Dayna knew something was up when Krissa never answered her phone yesterday or came to work this morning. So now she was storming towards the forest cabin where her friend lives. When she got there, she was surprised to find that someone was already there. A tall fish woman with blue scales and red hair.

"Heya! You need something from Krissa too?!" Dayna shouted before she got closer. She was totally chill with monsters. Thought they were super cool to hang out with. The woman turned around and waved somewhat hesitantly. She took that as a signal to walk over. "What y' want with Gemstone?"

"The punk left her phone at our place. A friend told me where her house was."

"Oh! Neat-o. I'm Dayna, was wondering if Krissa was alright. The phone explains things." She turned towards the door ans placed her hands on her hips. "So how shall we enter? Normally a bust the door in."

"Same."

The two women look at each other. "Together." They spoke in unison.

"One..."

"Two..."

"KRISSA HOLY FUCK!" Their feet kick the door in with a bit more force than either were expecting. Dayna looked around and sighed. "She must be in the shower, can hear the water running."

"Damn, I was hoping for a great reaction."

Suddenly the water had stopped and out came Krystal. Her arms bandaged and towel wrapped around her dripping form. She froze when she spotted them.

She was doomed. Dayna narrowed her eyes while Undyne's widened into a full yellow circle. "What the hell?" Was all the wish woman could say as her human friend grabbed her by the uninjured shoulders and started shaking. "Who do this! Who dared to hurt my Krissa!? Was it

that Jordan douche bag again? Huh?! HUH!?"

Undyne stomped over and looked at the bandages more closely and then her gaze moved to the healing cut on her face and the red ring around her neck. It was scarred in the center of the line while the rest was a permanent mark. Krissa looked down to try and hide it. "That guy who threw a rock right?" She growled.

"Y-yeah. I went to go shop but... He and his friends were drunk and they were in my path. I'm...going to go get dressed."

Krystal hurried to her room, grabbing her choker immediately and wrapped it around her neck. She picks out a pastel pink halter top with puffed sleeves, a white ankle length skirt, and sky blue cardigan. She passed on wearing shoes since she was not leaving the house any time soon. She didn't want any monster or human seeing her all banged up. It made her look weak, feel weak.

Waiting. She will simply wait for them to heal. Wait for things to get better. She stepped back into the living room where Dayna wasted no time on hugging the life out of her while also avoiding her injuries. Krystal let her get the hugs out before sitting down on the couch. She brings her legs up to hug close to her chest.

"Um... Why did you come here Undyne?"

"You forgot your phone in the guest room." She tossed the said device onto the cushion beside her. "Bet you needed that."

She huffs a small laugh and picks it up. "Thanks. How did you know where to find me?"

"Tori told me she met you at your house. So..." Tiger Lily. A smile pulled at her lips but faded when Undyne grabbed her shoulders. Worried that her eyes changed, she shut them. "Oh! Wait I didn't mean ta scare you. I haven't said this yet but, changing eye colors is COOL!"

Dayna laughs and pats her on the back. "C'mon gemstone. You can't think everyone will hate you like the humans in our town." Her eyes narrow at the fish lady. "Riiiiight?"

Undyne splutters for a second and quickly nods. "Of course PUNK!"

Krystal relaxes and the afternoon visit drags on longer than it was obviously meant too. She made them some hot chocolate despite it being mild fall weather outside. Dayna had to leave earlier for a gig. She was currently washing dishes while Undyne went on and on about the underground life since she asked an hour ago.

It was nice. She didn't have to hum or play music to fill the deafening silence. She didn't realize that her plate was completely clean until the monster poked her head. Damn she's tall. Blushing, she placed the platter down. "H-hey Undyne?"

"Sup?"

"I met your friends and they all are nice but..." Undyne raises a brow, an almost challenging look in her eye. "I-it's not that I am racist or anything but one of them confuses me."

"It's Sans right?" A nod. "Yeah, he confuses a lot of us still. But don't let him get to ya. He isn't trusting with humans and he's very protective of papyrus. I think your one of the good ones."

"Do you think I can understand him eventually? Be his friend?" She didn't what to be given the cold shoulder.

"SURE! You gotta give it your all!" Her phone rand and she takes a look at her screen. "Woah! I'm soooo late! Gotta go. You better visit again Krissa!" With that, the fish woman ran out of her house. She finishes washing the dishes and sets them aside to dry before slipping in a pair of sandals. Perhaps a walk to the buttercup fields would be good for her.

Her feet carried her out the door and into the woods. When she arrived at the clearing covered in golden blooms, she saw nobody around. Moving past the first clearing, she follows an old dirt trail nearly grown over entirely. Over fallen branches, around rocks and boulders, she reaches her second sanctuary.

Ruins.

All over this place lay the remains of stone houses and small huts. More golden flowers have bloomed both around and within the buildings. Such evidence of war or withering history could hardly look so beautiful to regular people. Some would also label it creepy. Krystal climbs on top of a crumbling well, leaning against the loose wooden post that remained of the thing that always held the bucket up.

"It's such a beautiful day outside." She muses as she listens to the sounds around her. Birds singing and the leaves rustling. For some reason they stop. Odd. Her eyes are getting heavy. maybe she should take a nap. The breeze picked up and blew through the thin cloth of her cardigan. The chill makes her shiver. She ignores it and tries to fall asleep.

A shadow passed over her, possibly a cloud. It didn't move on though. She huffs, opening her eyes to glare at whatever was blocking the sun's warm light. There stood the skeleton. Which one? Sans of course. He is the only one to be silent like that. He didn't seem to notice here there yet and was simply blocking the light by accident.

