AUDIENCE: SHARON

[retellers]

Comments

week 6, thursday

[truthisms]

[ fox shows up! without the mask covering his eyes, he looks a lot more tired, but it's fine.

he smiles as he enters. ]

[maidforservice]

[oh no. . . OH NO. . .]

[a flash of worry appears on her features, but when he arrives, she just-- holds up the cute little mask she made and smiles]

Twenty-eight.

[hm!]

It seems I wasn't off by much.

[truthisms]

[ sometimes you don't sleep or eat much and sustain yourself on coffee ]

I did say "not quite".

[maidforservice]

[IS FOX OKAY!!!]

You did; it's true. It was such a mysterious answer.

[a pause, and she lowers the mask again and pushes it to the side]

Are you all right? You seem as though you could use a good night of sleep.

[truthisms]

[ fox is fine!! ]

Haha, I'm not a morning person, I'm afraid, so weeks out in the town are always a little rough.

[maidforservice]

Are they?

[her smile is sympathetic, and after a pause, she extends her hands]

Could you lean forward for just a moment?

[truthisms]

That's just a little ominous.

[maidforservice]

[wags her fingers at him!!!]

Heehee. ♥

[does she want to dispute how ominous this sounds?? no?? OKAY SHARON]

[truthisms]

[ THANKS, SHARON

but he'll do it ]

[maidforservice]

[HE KNOWS HOW SHE IS BY NOW!!]

[but once he leans forward, she presses her hands against his cheeks, holding them there as she traces the dark circles under his eyes with her thumb. fox :(]

Well. . . exhaustion aside--

[a tiny little empathetic smile]

You have quite the cute face. ♥ I'm glad I finally get to see it.

[truthisms]

[ it's fine ]

Why, thank you.

[maidforservice]

[is it. . .]

You're quite welcome.

[and she draws back, once again folding her hands in front of her]

Do you remember anything else about yourself now that your mask has been taken from you?

[truthisms]

Nope. It doesn't look like anything happened but that.

[maidforservice]

[huh. . .]

Very strange. Do you know why your masks broke in the first place?

[truthisms]

Not particularly. If I had to guess... maybe we've gathered enough nova that the Realm has reason to think our roles are coming to an end soon?

[maidforservice]

. . . yes. I believe one of the Leaders said two weeks ago that the other side only had two more weeks to amass the kills necessary to bring us back.

And this is that second week.

[so. . . no matter what happens this weekend, she does think the competition will be ending soon]

[truthisms]

... So it seems.

[maidforservice]

[. . .]

Are you worried we may wind up repeating ourselves again?

[truthisms]

I wouldn't say that's a specific concern... If anything, it sounds like there won't be a repeat, regardless of whether we succeed or fail here.

Just general anxiety over what lies ahead, I suppose.

[maidforservice]

[oh. . .]

This is the last time, then. . .?

[huh. she didn't know that, actually]

Are you afraid to face the unknown alone?

[truthisms]

It's a little hard to put into words, but maybe something like that?

[maidforservice]

[. . .]

I don't know if it will help, but--

[flashes him a smile]

Whatever lies ahead, you certainly won't be alone.

[truthisms]

... Haha. That's very reassuring to hear, coming from you. ♥

[maidforservice]

Is it?

[heehee. presses her cheek against her hand, tilting her head to the side]

I suppose it's not like me to say such things. I've simply grown a little fond of you these past few weeks, that's all.

[truthisms]

Well, the feeling is mutual. These past few weeks would've been rather dull without our talks, for one. 𝅘𝅥𝅮