, mechanical, one eye, long neck-

Charon: Where is he.

Dither: Do you know something about this-

Rosca: I can take you now just-

Your body suddenly turns around with a unnatural whip anticipation, the hot mechanical sound sparking and giving you only mere seconds to work with.

A blast coming from the arm cannon of the fabled construct, you flick your blade directly toward it with a upward swing before winding it back into the ground.

The dirt beneath you is kicked up, a rumble made across town. The force of the attack was successfully nullified but not without starting a fuss. THe local folks panicked. Your eyes meet with your would-be assassin..

You stand with your guard raised and Rosca practically clinging to you.

Charon: Brassman-!

Another shot, a repeat from before. Mar's sharp edges lift up, ready to strike if follow up is made.
 

Brassman: Wasn't aiming at you, make way before I do.

You shake your head at him.

There's a assistant next to him, a cowled up witch in black and white robes.

???: You really shouldn't antagonize-

Brassman: When he scoots or he drops I'll stop.

???: He killed you last time.

Brassman: Kid got lucky, probably was his first time. You ever killed a man before me?

Charon:... No.

Brassman: See? Couldn't do it on purpose either-

???: He is a decade older, he absolutely can do it on purpose.

Brassman: If he could've he'd shot back, yeah?

???: You're among a crowd, doubt it. Got leverage.

Brassman: You thinking what I'm thinking Wood?

???: You've got this in the bag.

Brassman: Hostage situation's just a test to see how committed a man is. So? Weapon down if you don't want me to turn this town into a parking lot.

You lower your blade and start walking up to him slowly.

Brassman: You wanna get personal?

Charon: Only way to make this right.

Brassman: You're stupid, know that? You're not getting off easy. I'm gonna you-

Charon: You won't.

Brassman: Big mouth.

He raises his gun.

Brassman: Gonna kill yur friends, your family, everyone I love-

Wood: W-wait, no I'm right here!

Brassman: Dude shut the fuck up

Wood: You said everyone you love!

Brassman: I don't like you like that.

Wood: Alright.

Brassman: Everyone you love, I love, myself, and then you-

Wood: Wait why yourself?

Brassman: So he doesn't get catharsis.

Wood: So you're expecting to lose??

Brassman: No!

Wood: How can you kill him if he's already dead-

Brassman: Shut up, alright? Let me have this.

Wood: Gotcha.

The large winged construct stares you down, his peanut gallery scooting out of the way as a precaution.

Brassman: I am going to shoot everyone you love and then everyone I love and then myself and then you in that order. Got that written down?

Charon: I'll remember just fine.

Brassman: Unless you wanna go quietly, then I'll gut you first and you'll just have to hope I'm not up to the rest.

You drop the sword, down to just your firsts.

Brassman: Balls on you-

Charon: Take the shot.

Suddenly the construct's arm is instantly demolished, Cannon violently rupturing and knocking his ally into the concrete

Wood: Jesus fuck-

Charon: Again.

Another blast, Brassman's entire knee shattered.

You grab the construct by the side of his face and lift him high for everyone to see.

Brassman: W-hat did you-

His eyes rapidly shifting until they fixate on Opera behind you.

The smoking gun in her hand.

Opera: You asked for a killing, I just played my part.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

CW: Death, Violence

Brassman: Cheap move kid, really didn't have the guts today?

He no longer squirms or fights as you hold him for all to see.

The crowd watches in complete silence.

Opera focuses her aim on Wood who's more than playing possum for the crowd.

Brassman: Well at least finish the job, know you got that in you. Saw what you did to a few of our guys earlier.

Charon: It's never my first choice-

Brassman: Bullshit, take me out back right now.

You turn toward Dither and give him a nod.

Charon: Opera, you mind handling things here? Feel like we gotta press for info.

Opera: Trust me I'm more than prepped.

You drag the crumpled construct through the dirt toward the main gate, Cero standing there to give you a little nod.

Charon: You mind watching? Just..

Cero: I'll keep you safe, what you do from here is your call.

You return the nod.

The gates close behind you. Cero gives you a gesture to continue.

Brassman: So what's it gonna be? You got no reason to spare me.

Charon: I don't.

Brassman: You let me go and I'm coming back with more heat.

Charon: Mm...

Brassman: So? Hurry up.

Charon: I want to make a contract.

Brassman:... What?

Charon: With you-

Brassman: What would you even want from me? I've got shit to offer you.

Charon: Your body, your components. I know what kind of tech you're loaded up with.

Brassman: You want my core.

Charon: I do.

Brassman: That's tech straight from the underbelly, folks who touch that don't see god you know. What in the world are you planning?

Charon: Something you won't get to see... but I'll make it up for you plenty.

Brassman: Yeah? How's that?

Charon: You're the first time I've ever taken up the blade and walked out of the room with one man less on this world. Taking someone's life twice is a special kind of cruel.

You pull a lance from your cloak.

Charon: So perhaps a light compensation. You allow me this and I'll promise you a kinder world in the next life.

Brassman: You don't got that kind of power-

You state him straight in the eye.

Brassman:... Ah shit you're serious.

He gives you a sour laugh.

Brassman: You got the same face but that kid's long gone huh? Whatever's behind those eyes ain't human anymore. I don't make bargains with the devil like that.

Charon: Mm..

Brassman: So what's the point of all this? Guilt? A bit of a show for your new friends?

Charon: A second chance that counts.

Brassman: Alright, explain.

Charon: If you were to be revived by other means-

Brassman: I'd still be a threat. But if I sign you'd be cutting me from the picture, yeah? No chance of me causing you problems.

Charon: Mm.. I'll make it worth it for you.

Brassman: ... got nothing better going on anyway. Don't tend to fuck with that but.. bring it.

There's a cold a flicker, a chilling spark through every nerve between the two of you.

Brassman: That feels weird...

Charon: You have any preferences?

Brassman: I don't care if you need a bouncer or mole, just hook me up with a good job that sticks.

You give him a little nod. He grabs your shoulder with his remaining arm.

Brassman: Give me your worst-

It was painless, one swift thrust of your thumb through his neck and he goes limp instantly.

Ever fold of your cloak quivers as you watch the life vanish from his face.

And then a long quiet before it's finally broken.

Cero:.. You need help?

Charon: Mm...

Cero: Know it's tough doing that, most folks aren't built to be executioner.

Charon: No... suppose no.

He gives you a pat on the shoulder.

