p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian had never been in the tower before, at least this version of him hadn't. He wasn't sure about the other Sebastian. The interior rid him of any doubts he had about this man being a wizard./p
p class="MsoNormal""I need to run some tests," the man said gruffly./p
p class="MsoNormal""You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Mariah said next to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian nodded his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""Here," the wizard said handing him a bottle, "Drink that."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Not without you explaining what it is first," Mariah said, putting her hand on Sebastian's arm./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well," he said, "I need to access your mind to assess if there is magic in there and gather information. I won't be able to read your mind or anything like that, so you do not need to worry about that invasion of privacy. This potion will simply help your mind be more malleable so I may access it easier."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's up to you Sebastian," Mariah looked at him, "But I trust him enough to believe that is true and in the scheme of things, harmless."/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Anything that will help me get answers./em Sebastian thought to himself drinking down the potion./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very good," Rasmodius said, "Please sit," he gestured to a stool./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian sat on the stool as instructed, feeling a bit lightheaded./p
p class="MsoNormal""You alright?" Mariah asked him, putting her hand on his shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal""Lightheaded," Sebastian mumbled, his headache starting to roar at him again./p
p class="MsoNormal""That will pass," Rasmodius assured him, "That means it's working. Having been exposed to my magic before, I'm not surprised it's taking affect so quickly. Yes I can still see your ability to commune with the forest spirits in there, not that it will do you much good now."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah sighed and Sebastian could feel her relax behind him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Forest spirits?" Sebastian puzzled./p
p class="MsoNormal""Not important right now," Mariah said, "I can tell you later if you want."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know precisely what this experience will feel like, but I imagine it will be a bit unpleasant but not painful," Rasmodius said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian nodded, trying to shake away his nerves. He closed his eyes, and could feel a sense of prodding in his mind. He imagined this is what it felt for a water balloon being squeezed./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmmm," Rasmodius said, "Well there is no physical harm done to his body or his mind."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's a relief," Mariah muttered from behind him./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can confirm this was magically done, but this is atypical. Did he injest anything?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""The only thing that he had that I didn't was a beer, but other people were drinking the same beer. The only one of them that I've seen is completely fine," Mariah said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmmm," Rasmodius said, "The memories haven't been replaced or altered, they just appear to be blocked."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That would explain why he thinks he's twenty-four. Can you unblock them?" Mariah asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can attempt it, but as it was not my magic it is likely that it will be unsuccessful," Rasmodius said, "It may be painful."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmm, what do you think Sebastian?" Mariah asked him, "Totally up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You can try it," Sebastian said, though he was uncertain./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well," Rasmodius focused his attention, and Sebastian felt a searing pain in his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ahhh!" he shouted, putting his hands up to his head. The pain continued, and tears started leaking out of his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""Rasmodius stop!" Mariah shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal"The wizard's face lost its concentration, but the tears continued to stream down Sebastian's face./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you okay?" Mariah asked Sebastian./p
p class="MsoNormal"His head was throbbing but the immediate searing pain was gone, "It's starting to get better."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you have any of your memories back?" Rasmodius asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian tried to think, unsure of what he was trying to come up with, but the pain just got worse. He gasped, rubbing his head, "I don't think so."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well then, I cannot help," Rasmodius said, "You'll have to ask her yourself. I'll send you over there."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Absolutely not," Mariah said, hands on her hips, "I decidedly do not trust your magic with the state I'm in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine, I'll send him alone," Rasmodius directed his attention towards Sebastian./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh no, I don't think so," Mariah said, stepping in front of Sebastian, "He's been through enough and has no idea what's going on."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Rasmodius growled, "Then just walk on your own for all I care."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I actually think you should go," Mariah said, "You will be better set to get information from her than we would."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He narrowed his eyes, "You know what our relationship is like. I can't see how this would work. Besides there is no benefit to me for doing so."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're the one who wants to know what she's been up to or if she's seeing anyone style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd as to benefits, what if you would be able to get an apprentice out of it?" Mariah asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Rasmodius paused and arched and eyebrow, "I shall consider it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No time, either you will or you won't. I need to plan my next move," Mariah was firm./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well," the wizard said slowly, "I'll go, but I make no promises."/p
