The apartment complex was rather large, all things considered. And there were many, many steps up to the apartment proper. Thankfully, however, there was an elevator, that the group piled into. Ice Cream, or, rather, Nice Cream in hand. In little tubs in their hands.
The brief trip to the store earning a 'fun fact' from the owner of that convenience store. "Did ya know the 'Nice Cream' guy, is actually a huge prick?" He had asked the girls. "Heard he's genuinely a pretty awful dude. Rumor has it he-"
His commentary came to a conclusion when he met a deathly glare from Metta. Staring at him from a nearby isle. With steam flowing around him, hot enough to melt the plastic on some of the items.
Once up at the top, the elevator dinged. Bringing them out, and onto the top floor. Papyrus wandered out, spinning the keys in his off hand.
Metta noticed, and said. "Darling, if you do that, they'll end up flying away again."
"Pshh. Na, I've-" Papyrus found them fly off his fingers. Heading over, and down, falling to the earth below. "ya know, that actually wasn't intentional."
Aliza peered over the edge, at the long drop. "Are they...okay?"
Papyrus hummed. "I think they'll make it. But I'll have to do something drastic." He pulled his sleeves back, pretended to spit in his hands, and pushed them out. "And...there we go."
The keys suddenly vaulted back up through the air, draped in blue light. Snatched by him, from the air. Snickering at his own, overly dramatic display.
Metta smiled a little. "Marvelously done, dear."
"Thanks. I've uh, been working on the range." Papyrus noted.
Chara asked. "How far does it go?"
"So, check this out." Papyrus turned back over the edge, and looked around. Taking a look at something across the city. Namely, he noticed a particular monster wandering with donuts. Astigmatism. An entity known to him. His eye flashed yellow, and blue, as he focused. The rude monster suddenly noticing his box shaking, before flying off. Spilling donuts everywhere.
The box soaring back towards them, until it reached the skeletons hand. Rattling around with only four donuts. What a delightfully convenient number. It wasn't fooling anyone, and was clearly intentional, but he was never gonna admit that.
The children gasped at the display. Aliza trying to process the sheer reach of the...well she didn't know what it was. Magic, she wagered.
Chara was initially awed, and then noticed who he had taken the donuts from. It made her twitch, and it made her grin a little. Blowing a raspberry at the rude monster, presently looking around confused, halfway across the city. She knew he couldn't see. But it was more for her benefit than his, clearly.
Metta blinked, and asked. "Darling, did you just steal someone's donuts."
Papyrus hummed. "No?" He got a stern look. "It was that guy...you know the guy."
"Just because he's rude, doesn't mean we should steal from him." Metta noted.
"I promise to try my best, to not punk him again." Papyrus said, motioning with his fingers. "Cross my heart."
The robotic man leaned closer, and took the keys. "You're lucky I love you. Or I'd bring up the last two times you said that."
"I do promise to 'try' ya know?" The skeleton said, maintaining a smile.
Metta wound up being the one to unlock the door. The interior of the apartment was surprisingly well kept. If a bit odd. It moved between dark and brooding colors, to bright, happy things abruptly in some places. There was a black couch, with various bits of wear and tear acquired from excessive use. Which had pink blankets laying across the back of it. And colorful pillows too.
There was an alarm clock on the wall, that was decorated with stickers, and the image of kittens. Nearby a large tangle of metal, that surrounded it like a wreath. This mixing theme was matched by various paintings and the sort along the walls.
Notably, the kitchen was attached to the living room on the left side. With a small hall on the right of the kitchen, which seemed to lead out to a balcony of sorts. With two doors also on the right side of the apartment.
The kitchen was a cluttered thing, with various utensils, devices, and decorations. The table that was present there, had a box containing a bunch of materials used for various arts and crafts. With a cutout of some special effects, similar to fireworks at the side of the fridge. A pizza box having taken up space on the table.
All these delightful little things went completely unnoticed by Chara however. As she stopped eating her ice-cream, and stared at something. A bit of drool escaping her lips, as the sound of others talking was completely drowned out.
Papyrus glanced, as they had been in the middle of letting the kids in. Suggesting they sit on the couch while the other two did some brief cleaning. Maybe watch a show or something. He noticed her expression, raised an eye-socket, and followed the glance towards something.
