#mumscarian memory loss au

[bluiex]

More magic and Memory loss stuff that no one asked for or even remembers. I just really wanted to do more of this ;p

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'Welcome to Border post number 14! We hope your trip between Hermittepa and Creastevia has been to your expectations. Please have your documents ready for the clerk so we can get you back home as quickly as possible. Have a lovely day!'

Grian almost can't believe the words on the sign on the wall. He never thought he would be in a situation like this…Kidnapped by two strange people who are now trying to get him over the border into who knows what kind of life. A supposedly 'better' life. Ha, funny…

Mages don't have a chance at a good life…They don't get one.

"Is there anything you want to talk about, Grian?" The man beside him asks. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions about…well, everything."

Mumbo had gone to another part of the post, saying they had something else to take care of, and he was left with the overly cheery man in green. He was hoping to stay silent until he couldn't anymore, but…It seems that time has come quicker than he wanted.

"What can I ask you?"

He keeps his voice flat, remembering the first words the elder mages at the academy ever said to him…His first lesson and what was said to be the most important one.

If you can't tell how a situation will play out, or you can't figure out a person's intentions, do not let your emotions be known or else you'll find yourself playing into someone else's hands.

Scar just simply smiles at him. "You can ask anything you want, sunbeam. I would feel bad if I just let you walk into the deep end of trying to learn everything again."

"Would you really answer all my questions truthfully? 

"I will answer you to the best of my knowledge."

He prevents himself from rolling his eyes. What a lovely way to say 'I'm going to pretend not to know what you are talking about with certain questions.'

Oh well, at least he's getting some amount of information…That's better than what most others would get in his position. Who knows, maybe this guy will be a blabbermouth and spill more than they intended.

"Okay…" He says slowly. "Are you a mage? Or are you one of those people who are 'just more magically attuned' then most?"

Scar snerks. "Magically attuned? Do people actually say that when covering up that they're a mage? Oh, that's funny. I just might use that next time visiting X, when one of those snobby lords or ladies asks me if I'm really a mage."

He stays silent, not caring for the way Scar answered his question. He is not in the mood, nor in the right situation for joking. Who this 'X' is means nothing to him. And he doesn't want Scar to think he's encouraging them to joke around with him. 

"Yes, I'm a mage. Be as shocked and awed as you want, I'm not afraid to say it."

"Not afraid to use your magic in public either…"

"Aww, I'm really sorry about how it all went down in order to get you, sunbeam. There was no way that lord you were sent to would ever give you up, and we just had to get you back…We couldn't see any other option."

"That stunt, like any and all the ones you pulled before, is probably the reason why you and your partner have wanted posters."

"Oh, those things?" Scar chuckles. "I like to see some try and actually arrest us for whatever bounty is on those, and see just how much hell there would be to pay."

"What do you mean?"

"Some lords here think putting up posters will keep us out of this country, despite their king and ours having a civil agreement to only send people back over the border into the respective kingdom's hands if they misbehave. They're nothing more than a way to say we in particular are not welcome in the little towns they run."

"Then why go somewhere you obviously aren't welcome? That's just asking to have your body be found in a river…"

"Because, my dear sunbeam…The country of Creastevia had something we wanted. Someone we wanted back."

They reach over and cup his cheek, tilting his head up to make him look them in the eye. Their touch feels…weird. It's foreign to him, but somehow familiar at the same time…

"And now we are one step closer to having you back."

A shiver runs up his spine. This whole situation is all sending his brain running in circles…Two strange men kidnap him, tell him the life he's had is not the life he always had, and are now trying to take him over the border and back into that other life. And he's just supposed to trust them?! How could he!?

A part of him wants to pull away, to scream or yell that he doesn't know who this man is, that they and their buddy are trying to take him over the border…But another part of him wants to keep quiet. Saying that what the two of them have been saying is true, and to trust them to get him…home. 

What does 'home' look like…What does it feel like?

"How…How did you find me?" He asks, mouth feeling incredibly dry. "It's been a long time, hasn't it? How was this search any different? How did you find me after all this time?"

Scar chuckles, and their hand moves away from his face and down to his shoulder, then down to his back…

He lets a small pathetic noise when they pull him close, holding him gently. His brain runs about a mile a minute, almost everything in him screaming. 

"You tell me, sunbeam…" Scar rests their chin on top of his head. "You're the one who called to us."

"W-what?"

They start to slowly move a hand up and down his back, making him let out another small noise.

"You projected yourself to us. Gave us a good look at what you looked like after all this time. You changed so much…But you're still our Grian, despite everything they've done to you."

