The Halls

@limitless-liminals

kayne has been doing pretty much nothing but his job these past few days. its monotonous but its a nice break from the sitcom like shenanigans that plague him and Yorick's life. from gravedigging to insect horrors work is one hell of a way to distance yourself from everything.

"welcome to raising Kayne's how may i serve you?" he would rattle off his usual spiel expecting the usual order to come forth so he could continue going on with his job.

it wasn't completely unusual to see this type of entity there was that annoying bastard who happened to be a doll who killed everyone in a rage.

Kayne would giggle to himself about the slight resemblance to that pink round thing he had seen once online. although tried his best to keep on his 'customer service smile' maintaining eye contact with whatever the hell those..what could you call eyes.

The voice cut through his mind like a knife would a plate of titanium. Not very smoothly.

*Hey, my voice isn’t THAT grating!*

I never said it was. Sorry, sorry, ahem, let me get back to my descriptions though.

The face only continued to stare until it tipped its round head to the side and…

*Off with their head!*

" WHAT THE APSOLUTE [BEEP] "

he would yell out obviously attracting the attention of quite a few OTHER beings. Kayne would not scream but instead jump at the sudden dropping of head jumping like a startled cat. "why CANT MY DAYS EVER GO NORMALY" kayne would yell to nobody IN PARTICULAR.

The laugh track of our audience could be heard through every wall of the building.

*I thought we got rid of that thing. It always felt too fake.*

Meh, the boss like it.

creepy why can they do that? i kind of wish yorick was here at least he was tolerable... its like this thing is like arthur lester...whats the deal...

...hm..i wonder if i can..

KAYNE WOULD FEEL THE SUDDEN URGE TO GO GET YORICK two minds are better than...whatever the hell is going on here.

kayne needs to flee anyway that thing is getting closer.

hewould start running to the back. to WHO KNOWS WHERE TO GET WHO KNOWS WHAT.

The moment he had to think and react to the situation was too short to do anything properly before his other leg followed, and went down just as quickly.

You were falling.

"OH WHAT IN THE APOSULTE [BEEP] "

he would try to reach out at anything he could grab onto to escape this hole failing miserably.

kayne could never have a normal day could he? could he! of course not.

not here not now.

kayne braced himself for any sort of impact that would be soon to come. if there's one thing he hated more than [insert here]

it was the vast. like that one time he got stuck in a corn maze. there was too much corn we will not tell you more.

Kayne could of course waste his lungs on screaming but such a thing seemed pointless.

the best thing to do was to wait for an end. like death perhaps?

he would still end up back at home right?

*KNOCK KNOCK, Is someone is there?*

Kiki! There’s procedures!

Kayne would continue falling. It was surprisingly not fun at all. Nothing like portal ….even if he wanted to get away he couldn’t as teleporting requires NOT BEING IN THE Air.

“Oh Waffle House… oh bloody dagger give me death something something can’t remember”

Kayne would try to summon his trusty dagger to get the hell out of this awful situation… it would instead slip out of his hands…

butterfingers

“ Whoever the hell you are get me the [beep] out of here!”

….who the fuck do you think you are!? You…can’t just!

……

She giggled *Yeah!*

……….. wow i sure loved the part where you explained any of your bullshit ! I’m still not telling you anything if you can’t even answer a single question.

”you know what I’ll just close my eyes and hope this blows over”

hmph ! If I had a body you could probably see I’m crossing my arms and sticking my tounge at you and also I’m flipping you off. It’s cause I’m so much better than you.

Kayne only kept falling.

Down

Down

Down

I’m being sarcastic by the wa we

I can only hear you in full clarity

you could have done this in so many different ways. was falling really your only option?!

.........................

......................

KIKI..?

*—What? We’d do it together of course!*

….I don’t think that’s what they meant. As lovely as that sounds, I think there was a miscommunication.

.....

IS THERE SOME SORT OF SWITCH YOU CAN TURN ON SO I CAN HEAR whatever you're talking to.

.....as for what the hell i censored before i couldn't think of anything.

Be right back, I’m gonna go look for that spare mic. This one only lets me do my normal stuff.

but you can never hate him as much as i do. you don't know what its like half of what i have to go through with him.

and yes I can hear you loud and clear. So that’s your name? Hm. Stupid.

Kiki, we have to get this thing on a roll. You know what they said about letting someone fall for an extended period of time.

*Only in certain circumstances and I can’t abuse the right.* she sighed

ehhh Kayne will be fine he’s been in worse this is really the least of my worry’s still this would be better at dinner though. I might answer more your making it hard to think.

Kiki, you know how I feel about most people actually seeing me. Besides, they aren’t exactly happy with you.

*Hmmm…true…I’ll set up a huge curtain for you to go behind!*

Did you just ignore the hate part?

I’m also saying a fancy dinner would improve my mood.

but to answer your question one could say I’m more self aware..most don’t talk to others. Just describe …..no one can really hear. Ugh except this one idiot named yorick. I was just minding my own before I met him.

ugh it’s a whole other story. All you need to know is that he can hear me and that’s a issue andihatehim

I quite like just describing in most circumstances. I don’t like being made aware I’m existing 24/7. I like choosing when that happens freely.

i swear....ugh

......wait what do you mean 'drop kayne' like at his house orrrr what? i need details you!

I’m not. Please, I’m not getting him. Besides, I don’t like the front rooms.

*Finnnneee, fair enough. Our dinner will be in the backrooms near our home then. I don’t want to have to go too far. The whole body thing might be difficult but I can probably snag some guy’s body as a template. I always fuck up to proportions.*

I’ll try my best to help as well.

some body is better than no body…Tch yorick allways complains. prick.

…..strange I diddent travel with Kayne though….shame eh….why would I care

Fuck, they know about it againnnnn. I’m gonna have to sit down with them again, aren’t I?

*HA! Have fun.*

but it must be some sort of 'backrooms' weirdness that's going on....nothing makes sense. but convenient no?

but yeah i think people go into there for shits and giggles a lot vlogging stealing stools?

thrifting i guess

*You gonna try to mess with the box first?*

Nah, I’ll suck it up and do the easier way even if it’s annoying.

*Fair enough.*

But….what the hell is your list? The box ? What the hell are you doing what the hell are we doing ? No dinner? I have to know these things!

you’re not making much sense is what I’m saying.

God, do I gotta do this?

hopefully his mind will brush this off rather quickly….

but well anyone hotter than him so any body really.

hm.... more eyes? its quite stupid to not have more. oooh and make me taller than yorick. should be really easy anything higher than 2 feet. also the ability to flip people off I've been wanting to do that for a while.

mm fair enough I guess. Dunno how you find Kayne cute but he has a boyfriend so someone out there must like him.

*I get paid in candy!*

…Kiki, please ask for more.

*I like my job so I don’t need more.*

and great!....yeah totally was asking for your name there or something

you can just refer to me by my pronouns i don't need a name. those things are constricting.

Kiki, you’re not really a species.

*Im healthy is my point.*

Alright. As for you, I was just providing a name so you didn’t have to say ‘what’s-your-name.’ I was simply being considerate of that but it’s nice to meet you.

but nice to meet you too this is at least an improvement from meeting yorick. the only one i kind of like is the cat.

but just as long as food is not from a fast food restaurant I'm fine. eugh no chicken either that stuff is disgusting. other than that i should be fine

I wouldn’t mind that either. Anyways, I just have one more wire then…okay, we should be good.

Like a switch, you feel yourself reconnect with Kayne who was still falling…Yeah, I forgot we left him like that. That was on me.

*Youve left people in worst situations!*

Kiki, we have a job.

*:(*

How did you speak that..?

*Magic!*

what do you mean visit him? You can just keep him!

he’s literally dying and incapacitated at the current moment what is going to do? Play pretend like a doll at a tea party ?

You’ll see what involves him soon but we don’t have much of a choice in the matter. It’s something larger than both of our powers combined.

*And besides, we’re wanting to visit you! Not him.*

but sure sure ill go alone with whatever this is. not like I'm the one who has a body here.

Kayne’s body smacked against a hard surface, somehow ending up undamaged. He would be a bit bruised, sure, but nothing that time couldn’t easily fix.

Kayne would wake up from his little nap. Of course his head and body hurts. No idea of where he could be as he looks around at what lies ahead.

Emergency lights were on, the dangling ones that Kayne could touch if he stood up, having no lightbulbs inside of them. At most, he could see a couple of yards in front of him in detail while the rest became blurry.

A clear liquid dripped from the pipes and ceiling, fizzing into a smoke as soon at it hit the ground. You could assume the sulfur scent was likely emitting from that.

well…any sort of maze was a nightmare for Kayne.hours spent on one just to be dragged back through the fast food Styx.

admirably long hallways there’s nothing like getting stuck in one running away from some unimaginable horror.

Kayne would begin walking for a minute before remembering he was on solid ground and could probably try teleporting out.

Not magical blockers to prevent him from teleporting out right?

Kayne would focus hard on where he wanted to be

back at his house at the least he could picture it so clearly.

he need to get away from here away from here.

Levels and different rooms zoomed in and out of his vision: a snowing abyss, a ball pit, a candy store with more candy than store, and so on. The list was limitless (*Like the username…get it?*) with more rooms than I could possibly name in this format. To say the least, there were thousands if not millions.

