MOCK ROUND - EPILOGUE

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When the flowers cry....

Finally, Sunday is here. At a certain time, everyone is rushed towards the ballroom, again - Where Lambdadelta awaits, in a very frilly dress - somehow even frillier than her normal ware.

With all the dignity of a reigning queen, she steps forward - motioning them to the piles of delicious food prepared for them, all warm and delicious - from extravagant roasts to the sugariest, softest desserts.

And when they all sit down, all the butlers....begin to clap, which echoes loudly in the halls. It almost sounds like the loud applause of a massive audience, praising them for their efforts, and enthusiastically seeing them off, until the curtain is drawn across the stage...

They've done it.

All of them save two....have won a wish from the witch of Certainty.

Such a monumental effort...deserves the highest of praise. And as they can settle in and enjoy their final meal among each other, they will know...that they truly earned every bit of praise and applause.

Comments

THE BOON OF THE WITCH

[strawberryshortcackle]

[Lambdadelta, of course, isn't about to let them leave without making one last big speech, soooo...]

I know all of you are probably wondering if I'm going to somehow have some last big twist - and the answer iiiiis....nope, not at all☆

I mean, you all did what I asked you to do, so there's no way I'm going to do some big twist at the last second. ...Well, beyond what's normal in this kind of thing, but that's hardly a twist if I'm going along with well-worn story conventions, right?

Anyway, all of you can ask me to grant any wish your heart desires, buuuut...there are a few rules. I can't just make anything happen out of thin air - I mean, I could, but that's only if your world allows for such miraculous things. I also can't bring back the dead, so don't even bother asking me that, okaaaay?

That being said, I'm being pretty generous. Even if it's a boring wish, I'll still grant it...so please realize how good I'm being towards all of you by not turning you into black tea if your wish disappoints me.

Oh, and of course, Vanitas and Takashi can't get a wish granted.

[She pauses, thinking.]

....Hm, well, but you did all pass that thing that one week....so how about this? If you two want your wish, I'll give you five minutes, and no more. In that time, you'll have to come up with a wish that doesn't bore me - and if it doesn't pass up to snuff, well...I might just make you suffer ☆

[She gives a sneer, though it quickly fades back into her normal cocky grin.]

Other than that, you'll all be going back home after you get your wish. And of course, you won't remember anything about this place or the people you met. I don't want to mess around with the fragments you all come from that badly, you know?

....But my power and boons will still be with you, so maybe stuff might change in the long run. It'll be fun to watch outside from the sea, anyway~

So have fun and say goodbye to everyone for the last time! And when you're all done....this'll all have just been a very long and fun dream, gifted to you by a generous witch.

[With that said, Lambdadelta sits down at a special seat in the hall just for her, like a queen on her throne, waiting for her supplicants and happily watching them as they mingle for the last time.]

[overlordad]

Hey, witch! Can I keep what's mine then?

[The obvious answer is Goat-kun but also anyone else that wants to come with... considering his world is like, the least shitty somehow]

[strawberryshortcackle]

Is that all you want? I mean, I could wiggle around your memory a bit to make it so you recently got Goat-chan over there back home pretty easily.

[very_good_end]

[she just smiles]

I wish for you, Lady Lambdadelta, to go to my Master, Lady Bernkastel, and tell her: "Your piece won! I'm to grant you any wish you desire."

...Then, do whatever she asks from you.

[strawberryshortcackle]

...Ehhhh? Hey, that's cheating!! You can't give me a wish like that, you glorified OC!! Denied!

[LAMBDA PLEASE.]

[iblistriggered]

Wait... we won't remember any of this? Not our new friends? ... Not you?

[strawberryshortcackle]

...Nope. That's how everything in your worlds will be able to get back on track. After all, my ability is only certainty, you know?

[There's a pause.]

...Though I'm not going to lie and say that I won't miss a few of you, but I'll just warmly watch over you all from the sea of fragments.

[enter_the_darkness]

[ He's cutting it very close, but... ]

What if I want my wish to be for everyone to remember each other if they want to?

