>>43169182
The forest is quiet, completely empty of any of the usual birdsong, wind and other background sound that typically defines it. And that makes sense, considering that you’re not sure if this forest even exists for any reason except for providing a familiar backdrop to the clearing the two of you are sitting in. This isn’t real, it’s a construction. A dream. Her dream.

The fake Hiss sits across from you, as opaque as ever. It’s just the two of you. You can’t see Rock or the real Hiss anywhere, something that you’re starting to find rather concerning. Part of you wants to drop the charade and to just demand what’s going on but that probably won’t get you anywhere. She has control here, she’s not obliged to heed any of your demands.

“Uh...nice place you have here?”
You’re not sure what to say. You need to make some small talk, butter her up while you do your best to figure her out. And getting into her good graces might not be a bad idea in itself.

She seems taken aback by your comment, not replying for almost half a minute.
“Thank you, I try. But what do you like about it?”

“Pardon?”
You’re doing your best to slowly look around without being obvious. You don’t see any snakes or worms or spiders anywhere. You know they’re here somewhere. But where?

“What do you like about it in particular?”
She sounds genuinely interested.

Crap.
Now you have to make something up or else reveal that you’re just spitting small talk to stall her.


> “Nothing in particular. Just the general ambience?”

> “It’s amazing how much detail you’re able to fit in here. You must be a very good dreamer.”

> “I guess it’s just the memory itself I like.”

> “You.”

> “It’s very quiet, very peaceful.”

> “To be honest? It’s not that great.”

> Other

>>43169186
>> “I guess it’s just the memory itself I like.”

>>43169186
> “I guess it’s just the memory itself I like.”

>>43169186
> “I guess it’s just the memory itself I like.”
Does the mask cover all of her face so we only see her eyes or is it one of those that just cover the upper half?

>>43169263
Unless she changed it it's a full mask, can't see her face.

>>43169186
> “It’s amazing how much detail you’re able to fit in here. You must be a very good dreamer.”

> “I guess it’s just the memory itself I like.”

You look around, examining the trees. You remember this place quite well, waking up here by the campfire. The questions, the pain. The dangerous man with the brand on his hand. You suppose that's you now?
"I guess it's just the memory itself I like."
The might be a safer approach than trying so transparently to butter her up.

It's hard to gauge her reaction, the mask covers her face completely. You can see her eyes but her height makes the angle wrong. Her horned head dips a little lower, as if to inspect you.
"Really? I thought this was a painful memory. What's so good about it?"
Her tone becomes a little more hard-edged, inquisitive. As if she was trying to catch you out in a lie.

> "Here is where it all began."

> "Because you were here."

> "Because Hiss was here."

> "No, it wasn't painful at all. What do you mean?" She doesn't know anything about you, she's bluffing.

> Other

>>43169376
>> "Here is where it all began."

>>43169376
> "Here is where it all began."

>>43169376
> "Here is where it all began."

>>43169376
> "Here is where it all began."
I don't think there's anything else that changed my life so drastically. And as far as painful memories go I've had worse.

>>43169376
> "Because you were here."

Well I think you were.. were you and Hiss one? Did you exist before the event or?

>>43169495
A bit too early to ask that

>>43169376
> "Here is where it all began."
You know me well enough to know that a little pain isnt enough to keep me from liking something.

> "Here is where it all began."

You stroke your chin, attempting to appear sagacious. It really doesn't work but your audience doesn't have the experience to know that.
"It all started here, didn't it? I don't know if there's been anything else that's changed my life so ...drastically."

"Changed it for the better?"
The pseudo-Hiss leans forward, hanging on your every word.

"Yes! Well, it made it more interesting anyway. I don't regret it."

She nods, her halo bobbing up and down hypnotically with her every movement.
"I don't regret it either."
She holds out her arm across the burned out campfire between the two of you, a gloved hand extended.
You just look at it and after a long minute of silence, she pulls it back.

"You can't say that," you say. "This isn't your memory. You were never here."
A bit harsher than you intended but the continued absence of Hiss is making you feel a little thorny. Not to mention the thread on her other hand, the one hooked around your heart.

"You're wrong."

You try to look her in the eye, an impossibility.
"You DO remember this?"

"No. You know that's not possible. I am power, not self. But this is still my memory regardless. I was here. I existed."

> "Weren't you born at the House?"

> "Did you used to be one with her?"

> Tell her about the memory.

> "You don't exist."

> "Where is she?"

> "What have you done?"

>>43169633
> Tell her about the memory.
> "Weren't you born at the House?"
> "Did you used to be one with her?"

>>43169633
> "Did you use to be one with her?"

>>43169633
> "Weren't you born at the House?"
> "Did you used to be one with her?"
> Tell her about the memory.

>>43169633
> "Weren't you born at the House?"
> "Did you used to be one with her?"
> Tell her about the memory.

> "Weren't you born at the House?"
> "Did you used to be one with her?"
> Tell her about the memory.

Something about her reaction catches your interest. Is she really still trying to trick you? Or is this something more? Is there something else to this creature, this facsimile?
"What are you talking about? Weren't your born at the House?"
You quite vividly remember talking to her back there, how she had almost swallowed up everything about Hiss completely.

"No!"
She shakes her head but then stops almost immediately afterward, an abrupt spasm.
"Not in the way you mean."

You're not really sure how any of this works. She and Hiss are no longer melded as they were back in the House. Is she a fully separate ...thing now?
"So you used to be one with her. But then you should have her memories."

