Characters present: Ceph, Punk
Date: 11/20/23
Season: 3

[In the middle of the Malfaction tundra, Ceph sits alone in their small warm cabin. They write by candlelight, penning down the next great yaoi novella to hit the markets. Outside, Punk is bundled in warm clothing, he reaches the small cabin, and stops as he spots in the distance. He approaches the house, and hesitates before knocking. Ceph lifts their head in sudden fear, like a deer in headlights, they haven’t heard from anyone since the wedding.

[11:39:19] <?[rp] Punk> uh .. ceph? you in there? its me punk

[11:39:39] <?[rp] ceph> oh.. coming ahha

[Ceph goes downstairs, they unlatch the lock, and open the door a crack to see who’s really outside.]

[11:39:57] <?[rp] ceph> hiiiiiiiii....ahahaha

[With relief: ]

[11:40:13] <?[rp] Punk> been a while huh

[Ceph squints at Punk.]

[11:40:33] <?[rp] ceph> u look.....hm. strange

[They open the door fully, letting Punk inside.]

[11:40:47] <?[rp] ceph> come in ok glad ur not dead

[Punk touches the skin of his cheeks under his eyes.]

[11:41:03] <?[rp] Punk> the eyes right? ive been told they r blue now

[Ceph leans close to him, putting a hand on his arm.]

[11:41:11] <?[rp] ceph> oh shit yea

[They hold onto Punk’s arm, but lean away, gesturing in the direction of the kitchen table.]

[11:41:05] <?[rp] ceph> i made food haha

[11:41:15] <?[rp] Punk> food omg ...

[11:41:24] <?[rp] ceph> ....hm

[Punk takes a seat, and Ceph pushes a plate towards him.]

[11:41:39] <?[rp] ceph> well. have some chicken

[Punk eats his fill, ravenous from the journey.]

[11:41:50] <?[rp] Punk> ouughh thank you

[Ceph stays standing, arms crossed, leaning against the cabin wall. They watch Punk eat for a while before they look around.]

[11:41:55] <?[rp] ceph> its fucking tiny in here

[11:42:11] <?[rp] Punk> its cosy!!

[11:42:45] <?[rp] ceph> ty for the flattery ig but no this place fucking sucks

[11:43:10] <?[rp] Punk> nah its nice. .. u been here long? or just . passin through

[11:43:26] <?[rp] ceph> hmm. dont plan on staying

[11:43:39] <?[rp] ceph> villagers creep me out

[11:44:35] <?[rp] Punk> yeah me too .. assholes. . shaking their head at me all the time

[11:44:45] <?[rp] ceph> pftt

[Punk finishes the chicken, wiping his mouth.]

[11:45:02] <?[rp] ceph> why r u out here

[They smile slightly.]

[11:45:16] <?[rp] ceph> not that i mind seeing u

[11:45:20] <?[rp] ceph> just..

[11:45:32] <?[rp] ceph> hmm did something happen

[Punk sucks in air through his teeth.]

[11:45:44] <?[rp] Punk> uh well i.. theres some bad stuff going on in the uh . home land

[11:45:48] <?[rp] ceph> are you okay?

[11:46:40] <?[rp] Punk> im fine . prince . he took me.. sorry to bring him up so soon but

[11:46:55] <?[rp] Punk> he uh trapped me in his basement . im told it was a week. felt longger

[Ceph looks down at the ground.]

[11:47:08] <?[rp] ceph> ....

[11:47:11] <?[rp] ceph> i see

[11:47:37] <?[rp] ceph> ..time is fucky in fukin small trapped places

[11:48:00] <?[rp] ceph> ....im glad you made it out

[11:48:15] <?[rp] Punk> yeah. thanks .. its good to see you again

[Ceph crosses the room and opens a cabinet, pulling out a bottle.]

[11:48:13] <?[rp] ceph> vodka?

[11:48:17] <?[rp] Punk> god please

[Ceph pours them both a large glass.]

[11:48:25] <?[rp] ceph> cheers

[11:48:29] <?[rp] Punk> cheers!

[They clink glasses and then shoot the vodka.]

[11:49:19] <?[rp] ceph> ok my legs fukin hurt do u wanna . sit down on my bed. not sex things\

[11:49:26] <?[rp] ceph> unless u want

[Ceph winks at him, pouring themself another glass of vodka.]

[11:49:29] <?[rp] ceph> lol

[Punk grins.]

