hadriel | ✫ 005 [VIDEO]

[When the video starts up, Alphys is seen behind her desk, though there's something odd- the Lab is lit, though not with it's typical lights. Rather, there seems to be some sort of warm light source just out of frame above her that she's sitting directly in the center of. In the background, there's a bit of a hum that pervades the otherwise semi-quiet atmosphere.]

Hey, so, uhm... b-back when we were on the island, I was worried about going to this planet because, uh, I'm cold blooded? Sort of. I'm mostly magic but I don't really take cold super well because of the, uhm, makeup of the kind of monster I am, and-- uhhh forgetaboutit.

[She reaches forward to take the device, tilting it upwards to reveal some sort of rolling lamp like device that seems to be admitting the orange glow. It's craned over her head, the pole now visible having sat just off camera.]

I asked Hope for a heat lamp? And uh, well, that was good, except now we don't have power. But uhm, Sorrow told me I needed to make the computer more secure a while ago, so he gave me a generator, and... it took a, uh, couple of days, but n-now it's all hooked up!

[She tilts the camera to show there's a cord that's running along the floor from the rolling lamp to a generator just off the side of her desk, behind the computer- seems to be the source of the humming.]

So, uh... good news, I have some power. Bad news is, I don't know how long it'll last. That's where you all come in!

[Alphys brings the camera closer to her face, giving it a smile, despite still looking nervous about this whole prospect.]

I can offer the lab as a place to warm up. It's not big, but it's... something? And in exchange, I need help filling up the generator. It's meant to run on electricity and magic, but I think it could be sustained on magic alone, if someone would be willing to, uh... donate some? If that's p-possible. I really don't know if it is but maybe if someone's up for some, uh, experimentation. I promise, it's completely safe. Really. Just a generator.

[That's probably not reassuring. Her smile has become a little strained, but she just closes by rapidly waving, maybe ending the whole thing too soon.]

Okay so anyway come by the Lab if you can help or if you're just super cold and I can share okaythanksbye--

[She grabs for the device to shut it off, where a few people might catch the last, quiet line.]

Ohmygosh when are the gods coming back--

[ooc: a few more mod-related details of the generator can be found here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay, but if that fails too...

[He can definitely do it. As for the offer, he gives a faint hint of a smile; it's really more a lightly neutral expression, but for him that's a lot.]

I appreciate the thought, but you should focus on having enough power for yourself and any of the others who might need it. My battery is meant to last for some time at much higher levels of activity than I've been using, so I'm not at any risk right now.

[She smiles back, putting a hand to her chest in flattery.]

I-- I'll take your word for it, and. R-Remember the offer if I really need it. But only if you let me know if you're in trouble, okay? I want to make sure nothing happens to, uhm, to you too.

I will tell you if I need help.

[He even mostly means it when he makes the promise, which is a lot more than he mean most promises. But it's really nice to know someone genuinely cares, and it makes him more inclined to be honest and show her that respect.]

In the meantime, is there anything you need from the stores that you're unable to go looking for yourself?

[Because he needs something to do and if it's something useful all the better.]

[Good! He should mean it and also know Alphys means it when she cares. That's the thing about monsters- they're made of love and happiness and connections. It would probably be impossible for her not to care.]

Uhm... well, I don't think anything's r-replenishing right now, so. I don't want to take things from anyone that needs them. I have some food here, and blankets, so uh, with the heat lamp, I should be okay. Probably. With food supplies so low a-across the board, I'd, uhm, feel bad taking more when I already have some...

[He doesn't respond immediately, giving a 'just a moment' gesture and cutting the feed; he's not about to try to argue with her about whether or not she deserves to have more of food supplies or anything else, and instead--

Instead, about twenty-five minutes later, he wanders into the Lab and sets a small tote bag near Alphys.]

Hello. I had some supplies I didn't need.

[It's half true; the blankets in there are from the two beds in his apartment, since he uses neither, but the few cans of food were scavenged out of the shops with the help of his scanner. He'll just pretend he'd had them in his apartment for appearances, and with how hidden they'd been in the shops they probably wouldn't have been found otherwise anyway. So no harm done, right?]

[She honestly doesn't know what she's expecting. He just sort of cuts her off, moves on, and she tries to forget about the anxiety clawing at her that she's made him angry. All she can do is just-- keep doing what she was doing. Finding ways to keep the generator running and the lights on.

So he kind of takes her by surprise when he just walks in with supplies, and she looks between the bag and him, opening and closing her mouth a few times.]

I. Y-- I don-- ohmygod.

[Alphys sighs, shoulders dropping as she looks up at him.]

You... y-you really didn't need to, uhm. I hope it wasn't an inconvenience? Or difficult, or, uh. Yeah. You're okay, right?

It wasn't any sort of inconvenience.

[He tries to assure her of that as much as possible with his tone, because it's definitely the truth. It didn't even slightly inconvenience him, and in fact--]

I'm finding... I'm finding that having something to do is helpful.

[He messes with a sleeve a little as he says it, glancing away briefly, but then looks back and refocuses.]

Is it too cold for you to travel outside at all?

[Is she stuck here?]

[She gives him a sheepish little smile, trying to accept this. It's... he wanted to. If it wasn't her, it'd be someone else. She can accept that. He wants to be kind, and that's the kind of quality she wants to see in as much as possible.]

Well, it's... I can g-go outside, but I need something heated to continue on. I make a little bit of my own heat, but it's not enough without, uhm, something supplementary. So if I, uhm, heat up some coats and blankets, I can make it some distance.

[She's kind of cursing herself for not asking Hope for shoes, but she usually doesn't need them! She basically never wears shoes! What's the point!]

But I mean, uh... where else would I even go, uh, a-anyway? I've been basically living out of the Lab since we were split on the islands, so. I guess it's okay.

✫ 005 [VIDEO]

[Video--Private]

[Video--Private]

[Video--Private]

[Video--Private]

[Action because Connor is a menace]

[action, i love him]

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