Archive of Our Own ^beta

"GHA! GHA! GHA!"

Martlet's relentless kicking bows the door for a split second each time, though it does not seem to budge.

Ceroba stands, hands on her hips, deadpan.
"Martlet, you're not breaking my door again."

"Ughh, okay. Sorry! Sorry."

She relents, taking a few steps back. Up to the small window in front, the entire entrance is absolutely packed with snow.

They could see it in the front window too (as in, nothing). Most of the home's front is blocked with fresh, unrelenting white. For once, this is above what Martlet is used to.

Star and Dalv stand on the sidelines of the foyer, with the ex-sheriff tentatively taking his boots off again.
"Guess... we're stayin'?"

"You are guessing correctly."
Ceroba crosses her arms.

Dalv looks off.
"I am sure Penilla will be fine, but..."

The bird wraps a wing around his shoulder.
"She'll be fiiiine! Plus, we can call her!"

"Sort of." Ceroba interjects.

"W-what?"

The group starts moving towards the living room, with the Ketsukane leading. A spacious room, with a spanning central couch, a lot of off-shoot ones, and a nice coffee table that's been moved to the side. Clover's sitting on the carpet floor, cross legged and turning his attention away from the large TV and to the group as they arrive. Ceroba nods at Clover before speaking up.
"Phone lines are said to be dead for a bit, at least until the storm relents."

Dalv deflates.
"What if... something happens to her...?"

"Dalv, not to be depressingly realistic here, but even if it did, there would be nothing you ca--what?"
She stops as Star and Martlet's stare forces her to switch gears.

The vampire... doesn't look too happy. Ceroba takes a deep breath.
"She'll be fine. I bet she's more worried about you."

Star beams up.
"There ya go. Oh! Clover, guess we're stayin' the night!"

Clover stands with a smile, and hugs onto Star's leg, as he looks down at the kid and smiles back.
"Woah! What's the occasion?"

"We just said bye, so I'm saying hi again."

"Ahh, where are my manners."

The two take a short distance from one another, and play a make believe game of Draw, a cowboy greeting, of course.

Martlet, smiling, crosses her arms while nudging to Ceroba. The two stare at the cowboy game.
"So, how do you wanna handle this, Ceroba? I know you're... probably not used to--"

She puts a hand up, cutting through her words.
"It'll be fine. We have the spare beds and bedrolls. Second floor and attic are spacious, but I doubt we'll even need the attic."

She glances at the two western lovers as they run around finger gunning one another.
"...Plus, I'm sure some will be fine with taking the couch."

"Are you sure? Might be a couple of days."

"BANG!"
Clover's decisive strike, sending Star toppling over and splayed out dramatically on the couch.

"Ough... ya... ya got me good..."

Ceroba frowns.
"We'll just... cut back on the sugar, for these two..."

Dalv approaches.
"I'm fine with sleeping in the attic."

Martlet shakes her head with a smile.
"It'll be fine, Dalv."

The fox sighs, letting her current predicament settle in.
"Plus... we won't have to worry about an extra bed for..."

She stammers.
"F--for.. f... No..."

She runs up to the TV. Everyone's demeanors shift as they worriedly look her way.

Ceroba slides on her knees to the flatscreen, changing channels rapidly. News stations, nature channels, more news stations.

Her mind races. She said she'll be there a day later, since the school got so snowed in that they were pulling an all nighter there.

The roads are collapsed.

She finds a broadcast, though obviously no helicopter footage, as the storm's been brutal. Just a replay of the school being besieged by snow.

She slumps.
"No... please... please please please... not again."

Star's the first to approach, though everyone else quickly follows suit.
"Hey... nah, she's fine, Ceroba. Ah watched the news too, she'll just be in school fer' a bit more."

The group hugs her. She sniffs, but pulls back her tears.
"I... I uh... Ngh..."

Star pipes up, warm, comforting voice.
"It's alright. Let it out if ya need to. Remember when you thought she was gone? She wasn't, this ain't no different."

Martlet hums.
"Don't let these thoughts consume you, she'll be fine."

"I can't... even call... her..."

"For now! In a bit, we'll all have a nice conversation with her! And make all her classmates jealous."

Dalv sits alongside her.
"I know her, she's stronger than you think."

Clover simply takes off his hat and sits opposite of her, next to the TV, staring onto her eyes with an empathetic frown.

Ceroba smirks at this. Clover pipes up.
"S'alright, Ceroba. I'll meet her some other time."

She finally regains her composure, cupping at a stray tear.
"Ughh, look at me, what gracious host, huh."

"Pffft." Martlet scoffs. "Yeah, sure. We all are suuuper awkward after that. Get up, dummy."

The group pulls back, Clover fidgeting with his hat awkwardly as Martlet sits next to him, putting a wing around him.
"Sorry that you didn't get to meet Kanako."

Clover smiles.
"It's fine. Been a bit, what's a week gon' do to the tally, anyways?"

"I'm glad that you're taking this in stride! And, plus, been a bit since we hung out like this."

The human looks up, eyebrow raised.
"We literally live together."

"Well, yeah! But I work, you go to school, we only have weekends to like, really hang out and... we're pretty tired most of the time, at least in the winter, yeah?"

"Ah guess..."

He wordlessly snuggles up to her, she takes him in with no hesitation, smiling at the group as they lead Ceroba to the kitchen and work on dinner.
"Plus, been a bit since, like, ALL of us hung out like this."

"Without like, murder stuff." Clover remarks.

"Haha, yeah. Well, yeah." She deflates a bit.

