In Which IMs Are A Thing
Papyrus knew for certain that Frisk had made it to Hotland and was well on their way to the Capital. His phone wouldn't stop buzzing with Undernet notifications. Every twenty seconds or so, Dr. Alphys was updating her status to talk about anime, her anxieties, or the human. If the rest of the Underground wasn't yet aware of the human, they would be now.
Cooking with a Killer Robot had just finished, and Frisk had performed marvellously. They dodged every egg, flour poff, and milk puddle with a showman's ease. It didn't surprise Papyrus in the least, but he was happy that the human seemed to be having fun.
Dr. Alphys also seemed to be gaining some much needed confidence. In truth, Papyrus didn't know her very well, outside of Undyne's mumbled praise and excitement towards the human history movies that they both enjoyed, but it didn't stop him from understanding just how much she needed the boost in spirits. In many timelines, Dr. Alphys didn't survive. It was never Frisk that killed her either. Whenever Undyne or Mettaton was killed – most often Undyne – by Frisk, Dr. Alphys would mysteriously disappear. Whether she met her demise somewhere in her lab or in the dump in Waterfall, Papyrus never learned. He didn't want to know.
After the most recent repeat, he felt he had to do something to help, for when the human finally does do a violence. Mettaton is the last monster that they will face. No one else has died yet, so it will most likely be the fabulous robot to lose his life in this round. Dr. Alphys will be crushed.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do it as Papyrus. He was too well known as the one-dimensional overly optimistic character who didn't know the meaning of sadness. To talk to her normally, he would have to use the dreaded "anonymous mode." He hated being anonymous. It felt deceptive. People should not be afraid to say things and admit that it was they who had said it. If they are afraid to admit their identity, then maybe they should consider not saying the thing at all.
As much as he didn't like it, he could do this to help his friends. Maybe Dr. Alphys wasn't his friend yet, but she could be! And when Undyne can't find Dr. Alphys, she gets really upset and won't move or eat or do anything. That behaviour scared Papyrus more than anything else.
Papyrus looked over at Undyne. She was busying herself reading the many status updates that Dr. Alphys was posting and complaining about Mettaton and his over-the-top personality. She wouldn't notice anything he was about to do. Since when was using his phone a suspicious behaviour?
Papyrus switched himself into anonymous mode and forced himself to write with a mixture of capital and lower case letters. Dr. Alphys and Undyne were definitely worth the discomfort. He opened a private chat.
Anon: Dr. Alphys! I am watching Mettaton on TV and I wanted to say that I think the two of you are doing a great job!
Alphys: Thanks! Im glad you like it, but Im not rly doing all that much...
Alphys: MTT is the real star.
Anon: What nonsense! You are the brilliant Dr. Alphys! Master of quizzes, lasers, lights, and computer skills! Not to mention a great puzzle solver! What would the human do without you to help them?
Alphys: Well... the human was able to solve the puzzles all by themselves... they didnt need me at all... i just messed up calling them and explaining things to them. I dont know how they still got through it after my terrible explanations.
Anon: But they still did it! You must have done something right!
Alphys: Im not so sure... but thx. I appreciate it.
Anon: It is no problem! How could I not think so well of the one who writes such fantastic Mew Mew Kissy Cutie reviews? Your analysis, descriptions, and explanations are most certainly very well done.
Alphys: YOU LIKE MMKC!?
Anon: I have not actually seen it yet, but after reading your comments, I feel like I have!
Alphys: OMGOMG YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT! Its like the BEST THING EVER!
Alphys: I... would invite you to come by and watch it, but I dont know who you are.
Alphys: And we would only watch season 1. Season 2 doesnt exist.
Anon: Well, for reasons that I don't want to say right now, I can't tell you who I am, but if we do meet each other in real life (or irl as I hear it is called), then I would love to watch Mew Mew Kissy Cutie with you!
Alphys: Oh... I see. We all have things we need to keep secret, after all.
Anon: You have secrets too?
Alphys: Well, of course.
Anon: Have you told anyone about them? It makes you feel a lot better when you do.
Alphys: No! I cant! I can never tell anyone about this secret! Everyone would hate me and Id lose the 1 friend I already have...
