When we last left off, Count Meaniepants (as Sunny so aptly dubbed Orlando) had thrown open MC’s doors to declare that Niflheim is in danger.
Orlando tell MC to come outside so he can show her what’s happening. In a moment of actual empathy, he advises MC that the sight of what’s outside may upset Nick and asks her not to wake him. …Did he just do something considerate?
Orlando takes MC outside to speak. She asks if he heard a voice inside the vortex, and he says he didn’t hear anything except “Bones fussing.” Back to being rude. At least this is familiar. He leads her to the balcony where Orlando, Sunny and Skeletiano are waiting with the king. Then he points out the problem: something similar to the giant vortex has moved into town and appears to be spreading rapidly. Everyone present is thoroughly freaked out.
At this point, J.J. walks in with Victor in tow. Victor is acting strangely, blubbering about being afraid in a childlike way. [1 sip.] J.J. announces that he’s brought an “analyzer.” Apparently it’s a machine with a scope that will explain the composition of most anything when you look through it. He peers at the vortex through the analyzer, but gets no results. Orlando says the vortex doesn’t belong in Niflheim, and J.J. admits that would explains why his invention didn’t work. He seems to feel the need to prove to Orlando that this doesn’t constitute a failure, however, so he points it at Skeletiano to confirm it detects calcium phosphate. 
Sunny is unamused by “Mr. Rotten Zombie” getting distracted and steers the conversation back to the vortex. …Not that anyone has much to say about it. Jean confirms it’s been consuming the kingdom from the border inward. In the second amazing character break of the day, Jean takes the initiative to confidently issue orders to his soldiers. I am flabbergasted.
MC is all of us. However, she’s less positively surprised when Jean insists she go back to her room. She tries to argue, but Jean insists it’s for her safety. MC admits to herself that he seems to be acting in an actual kingly fashion and heads back to her room.
Nick is already awake when she gets back, and it takes him no time at all to figure out something is very wrong. Nick says the darkness called to him in his dreams and woke him up, which is why he’s so sure something’s gone awry. MC isn’t exactly forthcoming, but Nick insists she tell him what’s happening. I don’t know what her plan was, honestly. Just lock him in her bedroom forever? You better hope he takes the Dwight Schrute method and establishes a pee corner early.
She finally gives in and explains what’s been going on, and of course Nick is visibly crushed. After taking a moment to compose himself, he announces that he wants to look at the vortex himself. MC is totally against this, of course, but Nick makes a solid argument about his need to see what’s happening for himself. She gives in, provided she can accompany him. MC leads him out to the throne room balcony, but they notice the wind is extremely strong and decide to look from the top of the tower instead. Nick does a good job shielding MC from the wind and she can’t help but notice how decisive and unafraid he seems to be.
At the top of the tower, Nick suddenly says that the vortex is calling for him. Before MC knows it, he’s headed for the railing.
Aw shit, not again. You stop that.
We get the choice to hug him or call out to him, and I hug him because it’s the option that allows me to physically keep his pale ass from jumping out of a tower. MC holds on to him and tries to keep him from doing anything dumb, but Nick insists he’s got to go. When MC asks why, he says he is the vortex. He begins to tear up, explaining that this vortex is his mind made manifest. This launches into a really extended back and forth between MC and Nick, but he finally blurts out that he knows for sure it’s his fault.
HE SAID IT
He goes on to explain that the vortex appeared right as he fell in love with MC and then grew malevolent as he experienced jealousy. Despite himself, he found himself wishing no one existed except for him and MC. His yearning for all the obstacles in his way to disappear, he says, made the vortex what it is. He still has no definitive proof, but he feels very strongly that this is the case.
However, Nick knows his jealousy is nonsense. He knows that everyone in Niflheim loves her, and that it’d be wrong to take her from that. He doesn’t want her to get absorbed in the vortex and endure what he had to. Getting bridal lessons, chatting with Skeletiano, even dating the king… he doesn’t want to take any of that away from her. So, even if he’s horrified of the idea of parting with her, he’s got to do whatever will keep her safe. 
At this point, Nick breaks away from MC and jumps right onto the tower railing and begins screaming at the vortex to come and get him. The vortex immediately beelines for the castle.
MC tries to scream for Nick from where she is, but she can’t reach him anymore. She knows in her heart he may be right about the vortex… but even then, she knows this isn’t okay. That’s when he turns around and smiles at her.
Oh, son of a bitch, this is gonna pull my heartstrings. YOU KNOW I AM EMOTIONAL ABOUT FEEDING PEOPLE, SHALL WE DATE, HOW COULD YOU
Yeah! What she said! Except the part about cooking scones instead of baking them! 
A long tendril extends from the vortex, reaching for Nick. MC finally snaps, and in a strange moment of adrenaline she hops over the huge railing and tries to get to Nick. The wind is still blowing strongly, and Nick panics and begs her to go back.
We get the chance to say “Never!” or “But…” and I am like NEVER MOTHERFUCKER YOU GOT SCONES TO EAT! LIVE! LIVE AND GET FAT!
MC declares that they will find a way to get rid of the vortex without sacrificing Nick. Nick is visibly touched.
Suddenly, voices from below cry out in horror at the expansion of the black tendril. As MC looks their way, Nick takes the opportunity to bolt and jump directly onto the tendril.
END OF CHAPTER 7
Chapter Thoughts: I really wish Nick would stop trying to jump from high balconies.
Drinks Consumed: A single sip of vodka cranberry, officially. A big glass of vodka cranberry, unofficially. I mixed a whole drink, what do you want?