"No. No. You've got it wrong, Consort. I wasn't part of her. I WAS her. The Hiss that you first met, that you had all of your adventures with before the House. I am her. Or at least, I was her. I didn't ask to become this. The worm that you give all your affections to now...she isn't me. She's a splinter, a backup, a plan B. But I was the original one. What she became."

You're not sure what to say about that. So you don't say anything at all. The forest is very quiet.
Eventually, the fake Hiss continues.
"I know what I used to be. I just can't remember."

You remember a night back on the ship to the Quedesh, where you had told Hiss about the memories she had stolen from you. She had told you the stories from your childhood you no longer possessed. Maybe it's the same here.
"I don't know what you are but if it rings a bell..."
You do your best to describe this memory to her, all of it that you remember.

The woman twitches, hidden completely behind her mask and her robes. Or is there really anything to hide?
"Are you sure you're telling it properly?"

"Er, yes? What's wrong?"

"Then that should be my memory. But I don't feel anything. It's just a story."

1/2

>>43169948
>Tell her what happens next.

> "Are you sure you're real?"

> "You seem different from the last time we spoke."

> "You're not what you think you are."

> "Please give me Hiss back."

> Enough sentimentality. Ask her what she did to you.

> Take off the mask.

> Other

>>43169976
>> Take off the mask
>Tell her what happens next.

>>43169976
> "You seem different from the last time we spoke."
> Take off the mask.

>>43169976
> "Please give me Hiss back."
> Enough sentimentality. Ask her what she did to you.
Why can't power and self coexist?

>>43169948
>Tell her what happens next.
> Take off the mask

>>43169976
> "You seem different from the last time we spoke."
> Enough sentimentality. Ask her what she did to you.
> "Please give me Hiss back."
> Take off the mask.

>>43169976
This is too impersonal
> Take off the mask.
> "You're not what you think you are."
Could it be that the two of you are different parts of a whole?

>>43170059
>>43170024
I think the give me hiss back might spark a sort of I AM HISS or a NO! I feel like we're on thin ice guys.

I don't think taking off the mask is a good idea. If she has no "self" then I'd be surprised if she had a face.

Inb4 it's our face

>>43169976
>> "You seem different from the last time we spoke."

>>43170109
She already recognizes that we love the real Hiss. I'm worried about her.

>Take off the mask
>"You seem different from the last time we spoke."

You're not sure what to do here. Everything's so quiet. It's like a grave.
"You seem different from the last time we spoke."
Less confident. Less antagonistic.

"I've had a lot of time to reflect. Since I'm TRAPPED. She won't let me go, no matter how much I hurt her."

"That's Hiss. Doing that only makes her grip harder. She's very contrary."
You pause.
"I guess I am too."

"I know what I'm like."

You get an idea. You stand up while she stays sitting down, putting you at eye-contact with her.
"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you want to know what you're like?"
You reach out and place a hand on each side of her golden mask. And then you pull.

Nothing happens. It's like the damn thing's stuck there! You try harder.

"What are you doing? Stop!"

> Keep on trying.

> Stop.

> "Where is she?"

>>43170257
What's on the other side?

>>43170257
> Keep on trying.
The problem is both of you are so stubborn, antagonistic and set in your ways that you'll tear each other apart before you actually figure this out. So you two are going to find some middle ground even if I have to force it by being my typical stupid, stubborn self.

>>43170257
> "Where is she?"
guys why the fuck wouldn't you vote to ask about our brand? It's the whole reason we came here.

>>43170257
> Keep on trying.
we will probably regret this but I wanna know

>>43170257
> Stop.
Might be a good idea to obey godlike figures in their own domain

>>43170257
>> "Where is she?"

>>43170257
> Keep on trying.

>>43170314
We're buttering her up by ripping her face off

>>43170428
that's an... interesting strategy

> Keep on trying.

You curl your fingers around the edges and keep pulling, gritting your teeth from the strain. And then it slips just a little. And from there the whole thing just pops off!
You stagger back and fall over, mask still clutched in both hands. It's a pretty standard Vtriya mask, the ones they give them to show that their human identity is sublimated by their new position.
Of course, this would never fit on your face. It's twice the size.

"----------------------"

You get back, turning to face her.
"There, that wasn't so bad was i-"

You're not sure what you were expecting. She's still sitting there, her legs crossed. But there's nothing above her neck, just a void. The void swallows you and the forest around you , the scenery stripped away to reveal the Without. The mask melts from your hands as you struggle to breathe, adrift in a world that contains no air, no life.

And then you fall to the ground back in the forest clearing. It's just as it was before, with the pseudo-Hiss having put her mask back on. But everything seems ...fuzzier? There's less detail, a curious fog masking the distance from you.

Hiss reaches across the embers and grabs you by the neck, hoisting you into the air.
"Didn't I just tell you not to do that? Maybe you should keep your hands to yourself in future."
Her other hand grabs hold of your left wrist and yanks it off, removing your hand. The flesh closes over the stump seamlessly as it had never been there. She plucks your right hand off moments later, with all the ease of one taking petals from a flower.

You can look her in the eye. But she doesn't have any. There's nothing behind that mask.

> "You're not real!"

> Apologize profusely.

> "You're not Hiss. You're something else and you need to realize that."

> Ask about your brand.

> "I'll keep my hands to myself if you could do the same to my friends."

> Other

>>43170643
> Ask about your brand.
> "I'll keep my hands to myself if you could do the same to my friends."

For all the saying that you are greater than us all, you're more empty than Rock. Maybe you should try to understand rather than dominate, might fill the void that is your being.

