Chapter Text
Hello?
(....Where is everyone? It can't be closing time, it's much too early. They wouldn't just...)
.....
(....Oh? Okay....a staircase just out of the wall. Totally not suspicious. What...?)
...Despite every feeling telling you "no" as you would to a persistent child...
You tiptoe down this off-white staircase. Holding your large book in your left hand. The luminosity of the lily white wallpaper from above gets farther and farther away. You feel as though you're in a dreamlike state.You have to touch the wall and banister in order to not trip down these hundreds of stairs. Does it even end? This felt so wrong on so many levels. But you can't stop moving downward.
I mean...not like there's anything better to do upstairs.
...
Looks like you made it to the end of the stairs. To this...velvet orchid colored room. Only few shades darker than your blouse. You still wished someone noticed it today.
You never thought such a velvetly pastel purple could look so....menacing. It felt so empty. But, it beat being isolated in your apartment.
(I...didn’t know there was such a...vast basement in this gallery.
Am I dreaming all this? Those stairs felt endless…)
...A faint pink glow stretched out to the end of the hallway. You follow it, given no other choice. There's a first for everything, you supposed.
A vibrant, pearly pink glowing rose rested in an opaque glass. A few feet ahead of it is a sign posted on the wall. You read it skeptically.
" 'You and the rose are unified….Know the way of life.' ? What…? Is this some kind of test?
I didn't pay the entrance fee for some kind of puzzle simulation...I thought that was limited to museums."
Deep in thought, you stare down the rose. You can't help but not hold back your smile.
It was quite a lovely pink. Very bright in color...it looked to be a hybrid. It seemed much too gorgeous to be real….but, according to the sign...this was yours. You lift it from the vase and slowly spin it around 180° degrees, back and forth. One of the petals looked to be loose. Uh oh...how were you to fix it? This felt dangerously tedious, but even so...
"Well, I suppose a detour wouldn't hurt…"
It looked so fragile…what was the connection here, being unified with a rose?
Dipping it back in the water suddenly gave you this refreshed feeling of wholeness. The blossom on this dashing rose had flourished. It came to you in an instant.
"This is exactly like...the Embodiment of Spirit sculpture! Ah, Mr. Weiss and his particular rose affinity. Stunning. This...this pink rose represents my very soul. That is too cool, oh my gosh! Ha! Oh...That means I can't let my guard down, I guess. Now in every sense of the word, it looks like.
...This is quite a strange invitation, I must say.
Why did Guertena invite me here, from beyond?"
To your left was the other posted notice….
"W...When the rose wilts...so too will you rot away. It's just as I thought. Hmfh. Rather brusque, I should say. Could've at least made it easier to back out, if an otherworldly being was going to spirit me away like this. Though typically, the gallery is only the walls that hold the art. It's just a lonely hallway without art. So that...contradicts my statement. (Sigh). "
From the title card of the sculpture, you remembered...the rose only blooms in wholesome bodies. Wow...did one of your biggest inspirations really choose you for this? Huh. Maybe he liked having a fan like me around?
...Luckily for this gallery, you were the daring type. One little mishap wouldn't stop you. You silently monologue, directing toward a ghost. Hoping a spirit would hear your thoughts.
(I get it, though. The gallery's drawn by my purehearted spirit. I'm honestly flattered, Mr. Weiss….)
Right, then! Have at you, et cetera!
I will gladly take on your challenge. ~
Whatever it may be, I'll be the knight who checks the king into the corner.
After all…
I'm one of your biggest fans.
Show me what it's all about, haha!
(author's note, will delete later: now we're where every painting and statue pursue ib and garry)
----
Ib then fell to her knees from overexertion. Garry, mid-run, turned back around and was devastated by the scene. The execrated painted ladies ranging from every primary pigment were closing in. However, it was the green ones that were in the lead. Ib shouted his name in desperation, like she was already done for. Garry hurriedly rushed to her side to Ib and held out his hand, now realizing he must pull the weight in running…
G: I...Ib! Oh dear! Gracious! Come on, grab my hand, please...! Don’t give up!
Even carrying herself back up on her own hands was an endeavor….everything felt numb.
Ib dared to look behind her. A figure of half of a green embellished lady was right around the bend.
She gaped at Garry, terror and tears emanating from her fatigued little eyes...
