Stinging Thorns and Blazing Bones

@spiked-pepper

AU Lewis Pepper RP blog. See About and Rules for more info~ And do be careful what you say... Every flower has its thorns, after all...~

137 posts

"S-stay away!" Alice cried, feeling a strong presence. "I can't help you!"

Spiked had been simply walking out in the forests around his mansion, he hadn’t expected to run across anyone. Certainly not a woman screaming at him to go away.

“I didn’t ask. Though I will ask who you are and what you’re doing here.”

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

Alice nodded and followed. Since he’s a ghost, she can read his energy A LOT easier. This level of empathy can allow her to not only feel what ghosts are feeling, but also pick up on their intentions. If she picked up that this ghost was leading her to her death, she would’ve already ran away.

The brush slowly turned into large, almost over grown rose bushes and rose vines. Roses, roses everywhere… And then the mansion. Huge doors opened to let them both in and he let her in first.

“I hope you aren’t frightened by my state of… life. I think I can make a phone for you to use if yours won’t, and you can feel free to wait here until your help arrives.”

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

“It is…a new sight for me,” Alice looked at the roses before coming inside, “but I sense no malice. And…that was…kind of cool. And thank you.”

He seemed to grin, "Heh. Guess there are a few perks to being dead. Let me know if you still can't make a call, will you? I'll be in the library," He slowly floated away as several smaller spirits peeked out at her from behind walls and decorations, "And don't mind the Deadbeats. They're mostly just curious."

One approached her slowly, chirping in curiosity.

#mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

“Heh… I still remember our recipe, not sure if it’s anything like his though.” He nodded. Both would be easy enough to make. Maybe even easy enough that the Deadbeats could help. He didn’t seem upset by the mention of the Peppers. For now.

“I think I have a book with the recipe somewhere… if you want to double check?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“That might be a good idea, if it’s not too much trouble. Yours is probably just as delicious as his is. After all, there’s no right or wrong way to do a recipe. As long as you try your best and put all of your heart into what you’re making, it’ll never fail.” The passion in which the mechanic spoke those words was proof of just how much he believed them. It was something he had learned over time, and it was what boosted his confidence in the kitchen if he was feeling down on himself.

The warm ray of amber hued light shining from the palm of his right hand seemed to agree with this notion as well, the dead beats being pleased by its presence, gesturing to the matching halos on their heads. They wanted the blond to hold on to that courage, to be himself. It would show he was getting better and their master could rest easy, knowing his best friend had everything under control.

Even if Arthur had his ups and downs, he would try to keep his emotions in check, letting the tea’s aroma calm his nerves while glancing down at the notes he had taken on how to bake the treats the little spooks liked so much.

There were doodles of another kind of follower ghost, albeit sloppily drawn in his opinion. Although he couldn’t help but smile at them, Sonaja chirping with glee as they came over and pointed out the gears on each of the sunny colored specter’s chests.

“Yes, it has been a while since you’ve seen them, hasn’t it? I wonder how everyone is doing.”

The ghost nodded, agreeing with what the blonde said and floating to a nearby shelf of cookbooks. He found the one he wanted, a personal notebook that he’d scribbled down recipes in while watching his parents. While Arthur sipped his tea, he floated over to check through for it.

Spiked looked down at the page, hoping he wasn’t snooping, “Who’s Deadbeat is that?” He must have missed the light.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Oh, one of my alternates calls them dead bolts. He got turned into a half ghost, he hasn’t told me the full story yet though.” Arthur replied, looking up from the paper with a chuckle as Sonaja continued to chirp and nuzzle against the rough sketches happily.

It seemed the tiny dead beat was even more affectionate than usual towards these orange hued counterparts of theirs, cooing softly while a familiar sunflower began to bloom on top of their head. Their master was rather fond of the halfa and his dead bolts as well, having been introduced to the cookies through meeting him in the first place. He was slightly more upbeat than the Arthur they knew. Although he did have his moments.

The short mechanic sighed, gulping down the rest of his tea while taking a moment to reflect on everything that had lead him here. He really missed their talks, seeing the other blond as the older sibling he never had. He could tell him anything. Good or bad, Arthur always felt safe whenever he was around.

There wasn’t a lot of people who knew about his powers. Or had any sort of experience with them. But he had found another version of himself who understood. And, with any luck at all, could teach him how to harness them.

“He’s a dear friend of mine, and Petal’s too. The dead beats hit it off with the dead bolts right away. I’ve never seen them warm up to anyone so fast before. Well, other than me. But I have a feeling the fact we look so much alike might have something to do with it.”

“Huh… Figures he’d have electrical ones,” Spiked seemed to chuckle softly before he set the cookbook down, “Here’s the recipe I have. Kinda glad I still have it, Vivi used to love it.” He smiled softly, thinking of his love.

His own Deadbeats were cuddling up with the ones by Arthur. They asked about the drawings on the page, curious as always.

mysteryhunterarthur

“What doesn’t she love when it comes to food, really?” Arthur asked, the joking tone of his voice having some fondness behind it. Vivi never turned down the chance to try something new. Even if it wasn’t exactly the way it was meant to be cooked, she still ate it anyway. He could always count on her to finish whatever dish he had whipped up. So the food never went to waste.

It was one of the many things he loved about her. The bluenette’s sense of adventure, kindness, and seemingly unbreakable spirit were other traits he held close to his heart. She was more than a friend, but not quite someone he pictured himself dating. At least, not yet. He needed to make his feelings for her and his own Lewis known first.

Meanwhile, Sonaja was delighted to explain how their friendship with the dead bolts came to be, Ritmo joining in with their own excited chirps and grand hand gestures where they deemed appropriate as the two of them snuggled back.

There was a lot of talk about magic mirrors and helping their master with a song he had been working on. The dead bolts were very friendly, even if they caused trouble for the halfa sometimes. But they never did it on purpose. It sounded like their sunny counterparts cared for Arthur’s double just as much as the dead beats cared for each version of Lewis. And they would do anything to keep all of them safe.

