⚹You wish to leave a message for Grit

[save_theworld]

...'Lo.

I'm somewhere else. So you should leave a message.


[⚹There's about a minute of static and light breathing before Grit's message bank cuts in.

⚹Nailed it.]

Comments

[action] *youtube commenter voice* first

[dreamalittledreem]

[Isol is nervous.

It's not just because of the worrying way in which his discussion with Grit ended the other night, although that's certainly a factor. It's also because they have some really hard things to talk about.

Buttercup has arrived. Sunny has been acting out. Grit... He wants to know how to help Grit.

Once upon a time, Isol had spent most every instant of his life feeling alone, despite the lives playing out before him. Now, the near cacophony of voices filling up the spaces in his life were somewhat overwhelming. Aside from a serious talk, Isol also really needs a break. The two don't exactly go hand in hand, but he's sure that if anyone can figure it out with him, Grit can.

Clutching two steaming mugs of hot chocolate straight from the kitchens, Isol uses his foot to lightly knock against Grit's door, wobbling a little precariously.]

A NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHES!!!!!1!one

[save_theworld]

[At least Grit is apparently doing as advised- taking a break. The tiny thing has been barred from work for today after their manager had taken in the rather tired state of them, leaving the child with...nothing to do. Except, perhaps, sit around with their thoughts.

They'd rather have something to do, to be honest.

When they hear the scratching at the door, the child assumes that it's Trip having a bit of trouble getting in, eventually looking away from the wall they've been blankly looking at (through) for the past hour, even more eventually finding their way to their feet. The Grit who answers the door looks miles away- but when they see who it is, they focus.]

Isol?

[And hot chocolate, too.]

you looked me in the eyes & you must battle my pokemon. i choose sad goat

[dreamalittledreem]

[Now that Isol is here, something hits him that he hadn't considered yet. He's very afraid that Grit won't let him in- that they won't let him in. It's terrifying.

He doesn't want to be alone again, and he doesn't want Grit to feel that way, either. Isol peers anxiously into the room, hoping for an invitation, but very much feeling like he can't come in until he's given one.]

Hi! I brought, um-

[He thrusts one of the mugs in Grit's direction, very nearly spilling the hot liquid onto his own hand.]

Is it okay if I come in?

[He says the words as casually as he can manage.

...That is to say, not casually at all.]

traumatised eight year old, I choose you! Frisk, use sad smile!

[save_theworld]

[He has absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Before he's even asking, Grit is throwing the door wide open, taking the offered cup without a word. Please don't spill hot chocolate on yourself...]

Um.

[W-words? Eventually Grit just- leads the way, instead, Into the room and over to their futon, which is still out despite the late hour. It's cold enough to warrent sitting around under their blanket, and as they carefully sit themselves down, they look up at Isol almost expectantly.

You too, mister floof. Get in here.]

its super effective! in fact, the goat is dead, you killed the goat.

[dreamalittledreem]

[He swallows, some of his nervousness dissipating when it seems that Grit really doesn't mind him being here. He takes in their tired eyes. Their restless demeanor.

Maybe it wasn't him. Maybe he had just misread things after all.

Isol quickly toddles inside as well, closing the door behind him while being extra careful this time not to spill anything. The futon looks warm and welcoming in contrast to the Winter chill that seems to have no trouble seeping through the windows of the room.

That, coupled with what seems to be a look suggesting he make himself comfortable, is enough to finally completely calm Isol. He sets his mug down on the floor- careful, careful- and picks up the blanket, setting it over Grit's shoulders. Then he scoots in close, tugging it over himself as well.

Toasty. It reminds him of sitting in the kitchen with mom while she cooked dinner, the heat radiating from her enough to fill the room.

Just for the moment, he doesn't really want to talk.]

-dusts off hands- my work here is done

[save_theworld]

[Eventually, Grit winds up slumping against his side. It goes from a gentle brush of their shoulders together to the two of them supporting each other's weight in a silent show of solidarity, quietly watching the snow fall through the window from the comforting protection of a woolen blanket and quiet, wonderful company.

This is...

This is nice. Grit feels a little better.]

...You and Cup are rooming together.

[Unfortunately, feeling better does not equate to tact.'

