Launch for four
Opening your eyes you emerged from the unknown depths of sleep to awake in the same hotel room where you fell asleep yesterday.
Looking around you were relieved to see that Toriel was back from her shopping tour and slept peacefully leaned back into a chair standing besides the bed.
Not wanting to disturb her you tip-toed to the bath to do your morning business.
Controlling your look in a mirror the strange dream came back into your mind.
Was it really just a dream or is there really someone in me? This though scared you a bit but it was exiting at the same time.
Unsure about that you tried to speak with them whispering into the mirror, "Hello? Are you there?"
Nothing happened.
Still standing in front of the mirror you waited quit a time to be sure, but nobody answered.
A dream, it was just a dream nothing mor-
"BOO!"
Jumping startled by the voice suddenly sounding inside your mind nearly toppling over you grabbed the sink to regain your balance on the small step-stool you were standing on to reach the mirror.
Soundless laughter erupted inside your head only interrupted by short sentence fragments.
"Ha-ha-ha oh my gosh your face ha-ha-ha you don't know how long I had to wait ha-ha-ha to play this prank again ha-ha-ha."
Waiting for your fast beating heart to slow down you complained, "That was not funnny!"
Still laughing the girl answered this time without delay, "Ha-ha-h. Believe me ha-ha-ha it was."
Taking some time to calm down she spoke again, "So what do you want?"
Feeling a bit dumb on this question you confessed whispering again, "I just wantted to… to make sure that you… you know iff you are real."
Feeling her amusement vibrating inside of you she answered, "I'm pretty sure that I'm real but if I weren't do you really think I would tell you?"
"Yes? I mean you are tallking to me so you must exxist? Or not?" This question was really confusing.
"Fair point." Somehow she conveyed you the feeling of shrugging shoulders."So how are you feeling after oversleeping an entire day?"
"A wholle day!?" Bringing your voice back down to a whisper after this sudden outburst you pressed further, "Are you sure?"
Again the feeling of shrugging shoulders, "More or less if the clock over the bed is correct."
"I was a bit sleeppy but… a whole day..." You felt a bit guilty about sleeping so long and letting Toriel wait. "Why didn't she wake me?"
This question was more rhetorical but the scary girl answered nevertheless, "Because you had a fewer and could barely move let alone walk through knee deep cold snow?"
Conveying you this time the feeling of a raised eyebrow she continued, "If I were you I would enjoy this little time of this boring hike and not feel guilty about something that I can't control."
Deep inside you you knew that she was right but felt still guilty.
Turning away from the mirror you went back into the hotel room and sat down onto the bed.
Simply sitting there and waiting was a bit boring but you were used to it.
Counting the wood-panels on the wall you noted with relief that the spider that sat there last time was gone.
It seemed that the scary girl was not as used to waiting as you because she interrupted you before you even counted one third of the panels, "What are you doing?"
Keeping your voice low you answered, "I'm countiing the panels on the wall."
"Yessss I'm seeing that." She sounded a bit stressed out. "But why are you doing that?"
"Because I'm waitting for Toriel to wake up."
Again the raised eyebrow. "Okay. But I'm sure you could do something more interesting then sitting here."
Ignoring the slight critic on your method to pass time you replied, "No I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I could wake Toriel when I make to much noise."
Her next question sounded a bit baffled, "So you wait for Toriel to wake up but at the same time you avoid everything that could wake her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
That they had to ask irritated you.
"Because I'm a good child."
They didn't speak for a while enabling you to count half of the panels then demanded, "Whatever I'm bored. So please do something."
"But I can't I don't wantt to wake Toriel."
Feeling their boredom going to annoyance you added, "I'm sorryy."
Their mood changed again this time to a sort of interest that made you wince as it reminded you of the kind other kids in school looked at you before they approached and forced you to read a difficult word aloud.
"So if you don't want to wake Toriel then it looks like I've to do that..."
"Plleasse doon't." Distress twisted the words in your mouth as they conveyed you the feeling of a deep breath.
"TORIEL WAKE UP!" Loud and clear rang their voice in your ears prompting you to reply in reflex.
"NO-" The shout escaped your mouth before the feeling of their glee let you realize their trick.
They could only speak in your head but your in reflex shouted word could be heard by everyone nearby.
