Characters present: Ollie, Ceph
Date: 4/2/24
Season: 3

[Ceph slowly awakens in their bed, not bothering to try and open their eyes. They feel better than they have in days, and are surrounded in warmth. They try to nestle further into the softness, but are stopped by...hands…on their face?!

Ollie sits over Ceph, startled by the sudden movement, but relieved to see Ceph so lucid. They hold Ceph’s face gently, pouring the liquid of a potion into Ceph’s mouth.

Ceph opens their eyes, confused and alarmed. As soon as they register Ollie above them...holding them, they jolt back, nearly falling off the bed and spilling Ollie’s potion all over their sheets.]

[17:34:46] <?[rp] Ollie> shit- careful Ceph

[Ceph stares at Ollie, their chest rising and falling quickly. Ollie leans back, trying to give Ceph more space.]

[17:35:01] <?[rp] ceph> .....what the fuck????????

[17:35:13] <?[rp] ceph> WHAT r u doing

[17:35:38] <?[rp] Ollie> calm down, I was just

[Ollie holds up their potion. Ceph wipes their mouth, looking around the room. They look more confused than angry.]

[17:35:59] <?[rp] ceph> what the fuck is that shit

[17:36:52] <?[rp] Ollie> potion of regeneration ...I didn't really know how to help

[17:37:04] <?[rp] Ollie> so I thought this might do something right??

[17:37:13] <?[rp] Ollie> you were looking really pale-

[17:37:23] <?[rp] Ollie> I got a bit ....worried

[17:38:36] <?[rp] ceph> what

[Ceph sighs, but the exhalation seems almost too much.]

[17:39:05] <?[rp] ceph> oh yea..........................i forgot about ur gay speech

[Ollie groans in annoyance.]

[17:39:22] <?[rp] ceph> lol. ur worried. dont care

[17:39:46] <?[rp] Ollie> I'm glad you're feeling better-

[Ceph reaches out with a hand.]

[17:39:36] <?[rp] ceph> give me vodka bitch

[17:39:56] <?[rp] Ollie> what?? no absolutely not

[17:40:01] <?[rp] ceph> whyyyyyyyyyyyy

[17:40:12] <?[rp] Ollie> that is definitely not a good idea

[17:40:25] <?[rp] Ollie> you can have as much as you want when you feel better okay

[Ceph stifles a cough. It doesn’t hurt as much as it did before. The potions seem like they helped.]

[17:40:57] <?[rp] ceph> i AMMMmm feeling betterrrrrrrrrrrr

[17:41:00] <?[rp] ceph> ughhhhhhh

[Ollie looks Ceph over. They might feel better, but they don’t look better. Their skin is still as pale as before, and they’re still almost too weak to sit up on their own.]

[17:41:05] <?[rp] ceph> ur like

[17:41:08] <?[rp] ceph> no fun

[17:41:40] <?[rp] Ollie> sorry for trying to take care of you I guess !!!

[17:41:55] <?[rp] ceph> apology not accepted

[17:42:03] <?[rp] ceph> bc ur BORING

[17:42:13] <?[rp] Ollie> that's fine

[17:42:21] <?[rp] Ollie> I need to do something anyway

[17:42:31] <?[rp] ceph> ooouuhh do whatttt

[Ceph tries to stand.]

[17:42:42] <?[rp] Ollie> uh. maybe you should rest some more

[17:42:54] <?[rp] ceph> hahahaa i call ur dad 'something' too

[17:43:00] <?[rp] Ollie> what

[Ollie sighs.]

[17:42:55] <?[rp] Ollie> I'll get out of bed okay you can have it

[17:43:22] <?[rp] ceph> bc i have to do something . get it

[17:43:27] <?[rp] Ollie> it doesn't matter, what matters is that you rest some more

[Ceph whines loudly.]

[17:43:48] <?[rp] ceph> Nooooo i wanna see ur gay ass birds

[Ollie gets up and out of the bed.]

[17:43:27] <?[rp] ceph> u suck nvm

[17:43:58] <?[rp] ceph> im fine

[Ollie points over to where the birds are perched next to one another across the room.]

