THE LAST
1.Drink: Starbucks' matcha & espresso fusion, iced
2.Phone call: this travel agency, cause I cancelled
3.Text message: My bff, bemoaning how our fave Korean hole-in-the-wall changed owners. They made the best haemul pajeon, so IDK where to get my fix now.
4.Song you listened to: "Hologram" Nico Touches the Walls
5.Time you cried: Pretty recent cause I'm soft.
6.Dated someone twice: Nah.
7. Been Cheated on: Nope.
8.Kissed someone and regretted it: Let's forget it.
9.Lost someone special: Yeah.
10.Been depressed: I didn't get a diagnosis, but when my chronic condition kicked in a couple of years back, I went into an incredibly dark place.
11.Gotten drunk and thrown up: A few years ago--I just got out of college and started working so there were times when I went crazy.
LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: cherry blossom pink (pink in general), Tiffany blue, white
IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU…
15.Made new friends: I met new people. I have a hard time calling people "friend" though, since I never know if they want to be.
16.Fallen out of love: No.
17.Laughed until you cried: Yup, I mean, I don't even need anyone to make me laugh, I can do this to myself just finding something funny, LOL.
18.Found out someone was talking about you: This is something that has been happening for a couple of years: some jerk at work likes to talk crap about me and my work friends cause we won't hang out with him (because he's a jerk), so he wants to make everyone hate us. I'm just surprised that he's still at it.
19.Met someone who changed you: Nope.
20.Found out who your true friends are: I've known them for a long while now.
21.Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Yeah.
GENERAL…
22.How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: Everyone. I don't add random people.
23.Do you have any pets: Nope.
24.Do you want to change your name: No, it's a pretty name.
25.What did you do for your last birthday: I ate a lot of pizza and chicken with my little brother.
26.What time did you wake up: 9:00 AM
27.What were you doing at midnight last night: Fanfic.
28.Name something you cannot wait for: I've got a big trip later in the year.
29.When was the last time you saw your mother: Yesterday.
30.What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: Money enough that I can just fangirl and live in good health for the rest of my life, probably.
31.What are you listening to right now: "Cypher 4" BTS (Trying to get in a fighting mood for a meeting)
32.Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yes. And it's a funny story but the context would be lost.
33.Something that is getting on your nerves: My project manager and I. Have. Um. Communication Issues.
34.Most visited website: Probably Tumblr, TBH. I don't really have much time for the net lately.
35.Elementary: An all girls' school.
36.High School: A very academically-inclined boarding school.
37.College: Actually the best if not the coolest uni in this area.
38.Hair color: Black
39.Long or short hair: Long
40.Do you have a crush on someone: My interest isn't easily caught, so nope.
41.What do you like about yourself: My face, LOL. I'm pretty creative. My adaptability. My height isn't ideal, but I've learned to love it.
42.Piercings: Ears, one each.
43.Blood type: Confidential.
44.Nickname: Snow White, nerd, princess, anime girl, Kohana (because it's the Internet and I don't really wanna use my real name)
45.Relationship status: Single
46.Zodiac sign: Aquarius
47.Pronouns: She/her
48.Favorite tv show: If not my myriad anime faves, then Game of Thrones probably, but I'm not really big on TV shows.
49.Tattoos: Nope.
50.Right or left hand: Right
FIRST…
51.Surgery: Nope.
52.Piercing: Ears.
54.Sport: Football. The soccer one. I'm always striker cause I run ninja FAST.
55.Vacation: I was actually brought to a lot of trips as a kid, to the point that I lowkey hated it. I've got pictures of toddler me at beaches and mountain cottages, so I'm not really sure what was my first trip.
56.Pair of trainers: IDK, I don't really like them
MORE GENERAL…
57.Eating: soba with chicken
58.Drinking: I'm still at that matcha & espresso (it's a venti)
60.I’m about to: Go to a (useless) work meeting.
61.Waiting for: the weekend
62.Want: to be able to sleep well
63.Get married: If I meet someone I actually want to get married to, sure.
