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Capochin couldn't believe his eyes.
King. King....the newest elected god. A god-to-be.
Our weird sap of a friend. The grove courier. IN THERE?!
Hector trapped them THERE...?
Why...? How...?Capochin had never, EVER seen Hector like this. His throat was so cold it felt like he could breath ice....Inspekta quavered over his console command board. He appeared....exhausted.
Capochin smells something...strong.Something that smelled exactly like "home". In the worst way. Their home realm.....Inspekta requested some old drain remedies. Remedies for wrist pain, for head aches....for celestial back pain, apparently.Capochin got his portal gun and ordered their scouts to forage in their home realm. Always a risky stunt. He and Hector are....technically exiled.Only because we kicked some ass 'bout 30 something years ago and gave Drain dwellers like us a chance at freedom.. . .The remedies did work. But...Capochin couldn't understand why he needed them. A god doesn't usually experience physical pain unless...Unless...it has to do with emotion. If a god is losing themselves to anguish or fury....that's when they start experiencing pain on the body again....Hector....Hector, I'm so worried about you. Talk to me. You can tell me anything, I won't get upset! I swear!...."....Boss? (Ahem) A-Ah. Hi?"
....!!!
Hector looks utterly petrified with fear. A complete 180 around, tears in his eyes. Multiple hands with the texture of plush spandex float around a turquoise head of curls. His round forehead glistening with sweat.Capochin noticed he took off his yellow brimmed red cap(with a golden heart pin stitched into it).....or was it more...it fell off in the altercation.Of imprisoning King. IN HIS MONITOR. That's....terrifying to think about. Maybe I strengthened him too much."C-CAP-CAP-CAP....CAPOCHIN.""G...Gee, pal. Did you not hear me hop off of your desk? It's me! No one else knows the combination to that lock, h-hah."
. . ."H-How.""...Pardon?"
"How long have you been standing there?"
...!"U-Uhhh. 2 minutes...? I think? U-Um. Is this a bad time? I can---""Ohh. OHHHHHHH. You---YOU DEFINITELY SAW KING. HA. HAHA. GREAT. GOOD. GOODY GUMSHOES."..."I....um. Did you not want me to find out? Uhh. Please don't. Wipe my mind or nothing.""N-NOW. WHY WOULD I DO THAT TO MY FAVORITE LIL' YAM? AHAHA! DON'T TALK LIKE THAT, SUGAR PLUM! STAY HERE! WE HAVE A CHANGE OF PLANS!"...?(What?)"L-Look. U-Um. I...I won't say a word! Don't ya worry! I'm your number two for a reason!"(...I might faint. Mitternacht is gonna have a heart attack. How am I not having a heart attack. How did I KNOW he was going to do something like this? Why is King in there? I just don't understand. Holy GODS. Keep it together. Don't move.)"Ohhh....oho!! Cappy, I know you are! You silly-pepper! Gosh, that's enough to make me blush!"...(Get me out of here. What on HEAVEN AND EARTH is happening. This is a nightmare.). . .
"Hmmm....What's that smell a' waftin' on over? In-TREE...(ahem) I mean....Intriguing..."
"What? (snf...) G-Gah...All I smell is corn chips and your spilled pickle jars."(And outlawed drain plants, you patsy.)"Mm, no it's not that! It's what I SMELL that's important~!"
"'Scuse me? What could you possibly smell? My nose ain't bad."....
Sniff...Sniff-sniff-sniff....
Inspekta seems entranced by something. Capochin saw him edging near.Closer....and CLOSER?
OH. OH GODS, NO. WHAT---WHAT? WHY AM I JUST STANDIN' HERE?! I HAVE NO FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST A GOD! CERTAINLY NOT...HIM!
. . ."Saaaay, Dear Deputy. Heehee~ Ohhh me, ohhh my! Something seems different about you today! You ...hehehehe....smell good. So strong. Victorious....vivacious. Sweet, salty. So many scents on you. You're still so breezey and springy, aren't you."....
(This....is not the shiver down his spine Capochin expected. Good LORD. What is my PROBLEM.
Capochin feels a bit uncomfortable. Why isn't he more uncomfortable? That was strange. That was strange, right? You seriously can't be THAT desperate for attention, are you??)
"W-What...? UHH. THANKS? I GUESS?""Hmmmmm. Hey, Capo-ty....Coffee-tea.....I gotsa ask you!""Y..Yes, Inspekta?"
