#bloblowriting

Sun was shining through the clouds. It's rays were covering the city below, casting long shadows onto the streets. On one of them, a lonely umbrella in front of a closed cafe stood open for everyone looking for shade.

The skies trembled with the sound of distant thunder, dark heavy clouds quickly moving towards the city. A strong breeze shook the umbrella, almost toppling it over. If it wasn't for the concrete block on it's base, it would definitely fall.

The clouds closed in on the sky, hiding the sun. The rain was sudden, going from a dribble to full force in minutes. Citizens started to run past to cover, some unsheathing their umbrellas. One particularly tall figure ran as fast as it could, swerving through the crowd. A briefcase over their head didn't help much against the rain, so they were looking for a better cover. They finally found an open umbrella near a closed cafe and hid from the dark clouds.

— The only day I don't bring my umbrella with me and a downpour happens...

The tall figure fixed their tie and tried to brush off some rain drops with white gloves. They took out a phone out of their jeans pocket and called someone.

— I'm going to be late today. Yeah, the rain spoiled my plans. Sorry. I'll call you when it stops. You can start the rehearsal without me, yeah.

They sighed and hid the phone away. Stuck under a cafe umbrella, chill wind freezing to the core. If only the cafe was open; a cup of something hot would be a lifesaver right now. Citizens were walking by with colorful umbrellas. Some were running without them to find cover. Cars driving past, threatening to splash the puddle water everywhere and ruin the day even more. They didn't have to worry about the rain, lucky bastards.

Sigh.

"If the rain isn't going to stop in the next 30 minutes, I'll call somebody to pick me up... Or bring me an umbrella."

A red car stopped in front of the tall figure, window rolling down.

— Tenna! Alone on a rainy day?

— Who... — Tenna bent down a bit to see who called him from inside the car. He recognized the face and a smile lit up on his monitor, — Spamton! Oh thank goodness it's you!

— The one and only! — Spamton flashed his happy grin and waved, — Didn't expect to see you here, — he reached for the passenger door, opening it in for Tenna, — Come on in, I see you're pinned in there.

— I'm so lucky you're here, — Tenna dashed towards the car, shrinking a bit to fit in, and quickly closed the door behind himself, — You're not too busy at the moment, are you? I really need to get to the studio--

— Relax, Ant, I'll spare a minute or two for you any time any day, — Spamton reached to a panel and the window started to close, — Say, why don't we... — the sounds quieted down behind the glass.

The car stood still for a minute. Then, a muffled laughter rang out from inside and it sped off, splashing the puddle water on the sidewalk.

Funky music flows through the big room, virovirokuns dancing with pippins, shadowguys jamming on the main scene with Tasque Manager. Some other darkners still preoccupied with their duties: a couple of swatchlings running around with brooms, sometimes followed by plugboys.

Ralsei, Kris, and Susie get pushed into the room by Queen, who's barely balancing a drink in her hand, threatening to spill it on the party members.

* C'mon losers I'm hosting a party and everyone cool is invited.

* And you're cool. Obviously.

* Sad I couldn't get my pool here. Oh well!

Queen laughed and threw her now empty glass on the floor, shattering it.

* Heh, didn't know you allowed parties, Ralsei.

* I didn't! Nobody asked me!

* ...but if it means you get to have fun, I don't mind it ^^

* Hey, is that an all-you-can-eat buffet? Sweet!

* C'mon!

* S-Susie, wait!

Susie grabbed Ralsei's hand and rushed away from Kris.

One of the Zappers was carrying a drunk Addison out of the room hidden by curtains. Behind them, a glint of some square-ish light source could be seen.

* You peek inside.

* There's a table, a couch, and a TV star.

Come inside ❤Don't

Kris takes a step back. They'd rather go after Susie and Ralsei, but are forced to interact with the curtain once again.

* You peek inside.

* There's a table, a couch, and a TV star.

Come inside ❤Don't

What's the point of doing it twice and choosing "No" both times? Kris rolled his eyes, looked away, then took off their yellow-pink glasses.

* You unequipped the [Dealmaker] and threw it behind the curtains.

Oh. That's why.

* You peek inside.

* There's a table, a couch, a TV star, and a puppet.

* The curtain closed right in front of your nose.

* Seems like they need privacy....

