#V:Bats In The Attic

[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer decided to relish in the silenced for a few long moments, listening to the rain instead. He glanced to his cloak, but hesitated to say he needed to leave. Morty asked, “When do you think it will stop raining?” -Morty

“Looks like it’s beginning to lighten up,” he replied, taken out of his thoughts as he leaned forward to peer out a bit further: Sure enough, the clouds were parting, the sun was peeking through, and the rain was beginning to grow fainter and fainter.

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer shrugged, “No, unfortunately. However the way I went about reaping them was anything but mature. After the first... what, ten in the same place I started panicking. And the suicide threw me off... God, I hate suicides.” He leaned his head up and pressed it against Randall’s hand; it was still warm from the fire. -Morty

Randall gently touched it, feeling the deep heat radiating from the demon as he listened, unsure of how to respond to the story-it was clear, however, that it had deeply affected Mortimer anyhow…

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[theheadlessgroom]

The devil sighed in relief, replying, “Good. I need to go home or else my sons are going to have a hissy.” He stood, picking up his dark cloak and silently donning it once more. He turned his head to look at Randall, humming, “I should probably be taking my leave about now. Thank you again for the shelter; it’s much obliged.” -Morty

“Well, our doors-and my window-are always open should you need us,” Randall smiled, getting to his feet to offer his hand to shake-all in all, he’d seen, the Grim Reaper didn’t seem all that bad. He was just another spook doing his job.

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[theheadlessgroom]

The demon frowned, looking to the ballroom dancers again and giving a little shiver. Morty crawled groggily out of the fireplace then, shaking himself off like a dog who recently came out of water. He stood, shaking the ash off his wings and trotting to the exit of the ballroom, “I don’t want to be in this room any longer. May we go back to the attic?” -Morty

Randall nodded and led him back upstairs and back into his room, settling back into his chair as he glanced out the window, saying, “Sorry being in the ballroom, err, brought back…painful memories.”

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer nodded slowly at that, curling up into a ball in the flames. He watched them curiously for a few minutes before admitting, "I feel terrible about how they ended... And I feel horrible about how I went about it." He sighed, laying his head out of the fireplace to lay it on the floor in a more comfortable angle. He lifted his eyes to Randall, ears twitching. "Never mind that, I'm just thinking aloud." He looked to Randall's hand as he thought about when to get out of the fireplace. -Morty

“Well, there wasn’t anything you could’ve done…right?” he asked hesitantly: There was no explanation to be found about what happened during that wake, why things had gone the way they did-why Beau got trapped in the Stretching Room and hung himself, why the Organist never stopped playing, why the Dancers never stopped dancing…

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[theheadlessgroom]

Morty nodded, humming, "Yes. That's one of the more basic things all demons can do. I personally tend to take the form of a large black wolf or goat." -Morty

Randall blinked at that, saying, “I guess I would’ve assumed you’d turn into a bat…on account of your wings, you know.” He wondered what it would be like to turn into an animal…maybe he’d be a bat himself…

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer shrugged, tapping a piece of firewood, "Fire. Basically what I'm doing right now except stripped. It's ideal for cleaning off grime and it's fairly comforting. However, some decide to groom instead. It depends on the demon." -Morty

“Oh…” he nodded, taking that in before asking, “I’ve seen Prismo and Egore change into animals…can all demons do that?” He knew ghosts couldn’t, but it seemed like demons could…

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer frowned thoughtfully, snuggling into the flames a bit deeper. He finally answered hesitantly, "It's like... taking a warm bath. Erm, well I don't know what that feels like exactly to mortals since I can't touch water, but you know what I mean. This is basically the equivalent of taking a bath for a demon..." He lifted his head a bit, asking "What does a bath with water feel like anyhow? I've always wondered." -Morty

He gave a little shrug, replying, “It’s like being in a very small pool-like a small, warm lake. It’s quite pleasant if you’re just soaking to relax, and it’s nice to get clean in after a long day.”

He then paused, before asking, “If you can’t touch water…how do you bathe?”

