"Alph. You're not getting out of this." In keeping with the theme of collecting party members, Sans had been trying to get Alphys to join them. Mostly by dragging her along and trying to use sheer force to tug her off the doorframe. "Dammit, no! You are engaging in social behavior with friends who deeply care for you and admire you!"
Undyne groaned, somewhat stamping her foot. "Alph, come on. We've gotta get going. You know the most about the Core. Hell, you're probably the person I trust most." She paused, blinking and giving a blush. "Not that I trust anyone very much, or anything."
"Alph. Alph, come on, you do nothing /but/ watch anime. You gotta be seeing the signs here." Sans was tugging her again. "Alph, I swear to god, either you're coming with us, or I reveal it's been since we were teens."
"Fine! Fine! I'm coming! See? Not clinging!" Sans only rolled his eyes and dragged her along to where the others were waiting, nudging her along.
"Alright, time to deal with Me- With the robot who wants to destroy humans. Which...which puzzle comes next? The vent one, right?"
"Dad. Really. I think it's a bit obvious, at this point." Frisk was tugging on his hood from where she was in Toriel's arms.
"Excuse me for not having a perfect memory. Most Resets were within two years max, it's been eighty. I can hardly be expected to remember every single event that happened last time around."
"Still. Really? I mean, if you didn't blow it, I totally did. Hey, can you just float me across that entire tile thing, this time? I really don't want my legs in that much pain, again."
"Again?!" Sans only soothingly patted at Toriel's back, leaning against her a bit.
"Or I can just destroy it like I did last time. Not like anyone will miss the stupid thing." It was ridiculous even by puzzle standards. And he hated it. So much. "Nah, I'm gonna destroy it."
"Nooo." Frisk whined, looking miserable. "I wanna solve it, just without the stupid time limit!" Sans made the mistake of glancing at her face, lasting all of four seconds before he was sighing.
"Fine, fine, I'll deal with the time limit. But once you're clear, then I'm gonna destroy it."
The girl pouted, crossing her arms. "Fiiine."
"We spoil you too much. And by we, I mean I horribly spoil you and am weak."
"Yeah. But it's still nice." Frisk looked over Toriel's shoulder, smiling brightly, shooting a dazzling smile.
"Yeah, yeah. To be fair, I blame Dad. He spoiled us, too. Hardly my fault I learned such terrible habits."
"I did no such thing!"
"You took off from work when we were sick and every time I asked for hugs you gave them to me. I call that spoiled."
"That's...not being spoiled. That's like getting exactly what you want when you want it no matter what." Sans only shrugged, looking unbothered.
"I only ever wanted hugs and I got them. That was my spoilment."
"You were such a quiet child..." At this point, Undyne, Alphys, and Papyrus had gone on a /bit/ ahead to try and solve the vent puzzle. There was a lot of swearing from Undyne.
"Yup! Prooobably because you were always under so much stress and I didn't want to make it worse. There was a reason I took up work in the labs instead of just doing my own stuff at home." He was still rather quiet, when being himself. Otherwise he was loud, obnoxious, and made constant puns. There was probably a 'scarred childhood' diagnoses in there somewhere.
"I'm sorry, Gaster, I don't think I ever gave you a proper hello." Toriel gave a nod to Gaster's general direction.
Gaster looked rather unamused. "Go get dunked on."
"What did you just say to me?"
"Nothing, ma'am." A pause. "Can you hea-"
"No, I can't hear you, if that's what you're asking."
Sans was only beaming in pride, looking very pleased. "See? You doubted me when I told you how terrifying she could be." Perfect, perfect, perfect Tori~
"...How did she know?" The oldest looked incredibly confused, and a bit scolded. Sans only shrugged, looking as if he didn't even know himself.
"Most likely guess? Motherly instinct. The truth? She's too incredible to quantify with numbers. Her and Frisk both." Because, really...the things those two did that could change everything in the timeline. It was nothing short of incredible. Frisk was leaning against Toriel, humming as she held back a yawn. San raised an eyebrow at the nearly given yawn, looking a bit amused. "Ya know, it's a bit upsetting how big this place is. Gonna take us at least an hour until we get to Mettaton again."
"Yeah. We should- Let's play a game. Let's do that." She was very obviously fighting her sleepiness, her eyes already half-lidded.
"Let's play a game of who can keep their eyes closed the longest." Sans was nudging Toriel and making grabby motions for Frisk, because, really. He had been the expert at getting Frisk to take her naps. Though Toriel gave a pout of a frown, she handed her over.
