[ Rose's Home ]
A second passes.
Rose stares outward, her pupils faded and mouth hanging open as Anne remains attached to her head. Unlike with Marlin, who was conscious throughout the process, this is more or less what Viviane expects.
Yet, Viviane's gelatinous form quivers with uncertainty. She looks toward her slime sister, eyes closed respectfully. 'Is it really a good idea to let her connect?'
Rachel swallows beside her, harboring similar concerns. "Do you think—"
"Ack!?"
Anne suddenly yelps, her eyes snapping wide. Her companions flinch in surprise as she stumbles back from Rose, the gooey connection between them stretching thin before snapping. A brilliant light reflects from Rose's glasses, refilling the historian's dead eyes. However, Rose jerks back too hard, hitting the back of her head against the edge of the couch.
"Gah!"
Splick!
Lines of blue slime finish detaching from the historian, receding back into the slime mother's hand. Fortunately, Anne catches herself before Rachel and Viviane have to step in to stop her from stumbling further.
A moment of silence follows.
Viviane blinks several times while Rachel's shoulders ease with a deep breath. Both of them smile weakly, relieved to see that both girls have returned safely.
"Ooooh..." Rose groans.
Minus the whiplash, at least.
As Rose clutches the back of her throbbing head, Anne stares blankly, organizing the rush of information she has gathered from that eager, mysterious mind. Coughing to break the tension, Rachel moves past them, leaning closer to the historian's side.
"Rose, are you alright?" she asks. She glances back at her slimy friend. "Anne? Hello?"
"Ah!" The slime mother nods hurriedly. "Y-yes! I'm okay, but... here, let me help her."
Rachel hums and steps aside as the two friends swap places.
"Rose," the slime mother calls gently, easing herself down and placing a hand on the girl's trembling shoulder. "Take a deep breath, okay?"
"Hoooooo...." Rose opens one teary eye. "Y-you said it wouldn't hurt!"
Anne gives her a flat stare. "It doesn't unless you throw yourself backward like that."
"Urgh..." The historian's lip trembles. After a few more breaths, she straightens herself. "So, you're a... slime? No... a Remnant? A Mother?!"
"Ahaha, don't think too hard about that last part."
It is easier said than done, but Rose manages to steady herself against the onslaught of foreign memories. While her brain continues to pulse, the pain is no longer sharp. In its place, however, her hands begin to shake as the threat of the Order becomes terrifyingly clear.
The professor, too... He is alive.
"Oh, my God..." Rose's pupils contract. "Th... this can't be real."
Anne frowns. "Rose..."
Before Anne can offer comfort, the historian snaps her hands to her face, tilting her head toward the ceiling with a squeal. "Eyaaaa! This is scary, but so exciting! How am I supposed to feel!?"
The others stiffen. "Huh?"
Rose drags her hands down her cheeks, her eyes dancing wildly behind her glasses. "There's just... so much! Fuuuck, I was so stupid! Why did I leave the project?! Why!?!?"
Her guests stare dumbly as Rose spirals into a blur of regret, fear, and revelation.
Rachel's shoulders drop first, a crooked smile forming. "Looks like she's fine."
"That does not look fine," Viviane counters.
Despite their concerns, Rose doesn't slow down. Her expression snaps into focus as she drops her hands. She stares firmly at the two slimes, her gaze darting between them with stars in her eyes.
"I... I have so many questions! No, wait, I have answers too? Do you two really believe you're Daniel's mother? What about others you connect with? Oooh, oooh, King Arthur! To think that all those stories could be partially true... this is incredible!"
"Rose!" Anne shouts, groaning. "Relax!"
"Oh..." In a sudden switch, the historian zips her lips. The living room enjoys a few blessed moments of quiet until Rose thaws, lowering her head meekly and fidgeting. "Haha... my bad."
The others exhale in relief as Anne clears her throat. "I think we've gotten what we came for. For now, it's better that you stay here and recover. Besides, your fiancé is coming home soon, right?"
Viviane's silver gaze flickers. 'A fiancé?'
Rose's forehead creases with surprise. "Yes, but how did you... oh, right. Sorry, I didn't think to tell you, but I promise it wasn't intentional!"
"It's okay." Anne waves a hand, closing her eyes reassuringly. "For now, I wouldn't want you to worry him. Please, keep what you've learned about us to yourself."
"That goes without saying!" Rose huffs, then bites her lip. "But... will I be safe?"
"Safer than we are. Besides, I know you wouldn't just leave with us. It wouldn't be easy to explain to your fiancé why you're suddenly gone."
Rose chuckles weakly. "Oh, looks like you know me well enough, haha..."
"That's..." Anne pauses for a moment, her lips curling into a dry, sad smile. "Hardly."
Viviane raises a brow, catching an unmistakable shimmer of sadness in her slime sister's eyes. Anne?
Rachel catches it as well and realizes some things are better left unsaid for now. She leans forward, forcing a smile for the former group member. "Dear, just give us a call if there's any trouble. You should know where we're headed since I told Anne."
