One World, Many Souls

by Halloween Witch

With a quick use of Sans' magic, we had returned to our home on the surface. The lovely three-story home sat quietly among the trees under the moonlight. Sans always loved to teleport just outside the door and glance at it before walking in. He was a little less lazy since coming to the surface. So much to learn. So much to do. So much to love. SEQUEL TO "TWO WORLDS, TWO SOULS"

34. Appeal to the Masses

One World: Many Souls

Chapter 34: Appeal to the Masses

Papyrus' Point of View: Memory

"Gino, Michelle… I hope you do not take offense to what I have said."

"Yes, we're really sorry about this…"

"Oh, forget that!" Michelle was quick to silence our apologies with a beaming smile. "Perhaps we might be losing our sous chef and our business manager, but you two have dreams of your own! Besides, this could be quite the lovely business dealing for us as well."

"Really?" I was actually quite surprised, so I blinked at them. "How so?"

"Pap, seriously. Having you guys take that vacant lot down the street and open your own restaurant? That's going to help bring more people to the area. Not just tourists, but locals and those that work for House Terians. Another option for them to eat at, and even managed and run by friends and family of said household? That only will get people in the door to try it, and you, Papyrus, are an excellent chef. And Lilly, you'll run that building like a well-oiled machine. You always did good while working here." Gino laughed loudly while we sat in his office on a cold February day. "And I knew one day would come when it was time for you two to move on. I didn't think it would be so soon, but we can work together quite a bit here."

Lilly seemed to figure out quickly what it was that Gino and Michelle were getting at. "You mean to have us advertise for the menus that we're not focusing on and you'll do a similar set up for ours?"

Michelle's grin was blinding as we watched her. "That a girl! I knew you'd catch on quickly to our plans."

"We can help each other out quite a bit in each regard. We always have only served breakfast and lunch, never dinner." Gino began to comment on the differences between our business plan and their own. "That's where you're going to more specialize in. Only weekend days you plan to do breakfast, since you're a bit hesitant on how people around here will take it. And that's a very wise business decision."

"And, if for any reason we begin to overflow, we can suggest once lunch time happens for people to try their tastebuds over at your place. It's been a small while since there's been an Italian restaurant in this area, and especially with the rich dishes you plan to serve." Michelle paused for a moment to look at us more seriously. "Are you two prepared for your grand opening in two weeks? You've chosen a dangerous day to open on. The day of love can sometimes attract some crazy folks."

"Yes, we are." Lilly was quick to respond with a proper posture to her. "Staff have been hired, seasoned and new to give opportunities to those who want it. Food is to be here the day before launch, and our decorations are nearly complete. I'm incredibly excited to see how folks enjoy their setting with the themes we've used. Honestly we've gone all out with the money we've saved and what Angel and Sans lent us."

"Oh, I hope they love the private room we've set upstairs for them!" I couldn't help but cheer at the idea. Lilly was behind most of the décor and style, why I was in charge of the kitchen and food. Thankfully, Lilly was better at the aesthetic stuff then I was…

"I'm more then certain they will be, and with you stealing my baker I know you'll be a smashing hit." Gino laughed before turning to Regina who had been silent most of the time, but held a bright smile on her face. "What do you say, old friend? Think I need to visit this place?"

"It'll knock your chef hat off, Gino." Regina grinned before turning to her old station and grinning. "But you got your replacement who's really proved that he's the shit. But don't you dare let my boy do anything stupid. Keep Otto on his toes."

Gino rolled his eyes at her. "Like I'd ever let him or you do that. Better watch her carefully you two, she might try to get away with something."

"And like you didn't?" Michelle gave her husband such an evil glare that he quickly raised his hands in defense.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"But we're incredibly honored for the opportunity you gave us here, and we're beyond excited to see how your skills you've show us will grow." Lilly was quick to hold out a hand for them to shake. "Thank you for the last two years. They've meant a lot to us."

"Oh yes! Truly! Thank you both!"

"Oh, don't be too sappy." Michelle rolled her eyes, but shook her hand and mine anyway. "You two still better show up when you can and show us that little bugger of yours. He's going to be what, five in November?"

"That he will be!" I couldn't resist the slightest of sobbing on my end. "Oh, my son will start school soon! I'm not ready for him to grow up!"