"Huh?" Sitting up Toriel's sleepy gaze wandered through the room until it stopped by you.
Paralyzed with fear you waited for her reaction.
"Child you are awake." Standing up the sleepiness vanished from her face as she approached you with a firm step.
Not sure what she would do your whole body tensed as her big hands reached out for you.
Her hands were as carefully and fluffy as always as she checked you from top to toe either not noticing or ignoring your tension as even her voice didn't display the faintest trace of anger about your disturbance of her sleep.
"You got me really worried little one but it seems the fever is gone now and you are fully okay again."
She hesitated, "But perhaps we should wait another night before we contin-"
Feeling still guilty about slowing her down you spoke quickly misspelling most of the words as you assured her, "No it is okkay reaally I can waalk I just neeed to changge thenn we can…," your voice died away as you realized that you just had rudely interrupted her.
"I'm soorrry I didn't meaant to interruupt you," pushing the words out you ducked under her gaze, "I'm soorry."
Laying her hand onto your shoulder she stopped the fast flow of words, "It is okay my child."
Squeezing your shoulder a bit she captured your gaze with her soft purple eyes, "If you think that you can go then we will go but," she raised on of her white furred fingers, "but first you should eat something."
Unsure how you should react you voiced a shy, "Okkay," and waited for the things to come.
Squeezing your shoulder again Toriel left you with some bread and cheese while she did something in the bathroom.
"See nothing bad happened."
This time the mind voice startled you only a bit, the result from the last minute still in mind you decided to ignore it.
"Trust me she is really soft as long as you don't do something really stupid she will only lecture you."
Finishing your meal you continued to ignore the scary girl.
Trying to prompt you to a reaction they placed a bait deceived as thoughtful consideration.
"But I wonder about what she is lying to you..."
Hearing Toriel calling for you you went to the bathroom.
"I mean didn't you see her eyes avoiding you for a moment when she said that 'you are fully okay again'?"
Entering the bathroom you listened carefully to Toriels instructions before she left.
Snapping their fingers it seemed that the patience of the scary girl was exhausted, "*SNAP* *SNAP* Hey crybaby I'm talking to you. *SNAP* *SNAP*"
Taking of the wide-short nightdress you whispered again to them, "I won't liisten to you. You trickked me."
Satisfaction spoke out of their next words as you turned to the bathtub, "But as you even proved you do listen to me!"
"That was onlly to let you knoow that I don't listten to you."
Seeing that the tub was nearly filled let you pause.
"You know that speaking to me only proves my point?"
Words underlined with amusement they sent you again the feeling of a raised eyebrow.
"No I don't." Bracing yourself you entered the tub.
The water was pleasantly warm but that it was high enough to reach your chin unsettled you.
"Yes you dooo~"
Teasingly stretching the last word they seemed to notice your uneasiness as their next question sounded more sincere.
"What's wrong?"
Remembering Toriel's instruction you grabbed the sponge to clean you as hearty as possible. "Nothing."
This time it were two raised eyebrows, "You do know that I'm in your head right?"
Not waiting for a response she continued, "So I can tell you firsthand that you think that something about this is not 'nothing'."
Taking some deep breaths you prepared for the next part, "Really it is nothing."
"Yeah of course it is and this water smells like roses."
"Really? I thought it was a herbal bath?"
You had realized the strange smell but it was only a minor thing compared to the sheer height of the water.
This time they made sure that you had no problem to identify their sarcasm as they sent you the feeling of rolling eyes, "That was ironic. Anyways why are yo-"
Leaning back a bit holding tightly on to the edge of the tub the water raised quickly around your head soaking into your hair and flooding your ears while prompting you to tilt your head back to prevent it from filling your mouth.
It was rather unsettling knowing that you only had to loose your grip for a second and the water would envelop you completely.
Seemingly affected as well by either your uneasiness or another matter the scary girl kept quiet while you cleaned the back of your head.
Getting a lot faster your breath and heartbeat sounded in your ears like muffled drums dramatically underlining every second of this unnerving experience.
Feeling discomfort and uneasiness building up to a knot of panic inside your chest you moved the sponge faster but not for long as you remembered Toriel's instructions.
Greedily the water hold on to your soaked hairs and tried supported by gravity to pull you back down with it as you finally sit up again.
