[Final Day] Endgame

[arsgoetia]

There is a noise like broken glass as the giant shadowy snake wavers in place, then falls over, hitting the roof so hard that dust billows up on on various levels of existence, making the whole building shake. You begin to see more people all around you—flickering, as if the layers are merging into one, the separations between them vanishing.

Superimposed over the snake's fading body—yes, there is, in fact, a giant shadow snake, visible to everyone now, even those who had just been fighting Mithos—is a man in a labcoat bending over on his knees, shuddering and grasping at the ground.

"Sssssss . . . thissssss . . ."

He jerks abruptly, then sags a little more, as if losing energy, trying to force his eyes to stay open, but . . .

Comments

[delivoreance]

I... have a lot of hopes.

[gavehimhead]

Then I'm sorry if I offended you earlier. I didn't mean to disrespect your hopes.

[delivoreance]

[headtilt...]

You didn't.

[gavehimhead]

Oh. I'm relieved. I can never tell, with those kinds of things. I'm afraid I can be a little insensitive.

[delivoreance]

Really? That hasn't been how you've struck me at all.

[gavehimhead]

Then maybe it's my own imagination.

[delivoreance]

[shrugs]

Or I didn't notice... regardless, I'm glad you and Elliot are all right...

[gavehimhead]

Elliot's sturdy enough that you don't have to worry about him. And I avoided most of the trouble.

[delivoreance]

I worry about everyone.

[gavehimhead]

...I'm glad that you do. Sometimes I think Elliot needs more people to worry over him.

[delivoreance]

Just him?

[gavehimhead]

...Yes...?

[delivoreance]

Mm.

[gavehimhead]

Is that bad?

[delivoreance]

Not at all...

[gavehimhead]

I didn't think so either, but I couldn't be sure. ...I must be tired.

[delivoreance]

Mm... I'll worry about you, too... that's unavoidable, though.

[gavehimhead]

Me? Why me?

[delivoreance]

You were with us, weren't you?

[gavehimhead]

I was...but...

[delivoreance]

But...?

[gavehimhead]

You hardly know me. There's no reason for you to worry about me.

[delivoreance]

We were all in a dangerous situation, so I worried about everyone, like I said... isn't that enough?

[gavehimhead]

...

Yes, that seems as good of a reason as any. Thank you.

[delivoreance]

You and Elliot must be very close.