gourmet-gator

[gourmet-gator]

good timezones, folks. so first off, i am SO sorry for the radio silence pretty much completely from here as well as from my friends over on discord, i can explain.

we had a storm a few days back that apparently fucked up our wifi, and until now it hasn’t been fixed. i also didn’t realize how busy i’d be these couple of weeks, my family was traveling pretty much throughout the whole month and as we speak i’m still unpacking all my stuff from our last trip 😓 i’m going on here on pure shitty mobile data alone to confirm that I’M DOING ALRIGHT! our wifi is yet to be fixed, but i’m doing good, all things considered.

i can’t confirm i’ll be back anytime soon, and i apologize for not being able to tell y’all sooner. i apologize especially for the folks waiting on the ask blog, the wifi went out at the worst possible time and i am so terribly sorry for all the plot holes i’ve accidentally caused 😭

i’ll see you guys when things clear up over here, but for now consider this my unintentional hiatus. hope y’all understand.

see y’all later,

vee

[gourmet-gator]

*Once more, any kind of movement from Kremy stopped at the soft croak of the man’s voice. He didn’t even dare breathe. His expression was now one of shock, as a spark of hope ignited itself once more in Kremy’s being. He furiously wiped at his eyes and looked down.*

*Then that look of exasperating relief morphed immediately back to one of fear and morbid realization.*

*His instincts override his emotions, and he quickly lets go of his friend’s face. He stands and backs away, unconsciously moving slightly in front of Twig as to protect her. He picks up his discarded cane from the grass and holds it tight. His eyes, puffy and slightly bloodshot from crying, somehow manage to look serious and wary.*

*And yet, his heart sings with hope. The hope that he might not be completely gone yet, that he could get Gid back somehow! He just needed to do something, but what?*

*For now he stood a but away from the man, his stance defensive. His mind and heart screamed different answers, but he managed to keep his voice from wavering.*

“…Gid? Is… is any of you still… there..?”

*All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Kremy suddenly felt...perfectly healthy? He hadn't made any progress with a cure, and mere moments ago, he'd been deathly ill, just as expected. But now suddenly, the nausea seemed to leave him, and his skin and flesh felt sturdy once again.*

*But...how?*

*Just as he'd begun to ponder that, he could hear in the distance, muffled by audible enough to be recognized...ominous jazz.*

*No...somebody hadn't...had they?*

*Someone had made a deal with the Baron, for his health...and the poor ringmaster could probably guess who.*

*Kremy had been held up in Twig’s Inn before any of this had happened. He had been helping the brownie how he could, checking up with the other unfortunate souls to get caught up in this mess. He kept a relatively level-headed impression to the other carnies, but dread only seeped further into his mind. The scars and wounds that littered his arms, and the back of his neck, and his palms, had refused to heal, and it was getting harder to hide. And then those damned voices. Their cacophonous echoes of insecurities and paranoia practically deafening him.*

*He still hadn’t even talked to that clown. He was running out of time.*

*He was back in his room to take a breather, standing in front of his window with his arms crossed as he tried to just get his shit together while voices that weren’t his screamed at him. Gods, he could use a smoke right now.*

*The voices just kept getting louder and louder and CAN THEY JUST SHUT UP?*

*…And they did. Kremy blinked.*

“…What the fuck?”

*He had almost jumped at the fact that he was able to hear his own voice and his voice alone. The room was silent for the first time in days. What the fuck just happened? Was he…*

*He looked down at his hands, at the scales that adorned the back of them and the softer flesh that covered his palms. Not a single mark nor blemish. He checked the other parts of his body he had scratched or clawed at from the anxiety and found the same result.*

“What… Wh- how..?”

*And then he felt it. That horrifyingly familiar chill up his spine. A chill that could only be caused by the Baron. But this one, this one was not the type of chill caused by his mere presence. No, this was the type made when someone struck a deal with the man. His gaze snaps back up to the window at that oh so faint yet oh so dreadful sound of ominous jazz. He freezes.*

“…No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-”

*He’s back to moving almost immediately. He grabs his hat and cane and swings open the bedroom door. He rushes through the hallway and down the stairs, calling a rushed apology to Twig as he passes her by.*

“SorryTwigsy,Ineedt’checksomethin’outI’mfeelin’wayfuckin’betterbythewaybutthat’spartoftheproblemsoI’llbeoutforabitBYE-”

