Inks

Tommy never once looked at him in fear. Instead, he trusted Eryn around weapons, trusted to turn his back to the half-demon, trusted to sleep with him, and eat and play and simply be. Tommy was Eryn’s first friend; weak and delicate as all humans are, reckless and stubborn in a way that Eryn can only describe as Tommy.

The Tommy he meets on the Dream Esempi is not the Tommy he grew up with. This Tommy looks to the ground instead of your eyes, his voice is hesitant and not fierce, and his body is full of scars that the blue cardigan doesn’t always hide. This Tommy has the mark of Death on his hair, Lady Death herself veiling around him in preparation for something that was supposed to take decades to claim.

Eryn, half-demon that he is, feels at home with her presence on his friend. The half-human part of his upbringing bristles at the faint smell of decay. 

Aimsey says this is not something he can fix; that it’s not his job. Trauma has ruined this server; the people are untrustworthy and more willing to stab you in the back than lend a helping hand. They are scared, they are angry, and so, they are dangerous.

But Eryn remembers those knitted horns, the sound of cackling laughter, and the warmth of friendship. He remembers how Tommy used to be and the promise they made to always be friends. His mom used to tell Eryn that it was his job to protect Tommy. His dad would remind him that they were both kind souls, and kind souls often get taken advantage of.

Something happened that Tommy won’t tell him. An open secret that everyone avoids, something shameful they don’t want to admit. His best friend is distant, and death walks in his steps as a second shadow.