Ant. @cookes-keep-official - Tumblr Blog

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

”…Right, sorry.”

They avoided Ant’s gaze as their face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Ah its alright. I uh... I might take one for Silver... if that's alright..?"

[They start tugging at the sleeve of their jumper, but they have a very small smile when they talk about him.]

”Yeah Yeah whatever just— take the lollipop, I’m sure your husband will appreciate it.”

"Oh! He's uh... hes..."

[They swallow hard.]

"...thank you Robin."

[They pluck one from the stand and start twirling it between two fingers.]

They’re hardly listening, having distracted themselves with something else, muttering incomprehensibly about… something.

[They watch for a little bit longer, eyes surveying the scene one last time before they turn back to them.]

"Will you be alright?"

They look up, being snapped out of their own thoughts.

“Oh. Uhm. Yes, I— I think I’ll be ok.”

[They nod once and the fog pulls back towards them as they begin to be enveloped.]

"Alright... tell someone if something happens..."

”Ok, I will.”

…

“Bye, Ant.”

...

"See you around.."

[And they're gone. The last of the fog leaks out from under the door.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

”…Right, sorry.”

They avoided Ant’s gaze as their face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Ah its alright. I uh... I might take one for Silver... if that's alright..?"

[They start tugging at the sleeve of their jumper, but they have a very small smile when they talk about him.]

”Yeah Yeah whatever just— take the lollipop, I’m sure your husband will appreciate it.”

"Oh! He's uh... hes..."

[They swallow hard.]

"...thank you Robin."

[They pluck one from the stand and start twirling it between two fingers.]

They’re hardly listening, having distracted themselves with something else, muttering incomprehensibly about… something.

[They watch for a little bit longer, eyes surveying the scene one last time before they turn back to them.]

"Will you be alright?"

They look up, being snapped out of their own thoughts.

“Oh. Uhm. Yes, I— I think I’ll be ok.”

[They nod once and the fog pulls back towards them as they begin to be enveloped.]

"Alright... tell someone if something happens..."

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

”…Right, sorry.”

They avoided Ant’s gaze as their face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Ah its alright. I uh... I might take one for Silver... if that's alright..?"

[They start tugging at the sleeve of their jumper, but they have a very small smile when they talk about him.]

”Yeah Yeah whatever just— take the lollipop, I’m sure your husband will appreciate it.”

"Oh! He's uh... hes..."

[They swallow hard.]

"...thank you Robin."

[They pluck one from the stand and start twirling it between two fingers.]

They’re hardly listening, having distracted themselves with something else, muttering incomprehensibly about… something.

[They watch for a little bit longer, eyes surveying the scene one last time before they turn back to them.]

"Will you be alright?"

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

”…Right, sorry.”

They avoided Ant’s gaze as their face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Ah its alright. I uh... I might take one for Silver... if that's alright..?"

[They start tugging at the sleeve of their jumper, but they have a very small smile when they talk about him.]

”Yeah Yeah whatever just— take the lollipop, I’m sure your husband will appreciate it.”

"Oh! He's uh... hes..."

[They swallow hard.]

"...thank you Robin."

[They pluck one from the stand and start twirling it between two fingers.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

”…Right, sorry.”

They avoided Ant’s gaze as their face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Ah its alright. I uh... I might take one for Silver... if that's alright..?"

[They start tugging at the sleeve of their jumper, but they have a very small smile when they talk about him.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

”You can take one if you want, I don’t really care.”

"...and do what with it?"

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

”Makes sense.”

They walk behind the counter and grab themselves a lollipop.

“Need some sugar…”

[They tilt their head a little at the lollipops as if trying to remember something.]

"I think i remember having a lollipop once.."

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

They scoff.

“Don’t worry. All that she’s got going for her is the fact that she might have some connections. Other than that she’s about as strong as any middle-aged woman.”

"That's hopeful then. I'm just uhm... cautious about the people I'm around now."

[At the appearance of the sun they finally divert their full attention to Robin, carefully ignoring the guitar on the counter.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

”It is. No clue where it came from but… I’m glad we’ve got it.”

They lean it against the machine next to the guitar.

“Just in case.”

