Cover image credit to Jaime Jasso, Deviantart
The world lives on an apparent calm, unaware of what is happening on its surface.
What happened in one of its cliffs, however, has a ring of miraculous.
It took a journey of a month, back and forth, in search of his place in the framework of existence, but Asgore found much more than just himself.
As the mocking sign of eternal recurrence, the greatest challenge of all monsters and fallen humans looms ahead: to live in pursuit of happiness in the Overworld and its facets.
Nations have fallen, kingdoms were restored, new chivalric and philosophical orders have arisen to defend and understand what secrets are hidden in supercelestial vastness, while megacorporations thrive on the backs of others in a continuous fight against Anarchy and the Mafia.
Faced with ever greater forces than them, the little daily things will become their shield in the slow process of peaceful integration.
Here, where the past mingles with the future in bold and picturesque scenery, amid technological developments, power games, social classes concerns and interests, metaphysical debates and farcical situations... Will monsterkind be able to assert its place in the world?
Howdy dear readers, I welcome you to this new chapter of the saga.
This means that, for those who have not read yet the prior events, I highly recommend you to do so, otherwise you may not make head nor tail of what has brought us here, the various characters that were introduced (original yet based on Undertale ones), plus a whole series of weird things (which on the other hand have a certain internal logic).
On the other hand… I allow you to read this first chapter, and have a look at it. If it will pique your interest, why not give this series a shot?
So, after spending days to collect ideas, summoning this benighted Hyperuranion, I am here to present you the result of my crazy ruminations.
As per the name, this is an interlude dense with slices of life, which narrates the hardships of the monster populace (and above all the Dreemurr's family) in integrating themselves in Earth's societies.
This is where we jump with both feet in a Hypothetical post-Undertale universe.
This semi-scifi, semi-fantasy Earth is set in a hypothetical future, and looks more like a post-modern world after tectonic shifts and the disruption of political balance (before it could throw everything into a nuclear winter). New nations rose as a result, humans' attempt to give a semblance of order.
This is a sharp break with the past, and also a scenario that is part of a world apart, where references to our Earth are mostly sources of inspiration, the best excuse to make it unpredictable, other than fantastical.
After all, the monsters' return filled Earth with "mythology" again, while human magic is experiencing a renaissance in some circles of scholars and "priests" (this magic is not really the kind of D&D, so to speak).
Each character will render their own portrait, enrich their interactions, assert themselves in the eyes of humans, everyone becoming distinctive and memorable. And finally, I'll give an eye of regard to Frisk and Asriel, who'll reveal their hidden potential. With these two, sparks will erupt.
Of course, since the world is beautiful because it is variegated, animosity is always lurking, but nothing will ruin their day (not yet). It may sound sentimental in the early chapters but, you know, life is never linear and has in store many difficult challenges. We'll see how solid is their relationship.
I hope you will like it. Enjoy the reading!
;-)
Once upon a night
It is said that those who climb Mount Ebott never return.
Monitions whose mere mention make the skin crawl, and pushed some to imperil themselves, out of a sense of adventure, recklessness or world-weariness, only to confirm them at their expense.
But a breath of air on a spring day came, scraping and bringing to light what was hidden under old fears: legends. For centuries believed to be true, on one day discredited by the very same ones that fostered them.
Just like that, the fallen humans returned, after an ordeal lasting for centuries that has regenerated them in body and hardened their awareness of what resided there and was feared, and that on balance was as amiable as the sunlight.
And if they were injury to the legends, what greater insult to death itself than the blithe smile of the reviving Crown Prince of monsters, Asriel of Dreemurr dynasty?
He and his siblings were the sum and summit of the little and sweet revenge that the eighth human claimed to the fatal conviction. Her outstretched hand the cause of imponderable consequences, greater than any other consolation in their extraordinary and amazing simplicity, laying a fire brand in the history of all monsters, so disjointed and yet chained to the fate of humans.
Their story seemed to start where it was left, even before reaching the slopes of Ebott, no more foretelling exile and disaster but prefiguring itself blissful and grandiose.
Just this historic event would be a harbinger of euphoria, novelty and freshness, enough to turn the human cognition, forgetful of this civilization living in the shadow of the Mountain, enough to constitute the emergence of a new era.
Yet for those eight it was the least of their thoughts.
watch?v=BGpJrPY563A (Undertale - Good Night)
In the longest night of their life, in the place they could call home, the lights were still all on.
The sounds came out dull, but it was clear that there was movement, and anxiety.
They were worried, but reluctant to resign themselves to despair, sure that everything would have turned for the best.
The perception of radical change was set aside by a modest waiting.
For a mere knock on the door.
"Hey lil sis, you haven't to stand there alone doin' the watchman."
Jebediah's scratchy voice stirred her.
Vérane broke away eye-contact from the space outside the house, but she did not give signs of moving from her position. She remained sitting, curled up on the ledge of the bay window.
Her sight seemed inconsolable. "It is getting late and they are not showing up yet."
A dispirited nuance clothed her otherwise shrill accent.
The blond beardless youth squeezed his lips. The sad and lost sort of look of her, was hurting. "I savey Vera, but there's no need to turn rattled and lose sleep… You wouldn't sacrifice the whole night by farin' all-overish."
Vérane no longer seemed to hear.
He sat down next to her, his head towering over her slender and rolled up form.
His move piqued her attention, she searching in his pale-blue eyes the steady and reassuring presence she sought. Yet it lasted only a moment, retreating and looking once again into the night.
"Ain't you feelin' cold so close to the winder? I bet tomorrow you'll wake up sore all over if you stay like this."
She sank her chin behind the drawn up knees, muttering something. She still did not move from there.
And after the lips, he clenched the fists.
He was no less worried than her, and found hard to inject understanding and care in his tone without making room for concern, but he struggled to do it anyway.
"At least go with the others on the couch, get warm. I'll stay on guard tonight," he forced himself to say, but her gaze was just as empty as her voice.
"I just cannot," she replied, faint.
"C'mon sugarcube, buck up!" he said again, assertively and smiling, at the cost of sounding nonchalant. "They aren't in any danger, y'know how strong those two are! They'll come back safe and sound, you'll see!"
It seemed to work: the steel of her irises gleamed.
"I really hope so Jebediah," she answered with some affection. But from her tight mouth still ran an earnest: "Mais Hélas!"
He sighed. It came naturally, as he grasped her smooth as silk hands on her cold feet. "What's the matter now?"
"What if Dad does not want to come back?" Her chin set down again on the knees, revealing the bites on her lips, seemingly bleeding against her whiter than white skin. "The way he left, speaks volumes."
"Well, I reckon that nobody wants to go to letty."
His calloused palms held hers tight as in a casket, rubbing them gently. "He'll be back. It's been hard for everybody, and when certain things take yo' heart, they scare. But Mom Tori went on purpose to give him strength. Plus... she knows how to be convincing."
Finally, a smile, amused by the way.
Yes, he always found a way to reassure her, and succeeded from the first day they met, when the inherent Determination in their souls rang out behind layers of enchanted glass.
However, at the most… that feeling of strangeness would not go away anyway.
They seemed to know each other for a lifetime, but only partially.
Apart from singing through feelings, she did not have the faintest idea of how the faces of these supposed siblings were. Whatever their voices, eye and skin colours, their thoughts and the way they thought.
She was sure, they were tied by an unbreakable thread, yet invisible, inscrutable.
The heart knew, but the mind did not as of yet. As if they were acquaintances and strangers at the same time.
In such frail state of the mind, she did not feel like throwing her arms around his neck, a sisterly instinct that she never had the opportunity to experience in her lifetime. And that she deemed inappropriate.
Unpretentiously, she opened her mouth to thank him.
But a feisty voice soon interrupted her.
"It's awfully quiet down here ah!" boomed down with botched speech from the stairs, burdened with its dialectal inflection.
A sentence said boisterously that was enough into the blanket of silence of that unnerving waiting.
Fion interrupted his restless patrol in front of the empty fireplace.
Yukiko, who was sitting properly, turned to the source climbing with her feet on the armchair.
Right on the couch in front of the latter, Sophie's hypnosis shattered, shutting from preening compulsively Asriel's ears.
These twitched right after they perceived the voice, much to their owner surprise, as he made aslant eye contact with Frisk.
Feet fell heavily but muffled on wooden steps, and a pacey whistling played a tune known only to him.
Jebediah and Vérane were the only ones able to gaze from that angle. And burst out laughing.
Sophie got up intrigued. "What do they find so funny?" she wondered quietly.
