Short Stories (ErrInk)

Catching Up - 1/2 Chapter

This two part short story is based on an idea for the next ErrInk story that I want to write. So I am playing with Error and Ink's personalities to see how I want them to act.

  It was a cloudy Monday morning. A chilly breeze blew over the town and there was the scent of rain in the air. With the clear signs of the coming storm, people were rushing through the streets to find buildings for warm shelter.

  Running into the grocery store was Error Queen. He was a twenty six year old skeletal monster with a rare genetic mutation that made his bones black. It was often the subject for bullying when he was a little kid but that had only fueled the fire for his motivation.

  He grabbed a shopping cart and hung his trench coat over the handle. It was his day off from work so he had taken the chance to do his weekly shopping.

  As Error walked through the store, he passed the crafts aisle. He noticed someone standing in it but stopped to take a second look when he felt a sense of familiarity.

  It was his own species but they had the normal white bones. However unique to only them were the ink stains and tattoos that could slightly been seen under the collar of their shirt and always present brown scarf.

Error: Ink?

  He asked as he walked into the aisle. Ink, if Error could remember his name correctly, looked away from the shelves and met eye contact with Error.

  It seemed that Ink remembered Error as well.

Ink: Oh... you're... um...

  He trailed off, obvious that his memory wasn't serving him well.

Error: Error.

Ink: Oh yeah. Sorry, I'm not good at remembering names.

  Ink said sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. Error smiled to give the other reassurance.

Error: That's okay.

Ink: So how have you been? Been years since we last saw each other, like high school or something.

Error: It has. I've been good. How about you?

Ink: I'm great though a little homesick. I just came back from my home country.

  Error nodded and prepared to say goodbye when Ink suddenly had an excited expression.

Ink: We should hangout. When are you free?

  Error came to a loss of words. The invitation had caught him off guard but, he didn't dislike it. Subconsciously he thought about his entire week schedule and found that the only next day that he was off was Friday.

Error: Friday.

Ink: Okay! So Friday. Does the afternoon at the bakery downtown work for you?

  He nodded in response. Ink smiled, took out his phone and held out his hand towards Error.

Ink: Let me give you my number.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Error sat in his car and stared out the window. He was parked in front of the bakery and the clock read exactly 11:30 am.

  He sighed as he leaned back in the seat, staring at his phone. He reread the short conversations between him and Ink. They texted a little bit over the past few days but only to consistently confirm their lunch meeting on that Friday. Error's schedule had the tendency to change last minute but he was lucky this time.

  Honestly Error couldn't believe that he was doing this. Every single person that he had met in his life, he tried to avoid meeting outside in public. He didn't really enjoy being social but for some reason he was excited about this lunch meeting with Ink.

  Suddenly there was a knock on the car window. Error put his phone down and noticed his lunch companion waving at him from outside.

  After Error got out, Ink greeted him.

Ink: Good afternoon.

Error: Good afternoon. You're not late like you always were in high school.

  The two of them lightly laughed at the joke before heading into the bakery.

  They found themselves a seat and then placed their orders. Ink had got a pain au chocolat and a mocha cappuccino while Error ordered a tiramisu and a black coffee. As they waited, they decided to start their catching up.

Ink: I can't freaking believe I forgot your name.

Error: It's okay.

Ink: Like your features are so unforgettable and so fascinating, I could never forget about you. You know your tear markings are my favorite markings that I've seen. They actually became more defined since I last saw you.

  Error's face grew somewhat warm. Ink, the one with the most unique skeletal markings, had called his fascinating. That was a first for him.

Error: They have?

  Ink nodded.

Ink: So what are you doing nowadays?

Error: I am a finance manager.

Ink: Sounds boring.

Error: It can be sometimes. What do you do?

  Ink blushed and looked away shyly.

Ink: Promise you won't judge?

Error: Of course.

Ink: I'm... a figure skater.

Error: Why would I judge you for that? I think that's pretty cool. With how much you talked about wanting to go into an interesting medium of art, I think you picked a good one.

  This time it was Ink's turn to blush. His face became colored with a rainbow.

Ink: You remembered that?

  The other looked away. What Error would never tell was that he had a crush on Ink back in high school and he had kept every conversation they shared as a precious memory. And now...

Error could feel his crush for Ink coming back