Arthur, Cecelia, Claire, Diane, Josephine, and Vash are all inside of an empty greenhouse. Past the glass is pitch darkness. Everyone is pinned to the ground by the immense pressure of the area excepting Diane, who can move freely.
-you’re misunderstanding the situation, this isn’t my doing.
GO EAT SHIT AND LET ME OUT OF HERE OR YOU’LL BE FUCKIN SORRY
Scream yourself out, we’ll talk once you’re calm.
Don’t listen to that, your rage is your most valuable asset.
SHUT UP YOU FUCKING SPEARED ME IN THE HEAD YOU CRAZY BITCH
Why don’t we all just try to get along?
No, you’re horrible. You’re shit. I don’t care if you were my brother. You aren't anymore.
You spoiled it by coming back. You were a shadow over my family. You showed up and killed our mom.
It wasn’t even important to you, you didn’t think it was a problem that I got away. It was just your first idea.
If mom had left with me, you’d have let her live too. That’s the kind of shit you are. Waste of a person, life has no value to you.
I’m better, I’m trying to change! I was stupid, that thing corrupted me. I wasn’t myself, I haven’t been myself for so long.
I would never do anything like that on my own.
You’re acting the same. You sound the same, you even look the same. You haven’t changed for shit.
I’m- I’m a father! I fell in love with a wonderful woman and I had a beautiful daughter.
Shut the fuck up. I don’t claim you.
Hey- I’m your father. Just because I slipped up a couple times doesn’t change that, and it doesn’t mean you can talk to me like- SHUT UP.
I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE FUCK UP. I DON’T RESPECT YOU AT ALL.
YOU’RE A LYING PIECE OF TRASH AND I’D KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IF I COULD MOVE RIGHT NOW.
...
Please be civil.
Shut up. Creepy prissy freak.
That “prissy freak” is your sister.
Also I have a name and I’m. Sister?
You two share a mother.
She was my niece.
The.
She’s so fuckin.
Old, though.
Like.
She could be my mom.
Oren had you when she was around- Shut up.
Most of you are- You too lady, you fucking killed me don’t think you can distract me by lying about secret shit.
I'm trying to explain something very important.
We’re all very much alive.
Bullshit.
You blew my fuckin head fuckin open.
Hurt like hell.
We're obviously dead right now and this is hell.
Stupid loser hell for losers.
Fucking open.
You're alive again now, we all are.
Sure.
Malcolm cast a spell with your death as the catalyst.
It was something he could pull the trigger on at the first opportunity.
Drag you and everyone nearby into this underworld.
Though he wanted most of us specifically, carrying parts of gods as we do.
That’s why we’re here.
He groomed you into being a conduit for him, all for this.
Lying asshole.
I don’t know any freaking Malcolms.
You talk like you know what's going on and.
You pretend to know my family but.
You pin everything on some stranger when it's- Malcolm as in Malcolm Almagro.
Known also as Arthur Vaughan, your father.
Almagro’s the old fuck that murdered my dad, there's no way he's still alive.
Also he's not also my brother.
They’re the same man.
He’d be a hundred years old now and he wasn't a seventy-year-old teenager when I met him.
You're saying he wasn’t ever my brother in the first place?
He’s over a hundred years old and has been ruining lives for his own gain since he was young. The face he wears isn’t his own.
And I'm supposed to believe you because magic is real.
You're supposed to believe me because it's true.
So he isn’t my brother, he’s even more evil than we all thought, he put a curse on this kid, and he murdered my dad then came back for more a decade later.
Just because he can?
I c- Shut up. What part of I don’t want to hear it don’t you. God. Mom’s-my-niece lady has it covered, don’t talk and don’t explain. You’ll just lie.
Call me Claire. I’m your grand-aunt.
Great.
Can you at least gag him?
I can't move any more than you can.
Fine.
Lady who's my sister apparently?
I could be convinced.
So, you haven’t spoken up much. Are you alright?
I know a lot has happened and there’s a bunch of adults talking about things that are frankly unthinkable and the pressure is crushing
but you aren’t alone here.
If you need anything, you can talk to me.
I’ll do my best to help you with anything you need.
I’m doing fine but this is quite strange
That’s true, it is a lot to take in.
We’re finally getting a handle of everything and I can say for certainty that, for as long as you’re here, you’ll be safe.
...
We should get to know each other, I’m Diane.
What’s your name?
So you know Aunt Lucy, I'm Cece
Aunt Lucy!?
I mean now you can ditch him no regrets. Nothing stopping you.