Cero: I'll scrap what I can and then bury what's rest proper, you go back inside with your friends, alright?

Charon: Mm...

He opens the gate for you, waving as you step back through.

Cero: You're a bit soft for this still.

Charon: I know.

Cero: I think that's what these folks need right now though.

Charon: Mm..

Cero: Good luck dude.

The Other World that Hates You
Masa Con Papas

 

The Little Town That Loves You
[Chapter Epilogue]
CW: Violence
Perspective: Charon M. Judgment

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Charon: You waiting for me?

Rosca: Mmhmm! I wanted to thank you for earlier... you protected me.

Charon: Of course..

Rosca: I'm not sure if you remember me all that well but-

Charon: I do, pretty often.

Rosca: ...They're not exactly good memories. I'm surprised you stepped in for me there...

Charon: It was the right thing to do in the moment, nothing more to it than that...

Rosca: Mm...

She looks over behind you, seeing Mar hovering over.

Rosca: Is that-

Charon: Rook? Aye..

Mar: One of us at least...

Rosca: So pretty...

Mar did a little playful bow.

Rosca: You both ended up so much more than I did..

Charon: Mm, now we're more than caught up.. how long has it been on your end?

Rosca: Two years? So... I guess I'm about at the same place as Opera. Yours?

Charon: Around a decade, give or take. 24.

Rosca: About when they froze us..

Charon: Mm..

Rosca: I'm sorry for everything, I-

Charon: You were a victim of circumstance, what walked around with your face was never you and is long gone..

Rosca: It doesn't feel that way... I still could see everything, feel everything. Even if our body wasn't under our control, I can remember everything she did back then..

Rosca: We were weak for losing, for getting locked up in the first place. For my Charon to lose her mind and for me to just be a extra set of hands in all of that..

Rosca: I'm all that's left... I still have her face while her body's stuck in a hole without a voice forever... I thought you were her so I sent out a signal hoping she'd find me.

Charon: The call..

Rosca: Mmhmm.. I guess it was just you though.

She pauses for a moment before looking embarrassed.

Rosca: That sounded so rude...

Mar: We got what you meant.

Rosca: Still..

Mar steps in and grabs the other proxy's hand.

Mar: It's okay.

She gives the two of you a quiet nod.

Mar: You're one of us, if you need help getting out of here then we'll do what we can..

Rosca: Mm...

She gives Mar's hand a squeeze.

Charon: Are things okay? Here with Opera and all-

Rosca: She went and wrangled down Wood with some help from the others, we can check in on her in a bit. Don't think she feels too comfortable around me.. Paige said he'd put a good word in but... she looks just like my old operator. I have her face..

Mar offered a hug, having it returned without hesitation.

Rosca: It's hard to look at myself anymore without thinking about her, I feel ruined..

Mar: I know...

Rosca: Don't say that..

Mar: Roses turned to shrapnel, body cracked with the scars of time...

Rosca: ...it feels so warm even with every jagged edge...

Mar: I'll never be as strong as I was back in that point in time again..

Rosca: Because you've only become more since then..

Mar: And so have you...

Mar: You're free now to do whatever you want with your life from here on out..

Rosca: And yet I'm lost...

Mar: And soon to be found. Charon?

Charon: If you'd like to come back with us, we're more than willing to house you..

Rosca: I... you really would be okay with that? After everything?

Charon: I've made my peace with plenty who've done me worse this week, only fair.

Rosca:.. What do you mean?

She pulls back from Mar.

Rosca: Something bad is happening?

Charon: Only if we don't stop it. It's.. a bit of a long story.

Rosca: I guess if you're in this world it can only mean... you're alive, right? Like you didn't-

Charon: Not yet.

Rosca: Okay, it'd be horrid to find out ya'll didn't make it out okay after everything..

She pauses, looking up and eyes widening.

Rosca: Oh.. we're really close to another pocket..

You follow her gaze and-

It's Plaza? Multiple towers much like Styx's castle phase through the sky into it.

Charon: What's happening there?

Rosca: Different pockets of reality tend to touch briefly, makes it possible for entities to interact between worlds if someone picks up the signal but... this is the closest I've seen one since the incident... those towers though aren't like the usual ones that you see..

Rosca: They're harvesters.. someone is looking to scoop up everything worthwhile here..

Charon: We need to kill those things now, I need to grab Opera and-

Rosca: There's no time, both worlds are about to destabilize in a matter of hours.
By the end of the week things will shift beyond recognition and yet nobody will have noticed.

Rosca: It'll be as if it was always that way..
 

---

The Admiration of Many
[The Deconstruction of Plaza]
Perspective Character: Styx

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Styx: It's me... 

Hickory: What do you mean?

Styx: She's everything I could've been in a kinder world dragged down by a harsher one.

You pull the husk in close for a tight hug. 

Styx: And for the first time in lord knows how long she's managed a freedom she's never known... 

Hickory: Only cause shit's imploding from the inside.. 

Styx: Oh? 

Hickory: Whatever plan was intended with her is crashing and burning. Erica called me in to sorta work in the background of things but... couldn't let anyone know shit til we got this far. Little hard to trust for her. 

Platino: Think this whole family's got issues, no offense. 

Styx: Nobody here to take any but..  

You shake your head. 

Styx: It's all off script. None of it';s supposed to be playing out this way I think.. 

Platino: What makes you say that-

Hickory: He's right I think. We're dealing with the type of weirdo who's got big scope but no actual endgame in mind. She's made a crashout everyone else's problem and I think whatever her goals were... nah it's not going right. 

Platino: So the heist-

Hickory: Distraction. Auction was probably real at some point but some stuff's going on in the back-

Platino: Chance of a insider? Like... we got someone who's feeding us updates and it's clear stuff's scuffed. Zana's meeting up with her as we speak-

Hickory: Needle. 

Platino:..Yeah. You two uh-

Hickory: Bucket's saboteur has tabs on her-

Platino: Wait who-

Styx: Rosario. 

Platino:.. Is *that* why she's here? I assumed she like... I dunno, was just kinda chilling? 

Styx: If you noticed her acting up she wouldn't be very good at her job. Her and Mercury have-

Hickory: Been buddy-buddy? Yeah. I'm gonna keep it short, it's all a family doing fucked up espionage on each other at this point. Everyone's sorta in camps and pockets right now. 

Platino: If you'd be kind enough to clarify further-

Hickory: Easy. 

