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[electricflock]

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[electricflock]

... was worried about you and missing you.

But my feelings are still hurt.

1/2

[finalbows]

_{[ "that's to be expected." "good. you should be. feel that way forever because it's the right response." "sorry you feel that way, I'm really very wicked"-- ]}

Of course you are. It's natural to feel such a way. Something terrible happened to you and people you hold dear, and the one who made it happen... hardly showed you any true contrition.

...

2/2

[finalbows]

<sub>[ "unfortunately, I have literally zero idea how to even START doing that in a way that doesn't feel like lying--"

he turns around to face him. ]</sub>

I wronged you. You deserve to know a clearer reason why.

...This all happened only because I wasn't honest. With the rest of Rose, about my... mental unpredictability. We even had a talk, once, all together, about things that would make us all overwhelmed or lose our reason in a ritual, and... I could have said, then, that being pulled from my body would bring something hideous forth from me. Instead, the moment we tried to prepare for came, I presented myself authoritatively, and they submitted to my cruel judgment because I was too stubborn to let it go.

And... then... you vouched for me. I was wrong that hurting Daffodil would be "fine." As if it ever could be. I did wrong.

It was all an absolutely needless act. And it wouldn't have happened if... in that moment, I'd returned, to you, a fraction of what you've put forth for me.

[electricflock]

[muffin has his shoulders hunched up and he hasn't moved closer from where he landed]

I'm not... mad at you for panicking or for your strategy. The punishments sucked. Daffodil might have attacked you too I hadn't been there. Tart— let me have my way, but he was still ready for you to hit us.

[finalbows]

...

I know.
You... told me as much. Before that ritual ever happened.

_{[ "what does one do, after the full moon?" ]}

[electricflock]

If you know, why did you leave?

1/2

[finalbows]

I wasn't afraid of your anger, Muffin, I. I..

I was afraid of...

2/2

[finalbows]

I.. was afraid... of the fact you wouldn't be mad about it. I can do practically anything I like, a snap of the fingers! But... I can't be there to stand between you and... me. And I'm not kind. So... instead, I...

[electricflock]

[what does that even MEAN]

So instead you hurt me, l-left, and acted like I was stupid for wanting anything more than that.

[finalbows]

Yes. I did.

[electricflock]

[muffin doesn't want to hurt him more, so he doesn't dig in with the pain effect muffin was under

and... muffin doesn't want to be hurt worse either, so he doesn't ask if angel devil meant it. instead,]

—Come here! Don't stand way over there!

1/2

[finalbows]

_{[ wh. Why would he tell him t ]}

2/2

[finalbows]

_{[ he stifles his tongue.
he comes over. ]}

[electricflock]

I'm going to cry. And you're going to hold my hand.

[finalbows]

<sub>[ Angel Devil's stiff posture changes, slightly. And he offers--

thinks, a second.
he peels off his glove, and reaches to hold Muffin's hand.

Angel Devil when he's putting his focus upon it can hold someone's hand like anyone else. Gently, with a slight firmness as reassurance of not going Anywhere.]</sub>

[electricflock]

[he's going to hold onto that hand, sit down on the ground, and let all the pain, fear, grief, and frustration of the last two days come out]

[finalbows]

<sub>[ angel devil sits with him, holds his hand, and listens. Really listens.

...at some point,
the fluffy arc of Angel Devil's tail has tentatively encircled them as a duo. ]</sub>

[electricflock]

[it starts as frustrated tears, but left unchecked it builds to a full heartbroken tantrum. he wanted to be comforted. he wanted to be reassured. he doesn't what he said when he vouched for angel devil to be meaningless. he doesn't understand.

it's the kind of crying that doesn't stop until his throat is sore and he's wracked with exhaustion, huddling against angel devil's side in the shelter of his tail.]

[finalbows]

<sub>[ ...the worst thing he did to Muffin wasn't before the end of that ritual. It was after.

Contrition isn't words. It isn't explanations. He'd already dismissed both those things as worthless, coming from him, and in a way he'd been right, just... not quite on the mark. Instead of listening, he'd tried to cauterize away a feeling that needed, like tears, to flow.

...he doesn't have a kerchief to offer, today. He settles for never letting go of that hand, and leaning in, gingerly, mindful of the weight of his body. But there. ]</sub>

...do you... need water?

[electricflock]

[despite it all, he notices and recognizes that careful weight for the gesture it is. there's a reason he demanded hand-holding instead of a hug— he wouldn't force angel devil into too much closeness.

muffin nods]

[finalbows]

Just a moment.

<sub>[ and that is all it takes.

he doesn't need the little flourishing gestures he always does, to do magic. With no more preamble than that, something like a lingering afterimage of vibrant blue appears in the air beside them, then becomes a placid sphere of water.

...he doesn't, like. Have a cup. So it's gonna be the weirdest juice pouch experience probably. The water tension will hold under touch except upon being drank. ]</sub>

[electricflock]

Thank you.

[sips his magic capri sun]

[finalbows]

...I don't really think you're stupid.

_{[ the stupid person in this equation is very clear at this point. ]}

[electricflock]

Acted like it. Acted like you barely cared about me at all.

1/2

[finalbows]

_{[ extremely unfortunately for muffin, he thinks, he cares quite a bit. ]}

I thought that... it would be easier, ultimately. For the pasture at large. But the only one whose convenience it actually served was my own. Because... you...