His hands move up to grip their shoulders. All this feels too much…too familiar. It's making him feel dizzy…

"But I didn't…I didn't do anything like that," He says quietly. "I don't know any…projection spells. And even if I did, how could I project myself to you? I didn't know who you two were…I still don't."

Scar hums. "Well, you did. Somehow and someway, you helped us find you. Some part of you remembers. Remembered all of our time together and wanted to return to it. And what a big help it was, laying out a nice little path for us to follow."

"Path?"

"There are many spells and potions mages can learn, a whole history of many types of magic for things small and large. But no matter how small that magic is, it leaves a trace. A path that magic had to follow to reach its target."

They give him a light squeeze, giving him more of their dizzying and suffocating affection. He never felt cared about like this since…ever. None of the students at the academy would show love to each other like this. They weren't allowed to.

It's overwhelming…but he hasn't ever experienced this before. Maybe he wants to learn…

"Some try to cover up their trace," They continue. "They try to manipulate it, sometimes mixing in other bits of magic in an attempt to go unnoticed. But if someone knows how that person's magic is, how it flows and how it feels…"

"You can pick it out and follow it…" He finishes for them.

"Exactly. Good job, sunbeam."

"So you know my magic well then, huh?"

"Very well, Gri, to the point I could never forget it. That's what happens when two mages work together long enough. You start to recognize all the little quirks the other does with their magic."

"So…I should recognize yours too, right?"

Scar hums again, placing their other hand on his back. He can feel the areas under their hands start to tingle and warm…

"That depends, darling…Do you?"

The tingles run to his shoulders and down his arms, followed soon after by the warm feeling. It's certainly a…unique experience. Something he would probably remember if he felt it before. But he's not if he has? Or should he wait for a few more seconds before making that statement?

He shivers again when the tingles reach his neck, making a slight noise when the warmth comes. It kinda feels like being wrapped in a blanket when you're cold…Is that him recognizing it? It made him make a comparison, and comparisons are based on memories…

No, he doesn't think that works in this situation. Feels nice though. It makes him feel strangely…safe? Or at least what he thinks safety feels like.

"I feel something…" He says slowly. "But I don't know if I recognize it…"

"Ah well, that's a shame…At least we tried."

Even though Scar says that, they don't actually sound all that bothered by it. And they don't move their hands either. The tingles and warmth are still moving to each part of his body, currently making its way down his torso. 

Scar doesn't seem to want to stop…whatever this is. 

He wonders how this looks to the other people at the post here, with the both of them clinging to each other. Do they look close? Like they're trying to forget about what is really going on in their lives? Like people who are to be ripped away from each other for whatever reason perhaps? People sharing one last moment before their inevitable end? Or maybe like star-crossed lovers who have found each other again? Who have bested all the odds and can now live peacefully at each other's side…And never have to worry about anything ever again.

What a fairytale that would be…

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

He turns his head towards where the voice came from, and sees Mumbo standing a few inches away with a slightly annoyed look on their face.

"No, I couldn't." Scar presses their face into his hair. "He's finally back after so long…How do you expect me not to hold him as close as possible?"

Mumbo sighs. "Scar, he doesn't know who we are…You can't just touch him like before. And it's our turn with the clerk. We have to go."

Scar makes a whiny noise, reluctantly letting him go. The tingles stop when their hands leave him, and he starts to feel everything normally again. That was certainly an interesting experience…Maybe he should ask how they were able to do that. But not right now. Another time perhaps.

He tries to stand up from the seat he was on, wobbling a little. Okay, so it seems that Scar having him 'feel' their magic has made him a little unsteady, but he's sure he can handle it. It's not like he feels like he's about to fall on his face or anything. He's just a little dizzy. He has worked through worse. 

A hand touches his shoulder, making him jolt a bit.

"So that's what you two were doing..Let me help you, Gri. You probably feel a little off after that."

"I don't know what you're talking about…" He murmurs. "I'm fine, Mumbo."

"Grian, I can practically feel the buzz coming off of you, and I'm not even that sensitive to magic. I'm surprised you were even able to stand up on your own."

"I think I mayhaps went a little too hard with that magic…" Scar says, sounding sorry for it.

"See?"

He reaches up and tries to push Mumbo's hand away. "I'm fine. Really I am."

"Just lean on me a bit, okay? I don't want you to fall now."

They gently rub his shoulder, like they're trying to convince him they only want to help. He isn't too sure how to feel about this…and if he should believe it. The elders would constantly say that no one helps anyone just because. That there's always another reason for someone's help. They probably just want to keep a closer eye on him, to have a grip on him to make sure he doesn't run at the last minute. Yeah, that's probably it…

This is all just a show to build trust…

But you don't really believe that do you?

