hauntstart | UP AND OUT.

UP AND OUT.

[Beyond the stranger cemetery, you can see the city of Lockcentre. On two sides stretch mountains, with a plateau edge visible above the town, a great waterfall plunging into a river that wends its course through the city, then down terraced edges as the city carefully steps its way down to the sea.

Now what? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he looks at Marius's feet instead of his eyes. he's come to a stop. they're basically just loitering outside the door to the hostel. he doesn't want to go in yet. the moment feels fragile. so much has changed for them in such a short time. so much has happened. ]

Yeah, I do. Some of them.

[ a train sounds useful. Marius doesn't want to see the metal carriage that struck Eric ever again, though. he could do without that one.

unfortunately there's more important, unavoidable things to say.

a deep breath. ]

Eric.

[ looks up ]

Hm?

I will save you this time.

[ it's a good thing he has no knife and is holding a ton of books, as he may have considered another blood oath on this if he did. ]

[ he's so forthright and cool. Cobra loves this part of him and also doesn't know how to deal with having it aimed at him. what does he even say to that. it's like he can feel Marius's heart pulsing in his palm. it feels like he already crushed it without meaning to. ]

I believe in you.

[ a hesitation ]

How did you die?

Not easily.

[ it's said with more teeth than necessary; it's also not to cover up any shame. it doesn't need to. it essentially took an army of the ghouls to batter him down. ]

...aside from that, I don't remember.

[ he likely blacked out in a tempest of rage after. you know. you died. all he remembers is death after death after death after death until finally that death was his own. a mercy killing, at that point. ]

[ rubs the back of his neck, cringing a little, gingerly ]

Like... was it then? Sorry- I'm asking because I'm pretty sure the timing between me and Key was at least a few days apart, even though we got here at the same time.

[ let him die again ]

It was then.

[ key was executed so that makes sense. however, a wait? hm. does the afterlife wait for more people to sit at the gates. ]

[ yeah ok. he can imagine how it probably went then.

closes eyes. breathes in. breathes out. when he opens his eyes again, he smiles. ]

Lucky for me, it looks like the universe loves giving me second chances. Or third.

[ softer, as he turns to enter the hostel, ]

I'm glad you get one, too.

[ something in his chest tightens so hard he thinks it'll burst, but there's no time for organ explosions, he has to dutifully follow him inside. ]

We'll see what I make of it.

[ cracking jokes again, now ]

Don't jinx us! If you go down, I have no chance!

[ studies him. maybe a moment too long. ]

You'd have a small chance.

Don't say that like you're seriously thinking about it.

[ thrown off again,, ]

[ B[ ]

I'm always seriously thinking when it comes to you.

Since when? This development was out of nowhere for me, I feel like I missed all the foreshadowing.

That's a good question. I was seriously considering your death when you blackmailed me. Maybe then?

[ he realizes it does seem out of nowhere. marius has speedrun his loyalty brain explosion. oh well keep up eric. ]

That's the opposite of...

[ trails off. makes a vague noise.

eventually, ]

Why did you do it?

[ oh he does not want to look at him, while also being unable to draw his eyes away now. ]

The king ordered me to execute you, and I had to choose who's will to follow forever.

[ there's an implication there; no matter what path he took, his vows must be shattered. he was tossed from the ship and swam to the port he could consider home. ]

[ Marius have you considered you don't necessarily have to have someone whose will you follow forever. you could take a gap year from having someone whose will you follow forever. Cobra should know he's like this but it's still like. how are you real. it's a little staggering.

inhales. ]

You know, I- and I acknowledge I do a lot to not necessarily give this impression, appearances-wise, but-

In my head, I'm just some guy. I've never thought of myself as that important.

I'm not asking if you're sure you're okay with me or anything like that. I understand your conviction. I'm just...

Well, I already tripped at the starting line, didn't I?

[ no ]

You've made yourself that important.

[ has no idea what a guy is either. ]

[ laughs, not disbelieving but close, emotionally ]

So... I better shape up, I guess.

[ A pause, as he carefully chooses the words he wants to use. ]

You're already a fine shape, Eric. [ NO IDEA WHAT SHAPE UP MEANS, BUT IT SOUNDS VAGUELY SAD? ] I wouldn't have chosen you if I had no faith.

[ laughs, again, brighter. something in his energy and mood has shifted. perhaps regrettably for Marius ]

Oh, you know I'm a fine shape.

[ flourishes a hand, then pats Marius on the shoulder. more seriously ]

I know. I'm just talking to myself. I don't have time to spare for another maudlin, drowning my sorrows in booze arc right now. Right? I'll... believe in the you who believes in me, as the saying goes.

[ how does each conversation end up being more confusing than the last. how come he hasn't been swept away into a vortex of madness yet. how come he hasn't run out of weird phrases. why hasn't swearing his body and soul to this man cured him of his bizarre mouth.

it feels like Marius just complimented him, accidentally, while trying to compliment him, purposefully. ]

Who said that?

[ if anything it's only going to get worse now that you've seen his tragic backstory. ]

It's a traditional mantra of my people.

[ taps Marius's chest ]

Never mind that. I do have something I need from you, as my...

[ ... ]

I'm still not sure what to call this.

UP AND OUT.

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