Noticing how thoughtful Spiked looked when he spoke about Vivi, Sonaja flew up to the specter after excusing themself from the cuddle pile to see if it could produce a different kind of flower that wouldn’t be stained with blood this time. It appeared to be working so far, cooing again while leaning forward to offer him the delicate blue orchid which had just finished blooming.

Arthur smiled tenderly at the tiny dead beat, setting down the recipe for the baked treats beside Spiked’s cookbook as he watched the little spook wait with a reassuring sound. Since it was Vivi’s flower, it wouldn’t cause any harm. Or drip anything it wasn’t supposed to. Although, a part of the mechanic remained cautious. Just in case.

“Go ahead, take it. Nothing bad will happen, I promise.”

"She does like her food. Guess that holds true for all Vivis." He chuckled, thinking about her as he watched the Deadbeats. She'd always been so wonderful... and he'd almost hurt her. He hadn't realized at the time, blinded by rage and sadness...

He lost the tail end of what the Beats were saying as he found himself wondering if Vivi would ever want to come back when he'd almost... well... he'd almost killed her. And that had been before his plant-based corruption!

He jumped back a moment when the blue flower popped into his vision, before realizing what was going on, "O-Oh... is... is this like the one....?" Delicately, carefully, he picked the flower from Sonaja's little nub. It... made him think of all the good times with her. He didn't notice a small tear fall from one eye socket.

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

“Heh… I still remember our recipe, not sure if it’s anything like his though.” He nodded. Both would be easy enough to make. Maybe even easy enough that the Deadbeats could help. He didn’t seem upset by the mention of the Peppers. For now.

“I think I have a book with the recipe somewhere… if you want to double check?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“That might be a good idea, if it’s not too much trouble. Yours is probably just as delicious as his is. After all, there’s no right or wrong way to do a recipe. As long as you try your best and put all of your heart into what you’re making, it’ll never fail.” The passion in which the mechanic spoke those words was proof of just how much he believed them. It was something he had learned over time, and it was what boosted his confidence in the kitchen if he was feeling down on himself.

The warm ray of amber hued light shining from the palm of his right hand seemed to agree with this notion as well, the dead beats being pleased by its presence, gesturing to the matching halos on their heads. They wanted the blond to hold on to that courage, to be himself. It would show he was getting better and their master could rest easy, knowing his best friend had everything under control.

Even if Arthur had his ups and downs, he would try to keep his emotions in check, letting the tea’s aroma calm his nerves while glancing down at the notes he had taken on how to bake the treats the little spooks liked so much.

There were doodles of another kind of follower ghost, albeit sloppily drawn in his opinion. Although he couldn’t help but smile at them, Sonaja chirping with glee as they came over and pointed out the gears on each of the sunny colored specter’s chests.

“Yes, it has been a while since you’ve seen them, hasn’t it? I wonder how everyone is doing.”

The ghost nodded, agreeing with what the blonde said and floating to a nearby shelf of cookbooks. He found the one he wanted, a personal notebook that he’d scribbled down recipes in while watching his parents. While Arthur sipped his tea, he floated over to check through for it.

Spiked looked down at the page, hoping he wasn’t snooping, “Who’s Deadbeat is that?” He must have missed the light.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Oh, one of my alternates calls them dead bolts. He got turned into a half ghost, he hasn’t told me the full story yet though.” Arthur replied, looking up from the paper with a chuckle as Sonaja continued to chirp and nuzzle against the rough sketches happily.

It seemed the tiny dead beat was even more affectionate than usual towards these orange hued counterparts of theirs, cooing softly while a familiar sunflower began to bloom on top of their head. Their master was rather fond of the halfa and his dead bolts as well, having been introduced to the cookies through meeting him in the first place. He was slightly more upbeat than the Arthur they knew. Although he did have his moments.

The short mechanic sighed, gulping down the rest of his tea while taking a moment to reflect on everything that had lead him here. He really missed their talks, seeing the other blond as the older sibling he never had. He could tell him anything. Good or bad, Arthur always felt safe whenever he was around.

There wasn’t a lot of people who knew about his powers. Or had any sort of experience with them. But he had found another version of himself who understood. And, with any luck at all, could teach him how to harness them.

“He’s a dear friend of mine, and Petal’s too. The dead beats hit it off with the dead bolts right away. I’ve never seen them warm up to anyone so fast before. Well, other than me. But I have a feeling the fact we look so much alike might have something to do with it.”

"Huh... Figures he'd have electrical ones," Spiked seemed to chuckle softly before he set the cookbook down, "Here's the recipe I have. Kinda glad I still have it, Vivi used to love it." He smiled softly, thinking of his love.

His own Deadbeats were cuddling up with the ones by Arthur. They asked about the drawings on the page, curious as always.

#mysteryhunterarthur

"S-stay away!" Alice cried, feeling a strong presence. "I can't help you!"

Spiked had been simply walking out in the forests around his mansion, he hadn’t expected to run across anyone. Certainly not a woman screaming at him to go away.

“I didn’t ask. Though I will ask who you are and what you’re doing here.”

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

Alice nodded and followed. Since he’s a ghost, she can read his energy A LOT easier. This level of empathy can allow her to not only feel what ghosts are feeling, but also pick up on their intentions. If she picked up that this ghost was leading her to her death, she would’ve already ran away.

The brush slowly turned into large, almost over grown rose bushes and rose vines. Roses, roses everywhere... And then the mansion. Huge doors opened to let them both in and he let her in first.

"I hope you aren't frightened by my state of... life. I think I can make a phone for you to use if yours won't, and you can feel free to wait here until your help arrives."

#mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

"S-stay away!" Alice cried, feeling a strong presence. "I can't help you!"

Spiked had been simply walking out in the forests around his mansion, he hadn’t expected to run across anyone. Certainly not a woman screaming at him to go away.

“I didn’t ask. Though I will ask who you are and what you’re doing here.”

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

He doesn’t want help? Phew.

“Alice. My car stopped working, and my phone is acting up. I’m trying to find a signal.”

