[FRAG] House of Liars

"That is truly heinous... I do not know what to say, or how to articulate myself. Just know that I am deeply apologetic that such things happened to you, my friend."

Farley glanced between Vodovorot and Quantum, a small frown on his face. The latter still hadn't stopped pacing, curling in a tiny circle in Farley's dorm, eyes focused hard on the floor. He didn't even look up at the others' response. Vodo shifted uncomfortably on the bed, biting his lower lip and looking sadly at the carpet.

"Well," Farley said, fiddling with his hat awkwardly, "the important thing is that, um, that's over, right? You don't have to go back to Myosatellite ever again."

Quantum's eyes flicked to Farley, but he remained silent and returned his leer to the floor. He hadn't spoken a peep since they'd left Jubilee's office. Farley had hoped he'd have something to say about his retelling of Quantum's history - he'd explained it to Jubilee, after all! - but the other Mag had completely shut down as soon as they'd left.

Ugh, that was understandable, though, wasn't it? Trauma could really fuck people up. Maybe he needed to bring Quantum to a therapist, not his room... wow, he was so not cut out for this... how did the other Mags do it? It was really awkward, being the oldest in the room. 

"Farley, my dear friend," Vodo perked up, tapping his fingers together nervously. "Have you informed the others of this predicament?"

"N-not yet, no," he muttered. 

"Should we not inform them? This may be of utmost importance to them."

Farley's eyes flicked to Quantum, who seemed to pace faster. "Well, uh, that's not really my decision to make. Quantum can tell them if or when he's ready... I don't know, do you want to go meet the other Magnitude Fragments right now?"

"No," Quantum hoarsely replied, eyes boring into the floor. At least he was talking now...?

Ahhh fuck he was doing such a shitty job of this. Farley inhaled. "Right... uh, yeah, then we won't go."

Vodo's expression turned pleading, and he clasped his hands together. "You intend to keep this a secret from the others? Surely they will find out, eventually? Will dear Suza not see our newest comrade among the Fragments, and alert the others?"

"I can hide my magic," Quantum mumbled. "That's what Myos taught me to do."

"Er... not all the way," Farley mumbled, rubbing the brim of his hat between two fingers. "You know that really overwhelming, positive sensation you got when we saw each other?"

Quantum paused, lifting his head to look at Farley.

"Yeahhhh well you can't turn that off, and that happens every time you look at another Mag. Don't you kinda feel it, like, in the back of your head right now?" he tapped his temples for emphasis.

Quantum frowned.

"I find it enjoyable," Vodo peeped, with a smile. "It is reminiscent of the kindness the others showed me, and of the beauty of creation. It warms my heart and delights my mind to think of such lovely things." 

Farley gave a small shrug. "I kinda like it, too, I guess. Hard not to. It's like, unconditional love and stuff. Can you even really hate that?"

After another second of staring, Quantum linked his hands behind his back once more and returned to his small circle. The carpet was scuffed up from how many steps he'd taken in such a small area, bending the little fibers backwards and leaving dark patches. Farley winced uncomfortably. There had to be something he could say that would defuse this situation, right? Hm....

"Dearest Quantum, how are you feeling? Would you enjoy a seat, a chair?"

Quantum glanced up at Vodovorot, still pacing. "No." 

"Perhaps a refreshment? I could magick you up a tea, or a water if you please. Or a snack, a small bite?"

"No."

Farley put a hand on Vodo's shoulder as the other deflated. The look of defeated depression on the other's normally-peppy face was deeply disturbing. "I think he just needs some space, Vodo...."

The other meekly nodded, staring at the floor. 

An awkward silence fell over the room again. Farley glanced at Quantum, at the noise that his feet made with every shuffled step. He just paced, over and over, over and over. Was it a nervous tic, or did it help him think? Should he say anything about it, call attention, or would that make Quantum feel awkward and hated? The last thing the guy needed right now was probably getting ostracized... but he had been kinda mean to Vodovorot....

