Art above by the lovable Kokiriicorn on Twitter ❤
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And as the night was mellow and the brisking air of dusk caused every Darkener to retrieve back to their domains at such a late hour, You and Lancer were having a full-on sleepover party.
"Man, these sandwiches are the real stuff" - you'd munch on your snacks, seeing how Lancer's order of making a sandwich was indeed wanky, but appetizing nonetheless "Finally, some good freakin' food..."
"Heh, I can imagine, after Rouxls Mac'n'Cheese anything will be delicious."
You'd laugh and giggle the night out, the warm duvet and pillows being your only guests, warped around you like rich woman's coat. Gossips and short rants were orbiting around you two like blabbermouth whispers who blathered about the most absurd affairs. From mocking Rouxls cooking to why Lancer's father can be such a prick.
"I'm glad he didn't attack you all four immediately." - It was meant to be a mere talk about the residents of this castle, although eventually, you noticed the shift in Lancer's voice once he began speaking of his father: "I just really miss Susie you know? I never get it why dad wants to fight you guys... Or keep me away from you."
"Your dad seems to be the tough type of man." - you smiled softly "...Has it always been like that?"
"I guess, somewhat, yeah." - he looked down "He never likes it when I get used to people... Or befriend strangers... Or help him in being a bad guy."
Your counselor senses were on. You knew not to push this topic on a child, especially if it was impressionable for them to discuss, but seeing Lancer's spade droop grievously - your cognition told you that Lancer's relationship with his family wasn't the clearest. In fact, you haven't heard a word about his mother even.
"I just... I really wish we could all be one big family. Especially you and Dad. He seems to really like you, maybe he'll see that you're not a bad Lightener?"
"Aww, my boy." - with gentle arms, you scooped him up closer, hugging his round body in mildly comforting pats "I wish for peace as well. I'll do everything to just see Susie, Kris, and Ralsei. But I don't want to fight anyone."
"My dad always fights..."
"Does he fight you too?"
But Lancer didn't dare to reply, instead, he buried his head into you. "I miss Susie."
"Me too, Lancer, me too."
A moment of silence was required to settle in between you two. Hugging Lancer's imperfections out of his mind, you kept your arms around his tiny round body.
Dysfunctional as it was, you realized that The King's enthusiasm for spending time with his son vastly outstripped his meager morals; eager not to spoil Lancer by sparing the rod. No wonder you felt displeased spending time with The King of Spades - he reminded you of those parents who declare to know how to raise their child when in reality, they hardly displayed any interest towards their offspring. You had several occasions with these kinds of parents during your work as a school counselor.
Though it amused you how Lancer greatly resembles his father, physically. However, You dearly wished he won't grow up to his morals.
Festering guilt rendered your mind not only for this blue bean but for a certain Jester as well. Many times you found yourself unable to remove his doleful eyes or toothy smirks from your mind - you certainly hoped you weren't contributing him the cold shoulder too often... Although You wondered if he was looking out for guards just as he said.
"Oh, I almost forgot! I brought my MP3." - Lancer chimed once more.
"Well, why didn't you say so before. Lemme see what jams you got there and let's just blast it full on."
"Full volume? But dad doesn't allow-"
"Hey. It's my room, our sleepover - I got the higher ground to say what we're allowed and what not.... " - you confidently reassured, while scrolling through the old device to search for some songs. "Besides, you got a bunch of old Christmas songs on this MP3? What's bad in blasting that old thing... Even though it's not Christmas."
"Well, If we get in trouble - you'll have to defend us."
"They don't call me a Grand-Guardian for no reason, kiddo."
Once you began searching through a desultorious amount of soundtracks and songs, you couldn't help but think about how in the world does Lancer know what a Christmas is - "Do you guys even celebrate Christmas or New Year? Like, you have a Darkener Jesus or..?"
"What's that...?"
"I'll take that as a no."
"I heard of Christmas and Santa Clause - but we hardly celebrate it here." - Lancer murmured, craving for some sweets of the holiday season.
You looked down at him, your mind soaring through endless ideas, as if you were ready to rise a theory for quantum physics when in reality you were planning your upcoming cunning schemes - "You know what? Let's celebrate Christmas in here... Or New Year. Or a mixture of both since I don't really care."
"What? Like now?" - Lancer questioned, taken back "But it's not even New Year in here."
"So when is it?"
"I don't know."
"Then we gotta do it."
And so it was confirmed, as you two deliberated your plans for the upcoming week - The guardsman outside your bedroom could hear the deafening and stereotypical Christmas songs from a mile.
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A Day has passed, and shadows had allayed, but a certain Jester would not settle, at least not with ease.