[dreamalittledreem]

[It's one of the few rare moments of peace Isol can remember having since he arrived. He forgets about everything weighing on him. The reasons why he came here, and why they should be doing more than sitting in silence. He would be happy to watch this snow until it slowed and stopped. He could fall asleep, comfortable and happy, and maybe, finally, have a dreamless sleep.

But lately, it seems like someone wants to make sure that doesn't happen.]

Y-yeah.

[What else is there to say, now that it comes down to it? He thinks of the conversation they had when Sunny arrived.

What do we do?

He knows, this time.]

Grit... I want to help them. But I'm- [His voice pitches and then drops.] I'm afraid, too. Not of them-

[Of me. What I did, for them. What I could do.

Of what it could mean to come face to face with a past he had tried to put behind him.]

[save_theworld]

[They understand more than Isol would ever think they did. They've shared- something, with Buttercup. A mind? A soul? A something. They can't tell Isol that.

And it feels...heavy. It's one more secret they have to keep from Isol; one more secret they have to keep, Grit thinks, to protect him. Like Alphys with the video tapes.

Sometimes you gotta keep things back because they'll hurt more than they'll help.]

I um... I think.

I think Cup's lost, Isol.

[They know they are. Grit knows; they know how angry they are, how scared. How when they giggle most of the time it's not even because it's funny. How and where they hide the knife and what it would take to get them to take it out.

That's way more than they should.]

We just need to save them. Like Sunny.

...Maybe it'll be...a little harder though.

[dreamalittledreem]

[Isol nods. He knows Grit is right, he has a whole bank of memories telling him that much. It's still scary, but-]

I'm going to try my hardest. I want them to be happy.

[There's something else, though. Something he needs to say, even if Isol thinks he already knows what Grit's reply will be.]

If it ever gets too much... I can handle it.

[That's about the only way to put it. Isol doesn't really expect them to take it, but he needs Grit to know there's an opt out. Maybe it's hypocritical of him. He wouldn't even want an opt out of helping Grit.

But there's another good reason for it. He looks down at the steaming chocolate in his hands, and his eyes tear up.]

You look tired.

slips this in

[thefallenchild]

[there's a note left on grit's bed. it looks as though it was placed very carefully on their pillow, and the handwriting is small, and surprisingly neat.]

"what are your favorite colors. write back. --buttercup."

-squints suspiciously at the above note-

[save_theworld]

[Oh.

How come they didn't just ask them earlier? Grit looks around in confusion, as if Buttercup will be right there to explain- but of course they aren't. They're still getting used to that.

The response is left on Buttercup's pillow, not quite as small and neat.]

I really like purple. And red. And pink. And blue.

I like all the colors.

[save_theworld]

[...Oh.

Grit blinks, straightening up and shaking their head vehemently. This isn't something they're going to leave Isol to deal with, no way! It's um, it's-

It's more complicated than that. Grit can't leave it alone.

They can't. It's a ball of snow rolling down a hill, and every time Grit blinks, it gets bigger. They're pretty sure it's already too big to stop.]

...I'm okay. I'm um, [No. They already have one thing they have to lie to him about. That's enough.] I'm a little tired. Yesterday was...


[...]

Seigi promised to help if I needed it.


[.....]

Serif, too. We've..we've got lots of people to help.

[But no one who can actually know what happened. Grit hums quietly, placing their cup on the floor so they can lean into Isol a little more comfortably. They're right here. They'll always be here. It's okay if he wants to cry.]

*Phonic said she'd be happy to listen if we wanted to talk...

Isol, I think... I think we should tell her. Just in case.

[Just in case Grit can't be here in the way they want to be. Just in case they have to let go.]

NOTHIN SUSPICIOUS HERE

[thefallenchild]

ok, so rainbow. got it.

SO SUSPICIOUS IT'S NOT FUNNY

[save_theworld]

How come though?

[dreamalittledreem]

[These things are only marginally reassuring to hear. There's still something confusing and uncomfortable about Serif, something he can't put his finger on. And Seigi may be very kind to him, but Isol wonders how much she can help without knowing everything.

But *Phonic... That makes him look up.

Initially, it's panic that sweeps over him, quick and cold. The idea of telling anyone what they've been though- what he did- it's terrifying. But Grit needs help. This much is obvious. And Isol... well, maybe he could use some too.]

