SPOILER WARNING: IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED THE GAME YET, PLEASE DO!
OTHERWISE THIS WILL MAKE NO SENSE OR RUIN PARTS OF THE GAME YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO YET.
SO PLEASE, GO PLAY IT, SERIOUSLY!
...
WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?
YOU BETTER HAVE PLAYED THE GAME BY NOW.
I WANT NO RESPONSIBILITY OVER SPOILING THINGS FOR OTHERS.
I wake up some time later, no Gaster dreams this time, in fact, no dreams at all, which is really odd, but not as odd as the bunch of sticky notes I find beside me on the floor.
[HUMAN! BY THE TIME YOU WAKE, MY BROTHER AND I SHALL BE AWAY ON OUR PATROL DUTY. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME AND FEEL FREE TO PARTAKE OF MORE OF MY FABULOUS SPAGHETTI! I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE IT...]
Dear lord, sorry Papyrus but that's a HUGE no to your cooking.
[THOUGH IF YOU'RE FEELING UP TO IT...IF YOU LEAVE OUR HOME AND WALK TO YOUR LEFT, I'LL BE THERE. UNLESS YOU FIND YOURSELF TREMBLING IN FEAR OF FACING ME, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, IN COMBAT? NYEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!]
So the great Papyrus isn't above taunting, either he really wants to fight or he thinks this will lead to something to boost his efforts, I know I told him I would fight but I never said when...he can wait.
[don't worry kid, like i said before, my bro is harmless. just remember the blue stop sign and you'll be okay. on a different note...]
The puns never stop, he really did mean a different note.
[you can go around town if you want. nobody will attack you here. snowdin's a small place, has friendly people, and as you can guess, lots of snow. i left you one of my jackets so you won't become a human-popsicle.]
True, so very true, man I need cold weather gear.
[by the way...you were muttering stuff in your sleep earlier. pap didn't hear it, but if you want to talk about it, you can find me at the pub. look for the building that says grillby's, you can't miss it. later kid.]
Oh crap, what the hell did I say?
*growl*
"Ah man...I'm so hungry."
I pull myself off the comfy couch and go to the kitchen hoping to find something other than spaghetti, much to my stomach's horror the fridge has containers labeled 'spaghetti' on one side and an empty bag of chips on the other.
"How do they live like this? These poor boys...I must show them that there is more flavor other than disaster! Lynsie, we have to cook!"
Breaking Bad joke part 2 bitches!
"Okay, it's a small town. There's gotta be a store of some kind. Yeah...I'll make them a 'thank you' dinner for all they've done. It's perfect!"
Hey dummy, forget something?
"Oh! Better call mama before anything else."
Good girl.
I pull out my phone and begin to dial when suddenly the cabinet door under the sink opens, a tiny white dog pops out with a bone in its mouth.
"Puppy?"
It looks at me and then my phone, it drops the bone and pounces on me, stealing my phone before bolting away.
"Hey you little...! Get back here!"
It pushes the front door open and escapes.
"No, no, no, no!"
I grab Sans's jacket off an end-table and put it on, it's almost exactly like the one he wears except for that there's fur around the hood and cuffs, zipping it up I'm amazed at how warm it is already.
"It's like he was just wearing it. *sniff* Smells nice...Wow, that came out creepy as hell."
I run after the dog after shutting the door, no need to let the cold in, following the paw prints in the snow I head to my right and into town.
Passing a library with a misspelled sign, why my OCD spots crap like that I don't know, I run along the trail, going up into some area framing trees, past a wolf throwing blocks of ice into the water, past a family of slimes, oh look there's Grillby's, is that a Christmas tree...wait, there it is!
The dog stands by an igloo just batting the phone with its paws, that mutt, I bet it's the same one that messed with Toriel, even though that makes no sense, still I slowly creep closer till I'm within leaping distance and I tackle the dog which yelps in surprise.
"Stealing is bad, doggy. Don't take what doesn't belong to you."
It barks a couple times as I move my phone under my leg, then I let it go much to it's shock.
"Silly puppy. Be good now, and next time I see you, I'll give you a treat. Okay?"
Its tail wags quickly while it yips happily.
"Good."
It runs away and I collect my phone.
"Thank goodness. No damage."
I call up Toriel but she doesn't answer, I end up having to leave a message, maybe she has her phone off for recharging, maybe she's bathing, maybe that dog took it again...I'll call again later.
"Huh...well that's convenient."
The building I'm near is a Shop and Inn, but then a familiar box catches my attention.
"Please be in there, please be in there, please be in there!"
I slowly open the box and my eyes widen with happiness.
"Holy cake it's here!"
I've never been so happy to see this old thing, had it since middle school and it hasn't failed me yet, I care not if I have to heat anything up, I'm chowing down like a starving animal.
