"Do you have a moment?"

"I cleared my schedule two hours ago. What took you so long to call?"

"First I had to overcome my disbelief of what just happened. Then I had to scoot across the floor to retrieve my phone from where I had chucked it. Then I had to figure out who would be the best person to call. That last step took two seconds."

"Ah. I see."

"Haha, you're so funny, Lalonde."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make light of the situation."

"You've been speaking to the punny guys again, haven't you? You probably aren't even aware you are making them."

"I admit I have been communicating with Nepeta and Feferi if those are the 'punny guys' you are referring to."

"Yup."

"But I am sure that you don't want to talk about them. What happened two hours ago that prompted this call?"

"Egbert got mad at me. As you are probably aware of."

Lalonde made a soft noise of agreement.

"And he hasn't come back. He walked out again and he hasn't come back. I'm going nuts with cabin fever because it's such a pain in the ass to get out of the apartment without working legs so I'm basically been stuck at home while my boyfriend flits in and out of here on whims to the point that I have to limit what I drink because I'm not sure if he'll be around to help me to the bathroom when I need to piss. That helplessness isn't helping my temper either."

"You yelled at him?"

"Nope. At least I don't feel like I did. Maybe I did. Mostly I just pointed out how it would be nice if he actually hung around with me instead of treating me like my broken legs are contagious. It's not like I am making him wait on me hand and foot. I even tried cooking dinner for the two of us on my own. I just need his help to get from room to room, to get to the bathroom, and to handle food. All of which I minimize as much as possible. I don't want to be a burden. I've even called Crocker up to see if she could help aid the process. I've tried using my own aspect to try to speed it up, but I got nothing but ticking in my head. But apparently I'm being melodramatic when I complain about that so ignore everything I say about how I am painfully aware of every second that I am impaired from independence by these casts on my legs."

"You are always melodramatic."

"I know. Those extended metaphors have always been considered that, but he's never called me out like that. Especially over Sburb stuff."

"That definitely seems out of character for John. Is everything alright with him?"

"Wouldn't know. He doesn't stick around long enough. Though he apparently feels stuck here with my ungrateful ass. And that's an actual quote from him."

"How did you respond to that?"

"I didn't. He walked out. Again."

"I know I am going to sound cliche to my profession, but how do you feel about that?"

I sigh. My head falls back against the wall where I ended up after I chased my phone. She gives me time to collect my thoughts without further prompting. "I'm not angry about it. Confused and upset. Lonely and in pain. Scared and annoyed. I want him back. I want him. I need John. But he's been running away from me. And I can't chase after him. I feel helpless. I feel stuck. I feel lost. I feel like it's slipping away from me. He's slipping away from me and I don't know what to do about it."

"Have you told him as much?"

"Well I haven't been as obtuse as I normally am, but I'm not an open book especially where Captain Oblivious is involved. I did bring up the fact that he's been ditching me often. Him walking out on me is becoming an overused motif. And I can't figure out why. This doesn't even seem like that doldrums thing that sometimes happen."

"I don't mean to pry but have you two been intimate since the crash?"

"Lalonde, are you asking about my sex life?"

"You would be disappointed in this session if I didn't. But I actually have my reasoning for this."

"I know you do, we aren't thirteen year old kids anymore where you pick my brain for nonexistent Freudian paradigms." I sigh heavily. "Yea, we've been doing stuff. He didn't let anything happen at the hospital, the prude." It was actually a mutual decision, but that detail is outside of the scope of the question. "And we haven't been hitting home runs for obvious reasons. But to get to the core of your question, he goes to bed satisfied every night."

"Every night?"

"Yea. I'm a good little wifey, so Egbert's not lacking there." I don't add that it's not always reciprocated. She doesn't need to know that. "That's not the problem."

"I retract any doubts I had mentally submitted."

"Got any other hypotheses I can easily shoot down?"

"You didn't yell at him. You aren't even angry at him. You haven't been abusing his willingness to help. He isn't sexually frustrated." She pauses to think about it. "What is the weather like where you are?"

"Cloudy last time I looked. It might be raining by now."

"Would you like me to talk to him?"

"I just want him back."


The wall and floor are cold, but blankets are way too far away and my legs hurt too bad to even think about returning back to the couch. I just cross my arms across my chest and tuck my head into the corner. I'm pretty sure my butt collected all of the dust bunnies between here and couch, but I really can't find any fucks to give. I'm just doing my best not to break down into tears. The cold, the loneliness, and the pain just sorta wraps up all together in an ugly ball of emotion that settles at the bottom of my stomach.

I just want him back. I want my John. I need my John. I love him.


I wake softly to warmth and quiet murmurings. I don't open my eyes, but I get the sensation of being lifted and carried. I snuggle into a broad chest but my nose twitches as it picks up an unfamiliar smell. Gently I am laid down on something I vaguely recognize as my bed. Covers settle over me, and the chill from the other room starts fading away under the smooth sheets and fluffy comforter. My eyes flutter open as I feel soft lips press against my forehead but the room is too dark to see anything. A hand brushes over my hair and I lean into it, closing my eyes again as sleep refuses to be dispelled. The presence by my bed eventually leaves and I catch an unexpected shadow briefly in the doorway, but my mind slips over it and dreams embrace me.


