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Griefer grabbed onto Player’s shoulders, starting to shake them as all they did was stare into the distance, and began yelling in their face, “0h R0blox 0h R0blox, PL4YER AR3 Y0U OKAY? COM3 ON, LI5TEN TO M3-“
Alright, looks like we jumped the gun a bit there, how about we look back at what’s happened and then work our way forward, yeah?
Player had just gotten the Ghostwalker, and as we all know, that left them emotionless, suppressing every emotion they had, everything, thanks to what happened in the Dream World inside the Ghostwalker.
Short summary, they fought their own emotions, mainly negative ones, but that also had them come to the conclusion that their positive emotions also needed to be gone along with the ones they fought the embodiments of.
A bit stupid of them, but lets be honest, if you died over and over again and were aware you did, you’d want to be entirely sure and cover all your bases too so you wouldn’t have to fight those emotions again, wouldn’t you?
Well, before all of that- we’re going a bit out of order here, I know- they had gotten the Venomshank, but not before Griefer, the guy who wanted to destroy the Venomshank, stabbed himself and transformed into a Bubonic Plant. At the time, Player felt extremely guilty and felt they were at fault.
But now, having the Ghostwalker, they only feel empty. Of course, when the thought of him comes up, they don’t seem to feel any emotions toward him or the thought of what they felt they’ve done to him. But deep down, there’s pang in their heart. A drop of solitude, of sorrow adding to the well of guilt that someone who didn’t need to be hurt in that way had been.
At this time, Player had just finished making their way through some sort of… small temple? A tomb? They weren’t entirely sure, but they were sure that they just met a genie. The great Floccinaucinihili… yeah, I’m not typing all of that, and they aren’t trying to pronounce that name while thinking again so they’ll just call him Flocci…
All the grief, all the sorrow had come to a level that Player acknowledged their true feelings, how their actual soul felt, despite them pushing those feelings down the best they can.
So, what was their first wish? To help Brad of course. They couldn’t let those feelings continue to build, they thought it would destroy them. So they figured doing something to try and help… well, they weren’t sure if Griefer would call them his friend, but they did call him theirs despite only ever fighting. They wanted to help their friend.
“Hm… That is an answer unlike I have expected… Perhaps thou are more than meet the eye. Very well then, thou wish…”
“…IS THY COMMAND!!”
“…”
“…”
“Oh, uh.”
“So…”
“H-huh-? It didn’t work…?”
“Uh… it appears… my powers need some ‘dusting off’. N-NEVERTHELESS! Thou may retry a first wish! So let’s try to keep it to something… simple, shall we?”
Flocci cleared his throat.
“Heed thy wish, summoner…. Heed thy wish that BURNS IN THE SOUL OF THE GIFTED!”
Player wasn’t entirely sure what to do now… thanks to the wish of fixing Brad not working, their original plan was gone. Well, why not ask for something ridiculous like that ship in a bottle? It looked like it could be useful somehow anyways, despite not knowing exactly how, so they’d give it a shot.
And the encounter went on as expected. Flocci refused, Player insisted, a refusal, an insist, a refusal, another time insisting, and then a fight…
Clearly, Player won.
Flocci went on a rant about the bottle and how it would bring Player across the docks they’d been seeing recently, and now they finally understood why they were drawn to the ship in a bottle.
They asked for a second wish, Flocci refused, and then they mentioned it again and Flocci simply… left, leaving them the bottle.
And they used it to get out of that small tomb, encountering Terry and Jerry right before actually using it. Somehow, Terry knew exactly what to do with it. It was always weird how he knew so much, but hey, he was helpful, so Player wouldn’t judge!
So they found their way out, landing in a small oasis, and deciding to rest.
For some reason… something. Something was tugging at their chest, at their heart… telling them to go back to Turitopulis. To go back to Griefer.
There wasn’t any emotion attached to that tugging of their heart, of course not! Of coursee they didn’t feel the need to check up on Griefer at every possible chance to!
Despite denying the fact that that tugging at their chest was worry, concern, and… hm. Well, they listened to their body, to their instincts. After all, there were no emotions related to that tugging feeling!
So, they headed back! Abandoning their main quest for the time being, and going back to Turitopulis. They wandered around the town before finding Mayor Thaniyiel with the Bubonic Plant- no, with Griefer.
“…Oh! It’s you again!” The mayor smiled seeing Player, “Thanks for saving my life, however… I hope the Venomshank is far from here.”
Player didn’t react. However, they felt the smallest drop in their stomach as the Venomshank on their belt clinked against the Ice Dagger sitting by it.
“Oh. Well… at least it is kept safe and in your hands instead of mine. I never want that cursed thing again…”
Player couldn’t help themselves. Because nothing with Flocci worked. That worry for Griefer was still a prominent thing they could notice in themselves.