Anon: Only one friend? But you are such a nice person! You're smart and nice and have excellent taste in movies and television, so who wouldn't want to be your friend? One is my friend quantity and I claim it so that no one else can have it! Now you have to have more friends!
Alphys: Lol anon. That's too funny.
Alphys: I cant tell anyone, tho. This secret affects too many other people. I did bad things.
Alphys: TBH, I kind of hate myself for it.
Alphys: Its really just my 1 friend that keeps me from doing old habits or something... cowardly.
Anon: Well, if it would make you feel better, you can talk to me about it. I promise that my proverbial lips are sealed. None shall ever hear what you say from me.
Alphys: Im not sure...
Anon: I can do my best to understand! And if not, I promise not to judge you for anything you say! To me, you will always be the number one Royal Scientist in the Underground!
Alphys: I'm the only Royal Scientist...
Alphys: but I appreciate the thought.
Alphys: It makes me feel a little bit better.
Alphys: I cant tell you why everyone would hate me but.. 1 thing has been on my mind.
Anon: What is it?
Alphys: Well, I got a call from my friend and she was concerned about one of her friends who she found out has the same problem that i did a long time ago and i tried to help her be okay about it so she can help her friend but i dont know if it worked bc i dont know who her friend is but i hope he doesnt end up feeling as bad as me bc then thats very bad for all sorts of reasons.
Alphys: ...sorry for the info dump.
Anon: You're concerned for your friend's friend? See? I told you that you were a nice person!
Anon: And... I sort of understand where you're coming from. I myself do some... socially unacceptable things. Things that help me not feel so bad sometimes! But I would never want anyone else to do them. It would be too sad.
Alphys: Im sorry to hear that youve had problems like that too.
Anon: It's okay though! My friend is staying with me while her house is on fire, so things are going to be okay!
Alphys: While her... house is on fire? Are you by chance friends with Undyne?
Anon: GASP! How did you figure it out?
Alphys: Well, Undyne texted me earlier to tell me that the human was on their way to Hotland and that she would be staying with the friend she told me about bc she set her house on fire by accident.
Alphys: Dont worry though! Youre still anon! She didnt tell me your name or where you live or anything!
Anon: Phew. That's good.
Alphys: Gotta help the human. Brb.
The very long television commercial ended and Mettaton began to sing. This time, Frisk was participating in his musical. One short coloured-tile puzzle and miraculous save later, Alphys had helped them make their way to the Core.
Alphys: The only things I know are that... You use male pronouns and that you and I have a very bad habit in common. Kind of.
Anon: ?
Alphys: Undyne told me she was staying with the person she called me about yesterday. She was asking for information about people with a certain problem and I was able to help her because I used to have that problem too.
Alphys: So if I dont miss my guess, youre the monster she was asking about who sometimes hurts yourself?
Anon: You really are very smart, Dr. Alphys! I am indeed... But you used to do that too?
Alphys: Yeah. I havent in a long time, but I still dont like myself very much.
Alphys: Just hearing about someone else who does it too... It makes it tempting to do it again.
Alphys: But i wont.
Alphys: As long as Undyne is in my life, i wont.
Anon: Hmm? Is what Mettaton said true? Do you liiiiiiiiiiiiiiike her? I think she likes you too. ;) Wink.
Alphys: ===^_^=== NOOOOOO! YOU CANT TELL HER!
Anon: I won't. My proverbial lips are sealed, remember?
Anon: But... can I ask a couple of questions?
Alphys: Not about how much I like Undyne please.
Anon: I will respect your wishes. I wanted to know how you knew what to tell Undyne? Because since yesterday she's been taking it pretty well and doing lots of things that I didn't know I wanted... Thank you, by the way.
Alphys: I didnt do anything special.
Alphys: I tried to tell her kind of how it worked and why she couldnt just, uh
Alphys: are you good with metaphors?
Alphys: she couldn't just suplex the problem. Brute force her way to a solution.
Alphys: Junk food tastes a lot better than vegetables do.
Alphys: Why eat healthy when other stuff tastes better?
Alphys: She can't force you to stop, so she has to help you want to not do it anymore.
Alphys: and i told her to be nice and listen. I didnt say anything life changing.
Alphys: I just told her about the things I wished I had when I was going through it alone.
Alphys: She doesnt know it though! She doesnt know what i used to do and my scars are hidden by my scales anyways so she never has to know so dont say anything please!