Hickory: Bucket was put in charge of a job by Erica in a trade of favors. They brought in a few recommended folk: Mercury who's a close colleague, Rosario who's job is to quietly look for funny business and intervene, Opera who's here cause she has personal stakes, Geezer who on notification he'd be here she was more than happy to approve recruiting, and Fenton who's been in touch with Opera as a tech role. 

Hickory: You, Zana, and Charon? All kinda accidents. Wild cards in all this, hardest to keep tabs on. 

Hickory: I'm kinda between people right now. Erica pulled me aside in advance out of fears and all that. Like-wise, Bucket doesn't trust Ali like that so Rosario and I have been in cahoots. Mercury uh... I dunno. She's in a weird spot where she might actually *not* know enough. 

Hickory: Needle and Mission are also kind of wild cards in this, accidents. Hard to trust either personally but if you can vouch on your friend than I can do that much. Mission? I dunno... 

Styx: She came for help, worried Ali's about to cross a bridge she can't walk back. 

Hickory: Has me more worried when you put it like that. Speaking of wild cards-

Styx: Recent development. I was dead until a few days ago and I'm not quite certain I'm alive right now so-

Hickory: And the husk, her being you-

Styx: I... it's a lot to explain. 

Hickory: You got time. 

Styx: Every once in awhile I bump into a client who's awfully familiar, myself.  Charon is the most recent of these. When i became a entity I gave up my physicality and mortal form but... my body continued to have many lives without me. 

Hickory: I don't get it-

Platino: The Soul doesn't get to move on with the body.... 

Styx:.. If I'm correct, then yes. Charon is one of these and in that case-

Hickory: Husk is a Opera though? Like I know they're connected and all but-

Styx: The Operas are the intended incarnation were my soul to have moved in as expected. Charon is the body that remains... 

You find yourself giving the husk enough of a squeeze to cause her to bite you, making you immediately pull away

Platino: Doesn't seem like it likes you all that much. 

Styx: Because even now she sees the potential worst of herself in me... 

Platino: Pretty sure you just need to give the cat some space... 

Hickory: Think she just can smell the intentions, no go on letting you have her like that. 

Styx: Why would I-

Hickory: Body that doesn't age, can't be killed? All that power? Nobody likes a opportunist. 

You start going down on your knees, Plat and Hick both giving you a look. 

Platino: If you apologize I'm walking out right now. 

Styx: Not to either of you...

Platino: To who? The body? 

Sytx: I... yes but-

Hickory: You're not getting more than a growl I think. I'd just back off...

Styx: I understand I have a lot to atone for. While Charon is away I have to make due and assure everyone my intentions are not to harm-

Hickory: Why don't we go outside for a bit, yeah? Platino, you mind watching the cat for me? 

He gives the two of you a playful little gesture. 

You get up to your feet, Hickory, leading toward the doorway of the warehouse. 

Styx: What is it? 

Hickory: I need you to do one thing right now: Muscle. You got all that entity magic at the tip of your fingers, right? 

Styx: It's not much but.. enough. 

Hickory: We gotta get this cat back home quick, fill in the others, gameplan. Right now we're seeing a clusterfuck try and resolve by any means and I'm not happy. Not me, not any of our friends, not a single person who put money into playing the worst game of espionage. Keep things simple for now, figure it out once we know what's going on for sure. If Ali is making a move, its some sink the island with her shit potentially. Nobody's taking her side like that if Mission's coming to us but think we need to be careful how we fill in the others-

You're both suddenly cut off. 

Bern: Think everyone should know a bit, nah? 

You immediately fixate a harsh stare at her. 

Styx: How long have you been listening in?

Bern: Me? Enough. I want in on this, need that fucker to go down. 

Styx: You have a personal vendetta?

Bern: Nah, just hate her type. I don't think Buck's willing to be the one to burn it down. Good folk but compromised, you know?

Hickory: Yeah... 

Styx:... What do you mean? 

Hickory: Mentioned they were on Ali's payroll. 

Styx: They wouldn't-

Bern: They're prepping others to do it cause Ali funds a lot of their anti-cult efforts. This whole thing's a candidacy. And well?

She pushes a finger up to your nose. 

Bern: I think they're banking on you my guy. Geezer's got the guts and prep but he's "too honest." Zana's plenty capable but they don't feel all that confident that she'll be able to pull the trigger when it matters. 

Styx: No offense but that's a rancid way to look at people-

Bern: You rank them all the time, nah? Entity and all that? Bet you're gauging me right now. My potential, my usability as a host, how much I can spready your name so you've got more sway on the world-

Hickory: If he's a piece of Charon he's got higher standards than that. 

Bern: Alright.

Bern holds out her hand toward you. 

Bern: My body and mind for however long it takes to take Ali down, longer if you manage to pull it off. All my knowledge and secrets, so many things Bucket won't say that'd make this job a lot easier. Your friends would think you're a hero, you'd have a permanent host-

Hickory: Politely fuck off-

Bern: I can see you really considering it-

You backhand the kid with full force, a genuine look of shock across her face. 

Styx: To insult me is one thing. To hold me for my past, to remind me of all my mistakes I've taken glee in, you're more than merited that. This is cruelty. My kind is filled with casual emotions, impulses, and addictions that someone like you can only begin to picture at your lowest points. 

Bern: You fucking hit me-

Styx: I could go a second round.

Bern:... I think I get why you're the favorite right now. Just figured it was cause you're their kid-

Styx: I am the child of a village, not a nameless parent who couldn't find the time to face me directly once in my life. They found plenty of room to have late night conversations with Erica thinking we were asleep. They left me speculating for decades, thinking that perhaps if I were to take up this mantle there'd be a chance we could reunite. I could find out what ails them so much that they have to hide. I could fix this broken mess of a family that has nobody else to blame for being this way. And you-


You flick your wrist at her, Bern crumpling to her knees immediately on trying to block. 

Her breathing becomes heavy.

Bern: The fuck dude?!

Styx: Your whole body is a mass of moving sparks and energies going across. Your nerves, heart, and lungs all are in constant motion. One little wrench in the machine is life ruining and I have many to go around. The boy you're praying to do your work for has already surpassed me twice over. In another five years there will be nothing left to teach him. In ten, you've made a monster you cannot overcome. 

Another flick, able to get back on her feet.

Styx: When he returns you'll have left him with a wound to fixate on for the rest of his life-

Hickory: Hey, need you to relax. 

You can feel the bird grabbing your sleeve. 

