#and now he's lost Isabeau too

[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Once Isabeau and her family had settled into their rooms, Cassian asked to speak to her alone in the castle's chapel. Isabeau was a little surprised by the location, but agreed.

"So, will you tell me now why you have dragged me and my entire family from our home to yours? Henry said it was urgent but would not provide specifics."

"To be fair, I only dragged you. You're the one who brought the husband and kid," said Cassian, though he shifted his tone to be more serious when he saw Isabeau's warning look. "Sorry. Old habits."

"Thank you. So, what is it then?"

"You follow the faith, don't you?"

"I do."

"I'm not sure I ever did," Cassian confessed. "I went to church and did all the things you're supposed to, but I'm not sure I ever really believed any of it. But... recently... I've started feeling like I'm being punished. And maybe I might be off to a dark, awful place when I die. There's no-one who knows everything that I've done. Different people know different bits. I need someone to know everything and then... tell me if I've got a hope in hell of being saved."

"Cass, if that is what you want then you need a minister of the faith, not your sister," said Isabeau gently.

"No," Cassian replied gravely. "You are the only person who has a chance of understanding. Most people will hear my actions and just think of me as evil. You'll hear them and know there's more to me than that. That I don't mean to hurt people all the time, I just... do."

"You are significantly more complicated than you appear, that I will admit. Alright, if it is me you wish to tell then go ahead. But I do not promise to condone, like or even forgive what you are about to tell me."

Cassian nodded and then began, "You know everything up to when you left for Champ les Sims. Losing you fucked me up more than I realised. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but you were my anchor. You kept me away from the worst of my behaviours and protected me from myself. With you gone, things turned... quickly."

Cassian went on to tell Isabeau about Regina and the attempted assassination; giving up his daughter in exchange for the murder of his wife; travelling to the New World, only to find his lover pregnant and dying; marrying a barkeeper so he could support her financially; thinking he'd fallen in love with the one, only to murder her after discovering her affair.

As she listened, Isabeau's face grew more and more furrowed and grave. Cassian finished by telling her about Lady Catherine.

"She's my punishment, isn't she?" Cassian asked. "Or just my purgatory before the real punishment comes after my death."

Isabeau sat in stunned silence for a while. Cassian watched her, waiting for her reply. She stood and paced the chapel floor.

"Everything you have told me, according to our faith, has you heading for hell. There is no denying it," Isabeau eventually said, her voice weak and faltering. "But I do not think Lady Catherine is your punishment. If anything, she is the closest chance God is giving you to redemption. Take this opportunity and try to be a better person."

Cassian nodded, "Thank you, sis." He reached out to take Isabeau's hand, but she pulled hers away.

"I cannot believe you brought me all the way from Champs Les Sims for that," she said, her voice filled with a pain, sadness and anger that Cassian had never heard before. "You selfish, awful man."

Isabeau stood and walked towards the door.

"Izzy - wait," called Cassian, beginning to cry too. "I needed you. I needed someone who loved me. Please, don't go."

"And so it becomes clear that, despite everything you've said, you have not learned your lesson," replied Isabeau scathingly. "Other people do not exist on this planet to serve you, Cassian."

As Isabeau ran from the room crying, Cassian felt his own sadness overwhelm him. The sobs wracked his body so heavily that he struggled to breathe and he fell to his knees. He reached out a hand to the open doorway, but no-one came. He was alone.

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[sharkylass]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(It's not belated what are you talking about-) With the spooky day I bring...

---------------------------------------

--------------------------------------- There's A LOT OF ART under the cut, however it's A LOT OF SPOILERS.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE ACT 6 ENCOUNTER/TWO HATS, EVERYTHING IN THIS POST IS DEPENDANT ON THE FACT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT ENCOUNTER.

(The dandelions are frozen in time) (...) (You envy them, but you think that's sacrilege, so you move on.)

The gif takes forever to load, please bare with me-

ALRIGHT, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO ROBORO.

Roboro (it/they/he) is cold and calculative. It spent so long trying to get out of the loops, that a lot of their tact and bubbliness gave way to their cynicism and bluntness.

They exhibit more of their younger traits. Extreme smarts and avoidance. However, they still carries themselves tall, and aren't afraid to speak their mind. Most of the time, they simply choose not to.

The decision to make him cold and distant, rather then manic and erratic, actually came from Loop themselves. Loop is very actively trying to be the opposite of Siffrin. They act chatty and cruel because that's how far they've been driven, that's how they choose to hide themselves now.

Roboro is the same, in the sense that it's supposed to appear the very opposite of Isabeau.

"Why is it a Dandelion?"

From what I've seen, most people lean on the space idea for the guides, and I find that super neat-

But as an exercise (before this AU was even an IDEA in my mind-) I tried to design Mira, Odile and Isa as guides.

I tried the space theme, and felt really limited with it.

So instead I decided to design them based of ways to wish

Mira was a fire (candle)

Odile was a coin (throwing a coin in a fountain/well)

And Isabeau WAS in fact a dandelion (blowing on a dandelion)

And I guess that idea just stuck around in my brain until I got to making this au.

Their Dynamic With Isa

The two's dynamic isn't too dissimilar to Sif and Loop. Isa still tries to be his loud positive headstrong self, and Roboro sees past the bullshit, and grinds Isa's gears

(Fun fact for that second one: Roboro knew Isa wanted to be called "good boy" cause it probably would have wanted to hear it too-) As time goes on, the two learn to get along if only a little. Isa starts to appreciate the bluntness of Roboro, together with the helpful tips. Roboro meanwhile, seeing Isa's descent starts to feel a spark of empathy for the guy (which sucks for ACT 5 whoops.)

Silver Coin Equivalent

The equivalent is called "Lucky Pencil". Isa is a pretty superstitious guy, despite knowing better logically. So I thought he'd totally be the type to carry around a lucky charm of sorts!

(You recall.) (Before you lost yourself to time, you tried to become a defender.) (You got so tired of being the lone kid, the one people would not see, or think about.) (You were smart, but you were invisible.) (Sure, you were quiet, but you had good grades! You were getting by!) (Even your own family didn't think much of your solitude.) (And yet, you were so scared to open your mouth, to even answer questions you knew the answers to-) (It was hard. Suffocating even.) (When teachers started giving you good grades without you even having to try-) (Something had to change. You had to change.) (And you did! You became stronger, resilient, reliable. Became the very antithesis of what you used to be.) (Left everything you were behind.) (But it was worth it! You could finally!!! Talk!!! You could bring smiles to people's faces! They'd smile when you entered a room! And each time you felt pride. Pride in who you were.) (You tried talking with your family more, being more open, loud-) (They still didn't see you.) (Smart kids turned away, uble to face you, see their fears embodied. Fears that if they wanted to belong, they had to leave their brains for brawn.) (It was better. You were happier. But you still didn't belong, either.) (In hallways filled with people, you were still just there.) (…) (You tried really hard for you Defender exam. You exercised to near faints. Only really ate and slept cause you knew it would make you stronger.) (Buried your nose in reading and studying to avoid thoughts of doubt. And when they'd reach you anyways, you'd go for a run.) (You know it wasn't the best for you. You're supposed to be stupid, not unwise. "Just until I pass" you told yourself.) (… You were exhausted on your exam day. As your nerves heightened, so did your "coping". You were ready!!! You just, needed a little help.) (So you opened your drawer, filled with old papers and textbooks and notes. You don't like looking in there too much, but you took what you needed.) (A beaten up pencil. Your little lucky charm!!! Sure, you always knew the answers, but it was easier if you believed this pencil was helping you, guiding you.) (It was silly to think it would help, but you weren't taking chances.) (…) (Even after all that time, you couldn't leave that part of yourself behind.) (You still can't.) (You're the only one that can't.)

ACT 6 FIGHT

The ACT 6 encounter would... go about as well as you'd expect. Not only did a version of you win- it's the version of you that pretends to be a meat head, the one that's preoccupied with being nice rather then thinking ahead. How did he get to win when you, you who's changed, you who's given everything you had, everything you wanted to simply get out?

Why does he get to win? Why does this loud mouth, emotional, explosive guy get to win? He's learned nothing!---

I have more stuff to draw for this encounter, including the "I'm sorry/ thank you" pictures. I leave this one off with the knowledge that Isa used to tug on his hair as a stress stim. Guess is stuck around huh.

______________________

Post Loops Roboro

Roboro, once again, Changes! This time to resemble a yellow dandelion, rather then a white one. The family is long gone by the time Roboro wakes up again, and first thing's first- It has to find clothes. It doesn't like the weird looks people give him.

So, he goes to the House, braves the looks and gasps and confusion. It's trauma be damned, it's gonna talk to that Head Housemaiden finally.

He meets up with Euphrasie, and she quickly catches on what must be going on.

She's readily willing to give Roboro one of her old dresses-

Problem being- 1. They are too big on it (he may be Tall, but not EUPHIE level tall-) and 2. It wouldn't be the most comfortable wearing a dress around.

So, they figure they should make some adjustments. Euphrasie is willing to make the adjustments, it would only take her a day or two.

However, Roboro kind of... wants to try to do it themselves. There's no rush, it has nowhere to be. Maybe... maybe learning to re-engage with an old hobby could be good for it...?

Euphie excitedly lets it stay at the House, figure out what it wants to do- to take it's time changing!

Obviously, Roboro has trauma from the House. The walls, the cramped space- it terrifies them. But they also don't want to stay at anyone's home in Dormont, the awkwardness would kill him, if feeling like a nuisance doesn't do it first.

So. Roboro stays at the rooftop.

Roboro does some sewing on a new outfit, at the top of the House. At the very end of everything.

It's a bittersweet reminder that it's over, so it's as good as it could get while staying at Dormont.

I have a whole comic about this in particular, but this is already a massive infodump so I'm gonna stop it there for now-

Roboro travels around a while. It and Isa agreed to meet up eventually, but there was no rush to it.

He went around a while, re-familiarized itself with life, with people, with hobbies, with existing-

Probably made some friendships along the way. Those are probably the people who pushed it into reconnecting with the family.

I'm not gonna go into detail about everyone's dynamics and stuff, this is too long, and I'm still writing that stuff anyway.

I can however leave you with this:

(I might change how Post Loops Isa looks in the future, I haven't quite figured it out yet)

______________________

PHEW

THAT WAS A LOT

IT'S NOT EVEN EVERYTHING I HAVE, I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF AUGH,,,

Anyways, I just wanted to thank you all for the support on the first post, I didn't expect it at ALL Just know I appreciate it :]

[tealgoat]

Writing from @felikatze !!!

The Favor Tree. Not something uniquely Vaugardian, mind you. Plenty of powerful trees are strewn about Ka Bue as well, but this one *is* Vaugardian, and so you'd like to wish on one at least once, for completion's sake.

What to wish for, though? You can wish for Vaugarde to be saved, of course. But, in all likelihood, everyone in Dormont already has, so what will your wish even accomplish, then? The logical part of you wants to make it a test. Something simple to see whether these wishes have any merit to them.

If they don't, you'll save Vaugarde by your own strength. If they do, a little help goes a long way.

Right, something simple it shall be. A coin flip. You'll wish to win your next coin flip.

You clasp your hands together like Mirabelle does, close your eyes, and

"That's not how you wish, Madam!"

"...Siffrin?"

With quick strides, Siffrin catches up to her. Hadn't they meant to go later? Oh, in her dwadling, Isabeau already left.

Siffrin smiles with curiosity next to you, and you untangle your hands. "What'd you wish for?" they ask.

"Nothing yet. After someone so rudely interrupted me." You say it with a sarcastic tilt.

Siffrin mirrors you after a beat. He looks around. "So rude! We gotta find the culprit! Oh, maybe they're hiding up in the tree. It's pretty..."

You know what's coming.

"TREE-mendous, after all!"

Despite yourself, you snort.

"So, my brave hero, if that's not how you wish, how do you do it then?"

"Uh!" Siffrin startles. "Uh!" He bends to the ground and picks up... a leaf?

"Here!" They hold the leaf out to you. You try to grab it, but they snatch it back. "No! First, pick the leaf you like best. That best represents you."

You don't know anything about Siffrin's past. Or where they're from, at all. So if he's sharing this piece of tradition... it won't hurt to humor him.

