The Fifteen Strangers Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strangerpeople) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
15strangers2019-05-25 10:23 pm
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2019-05-25 10:23 pm
EPILOGUE
[When the light of BREW fades, everyone finds themselves outside of a bar or lounge, of sorts.]
[Before the door, Excalibur is looking pleased, swinging his cane and singing a song triumphantly.]
♫ EXCALIBUUUUR! EXCALIBUUUUR! FROM THE UNITED K, I'M LOOKING FOR HIM, I MADE IT TO CALIFORNIAAAAAAAA! ♫
[Hm. It seems he might be a patron of this place.
But this is all so much more modern. What sort of age have your actions wrought? Is it the future Giriko feared? Or is it, thanks to you, something much better?
Well, for now, all you know is that this sure is a place to drink, and apparently, it is in California. You did choose to go elsewhere for your salvation.]
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Thank god that's over.
[away from those amplifiers, too, she feels more clearheaded than she had for weeks. This is definitely real. She's completely confident.]
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[Everything is so solid. The loudest voice in his head is his own, again. It's surreal for things not to be surreal.]
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[she laughs, soft but not light, tired and wired at the same time.]
We don't exactly look like we're going to the same place, otherwise.
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Though I don't know if they have those, not really. Wasn't particularly my type of theater. I am babbling like an idiot but my God, I am alone in my head again, it seems unfamiliar... too quiet.
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[so bless him for indirectly giving permission to babble right back....]
Besides, I'd still hear things, just hopefully the right ones if BREW can get my deck with all of my fairies back.
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this is a bittersweet ending for him, but it's all right. they can all travel together, so maybe he can return to his clone brothers, and to his other found-family members]
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[Krone thought at first it would be a really, really good idea to ignore Osomatsu. After all, she literally did the whole "approach him over food and tell them everything was a big mistake so they should get along" thing once already. While a lot of the stuff she said had still been true from a certain point of view, she can understand the point of view where she's proven herself just a total bitch.
But it smells like food, and apparently Osomatsu has an actual plan here. Which Krone evidently does not, as she hesitantly addresses him.]
...what did you order?
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[they have had a very interesting relationship, it's true. but now that they're out of hell, Osomatsu is inclined to be friendly. they've all gone through something terrible together, and they all had to do what they could to survive. maybe he can't forgive and forget, but he can try to understand.
when he turns towards her, he's holding what looks like chicken tenders and a beer. where did he get that? or, rather how did he get that]
Just some apps.
[he holds out the basket of chicken towards her. no contracts, or stipulations, or confessing of sins. she can have some]
They're kinda hot.
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[Krone is scanning the whole tableau, taking everything in. Oh, there's beer. She may never be able to look at beer again without thinking about Giriko. But let's focus on the chicken right now. She reaches for the basket while it's offered, not wanting to keep Osomatsu waiting as he's out of his way holding it up.]
These look absolutely delicious, but...
[She's holding one tender with both hands like a corn on the cob, as she finally looks right to Osomatsu in desperation.]
How are they called "apps", exactly?
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Oh! Silly me, I was thinking about college applications or computer programs...
[She takes a bite despite the heat and eagerly swallows it.]
This really is appetizing!!
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It is! I saw a couple other things on their menu, but it's not like this place is a restaurant, so they don't have a lot.
[still he feels better about having something to eat. now, if only they could find a place to shower]
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Later, Ambrosine can be seen with a small spoon in hand, clearly planning something.]
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[Krone is walking in and seeing this and she's just in that mood where any number of domestic objects can seem like a small miracle, or at least she would like to be in that mood. She points and claps her hands.]
Oh, you found actual wine again, Ambrosine! I'm so happy for you!
[They're free from the blood!!!]
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[And there is Excalibur, with what could only be described as a Double Big Gulp of coffee.]
Slurrrrrp~aaaah! It is not morning, but I welcome coffee, nevertheless!
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Thank you for bringing us here.
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Hm! Of course. I have already lived in the twelfth century, after all. No coffee, no video games, and no decent comic books.
There's no need to rehash those times again!
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[except she can't because they're in america and thus she is under the drinking age, darn yanks]
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A toast! To that!!
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A table. Fresh, clean water. The day-to-day business of an establishment in a full city, home to more than just a handful of people. The creepy, laughing sun. All these little reminders they're out. Arthur doesn't even process the order he places.
