Chapter Text
[ieatmyfeelings → Cassie]
12:05am, 5/24/10
ieatmyfeelings: Sorry it took a month for me to respond. But I wanted to think about what I would say first before replying to you.
ieatmyfeelings: When Azuri asked, I was caught off guard. I hadn’t thought that Trinity’s archmage would be able to tell, and that was foolish of me.
ieatmyfeelings: Ask me anything, in the morning.
7:15am, 5/24/10
Cassie: I honestly didnt expect you to be so amenable to talking about it…
Cassie: no offense!!! but I know this must be close to your heart
Cassie: so thank you for trusting me
Cassie: first… did you intend to time travel?
Cassie: did you… know this would happen?? that everyone would need your help?
Cassie: when did you time travel from?
Cassie: were any of us friends in your time??
Cassie: ack, sorry for the barrage of questions!!
7:40am, 5/24/10
ieatmyfeelings: 1. No. It was an accident.
ieatmyfeelings: 2. Not quite. When I time traveled, a mysterious, nefarious figure did too. I only knew I had to help, somehow, after I arrived here…
ieatmyfeelings: 3. …A long time from now, in the future.
ieatmyfeelings: 4. No, but I wish you all were.
[Cassie reacted with a heart!]
Cassie: !!!
Cassie: oh—! and does anyone else know about this???
ieatmyfeelings: Shedletsky does. I suspect he told Matt Dusek, too.
Cassie: the admins!!?
[ieatmyfeelings reacted with a thumbs up!]
ieatmyfeelings: I told Cruel King, after I killed him.
ieatmyfeelings: … And I tried to tell Griefer, last night. Before I texted you.
Cassie: tried…? howd it go?
ieatmyfeelings: …
ieatmyfeelings: Uh…
—+—
They gently rubbed circles on Griefer’s hands. He reminded them of a large cat, sometimes. They really didn’t want to scare him away, but they couldn’t put it off any longer.
He was their partner now, in every sense of the term, and they were his. He deserved to know a while ago, when they had deemed him their closest friend. They really should’ve told him the truth, while they could still bear to lose him. Now, they weren’t sure if their bond would help them or hurt them, in this confession.
They refused to keep it from him any longer, though. They were going to tell him, and they were going to hope that he wouldn’t recoil away. Player suddenly brought their entwined hands to the center of their chest, and Griefer let out a small, questioning sound.
“Brad, I need to tell you something,” they said, their voice nearly cracking from hours of disuse. They could feel Griefer’s warm breath brush over the side of their face. “I’m… not. From here. I’m not from this time.”
“I’m a—”
Griefer let out a short laugh, loud against their ear. “1 4lr34dy kn3w th4t, punk!” he said. In that moment, Player thought their heart could’ve frozen over, and they wouldn’t have been able to notice. For the first time that evening, his embrace felt like it could suffocate them.
“Y0u’r3 s0 ah34d 0f 0ur t1m3, U l1ttl3 fr34k. S0 1nn0v4t1v3, cl3v3r, 4nd str0ng.”
“W–What…? That’s not…”
“My s1lly p4rtn3r, f1sh1ng f0r c0mpl1m3nts. L0L, U th0ught U c0uldn’t just 4sk?”
Frantically, Player tried to turn around to face Griefer on his bed. But they folded when he protested. They sank back into his warm hold and comfortable bedding.
“But l3t’s c0nt1nu3 th1s 1n th3 m0rn1ng, 0k4y?” Griefer murmured.
“...Okay,” they responded. Internally, they anguished in defeat.
—+—
[Cassie → ieatmyfeelings]
7:41am, 5/24/10
ieatmyfeelings: …He was too tired to understand properly.
ieatmyfeelings: I didn’t want to disrupt his sleep.
Cassie: well??? then you should TRY AGAIN!
Cassie: hes really, uh, soft for you! from what ive seen!!
Cassie: and since youre close with him
Cassie: itd be good to tell him…?
ieatmyfeelings: You’re completely right. I will. Today.
ieatmyfeelings: After he wakes up.
Cassie: i guess so…
Cassie: could you tell me more about how you came here in the meantime…?
ieatmyfeelings: Yes. What more do you want to know?
Cassie: well…!
[Calls for Help]
7:46am, 5/24/10
Calypso: Hm…
Cruel King: ?
