Fandom: The Adventure Zone (Podcast)
Main Relationship(s): Merle Highchurch/The Hunger | John
Other Relationships: Merle Highchurch & Taako, Kravitz/Taako, Barry Bluejeans/Lup
Main Character(s): Merle Highchurch, The Hunger | John
Other Characters: Taako, Lup, The Director | Lucretia, Magnus Burnsides, Angus McDonald, Killian, Carey Fangbattle, Davenport, Barry Bluejeans, Kravitz, Avi, Original Antagonist Character(s)
Tags: Campaign: Balance (The Adventure Zone), Post-Canon, Post-Campaign: Balance (The Adventure Zone), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, The Hunger | John Lives, Secret Identity, Attempt at Humor, Canon-Typical Shirtlessness, Cults
Content Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Relationships: M/M
Content Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Completion Status: Incomplete
Language: English
Words: 1,938
Chapters: 2/?
Published: 2024-11-23
Updated: 2024-11-23
Merle finds himself standing on a familiar beach at sunset. A cool, gentle breeze coming up the coast as the tide rolls out, and the last of the sun's light retreats past the horizon. And sitting on his suit jacket with his shoes off and his pant legs rolled up, with his feet in the sand facing the ocean is John, and he's human again.
Months have passed since the Day of Story and Song, yet still this vision plays in Merle's mind on repeat. This time is different, though. This time feels real.
John pats the ground next to him and he says, "Merle, will you sit with me? Just... just for a moment?"
"You got it, buddy," Merle goes over to him, just like last time.
He smiles, "We don't have to talk, let's just... let's just watch this together."
And they sit there for a minute watching the tide pull further and further away as the water rolls gently onto the shore and the sun drops further and further behind the sea. And then the final sliver of sunlight is gone.
And John's still there.