((OOC: If you would like learn more about HeartTale Grillby, pleases visit "Undertale AU Hearttale Characters Profiles"))
Light puffy flakes; fell from the sky, covering Mount Ebot in a fresh coat of snow. Out of nowhere, a wild gust of wind pushed snowflakes down the freezing cavern, too small for any human child to fit. The flakes traveled down deep, discovering an opening that lead into "Snowdin". Down below, Ariel was caught in a snow storm, and kneeled on the ground like she were a hunchback. Gripping hard on the edge of her hood, she kept an eye from being blinded by the snow, while crunching through the snow. Pushing her way through, not noticing how cold her hands were. Hand reached out for the door knob to her favorite place to eat, Grillby's. It was a place to drink your sorrows away and hang out with lively bunches of monsters. The homely décor was also welcoming if monsters are looking for greasy food to comfort their soul.
Arial slipped into the warm tavern and started dusting the snow off her robe. She quietly made her way pass monsters laughing their heads off and cheering as they clinked glasses together. She took a seat next to a female red bird monster, after finally making it to the bar.
"Hey, there River…Pers…Man…Girl?" the bird hiccupped before taking another sip of wine then placing a hand on Arial's shoulder, pulling her in close. "Grillby! Your boy…girl…friend is here." She teased, trying to form a smile with that orange beak, stained from wine.
The stool squeaked a bit as Arial used her body strength, to pushed away from this drunken bird. It was amazing how intoxicated a monster can get even if the tavern just opened a few hours ago. She just wants a burger and maybe fries, before heading home. A little tired of Alphys' instant noodle, but that couldn't be helped since they didn't own an oven. You can only do so much with a microwave. Out of nowhere, her wish was granted, as an orange-yellow fiery hand, placed a plate of food in front of the hooded girl. Turning her head to the side while pulling hard on her hood, she hid her blushing face. 'Thanks…Grillbz", she spoke in a shy, gentle voice.
No one could see through all the flames, but Grillby was smiling on the inside, by the sound of Arial's sweet voice, speaking his name. This is why he loved mornings, the most. It's the only time in the day that he would expect her to come into the tavern. One time he asked, why does she only come in the morning? The only reply was that, she wanted to avoid seeing a lazy monster, she wished to never meet. Grillby only knew one lazy monster, but Sans was a cool guy.
"The meal is on the house, if you take off that robe." Grillby joked, watching her hand reach for the burger. Quickly slipping the plate out of her reach, he placed his elbow on the bar table while resting his head in the palm of his hand. Even if she hides her face, it was noticeable that she wasn't wearing black gloves and her right bony hand was in plain view, now. Such a lovely bony hand. He predicted she was a skeleton monster. That wouldn't be a problem. There were times he and Sans would full around, after closing hours. Thanks to that, he learned what places skeletons loved to be touched. The fire monster's flames turned a deep shade of red as he imaged Arial's sweet voice, becoming a sexy moan. Letting go of the plate of food, he quickly turned away from his customers, and started messing with liquor bottles then started wiping smudges off the wine glass.
"I'd rather pay", Arial spoke in an annoyed voice while moving her food back in front of her. Every time this pass year they were together, he would try to get her to reveal her face. Almost seems like it's become a game to him. Grillby almost won the last time when he sweep her off her feet and started to dances with her. Then out of nowhere, trying to dip Arial, as an attempt to lose her hood. She had to kick him in the balls and slam her scythe into the jukebox. Quickly looking over at the jukebox, she discovered it still had a big gash in it. She wasn't proud of her actions at that time, but didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Grillby sighed as he placed a strawberry virgin daiquiri, in front of his crush. He failed again at seeing her face. There was always next time. He didn't want to anger her more, since she just got there, so he let it go...for now. It seemed the longer the wait, the more he was falling in love with her. It wasn't love at first sight or anything. They had been friends, going on six years now. Mostly just seeing her when she came to visit the tavern. In the beginning, he mistook Ariel, as "the River Person", until spotting her talking to the real River Person, on their boat. Which lead to asking for her name and number, but only getting her name. The Red Bird once asked, what's Grillby's attraction with someone too scary, to show their face. Only answer he could think of was how much he loved her heavenly voice. He was not sure if anyone was aware of this, but Arial could sing like a goddess. Her voice expressed it all, it wasn't necessary to observe her face. Even if curiosity got the better of him. One of his jobs as a bartender was to be a good listener and not judge others by their looks. Arial's soul was what he fell in love with, so he didn't care what she looked like. "On the House" he spoke in a sorry tone for upsetting her earlier, while carefully patting the top of her hooded head.
"Come on we all want to see!" a few monsters sitting on stools, cried in disappointment that the bartender gave up so easy. "We all want to know what the "River Person", looks like!"
"No!" Arial snapped in anger as she pulled her hood down before anyone could try to pull at it. Turning away from the bar table, she was about to place her feet on the ground and get the heck out of there. Suddenly, a splash of cold liquid, dripped on the back of her robe, just as she felt something hot, grab her by the arm. Looking down, she sees fiery hands, tightly grasping her. Now looking at the bar table, sees that her daiquiri had been knocked over, leaving a pink layer of ice, on a now soggy burger bun. She was getting a little tired of this. Deep down, she knew sooner or later, he was going to witness the same abomination, she saw. If he was a real friend, he would be accepting, like Alphys and Undyne. Sighing, as she sat comfortably, back on the bar stole. "Just you." She tried to speak in a calm voice, while her heart was beat in fear of losing him.
The fire monster loosen his grip, then took a few steps back. Did she just say she would…. He quickly cleaned the mess in front of her. Those words, sent heat of excitement through Grillby's body, while he ducked down under the bar. "We could go behind the building, but there were too many hours left, before someone would come in and cover my break" his mind raced. "The back was off limits to non-employees, it was bad for a boss to break the rules". He didn't want to pass up this option, what if Arial changes her mind at any moment? He fumbles around in a box, until he found a table cloth. Tossing the cloth over her, he nervously peeked under the cloth, watching her slowly pulling back her hood….
"What a bone-tiful day, for drinking.!"