His looming presence is familiar, yet foreign with how long it’s been. He’s slightly taller than me, his suit an inky black shade. His dark hair tied into a bun as he looks at me.
“Long time, Cupio,” he says, his voice deep and almost eerie.
We’re the oldest beings in this entire park.
“Mortem. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, well. Times have changed,” he says, waving his hand around the park. “I’m not sure if I should judge the ingenuity or despise it.”
“Maybe you should take that ancient stick out of your ass and actually have a good time,” I joke, and the first grim reaper to exist gives me a smile.
“It’s good to see you again, old friend,” he says, and I nod my head.
“He has fucking horns, Doe. Did you see them?” I hear another familiar female voice say before she abruptly bumps into Mortem.
Candy stumbles as Mortem stabilizes her by grabbing her arm. “Who has horns, little cupid?” he asks in his deep timbre, and Candy just blinks at him.
“We will catch up another time,” I tell Mortem as he eyes Candy as if she’s a piece of her literal name, waving me off.
Alright then.
I make my way through the crowd and finally find Ladybird and Gloom. There are two women next to them, along with Love and Death.
“There you are,” Ladybird says, tugging me close, clearly uncomfortable with all the peopling that this type of event comes along with.
I wrap an arm around her waist and grab Gloom’s hand; he gives me a reassuring squeeze as I introduce myself to Gloom’s friends. Mors being the only one I haven’t had a real interaction with.
“So you’re Head Cupid, huh?” Mors asks, looking me up and down. I know without a doubt she’s judging me for my son, Eros’, actions towards her girlfriend, Juliet.
“That I am,” I say confidentially.
There’s only so much I can do with people’s perception. If they don’t like me, or judge me because of his actions, then I’ll just have to deal with it. I just hope it doesn’t bother Gloom.
I’m nearly ancient, still caring what people think about me—I’ve just gotten better at hiding it.
“Well, it’s nice to meet the guy who might be able to handle our little Gloom here,” she says, taking me off guard.
“I’ll have you know that I’m not little, and I’m not something to be handled Morose,” he says, making the woman glare at him.
“Say my full name again, I dare you,” she says, narrowing her eyes at him, and it’s clear that they’re particularly close.
“Your full name is Morose?” Love interrupts, her jaw nearly on the floor. “I thought we were best friends?”
“Look what you did,” Mors says to Gloom, and he just gives her a wide smile.
“You started it,” Gloom chimes back and Ladybird sighs.
“Gloom, be a doll and get me a refill,” she says, downing her glass and handing it to him.
He’s on the go immediately, heading over to the bar and getting her a refill, leaving me and Ladybird alone with his friends and I wonder what the hell she has up her sleeve.
Mors studies Ladybird, who only studies her back.
“I don’t plan on stealing your friend, but I think it’s best you prepare yourself for the inevitable that he will be spending more time in Cupidale,” Ladybird says, cutting the bullshit, as always.
“You’re really into him?” Mors says, and I can feel the tension in Ladybird.
“What isn’t there to like? Yes, we’re really into him,” Ladybird says, more defensively than necessary.
