//TW\\

Dysmorphia

Death

———

Bot yawned subtly, they shifted against the squishy base of the mushroom they had been resting on. Test Tube's soft snores like the waves from a beach. Almost. They sat up and rubbed their tired eyes, wings fluttered slightly as they silently stretched them out. Their gaze then drifted over to Fan. Who was motionless. Still asleep. His body was strangely hunched over, as if the black substance on his face was weighing his head down. His body making a near guttural clicking. Bot found this disturbing.

They stand from the tree, and huffed to themselves realizing how their body ached from their sleep. The pains of having a physical body. Leaves crunched beneath their tiny feet as they walked off, exploring the surrounding area. Large mushrooms decorated the tree's canopy overhead like colourful beach umbrellas. Their eyes traced the sight of the fungal growth overhead. They also caught sight of strange plants they'd never seen before. They doubted the plants originated in Objectica. Doubt rested in their gaze, paired with skepticism as they looked around further. Their wings fluttered as they kept off the ground. Bot emerged from beneath the leave canopy and peered at the surrounding forest. Nothing but green... thicket for miles. Their eyes did inevitably fall on the supposed distant cloud of steam or smoke.

They flinched as they heard the bellowing call of Test Tube from below. Their eyes shot back and they shot through the trees to meet up with her.

Test Tube glanced around groggily, but with a panicked look in her eyes as she darted from one foot to the other in an attempt to find her missing child. Her head turned at the sound of leaves crunching beneath tiny feet. She whipped her head back and sighed with tired relief.

Bot gave a wave and hovered over, lifting off the ground once more. "Right here! Sorry mom." They apologized with a sorrowful glare laced in with the nervousness that came from their nerves.

Test Tube's gaze softened. Her heart felt warmed by the referral of being seen as a mother. She felt a sense of... protectiveness... Maybe. She couldn't really tell. "Where were you...?" She questioned, curious as to why Bot wandered off.

Bot shrugged, "I just wanted to see if there was... Possibly a place of note nearby? I guess?" Their eyes once again observing the direction they believed the rising smoke like gas was.

Test Tube blinked, and looked off  in the direction Bot had been looking, "Is... There something... That way?" She pointed off into the darkened thicket, leaves that obscured the sun. The only light that showed from the daylight was speckles of light on the grass and dried leaves below.

"Smoke. I think. Maybe a campsite?" Bot pointed, and then looked back to Fan. "I think maybe we should check it out— but uh... We should probably wake up Fan first." They smiled slightly.

Test Tube nodded to herself, and glared back at Fan. She stepped over and reached to shake his shoulder. Fan responded by a snappy harsh gaze, then grasping at her wrist, and nearly charging.

His eyes then widened at the sight of Test Tube's horrified, and frankly protective stance as if to shove Bot away from him out of instinct. He let go, and stood up, backing away. "I..." He whispered, and blinked. "Sorry... I thought you were... hm..." He narrowed his gaze slightly. Leaves rustled beneath his feet. Fan's jaw was clenched tightly, and the tensed muscles in his face showed for it.

Test Tube stared at him harshly for a moment before barking back, "Jumpy much?! What was THAT?!" She spat.

Fan furrowed his brows, pairing with an already narrowed gaze. "it's not my fault! You— You startled me." He retorted, glaring at Test Tube as if he was expecting a different face.

"You could've hurt me! You could've hurt Bot!" She retailed, pointing back at the fairy behind her. Her gaze critical and concerned.

"Mom— I don't think he tried to—?"

"What the hell!" She spoke over the smaller object. Harshly worded scoldings wanted to arise from her throat. She'd felt like something was off.

"It was instinct... Test Tube— I-I'm sorry." He responded, his voice softened staring at Test Tube with a blank stare. Laced with an unreadable emotion.

Test Tube huffed, and rubbed her temples. She then glared at Fan again, finally letting up her emotion. Only a bit. "I'm sorry... I'm just—we're probably all on edge." Test Tube huffed. "We should get going."

"Going?" Fan questioned, raising a brow. "Where...?" His eyes fixated on Test Tube, awaiting an answer. Impatiently? Perhaps.

"I found smoke rising in the distance." Bot replied, they landed near Fan, looking up at him. "We believe it may be a campsite!" They smiled politely and pointed in the direction of the place of interest.

