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"Hey! Mac!" Alabaster tapped Mac and Cheese metal shoulder, who was too focused on the fight to even turn to face him.
"Yes?" He responds immediately. After a few seconds of waiting for an answer Mac turned around to Alabaster's grinning face. Google follows suit, turning to face him in curiosity while Juniper is screaming at the fight.
"Can you watch Juni for a bit? I need to go find my locker again.” Alabaster had done this three weeks in a row but this time . . . this time is different. He had held onto a toy that he believed Juniper would absolutely love and had placed it into his locker today, and he would make sure he didn't forget it.
"Yes." Mac said, turning back to the game, now keeping Juniper in his peripheral. Google however was still lingering with a twinge of uncertainty on his face.
"It'll be fine, I promise! How about you watch Mac and Cheese if you're unsure and if anything goes wrong I'll be there!" Google nodded, smiling back at him before turning back around and cheering along with Juniper.
Alabaster walked off to find his forgotten stuff, attempting to keep his focus on the toy as he passed people in the twisting hallways. He looked up and finally saw the locker room sign. Counting down in his head as if a bomb were about to explode if he didnt find it. He wandered over to the correct row and started to stare down the numbers in an attempt to find his own. However he was interrupted by the sight of a tall figure in the row, looking for something much like himself. Instead of being off put by the aggressive movements, he began to approach with his normal sunny disposition.
"Hey! Do you need some help?" The figure stops in its place the second it hears his voice and is quick to fix its posture in an almost panicked response.
"What do you want?" Alabaster is met with a cold stare of Cobalt's face seemingly more upset than usual. Alabaster had interacted with Cobalt maybe once or twice but never one on one, all he knew was mainly from Chartreuse or Google. So, not the best information but he was always willing to help someone new!
“What are you looking for?" Alabaster asked, looking around as if he knew what it was already. Cobalt seemed even more annoyed with Alabasters searching but with a sigh calmed himself.
"It's nothing for you to worry about but if you must know. In an attempt to hide things I have appeared to have lost them." Cobalts lightly condescending tone doesn't seem to bother Alabaster as his eyes light up with curiosity. Cobalt began searching again, opening up locker after locker to find his own. Most of the lockers stored nothing in them since there were only six-eight fighters per tournament but with every locker he opened Alabaster got the feeling he should probably help. Cobalt eventually stumbled into Alabaster's locker which was the only one with a lock in the row, Cobalt paused for a second just staring at the lock.
"Oh! I guess gods wouldn't have to use locks often or lockers. Here let me just…" Alabaster gets up and unlocks it using his key and grabs the toy he meant to. He looked up realizing Cobalt was staring at him still. The small Rainbow Dash toy sat in his hand as he closed the locker and sat back down, Cobalt still standing up looking down at the little toy.
"What is it for?"
"It's for Juniper! She's planning on showing Google and Mac this show when we get home today so I wanted to give it to her!" The excitement in his voice only made Cobalt's expression turn more troubled or maybe that's just how he always looked. Cobalt went quiet and opened the locker next to Alabasters as they both noticed a very small blue glow shining from within it. Cobalt reached inside and began looking through his stuff with a feeling of what seemed to be relief. Cobalt scrambling around had caused what looked like a small square to fall out of the locker, Alabaster quickly grabbed it before it reached the floor and looked at it, only to see a small photo. He saw what thought were three children, but before he could question it more Cobalt snatched it from his fingers.
There's a moment of silence where Cobalt just held the picture to his chest and as the panic wore off. Alabaster reached his hand forward in an effort to start another sentence but Cobalt clutched the picture tighter. A stand-still. After another even longer silence, Cobalt seemed to realize he was gripping the photo so tightly that he was wrinkling the photo in his panic. He quickly loosened his grip and stared down at the photo with an expression Alabaster can only read as regret.
"God dammit…"
"Hey! It's gonna be fine….I mean we could always get it reprinted at K-mart or Walmart or-" Cobalt slumped down on the bench with such force it created a dip in the wood, still not breaking his train of thought. Alabaster sat down next to him and looked over at the picture, trying to see what was wrong..
The picture showed three child- like beings(?). A small red child, melting like a candle, a human-like figure but with no discernible facial features and green skin, and finally a taller child with a mix of human and skeletal parts. All seem to be making something vaguely familiar: the red thing sewing what appears to be a blue tie, the skeleton shaping silver around a green gem, and the green one is shaping a different red blob . . . most importantly they all seem happy.
"Who…?" Cobalt quickly looked over in a mix of confusion and utter shock as Alabaster stared back.
". . . Oh!" Alabaster finally realized, in Cobalt’s hands, was a picture of his siblings. Most importantly they now have something in common, I mean he did arts and crafts with Juniper all the time! Actually, now that Alabaster thought about it, he never really asked about their lives or how they grew up. What better time than now since he has Cobalts attention!