"I'm kiddin'." He digs his head out of her plumage with a smile. Martlet responds in kind, leaning over to pluck a stray feather from his hair.

"You know I have to preen every time you do that, right?"

"Yep."
He snuggles again.

---

Ceroba tries finding her breath while working in the kitchen, with the two other monsters aiding her best they can. She rubs at her temple for a moment.
"Luckily I have food to spare, so long as the patchwork meal is fine."

"Ceroba."
Star looks deadpan.
"No one's gon' say squat."

"Right."
She composes herself, and hands her old friend a bag full of veggies.
"Sort about half of the bag of each thing, carrots, potatoes, onions. Slice and dice the onions, peel the rest, and slice, not dice."

She goes back to the sink, scrubbing at plates.

"Yes, ma'am."

Dalv stands awkwardly, Ceroba takes notice.
"Dalv."

"C--Ceroba."

"Second floor, my bedroom. Top of the wardrobes should have sleeping bags, quilts, blankets. grab all of them, put them on the couch. I'll come and sort them."

"I... can sort them for you."

The two make eye contact. For once, he looks genuine.

She relents.
"You'd be doing me a favor. Let me know if you need help."

"Okay."

She can't help but smile, her list just got a whole two tasks shorter.

As she works, Martlet stares with a smile, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed.

Ceroba is as attentive as ever.
"Looking for something to do?"

"Had a proposition, actually!"

"You're going to say something outrageous, I just know it."

"What? No!"
She earns a side-eye, and trips on her words due to that.
"Well--I... maybe, sort of?"

"Spit it out, Martlet."

The bird closes the distance, making sure she's out of earshot of the rest.
"Listen, if the storm drags out for a couple of days then..."

"I have frozen food ready for such an occasion. We're not resorting to cannibalism, or anything."

"N--no... I mean. No. You know about those chairs I've been telling you about...?"

Ceroba puts her plates down.
"GOD. Martlet, seriously?"

"I'm just saying! Listen, they've been up on your attic for god knows how long, and it's not salvageable wood! You can't sell them! Just! Rotten wood is no good, invites worms!"

"You're going to try to talk me into putting family heirlooms in the fireplace?"

"I... mean... my family called my old beak a family heirloom while I just thought it was... creepy? Whatever, just, think about it."

"I much prefer you keep talking about cannibalism."

"Those were..."
Martlet arches an eyebrow.
"...Your words?"

"Whatever."
Ceroba scoffs with a smile. The bird pulls back.

"I'll be making room upstairs, though... there should be enough quilts for everyone to sleep downstairs."

"Why would I do that?"
Ceroba turns with a frank stare at her.

"Well? I don't think you should be sleeping alone. Personal opinion."

"I don't like sleeping bags. They're bad for my back."

Martlet's brow furrows, deadpan.
"Ceroba... we're friends, right?"

"Of course."

"Good."

Martlet punches Ceroba on the shoulder.
"OW! Hey, what's... wrong with you?"

"Anyways, I'm going to be upstairs."

She leaves, Ceroba glares in her direction.
"You..."

But she's gone.
"Ughh..."

It hurts her to even think about, but she's right.

If she were to sleep upstairs, alone, her own thoughts would start to consume her. She relents the smallest of smiles to Martlet's words, before finishing up the dishes.

---

Clover and Dalv sit on the central couch, looking at the TV while the vampire sorts and folds blankets. The gentle crackle of a nearby fireplace along with the bangs and booms of some action packed, Just-Tame-Enough-For-Clover-To-Watch movie, all make a gentle soundscape that the kid could just absolutely drop unconscious to.

But he still glances up at the vampire, who responds with a smile.
"Clover."

"Hi, Dalv."

"I guess we find ourselves in these situations."

"Don't worry 'bout it. At least you ain't babysittin' me."

"That's not a problem, you barely even need babysitting."

"...Then why do you do it...?"

"Oh. Because Martlet asks me to. I don't... think you need it, but, it brings her peace of mind, some nights."

"I see."

Clover leans his head on Dalv's lap. He fidgets a bit, awkwardly, in response, but works on the quilts nonetheless.
"Clover..."

"Yeah?"

"You're... surprisingly physical."

"That a problem...?"

"N--no, well, no. It's just... I am unaccustomed to it."

He pulls his head back. Dalv feels bad even talking about it.
"I didn't..."

"It's ok!"

Clover gives him a reassuring smile.

Dalv sighs and clears his mind.
"Well, while I have your attention."

"Yeah?"

"I have a proposition, but I want to run it by you first."

"Why me?"

"You're the... heart, of the group, if I may say."

"Heart?"

"Well, sort of. Emotionally connected to everyone else."

"Cause I let my soul picklin' in a jar for a couple of years?"

Dalv releases, from the depths of his soul, an absolutely jarring nervous chuckle.
"Hhahaha,,,ha, whh--what?"

Clover grins, he's never seen a smile that jagged and awkward from the vampire before.
"Nothin'. Yankin' your chain. Go on."

Where did THAT come from...?
Dalv learns new things about Clover the more he's allowed to be himself. It's... very much unexpected, all of the time.

"R--right. Well. I wanted... to maybe, if we're going to stay in this place for a couple of days... teach everyone... how to breathe."

"Like ya taught me?"

"Precisely, you'd be helping. I--if you want!"

"Of course. Why now, though?"

"Uhm. Free time? I feel like Ceroba may benefit, too."

"Ah. Yeah-no. That makes sense."

"Good, glad you think so."

...

The two watch the TV some more.

