#Thsc Mr Macbeth | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thesoulesscollection · 9 months ago

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Under The Sun (Thsc Fic)

I've been wanting to write something for my dear Oc, Choc but I never got the chance to until now. Here I wanted to expand on him as a character while exploring his relationships. This one-shot revolved his interactions with Mr. Macbeth. Hope everyone enjoys reading this. It came out better than I thought.

Combat boots hit the dirt ground with a thud and the heat waves of a summer day sends him to a slight stumble.

“Careful there, big guy” Soon in his tired haze stricken with a mild case of a heatstroke, he hears a chipper voice lull him out. “You don't want to trip over your two left feet and get a face full of the dirt below, would you?”

Macbeth switches his drowsy attention from straight ahead over to the source. Naturally loud, booming and smooth. Sure knows how to captivate someone in one shameless easy going swoop. Intensely scolding heat rises in his broad chest up to his face with his ears getting the brunt of it, turning a bright scarlet red. He coughs in his hand then uses it after to brush aside the beads of collected sweat from his bare head.

“It'll be very embarrassing for you, won't it?”

It would indeed be quite the harsh fall. As the ground below was a good foot distance from where he stood on the train and it's made out from rough dirt and jagged rocks. All it would take is one single awkward misstep on those steep metal stairs to ensure Macbeth let the earth swallow him up.

Alone he handled it well as he went to dust off the grime, ignoring the blistering pain that surfaced around his likely scratched face and trudge along as if it's nothing. However that wasn't the case here and now. If it happened in front of another soul, anyone else, he likely would be a little flustered, yes on the matter as he aggressively swore them to secrecy.

This he couldn't hide from. Not so easily. The other man at his side was built differently, he is eagle eyed and observant. Ready to pick on the details and tear them apart.

“Need to hold my hand to steady yourself for a sec?” He's reluctant. A hand, bandaged, is held out to him waiting for his response. Eyes flicker between the hand to the ground then back, trailing up the arm. Once the bandages stop at the elbow he notices the bare skin is a distinct charcoal color with the faint veins a light gold color. It wasn't any of his business to begin with but Macbeth had been worried about that fact with his oldest friend. The thin material protected him from serious damage, and he should know however there came the underlying fear it won't be enough. He wasn't the only one in the clan who shared a similar intuition when it came to that fact despite the man generally being a goofy guy nobody can sincerely hate.

Why would they?

“I'm all set here” Respectfully he kept his drooping gaze set firmly to the ground, afraid it may trail further to somewhere he couldn't explain. “Thank you though”

“Ain't going to kill you”

Where the hand pulls away, Macbeth drags a stilted breath. Awkward tension could be cut down by a dull knife. The hand returns again with a vengeance, grabs onto his wrist to the point it begins to hurt. Yet he didn't make an attempt in tugging free.

“Look at me” It orders him, firm, no room for an argument. Although it wasn't like Macbeth would've won anyways. He listens, steadies his slumped posture and looks up. “Good boy. I hope you do know I'm looking out for you as a friend” The unintentional pet name spoken in a whisper doesn't go unnoticed by him. Warmth uncomfortably settled in his gut.

What he sees staring back at him does him no favors. Golden eyes with hints of vibrant orange and reds swirling together are locked onto his dull gray. As if staring at the blazing sun up in the sky up close and personal that left Macbeth in awe, he couldn't look away from. Until it burns a gaping hole into his soul.

“I know, Choc. I know”

A part of him nuzzled deep in his own psyche suddenly feels very inadequate compared to his friend. Where he wasn't anything special to look twice at, really, described to be dull, too rashly hot headed acting before thought and he wasn't necessarily good with either his words or feelings. Classic socially inept, cold shut in.

