Collection of Oddities

Waking Hours (1.2)

Relief flooded his soul as he crossed the threshold that divided the cooking area from the rest of the house, and his eyelights instantly went on the lookout for the device. They flitted from countertop to countertop, momentarily landing on the stray beams of light peeking through the curtains hanging above the sink. Chirps and chitters made by the early-rising wildlife sounded in the dusky world beyond. Each distinct animal cry joined together to create a cheery, upbeat song.

Not that that did anything to alleviate his morning grouchiness.

The yellow-clad skeleton would need four cups of coffee or three extra hours of sleep for him to become his usual chipper self. Something he needed to be. After all, the last thing he wanted was to frighten someone accidentally. Aside from Nightmare, Ink and Blue were the only other monsters to hold the knowledge of his less than stellar morning attitude. And appearance.

Or, in the words of Ink sometime prior to shoving coffee at him, "Woah, Dream! If you go into Underfell looking like that, someone is going to think you're going to murder them, their family, pet, and houseplants."

His frown quirked up a fraction at the memory, and as his gaze moved away from the curtains, he spotted a medium black/silver object resting by the sink: the coffee maker, the only machine in his house that could produce the nectar of the gods. (And, no. Despite Ink's whining, he and Reaper did not occasionally get together for coffee dates every Friday. Dream did not have the death god's favorite coffee order - a triple espresso topped with whipped cream and cinnamon - memorize by heart either.)

The Guardian of Positivity wasted no time before approaching it. A hand swiftly pressing the "on" button while the other reached up, opening the above cabinet to retrieve his beloved, apple pie-flavored coffee grounds and a cup. His phalanges randomly grasped the nearest one, a novelty mug that said "#1 Stabby Sunshine" across the front, and deposited it beneath the machine's spigot. Next, he took a quick look at the attached water reservoir. It had at least a cup's worth of water left from the previous day, leading him to channel his inner laziness and forgo fetching more. Then he shoved the ground coffee into the nearest filter; Soon plopping it in, pressing the "start" button, and waiting in anticipation.

The water gradually began to boil and bubble. Steam hissed, exiting via a small vent on the machine's backside. Shortly after, heated liquid worked its way through the device, passing the loaded coffee filter and trickling out the tap. Thus, slowly filling his mug with piping hot caffeinated wonder. A rich, light brown substance that held promises of not only a delicious, apple-y taste but a slightly more wakeful morning too.

Its incredible cinnamon-apple scent wafted in the air, tempting the yellow-clad skeleton to abandon his cup and drink straight from the tap. But he refrained himself. He would not stoop to such lows.

Yet.

However, once the coffee maker fell silent, Dream greedily snatched the mug from its resting place. Hands pressed against the burning ceramic surface, drawing it to his teeth. He took a deep sip without so much as flinching as the scolding hot liquid poured down his invisible throat. It caused a light tingle to course through his body as his magic absorbed the beverage, adding a well-needed boost to his mood and energy supply.

His lackluster eyelights sparked with reenergized magic and returned to their vibrant golden-yellow color after a few moments, giving them an almost cheery appearance. (Though, the same could not be said for his face. For it maintained his signature early-morning scowl; lessened yet still prominent.)

A low hum escaped his jaws.

How can anyone live without coffee, he wondered. It's the perfect thing to drink before starting the day.