Vessels and Tears (Archived Version)

Safety

Yes, you did find your way home. Eventually. Two days later. The entire group was exhausted by the time you all wandered back to the Palace. "I think I'm going to sushi Roll myself in a blanket for the next week and not come out even for food." Flower whined a lot, but a lot of the stuff she promised she was going to do you completely wanted to do yourself. Everyone was in a similar state of 'please just fucking kill me'. No one even asked when you got to the front gate looking like you all just beat up a god. Wait a second-

Mom practically broke down the door when you arrived and gave you the biggest, shell cracking hug ever. All of you. Like, ALL of you. She has big arms. She then practically had a heart attack after seeing the condition you all were in and sent you to the infirmary. More like dropkicked you all to the infirmary.

Quite a long time later (and a lot of "REALLY, I promise I'm fine!") You were FINALLY allowed to leave. Broken, Dryya, Flower, and Hegemol were forced to stay behind. Dryya was pretty badly injured (and needed a new cloak), and Hegemol claimed to be her "Emotional Support person". Flower had cracked her shell but gotten her wish of living in a blanket for a bit. But you got you fine ass out of there as fast as you could. You wanted to go hug Mom (properly) and go bug Pale. Since you had missed an entire week of it (maybe less?).

You actually found Pale first. He was reading a book in the Gardens, taking notes like a nerd. You crawled onto the bench he was sitting and put your head in his lap on top of his notes. Much to your surprise, he seemed delighted to see you. "Rift! I was wondering when you would be released." He picked you up and cupped your face with his hands. "Did you stab my brother in the face for me?" You nodded and he... looked sad for a second? He fixed his expression and sat you down on his lap so that you could get a better look at what he was doing.

"See, at this time of year usually your mother and I throw a celebration type of thing because this is about the time that I founded Hallownest. Its pretty fun most of the time, but I'm planning it now. I was thinking maybe you could help." He ran you through the details and you actually thought it sounded pretty cool. Aside from the fact you all had to be formal most of the night.

He handed you a pad of paper and you two began brainstorming, coming up with ideas and concepts until Mom came over and stole you from Pale, cradling you in her arms and taking you back to your room, where you then flopped over and called it a night.

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"I guess that's that..." Mom and Pale sat on the rooftop, chatting with each other upon Moms request. Pale said nothing, but that was to be expected. "He really wasn't a bad guy. Time turned him bitter, as it would anyone else in his shoes." She stroked Pales face and and sighed sadly. "I just wish... I could've saved him. Or at least said goodbye." His voice wavered and Mom could feel the pain he was emitting. He was in fact, devastated by the death of his brother, no matter how bad he was. It was deeper than anyone could understand according to him

"I know sweetie, but it was far too late for him and you know it. It was the death of your mother that tipped him over. 'You were to young to even try to help when you could and it wasn't your fault, just as Daybreaks death wasn't your fault-" "But Daybreaks death WAS my fault!" He gritted his teeth and met his mates eyes. "Her death was my fault and you know it. Its no secret. Lylith would agree." "Well, I'd like to point out Lylith is kind of an asshole. Just like her daughter. They're practically splitting images of each other." Mom laughed a little and Pale couldn't help but smile. She wasn't wrong.

"Yeah. Its just... Pha'Talo's... gone. He's just... gone. No goodbye, no final words, nothing. He's gone. Forever." He looked down at the gound far below. "I... know dear. I know he's gone and... I'm sad too. He was a good guy deep down. And its his fault we're even married-" She bopped his nose and he smiled again. "Hm, yeah. I guess so..." He nuzzled his mate and they silently looked out, the two of them thinking different things. Mom thought about her sister and... the fact that her niece was literally there. In the palace. Right now. And Pale thought about something worthwhile, he thought about Pizzabagels.