Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 10 - A Small Quiet Town
Countless bizarre 'battles' later along with a 'Gauntlet-Bridge' as you've taken to naming it, you come across a large sign with colorful lights strewn across the poles with a colorful and warm [WELCOME TO SNOWDIN] written on it. It's.. it's a whole town! Certainly they wouldn't all be violent here, right? On the contrary, actually. As you walk into town, you see some of the monsters walking the streets and they wave at you with smiles.. even ones from your previous battles! The Snowdrake you had faced earlier approached, placing an arm on your shoulder. "Hey guy! Sorry for earlier. Everyone seemed excited that we had seen a human, so-" You interrupt and raise your hand with a smile. "Hey man, don't even worry about it! I get how it is, honest. I'd feel the same way too if I were trapped down here." He seemed a little relieved, like you would have still been mad but you know yourself that you had no time to hold grudges like that, unless they were really serious.
After passing conversation with the Drake, you wave him off and check out the Shop immediately on your left. When you open the door you're greeted with a tall rabbit-esque woman folding her arms. A smile is ever present as she welcomes you and you return one. "Hey there, stranger! Welcome to Snowdin Town. Nice to see a fresh face here, it's been a while since someone new came around." That figures.. It's probably really tight-knit in this community, and seeing as no one new probably ever comes around it's probably gossip-worthy. "Hey there. I actually got word that I could get something to eat here? Haven't really eaten in a day, but I have money so I can at least pay!" When you mention the 'day' bit, her eyes seem to widen and she raises her brow in disbelief. "Why on earth would you go so long without eating?! You ain't homeless or anything, are you?"
You briskly shake your head no and go to respond, "No no, I just fel-" WAIT..! You can't just tell people that you fell down here! That could cause all SORTS of trouble..! "I... forgot?" You sheepishly rub the back of your head with a guilty smile, and she rolls her eyes. "Well whatever the case, you did come to the right shop. You sigh with relief, check what the shop has for sale and get an idea. "I'll take.. the bandana and a.. Cinnamon Bunny?"
As you pay the nice woman a moderate sum of gold and leave the store, you find a nearby bench to quickly sit on. You inspect the wound on your hand, and it doesn't exactly seem to be closing yet.
"that's a pretty deep cut, you should really eat something."
The memory of what Sans said briefly came to mind, and you gaze at the steaming cinnamon bunny and take a bite. The sweet and savory icing combined with the bread practically melts in your mouth, and you make a quiet but awkward groan of delight as you chew and swallow. By the time you scarf the whole thing down your hand tingles, and as you stare at it the wound closes, but only slightly? It seems less.. 'open', but there's still a redness around it, larger than you noticed before. It should be okay, right?
*You tie the bandana around the wound and try to forget about it for now.*
Once you continue further down town, a small yellow monster dashes up to you with excitement and greets you energetically. "Yo! You're new here, right?! Where'd you come from, New Home?" You pause and blink for a moment. "I, uh... yeah, New Home. Sorry if I seem quiet, I'm just.. tired." The kid tilts his head with a clearly confused but interested expression, and seems slightly understanding. "Aw, I get that! It's a long way from New Home anyway.. What brings you here?" As you try and think of another explanation, you see a dog throwing giant cubes of ice in the far background, and other people just.. living. It's really humbling to see people trying to survive in their own way and being content with the little they have.
"...Yo, dude!" You flinch and your head snaps back to the kid, and with that you smile knowing he had caught you off guard. "Oh! Sorry! Just... ..exploring. Speaking of which, think I'll get back to that for now. Catch you later, kid!" The kid turns tail and goes to run off but face-plants. You flinch abruptly and take few steps forwards. "Jesus kid, are you-" He energetically leaps up off the ground and smiles wide. "Yeah I'm fine, don't worry! I actually get that a lot, because I don't have arms, but I'm okay. See ya later, dude!"
When you start off again, you spot two notable things; An oddly thick fog masking presumably the other side of town, and another one of those yellow, glowing stars. As you approach it as usual you go to extend your hand, but forget that this time it's in front of someone's house. Comically enough, when you look up from extending your hand out Sans is leaning against the house with a raised... 'brow', if that's even a thing, and a smirk. He also has his other hand extended and asks, "we doing the lazy Macarena, kid?"
You pause and smirk with the dumbest face, groaning in defeat as the smile plasters itself between your cheeks. "Oh my goooooooood, I hate you." Your eyes roll lightly and your smile continues to widen even as you say that, and even Sans smirks wider. "okay, okay. i was gonna make another one, but looks like the jig is up." After the surge of calming energy flows through you and makes you feel better, you press your thumb to the bandana covering your wound and flinch a little bit. It's tender, maybe it didn't heal fully yet? "uh, hey, kid? not sure how the surface is, but i'm pretty sure bandanas go around your forehead."
