[size=1](Takes place after Path to Hades. Only Greg in this one, please.)[/size]

Cheryl walked along the streets of Traverse Town. It's been a long time since she last visited this world; the last time she had been here, it was when she helped try to save Audrey from Kaztos. Since then, she had avoided this world due to the bad memories of that time.

Why she was here now, though...the Holy Mother just wanted a quiet place to think alone. She did consider seeing Audrey before she came here, but after the last adventure through hell, quite literally, she felt the Dream Mage should have some time on her own. Either that, or she was seeing Sorin by now. It was almost amazing how those two were still together after all these years...

And then there was another thought she had. Isaac Zivaku, the demon boy who had helped her through the Otherworld incident before. Well, he wasn't a boy anymore; he was about her age now, and had the height to prove it. It's been so long...she didn't even know the half of what's been going on with him. After what happened between him and Naito, his nephew from the future, part of her wanted to try and find him, catch up on things with him. He might have admitted to being a liar and cheater before, but she still trusted him regardless.

But even then, why did she want so bad to look for him? What made her so interested in finding out what's been going on with him? Hell, she admitted she was more interested in catching up with him more than Audrey, as she had already been told of the things happening with her by Joseph. But why...?

She tried to ignore the mumblings of Valtiel as she kept walking. For the past hour, he had been going on and on about the history of the religion the Order followed. She was getting sick of that, as well as hearing the prayer over and over, and him calling her 'Holy Mother' and 'Alessa'. Cheryl still didn't understand why he was here, what it was that he wanted. What would he gain by having merged with her before? She knew it had to do with God...but how did he plan to go about it this time?

Those thoughts had come to a stop as civilians had walked by. It was funny, how this once empty world was now somewhat populated. Normally, this wouldn't catch her attention...but a few passing words in their conversation caught her ears.

"Wasn't that place infested with those shadow creatures? Why would anyone wanna take up an apartment like that?

"I dunno...but that guy was kind of weird looking, too. I mean, red eyes? And that hair? What's up with that?"

Cheryl whipped around then. Could it be? Was he here? "Uh...hey," she said to get the passerby's attention. "Think you could tell me where that place is?"

One of the young men of the group raised an eyebrow, but answered anyway, "Just turn at the first corner down the street and walk a few buildings, and you're there. But why--"

"Thanks!" The young woman had already turned and ran down the street, leaving the civilians confused.

"...What was that all about?"

"Dunno...she was kind of weird, too."

~*~

It didn't take long at all for Cheryl to arrive at the place she was looking for. She had to fight a few Heartless along the way, but they weren't too much trouble.

Now the Silent Hill heroine stood before the door to the apartment. She kept raising her hand to knock the door, and then lower it in hesitance. Again, why was she so interested in seeing the demon again? And what if this wasn't the same guy? What if it was just some other eccentric person they were talking about?

Cheryl took a deep breath. Only one way to find out, she guessed. So she brought her hand up once more, and finally knocked.

====

(A note. Isaac is in the attire mentioned in "Cape Claw.")

After a few minutes, the door opened. Inside was a rather muscly fellow with short, brown hair and similarly brown eyes. He didn't seem to be the right guy at all.

One look at her, and he sighed. "...Right. I don't know you, so you're probably after those instructions to the right place." He called behind the young woman. "Not cool, man."

"I have to go with my precautions," came a more familiar voice from behind Cheryl. This was the right guy, with the reddish-black hair and red eyes, the demon she knew. The last time she saw him, his shirt and pants had been shredded by their time through the Underworld of [i]God of War[/i], but he had taken a new wardrobe to complement his new skill set given by Thanatos, the now-deceased God of Death, without any others knowing. "Hey, Cheryl. Want to go to my [i]actual[/i] place, or just looking around?" He had a smug grin on his face, knowing that his misleading information to the civilians had worked wonders on those who would try to follow him. Or...at least on one. "Gotta be safe, after all. Got more enemies than friends." He seemed amiable, but he would save his tougher conversations for when they were alone. He knew they had a lot to catch up on.

====

"...." Cheryl turned and just stared at the demon, looking none too amused. This was really embarrassing for her, after she had been so sure this was the right place. That smug grin on his face was not helping matters at all.

So she punched him in the face. Not as hard as she would be able to, but still pretty hard.