Farley scrubbed at his face. Why was socializing so hard? Why couldn't he just magick up the perfect words to comfort Quantum and convince him to go meet the other Mags, so that both of the younger ones could get out of his hair?

"How old are you again?" Quantum gruffly asked.

Vodo and Farley blinked, both turning to him. They shared a mild look of confusion, Vodo clasping his hands once more, Farley clearing his throat.

"Uh, which?" Farley asked, tilting his head slightly.

Quantum wordlessly pointed at him, not even bothering to look up.

Farley rubbed his muzzle, feeling his body twinge orange. "Uhhhh. I don't... know, time doesn't work right here, but it's been a long time." his hands gravitated to fiddle with his hat and pull it over his eyes. "I'm older than Vodovorot."

"I am extremely youthful," Vodo spoke up, "perhaps only a 'week' as the mortals say? I cannot know for certain, but I am not long of this world. Why do you ask, dearest friend?"

Quantum paused, hands held together in almost a prayer in front of his mouth. "I'm not that young. And - with what that guy said-"

"-Jubilee," Farley helpfully interjected.

"-Yeah, him. He said new M... Magnitude Fragm... ents only form in certain circumstances. Were there any of those circumstances between you two being born?"

Vodo looked expectantly to Farley. He coughed into a hand. "As far as I know... yeah, no. Singularity didn't re-fuse and Vodo's... birth was weird."

Quantum looked up, tilting his head. The intense frustration on his face had finally left, and was replaced with some sort of innocent curiosity instead. That was a much better face, honestly. At least that made him look open to actually talking and maybe Farley could help build some sort of bridge between them, with curiosity and naivety. 

"It is an egregiously long story," Vodo said, after a moment. 

There was a small pause. Quantum narrowed his eyes before stepping towards the bed and perching on its very edge, daintily. In response, Farley offered a kindly smile. That was good! That was a good sign!

"Spill," Quantum commanded. His voice sounded firm, but lacked true imposition or intimidation, like he'd yet to grow into it.

Vodo glanced to Farley for guidance.

He gave a light shrug. Stars, it was weird being the eldest. "I mean, he deserves to know, right? Can't exactly keep that from him... and I don't think we should, anyways...."

"Tell me," Quantum insisted, reaching forwards to take Vodo's hand.

The other looked elated at the motion, eyes widening and a smile spreading over his features. That was really endearing; Vodo always bit his lower lip when grinning. He was really cute, in all honesty. "Well, if you both are assured in wanting to know! Do you know of Bereave, my friend?"

The confusion on Quantum's face served as his answer.

"Lemme explain that one," Farley cut in, holding up a hand. "Singularity - that's where I and the other Mags came from, that's the guy Jubilee was explaining about - splits into two smaller pieces: Bereave and Genesis. Genesis is like, a creator god, I think. Bereave destroys stuff."

"But I thought the Magnitude Fragments...?" Quantum trailed off.

"Er, yeah, we are. But we're like, small pieces of Singularity. Bereave and Genesis are like, nearly halves of the guy. So I guess... think of them like really really beefy Mags I guess? But like, way beefier. They're strong as fuck."

Quantum narrowed his eyes, then nodded in a sign of recognition as understanding blossomed on his face. Whew. Thank the stars he'd managed to get that concept across pretty easily. Farley patted Vodo's knee to signal for him to continue.

"Yes, verily! Thank you truly for your wise explanation, Farley!" wow he was so cheesy it was really endearing "Yes, as he spoke of, Bereave is - was - one half of Singularity. But, as a destroyer, a harmer of the world, he was detested." Vodo paused, awkwardly, a smile plastered on his face as his eyes briefly glazed over. Farley awkwardly shifted before Vodo perked up again, as if he'd never stopped, "Yes... and there was a great fight recently, between Bereave and a set of smaller Fragments."