"That's a stupid game. Like your face." Sans only hummed and shifted her to where she was tucked under his chin, one arm keeping her supported while the other rubbed small circles over her shoulder blades.
"I, personally, find it to be a rather fun game." The small hum had become the humming of a song, soft and quiet and just barely heard over the others who were all arguing on how to properly complete the puzzle. Frisk sighed, rubbing at her eyes as she wiggled down from his hold and walking over to the puzzle. She pushed her way through them and took control of the panel. Staring up at the screen blankly, she moved the joystick a couple times before jamming the button and walking away.
"Just until the next one." Sans snorted, but picked her back up to take her to it, looking amused.
"You are the only one who can do them, apparently." The girl grumbled a few choice words underneath her breath, leaning against him. Sans only timed it with a cough so not even Toriel could make out exactly what had been said.
It was after the next blaster puzzle was solves - almost a minute after - that Frisk was fast asleep in Sans' arms, the skeleton still quietly humming under his breath and looking perfectly content. Until he was tripping on a vine that hadn't been there when he stepped there. The action was a quick teleport to right himself before he could fall, barking a very nasty thing in a very unfamiliar language and bristling with indignation. There was the sound of someone blowing a raspberry behind him, and then silence. "I swear to fuck I'm gonna fucking keep weed killer in the house at all fucking times the little bastard." There was a tug to his jacket, Frisk looking up at him with an eye open to a slit.
"I didn't know you knew that language," Gaster commented.
"Hey, you're the one who used to speak it all the time around itty bitty us and swear when a project didn't go to plan. You should have been more careful." Switching to English, he soothed Frisk back to sleep. "Fine, fine, I won't harm the weed. You know I won't, I just yell at him and then tell multiple puns." A quiet hum, and it appeared that Frisk had fallen back asleep as easily as she'd woken up.
"...Your daughter in more ways than one." Sans opened his mouth to respond before pausing, nodding, and then shrugging.
"You probably wouldn't be wrong. Just so happens she outgrows her naps. I do not. Because naps are great and perfect and people should stop disrespecting the almighty nap." Even if every time he 'napped' it was because his body forcefully shut itself down to protect him from his overwhelming magic. It was all he could do some days just to stay awake through it.
"Speaking of..." Gaster crossed his arms, tilting his head at Sans. Sans only tilted his head back, looking innocently curious as to what Gaster could be talking about. It was made all the creepier by the fact it looked /genuine/. Sighing, Gaster only shook his head. "You're lucky I care about you." With that said, he was picking Sans up and thanking every power that might be for his corporeality.
Sans blinked in startlement, curling around Frisk and fighting off a yawn because he had probably been fighting off a 'nap' for a few hours. "Thought you only had fifteen minutes."
"I can flicker it on, or off. Besides, Toriel's arms are empty."
"...Wait, what?" And no. He was not sleepy. Not at all, he was completely and totally awake and ooh Frisk had gotten that behavior from him...
"She's weak, to you."
"...Still not making sense. Gonna be honest, things stopped making sense after the lab." And no, dammit, his eyes were not drooping. He was completely and totally...totally falling asleep. "You're evil."
"I know." He could last fifteen minutes. And since they were going to the Core? He could last longer. Sans huffed, still forcibly trying to stay awake.
"I am going to run up your time just to spite you, I hope you know. I will tota...ss...totally do it..."
"I know."
"'M serious." Just focus on staying awake. Even if Gaster hugs were rare due to circumstances and he adored all hugs and cuddles - especially Gaster's, if he was being honest. But, no. He could probably just last past a sleep attack. That...was a thing he could maybe do.
"I know you are, Sans." And then, the smaller skeleton was able to feel fur and pads on the top of his head, lightly scratching.
"Cheaters." And, really. He hadn't stood a chance.
It seemed they got to Mettaton's next performance sooner than expected. Frisk only looked up at the tin box before laying her head back down against Toriel. She was so not dealing with this, right now. Sans, also in Toriel's arms, hadn't even bothered to twitch.
"Alright! Time to crush the robot!" Undyne seemed very enthusiastic about ripping Mettaton apart, a small feeling inside her telling her that this fiend had done a terrible wrong to her. Somehow.
It was, surprisingly, Papyrus who stood in front of Undyne, arms held out in a gesture of peace. "Undyne, no! You cannot crush a star who blazes so brightly!"
Mettaton rolled over to Papyrus, tilting their head. "Ooh, and the knight in shining armor comes to protect the local darling! Is this the part where I fall into your arms?"
