It was quiet. Now gone were the bustling sounds of the Cable, lively cities, busy channels and the restless workers. Instead, as Klieg sat by his now displaced studio, he hadn't ever noticed how quiet things could be.

The notice that everyone was getting moved to a place known as Castle Town had come with little warning, the fountain getting closed meant the end of their world, and Klieg was only now realizing why his ominous dreams and visions over the fountain being opened filled him with such dread.

He couldn't help feeling like he had unfinished business and like he would never see that world again. His struggles, his ambition, his dedication to his job, it was as if he never truly had had the chance to prove to himself that he was worthy of being there.

His studio had been moved to Castle Town, and while most of the Lights had moved on to other jobs, some of the other inhabitants seemed excited to invite themselves over with the intent of being "Movie Stars". Typical actor behaviour, he'd scoff.

But it felt wrong, didn't it? Did no one else notice? Had the others also been displaced and just didn't care? It felt wrong. Host, one of the Cable leaders, had gone missing before they got to Castle Town. And Mike was also nowhere to be seen, with rumours having it that he was just hiding away in Ralsei's castle. Immobile? Waiting for Host? Klieg didn't know, his mind was too full to be able to care as much as he felt he should.

But the silence was driving him mad, like he could hear the buzzing of his lights, fidgeting with his hands, trying to stop himself from thinking about him.

He shuddered, his inspiration taunted him to think about it, the potential, the drama, the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing someone you care about being turned to stone before your very own eye.

No, it was wrong. Klieg felt nauseous for even considering that moment anything more than just what had essentially become a core memory for him. His muse... Rouxls seemed so nonchalant when his form petrified, his expression frozen in an eternal grin.

To think their last interaction had been Rouxls' attempt at stealing Klieg's Director position, only to fail miserably, it felt small now, irrelevant.

In any other situation, Klieg would have been livid at the thought of anyone attempting to impersonate his brilliance, but when his muse did it, he instead just felt... sad. Disappointed even. How naive of him to put his guard down and let his awestruck self out. Inspired and desperate for connection.

The thought of meeting someone else who held such high regard for artistic endeavors was as rare of an occurrence as it could be. Could this be why the Duke of Puzzles now haunted his mind? But he was gone now, wasn't he? As quickly as he came into his life, he was gone just as fast, and as if further taunting him, his petrified form had too disappeared when moved to Castle Town.

So Klieg was simply sitting down, mourning his now lost friend, noticing that during his absent thoughts, he had been idly doodling his face over some unfinished drafts. Klieg knew this wasn't like himself at all. Or had he just been ignoring how lonely he felt? Was he mourning right? When was the last time he considered anyone a... friend?

Indulging in his thoughts, he allowed himself to write about Rouxls for a bit. He never got to truly know him, yet, there was something so captivating about him. And the way his smile would crack at times, there was a certain darkness that he was hiding that Klieg couldn't help but pick up on.

"Are thou also going to leaveth me here?" He recalled Rouxls asking as his form turned to stone. No! No, of course not! He wasn't just going to abandon his partner in crime like that! He'd find a solution! He'd find a way to fix whatever this was!

But before he knew it, everyone was gathering to stop the Lightners from closing the fountain, their attempts futile until Mike agreed to give in, in exchange for the new home so that everyone could be safe.

Klieg felt haunted by the Rouxls statue being missing. It weighed on him like he had left him behind in that world. Why did the duke find the need to mention if Klieg was "also going to leave"? What had he seen? Had he been abandoned before?

He sighed and got up, knowing he was just making himself depressed trying to make sense of things. He left him behind, even if unintentionally, or out of his control, his friend wasn't here, and he felt like he had betrayed him.

Part of him wondered if he truly wasn't meant to have good things, things going well always came with a catch and even then, nothing ever truly lasted. What was the point of working hard? What was the point of ambition?

He needed to go get some air.

To see his studio now placed in a town so foreign just made him feel like his mind was playing tricks on him. It was like a parody of reality, and Klieg still struggled to accept that the Cable was Gone. Forever. Permanently.

He saw the other Darkners conversing amongst themselves and pretended not to notice those who actively avoided his gaze or looked away when they saw him walk by. It wasn't like he was looking to banter with anyone either way. As a matter of fact, maybe he was actually grateful to be alone and ignored in his sulking.

What was there to do in this place anyway? He looked pensively, noticing small crowds gathering in front of the cafe as some sort of event seemed to be taking place. From the distance, he spotted a speck of green and white as Ralsei seemed focused on talking to newcomers, and for a moment, the small goat prince glanced at him, his expression growing worried for a second before quickly getting replaced with a nervous smile and wave.

