A pained reunion, a questionable choice, a sight of the end...
Summary[]
Synopsis[]
Arriving in Carcosa, Lilith admits that she has never been here before, previously, because there are too many realms that exist for her to have visited every place. Arthur asks about the state of Carcosa, recalling that the last time he was here, it was in ruins, due to Kayne. Lilith informs him that Carcosa is being repaired by wasp-like creatures, which are repairing and replacing damaged or destroyed buildings and clearing away rubble.
Arthur thanks Lilith for the description and changes the subject to worry about why they were summoned here by "the King in Yellow", rather than "Yellow" or "John", as he is concerned that John has forgotten, despite his parting promise. Lilith dismisses his concerns, sure that whatever state the King is in, he will remember enough about the stakes they are facing and aid them, which is the only thing that matters to her. She doesn't think that John still exists.
Arthur idly wonders what motivated Kayne to destroy Carcosa originally, and thinks that an effort to rebuild it is an almost human-like impulse. That line of thinking is interrupted by their arrival before the King. The King is sat upon a marble throne, and beside him is a naked man wearing a collar of bone that Lilith recognizes as Wallace Larson. Larson has new eyes placed into his head, through which Lilith believes that he can see. As they approach, Lilith warns Arthur to treat the King as the King, because they cannot be sure that anything of John remains.
Arthur tentatively calls out to John, but the King passively remarks that he is John, or that he was. Arthur asks if he's no longer John, is he Yellow? The King remarks that he was, but isn't any longer. He is now the King in Yellow, as he had been before he met Arthur and as he will exist afterwards. He confirms that he remembers his time as John, and his time as Yellow, and within him is combined both the anger he had as Yellow and the love he felt as John, and consequently, he is both angered by Arthur's presence and Arthur's presence also brings him peace. He had thought that Arthur was dead.
Arthur briefly explains how he survived, and the King acknowledges that he felt Arthur's return. Arthur asks how long it has been, and the King invites Arthur to walk with him. He commands Larson to come as well, making him walk as a dog on a leash.
Lilith remarks that the King's greeting was colder than she would have liked, and presses him to ask the King about Kayne and to determine how long they've been gone, and to figure out how to get her a new body. Arthur pushes back, asking her for space or else he'll mute her again. The King asks who Arthur is speaking to, and realizes that Lilith has now taken over the role of being Arthur's eyes.
The King remarks on how much has changed, with them being separated and the King having returned to his old body, once again confronting Yellow, and now Arthur returning with a new entity serving as his eyes. Arthur asks what happened to the King, and asks if they are still friends. The King states that he does not believe that a being such as himself could have friends. He did before, but does not know if he does now. He recounts that when John returned to this world, in the body of Hastur, he found Yellow had reclaimed the Dreamlands and had become more vicious than ever. He had made an example out of Larson, even taking eyes from a prisoner in order to give them to Larson, and then slaughtered every other prisoner. When they had recombined, John had brought some of that humanity to Yellow, and with Arthur's encouragement for John to embrace his abilities, John had originally been able to meet Yellow as an equal. They had fought, seemingly coming to a stalemate, but eventually they found common ground, and became whole. The King explains that he had always been fascinated with the notion of weakness and strength, within limitations, and John had experienced those human things in a positive way, while Yellow had experienced in a negative manner, leading to anger at those limitations. However they had both come to realize that so much of what drove human behavior was the knowledge that human existence is finite. And this was now also true for beings like the King in Yellow, who had thought himself eternal, whose existence is now threatened by the dissolution of all reality by Kayne's wager, and the threat to Azathoth and his dream. From that common point of understanding, and the knowledge that life is the most valuable thing anyone has, which Arthur had believed he would sacrifice for John, they were finally able to recombine, and begin altering the Dreamlands in a manner that honored the values of both John and Yellow, and the King has begun to rebuild Carcosa.
Arthur is unsure what to say, but claims he is proud of the King. He asks if John is truly gone. The King confirms that he is, and that he is whole again. Arthur claims to be happy for the King. Lilith interrupts to ask if the body of Hastur is still around, as with all the prisoners dead, it is her only option for a body of her own, and she insists that Arthur ask after it.
Arthur refuses, and the King notices that it appears that Arthur is still arguing with the voice in his head. The King ponders what Lilith must be feeling, clearly recalling his time being a passenger in Arthur's body. Arthur tries to dispute the idea that John was just a passenger, but the King insists that he was, even if John had grown fond of the arrangement.
