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Infecting Marmalade was the right choice.
Avid had doubted, though he definitely shouldn't have. The Mass had said it would be, so of course it was! But it's different to know and to experience, and he can definitely say this is the happiest he's ever been. Even more so than before.
He didn't think that would be possible. Yet, here he is, connected with his best friend on a level that he never could have conceptualized.
Well, kind of. Avid is attached to The Mass, and Massy is attached to Marm. So, if one thinks about it, he is basically the one connected to his longtime crush. That's how that works. As the first non-mass member of this hivemind, he thinks he should get to decide that.
Isn’t lifelong mutual commitment to caring for another being supposed to come after a couple starts dating?
He supposes that Marm has never been the type to follow tradition. It's one of the things that drew him to her in the first place. There’s also the way her passion burns so brightly. It consumes all doubt and ignites his inspiration in turn. She is also really pretty, of course. He can't think about Marmalade without mentioning that.
Avid is getting distracted. Yes, infecting Marm was the right thing to do. She gets them now. She understands the need to spread and eat and survive. Now that she is a part of them, she no longer has reservations about what needs to be done.
Massy is right. He shouldn't have worried.
Avid needs her, so badly and deeply it scares him. He has to have someone that cares, someone that will stay with him.
Now, she'll never leave. The Mass has given him the greatest wish he had never even dared to ask for. From what he overheard before slipping the pod into her hand, Marmalade feels similar. They'll never have to miss each other ever again.
He owes The Mass so much more than he'll ever be able to pay back.
Which is why he can't complain about the exhaustion that still weighs his steps. He won't say anything about how it's harder to move full shulkers than it used to be, and how his arms shake even when he manages to get one off the ground. He won't mention the way thinking is difficult, and his concentration is worse than it's ever been.
Humans can survive off of netherwart. The doakbars are enough. Massy says so, and as Avid was shown Massy is never wrong.
There is just enough dietary value for a human to survive. He's no nutritionalist, but it's strange that such a superfood had gone undiscovered up until now. Maybe people just hadn't thought to look? Humanity has ignored bigger discoveries for longer. Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective. The Mass has certainly given him that above all else.
Avid's ailments must be unrelated. It's possible that he's coming down with something. Those can be symptoms of sickness, right? He isn't hungry, he promises. He has been eating. If only his body would get the memo and stop making him crave things he can no longer have...
Hungry please need warm feed feed hungry warm need food need please
Avid can feel Massy from further away on Doak campus now. His range is bigger than Marmalade's. She still can't hear anything beyond the lab. Maybe because he's been assimilated longer? Or perhaps it has to do with the way his pod is changing. He supposes there’s no way to know other than to increase the sample size and wait.
He heads to the sheep tube as he was asked.
Marm is already there, leading a sheep to the water elevator. She nudges the fluffy rump into the tube and off it goes.
Good yes good good more hungry feed feed please warm need more more
Avid jumps in this time, swiping a bushel of wheat to tempt a sheep through the opening. He accidentally lets out two before he can shut the gate. Rather than trying to wrangle one back in, it's probably better to simply send them both along.
He manages, and pretends he can't the panicked bleating as the young ewes are washed towards their undoing.
Avid knows The Mass can't help it. It doesn't want to eat these. It feels really bad about it, but it has to. It is so hungry. This is the only thing that soothes that ache. Having felt that pain now, he understands. He feels sympathy for Massy’s plight.
Avid stubbornly pushes down the part of his brain reminding him that anything Doak isn't eating is food that is available to The Mass. That's the leftover capitalist in him, surely, pessimistic and wrong. The stupid insistence that life is a competition that he needs to dominate. He's better than that now. He loves being better than that.
Yes yes good good no hungry love us love love good love gratitude
Avid feels a headache he hadn't noticed recede as The Mass quiets. It never goes completely silent though. He turns towards Marmalade, his heart light from a job well done.
She smiles, taking a step towards him before swaying dangerously.
Avid darts forward, steadfastly ignoring the way his own head swims in response to the too-quick movement. Dizziness later, catching Marm now!
They both hit the ground, but Avid at least manages to keep them half upright. His knees meet unforgiving stone, her metal arm jabs into his ribs, and their heads clack together loudly. Avid can already feel the bruises forming.
Marmalade groans, eyes shut tight to block out the light from the lowering sun. He can relate.
