[Broad rimmed hat and dark sunglasses do the best they can to hide Mettaton's face from the prying eyes of the public. He's dressed down for once, no big and flashy clothes on. He's wearing a long trench coat that also does its best at disguising the figure inside but Mettaton in the end could never give up his iconic heels, paparazzi be damned.
So he's walking down the street as best as he can, trying and failing at making the sound of his heels quiet when he hears a low hissing from ahead of him on the sidewalk. He looks up and sees a black cat with a bent ear, teeth bared at... a stray pumpkin. It swats at it a bit, not quite touching it, and Mettaton watches it idly. It's silly, no doubt about it, and when it bats the pumpkin and the gourd moves a bit causing the cat to hiss louder that gets a good chuckle out of the star.
It's right when he turns to walk away that the cat lashes out at the pumpkin again and sends it rolling. It's a quick succession of actions- the cat leaps backwards and yelps, the star looks back towards the animal in surprise at the sound, and the pumpkin rolls even faster towards the animal. Before Mettaton can comprehend it, there's the faint feeling of claws digging into his clothes and the tug of a weight scrambling up his back as the yowling continues and becomes unpleasantly close.]
HEY! AH!
[He spins around a bit, trying to reach back and grab at the cat currently climbing him like a mountain but the cat is faster and quickly climbs over his collar and scrambles into his coat and then, only then, does it stop moving, shaking where it hides.]
Oh you little mongrel, when I get a hold of you-!
[He's two seconds from tearing the little beastie off of his back when his fingers touch the lump hidden in his coat and it mewls pitifully. He stops there, surprised at how utterly pathetic it sounds. After a moment of quiet muttering he lowers his hands and begins to gently coax the cat out.]
Come out, you little furball, I'm not going to hurt you.
[It takes a bit more prompting and gentle pets through his now admittedly torn up fabric before the cat peeks its head out over his shoulder. Mettaton quickly plucks it out then and holds it out to stare at it critically.
It still looks.... pissed off. Mettaton narrows his eyes and then the cat, while still looking like it swallowed a lemon, lets out another pitiful cry. Mettaton glares at it for a moment and huffs, bringing the cat back to his chest and holding it properly.]
Yes yes, whatever, I'll take care of you for now. Let's see if we can't find out who around here is actually responsible for a menace like you.
[The cat settles into his hands rather quickly, clearly enjoying the gentle warmth of the robot's body as he continues to walk down the sidewalk in the same direction he was heading.]
[People kept telling him that you should really put a collar on a rambunctious cat, even if they're indoor-only. And hell, he probably would have let 4 just be an outdoor cat if Alphys hadn't explained all the dangers of the outside, and about how humans are weird about black cats, and told him she would judge the shit out of him if he let 4 get hit by a car or something. So, fine, he'd put up with the whole litterbox thing if it got Alphys off his back. It's fine. They've got these automatic litterboxes now. He's pretty sure it's got some kind of illicit relationship with his Roomba.]
[He's not even actually sure how 4 got out, he just knows he saw a black streak running for the bushes outside, and his first thought was "aw damn shoulda listened and gotten that collar" and then his second thought was "oh fuck, cars."]
[He's been out searching for two hours now, and at this point he's genuinely worried. He never really meant to have a cat, but he's gotten attached. 4 is basically family now. Sans really isn't sure what he'll do if the little guy gets himself killed. Rather, if Sans let the living thing he's supposed to be responsible for get killed.]
[It's kinda familiar.]
[He's trudging down the sidewalk, looking under porches and cars, holding a can of food in one hand and tapping on the lid every now and then. 4 always comes running when he hears the lid pop on a can of wet food, so maybe if he hears it...]
[It's been a strange couple of minutes with Mettaton and his Surprise Guest in tow. He doesn't really... know how to cat beyond Talking to them because of Catty so he's been (quietly of course) trying to encourage something out of the feline.]
Is this your home? Or this?
[He kind of nudges the cat towards a random dwelling. The cat, in response, attempts to dig its claws into his "flesh" but just manages to make scratches in the metal. Mettaton swats the cat lightly but enough to get a point across. There's an answering hiss and a deepening of claws.]
No! Bad kitty! This is pure chrome plating! It is very expensive and luxurious. No ruining it with all your cuteness.
[Mettaton continues to walk down the street. He huffs and shoves his hands into his pockets.]
You know, you should be grateful that I am spending my precious time on this. I have very important places to be, and better ways to spend my time than chaperoning a lost cat.
[The robot only receives silence and he rolls his eyes. Ugh. Guess he's stuck with this animal longer. It's another couple of minutes of silence when he feels the cat give a start. It wriggles until it's poking its head out of his jacket, ears twitching this way and that. Apparently it hears something else because its eyes widen and its ears stand straight up.]
Oh no. Don't you dare-!
[The cat shoots off his shoulder like a rocket, yowling and meowing furiously as it takes off. Mettaton runs after it in alarm.]
Wait a minute, you do not get to menace me and then run off like nothing! I demand-!
[He turns the corner to see the cat running up to... another Monster. He slows down.]
[He's starting to lose hope, which has always been a pretty easy thing for him. Surely 4 is long gone or dead. Surely Sans fucked up one of the few good things in his life. He keeps walking, though, ducking to look under porches and cars, calling 4's name.]
[Then there's an abrupt, familiar yowl from around the corner and an actual voice answering. Sans pauses, straining to try and hear exactly where the sound came from. There's another meow, and yeah, it's nearby. Sans starts sort of speed-walking for the corner.]
hey, 4, that you, buddy?
