Trigger Warning: Insects
Chapter 7: Showdown
Zoe discussed with the Coven what she could remember about her encounter with Tristo in the void. While she did, Tristo sat in a contemplative silence about what he should say.
I know from my experience in the games, that the game is easily broken when the characters catch on that they are in a game. But everything feels real to me, and everyone is having a real conversation with me. Maybe in my world, they are just a game, but I'm in their world now. Honesty might just be the best policy.
Zoe finished recounting the experience they had moments before she was freed. Joy continued to drive but Hope and Faith turned to question Tristo next. Tristo sat a little straighter to prepare himself for the truth bomb he was going to drop.
"So Tristo, what do you remember before ending up here?" Faith asked, her demeanor hard to recognize past her sunglasses. Her smile was pursed, and she held what Tristo could only believe was a serious glare behind those glasses. It put him on edge.
"Well, you see… in my world… you guys are characters in a video game…" Tristo explained, through gritted teeth. The two witches looked at each other and nodded, while Zoe put a tentacle to her chin to think. Tristo's expression went from one of fear to a perplexed look.
"You don't seem shocked…"
"You're from another world man, anything is possible." Hope said, shrugging her shoulders in the air. "But it still doesn't explain how you ended up here. There's never been any inkling to us that this is a game world."
"And I'm not really sure that it is. I mean you guys are all here and seem to have similar personalities to your characters. But you aren't characters, you're fully real. As for how I ended up here… I was having a dream about um… Zoe. Then the next thing I knew, I was floating around in the void." Tristo recalled. He didn't know if he should feel more unsettled by their level-headedness, but decided it was a good thing. Hope snapped her fingers.
"I see, well it's possible that you dreaming of her, and her being freed from the totem simultaneously drew you two together at that moment. Dreams are after all very powerful." Hope theorized. Joy and Faith seemed to concur with affirming nods to their smallest member. Tristo didn't seem to be satisfied with that answer though, and Hope shrugged.
"It's a working theory. Perhaps more strange phenomena will happen that will let us… wake up to the truth." Hope said, with a slight snicker. Tristo ignored it, instead turning his gaze over to Zoe who still seemed to be in thought.
"Zoe, what are you-" Tristo started, but was interrupted as the van came to a screeching halt. Joy let out a burst of obscenities as the other two members of the Coven leapt to action. More of the darkness monstrosities had formed in the road ahead, causing the Coven to begin using Liam's broken glasses to combat them. Zoe's head had smacked against the side of the van, and she was disoriented. Tristo unlatched himself, and reached over, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Zoe are you alright?" Tristo asked, the concern laden in his voice. Zoe shook her head slightly as her blurred vision began to come back into focus. She wrapped her tentacle around one of his hands and gave him a short nod.
"I'm alright. Just a little dazed is all." Zoe responded. With a look of relief, he slides his hand carefully from her tentacle. He turns and jumps out of the van to assess the situation. Doom's Diner was just a bit further down the road, but was surrounded by these creatures. The Coven was already making short work of them, now that their weakness has been exploited. It was a very impressive display, but Tristo could tell some of them were slipping by and heading for the van. He looked off of the highway they were on and noticed a small, battered pipe. It may not have been much, but it had to be better than swinging his fists at them. He knew Zoe was still recovering inside, and had to try and protect her. Just as she had done for him. As they would do for each other.
The first creature had made its way to the back of the van, eyeing at Zoe. She grimaced as it began to climb inside, before its head was bashed in suddenly. Tristo stood over it with the pipe, but watched as the darkness he had bashed away, began to reform. It whipped around, knocking him backwards with a blow to the chest. He landed on the pavement with a loud thud, as the creature dialed in on him now. Zoe clambered over to the back of the van. As the creature began to raise its arms and crush Tristo, Zoe grabbed Tristo's ankle, pulling him through the creature's legs. It slammed into the pavement, the force cracking it. Tristo whipped around, slamming the pipe into the creature's thin legs. This caused the creature to stumble to one knee, and Tristo turned to Zoe with a thumbs up. She grinned at him, but her expression turned dour as the creature turned to resume its attack.
