Viper took a deep breath, the miser was sitting on the couch and still in deep conflict about what they had to do. It wasn't like they didn't want to spend time with Violet. They truly wanted to but… it was hard and they didn't feel like they deserved it.

In a way they felt like they shouldn't dare to impeach on Violet's presence. That they should leave the cloud alone and pay for their behaviour with it but… Verde had told them otherwise. Verde had said that Viper had to do this for Violet and as much as they felt horrible about what had happened they needed to make it up to Violet even if it pained them to let Violet carry the blame.

They wanted to apologise even if it couldn't undo anything but not owning up to their mistakes and having to deal with them was a terrible feeling. Even if there was a chance that Violet could regain her ability to bond… how would they ever be worthy of her sky?

Viper took another breath to get rid of their twirling thoughts ``Violet?" they addressed the witch who had refused to let anyone else do the dishes.

"Yes?" she almost looked nervously at the mist and it sent another stab through Vipers chest but they couldn't let it show.

"Would you like to watch a movie with me?"

The redhead paused, staring at Viper almost in shock before a hopeful glint surfaced on her face "Really?"

"Yes. I would like to spend some time with you, if that's alright."

"Ye-Yeah naturally! I- I would love too!" the cloud said with such a strong level of relief and hopefulness that it burned in Viper's throat.

Violet ushered forwards, letting the dishes finish up alone and quickly stepped towards the couch only to falter in front of it "Are you… Are you sure?"

"Yes.'' The miser could barely utter their answer but patted the spot next to them.

Violet slowly sat down, her eyes completely focused on Viper as if she was expecting the mist to change their mind and refuse her instead.

The miser felt the burning gazes of the other arcobalenos and swallowed hard as they used the remote to start the movie. Violet clearly still nervous and fiddling with her hands, trying not to take up too much space.

"You know… I…" Viper was struggling hard, they didn't want to say it. it was wrong but… they had to. "I… Let's…" they didn't know what to say.

Violet's eyes so nervously focused on them, a slight trembling in her lips as she stared up and the hope in her eyes way too present.

Viper really couldn't do it. They didn't know how "I… let's… let's…I… I forg…" they couldn't say it.

Violet bit her lip, not really knowing how to react and the hope still burning in her eyes was slightly diminishing.

"I… I don't blame you." it wasn't what Viper was supposed to say and they knew it but they just couldn't do it. They couldn't say they forgave Violet. How could they? How could they say something like that if it was just wrong and false. Vhey wanted Violet to hate them, to be mad at them and to punish them.

Viper could hear the rustling of papers in the back, the burning gazes intensifying and they knew that it wasn't enough. Yes, it was their own fault and they were sure that Verde especially saw it as part of their punishment but it was hard, harder than they could have imagined and they still knew they had to do it. They had to push further, they had to make it happen. They had to speak the words out, no matter how it pained them, how bile rose up their throat, how their chest burned with harsh electric sparks that set their chest up in flames.

"I… forgive you, Violet." just these words almost send tears into their eyes. They hated it. They wanted to take them back but they knew they couldn't. There was no way they could, not with what rode on them.

Violet's eyes did fill up with tears and Viper would do everything to undo this, to get rid of them to not be the recipient of this. To not have to deal with this and just teleport away to be alone in their self misery about what had happened.

Violet's voice was raw as she spoke out "Really?"

The guilt was crushing Viper and all they could do was utter a "Yes."

The movie was blaring in the background as Violet cried in relief.

Reborn got stopped by Verde when he tried to get to her and Viper knew it was their responsibility and even while it physically pained them, they slowly placed an arm around Violet to comfort her, the witch just sobbing into their clothes.

Verde had been right. While Violet seemed to open up and progressed every day to a more normal self she still was dependent on reassurement.

At movie nights she was actually seen cuddled into Reborns arms, meditation lessons with Fon were a daily occurence and she used every chance she could get to spend time with Viper. Almost innocently and non verbally asking for skinship.

Even Colonnello and the rest experienced it and while it still pained them how it came to be, it was in a way almost heart aching cute and while they wouldn't ever admit it to the public the Arcobalenos adapted to a cuddle routine and enjoyed it.

Violet was currently perched between Reborn and Colonnello, heavily leaning onto Reborn and trying to explain the quidditch rules to Lal when Verde interrupted "Violet? Would you mind coming with me for a bit? I would like to discuss something with you."

"Alright?"

She excused herself from the group and Verde could feel their heavy gazes on him as he led Violet down to his laboratory, one of the rooms in the mansion that was completely guarded against any eavesdropping, even Viper wasn't able to breach the security.

He gestured Violet to sit down in one of the more comfortable chairs and pulled his own in front of hers.

"What is it, Verde?" she asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"Violet… I noticed something and I assume you aren't aware of it."

"And what would that be?"

He mustered her for a second, still not sure how to breach the topic in the best way possible "You know… Skull is very different from you, right?"

"Yeah, that was the point."

"And you have strong changes in personality when you adapt to specific appearances. Same as how you sometimes transform without even knowing, is that correct?"

"Yes… is there something wrong with it?"

"Have you ever asked yourself or discussed with someone why that's the case?"

She paused, carefully considering his question "Well… everyone always assumed it's a metamorphmagus thing."

"Then does Ted or any other Metamorphmagus display the same behaviour?"

She paused again only to shake her head.

"Violet… have you ever heard about dissociative Identity disorders?"

"Isn't that where you have… multiple personalities and amnesia? What has that got to do with me?"

"Well you're partially correct. You're refering to DID where the brain creates alters to take over to withstand and deal with long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse which happened in childhood. There are other causes as well and yes amnesia is happening with DID but DID isn't the only dissociative disorder.

There is OSDD which means Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. It has several types and is used to diagnose individuals that don't check all the boxes for DID.

Important is that the person has long term changes in their personality or questions about ther personality after they experienced prolonged, intense coercive persuasion, such as brainwashing, cult indoctrination, political imprisonment, or torture. Not excluding the childhood abuse but those are common reasons as well.

The person in question has to suffer from and repeatedly experience dissociative symptoms but they don't have to have amnesia. The diagnostic can even be used when it's hard for the individual to determine when or whether they felt breaks from their sense of self or if someone else was in control.

The person in question experiences strong dissociative symptoms in reaction to stressful events and experiences dissociative trances that are not part of normal cultural or religious practices."

He carefully watched Violet's expression as he went on with his explanation. She seemed to be intently listening and a realisation seemed to occur.

Verde proceeded "I want to specifically talk to you about OSDD 1b. The alters of the system, as it's called, differentiate from each other but they do not experience amnesia of events between the alters. Experience emotional amnesia, where they remember the events but not the associated emotions with it is possible though.

It's one of the reasons why Individuals with this specific disorder struggle with coping with their trauma due to their lack of possibilities to escape from the knowledge of it.

Furthermore it's common for them to struggle with the acceptance of their system as the lack of lost memories can make them feel like they are always the same person."

Violet bit on her lip ring, her thoughts obviously racing "You think I have it?"

"I'm fairly sure. Violet, it's not bad. It's a coping mechanism of the brain to withstand abuse and to deal with it. It's a fascinating disorder and while I'm not forcing you to accept it or try to get help with it or anything like that I still wanted to make you aware of it. I'm here for any help you could want with it. I have books and a degree in it. I can answer any question or even help you get a real diagnosis on it. It's your decision how you want to deal with it but I'm here for you."

He finished, still intently studying her reaction as she tried to progress the information.

He knew it might have been a shock but he still felt like it had been needed to say and he would be here for her, however she decided to deal with it.