Spamton, shocked, took his puppet form, fastened the curtains, and turned himself to the room. There sat Tenna, absentmindedly swirling the drink in his hand. He had his head propped up on his left arm, his lips stretched in a thin line on the screen. He sighed and put the glass on the table. When he finally snapped out of his thoughts and noticed something was moving near the entrance, he glanced up to see Spamton frozen in place halfway through a step.

— What the?! — TV head jumped up from his couch like a cat, — You again!?

— WAIT!! — Spamton raised his tiny hands, — I'- AM [AMAZING DEALS FROM YOURS TRULY] [Number One Rated Salesman 199--] — he slapped one hand to his mouth, shaking from trying to hold up the word jumble begging to escape, and with the other took off his glasses to look at Tenna, still perched up on top of the couch.

— "Number one--" Do I know you?.. — Tenna hesitantly stepped down on the floor, his hand still on the foamer, — You're... You're that-- thing! That threatened my--

— PIPIS! YUO STILL KEEP IT [Nice aaand Shiny!]! DON'T YOU RE'COG'NIZE [You've got a friend in me]. IT'S ME! SPAMTON G. SPAM TON!! — he put his hands up, waiting, and hoping, for a positive reaction.

— How do you know about?!-- Tenna stopped and thought for a moment. The hair does look familiar, and the... shape of this... creature also seems familiar... — Is it really you?

— [The one and only] SPAMT ON G. SPAMTON [Only for 9.99!!] — Spamton put his glasses back on and moved towards the couch.

— I'm-- This is so hard to comprehend... — Tenna let go of the foamer and crossed his hands on his chest, — How... I thought you... — his monitor turned off, — I thought you were gone...

— I THOUGHT SO TO0, [Sweet Tooth], BUT I GOT [Bigger, Better, Stronger]. — Spamton crawled onto the couch and sat on the edge, dangling his legs.

— Pfshh, no you didn't, — Tenna's monitor turned back on as he chuckled, — In fact, you're even tinier than I remember, Mailman!

— [I don't know what we're talking about] — Spamton scoffed.

— Oh really? I remember you being much taller on the day you left me! — Tenna pointed at him, — What happened to you, Spamton?

— A lot of things... — the sound of static filled the room for a couple of moments, — I MEAN, [WHAT?!!]! THE ROAD TO BE,COMING THE [BIG SHOT] DOESN'T LEAVE YOU [Squeaky clean, No Scratches!] I GoT [#_&#-°##--$=•¥=#34_¢®=6$35+_#2*-$4"!!'#*-5@¥^©^℅=%¢√=×] — Spamton's voice box became cracked and creaky, making it impossible to understand him.

— Stop, you're ruining my hearing, — Tenna put his hand up and Spamton quieted, — Sure. I trust you. You got screwed. Got that part. But... — his sigh sounded like humming TV static — Why didn't you say anything? You could call, write, at least come back!

— I [Tried and tried again], BUT NOBODY ANSWERED! NOT EVEN [Somebody that I used to know]!! — Spamton threw his hands up, — I WAS [Abandoned you for the slime], EVICTED AND TOSSED IN THE [Trash Area Closed For Repairs]. NOBODY DARED TO COmE [We're CLOSEd] TO mE! BECAUSE THEY WERE [Jealousy, jealousy] OF ME! — Spamton continued to list everything that wronged him, tweaking like a madman (let's be honest, he is). His head almost split apart from glitching with how much emotion he was putting into his speech.

Tenna sat and watched, unsure of what he was supposed to do. Should he stop his ramble? Spamton seemed like he was losing it, but what if stopping him resulted in getting him stuck in the middle of a glitch? He reached his big hand, cautiously, and put it on Spamton's head just in the moment when he wasn't too glitched out. That... seemed like it did the job, but the puppet looked up at his monitor with such a bewildered expression that Tenna immediately regretted his choices.

— [What are you doing]?

— Nothing! Haha, nothing! It's just-- You looked-- I mean-- — Tenna took away his hand. He struggled to find the right words and glanced at the drinks, — Oh, er, care to share a drink with me? You seem like a fella who needs a drink!

Spamton, still confused, sat in silence while Tenna poured something into small glass and handed it to him.

— FOR [FREE shipping!]?

