The Weeping Lantern 🕯️

-The Weeping Lantern 🕯️

Yeah... I'm worried too.

Good idea, I just finished cleaning up the kitchen too, so we can make something together!... Well... More like I help you make something... I don't know how to cook...

...Was this because you came to help me? Was this what he meant when he said...

I'm so, so sorry. You shouldn't have come at all, or this wouldn't be happening..

—The Weeping Lantern 🕯️

What you did was but anticipate the inevitable...

Please don't blame yourself. I... I'm not letting myself drift away. And I'm glad you're fine now.

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

Of course I'd try, you're very precious to me! I'm glad you're back...

She spoke from the heart, which would be evident to anyone who heard her words.

"Heh. Agreed, it is." she squeezed Lili's hand gently, sighing. "I'm glad to be back too. How long was I out for? Just a few hours, right?" She tilted her head slightly, reaching up to tuck a strand of blue hair behind Lili's ear.

She blue screened as Lantern tucked her hair away, blushing hard just from it alone.

Ah, Uhm... I-it might've... might've been t-two days?

She stuttered out, just in time for Lantern's compliment to turn her beet red.

She shyly said, still somewhat reeling from the touch. All of it was forgotten the moment Lantern tried to stand though, as Lili immediately jumped out of her seat to try and support her. Worry and care laced the lake's voice and actions.

Lantern, careful! You just woke up from a coma, please take it slow...

She said softly, looking at the Lamplighter with pleading eyes while her hands reached for a glass of water to offer her.

"I just—aghh, the house is probably such a mess from the fight..." she groaned, head in her hands. "That guy, Hastur's vessel? They both had to see that, that's so... that's so embarrassing, ugh..." it didn't seem like she knew who Derek was at this time. "I never even got his name..."

Lili reassured her, gently peeling Lantern's hands from her head.

"A-are you sure? It- it's a lot of work, and it's my house... you're my guest, Lili, and- and it's frankly shameful that you had to stay here this whole time with the place looking like how it is..." she bit back a yawn as she said that, however.

Lili softly said ask she helped Lantern lie down.

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

Of course I'd try, you're very precious to me! I'm glad you're back...

She spoke from the heart, which would be evident to anyone who heard her words.

"Heh. Agreed, it is." she squeezed Lili's hand gently, sighing. "I'm glad to be back too. How long was I out for? Just a few hours, right?" She tilted her head slightly, reaching up to tuck a strand of blue hair behind Lili's ear.

She blue screened as Lantern tucked her hair away, blushing hard just from it alone.

Ah, Uhm... I-it might've... might've been t-two days?

She stuttered out, just in time for Lantern's compliment to turn her beet red.

She shyly said, still somewhat reeling from the touch. All of it was forgotten the moment Lantern tried to stand though, as Lili immediately jumped out of her seat to try and support her. Worry and care laced the lake's voice and actions.

Lantern, careful! You just woke up from a coma, please take it slow...

She said softly, looking at the Lamplighter with pleading eyes while her hands reached for a glass of water to offer her.

"I just—aghh, the house is probably such a mess from the fight..." she groaned, head in her hands. "That guy, Hastur's vessel? They both had to see that, that's so... that's so embarrassing, ugh..." it didn't seem like she knew who Derek was at this time. "I never even got his name..."

Lili reassured her, gently peeling Lantern's hands from her head.

"A-are you sure? It- it's a lot of work, and it's my house... you're my guest, Lili, and- and it's frankly shameful that you had to stay here this whole time with the place looking like how it is..." she bit back a yawn as she said that, however.

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

Of course I'd try, you're very precious to me! I'm glad you're back...

She spoke from the heart, which would be evident to anyone who heard her words.

"Heh. Agreed, it is." she squeezed Lili's hand gently, sighing. "I'm glad to be back too. How long was I out for? Just a few hours, right?" She tilted her head slightly, reaching up to tuck a strand of blue hair behind Lili's ear.

She blue screened as Lantern tucked her hair away, blushing hard just from it alone.

Ah, Uhm... I-it might've... might've been t-two days?

She stuttered out, just in time for Lantern's compliment to turn her beet red.

She shyly said, still somewhat reeling from the touch. All of it was forgotten the moment Lantern tried to stand though, as Lili immediately jumped out of her seat to try and support her. Worry and care laced the lake's voice and actions.

Lantern, careful! You just woke up from a coma, please take it slow...

She said softly, looking at the Lamplighter with pleading eyes while her hands reached for a glass of water to offer her.