Your knees seriously don't like bending down like that. Instead of grabbing the first leaf you see, you ponder them for a little bit. Eventually, you decide on one that's a little longer than the others, with an odd bend in its tip.

"This one." You push yourself off the ground. It is. A struggle. Siffrin offers you a hand. You take it without aknowledgement. "What next?"

Siffrin puts a hand on his chin and squints, as he does when forgetting something. What, did they forget in the middle of showing her?

No, Siffrin proceeds by instinct. They bring the leaf up to their mouth and whisper far too softly for Odile's aging ears. Then, he folds the leaf and lets it go.

It drifts on the wind, higher and higher, until it disappears into the trees.

"There. Whisper your wish into it three times, fold it, and let it go."

"I've never seen a Vaugardian do that."

Siffrin seems lost. "It's not... It's..."

You drop the subject. "Why thrice?"

"That's just... the way to do it? You can also do six and nine, I think, and seven and thirteen."

"Multiples of three and prime numbers?"

"Prime numbers?"

"Forget it. Alright."

You hold the leaf to your face, curling it to speak into. A simple, logical wish, to test the Favor Tree. That'd seems rude now, after Siffrin shared part of his culture with you.

Something better. Something... genuine. And that's the hard part, isn't it? You have a reputation to uphold. It's easier that way. Like... like you don't care how much Siffrin's eye sparkles right now, waiting with bated breath.

It'll be easier to leave them again. Bonnie will go to their sister, Isabeau to the Defenders, Mirabelle to the House, and Siffrin...

Siffrin is a traveler too, is he not? Maybe the others won't go with you, but you could show them Ka Bue. Teach them how to pray at shrines, about all the different foods you ache for, all the culture you left to find something new. Despite it all, Ka Bue was your home, and... you'd like to share it with them, if you can.

Ah, you just want to stay with them.

You fold the leaf, and it leaves on the breeze.

"Hah."

"Madame?"

"You're rubbing off on me, Siffrin."

You pat them on the shoulder. Siffrin freezes. Until your hand leaves them again.

"My apologies, Siffrin."

It's quite silly to think they'd go with you after all.

[rose-petal123]

love love LOVE the shells and tides au and all the designs you have been putting out for ittt waahh… definitely it is on my list of things to draw at some point …. :>

in your king post though you mention the au being no time loops. for my own curiosity, IS there a plot you have in mind? or general story? 👀 or anything ur willing to share?? vv interested…

Hello yes! I do kind of have a storyline of sorts! Mostly basic background info on what the au is about etc.

Mirabelle quite literally found Siffrin hiding under a rock! They are extremely unfamiliar with waters outside of where they come from. They don't know surface customs etc, So Mirabelle teaches them the primary language! Though being merfolk they also can communicate with little whistles and clicks etc. Mirabelle teaches Siffrin a lot about what places are safe etc. The two are basically inseparable until Mira is comfortable with Siffrin swimming off on their own and not getting themself into trouble!

Mirabelle and Siffrin live in a sunken ship together! They both like to collect any trinkets and shells they find! Nille and Bonnie are friends of theirs! (They live in a nearby underwater cave)

When Siffrin is in the middle of becoming fluent in vaugardian, they notice a boat above! Mirabelle explains the concept of humans to them and such. Siffrin, being a curious little fella swims up there and discovers Odile, who's a pirate captain, and Isabeau! Along with the rest of their crew. Siffrin, who likes giving gifts like shells to his friends, starts leaving shells for the crew in attempt to make friends with them. Isabeau starts collecting the shells because Ooo pretty!!

One day Isabeau catches Siffrin putting shells on the deck. They make awkward eye contact with each other and then Sif swims off. Isabeau tells Odile about what he saw, and against Odile's warnings about Sirens, Isabeau decides he's going to try to befriend Siffrin! (Which is very successful)

Isabeau definitely helped in Siffrin's ability to speak fluently. They tend to exchange gifts with each other!

I don't want to make this post ridiculously long so that's what I'll give you for now along with these last couple points of info,

Siffrin introduces Mira to Isa, they become friends

Odile finds out about Isa befriending merfolk and hesitantly over time warms up to them as well.

Odile tells Mirabelle and Siffrin lots of stories! She'll read books to Mirabelle

Siffrin lost their eye protecting Bonnie from a smaller sea monster. Nille killed said sea monster

Mirabelle was given a starfish from Siffrin as a sign of their friendship! Sif has one too! Siffrin also made the bracelet Isabeau has ❤️

Nille found Loop, known as Sandy, while gathering sea urchins with Sif and Bonnie! (I plan to make a mini comic page with this.)

Yes that's right. I made Loop a sassy albino sea urchin named Sandy that can talk. They sit on a crate in the sunken ship and make fun of and or give advice to Mira and Sif.

[m4g0hun]

in stars and time x dungeon meshi

(extra thoughts and ideas below!)

closeups!!

so this is more of a isat in dungeon meshi kinda au than the opposite, the idea is that the King is the dungeon lord/mad mage, his desire being to be able to freeze the dungeon and the country in time

The change belief still exists, and Mirabelle is still a housemaiden destined to save the counrty, so she goes to seek out companions who can help her on her journey

Everyone's reasoning to join is still the same as it was in the game

Also this isn't a redesign of them, more like a dungeon meshified version of their clothes + colors so they could fit in better (imo!!)

ok now onto some design notes!

Siffrin

originally he was just gonna be a half-foot, but i realized his wish to be able to stay with everyone would hit harder if he would outlive them, so i made them a half elf- halffoot

i removed his hat purely for aesthetic reasons lol, i think he would stand out too much in the dungeon meshi universe with it, but i suppose its true for ingame too so maybe ill give ut back to him if he behaves well

i also wanted to remove his hat so i could see the top if his beatifiul head

his poncho is a bit different, just a few small details so it would better in universe i think

he lost his eye in one of the previous dungeons they were going through

Mirabelle

she's still part of the change religion

i felt like her being an elf is pretty much perfect, no notes on that

i did have marcille in my mind while designing her outfit, and also theyre kinda similar overall i think?? idk but i love both of them

i gave her braids because its canon in the dungeon meshi universe that taking good care if your hair+unique hairstyles strengthen your magic and also i think its cute

Bonnie - the senshi of the group!!!

i wasn't sure what race i should make them at first because they're a kid so theres no point in chosing a shorter race to show their size i thought, but then i remember how cute gnomes are in the verse with their big ol ears so thats what they are haha

their design is probably my favorite out if anyone as well

i imagined they would join pretty much the same way senshi did

Odile

her race was also pretty much immediately decided

her clothes were the biggest struggle for me, not only figuring out how to make them look a bit more medieval-like but also the colors

i decided a while ago in my head that odiles color palette would be blue but it was still a struggle making her coat not look like a lab coat lol

maybe that was the intention but i really just wanted her to appear like a normal adventurer

Isabeau

as you can see on the page i have the least amount of ideas for him lol

i pretty much just had laios in my head while i was designing him

i do feel a bit bad for taking away his stripes and silly looking belt thingy but i felt its a bit too much for the dunmeshi verse

thats pretty much it i think!! not sure if i will draw more of this au, i just mainly wanted to get it out ot my head cus its been rotating in it since i played the game

[ack-cough]

There he is Everyone's local therapy cat

Random notes cause I'm definitely not writing a whole fic

-In the beginning of his change to be a Smart Jock! (The cat part is unrelated) Pronouns are still He/Him but will occasionally throw in a few She and hers to test the waters.

- The family's big strong kitty man to help them all cope with trauma from saving Vulgarde! Don't worry about his own feelings those aren't important right now

- This is very much the "Isabeau's internal monologue can be fuckin deranged" AUs so no matter how much he tries there's still remnets of that weird shy kid he used to be, especially now since new found cat brain and changing again.

He definitely has moments of trying to remember how to be a person properly. But you will get dialogue like

(You love Mirabelle! She's so cute and brave and nice. Part of you wishes you could put her in one of those little bug jars with the best stick and leaf the world could ever create... Don't say that. That's weird that's off putting)

(Odile, Odiee, Dile! So wise and perspective. Maybe you'll take up Odile-ology, put her under a microscope, open up her skull and sift through her brain.. BAD BAD Isabeau! thinking about that makes you sound like a serial killer, cut it out)

-He does deal with OCD like symptoms and at one point starts avoiding eye contact or straight up hiding in his room due to intrusive thoughts and urges becoming too overwhelming.

-I wanna say at least once he lost track of what he was doing and brought back a dead bird as a gift and it scared the shit out of the others.

[itstheval]

Memory of Dreary Days / Siffrin Gets An Earring

A @livesworthlivingau Side Story

It was a lovely autumn day, and Siffrin was miserable.

This wasn't anything new, they'd come to realize. The events of Dormont had changed - and possibly Changed - them, but that was months ago, a little over a year now. No, this frustration was newer, possibly the last few months, but they'd managed to identify it over time.

They watched Mirabelle and Isabeau, in front of them, chatting about what Changes they might want to make in the future. Isabeau had a whole list of ideas, but Mirabelle was being more cautious, as usual. Odile was watching and writing, and Bonbon, they were sitting on Nille's shoulders as both of them added their two coins when they had an idea. Leaving you, Siffrin the Traveler, as an outsider. Again.

It wasn't their fault, you knew it. You were empty inside, and this entire adventure you were on was to fill you. That was something the doctor had mentioned, that you seemed to agree with…You didn't have a past, so they were making you one, because they wanted you to. So why were you being talked over, and around? Why were they treating you like a pet, not someone with their own ideas?

The only thing worse than knowing it was it being known, unfortunately. It seemed like they came to a pause in conversation, and Isabeau looked back as though remembering you existed after so long ignoring you.

"What about you, Sif? Got any ideas for big Changes?"

You could laugh. You could sob. You remembered being as large as the sky, and just as filled with stars. You pictured yourself, star-headed and lightless-skinned.

"I don't think so! That's a Vaugardian thing, isn't it?"

The words were more bitter than you imagined them to be, and the second they left your lips you knew that they were wrong. A second after, you told yourself otherwise. "Words can't be wrong", the doctor had said, "If you mean them. You're trying to express yourself, not win a game." Well, from the way everyone else's faces fell, that was good, because you'd have just lost hard.

"That doesn't mean you can't Change! There's Houses everywhere that will take you in and help you, too."

"Yes," Odile continued. "I've thought of using them myself, during my time here, but I never had time to stay in one place, what with…everything."

"Really, madame? You're so pretty! What would you even change?"

And the conversation was off again…Odile explaining her heritage yet again, too-thick hair and too-wide eyes for ka bue, too-thin eyes and too-thin hair for Vaugarde. You wondered, sometimes, if Ka Buans had thought she was as pretty as Vaugardians do. You wonder, in the moment, if they'd bother talking to you again.

They hadn't.

You'd caught Isabeau looking over at you, with something more thoughtful than pity, but you could see the pity in it. Whatever he had in his mind, it wasn't enough to make him ask about anywhere else, or change the subject. Quietly, you thought about how much nicer it would've been if you'd just gone for a comfortable lie instead.

▬▬▬

It was a rainy, autumnal day, and Siffrin was bored.

It wasn't anyone's fault, everyone knew that was just what happened in Autumn. You found somewhere to stay until the rains ended, or you trudged through the worst mud that you could imagine. Bored or miserable, and to the family the choice was obvious. Siffrin had been…letting themself think of them that way for a while, even without telling them. Their little secret. Maybe not their family, but they were the family, and nobody could blame him for that, right? Watching Mira read to Bonbon, watching Isa and Nille talking about, of all things, carpentry, and Madame writing in those inscrutable books of hers.

You hated it. You hated listening to it, you hated being part of it, and you hated being trapped in it. It was nothing like the loops, you knew, but it was almost worse in its way. Watching everyone else with a role, with something to do, and you off to the side like some pet. You'd already napped yourself dry, and nobody had begrudged you sleeping through breakfast, even if it meant you were likely to stay up well after the candles were out at night. But the rest of your day…

You sighed. Sitting there wasn't going to make you any happier, and you'd already looked at all of the books Mira had brought with her. You'd read through the horror stories until they started showing up in your dreams, when Mirabelle had banned you from reading any more of them because of how you'd been whimpering in your sleep. Isa had tried to defend your right to read, but the looks Odile had given him had made him blush in a peculiar way and stop trying, and that had been the end of it. The less said about the romances, the better. You understood that Vaugarde was an open place, but the things they dreamt up to keep two people from each other felt so cliched, so unreal, so impossible that you couldn't get into them.

