bottlecaplogs | (Mingle Log/Open Prompts) found

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(Mingle Log/Open Prompts) found

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.]

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[ 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?

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.

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. ]

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?

[ 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.

[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.

[ 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?

[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.

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?

[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?

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.

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.

[ The bite in her voice definitely hits where it's supposed to. It's getting harder for him to find any words at this point, let alone the right ones, and all he can do is shrink back when she grabs the doll again. He's not even sure why that feels as bad as it does. It was never his to begin with.

Maybe he should just offer to take Shoka back home to the Spire, with how long it's been already. There's a clear look of worry on his expression, but he still doesn't think she'd take him up on it. Not right now. Instead, he matches her sigh with one of his own. Quieter. Softer. ]

If she really doesn't need that from you— [ He's already kicking himself for phrasing it the way he is. ] —then why are you here?

[ At least his tone is far from accusatory. There's a level of understanding, enough that he might not even need an answer. How many times did he tell himself the same thing back home? She doesn't need him, and yet he'd drop everything for her — isn't that just the joke of it all for people like them. ]

[Closing her claws around the Pikachu doll, Shoka considers that question in silence. Why is she here? She's already been told that Noelle will be all right. Even so, she needed to linger and keep watch, just to be there when Noelle woke up again—just in case she'd find a chance to see her or at least make things better for her, or something. Even if Noelle doesn't need her; even if Noelle told her outright that she...]

Good question.

[Suddenly she moves, drawing herself up and lurching out of the corner she'd tucked herself away into. She has no legs, but she still seems to stumble, swaying and teetering on the foot of her body as she shambles toward where she (incorrectly) thinks the nearest exit is. The skirts of her form flare out in wider, erratic shapes to right her when she comes close to falling, but her gait remains slow and unsteady.]

[ Shit. ]

Hu — hold on. [ Honestly, what was he expecting. He's almost too stunned to follow after his fumble, but seeing her stumble away snaps him out of it. ] Shoka, wait.

[ Whereas before he would have thought twice about reaching for her, he does so now without hesitation. Paw gently at the shoulder of her disguise, he tries to hold her back, but more importantly, help keep her steady. ]

Look, I don't know what's going on between you two, but I know what's going on with you, and... [ He pauses with the realization that he's veering right into territory he has no right to speak on. ] You're allowed to care about her. Even if she — even if you don't think she needs it.

[ That said, Shoka does look like she needs a break from this place for a while. They both do. ]

[Under the layer of fabric separating her from his paw, something lurches and squirms—but she stops moving, at least, rooted to the spot on contact.]

Oh—I'm allowed? Gee, thanks for not tossing me in Pokéjail for that one, detective. For all the good it does...

[She's completely useless. Couldn't help Noelle, can't do anything now... Might as well push Bigby around, too, while she's at it. It wasn't enough that she almost got him frozen to death along with Siffrin, was it?]

[ He snaps a tired response without thinking: ] Yeah, Shoka, you're allowed. Want me to say it a third time?

[ Bigby immediately winces at himself right after. He can't do that. Not right now. Not with her. ]

... Even if she doesn't need you, that's not going to stop how you feel. Neither is punishing for yourself for it. [ Suddenly he's worried all over again. He never thought about how hard it is, watching someone close themselves off like he's so prone to do. ] Just... just let yourself have this. Let yourself care.

Maybe that's what you need right now.

[She shivers and scoffs.]

What I need? [Who cares about that?] I'm not the one in a coma right now.

And yet, you still look like shit.

[ Again, there's probably a better way to put that, but when he's not looking too hot himself, it should be obvious he's speaking in solidarity at this point. ]

Shoka, it's hard. I know it's hard. [ He has to be emphatic despite his exasperation. ] You don't deserve to beat yourself up over whatever happened, and honestly? I'm not in the mood to argue otherwise. You think I'm only here for Noelle?

[Her only acknowledgement of his first comment is a derisive snort. And at his last (You think I'm only here for Noelle?), there it is again: that pang of annoyance tinged with fondness.]

If you know so much, then—!

[She whirls around to face him—too fast. She isn't sure how she even intended to finish that sentence (Then why didn't you do more for her? Then you know you're just saying that? Then you know I do deserve it?) because her head spins with her, sending the words flying right out of it. Static floods the visible parts of her form, fluttering over her eyes; she lurches again, nearly careening into him before she manages to right herself.]

Then—... Then what am I supposed to do now? Other than—care...

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(Mingle Log/Open Prompts) found

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

maybe some day...

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