I am not surprised to hear as much. The experience is disorienting to most humans, to say the least. I'm sorry you had to see any nightmare my child has, they've been through, much. I hope they are well.
It is an ability all monsters possess. The SOUL is the most powerful part of a human, if a monster wants to live, they tend to attack that first by pulling on the soul with our magic.
[She has to re-read John's letter again to be sure she isn't imagining things. He's inviting her for a meal? It is clear the second part of the letter was written a little later. A pen has been tapped at the side in thought once or twice leaving inkblots at the second part her letter.]
I had no real plans currently. I... did not expect a dinner invitation, I must admit. Do you want me to make any dishes?
I'm sure they'll be better if they find their way here or go back home.
That's an interesting fighting system. The command thing's a bit weird, admittedly. It's sort of like a video game in my world.
No need to make anything, either. Just head over this evening. We can pick the conversation up then. Mary and Sherlock are doing some late night library research thing, so it'll be nice to have company.
I can only hope for either. Home would likely be best. Even if I am not there, they have others who will gladly help them recover.
Monsters have always fought this way since we've existed. It is a tradition as much as it is a part of us in a way. I will take your word for it, given I have not played much of these video games.
If you are- certain. I feel odd not bringing something. What time would you prefer I arrive?
[Toriel arrives promptly on time, dressed much more reasonably than when she last saw John. No soaked through nightgowns here, just her normal flower patterned dress with her peacoat pulled over it. She's managed to brush out her fur to look marginally more put together. It is all very intentional on her part.
She raps on the door thrice, calling out as she does. The scent of stew makes her decidedly hungrier than she expects it to.] John, I'm here. May I come in?
[John's in the kitchen, stirring the pot of stew when she enters. Toriel will also be accosted by an excited Alsatian begging for pets.]
Hey, Toriel. Thought we'd just do something simple. Sorry about the mess. We'll be eating at the table in the sitting room.
[He nods his head to the small wooden table beneath a bison skull that's wearing a set of headphones. The kitchen table is currently occupied by a sizable chunk of Sherlock's lab equipment.]
[Toriel doesn't need further encouragement to walk into the house. She closes the door behind herself, only to have Black Bart appear. Toriel laughs softly at the Alsatian dancing around her feet. She extends a paw out to gently stroke the dog's head. She's careful with her claws, offering very nice scritches more than likely.] Is he usually this excitable?
[She gives Black Bart one last pet before moving further into the house towards the kitchen. The occupied kitchen table gets a curious peek, but Toriel doesn't pry.] Simple is more than fine, John. I'd be a bit embarrassed if you did something grand for me.
[The wink and tease earns a light laugh from the boss monster. She gently teases back in turn.] Mhmm, I suppose I do. I've been baking it long enough I've taken a slight fondness to it. [She offers the man a wink back, her lips curling into a warm smile.]
Do you need any help setting things up, dear? I'd be happy to help you.
[It's good to hear her laugh, considering what she's been through.]
You're welcome to set the table. Dishes are in that cupboard. Silverware's in the drawer there. We'll need bowls for the stew and bread plates. Forks and spoons. Shouldn't need any knives unless I've done something completely wrong. Then we might be having leftovers from the other night.
But you can just relax, too. You've been through a lot lately.
[Having some kind of task does put the boss monster at ease.] A little help rarely hurts, John. I'd be glad to help set the table at least.
[With his directions, she's more than happy to grab the bowls first, setting them by John for simplicities sake so he can dole out the food more easily.
She plucks up bread plates along with silverware she pulls from the proper drawer, moving to set them on the table John indicated they'd be eating at. The silverware is set in an oddly precise way speaking of Toriel's age-old etiquette training that has yet to completely leave her. Life as a Queen and dealing with human royalty has left its mark in some way even now.] Here we are.
Edited (we'll pretend i knew where the skull was, lmao) 2018-11-18 20:26 (UTC)
Of course, take what time you need. [The boss monster is more than happy to help with that as well.
She drifts back into the kitchen, to grab some napkins as pointed out to her by John. Toriel settles the napkins over the bread plate opposed to under the silverware itself.