She leaned sideways to look, but he was already on the last thud on the ground floor, in full view.
Without bandages nor stench. "A wash was just what I needed!"
Sparse drops of water were still falling from his chestnut hair on the floor, escaping the pink bath towel he girded himself with, from shoulders to below the knees, and a nice pair of matching shower slippers.
"But... but... Franco?!" Sophie exclaimed in awe. She could not believe her sight, unlike the others who saw him badly with tears in the middle of the sight and doubling up with laughter.
"Darn bro, you're so dote!" stated Fion ironic.
Frisk nudged with complicity Asriel, cracking up loud, even though she had quite a different opinion. "It realy wooks good on you!" she declared, her little child voice resonating through her vocal cords vibrating at full power.
Franco felt he just had to nod with satisfying approval. "You like it? It's the latest fashion, the Wide version for the most demanding."
"What the..." Sophie snorted suppressing a laugh.
Still, she strove to maintain a minimum of composure. "You think it's appropriate rummaging through ma's stuff and put it on?!"
"What else, be caught dripping with sweat?" he replied, with all the tranquillity of the world. "And anyway, I want to enjoy dinner, I think it's not the case to eat sniffy with the nose all the way up. Am I right Vérane?"
"What?!" - the aforementioned goggled at him - "What are you implying? I am not like that!"
"Ah, chérie!" He smiled, light and suggestive of his affability. "Don't you know that a long face is not that great of a virtue?"
"I know, stupid!" she replied, sticking out the tongue amused.
"And, what's with the smell?" Sophie in the meantime had approached him, attracted by something. "But... it's lavender!"
"Ehhh that's what I found first."
Sophie's gaze became sour. "Have you thought about, say, respect other people's property?"
"Uff! We are to say 'mum mum' and we can't even take a drop of bubble bath, borrow the plushy towel, take a shower..." he began listing with his relaxed, elongated, lamenting cadence. "You should do it too instead, so they'll find us fresh and clean, a joy for the eyes!" he assured, kissing his fingertips and cut loose that feeling in the air. "Eh!"
Actually, his stocky build had regained strength, his brown irises all new vitality. Seeing him, it was almost natural for her to rub the dry black skin on her arms that accentuated ever the more its low hydration.
"Ugh, I'm all wrinkly!" she grumbled aloud with masterful peeve.
"See?"
The big sister crossed her arms, undecided whether to give in to it or not. "Okay, let's go for a shower, but I'd like to see what we're gonna do with the clothes."
"We'll borrow them too."
"Here, I kne..."
"Yes yes, understood," – he interrupted her – "I'll take the responsibility, but it's always better than those gross bandages."
"But they'll be huge! Umpf." Sophie rolled her eyes. "It still doesn't seem right to me."
"And I take that as not right, but in return, you'll peel off the dirt!" Franco laughed soundly.
"Sorry to interrupt yo' bickerin'," – Jebediah interjected – "But where exactly did ya get the water Frankie? There's some kind of tank upstairs?"
"And you ask me? You don't know there's running water in houses?"
"Er… to acknowledge the corn, I don't."
Sophie slapped her own thigh. "Of course he doesn't know, dummy! Back in the day they could only dream for this luxury!"
"Are you serious?! Neither do I know about it!" Vérane felt left out of the whole thing.
"Good grief!" The big sister got the message. "Alright then. Yukiko and Vérane, let's get cleaned up. I'll explain how it works, hoping that nothing's changed after all this time."
"Aneue?" the little child with ebony hair uttered, words blunted by her forefinger in mouth, her almond eyes looking questioningly at Sophie, completely puzzled. It was enough to soften her, who smiled warmly and maternally took her hand.
"C'mere Vera," she said then to her sister, who was running her hand over her brunette hair, dried and crazily frizzly. As soon as her eye fell on a lock between her fingers, she felt faint. "Parbleu! Je suis pleine de pointes fourchues!" she complained in such a spontaneous way that snatched Jebediah's lively smile.
"You ought to be a beauty that heaves into sight when they come back, nkay?" he said, putting a finger under her chin.
"Certainly, thanks Jebou!" she replied and, without warning, kissed him on the forehead, telling correctness to get lost. Fleeting and slinky like a moth, she caught up with Sophie, who determined was getting ready to climb the stairs.
"Jebou! How lovely!" Franco implied knowingly and laughed about when he saw her getting ahead and giving him a blow on the shoulder and a cocky grin. "Ouch."
"Now girls, we'll settle for Mom's clothes, okay?" Sophie's steady dark brown eyes sought agreement in her sisters', and peremptory met those of Franco. "And as for you, remember that you'd better let us find the bath towel on the doorknob, clear?"
Franco suddenly turned serious, nodding a slow nod. "Easy, I'll do," he answered calmly and sly.
No sooner he finished saying it, he saw Frisk slipping swift from one side. Her lemon-yellow jumpsuit swirled with gusts after her antelope leap, up to place her in front of the three girls before they could go up a step. "Sophi!" she called out and took a deep breath then, sharpening the wait.
Determination blazed in her rich gaze. "You dhree can take my cwothes too!"
It may have been Determination, but to Sophie those eyes seemed only to be made of sugar. "But what a honey you are! How can I say no to a sweetie like you?"
"Your clothes?" the hesitant voice of Yukiko, hidden behind Sophie's hip, peeped out. Admittedly, those of Toriel were far too big for her. "Um... I take them?" she said, pointing at herself tentatively.
Frisk just took her hands screaming with laughter, and hopped with her. "Yes! Yes! You take 'em!"
"Aww, so adorable!" The two girls chorused. And after having pinched her cheeks, Sophie came to her senses. "Alright, alright! Serious moment here! We promise to leave your wardrobe in order, okay sweetie?"
"Yeah!"
"Great! Now you two, forward march!" she declared in military fashion, climbing the stairs together and soon shutting behind them the bathroom door.
The noise lessened, apart from the incessant ticking of the pendulum clock, and with it the momentary excitement. Only then Franco's gaze swung left and right, circumspect. It turned thin, attracting upon himself the curious ones of the others.
Frisk curious came up to his belly, not wanting to miss an opportunity to interact. "What's de mattwa, Fra?"
He looked at her amused, and he too took a deep breath, waved frantically his hands near the sides of the head and pretended to shout from the rooftops, but in a low voice. "Beddamatri!"
He spoke to himself and he heard himself, although the scene seemed grotesque to all of them, not to mention their quizzical brows that poked his sighs of resignation. "Okay, I meant by that: she got worked up. Became ill-tempered, really."
Fion scratched his bushy red hair struggling against sleepiness, emitting an occasional grunt. "Welp, I was expecting a lot worse honestly."
"There's some truth in what Sophie said though." Jebediah glanced at Franco with utmost seriousness.
Franco picked it up as one picks up a gauntlet. "Why, I did wrong to take the initiative, maybe?"
"Maybe. That's typical of you goin' yo' own way, Frankie."
His tone of voice, now calm and severe, triggered something that the others did not like.
Sparks crackled when their gazes clashed. One was piercing and seemingly friendly, the other slightly irritated by certain disregarding behavior.
Between filthy bandages and a wet pink towel, in this incredible situation, Fion did not know exactly who to root for. "Woo-hoo! That's the kind of Determination I like!"
Asriel, that in the meantime did not dare to breath a word, was shaken in spite of himself by a kind of bad feeling.
"Guys, you wouldn't want to quarrel..." he quavered shyly, trying to calm tempers. However, his request fell on deaf ears, since the two showed no signs of curbing the clash of views.
One could say anything, but that was not the usual set phrase. Those faces of uneasiness pursuing his mouth, stood out all too eloquently to Frisk.
She followed suit, interposing between the two young men hoping to stop them. "Yea, don't try to quarel!" her shrill voice made itself be heard again, but her impressive height of three and a half feet was not enough.
Franco looked at her with half-open, half-closed eye, muttering and drawling.
"Come on compà Gebe, at least they keep themselves busy, why we should laze in pain? And going to sleep isn't happening, everybody is in anxiety here," he said, irreverent but nevertheless sympathetically.
Jebediah thought about it. Then he crossed his legs, relaxed. "Alright. All in all it's no big deal."
"What the hell?! That's it?" – Fion snorted loudly in frustration – "Guys, thought you were more resolute, more gritty!"
"Eh?" Franco casually looked at him. "What is it now, Fion?"
His voice even changed, more intense than earlier, but Fion, even though he noticed it, did not really listen to it. "And you even ask it! It goes without saying that you big brothers should carry through EVERYTHING you start! Spirit of competition is good for friendship!"
