Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The concentrated silence that enveloped the shed was abruptly interrupted by a loud knock. A mage sitting at a wooden desk twisted in his chair to face the door. Cautiously, the door creaked open and a figure came through. Entering the doorway was one of his family’s servants, who uncomfortably shifted in the doorway. They hesitated to speak, allowing an awkward silence form. Annoyed by the lull, the mage spoke first.

“You need something?”

“Your father sent me,”

The mage fully turned in his chair, giving the servant his full attention. “He couldn't come himself?”

The servant seemed very reluctant to answer. “The Lord is very busy, Subspace,”

“Fine. Just tell me what he wants,”

The servant stopped, their eyes dropping to the floor. They opened and closed their mouth a few times, trying to form the proper words. Finally, they managed to utter, “Your father wants you to find a spouse tomorrow,”

Subspace froze, taking a moment to process the servant’s sentence. He was only nineteen, yet his father was speaking of marriage. Subspace had never been interested in finding a bride, it just wasn't something he cared about. He thought, or hoped, that his parents would forget about relationships, and just allow their son to focus on things he actually enjoyed. Subspace wasn’t the sole heir, he had a good number of siblings to continue the Tripmine bloodline. Even with the security of descendants, Subspace’s parents still nagged him about spending everyday in his work shed, where he practiced and studied magic.

“tell him im not interested right now,”

The servant’s face dropped, shifting into a look of despair. “Please, Subspace, reconsider!”

He looked at the mortified servant, who would probably have to take his fathers anger if they returned unsuccessful. The Tripmine Lord wasn't cruel, but he wasn't soft either. Subspace began to feel pity for the poor worker.

“Okay, tomorrow I'll go to the city.”

The Servant was instantly relieved, and began thanking him excessively. Subspace huffed as they left his shed, leaving him to dread his new situation. Subspace had a negative desire to search for a partner, and he'd much rather read the new spell book he had found in his family attic. He tried not to worry himself about the next day, instead opting to skim through the book a bit. He was hoping he could find some useful spells.

The Book was clearly aged, as the pages were a yellowish tint and had an old brittle to them. The dust stained cover was made of real leather, and had retained its sturdiness over the years. When he opened the book, the scent of ancient paper filled the air. Subspace didn't remember how exactly he had stumbled across the relic. He had just picked it up randomly while sorting through the family attic. He had stopped his cleaning when he found it, as the book was so enthralling to him. That was only yesterday, so he hadn't had time to study his artifact yet.

While flipping through he noticed a dog-eared page in the middle of the book. Curious, he opened the page. He was greeted by an elegant drawing of a swan, with smaller birds and rodents surrounding it. On the top of the page the words “Beast Helpmate” sprawled across the page. The book wasn't too difficult to understand, but it was written in an older dialect. On the page were two lengthy paragraphs, one describing the spell, the other instructing on how to use it. Intrigued, Subspace eagerly read the page, finishing and re-reading it again. Finally he pulled back, his eyes shining as he stared at the old book. This page had detailed an enchantment that could turn any animal into a spouse. Subspace began to pace and brainstorm all the animals he could enchant, excitingly flipping through the different species and results in his mind.

Instead of dreading the next day he began to shiver, thrilled by the new opportunity he was given. He was enthusiastic about his new enchantment

Chapter Text

Subspace waved to his departing servant. After tossing and turning all night, from excitement of the upcoming day, it was finally time. He had convinced one of the family servants to drop him off on the edge of a nearby town, so he could search for a spouse. Subspace had no intention to do this though, and instead planned to scamper off into the woods. He needed to search the forest for an animal companion, which he could use his new spell on. If his plan went accordingly, he would return home with a spouse, and his parents would be unaware of his disobedience.

Subspace marched into the woods, loosely following a faded path. The trail was covered in leaves, and it looked like it hadn't been used in quite a while. Still, Subspace followed whatever weak trail he could, hoping that he would encounter any animals. As he walked he observed his surroundings, taking in the rich forestry. Tall, abounding trees stretched on into the distance, each covered in a medley of leaves. Subspace gaped the different shapes and sizes, fascinated by the unfamiliar variety. Coating the forest floor was even more leaves, which had crisped and turned brown. With each step came a satisfying crackle, leaving behind crumpled broken material.

