You, Reader, have made a deal with what you believed to be a fantasized version of your favorite YouTuber’s alter ego, Darkiplier after he’d visited you in a dream. You believed Darkiplier to only exist in your dreams and on Markiplier’s YouTube channel, but by some impossible way he’s real and he intends on collecting on your debt to him.
((Just as an FIY, Sean’s “fiance” is someone I made up and for the sake of the story he still lives in Ireland. I’m trying to stay mostly true to real life but it’s hard sometimes, especially when it doesn’t cross your mind to actually look up facts. lol.))
“You look rather pleased with yourself.” Sean remarks the next morning when you join them in the dinning room for breakfast. You smile brightly at him and nod.
“I am rather pleased. I had a nice chat with my boyfriend.” You say as Marline giggles to herself.
“I’m glad to hear you two are still on good terms.” She says.
You nod. “I am too.” With that you enjoy your pancakes and scrambled eggs before riding the train into Scotland. The three of you visit a few estates on a guided tour before going to your hotel. You spend a little time alone working on some commissions then head to the dinning room to have dinner with your friends.
When you lay down for bed Dark is there. His arms wrapped around you, holding you close at you drift into slumber. He’ll be gone before the morning, and that’s fine, you have to get up fairly early and head to the airport for your flight home.
Despite with slight bumps with Anti and Dark’s disappearing act, you’re trip to visit with Sean and see the sights has gone rather well. The weather was perfect, the company was excellent, and the food was delicious, not to mention you’d been able to spend a little time with Dark. Less than what you had planned, but a little is better than none.
In the morning you ensure all your things are ready to go and you meet Sean and Marline on ground level. You share laughs and make plans for future trips to the islands as well as plans to visit Mark again. There are a few conventions coming up in the next few months that Sean and Mark both plan on attending and you are more than welcomed to share a booth with Sean.
You tease him about getting too chummy with another woman in front of his fiancé, but it’s all in good fun and Marline simply laughs along. When you arrive at the airport you give Sean and Marline each a hug.
“I’m really going to miss you two.” You tell them readjusting your bag strap.
Sean and Marling mirror in their agreement. “You’re always welcome in our home.” Marline says hugging you again. She honestly feels like the big sister you never had, which is bittersweet considering you won’t see her for a long time after this. Rarely does she join Sean overseas due to her own work and a slight fear of flying such a long distance. You don’t blame her.
“I promise, I’ll keep a good eye on Sean when he comes to the States.” You tell her giving her one last big squeeze.
“Thank you.” She whispers as she releases you.
Sean looks a little misty eyed as he smiles at you. “We’ll be seeing you in December time, ya?” he asks just as a confirmation.
You laugh softly saying, “of course. Besides, who else is going to keep you and Mark under control?” You know very well both men have a huge group of friends to keep them reigned in. Sean chuckles and you spot a clock out of the corner of your eyes. “I’ve gotta go. I can’t miss my flight, otherwise you’d be stuck with me forever!” you joke.
Sean and Marline laugh. “Oh, no, that would be sooo terrible.” Sean mocks. You laugh; give one last wave and head off. You will miss the pair, but at least you have plans to see each other again, even if it’s just half of a whole.
“Miss, would you like some more SPRITE?” the flight attendant asks mentioning to your empty glass. You debate it before nodding your head and hand her your glass. She nods and head off leaving you to your thoughts. Dark assumed it would be better if he simply did not join you on the flight home. You agreed to an extent. Anti is less likely to join you if Dark is MIA, but on the same note you really wanted to have time with Dark.
At one point you get out your laptop and tablet to continue on a few commissions but the plane jumped too much to get any kind of lineart or coloring done, so you settle for simple sketches and doodles. You pass the time with ease and once you're in the States again the WiFi on the plane started working again and you checked your emails and Tumblr page. Responding to a few choice comments and messages you turn off the computer and put everything.