"And here I thought it was rivalry," Franco thought aloud, contemptuously. "So let me guess, you want a fight to break out between me and Gebe?"
"Well, between the two of you sooner or later it will hap-" Fion paused "-Okay, never mind that. Even if there was, what's wrong? Between boys hands do the talking, usually. Like I always did in the orphanage with my friends."
"Wha…" Franco was struck dumb by what seemed like grasping at straws. "That's a really undisciplined youth! You can lock horns but from here to beat up it takes a lot! The joke is nice when short-lived!"
"Yeah right, but when it comes to you, it's long as you want bro!"
"Speak for yourself redhead! Why don't you stop and get over it instead of fidgeting at random?"
"Stop it you, block of wood!" Fion stood angry in front of him.
Although scrawny in comparison with the big brother, Fion appeared not a bit daunted. Also because of the pink towel which was not exactly intimidating.
"Sigh, you're still going to string me along with this, dummy brother?" Franco grunted, annoyed.
"Ye bleedin' thick! Really you're too uncaring!" Fion retorted even more annoyed.
Franco deadpan face met Jebediah's shaking head, since some things had the bad habit of repeating themselves. Two hotbeds in perpetual disagreement.
"And speaking of which, I'll say it clearly: why we are still here instead of going after them?! I'mma going crazy just waiting here and you guys are not helping! What's Determination for if you won't help others?!"
"Don't put in my mouth things I never said! I think of the good of others more than myself, not in the way you do, hitting the ground running and starting to think after making the mess!"
"Yeah?! And you think you'll get something by standing still, like you keep doing all night?!"
"Minchia, l'eroe arrivau!" Franco raised his voice, flailing his open hand at the top of the head. "You'd better stay still, I don't want to see you again in a coma for whatever other… foolery!"
"Ah, that's how you put that? Then watch this!" Fion sassed impatiently and with wounded pride.
The steaming hot child jumped suddenly to his brother's right, running toward the front door.
"Hold yo' horses, hothead," – Jebediah, quicker than him, blocked his way – "Where in tarnation are you goin'?"
"I'm gonna search for 'em, of course! Now move aside!"
The big brother looked at him from head to toe. "Don't be stupid, you won't make it. You're with no means of transportation, you've shaky step, and I hardly think you'd redo the same road without trippin' over yo' feet. You're just more rowdy than usual, so wipe yo' chin and sit down."
Fion gave in, puffing and pouting with arms crossed. "Umpf, what a nuisance you two are…"
"Guys, please..."
The sad voice of Asriel, faint as a whisper, managed to put them all on alert. One sniff of him made them forget every reason to quarrel.
Rapidly approaching him, Frisk's heart sank seeing his shiny eyes, affliction painted on his face. "Asriel..."
He felt wrapped, a tight grip just below the shoulders. The soft cheek of Frisk rubbed on his shiny and soft fur. "Don't be sad..." she drawled, sad like him.
His heart was beating, she felt it, but she could not see the red vermilion on his muzzle. The apple scent of her smooth and soft brown hair right on the nose, added itself to the swirl of pleasant emotions.
"See what you've done?!" Frisk scolded them, turning her head towards the brothers with difficulty rather than letting go of him.
That eased him instantly, but at least she was not the only comfort. The slight sinking in the synthetic leather of the sofa announced Fion's hand on his shoulder. "Azzy, what's wrong?"
For a moment, the little monster could not articulate an answer.
How he felt, was a state of acute emotionality. A whirlwind of feelings, flashing between joy and depression in a matter of minutes, and he could not express it nor suppress it. He sat in suspense to find the words and to make them part of it, but it was the whole evening his soul came disorientated by all types of unruliness.
He did not feel at ease with his parents out of the house, probably arguing somewhere. He shuddered at the thought of considering all those humans, victims of his ambitions for several replays, a thing perhaps they will never forgive, his siblings.
Still he looked forward to an intimate coexistence, he wished it with all his heart. He still felt them as a part of himself, an indelible sign made of six human souls dug in his reformed little body, that filled and then left a huge void.
And given that the past is hard to swallow, interiorized with big fears and remorse, the mere possibility of arguments in his newfound family, even trifles, which could undermine its balance, sent his blood into icy creeps.
"I don't want you to fight..." was all he could say, with disarming shyness and embarrassment.
Fion rubbed the knuckles on his head and dismissed the issue as if nothing had happened. "Really! You won't cry for real after some messing around?"
Asriel did not have time to process another answer, that he felt another sink, more massive and full, sensing the aroma of lavender a few centimeters from his nostrils.
"My joy!" said Franco, who felt so bad that made his concern palpable. "It's true that we get angry, but apart from some minor bicker it ends there! We don't stop to love each other for reasons so stupid!"
"It wasn't the time to be stupid, not by a jugful," Jebediah pointed out, lingering to come while turning a chiding gaze to the two brothers. "We've to get used to be under one roof. You're right Asriel, pardon us."
"No, no, there's no need to apologize, it's just that..." Asriel sniffed again, trying to regain self-control. "I'm down in the dumps, here."
Frisk held him tighter. From the way he trembled, perhaps she sensed something.
"Hmm..." Franco nervously rubbed his chin all the time, harassing the few hairs in place. "Well, I think I will not do an injustice to anyone if I tell you one thing, Asriel."
It was all that was needed to stand his head at attention and semi-open his little hairy maw. "What?"
"Listen, listen to this. I know it will seem strange, but believe me, it's an important secret that right now I have to reveal to you perforce. So, I tell you…"
He paused for a moment, his dark pupil now enclosed in a thin line between eyelids. Frisk and Asriel were like caught by that turn of events, slowly parting from the embrace.
"When I am worried, I usually start swaying to and fro, you know? So, I just moved around the house. But as soon as I found the bathroom, or at least I recognized it as such, I crawled inside. I thought then and there, 'just what the doctor ordered'! I ripped off those filthy bandages, I opened the hot water, and I shoved myself inside with hardly the time to say 'Ah'!
"You could say, what gives? Well, I was washing myself, relaxed and content with the jet of water that entered in my mouth, and I was minding my own business. When suddenly..."
He paused again. He was aware of creating suspense, smiling like any good storyteller at the children's eye gleaming with curiosity. Fion and Jebediah just started to laugh in their sleeve.
"I hear tapping. Tuck! Tuck! At first I thought someone knocking on the door, so I yelled under the shower roar: 'Who is it?!', but I received no response. Yet that thing was still beating, somewhere. So, I pulled my head out of plastic curtain, I sharpened my sight and..."
Asriel's little head leaned forward. "And?! Don't keep me on pins and needles!"
"It strains credibility! A little bird! A small thrush banging his beak against the window glass! So now you tell me, what could I do? I got out of the shower of course!" he said, impressing him with his hands motion, showing imaginary drops falling everywhere. "All wet, I opened the window and I let it come in."
"Oh gosh!"
"Yeah! So it landed on my hand, without thinking twice. It was small and all trembling, and looked at me up and down with the head that… how to say it... had jerky movements?"
Frisk clapped her hands in ecstasy. "A dwush flying at dis time of night? But why?!"
"I know why!" – Franco resumed telling – "We were both watching each other intensely..."
"Yep, a thrush and a provolone," Jebediah interjected ironically, smiling amicably.
Franco raised his chin as a kind of quick nod in his direction. "Exactly! And looking at me straight on the nose, it began to talk!"
And if it already sounded scarcely credible, the incredible made them burst out laughing.
"But Franco, that's way weird! Birds can't speak!" Fion managed to utter a word between a laugh and the other.
"And tell that to it!" – Franco replied with ever more belief – "This one has started talking, and how! With my tongue nonetheless! And what it told me, it's this amazing secret. Are you ready?"
The mystery was soon to be revealed, clinging behind the teeth of the boy's smile.
"What? What? "Asriel and Frisk repeated together, dying to hear the end of it.
"It told me: Viri che stannu arrivannu! Viri che stannu arrivannu!'" the moistened boy added emphatically, booming with a voice as if it was a proclamation of the court. "And there I realized, and finally calmed down as you can see right now, that mum and dad will come soon! And if a Sikelian bird tell something like this, you must believe it necessarily!"
He sounded convincing. And the laughter was not far behind.
Jebediah, standing, his back leaning on the armchair seatback, red-faced, was looking like in bewilderment the Hyperuranion. "Hunkey Dorey… That's top-sawyer Frankie."
The other was about to thank him open-mouthed, and stopped just after. "But, if you haven't heard me talking not even once!"
