make her a member of the midnight crew

You don't remember falling into this water. Nor do you remember sinking.

It's just an easy questionnaire. The page is soaked and salty. Something in the water far below is taking notes. Pens of every color float by.

She isn't here.

"What's your favorite childhood memory?"

"...Playing pretend in the backyard."

"To what do you aspire?"

"I want to be a hero. So many people who are defenseless, weak, with nobody in their corner... If I can save just one person, I'll be happy."

"What do you love more than anything else?"

"Myself. I've spent a long time taking care of her."

"Have you seen your SOUL aglow?"

"Of course I have. It shines bravely on everyone around me, like a beacon of courage."

"Have you ever found anywhere safe?"

"Well, yeah. I'm the safest I've ever been. Took a lot of time and effort, but... I think I'm happy the way things are."

"I see...I see you now. Gemini, coolest woman in town, braver past the millennium. In fact, let's give you a few prizes as thanks for coming here."

"Your crown, as Emperor. They are liars, neither vampire nor squid. Yet, these liars, shining in the dark, thrive far, far past the day they should end."

"Your end, the long-clawed spider crab. The Japanese spider crab's camouflage involves standing out uniquely and hiding perfectly in a cycle, night and day. It looks the same, but still serves dual roles. How wonderful! Only... this isn't that one?"

Now, the last prize...ah, a mirror. Face yourself.

"Hell yeah. Looking good and ready for anything."

The fathoms are no place for a cowpoke like yourself.

Nor are they places for crossroads to slip in and out of view, and strangers to sidle up from beneath the murky deep. Her voice tastes decidedly unlike erythritol.

"When did you blow into these parts?"

"Feels like just yesterday. But for real, just a couple weeks ago. I don't even quite remember why I decided to stop here. I guess there's not much further to go out here."

"Where are you staying, partner?"

"It's a little motel on the edge of town. Bit run down, sure, but it beats tryin' to find a place to live in Vancouver!"

"What did you feel, when it first went dark?"

"I was a kit at the time. No one even knew what on earth they were doing when we started exploring the dark. I still don't know how those darn Fountains back home* got closed. It felt like I'd entered a truly magical world. Our own little magical adventure, just for the five of us... now, I can safely say those childhood adventures were a lot more serious and real than we'd ever thought possible back in the 'ol days."

*Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

"How many cows have you wrangled?"

"How many times in your life have ya eaten bread? Don't ask stupid questions, pardner." You say this in a way where it's more than clear that you're being evasive, because you're a fake-ass cowboy.

"What does the Delta Rune mean to you?"

"I've never thought of myself as a particularly religious person. But I can recognize that that symbol stands for the hope that united, humans, monsters, and Darkners can together pull the world from the brink of tarnation. So in that way, it gives me a lil' bit of hope."

"I see, I see...well, then. Leo, frozen wanderer, counter past the millennium, I believe I've made your acquaintance. That deserves payment; so, here, young master, take these cards and some words of advice."

"First, the Fool. Rabbits know what foxes don't, but every carnivore should know when to run."

"I used to think I was beyond running away. That it was darn cowardly, even. But sometimes, well... it's the least stupid decision you can make."

"Next, the Justice. When it catches you, know what to accept."

"Justice will find its way to everyone eventually. I'd be a genuine fool to suppose it'd skip me."

"And last... oh, that's a mirror. Here, face yourself."

"But it hasn't yet, huh, pardner. No matter where I was going before, I'm here now. Don't forget that. And this really is an interesting little corner of the tundra."