"Why do you look...yummier than usual....?"
...!!!
(PLEASE STOP. I DON'T KNOW IF I LIKE THAT LOOK IN YOUR EYE.)
Why do I even like you?
"UHHH. Sp-Spek...I don't know if I like the way you're talking about me right now.""Wah? OHHHH, NO, SILLY! HAHA! Whoooops! I meant....hmmm. You look cute today. You looked cute yesta-day...everyday...as cute as me.~"....
Capochin's heart rate JUMPED.
...(What in the....)"I-I....I told you, I don't like being called cute, boss. Usually, I can make an exception for you but. I...I ain't sure I like your tone.""Then why do you look so happy...? I know how your tail dances around when you're happy."....!"H-HUH? HEY! I-I....I DON’T....KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! Ack! CUT IT OUT!"".....Mm?"Capochin...was strangely fascinated the way he was acting right now.
But this...something's not right. Hector....is being VERY strange. In a very bad way.
. . .
Silence.
A slow blinking face in front of him. His rubbery eyelids make this grating squeaking sound.
His eyes are listless. He frowns....slow and rickety. Almost doll-like.
"Capochin. Oh, Capochin. Don't you....like...little ol' 'Ekta?"
"U-Um. Obviously! AS YOUR FRIEND. This….this is getting really weird, Hect---I MEAN, Inspekta.""Buuuut.....don't you like it when I do this...? You never had a problem before.....hmmm?"(Capochin didn't know whether to be attracted to him or terrified.Oh this feels SO wrong. I'm literally an accomplice. How long have you been an accomplice? Mitternacht, help me. HELP KING....GET ME OUTTA HERE...)"I....I can't recall you doing anything like THIS. W-What in the grove has gotten into you?"
Hector lashes out. Hitting the console assertively with his fist.
! ! !
"Are you questioning my authority? Why I had to abduct our little King here? ARE YA, ARE YA?!" "N-NO! NO, SIR. OF COURSE NOT.". . . . . . ."M-Mn....I know. I know what you meant. I believe you, sweet stuff. I'm just....tired."...
WHAT IN THE DRAIN.
Why is he...!!! Why?!
Don't do this to me! My gods. I have NEVER seen him THIS severe in his mood swings.
He's usually the calm one, ain't he? Ugh. He used to, anyhow.
Who even am I outside of this job, I ask myself for the third time this month?
"B-Boss. Seriously...why are you talking to me like this? I don't even talk to you like this."....."C-Cap....Capochin. Oh my, sweet, loyal captian. Heee... HAHAHAHAHA....I don't feel too good....Trapping King in there took a lot of greasey elbows...and mine are invisible, so HAHA. OF COURSE. OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T SEE WHY I'M LIKE THAT! HEHEHE!SILLY, SILLY, CAPOCHIN! HAHAHA! SO SILLY! HOW SILLY I AM!!".....He...is not in a great headspace right now, is he. Oh, gods. This is stressful.
I-I thought I talked him out of this...Why...why me.. . ."Oho, sweet Capochin...what are we gonna do.You poor sweet thing. Hahaha. I kinda wish you weren't seeing me like this. HAHA....OH. I'm EGG-ON-TOAST.I'M NEVER GONNA LIVE THIS DOWN.....I'm in sooooo much trouble if people find out. HAH.....Hahaha...B-But....King...knows too much....and they....they saw something. I-I-I had to do it....My reputation goes down the toilet, otherwise, HA!".....
Capochin fears his whole “ruling the grove” plan's gone awry already. He doesn't even know why he's letting Inspekta do this to him.
How he barely gets a word in anymore. When ever we talk now, it's just work, work, work. Nothing else. We're shells of ourselves, aren't we.
That's why I haven't left him. It'd make me a hypocrite.
But does he actually give a drain?
...
