#so it stands to reason that the only reason dulcinea wouldn’t be around anymore is bc Something Happened

[deathishauntedbyhumans]

hey uh does anyone remember my theory abt dulcinea and how she was only actually allowed to stay with puss post-show for a short time until she faded away with the rest of the san lorenzo citizens stuck in the broken future, and that her request to sino was NOT to be with puss forever, but WAS to be with him until the absolute last minute?

anyways puss in boots the last wish makes that fit. unfortunately. if you were wondering.

[miguel-manbemel]

Aspects & Fanfics Ep. 52: The Truth Is Revealed - Nico’s Reaction

I thought I wouldn’t have this ready on time, as for some reasons, this week has been kind of a torture for me and I found it really hard to find the motivation to write. Fortunately, I managed to overcome that sentiment and get in a better mood with enough time to finish this episode. We are slowly approaching the ending of season 2 of this fanfic. We’re not there yet, but we’re coming. I hope that the ending is satisfactory for everyone, when it comes. And with this said, I leave you with the episode. Until next time.

SYNOPSIS: Thomas has decided to tell Nico the truth about the existence of the Sanders Sides, as they need his help to save Dillon from the Paladin. However, he doesn’t know how Nico’s going to react and is afraid to lose him if he gets too scared of Thomas’ secret life with the Sides.

WARNINGS: A lot of romance and words of love, mainly from Thomas to Nico.

EPISODE INDEX

[Thomas is nervously looking at the door. Virgil is next to him, both are sitting on the couch]

THOMAS: I’m so scared, Virge… So scared…

VIRGIL: I’m sorry, Thomas, I can’t help it… I know what we’re doing is the right thing to do, but still, I can’t help giving you this nervousness…

THOMAS: Nico could be here any moment… And even though I’ve rehearsed and rehearsed what I’m going to tell him, something tells me that in the critical moment, my mind’s gonna go blank and I’m not gonna know what to say… For starters, I don’t even know if he’s angry at me over the abrupt ending of our date last time. He said he isn’t, but maybe he was just being nice… Maybe I’ve already blew it up and there’s nothing I can do already, so being so nervous would be silly in that case… and if he doesn’t love me anymore, my life is gonna be miserable, ‘cause I know I’ll never find a guy like him again, and I don’t know if…

VIRGIL: Whoa, whoa, Thomas, please! You’re going so fast in your nervousness I can’t even follow your rhythm! Seriously, what is my purpose in this Mind Palace if you already take all the work yourself faster than I do? Gosh!

THOMAS: Sorry, Virge…

[intro sequence]

[someone knocks at the door]

THOMAS: Oh, gosh, he’s here… Okay, don’t panic… It’s only Nico, your boyfriend… but for how long? Sush! Sush… Virge, you’re invisible for him, right?

VIRGIL: Yes, I am, but I’d wish to be invisible in your thoughts right now too… Good luck, Thomas.

[Thomas sighs]

THOMAS: What will be, will be… Let’s go.

[Thomas opens the door. Nico is there, smiling at Thomas]

THOMAS: Hi, Nico… Gosh, your sole presence already makes my day brighter. Come in.

NICO: Thank you, Thomas. I love you too.

[Nico kisses Thomas on the cheek and gets into the living room followed by Thomas. He sits on the couch… right on Virgil]

VIRGIL: What the… whoops!

[however, Nico goes through him as if Virgil was made of air, not feeling his presence at all. Virgil quickly stands up and sits down on another couch. Thomas looks at the scene a little nervous but quickly puts himself together]

NICO: You said you wanted to see me, and something tells me it could be important. What is it? Oh, but most importantly, how are you feeling today? The other day, I left a little worried. I kept thinking I should have stayed in case you got worse so I could take you to the hospital if need be.

THOMAS: Oh, I’m fine, Nico, don’t worry. It was just some feeling of nausea I suddenly had. It left me an hour or so later after I took a chamomile tea. It was a bummer that it ruined our date when everything was going so perfect.