64.Career: Happiness.
WHICH IS BETTER…
65.Hugs or kisses: Both
66.Lips or eyes: Eyes
67.Shorter or taller: Taller. I'm 4'11. Please. ToT
68.Older or younger: No preference
70.Nice arms or nice stomach: Arms
71.Sensitive or loud: Sensitive, loud people tire me
72.Hook up or relationship: Relationship
73.Troublemaker or hesitant: Both. Especially with my bff friend group--I'm usually THE troublemaker, but when mom friend is away (or is in a crazy mood), I've got to step in and be the responsible one.
HAVE YOU EVER…
74.Kissed a stranger?: It has happened.
75.Drank hard liquor? : Yes.
76.Lost glasses contact/lenses? : Contacts, ugh.
77.Turned someone down?: Yes.
78.Sex on first date?: Nope.
79.Broken someone’s heart?: Yes, apparently.
80.Had your heart broken?: Yes.
81.Been arrested?: Nope.
82.Cried when someone died?: Yes.
83.Fallen for a friend?: No.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN…
84.Yourself?: Yes.
85.Miracles?: Tentatively.
86.Love at first sight?: Yes.
87.Santa Claus?: He does a poor job of wealth redistribution.
88.Kiss on the first date?: Yes.
89.Angels?: Sure.
OTHER….
90.Current best friend’s name: My lovely bff isn't on Tumblr.
91.Eye color: Dark brown, practically black.
92. Favorite movie: Stardust
I know I’m late to these things so this has probably been done, but just in case: @seventeen-requests @suga-daddy-69 @delicxious @merlionmen @animeotakupooh @hobiminkooksprincess1990 and anyone else who wants to do this. (This Tumblr is pretty new, so I don’t really have a lot to tag.)
I’m just off to the worst start as far as speed goes, huh? I’m really sorry that this took me so long. Fluffy domestic stuff is often really difficult for me to write, and that combined with a creative slump and busy schedule with the local community theater led to this taking waaaay too long for me to finish. It’s still not entirely where I want it to be but I’ve made people wait (more than) long enough. I’ve not had the mental energy to do much more than stare blankly for way too long, but that’s finally getting better and I’m getting my spark back. Yay.
Just wanted to say really quick, thank you soooo much to everyone who read and enjoyed part 1! I could not believe the response, wow~. Almost more notes than I’ve ever gotten on anything. o.o! I’ll do my best to not be so horridly slow again (which should be easier considering how much things are going to ramp up in the next few chapters).
To Last the Night
Sequel to Whispers in the Dark
Pairings: None
Characters: Sans, Papyrus, Grillby, W. D. Gaster
Warnings: puppy playtime, fluff and mystery
Notes: Baby Blasters AU belongs to the wonderful @spacegate, I just love writing awful angst for it.
Read on AO3 here (chapters go up on tumblr first)
Chapter 2
Grillby awoke to a twinge of painful stiffness in his back. He should have expected as much with the somewhat cramped, awkward position he'd slept in. The bed nest was just right for the little skeletons, but for a tall monster like him it left much to be desired. Waking up with the boys though, knowing they were safe and warm and that they trusted him enough to take comfort in his presence, made it all worth it. He was an early riser by nature, so he expected to find the pair still sound asleep. However, much to his surprise, when he glanced over he found dark eyes looking back at him. Papyrus was watching him closely. The boy flinched slightly when he realized he'd been caught staring, but it was more from embarrassment than fear.
“Good morning,” the elemental whispered, not wanting to spook the child or wake his sibling. “Did you sleep well?”
After a moment or two of consideration, Papyrus grinned up at him with a shy, skeletal smile and nodded. He was a remarkably agreeable child, observant and often wary yet kind and quick to forgive, especially considering where he'd come from. Sometimes it just didn't seem possible that this was the same little boy who'd run from him in terror and growled so ferociously mere months ago. Then the elemental remembered why Papyrus had tried to run, how devoted and protective he'd been even when he himself was hurting, and it didn't seem far fetched at all.
