Chapter Text
Hiding? Was he hiding? Hiding from what? The chains of reality? Maybe. It would be fruitless, however. His body was still so exhausted from the task of walking and talking.
Searching? Was he searching? Searching for what? The truth? Most likely. It was even darker than his old Freedom in this room. And yet, all he saw was nothing. It was so dark, but he couldn’t see anything more.
Running? Was he running? Running from what? The guilt of his actions? No way. He has nothing to be guilty about. Nothing he does matters, so he did nothing wrong. He was the picture of innocence!
Why did he want this? Why did he ask for this? Why did he feel the need to go crawling back to the darkness?
He didn’t keep track of time in his new dark room. Time didn’t have meaning. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Nothing ever mattered. Dark or Bright, then or now.
Jevil sat with his back pressed against the wall. He tugged his patchwork shirt as tight around his thin, sickly body as he could. He sat pretzel style, pins and needles travelling up his bony legs. It hurt, but he didn’t care.
Why was he here? Why was he allowed to be here? Why was he allowed to be back inside with all of the other prisoners? He didn’t even want to be here! And yet...
Every playmate he ever had, he had beaten in a numbers game. He had laughed as they all begged for mercy. He had laughed and laughed and laughed as everyone screamed and ran for their pathetic, meaningless lives. He especially laughed when they tried to fight back. And yet...!
Even when the Player finally graced him with its presence, he could sense the mounting frustration with each victory he claimed. The three heroes would fight him again and again! Round and round they went in a cycle of Suits and Knives. Every crushing defeat, he kicked them out of his Freedom, just for the Player to kick them right back in to try again! There was no reason to fight him! There was no reason to win his equipment! There was no reason to acquire his Shadow Crystal! And yet!
And yet!
And! Yet!
AND! YET!
Two words. Six letters and one space. That was all it took to drive Jevil crazy!
He shouldn’t be in this little cell. He shouldn’t be allowed to mingle with the prisoners. He didn’t...deserve...to be here...
Here sat a broken toy. Unwanted, having been collecting dust for far too long. The thing no one ever wanted to play with. Only the broken, unwanted toys get put outside. The blessing of being able to do whatever he wanted forever, but the curse of forever being alone. He didn’t deserve the privilege of being surrounded by such cheerful faces.
...That’s why he was here...
His Freedom is gone, put away, displaced. This...This was the closest he could get to his lonely outside. Dark, just as it was. But not quite as cold. In fact, the room Ralsei had provided him was rather warm. The walls and floor were padded to be kinda squishy like play mats. Perhaps the prince thought the imp would want to bounce around in here. A sweet gesture, so thoughtful of him.
He didn’t deserve such kindness.
That’s why he was here. This is the most he could get to what he deserves. The isolation. The unforgiving darkness. If his wardens wouldn’t push for his punishment for being a horrible toy, then he’ll do it himself. He’s a shark, but he had integrity!
He reached under his shirt and started to scratch himself. Seam had dulled his claws in the beginning specifically to prevent him from hurting himself again. That was alright, though. He was fine with bruising. Anything to trick him into believing he was real. He could try biting himself again, but he never really enjoyed the taste.
He used to be so happy...Now he was constantly feeling...feeling...
...
He did NOT want to say the word “glooby”. He hated the word “glooby”! If he heard anyone say the word “glooby” in his presence, it is on sight!
The door to his dark room opened and closed quickly. Small pitter-pattering made their way closer and closer to him. A cold, tiny body sat next to him.
“HEY THERE, [[slime]]! WHY ARE YOU [[All alone on a late night?]] IN TH3 [[It’s still DARK...SO DARK!]]?”
Jevil scoffed and rolled his eyes. Great. Just what he needed. Spamton G. Spamton. He hated this guy so much.
“Go away, poppet, poppet! I don’t want you here.”
“...D1DN’T TAKE YOU FOR A !”
“Excuse you?!”
“IN NE3D OF SOME [[Liquid Courage!]] [[Only $4.99 if you call now!]], KId?”
“Who are you calling a kid?! You did this even back then, you did you did!”
“I’LL [[Stop! Don’t take my furniture]] WHEN YOU START ACTING LIKE [[18+ only]]!”
“What do you even want, want?!”
“EHAEHAEHAHEHAEHAEHAEHAEHAE Y SO [[And never Gloo]]--”
Jevil punched the marionette before he could finish that voice clip.
“Do not. I never wish to hear that word again.”
“[[Deal or No Deal]], KID. BUT SOMEON3’S GOTTA [[Check out these sweet deals]] TO MAKE SURE YOU DONT [$!$!] YOUSELF UP AGAIN, [[Clown around town]]!”
“...Why do you care, care? What does it matter what I do in my despair?”
“THE LIGHT nERS G4VE US. BOTH. ANOTHER [Chance Time!]. A [[Specil Deal]] JUST F0R US!! WE CANT AFFORD TO [[Miss out]] ON THIS [[Genorisity]]!”
“I never asked, asked to be brought back inside...I just don’t know what to do with myself, myself. Nothing is real...So why does it feel so awful, awful...?”
“...Because we aren’t strong enough to break our own strings.”
The sudden clarity in Spamton’s voice made Jevil pause and look at his unwanted companion. Even in the dark, he could see everything. The imp rubbed his eyes to make sure he was actually seeing correctly.
Because despite how hopeless he sounded, the puppet’s expression seemed content.
“Those three, though. They are strong. You’ve seen it for yourself. Fate is in their hands. Not ours.”
The little demon didn’t know what to say. He was right, after all. The Player was on the Lightners’ side. And only it controlled their fate.
“...[[Trucies]]?”
A little wooden hand found its way into a gangly bony hand.
“...Oh alright, alright. But I still dislike you.”
“FEELINGS [[Mutuals on Tumblr]], U [[Little sponge]]!”
It took the imp an embarrassingly long time to realize he was being led out of his room, out of the castle, and back toward Seam’s shop.
“...Tell no one about this.” Jevil snatched his hand back.
“WH0 WUD EVEN [Believe it!] ME!”
Jevil shook his head and went inside the patchwork building.
“Seam? Seam?”
The plush cat rose from behind the counter.
“Ah, there you are, Jevil. Where’ve you been?”
The imp just sighed and made his way beneath the old mage’s robes. Next thing they knew, their little companion was poking his head out right under their chin.
“...Cozy?”
“Indeed, indeed! I think I’ll stay here for the other 100 years!”
Jevil let out content purrs as he snuggled into Seam’s warmth. The cat just chuckled to themself and held an arm beneath Jevil’s little body to keep him up there. They pulled up a chair and sat down, licking the top of Jevil’s fuzzy head.
...Maybe he didn’t deserve this. But he has it anyway. May as well try to enjoy it.