"You're an a**hole, you know that?" Cheryl asked rhetorically, scowling slightly. "I don't care if you're trying to protect yourself; you don't do that on me."

Yes, this was coming from a young woman who had scared her surrogate father figure almost to death as a joke. Just roll with it. The canon Interference sighed, calming herself just a bit, and said, "Well, now that you're here...you think you have enough time to talk?"

====

The young man staggered back, still chuckling a bit to himself. Wasn't too hard of a punch. It was funny, or at least it was to him. "Okay, okay... Won't do it to you again. Couldn't help myself."

The other man rolled his eyes. "Could you move the whole thing somewhere else? This is really bad, and I don't want to deal with your problems."

Isaac looked to him. "Got it," he said. Whether or not he was telling the truth was up for grabs as usual. Well, he was. He did understand. But he didn't have to [i]listen[/i].

The young man then nodded once to Cheryl, walking on his way back toward his own place. "Sure. We can talk as we walk." He then called back. "And it's not like you haven't had your own jokes that embarrassed or freaked people out before, Mason," he called back, waving for her to follow and walk beside him.

(On my next post, they'll be at his apartment.)

====

Cheryl rolled her eyes at the comment, but she had to admit he was right about that. Nonetheless, she walked up to Isaac and caught up with him as they headed to his apartment. Now that she found the demon again, she tried to think of what to say to start off with.

"So..." she started, somewhat unsure. Man, this was awkward; now she had no idea what she should say. Simple stuff first, she guessed. "...how've you been holding up?"

====

Isaac kept walking for a little while in silence before he answered, making sure he was out of earshot of the other man as well as not really knowing how to respond.

"...Been better." Naito's shouting match hadn't been the best for him either. Another family member to hate him.

It was just then that he heard a familiar hollow sound. Around them formed the familiar hexagonal barrier, and the Heartless appeared.

Just four Shadows, a Blue Rhapsody, and a Yellow Opera. Within two minutes, they had defeated them all, and the demon dismissed his weapon. "...Keep that pistol, by the way. It's yours."

With that, he came to a door. "Here's the place," he said, ready to open the door and let her inside. "How have you been?"

====

Cheryl sighed as she put her pistol away. She's been getting better with it, though part of her did think to return it to Isaac. There was no need for that, however, as he insisted she keep it.

The young woman sighed as she stepped up to the door next to Isaac and answered, "...been losing a lot of sleep lately." Ever since she found that the Otherworld was still in her, the nightmares had been coming back. The monsters, the memories...she was almost considering not sleeping at all.

====

Isaac sighed. What could he say? He knew what she was going through, at least to an extent. The Otherworld had been bad when he went to it. Maybe it was still a problem for her?

"I've had my own problems with nightmares," he said. "The Darkness. Mine are gone now, but I know how you feel. To an extent, anyway."

With that, he opened, the door. Inside was a small foyer leading into a hallway, one with a few doors leading into rooms. "My room's the second on the left. You can sleep here for a while if you want. I don't mind." With that, he let her in, stepping aside to let her through as he held the door open with one arm.

====

Cheryl vaguely knew what the Darkness was, from the few times Isaac had mentioned it. She left it, however, as she stepped inside. Truthfully, it felt a bit cramped, making her wish she was back in her own home. But again, the canon Interference left it.

"No, it's okay..." Cheryl declined Isaac's offer of sleeping here. "I'm fine for now." That was a lie; she was really exhausted, as shown by how she leaned against the wall and rubbed her eyes. It was just the thought of sleeping in someone else's home that embarrassed her. As much as she trusted the demon, she doubted he wouldn't try anything.

====

"Sorry about the place," he said, knowing that it was pretty cramped. "I'm still trying to get more cash after that Flueves guy robbed me blind in front of my face when I tried to help him out. When I get more, I'll see about getting somewhere bigger."

Body language spoke louder than words in this case. "And you honestly think I'll fall for that?" He put a hand on her back lightly. It wasn't enough to hurt, but he hoped enough to make her see he wanted to help. "Really, it would be my pleasure to have you. I'll just work on some things while you sleep if you want, and we can talk when you wake up."

====

Cheryl would have insisted that she really didn't need to sleep here. However, with the state she was in now, she was in absolutely no position to argue whatsoever. The Holy Mother sighed, shrugging Isaac's hand off before pushing away from the wall. Even if she knew he wanted to help, she didn't feel comfortable at all with him touching her.