Dalv pipes up.
"Can I ask you... s--something... personal?"

"Okay."

"You don't have to... respond... if you don't want to."

"..."

"Just, a simple, couple of words will do. I'm just curious."

"Okay."

He stops folding blankets, looking up in thought.
"Do you just... not want to see your family?"

"Hmm?"

"Your... before the whole... you know."

"Oh."

Clover looks off.
"I dunno. Ah just don't. There's nothin' there fer' me."

"Hmm."

"I mean... I thought about 'em. But... they're better off not really... givin' me any mind."

"Do you think that... that is the case?"

"I try not to think 'bout it."

"I see."

"Plus... y'all are my family."

Dalv smiles.
"It is good to hear."

Some more minutes pass.

Clover sits cross legged, brushing up to Dalv's leg, who doesn't seem to mind this time around.

Star walks on over, splaying on the couch.
"Ahhh, all in a day's work."

He looks over at Clover, giving him a subdued finger-gun. He responds in kind.
"Ya holdin' up good, kid?"

"Yes, Sheriff."

"Pff, we're equals now, deputy and sheriff. Ya can still call me Star."

"Hmmm, feels less official if ah do, though."

"How about... partner?"

"Partner is good." Clover smiles.

The two stare for a minute, before glancing back to the TV. An absolutely inane plot, yet Star is enraptured nonetheless. This is what nothing but 6 movies for decades will do to you.

Eventually, Martlet returns, sitting on the opposite couch to Starlo's, looking at Clover with a smile, and then the rest of the group.

"What are we watching?"

Star stares with a lost smile to him.
"I have no honkin' idea."

Clover's smile pulls taut.
"A... an action movie."

"Is it any good?"

"I don't..."
Clover looks at Star, then back at Martlet.
"Sure."

He has a forced smile, which makes Martlet suppress a chuckle.
"Ha. Alright."

---

Night time. Food's been had, everyone's tucked in their bedrolls. Starlo is collapsed on the couch, (Took a bit of fighting to get Ceroba off her martyrdom spree, of wanting to sleep on the worst possible place after complaining about her back) and everyone, save for Ceroba, and Clover, is dead asleep.

Clover, because he's watching TV, headphones on, 6 or so feet from it, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Ceroba, because she simply can't sleep.

After a bit of turning, she sits up, rubbing her forehead.

Her head turns to the gentle blue glow, and the sitting human outline in front of it.

She sighs to herself, before standing up.

"Like the TV?"

She looks at Clover. He's... not paying attention.

Ceroba taps him with a foot.

"O--oh. Sorry."

She sits down next to him, as the kid pulls the left side of his headphones off.
"Did I wake ya?"

"No. Not really. Just..."

She looks off, and back down.
"Can't sleep."

"Okay. Ya want to listen?"

Ceroba looks up at the cartoon he's watching.
"Not... really."

"Okay."

The two sit.

Ceroba wants to talk, but can't find the words.

Clover seems absolutely content just watching TV.

Without the audio on her ears, all Ceroba can hear is the crackling of a low fireplace, the gentle snoring around her, and the itty-bitty high pitched register from the headphones. Her vulpine ears twitch at that one. Isn't that a little too loud for kids to bear?

She shakes her head, and leans back on her arms, looking at the show, just cause, she's got nothing else to look at right now.

Clover sneaks a glance at her, she responds. He smiles, and after a bit, she does too.

She finds a long draw of air pulls her from her thoughts.

"Clover."

He turns to her. She, staring at the TV, talks.

"You're, not sleepy?"

"Sorta. But, Martlet said it was ok if I pulled an all nighter here, since, y'know, we're probably not doin' anything tomorrow."

"I see."

"Plus... TV here is nice."

"It's larger than the one at Martlet's, I bet."

"For sure."

Clover looks off towards Ceroba again. She finally relents, returning the gaze.
"Ceroba...?"

"Yes?" She has a bit of a worried gaze.

"Are you okay?"

"Ha. Is it that obvious?" She smiles.

Clover doesn't.

Ceroba drops her expression.
"I'm worried."

"About Kanako."

"Of course."

"Well... you were sayin' that stuff to Dalv about Penilla... say it to yerself! About Kanako."

Ceroba scoffs, looking off.
"That easy, huh?"

"Didn't... say it was."

"N--no. I'm... sorry, Clover. I shouldn't..."

Clover simply pats her leg.
"It's aright."

Ceroba stares off in annoyance. She's so pissed off by this kid's absolutely indiscriminate positivity. It's a trait she once had, and, now, on the opposite side, she feels bad she ever raised a staff at him. Even if it feels like an eternity ago.

Her paw goes to ruffle his hair.
"Any plans for tomorrow?"

"Oversleep."

"Besides from that, dummy."

"Dalv wanted to teach meditation."

"H--huh."

"Yeah, I'm helpin', apparently."

"Hmm. Well... sorry I made you miss your show. I'm sure it was great."

"Uhh, it was. But..."

He takes off his headphones.
"This is better."

The two stare for a moment, framed by the blue and white light from the TV, darkness otherwise. Ceroba feels a tear start to form in her left eye.
"I don't think I've said this before. I'm glad you're back."

"Thanks."

"I think every single person in this room thinks the same. I would have given up the surface for ten years if it meant you were still with us, then."

Clover doesn't know what to say, he simply looks down in thought.

Ceroba resets herself, pursing her lips and swallowing up her tears.
"I'm going to try to get some rest now... do you need anything?"

"No. Th--thank you."

He's still deep in thought. She notices he has a glass of water next to him.
"You know you can drink soda, right?"

