wc: 2013

For the next few days, Joel brought back all sorts of news of positive reactions, as well as a newspaper article.

"What's this about?" Grian said through a mouthful of food, shaking the paper open and squinting at the words. "Anyone caught with the paper on their property will be executed. Any talk about it will be immediately dealt with." He sighed and shook his head.

"Too late now," Joel piped up. "They have the thoughts in their heads. Watchers can't do anything about that."

Grian nodded, smiling, and handed the paper back to Joel. "Any other news?"

Joel plopped himself on the chair next to him, plucking some dried chorus fruit off of his plate and munching on it. Chorus fruit that had been dried of its juice wouldn't teleport the person who ate it, although sometimes it hadn't been completely strained and the unsuspecting watcher would be suddenly sent across the room. "A base on the other side of the kingdom was infiltrated," he said solemnly.

Grian jolted. "You should have started with that," he said, good mood crashing. "Did anyone..?"

Joel shook his head, and Grian sagged with relief. "Injuries, but there wasn't a whole army or anything, so they escaped. I don't know what the plan is, but the base was destroyed."

"Destroyed?" Grian sputtered. "Thought you said there weren't that many watchers?"

"It all went, uh, kablooey," Joel said, gesticulating with his hands. "We're lucky that nobody was hurt too badly, though."

Grian nodded. "Do you reckon it's time to get some training in?"

"For... the entirety of the Listeners?" Joel asked skeptically.

"You're the whole director of whatever communications things," Grian said, poking him. "You'll find a way."

Joel sighed. "If we can get everyone congregated in their groups, that would be great, but it might be hard."

"Let's get planning, then," Grian said.

Over the next few days, Grian spent most of his time in the training room with a notebook, writing down points he knew he had to teach. Occasionally, he pulled Joel or X inside to experiment with something, although Joel was always reluctant ("I don't want to be your training dummy!"). Grian found it surprisingly peaceful though; chatting with Hermits and some Listeners and kind of just chilling.

He and Joel had found a date when the Listeners would all most likely be free; ironically, it was on the Watcher kingdom's supposed birthday, when no one would work, even shopkeepers and restaurants, and celebrate in the evening until midnight. The details were still yet to be worked out, but Joel had sent out a message to each base's leader, and all had sent back answers of affirmation.

It was a quiet, chilly morning in the base. Grian sat crosslegged on the floor of the training room with his staff, scribbling notes down. He fiddled with the collar of his tunic, unkempt hair falling over his eyes.

"Oh, there you are Grian!" Scar said goodnaturedly, poking his head into the training room. Grian looked up and smiled a little tiredly.

"Where else could I be?" he replied with a laugh, sitting up. "What's up?"

"I remembered that Martyn had wanted me to tell you something," Scar said, his face turning serious. Grian felt a shiver go up his spine as Scar sat down next to him. For the first time, he noticed gold markings swirling over Scar's jaw and cheek, covering where his scars had once been, probably a sign of his fae heritage. His emerald eyes seemed mournful, and it raised the hairs on the back of Grian's neck to see such an expression on what was usually the cheerfulest face in the room.

"What is it?"

"I believe it was about Evo," Scar said, and Grian flinched, bowing his head. "Martyn said..." Scar's throat bobbed as he visibly swallowed.

"Go on," Grian said. "I can take it." The words came across a little harsher than intended, and Grian winced at Scar's slightly takenaback expression, and he attempted to soften his tone. "I won't blame you for anything."

Scar sighed. "He wanted to let you know that the remaining Evo members were the ones that participated in the game."

Grian didn't register the information at first, even as he felt himself freeze, eyes wide in disbelief. "...Remaining as in..." He choked on his next word, voice coming hoarse. "A...live."

Scar nodded, looking away. Grian stumbled, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, icy cold washing over his senses, suffocating. "I'm sorry, Grian."

A strangled sound escaped Grian's throat, not unlike one of a dying man. He sat down heavily onto the training mat, seeing nothing; the truth of it all like a noose wrapping around his tender neck. They're dead, he realized. Forever. Who had been in that terrible game again? Jimmy, BigB, and Martyn- was that it? All that remained of-

Grian hadn't realized his head was buried in his hands, fingers sinking to pull at his hair. Scar was pulling gently at his wrists. "Grian, it's okay," he said, voice trembling; Grian barely heard it over the roaring of blood in his own ears. His chest rose and fell with fast breaths, the world slowing.

"Scar," he said, voice cracking. "They-" he shoved his face back into his knees, trying not to sob. Of course they had killed all the women. Of course they'd only left three alive.

And then a realization struck. Grian snapped his head up, locking red eyes onto Scar's. "What about- Pearl wasn't in Last Life."

Scar cocked his head in apology. "I'm sorry, I don't know..?"

But she couldn't be dead, he had seen her, hadn't he? Yes, she had to have been alive. "Martyn's wrong," Grian forced. "I'm- there's- I'm not that much of a- a failure, of an admin." His voice hitched, and he flopped backwards onto the ground, hands pressed against his face, trying not to cry even though the pressure building up his eyes was unrelenting. He was the failed captain of this ship, wasn't he? And if he couldn't keep the people that mattered most alive-

"X's right," Grian said abruptly, slamming his fist against the ground. Scar jumped. "You guys- you can't stay."

