Chapter Text
(This is a continuation of Chapter 5)
After a couple of seconds, the rhythmic sound of shuffling footsteps could be heard through the rough grass, filling the silence between them, the underlying ground counter-beat to the tension hanging in the air.
Chance and Shedletsky both blinked and looked at the direction the sound came from, interrupting their “moment”.
However, something felt amiss. No one was visible despite the sound getting closer, there wasn’t a trace of anyone.
—Out of the blue. Two Time appeared right in the middle of Chance and Shedletsky!
“What’s going on here?”
Chance and Shedletsky reacted to the quick action, completely wide-eyed as Shedletsky held his sword up for defense and Chance pulled out their flintlock.
“WHAT IN THE LADY LUCK-”
“HOLY KICKIN’ CHICKEN-”
Shedletsky’s wings ruffled and unfurled in a stark surprise, feathers scattering in a flurry of surprise. His wings extended to their fullest extent, creating an impressive display of avian shock. Some feathers gently floated to the rough grass, carried by the wind as the wings slowly settled back into place. It was as if his surprise had become a physical entity in his winged reaction.
Both took a step back — still startled and completely dumbfounded just to see Two Time in front of them.
Two Time looked both at Chance and Shedletsky, raising their hands in the air; surrendering to the sudden gun point they’re held on
“Whoa, did I strike a chord?”
Chance lowered their arm and placed their flintlock away in their pocket—sighing in relief as he rubbed the nape of their neck.
“Oh, ‘Time.. it’s just you–“
Shedletsky—breathing heavily as some of the adrenaline from the past events a few minutes ago is still going through him.
Shedletsky is very well aware it’s Two Time, but is still in a state of shock and getting through his adrenaline.
Chance looks over at Shedletsky, struck in awe by Shedletsky’s wings, but.. unfortunately, since another had come up, their broken poker face is now replaced by a new one, but the few broken pieces weren’t fitting anymore.
“Tsk, and here I thought I was scared.”
Chance said, making a light-hearted joke as his cocky smirk returned to make a change in the tension hanging in the air.
Two Time lowers their hands and looks over at Shedletsky, awkwardly chuckling
“My apologies-“
Shedletsky blinks and sighs as he pulls his body back to its normal position, his wings furled back, some of his fallen feathers stuck on his wings
“Geez—you really know how to scare a guy.”
Shedletsky’s eyes averts back at Chance, seeing that their earlier look of vulnerability has changed. And seeing how close he was. However, he couldn’t blame Two Time, and while he wasn’t disappointed, he also felt some empathy for others.
“Well… thanks for keeping the.. masked guy or whatever–distracted.”
Chance says as he smiles—looking over at Two Time, getting a small glimpse of Shedletsky as Two Time was still in the middle of them.
Shedletsky looks over at Chance, slightly disappointed by the interruption. Wishing Chance had said something in response to his comment.
After a few minutes, Shedletsky, Guest1337, Two Time, Eliot, Noob, and Chance made it out alive in the last few seconds of the match. But Jason caught and killed Dusekkar, 007n7, Builderman, and Taph.
The rest of the survivors from the round were teleported back to the main cabin, and all were tired as usual. Having to run and save others from a killer is no joke.
Nonetheless, Shedletsky missed another chance to get closer. He doesn’t even know Chance keeps a poker face around others, but he thinks of it as just a mask– or maybe it’s because Chance is the type of person to seem confident around others in sentiment or genuine moments. But he’ll never know. Though he does know it’s going to take a while for Chance to take that mask completely off.
—Meanwhile….
Elliot walks up to Chance and sighs, his hat slightly tilted and facing to the side due to the messy fight in the round.
“Hell.. why do I have to be the one with such low health..”
Chance snorts and chuckles
“Hey c’mon now, don’t let yourself down for a minor problem.”
“That’s why we’re here. We’re a team, even when it’s favors for favors or just doing it out of kindness, it’s the same. Both help one another, and that’s all that matters.”
“Healing is your strength, it’s amazing how such food can help others, and it’s considered ‘junk food’. With your sacrificed health, you heal us, but just because you’re hurting–doesn’t mean we won’t help you.”
Elliot continues to listen to Chance and huffs before softly smiling
“You know… You really do know how to add positives to the negatives.”
Chance smiled and patted Elliot’s shoulder
“No problem pal. There’s never a time where I can’t add some light to the darkness.”
