Chapter Text
Player has always been a relatively quiet person, but recently, they feel as though that silence is absolutely necessary. Nobody will ever understand what they are going through. Their solitude was correct, they miss their loved ones that they might never see again. They've made friends, sure, but it's not the same. Like, their family. Their family misses them... Right? No, they can't doubt that. And, despite defeating their solitude, they still feel alone.
Player is just walking around somewhere in Turitopulis, mind-crushingly bored, thinking of where to head next to get some rest. I don't want to be alone, Player thinks. I need someone to talk to.
Player sits down against a tree, opening their bag to grab a bottle of water. After putting it back into the bag, they sit there silently, waiting for an answer to come to them.
They glance to their opened bag next to them, their deck of call-cards sticking out. Wait, call-cards? Who's on their call-cards again?
Right. Calypso, Red and Blue, some random Gorilla, and, of course, Griefer. The memory of the battle makes them shudder. Watching someone stab themselves with a sword and morph into a plant-like monster was not pleasant, and even after being mostly cured, Griefer still feels the pain sometimes.
Player picks up Griefers call-card and stares at it, almost longingly. After curing Griefer (Well, mostly, Griefer is still part-plant) the two of them became good friends, making Griefer drop his guard a little, letting Player see a whole new side of him. They regularily played video games, and Griefer has even let Player stay the night when they needed it, which sometimes left the Player feeling... Weird. Weird in a way they don't want to wrap their head around. Tucked in between Griefers and Calypsos call-cards was a picture of Griefer and Player out in the jungle. They take the picture out into their other hand. And, finally, an idea comes to mind.
Griefer knows the effects of the venomshank way better than I do. Maybe he'll kinda understand what I'm going through? They wonder. I could talk to him. Maybe if I'm lucky enough he'll let me stay over again.
Though it takes hours and a couple battles against random Gorillas, they head over to the Sacred Hollow. They get a bit beat up, but there's stuff that they can heal up with. And, honestly, they've been through worse, having defeated a literal god. A Gorilla is childsplay for them now.
Once they finally make it up to Griefers Crib, they hesitate to knock. There's no reason to; but they feel weird. The same kind of weird they feel whenever sitting maybe a little too close to Griefer, or when hearing his laugh, or when talking about him, or when he teases them, or when they think about Griefer too hard, or when they finally gained his trust, or when they hold eye contact for too long, or-
Fuck, don't overthink it, they tell themself. They knock three times, softly. Their fear has been defeated, what are they doing feeling this way just going to Griefers? They've been here before, it's not a big deal, right? Or is there a threat on the way? Should they go back to Shedletsky? Should they just pretend they feel normal about Griefer? Their entire goal was to save Builderman and get back to their present, after all. They could just ignore the feeling and-
The door opens, and Player takes a step back. Their eyes widen, hopefully not visibly.
"H3Y." Griefer mumbles. "WH4T'RE Y0U D01NG H3R3?"
Player struggles to speak for some mysterious reason. Maybe it's the same instinct that made them hesitate to show up in the first place, but they have to say something, don't they?
"I, uh... Was wondering if I could stay the night?" They whisper, hoping to not be obvious.
"HUH. W3LL, WHY N0T?"
"Oh. Thanks. I was lonely."
"I TH0UGHT Y0U G0T R1D 0F Y0UR S0L1TUD3 0R S0M3TH1NG."
"Yeah, I did. I dunno why I feel this way."
"Y34H, S0M3TH1NG SEEMS WR0NG. Y0U L00K L1K3 Y0UR3 G0NN4 BURN UP."
Shit, am I blushing? They feel that weirdness again at the realization.
"It's pretty hot out there, yeah..."
There's a tension in the air like no other after that interaction. Player's kind of happy they defeated their fear, otherwise they'd be terrified about it right now. Oh, and also, dead. But let's not think about that.
"0K4Y... F41R. N0 0TH3R R34S0N?" Griefer questions, seeming as if he's trying to hide a worry. He doesn't see it, but he can tell; the venomshank is likely hiding inside Player's bag. They have to carry it with them everywhere, after all.
Player steps in cautiously before placing their bag somewhere randomly on the floor. But, as they crouch to place it down, Griefer notices something; a familiar photo.
"H3Y, PL4YER-"
Player turns around, seeming a little less red. Griefer holds back his previous question.