*And he was out the door before she could even try to ask a question. He runs as fast as he could towards that music, something he never thought he’d actually do.*

“God damnit, god fuckin’ damnit you fucking idiot FUCK-” *Were the only words one could hear from Kremy when he runs past.*

*It better not be him. It can’t be him. Why would he do this. Oh fuck. Oh shit. Please don’t be too late. Don’t fucking cry.*

[gourmet-gator]

*Kremy couldn’t even respond as sobs wracked his form and he could only look down at his friend. He could only choke out a few words.*

“Twig… I… Gid, he…”

*Another sob interrupted his own words as he realized what he had to say. He didn’t want to. There’s still a chance, it can’t be true! But…*

*His voice was barely above a whisper.*

“H-he… he’s gone.”

*All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Kremy suddenly felt...perfectly healthy? He hadn't made any progress with a cure, and mere moments ago, he'd been deathly ill, just as expected. But now suddenly, the nausea seemed to leave him, and his skin and flesh felt sturdy once again.*

*But...how?*

*Just as he'd begun to ponder that, he could hear in the distance, muffled by audible enough to be recognized...ominous jazz.*

*No...somebody hadn't...had they?*

*Someone had made a deal with the Baron, for his health...and the poor ringmaster could probably guess who.*

*Kremy had been held up in Twig’s Inn before any of this had happened. He had been helping the brownie how he could, checking up with the other unfortunate souls to get caught up in this mess. He kept a relatively level-headed impression to the other carnies, but dread only seeped further into his mind. The scars and wounds that littered his arms, and the back of his neck, and his palms, had refused to heal, and it was getting harder to hide. And then those damned voices. Their cacophonous echoes of insecurities and paranoia practically deafening him.*

*He still hadn’t even talked to that clown. He was running out of time.*

*He was back in his room to take a breather, standing in front of his window with his arms crossed as he tried to just get his shit together while voices that weren’t his screamed at him. Gods, he could use a smoke right now.*

*The voices just kept getting louder and louder and CAN THEY JUST SHUT UP?*

*…And they did. Kremy blinked.*

“…What the fuck?”

*He had almost jumped at the fact that he was able to hear his own voice and his voice alone. The room was silent for the first time in days. What the fuck just happened? Was he…*

*He looked down at his hands, at the scales that adorned the back of them and the softer flesh that covered his palms. Not a single mark nor blemish. He checked the other parts of his body he had scratched or clawed at from the anxiety and found the same result.*

“What… Wh- how..?”

*And then he felt it. That horrifyingly familiar chill up his spine. A chill that could only be caused by the Baron. But this one, this one was not the type of chill caused by his mere presence. No, this was the type made when someone struck a deal with the man. His gaze snaps back up to the window at that oh so faint yet oh so dreadful sound of ominous jazz. He freezes.*

“…No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-”

*He’s back to moving almost immediately. He grabs his hat and cane and swings open the bedroom door. He rushes through the hallway and down the stairs, calling a rushed apology to Twig as he passes her by.*

“SorryTwigsy,Ineedt’checksomethin’outI’mfeelin’wayfuckin’betterbythewaybutthat’spartoftheproblemsoI’llbeoutforabitBYE-”

*And he was out the door before she could even try to ask a question. He runs as fast as he could towards that music, something he never thought he’d actually do.*

“God damnit, god fuckin’ damnit you fucking idiot FUCK-” *Were the only words one could hear from Kremy when he runs past.*

*It better not be him. It can’t be him. Why would he do this. Oh fuck. Oh shit. Please don’t be too late. Don’t fucking cry.*

[gourmet-gator]

*He reached the center of the carnival just as the fog started to really recede. His breathing was frantic, from both the sudden sprint and from panic he had never experienced before. His eyes darted around the area in a panic. Where was he?*

*And then his gaze dropped to the grass and it felt like he couldn’t breathe at all. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t blink. Couldn’t look away.*

“…No. Gid, no, you fuckin’ idiot, get up.”

*His throat felt dry, like he hadn’t drank water in days.*

*Don’t cry.*

“Gid, I- please, tell me this is a sick fucking joke, please.”

*No response. Kremy wills his body to move, more so fall to his knees in front of his best friend’s body. He reaches for his shoulder and shakes it, the other hand over the genasi’s neck to check for any sign of a pulse.*

*Don’t cry.*

“Gideon Nathaniel Coal, what the fuck did you do..? Wake up, fucking wake up, please..!”