Taking some moments to calm your fast breath and heartbeat you braced yourself for the next part.
I can do that.
Starring down at the small waves moving innocently beneath your nose you pulled your legs under you so that you are now kneeling inside the tub.
The water setting your neck free from its grasp as you entered the new position eased the hard knot of panic still inside your chest but the though of what lays ahead let it tighten again in cold fear.
I can do that.
Grasping the edge again with one hand while tighten your grip on the sponge with the other you close your eyes and take some final breaths.
I can do that.
You lean forward.
Raising above your tightly closed mouth the water stroked your skin pleasantly warm while you sunk down into its suffocating embracement.
Tightly holding on to the edge you started to drag the sponge over your face as hearty as possible while your lungs not used to this started to protest against the sudden shortness of breath.
Short flashbacks of the guard fight appeared before your mind's eye summoned by the similar pain in your lungs increasing the pressure of panic inside your chest.
I can do that.
Ignoring the red dots behind your eyelids and the soft throbbing behind your forehead you continued to clean the front of your head.
Finishing the last bits you pulled yourself back up greedily sucking in deep breaths of fresh air as soon as your mouth surfaced again.
It took this time longer than before for your fast breath and heartbeat to normalize but after some time you were calm again but still unsettled by the water reaching your chin.
Relieved that you had managed to made sure that every spot of you had contact with the water as Toriel had instructed you exited the tub as fast as possible.
Dressing yourself you paused for a moment wondering about the scary girl, she had teased and talked until you started to wash your head but after that she was so quiet.
"Hello? Are you still there?"
Nobody answered your whisper.
It was around noon when Toriel exited the Snowdin inn.
Holding her child by their hand she made her way through Snowdin ignoring the curios glances from the local monsters.
Being a tall goat monster wasn't really a problem since the town was mostly inhabited by humanoid bears and rabbits but her backpack in conjunction with the fact that in such a small town everyone knew everyone made it pretty obvious that both of them were strangers.
Relax nobody knows. Just a bit further and we've passed the last houses.
Although she wanted to exit the town as quickly as possible she made sure that her child could easily keep pace with her.
It seemed that they felt a lot better now after the small fever was gone as they let their gaze wander around trying to see it all.
Taking a short look down she made sure that they were still wearing the booble cap she had added to their outfit to forestall another cold induced fever.
It was still there but had moved a bit since their red gloved hand would every once in a while wander up to scratch their scalp that was a bit irritated by the shag of the cap.
"EXCUSE ME MISS?"
Looking back up there was now the skeleton she had met yesterday morning on her way to Snowdin standing in her way.
He wore a chest protector made of old white washing agent bottles (complete with a triangular yellow brand label placed like a medal over his heart) red boots with matching gloves blue boxer shorts and a red scarf that tried its best to impersonate a dramatically waving cape.
What does he want?
Frisk moved a bit closer as she stopped but seemed more fascinated then actually scared by the skeleton blocking their way.
Raising both eyebrows she shoot Papyrus a partly questioning partly annoyed glance.
His penetrating voice was still loud enough to shake the snow from some of the roofs.
"I'M STILL REALLY SORRY ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE THAT MY TRAPS CAUSED", seeing her eyebrows raising even more on the notions of this he added quickly, "AND I'VE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SAID ABOUT SAFETY AND STUFF."
Taking a deep breath his voice got even louder as he proclaimed, "SO I WOULD OFFER YOU A NICELY COOKED MEAL OF SPAGHETTI TO MAKE UP FOR THAT. COOKED ONLY WITH THE FINEST INGREDIENTS BY ME THE GREAT PAPYRUS HIMSELF NYE-HEH-HEH."
Placing a hand onto his chest he assumed a semi dramatic posse while he waited for a answer.
Curses.
Taking a quick look her apprehension was confirmed, the loud voice of the skeleton had attracted the interest from everyone nearby.
Doing the math in her head it was less conspicuous to accept then to decline so she lowered her eyebrows and accepted his offer, "Okay but only a short meal we've still a long way to go today."
His eyelids shot up in surprise.
"WOWIE IT WORKED. I MEAN PLEASE FOLLOW ME NYE-HEH-HEH."
Gesturing them to follow he turned to a nearby wooden house that was decorated with flashing holiday lights under the roof edges and a rim on the door.