Arthur points out that Lilith is unlike John, only taking and taking and taking from Arthur, which reminds him of Yellow. The King points out that Yellow is also him, and he asks what Lilith intended for Arthur to ask.
Arthur tells him that Lilith wanted to know about the body of Hastur. The King remarks that when Arthur was unconscious, the Dollmaker had asked for Arthur's body in the Dark World. Arthur recalls, mentioning that it was discussed on their way back to Yorick.
The King bluntly interrupts to inform Arthur that Yorick is dead, and this was the cost of sending Arthur and John back into the world of the living. Yorick hadn't had the heart to tell them at the time.
Lilith presses about the body, and Arthur shushes her. The King comments on this, and when Arthur points out that they also argued like this, the King wonders if they are all the same, just another voice in Arthur's head. Arthur tries to protest, but is interrupted by the King telling Lilith that she may have Hastur's body.
Arthur asks if the King is happy like this. The King briefly is angered, distancing himself from his past behavior, believing himself to have been changed. Arthur points out that he is still not John, either, because John was entirely his own. The King agrees that John was only a piece of him, one that cared about Arthur, but is not who the King currently is. He reiterates that he is whole, again, and that his happiness is not a factor.
Lilith again interrupts, trying to bring them back on track to move along her plans. The King reveals that he has been able to hear her this entire time, as he agrees with her. He reveals that he wanted to see what Arthur would do in this situation.
The King returns to the matter at hand, and tells them that Kayne has the Stones and that if he succeeds in his plans, all of existence will cease. Lilith informs them that she has a plan, and Arthur explains that Lilith knew what Kayne intended to do many years ago, and it was due to her interference that Arthur had gotten involved in all of this, while Lilith clarifies that the King getting caught up in it was entirely accidental. She insists that Arthur alone is the special one. The King claims to be glad to hear that this is the case, and that he always suspected it.
Lilith explains that she will need for Arthur to get close to Kayne, and that she needs a body in order to help. Lilith goes on to say that she and Arthur will leave through the Plateau of Leng, and when Kayne shows up (because he will be immediately lured in by the mystery of how Arthur is no longer dead, a point that annoys Arthur to learn that he's simply meant to be bait and a distraction), Arthur is to distract him and slip the lighter into his pocket. Lilith figures she will also be a blind spot, because Kayne believes that she is permanently dead, and she will then kill him. Arthur asks what the King's role will be, and Lilith says it doesn't matter, he had no role in her plans. She doesn't need him, and she claims that Arthur doesn't either.
Lilith insists that the linchpin of this entire plan is to get the lighter onto Kayne. Lilith and the King then point out that Arthur has a weakness that Kayne will certainly and mercilessly exploit, which is Faroe. They both press him to let her go. Arthur resists the idea that he needs to let her go, or forget about her, but they both insist.
Arthur is upset and goes to take a walk, away from the King. He requests that Lilith leave him alone and ignore him, or else he'll mute her. To himself, he monologues and vents about the King and how he is both like and unlike the person he had known as John, who would never ask him to forget or let go of Faroe, and knows her importance to his resilience. He rails against their arrogance, in thinking that they understand his very human pain and love for his lost daughter, and wonders if existence is truly worth saving if it comes at such a high cost.
He comes across the piano that Kayne had once played, and invites Lilith to speak again, asking if she wants to hear Faroe's Song. Lilith listens to it, and complains that the song may be about Faroe and her impact on Arthur's life, but it isn't a song meant for a child to enjoy, being in a minor key and relatively complex. She presses him to write something for Faroe, that she would enjoy, insisting that it be in a major key. Arthur fumbles with the task for a few moments, before composing Faroe's Light, recalling in flashback snippets of happier times caring for and playing with Faroe.
Returning to the present, Arthur agrees that Lilith was right, while Lilith states that she understands now. She insists that for the purposes of this conversation, she convinced Arthur to let go of Faroe and that he did so, and they return to the King.
Arthur comments that the nail that Lilith left behind in the carriage was one of her seeds, which she had dropped with the intention that Arthur pick it up. She confirms. Arthur decides that he was glad that he did, and thanks her for helping him with that song.
