July 11, 2022

"Can you help me patch up my back?"

"Sure," Spider heads over to the medkit and raids it before heading back over to Harmonia and changing her dressings, "That ok?"

"Yeah, thank you,," Harmonia smiles softly. "How are you feeling?"

Spider chuckles, "Now there's a difficult question, the least complicated answer? I don't know, yourself?" She flashes a smile back as she sits down on the bed.

"I've been better but mentally I dont feel terrible right now"

"I'm glad to hear that," Spider's eyes are locked on the door.

"Whats up?" Harmonia follows her gaze.

"From the sounds of it, Redaxx is back."

Harmonia looks nervous but gets up, getting her door but keeping it cracked so Redaxx cant see anyone besides Harmonia. "Hello?"

Yeah it's Redaxx. "Hey! You're the one that got straight Fs on the test, didn't you?" She tries to peek into the room.

Harmonia keeps the door barely open. "No idea what youre talking about"

"The Impurity one. Ya know. Where you refused to answer anything?"

"Why are you here."

"To talk with you two, actually!"

"About what" Harmonia's glaring bullets into Redaxx.

She doesn't seem too bothered by it. "Dromen, the impurity, the likes. Don't worry, I won't be doing the usual!...Unless you'd prefer that, who knows."

Spider sighs and stands up, "Harm it's fine, let her in"

"Fine." Harmonia opens the door, letting Redaxx in before turning as if they saw something in their peripheral vision, her breathing getting shakey as her expression becomes afraid.

Redaxx notices this, but simply shrugs it off as per usual (for Mrs. "I failed every test in elementary school") and walks into the room, shutting the door behind her. "So. How have you been? Both of you."

Harmonia walks back to her bed, wincing as she sits down. The back of her shirt is cut open to reveal bandages between her wings. "Terrible, thanks for asking" She sighs.

"I've been fine" Spider yawns.

"What a contrast." Redaxx leans back against the door, crossing her arms with a sigh. "See, I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. I think it's slightly boredom? I mean, I'm willing to give you-" She looks specifically to Spider. "-a ride to the complex if you'd like, since, apparently while I wasn't looking, someone of yours got taken? And, I dunno if this 'Kal' buddy of yours will, ya know. Actually help or not. And, I also can't guarantee that your other buddy will ever see the light of day again if you DON'T go, but hey. The Dreamwalker stuff isn't my business."

"What business do you have with me? Or is this just for Spider," Harmonia asks.

Redaxx looks Harmonia up and down. "You seem like someone who's been around. I bet you have more than your fair share in experience with Dreamwalkers...Maybe."

"What, and I don't?" Spider chuckles, "But yes I would be happy to accept that offer"

"Well, hey! if you DO have experience, I'll hear it out."

"What do we get out of it? If we go to Catacombis then we might have a chance to help Sparrow but will most likely just get detained but what do we get out of giving you info?" Harmonia asks.

"You don't get detained?" Redaxx says, "Like, I dunno about you, but I'm a part of the 'People would probably be more accepting if we didn't torture the hell out of them for information!' camp. So basically... You get a ride to wherever you wanna go and I get information to give to the lads and lasses back at Cata? That's really it."

Harmonia just stares at her.

"What kind of information do you need? Cause just saying you want info on Dromen doesn't narrow it down," Spider sighs.

"I could leave if it's a bad time." Redaxx's staring back, still having that somewhat overconfident smile on her face. She looks to Spider. "Well, I mean.. With YOU, I'd be happy to get an update on how all that impurity is doing in your body. Like, ya know, what it's doing to you and all? But also, just general info on dromen. See if you've found anything on them we don't know yet."

"Ever been in Sondar's domain?" Harmonia asks.

"Who?"

"The impure Dromen," Harmonia explains, "Also is the deal that if we give you info, you DONT kidnap us and drive us somewhere we can teleport ourselves?"

"It's gonna look weird if we just hand ourselves in, so I'd rather accept the lift," Spider says.

"Okay but what is going there gonna do??" Harmonia asks.

"I can gather more information and potentially find Sparrow, so.." Spider mutters.

"I didn't plan on kidnapping you anyway? Like if you refused I'd leave and try again later." Redaxx says, "And, sure, teleportation is soooo cool, but when was the last time you had a nice car ride, hmm?"

"How do you intend to do that?? Youve been there before. You know how strict those fuckers are. Plus maybe they wont even put you in a cell with Kalius. How you gonna get out then??" Harmonia says to Spider before turning to Redaxx, "Oh yeah, I'd love to be in a nice car ride with a fucking kidnapper, sounds fun."

"I'm literally not kidnapping you????"

"You already kidnapped Spider!" Harmonia exclaims, "Youre already a kidnapper!"

Spider sighs, "Enough, Harm, I'm going, you can stay if you want"

"No the fuck youre not." Harmonia growls, staring down Spider. "They wont let you see the light of day again"

"I'll be fine," There's a hint of a growl in Spider's voice as she matches her gaze with Harm's.

Redaxx huffs, muttering something under her breath.

"No you wont! You arent fucking leaving!"

"Do you have something to say, Redaxx?" Spider's still staring Harm down.

"Just muttering to myself about what a lovely dynamic you two have! Very charming."