“I don’t know how much help to you I’d be. I’m pretty sure I short out electronics right now.” Well, he hadn’t been able to test said theory, but… considering the hassle the gang had endured before he’d died, he was pretty sure.

“I could offer you shelter, I suppose. If you need a place to wait.”

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

“Really? Uh, thanks, but will I also be able to call for help?” She pointed at her phone.

“… Maybe not. But I might be able to charge it or… something.” He wondered if a Deadbeat could help find someone…

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

“What do you mean charge it? The battery’s fine, unless you meant to unshort the phone.”

“I… can try. I’m not sure how good I’ll be at that.” He wasn’t sure how he’d affect the device.

mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

“Ok….Uh…..can you take me there? Please?”

He nodded, starting to walk back towards his mansion and motioning her to follow, he hadn't wandered too far out from it.

#mysteriouslyhopefulstranger

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

“Heh… I still remember our recipe, not sure if it’s anything like his though.” He nodded. Both would be easy enough to make. Maybe even easy enough that the Deadbeats could help. He didn’t seem upset by the mention of the Peppers. For now.

“I think I have a book with the recipe somewhere… if you want to double check?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“That might be a good idea, if it’s not too much trouble. Yours is probably just as delicious as his is. After all, there’s no right or wrong way to do a recipe. As long as you try your best and put all of your heart into what you’re making, it’ll never fail.” The passion in which the mechanic spoke those words was proof of just how much he believed them. It was something he had learned over time, and it was what boosted his confidence in the kitchen if he was feeling down on himself.

The warm ray of amber hued light shining from the palm of his right hand seemed to agree with this notion as well, the dead beats being pleased by its presence, gesturing to the matching halos on their heads. They wanted the blond to hold on to that courage, to be himself. It would show he was getting better and their master could rest easy, knowing his best friend had everything under control.

Even if Arthur had his ups and downs, he would try to keep his emotions in check, letting the tea’s aroma calm his nerves while glancing down at the notes he had taken on how to bake the treats the little spooks liked so much.

There were doodles of another kind of follower ghost, albeit sloppily drawn in his opinion. Although he couldn’t help but smile at them, Sonaja chirping with glee as they came over and pointed out the gears on each of the sunny colored specter’s chests.

“Yes, it has been a while since you’ve seen them, hasn’t it? I wonder how everyone is doing.”

The ghost nodded, agreeing with what the blonde said and floating to a nearby shelf of cookbooks. He found the one he wanted, a personal notebook that he'd scribbled down recipes in while watching his parents. While Arthur sipped his tea, he floated over to check through for it.

Spiked looked down at the page, hoping he wasn't snooping, "Who's Deadbeat is that?" He must have missed the light.

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

"Heh... I still remember our recipe, not sure if it's anything like his though." He nodded. Both would be easy enough to make. Maybe even easy enough that the Deadbeats could help. He didn't seem upset by the mention of the Peppers. For now.

"I think I have a book with the recipe somewhere... if you want to double check?"

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

Spiked thought about that. He couldn’t help a chuckle as he thought of an old movie Arthur had always loved watching. Something with a… robot? and Superman? He’d think of the name later.

His Beats were cuddly little messes, and he was thankful they didn’t suffer his physical contact limitations. He still wished he knew of a way to get rid of whatever influence had caused this…

“I-It’s fine… Why don’t you all come in and we can better plan a way to get Vivi and my Arthur back here..?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“I would like that, if it’s okay with Piana and these other little ones.” Arthur replied, pleasantly surprised by the hint of laughter coming from the specter. Maybe he could ease Spiked’s troubled mind another way. At least until they solved the problem his unusual set of ribs brought up.

Sonaja couldn’t wait to go inside, snuggling against each of the thorned beats with all sorts of happy noises, giving Ritmo a little nudge to see if they would join them. The tiny spook knew they were just being careful. But Sonaja explained to them through a series of chirps that this other Lewis was doing his best not to anything rash. He may have seemed hostile at first, however their master’s best friend had reasoned with him for now.

Ritmo cooed back at its companion, ceasing their growling as they peered up at Spiked with their big yellow eyes. If Arthur and Sonaja were willing to put their trust in him, then they supposed it was all right.

Apologetic sounds came from the bigger dead beat, uncurling themselves from around the blond’s wrist and floating over to Spiked to nuzzle their ghostly cheek into his hand.

“There, see? He’s our friend. It’s okay. Everything is going to be just fine.” Arthur said, watching Ritmo interact with its barbed cousins. They were getting along nicely, now that they had let their guard down.

Not by much, but it was a start.

He nodded, opening the doors to let the blonde and his Deadbeat companions in. His own were happily chirping and singing with Sonaja, and he brightened a little at the sight. With a sweep of his arm, he ushered Arthur and the Beats in. Inside was… almost normal. The molding and chandelier were decorated with floral patterns and motifs, each light looking like a flower of one sort or another. Perhaps… Spiked could learn to use other flowers in his magic..?

Inside, light turquoise and white accents complimented magenta, fuschia, and gold colors. It was rather impressive, truth be told.

“Heh… Don’t worry, Ritmo, I’d be weary in your shoes too,” he patted them as they nuzzled into his hand, “Make yourself comfortable. I’m sure these three wouldn’t mind helping you find anything you’d need.” He motioned to the Beats circling Arthur with Sonaja.

mysteryhunterarthur

“What about you? Do you have a kitchen? Even if you’re not able to eat or taste anything, I want to help. Baking always puts my mind at ease. And the dead beats make the best assistant chefs. Don’t you agree?” Arthur asked, chuckling as Sonaja and Ritmo puffed up with pride.

There wasn’t any dish the smaller specters couldn’t handle, chirping and singing back to their new friends as Spiked received more positive attention from each ghost. They liked the familiarity of his hand resting on their heads, sneaking in some extra snuggles while the mechanic took in the sight of the mansion.

The fondness in his eyes as his expression softened when he noticed the floral motifs spoke volumes of just how dear he held his own Lewis, brushing careful metallic fingers over one of the various designs on the wall.