"I just—aghh, the house is probably such a mess from the fight..." she groaned, head in her hands. "That guy, Hastur's vessel? They both had to see that, that's so... that's so embarrassing, ugh..." it didn't seem like she knew who Derek was at this time. "I never even got his name..."

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

Of course I'd try, you're very precious to me! I'm glad you're back...

She spoke from the heart, which would be evident to anyone who heard her words.

"Heh. Agreed, it is." she squeezed Lili's hand gently, sighing. "I'm glad to be back too. How long was I out for? Just a few hours, right?" She tilted her head slightly, reaching up to tuck a strand of blue hair behind Lili's ear.

She blue screened as Lantern tucked her hair away, blushing hard just from it alone.

Ah, Uhm... I-it might've... might've been t-two days?

She stuttered out, just in time for Lantern's compliment to turn her beet red.

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

Of course I'd try, you're very precious to me! I'm glad you're back...

She spoke from the heart, which would be evident to anyone who heard her words.

"Heh. Agreed, it is." she squeezed Lili's hand gently, sighing. "I'm glad to be back too. How long was I out for? Just a few hours, right?" She tilted her head slightly, reaching up to tuck a strand of blue hair behind Lili's ear.

Lantern? I need to tell you something...

She looked very guilty as she reached for something out of sight.

When I broke the circle, your lantern fell and broke... I tried to fix it but...

She pulled out a rather crooked version of Lantern's lantern. Black lines highlighted where the glass broke and shattered.

It.. I... I couldn't get it right... So I've been trying to make you a new one too....

She pulled out another lantern, this one visibly unfinished.

@lilihalifactotum

Lantern stared at the broken lantern in disbelief. Oh. Her trusty lantern had broke after all these years. Was it symbolic of something? Hopefully not, but the universe liked to play tricks like these. Shakily, she reached out to take her broken lantern, blinking hard.

"... this door is more than open. Did someone break in?"

- @derek-hutchins-333 ( left this open for some description of the place :D)

Technically, yes, Lili broke in. The house is a mess, a clear sign of struggle having occurred. Shards of glass covered the floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen floor itself was mostly caved in and covered in dried ichor that vaguely resembled that of a large ritual circle, shattered tile sticking up this way and that. Sharp knives laid tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Spots of dried yellow ichor led upstairs. The house was eerily silent and kind of creepy despite the golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Lili?"

[Derek called shyly through the bedroom doorway]

Lili was sitting by the bed, her hair was unnaturally long once again, reaching and spreading across the floor like dark tendrils.

"... I'll start now. Please watch over."

[Derek approaches Lantern, who laid by the bed. He is extremely nervous: never have he let Hastur take over, not willingly, and it always felt awful. But someone needs help, and apparently the only help available is... him.]

["Are you nervous? No need to answer: I can feel your heartbeat."]

[He hated how Hastur sounded, like some sort of soothing master reassuring a pupil. He rather deal with the raspy, authoritative, highter-than-thou tone he had to tolerate for months. The best way to describe his tone would be John at the first episodes of Malevolent, and that's unnerving.]

["I will not linger for long when the job is done. Do not worry your head over it."]

[Derek rests a hand over Lantern's forehead. It almost felt like a pair of hands settle on his shoulders as he done so, gentle and caring. He did not like that... especially that it worked.]

[And just like that...]

"... shall we start?"

[To work with the mind is something easy for Hastur. So, peeking in Lantern's mind to see what's going on wasn't a challenge at all.]

“—You took everyone! There’s no way I’m going back!” Lantern shouted with the crack of her staff against his sword.

“You don’t belong here! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay your king?” He snarled. “Look at me, Lamplighter! Your King is dying, yet you’re here wasting your life in a place that will never be your home?! How selfish.”

“Haven’t you- agh- taken enough from me? You stole my friends, my city, the suns and stars themselves, my power, my wings, and now you want me too?” It was a losing battle. It would be easier to just give up.

“Lamplighter, you’re not listening! I would still welcome you with open arms if you came home!”

“I’m not letting you absorb me like you did everyone else!!”

“If you truly loved your King as you claim, you would be more than happy to submit and bring me back to life! It is a service to do so, your duty! Don’t you love me, Lamplighter?”

[Unfortunately, he did promise the mortal to help his friend. Also Unfortunate how the initial plan to try and negotiate with this King seems... not a good plan.]

"Lantern."

[Hastur called, but he made sure to sound like Derek, and also look like Derek. He kept a safe distance.]

