Later:
Frisk and Flowey were able to sleep at an inn for free since Curtain spoke softly as she threatened the inn keeper without her knowing until realization froze her feet to the floor. Curtain left the inn as the child of the inn keeper kept watch over the occupants since his mother was still frozen in her place. She looked around as she greeted a few of the monsters there, and held a growling match against a bear as it ended in a tie since they found the other to be formidable. Curtain entered the library as she skimmed through the texts just to see what was there, but she wasn't necessarily interested so she left. Then Curtain passed by a house near the end of the town that was decorated with spikes, and dark lights wrapped around it to look intimidating. She smirked as she observed the 'fortress,' and then she heard a voice say,
"What do ya think? Not too shabby eh?"
Curtain turned to see Sans standing nearby her.
"Not bad at all to be honest. Is this your place?" Curtain asked.
"Yeah. Me and my bro live here. The shed-I mean, the 'stronghold' is ours too," Sans replied, looking towards the armored shed next to the house.
"Ohh. It's pretty cool. You got weapons and stuff in there?" Curtain asked, looking at the armored shed.
"Paps keeps some weapons and equipment stored on one side, but he renovated the other half as a prison cell for when he captures a human. It got spikes on the bars and a ball and chain... and a dog food bowl, but the dog keeps getting out," Sans replied, as he was walking slowly.
"So was it a dog house before it became a stronghold? And spiked prison bars?" Curtain asked.
"Yeah, it used to be the dog house, but the dog always got out so he changed it. But those prison bars are actually wrapped in barbed wire. Heh. It's kind of funny when he goes to open the cell or leans his hand on it and starts screaming in rage because it staved him. Heh heh. It gets him every time," Sans said, slowly shaking his head with a smile.
"Pfft! Is that why he wears gloves?" Curtain asked, noticing his path.
"Nah. He made them to match his outfit. They at least protect him from the barbs cutting too deep though," Sans replied.
"Ahh, I see... just like I see that you are circling me," Curtain said, her eyes narrowing at him.
"Oh... am I? I didn't notice, but I guess your natural magnetism is getting to me," Sans said, as he stopped walking to look at her with a smile.
"... My word. Magnetism? That's quite a way to describe someone, huh? I'm flattered," Curtain said, a small smile on her lips, but her eyes showed suspicion.
"... Looks like you don't believe me," Sans said, noticing the way she eyed him.
"I'm just naturally cautious is all," Curtain said.
"Were you the same with the kid?" Sans asked.
"She's a child, and she's doesn't have the violence in her to be dangerous," Curtain said, crossing her arms.
"A child is still capable of violence, but a human child can cause a lot of devastation, for monsters in particular," Sans said, looking away from her.
"Well if you draw a sword at them, what do you expect? But it's not like I wouldn't break her if I had to. I'm following her because I know she might not last long, and it would be a shame for someone as nice as she is to be killed so easily, especially for trying to be nice," Curtain said, a little more strongly.
Sans looked back towards her, and he snickered and said, "You really are different than most of us, huh? At least I'm not the only one."
"Oh? Does that mean you feel the same? But why say what you did?" Curtain asked, a little surprised.
"Just to see your reaction is all," Sans replied with a wink.
"Hmm..." Curtain said, eyeing him with a small smile, as Sans couldn't read her expression.
"Care to show me around your town, or are you busy?" Curtain asked.
Sans inwardly smiled and said, "Sure thing. I'm on break anyway."
Sans showed Curtain around Snowdin village, although being forced to run from one of the houses because the owner threw his rock children at those he deemed to be trespassers. A burly wolf monster with an eye patch carrying ice was in the middle of his work when he stopped as he sniffed the air. When Curtain and Sans approached, he walked closer to them as he followed the scent to Curtain. He growled at her at first, as she growled back, while Sans took a step back but watched intensely to see what was going to happen. The wolf picked up his paw as if he was going to hit her, while Curtain did the same with her hand. However, their hands met in a strong handshake as the two smiled at one another.
"Har har! It's been a while since I picked up the scent of a cousin. But yours seems to be mixed, so you must be half, correct?" Burly wolf asked.
"Yup. You hit right on the nose," Curtain said as she tapped her finger on her nose.
"Har har har! It's good to see another Aecan, even if you're half. Come visit anytime," Burly wolf said with a hearty grin, as they broke the handshake.