His body smacked against another (semi-metaphorical, it was hard to say) wall where he landed against ground that wasn’t ground. His body floated and sank simultaneously with darkness surrounding all around him.

The only source of light was tiny digits that raced past his head like a bullet. They glowed neon green with the same one and zero pattern.

the many rooms were confusing and making his brain feel like it was about to explode

though...he was already feeling the effects of his prolonged break away from his work. he after all couldn't stray too far away from it or he would suffer.

"OH GODAMMIT " Kayne would scream out.

kayne would decide to be smart for once in his life and phone a freind.

who was he calling you may be asking?

OF COURSE ITS YORICK.

SIGH

yorick of course was one of the most annoying little things to ever grace this planet. he only gave information when he felt like it and was overall annoying.

Where you sat was inconsistent, seat height going up and down and up and down. The seat itself wasn’t even there, just something that you made up for convenience. You couldn’t see it what so ever.

Ring Ring.

Ring ring.

Will he pick up?

Your phone was still trying to connect to his internet.

Do you wish to accept what comes with calling him?

kayne trys over and over to call yorick. he just needed someone to talk to that could maybe contact upper management to get him the hell out of here. if there was internet there was a way.

or he would slowly decay away until he was taken back by the fast food styx

his ringtone would play over and over each one marking..truly how alone he was.

just...no body in the room.

His body slipped through the binds of reality and fell up, down, and sideways through mind-blurring images that flickered at the speed of light. It ranged from bright ball pits to moldy sewers but each one wasn’t there long enough to comprehend it.

Then, everything was ripping, wires threatening to snap. His agony was horrific with nauseating sensations despite the lack of a stomach…then it all ended.

yorick would look around at his surroundings unable to easily make sense of it

"oh hi kayne! is this why we didn't take our break together? "

yoricks tone was quite a bit salty. after all this had happened more than one time.

"it wasn't on purpose yorick. it was like the corn maze yorick."

this was the time where it happened again.

"I've never been this far from the restaurant though. "

yorick hardly went out due to his...size. hell I've been to more places than he has.

"do you know a way out?"

"thats what i was trying to call you for!"

there seems to be no way out its just a weird box that has no way of making any sense. just makes nonsense. though with being so far away from their life force Yorick would get to have the pain of the fast food styx thrust apon him.

"the what? narrator what are you blabbering on about? "

not relevant to you.

Kiki, we can’t let them here of all places.

A line of ones and zeros whizzed past Kayne’s head, nearly smacking him square in the head. Another successfully knocked him off his ‘chair’ by smashing him in the chest though, knocking the air from his lungs.

Oh that would be wonderful ! Torturing yorick and Kayne and I get a body and I get dinner ? Count me in !

Kayne would cough violently it’s hard to breath.

hahahaha ! I get a body before you yorick suck a lemon you peice of shit!

“narrator please stop lying to me”

Oh but it’s true. If only you could see me now. I’m grinning ear to ear… if I have those eh I can hear.

“w-what the fuck is going on”

Kayne wheezed out like a dying old man.

A cage of some sort of metal clanked down around the pair. The bars left no room to slip through and was roughly a 20x20foot bland room.

*you’ll go home eventually but we just need to hang out with our buddy!*

Everything should be set.

“can Kayne at least get some food? We uh didn’t get to go on lunch break.”

oh boo hoo try starving for a change and try rotting for once in your life you freeloader.

….

I’m sure just as long as you follow the wants I wanted it will be fine. The body I mean.~

fuuuuckkkk yooooou yorick Kayne will never belive anything you sayyyyyy!

yorick could only sigh at this knowing he was inferior and dumb and stupid to the might of the me..

A whole Thanksgiving feast popped in front of them. Kiki may do a lot of morally questionable things but allowing someone to go hungry wasn’t one of them if she could help it.

*Food is important!*

Anyways…The Narrator feels their energy shifting and spinning around itself like a whirlpool until they unwind and end up in some kind of recording booth.

A person with fluffy hair like the clouds waves all around while the being next to her is covered by a black smog.

“Thank you….”

……….

I would look in fascination at the pair walking around them to inspect them and the room quite a bit better.

you can’t see me but I’m waving.

The recording room was a traditional one, almost as if it were out of a cartoon. It seemed almost too real, like the microphones were too based in reality or Kiki’s limbs were too flesh-like.

Outside of our window is a live studio audience, all with no true face. There was a blur over each one much like the censor over my body.

I’ve seen weirder. Though I could still put this on my top ten list.

weird that you have people…things watching over you though. My job would be a nightmare if everyone could just happen to hear me.

………..

getting my body down both of you?

*It’s me who people can hear all the time! I don’t mind it. I think it’s fun to interact.*

Despite that not being your job.

*Killjoy! Anywayssss, we’d have to make your body in another room. Both of us have our break…*

She dramatically checked a watch that wasn’t there.

its fun to interact when they cant hear all your insults.

I understand what you mean. Kiki is heard by everyone like a voice in their head but I typically slide a bit more under the radar. I-

*-LETS GO ALREADY!*

I guess I can save that for another time.

I would follow along behind making sure to take my time.

The room wasn’t too expansive, about the size of a typical office. Off the left was a table with a piece of paper and an array of drawing utensils: pencils, pens, markers, crayons. Kiki was already jumping into the cushioned chair, picking up a pen.

*I thought it’d be a good idea for you to describe exactly what you want then I draw it. We have a vague idea but we want this to be perfect!*

Afterwards, your body will be revealed behind…

Hmmm suit maybe true black ah! Pinstripe!

….how tall was he again.. ah make me at least 6 foot.

And well I need functioning hands I need to hold stuff. However humans designed them

…….well overall a humanoid figure I guess .

…..hair? …………..ugh please don’t fuse clothes to my body .

And whatever else is up to interpretation then.

of course give me working eyes.

*This good?*

@limitless-liminals

kayne has been doing pretty much nothing but his job these past few days. its monotonous but its a nice break from the sitcom like shenanigans that plague him and Yorick's life. from gravedigging to insect horrors work is one hell of a way to distance yourself from everything.

"welcome to raising Kayne's how may i serve you?" he would rattle off his usual spiel expecting the usual order to come forth so he could continue going on with his job.

it wasn't completely unusual to see this type of entity there was that annoying bastard who happened to be a doll who killed everyone in a rage.

Kayne would giggle to himself about the slight resemblance to that pink round thing he had seen once online. although tried his best to keep on his 'customer service smile' maintaining eye contact with whatever the hell those..what could you call eyes.

The voice cut through his mind like a knife would a plate of titanium. Not very smoothly.

*Hey, my voice isn’t THAT grating!*

I never said it was. Sorry, sorry, ahem, let me get back to my descriptions though.

The face only continued to stare until it tipped its round head to the side and…

*Off with their head!*

" WHAT THE APSOLUTE [BEEP] "

he would yell out obviously attracting the attention of quite a few OTHER beings. Kayne would not scream but instead jump at the sudden dropping of head jumping like a startled cat. "why CANT MY DAYS EVER GO NORMALY" kayne would yell to nobody IN PARTICULAR.

The laugh track of our audience could be heard through every wall of the building.

*I thought we got rid of that thing. It always felt too fake.*

Meh, the boss like it.

creepy why can they do that? i kind of wish yorick was here at least he was tolerable... its like this thing is like arthur lester...whats the deal...

...hm..i wonder if i can..

KAYNE WOULD FEEL THE SUDDEN URGE TO GO GET YORICK two minds are better than...whatever the hell is going on here.

kayne needs to flee anyway that thing is getting closer.

hewould start running to the back. to WHO KNOWS WHERE TO GET WHO KNOWS WHAT.

The moment he had to think and react to the situation was too short to do anything properly before his other leg followed, and went down just as quickly.

You were falling.

"OH WHAT IN THE APOSULTE [BEEP] "

he would try to reach out at anything he could grab onto to escape this hole failing miserably.

kayne could never have a normal day could he? could he! of course not.

not here not now.

kayne braced himself for any sort of impact that would be soon to come. if there's one thing he hated more than [insert here]

it was the vast. like that one time he got stuck in a corn maze. there was too much corn we will not tell you more.

Kayne could of course waste his lungs on screaming but such a thing seemed pointless.

the best thing to do was to wait for an end. like death perhaps?

he would still end up back at home right?

*KNOCK KNOCK, Is someone is there?*

Kiki! There’s procedures!

Kayne would continue falling. It was surprisingly not fun at all. Nothing like portal ….even if he wanted to get away he couldn’t as teleporting requires NOT BEING IN THE Air.

“Oh Waffle House… oh bloody dagger give me death something something can’t remember”

Kayne would try to summon his trusty dagger to get the hell out of this awful situation… it would instead slip out of his hands…

butterfingers

“ Whoever the hell you are get me the [beep] out of here!”

….who the fuck do you think you are!? You…can’t just!

……

She giggled *Yeah!*

……….. wow i sure loved the part where you explained any of your bullshit ! I’m still not telling you anything if you can’t even answer a single question.

”you know what I’ll just close my eyes and hope this blows over”

hmph ! If I had a body you could probably see I’m crossing my arms and sticking my tounge at you and also I’m flipping you off. It’s cause I’m so much better than you.

