abandonhumanity | PSL / MEME CONTINUATION

No.

[But Basil is.]

I'm not.

[He considers what he wants to say next for only a moment before he does so. They were friends once. He has a right to know.]

Aubrey isn't either.

[Ah… that’s…]

[Basil nods again; smaller, this time, and more controlled. (Not that the bar was high.)] That’s good… I’m glad....

[Maybe this guy isn’t so bad. And even though they don’t have to keep talking about Aubrey…] Do you, ah…

[…know where she is? But the question catches. Why bother asking; to find her? avoid her? Basil sought her before, but it’s a moot point now....]

How… is she…? [Ever timid. He can’t imagine the answer is good.]

Edited (F key stop dying on me challenge) 2023-10-10 19:21 (UTC)

[Loaded question. Not that Eren isn't used to those, but...]

I can't answer that for her. Sorry.

[Still...]

She's protected. I can tell you that much.

[Okay. That’s not good. Not bad, either…

[It’s gotten so hard, nigh-impossible, for Basil to look on the bright side these past few years. Is there any point to trying when he’s already lost?

[But… if this world wanted him to give up, then he wouldn’t be conscious. This is his ultimate punishment. He’ll carry it all beyond the grave, however long it takes.]

Thank you… [It’s hushed.] F-for telling me. [How Aubrey is protected is beyond Basil. But it’s good to know she’s safe. Maybe everything will be okay, for her. For everyone.

[He’ll stay away, then.]

Mm. One more thing, if it isn’t too much trouble…?

["If it isn't too much trouble?" Eren's lips tighten, but he manages to withhold most of his irritation at the repetitive request.]

Ask me whatever you want.

[Basil catches the disapproval anyway. He’s a little too aware of those subtleties, the signs of an encounter about to go very, very wrong. And he really is sorry, anyway. Always is. Always trouble.]

[He’s not sure if it’s the world again or a burst of resolve that makes him speak anyway. It’s the least shaky Eren’s heard him yet.]

If you see her again… don’t tell her I’m here. Don’t tell her you saw me.

Under any circumstances.

[Promise me. But he’s asking so much of someone he just met, as-is…]

[A promise he can't begin to make. His loyalty is with Aubrey first when it comes to this place. Aubrey and Armin - that's it.

[But he'll humor him.]

Why?

[Eesh. Too much. Too much, too soon. Now Aubrey will definitely find out, and she’ll have to suffer all over again, and Basil ruined everything, again.... He looks as though Eren slapped him.

[Faintly, a dark shadow trails out from where Basil stands. It’s illusory, not anything solid—but real to Basil all the same. Snapped neurons, gleaming in the moonlight.]

[He swallows, yet again. That resolve is dead and gone, and with it Basil’s eyes leave Eren.] It’s for the best. [His fingers twitch and writhe into themselves, tangling. (Not literally. But there’s nothing right about the motion.)]

You might be right about that.

Still. [Eren's voice is only cold in the way that it's matter-of-fact.]

I can't promise I won't tell her.

That's just where my loyalties lie.

[L… Loyalty…?]

[Oh no. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no oh no— If it’s anything like—]

No. You can’t. You can’t tell her.

[It’s a shaky whisper, but he meets Eren’s eyes for it. The shadow snakes out suddenly, more tendrils shooting out with, traveling along the ground and coalescing—

[Basil’s eyes go wide.] Behind you. [That’s a hiss, petrified.]

[Should Eren turn around, he’ll see a broken shape—a girl, long hair sprawled and twisted, limbs splayed, dragged ashore and left to rot. It is not breathing. And should Eren try to touch the figure it’s limp, dripping the stuff of shadow. All details are rendered pitch, as if drowned in oil. But Eren should recognize Aubrey.]

You can’t tell anyone.

Edited (let us be *slightly* less vague for once. as a treat) 2023-10-10 21:35 (UTC)

[If Eren were the type to think before he acts, this scenario would probably end a lot differently; just another trick of this world, certainly. But that's not what Eren sees. Eren sees Aubrey, and his mind goes black with rage.]

Bastard!

[It's Basil who's to blame. Who else would it be? They're the only two here.

[Eren makes a grab for his throat.]

What the hell did you do to her?!

[To the grave. To the grave. Forever.]

[Basil gags as Eren’s hand grabs his throat; animal instinct has him clawing back, and he’s a bit stronger than his bony limbs suggest (after all, gouging one’s guts out is not a death for the truly meek)—but it’s nonetheless a token, limp gesture. His heart’s not in it.

[He’d sooner die than tattle.]

You… c-can’t tell… [Let those be his last words.]

Shut your mouth.

[Eren spits his words, his grip tightening on Basil's throat. He's holding him up by the throat, in fact, and his anger is only getting worse, his grip only getting tighter. Basil claws uselessly at his hand, but it's no use. Eren is strong.

