When We Reach The Peak

The evening of our deadline, dropsgum and I were voice chatting in private while messaging rainDrips in our RP moderation group channel. It may have sounded exclusionary, but since he’s said before he didn’t like voice chats, we figured it was fine as long as we didn’t mix up our conversations. My room was warm enough where I didn’t need to keep my heater on, so I felt at peace despite the circumstances.

“So, what should we work on?” dropsgum said. Though she couldn’t hide the tilt of disappointment in her tone, the discouragement we both shared was something we tried to build into encouragement for our future ventures.

“Hard to say when we don’t know what we did wrong other than…not enough presentation?” I said. It’s not like it’s our fault that we aren’t amazing artists.

“I guess,” she said and sighed. “I mean, I’ve actually been practicing art recently! I got an art tablet for my birthday a while back, so I gotta use it eventually.”

“Did you just shove it in your closet and forget about it until recently?”

“Ehe…”

“You’re unbelievable.”

At least the two of us had made peace regarding our situation. As she excused herself and went on mute, I scrolled back through some of our old RP logs. It didn’t take long for us to make this world that we tried to share with the world. To see its origins, even now, it felt as though I was looking through a scrapbook.

That once scene…especially…I had remembered part of it before, back when I collapsed at school, but there was a second half that I enjoyed far more.

“L’vanquiet?”

His eyes shot open and he sat up. He reached and dug his fingers into the bedsheets under him, breathing as though he’d been running for miles. It was all he could do to ground himself after the horrid nightmare that plagued him. Sylvia sat at the foot of his bed in her morning gown, a simple blue dress that just as well fit the melancholy mood of the hour.

Funny. The horrors are all too easy to accept until you open your eyes. Once it’s over, you feel so foolish. ‘How could my mind trick me so thoroughly?’

Hard to believe, until you realize that your worst fears will always be a possibility. The gaping maw of the abyss could and would always open up underneath you if you dropped your guard. Living as a person of flesh in a world so against it, L’vanquiet knew better than to trust anything given to him. At least, until he met…

Sylvia pouted when he didn’t reply. “I’m not a part of the nightmare,” she said, “unless you’re that horrified just looking at my face.”

A quiet chuckle escaped from his lips. “Who said I was having a nightmare?”

She smiled sadly. “The tossing and turning, the cold sweat, the cries of agony—may I continue, sir archmage?”

He grimaced, a pang of guilt striking him. She shouldn’t have had to see that sorry sight. “Something like that…I apologize if it disturbed you, your majesty.”

“Is that why you think I’m upset?”

The way her face furrowed and wrinkled in displease caused him to flinch. “Er…um…”

Sylvia leaned in closer, to the point where the pair’s noses were nearly touching. Her frown turned into a smile, just like that.

It was truly a beautiful sight. Every day, L’vanquiet felt blessed to see the princess capable of joy despite all her hardships.

“I’m worried about you because…you’re so, so important to me. You’re my best friend.” Her words were soft, a fragile bubble left on the surface of still waters. She was never good with these soft, precious, personal moments—he knew. He knew so well.

The expectations of being royalty looked difficult enough. Those duties which become near impossible when working under the restrictions of being a Fleshling. Admiration was only one of the many things that came to mind when he thought of her, along with care, protective instincts…

Love.

It may have been a fool’s errand to love the princess as a mere servant of the crown, but he would happily live and die a fool if it meant he could hold onto this blissful feeling. It bloomed in his chest like a secret blossom growing between cracks of unyielding stone.

“I…you’re very important to me, too,” he said in a small voice, one that dared to not be overheard. “I know I can be too much, annoyingly passionate, over the top, but you’ve always given me a chance.”

His hands trembled as he folded them in his lap, but Sylvia merely smiled and reached over to place her hands over his. This moment of privacy was a bubble that separated them from the cruel world around them. Nothing could take it away, nothing—

If only rainDrips didn’t take that chance to barge in. The door was thrown open, and without even a comment on their intimate situation, he began to babble. “I know you two may not be eager about this suggestion, but if you’re interested, I have a proposal.”

Wait…

How did he get here!?

I snapped back to reality and looked at my screen. dropsgum was still on mute, but rainDrips had started sending messages in our moderation chat.

rainDrips: I know you two may not be eager about this suggestion, but if you’re interested, I have a proposal.
TowersFall: whats up
rainDrips: As of now, it’s unlikely that we’ll have the interest we need to continue this project, not to mention it’s getting late.
rainDrips: However, I have some friends of mine from a fantasy-based RP forum who are willing to try a new platform after that forum shut down a week ago. There’s about five or so interested people who are willing to sign up at the last minute after I told them of this one.
rainDrips: I know it can be troublesome to bring in an established friend group that only I’m acquainted with, but they’re all good people. Perhaps instead of delaying the RP to get more people, we give them a chance?

I chewed on my bottom lip. I’d seen a fair few situations where established friend groups dominate an RP and alienate those not involved, but rainDrips had been a trusted party so far.

And it’s not as if we had an alternative other than waiting. Urgh, against my better instincts…

TowersFall: im fine with it but wait until dropsgum gets back to give her opinion
rainDrips: Of course.

It was at that moment that a light sigh graced my ears. She had gone off mute, the sound of typing filtering through her mic soon after.

dropsgum: I’d love to give new people a chance!!! I mean i have my worries and all yknow but if you trust them then i trust you!!
dropsgum: like seriously you’ve been so helpful i really really REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!
rainDrips: I’ve only done a few things here and there, no need to exaggerate.
rainDrips: But thank you. If there’s any problems, I’ll do my best to help. Can I invite them to the Group
TowersFall: dont see why not
dropsgum: Sure!!!

“Do you think this is a good idea?”

The slight breathlessness in her throat betrayed her anxiety. I imagined, for a moment, that I put my hands on hers.

“We’ll see. No matter what, I’m glad we’re doing this together.”