"King...knows...what? What do we do?""They....t-their Megapon picked up on my words. I somehow ratted myself out for it to hear....so I jammed it in a bottle and threw it off the spire.""I...Is that really what happened?"...."T-They were using it for evil. It's what we have to say happened.Is that...clear enough?"...."O-Of course, Inspekta.""Gooood. Good, good, good. That's my Capo."...!"R-Right.""Mm? Why so nervous....? So serious? You need another break? I'll give you all the breaks you need, you know.""E-Eh...?""Don't you worry....I'm gonna make everything right. I'm gonna seal up that rift. I can do it all by myself. It'll be all us, ruling this whole grove."...?!"And YOU, have the honor of helping me.~""H...Huh?""Yes, you, my astute deputy. You're my king of the Surface, aren't you?""Y-Your WHAT?""My king. A king of my own."!!"I-I! IF YOU NEED ME TO? UM...I'LL DO IT! OF COURSE.""Gooosh! So eager! Heheh....Now I was hoping you'd say yes. But, I really gotta know...."....?. . . !(Oh...OH NO, WHY IS HE---HE'S GETTING REALLY CLOSE...HELP...!!!)Inspekta closes in....he is WAY too close, and, and suddenly, hands on all sides surround the walls....!"HECTOR?! WH-WHAT ARE YOU...?""EEEHEE....that's my name. Don't wear it out. Buuuut. Seriously. I'm INSPEKTA, on duty."
(What even IS this feeling....? Geez!! Have some standards, bub!
My heart shouldn't be FLUTTERING like this.)
. . ."R-Right...um.....but...you...YOU ARE scaring me."...."If I didn't know any better, I'd say you actually like this. Heh...""...WHAT ARE YOU---SAYING?! YOU...LITERALLY HAVE ME AGAINST A WALL!""...Then listen up, will ya?"He whispered, with a wicked-looking smile.....(I...I don't like where this is going. He doesn't seem..."sobered"?)"S-Spek...why are you doing this? Please. Talk to me.". . ."Hm...? Doing...what?""A-And...what do you mean...'King?'""Do you know what I mean, when I say you're my king...?"...."Um....o-obviously not.""You'll rule the humans. I'll rule the skies. The other gods clearly aren't in charge around here. It's time we took initiative, shouldn't we? I'm not the god of leadership for nothing. I'm supposed to have a purpose. So, it MUST be to rule the grove. Don't you think the same?". . .Capochin was having trouble following. Barely keeping his cool.
Honestly, he just wanted this to be over with. This was so uncomfortable and....bittersweet.
I know you're better than this. Aren't we better than this?
Whatever the drain is happening, I want the old you back. Now.
The sweetest god I know, back. Is that so much to ask?
Gods, my gods.
Is that even possible anymore?...
Who are you? What have you done with my Hector?
. . ."I-I...Maybe? Do you really want...that? That's gonna be a lot of pressure, even for you, bud.""Not if you're there, Capo."....!(Hold up.)"M-Me?! WAIT. YOU WANT....ME TO RULE THE HUMANS....? C-CAN YOU DO THAT? WE...WE'RE FROM DRAIN ITSELF...HOW WOULD WE DO THAT---""Shhh, shh. At ease, Capo-Cadet. Let your mind be at ease. I'm saying...if I can pull this off, find my way around the rift...surely, I could run this whole town. And you'd be right there with me.". . .(A doubtful silence.)
"I-I....I dunno. H-Ha. It's...that sounds like. A lot. The rift...and...us, alone...haha
responsible for the Grove?"...!"Y....You crave respect and admiration, just like I do, Capochin. You know the powerlessness I feel all too well! Aren't you tired of being pushed around for being tiny? Of being "useless, goofy, forgettable" little drain blobs that take up space? Isn't it time we took charge??". . ."I-I....I guess, yeah. But....we...we'd be in charge of the WHOLE universe....""The universe is a bea-u-tiful place, my pumpkiny pie. That's why I should be entrusted with it."(H-His...what?)"Um. Me....ruling the humans...the earthlings....h-hah. I mean. It does sound pretty drained neat. Gettin' some actual respect around here.""Of course it does! Uhuhu...You'll be doing that with ME! It's all us. Just us here. Just us two.~
Doesn't that sound so niiiice? Like a fairy's tale?"...(What do I even have outside of this, anyhow. The grove's all we got, it's true.I don't trust anyone else like I trust him. Even...even if he's being a creep....Screw it, yanno?)
"Well. Heh. 'Course it does. I-I just. Still. That's...quite the idea.
Are we...ready for that sort of thing...? Our recruits can be a handful already, so...""Nonsense!! HEEHEE! People already love me! So I'll get 'em to love you, TOO...they have no choice.~""U-Um. Haha. Thank you?""YOU'RE WELCOME, MY RIGHT CANNED YAM. MY RIGHT TIGHTY." :). . ."But...really now. Um. Spek. You....you can handle all that responsibility...can't you?""C-CAN I--- OF COURSE I CAN! This Grove doesn't need a silly detective anymore! It needs a TRUE LEADER! Truly the TRUEST! THE ONLY-EST!And a truest, ONLY-EST leader I will BE!!"
