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Scott approached the blue kingdom’s castle, his blue suit with gold details glimmering in the moonlight, tonight was the night of the masquerade ball.
Scott looked up at the castle, the lights from the party coming out from the windows, it didn't seem to be too loud yet which was good… he sighed, put on his matching mask over his eyes, and walked into the castle.
As Scott went up the stairs in the castle, the only thing he could think about was his codename, Death. Whether a crazy coincidence or a joke from the universe, it was painfully ironic. After all, he seemed to bring death to wherever he went.
Scott snuck into the ballroom, everyone was already there. Scott hoped no one noticed that he appeared late, but unfortunately for him, a woman with black curly hair and a deep blue dress that seemed to imitate the ocean itself noticed him, “Hey!”
Scott tensed, he was worried that he was in trouble as another in a yellow dress with long brown hair looked in his direction and approached. The woman in yellow spoke up, “sorry about the Priestess, she's a bit drunk right now… I assume you're here for the ball.”
Scott looked at the floor and mumbled an apology “Yes, I am… Sorry for being late, I got caught up outside…”
The woman in yellow smiled softly and put a hand on his shoulder, “that's quite alright, you're here and you're safe, that's what matters. Now, what was your codename for tonight? I'm temperance.”
Scott looked down at his feet, “I'm Death…”
Temperance didn't seem to waver at this, living up to her name and welcoming him with open arms. “Welcome, Death. I do hope you enjoy yourself here” and she walks away
Scott decides to stand by the snack table, hoping someone would be willing to give him a chance, but until then. He would sit by himself, he was too intimidated to do much else.
Yes, he lived in this kingdom, yes, this castle was his at one point. But with this new tone to it, the new sounds, the new smells, and even being here so late at night was unusual. Out of place even. Yes he always said blue and pink go good together, but, this is a bit much.
He decided to look at what they had for food options. It was just alcohol. Not much else. Scott knew this would be a bad idea, but there wasn't anything he could do about it.
He was so focused on making sure the cups of booze were even and in line, he didn't even hear footsteps behind him until he felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around.
A girl with bright red hair and a forest green dress stood before him, her smile wide and happy. “Hi! I'm Stars! Nice to meet you!”
Scott was taken aback by the sudden introduction, but he was oddly comforted by her energy, “Hi, I'm Death…”
He could see Stars’ eyes widen slightly at the name, “woah! Death?”
Scott waited for Stars to run away scared, he was surprised to hear, “That's so cool!”
Scott relaxed and looked at the girl again, “Thanks…”
The two talked next to the concessions table and immediately hit it off, Stars started talking to him about dancing, something she loved to do. Scott had never had an interest in dancing before, but the way Stars talked about it as if it was her whole meaning to life. It made Scott want to give it a shot.
“Do you think you could… teach me?”
Stars looked at him and beamed, she grabbed his hands and took him out to the dance floor where everyone else was. She started teaching him the basics. As he got more used to it she started doing something harder, surprised Scott could keep up
“Wow, you are a fast learner, Death”
Scott chuckled. “I adapt fast, what can I say?”
Scott and Stars walked out of the castle before midnight, but the ball went on into the early hours of the morning.
Scott turned to Stars outside the castle, Stars looking back at him with a friendly gaze. “That was fun! Glad we got out of there before too many people got drunk…”
Scott grimaced at the thought of being around multiple messy drunks. “Yeah… Say, I have an idea.”
“Hit me with it!”
Scott has always meant to bring someone to his house, whether it was platonic or not, he didn't care. “What if we have a sleepover?”
Stars brightened at the idea, “I love that! As long as you're blue kingdom”
Scott smiled, he had managed to dance with another blue member, “I am!”
“Good.”
Scott lead Stars to his house, he could see her eyes glimmer with recognition as he opened the door, “I assume you know who I am at this point.”
Stars ran up to Scott and took off his mask, gasping with joy and squealing
“Excited?”
“Scott! It's me!” Mae exclaimed as she took off her mask and jumped into his arms
Scott couldn't help but laugh, he'd been dancing with his best friend all night and didn't know. Whatever enchantment Graecie put in there really worked. He'd have to tell her in the morning.
Scott carried Mae up the ladder to his bedroom, she'd been there multiple times and had even left some of her sleep clothes over for situations like this. Scott handed Mae her clothes and turned away to look for his while she changed.
As Mae changed she turned to look at Scott, “You know you don't have to look away, right?”
Scott shrugged as he finally found at least a sleep shirt that wasn't covered in dirt. “I like to give you your privacy.”
Mae finished putting on her sleep shirt just as Scott finishing getting out of his formal clothes Mae hummed as she put her dress on a hanger and left it on a hook, “I'm so relieved to have that off, as much as I like to be fancy sometimes, it gets itchy”
Scott knew all too well what itchy formal clothes felt like, “Yeah, drives me up the wall”
Mae flopped onto Scott's bed with a sigh, “I'm glad it ended this way, but I have a question.”
“Yeah?” Scott turned around as his new sleep shirt slid onto his frame.
Mae looked at him, genuine concern in her eyes, “why would you invite some random girl to your house for the night?”
Scott smirked and laid down on the bed, “to lecture her if she accepted. Why would you go to a random stranger's house, Mae.”
Mae was quiet
“You wanted to rob me, didn't you?”
“Yes.”
Scott playfully tackled Mae to the bed, “I KNEW IT!”
Mae started laughing and begging for mercy, which Scott gladly gave, seeing as it's late at night. “Come on, let's get to sleep, the others will be useless tomorrow, might as well get the upper hand.”
Mae seemed hesitant, “but I don't want to go…”
Scott climbed under the covers of his bed, holding his arms out, “Who said anything about you leaving?”
Mae gasped with joy and climbed into his arms with a giggle, Scott could feel her relax as he ran his hand through her curly red hair
Mae sighed in contentment and looked up at Scott, “this doesn't seem too romantic for you?”
Scott looked down at Mae with a look of pure vulnerability, “what's a few cuddles between friends?”
Mae nodded, “you're right.”
She nuzzled into him as she slowly fell asleep, Scott held her close as she slept, staying up all night so nothing could harm her. He knew, he would not let death come for her next.