Seeing all the little one’s hope broken had broken him internally all the same.
G: N..No, no..! It’s okay!...Ib, They’re gaining on us! I-I’ll help you run! I won’t let them harm you, okay!? But we have to keep running, Ib!
Ib’s expression quickly turned resolute. She had at least one morsel of grit left in her, and she feebly held on to his wrist. Garry started running before the Lady in Green could even get a foot closer.
G: Alright!! Let’s get the heck out of here! Pick up your feet, okay Ib?!
Barely catching up to his pace, she nodded. They ran aimlessly, headless statues in all sorts of ensembles strutting about in every corner acted as a blockade distraction. They seemed to be in every corner they turned. Where was the exit? Was there even an end to this lunacy?!
Garry complained loudly, frazzled; keeping Ib from tripping on her shoes again….
G: Where, oh WHERE is that door?! GAH, I don’t remember! Do you remember? Why didn't we remember?! How have I survived this long? Oh, good lord!
Just as Garry rounded the corner, Ib saw a doorway warily open…she barely got the words out:
Ib: Garry…! Exit...door! Th-There…!
G:...R..Really?!
When she pointed, they could hear the roars of those behind the partition wall, approaching ever closer who'd promised to maul them. Ib may have been lightheaded, but she wasn’t even going to let sleep catch her.
G: ACK! Okay, we’ve got to break for it! Hold on to your rose!
Ib: (Hmph)…!
Sprinting with him, Ib bellowed her loudest yell as if running into war, simultaneously as Garry was practically screaming into a whistle register.
They made it through, not a moment too soon!
None seemed motivated to pursue them after that racket, mostly due to Garry’s glass-shattering shriek; overpowering Ib’s yell with a lot less decibels in comparison.
Garry wouldn’t normally slam a door ever, but this was the hopelessly sporadic occasion.
No looking back. They’d surely steal your soul within a second of a cruel smile...Just keep running, just keep running…
Ib, dejected and exhausted, still holding onto his wrist, doesn’t let go in their sprint until they’re at least 10 feet away from that door. Distressed, the hushed little child’s and the plucky young man’s hyperventilating were only slightly out of sync. Garry walked back a bit to catch his breath; hand on his knees and the ground, to ensure he still had a pulse.
G: Th….That...should be far enough…! I-I think…
Ib opens her mouth to agree, but nothing comes out. She seemed to only hear an obnoxious high-pitched ringing sound.
What...was that? Her knees gave in to the floor.
Garry’s voice seemed to get even farther away…
[...did the painted ladies curse me…?]
G: Ahah….hah. We certainly showed them!
Heh! Right, Ib?...Hah.
The statement was kind of rhetorical...he understood little Ib was tired. His grin disappeared quickly. He managed to compose himself from the rush of surviving that chaos. He stood up. Ib could not.
G: My...well then….Let’s keep go--...hm? Ib?
Only now, he noticed she was still kneeling, holding her shoulders. His relief was short term...he paced back to Ib and kneeled to her eye level.
G: Oh my...what is it? Are you okay…?
No…
...it’s not a curse…
her fading thoughts went.
She couldn’t respond…
...
Then she keeled over.
G: I-Ib?!
Garry’s concern quickly imploded into panic. He sputtered profusely and tried to shake her awake with her limp hand…
“Stay with me, now! Ib! IB…!”
….
“OH MY WORD!! IS SHE DEAD?! SHE’S DEAD! I-It’s all my fault!! AUGH, I-I’m so irresponsible! She died, a-and! They took a petal from her rose just when we were out the door, and, and…!
N….No?”
Garry pumps the brakes on his spiraling and stops mourning the little one’s apparent demise when he sees the rose still has plenty...
G: Aaugh, okay…! The red rose is fine! It has the same amount of petals from before...which is still less….unless it’s…! W...wilting right this second…!?
….It doesn’t. He picks up her small limp hand to check for a pulse anyway. It’s very slow.
G: O-Okay...what does that mean again…? Her rose is fine, she still has a pulse...oh. She fell unconscious. Right. Ugh...what was I thinking? Of course she fainted from the overexertion!
I would’ve too, running around as she was with no breaks…!
I...should’ve been looking out for her. I’m the adult here...and here I am, blathering like a fool! S-Screaming at anything that moves...okay, okay...no good’s going to come out of this self pity. Keep it together...
