Chapter Text
Odile POV:
Odile sits down on a plush bed, the room is fairly small, but large enough for her and Miki.
Miki is laying down on her own bed, staring at the ceiling.
The ceiling is not plain, as most ceilings are, but painted in various shades, arranged in ways barely comprehensible.
Odile finds herself also looking at this ceiling.
(What a strange kind of art, it’s rather… abstract)
(You wonder what she thinks of it)
(...)
(What is this? Twice now? A second child rescued while on the road?)
(It’s fortunate that you all were close to the next town, they were in really bad shape, dehydrated, malnourished, injured, and probably exhausted)
(How they ended up in that river is still a mystery to you…)
(How did Siffrin even know? The Crossed Forest must have been a fluke, his senses seem quite keen)
(The way he immediately jumped in…)
(Gems, Miki was very willing too, she nearly drowned)
(When we fished her out, hey system expelled such an immense amount of liquid, you’re shocked she can withstand that much water)
(Siffrin handled himself well, they seemed like he trusted he would survive, but Miki…)
(...)
(Siffrin ran the child here as fast as he could, they’re the fastest, so you let him)
(Everyone else wanted to go with him, but you had to stop them, you all would’ve just slowed them down)
(You haven’t seen much of Siffrin, he’s refused to leave the room with the kid)
(You didn’t expect him to have this side, though maybe you should’ve, he’s been getting close with Miki. You figured it was just how Miki is similar to his sister, but maybe it’s just children in general)
(You would check on him, but you can’t help but worry about Miki, she hasn’t spoken much at all since the river, she’s seemed out of it for hours…)
(You can only wonder what goes on in that head of her’s…)
(...Does anything? You kind of just took that for granted, but would it be possible that she doesn’t think?)
(...)
(There’s no way to really know, you would be just as successful at figuring out if Siffrin or Mirabelle thinks, that being not successful at all)
(Should you make the same assumption you make for other humans?)
(It’s not the same, but also she shows the signs of thinking, so would it even matter?)
Odile looks over to Miki, she’s shifted, not able to lay still.
(...)
(It’s odd, you got used to her stiffness, now she can’t stay still)
(What caused this?)
(You wonder how she would be naturally…)
(...)
(You find yourself being distracted by thinking about Miki quite often, but it’s not like there’s something else for you to be doing, the doctors said the kid would make a full recovery, it’s just a matter of time…)
Odile looks into the ceiling, the abstract art that mantles it coalescing into uncertainty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mirabelle POV:
Mirabelle is sitting back in a plush chair, exhausted.
(Change… so many people want your input…)
(You weren’t really sure how to help some of them, but they seemed happy?)
(You really hope you didn’t mess up…)
(Maybe you should have asked Isabeau to come with you…)
(But he seemed so engrossed in his sketch book! You couldn’t have!)
(...Even if he would have gladly come along…)
(...)
She unknowingly wears a worried expression.
(It’s fine! You dealt with it!)
(You can just… rest, for a moment)
Mirabelle shuts her eyes tightly and tries to relax.
(…)
Her attempt leaves her with a mild tremble.
(Change! You should check on the kid!)
Mirabelle stiffly rises from the chair and marches through the House of Change.
As she proceeds through the winding hallways, one of the doctors crosses her path.
Their full height is hidden by their slouch, but they still tower over Mirabelle.
Slender Doctor: “Ah, Mirabelle, checking on the child?”
Find my pages…
> “Oh! Uh! Yes! I am!”
Slender Doctor: “Feel free, though their condition has not changed.”
(Oh… still unconscious?)
Slender Doctor: “Siffrin is still in there, do you think you could get him to leave? He’s not causing trouble or anything, but I would prefer it if I could do my work alone.”
(Change! They still haven’t left?!?)
(You don’t want to force him out, but…)
> “I-I’ll see what I can do.”
The doctor heaves a sigh of relief.
Slender Doctor: “Thank you, Ms. Savior.”
The doctor shambles off through the maze of hallways.
Mirabelle stands there for a few moments before realizing that she has somewhere to be.
She makes it to the lightless door, “Medical Bay” is written above it in multiple languages.
She hesitates for a few moments, then opens it.
