Chapter Text
Eli: Be soundly asleep between Norton and Aesop.
Aesop: Be clearly overwhelmed by something on your phone.
Norton: Notice Aesop’s change in demeanor.
- Dialoglog between Aesop and Norton -
Norton: Aesop?
Aesop: I… Don’t know what just happened…
Norton: I… What?
Norton: What’s going on?
Aesop: J-Just...
Aesop: Hand Norton your phone, you don’t know how this happened.
Norton: …
Norton: I ask this so nicely, is Mary on drugs?
Aesop: I… If she is… I want to ask if they can help my anxiety.....
Norton: Me too, Aes, me too.
Aesop: Sh.. She really just went and started planning a wedding right there…
Norton: I…
Norton: Is that woman real?
Norton: Does she actually exist?
Norton: I… what the fuck.
Eli: Roll over and nuzzle into Norton in your sleep.
Norton: Look at Eli and make sure he’s still resting.
Norton: … at least he’s getting rest while we’re having a crisis over Mary and if she’s on drugs or not.
Aesop: I… Don’t understand extroverts…
Norton: Neither do I…
Aesop: There’s so much for me to comprehend right now…
Norton: I’m here for you through this.
Aesop: I.. I was actually messaging with Joseph before all that too…
Aesop: So he’s right on that she’s doing better…. If she’s talking that much…
Norton: Honestly, though…
Aesop: S… Speaking of though… Joseph said she was stabbed by Jack Noir..
Aesop: I… Wanted to tell you and Eli, but frankly he needs his rest right now…
Aesop: And… He probably already knows that Jack is on the loose…
Norton: Man…
Aesop: Yeah…
Aesop: Remember Joseph telling you to be safe, quietly have a moment.
Eli: Twitch. Make a sound in your sleep as if in pain.
Aesop: Focus on Eli instead, gay moment later.
Norton: Concern time; turn to Eli.
Eli: Squirm in your sleep, suddenly latch onto Norton in a death grip.
Norton: Debate trying to wake Eli up. Fuck it, you’re trying it.
Eli: Wake up immediately with a gasp.
Aesop: E… Eli..?
Eli: Aesop-
Norton: Norton.
Aesop: Stare at Norton.
Norton: I panicked.
Aesop: Eli, are you alright?
Eli: Yes, I’m fine, why?
Norton: You were squirming… and woke up gasping, you don’t seem fine.
Eli: I don’t remember what I was dreaming about.
Aesop: I’m… Still worried.
Eli: I truly feel fine.
Aesop: If you are, just know my anxiety will still exist for a few minutes…
Eli: Oh, I know.
Eli: I was probably having a nightmare, but I really don’t remember it.
Eli: Which has been happening since… before my first session.
Aesop: O.. Oh…
Eli: It’s probably nothing, though.
Eli: Although, come to think of it…
Eli: No, nevermind, it’s nothing.
Aesop: (x) Doubt.
Aesop: Be sure to talk about it when it does bother you though..
Eli: Is it just a habit to assume all my cryptic shit is hiding trauma now?
Aesop: With how much it’s happened…?
Aesop: Do you blame me…?
Eli: Neither of you have met your denizens yet.
Eli: Correct?
Norton: No, we haven’t.
Eli: Assuming you don’t piss them off royally and avoid attempted murder by denizen, they’ll offer you a very important choice.
Norton: I’d… like to think I’m good at not pissing off denizens?
Eli: Have you ever met a denizen?
Norton: No, but I’ve got a good track record so far.
Eli: I’d introduce you to mine, but only Helena and Boy would understand her.
Norton: How… how come?
Eli: She speaks Light player.
Aesop: Feel tired.
Norton: I hate it here.
Eli: Likewise, I won’t understand yours or Aesop’s denizens.
Eli: You won’t understand Aesop’s either.
Eli: And Aesop won’t understand yours.
Eli: But, to get to the point.
Eli: This is the choice my denizen offered me.
Eli: “Remember what you forgot, or continue to live in blissful ignorance.”
