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[Maya's been keeping an eye out for signs of the fog. It's a good time for them, sure. It's been even better since Maya got that sacrifice thing out of the way and gave herself over to the Fog God more intimately. But this isn't about gods and it's certainly not about her.
This fog is special. It's going to be Riley's first.
She's settled down beside her friend on the windowsill, clasping one of Riley's hands between both her paws.]
Looks like the fog's rolling in down the block. You scared?
This fog is special. It's going to be Riley's first.
She's settled down beside her friend on the windowsill, clasping one of Riley's hands between both her paws.]
Looks like the fog's rolling in down the block. You scared?
[Well, after all that talk with Maya it was really no surprise that Riley would suddenly show up. Huh? Okay, it was a surprise anyway and the Riley Committee probably had a very long meeting. Several. Probably when she fell asleep. But that didn't make him less worried and it was probably helpful to.
Focus his mind on things he should be focusing on but instead he approached Riley and knocked on the nearest thing he could.]
What are you thinking about, Riley?
Focus his mind on things he should be focusing on but instead he approached Riley and knocked on the nearest thing he could.]
What are you thinking about, Riley?
[Riley had known this day would come. She always did, because everyone had made her aware of it, but she had sort of just filed it away for later in favor of worrying about Maya. Maya had been here for so long and didn't have anyone with her, and she had to divebomb Maya with just how much she loved her.
But now it was happening. The fog was right there and she was scared out of her mind because she had no choice but to face it now.]
No. Maybe. Yes. [A pause, as she puts her free hand on top of one of Maya's paws.] I'm really scared.
[But she'll take it, because Maya had to do this without her around already and if Maya can do it she definitely, definitely can. Or she can at least pretend she can.
It doesn't take long for the fog to get to them, and for a second, she does tense up once it passes by them—until the changes start. Everything feels like it's on fire, from her head to her toes, as everything just starts. The first, most obvious thing, is the fact that her skin starts changing.
It's not long before it's bright green, and Riley has to pull a hand back to try to clamp it over her ears—which are quickly becoming pointy and leafy. It hurts, and she tries to bite down on her whimpers but she doesn't quite manage.]
But now it was happening. The fog was right there and she was scared out of her mind because she had no choice but to face it now.]
No. Maybe. Yes. [A pause, as she puts her free hand on top of one of Maya's paws.] I'm really scared.
[But she'll take it, because Maya had to do this without her around already and if Maya can do it she definitely, definitely can. Or she can at least pretend she can.
It doesn't take long for the fog to get to them, and for a second, she does tense up once it passes by them—until the changes start. Everything feels like it's on fire, from her head to her toes, as everything just starts. The first, most obvious thing, is the fact that her skin starts changing.
It's not long before it's bright green, and Riley has to pull a hand back to try to clamp it over her ears—which are quickly becoming pointy and leafy. It hurts, and she tries to bite down on her whimpers but she doesn't quite manage.]
[Riley's right about a lot of things. Maya had gone through it alone. She'd thrown herself into a relationship too quickly, and had been too embarrassed to let Hans see her suffering. She spent her first fog writhing on a Dyster floor while her eyes melted out of her head to make room for their monstrous replacements. It's the kind of agony that she'll never reveal to anyone. And that's why it's important for her to be here when it happens for Riley. Riley shouldn't have to hurt without having company. Riley's too good for that.
Maya clutches her close when her skin pigment fluctuates. She draws Riley into a more complete hug, rubbing her back slowly.]
Ssh... ssh, I know.. It's okay if you need to cry. I'm here.
Maya clutches her close when her skin pigment fluctuates. She draws Riley into a more complete hug, rubbing her back slowly.]
Ssh... ssh, I know.. It's okay if you need to cry. I'm here.
[She had actually been thinking about the situation. How much she missed New York, her family, her school, everything. How much she missed with Maya, who didn't deserve anything that happened to her. There was a lot to take in. But that's why she was determined to make the best of the situation, too, and why her current thoughts were on "what kinds of fun things can we do?"]
A lot. I'm trying to think of something to do for Maya.
A lot. I'm trying to think of something to do for Maya.
[She doesn't push Maya away when she gets pulled into a hug, and when her hair starts to fall out? That's when she starts to cry. It's not because of her hair loss, but because of what begins to poke out—vines and flowers of all sorts, all colorful and bright and sunny, and they're all growing really rapidly.
