Yim

“Oh, nasty.” Yim looks up from the base of the traveler’s shrine to see Wist in front of him. Wist grins, sharp white teeth against dull pale features, before they speak. “You’re still the orc?”

“Half orc,” Yim answers, “his name is Shade.”

“His name is Shade.” Wist mocks in Shade’s voice as they lean against the edge of the shrine. “You never spend this long with the shapeless.” Yim shrugs.

“I tried to do the whole death thing so they’d leave me behind, but they came back for me,” Yim says. He takes out a white rose from his clothes, “it was touching.”

“They wouldn’t care if they knew, though,” Wist says as they take the magical rose, though they stand up to put a hand on Yim’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.” Yim nods and Wist shoots him a tender look. “You don’t have to here, you know. They didn’t follow you.”

“I know.” Yim releases the form, and runs a hand down their muted face. “I’ve just been him for so long.” Yim stares at their now empty hand, turning over pale skin that used to be green. “I thought about passing.”

“They would have killed me if you didn’t help.” Wist reminds them.

“You attacked us first.”

“Details.” Wist tucks the flower back into Yim’s jacket.

“I don’t think they’d mind, or hate me if I did tell them. We’ve been through a lot together.” Wist cruelly changes their face to the human Yim passed as before. “Stop that,” Yim shoves Wist, but Wist doesn’t change back.

“It’s for your own good darling, you get attached to things too easily.”

“They’re not things.” Yim bites, but they shift to look around them at the many faces carved into the walls, “but maybe you’re right.” Wist sighs dramatically.

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“I’ll change in front of them, from Shade to whoever comes next.” Wist offers, shifting their face again. “If they accept that, then you can be good with them.” Wist shrugs. “If they don’t, then I’ll tell them it’s me, and that you are out on the town somewhere. They find you, and hurray, you can pass,” Wist flinches as they say it, “for however longer you want to stay with them.” Yim pauses, but they look up to the Traveler’s shrine. Change is the law they all live by.

“Okay.”