The spotlight seemed confused but reluctantly made his way towards the cafe. How awkward that his former temporary assistant was seemingly in charge of this "Castle Town". It almost made Klieg consider if he had been too tough on the former Best Boy.

"D-Director! You made it!" Ralsei stated, trying to sound pleasant, but he was clearly uncomfortable by his presence.

"Best Boy." Klieg stated in acknowledgement "Or... Ralsei... was it? Prince Ralsei?"

"Just Ralsei is fine!" He gestured embarrassedly "You can come right in! It's so good to have you all here!"

"I was not informed of this event." Klieg blinked, glancing at the inside of the cafe, trying to understand what was going on. "Enlighten me on what this is?"

"Oh, I figured someone would have told you! It's a... town-warming celebration for all the newcomers! Mike did not really want to come, and Host is... well... you know."

Klieg's neutral expression almost seemed to change to surprise for a moment. Good to know that at least Mike was still around. The Cable losing one leader was devastating enough "You're hosting a pity party then."

"Oh! Not at all! Is... Is that how everyone sees it?" He looked exasperated "It's a welcoming party! There are snacks, and we baked cakes for everyone, and you can also get some drinks if you like. ...I hope that makes you and everyone feel right at home!"

Klieg had to contain himself from making a snarky comment in response to this. Being offered food when he's incapable of eating does make him feel like he's all the way back at the Cable. Wonderful job, Best boy. But instead, he took a deep breath "I will give it a look. Thank you."

Klieg briefly noticed Ralsei exhale in relief when he made his way inside. He just did not have the energy to be mean to anyone today or talk to anyone really. But maybe he'd find some familiar faces among the... commoners.

He winced as he realized he'd be rubbing elbows with Darkners who likely recognized him, and he desperately looked for a distraction, focusing on a band of fellow robotic Darkners who were playing on the stage inside.

"Town-warming Lancer cookie?"

Flinching at the sudden sound of a stranger's voice, Klieg glanced down to find a short round white and blue darkner who grinned at him expectantly.

On his hand was a teardrop-shaped cookie, looking like a caricature of his own face. Carrying a bag on his side, Klieg concluded that he was likely giving them out to everyone there.

"O-Oh I don't... eat..." He paused, finding the child's palette to be so familiar.

"Hohoho! Too bad! The cookie is not an offering, it's an invitation!" He boasted, placing the cookie on Klieg's lower set of hands, causing the spotlight to flicker in surprise.

"Wait! I don't want a cookie!" He exclaimed, looking distressed "Invitation to what?! What am I supposed to do with this?!"

Blinking, the smaller darkner stuck out his blue tongue in confusion, before grinning once more "An invitation for you to give out the cookie to someone else, as a delicious friendship challenge!"

The spotlight looked equally as confused, looking at the child, unsure of how to word himself. "Who... uhm... What is your name?"

"Hohoho! Didn'tcha hear? It's Lancer, named after the cookie!"

"Ah." Klieg looked awkward, glancing at the food item in his hands "Lancer, do you want this cookie?"

"H-Huh?" Lancer looked concerned. "What do you mean?"

"You said I was invited to give the cookie to whoever I'd like." He stated bluntly "I'm giving it to you."

Klieg looked relieved when the child took back the food item, even if he felt a tinge of guilt when he noticed his forlorn expression.

"Oh..." Lancer muttered, "I can't believe it..." He started "...No one's ever given me a Lancer cookie before!" His tone immediately perked up, surprising Klieg who wasn't expecting this response at all.

"A-Ah, well I figured-"

"I accept your challenge, lamp man!"

"Wh-?! WHAT." He was looking around, trying to find a familiar face to hide behind, but no luck. Where was the Headchef when he needed her?! "Ch-Challenge?! I wasn't challenging you!"

"Can't back out of a friendship challenge. Such are the rules of the Lancer cookie! By giving the cookie, you show that you want to be friends!" He proudly stated, happily munching the snack he was so generously gifted.

"Th-That was not..."

"First challenge! Small talk! What's your name?"

"I... I don't usually give out my name but..." He seemed to hesitate, as if it would kill him to give his name to a literal child "...Klieg." He mentioned, fiddling with his hands.

"Nice to meet ya, Klieg! I'm Lancer!"

"I... know that." He took a deep breath, being polite was becoming more and more of an active effort. "I'm sorry, but... Who exactly made the guidelines for this "Challenge"?" He gestured with two of his hands.

"Oh, I just borrowed them from Toothpaste Boy's secret Friendship for Dummies book! And my Lesser Dad helped write the rules!"