Entering the house the first thing she saw was the purple carpet with a blue zig-zag pattern clashing with the orange tiled kitchen floor that was visible through the door opposite of the front door.
Righthand stand a table with some chairs under a large window providing a nice view over the snowy land outside while the left side of the room was occupied by a old but comfy looking couch a rest table with a book and a flat television sitting on a small cupboard also there were stairs leading to the second floor.
Being in a closed room made the skeleton's voice even more booming and penetrating when he mentioned them to take a seat, "PLEASE SIT DOWN I WILL SERVE THE SPAGHETTI SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY THE NEWEST OF MY CULINARY MASTERPIECES."
Turning around he entered the kitchen his foots making clicking sounds as he stepped on the tiles.
It was unfamiliar for her to let Frisk get onto the chair on her own but since the chair was on the right size for humans and she knew that it always stressed them when they were picked up she let them do that on their own.
Taking a seat besides her child she waited for the 'culinary masterpiece'.
This was really cool a speaking skeleton had invited you to his home to eat spaghetti and it was not scary like other skeletons you had seen in horror movies!
Letting your gaze wander around you inspected the normal looking house while Toriel tried to fit her legs comfortable under the table.
"HERE IT IS MY NEWEST INGENIOUS SPAGHETTI CREATION."
Juggling four plates with 'food' Papyrus exited the kitchen to place them down onto the table.
"Four plates?" The voice of the scary girl reappearing in your mind without warning let you jump a bit but thankfully Toriel was to distracted to notice it.
As to answer her unspoken question Papyrus turned around to the stairs to shout in an amazingly even louder voice, "SANS WHERE ARE YOU? IT IS ALREADY PAST NOON AND TIME FOR LAUNCH! SO WAKE UP ALREADY AND COME DOWN TO GREAT OUR GUESTS!"
For a moment only silence answered the demand of the skeleton then a opening door was heard which was shortly followed by the sound of bones on wood as another skeleton made its way downstairs.
The new skeleton was just one head taller then you and wore black trousers a white shirt and a blue hoodie with a white hood.
"sup bro whats up?", his voice was deep and pally just like the voices of this friendly elderly grandpas you see in every movie when someone needs a mentor.
Turning back he introduced the two of you to his brother, "THIS IS SANS MY BROTHER, SANS THIS IS TORIEL A NICE LADY THAT I MIGHT HAVE BUGGED A BIT WITH MY TRAPS AND THIS IS," looking down at you he paused suddenly, "ACTUALLY I'VE NO CLUE WHO YOU ARE."
Bowing down to you he asked in a stage whisper, "HELLO I'M PAPYRUS COULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO ME SO THAT I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO MY BROTHER?"
Shyly returning the gaze of the tall skeleton you replied quietly, "Hello Papyrrus I'm Frisk," you winced a bit on the sound of your own rough hoarse voice struggling to pronounce his name but he didn't seem to notice your little spelling error.
Facing again his brother Papyrus introduced you too, "AND THIS IS FRISK THEY ACCOMPANY TORIEL."
"nice to meet ya I'm Sans, Sans the skeleton," stepping closer he offered Toriel a handshake.
"Hello Sans I'm Toriel," leaning forward she grabbed his extended hand.
"Prfffffffffffpuuiiii…," it was not really much noise but the sound of the fart was loud and clear as it emerged into the sudden silence.
"SAAAANS!" Glancing accusingly at his brother Papyrus apologized for him, "PLEASE EXECUSE MY BROTHER SOMETIMES HE DOES THIS KIND OF JOKES ALTHOUGH I TELL HIM EVERY TIME THAT IT IS NOT FUNNY."
"sorry I must have forgotten to take out the whoope cusion when you called me down," shrugging apologetically his wide smile and the short wink to you disproved the honesty of the apology as he pulled his hand back and revealed said item in his palm.
"Wow how did he manage to hide that thing there? I mean that thing is pink and I could've sworn that it wasn't there when he offered his hand to her! This guy is amazing!"
The scary girl sounded truly impressed by this trick while you looked awkwardly at Toriel waiting for her reaction not sure what she would do.
Seeing the corners of her snout twitch you ducked a bit away as she opened it very wide displaying really sharp looking teeth before she… before she erupted into laughter?