p class="MsoNormal"And in a flash he was gone, leaving Sebastian and Mariah alone in the tower./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the fuck?!" Sebastian said with wide eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wizard," Mariah explained, "I imagine it's a bit different for him since he's in control, but traveling that way is very disorienting. Are you okay? Do you need to rest?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""My head hurts," Sebastian said dully./p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay," Mariah said, "We'll go home, you can get some more rest. I can't imagine how overwhelmed you are."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's an understatement," Sebastian grumbled under his breath. Somehow the knowledge that memories of the last six years were in his mind was both comforting and felt very strange. He didn't feel like he belonged in this body./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you ready?" Mariah asked when he'd made no movements to leave./p
p class="MsoNormal""Uh. Yeah," Sebastian said. They left the tower, walking in the shade of the woods./p
p class="MsoNormal"When Mariah started to head the opposite way of the secret woods, Sebastian interrupted cut through the silence, "What happened to the woods?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh," she said, turning to look at him, "I figured you'd had enough for now."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If I'm going to be overwhelmed I should try and get as much of it out of the way as possible," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""If you're sure," she said, changing directions./p
p class="MsoNormal"They got to the entrance of the woods, and Mariah passed him a dagger that she seemingly pulled out of nowhere./p
p class="MsoNormal""Here take this, there's usually a few slimes in there," she said, "I've got to pee, I'll be right in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, okay," Sebastian took the dagger and headed into the woods. It was darker in here than the other part of the forest, and his eyes took a moment to adjust. There were a couple of slimes off to the side by some tree stumps. They were fast, and it took a few attempts, but Sebastian was able to slay them, and then Mariah was behind him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks," she said, shaking her hand when he offered the dagger back to her, "You keep it. Not so easy to get that low for me. Wish I'd brought my sword."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, uh, is here okay?" Sebastian asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah sure," Mariah said, sitting down on a stump, letting out a relaxed moan. Sebastian sat down and the stump was not particularly comfortable. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"She's pregnant you dumbass and hasn't sat down in a while. She's probably exhausted./em/p
p class="MsoNormal""So what do you want to know?" she asked after a few moments./p
p class="MsoNormal""I have no idea," he said, "I don't know what I'm missing, and every time I try to think about it my head just hurts worse."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmm," she said, frowning, "Do you want to hear about your family?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I guess," Sebastian shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well your relationship with Demetrius has greatly improved," Mariah said, "You're not close by any means, but you don't fight anymore. Not living together has done wonders for that. Other than that, he's pretty much the same. As you might imagine you mom loves being a grandmother. A few years ago you made her a website and she gets some work out of town now and then, usually commissioned pieces, but occasionally actual construction work. We have dinner with them a couple of times a week. Sometimes there, sometimes at our place. You and Maru get along pretty well now. She went to Zuzu State and got her degree. She's the one getting married in a couple of days. To Penny."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" Sebastian said, jaw dropping, "Did you just say she's marrying Penny?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah nodded, "They've been together for a long time now. They hid their relationship for quite a while. Actually they were together when you turned twenty four, you just didn't know it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Holy shit," Sebastian said, "I never would have guessed."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well now you're part of the wedding," Mariah said, "Maru's Man of Honor."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Excuse me?" Sebastian blinked./p
p class="MsoNormal""So when I said you and Maru got along pretty well, that may have been a bit of an understatement," Mariah shrugged, "Your basement bedroom is currently filled with stuff for the wedding."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian sighed, "I guess I can't go home."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm so sorry," Mariah said, "I really am. Would it be helpful to talk to Sam? We could explain to him what's going on… might be nice to have someone familiar to talk to."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yoba no, I don't need him thinking I'm crazy," Sebastian shook his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""He's not going to think you're crazy," Mariah insisted, "But it's up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian took a deep breath, "What about you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What about me?" Mariah asked, confused./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know you. I hate that you know me so well, so much better than I know myself right now. It's creepy and doesn't seem fair that you're so familiar with my life and I'm not," Sebastian said, "I was a bit mad about it earlier, but I know it's not your fault."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What do you want to know about me?" she asked quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why you?" he asked, "Why did I marry you? How did…how did you get to me? I don't do people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That is a long story," Mariah sighed, "So I moved into Pelican Town and if I'm remembering correctly the first time we met you mostly grunted at me instead of speaking."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian snorted, "Yeah that's about right."/p