Then came along Choc, a social butterfly able to light up the mood who back in the day was considered conventionally attractive, had people draping off his every word. Still was in Macbeth's eyes, only in a different way, even when long years amongst fraught sickness clearly wore down his friend. As he can look past the plentiful amount of gruesome scars on the man, across his sun kissed face, past his gold row of sharp teeth, and his unnatural skinny body, it just adds on to ruggish charm. Macbeth then scanned him from head to toe, at one time there were firm muscles laid ever so nicely on the man that had melted away to skin and bones over the years.

“Then you should know better, right?” Choc responds in an even tone and Macbeth feels worse. He isn't intending to worry him. This isn't what he meant to do.

“Don't need you guilting me, I know”

“I'm not. You of all people should know that. As your closest friend. I can worry”

Today was a stressful day as it is, being the train conductor holding both all the Toppats’ most prized possessions and the majority of their members. It was his assigned priority to travel back and forth from one port to another for the clan. So he's built to stay set on a tight schedule that he held high expectations and standards which he's behind on. However he is thankful they got to one small port despite the delay in a reasonable time frame. So he doesn't need this right now.

Really, didn't need it as Choc's hands cupped his tentatively in utmost care and led the way.

“Don't get time in the world for this, y’know that right?” Half-heartedly Macbeth pleads, from his free hand, fingers pinch the bridge of his flat nose, his gruff voice gains an octave then he dryly swallows.

A chuckle bursts out of Choc, shrugging, with a twinkle in his eyes, walking a few feet from the train through a path of bushes, “Dontcha worry. I do think we can squeeze in a couple minutes and relax, yes?” Choc lazily went to suggest though they knew it wasn't a choice, more an order.

“The others won't like it. The chief surely won't”

“They'll survive,” Choc scoffs, a hint of hidden agitation seeps in. “Maybe not the chief in his haughtiness with that gloriously pretentious stick shoved so far up his ass”

“Choc”

Soon the man in question stops in his tracks in front two trees, looking behind his shoulder at Macbeth, an unreadable expression on his face until he softens and discreetly rolls his eyes. “It's true, isn't it? Someone's gonna get real tired of it soon and do something about that”

Nobody should ever be brazen to detest the chief, his diligent reign brought the clan to new heights they haven't seen in a while, at least Macbeth thought so.

“He's under a lot of pressure” Macbeth adds in defense to the chief's name.

“Shouldn't be having the title and power then if he can't handle it. The cracks under the so called pressure is starting to reveal itself”

While Macbeth squirms, swaying on one foot to the other, Choc walks to a tree, presses a hand on the bark, lowering carefully to the ground. Macbeth manages to take a spare glance around, he notices they were alone, together at the train's head, and not a thing or person is there to interfere.

Woods surrounded them, as naturally thickly settled and so the colorfully painted autumn leaves above provide a decent amount of shade for whoever rests below.

“At least in my opinion. Though let's not talk now on it. We're here to relax”

Still holding hands it was until Choc let go Macbeth missed the soothingly comforting contact. What he would do to touch them again, worse is he wanted a better feel, and so the familiar overbearing sensation returns in his gut.

“For a few minutes, okay” Once he finds his voice Macbeth speaks, “And I have to leave. Get back to work”

“Sure. Sure, workaholic you. Beats me for wanting what's best” Leaned up against the tree Choc lightly jokes, scoots off to the side giving his friend room to sit. So with a grunt, he plops on the dirt next to the man, his hat laid off to the sideline.

“Hmm”

Macbeth hums, head back laying on the itchy wood behind him, eyes clamped shut, thin lips pursed with his large, calloused hands folded on his chest, and legs stretched out.

Relaxation never came to him. An unheard-of after thought. Yet this time around somehow it was different. There's a cool breeze nipping his cheeks, so having someone's presence for example, Choc's sets him at ease. Maybe it was the stress doing this, or all the pent up tension building inside kicking the wind out of his lungs.

He didn't know how long it was sitting there until he snapped awake covered in a cold sweat. A tingling itch burns underneath his skin near his heart. Reassured immediately when beside him Choc remained, sat cross legged, hands at his side, and staring up at the sky, and he didn't miss how peaceful his friend looked right now.