A sterile smell floods from the silent room, it contrasts the rest of the House with its blandness. Most of the beds are empty, except one. The child lays there, their chest moving up and down slowly. The large hat that probably belongs to them is hanging off the foot of the bed. Siffrin is sitting slumped in a chair next to them, turned away from the door.
(Have they been here the whole time?)
> “Siffrin?”
He doesn’t respond.
Mirabelle walks up closer to them.
> “Siffrin…?”
Siffrin suddenly sits up and looks at Mirabelle.
Siffrin: “Oh! Uhh… Hi Mirabelle!”
Siffrin looks groggy, he’s struggling to keep his eyes open.
> “Oh! Sorry! Did I wake you up?”
(You definitely woke him up…)
Siffrin: “No, you didn’t, I was awake!”
> “...”
Siffrin: “...”
Siffrin: “...So, what are you doing here?”
> “I came to check on you and the kid, it seems like things haven’t changed…”
Siffrin looks back at the kid.
Siffrin: “Nope…”
(Poor kid, they were probably trying to run from the curse…)
(It hurts to think how many people must have lost their lives…)
(The King is awful)
(...)
(It’s been a while now, but you still don’t know what he’s thinking, he seems to care very deeply for this kid, but you don’t know why…)
(The doctor asked you to try and get him to leave, but…)
> “How are you doing?”
Siffrin: “Huh? Me?”
> “Yeah.”
Siffrin: “I’m fine.”
> “...Why are you still in here? Not that that’s bad or anything! But it just seems odd…”
Siffrin: “...”
Siffrin breathes in, then out.
Siffrin: “I don’t want them to wake up alone.”
> “Oh…”
Siffrin: “It’s… scary to wake up somewhere unknown, especially after being on the run like that…”
(...Yeah, it is…)
> “...Have you eaten?”
Siffrin: “Yeah, Isabeau's been bringing me food.”
> “That’s good!”
(...)
> “Can I stay here with you for a while?”
Siffrin: “...Sure.”
Mirabelle grabs a chair by an empty bed and places it next to Siffrin’s.
Silence once again settles into the medical bay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miki POV:
Miki is staring at the ceiling, its abstract patterns failing to mean anything in her mind.
(You have been trying to understand this for hours now, you feel like you do not get it)
(It seems random to you, you read that art is meant to be a form of expression, and you have felt pieces of it in music, but this? You just do not understand)
(What feelings are present here? What led to this piece's creation?)
(You find no patterns, no distinct figures, no clear sections, just… shades)
(Does this piece of art have a place in the world?)
(You guess it’s like you, or maybe nothing like you?)
(...)
(Why do you feel like this? You don’t care about this ceiling, not really, why are you bothering to spend time and power on it!?!)
Miki begins shaking.
(What is this feeling? You don’t like it! You feel like you no longer have full control over yourself)
(You’re scared)
(You’re close to crying)
(Are you… angry?)
(But… there’s no one to be angry at)
(There’s no need to be angry)
Miki stills.
(...Huh, does that… always happen?)
(You just… stopped)
(How long have you been doing that?)
(Why does that unsettle you so much?)
(You could just… check, couldn’t you?)
(So… just… do that)
Miki does not do that.
(...)
(It’s… fine, it doesn’t matter, you don’t… care)
(You don’t)
Miki turns away from the ceiling.
(You can still see it)
(You don’t want to see it)
Miki quickly gets out of bed and leaves the room.
(...You have no idea what the layout of the House is…)
(You could just look back at when you came in…)
(No, you… you don’t want to)
(It’s fine)
(You can navigate just fine)
Miki stands outside the door, unmoving.
(...Where should you go?)
(There are too many thoughts and feelings in your head, it’s unbecoming of you, you should talk to someone)
(Anyone, just- find someone)
Miki suddenly begins walking, pacing down the hallways.
(Why are your emotions so hard to control right now? You had to learn to control them)
(And you do! Very well! It’s what you were told to do!!!)
(And you’ve always had control after that, even-)
Miki stops in the middle of a hallway.
(No, you… haven’t)
(You can’t keep avoiding things that make you uncomfortable like th-)
(...)
(Oh)
(You were angry with yourself)
(You are upset because you have been choosing not to think about the child)
(You really do not want to think about that, but…)
(...)
