They didn't get to say goodbye.

That thought hit them suddenly, so suddenly that their steps faltered and they fell, collapsing to their knees as they shivered and shook, a cold hand grasping their heart. It was all they could do to drag themselves into one of the abandoned homes in the ruins, curling up tightly into a little ball with their hands gripping their arms tightly.

At least Nibbles was coming, the rabbit's worry clear in their mind. The little rabbit may have acted like they didn't care but the time spent slowly building that friendship had paid off and he could no longer deny it.

Soon enough a soft nose poked Max's arm, rousing them from their daze. At least they had him.

"I'm such a fool," they said softly, reaching out to brush over soft fur, "You know, I can cry now. Vargas isn't here to call me weak or sniveling or what have you... so why aren't I? I'm sad, I should be crying, but I'm not."

Had they changed too late? Finally they were free like they'd always wanted and now they found themselves unable to shed a single tear. Now that they were banned from seeing their beloved Khavur, Aurelia, even Equinox, they couldn't weep for the loss despite how their heart wrenched in their chest and nausea made them want to throw up.

Max shivered and hugged Nibbles to their chest, burying their face in his soft green fur. They had to make a plan.

Wait here until the Deathmatches are over and find Porkchop once it's safe. Flee to... Pisces, perhaps, they'd never been there before and it was out of the way enough that Vargas wouldn't just go there for business or anything. Even better, it was far away from Draco. Then they'd contact Khavur and explain everything.

And then... then they'd just have to see where life would take them. What did normal gembounds do? Just walk around waiting for something to happen? They had to raise Porkchop, so maybe that would be a good distraction from the writhing turmoil they felt. Though they'd have to unpack it all later and address it, just not now.

"It'll be okay," they breathed, mostly to themselves, "Happy thoughts... Vargas in a frilly pink dress. With bows and ruffles a-and pearls. With pink nail polish and glittery makeup."

A broken laugh left their mouth at the image and they played with Nibbles' ears, maliciously wondering if they could indeed start a cave-wide rumor about Vargas looking extremely good in pink and ruffles. I mean, they'd practically been ordered to by Nemean, and who were they to disobey the orders of a Master?

"Maybe I can find her at some point," they mumbled softly, "I wonder if Masters get lonely..."

Being lonely was such a mortal concept. The urge to be with other people was so strong that being without them was a whole emotion to itself. Loneliness... weren't gods above such a thing? They were so powerful they didn't need it, but Vargas hadn't always been a Master, and they assumed the others hadn't either. So perhaps the Masters weren't as powerful as they seemed.

Maybe they could be lonely, like Max was, sitting in a dusty old home with just their rabbit for company. The weight of everything slowly crushing them.

@Veil

Veil was here alot. it was it's favorite cave afterall.

while he didn't truly remember where he hatched, he silently wished it was here. where stars glittered like he did and he didn't look so weird amongst it. where he was simply part of its grand architecture, a shadow within the walls of a cave that didn't see enough faces to be considered busy but enough to be called alive.

Maybe that was a good way to describe veil, too. a prince of darkness ruling over his own little world, not busy but all the more alive.

casting the oddly poetic thoughts aside, veil heard some noises coming from the ruins and was going to investigate. specifically, it sounded like... sniffling? laughter?? anguish??? veil had a hard time guessing, especially now, when it felt like option D for all of the above was the best one.

the beast crawled along the roofs, peaking its head into each door until finally, it reached max's.

"is this one alright? The void heard noise..." it asked, head twisting to look Maximus in the eye. "the void worries."

@Maximus

Max flinched at the voice, head jerking up to face Veil before they visibly relaxed. Not Draconua... thank the caves. And this creation was much too elegant and put together to be anything like the Valkhounds they'd seen.

"Oh, you heard me?", they said nervously, shushing Nibbles as he wiggled anxiously, "Um... sorry if I disturbed you. I'm..."

Did they say they worried?

"... I'm okay," they said, their voice barely above a whisper, "Th-thank you. I'm afraid I've just been kicked out of my ho-"

Ha, they almost said home. As if that hell-hole was home.

"... Kicked out of where I lived. Who are you? I'm Max," they said, not bothering to use their full name, since it had been tainted by Vargas' mouth.

@Veil

Veil made what kinda sounded like a soft warble noise, tilting his head.

"The prince of void isn't easily disturbed! it appreciates the company it provides."

they turned they head around, slinking down from the roof to crouch in the doorway. "that is awful! what a terrible thing.." he spoke, distressed. who would kick someone out of where they live? what a horrid thing to do.

"I am the Prince of Void, The Veil, The darkness. it can call it Just Veil however. does it-.. are you the prince of anything?" he asked, interested. he looked at Nibbles, curious, empty puppydog sockets locked on.

@Maximus

"When I speak"
When I think

Maximus watched Veil curiously, slowly rising from where they were on the floor to sit instead, "I um... appreciate your concern. Thank you."

"I'm not a prince at all," they said, running their fingers over Nibbles, "I'm just... Max. Sniveling, simpering Max."

They saddened, their ears drooping as they stopped their petting, only resuming when Nibbles squeaked and thumped their back feet in annoyance. They continued to pet them, then, inhaling slowly before clearing their throat.

"I'm sure you don't want to hear my troubles," they mumbled, "So um... do you live here? In Orion?"

@Veil