Over the next few days, Prince Asriel was subjected to a near perfect literal interpretation of his mother's words. An attempt to go to get something from his school bag without asking first ended with another swift strike to the backside and a rebuke.
Gaster was sure that Toriel and Asgore couldn't really be held to task over it. Their only child, breaking out of the castle how many times, for who knows how long… he could have drowned in the water and no one would have ever known, or, given the lack of physical remains, found him. They were frightened.
For his part, he was an adult. They couldn't ground him so much as they could pointedly not leave him alone with the young prince. And, although he also didn't blame them for that, it also cut deep. Their trust in him had been severely wounded.
The human child… Chara, was turning out to be a good companion for the prince, though. After waking, they clung to Asriel like a lifeline, as the only familiar face, no matter how little a familiarity it was. Asriel had loaned them some of his clothes, and they became an inseparable, matching set.
It hurt Gaster to watch. And, although he had lived with the Royal Family in the castle for years now…. He'd never felt more out of place. Even when he woke up down here he didn't feel so wretchedly… hanger-on-y.
So, he resolved to move out.
Which was just as heart breaking a thought as being an outsider in his own home.
Asgore had been paying him, for his work with the other Scientists. He'd never really bought more than some clothes and books with his income, as everything had been provided for him, and he'd never questioned it. So, he had quite enough money to buy a house. Pretty much any house he wanted.
He'd not told Asgore that he was looking at houses to buy. He wasn't sure if he could face the King with that news just now. So, he just took his time, looking at this house, and that apartment.
Really, he shouldn't have been looking at anything further away from the CORE than Hotland. But, he looked at the strangely shaped homes of Waterfall, and, some of the more charming homes in waterfall.
It was one of these houses he was looking at today. A familiar house that he had seen dozens of times before. And, seen change hands a few times over the years.
"Are you interested in this place, uh...sir?" The serpentine real estate agent asked, spotting Gaster reading the details on the FOR SALE sign.
Gaster looked over. "Hm? Yes, I would be interested, please. Is it available to inspect?"
The agent nodded, but made a face. "It is, but… this place has changed hands a lot lately… all of the owners have met with poor circumstances and needed to sell… Almost as if it were cursed."
Gaster frowned. "That is not a good way to sell a house." He remarked.
"No, but, I have to be honest sir." He said.
Gaster looked up at the small, two story house. It was neat, well looked after, and would be more than big enough for him on his own. "I would like to see the house, please."
The serpent shrugged, but then nodded. "As you wish sir, come right this way."
The house had a large main living space, a decent kitchen, and, up a small flight of stairs, there was a corridor with two bedrooms, and a bathroom. Well, shower room in this case.
The corridor was also half balcony, which looked out over the living space.
It had a small back yard as well, with a long abandoned vegetable garden in one corner, and there was a storage room accessible from the yard as well. It would have been under the bedrooms.
This was the place. It gave Gaster a strange sense of safety.
"I would like to put an offer on this house." He told the agent.
The agent was more than happy to oblige.
