Chapter Text
Fire crackled distantly.
Ranboo watched the fire quietly, knees drawn up to his chest. He hummed softly to himself, a tune he didn’t recognize but knew he had heard somewhere.
Maybe in a past life.
He felt his eyes droop, sleep beckoning him and dragging him under. Ranboo leaned against the back of a cushioned chair, head tipped back as he drifted off.
A large white building filled Ranboo’s vision. A pedestal with a single wither rose in a pot stood in front of him. Stone carvings hung on the walls.
Ranboo had been here before. He felt himself move, walking through the incredibly ornate yet empty room and into a hallway. Light filtered through one side, leading downwards and into another room. The other side lead to a balcony, looking over the castle. The enderman looked around before making his way towards the light, tracing ungloved hands on stonework and pillars. He glanced around once more, distant memories filling his thoughts. Ghosts seemed to dance just out of view, taunting him.
He walked further, filing away the memories for another time. A garden with a swing set filled his view, breeze flowing through the grass. Ranboo lingered for a moment longer, eventually walking up a tall staircase and into a tower. Tables sat untouched, quartz reflective of the sun.
Ranboo turned, examining the incredible castle.
His hands reached up, silk flowing down his arms and cinching at the wrist. He gently took off a crown.
The crown was pure white with black gemstones, glittering underneath the sun. He rubbed his thumb over a gem.
This was the Inbetween. Ranboo knew it. He’d been here many times before in his dreams, though he never remembered them until he woke up in the Intween. He’d explored the castle previously, ceilings standing tall. Portraits of him and people he didn’t recognize were placed around the castle, gorgeously detailed. Ranboo knew the artist had put a lot of time into each piece, each stroke carefully considered and calculated.
A light cut through the garden, acting as a gateway.
Karl stumbled through, colored hoodie now painted white. The signature spiral was still there, his name stitched into the back. Ranboo tilted his head curiously. Karl seemed familiar with the place, not even blinking at the incredible castle, sitting down heavily on a swing and pulling a journal out. He hesitated before looking up and directly at Ranboo.
The enderman jumped, blinking and breaking eye contact. Karl set the journal and quill down on the seat of the swing next to him, standing up and carefully making his way up the stairs leading up to the tower.
Ranboo sighed through his nose silently, taking the chance to examine himself. The silk shirt was pure, untouched white, tucked into black pants. A black cape rested on his shoulders, the brooch that linked one side to the other smooth. He thumbed the ender eye brooch, thinking.
Footsteps echoed up the staircase, getting louder and suddenly stopping. Ranboo looked up at Karl, who studied him.
Karl dropped into a bow, dipping his head low.
“Prince.”
Ranboo blinked. “Prince?” was all he asked, eyes furrowed in confusion.
Karl rose. “You don’t remember? Even here?”
“No. I’m.. I remember a little bit more, but even then it's only.. traces. Memories that dance at the edges of my mind. They aren’t chronological, I've figured out, and I don’t remember most of the people.”
“Ah,” was all Karl said. The two fell silent for a moment. “Have you looked around the castle yet?”
Ranboo nodded, hands folded behind his back. He had replaced the crown on his head, being careful to balance it so it didn’t tip over the edge.
“Then I’d imagine you know where you are.”
“The Inbetween. I know it’s name, but.. not what it is.”
Karl gestured for him to follow, slowly descending down the stairs again. Ranboo quickly caught up, considerably taller than the other man. “The Inbetween is a.. rest point of sorts. It’s a different dimension and the gateway between now and then, as well as the future. If you aren’t careful, it can take a bit of you away each time you visit.” He frowned. “I know that all too well.”
“A bit of you each time,” Ranboo repeated quietly. He pressed his lips together.
“Home away from home. It’s meant to be a place of rest and serenity.” The two stepped off the last step, crossing the garden to the swingset. Karl pocketed the quill and journal - where, Ranboo had no idea, but he didn’t bother to question it - and sat down on a swing. “It was once a place of thriving life, or so I’ve been told. But everything and everyone seemed to.. lose themself somehow. The castle’s been untouched for gods know how long.”
The younger boy kicked at the grass mindlessly. “I’m not letting this place take any more of me than it already has.”
Karl smiled softly. “Of course, Prince.”
Ranboo looked over at Karl. His vision began to blur slowly, his eyes drooping with exhaustion again.
“I think I’m waking up.”
Karl nodded. “Will you remember this?”
“Probably not.”
“Then I’ll see you later, Prince.”
“Yeah.”
Karl dipped his head as a goodbye. Ranboo felt himself drifting off again, closing his eyes.
He opened his eyes again, blinking sleep out of his eyes.
What an odd dream. If only he remembered it.