[Final Day] Endgame

[arsgoetia]

And just as suddenly as everything had began, the demons are gone—all of them. Not a single crow feather remains. As if being sucked backwards out of a vacuum, sound and light flood into the room and the hallway, crashing down on you. You are back in the real world, with noise and physics and sunlight streaming in through the window.

You are also left with two bereft Bellcourt children, the older of which is suddenly doubling over in his wheelchair and shouting in anguish.

Comments

[virtuallyroyalty]

. . . I dunno. You have a lot more to lose than I do, and I nearly messed that up.

[arsgoetia]

David tilts his head. "How so?"

[virtuallyroyalty]

[Kazuki's face pinches in a little, he hates talking about this.]

You'd kill me if I didn't tell you, right?

I'm dead. You still have a happy life ahead of you, so don't waste it!

[arsgoetia]

David . . . freezes.

". . . dead?"

[virtuallyroyalty]

[winces]

Don't ask for specifics, okay? Not now.

[arsgoetia]

David's mouth tightens. He doesn't argue, though, but you get that Mayfair-Bellcourt super stubborn impression from him, suddenly, like he will latch onto his desire for answers and chase it down until it dies.

"But you're here right now."

[virtuallyroyalty]

Camp cheats death. I dunno what's gonna happen when I actually leave it, not just be on-loan somewhere.

[arsgoetia]

"So it's not hopeless, then," David presses. ". . . I'm not going to go run off and pact pact pact or anything, but there's got to be something we can do. So—"

[virtuallyroyalty]

So? It kinda defeats the purpose, but... I wouldn't mind another chance.

[arsgoetia]

"Even if you're done with things in your world," David says, "or can't go back there, I mean—you could come here. If you still wanted to live. If there were still things you'd be okay living for." He grips the fabric of his jeans with both hands and turns his face away, despite the fact that his eyes were closed anyway.

[virtuallyroyalty]

[looks... flustered!! a-and also looking away god]

... h-hey, are you sure you wanna offer that, without knowing anything? Dumbass.

[arsgoetia]

"Yeah I'm sure!" David crosses his arms, so he has some place to put his hands instead of moving them around nervously. "You're—you're—it doesn't matter! I'd want you to live . . ."

[virtuallyroyalty]

...

[grins] Okay!

[arsgoetia]

David can't see that, but he can feel the change in tone. ". . . alright?" he mutters.

[virtuallyroyalty]

[pets David on the head]

No promises, but there's a coupla' things I'd live for here.

[arsgoetia]

"Don't pet me!" David protests. He may be a little bit red-faced, though. Just a little. Damn his mortal form!

[virtuallyroyalty]

[lololol!!]

[arsgoetia]

"H-hey! What's so funny?"

[virtuallyroyalty]

I never thought I'd see that expression on your face! What'd you go red for, embarrassed?

[arsgoetia]

"I'm not—no! Maybe . . ." David rubs at his face. "Bodies are weird."

[virtuallyroyalty]

I like your body, even if you think it's weird!

[arsgoetia]

"Uh."

[virtuallyroyalty]

[oblivious!]

What?

[arsgoetia]

"Do you even listen to yourself?" David flusters.

[virtuallyroyalty]

What was wrong with what I--

Oh! U-uh...!