Subspace had been enjoying himself so much that he hadn't noticed how much noise he was making. Squirrels would scamper, and birds would fly before he could even spot them. Eventually, Subspace recognised the lack of animals, and then tried to tread quieter. Aside from birds and squirrels, Subspace couldn't find any worthy animals. Squirrels were too fast, and birds were spooked too easily. Subspace had encountered an agitated snake on the path, which he had considered transforming. He thought about it more though, and decided against a dangerous bride with a temper.

Growing hopeless, Subspace was nearing the end of his walk. He hadn't succeeded in finding a spouse, and he now needed an explanation of why his hair was messy, and had some leaves tangled in it for his parents. Stopping to untangle a leaf from his hair, he felt something eyeing him from afar. Slowly he turned his head, meeting a deer gazing at him from a couple of feet away. It stood there motionless, either too scared or too curious to move. Its cold eyes bore into him, and filled him with a foreign sensation. He analyzed the creature out of habit. It was abnormally pale for a deer, having white fur instead of the usual brown. Subspace could somewhat make out a swirly diamond pattern on its fur, which was an impossibly light turquoise color. The deer had two large spindly antlers jetting from its head, both colored a bright, radiant cyan. Subspace was mesmerized by the animal, it had such an air of elegance radiating from it that enthralled him.

Without hesitation, the mage raised his hand towards the deer, and began to mutter his enchantment. He had spent hours last night memorizing it, and he was confident that he could recite it flawlessly. In response to the words, both his hand and the animal began to glow, both emitting a soft light that grew brighter by the second. Shortly, the glare was too intense and Subspace had to look away. Immediately after the climax of the gleam, it disappeared, allowing him to look at his product. Subspace slowly turned, reluctant to see his creation. His eyes widened when he fully saw the former-deer’s new form.

Sitting in the ground was a graceful figure, sitting with their hands tucked into their lap. A white flowing veil cloaked the individual, blanketing them in a sophisticated bleach. They had kept the same pale colored skin that the deer had, and now had similar colored hair to match. The long pale hair was stylishly pulled back into a ponytail. From under the hair sprouted two cyan antlers, the same as before except one now had a golden ring hanging from it. The person was dressed in a fancy dark blue vest over a long-sleeve victorian styled blouse. Below were similarly dark colored pants, which were pulled above the waist. Subspace had been too busy gawking at their appearance to catch their expression. Two dark, majestic eyes peered up at him, analyzing him in return. They blinked before staring at their own body, raising their hands to study them.
Suddenly, realization struck Subspace like a bludgeon.

Female deer don't have antlers.

Chapter Text

Subspace reluctantly peeled his eyes open, as the grogginess of sleep tempted to hold them shut. Gathering enough willpower, he managed to open his eyes enough to mindlessly stare at the ceiling. He wasn't fully awake yet, and he was still tired. As he traced the patterns on his ceiling, his brain began to restart. Memories and thoughts began to flow into his mind, reminding him of who he was. He began to recollect the previous day, sifting through his past actions. Promptly, he remembered the deer he had enchanted, and he quickly sat up.

hastily he slipped out of his bed, sliding into his nearby bathroom. He quickly completed his morning routine, only pausing to slightly adjust his hair in the mirror. His four pink horns looked particularly sharp today, and his hair was messily styled. After checking his appearance, he scrambled over to his closet, picking out an outfit he had prepared. He didn't want to wear anything too elaborate, but he also didn't want anything too casual. Eventually he selected a simple vest over a dress-shirt, completed with some trousers that ended above the knee.

After scaling the staircase, and navigating the ground floor, Subspace arrived in the kitchen. Noticing him, the family chef, a short and kind middle-adged lady, inquired about breakfast. Subspace paused to consider, scanning his mind for old knowledge he may have read somewhere. He flipped through a mental catalog for many moments, leaving the chef bewildered by his indecisiveness. Finally he answered with two pieces of avocado toast with no toppings. The chef eyed him for a moment, checking the seriousness of the request, but saw that Subspace was confident. Easily, she completed the order, finishing it by neatly plating it on a lavish dish. Subspace eagerly snatched the plate and ran upstairs.