He has no choice. He has no other option but to believe it. The elders-

The elders would lock people in dark windowless rooms for daring to talk back to them. Are you really going to trust the words of grumpy old mages?

But he doesn't know these people! They could be lying, plotting to do anything, and he'll be at their mercy! Why would he-

You're always going to be trapped in situations you don't like. This has been your destiny long before you can even remember. Since your birth, people have schemed and plotted on how to use you. Your only choice now is how much power you'll give them over you.

But-

Have they asked you to do anything for them yet? To make them some magical weapon? To cast a curse on someone? These people have asked you nothing…which is more than you can say about them than your so called 'friends' at the academy.

They still could…And they will eventually. Everyone does.

Fight then. See where that lands you.

"Grian?" Mumbo asks, pulling him from his thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Just…Just thinking about everything. Sorry…"

"It's okay. But I do need an answer from you. We need to get going."

He glances at their face, taking in the concern they seem to be showing. Even if this is all just a lie, they seem to be really trying to sell it…

"I'll lean on you…" He relents. "Just…Don't try to move for me. I can move myself…"

"I believe you, Gri. Come on now, I think the clerk is starting to get impatient."

OH YAYAYAY MORE OF THIS AU

UWAH SO GOOD DUDE.. Whatever Grian is talking too at the end there :eyes: heheh... Cmon Gri ykno you trust Scar an Mumbo

[bluiex]

And even more Magic and Memory loss! Grian begins to have a bit of a breakdown at the end of this one and has some thoughts that can be interpreted as abuse, so fair warning now.

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He wants to run so badly. This was a mistake. A horrible mistake and he keeps on making more. 

Mumbo stands close beside him, a hand on his shoulder and chest pressed against his arm, the helpful action now being all a reminder to him that he cannot escape no matter how much he wants to. The gentle resting would be unnoticeable to most others, but to him it feels heavy on his shoulder. His mind keeps going to thoughts of how easy it would be for the grip to tighten. For Mumbo to simply move their arm around him to keep him close and in sight. Not to mention, Scar would be there to grab him if he somehow got away from Mumbo. 

All it would take is some words about him being nervous about crossing the border, that he never has done so before and is being irrational, and no one would pay him anymore mind…

They would probably move if he asked, but he doesn't know if he can. His tongue feels swollen in his mouth. He feels like if he tried to talk, he would trip over his words and nothing understandable would come out. 

So he stands. With their hand on his shoulder, wanting nothing more than to run. 

"Sorry about that," Scar says to the clerk, talking over his head and reminding him of their presence behind him. "Had a small thing about something being missing only for it to be found in an obvious place. I'm sure you get that a lot here."

They lie so easily, like it just comes naturally for them. They look so friendly and nice, and talk in such a confident way…How would anyone ever know if what they're saying is a lie? Who would ever think about the words that come out of their mouth if they never see what he is?

The lady at the desk hmps, staring at them all over her glasses with mild contempt. "Important object or not, you wasted the time of everyone here. Every minute you hold up the line is a minute someone else doesn't get to go home. Please do not let it happen again in the future."

"Cold, ain't she?" Mumbo murmurs under their breath. 

Cold? Maybe in some sense…If you are normal and don't live the life of a mage like him. 

She reminds him of one of the elders who was also a no nonsense type of person. Glasses on a chain, relatively the same height, same cold judgmental stare, sits in a chair like they're above you…Just add some more wrinkles and gray hairs and it's almost a perfect match. Maybe even add some threats of carrying out some punishment as well for an even better one.

The clerk drags over a wooden tray with two stampers and two pots of ink, a loud scraping sound being made as the tray moves. When they finally have the tray where they want, they grab one of the stamps and dip it into one of the ink pots, like they already have decided their fate.

"Present your passports, please." 

Mumbo moves away from him a bit, hand moving from his shoulder to rummage around in a leather pack. He tries moving away, but Scar moves up to and presses up against his other side, effectively trapping in-between the two men. 

He tries not to flinch away as they lean close to his ear.

"Mumbo's got this, Gri, don't worry. It's going to be okay."

Going to be okay? For them maybe…He's going to be thinking of all the things that 

can go wrong for weeks either way this goes.He doesn't say all that though, just giving a forced smile and nodding. And in return, Scar gives him a way brighter smile before resting their chin on his shoulder. Then he feels their arms snake around his torso…Oh great…

This is just going perfectly…

Mumbo pauses their rummaging, giving them a sideways glance before setting three small black books on the clerk's desk. They then return to their bag and pull out a sheet of parchment, which they hand directly to the clerk. The clerk takes the paper with a curious look, examining it carefully before dragging over another wooden tray. 