p class="MsoNormal""My friendships with Abby and Sam made it a bit easier. I was patient, I saw your anxiety, and eventually you saw mine. We actually have a lot of common interests. Smoked together a lot, that helped. You've told me on multiple occasions that from the first time you laid eyes on me, you knew I was the most beautiful woman in the world. And I swear there is something electric between us. I made the first move. You'd been falling in love with me for most of a year when you finally told me all the worst details about your dad, your scars, and what an awful headspace you'd been in when you were younger. You'd been so worried about scaring me away, which obviously it didn't, and that's when you fully realized how much you really did love me. In terms of Sebastian functioning, the whole thing moved very quickly. I moved in the first of spring. We first kissed the night of the moonlight jellies, you told me about your dad the night before winter star, the following moonlight jellies we both proposed, and we got married that fall," Mariah said./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can't believe I gave up Zuzu for you," Sebastian said, "No offense."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well yes and no," Mariah said, "I was definitely a big part of it, but you realized that you'd been romanticizing the city and the thought of being around that many people made you anxious, that you're more of a loner than that. What you really wanted was to not be living in your mother's basement and to have your own space where you felt comfortable and respected, like an actual adult. Honestly moving in with me made such a huge difference for you. Plus with the income from the farm, you were able to only take the programming jobs you were really interested in, and it freed up time for you to develop and ultimately create your own game."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Really? Wow," Sebastian said in awe of himself./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah nodded, "And your frog sanctuary of course."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And then kids apparently. Don't know how the hell that happened," Sebastian said, "No offense again."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Your idea actually. Came about after the frog sanctuary," Mariah said, "We'd never really talked about kids before we got married, we were just too happy with each other. I think we both assumed that's just how it was going to stay. Not that we stopped being happy with each other, but we were ready for more. When we found the first injured frog, and decided to keep it, I made a stupid comment about how it was our son, and you made a joke about it having my nose, and that was enough to get you thinking about it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian closed his eyes, trying to remember any of what she was saying. It made his head hurt, and he really couldn't remember any of it, but he could feel the truth of her words deep within. He was amazed that this version of him felt comfortable being so vulnerable with another person. And apparently he talked with her, expressing himself, in a way that he never did with anyone else./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry," he said softly./p
p class="MsoNormal""For what?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""That I'm not him. That I don't remember. I can feel that what you're saying is real, but it's so foreign to me. I'm sorry that you're missing this person so important to you from your life," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Not your fault that fucking witch cursed you or whatever the fuck happened," Mariah said, but Sebastian could see that she was trying to hold back tears, "It is a little hard to look at you. He's the one that would make me feel better now. It's been so difficult to not touch you when that's exactly what my instincts are screaming at me to do."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's not you, but I can't fathom being that person. I can't imagine having such a loving and touchy relationship with anyone. I can't imagine sharing my thoughts with someone like what you described. Not that it sounds bad or anything, I just can't wrap my head around it, it's not me," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well," Mariah took a deep breath, "You just don't know what it's like to be in love. Changes things. Honestly I think some part of you remembers something, I'm shocked you've talked to me as much as you have."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Me too," Sebastian muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal""There's pictures. And videos. And notes. All sorts of stuff really," Mariah said, "If you think any of that would help. Even if you don't get the memories back, maybe that would make it easier?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian shrugged, "Maybe." Though truthfully he didn't know how he felt about it. The idea of having the life he doesn't remember laid out in front of him kind of creeped him out, but at the same time seeing it might help connect her words to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"They were silent for a moment, not looking at each other./p
