(Mingle Log/Open Prompts) found

[holidaygirl1225]

WHO: Noelle, clinic staff, and you!
WHAT: Mingle logs after the rescue & opportunities to visit Noelle while she's recovering
WHEN: After the conclusion of the 'Flight and Freeze' quest, through late October
WHERE: Bottlecap Bay Clinic
WARNINGS: Hospitalization/emergency departments, recovery from severe injury, comas, themes of depression & disassociation. Any spoilers for Deltarune will be marked.

After being found, Noelle was thawed by resident Fire-types and teleported by a helpful Abra to the clinic in Bottlecap Bay. An expert in emergency medicine- an Audino referred to as Dr. Dino- and her team immediately took Noelle into the back of the clinic and didn't come out for what seemed to be hours.

and your future lost its rights

When Dr. Dino finally emerges into the general waiting room, she announces tiredly that Noelle is likely to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, the Deerling in question is comatose doesn't seem likely to wake up for a while. She might be ready to visit soon, but for now, she needs careful monitoring.

1. Shortly Thereafter (Open; Mingle Log)

A. A nurse Chansey prepares some hot drinks for anyone who was waiting to hear if Noelle would be okay-- especially those who were in Icefall Lake. Feel free to rest here and decompress a bit before returning home.

B. Dr. Dino offers to take a look at any characters who were injured during the rescue operation. If your character works at the Clinic, maybe you're the one treating the injured instead to give Dr. Dino a break.

[ooc; Feel free to interact with each other in either prompt. The only limitation is that Dr. Dino requests you avoid Noelle's room for now.]

2. A Few Weeks Later (Open)

Noelle remains asleep, but Dr. Dino has declared her able to receive visitors. If you enter the room where she's resting, you'll find her curled up on a little cot and heavily bandaged. It seems she sustained several injuries from her rampage, both from being attacked and using high-power moves to attack others without training properly first. Every so often, Chansey will check her vitals and/or change her bandages.

In the corner, some gifts and 'get well soon' notes have piled up for her. If you want, you may leave something for her as well. You can also sit by her bedside and keep her company. If you talk to her, maybe she'll hear you?

At the moment you're visiting, Noelle looks...

A. Serene. Angelic, even. If it weren't for the bandaging, you might think she's just having an afternoon nap. She emits a faint peppermint scent, as always-- is that from the flower on her head, or is it just her?

B. Troubled. Her ears are down, pressed flat against her head. The flower on her head looks like it's trying to close up. Every so often, she makes a whimper or gives a faint kick to her leg as if she's trying to run. If you listen closely- very, very closely- you might hear her mutter something in her sleep. Maybe it's 'Dess'... maybe it's 'Kris'... maybe it's your name, if you were very close.

[ooc; Noelle will not wake up during threads responding to this prompt. If your character talks to her, she may or may not remember what's said to her. You can also leave a gift or a letter for Noelle if you'd like. Two or more people can visit Noelle in the same thread if you'd like this to be a mingle log as well.]

3. Approaching All Hallows' Eve (set in late October; Open unless marked)

Noelle awakened on her own. It's almost as if she waited for everyone to leave before opening her eyes. The rumor is that she sat straight up, staring intently at something nobody else could see.

Soon, word gets out that Noelle is awake. Dr. Dino wants to keep her in the clinic a bit longer to keep an eye on her, and as it turns out, Noelle struggles to walk on her own. When Dr. Dino isn't helping other patients, she helps Noelle walk around her room so she can stretch, sometimes. Chansey guards her room, both to protect her from anyone who would wish her harm (there are quite a few she fought with, after all) and to stop her from running away again.

Despite the fact that Noelle is awake, she's less accessible than before. Apparently, she doesn't want to see anyone. She seems deeply ashamed of her outburst, and aside from that, there's a fog of melancholy that weighs her down.

A. Whether you sneak in, muscle your way past Chansey, or find some other method, you get into Noelle's room without permission. She's visibly shocked to see you, but doesn't try to call for help or kick you out-- just blithely accepting whatever you plan to do.