[11:49:50] <?[rp] Punk> heh sure lets sit

[Ceph leads Punk upstairs, and they take a seat on Ceph’s bed.]

[11:50:09] <?[rp] ceph> this is gay

[They look over at Punk.]

[11:50:13] <?[rp] ceph> anyway

[11:50:23] <?[rp] ceph> what r u here for

[11:50:46] <?[rp] ceph> surely u didnt just feel like making the trek out to see me

[Punk tenses.]

[11:50:55] <?[rp] Punk> er. well after being released i went back with dan to corroded

[11:52:24] <?[rp] Punk> uh i spoke to the wizard and joco. they are real worried about prince right now . hes getting worse i guess . docs been worse. he threatened to uh. kill me i guess

[11:52:46] <?[rp] Punk> and they sort of . came up with a plan i guess

[Ceph is quiet, but eventually they answer.]

[11:52:56] <?[rp] ceph> ...not surprised. about prince

[11:53:06] <?[rp] ceph> he was always weird

[11:53:16] <?[rp] Punk> yeah hes a real freak

[11:53:26] <?[rp] ceph> what happened with him after i left?

[11:55:07] <?[rp] Punk> i dont really know much .. but dan had to make a deal with him to get me out . it was some weird cryptic shit that i dont really get but that probly means hes planning something

[11:55:20] <?[rp] ceph> jesus

[11:55:54] <?[rp] ceph> what deal ? did he have dan do him a favour or something

[11:58:07] <?[rp] Punk> no not really .. it was weird.. he said that if wizard i think? asks him or finch a specific question they have to respond in a certain way

[11:58:27] <?[rp] ceph> ..okay thats weird as fuck

[11:58:37] <?[rp] Punk> something like "what do you do with a broken tool?" and the response is "throw it away" i think

[Ceph leans forward slightly, looking into Punk’s eyes like they might be mirrors.]

[11:58:50] <?[rp] ceph> u sure he cant like . see out ur eyes

[11:58:57] <?[rp] ceph> or something

[They pull back, playing with a seam on their comforter.]

[11:59:07] <?[rp] ceph> why would he let u go

[11:59:20] <?[rp] ceph> not that im not glad ur alive

[11:59:33] <?[rp] ceph> im just.....on edge

[Their shoulders sag, and they lean closer to Punk.]

[12:00:12] <?[rp] Punk> no im .. im really not sure .. he . i think he has like some .. control over me . he said that

[Ceph’s eyes widen in fear.]

[12:00:32] <?[rp] ceph> ....

[Punk laughs nervously, still tense.]

[12:00:48] <?[rp] Punk> if those two dont use that response then ill be like.. out of business

[Ceph pulls away from Punk, there is a feral look in their eyes that makes something on the back of Punk’s neck stand on end.]

[12:01:14] <?[rp] ceph> did you come here of your own free will? or is he trying to find me

[12:01:35] <?[rp] ceph> i cant go back punk

[Punk puts up his hands in surrender.]

[12:01:35] <?[rp] Punk> all me. i dont feel him or anything .. i dont know what hes done to me

[12:01:40] <?[rp] ceph> okay

[They snort.]

[12:02:15] <?[rp] ceph> ay maybe the vodka will fuckin kill the sculk in ur system

[12:02:10] <?[rp] Punk> i know im sorry i really understand . i dont want you to come back either .not like this. not to him . but ..

[12:02:23] <?[rp] ceph> ....'but'...

[12:02:33] <?[rp] ceph> always a but, huh

[12:02:54] <?[rp] Punk> the wizard said that. he needs uh . a "master". and hes latched onto you . im sorry it had to be you

[12:03:01] <?[rp] ceph> ..

[They roll their eyes.]

[12:03:38] <?[rp] ceph> cant u guys just kill him over and over

[12:03:57] <?[rp] ceph> he will stop coming back eventually

[12:04:46] <?[rp] Punk> are you sure? because im not

[12:05:30] <?[rp] Punk> and i dont think many people are willing to risk it . uh .. pissing him off that much . if he did that to doc then idk what hes capable of when hes really pissed

[Ceph pulls their vodka to their lips and takes a drink.]

[12:05:00] <?[rp] ceph> im not sure

[12:05:07] <?[rp] ceph> but yknow

[12:06:04] <?[rp] ceph> it feels really fucking nice that the only person left for me only came to find me bc everyone needs something

[12:07:05] <?[rp] Punk> ceph. you know i didnt want it to be like this .. i wouldve visited earlier if he didnt have me fuckin locked up and going half mad in his weird basement . im so sorry. i mean that.