"Does that sound like love to you? To force you to sacrifice all for him? Does that sound fair to you?"

[New plan: empower her will to keep fighting. The king looks so weak, surely she can manage on her own. Just need a little push.]

"We're waiting for you. Me, Lili, Avery... even those you're yet to meet."

“You would really rather listen to a mortal than your King?” The King scoffed. “You are nothing without me, Lamplighter. You know that.”

“N-no, I- I’m my own person, dammit!” She cried out, barely blocking another strike. Even though her survival depended on it, she hasn’t actively struck him once over the past two days of this mental battle. She was scared.

“Pathetic. Give up, Lamplighter! Your struggle is pointless! It would be far more honourable to join me! Don’t you want to see your friends again? Regain all you’ve lost?” He snarled, taunting her with an impossible offer. Lantern’s charcoal black eyes widened. Seizing the opportunity, the King feinted left, striking Lantern to her right. She clumsily blocked it, but the cut still landed half way in her stomach. What would’ve cut her in half only slashed a deep gash in her stomach, which sizzled and fizzed with smoke.

Gritting her teeth, Lantern finally made her first offensive move. She raised her staff and whacked the King over the head with it with a sharp smack. He gasped and roared, offended she would strike back. “You dare strike your King, insolent creature?! I should’ve assimilated you long ago!”

"Good hit! Keep it up! Remember what you are fighting for."

[It was so strange to hype someone up, Hastur wanted to puke... but it's working. Better yet, let's work with this poor excuse of a king while she goes for the kill.]

"As for you, you idiot," [Hastur kind of get it: it feels good to call someone an idiot.] "Don't you know better than to underestimate a mortal? Maybe the years of power made you weak. I mean, look at your poor shape."

[His tone was mocking, enough to break the persona Hastur was trying to maintain. He did notice he was getting too personal and shook that tone off.]

"No, you shut up!" Lantern stomped hard on the King's hand, forcing him to drop his sword, which Lantern picked up. "I've had enough! Get out of my head!"

As Lantern raised the sword over the King's head, he looked up with bright yellow eyes full of not rage, but disappointment. "I thought you would be better than this, Lantern. Cicuta would be disappointed." he spat. Lantern froze, eyes wide. "I could've given your magic back if you came. But no, you chose this. So go on, kill me. Lose your only chance to get back what you lost for petty vengeance."

In that moment of weakness, the King grabbed her ankle and yanked hard. She fell with a yelp to the ground, barely holding onto her staff. The sword however, being in her weak hand, spun out of her reach. Luckily, it was also out of the King's reach too, but that didn't stop him from going straight for the throat, rotting hands wrapping around her neck. Lantern gasped and sputtered, coughing. Oh gods, she was going to die here, she was going to die after spending so long fighting for her life.

Is this really how it was going to end?

"I can see you're not giving up. You have so many wishes yet to fulfill..."

[He didn't bother with a disguise anymore. The facade faded like mist, and instead stood a silhouette that was a mockery of what a human is, a shadow that resembles a person, yet seems too angular and turns in grotesque ways when moves. That's Hastur... at least how he currently looks within a mind.]

"Are you going to stand up, or keep dwelling on a past long gone, and force me to take action within my hands? Just so you know, I am not letting the annoying lake and Derek send me here for naught."

In one clean motion, Lantern slit her King's throat. Smoke fizzled out of the wound, and he shrieked as she stabbed him in the heart. Grey smoke ate the corpse away, cursing and screaming as he went.

When all was said and done, Lantern collapsed on the ground, her own injuries slowly sealing up. It was over. Goodness, that was a long fight.

With a shuddering breath, Lantern moved to wipe away tears, only to find none. Was she really so lacking in remorse? She had expelled her King from her mind. Will he come back? Hopefully not, but it's hard to tell with that stubborn bastard. How did he even come here in the first place? Who knows. Lantern certainly didn't want to find out.

"...Thank you." she glanced back at Hastur before quickly looking away. "...Well, I guess we shouldn't keep them waiting..." Lantern mumbled, tapping her staff on the ground and shattering the mindscape.

"The fact you just required a coaching session is... underwhelming."

[It was still Hastur controlling him, if the eye, dark instead of the natural white, didn't already tell. He gives Lili a quick glance, as if saying: see? I helped. Stop giving my vessel ideas, I'm no enemy.]

Lili stood up in excitement, her eyes already watering up. She only had time to send "Derek" a quick nod to show her gratitude before the dam broke the moment she looked back at Lantern.

