Chapter Text
A simple shop in Mythrin, nothing big, but nothing small. A food shop, more specifically for animals, but some things are edible. Human edible anyway. Vesper worked in this shop, owned it. Sure it wasn't exactly... Successful. Not a lot of people came in, yet they always had enough money to keep it up at the end of the day. That was the important part, considering their house was on top of it. Bottom floor shop, top floor bedroom, kitchen, whatever.
Well, what is there to say about the purple haired thing? They certainly were... Someone? Nobody really interacted with them. Purple hair, white streaks? People had reason to be suspicious, even if small.
Another day passes, again, nobody came into the shop. "Maybe I need to do it up...? It doesn't exactly look great," they murmered, opening the till (cash register) and looking at the little money that was in there. ... Not enough... They were about to close shop up before someone came in, a pink haired lady. Long pink hair, some streaks of white. "Ah, sorry, m-..my mistake... Are you closed..?
"I was about to close up shop," they looked away and at the register, eyes narrowing on what they had, "H-how long are you going to be?"
"Uhm," she paused, "about 10 minutes, i-is that okay? I can come back tomo-"
"NO!" They yelled before coughing,* "No, no, I can... Keep shop open for that much longer anyway." They looked away from her, covering their face, "Trust me it's-" the small bell went off. They sighed. "Just great... ... Whatever. They can go at least a day without causing disruption.
They sighed, closing the door and changing the sign. Lights switched off. Everything locked before going upstairs and flopping onto bed. ... Tomorrow, if they can't get stock. "If... I can't get stock, I'll just get... That. Even if it is unethical..."
Mid-day, they were falling asleep at the counter, until the bell rang. "O-oh! "Hello there ma'am," they said before quickly looking her up and down, "Oh I don't believe I've seen you around here before, are you new here?" They spoke in a cheerful tone, smiling softly. "I'm.. just a visitor, I.. wouldn't call myself new.." The pink haired woman said with a not-so-hidden pain in her voice, but they didn't press. "I like your shop.. It's nice."
"It's just a small corner shop, but thanks Miss...?" They gestured on for her to speak, she just didn't say anything. They rolled their eyes and quietly sighed as they waited, after the stranger grabbed what she needed, She walked up to them. "How much for all this?"
"I mean you can pay in all copper if you must but-"
"... Cool, thanks."
"So you're not going to answer my question?"
"... No. I'm sorry.." She walked out the store, Vesper blinked before going to yell, "HEY YOU DIDN'T- oh..?" They looked at the counter, mostly copper, some silver, little gold. Their eyes lit up, their face slightly red. Who... Was that woman? She was blunt, but... ... No, no get your head out of there. She... Said she was a visitor, nothing more.
End of the day came, about 9:30. They bagged their money and grabbed their torch, some of 'their' product as well. They walked into the forest, "My stars this feels so wrong," they kept walking ahead anyway, "But... It feels like the only way."
"Ah, V, I was worried you'd be late."
"Because I wasn't early?"
"Exactly! Exactly!" He nodded, "And we can't have that, especially not with you."
"R-right, Lux..." They awkwardly laughed, "Wh-why can't I know your full name?"
"Names are an important thing to me, V, hence why... I know yours, but I don't use it."
"... Just the first letter?"
"Nope. Anyway!~, shall we begin our... Little deal?" Vesper handed over the money, and product, "I don't understand why you bring some of the things I give to you to sell."
"You feed wild animals, do you not? Considering, I feel you deserve... More of a payment."
"Mmh, so considerate, aren't you?" They snatched the things Vesper brought and cut both of their hands open swiftly with his magic. "Forgot how much this hurts..."
"Shh, you know you just have to... Let it happen."
Lux grabbed Vespers hand with their free one as some of his blood dropped into theirs. Vesper groaned, but tried to keep quiet, causing any form of loud noise would cause them to grow weak. Lux just grinned at V, watching as their yellow-orange eyes grow more vibrant. Their pupils slightly dialating from the sudden influx of... What should have been theirs.
"Mmh, that feels... Better..." Vesper smiled, letting out a sigh. "It does, doesn't it?"
"Are you... Sure you can keep doing this?"
"I have nothing else to do with my time or my life, and besides," he suddenly pulled V closer, his grip tight on their arm as his voice dropped to a whisper, "It's power you were robbed off... Power any soulless should have. To bad of that little... Condition of yours, but this is the only way to get such a thing. ... When working with me anyway."
Open, closed, open closed. On and on, nobody came in. Not as far as they were aware, but they always had money at the end of the day. But, they felt... Warmly about someone, but they couldn't remember who. ... Pink...? Maybe?
Days after day passed, weeks actually. Months. Deeper in the forest, near a lake. Another meet up. Another ounce soon to come. "Wait, what's that on the ground?"
"Not important!" Lux kicked it away. "Anyway, shall we, Ves?"
"... Yes. ... But.. are you sure? What if I can't... What if it gets wor-"
"Shhh... It's okay, trust me, you'll know what to do afterwards. Just find where I'm usually about..." His eyes narrowed, "You'll be like any of us..."
Vesper and Lux, for the last time. Vesper didn't even react as their hand was cut, as fresh blood, new power, flowed through them.
While doing so, someone emerged. A pink haired girl, butterfly wings, white in her hair. She looked at Vesper before Lux. Watching as... Life seemed to leave one of the two. "F..?"
"F... Lux..? Flux? Your name is Flux?" When asking it was too late, Lux was barely standing, only standing from Vesper's grip.
"Vesper... F..? No.. Flux? I don't.. understand..." She murmered, confused. "Wh-who are you, how do you-"
"You... Won't remember... You never do. I'm someone who... Frequents your shop, about every month or two... Eilier.
"... Are you the one who mysteriously leaves-"
"Yes." Vesper stared for a moment, looking at Eilier. Walking closer and closer, before Eilier could move, they grabbed their staff. Their hand over Eilier's. "If I won't remember, can I at least..." Their face turned red, "If it's.. okay.."
"I don't understand..."
"Kiss?"
"... Does it matter that much to you..?"
"... Yes." Eilier blushed slightly, "If you can make me forget afterwards, I can't... Form a bond. Not until I'm sure..."
"I'll do my best, Eiler.."
Vesper leaned in a small bit, seeing how Eilier hesitated, they pulled back before Eilier kissed them. Gently. Vesper kissed back. The two stood there for a moment. One that felt like hours to both of them until Eilier pulled away. "... Do you know how..?"
"I mean it would be funny if all I had to do was say I wanted you to forget and click my fingers, right?" They clicked their fingers and something surrounded Eilier. Covering her head and making her faint. Vesper paused. ... Did they just..? They paused, staying by her stand for a moment. "... Why does this matter if I won't... Remember her..?" After a couple minutes Vesper started walking off, unaware Eilier had woken up and saw them walking in the distance.
Another day in the shop. ... Bell rang. A pink haired girl. Vesper looked at her, "Good morning ma'am."
"He-..Hello.." She did her usual shopping, Vesper looked at her. "... Can you tell me your name? You're very.. pretty."
"... I don't.. wish to."
"That's fine, Eilier. If you don't want to." Eilier blinked, looking at Vesper. "... D-do you..-"
"Not much, I remember..." They paused, swallowing as their face slightly reddened, "your name at the least."