He just puts his head down on the table, and before he knows it, he's crying. Sobbing like a baby.]
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he comes over slowly, letting Arthur have as much time as he needs, but then he takes a seat nearby, setting the drink on his table and nudging it towards him]
A new beginning
And he...no, he is watching as the girl with pigtails, Maka, wakes up, popping up in her bed.]
Soul-!?
[Her bedroom is different. Outside, the sun is shining behind the curtains. Maka doesn't hesitate, after checking and pinching herself (was it a dream? Is she still dreaming? Is she still dead-) before throwing the curtains open.]
Where...!?
[It's not a desert. It's not Death City. It's a city by the water, with green grass and trees...
It's all a blur as Maka runs out of the house, only to run into a man and woman. She lets out a gasp; her parents. Her parents are alive. And confused at her outburst as she cries about how she thought they were dead, how madness had taken over the world and only Shinigami was left to fight in Death City, and everything had been so horrible, and-
before she can say much else, her mother comforts her. It had to have been a bad dream, she reasons. Shinigami? He had been sealed away after the defeat of the final defeat of the heretic witch, leaving only a fragment of himself to be looked after by the demon weapons, who were left to form their own schools. The destruction of the war had resulted in a truce between humans and witches, creating a council led by a ruler who kept everyone and everything in balance to prevent such horror again.
And, of course, they were in his capital-Caliburnia, California. They were both on the Council, after all, despite being divorced.
That's when her father nods towards the 75 foot statue of Arthur, Killer of Fear--dwarfed by a 750 foot gold statue of Earth's ruler-in the distance, on a pedestal that hovers over the city.
Arthur will probably be as surprised at the giant statue of himself as Maka is internally facepalming at the more giant statue beside it. Then, he will hear a chuckle beside Maka, and she turns to see.]
Hey, Maka.
[Soul. Her heart fills with joy. He's alive, and judging by the knowing smirk on his face-he remembers, too. The tears threaten to come from her again, but this time, she smiles.]
Long time...no s E e...
[And then stops when she sees him. He is snapping his fingers, almost rhythmically. Too rhythmically. His pupils are gone, swallowed by his red irises. And his soul....his soul glitches rhythmically, black, then bright color, then black, then blacker, tick, tOCK-]
MAKA CHOP!
[She doesn't even bother using a book. Glowing white feathers slide from her pocket between her thumb and palm, and her open hand smashes onto Soul's head in a chopping motion.
It's painful, but it's effective. The feathers slide into the boy, and the darkness roils and writhes, before it dissipates, revealing a clear, bright soul-and a very confused Soul, his eyes back to normal-in its wake.]
Maka...what was I just...di I hurt-?
[She doesn't respond; she just hugs him. And, out of the corner of her eye, sees a small figure disappear like mist, glaring at her. She simply glares back, before closing her eyes.
This is a stranger future than she had anticipated. No Shinigami, after all, and there is something else in the fabric of this future-something that had been in the past, as well-that threatens them still. But, this time, maybe they had a chance at happiness. The witches and humans had found a way forward. They would, then, too.
This was a new future, and Maka and Soul would keep fighting to make sure this future would continue to be a good one.
It is with a sigh, and a surging feeling of hope, that the vision ends, leaving Arthur with a sense of peace-perhaps his first since being brought here. Things are going to be all right. Things will work out.
If they could do so here, they can do so anywhere.]
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Many of the others are rushing into their orders, but Krone has never been one for trusting food sight unseen, even now. She drifts towards the cigars in their brightly colored boxes. The modern sleek material a balm under her fingertips.
Eventually there's food and beer and Krone is sitting behind it in a booth, tired bones sinking deep into the fabric, delicately touching her eyepatch to stymie any tears leaking out from underneath it. Like she's been carrying a huge burden, but her muscles haven't relaxed back into position, except, emotionally. Though also kind of literally since she's got all this stuff in her sylladex. Their lady picks their powers well, huh?]
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It's time he returned to his lady's side. He hesitates, but only for a moment, at the sight of her sitting with food untouched and beer gathering condensation. It's better to sit across from a lover, isn't it, so they can properly see you? With that in mind, he slips into the booth across from her.]
It's... strange, isn't it? All of this.
[It's understatement, that is, but... he needs something to say as he reaches to touch her hand.]