First and Last and Always

[polymods]

✖ THE END

Ⅰ. THE CITY
CW: potential alcohol use, nudity.
The ferry docks in calm waters/skies the colour of wine. The Ferryman, never a big talker to begin with, seems particularly quiet, and when you disembark he raises one hand in a little wave.

The island’s beach is bone white, the trees and bushes beyond it a lush green and deep teal. The air is the freshest you’ve ever tasted. Everything around you seems to radiate a sense of deep peace.


The path from the beach is clear, made of pale stones that glimmer faintly in the sun. It leads you up a gently sloping path and through a great stone archway overrun with climbing vines laden with tightly closed flowers. Beyond the arch, you can see that there is a shallow valley, the center of which is dominated by a massive stone temple. The temple is surrounded on three sides by a city. Its buildings are made of regular stone and dark, sturdy wood. Plantlife thrives here without feeling as if it is overgrown.

Here there are plenty of places to sleep and bathe and eat - everything is free, and the people who populate the island are by and large welcoming and friendly. To the west of the temple there are natural hot springs you may use. The east side of the city has a sort of lecture space where the island inhabitants gather to debate and talk philosophy or share stories and myths. Many of these you may recognise - there are famous stories from all universes being told. You’re welcome to tell your own. The south side of the city contains a sporting arena, open to the public when there isn’t some sort of competition on. While there isn’t anything modern like a JumboTron screen, there is sports equipment available that is familiar enough to use. The area north of the temple opens up on a thick forest. There are walking paths there, some of which lead up a large hill that affords a spectacular view of the city, the fields just outside of it to the east, and much of the rest of the forest.

During the day everything is bright and pleasant - the pace of life here is a slow one, overall.

At night is when the island really comes alive.

By the light of the stars and moon, all of the flowers growing on the many vines unfurl, revealing rich bioluminescent purples, pinks, and blues. They have a soft, warm scent.

There are parties at night on the island, filled with drinks and dancing. All are welcome. Unlike many of the other islands you have traveled to, there truly doesn’t appear to be any danger here.

Notes:
1. Please remember to mark threads appropriately with Content Warnings when necessary.

2. You can participate in whatever activities you like with no outside interference, no magic tricks. Any trouble you get into will be entirely of your own making this time.

5. Have fun!

---

Ⅱ. THE TEMPLE
Of course, the city is dominated by the presence of the temple at its center.

The temple is not quite like any you may recognise from history, but somehow reminiscent of many of them at the same time. The huge blocks of stone cut to build the structure are the same faintly pearlescent colour of the walking path that leads to the ferry, giving everything a soft but not unpleasant shimmer. There is no roof, leaving the whole thing open to the sky. The temple is circular, and to get to the center you must walk a labyrinth where the walls are covered once again in flowering vines. If you look closely and brush the leaves aside you will see there are faces carved into the rock. Some are not human, but every last one of them looks at peace.

You can find people walking the labyrinth. Some of them are clearly from the city, and they may or may not acknowledge you - they are absorbed in their own thoughts. More often than not however the people you see in the temple are clad in hooded robes that are either white or black. They’re happy to talk to you, and if asked will explain that people walk the labyrinth as a form of contemplation. “It represents a personal journey,” they will explain. “Walk it during the day and reflect on how you have come to be the person that you are. Walk it at night and you will experience visions of the moments in your journey where something in you changed, for good or for ill.”

The center of the labyrinth is a round clearing. Here the stones are darker and iridescent, with one huge block of it set in the middle of the space. On either side of it is a pillar: one black, one white.

The robed walkers of the temple will divulge the purpose of this place if asked: it is the throne room of the Ancient.

“If you choose to walk the labyrinth at night, no matter what visions may come, when you reach the center the Ancient will be there.” After all this time, this might seem like far too simple a ritual to summon a force that has been watching you for months.

The robed walker has only one other thing to say on the subject: “Well. She’s been waiting for you.”