Calypso: It’s nothing
Calypso: It’s just that Player would’ve usually said ‘Good morning’, by now
[Cruel King reacted with a thumbs up!]
Calypso: Good morning, by the way
Cruel King: Good morning to you as well.
Red & Blue: yaaaaaawn!!
Red & Blue: mr. king, why are you always up so early?
Cruel King: Ah… do not worry. You kids should return to bed; adolescents need at least ten hours of sleep to grow properly.
Red & Blue: OKAY! see u later mr. king??
Cruel King: Yes, of course.
Calypso: It’s… heartwarming, that you’ve taken them under your wing
Cruel King: They’re good kids.
Calypso: Yes.
Calypso: They are.
12:20pm, 5/24/10
Cassie: lunch break at last!
Cassie: sometimes I feel bad for my council… they have to eat lunch an hour later than I do
Cassie: I wonder how they do it??
Cruel King: Once you become accustomed to eating at certain times, your body reinforces the schedule itself.
Cruel King: I presume that your father used to eat around now, too?
Cassie: yeah!! he did…
Cassie: papa would always take me somewhere new for lunch in Trinity every weekend
Cruel King: Mn.
Calypso: That sounds nice
Cassie: yeah
ieatmyfeelings: What was your favorite?
Cassie: oh! I like the smoked trout that the cooks in the astral isles would prepare…
GR13F3R: 4nd wh4t d1d th3 k1ng l1k3?
Cassie: papa liked anything
Cassie: at least, thats what he would always say when I asked
GR13F3R: h3 s0unds l1k3 h3 w4s 4 gr34t f4th3r
Cassie: the BEST.
[Cassie → ieatmyfeelings]
7:50pm, 5/24/10
Cassie: did you tell him yet??
ieatmyfeelings: Yeah! He was really unsurprised about it? Which is! Shocking!
ieatmyfeelings: And he said that he had???? A feeling?????
ieatmyfeelings: And that he wouldn’t let me go either way????
[Cassie reacted with a heart!]
Cassie: YAY!! im so happy for you!!!
[ieatmyfeelings reacted with a heart!]
[Calls for Help]
5:00am, 6/1/10
Cassie: HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cassie: AHHHHHH IM SO EXCITED!!!
Cassie: IM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU TODAY!!!
Calypso: Same
[Cassie reacted with a heart!]
Cruel King: Absolutely. There was no opportunity to talk at your coronation, least of all after the Korblox intruded.
Cassie: yeah…
Cassie: im glad Player was there
Cruel King: Yes, verily.
Cassie: but everything worked out! and todays no day to get swept away in our gloom!
[Calypso reacted with a thumbs up!]
ieatmyfeelings: Good morning, all.
ieatmyfeelings: Happy pride month!
Cassie: YEAH!!
GR13F3R: 1 st1ll c4n’t b3l13v3 w3 w0k3 up s0 34rly, but
GR13F3R: w3’ll b3 kn0ck1ng 0n y0ur d00rs s00n!
GR13F3R: h0p3 y0u d0n’t m1nd 1f w3 br1ng a c0upl3 0f fr13nds
Cassie: the more the merrier! I cant wait until the day begins in earnest!!
[ieatmyfeelings reacted with a thumbs up!]
Cruel King: I wonder which friends you’ve brought.
ieatmyfeelings: You’ll see, soon!
GR13F3R: Y34H!
Cruel King: My estimated time of arrival is… looking to be around ten.
Cruel King: It depends on if the kids remember to wake up earlier than they typically do.
Cruel King: Ah, and I believe their uncle is coming as well.
ieatmyfeelings: Noobador! It’ll be pleasant to see him again.
GR13F3R: 1 sw34r 1’v3 w0rk3d w1th h1m b3for3
ieatmyfeelings: You might be mistaken, Griefer…
GR13F3R: …1f U s4y s0, pl4y3r
Cassie: AND ONCE AGAIN!!! HAPPY PRIDE MONTH EVERYBODY!!!
[Calypso reacted with a thumbs up!]
[Cruel King reacted with a thumbs up!]
Cruel King: Yes, indeed.
9:28am, 6/1/10
Cruel King: We’re here. The crowd is all-consuming, but I shall do my best to ensure we stand out.
Red & Blue: SHOULD WE HELP??
Red & Blue: WE CAN! uh! scream? really loudly through the crowd??
