Chapter 27: Toughblook
Alphys loved to think she was a little discreet so it almost came to her shock that Sans had come into the lab early one morning while she was at her desk.
He usually came in later in the afternoon.
"Morning!"
Alphys blushed, shoving some papers under some books.
Sans glanced slyly at her.
"Whatcha workin' on?"
Alphys felt her cheeks heat up.
"Uh er nothing."
He crept over to her and peered over her shoulder.
"Writing fanfiction again?"
Alphys jolted.
"How did you know about that?"
Sans chuckled.
"It wasn't exactly well hidden. So is it another one where you settle down with King Asgore."
"Don't laugh at me."
"I'm not though. I ship Aster/Arial myself."
Alphys glared at him.
"Good luck. He might accept you one day."
"Quiet you two, I think I've finally got it to work," Aster said. "Using certain electronic impulses trigger the magic of the soul. We could use this to look through all timelines. It seems that all the timelines of the souls are the same and some even collide with one another with nearly every branching path."
"What's that?"
Sans pointed to the squiggle near the end.
"I don't know. I suspect it's an anomaly of some kind."
"What's causing it?"
"That's the mystery."
Sans sighed as he took a walk outside. He ran into Papyrus just as he was heading to Waterfall.
"AH SANS, JUST THE SKELETON I WANT TO SEE. I JUST GOT THROUGH TALKING WITH UNDYNE. IT SEEMS SHE HAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED HER LAST TRAINING DUMMY AND IS LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE."
"What do you want me to do about it, bro?"
"FIND A NEW DUMMY OF COURSE, SILLY."
As Sans was walking towards Waterfall, Papyrus decided to accompany him. Sans spotted a ghost with tears down his eyes heading towards Blook Acres.
He heard loud voices coming from the left. "Hey darling, did Asgore kick your butt again?"
"You know how close he was to surrendering victory? I had him shaking in his cape. Are you two even listening to me?"
"You say that every time. It's not very impressive."
"Ah come in Blooky. You believe me don't you?"
There was silence.
"How can you live like this? All our lives we've been down here racing snails. Our cousin was a training dummy. What are you two doing? All Blooky does is compose music and Mettablook just sings. How many talent agents will let you down before you decide to give up?"
"I know it's hopeless."
"im sure you could do great things mettablook."
Sans heard a loud scoff.
"Don't be so melodramatic. Anybody could be a star if they just try."
"WHERE ARE WE GOING, SANS?" Papyrus asked.
Sans jolted, surprised.
"She's looking for a dummy right? We don't know what kind of dummy she's looking for."
"OH I SEE."
The two headed straight to Undyne's house and knocked on her door.
Just then the door opened to the sight of Undyne with her shoulders slouched.
"Oh it's you two. This is just awful. How will I train now?"
Sans spotted two fish by a piano.
"Who are the fish?"
"That's Shyren and her sister. Shyren's sister was a little concerned about that new son her agent was her to compose. So she asked me to give her sister piano lessons."
"How's it been going?"
"Good I suppose. Any reason why your brother is here, Papyrus?"
"I'm hurt. Some monsters would be lucky to be friends with two bonely skeletons."
Undyne scowled.
"So what kind of dummy are you looking for?"
"One that can take a punch honestly. The other one just broke apart with ease."
"So something bone sturdy then?"
"Yeah."
"Guess we'll be going then. See you later," Sans said, winking at her with his left eye.
Sans dragged Papyrus out of Undyne's house.
"DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND A DUMMY?"
"I have no idea. Do you know any dummy that could stand her fishy attacks?"
"Aha I bet you two are looking for a dummy aren't you?"
Sans and Papyrus immediately clung to each other.
"Yes?"
"HOW DID YOU KNOW?"
A ghost appeared with a smug smirk.
"I have my ways. I bet you have no idea what happens when a 'ghost' possesses an unanimated body do you?"
"WHAT HAPPENS?"
"Guess."
"ER..I DON'T KNOW."
"We could possess the ultimate body invulnerable to all physical attacks. it'd be the perfect body for a warrior like me."
"So what's your point?" Sans asked.
"I think the answer is obvious, stupid. If it's a training dummy you want, I'm perfect for the job."
"You sure?"
"Of course I'm sure."
"SHOULD WE TELL THEM IT'S FOR-"
"Nah, he did call me stupid after all."
Napstablook looked around Mettablook's place.
"where did toughblook go? i can find them anywhere."
"They probably took a walk outside to release some steam."
"i better look for them. it is getting late."
Mettablook chuckled.
"That's alright, Blooky. You don't need to tire yourself I'll find them."
Mettablook headed out to find Toughblook. When they were younger she had often seen him gazing yearningly at the Waterfall near the dump outside their homes.
She headed to the dump and that's when she spotted the poster. It was a poster of some rock band from the surface. There was going to be a concert at Fourside park on Saturday at 8 o'clock pm. That wasn't what captured her eye though.