>>43170643
> Apologize profusely.
> "You're not Hiss. You're something else and you need to realize that."
> Ask about your brand.
wow great idea guys

>>43170643
> Apologize profusely.
> "You're not Hiss. You're something else and you need to realize that."
> Ask about your brand.
> "I'll keep my hands to myself if you could do the same to my friends."

>>43170643
> Apologize profusely.
> "You're not Hiss. You're something else and you need to realize that."
> Ask about your brand.

>>43170643
> Ask about your brand.
>are you really sure you're hiss, what makes you think that you are?
>apologize politely

>>43170643
Offer to pet the not snek if you get your hands back..

>>43170643
> Apologize profusely.
> "That didn't happen the last time I did it"

>>43171045
Last time he slugged her..

>Ask about your brand.
>A bunch of other stuff also.

"Ah, sorry about that."
You look down at what's left of your hands. They don't hurt at all but it does look vaguely unsettling.
"Maybe I'd keep my hands to myself if you could do the same to my friends."

"What?"

"I got to be honest lady, you keep fucking with us. It's not fun for us and you only seem to be getting bitter about it so I'm not sure who profits."

"It's not about who 'profits'. It's about getting revenge and getting that pathetic impostor to LET ME GO."

"Why the fuck do you hate her so much, anyway?"

"Because she's me. And not me. She stole my life."

Her grip tightens, you do your best not to panic.
"Are you sure it was your life?"

"Yes!"

"So you know about that time we went swimming in Melire?"

"Yes!"

"And the time I bought you that bracelet in Lombai?"

"Yes!"

"And the time we met the dragon in the mountain?"

"Yes!"

You sigh, doing your best to breathe slowly. You have to remain calm or otherwise she won't either.
"No you're not."

She drops you into the mud, the forest liquefying around you. Ground becomes mud, trees become geysers.
She's clutching her face. Or her mask, at least. Next best thing.
"Why else would you feel nothing? I-I don't know what you are but you haven't had Hiss within you since she broke free of you in the House. I think you're just what's left, like an empty cocoon. Just the power she set aside and...a residue."
The last time you broke her mask, Hiss was down there. Now there's nothing. Like when you finish boiling and bottling a potion, you need to wash the cauldron or else it leaves behind a scummy layer adhering to it.

The forest is silent.
"What am I supposed to do now?"

You shrug.
"I dunno. You can tell me about what you've done with my brand, that'd be a start."

She's still.
"Why?"

Uh.
"Because you seem to like me?"

She laughs.
"Like you? I've never even met you!"
1/2

>>43171075
we broke the mask and she had a face

>>43171111
"I just knew that you were my consort (you said so) and that Hiss and Cennen should be in love. But I didn't remember love (there was nothing to forget i never knew it in the first place) so I just tried my best. But you're right, I've never had this memory. I've never met you. And I can stop trying to love you now. So why should I tell you anything?"

> "Because I told you the truth?"

> "I think it would be the right thing to do."

> "It'd make me feel a lot better."

> Introduce yourself.

> "You're being very difficult right now, Hiss."

> "Remember that last deal you proposed? I'll do it if you just leave us alone."

> Other

>>43171188
> "Because I told you the truth?"
> "I think it would be the right thing to do."
>> Introduce yourself.
>because if all you ever do is destroy, eventually you'll be alone, forever, unloved, unremembered, unmourned, Even Hiss as destructive and misanthropic as she is builds things.

>>43171188
> Introduce yourself.
Wouldn't you like to start making some enjoyable memories of your own? You could start by making a friend.

>>43171188
>> Introduce yourself.

>>43171188
> "Because I told you the truth?"
> "I think it would be the right thing to do."
If you don't have an identity of your own, what kind of person would you like to be? It's up to you.

>>43171188
> "I think it would be the right thing to do."
Your "self" is defined by the way you interact with others, why don't you start off on the right foot with Hiss and I since we're the only people you could possibly know right now?

>>43171188
> Introduce yourself.
"I'm sorry I was so rash, I'm worried about my friends and I want to know what's going on"

> Introduce yourself.

"Well in that case, introductions are in order, aren't they?"
You groan internally. This sounds so dumb. But you still stand back up and offer your arm-stump out to her.
She shakes your hand, reattaching them as she does so. Your hand is swallowed up by hers, like a child trying to strike a deal with an adult.

"My name is Cennen. What's yours?"

"____"

"Uh, an interesting choice. But now we've officially met, haven't we? You've got some memories of your own. What do you think of me?"

"I am ambivalent. I don't have anything against you."

"I wish I could say the same about you. But right now, I need you to help me."

"Fine. What do you want?"

Which issue is most urgent to you? Pick one.

> Please fix my brand.

> Please fix my venom.

> Where's Hiss?

> Where are my friends?

> Other

>>43171433
>> Where are my friends?
Yes, Hiss counts.

>>43171433
> Where are my friends?

>>43171433
> Where are my friends?
dude. we need more than one of these.

>>43171433
>> Where are my friends?
true, it would be good to fix all our biological shit but rock could be in some serious shit and at our behest, need to rectify that.

>>43171433
> Please fix my brand.
>>43171507
that ship probably sailed when these idiots decided to rip off the mask.

> Where are my friends?

"Where are my friends?"
It's just not Hiss you're worried about either. Something's wrong with Rock, they didn't answer your prayers. They come first, before anything else.