Notes:
1. Visions in the labyrinth can be seen by whoever you are with.

---

Ⅲ. THE ANCIENT
If you choose to seek the Ancient, you set off at night into the temple. The pearlescent stones of the temple glow, turning the entire building into a shining vision. The flowering vines growing on the labyrinth walls release their own light and secret perfume, giving the journey a vaguely hallucinatory quality, like it isn’t quite real. You may run into someone you know along the way, so at least the walk isn’t quite so frightening.

The center of the temple has its own mellow light, a dark rainbow of shifting colour. The stars above are still perfectly clear, easy to see with the naked eye.

There is a tapestry strung between the black and white pillar, with what looks like pomegranates embroidered on it in darkly shining thread. Seated on the block of stone in front of this is a woman.

What does she look like? It’s different for everyone. Some people will see her as human, others not. To some she has a face and for others there is nothing there save a disc of radiant light. She could be any race, any colour, possessed of any body. The only constants are that she is extremely tall, and she wears something on her head - a crown, a circlet of stars, a mitre - and carries in one hand a sword and a scroll in the other.

One look and you understand that she knows you.

Or maybe you have zero interest in seeking out the Ancient. Maybe, just maybe, you’re avoiding it. Not that you’re scared or anything. You just don’t see the point. And so you avoid undertaking that final journey, sticking instead to the simple pleasures of the island.

Which is all well and good… for a while.

But there will come a night when you awaken at the entrance to the labyrinth. You have no memory of how you got there, and maybe you turn around and walk right back to where you fell asleep. Do that, and it will happen again. And again. And again. It’s never consistent, but you will be summoned again and again in the dead of night to the labyrinth. Maybe you should just give in… and take someone with you.

The Ancient is not emotional - she radiates a sense of calm, yes, but it isn’t particularly comforting. Her eyes are blank, sightless, but she watches you anyway.

“This is your time of reckoning,” she tells you. “Hold up your wrist.”

The colour of your ScryWatch is clearly revealed. It flickers between whatever the colour was when you started on your journey, and what the last change was. For some of you, this is an improvement. For others…

“What have you learned during your journey, Traveler?” Good question - probably best to answer honestly. This isn’t a being that appreciates attempts at deception.

The Ancient turns her face toward whoever has accompanied you on this journey. “Have they grown?” she demands. Guess she doesn’t trust just one opinion.

When you have pled your case, the Ancient stares at you for a while with her empty gaze. Finally she nods; she seems satisfied in some way, and when she speaks again her voice is serene.

“You have a choice to make, Traveler. You may return to your own world, alone, to the exact time at which you were taken. You will remember nothing of what you have experienced, except perhaps in dreams.

“Or you may choose to go on to somewhere else. I do not know where, or when, or what exactly will happen to you. You may remember everything, you may not. There are no guarantees. It will not be your home, but you will be alive and able to move on. If you travel together there is a great chance you will remain friends or lovers… somehow.

“When you have made your decision, go to the beach and tell the Ferryman where you wish to go: home, or away. He will take you there.”

The Ancient sits back. Your fate, it seems, is in your own hands.

As always.

Notes:
1. Characters are not judged on morals - the purpose of the journey across the Endless Isles was personal development. How you choose to interpret this is entirely up to you.

2. Theoretically you could just keep not walking the labyrinth forever. If that’s the case, your character would stay on the island until they either went through with it or died of old age.

3. The choices given to your character are meant to wrap up the game as neatly as possible. The decision to move through to another world is meant to be a way for you to take your CRAU with you, whether to another game or a PSL or what have you.

4. Your character has plenty of time before they make their choice so that they can say goodbye to people if they wish.

Let's do it one last time!

Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

Comments

comments? questions? put em below!

[polymods]

I think this is the only prompt without a simpsons reference.