With the darkness of the walls being his lone deputy, he camouflaged in the obsidian hues of the night, making sure no one spots him. Jevil looked to the right and then to the left, standing low, until two figures at the end of the hallway caught his interest. 'There you are...'
You and Rouxls Kaard stood there, talking.
Jevil scoops closer, objecting 'metamorphosis' as his habitual force, he eavesdrops on what could possible Kaard was talking about. Although for a split moment, his vivid golden orbs almost promulgated him:
"Can you do what I requested?"
"Aye, I hath heard thee, Grand-Worm... The costume for Lancer wilt beest no issue at all. But doth not bethink thy request to useth the Kitchen wilt beest easily granted."
"And why is that?"
"The only person who is allowedth to has't the prime access to this kitchen and it's belonging is me. thou has't no right to just waltz right in and doth there's few or none will entertain it thee like."
"I'll pretend like I knew what you just said. Please, all we need is an ounce of everything that you have for baking in there. No big deal."
"On one condition, you foolish worms," - Rouxls pointed at himself contemptuously "thee wilt has't to compete against me in cookingth!"
With insolent smirks, Jevil watched as you two shook hands in a confronting deal, a competing trial signed between you two, figuratively, before you both departed into a different direction. The Jester had no bloody idea what was going on but that wasn't the reason for his current position.
As you walked away, ascending deeper into the light-free hallway, a familiar voice called out for you: "Psst, (Y/n), (Y/n)!"
"Oh, Jevil, there you are." - you turned to the floating Clown, who was standing now before you, all decked in purple and self-assurance. Lo and behold, he turns his back to you, hiding his tail swiftly under his cape before crouching down on the floor.
"What..."
"Hop on."
"Wh- what why?"
"Hop on!"
Oh that hooligan of a Jester, always befuddles you with his acts, leaving you with no option but to do as he hurriedly commanded. Thus, taking a rather rigid hold of his back, Jevil made sure he securely carried you on his back before transmitting you two away into the lights.
*You closed your eyes.
"Huh...?" - Clenching firmly onto Jevil, you two arose into the air, disoriented and terrified with only the harsh cold wind blowing around you. You Realized that Jevil probably warped you two into a completely different location. Though the issue was, you were hovering in mid-air with him. You squirmed with embroilment, and your eyes were swimming with unshed tears as you whipped your head around, trying to figure out where you were. "Jevil, Where is this?!"
"Be at ease, at ease my dear. I have no attempt for an enmesh, instead, I brought you out of the castle in the perfect moment just like we discussed."
"Out of the castle? We're actually outside?"
Jevil could sense you struggling and shuffling against him, and although it provoked wrong ideas in his silly head, he understood your immense inquietude about the extensive height that you two were in. He began to slowly land.
"Welcome back to the Empty Barrens." - he said before placing you down on solid ground.
Often while you dwelt on the worrisome situation, the big picture escaped you. You didn't even realize the place you and Jevil materialized in. But given the opportunity to calm down and be generous with Jevil's words - you realized where you were.
*It's the same place you first woke up in when you fell down into this world.
"Woah, I-I remember this area now... I completely forgot about it."
"UEHEE! May I inform you, I used to visit this place fairly often before I... Why are you backing away from me?" - Jevil completely dropped his topics once he saw you cower away from the open view the moment you two landed on this enormous rocky tower.
"I don't like heights."
"Why, why it's nothing troubling, it's just a cliff,"
You recoiled sharply into yourself, Acrophobia playing tricks on your mind - "I hate edges! Any edges leading to a bottomless pit is a big no-no for me!"
The poor clown had no idea why you dreaded such things, but he decided not to press your buttons the moment you flinched at his grip "Farewell, farewell. If you won't move then why don't we just sit and talk."
"...w-why are we here."
"So following your plan, I stayed silently observing those silly little pawns of royal guards during their shift..." - Jevil began, floating around you aimlessly, his tail encircling you "And I must admit, their duty is far more pitiful, pitiful than I give it to be."
"I'm glad you still remember to cooperate on that. What did you find anyway?"
"Wanna hear the good news or the bad news first?"
"The good news" - you smiled.
"Well, what a choice: goodie newsie is that late midnight is the only opportunity the guardsmen are changing their shift. Meaning they tend to leave their posts that time when everyone is long, long asleep." - he beamed at you, leaning on your shoulder "That gives us the perfect opportunity to freely roam the castle. We can even sneak out, but look, look! We're already doing that!"
"That's perfect, actually. And the bad news?"
"Um, well, bad news are - some guards may or may not have spotted. How embarrassing, embarrassing! At least I was faster to take my leave like a breeze in the air!"
You turned to him, dubiety gleaming in your eyes once practically cupping his face "They saw you! How, did they try to attack you? Are you alright?"