Chance said as he placed their hand on top of their hat, pushing it back a bit—tilting it upward.
Shedletsky watched the shared interaction, he admired Chance, blocking out Elliot, hearing Chance speak positively and reassuringly, which takes a part from what he does himself with others.
Same connections, just not enough time to notice those connections.
Suddenly— Builderman placed his hand onto Shedletsky’s shoulder.
Shedletsky jerked a little from the sudden touch behind him, then turned to his side to see it was Builderman.
“Oh. Sorry B-man.”
Builderman lightly laughed and softly patted Shedletsky’s back before returning his hand to his hoodie’s pockets.
“It’s all good, Sheds.”
Builderman says reassuringly, but then switches his look to a more amused and wondering expression.
“But.. yer’ sure been actin’ pretty different lately.”
Shedletsky slightly raised an eyebrow at Builderman’s retort.
“Hm? Really?”
“Yeah. You didn’t even say ‘Good morning’ to your’ good old pal today. I saw how you went upstairs talking to Guest and Chance. I had asked Duse’ earlier if he knew why you’ve been avoiding us.”
Shedletsky slightly widens his eyes, now realizing how ignorant his actions might have come off as distant or avoiding.
“Oh. Shit- Nono—sorry.”
“I’ve just been busy with… stuff.”
Shedletsky says as he places his hand on the back of his head, his fingers tangling into his curly messy hair. Looking off to the side before looking back at Builderman with an uncertain expression.
Builderman scoffs in amusement and rolls his eyes, though he does not know fully why Shedletsky has been distracted; he is already getting a hint that Shedletsky is starting to get closer to another.
“Is there someone who has piqued yer’ interest, sheds?”
Shedletsky lets out a low breath and looks over at Builderman with widened eyes as if he’s just revealed his biggest secret.
His expression slowly disappeared into a look of sudden realization.
“…”
Shedletsky scoffs, slightly embarrassed but wanting to be at least a little transparent with Builderman, though he can barely even understand these feelings himself, his actions with Chance becoming sudden and unexpected, as if he could say or do everything with Chance.
“Can we talk about this in my cabin?”
Shedletsky said with a sheepish smile, unsure and worried others would over hear them. Especially since the person they’re talking about is in the same roof.
“Just.. for a bit is all.”
The sudden change of tone slightly surprised Builderman. Shedletsky is more laid back and talkative in these types of situations.
—he then sighed and softened his expression, ready to listen to Shedletsky talk about his troubles.
“Of course. I’d listen through and through for ya’, Sheds.”
Builderman smiled warmly, placing one hand on Shedletsky’s back and starting to lead Shedletsky to his cabin.
Meanwhile…
Chance glanced over at Shedletsky, seeing him being led by Builderman with his soft expression comforting Shedletsky. The feathered man smiled warmly—yet his eyebrows downturned. A most striking expression of warmth comes into play.
While his shades made his mouth and eyebrows get the utmost spotlight, the closer you look, you see that his eyes differ from his confident demeanor, looking rather blank and wandering. His mind went back to the scene that played out back in the earlier round.
“Every time I see your eyes, I don’t think you know how endlessly beautiful they look..”
“Your eyes are just like citrines.. admins…”
Chance playing out Shedletsky’s words, his voice gentle and genuine… his tone playing with a hint of realization.
Chance continues to look over as Shedletsky leaves the main cabin, seeing as Shedletsky disappears into the night outside.
He then swallowed a small lump in his throat that he didn’t even know he had, glancing over to the left as his mind continued to wander if he had made things awkward between Shedletsky and themselves. Now regretting and feeling guilty for not replying to Shedletsky’s praise, the underlying issue by being confident — but not confident enough to respond to a heartfelt and raw compliment.
Later on… Shedletsky and Builderman were now inside Shedletsky’s cabin. They started drinking beer as they sat on the living room couch, the warm colored tall lamp lighting up the room, the sky outside now turning into a vibrant orange with a hint of soft and bright pink.
Builderman sighs in relief– just taking in a sip of his beer and looking over at Shedletsky who had downed 2 beer bottles, another already in his hand once he finished his 2nd one, popping it open with a bottle opener, the beer’s foam fuzzing as the bubbling sound filled the room.
“Has anyone been bothering you lately, sheds?”
