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[The Handmaid had finally achieved her only goal after millenia--she'd finished her job ane been released from her contract, and the Condesce had killed her. She'd thought it would be a relief. She hadn't been expecting an afterlife, but even nothing would have been better than serving Lord English.

Unfortunately, nothing had changed. In fact, she didn't even know she was dead. Her life just replayed over and over and over again, and she still longed for death. She listened to Doc Scratch ramble on about the other ancestors, repeating himself until she had the stories memorized and they became mind numbing. Of course, when she didn't listen carefully enough, or Doc Scratch just thought she wasn't, he would punish her. His favorite trick was teleporting her onto the Condesce's ship until the lack of air made her pass out. Unfortunately, immortality didn't mean that she was immune to the adverse affects of his punishments, just that she couldn't die from them.

Lord English was much less elegant, and much harder to please. If he wanted her unconscious, he would simply slam her against a wall and choke her until her head swam and her lungs screamed and her only thought was of air. He wasn't nearly as picky about leaving marks, either, but after centuries of such treatment, she'd learned that allowing it and fighting back as little as possible often made him relent more quickly.

But the worst was when she was trapped in Doc Scratch's mansion, when Lord English had no use for her at the moment. She would pace, impatient, listening to the little puppet ramble on and on and critique her manners and patronize her endlessly. Unlike in her childhood, she no longer shows her rage so openly--there's no point. But in the mansion, all alone, with Lord English and Doc Scratch both off doing something assuredly stupid, she paces the rooms and daydreams about ripping the entire place apart.]

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[He is young, the way she prefers to remember him, but what he's saying makes no sense. Part of her is still convinced she's hallucinating. Maybe she's finally snapped and gone completely insane. She doesn't pull her hand away, though, because his cheek is solid under her fingertips, and more than anything else she wants to believe this isn't a trick.]

...What are you talking about?

You...

[Nnnnnoooooo, he doesn't want to have to say this to her. He almost can't make himself do it, the way his throat closes for a long, long moment. But then he finally does reach up and slip a hand around her neck, trying to draw her down to him]

You're dead, Coleta. You've finally... [Hnnngh] This is a dream.

[She tenses for a second, then allows him to pull her downward as she lets that statement sink in.]

...That makes no sense.

[Actually, it does in a sort of odd way that she doesn't want to think about.]

[Lets his fingers kind of knead at her neck. Shh shh, don't tense up on him, please... And he... sighs, breathes unhappily for having to explain this to her somehow]

It does. I know it's hard. It was hard when I had to do it. But this isn't real. This mansion. You've-- [Little distressed sound, as he thinks back on... all the things he's seen here. All the ways he's seen her hurt. He almost loses his voice again, but...] It's a memory. You're reliving it. Have been... reliving it for... so long. [Please believe him...]

[He's never lied to her before, of course. Maybe he's mistaken. There's no way she died only to relive her whole pathetic life over and over and over again. If that were the case, what was the point of going along with Lord English at all?

But of course, the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. Things have seemed just slightly off before, and he's here, as young as when she first met him somehow.

She lets out another shaky breath, letting her hand fall to tangle in his shirt.]

...How is that possible?

[Pulls her down just that little bit further to press his forehead to hers, letting his eyes shut for a moment. God he's missed her. He wants to leave with her. As soon as possible. Now. She doesn't deserve to be in this awful place anymore]

I don't know. But it's the truth. [...] You can leave whenever you want, Coleta.

[She's missed him too, so, so much, and when he rests his forehead against her heart aches with a sudden rush of affection. She slips her arms around him shyly, closing her eyes as she struggles to make sense of what he's telling her.

It's true. A lot of things haven't been right. It does feel as though she's replaying events over and over again rather than experiencing them for the first time, and really, it's the only explanation for why he's here right now. And she has heard Doc Scratch mention offhand some sort of place the deceased go after their dreamselves are gone, but she's always assumed that was for Sgrub players only.

She bites her lip, pulling her head away from his just enough to meet his eyes. Her voice is quiet, hopeful but a little frightened, too.]

Show me.

