Chapter Text
Red Riding hood stared at the door in front of him. Shaking. Why was he shaking? He has no reason to be shaking. Is he scared? No. Is he upset? Well… Yes. But not at him!
A cold breeze goes by, sending a chill down Red’s spine. He adjust his hood, hoping to provide any extra warmth it could possibly provide on a chilly night like this. ‘Just do it.’ Red thought to himself. Just go in and ask, it’s this man’s job after all.
Taking a deep breath, grip on the basket full of art equipment tightening, he pushes the shop door of Specter’s Magical Goods. The sound of door chimes run through his ears as he stares the startled shop owner in the eyes; “Specter. I need a favor.”
*---*
Specter, a half wolf, half man spirit. His existence isn’t crazy in this world. Over the last few centuries, more and more ‘creatures’ have been popping up. Some look fully human, fully animal but still able to walk on their hind legs, and anything in between. Some possess great magical properties such as Specter and some… none. Those with no magic were the majority, a good amount with basic magical abilities and some with extraordinary magical abilities… Specter would fit in the latter category.
He enjoyed being part of the small chuck with exceptional ability! Some would think those like Specter would be power-hungry, not Specter. He enjoyed creating little magical craft projects as he liked to call it. These included potions, enchanted dolls, pens that wrote by themselves, etc. He created a business with his magical crafting. Those were the fun parts of his work.. but his main work was delivering ‘favors’.
Each magical entity in this world seems to have a knack for one specific kind of magic or special skill. Specter, being a very talented magic user, has mastered many types of magic! Levitating, elemental manipulation, curses, etc. However, he has a special skill that only he can do, delivering ‘favors’.
Seems like a simple skill, right? “Hey, Specter! Can I ask for a favor?” “Complete this homework for me, Specter!" "Hey, help me pick out a color Specter!” These were the simple favors. Then you get to the bigger favors… “Make her fall in love with me.” “Make me win the competition!” “Help me surpass this person.”…
Magic… is good and bad. Depending on how it is used. Similar to a genie granting wishes, Specter’s favors would always have a side effect. Spector never wants to give them, he wants to just make everyone happy! That’s why he made his shop! To bring joy to people's lives… but he still gets delivery request.
Despite Specter’s shy personality, he was rather popular growing up. As soon as people learned of his magical talent, many would come seeking for his favors. Before, he would grant them, giving a gentle warning of the possible outcomes but they never cared. Just like how they never cared about Specter. Saying he was the reason for their misfortune.
Perhaps… Specter would have been in a worse place today, unhappy and hating his magical ability if it wasn’t for the one friend he knew would always stick by his side.
“YOU ALL DISGUST ME!!” Yelled a shorter, scrawnier, boy next to Specter. “He warned you what would happen. YOU KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. Yet, you had him do it! Now, look where you are! You did this to yourself! Get out of my sight you disgusting, no magic wielders. “
His best friend. The short, angry faced kid who always stood by his side. He had an actual name, but he just went by Red. Saying “Only those I care about can know my name. Be lucky you know it wolf boy.” Specter would always smile at the nickname. He wasn’t sure why Red was so adamant about keeping his real name a secret, but probably something to do with the fear of someone using it in a spell or something. Red seemed like a ‘bitch', as some unkind folk liked to call him, but he was actually one of the sweetest people Victor ever met!
He just… had an odd way of showing it…
Red was a magic wielder. Not at Specter’s level, but mediocracy. He could learn simple spells, put together potions, but not magic like Specter could produce. As for his main ‘talent’, he had a magical ability where he could create an exact image on the canvas. No matter if it was realism, impressionism, abstract, etc. he could produce it. And Red loved it. He loved his talent so much, always making art. Even doodling on all his papers during school. But that was when Red was younger…
During their teen years, Specter assisted Red as he went through a mental crisis episode. Specter had rushed to Red’s side when he got a message saying he wasn’t okay. Red shared how much he had been struggling that night. He was slowly losing interest, inspiration. He could still produce things perfectly, and Specter always tried to encourage him!... But everything was a blur to Red’s eyes. Nothing he made felt good anymore, whatever he imagined didn’t come out true on paper. Not to his eyes. He was basically a money maker for his parents at this point. His family was already wealthy and they just used him to make more money.
After that day, Red hung out with Specter less often. Naturally, they got busier as they grew older, but Specter could see Red slowly isolating himself from others. He still had his snarky attitude, always sticking up for others in his odd ways, but he preferred to be alone, locked in his own abyss of art. Something in Specter continued to push him to reach out to Red, but it was no hope. Unsure of what to do, Specter stepped away. Giving the space he thought Red wanted, unaware of Red’s small advances for help.
When they were about 19, Red asked the question on a rare occasion when Red visited Specter. Specter was just opening his new shop! He was so excited! Scared… but excited! He may not have ever gotten this far if it wasn’t for Red’s support.
As the two of them sat at a small table, chatting about random things… unimportant, small talk things… Red finally brought up the question…
“Hey, Specter… What would you do if… I asked for a favor from you?”
Specter’s eyes widened. Many times Specter had asked Red if he hung out with him for a potential favor, his own anxieties getting the best of him… But Red always shot them down. Promising Specter that he would never do that to him, knowing the effect on people from favors.