You and Papyrus must've looked really baffled there starring at the tall goat monster twitching under fits of laughter.
Wiping some tears of laughter out of her eyes Toriel managed to contain her amusement for now and to speak again, "That was a nice trick there Mr. Skeleton this is the first time after a long while that I've seen something this funny."
"How unfair! When I did this it was childish and immature but it is funny when he does that!?"
"its nice to be appreciated," still smiling he turned after he thanked Toriel for the praise to you and extended his hand again, "hello there."
Inspecting the hand beforehand to be sure that it was empty you grabbed it.
His fingers had a funny feeling they were smooth and thin like small sticks but grabbed your hand with surprising strength and more strangely they felt as warm as a normal person's hand.
"Heello I'm Frisk."
Shaking your hand he returned your gaze from the white dots in his dark eye sockets then suddenly the dot on the right vanished and the left one turned light blue and grew until it almost filled the entire socket.
Widening your eyes on this you tried to pull your hand back in reflex but he held it in a firm grip preventing you from getting away as his one eye seemed to look down into the very depths of your soul with its blue stare.
Even the scary girl seemed to be intimidated by this as you felt how she ducked in your mind and heard her whispering as would she fear that he could notice her.
"Forget what I've said about this guy I don't like him. Something about him is not right."
Pulling again he let finally go of your hand and you could hide it under the table where he wouldn't be able to reach it.
Toriel seemed to sense your distress as she looked irritated at you and then at the small skeleton whose eyes were now back to little dots again as he took a sit opposite to you.
Looking again at you and your hands safely hidden under the table she considered for a moment then moved her chair closer to you.
"so where's the food Pap?"
Tilting his head Papyrus gestured at the plate right before his brother, "CAN'T YOU SEE IT? THE SPAGHETTI ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU."
Displaying again a wide smile his brother continued to ask, "yes but where is the food?"
"SAAAAANS!"
Raising both hands he surrendered still smiling, "okay okay I'll give it a shot."
Looking down at your own plate you had to admit that he had a point on the spaghetti as the noodles were still pretty straight and the sauce seemed to contain way more sauce then water.
"Are you really planning to eat this?"
Her voice sounded somehow intrigued disgusted on this thought well more disgusted than intrigued.
Picking up some spaghetti with a fork you took a short look at Toriel who had already lifted a fork load of noodles to her snout.
Seeing that she was eating these you lifted your own fork as well to not embarrass her in front of the skeletons by cheekily declining to eat.
"Please don't do this have mercy I beg you."
The disgust was now more then obvious but opposed to the bath she didn't disappear again.
Already tasting a strange aroma on the tip of your tongue a white furred hand grabbing your arm stopped the spaghetti from entering your mouth.
Letting the big hand guide the fork back down to the table you looked irritated at Toriel.
Her snout twitched and you could see short tremors wander over her face as she hurriedly reached out to drink some water her fork laying forgotten besides the plate where it had fallen down.
Coughing a bit she explained excusing to Papyrus with a now hoarse voice, "Frisk has already eaten and I don't want her to overeat she will pass on this."
"Thanks to whatever higher will had the kindness to spare me from that."
"THAT IS OKAY I DON'T WANT THAT EITHER ARE THE SPAGHETTI GOOD ENOUGH AS AN APOLOGY FOR THE TROUBLE MY TRAPS CAUSED? I'M NOT REALLY GOOD IN READING YOUR EXPRESSIONS SINCE YOUR SKULL HAS ALL THESE OTHER STUFF AROUND IT."
Eager for her opinion to his 'culinary masterpiece' the tall skeleton didn't take his eye sockets from Toriel as he pulled your plate over to him to eat your serving too.
Drinking some more water her voice sounded almost normal again when she answered, "It is and I've to say that eating this spaghetti was surely... a interesting experience."
"yeah I think that pretty much sums it up."
Leaning back from his empty plate Sans looked slightly amused at Toriel who was still trying to wash the taste with more water from her tongue.
"Hey when did he eat that stuff? Did you see him eat at all?"
Not able to answer her since the others could her you, you could only silently wonder to yourself on another discovery.
When Papyrus placed the plates down they all had the pattern of blue snowflakes on their edges but the plate before Sans was now patterned with blue snowmen.