Rather he was mesmerized by the sight. The way the sun hits in all the right angles Choc shines a radiant glow. Once again the eyes are what took the cake, so captivating he is immersed and can't look away. At one point he opens his mouth but shuts it.

Then he catches the hand grazing across his own; he may or may not have deliberately put them aside. Long, boney fingers wrapped in tinted gauze barely touch his thick, stubby digits. Even with the bandages on, they were so elegant compared to his that's missing a few.

Temptation struck him.

Slowly inching towards the man's hands he hopes isn't too noticeable. Macbeth wasn't the type to ask for much anyways. A simple man with the most basic needs and the way Choc feels under his touch is addictive. What was a need turned to a strong craving unable to be explained in words. Hand holding won't do, he imagined his curious touch traveling up the man's arm to his chest, and down his waist.

How big his hands would be wrapped around the man, so slender, waist nicely cinched in by the corset vest. Push the sweet jester to the dirt ground, not caring if they got messy in the process as they return to the station.

“Whatcha starin’ at?”

Macbeth is startled out by his daydreams and snaps his attention to the man who returned an odd look at him.

“Caught you staring” Tilting his head in to a certain degree that's not known possible to a man Choc merely laughs, “Handsome, I get it”

A hefty shove amongst his friend's laughter later, Macbeth coldly replies, “Wasn't directed at you so don't get your head aired up, pal”

Can't help to watch the shit eating grin falter while the wrapped up hand inches away.

“Sure. You say that like you believe it's true as fact” Choc's smile returned just as quick, all knowing yet kept silent.

“Watch it before I wipe the smugness off you”

“Oooh I'm so scared”

Shambling back on his feet, Macbeth knew his time was up, hearing faint voices coming in the distance. In the corner of his eyes was Choc, usually teasingly persistent, resigned himself. Macbeth suddenly felt bad as he had to leave, turning around with the words on his tongue, however it died as Choc lazily waves him off.

“Took enough of your time. I'll see you later”

Nodding Macbeth, stiff, shambles on the trail to the train, turning his head slightly watching the figure disappear from his sight.

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a-crash-in-time-collection · 3 days ago

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Chapter 66: One More Breath

The snow was frozen in the air, perfectly. It was like time had stopped... except no timepiece had broken. No spirits were used. All that floated there in the middle of the sight was a lunar deity, taking some breaths as his hands glowed. His eyes shot open as suddenly the snow started to swirl around him, swirling and blending together until it was one stream under his control. He quickly aimed it at a fire that had been set blaze nearby, the snow rushing through, melting and putting out the fire...

Mostly. A small flame still remained once the attack was over. There was a small sigh but... It didn't carry as much weight as it used to. Over the last week, he focused more and more on his magic. Focused on understanding how to use it. Processing it in a way his mind could understand. To a degree, he found that treating it like party ticks seem to help him have better control. There... had to be some joke in there. He had always tried his best to make the clan smile when he was chief, after all.

He still was far from perfect with his magic. But he felt more sure in himself. He could stand a proper fight against Vanessa and Ezra now... The only issue is he wasn't sure he could win... It was a lot to ask of someone after all. Especially someone who hadn't been a deity that long. But compared to a few weeks ago, he had hoped. He had too. It wasn't just his life that was at stake. It was Subcon Forest. It was this entire planet, if Ezra was crazy enough. Maybe perhaps other planets...

Randy paused when he heard something from behind him, turning around and quickly creating a shield to block the projectile magic that had been sent at him. He looked beyond the shield to see Java there, breathing a sigh of relief before focusing again, purple 'strings' appearing at Randy's side. Macbeth tried to focus them to attach to Randy but Randy quickly summoned his own and slash through them, before focusing them on Java, them wrapping around his arms as he put in a genuine struggle to break free.

