Chapter Text
Grocery shopping, a chore that is supposed to be easy. But, not for Nyx. To Nyx The very act of seeing is like scaling a wall with no experience and minimal training. It is certainly no surprise grocery shopping is as strenuous as it is.
They stand before the shelving unit, the rubber grip of their white cane pressing into the palm of their right hand. The rose of colorful packaging shift and blur together in their vision. Nyx squints as the throbbing behind their eyes promises a world of pain in a few hours.
Nyx cannot help silently cursing their mother for knowingly bringing a visually impaired child into the world. After the oldest, achilles, was born, Nyx's mother should've known how much bad of an idea it was to bring another one into this cruel existence.
Nyx internally reminds themself how lonely they're friends would be without them. Who else would Kim rant to about their latest hyper fixation? Who else would Sunny live with, and stay up late with? Certainly, The lives of their friends are better off with them in it. Nyx supposes The price of their vision is a fair trade,
"Breathe," Nyx murmurs, "I have faced a College campus and high school hallways. I can do some shopping."
"I agree!" Someone encourages, it takes Nyx a few heartbeats to realize the newcomer is talking to them. "You can do this, I believen you!"
"Ah...!" Nyx stammers, the loud voice catching them off guard. "Uuu, hi?" Nyx greets, resisting the urge to cringe at their own social ineptitude.
"Hello, human," the stranger replies, "Right! I should introduce myself."
"I am the great Papyrus!" The statement is followed by the wrestling of fabric.
"I'm Nyx," Nyx introduces themself without thinking, turning to look at Papyrus.
Papyrus is a monster, Nyx is blind, but not that blind. He stands far taller than Nyx. To be honest, being taller than Nyx is not exactly an accomplishment. They can make out a red scarf resting neatly on his shoulders. Squinting, they discern some of his skeletal features. Though it is difficult for them to tell if Papyrus is a skeleton or just skeletal.
"It's splendid to meet you, Nyx." Papyrus beams, his scarf billowing in the non-existent breeze.
"Likewise," Nyx replies slowly, not quite knowing how to proceed.
They never know how to carry conversations with strangers, it's one of the reasons why they don't have more friends than they do.
"I see you are having issues with the drying sheets." Papyrus observes, his voice lacing with Curiosity.
"Drying sheets?" Nyx echos, taking a moment to focus on his words and not the hum of the overhead lights. Nyx mentally notes how strange it is that Papyrus mention dryer sheets, an item that should not be in this aisle. "Whait..." it hits them all at once, "I'M NOT EVEN IN THE RIGHT AREA!"
They close their eyes against the flood of embarrassment and frustration threatening to sweep them into a shutdown. They feel really dumb. Nyx brings their free hand up over their eyes.
"You don't intend on being here?" Papyrus inquires, genuinely confused. "Then why are you in this aisle? Did you misread the helpful signs?" He asks, his questions genuine,
"No..." Nyx grones, "I'm looking for the laundry detergent." They peek their eye open, light nudging through their fingers to stab into their eyes, letting out a sigh. "I've got an eye thing," Nyx explains, squeezing their eyes shut once more. "I am legally blind because of it."
Nyx weights, going through the mental catalogue of reactions that were typical.
'How many fingers am I holding up?'
'if you're blind then how can you see?'
'What's that stick?'
'But you don't look blind.'
'so can you see me?'
"Dose that mean, one can be illegally blind?" Papyrus muses, "Can someone go to jail for that?"
Nyx fines themself being caught off guard. He's far from the first person to make a comment like that. But, they hadn't been expecting that.
"What? No," Nyx snorts, they feel a knot in their chest loosen, "It just means that I'm blind, but I have usable vision."
"Yes," Papyrus nods, "I know monsters like that." Nyx squints their eyes open. Papyrus chuckles to himself, "Neh, when we first emerged from the Underground, humans tried to come up with diagnoses, not realizing that some of us monsters are just different."
He clears his throat. "Anyhooslea!" he exclaims, clapping his glove hands together; before Nyx can reply. "You seem like you require some assistance with the quest for the laundry juice!"
"You have no idea." Nyx laughs.
"LET I!" Papyrus booms, striking a pose, one hand, clad in a red glove, resting on his chest. "THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HELP!"
"If it's not too much truble, that would be..." Nyx pauses, thinking for the right word, "Well, great."
"Then let's get started!" Papyrus exclaims, offering his hand. "There is no time for dillydallying, like my lazy brother loves to do when such tasks are afoot!"
Nyx walks side by side with Papyrus, their left hand resting on his elbow to keep pace and to keep track of him. Nyx hates grocery shopping, however, their new skeleton friend makes the task almost fun. Luckily for Nyx, Papyrus is an amazing conversationalist. He talks mostly about puzzles and his older brother. Nyx can't help but listen to every word, especially with how much passion and excitement he uses when talking about both subjects.
Nyx pays for their bounty once the shopping has been completed.
Nyx hesitates, looking back in Papyrus's General direction. They don't give themself time to think before grabbing Papyrus's sleeve to get his attention. The tall skeleton looks down at them, making a questioning noise.
"How about we exchange phone numbers," Nyx blurts, hoping they aren't being weird. This is the second hardest part about making friends, the exchange of information. "You seem like a very cool dude and I'd love to get to know you more!" Nyx adjusts one of the bags slung over there shoulder, the hand that wasn't still holding Papyrus's sleeve, messing with the elastic band on the end of their cane nervously.
To Nyx's surprise, Papyrus lights up as if he has waited all of his life to be asked that question. They Can practically feel his excitement through their fingertips.
"OF COURSE NEW FRIEND!!!" He exclaims, whipping out his phone so fast Nyx can't track the movement. Papyrus clears his non-exsistent Throat, "We MUST get a photo for the contact!"
Nyx agrees and adds, 'PAPYRUS THE GREAT', to their phone a few moments later, They select a picture of a husky puppy for his image on their phone.
Nyx walks away with a smile on their face and a spring in their step. They can't help but feel accomplished and pleasantly drained.
"Sunny is going to be so proud."