IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

[beathollow]

it's all too perfect.

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[beathollow]

( there's a warm glow and the heart sinks into her chest, healing mafuyu completely and returning her to human... or. almost...?

teary, golden eyes blink awake and she turns to look at izou. )

Izou-onii-san...

I want to go home.

[goei]

[Huh!!! That's weird!!! Izou will help her sit up.]

Y'mean back to the dorms? We can do that, yeah. We all came ta make sure you can do that.

[beathollow]

Okay. ... It hurts...

[privatedomicile]

Oh, shit, Mafu...hang in there...

[He's gonna recover the sad doll from her hiding place and set her down next to Mafuyu.]

Worst part's over, yo. Your old lady can't do shit right now.

[beathollow]

This is...

( mafuyu hugs the doll, softly whispering something. jesse, in turn, will feel someone- a young girl in size?- hug him with a 'thank you' before the doll dissipates. )

[cirquedesang]

[With the queen utterly decimated (for the first time...), and with Mafuyu's heart returned, and her slowly but surely coming back to herself...

Celeste goes to sit on the ground next to her, next to Izou as well.

And he's winding the music box for her, this time, letting it play once it can't be wound any further.]

She won't hurt you any more, Mafuyu.

[Ever.]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu gasps softly, before closing her eyes and listening. )

... Kanade wrote this... its the first song... that made me smile.

[strawsandals]

[ He'll leave the verbal comforting to the others, which works out since he's kind of choked up right now, but...

Hey, remember your items that the Queen threw away? One of them's a blanket. Yoon has it.

And he'll gently move to drape it over her shoulders. ]

[beathollow]

Oh-

( mafuyu tears up, holding it close. yoon, the blanket itself is a dark blue, patterned with ginkgo leaves and rabbits. remember this, because she won't be able to keep this manifested item. )

Thank you...

[supherb]

[Arven lets out a sigh of relief as Mafuyu regains her physical form...for the most part. He recognizes those gold eyes anywhere. She's the true ruler of this palace. Still, they must be going in the right direction.

He smiles down at her, warm as ever.]

We're almost there, Mafuyu.

[beathollow]

... Arven-

( she wants- she wants. she wants so bad. but not while she's like this.

so she takes his hand in her own, holding his palm to her cheek. )

Warm...

[beautifulknight]

[ After the others say their piece, Argenti figures he should too.

His words are gentle as he speaks out to her: ]

...You're safe now, Miss Mafuyu.

And right now...we are all here for you.

[beathollow]

Argenti. ... Thank you... I heard everything.

[townmusician]

Your home sucks. Come back with us, instead.

[fuck mafumom all my homies hate mafumom]

[beathollow]

Mm. I know. I...

She used to be warm. But sometimes- even that feels like a lie.

( what mother calls her sickly six year old demanding for wanting comfort? )

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang kneels close to her. ]

Mafuyu... Where does it hurt, still? What can we do for you?

[ She has her heart, fully healed... But is still a shadow, going by her eyes. ]

[beathollow]

... She killed me, I think. Again and again. It was easier to throw my heart out and pray you find it.

[finalmix]

[ joshua is again Super Awkward at the comfort thing but he did take one of the extra sugar cookies from the banquet hall and it's supposed to be a full heal item, right?

right??

so mafuyu is getting a sugar cookie shoved into her hands before he steps away again ]

[beathollow]

...

Mom told me, every year- "Throw away unnecessary gifts. Games, manga, junkfood... homemade sweets are too unhealthy."

But they always looked so warm.

( after a moment, she takes a bite. despite her affliction, it's incredible. )

[moodwrecker]

[Hovering on the sidelines, trying not to - but still looking anxious.]

Mafuyu...?

[beathollow]

Aubrey... I heard you. I heard what you said-

( her voice cracks- )

T-thank you.

[cleansewithfire]

[ In typical fashion, Sunrise doesn't say anything. Whatever she does have to say feels almost too trite, really.

She slowly reaches her hand out, and if she's allowed to, she'll pat Mafuyu on the head. ]

[beathollow]

...

You remind me of Miku...

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli's going to stomp on whatever's left of the Queen a bit before joining the rest. ]

You just focus on getting better, Mafuyu. We're going to handle your mom from now on.

[ But didn't they already...? Well, yes, but also no. He means, uh, something else. Don't worry bout it. ]

[ledbythewind]

... would you like some hot chocolate when we get back?

[He doesn't know how to make it, but it can't be that complicated, right? Surely he can figure it out. Mafuyu deserves at least that much.]