There was a girl who came into the bar every Friday evening after 6pm. She always brought a different book, and sat in the corner away from people. She ordered something different every time, and never really interacted with anyone. She was a bookworm through and through, and you kind of liked her. She had a sweet and sensitive soul. You watched as she cried silently and flipped the page of her novel, something sad must have happened. She would laugh out loud at funny scenes too, which you found endearing.
With a certain skeleton in mind, you wondered if she was single.
Sans was true to his word, and didn't go for romantic relationships with any of his bar flings, but maybe this girl would be different. You didn't want to throw her to the wolves so to speak, have him break her heart if things went south.
Maybe you could get them on a blind date.
First though, you had to talk to her.
"Hey," you begin, with a drink in hand.
"Hello. Can I help you?" She asks, straight to the point.
"I have a friend I think you'd like, how about a blind date?"
"I need some more information before I make a decision," she haggles.
"He's really funny, genius smart, and he's really nice to talk to. Listens really good. Plus he really loves his family, very loyal," you list. "He's also a monster."
"I don't date monsters," she says with disinterest, turning her gaze back to her book. Well there goes that.
"Oh," is all you reply, taking the untouched drink with you back to the bar. You tsk and drink it, it's a damn fine drink as always, and you weren't just saying that because you were dating the bartender…
"...Again?" Grillby asks.
"Yeaaaah," you say, knowing he means a failed attempt at finding Sans a good date.
"...Hmm." He hums judgmentally at you, and you know for a fact he's saying this is a sign you should stop. But no! You should persevere!
Grillby must see the fire in your eyes, because he just sighs and walks away.
Maybe you should call up Toni, would she move to Ebott if you bribed her?
One way to find out.
You go out back and use your cellphone.
"Hey, Toni?" You ask when she picks up.
"Who's this?"
"You fuckin' know who you asshole," You josh.
"Oh, it's you. What do you need this time?" She cajoles.
"What, I can't call you just to hang out?"
"I live across the country and you haven't called me in seven months. What do you want?"
"I may have this guy friend I'm trying to find a datemate for."
"What, and you think he'll just do long distance for fun?" She snarks.
"Dude can teleport, who knows if that'll be a problem," you attempt to persuade.
"Wait, is this a monster?" She asks suddenly, and you internally scream.
"Yeeeeees?"
"What kind of monster?" Toni inquires carefully.
"A skeleton. But he's very funny and nice and he's very respectful. And you should see his tongue," you tack on for a little sprinkle on top.
"He's got a tongue." She said incredulously.
"Among other things," you say suggestively. "That's how magic works. Plus monsters can do all sorts of fun shit with their magic and with souls."
There's a beat of silence.
"...I'll visit. For a weekend," Toni says with finality. You pump your fist.
"You won't regret it," you say in a sing-song voice, and you say your goodbyes.
Toni's going to wreck Sans for any other woman, you know it for sure. She was a spitfire that had everything going for her. She was funny, smart, pretty, and would drop kick you if you fucked with her or anyone she loves.
You go back into the bar and find Doggo waiting to talk to you.
"Is it time to make that cake?" You ask him, and he wags his tail at you. He nods excitedly.
"Can you have it by the Saturday after Gyftmas?" He asks politely.
"Absolutely."
Gyftmas came quicker than you expected, but it wasn't a surprise with how well prepared you are.
You and Grillby sat by the fire with your small Gyftmas tree. That was one of the traditions that changed thanks to the melting pot. Instead of one big tree, everyone had their own tree and family presents while the children got gifts under Asgore's tree from Santa.
You hand him a small orange box with a bow on it, which he opens carefully to reveal two tickets.
"So, I got us tickets to the local Burn that's happening this spring! It's a camping one, so we go and camp and look at art and then you watch as they burn a thing at the end." You explain nervously. You didn't know if he'd like such a present but you thought you'd give it a try.
"...like a couple's vacation," he says happily, and you sigh with relief. He hands you a small white box. You open it to reveal a bracelet with polished obsidian square beads.
"Wow," you say appreciatively as you take it out of the box and attempt to put it on one handed. Grillby takes your hand and helps you gently, and your heart swells at the small loving gesture.
"...It was my mother's," he says softly. You can't help but hug him, you're so touched.
"I have one more gift for you," you bring out the bag that has his apron in it. You embroidered his name and flames all around it, and you hope he likes it.
He takes out the apron and runs his hands across the stitching.
"...You embroidered this?" He asks.
"Yeah, whenever you went to prep the kitchen I worked on it here," you can't help the giddy smile on your lips.
"...I haven't been given anything handmade since the war," he holds it to his chest.
"I figure you can wear it in the kitchen to keep your outfit clean," you offer, and he nods. He pulls you in for a sweet kiss.
He holds out one more box. You open it to show a necklace that has two hearts hooked together, one upright and one facing downward. One was solid silver, the other had a silver outline with an orange citrine inside. You and him.
"I love it," you say with reverence. You put it on immediately. These gifts solidify a feeling of importance for you. You feel permanent. Like Grillby planned to spend forever with you.
"...There's one more thing." You wait patiently for him to continue. "...I was thinking it was time to tether our souls together," he says carefully, like he's expecting you to refuse. You smile at him and nod.
"You'll have to guide me through the how of it," you say apologetically, but he just puts a hand on your shoulder and draws you in for a simple kiss that turns warmer before he draws back.
"...Be careful to not let them merge. Hold tight," he explains, "...we'll take yours out first so you can hold it right."
Your orange soul is brought out, and you get a grip on it gently. Grillby moves your hands to a different, more secure position before he nods, satisfied.