Rose nods. "Yes, but, um... before you guys leave..." She looks between them. "It's a little fuzzy, but I'm starting to see why you're suspicious of Dr. Grayson. I understand from the memories that he was part of the Order. Still, as far as I know, he hasn't done anything to me. It also sounds like he may have saved Lecia too, right?"
Anne's eyes widen before her expression softens. "Yes, at least, that's what we're hoping." She considers her next words carefully. "Let me ask, do you recall a lecture from him about Stonehenge?"
"Stonehenge?" Rose squints, searching through her deeper memories. "No... er, I don't think so."
"...I see."
Now Rachel and Viviane are truly curious, but they hold their tongues.
"I'll call if I realize anything," Rose adds, then shrugs. "Although, you'd probably realize it too, since you have me in your head now."
"You would think so."
REBIRTH.
Anne recalls what Victor wrote on the chalkboard in the memory setting. Whatever meaning he intended, she's beginning to think it wasn't just to describe a Remnant's nature.
Not wanting to dwell on it in front of Rose, she taps her legs. "We should get going now."
"Aww... I understand."
However, Rose places a hand over Anne's on her shoulder, grinning brightly. "Thank you for trusting me! I know we only met yesterday, but..."
"It was necessary, don't worry," Anne cuts in.
She looks to the others, who nod. Without another word, they stand and head to the front door. As they say their goodbyes, ending a short visit that has secretly exchanged lifetimes, the three visitors offer more reassurances. Only Anne stays behind for a moment as Rachel and Viviane move to the car, the latter glancing back knowingly before turning away.
Anne hugs the historian briefly. "You're a little too heavy on my mind, you know? I thought Mary was big enough."
"Ahaha..." The historian's glasses shimmer over as she pulls away. "Levy says the same, but we stick it out. A-also..." Her face flushes slightly. "I... I know you said not to think about it, but I just wanted to say that you, Viviane, and Mary have a beautiful relationship with Daniel! M-maybe I can be as free as that with Levy."
"Eeeehh, please don't," Anne advises, her lips rising crookedly. "While I don't regret becoming his Mama, his real mother wouldn't like this one bit." She puffs out her chest. "This is my own selfishness, you see!"
"Oooooh."
Anne coughs. "Ahem, anyway, please be careful."
"I will!" Rose chirps, then winks. "You should know I tend to hide when things get rough."
"I know all too much now." With a sigh, Anne studies the girl for a moment. "One odd question before I go... do you remember any particular moment where your parents called your name?"
Rose blinks. "My name?" She looks upward. "Well, I'm sure they did many times. Nothing strikes me about those details, though. It's kind of implicit, isn't it?"
Anne hums, then closes her eyes with a smile. "No, that makes sense. Please, take care."
Rose waves as Anne turns away. The slime mother's smile slowly dims, like the sun setting across the distance of Keystone.
Viviane waits by the car, which Rachel has already started. Arms crossed, she glances at the running vehicle carrying the other half of their anxious group, then back to Anne.
"I told them we'll align as soon as we visit the safe houses." She narrows her eyes. "But I have to know: What did you see?"
Anne thins her lips. She checks behind her, seeing that Rose has already closed the door.
"A fog."
Viviane stiffens, her silver gaze widening. "What?"
Anne climbs into the backseat, and Viviane hurriedly follows. With Rachel listening while readying the navigation, she continues.
"I was stuck in a memory of a lecture hall during her studies in Egypt. There were only voices, but I could make out Rose and Victor. He was talking about Stonehenge and its relation to the Great Pyramids."
Rachel glances back before shifting the car into drive. "Didn't Rose say she doesn't remember Victor talking about Stonehenge?"
Anne nods. "I'm pretty sure that's because it's a hidden memory. Not only that..." Her gaze lowers. "When I tried to exit the room after the voices stopped, I was greeted by another fog outside the room."
"...Seriously?" Staring at the road, Viviane remains silent for a long moment. "Then, she's... like me?"
"I don't know." Anne groans, twisting her lips. "The fog might not be unique to us, but an effect of the flames."
Viviane lowers her gaze. "Even so, it's possibly similar to my sealing, or..." Her eyes widen. "A masking! In fact, this might be what Nico was going to do to us!"
"Yes, that was my thought as well."
The elder slime turns her head, gritting her teeth. "Then why didn't you tell her? She's clearly been manipulated by Victor at some point!"
"Yes, but..." Anne's eyes narrow with uncertainty. "When I entered the fog, I heard more voices. I'm not sure how long I wandered inside before coming back, but it was filled with broken pieces. What really struck me, though, is when I heard her parents..."
Taking a moment, she looks between Rachel and Viviane. "They... they called for Layna."
"Layna?" Rachel raises a brow. "As in, Layna Moore?" Her hands tighten uneasily against the wheel as the implications set in.
Viviane stares, her silver gaze vacant.
"She's Layna Moore, isn't she?"
Anne bites her lip before nodding. "I think so."