"My parents were on the wealthy side of society. Both mom and dad worked all the time. The time I spent with them were the greatest moments of my life. Dad was funny and sweet while mom was kind of aggressive but really kind when she wanted to be. Dad loved the stars and would take me out on clear nights to show me all the constellations. Mom was the one that taught me about flowers and their meanings and how to garden." Krissa took a deep breath. "One year. One whole year, they were able to turn away from work at the right times and care for me like a daughter. I was happy." Sans was frowning. "I rather not mention the negatives. So. Your turn."
Sans took a bite of his steak as he thought over his own response. "well. me and my bro were taken in by grillby when we were young. mostly when paps was a kid. we didn't live with him, only went over for meals and stuff."
"Did you have a place?"
"yeah. little house in the second region of the underground. there was some gold grillbz spent to get us the place. we uh, didn't have any real parents. i was the one to raise papyrus. got harder after having a job and wasn't able spend much time with him. hm. think i said enough for my turn."
"And I said no sad stuff."
"nothing much to share on the happy side tibia honest."
She looked down with a sad expression. "Was it that bad under there?"
"yeah. the dreemurrs had it worse though. they were there in the beginning, so was gerson but you don' know him. grillbz too. all four were active in the war."
Krissa tries to imagine the kind and gentle toriel in armor. It wasn't working at all. All that came out was old fashioned collared blouses and flowing skirts. Asgore however, she already saw a photo of his royal garbs that looked like armor. Now Grillby, that was surprisingly easy to picture. Bronze. Definitely bronze metal.
"Then I guess you don't mind me giving the gloomy background to my story then." She smiles and he chuckles. "Remember what I said at the fair? I said it depends, and it does. Well… since I can remember when I was little, my parents were always too busy to pay attention to me. I'd always find a way to make them. Getting lost, as i've already said, I would let bullies hurt me at school so mom could bandage me up. Needless to say I was desperate."
She chuckles weakly and took a few bites of her food and a drink. "I made myself friends I guess. Stuffed dolls that kind of looked like mom and dad. Let's see…. Oh. It was my seventh birthday when this happened." She taps her neck. The memory was so clear in her mind.
Krystal woke up excited for today. Mommy must have made a cake right? Her birthday must be perfect, she's been imagining what it will be like all year. Dayna will be there for her party, ice cream, cake, presents, more cake, and balloons! Mommy and daddy will sing to her as she blows out candles like anybody else's birthday.
The little girl shot out of her bed and grabbed her mini-me doll before running out of her room and down the long hallways to the stairs where she then slides down the railing. "Weeeeeeeeh!"
She made it to the kitchen and her grin immediately fell. There was nothing there. No birthday breakfast? No cake? No decorations? Where were her parents? She looked around the large house. In every guest room, their room, the office and library too.
Krystal made her way back to the kitchen to find the note she knew would be there. She just never looked. She was hoping. She took a look at the note and tears welled up in her big dulling red eyes.
Me and Mom are going out to some meetings today. Microwave meals and dinner leftovers are available. See you later tonight.
"N-night?"
Did…. did they not know what day it is?
No "I love yous"?
No "sorry we can't celebrate"?
Was….. was she that unimportant?
The tears fell freely down her cheeks as the little girl cried into her hands on the tile floor of an empty house. Silence. Silence was the only thing around her. Maybe if she wasn't around, mommy and daddy wouldn't have to care for her. Maybe she wouldn't be so sad if she wasn't around to be forgotten.
Krissa grabbed a pot and used it to reach and look into one of the drawers in the kitchen where scissors and glue is kept. She finds a long plastic zip tie and goes up to her room. She places her mommy and daddy dolls together with her mini-me before sliding the two ends of the tie together. They will be happy. They will be happy to finally have her gone.
The tie closes around her neck loosely and she hesitates just for a second. She will be happy too. No more being alone. With that, she tightens the plastic strip until she couldn't breathe anymore.
Everything became dark.
She was drowning.
Silence still remained.