(You need help for this, you can’t get yourself to think about it)
Miki continues her quest to find someone through the immense House of Change.
As she scours the halls, she runs into Isabeau.
Isabeau: “Oh! Hey, Miki! What are you doing?”
> “C-Can I ta-talk to y-you?”
Isabeau is taken aback.
Isabeau: “Of course, any time! Should we go back to my room?”
> “Do-Doesn’t matter to me, I- I just need to work thr-through this.”
Isabeau walks off and Miki follows him.
Isabeau: “So… what’s this about?”
Miki gathers her will, then responds.
> “I’m avoiding thinking about the child.”
Isabeau: “...Why?”
> “...I want to say I don’t know, but…”
> “I do, mostly, at least…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isabeau POV:
(You’re unsettled, Miki was always so… stiff, even in combat!)
(And this was not the context you hoped to see her become expressive)
(You had hoped it would be either never, because that wasn’t what she was like, or it would be in joy)
(Instead, she’s sitting on Mira’s bed, constantly shifting like she can’t get comfortable…)
(What about the kid could be bothering her so much?)
> “...So?”
Miki: “...”
Miki picks at a loose thread from a blanket.
(She must be having trouble talking about it, she said it’s something she has been avoiding thinking about…)
(That implies it’s not really about the kid, right?)
Miki: “I… just wonder, how did the child end up in that river?”
> “Yeah… I was wondering that too…”
Miki: “They’re just a child, they shouldn’t have been alone like that…”
Miki: “What would have led them to leaving who they were with?”
(What? Why would she jump to that?)
Miki: “What horrible thing led them to running away…?”
Miki: “...”
Miki stares off into nothing.
(There’s a sinking feeling in your gut, you always kind of knew, but…)
> “...Miki?”
She looks at Isabeau.
> “Why were you really in that forest?
Miki stares at Isabeau, shaking.
Miki: “I… I’m n-not ready…”
Miki stands up, hugging herself.
Miki: “Th-This was a mis-stake…”
> “Miki! Wait-”
She flees the room.
Isabeau is left with his arm outstretched.
(...)
(You doubt there’s anything you can do now, it seems like she needs some time…)
> “Haha! Yep! You can’t do anything about this, Isabeau! You weren’t helpful!”
> “...”
> “I wonder how Siffrin’s doing! Probably hasn't eaten! I should go handle that!”
Isabeau also leaves the room, hurrying down the halls until he’s in the kitchen.
He absentmindedly grabs a bowl of stew, realizes he should also grab one for himself, and then leaves for the medical bay.
The lightless door stands in front of Isabeau, the child and Siffrin almost assuredly inside.
He considers it for a moment, before pushing it open.
> “Hey, Sif! Got you dinner!”
Siffrin is sitting in the same chair they’ve been sitting in all day, frowning.
Siffrin: “Oh! Thanks Isabeau.”
> “Yeah! No prob!”
> “...”
> “...May I eat with you?”
Siffrin’s head tilts sideways.
Siffrin: “Sure?”
Isabeau sits down in the new seat next to Siffrin and hands him his plate.
(They seem sad… you know how to deal with that!)
> “Think this meal’s any good?”
Siffrin hums while poking at his food thoughtfully.
Siffrin: “... I don’t know.”
> “...We’ll have to stew on it.”
Siffrin looks up at Isabeau.
Siffrin: “That’s terrible.”
> “Can you do butter?”
Siffrin taps his chin with the end of his spoon.
Siffrin: “You butter believe I can.”
Isabeau points an accusing finger.
> “Hey!”
Siffrin: “Hmm?”
> “You stole my setup!”
Siffrin: “Borrowed.”
> “Stole.”
Siffrin: “Repourposed.”
Siffrin gives an innocent shrug.
Siffrin: “I’m just spreading it around.”
> “HAHAHAH! You’re on a roll now!”
Siffrin wears a sly smile, happy with himself.
Siffrin loads their spoon with stew and shoves it into their mouth.
(...!)
(Oh Change! His face is so full! Like a little hamster storing food for winter!)
A small laugh slips out before Isabeau can stop it.
> “... Pff.”
Siffrin glances over, still chewing.
Siffrin: “What?”
> “Nothing.”
Siffrin shrugs and carries on with their stew.