*His voice cracks. He feels no heartbeat. He swallows down a lump in his throat. It doesn’t go away. He moves the hand on his shoulder up to the man’s face, holding the side of his cheek.*

*Don’t cry…*

“You fuckin’ bastard, please…”

*His other hand reaches towards his hair, and he runs his claws down through his natural dark brown hair up to where it turns to flame, its warm yellows and oranges and reds painted with purple. His vision is blurry. He dares not blink.*

*Don’t…*

“Gid…”

*A sob escapes his mouth. And then another. And now the tears are flowing freely. Both his hands now hold Gideon’s face and his sobs only grow louder. Trembling claws trace at where the man’s smile would reach, scanning his face for any sign of the expressiveness he once had.*

*Gone in an instant.*

*Tears fall from his face onto Gideon’s. They don’t evaporate.*

*All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Kremy suddenly felt...perfectly healthy? He hadn't made any progress with a cure, and mere moments ago, he'd been deathly ill, just as expected. But now suddenly, the nausea seemed to leave him, and his skin and flesh felt sturdy once again.*

*But...how?*

*Just as he'd begun to ponder that, he could hear in the distance, muffled by audible enough to be recognized...ominous jazz.*

*No...somebody hadn't...had they?*

*Someone had made a deal with the Baron, for his health...and the poor ringmaster could probably guess who.*

*Kremy had been held up in Twig’s Inn before any of this had happened. He had been helping the brownie how he could, checking up with the other unfortunate souls to get caught up in this mess. He kept a relatively level-headed impression to the other carnies, but dread only seeped further into his mind. The scars and wounds that littered his arms, and the back of his neck, and his palms, had refused to heal, and it was getting harder to hide. And then those damned voices. Their cacophonous echoes of insecurities and paranoia practically deafening him.*

*He still hadn’t even talked to that clown. He was running out of time.*

*He was back in his room to take a breather, standing in front of his window with his arms crossed as he tried to just get his shit together while voices that weren’t his screamed at him. Gods, he could use a smoke right now.*

*The voices just kept getting louder and louder and CAN THEY JUST SHUT UP?*

*…And they did. Kremy blinked.*

“…What the fuck?”

*He had almost jumped at the fact that he was able to hear his own voice and his voice alone. The room was silent for the first time in days. What the fuck just happened? Was he…*

*He looked down at his hands, at the scales that adorned the back of them and the softer flesh that covered his palms. Not a single mark nor blemish. He checked the other parts of his body he had scratched or clawed at from the anxiety and found the same result.*

“What… Wh- how..?”

*And then he felt it. That horrifyingly familiar chill up his spine. A chill that could only be caused by the Baron. But this one, this one was not the type of chill caused by his mere presence. No, this was the type made when someone struck a deal with the man. His gaze snaps back up to the window at that oh so faint yet oh so dreadful sound of ominous jazz. He freezes.*

“…No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-”

*He’s back to moving almost immediately. He grabs his hat and cane and swings open the bedroom door. He rushes through the hallway and down the stairs, calling a rushed apology to Twig as he passes her by.*

“SorryTwigsy,Ineedt’checksomethin’outI’mfeelin’wayfuckin’betterbythewaybutthat’spartoftheproblemsoI’llbeoutforabitBYE-”

*And he was out the door before she could even try to ask a question. He runs as fast as he could towards that music, something he never thought he’d actually do.*

“God damnit, god fuckin’ damnit you fucking idiot FUCK-” *Were the only words one could hear from Kremy when he runs past.*

*It better not be him. It can’t be him. Why would he do this. Oh fuck. Oh shit. Please don’t be too late. Don’t fucking cry.*

[gourmet-gator]

Kremy… I don’t want to alarm you but right now your husband is talking with the Baron… and is not exactly a casual chat.

shitshitshitshitSHITSHIT

[gourmet-gator]

*All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Kremy suddenly felt...perfectly healthy? He hadn't made any progress with a cure, and mere moments ago, he'd been deathly ill, just as expected. But now suddenly, the nausea seemed to leave him, and his skin and flesh felt sturdy once again.*

*But...how?*

*Just as he'd begun to ponder that, he could hear in the distance, muffled by audible enough to be recognized...ominous jazz.*

*No...somebody hadn't...had they?*

*Someone had made a deal with the Baron, for his health...and the poor ringmaster could probably guess who.*

