tossing and turning

[dustless]

It seems that human food doesn't really do much for the SOUL.

Well, maybe it would if it had been special food. Frisk vaguely remembers hearing about food made by dear loved ones can help heal heartbreak, and that might be close enough to count.

But they don't really...have that right now. They just have castle-made candies and cakes and fruit, and while that was better than nothing, none of that stops the uncomfortable ache settled in their chest and pulsing through their body.

They also recall a little rabbit child talking about how sleeping could help with that. Well, sleeping in hotels specifically, but that rabbit had been in a hotel, and the castle could probably be called a hotel, albeit one filled with unwilling residents. 

And so they quest to find a place to take a nap, without having to worry as much about being found by a particular troubled skeleton. They haven't given up on him, nowhere near it, but they'd like to be healthy when they meet again just in case. So their usual resting spot of "in the garden" was discarded, since it's right in the middle of everything.

As nice as it had been to be outside during it, their original plan--to hide out on top of a tower and catch a nap there--was foiled by the rain that came with the storm.

So Frisk carefully steals through the castle towers until they find one with a mostly-empty bedroom almost to the top, and try to rest there.

Key word: try.

The bed is very soft and comfortable, and they hover around the hazy edges of sleep for what feels like hours, but they never quite make it there. They're too worried about...sort-of-Papyrus. And Sans. And their friends they left behind, and their friends here, and just--everyone. They can't focus on a goal until they feel better, but they can't rest unless they stop worrying, and so they just cycle through thoughts over and over and over. And their low HP only distracts them even more.

So eventually, Frisk gives up and collapses into a soft-ish chair by the tower's window instead, watching the sky turn oranges and pinks, and a handful of stars appear between swaths of cloud. Maybe they'll be soothed to sleep by the prettiness of it. 


[backdated in the castle's nebulous timeframe of after their 'fight' with S4 and meeting Thor, but before everything else.]

Comments

[lostinmyway]

Grune frowns just a little bit. Frisk doesn't speak very much, but that didn't sound right at all. And something is wrong with their voice.

She comes closer, asking, "Are you all right, dear?"

[dustless]

Frisk does trust Grune, but...what happened isn't really something they want to talk about with anyone other than Sans for now. Well, not really him either, but they're pretty sure they have to.

So they just nod sleepily. "Yeah. After I sleep. I'm tired."

[lostinmyway]

"All right." Grune sits down on the floor in front of Frisk's chair. "You sound like you're catching a little cold. I should make you some chicken soup so you can feel better."

[dustless]

They know they're not sick, but the thought of it is enough for them to pull a face. Getting sick would not be a good thing around now. It's not something that happens to them often, but after all the problems they've been dealing with lately, they wouldn't be surprised if they might soon.

And maybe it'll help their soul anyway. Grune's a nice friend.

"Think...that would be nice," Frisk whispers.

[lostinmyway]

Grune rises and then pats Frisk's head gently. "Okay. I'll be right back. You stay here and rest, all right?"

And off she goes with purpose.

It won't be some time before Grune returns. When she does, she carries a tray, upon which rests a...teapot in a cozy and two teacups.

"I'm back! Are you ready for your tea?"

[dustless]

The obediently stay, only curling up and settling their chin on the armrest. They don't sleep, but they do space out enough they're almost surprised again when she comes back.

With...oh. Alright, then, Frisk can work with this.

"Mm-hmm." They reach out to take their cup. "Couldn't find ingredients?" they venture to guess.

[lostinmyway]

Grune pauses partway through handing Frisk their cup. "Ingredients?"

[dustless]

"...yes." They take it, trying not to spill anything. It's not as easy as it looks right now. "The soup?" That is what she said they were going to get, right?

[lostinmyway]

She lets go of the cup absently. "Oh, did you want some soup?"

[dustless]

They breathe in the tea's scent and watch her uncertainly. "I...thought...you were bringing some?"

[lostinmyway]

"Was I?"

Her gaze has unfocused slightly.

[dustless]

Frisk keeps watching her, expression shifting from confusion to mild alarm. "'S what you said?"

After a few seconds, they raise a hand to wave in front of her face a little. A few drops of their tea spills on the chair from their other hand, and they don't really notice.

[lostinmyway]

But Grune does. "Oh, my, Frisk, be careful. The tea is still very warm."

Spurred back into motion, she sets the tray on the ground and reaches with the intent to cup her hand around Frisk's.

[dustless]

"Oh!" It is, and they've nearly splattered it over their own leg.

They steady their own hand, but let her do what she wants before they try a tiny sip.

[lostinmyway]

Once Grune is satisfied Frisk isn't in any danger from their tea, she sits back to fill her own cup.

"Do you like it?" she asks. "It's peppermint! ...I think."

If Frisk has had peppermint tea before, they'll recognise the taste as being exactly that. This time, Grune did remember correctly.

[dustless]

That 'I think' makes them reconsider for a split second, but--can't be worse than their Papyrus and his spaghetti, and it's too late anyway, it's already in their mouth. And--it's good. A little weird, since they're not the biggest tea drinker on their own, but still. They nod appreciatively. "Good. Thank you."

[lostinmyway]

She smiles brightly. "You're welcome!"

For a moment, she's busy with blowing gently on her tea and taking a small sip, but then her attention returns to Frisk. "Are you sure you're all right?"

[dustless]

It's really good, so they take a few slightly bigger drinks. They smell makes them think of the winter holidays, though it was nicer outside of the castle than that, and midsummer when they'd had their...adventure...back home.

"...I've been through worse. Gotten better from worse." They look at the rim of the cup instead of Grune's face.

[lostinmyway]

Oh dear. She had thought Frisk didn't seem like their usual self. She wishes she weren't right.

"It's okay to feel bad now, even if you've felt worse before." With still more kindness in her voice, she asks, "Would you like to talk about it?"

[dustless]

They hang their head. They kind of do, a little, but they feel like they shouldn't.

"I...just..." Maybe only a little, tiny bit. "...met someone who I know, but doesn't know me. We were friends."

[lostinmyway]

"Oh, dear."

Given where they're sitting, it's impossible to give Frisk a hug, so Grune holds out her free hand for Frisk to take.

"It can be sad when a friend doesn't remember you, can't it?"

She sounds as if she's speaking from experience.

[dustless]

They reach over and sort of...pat her hand, really, not quite committing to a cling. Frisk feels like closeness would actually hurt more than help right now, though they're not sure why, and don't like the feeling at all.

"...yeah." It's happened before, technically, but this was so much more painful in multiple ways.

[lostinmyway]

Whichever gesture brings Frisk the most comfort is the one that Grune will happily accept. She rests her hand on the arm of the chair, well within Frisk's reach.

"It feels like all of the memories you shared with them are only yours now."

It's half a question; Grune keeps her eyes on Frisk's face to see if her guess is right.

[dustless]

Grune is a very nice woman.

Frisk's throat feels tight. They hadn't managed to put their thoughts into words like that, but by the pain on their face, it's clear she's right.

[lostinmyway]

Seeing the look on Frisk's face, she gives them a small smile to encourage them.

"It's all right to feel sad about those memories. That feeling is important. But it's important to leave room in your heart for new memories, too." She leans forward just a little bit. "Soon, you'll make even more precious memories to share again."