#;;the cast...?

[cosmosfated]

pbbbthbhb. Gotta draw the other cast members but have Muff’ and Tori’

[cosmosfated]

   The bell above the diner’s door chimes, and the elemental behind the bar immediately smiles his usual smile.  Warm and welcoming, as any business owner would be towards a new customer.  Nothing amiss, nothing wrong.

   But it’s who is there that gets the elemental to struggle to keep up appearances.  “... Your Highness.”  A habit, one that’s hard to break.

   “We’re not Underground anymore, and I’ve not been Queen for far longer than that. You can just call me Toriel, Grillby.”

   “... Can I help you with something?”

   “Actually,”  she takes a careful seat in front of him, laying one paw over her other paw.  Choosing her words wisely, slowly.  “I was wondering if you could help me get in touch with Fleur. I think we left things off wrong the last time we spoke. I was in the wrong and I wish to make up for it.”

   The elemental continues cleaning up behind the bar, not quite meeting the Boss Monster’s eyes for the longest of times.  No, if he did, he would see that heartbroken look and he’d cave.  “... If you want to talk to him, then talk to him. As begrudging as it may be, I’m sure the kid’s not unreasonable. He deals with the press all the time, after all.”

   “Well. I told him that he was being foolish and reckless, and that he’s disrespecting the family name with all the fuss of the court and the press, after all we had done to keep him and Sunshine out of the nastier places of Humankind.”

   There’s a pause.  Long enough for Grillby to breathe out a clipped sigh.

   “...yeah, that’s not something you say to a child- let alone Fleur.”

   “I know, and that’s why I want to talk to him. But he won’t answer his phone, and he won’t even respond to any texts from Asgore. I just want to get to be with my son again--”

   “Mm-mm.”  He raises a hand to waggle a finger in protest.  “He’s not your son. Haven’t you noticed? That odd fellow he calls his uncle... Lost... Joshua, Saros... those people are his family.”  He wouldn’t mention Garamond nor Cayden right now, it’s not a good time.  “Just... let it go, Toriel. For your sake and for his. Let him go. Let him be happy with his family.”

   “... I understand. I just feel like I can’t let go. Something keeps leading me to him.”

   “Like I said. Let him go. It’ll get easier as time passes.”

   “...yes, I-- yes. That must be it. Thank you, Grillby. You always were a dear friend, always loyal.”

   “You can say I’ve got experience with listening to what needs to be heard.”

[cosmosfated]

   “...Who thought it was a good idea to ask him about that?”

   “Yikes.”

   “Talk about insensitive. Does no one listen?”

   “Nope. Oh by the way, Doc- Alphys is in the back room, she says she has some experiments she wants to run by you. And yes, I did tell her you’re not in the field anymore. She doesn’t seem to believe that.”

   “Ah well. Means I taught her well. I’m glad that she still has faith in me after all these years... keep an eye on Cayden would you? We don’t want him going on a rampage like last time.”

   “Trust me, I’m well aware. Your favorite brand is already at the table.”

   “You know me so well, hothead.”

   “Shoo, old bones.”

[cosmosfated]

The Knight’s Gambit   /   rp archival post ft. @kind2afault italics - cayden, normal - licifo/fleur’s grillby, bold - doc

It's something that pulls and invites where it shouldn't. Something entrancing and mystifying, it makes you want to come closer and closer until- SNAP! Jaws close on you and you don't make a sound again. That's why Cayden places a hand on his fool best friend's shoulder as they approach the house. "This doesn't...feel right." His grip tightens ever so slightly.

"Of course it doesn't, you've been hiding away with the timeline's Speaker for weeks now. Nothing is going to feel right." Doc replies in turn, feeling nothing amiss. He feels like he's trying to walk on a carousel to get to a piece of it that forever remains ahead and around that bend but hm. He notices not the inconsistencies to his thoughts. It's normal isn't it? "It's merely checking up on her and making sure she's alright."

"It's just Drew," Licifo pipes up, waving one hand dismissively and putting his hands in the pockets of his flight bomber jacket. "She's hardly one to be in any trouble."

"If that were true, why're we bein' asked ta check up on 'er? And fer fuck's sake, Garamond... Ye look like yer listenin' to the echoes again. That's dangerous." "I'm not. I have protection." "No! Stop! You stay out here while we check up on her. We can't risk it." "You worry too much..." "I agree with Cayden, actually. You don't look well. Just stay out here alright?"