"Y0UR... Y0UR3 N0T 0N Y0UR W4Y T0 4N0TH3R QU3ST, R1GHT? Y0U SEEM PRETTY FUCKED UP."
"There was a bunch of Gorillas and stuff on the way I had to fend off, but that's fine." Player replies, hand on one cheek to feel how bad it is. Is it truly a sunburn or not? It's not like they have a mirror on them. They pray to themself they aren't being obvious to Griefer.
"K4Y... W3LL, Y0ULL H34L UP, SUR3LY."
"Uh, yep. I will. Don't worry."
"GR34T."
"Great..." They sigh. "So, am I, uh... Is it... What's... Uh, what time is it?"
Griefer looks like there's a million questions on his mind, but holds back from asking them. "Y0U S4W TH3 SUNS3T, PL4YER. 1TS CL0S3 T0 NIGHTT1M3."
"Right..." Player replies, feeling their face burn. Of course it's sunset, they just walked hours over here, they should've known. "Like, dusk, or whatever."
"WH4T?"
"Oh. It's like the opposite of dawn."
"0H."
"Yeah... I've had to learn a lot of terms for time recently. Ha."
"0K4Y. M4K3S SENSE, 1 GU3SS."
Player already knows the layout for Griefers home, having been here so many times. They don't have a change of clothing or anything, since it was a last second decision. They were planning to head back to that inn or whatever it was called, they can't recall. They don't pay much attention to names of places lately, as there's so much. Of course they keep up with personal hygiene as well as they can, especially since quests can get messy. They should really get into the habit of bringing a change of clothes more often.
Player heads to where they usually sleep anytime they're at Griefers; his room, actually. He doesn't really have anywhere else, or maybe he just wants to have Player by his side.
No, Player thinks. I'm not that important to him, am I?
Player sits at the foot of Griefers bed, knees to their chest. Griefer walks in and sits next to them cross-legged. It seems like he wants to talk, so Player does. They talk about the thing they've been worried to talk about, even though Griefer knows better than anyone how the swords can change somebody.
"Griefer, I've... Got something to say, but first, can you promise to listen? It might be hard to talk about."
"Y34H. G0 AH34D."
"It, uh... Shit, sorry. So, y'know my whole sword quest thing? I've got four out of seven swords?"
"UH-HUH."
"Right. You're pretty much the only person alive that knows so much about a sword like these."
"TRU3."
"It's been... Taking a toll on me, I don't know. Like, battling off my emotions, fighting actual gods, being responsible for so many deaths, it's... I feel at fault for everything. The King of Blackrock... He died and left an entire kingdom to collapse because I fought him for that stupid ice dagger. You got transformed into a massive bubonic plant and stayed that way until after I got the firebrand, then found out how to cure you through that ghost chef from Telamons manor. Speaking of, I died, literally and figuratively, from the ghostwalker. And Captain Trotter..."
Players voice cracks at the mention of the Captain; the most recent victim of their selfishness.
"I was responsible for the crews death, I was responsible for his death... God, I don't blame him for turning on me like that after what happened to his crew, actually. I've..."
Player takes a deep breath. They hope Griefer can't hear the shaking in their voice.
"Been having weird dreams. Nightmares, I guess. And not to mention everything I've heard about hearing voices, I... I don't want to hear them too. I'm not, at least not yet, but I've watched the swords change people in crazy ways, even myself. This stupid quest, it's hurting people. So many people. Not just me. It hurt you too. Worse. And all I did was take it back to Shedletsky. Stupid. I'm just... I don't want anything more to happen to me after getting rid of four emotions entirely, y'know?"
When Player finally looks to Griefer, they see the look in his eyes. They're filled with worry, anger, sadness, and old memories. Player just gave him reminders of his worst trauma. This just further proves to them how shitty and selfish and inconsiderate they must be. This makes their eyes well up, until...
"S0RRY, 1 D0NT M34N T0 M4K3 Y0U FEEL UNH34RD 0R 4NYTH1NG. Y34H, 1 KN0W H0W B4D TH3 SW0RDS C4N CH4NG3 4 P3RS0N. 1 UND3RST4ND TH3 FEEL1NG. 1M JUST H4PPY IT H4SNT, Y'KN0W, K1LL3D YOU."
"It has." Player states.
"N0T P3RM4N3NTLY." Griefer replies.
"Yeah..." Player mutters, looking away from Griefer again.