He practically sprinted to the room next to his own, halting in front of the door. He hesitated to knock, staring down at the plated pieces of toast. Something about the contents of this room made him stop and want to consider. Some unfamiliar feelings arose within, something like nausea. Subspace knew he had to enter this room eventually though, so he knocked before he could overthink any more. Following the short knocks was an absence of sound, which Subspace took as permission to enter.

Sitting in the room was a pale figure staring out of a large window. When Subspace entered the creature only slightly turned its head, gazing at him with saddened, lightless eyes. The light from the window gave them a luminous quality, making Subspace want to watch more, but he retained. Instead he marched forward, extending the plate in his hands. The creature's face shifted into a faint look of confusion, so Subspace began to explain.

“i brought you breakfast,”

The deer’s expression remained the same.

“y’know, food that you eat in the morning?”

The creature still didn't understand, but it took the plate regardless. It stared at the plate for a moment before picking up one of the pieces. It turned it in its hand, scanning the bread for something. Finally it lifted it up to its mouth, taking a small bite from the toast.

“You like it?”

The deer didn't answer, and continued to slowly chew before swallowing.

“Hey, I know you can talk, you asked me something last night,”

The deer continued to stare at the bread before speaking. “where am i?”

Subspace paused, processing the question.
“My family estate” he answered.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“well, i didn't want to leave you in the woods,”

The deer fell silent, finally fully turning towards Subspace. “Why did you turn me human?”

A lump caught in Subspace’s throat, preventing him from speaking. He tried to find a proper explanation, one that didn't sound too selfish or delusional. He never did though, and he instead blurted something out.

“We have to get married”

The deer raised an eyebrow, a slight motion that indicated a need for more explanation.

“My family needed me to find a spouse, but I hate the people in this place. So instead I used some old family spell to turn an animal human, so I could marry it.”

The deer slowly blinked at him with a tired expression.

“you were the only one i could find” Subspace hesitated for a second before adding, “Also you need to pretend to be a woman for a bit,”

“But im male-”

“yea, yea i know. Just for a bit, okay?”

The deer returned its gaze to the window, staring at the tree line blankly. The plate of food lay untouched beside it, signalling something like dissatisfaction.

Subspace realized that he didn't know the deer’s name, and he should probably learn it if they were going to get married.

“My name’s Subspace by the way, what’s yours?”

“i dont have one”

Subspace’s jaw slightly dropped in surprise. He contemplated for a moment, thinking of a solution for his nameless companion. He had been silent for a second too long, as the deer re-turned its head to meet him.

Soon, an idea came to him. “Can you use magic?”

“Magic?”

“y’know, like when you summon things? sometimes by saying words?” The deer was still confused so he continued, “Everyone can summon a certain item to help them during battle, Mine’s a tripmine”

He extended his hand, flatting his palm for the deer to see. He concentrated at his limb, intensely staring at it while a structure began to shape. In the palm of his hand formed a crystal wrapped in a cube like structure; a subspace tripmine.

Having watched the demonstration, the deer turned to look at its own two hands. It flipped them over a couple times, scrutinising them. Then it lifted its appendages in front of its chest, holding them together as if cradling something precious. Softly, its eyelids slid close and its head turned down in concentration. Suddenly, something began to take shape in the cupped palms. It was a large rectangular box painted a blue color with a checkered pattern. It had golden handles and a large plus symbol printed on it. On top of the box spawned another item, this time in the shape of a small handheld cannon. Subspace peered at the items, guessing that it was a medkit and some long range healing tool.

The deer admired the object it had synthesised. “what is it?”

“I think it's a Medkit” He already knew by now that he needed to explain more. “its a kit full of healing supplies, and that thing with the trigger must also have healing properties”

The deer made a small noise of wonder and excitement, pleased by the discovery.

“Thats your name then” Subspace remarked, placing a hand on the other’s shoulder. “Medkit,”

Chapter Text

“You should take the mistress upstairs into the city today”

Subspace’s hand froze inches away from his mouth, suspending his fork mid-air. He lowered his utensil, entering a conversation with his house maid.

She continued to sweep the kitchen floor as she spoke, “poor thing spent all day staring out the window yesterday”

Subspace guiltily looked aside, “She just really likes the forest”

The housemaid was silent for a moment, enveloped in a simple cleaning rhythm. Suddenly she jumped up, turning to the Lord’s son, “You should take her to that new garden they recently opened near that bar, y’know the one?”