Hickory: I know this is a lot for you. Friends you thought were gone, coming back to life at the hardest point you can, not knowing how real any of it is or was.. and god knows both of you had a lot of rough feelings around the cat in bob. 

You give them a nod, taking a moment to breath in. 

Hickory: And uh.. kid? Guess I never accounted for you. 

Bern: Bern. 

Hickory: You want in on this? Gonna need you to keep it hush and mellow the fuck out. Don't know what kind of shit Bucket's been teaching you and all but-

Bern: I get it. 

Hickory: You walked away with your life, don't fuck around like that. Now let's go back in there and fill Platino in, yeah? 

Bern: Alright.. 

She gives you one last look. 

Bern: So what are we? Brother and Sister? Sister and sister? 

Styx: Cousins, back off. 

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You took a moment to breath in after the brief heightened tension in the room

Platino gestured over to you as soon as you looked over his way. 

Styx: Mm?

Platino: I got feedback from Manzana. Relayed everything her way. 

Styx: And thoughts are? 

Platino: Worried. Her and needle wanna meet back up with us near the mall. Figures a public place like that makes it hard to start shit without getting security to drop you. 

Styx: We can hurry on over, need someone to take the husk to safety... 

Platino: I mean.. you're a entity, yeah? Don't you got one of those hammer spaces-

Bern: You wanna trust a entity with a body that can't die? 

Platino: You rather carry it back alone? 

Bern: Maybe. 

Styx: I can't blame you if I'm honest-

Hickory: It's the lowest risk option to pocket it away for now. Nobody's gonna break in easy.

Bern: I guess.... I dunno though, this one's got a history.

Hickory: Mmhmm. I've got more direct experience with him than either of you. I'm willing to take the fall if he pulls something stupid. 

Bern: If he claims it he might just get Charon's body killed and then run off, and at that point-

Hickory: Give me some credit, I can protect him fine. I vote we let Styx keep it in the castle for now. Plat? 

Platino: I can keep him checked.. no offense-

Styx: None taken, I fully understand. 

Hickory: So... I think we got him. Yeah? 

Bern: I guess.. 

Hickory made his way over to you slowly. 

Styx: You really trust me so? I'm a little surprised after everything... 

Hickory: If you're really a part of Charon, I want to trust you. Don't make me look like a idiot, yeah? Me, plat, Bern-

Bern: If he flakes on us I called it-

Hickory: Let me finish, yeah? 

He was close enough to whisper into your ear. 

Hickory: Not much choice  anyway. 

They continued as quiet as possible. 

Hickory: Pretend to stretch, look over toward the doorway but don't freeze when you see it. 

Styx: You really-

Hickory: Stay casual. 

You work yourself up to a little yawn, head tilting and rotating around and-




You've been found. 

Play it by the ear.

Styx: Hickory, you have something upstairs, yes? 

Hickory: I might in fact.

Styx: You carry her with us then, the others and I will get things together. 

Bern: You been hiding something? What-

Hickory: I'll show you as soon as we get it moved and unpacked, Bucket might want in on this. 

Platino: Just roll with it kid, think I got a idea anyway but we gotta be quick. 

Bern kicked the ground below her in frustration before nodding along. 

Hickory scooped up the husk and lead toward the warehouse attic, giving a overview of below through the metal screened floor.

Hickory: Lock the door..

You followed along and gave him a little nod. 

Bern: There's nothing here dude, what's up-

Hickory: We're being stalked by cultists. 

Bern: That's broad, you talking from the mainland in Taverne or-

Styx: Extradimensional, the ones that made the husk. 

Bern: I thought you guys killed them or something-?

Styx: Not entirely, not uncommon for a few stragglers to spin off as a branch. 

Platino: When you've got their holy grail being advertised in a auction they're gonna show on the island.. 

Hickory: Mmhmm. Looked like one of the Grimace units. 

Bern: You mean like-

Hickory: Nah. less scary than that. Fiend bodies cloned with the minds of enforcers who've shown their teeth. Called it the Dorado project, out cat buddy here was sort of their endgame- what are you doing dude?

Platino had gotten down on down on all fours, face pressed against the metal screen. 

Platino: Ah shit, I know these things. 

Hickory: Mm? 

Platino: A few bodies like these, very little variation physically and genetically identical. Fiend, Faux-Spider type. Infectious category, they were something I had seen behind the scenes. Discovered in a expedition, some sort of lost tech vessel for lost souls allegedly. 

Hickory: So you're familiar. 

Platino: Yeah. Little deviations in face, capable of entity-like contracting, any attempt to plug someone in gave them a urge to infect and spread a bit. Sometimes docile, sometimes hostile. All 5 units we got our hands on were female and-

Hickory: Female? 

Platino: Yeah. Something wrong? 

Hickory: All units besides the Husk were male. 

Bern: Why does that matter-

Platino: Were they always all male?

Hickory: Yeah, all of them. It was like, some sort of chess thing they had going. I figured- ah fuck. Styx? 

Styx: They did look a bit different from the old ones...

Bern: Did Ali-

Platino: Nah, they were stored and deemed a failure. Reverse engineering the husk took priority.

Hickory: These are new then. 

Platino: Guess so? Couldn't trace the gene sample to anything current. 

Hickory: Because whoever got the sample used for those bodies isn't from this time or place. Sampling is a whole market. 

Styx: Mm... the material is of our time and place but the methods are decades away. Heed caution.

Hickory: In that case, pocket the cat. I don't wanna take any risks here.

Styx: You're really so certain-

Hickory: Now. 

Hickory dropped the husk's body onto the floor. The reactive hiss caused you to flinch. 

Just do your job..

With a little gesture and flick of the wrist, a diamond shaped tear formed underneath and pulled the husk inside with no trace left behind. 

Hickory: Styx and I are gonna go down and handle them, you two keep watch and make noise if something happens. Yeah? 

Platino: Yeah, you two stay safe. 

Hickory: We'll do our best. If we fall-

Bern: Get to the others? 

Hickory: Yeah.  

The bird made their way to the door. They turned their head toward you. 

Hickory: Like old times, yeah? 

Styx: Little too much... it's good to see you again. 

Hickory: Same here.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

[image description: Styx in the body of Charon grabbing the borders of a comic panel and crumpling it in on itself. On the otherside of there's a artificial fiend, back pressed to the wall as it bends and cracks.]

As you prepped to bust through, the rattling of stairs and caged metal floors caused you and Hickory to practically freeze up instantly. 