They reach the King, who asks after the music. Arthur tells him the name of the song, and says that he will let go, and Arthur pushes for Lilith to get Hastur's body. The King goes to direct them to it, pulling Larson along by his leash. Arthur is troubled by the cruelty directed at Larson, and asks for his torture to stop, especially if it was because of what Arthur caused in Yellow. The King angrily disputes that Larson is just a man, being a murderer and a monster, the worst parts of humanity by Arthur's own declaration. The King insists that Larson can crawl like a dog beside him, although if Arthur wishes, the King will let Larson walk with Arthur.
Arthur decides to walk with Larson, and takes the chain that serves as Larson's leash from the King. The King departs, stating that Larson will know where to go. Larson is immediately annoyed by Arthur holding his leash, because Arthur is not the King.
Arthur tries to explain that he simply didn't want to leave Larson to crawl on the ground anymore. Larson is unmoved by Arthur's attempt at compassion. Larson angrily explains that this isn't better, to be made to walk with the man who is responsible for his current state, and is the reason that the King knows how humiliating this would be for him. Arthur tries to dispute that, but Larson points out that Yellow would torture him, but John could have let him die, but he did not.
Arthur is surprised that Larson seems to want to die, but Larson laments that he has lost everything, and even his eyes are no longer his own. Lilith notes that the eyes are red, and probably not human. She points out that he is a villain, one that killed his daughter and was responsible for the deaths and torment of many other people, too.
At Lilith's insistence, Arthur prompts Larson to begin leading them to Hastur's body, and reiterates that while he doesn't think Larson is innocent, he balked at the idea of making him crawl. Larson asks what Arthur wants, and Lilith asks if Arthur wants to kill him. Arthur answers Lilith with 'no'. And Larson realizes that Arthur is still fighting with voices inside of his head. He recounts how he felt when Yellow had first appeared in his head, believing himself to have been chosen, and having initially been delighted to be host to one of the very entities he worshiped, only to discover that the entity was badly weakened. Larson had intended to capitalize on this for his own ends, meaning to take over New York and then Arkham, where Larson claims the true power lies. Larson doesn't elaborate, though, only lamenting that Arthur ruined his plans and brought him to this.
Arthur is shocked that Larson hasn't learned anything from his experience and seems to not have a bit of remorse for how his own actions contributed to his downfall. Arthur points out that neither of them could possibly hope to control the entities that inhabited them. Larson asks how Arthur did it then. This confuses Arthur, because he doesn't believe that he was ever in control of John. And in any case, Arthur points out that John is gone now.
Larson disagrees, but won't elaborate on why he thinks this.
As they arrive, Arthur dismisses all of this as not mattering because of Kayne's imminent threat to end all of existence. Larson seems surprised by this, and that they mean to try to stop him. Arthur tries to briefly explain that it isn't solely his fault that Larson ended up here, as it was Larson's own actions that brought him to this place, and that Arthur doesn't feel bad for what you've done, including killing Charlie Dowd.
Larson recalls that the detective gave a good speech and unrepentantly hopes that he died peacefully.
Larson directs them down a hallway and into a stone mausoleum, which Larson disapproves of, feeling that it is too much like an imitation of what they have on Earth. Larson does ask that if Arthur has any mercy, he'll ask the King to let him die.
The King sees them and greets them by saying he hopes that Arthur's conversation with Larson was fruitful. Arthur tries to explain that he wasn't trying to avoid the King, but the King brushes him off. The King sends Larson to fetch the body, and Lilith encourages Arthur to speak with the King.
Arthur hesitantly explains that this new dynamic is difficult for him to adjust to, and he feels like he's lost a part of himself. The King sympathizes, but assures Arthur that it will pass. Arthur asks again about happiness not being a factor. The King presses Arthur about what he wants the King to say. Arthur admits that he really wants to talk to his friend again, as he was. The King points out that he is already right here, but he isn't the same. Arthur presses, wanting to speak with John again.
The King is briefly upset, pointing out that who the King will be is not for Arthur to chose, and that he believes that this is the end result of their journey and all that he learned as both John and Yellow. Arthur desperately doesn't want this to cost John losing himself. The King believes otherwise, that John was the King losing himself, and the King as he is now is becoming whole.