He then scans the room, brushing away his voluminous bangs...his throat gets even colder, because he only now discerned that at least hundreds of mannequin eyes were staring at him and unconscious Ib.
G:...One thing is for...darn sure. I’m getting this little one out of this, uh...scopophobia hallway. This lot of weirdos….how, though..?
Holding his arms and a hand to his face fretfully, he looked down at his ragged cloak of a jacket. He slipped it off, the chill of this hallway going right through him; his paling warm ochre figure. He was shivering, but nonetheless...
She’ll need this more than me.
So he wraps the little one in the big, purposefully tattered coat the same length as a blanket and lifts her up. Ib was wrapped a bit like a swiss roll, all the while snug.
The coattails continue fluttering and the loosened cloth tatters keep falling as he walks, strained while carrying Ib.
It’s not like he hadn’t held his relatives’ kids before… but they were babies. So a 28.5 kg child was a lot different. Even as light as she was, Garry was still kind of winded from running, and just generally struggling. He kept looking ahead of this long ill-lit hallway, and trying so hard to ignore the hundreds of porcelain eyes.
Swiss roll...huh. For some reason, when his mind jumped to sweets, he didn’t feel hungry like he usually would. Though the certain sickenly sweet, perfume-like scent the gallery had; and all the vile faces and things he’d seen, could probably have to do with his loss of appetite. But also...the moment he entered this haunted gallery, he forgot what he had for breakfast this morning. Creepy...what were all these traumatic experiences doing to him?
G:..Ack!
He winced as his slightly pointed nose bumped into the wall, not looking at where he was going. Ib’s sneakers lightly hit the wall as well, which alarmed him. He wasn’t aware he’d made it to the end of the hallway.
G, softly: O-Oh, shoot! Sorry Ib!
No response...only light breathing.
G: Wow. She’s really out...the poor dear.
(He blinks.) Wait. I ran into the wall...so that means…
The mannequin heads were several feet behind him, unmoving...thank goodness. And there were stairs leading below. There was no way he was carrying Ib all the way down though. His legs--well...pretty much all his limbs felt like jelly. He should've stretched more this morning. He'd certainly trip and rudely awaken Ib. Yeah, there was no way he was going to run and carry someone simultaneously, especially a kid. He was practically a beanpole.
Though, he spotted something else the same color as the wall that was easy to miss.
G: Ah! Is that a door…?! Perhaps there's a vase in this room…? Not that I'd need it...but she will…
Ib stirs a little. He looked down at her face, hoping she was awake, but no...She was far from that. He pondered that maybe he should talk quieter for her sake anyway. He tiptoed to the front of the door.
….Then something caused him to be hesitant. As always. What if it was locked? What if he had to go back and find a key? But if it wasn't, was there something behind it?
He was so exhausted. His typically soft voice dipped itself in bitter coffee as he spoke.
G: Uugh. I really can't handle any more running. If I have to run anymore in this state, I'm going to cry.
(Unbeknownst to him, someone was listening. Maybe more than one…)
He raises his voice a little, as if trying to negotiate with his own bad luck.
G:...Listen to me, gallery ghosts. You better not try to scare me right now….Not saying I can't take it. I'm only saying this to you, 'cuz you'll make me wake up Ib. You don't want that...she'd outsmart you.
Can we have a truce? No? I-If you don't, well...then I'll have to give you a firm lecture. Y-Yeah! It'll be so boring, t-that...well, you'll surely...cease to be twice…! I MEAN. Again! You’ll cease to be a-again, ha!
The empty echo of the gallery stairwell echoed his non-threatening threat back at him.
His sheepish face turned a little..."rosy".
G:...Gracious. That...has to be the blandest, most monotonous thing I have ever said.
He hears a sudden muffled sound. It sounded like...a laugh. Someone's laugh. In...the walls...? It vaguely sounded like a person. And was much too deep in tone and far away to be Ib's laugh. He. Flipped. Out.
Still carefully holding the resting Ib in that tattered coat of his, he scanned the area. They were being eavesdropped on. More fraying cloth scattered about from the hurried movement.
