Metal

Alphys sat at her desk, tapping the surface with her claws. She scratched her scales, she fiddled with her glasses, and she quivered in fear.

What if they aren't coming? What if they backed out after all this time? Maybe they were pitying me all this time? Oh my god, I'm an idiot, this was all a lie, wasn't it. Oh god, oh god, oh god…

She looked to her escalator and swallowed her sadness. "I-it's fine, I can just dismantle the body and use it for spare parts. Something will come up-"

Suddenly, a voice caught Alphys from behind.

"Hi there, darling."

Alphys jumped and turned around, sweat covering her brow, cheeks, and entire body. "Gah! H-Happstablook, don't sneak up on me! I-I thought… maybe… you had given up on me…"

Floating behind the lizard-like scientist was a ghost who had styled his black, gaping eyes to have eyelashes akin to those of humans. "Given up on you? Darling, why would I ever do that?"

If you knew the truth, you'd give up on me. Anyone would. It's all right, though, because you don't. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine…

"It… doesn't matter! Anyway, I have a big surprise for you! I-I might have… well… uh… why don't I just show you?"

The ghost gave Alphys a patient smile. "Alphys, it's fine. Let's see what you've got for me, darling."

"G-got, no, it's more… let's go!"

Alphys rushed towards her escalator and rode it up to her workshop on the top floor. Lying on her desk was a metallic rectangle, complete with a screen, dials, a wheel, and two arms. Happstablook floated close by, but upon seeing the design, raised an ethereal eyebrow.

"Darling? What is this?"

Alphys tried her hardest not to burst into tears. "H-Happstablook, th-th-this is… this is… your prototype body! I know it's not much, but I swear I'll get working on it, and eventually I'll make it look human, I just need-"

"-it's fine, Alphys. So, this thing can be inhabited by ghosts? May I?"

Alphys let loose a crooked grin of relief. "Oh! You like it? B-because I didn't work for eighteen hours straight trying to complete it, I just did it in my spare time, I swear-"

By the time she had finished babbling, however, the body was already occupied. Its long, snaking arms pushed its rectangular body upright, and its wheel retracted for the time being to allow for balance. The screen flickered orange and red, and it hauled itself around to look at Alphys.

"HOW DO I LOOK, DARLING?"

Alphys's mouth gaped in awe. Sweat was practically coating her body, and her glasses were fogged up. "Oh my god… it's worked… you're actually… oh my god, I did it! I did it! Happstablook, I made you a body! I DID IT! I REALLY DID IT!"

"OHHH YES! I'M FINALLY ABLE TO BECOME A STAR! DARLING, WHEN WILL THIS BODY BE ABLE TO BE MORE HUMAN?"

Alphys quivered. If I tell him how easy it would be, he might leave me. I can't tell him that. He's already willing to leave his cousin over a great body, what if he leaves me behind too?

"S-soon, Happstablook. S-soon. You can leave the body okay, right?"

The ghost emerged from the machine, and once again the robot became limp.

"Yeah, for now. But once I hit the stage, darling, I think I'm going to become attached. Alphys… I've got to tell Blooky the good news! Um… not that I think he'll take it well. O-oh well, that's the cost of show business, right?"

Alphys cracked a horrible nervous grin. "R-right! That's show business!"

"I'll return with a stage name, darling! Thanks again! You're simply fabulous, Alphys!"

The scaly scientist felt strangely warm. "Heh… it's fine, Happstablook. Go on, tell Blooky everything, I-I'll be right here! I'll just be… working on some rocket enhancements. Or something! Yeah."

Happstablook gave her a wry grin. "Bye, darling."

With that, he floated out through the wall, and left Alphys to her own devices.

Thank god. He actually liked it. He actually liked it. Now to feed the amalgamates…