Chapter Text
What they look like for ref
Click click click
"Mayor Holiday, our sewers are flooding"
Click click
"Mayor Holiday, Snowdin Elementary wants you to visit"
Click
"Mayor Holiday-"
Click-
Oh cheezus.
Noelle looks down at the horror of her ink stained hands,
She stood up, the whole room was spinning, with a loud thud she slammed her hand, gripping the table, knocking some papers to the ground and fought back against the force pulling her to the floor.
How long had she been working?
When was the last time she ate, even.
What time was it?
Dess was going to kill her if she found out she wasn't taking care of herself properly. Noelle could already hear that raspy country accent telling her why she should know when to eat and how she should move into the town hall just to take care of her. But Noelle could take care of herself just fine, it was just that sometimes work piles up.
She couldn't possibly let the people down.
Noelle was always overthinking, sometimes it was as if her mind stretched in two opposite directions.
“Whoops!”
She almost fell, she felt like her heart was about to beat out of her chest.
Her stomach growled loudly, the pain was digging into her.
With trembling legs she walked into the bathroom and turned on the sink.
The sound of the rushing sink water gave her some peace, it reminded her of the time her father took her on their outings to Waterfall.
She and Dess made a wish to that echo flower, to see the surface one day.
. . .
Maybe it was best to turn the sink off now.
—-
The smell of the kitchen’s peppermint scent greeted her, Noelle reached her hand to open the fridge door.
Then a poke on her shoulder.
"Uhm, Mayor Holiday ? That's the hot fridge, the cold fridge is that one." Jerry pointed to the other big white box across the room.
"Oh, right! Fahaha, silly me. . . I haven’t really been eating well” Noelle mumbled that last half, can’t have Jerry of all people think she’s incapable.
"Doctor Alphys is great isn't she? Why would we need cold fridges when we live in a cold fridge." Jerry sat down at the table and continued his crossword puzzle.
Noelle creased her eyebrows making sure Jerry doesn't see her face, she really doesn't want to talk to him.
"Well why would we need hot fridges if we have microwaves?" She asked while turning to glance at him.
Ring Ding!
Jerry shuffled off his chair, "I'll get that!"
"N-no it's fine, Jerry. If it's our package they'll need my signature anyways." Noelle protested.
Walking to the door, Noelle felt like a migraine was coming on.
How was she supposed to take care of herself when work just keeps piling and piling and piling-
Noelle opened the door and felt the outside chill rush in and touch her face. There was a person with a white tank top whose face was just out of view. The doe looked up and-
Noelle felt an immediate twang in her stomach, this person’s sheer arm size sent a rushing warmth to Noelle’s face. Her body couldn’t move seeing this person in front of her.
Her eyes were colored golden and she had huge sharp teeth. Noelle felt like a deer in headlights.
"Uh, Hello?" a deep raspy voice broke Noelle’s train of thought.
"H-hiii" the doe squeaked, fiddling with the bottom of her blazer with one hand while attempting a pathetic little wave with the other.
"I got your order of 78 boxes of sparkling ornaments. M-ma’am.” The delivery boy muffled, one arm around her stomach and the other holding out a clipboard.
"O-oh right, right! h-here I'll sign it" Noelle stammered, quickly grabbing a pen from her shirt pocket.
"M-ma'am, can I please come in? It is cold as hell out here." She was shivering hard, her razor sharp teeth chattering against each other.
"Yeah! Yes! Of course! Come on in, um you can just keep the package outside.” Noelle gestured with her hand.
Noelle shuffles out of the way as this poor delivery boy struggles a little to get through the door.
The heat that was already flaming throughout Noelle’s body got even hotter.
This delivery boy was huge. Noelle realized that her head only went up until her shoulders.
"Oh man, that's a lot better." The lizard sighed, arms relaxing from hugging herself so tight.
"W-why aren't you wearing a work jacket?" Noelle stuttered, reaching her hand out a little. Still shy but concerned,
“Doesn’t Metta Movers provide gear?” Why was the delivery company letting their employees freeze on the job?
The girl turns around to face her, one hand in her pocket and the other scratching her head.
"Nah, the company doesn't give us shit, uh" She brought her hand up quickly covering her mouth.
"The company doesn't give us. . . stuff, ma'am" she says as she looks off to the side, body tense.
Oh come on, she was only 23.
"Please please, you can just call me Noelle." The doe clasped her hands together pleading.
"Uh, alright. . .Noelle" The girl said hesitantly, "I'm not gonna get fired for like. . . Disrespect right?", she asked while squinting her eyes, avoiding looking at Noelle directly.
"W-well, I won't report you so don't worry, faha" Noelle reassured.
"Does that mean I can call you Noelle too?" Jerry peeked his head out from the kitchen.
"Absolutely not, go back to the kitchen" Noelle said sternly.
“So, what’s um. . .your name?” The doe asked, bringing her voice back to the usual soft and high octave.
”Susie”
Susie. . . What a pretty name, Noelle tilted her head at an angle, it was a habit of hers when she saw or heard something cute.
“Hey, you makin fun of me?” Susie growled, crossing her arms and moving closer to Noelle.
Wait, did she say that out loud?
Without a moment to think, the other girl was already looming over her, she leaned down, eyebrows raised, the scent of sweat and fruit scented body wash, gosh Noelle wanted to bury her face in Susie’s neck and just take a whiff.
