dancing alone | open, joining

//this was done on mobile, so excuse sorry for any errors/missing words!

wake up.

a choking sound comes from the scrawny ebony serval laying next to a rose bush, orange eyes wide open and fear pouring off of him in an unnerving way. ( no way. no way. no way. this can't be real. ) why? why is this happening to him? a heavy breath can be heard with the company of crying as it fills the air. it's not fair. it's not fair. no matter what he does he can't win and it... deadboy tries to force himself to relax, but tears are still rolling down his face, and he can't shake the feeling of overwhelming stress. ain't no rest for the wicked. yet how can someone who desires no harm be wicked? perhaps it's from the acts of cannibalism? he can't help it. he's done his best to not give in, but it's hard. to starve ones self for months on end because of his fear of being judged unfairly. the crying subdues as thoughts drift back to the sanctum. a safe haven he didn't take advantage of. a place where the faceless goddess herthe didn't judge and he misses the place. the members. duchess, marie, celestial, raphael, araceli, haiiro, james, and the rest of them. it wasn't the best time then, but at least he had himself together for the most part.

orange eyes dully gaze ahead, focusing on the palace and for a moment he thinks he's back in the sanctum except... they lived in a mansion, though they might of moved. there, in the few seconds of peace, the demon believes himself to be back home and it motivates him. the painfully thin figure struggles up to his feet, crying done for now, and staggers forward with large ears up and alert. "araceli?" the words are called out in a raspy whisper and he clears his throat once– twice. deadboy rather not think about the past and the reason for the loss of most of his voice. focus. "araceli?" he calls once more. from his last memories of this place he left the young swift fox to take care of the sanctum. uneasy and embarrassment causes his stomach to knot up since he knows he owes her an explanation of disappearing after handing the reigns of leadership to her. ( of course, he's yet to know this is not the place he believes. ) a sigh comes from the dark serval and feels his legs shake before he sits, and takes a breather.

"are you alright? you seem lost."

deadboy stills for a second before wheezy laughter comes from the demon. of course. of course. hopeful wishing for the place he thought to have come back to. his throat tightens and the heat rises to his face, knowing the feeling to cry all too well, but forces it back. how can he move on if he keeps himself in this state? "ah–ah, sorry. ruh-ruh- wrong place." a sad smile splays across the serval's lips with orange eyes seeming to deaden as he stares at the cougar. he takes notice of the female sitting before him and decides to straighten his posture as to not slouch, and curls his tail at his right side. "i'm assuming this isn't the sanctum. could you tell me where i am?" deadboy speaks slowly, ignoring the aching in his bones. perhaps he'll just stay here for a bit to get his bearings. until he can get his stuff together– if this larger feline before him lets him, that is.

suspicions confirmed and his shoulders sag some with a slight lowering of the head. large ears twitch when she states this place to be the dark dynasty and brows furrow in confusion. the name isn't familiar and he starts to question if this is even the same world– same dimension. it's possible the old names he once knew changed over the months... thoughts wander off before he remembers the mountain lion telling her name, rank, and question. flora. dark empress. can see get him something? the look of concern is nothing new and shakes his head a bit. "i'm fine. i promise. so, you're the dark empress of these lands?" eyes suddenly glitter and he thinks to what asmodeus might say. silly mortals with their titles that mean nothing. seems about right. "well, i'm deadboy. i suppose you wouldn't mind if i stayed a bit?"