Between the mysteries of last weekend, the increasing number of visions and unexplained phenomena, and the attack on Vakama yesterday, everyone is likely on edge. When Tails calls you into his lab around noon, you all are likely already aware of how this is going to go.
Once again, a surge of Chaos Energy in the city is what draws you in, though this time it is a much larger burst than before. Sonic and Knuckles are here with you as usual, with Tails remaining behind to look after Vakama and the base. Unlike before, you aren't met with robots or destruction. In fact, this city block looks remarkably peaceful, aside from where Eggman's chroma has overtaken most of the buildings.
"So good of you all to finally arrive."
The voice comes from up above. You recognize it as the one you heard last week, through that gemstone the Tails Doll had. Perched on one of the buildings is a... fox? No, he's larger than Tails, and wearing a large silver mask that obscures most of his features. In one hand he holds Vakama's missing mask; his other is extended with six gemstones floating around it, a soft teal glow from beneath his black glove marking the seventh. There's a different gemstone on the center of his chest as well, though it doesn't look like the fake Chaos Emeralds you've seen before.
"You all have the pleasure of fighting me, Infinite. I am the Doctor's trusted ally... and I have been watching you all. Your struggles with my nightmares and illusions were so... delicious. You have my thanks for the show."
He kicks off the building, floating towards you all and the ground, though stopping high enough up, still out of reach. And for those of you getting any bright ideas, a deep red begins to fill your vision, tinting the corners of it as the very world itself begins to warp around you - this isn't exactly Chicago anymore, you see. The buildings still exist, wrapped in white chroma, though they bend and twist in ways they shouldn't, making it hard to tell what's real and what isn't.
"I'll snuff out your lives here and now for the Doctor's ambitions! Let's see what you're made of!"
[ It's been months since he's actually been back to his apartment in North Harbor. But it's become such a familiar sight lately, thanks to the nightmares. There's no place he's loved more than this cozy little space, with his shitty homemade furniture and the stunning view of the sea.
Gyles isn't surprised to be here. He isn't even surprised to see Hune - his beloved husband of over 20 years, his light and savior, the one he'll love the most no matter what world he finds himself in. It's always been the two of them. In all his years, Gyles has never let it be more than the two of them.
He takes a breath, and turns to face the honey badger with the kind eyes, the gentle smile, and the domino he's currently wearing on his right ear dangling from a chain around his neck, where it rightfully belongs. ]
Welcome home, my love. Why don't you sit down? I just finished brewing tea for the both of us.
... I shouldn't.
[ Those words aren't enough to break him free, though (7). Perhaps there's more he needs to say. ]
[ Hune frowns gently, and brings a full cup of tea to Gyles anyway. ]
Come now! It's your favorite.
[ The smell of dried herbs and citrus floods his senses - a blend from a neighbor, a birdfolk by the name of... ... .... what was their name again? Try as he may, he can't seem to remember.
He relents, and sits on the rough but functional couch next to his husband. As he blows gently on the tea, waiting for it to cool slightly, Hune rests a paw against his arm. ]
Is there something on your mind? Your brow's quite furrowed.
[ Gyles stares down into the teacup - and his reflection, with its weary eyes and furrowed brows, looks right through him. ]
... I wanna stay here. With you. Goin' on without you's been so hard...
Oh, Gyles... [ The paw on his arm turns into a full on embrace, as Hune pulls him close. He's always felt so small like this, so safe and at home, pressed together with Hune muzzle nuzzling into his cheek. ] You know that I'll always be with you. I would never leave you alone.
[ "But you did," he wants to say. Hune left him all alone in this miserable world, with a heartfelt wish to live that he has no idea how or if he could even fulfill. How many more days must he go through the motions of doing good, pretending he could possibly measure up to Hune, before he's finally allowed to rest - to reunite with him? Despite all his prayers, fortune's keeping him alive.
He bows his head. His tears mingle with the tea as he tries fruitlessly to pull himself together (4). ] I... I know, Hune. I know.
[Raven's finished dealing with his own illusion, but it looks like some of the others are still trapped. He's a little worse for wear, but he's still more than capable of trying to help.
So he steps over to Gyles and gives him a shake on the shoulder.]
Hey, pal. I know it's hard, but it's time ta wake up.
[He could stand to be a little more firm with it though (5).]
[ It's a small gesture - and while it alone isn't enough to jostle him awake, it definitely helps. ]
... Yeah. You're right. [ He looks to Hune, and says with a gravity that shatters the illusion once and for all (17): ] You don't want me to stay either, do you, Hune? So I'll get goin'.
