Work Text:
Ayres- A shipwreck? Odd. It's mostly under water. Looks abandoned. Wait, there's signs.
Alden- Ayres??
Have we met?
No, you're supposed dead.
What do you mean I'm dead?
What? Mom said?
I'm... Not dead…
You look like you've been through shit.
I have. Unfortunately.
I'm doing this. Stop. Here. Sit.
so… you're not dead.
Why would you think I was dead?
I got told you were-
Why who?
Who do you think?
I haven't been around anyone for who knows how long. Why are you out here?
I… ran away.
You ran away?
Mom wanted me to get married.
I could never see you getting married.
Hey. Really?
You don't seem like the type.
Yeah. Some other... I don't know. So I found this shit. I stole this shit. From home. I think you know what happened.
Yeah. Did you lose your shoes?
Huh?
Your shoes.
Yeah, I may have lost one.
Oh, just one, not two? I cannot tell.
Oh. Huh. Yeah. Well, welcome aboard my ship. It's been through shit.
Yeah, so have you, it looks like.
I was told you died.
By who?
Kaja.
Yeah. I know she's my guard, but, like, still.
Wait, she's... She's your guard?
You didn't know this?
She kidnapped me! Why do you think I look like this now? Yeah, this wasn't a self-inflicted thing.
Sorry.
You okay? Do you need food?
Thankfully, no. I haven't had to eat in a few days.
Yeah, a lot has happened. Hmm.
Why here of all places, though?
I have food in my mouth.
One minute I was sailing, and the next minute I woke up underwater.
I can't swim.
I know that. When we were little. Yeah, well- You used to grab onto me.
Yeah, that's 'cause no one ever taught me. Now I just really can't because, you know, yeah. All this extra stuff now.
That is not worth it.
Why is the water like that? Did you just- Did you defi- WHAT? Did you, like, defy the laws of physics? That's gonna bother me now.
Everything bothers you.
You tried to hit me? You tried to hit me!
Oh, the time changes here. That's weird. I haven't seen stuff in a while.
At least I can see the stars for once. At least I'm not being cooped up in the castle.
At least it wasn't a lab!
You know what? True. That's Fair.
Yeah. Why?
I'm gonna go pout in the corner.
How dare you.
Oh. I like this corner.
Uh-huh.
Are you sure Kaja isn't here? I would HATE for her to be around.
I don't know.
It's bad enough already with the flying ones. I don't know what they're called.
Flying what?
Flying people. They like float. I don't know what they're called.
I don't know. I just woke up two days ago.
Okay, so it wasn't just me.
Okay. Yeah, I don't know what they're called.
And I mean every time one shows up I've seen people say "Hi, God." What is a god? I just- I don't know what that word means.
We have gods in our world. I studied them- You studied them when you were children.
Well, I have no memory of the childhood! And you weren't supposed to know. Shit. You weren't supposed to know about that.
You don't know who I am.
No. I don't. I know I should, but I don't- I- I can leave if you want.
No.
I- I can go.
Ayres, Ayres, look at me. You can restart and be friends again.
You're sure you don't want me to just leave? I'm- I'm not any- I'm not any help.
Hey. Ow. I don't know about that. I doubt I'll be any help, though.
Oh. Might make things- Okay. Alden.
You do know I eventually will have to leave. I'll eventually have to leave to keep you out of danger. If I stay here- Kaja will find me! She'll hurt you. She's probably gonna hurt me anyway, at least.
Mom's probably put her in a... I don't know what she's on anyway. Death letter. Death letter.
I still don't want you being in the way. Not- not in the way that was worded wrong. I don't want you to be caught in the crossfire.
Come. Get up.
Why?
I'm dragging you to bed. You haven't slept in a few days.
It's fine. I don't need to.
Ayres.
I don't need to.
Ayres, get up.
I don't need to.
I will stab.
No. No. No. No. Not again. No. I will jump into the water.
I don't need to sleep. I don't need to sleep, it's fine.
You do need sleep. Ayres.
I found a new corner.
