Towards the end of the week, II finds Vessel at his piano, trying his best to get a certain tune right. Its sad, as all of Vessel's songs seem to be, haunting in its melody as the notes carry through the room. The large instrument has been cleaned of dust and now shines as much as it can with its age and clear signs of use.

II perks up at the sight of Vessel anyway, a smile pulling at his lips as the other man scribbles furiously in his worn but well-cared for notebook that II knows holds all of his lyrics and melodies. II makes sure to knock on the practice room door and knows Vessel is alerted to his presence by the full-body flinch, though he doesn't turn his head, continuingto play softly. II had had a nightmare during the night before it settled into a restless sleep, but he was still exhausted from it bringing his death to the forefront of his mind again. All he wanted was to go lay with Vessel, to be in his presence even if they couldn't talk, but Vessel's door was closed and the bond a dark void. So II went to lay with III instead, to keep an eye on them as he pet Elvira to soothe himself as best as he could. It worked, somewhat. When the sun rose, II went searching for Vessel, knowing the other man was usually in the practice room about this time.

Wanting affection in a way it used to be so freely given, II rests his head on Vessel's thigh and looks up at him through tired eyes. Vessel hits the wrong key and his breath hitches, interrupting his playing and singing, but after a moment, he continues. When that song is done, he continues playing with one hand, letting the other come to rest on II's head, carding through his hair gently. Vessel doesn't speak to him even now, but II doesn't mind that much, accepting that he simply can't force any words out, even if it hurts to not hear him. Vessel isn't pushing him away and that is all II can ask for.

While Vessel plays, II feels himself drifting off, watching every movement Vessel makes through half-lidded eyes. Vessel's thigh is cool under his cheek through the material of his loose jeans and the bandages. With Vessel by his side, it is easier for II to find rest, having become used to his presence for months before things went to shit. The hand through his hair is soothing, and II loosely wraps his arms around Vessel's leg in an awkward position as he kneels on the ground. Its comfortable being with Vessel, but II knows his knees, his back, his neck, will all hate him later. Sleep welcomes him into their realm with open arms, and II is lulled to sleep with the comfort of Vessel's hand upon his head and the sound of the piano.

Vessel refuses to move his legs. He doesn't know what made II decide to lay on him like this, but Vessel has missed the closeness. II's head is warm on his thigh though it stings the cuts beneath his bandages, and Vessel makes no move to get up. Not when he can feel III's soft breath against the material of his jeans as it seeps into his skin slowly. Vessel continues playing, only moving his hand from II's hair when a song requires it, and he purposefully plays songs that don't need it too often. After a while, II begins to snore softly and Vessel huffs a soft laugh, allowing himself this moment with II when things will soon change.

It must have been about an hour later when Vessel feels III's bond become active, the fuzziness of sleep making way for wakefulness. He waits for the inevitable pain, how unfortunate it is that he will need to wake II, but finds that none comes. He thinks he should go and be there when III wakes from his transformation, but isn't willing to move II, isn't willing for the moment between them to end. He wants this to last forever, this moment of peace Vessel is allowing himself.

Footsteps alert Vessel to the thirds presence, and turns his head to find them at the door of the practice room. Their mask is off, a fanged grin pulling widely at their cheeks and there is amusement and something else laced into their bond. Curly blond hair is loose, greasy from not being washed, and their ocean eyes are surrounded by pitch darkness. Elvira lets herself hang in their arms, looking pissed at the world but making no move to escape. He's beautiful, and Vessel doesn't want to look away, breath caught in his throat.

The hand that still runs through II's hair hurriedly lifts to Vessel's lips in a shushing motion as III opens their mouth to speak. He stops playing the piano entirely, pointing at II and shaking his head. III pauses, gaze flitting down to the bandages on Vessel's arms, then nods, making their way over as quietly as he can. Vesssel appreciates the thought, even as III slams their elbow into the doorframe as they pass with a wince. Vessel huffs a laugh, a smile pulling at his lips without a thought as his hand returns to the mess of II's hair.

III keeps his grin at the sight, taking a seat on the ground beside Vessel and the bench, opposite of II. Elvira jumps from their arms, brushing III with her tail as she saunters off. They both watch her go.

III asks her name and Vessel takes his notebook and turns to a back page, writing it out. Their shoulders shake as they laugh with a bright smile, whispering quietly that the name is fitting.

II lets out a particularly loud snore and Vessel smiles, running a gentle hand along his cheek with reverence before letting it brush through his hair again, a practiced motion Vessel only allows himself when II is asleep.

"You guys are cute together." III comments, and Vessel's head shoots up, shaking it frantically before he begins to write, nervously fiddling with an angel bite piercing with his available hand once finished.

'Not together.'

"Well, with the way you look at him, and the way he looked at you when I last woke up? You should really confess already." III states, tilting their head to the side in confusion even as they admire (and struggle to read) the elegant cursive that Vessel writes in.

Vessel elects to ignore the part about how II looks at him. III must have seen wrong. In as much pain as they were, it would have been easy to mistake a simple glance for something more. Shaking his head, Vessel is glad when III takes the end of that line of conversation for what it is.

"Oh! You have a bass! I know how to play that!" III exclaims, a bit too loudly as they gesture at it wildly, and when Vessel flinches back from the loud sound, eyes tracking III's hands and body language, they quiet down with a sheepish apology.