“How’s Gri-.. How’s Brad?” They stopped themselves from referring to him as Griefer, having gotten used to it already despite hearing him being referred to as Brad more often than not.
“He… I believe he’s responsive. I’ve been trying to wave my arms in front of him, to call to him, apologize to him…” Thaniyiel paused for a moment. “But I can’t tell too much. I hope my boy is alright… I really hope he’s okay in there.” He turned to Griefer, no, to Brad, and pat his head a little, the animal-like plant nuzzling into his touch ever so slightly.
“Didn’t you say this was reversible? We can bring him back somehow, just tell me.”
“Well…”
Thaniyiel then explained it all, and so, Player nodded, understanding exactly what had to be done.
So they went on a small quest, one to save themselves from being destroyed by their own emotions again.
And clearly not for some entirely different reason…
When they came back, they had exactly what was needed to bring Brad to how he was before. Or, er- mostly back to how he was before.
“…Oh, hello! It’s you again, Player! And I-“ Thaniyiel stared at what Player was holding, the French Onion Tart that could reverse the effects of the Venomshank on Griefer. “Oh my goodness- is that- is that what I think it is? Oh, it is!”
A small exchange happened, Thaniyiel, shocked at how quickly Player had been able to get the tart, took it from them when they handed it over with a flat expression. For some reason Thaniyiel hadn’t bothered to comment on it this entire time. They hadn’t smiled or frowned when they approved or disapproved of something like how they had before.
He fed it to Griefer, and the animalistic plant transformed into a real guy. Yeah no that’s- I’m not doing a Pinocchio reference again after this that does not sound right…
Player and Mayor Thaniyiel and Brad all had a conversation together, although Player didn’t pay too much attention to it.
They were entirely distracted by Brad’s new look with all of the leaves and plants still there… they didn’t even realize their cheeks had heated up ever so slightly, the lightest flush of pink ever crossing over their cheeks.
But then the Mayor left, and Griefer and Player were alone outside the Thaniyiel’s house.
Player finally focused on what Brad was saying, listening and happily taking his call card when he gave it to them, face still flat despite the softest blush.
“H3y, wh4t’s that 0n your f4ce? Ar3 y0u blu5h1ng??”
“It’s just the heat.”
“R1ght, y3ah, y0u pr0bably 4ren’t us3d t0 1t, forg0t.” He knew there was something else a little off. Brad wasn’t an idiot, and this person saved his life, so he felt that he had every right to worry for them as well.
“H0w ab0ut w3 he4d 1nsid3 then? Y0u c4n re5t and c0ol down.”
“I’ll be fine, I need to get back on my journey to get the-“
“Y0u’r3 c0m1ng in5id3.” Brad grabbed Player’s wrist before they could protest and pulled them inside his house, then into his room, shutting the door behind them.
“Wh4t’5 g01ng on? Som3th1ng’5 0ff h3re, 1 c4n t3ll.”
“Nothing is ‘off’, Griefer, I’m fine.”
“G0 ah3ad 4nd call m3 Br4d. But, 4nyway5, 1 can s33 som3th1ng’s up, punk, t3ll m3 wh4t 1t i5.”
“No.”
Brad groaned, his head falling back, wanting to know, but also knowing he couldn’t just make them say.
“F1ne. L4st chanc3, 0r 3lse 1’ll n3ver kn0w.”
“I won’t say.”
He sighed, disappointed at the lack of hesitation, and went to sit on his bed.
“Th3n let5 just c0ol down 1 gue5s, huh?”
Player nodded, then came over to Brad and sat next to him on his bed.
“Your room’s messy.”
“1 nev3r s4id I wa5 a cl3an fre4k l1ke y0u might b3.”
“True. But you can’t leave a pile of Witches Brew in your closet. Where will you live, then?” A gay joke… funny. It was almost as if they’ve known each other for years despite only meeting a day or two ago.
“H4. H4. V3ry funny,” Brad said sarcastically, in a flat tone. He did grin a bit at that joke, and didn’t deny it though…
Player sighed, then took a quick glance around before falling backwards onto the bed. They didn’t realize Brad sat behind him and only realized once they saw the man’s face looking down on them from his lap.
Despite their eyes nor their mouth moving to express any emotion, a natural blush out of embarrassment flushed Player’s cheeks, and they quickly sat up.
“Sorry.”
“H3y, d0n’t b3 sorry m4n, y0u’r3 4ll g0od.” He giggled a little at Player’s reaction, but was still worried because their actual face didn’t express any panic or actual embarrassment while their body did.
They didn’t speak for a moment, then Griefer spoke again, but quietly. Mostly to himself.
“…Y0u ch4nged. Why d0n’t you t3ll m3 why…”
“Because you wouldn’t want to hear. And I don’t want to go through it again.” Well, seems like Player heard him anyways…
“Wh4t?” He turned his head to look at Player, who had shifted so they were sitting straight up at the edge of the bed.