[17:44:02] <?[rp] Ollie> you can see them right across the bed

[17:44:13] <?[rp] Ollie> if you really want I could just .. bring them to you

[17:44:26] <?[rp] ceph> >:(

[17:44:44] <?[rp] Ollie> yes or no

[Ceph lets their claws extend from their fingers, and begins shredding the blankets.]

[17:45:29] <?[rp] Ollie> sigh..........and there goes the blankets too…

[Ceph pushes themself up out of the bed.]

[17:45:36] <?[rp] ceph> im seeing them fucjk u. theyll get cold over herre

[Ollie rushes forward.]

[17:45:51] <?[rp] Ollie> don't get up!!

[Ceph stumbles a little, but catches themself on the wall. They raise their hand with an extended middle finger, but it doesn’t go up all the way.]

[17:46:34] <?[rp] ceph> fuck u

[17:46:39] <?[rp] ceph> pussy ass

[17:46:47] <?[rp] ceph> i can WALK

[Ollie stands with their hands half out, not sure if they should get closer to Ceph or leave them be.]

[17:46:58] <?[rp] Ollie> ..okay..

[Ceph crosses the room, they gently pet the birds.]

[17:47:04] <?[rp] ceph> hehe birdyy

[17:47:17] <?[rp] Ollie> you can keep looking at the parrots

[17:47:49] <?[rp] ceph> ill teach em creeper noises

[17:48:01] <?[rp] ceph> so u cant fukin sleep

[Ollie rolls his eyes. He walks across the room, settling on where he’s set up his desk. He opens a large drawer at the bottom, where Null rests peacefully in its bed.

Ceph begins hissing at the parrots. The sounds are a little raspy, but otherwise they sound exactly like a creeper would. The parrots pick it up quickly, and Ceph grins as the three begin hissing back and forth at one another. They don’t pay attention to what Ollie is doing.

Ollie continues to ignore Ceph’s ramblings as he gently lifts Null into his hands, and makes his way to the carpet in front of the fireplace. He sits down in front of the fireplace.]

[17:52:00] <?[rp] Ollie> alright ...time to figure this out

[Ceph begins to help the parrots preen, cleaning off old pin feathers and realigning their flight feathers.

Ollie turns on Null, giving it a shy wave with his hands before opening its menu and going through the different screens searching for something.]

[17:55:05] <?[rp] ceph> hey ollieeeee

[17:55:13] <?[rp] Ollie> hm?

[17:55:27] <?[rp] ceph> what kinda fuckin freak shit are u doing

[17:55:39] <?[rp] ceph> with ur weird pet

[17:55:46] <?[rp] Ollie> oh

[17:55:57] <?[rp] Ollie> it doesn't matter

[17:56:03] <?[rp] ceph> lol

[17:56:04] <?[rp] Ollie> you'd find it boring anyway right

[17:56:11] <?[rp] ceph> sure

[17:56:26] <?[rp] ceph> u know whats more interesting

[17:56:31] <?[rp] ceph> horsies

[Ollie barely looks up from Null.]

[17:56:33] <?[rp] Ollie> what

[17:56:36] <?[rp] Ollie> uhh

[17:56:41] <?[rp] Ollie> okay

[Ceph hangs around with the parrots for another minute before deciding to leave the room now that Ollie isn’t paying them any attention.]

[17:59:07] <?[rp] ceph> bye ollie~

[Ollie looks up.]

[17:59:24] <?[rp] Ollie> wait what-

[17:59:28] <?[rp] Ollie> CEPH

[Ceph disappears out of the room.]

[17:59:31] <?[rp] Ollie> ughh

[Ollie grabs Null and runs out of their room in search of Ceph.]

[18:00:20] <?[rp] Ollie> CEPH??

[Ceph somehow has managed to make it down from the church without breaking their neck. Ollie spots them outside in the snow, walking towards the stables.]

[18:01:17] <?[rp] Ollie> for fucks sake-

[Ceph looks up at Ollie and waves.]

