Don’t Dig Too Deep

Below the cut is a list of all my current Waylay’d characters and masterlists for their associated asks. You’re free to send an ask towards any of them here!

Note: if I can’t tell if the ask is directed at anyone in particular, Amber will answer it. Also basic “don’t be weird” rules apply here.

Yew's form is abruptly overtaken by colorful, sparkling lights. Hues of reds and pinks flood his vision as his body shifts once more.

With a bright and cheerful pop, the short transformation is complete- and Yew is left standing in a distinctly human form.

His hair is much longer than before and all done up with water themed accessories dotting his scalp. His face now dawning sparkly eye shadow, blush, and lipstick. Awhile placed in a salmon colored frilly dress, one that resembles a long fish tail when viewed from the back.

He's frozen still, for a long painful moment he can't move at all.

She's back in the house. She's back with her family. Her mother is dolling her up, because it's her birthday. The relatives will be there soon, and she needs to be perfect for them, she needs to be perfect for them, she needs to be her.

It’s best to focus on the question. That’s something that can easily be answered.

“Well, he’s about my age but a little taller. His hair is longer than mine and he’s got a couple scars. Oh, and some marks under one eye and some freckles.”

They rattle off, tapping a hand on his chin. That wasn’t the best description but he tried.

“He’s really pretty…”

-🎀🪆

Amber does a tiny gasp, "he has a freckles like me?? Yay!" they start scanning ahead for anyone fitting that description, but doesn't spot him right away.

They do actually stop to talk to some of the nearby people, quick and simple conversations that Amber does with relative ease before continuing on their path. Seemingly using their side conversations to start heading towards a nearby candy store.

The person in the computer mutters, lifting up from the edge of the screen. After a moment of focus the screen begins to brighten significantly, bathing the room in just enough light to make out what’s on the desk.

“How’s that? Should I go brighter?”

They ask, moving around to try and catch a glimpse of Tess’ expression. From the looks of it they aren’t very successful at their endeavour.

-🖥️

Tess checks their desk more thoroughly, but comes up short once more. She briefly turns to her main, still broken, computer and huffs in a mix of panic and frustration. Before beginning to search through the cabinets.

“God, I cannot catch a break- Fine! Turn up the brightness! Max if you want. it really shouldn’t matter if this shit burns. The program itself can’t start up anyways!”

Despite their rage there’s an undertone of fear, a deep nauseating fear of being too late, of being the very cause for this scramble.

A hasty scramble that causes Tess to not look under the desk.

“… hey it might even be better if half of this junk goes up, I could write it better than the author xemselves at this point.”

“Of course, kiddo.”

The words slip out before Freyr can remember that this isn’t his Amber. That this isn’t the kid that’s used to him being more of a parent than a ringmaster.

And as such, he sounds so much more affectionate and calm. Like a parent.

Freyr freezes a moment later, blinking several times in quick succession. That… hopefully won’t fuck everything up…

“O- oh. Um. I- I mean… you’re welcome. A- Amber.”

-Freyr 🎪

Amber freezes.

A million and one thoughts rushes at them at once. But a single answer rings out inside their head.

That’s why he knows me so well.

That other me took him in as a dad.

Was it forced? It had to be. Why else would I ever do that? Why would I choose to forget-?

They look akin to a cornered animal, with big eyes and an ever-so-slight trembling to their limbs, as if getting ready to bolt once more.

“Th.. thank you,” they bite out, it now sounds painfully forced, and they get up immediately.

“I’m-! I’m gonna-“ they take a breath, it’s methodical as they try to cover the sudden wave of fear and nausea, “I’m gonna go see the others.”

The voice, while somewhat artificial, still manages to sound confused. A face framed by long hair follows the arm at the bottom of the screen as whatever this individual is tries to see what’s going on.

“Hey, do you need help?”

They call out, mimicking the motions of leaning forward. It looks like they’re using the edge of the screen as a ledge to lean on.

“I could… brighten my screen…?”

-🖥️

Tess turns at the sound of the computer's voice, and stares at the new screen. She is very clearly distrusting of the new technology.

"fuck.. that's- fine. Just don't overdo it. I do not need any of these boxes catching aflame."

"Woah!!" Amber flails for a few minutes as they try to get used to the feeling of weightlessness, "aaa!!"

After the initial shock wears off, Amber spends the rest of the time throwing plushies into the air and catching them while floating.

While searching through one of the countless boxes in her room, Tess comes across a small plush toy of Carrie.

Ah, huh.. "hm? Tess, is something happening?" the text has.. found something, "in your space?? I thought you already looked through everything!" Apparently the story has not..

He gently holds the toy, disbelief in his eyes as he look it over.

"Well, what is it?" it's.. simply a toy. Might've been left by whoever used this room last, "awh! that's sweet at least!" Yes, it is.

Tess brings it over to their desk, and stares at it for a few minutes.

*Willow Willow Willow Willow! That’s who they- that’s who he is! That’s the name that was chosen for it!*

*How could he have forgotten…?*

Ah! Carrie! You’re… back!

