The harpy angel carries Jiro over to a sheer wall of Avean architecture, with a little divot in the side where there's some kind of maintenance balcony.

—Jiro—
...
You never appreciate how many deadly pits are in this world until you're suspended over them by the shoulders
This is the place


Of course! It could be nowhere else.


The angel deposits Jiro onto the balcony. He speaks into his communicator.

—Jiro—
...
Okay, I'm safe. I've made it to my rendezvous point.
Sunny's not here yet, I hope she's okay
You'd probably like Sunny. She's got a way with people.

  Cliff Mason
Glad to hear it.
I guess I'll quit wasting your time now.
I'm sure you got plenty to do without me barking in your ear over it.

—Jiro—
...
Yes, I do. Goodbye.
Can you ease up on the self-pity, it's a bad look
Fine, I'll say something nice
Thanks for all your help, Cliff. I wouldn't have made it far without it.

  Cliff Mason
Oh! Uh, yeah. I made a lot of bad calls lately... I'm glad this wasn't one of them.
Are you gonna be alright?

—Jiro—
...
In the short term
Are you?
I've been better
Still plenty of time for things to go wrong

  Cliff Mason
I--
I don't know.
I've been... lost. Not literally, I mean, more like...

—Jiro—
...
You don't know which way's forward from the place you've found yourself.
I've been there. Did I ever leave?

  Cliff Mason
...Yeah.
But, hey. Maybe it's time I just put one foot in front of the other.

  Cliff Mason
You don't go down out there, alright, Jiro? I'm not leaving an officer behind.
You and me, we're getting through this. We gotta.
Just keep "soldiering" on, hey?

—Jiro—
...
Was that meant to be a pun
Ohhhhh that one was awful. I deserve compensation for having heard it.
I'm kinda mad that actually made me feel better
Thanks
You still think I'm from Earth...

  Cliff Mason
Heh. I'll buy you a beer, how's that sound?

—Jiro—
...
Don't worry about it
Didn't Mercy also mention something about beer...? I guess that's just humans.
I'll hold you to that

  Cliff Mason
See you when I see you, Jiro.











Sunny bursts in!!!

Sunny
* JIRO!!! FUCK!!!!!!!!

She beelines to Jiro and tackles him into a great big hug.

—Jiro—
!!

Sunny
* FUUUUUUCK mate I am so so sorry!!
* I really thought we were in the clear there, everyone was meant to be in the auditorium, and I fuckin'--
* Shoulda done my fuckin' homework, seen this coming, done SOMETHING!

—Jiro—
...

Sunny smiles wearily at him, not breaking the embrace. He returns the favour.

Sunny
* And, sorry about this squeeze. That I'm still doing.
* Emotions are high. Thought you were cooked. Engaged hug-autopilot.

—Jiro—
...
It's fine
Get off me.
You're warm...
Can you keep holding me a while longer
Oh no gross, physical affection

Sunny
* Fuckin' disastrous, isn't it? Ruining my tough girl cred.

She catches herself and backs off, turning to the harpy angel.

Sunny
* And, fuck, One-Eye!
* You wicked bitch, look at you! Out and about!
* Fuckin' oath, I owe you my left tit and my life savings for delivering my boy to me fresh and steaming.

Fret not, serpent girl!

That debt's been long repaid.

Sunny
* For the better, I like my left tit.

—Jiro—
...
I like your left tit too
I am NOT saying that
What do you think you'll do now?

Ahhh, my path weaves
with the changing winds.

But, before the vane turns?



I think I'll go pick up some of those grunts and then put them up in high places
where they can't get down.

—Jiro—
...
That's kinda mean
Can I come?
You enjoy yourself out there
Farewell, you weird freak
I hope we get to meet again

Until the crossroads find us~


The harpy departs.


Sunny
* Ha haa... Christ.
* What a day.
* Had some revelations on my end that, fingers fuckin' crossed, don't mean what I think they mean.
* And, fuck, the mission...

—Jiro—
...

Sunny
* With how quick it all went to fuckup central, I'm guessing you never got your grubs on that keycard.
* Fuck fuck FUCK.

—Jiro—
...........

Sunny
* ...Alright, fucko, what's with the smirk?
* Spill it.


With a shitty little grin he reveals the Yellow Keycard from his cloak. Sunny goes wild.

Sunny
* AhahAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!
* YOU FUCKIN' DIDN'T!!!
* You are the sickest cunt there is, you know that!?

—Jiro—
I'm what!??

Sunny
* Oh!
* Um...
* It's a great honour, among my people.

—Jiro—
...
I don't believe that
I absolutely believe that
Your people are weird

Sunny
* Trust, mate, we hold rituals for this shit.
* Crown and a robe carrying you in a chair around town, fuckin' festivals in your name, Christ what am I on about.

Sunny
* I forgot how much it juices my lymphoid system just being in a room with you.
* You're my lucky fuckin' bottlecap, you hear?

Sunny chatters on. A little notification pops above her head saying LOVE LEVEL UP! Jiro notices.

Sunny
* You and me, we're in this the long way down.

He feels his good mood falter, all those old feelings trying to claw their way back in.






Lum says:
G'day Freachers! I'm headed south to visit a friend for a week next week, so Foreach is gonna skip next update. Expect us to return on the 8th of September. See you then!!

Peri says:
Hey guys! I'll be at Small Press Expo 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland on September 13-14th. I'll be helping staff the SpiderForest table and will be bringing some Foreach stickers for sale (our first ever merch!) so if you're in the area come say hi and pick up some swag!