You're back, you're back... Lantern you're back!! I'm sorry, I should've... I should've been there sooner...

She sobbed, words getting harder to form with every second passed. Her right hand reached out, but then hesitated.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I should've been more careful... You were so hurt.. I... I...

"Thank you regardless, Your Highness." the formality just slipped out. Old habits die hard, huh? "Is there anything I can do to repay you for the hel- whoa." Lantern jumped at the sight of Lili's new look, then immediately reached out for Lili's hand without a second thought, grasping it gently.

"Hey- Lili, it's alright. It's not your fault." she said, smiling reassuringly. "I... didn't even realise what was happening until it was too late."

"... this door is more than open. Did someone break in?"

- @derek-hutchins-333 ( left this open for some description of the place :D)

Technically, yes, Lili broke in. The house is a mess, a clear sign of struggle having occurred. Shards of glass covered the floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen floor itself was mostly caved in and covered in dried ichor that vaguely resembled that of a large ritual circle, shattered tile sticking up this way and that. Sharp knives laid tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Spots of dried yellow ichor led upstairs. The house was eerily silent and kind of creepy despite the golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Lili?"

[Derek called shyly through the bedroom doorway]

Lili was sitting by the bed, her hair was unnaturally long once again, reaching and spreading across the floor like dark tendrils.

"... I'll start now. Please watch over."

[Derek approaches Lantern, who laid by the bed. He is extremely nervous: never have he let Hastur take over, not willingly, and it always felt awful. But someone needs help, and apparently the only help available is... him.]

["Are you nervous? No need to answer: I can feel your heartbeat."]

[He hated how Hastur sounded, like some sort of soothing master reassuring a pupil. He rather deal with the raspy, authoritative, highter-than-thou tone he had to tolerate for months. The best way to describe his tone would be John at the first episodes of Malevolent, and that's unnerving.]

["I will not linger for long when the job is done. Do not worry your head over it."]

[Derek rests a hand over Lantern's forehead. It almost felt like a pair of hands settle on his shoulders as he done so, gentle and caring. He did not like that... especially that it worked.]

[And just like that...]

"... shall we start?"

[To work with the mind is something easy for Hastur. So, peeking in Lantern's mind to see what's going on wasn't a challenge at all.]

“—You took everyone! There’s no way I’m going back!” Lantern shouted with the crack of her staff against his sword.

“You don’t belong here! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay your king?” He snarled. “Look at me, Lamplighter! Your King is dying, yet you’re here wasting your life in a place that will never be your home?! How selfish.”

“Haven’t you- agh- taken enough from me? You stole my friends, my city, the suns and stars themselves, my power, my wings, and now you want me too?” It was a losing battle. It would be easier to just give up.

“Lamplighter, you’re not listening! I would still welcome you with open arms if you came home!”

“I’m not letting you absorb me like you did everyone else!!”

“If you truly loved your King as you claim, you would be more than happy to submit and bring me back to life! It is a service to do so, your duty! Don’t you love me, Lamplighter?”

[Unfortunately, he did promise the mortal to help his friend. Also Unfortunate how the initial plan to try and negotiate with this King seems... not a good plan.]

"Lantern."

[Hastur called, but he made sure to sound like Derek, and also look like Derek. He kept a safe distance.]

"Does that sound like love to you? To force you to sacrifice all for him? Does that sound fair to you?"

[New plan: empower her will to keep fighting. The king looks so weak, surely she can manage on her own. Just need a little push.]

"We're waiting for you. Me, Lili, Avery... even those you're yet to meet."

“You would really rather listen to a mortal than your King?” The King scoffed. “You are nothing without me, Lamplighter. You know that.”

“N-no, I- I’m my own person, dammit!” She cried out, barely blocking another strike. Even though her survival depended on it, she hasn’t actively struck him once over the past two days of this mental battle. She was scared.

“Pathetic. Give up, Lamplighter! Your struggle is pointless! It would be far more honourable to join me! Don’t you want to see your friends again? Regain all you’ve lost?” He snarled, taunting her with an impossible offer. Lantern’s charcoal black eyes widened. Seizing the opportunity, the King feinted left, striking Lantern to her right. She clumsily blocked it, but the cut still landed half way in her stomach. What would’ve cut her in half only slashed a deep gash in her stomach, which sizzled and fizzed with smoke.

Gritting her teeth, Lantern finally made her first offensive move. She raised her staff and whacked the King over the head with it with a sharp smack. He gasped and roared, offended she would strike back. “You dare strike your King, insolent creature?! I should’ve assimilated you long ago!”