They were similar, but not the same. He knew the reason why the three flowers belonging to the gang were repeated over and over in Petal’s own mansion, although the blond had yet to figure out Spiked’s. Was he also trying to remember something?

“To be honest, I am a little thirsty. Why don’t we get settled in first then I can give these adorable spooks some cooking lessons?”

“Well… yes and no. It had food, and… then it doesn’t. And I haven’t had time to… Really get more.” He sighed, but kept petting Sonaja and Ritmo. He wondered if they were missing their own Lewis…

As they walked, he noticed Arthur’s expression, half wanting to ask what was on the blonde’s mind. He looked at the white and pale teal colors and seemed to Huff a moment. If they didn’t look good, he might have hated the reminders of his… corruption even more.

“Oh, ah… I think I still have some drinks?” He went to the fridge, finding, thankfully, some assorted sodas, teas, and juices.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Well, I could fix that. Yes, I am your guest. But, as a alternate of my best friend, anything I would do for him, I’ll do for you too. If you’re stuck here because of unfortunate circumstances, it’s the least I can do.” Arthur said, looking up at Spiked with a small smile.

There was still a tenderness about the mechanic as he walked over to the kitchen with the two dead beats in tow. They cooed and chirped in response to every stroke of the phantom’s caring hand, leaning into the source of the gentle touch until they almost fell over, letting out a sheepish noise.

If it made this Lewis feel better, they would keep cuddling up to him. The absence of anything edible almost caused them to droop their head wisps in disappointment. Until the blond offered to buy some ingredients for whatever food he was planning to make.

Arthur knew they hadn’t been inside for very long, so it wasn’t as if he was about to drive off to the store right that second without visiting properly first. Besides, it would only be polite to pay for any groceries he was going to be bringing into the taller specter’s home.

Spotting the drinks, Arthur hummed nervously, turning a bit shy while trying to decide what he wanted.

“M-Maybe I’ll just have some water for now…”

His own Deadbeats joined the cuddles, nearly getting themselves tangled up as they wove around him. He chuckled, watching them snuggle and play. At least these little spirits were happy.

“Ah– Y-You don’t have to do that… I-I could try the last method where I made spirit ingredients instead. They… seemed to be able to be eaten by humans?” But how long and how much energy had they taken to make?

“And really, it’s no trouble. You can have water or tea, or whatever.”

mysteryhunterarthur

“Are you sure? Petal… Is very limited with what he can do. I don’t want you hurting yourself like he did.” The smile on the mechanic’s face soon disappeared, feeling the sadness sink back in as Sonaja returned to him with a concerned coo.

The warmth from the tiny dead beat did soothe him a little, allowing them to wrap around his right wrist this time. Ritmo followed suit, drifting over to their smaller friend after nestling against the thorned beats briefly, chirping out their own worries over the blond.

The mood was shifting again. And the two smaller ghosts needed to snap Arthur out of it before it got worse. If he let self doubt take over and Seb appeared, then his secret would be exposed.

Despite wanting to treat each Lewis like their own person, there was no denying that the fear of losing him still weighed heavily on Arthur’s heart. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t his Lewis, all of the specters he had met were equally important. Spiked was no different. Even if he was never able to touch him, he couldn’t ask the phantom to spend his energy on something that could be easily fixed another way.

“… Tea, would be nice. Thank you.”

He thought it over for a minute. He hadn't had as much time to rest now. And he'd had to show his power a little to scare off that woman, right after waking up no less... Maybe letting Arthur get the food would be a better idea.

"... I-It might be better if you get... supplies. I probably still need to rest and recharge a little..." Piana floated over to nuzzle him in comfort.

One of the others went get a glass when Arthur said he'd like tea, and Spiked carefully poured it in with the grace he'd once practiced in the restaurant, "Wh-What would you want to make?"

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

Spiked thought about that. He couldn’t help a chuckle as he thought of an old movie Arthur had always loved watching. Something with a… robot? and Superman? He’d think of the name later.

His Beats were cuddly little messes, and he was thankful they didn’t suffer his physical contact limitations. He still wished he knew of a way to get rid of whatever influence had caused this…

“I-It’s fine… Why don’t you all come in and we can better plan a way to get Vivi and my Arthur back here..?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“I would like that, if it’s okay with Piana and these other little ones.” Arthur replied, pleasantly surprised by the hint of laughter coming from the specter. Maybe he could ease Spiked’s troubled mind another way. At least until they solved the problem his unusual set of ribs brought up.

Sonaja couldn’t wait to go inside, snuggling against each of the thorned beats with all sorts of happy noises, giving Ritmo a little nudge to see if they would join them. The tiny spook knew they were just being careful. But Sonaja explained to them through a series of chirps that this other Lewis was doing his best not to anything rash. He may have seemed hostile at first, however their master’s best friend had reasoned with him for now.

Ritmo cooed back at its companion, ceasing their growling as they peered up at Spiked with their big yellow eyes. If Arthur and Sonaja were willing to put their trust in him, then they supposed it was all right.

Apologetic sounds came from the bigger dead beat, uncurling themselves from around the blond’s wrist and floating over to Spiked to nuzzle their ghostly cheek into his hand.

“There, see? He’s our friend. It’s okay. Everything is going to be just fine.” Arthur said, watching Ritmo interact with its barbed cousins. They were getting along nicely, now that they had let their guard down.

Not by much, but it was a start.

He nodded, opening the doors to let the blonde and his Deadbeat companions in. His own were happily chirping and singing with Sonaja, and he brightened a little at the sight. With a sweep of his arm, he ushered Arthur and the Beats in. Inside was… almost normal. The molding and chandelier were decorated with floral patterns and motifs, each light looking like a flower of one sort or another. Perhaps… Spiked could learn to use other flowers in his magic..?

Inside, light turquoise and white accents complimented magenta, fuschia, and gold colors. It was rather impressive, truth be told.