Not that he was surprised by being stalked in this hell anymore, but he felt emotionally violated. It...almost sounded like someone he knew. Either he'd lost it for real, or there were actual spirits watching him and Ib's every move. Both were likely. At the same time. In a hushed but harshed whisper, he gave one more weary warning to the "ghosts".
G: Agh, you...! S...Show yourself, won't you?! W-Wait, no. Actually, don't. (Sigh)
Well, then...you heard me. Leave me alone and don't wake up Ib. Y...You'll be sorry. I'm warning you...Please? Can we agree on that?
It's dead quiet. He exhales.
"...Hoo-kay."
He'll take the silence as an agreement. Garry swiftly opens the door, braces himself with his one free arm…!
Nothing jumped out at them….well, good.
This didn't make him feel any less stupid about taking to himself for the last 5 minutes. But...hm. There was a vase, like he had hoped. Looking around the room, he saw one large painting. It seemed abstract. He ambled over to it. Yeesh. His arms were about to give out, only by looking at the nameplate…
[ Uh..."Untitled"...? Seriously? After all these profound names for Guertena's pieces, THAT'S what he decided on? ]
Was that really its name? Why give it this seemingly lazy name? It should've been, like...“Magic Wand” or “Star Cluster”. Or something more creative than what he could come up with. Ah, well. His sweet tooth was showing again, thinking on a certain star-cluster candy he forgot the proper name of.
He did have that one lone candy left in his coat pocket he was saving...but he wasn't really feeling it right now.
Art sure is strange…though at least this painting didn't seem to move at all.
Perhaps...because it wasn't human-like, it wasn't going to jump out at them? He was praying it wouldn't…
Was the painting there truly harmless?...Well, he had to cautiously set little Ib down on the floor(still zonked out) regardless. He was really sore, so he did slow side bend arm stretches; doing wrist flexes as well.
...Suspicious of this apathetic painting still, he made a petulant face at it, motioning "I'm watchin' you"; with his two fingers pointing at his eyes and back to the painting.
Could you blame him?
...
He saw that the blanket roll of the coat had unraveled itself with Ib...And she was sluggishly laying there on the ground. One hand raised, still with her disturbed little expression she had upon losing consciousness.
Garry softly frowned, hoping she was sleeping well at the very least. He kneeled.
He re-adjusted his fluttery coat, laid it out flat like you would an actual blanket, and tucked her in.
He slid the right-handed sleeve below her head so it wouldn’t have to be on the rigid (and possibly unsanitary) carpeted floor.
Her expression seemed to calm a bit...then subconsciously, she was steadily reaching for something imaginary.
Garry was baffled at first, but recognized the behavior...perhaps she had a stuffed animal? He unfortunately couldn't find anything soft in the vicinity.
Of course, he couldn’t just leave her like that...so he took the left sleeve of the coat, turned it inside out and handed it to her. Then Ib’s stirring ceased, and she relaxed, holding the overturned sleeve close.
“B..Bunny…” She mumbled.
He really smiled for a moment.
G: This is the least I can do to repay you, little Ib.
...Although.
Ironically, Garry felt even worse...
Empathy was his first priority, even in running for his life. Poor little Ib probably thought she was at her house, that all of this was only a bad dream...what was he going to tell her when she found out she was still stuck here, and not with her folks?
He starts monologuing in a low whisper.
G: Aw, Ib...you’re still so small. Yet, you're even braver than I could ever be.
No older than 10, at least...and this gallery forced you to fend for yourself...you shouldn't have to be here…
You're probably growing up faster than you ever wanted to. Poor kid...
You should be outside, with your parents! And yet, you were here to save me from myself... ( Cough )...Oh, dear me.
Garry's throat burned a little….was he really on the verge of tears?
That hasn't happened for quite a while…he ran his hand through his soft curls to put himself back on the ground.
G: (Sigh...) I hope you're having a good dream. Rest easy, Ib. You deserve that much, at least.
…
Garry recognized his own tone...who he was mirroring. The oldie-but-goodie, go-getter gal herself...Rozalinda Morado.
G: Goodness, listen to me. I sound like my mother, aha.
Did she think exactly like this, all that time ago? Raising me by herself...? I bet she did. Sheesh, I was such a diva at times, heh.
...
Oh gosh.
He was all homesick again...
G: ….