So, you laid there, in a bed, in a wooden room, staring at the ceiling until the morning came.

How familiar.

That thought sent a shudder down your spine that you knew everyone noticed, but you got out of bed before any of them could comment on it. No, you were dealing with this. You weren't being dealt with, not this time. You hopped up, and walked over to Odile, who closed her book as you approached.

"What could you be writing down now?" you found it in you to ask. "Vaugardian rainy-day games? I thought you were a master at those." The joking tone managed to reach your voice, you thought, and you were glad for it.

"Oh, I wasn't writing at all. Believe it or not, I'm designing something."

"Designing?" The surprise in your voice was clear.

"Well yes. You have your woodcarving…Or had it, when we were near forested areas enough to find scrapwood. Mirabelle has her writing. I thought I should perhaps try my hands at something creative."

"Oh, can I see?" This was WAY more interesting than laying in bed!

"If you can guess what it is, then yes. It wasn't fair that I didn't get to see your face when my research was revealed, after all." Her smile was coy and knowing, but she did, ultimately, have a point.

"Oh, is it…" You looked around, trying to think of what could be in the room that she could draw inspiration from.

"Clothesmaking? Like Isa plans to?"

"Nice try, young one. But that's your one try for the day." Odile's eyes turned up as she thought about the idea. "Besides, do you think I'd compete with Isabeau? In something he's planned for that long?"

You had to concede the point.

▬▬▬

"Carpentry?"

"Can you imagine me swinging a hammer, Siffrin? I know my limits, and they stop well before there."

▬▬▬

"Bookbinding!" You thought for sure you had her on that one. Something to do with her precious books, and something she could study from Mira's colleciton and her own?

"Sadly, no. But, now that you mention it, maybe I should."

▬▬▬

So the days had passed, until things were clear again. The world was colder now, and you could feel it around your cloak, but everyone was well prepared for it. You'd all gotten your own instructions on what to purchase, and been sent off to pick up supplies, which had taken the whole day between bartering and transporting. Thakfully, without Mira there you managed to get a Savior of Vaugarde Discount, and used the extra coin to pick up a pain au chocolat. Some things, it seemed, were eternal, and this one you didn't mind.

So it was that you returned to the inn, one hand with a canvas bag full of smaller bags, spices and flour and other things for Bonbon, the other letting you munch away happily, but you found yourself pausing outside the door. Something was wrong, you could feel it. You finished your treat quickly, and opened the door with a hand on your dagger. A pre-feeling, something that you couldn't put words to, told you that there was something going on beyond the door

You were right.

But not how you thought.

Instead, the family had been standing around in a half-circle, seemingly waiting for you to get back! You barely had time to rescue the groceries as a Bonbon-shaped missile impacted your legs and held you, Mira following after on the other side and Nille even stepping in to ruffle your hair, as Odile looked on fondly, and Isa…Hid something.

As lovely as the feeling was, your suspicions were raised far too high.

You managed a laugh, and to pull yourself free of the hug after enough time that it had started to loosen, before staring down Isa. Watching his cheeks darken was almost worth he price of admission, even as the others spoke around you. Again.

"I told you he'd notice!"

"You hardly had a better idea, Mirabelle."

"Uh-uh! We shoulda done it at dinner! Make sure he's comf-ta-bul."

"Comfortable, Boniface."

"That's what I said!"

It all flowed around you, as you stepped closer to Isa, and sighed. "I know what bonding earrings are, Isa." You allowed, holding out a hand, making him stutter even worse - and sending a roil of laughter around the room from everyone else.

That wasn't it? Then what was he hiding?"

"You're half right, I'm afraid. This is actually something we'd all been thinking about for a while…The past week just proved how important it was. It's not bonding earrings, but…"

As Odile spoke, Isabeau brought a black jewelry box around, holding it out to you. His words were trembling and small, in the way he always seemed to do only for you. You wished he wouldn't…his big booming voice was always so nice.

"We noticed you don't have any earrings yourself, Sif! And…I mean, you're as Vaugardian as any of us, if you want to be. Not that you should feel like you have to give anything up for us! But! I thought this might…make it easier to remember?"

What…were they saying?

Isabeau opened the box, and instead of one of his black i-earrings like you'd expected, a pair of star-shaped earrings rested inside. They were a light shade, just dark enough to notice around your hair, and obviously handcrafted. The edges were imprecise, the designs weren't symmetrical, and you could feel the love in every angle.

You stared. You didn't know what else to do.

Isa was saying more things, and it sounded like other people were responding, but you lifted up a hand to the box. A shaking hand, you realized when it was halfway there. Trembling, uncertain, but you didn't dare stop now. Not when they'd put so much effort in.

"-know what I was working on, the past few days. It's something of a rush job and it shows, but it's even more Vaugardian to have it made by your family, isn't it?" Odile was speaking.

Made…by your family.

Made by them.

You cried. You wrapped your arms around the giant body of Isabeau and you cried and you sobbed and you bawled and for once in your life, you weren't ashamed of a single sound you made. There wasn't any room for it in your heart. Not with everything else you were feeling.

Everyone else was holding you in moments. You turned, as best you could in the group hug, to include all of them. You knew you were getting tears and snot all over them and you didn't care. They were there. They were your family. They…You were one of them.

In that moment, of all moments, you were loved.

[livesworthlivingau]

Behind the Vale Chapter 24

Spoilers for ISAT/Two Hats below the break as always. CW: Some slight mental spiraling but hey that's to be expected at this point.

{You walk along with Bonnie sitting on your shoulders, gently but securely holding their legs to keep them from falling. Mirabelle and Odile joining you through the market as well. You smiled so brightly as Bon went on and on about their journey with the other saviors, listening intently to every word, so happy to have them back and know they were so well taken care of while you were frozen.}

{After a while, Isabeau finally returns, catching up to you all with a big smile.}

"Woah! When did you get so tall Bonnie?!"

"Hah! I'm taller than Za now! I'm unstoppable!!" {Bon proclaims with their fists confidently raised into the air. You can't help but chuckle heavily at that.}

"Thank y'all so much for taking such good care of Bonnie for me..." {You can't hold it in anymore, you're so grateful for everything they did, all the stories you've heard. Isabeau gives a bit of a nervous smile, rubbing the back of his head.}

"Thanks but... Sif's really the one you should be thanking the most." {You perk up at that, glancing at the others curiously. Mirabelle looks away with a shameful look. Odile has her arms crossed and doesn't want to meet your gaze either. You peek up at Bon, who's got a sad, pouting look on their face.}

"Did something happen Bon?..." {They look away as well, not wanting to talk about it, clearly.}

"There was this sadness once..." {Isabeau begins to explain.}

"None of us were close enough, and before we knew it it was about to get Bonnie... Sif's the fastest out of all of us, and suddenly he was there, in between them... He took the hit for them, lost his eye in the process..." {You're shocked at first, looking back up at Bon again, they still don't want to make eye contact. You pat their leg lightly to try and comfort them.}

"Well... I'll just have to thank them with the biggest hug I can manage when I meet them then~!" {You cheer, trying to lighten the mood for everyone. You're used to being an emotional rock for your sibling, it's almost comforting to get the chance again.}

"Y-Yeah! J-just be sure not to sneak up on him!" {Mirabelle chimes in, happy that that didn't ruin the good time you were all enjoying.}

"Heh... Don't want him to suplex you either Nille." {Bon teased with a grin. You roll your eyes a bit with a playful pout.}

"That was one time Bon!... Okay twice but still!" {You two have a little pouting stand off before you both break out into heavy laughter.}

"HAH! Not used to touch either then?"

"Not exactly, more just, easily spooked. Don't like things sneaking up on me, liable to get a hammer to the face that way."

"I'll do my best to stomp around as loud as possible." {Isabeau says with a grin. Bon giggling heavily at that.}

"That's what I had to do!! She even got me in a headlock once when I tried to surprise hug her!!"

"You knew not to sneak up on me Bon! I can't help what my body does when it gets surprised like that!"

"Perhaps it may be best to keep that hammer of yours by the door when we're in a safe place." {Odile chimes in with a light smirk, you're glad to hear she has a sense of humor, chuckling back a bit before responding.}

"Yeah that's usually the rule at home too." {Odile smiles at that, before her face turns more serious... studious maybe?}

"I apologize for the sudden shift in topic but, could we discuss your 'traveling companion'?"

"Hmm? Vale? Oh yeah, uhhh.. Y'all knew them as someone else I guess?" {You noticed they all called them Loop earlier, you don't want to expose too much since you aren't sure what they know versus what Vale told you.}

"Yeah, with a star for a head and everything, they were with Sif during the-" {Isabeau quickly claps a hand over their mouth.}

"Oh, Vale told me about the loops already actually, if that's what you mean."

"Oh!... Uhh... That makes things easier I guess?" {Isabeau looked relieved bit also pretty thrown off by that.}

"Including the new ones?" {Odile chimes in.}

"New ones?"

"I'll take that as a no then. What did Vale tell you about exactly?"

"Well... They kinda got really personal about a lot of stuff, I don't know what I'm allowed to talk about or not, y'know?"

"Yeah, we shouldn't be prying too much behind their back. How about your travels together then? You said they saved you from a sadness?" {Isabeau starts to shift the conversation.}

"Yeah! They must have been walking for a week straight or something, they passed out right after."

"Did they look like they do now, or?..."

"Oh, no, they were the star head you mentioned. My 'knight in shining face' as I called them." {Isabeau lets out a heavy belly laugh at that, you follow it up with a proud little chuckle. Bon even gives a little giggle at that.}

"We stuck around after that since they mentioned knowing y'all. We did some random busy work for coin, and they blew it all on some 'fancy outfits'." {You explain with a little smirk, it was difficult to even pretend to be angry about that, remembering the look on their face after trying on their first one. Isabeau watches your face curiously, smiling a little himself.}

"Heh, sounds like you two got real close already, huh?"

"Huh? Oh yeah I guess, just uhh... had a lot of bonding time together! Went through a lot in these past weeks." {You start to explain, a light blush across your face. Isabeau just gives you a knowing grin. Why does he keep looking at you like that?}

"O-Oh?! I hope your journey wasn't too difficult! What did you go through?" {Mirabelle chimes in nervously.}

"Oh! No no not like that kind of... Again, it was mostly personal stuff, I can't really talk about it much, but I've been helping them deal with some things."

"You mean like... Feelings buddies?!" {Her eyes beam brightly with excitement, you let out another laugh.}

"Yeah! Feelings buddies! That's a good way to put it." {Bon makes a gagging sound above you playfully. You lightly slap their leg before they giggle again.}

{You all continue sharing stories about your separate journeys, catching up while they gather supplies, doing your best to avoid any information that Vale might want to hold close to the chest.}

-------------------------------------------------------------

"So, have you told them anything?" [You ask, breaking the somewhat comfortable silence you both sat in.]

"Huh?" [Stardust perks up, confused by your sudden question.]

"About this go around, about the new loops... about me?"

"N-No! Nothing about you! I promise!" [They shoot up in a panic.]

"This isn't an interrogation, Stardust... I'm just curious where they're all at." [He settles back into his chair after a moment.]

"... I told them it's been 30 years, and some stuff related to that... I think that's it." [He ponders for a moment, trying to remember everything.]

"What have you told Nille?" [Your gaze drifts to the side, letting out a heavy sigh and taking a moment to speak.]

"Damn near everything..."

"Everything?!"

"... She knows I was you, and what I went through, and in turn what you went through. Sorry for telling your secret, it's not exactly easy to only tell my own."

"Th-That's okay!... Wow..." [They look absolutely dumbfounded by this bombshell.]

"I'm just as surprised as you are, I didn't expect to be spilling my guts about that ever, let alone to someone I've only known for such a short time."

"She really is special like that, huh?" [They ask with a bright smile.]

"She really is..."

[There's a knock at the door before it starts to peek open.]

"Hey! Sif, Vale, we're back!" [The Fighter calls in cautiously, taking a moment to open the door as to not interrupt so suddenly. You visibly tense up as they arrive, taking a deep breath or two to try and still your nerves.]