This tray has a much stranger assortment of items. A painting brush, a vial of weird bubbling clear liquid, a box of matches, some thin red papers…He doesn't understand why these items would be set together.

And he is even more confused when the clerk picks up the match box, opens it up, gets out a match, and starts to try to strike the match against the coarse edge of the match box. 

"She's just checking if the pass is real," Scar whispers in his ear. "It's a very simple procedure."

The match lights up with a small flame. The clerk then picks the paper back up and holds the match a few inches behind it, carefully examining whatever is revealed by the flame.

"Has there ever been any damage done by doing this?" He asks quietly.

"A few times. Before the passes had a flameproof coating."

The clerk hmphs again, setting the paper down before blowing out the flame. They set the now brunt match onto the desk and pull over the small black books. 

He watches quietly as she opens up the top one, quickly skims its contents, and picks up the ink wetted stamp from before and presses it against the inside of the book. This all seems way too easy…This can't just be this simple, right?

The clerk moves the top book of the pile to the side, and proceeds to do the same stamping procedure to the second book. It's only when they move on to the third and final book she seems to pause and examine it a bit longer.

"This is the correct information?"

"It should be," Mumbo answers, patting his arm. "I know he's rather short-"

"Ey!"

"-but he is very much an adult and not a child." 

The clerk looks at him. "And you back up that statement of you being an adult, young man?"

"Yes," He says, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"And you understand that having the wrong information makes it look like you're trying to do something nefarious?"

"Yes…"

If only they knew it's not the age on the passport they should be worried about, but the passport itself…

"Miss, don't take this the wrong way," Scar says. "But why would we get a legitimate pass if we were going to use a fake passport? I know your job makes you need to question everything, but that would be a little ridiculous, would it not?"

The clerk's face turns into a glare, and he sees Mumbo move closer and discreetly elbow Scar. Or at least that's his guess of what happened to make Scar let out a faint choked back noise. 

She folds her arms and stares at the three of them with a rather stern look. "What is your relationship with these two, young man?" 

"We're…friends. Close friends, I guess."

He tacks that last part on when he remembers Scar's arms are around him. Friends don't usually have their arms just around another casually. 

Already lied for them…Just what am I doing…

The clerk stares at him for a moment before reaching towards the black book and pressing the stamp to its pages. He hears one of the other two let out a sigh of relief, but he doesn't know which one. He's too busy just staring forward, watching his fate get sealed with a simple stamp…

Funny how the smallest things can change someone's entire life, huh?

"That's all there is?" He asks, seeing the clerk look up at him and feeling the other two jolt a bit. "You check a pass, some books, and you send people on their way?"

"Yes…What did you think was going to happen?"

He opens his mouth to answer, but stops when Scar's arms tighten around him, pressing him against them even more. He takes the warning and closes his mouth. 

"It's their first trip over the border," Mumbo says, quickly taking initiative for the situation. "Coming over was a little difficult, for about the same reason you thought, but the clerk then was a bit more…aggressive about it. So the whole experience got a little soured for them."

The clerk lets out knowing hum, staking up the three books and handing them back to Mumbo, who takes them with a polite nod. The clerk moves her gaze to behind them and motions for someone to come forward, most likely the next person in line.

Well well well, look where you little show of defiance got you…Nowhere.

He lets himself get moved away from the clerk's desk, clasping his hands tightly together and holds them in front of him. Of course this would be how it goes…Why did he think it would be any different? Of course there would be no alarms raised by three people traveling together, even if two of those people are mages. Why would anyone care? It just looks like someone has requested for more magical assistance on a project. Nothing to worry about.

Especially not when there is a non-magic user with them, who has a royal pass you can only get from the king. If you can place your trust in the king, then who can you? The king would make sure to send someone who could handle the mages and keep them in line. Why bother worrying?

Scar nudges his head with theirs, making Mumbo let out an annoyed huff.

"Scar, what did I say about touching them like that? I let it slide at the desk because I didn't want to make a scene, but you really need to stop, mate."

"I'm sorry! They just look so sad and I'm just so used to doing it that I just do it before I even realize!"

The mage one seems to like you…Maybe you can use that to your advantage. Try to use them before they use you.

He clenches his hands even tighter together. Why is this the cycle of his life? Being used and using other people, all because he was born with magic inside him that he can manipulate to his will…at the order of his master.

A hand touches his shoulder again, making him stop where he is. 

"Is there anything you want to do?" Mumbo asks him softly. "Anywhere you wanted to go first? We can go to a town nearby here if you want, get some things. What do you think you need?"

What does he need? Did they really just ask him that? Everything he had is at the estate of the lord he was with before. What doesn't he need?

