[Endgame: rise or DROWN]

[warpweft]

[How long have you been exploring Nessa's palace now? You've met her family, viewed her memories, learned how to fight as a witch and tried to find the source of her power and the Treasure of her palace: the Voidheart. And along the way, you've tired your best, with mixed success, to avoid the incarnation of her eldest cousin and the representation of her trauma and fear, the Nightmare of Esmau.]

[Wherever you are in the Palace right now, you feel the ground briefly shake under your feet. Little shakes here and there haven't been out of the ordinary - Esmau is trying to blow the place down to the studs, after all. But that felt different. That felt....worse.]

[Your phone beeps as you receive a message.]

Comments

@AKIRA

[gravitonn]

[You see CAESAR standing a short distance away from you. He's clutching his head in his hands. He looks extremely distressed. After a few seconds, he starts punching himself in the chest. He has a black hole in his chest, just above his collar.]

Wake up...!

Wake up!

WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!

She's going to die if you DON'T WAKE UP!

Re: @AKIRA

[survivaltricks]

Wh— whoa! Hey!

[darting towards him, immediately reaching for his wrists so he stops hitting himself]

Easy, there!

Re: @AKIRA

[gravitonn]

[He doesn't respond well to being grabbed. He just throws his head at Akira in a headbutt.]

Why...why doesn't anything work...why can't I just wake up, even though she's right here?!

[survivaltricks]

[oh jesus-- with a surprised noise, Akira jerks away, just in time to avoid getting headbutted in the nose]

-- Caesar!

[gravitonn]

[Caesar is struggling for all he's worth in Akira's grip, but....he seems pretty despondent. So all he's worth isn't much right now.]

Why...

Why are you awake and I'm not?!

Why do I keep leaving her behind like this...

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[sorry, Caesar]

[but Akira is punching you in the face now]

[gravitonn]

[Caesar gets slugged and falls to the ground. He holds his jaw.]

Jesus.......

What was...that for....

[survivaltricks]

[exhales deeply, before crouching to Caesar's level and extending a hand]

You were spiraling. I needed to bring you back.

[gravitonn]

You coulda...done that without... cracking my jaw, you asshole...

[He takes the hand.]

I bet your boyfriend is giving somebody a hug right now.

[survivaltricks]

[grasps Caesar's hand tightly, before hoisting him back to his feet]

[-- and he lets out an amused snort]

Yeah. Probably. He's far sappier than I am at times like this.

[gravitonn]

[Caesar places a hand to his head. He doesn't seem to be entirely out of the woods.]

I don't...

I don't....understand.

I keep seeing things that. Don't make sense...

I keep thinking that I need to. Just wake up...

[He suddenly reaches out and grabs Akira's collar.]

Why...

Why did I recognize you when you showed up in the cove?!

[survivaltricks]

[that's okay; Akira can deal with this. slightly calmer is better than being in hysterics, and his gaze drops to the black hole in Caesar's chest]

. . .

[Akira opens his mouth to respond, but before he can-- Caesar has his collar in an iron grip. he doesn't make any attempts to escape, but he does place one hand over Caesar's, meeting the other man's gaze with his own steely gray one]

You were here. . . before Nessa. Not for long, but I remember you.

[gravitonn]

I...I was in the prison?!

I thought...I thought I was just Nessa's memories...

Are you telling me...I'm actually Caesar?! And I'm just sleeping...while she's dying....

[survivaltricks]

[dude]

Well, you look wide awake to me. At the time when Nessa needs you most, even.

[gravitonn]

...what if...

What if I'm still asleep after this is over...?

[survivaltricks]

. . . you won't be asleep forever. Eventually, you'll wake up.

[a small cant of his head]

But what's most important is the fact that you're awake right now, and what you decide to do with the time you've been given.

Is panicking about what might happen when this is over going to help Nessa?

[gravitonn]

No...

No, I...

I can't. Let her down, again...I won't let her down again!

[And he punches a hand into his own black hole. His eyes glow violet, as does his hand.]

This time, I'm gonna save her, god dammit!

[And with his own power, Caesar forces the hole shut. Pulls his hand back out of his chest and immediately bends over, putting his hands on his knees.]

Hurrrrrrggghhhhhhhh....

[It looks like that took a lot out of him. He...might throw up in a sec.]

[survivaltricks]

[oh my god]

Damn right you are!!!

[. . .]

[well after he takes a moment to be sick, Akira supposes. Akira crouches next to him, hand on Caesar's back]

. . . if you puke, I'll hold your hair back.

[what a good dude]

[gravitonn]

Just. Just gimme one....

[Deep breath. And he stands back up and clears his throat.]

Nope, just in my mouth. We're good.

[The haze around the two of them begins to fade.]

Oi....I'll do everything I can from here.

Knock that smug look off of Esmau's face for me, will ya.

[survivaltricks]

[lifts up a hand for a brofist, his grin widening]

This upcoming asskicking will be dedicated to you, then.