A small snip for the upcoming chapter. I am going through (hopefully final) rewriting, and I got to a memory scene. Since it doesn't give any spoilers, I thought I'd share it a bit early.
Feel free to ignore this if you prefer to wait until the chapter is posted.
The scene may go through some editing between this and final version.
Sans didn't know what to think about the whole situation. The so-called World of the Gods was weird. The air felt charged with magic, so plentiful it permeated the air, and the wind sometimes swept through vertically, as if it was passing through the ground. Sans had not seen far beyond the Garden, preferring to stick close to the light footholds in the unfamiliar terrain, but from what he could spot through the bulky trees was mesmerizing. Tall whisps of cloud-like fog hugged the edges of the cliffs that bordered the Garden, and the sound of wind brushing against the jagged rocks, which formed a protective barrier between the Garden and the fog, tended to whistle.
Life stayed true to her word and was as accommodating as she could be in light of the circumstances. She had been nothing but courteous ever since Sans, quite literally, popped up out of nowhere, and was eager to help him feel at homeโย though Sans was not oblivious to the awkwardness that his presence was causing. He did his best to stay out of the way, but Life was warm and reassuring, and Sans found his way often to her side when he wandered aimlessly.
The issue was the so-called God of Death.
"if you don't mind me askin'," Sans wondered aloud, watching Life as she swept through the glade, her dress trailing elegantly behind her. "why'd you pick those nicknames?"
Life paused in her path and smiled at him. "It was Sa- Death's idea," she gave in way of explanation. "After all, it is a representation of who we are."
"well, sure. but that's like nicknaming a painter 'mr. painter.' or something," he reworded.
Life knelt down, her paw hovering over a patch of flowers that were a bit smaller than the rest. "Perhaps from your perspective, it may seem that way," she assented. "But we have gone by many names over our lives." She glanced at him, smiling warmly. "We do not mind going by another while you stay with us."
Sans wondered if her companion held the same sentiment.
As Life turned back to her work, Sans glanced into the trees and squinted, barely able to make out the wisp of shadows that signaled the ends of Death's cloak.
[* DEATH ERR ATK 999 DEF]
"i mean, i don't really know what's beyond the forest, but i canโ" Sans began to offer, though the words had barely left his mouth when Life leaped up and turned to him with shocking ferocity. Sans tried to step back to give her space, but Life laid her paws on his shoulders, halting him.
"Absolutely not!" she demanded, slightly frantic. Sans refused to place the emotion playing behind Life's eyes, and he watched her take a deep breath as she composed herself. Closing her eyes for a moment, she shook her head somberly. "The World of the Gods is not meant for mortals.ย Noโ you are safest here." She muttered the last part, mostly to herself, as her eyes grew distant.
Sans didn't say anything for a few seconds before quietly sighing, "okay." Life's shoulders eased, and the kind expression returned to her face as she stepped to the side, allowing Sans to stand beside her.
"Would you like to watch me work?" she offered.
She really was just like Toriel.
Death glared daggers into his back.