Vessel ignores how cute the expression is, ignores the embarrassed heat rising to his cheeks, and turns to look where III had excitedly pointed, and sure enough, a shiny white bass guitar sits next to Vessel's electric guitar. Sleep must have placed it there at some point, but Vessel isn't sure when.

He tries to reassure himself that III isn't upset with him, that when they raised their hands, it was just out of excitement.

"Do you play?" They ask, voice just below normal volume so as to not wake II, though Vessel imagines it won't matter.

He can feel II beginning to stir, knows the moment will be over soon, and Vessel will force himself back to a safe distance to protect his heart.

Vessel shakes his head, pointing at III, opening his mouth with hopes that he can get the words out. He manages a whisper and nothing more, "Sleep-... knew."

They're stilted, quiet, but Vessel is glad he managed to say anything at all. "Sleep knew I could play? I should've figured He would, now that I think about it. He is a God after all. Do you mind if I play it sometime?"

"Y-ours." Vessel chokes out, but there is a small smile on his face anyway.

III wants to see him underneath the mask, but doesn't dare ask. If Vessel wants to keep the mask on, then he's well within his right to no matter III's overwhelming curiosity.

"Okie dokie, thanks! Oh, also, I appreciate both of you taking care of me. It must've been difficult. I can't imagine it was, uh, fun." III grimaces but Vessel shakes his head in denial.

'Not your fault. It is what it is.' He writes, and as he does, II's eyes blink awake as they sit up quickly.

"Three!" He blurts, rubbing sleep from his big blue eyes, "You're awake!"

"And pretty." II mutters as III smiles down at him, like a ray of sunshine has been cast into the room.

"Suppose we're both back in the land of the awakened, huh?" Humor dances in III's eyes, scrunched at the corners so that the question mark freckle disappears almost entirely into the crevices.

II laughs, and Vessel lets a smile mar his features even as it threatens to slip into a grimace of some odd sense of both jealousy and envy. He doesn't know if he wants II's attention on him, or III's. Perhaps both, if Vessel were to let himself think about it longer than a millisecond.

"Are you feeling well enough to go to the store?" II inquires, looking them over for any visible signs of distress even as the bond remains a healthy mix of calm, amusement, and something else Vessel can't name.

Uncertainty and fear crash down the bond like a tidalwave and both Vessel and II physically reel back at the sudden onslaught. It takes a moment for their brains to realize that it isn't their fear, but III's. "I-I'm sorry! We don't have to go, just tell me what size clothing you wear and I'll go myself." II races to fix things, not sure what he said to cause this.

"No, it's okay. I'll go. We're going to be wearing our masks, right?" III tries for a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah, we prefer to." II keeps his tone level and volume soft, reaching out to hold III's hand in his while one remains around Vessel's leg.

III clutches II's hand like a lifeline, some of the fear down the bond abating, "If no one knows who I am, I'll be okay. I-"

Vessel and II share a look of concern, but let III gather their thoughts. "I... I don't remember what they look like, but I think I knew them- They- I was killed. Murdered." He blurts, finally, after stumbling throughout their sentences.

"Three, you don't have to-" II starts nervously, but III barrels on.

"No, its okay. I want to get this off my chest. Maybe it'll help me move past it because it's all I can think about...! I- I think one of them thought I was hitting on them, and, and that sort of thing, uh, man to man," III winces, "Isn't exactly normal in town and, well, I wasn't hitting on any of them at all, only being friendly and everyone I've met always says I'm too friendly and its creepy but- I was only being nice cause his outfit was really nice and you don't really see that sorta thing here on men and-"

Vessel and II can only stare in mounting horror as III's anxiety skyrockets and the fear continues buzzing down the bond and II wants to hold him, to keep III here and not let him leave the house at all. He wants to hurt the people who did this to III, but focuses instead on comforting them.

Vessel's six eyes darken to a deep red, shadowed behind the mask as his lips pinch together to hold back the snarl of fury.

How could someone- How dare they hurt- kill-

"Well, they didn't like it. The compliment, I mean. I- Should've just kept my mouth shut. The man and his friends got... upset. For lack of a better word. I don't remember much past the hit to the head, or when they started kicking my chest- or was it my stomach? Uh, anyway, I don't even remember much about them, or me for that matter. I don't even know my own name, from Before, but- I... I don't want anyone in town to know its me." III finishes in a rush, and II and Vessel are left reeling trying to process the onslaught of distressing information.

"I- I'm so sorry Three. If you don't want to go into town ever again, neither I nor Vessel would blame you." II settles on, but Vessel cannot force words out to agree, or to speak on his anger or his sadness on III's behalf.

He takes III's hand instead, trying to keep his claws from digging into their hand. Vessel wants to hurt, hurt something, and if he can't hurt whoever had the audacity to- to lay a finger on III- who has been nothing, nothing but kind the short amount of time they've known him- who treated Vessel like he was more than the dirt under their shoe when Vessel can count on one hand the amount of people his entire life who had done him that kindness-

II squeezes Vessel's hand, a tight pressure that forces Vessel back into his body and out of his mind and Sleep is disappointed, upset at Vessel for not continuing his thought process. Sleep would enjoy Vessel hurting something, be it himself or the people who killed III and Vessel finds he wouldn't mind whichever option was the correct one. Wouldn't mind if it was both. His anger slowly fades, but doesn't leave entirely. It simmers, just under his skin, and he knows it will not leave any time soon.