"You're darn tootin', and that's why I keen on seein' you do even better than this."
"Yeeeeah!" – Fion jostled his shoulder – "You gotta introduce me that smart little bird!"
"Oh, you just wait and see! As soon as I find it I'll make it talk to you!" the jovial boy replied, trying to keep a serious façade all the while, to which Frisk and Asriel, after all, believed on trust.
"The important thing is that you two trust me, okay?" Franco urged precisely those two, if they still had to doubt his word.
Asriel's eyes simply lit up. "So they'll come together!"
"Sure! Sure!" Franco repeated staunchly. "Birds don't tell lies!"
Asriel winced at the top of his lungs. Even his hands on the mouth could not smother his enthusiasm. "Aha! That's so cool!"
He sought his sister's amazed look, on all fours on the couch. "Did you hear that Frisk?! Franco speaks with animals!"
"Okay, okay, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Franco said, forced on the defensive. "Maybe it's one of those polyglot bird princes, or something."
"Are you serious?! Ohmigosh! This world is so full of surprises!"
"Whoops…" Franco bit his tongue. The more he talked, the more he got himself into, and the euphoria of those two lively tops only increased.
"Hey Asriel! How many animal pwinces are? Who knows if dey wanna talk to us too!" Frisk was clearly on his same wavelength.
"You're right Frisk! Perhaps there is one for each animal! And then... if they are princes, should we bow down to them?"
"Yea, I think so! Did you bowed, Fra?"
Better and better. "Jurnata rutta, rumpila tutta…" he just whispered, getting cornered.
"heya kiddo, good timing."
watch?v=bDPAsqPELiw (A Late Night At Grillby's (Sans. Theme))
Sans came unseen surprising everyone, grinning as usual, pulling Franco to safety. "i'm on board with ya buddo, their dullness was competing with mine."
"Sansy!" Frisk smiled. "Whewe have you been?!"
The child, leapt to her feet in a thrill, raised a chuckle out of him. "heh, i almost didn't remember your voice, frisk."
He shook his head, and since he was at it, he leaned on the sofa backrest with his elbow. "anyway, alternating between boredom and naps, the last thing i was doing was giving a hand to papyrus in the kitchen. but he just didn't want it, he said it isn't part of the ingredients."
"Good lord! I'd hate to munch yo' fingers!" Jebediah added amused, playing along.
Sans shrugged. "yep, but i think the rest of the royal guard would've appreciated it."
Suddenly, the skeleton seemed to get serious. His elbow sank on that soft cushion with decision. "never mind tho. i heard some bustle going on, so... whassup fellas? you aren't blowing up the house, aren't ya?"
Franco started to laugh double take. "AH! I figured it out now!"
Sans sighed, and shrugged again. "better late than never, kiddo. i see that you cleared your head."
Franco covered his chest better, exposed to the cold. "I really needed that, Sasà. I care about looking my best with my… 'presumptive' adoptive parents," he replied proudly.
Sans stood passively observing him.
Then he giggled about. "sasà! i like that! and y'know, you have a really interesting way on doing things. you think just like me, get your mind off so you don't ruin your day."
There was silence, shaken only by his arms crossed now crushing the soft leather backrest.
White points lost in his eye-sockets stared at them. "you think i hadn't realized that you guys are rather nervous?"
That funeral way of looking began to irritate Jebediah, but had quite a worse effect on Asriel and Fion. The former felt like trapped, chained by bad memories. The latter fell into a deathly silence, unusual for him.
"Well, it's not really a good time this one," Franco noted, still maintaining his air of naturalness. "Especially for the little ones."
"sure. i'm well aware."
Sans paused. And for some reason, the skeleton had an unconvinced expression. His pupils just lingered lazily on them, checking them out one after the other.
"well, well. there are so many things i wanna tell ya…" he said, fixing his gaze momentarily on Fion, making him gulp loudly, soon to play the same game of casual glances with Asriel.
At that, Jebediah tensed his posture, perched beside the armchair, wary like a silent hawk. His eye seemed to have been caught by something strange about that skeleton.
"so many that i can't think of one," Sans concluded, as soon as he stopped looking, leaving the sofa and standing upright. "maybe next time. after all, you're too uneasy and worried, and making you more anxious would be way too much for me."
A likely accommodating thought, yet his deep and monotonous voice began to have the opposite effect of making them feel fairly uncomfortable. Save for Frisk, of course, become accustomed by now.
Either way, the skeleton still chuckled at their perturbed looks, as he put his hands in his pockets. "hmm, looks like this family will become quite unusual," he commented, with a semblance of easement, at least for what one can gather from the limited expressions of a skull. "and thinking about it... franco."
It took him so off guard that the boy froze on the spot. "Aaaare you talking to me?"
"i'm talking to ya. you're doing a good job with the children, so i'm spared reassurin' all of ya. you two better believe what he says, okay?" Sans said with a wink, pointing to Asriel and Frisk, all of sudden at the heart of his concerns.
"in any case," – he addressed again the boy soon after – "bang on cue, you aren't plannin' to stick with that towel all the time, right? how about i'll lend you my clothes?"
Franco tilted the head. It took him a moment, and in the moment following he exhumed his arsenal of dazzling teeth and fulsome praise. "Mizzica! You do me honor with such a gift, I'll take it gladly! Thank you so much for the favor, I'll remember it! And just for anything, don't hesitate to ask, I'd do anything for a good friend!"
"that's okay buddo, chill. what's there to thank?" the other replied, unconcerned. "they could be a little short for your size, but i'm the sort of guy of loose clothing so to stay comfortable. i'm short and stout, but only because i've big bones."
The joke hit home, but produced only nervous giggles.
"oh welp. tough crowd," Sans said, neutral.
Taking a quick look at the pendulum, humming at the time, he stretched his back popping his joints. "okay, gotta go. i'll be back soon, don't get into trouble."
With short, tired strides to the door, he closed it behind him, beyond which he could not hear loud sighs of close call.
A question mark bigger than Frisk's face nearly did not paint itself on it. "Hey, will you tell me what's with you guys? You'we all so tense!" she exclaimed, innocently giggling afterwards.
She did not get much, apart from droopy eyes and some non-accepting head shake. The hope to relieve their moods, which rode runaway for various reasons, failed miserably.
A verse of suspended uncertainty followed her attempt, but being a determined little girl, she rebounded with furrowed brows, decisive gaze and fastened lips. "What are you woried about? It was kind of him to check us, and I'm pwetty sure this time he's not pwetending to be nice!"
"Well that's just great, pretending?!" Fion broke angrily his stubborn mutism, lifting arms in the air all the while. "Dang it Frisk! I find nothing peaceful in all this!"
Frisk stood dumbfounded.
Fion bit his tongue, aware that his tone up to now was far too exaggerated, which he imagined was already drawing the ire of the other three.
Fortunately Frisk's legendary plain face gave no room to upsets of sorts.
Surprised by the self-control of a girl more or less six years old, the boy quietly took a breath and rephrased more calmly: "I mean, believe me when I say that that was too close for comfort."
Bringing the conversation to an end, he repressed her euphoria. "But..." she uttered, almost whispering, but what she wanted to say died in her throat. Resignation came back, and with head down, her eyebrows knitted together until she squinted.
She simply did not understand him, and she did not know the why.
Looking at her now, Franco was heartbroken, but he was at his wit's end. "Tch, I must have missed something," he uttered before another long sigh, in all this the most disoriented.
"Actually you ain't the only one," Jebediah spoke, playing then with his tongue clicking on the mouth roof, brooding.
But for this time, the blond boy left aside curiosity, resolving to untie that knot of suspicion later on. "I reckon that presently we'll get nothin' from y'all. But ain't any need to mope around, nkay?" he said, in the most reassuring way he knew, now kneeling at the foot of the couch and pulling closer Asriel, Frisk, and Fion.
And then, seeing Franco cold sweat for no apparent reason, he giggled. "And you Frankie, you're still overdoin' just as much as ever. You almost didn't kiss his feet."
He nearly retorted. "E che palle Gebe, whatever! It'll be empathy, for what I know!"
"... Really?"
"For them I mean, the children!" he corrected himself. "I talk a lot when I'm nervous, okay? What you preferred for me to do, look at him the wrong way, talk back harshly and spit him in one eye?"
At that point Frisk finally took a dim view. "Okay, anything goes, but enough is enough!" she objected, adding a groan of complaint. "Sans isn't bad and doesn't deserve this kind of tweatment, as if he did you wong! He accompanied me all the time looking after me so I wouldn't mess up, and making me waugh a lot at it!"