"Alright, you win," she said with a sigh, before giving a slight scowl to the demon. "But you better not try anything in my sleep, if you want to keep those jewels."

With that said, Cheryl walked down the hall to where Isaac said his room was. As she entered, she didn't bother to study the room; the young woman just plopped down on the bed. Her eyes closed as she drifted to sleep almost instantly. She didn't even think if any nightmares would come to haunt her again; she just wanted to sleep.

[i]"Holy Motheeeeer........."

====

Isaac grinned slightly as she went to his room, hearing her collapse on the bed. He couldn't help himself. The young man took his best villainous voice, which he was rather good at, having once been one himself, and faked being a wild card of sorts on many occasions since in the Underworld.

"Curses, foiled again."

Still, he wasn't really planning on doing anything to her, especially not in her sleep. He may have been a cheater and a liar, but he did have standards.

The demon went to the room himself, gently moving Cheryl so that she was lying on the bed completely, her head on the pillow. He had a chair in the bedroom as well, one he sat in as he brought up his holographic omnitool on his left arm.

The Silver Tongue had some work to do. Not anything major, but he had to check on Kira's status on the [i]Hati[/i]. She seemed to be stable, the same as before at least, and not deleted or spouting random messages. Maybe he would send her into a network to let her see a world or something in the meantime.

However, he could look through his files on this device in the meantime, waiting however many hours it would take for Miss Mason to awaken.

He had the time. Even if he didn't, he would probably make it to help her out. She deserved as much.

====

[i]The walls of the chapel, bleeding and squirming red.

"Birth the vessel........"

Bodies hung by barbed wire. Harry, Lisa, Douglas, Audrey, Isaac.

"God will be reborn again......."

One moment, she is standing there. The next, a knife to her gut. A stab from the once dead woman.

"Eternal paradise........."

Her stomach, tearing open from inside. Long, pale, bleeding arms reaching out to drag itself out. A skeletal torso, stubbed legs, and then its head. The head of her old self.

And then the flames rushing in.

"BRING US SALVATION!!!!!"[/i]

~*~

Several hours of tossing and turning, and Cheryl finally awoke with a start. She panted, eyes wide as she looked down and felt her stomach. No stab wounds, nothing growing within.

It was just a nightmare...but she did not relax. She kept breathing deeply, trying to settle herself. No avail; the nightmares would just continue to come no matter what.

====

Isaac looked up from his omnitool, having been looking to her every minute or so as she moved around in her nightmare. The thing disappeared as he stood, walking quickly to the side of the bed and kneeling beside it. Try as he might, concern was still etched on his face, though more subtly than otherwise due to force of will.

As he said, he himself had dealt with his fair share of nightmares. Nightmares of the Darkness fulfilling its promise to take his soul, of Dormin using his shadow to go on a killing spree. It did not help that the latter nearly happened, though he stopped after one death.

Like many other instances, the boy felt for her, for the struggle that went on inside her day in and day out. He really did want to help. So he spoke, albeit softly so as not to alarm her too much. The subject was plain, so he just cut to the chase.

"...Do you want to talk about it?"

====

Cheryl looked to Isaac as he came to her side, her expression still horrified. Had he been here this whole time? She didn't bother to think how long he was here or what he was doing while she slept. The young woman looked away, taking one last deep breath.

"...God was being born again..." That was all she said. She really didn't want to go into detail of how it went. She didn't want to tell how God tore out of her after she had been stabbed. She wanted to repress that from her mind right now. Easier said than done.

====

He noted her terror as she looked to him. Did she think he would stoop so low as to actually do something to her in her sleep?

...Or it could just be the nightmare. That could also be it. Still, best to stay on the safe side.

"I came here to keep watch. Was in that chair over there for a few hours working on files. Only moved you to a more comfortable position, that's all. No other touching." He moved to the next subject as if there had been no difference at all. "You don't have to elaborate. I just wish I could help. Maybe we can get some pills for you. Or magic. I think Audrey's magic is called Dream, so she could probably do [i]something.[/i]"

This wasn't the best topic, and he knew it. So he changed again, just as quickly. "So, anything you want to talk about? A reason you came to see me?"

Ah, yes. The successive non sequitors. Always a good choice. Probably.

