Rimas didn't hesitate to take advantage of the borrowed power, and immediately created a bedroom for herself.
Well, if we're going to sleep, I'm going to be comfy.
G'night Marse.
You still sleep with stuffed animals?
Usually, no, I don't.
But I'm in a new, unfamiliar place, and I'm scared.
Plushies make me feel safer. I... Marcel, I'm so sick of being judged by everybody.
I'll be honest, Marce, I'm a tiny and weak woman, and I have to put on this ridiculous tough act in front of everyone all the time.
It gets exhausting. When it's just us, please, please just let me be myself.
That wasn't... Nevermind.
I'm sorry. I won't ask about em again.
Marcel followed suit, making a bed that satisfied his own preferences and crawling into it.
He squinted against the uniform brightness of the space they were in.
Isn't it... Kinda bright in here?
Like, way too bright to sleep?
Well, he said anything that'd help us in our training. Right?
That includes whatever we need to get a good rest. Which includes darkness.
Okay now this is just unnaturally dark. I'm not afraid or anything! I just don't like how dark it is.
What if we... Just sort of...
Infinitely many stars, unfathomably massive, flared to life.
Eon became moment as the unbounded mass of the universe unfolded at her whim.
Uncountable lives came into being at the same moment. Heartbreak, anguish, hope, love.
All to satiate the momentary desire of a single skunk for the comfort of starlight.
Nice job, Reem! It looks exactly like the real sky!
Wait.
Rimas felt her mind turning, the enormity of her act sinking in.
Marcel... That is the real sky now.
That means... The one who created the stars in the first place... Was me?
Marcel snickered, before holding out a hand and speaking in an exaggerated theatrical tone.
Can you imagine the memes if this got out?
"Some skunk asshole needed a nightlight, and now I have to stare at a computer screen for forty years of my life doing spreadsheets or whatever."
I staunchly refuse to accept the mantle of progenitor of the daily grind.
I've done some shit, sure, but that was not my fault. No way.
Silence for a while, but then...
Was it my fault?
If I'm not responsible for office drudgery, neither are you.
No... I mean... what happened to Bryph.
I've tried really hard to forget about what happened.
I'm generally a person who can live without fear, but... I'm still a little afraid of Bryph.
I'm afraid that someday they're going to blame me for what they went through.
You should've just... No, you couldn't have known. I'm sorry.
It wasn't your fault, Marcel. I swear. It wasn't.
But... That's not the point, the point is, I probably could have dug more into what my dad was doing. I could've figured it out maybe.
Maybe if I looked closer and stopped him, Bryph could have had a normal childhood. And like, achieved their dream of being a gymnast.
You've seen what they're capable of in a fight. It's breathtaking in a way. Sometimes I get caught up watching them...
I can't hate them. I've actually tried to. They killed my dad. I should hate them. But I can't convince myself to.
I don't think you should hate Bryph.
It has to be someone's fault. Someone has to be held accountable for what happened.
I didn't deserve to lose a dad, Bryph didn't deserve to lose their childhood...
Was it really so bad, living with me and my family?
You know that isn't what I meant.
I'm really glad you ended up living with us.
I know the circumstances of why you ended up with us weren't the best, but you're the best friend I've ever, ever had.
I mean that.
Rimas looked over at Marcel, but couldn't read his expression by the dim starlight.
She thought she heard him sniffling, but she couldn't be sure.
I'm just talking in circles now.
You know, though... If I could undo anything with time travel or whatever we're doing now...
The first thing is, obviously, I'd stop my dad from ruining Bryph's childhood. But the second thing?
I'd make it so I never met Maurine. I want to be able to love someone again without... Feeling so afraid.
I feel like doing the first thing would naturally result in the second thing.
A lot of very specific stuff had to line up for her to set her sights on you, you know?
Maybe. After everything we went through though... Even seeing her again last year, having her apologize to me.
I haven't forgiven her.
Nor should you.
It's kinda messed up that she broke me the way she did.
It's why, no matter how calculated, how emotionally compelling her words are...
I will never forgive her.
I've been manipulated before. I've been used. This was beyond that.
She dissected me. She cut me apart while I was still breathing and looking her in the eyes.
And that smile, the entire time... She convinced me it was all so I could become a stronger, happier person.
She told me that if I just took her advice... If I always took her advice...
I would finally love myself. And then she could love me.
And then the second I was vulnerable enough... I became a piece of meat for her and that was it.
She threw me at Cae and expected me to have the guts to snap his neck. That was all I was.
She literally psychoanalyzed me using advanced psychiatric techniques... And she decided, after everything...
I am meat. I am big strong meat, and my feelings will never matter to her.
You're so much more than that, and you know it!
Sure she took a good hard look at you, but she only saw what she wanted to see.
It is not your fault that she did what she did! You are not just some brute. You're the nicest person I know.
That cold-hearted mutton chop wouldn't know love if it bit her on the ass.
Yeah, I can tell you from experience, you're right on that one.
Dude.
The two broke out in laughter.
It's kinda weird that like. Technically none of that stuff has even happened yet.
Like, none of them are even born, not even us.
Yeah... I'm never time travelling again.
This is all just too weird to think about.
So I won't think about it! Good night, Marsehole.