Randy watched for a moment before letting go, turning his attention to a spell that let him create a mist he could hide in, occasionally glancing back at Java. He didn't like going against his son but Java insisted on it. He didn't want him training against anyone else. He could see fear in Java's eyes when he had suggested it. Still worried someone might take it too far after all this time... Not that Randy could blame Java for being worried. They were stepping into a war zone any day now.

"I think you have done well enough for now!" Badge's voice called from below as Randy left the mist surrounding him, hiding him from view until he floated down, grabbing a water bottle that was waiting as he sat down. Badge gave a smile as he watched, even if it was hidden by the mask. "If only the original could see you now."

"I mean-" Autiomaa shouted when Hydaric appeared on the TV set that had been placed by the group. "Auto, chill. I'm not going to stare into your soul." Hydartic cleared his throat, before gesturing to the small group around the makeshift training area, mostly to where Legends was resting just to the side, a blanket placed around his shoulders to help keep him warm. "We're all here and we were all made from the original Moonjumper so he... Kinda is? Sorta?" He shrugged. "I don't know technicalities."

"Thanks guys." Randy smiled a bit as he took a drink from the water, pausing as Autiomaa floated from where they had been watching with some other dwellers, resting on his lap as he gave them a pet, smiling a bit. He found himself looking in Subcon's direction and frowning. The faint smell of ash filled the air of the station. It was clear Vanessa's and Ezra's 'protection' spells were only doing so much. "Do you think my magic is ready?"

"The magic itself has been ready since the moment you were reborn into it." Legends spoke nearby. He spoke in what sounded like his caring, knowing tone, but there was an underlying disconnect in it. Randy frowned a bit at that. He couldn't imagine what Legends might be feeling. His whole purpose being taken away because of one fool's actions... yet Legends still tried to offer the words of guidance he knew those around needed. "I believe you have the skills now. All it is now is if the overtakers are foolish, or not."

"Well... There's only so much they can plan for." Randy said as he picked Alex up, placing the water bottle to his side and handing the Dweller to their father before he floated up. Macbeth tilted his head before pausing once he saw Randy start to float in Subcon's direction. By now the embers of the fire would hit the shield around the clearing. "I'm going to take the frost back."

"Dad!" Macbeth quickly raced over, garbing Randy's hand and making him look back at him. Macbeth took a breath, shaking his head a little as he let go, looking down at the ground as he frowned. "I... I think you could do it, I really do." He said as he looked up at him, Randy floating there with a worried expression, hands behind his back as he waited patiently. "But can't you rest a little at least? Maybe train a little more tomorrow? You haven't been in a serious magic fight before."

"Java..." Randy sighed as he bent down a bit. He looked down at the cloak Macbeth now wore over his toppat uniform, humming slightly. They were chosen to work together for this... They made a perfect team... The cloak almost made Java look smaller. Almost tricked Randy's brain into seeing Java the same way he saw him in the days leading up to his death. "I know yo' scared... I am too. But I have too."

"You shouldn't have to do it alone.." Macbeth said, shaking his head. Randy bit his lip at that... Part of him did want to accept help, it really did. On the other, if someone got killed because of him asking for it... He wasn't sure if he could forgive himself. Especially if it was Java. Ezra's magic was able to kill ghosts, as bizarre as it sounded. Macbeth garbed onto Randy's hand. "Look, please. Snatcher even said he's fine with you taking as long as you need to prepare. You don't have to rush."

"Are we... talking about the same Snatcher?" Autiomaa asked from where they were resting, having been looking over a spellbook on Randy's behalf. A spellbook that was now drench in the snow it fell into, but a spellbook nevertheless. Macbeth nodded as he glanced back at the station, being able to faintly see the ghost's purple glow from a distance. In the storage area that had basically been converted into the 'Subcon refugee Bedroom.’ "If anything I think he would want Randy to rush."