I could hear Lilly sigh beside me. "Oh Papy…"

"Come on you two, we better get going." Regina lifted herself from the counter in the kitchen to head to the exit. "Too many things are still needing to be done before Valentine's Day."

"R-right!" I jumped, eager to move just as my girlfriend had stood with much more poise than I had.

She took my hand in her own. "It's all going to be alright, okay Papy?"

I took a moment to get my wits about me and breath. I nodded and showed her a bright grin. "Of course, Lilly. You're entirely right! We have this!"

Present:

"Alright! Blue team! I need more crystals over here!"

"Coming ma'am!"

"Red team! Make sure your flowers are properly prepared! We go live in twenty minutes!"

"Finishing last bouquets now, ma'am!"

"Yellow team! I see two tables without silverware!"

"Yes ma'am! It will be handled!"

"Purple team! Make sure those cloths have no crinkles in them!"

"Smoothing them out, ma'am!"

"White team! Everything looks good! Help the others!"

"You got it, Ma'am!"

Lilly worked like a drill sergeant as wait staff were working diligently to prepare our outer areas for when our first customers arrived. We had decided that opening for dinner only would be a good testament to see how we handled large crowds, while also allowing Gino and his restaurant to have the customers during the morning. He was also hyping up customers to come to our place for the last month or so.

We honestly were sold out for the night.

I'd already checked in on the kitchen staff as they prepared for the evening. We'd be cooking for many hours and had to have everything prepared and ready to go. Fresh meats, fish, vegetables, deserts. Everyone was hard at work getting ready for the opening.

I honestly couldn't have ever dreamed of a more lovely restaurant. We decided to name it Underground Italiano. I wanted to show off where I'd come from as well as what I'd learned from the world above. A merging of two cultures that can so cohesively fit together, as they have for the last near six years.

We had five different rooms where people could dine. As Lilly had called out earlier, they were color coded. Purple was for the ruins where monsters first fled to when they were first imprisoned, also known as 'Home'. Asgore's grandfather had not truly named them well… but it was enough for the monsters of the time. We hired in local artists to be brought down into the underground with myself and Lilly to be shown each location and for them to recapture that among the walls our guests sat inside of. Lilacs were used as the flowers for each table to enhance of the color and provide a lovely atmosphere. An ancient city was depicted in hues of the room's name color and history pieces were scattered throughout if a person truly wanted to read it.

The second room, white, was for Snowdin, my birth home. Cast in a white landscape with trees coated in crystals, and the winter festival going on in the background as a setting, I couldn't believe how well it turned out. To go with the theme, Lilly had suggested we'd use snowdrop flowers. I quite liked the look of them in the center of our tables.

Next was the blue room, standing for Waterfall. Its town square as well as the research centers, waterfalls, echo flowers… all were placed upon the walls. Morning glories had been the suggested flower of choice that grew up a trellis in the middle of the table. I did adore that we could reuse those flowers so long as we cared for them well.

Fourth was Hotland. Depictions of the rocky landscape with lava flowing all around and a warm glow? I was actually quite surprised how many people were taken with it. And of course, that was the room we decided that red roses would be a lovely fit among all the earth like textures and colors.

Finally, there was the yellow room, based off of the capital which was originally known as 'New Home'. Again… Asgore's grandfather was not the best with names. But I would say that Asgore and his family quite inspired that room. The capitol, the castle, and even Asgore's lovely garden with his yellow flowers he always grew were depicted on the walls. And I couldn't be happier that the king was kind enough to lend me some flowers from his personal garden for special events!

And in each room, there was similarly colored crystals that were harvested from the underground. We wished to give those of the surface a true look into where we lived while bringing in elegant elements of which they were used to on the surface. We had posted pictures on our website to get people excited for our grand opening and we were not disappointed. Many people talked up what we had done and were eager to experience it!

And for special groups, we had smaller rooms on the second floor for parties that also were color coated and decorated similarly to their larger counterpart's downstairs. All rooms were reserved for the night. It would be one of the busiest nights of my life.

"Lilly!" My girlfriend and partner turned to me at my call. I hurried up on long lets to reach her. "How is the front end coming? Kitchen staff is prepped and ready to go."

"Great Papy! And we're just touching up lose ends!" Lilly glanced away for just a second as a waitress passed by her. "Woah, woah, woah, hold on a second Sue!"

