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“Finally, i found you.“
Faust looked strange. Stranger than usual, at least. The expression that laid beneath his paper bag was of some kind of anger, a kind he didn’t want to have. Deep inside, he knew what was happening: His old friend Raymond had fooled the thousand or so inhabitants of Isene island into doing his bidding, all so he could turn them into conscious, pained monsters to achieve some mysterious goal of his.
Faust didn’t want to believe it. That’s why he was angry.
The subtle sound of sipping reached Faust’s ears, causing his brow to furrow a bit more when he noticed Raymond’s nonchalant presentation.
They were both atop the highest floor of the wind tower. Raymond’s laboratory occupied the many floors beneath them, and within the many white halls of the facility laid obvious evidence of his sick experiments on the residents of the small island.
In spite of that, there he was, sitting under a parasol, fancy teacup in hand.
“Well, well… A warm welcome to my humble island, Dr. Faust.”
He sounded calm, almost amused. His voice even still held that odd, thick sweetness it had all those years ago, when Faust went by a different name.
His voice was absolutely sickening.
“Ah, you know me as well…” Faust replied, feigning ignorance towards Raymond's attitude. The difference between their tones could be easily perceived. The doctor's voice was noticeably tired, lacking his usual jovial energy that he would use with those he didn't particularly despise.
The blonde turned his head, admiring the view of the island's mountains in the distance. His smile widened in such a subtle way that if Faust wasn't on edge, he couldn't possibly have noticed it.
“I know all about you, Doc… A.k.a the “Rogue Physician”. Once a reputed doctor, a terrible incident resulted in your transformation into a cold blooded killer.” He paused for a moment, sipping his tea and turning towards Faust again. “... I also happen to know why you're here...”
Faust sighed. It's incredible how he's been able to keep his composure with the way he was aching to get right up in Raymond's face and question him like the criminal he is, to ask him how he could dare to hurt so many innocent people and turn them into otherworldly beasts.
The scientist continued: “... You must be here to investigate the disappearances in the island. Well, let's just say those were… Necessary sacrifices, in cooperation with my plan.”
“Necessary for the sake of a plan… Was that what your little journal was for? Cataloguing all of your insane ramblings, talking about how you slaughtered these people for the sake of your own ego?!” Faust took a heavy step forward, his movements could certainly be interpreted as slightly threatening, but Raymond didn't seem to care until he put down his teacup.
“Well, first of all, that wasn't a journal…” He air quoted. “It was an experiment logbook. Frankly, I'm surprised you made the mistake of calling it anything else… And second, I didn't slaughter anyone… Those people followed the truth i showed them. They followed their god.” He smirked like he was saying the most obvious fact he could state.
Faust sighed, spinning his scalpel in his hands to get in position. “Are you done making excuses? If so, i believe it's time for your treatment.” he muttered, his words causing Raymond's eyes to widen ever so slightly. “Oh, please, put that thing down. In fact, have a seat! I want to finish this tea before we get to the gifts i prepared for you…” The shorter man replied, gently pushing a chair towards Faust with his foot.
Now, that was an odd change of pace. Even in all Faust's time of knowing Raymond, he'd believed him to be the pragmatic type. So what could possibly make this tea so important to the scientist…? While wondering about it, the tall doctor took a seat, his legs slightly spread out so he could fit in the chair. He slowly took hold of the teacup Raymond had offered him, even if it was a bit too small in his hands. He looked down at the tea for a few seconds. He was sure his old friend hadn't poisoned it or anything like that. He'd probably consider that too much of a “primitive” way to end things. Faust gently brought the tea closer to himself, analyzing it.
“Is this… Lemon tea?” He asked. He knew his old colleague was a fan of hibiscus, so other sour teas wouldn't be much of a change. But to delay an important battle for it was certainly odd.
“No, it's Lemongrass.” Raymond let out a short chuckle, but it felt more like a scoff. “It's my favorite… Since my plan is so risky, i wanted to make sure i enjoyed a cup of my favorite tea before continuing it.” He replied before taking a sip. This response took Faust slightly off guard. He raised an eyebrow, even if the blonde man couldn't see it.
“Pardon me if I'm mistaken but… Wasn't your favorite hibiscus?” The question came out of Faust's mouth before he could think twice. To disguise his surprise, he took a sip of his own cup of tea. It tasted like this very meeting: mostly sour, but also bittersweet.
“It was, but that was a long time ago. I like this flavor better now.” The doctor's eyes widened. For some reason, he hadn't considered that Raymond could have changed in small factors too.
“... You've changed a lot, i see. Not just in your morals.” Faust muttered. This time the scientist wasn’t as quick to defend himself, clearly being lost in thought for a second as he rubbed his chin, forming a reply. “I wouldn't say I'm really that different, honestly. My morals, too, remain similar. I've always known i was special… That i was meant for something great. And i've always known i would reach my goal through any means necessary… You, on the other hand, have changed a lot. You used to be much gentler and kinder, if i recall correctly.” He took another sip of tea before adding: “You’ve changed too.”