"Good to know, bro. We can hang out later, alright?" Curtain said, as he nodded.
Burly wolf went back to work, as Curtain turned to Sans who's eyes were narrowed.
"Ah! Sorry about that. I should've invited you to hang out too. That way you wouldn't be jealous," Curtain said, teasingly.
"Tsk. Please. I have no reason to be jealous with my good looks and skeleton of badassery. Besides, you invited me to walk with ya," Sans said, with a smirk.
"Hahaha! True, true. But you're the one who can't keep his eye sockets off of me," Curtain said, with a smug smirk.
"Heh. I won't deny that. You're cute so it makes it way easier to talk with ya. But now I'm wondering what an Aecan is," Sans said.
"Weeell, since you've heard I might as well explain. An Aecan is a monster that's a cross between a wolf and bird monster, which is why wolf dude over here called me 'cousin' because we have wolf in us. Of course, an Aecan is not a bird and wolf monster having a kid to make them, we were just born like that, but it's uncertain if the first Aecans were a fusion or evolutionary change of a wolf or bird monster, but that doesn't matter. Between birds and Aecans, and wolves and Aecans, we call each other cousin," Curtain explained.
"Now that you mention it, I think I read something about monsters that seem to be fusions but are actually their own species if looked at in a more microscopic level... but I didn't think how relevant that was until now. I figured monsters are all pretty freaking diverse so..." Sans said, as he shrugged.
"Yeah, I can see that. Especially since there's not many Aecans left anyway..." Curtain said, her smile almost completely faded.
"... Not doing so hot either huh? I guess that's why you're only half Aecan," Sans said.
"That's one reason, yeah," Curtain said.
"And where did the half human come from?" Sans asked.
"Oh! Wow, you got that fast huh? Well, it came from a human of course. Above ground," Curtain said, her smile returning as she pointed up.
"Wha- How? Monsters have been stuck underground for freaking centuries. How the hell is that possible?" Sans asked.
"Considering Aecans, who like to live in high places, only half of them were actually sealed underground. Eventually a human found one above ground, got married, and then I was born. And now I stand before you in my glorious radiance," Curtain said as she circled her face with her hand and winked.
"Haha! Well dam. That about sums it up," Sans said, humored by her gesture.
"How about ya, skeleton? You've got a crazy story to rival mine?" Curtain asked.
"Heh. Not much to tell. My bro and I weren't necessarily born, but cut from the same cloth with a hint of magic, if you catch my drift," Sans said with a shrug and a wink.
"Hmm... I get what you're saying. Who's the cloth?" Curtain asked.
"Hard to say. Knew him for a while, and then he just disappeared, along with some of my memories of him. I know something bad happened to him, but I can't remember too good," Sans replied.
"... Well dam. That sucks. I'd like to have met him considering ya and your brother are pretty chill, ya know. Well, mostly you," Curtain said.
"Heh... thanks," Sans said.
The two continued wandering around, and then they returned to the inn. Sans left because he had work to do, so Curtain walked in to see Frisk and Flowey just leaving their room.
"Heading out, kid?" Curtain asked her, as Frisk nodded and said,
"I'm going to duel Papyrus."
"Oh, well, think you'll need help?" Curtain asked, a small smile on her face from seeing Frisk's confidence.
"I think I'll be okay this time. I stocked up on food, just in case," Frisk replied.
"Well alrighty then. Let's get going. I'll be rooting for ya, but considering how cool Papyrus is, I wouldn't know who to choose," Curtain said, as Frisk smiled, and Flowey frowned at her.
They left the inn, as Frisk went ahead with Flowey to face Papyrus, while Curtain decided to talk to a few locals for information.
After a little while longer, Curtain wondered if Frisk was okay, but she tried not to worry since she just met her. However, Curtain ended up climbing up on the roof of Sans and Papyrus' house to see if she could view the confrontation. She couldn't see too well in the mist of ice, but she could tell that two figures were there. Although she didn't want to get involved and instead wanted Frisk to learn to fend for herself, Curtain couldn't help but feel a little anxious about the battle.
'Come on feelings! Stop worrying! She'll be okay, and if she doesn't make it, then she wasn't strong enough to make the cut. Big deal! I don't care... that much, right?' Curtain thought, arguing with herself in her mind.