"Well... The choice of what to do falls on Randy at the end of the day." Badge Seller claimed as he looked at Randy. "If you think you're ready, there's nothing keeping you back."

Randy was quiet as he looked at Java. He... couldn't go while his son was scared. He could tell Java was hiding his full fears... "Maybe in a few days... Java has a point." He could see relief enter Java’s eyes as he breathed out a sigh. Randy looked up at the station and began to float over. He might as well make sure the Subcon-Folks were doing well. He knew how bad this was for them. "I'm going to check on Snatcher and the kids." He announced as he looked back at the group.

"I'm coming with." Macbeth said as he walked over to him, Randy giving a smile as he nodded. He wouldn't expect anything less. As they began to head up the railing, Macbeth gave a hum. "You know... you mellowed out a lot since coming back to life." He said as he looked at Randy, who tilted his head and gave a chuckle. Macbeth held up one hand, his other patting Autiomaa. "Not that there's anythin' wrong with that. Just... Kinda weird knowin' your reputation... then again, you were always more than what the history books said."

"I don't know." Randy shrugged. "I did host far too many parties for the clan's good."

Macbeth frowned slightly at that even as Randy chuckled. Randy wasn't wrong, per say. If anything he was just honest... He just hated how that was just the main thing Randy was known for.

It wasn't until Randy came back that the clan got to see the man he knew. The one who always did what he thought was best, even if he was misguided. The one who would take a bullet in any situation if it meant keeping one of them safe. Sure Randy had a party side but he was far, far more than that. And they only now got to see that... He couldn't risk losing him again... He couldn't. He’d delay Randy going until Spring if needed. He just wanted to be fully sure his father would leave that forest alive...

-------

Hat Girl was quiet as she rubbed her hands, stepping out of the cafetria's kitchen. She found herself looking down the hall that led to storage again, sighing. She was trying to keep things happy for everyone, she really was. Her smile seemed to pull smiles on the faces of those close to her after all... But it was starting to get harder and harder with each day that passed by. The station was almost repaired, so they would be saying bye to this planet again. And right now the planet was dealing with a crazy demon...

She paused as she heard bickering in the hall, heading over as Rumbi followed by her feet. A few days ago some people from around the world had shown up. Grooves, Conductor, Cooking Cat, Adlayn. At first the clan had been confused on why. The group's response was if there was a threat to the clan's safety, in addition to being one to their planet's safety, they weren't just going to sit by and let it happen. They did catch and beat any of Vanessa's minions that got close.

"I wasn't trying to make you go out again, Darling." Grooves said as he shook his head. "I was just making sure you did the job properly. You know how skittish some of the owls can be." Conductor huffed, crossing his arms as he turned his head to the side, making Grooves shake his head as he took his glasses off for a moment, rubbing his eyes before he glanced over when he heard Hat Girl's footsteps. "Oh, hello darling!" He said as he put the glasses back on. "How are you, dear? We haven't run into you much."

"Oi, be careful where yer carryin' those! Ye might break what's inside." Conductor called as a seal was passing by, carrying a box on his back. The seal turned around and gave a quick nod before continuing to bounce down the hall, making Hat Girl chuckle as she took Rumbi out of his way. Conductor sighed before turning back to Grooves, his mouth in

its typical frown. "As I was sayin' last I was aware it was yer teams turn to check around the station. Mines finished its patrol last night."

"She's been busy helping the clan." Mu said as she walked over to the group, Hat Girl looking over and tilting her head a bit.

"Of course, I know." Grooves said as he gave a smile. "I'd just assume I would run into her more often, that's all."

Hat Girl wandered slightly past the two birds in the wall to where she could see some Dwellers playing with some minons. Some had bandages wrapped around them, a pink glow from where they had made contact with Ezra's fire. Even Snatcher had those marks, and they were only now starting to fade. And despite the innocent nature of the game, just tossing a ball between them... there was a lingering hint of pain in the air.

