Before the two could part, Nova said, "Actually, I have something we could do."
"Sure, what is it?" Oblivi asked.
"Where did the previous members of the sect live?"
Oblivi laughed a bit. "Nowhere in particular," she said, fidgeting slightly.
Nova took note. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just confused why you would ask."
"Oblivi, this is serious. I realized, after a certain incident, that we have to have a base, somewhere safe and secure," Nova pleaded. "If you have any idea where they gathered, please let me know."
Oblivi went quiet, curling her lips back slightly. "I kinda have a location in mind... but I don't really want to go there."
"Oblivi. Please, I need this. I don't know if I can be so exposed. Future members could be in jeopardy too."
"Nova, you could find a place at the dorms," Oblivi argued.
"No! I can't!" Nova yelled, startling Oblivi.
"Why? We have free room and board, also we—"
"Oblivi! It's not possible," Nova barked. He noticed her closing herself off, so he took a deep breath. "You have to understand, there was an incident, and I just want to be ready."
"What incident could possibly be scaring you like this?" Oblivi squeaked.
"I really don't think I should talk about it."
"Then why bring it up?"
"To help you understand that—"
Oblivi snapped, "Oh, I think I understand now. You think because you're the head of the sect you can boss me around." her hands sparked slightly. "Leave me alone."
"Oblivi, wait—" As he spoke, his voice died down and his vision blurred. "What the— what is this?"
He couldn't see Oblivi anymore, let alone sense anything. Is this her ability? Nova tried feeling around, but there wasn't anything he could feel.
Vale came out to investigate the noise a bit after Oblivi had disappeared. "What's going on out here?" She saw Nova struggling like a blind man. When she called for his attention, there was no response, and when she waved a hand in front of him, it was to no avail. Vale sat outside watching Nova as the sun set. After a while, the effects wore off, and instead of him coming to his senses, they came to him.
"That was horrible." Nova blinked and looked around. "Vale? How long have you been here?"
"Just a little bit. What happened to you?"
"Oblivi happened." Nova looked around, trying to find her. "She must've stormed off."
Vale looked to the horizon. "Yeah, I saw. But it's getting late, would you like to come in for dinner?"
Nova accepted with a gluttonous grin. "That would be lovely."
Nova followed Vale into the very back of the shop, past the workshop, where the decor changed into that of a real home. "It's like traveling through a portal," Nova marveled.
Vale agreed. "I know, right. Before my grandmother passed, she loved stuffing the place with fabric scattered all across it, but once it was just my grandfather and me, we tidied up a bit."
"Oh, I'm truly sorry to hear that."
"Don't be. Everyone has their time, and she went peacefully, fulfilled by her passion."
Nova sat at the dinner table, noticing D'noy sleeping in a nook next to the window. Meanwhile, Vale plated a pasta dish in front of him and one across from him for herself.
"This looks Tie-rific! You get what I mean." Nova joked.
Vale's eye twitched slightly while she gave a soft smile before sitting down.
"So, I gotta ask, how did you come to Grymsnow?" she inquired.
"I came here to make some money from the bounty board," Nova answered between bites.
He pointed his fork at her. "Let me ask you, why does everyone here call this city 'Grymsnow' and not 'Abide-Grymsnow'?"
"It's just shorter."
"Interesting." Nova wiped his face. "I better get going." As he pushed up from the table, Vale grabbed his wrist.
"You don't have to leave yet." She smiled. "I heard part of the conversation. I know you need a place to stay, don't you?"
Nova felt a chill go down his spine. "Even so, I don't want to be a bother."
"You won't," she whispered.
Nova politely pulled away from her. "I really will. Come on, I haven't showered in a while, so I'd just be burning your nose hairs in your sleep." He backed up, keeping his eyes on Vale, which was easy on account of the blue in them piercing through the twilight. When he made it out the doorway, he scurried through the workshop until he reached the front.
"You're not going anywhere." The dresses began to dance, spinning and blocking his path. He skidded to a stop and booked it to the left, but the fabric on the shelves wrapped him up, trapping him within a cradle of string.
Nova could hear fabric shuffling beneath some weight. Fuck.
Vale slunk out of the workshop with textiles trailing behind her; she appeared to take the form of a five-headed hydra. "You left before I could ask more questions."