It began to flail angrily at Tristo, and Zoe pulled again. This time wrapping him up in her arms and preparing as the creature began to bear down on them. As it went to strike, the two braced for impact in one another's embrace. When suddenly, a beam of light pierced its chest! The creature looked down at its chest, then back to the two of them slowly, before bursting into smoke. Joy stood over them and looked down with a smile.
"That was a close one! C'mon, we gotta get to the diner before Gerard makes more of them." Joy said, barreling off in the direction of Doom's Diner.
The two stared at her in shock, before realizing how close they were to each other. They scrambled to their feet, dusting themselves off.
"Not just crafty then… you're scrappy too." Zoe said, with a soft smile. Tristo crossed his arms, trying not to make eye contact with any of Zoe's eyes.
"Well... I've been in a couple of tussles before… nothing like that though."
"You protected me."
"We protected each other. I mean that tentacle of yours is really something." Tristo said, with a goofy smile. Zoe went to continue, but a whistle from the Coven got them back on task. The two ran off to go join up with the trio of witches. Faith and Hope took positions on either side of the front entrance, with Joy standing in front. Joy turned to Zoe and Tristo as they approached.
"Alright, here's the plan. Gerard will likely have some banter with me when I come in, due to our connected backstories. Then when I call, you'll come in and therapize him, Tristo."
"Um okay, Joy. Again, I never finished my graduate school for psychology-"
"It doesn't matter, Tristo. You just have to believe in yourself, alright man?!"
"I don't think-"
With that Joy turns and kicks the diner doors in. Inside, Gerard floats with his edginess clearly on display. Magic flows from all the evil and cursed objects within this diner, and it is absorbed into his painted black fingertips. His eyeliner flowed down his glowing purple eyes. His head flicked in the direction of Joy, and he let out a small growl.
"Joy! You reconsidered?" Gerard said, floating down, the many levitating stools floating down with him.
"No, you jerkwad! I'm not here for that, but I wanna help you! You were doing so well! What made you relapse into being evil?"
"I tried. I really did. This place drains you. I thought I fit in here. But the apathy of this place is… unapologetic."
"Gerard… all part-time jobs are like that! This is just a steppingstone, you'll find your way past it."
"Not anymore Joy. No one can help me now."
"That's not true! Gerard, this is an intervention. We even brought a therapist along. He's gonna help you."
Joy points to the door, and everyone makes their way inside. Everyone, including Gerard, turns to Tristo as the magic emanates around this space.
"You're a real therapist?"
"Um well no- I just I'm not a real therapist."
"So, a somewhat-therapist."
"I mean I have given therapy in like, training environments."
"So let me get this straight, you all brought a somewhat-therapist to help me. That… is… actually really sweet." Gerard said, somewhat surprised. Tristo looked up with a sigh of relief.
"For real?" Tristo said, taking a step forward.
"Yeah. It's a very kind gesture. But I am incredibly evil. So EVIL JUKEBOX INFINITE DANCE CURSE!"
Tristo raises his arms as the jukebox fires a beam of prismatic dance magic towards him. The Coven jump in front and casts a barrier, but the curse breaks through. Slamming into the three, but sparing Tristo from its effect. The three witches begin to dance in sync, with a stylish routine. Gerard cackles to himself, and Zoe looks on painfully as the Coven dances without the will to stop. Tristo stifles a laugh at the ridiculous situation but stands up to face Gerard.
Alright, what can I use against him? He likes My Chemical Romance. He seems maybe immensely prideful. I might be able to challenge him, and he might at least put us on even ground. Because without the Coven, I don't know if me and Zoe can fight any more of those creatures.
"What now somewhat-therapist?" Gerard said, taking a step forward.
"Again… I'm not a therapist at all. I'm just a dude. No magic, no monstrous abilities. So, if you're gonna fight me, why not make it an even fight and fight me fist to fist."
Gerard looks at him and stares him up and down. Gerard definitely stood a lot taller than Tristo, and Tristo was honestly very slight in figure. Zoe gave Tristo a concerned look.