Hat Girl frowned. She thought about Snatcher. He looked so... drain whenever she saw him. Even if did his best to act like normal. His act had dropped a bit with him talking to Grace, the only living soul he had known before in the original subcon. But it was still up. Not enough to hide the pain and guilt he clearly felt, but it was there.

"None of this is fair." Hat Girl sighed as she turned back to the birds, placing Rumbi back on the ground before placing her hands behind her back, fiddling with them as she looked at them. "They don't deserve this."

Conductor nodded as he looked down the hall, frowning a bit at the sight of the ghostly children. "Sure that Phantom had taken souls but, who wouldn't. Chain me up in a bloody cellar 'nd take everythin' ah every own? Of course I'd last out on everyone that crossed into me vison."

"He's also changed, even if he doesn't like us seeing it... as annoying as it is to admit." Mu mumbled briefly as she looked at Hat Girl. "He hides behind the behavior he's always had but, even before you showed back up... He was trying to be better. I think, deep down, he was getting tired of the 'evil ghost' stuff."

"Or ‘e could've had a collective amount of bad days in ah row." Conductor commented.

Hat Girl sighed. "Why does if Snatcher deserved it matter? Even if he did, the kids sure didn't. They didn't even deserve to be killed in the first place! Lose everything, even their own names. And now some demon so vile he was ripped from history is here to try and take their home." Her hands were shaking, anger was starting to bleed into her voice before she took a breath.

Mu rose a brow slightly as she looked at Hat Girl, before pausing. "...You want to do more, don't you."

"Of course I do." Hat Girl confirmed as she looked back at the Dwellers and Minions down the hall. "I saved this planet once before, why should I just stay on the sidelines and let someone else do it. I know I'm not as strong as I was back then, but still... I haven't even TRIED anything, and I don't know why."

She did everything to help the ghost. But she hasn't even dared to step a foot into Subcon... She couldn't even place why. It was just two threats. She handled more before...

But back then she was trained to handle climates from many different planets. Face many types of foes. It was just basic schooling on her original planet.

But for the past seven, maybe eight years, she spent her time living the comfortable, mostly protected life of the toppat clan's heir. There were risks but if they ever came across them, it was everyone's job to protect her with their lives. Maybe she gotten too comfortable in that set up, never really facing true danger.

And now when she was staring it in the face, her body was keeping her in place while her heart wanted nothing more than to rush to the front lines... She...

"Hattie!" Platinum's voice suddenly called, derailing her train of thought as she turned behind her, seeing Platinum race up to the group. "We got everything set up for that Buckshot game you promise- oh." he paused as he looked around. "Is this... bad timing?"

Mu glared at him. "Is that not easy to tell?"

He held his hands in the air like she had a gun pointed at him. "Ok, I'll just go back to Van then."

"It's ok, Platy. I promised after all." Hat Girl said as she looked over, giving a nod as she walked up to them. She looked over at Mu. "If Snatcher or Randy need anything from me, come get me, alright?"

Mu nodded briefly with a quick "Of course." Hat girl nodded and looked at Platinum, letting him take her hand and begin to lead her to his room. Mu waited a moment, waited until Rumbi followed them out of their line of sights before she sighed. "I know that feeling too well, Hattie... I wish I could help you."

Grooves walked over and placed a flipper on Mu's shoulder. "As much as I would be scared of the Darling being hurt, I do think she has what it takes when Randy decides to face Ezra." Mu nodded at his statement, even as she brushed his flipper off her hand. "Her fathers just wouldn't allow it. I mean, I know for a fact I would never let Dinenna in this mess even if she was old enough to fight."

The Conductor nodded in agreement, starting to make a comment about his grandchildren, but Mu started to toon the conversation out. She looked at her cloak, mainly at the pockets she got sewn inside. Something told her to get medical supplies in them now. Hat Girl was going to go on the battlefield when the time came. And Mu couldn't stop her. Not that she would dream of doing so.

