FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

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FINALE

[bloodweapon]

[The hits land true and between Argenti's attack and Aaron's kick, he drops to a knee, leaning on his sword where he's stabbed it into the ground for balance. That dark power courses through him as Living Dead activates again, fully healing the Dark Knight.

The flames grow further, risking consuming him whole and yet he readies his sword for another strike. There is much they have yet to prove if they hope to be good enough, and he is not one to let such things go untested, unproven...]

Enough.

[It's firmly Fray's voice this time. He sounds tired, the exhaustion of all those casts finally catching up to him. The flames fully take hold of him. They burn brightly for a moment before receding, leaving only one familiar set of armor and the knight contained within it behind.]

...That's enough. I do not want to fight you any longer.

[The flames fall away and when Fray looks up at you all, his eyes are back to their usual gold. He releases his grip on his sword as if to prove that he's done - that you all have won.]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...There it is.

There is Fray's voice. It's truly there! This time? There is no hesitating, as his face lights up brightly like a morning star hanging above in the midnight sky. ]

You had better not!

[ Argenti says in a shout as he runs on over to the other man, and he doesn't care that this time Fray is in his armor, he immediately throws his arms around him, to bring him into a sudden embrace. ]

I knew I would have you return soon enough. Though, you truly seemed quite intent on putting all of us through the ringer first, my love.

...Did you really think myself giving up was an option?

[bloodweapon]

[Oof, he goes willingly into that hug and just sort of... ragdolls on Argenti. He is so tired. He is so boneless. He never wants to move again.]

Of course I didn't. I knew that, and yet...

[Siiiiigh.]

Well, I wasn't fully in control of myself. I'm back now, and you won't have to face me like that again, I swear.

[He knows how difficult it is, though their experiences certainly differ.]

[beautifulknight]

[ There is a ragdoll beloved Dark Knight draping all over him. Don't you know, ragdolls are the cutest kind of cats? Though Argenti thinks of Fray as the number one catboy, of course.

Anyway before he gets caught up in his head there he will focus on what his lover is saying. ]

Yes, you were very stubborn about it at the time, but I understand it wasn't truly intentional. Just like how it was with myself and the others.

...I firmly have deep belief in your words, my loved one. That is without a single doubt in my mind.

[ Sincerely, and earnestly. It's a pity he can't rub the other man's back in a way that matters since he's in armor...but he can always save that for later. ]

[bloodweapon]

[It takes so much SP to use Living Dead, Argenti, he is so sleepy........]

Still, I did hurt you all. And I put you through quite the unfair round of ordeals.

[He would've greatly preferred not to have his (and V'rhas's) memories on full display for everyone, but what can you do...]

...Thank you. I knew you would chase after me but I... I needed to hear your words.

[He'd still be fighting without them.]

[gardenful]

[ She will give the gay knights their space, but when she gets a chance… you best believe she’s giving Fray a hug that’s every bit as warm as her personality. ]

It’s good to have you back.

[ And it’s a relief that he’s alright, and back where he belongs. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Thank you, Aerith... And thank you for not bullying him...]

It's good to be back.

[Thanks, God of Chaos!!! He sure doesn't appreciate that!! Anyway, he actually doesn't mind returning that hug, though the armor is probably not comfortable, so he'll let go whenever Aerith does.]

You have my thanks for your assistance, and my apologies for... all of this.

[Yeesh? Yeesh.]

[gardenful]

[ At least she knows to hold off on the bullying... for now.

She doesn't mind the armor so much, the warmth of friendship sustaining her for long enough that the hug isn't unsatisfyingly short. ]

You don't need to apologize. What matters is that we have you back. Anything else is just water under the bridge.

[bloodweapon]

[Thank you for no bully...]

I'm not sure I can dismiss it that easily, but I understand that most of this was not my fault.

[Like. Some part of him very much did want to test everyone to ensure they were ready for the God of Conflict, but Not Like This.]

[supherb]

[After all the palaces he's been to, never would Arven have thought he'd be glad to see some gold eyes at the end! But they're Fray's, and they're no longer flickering like crazy.

Arven stands for a moment, panting as he calms down from his rage. Then the adrenaline wears off and the exhaustion of casting so many healing spells catches up to him.]

Phew...! [He plops down in the snow to catch his breath. Mabosstiff comes up to lick at his cheek in celebration.] Thank goodness for that.

[He eventually looks toward Fray with a grin.]

Welcome back, man.