Noticing your interest the skeleton gave you a short wink while holding his index finger in front of his teeth mentioning you to be silent about this.
Conveying you the feeling of goose bumps the scary girl sensible of the two white dots still resting on you whispered again, "I really don't like that guy please ask mu- Toriel to leave."
As much as you would love to do that you simple couldn't because you were sure that it would sound like grizzling and good children don't grizzle so you could only sit there and endure the presence of the short skeleton opposing you.
Still suffering from this malefaction that Papyrus had called 'spaghetti' and seeing how uneasy her child suddenly was Toriel got up from the chair to bide farewell as soon as it was politely possible.
"Thanks again for the spaghetti but we still need to walk pretty far so please excu-"
A series of short knocks coming from the front door interrupted her.
Raising from his chair Papyrus rushed over to the door to great whoever had knocked.
"PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT I'VE TO ANSWER THAT."
Although Toriel was facing the front door she wasn't able to make out with whom the skeleton was speaking as the door blocked her sight.
"A TALL BLUE MONSTER WITH HORNS? AND A SHORT ONE WITH A BLUE SWEATER? NO I HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE."
Flinching a bit on the notion of a 'tall horned monster accompanied by a shorter one' the cluelessness of Papyrus let her relax again.
Until he continued the conversation gesturing someone to come in.
"BUT PERHAPS THE TALL LADY WITH THE PURPLE DRESS OR HER CHILD WITH THE PURPLE STRIPPED SWEATER MAY HAVE SEEN THEM. YOU COULD ASK THEM THEY ARE CURRENTLY MY GUESTS."
Curses.
Passing the door five dark coated figures entered the house one of them so tall that it had to duck under the doorframe.
Looking around the canine guards opened their coats and folded their hoods back to not be roasted in them since the house was pretty good heated.
Four of them were unknown to her but the fifth guard was undoubtedly Dogaressa as she just needed a short look before she greeted Toriel with a friendly smile.
"Hello Toriel how are you doing?"
Ignoring the part of her mind that urged her to flee as fast as possible to not endanger her child she returned the smile and answered, "Hello Dogaressa I'm doing fine Frisk had a short fever but except for that they are well."
Mentioning Frisk to leave their chair she continued, "But I'm still planning to bring them to a doctor for a routine checkup and we've quit a distance to go today so please excuse us."
Stepping forward one of the other guards blocked her way to the door but didn't prevent her from strapping on the backpack.
He had roughly the same height as Dogaressa and spoke with a husky voice as he politely demanded, "Excuse me miss but we would need you to wait for a moment until we've checked your child."
Mustering the royal guard she noted two things that worried her a bit, although he had spoken to her his eyes were entirely fixed on Frisk and his center of mass rested in a pose that allowed him either to attack quickly or to dodge.
That must be Dogressa's husband Dogamy.
Raising a eyebrow she felt the small hand in hers tense as she switched to a rigorous interrogating tone she hadn't used since one of her first children had burned down the kitchen.
"And you are?"
It seemed that he wasn't used to people speaking to him in such a tone as his eyes widened irritated while refocusing onto her but he managed to keep his composure as he made good for the omitted introduction.
"I'm Dogamy lieutenant of the royal guard currently on the hunt for humans."
"And you want to check my child because?"
Although her outer facade of annoyed disinterest was unbroken her mind tripped for a second as she realized that she had called them 'my child' but she was unable to check if Frisk was okay with that as she had to keep the pressure up by staring this guy down.
His gaze flickered for a second to the other guards but none of them seemed eager to attract Toriel's attention by helping him along with the conversation.
"Because we got reports from monsters in the ruins that it is maybe a human."
Stretching the silence after this words long enough to emphasize what a silly idea this was while staring into the guards eyes until he shifted his weight nervously from side to side she spoke again.
"If you really think that I wouldn't notice such a obvious thing like a human then please go ahead and check for yourself."
Her voice was low, dangerously low as she pushed the canine down into the verbally hole which he had just dug with his words that indeed could be construed to a implied insult.
Opening his snout one or two times he tried to find a polite way to escape the trap and press further to check the human but no words left his mouth as he was unable to do so.
Stepping forward Dogaressa helped her husband along.
"Toriel you know that we are obliged to check right? It will only be a moment of your time then the two of you can proceed."