"You guys were children?!"
"Children…is a loose term, you're friends with that Google boy correct?"
"I mean, we’re like brothers, why?"
". . . Well much like Google, when we were . . . created. We had a short amount of time to get used to our forms and abilities." Cobalt fidgeted with the photo in his hands as he looked back and forth from the photo to Alabaster. He sighs, lingering on Alabaster staring with a mix of confusion and hesitation.
"You mortals . . . Confuse me." Cobalt shook his head, placing the photo into his pocket as Alabaster attempted to figure out what he meant.
"Hm?"
"I mean what do you get for adopting your siblings? Extra problems for nothing other than some company . . . I don't get it ." This question shocked Alabaster to his core. Doesn't this guy have two siblings?! He sat in utter disbelief for a few seconds, unable to even start a sentence. How was he supposed to answer that?
"I don't get something from it. I adopted them because I like helping people and I love supporting them!"
"But, it's just fights and problems is it not? I understand helping people but there's a limit to how many arguments you can take?"
"No! We rarely fight and if we do it's over silly things like which pony is the best!" He mumbles quietly that it's Pinkie Pie but Cobalt doesn't seem to care.
". . . Oh ?" Cobalts confusion only helped to secure Alabaster in his worry. He had heard they had problems during their squad fight but he never knew the extent. He always assumed it would fix itself in time but it . . . hasn't.
"When was the last time you actually hung out with your siblings? Like, for fun?" Alabaster hoped to break the tension and silence with the question.
"It was the day before Prism came, when the . . . photograph was taken."
"Why haven't you gotten together since then, I mean you all work together somewhat don't you?"
"We don't talk, we haven't talked properly for a milenna, I was . . . unaware this was not perceived as normal." The silence grew again as Alabaster thought to himself. He had . . . trouble understanding why or how Cobalt discussed his siblings the way he does. He began thinking of different ways to go about this until an idea formed.
"Well . . . How about I help you reconnect!"
"What?" Cobalt stared, deciding how he should react. However, Alabaster had his mission set, thinking of ways to help without ruining his current conversation with Cobalt.
"What do you mean by ' reconnect ’ . . .?"
"I mean, obviously you were close once so you can be close again!"
"How would you even go about this? You barely even know my siblings?! Let alone myself." Cobalt raised his tone and stood, however Alabaster put his hand in front of him to stop his departure.
"Well, there's some things I do know, and some things you can tell me!" Alabaster started to recall how he met the gods and what he knew. It's not often you have to classify people you kinda know based on what you kinda know about them.
"I met Crimson first right? He was super quiet at first and when I attempted to introduce myself he would just stare at me . . . Kinda like that!" He chuckled at the realization that Cobalt was staring at him like the way he remembered Crimson did. Creased eye corners, frown, and all.
"Quiet?"
"Yeah! I mean I know now he's a lot more chatty . . . come to think about it, Google was almost the same way! Almost convinced me he couldn't speak or that there was a language I didn't learn!" Alabaster is snickering to himself but stops as he realizes Cobalts face of confusion and concern. Is conversations with this guy always this awkward or is he saying something wrong?
"He's never been quiet. Even since we were 'kids'!"
"Well, what does he talk about?"
"Hm?"
"You said he’s never been quiet, what does he talk about?" Cobalt paused for a second before continuing.
"I don't know, he speaks more to Chartreuse than myself. They have a lot of games they used to play and still discuss from what I have overheard."
"Oh! Juniper and Mac play games all the time, to be honest I just pretend I know the rules and hope I'm doing it right . . ." Cobalt smiled, a surprise to Alabaster, before trying to hide his surprise to push further into the conversation.
"Yeah, to be fair I only know the rules since I had to stop them before Prism did."
"Hm, what do you mean?"
"When we were younger they would always run around, play games like tag using their powers or look through timelines and dimensions to try and find the scariest . . . and they would get carried away. After a while of Prism stopping them and - I started to step in before she could. Of course they would be upset but that's how it's always been." Cobalts smile faded to his normal cold expression though Alabaster was just excited to have something in common.
"Well! I know that when my siblings are upset about anything. Ice cream cheers them up! What do you do?”
"Nothing. Why would I do that?"
"It makes bonds and the ice cream is good!"
". . . For the longest time the only one of us to consume was Crimson, so I don't understand the purpose of-"
"Well, what's his favorite food?"
"Mashed potatoes but his love for dairy products like, well, mac and cheese is quite amusing at times." Cobalt answered, as if he had the answer memorized and for the first time Alabaster witnessed Cobalt laugh about something with no underlying mockery or anger. Alabaster started to smile ear to ear without noticing. Cobalt noticed Alabaster's smile and quickly attempted to hide his own.