*Willow exclaims, shaking its head a few times to dislodge the last of the fuzziness. Thick molasses still pulls at the edge of his mind, but… as long as it focuses this should be fine.*

*It’ll fade.*

S- sorry, I drifted for a second! You were getting snacks, right…?

-Willow

Yes, yes! Willow, cute lovable Willow, "wh.. Tess what happened?" ... the story's rewrites of the script can be.. easily forgotten when not actively in view.

Frankly, it's impressive that Willow is still here at- "you didn't tell me this?!" Carrie you were a background character! It was expected that you already knew about this! "I.. I didn't.. I thought he'd be like me," ...Carrie.

"I- I did bring snacks!" she moves past the tension, "I don't know what you exactly like though, so went with what sounded best!" she hands Willow a colorful bag of sweet candy, "if uh.. you want something else we can go downstairs together?"

That’s not even a threat. It’s simply a completely factual statement.

The sky is blue, cats meow, Freyr will hunt down the Ringmaster if he tries to reverse the changes that he’s made.

It doesn’t matter if they’re universes apart. Freyr will find a way.

“There’s no performances happening. Never again.”

-Freyr 🎪

Amber softly nods, the way Freyr says it is so confident it almost hurts.

Amber should have more faith than this but it's been so long with no signs of change-

They shake their head, trying to clear the last of their doubt, and vaguely succeed. If this switch up can happen, then anything can, including Freyr actually succeeding in breaking the curse.

The kid nods again, more firmly this time, before sitting up. There's dirt in their hair and in the remnants of their Circus outfit. But there also something else in their gaze.

Hope, genuine pure hope and not phoned in as an effort to stay sane.

"th.. thank you," Amber almost whispers, more than a bit worried of tearing up.

Sumire’s head lifts back up, a weary smile on his face. The expression on his face looks more pained than kind.

His hand waves through the air as he replies. The bright scars glint and reflect in the dim light, the Comet’s wrist a bit too floppy to be normal.

“You being a decent person is more than enough. Just… don’t burn me. O- or anything like that.”

Sumire sighs and glances down to the ground. His feet scuff softly, smoothing down a section of dirt. He doesn’t look back up for quite some time.

“…it was… nice meeting you. I suppose. I should probably go find my friends now…”

-🖋️💫

Once again, Yew's gaze is stuck on Sumire's scars.

He gave those to people, people he didn't even know the name of. It was an accident every time but does that even matter if this was the outcome?

They tear their sight away, staring at the ground like Sumire just was. Their acid dripping slightly as they scramble to catch up to the other's words, "Yes, of course- that- that would be for best.

Despite your sentiment though, just know I'm in your debt for now," he tries to smile for a moment although he knew it'd be shaky-

He can't.

They forgot they couldn't smile.

They think it over for a bit, squinting in thought.

"...I'm Zuri! There! Now we're not strangers no more!"

With a firm nod, Zuri holds out their left hand for Yew to shake. Their eyes are wide and innocent, unflinching at the Thespian in front of them.

"You one of em nice ones, right?"

This kid knows about stranger danger but not of forest dangers? Better yet they're actively going against what they know when facing down a real- no, no he can't be thinking about this right now.

Yew promptly shakes Zuri's hand, making sure there's a fair amount distance between them, "you're right on the money there, Zuri!" they chuckle, their tail once again swishing behind them, and their acid shifting to look like flowers.

"I'm fairly new, still learning the ropes! It was very lucky of you to run into me, the others can be quite harsh with new folks," he has no idea if that's true, but it might help Zuri to trust him more.

"hm..." Amber hesitates, "hmph,” but does take the sweet bribe, albeit it very reluctantly.

"Ooo!! Pretty!" Amber happily takes them from you, opening and closing them a few times before looking for items in their room to cut.

It only takes about an hour for them to lose interest in the item, however in that span of time their entire room seemingly becomes shorter and wavy.

“Woah woah woah! Hey! Hi! Please don’t do that!”

As the voice calls out, a hand waves at the bottom of the screen. It’s heavily pixelated and rather small; the movement blurs from the speed of the motion.

“Please don’t kill me, stranger!”

-🖥️

Oh MY god you're alive?! "TESS-!?" Shit-!

The power in Tess's room goes out all at once. Tess's computer doesn't sputter this time, and simply goes dark. The only remaining light being from the foreign computer in front of him.

"Fuck! Okay..! Okay- you wait a second, the text- I need to get the program back up and running again!"

Tess hurries to get up and back to their desk, feeling the surface in front of them for fresh ink to indicate the page the story left unfinished.

After just under a minute, Tess has scanned the entire desk, and no such paper is on it.

"Oo! Choco-lates!" Amber follows for the first few sweets, happily taking the bribe.

However the moment they notice that it's a trail, they frown, "You're trying to trick me aren't you!" it's not a question, they immediately accuse you of it, "you meanie! I just wanted snacks!"