[18:01:27] <?[rp] ceph> hi ollieeee

[Ollie leaps down and glides towards them rapidly. Ceph stumbles through the snow, barely seeming to notice the chill.]

[18:02:44] <?[rp] Ollie> CEPH WHAT THE FUCK!!!!

[Ollie lands next to Ceph.]

[18:02:50] <?[rp] ceph> oh hiiii

[18:03:01] <?[rp] Ollie> what are you DOING??

[Ceph keeps walking.]

[18:03:17] <?[rp] ceph> gonna see cadilac

[Ceph pauses.]

[18:03:51] <?[rp] ceph> mobs

[18:03:53] <?[rp] Ollie> WHAT

[18:04:20] <?[rp] ceph> can u not hear bitch'

[18:04:20] <?[rp] Ollie> Ceph you can't just- WALK OUT

[18:04:28] <?[rp] ceph> i can

[18:04:32] <?[rp] Ollie> what is WRONG with you

[18:04:50] <?[rp] ceph> many things hahahhaaa ^_^

[18:04:59] <?[rp] Ollie> it's gonna become night time soon what the FUCK

[Ollie keeps walking after Ceph.]

[18:05:19] <?[rp] ceph> oh look we r at the stables

[18:05:52] <?[rp] Ollie> UGHGHHH

[Ollie covers his face with one of his hands. Ceph stops, leaning heavily on the fence. They feel dizzy...but only slightly.]

[18:06:22] <?[rp] Ollie> Ceph this isn't a good idea

[18:06:38] <?[rp] ceph> hiii.....cadillac

[18:06:50] <?[rp] ceph> n the other ones............

[18:07:02] <?[rp] Ollie> just because you're feeling a bit better doesn't mean you should just WALK OUTSIDE IN THE COLD just to see fucking horses

[18:07:25] <?[rp] ceph> im not a pussy .... i dont get cold

[18:07:42] <?[rp] Ollie> are you SURE about that

[18:07:45] <?[rp] ceph> im like elsa or some shit

[18:07:50] <?[rp] Ollie> ???

[18:08:02] <?[rp] Ollie> go back

[18:08:03] <?[rp] Ollie> now

[18:08:23] <?[rp] ceph> what r u my DAD???

[18:08:32] <?[rp] ceph> a cop?????????

[18:08:39] <?[rp] ceph> go awauy

[18:08:42] <?[rp] Ollie> no!!! I just don't want you to freeze to death!!!

[18:09:25] <?[rp] Ollie> you're acting like your feeling better, but I know you're not.

[Ceph begins climbing over the stall door instead of opening it like a normal person. Cadillac whinneys with alarm.]

[18:09:52] <?[rp] Ollie> what the fuck....

[18:09:52] <?[rp] ceph> heheee hiiiiiii

[18:10:19] <?[rp] ceph> i lovee u cadillac

[Ollie shuffles on his toes. He seems less upset now, just worried.]

[18:10:24] <?[rp] Ollie> Ceph can we go back

[18:10:26] <?[rp] Ollie> please

[18:10:38] <?[rp] ceph> whyyyyyyyyyyy

[18:10:59] <?[rp] ceph> so u can do more weird boring shit

[18:10:55] <?[rp] Ollie> I have a bad feeling about this

[18:11:01] <?[rp] ceph> oh

[18:11:02] <?[rp] Ollie> I don't think you should be outside

[18:11:12] <?[rp] ceph> ur a pussy

[18:11:27] <?[rp] Ollie> I don't know what's going on with you but, I don't think this is good for you-

[18:12:01] <?[rp] ceph> how do u know whats good for me

[18:12:20] <?[rp] Ollie> I ...don't

[18:12:33] <?[rp] Ollie> but I still think this isn't a good idea

[18:12:56] <?[rp] Ollie> this climate is too harsh, it MUST be affecting you somehow for the worse

[18:13:38] <?[rp] ceph> ur face is harsh adn its affecting my eyes

[Ollie makes a face at Ceph.]