[unkindled_madness]

So... what would happen if a character tried to attack the Ancient? Would it just be completely futile like trying to swing a sword at a ghost? Would she retaliate in some way?

(I am sorry for Sephiroth he cannot just be chill about this.)

[polymods]

Attacking the Ancient will indeed be totally futile, and the character will be transported instantly to the beach.

(I think we'd all be shocked if Sephiroth was chill about it, honestly.)

Sephiroth | OTA

[unkindled_madness]

I. Let's get down to business

[It's the opportunity he's been waiting for. But on learning from the robed figures that he might find the Ancient within the Temple labyrinth, he doesn't rush in immediately.

Instead, he waits several nights, watching for people to emerge from the Temple so he might ask them about their experience. Anything he could learn might be important.

During the day, you might find him making use of that sporting arena-- not for sports, but for some final training. His fire magic in particular is growing impressive, no longer just explosive blasts but thick bands of flame that might be walls if he could hold them a little longer. RIP to any grass this arena once had.]


II. To defeat the Ancient

[Sephiroth doesn't want to wait too long. No one's said as much, but the Ancient's presence here might be temporary, a limited window like their time with the Oracle. Night falls again, and this time he enters the labyrinth himself, bracing himself to go through one more violation of his privacy as he knows these sorts of visions are rarely experienced alone.

He won't discourage any companions, but he has a goal here and it isn't the journey. He is absolutely armed.]

((Note: Sephiroth will be attacking the Ancient on sight his first time through, resulting in his immediate ejection from the Temple, so if you'd like to have him around during the judgment, just let me know and we will consider it a subsequent attempt. =3))


III. (Say goodbye to those who knew me)

[Following his (final) visit to the Ancient, Sephiroth is furious.

It isn't that he doesn't know his answer. He's angry about the limitations of the options presented. Angry at finding himself so powerless, still, on coming face-to-face with his enemy. He paces the beach, throwing sidelong glances towards the dock, and the Ferryman. Is he thinking about trying his luck against that foe? Possibly.

He certainly hasn't gotten to thinking through all the implications of this choice yet.]


IV. WILDCARD

((I am open to final chill hang times with Seph! It would not be hard to find him listening in on storytellings at the lecture space or bathing at the hot springs or just stargazing somewhere. He could probably be dragged into other things. As always feel free to hit me up at yinza for plotting!))

III

[neverwither]

( The sight of the pacing figure gets Chloe up onto her feet. Rather than try to stop him, she falls in step with him. Her gaze follows his to the dock, the Ferryman and then back to him. Despite his thunderous demeanour, she smiles. )

Are we looking to commandeer a boat?

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth glances down at her. What is she smiling about?]

Do you think it would carry us anywhere without its operator?

[You know, if Sephiroth killed the Ferryman.]

( wildcard, post convo )

[dothelokimotion]

[ he finally returns, eyes a little red but his back straight as if it was carved from marble. ]

It is done.

[unkindled_madness]

Did he...

[Sephiroth hesitates.]

Do you wish to speak of it?

loki odinson | mcu

[dothelokimotion]

( i. the city - day )

[ something is coming to an end. perhaps this is the last respite. perhaps this place did what it was meant for. either way, he's not sure how he feels about it. loki walks restlessly around the city until he finds the lecture space. he watches the inhabitants interact, detached before taking up a spot and speaking out loud. ]

Have you heard of the Tragedy of Loki of Asgard?

( ii. the city - night )

[ while the parties were lovely and loki has always enjoyed a good party, he finds himself gravitating back to the beach with a few drinks. he settles himself on a rock, listening to the waves crash onto the beach. it's not a familiar sound to him. asgard didn't have much in the way of beaches and coastlines. but it reminded him a little of the roaring falls of eternity, pitched over the edge.

he hums as he hears someone approaching. ]

You're welcome to a drink, but don't take too much.