(He looks… cute)
The word settles into his mind so naturally that, for a moment, he doesn’t question it.
(Cute, not funny, not silly… cute)
(Since when did you start thinking that?)
Isabeau keeps his gaze on Siffrin.
Siffrin continues to unthinkingly smile while eating, Isabeau can't help but smile himself.
Not because the joke landed, not because the puns were fun, just… because it's Siffrin.
Isabeau freezes, an action only he notices, as the realization catches him off guard.
(When did looking at Siffrin become enough to make you smile?)
(When did they start looking… cute?)
His chest felt strangely light as something clicked into place.
(Oh)
(That-)
(You-)
(Change!)
Isabeau sits there stiffly, trying to manage his emotions.
Siffrin, unaware of the turmoil Isabeau is experiencing, continues to eat happily.
(You… should keep quiet about this… right?)
(Yeah… for now at least, you’ll tell him at some point!)
Isabeau resumes eating and tries not to think about Siffrin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odile POV:
(You find yourself awake)
(It’s late, and something woke you up)
(You’re not happy about this)
Odile sits up and tries to figure out what could have woken her up.
She turns to Miki’s bed.
Miki is awake and trembling, mechanical sobs she is desperately trying to keep quiet ringing out.
Most of Odile’s irritation leaves her.
Odile whispers her name.
> “Miki.”
She does not respond.
> “Miki.”
(Still nothing…)
Odile puts a hand on her shoulder.
> “Miki!”
Miki jumps and turns around.
Her eyes are darting around and she's shaking so very badly.
Miki: “O-oh! I’m s-sorry for wa-wa-k-king you up… you can-n go back-back to sleep.”
(You have never heard her stutter this bad)
(You should find out what's going on)
Odile gets out of her sleeping bag.
> “I can handle a little bit less sleep.”
(You’re still a little annoyed, but it doesn’t matter right now)
> “What's the matter?”
Miki: “It’s no-no-no-thing-ng!”
(That’s definitely not true, that stuttering is a dead giveaway)
(...And the fact she is sobbing, gems Odile, get a hold of yourself)
> “That does not seem to be true, little one”
Miki: “It’s-It’s-It’s not-t-t-t impor-port-tant! Just-Just a n-nightmare…”
(How she dreams is still quite the mystery to you, you figured dreaming would be rooted in the biological; but here she is. Do her dreams work the same as human dreams? You are very curious…)
(...)
(Gems, now is not the time for this Odile, one of your allies needs comfort)
(It makes sense she would have nightmares after everything the party has been through…)
> “It’s clearly having an effect on you, that’s important.”
Miki: “...I don’t think it really matters in my case…”
(That’s a strange thing to say, she sounded so sad and defeated while saying it)
> “Why do you say that?”
Miki flinches a little at that.
Miki: “I’m just a mach-machine, not a-a person.”
(...)
(...you should have expected that)
(You can’t help but feel like this might be partially your fault)
> “Well, either way, do you want to talk about it?”
Miki: “...”
> “It might help.”
Miki: “...Ok-kay.”
Miki exits her sleeping bag.
Odile and Miki are sitting facing each other, Miki is holding her head down.
(You are not the best person for this job, but you are who is here)
(That will have to be enough)
(She’s a bit calmer now, that’s good)
Miki: “...it was about my Creator.”
(Ah, so grief then? You are not unfamiliar with nightmares of that sort)
Miki: “It was a typical day, we were just working on some of his projects. We did that often, it was nice, making something with him. But I was not very good at it… I was not used to my strength and I had trouble using tools back then. I accidentally broke a large portion of the machine we were working on, many of the parts were rendered useless. I apologized profusely over my stupid error, but he was really-ly angry. He started yelling-ing at me-me.”
Miki starts sobbing again.
(This… did not go in the direction you thought it would)
Miki: “He w-was so-so-so ang-angry, I was so scared. When he finally stopped yelling, he turned to walk away. I really didn't want him to go. I pleaded: “Please don’t go, Dad! I love you…” He stopped in his tracks and he looked back at me, he… looked so angry. He stomped over to me and picked me up and started to yell in my face. He told me to never call him that, I was not his child, I was just a machine, an object, I was not something worthy of love. He told me he regretted ever making me, regretted wishing for me. After that, he dropped me and walked away. I woke up after that.”