[18:14:09] <?[rp] Ollie> seriously

[18:14:27] <?[rp] ceph> let me live jesus

[Ceph gently pets Cadillac on the nose.]

[18:14:32] <?[rp] ceph> while i can

[18:15:23] <?[rp] Ollie> don't fucking say that!! that's worse!!!

[18:15:34] <?[rp] Ollie> stop talking as if you're going to die

[Ceph looks back at Ollie.]

[18:15:36] <?[rp] ceph> its true though

[18:15:44] <?[rp] ceph> who give a shit

[18:15:57] <?[rp] Ollie> I do!!!!!!!!!!

[18:16:01] <?[rp] Ollie> so don't say that shit

[18:16:04] <?[rp] Ollie> it's not true

[18:16:28] <?[rp] ceph> ur sooooo used to respawning i dont think ur tiny little brain can comprehend that im going to die

[18:16:39] <?[rp] ceph> sucks to be u

[18:16:56] <?[rp] Ollie> you think??? I don't???????

[18:17:17] <?[rp] ceph> u cant accept it

[18:17:41] <?[rp] ceph> ii dont care . i may as well have fun

[18:17:36] <?[rp] Ollie> do I need to mention the one fucking thing you keep BOTHERING ME ABOUT as if it was some sort of fucking joke

[18:19:30] <?[rp] ceph> oh u gained compassion from ur bitch dying did ya

[Ollie sighs.]

[18:18:58] <?[rp] Ollie> before? I definitely didn't know, I didn't understand what dying really meant

[18:19:30] <?[rp] Ollie> but I DEFINITELY wouldnt fucking be here if Oliver hadn't died

[18:19:36] <?[rp] ceph> boom

[18:19:41] <?[rp] ceph> there it is

[18:19:58] <?[rp] Ollie> what do you want me to fucking say???

[18:20:07] <?[rp] ceph> i dont care that ur bitch died lol

[18:20:24] <?[rp] Ollie> I KNOW that, no one fucking does but me

[18:20:38] <?[rp] Ollie> but I'm not going to fucking let that happen to you

[18:20:46] <?[rp] ceph> i bet dan cares a little tbh

[18:20:51] <?[rp] Ollie> there NEEDS to be a solution to this I know it

[18:20:53] <?[rp] ceph> lol

[18:20:55] <?[rp] ceph> lmao

[Ollie stops.]

[18:21:00] <?[rp] Ollie> wait

[18:21:04] <?[rp] Ollie> does Dan know???

[18:21:05] <?[rp] ceph> .....whatever

[18:21:17] <?[rp] Ollie> ...have you told ANYONE

[18:21:08] <?[rp] ceph> no

[18:21:19] <?[rp] ceph> nobody else knows

[18:21:21] <?[rp] Ollie> Dan? Punk??

[18:21:22] <?[rp] ceph> no

[18:21:26] <?[rp] Ollie> what the fuck

[18:21:43] <?[rp] ceph> what r u looking at

[18:21:47] <?[rp] Ollie> you KNOW they care about you

[18:21:48] <?[rp] ceph> smh

[18:21:51] <?[rp] ceph> and

[18:22:16] <?[rp] Ollie> what if I weren't here?? You'd just let yourself ....die??

[18:22:23] <?[rp] Ollie> without letting anyone know???

[18:22:25] <?[rp] ceph> yea probably

[18:22:28] <?[rp] Ollie> what is wrong with you?????????

[18:22:30] <?[rp] Ollie> why??

[18:22:35] <?[rp] ceph> why not

[18:22:49] <?[rp] Ollie> it's unfair

[18:22:59] <?[rp] Ollie> to Punk, to Dan, and specially to yourself

[18:23:11] <?[rp] ceph> its not worth dealing with them though

[18:23:49] <?[rp] Ollie> yeah but it would be worse if you just DIED and they DIDN'T EVEN KNOW

[18:23:21] <?[rp] ceph> theyd be sad n shit

[18:23:39] <?[rp] ceph> unfun

[18:24:01] <?[rp] Ollie> what- the fuck???