“Bar where my parents met?”

The maid softly chuckled at the memory, “yes, that's the one! Right next to it a young lady just opened a public garden, it's full of pretty flowers”. The maid gave a sly smile and a wink, “You should buy her some”

Subspace stood up from the table lifting his plate as he moved, "not a bad idea, thanks!”

The maid smiled after him as he jumped up the stairs, racing to the room next to his own.

…

Subspace delicately wrapped his hand around Medkit’s, leading them towards the flowery arch. They passed through a short tunnel-like structure, the walls being composed of various blooming vines. Bright and vivid blotches sporadically interrupted the dark backdrop. As subtle as he could manage, Subspace glanced at his companion. Medkit was aloofly looking around, seeming to enjoy the colors, which made Subspace happy.

The end of the tunnel spat them out into a garden, and in front of them was a directory. The sign listed many flower species and their location. He knew of some, but many were unfamiliar. As he scanned the list, he noticed a small note about a flower shop near the exit. He remembered the words of his house maid, turning to look at Medkit, who was gazing at a nearby section of flowers. Subspace softened at his partner's fascination, making a mental dedication to buy Medkit some flowers at the end of their trip.

Eager to start the tour, Subspace gripped the other’s hand and lightly tugged him towards the path. A small sign told them they were in the shrub section. When Subspace pictured a shrub, he imagined a bare, green bush with nothing to look at. The plants around him were nothing like that though. Many had various flowers sprouting from them, and even the ones that didn't were still color-filled. Some were tall and slim, while others were shorter and round. Subspace checked his partner, who was also observing the bushes. Softly Medkit tugged towards a particular specimen.

Before them were a couple of shrubs, covered in a vibrant green blanket. All over the bushes sprouted pointy flowers, all in different colors. One bush was a harsh pink, another a gentle violet. Medkit gazed at the shrubs, entranced by the sight. Equally as fascinated, Subspace looked at the panel in front of them, which gave information about the plant. This group of bushes were Azeleas, a flowering shrub that blooms in spring. Subspace read out the name to Medkit, repeating it several times over to ensure he correctly pronounced it. Medkit reached out to touch one of the flowers, but stopped himself before contact. Shortly, he retracted his hand and abruptly turned away. Quickly, he continued down the path. Subspace shot up and scrambled after him.

lightly grasping each other's hand, they continued to tour the garden. Together they passed through many sections all containing different plants. One section was labled “perrienials”, and another “annuals”. As he walked, Subspace began to think about flowers. He had never been too interested in plants, but this experience made him want to learn more. He never realised how little he actually knew. All he could recall was basic pollination. He stopped every minute or so to check Medkit, to make sure he was enjoying this too. He hadn't been as reactive as Subspace, but his eyes appeared a little less dull. Subspace’s thoughts shifted to how he could make them brighter.

The walk certainly lasted a couple hours, but it still felt short. The time flew past, too fast for Subspace. He really enjoyed himself, seeing all of the plant varieties interested him. Even more, he liked the new, less dead look in Medkit’s eyes. It made him feel jittery and warm.

When Medkit paused at one of the remaining unvisited flower plots, Subspace took his chance. He promised Medkit that he would return, and that he had something he needed to do. He sped towards a nearby stall, labeled with a sign that said “Flowers for Sale”. When he approached the stall, he found a lack of vendors. Impatient, he slowly leaned over the counter, searching for the owner. From under him popped up a woman, who had apparently been crouched behind the counter. With a start, Subspace jumped back, apologizing for the intrusion. The woman simply just waved, signalling her indifference.

The vendor was a medium sized lady. She had a pink color scheme, similar to Subspace’s. Her horns were pointy like his, but they had many smaller points, reminiscent of a tree branch. Draped over her body was a paler pink kimono, tied at the waist by a weaved rope. On her right arm was an industrial glove-probably used for horticulture- and the other was covered by the kimono. She leaned over the counter, giving him a genuine smile.
“What can I do for you?”

“I would like to purchase some flowers,”

“ah, Flowers for the mister?” she guessed, slightly tilting her head in Medkit’s direction, who was still distracted by the flowers.

