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They are different.
This was the first thought after meeting the Vessel again, something so simple but so monumental at the same time.
Not the Vessel. That was a past life, one untarnished by the fury of Her and the failure of a sire who would not see another way. One where the White Palace still stood in blinding light and the majority of the inhabits were passive-aggressive in their speech towards Grimm.
In this life, they prefer to be called Hollow.
“Hold still-” Grimm’s voice rasped through the cold night. Hollow was sitting on a stool in front of him, their sitting position still making them taller than Grimm. Ever the heir, they kept moving their position so Grimm could see them eye to eye. As endearing it was, it was also thoroughly annoying.
Still, he can’t fault them for being this way. They were walking around the village in an attempt to escape their nightmares, something that Grimm had recognized the minute they showed up at their tent.
He sighed, a bit of fire slipping through his mouth as he places his hands on each side of Hollow’s face, the heir finally stilled as they looked up towards the bug before them.
“You were always so jittery,” he muttered, one hand tracing circles on the other’s face, “it's almost like you wished for me to be nostalgic.”
Hollow didn’t reply just pressed their face into Grimm’s palm, a purr rumbling deep within them. The smug grin that was on his face closed, his eyes widen, “Oh, that’s new.”
And as quick as it started, the purring stopped. Hollow gave him what was their version of a glare. Grimm laughed, “I didn’t say it was bad, my friend. Though that is an expression I am more familiar with.”
A huff from the heir, another laugh from Grimm, “Oh come on, you miss my jesting.”
Hollow thought about it for a moment before signing with their hand, ‘Maybe’ .
A genuine smile broke from Grimm’s face. They were different, that was for certain, but the difference is for the better. They were no longer restrained, chained to duties that were forced upon them. The small crumbs of personality Grimm was given in the past was now overfilling the goblet and Grimm couldn’t be more thankful.
Those thoughts would have to be saved for another time. Hollow came here for a reason and it was the same reason they came all those years ago… plagued by nightmares that they could not disclose in fear they would be rejected and thrown away.
And so they turned to the outsiders.
“You remember our performance, my friend?” Grimm’s eyes glowed, transfixing Hollow’s gaze. Red symbols surrounded Hollow’s head as Grimm focused on entering the heir’s mind.
“Take a deep breath. Look into my eyes…”