Chapter Text
Carol Holiday had left town for a few days, leaving Noelle home alone. This could be the perfect time to invite some friends over for a sleepover. It would be fun, wouldn't it? Plus, as long as Noelle cleaned everything up afterwards, her mother would never know! And, it was pretty boring without anyone to talk to.
Noelle made up her mind quickly and grabbed her phone. She invited Kris, Susie, and Berdly to come over for a sleepover. A few minutes later, they had all said yes. Noelle hastily left to go make a large snack tray, although knowing Susie would end up eating everything.
Around thirty minutes later, Berdly arrived with his Nintendo Switch and two controllers, along with the rest of his stuff. "Greetings, Noelle. I have brought some games for the two of us."
Oh shoot! Noelle forgot to tell everyone that they weren't the only ones invited. "Oh, dear! I forgot to tell you, Berdly, but I also invited Susie and Kris. I hope you don't mind!"
Berdly glanced around. "Why do you even hang out with those two? Well, moreso Susie. Kris has potential, but her? She's a waste of your time."
"Berdly! That isn't nice! Friendship isn't just based off of someone's grades." Noelle crossed her arms angrily.
Berdly sighed. "I apologize. Just don't let her.. behaviors.. rub off on you, please."
She uncrowded her arms and gave a soft smile at Berdly. "Thank you, apology accepted." She paused. "And maybe just a few behaviors?"
Berdly shook his head. "Fine."
Their conversation was interrupted by Kris and Susie entering the home rather obnoxiously.
"Hey Noelle!" Susie burst into the room. Kris followed behind quietly.
"I-uh- Hi Susie!" Noelle waved politely.
"Hello, Susan." Berdly grit his beak ('cause y'know.. he's a bird.)
"Oh hell no." Susie stared intensely at Berdly.
"Oh." Kris followed suit.
Noelle interrupted the intense staring contest by offering snacks. Susie quickly scampered to the living room and began devouring the tray.
The deer cleared her throat shyly. "Thank you guys for coming. I apologize for forgetting to tell you who would be here. I hope it's not too inconvenient for you?"
"'Course not." Kris sat on the floor next to Noelle's living room couch. For some reason, they always preferred the floor to the sofa, no matter who's house they were in.
Susie and Berdly stared each other down again. Noelle, wanting to lift the mood, began thinking of games to play. A few minutes later, she spoke up, breaking the intense silence.
"Hey, uh, how about we play, uhm, some silly sleepover games? Like Truth or Dare? Or something?" The deer twiddled her hooves nervously.
Susie broke eye contact quickly, attention shifting to Noelle's suggestion. "..Sure."
Noelle clapped her hooves a few times and sat on the couch. "Does everyone else agree?"
Kris nodded. Berdly gave a reluctant, "I suppose."
"Yay! Okay, who wants to ask first?" Noelle gazed around, Susie quickly raising her hand.
"ME! Kris, Truth or Dare?"
"Dare." Kris quietly spoke.
Susie grinned smugly. "I dare you to jump out that window AND stick the landing!"
Noelle cut in. "Susie, don't you think that's a bit dangerous-"
Before she could continue, Kris was already jumping. They did a few somersaults, and sure enough, stuck the landing.
"Heh.. I could totally do that too." Susie glanced around nervously while Noelle went to the backdoor to let Kris back in.
Berdly finally decided to pitch in with his unwanted opinion. "How utterly foolish! Though, I'd expect nothing less of you two."
Kris rolled their eyes. "Berdly, Truth or Dare?"
Berdly was caught off guard by being asked so soon. "Uh.. Truth. I am not about to go jumping out of a window."
"Weenie." Susie snickered.
Berdly just scoffed.
Kris thought of a question for a minute, eventually breaking out into a mishevious grin, picking a question they knew would piss Berdly off. "How often do you cheat in Dragon Blazers II?"
The bluebird gasped dramatically. "Excuse me?! How dare you even think I would cheat! If anything, you are the cheater, with your stupid wave-dashing!"
"Ooh, ruffled some feathers, did I?" Kris put their hand on Berdly's head and literally ruffled his feathers.
Berdly swatted their hand away and smoothed down his head. "Shut up."
"Whatever. Your turn now, birdie." The human sat back down on the floor.
"I suppose it'd only make sense for me to ask Noelle." The bird turned to look at the deer. "Noelle, truth or dare?"
"Um.. dare?" Noelle said nervously.
Berdly put great thought into his dare. "I dare you to.. uh.. have Susie give you a dare because I am too kind to give you one!" In reality, he just couldn't think of anything.
Noelle blinked. "Uh.. okay. S-Susie, I guess you have to give me a dare now."
Susie grinned. "K bet." She paused. "I dare you to refill this snack tray."
The deer sighed (mostly of relief) and took the tray back to the kitchen.
(Kris POV)
The throbbing in their chest got heavier as Noelle left, leaving the three of them in silence, due to no one knowing what to say. They could feel the SOUL attacking their ribcage, begging to speak. Kris subtly pounded on their chest, demanding it to stop. It didn't. Kris excused themselves for a moment and went to the living room closet.
In the closet, they ripped out the SOUL, pain coursing through their body. "STOP. Leave me alone." They whisper-yelled at the SOUL, throwing it into an empty box. "Stay in here or you're sleeping in the cage for the next week, you hear me?!"
The SOUL pouted. "Fine, whatever. Just tell me what happens, pleeeaaaassseee?"
Kris left without saying another word.
(Everyone's POV)
Noelle noticed Kris leaving her living room closet with a slight limp. She didn't think much of it, though. They were weird, anyway.
"Noelle's turn." Kris sat back down in front of the couch.
"Oh, I suppose it is. Um, Susie, truth or dare?" Noelle gazed at her.
"Dare."
"I dare you to get along with Berdly for the rest of the night!" Noelle smiled.
"Fuck." Susie leaned back against the couch.
Berdly scoffed. "I am not that bad!"
Susie shushed him. "Yes you are."
"No I am not!"
"Are too."
"No!"
"Yup."
"Nuh uh!"
"Yes you are."
"Ugh! Whatever, I'm too good for this argument!" Berdly rolled his eyes.
"Susie, you already lost." Kris grinned.
"Bro fuck this." Susie perched her head on her palm. "You guys wanna do something else?"
"Sure."