Avid gathers himself first by virtue of being slightly more prepared for the fall than she was. “Are you okay?”
“Agh, my head,” Marmalade complains. She turns her face from the sky and towards her impromptu cushion, which coincidentally happens to be Avid.
His concern overrides his crush for now, but he'll definitely be thinking about this later. He can be normal.
Avid taps her shoulder lightly. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Marmalade's untrapped hand waves dismissively. Her face is still hidden in the crook of his neck. She's warm to the touch. “It's fine. This will pass.”
“You sound certain,” Avid points out.
“I am.” She sounds frustrated. “This has happened a few times.”
“You've been fainting?!” Avid almost shouts. He feels her tense up, and lowers his voice. “When? Why didn't you tell me?”
Avid can tell he made a misstep when she pulls away. He immediately feels the loss, his skin prickling where they had been in contact.
“There was no point. What could you do that I can't do myself?” Marmalade points out. “Plus, you have your own stuff going on. I've seen the way you lean against walls when you think no one is looking, and the way your hands have been shaking.”
Something in Avid stings at the accusation, but he pushes it away in favor of forcing himself to focus. “I still want to know. Even if we can't figure out why, at least I would be aware that I should be looking out for you. I can keep health potions on hand in case you can't get to the ground safely, and I know that I should check in if you spend too long alone,” he insists.
Marmalade bristles at the implied insult to her capabilities. Her mouth is moving, but Avid can't hear her. His ears are full of...
NO FIGHT bad no no listen love individuals love us survive survive no bad bad no no
When he comes to, Marmalade is looking at him with softer eyes. Whatever The Mass said to her must've been the right thing. It always knows the best way to soothe her. Back before Marm assimilated, it understood that talk of spreading made her upset. It would take over to apologize whenever they got a bit overzealous. He is relieved that trend continues.
Marm smiles, but it is with little happiness. “I know you're sorry. You're right, we shouldn't argue.”
Were they arguing? Was that what that was? He had thought they were having a discussion, but he's been wrong interpreting social situations before. It probably won't be the last time that happens either.
“I should've told you that I've been having fainting spells, but you also should've told me that you haven't been getting better.” Marmalade's voice is firm, her eyes sharp.
Avid nods. “I didn't think it was a big deal. I'm probably just getting sick or something. Maybe there's some weird sky disease we aren't vaccinated against.”
Marmalade shudders. “I don't want to think about that. There's no doctors here! What do you even do in that situation?”
Avid laughs, and is relieved when she laughs as well.
He can't help but watch. The way a real smile brightens her face, makes her eyes sparkle. The setting sun turns stray hairs golden, and she looks ethereal. He wishes this world had photography technology so that he could frame this moment forever.
In his inspection, he notices some things that dampen his good mood. Her cheeks are a bit shallower than they used to be, and her skin is slightly paler. Now that he's looking, her collarbone is also stark below her neck. Has she not had enough doakbars lately?
Lucky for Marm, Avid always carries extras just in case he can convince a servermate to try one. It's much better nutritionally and more ethical than other food. Who wouldn't want that?
He unwraps a bar and pushes it into her hands insistently, ignoring her head tilt. She takes a bite, still looking at him with confusion.
“You looked hungry,” Avid answers, much happier now that he feels like he's found a solution. If she hasn't been eating enough, then no wonder she's been having these fainting spells! He nudges the extras towards her.
“I have my own doakbars though,” Marmalade replies, clearly a bit bewildered. Avid doesn't mind because she still takes the bars from him.
“Maybe make sure to eat a couple more?” He suggests.
“Okay,” Marm replies hesitantly. “I'll do that.”
“Great!” Avid stands, and expertly ignores the black spots that appear in his vision. “I’ll probably turn in early tonight. We have that fishing competition coming up, and I know Massy was wanting to infect at least a few of the guests. Gotta be ready for that!”
“Goodnight?”
Avid waits until she is on her feet before spinning around and heading towards the greenhouse. He chances a glance behind him, seeing Marmalade with her hand still half raised in a wave farewell. He sees a hint of red at the roots of her bangs, and manages to face forwards before he walks directly into a pole. That would've been embarrassing. He doesn't need another bruise for his collection.
Is Marm trying something new with her hair? It looks good. Really, really good. He likes it a lot.
Red is his new favorite color, after all.