— Sure!.. It's not like I have anyone else to share it with... Tenna shrugged, the glass still in his hand. Spamton was looking right through his TV head, which was starting to get... Weird. After a prolonged silence he placed the glass on the table in front of the couch, — I guess I'll... Just leave it here...

— ...WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING? — Spamton was still looking at Tenna, trying to understand what was going on. Why was he being so nice all of a sudden? Was this another kind of Sweet Talk like he always did when he needed something? Were they pretending like nothing happened? How should he act right now? Oh, is there another deal that Tenna's hiding?

— No-thing you should be afraid of? — Tenna turned away and placed his hand on his neck, — Not everything is out to get you, Spamton. At least, not anymore, I guess... — he lowered his hands back to his lap. It's true that they never had the best intentions working together. Tenna knows he sure didn't, but even then... Nobody was safe from catching feelings, especially because they were working so closely. Maybe he still... — Would you want to... Work with me, like old times? Tenna took his drink and tasted it, then placed it on his knee, the glass looking tiny in his big hand, — Not that you didn't have your own business, of course, but... — Spamton stayed silent and Tenna took that as a sign to stop rambling, — Sorry, I guess it was too sudden--

— NO, N-NO, IT'S [Fine And Dandy], IT'S JUST... — Spamton snapped out of his silent behavior, finally grabbing his own drink and taking a big gulp. He set his glass on his lap, holding it with both hands, — I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY [Would You Like A Discount?!] ME NEAR YOU.

— Remember how you used to crash into my backstage room and we'd talk for hours... — Tenna chuckled, rubbing the glass with his thumb, — We almost had our own show! The jingle was done, the ideas were set. "Spamton and Tenna's"... — he hummed the rest of the jingle, swirling his drink again, — I miss it. Even if we both... Didn't have the best intentions... — Spamton gripped his glass, — I'd still enjoy your company!--

Glass shattered. Tenna looked up with a start to see Spamton covered in his drink. The dark liquid oozing from the cuts on the joints of his doll fingers was only visible for a moment before he stuffed his hands in his black coat. A Swatchling zipped in with a broom, clearly having heard the broken glass, but stopped short when it saw Spamton. He awkwardly jumped down from the couch, stepping carefully around the shards on the floor, moving out of the way for the Swatchling to clean up. It reluctantly, silently began to sweep, but Spamton could tell by its quick glances that his proximity to Tenna would be the talk of the week for the rest of the Swatchlings. Not that Spamton minded – he was used to darkners talking behind his back. Tenna, though... he may still be big enough to care.

— Excuse me, — Tenna saw, what he thought, Spamton getting dangerously close to leaving the room, and motioned to the Swatchling, — Get us a new glass while you're at it, will you? — he can't let this end so soon, — We're not done talking, — he wasn't going to let him leave again, — Aren't we? — Tenna turned to Spamton, his smile forced, and gestured to a spot next to himself on the couch.

Spamton, surprised that he was still welcome, reluctantly stepped forward, almost getting hit with a broom by a leaving Swatchling. He crawled back on the couch, now with Tenna's help, but moved away from him, hiding his cut hand. The Swatchling returned with a glass and placed it in the table, his gaze ignoring the sitting puppet.

— Anything else, Mr. Tenna? — It lowered its head in a polite gesture. Tenna waved him away with a "No thank you," and it left the room.

The two of them sat still, not saying anything. Tenna was fidgeting with his gloves, thinking about something to say. Spamton was staring at the new glass with a blank expression.

"Nothing to say, huh? Good job, Tenna, you've made this even more awkward." He tried to fix his tie, but couldn't get it right. Too tight, too loose. He decided enough is enough and loosened it. Nobody's judging! Then why the Hell was he so nervous? Was it Spamton sitting right next to him? The sounds of his past employees having fun outside? The awkward silence? Why did the damn room suddenly become so suffocating?!

Tenna, with slightly shaking hand, took his drink--

— [It'd be better if we never met], — Spamton looked away from his glass on the table, away from Tenna, hiding his face, as if in shame.

— Wha-- Tenna chokes on his drink and places his glass on the table, next to Spamton's. He turns his head to him, staring at the black hair for a couple of moments, — Why is that? Where's that coming from?

Spamton doesn't answer, his shoulders slumping as he exhales heavily. Tenna turns away to the standing glasses, one small, one tall. One empty, one emptied.

