Without a Doubt
by Cryptographic DeLurk
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AN: This is a series of post-True Pacifist Route ficlets. There will be both major and minor character POVs. As more are added, a plot should start to emerge. This story is not very happy, and I cannot promise a happy or sad ending. I'll keep you updated as we progress.
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Chapter 01: Endogeny
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Endogeny slobbered ferociously onto the carpet. Its orifices were leaking froth all over the plush white flooring. Doggo had just arranged for the carpet's installation, and Endogeny felt vaguely guilty for messing it up so quickly, but it was just so happy.
Greater Dog licked behind Endogeny's ear and made his happy face. Endogeny returned the favour. Greater Dog barked happily and went to fetch a couple of dog treats from the cupboard. He set them out on the carpet, so they could play-fight over them. They growled menacingly at each other and nipped at each other's heels, before Endogeny sent out its feelers and absorbed the treats whole. Greater Dog took this in good grace and went to the cupboard to fetch a couple more treats for himself.
So content and happy and slobbery Endogeny was, it didn't even smell Dogamy and Dogaressa returning home from their jobs. But, when the door slammed open, Endogeny perked up immediately and bounded off to greet them. Dogamy and Dogaressa nuzzled each other's' noses briefly before reaching down to pet Endogeny. Endogeny turned easily into their paws and wagged its feelers. That dogs could pet other dogs – it really was a whole new world...
Dogamy and Dogaressa were distracted, though. Dogaressa leaned in to nuzzle Dogamy's nose again.
"I just don't understand why?" she said. "You've been trying your best at your new job, haven't you? Why would they fire you like that?!"
Dogamy's eyes drooped sadly.
"They said it was a problem... the way I slobbered over the security monitors... I..."
"But you always made sure to clean up after yourself, right?!" Dogaressa insisted. When Dogamy nodded, her eyes narrowed. "Why, this is discrimination!" she said. "They should be happy to have a great dog like you on security detail! A monster that's able to sniff out danger ahead of time! Why, at my job they appreciate me! They're always saving me the leftovers from the hotel restaurant, and packing them in doggy bags for me to take home."
Dogaressa lifted up the plastic bag she had brought with her. Endogeny could smell bits of steak and baked ziti, and leaned in covetously toward the bag. In the next room, Greater Dog could no doubt smell it too. He barked to beckon them further inside.
Dogaressa ignored them both. She swung the leftovers out of reach.
She shook her head at her husband sadly. "Oh, if only the hotel had another job for you." Her eyes narrowed. "You should go talk to your bosses again, though. Or hire a lawyer. If their company is inhospitable to monsters, then-"
"No, no..." Dogamy sighed. He looked down at the floor pitifully. "Part of it was that I was so sad to be apart from you," he admitted. "I may have spent too much time whining and whimpering to... feel comfortable demanding my job back."
"Oh, puppy..." Dogaressa said, as if she could not decide whether she was annoyed or touched. "I just don't know what we'll do," she said. "Rent and living expenses are all so much..."
"Well, at least we have one less mouth to feed."
Endogeny whined.
"Don't let Doggo hear you say that!" Dogaressa warned.
"Let me hear what?!" Doggo stuck his face out of his room suddenly.
Dogaressa and Dogamy both jumped, and then tried to hold themselves still.
"Don't pretend you're not there!" Doggo snarled. "What don't you want me to hear?! That Lesser Dog found somebody to pet her! And to play fetch with her! And attach a leash and take her on walks! That Lesser Dog found a loving owner, and abandoned us! And I'm just a scary dog that no human's ever going to like?!"
"We didn't say any of those things," Dogaressa said.
"Would you like me to pet you?" Dogamy asked curiously, reaching up to scratch at his chin with his paw.
Doggo pulled angrily at his spiked collar. It hadn't made the statement he intended it to. He ignored the Dogi and his eyes set on Endogeny, who was convulsing rapidly and leaking froth all over the carpet.
"And you! Mom-Dad-Uncle-Cousin-thing ! Stop messing all over the carpet!" he barked before retreating back into his room and slamming the door shut.
Endogeny whimpered sadly. It curled in on itself and let out a stream of slobber from one orifice.
"Don't talk to Mom & Dad like that!" Dogaressa shouted at the closed door.
Dogamy patted his wife's back.
"Go easy on him," Dogamy said. "He's having a hard time adjusting… And you know how much he wanted somebody to take him for walks…"
"Oh I'll take him for walks!" Dogaressa snipped. "I know he's upset. That doesn't give him the right to shout like that."
Dogamy reached down to pet Endogeny again. It made Endogeny feel a little better.
"Maybe we can all go to visit Lesser Dog," Dogamy suggested. "It might help clear the air... And maybe her human will know another human that will look after Doggo."
"Maybe…" Dogaressa said. "But we won't be able to take Endogeny with us… you know how afraid the humans are of it… I wish we could take it outside."
"Maybe someday we will…" Dogamy suggested. "Maybe someday they'll understand it's not dangerous. It's only our relative."
Dogaressa sighed, like she didn't really believe that could ever happen.
Greater Dog stuck his head out from around the corner. He eyed Dogaressa's doggy bag and made a goofy face.
Dogaressa seemed to remember herself. She handed the leftovers over to her husband. "Do you mind getting the dog bowls out, and dividing this up for me?" she asked. "We can talk about how to find you a new job over dinner!"
Dogamy nodded chivalrously and hustled off to the kitchen, followed by an eager Greater Dog.
Endogeny lagged behind, though. He crawled after Dogaressa as she made her way into the sitting room. She walked over and adjusted the trophy sitting on the mantle. #1 Nose Nuzzle Champions it read.
"We're all having trouble adjusting…" She turned to Endogeny. "I wish I could ask you for advice, mother."
Endogeny undulated and reached out a feeler, but it didn't know what to say.
Endogeny greatly enjoyed the leftover steak they had for dinner, even though there wasn't enough of it. It less enjoyed being left alone in the apartment on the weekend, when the others went to visit Lesser Dog at her new home.
Endogeny slobbered and cried and peed on the carpet. It felt very lonely. And when crying for its relatives did no good, it cried for Lemon Bread and Reaper Bird and Alphys and Popato Chisps.