Licifo raises a hand to knock on the door as Doc leans against the wall with a huff. "Drew? You home?"

The house was....eerily quiet, usually her Pokemon were running about. But no sounds of them, at least, from what Drew was hearing. She felt rather uneasy about yesterday and how she actually blacked out. It wasn't from that one medicine that she tried, was it?

When she heard a knock at the door, she blinked her blue eyes in confusion. A visitor? Who could that be? She pulled her oven mitts off and set them on the counter before heading towards the door, only to hear voices on the other side. When she opened it....she was surprised.

"Oh! Hey boys!" She said with a smile on her face, happy to see the three coming for a visit. Other than looking rather exhausted and maybe under the weather, she seemed...fine?

"Uhhhh come on in, I didn't know you were visiting. I just finished up some gingerbread if you like some and hot cocoa too." Strange..she seemed fine.

"That's alright- Syphoria asked us to come check up on you since something worrying had happened. I know you get terrible headaches often so I thought it'd be best to have me along." Licifo doesn't notice anything amiss as he steps in, ruffling the young singer's hair playfully.

Cayden too is all smiles and agreement, and his stance is misleadingly relaxed. He is actually quite tense, and he hasn't decided to get out of his armor in weeks aside for cleaning it. A certain sense of clarity that comes with prolonged heavy exposure to what the Speaker truly is. A certain sense of understanding that not everything shows itself on the surface. Looking for anything out of place, listening and watching and dancing to the beat of every motion while also turning it to his own manner of dance. "Jus' worried 'bout ye, lass."

Doc remains outside as he was all but ordered to. Those two usually mean the best for him.

Drew giggled a bit with her hair ruffled and she let the two inside, nodding her head," Yeah, I can imagine. Just, a really bad one this time. I've never blacked out from a headache before. Hm?"

Though when she saw only Cayden and Licifo come inside, her attention was right on Doc, making her look rather confused. Why wasn't he coming inside? Sure, skeleton monsters weren't effected by the cold, but it just seemed rather bizarre. "Aren't you gonna come in Doc? If you want, I can get a pot of coffee going for you."

There was something off in the house. One thing that Drew hadn't really noticed.

Where were the Pokemon?

"......" "For right now, I think it's best he stays outside. He doesn't want to get anyone else ill." "......" Huff.

It's a slow look over the main room that offers fuel to the cold fire in his chest. Cayden finds himself frowning ever so slightly. Where are they? "Do ye know where the Pokemon are? Chii is usually 'ere, aye?"

Licifo suddenly grows concerned. Chii is never away from Drew. They're nigh inseparable especially at home. Where could they be?

"Oh well...Okay.." She wasn't too sure on that but, if they said so.

It was only when they ask about the Pokemon, that she blinks in mild confusion. Wait, where were the Pokemon? "I...I don't know. They were here before I blacked out, I remember that much." She murmured and looked a little frantic, now rushing up the stairs and calling out their names.

The only Pokemon that actually surfaced when called was her Glameow, who looked none the wiser to the events that happened yesterday. Though Drew did peer over the railing from upstairs, looking down towards the two.

"Its okay, I found them! They're just asleep upstairs."

Licifo brightens immediately, also none the wiser. "Ahh, that's about right. It is cold out after all. Why don't we make something together for all of us? Cayden has a physical form for a short time so he can eat and sleep properly."

"Hardy har har." The old Knight chuckles, only to look upstairs. ".... Do ye mind if I check out the rooms? I'm a touch paranoid I'm afraid. Happens when you're a war veteran." A joke perhaps but one that makes the two other idiots snicker in response.

Drew looked so relieved while heading down the stairs, blinking and giggling at the two. My goodness, all three of them were so silly. "Well, I did make some gingerbread, but we can make something else. The oven is still warm. Hm?" Bright, blue eyes peered over at Cayden for a moment, nodding her head," Go ahead. I don't mind."

"It is cold outside and Bella isn't a big fan of the cold, but something warm and delicious could help warm them up." She grinned, hopping back to the kitchen.