"It wasn't your fault." III is quick to state, "But, will anyone in town remember me when I don't remember them?"

Vessel frowns and shakes his head, but he's unsure. Vessel didn't care to ask when he was Made, knew in his bone marrow there was no one who cared enough about him to want to remember his existence, if he died.

'I will ask.' He writes, and reaches into his soul for the bond he shares with Sleep.

Pulling on it gently to get their attention, Vessel sends his question to the God and gets a quick response aloud for the others to hear.

"As long as you don't remove your masks, there will be no way for anyone in your pasts to recognize you. I have taken your bodies from their graves, and your previous identities from your minds, but who you used to be remains, out of your reach."

II cannot help but be unsettled by this new knowledge. He supposes he shouldn't be surprised that they all had graves... Who they were Before died along with their bodies. He wonders- detachedly almost, if the people he has memories with faces or names of, buried him. II decides it doesn't really matter. There will be no going back to that life. He from Before is dead, and he is The Second now. As Vessel is the First, and III the Third. Casting a look at III confirms much the same thing, but when his gaze moves to Vessel, there is a troubled pinch to the thin line of his lips.

"Ves?" II asks, squeezing his hand a little tighter but careful, so careful not to hurt him.

Ves looks at him, one pair caught somewhere near II's eyes, the bottom watching III, and the top avoiding any eye contact at all. There is such profound sadness in his gaze, even as the bond remains shut, and II longs to know what Vessel is feeling so he can help.

He shakes his head, refusing to answer, but there is a faint trickle of reassurance that II feels down the bond, for him only.

III moves on quickly after that, anxiety slowly fading away, fixing some strands of hair that had gotten stuck in the open, spiked ring of his eyebrow piercing, then beginning to braid a chunk beside his ear, "When can we leave? Are we all going? Do we own a car?"

"Um, as soon as you're ready, it's up to Vessel, and yes." II answers, turning to Vessel for his own response.

'Not going.' He writes, avoiding II's probing gaze.

"Are you sure? You're welcome to stay in the car, or I can hold your hand like usual?" II's gaze is hopeful, reaching into Vessel's soul with his pretty blues like the sky.

Vessel doesn't meet his eyes, knowing he'll cave if he does, and Vessel wants to rest. He needs it, desperately, to slit a vein, and slip into nothingness for a little while.

"Alright, well, would you mind keeping the bond open while we're gone? I- I'll worry about you." II asks while standing, letting go of both III and Vessels hands.

Without much thought, he tucks a strand of hair behind each of their ears, enjoying the blush it causes to spread along Vessel's ears and the bright smile it pulls from III.

Vessel contemplates his response as III stands too, wiping off their jeans and reaching for II's hand. He watches enviously at the ease in which II accepts it, and wishes he had the courage to reach out and do the same.

'Okay. Will be worshipping later.' Vessel scribbles, pretty letters losing some of their elegance in his haste.

Vessel really, very desperately, needs to shut his mind off. If he sits in this anger, this envy, this self-loathing and guilt, he may just go insane.

II nods along, knowing Vessel prefers to worship in isolation, holding a hand out for Vessel to take, trying his best to hold back the sting of rejection from the bond as Vessel shakes his head in refusal. II just wants to hold him like he used to.

III looks between them, confused, but can't stop the way their face lights up in awe as Vessel turns the bond on right away, keeping it a bit calmer intentionally, despite his anxiety over III being aware of his souls presence for the first time. He lets that anxiety be known though, which II is proud of him for.

"Is that... you?" III wonders aloud, pawing at his chest like they could feel the bond physically if they tried hard enough.

Vessel tilts his head a little to the side as he nods, confused as to why III seems so... enraptured. "I changed my mind. You're not like the sun at all. Still radiant, but in a more subtle way, like the moon. Gentle like a dream. A parallel to Sleep's presence, like an overwhelming nightmare." III states, but rushes to clarify on Sleep's behalf, "I mean that in a positive way! Nightmares can force us to confront things we might not want to think about, they're not just abstract terrors."

He cannot stop the way his mouth falls open just slightly in shock. Vessel turns to look at II, in some mix of confusion and wonderment, but II is nodding along like III's words make perfect sense. "Soothing, isn't it?" II asks III, and they nod eagerly in response, drawing random patterns into II's hand with a thumb.

"Thank you, Vessel. I appreciate you doing this for me." II says softly, placing his free hand against the cheek of Vessel's mask.

Vessel still won't meet his eyes, but let's himself lean into the touch anyway, though he can't feel it through the masks material. Vessel is caught between accepting any affection II will give him, like his heart wants, and doing what his brain desires and pulling away to protect his battered heart from more damage.

II and III begin to talk quietly about what they want to get from town, and Vessel listens for a moment as he follows them out of the practice room. Before long, feeling out of place, Vessel leaves and heads upstairs, silent as a ghost. He is eager to free himself from the mounting envy and the longing burying itself into his muscles, tensing them. Eager to free himself from the migraine and the nausea and the way his entire body aches.

III and II watch him go, feeling that envy, the pain of the migraine, but also the unwillingness to do anything about it. When III makes to follow, to ask him to join them once more, II holds him back, "He won't let you help. Give it time, he should warm up to you soon... hopefully. For now, we'll just- Lets leave him be."

III nods slowly, but it's clear with the bond and the expression on his face, that he doesn't agree. II doesn't agree with himself either.