“Heh… Don’t worry, Ritmo, I’d be weary in your shoes too,” he patted them as they nuzzled into his hand, “Make yourself comfortable. I’m sure these three wouldn’t mind helping you find anything you’d need.” He motioned to the Beats circling Arthur with Sonaja.

mysteryhunterarthur

“What about you? Do you have a kitchen? Even if you’re not able to eat or taste anything, I want to help. Baking always puts my mind at ease. And the dead beats make the best assistant chefs. Don’t you agree?” Arthur asked, chuckling as Sonaja and Ritmo puffed up with pride.

There wasn’t any dish the smaller specters couldn’t handle, chirping and singing back to their new friends as Spiked received more positive attention from each ghost. They liked the familiarity of his hand resting on their heads, sneaking in some extra snuggles while the mechanic took in the sight of the mansion.

The fondness in his eyes as his expression softened when he noticed the floral motifs spoke volumes of just how dear he held his own Lewis, brushing careful metallic fingers over one of the various designs on the wall.

They were similar, but not the same. He knew the reason why the three flowers belonging to the gang were repeated over and over in Petal’s own mansion, although the blond had yet to figure out Spiked’s. Was he also trying to remember something?

“To be honest, I am a little thirsty. Why don’t we get settled in first then I can give these adorable spooks some cooking lessons?”

“Well… yes and no. It had food, and… then it doesn’t. And I haven’t had time to… Really get more.” He sighed, but kept petting Sonaja and Ritmo. He wondered if they were missing their own Lewis…

As they walked, he noticed Arthur’s expression, half wanting to ask what was on the blonde’s mind. He looked at the white and pale teal colors and seemed to Huff a moment. If they didn’t look good, he might have hated the reminders of his… corruption even more.

“Oh, ah… I think I still have some drinks?” He went to the fridge, finding, thankfully, some assorted sodas, teas, and juices.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Well, I could fix that. Yes, I am your guest. But, as a alternate of my best friend, anything I would do for him, I’ll do for you too. If you’re stuck here because of unfortunate circumstances, it’s the least I can do.” Arthur said, looking up at Spiked with a small smile.

There was still a tenderness about the mechanic as he walked over to the kitchen with the two dead beats in tow. They cooed and chirped in response to every stroke of the phantom’s caring hand, leaning into the source of the gentle touch until they almost fell over, letting out a sheepish noise.

If it made this Lewis feel better, they would keep cuddling up to him. The absence of anything edible almost caused them to droop their head wisps in disappointment. Until the blond offered to buy some ingredients for whatever food he was planning to make.

Arthur knew they hadn’t been inside for very long, so it wasn’t as if he was about to drive off to the store right that second without visiting properly first. Besides, it would only be polite to pay for any groceries he was going to be bringing into the taller specter’s home.

Spotting the drinks, Arthur hummed nervously, turning a bit shy while trying to decide what he wanted.

“M-Maybe I’ll just have some water for now…”

His own Deadbeats joined the cuddles, nearly getting themselves tangled up as they wove around him. He chuckled, watching them snuggle and play. At least these little spirits were happy.

"Ah-- Y-You don't have to do that... I-I could try the last method where I made spirit ingredients instead. They... seemed to be able to be eaten by humans?" But how long and how much energy had they taken to make?

"And really, it's no trouble. You can have water or tea, or whatever."

#mysteryhunterarthur #((the answer is too long and too much energy))

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

Spiked thought about that. He couldn’t help a chuckle as he thought of an old movie Arthur had always loved watching. Something with a… robot? and Superman? He’d think of the name later.

His Beats were cuddly little messes, and he was thankful they didn’t suffer his physical contact limitations. He still wished he knew of a way to get rid of whatever influence had caused this…

“I-It’s fine… Why don’t you all come in and we can better plan a way to get Vivi and my Arthur back here..?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“I would like that, if it’s okay with Piana and these other little ones.” Arthur replied, pleasantly surprised by the hint of laughter coming from the specter. Maybe he could ease Spiked’s troubled mind another way. At least until they solved the problem his unusual set of ribs brought up.

Sonaja couldn’t wait to go inside, snuggling against each of the thorned beats with all sorts of happy noises, giving Ritmo a little nudge to see if they would join them. The tiny spook knew they were just being careful. But Sonaja explained to them through a series of chirps that this other Lewis was doing his best not to anything rash. He may have seemed hostile at first, however their master’s best friend had reasoned with him for now.

Ritmo cooed back at its companion, ceasing their growling as they peered up at Spiked with their big yellow eyes. If Arthur and Sonaja were willing to put their trust in him, then they supposed it was all right.

Apologetic sounds came from the bigger dead beat, uncurling themselves from around the blond’s wrist and floating over to Spiked to nuzzle their ghostly cheek into his hand.

“There, see? He’s our friend. It’s okay. Everything is going to be just fine.” Arthur said, watching Ritmo interact with its barbed cousins. They were getting along nicely, now that they had let their guard down.

Not by much, but it was a start.

He nodded, opening the doors to let the blonde and his Deadbeat companions in. His own were happily chirping and singing with Sonaja, and he brightened a little at the sight. With a sweep of his arm, he ushered Arthur and the Beats in. Inside was… almost normal. The molding and chandelier were decorated with floral patterns and motifs, each light looking like a flower of one sort or another. Perhaps… Spiked could learn to use other flowers in his magic..?

Inside, light turquoise and white accents complimented magenta, fuschia, and gold colors. It was rather impressive, truth be told.

“Heh… Don’t worry, Ritmo, I’d be weary in your shoes too,” he patted them as they nuzzled into his hand, “Make yourself comfortable. I’m sure these three wouldn’t mind helping you find anything you’d need.” He motioned to the Beats circling Arthur with Sonaja.

mysteryhunterarthur

“What about you? Do you have a kitchen? Even if you’re not able to eat or taste anything, I want to help. Baking always puts my mind at ease. And the dead beats make the best assistant chefs. Don’t you agree?” Arthur asked, chuckling as Sonaja and Ritmo puffed up with pride.

There wasn’t any dish the smaller specters couldn’t handle, chirping and singing back to their new friends as Spiked received more positive attention from each ghost. They liked the familiarity of his hand resting on their heads, sneaking in some extra snuggles while the mechanic took in the sight of the mansion.