B. (Closed except for Bigby, Kinger, Tenna, Umemiya, and Ren. NOT mandatory-- just the approved list.) If you wish to visit her and Noelle considered you a friend, she'll let you in. Sorry, Shoka and Kris, neither of you are on the list for some reason...?

With that said, she's quiet when you enter, almost giving the vibe of a broken doll. The curtains are drawn and she's still curled in on herself, only glancing at you furitively from the corner of her eye.

C. (Closed except for medical staff/helpers at the clinic.) Chansey allows you in, but you're being watched, just in case. Noelle doesn't regard you, allowing you to do whatever you came here to do.

4. Wildcard

[Feel free to discuss another prompt with me at friendlyflower, ask me for my Discord, or inbox me here. Additionally, feel free to flip me to brackets style for any of these and I'll match you.]

Comments

OTA

[telewarped]

1A

[When Chansey comes around with an offer of hot drinks, Shoka declines. It's partly because the way Mimikyu drink is almost comically strange (and she is trying not to draw attention to herself right now), but also because she doubts she'd be able to stomach it.

To keep her mind and hands occupied, she turns instead to crocheting in the waiting area. It works maybe a bit too well. Not long after removing the implements and barely-started project from the hollow of her disguise-head, she seems to fall into a trance. Nothing breaks her focus as she works away with uncharacteristic diligence; even trying to speak to her directly will earn nothing more than the barely coherent mumblings of someone half-asleep.

Several hours pass—for her—in the blink of an eye, and eventually she's left sitting in her corner, disoriented and more exhausted than ever, with her completed creation sat cheerfully in her hands. It's a small, yarn snowman—or, rather, a snow Pikachu, judging by the ears—complete with a small scarf of red-dyed yarn.

Glaring down at it, Shoka heaves a weary, frustrated sigh.]

Ugh...

[Noelle was found out in the cold, frozen solid. Snow might be one of the last things she wants to see right now (next to, of course, Shoka herself). What was she even thinking?]

2B

[Weeks later, when she finally has a chance to visit, she finds Noelle in a deep, tormented sleep, occasionally whimpering and kicking her legs as if trying to flee an unseen predator.

Shoka hadn't planned on saying anything, but Noelle also occasionally talks in her sleep, and at one point, Shoka swears she hears her name. At that point, startled and concerned, she can't help but shuffle closer and try reaching out a hand.]

H-hey... I'm here...

[Her claws ghost over the flower on Noelle's head, coaxing the petals to relax—but they only close up more tightly in response, and Noelle's legs kick only more fiercely, nearly thrashing.

Whether you accompanied Shoka into the room or just happen to be the visitor allowed in right after her, you might witness her draw her hand back and flinch away before she disappears into her shadow and exits under the door.

Afterward, Noelle falls still and seems to calm, her sleep turned more sound and peaceful than it was before. Shoka doesn't stay long enough to see it.

(She did, however, manage to leave her gift for Noelle, for better or for worse: the crocheted snow-Pikachu. A snowman may be a bad choice, but she's also remembered something Noelle told her when they were venturing through the snow together on a quest: You can't let one bad dream distract you from what really matters.

It will still be there when Noelle wakes up, holding vigil over her letters and other get-well gifts.)]

3

[An attempt to visit Noelle again once she's awake confirms what Shoka already expected: Noelle doesn't want to see her. If she were to use her Shadow Sneak, she's sure that she could easily get past Chansey and into Noelle's room... But ultimately, she decides not to. If Noelle isn't ready to see her—or never wants to see her again, just like she said back at the river—that's her choice.

Onlookers may see Shoka approach Chansey, then shrink back after exchanging a few words, before she turns and leaves, Shadow Sneaking under the feet of other visitors to find the quickest way out the door.]