"Tooth... paste." His eyelid twitched, "I... I'm not going to ask. None of those words made any sense."

"Aw, don't be sucha sour stick of black licorice." A third voice joined in, as Klieg recognized the teasing of one of his coworkers joining in.

"Headchef." He glanced at the side where a large cat-like darkner had somehow snuck up on him.

"Headchef..." She rolled her eye with a grin "Don't gimme any of those formalities, it's a party!" She laughed, glancing down at the small blue darkner "Heya sugar cube, was this mean ol' guy botherin' ya?"

Instead, Lancer just laughed "Actually Miss Mittens, the cookie plan is great! He gave me a Lancer cookie, so that means we are officially friends!"

"He... gave you a cookie, huh?" She seemed to snicker.

"Mitts, you know I can't eat-" Klieg tried to interject.

"I'm sure he'd love to be your friend! And there are so many other friends here too! Why dontcha run off 'n go find 'em? Call us if ya need anythin'!"

Excited by the encouragement, Lancer grinned "I'll be sure to give them so many challenges! Hohohoho!!!

As Lancer ran off, Klieg let out a sigh of relief before the cat darkner playfully pawed at his shoulder.

"Ain't ya a sight for sore eye! Didn't think I'd be seein' ya here! Where ya been?!"

"Clearly it seems no one bothered to tell me there was some sort of... gathering... taking place today." He grumbled, trying not to seem bothered by it.

"C'mon, ya've been all cooped up in that place ever since we got here! I'd visit but I figured you were going through one of them broody artsy moods of yours!"

"Eh." He rolled his eye, crossing one set of arms while holding himself pensively, "I was... busy."

"Of course you were..." She smiled "Aww... Wait, are you upset you weren't invited to this party, Lights?"

"...? I wasn't invited?" He blinked, looking worried.

"Aw, not like that! Don't get your bulb all up inna twist 'bout it!" She teased and pawed at his ponytail, but noticed their banter wasn't as energetic as it usually was "...You're still broody, ain't ya, sugar?"

The way he silently looked away only confirmed her suspicions. "Do you..." he started, "...like this new place?"

"Uhm... Do You? Y'know I don't dwell on the past like that." She grinned, even if at times it was like she was trying to convince herself of it.

"What do you mean "the past"?" He scoffed "Our Home is gone! The missing Darkners are still missing, and with Host gone... W-Well you're not trusting Mike to be in charge, are you?"

Mittens simply sighed "He's not exactly... available. But I don't hate this place? I do still miss Fres and Tenna and everyone else but... We're still here and... at least no one else had to disappear... Other than Host..."

Klieg seemed thoughtful, his expression forlorn. Host wasn't the only one who was gone. In the crowd he'd find himself looking for Rouxls, but he knew he was naive to hope for this.

"I take it you ain't the happiest 'bout this change..." She added.

"About Home being gone? I'm not exactly glowing with joy..." He sighed, "Besides, I don't think I'm allowed to feel "happy"..." He sulked, getting an exasperated sigh for Mittens, her belly mouth snarling quietly.

"Oh no. Don'tcha get started with me, mister! Those thoughts are a recipe for disaster! You're gonna have to tell me what's simmerin' in that mind o' yours, Lights... What happened back Home?"

Klieg blinked in surprise as Mittens squinted knowingly at him, even in his sulking, he wasn't entirely sure as to what gave it away that he was acting as anything other than himself. With her persistence, he knew she'd probably be able to get the reason out of him, but this topic in particular was too much, even for him.

"Nothing, I... Do you... Think something happened?" He seemed confused and for once thanked his limited facial expressions for omitting what he was really feeling. To have someone look at his face and be able to tell what he was feeling? How intrusive... Yet he remembered Rouxls' smile once more, so expressive, and yet...

"Well, I've been cookin' up some theories." The cat gave him a friendly grin.

"Hm. I must highlight that that pun was a stretch." He bluntly stated, getting a scoff from his coworker.

"Oh, and highlight ain't? I think your puns need to spend a lil more time in the oven."

"I don't do puns. It is infantile. I just think the truth should come to light." He raised his head proudly, noticing how Mittens looked offended at him, her grin as wide as ever.

"Oh, like ya don't try to stick the word enlighten into yer sentences whenever ya can. Who even does that?"

"You wouldn't understand what it takes to be this brilliant."

"Meowhaps... But I understand when someone's tryin' to flicker away from a conversation. And I know you, Klieg." Mittens stated, pointing to his chest, her tone firm but keeping her kind and caring tone "Please talk to me..."

[ This fic is unfinished atm but I would still like to get back to it at some point :) ]