"A... fight." Quantum raised both eyebrows. Hurgh maybe that had been a poor choice of words.

"Indeed! This fight was righteous and violent, but over very quickly. When the dust had settled, Bereave had been killed - torn in half by the combined magic of the instigators. As his corpse lay on the ground, the magic of creation seeped into half of it, and from those ashes I rose!" Vodo held Quantum's hand to his chest, "Yes, I am half of Bereave, a Magnitude Fragment brought to life and born not from Singularity, but from a piece of a piece. My birth was very recent."

Quantum screwed his eyes shut, leaning back and peeling his hand away from Vodovorot. He sat in silence for a few seconds, clearly trying to think over the information that had just been dumped on him. With a wince, Farley rubbed his hat's brim. Maybe they should've tried to explain everything a little more slowly... then again, Suza had infodumped on him whenever the older Mags had found him. 

On a third hand, he'd found that really annoying at the time. On a fourth hand, Vodo didn't seem to mind as much. Blargh, why was this so convoluted? Man, the universe shouldn't have trusted him to handle catching a new Mag up to speed. Farley dragged his hat down over his eyes harder, trying to hide his grimace. He totally looked like a fool.

"That's fucked up as all hell," Quantum hissed.

"Pardon me?" Vodo asked.

He hissed again, rubbing down his face. "You got born out of some guys punching the fuck out of each other? And you're like, all happy and cheerful about that?"

"I am grateful for existence!" Vodo smiled, perking up again, "I am filled with adoration and awe at being able to experience being alive. The mere thought of the circumstances of my birth does sadden me, but I find that being able to draw breath is a worthy tradeoff!"

Quantum cracked open an eye to glower at Vodovorot. "What, you think fighting's fun?"

"That's... not at all what he said," Farley awkwardly cut in, shifting to scoot between the other two slightly. 

"It's how he's acting," Quantum pressed, jabbing at Vodo. "All cutesy and cheerful, but someone literally died to bring him to life?"

Farley raised his hands diplomatically, "Okay, look, there's a lot of nuance and stuff to this situation. Let's not get into like... the morals of killing Bereave and yeah. You don't know the guy and kinda never saw anything he pulled, so... yeah."

"That's supposed to be an excuse? That feels wrong." 

"My friend!" Vodo cut in, "I beg of you, forgiveness. I did not intend to offend or harm with my actions. I merely enjoy the beauty of all creation - that is all. I am sorry that I have upset you."

Quantum rounded on Vodo, expression biting with annoyed jealousy, but he didn't speak. Lower lip trembling, he stared down Vodo until the frustration leaked from his face and then pity filtered in. Farley watched, tense, ready to shove between the duo should things go south. He wasn't even sure what his plan was going to be, really. Magic-blast them apart? Levitate them? He didn't want to hurt anyone, but maybe he'd have to...?

"I... accept your apology," Quantum mumbled.

Farley raised both eyebrows at that. Okay, well, that worked, he supposed. Maybe that dumb unconditional-love-whilst-staring-at-one-another thing Mags had was useful for more than just knowing when the older ones were creeping on him.

Vodovorot's entire face lit up. "What jubilations! I thank you from the bottom of my heart, friend!"

"I... does he always talk like that?" Quantum asked, pointing.

"Uh, yeah, it's cute," Farley managed, weakly. 

Vodo clapped. "The others quite enjoy my style of speaking! They coo, they compliment! Truly, I love to know that I bring such affection to their hearts!"

"The others... the other Magnitude Fragments?" Quantum asked, face scrunching up slightly.

"Indeed, my good friend!"

He frowned, leaning back. Farley blinked at the other's stiff posture, their straightened shoulders, their hands folded in their lap. He breathed in, slowly, as Quantum stared at the wall with a furrowed brow. What could he say to try to bring tensions down? He had to be peacemaker here, he was the oldest, he was most experienced. 