"W--well... I want Kanako to still have some."

"K--wh--well... I'll buy some anyways when the streets open up. I plan to spoil her silly, anyways."

"Oh. Well... cutting back on sugar, then, ah guess."

"Don't."

She gives him a reassuring smile.
"I know I'll regret this, but, make yourself at home, through and through."

"Thank you."
Clover looks back with a smile. She sees the film of tears barely held back, and has to pry her head away from him, lest she falls into the same mood.

"W--well, I'll see you tomorrow."

She leaves. Clover watches TV for a couple more minutes, before deciding to turn it off.

The gentle darkness takes all. Warm glow from the fireplace, very subdued wind outside, pelting the house with snow. Dozens of other houses in the same block, hundreds of homes in the same neighborhood. All share this feeling.

The group sleeps soundly.

Ceroba with a smirk.

Martlet with a smile.

Star with contented sighs.

Dalv with an utterly grave serious expression (That's just normal for him.)

Clover with a muted frown, an introspective dream, and tears at the edge of his eyelids.

---

The group stares as Dalv sits on a chair, above all of them.

Everyone's sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"The first thing, is centering yourself."

Everyone but Ceroba closes their eyes. She looks confused.
"Uhm."

"Shhh." Dalv quietly shushes. She goes stiff.
"Now. Let your shoulders relax."

She still looks a bit unsure, but lowers herself.

Dalv approaches.
"Do you need help centering?"

"I, uhm."

"Where do you go whenever you're upset?"

"...My car?"

Martlet snorts, Ceroba smiles in response.

Dalv looks completely unimpressed.
"Find Kanako in your mind."

Ceroba stares directly at Dalv, serious, trying to gauge his tone.
"What did you say...?"

"I know you love her. So, find a vision of her in your mind."

"Okay, this isn't..."

Ceroba stands.
"This isn't going to work. I appreciate the help, but--"

Dalv puts a hand on her shoulder, worried.
"I'm... sorry if I upset you."

"N--no, no you didn't, but--"

Dalv simply gestures with one hand. Ceroba stops and looks down.

Both paws are balled up into a fist, her whole body is rigid stiff. He doesn't say anything.

She stares into Dalv's eyes, gulping to herself.

He's smiling, and gentle. He gestures back to the carpet.
"If you want to go, you can. But..."

"Y--yeah... I'll stay. I'm... I'm sorry."

She sits, everyone keeps quiet, head forwards.

Ceroba steels herself.
Okay, find your center. Find... Kanako.

Kanako.

Dalv sits back down.
"When you find her, don't hypothesize. Remember the last time you saw her. And find her somewhere mundane. Sitting in bed, or watching TV. And stare at her."

Ceroba smirks.

God, her sitting in bed, reading stories. She'd do that... for hours. And sometimes... I'd watch... too.

"You dropped your shoulders, good."

Ceroba opens her eyes, taken aback for a second, but she only meets Dalv's own eyes, as he nods.

Slowly, she lets herself fall back into her head. The vampire continues.

"Now. You all know roughly what ten seconds is. You can count at first, but eventually, forget about the specific time. You'll draw in air for ten, hold it for another ten, release for ten, and keep empty for another ten. That's 40 seconds per breath."

Ceroba's eyebrow lightly curves up. Dalv takes notice.

"If it's too much, go for something smaller, five seconds for each, that's 20 seconds per breath, then you add a second each."

She takes a deep breath in preparation. She expects Dalv to call it, but he doesn't... She just hears everyone around her take breaths at their own, individual leisure.

Kanako's in school...

Trapped...

She finds her breath shortens a bit, leaning back on her hands and staring up for a minute. The fear starts to build again. She's beginning to hyperventilate.

Feathers.

She looks down, Martlet sits cross-legged in front of her. She opens her maw, ready to protest, but Martlet takes Ceroba's own paw.

Quietly, she places it onto the bird's chest, and her other wing goes to Ceroba's own chest. She... after a beat, holds her wing with her other paw. Both palming eachother's chests.

She's about to protest again, until she feels it.

Martlet's breath.

Through each finger, the chest expands... and after a long while, contracts.

Martlet doesn't nod, nor encourage, nor... anything. Ceroba has to find her own paces.

And she does, matching Martlet's.

...

She sees Kanako again.

Using Martlet as a guide, she draws air, and lets her head go blank. She imitates as best she can.

Eventually, Dalv's voice slowly creeps in.
"We're all doing good. I want us to remove our focus. The thing that centers you. Picture not them, or it, or whatever it may be. But yourself, in a white room. Full of nothing. Martlet."

Ceroba feels the wing on her chest recede, and her paw grabs at nothing. She's already gathered the momentum, so she keeps going on her own.

Before she knows it, several minutes have passed.

Though Dalv has said nothing, it appears that the lesson has worked.

She sees herself. Not a version of herself that she hates, or the one that failed, or the one that is just dead and buried with the rest. She sees herself, for who she is, her flaws, and some of her pros. Enough to balance it a bit.

She feels her thoughts draw her in one direction, but the next breath clears her mind. It's a bit of an uphill battle.

"Ten minutes. Great work. I think that that's it for those that want to stand. I'm going to keep meditating for an hour. You're welcome to join me..."

Nobody stands.

Ten more minutes pass.

"It's funny."

Dalv talks, breaking the silence.

"I've spent some time completely isolated from everybody."

"And yet, I never meditated then."

"Now that I'm with a lot of people, live with another monster, hang out..."

"I find way more joy in the little quiet moments."