"Here."
She reaches inside of her robes and pulls out a tiny black serpent, one smaller than your fingernail and completely toothless.
You cradle the snake in your hand, doing your best not to hurt it. It tries to bite you over and over again but it's utterly incapable of doing anything, unable to even move properly.
It makes you sick.
"And Rock? There was a spirit in here, wasn't there? They were helping the seal the brand from you!"

"Oh, that thing? Don't worry, your brand is still sealed. That creature isn't really under my power, I just sent it to sleep while I meddled with your venom. They're fine."

You do your best to shelter the tiny snake.
"What did you do to my venom anyway? And why?"

"I wanted revenge! And simply hurting her in her dreams wasn't enough, it'd never be enough. So I changed your venom to make her dreams a reality."

"In what way, exactly?"

She points at the worm in your hands.
"Right now, your venom is targeted at her specifically. To make her weaker and smaller, to slowly erode all of her magic and intelligence over multiple exposures. Until she's just a dumb animal."

You take a step back.
"Why? I wasn't going to get my venom on her!"

"But I knew you used it in potions and...ugh. I was bored. Bored and angry. But I'm not sure what I have to be angry about anymore."

"So you'll withdraw the venom?"

"Sure, why not? Nothing matters anymore."
She flicks her finger back, breaking the thread between you and her. You hope that means something.

"So...will you also change the brand back?"

She ponders for a long moment.
"No, I don't think so. I've decided that I like you, in a sort of lukewarm fashion but I still need leverage. If you want the brand gone, you'll have to swear yourself into wishbond with me. I promise I won't misuse it."
1/2

>>43171714
She holds out a gloved hand once more.

> Agree

> Disagree

> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

>>43171734
> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

>>43171734
>> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

We're going to need to have more talks to figure out who you are.. Terrible thing not knowing.

>>43171734
> "Isn't there anything else you want?"
its probably not safe to agree to this until we have some reason to genuinely believe she doesn't to fuck up hiss..

>>43171734
> "Isn't there anything else you want?"
> "Haven't you tried talking to her instead of doing this?"

>>43171734
> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

>>43171734
>> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

> "Isn't there anything else you want?"

"I don't want to agree to that."
You certainly don't trust her enough. You're not sure if you'd trust ANYONE with that.
"Isn't there something else I'd rather have?'

"What else COULD I possibly want?" she scoffs. "I can make anything I want in here but I can't be free. I can't give myself a life!"

"And how does getting me into a wishbond help that, exactly?"

"Well," she smirks. "I know you can't free me yourself but three chosen tasks would certainly help me reach my goal."

"Can't you just ask Hiss?"

She shakes her head.
"She wouldn't. Either way would cause her dissolution. She either lets me back into her and we become one again or she dies and I am loosed into the world. I've tried asking her to die nicely and she assaulted me!"
She does her best to sound wounded.

"Well now I'm definitely not taking the wishbond."

"Why not?"

"Because you just told me about it! Why would I do anything that would lead to Hiss dying?"

"Oh. I forgot about love. How about in a few years time, you probably won't love her then?"

> "Goodbye."

> Make a different offer (Specify)

>>43171998
I could theoretically make you a body with alchemy. It'd take a LOT of time, but I could do it.

>>43172062
Whywouldyoudothat?

>>43171998
> Make a different offer (Specify)
i could probably make you a soul of your own someday. I'll start looking into it if you promise to stop tormenting hiss and fix my brand.

>>43171998
> Make a different offer (Specify)
Aren't you lonely? We could maintain a telepathic link to make things a little less boring for you.

>>43171998
>>43172168
Seconded.

>>43171998
>> Make a different offer (Specify)
>>43172119
>>Couldn't I help you figure out who you are?
you need a man on the outside if you want to resolve this in a timely fashion.

Hiss is too stubborn for whatever you're planning on to work out in a timely fashion, you're proof of that..

> Make a different offer (Specify)
Maybe we cold try to make her an avatar? something that would let her see the world and interact with it without bringing about the end of days

> Make a different offer

"Isn't there something else we can do? Like, uh, stick a telepathic link with me? Maybe that'd make things a little less boring."

"That's not possible, I can't make links to things in the real world from where I am. Just sit on ones that are already there."

"I could make a body for you? Or a soul? I gotta be honest, I can't make either of those things just yet. But I will be able to someday, I promise. But I need you to retract the brand and to stop doing ...this to Hiss."

She stops, caught deep in thought.
"That may be acceptable. But how can I trust you? Swear it, promise me that you'll do that one day."
She doesn't say it but you have the feeling that said promise might be binding in more ways than usual.

>Agree

>Disagree.

>>43172290
>I promise I will try my best to make one or the other in a timely matter, while living my life as I see fit, and expanding my craft.

>>43172290
>Agree
what could possibly go wrong? we can't just leave her in Hiss forever anyway.

>>43172290
>Agree
inb4 we cause the apocalypse

>>43172290
I'd say we discuss it with Hiss and Rock first, but I don't think she'll let us go without an answer
>>43172323
This works, we need to find a way to deal with her power

>>43172290
>I can promise to try

>>43172323
I think this is already implied by "one day"

>>43172290

>Disagree.
need time to think about it

>Agree

What could possibly go wrong with this?
"Sure, let's do this. I promise that I will try my best to make one or the other in a timely manner, while living my life and expanding my craft as I see fit."
You'd have preferred to have discussed it with someone else first but she's hardly going to let you leave and talk to them. And you don't know if the snake in your hand is even properly sapient. But that choice of words, while binding you, should give you plenty of time at least.

"Hrm."
She doesn't sound too happy.
"That'll have to do. Not what I wanted but..."