Mom...why didn't I call her this week? Ugh, why isn't there, like...some, telephone painting for me...even Ib, to just dial….if it’d work. That'd make things way easier, right? But…
He stopped himself before finishing that realization aloud. He felt a growing emptiness at the thought of it.
…
Who knew if they'd ever see or hear their own mothers again , he almost said aloud. But he knew he couldn't, if Ib was listening in her sleep. And that was way too heavy a truth for even him to handle. He laughs hollowly.
G:..Ahah. Ah, dear...it's clear I can't hold a conversation with myself. Sorry if you heard all that, Ib. You don't need any more unnecessary worry. Well, heh...rest up.
….The silence was what had been figuratively killing him, all things considered. He needed a distraction, pronto. By the vase were two rows of medium-sized bookcases he was too occupied with distress to notice before. Maybe there’d be something interesting there to quell his troubled mind.
Lots and lots of art books...none that caught his eye though. One was labeled “Fun Pictures” in a colorful font. He slipped it out carefully, and the pages were filled with large drawings. It was definitely meant for children like Ib. For some reason, even though it looked so innocent; he couldn’t help but be unnerved. So he pushed it back in.
...His mind wandered a bit...entertaining the idea of a secret passage unlocking with one of these books like in a film.
There were a ton of art movement related ones, about different kinds of art styles. Garry wasn’t actually too interested in the names of the styles themselves, all he remembered at the top of his head was abstract and surrealism. Surrealism stood out to him, mainly because its whole thing is being as mind-bogglingly strange as possible. It’s not supposed to make sense most of the time, merely supposed to be dream-like and evoke an otherworldly sort of feeling. To Garry, surrealism made him existentially question life itself. And, surreal was certainly one way to put this nonsensical gallery...or haunted dungeon, more like.
A mortifying intrusive thought forced itself in...how long would it be until he was considered missing?
He’s definitely been stuck in this forsaken gallery for more than 2 hours. It felt never-ending.
…And it especially felt like eternity without his watch working. Did anyone even know if he was gone...?
[]
...He’d ended up just like his close friend Makhini’s cousin, disappearing without a word last year. She’d be devastated once she found out he'd probably been spirited away as well.
…What was their name again? “Hirose”? He could only recall their surname...they were only ever on formal terms...as much as he wanted to properly know them….The three all went to the same school together; even the 3 year university. Garry recalled everything.
Makhini Nazgul: A somewhat petite african american girl who used to live in NA before her family flew to the UK with her cousin in her teen years. Her delicate, poufy hair is dyed a lovely vibrant fuchsia red, and some of her darker roots blended into it. She wore her natural, long coily hair in two afro puffs. Underneath them is a quaint little bob untouched by hair dye.
He’d met Makhini early in highschool when she first transferred from overseas. It was actually through Mak that he became more interested in Hirose. They were one of the most popular kids, ever since elementary school. He’d recall some elements of their artistic style blending into his, with Makhini’s help.
From a shopping trip in highschool to a boutique she knew, he found this gorgeous singular white-rose metal beaded earring. Was that the same one where he got his designer coat from? He couldn’t remember. Perhaps not. Her cousin had the same brand of the aforementioned rose earring of the same kind in this pinkish amethyst-like color. Garry has had his single piercing, with his own well-loved earring in it ever since.
He always wears it and regularly disinfects the piercing; never wanting to get it re-pierced or infected again, fearing the awful throbbing that came with it. Some of the paint on it was chipped from age, but at least it was off-white underneath.
This earring was especially sentimental now...longing for what could’ve been if he was their friend.
They’d been considered missing for at least a year now. A rumor was they were in town, but they were in hiding. Makhini lives in a whole different city, so there was no way for her to track them down. (Technology isn’t that far yet…)
Makhini was never the same, after. ‘Hirose’ and Makhini grew up like siblings, being the same age. Mak considered him her sibling, being an only child. (Like Garry is.)
She said they were likely fine, but she never explained why. Garry knew her long enough to understand her stress response. She’s a very calm and easygoing individual. But she put up this nonchalant, unbothered persona and shut others out whenever she was upset. No matter how many times Garry tried to reach out to her with condolences of her missing cousin last year, she’d brush it off.
"Gare, I'm fine. Really. There's nothing to fret over.
Yeah, Hirou estranged themself from everyone but hey, that's their biz, y'know?
