Chromatober 2024

Day 4 - Soft

Series: Warped AU

(Just fixing up one of the little plot holes in the story.  Spoilers for the prologue.)

- - - Warped's P.O.V. - - -

Today is the day.  I told myself.  It'll work this time.

I had just come from a bartering session with the nearby piglins, and held long wads of string in my arms.  I didn't know where the pigs got them from, but aside from leather, they were the only way to make fabric in the World Below.  The only way to craft wool for a bed.

Sleeping in the fungus branches was... okay.  But it didn't compare to an actual bed, with a mattress and pillows.  The last few times I tried to make one, it had exploded immediately, tearing holes in my newly-made house and leaving me to treat the burns.  World Below, I just wanted to sleep!

I crouched down by my crafting table, determined to get it right this time.  I crafted three blocks of wool, then used my powers to dye them teal, just for aesthetic.  It would be worth it this time, when I slept somewhere that wasn't the floor.

Two days ago I had been exploring with my strider, and found an old broken portal.  It looked like the ones that the Demon Steves usually used, except it wasn't in their headquarters, for some reason.  Half the frame was missing, so there was no way I could relight it, but I stuck around anyway, scouring the area.  Interesting stuff always popped up around portals: things I couldn't find anywhere else.  That day, I had found a book.

The book glowed softly, and when I tried to open it, the words inside were nonsense.  Just runes scrawled over the pages.  The cover, however, read 'Blast Protection IV'.  I had worked with enchanted books before, so I knew exactly what to do with it.

Once I had my bed crafted, I ran over to the anvil, already excited.  After all, how could something with blast protection blow up?  It was a perfect plan!

"Please work."  I whispered, laying the book on top of the bed and willing the magic to transfer.  The book glowed brighter, then dissolved, leaving glowing purple particles on the bed sheets.  Slowly, the light faded away.  I held my breath, hoping that the enchantment wasn't gone, just invisible.

There was a place in my house that I had dedicated for a bed.  There was a nightstand and everything, although I should probably move it away.  I didn't want to have to rebuild it again.

With trembling hands, I laid the bed down in its proper place, nudging it toward the wall.  I dragged the nightstand to the other corner of the room, then brought out some armor from my inventory.  I didn't like wearing armor.  It slowed me down when I jumped.  But better safe than sorry.

The iron clanked loudly as I stepped forward, ready to face the bed.

"Just... stay intact."  I muttered, slowly rolling onto the mattress.  I laid stiffly, preparing for impact.  The bed just sat there, like a non-explosive item.  "YES!"  I cheered, bolting upright.  The bed bounced with the movement, and I resisted the urge to use it like a trampoline.  I hadn't enchanted it with unbreaking, after all.

Without wasting a second, I stripped off the uncomfortable armor and collapsed into the mattress, feeling it sink slightly under my weight.

SO SOFT!

I wanted to fall asleep right there, but made myself get up again.  I wasn't done yet.

From a chest in the corner of the room, I pulled out more bundles of string.  If I was going to have a bed in my house, I needed a proper one.

One with way too many blankets.

I sat down, happily weaving the strings together into long sheets of soft fabric.  After each one was done, I tossed it across the room, letting it land in a tangled heap on my new bed.  I wanted a mountain of them.

I was never sleeping on a branch again, or the carpet, for that matter.  I was getting some beauty rest.

Once I was out of string, I hopped up, rushing over to curl up on the mattress.  I felt too energetic to sleep, but that didn't stop me from heaping the blankets over myself, feeling their comforting weight settle down over me.  It was soft under the covers, and warm.

The shroomlights' soft orange glow faded as my eyes drooped closed and I snuggled farther under the covers.

Finally, my house was complete.

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Word Count: 716