Kayne only kept falling.

Down

Down

Down

I’m being sarcastic by the wa we

I can only hear you in full clarity

you could have done this in so many different ways. was falling really your only option?!

.........................

......................

KIKI..?

*—What? We’d do it together of course!*

….I don’t think that’s what they meant. As lovely as that sounds, I think there was a miscommunication.

.....

IS THERE SOME SORT OF SWITCH YOU CAN TURN ON SO I CAN HEAR whatever you're talking to.

.....as for what the hell i censored before i couldn't think of anything.

Be right back, I’m gonna go look for that spare mic. This one only lets me do my normal stuff.

but you can never hate him as much as i do. you don't know what its like half of what i have to go through with him.

and yes I can hear you loud and clear. So that’s your name? Hm. Stupid.

Kiki, we have to get this thing on a roll. You know what they said about letting someone fall for an extended period of time.

*Only in certain circumstances and I can’t abuse the right.* she sighed

ehhh Kayne will be fine he’s been in worse this is really the least of my worry’s still this would be better at dinner though. I might answer more your making it hard to think.

Kiki, you know how I feel about most people actually seeing me. Besides, they aren’t exactly happy with you.

*Hmmm…true…I’ll set up a huge curtain for you to go behind!*

Did you just ignore the hate part?

I’m also saying a fancy dinner would improve my mood.

but to answer your question one could say I’m more self aware..most don’t talk to others. Just describe …..no one can really hear. Ugh except this one idiot named yorick. I was just minding my own before I met him.

ugh it’s a whole other story. All you need to know is that he can hear me and that’s a issue andihatehim

I quite like just describing in most circumstances. I don’t like being made aware I’m existing 24/7. I like choosing when that happens freely.

i swear....ugh

......wait what do you mean 'drop kayne' like at his house orrrr what? i need details you!

I’m not. Please, I’m not getting him. Besides, I don’t like the front rooms.

*Finnnneee, fair enough. Our dinner will be in the backrooms near our home then. I don’t want to have to go too far. The whole body thing might be difficult but I can probably snag some guy’s body as a template. I always fuck up to proportions.*

I’ll try my best to help as well.

some body is better than no body…Tch yorick allways complains. prick.

…..strange I diddent travel with Kayne though….shame eh….why would I care

Fuck, they know about it againnnnn. I’m gonna have to sit down with them again, aren’t I?

*HA! Have fun.*

but it must be some sort of 'backrooms' weirdness that's going on....nothing makes sense. but convenient no?

but yeah i think people go into there for shits and giggles a lot vlogging stealing stools?

thrifting i guess

*You gonna try to mess with the box first?*

Nah, I’ll suck it up and do the easier way even if it’s annoying.

*Fair enough.*

But….what the hell is your list? The box ? What the hell are you doing what the hell are we doing ? No dinner? I have to know these things!

you’re not making much sense is what I’m saying.

God, do I gotta do this?

hopefully his mind will brush this off rather quickly….

but well anyone hotter than him so any body really.

hm.... more eyes? its quite stupid to not have more. oooh and make me taller than yorick. should be really easy anything higher than 2 feet. also the ability to flip people off I've been wanting to do that for a while.

mm fair enough I guess. Dunno how you find Kayne cute but he has a boyfriend so someone out there must like him.

*I get paid in candy!*

…Kiki, please ask for more.

*I like my job so I don’t need more.*

and great!....yeah totally was asking for your name there or something

you can just refer to me by my pronouns i don't need a name. those things are constricting.

Kiki, you’re not really a species.

*Im healthy is my point.*

Alright. As for you, I was just providing a name so you didn’t have to say ‘what’s-your-name.’ I was simply being considerate of that but it’s nice to meet you.

but nice to meet you too this is at least an improvement from meeting yorick. the only one i kind of like is the cat.

but just as long as food is not from a fast food restaurant I'm fine. eugh no chicken either that stuff is disgusting. other than that i should be fine

I wouldn’t mind that either. Anyways, I just have one more wire then…okay, we should be good.

Like a switch, you feel yourself reconnect with Kayne who was still falling…Yeah, I forgot we left him like that. That was on me.

*Youve left people in worst situations!*

Kiki, we have a job.

*:(*

How did you speak that..?

*Magic!*

what do you mean visit him? You can just keep him!

he’s literally dying and incapacitated at the current moment what is going to do? Play pretend like a doll at a tea party ?

You’ll see what involves him soon but we don’t have much of a choice in the matter. It’s something larger than both of our powers combined.

*And besides, we’re wanting to visit you! Not him.*

but sure sure ill go alone with whatever this is. not like I'm the one who has a body here.

Kayne’s body smacked against a hard surface, somehow ending up undamaged. He would be a bit bruised, sure, but nothing that time couldn’t easily fix.

Kayne would wake up from his little nap. Of course his head and body hurts. No idea of where he could be as he looks around at what lies ahead.

Emergency lights were on, the dangling ones that Kayne could touch if he stood up, having no lightbulbs inside of them. At most, he could see a couple of yards in front of him in detail while the rest became blurry.

A clear liquid dripped from the pipes and ceiling, fizzing into a smoke as soon at it hit the ground. You could assume the sulfur scent was likely emitting from that.

well…any sort of maze was a nightmare for Kayne.hours spent on one just to be dragged back through the fast food Styx.

admirably long hallways there’s nothing like getting stuck in one running away from some unimaginable horror.

Kayne would begin walking for a minute before remembering he was on solid ground and could probably try teleporting out.

Not magical blockers to prevent him from teleporting out right?

Kayne would focus hard on where he wanted to be

back at his house at the least he could picture it so clearly.

he need to get away from here away from here.

Levels and different rooms zoomed in and out of his vision: a snowing abyss, a ball pit, a candy store with more candy than store, and so on. The list was limitless (*Like the username…get it?*) with more rooms than I could possibly name in this format. To say the least, there were thousands if not millions.

His body smacked against another (semi-metaphorical, it was hard to say) wall where he landed against ground that wasn’t ground. His body floated and sank simultaneously with darkness surrounding all around him.

The only source of light was tiny digits that raced past his head like a bullet. They glowed neon green with the same one and zero pattern.

the many rooms were confusing and making his brain feel like it was about to explode

though...he was already feeling the effects of his prolonged break away from his work. he after all couldn't stray too far away from it or he would suffer.

"OH GODAMMIT " Kayne would scream out.

kayne would decide to be smart for once in his life and phone a freind.

who was he calling you may be asking?

OF COURSE ITS YORICK.

SIGH

yorick of course was one of the most annoying little things to ever grace this planet. he only gave information when he felt like it and was overall annoying.

Where you sat was inconsistent, seat height going up and down and up and down. The seat itself wasn’t even there, just something that you made up for convenience. You couldn’t see it what so ever.

Ring Ring.

Ring ring.

Will he pick up?

Your phone was still trying to connect to his internet.

Do you wish to accept what comes with calling him?

kayne trys over and over to call yorick. he just needed someone to talk to that could maybe contact upper management to get him the hell out of here. if there was internet there was a way.

or he would slowly decay away until he was taken back by the fast food styx

his ringtone would play over and over each one marking..truly how alone he was.

just...no body in the room.

His body slipped through the binds of reality and fell up, down, and sideways through mind-blurring images that flickered at the speed of light. It ranged from bright ball pits to moldy sewers but each one wasn’t there long enough to comprehend it.

Then, everything was ripping, wires threatening to snap. His agony was horrific with nauseating sensations despite the lack of a stomach…then it all ended.

yorick would look around at his surroundings unable to easily make sense of it

"oh hi kayne! is this why we didn't take our break together? "

yoricks tone was quite a bit salty. after all this had happened more than one time.

"it wasn't on purpose yorick. it was like the corn maze yorick."

this was the time where it happened again.

"I've never been this far from the restaurant though. "

yorick hardly went out due to his...size. hell I've been to more places than he has.

"do you know a way out?"

"thats what i was trying to call you for!"

there seems to be no way out its just a weird box that has no way of making any sense. just makes nonsense. though with being so far away from their life force Yorick would get to have the pain of the fast food styx thrust apon him.

"the what? narrator what are you blabbering on about? "

not relevant to you.

Kiki, we can’t let them here of all places.

A line of ones and zeros whizzed past Kayne’s head, nearly smacking him square in the head. Another successfully knocked him off his ‘chair’ by smashing him in the chest though, knocking the air from his lungs.

Oh that would be wonderful ! Torturing yorick and Kayne and I get a body and I get dinner ? Count me in !

Kayne would cough violently it’s hard to breath.

hahahaha ! I get a body before you yorick suck a lemon you peice of shit!

“narrator please stop lying to me”

Oh but it’s true. If only you could see me now. I’m grinning ear to ear… if I have those eh I can hear.

“w-what the fuck is going on”

Kayne wheezed out like a dying old man.

A cage of some sort of metal clanked down around the pair. The bars left no room to slip through and was roughly a 20x20foot bland room.

*you’ll go home eventually but we just need to hang out with our buddy!*

Everything should be set.

“can Kayne at least get some food? We uh didn’t get to go on lunch break.”

oh boo hoo try starving for a change and try rotting for once in your life you freeloader.