“Would you like some breakfast?” he asked, already knowing that the answer would be a resounding yes.
“Breakfast?” Papyrus parroted back to him, excitement chasing away the last lingering touches of sleep.
“If you're ready to get up.”
“Up!” the young skeleton chirped, “up, up, get up!”
He wriggled his way free and got on his hands and knees, bouncing high enough that he nearly dislodged the blankets draped over them. His antics roused his sibling who, predictably, jerked awake in a blind panic. The action sent Sans tumbling backwards and he might have rolled off the bed entirely had the wall of their blanket tent not been tucked in. As it was, he was caught by the fabric and left suspended, not quite able to free himself. That only served to heighten his alarm, and his eyes glowed bright as he searched for whatever had attacked him. He let out a growl, teeth grit as if baring the fangs he didn't currently possess.
Seeing his brother's distress, Papyrus whimpered a soft apology and easily hauled him out of his accidental trap. He wrapped his arms around the smaller skeleton and nuzzled him like an over eager puppy until every trace of hostility vanished leaving only an easy smile. A strange sound replaced the growl, something just as rumbling but higher pitched and with a louder, more pleasant tone. Grillby didn't know what such a sound should be called. Maybe it wasn't meant to be called anything. After all, the kids had formed their own language in the labs, so perhaps the sound was theirs alone.
“Well, since you're both up,” Grillby started to say, though he was quickly cut off by a happy chirp as Papyrus remembered what it was that had excited him in the first place.
“Breakfast!” The boy hopped down, springing off of the bed with the kind of energy only young children can muster early in the mornings, and turned back to help his sibling as Sans made his own way down. The younger boy kept hold of his brother's hand and practically dragged him out of the room, letting out a string of chipper sounds all the while. The smaller skeleton still wasn't as steady on two legs as he was on four, which was perhaps the only thing that kept the pair from sprinting all the way to the kitchen, but he was getting better every day.
Grillby stood and straightened the bed, at least as much as a blanket nest could be straightened. He winced, his flames giving an almost imperceptible flicker, as he stretched his sore back. He hoped it wouldn't hinder him too much at work. The elemental had only recently resumed his normal business hours, which meant he had a very long evening waiting for him. In that regard at least, this day was off to a poor start. The sound of playful barks and Papyrus's bright, bubbly laughter greeted him as he strolled down the hall, and all thoughts of discomfort left his mind. Definitely worth it.
The boys curled up beneath the table to watch him cook, sprawled together on a large pillow that Grillby had placed there when he'd discovered their preference for the shadowy spot. Something about the act of cooking seemed to fascinate them, especially Papyrus who had expressed interest in helping out with simpler dishes. Perhaps it was the new sounds and smells associated with the act that entranced them. It was certainly a kinder reason than others which sprang to mind, most of which the elemental chose to ignore.
Grillby made a bowl of oatmeal for each of the little skeletons, stocking the table with various spices and sweet things he thought might go well with it as well as two large cups of milk. He found the food a bit too wet for his tastes, so he chose some dry cereal mixed with wood chips for himself and took a seat. Eager to claim the now familiar treat, Sans and Papyrus abandoned their shadowy spot and obediently crawled into the other chairs. The brothers were still somewhat awkward with utensils, but they'd more or less learned to use them and were able to tackle the meal without making too much of a mess.
Of the pair, it was Papyrus who was adapting better to this new lifestyle. He was eager to try just about everything, even the things that scared him at first, and nothing made him happier than sharing every new and good thing that he found. Grillby watched with a hidden smile as he experimented, quickly discovering how much spice was too much and which ones he preferred. When he stumbled across the right mix of brown sugar and cinnamon, his eye sockets sparkled with light and he pushed the bowl towards his sibling, telling him to try it through a series of high pitched trills.