"Why are you doing that?"
"It seems you care an awful lot for someone who thinks there are more problems than company."
"Wha? I don- I mean - I do but?" Cobalt began to get flustered, as if his emotions had confused him and after a few seconds of stuttering he took a deep 'breath' to find his words.
"Well, of course I have to know a lot about them, if I didn't know their strengths and weaknesses this whole place would be stuck in time or infected.”
"If it's just that, then why do you still have the photo?" Cobalt became flustered once again as he attempted to find an explanation but this time he couldn't. He went quiet, returning to his cold and unconcerned expression.
"Look, I can tell by the way you describe them that you really care and that my friend, is the first step to actually being close again!" Alabaster went to put his hand on Cobalts back expecting his hand to be slapped away. To his surprise, his hand reaches Cobalts back, it's cold and lifeless but still has a sense of unknown warmth.
"How…?"
"Hm? Yeah dude?"
"Things have been like this for thousands of centuries, whatever advice you are about to give me can not make up for that."
Alabaster sat in the silence taking his hand from Cobalts back, smile faded, lost in his own thoughts. Alabaster looked over towards the two open lockers next to each other, his and Cobalt's. As his eyes trailed the lockers, he spotted the old blue tie in Cobalts locker, wrinkled and unkept. He stood up and Cobalt lifting his head to watch him.
Alabaster grabbed the blue tie from its shelf and stared at it for a second to make sure it's the right one. He couldn’t help but notice the bad backstitch and dried red stains . . . the same one from the picture.
Cobalt watched, eye calculating as he tried to figure out what he was doing as Alabaster approached him with the tie in one hand and Rainbow Dash toy in the other. Taking a knee, he gestured for Cobalts human hand, hesitantly Cobalt opened his. Curious if not just plainly confused. Alabaster placed the tie in Cobalts hand and Alabaster put his hand next to his in the same position. The tie and Rainbow Dash toy sit basically side by side in their hands.
"How about we both do this? I know my relationships are very different from yours, but if there's anything I know, it's that no wound can't be healed eventually." Alabaster's calm tone appealed more to Cobalt than his normal one however he can still see distrust in Cobalts face.
". . . And if it doesn't work?"
"I'll make sure it will. . . even if it doesn't work immediately, if you ever want or need advice. I promise I will make sure that it will work eventually." Cobalt silently stood and reached his skeleton hand out. Alabaster grabbed his hand and began walking out of the locker room, Cobalt following behind.
The two left the room, walking back through the halls, the cold bone of Cobalts hand seemingly not bothering him as he held on tight. Eventually, they reached Google, Juniper, and Mac all still watching the game.
"What took you so lon- uhhh. . .” Google turned around and was more than surprised to be met with Alabaster and Cobalt, the latter more disinterested than the former.
"Oh you'll never believe who I ran into in the locker room!" Alabaster's smile faded from patient to his normal cheerfulness and excitement. Mac turned to face the two.
"Objective . . . complete?"
"Objective complete! You did a great job buddy". Alabaster bumping his shoulder against Mac’s before he turned back around. Juniper turning around in Google's lap to talk to Alabaster, before pausing to blink at Cobalt.
"He's going to be joining us for a little bit!"
Alabaster bumped Cobalt elbow, still gripping his hand tightly.
"Oh . . . I'm Cobalt, as you probably know. I hope you don't mind my intrusion. As a matter of fact, I should get goi- '' Cobalt was cut off, as Juniper changed her sights from Cobalt to the blue fabric in Cobalts hand. Standing on Google’s thigh and reaching past his shoulder to grab for it. Cobalt pulled his hand away from her and bristled, confusing Juniper as she stared dead at him, tilting her head.
Alabaster glanced over and took a deep breath, making a gesture for him to do the same. Cobalt didn't seem to know what the gesture meant but before he can point it out they hear a slight rumble.
"That must be your stomach, Juni! Well, what do you wanna eat?" Alabaster bends his knees to match Juniper's height on Google’s lap, waiting for her answer.
"OoooOo! We could get cotton candy…Wait! No , corn dogs!"
"Corn dogs it is! I saw a stand right outside the stadium! We haven't tried it yet!"
Juniper jumped up from Google’s lap, pointing in the direction of the nearest exit before skipping off. Mac and Google standing to follow her. Eventually, the group and Cobalt reach outside the stadium. Although the cheers are louder than ever.
"Okay! So what would you like- Oh, hey!" Dan looked up from behind the stand, face twitching as he glanced at Cobalt. Before focusing on Alabaster.
"Hey Dan, how have you been?"
"Pretty good! My pay has gone up ever since my last tourney."
"That's awesome dude! Also can I have two corn dogs. . . and ?" Alabaster elbowed Cobalt, who proceeded to stare in confusion.