"Whatever you think is best, sir." He turns his head and gives them a fake smile. "I am but a tool at your disposal, for you to use as you wish. What do you think I need?"

Mumbo's mouth forms a straight line, looking rather uncomfortable with his words. He thinks he can see Scar looking uncomfortable as well.

"Gri, please don't talk like that. You're not a tool."

"But I am. Just nothing more than a special servant. Our lives belong to our masters and we must follow their orders like any other servant in fear of being beheaded, we just get our own rooms."

"Grian..."

"Though most of the time our rooms are mostly used for storage rather than an actual space for us. All our time is to be used to make our master's life easier."

"Grian."

"We don't even get to choose who we marry and have a family with most of the time. Maybe if our lord really likes us, but most think about creating the perfect mage for their heirs. We have no control-"

"Grian." The grip on his shoulder tightens. "Stop. Please."

He stays very quiet as they pinch at the area between their eyes and sigh, looking at him with such pity after. 

No���You're not supposed to look like that.

"I don't know what went on with you while you were…wherever they would place you…but things are different now. Things are different here."

You're not supposed to pity me…

"The laws are different, the people are different…You'll be okay here. I know you don't trust us right now, but you will be okay."

You're not supposed to be comforting me.

"It's going to take some time to get used to everything, and you'll probably feel like a fish out of water, but Scar and I will help you. We can help fill the gaps on anything you don't know and don't remember. If you'll let us, of course."

You're not supposed to still act nice…You're supposed to be mad!

Their hand moves from his shoulder to his cheek, caressing the area like it's normal for them to do it. And it almost feels…nice?

"Will you listen to the plea of a desperate man, and let us help you? To let us show you what you were taken from and what you could have had this whole time?"

A small pathetic noise escapes from his mouth, and a series of emotions well up inside him. It feels…Why does it…This isn't supposed to happen! This is not how this is supposed to go!

They aren't supposed to still act kind! They are supposed to be mad, furious with him even! They're supposed to tell him to not do something like that again, to stay in line or face the consequences! They're supposed to make him apologize for his outburst! They're supposed to punish him and not care if he silently hates them! They're not supposed to care for him at all!

"Why can't you just make this easy?" He chokes out in a shaky voice.

A confused look forms on Mumbo's face, which immediately turns panicked once hot tears start running down his face. 

"No no no, don't cry!" They pull him into a hug, with his face pressed against their chest and their hands gentle on his back. "You weren't meant to cry! I didn't think you would get upset! I'm sorry!"

He lets out a choked sob, squirming in their grip. No, you’re not supposed to hold him. You're supposed to tell him to get over it. That you'll give him a better reason to cry if he doesn't stop! 

"Wow Mumbo, your emotional speech made them cry. Congratulations."

"Scar, shut up and help me get them somewhere more private!"

"That's what-"

"Scar!"

AWWW GRIAN *rolls around* this is getting great omg I adore this bit.

"I know he's short I promise he's not a child" akaknsbcwijs amazing

[bluiex]

Ask and you shall (eventually) receive. More on my 'Magic and Memory loss' mumscarian idea, this time with some more angst.

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As Grian begins to wake, he can feel his body getting shaken in almost every direction. It's a sharp jolting and jerking motion, very reminiscent of a horse or a carriage. He can almost hear the clopping of the horse's hooves…And he even begins to think about how sore he was after all the times he has ridden on a horse.

Slowly opening his eyes, he tries to see what is shaking him so much. His vision is still rather blurry, but he can vaguely see a blur of red and a human-shaped blob seemingly sitting on it. 

There is the faintest sound of breathing that he can hear. But other than that, there seems to be no other sounds of note. Strange…One would think that kidnappers would be talking about something after they were successful. Unless they already talked and are just waiting in silence now that the job is so close to being done.

"You waking up, sunbeam?" A voice asks, with a hand touching his head soon after. "I guess that's to be expected, that little trick was only supposed to keep you calm as we got you away after all."

As the hand starts to pet his head, he becomes aware that he's laying down with his cheek pressed against something. Or rather, someone's leg. Which only makes this situation even more weird.

He tries to move away, but the hand gently pushes him back down.

"Easy now, Gri, don't move so much. Coming back from that spell can be a little difficult. It'll be best if you rest as much as possible"

"Where are you people taking me?" He asks rather slowly. "Why are you taking me?"

In all honesty, he really wanted to make some quip about them being the reason he's in this difficult position in the first place, but he knows he has to hold back. He can tell they are all already in a carriage, going somewhere and possibly already far away from the lord's village. This is the worst time he could make them angry. They could hurt him and as far as he knows, the carriage driver could be in cahoots with these people. 

