Muriel poked his head out from under the table cloth for fresh air. Asra raised an eyebrow down at him before turning his attention to another customer. When they left he bent down to whisper, “Your masks are so popular Muriel.”
Well, he had priced them for cheap, and they were nowhere near as pretty or as popular as Asra’s but he nodded, knowing not to voice this or the compliments would continue and he didn’t want to distract him. This night was special to Asra, as it was every year. It was the only time he got to see them.
He had only come to mind the table should Asra work up the courage to speak to them, otherwise some ruffian would steal this year’s takings the same as last year. Not that Asra had cared, but he didn’t want to see him go hungry for a week, again.
They were all he could talk about most days, think about other days. If it wasn’t for his issues, causing him to barely tolerate even Asra’s presence, he might even feel jealous.
Asra’s eyes scanned the crowd, turning dejected after another failed search, “...Maybe they’re not coming... do you think they could be sick?” alarm flashed across his face.
How would he know? he moved the table cloth back over his hiding place. Asra whipped it back up again, “Do you think you can mind the table? I need to...you know...”
It was late. They had been there for hours and the event would only go for another or so before revelers started turning in. Begrudgingly he stood, Asra shouting his thanks as he took off towards the bathroom.
He stood stiff and silent as come-ers and go-ers perused their wares, occasionally asking him a question, but his eyes looked away from them and they soon moved on. He was beginning to grow impatient when he heard a charm jingle.
His head whipped to the expensive charms Asra had obsessively spent the last year making. He couldn’t let those be stolen, even if he didn’t know what he would do if someone made the attempt.
“It’s so pretty,” came the admiring comment.
He blinked. It was them. His voice caught in his throat as they gently dropped the charm against their handmade display and moved to another, handling each one with care. Their head turned up to face him, and his shoulders met his ears, looking away with a flush.
They sighed, obviously not finding what they were looking for. His heart leapt to his throat as they turned away. All those hours Asra had spent crafting these trinkets, all to glance at them for just a moment longer, maybe make one interesting enough to catch a conversation, and they were all about to get thrown away because Asra wasn’t here-!
“Ah-Ah! Ex-cuse me,” he spoke stiltedly. They turned to look at him, “C-Can I help you?”
They blinked at him, “Muriel, right?”
“Y-es?” he blushed, shocked she’d remembered him.
They cocked their head, a charming smile forming on their lips, “Is Asra-?”
“Emsee!” a voice shouted from behind him.
‘Oh thank goodness,’ he thought, turning to a flushed Asra who was trying to smooth down his clothes as inconspicuously as possible.
Asra picked up the conversation from where he left off, laughing and charming Emsee into purchasing the charm they’d first picked up. “It’ll give you great protection!” he was grinning ear to ear as Emsee’s fingers touched his while exchanging coins and Muriel looked away, certain he’d be hearing all about this moment for the rest of the week.
He left as Emsee was called by their aunt. He raised his coat higher, letting his face become obscured in the night.
He was almost out of the Masquerade grounds when a conversation passed his ears.
“I don’t know why you waste your money on these things,” a woman tutted.
A laugh, almost a giggle was the response. Emsee’s, he realised, “It’s for protection.”
He ducked behind a column, having no interest in starting up another conversation.
“We have plenty of protection charms at the shop,” he saw their aunt shake their head.
Emsee held the pendant around their neck up delicately, as though it was something precious. A wistful smile formed on their lips as they stared at it, “We don’t have any like this.”
When they finally passed he scurried home, saving the compliment in his memory for when Asra needed it. Maybe he had a chance, afterall. He frowned, or maybe not, maybe Emsee considered it just well made, he didn’t know... maybe he shouldn’t say anything...
.............................
Four years later a knock came at his door. He jumped, startled until he recognised it as Asra’s rhythm. He lumbered to his feet. Inaana was already at the door, looking at him with her keen eyes. He nodded in acknowledgement at her, opening the door.
Asra greeted him warmly, but he was ice cold, seeing Asra had his arm wrapped around someone. Asra tiredly asked if they could come in and he fumbled back, glaring at the new person, who flicked off their hood.
It was Emsee. He wasn’t shocked, as Asra had told him he had been successful bringing them back, but he was surprised they had brought them to his house. He thought Asra understood his need to be alone...
“Awa!” Emsee said, tugging on Asra’s arm and pointing at him.
He raised an eyebrow at Asra, wondering if this was some game he didn’t know he was taking part in. Emsee wriggled out of Asra’s grasp and stood on their toes, ‘oo’ing at his size. They turned back to Asra, reaching their arms out as wide as they could, “Awa iddo bi!”
“Yes,” Asra gave the most supportive smile he could muster, “He is big.”
“What’s going on?” he mumbled, looking away.
Asra’s smile faltered, “Emsee, go sit by the fire.”
Emsee nodded, curling up next to Inaana who eyed them warily.
“I’ll explain some other time,” he moved a hand down his drawn face, and Muriel couldn’t recall ever seeing him this tired, “For now, can you mind Emsee for me?”
He startled, “M-” he lowered his voice, “Me?!”
“Please,” Asra whispered pleadingly, “Emsee’s in this...phase. They’re into everything! I just need to sleep for an hour, maybe two.”
Phase? He looked up, watching Emsee leaning over to pat Inaana, her lips beginning to pull back in a snarl. As he looked closer, he could see the kindness was still there in their eyes, but the perceptive intelligence that had first piqued Asra’s interest was much more subdued, replaced with a child like wonder.
Children could be cruel, he remembered. But his friend’s normally calm demeanor was cracking as a result... he nodded, slowly, and the tension seemed to leave Asra, leaving just the exhaustion. “That’s...great. Thankyou.” He walked over to the fireplace, laying on the furs. “Emsee?” he called, and their head turned, lighting up with a smile, “Muriel’s going to watch you while I sleep, okay? Just for a little while. Be good.”
Emsee’s smile dropped, as if recognising Asra sleeping meant they would be lonely for a while, but they did as they were told. Satisfied, Asra was finally able to turn his head into the fur, and was asleep quickly. A bored look crossed Emsee’s face, and watching Muriel for the next few minutes also proved to be boring.
Muriel shifted his weight from one leg to the other, not knowing what it was he was supposed to do. He watched Emsee stand up and wander around his house, which wasn’t much. Something seemed to catch their eye, however, and they reached for it.
“No!” he kept his voice low for Asra’s sake, stalking towards them. Emsee jumped, frightened, “...That’s... special.” He spotted a familiar charm around Emsee’s neck, “like your charm there,” he pointed.
Emsee looked down at their necklace, before nodding, seeming to understand as they withdrew their hand.
With nothing else to look at, Emsee sat down by the fire, petulantly watching Asra sleep with a frown, but not disturbing him.
Muriel raked his hand through his messy locks. It didn’t seem like Emsee remembered anything, at all. The complete opposite problem that he had...
He sighed, glad they would be gone in the morning. Asra could explain everything to him once this was all resolved. After all, this couldn’t be permanent, right?
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