Fuck. He hated feeling so helpless, so unable to do anything, incapable of settling this fight or helping Quantum connect with them. He needed to be better, do better, but what could he do? He was some reclusive introvert that stayed holed up in his room at the COR all day long and sometimes pretended he was a doorman or an errand boy. Why did he expect himself to be capable of this?

Because he wanted to be capable of it. He wanted to help. He just didn't have the toolset for it, and that was eating him alive. Farley grimaced, pulling his hat down over his eyes again. It was great that he knew what was wrong, but how the hell was he supposed to fix that?

"Why'd they leave me in that fighting pit?" Quantum asked, voice tense and full of anxiety.

Vodo's smile seemed to freeze on his face, so Farley shifted forwards for him. "I don't think - I don't think they knew. They wouldn't have left you there if they knew, I trust them. They'd care too much."

"Well then how did they find you? I had to have come from the same... Singularity split as you," Quantum challenged, face descending into a scowl even though he didn't look away from the wall. "Why did they find you and not me?"

"I mean, they didn't find me," Farley awkwardly explained, rubbing his arm. "Coalition Frags found me, the Mags noticed I existed after. You just... got picked up by the wrong people, I think."

"They didn't even bother to look."

"They didn't know that there could even be more Mag Frags...."

Quantum finally turned to face him, teeth bared. "You don't have to defend them, you know. You're not exactly in their clique either by the sounds of what you said earlier. We don't have to listen to what they say. Who says they didn't know there could be more? Why wouldn't they look after they realized you existed?"

Farley held up his hands awkwardly. This was over his payroll; he didn't know how to work through trauma and damage in healthy manners, let alone something as complex as what Quantum was working through. If he really was as old as Farley, and had been in that fighting ring the entire time... he couldn't even fathom what the other had gone through. 

And yet, still, he wanted to help. It was like an incessant tug in the back of his mind. Why couldn't he help? Why couldn't he say magic words to make Quantum feel better?

"Quantum, comrade, I believe you are speaking out of frustration and hatred rather than sense," Vodo spoke, finally. Hope and idealism was written all over his expression. "I beg of you to reconsider your words. The others are kind and loving; they will love you, too. You have yet to meet them, but when you do, I deeply trust that you will be washed of your misgivings."

"Easy for you to say. They didn't leave you to fester." 

"I do not believe that they would have deigned to leave you to fester, either, my friend!"

Quantum scoffed, tugging at his jacket collar. "Yeah? Even though they did? You just trust everything they do 'cause they were nice to you? That shit gets you killed or worse. You can't just trust a 'nice' person."

Vodovorot frowned. "Trust and care are staunchly different emotions! I do love and adore all, but to instill trust in strangers... I feel wary about such a thing. And yet, is it not right to offer the benefit of the doubt to all I meet and befriend?"

"So you trust me? Even though you just met me?"

"I have no reason to mistrust you, friend! I do indeed trust you, for we are one and the same, connected truly and deeply. You are no stranger to me."

Quantum narrowed his eyes, leaning back slightly. Farley flicked his gaze between the two awkwardly, still half-draped between them as a sort of buffer. Words were dying in his throat, but he wanted to speak, wanted to say something. There was a level of tension in the air, but it wasn't yet thick enough to be disquieting. It was just... unnerving. Slightly unnerving.

Vodo's face was still ever-optimistic, eyes wide, a smile spread over his cheeks, teeth showing. It was innocent (and really cute), pure, almost with a twinge of desperation. Every few seconds, his eye would twitch, just slightly. Farley reached forwards to put a hand on Vodo's upper back, rubbing slightly. The other relaxed just a twinge under his touch, but keep his eyes focused on Quantum. 

The latter was standing, shoulders straight, hands still curled in his jacket as he stared down Vodo. He had several inches on the other, and the confident, firm way he carried himself made him seem so much larger than life. Currently, his expression was nigh unreadable, but lingered somewhere on the spectrum of curious frustration.