"Ack-Hey!" [He shouts as the Kid squirrels their way between him and the door, rushing up to Stardust.]

"FRIN FRIN FRIN! WE FOUND NILLE! NILLE'S HEEEEEERE! THE STAR WOOORKED!" [They yell at the top of their lungs in excitement, practically jumping on him and trying to tug him towards the door.]

"I heard! Hold on Bonbon!" [They protested in vain while the Kid kept pulling them towards the entrance. The rest of the party spilling inside, along with Nille.]

[Stardust finally gives in, letting themself be dragged along, giving a little wave hello to Nille before she suddenly envelops him in a massive, tight, warm hug... You look away as you feel your face heat up a tad. Please tell me that didn't make us jealous...]

"Thank you so much for what you did for Bonnie!"

"Agh! C-Can't... Breathe!" [You peek back over as she loosens her grip, still holding them close.]

"Sorry! Sorry. Just... Truly, thank you... thank you so much. I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to them."

"Yeah, of course..." [The look on their face says it all, they'd do it again a thousand times, without any hesitation. But no one wants to say that around the Kid.]

"What was that star anyhow?"

"You can thank our well dressed friend here for that!" [Nille proclaims, gesturing to you. You force a light smile.]

"I made a little wish, a gift from the universe… It seems it's not quite out to get us all the time after all." [The researcher continues to examine you curiously, it's incredibly unnerving. Stardust seems to take notice.]

"Odile, please let Vale relax at least before you interrogate them with your piercing stares." [They comment with a playful chuckle.]

"Ah, my apologies. You have me curious about a great many things, Vale, but that can wait til later." [Why did that feel like a threat? You do your best to shake that off, letting it be a problem for later.]

"Yes, well, I'm sure it's been a long day for all of us. Why don't I go figure out where I'll be staying for the evening and you all can get acquainted properly!"

"You're not staying with us?" [The Housemaiden chimes in.]

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly impose!"

"But we've got plenty of room here! As long as someone doesn't mind taking the couch!" [She continues her insufferable insistence.]

"P-Please, I really couldn't interrupt just a lovely reunion like tha-"

"Vay, you're staying and that's final~." [Nille says plainly, as if it were a simply fact of the universe. You think for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh.]

"Fine… But I'll be taking the couch, I won't let anyone else suffer it for my benefit."

"Deal!" [The Housemaiden finally agrees, why must they all be so insufferably kind… You glance back over at Stardust. He has a bright smile plastered on his face, so glad you'll be staying. You let out another sigh, still so unsure about all of this. At this point, you've made your bed, somewhat literally, and now you must sleep in it.]

-----------------------------------------------

[You lie on the couch, blanket over you, forearm resting over your head, the other over your chest. You stare blankly at the ceiling while sleep eludes you, not that you expected it to come easy this night. With everything going on it would simply be a miracle to get a wink of sleep that night.]

[You perk up as you hear a door open, a stifled cry, and footsteps down the hall. You peek over the couch to find Nille leaving the hallway, wiping the tears from her eyes and heading over to you quickly.]

"Nille?! What's wrong, why are y-" [You begin to ask before you're suddenly enveloped in an incredibly tight hug. You blink in confusion, but slowly bring your arms up to wrap around her as well.]

"Sorry, sorry, just got emotional thinking about Bon and... Thank you so crabbing much for protecting them..."

"What? But... that was Stardust, not me."

"You mean the one who used to be?" [She asked like the point wasn't even worth refuting, slowly bringing a hand up to move the hair out of your face and behind your ear. She then rests it on your cheek, looking into your eyes. Her rough, calloused hands still managing to hold your face so gently.]

"I always wanted to ask about your eyes being different colors... I noticed you were blind in one a while ago but didn't want to bring it up... You lost it for Bonnie, didn't you?"

"... That... That was Stardust, I can't take credit for it..."

"Vale... That happened before your wishes, right? And your eye is still affected. That means it happened, and you saved them. So thank you. Thank you for making sure me and Bon got to see each other again..."

[You look away, you still don't feel deserving of the thanks. Even if it was technically you back then, that's not you anymore. Would we even make the same choice?... Would we be strong enough to do so?]

"Well, I just had to get that out of my system." [She explains, sniffling and wiping her eyes again, trying to get a hold of herself.]

"I better get back before Bon wakes up... Thanks Vay, for everything, and for sticking around." [She says, her touch slowly leaving your form, in spite of your desperate, internal wish that it would stay... No... no we can't trap her, we can't trap anyone ever again... She heads back to her room, closing the door and leaving you to yourself once more. You simply stare at the ceiling again until the sun begins to beam through the window.]

[hezzabeth]

Revati knew, as she walked back to Baker Street, that once again she was on the edge of things.

Revati could barely remember the first edge she encountered, four years old and holding a balloon while drones flew above.

The second edge, seeing her father’s twitching hand under the rubble.

And now, Amma standing in the doorway with Dusk.

Her arms were folded, and she glared when she realized Camilo was with them.

"Hello, Camilo," Amma remarked.

"Sugafanna! I haven’t seen you since…" he began.

"Jay’s last birthday; you drank too much of your honeymede and threw up on the walls," Amma pointed out.

"Ah, yes," Camilo blushed with embarrassment.

"And I suppose you’re here to help Revati with this insanity?" Sugafana asked coldly.

"Is saving the ones we love really that insane?" Camilo asked Sugafana, who sighed, rolling her eyes.

"I’m going to the station now, Amma; where’s Nanni?" Revati asked.

"I’m right here, Dimpy," Nanni said from behind mother.

"Don’t die while I’m gone; you’ve lasted eighty years. You can last a little longer," Revati said firmly.

Nanni pulled her down, kissing her forehead, and then draped something around Revati’s neck.

It was her precious Kasithaali, a gold chain dotted with gold and coral beads.

In the center of the chain, there was a tiny golden idol, its features finely carved.

The Kasithaali was ancient, trailing far back to the first Sheik born on Mars.

The coral beads had been picked from a long-ago dead and abandoned Earth.

"Nanni, you know I can’t take this! Raiders will try to steal it," Revati pointed out.

"Hide it down the front of your clothes! You will need Lakshmi’s protection," Nanni said firmly.

"You will also need this," Amma replied, sliding off one of her bangles.

"Why are you both giving me wedding jewelry? I’m going on a rescue mission; I’m not getting married," Revati asked as Amma slid the bangle onto Revati’s wrist.

Amma tapped the bracelet four times, and it suddenly glowed a faint purple.

"DNA approved user confirmed, current balance nine thousand six hundred and eighty-three credits," the bracelet chimed.

"It’s not a bracelet; it’s my portable bank account! You’re not going to go out into the world with no funds," Amma said as Revati stared at the glowing numbers.

"Is this a lot of money?" She asked curiously.

"It’s enough. Now here’s everything else you asked for... including your sister's hairbrush," Amma asked, handing Revati a bag, and Revati nodded.

"Good, well, I best be off then," Revati said, and Amma nodded.

Revati realized it was probably time to say something else.

"I love you both," she added before reaching forward to embrace Amma.

Revati firmly believed in only hugging on her terms.

Still, Amma deserved it.

It took a moment to realize that Brigadeiro Bun was politely following her and Camilo.

"Why are you trailing behind me?" Revati had to ask.

"He's following you as well, as well as what I suspect is the android wearing a cloak," Brigadeiro pointed out.

"I need Camilo to help me at the train station," Revati replied as they reached the maze's entrance.

"I’m pretty sure I can turn the train on for one ride; I salvaged a power cell from the dragon," Camilo explained.

"Well, I’m following you because you’ll need my tent if you want to survive the elements," Brigadeiro replied.

"You got your tent back, then?" Revati asked as they entered the maze.

In the distance, Revati could hear someone giggle among the leaves.

"Yes, Isabeau found it in the lost property pile," Brigadeiro replied.

"And you’re going to give me your tent?" Revati asked.

"I’m going to share it with you; it’s a two-person tent! My ex and I were supposed to travel together, but we broke up," Brigadeiro said with a small shrug.

"You don’t seem that upset about it," Revati pointed out as they turned a corner.

The giggling was coming from two small children in medical dress fighting with sticks.

"I was; then I went out to find diamond roses for her, and everything else happened," Brigadeiro admitted.

"So you’re going to travel with me for an indefinite amount of time? Finding my sister plus take weeks or months," Revati said as they turned right.

"Or years; when appliances want to hide things, they stay hidden," Camilo pointed out.

"Well, I’ll stay with you until we reach a public teleportation station; then you can keep the tent," Brigadeiro said, and Revati shrugged.

"Fine, that’s a fair exchange for saving your life twice," she admitted.

The maze suddenly opened up onto the grand entrance of Olde Landon.

The ticket booths, in the shape of castle turrets, had long ago been abandoned.

The giant Elizabeth Twin statue was covered in gently glowing fungus.

Revati stared at them briefly.

One of the queens was in a grand solid carved ballgown.

The other in a neat suit and hat.

Both of them had lizard faces.

"We have the exact same statue on the South West Sydney Space station; apparently, the lizard faces allowed the queens to live for centuries," Brigadeiro remarked.

"That was just a myth; come on this way," Camilo replied.

The park bullet train ran from the park to Leeryasoar, the country's capital. Years ago, the station teemed with tourists. Feet would pound over the shiny tiles, the exact same gold and purple as the domed train. Creatrix vending machines were constantly humming next to the benches. Revati remembered Amma punching in several numbers to get Dityaa a bottle of mango lassi. There had been a stand in the center of the platform selling park maps and plastic magic wands. Pink and red roses grew in orderly bushes. Holographic signs floated on the walls, stating that all data cloud technology would stop working inside the park. Revati had dim memories of her father checking the news on his communications bracelet before they went inside. The signs had long ago been smashed to pieces and were now nothing more than broken screens. The Creatrix vending machines had been looted and were now filled with spiders. The roses all grew in wild tangles flowing over the garden beds.

"Wow; these roses have gone feral! They're singing about how much they wish they could prick people with their thorns," Brigadeiro remarked as Camilo approached the abandoned purple shuttle train with his tool belt.

"Are we far enough away from the wall?" Revati asked.

"We should be! All the vending machines were, so they led the attack during the invasion! The only thing that stopped them was the station's power supply getting cut off," Camilo said, gesturing about. Camilo was right; the station was dim and depressing under the grey Martian sunlight. Revati nodded and whisked the cloak off the figure. The maternity droid stared back at her. Camilo had taken the time to repaint its face. Its lips were a deep scarlet, its eyes bright cheerful green. Camilo had also replaced its broken legs with bulky steel ones he had spray-painted blue with cheerful flowers painted down the side. The belly door had been reattached and was now filled with a healthy white light.

"Hello, I am your custom-built Materno 4000 Deluxe prenatal droid! Would you like to grow a new baby or link to your pre-existing infant?" The android chirped in a flat metallic voice.

"Pre-existing infant," Revati said, and the Android's eyes fluttered.

"Your pre-existing infant is 218 months old, is this correct?" The android asked.

"Correct," Revati said, and the android blinked again.

"Your pre-existing infant is currently out of detection range; would you like to create a new infant?" The android asked.

"No! I want to talk to the lady who was using you as a microphone before," Revati said.

"You have to tell it to open maternal communication! I turned the channel off," Camilo said from where he had managed to open the front panel of the train.

"Open maternal communication!" Brigadeiro said eagerly.

The android's eyes fluttered shut once again. There was nothing.

"I don't think we're far enough away from the wall," Revati sighed.

But then the humming began. A faint, child-like humming came from behind the Android's lips.

"Whispers in the motherboard, a haunting tune,

A phantom dancing in the light of a digital moon," Brigadeiro sang along, and Revati shot him a confused look.

"It's humming Circuit whispers! From the hit musical 'The Android of Music,'" Brigadeiro explained.

"I've never heard of it," Revati confessed.

"You've never heard of 'The Android of Music'? Praise group! Once you've rescued your sister, I'll have to take you! Everyone needs to hear 'The Android of Music,'" Brigadeiro said firmly. Before Revati had a chance to reply, the android's eyes snapped open again.

