Tra la la.

The waters are wild today… that's bad luck.

Today I met the Royal Scientist again. She was better than the other day. More… cheerful. Definitely more chatty. She went on and on about the Head of the Royal Guard, and how she showed her her collection of something called 'anime'…..

… It was a lot of talking.

She was carrying a hot-dog. Apparently Sans was working at his illegal hot-dog stand today.

We eventually stopped at Waterfall. Probably visiting Undyne this time. Or maybe taking something for her ghost friend. He was going by the name Mettablook once, I believe. Now he's a movie star, from what I've heard. It doesn't really matter. I don't watch TV.

But speaking of ghosts, not long after the lizard girl disappeared in the tunnel, a white, timid ghost appeared next to me.

"Um, ex-excuse me…?"

I turned my hooded head in the direction of the faint voice, and was met with big, watery eyes of a gray ghost known as Napstablook around here. The monster was hovering barely above ground, glancing up shyly at me. I was a bit taller than him.

"Tra la la. Would you like to ride in my boat?" I asked quietly. The ghost's eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he floated back a bit before he responded even more quietly that I did. "Oh, um, w-well… actually yes, if it's not a bother… no pressure or anything… really…"

"Where would you like to go?" I went on.

"Hotland… please…"

"Then we're off."

With my final statement, the shy ghost floated up onto my boat, and soon we were heading out to our destination. The ride was quiet and peaceful, and I found myself wondering why the ghost was using my boat as a transport in the first place. With his corporeal body he could easily go through any wall, not mentioning flying up and down anytime he wanted. Maybe something was wrong with his magic… But that was a rude thing to ask.

"Pet pet pet… The neck stretches infinitely into the cosmos. …Don't worry about it." I said instead.

"Oh, uh… okay, I guess… I won't… worry about it…"

I nodded slightly in response, pleased with that statement.

We've arrived at the docks in Hotland quite quickly after that conversation. Napstablook paid me the regular amount of Gold, and then set out in the direction of the elevator not far from the lab, passing by the pair of Royal Guards that was stationed there for some time now. I've heard there was a hotel run by Mettablook, or Mettaton now. I've never been to a hotel…

… It doesn't really matter.

I spent the rest of the day on performing my duty, carrying monsters here and there, and eventually, my shift was over. It was the day I've decided to visit the nearest shop to restock my gradually thinning supplies, which happened to be the small store in Snowdin town.

The delicate sound of chime rang inside the, currently empty, store as I entered. It was pretty late, and I didn't mind the lack of crowds. Quite the opposite, actually.

"Hello, traveler~ Welcome to my shop." the bunny lady that always was standing behind the counter greeted me with a warm smile. We kind of knew each other. Comes with being a regular customer.

"Tra la la. Hello." I replied curtly. It didn't matter if I was chatty or not.

"So, how can I help you this time?"

My eyes skimmed over the shelves as I contemplated what do I need exactly. Soon, a handful of various items was laying on the counter, along with a pie of sorts. It smelled good. I didn't knew exactly what it was called, but I definitely wanted to taste it.

"A quiche, huh?" the shopkeeper smiled at that. "That short skeleton bought a quiche the other day too."

I raised a brow at that, though the bunny lady didn't see that from underneath my hood. Sans bought a quiche? How… intriguing. "Oh?"

"Yeah. The next day, he came back asking for a recipe. Guess he really liked it." she snickered lightly after that. I, on the other hand, did my best not to join her in her amusement. "I see. Thank you for the goods. Farewell. Tra la la." I said in as indifferent tone as I could.

After that, I quickly left the store and strode back towards my trusty boat. Though, on my way back, I paused by Grillby's. A local bar. I've never been there. Never had a reason to. Yes, the lights coming from the inside were warm and welcoming, and the muffled, but still cheerful chatter that reached my ears was heartwarming.

… But it doesn't matter to me.

Now that I think about it… I think I heard a few times Sans visits that place often. And everyone sounds happy when he does, or when he makes those awful jokes of his. Like everybody is his friend.

…I wonder…

What it's like to have… friends?