"Eh, laughing," – Franco came to say, rolling and hands in sync – "More than making me laugh, he scared the pants off of me." Then he glanced at the towel. "Ah yes, I still haven't them."
Frisk came closer, looking bigger and menacing. Then she squashed his cheeks with her hands, still disappointed.
She had no intention of yielding. Defending the honor of his friend, filled her with Determination.
"'cause you don't know him! Me too was scawed at first, but he just wanted to pwank me! He's just woried about us, and he only wants us to act nice! And maybe you guys don't twust him 'cause he's a skeleton and upsets you!"
"Blblbl–" Franco tried to answer, but went as far as making a farty noise, until Frisk, determined not to laugh though with superhuman efforts, freed his mouth.
"Look that he doesn't upset me, I have seen dozens of skeletons in my life!" he replied flatly, and in a way so teasing that her jaw hung down in utter befuddlement. "On the other hand he's the first to express a concept. So spooooky!" he oohed.
Frisk straddled on his lap and scowled at him reproachfully. "Then you'we a dummy!"
She retorted with a showy pout, however she did not come to grips with Franco's big hands, attracted like magnets to her cushy cheeks. "How dare you sulking at me?!" he jested, unable to be serious as his fingers flew over from the face to the armpits.
"Noooo! You can't do this to me!" was the only thing she managed to say, before succumbing to the tickling and finally cracking up.
Despite her attempts at resistance, she could not escape his kneading-skilled hands. She could only aim for the counter-attack, against which not even Franco could do something.
Seeing them again in a good mood, warmed also the hearts of the other siblings, tepidly smiling at how much energy that child could contain. A simple, yet surprising child.
But they were taken with a start when they saw a bit beyond them, grabbing on to the corner of the hallway on the left, a red vermilion glove, and then suddenly the thick and smooth white dome of a skull. "LAUGHTER IS WHAT I HEAR!" he said shrill, almost nasally, scratchy. "WHAT IS THE REASON OF ALL THIS HILARITY?!"
Papyrus' voice peeped, exclaiming to see them all perched on the couch. "AHA, HUMANS! I SEE THAT YOU ARE ACCUSTOMING TO YOUR NEW HOME!"
"Ah, Papyrus!" Franco anticipated everyone, for reasons he knew well. "At least one friendly face," he said, experiencing this way Frisk's pinch on his cheek and a good raspberry.
"YOU ALL TOGETHER LIKE THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!" the skeleton squeaked with open arms and with a wooden spoon clutched in his hand.
But he reassessed the tone, besides he had a role to pursue. "AHEM! THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS UTTERLY PLEASED TO CHECK ON YOUR SAFETY! PREPARATIONS FOR TONIGHT ARE TRULY UNDERWAY, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE RETURN OF THE KING, AND QUEEN, AFTER THEIR CHAT WITH SANTA CLAUS!
"HOWEVER! A CONCERN THAT IS PRESSING ME AT THE MOMENT IS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE MY BROTHER HAS GONE. A MOMENT AGO HE WAS BEHIND ME STARING AT THE POT… GRUMBLING."
"Oh don't mind it Pappy," – Frisk interjected – "He thought of going home to get some cwothes for Franco!"
"WHAT?! AND HE DID IT OF HIS OWN VOLITION?!" he exclaimed, with more and more pounding surprise. "THIS IS NOT LIKE HIM! STUPENDOUS! THE EFFECTS OF THE SURFACE ARE PAYING OFF!"
And in a moment, enjoying with arms folded a breeze that it was not really there, his pupils shining with positivity, inhaled air to declaim an important announcement. "SO, AND IF THIS IS SO, THEN WE ALSO MUST EXCEL OURSELVES! HUMAN, I MEAN… FRANCO!"
"Everyone's calling me, all night long," the other thought aloud, finding himself with a clothed finger pointing at him. He took Frisk and laid her on the cushion and, infected now by such zealous heroism too, he stood up. "Tell me compà, what inflames your heart enough to invoke me with such confidence?"
"COOKING, WITHOUT A DOUBT! I WANT TO MAKE YOU PARTAKER OF THE FEATS THAT ARE DEVELOPING IN THE KITCHEN RIGHT NOW! COME WITH ME, SO YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE THE RESULTS!"
Franco's chest swelled after that response, while making sure not to lose the towel on the way. "Of course! Lead the way, Papirieddu!"
"PAP... EERIEDOU?" – THE SKELETON TRIED TO REPEAT – "ER... THAT'S A PECULIAR WAY OF CALLING ME, I FIND IT... INTERESTING."
"Oh, sometimes certain words come out like that," the boy said, who meanwhile shortened distances. "It's just a… 'friendship name'?"
"YOU MEAN… A PET NAME?!" The skeleton exploded with a big smile worthy of a skull for all that confidence given in just one day. "IT IS USUALLY BETWEEN FRIENDS TO TAKE ON NICKNAMES, AND YOURS IS... ORIGINAL! I FEEL HONOURED!"
"Oh you! That's a bit over the–" the boy paused. A chuckle almost escaped him. "You know, you're right, it is important between friends to show this kind of affection!"
"CLEARLY, WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU THINK! HOW WONDERFUL! AND IT WILL BE EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE YOU GIVE ME THE IMPRESSION OF A RENOWNED EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF SPAGHETTI!"
"My dear friend, know that I'm crazy about it."
"AND THEREFORE, WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, FOLLOW ME IN OUR GLORIOUS BATTLEFIELD! TO THE STOVES!"Papyrus proclaimed heroically, taking Franco's arm.
"That sure is enthusiasm," the boy said to himself, going, or rather getting pulled by the skeleton, to the kitchen, disappearing around the corner and accompanied by the others' giggling.
Frisk in particular was smiling as ever, laughing in her sleeve as her offhand siblings discovered little by little how entertaining were those monstrous, and a bit weird, friends.
Her optimism was enough to infect them, so much so that staid Jebediah smiled warmly back at her, finally sitting down in the place left vacant. "I see you really like that Papyrus, Frisk."
"Who wouldn't," – interjected Fion, who felt the urge to talk – "He looks nice to me already."
"You can say that again!" Frisk suppressed any doubts. "Papyus is no doubt the cutest, nicest and sweetest monster in the Undergwound!"
"HOW MANY SPAGHETTI YOU BOUGHT?!" Franco's voice boomed from the kitchen, in a mixture of awe and wonder, evoking a scene that cracked them up.
"I woulda bet all my money on that!" said Fion in the grip of it, and adding sardonically: "If anything he's better than his brother."
It attracted Frisk's attention for sure. "You don't happen to have a pwoblem with exposed bones?" the little girl gibed him, laughing uproariously.
"No way!" Fion roared in turn taking the joke. "On the other hand, the way he's equipped is really comforting!"
Jebediah watched all of it, with a half-smile as the two argued in playful digs, with no sign of quitting. Considered the beginning of the evening, he could see some progress.
He felt sorry to see Asriel however, back to assisting passive, even if between the two disputants his muted laughter was not missing.
"Well Asriel," he said then, in a moment of break. "What do you think of Papyrus?"
Ears twitched as he heard that. The other two fell silent altogether, now curious to listen to an answer that, frankly, they already knew what it was. And in him, as it should be, memories resurfaced, once more.
Memories so intense at times that seemed a violence to his mind which, suffering, was trying to associate that certain insane coldness in feelings still childish, not accrued during his millennial sleep.
He looked at his brother, right in the eye. He hoped to hide his sadness, the guilt behind his vision, shining like the green mountain. "I... I think..." he stuttered, his voice almost hoarse, taken by a momentary tremor he quickly stifled.
Jebediah winced. "No wait, you ain't need to–"
"He's the kind of friend that you'll never get tired of," Asriel concluded, with broadest smile.
His face lit up again. He was glad to say that with all of his sincerity, despite the harm to the innocent.
And to his surprise Frisk took his hand.
It would be that she remembered what Flowey had said, however the fact remains that Asriel immediately turned red like a tomato. At least with one of his big ears he could hide his face now.
"Aww!" Fion stepped in between once again, with a little bit of smugness. "Have you caught a fever all of–"
And he found Asriel's other ear slammed on his face.
"Hey!" – he protested, spitting hairs – "What's that for?!"
"You talk too much big brother," Asriel suggested with nonchalance, his smile become so much artificial to expose his soft dimples.
Words failed Fion. "What do you mean by–"
"heya kiddos, long time no see."
Fion was going postal any minute now.