"Thank Krishna! Finally, a decent signal; it's been eighteen years," the android exclaimed in an incredibly annoyed upper-class woman's voice. The Android reached clumsily toward Revati, snatching her bag. Then it reached inside, pulling out Dityaa's hairbrush. The belly door swung open, and the Android shoved the hairbrush inside.

"Did it just do what I think it just did?" Brigadeiro grimaced.

"How else do you expect me to trace my daughter's DNA?" The Android asked, and then her belly glowed green.

"Right, the last recording of her DNA imprint was in New Singapore six hours ago! Let's go find my baby," the android said firmly and cheered as the train burst back into life.

[torchstelechos]

i looove act 3 because the King convos are so. inch resting. especially since Siffrin iirc pretty much just completely ignores the party while talking to the King

imagine being anyone else with Siffrin on this whole journey and then as soon as you meet the King, the big bad evil guy, your bestie Siffrin just. starts talking to him? he doesn't pay attention to you trying to figure out why he's doing that. he's just talking. about what? remember what? all these questions about King? why are they talking like they know each other? why does the King get so sad about Siffrin and why does Siffrin seem to care so much about King?

none of this gets answered for the party because as soon as Siffrin is done suddenly chatting up the King they go in for the kill again like That Didn't Just Happen and then they have more pressing stuff to deal with

like huh. what. what just happened there.

bonus points for the entire "SAY IT BRIGHT ONE...!!!" event. if the timelines continued on without Siffrin i would pay money to be a crab in a fishtank listening in on however the hell the party is freaking out once Siffrin and King mutually KO each other trying to say "it". whatever the hell "it" is.

the party would lose it oh my god, that's like an assisted suicide action. They won but at what cost? The whole country is safe! And they'll never know why they were saved, or how, and neither will the party. The party will always be lost behind Siffrin as Siffrin goes forward in a direction they can't follow, because Siffrin won't let them. The leader who guides but won't let them follow. Do they think it was premeditated on either side? Do they think Siffrin gave them self up on purpose? Do they think the king made him do it somehow through craft? Did they wrestle with the body and pour healing craft after healing craft down his throat and beg for it to work? Did they cradle their body as it lay limp? Asking him why, why, why? Did Odile cry and whisper cold things to the kings corpse? Did Isabeau scream in denial before crying over a cloak that is now stained dark? Did Mirabelle stay frozen, her hands on Siffrin's neck, as she realized she couldn't save him and that is the worst thing she has ever done to him? Did Bonnie cry and cry and cry over the fact Frin did it again? But this time with a cost too high? Did Euphrasie come to check on them only to jerk back and clutch her face, as something is failing, rotting, breaking?

Now for less serious;

Aauuggghhhh, in the loops where it's not the SAY IT BRIGHT ONE I bet Odile is thinking back on that assassin thing and going, hmm maybe they're ex's?? Instead?? And Isabeau who is the other theorycrafter of the party is like MADAME PLS, PLS LET ME HAVE THIS. DO NOT SAY THEY WERE EXS I DONT THINK I CAN HANDLE IT. Mirabelle definitely is like... The backstory!!! The lore!!!! What is going on!!! Are they friends?? Past allies now enemies??? FAMILY???? WHAT AM I MISSING??? Bonnie thinks Siffrin is a crab and doesn't want to think about the king more than they have to. Siffrin is debating whether or not to use the dagger or just talk to Euphrasie. Euphrasie is like, hmmm, same shit as always :)

[basilpaste]

GO MY LOCK FIGHT. TWOHATS SPOILERS.

[1,898 words below.]

(There is no one at the Favor Tree.)

(But… that’s not exactly true, is it?)

(The leaves of the tree rustle just out of sync with the wind, some of the branches dipping just a little bit too low.)

(...)

(. . . . .)

“Lock?”

(Silence.)

“Lock, say something!” (You shout.) “I know you’re here.”

〘“...”〙

(The branches of the tree shift, shooting up and sending a cascade of leaves to the ground.)

(When the scene clears, Lock is here.)

(It doesn’t say anything, it just looks at you. Straight at you. Letting you examine it clearly.)

(You knew, didn’t you? Even if it looks nothing like him, you’d recognize one of your closest friends anyways, wouldn’t you?)

(Isa.)

(It takes one of the lightless charms that hangs from the ring around its face, holding it up to the light.)

(It glints.)

〘“...”〙

〘“Siffrin.”〙

〘“Why are you here?”〙 (It brings the earring down, hands folding on its lap.) 〘“You won, didn’t you?”〙

〘“You did it! You finally actually did it. You’re free. The King is gone, your friends are safe, you made it!”〙

〘“... I’m so happy for you.”〙 (It means it, you can tell. You think that makes it worse.) 〘“You made it out. So… go. Live your new life. You don’t need me anymore.”〙

(You don’t know what to say. So instead you just stay put.)

〘“Go!”〙 (It says again, almost desperate.) 〘“Don’t just stand there! You’re free, Siffrin. Be free.”〙

(You don’t move from your spot.) “I—”

〘“Leave me alone here! I have nothing else to offer you.”〙 

(You want to argue. You can’t get a word in edgewise.) 

〘“Siffrin, I am a tool. Something here to aid you with the loops. And now they’re over! You made it! There’s nothing left for me to do for you.”〙 (Its voice shakes.) 〘“There’s no reason to come back here. To talk to me. No reason at all! You don’t need the shackle around your wrist now that the chain’s been cut. There’s nothing keeping you here.”〙

〘“So you should just go.”〙

(You don’t move.)

〘“What else do you want me to say? What else can I possibly say?”〙 (It bows its head, hands balling into fists.) 〘“You did it, Siffrin! I’m so glad!”〙

“...”

〘“Y’know… you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for. I’m sure you get it. You’ve talked to Isabeau enough times to understand.”〙

〘“I’ve worn so many hats at this point that all I am is the rack that they sit on. When I — when he — met everyone, it was the first time he ever felt like he belonged.”〙

〘“He was a nervous child and a friendly, but distant, adult. The people he met on his journey… they were the closest thing to family he’s ever had.”〙

〘“And — and he didn’t want to lose them. He was too scared!”〙

〘“So he made the exact same kind of mistake that you did. Made a stupid wish, hoping that he could stay with them all! That he’d never have to just be a friendly face again.”〙

〘“He fought his way through the House, tried to fight the King, for so long that he lost track.”〙

〘“And eventually he lost himself, too. And he couldn’t keep going.”〙

〘“He gave up.”〙

〘“But instead of nearly destroying the world, he destroyed himself. Change is… destruction, y’know?”〙

〘“And then he made a new wish.”〙

〘“He wished that he knew what to do.”〙

〘“He wished that something would change.”〙

〘“He wished for someone to help him.”〙

〘“He wished for anyone to help him. So he didn’t have to be strong anymore.”〙

(...)

〘“And someone did help him, right?”〙

〘“For a long time, I thought it was the Change God. On a surface level it fit the bill — right? I was Changed. I became something totally different than what I was before.”〙

〘“But the Change God is a pretty lazy deity.”〙

〘“I realize now that it was the Universe. I made a wish, even if I didn’t know that I was doing it.”〙

〘“And the Universe granted that wish by trapping you in time instead. By making me into a tool to help guide you.”〙

〘“I was horrified.”〙

〘“My stupid, uneducated wish got Siffrin trapped in the loops instead!!!”〙

〘“And all I could do was watch. All I could do was give you as much information as I had and hope you wouldn’t make all of the same mistakes that I did.”〙

〘“Which you didn’t. You got out! You made it through!”〙

〘“...”〙

〘“And now… now you can go.”〙

〘“So please just go.”〙

(You won’t.)

〘“Please, Siffrin.”〙

(You can’t.)

(Lock gets to its feet unsteadily, hands wrapped around itself. Even without eyes, you can tell that it’s looking anywhere but at you.)

〘“Fine.”〙

〘“If you won’t leave on your own, I’ll make you leave.”〙

〘“Being a weapon isn’t that different from being a tool.”〙

〘“... Let’s just get this over with.”〙

[Down 1:] (LOCK cries out.)

〘“I’m not stopping until you give up and go.”〙

〘“Sorry, Siffrin. Did you forget?”〙

〘“I used to be in your shoes, y’know?”〙

〘“[If I die I, can just loop back.]”〙

〘“Hah…”〙

[Down 2:] 〘“The person I used to be never beat the King. Not in a way that mattered.”〙

〘“The only time he ever managed it, it all went back to the start! And he could never do it again. He tried. Not hard enough.”〙

〘“... Isabeau. He sits in front of the Favor Tree for a long time at the start of each loop. Before you get here.”〙

〘“I thought about it sometimes, y’know? How much time there is.”〙

〘“I could take his place before you ever left the meadow! Be a person again. Be him again.”〙

〘“But I’m not a person anymore. I’m just here to help you!”〙

〘“I’m here to help you. And I did that!”〙

〘“So why won’t you just LEAVE?! Learn how to quit, Siffrin! I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.”〙

〘“Don’t you get that?! Do you have any idea how horrible it is to see these — these knockoffs of people you knew?”〙

〘“It’s awful, Siffrin! It’s terrible!”〙

〘“You don’t understand what it’s like to see the face that used to be yours and not recognize it!!!”〙

〘“I CAN’T REMEMBER MY OWN FACE.”〙

〘“I DON’T RECOGNIZE ANYONE'S FACE ANYMORE. NOT EVEN YOURS.”〙

〘“SO JUST!!!”〙

〘“LEAVE ALREADY!!!!!!”〙

[Down 3, End:] 〘“PLEASE!!!”〙

(Lock hesitates.)

(Seeing the opening, you strike!)

〘“Please.”〙

(Lock        can’t fight anymore.)

(You won.)

(. . .)

〘“Siffrin.”〙

(It sounds more exhausted than you’ve ever heard it.)

〘“I don’t — I know it’s selfish but I don’t want to be here anymore.”〙

〘“It’s not that I want to die, but… I’m tired.”〙

〘“This is the kind of burden you shouldn’t have to face. Not anymore.”〙

〘“Leave. Go be happy.”〙

(You don’t get it.) “... Wasn’t talking about things the whole point of this? Wasn’t it the reason I even broke the loops?”

(Lock               laughs.)

(It’s so weak you barely hear it.)

〘“Stars. That’s true.”〙

〘“I meant it when I said that you’re smarter than you think you are, Siffrin.”〙

(So…) “Why not talk about it, then?”

〘“You have a whole life to live now. People who love you.”〙

〘 “Siffrin I — I don’t.”〙

〘“They’re all… long gone now. And I’m not ever going to get them back.”〙

〘“You have something to strive for.”〙

〘“I don’t want to be the shackle on your wrist anymore.”〙

〘“So just… leave! Go! Live a good long life that’s worth living!!!”〙

〘“Kill me if you have to!”〙

〘“Just don’t stay here!!!”〙

(...)

(You want to do that. Live a good life.)

(You don’t want Lock to suffer like this, though. It hurts to see it so desperate.)

(It’s your friend! Even if it doesn’t let you call it that.)

(You want your friends to be happy. You want Lock to be happy.)

“I’ll leave soon.” (You say slowly, quietly.) “I just… I wanted to say goodbye.”

(Lock presses its lips together.)

〘“Goodbye, Siffrin.”〙

“And!!!” (You add hurriedly) “I wanted to thank you.”

〘“Thank me?”〙 (It echoes.) 〘“For what?”〙

“For everything.”

〘“What?”〙

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Lock!”

〘“I… I don’t—”〙

“Without you, I would’ve given up a long time ago!”

“But you were always here! Giving me advice and guiding me through the worst of it. Even if you didn’t have all the answers, you always did your best to help me out!”

“You gave me company, someone to talk to when I couldn’t talk to anyone else!” (You smile.) “But you were there, and it meant I wasn’t alone.”

〘“Stop.”〙

“It’s thanks to you!”

〘“STOP!!!”〙

(You toss your dagger to the side, into the grass. You’re kneeling over Lock right now, but you dip down and wrap your arms around it.)

〘“Siffrin…”〙

(You feel its arms around you.)

〘“I hate you.”〙

“No.” (You say.) “You don’t.”

〘“No. I don’t.”〙(It agrees.) 〘“I hate this.”〙

“Odile told me to thank you, too.”

“Everyone is really thankful.”