NICO: Yeah, if I could have, I would have stayed all night with you. I was enjoying your company so much, I didn’t want it to end at all…

THOMAS: [silly smile] Me neither… It’s funny how we only met last Christmas, a few weeks ago, and yet it’s like I’ve shared my whole life with you and I couldn’t remember how I used to live before you came into my life. Does it happen the same to you?

NICO: Yes… yes, it does. But for sure you didn’t call me here just to tell me words of love, Thomas. I mean I could hear them and tell them back to you all day long, but you had something to tell me. What is it? Like I said, something in your voice on the phone made me think it was something important. What’s the matter?

THOMAS: [nervous] Yes… okay… Nico, you better sit down because what I’m gonna tell may shock you…

NICO: Thomas… I’m already sitting down. You are so nervous… and you’re making me nervous. Please, calm down. Whatever it is, I can take it.

THOMAS: You’re right, sorry… It’s something to be nervous about, because it’s something I’ve told very few people in this world. Which reminds me to tell you that everything I’m gonna tell you must be kept as a secret. No one must ever know. I count on your discretion.

NICO: Of course, Thomas, you have my word. Whatever it is, no one will know your secret through me, I promise.

THOMAS: Thank you. You see, it’s something that has happened to me since I was a little boy. I have… a gift, you might call it? Even though sometimes I’ve been tempted to call it a curse, I still call it a gift, because it has given to me a group of friends no one could ever be closer to. More than friends, they are a family, a family that has been with me, by my… side… since I was like three years old.

NICO: I don’t understand.

THOMAS: I know, it’s very hard to understand, so I’ll start from the beginning, although I fear I’m going to confuse you a lot. You see, there are some people in this world whose brain works in some particular pattern of brainwaves, a very rare pattern, that triggers a very special reaction, you could almost call it… magic. These people have the power of summoning the different aspects of their personality that normally reside in their brain as brainwaves and turn them into real people. Then they can sustain conversations with them about whatever is bothering them in their daily life, about any complicated dilemma… anything. Even more than that. These people have the power of creating a whole alternate dimension from these same brainwaves which act as a portal to said dimension, which hold everything that person is, has been or will be, in what regards to their personality, way of thinking and so on.

NICO: You are talking about “some people”, are you trying to tell me that…

THOMAS: Yes, Nico. I am one of said people. I don’t know why, I didn’t choose it or know how it works exactly, but I have that gift, and the aspects of my personality I summon, they are called the Sanders Sides, who live in the Mind Palace, the dimension I talked about.

[there’s a short silence before Nico speaks]

NICO: Thomas… are you drunk?

THOMAS: I’ve never been more sober in my life Nico. I expected you wouldn’t believe me, but I swear, for the love I feel for you, that what I’m saying is true.

NICO: This… I can’t believe all of this and you shouldn’t be surprised at all. All of this just looks like taken from a fairy tale, and I don’t believe in fairy tales. Thomas, please don’t take offense at what I’m going to say, but I think you may have spent so much time alone that perhaps you have started mixing reality and fiction. I have seen your YouTube series, Sanders Sides, and I recognize what you have just described to me as taken from that series. Yes, perhaps it happened to you as it happened to Alonso Quijano, who went crazy over reading to many chivalric books and thought he was Don Quijote de La Mancha and a vulgar woman from the next town a fair maiden named Dulcinea. That… or you’re playing a practical joke on me, I don’t know…

THOMAS: As I said, I didn’t expect you to believe me the first time I told you. No one I ever told this believed me on the first try… until I they saw proof. I anticipated I’d have to prove to you that I’m not insane.

NICO: Prove to me? What do you mean by that?

THOMAS: As I told you, the Sanders Sides are real physical entities surged from my imagination. Usually they live in my head, in the Mind Palace, but when they want, they can get out at will and wander through the real world, or as they call it, the “outer world”. They can make themselves invisible at will or shapeshift into any form, human or not, so as not to attract attention. Believe it or not, one of my Sides is in this room right at this moment.

[Virgil looks at Thomas]

VIRGIL: Should I, Thomas?

THOMAS: In a minute, Virgil, when I give you the sign.

