Guiltale

Chapter Thirteen: Pure Memories

"You can't keep avoiding it, you know?" Chara said, floating through the door. "Gotta go FIGHT-"

"You mean, talk to the dogs?" I interrupted as soon as I was on the other side of the door. Chara shrugged.

"Yeah, sure, I guess."

"Plus, I-" I yawned involuntarily, letting my eyelids droop. "-should probably be getting some food first."

Chara nodded.

Once inside, I attempted, awkwardly, to find an empty seat. Only one was at the bar, in front of its quiet bartender. He... I guess he looked up at my approach? It's kinda hard to tell when their face is made of fire.

"So, I've never been here. Whatta'ya got?" I said as I sat down.

"...

"...

"..."

"Grillbz said that he'd offer you a glass of water, but he doesn't touch the stuff." The bird monster at the counter 'translated' Grillby's silence.

I pursed my lips. "Don't worry man, I'll order off a menu." I knew full well that I couldn't read monster, but I let Chara read it for me. Grillby shrugged and ducked down to get me a menu. Some stuff had pictures, but mostly I had Chara read it for me.

"Could I have a Scotch Egg with some fries on the side? Oh, and how about a hot chocolate? Or, can you do mocktails?" I said, raising my hand to Grillby since he was serving a table. Once he came back, he took my order without saying a single word and noiselessly walked to the door behind the counter.

Nothing happened at first.

"Do you think he makes it all himself?" I whispered to Chara.

"Yeah, that's gotta be it. Sucks not having any staff."

I sat with my chin in my hand, taking my ring off to absently roll it on the bar. Chara stared off into space, looking at the alcohol shelves.

"The capital's getting pretty crowded, so I've heard they're going to start moving here."

I turned to the punky pony sitting next to me, who seemed to be staring at my ring.

"Hmmm... I don't want to see the erasure of our local culture." He finished, tipping his sunglasses at me.

"Yeah... I'm new, but I'm not from the capital. This place seems... so peaceful... I bet I could live here forever..." I stifle a yawn as my ring falls flat to the table, my hand weakly slapping it as I try to continue rolling it. I resign to spinning it like a top.

"Yeah, Snowdin is great! Nothing happens here, which is actually nice! So I get why people are flocking here, but I want to preserve what we've got. In spite of that... I definitely want to see some citiy slickers slip onto their buts!" He laughed jovially, and I tried to laugh along. Seeing my exhaustion, he nods and returns to his whiskey.

I nap in my arms. Chara is humming to herself. The air is filled with the smell of alcohol and woodfire, and the clink of glasses is almost in rhythm...

"Man, this place may have a weird name, but the food is amazing!'

D__ was sitting across from me. The rickety chairs were kinda greasy, but he was right: the food was worth it.

"Getting out of the cold is the best part."

A___'s green eyes were red, and so were his cheeks.

"It IS nice and warm in here."

It's warm.

The table's wet?

Were the tables red before?