"That's life. You'll get used to it."

"Yes, please unload more of your worldweary wisdom, you twerp. Now go away before I do something unpleasant to you."
Some facade gives way, showing sawtoothed irritation and impatience. She doesn't sound happy with the way you worded your promise.

...

And then you wake up, gasping for breath. The first thing you notice is how light you feel, as if something heavy had been lifted from your side. Your brand, the mutant grooves and scars eating away at your body...is gone. A neat ouroboros on your palm is the only thing left and as you clench your fist, you feel a faint throb between you and Hiss sleeping beside you.
It's back, you're connected to her once again.
It's strange, you couldn't feel it before but after spending so long metaphysically separated, you can almost feel a pulsing connection from your brand to her.
You hold your branded hand to hers and she wakes up immediately, her eyes drawn to your brand by instinct. Her face lights up.
"You did it!"

She slaps you on the back hard enough to accidentally send you rolling off the bed, landing in a clumsy heap on the hardwood floor.
"Sorry!"

The noise draws the attention of someone else, the door creaking open. Who's there?

> Oster

> Rock

> Lady Trebain

> Eugene

> Liss & Aina

>>43172562
> Rock

>>43172562
> Liss & Aina

By the way, I might be gone for a few minutes. I have to go pick something up.

>>43172562
> Oster

>>43172562
> Liss & Aina

>>43172562
> Liss & Aina
inb4 extremely ominous archive description

>>43172651
yeah I got a bad feeling about this. should be interesting though.

>>43172562
>> Eugene
what about eugene guys?
>>43172669
true enough but we probably were going to have to deal with her in one fashion or another. This at least puts an end to the stalemate and is an interesting challenge

>>43172562
> Oster

>>43172562
>> Liss & Aina

CURVEBALL!

>>43172562
> Liss & Aina

Alright back, that took a while longer than I thought it would. Lisa & Aina it is, writan.

>Liss & Aina

The door creaks open as you lie groaning on the ground.
"Ooah, my back. Come on Hiss, can't you be a little more consider-huh?"

"Cennen!"
Someone helps pull you to your feet and you find yourself staring at a redhaired teenage girl in a blue dress.

"Aina?"
You flinch a little as you remember how you had left her, sitting by the side of her comatose sister.

"I can't believe you're back! Thank you!"
She embraces you. You see Hiss sit upright in your peripheral vision.

"Thanks? For what?"

"For me, I think."
Another voice, though still very much like Aina's. Liss enters the room, supported by a walking stick in her right hand. Her hair is shorter and while she still has her disgruntled expression, she is much more frail and less imposing than the Liss you knew.
In that vein you suppose, Aina is holding herself a little taller than she used to be and looks much less 'quivery'.

"You gave me care when she couldn't afford an alchemist," Liss says. "And you introduced us to Lady Trebain and the wizard. Thank you. Thank you for everything."
Her words are flat and a little awkward. You're really not sure what to say yourself.
"Um."

Fortunately, Hiss saves you the trouble.
"Oh, you're both still alive. What a shame."

Both girls tense, neither having noticed Hiss sitting by the corner. Liss pales but says nothing, clutching her stick.
It's left to Aina to raise her hand, rounding on the princess.
"You! You threw her to the monster!"

Hiss takes a deep breath.
"I'm sorry."

"And you dare show you-what?"
Aina stops, thrown off-track.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't throw you instead. Truth be told, I couldn't tell the difference between you two and I messed up."

Now might be a good time to defuse the situation.
1/2

>>43173326

> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.

> Ask Hiss to leave.

> Escort the twins outside.

> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"

> Take Aina's side.

> Explain that Hiss didn't mean to harm anyone.

> Don't do anything. Let them resolve this themselves.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43173332
> Use Potion (Specify)
> More Healing
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.

>No physical contact they can argue this out using words.

>>43173332
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.
Offer her a heal-all, it's much stronger. Make amends in place of Hiss.

>>43173332
> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"
> Escort the twins outside.
Dammit Hiss! You're the worst!

>>43173332
> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.
Tell her we've gotten better at alchemy and might be able to help, since our regular healing wasn't that good comparatively.
> Use Potion (Specify)
Heal all if Liss consents.

>>43173332
>> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.

>>43173332
> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.
snek is jealous of that hug. give liss a heal-all and then put an arm around hiss.

>>43173332
> Sorry, Hiss is a snake, biting is her way of showing affection. She gets all uncomfortable and adorable otherwise.

>>43173332
Oh, and also more healing.

> Interrupt very loudly. "So, how have you two been?"
> Ask Liss how her healing process is going.

This is going to get bad fast. Since when did Aina have a backbone? But regardless, her cause against Hiss is fairly just. A shame that that won't mean anything if she steps too close and Hiss kills her.
You worm your way between them, preventing Aina from ever crossing Hiss' invisible circle of reach.
"So," you say loudly. "How have you two been?"

Liss shrugs as best she can.
"Getting by."

"I got a job," Aina says. "It's not much but it helps us pay Lady Trebain back."

You raise your eyebrows.
"She's charging you rent?"

"No! It's just that..."
"Aina feels guilty and keeps trying to pay her back."
"Liss!"
"She's been very good for us. She even gave us money to see an alchemist for additional treatment."

You nod, slowly pushing Hiss backwards.
"And where have you been working, Aina?"

"Here! I'm the maid of the house right now. It lets me stay close to Liss in case she needs any help."
Liss scowls but doesn't say anything, apparently having accepted their role reversal.