Builderman said bluntly, already knowing there's a problem between the winged man and another... Just not knowing if it's the right person, as well as another hint coming from the irresponsible drinking Shedletsky is partaking in at the moment.
“–Huh? Oh shit yeah I fuckin’ forgot.”
Shedletsky seems to have a change of heart now, his empathy now gone and distraught, seemingly tipsy as a pink hue crept through his cheeks and a change in attitude.
“Well to start– TWO TIME, YEAH TWO TIME, OUT OF ALL PEOPLE RUINED THE DAMN MOMENT.”
“I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, THEM? ADMINS HELP ME..”
Shedletsky clears his throat,
“Alright… let me calm down.”
Builderman huffs a slight chuckle, utterly dumbfounded by the sudden change in Shedletsky’s mood.
“So basically… I was with Chance right?”
Shedletsky looks back at Builderman, his expression now back to his normal self.
“Uh.. yeah, right.”
Builderman says, still bewildered by the change in deminor. He grabs the top of his construction hat and lays it right next to him down on the couch, needing to prepare for a hell of a story Shedletsky is about to tell.
“So. I was complementing Chance and shit, y’know, I have to– well I don't have to but you know what I mean. And so CHANCE, man.. I’m gonna be honest, I don't know what to feel about him.. It's just.. I see him.. More than just a buddy..?”
Builderman mid–swallow widens his eyes and chokes on his beer as it goes in the wrong pipe. He coughs and clutches his chest as he lowers himself,
“COUGH ADMINS– DAMNIT– COUGH I FUCKIN’ KNEW IT”
He said as he hit the back of the couch. Shedletsky’s eyes widened, immediately patting Builderman's back.
“STOP TALKING OLD MAN. YOU’RE GONNA MAKE IT WORSE.”
After a little while… Builderman finally relaxed and leaned back on the couch, sighing in relief.
“Damn son… so.. You got feelin’s for the ego gambler?”
“I mean– I was thinking about it, but I wasn’t actually thinking it was going to be them.”
Shedletsky lightly laughs, slightly raising an eyebrow– wondering who Builderman had thought it was.
“Wait so, who did you think it was?”
“I dunno, Two Time? Cause’ you were all ‘oh it just had to be him’ so I didn’t react because I thought it was Two Time, not Chance.”
“Oh, seriously? Damn, he’s not really my type, plus I didn’t even know I had a type for guys– Cupid just shot me on a random Tuesday man.”
Shedletsky shrugged, Builderman scoffing at Shedletsky’s words.
“Actually… yeah I’d never thought you’d be crushing on another man. Plus, you had a wife no? What was her name..? eyes… something. I keep forgetting that our past slowly fades away in this dimension. Hell, Guest has a photo of his wife and forgot her name. Man… this dimension is just pure hell. We’re isolated in this world… our memories fading away with it. Do you ever think we’ll leave this world?”
Builderman looks down at the beer bottle in his hand, his expression far from pleased with the information he had gathered over the couple of months, concerned about the future that will uphold them all.
Shedletsky exhaled and took a drag of his beer, the foam bubbles popping softly, the sound of fuzz consuming the room once their voices fell flat.
“...Well, there's unfortunately no way we can stop it. We don't have much power like we did in Robloxia, but we still have control over some stuff at least. We can help others even with our player control limits. And if that keeps others even just a little safe… then it's always worth the disaster.”
Shedletsky spoke in a soft husky tone, his low whisper sounding most… defeated even with his “positive” attitude. Shedletsky let out a light huff of a chuckle, reverting to his light-hearted tone.
“Don’t think too much about it. Just focus on whatever is in front of you. Got it?”
Shedletsky said as he held out his bottled beer towards Builderman, waiting for a cheer in return. Builderman gently smiled, Shedletsky’s positive attitude seemingly melting Builderman’s negative thoughts. Builderman then held out his beer bottle towards Shedletsky’s bottle, just inches away from a cheer.
“Got it. And, I hope the best for you and Chance.”
Shedletsky huffed a small laugh, smirking at Builderman’s change in attitude.
“Very much appreciated Buddy. Cheers.”
Builderman and Shedletsky lightly clanked their bottles together, both smiling and laughing– their knowledge of forgetting the past already fading. When something can’t be fixed and is filled with negativity, you just need one person in your life to change that thought and bring comfort in your worries. And sometimes, comfort is merely a second home to one.