"Remember? I give Juniper ice cream when she's upset so youuu. . . " The blond trailed, and with a sigh Cobalt grumbled to himself before stepping up to the stand.
" Hello , may I have . . . a Mac and cheese." Dan nervously twitched, as that's not how the menu works but honestly, he was both too scared of Cobalt and too tired to bring it up.
Alabaster turned from Cobalt, letting go of his hand to face Juniper. "I have a surprise, now close your eyes and open your hands!”
Juniper followed the instructions. Alabaster placing it into her open hands, the toy that was once dwarfed in Alabaster's hands seemed almost giant in Junipers.
"Okay, you can open your eyes." Alabaster laughed to himself, Juniper opened her eyes and looked down at the toy in her hands. Juniper let out a squeal, pressing the toy to her chest with a grin. Cobalt looked away as the two gushed over it, taking their food from the nervous . . . corn dog salesmen(?) and placed it on the nearest bench.
While Juniper and her de facto babysitter-brothers sat down, Alabaster stopped Cobalt.
"It’s your turn, remember?" Cobalt sighed, picking up his mac and cheese and turning away. Creating a gateway to his home with a slight of the hand as Alabaster went to his sister.
"Hey Juni!" Alabaster handed Juniper his phone, opening Flexflix for her to watch My Little Pony with Mac and Google.
Google looked up. "Where are you going?"
"We have to go drop off a gift for Cobalt siblings, we're like Santa!" He pinched Juniper’s cheeks, causing her to burst out laughing.
"Last stop, pinky promise!" Alabaster holds out his pinky, joining their pinkies. Alabaster broke it to ruffle her hair before turning to Cobalt.
"What was that? The thing with your pinky?"
"Oh! It's like a deal but less formal and more fun!" Cobalt stared down at his own pinky finger but before he could question further, they'd made it to the living space.
To Alabaster's surprise, it looked almost like a regular house except everything was slightly off.
"Where's Chartreuse?"
"She left with Folk some time ago, and I'm not sure where they went or if they would like me to know their location." Cobalt walked up the door across from them and held the door knob with hesitation, his head pressed against the door.
He turned back to face Alabaster only to see him grinning back at him and giving an oddly encouraging thumbs up. Cobalt walked in and Alabaster could only look through the crack of the door. There he could only see what appeared to be an ocean-like space.
Possessions like crowns, pokeballs, and too many eyeballs floating within. However there was no Crimson in sight or at least that's Alabaster thought before Cobalt stood on top of the red liquid as if it were nothing but shallow water.
Cobalt sighed as all of the eyes went to look at him, staring with unknowable intent. Cobalt bent down presenting the bowl of mac and cheese to the . . . goop. Placing it down.
Cobalt rolled his eye and closed it, a glow of blue and red orbs surrounding him. When Alabaster looked around, he could see some appear next to him.
When he looked down, Alabaster saw a red hand reach out from the ocean and wave around pathetically. As if trying to reach the mac and cheese but not making an effort for it.
Cobalt sat down as the hand fumbled around, before it grabbed it. Alabaster’s eyebrows furrowed as Crimson suddenly built from the hand. The now human form of Crimson clawed at the mac and cheese, scarfing down the food with his hands as he and Cobalt began a conversation. Alabaster couldn't connect the dots off of sound because of the glowing orbs, so he had only body language to go off of. Cobalt sighed, showing the tie to Crimson, the god in question seemed shocked, but only at first. As he made a valiant attempt to brush it off. He took the tie from Cobalt, examining it with a strangely fine eye. Face almost humorous as he picked at the uneven thread. Crimson reached back into the goop ocean, and pulled out a shiny needle and a seam ripper. The needle pre-fitted with a thread tied to it. But before he could tug at the old thread, Cobalt stopped him. The two stared at each other for a moment before Crimson let the seam ripper and needle float away in his ocean of goop.
Cobalt said something with the same expression that he gave Alabaster when he said something confusing. Something that causes Crimson to stare back in confusion, before Crimson floats over his bowl. Cobalt stared at it, looking over to Alabaster for support before he picked up a noodle and put it in his mouth.
Cobalt’s eye flickered to his brother. Raising a questioning eyebrow before nodding in seemingly approval. Crimson’s eyes, including the ones in the trapped ocean, all locked on Cobalt before Crimson moved over to shove his shoulder. Laughing at his brother's reaction with not an ounce of malice, hands shaking with what he could only describe as contained excitement.
Alabaster felt a shiver creep up his spine, one that told him he was very much intruding on a private event. With a final smile and a thumbs up to no one in particular. He closed the door and faced the gateway home. Only pausing to look back once, before he walked back through the gateway. Excited for next time he'll get to speak to his new friend.