She was not comfortable with keeping her annoyed attitude up against the female guard but it was necessary to keep them occupied so she answered in the same tone as before, "As I said please go ahead."
She could feel how Frisk besides her tensed on this but a short squeeze of their small hand still resting in hers seemed to calm them at least a bit as Dogaressa kneeled down to them pulling her husband with her.
"Hello Frisk," catching their worried gaze with her blue eyes the female canine mentioned Dogamy to check them as she continued.
"We are doing just a short smell check like this one when you and Toriel were visiting me so please hold still for a moment okay?"
Holding tightly onto Toriel's hand they were hardly audible when they whispered their understanding.
"Okkay."
Moving a bit closer to her child as she saw how Dogamy's nostrils widened Toriel shifted into a position were she would be able to pull them with one quick movement behind her while her free hand could unleash hell into the rest of the room.
"Well it was nice knowing you partner."
Although the scary girl tried her best to defuse the situation with gallows humor it was easy for you to tell that she was just as intimidated as you as the fear originating from her mirrored your own.
Feeling cold sweat running down your spine you wanted nothing more than to hide behind Toriel to escape from the lady and the other guard kneeling before you but she had allowed them to check you and good children don't act against their mother's word.
Recapitulating you last thought the chance of getting brutally murdered by the canines in front of you became suddenly much less important.
I called her mother... but… but… she isn't or...
Remembering all the things that Toriel had done and still was doing for you the answer to this question felt like a stone cold verdict from life itself against you.
No. She isn't.
But...
It was only a small glimmer of hope that bloomed in your mind after this crushing realization but it felt like the warm touch of the sun itself piercing through dark clouds as you remembered the paper safely hidden in one of the story books inside the big backpack providing you with a chance to change things if you would just muster the courage to use it.
The voice of Dogamy interrupted your lingering thoughts as the two guards before you stood back up.
"Please accept my apologies miss it seems that they are in fact nothing more than a normal monster we will not longer delay you."
"What? How?"
Surprised as well that the guard hadn't identified you as human the sudden mood change of Toriel from very annoyed to polite understanding surprised you even more as she assured the canine that everything was alright.
"Don't worry about it as Dogaressa said you are obliged to check."
Ignoring the baffled expressions of Dogamy and Dogaressa the tall goat monster continued in the same polite tone as before while moving forward to the front door, "But we really have to go now so please excuse us. Goodbye Papyrus and thanks again for the spaghetti."
Passing the skeletons and the guards Toriel opened the front door just to be stopped again this time by a small yellow figure toppling over as the door they were leaning onto opened inwards.
"Ouch!"
Blinking irritated she gazed down onto the small armless monster wearing a yellow shirt with brown stripes and brown trousers with a extra hole for their upper leg long tail.
Returning her gaze from their green eyes they asked with a high pitched childish voice, "Yo up there is Papyrus home?"
"Yes he is," snapping out of the baffled state she were in she added a second later, "And you are?"
Ignoring her question their scales made a faint scraping sound on the carpet as they bended their flexible body back and forth until they managed to get from laying on the ground over a sitting position back up to their feet.
Standing again their attention rested entirely on Frisk as a flood of questions left their mouth in high-speed, "Hi I'm Monster Kid. Are you new in town? Are you staying here? Is that your mother? Do you know Papyrus? Do you want to play with me and the other kids?"
Staring nervously into the earless face of the small monster they just grabbed her hand tighter apparently to intimidated by this sudden surge of attention to speak.
"MONSTER KID IS THAT YOU?"
Hearing the loud voice the kid was past them in an instant forgetting to wait for Frisk to answer.
"Yo Papyrus", greeting the skeleton their head swung around to the guards in the next second, "Hi guys what are you doing here? Did something happen? Is Papyrus finally becoming a guard member? Where is Undyne? Is she coming too?"
Hopping up and down getting more and more exited with each word some of the guards had to back of a bit to avoid a collision with the small figure darting from canine to canine in utter excitement.
Stepping forward mirroring the amused smiles of the other guards Dogamy stopped the bundle of energy with a raised hand evidently used to this kind of behaviour as he answered in the same speed as the kid.
"Hey kid. Just checking something. No. No. Don't know so probably no too. What are you doing here?"