( iii. the ancient )

[ the ancient. he could feel the power rolling off in waves. he couldn't kill her, he knows that and it smarts, but not everything needs to end in death. he'll find another way. someday, across time and space.

she was not the only god.

but that wasn't his pressing concern. loki turns on his heel, his heart hammering in his chest. he could go home. he could go anywhere. but where? where would he go?

who would want him? ]

So this is the end.

( iv. wildcard )

[ got a different prompt you’d like to do? ping me on timmtams / pm this journal. ]

iii

[unkindled_madness]

[The first thing that Sephiroth realizes once his anger has settled--not cooled, but settled--is that he needs to speak to Loki. Going anywhere from here alone... he can't pinpoint when that stopped being the plan, but it isn't the plan.

He finds Loki exiting the Temple, and tries to read his expression.]

...did she give you the same choice?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki starts briefly, caught up in his thoughts before giving a nod. ]

Yes. Apparently I could go back . . . with nothing.

Malcolm Bright | Prodigal Son | OTA

[prodigalmess]

TELL THE WORLD I'M COMING HOME

Malcolm didn't expect it to end like this. After enjoying a few days on the isle, he knows that he has to go see the Ancient. Apparently it's time to be judged, to talk about what he's learned in his time here and to determine what his future will be. Malcolm's Scrywatch started off yellow and turned to green, so that's progress, at least. The Ancient seemed satisfied. Then, he was given a choice.

As much as Malcolm might want to run from his life and his problems, to go have another adventure elsewhere, he knows that he has to return home. His family needs him. He's had more than enough time to think about what his sister did, and even to forgive her for it. It's not going to be easy, but he's ready to face whatever awaits him back home.

That night, he's at one of the parties, having an uncharacteristically fruity drink and saying goodbye to all of the friends that he's made here. It's bittersweet, for sure. Malcolm will miss the people that he's met and bonded with over his past year on the isles. It pains him to think that he won't remember any of them after he returns home.

Overall, Malcolm's in high spirits though. He's here to celebrate with anyone who wants to.

[gravity_grrl]

It's hard for Roxy to want to celebrate the end of all of this, especially when she knows that there is nothing for her back home, but it's even harder not to smile when she sees Malcolm wandering around the party with a fruity drink.

"Hi you." She says softly, giving him a little wave and then motioning towards his glass. "I hope that's got a fuck ton of tequila in there."

[neverwither]

When Chloe goes up to Malcolm, it's with a bright smile and both hands behind her back. He seems chipper and so she'll be chipper right back at him. Hard as it all is, she's glad those who want to go home have the chance to and those who want to go to new pastures can. The positive of missing those who will be gone is that it means they mattered. And it's lovely to have had people who matter.

"Is it as delightful as it looks?" she asks, nodding to his drink.

[helpdesk_hero]

I. Goodnight By The Light Of The Stars CW: Drinking

After everything they've been through, it's hard to trust the daylight at first. Everything seems so peaceful, so idillyic. This wasn't what the first month on any island had been like before. So he moves around, nervous and certain that the world was going to go wrong. It takes a few days for him to relax. And then...

Nights are a time of true peace, of true joy. The day time could easily be a trap, because this place seems so right, so good, so suited to him. But the night is something so much like home. The stars and moon light places, flowers on a richly vegetated island, the scents and the colors and the energy. It's home. It's right.

Perhaps that's the trap. Perhaps David's stopped caring. He likes this. For right now he's got a drink in hand and is dancing like he doesn't care that tomorrow will come.

Maybe he doesn't.


III. The Ancient

The words are given and David can't help the chill that happens in his heart at them. Go home and remember nothing. None of the events that shaped him, the people he loved, the way he changed. All of it blown away like sand in the wind. Or go and wander further. Still risk not knowing, but he doesn't know what to do.

Frustrated tears sting at his eyes as he glares at the Ancient.

"That's it. You give us a choice but it isn't a choice at all. When you wake up with no memories it's like a death. Yough brought us here, you changed us, and now you'll kill us."