====

Isaac's response to what he's been doing didn't really help matters for Cheryl. Even if he was working on files, she didn't like to be watched while sleeping regardless. Still, she kept from berating him over that. It wasn't important now. Though she had to give a small scoff with a suggestion to take pills. As if they would help. And though Audrey would probably help with her powers, she doubted the girl would want to go on another Silent Hill-esque journey in her psyche.

The young woman sighed one last time. A change of subject was probably for the best; she really wanted to push that nightmare out of her mind. Calming down as much as she could, the reincarnation of Alessa Gilespie looked to the demon once more.

"I just...thought I'd catch up with you on some things," she said. Again, she didn't know why; just simple curiosity, or something completely different from that. "Just...what's been going on with you for the past few years?"

====

Well, good thing that subject was avoided. Okay, best to just get to business.

"...A lot has happened. I died a second time--that one was number three for me. I went to the Underworld, where I stayed with my father." Okay, best to not say he personally killed him. "Met Naito in Radiant Garden after a run in with some people, including Hawk Shadowflash--long running Inter, like me and I think you--and Audrey and this hedgehog named Mephiles. No, not kidding. A sapient, anthropomorphic hedgehog with darkness powers. Also known as Monday." Right on regardless again. "The kid, Naito...he's been crushing on Jazz since the moment he saw her. I blame hormones, but she's a nice girl. He needs someone." And now Greg. "...Hawk...he told me that Greg died. That he died and Kyn went home. I don't know if they're related, or anything else. But I'm all that's left aside from him. Just us and my mom...and she hates me."

He sighed. "I'm...I'm not the knight in shining armor you might think me to be if you're exceptionally deluded, which I don't think you are. More of a soured suit, really. I've done a hell of a lot of crap. Deserve all the crap being thrown at me. Killed a lot of people before I met you back then."

====

Cheryl frowned as she listened to Isaac explain what had happened. So she and Audrey weren't the only ones who died and came back more than once. The idea of a sapient hedgehog running around the worlds didn't surprise her; there were plenty of other weird creatures in the universe. And she could tell that Naito had a crush on that Jazz girl during their last adventure; she hoped that kid was alright, wherever he was now.

Now the part about Greg and Kyn...Cheryl might not have been too close to them, not counting the few run-ins she's had with them, but what happened with them made her a bit sad. Not only that, but she pitied Isaac over the state he's in now. Granted, all the stuff that he admitted doing before might have made him earn this...but it still didn't seem fair.

"...you still learn from that though, right?" the Holy Mother asked. Truthfully, she wasn't sure about the point she was going to make, but she was going to say it anyway. "I mean, you're not killing people now, except for the random monsters that we run into, are you? You learn from it, and try to change." She then looked down. "Like myself and my anger issues..."

====

At least she was supporting him somewhat. That was something, he guessed. "I guess so. You seem to have your anger under control, though there haven't been a lot of reasons to be angry."

He supposed he had to come clean. Best to just get it over with. "I forced Audrey to attempt to kill Sorin years ago. Brought her under my will. I was a villain, I admit it. But I tried my best to make amend to all I caused to suffer. Greg killed me for what I had done to Kynthia after I had tried to make those amends, and lost her for it. Then he died, probably in insanity at the loss. I don't know if I deserve any pity. I killed a lot of people. When I was my craziest, I killed...I killed my own father. He hates me. My mom hates me. Everyone...everyone hates me but a select few, and now you probably aren't among them."

Another sigh. "I'm trying to change, though. I helped then with the Otherworld, before I died a second time. I made a deal with Thanatos to try to change something in the future. Got this new magic from him, and maybe a way to revert some mistakes. Probably why the save altar was destroyed, though. I saw his daughter flying away. Go ahead. Do whatever you want to me. I won't fight it. Not a bit."

And he went silent again. He was ready for the abuse, even if she wanted to just shoot him.

====

"......"

If Cheryl didn't have a reason to be angry before, now she did. In fact, she was ready to take back what she just said. The young woman stared at the demon in disbelief. The one who helped her the most during the incident with the Otherworld...and he just admitted to killing his father, enslaving her best friend, and causing the save altar to be destroyed before.

The reincarnation of Alessa shook slightly. She was almost tempted to pull out her gun and shoot him point blank between the eyes. But...she kept it in its holster. With him admitting to be a murderer, she wouldn't sink as low as he did. But that didn't mean she wouldn't let him off without any damage.