Fan perked and looked over. "I don't see anything..." He muttered, looking into the desolate forest beyond.

"That's because you can't see the sky from here, Fan..." She grumbled, critically glaring at him. Which made fan recoil back, and chuckle blankly.

"Oh, right." He blinked with raised nerves.

Test Tube sighed, she pinched the bridge of her nose—or, where it would be—and then looked up at Fan. "Let's just get walking... Okay?"

"Mom..." Bot furrowed their brows unsurely. Test Tube's angered—or annoyed, more of—was more than evident. As were the mirrored emotion in her eyes.

Test Tube huffed, looking away. "Please?" She added. Which made Bot smile appreciatively. They looked back at Fan. A welcoming gaze. Bot had never experienced Fan's previous destructive nature. They had no reason to resent him.

Fan appreciated this. Surely.

He stepped towards the thick forest ahead alongside Test Tube. And Bot. His eyes tore away from bot. His blank stare resting on the forest ahead now. He could feel the bitterness from the woman walking next to him. Alongside him. The crisp crinkle of the leaves beneath his feet. The occasional squash and pop of a mushroom beneath his feet.

"Are you... upset with me?" He asked. Not looking away from the thicket ahead. The trees passing by slowly faded into the peripheral.

Test Tube was a bit taken aback by the question. She shook her head. "No..." She whispered. Not a lie. But not a truth. Familiarity laced in her eyes. Recognition; a time just like this long ago.

Fan's guttural clicking escaping his throat. His body felt blurry in a sense. All ooz, the substance seeping into his paper, seemed blurry. Incoherent. Anew. What a strange feeling. "You don't have to lie to me..." Fan responded, looking now down at the ground.

"I'm not upset with you, Fan..." She retorted, her voice distorting from blank discomfort to near aggression. "I just... Feel like I don't know you anymore." She muttered, her voice fading.

"What...?" He looked towards her, eyes widened. "What— what do you mean—? A-Am I— Not... Enough? I don't understand—?" He sputtered, words poured from his mouth in a near scrambling manner.

"You aren't the same..." She whispered, closing her eyes and forming words... "You don't feel like you..." She felt her words escape in a hiss. But not a harsh one. A grieving one. "It's like you don't have a soul... anymore..."

Fan felt his vision, it unfocused for a second, along with the near stopping of his heart. "Y-you can't be serious?!" He retorted, now furrowed brows. "I'm— Im trying t-to be better!"

Test Tube nodded, "I appreciate that. You're doing very well, Fan! But... I don't understand..." She explained.

"Sorry? What is there to understand?!" Fan retaliated.

"Why are you so distant?!" She spat in his face, which made him flinch. Anger laced with... Loss. "I feel like you died the day you... Hurt...me..." She whined, bottom lip trembling.

Fan scoffed. "I died the moment you let your parents kill mine." He growled. A shrill and angry voice emitted from his throat, and past gritted teeth. Test Tube's horrified glare of betrayal soon followed.

"How was I supposed to know what they were doing?! Huh?! I was 12!" She jabbed a finger at him, which Fan slapped it away.

"You DON'T get to pretend like you were entirely oblivious!" He snarled, his eyes sharp. Like daggers. Enough to kill. "You were smart. I could SEE the remorse. I may have been STUPID. But at least I was observant..." His teeth... Nearly cracking from the sheer force they were clenched together.

Test Tube recoiled, and furrowed her own brows. A gaze hurt and nearly distraught. "I was a kid... I had my suspicions. BUT I SURE AS HELL COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING!" She retorted, shaking her head in near disbelief this conversation was even happening.

"You could've not been born in the first place..." he replied in a low growl... His face unknowing of the words he'd just said. "If you were never born— Then I wouldn't have met you! And my parents wouldn't have signed that stupid contract! And—a....." He looked back at Test Tube, his hands thrown out to speak. "A—....nd...."

Realization.

A contorted face of sadness and pure disbelief. A lack of understanding. Hurtful self doubt. Blame. Pity.

Betrayal.

"Test Tube... That wasn't—..." He tried to have the words form a coherent sentence. But any that came to mind would only worsen the situation.

"I c—cared so much about you..." her voice cracked, and wavered. "I tried SO hard-d...!" Shed bite her lip to keep her voice from breaking down. Tears strung down her face like pitiful Christmas decoration. "Why does it ALWAYS come back to THIS." She shrieked through her teeth. Her own tears. Salty. She tasted the water which erupted from her tear ducts.

