Orange Broken Bones

Barrier Prayer

One month later,

The Ruins has never been any quieter and friendlier than ever since the arrival of Papyrus into Toriel's custody. Toriel has recovered from her worries and only had little worries for her ninth child staying beside her whenever he could. Every day was routine with minor differences in between. It was everyday: a new way to bring peace and kindness to other small monsters in the Ruins. Toriel trained Papyrus into the caretaker life outside of her home but still also as half her child since she did take great responsibility of making sure he was happy to live around the purple walls.

He was trained in his cooking skills and even stretched his own abilities into Italian, Polish, and even Japanese meals within the guidance of Toriel's words. Each meal was an improvement and it became possible for Papyrus to serve and eat right beside other Ruins residents. They couldn't be happier to be fed more than their everyday feeding. Not just his cooking, Papyrus was given time to train on his own cord with Toriel to be an encouragement before he could spare mercy onto dummies.

Toriel has never been able to spend so much time out of the books since Papyrus came. New puzzles were made left and right and both would have a blast and laugh all the time with one offering their puzzle to the other. Just like those old days, Toriel could have the happiness and mother time with a youthful being and never worry about the outside world. Though she still worries for Frisk every now and again, Papyrus would always be in her arms whenever it happens.

Bedtime stories, milk and cookies or pie, soft songs from guitar by the fire, sounds of roaming Froggets and crickets filling the air, you name it. However, there were still times Papyrus would never sleep and got away with it for at least a couple hours.

A majority of the time would just be Toriel being there to put him to sleep. It was only a matter of time before she could give a talk to Papyrus on what was going on about his late night crying and restless bone attacks in the ceiling. It wasn't pretty but Papyrus only told another quarter of his mental struggle and somehow Toriel managed to read him like one of her cookbooks. She was never hesitant to be always comforting and settling Papyrus back to sleep, but it was also hard since she had heard about his nightmare.

Papyrus has mostly become her quiet, obedient, gentle, and safe child and never questioned about downstairs like the others did, for he knows what he is out there. Some nights, however, Papyrus would go to the balconies to see the outside world with his purple gown blowing with the wind. He would picture he might see someone out there, waiting for him to come out of hiding. Those nights were the closest he's ever been with the "stars" and he only lets out his tears pour for the benefit that it looked so much better up close.

Sometimes, though, Papyrus would ask about royal spots and duties but never got too much into how he would reach out for them, but NEVER said a word about Asgore, knowing Toriel's story. Toriel got stunned at times and tried her best to explain them and Papyrus only felt more and more drifted than how clueless he was before he met her. Papyrus only thought to himself that he wasn't as involved as he was back outside the Ruins walls. Almost insignificant but also enduring, Papyrus enjoys his time with this motherly ex-queen. It was like he has been under her golden magic for years. It's like he was his youthful self all over again, yet, still remaining far more mature than his actual age.

In spite of his family on the other side, it's like the outside world was the other side of the world. A whole other universe Papyrus would have to let someone lead the way.

Toriel finishes her cinnamon toast and was about to take a third swing of tea, a happy Papyrus, dressed in Ruins purple and purple flats with a dangling silver locket in a heart shape, rocking side to side within every bounce of a skip in his steps. He happily comes up from behind, causing Toriel to laugh a little and hugging him in return by her hand reaching behind to rub his head. The bandages were taken off the third day of his stay and his injury looked to never have happened.