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"C'mon, Kris! We've got to find Noelle and the Queen!" Susie was tugging on Kris' arm as they ran through the palace to rescue the captured Holiday. A panting goat was trying his hardest to keep up with them as they searched throughout the rooms. Search-query based rooms, that is.
They walked past Noelle's room. Susie abruptly stopped. Kris let go of Susie's hand. He appreciated that Susie was trying her hardest to be a good friend, but she could use a looser grip when it came to looking for Noelle. Susie, Kris, and Ralsei approached the room's door. It had a cold touch to it. Susie put a hand to her chin in a thoughtful pose. "I'll go in here, guys. I'll just tell her it's a dream. Yeah! Just a dream. What do you think, Kris?"
Kris replied with an awkward silence. Susie gave him a wily grin. "I won't take that long." She slammed the door open, hurriedly walking inside. SLAM! The door was shut once again. Ralsei adjusted his robe, then looked at the teen. "You ever wonder what they're up to, Kris?" Kris gave Ralsei a sideways glance. "..." They had bags underneath their eyes. Ralsei could tell that something was wrong with Kris. However, he decided not to ask about it as it'd unfold as another unneeded tense situation. "Kris..." Ralsei glanced at the door. He could've sworn he heard faint sounds of an amusement park. Nothing to interrupt plans. He balancing on his heels, he attempted to speak to Kris again. "I said, do you wonder what they're up to, Kris?"
Shrug. It was all he could muster in response to the Prince. Ralsei sighed, "Perhaps, I could wait a while..." He drowsed off to sleep. Faintly snoring. Kris walked towards Noelle's door. He hesitated. Not now. I've had enough exploring for today.
He walked past the sleeping Ralsei. Passing the not-suspicious giant pair of legs, he managed to find the shimmering pink light. Kris was able to crawl between the Rouxls Kaard statue, whispering a small apology. He found the Swatchlings sitting down. They talked in pleasant chirps, occasionally spouting squawks of horror at mentions of rodents. He found the Head Butler cleaning the counter. The Butler's keen eyes spotted Kris crawling through the hole. Swatch beckoned for Kris to come forward. The Swatchlings' chatter immediately stopped. All red eyes were on Kris.
The Head Butler spoke as he elegantly slid the rag across the countertop. Swatch's silky voice rang throughout the café. "Welcome to the Color Café, young master-" Kris waved both hands in front of his face with a panicked look on his face. Noticing that something was aloof, Swatch lowered his voice. "Master Kris, what can we delight you with today?" He snapped his fingers, and a Swatchling dressed in red brought a stool to accommodate. "How can we warm your day?"
Kris slumped his shoulders. He couldn't describe the words. It was too jumbled in the mind to think clearly. Kris couldn't speak more than a light sniffle. For a role that required the utmost classiness, Swatch's heart softened a great deal. This child is lost and confused. He needs comfort.
Swatch gave him a delicate rub on the head. "I understand. Wait here." The Swatchlings resumed conversation in an amicable manner. Kris picked up their head to get a good look at the café. He didn't have much time to pause during this long travel. Fighting was the only thing that he understood to do. Calling out attacks, forming the next plans with their friends, deciding what items to equip... It was too much to do it within a single day. He needed to pause, like the Swatchlings are in the moment. Some were sweeping the remains of aloof crumbs. Some were debating on which bullet patterns where a trendsetter in today's technological age. Even though the Swatchlings looked content with sitting down at the moment, Kris knew with Swatch's command... They would be back at work again. They still looked very content and happy with their job.
Why didn't I feel the same? Kris wondered. Work... play... They're all starting to seem the same. He couldn't remember the recount of how many sunrises and sunsets that he missed. The previous chapter of his life was a whirl. He couldn't remember what Ralsei's favorite beverage was. Nor Susie's S-Action. There's no breaks in between the many miles walked. Back and forth: Complete the next quest. Onwards to the next point. There was no room to rest. Sleeping on cold hard floors felt indifferent compared to Asriel's absence. Despite having sleepiness from no rest from quests, Ralsei would urge you to press forward. All of those citizens out there counting on Kris. Susie is also counting on him. Noelle's counting on him. For... different reasons. Berdly (if it meant getting a gamer girl's approval) was counting on Kris.
