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“And I don’t wanna”
“Choose between”
“Being a salesman or a soldier”
“Just let me look a little older”
“Let me step a little bolder
“Choose between”
“Being a butcher or a pauper”
“Honey, I’m taking no orders”
“I’m gonna be Nobody’s Soldier”
~~~~
Dusekkar found him at the pier’s edge, legs dangling over the side as the Soldier stared downwards into his own reflection, a pensive look on his face.
“Greetings, my friend. What is it that ails you to no end?” The Mage floated next to the Guest, sitting down politely on his right. Guest 1337 scooted slightly to the left to make more room for the larger Hybrid, who dipped his pumpkin head in appreciation.
“Just some reflection, nothing serious.” Guest 1337 hummed, turning his gaze back down to the dark waters below.
“You say nothing serious, when your face reflects that your emotions are quite mysterious.” Dusekkar retorted, getting a small huff of laughter from the Guest.
“Am I that obvious?” He asked.
“Only a little, I fear you have grown brittle.”
“I’m fine.” Guest 1337 shot back quickly, attempting to shut the conversation down immediately. Dusekkar merely hummed, staring off into the distance, trying to see if he could peer a glimpse at the land on the other side of the lake.
“Are you? You seem quite blue.” Dusekkar commented, and Guest laughed again, a hand coming up to tussle his own blue hair.
“I will be, how about that?” Guest 1337 offered. “When we get out of here, that is.”
“A noble goal, yet you seem overly dedicated to your role. I fear for your safety, please, do not be so hasty.”
“What do you mean?” Guest asked, turning to look at Dusekkar curiously. The Mage did not turn to face him, either.
“You place your life on the line, the other Sentinels you do outshine. But sacrifice is a Mortal’s game, and appears to be your claim to fame.” Dusekkar explained gently, finally turning his head to gaze at Guest with his fiery eyes.
Guest glanced away, back to the water, to avoid Dusekkar’s expression.
“I’m fine, Dusekkar. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m just doing my job, I gotta stay strong for everyone.”
“A show of strength indeed, but your health and sanity it does not heed. You will burn out at this rate, no sooner or later will reveal the date.” His hands clasped together in his lap, his staff sat at his side as he stared at Guest intently, the Soldier still avoiding his gaze.
“So- Uh, about those last few Rounds, huh?” The Guest tried to interject, attempting to redirect the conversation away from himself. “Crazy stuff, right?”
Dusekkar sighed, turning back to the water for a moment.
“Yes, I suppose. Your show of strength was lucky to have arose.” The Mage complimented, smiling slightly at the memory of Guest prying Noob from the map geometry not once, but twice. The second time he’d broken the wall entirely, creating a perfectly shaped Noob-sized hole. It had been extremely amusing to watch, even if poor Noob had to suffer for it.
“Hah, I’m just glad Noob’s alright. Poor kid, getting stuck like that twice.” Guest sighed, putting a hand to his chin.
“To fall victim to geometry, not once but twice, is to have such a poor roll of the dice.” Dusekkar agreed. “Your efforts were noble, to allow Noob to once more be mobile.”
“I like to think it was a team effort, personally.” Guest smirked, receiving a small huff of laughter.
Silence reigned between the two for a long moment, each Survivor merely enjoying the peace they so rarely received.
Guest fidgeted with his hands, tucked politely in his lap. Dusekkar’s deer tail flicked. The water continued lapping at the shore. The moon, ever present in this Realm, shined brightly overhead. It was quiet. It was peaceful.
And then, naturally, that peace was broken.
“I do believe most woes are best handled when shared, won’t you let your grievances be aired?” Dusekkar pressed once more. He was determined to pull the misery from the Soldier, to free him of his burdens as best he could as a shoulder to lean on. It was what a proper teammate would do, after all.
Guest sighed, continuing to gaze out onto the lake, before finally, at last, he relented.
“....It just feels like I never left the battlefield, I guess.” He finally explained. “I died out there, trying to take out the Bacon Army for the last time. And what did it get me? This place. Stuck. Back on the battlefield. It’s not that I don’t want to protect you guys, it’s just….”