“N-no, no! Absolutely not!” Noelle rebutted, waving her hands around while her nose glowed a bright shade of red.
“Hehe, calm down miss mayor. I heard you were a timid thing, but I didn’t know you were this timid.” Susie laughed playfully.
“And your nose glows! Haha, that's so cool.”
“Oh you! You're so!” Noelle stomped her hoof.
As Susie's raspy laugh continued on, Noelle felt even more butterflies in her stomach.
Gosh, this girl was bold. Noelle felt like they both had a chance to get along really really well.
Noelle couldn't help but stare, she probably looked so weird right now.
Susie ended her laughter with a snort, walking away from Noelle, Susie growled as she stretched her arms up,
Noelle stared at the abs peeking from under her white tank top.
The doe shook her head, she straightened her posture and stomped to the kitchen past Susie.
Noelle turned her head around a little.
“Susie, Would you like something to eat? I’ll find you a jacket,” Noelle was a little disappointed that the jacket would cover the sight of Susie’s arms, but alas.
”Oh Sweet! I haven’t had lunch yet.” Susie exclaimed, her eyes lit with excitement like a little kid on Christmas morning.
As she was about to speak, Noelle’s vision started to blur.
“Uh, Noelle? You okay?” Susie asked, but Noelle didn’t really hear her.
It felt as if a gust of wind could’ve blown her away easily, her legs gave out completely and-
Thud.
—-
“Mayor Holiday?” a Jerry-like voice called out to her.
“Mayor Holiday!”
Noelle gained complete consciousness immediately.
Oh god, she passed out right in front of a hot butch.
If the possible concussion she just got doesn’t kill her that fact might.
Noelle covered her face with an arm, acting as if she just woke up from a short nap.
As her head sunk into some soft cushions she realized she was on the couch, did Susie carry her?
Oh god she really could die now.
”Noelle!”
”Wh-what? Jerry? Hey.”
”Miss I think you should clock out for today, I’ll call Bunny to come in instead.”
”Jerry. . . What happened.”
”Well you passed out on the floor, that delivery boy caught you and carried you onto the couch”
”Where is she?” Noelle raised her head and looked around.
”She’s gone, got some food, took a jacket and left.”
”Miss, please eat your food and go home.” Jerry said worryingly.
”Alright, alright.”
“Thanks, Jerry.”
Jerry nodded and went back to work.
—
Out of the townhall, Noelle’s hooves moved through the snow kicking it around. The comfortable chill of the snow tickled her fur.
The familiar ring of the bell as she pushed the door of the flower shop.
“Oh lookie here, Heya mayor.” The owner seemed like he was relaxing well…at the counter, feet on it, eyes closed and all.
“What kinda flowers you need, kid?” He opened one eye to look at Noelle.
“Just a white and blue bouquet please.” Noelle said. Melancholic eyes gazing down at her hooves, she had some small Christmas presents on hand.
“For your mom?” the owner asked, pointing to the presents.
Noelle looked at him and nodded.
“This time’a year’s hard for everyone ain’t it” The owner took his feet off the counter.
“Yeah…” Noelle sighed. On this day, her heart always felt tight, it was more manageable now, but it lingers. A bad memory that never really leaves your mind.
“We all lost someone that day. Neighbor, friend, parents, brother.” The owner said.
“Are you going to visit him later today Mister Sans?”
“Sure I am, just waitin for everyone to go home. My bro was always shy around big crowds” Sans winked and shrugged.
“Here you go kid, white and blue.” Sans pulled out a perfectly wrapped bouquet from under the counter. “It takes a lot of patience waiting for bouquets to finish cookin.” Sans winked.
“Oh faha,” Noelle chuckled, Mister Sans was always saying strange funny things. She took the bouquet from him and placed 20G on the counter.
“Hey kid, it's a memorial day discount, 10G off on all bouquets cooked up by the counter.” The skeleton pushed back 10G.
“No no, please, I insist. It’s a tip.” Noelle pushed the 10G back.
“Oh actually I forgot to mention, that bouquet of yours there actually costs 10G, and we have no discounts for bouquets that cost 10G.” Sans pushed the 10G back to Noelle.
Noelle took the 10G, “Take. The. Tip. Sans.” and slammed it onto the counter.
She walked away quickly so the skeleton wouldn't have a chance to say anything else.
“Thanks Mister, I’ll see you around!” Noelle waved as she went out of the door.
Sans snapped his fingers before putting his hands into his jacket.
“Hehe, take it easy Miss Mayor.”
Outside the shop, Noelle wondered why her pockets still felt heavy.
—
The graveyard was overwhelming.
There were so many monsters with various gifts, candles,
The sight of multiple colorful bouquets placed neatly on each gravestone.
Noelle walked to a gravestone and slowly crouched down.
She laid the bouquet and the small presents on her mother’s grave.
She always remembered that day so horrifyingly vividly.
10 years old on the couch of her home, shaking and wiping her tears while she struggled to breathe, the voice of the doctor on the phone and the sound of her sister crying echoed in her little mind.
Then in a moment so quick, Dess busted through the door, lifted her up and ran as fast as she could all the way to Hotland, where there were so many other monsters waiting, Noelle remembered barely being able to stand.
But Dess said everything would be okay. Doctor Alphys had an evacuation plan for every monster that made it there safely.
Noelle remembered asking where mom was, and the way Dess stiffened completely.
It had been 13 years since then.
Noelle leaned fully onto the cold hard stone.
—