[helmdivide]

[ Hearing the rules, he's just going to laugh. Then just dig into the food. Might as well enjoy this then while he can.

Can't bring back the dead
Can't remember any of this

It's a bummer, but he had a feeling it'll be impossible. So he'll eat, while trying to figure out what to actually wish for.

After a while, he'll look over at someone to make conversation. ]

What are you thinking to wish for?

[enter_the_darkness]

[ Just... staring down into a cup of coffee, for now. ]

Dunno...

[helmdivide]

[ Snagging a strawberry and tossing it over at him. ]

Well, you're on a clock. Maybe you could ask for something that'll make you happy?

[iblistriggered]

.... I don't know anymore. I was going to wish for the power to fix my time for good, but...

[youngforhisage]

[Well, his face isn't exactly unfamiliar, even if it's less rounded. He's taller now, dressed in a simple white shirt and slacks, because naturally his uniform no longer fits. Long, curling red hair is tied back with a ribbon.

Not that he seems bothered, not enough to comment on it. Instead, Asuma simply smiles as usual.]

And that's that. It looks like we even exceeded expectations, huh?

[Although forgetting is a bit sad, well... perhaps that's just another price paid, to get what he wished for.]

[helmdivide]

[ ??? ]

Heeeeey, did you hit puberty overnight?

[dawnwardspiral]

Yeah, it does.

[ ... ]

Asuma, is that you? What happened?

[ Did he wish to be older?! What a shock... ]

[enter_the_darkness]

[ He gives a soft snort, studying him for a moment. ]

So, that's the cost...

[ But, then something softens in his expression, just the tiniest bit. ]

It doesn't bother you, at all?

[iblistriggered]

A-Asuma? Is that you?!

Hey Riku

[helmdivide]

[ One of the few times where he hates it that he's right. There's not going to be a next time or meeting up again. He already knows what's waiting for him back home, and nothing will probably change that.

Guess all he can do is write the final page himself. With that firmly in mind, he'll locate where Riku is being all serious at. He half expects him to be leaning against a wall, but finds him sitting down away from the others. He's not even sure what he's planning on doing until he's already standing next to his seat, his hand raised to touch. ]

Hey there. Let me see your hair for a moment.

[ Yeah, let's go with this. ]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Riku is kind of upset. Yes, he experience hurtful things while he's been here, but it hasn't been all bad - he's met some new faces, some he's sure that he's become friends with. And he knows he's never been all that good at making friends like Sora's been...so it's kind of a shock.

When the other male approaches, it's evident that he's taken some time to quietly ruminate on all of this off to the side. ]

...Sure, go ahead.

[ It sounds kind of quiet, but he's given Jack the go ahead. ]

after his thread with Lambda

[overlordad]

[Business done, Takashi is over at the table, feeding Goat and listening to the kids converse among themselves. He looks... content, almost. It'll be good to see his family again soon, but it's a strange feeling, leaving here.]

[very_good_end]

So... what was your game plan, exactly?

I think it was thoroughly dissected, but I'd prefer to hear it from your own lips.

[enter_the_darkness]

[ Immediately after her announcement and proposal, Vanitas is looking... conflicted?

For the next five minutes, he can be seen chatting with either Jack or Asuma. Then, close to the time limit, he just gives a wry smirk and muttering (more to himself, than to anyone else). ]

Or... maybe I won't wish for anything.

[ Regardless of what happens, he's going to be spending his final moments with the group... sort of by himself. If anyone tries to say he looks sad, he'll punch them, probably. ]

[helmdivide]

[ So look, it's your favorite person ever coming back for round two. ]

Hey there, Vani~

[ He says it in a sing song kind of voice. And then he'll just step to the side and gesture to Silver. ]

Silver has something to share with you.

[ And with that, he'll reach over to touch Vanitas' shoulder to give it a squeeze, and then skedaddle to bother someone else. BYE ]

[overlordad]

So, what now?

by himself;

[dawnwardspiral]

You look like you need company.

[ How about we sulk together, eh. ]