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[umbralant]

EPILOGUE

As the world they've been living in so long quickly dissolves around them, the oppressive air from the Gate fades away from their senses and their vision turns turns completely white. It only takes an instant for their sight to return, but when it does, they'll find themselves in the same dim, dank chamber that they were in a moment before albeit with several main differences: the Gate and the machines that were clustered near it are now gone.

However, you'll only be able to take in this sight for a few seconds before the scenery blurs and suddenly there's the scent of the cool December air brushing past your face, blinding sunlight assaulting the eyes.

It's been six weeks since you've seen anything but the night, so it may take a bit of adjustment before realizing that there's a number of very, very familiar faces before you, as well as one who might not be so recognizable. Either way, one thing is for sure: that long, long Night is over, and it's the start of another Day.

Witamy w Krakowie.

[[Everyone will find themselves in the Main Square. Furthermore, those who had body horror will find that all traces of it are gone!]]

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[raventhaw]

[ the sun is definitely blinding, and raven needs more than a few moments to adjust to it. her hand comes up and over her eyes, filtering out the sun rays as she emerges back into the light again.

it's been too long since she's seen the sun. she relaxes in it for a while...before she just lets out the longest, most drawn-out sigh in krakow. ]

...I don't even want to try to fathom what just happened right now.

[reanbeans]

...I don't think so either.

But, we're alive. Let's hope the others are around too, and we can find a way back home.

[ He's also exhausted and feeling...like. Trash.

But he's sure everyone else was too? In a way? So, it's fine. ]

[raventhaw]

[ oh hey, rean. she has a very pertinent question: ]

How are you feeling?

[reanbeans]

I'm not sure, I think mostly tired and I could be feeling better, but...I think I'll manage.

[ That was all definitely not good for his mental health. But they made it out, so small miracles.

And...Raven was still talking to him and not treating him like a monster (he's pretty insecure about revealing that side of him, so.) Which was also good.

He just really needed to sit down. ]

What about you?

[raventhaw]

Exhausted, but glad that this all appears to be over. For good.

[ however the fuck that happened, anyway. ]

Are you going to tell me about what happened back there?

[reanbeans]

...I lost control, over my other self.

It's...not something I spoke all that often, if at all, just because I'm sure if I had, it would've made things more difficult. And I was sure I could keep it under control, but it's much more difficult when I get angry.

And as you see, I become like some kind of...monster.

I'm sorry I never told you.

[ He felt bad. Only two people here had known.

Still, he hadn't had said because he was sure that people would've seen him differently when trial came, always questioning if his other side would have acted up. His stomach was in knots, it was the end, but it's killing him to know if she felt differently, or rather, negatively about him.

He didn't know how he'd feel. ]

[raventhaw]

[ she doesn't truly understand what he's going through, but at least he's starting to make sense. it was unusual of him to be so angry and irrational like he was back there -- they're lucky that things worked out the way they did. ]

There's no need for an apology. Ultimately, things worked out. Though I highly advise that you master control over that other self eventually.

[ before you get yourself killed. ]

[reanbeans]

[ ...

He couldn't. It wasn't something he could say easily. Usually he had something with him that'd help, but without it...he was at the mercy of it. ]

I usually have something with me that helps. But otherwise...I can't, not easily.

It's...a long story, but I'm not sure if it's one you want to hear before we're about to part ways.

Still, I'm happy I was able to get to know you well, Raven. Even if all of that wasn't something I'd never want any of us to go through in the first place.

[ And at least she didn't see him differently in the end. ]

[raventhaw]

[ ah. she's about to say something in response, but once he mentions parting ways...

there's a strange feeling in her chest. it hurts. she looks at him for a brief second, only the slightest hint of emotion on her face -- her eyes are slightly widened and her lips are slightly parted, as if the realization's only just hit her. ]

Give me a moment.

[ she reaches for her notebook and her pen. (they're still here, in tact!) and she sits down, writing something very intently. he's welcome to sit next to her if he wants while she...writes a thing, i guess. ]

[reanbeans]

[ He watched her expression, and he felt bad for just bringing it up like that. But, he knew it had to be said.

Rean knew he had a rough time ahead of him as well, but...it's fine. He'll deal with it as it came.

Though, he's not expecting her to say what she did. ]

Ah, oh... okay.

