thedarkgardens

[thedarkgardens]

"... do you know what an Isekai is?"

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

Maram shakily wraps their arms around Zababa in return, resting their head against his shoulder. They don't know what to say in return, too many thoughts in their mind. Zababa probably already knows they can't say 'me too', regardless.

"i..." They struggle to find a response. "im sorry."

They hope he doesn't ask them to elaborate. They don't know what they're sorry about.

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

A part of Maram cracks when they see that tear.

"... yeah. okay."

No matter how hard they might try, they cannot deny him this. Even if they hate themself for it later, even if part of them screams to run and never look back, even if part of them wants to recoil from his touch, they cannot deny him this.

They never stopped loving him after all.

(That's why it hurt so much.)

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

Maram doesn't pull away, but they aren't exactly comfortable, either. It's clear even just from their expression that a part of them wants Zababa to move closer, and another wants to scurry away and keep a distance. They can't make a choice, stuck in a state of decision paralysis. They don't know what to do, what they want to do.

The very ends of their locs slowly turn greyish, and begin to flake like ashes, but they're long enough that it's hard to notice if looking at their face.

Maram takes a shuddering - unnecessary - breath. They search, scramble, for anything to say in response.

"... i never ended up sending a letter of complaint, did i?"

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

"i wish i could forget. im still mad about that." They make a sound that almost sounds like a laugh, almost like a sigh, and a bit too much like someone holding back a cough. "i cant even remember what i was making, i just remember that i couldnt make it cause of that guy."

They're caught somewhere between distress and comfort. A distant longing for the past and a fear for the present. Part of them so very desperately wants to just rush over and wrap their arms around Zababa and finally, finally relax. Part of them can't trust that this isn't a trick, can't let down their guard, can't risk it. And part of them is...

Part of them is...

Best not to think about it.

Maram's heart aches, and not for the first time the absence of true lungs in their chest grates on their nerves. Their false-lungs (a copy, a mimicry, a last desperate plea for normalcy) do a convincing facade of breathlessness, their chest tightening with muscles they don't have over ribs they don't need. A tiny, bitter part of them screams he made you like this! He took away your humanity! Make him suffer! but it's smaller than they would have expected, smaller than they spent years believing it was.

They bite their tongue. They aren't surprised that even now, they can't bring themself to hate Zababa. Fear him, perhaps, but never hate.

Even if part of them wishes they could.

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

"maybe? i mean. uh. theyre an adult now. i can tell them you want to see them but its uh, its their choice in the end." They shuffle a little, nervous energy beginning to build up.

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

"they've been uh, mostly fine? i mean, things happen and all, uh. cant uh, cant guarentee constant fineness."

The shock is slowly starting to wear off, and their mind is starting to remind them to be freaked out. It's... a bit jarring.

"they're happy, i think. i mean they've... seemed happy whenever ive spoken to them? im not a therapist or anything though."

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

They blink. That... wasn't the answer they were expecting.

"losing me...?"

Does he mean to death? Or something else? They weren't that old back then, were they?

"that... seems like something you should have mentioned at least...? i dont remember you ever... seeming like that was something you were worried about."

They ignore the fact that some of their memories have become hazy recently.

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

Maram stares. They don't know what to do. Part of them wants so badly to believe him, but part of them is terrified that this is a trick, a trap of some kind, something. Their mind is racing and they can't figure out what to do.

"... why? why did. did you do it in the first place?"

It's a question they've been wondering for years, though perhaps not one to ask while they're doubting his truthfulness.

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

"... how do I know you're telling the truth? you seem like you are, but how can I be absolutely sure?" Their eyes narrow slightly. They're... visibly still processing the fact Zababa is even here, still almost in shock at the sight of him. Their reactions are... dulled by it.

"its been. long enough that you might have learned how to lie to me. long enough that you might have decided lying was worth it."

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

Maram hears a footstep and sees Zababa before them. But before they see him, they feel the trademark electric tingle and faint smell of ozone in the air, telling them that this is no trick of their imagination, and no dream or nightmare.

He's holding a cat.

"Hello, Utur, my love... It's been a long time."

All that power and fury... and yet he still looks on them with nothing but adoration.

@enterthemikeverse

Maram freezes. They curse internally, wishing that right here, right now, their body hadn't defaulted to freeze instead of fight or flight. They stare at Zababa, the same feelings they held when they ran flooding back to them. They don't blame the cat, their spice, she'd never do something that she thought would hurt them, but they can't stop the fear in their heart.

They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. They don't understand.

"... why. uh. are you here."

It's the only thing they can make themself say right now. They know that their racing thoughts and conflict is shown on their face as clearly as if it was written there, so at the very least they don't have to worry about their statement being considered thought out in any way. It's obvious that it's the only thing they could manage to say with all the thoughts racing through their head.

@enterthemikeverse

[thedarkgardens]

"Ah, fair enough. I am a royal advisor myself. I cannot even really be hurt that badly by being stabbed, but it seems to make people feel better or something." He shrugs. "Half the time I find it hard to blame them, but it is what it is."

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

"True. I just wish my mistakes had not caused pain to so many people, especially my child." He pauses. "I appreciate the sentiment though, thank you."

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

"yahya. at least that's what im goin by these days." They shrug, idly. "and you? what do you go by, fruit salad?"

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

"Huh. Honestly fair enough then. Though I guess if you liked older people anyway, this would be a real nice place to be." They shrug, idly.

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

"yeah, course i do. they're the one most people go to if they have cross-timeline issues. or at least the people i know. they're a real character."

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*

[thedarkgardens]

"I wish more people shared that belief. You would be surprised as to how many people stab for fun."

*Well, there's a door here. Seems similar to the ones that have been appearing lately. It looks oddly fancy in an inexplicable way... There's a strange dial on the door that can't be adjusted, which is currently blank. There's a note on the door.

The note reads "This Door Connects With Any Of The Various Timelines I Have Connected To My Garden. Right Now, It Is Set To Pull Through Whoever Is Closest When It Opens. I Have Added A Dial To The Door To Indicate If A Person Is Their Timelines Equivalent Of Myself Or Kishar - Indicated By Cyan - Utur, - Indicated By Yellow - Alam - Indicated By Magenta - Or If They Are Someone Specific To Their Timeline - Indicated By Green. Caution; Not Everyone Is Friendly. Should You Wish To Remove Someone Back To Their Original Timeline, Just Call My Name. Try Not To Cause Too Much Trouble. - Persephone."

The note is written in a slightly-glowing cyan ink on black paper. It smells oddly of roses.*