NICO: Who are you talking to? Who is Virgil? You’re scaring me. Perhaps… perhaps I should go…

THOMAS: No, please. Don’t go, at least give me the opportunity to prove you that I’m not crazy.

NICO: [standing up, walking to the middle of the living room] Then what are you waiting for, Thomas? You said they can make themselves visible at will? [spinning around trying to find Virgil’s position to no avail, while Virgil stands up too and slowly walks towards him] Well then, Virgil, whoever you are and wherever you’re standing, why don’t you show up and end this entuerto once and for all. Show yourself!

THOMAS: Go ahead Virgil, show yourself.

[Virgil appears in front of Nico with his face right next to Nico’s face, his creepy music theme sounds]

VIRGIL: [tempest tongue] If you insist, nice to meet you, Nico.

[Nico only lets go a little gasp, then gets completely frozen, looking at the apparition in front of him. He doesn’t move a muscle]

THOMAS: Ni… Nico? Are you okay?

[with the same gesture, Nico collapses and would have fallen to the floor if Virgil hadn’t grabbed him midway]

VIRGIL: Whoa!

THOMAS: Oh, no! Virgil, perhaps you shouldn’t have appeared so close to him all of a sudden. And definitely, you shouldn’t have used your tempest tongue. Do you want to give him a heart attack?

VIRGIL: I’m so sorry, Thomas. You know, when I’m anxious, that voice can appear out of nowhere and I can’t control it. Now, will you help me or…?

THOMAS: Oh, yes, we’ll take him to the couch.

[Thomas and Virgil lay Nico on the couch]

VIRGIL: Well, now what, Thomas?

THOMAS: Perhaps you should step aside a couple of steps so as not to scare him again. I’ll try to wake him up.

VIRGIL: Okay…

THOMAS: Nico… Nico, are you okay? Wake up.

[Nico slowly opens his eyes]

NICO: Oh, Thomas… You wouldn’t believe the dream I just had, I… wait a minute, what am I doing sleeping in your house? Was it…? It was a dream, right? Tell me it was, Thomas.

THOMAS: I… I’m sorry, Nico… but it wasn’t a dream.

[Nico notices Virgil]

VIRGIL: Hello again, sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.

NICO: [sitting down] Oh, my goodness…

THOMAS: Are you okay, Nico? I really didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that… I thought we were having something good, something that I, at least, want to last for a lifetime… and I thought that, if we were going to be together, I couldn’t have secrets with you… [scared] because you still want to be with me, right?

NICO: I… I… I’m so confused right now, I don’t even know what to think right now…

[Nico stands up]

NICO: I’m sorry, but I need some fresh air to put my ideas in order. I gotta go, Thomas.

THOMAS: [sighs] As you wish, Nico… I understand.

[Nico leaves the house. Thomas looks at the closed door while a tear falls down his cheek]

VIRGIL: I’m sorry, Thomas. I’m sorry this didn’t go as we wished.

THOMAS: [trembling voice, trying to hide his feelings and pretend he’s okay] It… It’s okay. If this was bound to happen… it’s better that it happened this soon in our relation and not when I was too invested into it and someone got hurt… [bursting into tears] Oh, who am I trying to lie to, I was already invested and it hurts…

[Virgil hugs Thomas]

VIRGIL: If it serves as consolation… he still hasn’t broken up with you, not officially at least. Perhaps it’s true that he just needs some time to think.

THOMAS: [sobbing] I really want to believe that, Virge… but I’m not so sure of it…

VIRGIL: Well, there’s nothing we can do about it right now, so… [sweet voice, petting Thomas’ hair] Oh, hush, my friend, hush. It’s okay… It’s gonna be okay…

[Thomas keeps sobbing for some time, but slowly he calms down]

VIRGIL: That’s better. Now, would you like to play some video games here? It’s been ages since we had a good old game and at least it would help distract you, and me to ease up.

THOMAS: Thank you, Virge, for trying to lift my spirits up even when it is against your nature. You truly are a good friend.

VIRGIL: I’ll always be here for you. So, wanna play?

THOMAS: [sniffing and cleaning the tears with his hands] Of course, Virge, of course.

