The Stage is Set

What a painful, playful start pt.7

Play Date - Melanie Martinez

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He pulls away to see parts of the figure break off before falling back into the paint on the floor, almost like a shell. Cross steps closer, worried over what to do. He doesn't know what to do or expect. He watches as the rose gold figure gains more colors, becoming more aware that they are just the soul fragment. The figure stares at them with wide sockets as parts of their hair fade to black. It takes a minute for their feet to touch the floor again. This version of Ink has things to say. To do. He needs all of them ready and prepared for what is coming; at the very least aware of what is coming for them.

"Ah-" Ink moves forward, dragging Blue by the hand, over to Cross. "Take care of them for me, okay?" Cross nods, "Thank you."

Dream and Lust smile at him before watching his legs melt back into the floor. Dream reaches out, "Ink. We'll fix this. Just hold on a little longer, for us?"

The figure shakes its head, gripping Blue's hand tightly before it melts. "Guess it's time for me to tell you all what you want to know." Its smile wavers, "Just, don't get mad... I had my reasons. I changed, I promise." The torso starts to melt, "Once you know...what I hold dear to me, don't hold it against me."

"Ink-" Blue feels his chest tighten as the figure disappears. He tries to hold Ink's hand tighter, only to feel more paint squeeze out of his hands. Blue glances between their hands and Ink's sockets, "Please don't..."

The figure smiles. "My little star." Blue falls to his knees trying to hold onto its scarf as it starts to melt away, revealing the glow of the soul piece. He ignores how the house is sinking back into the paint below them; they were once on the second floor and are now on the first. "Guide them, stay true and you'll understand. Ask and I'll answer. Call and I'll be there. Always for you." A soft kiss is pressed against Blue's skull as tears form in his sockets. "Find me, please?" The skull is the last to go, slowly melting away, losing the colors it had just gained. "I-"

Blue watches as the soul piece floats for a beat before falling into the paint. He's vaguely aware of Cross dropping to his knees next to him. Instead, he watches how the soul fragment floats, glowing faintly as if its pulse is weak. His mind starts to hurt with unseen memories, hidden away from him. He gently scoops up the soul piece, holding it in his hands. He can feel the faint trail of Ink's magic hum through it. It makes him feel connected to the room, to Ink, almost as if he could feel Ink there with him. It feels like a hug as if Ink is holding him tightly; not letting anything hurt him. It feels like gentle hands on his face wiping away his tears. It feels like kisses on his cheeks and the top of his skull. It feels like a loss. Mourning. A pain so deep that it doesn't need a soul to be able to feel. He doesn't understand why this is happening. He doesn't know anything. He wants to know. He needs to understand. There is more here than he thinks.

He's never held a soul piece like this, souls usually float.

He didn't realize that the others had joined the stars over here. Wherever 'here' might be. He feels Cross and Reaper's hands on his shoulders, Dream is behind him. He looks up at Reaper for answers. More time must have passed than he thought. Dream smiles gently over his shoulder at Blue as Error reaches for the soul piece. Blue wants to fight him, to scream and kick. He wants the others to know that he won't let anyone touch his... friend? Something is wrong with that thought. That's not what he feels towards Ink.

Reaper smiles gently at Error. He looks behind Error to see the figure of Ink staring at him. The others watch as Reaper's tattoos and feathers start to glow brighter. The few on his face light up, ghostings of feathers layer over each other from his sockets. Reaper raises his hand, a gentle smile on his face as he calls for his brother to come rest with him. To come home, even just for a moment before they fix everything. Take a moment to rest and gather more strength. The figure takes a step, tears filling those sad sockets as they smile back at him. They look so tired and sad, it hurts Reaper's soul to see his brother like that. Error marvels at how the soul seems to respond to Reaper, all of them watching as new life starts to pulse in the fragment. Reaper smiles, using his magic to keep this fragment of his brother conscious for a little longer.

"It's okay." Reaper's coo is soft and gentle. Understanding. "I'm not here to take you away."

The figure sniffles and the sound echoes in the room, "I'm tired."

Reaper nods, bending down to be at eye level with the figure. "I see. It must have been a very tiring rewrite for you." He spreads his arms open, "Come, you can rest with me."

The figure rubs at their face, wiping their tears as they step closer to Reaper, "I didn't get to say everything. I didn't explain anything." They look back at Reaper as they lean into his chest. "My little star is all alone."

Reaper gently holds them to his chest, using his wings as a means to hide them away from prying eyes. He lets out a stuttering purr as the soul piece returns to his ribcage. The others watch in fascination, understanding flooding them. This is what it means to be Death. This gentleness, the understanding. Taking the time to comfort, taking the time to empathize. Not the fear they all learned to feel. Cross just smiles, wiping away his tears. He knows his brother will keep Ink's soul fragment safe.

The figure takes a deep breath in, feeling tired and safe in the arms of Reaper, yet they fight against the comfort that Reaper gives them. They look up at him one last time, "Please. Protect my son." Everyone freezes, and the figure stares up at Reaper with an oxymoron of an expression. He feels so defeated, yet so desperate. "Brother, please! Promise me! Swap is after my son!" Reaper grips the figure tighter as the figure starts to grow frantic. Gaining the energy to fight, something that Reaper doesn't want them doing. "Don't let him touch him. He can't take him away. Not him. Don't let Swap take him. Don't let anyone take my kids again! Not him. I can't lose another kid. Not now."

Reaper nods, "I promise."

The figure starts to slow as they lean into Reaper's body, "I can't lose him, not like this. There would be no rewrite to see him again."

Dream steps forward, pressing a hand against Reaper's wings, "Ink, we promise! We'll protect your son, rest and we'll unite you soon."

Error nods along, "Ink, please. It's going to be okay. We'll protect him and take him in."

Killer holds Nightmare's hand, squeezing it. "We'll keep him safe. It'll be okay." Killer steps forward with a bow, "I promise it." He looks where he thinks Ink's sockets are, "And you know how I feel about promises.

Reaper spreads his wings, revealing the figure smiling at them with tears in their sockets. Reaper doesn't use this type of magic very often, so he has more than enough to spare here. Once more starting to disappear as he quietly forces the fragment to rest. The figure tries to stay strong, looking over all of them. "I can't-"

"It's okay." Lust cuts in, drawing everyone's attention away from the figure. He rests a hand on Blue's shoulder. "We'll all watch each other's backs. We'll stay safe. You focus on healing, and we'll find you." He smiles at the figure, "Leave the rest to us."

Blue steps forward, his soul lurching at the sight of those tears again. "Don't worry about us. I'll make sure we're safe." The figure pulls a face and Blue feels as if he said something wrong.

"Please, don't." The statement startles them all, Ink usually trusts Blue with his soul. The figure starts to cry, "Not you. You need to stay safe. Brothers, keep my son safe." The figure looks back at Reaper, "Keep my star, keep Blue sa-" The figure completely fades away, leaving everyone shocked into silence.

"Me?"