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Two Time sat in their room, nightshade growing over from its pots around the room. Elliot had stopped by once to tell them that dinner was ready —mac and cheese, per Noob’s request.
They didn’t go.
This was normal. Some nights it was just bad mentally. Some nights, a blade got involved. Some nights, Two Time felt as if they didn’t deserve to eat. This was one of those nights.
How long had it been since they last ate? Long enough to cause a headache and nausea. Two Time sighed. A ritual. Yes, a ritual before bed, and they’d surely feel better in the morning. Just before they could change into their prayer robes, they heard large, shuffling sounds outside their door. Perhaps it was Taph, bringing more of his tripmines to show, or Builderman coming to announce a meeting. No matter, Two Time had shut their door. The other survivors knew not to come in if the door was closed-it went for everyone. As they removed their arm warmers, the door opened. This was no survivor; they knew that much.
“Oh Two…” They knew that voice. Clutching the arm warmers to their chest, Two Time turned to see none other than Azure standing inside their messy room. Before they could put their arm warmers back on, Azure wrapped a tentacle around the cultist’s scarred arm. “Self-harm scars. Even an active one. I thought we were better than this, Two.”
Two Time kneeled to Azure to hide the tears that started to pour down their cheeks. “Forgive me…”
Azure scoffed at them. “Stand up. You look desperate.” Azure instantly regretted how harsh his words sounded. The cultist, eager to please him, stood up. Immediately, a wave of nausea surged up their throat. They barely turned away in time to not vomit on Azure’s shirt.
Azure quickly retracted his tentacle, his expression shifting to one of concern as the vomit hit the floor and spilled down Two Time’s tank top. “Oh! Oh Two…that’s mostly bile-did you not eat again? C’mon, I’m gonna bring you down to the others and we’ll get you some food.” He handed Two Time a trash can from the desk and picked them up by the underarms.
“Yo, who let the tentacle twink in?” Chance asked the group in the kitchen as Azure walked in. He glanced back, saw Two Time, and sighed. “Did you not eat again, Two? C’mon, man…” Elliot shook his head, placing a bowl of mac and cheese in the microwave. 007n7 rushed over, baby wipes in hand, and started to wipe the vomit off of Two Time. Azure sat at the kitchen table beside where he had sat Two Time down. “One, I am NOT a twink. Second, Shitletsky or whatever his name is, let me in. Also, the fuck do you mean AGAIN? Does this happen often?”
007n7 stood up, throwing the now soiled wipes into the trash. “Sometimes. Often, after you are the killer in the previous round, they’ll stop eating, lock themselves in their room, and just cry. Sometimes Two will start sobbing your name and then start profusely apologizing?”
Azure sat there, feeling their heart sink. Everyone turned to Two Time, who weakly spoke up. “It's my fault…I know you’ll never forgive me…I’m sorry, Azure…”
Azure grabbed their hand. “You and I both know what happened. You think I’ll blame you for that?”
007n7 glanced around. “Did I miss something?” Elliot walked over, smacked 007n7’s head with one hand, and handed the mac and cheese to Azure. “What Sev means is that we’re glad you're here.” Two Time stood up and went back upstairs, avoiding eye contact with everyone. Azure glanced up at the cultist before standing up and following. Chance stops him at the last step. “I’m sorry for calling you a tentacle twink. And…as long as you take care of Two, you’re welcome anytime.” Azure nodded, making a silent promise to the gambler. He went up into the nightshade-covered room once again, shutting the door behind himself. Two Time had sat down on their bed, facing away from Azure. He sat next to them, scooping a spoonful of mac and cheese. “Just one bite,” he coaxed. Two Time tried to shift away, muttering, “I don’t deserve it, ‘Zu…”
Azure gently pushed the spoon onto their lips. “None of that now. C’mon Two, just try. For me?” Seeing that look in Azure’s eyes, that old love clouded with concern broke them. Two Time hesitantly opened their mouth, taking the mac and cheese into their mouth. The subtle cheesiness bringing tears to their eyes with every chew. When they swallowed, it felt as if they were swallowing slime. Azure smiled, scooping another spoon. “There you go. Can you do another?”
And so it went. One bite after another. Gentle reassurances after each bite. Eventually, the bowl was scraped empty. Azure laid next to the cultist, gently pulling them into an embrace. “I’ll always be here, Two. I promise.”
The two fell asleep in each others arms.