Suddenly. All this "king" talk was starting to make sense. Hector's had no real cases for an entire year. They...well. King kept beating him to it. Almost....consistently. To him, at least. Capochin knows it was only because of King's popularity....
...!
Popularity.
Oh no. It's all adding up.
. . .
...What are we gonna do with you, boss.
"....Ummm. Inspekta, wait. Uh...is this...because of the slow days we've had lately? I mean...you'll...you'll return King once you figure out how to close the rift, right?
H-Ha.""W-Well. Obviously. Miz Mitternacht HERSELF would find out, otherwise. MITTERNACHT!
T-Tch. That weird old lady. But...I...I'd have to... Learn a memory wiping incantation to use on King. Something. Can't DELETE THEIR BRAIN. That's gruesome!!! HAHA....I'm not THAT desperate. I-I SWEAR. That's. THAT'S. AUGH!! SO HORRID.OH SPEK, YOU WRETCH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU'RE HORRIBLE, STOP TALKING!!!". . ."M-Mhm. D...Do you...um. You have a solid plan. R-Right?"..."Hmph! Bold assumption. I've already made up my mind, Capochin. You're either with me, or you retire."
...?!
HE DID NOT JUST SAY WHAT I THINK HE SAID.
"WHAT?! Are you saying I'm not good enough for you?! After everything I've done for you?! You're giving me the SACK?!"
...Oh no. That was too far. Wait, wait.
"Wh-Wh----Oh, gosh. So you...You're not---A-Ah. That's good. N-N-No, you're okay. You're doing fine---""I'm NOT---? I'M NOT WHAT, BOSS? I! I---UM.....[SIGH] I've dedicated 33 PLUS years to this cause. What is your DEAL, man. You can't POSSIBLY be sayin' that to me. Are---Are you saying you don't need---"
"NO!"
...."M-Mm.Sorry toots. I...I thought you'd call my bluff, like usual. I. Let me rephrase. I...I was just. Testing your loyalty. Making sure you...were ready for a change of plans. Making sure you weren't...too old. This...this is a much bigger project than we've seen before. And...you seem tired.". . .[...O-Oh. Maybe....maybe he does still care.]....(HOLD UP. HOLY MACKEREL, NOW WHY AM I PUSHED UP AGAINST A WALL AGAIN?!)
"O-OY. NOW, THAT'S NICE AND ALL. BUT.Why am I up against the wall, boss?! Why am I here again?!
A-Are you gonna...m-m-move?"
"Ay...?"
. . .
Now, now....what is that?
That light? That glow?
A sparkle?
A shimmer? A pretty petal?
A warmth...?
Inspekta....now notices something. Something...so familiar. Something...very powerful. Passionate. It sounds like...a heartbeat.
It's his.
An interesting specimen, that is. He'd never seen anything quite like it.
To think...this whole time, such a gentle beacon of light was within him. Why has it never looked like this before? Or rather...why has he never caught an instance like this?
...
Very, very, interesting.
What a fond rhythm. He could almost hear a melody within.
(...Tch. Maybe that old geezer was right about something. I guess.). . .
Wait....wait a minute. Oh....oh?
Capochin...is this your aura? How have I never seen it in full, like this?
How am I seeing it, now? M...Maybe it's those "home" remedies I took.
Oh...I guess you're really good at hiding it, maybe. Haha....oops.
....But. Is he....being vulnerable on purpose?
What is he....
...
Is it trying to tell me something? Could it be that---he's....
...Are you in love with me..? That's so odd. Didn't think you COULD feel stuff like that! That...that is what it is, right?
...
Am I....in a dream?
. . .
Maybe I am....maybe I'm not. But he does look rather....nice. His aura sparkles with such vim....such delight, even. Jades, jaspers, junipers, jewels.
Like a crisp sapphire. Sapphire...a delicious color.
A color we've known since birth....
Oh, Capochin, I know we both hate it. But don't you get 'homesick', now and again? As much as it scarred us two? Do you ever wish it wasn't beyond repair...?
Oh, Cappy...If you gotta bottle yourself up...at least let me pick out a pretty one for you, you know?
....