Red & Blue: no we won’t!!!
Red & Blue: …or maybe not 😔😔
Red & Blue: ASDFGOHEDQ
Calypso: …?
Cruel King: Their uncle confiscated their phone.
[Calypso reacted with a thumbs up!]
Calypso: I think I see you guys
Calypso: Or at least, your frost
Cruel King: Perfect.
Cruel King: When will you reach us?
Calypso: Look up
Cruel King: …
Cruel King: !
9:44am, 6/1/10
Cassie: wow, thats a lot of new friends youve brought over!!
Cassie: this is my first time seeing a ghost in person…
GR13F3R: 5HHHHHHHH!
ieatmyfeelings: It’s okay, Griefer. We’ll be meeting with everyone soon, anyways.
GR13F3R: tru3…
ieatmyfeelings: And ghosts are usually confined to stay near Telamon’s Manner… but I know a guy.
Cassie: master Telamon himself!!!
ieatmyfeelings: Haha, yeah.
Cassie: and wow!!!
GR13F3R: why 4r3 w3 t3xt1ng wh3n w3 c0uld b3 t4lk1ng
[ieatmyfeelings reacted with a thumbs up!]
Cassie: …oh right!
Cassie: but for the blackrock king and Calypso and Red and Blue, were exiting the castle soon!
[Calypso reacted with a thumbs up!]
—+—
“Hmm,” Calypso said. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the castle doors, but there was still no sign of them opening. “Looks like we’ll be waiting for a bit longer.”
Red and Blue groaned in tandem, until their uncle flicked them both on the backs of their heads. Calypso nearly laughed, but she held back for the kids’ sake. If she saw Cruel King pretending not to notice, there was no need to signal the fact.
“Kids these days…” Noobador sighed. The crowd was bustling and far from quiet, but his gruff voice ensured that everyone heard him regardless. “They ain’t got any patience, these rascals. Always trying to rush out into the fray.”
“H-Hey! That’s not fair!” Red clenched his fists, because he knew better than to wave around his plastic sword when he got upset. He turned around to face Blue, and found that she was already pouting. Calypso found the sight of the two of them combining their efforts very endearing.
“We’ve been waiting for nearly twenty minutes…” Blue said. “I know that we’re meeting w-with the Queen of Trinity… but! Red and I are hungry!”
She turned her pleading gaze towards Cruel King, and Red quickly followed her lead. Cruel King looked to Noobador, who crossed his arms, unimpressed, and back at the kids. Calypso made herself busy, and pretended that she was combing through the crowd instead of listening in.
“Patience is a virtue you must learn how to exercise, children. Queen Cassie must be occupied with acquainting herself with the guests Player and Griefer brought, among her other duties. If you find yourself with an appetite, I can go purchase food from the vendors—”
“I can go,” Calypso said, cutting him off. She raised a hand to ensure that the cutlasses strapped to her back weren’t drawn. “If Player and the others return before I do, it’s fine. I won’t be long.”
Cruel King gave a short nod, and she returned it out of courtesy. His transparency stood out when he nodded, and Calypso began to feel the frost that he exuded around them. If she focused, she could see the outlines of the people behind Cruel King. Ghosts weren’t uncommon, but to see one so far from Telamon’s Manner was disconcerting. But even with her patchwork knowledge on what powers the S.F.O.T.H. swords contained, she could guess why Cruel King was able to move so freely, so far away. Player carried the Ghostwalker with them, after all.
Moreover, Cruel King’s resonance with Sword Energy exceeded a normal person’s by tenfold, at minimum. Being the guardian of the Icedagger required that. If Player had visited him anytime within the past week with the Ghostwalker at their hip, Calypso believed that Cruel King would be able to go anywhere he pleased with the residual energy, without bounds.
Anywhere that sword went, a ghost could follow. It wasn’t fair. Not for the first time, and far from the last, she cursed the Firebrand.
“Are you… quiet alright, Calypso?”
Her hand nearly flew to where she had hidden one of her flintlocks in her pouches, but she stopped herself when she saw the concerned faces of Cruel King and Noobador. She glanced at the kids, and was glad that they were busy chattering on what snacks they wanted Calypso to bring back.
“Sorry,” she muttered. Awkwardly, she moved her hand away from her belt and dusted off her pants. “I didn’t mean to freeze. Red, Blue, what food did you want?”