They're fine, okay?"
If Garry questioned further…predictably, she'd change the subject or make an excuse to avoid him for the moment.
He respects her privacy above all else, as he does for all his friends. Goodness, though.
She should have a therapist help her out with this. By the sound of it, she's holding on to that little scrap of hope like her own life depended on it….
Those two were so close.
Garry knew. There were times when she wouldn't stop blathering on and on about her cool cousin Hirou. Her tenderheartedness made it clear how tight their bond was.
…Garry sure thought of him in high regard as well.
That fact intimidated him a lot. He was honestly starstruck, the more Makhini spoke of trying out activities like fencing and archery together.
Hiroumi's father is a renowned vegetable farmer, running a humble rabbit adoption service with his wife. They're very well-off, as a Japanese-Black interracial couple.
He thought Hiroumi was WAY out of his league
In…terms of friendship, of course.
Once a terribly awkward goth guy, always a terribly awkward goth guy.
He's known them since kindergarten too. They've only shared a few classes together throughout their entire lives.
Even now, especially now, Garry couldn’t pluck up the courage to try to mingle with them without asking Makhini to tag along.
…
Before they disappeared, all she would do is say things like:
“Aw, you’ll be fine! Talk to them, Gare! Hee. You two would really hit it off, dude! Don’t be intimidated by their popularity...I know they come off as a little eccentric...and pompous. But I promise they’re really a total nerd just like you.”
Makhini pretending like she wasn't a geeky toy collector herself.
…
He wondered the intent behind “hit it off” in that instance. Around that time, both of them were newly single. Her cousin had taken a break from dating for a long time. Was Makhini implying something? They’d sort of made this unspoken oath they’d be each other’s wingman when the opportunity came up. As friends often do. They looked out for each other. Her second opinion was key in helping him realize when he was taken advantage of last time. She’s a loyal friend, through and through.
She never treated him like a second thought when she found herself a girlfriend, aka; pretty much her soulmate.
The air in the family seemed thinner though. Mak and her cousin apparently drifted a little, after she started dating her. When he asked about them then, she acted all awkward and quiet.
(Maybe Hiroumi didn't feel like they were given the same consideration….not that Garry knew himself.
He could only speculate what caused the unfathomable falling out of the palsy-walsy cousins.)
Garry of course didn’t want to get involved, but...one could only wonder what happened. The disconnect precedent of their disappearance definitely added to her guilt. Why would her cousin have a problem with her girlfriend?
Mak’s girlfriend Safra seemed to be quite kind, albeit a bit overzealous. He trusted Safra took good care of her; because the last time they hung out together, he visited their apartment. She had just moved in with Makhini.
He found it rather silly that they’d only recently moved in together; when they practically lived with each other from the start. They never stopped visiting each other, only being a few blocks away from one another.
Were sapphic women always like that? He grinned to himself.
Gosh. He wished for a relationship even half as dedicated as they were.
Wherever her cousin ended up, he hoped dearly they were safe. Garry knew Makhini wouldn’t be able to take him disappearing well at all. She didn't need to lose anyone else. He just had to find a way out...he didn’t want his friends to lose him, too.
...Though he realized. This desperate plea to escape...isn’t this the root of his irresponsibility?
He should’ve been looking out for Ib more...then she wouldn’t have collapsed…
. . .
Garry shook himself out of reminiscing to check up on Ib from behind the bookcase.
Still sound asleep, and clasping the sleeve. He sighed forlornly. He really needed to read something, or he’d be stuck in this rumination spell until she did wake.
His mind always jumped like this...did he have attention deficit disorder? Or something of the like? It would make a lot of sense. It’d be convenient if he could get a psychiatrist’s diagnosis.
Generally, if he’s going to be stranded here…
G: ( Haaa...C’mon, now...just pick a book. Pick anything. Better to be confused by art than harmed by it…)
He slipped one out from the bookcase to his right that was more faded…
Then dust scattered everywhere...Goodness! His nose crinkled, and…!!
“ H AA AA-CHOO!”
...Garry froze in embarrassment, puffy and scarlet in the face for two different reasons.
His arm was now uncomfortably damp.
He was taken aback by his own sneeze, the sound bouncing off the ceiling...Did that wake her?
…
Nope. He was almost amazed.