Not wanting to rush the kids, Grillby left clearing the table for later and instead set about cleaning the kitchen. He liked to keep his home, and especially his cooking space, neat and tidy, so even though there was very little mess to be found he set to work. Besides, it gave him an excuse to linger in the room without seeming like he was monitoring the skeletons, even though on some level that's exactly what he was doing. There was a fine line between keeping a watchful eye on someone and making them feel trapped, and it wasn't one he wanted to cross even by accident. He took his time tidying up until he heard the subtle scrape of wooden chair legs moving and the soft click of bone on tile. Though he couldn't translate the barks and chirps the kids used, he'd learned the meaning behind those sounds; play. Papyrus let out a mock growl punctuated by an excitable giggle and, from the sound of it, scampered towards the hall.
Grillby glanced over his shoulder in time to see Sans change, swapping his small, harmless looking form for one that was significantly more durable and dangerous. The elemental had grown used to this bizarre display and now could see the transformation as something fluid and oddly graceful. It was natural to them, as simple as breathing. Sans shook himself once, jostling the fabric of his shirt and pants until they settled smoothly over the new alignment of his joints, and let out a mock growl of his own. Papyrus smiled brightly, practically shaking with excitement, and dashed around the corner. With a flick of his long, bony tail, Sans leapt forward and gave chase.
The fire elemental chuckled to himself and set about clearing the table. It was probably a bad idea to let them run like that in the apartment, but it was one he allowed none the less. After all, tag was the only game they knew, even if they didn't know it by that name. Admittedly their version had quite a bit more stalking involved, but the basics were the same. Besides, the activity let them exercise in a way that they enjoyed and had even helped their recovery. Bit by bit they were regaining their stamina, even if Sans was still somewhat wobbly and Papyrus was seized by coughing fits when he pushed himself too far. The tracking practice seemed to help the older child's vision as well. Though his eye socket had healed and clearly still functioned, the bright light that often followed the elemental's movements was proof of that, his sight wasn't what it had once been. Sans was still getting used to his diminished depth perception, but thanks to practice and playtime he was no longer running into walls. Or at least, not as often.
Grillby deemed the kitchen clean at last and was just making his way to the living room when a blur of white sped towards him. “Wooh, careful,” he said as Papyrus barely managed to avoid crashing into him. The child stumbled and leaned against the wall, gasping for breath but still grinning despite it. He let out a playful giggle and darted away. Grillby had to stop himself from snatching up the energetic little skeleton before he could dash out of sight. No matter how much he wanted to play with the kids like he would with his niece, this kind of life was too new to them. If he picked one of them up without warning, even just to hug them tight or make sure they weren't overexerting themselves, chances were good that the action would be seen not as spontaneous and fun but as an attack.
“Slow down,” he called after the child instead, trying to remind him of the 'not quite rule' they had against sprinting indoors. The pair were free to run inside, at least in their room and down the main hallway of the apartment, but not too quickly and not in the kitchen or any other room where there were sharp, heavy, or breakable things that they might run into. It was one of the few things their new guardian asked of them, and though they were quite willing to agree they could be somewhat forgetful about it. Grillby wisely stepped back and waited, knowing that the other boy was likely hot on his brother's heels, and sure enough Sans soon came loping down the hallway as well. He followed Papyrus at something between a run and a trot, which wasn't exactly surprising even given the nature of their game. Since he didn't have nearly as much energy to spare as the younger child, Sans tended to play smart rather than hard.
The chase led them both into the living room, where at last it seemed that Papyrus was cornered. Sans stalked towards him, head low and eyes bright with mischief, but the younger boy wasn't quite ready to let himself be caught so easily. He feigned darting this way and that, the actions too large and telegraphed to be anything but playful, and let out another high pitched laugh before sprinting past his brother and towards the couch. He leapt into the air as if to dive over, arms out in a stance not quite natural to two legged creatures. With a wide canine smile, Sans reared up on his back legs just enough to snatch his brother out of the air, jaws closing harmlessly over the younger skeleton's ankle and jerking him down to land safely on the cushions. He hopped up onto the couch, standing over his sibling and letting out a breathy, hissing laugh. Despite his own uproarious laughter, Papyrus thrashed about and pushed at the other skeleton's muzzle as if fighting off a ferocious enemy.