….

I’m sure just as long as you follow the wants I wanted it will be fine. The body I mean.~

fuuuuckkkk yooooou yorick Kayne will never belive anything you sayyyyyy!

yorick could only sigh at this knowing he was inferior and dumb and stupid to the might of the me..

A whole Thanksgiving feast popped in front of them. Kiki may do a lot of morally questionable things but allowing someone to go hungry wasn’t one of them if she could help it.

*Food is important!*

Anyways…The Narrator feels their energy shifting and spinning around itself like a whirlpool until they unwind and end up in some kind of recording booth.

A person with fluffy hair like the clouds waves all around while the being next to her is covered by a black smog.

“Thank you….”

……….

I would look in fascination at the pair walking around them to inspect them and the room quite a bit better.

you can’t see me but I’m waving.

The recording room was a traditional one, almost as if it were out of a cartoon. It seemed almost too real, like the microphones were too based in reality or Kiki’s limbs were too flesh-like.

Outside of our window is a live studio audience, all with no true face. There was a blur over each one much like the censor over my body.

I’ve seen weirder. Though I could still put this on my top ten list.

weird that you have people…things watching over you though. My job would be a nightmare if everyone could just happen to hear me.

………..

getting my body down both of you?

*It’s me who people can hear all the time! I don’t mind it. I think it’s fun to interact.*

Despite that not being your job.

*Killjoy! Anywayssss, we’d have to make your body in another room. Both of us have our break…*

She dramatically checked a watch that wasn’t there.

its fun to interact when they cant hear all your insults.

I understand what you mean. Kiki is heard by everyone like a voice in their head but I typically slide a bit more under the radar. I-

*-LETS GO ALREADY!*

I guess I can save that for another time.

I would follow along behind making sure to take my time.

The room wasn’t too expansive, about the size of a typical office. Off the left was a table with a piece of paper and an array of drawing utensils: pencils, pens, markers, crayons. Kiki was already jumping into the cushioned chair, picking up a pen.

*I thought it’d be a good idea for you to describe exactly what you want then I draw it. We have a vague idea but we want this to be perfect!*

Afterwards, your body will be revealed behind…

Hmmm suit maybe true black ah! Pinstripe!

….how tall was he again.. ah make me at least 6 foot.

And well I need functioning hands I need to hold stuff. However humans designed them

…….well overall a humanoid figure I guess .

…..hair? …………..ugh please don’t fuse clothes to my body .

And whatever else is up to interpretation then.

of course give me working eyes.

*This good?*

@limitless-liminals

kayne has been doing pretty much nothing but his job these past few days. its monotonous but its a nice break from the sitcom like shenanigans that plague him and Yorick's life. from gravedigging to insect horrors work is one hell of a way to distance yourself from everything.

"welcome to raising Kayne's how may i serve you?" he would rattle off his usual spiel expecting the usual order to come forth so he could continue going on with his job.

it wasn't completely unusual to see this type of entity there was that annoying bastard who happened to be a doll who killed everyone in a rage.

Kayne would giggle to himself about the slight resemblance to that pink round thing he had seen once online. although tried his best to keep on his 'customer service smile' maintaining eye contact with whatever the hell those..what could you call eyes.

The voice cut through his mind like a knife would a plate of titanium. Not very smoothly.

*Hey, my voice isn’t THAT grating!*

I never said it was. Sorry, sorry, ahem, let me get back to my descriptions though.

The face only continued to stare until it tipped its round head to the side and…

*Off with their head!*

" WHAT THE APSOLUTE [BEEP] "

he would yell out obviously attracting the attention of quite a few OTHER beings. Kayne would not scream but instead jump at the sudden dropping of head jumping like a startled cat. "why CANT MY DAYS EVER GO NORMALY" kayne would yell to nobody IN PARTICULAR.

The laugh track of our audience could be heard through every wall of the building.

*I thought we got rid of that thing. It always felt too fake.*

Meh, the boss like it.

creepy why can they do that? i kind of wish yorick was here at least he was tolerable... its like this thing is like arthur lester...whats the deal...

...hm..i wonder if i can..

KAYNE WOULD FEEL THE SUDDEN URGE TO GO GET YORICK two minds are better than...whatever the hell is going on here.

kayne needs to flee anyway that thing is getting closer.

hewould start running to the back. to WHO KNOWS WHERE TO GET WHO KNOWS WHAT.

The moment he had to think and react to the situation was too short to do anything properly before his other leg followed, and went down just as quickly.

You were falling.

"OH WHAT IN THE APOSULTE [BEEP] "

he would try to reach out at anything he could grab onto to escape this hole failing miserably.

kayne could never have a normal day could he? could he! of course not.

not here not now.

kayne braced himself for any sort of impact that would be soon to come. if there's one thing he hated more than [insert here]

it was the vast. like that one time he got stuck in a corn maze. there was too much corn we will not tell you more.

Kayne could of course waste his lungs on screaming but such a thing seemed pointless.

the best thing to do was to wait for an end. like death perhaps?

he would still end up back at home right?

*KNOCK KNOCK, Is someone is there?*

Kiki! There’s procedures!

Kayne would continue falling. It was surprisingly not fun at all. Nothing like portal ….even if he wanted to get away he couldn’t as teleporting requires NOT BEING IN THE Air.

“Oh Waffle House… oh bloody dagger give me death something something can’t remember”

Kayne would try to summon his trusty dagger to get the hell out of this awful situation… it would instead slip out of his hands…

butterfingers

“ Whoever the hell you are get me the [beep] out of here!”

….who the fuck do you think you are!? You…can’t just!

……

She giggled *Yeah!*

……….. wow i sure loved the part where you explained any of your bullshit ! I’m still not telling you anything if you can’t even answer a single question.

”you know what I’ll just close my eyes and hope this blows over”

hmph ! If I had a body you could probably see I’m crossing my arms and sticking my tounge at you and also I’m flipping you off. It’s cause I’m so much better than you.

Kayne only kept falling.

Down

Down

Down

I’m being sarcastic by the wa we

I can only hear you in full clarity

you could have done this in so many different ways. was falling really your only option?!

.........................

......................

KIKI..?

*—What? We’d do it together of course!*

….I don’t think that’s what they meant. As lovely as that sounds, I think there was a miscommunication.

.....

IS THERE SOME SORT OF SWITCH YOU CAN TURN ON SO I CAN HEAR whatever you're talking to.

.....as for what the hell i censored before i couldn't think of anything.

Be right back, I’m gonna go look for that spare mic. This one only lets me do my normal stuff.

but you can never hate him as much as i do. you don't know what its like half of what i have to go through with him.

and yes I can hear you loud and clear. So that’s your name? Hm. Stupid.

Kiki, we have to get this thing on a roll. You know what they said about letting someone fall for an extended period of time.

*Only in certain circumstances and I can’t abuse the right.* she sighed

ehhh Kayne will be fine he’s been in worse this is really the least of my worry’s still this would be better at dinner though. I might answer more your making it hard to think.

Kiki, you know how I feel about most people actually seeing me. Besides, they aren’t exactly happy with you.

*Hmmm…true…I’ll set up a huge curtain for you to go behind!*

Did you just ignore the hate part?

I’m also saying a fancy dinner would improve my mood.

but to answer your question one could say I’m more self aware..most don’t talk to others. Just describe …..no one can really hear. Ugh except this one idiot named yorick. I was just minding my own before I met him.

ugh it’s a whole other story. All you need to know is that he can hear me and that’s a issue andihatehim

I quite like just describing in most circumstances. I don’t like being made aware I’m existing 24/7. I like choosing when that happens freely.

i swear....ugh

......wait what do you mean 'drop kayne' like at his house orrrr what? i need details you!

I’m not. Please, I’m not getting him. Besides, I don’t like the front rooms.

*Finnnneee, fair enough. Our dinner will be in the backrooms near our home then. I don’t want to have to go too far. The whole body thing might be difficult but I can probably snag some guy’s body as a template. I always fuck up to proportions.*

I’ll try my best to help as well.

some body is better than no body…Tch yorick allways complains. prick.

…..strange I diddent travel with Kayne though….shame eh….why would I care

Fuck, they know about it againnnnn. I’m gonna have to sit down with them again, aren’t I?

*HA! Have fun.*

but it must be some sort of 'backrooms' weirdness that's going on....nothing makes sense. but convenient no?

but yeah i think people go into there for shits and giggles a lot vlogging stealing stools?

thrifting i guess

*You gonna try to mess with the box first?*

Nah, I’ll suck it up and do the easier way even if it’s annoying.

*Fair enough.*

But….what the hell is your list? The box ? What the hell are you doing what the hell are we doing ? No dinner? I have to know these things!

you’re not making much sense is what I’m saying.

God, do I gotta do this?

hopefully his mind will brush this off rather quickly….

but well anyone hotter than him so any body really.

hm.... more eyes? its quite stupid to not have more. oooh and make me taller than yorick. should be really easy anything higher than 2 feet. also the ability to flip people off I've been wanting to do that for a while.

mm fair enough I guess. Dunno how you find Kayne cute but he has a boyfriend so someone out there must like him.

*I get paid in candy!*

…Kiki, please ask for more.