He brings his hand to his chest and pulls out his own soul. You can feel the calling of your souls and the pull of yours towards his. You see him resisting his own pull as he struggles to grip it, but he does.
"...Let them touch, but don't press hard," he instructs.
"Okay," you say softly, bringing your soul to the middle between you. It felt like crossing no man's land, like at any moment you'd be ambushed. But you tamped that feeling down, allowing yourself to be vulnerable for Grillby. He'd never let you get hurt. He's proven that time and time again.
He brings his soul to yours, and tenderly allows contact. Your souls touch, and suddenly memories flash in your mind. Not your memories, Grillby's. Childhood memories.
Eating wisps of spanish moss like cotton candy. Avoiding his little brother like the plague. Playing with human friends. Watching as they played in lakes and rain, unable to join. Mother comforting him. School. A model student, honorable, kind, and hardworking. The way his friends got girlfriends but he didn't feel like any of the girls really understood him. Except one. His first love. Thinking she was his soulmate. She was another fire elemental, and she burned so hot and fast that he couldn't help but be caught in her inferno. But so was his brother…And some things he isn't meant to have. Heartbreak.
Picking himself up by his bootstraps and doubling down on work. Graduating top of his class with honors. Being handpicked by King Asgore to be a Jr. Royal Guard. Moving to the Capitol. Saying goodbye to his family, to his home. Not being sad about it.
Training harder than any other cadet. Being recognized by Gerson and recommended to work alongside him as Asgore's personal guard.
When everything turned sour. The trade taxes going higher, the businesses burning, the monsters being driven out of human borders. The rising tensions. The last letters from his human friends.
The war.
Being appointed as a General. The responsibility, the hardship. Stains of offensive magic saturating his senses. Fire the only comfort. The children screaming as he tried to protect them and failed. Fighting his human friends. Watching them kill his monster friends. Running. Waking up to an ambush. His brother losing his legs. His soldiers being massacred by human forces. The dust. The dust everywhere. Surrender.
Being forced into the damp dark hell hole by what were once his friends. A humble sort of peace. It turning into monotony. Monotony, monotony, monotony. A human passing through peaking his curiosity. The barrier falling. Freedom. A new chance at life.
Tension raising. History repeating. War brewing. This time, there would be no mountain to be forced under, humans lost their magic. The only solution was permanent.
You.
Your laugh, your smile, your blush. Everything about you. How you understood him. How he didn't need to speak but he wanted to.
It was funny, how you wanted to walk him home at night. But he couldn't see the issue with your reasoning, so he allowed it. His regret. The blood. The stab wounds taking so long to knit back together despite his best healing liquor. His anger.
The first time you two are together intimately. The beginnings of his deep love for you. How you wake up from nightmares just like him. How you two dance when you're alone and hold each other. Morning kisses and breakfasts. Watching movies and laughing while trying to catch popcorn in your mouths. Picnics in the park.
All the pranks you pull and the happiness you bring, breaking his monotony that he has found comfort in, even on the surface.
Love.
The memories fade, and you're left with a smile. You blink your eyes open and draw your soul back towards you when you notice Grillby is doing the same. A light orange tether continues to flow between your souls.
The tethering was completed, and you could feel how pleased Grillby was through the bond. It made you smile. You were monster married!
You felt complete.
Once your souls were put away, Grillby pounced. He nibbled kisses along your neck and sucked a mark near your collarbone. You supposed he saw the same things as you did, just with you instead of him. You had very similar lives and regrets.
You're drawn back to reality by a pain in your hips.
"You're insatiable. You're making me ache," you laugh, and Grillby pulls back.
"...Say the word," he kisses down your arm, leaving a tingling trail, "...and I'll stop."
"Oh no, I didn't say stop."
And so he didn't.
Today was the day you made the cake for Honey and Doggo's human engagement party. Was it really a party if someone didn't know they were getting engaged? Sure. Why not. You had party poppers, that made it a party.
There was Doggo! And Honey! You were so excited you had to keep yourself from bouncing. You used your military bearing to school your features.
You gave out party poppers to the monster bar patrons earlier in the night, with the instructions: "you'll know when to use them."
They sit and order and you watch them out of the corner of your eye for about half an hour before Doggo gets down on one knee. Honey gasps out loud and everyone turns their attention to the couple.
"Honey, you've made me the happiest dog monster in the world. I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?" He says, presenting the ring in the open box for Honey to inspect.
Honey began nodding vigorously.
"Yes yes yes yes yes!" She agrees, getting down on the ground and hugging Doggo like her life depended on it.
"Woo!" You cheer, getting your party popper out and using it. The other guests got the hint and brought theirs out to do the same, and soon the whole bar was covered in cheers and confetti.
Unfortunately, you weren't aware of where you were aiming. You got a monster right in the face with your popper.
"You're lucky you're Grillby's or I'd dust ya," the little creature says menacingly. Or at least tries to. It was an accident, and surely he sees that, so you shrug it off.
"Sure you would buddy. Look, I'm sorry about that," you laugh. The monster squares up and pulls your soul from your body. Oh boy, you were going to deck this dude. You get ready to dodge bullets.
Before you could, you hear Grillby return from the back. It took him one moment to process your soul being drawn into an encounter before he was vaulting over the bar.
"...Jerry," Grillby seethed. His flames were high and bright, his voice was deep and menacing. You've never seen him that angry at anyone before. It was super hot. Jerry doesn't launch a single attack, he gulps and puts his hands up. Out the door he goes, without ordering a single thing.
"Nobody likes Jerry," Drunk Bunny comforts.
You certainly didn't.
Either way, you bring out the cake.