The over seventeen hour flight will have a two hour layover in New York. It's during this layover you get some lineart and coloring done. During the layover a young girl, maybe ten kept peeking over the back of her chair at your work. You'd caught her a few times before asking if she'd like to sit next to you and watch. Her mother agreed, since you're literally back to back, and the girl, Annabelle, rushes around the seats to plop down next to you.
“Wow! You're really good at this.” Annabelle says in awe at your skill. Currently you're working on a Pokemon themed commission for a long time customer. Pikachu, Eevee, and Mimikyu are playing next to a small pond with Dewgong and Marill play in the water. You smile at the girl.
“Thank you. But I haven't always been this good. I spent a lot of time and effort into getting this good, and I still have a long way to go even. You can be happy with our current level of skill, but always strive to be just a little bit better.” you tell her smiling as you finish the shading on Mimikyu.
“I really like your Pokemon, miss. My favorite Pokemon is Gengar!” she proudly says. The girl does have great taste in Pokemon.
“I like Haunter, personally. But my favorite Pokemon would have to be Phantump hands down. It's just so cute.” you tell her smiling happily. You've always had a gift with children. They just seem to gravitated and cling to you.
“Tell you what, I'm going to give you a piece of paper with my email on it. If you ever want me to draw you 3 of our favorite Pokemon have your mom email me and I'll gladly to as it for you.” you say just before they call your flight number. You quickly, but legibly write down your email and give it to the girl before saving your work, packing up, and hurry to the line forming.
Because of your first class ticket you're given priority boarding and quickly find you seat. After the plane is loaded up it takes off, headed to PDX. Once you arrive in Portland, Oregon your older brother Jackson picks you up and takes you home.
“Did you have fun in Ireland?” Jackson asks as you slowly drive up the packed I-5. You smile, your head rolling against your head rest to look at him.
“Yeah. I really want to go back. Do you think Mom and Dad would be okay with me moving to Ireland or England? It'd give them a reason to visit Europe.” You says laughing at the skeptical look Jackson gives you.
“I doubt Mom would stop you, but Dad would most likely forbid it. You're his little girl. How could you ever expect him to let you leave?” Jackson asks chuckling softly, but you can hear it in his voice. He'd miss you.
“You are so lucky you get to go all over now, Y/N! I mean, visiting Ireland and then you even get to visit England? Dude! That's my dream vacation. Although I don't really care much for Scotland. It's basically the same as England.” Ida says flicking a small fleck of pizza across the table as you chat. She insisted on taking you out to dinner that night, even though you're totally drained. Who could have guessed traveling by plane, not to mention first class, could be so tiring?
“Scotland was beautiful, Ida. It was all beautiful and amazing and I had wonderful company.” You respond defending Scotland.
Ida laughed softly. “Okay, you win. So how was Jack?” she asks next. Ida has a huge crush on Sean and often asks you about him. His likes and dislikes, his personal habits. You declined to answer a lot of her questions out of respect for your friend.
“Sean was a gentlemen. And he's engaged to be married to Marline, who—I will add, is an amazing woman.” you say seeing a slight look of defeat in Ida's eye. “Sorry, Ida.” you add softly, smiling kindly at your friend, whom looks less than pleased.
“Maybe they won't work out!” Ida says trying to hold on to hope but you doubt Sean and Marline would break up. Not with how comfortable and happy they are together.
“Ida, try to find someone a little close to home. Unless you have consistent contact with someone, it's hard to get an actual relationships going.” you say laughing a little.
“Look who's talking. I heard you're dating some guy named Dark? Isn't that the alter ego Markiplier make up?” Ida asks a little sour. You frown at her.
“That's rude Ida, and you know it. And yes, I am dating someone named Dark and not to inflate his ego, he does look similar to Mark. We met at the convention in LA and just happened to find out we live fairly close together. We met up a few times, liked each others company, and are now dating.” you say trying to sound matter-of-factually when it's all completely bullshit.