Anon: I'm sorry that you had to be alone, Dr. Alphys. But! I will always be here for you! If you continue using this chat box later, I will come back to it and talk!
Anon: And as for what you said about it not being life changing? You are wrong. Yes, even the most brilliant of Royal Scientists can be wrong from time to time. You changed my life. For that I will always be thankful.
Anon: I want to send you a picture. It's something my friend gave me.
Anon: I guess that means I have two friends now. Oops. But you can definitely share the number two with me!
Anon: (Pictures of the nice cream wrappers)
Alphys: OMG THAT IS SO SWEET!
Anon: You can look at them too. Because you deserve to feel this happy too.
Alphys: ...Im not sure...
Anon: I guess we will have to agree to disagree then.
Anon: My other question was about how you managed to stop. I don't know that I want to right now, but I've recently been shown a couple of reasons to maybe want to try. If things stayed this way, then maybe I could... But things always cycle and it's probably going to start all over again and... I'm not making much sense, am I?
Anon: There are just a lot of reasons to want to do it all the time. How did you manage to stop?
Alphys: I didnt exactly do it alone. I mean, I kinda did, but not really.
Alphys: Did Undyne ever tell you how we met? We met in the dump once when I was feeling very bad about myself and she made me feel better. We became friends.
Alphys: We became closer friends and started hanging out more and all I could think about were my secrets and how guilty I felt.
Alphys: I dont like lying, but I had to keep it from her, you know? I guess, I know you didnt exactly want Undyne to know either.
Alphys: So I made myself stop. Whenever i wanted to do it, I would remember that each new cut is another secret that im hiding from her. The fewer secrets, the easier our relationship would be. Honesty is necessary for a successful relationship.
Alphys: ...
Alphys: Friendship. Friendly relationship. Just friends. OMG Im such a nerrrrrd! ==^_^==
Anon: "Nerd" is Undyne's pet name for you, isn't it?
Alphys: *dies of blushing*
Alphys: Wait, MTT is taking me to the core. Says ive gotta play my part in his finale. Brb.
Alphys: He did NOT just lock me in a room! Why that...
Anon: Dr. Alphys! Are you okay?
Alphys: yes, Im fine, but I cant see whats happening with MTT and the human. I cant let the human hurt him! If he dies, then i dont know what Im gonna do!
Alphys: Only one other person knows about him and I cant just let him die omgomg what am i gonna do?!
Anon: What do you mean? Everyone knows about Mettaton! I'm watching Mettaton right now. He and the human are having a dance battle.
Anon: That human has some great poses. They also like to brag a lot, but they are very good at dancing away from Mettaton's attacks.
Alphys: Mettatons... attacks?
Alphys: What does Mettaton look like right now?
Anon: He is absolutely GLAMOUROUS! I never thought he could look sexier than his rectangle form, but now he is just BEAUTIFUL!
Alphys: ...
Alphys: ...
Alphys: ...He's going to last for maybe another ten minutes.
Alphys: I told him not to use his EX form until I got him a better battery!
Alphys: Sometimes he is just so... Damnit Mettaton!
Alphys: Ive gotta get myself out of this room. Stop mettaton from draining himself completely. It was nice talking to you, anon! I do feel a little better. (^u^)
Anon: It was nice talking to you too, Dr. Alphys! I hope that we can meet some day I R L.
Alphys: Me too, anon. Take care!
Papyrus put down his phone to watch the rest of Mettaton's performance. The lights were spectacular. The drama peaked when Mettaton took those calls from his fans. Unfortunately, Papyrus didn't get the chance to speak to the star, but dreams can come true next time, right? When the human repeats this all again. The scene went dark and cut to a commercial after Mettaton addressed the human. After talking with Dr. Alphys, he knew that Mettaton's batteries must have finally died. He hoped Dr. Alphys was able to get out and help him.
He was worried by some of the things that she had said in their conversation. If Mettaton can't be recharged or if something went wrong... Dr. Alphys might not have much time left. He went back into the anon chat.
Anon: Hey Dr. Alphys? I saw the end of the show. Mettaton will be fine, I'm sure of it!
Anon: You're brilliant, after all. Almost as great as myself sometimes, nyeh heh.
Anon: You're okay, right?