"Not everyone is like me, I noticed."

"In fact, no one is."

"But when we're all quiet like this."

"For a bit..."

"...It feels like we're all like eachother."

"That's a poem I wrote."

"It doesn't rhyme, though."

"But I hope it makes a little bit of sense."

"..."

"Uhm."

"I'm going to the bathroom now."

Dalv stands, everyone slowly opens their eyes, a little taken aback by the sudden end of the session.

Martlet smiles.

Star arches an eyebrow.
"Did he just trick us into listenin' to poetry?"

The bird chuckles.
"That's just Dalv. I don't think he meant to."

Ceroba finally realizes where she is. Her mind... for the first time in a bit... went clear. The rest look over at her as she rubs at her eyes for a moment, finding fresh tears.

Martlet gazes happily at Ceroba.
"How'd it go...?"

"It... wow."

"Yeah?"

"I guess I can see the appeal of it."

"Well... I'm glad. Sorry if I... kinda intruded."

"It was just what I needed."

She smiles at Martlet.

The bird, in turn, glances at Star.
"Wanna...?"

"Oh! Yeah, sure!"

Ceroba looks at the two.
"What's... going on?"

Star speeds to the kitchen, while Martlet stretches in place.
"We're gonna bake something!"

"In... my kitchen?"

"Well... duh?"

"Ugh... I guess I have some ingredients."

"We'll make do! Clover? You coming?"

The two girls stare over at the human, who's still deep in a trance. They decide to leave him be, as they stare at eachother with a smile, and slowly abscond to the kitchen.

Clover is stock still, breathing in and out, every minute.

Dalv eventually returns, glancing to the side as the group's moved to the kitchen. His eyes then fall on the only person still meditating.

With a smile, he sits opposite of Clover, and continues.

The two sit in silence, though it is occasionally interrupted by the clattering of a dish or two. Still, they enjoy this moment.

After some time, Dalv opens his eyes, and notices something about Clover.

His eyelids move, his expression shifts, ever so slightly.

He realizes Clover may have fallen asleep, something that's common when learning meditation. It's usually a good sign, even! If you relax so much that you fall asleep, it means you find it easy to relax.

Dalv puts a hand on his back, and, finding no resistance, nor sign of him stirring, picks him up ever-so-slowly, carrying him upstairs and onto the guestroom bed.

With a warm smile, he tucks the human in, staring as he immediately bundles up in his sleep and sighs contentedly.

With a full heart, Dalv leaves.

---

The kitchen is a mess.

A war has been had.

Ceroba is sitting by the counter, on the floor, nursing her wounds (massaging her temple), Martlet is splayed out on top of the table, defeated (She had batter fly directly into her face), and Star's crawling away, half dead already (The mixture tasted a little weird).

Clover walks in, eyebrow raised.
"Y'all... good?"

Ceroba slowly glances his way.
"It's... hell."

Martlet, muffled, talks while her head is buried in a pasty mixture on the table.
"Hmph Clhhvr!"

The fox smiles.
"It just... It's hard to coordinate with so many people, and uhh, my oven apparently works 'too well', according to Martlet."

Star grabs at Clover's ankle.
"S--save yerself... Ugh."
He drops down.

Clover smiles at Ceroba.
"Well... let's clean up, then!"

He seems oddly excited by the prospect, which weirdly reinvigorates her, in turn.

She stands.
"Alright, people, we're cleaning up. Where's Dalv?"

"He's... upstairs, doin' somethin'. We shouldn't bother him for a bit. He's fine, though."

"We'll make do. Martlet, get up."

She does, and for a second, an off-yellow slurry of vanilla pudding is connecting her to the table like its glue. It looks like she's melting, it's horrifying.

Star just gets up.
"Just got a bit of a tummyache, ah'll be fine."

The group gets to work, methodically going through every counter and ridding it of the vestiges of a war most foul. Star has to stop Martlet from tasting parts of the mess (It does smell wonderful though), and all in all, thanks to Ceroba's direction, it's all done within minutes.

The group stands, satisfied, sparkling kitchen ahead.

Martlet smiles.
"Wanna try baking again?"

Ceroba rolls her eyes.
"M--maybe later."

"Okay! Clover, let's make a puzzle."

Ceroba's smile curves awkwardly.
"I--in here?"

"Well, duh? Where else?"

"I don't... have materials for..."

"I brought my own!"

"Of course you did."
She looks away, but quickly composes herself.
"You know what, it should be fine. Just, don't break my doors. That's all I ask."

"You got it, boss!"

Martlet salutes, Clover quickly follows suit. Star smirks.

"Well, partner, I'll be more than happy to trial test whatever ya cobble up!"

---

The three sit upstairs, facing the door that leads to the stairs of the house. Martlet is unpacking stuff from her duffel bag.

"First things first, we're working on a simple deadswitch, something for if someone finds themselves on the wrong side of it, trapped. The puzzle is meant to be the offensive-side, while the other side should have an easy way to turn it off, yeah?"

Clover nods with a smile. Star's pulling out 2x4's out of the bag, and weighing them to see which one could be used as a pretend-machinegun.

After taking a number of tools, she puts a number of wooden pieces on the floor, loosely imitating a lever.
"There, you create a blueprint of it to see what you need, and then, you glue it together!"

The human cocks his head.
"W--wait, when do you... actually make it open the door?"

"We worry about that part last, silly!"

Star interjects.
"See, I hope ya weren't lookin' for a LOT of skill expression, Martlet jus'... magically links devices together so action A does action B."