〘“Whuh— why?”〙

“You helped everyone, didn’t you? You guided everyone to the King?”

“They couldn’t have done it without you, either!”

“You helped save me. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

〘“Siffrin.”〙

〘“... Sif.”〙

“Thank you for everything, Isa.”

〘“Lock.”〙

〘“I… haven’t been Isabeau in a very long time. I’m okay with Lock. At least for now.”〙

“Thank you, Lock. For everything.”

(Lock doesn’t respond.) 

(You don’t think it can cry, but it hiccups against your shoulder.)

(The two of you sit like that for a long time.)

〘“Siffrin… I’ll be okay.”〙

“Will you?”

〘“I will.”〙

“Will I ever see you again?”

〘“... Yeah. I’m sure we’ll meet again eventually.”〙

(It pulls away from you and grabs the charm it had pulled from its ring earlier.)

(Grabbing your hand gently, it places it into your palm, shutting your fingers around it.)

〘“... Give that back to me the next time we see each other.”〙

(Oh!!!)

(You slip the charm into your pocket.)

(After a moment, you take one of the clips off of your cloak and hand it to Lock.)

“We’ll trade back next time we see each other!”

(It laughs. Bright and warm and lively.) 

〘“Deal.”〙 (It says, cradling your clip in its hand like something precious. 〘“Go live, Siffrin. I’ll… maybe I’ll start living, too.”〙

[vulpixisananimal]

[A:3 C:58]

(Siffrin) {Mal Du Pays} <Null> |Asterion|  [Loop] [(Saffron)]

(Today, You woke up squished between Ramos and Isabeau, and it was perhaps the safest you’ve felt in months.)

(Ramos’ arms were around your abdomen, and Isa reached all the way over you and Ramos’ bodies, keeping you all close. Your face was resting between Ramos’ head and Isabeaus chest. Your arms were around him. . . Stars. . .)

(You love them both so, so much.)

(The bed wasn’t the biggest in the world, but neither were you, so the three of you made it work. You feel Isabeau rousing from sleep first. You let out a soft laugh.) “G’morning, sleepyhead. . .”

“Sssiiifffff. . .” (He pulls you closer and leans kisses your head.) “Ssiffyyy. . .”

“Nooooo.” (The anguished groan came from Ramos as you were pulled away, they shuffled closer and held you tighter with both arms.) “Waaarrmmmm. . .”

“Mmmmsooo waaarmmm. . .” (Isabeau buried his head in your hair and nuzzled it.)

“Noooooo I’m being burriiiieeeeeddd. . .”

“Lost foreeeeeverrrrrr.” (Isabeau cries dramatically.)

“Buried away. . . My most precious treasure. . .” (Ramos giggles and kisses your neck.)

“W-whuh-” (You’re- o-ohstars you feel hot-)

“My cutest little wish. . .” (Isabeau kisses your head.)

“G-guys-” (You lost your words as Ramos kissed your neck again. Isa kissed your head. Ramos kissed your shoulder, Isa your forehead, your cheek, your chin-)

(You’re being buried in kisses!! Help!!!! HELP!!!!!!)

{No. Punishment.}

(HELP!!!!)

[Oh no Stardust! Surrounded by two rock types? At this rate you’ll be K.Oed in no time!!]

<A truly poor showing, Mx.lvl.99.>

(You felt so so dizzy, Isa was kissing you on the lips, Ramos was by your ear, ss-stars-)

(Isa pulled away, hand to your cheek.) “Too much?”

“Mnhfghnfdms.” (You felt so dizzy.) “sssoososo much. . .”

“S-sorry Siffrin.” (Ramos relents too.) “Not a good idea?”

“N-nonoI liked it just- b-breath, breather-” (You breathe, in and out, your heart, o-oh. .)

[(But isn’t this what you wanted?)]

(I-)

[(You wanted to be vulnerable, and congratulations! You got it~ You get to be the doll, the plaything, the actor for these two now! That is until they throw us away. And then where will you be!)]

(N-no they, won’t do that! I, I love them! So, s-so why would they-)

[(Oh! I see! Just like how you wanted to remember! Or how you wanted to keep living! Lying yourself to make yourself feel better! That’s alright, Host, I understand! Because you’re-)]

(You’re snapped out of your moment by Ramos BITING YOUR EAR?!? 

(You jump up into a sitting position, mouth over your face, turning to them.) “R-RAMOS?!?!”

“S-sorry!!” (They covered their face with the blanket.) “I-I, uh, sorry. S-still, trying to, get a hold on that mind craft stuff and I might have maybe a little bit overheard a little that something bad might be happening in there so-”

“O-oh! Uh. . .” (You scratch your arm.) “I. . . Thanks, uh. . .”

“A-are you sure? I’m, not really supposed to-”

(Isabeau reaches out and flicks Ramos forehead, then sits up as well.) “You meant good, Ramos, it’s alright!”

“O-okay--” (They sit up, too.) “. . . I, think we should get up.”

“O-oh yeah.”

“Too true! Breakfast awaits!!”

>>>

“Sleep better tonight, kiddo?” (Ramos asked Bonnie as you were stuffing your face.) 

“Eh.” (Bonnie replied between sips of a warm soup.) “Nightmare again, no moth, but it still felt better.”

“Well that’s not nothing!” (Mirabelle responded confidently.) “How does that work again, Rams?”

“You need a dreamlight in your room I think.” (They replied before slapping their head.) “Stars I should have put mine up in your room, sorry.”

“It’s ok.” (Bonnie took another sip.) I cn’ handle it.”

“No the crab you can’t.” (Nille interrupted, appearing from the kitchen.) “Rams, you can have more than one dreamlight, right?”

“Yeah? Oh! I could probably find one somewhere for Bonnie.”

“Perfect.” (Nille sat down.) “That god’s quickly becoming a favorite, sorry Change.”

“Oh no need to apologise to them.” [You interrupt sarcastically.] “They’re insane, quite insane.”

“H-hey!” (Mirabelle replied. Really, Loop?)

“Sorry Mirabelle, I’m speaking the truth~” [Oh come on, Stardust.] “Ah and sorry, I couldn’t help jumping in~ Because do you know just how the Change God reacted to Stardust's little never changing time loop?”

“O-ohheyLoop-” [Ramos looked surprised.] “Yeah uh, you guys were gonna tell me sometime right?”

“Now’s the time!” [You giggled.] “To abridge the story to avoid spoilers for Mirabelle; Changey oh so cheekily teased Siffrin about it, and was fine with it! A never ending two day loop! Fine!”

“. . . . Huh!” [Ramos leans back.] “I can believe it.”

“Yeah that doesn’t seem too far fetched actually.” [Mirabelle puts a finger to her chin.] “Besides! Siffrin did change a lot in that time. And hi Loop!”

“Eugh. Stars, was I the only one who thought that was unexpected?”

[No-one challenges you on that.]

“I hate you all so much.”

“O-oh! Right! Loop.” [Ramos swallows their bite of food, then pauses before continuing.] “U-uh, I, needed to, ask you something.”

“Oh really?” [You squint at them, hand to your mouth.] “What would you need answered by me?”

“A-actually uh, Siffrin asked me something but, I, want to check you first. A-and others.” 

[Oh?] “Go on?”

“W-well.” [They clear their throat.] “They, wanted me to teach them, some, mind craft. J-just in case Perci, y’know. . .”

[You stare at Ramos, then go back to your own food and angrily take a bite out of it, swallow.] “I’ll think about it.”

“T-thanksIjustwantedtocheckbecauseIdindn’twanttocrossa-” 

[Ramos was interrupted by a loud clanging of the bells in the distance. Ramos perked up.] “. . What time is it?!?”

“Uhm, quarter to eleven?

“. . . . CRAB!” [They jumped from their seat.] “The bells get rung off the hour if there’s some sadness atack!”

“O-OH!” [Isabeau jumps up too.] “Let’s go help em’ out then!!”

“Wonderful idea~” [You and Mirabelle get up, but Isa puts a hand on your shoulder.]

“You’re still recovering, Loop.” [He smiles at you.] “Please stay here?”

“I-” (Heeeee has a point.) “. . . Ugh, fine.”

“I’ll kick some butt for you, Lulu.” [Isa leaned down and kissed you softly on the lips]

[You immediately covered your face with your cloak and sat down. S-stars. . .]

>>>

(Ramos)

(Just in time!!)

(You didn’t pause for even a second, you rushed out of the city gate, and your tonfa rushed into the face of a sadness.)

“FINALLY!!” (Thai hopped back next to you, he was wielding a massive claymore.) “Where the crab WHERE you!!!”

“Running, mostly!!” (You reply cheekily.) “What were you doing! Except getting your ass beat-”

“DUCK! IDIOTS!!!” (Your instincts react faster than your head, you duck, as does Thai. A beam of craft energy passes overhead, piercing multiple sadness at once.)

(You look up, Ark was a few feet away, bow in hand, rock sign out. You wave.) “Cool craft!”

“SORRY WE’RE SLOW!!” (Isabeau and Mirabelle join the rest of you, you turn back to the waves of incoming sadness, back to it!!)

(Stars there was a lot.)

(You clobber another sadness, dance back, move around. Hit another, get going. Just focus on one fight at a time, you’ll beat em!)

(Why the hell was there so many sadness anyway? Oh what was that explanation again. . ?)

(An overabundance of sadness when the King froze the place, once the King disappeared, so did the sadness. That left a gap in the ecosystem for a few months with little to no sadness, then the sadness population booms for a little bit to fill the gap, then evens out eventually.)

(Stars above, that time of no sadness was nice while it lasted!)

(An arrow whistles by your head, a shield softens the blow from another. You tackle a sadness going for Thai, help take one down with Isa.)

(. . . You were starting to feel less useless.)

(Your muscles burned with each strike. Your bones shook with the impact of your feet in the grass. Your mind darted from threat to threat, trying to keep up. Dancing back, forward, defence, offence.)

(Ugh, Stars.)

(You feel a hand on your shoulder, Ark had put her bow aside and got her sword and shield out.) “Feel alright?”

“Yeah, just hungry.” (Eyeroll.) “We didn’t even finish breakfast!”

“Same here.” (Ark huffed, before jogging in and slashing at a sadness.) “I didn’t realize you were Eris kid! Sorry uh-”

“It’s cool!” (You circle around, striking the sadness from the back.) “I changed, probably didn’t recognize me!”

“Yeah, you look good by the way!” (Block, stab.) “Love the weapon choice, too!”

“Aww thanks!” (With a kick the sadness fell.) “I’m dual rock/scissors, so it’s perfect for me!”

“Oh sick!!” (Arks eyes lit up.) “Good defensively around the arms, and good for fast strikes!”

“Exactly!!” (You smiled, and moved to attack another sadness.) “They’re an ass to learn though!”

“I bet!” (Ark moved in with a big sword sweep.) “But I can’t say crab about stuff like that!”

“What does that mean?!” (Dodge, dodge, dodge.)

“It means-” (With a motion Ark threw her shield aside and grabbed the sword with both hands, and swung, slicing the sadness clean in half.) “I, -huff-, got training in a crab-ton of weapons.”

“Really?!?” (You pick her shield up and toss it to her.) 

“Yeah!” (She puts the shield back on.) “Lotta people like to read a book to relax. Me? I like learning a new fighting style!”

“Nice!” (You twirl a tonfa.) “That friend of mine, Siffrin, they wanna use more weapons. Maybe you could teach em?”

“Sure! Come by the big ass tower near the gate sometime, I usually stay there. Now, shall we?”

“Please.” (And off to the next sadness.)

(This banter continued, exchanging jokes, comments, advice with each other, as well as the rest of the group here! You were getting so in the zone, you barely focused on fighting the waves of sadness. Then you’d get slapped and snap back to reality.)

(But it was taking a while.) 

“Uuuhrg my fists are starting to cramp.” (Isa complains, shaking a hand out.)

“I got PLACES TO BE can these sadness just freakin’ GO!?!” (Thai spat on the ground.)

“Just a bit longer!” (Mirabelle reassured.) “It’s starting to thin out! I-I think, but we just-”

(And a row of sadness’ heads exploded.)

(Someone behind you snaps their fingers.)

(It was a blinding flash of white light, mixed with that same shade as before. But as soon as the light was there, it was gone. Who- you turn around.)