*I like my job so I don’t need more.*

and great!....yeah totally was asking for your name there or something

you can just refer to me by my pronouns i don't need a name. those things are constricting.

Kiki, you’re not really a species.

*Im healthy is my point.*

Alright. As for you, I was just providing a name so you didn’t have to say ‘what’s-your-name.’ I was simply being considerate of that but it’s nice to meet you.

but nice to meet you too this is at least an improvement from meeting yorick. the only one i kind of like is the cat.

but just as long as food is not from a fast food restaurant I'm fine. eugh no chicken either that stuff is disgusting. other than that i should be fine

I wouldn’t mind that either. Anyways, I just have one more wire then…okay, we should be good.

Like a switch, you feel yourself reconnect with Kayne who was still falling…Yeah, I forgot we left him like that. That was on me.

*Youve left people in worst situations!*

Kiki, we have a job.

*:(*

How did you speak that..?

*Magic!*

what do you mean visit him? You can just keep him!

he’s literally dying and incapacitated at the current moment what is going to do? Play pretend like a doll at a tea party ?

You’ll see what involves him soon but we don’t have much of a choice in the matter. It’s something larger than both of our powers combined.

*And besides, we’re wanting to visit you! Not him.*

but sure sure ill go alone with whatever this is. not like I'm the one who has a body here.

Kayne’s body smacked against a hard surface, somehow ending up undamaged. He would be a bit bruised, sure, but nothing that time couldn’t easily fix.

Kayne would wake up from his little nap. Of course his head and body hurts. No idea of where he could be as he looks around at what lies ahead.

Emergency lights were on, the dangling ones that Kayne could touch if he stood up, having no lightbulbs inside of them. At most, he could see a couple of yards in front of him in detail while the rest became blurry.

A clear liquid dripped from the pipes and ceiling, fizzing into a smoke as soon at it hit the ground. You could assume the sulfur scent was likely emitting from that.

well…any sort of maze was a nightmare for Kayne.hours spent on one just to be dragged back through the fast food Styx.

admirably long hallways there’s nothing like getting stuck in one running away from some unimaginable horror.

Kayne would begin walking for a minute before remembering he was on solid ground and could probably try teleporting out.

Not magical blockers to prevent him from teleporting out right?

Kayne would focus hard on where he wanted to be

back at his house at the least he could picture it so clearly.

he need to get away from here away from here.

Levels and different rooms zoomed in and out of his vision: a snowing abyss, a ball pit, a candy store with more candy than store, and so on. The list was limitless (*Like the username…get it?*) with more rooms than I could possibly name in this format. To say the least, there were thousands if not millions.

His body smacked against another (semi-metaphorical, it was hard to say) wall where he landed against ground that wasn’t ground. His body floated and sank simultaneously with darkness surrounding all around him.

The only source of light was tiny digits that raced past his head like a bullet. They glowed neon green with the same one and zero pattern.

the many rooms were confusing and making his brain feel like it was about to explode

though...he was already feeling the effects of his prolonged break away from his work. he after all couldn't stray too far away from it or he would suffer.

"OH GODAMMIT " Kayne would scream out.

kayne would decide to be smart for once in his life and phone a freind.

who was he calling you may be asking?

OF COURSE ITS YORICK.

SIGH

yorick of course was one of the most annoying little things to ever grace this planet. he only gave information when he felt like it and was overall annoying.

Where you sat was inconsistent, seat height going up and down and up and down. The seat itself wasn’t even there, just something that you made up for convenience. You couldn’t see it what so ever.

Ring Ring.

Ring ring.

Will he pick up?

Your phone was still trying to connect to his internet.

Do you wish to accept what comes with calling him?

kayne trys over and over to call yorick. he just needed someone to talk to that could maybe contact upper management to get him the hell out of here. if there was internet there was a way.

or he would slowly decay away until he was taken back by the fast food styx

his ringtone would play over and over each one marking..truly how alone he was.

just...no body in the room.

His body slipped through the binds of reality and fell up, down, and sideways through mind-blurring images that flickered at the speed of light. It ranged from bright ball pits to moldy sewers but each one wasn’t there long enough to comprehend it.

Then, everything was ripping, wires threatening to snap. His agony was horrific with nauseating sensations despite the lack of a stomach…then it all ended.

yorick would look around at his surroundings unable to easily make sense of it

"oh hi kayne! is this why we didn't take our break together? "

yoricks tone was quite a bit salty. after all this had happened more than one time.

"it wasn't on purpose yorick. it was like the corn maze yorick."

this was the time where it happened again.

"I've never been this far from the restaurant though. "

yorick hardly went out due to his...size. hell I've been to more places than he has.

"do you know a way out?"

"thats what i was trying to call you for!"

there seems to be no way out its just a weird box that has no way of making any sense. just makes nonsense. though with being so far away from their life force Yorick would get to have the pain of the fast food styx thrust apon him.

"the what? narrator what are you blabbering on about? "

not relevant to you.

Kiki, we can’t let them here of all places.

A line of ones and zeros whizzed past Kayne’s head, nearly smacking him square in the head. Another successfully knocked him off his ‘chair’ by smashing him in the chest though, knocking the air from his lungs.

Oh that would be wonderful ! Torturing yorick and Kayne and I get a body and I get dinner ? Count me in !

Kayne would cough violently it’s hard to breath.

hahahaha ! I get a body before you yorick suck a lemon you peice of shit!

“narrator please stop lying to me”

Oh but it’s true. If only you could see me now. I’m grinning ear to ear… if I have those eh I can hear.

“w-what the fuck is going on”

Kayne wheezed out like a dying old man.

A cage of some sort of metal clanked down around the pair. The bars left no room to slip through and was roughly a 20x20foot bland room.

*you’ll go home eventually but we just need to hang out with our buddy!*

Everything should be set.

“can Kayne at least get some food? We uh didn’t get to go on lunch break.”

oh boo hoo try starving for a change and try rotting for once in your life you freeloader.

….

I’m sure just as long as you follow the wants I wanted it will be fine. The body I mean.~

fuuuuckkkk yooooou yorick Kayne will never belive anything you sayyyyyy!

yorick could only sigh at this knowing he was inferior and dumb and stupid to the might of the me..

A whole Thanksgiving feast popped in front of them. Kiki may do a lot of morally questionable things but allowing someone to go hungry wasn’t one of them if she could help it.

*Food is important!*

Anyways…The Narrator feels their energy shifting and spinning around itself like a whirlpool until they unwind and end up in some kind of recording booth.

A person with fluffy hair like the clouds waves all around while the being next to her is covered by a black smog.

“Thank you….”

……….

I would look in fascination at the pair walking around them to inspect them and the room quite a bit better.

you can’t see me but I’m waving.

The recording room was a traditional one, almost as if it were out of a cartoon. It seemed almost too real, like the microphones were too based in reality or Kiki’s limbs were too flesh-like.

Outside of our window is a live studio audience, all with no true face. There was a blur over each one much like the censor over my body.

I’ve seen weirder. Though I could still put this on my top ten list.

weird that you have people…things watching over you though. My job would be a nightmare if everyone could just happen to hear me.

………..

getting my body down both of you?

*It’s me who people can hear all the time! I don’t mind it. I think it’s fun to interact.*

Despite that not being your job.

*Killjoy! Anywayssss, we’d have to make your body in another room. Both of us have our break…*

She dramatically checked a watch that wasn’t there.

its fun to interact when they cant hear all your insults.

I understand what you mean. Kiki is heard by everyone like a voice in their head but I typically slide a bit more under the radar. I-

*-LETS GO ALREADY!*

I guess I can save that for another time.

I would follow along behind making sure to take my time.

The room wasn’t too expansive, about the size of a typical office. Off the left was a table with a piece of paper and an array of drawing utensils: pencils, pens, markers, crayons. Kiki was already jumping into the cushioned chair, picking up a pen.

*I thought it’d be a good idea for you to describe exactly what you want then I draw it. We have a vague idea but we want this to be perfect!*

Afterwards, your body will be revealed behind…

Huh, so that’s what he meant.

“No, no, you’re fine. They didn’t put us under any risk,” a building a block away crumbled.

*It may sooooonnnnn.”

Simon hesitated, choosing to ignore her.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to prevent that,” he didn’t exactly have the vocabulary for a flashback.

He was hit with his own panic once she climbed up though. Simon was growing okay with her existence, not her on him…was he allowed to move?

*He waves it off quickly, also choosing to ignore who he had to assume was Kiki.*

"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it."

*She nestles into him very quickly, letting out a rumbly coo.*

"Hah! Would you look at that? She really likes you, doll!"

*And then he notices the panic.*

"Do you want her off? I don't think she'll care much if I do."

*Just in case he said no because he didn't want to "offend" her or something. She did seem rather content with him, though. It was very cute. She was all puffed up and round.*

“Let her do whatever she pleases.”

He was swallowing the words as he spoke, unsure if speaking would be an offense in some way shape or form. There wasn’t exactly a tutorial on interacting with these kinds of things, especially not a (potentially) angelic being who wishes to be treated like a ‘normal bird’. None of this made any sense whatsoever.

"Hey, just relax. She'll start whackin' ya to get your attention if you freak out too much."

