UnderHelp

It was about six o’clock in the morning when I woke up to the sound of kitchen utensils and the fresh smell of pie. Ordinarily waking up this early would have gotten me so irritated, but not this morning. I felt a strong feeling of eagerness. I want to know so much about monsters and their history. Okay, It’s not really a ‘want’… it’s more like a ‘need’. I need to know so much about monsters and their history. My curiosity is too starving to use the term ‘want’.

I got up from the bed with a bright grin. The grin changes from a grimace from smelling my horrible body odor as I stretched my limbs out with a yawn. I ran my fingers into my hair, only it to be stuck in a huge knot. I tried tugging it away, but the pull stung. I sigh and clenched my teeth ready for the painful thing I’m about to do. My spare hand gripped the wrist of the stuck hand and ripped it out with full force. I squeaked at the jerk, but managed to untangled the knot with only a couple of strands plucked out. Oh and a million of the nerves in my scalp dead but that’s alright. Who needs those anyway?

I opened the door and stepped outside into a hall quietly. I have no knowledge if anyone else is living here and still sleeping, so it’s best to not wander around the house like it’s a museum and avoid rooms that are closed. I made my way down the corridor and spotted a flaming light straight ahead in my direction that dance in the early morning dullness.

The light beckoned me to a living room. It was very spacious… empty almost. Sitting on a couch chair was the lady that saved my rind yesterday. It seems she’s getting into a really good book… I almost feel pretty bad about interrupting her but I can’t just stand here until she looks up and notices me. Trust me, I’m a bookworm and I know what time she’ll stop her progress into the book. It’ll be till Christmas.

I came near and tapped on her shoulder gently. She looks up at me with those honey brown orbs of hers. I admit… I feel jealous of her pretty looks. I couldn’t help but to compare mine to hers and feel a bit unusually insecure about my own brown colored eyes. Unusually, because I believed that my eyes were my greatest feature even when I used to get teased a lot for the eye color. It IS a pretty different eye color than the usual blues and greens and hazels. My eyes appear as more reddish-brown in color, kind of like the color of rust than plain brown. I still admire it because of its uniqueness, but seeing such pretty eyes from Toriel makes me turn green of envy.

“Good morning, Frisk. Slept well? How about I will fix you up with some of my fresh pie?” She chirped and sat her book on the arm of her chair.

Before I got to reply, she’s already heading to the kitchen to fetch me another wedge of sweet, sweet heaven. To be completely honest here… I’m not in the mood to eat at all. I’m too eager to read all those books mentioned yesterday, but I will try and eat as much as I can to satisfy Toriel.

I sniffed the air and my face scrunched up in disgust. I still need to get myself cleaned… I hope it’s not too much if I asked Toriel if I could use her bathroom… if she has one that is.

She returns and set down a plate on the table, on top was a slice of pie so big, it’ll devour me if it had the chance. I seated myself at the table and Toriel had done the same on the other side with a slice of pie of her own. I thanked her before sinking my fork into the pastry and taking small bite-sized quantities of pie into my face like a good well-mannered pig I am. We eat in comfortable silence, our forks hitting the plate in an unsynchronized rhythm. It was peaceful, but I had to break the peace with my flapping pie-hole.

“So Toriel… I… uh…well,” I tried to let the words on the tip of my tongue slip out but it budges. She sits there patiently as I try and ask her about everything that’s on my mind. Okay, not everything. I’ll get thrown out if I do.

“Do you happen to have a”-

“My word…” Her words cut through mine and I’m curious why she’s suddenly shocked. Also annoyed that every time I speak, something HAS to interrupt me. She has some sort of hologram popping out from her cellphone on the table. I blinked twice to see If I’m imagining it but I wasn’t.

I watched in bewilderment as the emerald green hologram showed images of deep- VERY deep snow that came up to half the height of doors from houses. Red words at the top states that it’s dangerous to go travel to Snowdin and that the residents were to stay in their shelter until the snow thaw out. Luckily, no one was harmed or killed in the event of the blizzard. Everywhere else is fine and snow-free. And with that, the images and words faded and the hologram squished itself together and became smaller until it disappears into pixels.

I’m still there, staring at the spot where the hologram used to be with my jaw dropped. Did they invent hologram notices??? THEY INVENTED HOLO-FUCKING-GRAM NOTICES! THESE MONSTERS ARE GENIUSES!

As I was stuck still with fascination, a thought sprung to my mind. It wasn’t an exciting thought.

I’m not able to go back home until the snow melts…

This means I have no choice but to stay with Toriel…

She said that I could before… but why do I feel like a nuisance if I stay here?

I bet I was a nuisance the last time I stayed with someone.