(Merlon was standing a few feet behind you. You locked eyes.)

(She snapped her fingers again, you saw a spark of light, and another row of sadness exploded.)

“Blinding crabs!” (You duck down, looking back at the fireworks, then back to Merlon. It looked like the others were having similar reactions.) “What the VOID?!?”

“O-oh Change. . .” (Mirabelle looked shocked.)

“Ooooooh crab okay.” (Isabeau was too pumped with adrenaline.)

“Woah.” (Ark, well, you knew the face of someone who wanted to try that later.)

“YEAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” (And Thai was, Thai.)

(Merlon snapped their fingers one last time, and the last sadness’ exploded into light.)

“. . . . . . . . . . . . .”

“. . . . My apologies.” (Merlon bowed shallowly.) “I had some emotions to get out of my system.”

“. . . . . No kidding!” (You chuckle nervously.) “U-uh, that, was, uh. . .”

“HOW’D YOU-” (Thai starts.)

“No.” (Merlon cuts him off.)

“BUT-”

“You’ll die.” (They wave him away.) “Don’t you have a Tea-vern to run?”

“CRAB! RIGHT!” (And Thai was off in an instant.)

(You stood up straight, Isabeau and Mirabelle walking next to you. . . Could. . . Could Merlon always do that?!? Ark looked between you all and Merlon. She must have caught the tension) “. . . . . I’ll let you catch up.”

(Once she was out of earshot, you had to ask.)  “. . . Why didn’t you do that when fighting us before?”

“Doing so would have left Perci frozen in time.” (They turn to leave.) “Either due to Lady Mirabelles death, or refusal to cooperate.”

“Hey wait!” (Isabeau steps forward.) “Weren’t you recovering because of that thing you did?!? Why are you here all of a sudden doing that?!?”

“. . . I spent a few more days than necessary to recover.” (She glances back.) “And I was discharged a few days ago.”

(Oh.)

(. . . . That piece of stinking crab meat Perci!!!) “He was at the medhouse the other day though?!?”

“To ask about craft exhaustion remedies.” (She waved a hand, then continued to walk away.) “Take care of yourselves, hopefully when we next meet you’ll happily help us with our research.”

(You watch her leave. As they walk to the gate, you see another familiar figure. The twin swords, the messy hair, the vest. He leans down and kisses her hand, and they walk back to the city together.)

(. . . If it wasn’t for literally everything else, you’d call them a cute couple.)

[perenlop]

my fucked up melatonin dream for today was about isat. it turned out that there was a secret loop you could access in act 4 called “the random loop” which you got by breaking the script and fucking around (in my dream, siffrin did this by watching pokemon and making isabeau and mirabelle do hula with them). but you’d loop back bc it didn’t change anything- but you wouldn’t loop back to dormont. you’d loop to a strange, unfinished sketchy world. you were in this strange space where lumps of earth and matter floated around.

and you would be approached by a little, sketched out bunny creature that was supposed to be mirabelle. but the bunny had a misshapen head and giant eyes that wouldnt stop moving and she was heavily anxious. and siffrin takes the loop as a sign hes a horrible person who broke the world, so he has to put his “actors” back together. and you were given several assets of the game to do so, to remake dormont and the party. but because this is act 4, siffrin has lost a lot of their grip on reality, and the loop is dependent on their mental state, so their attempts to rebuild the world were…. freaky.

in my attempt, i never even got the other members of the party, i just freaked mirabelle out so bad by knowing too much about her and being too controlling that she ran away. but in other playthroughs, people got weird results, like one rebuilt member of dormont actually murdered and ate sketch-isabeau and had other people eat him as well. dont remember any other specifics now, but it was doomed to fail in horrific ways no matter what. and it seemed like that loop would actually repeat several times until the universe corrected itself, leaving siffrin to keep attempting to fix the party, only to keep losing them in cosmic horror fueled ways, like them being deleted from existence in future loops if you weren’t careful. you had to do a very specific sequence of events to get back to the normal loops.

and one of the scarier parts was that the random loop’s effects had a permanent stain on your playthrough. siffrin’s monologues would become incoherent and filled with fucked up non-sequitors, he wouldn’t be able to tell reality from the random loop so he’d still act as if he was trapped in there, trying to rebuild the party from scraped down concepts only to lose them in horrific ways. even in act 6 he’d be afraid that he was just experiencing a hallucination, and he was still trapped in the random loop, and if he made one wrong move, his party would be slaughtered in a horrible way right before his eyes

[auncyen]

what I meant to write: mIrabelle as the one looping having a crying breakdown in the equivalent of act 3 because I thought of it a few days ago and it's been stuck in my head (Panic! at the Dinner Table).

What actually got written: can you imagine how terrible it'd be for another looper to start suspecting Siffrin did something WELL

-

Siffrin has been suspicious for several days.

(Odile might say 'days' is inaccurate, but it's close enough, you think! You start in early afternoon on one day and then, when everything goes well, see Euphrasie in late afternoon of the next day, so it's around a day--sometimes over...many times under. Also, calling them days feels...better. Maybe it's a 'cycle' or 'loop' for everyone else caught up in this, with them always being reset to the same places, the same lines until you start changing things, but you are moving through time. You're Changing.)

(You're changing, aren't you?)

(For the better?)

--Siffrin has been suspicious for several of your days. They still act like their friendly self--they've even gifted you a flower sometimes! (You suppose other times you might have been too abrupt in waking them up. And sometimes you haven't woken them up at all, because you realize they'll come to the Clocktower anyway. They all will, it's where you're staying. You couldn't come up with anything more creative than a sleepover?) But...something's off.

You first realized something was strange about Siffrin--well, a lot of things are strange about Siffrin. You're more worried about his memory than ever now. Whenever you go into that secret room for the stash of tonics, Siffrin starts talking about a time he ran away from home, only to suddenly stop and look confused. You've tried encouraging him to continue by reminding him of everything he said up to that point (Isabeau applauded your thorough recitation with the most lightheartedness he could muster while still looking Siffrin over with his own concern), but it doesn't jog anything. You've tried guiding Siffrin to tell the story a different way with questions, but it seems like he loses the thread even faster that way. Lately you've just...cut him off from telling the story by laughing as soon as he brings it up and mentioning how mad his parents must have been when he returned. Siffrin still looks confused and lost for a terrible moment when you say that, but then he grins and agrees, and surely he's agreeing because that's what actually happened, isn't it? He said he was playing a prank. He played a silly prank for an hour or two, and then he went home, and probably he got a scolding for it but everything was fine.

...You still. Would like to avoid that room in the future. To not see that scared, lost look on Siffrin. Maybe you're strong enough now that you don't need the tonics?

But, but, you need to focus. Siffrin's memory problems are strange and worrying, and you really wished they'd said sooner how bad it is instead of letting you all tease them about it, but what's suspicious is their connection to the King.

You're not entirely sure what it is. When you go to the King, he always singles Siffrin out. "Bright One...do you remember?"

Obviously, with the already-mentioned memory problems, the answer is No. You've tried asking Siffrin if they know the King in any way, but of course he says no? Even if they knew each other once, Siffrin could have forgotten him the same way he can't remember what happened when he went out on the ocean in a boat to prank his parents? You imagined a tragically doomed romance between a villain and a hero with partial amnesia from an injury earned in one of their past scuffles (why is Siffrin's memory that bad???) for all of ten seconds before you realized that if Siffrin could forget the King, he'll surely forget boring, stagnant Mirabelle as soon as he leaves. After that you were too depressed to imagine anything between Siffrin and the King, which was probably for the better. Especially considering...

One time, the King singled out Siffrin in a different way. A terrible way. The first loop--the first day after you defeated the King and got to see Euphrasie for a glimpse of happiness before being sent back--you'd lost your temper a bit. You'd pushed everyone to go through the House faster than any time before, brought back to your senses at the end of the second floor by Odile dryly commenting on her tired feet while giving a pointed look at Bonnie, who was obviously getting worn out. You'd apologized over and over, and chewed your nails off at the second snack break to let them take all the time they needed to recover their energy, and went through the third floor without saying anything to rush Siffrin. You'd kept your temper in check until you saw the King again, and then you'd accused him of being a cheat, an unchanged loser who couldn't accept defeat, and he'd let your venting wash over him with a calm indifference ("I do not know what you speak of, Housemaiden") until you told him exactly what you were speaking of--the time that kept turning back, again and again, the days the loops the returns--

His face is mostly obscured by his long hair, but you could tell by the way his head turned that he'd directed his attention to Siffrin, and you knew it was with a glare by the cold fury in his voice. "What have you done, Bright One. The Universe's will is with me."

And then

the king struck

and Siffrin--

You don't speak to the King anymore. You don't let him talk either. You're pretty sure he told you everything you'd want to know from him. He can use Time Craft, but he isn't the one holding you in these endless days. He thinks Siffrin can use Time Craft, which sounds ridiculous, but since then you've talked with the Change God (you'd wanted reassurance you'd wanted a sign your statue was the only one unbroken in the whole House and you touched its face in reverence and the Change God spoke to you) and they'd told you three things:

you're their favorite!

they're put out by Dormont being stagnant and unchanging, but they're excited to see how exactly you change (maybe being their favorite isn't good. Your favorite characters go through some awful things, after all)

Siffrin isn't not responsible for this???

So it makes sense that Siffrin had a hand in this somehow! After a few more days which let you reach Euphrasie, you realized the time reset at the end only happens while Euphrasie is talking to Siffrin! That's suspicious! And, and, you've tried preventing it by keeping Euphrasie from talking to Siffrin, but she is so insistent she'd like to talk to them, and everyone starts looking at you strangely the more you protest, and you just...can't stop it.

You can't stop Siffrin from ruining things.

You hate that you're even suspicious of him, but he won't admit to using Time Craft when you ask, and surely even with his terrible memory, he'd remember that? He doesn't forget everything! But if he's lying, then...

Then you don't know what that means.

You don't know what to do.

--

...What Siffrin did: show Mirabelle how to wish and be an islander recognized by other islanders and not particularly liked by the Change God

[passions-and-pupils]

A Closure So Far AKA: Siffren (SASASAAP) giving up from an outside POV

ao3 link if you’d prefer:

Isabeau knew something was off about Siffrin from the moment he saw him walking toward the favor tree. He walked like his shoes were a pound heavier than usual, and when he closed his eyes to blink Isabeau got the impression he had to try very hard to open them again.

“Uh, Hey Isa,” they asked, face twisting into an unnaturally cheery smile. He looked like a shapeshifter trying to replicate human facial expressions. Isabeau couldn’t stop the feeling of unease in his gut.

“Hey, uh, Siff? Are you still half asleep? You should stop taking forever naps Siff. Naps give you cotton brain,” Isabeau half-joked, lacing his words with genuine concern. Siffrin just stared forward, like he was waiting for him to continue

“Anyway I was just looking at the favor tree, isn’t this tree cool?” He once again tried to lighten the mood, that way they could start a conversation before easing into what was wrong, but when Siffrin responded it was like he was only half there

“It’s a tree-mendous tree,” the joke was good but its delivery only served to worry Isa more.

 Siff always made this face before he made a joke, a face Isabeau had come to know quite intimately throughout their travels together. Siffrin’s face didn’t change at all before or after that pun, like a ventriloquist dummy with one expression, they could make.

“Is everything alright?” Isabeau asked, finally deciding to get straight to the point. Siffrin tilted their head down, letting their eyes be covered by the shadow of their hat.

“I’ll tell you when we beat the king,” he said, and Isabeau didn’t believe him for a second. He wanted to push a little, since something was obviously bothering him but, Siffrin continued.

“Can I have some time alone with the tree? please?” that last word was said so genuinely that Isa paused, re-thinking his approach and nodding 

“Take all the time you need, I’ll be waiting when you are ready,” and he meant that on every layer he possibly could.

Siffrin turned to face away from him and toward the tree

“Goodbye, Isa,” 

“See ya, Siff,” Isabeau smiled softly at him, before leaving him alone as requested.

Isa tried to head towards the clock tower but he couldn’t shake the idea that something was wrong, that he needed to be there when Siffrin left the tree.