Swatch settled the rag on its post. He pulled out a brochure from the stand next to him. With one hand, he slid the brochure to Kris. Kris took the brochure, unfolded its three parts. Admittedly, the glossy look of the paper looked very delectable. But... why would he want to eat paper? Moss wasn't much better. He shook his head no. Swatch slightly tilted his head to the side. "Is there nothing that interests you, master Kris? I can accommodate with a substitute if we have the ingredients in our kitchen." Kris's ears perked up at this opportunity. He drummed his fingers on the table. Grinning, Kris held up his index finger. He whispered in Swatch's ear of what food he would like to have. Interestingly to the Swatchlings, Swatch's eyebrows shifted up and down as he took Kris's order.
"Mhmm. Mhmm. Yes... Hmm... I believe I've tried this recipe back in the academy. Mhmm... Of course, master Kris. I will try my best." Swatch took a few ingredients from the fridge, some whipped cream, and some cans. "This should not take long... I should know as this was my finest recipe during my academy years." A dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of kindness, and a furious mixing of the bowl. Kris watched intently as the butler pounded furiously at the batter. The Swatchlings gathered around Kris at the counter to watch their leader bake tirelessly. They wanted to help, but were too shy to stand in his way during his "baker mode." Their boss was known for creating the infamous ButJuice, however, this recipe came as a surprise to them, too.
After a while, Swatch opened the oven door. A fragrant smell wafted to Kris and the Swatchlings' nostrils. Heavenly. Divine. Scandalous smell. Delicately, Swatch delicately took a knife, starting from the middle, and to the bottom. Kris's mouth watered at seeing the creamy brown texture of the food. The Swatchlings had their hands cupped over their mouths, to not ruin the moment. The butler proudly presented Kris a piece of this wonderful food on a plate decorated with green and purple roses.
"As the young master requested, a slice of butterscotch pie."
Kris gasped incredulously. The whipped cream's layer was thick. Adorning its top was tiny chocolate savings. The golden brown pie was as sight to behold. Just as Toriel made it. A mug with "World's Best Boss" was placed next to the pie. "A complimentary addition to wash down the digestion," Swatch said. Fluffy marshmallows greeted Kris's face. Kris could see himself in the reflection of the drink. They needed this. This was exactly what they needed.
Kris took a bite out of the butterscotch pie slice. It tasted like home. His throat tightened as he remembered the fond memories of his family before the divorce. Before Asriel moved away for college. Before everything changed at high school. His body began to feel warm, as much as his soul did. The soft textures of the pie, and the frothy whipped cream of the hot chocolate created an amusing mustache. His eyes began to well up. "Take your time, Kris. The world can wait a little longer for you. You deserve to give yourself the time you need to recover." Kris continued to fiercely devour the pie.
The Swatchlings squealed as the cuteness overloaded their circulatory systems. "Boss! Let's all have a hot chocolate and butterscotch pie lunch!" Swatch walked to the front of the entrance, past the still cemented Rouxls Kaard statue. "As long as we don't have any unwanted guests, which I'm sure my dear Tasque Manger would be delighted to entertain... Then absolutely. Our queen can afford to have a little off time herself."
A few moments later, the Swatchlings were singing a merry tune as they complimented each other's whipped cream mustaches. The smell of butterscotch pie filled the café's interiors. Kris fell asleep at the counter, to which one of the Swatchlings was kind enough to lend him their coat for a replacement blanket. Swatch took a sip from his #1 Dad mug of hot chocolate as he watched over the dormant young master. It was going to be a while before Kris realized the extent how much the world needed him. There was a lot ahead for the young boy.
But for now... Rest was the best choice for this temporary battle.
END