[...there are actually no words to describe the sudden brilliant happiness in his eyes at that. He smiles so relieved, he practically glows with it, as he slowly moves to stand and take her hand, leaning in to kiss her just briefly]

Of course. [He will take her anywhere to be honest, but first he'll start with away from this god damn mansion, drawing her to him and leading them towards the door]

[She's so surprised at that that she doesn't even have time to kiss him back before he moves away. She blinks up at him as they head towards the door. There's no way this can be so easy. No way.]

[IT IS THAT EASY. In fact he makes a point of not just... changing the setting the way they can here, instead letting them walk quite purposefully through the empty corridors and out the door. As easy as that. His voice is soft, and desperately fond]

You can go anywhere you want now, Coleta. You need only believe it. [Where would you like to be, my dear?]

[Anywhere. Anywhere but here. Actually, her happiest memories all take place on Alternia, with him. She presses against his side as they walk, tightening her grip on his hand. She had no idea it was possible to miss one person so much.]

What do I do?

Think of the place. Believe you are there. It's uh... hard the first, few times, but you can do it.

[Reassuring smile!!! Although it becomes teasing pretty quickly as he remembers]

Uh... maybe you ought, to tell me where it is, also? So that we do not... lose each other again. [Squeezes her hand and the reassuring-ness is back! He is not going to think about how long it's been nor how hard his heart would break if they were separated again. The important thing here is her finally gaining her own freedom]

[She hesitates, leaning against him a bit uncertainly. It's so, so hard to remember, and he'll be disappointed in her if she can't do it, won't she?]

Do you remember that... Field by the river you used to camp in?

[It's vague--she can picture it in her mind, but can't put a name to it.]

[...oh god. He's suddenly reminded of how long ago that was. It's sort of awful to realize he's been dead for that long!!! So yes, it takes him a good long time to think back that far and remember. Once he hooks onto the right memory though, he's pretty sure he knows what she means]

Yes. I think so.

Can we go there?

[She says it with the air of someone not quite believing she'll ever get what she wants.]

Dunno. Can we?

[Teasing!!! It's obvious he believes in her completely and absolutely, but he has also set this out as a challenge. It's important to him that she does this on her own...!]

[She frowns, looking completely uncertain. She has no idea what exactly he means by "wishing", and she doesn't totally believe this will work, anyway. But she tries, picturing the location in her mind and focusing as hard as she can on her longing to be there, to be anywhere but here.]

[...okay. There may be some help from him here. The first time is always the hardest! It had taken him something that felt like sweeps to figure it out, so he... slips his hand out of hers and wraps his arms around her shoulders, holding on as he helps push them away from this... awful place, and into the field she had mentioned]

[Everything falls into place sort of strangely. First there's the trees, then the grass, then the sky. Then the sound of the river filters in, and the night wind starts blowing and the grass gains texture and feel. There is very little doubt this is a dream as everything slowly slowly settles into place]

[For a second she's too distracted by his arms around her to really look at where he's taken them. She's missed him, and having him here again just makes her realize how badly. So she just sort of buries her face in his shoulder for a moment, still not completely convinced that this isn't a hallucination.]

[Well he is... p okay with just standing here and holding her, just... breathing and looking down to her and feeling her there, for real and actually in his arms again. He cannot believe how long he has gone without her, fucking hell. Never again. He's just... vowing that to himself right here and now. Never again]

[Eventually, he does murmur: ]

We're here. [But he won't let her go until she moves to look around]

[She pulls away after a few moments, keeping her arms wrapped around him. And... Oh.

The mansion is gone. And she doesn't care at all if it's a dream, because at least it's not Scratch's terrible mansion. And if he's right, they can't reach her here. Look! There's actually a very slight smile on her face.]

[AAAAAAH that smile is literally the best thing he has seen in forever and he actually can't help but to cup her cheek and pull her into a kiss all of a sudden]

[Jeez, Summoner, give her some time to adjust! No, she is totally okay with this, and kissing him back pretty enthusiastically.]

[Sobs he missed this!!! Slides an arm around her waist, pulling her close again. He does pull out of the kiss before it gets... too far though! He doesn't go very far but he just... he needs to say this hhhhhhggghghkjsf]

I missed you.

[She sighs contentedly, clutching at the back of his shirt and pressing close.]

I missed you, too.

[That seems so inadequate, compared to the way she felt, but she's never been good with words.]