"Good hit! Keep it up! Remember what you are fighting for."

[It was so strange to hype someone up, Hastur wanted to puke... but it's working. Better yet, let's work with this poor excuse of a king while she goes for the kill.]

"As for you, you idiot," [Hastur kind of get it: it feels good to call someone an idiot.] "Don't you know better than to underestimate a mortal? Maybe the years of power made you weak. I mean, look at your poor shape."

[His tone was mocking, enough to break the persona Hastur was trying to maintain. He did notice he was getting too personal and shook that tone off.]

"No, you shut up!" Lantern stomped hard on the King's hand, forcing him to drop his sword, which Lantern picked up. "I've had enough! Get out of my head!"

As Lantern raised the sword over the King's head, he looked up with bright yellow eyes full of not rage, but disappointment. "I thought you would be better than this, Lantern. Cicuta would be disappointed." he spat. Lantern froze, eyes wide. "I could've given your magic back if you came. But no, you chose this. So go on, kill me. Lose your only chance to get back what you lost for petty vengeance."

In that moment of weakness, the King grabbed her ankle and yanked hard. She fell with a yelp to the ground, barely holding onto her staff. The sword however, being in her weak hand, spun out of her reach. Luckily, it was also out of the King's reach too, but that didn't stop him from going straight for the throat, rotting hands wrapping around her neck. Lantern gasped and sputtered, coughing. Oh gods, she was going to die here, she was going to die after spending so long fighting for her life.

Is this really how it was going to end?

"I can see you're not giving up. You have so many wishes yet to fulfill..."

[He didn't bother with a disguise anymore. The facade faded like mist, and instead stood a silhouette that was a mockery of what a human is, a shadow that resembles a person, yet seems too angular and turns in grotesque ways when moves. That's Hastur... at least how he currently looks within a mind.]

"Are you going to stand up, or keep dwelling on a past long gone, and force me to take action within my hands? Just so you know, I am not letting the annoying lake and Derek send me here for naught."

In one clean motion, Lantern slit her King's throat. Smoke fizzled out of the wound, and he shrieked as she stabbed him in the heart. Grey smoke ate the corpse away, cursing and screaming as he went.

When all was said and done, Lantern collapsed on the ground, her own injuries slowly sealing up. It was over. Goodness, that was a long fight.

With a shuddering breath, Lantern moved to wipe away tears, only to find none. Was she really so lacking in remorse? She had expelled her King from her mind. Will he come back? Hopefully not, but it's hard to tell with that stubborn bastard. How did he even come here in the first place? Who knows. Lantern certainly didn't want to find out.

"...Thank you." she glanced back at Hastur before quickly looking away. "...Well, I guess we shouldn't keep them waiting..." Lantern mumbled, tapping her staff on the ground and shattering the mindscape.

"... this door is more than open. Did someone break in?"

- @derek-hutchins-333 ( left this open for some description of the place :D)

Technically, yes, Lili broke in. The house is a mess, a clear sign of struggle having occurred. Shards of glass covered the floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen floor itself was mostly caved in and covered in dried ichor that vaguely resembled that of a large ritual circle, shattered tile sticking up this way and that. Sharp knives laid tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Spots of dried yellow ichor led upstairs. The house was eerily silent and kind of creepy despite the golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Lili?"

[Derek called shyly through the bedroom doorway]

Lili was sitting by the bed, her hair was unnaturally long once again, reaching and spreading across the floor like dark tendrils.

"... I'll start now. Please watch over."

[Derek approaches Lantern, who laid by the bed. He is extremely nervous: never have he let Hastur take over, not willingly, and it always felt awful. But someone needs help, and apparently the only help available is... him.]

["Are you nervous? No need to answer: I can feel your heartbeat."]

[He hated how Hastur sounded, like some sort of soothing master reassuring a pupil. He rather deal with the raspy, authoritative, highter-than-thou tone he had to tolerate for months. The best way to describe his tone would be John at the first episodes of Malevolent, and that's unnerving.]

["I will not linger for long when the job is done. Do not worry your head over it."]

[Derek rests a hand over Lantern's forehead. It almost felt like a pair of hands settle on his shoulders as he done so, gentle and caring. He did not like that... especially that it worked.]

[And just like that...]

"... shall we start?"

[To work with the mind is something easy for Hastur. So, peeking in Lantern's mind to see what's going on wasn't a challenge at all.]