“Alright, enough playtime for now,” Grillby said, though he did hate to stop their fun. He retrieved a pen from the coffee table and went to a calendar which hung on the living room wall. It was a fairly new addition to the room, since he'd always used a day planner to keep track of things before. “Do you remember what this means?” he asked as he pointed the pen at a white box which symbolized the current day.
Papyrus squirmed and managed to flip himself over, though he didn't even comment when Sans transformed back and chose to sit on his legs. The younger skeleton tilted his head to the side, staring up at the calendar and making a soft rumbling sound of concentration as he tried to remember the significance behind the neat, symmetrical lines Grillby used to mark off passing days and the sequence of the simple white boxes. “Ooh!” he said at last, eye sockets lighting up. “Week! New week.”
“Very good,” the elemental said, drawing a slash through the box in question and reaching down to pat the excitable little skeleton on the head. “And do you remember what we do at the start of a new week?”
Papyrus nodded eagerly, but a moment later his expression changed as the significance of the day truly sank in. His face scrunched up as much as the magic infused bone was able to. “Check day.”
Both boys let out low groans, Papyrus burying his face against the cushions while Sans flopped back over the arm of the couch in an exaggerated sprawl.
“Ooh come now, it's not so bad. You know it won't hurt.”
The pair exchanged a look, oddly somber despite their antics, and obediently crawled off the couch. Not even their best efforts could completely hide the stiff nervousness in their movements. Unfortunately, their guardian wasn't surprised. They had established the weekly checkup routine a while back, after Sans had finally recovered enough to get around without assistance. Neither of the boys liked being fussed over when it came to their health. Grillby suspected that it reminded them too much of the lab and the life they'd been forced to lead before their escape. Any time he had to take their temperatures, administered medication, or even check old wounds, the boys flinched and went rigid, the lights in their eye sockets going dark. No matter how different their surroundings or how warm and caring their new guardian tried to be, it wasn't enough to truly chase away their memories. Unfortunately, Grillby couldn't just ignore their health and hope for the best. He had to make sure that their infections cleared up, that their wounds healed like they should, and that their illnesses didn't return. So they had settled on a compromise of sorts.
“You first Papyrus.”
The younger boy pouted, making sure that everyone knew just how unhappy he was with the situation, but did not protest or try to run. The act was really just for show, a sort of coping mechanism that let him deal with his own nervousness. Actually, the checkup wasn't truly necessary any longer either. Papyrus had healed up nicely and his strength was returning, but they maintained the routine anyway if only as a show of support for Sans, who would still need the checkups for a bit longer to make sure he stayed on track. Besides, after the awful state the pair had been in a few months ago, it paid to be cautious.
Though signs of illness proved to be hard to detect in skeleton monsters, they were often even harder to see in elementals so Grillby was used to seeking out those kinds of small details. He'd learned what to look for, how to pull his own heat away from his hands in order to check the boy's temperature, and the natural flow of the small skeleton's magic. That magic had been steadily growing stronger as he recovered and settled in to a new life free of fear and pain. In fact, his power had already grown stronger than Grillby had expected it to. Logically he knew it had to take a lot of energy to fuel both the transformations that came so easily to the children and the destructive magical blasts they were capable of firing in their quadruped forms, but knowing that and experiencing it were two very different things. Grillby was even starting to worry about random outbursts. Young monsters often had difficulties controlling their magic as they matured, resulting in brief flares of power. He'd have to come up with a way for the pair to practice their magic safely before it built up too much more.
“All done,” he said at last.
With an undeniably relieved grin, the boy darted towards the hallway and quickly vanished from sight. Grillby chose to take it as a good sign that Papyrus no longer felt the need to supervise his older brother's checkups the way he once had.
“Alright Sans, your turn.”