[Thomas and Virgil start playing video games. After about an hour or so, someone knocks at the door]

VIRGIL: Were you expecting someone, Thomas?

THOMAS: [pausing the game] No… Oh… do you think it could be…?

VIRGIL: There’s only one way to find out, Thomas.

[Thomas rushes to the door and opens it. Nico is there]

THOMAS: Nico!

NICO: Can I… can I come in?

THOMAS: Of course you can, Nico.

[Nico comes in. He notices Virgil]

NICO: Hello, Virgil. How… how are you doing?

VIRGIL: I’m okay, Nico, thanks for asking, and as I said, I’m sorry about earlier, I didn’t mean to scare you.

NICO: It’s okay.

THOMAS: So… you came back…

NICO: Yes, I did… To be honest… I didn’t go too far. I didn’t even leave the neighborhood, nor I got into the car, it was still there at the door. I just walked for a while, then sat down in the park nearby, thinking about everything, reflecting about all of this.

THOMAS: And did you get to a conclusion?

NICO: I did. After some time, when the scare wore off, I reviewed things in my mind more calmly, and I realized something. I… really didn’t see anything bad at all in you having Sides. Like, nothing at all. Of course it’s weird, but that isn’t necessarily bad. And on the other hand, I was certain of something I already knew before. Thomas, I love you. I love you… like I never loved a man before in my life. I don’t care if you have Sides or not. I love you and I don’t want to give you up. There’s one word you mentioned earlier, a word that, without me noticing it, got stuck into my mind and my heart as something I really wanted to have: a lifetime with you. I envisioned a lifetime with you and I couldn’t feel happier. You can bet that, if you let me, I’m gonna fight to make that lifetime with you work and I’m not ever leaving you as long as you love me.

[Thomas, imbued by a sudden passion, hugs and kisses Nico, while Virgil watches the scene with a heartwarming smile and his eyeshadow turns bright purple. After the kiss, Nico notices Virgil’s change]

NICO: Whoa, what’s that?

VIRGIL: What? Oh, this? Please, don’t’ mind me. When Thomas feels butterflies in his stomach, like you’re making him feel right now, I turn into a Glo Worm, it seems. It ruins my aesthetic, but to be honest, I feel so incredibly good when it happens that I don’t mind it happening at all.

NICO: [smiling at Thomas] Aw… that’s so cute.

THOMAS: [nervous giggle] Yes… it is, although I’m not so sure if I want anyone to rat my feelings out so easily…

VIRGIL: Well, sorry, Thomas, but I’m part of you as you know. He asked, I answered. Besides, with that kiss you have just given him, I think you made your emotions quite clear before he saw my purple eyeshadow.

THOMAS: You got me there.

NICO: Speaking about parts of you… how many of you, Sides, are there? I’m intrigued now.

THOMAS: Do you want to know them?

NICO: Yes, I would love to. And I would also love to see what you called the Mind Palace, that place must certainly be something.

THOMAS: If I could, I would take you to the Mind Palace, so that you could meet my Sides in their habitat. You would love it. Alas, that’s not possible yet.

NICO: Why not?

THOMAS: Well, I can only bring in and out of my Mind Palace people who have gone through a certain process. They must synchronize their brainwaves through hypnosis to make them compatible with mine. For that, we need my friend Talyn, but they’re out of town now. I can’t wait for that moment to come, though.

NICO: Gotcha. Still, I want so bad to know your Mind Palace. I imagine it to be such an incredible place. If I close my eyes, I can almost see it…

[Nico closes his eyes and smiles, rejoicing in his thoughts… then, out of a sudden, he sinks down and disappears]

THOMAS: [scared] Wait, what? Nico!

VIRGIL: [in shock, his eyeshadow turns black] Oh, my goodness! What has just happened?

THOMAS: I… I don’t know… Could he have… sank down into the Mind Palace?

VIRGIL: But he hasn’t been synchronized! That’s impossible!

THOMAS: And yet, there’s no other explanation. Come with me, Virge, we need to find him!

[Thomas and Virgil sink down, then they rise up in Logan’s room. Logan and Patton are there, playing Scattergories]

PATTON: Oh, hi, kiddos!