But it hurts, and it's certainly not anything she's felt before, and she cries. It doesn't help that she's terrified out of her mind, and it doesn't help that everything hurts and that there are so many scary changes happening so fast.
It's a relief when everything stops, and while she doesn't stop crying, she's not really about to move anytime soon. She just wants to stay here, with Maya, not letting go. She hasn't even realized what she is, yet, but she knows that it's definitely not human.]
M-Maya—
[Her voice is a little quieter than usual, and there are some remnants of the pain and fear there, but she burrows in closer to Maya's side either way.]
But it hurts, and it's certainly not anything she's felt before, and she cries. It doesn't help that she's terrified out of her mind, and it doesn't help that everything hurts and that there are so many scary changes happening so fast.
It's a relief when everything stops, and while she doesn't stop crying, she's not really about to move anytime soon. She just wants to stay here, with Maya, not letting go. She hasn't even realized what she is, yet, but she knows that it's definitely not human.]
M-Maya—
[Her voice is a little quieter than usual, and there are some remnants of the pain and fear there, but she burrows in closer to Maya's side either way.]
[A lot is hitting her at once. That's rough. Maya was lucky enough that it had been spread out over months for her. When the human hair cascades around them, Maya tends to the damaged area, offering a tender kiss to the abused scalp just before buds blossom out of it.
It's lovely. Even in a place like this, Riley finds a way to be beautiful. Because of course she does.]
I know, Riles. But it's not gonna hurt forever, I promise.
[She rubs Riley's arms, hoping the warm fur will soothe her skin.]
It's lovely. Even in a place like this, Riley finds a way to be beautiful. Because of course she does.]
I know, Riles. But it's not gonna hurt forever, I promise.
[She rubs Riley's arms, hoping the warm fur will soothe her skin.]
[There's still a lot to go, and, at the very least, it was just all superficial stuff for the time being. Not the hunger, not the roots, not anything quite like that. That's probably the luckiest thing for her.
The contact is pretty soothing, and she just stays there for a little bit, forcing herself to breathe and calm down, even if the tears aren't quite stopping. At least it doesn't seem like there's more to come for now.]
... What am I?
[She manages to say, because she honestly hasn't taken the time to look or consider or think in the midst of everything.]
The contact is pretty soothing, and she just stays there for a little bit, forcing herself to breathe and calm down, even if the tears aren't quite stopping. At least it doesn't seem like there's more to come for now.]
... What am I?
[She manages to say, because she honestly hasn't taken the time to look or consider or think in the midst of everything.]
[For Riley, Maya purrs. It's a soft, gentle sound that rumbles from a place deep in her chest. Maybe it'll calm her down a little.]
Looks like you're gonna be one of the plant people.
[Which means she's not one of the snake people, or the shadow ones, or grow antlers or wings or anything like that.]
Looks like you're gonna be one of the plant people.
[Which means she's not one of the snake people, or the shadow ones, or grow antlers or wings or anything like that.]
[The purring does help her calm down a little, though she's not about to move from where she's curled up with Maya, and she leans tiredly on the other girl as she begins to settle down again.]
Plants are nice. I like plants.
[It's said tiredly, but she's already reaching out to try to find the positives in this because she sure as hell doesn't want to think badly. It sucks, yeah, but plants are nice and plants make people happy. It could be worse. She does reach a hand up to pat her new hair, though, a little experimentally because flowers for hair is weird and she almost expects it to hurt, but it doesn't.]
Plants are nice. I like plants.
[It's said tiredly, but she's already reaching out to try to find the positives in this because she sure as hell doesn't want to think badly. It sucks, yeah, but plants are nice and plants make people happy. It could be worse. She does reach a hand up to pat her new hair, though, a little experimentally because flowers for hair is weird and she almost expects it to hurt, but it doesn't.]
[There. It's all going so well. Riley's almost done crying, even. This is so much better than her own first time.]
See? I told you the Fog God wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle. She's just looking out for us.
See? I told you the Fog God wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle. She's just looking out for us.
[Well, there's that. He's certain she'll be better at it than he was. Maya's just as important to him as she is to her, even if it won't be responded to at quite the same level. It's something he accepted, a different kind of love, but the issue with loving two girls equally is wanting the happiness for both of them.]