Chara gasped, and snapped from her thoughts. "Is that a chainsaw!?"
Her loud enthusiasm jolted the others. As she giggled maniacally, rushing past the couch. Setting the nice cream on the coffee table. Sliding it, to almost fall off, before Papyrus caught it. The child racing to the object of her interest. Resting on one of the kitchen chairs.
There it was, the same chainsaw she had seen earlier, only real now. A pink, and colorfully decorated chainsaw. That...seemed like it was designed to fold in. Her mind wrapped with the concept of a foldable chainsaw. Grasping at the end of it, with a big enthused grin on her face. She managed to lift it up, only for it to be taken away.
The fact she was able to lift it, visibly surprised the two adults. And notably, the one who had taken it away, delicately as he could, was Metta. Who laughed very nervously.
"Oh...dear. I can't believe I forgot to put this up." Metta sighed, folding the blade, before placing it on top of the fridge. "Best you don't play with it though. They're quite dangerous."
"B-b-but-" Chara stammered. "I'd...I'd be careful!"
Her pout, getting a pat on the head. "I'm sure you would, darling. But it's really not meant for children." Metta told her. "When you're older...who knows, maybe you can get one then."
Meanwhile, Aliza had entered the apartment, and actually taken in everything. Listening to their suggestion to take a seat. Doing precisely that, while eating her sweet treat. Watching the display of Charas interests. She hadn't imagined her counterpart to be so enthusiastic about, well, a chainsaw.
She wondered if the purple-eyed girl liked weapons in general. She'd heard there were people who collected those things. Or, maybe she wanted to be a lumberjack when she grew up? Aliza didn't know how to tell her, that most of the worlds trees...really weren't, anymore. Though, the underground, beautiful as it was, seemed to have plenty.
She closed her eyes, and briefly drank in the first image of this golden, magical place. It was so very nice looking. If only there weren't horrible...creatures, lurking around. The mean people, well, she didn't like them either. But, they were everywhere, so she wouldn't let it ruin things. And...the scariest person was dead. So...it wasn't so bad.
Papyrus sighed some, and plopped down on the well worn couch. No longer wearing his jacket. Aliza glanced, and noticed it had been put up on a coatrack beside the door. He kicked off his untied shoes, and leaned into the couch more. Letting out a long yawn, in the process. Looking immediately tired.
"Sleepy?" She asked.
"Bone-tired." He replied. "So, is it good ice cream?"
Aliza offered a nod in response. She had done so much more talking than she liked to do recently. But, there had been so much going on, it had become quite difficult for her to be as silent as she wanted to be. She hoped nobody was upset about that.
Her nice cream, ice cream, was strawberry. She was a rather big fan of it. Having surprised the others by not picking rocky road, as she had suggested. But, she'd only really done that, because she liked marshmallows, and knew Chara wanted something chocolatey. So it seemed a nice compromise.
When she'd explained, the other girl stared at her for a moment. Clearly trying to process the statement. Looking a bit guilty, while thanking her. Before calling Aliza a nerd, and suggesting she didn't have to do that kind of thing.
Metta and Chara, meanwhile, had discussed the inability for a child to be permitted the right to run around with a chainsaw. The girl having suggested briefly that it was about artistic expression. Before Metta reminded the girl how utterly dangerous it was, and how negligent he'd have to be to let her do that.
Metta noted. "Even if you can handle it. If an accident happens-" He gestured to it. "then what?"
Chara hesitated at that. "W-well...yeah. I guess...that's fair." She pouted some. "Still be cool to have though."
"I know, darling. I know." He assured. "Come along. Let's get your jacket, and bat put up."
"Why?" She asked.
"It's a little difficult to sit on the couch, with the bat on your back, don't you think?" He asked.
Whisper commented to her. "He's not wrong."
Chara reluctantly agreed on that point, following the man over towards the coatrack. She undid the binding for the bat, and its sheath. Attempting to get it on the tall coat-rack on her own. However, it was slightly too tall.