I wake up at 10:39 am. I sigh to myself at the fact that it is before noon, but there are pressing bodily functions that await my attention. Grimacing I sit up and take note that I am still in yesterday's clothes. There is probably a dust bunny infestation in my bed now. I flip back the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. The roughness of the casts catch lightly against the sheets. The movement also reminds me that I haven't taken my pain medication since lunch yesterday.

I flip on the lamp by my bed and I look around but I don't see wheelchair that I attempt to use to get around. It's the easiest to get into from my bed because I am higher than the seat, but otherwise it's a bitch to use and our apartment definitely isn't handicap accessible.

"Hey Egbert! Can I get a lift to the bathroom?" I call out to the other room. I really hope that he's awake. It was pretty late when he tucked me in last night. Wonder why he didn't say with me like usual.

I frown when I hear two voices from the other room in response to my request. I quirk an eyebrow up when my door opens. Nitram stands nervously in the doorway. It takes a moment for the data to get through the shock but when it does, my heart collapses down into a black mess.

"Uh, hey, Dave. Uh, good morning."

"Morning, Nitram. Have you seen my sick ride around? Or could you spare a limb or two so that I can hobble to the bathroom? Gotta make a pitstop before I can start the day."

"Sick ride? Oh. You mean your four wheeled device. Yea. Let me get that for you." He ducks out of the room, carefully making sure that his horns don't catch on the doorframe. I don't move, I don't flinch, I barely breathe before he returns with the silver wheel chair. He positions it next to me as if he's done this before and knows how it works. Oh wait, he did have to do this shit.

I move down with Nitram offering a helping hand. I wave him off when I am settled and carefully I wheel out of the room, grabbing a change of clothing on the way. The smell of breakfast as I head towards the bathroom makes me spare a glimpse at the kitchen. It really isn't a surprise to see Megido standing at the stove. I continue onwards with Nitram trailing awkwardly behind me. I make a quick turn in front of the bathroom and wheel backwards into the cramped room, closing the door in his face.

Even in the privacy of the bathroom I don't let myself think about it. I'm not even to going to define what it is because that would be acknowledging it. I simply manage my business, change into fresh clothes, brush my teeth, wash my face, etc. I fall back into the chair when I'm done. I glance in the mirror once more to note the perfection of my poker face right now to the dull red eyes. I'll need to find my shades. Probably on the coffee table. I wheel out of the bathroom in search and hey look at that, there they are on the table. I slip them on my face and finally turn to greet my guests.

"Sup, Nitram, Megido. Haven't seen you guys since New Years."

It's been interesting watching Nitram mature into an adult troll in these post game years. I didn't get to meet him face to face during the game, but he was resurrected with the rest of the dead trolls two sweeps older than he last remembered. He got his legs back as a gift from the game, but was still this scrawny, gangly nerd of a kid. Since he' started doing the Doctor Doolittle thing, he's filled out nicely. Something about handling musclebeasts. That along with the free use of his legs has given him a muscular physique that really contrasts with his shy stuttering nature. He's kept the mohawk that really just emphasises his rack, but has added a soul patch on his chin. I think it's silly but if he likes it, whatever.

Megido is still doing that morbidly cheery death's fangirl thing going on. She had to ditch the special jammies with the rest of us and has turned to flowy skirts and shirts that you can hardly see under all that hair. She's still whistling happily by the stove and I can smell something delicious cooking.

"Yea, it's been a while. We were, uh, in the area so we, uh, decided to stop by."

"Rose sent you," I state. No question about it.

"Uh... yea..." Tavros murmurs, ducking his head at being caught.

"She's the only one who knows where the spare key is. Just make yourselves at home. There's food and drink in the fridge and the couch is open for crashing. I'd offer to get up and get you something but that's a little out of my current ability range. Mi casa es su casa."

"Uh, thanks. And thanks for not being mad."

"Nah, bro. I'd be a frozen bundle of broken pain still in the corner if you guys hadn't shown up. Speaking of pain though, has anyone seen my meds?" Medigo hums loudly and the next thing I know, there is an orange bottle of pills flying my way. I snatch it with a quick "Thanks."

"Uh, if you don't mind me asking... why were you in the, uh, corner?" he asks nervously.

"Cause my phone was there," I deadpan back. "And speaking of my phone, have we seen that recently?" Megido chimes in again and my phone is flying across the room. "Thanks." I check it but I have no messages. That's okay. It doesn't hurt.

TG: team charge

TG: really

TT: Yes.

TT: Details later.

TG: k

I'm really surprised she texted back that fast but whatever.

"Breakfast is ready!" Megido sings out from the kitchen.

"Awesome. Hot grub." Megido smiles at me while she carries the plates to the table while Nitram cringes at my word choice. Like I give a fuck about cultural sensitivity.