I don't need to sleep, it's fine. I haven't slept in the last few days. I- No, it's fine. I did- I'll be fine. I've gone longer. This isn't the worst. Nope. No? No.. What are you doing?
I'm making a little room.
What? Why?
Because you need to sleep.
No, I don't. No. I'm fine. I don't need to sleep.
You think I know how to fish? I haven't been! In an actual, like, outside area. I don't know what it's called. Words are a problem. The water is throwing me off so much. I don't like it.
You can put your feet in the water.
No, I can't. Unfortunately. I'd rather not have to try to find iron in a place like this to fix it.
I'm gonna catch a fish. I'm gonna teach you how to fish.
I don't need to eat or sleep. I think you know this. I really don't need to. I can attempt it.
Oh. Huh. And when the bob goes down, like that. Watch me. See? Go back in. Oh. Huh. I don't think. Oh. Oh. I let you hear a fish.
Oh. We're too close together. We're too close together. It's not gonna work.
Why are you smacking me?
No! What? It rolled in too fast, really.
Good job.
I got puffer fish.
I'm gonna eat that later.
No, don't eat the puffer.
You'll get sick. I know from experience.
Sweeping edge.
That's neat.
Um. Yeah. I may or may not have been stabbed. That's why you were told I was dead.
Probably.
I got stabbed. I'm fine.
No you're not, you're bleeding.
No, it's not bleeding anymore.
I'm going to clean it.
You don't have to though.
Put your neck up.
No, it's fine, it's fine. I've been taking care of it. I've been taking care of it. Ow. No. I've been taking care of it, it's fine.
Are you a medic?
I was at one point.
Hey, don't hit me.
Okay, yeah, I'm gonna give you bandages. Definitely bandages. Definitely not paper. Not paper. Definitely not-
See, it's fine. I handled it. I'm not dying.
Why are you in the corner? Oh, why did it go so far? Wait, what happens if I just go like that?
Why did you do that? It makes it confusing.
Good. Now you won't get fish.
I won't get fish.
No, you won't.
I'm getting fish now. damn it. Oh, I got a fish. What is that? Oh, it's raw.
Of course it's raw fish.
You do realize I haven't done this. Wait, have I?
When we were younger, yeah. Oh, right. My dad took us before he passed.
He passed not long after.
I got a puffer fish. What do I do with it? Can I eat the- Ow.
What happens if I eat it? Ow.
No.
Yes. What happens if I eat it? Dammit. I can't follow you. Ow! Okay, I was not expecting that.
You dumbass.
I didn't think it would do that! Why is it still going? I might actually die. I might die. Hold on. Let me, like, wait.
Your bed's over there.
Yeah. Let me just do that real quick. I am out of food. Hold on.
Here, hold on. There's... Yes? What did I do? Oh. Stop dying! Oh, it finally wore off! Why'd you eat it?
Because you ate it.
Well, I- You told me, didn't you?
Aww, you're so tall now.
I've always been taller than you.
Well, yeah! I never grew. I'm still like, what? How tall was I? How tall am I? That's high. Why would I not know my own height? Huh. You stole it. Wait, did you? No. I totally know how to fish. Totally. See, I'm fine. I didn't forget things.
No. Don't. You won't like the cold metal.
Dolphin!
What?
Dolphin!
Oh, the fish. The really big fish. Oh.
Yeah. There he goes.
Oh! Oh, they're so cute. Why are they going after you? What did you do?
You can swim with them, it makes you go-
No, I can't. Well, you can't. Damn it. I was trying to. I am stuck. I am stuck. Oh. Hey… Is this a way to force me to sleep?
Yes.
No.
Sleep. Ayres.
I don't need to! It's fine. What- what's the flower for? Uh, I just have- Just the flower?
Hm. I got two.
Why- why do you trap me like this?
I'm going to bed, so you better sleep.
No, I'm gonna go sit a bit more. Just- I just- I need to keep you safe. I can't do that if I sleep.
Goodnight, Ayres.
Goodnight.
