Bay 12 Games Forum

“Alright, Deborah. Your big cousin taught you this before. Imagine a wide open space… free from the boundaries of rules and common sense… no floor, no ceiling, no walls… clear out the anti-magic toxin inside of you…” Deb opened her eyes, and all she could see was… nothing. “And now to summon… come, arise, out of my regrets for not protecting you… Tone.” A tall man, wearing only pants and a chestplate, appeared before Deb.
~Tone Seroto, reporting for duty, miss.~
“Yes, good.” Deb was still speaking out loud, but it wasn’t like anyone was listening. It was her guard shift, after all. “…I wish you were there before. I might have protected Nimitz…”
~Don’t worry about it, miss. You did your best. At least Tobias is safe, right?~
“Yeah…” Deb wiped a tear from her eye and buried her face in her knees. “…why couldn’t I have done anything!”
~Miss… please. Don’t worry about it… I swear I will protect everyone in your stead, if you’ll allow me to.~
“…yes. Then, I will allow you in. I, Deborah Woodard, hereby invite Tone Seroto to the alliance.”
~I, Tone Seroto, accept the invitation to join the alliance of Deborah Woodard.~
“Then let it be written.”

“…Tone, are you still there?” Tone appeared before her… of course, only she could see him.
~Yes, miss. Are you alright?~
“Yeah… I’m kind of glad Toby has already moved on, you know?” Deb was still speaking out loud right now, so anyone could hear her.
~…miss, that is a selfish thought.~
“I know that, but… you know…” Deb covers her eyes, hiding the fact that she was still tearing up.
~Miss, you really should get some sleep.~
“Alright, then…” Deb closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

“…Kat’s going to leave me… I’m going to be all alone again myself.”
~No, she isn’t. You need to stop that.~
“I wish… I could have a past like hers… so I can relate to her.” Deb closed her eyes. “…imagine a wide open space… arise, the person in me… the one who can relate to other criminals… Azure.” A blue haired woman, wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket and skirt, slowly formed before Deb. She was smoking a cigarette, but it wasn’t like Deb could smell it.
~Azure Skipper, reporting for duty, miss.~ Azure looked at Tone and grinned. ~So, so, it looks like we’re being summoned.~
“Yes… I… have been working for the past eight years. And I don’t know how people like Kat work. And she’s gotta be my best friend…”
~So, you want me to show you how she thinks, huh?~
“Basically… yeah.”
~Alright. Since you took the pleasure of summoning me, I’ll teach you how to work like one.~
~Hey, hey.~ Tone frowned at Azure. ~Don’t teach her bad stuff.~
~What? I’ll teach her how to fight, so she can protect others as well…~
~…hm. I really can’t think of anything to say to that.~
~That’s because you’re dumb, silly.~ Azure went over to knock her fist upside Tone’s head.
~Hey, hey! Deb, tell her to stop already!~
“Tone, Azure, please don’t fight.”
~~Oh, yes, miss.~~ Both of them said it in unison, which was pretty weird. But then again, this was all in Deb’s head, anyways.
“I’m going to get some sleep now. Do whatever you want.” Deb curled back up over on Toby, closing her eyes and getting some much needed rest.