The fondness in his eyes as his expression softened when he noticed the floral motifs spoke volumes of just how dear he held his own Lewis, brushing careful metallic fingers over one of the various designs on the wall.

They were similar, but not the same. He knew the reason why the three flowers belonging to the gang were repeated over and over in Petal’s own mansion, although the blond had yet to figure out Spiked’s. Was he also trying to remember something?

“To be honest, I am a little thirsty. Why don’t we get settled in first then I can give these adorable spooks some cooking lessons?”

"Well... yes and no. It had food, and... then it doesn't. And I haven't had time to... Really get more." He sighed, but kept petting Sonaja and Ritmo. He wondered if they were missing their own Lewis...

As they walked, he noticed Arthur's expression, half wanting to ask what was on the blonde's mind. He looked at the white and pale teal colors and seemed to Huff a moment. If they didn't look good, he might have hated the reminders of his... corruption even more.

"Oh, ah... I think I still have some drinks?" He went to the fridge, finding, thankfully, some assorted sodas, teas, and juices.

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

Spiked thought about that. He couldn’t help a chuckle as he thought of an old movie Arthur had always loved watching. Something with a… robot? and Superman? He’d think of the name later.

His Beats were cuddly little messes, and he was thankful they didn’t suffer his physical contact limitations. He still wished he knew of a way to get rid of whatever influence had caused this…

“I-It’s fine… Why don’t you all come in and we can better plan a way to get Vivi and my Arthur back here..?”

mysteryhunterarthur

“I would like that, if it’s okay with Piana and these other little ones.” Arthur replied, pleasantly surprised by the hint of laughter coming from the specter. Maybe he could ease Spiked’s troubled mind another way. At least until they solved the problem his unusual set of ribs brought up.

Sonaja couldn’t wait to go inside, snuggling against each of the thorned beats with all sorts of happy noises, giving Ritmo a little nudge to see if they would join them. The tiny spook knew they were just being careful. But Sonaja explained to them through a series of chirps that this other Lewis was doing his best not to anything rash. He may have seemed hostile at first, however their master’s best friend had reasoned with him for now.

Ritmo cooed back at its companion, ceasing their growling as they peered up at Spiked with their big yellow eyes. If Arthur and Sonaja were willing to put their trust in him, then they supposed it was all right.

Apologetic sounds came from the bigger dead beat, uncurling themselves from around the blond’s wrist and floating over to Spiked to nuzzle their ghostly cheek into his hand.

“There, see? He’s our friend. It’s okay. Everything is going to be just fine.” Arthur said, watching Ritmo interact with its barbed cousins. They were getting along nicely, now that they had let their guard down.

Not by much, but it was a start.

He nodded, opening the doors to let the blonde and his Deadbeat companions in. His own were happily chirping and singing with Sonaja, and he brightened a little at the sight. With a sweep of his arm, he ushered Arthur and the Beats in. Inside was... almost normal. The molding and chandelier were decorated with floral patterns and motifs, each light looking like a flower of one sort or another. Perhaps... Spiked could learn to use other flowers in his magic..?

Inside, light turquoise and white accents complimented magenta, fuschia, and gold colors. It was rather impressive, truth be told.

“Heh... Don’t worry, Ritmo, I’d be weary in your shoes too,” he patted them as they nuzzled into his hand, “Make yourself comfortable. I’m sure these three wouldn’t mind helping you find anything you’d need.” He motioned to the Beats circling Arthur with Sonaja.

#mysteryhunterarthur

Milo: “Im sowwey stap puwling my fawce” Onyx: “Scare me like that again and i’ll let you rot.” Milo: “ TT w TT )))”

Keep reading

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

Spiked thought about that. He couldn't help a chuckle as he thought of an old movie Arthur had always loved watching. Something with a... robot? and Superman? He'd think of the name later.

His Beats were cuddly little messes, and he was thankful they didn't suffer his physical contact limitations. He still wished he knew of a way to get rid of whatever influence had caused this...

"I-It's fine... Why don't you all come in and we can better plan a way to get Vivi and my Arthur back here..?"

#mysteryhunterarthur

lianella-artist

Memory loss

It seems I really feel very exhausted, more morally than physically. Baby, Vivi, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,,

#vivi mi amor... 🧣

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

The 2 who weren’t hiding peeked at the bag curiously, it smelled… good! The one behind him seemed to shy away more at something being waved in their face. Spiked gently picked them up and gave their head a pat.

“They’re just trying to be nice and share… Go on, see if you like it or not.” He nudged them back with the others, who were trying to nibble at the cookie Sonaja was holding.

“Just Piana. They’ve always been more quiet and hung back.”

mysteryhunterarthur

“It’s all right, Piana. Sonaja would never do anything to harm you. None of the dead beats where I’m from are hostile at all. They might hiss a little, but once you’ve proven you’re not a threat, they ease up around you.” Arthur said, holding out his right hand in the hopes of petting the timid ghost.

Sonaja chirped and huffed playfully, shielding the treat from the other spooks with their stubby little nubs. Although there was a smile on the tiny spirit’s face as they took out two more cookies, cooing in approval while allowing them to nibble at the newer goodies instead of the one they had offered previously. They wanted to give Piana a chance to try it.

“You’re just like him, aren’t you, Sonaja?” The mechanic added, crouching down beside the small dead beat as they both attempted to coax Piana over.

“My Lewis would always save some food for me too. He made sure everyone got a helping whenever he would cook something. Now, he doesn’t have the time to do big meals like that anymore. I kind of miss it…”

Piana slowly came out from behind the larger ghost, carefully taking the treat offered and sniffing before they took a nibble. Their little face lit up and they took a bigger second bite, they could taste this! The others were also savoring, but devouring, their cookies.

“… Does… he miss it..?” Spiked watched as Piana looked at the hand being offered. Even more slowly than they’d accepted the treat, the little ghost floated over to Arthur’s hand. Eventually, they were in petting distance though.