[Too strong.]

You hurt someone...[He speaks through gritted teeth. His grip tightens.]...that I love.

You'll die for that.

[He doesn't mean to make good on the threat just yet. But Basil isn't a soldier. When Eren slams him against one of the trees' broad trunks, still gripping his throat, his neck snaps. He falls limp.

[Eren drops him to the ground, eyes going slightly wide.

[No time. Aubrey. He runs to her side, but--

[No...As he approaches, the black, wet mass simply...sinks away into nothing, leaving only a light fog of steam in its wake.

[An illusion? An illusion that cost Aubrey's rotten little friend his life a second time.]

What the hell?

[For a fleeting, blissful second, Basil experiences the end.
[Shame he’s not, well, conscious to “enjoy” it.]

[Explosive pain, and gone. At least it was easy, this time. It’s a mercy he doesn’t deserve— but, ah. He has thoughts again....]

[Basil’s head feels like, deadweight, is deadweight. The breath to gag doesn’t make it; was he ever breathing here to begin with? He’s crumpled under a tree, all over again, the bleeding slump replaced with a violent drop. And as his vision, spinning and delirious, focuses again, he sees the back of that man, hears that deep, infuriated voice—

[No… no.... Oh, god. This is Hell after all.]

[Without thinking he makes a strangled noise, not unlike his dying gags. He doesn’t move. What is it, a cry for help? Selfish thought. Basil shuts his eyes and braces, best he can, for what’s next.]

[The gagging. Eren slowly turns his head.

[The universe, replaying the sounds of the dying?

[No. Basil was dead in the first place. It only makes sense he wouldn't stay that way.

[Eren is at the base of the tree in only a few long strides. Now, he makes no effort whatsoever not to stare down at Basil. He glares like a wolf that's smelled blood.]

You're toying with me.

[Basil doesn’t bother trying to lift his head. Now his killer’s just delaying the inevitable. His eyes stay closed as he trembles, a cornered sack of prey.]

[Again, despite his best efforts, the universe hooks into his throat and spills out his words.] I-I’m just… [His voice is still choked.] …k-keeping everyone safe....

[Wrong.]

How did you manage that trick, Basil? I really thought she was dead.

[But she is—]

[Synapses click. This started because…]

Aubrey.... [Basil’s eyes stray open, still tight from some distant residue of pain. He trains them on the ground.] I-I thought… she’s not dead....

[Confused, Eren? So’s Basil.]

[Confused all the more due to Basil's confusion. He narrows his eyes at the boy, taking just one step back. Aubrey will be angry enough that he killed him once, even if he did have a good reason ~~(that was a good reason?)~~.]

She isn't.

But it looked that way, didn't it? Don't tell me you've already forgotten.

[That Eren backs up surprises him. But not too much; it might be preparing a kick. Basil doesn’t look up to be sure.]

N-no, I remember… behind you....

[It wasn’t… what Basil usually sees. Nothing pushed Eren to do that. But then…?]

[He risks a glance upwards, trying to see past his killer. It’s so dark, despite the moonlight, and the tangle of trees doesn’t help… but whatever was there, it’s gone now.

[Well. For now. Basil’s not sure if that’s a relief or not.]

You saw it too…?

[Eren's brows settle in a glare over his eyes. Playing stupid?

[Or is Eren - not for the first time - the stupid one in this scenario?

[Basil didn't create the illusion? It makes...less sense the more Eren thinks about it.

[He might have fucked up.]

You did something. [Who's he trying to convince?]

That illusion appeared when you got angry.

[Is "angry" really the word he's looking for?]

[Something about Eren’s words makes Basil shudder, for a moment. But that’s clearly not what he’s talking about. (…Is it?)]

[And it’s not much like Basil to protest, anymore, but… “angry”? That has even him shaking his head, a little. He can’t remember the last time he felt angry, at anyone besides himself....]

I-I’m not… mad at you.... [Not what Eren suggested. But it’s true, sore throat and all.]

[“Illusion” doesn’t sit right with him, either. Basil is allowed to keep his mouth shut on that, though.]

[Mad at him? Eren has to take a deep breath ('Don't snap his neck twice.'). Basil's really going to make him look like an idiot now for losing his temper (consider, also, that he might be a bit of an idiot).]

Never mind that.

You don't want me to tell Aubrey that I saw you. Is that right?

[Extortion!]

[That, finally, gets Basil looking up at Eren. He’s still quivering like a cornered animal, but he nods, frantic.]

Then I won't.

In return, you will never. [He takes a step closer to Basil, certain he'll cower.] Never. Tell Aubrey about what happened today.

Do you understand?

PSL / MEME CONTINUATION

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respects paid. nods solemnly

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