3

[heartonachain]

[Kris is standing outside the clinic when she enters, stone-faced and unresponsive. They don't pay the Mimikyu any mind, and they expect she does the same in return. There's nothing strange about one of Noelle's friends wanting to visit. She's allowed to see her, unlike a fake-friend like Kris.

... or so they thought, until they feel the shadow slinking under their feet far too soon after her arrival.

They turn their head, the pressure from their Soul lifting as its attention starts to shift.]

Where are you going? [confused, mainly, with a tiny speck of anger. She's not even going to see her, after she made such a fuss about finding her?]

[telewarped]

[Shoka had noticed Kris on prior visits—noticed them and considered apologizing before deciding that she was in no state to talk things out and Kris likely (and justifiably) wouldn't appreciate her approaching them unprompted like she did at the strategy meeting. She notices them this time, too, of course, but the sound of their voice still takes her completely off guard. She flinches, then turns to face them, her eyes blank.

What's it to you? she wants to ask, but she owes them more of an answer than that, doesn't she?]

The Spire, I guess. You got a problem with that?

[Great. That really wasn't much better, was it?]

[heartonachain]

You're not going to see her?

[She left way too soon. Even if Noelle was busy... why leave in such a rush? She should stay. Noelle would like that. She would want to be comforted by her friends.

They stare, frowning, as they turn fully to face her. They don't really care that she's being short with them. Something about her tone, the frustration... there are enough pieces here for them to put a few together.]

... No. Same. [could apply to multiple things, but as an excuse to walk away from the clinic? Absolutely.]

[telewarped]

Nope.

[The reply is clipped, detached, but a brief wave of static noise across the edges of her true form betrays her distress.

Same, Kris says. Shoka pauses, squinting at them.]

What? You're not sticking around?

[heartonachain]

[They walk up beside her, keeping pace whenever she decides to keep going—or not, if she wants to stay put for awhile longer. Kris is just following along.]

Nope.

[They don't sound too remorseful about it, either. This is how things should've stayed. Trying to fix it was a mistake.]

Don't wanna see her right now. [... that part, they do mumble with a reluctant wince. It's not wrong, but it's not the way they'd like to put it. She doesn't want to see them. They're just... doing what's best for her, what both of them really want.]

[telewarped]

[They're coming with her. Again, she's taken aback, and eyes them warily—but she allows it. Even if she doesn't exactly want the company (or, at least, she doesn't think she does), maybe she should count herself lucky that she isn't completely dead to them already.

Unless they're messing with her somehow, trying to get back at her. If that's the case, she guesses she deserves it.

She shuffles forward, slowing but not stopping when she hears Kris' next sentence.]

Okay, I know that's not true. [She glances back at them. It's impossible for her to tell if they're lying or not.] I mean... There's no way. After all of that...

[heartonachain]

[Their face reveals nothing, half-hidden and staring blankly ahead. There's a lot of information she's missing, so of course it sounds unbelievable. If they could explain it all, she'd understand.

Can't, though. Have to make do.]

... better to push people away, sometimes. [They shrug. It's not a big deal. Noelle said it herself, back then.] Weren't really friends, anyway. Just neighbours.

[telewarped]

[Her eyes narrow again, doubtfully.]

Did she say that, or is that something you decided?

[heartonachain]

Little of both. Mutual.

[She called it "forced". Told them to forget about her. They're just doing what she asked.]

... lotta questions from someone who isn't seeing her, either. [They glance off to the side. They don't particularly care what happened with her and Noelle, but if she's going to keep prying about their choices...]

[telewarped]

It's not that I don't want to... [Her gaze drifts away as she lets out a harsh sigh.] Whatever. Forget I asked.

[Regrettably, only too late does she notice that that's an exact echo of what she told them before. With an inward cringe, she focuses her attention ahead again, shuffling miserably onward.

She considers taking the opportunity to say that apology she's been sitting on, if for no other reason than to fill the awkward silence that hangs over them then. On its way from her brain to her mouth, it snags on a different thought.]

