Chapter Text
Finally. An in between space.
In this place, whatever Kris did would have no effect on the real world, other than their relationship with the soul. It was weird seeing it in a form that wasn’t a heart. Unfortunately though, it was necessary for it to have a form here, to be able to communicate. They were glad that it was trapped in a gray monochrome body as opposed to a pre existing person being brought into this space to do its bidding.
This form wouldn’t be as easy to beat with a hockey stick. A shame.
It was laying on the ground. It looked a little bit like it was about to vomit in its sleep. Kris kicks it. Possibly a little harder than they should have. Maybe this form would still be adequately puntable after all.
“Get up”
It groans, and turns over while holding its stomach, mumbling something they can’t quite make out.
“Get up” They repeat, kicking it again.
“What -” It finally looks up, and goes wide eyed. It scrambles halfway to its feet, and looks at its hand, panicked. “How - how the hell am I here?”
Kris was only slightly ashamed to admit that they enjoyed hearing the fear in its voice. Served it right, after everything it had done to them.
It locks eyes with them. Its voice was laced with fear. “Was it all…?” it doesn’t finish the sentence.
It’ll get over this soon enough. Kris decides to ignore it. “We’re here to discuss what’s going on. I think we both owe each other some answers. You more so than I”
“Y-you don’t understand.” it runs a hand through its hair. “I shouldn’t be - there’s no way to-”
“Calm down,” Kris interrupts. A tinge of annoyance could be heard in their voice. They should be fine here. “Just calm down. You’re fine. Now, you’re going to explain to me what you are, how you got into my life, and whatever the hell has been going on. I can’t hurt you here. Not in any way that matters.”
It gives a joyless, nervous sounding laugh, before running a hand through its hair again. A few locks fall to the ground, which promptly disappear soon after with a small flash of light. It takes a small shaky breath. “Well, I - Oh god, how do I even explain this to you?”
“Just try. I want answers, and you surely owe me them. How about we start with a pretty simple question; what’s your name?” They asked, trying to sound as patronizing as possible. Kris didn’t particularly want to know that, to humanize it, but maybe this could get it started. Maybe this could lead to actual useful answers.
It opens its mouth, then freezes. “I- I can’t remember my real name. I remember the vessel’s name, but not… mine”
…Or maybe it would just lead to another breakdown.
“What’s the vessel’s name, then?” They were trying to be patient, but goddamnit, was it hard when this was the person, thing, whatever, who had been making their life feel like hell for who knows how long now, was right in front of them. Right within throttling range, and Kris was just standing there. Not demanding answers, asking for its stupid name.
“It’s Zed, but -”
“Alright then. Zed” Kris doesn’t let them finish their thought. They’d wasted enough time already. “What are you?”
“I- I’m a human. I’m - I’m like you” they sound slightly taken aback by the question.
“Don’t you dare make that comparison.” Kris takes a step towards it, and it moves back. “I am a person. I have thoughts, I have feelings, and I have a life. I don’t barge in, and take other people’s free will just for the hell of it.” The soul/vessel had backed itself into a wall. Or what would be a wall, if this place were real. “You are not human. So what are you?”
“K - Kris, you don’t understand - Agh, how can I even begin to explain this to you?” Kris hated the sound of their name in its mouth.
“Just TRY. You have nothing to lose! Do you have ANY idea what it’s like for you to always be -”
“You’re not real” It blurts out, stopping Kris’s rant.
“What?”
“You’re not real!” It looks like it’s about to start crying. “You’re not real. Your world, it’s all fake. A… A video game.” it flinches at its own words, while Kris just stares at them in stupid disbelief.
“I didn’t know you were real. I did everything I did because it was just pixels on a screen that brought me some enjoyment in life. I didn’t mean any of it. If I hurt you at all, I didn’t mean it. I’m a human from, well, another world, who’s controlling the soul, who’s controlling you”
…And they were beginning to think that this was some sort of eldritch abomination beyond their comprehension. This was much harder to wrap their head around than the latter, though.
“I just went to sleep, and then I woke up, here, where you’re real. I don’t know where this place is, why I'm in the body of the vessel I created at the beginning of the game, or why I can’t remember my own name anymore. Maybe I'm hallucinating. Maybe -”
Kris lets the ranting fall into the background, and tunes them out.
A video game. That wasn’t the worst medium to be trapped in. But was any of it real, then? Any of their life at all? It felt real. All their pain couldn’t have been ultimately for nothing. All the joy they’d ever experienced couldn't just be thrown out the window just like that. Right?
“How do you see us?” Kris asks, ignoring the fact that Zed, or whoever they really were, were in the middle of a sentence.
“What do you mean?” It asks carefully.
“Do you see my world as a story? Just a narrative to be progressed, with no real feelings attached? Or do you actually care about us, as if we were, I dunno, real in some way? Some people feel like that for video games.” They desperately hoped it was the first one. Then they could at least cling to some of the beliefs they had about this person before. If it was the latter, they sure would have a hard time accepting that the soul really had feelings.
“I see you guys, as well… I can’t say I see you as everything, since real life takes precedence, but your world means so much to me. It’s a much needed escape from everything going on. I’ve become really invested in your stories, and the lore around everything. I honestly don’t really know what my life would be like without this game.”
Looks like any hope of them being heartless was just thrown out the window.
Maybe things would be easier in the long run, then. Once their view of the situation was done crumbling, and an understanding had been adequately rebuilt.
A faint light seems to flash in the distance. Their time here was almost up.
“Well. It looks like it’s time for the story to continue. I guess I hope that you manage to make it back to your own dimension?”
The soul nods. “It… It was nice meeting you Kris”
The light grows brighter, and begins to swallow the darkness whole.
Time to go back to being a slave, then. Would it be for better or for worse now that they knew the name of the person controlling them?
The soul smiles, and waves goodbye, before the light successfully disintegrated the place, and the floor falls out beneath them, leaving them both to fall through the void until reality finds them again.
And with that, Kris had successfully made it through the entire meeting without revealing one of their own secrets.
Mission accomplished.