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MeTag quickly turned off their projection that was showing… her, their wall trying to block the others being erased. Fan had just gotten struck by lightning trying to ‘save’ Bot from them, and now his body was on fire. They could see his body flying over to the cliff.
MeTag got up, running over to the edge of the cliff to try and catch Fan, but it failed. They could only watch as his body fell down the cliff, would he survive the electrocution? They could hear Test Tube scream something, but they didn’t bother to make out what she said. Something else was on their mind.
They were going to be in so much trouble. It was their fault that this happened. If they didn’t bring Poppy out here, Fan wouldn’t have been struck by the lightning. They would get locked up in handcuffs, they would probably be executed.
Before MeTag knew it, they backed away from the edge of the cliff, took Poppy by the arm again like they had just done and ran away from the others. They couldn’t risk getting hurt again, they joined the safety team so that they wouldn’t hurt anyone themselves, that they wouldn’t be like Steve Cobs.
Poppy was immediately taken aback by the sudden rough pull of their arm. They let out a small yelp as MeTag started to sprint away with them in tow. “What the- MeTag?!”
MeTag didn’t stop to let Poppy process what on Meeple was going on. All they could focus on was getting themselves and Poppy out of sight, and out of mind. Their room was the safest space to go to, so they had to go there.
Poppy could barely keep up with how fast MeTag was. The tight grip on their arm was probably the only reason that Poppy would be able to keep up with them. The two of them rushed back through the forest the way they came from.
After what seemed like an eternity, MeTag finally arrived in their shared room with Poppy. When the game started, Fan announced that all contestants would have roommates. It was in pairs of two, and MeTag was just glad that they had Poppy with them. MeTag quickly opened the door, getting inside the room with Poppy and closing it.
The storm outside was still raging on. Poppy had to give themself a moment to fathom what in the world had just happened. It was a lot to take in. They turned around to see MeTag facing away from them. “MeTag! Are you okay, Buddy?” Poppy stepped closer towards them.
MeTag couldn’t respond using their visual cues to that. The OSC was coming to get them, they just knew it. They were going to give them the death penalty, Cobs always threatened to give them that when they messed up. They dropped to the floor in panic, putting their hands on the top of their circular shape.
Poppy immediately went to MeTag’s side. They sat next to them cautiously. “MeTag…? What’s wrong?” Poppy gently reached one of their hands out for them. What was going on with MeTag?
MeTag looked at Poppy, their body shaking. They frantically pointed towards the shut door, trying to give Poppy the hint that the OSC was going to come and punish them for their actions.
“MeTag- Buddy- Slow down, I can barely understand you!” Poppy attempted to stay calm. “What’s with the door?” Poppy slowly placed one of their hands on MeTag’s knee.
MeTag pointed at themself, before pointing back at the door. They couldn’t just ruin everything now, not when the members their society were now warming up to a Meeple product. Would Poppy understand that the OSC was going to get them?
That was when Poppy caught what MeTag was trying to get at. “Oh, Buddy…” They softly started. “It’s okay! Nothing’s going to happen to you! It’s not your fault!” Poppy moved their hand from MeTag’s knee to their hand, holding it carefully.
MeTag’s body shook endlessly, something was going to happen alright. In the mist of it all, they could very briefly see Cobs’ face from the past when he got mad. Only a few glimpses were enough to make them more scared for their life. Their free hand let go of their body and held onto Poppy’s one.
“Hey, Hey…” Poppy squeezed MeTag’s hand gingerly. “It’s all okay… No one is coming here.” Poppy may have been worried sick about Fan and what the heck was happening with that, but MeTag was more important. Their friend was more important.
MeTag looked away from Poppy and stared at the door, almost wanting to sit against it so that no one could hurt them and Poppy, and that was exactly what they did. They let go of Poppy’s hands, moving to the door so no one could get in. They hid their face in their legs.
Poppy felt so bad for MeTag. Nothing bad was going to happen, right? It’s not like it was their fault Fan got hit by the lightning! They sighed, before getting up and walking over to sit down across from MeTag. “MeTag.” They started carefully, unsure of how to proceed. “No one is coming here. It’s just us… in our room. Please, try to understand that.”