“—You took everyone! There’s no way I’m going back!” Lantern shouted with the crack of her staff against his sword.

“You don’t belong here! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay your king?” He snarled. “Look at me, Lamplighter! Your King is dying, yet you’re here wasting your life in a place that will never be your home?! How selfish.”

“Haven’t you- agh- taken enough from me? You stole my friends, my city, the suns and stars themselves, my power, my wings, and now you want me too?” It was a losing battle. It would be easier to just give up.

“Lamplighter, you’re not listening! I would still welcome you with open arms if you came home!”

“I’m not letting you absorb me like you did everyone else!!”

“If you truly loved your King as you claim, you would be more than happy to submit and bring me back to life! It is a service to do so, your duty! Don’t you love me, Lamplighter?”

[Unfortunately, he did promise the mortal to help his friend. Also Unfortunate how the initial plan to try and negotiate with this King seems... not a good plan.]

"Lantern."

[Hastur called, but he made sure to sound like Derek, and also look like Derek. He kept a safe distance.]

"Does that sound like love to you? To force you to sacrifice all for him? Does that sound fair to you?"

[New plan: empower her will to keep fighting. The king looks so weak, surely she can manage on her own. Just need a little push.]

"We're waiting for you. Me, Lili, Avery... even those you're yet to meet."

“You would really rather listen to a mortal than your King?” The King scoffed. “You are nothing without me, Lamplighter. You know that.”

“N-no, I- I’m my own person, dammit!” She cried out, barely blocking another strike. Even though her survival depended on it, she hasn’t actively struck him once over the past two days of this mental battle. She was scared.

“Pathetic. Give up, Lamplighter! Your struggle is pointless! It would be far more honourable to join me! Don’t you want to see your friends again? Regain all you’ve lost?” He snarled, taunting her with an impossible offer. Lantern’s charcoal black eyes widened. Seizing the opportunity, the King feinted left, striking Lantern to her right. She clumsily blocked it, but the cut still landed half way in her stomach. What would’ve cut her in half only slashed a deep gash in her stomach, which sizzled and fizzed with smoke.

Gritting her teeth, Lantern finally made her first offensive move. She raised her staff and whacked the King over the head with it with a sharp smack. He gasped and roared, offended she would strike back. “You dare strike your King, insolent creature?! I should’ve assimilated you long ago!”

"Good hit! Keep it up! Remember what you are fighting for."

[It was so strange to hype someone up, Hastur wanted to puke... but it's working. Better yet, let's work with this poor excuse of a king while she goes for the kill.]

"As for you, you idiot," [Hastur kind of get it: it feels good to call someone an idiot.] "Don't you know better than to underestimate a mortal? Maybe the years of power made you weak. I mean, look at your poor shape."

[His tone was mocking, enough to break the persona Hastur was trying to maintain. He did notice he was getting too personal and shook that tone off.]

"No, you shut up!" Lantern stomped hard on the King's hand, forcing him to drop his sword, which Lantern picked up. "I've had enough! Get out of my head!"

As Lantern raised the sword over the King's head, he looked up with bright yellow eyes full of not rage, but disappointment. "I thought you would be better than this, Lantern. Cicuta would be disappointed." he spat. Lantern froze, eyes wide. "I could've given your magic back if you came. But no, you chose this. So go on, kill me. Lose your only chance to get back what you lost for petty vengeance."

In that moment of weakness, the King grabbed her ankle and yanked hard. She fell with a yelp to the ground, barely holding onto her staff. The sword however, being in her weak hand, spun out of her reach. Luckily, it was also out of the King's reach too, but that didn't stop him from going straight for the throat, rotting hands wrapping around her neck. Lantern gasped and sputtered, coughing. Oh gods, she was going to die here, she was going to die after spending so long fighting for her life.

Is this really how it was going to end?

"... this door is more than open. Did someone break in?"

- @derek-hutchins-333 ( left this open for some description of the place :D)

Technically, yes, Lili broke in. The house is a mess, a clear sign of struggle having occurred. Shards of glass covered the floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen floor itself was mostly caved in and covered in dried ichor that vaguely resembled that of a large ritual circle, shattered tile sticking up this way and that. Sharp knives laid tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Spots of dried yellow ichor led upstairs. The house was eerily silent and kind of creepy despite the golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Lili?"

[Derek called shyly through the bedroom doorway]

Lili was sitting by the bed, her hair was unnaturally long once again, reaching and spreading across the floor like dark tendrils.