In her blurry subconscious she stood before her mommy and daddy. They were smiling at her with so much love. Just like she wanted.
She reached for them but everything disappeared again.
Her eyes opened again in a new place. Bright white light shined in her eyes. She blinked a few times to see the blurry image of her parents. They were crying and shouting words she couldn't hear. She brought a weak hand to her neck where she felt thick bandages.
Four arms wrapped around her small body. Warmth. Tears started to spill again.
Sans stared at her with wide blank sockets. When the pinpricks did return, they glanced down to her neck. "aren't those supposed to be unable to pull apart?"
"I wasn't conscious but I later learned that surgery was needed and of course they rushed so I wouldn't die." She looks down at the now empty plates. "My parents turned around after that. For a year I got to be with actual parents. Then they left for a business trip where a lightning storm shot their plane out of the sky….. Told you. A mess."
"looks like it's about time to go." He states, looking towards the returning waiter. Sans pays for the meal despite the price. Didn't he only work at a hot dog stand? How did he afford this entire date anyway?
Krissa huffed, shaking her head. "What else do you even do? This place is pricey."
He chuckles while getting up. "well, if you must know. i also teach physics classes at a small college in the city."
"No way!" Does he wear a lab coat? Please be yes, that would look so cool! Professor Sans. She giggles.
"what are you grinning about red?"
She blushes and looks off to the side. "Nothin'"
The two of them walked out of the building. Sans wraps his arm around her waist to take a shortcut. Back at the mansion's front step, she looked up at him. She giggles to herself when a funny thought crosses her mind. He looked down at her with a raised brow ridge. "Heheh. I'm just thinking this is scene from a typical teen romance. Guy drops girl off after a date and whatnot."
Sans laughs. She turns to face him with a gentle smile. "I had fun today. Thank you so much." Krissa holds out her hand. She watched him hesitate but her smile was staying put with her patience. His chest rises and falls before he takes her hand in his fingerless gloved one.
He gave a slight shudder but then relaxed. "heh. 's not so bad i guess." He lets go and blows out a hissing breath between his teeth.
She wiggles her fingers at him with a grin. "Anything you are comfortable with Sans. Hand holding isn't required so I can still hold your sleeve if that makes you feel better."
"stars, how do you know what to do?" He shakes his head with a breathy chuckle.
"I don't. Though Dayna may or my not have shoved some physiology knowledge onto me." She shrugs her shoulders. Her cheeks tinge pink as she looks down at her feet. "Just… I want this to work you know?"
"same 'ere."
"I better go get changed now. See you later Sans."
It didn't take long for the fish wife to kick her door in. Krystal was in the middle of washing her face after getting out of the shower since exploring the gardens got herself a little dirty.
"GIVE ME THE DEETS!" Muscular blue arms wrap around her waist and drag her out of the bathroom. There was no sense in fighting this crazy lady. Krissa lets herself be dragged to the bed, the typical location for girl time. Alphy was also in her room, looking excited to hear about the date too.
She tells them about the atrium and all the butterflies she saw. She glared when Undyne started laughing at her obvious excitement over bees of all things. "What?! Bees are important to every flower in the world. We wouldn't even have flowers if bees didn't exist!"
"O-o-oh? W-why is that?"
"They pollinate them. It keeps them healthy."
"Neeeeerd." The fish monster crows, smacking her across the back. An 'oof' was knocked out of her.
Krissa grabs the nearest pillow and shoves it into her face before going to change into a men's button up, pinstriped shirt and Mickey Mouse boxers. She was spent from the earlier events and just felt like being lazy. An idea pops into her head. "Hey Undyne?"
She looks up from glaring at the pillow. "What? And where are your sexy PJ's?!"
"I like feeling loose sometimes. These are my favorites anyway."
"But why a guy's shirt?"
"It's my dad's."
"Huh. So whatcha want to ask?"
"The floors downstairs are wood right?"
"Uhuh…" She raised a brow.