[18:24:15] <?[rp] ceph> well. that wouldnt be my problem would it

[18:24:31] <?[rp] Ollie> ....

[18:25:04] <?[rp] Ollie> I don't care if you dont care about me, but not even them??

[18:25:15] <?[rp] Ollie> they love you Ceph

[Ceph turns back to pet Cadillac again.]

[18:25:24] <?[rp] Ollie> ...how could you do that to them?

[18:25:32] <?[rp] ceph> thats their problem

[18:26:05] <?[rp] ceph> i thought everyone knew i was a heartless bitch

[Ollie stands quietly, in sudden disbelief.]

[18:26:37] <?[rp] Ollie> yeah..... and I think I should have known that too

[18:26:46] <?[rp] ceph> lmao

[Ollie sighs softly. He looks up the hill towards the church in the distance.]

[18:27:25] <?[rp] Ollie> we.... need to go back

[18:27:46] <?[rp] ceph> ...fine

[18:27:51] <?[rp] ceph> bitch

[18:27:54] <?[rp] Ollie> thank you.

[Ceph kicks around in the snow as they begin to leave. Ollie keeps Null tucked close by as he tries to stay by Ceph’s side. Ceph stops in front of a drift of particularly powdery snow.]

[18:29:48] <?[rp] ceph> fuck u

[18:29:58] <?[rp] Ollie> okay

[Ceph turns and kicks the snow at Ollie.]

[18:30:24] <?[rp] ceph> play in the snow. Live

[18:31:07] <?[rp] Ollie> we could do that ...later

[Ollie looks at Ceph as snow now covers his cloak, there’s a bit of that familiar annoyance in his face, but his eyes are full of pity.]

[18:31:31] <?[rp] ceph> why the fuck are you looking at me like that

[Ceph kicks more snow at Ollie. Their legs are tired, but it’s worth it to annoy them one last time. From the sky, small flurries of snow begin the fall.]

[18:32:38] <?[rp] ceph> oh hey look . its snowing

[18:32:44] <?[rp] Ollie> oh ...perfect.

[18:32:54] <?[rp] Ollie> now we really need to go inside-

[18:33:21] <?[rp] ceph> u should enjoy it u joyless emo

[Ceph’s steps stagger, and they stifle a cough. They suddenly begin to feel themself take a turn for the worse.]

[18:34:29] <?[rp] Ollie> ..are you okay

[18:34:36] <?[rp] ceph> im fine

[18:35:06] <?[rp] ceph> im gonna roll in the snow to show u just how fine i am

[18:35:10] <?[rp] Ollie> UH

[18:35:14] <?[rp] Ollie> please don't

[Ceph gets down and rolls around in the snow like a horse. Ollie watches Ceph, wrought with anxiety, but unwilling to get closer to them, afraid of how they might react.]

[18:36:04] <?[rp] Ollie> you REALLY shouldn't do that

[18:36:08] <?[rp] Ollie> what the fuck Ceph

[Ceph stops, and as they stand they’re now covered in white powdery snow.]

[18:36:14] <?[rp] ceph> yayyyy

[18:36:32] <?[rp] Ollie> lets keep walking back home

[18:36:38] <?[rp] ceph> fineeeeeeeeee

[They continue to trudge through the snow back towards the church. Ollie draws Null closer to his chest, like it might help with the cold.]

[18:37:48] <?[rp] ceph> im soooooo sexy myhouse looks sooo hot

[Ceph has begun to shiver slightly from the cold.]

[18:38:06] <?[rp] Ollie> I'm glad we're finally close

[18:40:24] <?[rp] ceph> hahaaa........

[Ceph stumbles a little as they continue up.]

[18:40:54] <?[rp] Ollie> I should gather some leaves actually, maybe I could make some tea out of those hm

[18:41:21] <?[rp] ceph> ew...pine needle tea...

[18:41:40] <?[rp] Ollie> well, you have better ideas?