"I don't..." He didn't have an answer. He messed it up again.

He needed to fix it before it was too late.

"You don't know, Fan..." She muttered, near anger breaking through her voice. It was strange and ragged with hatred.

...

"That's the fucking problem." She took Bot's hand and stormed off ahead.

Silence.

———

Silver's were fixated on the smoke ridden and loud machinery of the city. Strange dully coloured streets. He grumbled to himself. Looking down at Candle, whom was walking next to him. The tap of her feet was nonexistent. He seemed annoyed. The dusty sidewalk beneath him and small puddles reflected his gaze. He couldn't see much straight ahead, and his hood had been obscuring his vision.

"How much further, dear?" He asked, annoyed... Wanting for his trek to end.

Candle responded with a grumble of her own, before fixing her gaze to be serene. "We walk, until we can no longer. Fate is always forward." She closed her eyes, only briefly.

"Hmph!" He retorted, crossing all 4 of his arms beneath his cloak in a huff. A critics angry gaze at the little he can see head, and half of his gaze on fabric. The rustling of his hood cold be heard as he stepped across the sidewalk stubbornly. He could hear the surrounding shops and bustling streets. Kids playing and chattering of nearby objects. He couldn't see any of them. He didn't care.

His slouched down again, forgetting about his proper posture to kick a stone at his feet, which clanged into the... foot? Of another. His gaze averted to what was before him, but his lack of vision caused him to crash straight into the object in front of him.

A impudent voice rang out across from him, "Was bumping into me really necessary? Could you not have walked around?" The voice sasses.

"Why I never!" Silver recoiled with the disrespect of the voice before him. He reached to pull down his hood but froze, trying his best to pull it down only a slight bit. Just enough to see. "Show some respect. Won't you? Pitiful street rat!" He grumbled.

Candle cleared her throat, "ahem..." She rumbled, which made Silver break eye contact.

He huffed to himself clutching his forearms. He rolled his eyes and didn't bother to speak again.

The object before him tapped their heal. Face aloof and bitter. "How dare you! Clearly you are the one without direction! I could've offered help. But I guess you just don't want it." They grumbled, turning a heal.

Silver growled, clenching every fist. "I will not be made a fool by a mere child! You simpleminded—!"

"SILVER." Candle uttered through shrill words and gritted teeth. A sharp gaze pierced his, and he grimaced. "What he meant to say... Is that we would live direction." She let her voice return to a calm one, though her teeth remained clenched.

The object studied the two. And then turned back. "I have nothing better to do anyway..." They scorned, looking back. "Where do you want to go? Hm?" They snarked. A near scoff. As if this was a joke.

"Hmghh... Somewhere better than this dusty and frankly rickety slum of a city!" He criticized, a corner of his mouth scrunched up snobbishly.

Candle huffed once more. Fed up with his aloof stupidity.

Though she was one for petty fights, she thought this to be childish. "How about we start with your name?" Candle reached a hand out for the other to shake.

The object before her. They held out a hand. And finally took it to shake. "Lollipop. Is it not objectively obvious?" She spat in a caustic manner. Narrow furrowed brows.

"Hm... You are rather metal. Im are you sure your brain isn't rusted?" Silver snarled, a cocky smile tugged at his lips and firmly embedded into his face.

"No. But yours might have. You are made of metal too, are you not?" She retorted, returning the smiles.

Silver recoiled in shock. He didn't expect a response like that. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

Candle snickered to herself. "He's quite hard headed... Considering how flat his head is, I wouldn't see him as the brightest either!" She covered her mouth to laugh.

Silver's jaw fell open, his face contorted in shock that his 'friend' would say such a thing! How dare she! Uncouth indeed! "How dare you!"

"I wouldn't say your face is the only thing that's flat." Lollipop snickered, glancing a mocking smile in response.

Silver couldn't even form words. This was a slaughter! Unfair. He scoffed, and turned his chin up. Appearing above the situation. Unbothered.

Lollipop blinked her expression back to one of thought. Bored? No...Thought. She sighed as her footfall continued forward. "You don't seem to be from around here." She commented, twirling a curious finger back at them.

Silver Spoon couldn't bare a response that wouldn't have been anything but impolite.