MeTag didn’t look up from their spot, they just hid, just like how they always did when they were alone back in Meeple. Why was it that as soon as the game started, all of this drama happened? There had already been a near-death experience, and now Fan might actually die, all because they led Poppy into the cliff.
“…I’m here for you, Buddy.” Poppy blurted out. They looked at MeTag sympathetically. Their hand reached out again. “Remember that.” They added quietly. MeTag didn’t move, and Poppy sighed.
MeTag had stopped shaking now, but they were still extremely on edge, as if anyone that even knocked on the door could set them off. They looked at Poppy, if they had eyes, they would look terrified without any doubt.
“Are you… feeling any better?” Poppy quietly inquired. They glanced up at the door for a moment, before their gaze quickly shifted back to MeTag. “You really scared me, MeTag.” Poppy nervously laughed, scratching the back of one of their leaves.
MeTag felt so guilty when Poppy said that, they didn’t mean to terrify them. They slightly reached their arms out to Poppy, silently asking if they could get a hug. They already felt stupid asking for one.
Poppy wrapped their arms around MeTag. They didn’t hold on too tight so that they wouldn’t startle them. One of Poppy’s hands slowly and gently rubbed circles around MeTag’s frame.
MeTag could only cling to Poppy as a result of their affection, hiding their face as if that would do anything to stop the storm swirling inside of them. This might as well be the last few hours of freedom they would have before they got punished.
Poppy adjusted so that MeTag could feel more safe and comfortable in their hold. “It’s okay, MeTag. They’re not coming here. No one is coming here. You’ll be okay.”
MeTag shook again briefly, which was enough to make Poppy pull them closer to them. They couldn’t block out anything from their mind, they could’ve sworn that they saw a flash of Cobs’ face again.
Poppy was careful with their movements so that MeTag wouldn’t get hurt. They slowly pulled away to look at MeTag. They were still lightly shaking, and Poppy felt terrible. “How are you feeling?”
MeTag didn’t bother letting go of Poppy, them still clutching onto them was enough for them to answer that they still felt terrible. If only they didn’t go to the forest with Poppy.
“You’re doing great, Buddy.” Poppy moved one of their hands from MeTag’s frame to their arm, holding it delicately. “Nothing will happen to you, okay?”
MeTag looked away from Poppy, now staring at the floor. Despite the moment they were having, they couldn’t just pretend that nothing ever happened, like their deserved punishment and death wouldn’t come.
“I know that what I’m saying is pretty hard for you to believe, but I’m serious. Nothing will happen, MeTag. I’m sure of it!” Poppy slowly took both of MeTag’s hands into theirs.
MeTag didn’t turn their frame back to Poppy, squeezing their hands a little bit from how scared they were. If they had a face, it would look like that they would basically be begging for help at this point.
Poppy sighed. “Look. I know that you think that people are out to get you or something. That won’t happen, I promise.” Poppy attempted to reassure MeTag. “You’re my best friend, Buddy. I’m not sure what I’d do without you here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
MeTag squeezed Poppy’s hands tighter at those words. How could someone like Poppy decide to befriend someone like them? If they weren’t in their life, they definitely would’ve been given the death penalty by now.
“I’m here for you.” Poppy hugged MeTag again. Their arms quickly wrapped around their frame. They gently pulled MeTag closer to them.
MeTag wrapped their arms around Poppy in return, leaning into their touch. It was always nice when Poppy was around, they wouldn’t have to feel so alone with them by their side. Poppy was literally the best thing that had ever happened to them.
Surely nothing would happen to MeTag, right? At least, Poppy really hoped so. Surely the others would understand that it wasn’t MeTag’s fault. Poppy put that thought in the back of their head, concentrating on MeTag at that current moment.
MeTag finally let themselves relax in Poppy’s arms. The coming punishment would come soon, but for now, they pushed those thoughts away to be with their only and best friend.