It’s morning.
Lolbit is sitting at the table in one of their more organic forms, chatting with William as he makes breakfast.
Foxy shuffles in. They look rough; their ears are back, their tail drags on the ground, they’ve got what looks to be the blanket from off their bed draped around their shoulders, their pink accents are faded in a way that makes them look pale, and there’s visible bags under their eyes.
“Looks like someone needs a nap,” Lolbit teases them as they slump into the chair next to their sibling.
The Comedian’s expression shifts to something concerned. “Seriously, though. It’s still early. You could go back to bed if you wanted,” they murmur to Foxy.
@ghost-inthe-machine
“Foxy? Are you alright? Would you like some eggs? Elizabeth convinced me to make Eggs Benedict”
“I’m going to bring it to Michael!”
“I’m.. alright,” Foxy replies, forcing a smile. “Not particularly hungry, but I’ll have a little.”
Lolbit’s eyes meet William’s, and he finds them full of concern and unease. They glance at Foxy, then back at him.
“Are you certain, Foxy? You seem off…”
“Just a little tired,” they reply, changing their answer now that it’s clear he doesn’t believe them.
Lolbit eats at a normal pace, but William watches as Foxy picks at their plate slowly, moreso pushing things around with their fork than actually eating.
“Oh. Is there something I can do to improve your rest? Perhaps get you a blanket or a pillow?”
“No, that’s alright. I’m fine, really,” they insist, seemingly a little uncomfortable with William and Lolbit’s scrutiny.
“Okay… we just want to make sure you are alright”
Foxy nods. They pick at their plate for a bit, eventually moving to put it in the sink.
Suddenly, a coughing fit overtakes them. Lolbit is able to catch them before they collapse, pulling them gently back to their seat.
William can see with perfect, terrible clarity that they’re coughing up Agony. The dark substance runs down their chin, staining the crook of their elbow when they go to cover their coughs.
“Foxy!” Will rushes over to them
“Foxy, are you coughing up Agony?” Lizzy’s little voice trembles
They nod, but it takes a moment before the fit can subside enough for them to be able to talk.
…William notices, now that he’s closer, that they’re trembling a little.
Will doesn’t let go of them, supporting their weight as Lizzy’s eyes fill with tears.
“Daddy, we have to fix them!”
“I know. I know, Princess. And we will.”
The coughing finally, finally subsides. “Ah… that never gets any more pleasant,” they mumble, probably not intending for William to hear.
“What do you suppose is going on?”
“Yes! And how do we fix it?!”
“…You remember when you removed all that Agony from my systems?” They ask Will. “It- ah, didn’t exactly work. It took less than a day for everything to refill with more.”
“Do you have an idea of what might be causing the Agony?”
“My thought was that it was from my universe’s William,” they reply. Which implies they’ve been in a lot of pain for quite a while. “Not that I regret what happened that day. Better me than you…”
“Mm. Ok so how can we purge his influence from your system?”
"I don't know..." Foxy admits. Even now that they've stopped coughing, their breathing sounds labored and wet and a little shallow.
“Perhaps I could attempt to help? I don’t know how much different Agony is from Remnant…”
“If Foxy says it’s ok.”
"...I wouldn’t be against you trying, but I worry it might hurt you."
“I’m already dead. What’s the harm?”
“Elizabeth!!”
"Alright, then..."
The moment she tries to help, she's overcome by blinding pain, far worse than even being scooped. It stops the moment she does.
*she yelps, but then persists*
“Liz… don’t hurt yourself, honey”
Foxy pulls back. “Darling, don’t… this isn’t worth you getting hurt.”
“No! I want to help you! I can handle a little pain if it helps you!”
“Lizzy…”
The longer she tries, the more it hurts, until she's in genuine agony.
“I’m making you stop, Lizzy”
*he pulls her away*
“NO! I wanna help!!” *she sobs*
“You are genuinely hurting yourself”
“THAT MEANS FOXY IS IN MORE PAIN!!”
They shrink back a little. "Darling, please," they try. "I don't want you to hurt yourself for my sake..."
“I don’t want you to be hurt”
*Will holds Lizzy close*
"I don't want you to be hurt, either... I'll be fine like this," they reassure.
As if to prove them wrong, they're hit with another coughing fit.
“You’re sick” *the little girl sniffles*
“It’ll be alright, I’m certain. Who knows, maybe it’ll go away by itself like a normal illness,” The Ringleader reassures. “Really, it’s not… the worst pain I’ve ever been in.”
“So you say, but I don’t believe you…”
“No, really,” Foxy replies. “I have experienced worse.”
They say that like they think it’s somehow reassuring.
Lizzy bursts into tears and Will holds her close
“It’s okay…. Perhaps we can attempt to help using a camera and remote arms?”
Foxy tilts their head. “…How so?” The Ringleader asks.
“I’ve heard of surgical procedures done in that way. Remote controlled arms that respond to the doctor’s input, like an extension of the doctor’s hands. As well as a camera so the doctor knows what they are doing. I believe it is often used in very delicate procedures.”
“I suppose, but I don’t know what you’d actually do with them.” Foxy yawns, and it’s enough to trigger another fit.
“I don’t know….i just want to help.”
“I know you do,” they reassure tiredly, “and I thank you for that.” It feels like there’s more they mean to say, but they don’t continue. Funtime Foxy’s expression is distant, all of a sudden.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hmm? Oh, no, sorry, I must’ve just… zoned out for a moment,” Foxy mumbles. They look so tired…
“Come on, Foxy… let’s get you to bed… maybe you can snuggle up with me and all my plushies!”
“If you like, I could read you both a story?”
“Oh, yes!”
Foxy nods. They go to stand and are a touch unsteady on their paws, but not enough for them to be at risk of collapsing.
Lizzy leads them to her room, and Will walks behind, watching them closely.
Lolbit walks beside William, expression unreadable.
Now that he’s looking at Foxy this closely, he notices how stiff and restrained their movements seem, like it’s painful for them to move.
“Foxy… we need to find some way to fix you. Do you think trying to replace the parts that are infected with Agony would work?”
“I don’t know, maybe? It seems to spread with time.”
“Then we’d have to do it sooner rather than later… especially before Elizabeth notices you’re still in pain after waking up….i don’t think she truly understands how much pain you are in yet, but she will soon. And then even I won’t be able to convince her not to try to help you no matter the cost”
“…Right. Honestly, I’d much rather this destroy me than for her to be hurt…”