"I can try and make honey baked apples. The ones I used to make back in the first couple of years of the diner?" Licifo prattles on as if nothing is wrong, while Cayden heads upstairs with a muttering in Eazaric towards Doc that something is wrong- he'll find out what and stop it.

He hardly makes a sound despite the armor he wears. Just enough to let the Pokemon know he's approaching, while keeping quiet enough to distinguish his own sound from another. It doesn't take long for him to recognize what's amiss, and he immediately draws his blade from its sheath. Readied and patient, used to a fight that never quite ends. "Alright ye bastard, do yerself a favor an' fuck off." Growled not into what is heard but into what rarely is.       {SO THE KNIGHT RETURNS TO THE LIGHT}       {OR IS HE STILL DROWNING, SIMPLY       UNDER GUILT AND NOT ANGER?} He growls. "Ye don' need to toy wit' 'er. She don' have that value yer lookin' fer." He uses a hint of his own magic to coat his blade and spell circle glows rune by rune on the floor around him. "An' jus' so we're clear- ye don' got a choice."        {YOU'RE NOT AS STRONG AS YOU ONCE WERE, MAGE}        {YOU CAN'T BE RID OF ME} "Aye. You're right." His sword is stuck into not the wooden floorboards but into the shadow he's been casting. It alights with ribbons of orange. "But I can steal us some time."        {YOU VILE-!} "See you later!" In a flash of orange, the haunting stops and something else freezes. "That's better."

"Oh! That's a great idea! I know the Pokemon would love those too!" Her favorite treat that he first made for her.

Drew was all ready to go with cooking when, she felt something within her head, making her wince and move her hands to her head. Oh no, not another headache, but it seemed far worse like the other day. She nearly fell over as she grasped onto the door frame to the kitchen and struggled to stand, shaking and whining from it.

"N...not...again..." She whined and squinted her eyes closed, barely able to open them from the sudden surge of pain.

Licifo easily moves to hold her up some. "You should sit down and rest. I'll make us something to eat alright?"

Cayden walks back down and looks noticeably more relaxed. If not happy. "The little ones 're rather silly." Act normal. Nothing is amiss. Just another day, just another haunting. "Need some help cooking?"

"I wouldn't say no." "Well then! Dingy, come on in, take a seat wit' Drew!" "You're both insufferable." Grumbled past the door as he opens it and walks in, shutting it behind him.

"Y..yeah...I probably do.." She didn't argue, not wanting to push and make the headache grow worse. So with a little help, she pulled a chair from the table to sit herself down, looking at the three with a weak chuckle. Silly boys.

Now the Pokemon start coming down the stairs and Chii is immediately at Drew's side, making sure that she was alright. She's thankful to have her Meowstic back at her side, grabbing one of the cups of hot cocoa from earlier and a bottle of medicine. Thank goodness she got a refill of it.

On the label though...there isn't Unovian writing on it..

Doc glances at it for a moment before frowning. That looks familiar...but he's too tired to read it thoroughly. He just grumbles and rubs at his temples. Licifo and Cayden easily get to cooking, their banter being all too enjoyable to listen to. Old friends who perhaps once were as thick as thieves.

Drew was listening their banter and chuckling, taking a bit of the medicine to help with her headache. It might make her drowsy, but it was the best thing she had to help remedy them.

She did want to tell them of her accidental discovery. But how to bring it up?

"Hey um...guys? Have you um..." She paused," Ever thought I seemed....different, from other humans?" Now this was totally an awkward way of asking.

Licifo speaks first. "Yeah but everybody has something different about them! It's called being unique- ow!" Cayden hits his arm. Wrong answer. "Ye mean tha fact that yer part monster? Aye. We already knew. We wouldn' be who we are if we didn'." Doc smirks; she was a rather easy tell among the others who kept it hidden.

"Wait....you guys already knew?"

She stared at them with wide eyes before squinting them a bit. Oh right, headache...and the lights in the kitchen didn't help. Now she felt like an idiot with hyping herself up to ask them. Great.

"...How..long did you guys know? Is it really that obvious?"