Noobador exhaled, but otherwise the two men seemed content to brush past it in favor of listening to the children’s list of increasingly unhealthy treats that they were eager to sink their teeth into.
“Ooh, ooh, Blue! We can’t forget about the rainbow grilled cheese! Player said that they really liked it!”
“Maybe we can share it…”
“Yeah! And then we’ll have more room for the drinks!”
“Y-Yeah! That’s not too much, right, Ms. Calypso…?”
Noobador placed two large hands on Red and Blue’s shoulders. He looked stern, but when he spoke, his voice sounded vaguely embarrassed. “Hey now. Don’t bombard the young lady with requests, it’s not—”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll get the kids what they want,” Calypso said. “It’s a festival, they should enjoy it.”
She turned, and darted through the sea of people as swiftly as a swordfish. The rumble of Noobador’s thanks and Red and Blue’s cheers of excitement fueled her movement, and it took her no more than a couple of minutes to spot a stand selling various types of cheeses and cheese-products, all aptly colored with different shades of the rainbow.
As she waited for her seven-colored grilled cheese to finish being prepared by the cheese merchants, the people around her suddenly dropped dead silent. Soon, the entire mass of Trinity’s residents were quiet, too. Bemused, Calypso looked around cautiously.
Loud trumpets sounded from a distance. They were, unfortunately, noticeably off tune. Yikes.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” the herald of Trinity yelled out. Their voice had to be extremely loud, to be heard from such a distance, and Calypso was almost glad she wasn’t any closer. She already had to resist clamping her hands over her ears to muffle the sound.
“Cometh before you, thy venerated Queen of Trinity! Cassie Aphthiton!”
The crowd cheered, applause and shouts ringing throughout what appeared to be the entire kingdom of Trinity. Calypso was impressed by how passionate and enthusiastic the people of the city were, and that alone spoke high praise of its rulers. The people around her started talking again, smiling and laughing.
There was a pause, presumably for the people’s cheers to die down and for the Queen to wave. Then the herald’s volume fell dramatically, and Calypso nearly got whiplash with how quickly she had to switch from bracing herself due to the noise level, to straining her ears to hear what was being announced.
“...and her respected guests,” the herald said, almost glumly. Calypso snorted. There were still claps, but very much muted. So there Player and Griefer were. Weren’t they bringing additional friends as well? Calypso frowned, slightly.
“Miss, your order is done. Be careful while it’s still hot!”
Calypso perked up, and thanked the vendor politely as she collected her grilled cheese. She lingered at the corner of the stall.
“...Do you know where I can get something sweet to drink?” she asked. The cheese merchant who handed her order to her let out a short hmm as they thought.
“Yeah! I think there should be some iced tea about a block over… there?” They pointed down the street hesitantly. “They should sell bubble tea there too, if I’m not mistaken.”
Calypso had no idea what the ‘bubble tea’ that they spoke of was, but she nodded in thanks and trekked over there anyway. It sounded whimsical enough that Red and Blue would like it.
After another handful of minutes of waiting, she picked up her large cup of bubble tea. She probably looked a little ridiculous, with an oversized drink in one hand and vibrant grilled cheese in the other, but it was okay. She maneuvered through the crowd deftly, careful not to bump into anyone or drop her items, and retraced her steps back towards where Red and Blue, Cruel King, and Noobador were waiting for her.
“Ms. Calypso!”
“Ack, our rainbow grilled cheese! Yum!”
Red and Blue rushed over to her. Calypso couldn’t help but smile, and handed over the spoils of her journey without a second thought.
She was glad she did. The sound of a voice too familiar pierced her ears soon after.
“Aw, so this is where you guys have been after you went to… the desert, Player?”
…
“For Queen Cassie’s coronation, yes.”
“H3ck y34h!”
“Player, there’s no need for titles! A-And keep it down, we’re not trying to attract any attention to us…”
“...Frankly, I’m unsure how your disguises are actually fooling anybody.”
“D0n’t w0rry 4b0ut 1t, y0u 0ld g33z3r!”
“Excuse me?”
“Y0u must b3 4s 0ld 4s my 0ld m4n… d4mn.”
…
Calypso looked up from Red and Blue, trembling. Everyone else seemed to move out of the way, letting her see straight ahead. It felt as if she was in free fall, again.
She looked up, and she saw Kyoko.