So instead, she pulled out her switchblade knife and brought it down on his left thigh.

"You're a f***ing moron!" Cheryl exclaimed. "Not just with the altar, either! I can't believe...I can't believe you killed your own father! I'd...I'd never..." Tears were beginning to sting her eyes now, once again being reminded of her own father before she got to the next part, "And you forced Audrey to kill Sorin against her will? You're the reason why she ran off on him for that bastard, why our friendship was ruined because of it?!"

====

The demon winced as the knife hit, but didn't resist. He deserved it, and he knew it. The Silver Tongue took it all, all the verbal abuse that added to the physical harm. He didn't have a right to argue. So he didn't.

He didn't quite sigh, not with the several inches of metal stuck into his thigh. More of a gasp. "...I know. I...I'm a monster, a demon and a freak. A horrible person who did terrible things. I don't deserve anything at all less than to be...to be left alone and be kept to my misery and pain. No family, no friends. Murderer, psychopath. Who would care?" His body was getting used to the blade. Experience with pain would do that, especially without adding more to it.

But he had to say something to give a fuller story. Not that he wanted to be treated nicely. Far from it. He just wanted to be treated fairly with all available knowledge. "But Audrey forgave me. Kynthia forgave me. I released them both from their binds, killed my former partner for a time when he offered to take me back. I talked to Thanatos...trying to get my life back in order, to repair the last of the problems I have. To save two lives... Just to help repair my mistakes. If I could go back and undo it all, I would."

Silence for a moment. Then he finished. "You don't have to believe me. Can't force you to think better of me. But...just listen to the whole story. I've made my share of mistakes in the name of power, but I'm done with power. Now...I just need to keep what's left of what I broke apart together again."

====

Cheryl glared at the demon for a bit longer. She took in deep breaths, trying not to break down. For a moment, she didn't think she'd buy into what he said, not after what he admitted.

But...she could hear the remorse in his tone. Or maybe it was just the pain of having her knife in his thigh, she didn't know. Even if that were the case, she could tell he was telling the truth that he was trying to change everything for the better. The young woman sighed, now feeling a bit of regret. She really felt like a hypocrite after what she just said. Maybe she really didn't learn a thing with her anger issues at all...

Still, it was enough for Cheryl to let up. For now, anyway; she still wasn't happy with those past deeds of his. So she grabbed the knife and pulled it out of his leg, ignoring the blood for now.

"Fine," she said sourly. "I know you're telling the truth...but that doesn't mean that I'll forgive you right away with what you did before."

====

Another gasp, this one of relief, as the blade was retracted. "Thanks..."

He looked down, ignoring the blood and pain. "...if you don't trust me, you don't have to stay. The door out is right there. You can just walk out whenever you like, and I won't stop you. After your dad... I know you hate what I did. But... I just hope I can prove I'm a better person now.

"But...maybe we both need each other. Both without a family, though my case is my own fault. If you could just give me a chance, I'd be grateful. Don't think I deserve it, but it's up to you."

With that, he looked up to her again. "...If you want to stay with me for a little while...how have you been since you left after the Otherworld stuff? Aside from the nightmares. I heard a crank while we were in Greece, coming from you. I think I saw that thing when we were going around...when it dragged your corpse away..." He looked down once more, disturbed by the memory of watching her kill herself. "...is that thing inside you now? I think you called it...Valtiel."

====

Cheryl was almost considering walking out right then. Hearing all of those deeds done, she still couldn't believe he did all of that before she met him. But...having noted the remorse, and what happened before they left Greece, she could believe he was trying to change. Plus...he had a point with what he said about them. They had no one else to turn to now. Sure, Cheryl could turn to Audrey, but she still wasn't sure if the Dream Mage had completely forgiven her. A bit, maybe, but...

So the survival horror heroine sighed, giving in. After Isaac had asked her how she was doing, she sat down on the bed, keeping her distance from the demon. "The nightmares only started coming up again. I've been okay until then...just living a normal life..." The mention of Valtiel, as well as bringing up the memory of her suicide, brought her to look down herself. She hated to think back on that time, and to live with the fact that the attendant of God was within her.