Jevil froze, his pitch black eyes glaring at you, freezing at your very own touch on the side of his cheeks but It was with an untold amount of glee that he found rising inside him once he realized how much he warmed up in your palms "...You, You worry about me!"
"I can't believe that even in situations like these you can be so cheesy. Of course, I'm worried about you - that was dangerous."
"I'll be honest, the only reason they even perceived me was due to your barbaric purple friend. I was trying to catch a glimpse, a mere glimpse, of those friends of yours when suddenly she saw me lurking in the shadows and began roaring."
"Purple... Friend...?" - you felt confusion begin to stir within you once more, before gasping in quick realization "SUSIE! Are they even alive!"
"Of course they are, why, why shouldn't they?"
"I don't know, I haven't heard anything of them since I got there - they're in prison for God's sake. What if they were tortured? Not fed?"
"...what sort of prison do you folks have in your world of Lightneres? They're just sitting there with nothing better to do. The biggest obstacle is that hundred of guards are covering the entire lower floors of dungeons... Embarking on a secretive mission to reach them is ought to be challenging."
You looked down at the ground, somewhat helplessly yet with ambition flourishing all at the same time - "Hm... I understand. Still, for today we gathered more than enough information than we ever could. Thank you Jevil so much for risking it. I-I really don't know how to show my gratitude for your work."
Once more, Jevil cast you that dreamy look that he had whenever he felt your hands caress him. He tilted his head aside, reliving at bliss while your fingers stroking his cheeks that warmed with each passing second. He was ready to melt within your grasp while his tail found its way to curl around you. - "You're basking me with praises. I honor it... Let me cherish you in return"
With his eyes still closed, he leaned towards you, his arms wrapping around your figure while he placed his head at the brim of your neck. Your smell intoxicating him with bigger desire. Luckily he didn't acknowledge your own rosy cheeks that warmed up when you felt his hands take hold of your waist. But Jevil's smirk fell instantly the moment he felt you shaking: "Hold on, you're freezing, freezing!"
"H-hey, it's alright."
"Wait," - he leaned away, realizing that perhaps humans have a bigger vulnerability to temperature "You've been willing to endure this cold the whole time and didn't say a word?"
"No, seriously, I'm okay..."
Perhaps The Jester was a fool, but he wasn't an arrogant blockhead - he saw how you shuddered and he cursed himself for noticing it earlier. As much as you two enjoyed talking in lonesome and complete desolation, one more word and you'd drop dead from hypothermia. Of course, you wouldn't be yourself if you debated against the fact that you were indeed quivering from the hushed yet frosty wind - But Jevil wished to hear no more.
Hence, swiftly undoing his cape, the soft fabric was warped around your shoulders: "I implore you to seek my help next time you're being so silent, agreed?"
"...Jevil," - You gaped at the clown, who despite your disagreement always met you with heart-warming smiles and cherished hugs. Although you had to admit, the dark fabric of this cape was fully draped over you the same way a soft blanket would protect you in your coldest nights. You felt... ashamed, but undeniably protected.
"And if state of affairs gives that you're still cold, my lightener, I have more than enough room here," - He pouted, enclosing his arms around you afresh, despite your already flustered expression.
"Hey, Jevil..."
Anew, he just stayed rather silently in your embrace, murmuring.
"You certainly love to cuddle with a person you know to be a murderer."
Jevil's eyes shot wide open, his grip on you getting solid. "W-When will you drop this out of your head?"
"How can I?" - that evening, when Jevil praised you with ecstasy when you told him the truth, still lingered in your mind uncomfortable as your voice now fell into a whisper "I still believe that your reaction was... wrong."
"Then what I was supposed to do? Call the police?" - He spoke up, a rush of delight filling him, eagerness evident in his stance. "Oh, excuse me, good sir - yes, this is the same criminal of this whole kingdom calling, yes, that jester! I would like to report a Lightner being a murderer! Proof? Ha! I have no physical proof - just a buddy of mine once told me! OOPSIE DOOP-"
As much as jevil wanted to let his own frustration out, you cut him off nonchalantly with a finger on his thin lips - "I get it."
"Oh, no dear..." - His voice fell rather low, yielding your palms away before pulling them in a cherished kiss "I don't think you understand h o w much I waited for you."
You stayed silent, gulping your own sinful tears as you looked away. You wished to scream at him that very moment, to tell him what a moron he is to trust you and praise you like a divine muse of radiance. But you never spoke. For the first time, you let yourself yield into his warmth, his lips pressed against your knuckles.
*One day, he'll tell you.
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Art above by the lovable Kokiriicorn on Twitter ❤
Also, Merry Christmas dear Readers! Here's some juicy fanart from you ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
freddless, Enderbrine0628, valbell3, KizeahArts39