Waking up was hard. Online college was also difficult. Thinking of her dead mother and fighting the game was surprisingly not all it should have been, either. Rose never complained, she had all she needed: a seemingly never-ending battery on her laptop, wifi in most places she went, an all seeing crystal ball. She felt as content as could be, except for the caverning loneliness she became afflicted with every hour or so. She took a sip of her tea and sighed. Browsing her pesterchum, Rose looked for any new messages and sighed again. No one messaged her on the passenger ship she was traveling on except to ask who was doing what somewhere else. A small ring alerted her that a new message had arrived. Rose took another sip of tea and pulled up the chat page.
grimAuxiliatrix (GA) started pestering tentacleTherapist (TT) at 2:42 pm.
GA: Hello Rose
TT: oh, hello kanaya
GA: May I Ask For Your Assistence
of course, Rose thought. another favor.
TT: of course, who do you need to see?
GA: Well, Actually I Need Your Direct Assistence
kanaya's acting strange.
GA: Im Traveling On The Same Passenger Ship As You, Correct
TT: yes, i recall so
GA: Im In The 4A Kitchen
GA: Can You Meet Me There
i didn't know kanaya could cook.
~
Rose pulled the handle to the kitchen door as hard as she could. deadbolted, how poetic. She thought. the one place to find a friend is the one place i cannot enter.
Suddenly, the door flew open and a bright white hand grabbed her arm and yanked her into the kitchen. Rose yelped as either claws or sharp nails dug into her skin. i cant see. i cant see anything.
There was a disgusting smell in the air, like burning flesh. what the hell is going on I'm going to die unknowingly like my mother why is this-
The pressure on her arm ceased. The lights switched on and Rose's eyes widened. The kitchen was destroyed, pots and pans scattered everywhere, smoke rising from some of them. she stood and gazed at the chaos in the room, from spilled ingredients to the crying, glowing girl curled up in the corner.
"Oh Rose," Kanaya cried quietly. "I need help."
Rose approached Kanaya hesitantly, crouching so as to see her better.
"What happened here?"
Kanaya sniffed and looked up, her yellow eyes slightly greenish from her tears.
"I tried to make dinner. I wanted to bring you something because i noticed you hadn't been eating much lately."
Rose was taken aback at this, not expecting such an answer.
"Never mind that, sweetheart, let me clean up this mess." She smiled gently and used the sleeve of her dress to wipe away Kanaya's tears. Kanaya tried for a smile, then gave up and buried her head into Rose's shoulder.
~
"Alright," Rose sighed, putting her hands on her hips and looking around at the cleaned kitchen. Over her shoulder at Kanaya, who was once again trying to cook a dinner for them both. Rose approached her, looking at the beginnings of spaghetti and meatballs.
Kanaya had ground beef all over her hands and was attempting to roll it into a ball halfheartedly.
"How do i- ugh," She shook her hands and dropped the food defeatedly. "I don't understand human food. Hell, i can barely decipher Alternian food."
Rose smiled and walked closer to her, reaching out and taking the meat to roll herself. She reached into a shelf and brought out a few spices, adding a touch of rosemary last. Placing the freshly finished meatballs in the oven to cook, she turned to Kanaya and smiled.
"I grew up making my own meals away from my mother. It doesn't bother me to make my own meals, Kanaya."
The troll looked down. "Thank you. May I ask you not to tell anyone about this?"
"whom would I say this to? You'll be fine."
Kanaya rushed forward and hugged her warmly. "I know it isn't a big deal to you, but it is to me."
Rose looked at her for a moment, then gently kissed her.
"I like having the company."
