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“Can we go on a date, Riz Gukgak?” Baron stared at Riz as they kicked their legs. They liked the way it sounded, their knees clicked every time. Click click click click click…
“I don’t have the time, Baron.” Riz was writing an essay. Apparently it was important. “And you’re still in trouble for that stunt you pulled.”
“That was months ago! I’m on the,” They brought their hand up to do air quotes. “‘Reformed Villain Squad’ now. I am good.”
Riz hummed. “I bet. Why don’t you go ask your father if they want to take you for ice cream or to the park or something. Leave me alone.”
Baron huffed. “Riz Gukgak, that is no way to speak to your Romance Partner!”
“Just leave me alone!” Riz yelled, snarling at him and baring his teeth.
Baron gave a small hiss before standing and walking into the standing mirror while shouting, “Maybe I will ask my Father! At least I have one, yours left!”
The mirror shattered. The view through it on the other side was gone.
He regretted saying that immediately.
-•-
“Father!” Baron cried, bursting through the mirror as soon as they noticed their Father was in her church. “I have scorned my beloved Romance Partner, Riz Gukgak, and now he is enraged at me! He broke my mirror to his office so I cannot apologize!”
Cassandra and Kristen jolted in surprise.
“Baron!” Cassandra, his Father, yelled. “Gosh, don’t scare me like that, doll…”
“I am so sorry, Father. I just need some help- I need to apologize to my beloved Riz Gukgak. I have slighted him and his family.”
“Kristen, do you mind if I talk with my child?” They leaned down towards Kristen, who nodded silently before slowly standing up and glaring at Baron as she left the room.
Cassandra sighed. “What did you tell Riz, doll?”
“I wanted to go on a lovely date with him, but he said no and told me to ask you to take me somewhere outside instead,” He kicked at the ground. “And then he got short with me, so I got angry and while I was leaving I told him that at least I- at least I had a Father because- because-“ They sniffled loudly. “Because his father left.”
Cassandra grimaced. “You really said that?”
Baron nodded and pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes. That was a terrible thing to say. Baron would surely never see their beloved Riz Gukgak again. Surely their Father will destroy them for insulting their saint’s friend.
“That was not very nice, Baron, but I don’t think apologizing would make this much better. I think Riz is very sensitive with topics about his father.” She puts a hand on his shoulder. “But we should still apologize, right Baron? Do you remember why?”
“Because we need to let them know we’re sorry, even if we don’t get forgiveness.” Baron recited. Their Father clapped.
“Excellent! I’m so glad you remembered. Do you want to get a cinnamon roll before we go say sorry?”
Baron nodded. “I would love a cinnamon roll.”
-•-
Cassandra carried Baron up the stairs of Riz’s office as they kicked their legs slowly. They liked the clicking noise it made. Click. Click. Click.
“Wee!” Cassandra held them by their armpits and shook him forwards and back so that their limp body flailed a bit after they stilled. “Are you having fun, Baron?”
Baron was having fun. He has a cinnamon roll for himself and one for his beloved, and they’re with their Father. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had insulted Riz so greatly, this would be a great day.
He nodded still.
“That’s good, doll! We can continue having a great day even if Riz is still mad at you, right?”
He nodded, more solemnly this time.
“Alright, here’s the door. You wanna knock? I know you like making noises.”
They did like to make noise. They knocked, using the almost musical rhythm that they had watched Kristen use almost a thousand times, when their Father had had her babysit him.
“Go away, Kristen-!” Riz’s voice sounded like he had been crying since Baron left.
“It is u- me! Cassandra! Please, open the door!”
“Cassandra, I know you’re bringing Baron! Fuck off, go away!”
“I brought you a cinnamon roll.” Baron knocked on the door again. “I’ll have Cassandra give it to you, I promise we won’t try to come inside of you come get it from her. I’ll even stand by the staircase so you don’t have to look at me. I’m sorry for what I said, I don’t expect you to forgive me, Riz Gukgak, but I am truly sorry.”
There was no response. Baron handed the treat to Cassandra and tried to, as loudly as possible, drop out of their Father’s grip and move down the hall to the staircase. They couldn’t see anything from here. They couldn’t be seen by Riz, either, since his office was around a corner.
He could hear, though. He heard a door open, some murdering he couldn’t make out, then a door closing. Their Father came to the staircase a few moments afterwards.
“Riz said that he’s still made at you, but he also said thank you for the cinnamon roll.” She smiled. “He also-also said that there’s going to be a fair here in Elmville soon, and that maybe if he’s feeling better, you two can go together! Isn’t that nice?”
Baron tried to stay calm, but he thinks their tail wagging gave away his excitement. “That would be wonderful.”
“He also said that your dad’s technically dead, too.”
“Being transformed does not count.”
“Technically his dad is also transformed. Same soul.” She pointed vaguely upwards. “Different body.”
“That’s different because it’s called death for them, Father.”
“How did the Nightmare King not die if there is no longer a Nightmare King, Baron?” She knelt down to look him in the eyes, humoring them as their Father often did.
“Maize didn’t die when they became Mazey. I don’t understand why you would be different?” Baron tilted their head just a little too far to be considered normal.
“I’m not sure how to explain to you how I became Cassandra, so I’m just going to say you’re right and leave this conversation here.” She stood. “Come now, Riz wants you gone before he leaves. And we’re going to make homemade ice cream tonight.”
“Just us?”
“Yes, of course, doll!” His Father lifted them up again. “And we’re eating it all ourselves, too, no matter what anyone says.”