G: (....This kid can sleep like a rock. I’m envious.)
(WIP dialogue)
---
Ib: Uh...Goth? Uhm. Garry…? What do they mean by ‘wallflower’..? Like…are they talking about your rose or something…?
Garry doesn't look amused by the quip in the slightest. This look in his eyes like he'd just smelled something moldy only confused Ib more.
G: Ah...well....
Hi: Oh no, no, Little Red. Wallfower is a term for the shy ones who never make eye contact with anyone at school. And in our school days, that's all Garry would ever do! He was shyer than a pangolin, eheehee! A very goth pangolin. Not that it's anything to be ashamed of.~
Garry still couldn't help being offended by this comment. He raised his pointer finger at Hiroumi to let them know it.
G: M-My style isn’t all gothic! Can’t a guy just wear mascara and his chic jacket in peace?!
Ib softly giggles at how casual he started speaking. His attention shifts to Ib, quick to accept that the embarrassment had already seeped in.
G: I suppose there’s no hiding it now, is there, Ib? It can’t be helped, ha. Now you know everything.
He annucated. She grinned with her teeth, with a more genuine smile than the usual polite little smile she’d do.
Hiroumi then was curious to know about this sibling-like nature.
Hi: Oh..I was actually about to ask, Garry. I wasn’t aware you had this little cousin of yours. Did you take her to the gallery with you?
G: Wha-? Er, no actually. We aren’t related, I met this little one here. She got separated from her parents…
Hi: Huh, really…? Well, you sure had me convinced. Even if she’s a little fairer than you.
Ib raised her brow with intrigue and confusion.
G: Ah, well...uh? I...don’t...? Quite see what you mean?
Hi: Well, she seems so fond of you, as if you are. I wouldn’t be surprised, what with how kind you are, Garry.~
He stammers inaudible nonsense. Garry isn’t sure how to respond to the compliment...Hiroumi thought he was kind?
Hi: Mind me asking, what does she think?
[Ib thinks on it… a. Garry lent me his coat when I fell asleep b. Garry’s like a silly uncle]
Ib: Oh, oh. He took care of me just now, when I needed it. When I fell asleep all of a sudden, in the other room, Garry lent me his coat. He is kind. Also he’s really silly. I kinda wish I knew him before, hehe.
G: Aww, really?...W-Wait, Ib, you didn’t just fall asleep! You fainted! That’s called fainting, Ib!
....?
Ib: Whaddya mean? I was tired, so I fell asleep, right..?
G: No, no, it’s way different, Ib! Fainting is dangerous! When you faint, it’s really hard to wake up!
Ib: Oh. Sorry, then…
G: Huh--? Whatever for? You didn’t know, it’s okay...I was concerned that you didn’t know the difference. Fainting is a dangerous kind of rest, that’s all.
Ib: Okay. Well, uhm...you were worried when I said it, so. That’s why.
G: Oh...well, don’t be Ib. It’s alright.
Ib gives a small smile. (Hiroumi ponders how she fainted...perhaps the gallery wasn’t for everyone.)
Hi: Heh. See, Garry? How could I not be convinced you two aren’t siblings?
G: Um...you could just be like everyone else?
Hi: Pff, I’m not known for conforming, Garry. I thought my reputation in our school years together withheld. Heh, but jokes aside, my memory has been failing me.
Garry's eyes turned into dinner plates from the nonchalant remark.
G: M-MY WORD! H-How? We’ve not even grazed 25!
Hi: I regret to inform you that a person with memory loss can’t usually tell you, hon.
Garry facepalmed at his own foolishness.
G: R-Right. But…hm, how long have you..been here? And if it’s been long...perhaps it’s affected your memory...? Oh dear, that’s a terrifying thought.
Hi: A while.~ Long enough to come to appreciate its splendor.
Garry steps up the stairs to their level in his worrywortness.
G: What?! Okay, clearly you’ve been here too long. Y-You should come with us.
And--is that a rose in your hair? It’s a different shade of pink than your hair…?! You have one too! How does it look? Did you check?? Does it need water?! W-We can find you a vase!
Hi: Now, now, dear Garry. I don’t need you mothering me now, too.
G: I--uh?!
They take out their rose from their big hair and spin it gently.