"You don't have to keep the bond open, if you don't want it to be." II states, feeling like a coward when he can't meet III's searching gaze.

"I don't want to. I like it, I like being connected to you both this way. It will make communication easier! And- well..."

"Its okay, say whatever you want. I won't judge you for it, Three, I promise." II urges with a soft smile, feeling III's hesitation.

"... I know I was meant to be with you two, and Sleep. So, I feel like I can be myself but- I don't want to be too much. I've always been too much and I don't want you both to grow tired of me."

"You will never be too much. I feel you were meant to be here just the same as Vessel and I. Sleep chose us for a reason, they knew we would be compatible."

III smiles, and II melts a little inside in the face of such blinding beauty. "Its a crime you're so pretty." II states, and III laughs, his shoulders shaking with the action, pulling the shorter man closer to them in a side hug.

Vessel is a mess of anxiety, but some small part of himself is glad that II and III get along as well as he knew they would. He had paused at the top of the stairs, just out of sight, and listened as they talked. Vessel couldn't help himself, couldn't stop himself from pausing as the longing to join them again kept him from moving any further towards his room. There was an ache in his chest, like someone had taken the heart that no longer beat in his chest and squeezed.

Vessel forces himself forward as he hears III laugh, a smile overtaking his lips at the sound. It was pretty, loud too, and Vessel wonders if III's whole body moved with the action.

The door to the altar room is closed after Vessel enters and he stares, head tilted, at the sight before him.

A drawing of a hydrangea has been placed on the offering plate. A burned stick of incense lays off to the side in its simple holder. If Vessel remembered right, a hydrangea symbolized gratitude. Whether he remembered correctly or not, Vessel knew it must have been III who had been here most recently. To Vessel's knowledge, no one at the manor knew more about the language of flowers than III. Vessel tried his best, but ultimately ended up confused by all the different cultural meanings of the same flowers.

With careful fingers, Vessel moves the drawing off to the side, leaning it against a candle they can no longer burn but keep to one side of the table anyway. II thinks its pretty, to have so many candles of varying stages of use, and Vessel agreed wholeheartedly. The surrounding candles are lit, only the largest one, red as blood, left untouched. No one ever lights it for it is not their place.

The knife that helped tear Vessel's heart from his chest is pulled easily from its hiding spot, in a place too high for II to see. Vessel supposes he'll have to find a new hiding spot since III would be able to see it easily, as the other is taller than even him.

Vessel shuts off the bond, with such ease now he barely has to concentrate at all, and II and III are suddenly distant. Vessel wishes they weren't. It is his own doing, so Vessel will wallow in the regret but make no move to close the divide he is forcing between them. Vessel cuts them off entirely, and hates how he misses how soothed he felt by their presences alone. Then, he kneels before the altar to his God, lighting a stick of incense. Its gentle scent beginning to waft around the room. He opens his mind and body to their presence, feels it begin to fill his bloodstream, his heartbeat echoing in his ears, and all else slips away.

The single red candle flickers alive, surrounded by many white and black candles, the flame a starkly golden color compared to the red, yellows and oranges of the other flames.

With every flicker, it dances in tune with the sound of Vessel's heart.

Sleep has arrived.

Where once III felt the warmth of Ves' presence, growing used to it quickly once open to them, it is a dark void, an expanse of nothingness in their chest so suddenly it steals their breath away. III is left feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under him. Its jarring. Like Vessel has simply disappeared from the face of the Earth. Like he never existed.

"Don't." II warns, sadness being shared freely over their bond.

"But, I can't feel him. He's- He's gone. What if he's hurt- I-" III barely contains himself from going up to the altar room and barging in.

"He does this sometimes, no, often, when he's trying to hide. I- I told him he could, a while ago when I first got here." Regret comes across clearly as II continues, pulling on III's hand to tug them along and out the front door.

"Why would you do that?!" III exclaims, tugging painfully on the braid in his hair, reaching forward to wrap II in a hug, desperate for affection and feeling that regret, that sadness from II.

"You don't know what he was like, before. He's a bit better now, but when I first got here, he shut himself away after the bond was formed, closed it off entirely. It freaked me out, and Sleep was so- uncaring when I asked. The God doesn't understand pain like we do, doesn't feel it. He doesn't realize that what Vessel does to himself isn't healthy." II leans his head on III's shoulder while III's head rests on his own head.

"Th- the bandages." III states softly, afraid for his voice to be any louder.

"Yes. I found him in the bathroom, bleeding and sick when he'd gotten his second and third set of eyes. Vessel wasn't going to tell me, I could see it on his face. He was going to keep that mask on for the rest of eternity if he could. I sat outside that door for hours, listening to him cry and vomit and unable to help, until he finally let me in. I think Sleep convinced him to, to be honest. He was better about touch after that, about coming to me when he was sad, or hurt but I knew it was never every time. I could tell when he was hurting himself, or wanted to, because he shut the bond off."

"Its agonizing. To not feel him. Its like he's- like..."

"Like he's dead, yes. You know, I don't think he realizes what it does to me- to us, now. I love him, but he cannot see it past the abuse of the people in his life from Before. They shattered him, and I'm trying so hard to help pick up the pieces."

"I want to help him, if he'll allow it. If he wants to be helped." III adds, rubbing their cheek against II's soft hair, taking in his unfamiliar scent. "And I want to make sure you're cared for too. I want to be someone you both can lean on, and I want to be able to lean on you when I need it."

