Eyeris-Moni

Cupid pulled out the cigar from his mouth, with one last exhale. Then without flinching, the huge looming cryptid put it out in his own palm.

The illuminating embers from the cigar were choked out, leaving a trail of smoke, before Cupid slipped the remaining cigar into an inner pocket for later.

The handle clicked, causing the old wooden door to faintly creak on its hinges as it pushed open and revealed the entirely pitch black hallway beyond the door frame.

Without knocking on the door in front of him, he quietly tried the handle.

If he was welcomed, he'd be let in after all. Besides, there was no reason to wake anyone up by making unnecessary sounds, late into the night. An attentive, and easily alarmed bunch these residents were.

Cupid bowed to fit through the door, however once he was inside there was plenty of space to stand upright in. He closed the door behind him as quietly as he could, scanning the interior over.

In these last couple of years, Cupid had visited this mansion much more frequently, yet it was still infrequent enough that he wasn't used to the place.

Both in terms of the layout and look of the mansion, but of how it felt.

Or perhaps– there was no individual life beneath that old, dark wallpaper. Maybe it was simply an extension of The Slenderman himself.

How this place was less of an inanimate object and almost a living, shifting creature. So large that you didn’t notice its heartbeat and breathing unless you paid close attention to detail.

Cupid had never asked about it.

He did however know that if he was allowed inside, then Slender would most likely allow him into the basement too.

Where else was Cupid supposed to be? Roam around on his own in the mansion with all of Slender's kids? As if the ancient being would ever let him do so for long.

Cupid as an entity was tolerated, but clearly not entirely trusted with the other residents' safety.

He stopped by the one door which had a doorknob instead of a handle.

Walking through the dark hallway, the carpet beneath muffled his steps completely. The rug had likely seen far better days, being that it was stained with blood and mud. Cupid's gaze drifted from door to door, yellow eyes searching for the right one to go through.

Well, to call it a door knob, might be a bit generous.

The dark, knotted bundle of roots did look like a sphere, if you squinted.

Cupid was pretty sure this hadn't been where this door had been last, but he didn't remember for sure.

What he did remember though, was that this doorknob always led him to Slender; to the basement.

The wooden steps creaked beneath his large size. Not particularly loudly, but it was very audible in this silence.

Cupid did enjoy it, back out amongst humans, he was inconveniently large. That being said, it did take a moment to adjust to the new scale.

Cupid's clawed hand rested on the tall bannister as he walked.

The room, the steps, the bannister - it was all made for something much larger than a mere human. It was taller, sturdy - made for something as large as them to be comfortable in.

'What are you doing here.' Slender's voice rung in his head, as soon as his shoe touched the flooring. 

Roots hung from the ceiling in such numbers that they practically made up the ceiling as well. Cupid eyed them, knowing that if anyone unwelcomed somehow managed to find their way here, they would not survive those.

As unassuming and still as they looked, they could strike and wrap like starving snakes.

Behind the stairs, at the seating area, the familiar face– or well, the familiar lack of face, remained seated in the dark red armchair. The lamp beside Slender illuminated his elongated frame in a warm, orange glow.

"Must I always come with a reason~?", Cupid's deep voice called back, as he pinpointed Slender's location in the basement.

The tall pale creature had its head turned down to the pages of a book, despite having no visible eyes to read the words with

'Yes.' Slender said.

Judging from the quiet, somewhat relaxed monotone of Slender's voice, Cupid assumed he wasn't in a bad mood currently. Which was good - Cupid would much prefer catching him in a decent mood, especially when he was here to ask something of Slender.

"I bring new books", Cupid hummed. He reached a hand into the large fluff around his neck, to pull out one after the other, stacking them in his free hand.

"Here you are", Cupid said, placing them on the table, before he sat down on the couch opposite Slender.

To this, Slender slightly lowered the books, turning his blank face towards Cupid. He didn't say anything as Cupid kept piling though.

'Extra books', Slender noted.

