One wouldn't think there would be, with what Astral said. The trinket was heavy in Simon's hand, as was to be expected something made out of porecelain to be, but there was something… worrying about it. It was almost as if it was warm in Simon's hold, but that could be coincidence. The eyes, though, they seemed to be trying to look into Simon. It was pretty, yes, but there was something off about it. It didn't feel like the perceived stares of the other trinkets, though. This one was… benign.
“Hm…” Simon’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared at the trinket, gently rubbing his thumb across the surface. He honestly couldn’t figure out if he wanted to keep carrying it around with him for a bit or get it as far away from him as possible.
The trinket was simple- a vague human shape with painted eyes. It was smooth, a white color. Really, this was probably one of the only trinkets in the room that didn't seem to… hate Simon. He wasn't supposed to be here, this wasn't his place, give it back-
"Run…"
At hearing what definitely sounded like another voice, he jumped, enough so that he almost dropped the damn thing. He fumbled, but managed to catch it. He let out a sigh of relief, and then thought back to what had made him almost drop it in the first place. He’d just imagined it right?
The room was silent. No one was there- just Simon and the staring trinkets. Something had changed in the one he had almost dropped. There seemed to be a pulse in it, quick and light. A heartbeat, almost. A scared, terrified heartbeat.
“What the hell…” he mumbled, gently putting the trinket back on the table for a second, needing to collect his thoughts. He did a quick glance around the room, reassuring himself that he was indeed alone.
All there was was trinkets. Even if they weren't facing Simon, they were staring at him, digging deep holes in his soul, trying to get him to leave. He wasn't one of them, he wasn't Astral's toy, not like they were. And still with the trinket Simon had put down, there was the terrified heartbeat of someone terrified for their life.
“It’s just anxiety, it’s just anxiety.” He mumbled, trying to convince himself. He then decided to do what he’d done last night and move into Astral’s room. But as he went, he scooped the trinket up that he’d put down on the table, taking it with him into Astral’s room.
The trinket was definetly warm by now, but Simon had been holding it a lot. There were no trinkets in Astral's room, except for the one Simon brought it. Still, it didn't glare at him like the others had, just felt… scared. Who wouldn't be, after finally escaping painful torture to be trapped in their own body, and almost broken by the person that had replaced them?
Simon honestly didn’t know why he’d brought the thing in with him. It just made him feel safe, in some odd way. He continued to stare at the surface, unsure of what to do with it now.
Run… The word wasn't spoken this time, but it hung in the air. The trinket just couldn't work up the energy needed to be able to speak again. It stayed still in Simon's hand, almost settling into place. It hadn't had such gentle touch in a long, long time…
“Why?” He whispered softly. “What are you?” He asked, almost afraid of the answer. He’d been hoping this change in his life finally would’ve been the one that changed him for the better. But now it seemed like this might’ve been the worst decision he’d ever made.
It's… it's not safe for you here… Damn, they just wanted to talk, they wanted to be able to explain everything, but they couldn't. So, they just stayed laying in Simon's hands. This part was truly just for the trinket- they didn't want to be set down, they wanted to stay were it was warm and nice and they weren't being hurt anymore.
“Why?” He asked again, trying to keep his voice low. “Please I need to understand.” Astral had seemed so nice, there was no way he could be a bad guy, right? He wasn’t so sure anymore. He really wanted all of this to work out. No, he needed it to work out, he had no options left.
The response was coming, it was hung in the air, but before it could reach Simon the trinket stopped. It trembled, and for a moment it wasn't clear why- but then the sound of a door opening could be heard. Astral was coming out of his workshop.
D-Don't let him take me away!
((Bruh I actually panicked like “NO ASTRAL’S BACK” lmaooo))
“Shit, shit, shit!” He cursed under his breath, not knowing what to do with it. He could just pretend he’d never heard it say anything or something. He knew it was too late for him to be able to put it back in it’s place. So instead he took a deep breath, staying where he was, keeping the trinket cradled in his hands. His lie wouldn’t need to be too far from the actual truth.
(Good! lmaooooo)
The trinket was still trembling when the knock came at the door.
"Simon?" Astral asked, his voice still calm and sweet. He didn't know about anything that had happened, thankfully.
"Are you in here?"
“Yes I’m here, you can come on in if you’d like.” He reminded himself that he’d done nothing wrong. Nothing he’d done had been against what Astral had allowed him to do.
Astral opened the door, smiling a bit.
"How have you been doing?" he asked. He wiped his hands off a bit, the trinket from earlier tucked in a pocket.
“I’ve been okay. I picked this up, I hope that’s okay.” He said, holding the trinket up so Astral could see it. “I was careful not to break it because I didn’t want to upset you. It’s very pretty after all.”
"Ah!" The newest one in Astral's collection. He hadn't even broken them completely- he'd just gotten bored. "I'm glad you like it." Astral chuckled a bit, lightly touching it with one finger.
"Yes, it is. You can keep it if you want." Astral genuinely didn't know they could still talk to anyone.
"And you don't have to be careful, I wouldn't get upset. Really."
He nodded, smiling softly. “Okay! Thank you.” He so badly wanted to believe that Astral wasn’t a bad person, he wanted to believe that for once, someone would treat him kindly. Even if Astral wasn’t around that much, it’d be enough for him.
Arien smiled a bit.
"You're welcome!" It didn't matter anyway- they were both his.
"So, how have you been doing today?" Astral sat down on the bed, looking at Simon. Who knows, maybe he could get some fun out of him before heading back to work.
“I’ve been doing well. I didn’t bother you did I?” He asked, not wanting to be the reason that Astral had left his workshop.
"No, you didn't. I had a quick break, and I've come out to check on you." Astral smiled a bit. He knew how Simon was always stared at- he'd fix it later. It happened every single time, too, but this time was understandable.
"Don't forget that if you need anything, just ask."
He nodded. “Okay I will!” As of right now though, he didn’t need anything. Except answers of course but he wasn’t sure he was going to get them, or if he even wanted them.
Astral smiled again. He stood up, looking at the trinket and Simon one last time.
"I think I should get headed back to work," he said. "I'll be in my work room if you need anything!"
“Okay! Thanks for coming to check on me.” He smiled softly in response. Everything felt fine. There was no reason why he wasn’t safe here, right?
"You're welcome!" Astral flashed Simon one last smile, then left and closed the door. Silence. It was just Simon and the trinket, now, but the quaking toy in Simon's hand didn't say a word.
Simon continued to just hold it gently, beginning to hum softly. Honestly he didn’t know what he would do if Astral ended up being a bad person. He didn’t even know where he was, let alone how to get home from here. But did that even matter? It wasn’t like he had a home to go back to anyway, just one of his many exes apartment’s where he was guaranteed to get hurt.
