She kept driving until she found herself coming up on the relatively-new, spaghetti-centric restaurant. Everyone knew it was run by a monster. People would give each other knowing looks as they passed by, and her parents would make thinly-veiled comments. She had a sudden urge to eat there.
She pulled in, parked, and took a look at the outside. A loop of rope was hanging by a nail on the door-frame, and on the rope was a row of friendly looking white signs, all in caps. There seemed to be a general theme of, 'HUMANS WELCOME!' and 'UNPARALLELED SPAGHETTORE!'
She felt some of her anger draining away as she chuckled.
She pushed open the double-doors. It only took one glance to see that the place was full of monsters, in place of a mix of both species. She knew it shouldn't, but this made her feel a little awkward. She edged toward the front counter, where a helpful looking young bunny was waiting to escort her to a table, when suddenly-
"HUMAN!"
A tall skeleton, with a red scarf, was pointing at her from the back. All the monsters turned in their seats to see, and suddenly the whole restaurant was looking at her.
Her breath had stopped.
He'd shouted it like an alarm. Did they think she was here to attack them? The signs said come in!
The skeleton quickly bounded to her side, and ushered her forward with a sweeping gesture.
"HAVE A SEAT, HUMAN! YOU ARE DECIDEDLY WELCOME!"
Oh, thank God. He was just enthusiastic.
He led her to one of the small tables near the center, made for parties of one. She sat, awkwardly.
"WOULD YOU CARE TO SEE THE MENU?"
Fuck. Fuck, fuck. I'm broke. I was so focused on being a rebel that I forgot that I'm fucking broke. Ground, please, just swallow me now.
"Um," she started, quietly.
Surprisingly, the skeleton seemed to register the need for privacy, and leaned forward.
"I'm so sorry, I forgot, I'm actually broke as hell right now." she said.
"MONEY IS UNNECESSARY, HUMAN!" he projected, in her face. "THE FIRST PLATE IS FREE! WAIT HERE, AND YOUR FOOD SHALL ARRIVE MOMENTARILY!"
"Thank you!" she called after him.
She fiddled with the table-cloth, keeping her eyes down, and hoping the still glancing monsters would take a hint. Most of them seemed to, returning their attention to each other.
She should never have come here. Who comes to a restaurant without cash?
"do you think mine would've been if I had skin?" said a low voice.
"Sans, you've never payed a damn thing in your life."
"right you are. hey, buddy. kid?"
It took a moment for her to realize he was talking to her. It was another skeleton. Shorter, rounder, and somehow seeming infinitely approachable.
"sorry if my brother scared you." he said. "what's your name?"
"Quinn." she said, amiably. "And no, he was fine. My mortification, less so."
"don't stress it, kid. he's just happy you came in. you know, he set up this place to be a spot where monsters and humans could get to know each other, but it hasn't been going so well. i think the signs put humans off, but maybe, well..."
"They're assholes?" she said.
He chuckled. "well, not all of you, quinn, not all of you. but anyway, the place should start picking up soon. the hands are planning to come by on the regular."
"The Ambassador's Hands?"
"them's the folks."
He looked up from his food(which she now had occasion to realize he didn't have the stomach for), and looked at her appraisingly. Or at least she thought so. She was going by posture.
"what do you think of them?"
"The Hands?" she said. "...They seem well-intentioned, but the concept's a little weird to me, to be honest. I mean, humans talking for monsters?"
"it is weird. not only that, it's not right. but most of us will do anything not to fight, and if that means filtering our defense through a human voice, that's what we're gonna do. but i hear the plan is to start introducing monster hands once people's minds have opened up a bit."
But, judging by the fact that now the Hands themselves were getting flak, that looked a long way off.
"listen, this may be none of my business, but might'nt you be broke because you're jobless, quinn?"
"That is a correct assumption that you have just made, Mr. Sans."
"ever thought of being a hand, perchance?"
"Ha!" she said. "A-ha! No. I couldn't."
"why not?"
Oh no. The perfect question. She did have a habit of immediately rejecting sudden opportunities that weren't in her plan.
"...Do they require any previous experience?" she asked.
"not really. they're basically grabbing anyone's who's monster friendly."
She shook her head. "My parents would be so mad."
"you know, this may the wildest, most ludicrous of shots in the dark, but i'd say you weren't overly concerned with their opinion on the matter."
Quinn had felt a smile spreading on her face as his sentence progressed.
"Very true." she said. "Ve-ry true..."
She was starting to feel excited now- the impulsive, rebellious excitement that often precipitated regret.
"What would one do, say, if they were interested in such a posish?" she asked.
Sans began patting his pockets. "hang on. i think i got a number you can call."
A skeletal hand suddenly zoomed in front of her.
"YOUR SPAGHETTI IS READY, HUMAN!" announced Sans' brother, putting the plate in front of her.
She'd started, with an, "Oh, God!"
"HAVE I SCARED YOU, HUMAN? IF SO, I APOLOGIZE! IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN MY INTIMIDATING GRANDEUR!"
"No, I'm just easily startled." she assured him. "Thank you for the food. Really."
"YOU ARE MOST WELCOME! SANS, GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE."
The latter said over his shoulder as he left. Sans did so.
"oh, sorry, bro." he said, unbothered. "didn't realize it was that kind of restaurant."
Winding some around her fork, Quinn tried the spaghetti. It wasn't bad, but it was extremely plain. A Scoop Of Noodles, and a Scoop Of Sauce. No more, no less.
"hey, for my bro, this is pretty good." said Sans, as though reading her mind. "not only is it pleasant, it's edible."
Quinn chuckled.
Sans put a card on her table. The outline of a heart was printed on the corner.
"give 'em a ring, kiddo." he said.