[ Rean will then move to sit right beside her, folding his hands neatly in his lap, wondering what she was writing. ]

[raventhaw]

[ yeah. yeah. it definitely needed to be said. maybe she'd gotten too comfortable being around these guys... god, when did she get so soft. she hates it! but it is what it is, and here she is, writing...whatever this is.

moments pass, and finally, raven's finished. she rips out two papers from her notebook and folds them both in fourths. then, she reaches for one of her beaded necklaces and wraps it around the papers, securing them.

she hands the entire bundle to him. ]

You can read it whenever you want. Keep it, dispose of it -- whatever you do with it is up to you.

[reanbeans]

[ Rean blinked and then reached out to take them. ]

...I'd never dispose of it. I'll cherish what you've given me for as long as I can.

[ His expression softened into something undeniably, remarkably gentle. He seemed to appreciate her kindness and hadn't even read what she had written yet... ]

Thank you, Raven. You've...really been so kind to me in my stay here. I'll never forget the time we spent together—your company meant so much to me, after all.

[ He couldn't help but say how he felt. Though, there was a pause, debating on what he'd say next, but maybe just leaving it simple was fine for now. ]

...I'll miss you.

[raventhaw]

[ and once again, rean gets one (1) genuine smile from raven branwen. he seems to draw those out of her, somehow. who knew that a pessimist and an optimist would get along as well as they do?

she looks up at the sun for a moment, tucks her notebook back in her pocket, then lowers her gaze to look out into the city. straight ahead, still with that same smile on her face. ]

You might be surprised to hear that people don't tell me I'm kind very often.

[ a beat. ]

I'm...fortunate to have met you here, Rean. You've surprised me in many, many ways that I wasn't expecting.

[ she's starting to realize that she's learned something from him, too. ]

Take that strength and fortitude of yours wherever you go, and you'll be unstoppable. I'm not talking about your "other self", either.

[pr159]

[ ... ]

That's probably a fair reaction.

[raventhaw]

Isn't it just.

[ a glance over at rideaux. ]

Did you get your wish?

[pr159]

No.

[ Though he still might after he talks to Erik, who knows!! ]

He ignored me completely.

[raventhaw]

That's a shame.

[ she folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head tiredly. ]

Erik seems nice enough to possibly help you, though. I wouldn't rule it out completely.

[pr159]

That's certainly what I'm hoping for. I'll have to find him before they both run off to his world.

[ He and Erik had been getting along well enough anyway prior to, uh. This. So it probably isn't hopeless.


He's silent for a moment after that, frowning at some abstract point on the ground. ]

...In the event that that doesn't work out, were you still interested in having an extra hand in the fight against your enemy?

[ They'd established since then that his power wasn't actually as useful as she'd thought outside of his own world's circumstances, but he did just finish off a boss battle for everyone here. ]

[raventhaw]

[ ....oh? ]

Are you asking if you come back with me to Remnant if things don't work out?

[ raven doesn't sound opposed to it, actually. rideaux is far from useless and his medical expertise could definitely come in handy..... ]

Just so you know, we don't exactly live in luxurious conditions. The Branwen Tribe lives outdoors. We sleep in tents and in close quarters.

[ of course, he's welcome to find his own place if he wants. it's just that getting to the tribe would take a bit of traveling. ]

I won't say no, though, if things come down to that.

[pr159]

I don't love the sound of that, but it's not like I haven't had worse.

[ A tent was a luxury he never had during his years on the street, at least, so he can suck it up and deal if he has to. ]

So I'll keep that in mind, thank you.

[ Because there is no fucking way he's going back to his own world if he can't change things there. ]

[deadlygoals]

[ Just lifting up a fist. Does she fist bump? ]

I don't either but it's done at last.

[raventhaw]

[ .........

you know what, fine. he does. it's a very, very weak fist bump and her expression is basically extremely flat, but he's getting one. that's an achievement. ]

I don't know how we managed, in all honesty.

[deadlygoals]

[ He'll count it. Letting his hand drop afterwards. ]

The same way we managed everything else it seem.

[raventhaw]

Through arguing, bickering, and coming up with outlandish ideas on the fly.

[ what a group. what. a. group. ]

That's very par for the course.

[deadlygoals]

[ Most of the group probably aged or something... ]

I don't think I'll ever find anything quite like them.

[ He's not sure if that's going to be lonely or not. It's a group that is quick to turn on each other, but it started to be something expected. They were all fighting hard for themselves and their loved ones, and that in itself is kind of amazing. ]

Heading home?