He wasted no time in finding the train of his thoughts so to give him a piece of his mind and get it off his chest, but he struggled to find Sans' skull behind the high pile of clothes he was carrying.
"I guess it's still long to see..." the boy muttered softly.
Jebediah on his part, was quite dazed. The sound of a closing door is difficult to hide. "Heck, ain't you pretty fast?"
"well, you could say i'm pretty pun-ctual," Sans confirmed with absolute calmness.
"Er... yeah." Jebediah shook it off. "Ruther, looks like you brought a purdy collection," he said, awed by the size.
"these you say?"
The skeleton placed all of it on the armchair without quite so much delicacy, puffing from the effort. "welp. couldn't make up my mind and, y'know, didn't wanted to look 'clothes' minded." Finger guns.
"How many of them he churns out every time?" Fion whispered to Asriel.
"You can't imagine how many," he whispered in turn, and Frisk agreed with a nod.
"among things i also took papyrus' stuff for you skinny guys," Sans pointed out, then chortling on his own. "i do believe he'll want to adopt you himself. but anyway... where's that barrel of laughs of a bro?"
"Ah Sasà, here you are!" Said and done.
Franco arrived out of breath, leaving behind a cloud of steam, stifled by the door closing. In no time, he started to fumble the pile for sweatshirts and pants.
"Well well, this suits me," he said, holding up a suit that should fit. "Thanks a lot compà. The cold is blowing in my bones!"
Sans stared at him amused. "i'm with you on that buddo." Rimshot.
"You got a point. But you admit I delivered it to you on a silver platter."
He conceded that, with a pat on the shoulder and a wink. "heh, get rid of that stuff and go get changed now."
"Yessir!" the boy replied, followed by a "FRANCOOO!" from upstairs that they swore could have shook the house walls.
The boy complained with a humph. "And of course it's me," he complained, and ran for it. "Coming!"
The staircase dimly creaked, as dimly echoed from the bathroom Sophie's rhetorical question: "What did I tell you?!"
"I have it, I have it!" was pointed out, immersed in a mix of other unrelated sounds of angry remarks, laughter about it and sighs, and of one who obviously tried to dress while hopping.
A door opened, and so another one in the midst of miffed comments, giggles and apologies, and after that a door slammed shut.
The boy came back, barefoot, again with the others downstairs laughing already through their eyes, leaning stone-faced on the armchair, with Sans' tracksuit, actually identical to his, and a bit short. "As I said before, beddamatri!"
"We heard that," Jebediah agreed with a nod of the head, a cheeky smile on his face.
"Tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono!" Franco hummed, pretending it was nothing and laughing at his own jokes, quickly moving again toward his future kingdom. "Papirieddu, what happens?" he added, venting for another moment another cloud of steam.
"Well, no harm, no foul," argued Jebediah, now the one who rummaged through the clothes. "Fion, hurry up 'cause you have to teach me how to do it."
That casual sentence came to the redhead. "Hold, hold on a sec… we must take a shower?" he inquired baffled, as he cringed steadily.
"If everybody does it, I ain't see why we shouldn't," the blond replied.
Fion did not answer. He hoped only to hole up in some coin slot while sinking in the sofa big cushions.
"Hey Frisk!" Asriel called suddenly, attracting the attention of his little sister. "Let's do something, how about giving some water to Flowey? He'll be dying of thirst, poor thing."
Frisk giggled, and accepted the proposal, letting him take her by the hand towards the inanimate Golden Flower in a corner of the room.
And about Sans... he was fine with it. Again he stood with his hands in the pockets and glimpsing rovingly the young humans. And then, going to sit quietly at the table, to continue his nap.
The staircase creaked yet again, marking in time with high and low notes muffled steps, stopping at the arrival on the ground of the three sisters, decked up with colourful clothing larger than them, apart from Yukiko that fit perfectly Frisk's size.
At worst, they were plainly surprised and intrigued, seeing again those other faces, anything but disheartened.
"What's the matter with everybody?" Sophie asked, taken by all that sudden vivacity, lobbing the question to anyone who wanted to take it up, while still struggling with her and Vérane's clothes and belts, so at to not stumble.
"We're waiting for Mom and Dad!" Asriel stated cheerful giving away a lively look to her, still busy with Flowey's topsoil. "A bird told us! Or rather, a bird told Franco."
Sophie could only scratch her head, clueless. "Are you… serious?"
"Sophie, Sophie, Sophie..." Jebediah uttered, patiently, pinching the cheeks of the other two smiling gals. "Don't you know that birds don't tell lies?"
The big sister, at first speechless, shrugging and sighing, helplessly amused, humoured him.
"And that's as good as it gets darlin'. Now..." – Jebediah picked it up again, putting the chosen clothes on his shoulder – "C'mon Fion, it's our turn."
"Look, I'm not doing any shower with you!"
"Bub, stop bein' such a lunk-head!" he told him, bored but persuasive, using another of his compelling nods aiming at the bathroom, to which Fion, reluctant and puffing, had to obey.
And while the ginger boy climbed the stairs muttering, Jebediah paused only for a moment to watch the scene, heartened by the fact that everyone was indeed enlivened, more or less, busy with all those ways to pass the time.
A nice family setting, all things considered. Where only two more tiles were needed to frame it.
There was movement that night, the sounds coming out dull. And anxiety was trampled by a renewed hope.
That unexpectedly came at the door.
"Knock, knock." A knuckle beating on wood.
The loud background noise subsided instantly. All their muscles stiffened, holding their position into place, while only ears sharpened. Then, the heads of those who had it behind turned. Impatient, the hearts in their chest seeming like a race of runaway horses, eager with swirling breath inside their nostrils.
Who began to take the first move, who rose from their crouched stance, who retraced their steps down the stairs, all made their way to the source of the sound.
Six humans and a prince of monsters, tensed and troubled, arranged in a semicircle in front of the sober and solid door of a new beginning.
"Knock, knock," it thundered again.
"okay, i got this."
Sans was on the back. He got ahead as they, yielding, opened the passage, so that he could fulfil the gesture of responsibility of the most mature in there.
By answering the door.
"ahem... who's there?" he asked, flat and placid, just in front of it, a hand firmly grabbing the handle.
Break of five, long seconds.
"Howie," was said softly from the other side, by a warm female voice.
To which all stared dazed.
Except Sans. "howie who?"
"Howie supposed to get in if you will not open the door?"
Sans snorted. "that's a really good one. how do i say no?"
He started to accompany the door now open, so they could see them in their full height.
So he had the honour of welcoming the King and Queen of the Underground.
watch?v=DIwbmP3a62E (Undertale – Once Upon a Time Orchestral)
They were fashionably late, but in the end they came, like the freedom of monsters in the change of era, what for a child is the closest thing to normalcy, and also gentle and moving altogether: two old and still young rulers, but also spouses and parents, with a love bent but not broken, one under the other's arm.
They came forward thus, with countenance softened, emotions pulling up their cheeks to slit mellowed eyes, glistened and watery.
Two chipped columns, but still standing and paired again.
Asriel was the first. He could not take it anymore. The sleepiness after coerced vigil, the waiting, the insecurity, the inner impulse, the desire, the hope still alive...
He jumped, agile and light, onto the mother's neck, pulling toward him the father's beard, rubbing their noses, hair tousled.
Frisk just wanted to cry, ecstatic, to that scene that yanked her heart.
Asgore's big hand, so tempting, invited her, and when she was just a little closer, he raised her up to their heads.
Those others, martyred children, no matter how old or young, had just as well a hard time to pull themselves together. They also needed a hug, warm and cozy amid that pearl-like hair.
"Par bonheur!" Vérane uttered, breathing out a long sigh of relief when only in their arms, broken by a sob. "Is that any way to walk away Daddy?!"
Grief-stricken, sternly battering with fists his armour, red eyes filled with tears, brought a lump to his throat.
"I'm sorry," – he said, suffering the hits, eyes-closed and helpless – "I'm so sorry."
"Of course you're feeling sorry pa!" Fion sulky asserted, giving a head-butt on the chest plate. "What the heck!"
Neither the only missing human was not long in coming, suspicious of how the earlier bustle quietly settled.
"Aha! I've been telling you!" Franco really shouted this time from the rooftops, as soon as he came out of the kitchen. "I've been telling you, I was so sure of it!" he repeated to convince himself and, chortling with satisfaction, he rushed into the embrace, dragging Papyrus while at it since, in spite of himself, the poor skeleton was once again too close to him.
Not that he minded to feel out of place, caught by all those arms. "WOWIE! I'M HAVING A SO AWKWARD TIME BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE!" he said with the occasional tear over puppy eyes, snatching a laugh out of Sans, and a hushed tear too in fact.