Martlet glances back, offended.
"Tch. And where do YOU get this information, reputable sheriff?"

"Easy."

He puts a little wooden cuckoo bird on top of Martlet's head.
"...Ah did the exact same when makin' the Wild East."

She bats it away.
"Pfft, whatever. Puzzles are way more advanced than your little P.A. system."

"How so? Ya make a thing make a thing, when ya interact with it."

"WELL! For starters, you need to have a correct condition (gate opens) and an incorrect condition (gate doesn't open, puzzle resets). Furthermore it needs to be maintained so that it can withstand several uses of both option A and B."

"There ya go, the two funny lil' letters."

"Ghh, Star, why are you here, again?"

Clover smiles. Star stammers.
"I. Ehh... Well, when Ceroba starts cleanin'... she can be a bit... bossy, if she finds ya layin' around. I'm makin' myself useful."

Martlet smiles, crossing her arms.
"Then, I suggest you keep quiet, or I'm..."

"No..."
Star looks afraid.

"...Telling."

"You wouldn't."

She looks away.
"Why wouldn't I? You're interrupting my special magical bonding time with Clover."

"You..."

The human, amused, breaks through the tension with a chuckle.
"Ah wanna see Star try ta' do it."

Martlet stares confused.
"You... do?"

"Yeah! So he can see how complex it actually is, y'know?"

Star sniffs, stoic face that is heroically pulled up as he stands.
"Bet ya 20G I get it done in 2 minutes."

The bird stands as well.
"40G if it breaks immediately."

"Done."

The two shake on it.

What at first was a lesson in puzzle-making, quickly turns into a competition. Martlet silently judges, timing the time it takes for Star to piece the components together, glue them, and place the lever perfectly on the doorway, before linking the two magically.

One minute and fifty-eight seconds.

Star smiles.
"Boom. Easy. Didn't even need yer' fancy tools to get it done wi--Why are ya smirkin' like that, ah won fair and squair."

Clover cocks his head.
"That's not how ya..."

Martlet has a confident smile.
"Okay! Clover, tug on the lever."

Clover jumps, and grabs on.

The lever comes down.

Then the whole apparatus snaps off into blocks, rattling on the floor below.

The door shakes a little.

Downstairs, the vacuum turns off.

The three fall dead quiet.

"What was that?"
A wild mother asks from below.

No response.

The vacuum turns back on.

Everyone sighs in relief. Martlet silently shoots a fist up.
"Yyyyes!"

Star scoffs.
"Whatever, yer' not supposed ta'... pull like a madman on it."

"Rule #2 of puzzle making: your work needs to be resilient enough to withstand even a toddler's force."

Star grumbles to himself.
"Grr, whatever, it wasn't immediate, or whatever."

"Pfff, alright, cough up the money, old man."

He fishes for his pocket, Clover looks confused.
"...Toddler?"

"Ha, don't worry, Clover. You exemplified my point perfectly."

The three turn, feeling another presence in the room.

Dalv is looking towards the mess of tools and wood chunks on the ground, his normal, deadpan stare adorning his face.

Star raises a brow.
"All good, friend?"

"...Yes."

He silently walks past everybody, down the stairs.

Star looks concerned.
"Maybe ah... should check up on him."

Martlet puts a wing on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about Dalv, he's fine. This is just..."

Clover sits.
"He's overloaded."

Martlet nods.

Star kind of looks off.
"So he's... jus' like that 'cause of us?"

Martlet shrugs.
"No, just... he's used to like, a little bit of us. Not days."

The deputy idly puts all of the lever's components in order again.
"It's jus'... We were bein' kinda loud just now, n', I know for a fact Dalv went to the attic to..."

Martlet smiles.
"Be alone and quiet."

"Yeah."

Star thinks.
"So... what should we do? Make room for more quiet activities?"

Clover furrows his brow.
"Like... what?"

"Like... writin'. Or, drawin'."

Martlet beams up.
"Oh! That'd actually be really good, could help keep Ceroba out of her funk, too."

The sheriff, following the momentum, looks downstairs.
"And, we each bring a picture or writing from someone else home."

"Ha. Like a competition."

"But everyone's a winner."
He grins.

The two look towards Clover, who's already glued the lever properly to the doorway, giving it a few test tugs.
He smiles at the two, and they give him a thumbs-up.

Martlet sighs.
"I guess we can keep the puzzle simple. Word activation is a bit of a cliche... but..."

"Abra-Cadabra." Star smiles.

"I... guess. Better than nothing."

"Oh! Oh! How about... 'I DON'T hate myself'?"

"Pffff. Sure. Let's check up on those two, now."

Star heads downstairs, while Martlet starts packing up.

Wordlessly, Clover approaches.
"So. Uhm..."

"Clover?"

"Ya think... we can't do som'n like this... again?"

"Like a sleepover?"

She smiles, as she's zipping up her bag.
"I think Ceroba would like that. Just... with some forewarning."

"Okay."

Clover fidgets with some wooden blocks.

She opens her wing.
"C'mere."

Wordlessly, they hug.

Martlet softly whispers to him.
"You don't gotta ask permission every time, Clover."

"I..."

"Nope. You don't. No shame in being a physical person."

"Ah mean... ah got a body."

Martlet squeezes them playfully.
"Alright, yeah, funny. But, seriously."

She disengages enough to grab Clover's shoulder with her other wing.
"Dalv may not like it a whole lot, but that's because he's him."

"And... Ceroba?"

"Ceroba's just like you. Too stubborn to ask for a hug."

"So... I should jus' hug them?"