(You)
(There isn’t a word to describe the anger crystallizing in your heart)
(This poor child…)
> “...Was that just a dream or was it a memory?”
(You put as much kindness into your voice as you could)
Miki begins to sob harder.
(...)
(You decide you hate this Creator of her’s)
(He’s lucky he’s dead, because you would have surely killed him)
(You aren’t sure how to comfort her)
(You know physical contact can help sometimes)
(You never really cared for physical contact–well, except for…)
(…)
Odile pulls Miki close to her and lays down in her own bed.
Miki sobs into Odile’s chest.
(She doesn’t cry actual tears, it feels strange for your chest to not be wet)
Odile rubs circles into her back.
(You remember that your father used to do this for you, it really helped back then)
(She feels so small like this…)
(You don’t know how long you lay there, Miki sobbing against your chest)
Eventually, she calms down.
(It’s strange, she doesn’t breathe or move once calm, she doesn’t need to do either of those things)
(You think that fact she’s not moving means she’s asleep)
(She’s rather warm)
(…)
(You really got it wrong, huh?)
(Siffrin and Miki have not been the threats you thought they were, and Miki…)
(You feel like she’s more human than you give her credit for)
(You don’t know if she is a person or not, but you find you don’t care right now)
(...When did you start using she/her pronouns for her?)
(You will need to think over the information you’ve acquired tomorrow morning…)
(…)
> “Goodnight, Little Amethyst. Sweet dreams.”
(...)
(Getting sentimental are you?)
Miki: "Goodnight, mama..."
(The words are quiet and mumbled, clearly she’s half asleep)
(Those words still shatter your gemstone heart all the same)
(...)
(Gems…)
(She considered her creator her father, but you’ve never heard her refer to him like that, you suppose you now know why…)
(…)
(She was not fully in her right mind, but she called you ‘mama’)
(...)
(You feel conflicted)
(You both deserved a better parent than the one you got, or didn’t get in your case, but at least you had your father, Miki didn’t have anyone else)
(In the past, your allies had tried to joke that you were the mom of the group. You shut that down quickly, you are not mother material)
(You don’t have the best history with mothers, but…)
(You’re willing to give it a try this time)
(You think there is no line you wouldn’t cross to protect your allies)
(You’re surprised to find out you are okay with that)
(Hmm, ‘Allies’ no longer feels like the right word…)
(You can sort that out later, you need some sleep)
Odile holds Miki in her arms like something precious and shuts her eyes.
(Your back is going to kill you in the morning…)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
??? POV:
The street…
It’s so cold…
I can’t even see my hands…
My shoulder…
Was…
…There a tap on it…?
I can’t tell…
It was just rain…
Wasn’t it…?
I feel a hand now…
I see…
Someone…
They hoist me up…
> “Is… someone there…?”
“That bad kid?”
I still can’t see clearly…
“Come on. Let’s go inside.”
I can’t.
I can’t accept handouts.
That’s what Sis said.
“What is it?”
> “No handouts…”
“Consider it payment then, I want to hear a story.”
> “...okay…”
I walk inside.
It’s so loud…
And the lights make your vision even worse…
I shouldn’t have agreed…
I sit down with the person…
They order…
They ask you what you want…
My voice fails me…
You can’t accept this…
“After the story?”
> “After…”
> “What story?”
“Any story, I don’t mind.”
> “In my town… we had a legend…
There was a sword…
Pierced… into a stone…
The legends said a legendary hero put it there…
But he wasn’t a hero for his strength or tactics…
He was a hero because of his heart…
The sword was there because his heart knew the correct path…
He pierced it and took a stand… that he would not fight…
The hilt banged against the stone and the entire country heard it…
The man then vanished…
No one could pull the sword…
They say until your battle should be fought that you cannot pull the sword…
I told… my sister this story once…
She said it was just another sword.”
“Well said.”
I look to the man’s plate that has arrived…
It was a singular chocolate chip cookie…
Applause roars all around you.
> “What’s happening?”
“It seems they liked your story.”
> “Huh?”
“This is the story booth. There’s craft on it so the entire place can hear.”