Player was completely silent. What Brad didn’t know was happening was that they were actively having flashbacks the moment they said “I don’t want to go through it again”.
“H3y, wh4t d’y0u m3an? Pl4y3r?”
Brad crawled on the bed to sit next to Player, and pushed them softly to try and get their attention.
“H3ll0ooo0??” He poked their cheeks, then leaned forward before he saw that their eyes were shaking. An unnatural movement.
“H3y? Pl4yer?” He started to grow concerned.
Player’s breathing speed increased.
“Play3r?!”
“H3Y, PL4YER DUD3, N1CE J0KE Y4 G0T M3!” He chuckled nervously as he stood up in front of Player, holding their shoulders and trying to play this off as a prank.
It clearly wasn’t. He could tell there was a genuine fear there, something he hadn’t ever seen on Player. Not pure fear, no.
Griefer grabbed onto Player’s shoulders tighter, starting to shake them as all they did was have their flashblacks, and began yelling in their face, “0h R0blox 0h Roblox, PL4YER AR3 Y0U OKAY? COM3 ON, LI5TEN TO M3-“
“PLAY3R 5NAP OUT 0F 1T!”
“C0ME 0N! PL4YER!”
Well, shaking them wasn’t working, so… why not?
Brad raised his hand and slapped Player across the cheek, their head snapping to the side and their eyes opening wide from surprise.
Slowly, they look up to him, their emotions clear on their face now, as they used to be. But soon, they realize and their expression returns to be its normal stone-faced flat expression again.
“Pl4yer-“
“I’m not talking about it.”
“Th4t wa5n’t what 1 wa5 g0nna-“ Brad sighed, “F1ne. Wh4t3ver.”
Player looked to the side, hands at their sides and balling up the blankets they were sitting on as they felt Brad’s hands leave their shoulders.
They thought about this. How he hadn’t just brushed off their silence, their unresponsiveness. He cared. He just showed he cared.
A small smile crossed their lips at the thought. Their arms go to him, wrapping around his torso and pulling him close into a hug.
Player’s face didn’t move from that soft smile. They didn’t cry like how they felt their body wanting to, they suppressed the emotions. Except for the happiness. They let themselves feel that fully as they buried their face into his chest.
Brad didn’t expect to be pulled closer, so his hands went out to his sides as he was, tensing up a little. But after a moment… he relaxed and hugged Player back. Smiling as well.
“H3y, 1t’s ok4y dud3. 1’m right h3re.” He rubbed their back a little and ruffled their hair as they nuzzled into him, not the best at comforting, but doing his best.
He may be harsh at times, but he could be soft, too.
“Sorry…” Player mumbled into Brad’s chest, the guilt they had felt so much earlier rising up entirely. For some reason they felt safe showing their emotions here. Like Brad was an exception. To what, Player wasn’t sure, but they just felt safe with him.
“Y0u d1dn’t d0 4nyth1n-“
“I did.”
“Y0i d1-“
“The Venomshank. Not this.”
“Play3r, that wa5 b3cause 1 thought I’d d1e to y0u and th4t if I did, th4t m0nster th4t wa5 m3 would r4mpage the villag3, th3 t0wn. It isn’t y0ur fault, 1t’s th3 5word’s.”
“Well, me trying to get it from you made you think that.”
“1’m th3 one wh0 grabb3d it, Pl4ys.”
“…Fine, it’s your fault then, douchebag.”
Brad giggled a little, glad that Player accepted the fact it wasn’t their fault. Or maybe they just… gave up on arguing with him. Either way, he’s glad they let him win that debate.
“D0uch3b4g, huh?”
“Douchebag.”
“W3ll, 1f y0u 5ay s0…”
Player let their expression return to be blank, and once again shoved every emotion out of the way, their small smile disappearing. But they didn’t push away from Brad.
Curling up a little, they turned on their side so their ear was pressed against his chest instead of their face, listening to see if he had a heartbeat because they couldn’t see if he even had a heart in the first place after being brought back.
Brad held them close, doing his best to comfort despite being absolutely terrible with it. If he didn’t know what to say, he didn’t say anything at all was his thing.
“Thank you…” Player mumbled softly, closing their eyes and listening to his heartbeat that he somehow had, apparently his heart was just hidden by his jacket he wore.
Thanks to the heat, the exhaustion of the quest, and from the flashbacks mentally exhausting them, they slowly fell asleep.
Brad slowly laid down with them, holding them and being as gentle as he could as he felt them fall asleep.
Then, soon after, he fell asleep as well thanks to the energy that had been taken out of him from the transformation.
So, they laid in each other’s arms, close to each other, simple friends, protecting the other in their sleep.
Thaniyiel quietly walked in, and saw the scene, smiling softly at the two.
Clicking off the lights in Brad’s room, he then left and shut the door behind him.
“Those kids… they’re in love and they can’t tell…”