“Tiring?” Dusekkar offered, receiving a short nod in response.
“Yeah. I just…. Want to rest. But I can’t. I have to be strong, always be strong.” It was like a mantra, one Dusekkar was unfamiliar with.
“Your saying, where does it come from? Would you be willing to share this informational crumb?” He asked, turning to Guest properly. The Soldier chuckled awkwardly, a hand coming up to rub the back of his neck.
“Ah, I got it from my parents. Means I need to stay strong for everyone, for myself as well.” He explained carefully, gesturing lightly with his free hand as he smiled mournfully at Dusekkar, his gaze far away and distant for a moment.
“I understand. But can’t you allow yourself weakness? Even throughout the bleakness?” The Mage asked. “You are not alone here, with the Survivors you have nothing to fear. We take care of our own, for fondness between us all has grown.”
“It’s a nice thought, but the others are depending on me, y’know?” Guest retorted, shaking his head slowly. “I can’t let them down, and disappoint them by crumbling like that.”
“Disappoint them you will not, your pain has become a blot. To crumble is one action, but you may lean on your own faction. Together we will prevail, as long as you share what ails.”
“I wish it was that easy.” Guest turned back to the lake, his gaze turning distant. “But I can’t. If I crumble, I don’t think I’ll be able to get back up.”
“Then allow yourself to lean, for support is what I offer to all in between. A pillar without rest, aren’t you tired of this test?” Dusekkar offered, reaching a hand out to Guest, who turned and stared at it for a moment.
There was a pause, hesitation warring in Guest’s eyes, before resignation reigned. Slowly, carefully, he raised a hand, and placed it in Dusekkar’s waiting one. The Mage smiled warmly at the Soldier, who gave a half smile in return.
“You are no lone Soldier on the field, with a team you will one day be healed.” Dueskkar advised, bringing his other hand up to gently tap Guest’s cheek fondly, smiling. The Soldier chuckled, taking his hand back from Dusekkar and leaning on it.
“How’d you get to being so wise? It’s like you know just what to say.” Guest mused, smiling at Dusekkar, who merely laughed loudly for a moment, breaking the fragility of the moment with glee.
“To be wise is to age, and to dedicate yourself as a sage. I have existed since the dawns of time, since the ringing of 2x2’s chimes. You are but a child to my eyes, one I am happy to advise.” He smiled, kind and open as he shared his knowledge with Guest 1337, who merely laughed at the phrasing.
“Well, you don’t look a day over thirty, for someone so old!” Guest laughed, and the two giggled in merriment as the concept.
“I must say, what is your true age? The reality is one I cannot stage.” Dusekkar asked, curious.
“I’m about 25, I think? Time is hard, here, but I turned 25 a bit before showing up.” Guest explained, and Dusekkar froze for a moment.
“Ah…. You are?” Dusekkar tried to keep the smile on his face, but it faltered at the knowledge of Guest 1337’s youth.
The Survivors were so young, especially compared to a Deity like Dusekkar. It pained him greatly to see it, to know that their lives were being wasted away in this Realm. It weighed on him, much like it weighed on Builderman, and on Shedletsky, to find a way out of this place.
To free them.
“Yeah, I am. You’re like a million years old, though, so I’m basically an infant to you, huh?” Guest chuckled, having turned his attention back to the water and therefore dodging the faltering of Dusekkar’s own smile. The Mage turned back to the water.
“Yes…. That would be accurate.” Dusekkar responded, as a peaceful silence fell over the two.
Guest 1337 felt lighter, having finally spoken to someone about the struggles he had been facing. To be always strong was to burden yourself immensely, and knowing he could finally talk to someone about it comforted him.
Dusekkar, however, felt heavier than ever with resolve. They needed to find a way out of the Realm, if only to return the Mortal Survivors back to their lives. None of them deserved to be trapped in a place like this.
Not even the Killers did, Dusekkar thought absently. No one deserved this fate.