The waitress paused nervously as Lilly hurried to approach her and retie the lovely colored ribbon around her neck that had come lose. Each wait staff member wore all black, but a ribbon or tie were color coated to their section so guests knew who to ask for any assistance.

"Perfect! That looks much better!" The younger girl sighed as Lilly stepped back. "Go make sure that everyone else is looking as proper as they can be for the night! We have ten minutes! There's a large line already at the door!"

"Yes ma'am!"

The girl rushed off and Lilly turned to me. "Papy, can you check on the rooms upstairs?"

"Of course! Be right back!"

I hurried up the stairs we had behind the host desk that led to our party rooms on the second floor. It was easy to see all of them from a distance and just peak my skull in to see how they were coming along. All looked so lovely, and it was good that they were ready to go.

"Thank you to whoever did the upstairs! It looks lovely!"

"Yes, sir!"

Hurrying back downstairs, Lilly was waiting at the front with two other hosts that were ready to handle the masses that came in shortly.

"Alright everyone! Get into positions! We're opening the doors in five! Four! Three! Two! One!"

Later That Evening:

"Papyrus? Sir? Are you there?"

I almost didn't register my name being called while slaving away in the kitchen. It had been a busy night, but it seemed our first tidal wave of people had finally calmed down. Orders were slowing and my group in the kitchen seemed to be enjoying the moments they had to breath.

Oh it was a wonderful night! I hoped all of the days I worked there would be just as worth wild!

"Yes! In the back here!"

"Sir!" A young woman of our wait staff approached me. Sadly, I was still getting used to their names. I focused more on the kitchen staff then those of the wait one and I did feel slightly terrible. But outside of the kitchen was Lilly's domain, I trusted her to keep it under control while I handled my side.

I turned to her while quickly setting back dishes as they were supposed to go before our next rush of orders. "How can I help?"

"Miss Lilly is calling for you at the front and asked that I grab you, if you can step away?"

"Certainly! Thank you, miss!" I turned to my second in command and gave her a bright smile. "Reggie! I counting on you while I'm gone!"

"You got it, Boss!" My old friend grinned as she was preparing a few final touches on some desserts for tables. "Get your ass out there!"

I hurried at her comment and made my way back out to where the front area was. Still was there a gathering of people our front who were hoping for a break in the reservations or for their own reservation to open up. Lilly was managing everything else and everyone looked to be doing so well! I could see the tips that our ladies and gents earned were very large! That made me feel so well inside knowing that they worked so well to earn what they had besides what I was offering them.

Any restaurant needed a fanatic wait staff that customers could trust. That brought them back for more, and they provided better tips.

"Papy!" Lilly called me over the second she saw me. "Perfect timing! Our first three parties have been settled into rooms white, yellow and blue upstairs and they're all requesting you for a few minutes since we have some down time right now. Do you have some time to spare?"

Knowing already who it was in each room, I could hardly hold back a giddy squeal and rushed away from my partner.

The blue room was closest to me once I traveled up the stairs. Sitting inside was a single small table that had been set up for a romantic setting of a party of two. Two dear friends of mine sat there, looking at each other in love while I couldn't hold back my cries of glee.

"Undyne! Alphys! You two came!"

"Yo! Pap!" Undyne was quick to stand up from the table and give me a noggie the second I got close.

"Ouch! Don't noggie the cook!"

"Awe come on! I never get to do it anymore!" My dear friend laughed while she let me go and stepped back. "Holy crap, Pap… you look like the real deal! And it's so friggin popular here! Al and I almost weren't able to get in if it wasn't for Lilly switching a few things up for us!"

"Oh friends… it's so good to have you here on this special night!" I took a moment then to give a brief hug to Alphys before standing back up before them. "Has the wait staff taken care of you already? I believe… it was Manuel who was taking care of the party rooms…"

"O-oh yes! H-he's been great!" Alphys quickly chimed up with a bright smile. "H-he's been s-so good to us… w-walked us through a-all your options, a-and gave a-a few s-suggestions t-that would be good f-for me."

"Oh?" I blinked my eye lights at her. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh, hell yeah, buddy!" Undyne grinned before looking at her wife. "Yaw wanna tell him?"

