Chapter Text
I was excited, nearly vibrating with energy, and it's not even because of the festival happening around me. It was gonna be loads of fun but no, I wasn't this excited for it, it's because he might come. Ink likes these events and I made sure to get him to note this one on his scarf last time I saw him. It's a huge, absolutely ginormous, celebration of us monsters coming to the surface 10 years ago. He didn't come to any of the little festivals since last years celebration of the town's 75th anniversary so I haven't seen him in almost a year, so this time I've steeled my will. I'm gonna ask for his number!
Ever since I met him a few years ago I have been crushing on the playful skeleton. He likes our festivals cause we go all out and it's so large it takes up several city blocks, it seems like there are endless things to do. I think having so much to do it could make your head spin is what he likes about it. He jumps from booth to booth trying as much as he can before we, I, need a break and we sprawl out at the picnic areas eating some of the snacks we bought. I smile at the memory. Right now though I'm waiting by the fountain in the middle of a park, it's close to the festivities but not as crowded as the city streets.
The fountain splashes behind me and my tail twitches in mild anxiety. I'm not typically they type to ask for numbers but it's now or never. He comes by so rarely and I am just getting busier and busier. It was a pain just to get today off from work. If I want a chance, a real chance, I gotta take initiative like I did when I wrote that note on his scarf for him to come back for today. I hope he read it and will be here, I've already been waiting on this fountain for quite a while. The water keeps sprinkling onto my fur and though it feels nice and cool on this hot day, it's still annoying to have damp spots on my tail back and arms.
A large splash at my back had me prickling with anger "Hey!!- Dont splash me ki- Ink?!". My anger disappeared as soon as it had come when I saw him forming from the liquid of the fountain and I jumped into the fountain to give him a big hug as soon as he formed "You made it! I was starting to think you wouldn't show". He chuckles and pats my back "yeah I made it". I pull away and step out of the fountain shaking off a bit "I'm so glad you could, this is gonna be a huge celebration and it should be a lot of fun!". He lights up in a grin at the prospect of fun.
Reaching into my pocket I pull out 2 wrist bands, "they're using these instead of tickets, I even paid a little extra so we could do the booths without paying first. So only thing that we'd have to buy is food".I reach out for his hand and when he offers it I stick the paper band around his wrist, then awkwardly put mine on one handed. The words 'now or never' echo in my head and I feel my anxiety rise as he steps out of the fountain. "Hey... um before we get started.... can we trade numbers?" I fiddle with my fingers nervously. "Sure!" I look up at him and my heart flutters at his easy smile as he fishes out his phone, I pull mine out too. Once numbers were exchanged the tension in my shoulders release and I let out a giggle "what do you wanna do first?"
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We've been playing for hours. I think we've hit every booth and ride at least once, and rode every Rollercoaster three time. Anxiety prickles at me more and more and the place becomes more packed. I have never done well in crowds and I think the fireworks happening tonight has everyone in the city out to watch it. I told ink I was grabbing ice-cream and I'd meet him by the ferris-wheel so we could use the benches or picnic tables set up by it. I duck into an alley to calm myself and take a shuddering breath, "I shouldn't be doing this... but ink's having so much fun..." . My fur stands on end and I hear footsteps, I decidedly try to ignore it and rub my face.
The footsteps get closer and the fact they seem so much louder than the murmur of the crowd outside the alley makes my ear twitch, I'm focusing on the sound too much. I sigh and turn to leave before getting caught by the arm. I give a cut off shriek and look at the person touching me. They're a skeleton, an odd looking one at that, a floating target in front of their chest and some weird gunk flowing out of their empty sockets like tears, I cautiously look at them "...may I help you?". They just smirk, "maybe, did I hear you say something about ink?" There is an ominous air about how they ask this. My tail flicks anxiously.
"The skeleton?" I am stalling unsure of how to take this situation and discreetly looked for an escape. "Yeah, he's a... dear old friend of mine" they chuckle darkly "you're close to him?". My heart thumps loudly in my chest, what is he getting at? "Y-yes? If you'll excuse me I gotta get back to him, he's waiting on me-" I then turn swiftly and try to speed walk away. I thought I had made my escape till a hard jolt to the back of my head had me seeing stars as I collapsed into darkness.