Subspace turned bright red and began to stammer. The vendor lady chuckled, and winked at him. Embarrassed, Subspace quickly regained his composure, “Do you have any suggestions?”

The lady leaned back, raising her hand to her chin to think, “maybe something yellow?”. She turned her head towards Medkit, judging him from a distance, “would really match him,”

“Anything kinda symbolic? like a flower that represents happiness or something,”

The lady stopped at Subspace’s words, an idea clicking in her head. Quickly she turned towards the back of the stall and called, “Shuri!”

From a backdoor popped out a smaller person. They had bright green horns and were wearing a Black outfit. They kind of looked like ninja.

“yea?”

“Can you get a couple of black-eyed susans?”

Without responding they exited through the back again. When they returned they were holding a couple of yellow flowers wrapped in white paper. After handing them to the woman, the person slinked out the door once again.

“How about these?” the woman asked, presenting some bright yellow flowers with a large dark brown globe in the middle. They kind of looked like eyes.

“Yea! These are nice, you said they're called Susans?”

The woman beamed at the opportunity to talk about a passion, “Black eyed Susans! They symbolise happiness and opportunity,”. She turned towards Medkit, who was beginning to lose interest in the plants, “I hope he likes them,”

Subspace dug through his pockets, extracting a singular hundred dollar bill. The woman’s eyes widened at the sum, but Subspace sprinted away before she could refuse. He wanted her to keep it. Tenderly, he approached his bride, extending his arm towards him. Medkit turned to look at his gift, confused at first, but ultimately accepting it. He looked down into them, admiring their simple beauty. He turned upwards, softly naming them.
“Black eyed Susans?”

Subspace was surprised that he already knew their name, “You know them?”

“yea”

“Do…you like them?”

Medkit’s expression softened a bit, his lips slightly upturning, “Yes”

Subspace couldn't contain his smile, so he didn't try. He gingerly took his partner’s hand, leading him back home.

Chapter Text

The crumpled piece of paper made a light thud when it hit the floor. Subspace hadn't meant to knock it off of the table, but his arm clipped it when he went to turn the page of his book. Frustrated that he would now have to find that paper, he paused his reading. The paper wasn't anything significant, but he didn't want to leave any mess in his work space. Hastily, he scanned the floor, near where he remembered the soft thump sounding from. He began to grow more impatient each passing second that the paper was still missing.

Suddenly, an arm extended towards him, holding his crumpled ball. Subspace gently took the trash from Medkit, who returned to his previous seat upon a neighboring storage box.

Earlier, Medkit had asked to accompany him while he studied. Subspace guessed that he had grown bored of his room, and likely wanted to explore a bit. What he hadn't predicted was his companion’s silence. Sure, it wasn't unusual for him, but it seemed more quiet today, more purposeful even. Subspace was starting to worry that he had caused it, by a passing remark or action. Or more devastating, he had truly not liked the flowers he had bought yesterday, and was now silent to punish him.

Subspace had almost forgotten he was there, he had been too enveloped in reading. It also didn't help that Medkit was being silent, doing nothing but watching him read. He realized with a twinge of guilt that he hadn't really given Medkit anything to do, maybe causing his muteness. At this thought he closed his book, turning to his companion to chat.

He brainstormed for a moment, thinking of a conversation starter, “Do you like it here?”

The deer quietly answered, “It’s a nice place,”

Medkit shifted his gaze towards the window, not looking at anything in particular, “Will we go back to the forest soon?”

“Uh, sure! we can visit tomorrow if you want,”

Medkit didn't change much, only slightly sinking a bit, “No, that's okay,”

Another awkward stillness settled between the two, Subspace not wanting to break it to inquire about Medkit’s longing for the forest. Luckily, Medkit shattered the tension with another question.

“Do you still want to marry me?”

Subspace felt at ease with the question, he didn't even have to think about it. He didn't hesitate to stand from his chair, opting to answer the question without words. Medkit curiously eyed him as he approached, awaiting his response. Supspace slid his hands on top of the box that Medkit was perched on, putting all of his weight on them when he leaned in.