"S-sure!" Alphys certainly was much braver in recent years compared to being in the underground. Undyne gave her much bravery, while Alphys seemed to control my friend's energy levels down to a more reasonable level. But that night, she was beaming. "A-as much as I-I would h-have loved to try t-the new w-wine you h-have for s-sale, U-Undyne and I-I just f-found out… I-I'm pregnant a-again."

"Again? Oh congratulations! Both of you!" I paused for only a moment when a thought hit me. "But… I apologize, but did you not say that Zahkar and Maxim were quite a lot for you two and you planned to be done with having children?"

"Yeah… I got the procedure done and what not…" Undyne laughed before looking to her wife. "But! Looks like they didn't do it right! So one more happened. I'm going back to get fixed up next month. Gotta get this done before the baby is born."

"I-its our little miracle…." Alphys smiled as she rubbed where her abdomen was where her spark would grow. "W-we already have t-two amazing l-little boys… a-and we don't c-care what w-we have… b-but w-we're hoping for a-a girl t-this time…"

"Oh, that would be lovely! Do you know your due date yet?"

"Hell yeah! Gonna be a summer baby!" Undyne cheered before drinking her entire glass of ice water in one go, ice included. "July twenty-five!"

"Oh, I hope you two get the girl you're hoping for!" Smiling at them, I stepped back a bit. "You two enjoy your evening. My apologies, but I have a few others to check on before getting back to the kitchen."

"Yeah, do what ya gotta Pap. Good luck tonight!"

"Y-yeah! Good l-luck!"

"Of course! And if you two fancy any of our desserts tonight, tell Manuel that those are on me! Enjoy!"

"Don't treat us too good you workaholic sac of bones!"

But Undyne and Alphys were laughing as I left the room. I could see Manuel diving out of the next room I planned to go to with orders written on his pad. He gave me a serious nod. I hope he didn't have too much of a heart attack when he saw who was in each room…

"Asgore! Toriel! Asriel!" I passed when I saw a fourth person with them. "Sister!?"

"Papy!" Frisk flew from her chair to jump on me for a serious hug. I could see all of them seated around their lovely table in the yellow party room with a few appetizers already on the table for them to share.

"Good evening to you, Papyrus!" The king bowed his head with a soft, friendly smile. "We very much appreciate the invitation to your restaurant along with this private room for our meal. Thank you again."

"Oh, not at all your majesties!" I turned more to my sister who stood still holding me. "But Frisk! I thought you would be with Angel and Sans?"

"Nah! They need a night to themselves!" My younger sister pulled back before joining her friends at the table. "Besides! They all invited me when I turned down going with Angel and Sans. They'd been looking after four little ones for so long; they deserve a night with good food and just each other and bad jokes."

"Oh god…" I was already dreading walking into the last room with that in mind.

"Oh Papyrus, this dish is absolutely lovely!" Toriel eagerly took a toasted piece of bread in her hands that held rich vegetables chopped finely and mounded on top with herbs and spices. "This is called… Bruschetta? It's simply lovely!"

"Why thank you! While a common appetizer, we have many local farms in the area we have bought our vegetables from for excellent flavor. I'm so glad you enjoy!"

"I'm more of a fan of these… truffles, I believe they are?" Asgore held up what looked like a ball with nuts on the outside of it. But you could smell the cheese, it was potent in that dish.

"Yes, those would be our Tuscan Truffles! They've been quite popular tonight with at least three types of cheese being used in their creation! Decorated with nuts to enhance the flavor and visual aspect."

"Nice! I can't wait for our dinner to come out!" Frisk eagerly reached for another bite of what Toriel and Asgore were having. She also grinned to her friend at the table and he grinned back at her.

"Well, it was lovely to see you all. I have one more stop to make before I head back to the kitchen. Thank you again so much for coming!"

"Good luck tonight, Pap!"

The kind words of my friends left me feeling wonderful as I left their room. Still beaming with positivity, I hurried over to the final room.

The white party room was set up with glittering crystals that reminded someone of the snow while a single table sat in the middle. The lovely flowers sat in a large bouquet where Angel and Sans seemed to be enjoying some pleasant conversations between one another, and perhaps a pun or two. The two of them looked so enamored with each other I almost didn't wish to disturb them.

Though with a gentle knock to the door, they both glanced to me with their hands still together.

