[ Beyond the barricade, the street is filled with rubble. Pieces of scrap iron, chunks of concrete and shattered glass have been brushed off to the side, but there they sit. As you follow the path, a strange static-like fog seems to cover the area. Before your very eyes the entire view glitches, as if what you're seeing has not been fully realized.
Realistically, it’s clear what this place is-- or once was. Up ahead, the shattered remains become larger. Whole steel beams that bent in upon themselves under too much wait; giant marble and stone slabs from walls collapsed.
In those shattered remains of white steel and slate and sky blue pieces... splatters of blood, vivid and fresh, although the scenery's inability to focus without glitching or shifting makes it difficult to focus on.
Welcome… to the remains of O͎͙r͕̫̫c͖̘̫h͍͙̘i̪͔ș͖͍ T̼̼o̼̫͇w̼̫e͍͜r̡̺̦.
You cannot see her, though you have been told she is here. Yet because throughout your time here, you have protected your bonds with her-- you can feel her. The bond between you and she feels taut... stretched thin... but it has not broken.
As you step closer, you realize that you’re alone. The people who had been in the street, those who had traveled by your side until this point-- you cannot feel them in this space, and they cannot be here with you now.
And with each step, the view becomes darker. Yet somehow, as the space around you gets darker, things become clearer.
Further... and further... until everything... is pitch... black. ]
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Realistically, it’s clear what this place is-- or once was. Up ahead, the shattered remains become larger. Whole steel beams that bent in upon themselves under too much wait; giant marble and stone slabs from walls collapsed.
In those shattered remains of white steel and slate and sky blue pieces... splatters of blood, vivid and fresh, although the scenery's inability to focus without glitching or shifting makes it difficult to focus on.
Welcome… to the remains of O͎͙r͕̫̫c͖̘̫h͍͙̘i̪͔ș͖͍ T̼̼o̼̫͇w̼̫e͍͜r̡̺̦.
You cannot see her, though you have been told she is here. Yet because throughout your time here, you have protected your bonds with her-- you can feel her. The bond between you and she feels taut... stretched thin... but it has not broken.
As you step closer, you realize that you’re alone. The people who had been in the street, those who had traveled by your side until this point-- you cannot feel them in this space, and they cannot be here with you now.
And with each step, the view becomes darker. Yet somehow, as the space around you gets darker, things become clearer.
Further... and further... until everything... is pitch... black. ]
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Not just darkness but-- nothingness.
However, you can feel it. You're getting close. She's here. ]
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BUT. ONWARD. ONWARD. FOR TOWA, SERENITY, ADALAIDE, HOWEVER SHE WANTS TO BE CALLED.]
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When he's a few feet away, she finally speaks up, her voice carying in the darkness. ]
...I hoped you wouldn't look here.
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Did'ja come here on purpose?
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I did.
[ She hisses softly-- hm. ]
I... I knew Crow, Rean and you... I knew you'd try to come looking for me. So I tried everything I could keep you safe... away from all this.
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Towee? Are you hurt?
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...sorry.
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[stepping closer.]
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Please don’t—- it could hurt you too.
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[firmly, though he's stilling again.]
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[ She allows light into the area, illuminating her.
Illuminating the white flower protruding from her chest where her heart would be; pulsing with an unsettling light. ]
It’s not after my life, it’s... after my heart. No... more specifically, the bonds I have the people I love. I wouldn’t let it have you guys. So...
It’s only natural it would come for me instead.
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[ Her response is panic and yet— she can’t bring herself to move to really stop him.
After all... she trusts him. She just doesn’t want to see anything bad happen to him. ]
But——
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[dipping low to kiss her cheek, reaching to feel out the base of the blossom with his claws.]
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[She stays still, as she was told, but she reaches up, placing her small hands over his claw. ]
...okay. Just promise me... if something feels off, you’ll tell me. If something happened to you because you were protecting me, I...
[ She grips his claw tightly in her hands. ]
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[tugging at the base of the plant, testing.]
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...it’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay as long as I have you with me.
[ It does hurt, however—- their bond has been strengthened again. Her heart and his, connected by a warm, glowing yellow light.
The flower seems to shrink in on itself against that light, weakened.
Now is the perfect time to be rid of it. ]
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[kissing her forehead
and ripping the flower out.]
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And in his claw, it begins to disintegrate. ]
Ah—-
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It’s... gone.
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[sweeps her up into a tight hug]
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I’m so sorry...
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