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| Polyta examines the bottled return. |
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...
| → | A Bottled Homecoming! |
| → | Looks like the nightmare is finally over |
| → | We'll be home in no time |
| → | I don't want to go back |
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| It's a Bottled Homecoming! |
| We can use this to get home! |
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| It's simple! I just unseal it, and it will summon a portal back to our island. |
| Oh, this is wonderful, Nix! Thank you so much! |
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...
| → | Agreed, thank you, Nix! |
| → | We should also make sure to thank Zabelle, since she's the one who brews these |
| → | I was really worried about trekking back through Hellfuck there |
| → | I don't want to go back |
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| I wasn't doing it for you. |
| You have my word, our island will always be a safe place for you. |
| With the help of Jiro's love power, we'll do everything we can to build a home where you can belong. |
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...
| → | I'm always happy to help |
| → | I don't want to go back |
| → | And everything will be okay. Everything will go back to how it was. |
| → | I don't want to go back |
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| You sure that thing'll get all of you home?
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| I haven't a doubt in my mind. |
| I'm sure this is Zabelle's handiwork here-- she's not failed us yet. |
| We'll be transported straight home, safe and sound. |
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|
...
| → | I don't want to go back |
| → | it's fine. it's fine it's fine |
| → | I don't want to go back |
| → | I don't want to go back |
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|
* Well, fuck! What're we waitin' on?
* We coulda gone and fucked off on down to Isekai Margaritaville a whole conversation ago! |
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| I... perhaps wouldn't say it like that, but I concur! |
| Polyta stretches her arm out to offer Jiro the bottle. It's still dripping with spittle. The world turns to mud around him, words and faces melting and churning together. |
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| Would you like to do the honors? |
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...
| Yeah, I'm ready |
| I don't want to go back |
| I don't waNT TO GO BACK |
| → | I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK |
|
| Everyone turns and stares at Jiro. |
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...
| I'm so sorry I didn't mean to say that |
| → | I can't do this. I can't. I can't go go back to how it used to be. I just can't anymore. |
| Ha haa I was kidding let's go |
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| What!? Jiro, no, what are you talking about!? |
| How could you even-- this doesn't make sense, you have to come back! |
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* Oi, fuck off with that!
* He doesn't "have to" do shit! |
| Do you have any idea how important-- how much responsibility--!! |
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* And whose fault is that, huh?
* Who decided that HE had to bear the whole fucking planet on HIS shoulders!? |
| Jiro can feel the acid in his gut. It wants to fight up his throat and out his mouth and onto the steel of the catwalk. He grabs at his face and squeezes his jaw shut, but he can't stop shaking, everything's spinning, everything is so loud-- |
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| Jiro, what has gotten into you!? I don't understand! |
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| * You don't gotta explain shit, Jiro! |
| A claw slashes across the catwalk between Jiro and the others. |
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| Polyta, Nix and Mercy's side of the catwalk falls down, leaving Jiro standing alone. The vent opening Sunny is hanging out of suddenly doesn't have a floor beneath it |
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| The catwalk drops a few meters down and is caught by an overhanging strut beneath it. Mercy swings her gun arm around, at attention, looking for a threat. |
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| Eyes up! Something's here!!
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| I figured it out, little nix. |
| A black snaking tail smashes into Mercy along her claw arm. |
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| Mercy goes careening into the void beneath the catwalk. |
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| The Bastard reveals himself, coiled around an i-beam. |
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