[ He rises, letting the teacup shatter on the ground by his feet. ]
[ Hune was never a fighter. For better or for worse, he didn't have a mean bone in his body. The anger and sorrow warping his love's expression doesn't suit him in the slightest.
(Hune would want him to do this. want him to move forward, even if it means it's past him. that's what his wish meant. he knows, he knows, he knows--)
So it's easy to dodge that beam (17), and easier still to close the distance between them. Dagger in hand, he drives it straight toward the false Hune's heart. No hesitation, no remorse. ]
[Hune tries to dodge, but the only way to go is back, and Gyles can easily follow him. He tries to keep his form after that dagger pierces his heart, but though he flickers in and out, glitching and not... eventually there simply isn't any denying it. He can't contend with an injury that severe.
The glitchy particles float upward and vanish into nothingness. The false Hune is laid to rest.]
[ Gyles stays there, pressing the dagger further and further into Hune's body, until he's simply no more. His eyes follow the particles upwards, toward that unfamiliar sky.
Hune is dead - but he wasn't wrong. He lives on in his memories, in all the little things he likes specifically because they were Hune's favorites, in his faith in Olladra and the holy symbol he'd cherished so dearly.
He touches the domino hanging from his right ear, and takes a breath. ] ... Love you, Hune. Until the day I die.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Gyles isn't surprised to be here. He isn't even surprised to see Hune - his beloved husband of over 20 years, his light and savior, the one he'll love the most no matter what world he finds himself in. It's always been the two of them. In all his years, Gyles has never let it be more than the two of them.
He takes a breath, and turns to face the honey badger with the kind eyes, the gentle smile, and the domino he's currently wearing on his right ear dangling from a chain around his neck, where it rightfully belongs. ]
Welcome home, my love. Why don't you sit down? I just finished brewing tea for the both of us.
... I shouldn't.
[ Those words aren't enough to break him free, though (7). Perhaps there's more he needs to say. ]
no subject
Come now! It's your favorite.
[ The smell of dried herbs and citrus floods his senses - a blend from a neighbor, a birdfolk by the name of... ... .... what was their name again? Try as he may, he can't seem to remember.
He relents, and sits on the rough but functional couch next to his husband. As he blows gently on the tea, waiting for it to cool slightly, Hune rests a paw against his arm. ]
Is there something on your mind? Your brow's quite furrowed.
I...
[ The words remain stuck in his throat (10). ]
cw suicide ideation
... I wanna stay here. With you. Goin' on without you's been so hard...
Oh, Gyles... [ The paw on his arm turns into a full on embrace, as Hune pulls him close. He's always felt so small like this, so safe and at home, pressed together with Hune muzzle nuzzling into his cheek. ] You know that I'll always be with you. I would never leave you alone.
[ "But you did," he wants to say. Hune left him all alone in this miserable world, with a heartfelt wish to live that he has no idea how or if he could even fulfill. How many more days must he go through the motions of doing good, pretending he could possibly measure up to Hune, before he's finally allowed to rest - to reunite with him? Despite all his prayers, fortune's keeping him alive.
He bows his head. His tears mingle with the tea as he tries fruitlessly to pull himself together (4). ] I... I know, Hune. I know.
no subject
So he steps over to Gyles and gives him a shake on the shoulder.]
Hey, pal. I know it's hard, but it's time ta wake up.
[He could stand to be a little more firm with it though (5).]
illusion broken
... Yeah. You're right. [ He looks to Hune, and says with a gravity that shatters the illusion once and for all (17): ] You don't want me to stay either, do you, Hune? So I'll get goin'.
[ He rises, letting the teacup shatter on the ground by his feet. ]
no subject
He's been warped by Gyles' nightmares and fears, corrupted just like the world around him, in whatever way you'd like.
He also wastes no time in firing off an onyx energy beam at Gyles, with no hesitation and no remorse.]
no subject
(Hune would want him to do this. want him to move forward, even if it means it's past him. that's what his wish meant. he knows, he knows, he knows--)
So it's easy to dodge that beam (17), and easier still to close the distance between them. Dagger in hand, he drives it straight toward the false Hune's heart. No hesitation, no remorse. ]
CLEAR
The glitchy particles float upward and vanish into nothingness. The false Hune is laid to rest.]
no subject
Hune is dead - but he wasn't wrong. He lives on in his memories, in all the little things he likes specifically because they were Hune's favorites, in his faith in Olladra and the holy symbol he'd cherished so dearly.
He touches the domino hanging from his right ear, and takes a breath. ] ... Love you, Hune. Until the day I die.