YOURTURN

"Do you think we could stay like this?" Gold's voice is quiet, almost dreamlike, as he affixes his pupils onto Ben. His stare is so gentle that his sockets closely resemble Deerling doe eyes. "Forever?"

[[ Happy Valentine's Day :) ]]

Admittedly.

He found the whole idea a little dumb.

When pitched, it sounded like a BAD field trip — where you're still expected to do classwork, be it answering a sheet of questions or an writing an essay on your experience. BEN would've laughed were it not for Gold's wide, ever pleading sockets.

His sourness improved as the day grew close — but he still wondered what made the whole thing date worthy. An arcade, a movie ... anything other than watching Pokémon migrate.

Not even catching them? Really?

But day of, sleeve-in-hand, those bratty worries were silenced. Excitement beat a nonexistent heart to life in such a way, that by time they scaled the grassy hills he was tumbling down it to meet the water's edge.

BEN couldn't remember the last time he'd been so carefree, beckoning Gold closer, taking in the world around them. To think packs of Seel and Dewgong would be this exciting! His eyes could hardly keep up as they mixed with other Pokémon under the water. He crawled next to his boyfriend, wrapping a hesitant arm around Gold as he turns to him.

' Do you think we could stay like this, forever? '

[ I ... I hope so. ] They did have an eternity, as turbulent as it started. Somewhere down the line, these moments would stretch into forever. [ Even if we can't ... this moment right now, it's ... ]

BEN pulled the other into an embrace.

[ It's perfect. Thank you. ]

He'd think this a prank, were it not for the terror latched to his soul.

BEN fumbled through his inventory, distracted by the puzzle before him. MX, a prideful demon, wouldn't appear to him like this. If he were powerless, the monster wouldn't emit such an aura. Though he couldn't reach the doors that lead to town, he knew they'd been sealed from the moment he entered.

You have no right to be here, he wanted to scream before hypocrisy snatched his tongue. His trembling blade points to the stagnate mask as eyes seemed to peek through the cracks of the room. Whatever happened to leave him in such a wrathful state ... BEN shuddered to think about.

He swung, and crashed steel against the ground.

Did he just miss a sitting target?

Or was his blade acting on his own?

Whatever the reason, his sword was useless. Throwing a bomb from his left c-button, its icon disappeared with the explosion. Spilling arrows with his bottom c-button, the bow snaps in his grip. The hook shot set to his right c-button bounced off the mask ... and out of his hands, vanishing into the growing dark.

BEN paused, only to be greeted by an abandoned inventory. The masks he collected, the fairies as insurance ... Everything had left him, except for the Lens of Truth.

Tatl was gone — having fled or been banished by the other. Helplessness settled as set the the dark looking glass to be equipped. As if sensing his desperation, he smothered the lingering light. BEN never thought he could be powerless in his own world.

... But he's always been alone, hasn't he?

He stared at the glass, frozen.

MX was inviting him.

The boy held the lens up to his eye and ...

The question burns, nearly sparking the wooden pieces that made his "heart". Why would he get answers after decades of questions? What satisfaction would that bring him, now that he's fallen this far? The Salesman chuckles as be begins his descent, ignoring the child entirely. The creaking of the tower grows louder, muting the once comforting song.

That devil-of-a-merchant disappeared as Tatl broke out of BEN's cap. She feared him ever since he came back from—

The child shifted with an ever sinking pit at his core. He can feel a frigid sweat take hold with every step he took toward the accursed mask. Was it more terrifying to watch the other shatter his expectations, or for him to leave something in his stead? He was the Happy Mask Salesman, after all. For him to abandon this, and the Mask of Majora ...

Whatever is about to happen fills him with dread.

And whatever is about to happen, he can't avoid it.

Summoning all of Link's courage, he steps forward to close the gap. The fairy, begrudgingly, stays to watch over BEN. Though the river beneath the town and the stone walls that towered high above were the same, something in this world had twisted and darkened. An unbearable, undeniable pressure that saw through his facade from the start of his dashboard journey.

BEN squeezed his eyes shut, willing the wretched thing out of his world. When they opened, his body grew colder. He'd have to look the other in the face, as much as he wished not to.

His head fell to where a mask laid before him.

