.

.

.

Tighnari

"Expect them to be out for a while."

"The painkiller I gave them acts as a sedative too."

.

"... It'll actually be a miracle if they'll even wake up."

Thoma

"What is that supposed to mean?..."

Tighnari

"It's likely they'll never wake up."

"I don't know what this poison is, therefore, I have no idea how to treat them."

.

Thoma and Scaramouche exchanged worried glances. Thoma's brow furrowed in anxiety, his eyes darting between Scaramouche and your limp body. The room was thick with unease, every second feeling like an eternity.

Thoma slowly pulled a chair beside the table where you lay, the scrape of wood against the floor barely audible in the heavy silence. He settled into the chair, his movements deliberate and weary. 

His gaze softened as he looked at you, taking in the sight of your unconscious body, your hand cold and lifeless in his grasp. He held it gently, his thumb brushing over your knuckles in a soothing, repetitive motion as if trying to convey comfort through touch alone.

Thoma

They can't die.

.

It's impossible.

.

.

.

-A FEW HOURS LATER, TIGHNARI'S RESIDENCE-

.

.

.

Tighnari

"So. How long were you and Thoma going to go without telling me their real identity?"

"Or were you just planning to keep it hidden from me from the start?"

Tighnari asked, his voice edged with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

Tighnari approached Scaramouche, who sat quietly on a cluster of stones just outside his residence. Scaramouche, however, appeared detached from it all, his attention focused on the small pieces of grass and twigs in his hands. He twirled them between his fingers, his expression unreadable.

Tighnari's shadow fell over Scaramouche as he stopped a short distance away. His gaze was sharp, scrutinizing, as he took in the other man's demeanour.

Scaramouche didn't immediately respond. He continued fidgeting with the grass, seemingly lost in thought before finally looking up at Tighnari, his expression carefully guarded.

.

.

.

Scaramouche

"The fuck are you talking about?..."

Tighnari

"Please. Don't play dumb."

Scaramouche

"I'm not playing dumb."

Scaramouche's gaze dropped back to the ground as soon as Tighnari's statement settled between them. His fingers resumed their restless play with the twigs and leaves, twisting and snapping the fragile pieces as if they were the only things tethering him to the present moment.

His actions were subtle, almost dismissive as if he was choosing to ignore the weight of the situation—or perhaps, he was trying to find some semblance of control in the simplicity of the twigs and leaves in his hands.

Scaramouche

"Go fuck off."

Tighnari

"Not until you tell me who this 'N/N' really is."

Scaramouche's patience, already worn thin — it snapped like the twig in his hands. His expression darkened as he locked eyes with Tighnari, his gaze sharp and menacing. The intimidating stare he fixed on Tighnari carried a clear warning—one that dared him to push further, to test the limits of his restraint.

so alpha core 🐺

The broken twig fell from Scaramouche's hands, its remnants scattered at his feet.

Scaramouche

"Why the fuck are you on my ass about this? Go bother Thoma instead."

Tighnari

"Hm... I don't feel like toying with Thoma — I'd rather toy around with you. Thoma doesn't deserve that."

Scaramouche

"Okay- What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!"

Scaramouche's voice rose sharply, cutting through the tension like a blade. The force of his tone demanded attention, filling the space with a volatile energy that made it clear he was done with any semblance of patience. It was a voice that brooked no argument, leaving no room for doubt about the seriousness of his words.

Scaramouche

"Like- You're seriously pissing me off right now!"

Tighnari

"Hm."

Scaramouche

"What the fuck do you want from me?!"

Scaramouche's expression faltered as the realization struck him. The harshness in his voice lingered in the air, an echo of his pent-up frustration and stress that had just found an unintentional outlet.

Scaramouche

"Hmph."

.

Tighnari

"I knew something was off from the very start. Someone normal would've been dead from the blood loss by now."

Scaramouche pressed the space between his eyes with his thumb and index finger, a gesture of frustration and fatigue. As Tighnari continued to speak, Scaramouche's eyes squeezed shut, the pressure building behind them as he tried to focus on the conversation.

Scaramouche

"What do you mean by someone normal?..."

Tighnari

"I know that's not a human."

.

"Now, spill."

Scaramouche

"Tch. I'm not in the mood for this. Fuck off, go bother Thoma."

Tighnari

"I can't."

Scaramouche

"Why's that?..."

Tighnari

"Look at him."

Tighnari and Scaramouche both turned their gaze toward the house, their eyes meeting the sight of Thoma through the open doorway. His face was a mess of red and swollen features, the aftermath of tears that had streamed down unchecked. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, his lips quivering slightly as he struggled to keep himself together.

Scaramouche

"... What about him?"

Tighnari

"He looks absolutely ruined."

Scaramouche chuckled, though the sound was more bitter than amused. The corner of his lips curled upward in a wry smile, but his eyes remained distant.

Scaramouche

"Pfft... What do you mean ruined?"

Tighnari

*Sigh*

"You wouldn't get it."

Scaramouche

"Why? Cause you think puppets like me don't cry?"

Tighnari

"... Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question?"

.

.

.

Scaramouche

"... Fuck."

"I didn't say anything."

Scaramouche frustratedly wiped his face with both hands, dragging them down over his features as if trying to clear away the turmoil in his mind. His fingers pressed against his temples, then slid down to cover his mouth, muffling a low groan of exasperation. The chaos in his thoughts was overwhelming. 

Tighnari

"Sure."

.

"Anyhow, so this N/N..."

"Are they a God?"

Scaramouche

"They're human. End of story. Like I said, fuck off, and go bother Thoma about this. I don't wanna talk to you anymore."

.

.

.

"Not like I even wanted to in the first place."