“R-Red… What are you saying-“
“I’m saying!-“ Red stopped to calm himself. This was a sensitive topic. He couldn’t let his anger get the best of him. He WOULDN’T. “I know what I said in the past… I just…”
Specter watched as Red’s fist squeezed together, knuckles turning white.
Red slowly placed his hands on his, trying to calm his child-hood friend. Specter had a feeling he knew what he was going to ask for. “Is this… Is this about your ‘curse’…”
Specter knew from that night oh so many years ago that it was the curse from Red’s talent that made his art seem to dull. Red knew too, but refused to admit it. Similar to Specter, Red’s talent also had a ‘curse’. However, unlike Specter’s that affects the receiver, Red’s talent affected himself. The more he used his talent, the more difficult it was for him to see the beauty in his art.
Red stood up quickly, “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
Specter slowly got up, startled, “R-Red… Calm down, it’s okay, I want to help you.”
Red began to grab his things, “No! You’re just like them all! Telling me I’m just in an artist block. That it’s normal for an artist to never feel finished with his work!”
“N-No! R-Red, I’m your friend! I just want what is best for you-“
Specter could see the tears forming in his eyes, Red rarely cried. Atleast, in public. “THEY ALL SAY THAT!”
He ran out, slamming the door behind him. A tight feeling was left in Specter’s heart, as he stood unknowingly what to do.
*---*
Fast forward to today. It has been two years since that incident. The two have not spoken once since then.
Specter tried oh so many times… Even sending the cute familiar Red would always say he hated but secretly adored, sending letters and small gifts. Specter’s familiar always came back, looking like he had the best day; being given so much love. But the gifts always came back, only the letters taken. Red never sent anything back though.
Recently, however, Specter noticed his letter’s coming back and his familiar looking sad. Nothing was wrong with the familiar, he handled every other delivery so well and efficiently. Red was the only one he struggled to deliver to. Specter tried a few times to reach out himself, going to the home of Red, but was always turned away by the servants or family members. They would tell him, “He’s busy and does not want any visitors. Go away.”
So, when Red slammed the door open, Specter’s world seemed to stop. He stood from his counter, looking with eyes of disbelief. Here he was, he was alive, safe, still the same-
“Specter. I need a favor.”
They stared at one another. Specter frowned, something in his chest tightening like the night he left, and the many nights specter thought of him. “No.”
The look of anger Specter has seen so many times, came to Red’s face. Red walked up to the counter, slamming his hands down on it, “Why not?!”
Specter turned around, pretending to fix a knickknack behind him, “Because I said so?”
Red laughed. “Really?”
“Yep.” Oh god, his heart, it hurt.
“Bullshit!” He slammed his hand on the counter again and Specter turned around and put his hand on his.
“Stop that! Not only are you going to dent my counter, but you’ll hurt yourself!”
“I don’t care!” Tears. Tears again. Tears in the eyes he loved- What? Loved? No that’s not right, it can’t be-
Specter breathed, “What is wrong Red? It has been TWO years. TWO YEARS since you left. You know how worried I was! Part of me thought you were dead!”
“I was busy.”
“Busy? With what.”
Red pulled down his hood, his brown curls, tied back in a ponytail, resting on his shoulder as it always has. He dumped his basket of art supplies on the table. “With my work.”
Specter paused. Whenever Red Riding Hood came out with a new piece it was always a big deal. But nothing came out in the last two years. “What are you saying? You haven’t shown anything in two and a half years.”
Red made a sound of annoyance, “Yeah I fucking know. I’ve spent this entire time trying! Nothing is good enough! I’ve had to destroy every piece I’ve made so far to keep those around my home from snatching it and putting it on display!”
This wasn’t right, Red loved his work. He would never-
“Red… Why would you-“
“Because they’re not good enough! Nothing I make is good anymore Specter!” Tears were falling. “Everything feels so useless!” Hands move to his hand, fist gripping at his hair.
Despite the years, Specter still remembers the night, the night when Red cried in his arms. As if from instinct, Specter moves around the counter to him, putting out a quick spell to lock up the shop so no visitors would come in and held Red in his arms. Slowly, bringing Red to sit on the ground with him as Red cries into his chest. “Shhh… It’s okay… Everything will be fine…”
Red hiccups, “Don’t you understand? Nothing is fine! Everything feels so meaningless now. I hate it. I hate everything I produce. I hate art. But I also don’t! I still love it, but I hate everything I do with it! Nothing has worked, nothing I produce seems worthy. I’ve tried so many things specter! Nothing is good!”
Specter gave him time to let it all out, rubbing his back. After a few minutes of sniffling, Specter brought up the question, “you know why this is happening right?”
After a short pause, Red slowly shook his head.
“This isn’t your fault, all you do is still incredible! Your ‘curse’ lies to you…”
Red lifts his head and looks into the blue eyes of Specter. “I just want to see its worth… I want inspiration again…”
Specter rubs his cheek with his thumb, wiping away a tear, “I know… I’ll help you, we’ll find a way to make you inspired again and you’ll be happy! I promise! I just need to think of a few-“
Red stops him, “Specter… You know there’s only one way…”
Specter swears his heart drops, he feels like he’s about to cry too.
“I know Edgar… I know…”