"We aren't. How observant." Candle spoke up, not allowing Silver to take lead in this conversation. After all, she'd rather get to the point than continue this immature banter any longer.

"Hmph. Figures." She turned her head forward again. This is Yoyle City, do you at least know that much?" Her voice sassed.

Candle shook her head. "Sadly, no. Enlighten me." She responded, folding her hands in front of her with a slightly more interested smile as the boy next to her pouted, dragging his foot along metal and pavement. His feet collided with the occasional piece of paper or trash out of boredom and anger.

Lollipop sighed exasperatedly, her gaze narrowed. "I thought you to be oblivious, given how you mindlessly walked into me, but not idiots..." she grumbled.

"Please do pardon our—poor—manners! Mind you I am very interested in hearing about what your city has to offer. If that matters!" She grinned 'kindly' eyes glared at the teen walking in front.

Lollipop judged the two silently, then looked ahead at the massive building they were encroaching on. "Hm, well. You are lucky. The main tourist attraction, the observatory, is up ahead. You can find anything of interest nearby." She pointed to nearby shops and businesses that people had gathered around.

Candle looked forward, "What is this... "observatory" Lollipop?" Candle raised a brow. A hand then rested beneath her chin in thought. Her eyes fixated on the city ahead, and Lollipop. Alternating.

"It's where the Crowned of Time resides. It's quite famous. Though, seeing your clothes, I wouldn't take you for anything but forest goblins..." She sneered, chuckling to herself.

"Mhm..." Candle scoffed to herself.

Silver found his own words, "Wow! Is my face really that reflective, darling?" He grinned, smug teeth showing as he leaned forwards to glare at Lollipop. What a splendid effort! Bravo.

"I suppose it would have to be to reflect your lack of a fortunate face on to other people, wouldn't it?" She retorted, smirking back.

Silver grumbled. Teenagers were mean...

Candle sighed. "Can we not just—find some sort of map? Or place to stay?!" Her voice cracked. She swallowed and cleared it. "My apologies..." Her voice quickly sang.

Lollipop nodded briefly, tearing her smug-mocking gaze away from the spoon and towards a tall hotel looking structure. "How will THAT do?" She asked pointing to one.

Candle hummed in acknowledgment, but the a thought came to her. "We... have no money..." She responded.

"Not even a single silver?" She asked, skeptical. Almost dumbfounded.

"Sorry?" Silver spoke up, raising a brow in acknowledgment. Lollipop flinched and turned her gaze over to the tall man-child. Or at least, what she'd perceived of him.

"No. You fucking idiot... I meant a silver!" She pulled out a coin, holding it between her middle and index finger. Her gaze narrow and annoyed. "Are you broke too? Did your boss see you as an eye-sore or something?!" She gritted causticly.

"What?! No!" He cried, angrily snarling at the teen, who showed little care in his towering stance.

She flicked the coin in his face, which made him yelp to grab his face, the coin slipping through his fingertips. He scrambled to grab it, and bent down to pick it up after it clattered against the chipped sidewalk below. "Usually I don't give handouts. But I feel bad for your shit show... My friend owns a bakery, I'd be WILLING to put a word in tomorrow. IF. You pay me back 3 fold, okay?" She jabbed a finger at Silver.

Silver was about to retaliate, but candle shut him up, clasping a hand over his mouth.

"Silver..." She snarled, making Silver grumble muffled-ly and turn his head aside. Candle glanced back over to Lollipop, her foot falling a step closer. "We'd be glad. 1 silver will last us only one night. I'm assuming, anyway." She cocked her head aside. Questioning.

Lollipop nodded in response.

"Well. Meet us outside tomorrow. And we will get started! Rain or shine." Candle smiled and waved politely. Which made Lollipop smile. An amused smile.

"If you say so." She cockily turned her heel aloof and walked off down the road. One foot after the other beneath street lights that dimly began to shine over head.

Goodnight world.

———

Microphone watched as the rest of the group walked into the ruined village, and slumped next to a ruined cabin. Her gaze against the snow which shimmered with the night sky. Her eyes trailed down to the blood. She grimaced and ripped her eyes away once more. She could only observed the scarred and charred wood houses that once were. The skeletal remains of a once lively town. A shame, it was. Effort. Families. Wasted. Snow stained red...