So he stood near the change god, facing where Siff would emerge, rehearsing what he would say to make his friend feel even a little bit better. He knew things were tough, with the looming threat of the king over their heads but, he had never seen Siffrin look so… defeated. Even when they lost their eye they treated it like a minor setback and almost immediately told Isa about all the new puns they could make.

Isabeau couldn’t imagine what could make Siffrin, the strongest person he knew, want to give up.

Then, a blood-curdling scream rang through Dormont. A scream filled with so much pain, so much grief, it took Isabeau a moment to recognize where it came from.

Siffrin.

Isabeau ran. With all his strength he ran towards the favor tree. The only things going through his head were that he needed to find and protect Siffrin, he didn’t think about what from, or even the possibility that he could be already too late. He just put all his energy into moving as fast as he could.

When he turned the corner he wasn't met with Siffrin or the favor tree, but rather bright light, as if the sun had fallen and landed in the grass. He kept running, now blind, and screamed

“Siff!!!” He didn’t understand what was happening, he didn’t need to, he just needed to see Siff and know they were okay, or at the very least alive.

He could hear gasps for air, a sign he held onto like a prayer before his foot caught on something, sending him cascading towards the ground. 

In an instant, it was over. Isabeau hit the floor and the light disappeared.

“Siff?” He asked, tears welling in his eyes as they adjusted to the lack of light.

In front of him, barely a foot away, was a patch of lightless burnt grass surrounded by a ring of a different, slightly lighter shade. 

Then the air hit him like a brick. The smell of blood and burning flesh and sugar was so strong he gagged on the scent as well as the implications.

 Isabeau rose to his knees and looked at his hands hoping, for the peace in change that he was wrong,

But he was right, his hands were covered in the same substance that covered the grass around the burnt spot, and he was surrounded by blood. 

Isa just sat there in shock. Stubbornly refusing to process any of what just happened, or any of his surroundings, just looking down at the blood on his hands until he felt someone shaking him from behind by the shoulders.

“Isabeau!” He snapped his head towards the voice on instinct and was met by Odile. 

Isa didn’t remember the last time he saw her show so much fear. Maybe when Siffrin lost his eye? No, even then she kept her emotions under control in favor of taking charge. She always seemed to know exactly what to do, even when everyone else froze up.

 Not now. Now she looked almost as scared as Isa felt.

“Isabeau, where is Siffrin?” 

He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He knew the answer but he couldn’t say it, even in his head he couldn’t admit it.  He stood and turned around to find Mirabelle looking at him with tears in her eyes and a large, darkless hat in her hands.

Oh. That was what he tripped on. 

Siffrin rarely took off his hat, only removing it when he needed to sleep or bathe or brush his hair. Any situation where he didn’t have it on felt intimate in a way Isabeau couldn’t quite put his finger on.

He had a feeling Siffrin didn’t take it off on purpose this time.

Turning back to Odile he gave a silent answer with his expression before pulling Mirabelle into a tight hug. Mira tensed at the sudden contact but then returned the hug with equal energy.  Isabeau could feel warm tears on his chest and hear Mirabelle's muffled whimpers, but he said nothing of comfort. Neither of them spoke, for if they did the moment would be real, and Siffrin would be gone.

“It all happened so fast,” Isabeau lamented once they got back to the clock tower. “I heard a scream, I ran, there was a bright light, I tripped, the light was gone, and I was alone,”

“What about before then? Was Siffrin acting unusually in any way, or did he say something strange?” Odile asked, writing something on her notepad.

“He did seem really tired and out of it but, nothing that would suggest he was about to… I don't know. Self-combust?” Isabeau responded putting his head in his hands. 

“He did remind me of the carrot method which was strange since I'm pretty sure they don't use that method to teach craft in other countries. I mean, it only really works in Vaugardian,” Mirabelle rambled. 

“Interesting..” Odile wrote some more before hitting them all with “And do any of us know if he has a family we should contact?” 

None of them knew. How pathetic was that? How could they claim to be their friends- to be their family- and yet they didn't even know something as simple as that?

“Do we even know what country he’s from?” Isabeau asked. Would they ever know?

The silence spoke volumes before Odile broke it with a sigh.

“In that case, we should focus on finding him or at least a body-”

The door to the clock tower slammed open. “Hey guys! Guess what I got?” Bonnie practically screamed. Normally someone would remind them to use their “inside voice” but today they were met with silence. 

Bonnie’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as they looked over their somber party.

“What did I miss?” They asked, placing a large bag of food on the table. No one dared to answer.

“Where’s Frin?” The moment those words left Bonnie’s mouth tears left Mirabelle’s eyes and the other two looked away. Bonnie’s heart dropped to their stomach. “Guys?”

“He’s gone Bonnieface,” Odile finally answered

“Where did he go?” Bonnie asked, their hands beginning to shake “We need him here if we are gonna beat the king tomorrow. We can’t just let him go!”

None of the adults knew what to say, or how to put it into words without speaking into existence, so instead Mirabelle reached under her chair and pulled out the hat, handing it to Bonnie.

Bonnie grabbed it swiftly and looked it over as if trying to find something to prove it wasn’t Siffrin’s. They found nothing.

Their lips trembled as tears flowed from their eyes. Mirabelle stood up and pulled them into a hug. 

Bonnie held on like Mira would slip from her arms if they let go.

Mirabelle wished she could assure them that everything was going to be okay, that they were all safe, but she couldn’t lie, not to Bonnie.

Odile cooked dinner that night.

After dark Isabeau wandered the forest with a lit torch, calling out for Siffrin and looking for any sign they were still alive. 

He came home at dawn empty-handed. 

Isabeau stared down at the burnt spot of grass under the favor tree with a neutral expression. 

“We beat the king,” he said out loud, as if Siffrin could hear him through the ground. “Vanguard is saved and everything has unfrozen,”

“We won,” his voice cracked and his bottom lip trembled as tears started to form in his eyes once again. “Crab, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry again,” he let out a weak laugh.

“We are gonna bring Bonnie home to their sister, and then hopefully they are both gonna join us to continue traveling,”

“I know you would have loved to join us as well,” Crying became sobbing as Isabeau uselessly wiped his eyes. It had been days yet it still smelled so strongly of blood and burnt sugar.

“We all miss you so much,” he spoke through uneven, heavy breaths.

“You told me we’d talk after the king so,” he gathered a shaky smile

“Here I am! Ready to talk,” his head turned to the favor tree.

“I just wish I could talk to you one more time,” 

“Be careful what you wish for,” a small voice came from behind the tree. Isabeau’s eyes widened. “Believe me, one wrong wish can ruin everything,” the voice was sickeningly sweet and bitter on the edges, but that didn't stop Isabeau from recognizing it immediately 

“Siffrin?” for a moment, he dared to hope.

From behind the tree came a being of the night sky with a head like a small sun and mismatched eyes that gave an expression of utter exhaustion

“Not anymore,” they said, looking down at the blood around the burnt ground they left. “I’ve been changed irreparably,” they wrapped their arms around themselves subconsciously as they spoke

“What was two days for you has been years for me.  I don’t think I can be “Siffrin” anymore. I’m sor-“

“Can I hug you” Isabeau blurted, catching “Siffrin” off guard.

“I-“ their eyes softened and they hesitantly opened their arms

Isa ran forward, over the burnt grass, and pulled his friend into a big bear hug.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You can explain everything when everyone is here. Right now, I’m just happy that some part of Siffrin is alive,” 

“Siffrin” cautiously placed their arms around Isabeau, beginning to cry as well as they responded.

“I thought I’d never see you again,”

“Me too,” Isa responded with a small laugh. 

They would find the others and get explanations soon, but for now they were together and they were alive, and that was enough. 

[faislittlewhiteraven]

So seen a few 'What if the ISAT cast were in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon' posts...

And I'm gonna put my hat in the ring because darn it I've been thinking about this for over a week now and I want to infect others with these ideas.

Siffren: Hisuian Zorua - White, adorable AND comes free with a neck ruff to hide their face in, but well, doesn't it fit Siff extremely well lore wise too? Just a cute little guy that's a remnant of a home and life forcefully taken away, Normal enough to be among the living with no issues but also Ghost because there's something missing... Something lost that shapes them, tears at them but they just can't let go... Also they eat a lot, have a good amount of mischief in their nature and use 'illusions' for self protection so like. It's a perfect fit really~ XD (Also the 'red' aspects during the Vs Friends fight makes me wonder if in the PMD version of ISaT Siffrin is evolving so wrong somehow that the universe is breaking and a huge chunk of the fight is the party basically mashing B button in utter terror~ XDDD)

Isabeau: Ditto - No joke, Isabeau had me really stumped for ages because what kind of pokemon species goes from nerd to buff to eventually somewhere in the middle during their evolution line but then I realized 'Wow I'm an idiot. There's a pokemon all about Change that can be any form right over there!' and thus Isa-Ditto was born in my mind. I like to think he's almost always in the form of a Marchoke, Zangoose or Scrafty or something that to the others is big and buff but Isa's warm smiling ditto face always stops him from ever looking intimidating, and back in the 'nerd' days Isa probably stuck to being a Gothita/Gothorita, if only because they're about the only mon I can think of with braids and they do seem like a good form if one wants others to stay away so they can focus on studying and stuff...

Mirabelle: Minccino/Cinccino - Ok, most of my reasoning for this one is because Mira visually reminds me of the Minccino line (those eyes <3 And her ribbon! <3) but like, she IS pretty studious and helpful and probably cleans up after everyone and that's Cinccino as anything to me, plus the sheer way this mon blitzs with Skill Link... IDK I just really feel the line suits her.

Odile: Kanto Persian or Purugly - After realizing Siff, Isa and Mira were all Normal types I decided to make it a thing and since under this logic Odele couldn't be a Kadabra (as was my first instinct), the idea of her being this big old book reading cat affectionately rolling her eyes at everyone else's nonsense just had so much appeal <3 Leaning Persian if only because its design matches her visuals better but the thought of her as a Purugly feeling comfortable enough around the others she doesn't puff up her fur via her tail around them is pretty cute/very 'seems standoff-ish but is secretly affectionate Odile' so I'm still struggling to choose between them.

Bonnie: Zigzagoon - Bonnie was probably the hardest to pick out because there were so many possibilites (Aipom for the mischief? Munchlax for the cooking/food vibes? Oh but what about Meowth for their weird hug face???). But then I realized pokemon of all sorts could do all of those things and what really stands out about Bonbon is their 'NPC somehow on the big adventure and doing their best' vibes so a spunky little Zigzagoon using their 'Gluttony' expertise in food to 'Pick Up' the party's sprits felt really fitting (also they way they dart in and out of combat with their Quick Feet just. It works you know? XD). Not sure which Zigzagoon form would be most fitting for them but currently leaning Galarian if only because Siff being weak to Bonnie fits hilariously well, it matches with Bonnie's 'desire to be edgy despite still being adorable' vibes and the mental thought of them far off in the future, all grown up and protecting their family as a big bad Obstagoon gives me a ton of warm fuzzies so yeah~ <3

Euphrasie: Lopunny - Look, it's just the hair, the affectionate personality and her being really really tall compared to the others alright? Only the party is actually Normal locked to me! X'D (I could see her as an Altaria or a Mega Ampharos as well but Lopunny just feels more 'right' somehow.)

The King: Hisuian Zoroark - . . . In my defence, he's an incarnation of malice born from the loss of his home/life with long long hair who acts as Siffrin's foil, pushes them towards 'discovering the red' and yoyos between tragically lamenting and being a ruthlessly, cruel monster who would hurt a child. There was no other option.

Loop: currently torn but leaning Cosmog/Cosmeom or Mimikyu for most of the game and Necrozma/Ultra Necrozma for the Act 6 secret fight - Finally the one non Normal type! And the fact it's the eldritch feeling Loop is kinda perfect? Helps them stand out more at least, and well you really can't beat Ultra Necrozma for 'star shaped thing that is both terrifying, potentially world ending and in immense amounts of pain'. (...Also its weak to Siff's H!Zorua and Bonnie's potential Dark type so it fits type wise also XD).

Change God: Mew - Do I really gotta explain why? (Legendary, has Transform, cute and sweet but also a little bastard, etc- It ticks all the boxes XD

So... Yeah. Those are my In Stars and Time 'what Pokemon would the main cast be' thoughts.