In a speed not too slow or fast, Subspace leaned forward and closed his eyes, pressing his lips against Medkit’s. Both tensed at first, but soon their bodies limped, both melting into the connection. They leaned into each other, using one another for support. Being so close, they started to notice subtle details about each other. Medkit felt Subspace’s smooth skin, and Subspace noticed Medkit’s light pleasant scent of linen. They lingered for a moment, neither wanting to break their spell. Eventually, they needed to breathe, so Subspace pulled back. Leisurely, he opened his eyes, his cheeks flushed with a light pink.

Medkit also opened his eyes, which now portrayed a great deal of shock. His cheeks too, turned a light pink, but his blue tones made them appear more purple. His eyes wildly scanned Subspace’s face, not entirely comprehending his action. Regardless, his expression softened, as he began to somewhat understand the tenderness and affection of a kiss. Wanting to ensure he understood the intent, Subspace took his hands in his, slightly lifting them.

“Yes, I would want nothing more than to marry you, Medkit.”.

To this, Medkit slowly turned back to the window, re-adopting his uncertain stare towards the outside. Only this time, his face was flushed with purple.

Chapter Text

Subspace nervously swallowed when he approached the large doors of his father’s quarters. Lord Tripmine was a dangerous and hard man, many people feared his gaze alone. He was wealthy and strong, possessing a history of fighting and swordsmanship. He had also been the first to perfect the family magic, their namesake.

The lord’s attitude did not change towards his children. He parented with an iron fist, promoting respect and class within his offspring. Subspace and his siblings never talked much, but he knew his father had no special treatments for them either. He feared telling this giant the truth about his fiance.

It was something he needed to do though, as they couldn't play dress-up forever. He gritted his teeth and pushed open the two looming doors, preparing himself for his father’s presence.

It was like walking into a vacuum chamber, all air was immediately sucked out of the room. The intense figure was perched upon a throne. A cold, bare seat made of stone. It wasn't lavish like kings in fairy tales, it was a gray rock carving. It sickly punctuated the man sitting in it. Quietly, too quietly, his father shifted himself towards his son, prompting him to speak without saying so.

“Father, I have come to confess something,” he gracefully kneeled to display all the respect he could.

His father simply raised an eyebrow, signalling a continuation.

Sunspace tried not to stammer from fear. “My bride is not who she seems-”

“She’s a man?” The lord interrupted. Before Subspace could start panicking his father began to loudly laugh. Each sound came from deep within, like he hadn't laughed in years.

“Subspace I already know!” he could barely speak between gasps, “My, he’s more manly than you!”

Subspace frowned, “Ah, I see,”. he quickly collected himself before speaking again, “Are you opposed to the marriage?"

The Lord chuckled again, but more softly this time, “Son, I don't care who you marry, I just don't want you cramped in a shed all day.”

Subspace paused. “Really?”

The Lord smiled, the most genuine Subspace had ever seen, “Of course son, I wish you and your fiance well.”

Subspace thanked his father relentlessly, trying not to sob in the same room. When he left, he felt a happy tear fall to the ground, and he ran to exclaim the good news.
—--
Medkit stood in front of the body length mirror, admiring his new reflection. A maid had picked out his new attire, choosing something more masculine now that they knew his true gender. Subspace laid across the room’s bed, observing his fiance in his stylish suit. It looked great on him. The colors seemed to brighten his own, giving his horns a new vibrancy and his skin a glow. The fabric complemented his figure, giving him a slim look, which had previously been hidden by the baggy woman-mimiking clothes. Medkit twitched his ears and tail, his mind lost in the reflective glass as he stared at the spindlily figure within.

His eyes still traced the glass as he spoke, “When is the event?”

Subspace rolled onto his stomach, “In an hour. It's called a party by the way,”

“I know what a party is,” His eyes seemed to glaze, “parties are for celebrations. But what are we celebrating?”

Subspace laughed at his partner's adorable cluelessness, “We’re getting married!”

Medkit slowly turned away from the mirror, his ears slightly drooped, “of course,”

Subspace rolled off of the mattress, catching himself before he crashed to the floor. He stood and walked towards the door.

“It starts in an hour, but we could go ahead and go there. I should probably greet some relatives or something,”

Medkit looked back at his reflection once more. He stared longingly at his image, studying it like an unfamiliar animal. He blinked and shifted away, towards the door. He simply nodded to his partner’s idea and followed him.