She wanted to fix this. She wished she could. Did she blame herself? No. She couldn't... it wasn't her fault. Her glare shot back at Clover, who'd put Taco on the charred collapsing deck of a cabin. Her gaze bitter. Was there a reason for it to be? Of course! Taco killed countless people. This was her fault!

She whipped her head away, and hugged her knees. She hated this. She hated this entire situation. She hated how her body felt. The gemstone head. It didn't feel right... her solid abdomen. Wood. The button now a moon shaped gemstone. Her entire life. Bodily functions. Muscle memory. Now decrepit memory. She had no need for that anymore. The wrong skin... wrapped around the wrong muscle... connecting it to the wrong face... trapping her brain firmly beneath.

She was forced to live with the carnage she'd perceived happen around her. The sickening awkward silence blew like a current throughout the town. That is, until she heard the skimp, and clank of someone resting next to her.

Microphone flinched, her eyes trailing beside her. She noticed Knife next to her, and narrowed her eyes. She tore her eyes away promptly ignoring him.

"I came to—..."

"Say you told me so? Is that it?! I don't need your sass, Knife." She snapped. Her voice breaking and raspy from her desperate attempts not to cry.

The desolate fields which surrounded the now destroyed village made the scene feel so empty...

"I'm not here to gloat..." He responded. Which made Microphone let up slightly, as her gaze shifted forwards again. Not at him—but it was a start. He'd admit that. "I'm here to talk. You seem on edge." Knife placed a hand on her shoulder.

Microphone shoved him away, "On edge?! Please..." She spat. "What makes you say that..."

"Microphone... I know you're upset. But pouting won't solve anything." He soothed, a soft voice, though it was still gruff and harsh. His voice sounded like the rumble of a rock as it distantly tumbled down the hill.

Microphone didn't respond.

"Taco is a bad person. And it's natural to feel the way you do after being used." He muttered, trying to sooth Mic. Who's mind was clouded by sadness and lament. Grief... a sad day it had been.

"I lost everyone Knife..." She retorted, "it's not JUST Taco..." her gaze harsh as she shot daggers at the—well—dagger.

Knife didn't bother comment on that. He knew it to be true. It was normal for a person to be in such a state of grief. "My point still stands..." he dodged.

Microphone couldn't help but feel like Knife was wrong. Was he wrong? Was she used? Denial? was she just second guessing herself? Or... Is that statement false. She grumbled.

Knife notes her silence and spoke again, "I don't like seeing you like this Mic. I know you think you've lost everything but... I'm here. Even if you don't see that. I'm here to help—"

"Help—? Ha-hahaha! Help?! WOW. Because that's all I EVER need isn't it?! IM JUST SOME DAMSEL TO BE SAVED—USED—AND HANDED OFF TO THE NEXT!" She threw her arms out, and stood. "I don't want to hear this from YOU." She barked, teeth screeching as they crunched down on one another.

Knife stood after her, "SOAP WAS MY FRIEND TOO, MIC!" He screamed in retaliation. Her fists clenched with anger. "YOU AREN'T THE ONLY ONE WHOS STRUGGLING! HAVE YOU TRIED SEEING IT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE?!" He spat.

Mic scrunched her face, contorting it to shocked anger. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ITS LIKE TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WRONG. ALL THE TIME. THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, OR FEEL, OR ARE. YOU'RE ALWAYS WRONG!!! UNDERMINED, AND TOSSED ASIDE!" She screeched with pain. She strained herself to articulate her feelings.

"ALL IVE EVER DONE IS TRIED!" Knife stood up. "IM TRYING TO SAVE YOU! NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIVE HER OR CARE ABOUT HER SHES STILL A BAD PERSON! I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE MY MOM... BUT I SWEAR ON MY FUCKING LIFE ILL SAVE YOU." Knife roared, grasping at Microphone's collar. To which she teared up with wide eyes. Completely stunned Knife would scream at her like that. She was appalled—taken aback. She wasn't sure if she was betrayed, angry, or...

Devastated...

Microphone shoved away from Knife. And glared at Knife, and narrowed her eyes with a hurt glare. She gritted her teeth, and scorned through them; "I don't need your SAVING..." She let the tears finally fall, and stormed off for some air. She hated this.

And she hated herself.

———

I'm tired. Eepy time for Wisp.

———