... Y'know, you don't have to walk with me. You've been here long enough, so it's not like you need an escort back to home base. [A pause.] Unless you're really that helpless.

[heartonachain]

[They snicker, barely making any effort to hide it. At this rate they won't be allowed to remember any of their conversations...

But they don't say anything more, and they're content to walk in comfortable silence. She could stay quiet the whole way back and they wouldn't mind it all. Unfortunately, that seems to be something they disagree on. They glance up when she speaks again, a small frown finding its way back onto their blank expression.]

... Do you want me to follow at a distance such that no one can tell we're associated? [They say each word with precision and intent, but the whole thing is dripping with sarcasm. Shoka. They are going the same way.]

[telewarped]

Ugh... You know what I mean.

[Even if Kris was going the same way, they could have waited until she was gone or decided to change their plans. Should have, because they should be angry with her—avoiding her, the same way Noelle is. Unless... they don't know what she means.

Regardless, she slows, not meeting their eyes when she speaks up again.]

... Look, I'm... sorry for how I was back at the meetup. It wasn't a good look.

1A (surely they'll have a non-angst related thread again one day)

[wolfcut]

[ Bigby's never been good with waiting around. The lack of updates immediately puts him on edge, and the more time passes, the antsier he becomes, until he has to leave altogether. He doesn't even manage to stick around long enough to be offered a drink, not that he would have even accepted it to begin with.

Eventually, he does come back, unable to help himself after pacing around town for what felt like hours. Again, there’s no news, but his frustration turns into confusion when he spots Shoka in the same corner as earlier. Quietly, he walks over to sit by her. ]

Shoka, are you... [ He trails off, grimacing slightly at the little toy sitting in her hands. Passing resemblance to them both aside — well, less so to her now thanks to the outfit change — he's more concerned about the fact that she seems to be exactly where he saw her before he left. ] ... Did you make that?

maybe some day...

[telewarped]

Huh? [Her reaction—a flick of one ear and the shifting of her glazed eyes toward him—is delayed.] Oh...

[Her gaze slides away from him and onto the snow-chu. Her crocheting implements are already stowed away inside her disguise-head, making its creator less than obvious, but there are still a couple of stray, telltale scraps of yarn clinging to her claws and the skirts of her shroud.

She sighs, then answers in a resigned tone:]

Yeah... Guess I did.

[wolfcut]

You guess, when the evidence is all over you.

[ Despite how tired he sounds, there's a lightness in his tone. He reaches for some of the pieces of yarn sticking to her wthout thinking, gently lifting them off. ]

It's... cute.

[ She'll like it, he almost says, but that is a boundary he's not sure how to cross yet. She's clearly stressed enough as it is without him prying. ]

[telewarped]

We already found our missing person, so you can cool it with the sleuthing now, all right?

[Her voice is just as tired, devoid of any real bite. When Bigby starts to pluck the bits of stray yarn off of her, she doesn't stop him. Under normal circumstances, she might have been more embarrassed—especially considering the fact that she doesn't actually remember where those scraps came from—but now she can't muster it.

She turns the doll over in her hands once before offering it to him.]

... You want it?

[wolfcut]

[ That's sign enough for him to drop it. He goes quiet, setting aside the scraps he's collected before tending to the last few he can see on her. Despite everything, he manages to find a sense of calm in doing this small gesture, even if Shoka might prefer he drop that too. He can't seem to help the urge, knowing what could be on her mind.

Bigby's not paying much attention to the doll anymore until she points it at his direction. He pauses what he's doing, glancing down with some confusion. ]

... I thought it might be for someone else.

[telewarped]

[She allows it, blinking slowly at nothing as he tidies her up. The only indication that she even notices what he's doing is the brief, sidelong glance she gives him before redirecting her gaze toward the floor again.

There's an apology in her throat, and maybe a thanks, too—but she can't muster those either.]

Yeah, well. It could be for you if you just take it.