She hesitates but does eventually take off her peacoat. She drapes it over the back of the chair for now. It would be rude to eat dinner with her coat on.]
[He nods as he sets the bowl down in front of her and goes to fetch the warmed loaf of bread out of the oven. When everything is set, he finally sits down.]
I'm glad to hear that, Toriel, really. That's what it's called, though? Falling Down? Does that just... happen when you get too upset?
[She is not remotely surprised this is the topic of conversation, but still isn't keen to have it.
But... John had helped her. He was one of three people who pulled her from the brink. She at least owes him an explanation, even if it leaves her uncomfortable.
She moves to settle down in her own chair, picking up the napkin and spreading it over her lap.]
Falling Down is akin to a human passing away. [She exhales a little.] A monster usually must fall ill and age into falling down, or their SOUL cannot carry on any longer. We are attuned to our souls, we cannot exist without them. If a Monster does not want to fight, we weaken. Our Souls are made of hope, compassion, and love. Without that, we cannot carry onwards.
I am a Boss Monster, John. It means I can never truly die unless I am killed by someone else or, in this case, weaken enough I cannot carry on.
[Toriel gives John the time to ponder, still smoothing out the napkin across her lap. The motion calming in its own way.]
Hell feels a bit strong, but, it is a struggle- or it was back in the underground. Monsters do what they can.
'Shore up'- I don't really believe so. Out of any Monster, I am the strongest in some ways. Without Asriel I cannot age normally. I am just magic, John. No blood, no heart, no bones. I am merely magic again. You could take my pulse and find nothing.
My soul power flowed into Asriel. My magic flows through him, helps him age, grow up as I grow old. He builds it into his own magic. When that connection is gone, the parent cannot age.
[Toriel keeps it factual and calm. She picks up a fork in her paws, frowning a little at the silverware. Her gaze is far away.] Boss Monsters can and do live for as long as they wish. They were considered the protectors of other Monsters long, long ago.
[The boss monster begins to pick at the meal. Unsure of how she feels about the line of questioning.] Yes. As long as they age with their parents, usually they will hit adulthood fairly normally.
Not really, no. Magic tends to self-correct. I knew a few other boss monster families before the war who had three children or so. They were able to age normally enough with their children.
Right. That's... interesting. Sorry. I'm getting all weird at you. [John frowns at himself.] It's just there isn't anything like monsters where I'm from. It's only humans.
You are hardly the first, nor the last to ask me specifics about monsters, dear. [Toriel doesn't seem bothered by being asked about monster culture. Asked about her personal life is a newer vulnerable territory.]
My job before all of this was helping smooth over relations between monsters and humans whilst monsters were reincorporating into modern society.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I hope they are well.It is an ability all monsters possess. The SOUL is the most powerful part of a human, if a monster wants to live, they tend to attack that first by pulling on the soul with our magic.
[She has to re-read John's letter again to be sure she isn't imagining things. He's inviting her for a meal? It is clear the second part of the letter was written a little later. A pen has been tapped at the side in thought once or twice leaving inkblots at the second part her letter.]
I had no real plans currently. I... did not expect a dinner invitation, I must admit. Do you want me to make any dishes?
-Toriel
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That's an interesting fighting system. The command thing's a bit weird, admittedly. It's sort of like a video game in my world.
No need to make anything, either. Just head over this evening. We can pick the conversation up then. Mary and Sherlock are doing some late night library research thing, so it'll be nice to have company.
-John
action thread y/n?
Monsters have always fought this way since we've existed. It is a tradition as much as it is a part of us in a way. I will take your word for it, given I have not played much of these video games.
If you are- certain. I feel odd not bringing something. What time would you prefer I arrive?
-Toriel
Y!
-John
[He'll be at home when Toriel comes knocking. The fragrant scent of boar stew drifts from the house as she approaches.]
[Action time]
She raps on the door thrice, calling out as she does. The scent of stew makes her decidedly hungrier than she expects it to.] John, I'm here. May I come in?