*It's meant as a joke, but he was serious. It's like she could smell fear and anxiety. It was kind of freaky.*

"You basically gotta pretend she's not there. Unless you wanna pet her or somethin'. And hey, if you get tired of her, just throw her in the distance. It's like a game for her, and she probably needs the exercise."

*He frowns, scratching at the wound on his neck.*

"I, uh... Never cared for a pigeon before. Not sure if I'm feedin' her too much. She's not complaining about it, though."

“Right, Right, got it.”

He brought a hand up before pausing. It’s not like he’s ever pet a bird before and he didn’t want to mess up. He just kind of hoped his poor mimicry of Noel’s petting from before on her head would do.

“In all fairness, I wouldn’t complain either if someone fed me too much. I need some more meat on my bones.”

"Yeah you do. Make sure to ease into it when you get more access, though. If you go too fast, you'll get real sick."

*He starts to limp his way down the street, just picking a random direction and walking in it.*

"Do you want us to go in a certain direction or just... Walk?"

His eyes narrowed but his questioning was interrupted by her nestling. Simon’s footsteps halted and he sucked in a sharp breath of air. Oh, dear god. Okay, this was fine.

He kept walking onward once he assessed it was safe to do so, both because of the ‘pigeon’ and the surroundings. Besides, he didn’t need to get wacked with her wing.

*Just so long as you continue to explore then that’s fine by me!*

At this point, the land around you was covered by debris from the collapsing buildings. Oddly, none of them contained any furniture or signs that people ever lived there.

As you wander, you have a split path: left or right.

The left is much like the trail of rubble you’re currently in but brick walls stand tall, creating a claustrophobic, dim hall. Puddles and moisture decorated the environment with mold accenting it.

He hesitates just as he's about to step onto the path. He doesn't know why, he just does.

Phoebe perks up at him. She rumbles a small coo in Simon's ear, rubs her face against his, then flutters over to Noel, landing at his feet.*

"It's a trick, right?"

*He turns his head slightly. Just enough so he could see Simon in his periphery.*

"The right path, it's a trick. You want us to go that way, then something will happen and it will be worse than if we took the left, right?"

*His voice was soft and small. Pleading. He didn't want to second guess himself like this again. He didn't want to fall into this spiral that kept him frozen in place every time he had to make a decision before he inevitably chose the worst one. Even with basic things.

“I’d…assume it’s a trick. It’s too good to be true but at the same time it could be reverse psychology.”

*I dunno! What do you think, Noel?* you could practically hear the grin in her voice.

Simon didn’t follow you, pausing in between the paths. He stared between the two, examining further only to get no more details.

"What the fuck do you want?!"

*He throws his arms out, glaring at the ceiling.*

"What could I do just to make sure that I won't fucking die?!"

*His breath gets caught in his throat for a brief moment, tears filling his eyes. He quickly blinks it away.*

"Are you working with Kayne? Did he get you to do this?!"

*He laughs to mask the sob. His feet move to make his body pace, but he's not in control of it.*

"Or are you just him? Using tricks to fuck with my head! That's what it is, isn't it? You're Kayne!!"

*He laughs. Oh, he's gone mad. He's finally lost it. After all these years. After all this time. Maybe he'd finally feel free.

Simon stepped away from you, eyes growing wide with bewilderment and concern. His shoulders were tense, practically up to his ears, as his hands curled into fists.

“Noel, what are you talking about?”

His tone was pointed and sharp, someone desperate for explanation.

"I don't want to die!! All you've- All you've done is- is laugh at me when- when I bring that up!!"

*His laughter quickly morphs into frantic sobbing.*

"Even- Even if you aren't Kayne or- or working with him, you still-"

*His voice falters when his eyes land on Simon. His tears blur his vision, but he could still see the terror.

He was pushing him away.

He was pushing the only other person who seemed somewhat safe away.*

"Shit, I-"

*He goes to take a step towards Simon, but stops.*

"I didn't- I told you I wouldn't- I-I swear this doesn't- This doesn't happen. I'm not- I-"

*What was he even trying to say at this point?*

"I'm not always this bad, I-I promise..."

*He wipes clumsily at his face with shaking hands.*

"I'm... really not..."

*Phoebe coos in an attempt to grab his attention, but that only gets the tears to continue flowing. He doesn't kneel down to scoop her up. He doesn't even look at her. He just... sobs.

I’ll allow you to do that for a few people, not all of them.

*HOORAY! I need to find one then.*

That dialogue did little to calm his nerves, now having to worry about harm from whatever clicker training was now. The hair on the back of his neck stood straight up as he examined Noel up and down.

“Noel, explain what you’re talking about, please.”

His voice, although stern, carried an edge of sympathy. To say he didn’t care for the man’s current emotional state would be a blatant lie but in the same vein, he was all too aware of the instability and risk that could from feelings like these.

He took another step back.

"I'm not a fuckin' dog!!"

*He sure as hell snapped like a cornered dog at the threat.

He needed to calm down. He was freaking Simon out. He needed to calm down.

But he couldn't catch his breath. The thought of being treated like an animal again... The branding burned into his heart, even if it was a wound that was years old, it still ached.

He was branded like cattle.

He wasn't a cow.

That wasn't all, though. The war? The training? Being treated like a mutt no matter how hard he tried, no matter how many other soldiers died in front of his eyes, by his side, in his arms. He was still commanded to kill.

He wasn't a dog.

If he was a dog, then he was a very, very bad dog. A dog that bit and scratched and howled the entire night long. A dog that begged to be out in the wild.

...

A coyote. That's what he was. A mangy beast that was meeker than a wolf, that would easily be killed by a lone one, let alone a pack. A wild animal that refused to be muzzled like a dog, but it killed those same creatures for... What? A show of dominance? Disgusting. Probably rabid. Losing tufts of fur as he scratched and scratched but the microscopic mites in his skin refused to break loose.

It was going to kill him. The itching that never ceased. The hunger in his belly that was never satiated by the meager prey he caught. The constant wandering with no home in sight.

He turned back to the crossroads.*

"It- It doesn't matter, doll. It won't- You won't have to deal with it, I'm sure."

*He wipes the tears from his face, but they continue to flow. Futile, as always.*

"We're going to die here, anyway. It doesn't matter which path we choose. We're just... entertainment for them."

*He sucks in a long breath of the stale air through his nose.*

"These beings... gods... They like to watch us suffer for a cheap laugh. And this is the one to finally get me, huh?"

*He starts to trudge towards the left path, ignoring the frantic bird at his feet. Then, he pauses.*

"I'm sorry, Simon. Didn't mean to freak out on ya... again."

*Oh, you’re pushing him away~*

Her voice was that of a sweet melody. It was discordant to every note of the situation from Simon’s own inner turmoil to your own emotional breakdown.

I suppose you’re right, in away, that beings like us like to poke and prod at those like you for entertainment. I promise you that neither of us are the ones being entertained though, just the live studio audience. All we’re doing is fulfilling a job.

Now, where was I, ah, right.

Simon, although distant and skittish previously, abandoned all of that line of reasoning upon the words ‘we’re going to die here’. Each syllable stung in his chest like a disease never meant to grace his body.

No, they would survive. This wouldn’t be where his story ended after so long. People back home needed him.

Tate, one of his cell mates, who agreed to trade labor tasks in exchange for bits of food when their bodies were giving out. Jennifer, an elderly woman who he’d play cards with while discussing her childhood. Lily, a kid that he took under his wing when he saw her taken as a prisoner of war.

If he didn’t survive for himself, he needed to survive for others. He took joy in those tiny glimmers of hope helping others brought him.

“Doll.”

He repeated the nickname sternly. Back home, it was a kind of term reserved for those you were close with but Simon didn’t mind rushing the process. They likely weren’t going to be separated for a while if he could help it. He might as well just start the process.

“We’re not dying down here.”

He speed-walked, practically ran, to get in front of Noel’s way. He would have gripped his shoulder had he been anyone else but touch hadn’t been something he reacted well to in the past.

“Let me make that really fucking clear. You can freak out all you want but you’re not dying. I’ve seen countless tears and each time, they were able to get through it.”

Except for a certain someone who couldn’t. The emotional wound stung like a burn being brushed by fabric.

"You ever seen someone with shell-shock?"

*He goes to wipe his face again, but his hands fall before they could reach the tears dripping down his chin.*

"Real shell-shock? Where... Where your limbs don't work, 'n you don't remember your Ma's face 'cause all you can think about are the bombs goin' off? Where you shake at every little movement, even if it's meant to be comforting? Where every little sound is just like it was in the trenches, so there's no point in trying to sleep, only hiding under your bed for some hope of protection from the next onslaught of imaginary bullets?"

*He finally meets Simon's gaze. Properly.*

"Men get that from war. I got that from war, and two torture trials by beings like this."

*He points to the ceiling.*

"One's still ongoin', and it ain't this one."

*He takes a small step back.*

"I'm not young anymore. I-I..."

*He feels his throat close.*

"I know what they're like. I know how they... they fuck with your head... I can't keep doin' this, Simon."

*He drops his head, his eyes finally landing on Phoebe. He squats down to scoop her up, his knees clicking loudly with the movement, sending a jolt of pain down his shins (kind of... Pain was still weird. It wasn't making this any easier).