"Mmmm...so good...*gulp* Mama, you make the best food ever! *chomp*"
"Hey Sans!"
Where?!
Oh, the jacket, better not let someone see me like this...I shove the remaining food back in my backpack and put it on as a little monster kid comes up before face planting into the snow.
I help the kid up and notice all of it, the kid is a yellow monster with no arms, a tail, and spines on the back of its head, there are markings under its eyes, I guess to be black eyes from them falling, one of the markings is bigger than the other, and it wears a yellow shirt with brown stripes.
"You okay kid?"
"Yeah, I'm fi...You're not Sans?"
"No, but he's a friend and lent me the jacket. Sorry for the mix up."
"Oh. No biggie. Sorry to bug you."
"No need. I wasn't doing much anyway. You take care now, you wouldn't want those shiners to get any darker."
"What? They're back? Ah man. My folks are gonna be so worried. They keep telling me to be careful."
I think for a second.
"I know this'll sound odd, but put snow on your eyes for small bits of time. The cold will reduce the swelling and they won't last as long."
"Really? Gee, thanks lady!"
"No problem kid."
He runs away and falls down again, though he stays down this time.
"*muffled* I'm okay..."
I just chuckle and go in the shop, if I'm making any food for the brothers I'll need to buy it, a bell rings when I enter and am greeted by the owner, she appears to be a purple bunny, although this may be due to lighting, she wears a tank top, a small necklace, and a summer hat, the shop itself is a brightly lit orange store with shelves of materials and wares.
"Hello, traveler. How can I help you?"
"Yes, that would be nice. I'm new here and looking to spend some gold."
She smiles with joy at this, for both meeting someone new and earning a profit.
"Then you and me are going to be good friends."
"Great. Now let me see..."
[30 minutes later]
The shop bell rings as I leave, I did good, made out with some awesome deals, I'm so going to spoil these boys tonight, speaking of which I should let them know of my plans, curse my ineptitude, I should've asked for their phone numbers...guess I have to go find them.
The closest skele-bro would be Sans if he is in fact at Grillby's, I can at least check, that kid is gone, hope he made it home without falling, as I approach the pub I notice the large bay window, good, I can look without going in if needed.
Peering in on the slightly frosted glass, I scan for any sign of the smiling goofball and for a moment I think I see him, but it just turns out to be a different monster, either I missed him or he hasn't showed up yet, guess it'll make it more of a surprise for him...but what about Papyrus?
"boo!"
I jump higher than a cat surprised by a air horn, my heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, and my ears ringing with the sound of laughter, laughter that I know all too well.
"hahahaha...oh my god...that was...priceless...i can't...breathe...!"
Sans...you are so lucky I'm not vindictive or you'd be in massive trouble.
But then again, just to make him feel a little bad, I calm down and put on a blank look, not saying a word.
After a while, and a small fit where he doubles over in giggles, he's panting as he settles down.
"oooh...man, that was epic. hehehe..."
I just keep the blank look and he gets awkward.
"uh...you okay kid? it was just a joke."
"Sans."
"y-yeah?"
I suddenly rush forward and glomp him, scaring the hell out of him.
"Payback sucks."
I whisper and let him go, a noticeable blue hue present on his face, just stunned I did that, it gets to me, now I feel bad.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"you got me good there buddy. if i had skin i would've jumped out of it."
"Again, I'm sorry I did that."
"no, no. i brought that on myself. sneaking up on you when everybody out here could attack you. it was a bad joke. if anything, i'm the one who's sorry."
"How about this...You were gonna go in Grillby's right?"
He eyes me skeptically.
"yeah?"
"Well, I plan on cooking dinner for you boys. So why not I treat you to lunch and we call it square between us?"
"really? you'd do all that for us?"
"Sans, come on. You and Pap are my friends. Besides, you saved my life and took me into your home. I owe you guys at the very least a decent meal."
He rubs the back of his skull and smiles.
"honestly, it would be nice to have a home cooked meal that wasn't like eating a brick. don't get me wrong, i love pap. and since getting lessons from undyne, he has improved. but the edibility is still a long ways off. i'm rather surprised you were able to stomach it yesterday."
"Egh...It wasn't easy. That's for sure. Which reminds me, you guys need something other than spaghetti in that fridge. I nearly fainted seeing so much of it."
That gets him chuckling and to be fair so am I.
"you know, if it isn't too much trouble...maybe you can give him some pointers."
"On all cooking, or just pasta related things? I'm good with both options."
"let's stick to spaghetti, just to ease him into it. then you can see if you can expand his mind more. make sense?"
"Sounds like a plan. Oh! Thanks for the use of your jacket. It's so warm and snuggly."
I can't help but nuzzle into the collar and the look he has seems like he's bashful.