Arthur struggles with this, and the King angrily continues that it wasn't enough to just be a part of Arthur, to just be a passenger. This is how the King will have his own life, which he deserves, and to be able to take what he learned to become better. Arthur thinks this is a diluted down version of John. While the King says John was the dilution. The King defends his position, particularly in light of the vastness of his existence as the King in Yellow weighed against the brief moment when he was John, and that it is arrogance to think that he wouldn't have missed being what he has always been. He again points out how the journey has changed his outlook, going so far as to rebuild Carcosa, which the previous King would have not done.
Arthur finally concedes that the King is right, that what the King chooses to be is not about him. The King thanks Arthur for that concession. And confirms when asked that John is dead. Arthur asks to be able to say something to John, that he felt was left unsaid, as the King is his final connection to John as Arthur knew him. The King concedes that Arthur may do that, and Arthur simply says that he loved John, too.
Arthur then considers how he never got to see Faroe grow up and become her own person, but Arthur did get a little of that experience in seeing how John grew. Arthur continues, acknowledging the impulse to want our friends and children to all stay the same forever, but that people change despite that, and that is outside of his control. He concedes if the King is happy as he has become, then he's sorry for pushing the King to defend his current identity, and Arthur can respect that decision by the King. The King seems puzzled by the concept of his identity being a decision, but is interrupted by Larson returning.
Lilith explains that she simply needs to touch the body in order to enter it. Arthur asks if this process will harm him, and Lilith assures him that it will not, but that if there had been another person inside that body when she went to possess it, she's probably kill them.
Larson suddenly decides that if he will not be given the release of death, then the end of everything is the next best thing, and before he can be stopped, he picks up a large stone and dashes Hastur's head to pieces. The King insists that Larson will not be allowed to die for his crimes, while Lilith realizes that Larson could do in the place of the body of Hastur, and it would make everyone other than the King happy. Lilith would get a body, and Larson would be killed. The King rages against the idea of letting Larson get what he wants, listing his crimes of killing his daughter and Noel and many others.
Lilith thinks having his body puppeted by her would be an equally awful punishment for Larson. The King pleads with Arthur, reminding him of how Arthur himself had once been hell-bent on making Larson suffer but killing him would not satisfy him. He asks if Arthur has changed his mind.
Arthur tells the King that he has changed his mind, and while Lilith is delighted by this outcome, the King is frustrated by Arthur's change of heart after all Arthur had said in Addison and all that had happened there. The King reiterates that Larson is a monster who has refused to change, and only takes and takes and takes, and doesn't deserve to get what he wants. It becomes obvious that while the King's speech is explicitly about Larson, he is also speaking about himself. Arthur recognizes this, and calls him out on it.
Lilith calls Arthur's attention back to Larson, and the King leaves, permitting them to do whatever they wish. Arthur tries to follow the King, but Lilith insists on dealing with Larson first.
Larson recognizes that Arthur intends to kill him, and remarks that this makes sense that it would have to be Arthur that killed him. Arthur warns that he won't really be the one to kill Larson, and apologizes, promising that it will give him what he wants. Larson, unable to hear Lilith is somewhat confused, but thanks Arthur. Arthur grabs Larson's arm and Lilith jumps to his body, erasing Larson and taking control of his body.
Delighted, Lilith helps Arthur to his feet, as he adjusts to suddenly having his sight back. She assures him that touching her will not cause her to transfer back to him. Arthur remarks on Larson's body's poor condition, and Lilith reveals she is still capable of transforming, briefly taking on her supernaturally beautiful woman form, before returning to Larson's body, saying that such a transformation is still difficult for her right now.
Arthur sees the Dreamlands with his own eyes for the first time, and Lilith explains that what he's seeing are not stars but instead the underside of a cavern, sort of.
Arthur adjusts and asks where they stand. Lilith assures him that while they are far from friends, she'll consider them even if they manage to stop Kayne, and for now, they are allies, and they can trust one another for the time being. She encourages Arthur to seek out the King and talk to him. In the meantime, she decides to test out her newly acquired body.
Arthur seeks out the King, and sees him with his own eyes for the first time. He remarks on the King's gigantic size and the unusual configuration of his hands, and the cloak that isn't truly a cloak. The King manages to stop Arthur's curiosity and encourages him to walk with him to the plateau, where Lilith will be waiting for them.
The King asks after Larson, and Arthur confirms that Larson is now Lilith, and while he's uncertain if it's a wise decision, Kayne is the bigger fish. The King muses on the fact that this is not the first time that Arthur has had to make difficult decisions which may come back to bite him. Arthur agrees, although he points out that John often helped Arthur make those decisions.