He can't force himself back up to his full height. So, he cradles Phoebe on the floor.*

"They're sayin' we're not gonna die, they're saying they can't do anything... None of it matters. They'll pull the rug from under your feet. They'll tear you apart. They'll mock you for every bit and piece of your life that you tried to push away, to hide... They'll skin you. Literally and figuratively."

*He sucks in another deep breath.

...He sticks a cigarette between his lips. So what if he didn't have a light? The weight was comforting.*

“I…have. I don’t know the term ‘shell shock’ but I certainly am familiar with what you’re talking about,” he sighed. “I’m all too familiar with never leaving the violence and explosions.”

Even if his experiences were slim in terms of first hand combat, he’s seen and heard enough.

“I know war. I’ve known it since I was a wee little lad, probably around eight years old.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat as the heat of the explosions threatened to grace his skin. Simon was way too close. He curled up into himself tighter.

All he wanted was to pull away from the topic, switch away, but this was the thing that seemed to be holding Noel together. In a way, it was an outlet for him. He wouldn’t deny that so harshly.

“I am captured as a prisoner of war, kept in the prisons and forced to work as if they’d let me reform into their society. Thats where I came from before I got put into this shit show.”

He chuckled at the notion of freedom, noise tight in his throat. The topic was a sore one. Simon was desperately trying to keep the tears down.

“I’ve only dealt with humans but I can’t even imagine what you’ve had,” he couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“I don’t know what I’m doing with demons…”

He felt like a child again, clueless. All he knew what to do was the instructions the leaders had told him. He never truly understood the implications of it. No, they never set in until after, not even as they discussed on the ride to Filament Station all that would occur following this attack.

All he could do was listen to Noel and pray the same harm didn’t happen again.

*A weary smile crosses his lips as a chuckle slips out of him.*

"It's a miracle I made it out of the Dreamlands... If Lorick hadn't been there, I..."

*He would've gotten killed. He would've killed himself. He would've lost his mind.

A lot of things would've happened without Lorick. Warmth blooms in his chest as he thinks about the cana. It's like a bright light in the middle of the darkness. The darkness that was this fucking place.

He holds Phoebe a little closer. He wondered if Lorick had ever seen a pigeon before. Would he be like the man sitting in front of him? Confused over her existence?

...No, probably not. He knew about Arthur and John, he probably would know about a pigeon being just a random bird, not a literal angel.*

"...Just, if you ever meet a cana, be nice to 'em. They could help you out more than you know..."

*His smile slowly falls from his face as he tilts his head up.*

"Why? This too entertaining for her? She laughin' her ass off over some crazed war vet's stories?"

*The smile's back. This time, it's much more bitter."

“What you said barely makes a lick of sense to me but I’ll keep it in mind. I’m not keeping in mind the fact I can’t promise though. I’m dragging both of our asses out of here kicking and screaming if I gotta,” he instinctively patted his shoulder.

Shit, shit, don’t have a breakdown. He pulled his hand away.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered out frantically, “I wasn’t thinking.”

"Oh, it's... It's alright, doll. Just... Just the chest area is an issue."

*And his back, but if he was being pushed, it was probably for a good reason. He could leave that out of the conversation. A conversation that he'd prefer to end right then and there. He'd had similar conversations with other people, but that was because the relationship was... closer, to put it lightly. He just met Simon! He didn't need to know every little spot where he couldn't touch Noel! That was none of his business!

He clears his throat. He was sure his face had gotten a few shades redder.*

"It's, uh... It's fine. Promise."

*He offers a small thumbs up. And since it was so fine, they'd continue on this little... death journey. Simon could believe that they were getting out of this alive all they wanted, but Noel knew, deep down, that wasn't going to happen.

So he stands up on shaking feet like a newborn deer, holding his hand out to help Simon up.*

"Let's just get this whole thing over with, yeah?"

He brushed himself up and didn’t think twice about the implications of him telling this meant. No, this wasn’t too odd to him so he was even further confused by the reddened expression. Maybe, it was about the thing he did find odd though. There was no harm in asking.

“Why do you call me doll though?”

It was typically a nickname that was reserved for closer bonds, not a casual remark for aquantinces (or people just trying to survive).

"You know, I never really thought about it..."

*He'd thought hard about it. Because Noel did it. He needed to fit the role.*

"Somethin' I do for most people, 'specially before I know their names. Then, it just sticks. Also works for when I forget people's names, they'd never know."

*He winks playfully. That part was true, at least. Names were hard to remember, alright!

...Something quickly dawns on him.

As for your secret, I’ll keep it tucked away with me. Generally, both of you are hearing the same-ish dialogue from us but right now it’s separated. Simon is hearing none of this. Besides, he’s pretending to not hear us entirely.

I am curious as to why you’re acting up a role though?

Simon paused before they went down the path, wanting to take a second to prepare, “I was just curious because back home, that’s more of a personal thing. I don’t mind it much, it’s not that serious, but it’s just different to hear. It reminds me of my mom who used to call me ‘sweetie’ a ton.”

God, he missed her.

If I tell you, will you make sure our deaths hurt less? Maybe even let us go?

It was a feeble attempt at a deal, one that probably wasn't going to work in his favor in the end anyway. That's how deals with gods typically go.

Makes it easier than prying it out of me, right?

Simon was talking. He needed to pay attention.

Right. Nicknames.

He's a little caught off guard when he's hit, having to readjust his balance. He smiles widely, tossing Phoebe into the air just so he could offer Simon a noogie.*

"C'mon, you think I don't remember you tellin' me your name is Simon only... What, a few hours ago?"

Simon picked up on the abrupt reaction like a hawk, too used to reading those in the prison. Constantly scanning a guard to see if they’re in a good or bad mood. If it was good, he could delay getting to his cell (they called it a bedroom but that was untrue. A bedroom was comfortable and not jammed with 4-5 men to two beds.) in favor of talking with Sasha a bit more.

He chose to brush it off though, tucking it into his back pocket as something odd. Noel was much like him though and could likely see the millisecond his brow crinkled in examination.

He chuckled and allowed the noogie to happen, hair sticking up in all sort of messy ways, “See, I knew you knew it! And hmm…”

He tapped his chin dramatically, “What’s your name again? Nicholas? Nathan? Hmmmmm….”

He never liked talking about it, let alone thinking about it.

Noel went missing in the war, but gave me his dogtags. It was practically handed to me on a silver platter.

His smile quickly becomes uncomfortable when Simon starts playfully guessing his name. He's far too distracted with communicating with two people and keeping a straight face doing it to notice the slight furrow in his brow.*

"Noel. It's Noel."

If you let me in on the ‘dreamlands crap’ then I’ll maybe let you out at the end of this section.

Simon once again caught onto his expression and this time, the furrowed brow lingered. He was thankful for not entering the dingy path yet because if something went astray there then it’d be ten times worse.

“Hey, I’m just messing with you? Are you good..? I know your name is Noel, doll.”

He didn’t step away but his body shifted to block the entrance slightly. They weren’t going in there until they got this sorted out.

He had to suppress a shudder at the thought of him.

The guy brought me to his domain and tortured me for ten years for information. Information that I didn't have. He didn't believe me, so he tortured me.

He looked away from Simon.*

"Yeah, sorry. Had issues with my name in the past."

To answer your question, I know a bit on The King. What information was he wanting though?

Simon’s face softened alongside his voice, “Am I allowed to press on what issues you had with your name?”

He tried to school his face as he thought. It was difficult keeping track of so many things at once.

He wanted to know where a "fragment" of himself was. Thought I knew something about it. At the time, I had no clue this guy even existed. Now, I know exactly who and where has that piece of him.*

"No."

*His voice comes out a little more stern than he intends it to, so he clears his throat.*

"Let's just keep going, yeah? My name isn't really that important to this whole... thing."

A click

*HIIIII!*

Another click and she was gone.

But I suppose that makes sense. I’ll bother you if I have any more questions, yeah? Would hate to interfere with you and Simon.

Simon’s suspicion only grew at Noel’s response. He wanted to nudge for an answer, push until he got one, but he held back. Secrets were dangerous but so was an argument with your only ally.

“Alright, alright, I’ll back off,” he held his palms up defensively.

It was clear he knew more was lurking just beneath the surface but a shit-eating grin grew on his expression as he gestured to the path.

He visibly brushes it off quickly, raising an eyebrow at Simon, a small smirk on his face. He scoops Phoebe off of his head to toss her ahead.*

"Follow the leader, I guess."

Simon tried to walk side by side with Noel, having the same thought as him on the chokehold. The alley’s width made this a tad difficult but he was determined, even if that meant rubbing shoulders.

Out of his harness, he took out his knife and held it tight. His eyes squinted and worked to see through the dim lighting as water(?) dripped onto him.

Thus far it was a typical dingy, dark alley with concrete floor and brick walls. It was much like the ones in New York, minus the dumpsters.

"I look like a lady to you?"

*He calls Phoebe back to him relatively quickly with a little click of his tongue.*

"Don't go picturing me in a dress, now."

*He didn't want to think about men in dresses. The last time he truly let his mind linger on it, he found himself sobbing in a speakeasy bathroom, crying over Noel.