In such a moment of warm-heartedness, maybe Jebediah was the only one saying nothing, the only one stoically calm in there. But behind his thick skin it was just all a facade, serving a higher purpose, as Asgore and Toriel recognized right through his azure irises.
Asgore just felt the need to hug him anyway, sinking the boy's face on his neck, so that the others could not see it.
Toriel gently stroked the hairy heads of the daughters under her. "What are you still doing up?" she asked them all of a sudden, with the affectionate gentleness of a mother.
Sophie sniffed. "You had us worry so much, both of you! We were so upset we couldn't even know how to make the hours go!"
"My poor children," she replied, continuing to caress her. "Have you at least eaten?"
"Uh-uh, our stomachs have been in knots the whole time," – Sophie told her – "And we wouldn't have feel right leaving you eat alone. No matter how it'd have turned out."
With Asriel safe in Asgore's arms, Toriel bent to give a kiss to her and little Yukiko, who all in all had been peaceful and smiling clung to the monster's leg, as if to say she did not doubt them even for a second.
"We will just have to rectify it," – she said to her children, carefree – "But I can see a white smoke coming from the kitchen, and aroma of tomato sauce. So you did not stay with your arms folded, rather you made something warm for supper! You are a real surprise!"
"Oh well, thank goodness that Papyrus has decided to put the pasta in!" Franco chimed in, friendly shaking the skeleton's shoulder who, humbly, ran the hand on the back of the head.
"OH MY, THERE'S NO NEED TO THANK THE FORESIGHT OF THE GREAT PAPYRUS! THAT WAS ONLY MY DUTY!" he said a little awkward.
But a thought struck him. "BY THE WAY. IN FACT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE ALL SO EXCITED. WEREN'T KING ASGORE AND QUEEN TORIEL COMING BACK SOONER OR LATER FROM SANTA CLAUS' HOUSE? AND INDEED I MUST SAY THAT THEY WERE TOO FAST: ISN'T THE NORTH POLE VERY FAR FROM HERE?"
By just assuming the posture worthy of the Thinker, Toriel curled her mouth for a chuckle. "Papyrus, Papyrus, my innocent Papyrus with a heart big as the moon!" she told him tenderly, going to hug him together with his perplexity.
"ER... MY THANKS, I GUESS?"
"I told you, Papyrus, we would have done well to increase the portions," – Franco whispered obvious to both – "And, uhm… I imagine that at this point we should set up the table. I know it's not the best time to say this, but I am fainting with hunger."
"Oh," Toriel uttered, falling back down to earth. "You are absolutely right, by this time you are probably starving!" she realized, worried again, and soon after chirping sprightly. "We could use the good china and, in view of the late hour, how about giving me a hand? We will get everything ready in no time!"
Asriel and Frisk approved it with an ovation, and going down the wide pauldrons of Asgore, they invited anyone who was willing to share their enthusiasm, to which Yukiko promptly joined.
Not to mention Fion that was all fired up. "Yay! Let's set the table!" he agreed, shaking his fists agog. "And who cares about the shower!"
There was another knock, this time on top of his hard head. "Ow! What's up now?"
"You wish," – said Jebediah, with his usual attitude – "We're the only stinkin' fellas here, and if we ain't tryin' to make them feel sick, we won't eat until clean as a hound's tooth. Got it?"
"The heck? Is a hound's tooth clean?!" he piped. "Uff, what a bore! We'll miss our first 'sticking all together'!"
Jebediah looked at him askance. "You should have thought of it before, lil bub."
As usual, muttering, he did what his brother told him, shuffling feet and bandages with elephantine pace.
Franco rubbed his hands. "Right, if it's all set now that everyone is busy, we can return to our tasks Papyrus!"
"NYEH? –" the skeleton saw him dart in front of him, and wincing gave chase "– HUMAN! YOU OUGHT NOT TO RUN SO FAST! YOU MIGHT HURT YOURSELF!"
The collective rush spread like wildfire to every corner of the house, but Asgore stayed there, in front of the door still open.
"Why are you so quiet?"
He noticed Vérane's hand, as big as four of his fingers, squeezing his. He espied her smile full of melancholy, eyes still shining, looking at him with apprehension within.
Gently he wiped them, smiling good-natured while doing it. "There are so many things spinning around in my head. One of them is having been so reckless."
Sophie had not moved from there either. "You had your reasons. Even tho I was the penultimate of souls, I know you hadn't lived it well at all, so… it's okay. Don't sweat it."
His hand now encircled her shoulders. "I know, but indeed I should stop acting so impulsively. However do not worry anymore, –" he turned, and closed the door behind him "– I promise I will not leave you, and be sure of that. Now go to your mother, you have not relished the time with her as much as you did with me!"
He chuckled at his own joke, and laughed at himself, a laughter bitter just the same. And with another caress, he pointed them to the sideboard and a busy Toriel.
They gave him one last look, satiated by that one gesture, and left.
He followed them unmoving, and heartened listened to Toriel's voice twittering. "But look at them, How did I not see that you are wearing my clothes?" she asked adoring, spontaneously folding the hands on her own cheek. "Quite the beautiful young ladies!"
Vérane took it so seriously that toe-curled with embarrassment. Sophie, simply, tittered, still wondering how they could dress up like that, with wrinkled hems and flaps sprouting from all sides.
Asgore exhaled upon that familiar sense of serenity that he had not felt for a long time. Like a knot around the heart, which however did not hurt anymore, and that maybe over time it would untie. But the shame of his flight, perhaps coward, or perhaps radically intrepid, already diminished, acclimatising while unhurriedly he searched for his place in such a new life.
"well, i'm gonna say that this is the grandest of your deeds, king."
Sans was there to draw his attention, after remaining tactically aside for obvious reasons. "in my humble opinion at least."
His amused expression instilled him good humour. "You can say that!" Asgore said, giggling at the idea.
"heh, i'm glad you agree with me," – Sans chuckled at that – "just wait until all monsters know. and so the humans."
The giggle become even more nervous. A time when the world will demand an explanation would have come eventually, and he, Asgore, the King, could not make excuses forever. Sans gave him food for thought.
"Sooner or later we will come to terms," he acknowledged, sighing with delight. "But let us not fret about it now, we really need a long night of rest, after all the fuss."
"yep, can't argue with that," Sans nodded quickly to his words.
Meanwhile, the table was being prepared with them observant, spreading out a long white tablecloth and placing ceramic plates, steel cutlery and glass cups, cold drinks taken from the steaming kitchen and some scented candle.
Asgore felt guilty already. "Er, may I do something too? You are really working hard, while I am not doing anything," he asked timidly.
"No Asgore, you have already done enough. You are allowed to take care of household chores tomorrow, but for the time being take some rest," – Toriel did not want to hear, still too busy to turn on the candles – "Rather, go cast off all that tin on you."
The peremptorily given advice, snapped the King to attention. "I obey!"
Obediently indeed, creaking while he swerved the table and reached for the handrail, up to barricade himself in the bedroom.
The so-called 'their' bedroom which, for understandable reasons, neither he, nor she, were willing to share.
He stood looking around puzzled for a minute. With all those new tenants, how they should organize themselves now?
In other words, that double bed, so padded and coloured with the hues of the sea, appeared very inviting.
Rather than worry about the armour, here and there he would have pandered to its swollen and soft pillows, fresh smelling sheets, the faint scent of chamomile and linden all around.
The mattress was calling him, relying on his physical pain.
"I guess, it is better to settle for the couch..." he said to himself, just embarrassed for even thinking it.
It took a while to loose all the components of his dented armour, placing them as best as he could with the crumpled cloak in a trunk and then moving on, with a chill on his bare chest, to the closet. The fact that they shared at least the wardrobe could be considered a little progress.
He spotted his beloved black pants for house use, large soft and warm, and a lax blue shirt just to feel comfortable.
Far more lighter, without the restraints to limit his movements, he breathed deeply the scented air, and cracked ached arms and shoulders. The appetite did the rest.
It pushed him back to the ground floor, already smelling the fragrance of the dinner that, intense, come out from the two large bowls sumptuously carried by Franco followed by Papyrus, and placed in unison and on display at the sides of the long banquet table.
"A tavola!" – the boy shouted – "Or in case you didn't get that, ready on the table!"
Drawing from the uncovered bowls, they sank pasta ladles and generously portioned out sinuous vermilion spaghetti hugging tomato pieces and, while he was at it, Franco decorated with a basil leaf on top to complete their work of a simple, genuine and delicious dish.