He… he tricked me…
Sister was right…
“I didn’t trick you kid, it’s just now everyone here has to pay you back.”
“They can’t very well let a job from a starving kid go unrewarded.”
The man eats his cookie.
Whatever emotion I could make out leaves his face.
“Well I’ve done my job here kid.”
He flicks a coin to me.
“Good luck.”
The people in there surround you.
They lift me up and cheer for me.
But in my mind it was silent.
My vision finally cleared.
And saw the person through the window.
I never got to thank them…
I never even got to clearly see their face…
(...)
(You feel weak…)
The child opens their eyes.
(Where… are you?)
Around them is a medical bay, empty beds line the walls, and sitting in the chair next to their bed is a person in a darkless cloak, fast asleep.
(How did you get here? What were you doing?)
(You… remember feeling cold…)
(...)
(You… shouldn’t stay here)
(You can handle yourself!)
They try to get up, but they don’t have the strength to move very much.
(Crab… your stupid body can’t carry you out of this crabbing bed!)
They turn to look at the person in the darkless cloak, they’re awake.
The child freezes.
They both stare at each other in shocked silence for a moment.
???: “...Hey! Uh-How are you feeling?”
(...Should you… respond?)
> “...Weak.”
???: “That… makes sense.”
(...)
> “Who are you?”
Siffrin: “Oh! I’m Siffrin, he/they…”
Siffrin is unsure what to say next.
(Your sister said it’s polite to introduce yourself…)
> “I’m Bonnie, they/them.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odile POV:
Odile groggily comes to consciousness.
(Your poor back… what happened?)
Underneath the covers, Odile is still holding Miki to her chest.
(Ah, you had forgotten about last night)
(Gems… you really didn’t expect this to happen, it wasn’t long ago you had considered Amethyst a thing and a threat, how did things end up like this?)
(Turns out you were right, she is very likeable)
(...)
(This Creator of hers… something about the way she described him always made you uncomfortable, everytime he was brought up you grew more concerned)
(You doubt you’ve heard it all, you feel like there are pieces you are missing, after all, she still loves him)
(He’s nameless too, which you find odd)
(A nameless person? Why does that ring a bell…)
(...)
(Nevermind, you can figure it out later)
(After knowing her for this long, something strikes you as odd now, how she refused to describe how he died)
(Last night was the only other time you’ve seen her so scared…)
(She didn't even get that scared when about to die, not even during the fight with Raguel)
(...)
(Raguel…)
(That question still goes through your mind: save the world, or save the people you care about most…)
(As inspiring as Amethyst's answer is, you can’t find yourself believing in that idea of always being able to choose both)
(Raguel chose the people he cares about most)
(...What about you?)
(This quest you’re on may very well force that question upon you, so what would you do?)
(The world is so important, the progress of humanity is an incredible thing)
(But…)
(You already know what your answer is, as much as you don’t want to admit it, you know which you would choose)
(You would do anything for the people you love)
(It feels wrong to you, picking that choice, it’s illogical)
(And yet…)
Miki: "Good morning, mom..."
Odile flinches at the title.
(Gems, you doubt you’ll get used to that…)
> “Good morning.”
(...)
(She’s groggy? Was that programmed in?)
(You really jumped into the deep end… you suppose you’re committing to this, being the mom yours was not…)
> “It’s time to get up for the day.”
Miki: “...Can I stay here a little longer?”
Odile gets out of the covers and stretches.
Odile: “I suppose, not for too long though.”
Miki peaks her head out from under the blanket, half raising herself up. Her eyes are half closed and she’s unfocused.
Miki falls back into the bedding and yawns.
(Adorable, though you would never admit that to anyone)
(She kind of reminds you of that Marcarite…)
(This isn’t too bad, you’ll lie here for a while too, there's no rush today…)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mirabelle POV:
(You’ve been on a walk for a while…)
(...They’ll realize you’re gone eventually…)
(...you went on a walk to get your mind off everything…)
(...to remain sane…)
(...yet here you are worrying.)
(Urgh…)
(...it’d be so much simpler if he was here…)
(...he was so much more competent than you for this…)
Leaves Crunch in the midst of the trees.
(WHAT WAS THAT?!?!)
Mirabelle looks around anxiously.
Siffrin: “Mirabelle?”
> “AHHHHHH!”