Papyrus looked up when Undyne started shaking his shoulder.
"Alphys isn't texting me back. She always responds immediately, but since that robot's show, she's stopped answering!" Undyne said, the worry evident in her voice.
Papyrus was concerned too, but he needed to stay optimistic for Undyne. He could get rid of the bad thoughts later if he had to. "DR. ALPHYS IS PROBABLY DOING SOME REPAIRS ON METTATON. AFTER SUCH A HUGE DANCE FIGHT, HE WOULD CERTAINLY NEED A MAINTAINANCE CHECK. SHE IS PROBABLY JUST BUSY WITH THE COMPLICATED ROBOT TECHNOLOGY."
Undyne seemed to consider what Papyrus was saying. Whether she believed it or just really wanted to believe it, he didn't know. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm overreacting." Undyne stood up and started pacing loudly around the house.
Papyrus opened up the chat box again.
Anon: If you could give Undyne a quick text, it would be appreciated. She's worried about you.
He let Undyne continue her mad pacing for another five minutes before interrupting her. Alphys still hadn't sent a message back yet. It was distressing, but he needed to be strong for Undyne. He could be strong so that she didn't have to be right now.
"UNDYNE, WHY DON'T YOU SIT WITH ME HERE ON THE COUCH. WE CAN TALK AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO WHILE WE WAIT TO HEAR THE NEWS FROM KING ASGORE." Papyrus suggested.
Undyne didn't take too kindly to the suggestion. "How can you just sit here and wait while anything could be happening to Alphys right now?! It would just be lady luck you know, if something bad happened again!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Papyrus squirmed a little. Undyne didn't remember the repeats at all.
"I mean, first there's you and all this thing you're doing. That sucks and it's terrible and I can't help you any more and there's nothing I can do. Then there's the human. I lost to a child, Papyrus. A child beat me, not even in combat, but by running away until I collapsed. It's humiliating! I can't do anything now, and I couldn't do anything then. Now, there's Alphys who's MIA and I STILL CAN'T DO ANYTHING! No matter what I do, it's pointless. Nothing changes, nothing gets fixed, and I'm stuck here being useless! So wouldn't it be the fucking icing on the cake if something bad happened to Alphys while I was sitting here, unable to do anything?"
Anon: If you're Undyne's friend at all, PLEASE contact her now. Anything, any way. Let her know you're still alive.
"I UNDERSTAND. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN THINGS SEEM FATED OUT OF YOUR CONTROL." Papyrus reached out to Undyne and put his arm around her.
Undyne looked into his eyes. "Is that why you... you know...?"
Papyrus shrugged. "MAYBE A LITTLE, BUT THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE DO SOMETHING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH DR. ALPHYS. SHE IS NOT RESPONDING TO TEXT MESSAGES OR TO HER UNDERNET. MAYBE WE SHOULD VISIT HER IN PERSON?"
If Papyrus were king, Undyne would have kissed his feet. "YES! THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO! We can get to the ferry, and that'll be pretty fast, but Sans has shortcuts or whatever. He can get there faster and start looking sooner. Do you know where your brother is?"
"NO, BUT I CAN CALL HIM." Papyrus offered.
"Do it then! Call him while we're running to the ferry. Alphys should be in her lab. That's where she repairs Mettaton and spends all of her time." Undyne was already putting her boots on.
Papyrus tried to call Sans twice, but he wouldn't answer. Why is Sans suddenly unavailable? If he's sleeping through all of this, Papyrus swore to himself that he would sabotage all of his brother's ketchup bottles on the next repeat. Sans would never see it coming.
"SANS IS NOT ANSWERING HIS PHONE. WE SHOULD JUST HURRY."
The two made their way to the Hotland labs. Upon arrival, they searched everywhere they could find, and all of the floors that the elevator had access to. For some reason, there appeared to be a keyhole in the elevator, but they couldn't figure out what it would be for.
Alphys was not in the Core either. Mettaton was found plugged into a wall and charging, but the Royal Scientist was nowhere to be found.
Anon: Dr. Alphys, please reply. I'm really worried about you.
COOLSKELETON95: We're all worried about you. Where are you?
COOLSKELETON95: PLEASE BE ALIVE.
The world went black.
A/N: Two updates in one day? What is this. I hated the last chapter, that's why.