Chapter Text
You are not doing ok right now. It feels like your whole body went through a meat grinder.
Stars you hope Stardust is also in this much pain. They thrashed you pretty well, but you had gotten a few good hits. Given how your face hurts, they might have even just decked you in the face. Would explain the copper taste in… your… mouth?
Your eye snaps open. Singular eye. You have seen this ceiling before. House of Change, snack room #1, north eastern corner.
What.
Softly, on your blind side, you hear the others shifting and whispering. As you stir, taking account of your person, everything appears like “””normal”””. Lightless boots, darkless cloak and hat. One eye, a functioning mouth. This is wild. There is a tingling under your skin. Like the phantom pains of a runner’s high, wish craft. It feels… weak, almost nonexistent. You poke at your teeth to distract you. Or you would, but as you move your hand, the (empty) bottle of wine conks you lightly on the face.
no.no. NO. NO NO NONO ONONONONOOO
THAT WAS NOT JUST ONE DRUNK DREAM. IT COULDN’T BE.
Quick, what’s something that only “””Loop””” would know.
“...Oooodilllle” the word slurs out of you. Ah, not using an actual mouth to talk has had some side effects. Neat. The whispers from your… comrades… stops. Someone stands up and walks up to you.
“Gems Siffrin, I know this is stressful, but did you ha-”
“There is no research, is there?” Battle won against your mouth. You obtained 10 exp and can now speak normally.
The Researcher Odile eyes you. Brushing yourself off and rising to your 5’1 glory, you eye her back. Wonder what she sees in you right now. You’ve forgotten how to fake a smile.
“... correct Siffrin. Did you know all along, or did the wine help?” She’s… studying you. Maybe even worried? It was hard to spot earlier, but weeks of watching “Stardust” fumble his found family has improved your abilities.
You spare a glance at the others. The Kid Bonnie is making something in the opposite corner. Likely Odile told them to, so they didn’t have to see your drunken state. The Housemaiden Mirabelle and The Fighter Isabeau are in the center, ‘subtly’ looking at you.
“How long was I out?”
“I would estimate 8 minutes.”
Hmm, that's 6 seconds per Stardust loop? The universe sure is meticulous with its numbers.
Right, how to do this… The craft subtly flowing through you is far weaker than ever. Rough estimate, maybe 2 more loops? Discovering you are very very close to being mortal again should not make you smile like this… teehee~
Too bad looping even one more time sounds like a nightmare. Stars dammit, you want your own happy ending. Pulling Odile lightly (or as light as you can manage. Reminder: you are wayyyy stronger than the rest of the party) you go to whisper to her.
“The family tale you are looking for is with the boulangerie’s daughter.” This makes her go rigid. Dots connecting in her head. “Wha… S-Siffrin?”
Oh that’s a good point Odile, do you want to still be Siffrin? Loop would make you too loopy, but your Stardust was Siffrin.
For the first time in actual ages, you could, just, put this off??? Like, if you win, you can figure it out, if not, you’ll be dead. Win / win.
“Eh, for now I guess.” This was not the answer she wanted. “Try to keep up, Odile, if you’ve figured it out once (a few times) you’ll grasp it again.” and with that, you stroll towards the Beauty alliance, Odile left stunned in the corner.
Popping a squat right in-between them, making certain it’s as awkward as possible, you snag one of the leftover cookies. Stars, actual FOOD. You’ve eaten this exact same cookie like, 300 times, but time as a mouthless star makes you yearn for these things. Everyone is staring at you now, even Bonnie. They look… happy and confused?
“What’s up, Bonbon?” ah wait, how was your relationship with them? It’s been a few months since you’ve spoken to this one. Oh well, what’s done is done.
“...you're eating it now, Frin? 10 minutes ago you said you were full.”
“Things happen, Kid. I’ll make it up to you later.” Opps that cookie was dry, and a forth of it left your mouth as crumbs just now. Chugging your entire canteen is such a rush. Cool water, oh how you missed it so.
Ok so Mirabelle and Isabeau are smart right? The Loop sass is still strong in you though, so what's the best way to break this to them? Isabeau is looking at you with wide eyes, and Mirabelle is taking a sip of tea, NOW!
“So Mira (that’s what you called her, right?). Make any headway on your bonding applications?”
She’s choking now on that tea. “Wha- SIFFRIN HOW DID YOU KNOW?!?!” She’s about 3 seconds from stabbing you, and all you’ve got is a stupidly smug look on your face. Huh, still can’t keep your face in check. Better be careful or they will see what a monster you are. teehee~
Turing towards Isabeau and… C-can you do it? Not going to expose what he told you about his past self, and the big L word is too emotional for your fragile mental fortitude.
“And you Isa, thinking about changing into a smart buff clothing designer? Planning to be a jerd or a nock?” Mmm not as punchy as Mirabelle’s truth, but it will do…
…
There’s a long pause in the air now. More time to eat some plantain chips. Unlike Stardust, you never had to comedically slip a few dozen times.
So… you're going to keep ‘Siffrin’ for the moment, but maybe the they/them part will stick. You could spin that into a joke later, really boggle some minds. The Royal We one would go over their heads….
“What… happened after you drank that wine, Siffrin?” Odile asks. She’s finally out of the stupor. If you give her an inch she will take a mile, you saw her figure Stardust out once or twice, but just how much do you need to give her?
“I became a star and watched myself die a bunch. Would not recommend it. Anyways…” You stand up and rest an arm on Isabeau’s shoulder (giving him a jump, oOooOo how’s that for touch adverse) before spewing the usual speech old Stardust used to say. “Mira, does the Carrot method mean anything to you? Something about shields or some such?”
Now Mirabelle, confused and flabbergasted, is trying to put together her thoughts. She is talking about how cool it would be to have a shield that prevents The King's Time Craft ability, but panic and anxiety are leached into her voice…
Bonnie snuck over towards Isabeau at some point. They are on your blindside, but you have ears. “Frin’s acting very off right now… He doesn’t usually act like this when he gets drunk…”
“Change happens in mysterious ways, Bonbon.” Isabeau says, there’s some tone in that voice. Is it curiosity? Mirabelle’s almost done with her impromptu shield speech. You're not Stardust, but you just kinda ignored her discovery rather than zoned out. Opsies.
“...The keys and Tears earlier, and the sudden personality shift.” Oh! Odile is doing it! She’s smart! “and the information provided, did-did you actually experience this already?”
You clap. Slow and dramatic.
*clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*
You kinda want to keep doing this until someone says something. It’s been like, 15 seconds of just you clapping and your palms are starting to sting.
“Stop that” ah Bonnie, good ol’ killjoy Bonnie. Wonder if they will like your new sense of humor, given it’s pun-less. Probably not, but whatever.
Isabeau and Mirabelle whisper below you “...does Time Craft frozen wine do that?” “I doubt it, Siff’s been off since yesterday.” Leave it to a crush to spot the ‘mild’ changes like crippling depression and omniscience.
“Anywho, we’ve got a king to kill. Everyone ready for some regicide?” Strolling towards the door, everyone else scrambles to pack up. You can explain the whole wish business later, maybe around that secret library? You are looking forward to wrapping up this hell for good.