Between the Lines of Fear and Blame

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend

Somewhere along in the bitterness

And I would have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

"We both have made mistakes, Wil." Eret says softly, deep voice rumbling in the quiet night placing the kit back in their glowing inventory. "Decisions we shouldn't have and actions we should have questioned more, but you died before you could feel the consequences as I have."

Wilbur's hands tighten their grasp once more, before abruptly standing. "I need a smoke, is there anywhere I can go?"

Sighing, Eret also pulls themself upright and points to the door leading out to their courtyard they have carefully cultivated. "Through there, do you want company?"

The brunette man ponders that for a moment before nodding, sweeping off towards where Eret gestured.

The sun had fully set by now, leaving a waning crescent moon in its place in the dark void of space above. They enter the place of species and Wilbur leads them towards a spruce bench, collapsing heavily. Eret sits beside, carefully leaving some distance as the former President digs out his cigarettes.

Flicking his flint and steel, he curses as it refuses to light. Offering their own out, Wilbur accepts and takes a heavy drag on the tobacco sticks he was addicted to when the flame licks the end furthest from his mouth. Letting out a rattling cough, smoke escapes his scorched lungs while the two sit in a silence formed of far too many feelings.

Eret didn't want to bring the topic up again in fear he would run away once more, choosing to look up to the heavens above and admire the twinkling lights. A garden surrounded them giving off pleasant floral scents, their previous project before deciding on the museum as their next motivation. In their little sanctuary they made sure to temper the environment perfectly so all species of plants could flourish, Eret spent many hours here when they needed to decompress.

The crickets chirping calmed their racing heart, this time Wilbur being the one to break the silence. "I cannot imagine what living through it must be like, for I have only ever known an isolated train platform to consider my decisions. No one around to constantly bring up old decisions you now heavily regret and wonder what the fuck you were thinking during those times. I don't know the constant distrustful stares, I have only had a brief taste of that with the three souls I met tonight."

Trailing off Wilbur seems to consider his next words carefully, taking another inhale of smoke before speaking once more. "Tell me about why you chose him instead of us."

Eret was waiting for this question, yet the answer escaped their tongue. Instead of staying stationary they stand up to wander closer to their garden beds, kneeling by the flowers they so carefully tended while deciding to just ramble until it hits home.

"At first, it was a thirst for power. I saw the crown and was offered Monarchy over the entire realm, a better deal compared to the constant battle it was to keep our nation afloat. I was tired, and thought I might have an easier life if I chose to step away." Their voice choking up as the next words flowed, they picked white tulips with shaking hands. "The moment I agreed I had this flash that wasn't all Dream had planned but he was just so convincing I went forth with it anyways. I bargained with lives that weren't mine to give for the sake of a crown I found out had strings attached after."

Finishing with the tulips, they move onto poppies and cornflowers who were planted side by side. "I wondered what I got myself into that very night as I was burning the clothes stained with your blood, debating if it was at all worth it."