Ida rolls her eyes. “If I don't meet him, he's not real.” she mutters under her breath before drinking her Corona. You frown and roll your own eyes getting the feeling she thinks your actually dating Mark and don't want to tell her.
“Let's change the subject, shall we?” you ask rather softly. “I'm going to a convention in Cincinnati the week before Christmas, do you think you'd wanna join me?” you ask hopeful to sooth your friend's ruffled feathers.
Ida glances at you then away again. You follow her gaze to an attractive young man with a goatee and a piercing in his left ear. Soft caramel colored skin and dark brown eyes with matching hair, he's quite the eye candy. You look away not interested in gaining the attentions of some random man.
You know Dark would not appreciate your wandering gaze, not that you'd suddenly get a bad case of wandering hands as well. You have to intention of being a cheater.
“The week before Christmas, huh?” Ida says taking another swig of her drink. “Can't do, not that I don't want to go, but Mom wants me to head back east to visit family. Grandma Pam is dying and it might be the last Christmas we get with her.” Ida says turning her attention to you. You frown. You like Grandma Pam.
“Awe, that sucks. Grandma Pam is so cool. I'm sorry.” you say a little bumped out. “Maybe I can cut my time short and visit Grandma Pam with you.” you say not ready to let the last woman you consider a grandma die. Before moving the east coast with her eldest daughter, Grandma Pam lived in Washington with Ida's parents and she'd been there nearly your whole childhood. Ida and her twin brother Ignis are her only grandchildren and you'd become like an honorary granddaughter to her.
“No, don't cut your convention short. Grams is so proud of your popularity and she watches the YouTube videos with you in them. She thinks a few of them are hilarious and really likes your art.” Ida says, her eyes darting back to the man at the bar.
“Fine, but after the convention I'm meeting up with you in Maryland and seeing Grams.” You say with conviction. You don't even notice the man at the bar and a secondary man with similar features walk over to your table.
“Evening ladies. How are two find young thinks like you doing this evening?” the first asks startling you from your melancholy thoughts.
“Just fine.” You respond, not really engaging him.
“Better now that you're here.” Ida says leaning in towards the man.
“My name is Edwardo, this is my cousin Jose. Who who might you two lovely flowers be?” Edwardo asks laying on the charm. You barely register his attempts at charming you.
“My name is Ida, and this is Y/N.” Ida answers when you don't offer up your name.
“Such lovely names for such lovely ladies.” Jose responds rounding the small circular table and rests his arm on the table top. You raise a brow in question but don't say anything. The fact they think their very suave is a little funny to you.
“Oh, thank you.” Ida gushes flattered. You can understand why Ida gets flustered when complimented. She'd been the target of a lot of rude comments because of her name. It's not very common and to be honest she hadn't been the best looking as a kid. Essentially she looked similar to Helga from Hey Arnold!
“Would you care to join me for a dance?” Edwardo asks as a fairly popular pop song blares from the speakers. You watch as Ida puts her hand in Edwardo's and gets lead away. Jose takes her spot across from you.
“I don't suppose you'd care for a dance?” he asks moving his eye brows a little.
You shake your head saying, “no thank you. I'm not here to meet anyone.” You easily dismiss the man. “But, if you are, there is a lovely young lady with sandy blonde hair that hasn't taken her eyes off you since you walked over here.” you tell him pointing to the young woman. Jose turns and looks at the girl. “I'm already in a committed relationship.” you add to solidify you have no interest in hooking up with anyone.
To his credit Jose nod, bids you a good night and moves on, turning his charm on the other woman. You chuckle a little and sip on your frozen strawberry concoction. Beyond your vision in the dark stands a familiar figure carefully watching your movements.
here I am again
I lost count of how many nights now
how many nights I’ve sat and thought
just thought of the many things you’ve made me wonder
did I really love you?
did you ever care about me like you said?
will I really get bad again?
and drink like my father?
I never thought I would
but I think you’ve driven me to that point
here I am again
thinking of you
with a bottle in my hand and the other on this keyboard
writing, again.