"Don't feel so bad," Cayden responds as he rests his arm on Licifo's shoulder. "At our primes, nothing could slip past us. This old flame might miss a thing or two off and on but yanno. He's getting old." "Coming from a deadman?" "A deadman who died in his prime!" He moves to flex dramatically a few times. Doc starts to howl with laughter. "You both are absolute idiots!" "And ye love us jus' like that~"

Nothing amiss. Nothing changed. What haunting? Only a group of friends laughing through a cold winter day.

At first, she seemed unsure of admitting fully of what she learned. But with these three, she felt...normal. Like nothing had changed just because. And it was nice.

Chii merely shook her head at the three while Drew was giggling, feeling a little better thanks to the medicine. She adored these three, no matter what.

"You three are hilarious." She mused, happy to have the three visiting her. It was nice, none the wiser to what happened.

"OW! Watch where yer swingin' that!" "Sorry, I'm getting old right?" "Ooo, he got you there." "Don' turn on me, Dingy!"

And they adore her as well. They'd protect her, if they had any say in it.

[cosmosfated]

“Normal”

Alphys sighs as she closes the door to her apartment.

It’s been a very long couple of days.

First, there’s a sudden influx of people arriving in intensive care looking like they’re been struck by something that no one could put a name to without having a complete breakdown, only to wake up several hours later not recalling why or how they went to the hospital.  Then, she goes to visit her ghost buddy and his family, only to see the perpetually-tired yokai with that same haunted look in his eyes that the rest of the patients had when they woke up.  That same haunted look of “I know I’m scared but I have a feeling I don’t want to know why”.  Suffice to say, she’s not been happier to go home and take a load off, grab a fizzy soda and watch Black Lightning.

At least. That was her intention.

As soon as she closes the door, she squints at the handle for a moment.  She feels something is off.  She’s not alone, is she?  She wastes not another moment, grabbing a nearby hidden-in-plain-sight knife and throwing it behind her with an aim that one wouldn’t expect from a lady of her stature.  Not in this timeline anyway.

When she notices that there’s no sound of contact, she turns around, her magic starting to swirl at the ends of her claws.  But what she sees makes her stop.

Familiar symbols of a class of people not royal yet close enough to it and glittering colors of a time lost to a place gone unspoken, intricacies woven into silk and velvet with the spells forgotten to all but the eldest of monsters hidden in the eye catching yet calming colors.  A warm though nervous smile that matches only one pair of eyes, no matter what they’re presenting as.

“...Y- You’re supposed to be dead.”

A work-worn hand holds out an unopened bottle of champagne-flavored Ramune.

“And you’re not supposed to remember who I am. So it seems there’s two miracles at work today.”

“I wouldn’t call s- seeing your bony ass around here a- a miracle.”

“Harsh words coming from a sleep deprived lizard.”

...

The two of them erupt into laughter for a few moments as Alphys takes the offered soda.

“It’s good to see you a- again, Wingdings. Would I be wrong to say that th- this visit isn’t to catch up w- with an old student of yours?”

The old crow bows his head somewhat, and gestures to the lady’s living room.  “We’ve our normal home to save. Our real one to bring back into the light.”

“As if our home was ever normal?”

“Our normal and everyone else’s normal are incomparable and irrelevant. What’s ours is ours; what’s theirs is theirs. So what do you say, Alphys? Care to join me for one last Project?”

...she sighs.  “Why d- do I let you bribe me into these types o- of things with your vagueness?”

He smirks.  That was always her way of saying she’s in.

“So what do you have in mind, Doctor?”

[cosmosfated]

(っ- ‸ – ς) Oh.. Gomen nasai.. Can I-I at least help Drew and others out? It'd be faster with eleven set of hands.. onegai?

He pauses for a moment in his sweeping, looking exhausted.  Rightfully so.  He likely won’t be sleeping for some time, either, even with the help of any medication.  It just wouldn’t work against what he saw today.  Would anything work?  Or are the stories true?

“…Sure.”  And with that he returns to work, not speaking again.

[cosmosfated]

(　ﾟдﾟ) Oh shit! Hold up! I'll help y'all out! First, gotta power up Licifo. C'mere handsome! I got some fire, I can share with you.

“Please leave, Draggy.”

His voice is soft, but still firm.  He’s a fire elemental, of which shouldn’t be underestimated.  He may have had quite the fight, so it looks, but he still came out on top.  He’s not going down without a fight, but for now he could use a little bit of a break.

“I appreciate the help, but… please.”