His screams for help would go unanswered out here.

"We're taking you back home," The stranger says calmly. "Where there's people who care about you and would be really happy to see you again."

"And the why?"

A tutting sound comes from somewhere above him. "That wasn't enough, hmm? I don't understand where your distrust comes from…We're just trying to do the right thing."

He turns so he is lying on his back, slightly regretting doing so because a rather sharp pain pulses through his head. He quickly raises a hand up to his face, massaging the area between his eyes with his index finger and his thumb.

"Told you not to move."

"Just explain yourself. Why did you grab me out of anyone else?"

"Because it's rather unfair for you to have to live such a poor life in comparison to the one you had before. Because no one should have to dance around like a puppet on a sting for the amusement of those who want to ridicule them. Because you mean something to the both of us with you now and the people who are waiting for you at this journey's end. Are any of those reasons one you will accept?"

"Talk a lot like you care, for someone who put a spell over me…" He says rather bitterly. "That trick of yours makes me wish I was kicked in the face by a horse. And I had to bind a cold wet cloth to my face for a week after I was."

"Like you would come with us if we walked up to you and politely asked?" The stranger huffs. "With saying something like 'Hey, we are people from a life you don't remember, who have been searching for you for years, and we would like to take you back to that life.' Would you not scream for the city guards and try to get away?"

"Guess you'll never know, huh? I could have very well gone with you if you had asked. Hasn't anyone told you there are some rather crazy people out there?"

They hmph, but they don't actually sound annoyed. "Glad to see they could get rid of your quick wit and smart mouth…I would go back and burn that village to the ground if you were made into a shell of what you used to be."

He moves hand down, resting it on his chest, and finally gets a look at the stranger whose lap he's resting on. Their hair is brown like it was in his dream, and their face is quite similar to the picture on the bounty board. But the picture put the scar across their nose higher up than it is. And their smile in that picture can't capture the same amount of charm when opposed to seeing it in person…

The beginning of a scream catches in his throat. No, he is not going to be doing this! The last thing he should be doing is thinking of how charming one of his kidnappers is! What the heck is wrong with him?!

He doesn't have much more time to really sort through that thought, because the carriage jerks to a halt, which causes the other stranger on the other seat to let out a shocked noise. The man with black hair quickly looks around the carriage before looking forward and at them. He can hear them faintly sigh, and can see their shoulders lower as their body relaxes.

"You two okay?" The stranger with black hair asks, leaning back against the wood behind their seat.

"I'm fine, but our sunbeam is still rather exhausted." The man he's laying on gently pats his head. "They're probably going to need some help getting out and maybe even help walking."

"I hate you."

"Aww, you don't mean that, sunbeam. You're just saying that because everything hurts and it's hard for you to move at the moment."

"Scar, you really shouldn't be saying that like…that. Grian doesn't know who we are at the moment. For all they know, we're just weird creepy stalkers."

"Like you two aren't…" He says under his breath.

If the two heard him, they don't say anything. Not like they had the chance, because a knock at the carriage door and the door being opened slightly takes everyone's attention. 

"We're at the border, sir," A voice, he assumes the driver's, says through the gap. "This is as far as our carriage service goes. You can collect your bags when you're ready. I wish you safe passage, and that the clerk here at the control post is quick with your paperwork."

"The border?" He asks quietly to no one in particular, confusion plaguing his mind.

The black haired stranger keeps looking at the driver through the gap, paying him little mind. "Thank you. We'll be out in a bit, just having some minor troubles with one of our party members."

"Let me guess, one of you took a nap during the journey?" A chuckle sounds from behind the door. "I don't know how one could possibly sleep when getting tossed back and forth, but it doesn't surprise me. Long journey, boredom, maybe even a mix of the two, can probably make anyone fall asleep. Happens really often. Take your time, I'm in no rush. Y'all paid me when we started. And more than most others I take out here too."

The door of the carriage closes, and the reality of the situation sets in, as does panic in his heart. Why are they at the border?! There's no way some foreigners from a different kingdom went into a neighboring kingdom to kidnap some random mage. There is no way. Impossible. That is too much work. 

There's no way these two think they can get him across the kingdom's border. He doesn't have a travel pass from the king, or theirs for that matter, if they want to pass him off as just another resident like them. Unless…

An arm moving under his legs and him being lifted up makes his heart jump to his throat. He quickly starts squirming, trying to get out of their grip even though he is still in a very weak state.

"Grian, sunbeam, please don't-"

"Shut up! Let go of me! I won't let you take me!" 

"Gri, it's okay," The black haired stranger says, reaching towards him. 