p class="MsoNormal""We should get back to the farm," Mariah said, "I hate to be an asshole, but do you think you can fake it in front of Morgan? You don't need to be like dad of the year or anything, but just like actually engage with her when she talks to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I kind of have to fake it in front of everybody don't I?" Sebastian said bitterly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Not necessarily," Mariah said, "I still think we could tell Sam and it would be okay."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian shook his head no, "I told you I don't want him to think I'm crazy."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sam won't think you're crazy," Mariah said, "He knows weird shit happens around here. Things are not like what they were."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I said no, okay?" Sebastian snapped at her./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine," Mariah said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"They made their way back to the farm in stony silence. That guy that Abby was apparently married to was there as Mariah had predicted. What was his name again? Mariah relaxed her body, putting on a fake smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey Carver," she said, sounding happy as he made his way over to them. He gave Mariah a hug and nodded at Sebastian, "Thanks for coming."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course," he said, "I was going to anyway, this is just less fun. But I'm assuming I'm at least getting dinner out of it," he smirked at Mariah, who rolled her eyes, "You feeling any better Seb?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian shook his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""I think he's going to lie down for a while longer," Mariah said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Man something hit you hard, huh?" Carver said, "That's rough. I'm glad we're here to help out."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah instructed Carver as to where to pick up hoeing, and followed Sebastian to the house./p
p class="MsoNormal""Text me if you need something yeah?" she said to him kindly./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know where my phone is," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh right," Mariah said, going into the house. He followed her into the bedroom, where she unplugged a phone from where it rested on the nightstand next to where he had been lying in bed and passed it to him. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"You could have found that yourself idiot. /emIt didn't look familiar, but it made sense that he would have gotten a new phone in the last six years, "It's got facial recognition on it to unlock, but if that doesn't work the passcode is 1028."/p
p class="MsoNormal""1028?" Sebastian repeated./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah. Our birthdays," She explained, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Uggg you are some kind of fucking sap now. Gross. /em"Not that you know when my birthday is so that's not really all that helpful for you to remember it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I think I can manage," Sebastian said. He knew he was being kind of rude to her, but he didn't care./p
p class="MsoNormal"After she left he began crying again, sitting at the edge of the bed, head in his hands. The weed had helped, but he doubted anything would make him feel less overwhelmed by this situation. The whole thing was surreal and he kept hoping that he was going to wake up from some kind of terrible dream. He lied back in the bed, staring at the ceiling. He debated for some time about getting one of his books or anything to keep himself occupied and hopefully help calm him down, but he didn't think he'd be able to focus. He closed his eyes and eventually drifted off into a light sleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"He awoke sometime later, sighing when he realized he wasn't back in his room yet. He didn't know how long he'd slept for, but it didn't seem like it had been that long. His head was hurting less. He sat up, looking around. He was starting to accept that he likely wasn't going to wake up back in his room, and this was just his life now. He got up, stretching, grabbed his phone, and went to sit on his couch, because at least that was familiar. His phone unlocked easily, going to his gallery to see if any of the pictures would stir up any of his memories, though he tended to doubt it./p
p class="MsoNormal"The oldest photos on the phone were of lower quality than the newer ones, and Sebastian guessed they had been transferred from an older phone. There were pictures of him, Sam, and Abby, performing on stage, a couple of short videos of the performance, and a picture that looked familiar of him and Mariah, clearly from the same day, standing by a table. Neither of them were looking at the camera but instead were facing each other, oblivious to the shot being taken. Mariah was caught mid laugh, her hand placed on his arm, and he was actually smiling, watching her like there was no one else around. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Why is this familiar?/em He didn't have the tattoo that was now on his arm, and based on how everyone had been dressed, he guessed it was summer. If his assumptions were correct, according to Mariah's timeline they hadn't even been dating at this point. This is the closest to the version of him that he was expecting to be when he woke up this morning./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian closed his eyes, trying to keep the image of the picture in his mind, prodding at it to see if he could remember it, since it felt so familiar. His headache started to flare up at the intrusion, but he kept pushing. What was there? He tried with all of his senses to get any type of memory. He was able to identify his emotions of an excited anxiety, but there was nothing else. He groaned, dropping his phone onto the couch next to him in frustration. He opened his eyes, his headache starting to subside again. He instinctively glanced over towards the bookcase in the main part of the bedroom. There on the shelf was the same picture, but framed. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Are you fucking kidding me? That's why it felt familiar, I probably noticed it earlier. I can't believe I made my head hurt over that./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"He picked up the phone again, looking further at the photos. There was a shot of him, Sam, Abby, with Mariah and Vincent in matching #1 Goblin Destroyer fan shirts posing inside what Sebastian recognized as Sam's room. There was a selfie of Mariah holding a fluffy black chick. Pictures of the two of them lying next to each other on his bed. That felt familiar too, but Sebastian assumed that it was just another one of the pictures around the house that he'd seen earlier and didn't bother trying to prod into his memories./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a video, that Sebastian pressed play on./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah's face popped up, "Okay, let's do an experiment," she took a few steps, "Say hi Bash!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The camera focused on Sebastian. They were in a dark building- was it the old community center?/p