[Ceph huffs out a sigh.]

[12:07:59] <?[rp] ceph> ...i didnt really want visitors.. but im still bitter

[12:08:22] <?[rp] Punk> i hate to put all the responsibility on you. i want to just fuckin run away with you to some forest and have awesome sex . but people are getting seriously hurt over there. thanks to that fucking freak

[Ceph holds their glass in both hands, and stares down into it.]

[12:08:43] <?[rp] ceph> ....im ..sorry you went through that

[12:09:03] <?[rp] ceph> i wanna find a hole to die in

[12:09:26] <?[rp] ceph> i wanted this to be the last you saw of me

[12:09:37] <?[rp] Punk> ceph ..

[12:10:50] <?[rp] ceph> anyway. you should know by now im a selfish bitch

[12:11:17] <?[rp] ceph> i dont. want to go anywhere near that freak

[12:11:50] <?[rp] ceph> and its not like anyone but you gave a shit about me anyway

[12:14:35] <?[rp] Punk> honestly i dont want you to go near him either .. and under any other circumstance id say stay here but .. when everyoens in danger. dan, finch .. ollie .. i really cant see anyone making it out of this unscathed if we continue like we are

[Ceph is silent for a moment, their expression unreadable. They don’t make eye contact with Punk.]

[12:16:30] <?[rp] ceph> ....ollie. how is he. you seen him after the wedding?

[12:16:43] <?[rp] ceph> he looked fucking horriible lol

[They laugh, trying to avoid talking about Prince again.]

[12:17:49] <?[rp] Punk> wish i could give you news but i havent seen him at all

[Ceph brings the glass to their lips.]

[12:18:00] <?[rp] ceph> good riddence

[12:18:06] <?[rp] ceph> i hope he died

[12:18:09] <?[rp] ceph> badly

[12:18:13] <?[rp] ceph> forever

[They can’t seem to bring themself to take another drink. Punk looks a bit unconvinced.]

[12:19:37] <?[rp] Punk> do you really mean that?

[Ceph shoots the drink.]

[12:19:45] <?[rp] ceph> yeah lol

[Somehow, for the first time in a long time, it burns on the way down.]

[12:20:02] <?[rp] ceph> i hope it fuckijng hurt when he exploded

[12:20:32] <?[rp] Punk> probably did

[12:20:51] <?[rp] ceph> speaking of which did someojne fucking try to assassinate me or was it an attack for the hell of it

[12:21:17] <?[rp] ceph> either way it did wonders for my mental health

[12:21:44] <?[rp] Punk> i cant imagine it was an attack on you specifically idk why corroded would have it out for you . did they even know that you wouldnt come back after that

[12:21:58] <?[rp] ceph> ....dan does

[12:22:18] <?[rp] ceph> i think

[Punk shrugs, helpless.]

[12:23:17] <?[rp] Punk> i really dont believe he would want you dead. i think it was a purely uhh .. political thing. stupid and reckless but i think thats how they roll over there ...

[12:23:56] <?[rp] ceph> either way im fucking alive . for now. so it wasnt a good attack

[12:24:09] <?[rp] ceph> they can suck it

[Ceph pulls a blunt out of their pocket.]

[12:24:32] <?[rp] ceph> want a blunt lol

[Punk pulls a lighter out of his coat pocket.]

[12:24:38] <?[rp] Punk> hell yeah

[12:24:57] <?[rp] ceph> this is like sex

[They smoke together, sitting in silence as the sun sets through the window.]

[12:25:36] <?[rp] Punk> getting high and drunk and talkign about death ..i guess thats pretty sexy

[12:25:58] <?[rp] ceph> and talking about fucking prince

[12:26:12] <?[rp] ceph> thats like . opposite of sex

[12:26:16] <?[rp] ceph> anti sex

[12:26:46] <?[rp] Punk> yeah instant turn off that guy

[Ceph sets their glass on the bedside table, and leans over to Punk again, they touch his face.]

[12:27:36] <?[rp] ceph> for what its worth i think ur eyes look fine. i like ur normal ones better but ehh shit happens

[Punk reaches over and cups an arm around Ceph’s elbow. He grins.]

[12:28:06] <?[rp] Punk> my battle scars

[Ceph moves the hand down to his chest.]