-------

For the longest time, Snachter didn't assume it was possible to feel more dead then he already felt. For one, it was an objectively true statement. He was dead. But there was always a lingering feeling of tiredness that followed him, even when he started to become, to put it simply, insane. He always just assumed that would be the worst of it but... No...

Maybe it was the guilt. Maybe it was the anger. The helplessness to actually do anything but man... did he feel more dead than he had in a long time... Just... nothing going through his head unless prompted.

Right now Snatcher was laying further in the woods, near the ocean side. It was raining along the ocean, Anamund pacing on the shore in the faint distance, their hands digging into their side so much that Snatcher started to wonder why they weren't bleeding.

"I still can't believe that's the Anamund of legend..." Grace's voice brought him out of his trace of nothing as he looked to see her resting under a tree near where he was. Did she come with him, or did she follow him... He couldn't remember, he'd think he know.

"The real question is how strong is Randy's magic that Anamund has stayed humanoid this long." Snatcher hummed. "From what I was told, it should've faded by now."

"You know it's rude to talk about people when they can hear, right?" Anaumund asked as they glanced over, pausing their pacing. They rolled up their sleeves slightly, showing a small bracelet that looked recent compared to the rest of their outfit. "For your information, Hydratic, Badge, and Randy figured out how to tie that spell to this. So I can shift whenever I want now. Only reason I'm like this is because I want to catch that demon by surprise if he wanders here."

"Good luck with that." Snatcher rolled his eyes. "He's far too clever then I want to give him credit for..." He paused when he thought he heard footsteps, looking over to bushes. He squinted his eyes, faintly able to see two pairs peaking through. "Shadow, Ivy. I know you're there." Ivy groaned as she came out, crossing her arms. "Why are you out here?"

"I want to go back to Subcon." Ivy stated as she looked up at him. Her expression and tone were annoyed but Snatcher could faintly see worry in her eyes. "I want to go back to my swamp. How much longer until we can go back?"

"Ivy, Papa and his friends are doing everything they can." Shadow Kid said as she looked at Ivy, who just glanced to the side. "I know you miss your home, I do too, but can't you give them a little more patience?"

"I'm sick of waiting, Shadow." Ivy said as she looked down at the ground.

Grace frowned a bit and reached for the child of the swap, who just huffed once she sensed her presence. She glanced down at the ground and sat down. Warming herself slightly by rubbing her sleeves together.

Snatcher sighed after a moment, looking at her. "Believe me, kid. I would have long had you back already if I had a say-"

"You're the big scary ghost of Subcon!" Ivy said as she glared over at him, Snatcher pausing before he nodded slightly to her statement. "Why can't you just throw him out or send him back-"

"Do you remember the fire spirits?" Shadow cut her off. Ivy seemed to pause. Both from the memory of her encounter with them and the faint tone of frustration in her voice. "This is the guy who made them. He has their magic. Papa barely got out of the forest with his life. T-That man crawled from hell!"

"Shadow, please." Snatcher quickly said as he placed a hand on her shoulder, making her pause and look up at him, tears starting to fall from her eyes. He wiped them as he took a breath. "You don't got to defend me, she's just upset... You would have been too, right?" he asked, getting a small nod from the girl.

"Losing your home does a lot to someone, after all." Grace said from nearby, resting her hands in one of her dress pockets. Snatcher looked over with a sorrowful expression. God, he didn't know how she was keeping sane. If he was in her shoes, he would have had his mind broken a long time ago. And she was putting her own worries aside for the kiddo... Like she always did. "You'll get it back one of these days..."

"But one of these days seems so far away..." Ivy stated as she turned over to her. Her eyes kept glancing away, she couldn't seem to have eye contact with anyone. "I'm not supposed to be..."

Anamund walked over, bending down on their knee to get eye level. Almost fell face first in the process while doing so, but still. "Take it from someone who's been around for at least a millennium. Sometimes life just... changes. Sometimes for a temporality amount of time... sometimes permanently. Deities aren't immune to that... if anything we're more likely to be affected..."