You’ve even got blackmail if he tries to track you down.
Duh.
Leaving’s the easy part.
The.
Uhh.
Everything after that.
Is what’s screwed.
If I got out at 15 then you can get out at 21.
20.
You’re better off than me even.
One good skill under your belt makes the difference, musicians like you get plenty of free passes.
Uh huh.
On top of that, I’ll try and help you out. Least I can do.
Help how.
I'll be around. Mentor you if you need that.
I don't think you do need it though. I think it's a confidence issue.
Screw off.
I'm right though.
You aren't.
It’s just.
I’m stuck to him all the time.
I’m home, he’s there.
I lay down, he’s there.
I eat and if it isn’t him serving it then it’s a nurse which is so much worse.
Eugh.
I cough or I feel tired and it’s his fault and I'm going to die.
I’m.
I don't have any skills because he does everything.
I get a song in my head and it’s one he showed me.
I meet someone and I worry they’ll be just like him.
I’m out on tour and my name’s his.
People mention their family and I just have him.
I’m not even my own person, he made me into who I am.
He’s a freak who ate my whole life and he pretends like he’s a dad and not a crazy fucking control freak obsessed with a girl he stalked twenty years ago.
You’ve let him sit there gagged for what has to be over a month and you don’t seem that bothered.
snrk.
No look he’s totally given up.
Full dead dog.
just laying there- We're a- don’t say we’re all just laying here.
...
Shut up.
All I'm saying is that your dad's a waste.
He only has anything over you when he's crowding you out.
So don't let him.
Thanks.
So you already knew you were her sister before all this?
I didn't see Josie often but I knew
Alright.
So if Arthur is your father and Lucinda is your aunt.
Who's your mother?
...
...
...
Shut up.
From what I’ve gathered, the original purpose of the ritual was to bring Oren back.
Is that right, Malcolm?
...
As in my mother?
Josie and I's, I mean.
He only cared about her after she died.
Gave him an excuse to keep being awful.
This is.
Probably more of that.
I presume he didn’t succeed.
That’s right, she would need to be here with us.
But she isn’t so.
Like.
We’re just stuck?
Not at all.
Correct me if I’m wrong, Malcolm, but the goal was to gather all of the pieces of Iel and Ios’s power in one place and push them into her?
Take the gifts that you ruined so many lives for and use them up to undo the one time you hurt someone you cared for.
...
Good.
So that makes four people touched by Iel in myself, Diane, Cece, and Josie and three touched by Ios in Malcolm, Josie, and Cece.
Is that right?
...
And once the buffer of our blessings is broken down we’ll be able to leave?
...
Thank you.
I understand that you all are here because of some kind of ritual.
I was already here, what does it mean for me once you've left?
Well Oren was the original recipient of our blessings.
Who better to bring back in her stead than her daughter?
Hey.
Yeah.
You know that talk earlier about why we’re here?
Yeah.
I think I have to take back what I said about sticking around once you’re out.
The fuck?
Why fucking say it then?
Dick.
Listen.
This isn't me chickening out. If I could help and be your cool mentor or whatever I would.
But.
Earlier when your grandwhatever was talking about why we were here
she skipped me.
I don’t have anything special going on.
No godstuff to get broken down.
You’re not part of the bullshit.
So what.
I'm what's getting broken down instead.
Hey, Cece, honey.
It's been a little, how are you doing?
Anything on your mind?
I noticed that I'm feeling a bit different
That's to be expected, its nothing to worry about.
All of us are feeling a bit different, it's a sign that we're about finished here.
you seem about the same as before though
Really? I'd think I've changed quite a bit.
Maybe not so much on the outside.
Are you looking forward to leaving?
I wouldn't mind staying but I guess I am
Hm.
psst.
You still there?
Hey.
...
Vash.
Think so.
Good.
Stick around.
Darling, if you could take Malcolm's gag?
I’d like to have a few words with him.
If you’d like.
Don’t fucking do that.
It'll be quick
Fine.
...
One moment.
...
There you go.
...
Claire?
So you’re finally ready to gloat at me.
Don’t speak without my express permission.
I just had one question, then it’s back to the gag.
Understood?
...
You can answer.
I understand.
Perfect.
You caused all this suffering; you hurt and killed so many innocent people.
You tore apart families and you ruined lives.
You all did that and you still ended up trapped and buried.
Gagged.
Immobile.
No more changing the world.
No more chasing power.
You might as well be dead!
After all that, everything you’ve done
I ask you:
Was it worth it?