They cautiously walked to a cleared space downstairs. An area had been cleared out for a celebratory feast, where Subspace would announce his upcoming wedding to the Tripmine family. Many house maids scurried around adjusting tables and sweeping floors, trying to perfect everything for arriving royalty. A couple of long tables stretched across the room, each covered in a rich red table cloth. They were mostly empty for now, as a kitchen worker had only just begun to place silverware and plates.

Subspace wrapped his hand around Medkit’s and led him into the room. He searched for any relatives to occupy themselves with while they waited for the dinner to start, but no-one had shown yet. Unfortunately, Punctuality was elegant to the Tripmine name.

Instead he spotted his mother, wandering and critiquing the table set-up. Subspace figured he could save the maids some trouble by distracting her.

“Hello mother, are you happy with the dinner arrangement so far?”

“Oh Subspace! i think it looks quite lovely”, She narrowed her eyes at a crease in a nearby table cloth, “Save for a few things,”

“I doubt the guests will notice. The chefs have prepared a wonderful meal”

“Of course, but neither are important!” She cupped her hands around her son’s face, “My boy is getting married!”. Tears and mascara began to leak from her eyes.

“Mother!”

She grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the mess, "I'm so sorry Subspace, but you're getting married!”. She turned to Medkit, still wiping her face, “to such a beautiful partner too!”. She took Medkit’s hand in hers and shook it, “Glad for such an elegance to join our family,”

Medkit remained silent behind Subspace, letting them conversate for a bit. Subspace and his mother had gotten so distracted talking about future plans that they hadn't noticed how full the room started to get. Almost all of the tables were filled with distant relatives, all talking to each other and waiting for meals. The Lord ended the wait by cutting through the chatter with his booming voice, also ending the Prince’s and Lady’s conversation. Subspace scrambled to his assigned seat, tugging Medkit next to him.

“Welcome, we are happy to have you all at this grand celebration. We are here to congratulate my son on his upcoming marriage, which you all will be invited to”

The crowd of family gasped and clapped at the announcement, cheering Subspace for his accomplishment.

The lord continued, “The wedding will be held tomorrow, at mid-day. We have also prepared formal invitation envelopes for more information,"

Multiple maids and workers began to pass around red envelopes.

“We sincerely hope you will be at the event to support our son. Now we can commence the feast,”

With the end of the speech, the waiters brought food. Drinks, appetizers and meals were being served. A waiter handed Subspace a dish with meat. A seared steak plated with cooked vegetables. Subspace picked up a piece with his fork and plopped it into his mouth. It tasted like beef, but with an earthier, more wild taste. He inspected the meat, which had a darker tint than any cow flesh. He took another bite and made a guess that it was venison.

His partner was motionless in his seat. He blankly stared at his plate, arms by his side and his silverware untouched. His plate was the same as Subspace’s, but it was slightly darker. Subspace noted his partner's lack of consumption after devouring his own meal.

“What’s wrong, Medkit?”

Medkit slowly turned to face him, but he shifted his glance towards Subspace’s empty plate.

“Medkit, its just venison and veggitables, its safe to eat,”

“Subspace, I’m venison,”

Subspace almost dropped his fork. He began laughing at his fiance’s joke, alerting curious family around them. He placed a hand on Medkit’s shoulder and tried not to burst out again.

“You’re human now buddy! you’re not a deer!”

Medkit shifted towards his own plate again but didn't pick up his fork. Subspace turned to call over a waiter for another entree, not noticing Medkit’s trance. Something warned him about this meal, about this marriage. He wasn't going to eat this steak, no matter how much Subspace insisted.

Chapter Text

Wine swished in his cup, a viscous red shade that exhuded class. Subspace raised the glass to his lips and tasted. A rich, tart flavor flooded his mouth, attracting him to drink more. He abstained though, not wanting to chug this glass in front of everyone yet.

“Good aint it? swiped it off a table earlier,”

“You stole it!? This is a wedding announcement and you're stealing alcohol?”

Subspace took another sip of wine and stared at his friends. He was disappointed with his company, but it was better than nothing. The thief, the one who stole their drink, was a somewhat important individual from another family. Subspace could never remember his standing or magic item, but he knew it had something to do with lasers. The other, a much more moral character, was banhammer. From a closer family that valued justice and truth. He was bigger than everyone else, and his horns had an intimidating purple shade. He didn't mind Banhammer too much, but sometimes the righteousness was annoying, especially when they’re trying to sneak alcohol. The only person here he actually liked was Medkit, who was positioned beside him.