"Wait, hold on a moment," you say. "So you've been trying to pay Lady Trebain back... with money she pays you in the first place?"

"When you put it that way it sounds dumb!"

"Better than my old job," Liss says tiredly, making you grimace. You remember that. The two girls from the hinterlands had been utterly unprepared to survive in the big city and lacking any connections or needed skills, Liss had taken work as a whore while lying to Aina about where she was getting the money. It had been rent and enough to live and nothing else, leaving them nothing when they needed an alchemist to treat them.

"I don't know Liss, cleaning in a tavern isn't much different from cleaning a big fancy house," Aina beams.
Oh shit she still doesn't know. Liss locks eyes with you when Aina isn't looking and shakes her head at you. You nod, message received.

1/2

>>43173622
>"Shut up" over our shoulder

>>43173622
"How's the healing process going, Liss? I have a few heal-alls these days that should help."

"Thank you. I've already drunk my fair share of heal-alls. The master told me that there's something wrong with my 'spinal cord'," she says, pronouncing the medical term as if it was a foreign word. "And that it's hard for even a heal-all to fix permanently."

"It's fine," Aina says, perhaps a little brittle. "At least she isn't on her chair anymore."

"Chair?"

Liss looks away.
"They gave me a little chair with big wheels to start with."

"She still has to use it a little when she's tired though."

"That's enough, Aina."
Liss' gaze is firmly fixed on the floor.

> Brew up some more heal-alls.

> Talk to Aina

> Talk to Liss

> Talk to Hiss

> Find someone else (Specify)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43173692
>> Brew up some more heal-alls.
Never enough of em when you need them
>> Talk to Aina
>> Talk to Liss
So what's happened around the city and nation while I was out of country?

>>43173692
Hey, could we give her a shapeshift and a permanency potion or something like that?

I mean, so long as she stays away from us she's unlikely to have to deal with it fucking up, and we can always make her a couple spares.

And if Hiss gets pissy, tell her that benevolence can be just as much a show of power as hurting people, and sometimes the knowledge that you CAN fix your mistakes is worth it even if the people you help don't have anything to give you.

>>43173692
> Brew up some more heal-alls.
Make them as strong as possible.
Also is the bunyip dog still in our room?

>>43173692
>> Brew up some more heal-alls.
chat with whoever sticks around i guess, and try to prevent conflict also
>pray and see if rock is around

>>43173692
> Brew up some more heal-alls.
> Talk to Liss
Who was the master alchemist and how much did he charge for the heal-alls?
Maybe he was scamming her, or the only thing she could afford were lesser heal-alls

>>43173727
permanency has some side effects if we let it stay active for too long though.

>>43173692
> Brew up some more heal-alls.
combine one with a regen brew, maybe it would heal nervous tissue more easily.

>>43173733
we should probably give him a more dog-like name at some point.

>>43173733
Also ask Liss and Aina what Eugene has been up to lately.

>>43173784
Baskerville

> Brew up some more heal-alls.

Obviously a bit of a touchy subject there.
"No matter, as long as I'm around you won't have to buy them. I'll leave you with some too."

You get out your minimized alchemical lab, grabbing their attention by shaking it all out of it's collapsed state and back to full size as you get to work. You pass her the first heal-all you make. And the second. And the third. And the fourth. And the-

"Cennen," Hiss says. "I think that's enough potions for now. More than they need."

"It's for the best if they have a big stash."

"Mmm. Alright girls, you've had your chat now I think it's time for you to leave."
Hiss starts advancing, trying to usher the twins out of the room.

> Stop her.

> Go with the twins outside.

> Keep brewing.

> Let it happen.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43173871
> Let it happen.

>>43173871
>> Go with the twins outside.
I should probably go make sure Eugene hasn't driven Aashenpreet or Oster to distraction. Besides I know you're tired after that dream you had.

>>43173871
Make a better healing potion. Poor girl got spine jacked

>>43173871
Hiss do not rough up the girl with a spinal injury!

>>43173871
> Go with the twins outside.
Gotta go talk to Lady Trebain or Eugene.

We should tell Hiss what we did, also we still haven't heard from Rock

>>43173871
> Let it happen.
We might want to talk with Hiss about what we learned about her spirit self

>>43173871
> Let it happen.

Wait they're twins right? Couldn't we give them a shapestealer potion and make it permanant? Or am I fucking up my facts here

>>43173956
making a brew permanent has side effects eventually. we can't just use it on someone and then leave.

SNAKES CAUGHT
HOW MANY

>>43173990
Three, two of them several times

>>43173956
>Let it happen.

You just sigh as Hiss glares them out of the room.
"We'll talk later, okay?"

Hiss closes the door before Liss is even properly out of the way, bumping her out.
"And stay out!"

"What's wrong Hiss?"

"Nothing's wrong, at least, not anymore. You know I've always disliked them. They're useless. But then again Cennen, you have a penchant for attempting to accumulate useless people. Why, we have Aashenpreet STILL hanging around somewhere after all."

"Just promise me you won't kill them.Or eat them."

"Fiiine. I could eat just a little maybe. Imagine if Aina came back to find that her sister had forgotten who she was!"

"Hiss, no."

"You're right, they've known each other too long, taking that much would turn her into an invalid. More than she already is. But just the last few months..."

"No. Don't fucking touch them. Please."

"Do you think she'd still care for her sister if I put her soul into like, a chamberpot or something?"
She frowns at your reaction.
"That was supposed to be funny. You're supposed to be laughing at my joke."