[wolfcut]

[ He looks at her now with a weary expression. The moment of calm has passed. ]

... Fine. Sure. [ Yarn collecting done with, he carefully takes the doll with both paws. It's obvious he's worried about mishandling it while in his possession; doesn't stop him from looking it over though. ] It's pretty good. The, um. Stitching. [ He has no idea if that's what it's called in this case, but how far off can it be from sewing. ]

You make this stuff back home too?

[telewarped]

[Despite herself, there's a reluctance in the way that she hands the doll off to Bigby; even after it's in his paws, her hand stays hovering in the air for just a moment too long before she withdraws it under her disguise rag.

Duh, she should say to his compliment. I'm just that good. Instead, weary silence.]

Nope. Doesn't even really feel like I made this one either, to be honest...

[But she remembers starting it, at least, and keeping Noelle in mind as she let instinct take over. In retrospect, she's not sure what she was expecting it to make.]

Just a Mimikyu thing, I guess.

[wolfcut]

Useful thing to have. Better than what I got loaded with. [ He huffs, somehow amused, still staring down at the little thing. ] Would look great with my office decor.

[ It's a joke, but for a brief moment, he can picture how out of place it'd be on his desk covered with papers and coffee stains. Between the poor lighting and drab furniture, it'd be the brightest thing in that entire damn room.

He should stop, probably. ]

... Don't really have anywhere for it here though. Got anyone else in mind to take it?

[telewarped]

[She lets out a short breath—almost, but not quite a laugh.] Y'know... I'd actually like to see that. I just know your space is begging for something not totally depressing.

[It isn't really meant to be a jab at him specifically; it's just a fact of life that all office spaces are naturally depressing.

(Inwardly, she makes a note to herself: whether he's just humoring her or not, she should make him something. Something that's actually for him. Maybe. Unless she'll mess that up, too.)

His question earns him a sidelong glare, then a harsh, defeated sigh.]

... Fine. It was gonna be for Noelle. Obviously. [It's embarrassing to admit to it, but she can tell that he already saw through her. He isn't being exactly subtle about it. There's an audible, pained sneer in her voice when she continues,] 'Cause the girl who got literally put on ice wants to see a stupid, cutesy snowman right now, right?

[wolfcut]

Tch.

[ He shakes his head, unable to hide the tired grin scrunching his face. Jab or not, she's absolutely right. If there's one good thing about this place, it's being able to spend most of his days outdoors.

His smile fades soon after he catches a glimpse of her glare, but from the look in his eyes, it's obvious he doesn't take it personally. He knows not to pry. He knows not to push. Whatever happened at the festival was between them, but after this whole situation, after seeing Shoka like this—

There's a knit in his brow. He knows exactly how it is. ]

But she likes this sort of thing, doesn't she? Wintery stuff. [ His head tilts at Shoka before he offers the doll back. ] I don't know. Maybe it's more about the thought than the actual gift.

[ Then, a bit more feebly than before: ] ... You went through all the trouble to show you care.

[telewarped]

She did.

[The reply sounds like it's grumbled out between unseen, gritted fangs. Noelle did like wintery stuff and frolicking in the snow, but Shoka doesn't know if that's changed. It wouldn't, she thinks, when that love was so strong it permeated nearly everything about Noelle—but what does she know, really?

Her narrowed eyes flit to the doll in Bigby's paw, then up to his face. Went through all the trouble to show she cares? Seriously? How lame and cheesy can he get?

... He's really trying, isn't he? With the pang of guilt and annoyance comes a contradictory flutter of fondness.]

Not much trouble when I've been totally out of it this whole time...

[She doesn't even know how much time has passed. When was the last time she got up and moved around? Her hands, despite lacking the muscles necessary to ache, ache all the same.

Letting out another vexed sigh, she snatches the doll back from Bigby. Fine; if he won't keep it, maybe she'll shred it to pieces instead, or toss it into the ocean—]

Pretty sure she doesn't want me thinking about her at all anyway. She doesn't—need that.