It didn't take long to repeat the same procedure with the smaller skeleton. He felt a bit warm, or at least warmer than Papyrus, but his temperature had been slightly elevated ever since he'd shaken the last true traces of fever. It seemed like that was normal for him, so the elemental let it slide without comment. Just like his brother, his magic was growing stronger as well and was already exceeding expectations. And yet, his soul remained worryingly weak. Even with all his other improvements, that one crucial aspect had not changed at all. He was far from healthy, and Grillby feared that might always be the case, but despite that he couldn't deny that this little skeleton was powerful. It was a strange combination not often found in monsters. Could it be because of the doctor? Dogaressa and Dogamy had mentioned Determination, a fact which still made the elemental shudder. Was that the reason why this fragile soul contained such strong magic?
“So far so good. Now, I need to check your ribs.”
The boy's hand immediately went to where the ties on a medical gown would be, only to find the soft, solid fabric of his shirt instead. Even after so long, the habit was hard to break. After a split second of confusion, he grasped the hem of his shirt instead and gingerly pulled it up. Sans looked down, unwilling or unable to look at his guardian the visible groove that ran along his ribs was inspected. The incision no longer required binding or bandages and was healing well. Thankfully it hadn't become infected the way the lacerations on his neck and arm had. Even the deep punctures in his spine left behind by a rather frightening array of needles were finally starting to fill in without any sign of complications. One good thing the elemental could say for doctor Gaster; he knew how to keep a sterile surgical environment.
Suddenly there was a loud crash as something that sounded suspiciously like a chair struck the floor in another part of the house. Grillby jumped, his flames flaring at the unexpected sound. He didn't even realize that he'd pulled Sans close to himself until the boy let out a pained hiss. The elemental immediately drew his heat away, but not before the child wrenched free of his grasp and staggered back, looking up at him with blind fear. Sans snarled, a deep growl reverberating in his hollow chest. His eye lights constricted to tiny spots of blazing light which burned in the darkness of their sockets and his fixed skeletal smile twisted into a sharp fanged grimace.
“I'm so sorry,” Grillby said, sounding much calmer than he truly felt. One of the few perks of having a naturally quiet voice. “The sound scared me and I lost control for a moment. I didn't mean to hurt you.”
He waited a long, tense minute until fear and panic finally released the child. Sans ducked his head, gaze fixed firmly on the ground. His small hand was clasped protectively over his arm.
Disaster averted for the time being, Grillby turned his attention to the cause of the crisis. “Papyrus?” he called, hoping that the other child was close enough to hear him, “was that you?”
“ … yes,” came the tentative reply. The boy in question peered around the corner. “I d-didn't mean to. I just … I c-couldn't stop and … “ He trembled, clinging to the wall's edge in obvious fear.
Grillby tried not to take his reaction personally. The children had spent most of their lives in an environment where mistakes were met with swift and likely harsh punishment. It would take more than a few months to get past that. “You weren't hurt, were you?”
“N-no.” Slender fingers tapped nervously against the wall and Papyrus dared to look at him at last. “You're not … mad?”
“Of course not.” Startled, yes, but not mad. He couldn't even imagine being truly angry at the sweet little skeleton. “I'm just glad you're alright. I'll come help you in a minute, okay?”
Dark eye sockets widened as Papyrus glanced between his guardian and his brother, putting together the pieces of what was going on. He gasped slightly and nodded before quickly ducking out of sight once more.
Grillby sat back and observed the other child, taking in his rigid, almost defensive stance. “Are you okay?”
Sans nodded, though he still refused to meet his guardian's gaze. Grillby carefully took the boy's hand and gave it a gentle tug, guiding him to release his grip and lift his arm so that the elemental could see what his slip up had caused. Thankfully there was only a small scorch mark. The pale, brownish splotch would linger for a day or so, but it wasn't likely to cause anything more than a mild and quickly fading sting.
“I'm so sorry,” he said once more, careful to avoid touching the mark. Even his normal gentle warmth wouldn't be welcomed right now. “Would you like a wet cloth to put on this?”
The small boy shook his head. He hesitated, fingers twitching as he debated his actions, and eventually reached out to pat his guardian's hand. The brief touch was gentle, if awkward, and when combined with a small whine its meaning became clear; Sans was forgiving him.