[12:28:23] <?[rp] ceph> if dan has room for a third hmu ahahahaa

[12:28:48] <?[rp] Punk> you know he always does

[12:28:38] <?[rp] Punk> got plenty of contacts hopefully i can cover em up . never really liked how blue looked on me

[12:29:22] <?[rp] ceph> i dont think u need to tbh but if itd make u feel better then do it

[Ceph pulls their hand away, and Punk slowly lets them go.]

[12:29:30] <?[rp] ceph> anyway. so

[12:29:45] <?[rp] ceph> im not coming back.

[12:30:01] <?[rp] ceph> im sorry. i wont do it

[Punk smiles weakly.]

[12:30:07] <?[rp] Punk> just like that huh ?

[They both sit up.]

[12:30:14] <?[rp] Punk> i cant blame you i guess

[12:30:15] <?[rp] ceph> yep.

[12:30:26] <?[rp] ceph> im sorry

[12:31:00] <?[rp] Punk> mm. i wouldnt wanna go back to him either ..

[12:31:32] <?[rp] ceph> tell that old fucking wizard bitch that he can send a fucking group to drag me back if he wants . but im not going willingly

[12:32:09] <?[rp] ceph> punk if i saw prince i wouldnt be able to not kill him or run

[12:32:31] <?[rp] ceph> and those both would fuck wizs plan over

[12:33:17] <?[rp] Punk> they barely have a plan .. they didnt even know what they wanted to do once you got back. if you got back i should say

[12:33:29] <?[rp] ceph> fucking L

[12:33:45] <?[rp] ceph> but tbh thats what i expected

[12:34:17] <?[rp] Punk> i didnt press them. i probably should have. i was too eager to come see you .. i only got your letter then

[12:34:30] <?[rp] ceph> …

[12:34:57] <?[rp] ceph> i guess you care a bit then, huh

[12:35:15] <?[rp] Punk> of course i care

[Ceph shakes their head.]

[12:34:12] <?[rp] ceph> they couldnt even KNOW that prince would listen to me

[12:34:51] <?[rp] Punk> they seemed pretty convinced .. aparently wizard and prince had a chat . i guess that inspired the idea

[12:35:08] <?[rp] ceph> what the hell

[12:35:32] <?[rp] ceph> how do they know he didnt do something to wiz

[12:35:46] <?[rp] ceph> he could be on princes side

[12:36:12] <?[rp] ceph> why is prince so fucking weird about me

[12:36:38] <?[rp] Punk> i dont know man . wish i did

[12:38:14] <?[rp] Punk> for what its worth i dont believe wizard is with prince. he seems like he always did .. and im not sure he can do much without his sculk . but i guess i dont know what hes capable of

[12:44:50] <?[rp] ceph> i dont know either

[12:45:03] <?[rp] ceph> and that fucking scares me

[12:45:25] <?[rp] ceph> this server is just full of fucking freaks huh

[12:45:43] <?[rp] Punk> i suppose so

[12:46:29] <?[rp] ceph> i miss my older worlds where you could just bite through someones neck and be done with it

[12:46:52] <?[rp] ceph> things were less complicated

[12:47:57] <?[rp] Punk> wish it was that easy

[12:48:42] <?[rp] ceph> anyway. wanna spend the night lol

[12:48:56] <?[rp] ceph> i mean its a long ass walk back

[12:49:01] <?[rp] Punk> id love to

[12:49:35] <?[rp] ceph> okay yay we can fucking. idk drink n shit

[Ceph lets their shoulders drop slightly.]

[12:50:05] <?[rp] ceph> ...im glad u came to visit

[12:50:23] <?[rp] ceph> even if it brought Stressful News

[Punk smiles.]

[12:51:01] <?[rp] Punk> yeah .. im so happy youre alive . thank you for giving me the location

[12:51:29] <?[rp] Punk> it means a lot to me

[Ceph looks around at the house.]

[12:51:43] <?[rp] ceph> i probably wont stay here much longer

[12:52:08] <?[rp] ceph> i dont want prince to fucking track you or something

[12:52:11] <?[rp] Punk> thats a good idea. being on the move

[12:52:15] <?[rp] ceph> yes yes

[12:52:25] <?[rp] ceph> im so smart n sexy

[12:52:32] <?[rp] Punk> absolutely you are

[12:53:32] <?[rp] ceph> ur not so bad urself ahaha

[They had gay sex in that house…]

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