—Your POV—

Solemnity weighs heavily on your shoulders. There's a soft churning in your stomach, the fear of what's to become of you, but it's fuzzy, distant. A small distraction—being the doctor giving his final regards for the night— is all that keeps you from having to face the music that is your inevitable fate.

Your ears are stuffed with cotton, and you sit slightly hunched, small on yourself as Gaster prattles on upon his stage. While you are not present, Ralsei attentively listens, occasionally sneaking glances at your shrunken form. You haven't said a word to him yet, and based off your posture, you can't imagine you're giving him the most positive notion.

"Psst," You feel his soft, satiny elbow touch yours and jump, shooting upright with a sharp intake of air. Around you, monsters glance disdainfully, and you immediately go back to your compact position. "Are you alright?" 

Ralsei speaks to you in a hushed, calm tone, brows furrowed with gentle concern. His dark eyes scan you continuously. "The meeting didn't go bad, did it?" 

"Nah." You croak, mouth uncharacteristically dry as you sit up, stretching. Your book almost slips from your lap, and you catch it, clutching it to your chest. "Just uh, we might not see each other anymore after this." 

He gawks, eyes narrowing in obvious confusion as you offer a small, apologetic smile. 

"Well, why not?" 

"He told me I should leave." You admit, gaze dropping to the ground as you give your legs a little swing, leaning over on yourself once more. "It didn't sound like much of a suggestion... so that's what I'll do." 

"Ah..." 

The silence that follows is quite deafening. You bite your lip. You shouldn't care about Ralsei that much. You just met him. You're just completely out of whack right now. Clinging to everyone and anyone for what reason? Because you're homesick. 

You shouldn't be. 

"I see..." He whispered, eyes misty as his glasses reflected the lights of the ballroom. "In that case, I suppose—"

"We will now begin the Doctor's giveaway session."

 The booming voice of the spindly figure from earlier interrupts you both. You and Ralsei share a look before Gaster strides up to the podium, the lights dimming to illuminate him in a spotlight. Shortly after, Alphys stumbles up, heaving with her a large cart of things you can only explain as very old, very expensive treasures. 

The collective gasp that comes from the crowd. The sheer realization that even the smallest item in that cart could easily outweigh a hundred people in the value it has. You feel it. It's magical, it's intense, it's breathtaking. 

You wonder how many people like you have felt such a prowess.

"To my good friend Asgore," Gaster speaks, voice carrying over the utterly silent room. It bounces off the walls, and with a gloved hand, he reaches into the cart. "I gift you the seeds of an echo flower." Like that, a vial is handed off to the burly goat man from earlier. 

"To my newest acquaintance, Burgerpants," The doctor lets out a small, mirthful huff as he pulls something else from the cart, a bit bigger than the vial of seeds. "A scroll written by the Lord of Competence." A scrawny, but well dressed cat monster comes on stage, fangs glinting with a pearly white grin he flashes. 

The rest of the evening carries on just like that. Name after unknown name being called as you silently sit and stare. At some point, he calls Ralsei, and he receives something called an 'Annoying Dog Bone.'

All in all, most of the items given you don't really pay any mind to. Some, like 'Distilled Determination' or 'Liquid Magic' manage to catch your attention. A couple sound quite harmful, or even illegal, but you suppose it's a giveaway, not a gambling game. 

As everything starts to settle down, and the Doctor gets off the stage to initiate photoshoots, you can't help but find yourself staring at him. You don't know why, but there's something about someone so prestigious wanting to assist or even associate themself with you. Maybe it's bitterness you look to him with, wicked jealously, or perhaps a quiet wonder. 

He seems to pick up on your staring either way, looking you right in the eyes. It's twice that he taps his chest before he points at you, and when you dumbly look down at the book still clutched there you understand why you didn't receive a gift tonight. 

You already have one... and you're not doubting it's the most valuable of all.

At the end of the night, you walk out into the brisk cold, hands empty of everything except your book. It's a few moments you just stand there, letting the frigid air bite at your face and ears before you sigh, looking in the assumed direction of your home. If you're lucky, you'll find Mettaton again. 

Suddenly, someone says your name. Instantly, your head is turning, and you see Ralsei pacing towards you in the dark night. As he comes to a stop in front of you, an awkward silence hangs about in the air. He simply stares for a moment, cameras snapping in the background before he finally opens his mouth.

"I um, thought about what you said earlier." There's an odd bit of sadness in the air as he averts his gaze from you. "So I wanted to give you something I hope can help." 

Delicately, Ralsei takes your hand, and you jump ever so slightly. He pauses for a moment, but when you don't pull away, he takes your hand and places a folded piece of paper in it. Instinctively, you curl your fingers around it, and he pulls away as you start to unfold it. 

"Don't unfold it yet." He mutters, lightly running his fingers over yours, stopping you. "It's... a map thing. I know you probably don't know  where you're going... and I'm sure you don't want me prying too much into what you're planning to do so... here's this. It's kind of a destiny map you know? It'll lead you where you need to be. I got a few decades ago... but I'm not much of a traveler." Ralsei grins, and you feel the faintest flutter in your stomach. In your heart. 

He really is too kind. 

"Thank you-" You utter, doing your best not to let the tears that want to spill well up in your eyes.  Calmly, you step closer, pocketing the paper before you tentatively wrap your arms around Ralsei in a hug. "Thanks a million. We haven't known each other a long time but... you're a real breath of fresh air for me." The smallest sob causes your shoulders to shake slightly. 

"It's alright." He says, hugging you back. "You don't have to thank me... I'm just trying to help." 

You hugged him for a while, silently letting tears slip from your eyes. A lot happened. A lot you've yet to properly address. In the end, Ralsei ends up driving you back to your apartment, and you again thank him profusely. 

As you stumble into your sleeping quarters, you flop into the bed, still dressed in overly fancy clothes. You put the book, and the map on the nightstand, and like that, you go to sleep. 

Tomorrow, you leave. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Howdy there! It's been a bit! Thanks for the patience, and all the support from those who stuck around during this mini-hiatus. Things are looking up! We're not done moving, but I've been sleeping a little better recently! A lot has gone on in these last couple weeks, though I believe it'll be easier to make time for y'all now. :3 

Does that mean I'll be back to my regular schedule? Hopefully! Looking at Wednesdays and Fridays again. And for anyone reading Darkness and Dread, than the normal Monday updates will likely continue! 

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!

- De Moogus