II lets himself be enveloped in III's arms entirely, doesn't think too much on how right it feels to be in their arms. When he met Vessel, he was drawn to the other in the exact same way. Something in his soul knew that II was meant to meet him, and it is the same now, with III. It feels like they've known each other their entire lives, and yet, in reality, they know next to nothing about one another. Its alright though, they have time to learn. They were Sleep's vessels, and their souls were irrevocably intertwined. Perhaps that is why they were all so drawn to each other upon first sight, but to be frank, neither II nor III, or even Vessel if he were to admit it to himself, would be able to refute that something, be it fate or their God, brought them together in a way that could never be replicated with any others.

Still, something- someone was missing. Not that they knew it, not that they could tell. It was only a matter of time before their group was complete, and only then would the reality of what they all were to each other would come to light.

::

Blood was spilling over his arms. Darkness was beginning to creep along the edges of his vision. Vessel was at peace, the touch of his god like a gentle breeze as it drifted leisurely over his prone form. The golden bladed knife was held loosely in his grasp, dripping droplets of crimson that disappeared in swirls of inky black like smoke. Sleep was pleased, and with every drop, their power seemed to grow an infinitesimal amount. It spills over the edges soon enough.

'My God?' Vessel asks, and Sleep urges him to continue with a delighted hum, relishing in the taste of their vessels blood.

'Can you- is there a way to bring me back from death... faster?' Vessel still can't manage to speak aloud, not even to his God, and its frustrating beyond compare.

'Whyever would you want to cut your rest short, my dearest Vessel?' Sleep queries, curious.

'Two asked me to keep the bond open. He's- He's never asked that of me before. Just this once, I want him to be pleased with me.'

Crimson is dripping over the edges of the offering plate, splashing onto the wooden table and disappearing into mist. Vessel is captivated by the sight of his own blood, the sight so familiar. He thinks red has never looked so pretty than this moment, his lifeblood surrounded by such ornate golden baroque detailing of swirling filigree and flowers.

'It will be done, my Vessel, but it will be much like you woke from slumber hours earlier than your previously human body required.'

'That is fine. It won't be much different from my day to day anyway, then.'

Vessel's knees ache against the hard wood where he kneels, awaiting the welcome void of death. His heartbeat thumps loudly in his ears, echoing all around the altar room. His blood sings with euphoria as Sleep becomes one with him, with every drop of blood into the offering plate. Vessel lays back against the cool wood flooring, pleased that his blood can help strengthen his God. Its an easy thing since he already cuts into his own body anyway. At least right now, the blood is being put to good use.

Dizziness and nausea run rampant through his body, but he is content with the numbness spreading steadily. It will be nice to not think, for his brain to turn off.

He fears II and III won't come back.

Fears that if they do, the rift he put between them won't just be of his own making.

"My dearest Vessel, you've done so well. Rest in the only way you can. I will be here." Sleep's voice is tempting, a low croon in Vessel's ear when they usually make no attempt to keep their voices bearable to hear.

There is warmth on his cheek, a breeze brushing over it, and Vessel leans in to the touch, pretending it is his Gods hand. His eyes flutter closed, and he lets the full effect of his Gods presence crash over him as he slips away into their realm.

He rests, in the only way he is allowed, in the only way he knows how.

::

II was trying his damn hardest to remain positive when there was a void where his heart should be. To be able to feel III so clearly makes Vessel's distinct absence all the worse. III goes upstairs to grab their mask, coming back down with their hair pulled into a bun at the back of their head, flyaway strands still managing to get in their eyes. He's pretty, and II can't hide his grin.

III's hand in his was warm, and II relishes in the touch as they head out the door. The keys to the car feels heavy in his pocket, and it feels wrong to just leave Vessel alone here in this big fucking house.

He tries to fill that void in his chest with idle chatter, though he is genuinely interested in all III has to say. Sunlight causes III to wince and cover his eyes. After a few moments, pain lancing down the bond like an electric current, they manage to squint them open, blinking profusely to rid themself of the spots dancing in their vision.

Sensitive vision for a time, II explains, side effect of now having night vision. III lights up at the thought of being able to see in the dark, and II supposes its a cooler concept than he'd given it credit for, at first.

The car is parked nearby, and II chuckles at the joke III makes about them barely fitting in the damn thing, and that it must be like those clown cars that are bigger on the inside than they look on the inside.

As they drive, III excitedly chatters about all the different plants that he sees in the forest, moving on to talking about another after only just beginning to describe one. The entire time, even as they make their way into town some time later, the radio playing softly in the background, III fills the car with so much life. A big grin pulls at their cheeks beneath the mask, the hand held in II's and on his thigh as they drive moving animatedly in their excitement. II is sad to see that glee dim as they enter the town itself, as III nervously pulls their mask down further on their neck to hide.

The usual looks the vessels get from the townspeople are seemingly amplified and more hostile. II and III remain polite as they buy III whatever foods and snacks and drinks they enjoy. II suggests they get different bedding but III is content with what they have for now, keeping close to II's side as they make their way to the garden section. III beelines to the seed section first, grabbing a few packets that he hides from II with a cheeky smile, before moving on.

There was not a single braincell in II's head that would've conjured the thought to refuse III as they asked, batting their pretty eyelashes and ocean eyes at II as he asked if they could bring some plants home.

