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It had been a solid week, or so Mot was sure it had been, since the ill fated field trip. Only a day had passed but that one day had effected all the students so much deeper than a day should ever do. Mot had been anti social during that time. Not so much becasue he wanted to be, but his injuries prevented him from going outside unless it was nighttime. In fact, the reaper had used that time to rest and recover. Somehow, in that week, he'd slept more than he had in years. His insomnia and vivid nightmares made it so his sleeping was erratic, but the point of the matter is he did sleep.

However, the oversleeping he wasn't used to had made him groggy and out of it. And after a week had passed, and most of his injuries had healed, a thought finally occurred to him; he had not heard from Lizzy since the trip.
He had many friends he worried about, but as usual Lizzy popped into his mind first.

Mot texted the ghoul before heading outside toward the Demon Dorms. He was relieved that the orange glow of the Pumpkin sun no longer burned his eyes, making his walk much nicer than expected.

Mot reached Lizzy's door, giving it a few knocks. "Lizzy? It's Mot."

No answer? Mot checked his phone to see if maybe she had replied, but nothing. Perhaps she wasn't in. Or maybe she was... with Mac. That was likely. After such a horrible trip, she would want to be with him. It made sense. She belonged with her boilfriend. He'd even given the pair his own blessing at Prom, really. Then why after all that did it only feel wrong now?

Mot shook his head. Maybe she was just sleeping? He hesitated, not wishing to disturb her if she was sleeping. Suddenly Mot felt very self-conscious. Was she there and just not answering? Did she not want to see him?

The grim reaper frowned at that thought, lightly tapping the door again.. and again.. and again.

Another thought hit him. Did Lizzy.. even make it? Or had she... No.. she couldn't have ended up like Red! But now the seed was sprout in his mind, and Mot became frantic. "L-Lizzy? Please answer the door!"

Mot was relieved as Lizzy finally answered the door, despite the fact she seemed so small, so horridly grim looking. At least she was alive. However, the blanket enveloping her fell away, revealing a very upset Lizzy. Mot's brows furrowed in concern. He didn't need to ask. He'd been on that trip.

Mot's arms quickly wrapped around Lizzy, holding her closely and petting her hair. It was just so good to see her safe and sound. "I was so worried. I'm sorry I didn't visit sooner." Perhaps he should have texted her or something, but honestly, he had been so out of it the whole week it hadn't occurred to him.

He couldn't ask if she was okay, if she felt better. It seemed redundant. Time had passed, but even Mot still felt like s**t. Sure, he'd been netted at some point, but Lizzy had suffered the terror of being held prisoner.

Selfish? Lizzy was a wonderful and caring ghoul. Mot would never use the S word to describe her. She must just be feeling awful from her ordeal. Mot could not bring himself to think less of her. He let her return to her room, and of course he followed, closing the door behind himself.
He didn't mind that she crawled back to bed. If she was comfortable, that was fine. Still, he was not ready to leave until she was properly talked to.

Mot's hand grazes his eyelids after Lizzy asked about them. The welts were mostly gone, and his eyes barely had any red in them. He'd healed up nicely after a week's worth of rest. "They're okay now. I can go outside again." Hence his being here.

"This may sound dumb but, how are you holding up?"

Mot hesitated at first, but soon stepped over to Lizzy's bed, sitting on the edge. "Me neither.." It had felt like an eternity of fighting, loss and hardship. At the time it had felt like it would never end, that he would be trapped there forever. Even now, as days had passed, Mot felt like it still crept behind him, clawing at his back and tickling his neck; the memories and the pain.

Mot knew how Lizzy felt. He'd been having the same problem. "Sleep when you can, really." Mot wasn't certain Lizzy even wanted advice. She just needed a shoulder, perhaps. "I'm not sure if they'll go away any time soon.. if at all.." Oh great, that was not even remotely comforting. Sleeping was always hard for Mot, now it was akin to Russian Roulette. What nap would be peaceful, and what one would make him wake in a cold sweat, or screaming.

"But..um.. You know? You have your friends, Lizzy. We're all alive. Maybe we're not well, or whole, but we're here."

Mot tensed, looking down as Lizzy took his hands and cupped them in between her own. The gesture made his heart pitter patter. Lizzy was always so soft, gentle. A perfect ghoul.

"We're fine.. oh." Mot had almost forgotten the spat they had gotten into. Was that the last Lizzy had seen of their interactions? "It's okay. I apologized to her soon after that.. um.. yeah." He had been harsh to Hel, and he made sure to clear up his mistake.

"She.. she did." Mot answered bashfully, even blushing. As light as the blush was, his pale skin always gave it away. Hel had seen him in a very weak and vulnerable state; during the trip, and that night of his first bad nightmare. She'd even made him breakfast, though they did have a small fight. However, it was not a fight against each other.

Andd.. right. The new hat.

"Lizzy, she.. made me a new hat. To replace the one I lost." Mot smiled fondly, taking back one of his hands to point at the leather strap around his neck, dangling and attaching to a hat slung behind his neck.

Mot's eyes widened as Lizzy suddenly returned to her usual peppy self thanks to his hatlessness. He was happy to see her smile again. So, so happy.
Still, her enthusiasm made him glow another shade of red. His shoulders rose and tensed.

He made her smile.. all the time.

Mot grinned, a feeling overwhelming him knowing he made Lizzy feel better. "Y-yeah?" He smiled bashfully now, averting his gaze for a moment. "Well.. I just.. I don't know.. I just feel like I don't need it on all the time anymore." Was.. he growing stronger?

So then it was true. Mot really had grown. He hadn't even thought much about it, but somehow, he felt like the hat did not need to hide him anymore.

Grown, yes, but not completely.

The idea of battling a ghoul was a big weakness. It was one he was painfully aware of. One that he and Hel agreed to work on. And here Lizzy herself was asking for a duel.
Oh sweet Sally.
Lizzy asks, Lizzy gets. That was usually how Mot felt about things. Still, he visibly seemed to battle himself with this. A gentlemen does not strike a lady. There was no better example of a lady than in Lizzy.

"...I promise. After my exams, and i become a Knob, you and I will duel." He would have to eventually. This was one other personal flaw he needed to tackle. Would Hel be proud? Or would she be mad that he was fighting Lizzy and not her?