"He is..." she responded after a moment of silence. "He told me that...he merged with me before. He's been in me ever since, and I didn't know until now. I didn't know until I found out that the Otherworld is still in me..." She wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to comfort herself. "I can't be safe anymore. There's no way I can hide from it now. That's...that's why I decided to go out again. Because...I can't escape anymore..."

====

The Silver Tongue sighed, standing up and limping to the bed, sitting down on it beside her. He waited until she was done before speaking, not daring to touch her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it. My mistake. It....it left a mark on me too. I just hope it never happens again.

"A normal life...what is that, again? I forget, with training after death and demonic voices in my head." He had to say something, something to try to lighten her mood somewhat.

As she held herself, he put out a hand. It was careful, gentle.....and he touched her shoulder, hoping not to be forced off. He just wanted her to be comfortable with him, to feel safe. "Whatever he has planned, I'll see about keeping it from happening. Whatever it takes. It's the least I can do." He mused a bit, just holding her softly, not hugging her for lack of confidence to do so that she wouldn't hurt him again. "...If I could actually understand the guy. I couldn't hear words."

====

Cheryl didn't look up when Isaac sat beside her, wanting to avoid contact with him. Though she hoped for the same thing he did, she just knew that wouldn't be the case. Maybe not now, but one of these days, it might break out again. Still...she had to give a small smirk to his comment, though it didn't really do much to cheer her up. Try as she might, nothing would ever be normal for them.

And then he put a hand on her shoulder. The woman almost flinched, almost thought to push it off. But...she didn't. She relaxed into the hand; it just felt right to her. Finally, she looked up at the Silver Tongue, now having a better look on him. She could now see how much he's changed; his face was more mature, almost more of an adult's. However, she could still see that boy's face on him, the same demon boy that had helped her years back.

This didn't go for too long, though. As she realized she was staring, she looked away instantly, embarrassed. Rather than talk about that, Cheryl just went on to address his comment on not properly hearing Valtiel.

"I guess...I'm the only one who really understands him, then," Cheryl said, bringing one hand to her head. "He doesn't really say much, anyway. All he does is repeat the prayer of the Order, go on about its religion's history, and call me Alessa or Holy Mother. It gets annoying after a while." She then sighed. "Even I don't know what he's planning. I just know it has to do with God. How he's gonna go about it this time, I'm just not sure."

====

Isaac smiled ever so slightly as she looked to him. As their eyes met, he too saw her for what she was. Like he, she had matured. That long dark hair was different from the bottle blonde. The face was different, but not nearly as much as his own. They had both been through a lot, lost a lot. Maybe it was time to take a little back.

...and she looked away. He understood somewhat. He was being a bit too forward, and he knew it. Still, as she was relaxing into him, he wrapped the arm a little closer, holding her lightly, but closer than before.

"Nothing really changes, does it?" It was true. They always had the same problems. Always something trying to cause the end times, as often from the inside as out. "But...but maybe it can. Kira's a computer. She's back on my ship. Maybe we can log in and see what she can find out about your games, see if there's any other ways the Order brought out the Otherworld."

He was quiet for a bit. He wasn't sure if he was even doing the right thing. Why would she even care? Then came the last one.

"Once I can get a way to translate, he's in trouble. Any bit of history on the Order can be his way to get out and wreak havoc again, and that won't happen again. In any case..." He looked around. "This place is always yours. Don't ever hesitate to come back here if you need to rest. But if you want to go around a little bit with me, feel free. Just remember, karma has it in for me. Even if I did scam Thanatos." He chuckled a bit at that. "Still totally worth it. Hades is gonna freak if I'm right."

====

When Isaac wrapped his arm closer, Cheryl almost leaned into him. She kept from doing so, however; as comfortable as she was, she had no intention of moving any further than this.

For a bit, the Mason daughter didn't say anything. Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she wanted to find out more about her games or the Order. Granted, it might help, but...she wasn't sure. Still, it helped to know that Isaac was willing to help out against what the archangel was planning, whatever it was. Even if she can't forgive him for what he did, she could still put her trust in him for now.

"Even though that broke the altar that would get us out of there?" Cheryl asked at the last part. Though a bit annoyed, she let that go; no use in holding that against him for that long. "I don't have anywhere else to go, so I might as well. As far as I know, you're the only ally I have aside from Audrey, and I don't know if she's still mad at me right now."

====

Isaac understood the lack of lean. After all, he did know what it was like. Not wanting people close, not trusting people. He was similar, he supposed. Just a slight bit more open.

