Palace Game 6/3

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[fujimaru]

No.

[ She says it very reasonably, like they're having a perfectly normal conversation that she is completely awake for. ]

I will not.

[cultfavorite]

And why not?

[Responding in kind, and he's just going to spoon up to her and hold her in the bed, cuddly.]

[fujimaru]

I'm tired.

[ And whiny. But she seems pretty happy with the cuddling, if the way she leans into it is any indication. ]

A nap isn't going to hurt, right?

[cultfavorite]

. . . I know you are. I'm sorry.

[He curls his body around hers, brushing his lips against her cheek, but his smile is somewhat wistful.]

So am I. But there's someplace we need to be before we can rest. It's only a little further.

[fujimaru]

Mmmmmmn.

[ There's a couple more seconds where it seems like she might continue trying to resist, but she does, finally, open her eyes, blinking into space. ]

...where...?

[cultfavorite]

We have to take this back where it belongs.

[He reaches up to run his hand along the edge of the globe, along one of the orbits, propping himself up to look at her.]

[fujimaru]

[ She still looks more half-asleep than anything, drowsy-eyed and slowly blinking; she's awake, but she's not really awake just yet, her body still loosely curled around the globe in her arms. ]

I have to... I'm supposed to keep this safe...

[cultfavorite]

There's a place where it belongs, my dear. I saw it . . . I'll help you take it back. It isn't here in this bed. And if you're going to nap, it ought to be in your own bed, not this one.

[fujimaru]

My own...?

[ Well. Now she's looking around, with a dawning sense of confusion. What. What the heckie. ]

Where...?

[cultfavorite]

You're in his temple. Your Beast. You've been asleep, leaving your body to him . . . it was by his command that we came to find you and wake you. He doesn't want you to waste away in here any more than we do. Than I do.

[fujimaru]

He's not my--wait, what?

[ She sits up at that, a little abruptly, though she's still holding onto that globe. ]

Seriously? For how long?

[cultfavorite]

A few days. It isn't only you. There are others . . . I'll help anyone else I have time to help. But it could only be you first and foremost.

[He puts a steadying hand on her shoulder.]

[fujimaru]

[ She leans into that hand more readily than she does when awake, her brows drawn together. ]

If I'm not the only one... I could have waited. Right? It would have been fine.

[cultfavorite]

Ha...even now you're going to make that argument. No. I'm afraid not. I was never going to choose to let you wait. And now, I'm going to help you carry that out of here, and back to where it belongs.

[fujimaru]

...

[ She's confused. She's so confused, and it's blatantly visible on her face,her arms reflexively tightening around the globe like it's some beloved stuffed toy. ]

Okay... let's go.

[ Please praise her, she is trying so hard not to just blurt out the question of why. ]

[cultfavorite]

Good girl.

[PRAISE RITSUKA. Saturn gets to his feet and reaches to take her hand.]

I'm so very glad to see you. I've missed you.

[fujimaru]

Missed--what--

[ As confused as she clearly is, she doesn't hesitate to accept his hand. Her legs are wobbly as she stands, though less than might be expected for how long she's been asleep in her own mind. ]

C, c'mon, I can't have been asleep for that long...

[cultfavorite]

Long enough. Here, easy.

[He shifts up closer to her to help support her while she gets her balance, and to try and help with that globe, too.]

[fujimaru]

It's fine, it's not that heavy.

[ And it really isn't. If anything, one would expect it to be heavier. Ritsuka is still mostly radiating confusion right now, blinking slowly at him, like she expects him to disappear at any second. ]

How'd you even get here...

[cultfavorite]

[He is still trying to hold both it and her as he helps her to the door he came in!]

It was quite a walk, let's say. I hope we don't have to make it all over again to get out...but if we do, it'll be worth it.

[god he fucking hopes they don't please have mercy ritsuka]

[fujimaru]

[ She is so confused, and she has so many questions, but she lets him get away with this fussing for now, even though she's steady on her feet by the time they reach the door. ]

That makes it sound kind of alarming, you know.

[ But they can go through the door. ]