Chapter Text
What is one to do when the child they care for is constantly running off with another child that you do not care for nor care about in the slightest? Ground them? That is what I did. Confined to our cabin for a week.
It was the only thing that made sense at the time, give them a while to see what the world has become and how it had changed since they were young then snatch it away from them again to teach a lesson.
They seemed crestfallen when they heard but didn't fight back or try to resist. Big win for me, my student listens. Hooray. I'm sure they'll go back to him. I can tell that they really like him.
He may be useful in their journey.. a pawn in my game. Maybe a reward could come from.. nevermind. I'll have to think about it for a little while longer.
I let them forage for strawberries hours ago, where are they- oh. Ohhhhhhhh. They've ran back to him. Of course. I'll have to work on my plan a little while longer. I don't really care if these visits get in the way.
Hmm, now that I think about it I could gather information from Birch- I mean-Two Time while they're over there. The lunchtime gongs rang loudly, the sound reverberating through the forest.
I waited a few minutes, standing by the gates with my arms crossed. Two Time burst through them and I gave them a slight push, making them sprawl onto the ground as they sprinted into the camp.
It was admittedly very funny and I had to keep myself from laughing.
"Where were you?" I asked dryly once they got to their feet, dusting themself off and rubbing a knee. "I was with Azure, he was telling me about plants." They said, looking up at me from inspecting their knee which was slightly scraped.
Ah, I suspected as much. "Ah, I suspected as much. You were gone for quite a while." I said, gesturing to the clock discretely. They smiled nervously. "Yes, he had many facts to share, father Amarah." They ducked their head in a short bow.
I sniffed. Well, seems he's a nerd. My school used to bully people like that up.. I should know. Sam swam into my mind. I pushed the thought away. I had much more important things to worry about.
I walked with Two Time to the dining hall to get something to eat with them, I needed more answers. Jade passed by, watching me. She'd been suspicious of me since Azure's confrontation. She'd started coming to fewer sermons and had been locked up in her red room whenever she wasn't out photographing the woods.
I had to keep an eye on her.
We entered the dining hall and Two Time sat next to Cedar who was eating some potatoes and drinking orange juice from our orchards. I'd asked Tom, our supplier {I'd found him on the computer Sam helped me set up} to bring some deserts for our followers. I'd give them out if they were good.
I approached Comet, the head chef and requested he make a watermelon dish of some sort, anything would work. He obliged, handing me some yogurt with watermelon chunks in it.
Two Time would definitely talk after this.
"Two Time," I sat down across from them, noticing their eyes widening as i set the yogurt on the table. "Yes father?" They asked, dragging their eyes away from the delicacy. I noticed that Cedar was nervously biting her nails, looking at me ever so often.
"What happened at Azure's house? What did you two do together?" I asked, pushing the yogurt towards them. They grinned and gladly pulled it closer, taking the fork and trying to use it like a spoon, I should've taught them better.
"Well, they gave me tea, which was nice. And then," They tapped their chin with the fork, getting a spot of yogurt on it. "He did talk a lot about plants. Well, it was me commenting on the sheer amount of plants populating their cabin that sparked the conversation in the first place." They rubbed the yogurt off their chin, licking it from their finger.
"If you see anything related to Sam in there, let me know." I smiled warmly and Birch -shit- Two Time nodded thoughtfully, taking a bite of the watermelon. After chewing they looked up at me once more. "He wears Sam's hat." They said, going back to eating the yogurt, specifically fishing the watermelon out of it and eating that instead.
This was a surprise. Did Sam's hat fall off while i was dragging him or... My memory got fuzzy at times. I cant remember where else Azure would've gotten his hat. Whatever.
I sighed and Two Time looked up, appearing as though they were bracing themself for the worst. "You may visit Azure. Just.. Just give me details on anything," I waved my hand. "Sam related." The realization that I was forgetting the only memories of my old friend hurt more than a dagger. Huh, what a strange comparison.
"Azure claims that it is strange for friends to kiss eachother on the cheek." I spat out my coffee and whirled around. Two Time stood at the doorway. I had given them their own cabin and free exploration so long as they told me everything Azure said or did.
"..what?" I asked. They blinked innocently. "Aure claims-" "yes.. I heard you. But what prompted that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Their tail twitched nervously.
"I kissed him on the cheek." They said it so nonchalantly that if i had taken another sip of my morning coffee (dark, just like his heart.) i would've spat it out again. "Why did you do that?" I made my voice as calm as possible as I reached for a dishrag to clean my mess.
Two Time strolled towards the counter and fixed themself a cappuccino. "Well, you would kiss father Sam. I assumed it was just what best friends do. But according to Azure it isn't." They shrugged.
I sighed dreamily. I remembered that. When the world wasn't so dull and night wasn't so dark. I pushed the thoughts away (and he wonders why he can't remember anything, dumbass). "Well.. that was different." I said, how would i word this..
I tried explaining it but I didn't think I did so very well. The only reaction i saw was excitement flicker in their eyes. I was likely only enforcing this behaviour. Whatever, my plan was getting put together day by day as I learned more about Azure.
"Anyhtng else?" I ask, they shrugged, taking a deep sip of the cappuccino. "He told me that I was their best buddy in the entire world.." They tried to hide their joy but i saw their tail wave happily.
I knew what was coming before they had a clue, poor innocent child. They were falling behind on their studies so I had to remind them more often. This Azure fella was becoming a real distraction.
One day I was observing the followers work, sowing seeds in the gardens, winter blooming plants so we'd have enough food in the cold months {Tom is being quite distant, may the Spawn teach him a lesson}
Cedar had looked over at Two Time, grinned then started teasing them. The Spawn says "be kind to others if you'd like them to do the same unto you" an she'd clearly forgotten this.
She was teasing them over something like "oh, you love him don't you!" And words such as this. Obviously i will not allow teasing or 'shipping' as the internet calls it in my camp. I swept towards her and grabbed her arm, making her drop the hoe and stumble after me. Two Time watched nervously as I lectured her.
Eventually my (super duper devious evil scary) plan had begun taking shape. Two Time now understands how important they are to our camp. How there is only one way to obtain their second life. One way to prove themself. One way to please the Spawn.
They seem to be believing it.. I might also too... But thats beside the point.