Spiked missed cooking… He missed the joy on family and friends’ faces when they’d sit down to eat together. The mixing of ingredients, the aroma of the food… He missed… all of that.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Yes, he does. We used to bake together. He taught me everything I know. I never meant to take that away from him. I…” Arthur replied, falling silent as his fingers idly stroked the top of Piana’s head.

Letting their new friends have the rest of the cookies, Sonaja nuzzled the blond’s cheek, frowning with a very soft chirp as they saw the tears well up in his eyes. Arthur still blamed himself for what happened. And they weren’t sure what to do, glancing over at Spiked while its own happiness seemed to dwindle at the sight of the mechanic beginning to cry over the same mistake he could never bring himself to let go of.

“He can never cook the same way ever again. And it’s all my fault. We never should have gone to that cave. If we hadn’t, Lewis would still be alive. I don’t know how he was able to forgive me after what I did. I-I don’t blame him for hating me…” Arthur said shakily, holding back sobs while the tiny dead beat curled up beside him.

He was taken aback at the sudden mood shift, before hearing the explanation, “… I… I can understand him. I haven’t… I haven’t been able to try cooking again, but… I miss it. Dearly…”

He looked at his hands, a moment of regret and guilt washing over him. He’d thought to kill Arthur? An Arthur?? … What was wrong with him. Not even for this Arthur’s sake, but for his own… Lewis had to try and forgive. To hear what had happened instead of assuming.

mysteryhunterarthur

Sonaja continued to coo and nuzzle at the mechanic’s face, wrapping its tail around his wrist as the trio of halos on its head lowered sadly. They never liked to see Arthur upset. But there was only so much they could do on their own, the small ghost seeming to double so the blond would still have some company before floating over to their master’s alternate, giving his hand a gentle headbutt while tugging on one of his suit sleeves with a chirp.

It usually helped its own version of the magenta specter in the kitchen, wanting to do the same for him. The tiny dead beat knew it also made Arthur happy, so maybe they could give it a try?

Arthur himself hadn’t moved a muscle, his fingers automatically beginning to pet Piana’s head again after completing the previous motion, mumbling under his breath. Although the comforting attention from Petal’s second dead beat did cause him to perk up a little. Other than that, his mood remained unchanged, scrubbing the tears away from his face with his opposite hand.

“I know it doesn’t change anything, but I’m sorry for the pain the other me caused you…”

He wanted… to comfort this other Arthur. It felt… needed. But he looked to his ribs. Those blasted vines would only kill him… He didn’t have them controlled yet.

“… I’m starting… to think it wasn’t intentional… At least… I suppose now that I hope it wasn’t…”

Piana nuzzled sadly into Arthur’s hand, trying to comfort him where their master couldn’t.

mysteryhunterarthur

Arthur smiled weakly at both Piana and Ritmo, the latter turning out to be who Sonaja had summoned to be by his side while they made an attempt to help Spiked feel better. Turning to the other thorned beats, the little spook chirped questions at them, asking how their additional features worked and if there was anything they could do to prevent the vines from attacking its friend.

This yokai esque version of Lewis deserved physical contact. After all, he turned out to be not so bad once he had been semi-reasoned with. There was still a need to exercise caution, but it had more to do with avoiding the specter’s plants than Spiked himself.

And as much as the mechanic wanted to touch this version of his best friend, he had to stop himself from doing so. At least he could show affection to Piana, giving them some experimental scritches under their non-existent chin.

“Well, my own personal feelings might not be how he feels exactly. But, if you can open up your heart and hear him out, I’m sure you’ll get your answer.”

They weren't sure, but... did tell Sonaja that being in touch contact with their master was much more dangerous than with his plants. Seems it was more Spiked than his powers that were currently dangerous...

Piana chirped happily, some of the others also coming over to receive affection. Their thorns seemed more like soft barbs than true thorns. So harmless.

"... I know. ... I probably should have sooner. I just... felt so betrayed and hurt..."

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

The 2 who weren’t hiding peeked at the bag curiously, it smelled… good! The one behind him seemed to shy away more at something being waved in their face. Spiked gently picked them up and gave their head a pat.

“They’re just trying to be nice and share… Go on, see if you like it or not.” He nudged them back with the others, who were trying to nibble at the cookie Sonaja was holding.

“Just Piana. They’ve always been more quiet and hung back.”

mysteryhunterarthur

“It’s all right, Piana. Sonaja would never do anything to harm you. None of the dead beats where I’m from are hostile at all. They might hiss a little, but once you’ve proven you’re not a threat, they ease up around you.” Arthur said, holding out his right hand in the hopes of petting the timid ghost.

Sonaja chirped and huffed playfully, shielding the treat from the other spooks with their stubby little nubs. Although there was a smile on the tiny spirit’s face as they took out two more cookies, cooing in approval while allowing them to nibble at the newer goodies instead of the one they had offered previously. They wanted to give Piana a chance to try it.

“You’re just like him, aren’t you, Sonaja?” The mechanic added, crouching down beside the small dead beat as they both attempted to coax Piana over.

“My Lewis would always save some food for me too. He made sure everyone got a helping whenever he would cook something. Now, he doesn’t have the time to do big meals like that anymore. I kind of miss it…”

Piana slowly came out from behind the larger ghost, carefully taking the treat offered and sniffing before they took a nibble. Their little face lit up and they took a bigger second bite, they could taste this! The others were also savoring, but devouring, their cookies.

“… Does… he miss it..?” Spiked watched as Piana looked at the hand being offered. Even more slowly than they’d accepted the treat, the little ghost floated over to Arthur’s hand. Eventually, they were in petting distance though.

Spiked missed cooking… He missed the joy on family and friends’ faces when they’d sit down to eat together. The mixing of ingredients, the aroma of the food… He missed… all of that.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Yes, he does. We used to bake together. He taught me everything I know. I never meant to take that away from him. I…” Arthur replied, falling silent as his fingers idly stroked the top of Piana’s head.

Letting their new friends have the rest of the cookies, Sonaja nuzzled the blond’s cheek, frowning with a very soft chirp as they saw the tears well up in his eyes. Arthur still blamed himself for what happened. And they weren’t sure what to do, glancing over at Spiked while its own happiness seemed to dwindle at the sight of the mechanic beginning to cry over the same mistake he could never bring himself to let go of.