And why can't there be a third choice? A choice to stay?

He hates it.

"Now what am I supposed to do?"

IV. One Last Time
[OOC: The Wildcard choice. A way for anyone with CR with David to just define their own final meeting. You can message me directly with ideas, or just throw things at this with that header. I'm literally taking anything here as a final goodbye.]

I: for the three caballeros

[kyley_b]

They've all seen the Ancient in their own time. They've all had some time to sit with what she has offered. That isn't to say a single one of them has come to terms with it, however.

Kyle comes up on David's left side, letting Carter come up on his right. It's been how many islands? And Kyle still can't dance. But he's wriggling sort of in time to the beat.

"David!" he says enthusiastically. "Dude, you're good. Should become a go-go dancer with Carter, just tour around this place and get dollar bills shoved in your pants."

IV

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth never blends in, but he seems particularly out-of-place in this location. Heavy leather coat and gloves even in this weather, combat boots on the beach. He wears a frown, but it isn't the heat that's troubling him.

He's never had to do this before. Gast left without a goodbye, and everyone after that.. didn't really matter.

He finds David on the beach and approaches, his posture stiff.]

...you've been to see her?

Deadpool | OTA

[what_fourth_wall]

The Ancient and The End

One night, Deadpool awakens at the entrance to the Temple. He'd seen this coming, really. This island was too pure, too good, too normal. Nothing exciting was going on, no killer clowns or aliens or gangsters. It was the kind of place where he could finally just sit back, relax, and lead a normal life.

But a normal life was never in the cards for Deadpool. Not in any universe, not at any time. Nothing good ever lasted for him. Sometimes he wondered if that was because he always got bored and ruined it for himself, and that was definitely part of it. Still, one would have to be entirely naive of comic books to think that the world didn't also have it out for him. At least in that regard he wasn't that special.

With a shrug, he wandered into the labyrinth. It didn't matter what directions he picked, he knew where he'd end up because it was where he had to end up - in front of the Ancient, the one who'd given him this adventure and the one who'd take it away. He looked up at her, and to him she looked like a shifting visage of everyone he'd ever loved...and lost, because he'd fucked up. She was the perfect image of everything he could have and everything he didn't have because of himself. It was enough to bring him to his knees with emotion, but he stood there without falling, hunched in on himself and miserable. When she tells him to hold up his wrist, he does so. She doesn't react, of course she doesn't, but they both know.

"Nothing," is his answer. "But it's not your fault. I'm just fundamentally unchanging. I just had a good time. But I haven't grown at all. I can't, not and keep selling books. Or not, since I don't currently have an ongoing for some bizarre reason. Seriously, She-Hulk has an ongoing now and I don't? WTF? I love her like a pervy friend, but we both know who carries a book better..."

He could keep rambling off topic, but if there's someone who has arrived with him, she cuts him off by seeking verification on his growth from them. This is probably an unusual, but certainly not unheard of, situation. Usually, people probably think they've grown more than they have. He's someone who is earnestly convinced that he hasn't grown, that he's just as wretched as he has always been, and he may be right. But then, maybe one of his companions on this journey has seen more in him than he's seen in himself.

But probably not.

When the Ancient speaks again, he frowns, sighs, and shakes his head. "Figures. Always with the memory wipes. I don't ever get to remember anything. Fuck me." He peers up at the Ancient, and notes that one of the shifting faces is definitely now Roxy too. "I hope I at least remember you in my AU dreams...you were the best thing I ever did here." Clearly, he isn't speaking to the Ancient, and clearly, the Ancient must know that.

way to make me CRY YOU ASSHOLE XD

[gravity_grrl]

"This isn't fair."

Roxy's voice is barely audible over the sound of her heart breaking and she lurches past the Ancient, ignoring her questions about growth because all she cares about is the man in front of her. She stumbles a little and is then clutching at Wade desperately, burrowing her face into his chest, wanting and needing to hear his heart beat.