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[John's in the kitchen, stirring the pot of stew when she enters. Toriel will also be accosted by an excited Alsatian begging for pets.]
Hey, Toriel. Thought we'd just do something simple. Sorry about the mess. We'll be eating at the table in the sitting room.
[He nods his head to the small wooden table beneath a bison skull that's wearing a set of headphones. The kitchen table is currently occupied by a sizable chunk of Sherlock's lab equipment.]
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[She gives Black Bart one last pet before moving further into the house towards the kitchen. The occupied kitchen table gets a curious peek, but Toriel doesn't pry.] Simple is more than fine, John. I'd be a bit embarrassed if you did something grand for me.
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Just about. He doesn't jump up, so I'll give credit to Sherlock where it's due. He trained that dog well.
Grand'll be dessert, though. [He offers a wink to her over his shoulder.] you like pie, right?
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Do you need any help setting things up, dear? I'd be happy to help you.
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You're welcome to set the table. Dishes are in that cupboard. Silverware's in the drawer there. We'll need bowls for the stew and bread plates. Forks and spoons. Shouldn't need any knives unless I've done something completely wrong. Then we might be having leftovers from the other night.
But you can just relax, too. You've been through a lot lately.
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[With his directions, she's more than happy to grab the bowls first, setting them by John for simplicities sake so he can dole out the food more easily.
She plucks up bread plates along with silverware she pulls from the proper drawer, moving to set them on the table John indicated they'd be eating at. The silverware is set in an oddly precise way speaking of Toriel's age-old etiquette training that has yet to completely leave her. Life as a Queen and dealing with human royalty has left its mark in some way even now.] Here we are.
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Thanks much! I'll have everything out in just a mo. Could you grab the napkins? They're on the counter over there.
[He tilts his head in their direction given his hands are full.]
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She drifts back into the kitchen, to grab some napkins as pointed out to her by John. Toriel settles the napkins over the bread plate opposed to under the silverware itself.
She hesitates but does eventually take off her peacoat. She drapes it over the back of the chair for now. It would be rude to eat dinner with her coat on.]
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[John ladles the stew and brings that over.]
No more instability?
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No, I am not Falling Down any further. Thank goodness. I let myself get... too wrapped up in grief than I should have. I know better by now.
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I'm glad to hear that, Toriel, really. That's what it's called, though? Falling Down? Does that just... happen when you get too upset?
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But... John had helped her. He was one of three people who pulled her from the brink. She at least owes him an explanation, even if it leaves her uncomfortable.
She moves to settle down in her own chair, picking up the napkin and spreading it over her lap.]
Falling Down is akin to a human passing away. [She exhales a little.] A monster usually must fall ill and age into falling down, or their SOUL cannot carry on any longer. We are attuned to our souls, we cannot exist without them. If a Monster does not want to fight, we weaken. Our Souls are made of hope, compassion, and love. Without that, we cannot carry onwards.
I am a Boss Monster, John. It means I can never truly die unless I am killed by someone else or, in this case, weaken enough I cannot carry on.
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[What else is there to say at first? He's silent for a long moment.]
Is there any way to... shore up your soul?
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Hell feels a bit strong, but, it is a struggle- or it was back in the underground. Monsters do what they can.
'Shore up'- I don't really believe so. Out of any Monster, I am the strongest in some ways. Without Asriel I cannot age normally. I am just magic, John. No blood, no heart, no bones. I am merely magic again. You could take my pulse and find nothing.
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[Toriel keeps it factual and calm. She picks up a fork in her paws, frowning a little at the silverware. Her gaze is far away.] Boss Monsters can and do live for as long as they wish. They were considered the protectors of other Monsters long, long ago.
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So, for a Boss Monster who looks really young, that means they've never had kids? D'you age twice as fast if you have two of them at once?
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Not really, no. Magic tends to self-correct. I knew a few other boss monster families before the war who had three children or so. They were able to age normally enough with their children.
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My job before all of this was helping smooth over relations between monsters and humans whilst monsters were reincorporating into modern society.
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