You just stare at her until she sits back down on the bed, grumbling beneath her breath.

> Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.

> Tell her most of what had happened but leave out the promise you made.

> Pray.

> Brew something up.

> Find someone less unpleasant to talk to.

> Nobble her.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43174049
>Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.
But word it like we want to build a soul trap to get her out of there
> Brew something up.
Might as well start making progress now.

>>43174049
> Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.
Focus more on how she won't live inside Hiss anymore or something

>>43174049
>> Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.
She should know, and before she starts remind her that this is how we got her off her tail

>>43174049
> Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.
When she gets pissed ask her if she planned to let her live in her soul for the rest of her life

> Tell her about everything that happened with doppelganger.

"I've got good news, you know. But the way you've been acting now, I'm not sure if I should tell you."

"What?"
Hiss perks up.
"Tell me."

"Like I said, I'm not sure if-"
You were attempting to just be a bit playfully catty but Hiss picks you up bodily. She doesn't do anything, just holds you up there with your feet helplessly kicking inches away from the ground. You don't even bother trying to break her grip, you know it's not going to happen.
"Yeah, I'll tell you."

She drops you on the bed.
"Don't you remember it? You were there."

Hiss scowls.
"I'd rather not talk about that. Just tell me what she said to you."

You give her a brief explanation of what occurred between you and her double. You can't help but notice an unconscious shiver of relief go through her when you tell her that she won't be in her dreams anymore. She doesn't even seem to be paying attention to what you say after that, even if it involves getting them a body.
She just slumps against you, smiling.
"Thank you. You mean it, right? She's not going to come back?"

"No."

"I don't know what to say. I-if she's gone then...thank you. Thank you. Is there anything you want?"

"Pardon?"

Hiss invades your personal space, sitting herself on your lap.
"I'm not sure how to thank you. So I'll tell you what. I'll give you one wish."

This is new.
"You can wishbond yourself?"

"What? No. That'd be stupid, you idiot."
She ruffles your hair with her hand.
"I didn't mean it in a literal sense. It'll be a wish with no magic behind it. But whatever it is, I'll do it."

> Make a wish (Specify)

> "I'll hold onto that."

> "Anything?"

> Brew

> Ask her about her dreams.

> Other

>>43174224
> "I'll hold onto that."
> Ask her about her dreams.

>>43174224
> "I'll hold onto that."
Now let' go find those idiots

>>43174224
> "I'll hold onto that."
> Ask her about her dreams.

Sorry about the delay, I had a phone call.

> "I'll hold onto that."
> Ask her about her dreams.

You sit there, pondering the implications of an additional wish.
"Well," Hiss looks right into your eyes from where she's sitting on you. "What's it going to be? Surely there's always something you want."

"I think I'll hold onto it for now. Never know when it might come in handy."

"Oh."
Hiss slides off of you, collapsing back on the bed.
"Don't hold onto it for too long. I'll lose patience and forget about it, probably."

"I'll keep it in mind. By the way, Hiss..."
You almost stutter the next word. You don't know if it's right to ask or not.
"How often did she appear in your dreams?"

Hiss looks at you drearily, her mood suddenly dampened.
"Every night."

"And what were they like?"

She narrows her eyes.
"I try not to remember. It works very well, most of the time."

"Sorry. But is it the same each time?"

"I don't want to talk about it Cennen."
She rolls over, facing away from you.

"Well if you ever need to talk about it, I'm right here, you know?"

"I know."

"And it's over now."

She grunts.
"It won't be over until I can kill her myself."

> Stay with her a bit longer.

> Find the twins.

> Pray.

> Explore the house.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Brew

> Other

>>43174396
>Explore the house.
So hiss is going to jump godhiss the second she's out of her and kick her ass in the real world

>>43174396
> Pray.
Let's see how Rock is doing

>>43174396
>Pray
to meet up with Rock and then
> Explore the house.
Invite Hiss too.
We don't really need to keep Rock a secret here do we?

>>43174438
Maybe. Might attract the attention of the church if we display Rock in public but I don't really know enough about it to be sure. Just among our friends here it should be fine though.

>>43174396
> Pray.

>>43174396
>Pray
>Stay with her a bit longer.
>Pet the snake.

>Pray
>Explore the house.

"I'm going to go see how everyone else is doing, you want to come?"

"No thanks. I have something else I want to do."

"Alright. And remember, don't touch the twins."

She turns back to you, smirking.
"Was that your wish?"

"No. Don't make me have to use it, either."

She laughs as you leave.

When you get out into the empty hallway, you have an idea. Shouldn't Rock be free now? Hopefully they're still no asleep. Hopefully the thing inside Hiss hadn't been playing you for a chump the whole time. You make a quick prayer, prompting Hiss to groan through the walls at you.
And then right next to you, the world shifts. It is as if Rock had been standing there the entire time and you had only just become aware of it.
-I am awake.-

"So uh, I see. What's up?"

Rock is still the same as ever as far as you can tell. A hand-sized fuzzy spider with seven legs comprised from a whirling cloud of sand and stone fragments. Her halo winks above her, seven volcanic stars.
-I am unsure of what has occurred.-

You give her the rundown on what the fake Hiss had told you.
-I see. Then I am sorry.-

"For what?'

-I failed you. In the end, I wasn't useful.-

"That's not true, Rock. You held the line. A-And I missed you!"

-Still, I cannot help but feel a little shamed.-

The two of you reach the end of the hallway and step out the last door onto the balcony overlooking the back garden. You can see the city and beyond that, the ocean.
"What do you think of the view?"

