bakerstreet | If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.

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If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.

i will follow you into the dark;
a darker shipping meme

It's the end of the line for you.. No matter how long you've been here on this planet, in this universe, that time is over now. Pain wracks your body, or perhaps it doesn't as you drift away from this life. All that remains is that ever fading light -

And the face of the one you care for the most.

For they are joining you on this last journey, as difficult or as easy as it can be. This could have been planned - you wanted to die together - or you both happened to be in the same place at the same time. Your world could be crashing down around you in a final armageddon; you could not be missed, the world turning without you two in it. One of you brought this onto you both; you tried to save your companion. You killed them yourself. It was all an accident...this wasn't supposed to happen...

How you've come to this doesn't matter so much in hindsight, though your sight is dimming as it as. What does matter is how you spend these last few moments with the person who means so much to you. If you're lucky, the two of you have lived a long, happy life together. Those who find themselves faced with a more tragic ending will have just realized their feelings for each other.

You don't have long, only a few moments. Make of them what you can. Reveal your secrets, touch their hand one last time, give them an embrace or a kiss. Apologize, if you see fit. Do what you did in life, but make it count and hope that you will see them again somehow.

Comment with your character and preferences. If you have any ideas or anything you do not want to touch, be sure to include those, too.
You can play this as serious and as dark as you'd like.
Reply to others on the meme. Discuss scenarios, AUs, and crossovers.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ooc | open to cross-canon/medium, aus, and assumed cr.

[Interested?]

absolutely!

[His poor Zichen! Xiao Xingchen's soul doesn't have the strength to carry on after he discovers the truth. He killed his soulmate; the man he loves above all others. Xue Yang can't stop him and he pushes his way passed Fuxue to throw his arms around his Zichen. His body is wracked with sobs, his spirit crumbling, but he can't let go.]

You came back... Zichen! [That must be why the man is here in this wretched town. He came back for him.] Zichen, can you hear me? I didn't know it was you...! I didn't -

(( Zichen is trapped within his own body. He feels cold and little else. But his heart aches. It aches for Xingchen. It aches for the tragedy of them. He wants to throw his arms around his friend, the man he considers to be his soulmate. He wants to wipe the bloodied tears from his face and take him away from this horrible place. He wants to do so much but manages only to tilt his head slightly to one side. Song Lan can't even drop the arm holding Fuxue. ))

Zichen, can you hear me? I'm h-here. I'm so sorry! [Blood trails down his cheeks and it seems never-ending. He doesn't deserve this sweet man. He doesn't deserve anything! But one thing stands out in the midst of his depression: he has to free his soulmate. Turning to Xue Yang, teeth clenched, he orders:]

Release him. You've done enough. You've had your revenge. Now let him go.

[And if his words aren't enough, he turns back to Zichen briefly, pressing a kiss to those poor lips.]

This won't take long. Hold on, Zichen.

[Then he faces his opponent, Shuanghua drawn. The one he thought was his friend.]

Yes! Zichen screams in his mind. Yes, I hear you! But he didn't want his soulmate to fight this monster alone! It isn't that the thought Xingchen couldn't handle it, it's just that he's emotionally compromised at the moment and that never bodes well for a swordsman.

[He fights nonetheless, his blade clashing with Jiangzai. It hurts to fight Xue Yang and the man likely knows it. Thus the criminal - the murderer - is able to cut him deeply on his side. Xingchen cries out from the pain, but he continues to fight, finally disarming his foe and killing him with a sob.

Stumbling to Zichen, holding his wound closed - as much as he can - he drops Shuanghua and gasps:]

Zichen... He's dead... You're free.

(( He's honestly surprised that Xue Yang didn't get him involved in the fight if only to make things harder for Xingchen. Fuxue, still in his hand, drops to the ground as his own will returns. Control of his body returns tohim and he rushes to his soulmate's side. ))

Xingchen!

Edited 2021-11-06 22:54 (UTC)

[Maybe tormenting Xingchen a little more is enough. Who knows? Demented minds will do as they please; logic is rarely involved.

All that matters to him is feeling Zichen in his arms. Gasping when he hears his name, he gropes for his soulmate, trembling from pain and joy.]

Zichen, you're free... We'll - [He falls to one knee, finding it hard to breathe.]

ooc | open to cross-canon/medium, aus, and assumed cr.

Edited 2021-11-03 23:36 (UTC)

[Ciro accepted the reality of what he might have to do to get Rune back, and had even resolved that he didn't need to get him back, not really. All he wanted was to be with him, and if he can have that then he doesn't care who uses him as a magical power supply. He'd sell his soul twice over to be reunited, and once Gris and Ezra became aware of that, they hardly had to convince Ciro to do unspeakable things.

He remembered once that the news of Rune executing a building full humans broke his heart, but Ciro felt as thought that had been another lifetime ago. All that's left of him is a shell of what he once was, going through the motions of loving Rune without the capacity for any of the substance. At least they were together now, and Ciro can speak only for himself but he has nothing more to live for than the fleeting joy he receives after completing a mission and being allowed to come home to Rune. The cycle becomes repetitive though, because next Rune will be the one to leave.]

I'm back. [And smells of fae blood. Upon any inspection at all a small splatter of dried blood dots a few points on his cheek.]

[ Some days are easier than others.

Most are not.

It would be tolerable, he thinks, if he didn't have to watch Ciro, if he didn't have to live with the guilt of knowing exactly what it is he'd done to someone so inexplicably kind. Ciro isn't the type of witch meant for murder and death, even if he is strong. Rune had known that the day they'd met, when he'd helped him rather than sacrificed him, and now that things are as bad as this, he can barely stand it. It makes him angry, irrationally so. Which is why Ciro's return doesn't need to be announced, feeling that familiar pull between them as he quickly shoves all of the spellwork he'd been doing aside in order to turn around and look at him.

The place they're staying in isn't as nice as their tea shop, but that feels like a moment in a dream, a delusion he'd once had. It's big enough for the two of them, and that's really all they need, frowning at the lingering touch of fae magic that clings to Ciro as he steps into his personal space to wipe at his cheek. They should leave all of this behind, and maybe they will. Once he finishes the spell to free them both. ]

You need a bath. I don't want you coming to bed smelling like that.

[The first few times were difficult. He cried during and after for what felt like days.

Then, eventually, not at all.

Ciro misses his plants and rooftop garden sometimes, but kept busy enough in other less fulfilling ways that he doesn't even bring it up anymore. The fingers rubbing at what was left of the family he had to take out are welcome, but not the actions that caused them to get there. Ciro shuts down that part of himself, his empathy. It used to be the thing that made him strong, but now it feels like it only brings him sadness. But that's what Rune is for.]

I'll take a bath before I join you. [But not before leaning in closer to take a kiss that wasn't really being offered to him. There would never be any freedom from this. If there ever was, Ciro doesn't know how he could live with himself.]

[ No icons?! I'm a monster, but one that insists on voice testing a traumatized man on a traumatic meme. Obviously if this gets a nibble there will be spoilers for The Magnus Archives. Be kind, rewind. Any questions, please hit me up! ]