Be there for her. You're better than that than anyone. So what about you?
Be there for her. You're better than that than anyone. So what about you?
[She's just exceedingly resilient when she needs to be. And she'll cry more later. And she is trying really hard to find good things even though everything feels awful. The mention of the Fog God throws her off just a little though, even if she's tired, because she's not sure what to think of the Fog God just yet. Thankful that she's been taking care of Maya, sure, but here they are a world away from New York with only terrible things happening and the Fog God is seemingly the cause, with her being the reason they're all there in the first place.]
... I don't know, Maya...
... I don't know, Maya...
[She's the ray of sunshine for their little group of friends. Even when she feels awful, she still tries to make sure everyone around her is happy. It's what she thrives on, and what she intends to keep doing here.]
I was going to be there for her already. And I'll be okay, too.
[Not great or fantastic or anything like usual, but she'll be okay, and she really wants to believe she'll be okay. She's more than aware of the monster changes and what's happened to Maya and the whole Fog God thing, but that's about it.]
What about you, Farkle?
I was going to be there for her already. And I'll be okay, too.
[Not great or fantastic or anything like usual, but she'll be okay, and she really wants to believe she'll be okay. She's more than aware of the monster changes and what's happened to Maya and the whole Fog God thing, but that's about it.]
What about you, Farkle?
You'll see. It's okay if you don't know now.
[Even if Riley doesn't get it now, she surely will in time. They've spent all that time trying to get Maya to believe in something, why not this?]
But hey. You wanna catch a look in a mirror? I bet you'll feel better when you see how this all looks.
[She's not even a spider or anything.]
[Even if Riley doesn't get it now, she surely will in time. They've spent all that time trying to get Maya to believe in something, why not this?]
But hey. You wanna catch a look in a mirror? I bet you'll feel better when you see how this all looks.
[She's not even a spider or anything.]
I know you were. [ He says it simply. He never had any doubt Riley would be there for Maya. Or Maya for Riley. Or him for either of them. They'd known each other for tool long for anything like that to happen. He believed that. Even if things has changed, and now to even worse degrees.]
[But it pains him to hear the words 'I'll be okay' because that's not usual Riley answer and he doesn't quiteee look at her. Nods, but doesn't address the simple works, before thinking and shaking his head this time.
I'm... Going to figure out as much as I can. We still don't know as much as we should [Because he's concerned about Maya goes unsaid. If she figures it out, good, but if not he won't say anything because he doesn't want to worry her anymore than he has to, either.]
[But it pains him to hear the words 'I'll be okay' because that's not usual Riley answer and he doesn't quiteee look at her. Nods, but doesn't address the simple works, before thinking and shaking his head this time.
I'm... Going to figure out as much as I can. We still don't know as much as we should [Because he's concerned about Maya goes unsaid. If she figures it out, good, but if not he won't say anything because he doesn't want to worry her anymore than he has to, either.]
[She shifts over, sitting on the windowsill that's taken the place of her bay window for now, and pats the spot next to her.]
Have you figured out anything about the Fog God? I'm worried about Maya. I know she's said a lot of good stuff about the Fog God, but something about it still feels really weird.
Have you figured out anything about the Fog God? I'm worried about Maya. I know she's said a lot of good stuff about the Fog God, but something about it still feels really weird.
[Well, then, he certainly doesn't have to take much time to think about sitting down. But he folds one leg over the others' knee and taps against it a moment before shaking his head. He's got ideas, but he's not sure on them enough to say anything enough to worry Riley.]
People seem to have different ideas and there's a lot of them like Maya who think they're good and love us. But I don't think someone who loves you would force you to change or take you away from your family without asking. [It's sometimes like Maya sees it as better, but he knows she doesn't. She admitted that even things like unicorns wouldn't make this a decent place for Riley. At least he could concentrate on mysteries and figuring things out, but that would go awry when the first fog rolled in.]
People seem to have different ideas and there's a lot of them like Maya who think they're good and love us. But I don't think someone who loves you would force you to change or take you away from your family without asking. [It's sometimes like Maya sees it as better, but he knows she doesn't. She admitted that even things like unicorns wouldn't make this a decent place for Riley. At least he could concentrate on mysteries and figuring things out, but that would go awry when the first fog rolled in.]