Siffrin stumbles backwards.
> “SORRY! SORRY!”
Siffrin: “It’s alright…”
> “Siffrin what are you doing out here?”
Siffrin: “Looking for you, I… noticed you had been gone for a while.”
> “But what about Bonnie?”
Siffrin: “They’re off cooking with Isabeau.”
> “Ah…”
Mirabelle sits down and Siffrin stares in silence.
Siffrin sits down next to Mirabelle.
> “...Siffrin do you mind if I…? No no I shouldn’t…”
Siffrin: “Whatever it is, I don’t mind.”
> “Promise you won’t… lose hope?”
Siffrin: “Promise.”
> “I’m going to hold you to that…”
> “...”
> “I’ve only told this to one person…”
> “Well they figured it out rather…”
> “Point is don’t tell this to anyone…”
> “The truth is…”
> “...I wasn’t picked by the Change God.”
Siffrin just sits in silence as if waiting for Mirabelle to continue.
(That’s it Mirabelle! You messed everythi-)
Siffrin: “Why would that matter?”
Mirabelle looks to Siffrin in shock.
(“Whether or not you were chosen by the Change God doesn’t matter.”)
> “...What do you think the nature of giving is?”
Siffrin pauses for a moment.
Siffrin: “I guess it’s nice to get something in return…”
Siffrin: “...but get used to getting nothing in return.”
(“The nature of giving is expecting nothing in return.”)
(...Why do those words still echo around your mind…)
(You owe everyone everything and more!)
(YOU SHOULD!)
(SO WHY?!?! WHY IS EVERYONE TELLING YOU OTHERWISE!)
(WHY DID RAGUEL TELL YOU OTHERWISE???)
(WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE HE KNEW ME BETTER THAN YOU DID!)
(WHO AM I?!?!)
(IF YOU DON’T OWE THE WORLD EVERYTHING, WHO ARE YOU?!?!)
(IF YOU’RE NOT THE SAVIOR OF VAUGARDE?!?!)
(THEN WHO ARE YOU?!?!)
(Who am I…?)
> “Siffrin… who am I…?”
Siffrin reacts in puzzled shock.
Siffrin: “Someone once… told me something…”
> “Oh… What was it…?”
Siffrin: “You’re whoever you decide to be.”
(...that’s…)
(...huh)
(...it’s…)
(...ridiculously simple…)
(...and yet…)
> “Who told you that? I’d like to meet them.”
Siffrin: “...”
> “...Siffrin…?”
Siffrin: “You… don’t.”
> “...Why?”
Siffrin: “The Dead tell tales…”
> “Isn’t it… the Dead tell no tales…?”
Siffrin: “Can we… please divert from this…”
> “Who do you decide to be?”
Siffrin: “...”
> “Siffrin?”
Siffrin: “Divert farther.”
(...I… can’t help but wonder…)
(...Maybe another time…)
> “What… Did you think of Raguel…?”
Siffrin: “He’s… lost…”
> “LOST?!?!?!”
Siffrin: “OH! NOT THAT KIND!!!”
> “Sorry… sorry…”
Siffrin: “Like he was lost in… a maze…”
(...)
> “Do… Do you think… he’ll find the exit?”
Siffrin: “...”
(...)
Siffrin: “It… doesn’t matter what I think…”
> “...I care what you think.”
Siffrin: “The only one who can find the exit is… himself.”
> “But can’t we help him find the exit…?”
Siffrin: “...Lunch should be about ready.”
> “Yeah… yeah. Let’s go.”
(I can’t help but think about…)
(...Raguel’s locket… it…)
(...gives… me hope…)
(...It shows his heart…)
(...”The Answers we Find”...)
(...what did those words mean…?)
(...I don’t… know…)
(...but please Raguel…)
(...find them…)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miki POV:
(You still feel sleepy… you wish you could have slept for longer, you don’t remember the last time sleeping was so nice…)
Everyone is gathered in a dining room in the House after eating an incredible meal made by Bonnie and Isabeau (But mainly Bonnie).