You slowly walked up to the door and placed your ear against it quietly.

You heard hard breathing, something between a sickly giggle and anticipatory anxiety.

Your body freezes. 

Hickory: What's wrong? 

Styx: Other side. 

Hickory: What?

You gave the bird a wordless gesture, a returned stretch of the neck toward the door. 

Hickory: Plan? 

You held up one finger in response, on your mark. 

If it knew you where there, all you could do is check its intimidation tactics. 

Styx: I can see you. 

The breathing became a strained effort to try to stay quiet. 

Styx: You're scared. Interesting. Were you there the day that tower fell? 

???: You're not actually him, are you? 

Styx: I'm something made much worse with time. Do you have business with me?

???: The vessel, hand it over. 

Styx: You can come get it anytime you'd like, but I'm not giving it up so easy. You're not one of the originals I don't think, a new flavor of delusion-

???: You're dangerously close to the door-

Styx: I'm still talking, pipe down-

???: Think you're hot shit? 

A hard, loud slam on the door.

Styx: Hottest under the killing moon. You? 

Another thud. 

Styx: Nothing to say for yourself? Interesting. 

You place your plan flat on the door, with a sleight of hand the entire frame thickens like a concrete pillar. 

Another attempted strike, this time with less of a impact. 

Styx: Feel that?

???: What'd you do?

Another blow with a pathetic noise.

Styx: Made the gap between us a little more apparent. You like it? Where's your friend right now? Maybe the two of you could break through if you tried hard enough.

???:  What did you do just now?

Styx: Mm, tell me what you see on your end. 

???: Where did the exit go?! 

Styx: Trapped, are we? 

You can't help but make a sadistic little grin. 

Hickory visibly shuddered.

Styx: Right now you're trapped in my domain, and it's a very volatile one. 

???: Did you move us or-

Styx: I've simply made the nature of your reality clear for you to see. A peon with no future, trapped by the boundaries of a narrative you have no control over. 

???: I don't understand-

Styx: Your existence is meaningless in the grander scope, you breath for the purpose of being a setpiece for someone more ambitious than yourself. 

???: You're a fucking coward! Open this door!

Styx: All that time kissing up, throwing away your individuality for a imitation body... you can't even reach me. 

???: You ever stop talking?!

Styx: Never. You want out? Play ball. 

???:... What do you want from me? 

Styx: You're going to get rid of that disgusting bastardization of my kind, go home, and never go near the house of any living saint or prophet again. 

???: Bastardization? 

Styx: That vessel of yours, I don't want to see that face on you ever again-

???: You realize how much you're asking for?

Styx: Well that depends on your rank, no? I'm sure if you've gotten as far as to have your flesh upgraded that you've the status to return to factory settings-

???: There's nothing to return to! 

Styx: Oh? 

???: The old body gets torched in the ritual! There's nothing left! You are killing me!

Styx: I can give you a little flexibility on a deadline, perhaps work our a bargain-

???: You really are the devil, yeah? 

Styx: Not in the way you think, easy misconception. 

???: What kind of bargain would that even require-

Styx: Give it to me, I'll make much better use of it than you ever could. 

???: You're a degenerate.

Styx: On the side sometimes-

???: A pervert mutt with radiation poisoning. 

Styx: I-

???: Just kill me you freak, make it quick-

Your hands dig into the wall and shake the room with full force, a scream coming from the other side. 

Styx: Sounds like you saw something you didn't like. 

???: You really aren't him... the Boy Ferryman.

Styx: Like I said, I'm so much worse.

???: ...Why do you want our Husk so bad? She'd already been taken away before- I can't come home without her! They'll take my rank, all my time and effort and-

Styx: Because she never belonged to you in the first place... I get the sense you folk have done harm to more fiend since last time we've met. Who's in charge these days? 

???: Why does it matter? 

Styx: Because I'm going to kill your church, your god, and everything you hold dear. 

???: I refuse to speak-

You shook it even harder, starting to crumple the wall inward like a soda can.

Styx: I want to know everything, and one way or another I'm going to find out. 

???: Just pull the trigger then cause I-

Styx: If I can't get it out of you alive, I'll be more than able to pry that info from your corpse. I'm simply offering you a kinder out. 

???: You're bluffing, if you could do that you would've done it!

Styx: Not all of us like growing a body count. 

???:..What do I have to do? 

Styx. I'm inviting you to the negotiation table, we'll figure out something there. So? Step into my office or be crushed by the frame of reality itself?

A long quiet, before you could hear the sound of a doorknob turning. 

Styx: Wise choice.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

[image description: A uncanny suburban neighborhood behind walls, unnatural wires from the sky dangling toward it..]

When you enter your domain, there is no home.

No negotiating table to sit down at.

There is no library, no painstaking collection of artifacts and treasures you've scooped from the many lives and hardships you face. 

All that stands before you is a world desperate for a god, a parody of a suburb mangled with your own, tied by wires that go beyond the clouds. 

The false fiend gives you confused look, but you're just as lost as he is. 

???: Why did you bring me back here? Is it to mock me? Spare me out of pity? Send me back to my lord emptyhanded to face punishment? 

Styx: I don't exactly know what here is if I'm frank.

???: You opened a rift with no clue where it was headed? Hardly living up to your own fables-

Styx: I'm not the man you're looking for, but I'll so much worse if you continue on. What exactly are we looking at here? 

???: A composite of fallen pocket spaces, they have a tendency to pile up when left unmaintained for too long. 

...What happened to your castle? Is it here? Destroyed? Did someone move it? Your contract with Charon is still live and strong, he's absolutely still alive but.... 

Styx: Home? 

???: For only so much longer. Your world is about to cannibalize what's left, the island you and your friends stand on will be reformed as part of a connected mass to this above. A gate to the heavens, so to speak. Manufactured ones-

Styx: What manner of stupid ritual have you all commit to?

???: I simply wish to retrieve the vessel of one of our fallen lords and return it to where it belongs so that we may have a chance to defend against what comes next. You and your group of degenerates standing in our way is only going to make it worse for everyone involved. 

Styx: If reality is breaking like so, I doubt there's much it'd do you good. 

???: You're a tempered fiend, are you not? 

Styx:... Am I? 

???: A fiend who's soul and body have been hardened by extreme conditions, one who's capacity to generate scrap exceeds that of the norm. The standard fiend has a strong knack for shrugging off many of the world's natural endgames, a tempered one-

Styx: Is designed to be able to resist even that of another world outside our own. 