She slithered over to him. "Are you scared?"
Nova just stared angrily. Vale wasn't amused. She flicked her wrist, making the strings constrict, and Nova ached in pain.
"Maybe that question was too hard. Let me think. Why are you really here?"
The constraints loosened. "Money," Nova gasped.
"Money, but you can get that anywhere." Vale stared Nova down, face to face. Nova stared right back, a familiar prickle settling behind his eyes.
"My turn to ask. Wanna know something funny?"
Vale smirked, entertaining the idea. "Go on."
"My ability can't be defined."
Vale frowned. "How is that funny?" She jerked her heads, feeling one of her threads lose control. It wriggled in the air sporadically. "What the—" Immediately, she felt all of Nova's energy transfer to her face in the form of a fist.
One head down.
He freed himself from the cradle, taking control of some of the fabric.
"So you have a similar ability, so what?" She reached out her hand, and every manner of thread whipped toward Nova. He managed to dodge them, hearing them crack through the air before retreating back to Vale.
Nova waved his arms around in a big circle, gathering all available threads. "I bet you have sew many more questions, but—" Another attack came toward him, but he blocked it with a carpet from the wall. "—I'd have to cut it short." He negated Vale's control over the threads. She began to get visibly agitated, her attacks becoming weaker and less coordinated. "Enough with the dad jokes!"
Another head down.
She charged an attack, making the threads arc out without any concern for the shop. In turn, Nova enclosed himself within a cocoon. He watched the strings trying to pierce his defenses, then dropped the cocoon before it could collapse. He took command of the strings, pulling two shelves parallel to her and knocking down the remaining heads.
"I would like to hear a joke from you, but I think you might've run out of material." He wrapped Vale just as she had wrapped him, took her to the living area of the shop, and strung her up. She looked drained and tired.
"Why the dad jokes?" she growled.
"I know you hate them."
"How? I never told you that."
"You didn't, but your eyes did."
She hung her head low in realization. "So you're a mimic."
"You caught me! Yeah, I am." Nova brought her closer to him. "Let's cut to the chase, no pun intended. Why'd you attack me?"
She stared at him. "I don't owe you an answer."
"Then I'll find it within you."
Vale caved and explained her intentions. "I didn't know if you were a good person. After the day we met, I asked Pop Pop about your character, and he shook. Master tailors don't just shake uncontrollably."
"What did he see?"
Vale scoffed. "He didn't see anything. It was like your soul was clouded by darkness. It gave him spontaneous terrors, to the point he created an enchantment to never look into your eyes again. It was the only way he could feel comfortable around you. From my perspective, you're just a monster with a soul cloaked in darkness."
Nova's expression changed. "Vale." She closed her eyes, bracing for death, but Nova set her free and walked to the workshop. "Don't mention anything that happened tonight," he said. "Clean up, and we can forget this happened. If you tell anyone, I'll have you arrested for assaulting authorities."
Nova left the shop and checked his phone. 11/23/2021, 21:42.
He went to sit in the plaza, found a bench, and sat down, slightly bruised but mostly tired. He watched the lights flicker as a light drizzle started. He fell asleep to his surroundings and drifted into a dream.
Nova opened his eyes as blood trickled down his face. "Come home, my baby. You're hurt, you're scared, Mommy's here for you. Just come back to me." Nova covered his ears as he navigated the dreamscape. A red cloud poured blood everywhere until it flooded the land up to his nose. Can't breathe! He clawed at his nose and shook violently until he woke to Oblivi pinching his nose. Nova inhaled all he could.
Oblivi looked at him, concerned. "Nova, what are you doing?" She sat next to him, eyeing his bruises. "What happened?"
Nova got up with a limp. "Nothing," he said, before falling and barely catching himself. Oblivi helped him to his feet. "Nova, did something happen after I left?"
Nova pushed her away. "Don't talk to me right now." She dragged him back to the bench to sit down.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"Yeah, but it's nothing," he said flatly.
Oblivi raised a hand to him. Nova's body felt lighter, and he felt at ease.
"We need to talk. Can we talk, Nova?" Oblivi said.
"If it's not about a base, I don't want to know."
"Well, I got news for you."