I LOVE YOU, 07E, BUT I KNOW YOU’LL NEVER LOVE ME BACK.
those words spun round & round in 07e’s head each passing day. his best friend, his love, had taken his own life a week ago—& that sentence was the ending of his last entry in his diary. 07e couldn’t help but be tormented over that sentence. had he been the cause of icarus’ untimely death? could they have prevented it if they’d only confessed to icarus sooner? goddamnit, it was taking such a toll on them; especially when they had noli to worry about as well.
icarus stood at the doorway.
“don’t look back.”
“forget him.”
“…he was possessed.”
“noli?”
“perhaps. i can only imagine.”
an inhale.
icarus was conversing with his own conscience. something sentient, completely different to himself. he was talking about 07e, debating whether he should forsake 07e after the latter’s actions towards him or fight for another chance at a relationship with him. luckily, his conscience was a rational thing. it invited icarus to its home often, & after icarus death, icarus had no other choice but to reside in his conscience’s home until he could find another settlement. people never truly died in robloxia; a pity.
“… i need to stay here.”
“you do not.”
“how come?”
“if you still love 07e so, live inside their head. manifest inside of them. become a celestial advisor, infect his dreams, so he can only ever think about you.
become a rook. of usage to 07e, no less… but that’s what you’ve always wanted, wasn’t it? to be put to good use.
& you shall be. help 07e fight it. tell him to speak.”
icarus thought for a moment, before nodding.
his conscience always knew the best way to lure him into a decision.
“… i’ll try.”
so, of icarus became rook. more specifically, rook_2262010, the sequence of numbers following after his new name adopting the date of when the myth of noli started up; the twenty-sixth of february, 2010. he changed his identity; stripping all relations he had prior to his father, itrapped, & becoming a bland character.
& so, he began appearing in 07e’s life.
subtly at first. as a pedestrian on the sidewalk, an innocent bystander standing on the curb. he didn’t directly interact with 07e, never that, as he knew that if he did then they would immediately recognise him as icarus & his cover would be blown. he waited, patient, until 07e got over the grieving of his death until he started appearing in 07e’s dreams.
that’s where he waited now.
patient, ever so.
standing, hands low by his sides, tucked behind his back. a smile on his new face, new clothes donning his new form. fully anew. not recognisable any longer by physical appearance, yet only recognisable by voice & persona.
when 07e finally appeared in the dreamscape, where rook was awaiting them, he stepped forwards.
once.
twice.
a hand, raised in greeting, rose from his side.
“pie,” he greeted, still using the old nickname he’d had for 07e ever since his human years.
one of such significance that even celestial advisors couldn’t forsake it.
“welcome.”