...Is he blushing? Does he always do that when I look at him?
Or is that....new?
Why is he blushing? Am I that charming? Am I beautiful?
Does he think I look cute...?
Am I soft?
Am I the lovliest sight of them all?
Oh, tell me! Tell me!
Why does this sound so nice?
...Do your words....actually hold weight? Do you actually like me?
. . .[Hector...suddenly can't contain himself.]
"Ohhh, ohoho. Are you sweating? You're all rosied blue...strange. Didn't expect that from you, Cappy. Ya bad thing....Thought yew knew better.~""H-H-HUH?! B---BOSS...""Do you actually LIKE this? Whoaaa...
You don't show your aura a lot, do you...that's fine, a'course. I know how ya are. Did I catch you at a good moment? Mm~? HEEHEEHEEE!I smell lots of things on you...your emotions are so...colorful.I see 'em dancing around... Ooh....they kinda sparkle! That's fun.~"
(TOO MUCH IS HAPPENING. For once, Capochin cannot follow his words. Never thought he'd see the day.)
"...E-Excuse ME?"[Inspekta keeps staring with a ridiculously sappy expression on his impish face.]. . ."What a discovery....How interesting. Ya know. Maybe...maybe I like it, too.
PFF. Just the tiniest little bit! HAHA, as if I'm that easy to please. You know me, toots. I got real high standards. And yet, ya made your way to the tippy-top of the mountain....Would you want to...think on that more? With me?"(I....I really love you. I would give anything to be with you....just name it, it's yours.)
"....H-Hector.""Ah-ah! Inspekta.~"(DID I DIE? AM I IN HEAVEN?)...."I-Inspekta...I. I don't know where you...got that idea, u-uhh! But, I----It's not---"
Shhhh~
Inspekta didn't even hesitate, interrupting him immeadiately....(Capochin did not want to admit how gratifying this felt.
Is he only being negged? Probably. Does he care? NOPE!)Capochin is embarrassed of himself and a weak laugh falls out of him."H-Ha....""SILLY CAPPY!!! Don't be so shy! UAHAHAHA...are you speechless?~ I'd hope so....You're too cute!"
(Cute like a plush toy, am I. Ugh. I knew it.)
Capochin refuses to speak up. He knows this has to be an act, or whatever. Considering the circumstances, it might be right.
His memories flash by quickly. Solemn.
Exasperated memories.
...
....Oh, what he wouldn't give for a kiss from him. Even if it wasn’t real.
NOT. NOT A KISS. WAIT. I WOULD SCREAM. I can barely take a hug without losing it. I can’t even recall or comprehend how I could cuddle him.
Of course, something like that always sounded...lovely...
NUH UH. Don't think about those things.
You know where this is going. You're gonna get yourself killed. You'll die. On the inside, at least.
It's just a means to get my guard down, no matter who it is. This is a test....of my patience.
I'll NEVER be deservin' of your respect, will I.
...
This is not what I need. I don't need this right now. Probably never. I've never wanted that. I don't want a date. All that 'couple' nonsense....
. . .
All....all the times he cuddled me close. Held me when I sobbed. Protected me...kept me safe....
Before, he didn't meld me together with a bunch of other confused folks....
Hector rescued me from THE ACTUAL Mafia. We’re renowned as the “radicals of Drain”. We’ve done everything together.
He was already a "god" to me. But why?
Why do you feel that way? That's not good.
....But. You know he's not perfect. Right? God or no god, "perfection" is a MYTH, don't you get it?
You fool. Don't you have a history degree? Get real! You're smarter than this.
. . .
I...I'm his number 2. I'm supposed to be his number 2. He promised me he'd always find a way to help me.
How....geniune he used to be.
As if...there was something more to it.
No. I don't need it.
Not that it wasn't nice, but....he never lets ME talk anymore. Never in the way he used to.
I don't know when he actually takes me seriously. I know it's how he is. He's too friendly, he's TOO MUCH of an open book.
He's too chatty. Loves the sound of his own voice, doesn't he. Yet he still doesn't let me in.
He never listens to ME anymore.
Ugh. That drain smile. You aren't actually happy. You're probably worse than me. You're nothing without me, slick.
When will you actually mean it? Did you ever love me at all? As your friend?
....
Alright, alright. Whoa there. Pump the brakes. Seriously. You don't mean...*all* of that.
You're just...being left in the dark.
