Spooky: [singing] Two best friends behind the yak screen! What are they doing? I don’t know.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: ...I would presume being unconscious.
Alice: [singing] Are they dead? No, they’re just sleeping.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: [singing] At least as far as we know.
Alice: Nice!
DIE-FOR-YOU: I can sense a strange tension in the air.
Spooky: Oh! Hello!
Cassowary: [quietly] Hey there.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Hi.
DIE-FOR-YOU: Hello, friends.
Alice: Hello.
DIE-FOR-YOU: I come on a mission of concern. Cassowary.
Cassowary: Yeah?
DIE-FOR-YOU: Beyond the many prayers that have come to my ears from those concerned, who care about you, THEE-I-DARE has said that you have begun to walk the path toward the Elders?
Cassowary: Yeah.
DIE-FOR-YOU: Tell me why.
Cassowary: Cause they run this town and I haven’t had parents for so long. They could give me everything.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Define everything. [Long pause] Like, is everything just having parents? A traditional family structure, even though you’d have to have all your friends suppressed and you’d have to live how they’d want, and eventually serve something that seeks to control everyone [hears DFY’s mic making noises] Oh, sorry.
DIE-FOR-YOU: No, please, you speak some of the words I was willing to express.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: But, what is it that you want, Cass?
Cassowary: You guys, you’re my age. So you have to know you can’t- there are some things you can’t do for me. A family is unconditional, and things change, especially when you grow up and-
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Well, but is that- is having that- there has to be other ways like- you know, I’m pretty sure the Breeders don’t run the only adoption service, like there are other adults in Redacre that like-
Alice: Also, I’m going to have to call ya- I’m going to have to ask you to stop on that one. My parents are absolute GARBAGE. Like-
Spooky: MOOD!
Alice: There’s no guarantees here. And, SAO might just be able to make you like whatever they stick you with. That’s not real.
DIE-FOR-YOU: I can profess, me and my brethren, the chosen and hosts that speak to us, they are, in a way, a family to us. But we are no substitute to family to you. Nevertheless, Cass, in all the times we’ve met, I’ve seen you surrounded by a different kind of family. A chosen family. And I see them reach out to me, concerned for your well-being, because they care about you. You’re their family.
Cassowary: Yeah. I guess, maybe I was just too stupid to see it.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Hey-
DIE-FOR-YOU: Not stupid. The Elders speak honeyed words.
Cassowary: [sighs] Well.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: We all fuck up sometimes. And like-
Cassowary: Yeah.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: I could tell stories.
Cassowary: I’m sorry.
Alice: Yeah, it’s- it’s okay, but, uh, DIE-FOR-YOU, if you don’t mind, I am going to gently flashbang your kid.
Cassowary: [laughs]
DIE-FOR-YOU: [chuckles]
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Please don’t blind Cassowary in this moment of revelation! That’s rude!
DIE-FOR-YOU: But to that point, mistakes are to be made, for it is human, but it is those that truly care for you, like a chosen family, that follows you beyond these mistakes, and forgive you. Those are the ones that will truly be there for you. I cannot say the same for the Elders.
Cassowary: Yeah, that was stupid of me. Thank you for helping me see that.
DIE-FOR-YOU: Not stupid.
Cassowary: Not stuipd.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Cass, I know we’re across the map from each other, but I send hugs.
Spooky: Yeah-
Cassowary: Thanks.
Spooky: And like I know that, we can’t like, be, like, providers, I guess, but, as far as I’m concerned, you’re family to me, you know, like, we’re all going through this together, and we’re all trying to do our best, okay?
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Hell yeah.
Cassowary: Love you too.
Alice: And, listen, if you’re still my friend after all the dumbass stuff I’ve done, you know.
Cassowary, AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART, and DIE-FOR-YOU: [laughs]
Cassowary: We don’t talk about that. Okay, DIE-FOR-YOU, I know I might not- I mean, I know I almost betrayed you, but I just want to know, why, why the moon?
DIE-FOR-YOU: The moon, the moon is a symbol to us. We claim it as such because, in essence, it’s not its own light. It’s merely a reflection of the Sun, yet humbler, much like my brethren, who broke away from the Elders, that that initially gave that light. We are a reflection of that gift, humbler, and yet defined separately, in its own unique beauty. So the moon is important to us.
Cassowary: I like that a lot. Thank you for that.
Alice: I always thought it was a really weird flex from them to hide it.
Cassowary: [laughs]
Spooky: I always kinda thought it was something like “shoot for the moon,” you know, like, do your best, but, I guess that works too.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: I mean, I was going more Bond villain, “Haha! I have-”
DIE-FOR-YOU: All viable interpretations. [laughs]
Cassowary: [laughs]
Spooky: Just go Moonraker, yeah!
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: [laughs] Exactly.
Cassowary: Hey, I’m-
DIE-FOR-YOU: Just know, Cass, it’s okay to stumble. It’s okay to question. For it’s in those moments, those dark moments of insecurity and worry, if we let ourselves lean on our chosen family, they’ll prop us up, and help get us back on track, without judgement.
Cassowary: That makes sense to me. Okay. Well. That solves that, for now.
Spooky: Completely unrelated, but if you do this again, I’m going to vibe-check you.
Cassowary and AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: [laughs]
Cassowary: Feel free. Okay.
DIE-FOR-YOU: Tough love is still love. [laughs]
Alice and Cassowary: [laughs]
Cassowary: And I guess that’s not your style. And I’m glad.
DIE-FOR-YOU: [Hmmms suspiciously]
Cassowary: I’m sure you’re busy. It’s okay to- yeah.
DIE-FOR-YOU: No, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to talk. Be open and honest.
Cassowary: Thank you too. I think I needed this.
DIE-FOR-YOU: I think we both did, Cass.
Cassowary: [laughs] That’s good. Have a good night.
DIE-FOR-YOU: You take care, everyone.
AN-UNSTOPPABLE-HEART: Yeah.
Spooky: Yeah, you know, I still don’t like you.