He squirms more, trying to get away from their approaching hand, even as the stranger holding him tightens their grip on him and begins to 'shh' at him. What he really wants to use his hands to push them both away, but his arms are trapped under an arm the one holding him wrapped around his torso. 

"It's alright, you're okay…"

"Let me-Let me go."

"We aren't going to hurt you, darling. You're safe."

"No, I'm not…"

The hand reaches him, gently touching his shoulder and rubbing a small circle into it.

"You are, Grian…" The black haired stranger says softly. "I promise."

"How…How can I trust you two? I don't even know your names…"

"My name is Mumbo. And the one holding you is Scar. Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Are those really your names?" He asks, with genuine curiosity. "And…What am I to you? Since you have been searching for me for a while now."

'Mumbo' laughs. "Yes, those are our actual names. A little, aren't they?"

"I'm pretty sure my parents weren't expecting me to become a mage back when they were naming me…" 'Scar' says, sounding just a tad bitter about it. "I think they were expecting me to be a soldier or something. No one who hears the name 'Scar' is going to think 'OH, that person must be really kind and make good cookies.' Everyone thinks I'm really mean…"

"And for your question of what you are to us…You're someone we care about a lot. The day we lost you was the worst day of our lives. And everyday we hope we would find you again."

He's not sure if he believes them…But something in him wants to. And he doesn't understand why. Mumbo seems to be talking sincerely, but it could just be a trick. There's no way someone could possibly care about him that much. There has to be another reason…

But maybe it wouldn't hurt to pretend to believe them for a bit…Live a comfortable lie for a while. He can always try to sneak away when they finally get tired of pretending…

Three sharp knocks on the carriage door takes everyone's attention yet again.

"You three alright in there?" The driver's concerned voice asks. "I heard shouting."

Mumbo glances at Scar, who shrugs back at them, leaving Mumbo looking rather unamused.

"Yes, uh, we're fine. We just woke up our sleeping member and they apparently were having a bit of a nightmare. Sorry about that…"

"Alright…Do you need me to call for someone?"

"Oh no, no we do not need anyone! We're fine."

"Okay…"

The driver stops the conversion, probably walking away and thinking they're all crazy, wondering if they should have let them in the carriage in the first place. Everyone lets the silence sit for a bit, him and probably the other two think that any noise will get the driver's attention again.

"This is turning out to be a lot of trouble…" Scar says tiredly. "Grian. Sunbeam. Our little darling…Are you calm now?"

"I won't…I won't fight you two in this anymore." He ignores the bitter taste those words leave in his mouth. "I won't…prevent you from taking me across the border. But I don't believe you can trick the clerk here."

Mumbo hums, patting his shoulder. "We shall see then. I promise you'll understand this eventually. And I would like to let you know you can ask us anything you need to know to make this easier, and that when we reach our destination, you can ask for any items that could make you feel more comfortable."

I don't believe you…

"Sure. I'll do that, I guess."

"Okay then. Come on now, let's not waste any more of the driver's time and get going."

"Everything will be fine, Grian. You'll be okay." 

Scar pats his arm, using the hand of the arm that's holding him, and gives him a smile. He gives them a small one in return, though his probably looks more bitter.

"People keep telling me that. But so far, everyone who has ended up dead, so I don't like your odds."

AAAA SO WORTH THE WAIT DUDE I LOVE IT SM

Ough Grian please let them help you- let them show you they love you an mean we and you use to know em qoq

[bluiex]

And another thing for Magic and Memory loss! This is a tab short, but it was only meant to be about how Mumbo and Scar and the rest of the world sees Grian and there's still a whole lot of lore in it, so...yeah.