"Well, you should ask."

"..."

Clover looks unsure, Martlet pulls them in for another embrace.
"Just trust me, she'd love a hug."

"Okay."

They disengage after a bit. Clover's smiling. Martlet is, too. While Dalv may need silence to recharge their social battery, all that this kid needs is a little love, and he can probably trudge through this snowstorm and get Kanako himself.

With a kind gaze, Martlet cocks her head at Clover, holding onto his shoulders. A wing goes to brush some hair off of his face.
"Good job with Ceroba, by the way. Don't think I didn't notice."

Clover looks off sheepishly.
"Mkay."

"Well? Try it!"

Martlet points to the door. Clover, slowly, pulls on the lever.

The door DOESN'T violently combust into wooden bits. And that, is enough for the two of them.

It does take a bit to open, though.

Aaaand the door does fall off its hinges.

"Oh--SHOOT!"

Martlet instantly grabs it before it tumbles down the stairs.

---

Dalv looks uneasily at the piece of paper.

"Drawing... huh?"

Everyone is... weirdly crowded against him. Martlet's the first to take notice, motioning for people to clear out a bit.
"We just, thought it'd be a nice change of pace. If we all had some quiet drawing time. Heck, we can even, like, prompt eachother's drawings?"

Ceroba's wincing a bit.
"How about, we just draw."

"Ahh, well, that works too! I guess constraints like those are fun for me... heh."

Star's already sitting, grabbing a handful of pens and crayons, and looking at Clover.
"Ya wanna do som'n together, partner?"

He thinks, and furrows his brow in thought.
"I..."

"Nah, do yer thing, then! More drawings for everyone, right?"

He smiles.
"Right."

Dalv still looks a bit hesitant, but, seeing everyone start to take seats on different parts of the kitchen counter, while Clover and Star head to the living room... the quiet that ensues afterwards makes him a bit more mellow.
"A--alright. I think I... can do this."

"Great!"
Martlet gives him a thumbs up, grabbing a piece of paper, and walking to the opposite side of the kitchen, along with Ceroba.

Quietly, the two mutter to one another, with Ceroba being in a bit of a better mood now.
"What... prompted the idea?"

"Us three, we thought Dalv could use it. You too."

"M--me?" She looks confused. "Wh--... Please don't say it's about..."

"Ceroba. What else could it be about? We're all keeping eachother's minds out of this thing. Just enjoy it."

She reaches forwards and grabs onto her paw, deadpan.
"Please?"

Ceroba can see where Clover gets his crippling honesty from. The only thing keeping them from being blood related are just feathers, she swears.
"Fine. Just... try not to bring it up again. I don't... want everyone to start treating me like I'm a bomb or whatever."

"Yup."

They draw.

Star and Clover scribble for a bit, finger-gun eachother, snicker to themselves, and work on it some more, ad infinitum.

It's not as quiet as Dalv would like it, but it's peaceful. And that's what he was looking for.

He can't really... muster the energy to draw. Instead, he puts his pen down, and stares off, absorbing the energy in the room. He looks around to the four other souls, and the rest of this quiet home.

His eyes find Ceroba, who was sneaking glances his way. She immediately turns to face her work, pretending he didn't see her.

With an arch of his brow, he looks back down.

He's got a pen, and he's got some paper.

'Snow.

Ubiquitous some months. Nonexistent others.

Barring extreme circumstances, it'll come with us everywhere.

At many points of our lives.

It's not here to test.

Nor

To hurt.

Snow is as much of a fact as air is.

Or, if you want to give it something more tangible.

It's just funny water.

This funny water comes with certain times.

Usually times of change.

Sometimes it is a fact of life that sometimes keeps you from going to your car.

The funny water is just a device through which it happens.

We outlast the water.

Sometimes it's a lot.

And if we sink, someone will have to pull us out.

And, if it really is coming down on you.

Stay home, make a drink.

And if you have someone.

Hug them.

That's snow.

It's what you do with it.

...

Dalv.'

After a spell, Dalv relents and draws his little fanged face on the signature.
That... counts, right?

He scratches the back of his head.
"I'm... done."

Martlet pipes up.
"Oh! Nice! So soon?"

"Yeah, I..."

He looks down with a bit of a grimace.
"I put a lot of dialogue on it."

"Oh well, that's fine! I don't think anyone's gonna care."

"Okay."

He looks the girls' way, and finds both Ceroba and Martlet are smiling warmly at him. He can't help but... return the expression.

Martlet drew a surprisingly complex drawing of the upstairs door, along with strange schematics. She refuses to elaborate on what they mean when Ceroba asks her about it.

Star drew a silhouetted drawing of three figures on horseback, by the moon. It's honestly kind of impressive that he got out of drawing expressions, or even most anatomy by making them silhouettes. He claims one of the riders is himself, and Clover and Kanako are the others, apparently cause he's teachin' them how to ride (Despite him not knowing how to ride a horse).

Ceroba drew a pink caricature? It's some monster-looking person with a bandanna around their face.
Clover gasps.
"You DID like it!"

Ceroba scoffs.
"I didn't say that. It was a dumb cartoon. Just... The design was... striking."

"That so?"

"Yes. I just like Mariana as a-- oh."

"YOU KNOW HER NAME!!!"

"What have I dug myself into..."

Dalv... drew a signature. With a lot of, what he claims is 'dialogue'. He's very happy to see the reactions of everyone, which are rather positive, despite there not being much artistic intent in the artwork section.

Clover drew a pink sakura tree, in a gray balcony.

