Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 21 - Realism
"Just one more thing, please?"
Toriel inquires with a patient smile and tone and the others briefly stop after exiting the shed. With an abrupt halt to your footsteps you turn your head back towards Toriel before following through with the rest of your body. "Uh, okay? What's up?" It caught you off guard, to be honest, and you were never a fan of continuing something so quickly after saying 'Can we do this later' in the first place. Everyone continues into the house whilst the conversation continues and Undyne seems to relax a little, if still bit uneasy. Once the door closes Toriel stops near the couch, resting a paw on it before she begins. "I understand quite well why you'd be so hungry.." She pauses for a brief moment and her statement elicits grins from the group, notably Papyrus and Sans. "..But are you sure you wish to shelve this topic so quickly? While I cannot say that I do not blame you, this nevertheless is not something one can pretend did not happen." Undyne confidently strides into the living room and throws herself onto the couch, staring at you after Tori finishes. "I gotta admit I agree with her, punk. That was some heavy stuff.. why can't we just discuss it over some grub?" After briefly pausing once your hand touches the kitchen table you stiffen, unintentionally keeping your back to them. "...Because I don't want to. Isn't that reason enough?" When there's a notable lack of tone in your voice aside from the word 'want' Papyrus seems to note the tension, and he breaks the impending silence.
The tall skeleton speaks with a cheerful and energetic demeanor, coupled with a warm smile. "NOT TO WORRY, HUMAN, THE GREAT PAPYRUS SHALL PROVIDE THE BEST FOOD POSSIBLE TO CHEER EVERYONE UP!" During all of this Sans is being oddly silent, and seems to be fixated on you. "Hold up. He just brought up the fact that he attempted suicide. Why are we going to just blow past-" At that point your hand squeezes the side of the table tightly. That right there is a touchy subject, and you can't help but interrupt Undyne after she brings it up. "Because it's none of your fucking BUSINESS, that's WHY." Your head whips around as you lash out, Undyne subtly recoiling and her head-fins wilting after your statement. Toriel takes two steps towards you and frowns with distaste, seemingly disapproving of your remark. "There is no need for such language or behavior, especially after such heavy subject-matter has been discussed." Your anger swells in your chest, bilious at the back of your throat before you lash out at Toriel for stepping in and disagreeing. "Oh, I'm so sorry that I'm a little reserved, mom! Do I go prying into any of your fuckin' lives?! Excuse me for not getting so personal!" In the heat of the moment your venom-laced comment causes Toriel's face to sour in further disgust at the retort. Papyrus' grin seems to falter as the argument continues, and your eyes dart over to Sans. His voice seems to be the only calm one in the room as he comments. "listen buddy, we're only trying to help in the way we know best. attitude like this isn't healthy for you or your SOUL."
Your brow involuntarily twitches following Sans' comment and after a heavy exhale through the nose you decide not to speak, only staring back at the skeleton casually leaning his skull on a hand at the table. The only thing that irritated you about him was the fact that he was right. There was no smugness, no holier-than-thou attitude, just a normal statement. Just as you manage to get some semblance of clarity Toriel continues the conversation. "He is right, Manny. Such negative thoughts can weaken and injure a SOUL, repressed or not." The goat-woman's tone is quiet but firm and matter-of-fact. With a full turn of your body you face Undyne and Toriel, responding in a not-so-quiet response through your teeth. "I'm not. Repressing. Anything." Even as you say that your chest burns and tightens, causing you wince. "I DO NOT KNOW HUMAN CUSTOMS VERY WELL BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE HURTING YOURSELF EVEN MORE. PLEASE.. WE ARE ONLY TRYING TO HELP." Papyrus' comment causes your attention to snap towards him, the look of worry clear upon his face. Even you can't stand to see those puppy-dog eyes, and the longer you take it in the more your own face scrunches with regret and pity. "...I need to go for a walk." Almost immediately after you say that you start for the door, causing Toriel to take a few steps backwards. Undyne seems to get up quickly and joins her, shrinking the gap between you and peace-of-mind.
"Excuse me, please?" The two slightly tower over you, looming and staring down at you with seemingly distant faces. "Perhaps that is not the best thing to do right now, Manny. I am concerned that you may... attempt something." The moment she mentions that you reflexively take a step backwards. The idea that she may have an idea how you think causes your stomach to convulse briefly. The beginnings of fear show on your face Undyne only fans the proverbial fire. "The last thing I need is to regret trusting you, punk. If she's right, then there's no way I'm letting you out." Immediately your breathing quickens and as you frantically look around you in the deafening silence your fingertips begin to become increasingly numb. "Don't.. don't fucking touch me." Slowly and shakily you raise both your hands in fight-or-flight response, glaring at the two monsters blockading the only path to freedom. Once the sound of footsteps starts from behind your head snaps to the source; Papyrus.. He has his hands folded and is hunched slightly. "...PLEASE LET US HELP YOU?" As everyone in the room continue to encircle you every feeling seems to worsen, and with a final response you abruptly bolt forwards, attempting to wedge yourself between Undyne and Toriel! They instantly react by grasping each of your shoulders and attempt to pin you down. Only barely you manage to get a grip on the knob only to have your hand pulled away. "Get.. OFF..!" As if things could not get worse you're body suddenly feels incredibly heavier. The two women let you go and you thump to your hands and knees, looking to your torso to see your SOUL. It's turned... blue..? Your breathing becomes labored before the normal color returns to you and your respective 'heart', and slowly, it begins to slide back into it's home. As the fatigue subsides you glance backwards only to see Sans staring at you with a single extended hand. "i, uh.. don't think it's the best thing either, buddy. i'm all for personal space, believe me. don't take this the wrong way but you're definitely not doing yourself any favors by making a case like you just did." He lowers his hand with a sigh and you stare back at the ground before digging your nails into the carpet briefly.