After another pregnant few seconds, Quantum leaned forwards. "Do you trust me more than you trust the others?"

Confusion blossomed on Vodo's face as he scrunched his muzzle up.

"That's, uh, a... really loaded question," Farley began.

"I'm aware. Do you both trust me?"

Vodo looked to Farley nervously. He gave a too-hard shrug, fingers curling around his hat again as red flushed all over his body. What was he supposed to say to that? He couldn't quantify things like his trust in people, how much he cared about them. It didn't feel rankable.

"Let's do something to test your trust, then." Quantum's eyes were sparkling. At least he seemed excited?

Vodo's frown had disappeared, but his grin had become slightly nervous. "Such as?"

"Well... you said you were born when the magic of creation seeped into half of that Bereave person, right?" Quantum pressed.

"Yes, that is verily correct!" 

Quantum lifted a hand, which sparked to light in green and red magic. "Do you know where the other half is?"

"Hey, hang on," Farley cut in, putting a hand on Quantum's chest. "What are you saying?"

The latter shrugged, dropping his hand. "Well, what if we put the magic of creation into that half? Shouldn't it make another Mag Frag like us?"

"Wh- what?! I mean - even if we knew that for certain, why would you want to!?" Farley barked, standing as adrenaline ran down his spine. His hands shook slightly with the sheer intensity of emotion as some form of orange melted onto his face.

"You wish to bring new life into this world?" Vodo pondered aloud. 

Quantum stood. He was just a smidge smaller than Farley, but he seemed to hold himself just that much taller, like he'd been through more, like he'd seen more. He leered down with a "To see if you trust me. And besides, wouldn't it make the others happy to have another Magnitude Fragment? That's what you said, that they'd be happy to learn about someone like me. So let's double the surprise and make another for them to fawn over."

"I-" Farley started, then stopped himself, dragging his hands down his face.

"Merrily, I must agree!" Vodo chirped.

Farley turned on his heel. "What." 

"There is naught that I adore more but creation, my friend!" he replied, smiling. "Why, to imagine that I could help usher in new life to this plane, especially that of a Magnitude Fragment... it fills me with such joy and love! I cannot help but agree!"

"Oh, good," Quantum said, putting his hands in his pockets and striding up right behind Farley. "So that just leaves you, Farley. You gonna snitch us to the others, or are you gonna come with?"

Farley stared at Vodovorot, breathing slowly. He could feel his chest rising and falling, uncomfortably so, as his brain desperately tried to process what the others were saying. It was fucked up beyond belief to go against Kolo and Pya's decision to lock up the Bereave pieces, break into their alarm-rigged pocket 'verse the pieces were held in, and then deliberately tamper with them to try to make a new baby for... no real reason. 

What if it didn't make a Mag? What if Bereave woke up? What if they were caught - how much trouble would they get in? How many of the Mags would be frustrated with Farley, especially, for going behind their backs - keeping Quantum a secret, fiddling with Bereave's pieces without permission, acting like an awful asshole and abusing their trust in him?

But was it worth it, to give Quantum a sense of purpose, a chance to do something other than fight? He'd phrased it like he'd meet the Mags after they made the new baby. What if it all went right instead of wrong? What if they made the new baby and the others were pleased as punch with him, showered him in love and affection? He wanted to pretend their opinions of him didn't matter, but he knew the decision weighed on him like a sack of bricks.

Experimentally, Farley opened and closed his fist a few times. He ducked his head. "Fine. I'll go with."

"Sounds great," Quantum said, stepping back. "Anyone know where the half is being held?"

Vodo stood, hands still clasped. "I do know! I can feel it, sense it. It, after all, is a part of me, I suppose. I do not know if I harbor the strength to take us there, but I can guide us once we are 'in' the strange place it is encased in."