VIRGIL: Hi, dad.

LOGAN: What’s wrong, guys? You look concerned.

THOMAS: Have you seen Nico anywhere?

LOGAN: What? Nico? You have synchronized him without warning us to get into autopilot!? Thomas, how could you…?

THOMAS: That’s the weirdest thing, Logan! We didn’t synchronize him! He just sank down naturally!

LOGAN: Oh… and besides, Patton didn’t fall asleep as it happens to everyone but me when you’re hypnotized… That’s weird. Could it be that he has his own Mind Palace and has sank down there?

THOMAS: I… I hadn’t thought about that… Who knows…? But I don’t think so, otherwise, he wouldn’t have freaked out so much over knowing of the Sides’ existence. No, I don’t know how or why, but he must be somewhere in this Mind Palace. The question is where?

LOGAN: Don’t worry, Thomas, he can’t have gone too far. We’ll help you search.

THOMAS: Thank you, guys. Okay, you guys go to Roman’s room and I’ll go with Virgil to Janus’.

PATTON: Okay, kiddo. Good luck.

[everybody sinks down. Then Thomas and Virgil rise up in Janus’ room. Janus is touching up his snake make up and Remus is doing Remus stuff in the kitchen]

JANUS: Oh, hi, Thomas, hi Virge.

VIRGIL: Hi, Janus. Hi, Remus.

REMUS: Do you want to taste what I’m cooking? I just hunted it behind the counter!

VIRGIL: Uh… no, thanks.

THOMAS: We came here to check if Nico was here. But it seems you didn’t see him.

JANUS: Nico is in the Mind Palace? How?

THOMAS: That’s what I’d wish to know. He must be somewhere, but where?

VIRGIL: Well, we can rule out Sandersia, for sure. Unless you’re the Mind Palace owner, that is you, Thomas, from the outer world, you can only reach directly the rooms, and any other place must be reached once you are in the Mind Palace.

REMUS: And you can also rule out my room. It is protected by a barrier only Roman and I can cross as you remember, and the other door is through Sandersia, which is also ruled out, so.

[Logan and Patton rise up in Janus’ room with Roman and Ian]

ROMAN: They already brought me up to date. Nico isn’t in my room either, Thomas.

IAN: And we can see he’s not here either.

VIRGIL: Then there’s only one place he could have gone to. My room.

THOMAS: Oh, my goodness! Then, that means he must have met the ghouls that are living there! I hope they didn’t cause a shock too bad on him! We must hurry!

[everybody sinks down. Then, they rise up in Virgil’s room. Nico is there playing video games with the ghouls]

NICO: Oh, Thomas! There you are!

THOMAS: Nico! Oh, my goodness, you scared me so bad! Are you okay?

NICO: I’m fine, Thomas. I don’t know what happened I just closed my eyes, and when I opened them, your room had changed, and these guys were on the couch playing video games. They’re very nice, actually.

HEIGHT: Thank you. You’re very nice too, Nico.

THOMAS: Well, thanks guys for taking care of my boyfriend. I don’t know how he got here in my Mind Palace, but he just sank down in here.

NICO: Really? This is your Mind Palace? Wow…

VERTIGO: He just rised up in the middle of the room. We got a little shocked when we saw him, as it was clear he wasn’t one of the Sides, he didn’t look like you. But we just got along instantly. Are all humans so kind and fun to hang out with?

THOMAS: Nah, I just think that Nico is one of a kind, that’s why I love him.

NICO: Same, Thomas.

THOMAS: And now, how could this happen? How could Nico enter my Mind Palace barely without trying without going through the synchronization? Logan, have you got any explanation?

LOGAN: Well, if Nico could enter here, then that means only one thing: his brainwaves are naturally compatible with yours. He was born with the ability of entering your Mind Palace in particular.

PATTON: Awww, that’s so cute!

LOGAN: Why is it cute, Patton?

PATTON: Don’t you see? Thomas and Nico were born for each other! They are soul mates that were destined to be together, bound to meet and to be together sooner or later! So compatible that they read each other’s mind, or in this case enter each other’s mind.