— Oh. — He shrinks a bit, lowering his head, — Did I make it.. Too weird earlier? I thought that was a nice thing to offer...

— NO, NO, T-[Trash Heap!], IT WAS A [Amazing Deals!] [Amazing Deals!] [Amazing Deals!], BUT I CANNOT [Friend request accepted] WITH YOU. YOUR REPUTATION WOULD POUR DOWN THE [Drain] [Drain]...

— Wh-- REPUTATION?! — Tenna threw his hands up with emotion, — Do you know what kind of a reputation I already have without your help?! My employees were ready to leave me to die! I gave them so much and they decided to help only because Susie told them to! — he crossed his arms and scoffed, — I'll tell you what reputation I have, pal: NO reputation!

— THEN WHY ARE YOU B BEING SO NICE? — Spamton turned his head to look at Tenna's monitor, trying to understand... anything, really. Then... A realization, maybe, hit him, — YOU [missed me?], DIDN'T YOU...

— Don't be ridiculous! — Tenna flopped on the back of the couch and crossed his legs, still not facing Spamton. He's not going to admit something like that!

— ADMIT IT, [cathode], WHY ELSE WOULD YOU BE NICE TO ME? — Spamton laid back on the couch, his hands still hidden in his pockets. Sitting like he's got everything figured out, — I THINK YOU MISSED ME MORE THAN YOU'D LIKE TO ADMIT!

— Even if I did, what would that change?! — Tenna’s leg began bouncing in agitation.

— THAT MEANS THIS [Number One Rated Salesman 199|7] IS STILL A BETTER [BIG SHOT] THAN ANYONE!11!! — Spamton cackled, pleased with himself.

— You don't say, huh?! — Tenna finally snapped back at the puppet, — Your big shot talk got you into the dumpster! To think that I wanted to let you in on my secrets!

— DON'T GET TOO WORKED UP FOR NOTHING, [Dollie!]

In a blind fury, Tenna grabbed the puppet with both of his hands and smashed him against the floor, towering over him.

— -HRK- — Spamton didn't have time to react. Tenna's knuckles took most of the shock, but his head was ringing from the sudden crash. He didn’t have the strength to fight such a massive darkner, but he still gripped the white thumbs on his neck, trying to push them away and leaving long black stains all over the gloves, — WhaT THE [°¥&(] IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

— You think you can just come waltzing back in and pretend like nothing happened?! — Tenna's grip tightened on Spamton. His face turned on and off in quick succession, his fangs flashing in the reflection of Spamton's glasses, — You think if you crawl back to the TV star, he's going to make you famous again?! News flash, pal, — his monitor went completely dark, — It's not going to happen.

— T-TEN-[TRASH HEAP]-- — Spamton tried to pry away big hands squeezing his neck and body, but it was futile, — YOU'RE [you're [Killing] me! HAHAHA!! HAHAHA!!! PLEASE STOP [Killing] ME] — The grip on his neck loosened enough for him to take a big gulp of air, coughing it up immediately. His breath was hoarse and his whimpers full of static, but he looked up at the black TV monitor with a shit-eating grin, — THIS IS THE [Hottest!!] MOMENT OF MY LIFE! — He wiped away black liquid oozing from his nose.

— Oh {^&# you, — Tenna let go entirely, monitor face finally lighting up with a sneer of disgust.

— WHy THE [Censorship], [BooB Tube!]? STILL LO(KED BY ✿PARENT✿AL COntrOLS?! — Spamton started laughing in his glitched manner, but was quickly stopped, spewing black and almost coughing his plastic out.

For a moment the world stopped, and only raspy gasps and humming static could be heard.

— Oh-- what am I doing?.. The rage passed, and Tenna looked around for something -- anything -- absorbent. Nothing obvious stood out to him, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to call back in the Swatchling from earlier. His head tilted down with a sigh, and he noticed his tie was askew.

Defeated and guilty, Tenna helped Spamton sit up against the couch and took off his already loose tie. "Turns out you can bleed." He wrapped it around the doll hand, black staining the yellow fabric immediately.

— WHY THE SUDDEN [change of pace], [Cathode]? — Spamton didn't try to stop him, his nose bleeding black. Tenna wiped it away with his already stained gloves and took them off, leaving his metal hands bare, — WHAT, YOUR [Mind] JUDGING YO(U'RE) ACTIONS?