Enormous, wooden doors push open — light pouring in as the towns' people continue their unchanging schedules. The boy tumbles over his own steps, and stops to catch his breath. The heavy, rhythmic clicks of the town's heart in an otherwise quiet, and cool area begin to soothe him from an onslaught of monotony — Same routes. Same conversations. The same, ever-lingering terror for him to ignore until it was time to reset again. To think, twenty-four years ago, these sights were so new . . . Was it any surprise he hadn't been around Clocktown as of late?

He broke his own cycle, and began cultivating a world outside . . . This. Gold had become a prominent figure in his life, he met one of his early idols, and found some acceptance - and maybe a little comfort - that Death was nicer than he appeared. While he didn't care about Grey or Lucas (Which, by the way. He still doesn't. Just in case there was confusion! He definitely does NOT want THOSE weenies as his friends...), he could still appreciate the entertainment they offered in just picking on them.

So long as he watches out for . . . Well, never mind that.

Settling on the stairs, BEN took out a glass bottle and knocked back more Chateau Romani. He leaned back, staring awkwardly at this room's only other inhabitant — smiling at him while his actions looped. Despite how important he was to kicking off the start, the salesman . . . Did not have a presence in this story. So what made this visit inside the clock tower any different? Something, somewhere, in his world had shifted.

[ . . . But it can't be you. ] The text floated as he finished the bottle. More for himself, than the other. BEN pushed himself off the ground and began to pace in a circle, counting on his fingers. Right. He only mattered at the start and end of every playthrough. Neither of which . . . BEN had seen in a very long time.

As if to test the theory, he equipped his keaton mask and began to circle the man like he were a broken toy rather than a person. Nothing abnormal here. He sighed and removed his mask, turning away from the Happy Mask Salesman as he folded his arms.

[ N-No, I haven't heard any legends about Typhlosion like that. ] Though he supposed it made it sense — Johto was a world without compare in the Pokémon franchise. ( Though, admittedly, he hadn't caught up with it. Too wrapped up on being dead, and all. ) Curled, shaved bits of wood continue to pile at his feet as BEN kept carving. He looked off in the distance where Noa and Tattle continue to prattle, and squinted a bit as they laughed.

[ But it's not really the weirdest story out there. ] BEN ran his hands across the rugged surface of the mask and frowned. [ Termina's got its slew of weird stories that could give you a run for your money. ]

He shifted his body to look at Clock Town behind them. Same as it ever was, complete with the moon Gold had tried to yell at moments prior . . .

BEN recoiled, sucking his teeth as he the dinky tiny knife had nicked his finger. In an attempt to save face, he wrapped it within the edge of his tunic and placed the incomplete mask down. The pain was still incomparable to everything Gold had been through recently, so he'd suck it up for him.

[ Actually, ] He clumsily reached for his Ocarina of Time with one arm, showing off to Gold. [ You've seen me use this already, but, it's a bit of a legend in its own right. ]

He scooted in, placing the instrument against his lips. Six, simple notes — In six simple notes, rain falls upon the pair and drenches their clothes. BEN looked away awkwardly, before lowering his voice.

The red one continues talking as his brothers laugh mockingly behind him. "Who made that for you? Your mommy?"

...

The Rowdyruff Boys came back?

No, but like for real — The Rowdyruff Boys came back?

He remembered when the Powerpuff Girls began airing. Forgotten faces laughed at the show as he'd pretend to join them. For girls, they said. No one in their right mind would like that show unless they were a stupid girl or a stupid baby. It was something he enjoyed before the RRB came along, and something he enjoyed more after they came a long, but ... they died at the end of their episode.

... How long did Powerpuff Girls run, anyway? Things to look into later.

BEN placed his hand on his cheek, stuck between meeting more of his favorite characters and having just been insulted.

patron saint of silence.

"You don't have to do all that mushy-gooey-ooey-sicky stuff. Just doing small things goes a long way, liiiike... grabbin' the TV remote for 'em, or uhhh... givin' 'em their favorite snacks! Or bringin' 'em to see the world's third-iest bigg-iest rubber band ball! C'mon, 'cause who wouldn't wanna see that?!"

omg

daggett

hiiii <3 :) <3

Y'know, he didn't get a chance to fan-boy over these two after rescuing Gold. And now one of his favorite cartoon characters is giving him advice? There are silver linings to this hell after all.

[ OH! That's good advice, actually ... ] Grabbing Gold the TV remote, buying his favorite snacks... the world's third-iest bigg-iest rubber band ball. Simple, but worthwhile. He rubbed the back of his head with a lopsided grin.

He just begins to rapidly swing his sword at the other.