The room fills with silence yet again as they all wait for your response. To further stall you sigh and take your time standing back up. "hey, if you wanted some space, all ya gotta do is ask. but, uh... don't expect to be left alone just now." The only thing you do in response is glare at Sans with frustration before swiftly storming up the stairs in an angry, albeit childish manner. Even now you're at least cognizant enough to realize that going into either of their rooms is not only rude but completely unlike yourself. Instead you choose to go into the bathroom, roughly pulling the door open and going to close it before realizing it stopped abruptly. When you turn you see Papyrus and Undyne holding the side of it. "No dice, punk. The doors staying open or it's coming off." The tall skeleton pinches the bridge of his 'nose' and closes his eyes before speaking in annoyance. "PLEASE DO NOT BREAK MY DOOR, UNDYNE. BUT YES, HUMAN. FOR NOW WE JUST REQUIRE A LITTLE PATIENCE. I MUST MAKE A BRIEF PHONE CALL, SO UNDYNE WILL WATCH YOU FOR A BIT." It's difficult to take in for some reason.. The notion that people who call themselves your friends seem to care about you as much as you do them. You were used to cold responses, to uncaring and calculating people. Kindness was something that felt 'wrong' to you. In the midst of your thoughts Undyne sits pretzel style again on the carpet with her back against the banister. "So, punk.. one-on-one alright with you?" Truthfully you were attempting to eavesdrop on Papyrus' call downstairs out of boredom but your eyes turn to her own, and after peering down from inside the bathroom you silently nod. "..Well, considering you were the only person that... well, 'saw' that, I guess so?" A noiseless sigh is heard as Undyne inhales and exhales. "I'm not saying your past is something to just move past. Hell, I can understand how much that could hurt someone. But.." Undyne seems to look at you seriously for a second. "If I can make a 180 after wanting to kill you, can't you do the same?" She beams a sharp-toothed smile at you and it receives a small smirk in response before you slouch, sitting on the closed toilet and starting to stare at the floor. After hearing footsteps up the stairs you see Sans, simply offering a quiet wave before resting an arm on the banister. "don't mind me." As your look over you spot Undyne about to say something and you interrupt. "It's... fine. It's fine, I guess. L-Look, this is hard. Really hard. The prying was really aggressive and it got to me.. Regardless, I don't even know if I can re-create that scenario without you actually trying to kill me again, and I don't think Toriel or Papyrus would exactly be thrilled." Your lips curl into a half-smile for a moment from the joke, and you get a laugh out of Undyne before she responds. "Yeah, she really cares about you. Paps too. You're like, his third friend besides me and Alphys."
After the new name is mentioned you offer an interested tilt of the head. "Who's that?" The question causes Sans to chime in with surprising interest. "doctor alphys? oh man, she's the royal scientist of the underground. she's in charge of everything mechanical, electrical, robotics, you name it. her biggest task is to find a way to break the barrier, but even the guy before her didn't fare so well." Undyne balls a fist and energetically backs up Sans. "Yeah! She's been doing research on human society from everything that falls down here too! Giant swords, cat girls with magic powers, huge robots?! That all sounds AWESOME!" ...from the sound of it, you have a feeling that she might not like what's really up there and you can't help but smile in response. Sans oddly enough seems to be smiling just as much as if he too knows, but it might just be from the situation.
Conversation topics eventually become scarce, and you decide after a brief moment to stand up. "So, uh.." You sheepishly rub your arm after pausing, glancing to the side to avoid eye-contact. "..I guess we'll give it a shot, then?" It sounds more like you're asking, and once you look over you're surprised to see a somewhat-relieved face on Undyne.. Sans, too. "don't worry, pal. whatever happens or doesn't, we've got your back." The energetic fish-woman leaps to her feet and lunges towards you, wrapping a blue-muscled arm around your head and beginning to dig her knuckles in your scalp. "That's the spirit! NGAAAAHHHHH!" You recall the feeling of a 'noogie' all too well from your childhood friends, and before it can hurt further you manage to wiggle out of her grasp. "Come on, knock if off!" Abruptly you shove out of reflex but seem to be sporting the biggest smile as you briefly stumble. Undyne loudly laughs, and the laughter causes Toriel to call from downstairs. "Is everything alright up there, Undyne?" After you take a couple steps towards the balcony you peer over and offer a small wave. "Yeah, everything's alright! Be down in a second.-" You trail off and look over to Sans and Undyne in a slight panic and lower your voice. "Aw fuck.. I was such a dick! How do I apologize to her?!" The small stocky skeleton raises one 'eye-brow' and answers promptly. "uh... just say 'hey, i'm sorry'? it's not that hard buddy." The response leaves you confused from it's simplicity. "You make it sound so easy!" He lazily nods at you which only elicits a groan of frustration, only to be interrupted by Undyne shoving you with one hand towards the stairs. "Come on, it's not that hard, punk! Just go!" She sports a toothy-grinned thumbs up, and once you look down the stairs you sigh. "Christ, fine..."
Took quite a while for me to post that one! I figured I'd save the Q&A Bonus for the end of this 'book' so-to-speak. If you have any suggestions or comments please message me. :)
-RampantMemory