“Thank you,” Grillby whispered, genuinely touched by the small yet powerful gesture. “I should go make sure Papyrus is really alright. Do you want to come too?”
Sans perked up almost immediately, a genuine smile gracing his features once more. Hand in hand, they went in search of Papyrus, intent on saving the boy from whatever trouble he'd managed to get himself into.
They found the younger skeleton struggling to right one of the heavy chairs that sat around the kitchen table. He looked up as they entered, his gaze instantly drawn to the pale scorch mark adorning his brother's arm. Papyrus whined softly, fresh guilt flaring in his eyes a moment later as he realized that one of the monsters present wouldn't understand what he'd said. “S-sorry.”
“It's alright. Just be more careful next time, you could have really hurt yourself.” Grillby took the chair from him and easily slid it back into its proper place. He pretended not to notice the way the brothers clung to one another, Papyrus trilling softly in a mix of curiosity and contrition as he brushed thin fingers against the discolored mark on his sibling. An answering trill and comforting nuzzle was all it took to banish his guilt, letting his sunny disposition shine once more.
Grillby slid his phone out of his pocket and used it to check the time. He still had a few hours before he needed to start getting ready for work. A small flashing icon showed one new text message, and when he opened it he smiled at the familiar greeting it contained. “Dogaress and Dogamy want to come see us before I open the bar today. Would you two like that?”
The idea was met with admittedly mixed responses. Papyrus, who had fonder memories of the canine couple than his brother did, was clearly eager to see the dogs again. They had come over a few times since the pair took up residence over the bar, though their earlier visits had been brief at best and Sans had slept through most of them. The brothers hadn't exactly been eager for company back then, though that had clearly changed. The younger boy chattered happily, even his normal words blurring into something nigh incomprehensible, about all the things they should do when the guards arrived. Sans was more hesitant about the impending visit, but when his brother grasped his hands, beaming that bright smile of his, the smaller skeleton couldn't help but grin back.
This was turning out to be a pretty good day after all.
----
A high pitched beeping sound echoed in a small, sparse room. W. D. Gaster groaned softly, wishing he could block out the droning rhythm. It was making his already aching head pound with every tone. All he wanted to do was go back to sleep and lose himself in blissful emptiness, but the shrill sound would not allow it. Every bone in his body hurt. He felt strangely cold, as if he were lying in a snow drift rather than a soft bed. Though to be honest, the bed wasn't all that soft to begin with.
Wait … this wasn't his bed.
The man's eyes flew open and he lurched upright, only to regret the action a moment later as a wave of blinding agony washed over him. He slumped back against the pillow, dizzy from the pain. As his vision slowly cleared, he took in his surroundings. Pale green walls and a plain white ceiling. Small window with thick curtains drawn across it. Medical style bed with plastic rails. He was in New Home Hospital. The soul monitor beeped at him, its tones coming faster in time with the rapid pulse of his magic. He wished it would just shut up.
“Awake at last I see,” a voice said as the door to the room was pushed open. “Though you probably shouldn't be trying to sit up on your own just yet. You were in quite the accident.”
Flashes of nightmarish sights and sounds assaulted the scientist. The lab. The soul. The void. He'd never in all his years felt anything so intense as the eruption of energy that had decimated the laboratory. Even now, Gaster was astonished that he'd survived it. Had they managed to close the rip in reality? His couldn't remember. His thoughts were tattered and twisted, leaving his mind in chaos. They must have succeeded somehow or other, or else there would be nothing left of the underground. But still, he knew it had been open for far too long. How many people had the anti-magic reached?
“You were asleep for quite a long time there. It's good to see you awake again,” the newcomer said with a subtle smile. She was a tall, full figured woman dressed in a neatly pressed white doctor's coat which was tailored so as to not restrict any of her four arms. Her round face was dominated by large, almond eyes, faceted like a thousand shards of black crystal, and a pair of cat's eye glasses was perched on her small, impish nose. A plume of white fluff puffed up around her neck like a downy cloud.
