IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

[beathollow]

it's all too perfect.

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THE PRINCESS'S BEDROOM

[beathollow]

Beneath the layers of a fairy tale, a bedroom waits. Something feels off, and a blue light angrily floats around, circling from the bed, the desk and the window.

[moodwrecker]

[Mood, little light.

Aubrey will go check the desk!]

[beathollow]

Mafuyu sits at the desk. It's late at night, late enough that if you glance at the clock you may be appalled. But she has to study. She has to-

A creak echoes throughout the house and Mafuyu freezes with tears bubbling in her eyes immediately.









Silence. After a moment she looks around.

She's alone.

She's alone.

She's alone.

Nobody's there, this time.


...

The desk is perfectly organized. But it seems like something is missing.

[moodwrecker]

[Hate that!

She looks through everything on the desk, taking a quick inventory. Is there some kind of usual desk supply that seems to be missing?]

[beathollow]

No, but- oh!

This is space for a laptop.

[moodwrecker]

[Oh huh.

Looking around the room to see if a laptop got hidden in a drawer or under a cushion or something.]

[beathollow]

There isn't.

...

There's a stain of juice that wasn't wiped away well enough though...

[moodwrecker]

[...?

Are there tissues she can use to wipe it away?]

[beathollow]

There are, but as Aubrey does so she feels a heavy sadness in her heart-

You really...?

Really?

... I'm sorry.

[moodwrecker]

[...? She snaps her head up, looking around to try to see who said that.]

Really what...?

[cirquedesang]

[...It would be rude to intrude.

So he knocks lightly on the doorframe before stepping in, and moves to intercept the blue light by the window.]

[beathollow]

Mafuyu is just getting home, and Mom is waiting to greet her. There's a frivolous exchange, and Mafuyu goes upstairs to her room while Mom announces she's going to get started on dinner.

...

It's so stifling in here, though. As she sets her bag on the desk, Mafuyu moves to open her window.

The bedroom door opens.

"Mafuyu? Is everything alright?"

Mafuyu jolts, eyes wide before she manages a smile.

"Yes, Mom. I just wanted some fresh air."

"... Alright. You've probably got a lot of homework, so you should get started."

And then she's gone, and Mafuyu's alone.

The blue light looks at Celeste.

...

You aren't the one that I need.

[cirquedesang]

[Yeah, hate that memory. But he'll address the blue light anyway.]

Who is? Maybe I can bring them to you.

[beathollow]

It's rage that I need. Righteous fury. You are someone who wants to know and be known.

[cirquedesang]

I see.

[...Hey, the angry little girlypop with the bat is here, so.]

Miss, would you come to the window?

[moodwrecker]

Hm? What is it?

[Going to come check out the window!]

[beathollow]

The blue light circles Aubrey before settling before her. She'll feel... strong. Protective.


Furious.

Anger that is used to hurt others is useless. We are righteous fury. Stand strong against the Queen- you are fangs for a reason.

[moodwrecker]

[Oh, so it's just enhancing how she already felt.]

...Of course I will. But where is she?

[idealies]

[ Ai whispers "sorry for the intrusion~" before stepping inside Mafuyu's room, going to check out the bed. ]

[beathollow]

It's past midnight, but Mafuyu can't sleep. She tosses and turns, but closing her eyes hurts, and her mind is racing and her chest feels tight-

...

After a moment, she quietly slips out of bed- her phone is on her desk.

But the moment she stands, the door creaks open.

"Mafuyu...?"

The girl dives back under the covers.

It's quiet.

"... I suppose I must have imagined things."

The door closes, and Mafuyu can only lay there in terror.

...

At least its a cozy bed.

[idealies]

[ Mafuyu... The poor girl might have been trying to contact her friends. Ai looks around for any signs of the phone, or maybe a computer since Mafuyu had mentioned they were connected online. ]

[beathollow]

... Nothing is there, but Ai can tell the desk used to have a laptop, and there's a charging port there as well.

[idealies]

Her stuff's missing.

[ Mafuyu has been truly isolated. Ai remembers the memory in the forest of her rejecting her friends' help, but she doesn't think that's how Mafuyu feels deep down. Is there anything else out of place in her room? ]

[beathollow]

No. Not a single thing is out of place. Not a single thing is a useless distraction. Not a single thing is unsightly.

Everything is perfect, where it belongs.

[idealies]

[ Unsettling! ]