“Hand me the bottle,” Subspace stuck out his hand to receive.

“The whole thing-!”

Subspace snatched the glass from laser and refilled his glass. Red seeped from the neck into the cup, filling it to the brim with drink. He picked up the glass and stared into it, his own reddened reflection staring back. He handed the glass to Medkit, turning away to fill a new cup for himself. Medkit observed the liquid for a moment, inspecting it for something. Finally, he sipped the liquid, recoiling in disgust. Everyone burst out laughing.

“You just gotta get used to it, Med!” Subspace took a long drink, "It's actually really good,”

“Why? What's the purpose of ‘wine’?”

“It makes you happy!” He took another drink, emptying the glass, “Just try it!”

Medkit hesitated, but drank anyway. One large chug, and the red was consumed. Subspace immediately refilled his and Medkit’s cup again.

“Hey, uhh Subspace? I think that's a bit too much for the both of you. You've both chugged a glass?” The stranger reached for the bottle, but Subspace pulled away.

“No, we’re fine!”. He motioned for Medkit to drink, and he obeyed. When he lowered the cup he was reddened and swaying, but Subspace filled his glass again.

To Subspace’s dismay, the bottle only deposited drops into his cup. He started to laugh uncontrollably, he found this funny for some reason. Banhammer snatched the bottle and cradled it, while laser stood up.

“Im gonna go, im tired and sober,”

Banhammer turned to follow, "I'm not getting drunk here,”

Subspace flopped onto the floor and huffed at his now leaving companions. He was tired now, sleepy and warm. He had done enough socializing, and now he wanted to rest.

“Im tired Medkit,”

Medkit was blankly staring at the ground, eyes glazed and face red. He was slightly swaying, but not enough to topple over.

Subspace shakily stood, stumbling before eventually gathering his balance. Everything was swishy and swirly. He shuffled over to Medkit and took his hand. He tried to mumble something about sleeping, but Medkit stood and threw off his balance. They almost fell over, but they leaned on one another and managed to catch themselves. The stairs were challenging, as each step was another chance to trip. Their screwed motor functions made it impossible to make precise movements, so they had to fumble their way upwards. Somehow, they made it to the top without ending in a broken pile. They crashed through Medkit’s door, into his room.

“Here you go Meds, sleep.”

He twisted Medkit, still leaning on his shoulder, towards the bed. He had planned to drop him onto the mattress and stumble out, but his movements were currently blotchy. His attempt to drop Medkit failed, as his arms wouldn't unlatch. Instead he threw Medkit’s weight downward, dragging him down too. They both crashed onto the bed, dazed and drowsy. Medkit lay against the sheets while Subspace slumped on top of him. Subspace, confused, propped himself up with his arms.

Something about their position made him pause. Medkit was staring up at him, eyes calm and face flustered. His eyes shined a deep blue that contrasted the pale red of his skin. Subspace paused, considering for a moment. Either from alcohol or desire, he leaned in and kissed Medkit.
—-
Subspace awoke to a bright light. It wasn't blinding, it was the moon, shining a soft blue glow that gave security. A calming luminosity that illuminated the room. He gazed into the sky, thoughtless from sleep. He was slightly numb, slightly nauseous too, and he had a faint headache. He noticed his clothes, some missing and the rest slightly disheveled. Confused, he flipped over, meeting Medkit’s closed eyes.
The memories came rushing back and he smiled.

He felt himself relax and melt at the sleeping deer, his peaceful form silent with dreams. Every now and again an ear would twitch, maybe an automatic movement or a sign of subconscious stories. The soft moonlight gave his partner a signature blue glow, which still mesmerized Supspace every time he saw it.

Subspace was actually excited for a wedding. Every other had just been some pointless event to remind him of his lovelessness. Another chance for him to disappoint himself and his family. In the past, whenever he thought of this ceremony, he thought it to be some act, a careless gesture of class. Now, it seemed like a joyous event, a doorway for happiness and romance. He loved Medkit in every way, his quiet demeanor, his blue tints, the clueless curiosity he had. Subspace drifted back to sleep thinking of all the questions from his partner he’d get to answer.