"Nononononoooo." She repeats weakly, shaking her head over and over.

"This isn't fair! These choices both suck! I don't want to go back home, there's nothing there for me because I'm fucking dead and even if I wasn't it wouldn't be worth it because you're not there!!" She wails, her voice breaking as she finally looks up into Wade's eyes, her own are filled with tears and they run down her cheeks like a never ending river.

"I won't let you go."

[naturaldisasster]

She never intended to sneak up on him, nebulous lights dappling her skin in changing colors as if through stained glass.

Oni’s been through Judgement exactly once, but once was enough; There’s no mistaking that souls are being weighed here, and it comes as no surprise to her that this is how he feels about it, as she overhears Wade tell the Ancient that he hasn’t changed at all. It’s none of her business… Except that the same being who summoned them all out of their respective worlds and orchestrated their time together looks expectantly at her, as if charging the she-wolf with the task of answering if he’d been truthful or not.

What is she supposed to say? He’s shown the Ancient his Scrywatch, wasn’t that damning enough?

“I’ve known Wade for years,” she offers, quietly. “The old Wade would have blown a hole through the hull of the spaceship, just for funsies. Whatever happened happened, because he can’t die and th’rest of us were all just figments of his imagination anyway,”

She turns her head to look at his masked face. Was he even aware of her presence? Perhaps that was for the best, as he might be tempted to shoot her just to prove to himself that he was still as unhinged as ever. He could be weirdly touchy whenever someone suggested he might have grown as a person. “This Wilson gives a shit. He may not always know what t’do with it… But he tries.”

“This idiot is family,” she pronounces, lifting her chin defiantly in the face of an ageless entity even though she knows the likelihood that Deadpool will open his mouth and say something to make her instantly regret it is… Insanely high.

Hawks | BNHA | OTA

[nanban]

THE TEMPLE

Hawks decides to try the labyrinth thing, though he's not all that invested in it as a Thing. This is more curiosity than it is anything else. If you catch up to him, you might share his vision from the Victorian island, with him and David standing together in the fog, definitely kissing. What an embarrassing thing to share, right?

Hawks doesn't really get embarrassed easily, but there's the slightest blush on his face about this. His feathers are a little fluffed up, too, which is harder to ignore than that blush.

"This isn't the kind of vision I was expecting to have," he says.

THE ANCIENT

Hawks isn't seeking the Ancient out at first. Honestly, he'd been pretty pissed about this whole redemption journey thing at the start, but he likes the people he's come to know, even those he doesn't know too well like Sephiroth, so…it's complicated, right? If he'd never come here, he'd never have known them.

Of course he worries about everything at home, but after this whole past year, it's not as if he can change anything.

Finally standing in front of the Ancient, she looks at his wrist for a long moment, the yellow colour glowing brightly.

"Oh, mine's broken. It hasn't changed at all," he says, completely deadpan. He's joking, but it's a little hard to tell.

He has a feeling, though he can't see the Ancient's face, that she isn't entertained by his answer at all.

"What have you learned, Traveller?" she demands.

Hawks shrugs. "Our world isn't the only way to do things, I guess," he answers, still noncommittal. This isn't his favourite thing to do, the whole introspection.

Speak up and save him from himself?

Temple

[unkindled_madness]

This is not Sephiroth's first time through the labyrinth, because he's a violent idiot. He moves through it at a faster pace, fighting the disorientation of the visions and the eerie lighting. Is the labyrinth even the same as it was before? He isn't sure.

He isn't surprised when he comes across Hawks' vision. He knows about the relationship, and about the types of visions this Temple is wont to show them. He has the grace not to comment on Hawks' embarrassment, even if he won't pretend he didn't see it.

"...they are all quite personal, that way."