"... I'll start now. Please watch over."

[Derek approaches Lantern, who laid by the bed. He is extremely nervous: never have he let Hastur take over, not willingly, and it always felt awful. But someone needs help, and apparently the only help available is... him.]

["Are you nervous? No need to answer: I can feel your heartbeat."]

[He hated how Hastur sounded, like some sort of soothing master reassuring a pupil. He rather deal with the raspy, authoritative, highter-than-thou tone he had to tolerate for months. The best way to describe his tone would be John at the first episodes of Malevolent, and that's unnerving.]

["I will not linger for long when the job is done. Do not worry your head over it."]

[Derek rests a hand over Lantern's forehead. It almost felt like a pair of hands settle on his shoulders as he done so, gentle and caring. He did not like that... especially that it worked.]

[And just like that...]

"... shall we start?"

[To work with the mind is something easy for Hastur. So, peeking in Lantern's mind to see what's going on wasn't a challenge at all.]

“—You took everyone! There’s no way I’m going back!” Lantern shouted with the crack of her staff against his sword.

“You don’t belong here! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay your king?” He snarled. “Look at me, Lamplighter! Your King is dying, yet you’re here wasting your life in a place that will never be your home?! How selfish.”

“Haven’t you- agh- taken enough from me? You stole my friends, my city, the suns and stars themselves, my power, my wings, and now you want me too?” It was a losing battle. It would be easier to just give up.

“Lamplighter, you’re not listening! I would still welcome you with open arms if you came home!”

“I’m not letting you absorb me like you did everyone else!!”

“If you truly loved your King as you claim, you would be more than happy to submit and bring me back to life! It is a service to do so, your duty! Don’t you love me, Lamplighter?”

[Unfortunately, he did promise the mortal to help his friend. Also Unfortunate how the initial plan to try and negotiate with this King seems... not a good plan.]

"Lantern."

[Hastur called, but he made sure to sound like Derek, and also look like Derek. He kept a safe distance.]

"Does that sound like love to you? To force you to sacrifice all for him? Does that sound fair to you?"

[New plan: empower her will to keep fighting. The king looks so weak, surely she can manage on her own. Just need a little push.]

"We're waiting for you. Me, Lili, Avery... even those you're yet to meet."

“You would really rather listen to a mortal than your King?” The King scoffed. “You are nothing without me, Lamplighter. You know that.”

“N-no, I- I’m my own person, dammit!” She cried out, barely blocking another strike. Even though her survival depended on it, she hasn’t actively struck him once over the past two days of this mental battle. She was scared.

“Pathetic. Give up, Lamplighter! Your struggle is pointless! It would be far more honourable to join me! Don’t you want to see your friends again? Regain all you’ve lost?” He snarled, taunting her with an impossible offer. Lantern’s charcoal black eyes widened. Seizing the opportunity, the King feinted left, striking Lantern to her right. She clumsily blocked it, but the cut still landed half way in her stomach. What would’ve cut her in half only slashed a deep gash in her stomach, which sizzled and fizzed with smoke.

Gritting her teeth, Lantern finally made her first offensive move. She raised her staff and whacked the King over the head with it with a sharp smack. He gasped and roared, offended she would strike back. “You dare strike your King, insolent creature?! I should’ve assimilated you long ago!”

"... this door is more than open. Did someone break in?"

- @derek-hutchins-333 ( left this open for some description of the place :D)

Technically, yes, Lili broke in. The house is a mess, a clear sign of struggle having occurred. Shards of glass covered the floor outside the kitchen. The kitchen floor itself was mostly caved in and covered in dried ichor that vaguely resembled that of a large ritual circle, shattered tile sticking up this way and that. Sharp knives laid tucked in the corner of the kitchen. Spots of dried yellow ichor led upstairs. The house was eerily silent and kind of creepy despite the golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Lili?"

[Derek called shyly through the bedroom doorway]

Lili was sitting by the bed, her hair was unnaturally long once again, reaching and spreading across the floor like dark tendrils.

"... I'll start now. Please watch over."

[Derek approaches Lantern, who laid by the bed. He is extremely nervous: never have he let Hastur take over, not willingly, and it always felt awful. But someone needs help, and apparently the only help available is... him.]

["Are you nervous? No need to answer: I can feel your heartbeat."]

[He hated how Hastur sounded, like some sort of soothing master reassuring a pupil. He rather deal with the raspy, authoritative, highter-than-thou tone he had to tolerate for months. The best way to describe his tone would be John at the first episodes of Malevolent, and that's unnerving.]