Having brought up John, Arthur asks what the King isn't telling him, and the King admits that he can hear both of his halves as clearly as he can hear Arthur. Arthur tells the King that he can also hear voices in his head, even before John, which had always debated how he should react to different choices. Arthur likens them to having conscience. The King interrupts that, in his case, both voices are loud and distinct, with Yellow wanting blood and suffering while John desires love and kindness. The King notes that he's seen Arthur do both, and be justified in his actions at various times.
They arrive at the gates, which are closed. Arthur is surprised and impressed when the King can simply will them to open before him. They begin to ascend the stairs to the plateau, and the King continues that he cannot seem to come to a balance and is uncertain which voice to listen to. He recalls that before being fractured, he had existed without any such internal struggle, having only single voice, path and motivation. Arthur commiserates, telling the King that he was never one-hundred percent certain of any choice, and recalls that the many choices he had made were placed through a distinct lens, sometimes about purpose and intention, or values and ethics and beliefs or based on past experience. Arthur concludes that it's all about making a decision and moving forward with it.
The King acknowledges this and says that this is why he is choosing to try to listen to both voices and why he is choosing to be the King in Yellow, and he claims that he would regret abandoning this life and mode of existence simply because it is too hard, and it was easier to be unconflicted as half of himself.
Arthur pushes back against this, pointing out that the King had sounded like he was punishing himself, forcing himself to take up the mantle of this identity because he felt that he must. The King doesn't see the difference between making that choice and feeling that he doesn't have a choice. Arthur elaborates, pointing out that he had felt similarly trapped into making certain choices with Bella, and it had only caused harm to him and to her.
The King still claims that he worries that he could not be content living as only half of what he could be. Arthur disagrees, believing that both John and Yellow were full people in-and-of themselves, and neither were wholly good or evil. He presses that the King shouldn't force himself to be something he doesn't wish to be, or that he isn't any longer, although he reiterates that if the King truly wants to be the King, as he is, than Arthur would support that choice as well.
They arrive at the plateau and are greeted by Lilith, who informs them that this is the thinnest part of the Dreamlands and that they'll be able to exit from here back into Arthur's realm. She warns that they won't have much time after they enter that world before Kayne will seek them out, and Arthur recalls that he is the lure and will need to place the lighter on Kayne by whatever means necessary, and then Lilith will kill him. Arthur still worries that killing Kayne may be a worse plan than trying to trap him. Lilith stands by her decision to kill Kayne.
Arthur muses that everything rests on the lighter, and Lilith acknowledges that the lighter provides light, and because Nyarlathotep is a being of such darkness that he cannot see it. Lilith bids the King farewell, and the King offers to open the portal, and does so. On the other side, a cold wind howls, and Lilith pushes for Arthur and herself to jump through.
The King bids them goodbye and wishes them luck, but before they actually jump through, the King asks them to wait. The King asks if Arthur would be willing to give him his sight again, and admits that Arthur was correct in what he'd been saying about John. The King had simply felt that he had to at least try to exist as he once had, that it was something he needed to experience so he would know for sure that it wasn't something he still desired. He says he'd like to be part of Arthur again. Arthur warns him that it would limit John again, and the King warns that it would blind Arthur again. Both agree that they'd much prefer to live with those limitations and trade-offs, and Lilith agrees to help them reunite. She creates a small stone that will allow the transfer, has the King breathe on it, and then Arthur swallows it.
Before the transfer, the King assures Arthur that Yellow has been changed by their time united together, and that he's learned from John's memories, so the King will not be a problem for them once John is no longer present in that body. This is confirmed when the King, now Yellow alone, thanks both Arthur and John, and assures them that he will help however he can from the Dreamlands.
John begins speaking again from within Arthur, and the pair emotionally reunite.
Lilith brings them back to the task at hand, reminding them that Kayne is very dangerous, and this is their last chance to stop him. The three of them then step through the portal and return to Earth.
Votes[]
- Chapter 286: Ask About Hastur [213] / Don't Ask About Hastur [260]
- Chapter 287: Don't Let Go of Faroe [441] / Let Go of Faroe [71]
- Chapter 288: Walk With Larson [371] / Do Not Walk With Larson [101]
- Chapter 289: Give Larson to Lilith [398] / Leave Larson with the King [68]
- Chapter 290: No Vote