???: The meddling is that of a unnatural nature but one that a body like yours and hers could more than thrive in, swim around without fear. You're hardly ideal as a candidate but-

Styx: You step any closer and I will leave you slit like a holiday dinner.

???: Quick to violence. 

Styx: Hardly unmerited.

???: At the very least, meeting you lets us understand how you can be in two places at once. Right now as we speak, Sir Hyde is commencing siege. There's a mutt of your exact description right now, spilling blood with that crooked looking ladder sword. Have to ask who's really the imitation right now. 

Styx: Shut the fuck up-

As you step forward the false fiend points directly up at the sky above. The coasts of Plaza clear as day look back at you like a reflection in a tide pool. 

Styx: Someone really is merging the island... 

???: You don't have much time I think. You could stay around on this world, extend what you have before it happens. After? Who knows, a fresh hand for everyone or perhaps truly the end. Either way, you will not walk away unscathed.  

He turns his back toward you, making his way to the nearby town. 

Styx: Where are you going? 

???: Home, my findings are going to be important I think. You could cut me down but every minute is of the essence at the moment-

There's a loud rumble, from the distance you can see the top of your castle rumbling across the skyline. 

???: Warn your friends, perhaps you all can escape just in time to avoid what comes next. 

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

As you gaze off to the abyss, signs of struggle become clear. Smoke from a smaller town, towers crumbling. The chains between worlds thick and strangling. 

Your opponent now no longer in sight, having made their way clear.

Warn your friends-

Catrina: Styx!

Your spine chills at the familiar voice.

Catrina: You're here too early you know, fumbled across a mirror or two?
 

You turn toward her, a phantom of your past smiles at you warmly. You're given a little wave.

You can feel your whole body deeply strained, your heart tightening and eyes heavy.

Catrina: You're not going to wave back?

Styx: You're not real, you're not really here

Catrina: I'm not? Then what about you? Who's standing behind another man's eyes? 

Styx: A prisoner of fate, nothing more. 

Catrina: So dramatic... 

Styx: If that really is you I need something, a way to prove that I've yet to go mad and that you're truly here. I need to know where you've gone all this time, why you've abandoned me until the void rotted away any semblance of who I used to be. 

Catrina: I didn't plan for things to be so hard on you-

Styx: You left me alone. My mind broken, my body gone and no idea what I was becoming.  You promised you'd be there once I was free and not *once* had I heard your voice.

Catrina: Styx-

Styx: Why didn't you say anything? Did you know? I... I'd assumed something had happened because ultimately after tall that the idea that you wouldn't give me so much as parting words-

Catrina: Something did happen... 

Styx: Enough to make you go silent this long only to show your face at the most inconvenient time possible. Are you dead? Is this the other side I was never meant to step foot on or- 

Catrina: Dead isn't quite the right way to put it but... That escape came at a great cost, one I did not disclose and for that I've more than given you reason to be upset... 

Styx: ...What do you mean?

Catrina: To help you flee, to mythologize you in a way that'd forever change your homeland without making you a true martyr it forced me to become part of you. Ultimately as a entity my potential hit its wall and you seemed like a infinite well for great change to happen. So... you became my successor whether you wanted to or not... 

Styx: You should have asked.... if I had known this would be the only option I'd take my head on a guillotine instead... 

Catrina: And you would have never been able to do so much more with each life after. 

Styx: And I would have never known the loss of losing my other self time after time no matter what form it took... 

Catrina: But you always reunite.. 

Styx: And then relive the hurt.

Catrina: And likewise I'm there too.. in the eyes of every Proxy you've had a hand it...

Styx: I've yet to see a face come out of my own work...  

Catrina: Because you haven't really truly needed me but... well, you'll see soon enough. 

Styx: Please don't be cryptid right now, I've the weight of many standing on my shoulders right now and I don't think I have much time to resolve all of it. 

Catrina: Right, sorry.. I do have a few things I do need to talk to you about while we have the chance. This world will link you to what you've lost... 

Styx: That does check out... 

Catrina: and... at the very least it seems your most current client is about to be locked into a path he cannot escape from.

Styx: Oh? What does that mean exactly? 

Catrina: Despite their lack of blood, they share a common soul. 

Styx: The Judgments? 

Catrina: Mm... and when you have so many with the capacity to force change resonating in the same local... I can't help but worry for them. 

Catrina: Can you not see yourself in them all a little? 

Styx: I wouldn't deny there's a feeling that's had me bothered.. 

Catrina: And the wanderer? She does not belong here at all, a wrench in the threads.

Styx: Opera? 

Catrina: She's inherently dangerous for her capacity to jump between realities on a whim, no? That proxy of hers feigns the mark of the feeble. 

Styx: I don't think after what she's been through that she wants wide attention frankly.. 

Catrina: I'd like to show you something, the world you cannot change just yet. 

Styx:.. I'm listening. 

She makes a diamond with her fingers, before expanding until a large tear appears much like a ghostly looking glass. 

Ali approaches the safehouse with a big pipe, Mission at the entrance with a strained look. 

Before any real conversation can start, Geezer scoots Mission out of the way and approaches with his posture high. There is no hint of fear on his fac. 

Styx: She's taking a direct approach....? 

Catrina: When plans fall apart you improvise, bring it down in the most spectacular way. She has no husk, the auction plans are seemingly in disarray, there are more players active than she could've anticipated. 

Catrina: She's not a genius or master planner, she's emotionally volatile and what she wants is seemingly still unclear. Any veil of cunning left is thin. All she's done is place every piece needed for a disaster to happen in the same room and given those with worse intentions the tools to take advantage. You are in a world that despises you for being here, run by what's left of those who should never exist again. 

Catrina: She is planning to merge them, what happens next is a scramble for a land grab of the new world's cooking up. 

Styx: We have to return then, no-?

Catrina: One of you does. The other has to remaining in the collapsing pocket that's being merged into the region as we speak. 

Styx: I should send him back then, my odds up here are far better-

Catrina: That's not on you either. He's declined my offer, him and his friends who've committed to joining his fight. 

Styx: He's hardly had time to experience the wilds, I don't know if he'll keep up-

Catrina: He is a extension of yourself, no? 

Styx: The life I never was born into-

Catrina: He is his own spirit, bonded to you or not. And at some point you had to fight those same battles. 

She teasingly pokes your cheek. 