She slowly slid off the well and onto the grass, making a move to crawl away. Though she wanted to be friends, she was NOT expecting to do that immediately after making that promise to herself. Well, it was more like a resolution.

Her hand pressed into a jagged stick on the ground, causing her wince. "Ouch-" She slaps a hand over her mouth but of course it was too late. Cue looming shadow over back. The clearing was silent. Did the animals stop making noise because of Sans? Krystal looked over her

shoulder and gave a stiff wave with a crooked smile. "Er...S-salutations."

"what brings you here?"

"Isn't that what I'M supposed to say? I was here first." She sighed. He shrugs and looks around. "I'm surprised you keep finding these places." Especially when I'm in that said place. She added silently.

Sans stares at her before speaking again. "you could say that exploring new places just comes.." Dramatic pause. He's going to... "nature-ly." Yup. She huffs a laugh, shaking her head. Krystal falls onto her back and closes her eyes. "what are you doing?"

Funny. He hasn't asked about her bandages at...oh right. Cardigan has long sleeves. "Taking a nap. You interrupted my earlier attempt."

"sorry?" She can imagine him lifting the ridges that formed his brow. The shuffling of grass told her that he was sitting or laying down as well. The sounds returned, singing the peaceful melody. She smiles and rolls onto her side. "you really like coming out here huh?" Did he not intend to let her sleep. Oh well. He started the conversation.

"Time stops here. I have told you before that everything slows. Time, for me, is shown by moving things. Cars, people walking, the sun crawling across the sky. When I sleep out here, everything stands still. I don't need to see the sun. Logically it doesn't stop of course. These ruins are proof enough of time moving forward even out here." She was rambling again. Exactly like before.

Sans chuckles. It's real. That genuine and warm laughter he used during their mini pun-off. She wanted to hear more of it. She wanted to be the cause of it and have him enjoy her company like she does with him. Her face was starting to feel incredibly warm right now. As friends! Just friends! Geez. She nuzzles the flowers and wills her mind to be still. Sleeeep. That's what I wanted to do in the first place.

It took a whole week and a half for her wounds to heal and she can finally get back to work. She has gone to the mansion for tea every so often. Thankfully she had some long sleeved shirts at her disposal. Undyne is now barging into the shop just as often as Dayna is. Aside from species, they could be related. She was watering the displays when Jordan passed by, leering at her in his usual fashion.

Krystal ignores him and goes inside for her next task. "My what a brute that boy is." Bailey mumbles from where she leans on the counter. "You okay Ruby?"

She hums her response while putting bags of seeds into different shelves. It's nothing new to her. The curly brunette opens a box of Halloween decorations and begins picking out the ones she wants. Krystal walked over and picked up a plastic skull. She giggles and pulls out a full body model. "Sans and Papyrus." She puts them down beside each other. "What are you going

to dress up as this year?"

Bailey pulled out a vampire door sticker and walked over to windows to start hanging orange lights. "Hm. I was thinking of being a witch."

"You're witch every year."

"True. I think I want to be a fairy or..." a demon? "an angel." If she were to dress up as a devil, the townspeople would only tease her more about her eyes being perfect for the costume. Maybe she should get colored contacts to make them stay normal. She heard that their uncomfortable though.

Bailey flicked her forehead, causing her to startle. "Your eyes are dull. Stop thinking sad thoughts Ruby." She was given a small side hug before being left to decorate more of the shop. Krystal finds a skull mask and puts it on before looking into the mirror that sits on the desk. "I'm the Grrrrrrrreat Papyrus!" She mimics the tall skeleton while posing just like he does.

She giggles to herself and moved to take it off when a voice sounded from behind her. "heh. wow bro, you got shorter."

Krystal squeaked and stumbled back into a stack of crates. She quickly turned around to catch them before even balancing herself which led her to falling with them. She was grabbed by the arm and everything seemed to freeze. The crates stopped moving, a blue cloudy mist surrounding them. Turning her head, she saw Sans there, right socket completely black while a blue and yellow flaming ring glowed in the left.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from it. Low buzzing filled the quiet room along with the charged air making her hair stand on end. This must be magic then. It was such an intense feeling, almost as smothering as silence. His eye lights returned to normal before they shifted down to look at her. He lets go quickly when seeing that she was stable. Ah. He isn't one for physical contact. Not with her at least. He had no problem with his friends in Monster Town.

For some reason it stung her. "Heh...Sorry about that Sans. You startled me. I didn't even hear the door chime."

"'s no problem pal." He mumbled. He sounded a bit disoriented. That was understandable. She pushed a stray hair behind her ear. She should say something. This silence was so awkward. Krystal picked up a fallen yellow rose bud and held it out. "what's this for."

"J-just take it. As a t-thank you." She murmurs and when he takes it, she can feel his phalanges brush over her skin. Be still you stupid heart! Why are you getting so flustered!? She hurried to the back room and didn't give her boss any mind. The door chimes and the bohemian dressed woman breaks into a string of laughter. "W-what?" Krystal stutters.

She smirks and shakes her head, still laughing. "You like him don't you?"

Did she?

"No!" Her face is on fire.

"You do! Oh my god I got to tell Vampy."

"Don't! How would you know if I do when I don't know!?"

"So it's a maybe?"

"UUUUUGH"

More laughter and teasing followed. She didn't mean to get so flustered around the monster. It was just her embarrassment of nearly falling that made her blush. Not the intense look in his sockets when he used magic, or the feeling of his rib cage against her back, or the firm grab on her arm, OR how bone felt on her bare skin...

Oh god! She IS getting a crush on him. She just wanted to be his friend and understand him. This is far too many steps up the stairs that she was planning on going.