"Well that helps, but it's not a ticket in, so to spea-"

Farley coughed, and the other two turned to him. He stared at the floor, focused on the carpet. "I know where it's being held. The Mags have a forum and Kolo was talking about where he was going to put it, and I read their posts and stuff. So I can teleport us."

"Great! Then take us," Quantum said, holding out his hand expectantly.

Farley stared.

If he teleported them, he was accepting responsibility, as the eldest, as their leader-of-sorts, about what they were going to do. The Mags would look to him for answers if this went wrong (or, if this went right, really). He would have to answer for the others, take the heat, shield them from the brunt of any anger directed their way. Breaking into the Timeline was already a crime; if they raised Bereave, he couldn't even begin to fathom how furious the others could be.

Vodovorot tentatively reached out his hand.

Farley stared.

But this would help Quantum. It had to, right? It was his own idea, and it was actually pretty positive - he wanted to help create life. Wasn't that the natural drive of all gods, of all the Mags? To create and protect? Would it be so evil to give Quantum a chance to truly experience what it was like, to live as a being of pure creation, to indulge in their most intrinsic and instinctive drive? Who was Farley, to deny him that right?

Farley breathed in, took their hands, and teleported.

The buzz in his ears faded as he let go of their wrists. They floated in some sort of void - the Timeline that Kolo and Pya had quickly slapped together to serve as a literal prison for the pieces. Ahead lay a small building - mostly a hallway and a room at the far end of it. The doors were firmly shut. 

Stars. They were really doing this. Why did he convince himself this was a good idea, again?

"Friend!" Vodo asked, and Quantum glanced to him. "Where will we get the creation magic?"

Quantum held out his hand again, which lit with magic. "Uh, don't we all have some part of it inside of us? We'll use our magic."

"...Oh! I see."

Farley remained silent as Quantum nodded at Vodo and then strode over to the door. He inspected the lock - silver, and highly dangerous. Quantum didn't look up as the other two approached and Farly crouched to also stare at the padlock.

"Did they truly believe such a thing would hold Bereave?" Vodo asked, with more incredulity in his tone than Farley guessed he could muster.

He shrugged. "It's probably a, uh, failsafe. There's likely gold embedded in the walls and this is a last resort. These doors are really heavy, too, so they'd be a bitch to ope-"

Quantum's hand sparked harder and a bolt of bright-hot magic tore into the hinges. Both doors clattered against the hallway, the noise echoing through the tiny Timeline. Farley blinked rapidly as the other stood and made their way in, tailed by Vodo, who looked enamoured.

It was an uneventful sort of hall - gray steel walls, a cold floor with a long rug laid over its center, fluorescent lights baked into the ceiling. Of course they didn't need to dress the place up for such a utilitarian need, but it felt haunting and empty all the same. 

"Hey," he barked, scrambling to stand and jog after Quantum. "Hey!"

He half-glanced over at Farley. "What?" 

"I wasn't done talking! That door was probably rigged with a dozen enchantments and charms to alert Pyatiugolnik and Kolo if it was opened. We've got a time limit now."

"Ah. I figured we had one as soon as we teleported in." Quantum simply walked faster.

"I- I guess, but it's even shorter now," he lamely argued.

Quantum paused, turning to put a hand on his hip and tilt his head at Farley. "What? Are you wussing out? Scared of what they'll say if they catch you?"

"ACTUALLY, yes I am." he huffed. Vodo glanced between them, and then continued down the hall.

"Why? What'll they do to you? Cuss you out, hit you?"

Farley felt red beginning to spread once more as frustration took over. "I- no, they wouldn't hit me, but I don't-"

"Then why are you so scared?"

"-I-I don't want to disappoint them!"

"Why would they be disappointed in you? You're just making new life, that's it."

"I-"

"If they were as good as you said, you shouldn't be scared of them."

