MailMan is sleeping on the sofa while Joshua is sitting on the floor vibin. MailMan has been "asleep" a bit longer than normal. Joshua looks over, stands up. and pokes his chest, "You. Wake up snake twink."
He makes a grumble sound
"You have been asleep too long. Wake up." Joshua boops him and then keeps poking him
Eventually MailMan opens his eyes but looks super tired "Hm?"
"Are you okay? You have been sleeping for longer than usual." Joshua looks worried as he glances around nervously
"Maybe you’re forgetting something?" MailMan comments.
"W-what? N-no I'm not, at least I hope I'm not." Joshua replies, worried.
"I think you are." MailMan sits up and stares directly at him.
Joshua stares back and looks fearful "What am I uh forgetting? Is it our anniversary?”
"You’re a cruel and manipulative being that couldn’t right your wrongs even if defended by an angel itself." His tone is bland as he stands up.
Joshua steps back while shaking with fear slightly "L-look I d-don't think C-Cole could e-ever forgive me and that's f-fine. It's u-understandable"
A hand lays on Joshua’s shoulder. Joshua turns around with a panicked expression. The Boogeyman is standing there.
Joshua's face drops to one of pure sadness. "I failed didn't I?"
"You didnt even try." The Boogeyman sounds infuriated.
"It's impossible, and you know that, and I know that. so why try?"
"I could help make it possible, but there’s no way to do that if you don’t even lift a finger."
"I'm not going to manipulate them. I'm tired of doing that. I know I can't reverse what I did and I’ll have to live with that"
"Talk all you want, but I’m not willing to live with that." The Boogeyman walks up to MailMan and pulls out his soul as he falls over. MailMan’s soul is a white rubberband mobius strip shaped like a heart around a pinkish red light. It floats over the Boogeymans hand
"Hey! Put that back dickhead!" Joshua tries to snatch the soul from the Boogeyman.
The Boogeyman grabs his wrist and pulls him in closer as he holds the soul out of reach "Watch your mouth and go try to do something for once, and I might give it back."
Joshua looks to be holding back tears "Just....please put it back, I'll do anything I can to get that back."
"Oh now youre taking me seriously?"
"Please," tears pool in Joshua's eyes, "Don't pull him into this."
"You have another chance, but for making things so difficult, you will have to earn the rest of him back." They let go of Joshua’s wrist and seperate the rubberband from the light and hold out the light to Joshua.
"Wha, what do you mean?" Joshua takes the light and stares at it in his paws as tears roll down his face
"You cant brush off everything I ask and not expect a consequence."
"But w-what did you take out?"
With the rubberband in hand, the Boogeyman fades and vanishes.
Joshua keeps staring at it and quietly repeats "What d-did you take out?"
Joshua looks around for MailMan
MailMan is laying face up on the floor with his eyes open. Joshua kneels down to MailMan and puts the light inside of MailMan "I'm so sorry, dear"
It’s absorbed. After a moment, he takes a breath again and blinks some.
"How do you uh feel?" Joshua asks
"A bit chilly dear." MailMan props himself up on an arm.
"D-do you want a uhm blanket?"
"I think I’ll warm up!" He smiles
Joshua nods "Okay, if that's what you want"
MailMan yawns. "My, laying on the floor really takes it outta ya huh?"
"Y-yeah I guess it does."
"Have you been cutting unions Joshy? You know I can do that part for you" he lays back down.
"Y-yeah I uh have, ya'know just keeping myself happy and not hungry." Joshua wipes the tears from his eyes and fakes a smile.
"That’s good. Let’s get some good sleep for tomorrow dear." He smiles back.
Joshua nods and lays down next to MailMan "Goodnight, dear."
He pulls him into a less warm hug "goodnight"
Joshua hugs him back, nodding. As more tears pool in his eyes, he falls asleep.
--
MailMan got up and ran to the kitchen. Joshua wakes up and wipes the tears from his eyes. There are sounds coming from the kitchen.
Joshua stands up and stretches "I wonder what that fucker took from him?"
More kitchen sounds can be heard as Joshua strolls into the kitchen and looks around.
MailMan is devouring packs of crackers as hes on the floor with the cabinet doors open. Joshua is watching with a smile.
"Having fun?" He pauses and looks at him "I feel like I’m dying. I hate this- what happened?!?"
"Wait, wait, wait, didn't you say that hadals don't need to....eat?"
"I think? I’m not sure..why is this not enough?!???" He starts eating more crackers.
"You need like a actual meal, dear" Joshua says.
"I feel like my mouth is full of sand"
Joshua grabs a pot and a box of mac and cheese and starts filling the pot with water. "I am going to make you food"
"No I can make the food." He goes to get up and falls over from weakness due to dehydration,
"Good." Joshua finishes making the mac and cheese, pours it into a bowl, pours a glass of water, and sets it next to MailMan. MailMan starts digging in while Joshua watches with a smile.
"Thank you dear" MailMan says, finishing his food.
"Not a problem, just taking care of you." Joshua smiles
"So what’s the plan for today?" MailMan asks
"I don't know, but uh I think you should start driving to Harmonia's house and I'll meet you there."
"Why are we going again?" He gets up.
"Eh" Joshua shrugs "It would be better than just staying here all day, right?"
"Ok! Well I’ll head off then! I hope you can stay warm without me tonight."
"I can, don't worry"
"Sleep well Joshy" MailMan goes to give him a goodbye kiss on the face. Joshua lets him and blushes slightly.
"Drive safe my dear"
MailMan heads out and Joshua walks to the living room.
Joshua walks in and lays on the couch as he curls up and falls asleep.