I think you're right.

[He screws up his nose and leans in close as well, to whisper his next words to Grit.]

Are you scared, too?

[save_theworld]

[Scared? Pfff, Isol, the very idea of it-]

...Yeah.

[They whisper it back to him, so softly it's almost nothing. Are they scared? Yeah. Yeah, they're scared. There's so much that could happen, so much to be scared of. They've been saving so much lately, just in case, but even that's scary because what if they save at the wrong time, what if they can't go back enough, what if-]

I'm scared all the time. How come so many bad things can happen in happy endings?

[dreamalittledreem]

[He's not happy that Grit feels scared, but Isol can't help but be relieved that they feel the same. It's a little less scary, being scared together.]

I don't know. Maybe we still have a little bit further to go before we get there.

[But something he's sure of, something that comes across as determined and stubborn even as he continues to whisper-]

It'll be worth it. We'll stay together.

[Us. The two of us. And all of us.]

shhh

[thefallenchild]

because you're a nerd.

[save_theworld]

[UM, ROOD?

Grit isn't going to dignify that with an answer. But later Cup is going to find their futon full of balls of yarn.

Have fun with that, dork.]

[completelyarmless]

[Trip... well, they can write pretty good, but it's very. Big. Tiny writing isn't very easy when you're doing it either with your mouth or your toes. But Trip's had lots of time to think. About the kind of magic they can never reach or remember, no matter how much they try. About a really bad dad. About some bed of flowers they've never seen, but someone else has seen lots and lots. And about how nobody else in the whole Underground was on that someone's side.]

HEY GRIT see the tiny bitty note in here? Keep that in your pocket or in that necklace or something ok? I FIGURED OUT how to beat time! Even if the worst thing happens and you hafta go back you won't be stuck all on your own ever again!!

[Indeed, there's a scrunched-up folded little wad of paper accompanying this note. Taking the time to unfold it, it's... exactly the kind of childish simplistic solution you'd expect from a kid, honestly. Just... a note, in the tiniest words Trip could do:

HI ME!!! This is your first best friend! Even if you don't know it yet, you gotta trust them and PROTECT THEM LOTS. Its rly rly important they know there important so YOU GOTTA. ps ask them to make the music box go if they didnt already!]

[gemuinemanagement]

[Here is a gift bag. It seems a little late for presents, but it's never too late for presents when it comes to Linos' favorite kids.

Inside the box is a silver bracelet, about the right size to be worn above a child's wrist.

Hanging off the bracelet are two charms. They're light blue, in the shape of echo flowers, and both of them glow faintly with a soothing light. It's more noticeable in the dark.

There's also a note.]

If this doesn't fit you right, let me know and I'll resize it.

The charms should help keep you safe from spirits. They're not perfect, but angry spirits don't like being around night glowstone.

I hope you like it.

-Linos

[save_theworld]

[Grit sits there holding onto both notes for a long time. There's no shame in crying, not for an eight year old, and as tired as they are of crying...

well. It's kind of nice to cry happy tears, for once.]

[save_theworld]

[Grit's already opened all their Christmas presents, so it's pretty weird, finding another one. They don't know how they missed it- and as it turns out, they didn't.

They're really starting to get a collection of jewelry, aren't they? But this one, just like their locket, goes on...and stays on. There's no return note; doesn't need to be, when they can just make sure to give Linos an extra big hug, later.

Needless to say, they absolutely love it.]

[meowbel]

[On the day of Valentine's, have this note on their inbox!]

special delivery! 2/14/16

[embellishes]

[ Good morning! Hope you like slugs, Grit, because in the morning, a slug spirit approaches them with a box and a single flower.

Inside the box is candy, quite a bit of it. Inside a box is a home-made and hand decorated cupcake, and on top of all this is a brightly colored envelope. Opening it up reveals a card, with a little note suck to it that reads, in Tsukuru's handwriting: Make sure Isol's fur is clean if he eats chocolate so your mom doesn't know how much candy you got hehehe (don't tell me on me! shhhh~~)

Once Grit is made to accept all their gifts, the slug slithers away.

Happy Valentine's Day, Grit!! ]