Not the point. What mattered now was shimmying through an alley almost completely blind, desperately trying to see the ground before he takes his next step.*

"Yeah... You got a lighter or somethin'...?"

It was fairly comfortable if he did say so himself too. If it was especially cold he preferred pants or sometimes a dress with pants underneath. In prison, he typically wore pants solely for practicality. Hard to do manual labor and not flash your underwear with a dress on.

“I don’t got a light though. I wish I did.”

*He makes sure to keep his voice low, unsure of the things around them. The dripping was very suspicious.

He slowly pulled his pistol out and aims it ahead.*

"Now keep it down. I think something's there..."

*...Sulfur... What did he know about sulfur...?

Which was clear by the sweater that was likely stitched together about ten times over and hood with plenty of patches. Nothing went to waste.

His nose wrinkled as he picked up the scent and as he checked over his shoulder-

BANG

He walked straight into a metal pipe and he clutched his head.

"Shh."

Guards tugging and yanking him along, arms tight behind his back with his shoulders in a position they’d be sore from later. Any yelling would be ignored, punched out of him, or he’d have a gag forced into his mouth. It’s happened one too many times for comfort.

Safe to say he was thankful when Noel moved to check his head but he just tried to wave him off.

“I’m fine. It’s fine.”

He went to stand up on unsteady legs. From the bit he could feel, there was no bleeding but it was already swelling into a massive bump. It’d be amazing if he didn’t have a headache at the very least.

*He wasn't paying attention to Simon's panic, he was far too preoccupied with whatever could be in front of them. Damn him and his shitty hearing, if all those missiles in the war had been quieter, he would've shot this thing dead already. But noooo, turns out listening to loud banging 24/7 along with gunshots and screaming damages your hearing, so he had to strain himself for any noises.

He grumbled but stayed quiet after that, allowing himself to be moved step by step. Simon’s head was shooting pain and making everything spin more than it already would be when he stands up.

Of course he had to hit the pipe with his bad foot, of course he did.

He kept his voice barely at a whisper, nearly inaudible. Simon leaned in close to his ear so it was easier to hear.

“Continue forward?“

*YES PLEASE!*

“Fuck.” She has to be back?

"Pipe one step in front of you. Don't trip."

*He grimaces when he hears Kiki's voice again, fumbling around Simon's chest to take the gun back.

Simon tried to help by handing the gun over which accidentally made it take longer. He was used to touch, sharing a twin bed with two, sometimes three people tends to do that to you, so he didn’t blink much. He’s had someone basically roll onto him in their sleep plenty of times.

He paused his slight massage on his shoulder but didn’t break contact, as if afraid to lose him.

“Thanks, doll.” He squeezed his shoulder a bit.

Okay, still felt a bit weird to say but he was panicked and hurt. That nickname would be familiar for him.

He stepped over the pipe and…

Sank.

Down.

Down.

To aid him in this struggle, he bites down on some of the fabric around Simon's collar. Gross as it may be, it helped. Even if it didn't literally help, it helped Noel's mind feel a little more confident.

*Oh, this feels funny!*

Simon grunted as he clung to the pipe behind him for dear life once it was in reach. He was out of breath and the edges of his vision was going black as he tried to catch his bearing, hauling himself back into the one foot side. He just laid on his back for a second, chest rapidly rising and falling.

“Thank you,” he panted out

He's 100% sure he looks utterly confused.

I don't own a person, doll. He's not mine to give.

He pats Simon's shoulder, listening to him catch his breath. A simple, non-verbal "good job. You're alright now. Take a second for yourself." And then he turns to start searching for the gun. The liquid is uncomfortably close to his face as he does so, feeling around blindly under it.*

"I'll go first next time."

*He's the older one. He's the one who's lived his life. He's the one who's had experience with the otherworldly.

*What I want for you to do is push him back into the water or we’re taking you with him. It’s either one life or both of yours.*

Kiki?

*hush! I can’t be your assistant forever.*

Simon coughed and panted. He looked like a wet dog with hair he had to flop off of his eyes. Goddammit, that sucked.

“You’re fine. That was just bad luck.”

*Shove him.*

"We're leaving."

*He twists, firing a bullet at the light.*

"You could tell whoever what you want, I'm not keepin' a secret that will get someone fuckin' killed."

He didn’t pull away, no, he assumed it was related to the ‘narrators’ but he did nearly trip as he thought for a moment too long.

This person was the only person he had to rely on down here and he shouldn’t abandon him so—

—Oh fuck, the pipe would be up here soon.

“Noel, hold on!”

But it was too late as he bashed his head straight into it. The metal clanked upon impact and Simon cussed under his breath.

You could hear Kiki cackling in the background.

He was ready to carry Noel as necessary and he checked over his shoulder to check for imminent danger. It was nearly impossible to see but the water here shouldn’t be so deep and it only was going higher up his calf.

“Noel, let—“

His breath caught in his throat, gaze shifting from care to caution. It was just for an instant before he shook it off.

"I'm fine. Keep moving."

*He stumbles only for a brief moment, but his gait is almost the same as it was before. When he finally registers Kiki's cackling, he scowls.*

They were so close…

There was a literal blinding light where the exit was, lighting up the mold and mildew on the brick walls.

*Nope! I don’t think I will. Simon needs to be in the know, doesn’t he? Cmon, you didn’t expect me to not stay with my word, did you?*

“We’re almost there! Stay with me here.”

*He fires another shot into the darkness behind them. After he fires, he holsters his gun for a brief moment, hand going to Phoebe. He grabs the pigeon, pressing a small kiss into the top of her head.*

"Go with whoever makes it out, alright?"

Whatever he was going to say was taken out of his throat.

But he would get out this time. He’d drag them to the light despite the constant cackling in his ear. Despite the words he tried so hard to push away.

Two steps away.

The water was up to his waist.

One step away.

Another light shone behind him under the water.

SLAM.

There was no exit with the light, just a wall. A wall of false hope.

Simon swore he might break down sobbing as his fists banged against it repeatedly.

“LET US OUT, YOU FUCKED! YOU CANT TRAP US IN HERE!”

*I can!*

He takes a deep breath. He gently pulls Simon away from the wall by his shoulder.*

"If.. If this kills me. You take Phoebe. You take good care of her, alright?"

*He places the bird on the top of his head, then smiles sadly.

Helpless.

The same helplessness when he watched all of his friends’ bodies fall around him. Blood flowed from their wounds as boots stepped on them amidst the chaos as if they meant nothing. His stomach was twisting as he put Phoebe onto his head.

He wouldn’t be helpless anymore.

His grip on Noel’s arm may cause bruises but he couldn’t care less.

“You’re not going. We’re finding an alternative.”

His voice left little room for argument.

He looked towards the sky, “FINE, IM TALKING TO YOU NOW. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED RIGHT?”

*It certainly nicer!*

“Is there anyway you’ll let us out?” He said through gritted teeth.

The water paused, directly at his lower shoulders.

*Hmm….Do both of you know how to swim?*

“…No..?”

"SIMON!!"

*He tears his arm from the other man's grasp, stumbling a few feet away from him.*

"This might be our alternative!!"

*His voice cracks with desperation, gesturing wildly at the light behind him. He doesn't remember the last time he raised his voice like this, trying to reason with someone in this way. He's glad he doesn't.*

"I've lived my fuckin' life, doll! I'm in my forties, I-I fought in a war- I-"

*He chuckles.*

"If I die, then it's fine. And if I don't, even better!"

*He takes a deep breath, taking another step towards the light.*

"...Trust me, alright?"

The light came closer.

“—GET THE FUCK BACK!”

He waved the knife wildly at the creature all while tears were blinding his vision. He just wanted to go back to Eden, as wild as that sounded. He missed his bed.

None of this even felt real at the creature was roughly five feet away. The water around them rippled and the ground began shifting like sand under their feet.

“Charlie, don’t do this.”

He knew.

*Both of you, swim. I’ll allow you to come up for water but I need you to follow the light.*

Right, his forehead was bleeding. This wasn't the Dreamlands. It was his own blood. It wasn't someone else's.

He slowly turns to Simon, eyes wide with terror.*

"...Kiki... You told him, right...?"

*His voice is barely audible. He needed to know. He needed to know it was the voices he was hearing. He needed to be sure. He needed to know that he wasn't back there. He couldn't be back there. He couldn't.

*Did you expect me not to tell him? I don’t bluff often, bud!* she giggled.

Simon wanted to smack his head on a wall but he settled for scratching his arm instead. He scratched and scratched until he felt his arm go raw. Until he glanced down and saw red floating in the water. Until the pain brought him an ounce of relief from his hell.

Until that ounce of relief rendered him capable of helping Noel instead.

“I’m not mad, just— Stay with me. In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

He mimicked a breath, his own shaky.

He wasnt mad. He was frustrated and confused but he didn’t resent him.

“We have to keep moving.”

He could only allow him a moment of grace to get his shit together.

*Time is ticking. Get swimming.*

He really, really hoped that Simon was real. He really hoped that Kiki didn't just... make him up to toy with Noel or something. Hope was really all he had.

He ran his thumb gently along the back of his hand, taking another deep breath, “You ready to teach me how to swim? How hard can it be?”

He tried to laugh despite it all.

So he nodded.*

"Y-Yeah... Not hard at all..."