"well...you know. your old lady would kick my bony butt if you got sick on my watch."
He looks me up and down then averts his gaze, the blush growing a bit darker.
"it looks good on you."
Now it's my turn to blush and my eyes focus on the ground, it's just a compliment, calm yourself down idiot, don't make this weird.
"so...ready to go inside? i don't know about you, but i'm empty here."
"S-sure. Better to be indoors than the cold."
He opens the door and warmth pours out, the inside of the pub contains a couple of booths, tables, a bar and a jukebox in the back that has a 'sorry it's broken' sign, the entire place lit up by seven well placed candle wall lamps, a cool purple neon sign saying GRILLBYS with a martini hangs above the jukebox...so cool!
Upon seeing the open door, we are instantly met with waves of greetings, mainly for him, honestly it's like that scene from Cheer's when Norm enters the bar.
"hey, everyone."
"Hey, Sans."
"Hi, Sans."
Says what seems to be a dog couple in black robes wielding large axes.
"Greetings, Sans."
A big toothy plant monster, thank god Flowey doesn't look like that.
"Hiya, Sansy~."
A drunk rabbit creature, now I've seen everything...Hey, there's Doggo and two other dogs in armor, the Royal Guard seems to like having dogs in their unit.
"Hey Sans, weren't you just here for breakfast a few minutes ago?"
Dear lord it's the monster from the fishing rod photo, not a very good looking fish creature.
"nah, i haven't had breakfast in at least half an hour. you must be thinking of brunch."
He shrugs and I hear a rim-shot, is he really doing that?
The whole pub laughs, so Toriel and I aren't the only ones who find him funny, that's nice.
"Wait...You already ate?"
He puts his hands behind his head playfully.
"maybe. but i'm not one to turn down a free lunch."
"Hey Sans, who's the girl?"
Asks a red female bird monster.
"this is lynsie. she's a human, and a very nice one too."
"Why does she have your jacket?"
"Yeah, is she your girlfriend or something?"
Asks what seems like a hamster-horse monster, I know it's an innocent question, a silly little tease, it doesn't get to me.
"yep."
Now that gets to me, super blush time, did he just...when did he put his arm around my shoulders?
"If Sans likes her, she must be alright."
Oh, now I get it, another cover story for my protection...I owe him major for this.
He escorts me to a pair of free stools up at the bar and removes his arm from my shoulders.
"here sweetheart, get comfy."
I know he's just playing the boyfriend role he put himself in, but that pet name 'sweetheart', I'm not liking it, I don't know why, it just doesn't feel right, not even from him.
I do as he does and take my seat, but when I do, a loud ridiculous fart erupts from the stool, my blush is deep and Sans's grin is wider than a Cheshire cat.
"whoops, watch were you sit down kid. sometimes weirdos put whoopee cushions on the seats."
Again, you really needed to prank me twice?
I just give him a playful 'I am going to get you for that' look and he tenses up a little.
"uh...anyway, let's order."
"Okay."
"whaddya want?"
"I don't know. What would you recommend?"
"hmmm...well, grillby here makes the best burgers and fries."
"Sounds good."
"and for a drink?"
"I'm good with anything so long as it's not alcohol."
"are you sure?"
He grins devilishly, a cheeky look that that screams up to no good...silly bones, 2 can play at this game.
"I trust you. After all, you are my boyfriend."
My smug smirk combined with that nearly floors him, I hear faint chuckling across the bar that comes from the pub owner himself, Grillby, a monster of living fire that is orange with a yellow core, dressed in traditional bartender attire and topped by a pair of spectacles...honestly, the guy is hot, both literally and figuratively.
Judging by how he reacted to Sans, I don't think Grillby buys the whole 'relationship' thing, but he seems cool about it.
"So, what's a fire elemental doing in a chill place like this? You seem a bit out of your element."
He chuckles again and Sans is now looking at me funny.
[...]
[...]
[...]
The red bird taps my shoulder.
"Grillbz said that he'd offer you a glass of water, but he doesn't touch the stuff."
A giggle escapes me and Grillby gives the bird a look, making her sigh.
"I can't really translate for Grillby. I was actually just making up what he was saying."
"Really? Huh, kind of a shame. That was cute."
Butane blue begins to tint under Grillby's glasses and he fuddles with cleaning a glass, I smile finding his behavior charming, but the bundle of bones beside me is not amused.
"yo! grillby, we'll have a double order of burg and fries. and two bottles of my usual."
With an order given, the humble bartender leaves to go into another room behind a door that says 'you can't go through the fire exit because you're not made of fire', that's cute as hell!
"careful when playing with fire kid. you're likely to get burned."
He sounds annoyed, but why, did he really believe the lie he made, or is he giving me a real warning about Grillby?
"I'll keep that in mind."
