It was only a matter of time before she’d be able to do something with the Nexus.
For now, they had another 6 days for themselves. An Isolation Sphere would’ve done wonders, but Jury didn’t have much Nex left, and neither did the triplets. No one knew how much Nex Jury required daily. It could’ve been a million for all they knew, so her remaining 20 million Nex was strictly kept aside.
Slowly but surely as time elapsed within the Floor of Amalgamation, Frost could vaguely understand what Anna meant about ‘feeling’ the Advent. For the first time in a while, she managed to dream. A part of her was afraid that her night would be plagued by nightmares. That she’d tumble and turn through mental turmoil.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
She imagined that same confectionary paradise again. The cupcakes. The sweets. The tasty treats oozing with delicious jelly. But at the same time, her mind took her back to the ancient past. The old facility that housed GEN-00 took up half of her dream as she recalled cold, metal hands cusping her when she was just…
… a speck of light?
“… so… cramped…”
Cracks of light sept into her vision. A groggy Frost awoke sleeping on something soft for once. Her back didn’t need it, but it thanked her and Jury’s tail for offering her such comfort. Her hair was amiss, with stray strands glued to her mouth. A part of her was tempted to just eat it, as she couldn’t be bothered to swat them away.
She groaned lightly, trying to shift lightly as she felt many warm limbs hold her down.
She woke up that morning surrounded by familiar faces. Arms latched onto her. Legs were curled around her body. Tails coiling around her face like fluffy snakes. Jury’s tail wrapped around them all, creating a giant nest as a tended symphony of adorable snores filled the air.
It was a treat for the eyes.
A cleanser for the soul.
Snap also found itself snuggled within the bunch, where the Hired Arm leaned against, half-swallowed by the fur. Surprisingly, even that eternally stoic Alter Frost could find the time to rest.
Was it because she – the ‘main’ Frost – went to sleep? How closely connected were they to begin with? Not that it mattered right now. She was just happy to see that even they had their own needs, as far as she could tell.
I don’t want to get up… but I can’t go back to sleep either. Ugh. I became everyone’s body pillow, huh? Not that I mind.
Jury latched the closest to her, monopolizing more than half of Frost’s body as she embraced her like a child with a stuffed teddy bear. Being smothered by her lover’s soft flesh was utter bliss.
Cer drooled into Frost’s shoulder, as Ber rested her head on Frost’s stomach, whilst Res’ tail wrapped around her wrist. Ignis’ head silently snored on the other side of her belly, and Anna kept just one hand close.
Nav, the Star Child and the Innocent were missing.
As much as she wanted to remain snuggled in her possessive embrace, she was curious as to where those three disappeared to. Slowly, she gently struggled herself free, silently apologizing with tender whispers.
Thanks to her ability to see seconds ahead in the future, she was able to determine which movements would rouse them awake. Finally, once she slipped through, several made dejected, annoyed faces in their sleep once they lost the beloved touch of their black dove, causing her to giggle softly before she swept the landscape with her eyes.
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And there, sitting atop a lonely rock was a certain pale-blue haired woman.
On her lap rested the sleeping heads of the Star Child and the Innocent. Nav didn’t require sleep, and she simply sat there watching the sun rise and cast its warm light across the Floor with her back turned towards them.
She watched the lovely hues above turn from a deep shade of purple into soft orange and pinks. Though she was surrounded by the beauty of nature, she existed in her own realm, separate from the organic world.
What was going on in her mind? Frost could read people and their hearts now, but Nav was a being who did not possess one physically. Nav existed in a strange form of solitude for there was so little she could understand in spite of her libraries of knowledge. So little that she could experience because of depraved senses.
A barefooted Frost approached her. The scrunching of the grass beneath was loud, but Nav didn’t respond. She was captivated by the beauty of the natural world, and she then looked down upon herself and the two children in her lap before she suddenly asked the wind and the dancing flowers:
“Stars don’t fall. But the sun rises and sets. The knowledge flowing within my circuitry understands how the world must work. The orders that govern it. Experiencing it is different… I had a dream of cupcakes. But I could not taste them.”
Nav paused, as if waiting for a response.
She knew who approached, or at least made a calculative guess.
“I had a similar dream too. A world of confectionary. Then it was back into that facility. What’s on your mind, Nav? I’m here to listen to anything you want to say or get off your chest.” Frost joined her as Nav slowly shared eye contact briefly, simply to acknowledge her presence before setting her gaze back into the ascending sun.
“Is ‘good morning’ not the appropriate greeting?” Nav questioned, becoming stubbornly serious all of a sudden.
“Right. Sorry. Good morning, Nav.”
“Good morning. Did you want to hear how I spent my night?”
“Go ahead.” Frost found a spot on the boulder to join her, but not before asking: “May I?”
“If you are comfortable sitting here, then you may. I pondered the significance of my existence. Translating thoughts into words is difficult as you can see. There is a myriad of things I cannot grasp, but I feel like exposing myself in such away will help me to understand these things.”
Nav, weirdly, was sometimes able to eloquently put her thoughts into words, but when things seemed to take a sentimental turn, she’d lose that ability, like she was flustered.
“Stimuli are limited. I am so close to a piece of a star, and I bask in that sunlight, but I cannot describe the warmth for my senses feel lost.”
“Do you feel like you’re losing your senses?”
“Partially, I believe. My sense of touch is dwindling. I knew my wish was incomplete. But I didn’t understand the implications of it. I should be happy that I exist. But…”
Nav brushed the hair of the Star Child and the Innocent lovingly in each hand. For some reason, they were attached to her. Each stroke caused both children great joy, and it caused Nav’s eyes to shimmer pleasantly.
“… I yearn to make a similar face. I yearn for another bite of the cupcake. I remember taking this light into my palms. Space is cold. But it embraces countless lights. Do you think space itself would want to be embraced too?”
“I think everyone wants to be embraced. Thinking too big might not be a good thing for you. I’ve said before, but let’s focus on the smaller things. I know it might be hard for you, but I’m here.” Frost got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Nav’s cold frame, pressing herself closely against her body.
This caused Nav to warmly smile, as if she could feel Frost’s warmth. The beating of her drumming heart brought Nav to ease as she kept both tiny, Frost look-alikes close. Now that she thought about it, the Star Child was basically a negative-colored version of the Innocent.
The Star Child likely represented that small, captured light within that black sphere.
“I won’t lie to you, Nav. It’s hard for me to understand exactly how you feel. But if it’s hurting or bothering you, then I don’t want you to stop complaining. One day, we’ll find the Piece of the Fallen Star again and complete your wish. Until then, let’s make the most of things. I’ll stay here for as long as you want.”
“I appreciate it.” Nav’s chest tingled. “My attunement with the Blessing is growing steadily. It won’t be long before I can reveal your stats. I’m sure they’re splendid…”
She suddenly trailed off, twisting her body to look at the now rousing others, who complained in groans with phrases like: “Where’s my Frost?” (Jury), “No way… M-my dream of someone eating Frost came true!?” (Cer), “… cold…” (Ignis), “Mom…?” (Res).
It made Frost laugh.
Then, after a short moment of silence, and as the warmth of the sun embraced them both, Nav concluded with:
“I wish I could shape my thoughts into tiny bite-sized pieces and dip them into a fountain of chocolate fondue. Would that make my thoughts easier to digest? I’m certain that it would."