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer looked up at him with his eyes, replying, "Oh yes, very much so. It's refreshing." The demon raised an eyebrow, asking jokingly with a joking grin, "Do you want to join me?" -Morty

“I’d rather not get burnt today,” Randall chuckled as he watched Mortimer, before asking, “What does it feel like? Sitting in flames, I mean.”

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer laid back down in the flames, jaws cracking open just a bit to release some steam. His ears twitched as he gave out a purr and shut his eyes contently. Morty curled up in the fire, laying his chin on a piece of ignited firewood. The devil breathed out "Much better..." -Morty

Randall watched silently still, unsure about what he watching before asking him, curiously, “That…feels good?” Since he was a demon, it made sense, but still…

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer frowned at Randall when he screamed, sitting up in the flames with ash and cinders dropping off of him with fire licking at his large form. His wings laid down in the flames as he tilted his head. "What?" -Morty

“Uh…nothing…” Randall replied in a quiet voice, sitting upright as the dancers quietly resumed their waltz, and he pulled up a seat, unsure of how to respond to this sight.

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer smiled at Randall, standing to put his mug away, "Thank you for the shelter option. In turn, if you need any help with anything that you feel I could assist with, feel free to summon me. However it's preferred that you don't summon me after midnight." Morty turned to look at him, asking, "Oh, by the way, do you have a fireplace anywhere? I'm a bit cold." -Morty

“Yes, out in the ballroom,” he answered with a small smile, leading him out into the ballroom, where a roaring fire was already burning, the light of the flames casting a glow on the waltzing dancers around them, who smiled to Randall as he led Mortimer to the fireplace.

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[theheadlessgroom]

The devil nodded, running a finger along the rim of his empty coffee cup. He replied, "Hold onto that hope, Randall. God knows I know how important it is." -Morty

Randall nodded, knowing he would-he had to. For a day when Dorian could finally be happy with Elizabeth. For a day when Constance would be gone, and Emily would be in her place. 

And maybe…perhaps for a day when happiness wouldn’t cause Mortimer so much pain.

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer lifted his eyes, offering a sad smile, "Why are you apologizing? You don't need to be sorry for me. In fact, I should be sorry for you. Excuse my language, but you went through a shit storm to get here, and you're still having a hard time, albeit in a better position, but the point still stands. I admire how you still hold on, and how you view the world with a still limited mindset." -Morty

“It’s…what I’ve learned to do,” he admitted softly, adding, “My ma used to tell me I got my father’s stubbornness, but…I think I also got a little of her optimism too. She used to always try and hold out hope for a better tomorrow, and told me to do the same, and…I try to. That optimism’s been good and cracked, I’ll be the first to admit that…but I still want to hope, if only just a little more.”

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[theheadlessgroom]

Mortimer's ears twitched, staring at him for a response to see if this discussion had ended, before bowing his head to sip at his coffee again. The room fell into an awkward silence, as he finished his coffee, and settled for listening to the music outside. He shivered at the memory it brought back, to which he decided to fall into his own thoughts and wait for Randall to call him back to reality if he wanted. -Morty

“I’m sorry.”

That was all he could think to say-that he was sorry that something like happiness could cause a Grim Reaper pain. It didn’t seem right to Randall-Mortimer had had a wife, children, a sister. Even if times hadn’t always been pleasant, in his family or in his work, no matter how despairing it could be, happiness shouldn’t make it worse. 

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[theheadlessgroom]

"It would be far easier to perform my duty," Mortimer replied. "It wouldn't hurt as much..." The devil frowned, bowing his head as he thought of it from Randall's point of view, before stating, "Randall, I'm old. Very, very old, and I've felt every emotion in human existence and then some... To be honest it's all painful, even happiness. It ends eventually and then it just leaves you feeling hollow. I would prefer to be less 'human', for lack of a better word." -Morty

Randall faltered at that, and looked away-even happiness caused him pain? It was a concept he couldn’t even begin to fathom, honestly, for he had always treasured the happiness of his life, all the little moments that made him forget about his hardships. For happiness to cause pain, it didn’t seem possible.

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