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Music moved through the air, accompanied by laughter and chatter.
Puffy had high hopes for this banquet, and things were going well so far. The armor was stashed, they were safe, and so far, it’d been nothing but fun times. They’d even remembered the shrimp cocktail that she’d been promised would be there.
“Papa!” A voice cut through the din, young and optimistic. “Papa Puffy!” She turned and saw Foolish, who was beaming at her. “Look at my suit! I got it specially made.”
“I can see,” She chuckled, feeling pride at how well one of her sons had grown up. “You look very handsome.”
“Thanks,” Foolish said, smiling cheekily.
She lost sight of Foolish at one point, but another face replaced him. “Hey, Puffy.” Niki stood there sheepishly, looking stunning in a red dress.
“Niki!” Puffy greeted, happy to see her fiance, but scared at what would be said. It had been ages since they’d seen each other.
“Do you wanna dance with me?”
Yeah. This banquet would turn out fine.
Puffy had the time of her life. She was laughing for the first time in ages, she was smiling, she was gaining hope that maybe not everything on this server was doomed to go down in the flames of war and anger. Maybe things really were getting better.
A softer song was playing, a slow waltz. It could’ve made her sad, could’ve brought down her spirits, but it didn’t, because she was in the company of her friends, of people she trusted.
An idea sparked when she saw Eret and Fundy dancing together, so she rushed through the crowd to find her son. Her little boy- or all powerful god, depending on who you asked.
“Foolish!” She called, spotting a flash of gold.
“Yeah?” Foolish asked, facing Puffy. “You having fun?”
She nodded, but grabbed his hand and pulled him to the dance floor. “C’mon! Let’s have a father-son dance!”
Foolish groaned, but followed her regardless. “You know I call you Papa ironically now. I called you it once, okay? I was little, it’s not my fault.”
She flashed him a grin, “You always like to argue that you’re as old as time, Foolish. So maybe your godly wisdom should’ve told you that I wasn’t your father. You don’t even have a father.”
“”Course I do. I’ve got you, Papa Puffy!”
Their laughter echoed across the dance floor, until it quieted and they fell into silence. It was nice silence, though. It was comfortable, it was safe, it was reassuring. Their eyes reflected their joy, and the music swelled and had the meaningful decrescendos as their feet glided across the floor.
“You look so dapper tonight, so swashbuckling,” Puffy smiled. “My son, all grown up.”
“Aw, thanks!” Foolish glowed under the praise. “I think I look great. Look, I got a watch, too. I think it matches my tie.”
It really didn’t. The watch was a bright yellow, and his tie was red, but she didn’t say anything. Foolish didn’t get much time to relax or dress up, what with all the building he did. He never took a break. He just always worked, and she was a little worried, to be honest.
“Isn’t this a nice break from all of the building?” She asked, absentmindedly. “I worry about you sometimes, you know, Foolish. After- well, I just don’t want you to overwork yourself.”
Foolish winced as he stepped on Puffy’s toes. “I know, Puffy. I’m fine, honest. I won’t turn out like Dream did. I won’t lose sight of the beauty of humanity. I won’t- I won’t go insane.”
Puffy moved as she twirled, and her grasp on Foolish was a little tighter when she went back. “Of course not. I just want you to take breaks sometimes. That much work is bad for anyone. Honest. It’s not just because you’re my son.”
“Everyone tells me to take breaks,” Foolish mused. “But yeah, I’m trying to be better about it. I want to spend more time with people, rather than my builds. I feel like they need it. Everyone needs a little light, nowadays.”
Puffy smiled fondly. Foolish really could be sweet, and she loved him for it. Sure, her… other son hadn’t turned out alright, but she’d done something better with Foolish. He was a good person, he wasn’t blinded by power. He was kind, he helped others, he wasn’t afraid to ask for help.
She waved as they passed Eret and Fundy again, laughing at the way that Fundy’s ears were tilted and his face focused on his feet, making sure not to trip.
“You’re doing great, Fundy!” She called out as they moved away from each other, which only startled the fox and made him stumble.
“Really, though,” Foolish said, bringing Puffy’s attention back to him. “I know I really don’t show it much, but I do love you. You helped me be humble, even with the powers that I hold. You kept me anchored, and I don’t know where I’d be without you. You’re the best father I could’ve asked for.”
She smiled, and chuckled at the ending a bit, but she couldn’t help that the sadness in her eyes stopped the smile from reaching her eyes. She knew where he’d be if he hadn’t been there. Probably in that black prison, just like his brother.
“Yeah,” Puffy sighed, closing her eyes and letting the music move through her, ignoring the guilt and letting her contentment take over. It was a good night. “You turned out alright. I’m proud of you. I-.”
It all went silent, and she felt a frown tug on her lips. Foolish’s voice had faded, and her hands seemed empty.
Puffy opened her eyes. “Fool-”
His name faded from her tongue as she saw nothing but red. Red floor, red walls, red ceiling. No Foolish in front of her, no dancefloor, no music.
“Foolish?” She asked, and turned around. Where had everyone gone?
Behind her, the scene had changed from the dance floor. All eyes were on her, all eyes, the bloodred eyes-
Her gaze fell to the feet of the eggpire, and it all came rushing back.
“Foolish?” She whispered.
Her son lay on the ground in front of the people who used to be her friends. The people who she used to trust, the people who she used to trust with her life, were standing over her son’s dead body.
She walked forwards, but nothing moved besides her. Nothing besides her, and the eyes of the others who always seemed to follow her. She didn’t want to look at Foolish anymore, but she couldn’t stop. Her gaze couldn’t be torn away from the red-soaked clock that still clung to Foolish’s wrist, ticking. Ever ticking. The only noise that filled the empty space of the red horror.
As she stumbled closer, there was a soft splashing underneath her feet. She fell to her knees, setting her hands on the floor. The floor was damp. Why was it damp? It didn’t matter.
“Foolish.” She whispered again, voice anguished. “Foolish, what did they do to you?”
WHY COULDN’T SHE REMEMBER?
She put her head into her hands, feeling the tears start. Her son didn’t deserve this. No one did- but especially not her son.
Her face felt wet, but she hadn’t been crying yet, had she?
Her hands were lifted from her face and she looked at them, but Puffy yelled out. Her hands were covered in blood- and she scrambled backwards, but her legs were covered in it too- she had to escape it, she had to get away from the sticky stench of iron and death, she had to get away from the corpse of her son-
But she couldn’t do anything. The blood was everywhere, it stuck to her, it whispered the horrors of what she’d done, whispered the consequences that she’d caused, it yelled at her the punishment for trying as hard as she could to right the wrongs of the server-
It felt like she was drowning, but-
She coughed up blood, doubling over. She hated this. She wanted it to end. She wanted anything other than this, feeling the warm liquid sliding down her throat as Puffy gasped for breath, eyes stuck on the body of the son that she’d loved so much, taken so early. Too early.
As her vision went dark and the world of the awakened beckoned her presence, all she could focus on was the tear in the suit that Foolish had been so proud of. That he’d been so happy to order, to wear. That he’d been so excited to dress up in and show off. That he’d smiled so much in. The tie that he’d tied together the best he could, but still looked messy.
And even as the blood clogged her throat and made her wake up, it was still reminding her that she never got to tell her son just how much she loved him.