Chapter Text
- Shelly pov
They forced me in another run, I don’t know why they keep dragging me here just to let go and ignore me. It’s pissing me off. All I hear are feet clanging against the floor of the elevator, glisten dropping his bracelets, and the overwhelming chatter I can’t join into. Almost suddenly, the familiar sound of the elevator opening with the puff of air that follows seems like the only thing I have during these runs. The floor feels cold without my red dinosaur socks that matched my favorite onesie, as expected everyone ran past me to hack the machines while they still could. I wasn’t aloud to have a replica of Vee’s remote something about me being to clumsy and unfit to carry a “delicate object”. Bullshit. Vee just doesn’t want me to put my hands on anything that she likes. We’re already pretty far in, floor 37. I’m already tired, my feet feel heavy and useless as they drag on the floor.
My hands gripped the cold valve, slowly turning it as ichor slowly fills the machine. Suddenly a light blue luminance came into my view, Astros voice caught me off guard as he spoke; his voice was slightly raspy because he didn’t talk too much, soft spoken and concerned?
“Hey, Fossilian? Do you mind boosting me- or- if you have some instructions I can use for the machine over there?”
“I-.. uhm, sure! I have some instructions right here, I don’t really need them!”
I had to force a smile, those instructions were the last thing I had in my inventory, but still. My role here is happy go lucky never sad Shelly who gives everything up. Though, Astro has been the first one to genuinely walk up to me and ask for something without actually expecting it. Vee would’ve just.. walked up and told me to boost her or give her instructions.
“Thanks, Fossilian! It means a lot, I really don’t want sprout getting mad at me for slacking off on machines again.”
“…hm. Yeah, you’re welcome.. yknow, you can call me Shelly. You don’t have to be so formal, though I appreciate the thought.”
I wasn’t lying, I really did appreciate the thought of the professionalism and boundary considerations. It was nice, a lot better than randomly coming up to me and calling me “shells”. I don’t even enjoy it when Tisha calls me that, it’s annoying really.
“Oh.. sorry, Shelly. I just didn’t wanna make you uncomfortable.. sorry if it gave the.. opposite effect. And, Shelly. If you need help falling back asleep you don’t need to go to sleep alone. I can help, don’t be afraid to ask.”
I didn’t even have time to react. He walked away before I could process what he said, the valve didn’t feel as cold, my feet didn’t feel as useless. I felt a lot happier, I have been having nightmares every night about falling into a lake of ichor- being pushed. And just.. sinking and slowly being unable to breathe, waking up every time I hit the bottom. I couldn’t even sleep afterwards; I didn’t want to ruin Astros sleep though. I already take up too much space.