#soooo emergence sent my brain in a loop

[delusionalbitchinthehouse]

Emergence happened, so here is a little Sleep Token thing for a change.

Peace doesn't come for free. Peace doesn't come quickly, either. It's a constant battle, a desperate fight to reach the promised bliss, one that goes on until bloodied hands tremble around the hilt of a sword exhausted arms struggled to lift.

And even when peace finally comes, it doesn't last, fleeting moments forcefully torn from the fabric of the universe, only for them to slip through weary fingers.

If it weren't for the coppery taste on his tongue, Vessel could almost believe now is one of those hard-earned moments. His chest hurts too much, though, to let him blind himself to the situation.

The pink flowers swaying with the breeze blurr together slightly. The ones at Vessel's feet are splashed with crimson. He blinks forcefully, one pair of eyes at a time. Is he lightheaded, or is the landscape really shifting slightly ? It doesn't really matter, anyway, since his vision keeps going in and out.

The weight on his shoulders is sudden, unexpected, throws him on the ground immediately, hands and knees digging in damp earth, more scarlet seeping into the soil. The weight gets heavier, more oppressive, as words fill Vessel's mind, a furious whisper dragging him down.

Unworthy. Not enough. Weak. Dissapointing. Replaceable. Alone. Weak. Weak. Weak.

Vessel gasps under the pressure, under a god's unwarranted attack, under its biting words sinking diamond hard teeth in his flesh, tearing him asunder. His fingers scramble for purchase, the metallic tang in his mouth grow stronger, salt mixing with it as six eyes drip anguish all over his face.

Ears ringing, head about to explode, so full next to such an empty heart. But Vessel's hands turned to fists, his shoulders a taunt line. He fights. He grits his teeth and pushes, pushes, pushes, against a force way beyond him, claiming his right to be as he is, prying it from greedy, locked tight jaws. It's a slow, agonising battle of will before he manages to straighten up, on his knees rather than on all fourth.

The pain lights his bones on fire, sings in his veins as the full rage of a god floods his being, not one atom spared. Vessel can't even hear his own panting, but is hyper aware of the fabric of his clothes sticking to his damp skin. He isn't strong enough. He isn't, he can't, he can't-

"Vessel ?"

Everything stops. The agony, the litany of infuriated words, the pressure. It all lifts with a soft calling of his name and the feather-light brush of a blissfully cold palm. Then another. Then another. Three hands, barely touching, just enough to be a presence, easily shrugged off if needed.

Vessel opens eyes he doesn't remember closing.

The flowers aren't one huge entity he can barely make out anymore. One color in thousands different nuances, each individual petal a wonder to be admired. Half crumbled pillars wrapped in delicate vines, a melancolic reminder of past lives. A bird, a flamingo, black as the night, blinking back at Vessel, its wings folded, no urgency in its slow stroll.

This place is beautiful. Serene. Finally, peace.

Wordlessly, Vessel leans back. Let the cautious touchs become firmer. Let three pairs of arms wrap around him, pull him together, squeeze the shattered pieces of him close until they fuse together again.

Head empty. Heart full.

"Come back to us, Vessel. Come back."

So Vessel does. Exhales as the landscape twists and wraps, fades until nothing is left of its otherwordly beauty. No matter, Vessel knows how to find it again. But for now he is back on creaky floorboards, limbs curled around his body, a lifeline, a safety net.

Three voices whisper, soft, so far from the accusatory wrath of a cruel god, sweet nothings to soothe him. Vessel takes a deep breath. His chest doesn't hurt anymore, he finds no torn flesh there. His blood isn't boiling, only buzzing with pleasant warmth.

A head settles on each of his shoulders, a chin hooks on top of Vessel's hood. Oh. Green, gold, white, pink. His cape is different. Pretty.

"We've got you. We've got you, Vessel. You're okay. You are so loved."

Peace.