"You know, if you're that worried about the kid, then why not go see what's going on?" Sans said, as he stood behind her, while she quickly turned around.
"You freakin- Don't do that!" Curtain yelled, irritated by being surprised and clenching her fists.
"Whoa there, babe! Sorry about that. You seem pretty tense. You really are worried about the little tike," Sans said, lazily raising his hands in defense.
"... Hmph. Maybe. I don't know. I don't really give a dam if the kid gets wrecked... but I wouldn't want her to die though," Curtain said, calming down.
"Aww, she's grown on ya. Welp, I can't say she hasn't grown on me too. She's got spunk and stands her ground, but she's not so bad so it's hard to get mad at her, even if it's for the sake of getting out of the underground. But it seems stupid considering she's a pretty cool kid. Might make more sense to let her die naturally, you know what I mean," Sans said.
"Yeah... you know, for someone who looks like he's got a skeleton of badassery, you're a big softy too," Curtain said with a smirk, and Sans narrows his eyes at her.
"Just because I'm giving the kid a pass, doesn't mean I've given it to everyone, especially these monsters. They get freakin' aggressive and stupid sometimes. They need a kick in the face now and again," Sans said.
"Yeah, but you're still soft. Under bone is marrow after all," Curtain said with a sly smile, and Sans grit his teeth and said,
"At least I have bite to my bark."
"Excuse me! I have bite, okay? At least I'm not afraid to show it besides to a little kid!" Curtain argued, standing forward with her hands on her hips.
"I'm not afraid of showing off my strength, but unlike you, I don't need to!" Sans argued back, as he stepped forward as he stepped forward with his hands coming out of his pockets.
"Are you kidding me?! I haven't even shown a quarter of my power! But at least I'm not a sack of lazy bones and arrogance!" Curtain said, stepping forward as her hair seemed to spike up as she spoke.
"Oh ho ho! The little princess got sass, at least I'm not hiding up here while my friend is probably getting owned!" Sans said, stepping closer.
"Shut up! I'm letting her fight her own battle because she needs to learn how to! I can't be her crutch or she'll never learn to walk! Maybe you should stop being one to your brother so that he'll learn to not be manipulated so easily!" Curtain said, stepping forward.
"Shut the hell up! You don't know anything about him, or me for that matter!" Sans yelled.
"Well you don't know anything about her, or me either!" Curtain yelled.
They both took a moment to breathe from their glare down, and then they realized how close they were to one another, only a couple of inches apart. They relaxed in posture and expression, as the two looked deeper into the others' eyes.
"... You're right. I don't know you, and you don't know me well either..." Sans said.
"...No, we don't know each other well. We just met," Curtain said.
"Yeah... but I'd like to, Sass queen," Sans said, a smirk on his face.
"Hmm. I do too, Skele-sass," Curtain said with a smirk.
The two drew closer, but then their eyes widened as they pulled their gazes away from one another and moved away. Sans coughed awkwardly, as Curtain cleared her throat.
"So... I'm gonna go check on 'em. Okay?" Sans said, and Curtain replied,
"G'ahead."
Sans teleported to check on the confrontation, as Curtain stood on the roof.
After battle, when Frisk and Papyrus have made peace:
Frisk was walking with Flowey as they noticed Sans sitting behind his stand at the entrance to Waterfall, his grin wide and sharp as they approached, even though Flowey protested against that.
"Sup kid. So you finally got through to my numb-skull bro, huh? Well, he looked happy at home, so I guess your date went well," Sans said.
"It wasn't necessarily a date, but it was fun hanging out with him. He really is cool, and he really likes spikes," Frisk said with a smile.
"Yup. That's my bro. So, you're heading out so soon? Why not grab a bite to eat first? I'm on break anyway, so I could take ya to Grillby's," Sans said, as he got up and walked around his station.
"Hmmm. What do you think, Flowey?" Frisk asked her companion.
"It's fine. I think you need some food in your system anyway," Flowey said, just going with the flow.
"Okay Sans! We're ready!" Frisk said with grin.
"Heh heh. Alright. Come on kid, I know a shortcut," Sans said, and Frisk followed.
There we go! It may not be finished, but at least I released this chapter on Valentine's Day. Woohoo!
So, to the Guest who requested Underfell... sniffle Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them so much! Also, I will do Underswap after Storyshift and Inverted Fate, so don't worry! :D
See ya soon. ;)