Aesop: Sounds like something said to a rogue...
Eli: I will pretend I didn’t hear that.
Norton: Man.
Eli: Still, as far as I’m aware, I’ve forgotten nothing.
Eli: But then, that would be the point of forgetting, no?
Norton: Yeah… so you have to ask -- have you forgotten anything?
Eli: ...
Norton: … Wait, you wouldn’t know that.
Aesop: ….. Good job, Norton…
Norton: I’m trying my best.
Aesop: I know this and I love you.
Eli: Anyway, Aesop, have you decided on your best man?
Aesop: You’re asking about Mary’s conversation now..?
Eli: Would you like to discuss Joseph’s virginity instead?
Norton: I wanna leave. I’m leaving.
Norton: Literally stand the fuck up and head outside.
Aesop: Please don’t leave me alone with him-
Norton: Sorry, Aes, I’ll be back when you stop discussing Joseph’s virginity.
Norton: See y’all in a few.
Aesop: But I don’t want to talk about it-
Eli: Why don’t we discuss how attractive the Rogue of Blood is then?
Aesop: Eli… I swear it’s like you are trying to kill me sometimes…
Eli: Why is talking about your boyfriend so bad?
Aesop: It’s not…
Aesop: You just say things that fluster me easily..
Eli: Does it bother you?
Aesop: Vaguely gesture.
Aesop: I’m not uncomfortable, just flustered.
Eli: Gently touch a hand to Aesop’s cheek.
Eli: You may have noticed by now, but it’s my defense mechanism.
Eli: If people are, well, absorbed in their own feelings, they don’t have the space of mind to prod at mine.
Aesop: Try not to have a gay moment.
Aesop: Why do you think I point out when you’re avoiding questions…?
Eli: Knowledge can be dangerous. Knowledge is a double-edged sword. I know this well, Aesop.
Aesop: I know it’s dangerous…. It’s why I haven’t talked about how Aesopsprite died with Joseph…
Eli: Smile at Aesop sadly. Brush the bangs from his eyes.
Eli: Do I deserve your trust, Aesop?
Eli: Joseph may be right to doubt me.
Aesop: Eli….
Aesop: You’ve experienced this session so many times just so we would live..
Aesop: Why wouldn’t I trust you….?
Eli: A lie of omission is still a lie.
Eli: I am no less a liar than Kreacher, for example, no matter what my intentions are.
Eli: As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Aesop: Even so… You may call me foolish if you want...
Aesop: But I still trust you…
Aesop: And I trust you way more than I could ever trust Kreacher…
Norton: You’re back. What did ya miss? Well-
Norton: Hey, are we done talking about Joseph’s virginity or should I leave again?
Eli: Retract your hand from Aesop’s face really fast, as though burned.
Aesop: Can’t help but feel slightly disappointed at Eli retracting his hand.
Aesop: W… We were done talking about it as soon as you left…
Norton: … Oh.
Norton: Literally just- just go sit in the corner.
Aesop: N.. Norton…
Norton: Continue what you two were talking about, sorry.
Eli: Nope.
Eli: Stand up and start walking to the door.
Aesop: Eli…
Eli: Yes?
Aesop: Learn to trust yourself as much as I trust you….
Eli: I see.
Eli: I’ll see you both later.
Eli: Leave.
Aesop: Feel depressed over how that conversation with Eli ended.
Norton: Be concerned. Are you gonna pry? Probably not, but you will offer hugs in this dire moment.
Aesop: Accept this, Norton hugs are good.
Norton: Hold Aesop close.
Aesop: I’m worried about him Norton…
Norton: I am too…
Norton: I don’t know what you were talking about, but… I’m so worried about him.
Aesop: I’ll tell you what we talked about… I just… Want to be like this for a minute…
Norton: Rest, Aesop… you need it.
Aesop: Numbly nod, everything is draining.
Norton: Play with Aesop’s hair.
Norton: It’s been a long while… just relax the best you can.
Aesop: I’ll try…
Norton: That’s all I ask.