[Thomas and Nico look at each other, then smile]

THOMAS: Do you think so, Patton?

PATTON: Yes!

JANUS: I don’t know if such thing as soul mates does really exist to begin with. To me it looks all a little… commercial, like St. Valentine’s Day.

ROMAN: Oh, shut up, Sulk Scales, I love that thought, it’s so romantic that it bums me I didn’t think of it first!

THOMAS: Roman, nicknames.

ROMAN: Sorry, Janus.

PATTON: Oh, Janus, don’t be like that! You know first hand that love is real. And that explains that huge force I felt the other day, so much so that it overwhelmed me and left me almost out of breath.

THOMAS: Wait, what? Patton, you never told me that! Are you okay?

PATTON: Yes, kiddo. I am now. I got accustomed to it. It’s just that your love for Nico is so strong it fills out the whole Mind Palace with its strength. That’s why the Core told me that Nico was needed to save Virgil and Roman’s son…

NICO: Wait, what?

[Thomas frowns at Patton]

VIRGIL: Great going, dad. Thomas hadn’t told him anything about that yet.

PATTON: [covering his mouth] Oh, I’m so sorry, guys. I thought you had already talked it out.

NICO: What does he mean, Thomas?

THOMAS: Well, I wanted to touch this topic later, when you got accustomed to the existence of my Sides, but as the cat is out of the bag now… You see, Roman and Virgil’s son, Dillon, is trapped by a malicious entity called the Paladin who has taken possession of his body. Patton has discovered that the only way to save him is by you going by my side into the Cave of Doom, where we have him contained, and help me take care of him.

NICO: That sounds dangerous.

THOMAS: It probably is. Inside the Mind Palace, I have power, and I would make sure to protect you from any danger we may face… But I’m sorry that my Mind Palace isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It has its dark places and its malicious entities too. I’d wish to be, but I’m not perfect as that attests.

NICO: I don’t care if you’re not perfect. Is anyone perfect at all? I’m not perfect either, Thomas, and that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself about it.

THOMAS: Of course, Nico, I would never demand you to help us, especially if there is some kind of risk for you. Heck, I’m totally against you participating in this anyway because I don’t want to endanger you. [to Virgil and Roman] Sorry, guys, but I had to say it.

ROMAN: It’s totally fine, Thomas, we understand. And like we told you, there’s no need for Nico to participate. We’ll try to find another way.

THOMAS: Gosh, but it makes me feel so guilty… Dillon’s life is endangered… but at the same time… gosh, this is tearing me apart.

NICO: Thomas, I’ll do it.

THOMAS: What?

NICO: I know you want to protect me, because you always want to treasure and protect what you love, but I’m my own person to make the choice, and if you say that there’s one life endangered if I don’t help, my own consciousness tells me that I need to do my best to help. I’ll help you, in every way that I can, even if I don’t know what I am supposed to do, but I will. You can count on me.

VIRGIL: Thank you so much, Nico.

ROMAN: We can’t express how thankful we are if you’re willing to help.

THOMAS: Are you sure, Nico? I don’t know to what extent, but this could be dangerous.

NICO: I am sure. And as long as you are by my side, I won’t be afraid.

THOMAS: I love you. I love you so much, you don’t have an idea. Gosh, I know I’m acting so super sweet that I could cause diabetes on anyone passing by, but I can’t help yelling it to the world. I love you, Nicolás Flores.

[Thomas kisses Nico]

[ending card]

[some time later. Thomas has introduced Nico to all of the Sides and talked to him about their adventures]

VIRGIL: … and we also have another son, Chris. Well, his name is Christian Gerard Sanders but we call him Chris for short. He’s now in Sandersia, staying over in Roland’s castle for a few days.

NICO: What is Sandersia?

ROMAN: It’s a land attached to my room where all of Thomas’ characters and creations exist for real. I’m the Royal Prince that rules it, although Roland governs it in my place as regent. Oh, and Roland is my brother, by the way.

NICO: I see… Wow, there’s a lot to memorize here about this world, I hope I don’t get myself into a mess. So many people and places… and it’s all in your head, Thomas. How can you cope?