["I will not linger for long when the job is done. Do not worry your head over it."]

[Derek rests a hand over Lantern's forehead. It almost felt like a pair of hands settle on his shoulders as he done so, gentle and caring. He did not like that... especially that it worked.]

[And just like that...]

"... shall we start?"

[To work with the mind is something easy for Hastur. So, peeking in Lantern's mind to see what's going on wasn't a challenge at all.]

“—You took everyone! There’s no way I’m going back!” Lantern shouted with the crack of her staff against his sword.

“You don’t belong here! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay your king?” He snarled. “Look at me, Lamplighter! Your King is dying, yet you’re here wasting your life in a place that will never be your home?! How selfish.”

“Haven’t you- agh- taken enough from me? You stole my friends, my city, the suns and stars themselves, my power, my wings, and now you want me too?” It was a losing battle. It would be easier to just give up.

“Lamplighter, you’re not listening! I would still welcome you with open arms if you came home!”

“I’m not letting you absorb me like you did everyone else!!”

“If you truly loved your King as you claim, you would be more than happy to submit and bring me back to life! It is a service to do so, your duty! Don’t you love me, Lamplighter?”

I've been... having strange dreams lately. Of my Carcosa. I don't like this. I don't like what it could mean.

Can I talk with you about it? I just can't keep this to myself anymore.

-The Weeping Lantern 🕯️ (@theweepinglantern)

Of course! You can tell me anything!

I've been dreaming of my Carcosa, back when it was alive and beautiful. My home, how I knew it. I'd walk through the streets, lighting up the lamps on the way to the King's palace. I'd go inside, and there he would be, sitting on that giant gold throne. Everything's warm and safe, until I'd look up at him. He was already dead, Lili, waiting for me to notice.

The ground would split open, and then I'd fall, and there would be a bunch of people in the dark reaching out for me, everyone I knew that died because of the King, begging for me to help them and asking why I abandoned them, calling me selfish...

Worst of all? At the bottom, I'd be at the edge of my Carcosa again, a gate to somewhere open in front of me (I have no idea where, I wasn't looking at it) and the King would be looming over everything. He'd be begging me to go back, to fix it all.

I don't know how. I don't know if I want to, or if this is a trick. I don't like this, Lili. I'm not sure if a corpse can do this to me, but if any dead person can, it would be the King.

It feels like some kind of divine warning or decree, and I'm compelled to follow it, but that's probably just habit. I've never disobeyed Him before all this..

LANTERN!!

She was at her house immediately. Breaking down Lantern's door in the process, she'll fix it once she knows her friend is safe.

Lili rushed over in panic, a hand already reaching out to Lantern.

Lantern... Lantern, what's happening??! Please, tell me! Please Lantern!

“He- agh- punishment-“ she choked out, hand shaking. The middle of the sigil on the floor showed the yellow sign. Upon closer inspection, the sign was a part of a much larger circle, nearly covering the whole floor, with various wobbly lines and symbols somehow carved lightly into the tile by the kitchen knife covered in blood outside of the circle.

“Can’t go back- won’t- ugh-“ clenching her fist, blood continued to drip on the floor outside of the lines. “He’s- it’s him- he’s doing- this-“ Lantern sobbed in pain. A faint yellow glow came from behind her covered left eye, and she shrieked in pain.

Without a second thought, Lili knelt down next to Lantern, wrapping her in a hug, trying to comfort her the best she can in this situation.

"N-no, I don't- agh- know-" more coughing, more ichor splattering on the ground. "Ritual's already- agh- destroyed, but- he wants me to- to draw it again-" the ichor was slowly congealing on her hand. Now, that won't do, will it? Trembling and dazed, Lantern's hand reached up to find another knife on the countertop. Her head wing peeled back to reveal a yellow dot for a pupil, starkly glowing against the charcoal black of her eyes.

After a moment, Lantern glared at Lili with a shuddering breath, eyes filled with rage.

No. That's not Lantern anymore. Both eyes looked back with yellow pupils.

"Step aside, Hali. This is not where she belongs." the King snarled through Lantern, twisting her soft pretty voice into something else, rising to her his feet. "I have spent far too long tracking her down for my efforts to go to waste."

The lake roared in rage as she recognized who was speaking. Lili took out her dagger and lunged-

“You insolent-“ but the King never got to finish his sentence. He had backed up a little too much against the floor slick with blood. He tripped, falling and hitting his head on the kitchen counter, hard.