Toriel for once stood back and watched, all happy that someone else had cooked for everyone. "Wonderful, wonderful!" she exclaimed, unable to resist the temptation to kiss the human on the head. "I am touched!"
"It really is an impressive sight," Asgore agreed, arrived at the middle of the table.
"Hurry Jebediah, they've already dished out for everyone!" Fion was heard, wearing hastily another of Sans's sweatshirts, grotesquely wide sleeved. His brother followed suit with relaxed pace, whistling.
"Gebe has understood everything. The shower is quite relaxing!" Franco said, complete with outstretched hand, to which Jebediah nodded dreamily, taking place behind a chair.
And behold, all was set, save for the eaters around the table.
"Honeybuns, just one more moment please," Toriel asked, keeping them from sitting.
She went beside Asgore, wanting to stay on his right. No expression ever was more intense, and understanding did not struggle to penetrate the veil of hesitation.
"I feel this is the time to start off on the right foot," she spoke, holding his hand. "In those brief moments on the mountain, many things happened. It was there that we really come to terms with ourselves by reviewing our choices, and the inner pains that resulted from them. I became aware of them during my solitude, without ever discussing them, dealing with Asgore.
"When I realized that, in order to get out of Ebott, Frisk inevitably had to take a life, and that Asgore would eventually have offered his own, knowing him… that strange feeling, some would say stupid, that still smouldered inside me, infused courage to go back, leave the Ruins.
"And yet, after all these years, seeing my husband bent on wielding his trident against a child without malicious intent, I was shocked, angry, furious. In the heat of the moment I forgot all my resolutions, but then with a cool head… I realized that all evil, all of it, has fallen on his shoulders. He alone suffered it, and alone he faced it, on his own, up to that pivotal moment. I cannot hide it anymore, I am not devoid of my fair share of mistakes, and for that I have to say sorry to my husband, left alone with his grief."
No expression ever was sweeter. And if there ever was, the only possibility is to have forgotten it.
"For the same reasons," – Asgore spoke up then – "I owe a thousand apologies to my wife. The shock, the rage, the pain... They controlled my life in every decision I made. I was no longer the person who Toriel had known and loved. I let her go, when rather I should have run after her, be there collecting her tears of disillusion... instead of leaving her alone with her grief."
He felt her closer than she already was, snuggling against his body.
He still had more to say. "I remained convinced of my decision without hesitation, only to see it crumbling with the capture of the first soul, the death of an innocent child. Those deranged feelings acquired a whole new meaning that affected me so hard, that an unconscious fear for the Overworld had grown. Indeed so beautiful, perfect at first sight, and so diverse, I could not feel it as my own anymore. And because of one of my usual knee-jerk reactions, thinking of doing a favour to you, I deemed fair to leave you. Not knowing for how long.
"Yet, against all my expectations, she came, like the future that takes the place of the past. Love, who laughs in the face of Time."
She clung to his arm, red-faced and looking down, smiling. The beholders, patiently listening, were more and more visibly enraptured, nodding pleased some, dreaming with eyes open others.
"Therefore, obviously in addition to the conviction descended upon your heads, in addition to my guilt towards my wife, please accept you all my excuses for my escape, so totally unjustified. I promise from now on to take my responsibilities as a father, if you will consider me as such."
He actually did not expect to be greeted by thunderous applause, praising whistles and cheers. He was so surprised that he could not conceal an amused grin.
"You aren't doing this just because you are famished, are you?" he joked among the shouts, dimly perceiving chuckles, but he believed those sincere eyes, unreservedly. "Well, happy to have encountered your understanding, I guess there is nothing else to keep us from enjoying this dinner all together!"
And with Franco displaying his clear as day satisfaction, they soon sat down at the table to taste the results of their work.
To tell the truth it was not easy for all the humans to catch the pasta, which refused to be captured or just slid down as soon as they lifted their forks.
But with the right wrist turns, using spoons in case and thanks to the advices of their neighbours, they could finally put something in their stomach.
"Little cutie, let me help you out," said the boy-chef in front of the evident difficulties of Yukiko, who never handled such an instrument. "Poke the fork, which is this thing I'm holding in my hand, in the pasta tilting it a little, then you roll it making a beautiful bundle until there's no strand left hanging. And then, what remains to do?"
The little girl replied with a significant demonstration: a morsel straight into her mouth.
"Well, brava! –" he praised her, and turned to the other diners "– Learn from her you guys!"
"Thank you, Franco-nsan!" she murmured, shy.
"Oh dear! She just spoke to me!" he exulted with a clap, unleashing her giggling all the while. "But, even called a Saint?"
At that Sophie noisily ended her sip of water. "Pff, Franco! What does this have to do with it? San has to be an honorary title!" she said, grunting a laugh.
Frisk nodded, arms crossed. "Fwirst rule of anime."
"Anime, anima… souls?" he inquired, a little perplex. "Oh never mind, I like this kind of honours!"
"Eeehm... By the way, there's someone available to give me a hand, please?" Asriel politely asked, since he had given up by then.
"NO SOONER SAID THAN DONE! ALLOW ME TO HELP YOU, PRINCE ASRIEL!"
"Papyrus, really, there's no need to be so formal–" Asriel paused before the skeleton, with a ready forkful right in front of his snout.
In a single evening, Asriel imprinted in mind how one feels with all that redness in face. "I-I didn't mean you to spoon-feed me..." he stammered.
"What do you care about, Azry!" – Fion addressed him – "Look, even Jebediah agrees." And with a surprise move he did the same as Papyrus.
Jebediah watched impassively. And just as quickly he put the thing in his mouth, sucking a droopy spaghetti and messing his brother's hair, smiling cheeky.
That considered, and regardless of it, Papyrus' pitiful look was already quite convincing. Asriel could only comply.
So he sighed, smiled, and made him happy biting and chewing it whole.
The skeleton was enthusiastic. "I MADE THIS WITH SUCH CARE, AFTER THOROUGH RESEARCH OF THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF FLAVOURS!"
Asriel said nothing. He was too busy to savour it, with taste no less.
"well paps, sure you know how to make a lil kiddo happy," Sans said. "and to be honest it really tastes good. looks like you don't need to ketch-up anymore in matters of cooking, bro."
Papyrus did not even cast him a single glance, peeved. "UMPF. ON THIS OCCASION I DARE SAY THAT I GAVE MY BEST, DRAWING ON THE BEST FRESH INGREDIENTS AVAILABLE. THIS GREATLY IMPROVED THE QUALITY! NYEH HEH HEH!"
"that's why i love you from my head to-mah-toes, paps," Sans replied with a wink, batting the joke straight on the other side of the table arousing a burst of laughter and, still in the mood, he peeked at the other chef. "you feel the same about it, franco bud?"
"Well yes, Papyrus handles it very well. We had some misunderstandings on cooking time, the amount of salt, the type of oil... And in fact he surprised me with his cooking methods that are, how to say... unorthodox?"
"NYEH?" Papyrus felt called into that. "IS SOMETHING WRONG?"
"Papirieddu, I told you before!" –he reminded him, lenient and patient – "What did tomatoes do to you to punch them?"
The room exploded into a merry laugh, while Papyrus dismayed asked himself a thousand questions, the others in the meantime trying to cheer him up, realizing how combative the culinary creativity of impetuous Undyne could be.
Asgore, wordless the whole time, enjoyed their mirth, and this time he also cut loose with his hearty laugh. And when it died, an imperceptible else ensued, which he tried to mask with a hiccup.
It was a sob.
Yet despite the ages, so long, it could not be hidden from the ears of Toriel.
Unaware, he noticed it later, but his eyes met hers, her head bowed so to raise his, whole-souled in her tenuous smile.
Just as the small things make a full existence, thus lifeblood was re-infused into a family, split by years and reassembled within a day, just where the Mountain jaws had tightened and parted.
That single day was worth thousands of their long life, so much so that, after indefinite time, after laughing and laughing and laughing, asserted itself firmly that kind of unfettered happiness that drives someone to tears.
They were two now, his head resting on hers, sharing the same hidden emotion.
The reason was the most foregone a living being could think of.
They were home. They were finally home.
Quite the long way, did you get bored?
A lot of stuff to digest, things going on, awkward starts… Yep, I think we set up the right mood.
Even if all the hype for Undertale is probably dead by now, I really hope you'll enjoy the rest, like an escape to another world.
Must tell you that I'll post quite discontinuously: I am in the middle of a PhD. But I promise I will not disappear for years.
;-)