Memories of my old, old apartment was still scarred like ink printed inside my skull. To make the story short and interesting, I am pretty sure I was roommates with a serial killer and every time I came near them, they’ll jump and run away while holding a bag of either the remains of a dead person or very dirty laundry. Despite that, I felt pretty guilty if they were actually a nice person and I just looked like some stalker waiting until they exposed their vulnerability. No wonder they never bend down while I was in the room. They’ll probably thought I’ll shimmy my way towards their body and do freaky stuff to them.

Wow, okay… these thoughts are now a bit off-topic.

“Guess this means you’ll be staying with me for a while, my child.” Her voice wasn’t how I’ll expect it to be. I’ll expect her to be a little grumpy because she’ll have to have two mouths to feed and slave away twice the mess (which of course I would never let her do!). But no… her voice actually sounds cheery… as if I’m the first person to become her company. What if I was her only company? The thought of that just breaks my heart…

“Yeah… I guess so.” I looked to the ground for a moment before quickly adding “Don’t worry Toriel! I promise I won’t be a bug and I will help you around the house if it seems to be a problem. You can count on me, alright?”

She looks at me strangely before her lips spread into a smile.

“Oh no, dear… Not to worry about that.” She assures but I didn’t buy it. There’s no way I’m going to be rooming in this house without helping out. It’ll be a dicky move to do that and besides, I want to build a great reputation with the monsters so they know that I mean no awful business around here. Also Toriel seems pretty lonesome in this house all by herself. I bet she’ll be a nice friend to have and hopefully I’ll make a nice companion for her. I don’t want to be a waste of room...

“No, I mean it. I won’t let you clean after an adult like myself. I’ll help you with chores and give you some space when needed. I can cook too if you need an assistant in the kitchen. We could also exchange some recipes…?” I suggested with a bit of questionable reluctance as I ask myself if that was the best idea. Especially if I’m giving her a recipe that involved cow meat or something…

Her expression lit up like candlelight. I could see her teeth from the smile that forms and her ears perking up only slight.

“I could see us getting along just well.” She closes her eyes as she absorbs her contentment.

I, for one… is not at the full strength of feeling content. Not without getting rid of the putrid stench coming off me and my clothes.

But of course as every time I say something that’s on my mind, it’s interrupted. At least this interruption is a good interruption because Toriel’s arms wrapped around my body like a fuzzy blanket. Her fur is soft and it smells like- okay maybe this sounds creepy but she smells like a mother. Okay not with shitty diaper smells and sweat and all that junk, more like home cook foods and firewood. She feels like how a mother should feel like, warm and loving. Something I wasn’t used to.

Toriel pulls back from the embrace, feeling quite red of embarrassment. I don’t mind though because I bet if I look in the mirror right now, I’d look tomato-faced too. I wished that I could return the cuddle but I was too busy feeling how soft her fur was and enjoying the motherly squeeze. It’s probably for the best anyway because I STILL need to ask if I could hop my dirty body into a shower or tub. She probably pulled away because she just realized my smell searing her nostril hairs.

“Toriel do you have a bathroom I could use?” I spat out the words, careful of saying it not spraying it. I want a shower, not her.

“…Of course. It’s right down the hall,” She gives me a funny look for a moment but it vanishes after replying.

“You’re staying here for a while, so what is mine is yours. Please do not feel like you should ask, this old lady wouldn’t do more than to accept.” She adds.

“Thank you, Toriel. You’re a very kind lady, I hope you know that.” My words as soft and sweet as a banana that’s probably a million years old and coated with three thick layers of sugar, toppled with sincerity. Delicious.

Toriel’s hoof-paw patted me softly on the head, which made me frown because she’s probably still stumped that I’m actually an adult. That or she’s like this to everyone. Like a mother to all. That actually sounds convincing.

“I got some old clothes in my wardrobe that may fit you and I will set them down in your room. If you need of some assistance of anything at all, just call or come to me. I will be happy to help. I will remain here reading my book.” She took her plate that had only the crumbs from the pie and took mine once I gave her a confirmation look that I’m finished. I thanked her again and made my way towards the end of the hall and into the bathroom.

The bathroom wasn’t anything special. It was styled simple, but comfortable. I’m not attracted to anything overly flashy anyways so I give this bathroom an eight out of ten stars. It had both a shower and a tub combined. So like it’s a shub or- NO I got it! It’s a tower! Genius. Anyways, I felt like it’ll be best if I had a shower so I’ll just hop in quick and get out. There’s still a whole day to get through and I can’t waste it just staying in a bath… even though how pleasant and tempting it sounds.

I stripped off sexily and fell flat faced on the tiled floor shamefully. Okay, not really. I just stubbed my toe on the corner of the shower-tub and cursed in forgotten Latin which was stifled as I bit down my fist.