Scar immediately sat up, protest on his face. "What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere, Grian," he warned.

Grian stood up on shaky legs, stumbling a bit, still learning to carry the weight of those deaths that had settled on his shoulders. Scar reached out and put a stabilizing hand on his shoulder.

"All of you need to leave," Grian said, command sneaking into his voice. "Now. I won't let you guys get hurt."

"Grian, we can take care of ourselves," Scar insisted, taking a step forward. With a shake of his head, Grian whirled around, stalking towards the door, steps heavy. "Grian! We're- we're capable, you know."

Rage clouded Grian's vision, and he whipped around, eyes blazing. "That's what they said, too," he hissed, words falling like a corpse from his mouth, final. Scar stopped in his tracks. With that, Grian left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Grian!"

At the call, he turned and saw Impulse, Tango, and Mumbo sitting at a table, papers sprawled across its surface in front of them, Mumbo with an arm raised, beckoning him over. He tried to wipe the despair off his face and approached.

"What's a bunch of smart people want to do with me?" he joked, sitting down next to Mumbo.

"Nothing, just want to see how you're holding up," Tango said casually, scribbling a note down on what seemed to be blueprints. Grian blinked at the question, tossed in front of him so nonchalantly. "A lot's happened, y'know."

Grian nodded, probably looking a bit nervous. "Yeah, doing- uh, doing fine." He glanced down at his hands. "How about you guys?" he tacked on a bit awkwardly.

"Just a bit surprised," Impulse supplied. "This is all very... unfamiliar."

"That's understandable," Grian murmured. He glanced at Mumbo. "You doin' okay?" he asked, nudging him.

"I feel like I should be more concerned about you," Mumbo said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm fine, don't worry." He smiled warmly, and the sight seemed to make Grian feel just a bit better, before he realized that if they all died here, then he wouldnt never grin like that again.

"Whatcha making here?" Grian asked, trying to divert his own attention to something less dire. The three perked up.

"Just kinda doodling," Tango said, tapping the paper with the end of his pencil.

"It's a trap!" Impulse said, smiling. "I don't know what we would use it for, but we might as well keep exercising our brains."

"Unless you guys need to blow something up," Mumbo chimed in. "In which case we are happy to provide our services!"

Grian couldn't help the laugh that escaped his mouth. "I'll let you know," he said, moving to stand up.

"Hey, where're ya goin'?" Tango asked. "You just got here!"

A wince. "I'm a busy man, you know!" Grian told them. I just need to be alone for a bit. "I'll be back later, just have to sort some things out. See you guys!"

They chimed their goodbyes and Grian turned, trying not to run to an empty room where he could just be by himself for a bit, free to wallow in his own worries. He closed the door of a random room behind him, sliding his back down against the wall until he had was sitting, eyes sliding closed.

Exhaustion suddenly filled his bones with lead. A hammer seemed to be striking consistently in his skull, and Grian wanted nothing more than to just roll over and sleep for the next few years. As he was mulling this idea over, a voice piped up next to him.

"Just sleepin', are we?"

Grian jumped upright, hand outstretched and magic gathering at his fingertips, not quite aware of what had just happened. Joel frowned, pushing his hand away. "What's that for? Scared you, did I?"

"Oh my gosh," Grian groaned, sinking back to the floor and dropping his hands with a soft thunk. "You scared the living daylights out of me."

Joel grinned. "Sorry about that. I was going to find you, anyway. How'd you get here?"

Grian finally looked around at his surroundings. A single island of a table stood in the middle, strange gadgets piled high in rickety stacks. Boxes and chests lined the walls, stuffed to the brim with papers with not even a semblance of organization. Candles sent shadows dancing across the walls, lighting the room with a dim glow. Crumpled up plans and pens scattered the floor, abandoned. "I don't know, either," he said honestly.

Joel gave him a strange look. "..Okay. Well, this is my office."

"I could tell," Grian snarked. "Have you heard of a broom?" Joel ignored him. It was rather hypocritical for Grian to comment on Joel's lack of organization when he himself had none of it either.

"Anyway, here," Joel said, picking up a paper from his desk and handing it to Grian. "See what you think about this."

Grian picked up the paper and quickly glanced over the galactic letters. As he continued reading, his face lit up. "In two weeks? That's perfect." He handed the paper back to Joel. "Thanks."

"Yes, it was all me, you're welcome," Joel said, bowing. Grian laughed, but stopped abruptly when he thought of the Evo members again. Joel frowned. "Do you... need something?"

Grian shook his head, suddenly wanting nothing more than to collapse into a bed. "It's fine, just thinking." He used the wall as support to stand up, stretching out his back that was starting to ache with phantom pains of wings, a clear sign that he should probably take a painkiller and a nap. "I'll talk to you at dinner?"

Joel nodded. "Now get out of my office."

Grian gave him a mock salute and left, mind whirling with all the things he had to do and all the weights he had to carry.

merry christmas, and if you don't celebrate it, then happy december 25th!!! thank you guys for all of the support lately!

thank you for reading! have a good day or night, wherever you are!

-Ete