Turning red under his mask, II was quick to agree. They left the garden section with four different kinds of plants, some pots to put them in, a few basic gardening tools, and a very, very happy III already planning where he wanted to put them in their room. The book section is a bust on any of III's preferences, claiming that anything good will be at an actual book store. Looking over the selection himself, II agrees and they move on to the music section.

III picks out a radio and a few CD's to play on it, and II thinks the choice of ABBA was very fitting. III didn't really care for the clothes in stock, and knew they wouldn't like anything new they got in either. It was decided that any stylistic clothes would be purchased at a later date, when Vessel could come along. They'd make something of a date out of it, maybe, if III got their way.

Purchasing everything and loading it into the small car was an ordeal in and of itself and test in how well II and III could stack items and keep more fragile things from buckling under the weight of other items. After closing the trunk, pushing down on it firmly for good measure, II turns to see III watching him with a tiny smile under his mask.

"There's a bookstore just a few stores down, same parking lot, even, if you don't mind us going there too."

"Whatever you want, Three. I don't mind." Even as II says it, he worries about Vessel and the still dark bond and wants to get back to him faster, but III asked and II couldn't refuse when they looked so hopeful, so pretty.

II and III leisurely walk down the sidewalk, linking hands like it was second nature, arms brushing from how closely they walk together. The bookstore is bigger than where III used to work, leaning more towards romance and fiction books than anything Vessel would like, but II doesn't mind, thinks Vessel would still like the shop. III bounds off to the dystopian section while II lingers in the horror. After only twenty minutes, III comes back with an armful of books he can barely hold all at once, and II laughs lightly as he takes some from them to help carry.

They leave with a bag each, filled with both of their choices, and a couple they picked together that Vessel might like. III has a lot of questions, and he doesn't want to ruin the careful calm II is clearly trying to project, but they really need to ask someone, and it's either II or Vessel. Vessel isn't here.

"Sleep said the transformation would hurt? It did, for like, a few minutes but I mostly slept through it." III says suddenly, head tilted a little to the side in confusion as they nervously eye everyone passing by them.

II doesn't pause in their stride though they are startled by the sudden subject.

"I slept through much of mine too, I believe. I was definitely in pain for a while though. I didn't notice anything different until I woke up. Vessel was there, every time, but I was so tired through most of it, I just slept the whole time." II replies, as III begins swinging their hands between them causing II to smile wide in adoration.

"What about Vessel?" III asks, and II's smile turns downwards into a frown.

"I asked once, but all he said was that he was tired during his. I, well I never put much thought into it and accepted his response."

II slows down, feet beginning to drag as a conclusion slowly forms. He would have to ask, though he knows any response he gets would be downplayed.

"Vessel doesn't sleep though, right? As some obligation given to him by Sleep...?" III trails off as they come to a stop at II's side.

People move around them, throwing odd and angry looks their way, though II pays no mind. He doesn't give a shit- not, not when he had never fucking thought of this before-

"Oh." II breathes, heartbroken as a memory surfaces from some deep corner of his mind. "Sleeping was our reprieve from the transformation but Vessel... Vessel didn't have that."

"M-maybe Sleep let him rest?" III is so hopeful that II hates to crush it so brutally as he carefully pulls them towards the car.

"No, I know they didn't.-" II begins, but III cuts him off firmly.

"Sleep prefers He/him pronouns. I asked." There is a sternness in III's gaze that II hasn't seen from him yet, a trace of resignation and premature disappointment.

II smiles softly before apologizing, "Ah, sorry. I never thought to ask, and I don't think Vessel did either. We'll have to tell him, and I'll be sure to use the correct pronouns from now on."

III positively beams, and there's a surge of happiness as they lean down and kiss II on the forehead so quickly he can't really even process it.

After a moment of silence, III asks II to continue, hanging off of every word. "There was a time where I was aware, at the beginning, but I was in so much agony, I'm not sure even now if I heard right. I hope I didn't. Vessel was speaking to Sleep, aloud in my room. He wasn't allowed to sleep and so our God, thinking his transformation went well while Ves was awake, did the same with me. I- I dont remember what happened, after that. Vessel was upset, I think. There was- He touched my temple, and then there was nothing..." II cannot hide his bitterness, cannot keep it from tainting his voice.

His bond is a mess of bitter fury and such aching sadness, feeling III's disbelief and mirrored sadness, too.

III's voice is small, and II turns his head to look at him properly after giving their hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance, "I could feel and see everything, before I fell asleep. I was aware of everything happening to me, everything. I could feel the skin at my fingertips changing to what it is now. And I hurt. My whole body hurt and my head ached fiercely. I felt like I was on fire, and I couldn't speak, I couldn't move- I heard you two talking but I couldn't make it out through the pain- I- Did Vessel go through that alone? How- how long was I out for?"

"A few weeks, like I was."

"Then, was Vessel just- was he just suffering that entire time? I- I wouldn't wish that agony on anyone for as little time as I went through it- I-" III pauses, breathing quickly through his nose with wide eyes, shaking hands clenching tightly to II's. "Can we ask Sleep? There's- He would tell us if we asked, right?"

"No, I don't think he will. He and Vessel have secrets between them. They're allowed to, of course, but I don't think any of them are in Vessel's best interest. We'll need to ask Vessel, when we get home."

"Two, I- that week before I woke up for the final time... when you left the room, Vessel, he- he put his hand on my temple and then I- I think I fell asleep. Right away." II takes in this information, mouth pulled tightly into a grim line.