p class="MsoNormal""What are you doing?" he heard himself ask the camera./p
p class="MsoNormal""I want to see if we can catch the junimos on video," Mariah said from off camera. Video Sebastian rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway. He bent down, picking something out of a backpack on the floor in front of him. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"What the fuck am I doing with corn?/em Video Sebastian held corn in one hand, and with the other started tapping at the air. Then with both hands held the corn out into the air where it then vanished. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"What the fuck?/em There was some squeaking noises, but somehow Sebastian felt like he understood it. Almost as it if it was saying thank you. Mariah, who he presumed was holding the camera, giggled./p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" video Sebastian asked, looking over at the camera./p
p class="MsoNormal""They're just so cute! I hope this works," came her voice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Riah, it's not going to work," video Sebastian said, with a shake of his head, "If the picture didn't work, this won't work either. Our phones aren't magically blessed."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Then a weird floating package came out of the air around where the corn had vanished, and bobbled a few inches above the floor and off the screen. There were more squeaks, that sounded like 'gift', and then a small wooden tub came floating onto the screen, just the same way the mysterious package had disappeared./p
p class="MsoNormal""What is that?" video Sebastian asked, squatting down./p
p class="MsoNormal""It's a preserves jar. You can make jelly or pickles in them. Stuff like that," Mariah's voice explained./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why couldn't they have brought this for the pumpkin?" video Sebastian sounded frustrated, picking up the jar, "This would have been much easier to bring to the Saloon than that bee house."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh yeah, I forgot about that!" Mariah laughed. Video Sebastian tucked the jar into the backpack and moved closer to the camera. The view switched, and both Mariah and Sebastian were on the screen./p
p class="MsoNormal""You think we'll ever end up explaining that to them?" she asked him./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure they've forgotten about it," Sebastian shook his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can assure you that they haven't," Mariah said to him, "They've both asked me about it on separate occasions."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Well I doubt we're ever going to explain it. They can just think we're weird," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmm Abby would be jealous anyway," Mariah said, "Not sure Sam would care so much. I wonder what's going to happen when we're done and hopefully this place is beautiful. What are people going to think?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Video Sebastian shrugged, "Who knows? Who cares? They'll probably just assume that you fixed it all up by hand."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh Yoba, I couldn't do that! Wayyy too much work," Mariah said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well stop being so nice to everyone then," video Sebastian suggested, "Then they won't assume you did it. Why are you still filming? If the video worked you already got it right?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Because you're going to take over so I can see if one of them will let me hold it. And if it works I want it captured," she explained./p
p class="MsoNormal""Riah you don't even know if the video worked in the first place," video Sebastian said, taking the camera./p
p class="MsoNormal"The view switched to Mariah only, taking a few paces, and squatting down on the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal""Stop being so pessimistic Bash," she said to him, holding out her hand the on the floor, "C'mon," she coaxed the air, "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to say hi."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm not sure you can hold a spirit," Sebastian's voice was off camera./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'd give up the fish hoodie if I could hold one for a minute," she said looking over at the camera./p
p class="MsoNormal""Damn, you must really want this then," he teased./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a moment of silence, with Mariah crouched on the floor, hands held out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Darn," she said, standing up, "I thought that one was going to."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sorry," Sebastian had said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh well, worth a shot," Mariah said, and then the camera was moved around, and ended up focused on a spot on the floor. There was some muffled words and sounds, and then the camera moved again./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh the video's still on," Mariah said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Whoops," Sebastian said./p
p class="MsoNormal""You sure you didn't do it on purpose 'cause you're a perv?" Mariah teased and then the video ended./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"What the fuck was that?/em em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Shit that was confusing/em./p