[bloodweapon]

[Mood, except it was all the debuffs. And Shadow Wall. And Living Dead. And all those Electric spells.]

Thank you for bringing me back to my senses. Even though it did mean a particularly grueling battle.

[S-Sorry about that...]

[supherb]

[He waves that off.]

We've had plenty of practice with those. [Then more seriously:] If I gotta be honest, the memories were harder to deal with.

[bloodweapon]

[...Ah.]

Yes. You have my apologies for those as well. It wasn't my intention to inflict those on you, though obviously I had little say in such things.

[He can guess that it was a desire to be understood that caused him to do that but also: what the fuck Chaos-controlled self.]

Is there anything I can do to... make up for that, I suppose?

[destage]

[They've done it.

They've...they've really done it--]

Fray...

[Sayaka's having a hard time battling her own emotions right now, honestly, and it's taking all of her restraint not to just run up and hug him right now. It's all a lot, and she wants to give him some space if he still needs it, kind of dithering at a distance, but...

She'll give him a warm, teary smile. She's only sad that it seemed like V'rhas went painfully, but...]

...I'm so glad you're back.

[bloodweapon]

[Once he's managed to stop hugging on Argenti, Sayaka is immediately getting pulled into a hug. Come here, you.]

As am I. You've my apologies for all that I put you through.

[Perhaps her more than some of the others, because he knows how hard this was on her. He saw it. He wasn't in any state of mind to do anything about it, but now? Now all he can feel is guilt for the things he's forced her through today.]

[destage]

-!

[Yeah, no, surprised as Sayaka is at first, she absolutely just clings to Fray the second he pulls her into a hug, and every bit of emotions from the day come out as she just straight up sobs into him.]

Why are you apologizing?! I should've--I shouldn't have assumed things were okay, I--I--!

[It's all kind of a lot, really, and she doesn't give a damn who sees this right now, those bodies and the guilt and death and hurting someone she cares about takes priority.]

I'm so sorry--

[bloodweapon]

[The clinging and crying are sort of expected, after everything, but the apologies definitely aren't.]

Sayaka, please, you needn't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for; you've done nothing wrong.

[The words are as gentle as he can get them, and gentler still is his hand when he bring is up to pat her on the head. He's mindful of his gauntlet's claws, of course.]

I put you through all of this today. I forced you into a fight you never wanted. These are things I would have never done of my own volition, but I have done them just the same. That deserves an apology.

[imperiosity]

[Aaron was gearing up for another round after seeing those dark flames, but once it's clear that Fray is back in the driver's seat, he sheathes his swords. He's actually pretty tired considering the back-to-back fights, so he definitely looks tired and battered, but the frustration that was present a few minutes ago clears up easily enough.]

Man, about time. And here I thought it'd go smoother with the lovebird-to-lovebird communication between you two.

['can he ever stop running his mouth for just one second' no. no he cannot.]

[bloodweapon]

['can you ever stop running your mouth for just one second—' no, apparently not.]

You've my apologies for what I put you all through.

[...just gonna sidestep that, thank the gods for his helmet, you can't see him blush!!!]

[imperiosity]

[He may not be able to see, but he suspects!!! But it's also been a long palace for everyone so Aaron will give it a rest for now.]

Well, it wasn't bad training. Your Shadow wasn't exactly wrong about needing to be prepared, so I'll just treat this as a free lesson.

[Not that he's ever been the most dedicated when it comes to his own training, but he can still appreciate seeing other sword styles even if Fray really did put them through their paces.]

[bloodweapon]

That was the intention behind it, though I wouldn't have done it quite like that had I been in control of myself.

[Sorry about all the bruises, cuts, and healing spells needed...]

[beathollow]

( oh-

...

thank goodness. mafuyu politely puts her bow and arrows away and steps back into a more polite stature. )

Welcome back.

[bloodweapon]

Thank you for your assistance today.

[Whew. That was so much. He's so tired.]

And you've my apologies for all that I put you though.

[beathollow]

Sou's was worse.

( that's all she has to say on the matter. )

... You were hurting. Are hurting. Someone took advantage of that. The things you feel aren't your fault. None of this was. Okay?

[bloodweapon]

[Oh, rip to everyone in Sou's palace, then...

But Mafuyu is right. He knows this. He absolutely agrees with this in regards to everyone else. It isn't fair to cling to guilt when he wouldn't want that for any of the others.]

...You're right. It isn't easy to remember that, but of course you're right. Thank you for the reminder.