[TEXT] it M0ves

[nextnightmods]

i hear two report, they say, tell people with lights! lights be kept safe

one rep0rt from Postmaster General! fave
: eyes green, they fight each other. some think maybe talk? but Big Seven eat, g̵r̶o̷w̴ more, strong. Look for you. Seen near C AN D L L E LA B over there. Do not be alone. You alone? it eat, it grow, it change. 0r it change you like you seen mines people. R-I-P you say.

ok

one rep0rt (think 0 look g00d in your word) from one call Lush Green. more green. gentle green th0ugh. Some you know this one.
: it over other side of lake, e̶a̷t̵e̴r̶ of w0rlds, moves this a way. Seeking. Why? may be bad luck may be light in dark grow slowly strong with things that want to live

move is slow but lake is small. maybe good no tall light-beac0n remain but Beac0n fire burn bright. If you go lake be care.

...
too long since bulletin so here big list of 0bituary:

carmilla, Gregor Allaine, Jill Valentine, Danse, Lorem Laurel, Haein Seo, Fitz Kreiner, Coraline Li, Mary, Jessica Jones, Elektra Natchios, Matt Murdock, Megara, Shadow Moon, Sora, Ephrim, Katakuri Charlotte

Be. Care. Or you make BOOk B∀BƎ sad

Comments

voice; @lonk

[sublimebeast]

[A long pause, then...]

...Sora??

Damnit, no!

When--where?

Text @ Soldier

[worthallthis]

End of last month is the last time I saw him. I have been looking for his lantern. No luck so far.

[And to show he is learning about network communication, he finds an emoticon:]

:(

[sublimebeast]

Shit.

No, this can't be true... I was gonna protect him.

Some hero I am. I can't protect anyone...

[worthallthis]

stop that right now

I promised him too you know

[sublimebeast]

Shut up.

It's different. I'm supposed to be the Hero.

[worthallthis]

and i'm a weapon but you don't see me trying to kill everyone just because of that

if somebody who lives with that kid and sees him every day couldn't keep him safe what the hell do you think you could have done

[Soldat is... upset about this, okay. They've lost so many people they love here. Nobody gets to blame themselves more than they do.]

[sublimebeast]

I don't know, damn it! Something!

I'm the hero chosen by the Gods! Saving people is the only reason I exist and I can't even save one of my best friends? What good am I!?

I haven't been able to help anyone. Everyone keeps dying and I can't...

[An audible choke.]

...I can't...

[worthallthis]

[He sighs silently on his end. Texting isn't going to work for this, is it.]

where are you

[sublimebeast]

Huh?

In a tree. I can see the Bonfire from here. Why?

[worthallthis]

[A few minutes later, Soldat is wandering into Bonfire Square, checking the trees nearby for any crouching Links. If Link is particularly well hidden, they'll pull a scope from one pocket and hold it up, using it to seek out lantern heat.

Then they wander over to the base of Link's tree.]

Aren't you cold.

(sorry for the wait!)

[sublimebeast]

[Link is huddled up on a low branch, hugging himself against the chill.]

Yeah, I am, but I don't have a room anywhere.

'Sokay. I'm used to living outdoors.

it's fine! <3

[worthallthis]

[He frowns up at him some more.]

Link. It's winter. You can't live outside in the winter. There are lots of rooms at the Invincible.

[Sora's room at the B&B is empty now, too, not that they're going to admit that.]

[sublimebeast]

[He lowers his chin to his knees.]

What if other people need those rooms? I don't deserve them...

[worthallthis]

If you say "deserve" one more time I will physically yank you out of that tree and drag you to a room.

[The warning in their voice says they might just do it, anyway.]

I don't care what you think you deserve or don't deserve. There's. There are hardly any of us left.

[Soldat swallows hard.]

I don't want to have to look for your lantern out here, too, because you. Fuckin'. Froze to death, or something.

[sublimebeast]

[Links eyes sharpen and his head snaps up again.]

That's not gonna happen. I'm not ready to die just yet.

[Well, die again.]

[worthallthis]

Then come inside. Get warm. Sleep in a real fucking bed.

[He raps lightly on the tree trunk, metal knuckles making a louder tap than flesh could.]

There are sixteen of us left and more rooms than that in the Invincible. And not everyone even lives at the Invincible. There's plenty of space.

[sublimebeast]

[He's quiet for a long moment then drops from the branch, landing in the snow with an audible crunch. Once he's uncurled he hugs himself against the cold.]

...How did this happen?

[Realizing that this is a vague question, he corrects himself]

I mean...

How did we lose so many people? 'Slike I just blinked and everyone was gone.

[worthallthis]

[Soldat shrugs their very fine coat off and drapes it over Link's shoulders gently. They'll take it back once they're inside.]

The flood. And then. People just. One by one. Got lost or lost hope and joined the spirits, in their own way.

[They put a hand on his shoulder to lead him towards the Invincible.]

[sublimebeast]

[Link allows Soldat to cover him with their coat and walks alongside them.]

I won't let that thing win, you know. I won't.

[worthallthis]

That's good. We need that, here.

[Soldat is a little less certain, but they can take heart from other people's determination. This kind of big, overwhelming threat is more than they've ever had to deal with.

And without Sora, they've lost one of their main cheerleaders.]

We'll do it together. All of us.