He told you many times he's scared of letting people in. Maybe there's a good reason. You...you are similar.
I believe in that. No need to jump to conclusions. But this "flirting", it was...cute. At first. But now....it's starting to piss me off.
. . .
This is getting unhealthy. Is this really how you're gonna treat the one person you haven't driven away?
You're just....exhausted. No need to project on him.
I need something else, after all this time. Not someone. Something. A purpose, not a person. A good ounce of respect. Or...WHATEVER. Is that selfish? Can't I look up to someone normally?
Can't I take these useless feelings out of me? Throw 'em in the drink? Shoot 'em dead? Rip 'em out? Bury them in the backyard? I...I know there's some way. That keeps me in secrecy.
An old recipe.
. . . . .
Can't I just have a friend? Can't I love, without committing cardiac arrest, locking that love up?
To keep it all to myself? Send it back where it came from? Kill it as a child?
To execute it painfully? In an explosion of viscera and entrails?
. . .
Give me a scrap of dignity....Give me SOMETHING to work with here, Hector.)
"....""Mmm.....Maybe I like this more than I thought. Juuust maybe. That look in your eyes is rather enticing. After all these years, you and I....EHEEE. Have I thought about it? I'll never tell.Something about you in my paws....oh, it does make a guy wonder. Why's it make me feel so...um...funny. Strange.".....
The tension in the room...it catches up to Hector. All at once. All too fast.
"A-AH?I.....WAIT! WHAT AM I DOING? WHY *AM* I SO CLOSE TO YOU?!"...?!"Huhhh? B-Boss, hold on---"....Suddenly, all of those soft gloved hands plop on the ground beneath them, returning to sender.Hector stumbled and was backing away very, very fast.. . .
(
...Why did I let him do that?)
Capochin was ALL kinds of confused right now.
Wasn't even that disappointed when he moved, he was so uncomfortably flustered at his core.
...What....what HAPPENED? Why does he...actually look nervous? That's...the real question.He....he's clearly in a vulnerable state of mind right now. That...that was probably for the best.....
"HA-HA! MOVING ON! What was THAT?!
TRY TO FORGET I SAID THAT....Maybe I'm TIPSY-TURVY on those anti-sleepy potions you made! AHA~HAAAA!"
....
Capochin made no such thing.
...Was. Was he running experiments on himself again...?"I---?""Or....was that one me....I....I don't remember! Haha! Weeeeird! Don't even remember the last time I SHOWERED!"....."You...haven't needed a shower for 33 years.""I-I....I know. Haha. EHEEHEE....Aren't I just forgetful like that....? How unprofessional."
....!"Oooh. I think I'm reaaaally toired. Come back later Cappy, haha. That was weird, right? Sorryyyy. The room's spinning a little. I'm dizzy."
(Capochin is barely processing the circumstances.)
...."U-Um. Yes. Of course. I'll....s-show myself out.""OOOH! WAIT. Capochin. I...forgot. I...since we gotta clear up suspicion...you gotta throw Mitter-nop off our tail-trails. I already got you started. Obviously, you can't deliver it in my handwriting, hehe. My good ol' Pewter scanned King's memories, and I connected them to the forger.Get that old forgery machine out, and revise my draft. Ya remember how it works, right? 'Course you do. Then deliver it! It should easily fly over to her. I have complete faith in you, oh Cappy-tain.""AH. U-Um. OH....Of course...I...I can do that!"(.....But should I?)...."You're...you're pardoned for a bit. Just...um. Bring me my snack like you usually do, in 3 hours or so, please. Hee hee. Hah....Um. Night night.""Ahh. Um. G...Good night, old friend.""Mm....g'night...Cappy...". . .
Something broke in Capochin, that morning.
A haunting realization. This partnership. This project. What are we anymore?
Just something to fulfill the dream of a couple of losers?
Hector....the Hector I know might be gone forever.
...
Hah. Whatever. So he's a different person now. He's still my great and brave leader. My captain.
I'll manage. I always do.
...Surely, he will find out how sew up the rift. He won't let it hang open forever. He's not a sadistic maverick. He knows HE'S not invincible.
Right?
Right! He's not a misanthropic jackass.
He'll make everything right. And...
I'll get half the credit of this little escapade. At least!
. . .
Yeah.
. . .
Suddenly, the sky was murky. Capochin is unwillingly wistful.
....
Yeesh. I haven't even delivered it yet, Missy M.