Chloe | Detroit: Become Human

[neverwither]

⭕ FOLLOW THE COLOUR AND LIGHTS OF THE ROADWAY

The visit to the Ancient had been a mixed bag, to say the least. There was a catharsis in finally meeting the being who had watched over them all, brought them here to begin with. To acknowledge aloud that she had learned and changed brought a sense of completion. She felt transformation had taken place, and the Ancient didn't seem to disagree. Reassuring as the Ancient's apparent satisfaction was, it didn't hold the same importance it once would have.

The rest? Less peaceful. The choices aren't easy ones. Both are marked with inevitable loss she wants to rally against. But maybe that's part of the point. Certain things are precious because they're finite.

Which is a great notion for growth and all, but Chloe isn't willing to let it all go quite so easily. As much for naught as it might be, she's got tokens to distribute. Doesn't really matter so much if it turns out they can't be taken wherever anyone might be going or the giving won't be remembered.

Find her at the parties, looking for any signs of anyone wanting to dance. Maybe have a final drink or two because why not. Or find her hanging out on the beach, sprawled out in the sand. Or she might be rummaging through her trusty Traveller's pack, getting to work on some trinket or another.

⭕ WILDCARD

[ Want a more specific ending with Chloe? Catch me at another_thoughts_hat, via PM or just throw something at this. ]

Kyle Broflovski | South Park (AU) | OTA

[kyley_b]

I. The Temple

Of course Kyle walks the labyrinth at night - it sounds borderline stupid to do, and Kyle tends to live directly on that exact borderline. Besides which, he wants to see the Ancient and this appears to be the only way.

Things are surprisingly calm at first. The softly glowing stones and night blooming flowers are soothing, and Kyle can understand why walking a labyrinth is considered meditative. For a miracle he doesn't even talk much.

He rounds a corner and playing out like hauntings further down the path are flickering memories - one or some or all can be witnessed.

An old castle. An intangible Kyle hanging onto an equally intangible Carter, the both of them screaming. A creature part-panther, part-cow, with a human-like face. A huge spider with a baby face growing out of its back.

Lotus baths. A gaggle of women all crowding around a red spandexed head with a weirdly tiny body below it, all of them talking about a place called Krakoa as a ghostly version of Kyle is forced underwater. A heavyset brunette boy watches from one side and laughs maniacally.

Poison gardens. Standing in a garden full of deadly plants with Quentin Quire, hands fisted in his shirt as he shakes the shorter man back and forth as he yells at him.

Clowns. Dancing at an outdoor concert. Mannequins everywhere. Graverobbing. Limping down the space station hallway.

Kyle - the real Kyle - sags against the labyrinth wall. "Dude," he says softly.


II. The Ancient

Kyle's ScryWatch is green. Maybe on the more yellow side of the spectrum, but green. He holds up his wrist when asked, almost defiantly.

“What have you learned during your journey, Traveler?”

This, he thinks, is the important question. After all, what they have collectively learned might influence the fate of the multiverses. Kyle falls quiet a moment, then raises his chin.

"Before I came here, I understood love as a child would. I knew about family, and friends, and even romance. But now... I get what it means to work to maintain love. The people here, my loved ones, I didn't have the advantage of having known them my whole life. I had to get to know them, and see past my own bullshit in order to really see them."

He shrugs.

"I've learned how to love. And I don't care that that sounds cheesy, because it's real."

His cheeks only pink when he looks at whoever he's with.


III. Afterparty

The Ancient's choice is a terrible one. Kyle can barely stand to think of it, and so he tries not to.

He can be found running the paths of the forest, or sitting atop the hill. Day or night. Sometimes his cheeks are wet.

I. The Temple

[quire]

"Dude." It comes like a call and response as Quentin touches down in that labyrinth. Shrouded with energy he steps to the ground like he's descending some invisible staircase of his own imagination and comes to a stop on front of Kyle's feet.

"Do you need rescuing from this cursed clip show of a tourist attraction or what?"