*Kremy had been held up in Twig’s Inn before any of this had happened. He had been helping the brownie how he could, checking up with the other unfortunate souls to get caught up in this mess. He kept a relatively level-headed impression to the other carnies, but dread only seeped further into his mind. The scars and wounds that littered his arms, and the back of his neck, and his palms, had refused to heal, and it was getting harder to hide. And then those damned voices. Their cacophonous echoes of insecurities and paranoia practically deafening him.*

*He still hadn’t even talked to that clown. He was running out of time.*

*He was back in his room to take a breather, standing in front of his window with his arms crossed as he tried to just get his shit together while voices that weren’t his screamed at him. Gods, he could use a smoke right now.*

*The voices just kept getting louder and louder and CAN THEY JUST SHUT UP?*

*…And they did. Kremy blinked.*

“…What the fuck?”

*He had almost jumped at the fact that he was able to hear his own voice and his voice alone. The room was silent for the first time in days. What the fuck just happened? Was he…*

*He looked down at his hands, at the scales that adorned the back of them and the softer flesh that covered his palms. Not a single mark nor blemish. He checked the other parts of his body he had scratched or clawed at from the anxiety and found the same result.*

“What… Wh- how..?”

*And then he felt it. That horrifyingly familiar chill up his spine. A chill that could only be caused by the Baron. But this one, this one was not the type of chill caused by his mere presence. No, this was the type made when someone struck a deal with the man. His gaze snaps back up to the window at that oh so faint yet oh so dreadful sound of ominous jazz. He freezes.*

“…No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-”

*He’s back to moving almost immediately. He grabs his hat and cane and swings open the bedroom door. He rushes through the hallway and down the stairs, calling a rushed apology to Twig as he passes her by.*

“SorryTwigsy,Ineedt’checksomethin’outI’mfeelin’wayfuckin’betterbythewaybutthat’spartoftheproblemsoI’llbeoutforabitBYE-”

*And he was out the door before she could even try to ask a question. He runs as fast as he could towards that music, something he never thought he’d actually do.*

“God damnit, god fuckin’ damnit you fucking idiot FUCK-” *Were the only words one could hear from Kremy when he runs past.*

*It better not be him. It can’t be him. Why would he do this. Oh fuck. Oh shit. Please don’t be too late. Don’t fucking cry.*

[gourmet-gator]

*…Something is wrong.*

*We are being silenced.* *HOW?*

*He hasn’t even found a cure yet.* *This shouldn’t be possible.*

*THEN WHY IS IT HAPPENING?* *This isn’t of our doing.*

*WHO HAS DONE THIS?*

*His damned patron.* *How can he interfere?* *A DEAL MUST HAVE BEEN STRUCK.*

*Who is foolish enough to make a deal with a being like him for this pathetic man?*

*…*

*THAT IDIOTIC FUCKING GENAS-*

[gourmet-gator]

I made your husband sad by accident but anyways Ever thought about how Gideon could outlive you?

*He does, everyday.* *It’s practically all he thinks about now.* *Besides us, of course.*

It’s pathetic.

…Did someone say somethin’? Someone that isn’t these fuckin’ voices, that is…

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*He stops for just a moment at that first statement.*

“Oh, he’s here? Well… shit, I guess that makes things a bit easier, I guess.”

*He steps out of the room, not noticing Twig’s state at first as he scans the hallway and grimaces slightly at the ever present sound of screams from the infected carnies, but looks to Twig only shortly after and freezes.*

“Oh gods, Twigsy! I- wh- your eye!”

*He crouches down to get a closer look at her. He hovers a hand over her cheek, but still refusing to touch.*

“Fuck, what.. what happened? Did one of the carnies do this? The… the clown?”

*His expression doesn’t change from worry, but the cane he still held in his other hand glowed with purple energy at the thought.*

*He didn’t want to think of how this was his fault how much shit had gone down.*

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*

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*He only sighed, he expected this. He looked down for a moment to find his words, then tired eyes met tired eyes as he looked back to her, wearing a slightly strained smile.*

“Ah, it’s nothin’… I just wanted to know if he was here at any time so I could jus’… I dunno…”

*Talk to him? Tell him the truth? Just see him again?*

“…get caught up on anything else I need to know about the carnival, still run the place after all.”

