Exist (Sequel)

Seeds of Doubt (Reap)

Reaper honestly hadn't known about the letter. He had been on the bed with the baby. Whatever had warranted such a reaction from Error, though, it had made his love seem all that further away. Like a canyons had split between them. One that not even the God of Death could fly over. Reaper felt as if his soul was going to break a second time after Geno. And this time, he didn't have work he could fall back onto to try and ignore the pain. Exist's little hands curled around his robes, bringing him back to the present. At least he had her. Even if Exist reminded Reaper so much of her father, that was ok. She reminded him that they had already been through a lot together. Whatever was in that letter, it was probably a misunderstanding. The rose came from right beneath their balcony, so Error had probably mistook it as an unfaithful message than it being the closest weighted item in Caedes possession. The fact was, Reaper should have told him about the apology, no matter how he would have reacted. It seemed to Reaper... that he had some trust issues to work out first.

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It felt weird to Reaper, going to Ink- Encre- for help. He knew he wouldn't be able to see Error until he'd calmed down some, though, and if it was trust he was struggling with, Encre seemed like the logical choice. He used to be their enemy back in their multiverse, after all, so if he could learn to trust the Ink of this world... well, surely then he could tell Error anything without fear. He could put complete and total trust into his pretty glitch without worrying about another man like Caedes ruining it. Reaper hesitated at Encre's room. If he knocked now... there was no going back. Reaper steeled his nerves. He had to, for Error's sake. Encre answered the door a few seconds after Reaper's knock, and a smile lit up his face. "monsieur, you came! heh- i was starting to think you détesté me or something..." Encre opened the door wider, offering for Reaper to come in. "ah- no thanks... i don't want... uh..." Encre tilted his head cluelessly before closing up the door. "you want something?" Encre asked curiously. "i want... help... with my relationship... a-advice, i guess..."

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Reaper explained to Encre about the issue of trust, without going into too much detail. It was a private matter, after all, and Encre really didn't need to know. Regardless, he nodded along. "trust is... difficile. you are lacking skills. but! the steps are easy and all you need is time! just remember c.h.e.v.d.b.t.r." Reaper gave Encre a deadpan look. "that doesn't make any sense." Encre laughed uncertainly. "it is travail en cours. all i am saying is from now on, communicate with error. be honest with him. be consistent between what you say and do... be vulnerable. be dependable when he needs you, and set boundaries on what is and is not ok. respect those boundaries. and of course... be transparent. fallacy likes that. lovers like that." Reaper nodded along with a wide eyed stare. Not only was that the most English Encre had used without slipping into his own tongue, but it all made so, so much sense. "you and the king?" Encre blushed and looked away, before giving a soft nod. "il est bon avec moi... il m'aime... et je l'aime..." And he'd lost him. "i see..? well, good luck with that- and thanks... uh, for the advice."