Then she spoke. "Eh, call it extra game experience," he said calmly. "And besides...Nai found out the truth...right?" His joke fell on that, and his head dipped as he sighed. "...A liar and a jacka**. That's all I am, isn't it?" He wasn't even sure what he wanted the answer to be. Rather than wait for the response, he continued onward. "Got Atropos' hand in storage. The Fate in the mirrors. Cut it off. Probably will be able to use limited time travel with it. I guess we could call it a Mano or something. Dunno. I hear that's a name for hand in some language."

Onward, as his hand slid down her back slowly, resting on the bed behind her as he looked toward the Holy Mother again. "If you're worried about Audrey, I had an idea. You go to Twilight Town. See her apartment, go talk, see if you can mend what can be mended. I'll go off to travel a bit. In a little while, we can meet up again, and go around a few worlds." And he averted his eyes again for a moment. "Dunno who else I can trust, Cheryl." There was a pause, and he looked to her one more time.

"...So, sound like a plan?"

====

Cheryl wasn't sure how to respond to Isaac at first, if he was being rhetorical or not. If she were in the right mood, she probably would make up a sarcastic response, or just bluntly say 'Yes'. But seeing as she wasn't in the mood for it, she just kept silent.

Though she did have to give a look when the demon mentioned he kept the Fate's hand. Not much of one, seeing all the crap she's gone through before, but still. She also had to groan at the name he suggested, palming her face.

"Please, for the love of whatever, don't call it that," she mumbled.

With that out of the way, the young woman frowned to the next suggestion. It might have been for the best; once again, she wasn't sure. Not just with her worries, but also the fact that the Dream Mage would've wanted to be alone after what they've gone through. Still, maybe it could help to go talk to her and repair some things.

She did have to frown at Isaac, though. Despite the anger towards him earlier, now she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. As said, he had no one to turn to, and she only had one person who wouldn't yell at her a second time. Maybe they did need each other...

...not like that, anyway. She honestly wasn't interested in forming any kind of relationship like that.

Getting that thought of the way, Cheryl finally nodded to Isaac. "Alright. I'll go see her then." Before she would get up to leave, she had to ask beforehand, "You have any idea where we can meet up?"

====

(For those reading who got the reference but aren't directly involved, I had to do that at least once.)

He didn't even bother to ask what was wrong with the name, not objecting. It sounded stupid to him anyway. "All right, just Atropos' hand, then."

And she was getting up to leave. He stood as well, looking around his place. He just needed to clean up a bit, then he'd head out. Probably off to see Hades about something, then to Nippon. He had business there.

"Here." He took a piece of paper, jotting down a frequency. "That's Kira's personal channel. I'll have her ring in to me on my omnitool when you want to meet, and we can figure out a place. She says she's trying to come up with a way to transmit that way anyway...before she almost died, that was."

Enough of that, though. "Just don't tell anyone this is my real address, okay? Gotta stay safe, and you gotta admit it would be funny from an outsider's perspective." He came to the door, opening it to allow her to leave. "Thanks, by the way." And with that, he let her go. Time would tell how they dealt with their respective losses, their curses. Maybe they could go together?

[i]No jumping to conclusions,[/i] he thought, walking down his small hall. It was time to get going.

He had a job to do.

(And you can close out. I'll have the next up tomorrow.)

====

Cheryl said nothing, just taking the paper and nodding to him. To his asking of not telling anyone this was his address, she just said, "Sure thing." She didn't say it out loud, but she did have to admit the idea of someone else in her shoes was pretty funny.

Without another word, not even a response to him thanking her, she just walked out, heading out of the apartment. She needed time to think to herself before she would go meet up with Audrey again. Though Cheryl said she was willing to travel with the demon, at the same time, she didn't know why she said that. Did she really have no one else now? Was it really because of the connection they had, that they really could rely on each other?

...she really didn't know. Though whatever it was, the Silent Hill protagonist tried not to think too deep on it. She said she would travel with him, and nothing more. If he can prove to her that she can truly put her trust in him, then fine. If not...well, she'd probably ditch him in a second then. Who knows.

With a shake of her head, Cheryl let it be for now. She walked to the Save Point and beamed to her ship, having no other business in this world.

[size=1](And this thread is finished.)[/size]