One of the humans had short black hair and wore dark black eye shadow under their eyes and had a flat body. Another human wore a black dress and the curvy body just looked strange.
The other humans were nothing to look at and weren't as aesthetically pleasing. She wondered if there was a secret to that beauty that she had seen in that short black haired human.
After picking up the poster she headed home forgetting about Toughblook entirely. It was later that evening that Toughblook finally came home.
"What took you losers so long to find me?"
"Huh?"
"were you lost? why didn't you say something?"
Toughblook sputtered.
"I wasn't lost."
"I tried to find you but I didn't see you."
"You liar. You forgot about me didn't you?"
"Well if you want to put it that way. Yes, yes I did."
Toughblook's eyes widened.
"Unbelievable I can't believe you forgot about your cousin. Im leaving. I'm sick of this place. I'm becoming a training dummy."
Mettablook snorted, trying not to laugh.
"Think this is funny do you? I'll prove you wrong. I'll be great. One day the world will remember my name. Toughblook, the world's best training dummy."
"toughblook..."
"Just let him go, Blooky. We don't need him."
Toughblook phased through the wall and headed out.
There was a dump outside the Waterfall. The place was littered with plenty of garbage and tons of dummys.
Toughblook eventually possessed a strong sturdy looking one though the body made him feel strange like he wanted to lash out on something.
He was furious with his two cousins. How could they treat him like garbage?
His body felt so light.
He looked down at where the dummy was standing. The dummy wasn't touching the ground but was floating in the air like it could fly. He crept in the shadows outside of Undyne's home.
A horselike monster with obscene biceps was creeping near the left window. Two fishlike monsters fluttered outside.
"Undyne, thanks for the piano lessons. My sister would like to thank you from the bottom of her heart."
"Don't mention it," Undyne said. "So Friday next week?"
"Sure."
The two fluttered away. It ws only when they were gone that Undyne glanced at the horse monster by her window.
"Aaron, what the h-ll are you doing outside my house?"
"Ah don't you love my lovely pecks?"
He inquired with a wink.
Undyne scowled at him.
"Alright, alright, I'm going," he said winking as he fluttered away.
Once he was gone, Toughblook mustered the courage to stand outside her home.
The next morning Undyne was about to do her mornings exercises like she usually did before having tea with Asgore when she spotted the dummy outside her house.
"Hmm, I don't recall ever having a training dummy outside my house."
'Perhaps they were able to find a suitable dummy after all. Thanks Papyrus.'
Later that afternoon, Mettablook headed out.
"where are you going mettablook?"
"Er..I'm doing a little grocery shopping."
"see you later."
Mettablook let out a sigh of relief once she had made it to Snowdin.
The magic that barred monsters underground had only prevented corporeal monsters who had no chance of burrowing under the barrier. Mettablook was incorporeal so she could phase through the door that lead to the ruins and appear on the other side of the barrier into the human world.
As she was floating through the ruins, she spotted Toriel at the entrance.
"Beautiful day isn't it?" Toriel inquired glancing at Mettablook.
"Yes it is isn't it?"
"Are you intending on going to the surface?" She asked. "I don't need to know your reasons but be careful. Don't let your cousin worry about you."
Mettablook smiled.
"You don't have to worry about me, darling."
In a small apartment complex outside Fourside Park, Kat Peterson glanced at his brown skinned roommate who was practicing playing his saxophone.
"Kat quit staring at me like that. It's very uncomfortable."
He blushed.
"Er sorry, Ghost."
"Shouldn't you be practising too for the contest tonight?"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot."
The two had been friends since they had gone to high school. Kat had joined a rock band after dropping out of college but his roommate, Ghost was still attending studying jazz music.
Kat took out his guitar. He had never told Ghost the inspiration for his music though. It was later in the afternoon when the room was at it's hottest that Kat opened the window.
The smells of hickory smoke teased his nose and his stomach growled.
Ghost looked at the watch on his wrist.
"Wow, it's lunchtime already? Tell you what how about we go out today?"
"Are you paying?"
Ghost smiled.
"Of course."
As the two headed to Ghost's car, Kat spotted a man talking with what looked like a ghost with a combover.
The man's posture was tense and Kat saw his fists clenched.
He looked like he was going to punch the ghost.
"Hey lady, is this man bothering you?" Kat asked.
"Er, I was fine. I was just asking for directions to Fourside park. He offered to give me a ride but I refused."
The other man snorted grumbling under his breath.
"Most women would have just taken the ride."
"You look 'new'. Wanna have a cup of coffee at my house?"
"Uh...sure."
She followed him to his car.
"Ghost, I'm going to have to take a raincheck but I'll be claiming that raincheck so wait for me."
"I'll pick you something up at the Tostado Mart," he said winking at him.
Kat sighed before treading back to his apartment.
Mettablook followed him inside. She was amazed.
It was like the room was two different houses. One part of the room was spotless everything held in fancy glass cupboards. The other side of the room was littered with cords and musical instruments caked with dust.
The human headed to the kitchen.