"Is there?", Cupid asked, pretending he didn't know. He did know, of course.

'The same as last you asked', Slender said, sliding a bookmark into the book on his hand, before he put it away.

Cupid shifted on the couch and laid down in the furniture, which pleasantly could fit the entirety of his tall and broad size.

"How has it been?",  Cupid asked, making himself comfortable.

"Really, nothing has changed?", Cupid asked curiously, "what about your new resident?". He had noticed the familiar aura, somewhere above them.

Slender grabbed the top book from the pile. He looked it over, then put it down, before checking the next.

'Mhn. Yes.', Slender confirmed, 'Jeff moved Raz in'.

Cupid looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I sense you might not agree with that decision?", Cupid hummed. Of course Slender had accept to some degree. Had he not wanted it, the colorful bunny cryptid would not be inside the mansion.

Cupid's yellow eyes drifted back to the expressionless face.

Slender placed the next book down on his second pile a bit harder.

His hand stayed on top of it for a moment.

The conversation paused for a moment.

"You feel complicated about it?", Cupid gently ventured to guess.

'...I might have taken too long', Slender said.

Cupid let out a low, drawn out hum.

He had asked Slender about this 'Raz' before. Such as, why Raz was living outside the mansion, even outside the clearing, which was likely the safest place in the forest.

Slender wasn't a doting guardian, but he never seemed picky about the company he adopted. 

Back then, Slender had cited Raz's power as being an issue - a worrying mixture with the household. Cupid could see sense in that.

And yet an entity as friendly as Raz hadn't been taken in.

As much as Slender never really said it, he wanted to make sure the entities were safe here. It was the reason he had made a home here in the first place, Cupid was pretty sure.

"You feel bad about not taking the kid in sooner", Cupid said, brushing his golden claws through his neck fluff. "But likewise, taking him in earlier might have caused issues with the other kids.

I think you did the right thing, waiting as much as seemed right", Cupid noted. 

Slender finally moved his hands onwards, to look through the rest of the pile of books.

Sometimes Slender seemingly wanted to say something, but then he wouldn't.

For some reason, Slender preferred halting the entire conversation, instead of perhaps, lying or sidestepping the issue. It was charming in its own right.

He'd just be silent, as if the words would eventually and naturally come out, but Cupid was used to them simply not doing so.

Cupid had over their relationship just gotten used to guessing what Slender was thinking. It worked fine most of the time.

'Jeff did not agree. He thinks I've been waiting too long', Slender remarked, as he checked the next book over.

'I suppose so', Slender answered, '... Did you buy this book from a library?', he asked as one of his thin fingers brushed over the library scan code.

"Times feel longer to mortals after all", Cupid said, "he's seeing it from a much slower point of view". The way humans thought about things, oftentimes clashed with the way entities like him and Slender did.

"Besides, it's not as if you can change the past - just make the most out of the present. Raz doesn't strike me as someone who is hard to please", Cupid said, ignoring Slender's question.

'Cupid.'

Cupid figured Slender probably didn't indeed. From what Cupid understood, Slender was not a huge proponent of stealing.

"Yes?",

'Did you... ', he removed his hand from the scan code. 'Perhaps I don't want to know', Slender corrected himself. He leaned back in his arm chair finally, hands folded in his lap.

'Thank you', Slender said.

'Oh you're welcome - most of the books really weren't difficult to locate", Cupid teased and waved the matter away with his hand.

Slender of course hadn’t been thanking him for the books, but neither of them remarked on it.

'How have you been?', Slender asked in turn.

"Very well - My latest fascination caused some rather big trouble up north", Cupid sighed. His deep voice immediately took on a pleased, dreamy quality to it. "It got a bit messy, but I don't really control the direction of the force", he chuckled humored.

Cupid looked at the ceiling, then closed his eyes halfway, "Oh, you should've seen it. Not that it would have been your taste, of course", Cupid grinned.

To Cupid, this was his purpose, his everything. The continued steps that made immortality worth living. But to Slender, it was likely nothing at all.