He pulls out a comb and swipes his skull a few times, I can only guess he uses it to scratch at random itches, not like skeletons have hair.
"so, what do you think...of my brother?"
What, you're going to act like there's no tension in the air, or is this your way of breaking it?
"Papyrus is a loveable guy. He's very passionate and determined about his dreams. I admire that about him. Yet he seems like he's reaching for a goal that he can't achieve. It makes me feel for him. But if I had to describe him in just one word...Cool."
"of course he's cool. you'd be cool too if you wore that outfit every day."
"It is pretty cool."
"we made that a few weeks ago for a costume party. he hasn't worn anything else since...keeps calling it his 'battle body'."
"So freaking cute!"
"he'd only take that thing off if he absolutely had to. oh well. at least he washes it. and by that i mean he wears it in the shower."
"That's it. Your bro is absolutely adorable!"
He snickers and Grillby returns with a large tray, he places down two plates, each has a burger and basket of fries with a bottle of ketchup...but no drinks?
"here comes the grub."
"But where are the drinks?"
Grillby points to the bottles of ketchup and I turn to Sans who sports the biggest grin ever.
"You drink ketchup?"
"is that a problem?"
Oh you silly skeleton, you have no idea who you play with here.
"Not at all."
I smirk teasingly as I grab my bottle, they both watch as I start drinking without hesitation, Grillby is stunned and Sans is in awe, when I do stop I give them both a wink.
"Delicious. You got good stuff Grillby."
That came out more flirtatious than I intended, his flame brightens and blues in his face, he actually turns around to hide from me, oh my god I made a man blush, I feel so epic right now!
Sans on the other hand, his blue blush is beaming, there's a look I don't know on his face, part of it is wonder, but this other part...it makes me feel weird, better fix this.
"What did the skeleton say upon getting his food?"
"huh?"
"Bone-appetit!"
His face blanks out for a second before laughing, good, this is much better, I start to relax and eat.
The air between us is much calmer now, like the events that just happened didn't, it's nice...wait, did he just scratch his butt, funny as hell!
"anyway, cool or not, you have to agree papyrus tries real hard. like how he keeps trying to be part of the royal guard."
"That is true."
"one day, he went to the house of the head of the royal guard...and begged her to let him be in it. of course, she shut the door on him because it was midnight."
"Awww."
"but the next day, she woke up and saw him still waiting there. seeing his dedication, she decided to give him warrior training. it's, uh, still a work in progress."
"I may not know Papyrus as well as you, but I believe he can do it...even if it takes a long time. As long as he believes in himself, he can do anything he wants."
His smile is so pure and heart warming.
"oh yeah, I wanted to ask you something."
"Yeah? What's up punny bones?"
Suddenly the vibe feels deeply serious, like we're the only one's in the whole pub.
"have you ever heard of a talking flower?"
A cold chill runs down my spine, in my mind I can hear Flowey's laugh, I know he's still following me, I just know it.
"Y-yes."
"so you know all about it."
He...he knows about...
"the echo flower."
...What?
"they're all over the marsh. say something to them, and they'll repeat it over and over..."
I haven't been to the marsh, he knows this, why would he ask me a question like that?
"What are you talking about?"
"what about it? well, papyrus told me something interesting the other day. sometimes, when no one else is around...a flower appears and whispers things to him."
No...no, please no...
"flattery...advice...encouragement...predictions. weird huh? someone must be using an echo flower to play a trick on him. keep an eye out, ok? thanks."
I'm trembling at this point, it was fine that Flowey was just messing with me, I can deal with that, but others, Papyrus no less, this isn't good, how long has he been doing this, why is he doing it, why?!
"hey...you alright? you're shaking like a leaf."
"Don't let him hurt Pap. He's dangerous. He's a lying, manipulative demon!"
Now he's confused and worried, by both my fear and that I'm chugging the ketchup just to calm down.
"calm down kid. who are you talking about? who's gonna hurt pap?"
I take a couple deep breaths, my heart is still thumping, I'm actually scared and for someone else.
"Remember when we first met, knocking on the door, I said the first thing I trusted tried to kill me?"
"y-yeah?"
"It was a talking flower. It calls it's self Flowey. It told me my soul was weak and could get stronger with LV. He then tried to kill me so he could take my 'weak' soul. Then it told me how it wants me to kill. That I'm pathetic for being kind. Now it follows me, taunting me. Don't trust him. Don't let Pap near him. Oh my god, Pap! I have to warn him!"
I slam some gold on the counter.
"Thank you Grillby, it was great, gotta go, see you home Sans, bye!"
I don't remember breathing for a bit, nor hearing Sans panic as I run out of the place, I have to warn him, I won't let Flowey hurt him, not him, not Papyrus, he doesn't deserve it, I won't let him hurt you, I WON'T LET HIM HURT YOU!