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[Takes place December 27th 2023]
Prompt 15 (Woven in Mystery): Everyone has their own seasonal decorations that come out this time of year. Maybe you found it in some sort of thrift sale, maybe you just spotted it hanging up while you were out and about, maybe it’s at a friend’s house–wherever you are, a holiday tapestry catches your attention. It’s beautiful and someone clearly put a lot of effort into making it. You won’t find this mass produced–it looks like it’s vintage and handmade, with careful embroidery and beads. There’s something incredibly alluring about it–and something sinister. Out of the corner of your eye it might seem as though something is moving. Maybe it happens while you aren’t looking at all. When it doesn't have your full attention, the image on the tapestry changes. It isn’t just that small details change, large parts of the tapestry change, forming whole new images. Sometimes the threads even change to leave vague or threatening messages. It always seems to change too quickly for you to get a picture of, or to even point out to anyone else. Even when the tapestry isn’t moving, it feels like there are eyes on you.


This kid looked shockingly peaceful when he slept. Pretty damn different from the turmoil Gideon felt as he sat by Ellian’s side in the hospital. Which was where he’d resolutely been for the past three days, despite assurances that the idiot boy was doing well. No one ever said he’d be fine, though- why did no one ever say ‘good as new’ or anything of the like? Nothing to ever imply a future outcome. Just… he ‘is’ doing well. Currently. Gideon tried not to read into it more than that because Ellian did seem fine.

They’d speak when he was awake.

Ellian would grumble about being laid up.

Gideon would ask him whose fault that was.

And it would devolve from there. No one wanted to spend Christmas in the hospital, of course it hadn’t been on purpose, they’d had plans! …They’d had plans. Gideon knew there was some unspoken regret there, despite Ellian’s lacking of an apology about their ruined holiday. Which was fine. Gideon didn’t need an apology, and even if it had been Ellian’s actions that had landed him here, he was still mostly a victim. Mostly. That was just the risk he accepted when he powered up. Gideon wished he wouldn’t have, for that day specifically. They’d had plans…

Whatever.

It would’ve been no stretch of the mind to imagine the hypothermia and blood loss and actual wound taking Ellian away permanently. …Permanently from this world. As permanently as someone could be taken away without a crushed starseed, anyway. And then where would those plans be?

At least they could still just do them later.

Gideon released a sigh as he picked his fingers through the dense tangle of his boyfriend’s vibrant rainbow hair. It had been three days… He should’ve offered to help him brush it at any point since he’d woken, but those sorts of tasks just sort of fell to the wayside at the hospital. He could already hear Ellian grousing about it once they left, though. His hair was one of few things he cared for pretty meticulously. Beautiful, vibrant, and ridiculous. Summed up Ellian pretty well.

He wouldn’t have insisted on hanging around as often as he did- Gideon had spent more than his fair share of time in hospitals, and even for Ellian, he wouldn’t have stayed without a good reason.

The prickle of unease he’d felt the first time he’d entered Ellian’s recovery room wasn’t a good reason on its own (standard uncomfortable hospital feelings). But as he’d sat down and allowed his eyes and mind to wander, he’d caught sight of the edge of some sort of artwork on the wall across the hall. Not in Ellian’s room. But close enough. It wasn’t the typical bland fare most hospitals hosted, not a flower in muted palettes or a clouded sky.

It was something woven in red and black, with thin golden threads interspersed sparingly throughout. Maybe he should’ve appreciated it more. Feldspar’s colors. But something… felt… off. Indescribably so.

And then he’d remembered this was a Negaverse hospital, and he couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not.

Against his better judgment, he stayed next to Ellian as much as was allowed, whether he was awake or asleep, just in case that off feeling was going to amount to anything. Even if everything was currently fine and was going to be fine, Gideon didn’t think he’d forgive himself if it wasn’t. Not that he could do anything besides be present. Ward off whatever mischievous energy was here.

“Stupid thing…” He grumbled to Ellian, thumbing down the younger man’s cheek. “You better get us out of here soon.”