Metta offered. "I can put it on if-"
Chara flinched when he attempted to take it. "N-no...no...I-I can do it." He paused, noticing her shiver. "Just...need uh-" She wandered back to the kitchen, grabbed a box from there, and dragged it back. "there."
She had gotten ontop of it. And used that to get the bat on the coat-rack. Though, she lingered for a moment or two, keeping it gripped in her hand. Even when she meant to let go. Before assuring herself it was okay, and leaving it there. Metta noticed she didn't remove the jacket, but wasn't about to press for it.
"Sorry if I startled you, Chara." Metta apologized.
"Huh?" She glanced. "Oh..uh...no, I just..sorry, about that."
He hummed, and noted. "I have the same response, so I get it."
"You...do?" She asked.
He nodded some, and knelt down to whisper. "I've...encountered some dangerous people, in my life. And not all of them have wished me well." The girl thought about the eye-monster. "I got very used to being guarded. Quick to avoid what I felt were attacks destined to come. That people were always trying to hurt me, again."
The words resonated, as the girl asked. "What...did you do...to make it stop?"
"It's...never fully gone, dear." Metta admitted, holding out a hand. "But I found someone I trust. And assured myself I could trust him." He explained, as the girl took it. "And then another, and another."
"Isn't...can't it...just...stop?" Chara asked.
"I don't believe so. But you are safe here." He assured. "I promise."
She scanned him, and calmed her heartbeat some. "You...I think...you'd get along with my...parents." She noted. "They're nice too."
"Thank you, darling." He motioned. "Why don't we go sit down. You still have ice cream to eat. And we have a show to watch."
"Okay." The girl smiled some, as her hand was released. Held only long enough, that she would see there wasn't a threat. The duo heading to join the others, in lounging around, while picking out a show.
The calm setting in for the group.
Elsewhere...
Cold iron slid across the wall, scraping off mana, falling to dust. The edge ground to the point of sharpness. Held up, and examined in the reflection of a street light. The choking remains of a monster crumbling to dust behind the creature holding it.
The light briefly illuminating the long dark haired 'child' with grey skin. "Sorry we couldn't play more." The girl smiled. "But, we prefer to play with other children. You adults are no fun."
The creature began to hum part of a tune. Something that might fill a certain human with the feeling of heartache. Turning to wander down the alleyway. Digging out an item from its pocket. A small box, of sorts. With the initials 'C.D' etched on the back. Before placing it back in her pocket, looking excited.
The steps turned into skips, and curious looks. Finding a light pole flickering at the end of it. Dancing out and forward, the girl grasped the pole. Tattered rags swaying, as she danced around it. Giggling, before stumbling, and falling. Amused at the sensation all the same.
A voice reaching its attention. "I swear, it's the same humans you were talkin bout. Even saw Metta with em."
The creature wandered towards an alleyway. Finding a pair of monsters talking there. The child lingering in the shadows.
"There's no way." The second, an Astigmatism, scoffed. "Just cuz the twink-bot has a hard on for all things humanity, don't mean Papyrus'd let those freaks wander around." They grinned evilly. "He'd tear them into bloody chunks."
"You know Mettas a monster, right?" The first asked. "Sides, Paps is different these days. You wouldn't know, cuz you ain't been here in awhile. But he's like a whole different person." He noted, getting glared at by the second. "Love does that, though."
"Papyrus in love?" The eye-monster scoffed. "Bullshit."
"Dude, they've lived together for...fuckin years now. Super sweet to folks too." The first said. "Actually helped me get some food the other day, when I was broke. They're pretty cool."
"He was cooler before that stupid thing started filling his head with nonsense. All it's done is make him soft." The eye monster growled. "Ya know...I've been thinking of dismantling it. And hey, harboring dangerous creatures sounds like a good excuse." The other frowned. "Maybe we aughta go burst it up, take them humans souls for ourselves?"
While they hadn't been paying attention, the creature had wandered nearer. Listening, analyzing their words. It seemed, the 'girl' had found what she was looking for. Or a way to find it.
"Excuse me." The monsters looked. "I'm looking for my sister. It sounds like...you've seen her." The girl smiled. "Can you help me?"
The knife gleaming in the faint light. As it giggled maliciously. Rushing at them, before they could respond.