Papyrus had perked up, his full and complete attention on Mettaton. "I really seem like a knight in shining armor?" That was close to being part of the Royal Guard, right?
"Why of course, dear! So charming...and quite dashing, too~"
"Ha, ha! The Great Papyrus is quite enamored by your praise!" A soft smile, voice quieting just a /bit/. "Although if I must say, from watching your shows, you are much more charming than I."
"Oooh, but we both know that's a lie, don't we?"
"Dear Mettaton, how can one such as I ever compete with one that shines as brightly as you?" Undyne and Alphys were exchanging a look, both rather baffled by what was happening and...was Papyrus flirting. Papyrus.
"Alright, would you say I shine like the moon does?"
"Well, you dazzle like it."
"Well, darling, the moon only reflects the sun. And not only are you a star, you are also on fire." Sans suddenly woke up at that, narrowing his eyes at hearing a pun before nodding.
"I approve." He was then settling back down for more sleep because, yes, let Papyrus deal with this one. "Have fun flirting."
"Fli-Flirting?! Brother! I am not /flirting/, I am merely expressing admiration for one so incredibly amazing and ambitious! I, who wish nothing more than to join the Royal Guard, respects someone who is just as ambitious towards their own dreams!"
"Aww. Now I'm disappointed!" Papyrus looked slightly panicked at that.
"Wait- No- Did I do something wrong?!"
"Pap. He was teasing."
"...Of course! I was very much aware of such a thing!" A sudden gasp of horror. "Oh dear, are we interrupting your show?! Should we leave? I would hate for you fans or popularity to suffer because of us."
"I have a feeling this is making things much more exciting. Now. You wouldn't happen to have a human with you, now would you?" Papyrus paused before nodding.
"Ah, of course! My new tiny niece is human!"
"Perfect! Would you mind if I, ah...held her?"
"Hm...I would not when you are such a good, honest, and trustworthy soul, but I believe Sans would be upset at having his nap buddy taken away!" There was no sarcastic tones in the words, just utter trust and belief.
"Aww... Aw, I want to keep this one!" On the robot's 'screen,' there was a heart that seemed to pulse.
"...I didn't even know the screen could do that..." Alphys muttered, narrowing her eyes. As someone who had a long-time crush of her own, and a good friend to Mettaton, she could tell "O. M. G. You're serious."
"Hm? About what, Alphy?" Alphys only gestured to Undyne, pointed to herself, then nodded, pointed to Mettaton, and then gesture to Papyrus.
"You're serious." That was a serious crush starting.
Mettaton turned to her, a hand on his...hip? "And why wouldn't I be?"
"Metta. Be honest with me. Really. Really." Because they had enough 'girl nights' by now for Alphys to be sure that while Mettaton was an outrageous flirt, crushes and the like wasn't usually his thing. "I mean, go for it, definitely, but you can't tell me my surprise is unexpected."
"Well, I mean..." Mettaton only gestured to Papyrus, the cameras having turned off long ago.
"Hey, you do you."
"Ugh, tell me you did not just say something that stupid," Sans groaned, looking pained. "Alph, why."
"I thought you were supposed to be asleep," Toriel said with a quiet chuckle. Sans only hummed, nuzzling against her in a familiar motion, fond smile on his face.
"I was, but then I woke up." A pause, Sans glancing up at hearing a noise of shattering from Papyrus. "...Bro? You okay?"
"Oh my god." He had been flirting. And he was- What- Nooo. "I- Ah- It- Sans help."
"Mm, nah, this is too much fun." Revenge for all the teasing about him and 'Tori'. Eighty years wasn't enough to stop his grudge.
Toriel rolled her eyes, giving him a small nudge as she nuzzled back. "Sans." She set him down, taking Frisk from him. Sans easily relented and stretched a bit, looking more amused than anything.
"Right, then, let's keep moving. We got a Barrier to break, and all that."
"Break?!" Sans only pushed Alphys along, who was staring at him in shock and what did he just say?!
"No, no, it's cool. Just keep going with it, you'll see later. Pap, bro, either seduce the robot now or come on."
"Sewhat?!"
"Exactly, now come on, you'll get another chance." And, really, Sans was enjoying the shock of his brother far too much. It was so hard to make him blush, so this was even more fun. And judging by the way Papyrus' face was a bright orange, Sans knew he'd done his job well.
Although watching them fall in love all over again was a touch bit amusing, he had to admit.