Harmonia looks at Redaxx, sneering before snapping her head to the corner of the room. "God fucking damnit-" She says, looking back at Spider. Spider can notice that shes shaking now.

Spider growls looking conflicted for a minute before pulling Harmonia into a hug, "You ok?"

"Just fucking... the shadow again...." She says, hugging back.

"And I can try and find out about that," Spider tightens the hug before letting go and taking a step back.

Harmonia shakes her head. "No please you cant leave..."

"Look, I will be back, and everything is gonna be fine, you can manage without me for a day or so"

"Why do you think itll only be a day or so???"

"Well however long it'll be then" Spider sighs, "I'm not arguing with you on this"

"Please..." Harmonia tears up. "What if you cant escape??"

"I'll find a way" She turns to Redaxx, "So we off? I can answer any questions you have in the car"

"Fuck it if youre going I'm coming with you." Harmonia says.

"In that state?"

"Im not just letting you go alone"

"You need to rest so yes you are"

"You cant make me"

"You really wanna test that theory?" Spider growls.

"Do I need to break this up?" Redaxx asks.

"How would you do that?" Harmonia says.

"I have swirly eyes." Redaxx smirks.

"If shes going I'm going. Thats it."

"Again you're injured, what are you gonna do if we need to fight, or run?" Spider asks.

"Ill figure it out."

"Sure you will"

"I don't think it's the best idea." Redaxx chimes in.

"What, me coming with?"

"Yeah."

"I cant just let her go alone"

"Yes you can, and I'm not arguing this any further," Spider replies.

Harmonia growls. "NO! Im going with you or youre not fucking going."

"That's not up for you to decide." Redaxx says.

"Yes it fucking is. Im going with you," Harmonia says, "Even if Redaxx doesnt take me I'll fucking go there myself, I'll walk if I fucking have too"

"It isn't, Harm, look I'm sorry but I'm going and you're staying here, you're just gonna have to like it or lump it," Spider says.

Redaxx fuckinG CACKLES but quickly gathers herself again. "LLUMP IT?? OH MYY Gg. Ok. Ok." She takes a deep breath. "Permission to end this right now? so we can get a move on?"

"Please do, Redaxx," Spider sighs.

Harmonia is effortlessly picked up by a psychic force and held down against her bed. She can't move at all, really. Redaxx opens the door and leaves, gesturing for Spider to follow.

Harmonia screams. "STOP IT STOP- DONT LEAVE ME-" She says, panicking and struggling if possible as she opens her eyes and looks at Spider. Spider takes a deep breath and walks out. Harmonias just sobbing and desperately trying to move. Harmonia is held down and the door is shut on its own.

---

Redaxx climbs into her truck and waits for Spider, who soon joins her.

Redaxx PSYCHICALLY PUTS THEIR SEATBELTS ON.

The truck starts.

"So, how do you wanna do this?" Redaxx asks.

"Same as before suits me."

"Right. Guess you're gonna have a second thing suiting you, then!" She pulls out a nullsuit from the backseat, tossing it onto Spider, who rolls her eyes. "Standard procedure." Redaxx chuckles, turning on the radio to some random garbage while waiting for her to put it on.

Spider pulls the nullsuit on and sighs, "So we going?"

"Yup." She speeds down the road and into a swirling black and white portal. They disappear!

---

The truck appears and pulls into a parking spot. The two get out and head inside. Redaxx immediately heads for Memphi's office. She approaches the door and knocks thrice. The doors open. No ones there, but its the same hall as before.

Redaxx takes a deep breath and begins to walk down the hallway.

"Do I need be worried?" Spider asks, following.

"We'll be fine, I just don't really like having to enter Ms. Norwin's coom cave."

"So that's a yes then," She chuckles.

"I guess."

They find themselves at the enterance to Memphi's office..

Redaxx KNOCKS. A small cat robot opens the door. It ushers them inside.

It's dark. Like. Pitch black, aside from two glowing circles. Memphi has installed lights in her glasses so she can write without being exposed.

"Ms. Norwin?"

"Come in."

Memphi is writing. A lot. It's hard to see, but there's papers EVERYWHERE.

"Ms. Norwin, I've brought back that one Impure, Spider. But, I've also got, like... News that's. More important, I think."

Spider glances around noting all the papers.

"Tell me the short version now and email me the long version," Memphi doesn't look up from her papers.

"Harmonia Iris Reeds has apparently encountered an 'Impure dromen' named Sondar and visited it's domain. That's all I managed to learn."

Memphi stops writing for a second, but continues after, "Look into it, then."

"..Right. Sorry for interrupting you." Redaxx sighs, "Should I take this one to the impure cell?"

"Do as you see fit."

"Thank you for your time." SHE LEAVES IN A HURRY. Spider is picked up by a psychic force and carried along. Redaxx speedwalks down the hall, carrying Spider with her.

"I can walk you know"

"I know, but I didn't wanna be in there any longer than I had to be." She begins carrying Spider towards containment

"Why, you scared of her?"

"Yeah??? She's literally my boss."

Spider laughs.

"Why are you laughing??"

"Because it's funny that you're scared of her, like what is she gonna do, give you a verbal warning?"

"The melding machine." Spider is placed into the cell.