"Mhn?",

He hummed pleased, letting his eyes fully shut as he recalled the event that had gone down mere hours before.

Cupid pressed his palms together, feeling the light electricity beneath his skin that made his hands vibrate.

The rush of adrenaline and excitement.

'And?',

'Are you not going to elaborate?', Slender asked. Cupid turned his head towards him slightly, opening one eye, 

"oh, I didn't want to bother you. Do you want to hear about it?", he offered. 

'It would not bother me', Slender simply said. 

Cupid grinned appreciatively at the ancient creature's attempt to be social. It didn't used to be like this, but now it was. He appreciated the indulgence, even if Slender got nothing out of it.

About how love felt - how it flavored and entangled all other feelings one felt. Like instruments of an orchestra it harmonized and played into each other as the emotions kept swelling.

It didn't matter that Slender didn't talk much, nor that he had nothing much to add or comment on when Cupid talked. Once Cupid started talking about this particular topic, he could go on and on and on.

And oh, how he did.

How he loved it. 

How each time Cupid shot someone, he felt how his own blood fractionated itself in his target’s veins- felt how the individual's personality dictated the narrative- dictated the direction and flow of love.

He felt it pulse,

connect,

In a way only true emotion could do, between living people. 

How Cupid loved feeling the sensation of thousands of moths flutter, crawl and writhe beneath his skin– between layers of flesh until–

The glow from his yellow eyes reflected in his gold claws.

Cupid pushed the back of his hand against his mouth, silencing himself from his continued talking.

He let out a muffled chuckle between closed lips.

"Mhn, I best not indulge too much right now", Cupid breathed out, finally noticing just how much his voice seemed to vibrate. 

He looked over at Slender, who patiently and quietly sat there, watching him.

It was reassuring, knowing someone else could've helped out, if Cupid ever did slip. 

'Sounds very foreign', Slender said.

Cupid let out a laugh at the notion, "It is, I am sure", he agreed. 

Getting to talk about these sorts of things was not something Cupid did frequently. Not because he was like Slender and didn't talk much, but more so because he didn't have anyone else he talked to about matters like this. 

Well, it likely didn't matter much.

Despite their differences, Slender was the oldest friend Cupid had. There was an unspoken deep trust and comfort in that - even when Slender didn’t seem to care about Cupid.

It was nice, calming. Not that Cupid had been scared or uncomfortable per say, something had just--...

'I would not mind', Slender answered. 

"Would you mind if I stayed a couple of hours?", Cupid finally revealed the reason he was here.

This was by no means an odd request - usually he stayed here for a couple of hours anyway. However, Cupid didn’t want to simply assume as much.

Cupid smiled and nodded, "appreciated. I promise you I won't be extending my visit further - I need to cocoon soon anyway~", he said, before sitting up briefly to slip his shoes off.

'What are you doing here?', Slender asked, once more asking the initial question he had greeted Cupid with.

He grabbed another pillow, placing it under his broad back to lay better.  Cupid was going to fully enjoy being able to simply lay on a couch that could fit him.

Cupid closed his eyes, "I just needed a place to retreat to", he finally answered.

'Why', Slender asked. 

"Because of the mess up north that I told you about", Cupid snickered gently.

There was a brief silence. It wasn't tense, simply the kind of silence that frequently happened when calmly talking to Slender.

Eventually Slender picked up his book again.

'You do not usually retreat like that after shooting someone.

From what you described about this incident, I see no reason why that would have changed', Slender remarked. 

The comment caught Cupid a bit off guard, mostly because he was surprised that Slender seemed to have listened enough to take note of such.

Cupid's gaze simply stared at Slender for a moment, thinking about what to answer.

He hummed thoughtfully.

"After incidents like these, I tend to get a bit...", Cupid trailed off, thinking about how to put it. Slender likely already knew what he meant though. "Excited, euphoric", he settled on. Slender gave off a faint nod, or at least Cupid thought he might have. "However, as the full moon is approaching, I am feeling a bit less focused and in control than usual from this high", he said. "It's not a big deal - in fact it's rather pleasant, feeling it permeate", Cupid grinned. 