[18:41:41] <?[rp] ceph> i got leaves......weed

[18:41:48] <?[rp] Ollie> mmhmm

[18:42:51] <?[rp] ceph> the snow is.. fukinn. thick isnt it

[18:42:58] <?[rp] ceph> piling upp

[18:42:58] <?[rp] Ollie> yyeah... be careful-

[Ceph stumbles again, and this time falls into Ollie.]

[18:43:24] <?[rp] ceph> ow fuck

[18:43:35] <?[rp] Ollie> ack-

[18:43:39] <?[rp] ceph> how dare u be in my way

[Ollie turns back.]

[18:43:43] <?[rp] Ollie> are you okay???

[Ceph’s teeth are starting to chatter.]

[18:43:57] <?[rp] ceph> y.yeahhh

[18:44:04] <?[rp] ceph> iim fine

[18:44:07] <?[rp] Ollie> ...are you sure?

[Ceph tries to hold back a cough, but can’t.]

[18:44:51] <?[rp] Ollie> oh shit- you definitely aren't

[18:45:03] <?[rp] ceph> ....................i hate validating ur concerns........

[18:45:26] <?[rp] Ollie> don't worry Ceph, we're close

[18:45:38] <?[rp] Ollie> I still got quite a bit of potions left

[18:45:34] <?[rp] ceph> im fine

[Ceph stumbles again, and they tumble into the snow. This time they don’t get up.]

[18:46:23] <?[rp] ceph> ow fuck..

[18:46:39] <?[rp] Ollie> Ceph!

[18:46:44] <?[rp] Ollie> oh no

[Ceph shivers in the snow, lips slowly turning blue. Their body is wracked with coughs as they begin to spasm. Ollie drops into the snow, kneeling next to Ceph, and trying to help them up.]

[18:48:03] <?[rp] Ollie> it's okay Ceph maybe I could carry you the rest of the way back-

[Ceph rolls away, hunching over and beginning to cough violently into the snow. When they sit up fully, the snow is dark red with blood.]

[18:48:45] <?[rp] ceph> oow..

[Ollie’s heart begins to pick up.]

[18:48:55] <?[rp] Ollie> ......oh

[He can feel his pulse hammering in his ears.]

[18:49:04] <?[rp] Ollie> oh no

[Something begins to twist in his stomach. Ceph opens their mouth to speak, but they double over in pain and begin to cough loudly into the snow. There is dark viscera, chunks of something that died inside of them, on the snow.]

[18:50:01] <?[rp] Ollie> shit- Ceph??

[Ollie puts a hand on their shoulder. Ceph takes in ragged breaths as they try to breathe normally. Ollie can see the true damage taking place for the first time. There are dark globs of something in the snow. Ceph doesn’t seem to care.

Ollie’s breathing picks up, and sweat begins to prickle at his brow. Panic begins to register throughout his entire body. Ceph’s coughing subsides slowly, and they fall forwards into the bloodied snow, shaking.]

[18:52:07] <?[rp] Ollie> oh nno no nonono-

[18:52:25] <?[rp] ceph> im.i.im...fine.

[Ollie moves closer, pulling Ceph towards them.]

[18:52:40] <?[rp] ceph> f...fuck off..

[Ceph tries to pull away, but with how weak they are, and how desperate Ollie is, he manages to easily pull them onto his lap.]

[18:52:43] <?[rp] Ollie> no you aren't!!!

[He begins to search through his pockets and inventory, ripping through everything to try and find something, anything-]

[18:53:06] <?[rp] Ollie> it's okay I think- I think I have a potion somewhere in here-

[He doesn’t.

Ceph shakes in his arms, half from anger, half from the cold. They want to jerk their horns back into Ollie’s chest, but all of their energy is going towards keeping themself warm. They’re still awake, but their body feels numb, and their mind feels fuzzy.

Ollie’s breathing becomes more panicked. He spots Null where he had dropped it in the snow earlier out of shock. He reaches out, and Null flickers to life, moving close enough for Ollie to get a hold of them.]

[18:55:52] <?[rp] Ollie> fuck fuck shit

[Ollie’s eyes well up with tears, his voice cracks.]