From across the street, an obnoxious laugh booms. III's head turns in the direction of it so suddenly II fears their neck will snap. There's a wildness in their eyes, muscles tensed as fear spikes along the bond, but there is confusion, too, like they don't realize why they're afraid.

The laughter fades further into the distance before either one of them can catch who it came from. III is shaking like a leaf, a tremble transferring over to II's hand. Giving it a light squeeze, II leads them back to the car, leaning partially on III as some attempt at comfort, and III leans into him heavily as well.

"Lets go home and get you settled in. I'll- We'll talk to Vessel about it later." II affirms, and III smiles, shaky at best, still trembling.

The drive home is quieter than the drive to town, but neither mind, content to sit in silence this time. III's hand is in II's, where it rests on II's thigh. Their hands are warm, body temperatures melding together where their skin touches and for just a moment, II thinks how strange it is that Vessel is always so cold to the touch.

That thought passes before he can really latch on to it.

::

"If I asked, would you show me who killed Three?" Vessel inquires, quietly contemplative, brushing his hand through a galaxy and watching the trail of stardust following the motion as it breaks apart beneath his fingers.

His thoughts are quieter here, body not weighed down by his own mind and the aches he has grown used to, the pains he brought upon himself as punishment or to protect those he cared for. Here, he does not need to use his voice, easily speaking with his God with his mind. His own words echo in the space around him, but his lips do not move.

"Are you requesting it of me, my dearest Vessel?" Sleeps croons, voices gentle in his ear, and there is the sensation of a weight upon his shoulder, trailing down his back to rest just above his tail bone.

Vessel shivers at the feeling, but shakes his head 'no' in response to his God. "Perhaps later." He settles on.

Sleep hums, and there is movement through Vessel's hair like a hand running over the messy fluff. The sensation trails along his jaw before a weight presses down on his bottom lip, slowly dragging it down to let it pop back in place.

Secretly, Sleep wishes they could touch His First. He cannot feel his Firsts skin under his own. Alas, He is not strong enough to manifest a physical body, not yet. Soon, hopefully. His First's worship helps, an offering of blood is not a small thing. With time, Sleep hopes that the other vessels will raise the power He gains from their musical worship. Even with just the two vessels, that first day they Worshipped properly was the most powerful Sleep had felt in eons. He wants to feel that way again, to feel even a fraction of His power at his metaphorical fingertips once more.

"The others are entering my realm in your lands, my First. It is time to wake." Sleep murmurs regretfully.

Vessel cannot help the instant relief, nor the following anxiety. They've not left him, yet they're going to return and Vessel will be forced to watch as they grow closer and leave him behind in a different way.

He is not a fool. He saw the way they looked at each other.

Vessel closes all six eyes as he feels awareness sinking back into his body's bone marrow. Nodding, he lets his Gods next words pass over him like water under a bridge, without a care. He knows already, accepts what is to come.

"That power was not yours to use, and yet you use it again on the Third. You know what is coming. I eagerly await the next time you visit me here, my dearest Vessel. For now, it is time to suffer the consequence of your decision to use that which does not belong to you."

Vessel nods again, not trusting himself to speak. His consciousness slips from this realm and into his physical body.

When Vessel wakes from Sleep's realm, he feels as though he's been hit by a truck. Up until that point, he had been able to hold back the effects of using Sleep's power so often to keep III asleep, keeping his mask on to hide the flush of his fever, the bond tightly shut to hide the pains of a migraine and his body aches...

But the bond is open, like II asked, and Vessel is so tired, eyelids heavy but his body never slips into the void of sleep, remaining on the cusp of delirium.

He is not allowed even a moment of peace to come back to himself properly. Rolling over from where he lays, he barely manages to not puke all over himself, letting what little contents of his stomach and black sludge splatter on the altar room floor.

Nausea churns in his gut, a headache beginning to pound away behind his eyes, spreading to his temples. He heaves himself up from the floor and nearly loses his balance twice on the way to the door. There is no blood stains, Sleep taking pity on him and cleaning up his mess, including his vomit.

How many times can his God reconstruct his body before something comes back a little messed up? He wonders apathetically, body rebelling against him.

Stumbling to his room, Vessel jokes to himself somewhat distantly that he has made something of a habit of getting sick after a new vessel arrives. It falls short, and he can't even find any true humor in it, not with the way a jackhammer is slamming into his skull. Its well worth it if Vessel can spare them even a modicum of the pain he faced.

He can hear movement in the kitchen as he weakly kicks his door shut, not noticing as it stops just inches from being fully closed. His side of the bond is a mess of anxiety and pain, and before long there are footsteps up the creaking stairs and the vague feeling of II getting closer.

II knocks on his door, pausing for only a second at the silence from thr other side, even as the hinges creak when the door opens a bit further from the force of his knocking. III comes up behind him, and the both of them peek in as quietly as they can manage.

"Vessel?" II's voice is barely above a whisper, pushing the door open firther.

The light from the hallway is brighter than usual in the dark room, and Vessel cannot help the tiny whimper of pain as his eyes register it. The door is pushed open enough for both of them to come in, closing it shut behind them. The erasure of the light is a salve to his aching eyes, the mesh of his masks' eye holes not saving his sensitive retinas.

"Ves, are you okay? What's wrong?" II moves forward steadily, and III follows closely, eyes flitting back and forth between Vessel and II unsurely.

