THE CURTAIN RISES!

"I can't imagine what it's like, after going without sleep for so long. And it's not as if I'm busy all day unless they've trapped me in another of their twisted little setpieces, so you can ask whenever you feel you need it." He turns that bright smile back to Vanth. "It'd be my pleasure. Though, you should probably make sure Sebastian knows this is simply for your benefit first."

"uh, didja not take in the whole message sent our way? y'know, about the woman in red we're s'pose ta be lookin' out for? i ain't no expert, but i'd wager that's where the expectations come in. you're missin' that allurin' charm, pal."

"The what now?" Octavo checks his phone, taking a moment to read out the warning message he'd gotten and ignored. "...I believe you've gravely misunderstood this situation, lad."

"i'd be runnin' off too if i was expectin' a beauty adorned in crimson, only ta wind up with some grumpy lookin' guy, instead! must be crushin' a lotta hopes with a look like that."

Someone didn't read that text message very carefully.

Is there a way for him to strangle this one without getting in trouble?? "You may not see these... NPCs as people, but I do. Even if they're not even real." He'll snort at the reply, "if there is something more important, then why the hell are you talking with me for??"

"Perhaps you don't pay attention to certain things, but I do. There is no chain of commerce in the city. There are no farms around large enough to feed this population, no delivery of goods. They simply appear. Even in this empty facsimile, the grocery stores are fully restocked every morning. The mall is filled with more things than anybody could ever possibly need. No one is losing a single thing by us taking it."

"Yea, I know these assholes are shady as hell, doesn't mean I have to be a dick about it for whoever owns the store." He groans, throwing his hand up in the air. "You know what?? Do whatever you want. Not like I could stop your stubborn ass."

Octavo titters an uncomfortable laugh. "You're right. You can't stop me. You can't do anything. None of us can. I steal things in the normal city too. They imprisoned me here and I see no reason to follow their rules. Aren't there more important things to worry about?"

"Who said anything about starving, ya bonehead. You can just place money on the counter or something. What if this bullshit ends and the people come back??? Seeing their shit stolen??" He huffed, giving the other a slight glare.

"And even if that wasn't the case, do you really believe they aren't just going to snap everything back to normal when this is over? We probably won't even get to keep anything we take. You may as well make yourself comfortable."

"Don't steal anything." He knows one of you would try.

He's definitely already stolen himself a new espresso machine.

With the train encircling the city near its borders, he can see the wall of pale gray between the buildings, the fog now surrounding them. He shivers. "I really don't like this. All the other events I've been through, I could sort of understand what kind of drama they were hoping for. This is all just... strange, don't you think?"

"What am I psyching myself out for! If something were hiding in there, it would've popped out by now! Right? Right. There's nothing to worry about! Let's just, stick together anyway though. In case you get scared."

Soon enough, the train reaches Fibonacci. Octavo steps off with Tenna, peering up at the towers growing from the canyon. "I recall there was a music store not too far from the station. If my conjuration is working right, I can make us something that'll easily climb up and down these layers."

"I don't think alarms mean you've done a good thing in this case. It's not like winning a prize at a festival."

The lights suddenly shut off around them, along with the alarms, though the canvases continue to smolder. Octavo takes a shuddering breath, and coughs a little. The air is filling with smoke. "Wonderful. Now what."

"The art and you destroying it."

He sets the next nearest painting alight, then another, until purple flames are eating away at every canvas. The fire alarm screams, lights flashing red. Octavo stands and watches the flames, hands on his hips.

"--Train sounds GREAT! Now get us outta here before I electrocute both of us, okay?"

With the train encircling the city near its borders, he can see the wall of pale gray between the buildings, the fog now surrounding them. He shivers. "I really don't like this. All the other events I've been through, I could sort of understand what kind of drama they were hoping for. This is all just... strange, don't you think?"

Tanglewood is staring up at them from the bottom of the hill. Poor thing had been bucking and panicking the second Octavo vanished. Octavo waves limply. "If you can just take me back down, I'll have us home in no time at all."

they're back down the hill in little more than a moment. home isn't far.

❝ S'not your fault, ❞ Vanth says finally, looking out toward the crowd, together with Octavo. ❝ This island, and those stupid Stars—they're ruthless as fuck. ❞ And that's putting it lightly. Some of these horrible happenings almost seemed tailor-made for misery. ❝ I'll listen to the music with you. It's nice. The company's good, too. ❞

Octavo folds one leg over the other, leaning back with his hands resting on the instrument. "I don't think I've heard from you since we tried the sleep spell. How has everything been?"

"--Let's explore! Get an inside scoop of the place!"

He holds his hands out for Tenna to take, prepared to teleport them to the lower levels of Fibonacci. However, when they reappear, they're in Cotes. Octavo frowns, trying again, this time ending up in the water near Golden's beach. "Gods... dammit, they must have done something to our abilities again. Perhaps we can take the train? Are those still running?"