#[hi people who dont follow the musings on my artblog. i decided idc that blue hasnt been shown here yet.

[themissingnumbers]

Blue feels his mouth run dry at the kid's question. Pixel can certainly see the unmistakable look that enters his eyes, his apprehensive expression dropping into horror.

"B- Blue...?" he echoes.

"I..." he starts, trying to choke back the tremor he can feel in his voice.

Why now? Why does he look like this? Something sits on the tip of his tongue, a thought lingering in the back of his mind- you know the answer, Blue, you know you do. But he can't make himself say it- not even sure if it's the truth, the hazy memory of repeated unforgivable actions that never stick in his world, but stain his skin, trickling from his eyes and neck. Royal blue latched onto a self that belongs to an old world like this, a Kanto like one he knew once upon a time. He can't accept it, won't face it, not now. But more than anything...

Not in front of this kid.

Pixel, that sweetheart- a kid that's already been hurt but is still kindhearted, despite what he's gone through, a kid that's looking at him with a nervous smile and warm eyes- he does NOT need to know what kind of lows Blue has fallen to. Sure as hell doesn't need to know that it's blood that drips from his fingertips, or the two sources it came from. As of now- that's the only comfort this unnatural color has ever offered him.

Like he has many times before for more reasons than he can count, he collects himself, shoving his thoughts away just enough to present his typically relaxed and confident demeanor. He prays that his initial reaction doesn't raise too much suspicion.

"... Well, to be honest with you," Blue lies, "I dunno- I didn't even notice 'til you said something! Best guess is that my body didn't take the whole... Traveling to a completely different world thing too well. Guess some things got screwed up in translation...?"

He offers an uneasy smile and a shrug, hoping his on-the-spot excuse will suffice. Blue likes to think that he can be a convincing liar when the moment calls for it.

"It's just a little visual screwup- I don't think it'll be a problem... Hope it isn't out of place to say, but- kinda reminds me of your eye, there... Though as far as I know, guess that could be something completely different, huh? I dunno everything that happened to you, just... heard bits and pieces."

( Yep- okay, you're salvaging this, Blue. Just keep the subject moving along, now.)

"I don't want everything to be all heavy though, heh. Let's lighten things up a bit, yeah? I bet it's been nice to get to live life without all that..."

He hesitates. The acknowledgement of the game is... Unsettling, to Blue. He can't bring himself to think the same of his reality- that it might be bound to some tiny device, overseen by some unknown human outside. But seeing how things are here, and how casually this kid can just say it- the possibility is clinging to the back of his mind- makes it hard to spit the words out.

"... All that game stuff bogging you down," he manages regardless, "you just get to be, and hang out with your friend. It must be a nice change of pace, hearing how dire stuff seemed before...

What was that you put down there- a drawing? Do you do that a lot? Uh- any other hobbies?"

[@themissingnumbers - blue (i did end up deciding to do it eheh. also do NOT feel the need to draw this i can't keep things short for the life of me)]

"... Hey."

He isn't sure how he got here. Not sure what he's trying to accomplish. Sure as anything, though- keeping his distance out of hesitation, uncertainty- there's another Blue. Taller. Older. Tired. He stares at the younger boy with an expression that almost seems... Sad.

"Uh... Gods, what do I..."

He rubs the back of his neck, searching for his words.

"I... Heard about you. About this. 'bout what happened. Guess it struck a chord. You're still... young, though- and you've got a good friend up there, it seems."

He glances up at Justine, waving through the screen, before turning his attention back to Pixel.

"I guess I just wanted to... meet ya, y'know? It's not every day you get to see somethin' like your younger- or, older for you- self."

Blue sighs heavily, his expression dropping.

"... I'm sorry about Revvy. I know how hard it is to lose someone you care about so much. For the world to turn against you cus of it. To want to change things so bad, but you're just... powerless. I- I'm glad you've got a real pal, though. I think that... that's somethin' that'll take you far."

Finally, he smiles at the younger boy, eyes lighting up a bit.

"Gods, that's heavy, huh? I guess all to say- I get it, I think. And I'm happy ya got someone there for you. How did you guys become friends? What's the rest of your life been like, uh... Living with her, I guess?"

Blue── Er, well, Pixel, turns around to the source of the voice. He seemed hesitant at first, shoulders rising up to his ears. He never expected another version of himself to visit him, let alone an adult one. He looked so. . . Odd. Pixel couldn't put his finger on it.

As soon as the other greeted Justine though, Pixel felt himself relax more. It seems like this was safe, seeing that the player gave a thumbs up back to Blue.

Pixel listens, thoughts running around, especially when Revvy was mentioned. It's painful to hear his name uttered from someone else, but he can manage it. It's rude to make faces at a guest, so Pixel bites his bottom lip to keep his expression neutral.

“So it's… it's you, right? The um,”

Pixel gestures over to Blue,

“It feels nice that I'm not the only one── I mean! Obviously it's, it's not great but, it's just nice that there's other people like me, I guess? Or are me? This is weird──Not that you're weird!”

He nervously chuckles, he can't help but smile. Taking a step or two closer, the child leans side to side, studying Blue. Super tall, lanky. Pixel wondered if this is what he could have looked like if he were to have grown up someday. Would he have hair like this? Clothes like that?

Would he still have his eye if he didn't…

Ah! A question was directed to him, and he was staring!

“Sorry!”

C'mon, Pix! Be polite! He mumbles, giving out some “um” and “uh” noises as he wiggles his hands,

“It's um, it's nice to see you, first of all sir── sir? I um, I dunno what you call you, sorry── but to answer your question,”

He glanced back at the player, who holds the 3DS patiently. Justine blinks and directs her attention to the bottom screen. Oh whoa, Pixel projected a little drawing down there!

“I wanted to delete my game, and Gramps wanted to also. We talked about it before I talked to Justine about it, but… she really didn't like that idea.

She convinced me that the game doesn't have to be played normally to… function? I think that's the word. But um, yeah. We pretty much talked for a while and it turned into a habit where she'd visit me everyday before she went to school.

She showed me some cool stuff from her world, like other games, some TV shows, and movies. I really um, I really like hanging out with her! She helps me sort out my thoughts about… about the stuff that happened in my game.”

Pixel smiles warmly as he explains. While talking, he lightly rocks on his heels,

“I really am lucky to have someone like her. It makes me sad that some other beings like me and you don't have that kind of a player out there.”

Pixel’s smile alters once he glanced back up to his older self. He gulps, a finger pointing up── no wait, that's rude too. He pulls it back,

“Please let me know if this is rude to ask but um…

Why are your hands . . . Blue?”