He lifted a clawed hand, scratching his nose bridge. 

"Normally I would simply find a good spot and cocoon before time", he said, then paused thoughtfully. "But I'm getting the feeling I shouldn't. My gut says something is off. So I thought I'd stop by here and calm down a bit - clear my head, so to speak".

His words made Slender look up from his book again,

'What seems to be 'off'?', Slender inquired.

Cupid's brows knitted together, as if thinking about it a bit more thoroughly. He hummed slowly. "Mhn-", he snapped his fingers, "like I'm being watched - but not in a good way", Cupid said.

'what would 'being watched in a good way' even– don't answer', Slender once more corrected himself.

Cupid chuckled, "I don’t suppose I am feeling afraid but...", he tapped his claws against his chin, "I don't feel as safe as normally. That's all", he shrugged.

'Are you being hunted?', Slender asked bluntly.

"I haven't sensed anyone, so I doubt that. However my judgment right now is not at its best~", Cupid did agree, "I don't think it's an issue as long as I get time to clear my mind a bit".

'And how do you suppose you will do that, when a full moon is approaching.', Slender asked.

Cupid eyed Slender and offered him a slightly warmer smile, "There's still time. I have time to find somewhere to rest. Even if one of those cryptid killers found me, it's not like I am defenseless while in my cocoon", he shrugged.

There was another moment of silence.

'You are not cautious enough', Slender said.

"What's that, are you worried about me~?", Cupid chuckled and winked.

Cupid was about to continue talking before he paused, seeming to take in the answer. Huh.

'Yes.', Slender said.

He smiled, flattered and appreciative, "Ah", he breathed out, "I'm sure I'll be fine, Slender".

'Where do you plan on hibernating?', Slender continued nonetheless.

Cupid inhaled slowly, knowing that the other cryptid likely wouldn't be satisfied with his answer, "I haven't really thought about it - somewhere isolated".

'Somewhere unplanned, unprotected and isolated from aid.', Slender rephrased.

"Say, what's that book you're reading?", Cupid said, nudging his head in the direction of the book that Slender hadn't turned a single page off, ever since he had picked it up again. Cupid’s very blunt way of changing the subject was not accepted though.

'Cupid.', Slender said firmly.

"What is it?", Cupid’s eyebrow raised in both a teasing, yet challenging manner, "what exactly do you want me to do about it, hm~?".

Slender paused - Cupid waited patiently.

Slender hadn't always been this worried about these sorts of hunters. While Cupid liked the idea that Slender just suddenly cared for him enough to be so concerned, he did get the impression that that wasn't entirely the case. Slender knew something he didn’t.

And Cupid was certainly curious about it.

'You could stay here for this full moon', Slender offered.

Cupid laughed humored and suddenly at the unpredicted offer.

It seemed like an absurd offer.

Interesting.

Huh.

Interesting.

Slender had never offered something like that and Cupid had never stayed over like that. 

What was it Slender worried so much about, that suddenly made it acceptable for Cupid to be near his children?

It tickled his mind, intrigued him greatly. Cupid wanted to understand him.

"I could, If you think that's a good idea", Cupid said. He wasn't going to say no to an offer of being around Slender.

Even if he had felt entirely safe outside these forests, he was far too curious. In a way, he suspected that Slender knew this too and used it to his advantage.

Slender turned his face to his book, seemingly signaling that he was going back to reading.

Cupid stared at him for a long while, curious eyes drawn to the lack of expression.

This was nice. He liked this changing personality of Slender's. Obviously in part for selfish reasons - it clearly seemed to benefit Cupid.

It suited Slender to care more, to care for others. 

But a life without care, a life without love was hollow. It was nothing.

So despite Cupid not understanding, he could appreciate that Slender signaled that this was of importance to him.

Cupid stared at the ceiling, closing his eyes.