After Vivian's awful experience with the charlatan at the clinic, Vivian talked with Nq, who was able to get their job back pretty quickly after it was discovered that Robert's medical degree was fake and that fake evidence of fraud was planted to get Nq fired.
Vivian was able to surmise that this was all just a plan by her captors to get her personal information , and when she thought about things more, she burst into tears as she realized what she had to do.
Ms. Mowz heard her crying and went into the room. "Sweetie… if you want to talk about what's wrong… I can do my best to help…"
Vivian tearfully admitted, "Babe… you have done so much for me over the past few months… but I'm really thinking that you're in danger with me here… like with everyone at the fortress searching for me… I think I may have to go back… I will never forget the amazing memories I shared with you…"
Ms. Mowz pulled her into a hug and calmly said, "I got my grand prize knowing that there might be a bit of danger involved 3 I know that it may put me in danger, but having you here is worth it to me. I understand that having to continually worry about being captured is hard on you, so if you want to go back, considering that, then I will not stop you, but I don't think that's what you want."
Vivian's tears slowed, and she realized what she should do. "Babe, you're right. I DO want to stay here! Although I think if I at least don't go over there, things could get bad for us, so I want to go back, but I am going to tell them that I am not going to live in the housing that they have for me, and I am going to live my own life here."
Ms. Mowz sniffled and said… "Sweetie... that's so brave of you… I know it must be hard… like it seemed like a really dangerous atmosphere there… ya know I should really be there just to keep an eye on my grand prize to make sure no one hurts her~"
Vivian responded, "Babe… you've already done so much for me… I couldn't ask you to also do th—" She is interrupted by Ms. Mowz kissing her and hugging her as she says, "Well then I guess it's good that you don't have to ask, because regardless of what you ask me to do, I'm going to follow to keep an eye on my grand prize. :)"
Vivian's mood brightened upon hearing the kind Squeek, "Ehehe~ you're a stubborn Squeek, aren't ya 3" Ms. Mowz cheerfully replied, "Hehe stubborn as they get!" Vivian giggled, "Hehe~ you always know how to cheer me up when I'm nervous… Just please be careful… I'd hate it so much if anything happened to you when you were doing this."
—-
Sir Grodus is livid. Vivian had always been kind of an enigma to him, and her more shy nature made him worry that she may be much more impressionable than the other two shadow sirens in his command, and that if she interacted with anyone outside the fortress, things would be bad, as while she sometimes came across as weak, she had an inner strength that was necessary for Grodus' final plans.
Grodus called Beldam up, and he is still thinking of how to constructively sort out his anger into plans, as currently his plan is to just yell at her for her plans failing. Beldam enters, "Yes, your majesty?" "BELDAM! THERE YOU ARE LIKE JUST HOW DID ALL YOUR PLANS FAIL ITS JUST SO DAMN FRUSTRATING LIKE! But that's fine. this won't. so in a few weeks, I think Vivian is scheduled to—"
As Grodus was yelling, Vivian quietly veiled in position with the other Shadow Sirens, with Ms. Mowz is sneakily hiding on a ledge higher up. Grodus is surprised and states, "Oh, there you are Vivian, you are way behind schedule to return, but that's fine, just never CONSIDER doing anything like that again, we will start on your punishment for failing to guard my room earlier, and later we can discuss your punishment for being gone from your assigned confines." Beldam shouted in excitement, "Yeah! PUNISHMENTS!"
Vivian shyly says, "S…So I'm sorry I was gone for so long… but I realized that… um like... I'm sorry but... I understand I have things I need to get done for you but... I deserve my own ability to... have like my own social life and head out and things... so I will be heading out like that again in the future…"
Sir Grodus is astonished and unable to speak; trying to speak in an even tone, This could NOT be happening; it felt like his worst nightmare. "Excuse me, I don't believe I'm hearing you correctly, we gave you the confinement protocol for a reason, and you can not disobey it, and if you are insisting, then maybe… your services are not necessary? Given how no information can get out about our plans, you know what this means we would need to do to you."
Vivian got really tense internally, but did her best to speak in a brave tone, "Yes, you h…heard me correctly. While I am still willing to serve you and carry out what you want, I will not let myself be confined by your standards. You can try to kill me for this if you wish… but I w…will defend myself if you try to do that."
Sir Grodus is unable to speak, this was going so much worse than he could have thought. If Vivian was being this uncharacteristically confident, someone had to have interacted with her, and it would not have surprised Grodus if this being would have also trained Vivian to become stronger.
As if things couldn't get any worse, Beldam, always one to ass-kiss, shrieked "HAHA AS IF YOU COULD FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG! VIVIAN'S DEAD RIGHT YOUR MAJESTY!"
Grodus put his palm to his head to calm himself as much as he could, "Beldam, shut up. This is not your decision and I am also really not in the mood to hear your voice." He groaned loudly as he realized the decision he had to make.
"Vivian, I accept your demands. You are free to leave outside of requested orders. Anyway, Beldam, what is the status on capturing a pure maiden?" Beldam reports, "Unfortunately there was too much commotion in the area and I was unable to capture her yet, I will return later." Grodus angrily states, as he uses lightning on Beldam, "That was not a good time to report failure. I don't have anytime, I'll send X-nauts out to get her instead."
Interlude scene (yes this is 100% canonical)
As Valerie (hi that's me :D ) is playing Baten Kaitos, she is slightly bothered by how suddenly she was pushed into being Kalas' guardian spirit, but decides to roll with it, although about 10 minutes in, she is mortified at how Kalas is being so rude to Xelha after meeting her, and can't wait to get presented with the option to tell Kalas off… but she doesn't really see an opportunity; the most she can do is politely greet Xelha. Valerie decides that she has had enough, "Ehhhhh sowwy Kalas you asshole; I'm afraid that you haven't sufficiently connected with me enough to be my guardian spirit; I'm leaving."
Her voice is heard by Kalas… fading into the distance, "Oh well… I guess not all games are meant to be… hmm… what can I play… Hmm maybe The Thousand Year Door, making Vivian punch bad beings in the face is always fun!" Kalas yells as loud as he can, "NOOOOO VALERIE COME BACK I THOUGHT WE WERE COOL!"
Xelha says to him, "What are you even talking about you meanie.", and slaps him and leaves. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" yells Kalas. GAME! OVER!