Faust went completely silent for a few seconds, his expression saddening slightly before he let out a scoff. “I uh… Guess that’s true. I mean, i’m going by a different name now and all.” Raymond smiled surprisingly softly. “I know. I think it suits you well.” he answered. Faust’s eye widened. Maybe this mad scientist before him wasn’t so different from his old friend after all? Then again, it could all be a trick to attack him when he’s vulnerable… Still, Faust couldn’t hold back an amused chuckle, which eventually turned to an almost shy giggle. He hadn’t been complimented on his name yet, after all. His giggles were short lived, however, when he noticed Raymond was giggling too.
Once he was done laughing, the scientist spoke up. “I have to say, i like the new you… I like Faust. Faust looks like he can take a joke. ” He smiled, pausing and looking down at his teacup before adding a sugar cube to it. Faust smiled faintly himself. “...There’s just one problem, though… Faust is a hypocrite.”
Needless to say, Faust’s smile was immediately replaced by a clear frown of what seemed to be disgust. “What do you mean by that?” He promptly asked. “Just that you and i both are the causes of multiple fatalities, and you don’t see me calling you out for it… not until you did it first, at least.” Raymond then sipped his tea like he was making perfect sense. “What i really want to say is… You and i are not so different.” He smiled with his eyes slightly narrowed, giving his line a slight tone of disdain. Like he was calling Faust a dummy, or infantilizing him in some other way. Faust had always hated that habit of his. The doctor remained quiet. He didn't feel like saying anything to justify himself, as he knew that, for one, no words could make up for what he'd done.
“Don't you understand why you found this island in the first place? Why you ended up here? It's all for my plan, Faust. For my perfect world. And let me tell you something…” Raymond leaned into Faust, pointing at him as his voice lowered to a near whisper. “... I want you to be in my perfect world, too.” He smirked, sitting up again. “What do you say? Shall we rule together, with you as my right hand man…? Will you join me?”
Faust looked into the other's eyes, looking for, or at least hoping to find some kind of hesitation. Something to show that he was joking, even. Anything that could make the situation a little less terrible. Finding nothing, Of course, that explains it all. The tea, his calm demeanor, his insistence in talking with that sweet, sweet tone. The doctor frowned, almost gritting his teeth. “No.”
“No…?” Raymond's eyes widened for just a second before his brow furrowed. “Oh, i understand.” He began to stand up and put a hand in his coat pocket, sighing. “... Very well. I don't see why we should continue this conversation, then.” He was about to turn away when Faust's expression shifted underneath his paper bag. He squinted. He was amused. Before Raymond could move away, he noticed Faust's hand gripping his wrist oddly gently. Though he couldn't see the taller man's face, it was easy to tell a smile had formed there.
“Oh, please, I insist. have a seat! I want to finish this tea before we get to these… gifts you've prepared for me.” Faust's smile was audible in his speech. Raymond raised an eyebrow at it. “Very well…” he sat back down, mostly out of curiosity. He gently lifted his teacup with little left in it.
They stayed silent for a few moments. It made sense, considering the blonde man was the one doing most of the talking, and now he didn't want to speak at all. Faust much preferred this quiet version of him, one he recalled seeing often when Raymond's researches were turned down back in the day. The doctor took a sip of his own tea before the silence was broken.
“Cat got your tongue?” Raymond asked, stirring his tea with a subtle unamused pout. Faust chuckled at it. “I'm just silently enjoying my realization that you were right. You haven't changed that much.” The scientist's eyes widened at such a confession. Faust continued. “You still make me speechless at times… and yet, i can still read you like a book.” His tone was warmer than he'd like.
Raymond held his teacup a bit tighter, before bringing it up to his lips for a long, last drink. Faust couldn't tell if he did that to end the conversation faster or to hide his face, but at this point, it didn't matter. The blonde man stood up, now without any intervention. He was smiling again as he asked a question: “I'll guess that your skill for slicing is even better now, correct?” Faust stood up too, towering over Raymond. “Yes, and i'm sure i can stop you in…. Let's say 3 strikes.” He nodded, his voice showing neutrality.
“I expected you to say that, so I've prepared something for you.” The scientist let out a long, occasionally paused laugh. Possibly an attempt at being imposing as one of his many creations, a giant insect-like beast appeared from seemingly nowhere. The monstrous being growled loudly. Faust looked up at it in annoyance.
“I shall see you soon, dear doctor. I'm sure you'll enjoy the fruit of my research… if you're still alive, that is.” With that, Raymond took a small folded paper out of his pocket, containing some kind of sigil that he tossed behind himself, creating a strange gate. He smiled as he took a few steps back, walking into it as it closed.
Faust sighed. “That was not necessary.”