Gaster knew this woman. Her appearance alone made her hard to forget, an effect only heightened by her no nonsense professionalism. Doctor Rupela was one of the healer's who'd treated him after a near disaster a few years back that had almost resulted in a Core meltdown. He and the others who'd been injured in the accident had been taken immediately to New Home Hospital, the one and only place of its kind in the entire underground. Doctors and less professional healers from New Home to Snowdin worked there in times of crisis, which was exactly why they had called in Rupela. The woman had a gift for healing injuries of all types and the knowledge to focus her skills where they were needed most. Seeing her again in such a similar context was troubling to say the least.
“I'm certain you must have questions. To be perfectly honest, I have quite a few of my own. There are some conflicting reports about what exactly happened in the labs and what might be responsible for your condition. If you could tell me anything about what happened to you, it would be a considerable help.”
Gaster tried to speak, but the only sound he managed was a harsh, hissing rasp almost like static. He coughed and gasped, each utterance of sound no matter how involuntary sending sharp stabs of pain through magic and bone alike. A cup of water was gently pressed into his hands and he gratefully sipped at it, relishing the feeling of cool, soothing liquid. “Where are the others?” he managed at last.
Doctor Rupela frowned, her feather like antenna drooping as a troubled sadness took hold of her. “I'm afraid you're the only one left.”
No … no, that couldn't be. Frantically sifting through his fragmented thoughts, Gaster caught glimpses of memory. The sound of his assistants screaming. The ferocious pull of foreign energy. An unknown victim beside him, their flesh crumbling away. Gaster had known the risks when he'd started down this path, as had everyone who'd walked it with him. Risking life and limb was part of the job, and he'd made sure each of his assistants knew that. He'd seen what void energy could do, but being part of a tragedy and actually being responsible for one were very different things. No matter how he tried to push it away, guilt gnawed at his soul. This was all his fault. His assistants had been good monsters, trusted colleagues that he knew he could depend on, and they'd followed him to their deaths.
Sensing his distress, the healer rested a delicate hand against his shoulder. “I'm so sorry doctor … “ Confusion flashed through her dark eyes. Her mouth opened, forming syllables with no sounds behind them as she struggled to call up a name she should have known, yet didn't. Her gaze darted down to the clipboard she carried, the one that Gaster knew must contain his information, yet it did not seem to hold the answers she sought. The air felt heavy around them, thick and oppressive, charged with energy that should not have been present. Static whispered in the shadows.
“Doctor Rupela?” a young reptilian monster asked, knocking on the open door even as he stepped inside the room. He shuddered as he entered the space, large eyes darting to the darkest corners of the room as if he thought someone might be lurking there. “Can you come take a look at this? It's urgent.”
“Of course. I'm sorry to have to cut this short mister … “ Again she paused, but the passing uncertainty was pushed behind a false smile. “Ah, w-well, I will be back as soon as I can.”
The two monsters retreated, whispering urgently to one another about a patient that had just been brought in, and the door lock clicked as it closed behind them. Even after she had gone, Gaster stared at the space where Rupela had been. She hadn't remembered his name. That shouldn't have been possible. Not only had she treated him before, a situation which had resulted in more than a few long talks that the scientist was fairly certain had been pleasant, but he was the royal scientist. He had created the Core. Everyone in the underground knew his name!
Gaster shut his eyes tight, blocking out the shadows that seemed to press thickly against him. Static crackled and hissed inside his head.
“Ah, Kasumi-chan and Touya-kun! I made sure to prepare something special for you, hm... Hang on a second...” he reached over and handed the twins two treat bags. They were decorated quite nicely and looked like Satoru actually put some effort into it. There was an assortment of candies inside and a few other treats too. ^-^
“I’m sorry to see all your precious ‘companions’ have withered and died..such a shame really.” Lyle delivers this with a mock sympathetic tone as he lingers in a mildly foreboding manner just outside her cell, sadistic grin in place.