"Yeah, I, uh... thought it'd be good as a makeshift bandage." You shrug and run your thumb over the bandana and lightly suck air through your teeth from the tender pain. "How did eating that Cinnamon Bunny... thing.. help heal me, anyway? That tasted and felt great!" Sans smiled and shrugged as he pocketed his hands. "monster food is made of almost the same magic, and the pure energy flows to where your body says that it needs it to heal. but.. the fact that the one on your palm isn't fixing itself is unusual, but i'm not an expert on how humans work exactly, considering your the first one down here in a while." He winks and smiles simply and you shake your head in understanding. "Fair's fair, I guess I'm a bit of an anomaly or something down here, yeah?"
"that's an understatement." Sans quipped with a smile as you started to walk towards the fog, but before you get far enough he stops you for a moment with a hand on your arm. "if i were you i'd keep your eyes peeled. i have a feeling your not going to get through the next path so easily." You stare at him for a moment in confusion, but your eyes widen subtly once you get a slight idea of what he's talking about. Papyrus, maybe? He catches this and winks, and you smile lightly with a bit of obvious worry on your face. "Don't worry, I'll get through it no matter what, the way I'm meant to." You smile and nod at Sans, and his smile actually seems a little genuine.
As you finish off with Sans you take in a deep breath, exhaling and starting through the fog. It's colder and denser than any fog you've previously felt, and it's off-putting to say the least. Even the sound outside the fog seems to get muffled by the thicker air around you. Each step makes it quieter and colder. Being in such a constricting and sensory-depriving area makes you slightly panic, and that feeling you had gotten when you faced Toriel was back.. terror. Absolute terror of the unknown, and being cornered in such a claustrophobic state always made you jumpy and shaky. As you look around, you bump into something and hit the ground. You catch yourself with your hands, and the momentum causes the bandana to slip away letting your hand slip against the snow. Clasping your wrist and groaning, you can barely make out the fact that the cut had opened 'again' because of your carelessness. Seems you strayed from walking straight by accident and wandered into a tree.. nice job.
"AHEM- HUMAN. . . W-WAIT, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" Papyrus spots you on your ass in the snow, gripping your wrist and baring your teeth towards the re-opened wound in your hand. You look over after noticing the voice, seeing the tall skeleton walk over with hands gingerly clasped to his breastplate. "OH DEAR. YOU HAVE EATEN, YES? THE GREAT PAPYRUS AND THE HUMAN SURELY CANNOT DO BATTLE WHILE YOU ARE INJURED AND HUNGRY!" He had that sweet, challenging little smirk on his face, and even just being there seemed to slightly ease your pain. You try to show a smile but the stinging pain from your wound still overpowers the sensation. "I'm- I'm quite alright. I had a nice cinnamon bunny for breakfast, Papyrus."
Papyrus places his red-gloved hand on his chin, pondering for a bit before folding his arms. "ABSOLUTELY NOT.", he exclaims with one raised finger. "THE GREAT PAPYRUS REFUSES TO FIGHT AN OPPONENT WHO IS NOT READY TO GIVE HIS ALL! IT'S DECIDED!" Papyrus effortlessly grasps your arms and lifts you up onto your feet. You almost fall back down, but you had 'just' managed to catch yourself before realizing what Papyrus said. "Wait, what's.. decided, again?" Papyrus grins wide and places a hand on your shoulder, simply exclaiming. "YOU'RE INVITED TO HAVE DINNER AND SLEEP OVER, OF COURSE!"
"Wait, WHAT?" You ask in a slightly raised and obviously confused tone, along with a concerned face. "Why would you allow me in your house? I'm a human, remember? Don't monsters hate humans?" Papyrus waves a hand and squeezes you when the arm on your shoulder wraps around you from the side. "NONSENSE! THE GREAT PAPYRUS DOES NOT HATE ANYONE HE HASN'T MET YET!" He carries you in this awkward position back to the house and out of the fog, opening the door and setting you down. "SANS, I'M BRINGING A GUEST IN!"
With that, Part ten is out! It took so long due to precautions with the Covid-19 infection going around my immediate area. Considering I'm on the front lines working in a grocery store I have to sanitize everything at home, and take extra time cleaning where I am so I don't spread anything. I'll try my hardest to stay safe, and put out some more parts for those of you stuck at home. Please stay safe.
Love, RampantMemory