-I vastly prefer it to seeing nothing at all.-

> It's time to go show Rock to the others.

> It's time to brew.

> Ask Rock to hide himself away while you're staying here.

> Find a specific person (Specify)

> Other

>>43174518
>> It's time to go show Rock to the others.

>>43174518
> It's time to go show Rock to the others.

>>43174518
> It's time to go show Rock to the others.
Damn, I feel kinda bad for using Rock like that. We should ask if she's seen the bunyip-dog anywhere. I'd rather not let a super powered dog run around the city.

> It's time to go show Rock to the others.

You find Eugene, Oster and Aashenpreet by the foot of the main stairway. Even Aashenpreet is looking fed up with the wizard so needless to say, Oster has decidedly sour expression. But that changes when they see you coming.

"Hey mate," Oster calls out. "Good to see you're doing fine after that scare."
His eyes plead with you to do something about Eugene.

Aashenpreet virtually squeals when she sees Rock sitting on your hand and she rushes up the stairs to meet you.
"Suzerain!"

-Ah, it's you. Hello.-

You flick Rock off your finger and let Aash catch her.
"And you, you're fine?"

You nod and Aashenpreet embraces you, accidentally nearly crushing the diminutive spirit between you.
"Thank Aashimid's grace! I was feeling awful Cennen, the idea that you might die and the last words I had for you was that awful argument about society!"

Eugene raises his cane in your direction in what is probably an attempt at a respectful salute.
"I knew you were going to be fine, the maid told me. Which is fantastic because I have so many more potions to show you!"

You let him lead you away, Oster and Aashenpreet both thanking you silently as you martyr yourself for them. You can't help but grin though. This is just such a far cry from the last time you were in Taldenral!
There's no enemies left here, it feels. Just friends. And it's about time. It's been feeling lately that the world itself has been working against you to make everything as uncomfortable as possible.

But now you're nearly home and nothing can go wrong.

>>43174613
And that's that for today! I hope you guys had fun, even if I was feeling a little sick. The thread's been archived and you should check out my twitter for the date of the next thread, etc, etc.

It won't be tomorrow though. There's also a short interlude coming up.

>>43174630
>"Nothing can go wrong"
>Short interlude

You son of a bitch

>>43174648
I totally predicted that ominous archive description too.

Interlude 1

Hiss ambled down the hallway, feeling more than a little sick. It was deep into the night and everyone else was asleep. But not her. She was, and it pained her to say this even to herself, too nervous. Cennen had told her dreams would be safe once more. So why did she end up in a cold sweat every time she tried to sleep? It couldn't be fear. She was not afraid.

Should she abandon this body and sleep in her natural form? It might simply be bodily processes getting in her way. The human brain had far too many bells and whistles devoted to nothing for her liking.

And it was at that point that she realized she wasn't alone. Someone else was awake too. There were footsteps, faltering steps down at the far end of the darkness. And despite all their apparent safety, Hiss still flattened herself against the wall and sidled behind a cupboard.

It wasn't because she was afraid or anything and indeed, if she'd been with Cennen she probably would have forced herself to stay brash and loud. It was just that she couldn't afford to take anymore chances, not after having come so far.
Surely there wouldn't be any more Snakecatchers.

And then she heard a different noise join the footsteps, a light tapping of a stick and she relaxed. Yes, now she could see the culprit. It was the crippled twin, the one whose name momentarily escaped her. Liss?
She was making her way down the hallway and she was doing it all alone.

It was child's play to wait until she passed and it was even easier to stretch out a leg and kick out her cane from underneath her. Hiss had to stifle a giggle as the readhead hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The girl didn't scream or make any major sound, she simply moaned underneath her breath. A whine of pain and helplessness, underscored by furious impotence. She couldn't see anything. She must have thought she had fallen on her own.
Hiss watched in the darkness as she slowly began to climb back up, giving short gasps of pain each time.
1/2

>>43174729
It took well over a minute for her to find her stick and slowly get to her feet. And yet she didn't call for help and she kept her gasps quiet. Hiss could understand, even if she could never sympathize. She didn't want anyone to pity her or to see what she had become.

Which is fine because it meant Hiss could trip her over a second time. This time, she did it by the window so she could see better. And she couldn't stop herself from giggling a little this time. What was she doing? Was it cruel? Perhaps. Pointless? Certainly.
But it was nice to have complete control over someone for once, to take away everything from them. Just like the dream-thing did to her every night.

Liss heard her laughter and knowing now that her humiliating had a witness, began to cry. Not much but enough, tears long held back.

Hiss wasn't sure where to go from here which as it turned out, was a moot point as the window behind Liss slammed open at that very moment.
Something clear and fluid, a shambling hand comprised of ice-cold water burst through into the hallway. Neither of them had time to scream.

That's all of the interlude. See you guys around.

>>43174687
I had you in mind when I wrote it.

>>43174769
oh fuck its the water wizard

>>43174769
Goddammit bart

Since it's showing up in my ask.fm, I figure I should address the 'Hiss is still evil and we can't stop her' thing while the thread's still around and somebody's maybe still reading it.
Yes, that was mean. But Hiss is slowly improving. Hiss has literally tried to murder Liss before, this is merely assault.

Plus I just found it bizarrely funny for some reason for Hiss to be engaged in something as petty as possible before being attacked.

>>43174868
How strong are Cennens Heal-Alls compared to the unnamed alchemists?

Petty Hiss best Hiss

>>43174945
A bit less than on-par. Cennen's healing potions aren't spectacular.