living skyward

((ooc: Feel free to approach Kotetsu, Frisk, or both! However, Please be aware that some of these comments might contain language/thought processes relating to sexual/emotional assault survivors. I forgot to add a content warning in the subject line of some of those comments, but will try to remember to do so in future. ))

Kotetsu is trying to dig a proper grave, this time. Two proper graves, actually.  Not just something to cover up the bodies so that the castle's bizarre magic can hopefully do its thing. He owes them both this much especially, after failing to stop this from happening at all. 

It's rhythmic and engrossing work, that lets him think about nothing very much so he doesn't have to look at the two bundles wrapped in sheets and laid carefully off to the side. One is human-shaped - adult human-shaped, specifically. One is...less so. There's no blood, at least. One corpse had stopped bleeding by the time Kotetsu arrived. One had never had any blood to lose, though there might be the occasional oil stain on the cloth. 

Sunflowers are piled off to the side, too, there to eventually be lain on the graves when they're filled and covered up again. Frisk had been responsible for gathering them, and now sits and waits for the work to be done. They had offered to help him dig, like he had helped them after Kubo died. Kotetsu had steadfastly refused. They hadn't been too badly hurt, by comparison. But welts and bruises ring their wrists and ankles from the shackles, and their mouth from the muzzle - signs of Adam's dislike and disregard, if not the utter loathing that Barnaby had earned. They don't need to be pushing themselves any harder. They don't need to be here.

But they are. And he's a little bit selfishly grateful for that. The only thing that really works to occasionally draw him out of his singleminded work is remembering that they're there, and hurt. It's enough to get him to glance back at them every so often. Neither of them say much, except to occasionally ask if the other needs anything. Otherwise, if there are words to be said...neither has found them yet. Even tears are a bit too much to give, right now. 

The shovel bites into the dirt. Kotetsu's shoulders ache as he heaves pile after pile of soil free. His powers won't help this go any faster. This shouldn't go any faster. This small pain is the least he deserves. 

This isn't how he's used to funerals going. Funerals are supposed to involve family and friends and pictures and an urn of ashes rather than a limp, bedraggled bundle. But with any luck, this won't have to be a real funeral. He's not saying goodbye. He's just...doing what he has to, in order to make the castle give them back. 

In lieu of a picture, he can leave his phone between Barnaby and Toshi when it's done. If all goes well - if this works - he can come back for it in a few days. 

Kotetsu will be at this for a while, in the little area of the grounds where the graves seem to be scattered. He's not trying to hide, so anyone passing by that area will likely see him at his grim work until after dusk falls. Frisk stays to keep watch and help where they can. Once he's done, once the bodies have been laid to rest and the disturbed soil replaced, Kotetsu tries to see them settled somewhere safe and far away from here. Then he returns to the graves and he's mostly going to just...sit and stare and drink, for a long long while.