RP Squad: Route Swap

Departure

Our journey starts below Mount Everest, where a city that is underground exists. Underpolitan, a city bustling with life, and also crime. A lot of it. Monsters and Humans alike calls this city their home. While not the prettiest vacation spot, it does have its specialty, being underground and all.

Somewhere in the city, in a mansion, a skeleton is getting ready to leave Underpolitan.

"Aster, dearie, have you packed clean clothing yet..?"

"yes, nanna.. i've packed my clean clothing. and water bottles. and my lunch. and several utensils. and my dolly- ..hey!" He picked up a doll that resembles a bear monster from his suitcase, and looks at his grandmother. He had a suspicion that she put it in there.

"nanna, i don't need this anymore.. i'm 26 now! i'll be fine without him." He carefully put the doll on his bed.

"Oh.. are you sure? You used to take him everywhere! When you've forgotten him at home, you'd cry, and cry.. I'd felt so bad that now I've always given you it before you leave to anywhere!" His grandmother chuckled softly, remembering the time where Aster was a small boy.

"was, nanna.. that would've been years ago. listen, i appreciate the gesture, alright? let's go outside. i'm all ready." He smiled and went to help his grandmother stand up from the bed and opened his bedroom door walking towards the main hall room.

The mansion was massive, winding staircases and long hallways with a lot of rooms. It might be easy to get lost in here if you didn't live here. Aster knows the how to traverse the mansion like how he knows the back of his hand. Aster observed the bedroom doors, they're all open. Looks like all of them are already at the main hall room.

Soon, both of them would arrive at the main hall room. Cousins, aunties, nieces, and distant relatives alike were all chatting with each other. One of them would spot them both walking down the hall.

"LOOK, EVERYONE! THEY'RE HERE!" A young skeleton would point at Aster and his grandmother.

"Took them long enough," Another skeleton mumbled.

Several skeletons would walk over to Aster. Soon he'd be completely crowded.

"GOOD LUCK!" "I wish you safe travels, dear cousin." "Bring us something cool back, won't ya?!", They'd say. Most of them were practically screaming into his non-existent ear.

Aster wiggled out of the crowd, trying to not accidentally suffocate in the pool made out of his giant family.

"okay, thanks guys! you don't have to tell me twice. i'm completely ready for this!" He would punch the air, pumping himself up. Some of the younger skeletons would look at him as if he's the coolest skeleton around, some would roll their eyes.

"Don't you think you're forgetting something, Aster?" An elderly raspy voice would come from the back of the hall room.

The hall room would become silent. You could even hear someone's bones rattle. The crowd would split, leaving a straight path from the staircase at the back to the front door. There would be footsteps.

The elderly raspy voice belonged to Agera, who would've been dubbed the "head of the family" since she practically rules over them with an iron fist. She wore a faux-fur scarf and had a mostly purple outfit with black heels. She walked through the path made by the crowd. The sound of bones rattling could be heard when she walked past a few skeletons. She didn't even take a glance at anyone, keeping her glare at Aster. She has something in her hand.

Aster would stand up straight, looking a bit stiff and awkward. Agera has always intimidated him. Especially with the "Aunt Daisy" incident.. He shivers thinking about it. Aster desperately tries to maintain eye contact with Agera.

"..h- hello ma'am! um, what seems to be the pro-"

"The necklace." Agera would cut him short and reveals what she's been holding. It was the family heirloom necklace, of course. How could've he forgotten about that?

Some skeletons would inch closer to take a good look at the priceless heirloom, but not too close. They were far too intimidated to do so.

"o-o-oh! right! thank you, ma'am! that's my bad.." He'd scratch the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. He then would attempt to take the necklace but Agera would swiftly pull it away.

"I will be the one who puts it on on you, young man!" Agera yelled. "Don't you remember the procedure?! We must do it properly." She glared at him more intensly.

Aster would be startled by this and zipped his mouth shut. Oops, he thought. Maybe he should've paid more attention while the others were about to depart. His grandmother would look at Agera, slightly gesturing to be more gentle. Agera ignored her sister, though.

Agera walked behind Aster, and carefully puts the necklace on him. The necklace looked like a yellow star with four points. It glowed softly once it was on Aster. It had a strange magic within it, which Aster was unfamiliar with. He looked at the necklace with pride. This was finally the day.

"Remember! Do NOT lose it. Do NOT damage it, do NOT break it. It is a PRICELESS family heirloom that has been passed down for generations." Agera firmly said. 

"yes ma'am! i swear to protect it with my life and SOUL. thank you! now, uh.." Aster glanced at a few of his cousins and aunts. "..am i ready to go now?" He put up a small grin.

Agera stayed quiet for a moment. Everyone was eager to hear her answer. She had her eyes closed. At for what seemed like forever, Agera replied — "Yes, you are ready, Aster. You can leave now." While looking down on him.

"great! bye cousins! bye aunties! bye nieces! and bye, nanna!" He would quickly hug his grandmother. He will definitely miss her the most. She held Aster's cheek and smiled. "Be careful my boy. And don't forget to have fun..! Remember that i love you very much." she'd say to her grandson. She would let go of him. "i love you too, nanna." Aster replied.

Aster then walks up to the giant front door, and opened it. Glancing back at his family for a moment, to see them waving at him and saying goodbye. He'd hold the necklace up close to his face. Being completely honest, he had absolutely no idea how to use it. But no one did. It was part of the tradition to figure out the necklace yourself.

Agera and Aster's grandmother would share a glance.

"He's going to do great things.. i just know it." Aster's grandma said with a smile.

Agera looked at her puzzlingly. "Really now, Dahlia? Hmph. He better not get into any trouble." She crossed her arms.

Aster waved the necklace around, poked it, stared at it for a moment, said a few commands to it. He can't seem to make it work.. Then an idea came up. The strange magic coming from it was foreign, yet it was familiar. Then, he tried to reach out to something. Not physically, but inside of his very culmination of his being. His SOUL. Then, a bright yellow light would cover his vision. He was gone.

This was finally the day where he continues the family tradition.