"4NYW4Y... ST4Y1NG S4FE 1S 1MP0RT4NT, 0K4Y? Y0UR3 N0T C0MPL3T3LY 4L0NE. 1M N0T TH3 0N3 G01NG 0N QU3STS B3C4US3 S0M3 0LD Y3LL0W DUD3 1S T3LL1NG M3 T0, BUT 1F 1 H4D T0 GU3SS, 1 W0ULD D3F1N1T3LY 4SSUM3 1TS HARD."
"Uh-huh." Player says as they look to meet Griefers gaze.
"UH... Y0UR SUNBURN 1S W0RS3 TH4N 1 0R1G1NALLY S4W."
Shit. Redirect the topic.
"Uh... Pretty funny how we went from having a fight to the death to this, huh?" Player lets out a breathless chuckle, not bearing to look away from Griefer. If they don't focus on eye contact their eyes would definitely falter down to his lips, which, is not a good thing.
"Y34H. 1T 1S. PUNK."
Player and Griefer laugh together.
"Um... Thanks. I really needed to confess..."
Confess.
The word feels heavy on their tongue.
"Talk. Talk to someone about this. And you're, like, the only one I know who'd understand. At least, kind of. You're not the one with all four, but, we've both been affected by one of them."
"GH0STW4LK3R 4ND TH3 STUP1D V3N0MSH4NK."
"Haha, yeah. Well, at least you didn't witness my temporary death. Or me defeating my emotions. Or my greatest moment of vulnerability. Or-"
Player gets cut off. "Y34H. G00D. 1 M34N, 1 W4SNT V3RY F0ND 0F Y0U 4T TH3 T1M3, S0 1 M1GHT N0T H4V3 C4RED MUCH." Griefer remarks.
"Ouch." The player teases back.
"H4H4. D0 Y0U W4NNA G0 G3T R34DY, 0R WH4T? W3 NEED T0 SLEEP, Y'KN0W."
"I guess so." Player says, voice almost a whisper.
Griefer stands up and holds out his hand to help player to stand as well. Once Player rises, knees weak, they can't hold back.
Player, knowing it's probably a bad idea due to thorns, pulls Griefer into a hug and begins to sob. Griefer hugs back, which would've baffled Player if not for the fact they were crying their eyes out.
After what feels like ages, Griefer and Player pull apart. "1TS 0K4Y. BUT, UH... D1D TH4T HURT 4T 4LL?"
Player wipes tears off of their face, sniffling, eyes still red. "No."
"Y0U SH0ULD S1T, 0R S0M3TH1NG. 1LL G0 G3T Y0U W4T3R. TH4T SEEMS T0 H3LP, R1GHT?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it does. You help."
"Y0U H3LP M0R3, PUNK."
A smile spreads across Players face as soon as Griefer leaves the room. Player sits back down at the foot of the bed, the same way, and lays their head back. God, how is he so...
Get a hold of yourself, Player thinks. It's not a huge deal. Nothing is a huge deal. You've fought a fucking god, and you didn't even feel scared about it. Hold back. Hold back. That hug was probably too much, he wouldn't want anything more than that. Forget it. Forget it. Forget it.
Player probably replayed the words 'Forget it' in their head until Griefer returned.
"H3Y."
"Hey."
"HERE. Y0ULL FEEL B3TT3R, 1 H0P3."
"Yeah. Thanks. Nothing like a bit of water or tea after a long walk or fight."
"W4LK?"
"Took me five hours at least to get here from where I was."
"D4MN. W3LL, W3 SH0ULD PR0B4BLY G3T R34DY T0 SLEEP."
"Yeah. That sounds nice."
Over the next hour, Griefer gets ready to go to sleep while Player finds the extra mattress and blanket they always used whenever they came over. It's almost like it's theirs, Griefer says he never even uses it anymore. Player can always tell Griefer cleans it, though. Somehow. From all the blood and sweat and dirt they end up with on their body after a quest, they're surprised it's able to be clean.
Speaking of cleanliness, Player NEEDS to shower. And after they do, they come back to their mattress and blanket being fully set up by Griefer, who is now lying on his bed. Player does the same; sits on their mattress and gets under the covers.
Player can't believe they're in this position, being friends with such an awesome and understanding guy. And to think they were trying to kill eachother just weeks ago.
Player can only hope that they won't be restless tonight.