As I turned the knob, the showerhead drizzles out warm water and soon fills the room up with steam. I moved myself into the running water, my muscles feeling tensed at first but then relaxes as the drops massages and soothes my freezing body. I took a bar of soap and began scrubbing myself with it until I know I’m squeaky clean. After a bit of cleaning and all that junk most normal people do in a shower, I got out and wrapped a clean white towel over my now spanking new and improved nice smelling body.

Yeah, I’m drop fucking dead gorgeous, baby. I bet I’d win the sexiest drenched rat contest by a mile. I stood there watching my reflection from the mirror and internally screaming at myself to stop. Which I did so don’t worry me, you beautifully, disgustingly tremendous scum you.

I peeked my head out from out the bathroom to see if the close is clear. As I gathered that the hallway is a ghost town, I gripped the towel tighter in case it randomly wants to fall off while I’m running. I mean what is this? A baseball game? I’m not doing a nude run, people. I bolted towards the child’s room and closed the door almost too loudly.

Over on the bed was some neatly folded clothes that Toriel has given me to borrow. I picked up the clothes to find that they might actually fit me fine. They don’t look anything like what Toriel would wear, so these must be someone else’s clothes. Probably some guy’s old garments. Not that it matters anyway because clothes are clothes.

I slipped on baggy olive military-looking trousers that had pockets almost everywhere. Thankfully, there’s a belt with it so It doesn’t hang down past my hips. I also slipped on a grey short-sleeved shirt with a rather large jacket that was pretty heavy to wear at first. I felt fresher and comfier than ever before so I walked out of the room to meet with Toriel…but all that I found on the couch chair was no goat-lady monster but a note.

‘Frisk, I know I said that I would be here when you finished washing up, but I am afraid I have to break that statement for there is urgency for me to arrive to Snowdin. It appears that they may need my assistance with my magic to free the trapped monsters. Books are on the shelves in my room (which is next to your room) if you want to read while waiting for my return. Please do not go too far and stay out of trouble… -Toriel’

It was fine that Toriel had to go away for a while, but she could have just walked towards the door and called that she’s leaving instead of being dramatically mysterious and leave notes. Maybe she thought that she’ll interrupt something if she just did that… After all, I would never expect her to be the rowdy type like Papyrus. I miss that blasting-mouthed silly skeleton already (even though we only just met yesterday).

I walked towards Toriel’s room and peered at the shelves near her gigantic bed fit for a queen. I looked around the room first and noticed how depressing it looks and feels to be wandering around in her room. There’s plants in pots everywhere and the one thing in the whole room that catches my eye was the yellow flowers on the top shelf. They were beginning to turn brown and is wilting. Everything except for the bed and the desk was a bit dusty. It wasn’t excessively dusty, but It was enough to feel concern for a monster who seems to appreciate her tidiness. There’s one word to describe what this room feels like and it’s loneliness.

I took mental notes as I examined the room, feeling maybe Toriel’s aloneness could be another reason why she brought me here in the first place. Maybe Toriel needs my help with something. Perhaps her loneliness is killing her… making stronger, much more negative feelings to blossom.

She could be feeling depressed. I can’t exactly say until she confides with me, but I’ll keep a close eye on her. She’s ready to confide when she’s ready to confide. You can never force these things out of people. That or she’s really not depressed at all, just quite alone and needs a shoulder to rest her head on. Every being has different personalities, so you’ll never know with individuals.

I searched through the shelves and plucked out every history book and stacked them into a small tower. I carried the tower of various books of each size into my arms until I was in the living room. I chose to place the books on the carpet and lay myself down near the fireplace that still has an alive flame, tireless as ever. I picked out a book and began my reading.

And that was my spot ever since my month and a half stay here. And no, I didn’t stutter. I’ve been living with Toriel for a month and a half because that’s the time the workers took to melt the snow and freed the people who’re- WAIT FOR IT- SNOWDIN!

The reason for the long wait was because of the heavy snowing happening during their time trying to stop the snow heightening up dangerously. It was impossible for the weeks they have been helping, I know that because every day Toriel comes home, she’s super exhausted. She will eat the meal I have cooked for her and after that I ask her to go to bed. Of course, she tries to argue with me by saying ‘I’ve done too much for her’, but I’ll always get my way in the end. Besides I do all the chores and housework for her with a delighted grin on my face. I love helping Toriel and seeing her appreciative smile is more than enough to give me the motivation to help her the next day and the next day and the next day after that and so forth.