[18:56:14] <?[rp] Ollie> you're going to be alright Ceph- it's ... it's going to be fine-

[18:56:46] <?[rp] ceph> 𝙹. π™Ήκ–Žκ–Žβ•Žα’·..... [O- Ollie-]

[18:57:41] <?[rp] ceph> i.its....really fuckinbnn...cold

[Ollie lets out a sob.]

[18:57:46] <?[rp] Ollie> I....I-

[Ceph blinks up at them, drawing in one single breath. And then they go still. Their body is limp in Ollie’s hands, and their skin is almost cold to the touch.

He pulls Null up to where he can see its screen, and begins running through the commands with a single goal in mind. Ollie’s bottom lip quivers, from cold and fear intertwined. Ceph is much too still.

The button to execute the command is glowing in front of him. All he needs to do is press it.]

[18:58:05] <?[rp] Ollie> I need to do this-

[He doesn’t think twice. No matter who this hurts, he has to save them.

Ollie holds Ceph close to them, as they press the button to deactivate server protections.

A crackle of sound emanates out through the server, something between a roar of thunder and the shattering of glass. Untitled is naked to the Universe. Anyone can see it now, but that’s what he needs.

They wait, tears beginning to stream down their face. They hold Ceph close to them. Ceph’s body feels ice cold, and they try their best to keep both of them warm. Ollie moves his cloak around Ceph’s body too, even if the frigid air makes his own teeth chatter. He lets out a choking sob.]

[20:12:02] <?[rp] Ollie> I'm ...I'm sorry Ceph..

[The tears don’t stop, as they press their face against Ceph’s shoulder. Guilt and remorse flow through them. All the things they didn’t say, and all the things they did-

Do we ever have enough time?]

[Above Ollie, the air begins to ripple. A being of near infinite power and existence steps out of the folds of the Code.]

[20:17:22] [𝙹!¡α’·βˆ·α”‘β„Έ Μ£ π™Ήβˆ·] α“­π™Ήκ–Žα“­β„Έ Μ£ β•Žα“΅α’· [OPERATOR] SOLSTICE] joined the game

[Solstice stares down at Ollie. Its presence is strong enough that the hairs on Ollie’s neck stand on end. He looks up, gasping in a breath as he squints at its form. He can’t quite make out its features, only that it’s tall and vividly bright even compared to the snow around it.

It reaches out towards Ceph’s crumpled form. Ollie holds his breath, unable to utter a word, or plea for help, all he can do is stare helplessly at this being. Ollie is terrified. He knows what Unknown do to people like him, what it may do to Ceph. He never thought he’d be in the presence of one again, but here it is.

Despite his fear, the chattering of his teeth, he lets go. The being lifts Ceph up from his arms, and another their own. The Unknown turns its head towards Ceph. The air ripples, and it steps backwards again into the folds of the Code.]

[20:20:17] [𝙹!¡α’·βˆ·α”‘β„Έ Μ£ π™Ήβˆ·] α“­π™Ήκ–Žα“­β„Έ Μ£ β•Žα“΅α’· left the game

[Everything crashes into Ollie at once. Ceph is gone. He can still feel them in his arms, but he knows they’re gone. His body shakes violently in the cold, but he can barely register it.

He broke his one promise to everyone, his one promise to himself, he let an Unknown into the world. He destroyed the only barrier protecting Untitled, protecting all of them. This world isn’t safe anymore but...Ollie can’t find it in him to care.

All he can think of is Ceph, how he’d just let that thing take them. He’d just handed them over, no fight, nothing even said. Like handing prey to a predator. Ollie falls into the snow, beginning to sob violently into it. Maybe if the cold would just take him, all of this could be over.

His chest hurts. Maybe from crying, maybe from sucking in lungfuls of freezing cold air. The realization that he’s utterly alone again hits him harder than anything.

They grasp at the snow beneath them, trying to find a handhold but grabbing onto nothing. There is a pain unlike any other, so cold it almost feels like fire. They let out a scream, and it echoes across the silent tundra. They are burning, they are on fire. But the feeling is better than anything else left in their head.

They let it consume them. They let it burn.]

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