“He can never cook the same way ever again. And it’s all my fault. We never should have gone to that cave. If we hadn’t, Lewis would still be alive. I don’t know how he was able to forgive me after what I did. I-I don’t blame him for hating me…” Arthur said shakily, holding back sobs while the tiny dead beat curled up beside him.

He was taken aback at the sudden mood shift, before hearing the explanation, “… I… I can understand him. I haven’t… I haven’t been able to try cooking again, but… I miss it. Dearly…”

He looked at his hands, a moment of regret and guilt washing over him. He’d thought to kill Arthur? An Arthur?? … What was wrong with him. Not even for this Arthur’s sake, but for his own… Lewis had to try and forgive. To hear what had happened instead of assuming.

mysteryhunterarthur

Sonaja continued to coo and nuzzle at the mechanic’s face, wrapping its tail around his wrist as the trio of halos on its head lowered sadly. They never liked to see Arthur upset. But there was only so much they could do on their own, the small ghost seeming to double so the blond would still have some company before floating over to their master’s alternate, giving his hand a gentle headbutt while tugging on one of his suit sleeves with a chirp.

It usually helped its own version of the magenta specter in the kitchen, wanting to do the same for him. The tiny dead beat knew it also made Arthur happy, so maybe they could give it a try?

Arthur himself hadn’t moved a muscle, his fingers automatically beginning to pet Piana’s head again after completing the previous motion, mumbling under his breath. Although the comforting attention from Petal’s second dead beat did cause him to perk up a little. Other than that, his mood remained unchanged, scrubbing the tears away from his face with his opposite hand.

“I know it doesn’t change anything, but I’m sorry for the pain the other me caused you…”

He wanted... to comfort this other Arthur. It felt... needed. But he looked to his ribs. Those blasted vines would only kill him... He didn't have them controlled yet.

"... I'm starting... to think it wasn't intentional... At least... I suppose now that I hope it wasn't..."

Piana nuzzled sadly into Arthur's hand, trying to comfort him where their master couldn't.

#mysteryhunterarthur

It had been a while since the short mechanic had checked on the phantom, frowning to himself as he approached the mansion. There was a lot more rose bushes than he remembered. It wasn't like Lewis to let his garden get overgrown like this. Had he gotten worse while the blond was away? Arthur tried to navigate his way through the tangled up flowers, calling out to him. "Lewis? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" -mysteryhunterarthur

Lewis had been in his library, still looking over the books on monsters. And then he heard that voice. That familiar voice… His eyes turned towards the doors of his mansion.

“Arthur….” He hissed, setting down his book and beginning to walk towards the entrance.

Outside, the rose vines began moving towards Arthur, as if trying to entrap him. The roses were all shades of pinks and magentas, with some that seemed to be… teal?( @mysteryhunterarthur )

The 2 who weren’t hiding peeked at the bag curiously, it smelled… good! The one behind him seemed to shy away more at something being waved in their face. Spiked gently picked them up and gave their head a pat.

“They’re just trying to be nice and share… Go on, see if you like it or not.” He nudged them back with the others, who were trying to nibble at the cookie Sonaja was holding.

“Just Piana. They’ve always been more quiet and hung back.”

mysteryhunterarthur

“It’s all right, Piana. Sonaja would never do anything to harm you. None of the dead beats where I’m from are hostile at all. They might hiss a little, but once you’ve proven you’re not a threat, they ease up around you.” Arthur said, holding out his right hand in the hopes of petting the timid ghost.

Sonaja chirped and huffed playfully, shielding the treat from the other spooks with their stubby little nubs. Although there was a smile on the tiny spirit’s face as they took out two more cookies, cooing in approval while allowing them to nibble at the newer goodies instead of the one they had offered previously. They wanted to give Piana a chance to try it.

“You’re just like him, aren’t you, Sonaja?” The mechanic added, crouching down beside the small dead beat as they both attempted to coax Piana over.

“My Lewis would always save some food for me too. He made sure everyone got a helping whenever he would cook something. Now, he doesn’t have the time to do big meals like that anymore. I kind of miss it…”

Piana slowly came out from behind the larger ghost, carefully taking the treat offered and sniffing before they took a nibble. Their little face lit up and they took a bigger second bite, they could taste this! The others were also savoring, but devouring, their cookies.

“… Does… he miss it..?” Spiked watched as Piana looked at the hand being offered. Even more slowly than they’d accepted the treat, the little ghost floated over to Arthur’s hand. Eventually, they were in petting distance though.

Spiked missed cooking… He missed the joy on family and friends’ faces when they’d sit down to eat together. The mixing of ingredients, the aroma of the food… He missed… all of that.

mysteryhunterarthur

“Yes, he does. We used to bake together. He taught me everything I know. I never meant to take that away from him. I…” Arthur replied, falling silent as his fingers idly stroked the top of Piana’s head.

Letting their new friends have the rest of the cookies, Sonaja nuzzled the blond’s cheek, frowning with a very soft chirp as they saw the tears well up in his eyes. Arthur still blamed himself for what happened. And they weren’t sure what to do, glancing over at Spiked while its own happiness seemed to dwindle at the sight of the mechanic beginning to cry over the same mistake he could never bring himself to let go of.

“He can never cook the same way ever again. And it’s all my fault. We never should have gone to that cave. If we hadn’t, Lewis would still be alive. I don’t know how he was able to forgive me after what I did. I-I don’t blame him for hating me…” Arthur said shakily, holding back sobs while the tiny dead beat curled up beside him.

He was taken aback at the sudden mood shift, before hearing the explanation, "... I... I can understand him. I haven't... I haven't been able to try cooking again, but... I miss it. Dearly..."

He looked at his hands, a moment of regret and guilt washing over him. He'd thought to kill Arthur? An Arthur?? ... What was wrong with him. Not even for this Arthur's sake, but for his own... Lewis had to try and forgive. To hear what had happened instead of assuming.

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