"So where are you from?" Kat asked. "I know you're not from around here. Are you even human?"
"No, I come from underground. There are a lot of us down there. All kinds of monsters. Most of us can't even reach the surface because we can't go through the barrier. Ghosts are one of the only ones who can leave the underground."
"So why come here now?"
Mettablook blushed.
"There's someone I want to meet."
Kat chuckled.
"You have no self-preservation at all do you? That creep thought you probably were some homeless sap and was trying to take advantage of you."
Mettablook's eyes widened.
"Really? Well I guess I am pretty sexy. Too bad no one else seems to think that."
Kat snorted.
"You wouldn't want flattery from men like that. Women should feel more empowered in their relationships."
"How do you feel empowered?" Mettablook asked.
"I'm into crossdressing. Don't tell Ghost I said that though."
"How does it help?"
"Well it makes me feel beautiful. Men can be sexy too but I love feel beautfiul every now and then," Kat said handing her a cup of coffee. "As you can probably tell, it doesn't happen that often."
Mettablook tried to grab the cup of coffee but her body phased right through the cup.
"The park is across from our house. You ought to be careful. It can get very dangerous for a woman like yourself. I can drie you home if you like. I'm little worried leaving you at the park by yourself."
Mettablook smiled.
"I'm flattered but I can handle myself. Thanks anyway."
She headed out.
Kat could only wave at her awkwardly.
Later that evening after exploring the town, Mettablook headed to the park.
Most of the equipment was already set up. Mettablook hid behind some bushes near the stage. One by one the humans gathered outside the stage.
Suddenly Mettablook caught sight of the lead singer.
"Are you ready to rock n' roll?"
"Yeah."
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU."
"YEAH."
The lead singer strummed his guitar, his hair whipping back and forth.
At oe point, Mettablook thought he might have been staring at her.
'That's impossible. There's no way he can see me.'
After the concert, Mettablook continued to lurk in the bushes waiting for the crowd to die.
"You can come out now. I think they're all gone."
Mettablook turned and saw the man from the stage.
"I thought I've seen you before. I almost didn't recognise you."
The voice sounded familiar.
"Wait, you're that man who lives next to the park."
"Well don't put it like that. I have a name y'know. The name's Kat."
Mettablook laughed.
"All this time I was looking for you and you were here all along. I didn't know you were the lead singer of Blak Kat and the Ghosts."
Kat chuckled.
"Small world, huh? So what were you hoping to see me about?"
"You were so awesome on stage. I think you're a natural stage presence. It's a shame, I am not as easily noticeable as you are."
"I'm flattered but it took a lot of hard work and a load of luck."
"You think if I try I could be a good as you?"
"Definitely. I take it you was to become a rock star too?"
Mettablook sighed.
"Well I have plenty of talent but I was told I have no stage presence."
"Really? I think you have a lot of stage presence. but then again you don't often see ghosts lurking above the ground. Come along, you look positively famished. Come, you could rest at my apartment for a while and tell me more about these monsters underground."
As they headed to his apartment, Kat spotted Ghost sitting on the couch, watching the television.
"I made dinner. It's in the fridge," Ghost said without glancing in his direction.
Kat blushed and opened the fridge.
"Er thanks."
Kat headed to the kitchen and inside was a bowl. The smell of wild rice and baked fish was in the air.
Kat removed the lid off the bowl.
"Yes, this is the best. Thanks Ghost."
Mettablook glanced at his flushed cheeks.
"You must really like his cooking, huh?"
"Uh yeah."
"You love him, don't you?"
Kat's eyes widened.
"Not so loud. He'll hear you."
"You're so cute when you're flustered."
About a day later, Arial had returned with Papyrus from school.
"So how was school?" Sans asked.
"IT'S GREAT. UNDYNE TOLD ME TO THANK YOU FOR THE DUMMY. SHE'S BEEN PRACTISING HER ATTACKS WITH FLYING COLOURS."
"Dummy? What dummy?"
"THE ONE IN HER FRONT YARD."
Sans chuckled recalling the dummy from before.
"Must have been a boneiful experience."
"SO SANS, DO YOU LIKE ANYONE?"
Sans' face turned red.
"What prompted this?"
"YOU'RE ALWAYS VISITING YOUR FRIEND IN THE RUINS. UNDYNE THINK IT'S KIND OF STRANGE."
"Well, I don't see her with any boyfriend."
"I KNOW SHE THINKS YOUR BEHAVIOR IS RUBBING OFF ON ME SO SHE GAVE ME THIS DATING MANUAL."
She thinks that book is going to help you get a date?"
Sans scoffed.
"LOOK HERE," Papyrus showed Sans a page in the book.
"How to know someone is interested in you. A person will quickly avert their eyes to the right to avoid direct eye contact when there is an express interest. Watch for red cheeks and twitching. Who wrote this?"
"IT'S GOOD RIGHT?"
Sans avoided his brother's eyes and let out a strained chuckle.
"Of course."