— I... I'm sorry... — Tenna shrunk down to his level, his hands still holding the improvised bandage on Spamton's hand, — I don't know what's gotten into me. I'm so sorry...

Spamton didn't listen, his eyelids laying heavy, threatening to close. He didn't even want to see Tenna in the first place; he was thrown in here against his will. Come to think of it, getting thrown away is the story of his life...

— I waited for so long for you to return... I don't even care about the secret anymore...

Spamton moved his empty gaze to Tenna. Sighed. Closed his eyes...

— WELL, [Good Luck, Have Fun!] WITH THAT.

...and stood up with a grunt, moving out of the room.

— Where... Where are you going? — Tenna raised his head, gaze following Spamton. His clawed hands clanked against the floor as he tried to stand up.

— Away.

— W-wait, you can't! — Tenna crawled after the puppet, claws gripping the black coat, — I never wanted-to-hurt-you-this-shouldn't-have-happened-I-know-I-snapped-I-didn't-think-I--

— LET GO [75% OFF] ME. PLEASE. — Spamton tugged his coat out of rambling TV's hands, — DON'T MAKE THIS ANY MORE [increased Difficulty] THAN IT ALREADY IS.

Tenna hesitantly let go, sitting on the floor like an abandoned puppy. He was supposed to be past this. He saw him go already.

Spamton walked out, staining the curtains with his hand.

He could forget this happened. He should forget about him.

* (thud)

* Oh-- sorry-- Spamton?!

Any minute now.

* What's that on your?--

— MASCARA.

...

* THERE'S A R(Ring!)AT ON THE FLO(Rr-ring!)--

"I don't want... Not again..."

* That crooked salesman! He's (Rrring-rrrring!)

He's so [afraid].

* Mr. Tenna, please don't follow hi--

* Mr. Tenna, please calm down--

* Stay with us, Mr. Tenna!--

— SPAMTON! — Tenna's tried to get through the crowd, but pippins and swatchlings try to stop him from coming after Spamton. Tenna reached out his hand toward his shrinking figure, desperate.

* Mr. Tenna, you really shouldn't--

* He's not worth it--

* He doesn't care!--

* You're too good for him--

— PLEASE! — Tenna tried in vain to claw his way out with metal fingers. — Let-- GO OF ME!

Spamton didn’t look back as he continued forward. His hearing wasn't deceiving him, right? He can hear it-- Yes!

(Rr-ring!)

He's going to find it, and he's going to be the Biggest darkner in the whole Dark world.

(Rring-rrin-ring!)

His shoulders flinch with Tenna's every shout, but he's unable to turn back, being pulled forward, his legs are not listening, moving on their own, his head not turning, glued in place, his mouth frozen in his - now usual - wide smile. His-- no, not his soul, he doesn't have one anymore, right?

(Rr-rin-ring!)

But something inside him twists and rips, trying to gnaw a hole out, helplessly clashing against a doll body it can never break through.

— SPAMTON!!! — Tenna screamed with his whole chest and lunged forward with his remaining strength, but nevertheless was overpowered by the crowd. He had tried to stay cool and confident the entire evening, and now he was a shaking mess, his sobs echoing through his audials and coming out as a pathetic whimper as he shrank to the ground, no longer having strength to fight against the crowd surrounding him, — Spamton...

please don't leave me again...

* The [Dealmaker] is laying in the trashcan. It looks stained with something black.

❤ Take it Leave it

* You try to brush off the stains. It doesn't work. Now your hands are dirty.

* (You got Dealmaker.)

Fashionable pink and yellow glasses with a yellow cloth wrapped around the temple tips. Greatly increases $ gained, and...?

> Check

* KRIS. I TOLD YOU ALREADY.

* I'M NEVER [Doing that] AGAIN.

* THEN WHY?..

* ...

* ...it wasn't you, was it?

* Mr. Tenna, you're on in 10!

— Thank you, Mike! I'll be there in 5!

Tenna fixed his tie and smiled to his reflection in the mirror. He's still got it! Performing for Darkners wasn't any harder than doing shows for Lightners, so when he was offered to entertain, he didn't hesitate. He was a natural entertainer! Who else would put on a show as good as him?