During the month and a bit, I was forced to stay inside because Toriel was worried if I do wander outside into the Ruins, there may be heavy snowing on the other side and who knows when another blizzard could occur. So the most of the time, I was reading, researching and finding out more interesting stuff about monsters. By the time I’ve finished my stack of books, I was reading another stack and another stack until I became full of monster knowledge. Maybe a little too full of monster knowledge… There may be some facts that I don’t want to know about all together but hey, got to learn it one way or another. It’s better reading it on accident than to have it explained by Toriel, who was actually willing to until I managed to change the discussion to snail facts.

So here’s what I know about monsters according to the books…

In the olden eras, monsters and humans were once one whole race. They worked together to build villages and farms. Humans exchange their discoveries about the world to the monsters and the monsters had done the same. Soon, everyone was living in respectful lives that could only be imagined Utopian for the real world right now. Everyone had equality and was allowed to live a normal life. A life where monster children could go to school and have an education. A life where one individual wouldn’t be judged of how they look or act. A life where rights exist. That is until the eighth of August, 1XXX.

In that time, the humans decided that there’s got to be a king to rule. So a voting was bestowed. The results weren’t pleasant. The whole election ends in a draw between two participants, one a human and the other a monster. A terrible fight happened as the villagers argue who would be the best King to serve. Most humans voted for the human participant and most monsters voted for the monster participants. In the end, the race split up as two races and had each half of the land. One half specifically for humans and the other specifically for monsters, both with a king that rules. They became sworn enemies.

A human’s hate is much stronger than a monster’s, therefore the human villagers held a grudge for limitless existences. They wanted war, not for their greediness for having just a half of the land, but for revenge. The monster king, Asgore, refuses and decides to move his people to another land before things escalated. He knew that there’s no possible way that they would win the war against humans for they were naturally stronger than them. Monsters had magic, humans had determination. A single human could kill thousands of monsters because of it. It’s a risk not worth taking.

But there’s an even greater downfall to this. Because of Asgore’s cautions and suspicions … he ordered guards to watch for humans that wander around Home. If they attempt to harm any monster, they should be eliminated and the souls were to be brought to Asgore. A human soul is too powerful for any possession of a monster. But more and more humans came and they all had the same killing desire. Soon Asgore gave up all hope and ordered the guards to kill any human that steps onto the land. Kill without hesitation. This cost him everything he loves, even his own wife leaving him. Asgore Dreemurr lives alone in his castle. No one knows what happened to him next.

A human never set foot on Home for decades… No one knows that they still need to follow Asgore’s orders… All his orders were honestly forgotten all these years. A huge amount of the population of monsters couldn’t remember what a human even looks like. And to my experience, humans forgot about monsters completely. Except for made up nursery rhythms and stories. Fascinatingly enough, humans originally made stories with monsters being the bad guys to not teach kids of valuable lessons and morals, but to teach the children to hate monsters and be afraid of them. Never give monsters mercy just like their parents did. Just thinking about that makes my stomach churn…

And this isn’t even half of what I learned about monsters and even my own kind.

Today was the day that I choose to leave Toriel as the weather started to become warmer and it only snows rarely. This means that the thick layers of snow are passable and the people who were trapped are announced free. I know this is going to be difficult. Mainly because Toriel would not be pleased of the sudden news and I now know that I have to be cautious when walking around Snowdin or other parts of Home considering some monsters may know I’m a human and try to obliterate me. I can’t just stay here and abandon my home and business… That is until a plan hits me.

What if I go and travel to Asgore and let him know that I mean of no bad business? Yes, I know it sounds crazy… but what other choice do I have? I couldn’t just fake my identity, Papyrus and Sans knows who I am and they could be snitchers. I can pretty much stay in my house and wait until a monster kills me and steals my soul, or try and sneak off to the castle and talk this through to Asgore. I don’t care if I have to wear some costume or whatever and change my name to Meggle Stirlingson just so I could get there without any troubles from monsters. It’s to decide between waiting until death reaches my front door or risking my life travelling through Home and going to the king, who I don’t know if he’s trustworthy or not and try to convince him that I mean no harm. Perhaps I could also help a few monsters on the way. That’ll back up my persuasion and help my business.

It's decided. I’m going to travel to Asgore’s castle. In a way, it’ll be pretty fun. I get a big tour of Home and meet new monsters… I mean, after I find a disguise of course. I may ask Toriel if there’s some old clothes I could borrow for that part of the plan. There may be some places that are pretty good too and after consulting with Dreemurr, I could visit those places again.

I looked out the window in the kitchen, watching the delicate snowflakes dancing in the morning air and printed themselves stuck on the glass. I finished cutting the carrot and tossed them into the stew that’s slowly cooking in a big pot. In five minutes, Toriel will be home ready to eat.

In five minutes, I will tell her about my leave and plan.