Anger had begun to fully replace the other feelings in his head - a boiling sort of rage that simmered just below the surface, unwilling to explode, eager to be bottled up and compartmentalized, but there all the same. Farley clenched his teeth. "That's not how it works. At all. They can, like, they can still be good people, and, like, be able to find fault in what I do or s-say."

"But you're scared."

"I said I didn't want to disappoint them!" 

"Comrades," came Vodo's voice, further down the hall. "I do not mean to interrupt this argument, but I have found the half of Bereave. Make haste, my friends, and please come witness."

Farley and Quantum paused, glancing further into the building. Vodovorot was poking his head out from the corner of the hall, where it curved and met the door of the tiny room. He smiled and waved upon catching their stares.

Quantum shot Farley a look. "Just keep what I said in mind." with that, he trotted off after Vodo.

Farley curled his hands into fists and breathing in, slowly, trying to peel away his anger with every step he took following the others. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. With every number he counted, he could feel more of the emotion dissipate, slowly, until he was back to neutral green. Quantum glanced back a few times, watching with interest as his body's colors shifted, and he appropriately pulled his hat over his eyes.

Everything the other had said was deeply unsettling, and he couldn't quite articulate why. But he trusted the other Mags - he'd met them all. Stars forbid he ever say it, but he did trust them. Maybe... maybe it was just because Quantum hadn't met them yet, that he didn't trust them. Maybe once he'd see them, he'd understand where Farley and Vodo were coming from.

That felt like a fat chance, but it was still comforting to think about.

They turned the corner. Vodo gave a strained smile, gesturing at a small cardboard box before him, sitting unceremoniously on a metal table. Farley blinked a few times as his mind fully registered the scene before him, and then he barked a tiny laugh (that the others stared at him for). It was so ridiculously Pya and Kolo to go through the elaborate setup of the rest of this pocket 'verse, and then just slap the magic in a box and call it a day.

Quantum gave a shrug and trotted right over, picking up the box and ripping open the taped flaps. He peered into its depths, then procured another box, this one smaller.

Farley laughed again, doubling over slightly. Oh, of course they'd shoved another box inside of a box. Vodo caught his giggles and covered his mouth, too, the grin on his face a little more genuine. 

"I guess it is sort of ridiculous," Quantum admitted, opening this box, too. He procured a third. "Come the fuck on."

"This is the last of the lot, thankfully," Vodo managed, amid snickers. "I can sense it."

Quantum gave a relieved smile as he tore this one's top off. "That's good to hear."

He turned it upside-down over the table, shaking out the contents. Speckled magic fell onto the cool metal, glittering in the artificial light, catching it like stars and glittering slowly. It was so fascinating, and yet so deeply, intrinsically wrong. There was nothing right about the Magninium, the colors in front of him. Farley sucked in a breath, and then startled at the sound of footsteps, whipping around. 

Vodovorot had taken several steps back, the smile now frozen on his face. There was a glaze to his eyes, although they were firmly locked onto the magic. Farley swallowed awkwardly, then reached forwards to put a hand on Vodo's shoulder. It had to be hard to see the other half of himself, right?

With an eep, Vodo jumped, blinking rapidly. He untensed when he noticed Farley's hand, and tried to give a reassuring grin. 

"You alright?" Quantum asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Verily! Let us make haste and do the deed, my friends."

"Right." Quantum turned to the table.

Farley paused as voices echoed down the hallway - voices, or thoughts? No, thoughts. Memetics. Other Mag Frags. Fuck. He swivelled his ears backwards to catch every drop.

I DIDN'T THINK THE PIECES WOULD WAKE UP SO QUICKLY, THOUGH-

nor did i. perhaps we underestimated bereave.

Oh no. Oh no no no no. Not while they were still here, not while they were in the middle of this! Fuck, he'd known this was a bad idea! They shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have tried to do this!

"Guys, fuck, Pya and Kolo are coming!" Farley hissed, clamping his hands together, wings fluttering slightly in agitation.