Catrina: The title of Styx is one I trusted you with, and despite how much you've soured my true name... I still do. 

Styx: I-

Catrina: And perhaps one day you'll be the same, no? A phantom who's entrusted your name to another. 

Styx:.... There's no way out of what happens next is there? 

Catrina: Close your eyes tight. 

Styx: You're going to send me back, this truly is about to be my last life isn't it-

Catrina: Picture the world you want to be a part of.

Styx: I don't like where this is going, you truly are gone-

Catrina: Relax... 

Styx: I don't understand any of this anymore, please-
 

---

The Admiration She Always Wanted
[The Deconstruction of Plaza Part 2]
Perspective Character: Styx

Hickory: Hey, you alright dude? 

Hickory: You vanished on me dude... 

Platino: Is he crying? 

Hickory: Yeah Just uh-

Platino: Give him some space for a sec. 

Bern: Where'd the other cultist go? Platino: Just take a sec to breathe, you're gonna be fine. We're gonna take everyone back home, things will be fine.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

---

The Tin Soldier
[Reflection Toward the Future]
Perspective Character: Charon


A Memory: The Light Fades from Your Eyes a little more each time her Proxy cuts you down...

[image description:  A phantom knight with a large blade menacingly looms over, behind her a tower with its ceiling collapsed exposes a large menacing moon. The colors are vibrant and surreal against a haunting night sky.]

You've finished your buisness with a formal rival.

Now that you've had a moment to take a breather from it, you make quick haste to catch up with your colleagues. You can't find Anura around, nor your new ally from earlier but you recognize your friend taking a break on a bench.

Charon: Opera!

You wave out to her, she returns it with high spirits.

Opera: Hey! Got things all covered here. Haven't been here for a full day and shit's already been crazy... 

Charon: Mm... where's the other guy? 

Opera: One of the locals set up a space to keep 'em on hold. Didn't really put up any sort of fight once the big guy went down... you uh..

Charon: Yeah... 

Opera: You gonna be okay? 

Charon: Much as I can be. At least two fatalities since I've gotten here. 

Opera: Nature of the job. 

Charon: Doesn't make it any easier. 

Opera: Yeah well... if you need a hug or something-

Charon: In a bit. The other Rook, you talk to her at all? 

Opera: Yeah she- oh there she is-!

You're immediately surprised with a hug from the cat-like proxy.

You nearly yell. And with that said..

Despite her uncanny nature, you can't feel any hostility from her. Quite warm actually...

Charon: I was just asking about you... 

Rosca: I know! I owe you guys a lot, for real. Opera-

Opera: I'll pass til I know what your deal is. You uh... look a lot like someone we know. 

Rosca: I mean you obviously.. you guys got your proxies on you still? 

Charon: Mm... no idea where it wandered off.. 

Opera: Yep, just one sec uh-

Paige poked his head out from the sheet resting on Opera's shoulder, giving the other proxy a bit of the side eye. 

Rosca: Is this normal or-

Opera: Yeah actually, does that just to fuck with people.. so you're-

Rosca: Part of the "husk". Was at least.... 

Charon: You look different.

Rosca: Same with both of you really..  I... have a lot of feelings about the whole thing. 

Opera: Yeah.. if the cult's still targeting you then we gotta have some common ground, yeah? 

Rosca: Mm... still. I know it's like... it's a lot?

Charon: You weren't the one who-

Rosca: Wait! Let me finish before you go all Mr. Hero, yeah? 

Charon: Pardon me then, continue. 

Rosca: Still so polite after everything...  I guess first off I'm not really happy with the fact that anybody was hurt. Doesn't matter if I wasn't the one calling shots, it's still my hands ripping and tearing.. 

She holds up her claws 

Rosca: Enough that I still look like her... I'm barely a rook at this point, I'm just what's left.. 

Opera: So you're separate from the rest completely or-

Rosca: No, still linked to our old body but can't do anything. I can see and feel everything from this world and yours... 

Opera: ....You know where you're at? We've been trying to track it down and-

Rosca: Scooped up, been in a hell pit all month til now. Can't tell if was a lab or a warehouse but first time I've seen light in a good while.. 

Opera: Someone... stole you?

Charon: One of ours? 

Rosca: Two people. Weird mickey mouse looking weirdo and her bird friend. Wearing a mask or something like that.. might be a helmet? I dunno.. 

Charon:... Was there a name or-

Rosca: Hick or something, the bird I think?

Opera: Oh shit he's here.... 

Rosca: Well, not here but-

Opera: Anything else? You gotta share everything-

Rosca: Mostly Fuzzy. It's hard being too place at once you know... I though guess that's not true for someone here. I

She looks directly at you. 

Rosca: That's not your real body... 

Charon: It's back home, Styx handling things fine. I'm not sure how Im able to really do this-

She immediately grabs your hand and bites it, Opera quick to whip out her gun and take aim. 

Rosca quietly pulls herself away. 

Rosca: I'm not trying to hurt anybody. 

Your friend lowers her pistol, much to the relief of bystanders.

Opera: Explain. 

Rosca: Fiend thing, hard to explain but... there's a operator.

Charon: That would be me, yes-

Rosca: Not this form. What I'm seeing right now is a proxy shaped like you, a king on a chessboard representing you so to speak.

She raises her "nose" for a lack of better word and points toward a tower afar. 

Rosca: That... 

Charon: Castle Styx... 

Rosca: That's where you're really at. That's safety.

Charon: Aye... 

Rosca: Styx took your body, which means he put you somewhere. 

Charon: I'm following.

Opera: You're a proxy, something is the operator that your mind's actually inside of. But Rook's walking around with you.

Rosca: You're using Styx's proxy then as a vessel.. that'd be my best bet anyway. 

Opera: Did he have one of those...?

Charon: He used to have one, haven't seen her since he came back though...

Rosca: Probably been dormant, means you got whatever abilities it has right now. Certainly stronger than you were back then in a few ways...  but still doesn't answer how a proxy body is being projected. Has to be some kind of operator. Maybe his true self..

Charon: And it's in the castle? 

Rosca: Maybe. You seen any tombs, bodies in glass coffins, that sort? 

Charon: Actually yes... 

Rosca: Then something in there is his, that's what's projecting you. As long as that castle's walls are strong, you won't die out here. 

Opera: Immortal... soul?

Rosca: Yeah... 

She tilts her head at you. 

Charon: What are you thinking.

