MCYT RANDOMNESS 2

Princess Cub pt. 5

There the room is full of light when I wake. The overwhelming exhaustion is gone, but the headache, the parched throat, the lightheadedness, and a mild queasiness all remain. It takes a while to sit up and look around, Scar must’ve cleaned up the vomit, maybe even washed the entire floor. Sunlight streams into the room, the room’s full of the smell of something cooking. There’s a bottle of water on the table next to me, a sick bucket next to the bed.

I grab the bottle of water, taking a sip. It tastes off, the sore throat makes every gulp hurt, and it’s too cold.

‘Oh! Morning Cub!’ Scar enters from the storage room.  ‘How are you feeling?’

‘A little better?’ I reply. He nods, approving.

‘Oh, that’s good… now, I’ll grab us both a nice bowl of soup, perk you up some more, and we can chat.’

‘I’m not hungry.’

‘You still need to eat something, Cub. And it’s some of Pearl’s special cure-all soup, with a little Scar twist because you know I don’t believe in measurements, so it’s good for you as well… be back in just a second with that.’

Scar disappears from the room again and I check the time. It’s 10am, the morning after the party. So I missed it. And more than that, I made Scar miss it. Some part of me is relieved that everything’s over. Another curses me over and over again for ruining everything.

‘Here we go!’

I force a smile as Scar returns, holding 2 bowls of soup. He hands one to me, sitting on the chair next to the bed, and starts eating. I stare down at the floating vegetables, unable to eat it, despite how good Pearl’s recipes and Scar’s cooking are, and how enticing the smell is.

‘So, Cub. What’s going on, and how do I help you?’ Scar asks.

‘Help me?’

‘Help make the party fun for you again.’

In one sentence, Scar’s encapsulated the entire problem I didn’t realise I had. I blink back, trying to find the words to express my shock. And then another question comes to mind.

‘We didn’t miss the party?’

‘I got it postponed, said you weren’t feeling well… the hermits were very happy to wait until you feel better. Physically and mentally. And offered you all their sympathies and support.’

‘Oh.’ is the only answer that comes out.

‘The new date is in a couple weeks, so I have time to make you something else to wear.’ The implication of what Scar said hits.

‘What about princessing?’

‘I figured you weren’t up for it. As I should’ve realised a while ago…’

‘You don’t have to do that for me. I’m fine. I should be fine. I want to do this, I know how much it means to you, Scar. And after Grian’s reaction to his dress… I can’t let you down like that. After all the effort you’ve put into this.’

‘This isn’t about me, Cub!’ insists Scar ‘It’s what you want, and what you are happy with. If you’re not comfortable with Princessing, we won’t do it. If we can find ways to make you comfortable, that’s amazing, but I’m not turning this party into an obligation or a worry for you, Cub. That’s not happening.’

I don’t reply, playing with the soup spoon.

‘So, Cub, is there a way for me to make you comfortable to Princess?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘That’s alright. Maybe we can start by figuring out what you’re uncomfortable or worried about. And have a think about solutions while we enjoy our soup… have some of it, Cub, it’ll make you feel better.

I glance down at the bowl of soup. My stomach growls with hunger, despite me still feeling queasy and I have to start eating. It’s warm, and goes down surprisingly easily, easing my nausea. As I eat, I consider Scar’s question.

‘Well…’ I begin with. ‘Well I’m scared I’ll hate the dress you’ve spent so long making for me.’ I instantly regret my words as I realise how bad that could make Scar feel. But there’s no judgement in his expression. ‘I’m scared that some part of it will trigger memories of the Sculk. I’m scared that everyone will laugh at the dress, or that it’ll make me feel too self-conscious, like everyone's watching and judging me. I’m scared that it’ll show the scars on my arms, or my back, or be too tight, or short, or anything that makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m scared of freaking out at the makeup again. I’m scared of whatever Scott’s doing, because he doesn't know me, or my sensitivities to stuff.’ I pause, trying to find anything else.

‘Is that all?’ Scar ask.

‘That’s most of it.’

‘Well, me and Scott already agreed that I’d put on your makeup, and a lot less than he tried to put on. And we can tell the other Hermits that you’re feeling nervous, and I’m sure they’ll understand and stop talking and joking about it. And if you’re worried about what it looks like… well, you can come and try it on, and you can tell me if something makes you uncomfortable, and then appear at the party pretending to know nothing.

‘I don’t want to cheat my way through this.’

‘Then… do you want some clues instead? Princessing is always changing, the other hermits won’t mind if we add another rule. Maybe you can ask questions, I give you answers?’

‘3 questions.’ I reply, accepting the idea. ‘Yes or no questions. And I still have to wear the dress, and do the makeup, and everything.’

‘Except if you’re still stressed. You come and tell me and we call it all off if at any point you stop enjoying yourself again.’ Scar adds. ‘Ok?’

‘Fine.’

Scar crosses his legs, smiling.

‘So, Cub, ask away.’

I think through questions for ones that’ll answer my worries, but not reveal too much.

‘Is it supposed to be… like…’ I struggle for the right word. ‘Avant-garde, like the dress you made for Grian?’

‘Not in that kind of way, no.’

‘Is it particularly tight or restricting?’

‘Not at all.

‘Uhh… and… is it making fun of me or something I did?’

‘Of course not!’

‘Ok… that does alleviate my worries a lot.’

‘Yeah?’

I nod.

‘I’m so, so, glad, Cub. Now, more soup eating, more recovering. And less sleepless nights with Pearl, or panicking about this dress. Ok?’

‘I’ll try not panic any more.’

‘And the next time you get blackout drunk at the Summoner, we do it together, ok?’

I laugh. ‘Of course.’

‘And know that, seriously, Cub, nothing matters more to me than your safety and happiness. I’m so sorry for letting you get this stressed. But please know I’m here for you. And you can talk to me, and admit when you’re feeling bad, and my feelings will never be hurt by that. You got that, ok?’

‘Ok.’

There will be a part 6.

Officially making this my longest oneshot by number of parts.

We need to actually see Princess Cub at some point.