Chapter Text
Karl snapped awake, quickly sitting up in his bed as he looked around. The world seemed a bit faded as if he was out of reality once again. Flashes of the ballroom he was once in filled the space around him as he was slowly coming back to his reality. Shaking his head to try and force his mind to focus as he shakily stood. “How long was I out this time?” He thought to himself as quickly moving to stand in front of the bedside table, grabbing his phone looking at the time. 4am Friday the 18th. He blinks rapidly as he looks at it, as if it weren’t real. “Three days, I was out for three days!” Sighing as he threw the phone on the bed before rubbing his eyes before making his way into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and the effects of his travel definitely has paid a toll this time.
He thought that he looked dead, his skin was pale with no color in his face. Deep dark circles around his eyes. His face was a bit skeleton-like, probably from his lack of food the past three days. He lets out a shaky sigh as he turns on the sink and splashes his face with water. “I keep being out more and more.” Quickly drying his face as he hears his phone go off in the other room. Walking in and picking the phone he sees a message from George.
404: Hey man, are you doing alright? You have been MIA for a few days now. I’ve been worried.
Karl sighs as he reads the message over and over, understanding his friends' worry. He hasn’t told anyone, not even his closest friends like George because in all honesty what would he say? “Oh hey nothing to worry about, I just have spells where for hours or now days on end where I travel to different time periods, No worries!" He laughs at his own inner monolog because frankly, it’s as crazy as it sounds. Quickly thinking of a response that will calm his friend so he will no longer have to worry.
JarlKacobs: Hey man! I’m doing okay. Been very busy recently so sorry for being away from things. If you want to play something later I’d be down.
He sets his phone down as he waits for a response but his stomach has other plans, gurgling loudly from the severe lack of food as of recent. He gets up as he puts his phone in his pocket and heads to his kitchen to search through his pantry. Cursing quietly as he finds nothing satisfying “Should have gone to the store earlier.” But yet again, how would Karl know that he would be out for three whole days? He settles on making himself toast, sitting himself up on the counter as he waits for it to finish. He looks around his home, the little dining room table that is rarely ever used sitting in the corner of his kitchen. Through the doorway he can see the small sofa in the center of the living room. Suddenly everything fades and he's brought back to the beautiful ballroom with many participants in elegant gowns and luxurious tuxedos. All their identities covered in lavish masks.
A man standing all alone, caught his attention. When the entire room had company this one man was all alone, it intrigued Karl. The man in question was a bit taller and definitely broader than Karl's thin stature. His half moon mask only covered half of his face, leaving less to the imagination than the others did. His long dark hair almost covered the one eye that was free from the confines of the mask. The man was a sight to see and Karl was definitely taking it all in. Taking up much of Karl's courage he slowly made his way to the man, excusing himself as he pushed through the small crowd.
The man peered over at him and somehow Karl kept moving with the mysterious man's eyes on him. Avoiding the gaze to avoid the panic that started to fill the man Karl realized he needed a plan. He wasn’t the type of man that conversation came easy to him especially with strangers. Looking around nearby the man Karl noticed tables full of exquisite looking food and many champagne glasses filled. “Perfect” He thought to himself as he made his way to the table. Excusing himself once again as he grabbed two glasses and continued his trek, the man who had turned his attention away from Karl and back to the people dancing in the ballroom. With this Karl now easily made his way over to the man.
“Excuse me.” Karl said to the man as he was closer to him, announcing his presence to not accidentally startle the man. The man in question quickly looked over at him, a subtle look of amusement had made itself apparent on his face. Smiling, Karl held out the glass for him to take. “Care for a drink?” The man made a slight hum before his answer. “I suppose I would.” Taking the drink from Karl's hand before taking a drink from the glass. “I noticed you were alone, thought you would like the company.” Karl stated slightly nervously as he looked up at the man who now had a small smile on his lips. “I suppose it would be nice to have company, especially from someone like you.” The comment quickly made Karl's cheeks turn red, hoping the mask he had acquired had covered enough to hide the blush that had filled his face. That task seemed to have failed as he guessed the mask didn’t cover much as the man laughed quietly. “Flustered?” Karl tried to find his words but nothing came before taking a sip of his drink. “Anyway,” Karl looked away, “I should probably introduce myself, The names’ Karl Jacobs.” The man ran a hand through his hair before looking back at Karl.
“James” He said simply as he looked Karl up and down, looking at the sweatshirt full of color that was definitely not fit for a ball. Lightly grabbing at the sweatshirt and pulling Karl in front of him. The smaller man tensed as he was grabbed by the bigger man. “Not exactly fit for a ball Karl.” James said with definite amusement in his tone. “Wasn’t exactly planning to be at a ball today.” Karl responded as he looked up at the man. “Hmm, is that so?” He mumbled as he lightly ran his hand through the colorful fabric of the hoodie. “Y-Yeah” Karl stumbled through his words before James laughed at his sheepishness. “So Karl, where are you from, you can’t be from around here.” Karl quickly hums in slight agreement as he lightly smiles at the man, admiring him in the closeness. “That's a story for another day.”
James and the ballroom all together quickly fading as the phone in his pocket rang loudly as a message came through, quickly ripping Karl from his false reality he was reliving. Grumbling a bit as he fished his phone from his pocket to see who messaged him. Seeing that two people had messaged him. Shaking him a bit as he stared at his phone “Was I that gone again I didn’t hear the first message?” Quickly unlocking the phone to view them. The first one was from George from 20 Minutes ago.
404: All good, just a bit concerned when you disappeared for a bit. I might be playing something tonight with Dream, I don’t know what yet but you are totally invited to join us to take your mind off of stuff.
Karl laughed quietly. “Ah, always with Dream aren’t you George.”
JarlKacobs: Yeah I’d be down, just let me know what time and what you guys what to do.
Karl Quickly swiped through other chats to see who else had messaged him. Finding a Message from Quackity.
Q: Hey man! Haven’t heard from you in a bit. Want to go out tonight? I know a few places and I know you haven’t been out recently.
He hummed quietly to himself in slight agreement “You haven’t been out much, he's right. Maybe you should.” He thinks to himself before responding to the text
JarlKacobs: Yeah man I’d be down. Was going to play some stuff with Dream and George tonight but I’ll leave them be. Give those two the alone time so I won't have to third wheel. Let me know what time and where you want to go. :P
Quickly changing back to his and George's messages.
JarlKacobs: Hey a quick change of plans Alexis has invited me to get out the house for once so you and your Dweam can have alone time :P
404: I hate you. But in all seriousness do not worry man. You can still always come and hang out with us. I don’t mind and I don’t think Dream does either.
Karl smiles to himself as another message from Alexis comes through
Q: I’ll come pick you up around 8 or 9 tonight. I’ll bring a few friends and I know a few good bars
JarlKacobs: Sounds good man.
In reality Karl hated bars but he did agree to going out and god knows that he needed to get out of the house and besides, it would just be rude to not go. His stomach knocked him out of his thoughts as he remembered the toast sitting in the toaster that for sure had gone cold. True to form when he grabbed it, it was and he sighed as he ate it. Looking at the time now he had been up for almost 4 hours, but it didn’t feel like that. Time was always crazy like that and Karl should be the first to know that. Shaking off the rising feeling of anxiety that entered him knowing he had to leave the comfort of his house he decided on a shower. Leaving the kitchen and his false realities for another time.