p class="MsoNormal"He continued to flip through pictures, some of the two of them, some with Abby and Sam, some of just Mariah. There were some with them in costumes? Whatever the fuck that was about. There was a picture of the two of them side by side in tattoo chairs, smiling at the camera. He continued to flip through the pictures, but nothing sparked any memories in him. Sebastian got to an image of the two of them where they were both clearly topless, under covers. Their shoulders were bare, but they weren't indecent. Some of Sebastian's scars were visible and he expected to feel anxious by this, but instead looking at the picture filled him with love./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian shook his head at the confusing moment. It was still bizarre to him that he'd open up to someone about his dad, or his scars, or any of his life really. And here he is faced with evidence that this happened, being vividly reminded of his own flaws, and he felt love? Though looking at the pictures wasn't sparking any memories, it was helpful to get a clue and gather some of the pieces of his life, but maybe it had gotten too weird. He closed out of his gallery, putting his phone down next to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He heard the front door of the farm house open. Whoever came into the house was quiet. Sebastian heard another door close and assumed that the other person was using the bathroom. A couple of minutes later the bedroom door opened again./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey," Mariah's voice was tentative as she peered at him from the doorway, "How are you doing?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian shrugged, "Slept some more. Head hurts a lot less unless I'm really trying to connect with something."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Nothing's ringing a bell yet?" she asked, and Sebastian could hear the disappointment in her voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"He shook his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well," she began but then there was a loud crack and the wizard appeared before them. Sebastian jumped, falling off the couch. Mariah was clutching her chest and she began yelling, "For fuck's sake Rasmodius! Are you trying to give me a Yoba-damned heart attack? Shit. Besides which I never gave you permission to just zap yourself into my house."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Calm yourself woman," he grunted at her, "This was the first opportunity I was provided to get the two of you alone in a private space."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian stood up, unsure of what to do with himself. He held onto his left arm, shifting uncomfortably on his feet./p
p class="MsoNormal""So?" Mariah demanded, "I'm assuming you're here with information."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Not the answers you're hoping for, I'm afraid," the wizard did sound legitimately apologetic, "She and I have come to the conclusion, that yes it was her. Though the curse you're experiencing was not meant for you. It was meant for me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So she can undo it?" Mariah questioned, staring daggers at the man./p
p class="MsoNormal""She claims that she cannot. I'm not sure I believe her, but regardless if she is capable, she is unwilling so it will not happen," Rasmodius said, "And I would appreciate getting through the story without further interruption."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah grumbled but didn't speak any further. Sebastian remained quiet, frozen in place./p
p class="MsoNormal""It seems as though my dear ex-wife found herself intoxicated and tetchy during the New Year's celebrations. There was some degree of frustration as her perception of my successes, and she was determined to make my life miserable. Unfortunately for you, in her drunk state, her enchantment was not well focused in your home was in just the right position to intercept the ill-willed spell. She was irritated to find out that I remained uncursed, and were she a better person she would have sympathy about how her actions have affected you. However, we are aligned, as tense as it may be at times, and that alignment is enough for her to have some distaste for you as well."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Mariah frowned, looking as if she wanted to yell again, but waited for Rasmodius to continue./p
p class="MsoNormal""She did say that the curse could be broken. She wanted me to suffer. To feel the pains that I've caused her. Once those parameters have been met the curse will end. It is unclear what those parameters are precisely, and she gave no suggestion as how this may be achievable. I fear that you are stuck in this position until such a time that the curse is satiated. That being said, she did refrain from cursing me on the spot due to her purview of our relationship as well as her current sober state. Though this is obviously not my fault, I am aware of how my actions have caused so much bitterness. I will think on this matter further and will offer my assistance should I be able."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So I'm just stuck like this?" Sebastian asked, "Pretending to live this life I know nothing about, with a family that I don't remember, having nothing to bring me comfort? How is that fucking fair?" He wanted to cry, "I don't give a shit what your relationship is like," he pointedly wildly between Mariah and the wizard, "Or what the fuck your Yoba-damned witch ex-wife and your bullshit drama. I want my fucking life back."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Even if such a thing were possible," Rasmodius said, "And I assure you, it is not. I am not a powerful enough being to be able to perform such a feat."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So there's nothing we can do?" Mariah wasn't yelling, her face looked defeated./p
p class="MsoNormal"The wizard sighed, "I've given you the information I have. My condolences to you both." And he flashed away./p
p class="MsoNormal""Mother fucker!" Mariah shouted, throwing her hands up in the air. She continued to mumble angrily under her breath, stomping around back and forth. She stopped and sat down on the bed with her back to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sebastian's feelings mirrored hers. The anger, frustration, resentment, fear, and sadness were all raging inside him, he was just paralyzed by it. Eventually he slumped down, missing the couch entirely and sitting on the floor in front of it, pulling his knees to his chest. He covered his face as the tears fell. He could hear her sniffling across the room and then the sounds of movement on the bed. She was standing at the threshold, existing in the blurred line of where the bedroom and what was evidently his workspace met. He hated that he was crying in front of this woman again. This stranger, who unfairly knew more about his life than he did. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Your wife./em He corrected himself sharply./p
p class="MsoNormal"When she didn't speak, he looked up at her, wiping the tears from his face. He couldn't read her expression, "What do we do now?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I've got no fucking clue," she sighed in response./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Not helpful/em./p