Rosca: Not sure yet. Looking at a few paths..

Opera: Planning things or-

Rosca: Divination type. I got like a natural radar for big things coming. Big part of why we got used for the husk... Can't see the future outright but I can see little threads, inclinations and splits in fate. I'm looking for the one that gets you both out of here..

Opera: Kinda intrusive not gonna lie but... 

Rosca: I know, I just want to help. Know it's probably weird for the two of you though right now.

Charon: Complicated feelings.. 

Opera: Same but I'll get over it. If you're another Paige I'll give you a chance. 

Charon: Probably less of a bastard than he is.. 

Opera: Yeah it's a bit of a shithead sometimes, love him though.

Rosca: I'll do my best, promise. For now... I think we gotta go interrogate that guy.

Opera: Doubt he'll squeal. 

Charon: Probably has a way to self destruct.. 

Rosca: More reason to. Besides, you still got that big ladder sword right? 

Charon: Yeah. 

Rosca: Then you gotta be there most of all.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

[image description:  Opera reacts with a puzzled expression as wood, a cloaked witch, seemingly twists and disolves in a way reminicent of a dead rotting fish.]

The folks in town have held him in a guarded guest room, a towering crystal-like mass of a proxy watching the exit. You and Opera give him a bit of a nod. 

Opera: Rosca, yeah?

Rosca: Mm...

Opera: Gonna ask you to watch gramps for us, think too many people is gonna make any attempt to get this guy to talk harder. Bit of a rule. 

Rosca: Is there? 

Charon: Never heard of this..

Opera: Two are able to lead a interrogation, three becomes a mob and nothing gets done. Whole thing, trust me on this.

Rosca gives you both a nod, a little disappointed but understanding.

Rosca: Gramps... 

You point over to Anura talking with the locals, he turns and gives you a wave.

Rosca: As in Grandpa? He looks too pretty to be that old... 

Charon: Common occurrence, family is incredibly long lived and magical. 

Opera: Honestly I don't mind, do gotta give Erica a visit some time while I'm here though... 

Wood: You killed him, yeah?

The witch looks you directly in the eye. 

You give him a little nod. 

Wood: Stupid asshole had to make a big fuss, couldn't just keep his mouth closed. He's been pissed about you for years, you know? That stupid rat boy, dude got lucky. You know he tried to come back as a fiend cause he wanted a second chance at you?

Charon: I'm sorry he tried to-

Wood: Yeah, a lot of us here are folks that got poofed out of existence cause of you. There was a whole ritual and everything that he set up and he chickened out at the last second. Fiend was made, he wasn't part of it. No idea where that thing ran off to either. You cut down any bugs in the past decade? 

Charon: No, don't think I have.. 

Wood: Bleh. Must've gotten lost. He kicked himself over that. I was half tempted to jump in with him... 

Charon: You people do this willingly...? 

Wood: Fiend bodies are useful, got all sorts of genetic advantage usually. Yours.. I dunno, you're scuffed all sorts though. Not strong, beautiful, just kind of a freak. Bad blend. 

Opera: You got a hell of a mouth on you today. 

Wood: Why not? Gonna die no matter what, right? You want a few words from me, set me up in this cushy ass room to pretend I'm not a prisoner but when you've gone and executed my buddy there... I dunno. Nothing to really promise me, know you won't let me go. Made it clear ya'll would kill me in a heartbeat-

Charon: It was what he wanted.

Wood: Yeah? And he's fuck stupid, why'd you take his ass seriously like that? I ain't telling you shit, if you're try and do some interrogation shit let me talk to one of your friends.

Opera gives you a little gesture. 

You nod and pass things over. 

Opera: I wanna cut to the chase, why were you going after Rosca? 

Wood: The crown proxy? The husk's not complete without her. Immortal doesn't mean shit when you don't got the teeth and claws to back it. 

Opera: And you know about the husk-

Wood: Yeah. Some crazy in your world managed to dig that shit up with a tip from us. Plan was we give her the sauce. She wants her own pocket, her own husk to live there forever, and the gravesite of some old dog that got killed back then-

Charon:  Old dog...?

Wood: Yeah, same stupid little heart on his fit as yours. I guess you're all family, yeah? 

Opera: You got a name?

Wood: Nah, I don't care that much. I'm just a delivery guy, don't care what gets there as long as it does. Tell you what though, she was bawling. 

Opera:... Gabriel. 

Charon: Yeah. 

Wood: Good shit. Either way she screwed the pooch a bit. Found out you could split the husk in two, reproduce it. Decided to do a auction and-

Opera: Wait there's more than one husk-

Wood: If she's a fiend? Yeah. Rare type, can duplicate itself through other cells. Like I said though, auction. Guess she wondered if she could find business partners at the meetup. I know she's managed to split the thing-

The witch gurgles and hisses, every part of his body falling apart in real time. 

Boiling fluids leaking, eyes like the dead, shaking in place and screams foaming. 

Opera: What in god's name....

Wood's body begins to levitate in place. the cat quick to point a gun to his head. 

Words violently start to drag themselves out of his mouth. 

???: Four queens in a deck.

???: One soon to return home.

Rosca...

???: One to claim the crown it was denied.

Ali...

???: One to the highest bidder... 

The whole reason you're here right now. 

???: And that could be yours, if you're willing to play ball. Makes the rest of the journey a bit easier on you. 

Opera: What are you trying to get out of all this? Doing a lot of talking right now. 

???: The tower will arrive soon, many old enemies and former allies with a bone to pick. We are all running out of time, this world needs a champion. Climb to the top, win the gauntlet, and this Rosarium will be more than yours. 

The witch's neck twists unnaturally to lock eyes on you. 

???: See you outside, little trooper.

With parting words the witch collapses, harsh breathing and whines as what's left is twisted and melting. 

It's like before. Nothing but vessels to burn through, bodies as expendable messengers. 

The cat puts a hand on your shoulder.

Charon: Mm...

Opera: You wanna head outside? I can handle this part. 

Charon: Blood on me still hasn't dried. 

Opera: Don't think either of us can afford to go in looking clean right now.

Charon: Just-

Opera: You put that on yourself a lot last time. Go talk to your gramps, fill him and Rosca in on things. Prep folks for things to get messy. 

Charon: You sure-

Opera: It's okay, get some air. 

You give her a firm nod before stepping out, one last pop shattering the tension like splinters in your palms.

The end is coming, all you can do is pray you're part of whatever story comes next.