⚹You wish to leave a message for Grit

[save_theworld]

...'Lo.

I'm somewhere else. So you should leave a message.


[⚹There's about a minute of static and light breathing before Grit's message bank cuts in.

⚹Nailed it.]

Comments

[save_theworld]

[Grit laughs.

Or maybe it doesn't really count as a laugh, because it's thick with tears and shakes their entire body. Serif's words are all the indication they need for that tiny little flame to engulf everything- they aren't going to let go, now. He'll have to bear with it.]

I'm-

[Breathe. Determination.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean to-

[Wreck everything again.]

[punnybone]

Whoa, whoa, calm down, kid. Hey, c'mon now... You got nothing to apologize for.

Pretty sure if anyone here oughta be doing that, it's me.

[save_theworld]

No I-

[Did it. Somehow. It's a hefty responsibility, and Grit's kept it on their shoulders for the entirety of this month. Serif. Seigi. Cup. Sunny. There was a thought somewhere, to the link between people Grit had shared secrets to. About how it was the people who knew the most who were all gone.

Words. They're bad at them at the best of times. So they just shake their head.]

[punnybone]

Kid.

[Yeah, that's the kid he knows, isn't it? Determined to feel responsible for everything. Serif can't help but sigh at that.]

It wasn't you. None of that was your fault.

If you're gonna blame yourself for all the freaky things that happen here, you're never gonna stop.

[save_theworld]

[More silence. There's a possibility that he's right, but then, he's right on more than one thing. Determined to feel responsible for everything, indeed.]

...I don't want to do this again. It's not the same.

[Nine months ago, being forgotten would have just been part of the norm.]

I don't want to be forgotten.

[Now? Things are different. People care, and maybe even Grit cares in a completely different way than before.]

[punnybone]

I know.

[It isn't the same. Not at all.]

We're here to make sure that doesn't happen. This was... I don't know, but it didn't last and that's the important part.

[He gently rubs their head.]

We're gonna make sure you're not forgotten, okay, kid?

...That's a promise.

[save_theworld]

[...A promise. Well, when he's got that sort of integrity, how's Grit supposed to say no?

They need to check in with Seigi, later. Another talk and likely, more tears to go with it. But right now- they're feeling better than they have in a really long time.]

Okay. Um...

Can I stay with you? [A whisper, but they at least lift their head to look at him. At least they smile.] I was feeling...really bonely.

[punnybone]

Heh.

[It's gonna take a little bit before things feel totally normal again, but they're getting there.]

'Course you can.