Chapter Text
Little Kris lies on the couch in front of the television. They are desperately clinging to wakefulness with all their might, having set themselves a strange goal: to stay awake all night for the first time. Just because. For no particular reason. Just to prove to themselves that they are already grown up. That their organism obeys their every command.
Their mother, Toriel, was typically diligent about maintaining their sleep schedule, but tonight she couldn’t hold out — she drifted off before her child, right there in the armchair. And Kris decided this is the chance.
The television was on at minimum volume, and, matching it, Kris tried not to make a single sound. Their eyelids are heavy, about to close any second, and only the calm sound of their mother’s breathing nearby and the bright, shifting pictures on the screen let them know they are still conscious. It doesn’t matter what flickers there – an ad, a movie, or a music video. All that matters is that this light and sound keep the silence and darkness from swallowing the room entirely.
But Kris is not afraid. They are driven by a stubborn desire to defeat the night, to establish control over it. That is why they are still fighting their own body. Kris doesn’t know how many hours have already gone into this ordeal. It feels like an eternity, and dawn is imminent on the horizon.
Kris is curious: how will they feel during the day after not sleeping all night? What if the fatigue disappears with the first ray of sun? What if they get up from the couch full of energy, as if nothing happened? After all, the body was resting, just not in sleep. And what if they don’t need to sleep at all? Then an immense amount of all the free time would unlock for them, and that time could be spent on television, on games, on anything! How great it would be if Kris truly got to decide what to do. It’s a good thing kind Mr TV understands them and keeps broadcasting all night long.
Suddenly, Toriel opens her eyes.
— Kris? Why are you still awake?
This is it! Mum woke up — that means morning has definitely come! Joy overflows in Kris, and from the excess of emotion, they instantly fall asleep.
In reality, it was only two in the morning. But Kris will still brag to Asriel tomorrow that they fearlessly pulled an all-nighter.
Ah, you silly child. You can't keep yourself awake. Your vessel is not electronic; otherwise, it would uncompromisingly, until you drop, achieve any goal.
Otherwise, it would serve, just like me. Like Mr Ant Tenna, the leader of the entire TV world, without a single hint of sleep. Continuing to watch over the little world of the Dreemurr family, even when the set lights go out.
Silly, silly child. Why do you think the TV is your friend? Television is just a way of making money. Kris, you are still too young to be a paying audience member; I only broadcast as long as your mother faithfully pays for the channel package.
But, silly child, why does your devotion tonight make me forget my sorrows? Probably, with the passing years, I do not grow younger, and shiny new television models roll off the production line every day, but I'm happy to work for you. Even if you grow up, and you won't need me anymore.
Maybe you, little mischief-maker, are cattily defying your parent's rules, or maybe you are just learning to be self-reliant. And in this, as your desire for sleep, there is nothing wrong.
I’m glad to show you the nighttime screensaver. I'm ready to secretly tweak the programming schedule, filling the airwaves with safe reruns so you don’t happen upon any age-restricted content. And I feel a quiet pride that you trust me so much that I'm your only beacon in the night.
Please stay this little for a while. Don’t hurry to grow, don’t hurry to sleep. Just stay with me a little longer—
Toriel holds and rocks little sleeping Kris in her arms and carries them upstairs, to bed, where neither the light nor the sounds of the television can reach.