Chapter Text
Mary hummed as she browsed through Stream.org. The only reason why she even bothered to go on that site was because Daniel and Jocelyn liked to stream their gaming stuff. Today, however, she found an odd stream title. Curious, she decided to click on it.
”Is this on?” A gruff voice grumbled as he adjusted the camera on what appeared to be on his shirt.
She could hear him rubbing the microphone around before clipping it onto something. She appeared to the be only viewer on the stream at the moment. So far it seemed she had perhaps joined in a bit too early (which even she herself was surprised by).
”Uh… there we go. Hello… anyone who’s watching.” The person spoke in a sort of low mumble. “My, uh, assistant insisted for me to try this service to quote on quote ‘not bother them so much’. So here I go?”
Mary gave a soft chuckle as she leaned her arm on her desk, propping her chin on her hand. The camera panned around to him at what appeared to be a kitchen counter preparing some eggs. Afterwards, he dished the scrambled eggs onto a dish and placed it on the island behind him. He then repeated the process, sunny side up instead of scrambled eggs. He then sat down and began eating the sunny-side up while someone else walked into the room to eat the scrambled eggs.
”What’s that?” The other person asked, using their fork to point at the camera.
”A camera. Agustus told me to try streaming.” The other replied.
The person across him seemed to not like the idea about being on camera, took their plate, and left the room. The person with the camera sighed as they finished their breakfast and placed the dish in the sink. “Is anyone even watching?”
Mary stared at the comment section. She didn’t want this first-time streamer to give up hope! He seemed to be doing alright! She quickly typed in the chat. “Hello!”
Seeing her little message pop up gave the streamer a small surprise. “Oh, hello there.” His voice remained somewhat monotone but had the tone of happiness under it. “What would you like to watch me do today?”
Mary chuckled hearing that question. Man, he sounded kinda nervous. Then again, she should’ve been the last person to judge since she was the most camera shy. “Daily routine?” She typed in the chat.
”Sure I suppose.” The person mumbled as he read the comment. “I don’t really have one but after I eat breakfast I’d normally go and clean my room.”
He’d make his way to his bedroom in the giant quarters he was in. Mary squinted as she tried to make out the streamer’s surrounding. It looked like a ship of sorts but there were too many staff members moving around the halls for her to really make anything out of it. The camera then panned to a navy blue and black room with blue lights illuminating on the sides.
”This is Manx!” The streamer chuckled as he picked up an old looking plush cat. “He’s a little bit rank but… he’s the only thing I have left from my Raelo.”
Mary could feel her heart ache for him. He must’ve been affected by the Sky Plauge. She was quick to type into the chat. “I’m so sorry. He seems cute though.”
That seemed the lighten the mood up for the streamer. “Never heard anyone call him cute before.”
The rest of the day was his cleaning his room and doing some paperwork and laundry while talking with Mary through the chat function. There were a few times where he had to mute or turn off his camera due to work reasons before coming hack on shortly after. During this time, Mary seemed to have become his yapping buddy of sorts, not that he was complaining.
After he had finished his lunch (and Mary finished her dinner), he decided to end the stream.
”Thanks for sticking through uhh…” He paused as he looked at Mary’s user. “CrazeCat. I like that name.”
Mary, for the first time, felt butterflies in her stomach.
///
Mary hadn’t told anyone about this. Not even Daniel. But every time after lunch, she would slip into her room to go find the streamer.
Mary had been following this faceless streamer for nearly a week now. She didn’t know why, but he had a certain charm to him that drew her to his streams (even if that meant she was the only viewer). All he ever did was do the same thing he had done the first stream. From time to time there would be the mysterious second person who would only appear to take the scrambled eggs from the streamer then leave. It seemed as though the mystery second person was the only other that the streamer ever interacted with nicely. The streamer seemed to slowly grow on her too, talking to her more directly and even talking a small bit about his life before the Raelo.
He did seem to want to keep as anonymous as possible (such as being faceless), which Mary respected. She was hesitant to share her real name to the streamer when he asked, but after he said his was Wicket, she decided to share hers.
There was one more reason why she kept sticking by Wicket’s side. She hated to even think about it.
Did she like him?
His personality was somewhat charming yet timid yet radiating the cool kid energy. Not to mention his voice, he always sounded so cute! (Though somewhat familiar). No! How could she possibly even like a person she’s never met outside of his stream, let alone not know what he looks like?!
”Hey Mary?” Wicket spoke into the microphone, snapped the Nelson out of her thoughts. “What would you think of me if we ever met up?”
Mary thought about her response, her cheeks slowly burning red. Oh gods, what would happen if they ever did meet?! She continued to type then delete her messages before finally sending, “idk. Probably cool or smt.”
Mary wanted to scream at herself so hard. Why would she say that?! Was this what it was like when Shiloh told her about her first crush? Crushes are hard man.
Wicket gave a small chuckle, though Mary could tell he sounded a bit disheartened. “I guess so. We haven’t known each other for too long anyways.”
Mary was now practically bouncing in her chair in embarrassment. Come on Mary! Toughen up!
”I mean. If we did meet, I prolly might be friends with u on the spot. U seem like a chill dude.”
Wicket gave a small laugh. “I bet you’d be a nice lady to be around as well.”
Mary immediately grabbed a pillow and squealed into it. Oh my GODS was he so fricking adorable right now!
She shook her head roughly before looking back at the screen. She could see Wicket doing something before hearing another voice calling. It was a faint and echoey voice but she could still make out the words.
”MALDUUM GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW.”
Malduum? Mary was now paying very close attention. She could hear Wicket scrambled as he yanked off the camera and microphone onto the bed. The microphone was still on while the camera had gone to black.
”U-Uh Mary! I have to go. I think I’m in trouble.” He gave a sheepish chuckle as he heard the booming voice shout again. “Don’t worry though hah! See you whenever I guess!”
Mary raised an eyebrow as she could hear Wicket fumbling to mute the microphone. She slowly pieced together what could even possibly be Malduum being within Wicket’s range.
///
Wicket ended the stream and rushed to grab his long black trenchcoat, throwing it over his black turtleneck. He took a deep breath and waved his hand over his face. No time to think about her. Wicket was never supposed to have come out anyways.
“Coming my lord!” Malduum called out as he exited his bedroom, the tails of his black trenchcoat flying behind him.
Go to sleep Wicket, Malduum will take care of the rest.