Miki is slouching on a stool next to Odile who is going through her notebook, writing down new information. Siffrin and Bonnie are near the connected kitchen animatedly talking to each other about rocks and their tastes, Siffrin is insisting that more rocks than just salt taste good and Bonnie is telling them to not “Crabbing eat rocks!” Isabeau and Mirabelle are sitting across the table discussing a romantic book Mirabelle’s been reading, Isabeau is visibly a little horrified.
Miki turns to look at Bonnie.
(They finally woke up, you all were called to the room to meet them)
(They are much more lively than you expected)
(Is that normal for children? Why aren’t you like that?)
(You… do count as a child, right? Well, you are a machine, so maybe such a concept doesn’t apply to you)
(...Maybe you could just ask)
> “Mom? Would I be considered a child?”
Isabeau and Mirabelle quickly turn their heads at hearing Miki call Odile “Mom,” they look concerned.
Odile glances over to them then smirks.
Odile: “I couldn’t tell you for sure, Amethyst. But based on what I have seen of you, yes.”
Isabeau and Mirabelle freeze, unsure of how to respond to both Odile’s acceptance of the phrase and the nickname Miki’s been given.
Miki nods her head and continues to watch Bonnie and Siffrin.
Isabeau: “Did- did she just call you mom??? And you let that slide???”
Odile: “She’s allowed.”
Isabeau just becomes more confused.
Isabeau: “What happened to the Madame we’ve been traveling with???”
Odile: “Don’t get any ideas, call me ‘mom’ and I’ll test my new craft on you.”
Isabeau decides not to question further lest he face ‘mama’ Odile’s wrath.
Odile: “I heard you think it, don’t let it happen again.”
Isabeau: “How did you know!?!”
Odile sends a false glare his way.
Isabeau: “Yes, Madame! Got it, Madame!”
Mirabelle: “S-So… we need to go at some point… what do we do with…”
Mirabelle looks toward Bonnie who is angrily telling Siffrin that whatever Mercury is, it’s not food.
Odile shuts her notebook, contemplating the question.
> “Why couldn’t they just come with us?”
Isabeau: “That… certainly is an option…”
Odile: “They apparently have no family anywhere close to here, so we would have to leave them in someone else’s care if they were to stay.”
Mirabelle: “But… that would be leaving them to get frozen…”
(You notice Bonnie stop moving as much, are they listening?)
Siffrin turns to watch the conversation unfold.
Odile: “Less dangerous than them coming, and we can’t take care of a kid.”
> “But I’m a kid, and I’m coming along.”
Isabeau: “Miki, you’re a different case, you are more able to both defend yourself and help us defeat the King.”
Bonnie runs up to the table and interjects.
Bonnie: “I can help! I can cook really well and I'm strong!”
Everyone is left silent at the interjection.
Siffrin: “They have a point with the cooking, it was super tasty…”
(...It was really good…)
Odile: “It’s still dangerous for you to come, you could die.”
Mirabelle: “Madame-”
Odile: “I won’t sugarcoat it, that’s the risk, we all have almost died on multiple occasions.”
Bonnie: “I-I can handle myself!”
Mirabelle: “W-what if a sadness attacks here? O-or someone on the King’s side? In that case, they would be safer with us, wouldn’t they?”
Odile takes a moment to think.
Bonnie: “Yeah! She has a point!”
(If they want to come, how would we even stop them? Couldn’t they just follow us?)
> “Couldn’t they just follow us no matter what we decide?”
Everything thinks on it for a moment.
Odile: “Gems… Amethyst, you probably shouldn’t have said that.”
Bonnie stares at Miki in awe.
Bonnie: “She’s right! I’m just going to follow anyway!”
Siffrin: “...I guess that decides it.”
(You think Siffrin wanted this outcome)
Odile sighs.
Odile: “In that case, I’ll go grab what we need to get to Pathacea.”
Bonnie: “Can I come with you? I bet you don’t have any ingredients.”
Mirabelle: “...We do not.”
Odile: “...Fine, you can come shop with me, but we have a budget to keep.”
Bonnie: “I do this all the time! It’s easy!”
(You want to learn about ingredients)
> “I would like to come as well.”
Odile: “Of course, Amethyst.”
> “Thank you.”
(Bonnie… you decide you like them)
Isabeau: “Good luck you three!”
Odile speaks sarcastically.
Odile: “Thanks, we’ll need it…”
With that, Odile walks off to the market, new party member in tow.