"Tristo… what are you doing?"
"Don't worry, I've got a plan." Tristo said, hoping Zoe will trust him. She gives him a nod, and steps back some. Gerard steps closer, face to face with Tristo now, as the Coven dance in sync next to them.
"You don't have any light behind your eyes, somewhat-therapist. You're not from this world."
"What do you know about that?" Tristo asked, troubled by the recognition. Gerard let out a small chuckle.
"How about we have that fist fight, if you win, I'll tell you."
"Alright Gerard. You're on."
"Give me a shot to remember." Gerard said, tapping his face. Tristo lets out his own chuckle at this, swinging on Gerard at the spot where he provoked. Gerard took the hit, falling to the floor, surprised at the slight man's strength.
I grew up in Louisiana man, I've fought raccoons and opossums with more fight than you.
Tristo sits on Gerard's chest and pins him down.
"Gerard, you are going to lose this fight."
"Like hell I am."
The two begin to tumble all around the room, in what they both think is epic hand to hand combat. Instead, they look like two teenagers wrestling. As the two have their bout, Zoe sighs, making her way over to the jukebox. Zoe, using the pipe Tristo had, slams it into the cursed jukebox, ending the dance spell on the Coven. The three collapse to the ground, huffing from the long dance number. Zoe turns to see Tristo with Gerard in a headlock.
"Tapout Gerard!"
"Nev-Never!"
"Gerard, you're gonna pass out, your face is turning purple!"
"That's just… my eyeliner." Gerard struggled to say, as he reached behind him to try and grab Tristo.
"Alright then… so long and goodnight, Gerard."
"That's… my… line…" Gerard said. A few moments later, taking no more, Gerard slips into unconsciousness and Tristo releases him. The Coven shakes their heads at the two of them, and Zoe is already dreaming up the fanfiction in her head. With a screech, something begins to crawl out of Gerard's ear. A small insect, with large mandibles.
The Coven gasps, and Hope jumps forward to snatch the small creature, but it keeps its eyes on Tristo. It does not resist, but its beady compound eyes stay locked in. There is a long silence, as Hope drops it into a jar, sealing it.
Gerard lets out a gasp and looks up at Tristo.
"What happened? Did I pass out during my shift?"
"I'll be honest, you have completely embarrassed yourself. In front of Joy and sent a bunch of monsters after them."
"I see. Then I shall lie here and pretend to be dead."
Tristo stands up and brushes himself off, he extends a hand out to Gerard. Zoe and the Coven circle around this insect and begin to discuss. Gerard lets out a long groan.
"I am ashamed to rise and be."
"No one's looking right now. Plus, they'll forget about it tomorrow."
"Huh… Well, thanks." Gerard accepts his hand and Tristo lifts him up. Tristo helps dust him off and pats him on the back.
"If it makes you feel better, you fight better than a raccoon."
"I think you should stop talking now. I gotta clean up this place before the manager realizes what happened."
Gerard fetches the cursed broom that screams as you use it and begins to clean. Tristo joins the rest of his troupe, who curiously stare at the small fly-like insect. As Tristo comes into view, its eyes once again flick to him.
"What is that thing?" Tristo asked, leaning in to get a closer look. The Coven shook their heads in unison.
"Something we've never seen before. It will require more research." The Coven scrambles off with the bug, leaving Zoe and Tristo inside with Gerard and the screaming broom. Tristo stepped over to Zoe.
"Well, what do we do now?"
"We could see if Gerard will make us something as an apology?"
"Sounds great. I think we'll be good buddies."
The two are promptly ushered out by Gerard who makes them leave. When the two realized they were left without a ride, Gerard let out a sigh. He fetched his scythe from his work locker and opened up a portal by slicing the air.
"It'll take you back to Central Monstropolis. Leave like the sane abandoned me."
Tristo gives him a soft smile and wave, as if he didn't moments ago leave him unconscious on the ground. All the while, Zoe studied Tristo with more detail than she has before. Now that she's had time to process where he's really from, there was a lot to talk about.