Everyone stares at it for a bit, minus Dalv, who's a bit confused by the reactions.
"It's... very nice, Clover?"

Martlet gulps to herself. Ceroba has a deflated sigh. Star, glances curiously at the kid.

He's got a shit-eating grin.

Wordlessly, Martlet brings the drawing close to her chest.
"Mine."

Ceroba stares angrily.
"What?! No, you don't get to 'claim' it. You literally live with him!"

Star pipes up.
"Yeah! He can always make ya another."

Clover looks confused at the three. Ceroba puts her hands on her hips. Martlet clenches her beak in thought.
"Alright, fine! You're all a bunch of grumps anyways."

Star and Clover look at one another with a smile.
"Ya did it again, partner."

Ceroba mutters so quietly that Dalv, being next to her, is the only one to catch it.
"...Mine."

She walks off to the fridge, and pins it.

Star holds the brim of his hat.
"Well, if that ain't a 'winner', I don't know what is."

Martlet smiles.
"Good job, everyone. I think we take a page from Dalv's book and do some writing next time!"

"N--next time, huh?"
Ceroba's face, at first, seems like a sad surprise, but, it quickly rises into a smile.
"You're all... already making plans to do this again."

"Well, Ceroba... Clover's vacations are about to start, Kanako's too... and... we can do that thing we were talking about..."

"Hmm..."

"And! It would mean we get to do this... at least a few more times!"

Star looks quizzically.
"What... thing?"

Ceroba purses her lips.
"There's a chance, depending on how the kids mesh..."

Martlet smiles.
"That they can share classes!"

The sheriff's brow arches.
"Despite... how schools are handled?"

"Yeah, monsters and humans, but, I think I have a solid lead with Toriel. Not to mention, she has some GREAT connections. He wouldn't be there alone, either! There's another human that would be bridging his interactions there!"

Ceroba smiles to herself.
"One hell of a human."

Clover seems hung up on Dalv's drawing.
"How'd'ya... do that...?"

The vampire looks down at his paper.
"Oh... this?"

"Yeah."

"It's... poetry... sort of. Still doesn't rhyme."

"Can I... try?"

Dalv has the brightest smile ever.
"Sure, Clover! I would love to have you try. Why don't we make something tonight, before bed?"

Ceroba pipes up, demeanor straight and serious.
"Oh, speaking of that."

The entire group shifts their attention to her.

"We're sleeping early tonight. Streets are cleared tomorrow morning."

She counts silently, pointing at everyone in the room.

"I think you all fit in the car."

Martlet arches a brow.
"F...for?"

"Picking up my daughter."

"Oh! Yes! We'd love to!"

Everyone nods. Ceroba smirks.
"Well, and then, we do a little shopping, and have a dinner, the six of us."

"That'd be great."

Dalv stammers a bit.
"If..."

Ceroba puts a paw on his shoulder.
"Correction, seven of us."

Dalv smiles once more.
"You'd do that?"

"Of course. Poor Penilla could use some homecooked dinner, as well."

Star smiles at the interaction, slowly crouching next to Clover.

He whispers.
"Y'know what'd be great right now, partner?"

Clover looks at Star. Star nods.

Ceroba continues.
"And then, I guess we could pull the same all-nighter, since I don't think school's opening up any time soo--..."

She recoils a bit, looking down in surprise.

Clover's latching onto her. Her gaze softens, and she immediately drops down, replicating the hug.

After but a moment, the other three move in, absolutely surrounding Clover with love.

Moments of elated silence pass. The fireplace crackles. The paper in some monster's grasps lightly rustles.

A hiccup scares some.

Dalv's the first to take some distance, with Ceroba too. Star and Martlet withdraw, with Martlet holding onto Clover's shoulders.

He's sobbing, full on ugly-crying.

Everyone but Martlet looks worried. She's looking at everyone with a tearful smile, nodding, before clutching onto the human again.
"Doesn't that feel good?"

He imperceptibly nods, deep in her plumage.

Everyone's got tears in their eyes, now.

Star looks away, sniffing while fixating his gaze at the ceiling. Eventually, his teary eyes meet Ceroba's.
"Ah-hem... umm, tea?"

"Tea. Tea is good."

The two abscond momentarily.

Clover bawls for a bit, lulled by Martlet. Dalv crouches next to her, patting his back with a smile.
"Thanks for the drawing, Clover. it was very good. And, for helping with the meditating. You too, Martlet."

Martlet nods, Clover... is too deep in his sorrowful hug to answer.

Dalv scowls.
"I, uhmm..."

"It's alright, Dalv. He just needs some time to... let his emotions run."

"I understand."
He walks off.

"Don't worry, Clover. It's all good. And, hey! Tomorrow you get to see Kanako. Isn't that exciting?"

He pulls back, full of tears, but with a giant smile to his face.
"Y--yeah..."

"Good!"

She hugs him again, swaying him back and forth.
"Alright, that was a lot, and, for what it's worth, your drawing is super cool, and I wanted to keep it."

"I can... make ya another one."

"It's okay, don't worry. I mean, I'd love one, but, whatevs. Let's go have some tea. I think we'll try baking something next time we're around."

She leads the crying Clover to the kitchen.

Dalv stands near the entrance, watching the group.

Silently, he retrieves his lightly-crumpled poem.

He re-reads it a bit, and appends something at the end.

'Snow is love.

Without it, it isn't tested.

Without it, it isn't cemented.

Snow is necessary.

And I'm proud to say I got snowed in.'

Too in the nose? Too in the nose. Plus, it still doesn't rhyme.