"...always good to be prepared... for... everything and anything..."

[They start fiddling nervously with the hem of their dressinggown, still glancing out of the window at the brightening sky through fogged up glasses.]

"It might be sufficient for a uh... a normal person.."

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

”Unfortunately… Wish it was anyone else.”

They eventually reemerge from the closet holding a little axe. It isn’t particularly flashy or strong, it looks like it was stolen or bought from an axe-throwing business (probably because of the large dent in the blade), but it could definitely still do damage.

[They hum in concerned agreement, then nod towards the weapon.]

"Not a bad axe, it looks very sturdy."

[They shift closer to look at the axe in more detail, still half focused on the windows and door.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

”The axe.”

Robin responded, as if that was the most normal thing they could be looking for.

"Oh so this is serious serious."

[They shift a little and start to shuffle around the arcade, still keeping one eye on the windows. He visibly relaxes at the first signs of life outside - the early riser of the world.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

At some point the clanging became softer, like they’d stopped moving around as much. Ant still could barely see into the mess of the closet, but they noticed something else. Leaning against the prize counter was the lavender guitar that they’d gotten for Robin.

[Something twists painfully in Ant's chest and they fight the urge to immediately leave. Instead they just stare at it. A heavy melancholy, stagnant and cloudy, laces their fog with such a bitter sadness. They swallow the lump in their throat.]

"What... ahem.. what are you looking for..?"

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

Ant can hear them rifling around through the closet, like they’re looking for something. Theres definitely a lot of stuff clanging around back there.

He wonders what they could possibly be looking for.

[Ant waits for a while, waiting for the sun to breathe life back into the world. They'd feel safer when the world was awake.]

[He regularly casts glances back towards where Robin's buried in a closet, a silent, waiting statue in the arcade. He cant muster up the courage to call out.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

Robin cast a wary glance at him and sighed.

“You’re fine, I’m not going to kick you out, I don’t care. Just don’t go touching random stuff.”

They hop out of the machine and wander into the storage closet.

"Its more...hmm.. nevermind."

[They wander back over to the window, staring out at the slowly rising sun and the hues it cast over the sky. Fog still swirls around them as they watch with sleepless laden eyes.]

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]

Robin took a deep breath, looking pale and shaky.

“It- It was probably just a coincidence. Yeah, it was a coincidence. Definitely not a sign of anything bad.”

"I.... strongly beg to difer but okay."

[He shifts uncomfortably for a few moments mulling it over. He's reluctant to leave with whatever threat the woman posed, but still, they weren't on good terms.]

[He still cared.]

[And it hurt.]

"Do you want me to leave?"

[Theres a quiet muttering and circling footsteps that circle around the arcade, barely audible, but annoying enough to be heard. The voice seems to be hyping themselves up to do something.]

@cookes-keep-official

The entire place is silent, but he can feel somebody watching from a familiar corner of the building.

[Ant breathes in, holds it for a moment, then slowly let's it out along with a billow of fog, finally becoming the visual to the disjointed audio. The fog stays close by as they continue to glance around, checking the window to the outside four times before turning back to the arcade.]

"...Robin...?"

[He looks different. More grey, with a couple of white streaks through brown hair. Hes not wearing red anymore.]

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then the screen glitches and Robin appears. They look displeased, eyes narrowed in anger.

“What do you want, Anthony.”

"Someone uh... someone was just at my house and I.. im curious if you know who they were."

[They fiddle with a lock of hair, clearly nervous.]

"They said they were looking for you."

”Why would I know some random person who shows up at your house?”

They snapped, it was clear that they had no interest in talking to them.

"I dont know, that's why I'm curious."

[Their face twitches at Robin's tone but they make no comment on it.]

"She was pushy about me telling her where you were, even though we haven't spoken in months. Pushy to the point of near-threatining."

”…This wouldn’t happen to be an… older woman. Would it?”

They wouldn’t meet Ant’s eyes, their gaze kept darting to the window, to the doors, to the shadows beyond the walls.

"... it would be. Had your hair and everything."

[Ant's sniffs the air, nothings off, yet. But their own suspicion now mixed with Robin's own is putting them even further on edge.]