Under the mirror there was a table. On it, a couple of bags with presents from the pre-show meeting. Next to them was a vase with flowers, a tag on the stem reading "To: Tenna! We love TV!" On the glass of the mirror there were a couple of new photos taken in Castle Town. One of them showed Tenna hugging Kris, Susie, and Ralsei, their smiles wide. The other was one of Shadowguys on stage with Tenna in the middle, performing for a crowd. Another showed Tenna giving a teary speech at Elnino and Lanino’s wedding.

On the walls were posters and banners, as well as plans for the future shows.

As he was getting ready to leave, he noticed something reflecting the lamp's shine onto his monitor. Tenna looked down and saw prop glasses from the previous show, laying on the floor. He picked them up. Glasses with a simple black round frame, but the lenses in them reflected yellow and pink. Tenna placed the glasses back inside the prop box and left the room.

  – Oh my goodness me! It blew up into the tiniest of pieces! – a sticky bomb went off and the imp covered the surroundings with its flesh and guts. Xisuma excitedly jumped off the ladder, landing in the pool of blood. Slayer exhaled in amusement, tearing out an eye out of a cacodemon and slashing it in half.

    Xisuma's excitement could always put a smile on his face. X, despite being a bit clumsy in battles and needing to be looked after so as to not get killed, was still his usual cheerful self. One time he got cornered by a few demons with only an empty shotgun and his fists. By the time Slayer came to help, Xisuma already crushed two of the demons' heads against each other and stomped through another one, all while saying something about how humans and demons could live in peace together if only someone wasn't so stubborn and aggressive. Though, it turned out that X hurt his bicep trying to squish demons' heads. And this time he was the stubborn one, not following VEGA's advice to be more careful with his arms.

    – Right in your face! – X shot a screaming demon, – Serves you right for being so annoying!

    – Why are you always so chatty with these things, jeez, – EX kicked imp's knees so hard they turned backwards, leading it to fall forward and get impaled by a blade. 

    – A chainsaw! My favorite! Look at this little thing! – X ignored his brother and rushed to the shiny weapon, planning to run through the demons unnoticed. He instantly got grabbed by the scruff of his neck the moment he sprinted and his heart sank into his boots. He wasn't exactly sure whether it was a demon or something worse, either way he will probably get yelled at by VEGA for being so reckless. Well, not exactly yelled, VEGA is polite and calm enough not to yell under any circumstances, but there's always room for a "Don't do that again because it's dangerous" talk. Besides, they already had Slayer's chainsaw back at the ship, there wasn't really a point in taking another less cool one.

    X finally looked up and sighed in relief. That wasn't a demon. That was Slayer, but he wasn't really happy about Xisuma's sudden escape.

    – Got it! – EX showed off the chainsaw Xisuma was so desperate to grab. He wanted to say something else, but almost instantly got deafened by the roaring chainsaw, so he signed a quick 'L' to X, who obviously didn't like it and suddenly felt the urge to teach that rapscallion a lesson or two.

    – Get back here you!-- – X helplessly dangled his legs, but Slayer's grip was deadly. He looked up once again, held his hands in plea and got set free.

    – You'll never catch me!

    – Bet!

    Slayer sighed and fixed his helmet. Then mutely chuckled and followed the pair of derps that were his sons. "Such kids" – he thought to himself, walking through dead bodies and pools of blood. Letting the boys have a little bit of fun in a dangerous place… It wasn't the safest idea, but Slayer knew for sure that they could stand up for themselves. Besides, they have a chainsaw!

    …wait, wasn't there a Hell Knight in the next building?

    – DAAAD! – a synced scream of two terrified boys reached Slayer's ears.

— What "Ren"?! I know I'm Ren, dude, always has been! Where the heck are we, Doc! Did that portal even work?! I feel way too light and I hate it! Why are we just floating here in the total darkness as if we fell into the void?! Are we even alive?!

— Ren! Calm down!

— I'M TRYING, DOC, I'M TRYING!

Ren got shushed by a sudden hug. Doc wasn't a person of physical touch, but right now he figured this was the only solution. And he was right: Ren stopped his rambling and grabbed onto Doc's coat like his life depended on it, slightly shaking. He pet Ren's head and his fluffy ears as gently as his mechanical arm could, receiving shaky breaths and muffled silent whimpers.