Ivy looked at the protector deity, and was going to make some comment... only to yawn and rubbed her eyes. "Is it that late already?" Snatcher stated as he looked at the sky, seeing the sun start to set in the distance.

Shadow looked at Ivy, taking her hand with a smile. "Hey, why don't we race to the station?" She asked. "See who wins, or who falls asleep on the way first."

Ivy rolled her eyes slightly at the request but still gave a smile, quickly dashing off before Shadow Kid could even start counting. Shadow Kid gave a call before following, leaving the group of Adults alone again.

Grace sighed slightly. "You'll get through it, kid." She whispered, before turning to Snatcher. "You know, you raised a good kid. She's going to be a great leader one day, like someone I knew."

"Oh please." Snatcher said, pulling up his act a bit as he waved a dismissive hand. "That's all her. I just made sure she was away from Vanessa..." He sighed a bit. That name. He would have to find a way to stop it one day... He turned to Anumand and gave a smirk. "You know. For a fish beast, you're decent at the advice thing."

Anamund rolled their eyes as they walked away. "I only did it because she's Moonjumper's sister..." They sighed, looking at the water before looking back at Subcon’s resistances. "I'm going to make sure the Eversteads are gathered up for the night. If Ezra comes by, knock him out..." They said before jumping in, a glow briefly appearing over their form before they disappeared under the blanket of blue.

Grace looked up at Snatcher, who was chuckling a bit at the sight. "You know... You did good protecting Subcon for so long... Even if things are a bit of a mess now... Your family would have been proud of you."

Snatcher paused as he glanced at her...turned slightly and looked like he adjusted his mane, secretly wiping a single golden tear out of his eye before it could form.

"Well... I've done the best I can. I'll show you how I ran the place when we get back." Snatcher said as he turned back to face her, stretching a bit. "I mean, I'm sure Vanessa and Ezra are going to drain themselves from over planning eventually. We'll be fine! As long as Randy doesn't do anything dumb."

-------

Randy had woken up during the night. And despite his best, genuine efforts, he couldn't fall back to sleep.

He carefully floated out of the room he was staying in, floating down the halls silently. A few Overseers flying through the walls working on repairs while the toppats were asleep. He could hear their wings flap.

Randy found himself looking out one of the windows. On the horizon was a glow of orange and red, smoke rising into the distance. It was getting brighter each night. More was burning each night. If they didn't act soon, there wasn't going to be anything left.

Ezra reminded him of Wilford. Always assuming he knew right. That his way was best. And willing to burn down everything just for the chance to get his way. Randy had noticed Wilford’s behavior in the past, but failed to act on it. And in the end, it shaped Java's world for the worst. He spent over a decade just hiding from the... monster until he was finally killed in the airship's blades. Too quick a death if you asked Randy...

He couldn't just ignore Ezra. Wait until he built himself up. Wait until he and Vanessa grew more and more powerful just because everyone around him wanted to play it safe...

They were after him. They were going to stop at nothing to try and get him.

"Fine. Have what you want."

Randy pressed his hands against the glass, the glass disappearing a second later. Like it never existed. He floated out and began to approach the treeline. He stopped just at the edge of the clearing, the edge of the protective doom his Overseers had made.

He looked back and thought about Java sleeping inside. Alexsandera sleeping nearby in their own little bed. Percy the plush placed by it. The only thing Java had, besides the clothes on his back, when he found him almost five decades ago. Under a table, scared. begging for his life.

"I'll be home."

Randy took a breath, his hand taking a glow as he began to float right into the trap he knew Vanessa and Ezra had set up.

"This ends now."

#a hat in time #the henry stickmin collection #hat girl #hat kid #a hat in time fanfic #henry stickmin fanfic #ahit snatcher #ahit florist #ahit mustache girl #randy radman #ahit moonjumper #thsc mr macbeth

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