"Papy!" Angel was the first to call for me while Sans saluted me.

"Sup Bro? Thanks for the fancy digs."

"Brother, Sister, it's so amazing to see you here on our opening night!" Walking over to them, I gave each a hug in my appreciation. "I can not thank you enough for what you've done! With your help I was able to save most of the money I needed in the last couple of years to build this place! And don't you dare be thinking that I won't pay back the loan you lent me!"

"Of course not, Papy. This is different than the car we bought you years ago." Angel took a sip of the lovely wine we had this evening. A glorious sample that was imported from the Hanora region just for this night alone. It was also one of the few times my sister had a chance to drink in-between taking care of her children. Her newest twins were almost two years old. The older ones would be five in the fall, the same as Impact.

"Yeah Pap, take some time an' make sure ya business does well before worryin' about givin' the money back ta us." Sans noted from his seat. Casually he leaned his skull into his hand that rested against the table. "Gotta make sure that ya can pay yer employees and taxes, next batch of food 'n shit. Lilly knows that stuff best. She'll help ya do it."

"And then, that's when you can pay us back, in pieces." Angel continued from where she sat. "And while we also enjoy the fact that you've covering our bills here, we don't plan on running you out of your new store."

"I understand Angel." My sister was always so considerate of me. "Once we know the company is doing well, perhaps next month or so we'll see about getting your that first payment."

Her smile seemed to ease a bit more at that. "And that is more than fair."

"Perfect! Well, I need to return to the kitchen. Please enjoy yourselves and if anything comes up, please let me or Lilly know."

"Of course, Papyrus. Good luck and good night if we don't see you again."

"Thank you, Sister! Brother!"

With that I left their room just as I saw another party be brought up into the red room for the evening. Passing by them and giving a wave, I hurried back to my station to prepare for the next wave that would soon settle in. I had a lot to prove that night. It had been near nine years since I'd first learned to cook from Angel. Almost a decade had passed and I had so much to show for it. My skills were ready, this was my dream.

I would prove from this night onwards that I made the right choice.

Witch's Note:

Here we go! Oh now we see such a change! Look at this everyone! Papyrus now owns his own shop with the help of the family as well as what he and Lilly have saved up! Isn't that great?! And to see such a turn out and to see the kind of restaurant they set up based on the underground, Papyrus' once home. I can't wait to hear what you all have to say about the different sections of the restaurant and the private rooms above.

Anyway! Now let's move over to reviews!

Thechaosmaster: Yes! Isn't it great to see the two of them together? I've been wanting this forever! It was a plan since the beginning of the story, but waiting so long was kinda a killer...

But yes, it will be a slow burn for them, but with the pace of this story being much faster than the other one, it might feel a bit faster to us. But we'll have to see how that goes, still a lot of growth for the two of them to have.

And hopefully everything is good with Mystic Boy. I saw this week's review for him which I'll respond to later, but I didn't see last weeks. I figured he just needed a break? Is there an issue Chaos?

Now you go have fun with your new toy and get to it! Cecilia needs to be 'fixed'! XD

Shadow8Phantom: Yes! Oh it's so exciting to hear there's another fan of his work! I watch/listen to him daily Shadow! Gives me a lot of horrific knowledge about the world and people at times... but it's entertaining too. Can't believe half the stuff that happens at times.

But we do have a great chapter with nice things going on with villains hidden in the background. So that kinda sucks... but, we'll just have to see what happens. Who knows?

Not A Shady Guy: Really Shady? This chapter could be in the top ten? Damn... you're going to have to give me a list at some point of your current top chapters are. I think boy Mystic Girl and I would be interested to see that! Honest! We would!

Because seeing a cute conversation between the sisters, seeing the toddler being such a chaotic handful, and then seeing the most adorable couple get together? I'm sorry, but it's amazing. I loved writing it all that time ago and I wanna do more! Plus some of the other chapters. Like the aggressive ones. Because the bad guys do have stuff to do too... eventually...

MysticBoywastaken: I'm glad you're enjoying the chapters, Mystic Boy! Called it? Do you mean Asriel and Frisk? They are a cute couple aren't they?!

Okay! Here we go! Another chapter done and off to the races for the next one!

Love you all and see you next week!

Halloween Witch and Mystic Girl