thefoundation | [CONTINUE + 2] INTRO

[After so long a trip, you're all finally here. Taken through a hidden passage inside of the very mountain itself, you find yourself standing in front of a field of flowers, growing well due to the open roof above it. If you look up, you can just make out the shimmering colors off of the barrier - looking almost like the shine off of a soap bubble.

Try not to trample on the flowers as you approach the open, purple gate, where it looks as if someone is waiting for all of you just inside. And remember to wear your masks, now that you're here!

...Still, the sight of the yellow flowers waving in the wind....such a cheery sight fills you with determination for what's to come.

Welcome to the Underground.

...Again. The loop happened again, and you're here. Everything is the same.

Someone who was dead is alive again.

...The man, who's name you forgot...You've also forgotten what he looked like.

Not only that, But more monster names have faded from your memory.

Ghost? There was never a ghost in these ruins, or in Waterfall. You have no memory of them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He shakes his head]

This isn't some enemy we can just beat up! And none of us get those damn trials right the first time- guessing and working out theories are how we solve them. You KNOW that- or did you judge me for every time I went down the wrong thread back in Camp? I know I never judged you...

... there's gonna be a point where there's something only you can do Chuuta. And you have to be ready.

But there won't be! The only thing I can do that only I can do is use Drew to fight! Everyone knows that, that's all I'm good for!

[He's Thaumiel class now. He goes on missions, he fights, he ends up broken and bleeding and struggling back up to his feet and he has to win every single time. "Something only he can do" is always going to be just beating up the enemies, or tying them up, or pinning them down. He's gotten really good at it.]

I don't buy that. I know you've been with Drew a long time- but you're Chuuta. Not Chuuta-and-Drew.

But we are! [That's what Chuuta wasn't thinking of, how Ren has always looked at him and seen someone Chuuta doesn't recognize, someone who's "just Chuuta". That person is getting further and further away, and Chuuta doesn't have any chance of finding him.]

There's no such person as just Chuuta, we've always been like this! You don't understand it, because you can't! You don't have someones voice in your head all the time, you can just be your own person and be alone to think sometimes, and I can't! [He hasn't been sleeping well at all, he's too tired to think clearly, he's too stressed to hold any of this frustration in now that Ren's directly pushing at it.]

You're right, I can't get it. I have Satanael but he's just my own voice reflected back at me. Not anything like Drew.

But, well, I still hope Chuuta is my friend.

[The word 'friend' kind of makes him want to run. Is he Ren's friend? Ren was nice to him, still is, hasn't told him to shut up or started laughing at him yet, but Chuuta doesn't know if they're friends.

Chuuta doesn't know who Ren wants to be friends with.]

[They hadn't been super close in the Camp- each of them leaning more to the others in their age groups. But he always thought well of him]

Hey, wanna sit for a bit? We don't have to talk or anything.

[Chuuta sits, because there's no way he's just going to leave.

He's quiet.]

[Ren really likes you, Chuuta.]

[Chuuta nods, and then...]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you about my problems.

[He's doing a lot of apologizing today.]

It's fine. I'll just make sure to yell at you sometimes.

[There's a little sigh, not quite like a laugh.]

You can yell any time, if you want.

I'm not generally a loud guy, but I'll keep it in mind.

Can I ask you something really personal? You don't have to answer if it's too prying.

... okay. [Chuuta says, like he's waiting for something to go very wrong.]

If you had the option of being separate from Drew- like if it was safe for you both and there was no danger that needed your powers... is that something you'd want?

No! [He says, right away, one hand going to the center of his torso like he can protect the alien somehow. Like Ren's a threat.]

[And he does calm down, after a second. He still shakes his head.]

No, I wouldn't. Drew... to me, Drew is the most important person in the universe.

[Chuuta is the most important person to Drew too.]

I know.

It... it would be nice, to just be "normal", but I couldn't ever really be normal. Drew's like... half of me. That week in Camp when he was gone was the worst experience of my life. I don't think I'd be able to survive without him. [Not because of the physical reality that he couldn't survive without Drew, but because of everything else. ] I don't think I'd want to.

I see...

I think I understand better now. I doubt I'll ever REALLY get it, but...

[He sighs, it's something]

I don't think anyone else could ever understand it, but... thank you for trying.

Thanks for coming to check on me.

Nine would never forgive me if I didn't.

Shit... Nine... we're supposed to be broadcasting back out aren't we?

If he saw everything... damn it....

... he probably did. I'm sorry.

Sorry, Nine. [Just... in case he's watching this too.]

[CONTINUE + 2] INTRO

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1/2

2/2 cw: suicidal ideation

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