Krissa grabbed as many pillows her arms can carry. She looks at the two other woman with a smirk. "Grab pillows and put on the softest socks you have! We are going to have a slip-n-slide pillow war!"
Undyne perked immediately at the sound of the game. "Hell YEAH! Let's go prepare for battle babe!"
"W-w-we won't l-lose." Alphy exclaims with equal excitement before rushing out. She didn't care if the others were around. Sans is usually in his room napping… Okay, maybe she did so she threw on some sweatpants. Asgore might be in the backyard. She hurried downstairs to the living room to start removing the couch cushions to make barricades.
What are you doing?
"Oh hello Chara. Wanna join the fun?"
Sure. So… pillow fight?
"With a twist."
Krissa got some dining chairs and draped a spare blanket over the two to make a canopy. The door opens to reveal Frisk wearing their backpack. They glanced around at the set up and quickly signed a question.
"We are having a pillow fight! If you wanna join, find soft socks and bring pillows. You are joining our team."
~Who else is on yours?~ (Needed to change the sign language because Chara)
"Idiot! You can't count me."
"Well you are already on mine." She quickly stated to cover up the slip. They hurry off to their room just as Chara's voice shouted in her head to duck. Krissa dove into her fort and got a pillow ready. "NO AMBUSHING!"
"That wasn't in the rules PUNK!"
Another pillow is launched but was deflected by one thrown from the balcony. Frisk was there with a cheeky grin in their face. They hurry down stairs to take cover behind the couch where the fort was, making sure to glide across the wood and tripping undyne with a blanket whip. Krissa gives them a high five. "Good job."
What brought this on anyway?
"I kind of brought up some bad memories. The best way to get rid of sadness is to do something I like or something crazy and fun. I usually go tend to my garden but that isn't an option anymore."
Huh. Oh and you might wanna move.
She looks up to see Alphys holding up two pillows, ready to slam down on her head. "AH! Intruder!" She tackled the lizard who squealed adorably and began to flail. "Run Frisk, save yourself!"
They nod and start to move but were blocked by Undyne. Is that a SPEAR?! Oh. She forgot to mention no magic to magical monsters. To Undyne. Chara snickers in her head. Krissa releases Alphys to steal her pillows and throw them at the fish. "New rule. Get hit, you freeze for five seconds."
"Come on, no fair!"
Frisk signed something before escaping to the crawl under the coffee table while She takes the blanket the left and tied it around her neck like a cape. That wasn't what she was planning to do at first. It was some random impulse… Chara?
What? I used to wear capes during all my play fights with RiRi.
"Ri- Oh you mean Asriel."
The front door opens again to reveal Papyrus. "ARE YOU HAVING FRIENDLY BONDING ACTIVITIES WITHOUT ME!?"
Frisk pops up. ~Pillow fight. Come play too!~
"BUT OF COURSE YOU WOULD ASK ME! I SHALL HELP YOU IN YOUR BATTLE!"
So the war continues. More people started coming home and the game kept changing. The socks caused a lot of people to trip and fall. What was a team game became a free for all and then king of the castle where someone will stand on a chair platform and had to fend off anyone trying to knock them down.
Toriel almost had a heart attack when she came in and saw the mess but allowed the fun to continue. She and Asgore watched with fondness in their eyes. Frisk somehow got Flowey involved when some sort of hot potato match started. Poor thing. The banshee shrieks were annoying though.
Sans even joined after emerging from his room. He looked well rested so it seemed she was right about the nap. He didn't really do much other than levitate the pillows for shields and throw them with magic. It was him that ended king of the castle because he was impossible to hit.
It was about thirty minutes later when everyone just collapsed from exhaustion. "Well now. Since all of you are clearly out of energy, I think i should get dinner started. Would you like to help Krystal? Everyone else, clean up this mess." She waves a paw at all the pillows, blankets, and cushions strewn about the room.
Krissa chuckled when Sans slouched against the wall by the T.V and closed his eyes. Napping to get out of work. "Sure!" Yeah. Chara agreed mentally at the same time as her. She smiled. They were the most happy when she was around the two goat monsters. Flowey too but she didn't know why.