"Just saw you guys on the street so I assumed something cool was about to happen!"
Pausing for a moment they seemed to remember something.
"Oh and I saw this other kid around and wanted to ask if they want to play with me and the others."
"THAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF MY GUESTS LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM," walking over to the door the skeleton introduced his two guests once again this time to the guards and Monster Kid.
"THIS IS TORIEL A NICE LADY THAT LIKES MY SPAGHETTI", bending down to Monster Kid he continued in a stage whisper, "ALSO SHE CAN BE REALLY SCARY WHEN SHE IS ANGRY SO DON'T TELL HER THAT YOU HELPED WITH THE ICE TRAPS ON THE PATH."
"AND THIS IS FRISK THEY ARE WITH TORIEL ON THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING SOMEWHERE SADLY THEY HAD ALREADY EATEN SO THEY COULDN'T ENJOY MY SPAGHETTI."
Turning to the guards he offered, "OH BEFORE I FORGET IT I'VE STILL PLENTY OF NOODLES SO IF SOMEONE OF YOU OUGHT TO BE HUNGRY JUST ASK AND WILL MAKE EVEN MORE SPAGHETTI."
Displaying every possible emotion from disgust to nausea each and every guard started to speak simultaneously with the others ranging in their words from simple declining to wordy excuses why they would really want but couldn't eat his spaghetti right now.
Shrugging his shoulder after the guards had declined his offer he turned back to Frisk.
"SO DO YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH MONSTER KID?"
They were still visible uneasy with being the center of attention but voiced a quiet, "Yes?"
"SPLENDID I'M SURE THE TWO OF YOU WILL HAVE GREAT FUN", snapping his fingers he added a second later, "OH AND MONSTER KID YOU SHOULD GO AT SOME TIME TO SEE THE FISHES IN WATERFALL I'VE HEARD NYE-HEH-HEH THAT THERE IS A REALLY STRONG ONE TODAY NYE-HEH-HEH."
Beaming in sudden delight they jumped a bit before they rushed over to the door.
"Thanks Papyrus I'll keep that in mind!"
Reaching the door they nudged her child with their head letting them stumble backwards loosing their grip on her hand.
"Come on! I'm sure the others are already waiting for us!"
Reaching out she grabbed Monster Kid by the collar of his stripped shirt preventing them from driving Frisk out of the door.
"Wait!"
Stopping instantaneously dead in their tracks her child looked back at her eyes widened head ducked as would they expect a harsh lecture or something worse from her.
Being aware of the gazes from the two skeletons and the guards she let go of Monster Kids collar and kneeled down to Frisk.
It was not ideal to postpone the visit by the doctor further but it was the same as with the invitation to the meal as it would be to conspicuous to rush their departure further also they seemed to like the idea of playing with other kids and had rested well enough to be temporally safe from a attack of the poison so there should be no harm in letting them have some fun.
Smiling to show them that everything was alright she explained some rules to them while she placed the backpack down, "Okay Frisk before you go and play with your new friend please keep in mind to call me if something happens", pulling the cellphone she gave them from their trousers she showed them again how to call her in an emergency before she produced one of the small vials from the backpack, "and please take your medicine if you feel anything wrong with your throat."
Waiting for them to nod their agreement she placed the two items in one of their pockets before she ruffled over their brown hair nearly covering their eyes, "Then go and have some fun and be good won't you?"
They flinched a bit on the word 'good' but nodded again and waved a shy goodbye before they ran after Monster Kid already waiting outside.
Looking after her child vanishing in the distance she couldn't shrug of the feeling that something was entirely not right about this.
Turning away from the door to distract her from this dark thoughts her gaze fell onto the smaller skeleton, Sans was his name?, he was so quiet during the conversation that she had almost forgotten about his presence.
Stepping closer she waited for him to finish the text he was writing on his phone before she would ask about a way to pass time in this small town while she waited for her child.
- A / N
Hello, just some questions placed here to check how I'm doing (since the last review about the status of the story was four chapters ago I think I should make sure that you're still alive :)
What do you think about the story so far?
What do you think about the chars? (I think Chara starts a bit mean in this chapter, but what would you expect when someone hadn't social interactions for a very long time?)
I'm really doubtful when I write conversations (number one blocker while writing), are they okay so far?