[There are probably better things to believe in than cults, Maya. Probably. Not that Riley completely understands cults or anything with how sheltered she was from the bad things but she gets bad feelings about it.
Her response is a bit hesitant, though, because while she's curious, it'll only confirm that she's not human anymore and she doesn't want to be anything other than human, but here she is. But, she might as well bite the bullet and look. She's determined, after all, to try to make the best of this.]
It doesn't look bad, does it?
Her response is a bit hesitant, though, because while she's curious, it'll only confirm that she's not human anymore and she doesn't want to be anything other than human, but here she is. But, she might as well bite the bullet and look. She's determined, after all, to try to make the best of this.]
It doesn't look bad, does it?
[Maybe that's because Riley comes from a time when things were starting to pick up for Maya. When someone loved her enough to care about how she dressed, and when someone else thought she was beautiful, or when a teacher was interested in teaching her how to make her art better. This Maya doesn't have that. This one doesn't know what's waiting for her at home. And now that the missing pieces are starting to come here instead, there's less reason than ever to want to reverse things.]
It doesn't look bad at all.
[She pulls Riley's new hair over her shoulder and pulls a flowery vine around the mass, giving her a ponytail that drapes over her side.]
In fact, I think you look absolutely beautiful.
It doesn't look bad at all.
[She pulls Riley's new hair over her shoulder and pulls a flowery vine around the mass, giving her a ponytail that drapes over her side.]
In fact, I think you look absolutely beautiful.
[You guys and your Riley Protection Committee!! Just wait until she finds things out because there are a lot of people who probably aren't on the same page as Farkle or Maya. Either way, though.]
I don't think so, either. I know it makes Maya happy, and it was there when she really needed it, but... I don't like how it feels, either. I don't think we'd get kidnapped or forced to change by someone that actually loves us... but Maya was here by herself for so long.
[Which means she didn't get the love she'd normally get back in New York.]
I don't think so, either. I know it makes Maya happy, and it was there when she really needed it, but... I don't like how it feels, either. I don't think we'd get kidnapped or forced to change by someone that actually loves us... but Maya was here by herself for so long.
[Which means she didn't get the love she'd normally get back in New York.]
[Well, Riley does intend to change all of that now. Aggressively love Maya to try to make up for her months long absence, though little can be changed about the Maya now. People change people, it's what they were always taught, and she's sure that the people of Ryslig changed Maya a lot too. That would explain so much of the oddities that she'd been met with upon arrival, though she was careful about her questioning so that she didn't upset Maya. A happy Maya always made her happy, but Ryslig... was something. To say the least.
But after Maya does that with her new hair, she pulls away so that she can stand up, steeling herself against whatever she may see in the mirror before walking over.]
But after Maya does that with her new hair, she pulls away so that she can stand up, steeling herself against whatever she may see in the mirror before walking over.]
[Maya doesn't blame Riley and Farkle for being suspicious. Maya might have suspected things at first too, if she wasn't so sure that she'd somehow deserved punishment. But fondness for Ryslig creeps up slowly. The patient are rewarded. So Maya will be as patient as she needs to be. It's the best way to do these things.
She follows Riley to the mirror, just in case damage control is needed.]
Well? Do you like it?
She follows Riley to the mirror, just in case damage control is needed.]
Well? Do you like it?
[There's a long moment of staring, as she takes in the girl standing in front of the mirror. It's still recognizably her, but at the same time...
The flowers are all gorgeous, and the vines are pretty, and the green skin and leafy ears a bit weird, but... It could be worse. She still doesn't like it, though. Human her is the real her, and there's a bit of a disconnect she hasn't quite put together... but this is her too, and she knows it.
Her answer is honest, at least, as she looks back to Maya.]
I don't know. It doesn't feel like me, even though I know it is.
The flowers are all gorgeous, and the vines are pretty, and the green skin and leafy ears a bit weird, but... It could be worse. She still doesn't like it, though. Human her is the real her, and there's a bit of a disconnect she hasn't quite put together... but this is her too, and she knows it.
Her answer is honest, at least, as she looks back to Maya.]
I don't know. It doesn't feel like me, even though I know it is.
[But by now, Maya's started beaming. Her fangs are visible at the edges of her mouth, eyes alight with something that's not unlike passion.]
You'll get used to it. It's the you that's always been inside you.
You'll get used to it. It's the you that's always been inside you.
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