She was handed some fresh beans to start breaking the end. "Did you have fun today my child?"
"I did. He took me to quite the place."
"Oh?"
"Arizona! There is literally a state between Oregon and there. I have no idea how he was able to teleport there."
"Well, I may have an idea." She looked up from her beans. "A while back before that unfortunate event, he took Papyrus' car and came back late in the early morning. Sans needs to be somewhere before hand after all."
He really went to the perfect place just so he could arrive instantly with her? The blush was coming back full force. He's so freaking sweet. She snaps a few more ends. "We shared some stories. We both have some bumpy roads in our life it seems."
Toriel nods and pats her back as she passes by with a bowl of ingredients in her arm. It looked like noodle dough. Did she make everything by hand?!
Pretty much. Her pies are the best.
"You can say that again."
Her pies are the-
"Okay never mind. You're just as bad as Sans."
Eww. Don't compare me to that comedian.
"I'm done with the beans mom."
"Very good. Wash them for me dear."
"Yes ma'am."
God. When was the last time you had a moment like this? Cooking with someone and having conversation…. Her mom…. She let her make dinner every night she was home early enough from a meeting. If not, then her dad would take her place. This familial bond that at some point formed between Krissa and the Dreemurrs brought back her happiest memories.
She puts the beans into a strainer and turns on the faucet over the greens. When done, she dumps the washed vegetables into a bowl. "I'm happy for him. You as well child." Krissa looked up curiously.
"Sans is… a complex soul. Truth be told, Papyrus is the only one who knows the most about him but he still doesn't know all. Sans is a keeper of secrets. His phobia complicates new relationships so I am more than happy to see you being so willing and patient with him."
"You know of it?"
"Yes. It was during the first year after surfacing. He hurt himself in a training accident and I had to heal him. Sans reacted very badly to me touching him. We were all so worried that he would dust himself."
"Dust?"
Toriel nods. "Monsters become dust when we pass on."
"How badly did he get hurt?" She asks, worry gripping her heart.
"For most it would be minor. However, you need to be aware that Sans has a very low HP. One point of it to be exact." HP?… Health points? Wait. Then that means- She covers her mouth to stifle her gasp. Toriel sighs. "It was an accident he caused himself so it was only cut by a fraction."
"But… He seemed so strong."
"He is. No mistake I assure you. The two factors are separate however."
Krissa fidgets with the hem of her shirt. Sans didn't get hurt often right? He always seems so careful and aware of his surroundings. He easily scared away potentially violent harassers once before without a real fight. "I had no idea."
The goat woman pats her head and nuzzles her hair, making her giggle. Toriel goes to make the noodles. "Do not worry. Sans is very capable. I simply wanted to make you aware."
"Thanks mom."
When dinner was ready, there was a large meal of lasagna and boiled seasoned green beans with garlic bread. Today was a really good day. Now all she has to do is fill in her boss and Dayna. Bailey in particular will be jealous for sure. As she was heading to her room, she made eye contact with Sans down the hall. A blush rose to her cheeks and she quickly ducks her head to hide behind her hair, hurrying into her room.
Damn she had it bad.
Sans laid in his bed on his back, staring up at his hand. The one he used to shake hers. It was only the phalanges that made contact but he still felt the feeling of skin. Soft, warm, and the faint pulsing in the vein on her wrist. It wasn't at all like him.
He sits up and looks at some marks on the wall. It was a vague reminder of what he actually is. Krissa is gentle and kind and so, so damn patient and he can't even understand how mankind ended up with her. Or deserved her. Or why she agreed to date him. He was afraid for a whole new reason. More than he was when he found out what she was to him.
The last thing he wants is to hurt her. But there are some things out of his control that He didn't think to fix. There wasn't a problem before but now? Sans felt himself building a cage around foreign urges in his soul. Ones he instinctively knew could be dangerous.
His gaze levels into a glare at the jagged… scratches.
No. That man will not ruin this chance at happiness as long as he can help it.