*He chuckles to himself, he wanted some way to get at least a bit of control over all this, no matter how little of it he had. He stands up again, walking across the room to grab his suit jacket.*

“I’ll be outta this room for a bit, so I could check up on… well, the folks here, first of all, if you’d let me of course. I’m gonna go find Gid and the rest at some point too, check up with them… That clown fella…”

*He mutters the last part as he fixes his suit, he needed to see if there was some kind of answer. Once he’s sure he’d fixed himself up, he looks back to Twig.*

“And uh… thanks for checkin’ up on me, Twig. Even if that’s what you’re supposed to be doing n’ all.”

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*

[gourmet-gator]

*His head shot up immediately at the new voice. That wonderful, familiar voice. Gid???*

“Gid..?”

*His call was no more than a whisper, almost inaudible to him due to our voices the effects of this curse. His attention was drawn away with the sound of the bedroom door opening. He visibly relaxed at the sight of Twig’s familiar mushroom hat.*

*Only now does he notice that he had been crying. Of course he has been. He quickly wipes his tears and lets his hands fall on his lap. He shifts his attention to Twig, smiling slightly at the fact that she had checked up on him. She shouldn’t waste her time.*

“Twig… Well, I mean… Definitely could be doin’ a whole lot better, that’s for sure. Shit’s been… shit’s been slippin’ my mind a whole fuckin’ lot, was…”

*His gaze is desperate and grim as he keeps eye contact with the brownie.*

“…Was Gid ever here at the Inn? A-at any point in time today?”

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*

[gourmet-gator]

If you had a wish, any wish, what would it be

For all this to be fuckin’ over.

…and to not be such a damn coward that I can’t tell my own friends.

[gourmet-gator]

*Kremy blinks once, twice, trying to piece things together, where did Gid go??*

*He looks around. He’s back he’s still in that bedroom in Twig’s inn. He was talking to Gideon… outside? downstairs? in this room? Or… was he talking to Gideon??? What was…? Why…*

*His breath grows faster, he didn’t dare move. He stared up at where Gideon should be he was never there, wasn’t he? Tears fog his vision again, again with the tears. but he blinks them away. He shakes his head as if that will help as an effort to try and quiet these damn voices. We only speak of truth.*

*He feels his balance waver, so he quickly sits back down on the side of the bed before he might collapse. He covers his face once more.*

“Fuck… I’m fuckin’ losing it…”

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*

[gourmet-gator]

DONT DIE KREMY YOUR HUSBAND AND FRIENDS AND ALL OF US WOULD BE SO SAD!!! magnolia would be fine if you straight-up died, BUT DONT GET MINDCORRUPTED!!! THEY'LL ALL BE SAD SO IF YOU WONT LIVE FOR YOURSELF LIVE FOR YOUR FAMILY!!!

…It’s real flattering that y’all are worrying about me like that. You don’t need t’ worry though, it doesn’t change anything, everything’s gonna be fine. How often does he lie to all of you?

[gourmet-gator]

Kremy please please please be alright. we're all worried about you, Gideon especially.

I can’t promise anything, friend. But… I’m doin’ what I can.

[gourmet-gator]

I… what? Did I talk to you a while ago? I don’t… shit, nevermind that for now.

Listen, Gid, I…

*He couldn’t say it. He didn’t want to say it. Even though there was no denying it.*

*He opened his mouth to speak the truth, but snapped it shut. Coward.*

I… I got a lot of shit to figure out around here. Gonna at least try to find a.. a cure maybe, for the folks that caught this fuckin’ disease. Or even just help Twig out, I can’t…

*More excuses spilled from his mouth. The man was too afraid to watch the other’s heart break before his very eyes if he was to say what he has to say. Pathetic. He’ll tell him. No he won’t. Just not now. It’ll be too late by then. Shut up.*

*He stared into Gideon’s eyes pleadingly, trying desperately to relay the answer he could not say aloud. Trying to ask the man to please, please understand. Give him time. How much more does this man have to give up for you? Help him. How can he? He gripped his cane tight with one hand and raised another, to grip his shoulder, but he stopped abruptly halfway. He wanted so desperately to feel his warmth again. He wanted to drag him back down into misery he did not deserve. Like he always does. Kremy looks away.*

…’M sorry.

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*

[gourmet-gator]

*This one… he wakes soon.*

*He is hopeless.* *Grim even for our taste.*

*He is pathetic.*

*He is cowardly.*

*And yet…*

*He is determined.*

*He is compassionate.* *Eugh.*

*He holds his loved ones close. But they are pricked by his thorns.*

*He is… conflicted. He is confusing.*

*…He irritates us.*