Vessel can barely look at them, leaning over the bed and reaching for the trash can placed nearby at the same time, vomiting into the waste bin as tears leak down his jaw, face hidden by his mask.

He gives a weak thumbs up, but he knows it won't do any good. II and III's worry is prominent, as they each step forward to pull his hair back and crouch before him, respectively. II swipes a tissue off the nightstand from its box, dabbing at Vessel's mouth during a break in his heaving. III has taken residence at the very edge of the bed, careful fingers pulling Vessel's hair back and beginning to braid it. A hair tie around his wrist is used to tie it off, and III thanks Sleep for the miracle that he managed to not lose that one like they've lost so many others.

"Is- Is he sick?" III asks, trying hard to keep quiet but even that small amount of noise causes Vessel to flinch as he lays back on the bed.

Vessel turns to face away from them, hiding his masked visage away with help from his pillow. He shakes his head profusely, trying in vain to wave them away. Neither move except to comfort, III clutching the leg of his pajama pant and II reaching to take his mask off.

Vessel doesn't fight it, doesn't glance II's way as the mask is unbuckled and lifted. II is glad III was careful not to braid the buckle or strap into Vessel's hair, and sends that emotion down the bond, assured by the answering acceptance. Vessel's face is flush as he refuses to meet II's searching gaze even, a warm hand reaching out to lay against his perspired forehead.

"You've got a fever." II says, quiet, more for III's benefit than Vessel's.

III cannot look away from Vessel, gaze caught on how pretty the man is, cheeks flushed with fever and eyes a little unfocused, lips dry and chapped.

"I'll go get a damp rag and ice. I- Well I don't know where those are kept so it'll be a minute." III jumps on the chance to help, hopping up and already heading towards the door.

As III leaves the room, his eyes catch on something pinned to the wall next to the light switch. Their eyes do not struggle to see, everything in perfect clarity and color, as though it were daylight. It's the receipts they'd given Vessel, folded neatly and with care to showcase the flowers drawn on them. III smiles despite the situation, and leaves the room with a determined set to their brow.

"How long have you been this way?" II asks gently, brushing sweaty strands from Vessel's face.

He moves out of the way quickly when Vessel sits up and heaves into the trash bin again, the bottom of the bin covered in black sludge. II eyes it with distaste as he keeps hold on Vessel's arms to help balance him, pulling him back into bed when Vessel moves to lay back down.

Vessel's response is barely more than a whisper, by sheer force of will past the thorns around his vocal chords, "'while. 'M fault."

II draws conclusions quickly after his conversation with III earlier and the memory of when Vessel got his eyes, how sick he was afterwards. "You used Sleep's power again, didn't you? Something similar happened last time, when you got your other eyes."

Faced with II hitting the nail on the head, Vessel can only nod reluctantly. "Why?" II asks, "When it does this to you? Why would you do this to yourself?"

Vessel's lips thin, and he doesn't meet II's searching gaze with any of his eyes, and II sighs, resigned.

"We need to talk about this eventually Vessel. I- I'm worried about you, and I don't want you to keep using a power that makes you sick every time you use it."

I did it for you. Vessel wants to say. I did it for III. I would suffer this sickness a million times over to spare you the pain of the transformation.

Vess finally meets II's eyes with his top pair, gaze boring into II's own with the need for II to understand, even if Vessel can't say it, afraid as he is, unable to speak but wanting, needing II to know that Vessel cares for him so deeply.

Just this once, Vessel wants to tell II exactly how he feels and not worry about the consequences. The fever has reduced his resolutions to shambles, and Vessel just wants to be cared for.

III comes bouncing back into the room, bond a myriad of emotions but most prominently the same worry II feels. Vessel cannot fool himself into thinking their bonds are a lie. Sleep had tried to tell Vessel to let himself be loved, and Vessel wants to so badly. He aches for it with every bone in his body, every atom and cell, his very soul screaming for something he has never once received.

Vessel doesn't fight it, doesn't attempt to refute their care as III places a cool cloth over Vessel's forehead, ice scrunched up in the folds of the material. He lets II hold his bicep and help him sit up enough to get under the covers as shivers wrack his body. He feels cold, even though he knows that he has a fever, that by all logical means, he shouldn't feel temperature at all. He usually doesn't, wearing hoodies and clothes that hide his body more for comfort than anything else. The temperature of the air around him has not affected his body since he tore his heart out of his chest.

III takes the cloth back for just a moment to let Vessel get under the bedcovers, before replacing it on his forehead. It feel wonderful on his warm skin, and Vessel lets out an imperceptible little sigh at the sensation. His bond calms, and II is glad for it, for once able to feel every little emotion that is reflected on Vessel's face. Feel the pain that furrows his brow and pinches his mouth, feel the anxiety that causes him to pick at the bandages around his arms. Vessel is letting the full scope of his emotions be felt and despite the negativity of them, of his resignation and his depression and such aching fear, II is reveling in it.

II brushes a hand against Vessel's cheek fondly, staring down at him with such adoration that III doesn't understand how Vessel can't see it for himself.

Already III adores the both of them in a way he knows with every atom of their body he has never felt for anyone or anything before. They send a prayer of gratitude to Sleep, thankful for being brought to these two. There is a faint tickle of answering gratitude as III lays across the covers, an arm slung over Vessel's legs as II curls up beside the ailing man, his head leant against Vessel's shoulder.