Hi: I know how these mini embodiments of spirit work. It’s sturdy, so I rest it in my hair. It’s like a glove. 8 petals, like it always has had. I know that for sure.
G:....There is definitely more than 8 petals on that rose.
Hi: *Sigh* You know what I mean. 8 hits, or some what. But...your concern for me is sweet.
Hirou lowers the finger they pointed at him, revealing his now rosy face.
G: I-I- UH??
Hi: I see you haven’t changed much from being a wallflower.~ Now you have one of your own, heehee. And what a lovely, brilliant blue it is. Her rose matches her eyes...does yours as well?
Ib watches Garry adjust his footing so he doesn’t stumble on the fabric stairs…
G: BAH, N-Nevermind that now!! Come along with us, please…! We should stick together!
Hi: Like I said, silly goose. I know this place by heart, at least. I’m flattered, but I’ll be just fine on my own.
G: No, no, come on. We shouldn’t get separated! What do you mean you’ll be fine?! You don’t live here!
Hi: Maybe you don’t, Garry.~ But the patrons provided me a place to stay. I understand you’re a fan of mine, but--
G: HUH? This has nothing to do with your popularity, where did that come from?! Hiroumi, I am genuinely concerned for you! You have memory loss, that’s never a good thing! If you come with us, maybe I could help you remember things, e-even though I never really knew you besides through your cousin---
Hi: Cousin…? I have a cousin?
G: Y-You forgot her too?! ...Oh no, it’s so much worse than I thought.
Hi: I should go, Garry. I’ll be late to my meeting.
G: What nonsense are you saying now?? Wh-What! No, Hiroumi! You’re unwell...why do you have a meeting with any entity residing here??
They have a calm smile...
Hi: Because.~ I’m now one of the works of art, myself.
The words sent chills up his spine. Ib froze where she stood.
G: WHAT?! Wa-Wait, Hiroumi! W-W-What do you..? H-HUH..?
Hi: There’s no need to worry about me, friend. I’m very happy here. I’ll leave you two be, now. I must return to my morning routine.
He winks at Garry, as if it’s been said and done.
Hi: I’ll be seeing you, Garry.
Hiroumi takes out a large book tied to their obi that Garry didn’t notice before. Peering at it quickly, it read in their handwriting: “Sketch Dairy, Hiroumi Hirose.” They opened it, and out flew a large charcoal outline of a door that had magically copied itself from the page. What the hell ? It splattered on the wall that the stairs were confined to, and then Hiroumi turned the knob just as if it were a real one. On the other side was nothing like anyone had seen before. Garry stared at the otherworldly realm within that door in anticipation. Ib only saw the vibrant blue light it filtered on both of them from the bottom of the stairs. She didn’t know what to believe before her eyes.
Hi: Heehee. Amazing, isn’t it? Take care, you handsome little yam~!
G: Hiroumi!! W-WAIT!
They cross through the door, and softly shut it behind them. Just like that, this portal door disappeared as if it were never there.
Ib could see that Garry’s expression was grim. She found the courage to move again, and followed him up the stairs to his step.
G:......
Ib:….Garry…? Are you, uh…?
G:...I...Ib, what...happened just now? Was...any of that even real? Was I just seeing things? Did I make them real just now, somehow? Or...was that really them?
Ib: I saw him do that, too…! And they...have magic. In that...spell book. It was like, from a cartoon…
Garry was still taken aback, he massaged his temples before turning towards Ib’s direction.
G: Goodness. Uh, that book they were holding was a sketchbook, Ib...and of course, in a place like this, it would be enchanted…T-That was their own drawings...how does that work here? Thi-This is so much to take all at once...
Ib: Are they gonna be okay…?
G: Uh, I....hope so. But I...don’t know.
…..
Ib: Hey, uh...why did Hiroumi-san call you a “handsome yam” ? And like, all those other things--
Garry’s rosiness returned, not wanting to explain the terms of endearment. He didn’t know himself, he didn’t WANT to think about them.
G: HaHAA, uH. We shouldn’t worry about that now. We should worry more about ourselves, Ib.
Ib: Oh, yeah. Okay.
G:...
Ib: Did they call you a yam, ‘cuz your hair’s purple?
G: I-I DUNNO…! Let’s just go, Ib…! We’ll see if we can help him, if we see him again...okay?
Ib: Yeah. A‘Course.