Between the Lines of Fear and Blame

Standing slowly with three bundles of flowers, they turn back to where Wilbur was sitting with a nearly-done cigarette. "It wasn't."

As he begins to raise his voice

You lower yours and grant him one last choice

Drive until you lose the road

Or break with the ones you've followed

He will do one of two things

He will admit to everything

Or he'll say he's just not the same

Placing down the blooms on the bench, they reach up to undo the first few buttons of their collar where Wilbur's eyes widen upon seeing the thick scarring that encircled the pale column of flesh. "I was only a figurehead for Dream to beat into submission, making myself far more accessible to his insanity now that I was far away from you. Whenever I disagreed, or rebelled, he would pull out his cold axe and put it through my throat."

Eret's fingers brush across the knotted skin, rough with the sheer amount of times cold steel sliced through the same mark. "It was his favourite form of punishment, often waiting hours to revive me just so my own limbo could tear down my will. I would awaken, dazed and dizzy, perched on the throne he offered me facing his mocking smile. He would ask in that dangerous voice if I learned, if I would do what I promised him I would do. Sometimes he would still hold the axe back to the same, fresh line until I pleaded and vowed I would follow his demands, desperate and still soaked in my own blood."

Taking another deep breath all the way to their stomach they look up to the stars once more, thoughts continuing to spill to the former President now that they were allowed this outlet. "I spent my days being looked at with this burning distrust and my nights scrubbing my throne clean of my own life. Crawling into bed, I would beg whoever is listening to give me strength to keep moving forward. When I fell my furthest, I debated joining you in death. It would be easier than this living purgatory I walked through from sunrise to sunset."

"But that would be far too easy, and he would have found someone more willing to sit on the throne who would listen to his every word. I couldn't have that and won small allowances for others with my rebellions. So I continued to wake up, to keep moving, to place my crown upon my aching skull and face down burning gazes while others thought I was happy here. I gained what I desired, yes, but I also found myself in an even more impossible situation."

"For the decision I made my heart tries to assure this is an appropriate life but the few souls I have let in on the true depths of Dream's depravity disagree harshly."

"They are right." The fact Wilbur immediately agrees with them makes them pause their tirade. "In what universe is facing such traumatising reality appropriate? Sure, I was enraged at what you chose but that is not something I would wish upon my worst enemy."

The brunette taps the bench beside, picking up a few flowers Eret gathered to begin fashioning a circlet of stems. The Ruler settles down after gathering their cloak into a comfortable position, picking up some tulips to do the same.

"Mind telling me why you chose these flowers?" Wilbur casually asks, Eret stuttering before continuing their own weave.

"White tulips mean forgiveness and respect, a purity we all had robbed from us far too soon." They say gently, picking up a red flower next. "Poppies stand for remembrance and peace, reminding us what came before while wishing harmony upon the future."

"And cornflowers?"

"Ghostbur had a love for blue, also they signify reliability and tenderness."

"Fascinating." Wilbur comments, picking up a cornflower to add to the crown he has braided together.

The pair finish their circlets, each shy as they offer their creation to one another. Placing their own crown of gold into their storage, they allow Wilbur to place it around their temples. Just as they reach to do the same with his, Wil grabs their hand and stops the action.

"If we both have things we regret with every fibre of our being, we are much more alike than I thought." Wilbur forces out, meeting brown eyes to pearl white. "Our past is buried deep in that black box I died in, much too far in the past for me to have a realistic view of you now. I used you as a scapegoat to free myself of blame for the actions I drove the youth too."

"Our first priority should have been the next generation."

"I agree, my Ruler." Wilbur lets them place the circlet down, arranging his fluffy hair around the petals. "Where do we go from here?"

"I'm sorry." Eret blurts out, needing to say it aloud as Wilbur looks confused then sad.

"I should be the one apologising to you. My intense desire for revenge burned many bridges and I happily used you as an effigy to hang my doubts upon. A constant comparison you didn't deserve for making the decision you did. I cannot honestly say what I would have done in your shoes, I will never have that experience. But I can see just how much you wish you could undo it in your tone, the way you are scared to meet my eyes when you whisper these unneeded apologies. My Queen, I did so much harm to your reputation for the sake of sending the blame elsewhere."

"No one merits the torture you faced, you all felt by the catalyst I detonated the moment the word independence left my mouth." Wilbur shakes his head, Eret being the one to reach out a hand this time to the brunette.

"None of us did Wil, but you were only doing what you thought was best too. We are very alike in that way, thick-skulled when we are set on a decision."

"Something that led to mine and many others deaths."

"Me too." Eret offers, Wil looking cautiously at them.

"In another life, we might have been great friends from the beginning." His voice is so sad, Eret's chest clenches.

"This is another life for you." Eret points out, Wilbur's face warping to surprise. "So let's start over, right now."

Giving it a few moments before they add to the offer to lay it to rest. "Only if you want to."

"I would love to." Wilbur uses their embraced hands to pull the tall Monarch in for a hug, clutching them tight. "I need someone who understands me and I think you are the perfect person for this stage in my newly revived life."

"I will do my best, my friend."

The evening passes with easier topics discussed, mainly Wilbur's next plans from here. Mentioning he wished to go see his father Eret offers to escort him tomorrow to where Philza and Techno now live in the cold north.

Plans are made beneath the waning moon between two people who were very alike in more ways than they realised fully. A Ruler and a former President discuss the coming future with a brightness missing from both their lives until the other fanned the dying ember of their passion. For an encounter that began in panic on both sides, peace formed between two tired friends who just needed another that understood their plight they faced.

Something the pair both needed desperately, that night they rested with a lightness to their hearts that had been long missing. For sometimes even in the rubble of the most broken friendships, shards remain that can be rebuilt to forge a stronger bond.

And you'll begin to wonder why you came

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