Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 6 - Wanderlust
It feels like I'm... floating? What is this, and more importantly, where am I? As you're figuring out these questions while you attempt to 'swim' through the air, an odd, inky figure seems to be standing on nothing. You pause and stare, and an odd white oval protrudes from the blackness with an odd-looking face.
"Interesting. Something new, for a change?"
"What-" Before you finish that sentance, the smile widens and to white-dot pupils pop up in it's 'eyes'..
"Wake up, Manny."
It's slow and steady, but sure enough your eyes open to a dim room. It's.. oddly childish, for a guest-room, but considering the past events this is like a luxury. Still, you have a feeling that you should at least try to make it back to the surface. Even if you weren't doing so good to begin with, maybe this whole adventure could change your perspective? You shrug off the thought after a minute and sit up, stretching and rubbing your eyes.. they feel very heavy and sore, probably from- ... from earlier, right.
Once you rise out of bed quietly, you slowly creep towards the door and turn the knob silently, pulling the door back in the hopes to not draw attention, but it seems the door-hinge disagrees with your options. A painstakingly obvious creaking sound proclaims your awakening, and as you peek your head out with a guilty expression of the attempted sneakery you see... no one, surprisingly.
You take the risk and continue soft-stepping through the home since it seems you're in the clear. Already seeing the living-room, you take a step into the kitchen. Maybe some water will clear your head.. when was the last time you drank anything, anyway? You peek quietly through cabinets until you find a glass, turning the sink onto it's lowest, quietest setting, letting the pipe hiss gently as water slowly filled your glass.
Once you finish taking your time drinking it, you place the cup upside-down in the sink and start back for your bedroom, but you pause.. right next to the knife-stand is a small paring knife. All the spots in the stand are taken, and it seems a little lonely. You have no idea why, but maybe you should grab it? Just... just in case?
Before you reach the hallway you notice the obvious stairwell, and walk towards the railing. When you peer over you notice the same purple shading as the stone and brick outside.. Maybe it was a cellar?
Curiosity getting the best of you, you take a step down the stairs, glancing around you and over your shoulder. After you determine that it's safe, you continue down. It looks like it did outside, but there's a light cold draft. The hall goes on for some time, but eventually you reach a large stone door with a squared, oval-shaped room. You place your hand on the door and go to push, but it just doesn't budge. "Jeeze, how heavy 'is' this slab of stone!?" You mumble in slight frustration.
"hey, I'm not 'that' heavy, pal. i've been dieting."
You silently recoil and hear the voice, replying in a quieted voice "Ah geez, I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were a living monster like the rock back by the buttons..!" You hear a chuckle and quiet sigh before a response comes.. rather quickly, too. "don't worry about it. people don't really stop to think if i'm a monster or not, they usually take it for granite." You take a step back once you practically 'hear' the smile behind the tone in that voice. "...You're not the door, are you?"
As you ask that in a deadpan voice, the other responds with another well-prepared joke. "that depends, if you're nice enough, i might open up a to you a little." You respond with a quiet "Ba dum tss." along with a soft quiet laugh. "Didn't realize Toriel had neighbors. W-..Well, to be honest? It didn't register that this place would be bigger than just a hole in the mountain." You squat for a moment and sit with your back against the door, sighing heavily. "ouch, pal. a whole lot of folks live in here, ya know?"
The comment registered swiftly and you were quick to apologize. "Y-Yeah, I.. fuck, I didn't even mean for it to sound that way, sorry-" Before anything goes further, you realize that you should probably get back up, no idea how Toriel would react with you snooping around her house, after all. "I, uh.. I think I should get back to bed before I get caught. Nice, uh.. joking with you, door-dude." You stand up and quietly yawn, taking a step to catch yourself before you hear your new acquaintance retort. "get some rest, buddy, and see you soon."
You walk off, not particularly sure about what they meant, and it sticks with you all the way back to bed, and then some.
Whoever enjoys this, I apologize for making you wait. Life has been.. still not the best. I haven't had the energy to write in some time. I'm trying, I promise. I just hope you enjoy what I was able to dish up!
-RampantMemory