Minutes passed by, and when Doc was almost sure Ren calmed down, he started to lose his sensations. He opened his eyes and tried to grab Ren again, only to come through him, as if he was a ghost.

— What the... — Doc pushed his hand on his chest, sliding right through it, fingers coming out of the spine. He jolted his arm out and turned back to Ren, who desperately tried to feel touch again, poking at his limbs and failing every time.

— Doc? — dog hybrid panicked and crumbled into a ball, unable to feel anything with his ghostly body, — I think we died when we jumped through the portal. We didn't make it out alive, we--

A choked inhale escaped Ren's lungs and he coughed, holding onto his mouth and stomach in an attempt not to cough out his lungs. He was breathing heavily as he realized that he could feel his limbs again. Grabbing onto his arms, ears, it finally occurred to him that he was in some sort of tube, as if he was a lab experiment. He looked out, fists on the glass, trying to comprehend what's going on. He saw other hermits. They, too, seemed confused and lost.

— Wait, Renbob? — Ren's voice fell deafened from his dry mouth, a slight haze filling his mind, — Renbob, can you he- — he yawned. His eyelids felt a hundred times heavier, his legs didn't seem to be able to hold him any longer, — Can you hear me, Renbob?! Why am I so... so sleepy all of a sudden...

– Funny how you're the one telling me to shut up.

EX's grin slowly melted off as Doc groaned and turned away from him, throwing the trident away. Still restrained, he pulled on the ropes. Too stiff to tear apart. "Dammit".

He looked back to Doc and was met with a harsh slap of reality. Or, Doc's fist, to be more precise. EX clumsily fell from the chair, his suit making loud clanking noises.

– What the fuck?!! WHY?!! – he exclaimed, cautiously crawling away from the crazy man.

– For being an asshole, – Doc cracked his knuckles and exhaled. That certainly made him feel better. Not for long, though; he frowned and looked away at his trident.

Doc rubbed his nose bridge and sighed, trying to calm down. "Who does this punk think he is? Pushing my buttons, making me… remember things. What am I doing, falling for his tricks." He cursed his short temper and picked up the trident.

– I do. – EX quietly answered his own question, to Doc's surprise. – I hate it. I hate my entire existence. I never asked to be like this. Getting experimented on and all those… terrible things. I didn't enjoy them at all. And I know you didn't enjoy whatever you had going on, too.

Doc turned around, looking up and down at the tied man on the floor. Legs closed close to the chest, hands behind his back, head tilted down. He looked miserable, to be honest. Just like Doc, when he was--

He sat down next to his 'prisoner'. Looked at the written text on the communicator. Rephrased a few words. Sent the message to Xisuma.

– I didn't, yeah. I was just a creeper. Somebody decided to make me sentient using… this. – he gestured to his left half of the body. – Tested me for all sorts of things, tried to break me.

– Why didn't you blow up? – EX finally raised his head.

Doc chuckled.

– I don't know. I just couldn't. I tried several times. Didn't happen, I was still there, alive. As if my blowing up abilities were suppressed.

– That sucks. – EX mindlessly tugged on his restraints again.

– Yeah. – creeper hybrid raised his prosthetic arm and moved the fingers a bit. They responded with a slight creaking noise. – I wouldn't want to blow up now, when everything is better than before. Back then, yeah, I would've loved to. – He sighed and leaned behind EX. – Give me your arms… – he began untying the rope.

– Not afraid of me running away or hitting you back? – EX grinned, as if he didn't just flinch from the other's movements.

– Shut it or I'll tie you back. – Doc chuckled and moved back to his position. – …You said that Xisuma is the same as us. What did you mean by that?

– Don't think about it too much. – EX rubbed his sore wrists and bent forward to untie his legs. – Spat out whatever first came to mind. – to be honest, he didn't have any actual information about Xisuma's origins. He simply assumed that X had gotten the same treatment, because they were clones. If it's not true, well… let's say EX won't be happy with it.

– You don't want to return, do you? – Doc was looking at the other's movements.

– Would you?

– ...Fair.

– That's what I thought.

– Xisuma is coming to get you, by the way. He can deal with you better than me. I told him that he shouldn't send you back.

– What if he will do it regardless?

– You're still here, so… If he wanted to, he would've already, don't you think?

– I suppose… – EX stuttered and went quiet.