THOMAS: I’m accustomed already. I’ve been living through it since I was three years old. Don’t worry if you mess up here and there. We understand it’s not easy and it’s all kind of a shock coming all at once so suddenly.

NICO: So, let’s see if I got it right. You, Virgil, are Thomas’ vigilance and anxiety.

VIRGIL: Correct.

NICO: You, Roman, are Thomas’ pure Creativity, his romanticism and his ego.

ROMAN: Perfect.

NICO: Remus, you are Roman’s twin brother and Thomas’ not so pure creativity.

REMUS: Oh, I could kiss you. Can I kiss him, Thomas?

JANUS: [frowning] No, no you can’t, Remus.

NICO: You, Janus, you are Thomas’ deceitful nature and his self-preservation.

JANUS: Not impressed at all that you remembered…

NICO: Patton, you’re Thomas’ morality, his feelings and his inner child.

PATTON: Yes, kiddo, exactly.

NICO: You, Logan, are Thomas’ logical thinking and his acquired knowledge.

LOGAN: A+ for you, Nico.

NICO: You, Ian, you are Janus’ brother and encompass Thomas’ honest thinking. You two used to be kind of Siamese brothers sharing the same body in turns, but now are independent.

IAN: That’s right.

NICO: And then, there’s Chris, who, you said, is Thomas’ angsty creativity, and he’s Roman and Virgil’s son, as well as Dillon’s brother. I still don’t understand well how two people with the same reproductive organs could conceive a child, but the rest I got it right.

THOMAS: That’s easy to understand, though. As Sides are not human, they don’t follow the same biological rules as humans do and the laws of science don’t affect them. We’re talking about entities that can appear and disappear, can shapeshift, stretch their limbs as if they were made of rubber… it was only natural that reproduction didn’t work the same as with humans.

NICO: Gotcha… speaking about their son, there’s one thing I wonder. Each Side has at least one function in Thomas’ psyche. What does Dillon encompass exactly?

ROMAN: Well, to be honest, we don’t truly know.

VIRGIL: Yeah, we guessed that he encompassed Thomas’ hope, that’s why we named him Dillon, which means hope in Irish. You know that Thomas has Irish ancestors, right?

NICO: Yes, he told me. But you guessed he was Thomas’ hope? You’re not sure?

ROMAN: No, because that dang Paladin caught him even before he was born and we couldn’t identify him. Logan used to be able to examine us with an ability he had in his hands, he could have detected the Paladin’s presence inside Dillon’s body as soon as I delivered him. But he lost that ability in some unfortunate event we’ll tell you about some day, and couldn’t do it.

LOGAN: On the subject of my ability… guys, there’s one thing I gotta announce to you.

ROMAN: What is it, Logan?

LOGAN: Remember our latest adventure with the Core, how I had to stretch my arm to catch Patton before he was absorbed by the Core?

NICO: What?

LOGAN: Don’t worry, Nico, we’ll explain to you later. The point is that when my hand got closer to the Core… the Core’s influence touched it and its power imbued me without me even noticing in the turmoil of angst over saving Patton.

ROMAN: Are you going to tell me that the Core got you a gift, just like Patton now can heal us?

LOGAN: It got me a gift, but not a new gift like Patton’s. You guys, the Core has brought my examination ability back. We knew it was a matter of a long time that it was restored, but the Core accelerated that restoration. I can check you guys again.

THOMAS: That’s so great to hear, Logan! I’m happy for you! That ability was always very useful for all of us and it’s good to know that you have it back!

LOGAN: Yes, but not only it has restored it, it has removed the unpleasant side effect of electrification that I felt if I checked someone’s memories or that someone felt if I sent him mine. Now it’s all a more pleasant, totally painless process.

JANUS: Great, because I still remember that electric feeling and it wasn’t pleasant at all.

THOMAS: Okay, guys. Then if we’re all set, we need to start making a plan. There’s a Side in distress in the bottom of a cave that needs our help, a cave we also need to conquer back so that the ghouls can recover their friends and home. It’s time to face the Paladin once and for all.