More talk about abuse and talk about starvation, so if either of those topics make you uncomfy, feel free to just skip this since it shouldn't effect the flow of the story too much.

~~~~

"Okay, I think this is private enough."

Mumbo leans Grian against the brick wall of the alleyway, trying his best to be careful with the quietly hiccuping man. Tears still run down their face, staining their cheeks with the trails they leave behind. He doesn't understand why they started to cry. He doesn't know what he did to cause it. But he is very sorry for whatever it was.

"Can you tell me what got you so upset, Gri? I promise to not do it again…"

Grian doesn't answer him, they just continue to sob quietly. 

"You know, I don't really blame them for still crying," Scar says, leaning against a part of the wall not too far away. "If you were already upset and got taken to some dirty and damp alley, you would probably keep crying."

"Well I'm sorry, but this was the best place I could think of! The last thing they need is strangers looking at them and trying to get in their personal space to help them. And not a lot of people hang out in alleys."

"Except people who are up to no good."

"Shut up."

He carefully cups Grian cheeks, wiping at the tears running down their face with his thumbs. They weakly push at his hands, their thin fingers…No, he doesn't want to think of that. They're home now. They're safe. What happened can be fixed. They will be okay.

He doesn't need to think about how weak their grip is on his wrists, how bony and thin their fingers feel. Or how thin their wrists and arms look. Or how their red tunic looks way too big on them, like it's about to slip off them at any moment…

No, he doesn't have to think about all that…But it still hurts him deeply to have noticed.

"Stop touching me…" Grian says in a wavering voice. "This is wrong."

"I only want to help clean you up a bit. I swear I'm not going to do anything else."

"This isn't how it's supposed to go…This isn't how it's supposed to be."

"You're alright, Gri. You're safe now."

More tears form in their eyes. "You're not supposed to act like this. You're not supposed to be nice."

Grian moves their head and presses themselves more into the wall, almost like they are trying to flatten themselves against it. He keeps his hands raised, thinking that they may freak out if he moves even slightly.

He tries not to take their actions too personally. Sure, it hurts to see them flinch away from him, but he understands. They don't remember. Grian doesn't know they're safe with the two of them. 

"Grian, it's okay…"

"Stop saying that. That's not true. You're supposed to be mean."

"And why is it you think that?" Scar says. "What gave you the idea we're supposed to be like the big mean and nasty people we are in your head?"

He turns his head and glares at Scar, the man raising their hands in a sort of surrender. 

"Not the best time, Scar."

"I'm just asking an honest question here, not trying to be mean here. I would never be mean to our little sunbeam~"

"Can you please take this just a bit more seriously-"

"You have to be mean…" Grian mumbles quietly. "Because it goes against everything I was taught. Everyone was cruel…So why are you nice?"

Scar hums, like they are thinking over those words. "Tell me one thing, sunbeam…What do you want to believe? What does your heart say to believe?"

"I…I…"

"Scar."

"Are you really feeling that unsafe around us?" They continue, paying little mind to his warning. "Or do you just think you should feel unsafe, but you aren't so you create these scenarios that you are?"

Grian's hands grip at the edge of their tunic. "But…But this is wrong. The elders-"

"Everything is wrong depending on who you ask, sunbeam. Are you going to live by the words of those who hate you and wish to see you fail in the most awful way, or will you believe the words of two people who were so desperate to see you again? Who refused to believe you were gone and would never stop until you were back safe and sound?"

Grian stays silent, opting to stare down at the floor while fiddling with the hem of their tunic. They just look so…small doing that. Like a child preparing to get yelled at. And how tiny their body has gotten through this whole ordeal doesn't help them either. 

Just what have they been eating this entire time? 

"...When was the last time you ate, Gri?" He asks, the question coming out of his mouth before he can stop himself.

"A little before you two took me." Their grip on their tunic tightens. "I'm fine…"

"It's been hours since then, Grian, surely you would be hungry by now. What did you eat?"

"...A bread roll."

"Grian-"

"It's fine, really. I don't…I'm not hungry. I just don't eat a lot."

He glances over at Scar, who gives him the same look he's giving him. 

"Honestly, I'm not."

"Yeah, that's not going to work on us, sunshine." Scar pushes themselves off the wall and walks over. "Maybe if you didn't look like a strong breeze would topple you over."

"I'm not-"

"Grian," He says softly. "We all can see how thin you are and how big your clothes are on you. This academy you talk about, it's elders…They never gave you much, did they?"

"I…No."

He hmphs, leaning forward a bit. "You realize that's a bad thing, right?"

"It wasn't like that…They were trying to teach us humility."

"By starving you?"

"It was supposed to teach us to appreciate what we were given…"

"Uh huh, I'm sure you're real appreciative of whatever food you're given when your stomach is empty…" Scar mumbles bitterly.

Grian starts shaking, prompting him to place a hand on their shoulder.

"Look, I know that it's all you know right now, but you don't have to follow it if it feels wrong or is hurting you. You don't have to do things that cause you pain…"

"You are only saying that because you both need me to be calm until you get me to wherever your home is…" Grian says in a wavering voice. "You'll change once you get what you want."

"You can have your opinions, but we can have ours as well. And in our opinion, you need to get something in your system aside from just a bread roll."

They make an annoyed sounding noise, crossing their arms and pouting. He holds back a laugh. They look like such a child doing that.

"You can be upset all you want, it's not a bad thing to be taken care of."

"There should be an inn around this area we can go to. I think you'll like it a lot, sunbeam!"

"Not like you're giving me a choice…"

"Nope!"

OH GRIAN- I'm so glad Scar an Mumbo took him away AAKSJDNSJ