Vodo's expression was equally anxious as he glanced over his shoulder, down the hallway. They couldn't see past the curve. "Whatever shall we do if they arrive?"

"They can't stop us," Quantum muttered, hands lighting with bright, sparkling magic. "Come on, use your guys' magic too."

Vodo shoved his arms forward, his magic blending with Quantum's. It formed some sort of bright amalgamation, swirling in reds and greens, humming softly as it curled in the air. Really, Farley could only stare, eyes wide, breath caught in his throat. He knew, objectively, that Pyatiugolnik and Kolo were just around the corner, that they had a time limit of only a minute, but everything had seemed to slow down.

He was really doing this. He was really doing this. He was helping them do this. This was his fault. If anything went wrong he'd be blamed. Why didn't he talk to them, why didn't he stop him. Why didn't he use his brain. Why didn't he act mature. Why wasn't he responsible and sensible. How could he.

"Farley, come on!" Quantum demanded, but his voice sounded so far away, like he was underwater and shouting at the top of his lungs.

Just past their magic was the clump of blackened, star-speckled magic - the other half of Bereave. They were really doing this. They were really going to infuse Bereave with creation magic and hope that it'd make another Mag Frag... or reawaken Bereave entirely. This was the worst idea Farley had ever been a part of. They could literally undo all of Jubilee's work in a split second.

So why did he lift his arm, why did he feel his magic moving? Why did the rainbow of his structure form in his hand, glowing and ready? Why did he put his hand with Vodo and Quantum's, feel his magic flowing into their creation?

No answers came to him as Quantum shoved the magic into Bereave's half. 

I THINK - WAIT, FARLEY? VODOVORO- WAIT WHO IS-

There was a great flash of light, blinding and radiating. Farley lifted a hand against his eyes, trying to block the burn from reaching his brain, but it encapsulated him, clung to him, snaked around him, choked him. There was a ringing in his ears. Why was this so violent? He didn't remember it being so violent. 

He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply, trying to still his heart. Everything was shaking around him, even the ground underneath, and Farley crouched, clutching at his ears desperately. Was it supposed to hurt this much? He tried to open his eyes, past the tears streaming down his face. He could see the white coalescing into a shape, but the brightness was so intense that he had to clamp them shut only a second later. Why did it hurt so badly?

Oh stars oh fuck what the hell had they done? Why had he let them do this? Oh fuck he was going to be in so much trouble-

oh wow

Dead silence rippled over the group. Farley slowly lowered his arms, throwing a glance over his shoulder, at Kolo and Pyatiugolnik. Both stood at the far end of the hallway, shock and surprise written all over their expressions. A flustered red came over his body with a tremble and he instinctively pulled his hat down, biting his lip.

FARLEY?! 

"Guys, guys, we did it," Quantum's voice rang out, amid the dust. "Guys! Haha oh fuck holy fuck-"

"Oh, stars above! Good tidings, good welcomes to you, my friend!" 

FARLEY ARE YOU OKAY?

Then there was a hand on his shoulder, and he flinched, sniffling as the tears kept coming and coming. His head hurt, like it was buzzing, vibrating full of some sort of insects. Why was it still hurting? Shouldn't it have stopped?

"Farley, my friend, are you injured? Do you require healing?"

VODOVOROT, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE? WHO'S THIS?

Why wasn't anyone else hurting like him? Why was everyone else okay?

kolo, look, there's-

w-where am i?

Farley managed to pry his eyes open, wiping at the dripping tears. He slowly tilted his head up, at where the glowing figure had once been. There was no longer a glowing figure; instead, in its place sat a dazed, tall individual, stumbling on their feet like a newborn fawn, blinking. Behind their eyelids lay a strange shape. 

They'd done it. Oh stars. They'd made a new Magnitude Fragment.

They were going to be in so much trouble.

hello?

is that- are you - dev-

Farley vomited.

WHAT DID YOU THREE DO!?