[There's a black streak coming around the corner. Sans almost runs, then goes to a crouch so 4 can leap up into his arms. 4 looks a little disheveled, but otherwise alive and unhurt. Sans is instantly grinning again, even as 4 squirms around in his hold and attempts to shred his hoodie.]
heeeyy, there you are, you found me. hey, shh, it's okay. i gotcha.
[He manages to get in a quick hug before 4 squirms his way up and buries himself in the hood of Sans's hoodie. Well, at least there he's not digging in his claws. Sans laughs a little and looks up to see...]
[Oh, wow, okay. It's Mettaton. Sans had no idea the guy even lived around here.]
heya. uh, thanks for finding my cat.
[He kind of figures Mettaton was chasing 4, but he'll give him the benefit of the doubt.]
[The cat practically leaps into the monster's arms and the skeleton looks so relieved to have his cat back it's actually a kind of heartwarming reunion. Mettaton blinks for a moment, having a rare moment where he is lost for words as the cat (named Four, apparently) snuggles into his arms and first tries to shred his hoodie apart, then makes his way into Sans's hood.
He's pretty sure this monster's name is Sans. He sort of recognizes him from the Underground, when he would do stand up at his hotel. His eyes narrow a bit as he kind of takes in his whole demeanor.
Small. Looking a little grungy with an unwashed hoodie. That now looks a little worse what with having claw marks all over it. He's smiling. There's a kind of twinkle in those eye sockets of his that Mettaton is pretty sure he's never seen before. It's kind of cute. Regardless, he realizes that there has been a brief gap of silence after Sans spoke and Mettaton hastens to answer and not make it more awkward.]
It's more like your cat ambushed me into helping him. I was practically kidnapped to do so.
[He huffs a bit but then smiles, tossing his hair out of his face and smirking widely as he poses.]
But! I'm glad to have helped. Mettaton always saves the day! It's just what stars do.
[Mettaton doesn't answer right away, looking Sans over. Probably debating whether he's even worth a conversation. Sans is pretty sure people like Mettaton don't talk to people like Sans.]
[He does answer after a beat though, and Sans's smile broadens a little.]
yeah, that sounds like 4. i hope he wasn't too much of a cat-astrophe. heh, but seriously, thank you. he's not supposed to be outdoors.
[Of course he's not gonna actually admit to how worried he was, but there's real gratitude in his tone. Mettaton's an alright guy if he goes around rescuing cats.]
yeah, just a few houses down. [He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.] i didn't know you lived around here too. or you visiting someone? [A beat, then he chuckles.] ah, sorry. i'm bein' nosy. funny considering i don't have one.
[4 gives a grumpy rumble from within Sans's hoodie and Sans reaches back to give him a comforting pat.]
[Sans smiles more and his tone is warm and thankful and, well, maybe it's because Mettaton has been a bit lonely as of late, having been out on tour for so long, but he looks really, really cute suddenly and Mettaton almost lets the bad pun slip by. Almost.]
That was an awful pun, you should be ashamed. As for Four, he was more of an idiot than anything. I found him trying to fight a pumpkin. He lost.
[There's a disparaging tone in there, but a definite undercurrent of amusement too. He's become attached to the cat, it seems.]
I'm visting Alphys, actually. I've been out on tour for awhile now and I promised I'd come see her. I guess it makes sense you live nearby. A lot of monsters still want to live near each other even though we're on the surface.
[This time he ignores the pun, opting to look out over the neighborhood at large.]
[He likes that, though. Papyrus's overreactions are great and Toriel's laughter is great, but sometimes it's also nice to get a smirk and a jibe instead. Amused acknowledgement or whatever you want to call it.]
[Sans chuckles again when he hears what 4 was getting up to.]
wow. acts like such a badass, defeated by a pumpkin. now that's shameful. maybe it'll teach him not to run outdoors.
[4 growls again and Sans can feel claws digging against the back of his neck for a moment.]
oh, okay, cool. yeah, i know her. that's nice of you to visit.
[He knows Alphys gets lonely, even with Undyne around. Alphys always seemed to have a pretty deep friendship with Mettaton.]
yeah, i've been here pretty much since the barrier came down. actually, i should probably get back. get this little hellion back indoors.
[He's starting to turn away and frame a nice goodbye and thanks, but then he hesitates. He does kind of owe Mettaton, right?]
hey, if you're not doing anything, you wanna come in? figure i can at least get you a cup of coffee or something, for rescuing my cat and all.
[His apartment is only kind of a mess right now. He's gotten a teensy bit better about that sort of thing since everyone got to the Surface. Plus Papyrus stopped by recently.]
[Of course he's not ashamed about his puns. 90% of his stand up act at his hotel was puns. It always got some kind of reaction out of the crowd, either good laughter or loud groans. He hears the cat growl and laughs, shaking his head.]
Yes, he looked so brave right up until he was scaling my shoulder like a mountain to hide from a gourd.
[He smiles when Sans mentions knowing Alphys. He's pretty sure they're friends as well, even if she has never specified how they met or for how long. When Sans mentions needing to go back he smiles and gets ready to say good bye. This was a good distraction and surprisingly fun despite his clothes being partially ripped.
Then Sans turns around and asks if he wants to come in. What? He wasn't expecting that level of politeness from him. Mettaton blinks for a moment and then pulls his phone from his pocket to check the time. 12:47. He wasn't really supposed to be at Alphys until 1:30 anyway...
To probably both his and Sans's surprise he puts the phone away and smiles.]
Sure, darling! Lead the way. I'd love to see the home of the Great Pumpkin Slayer.
[He'll have to give 4 some extra treats to make up for the trauma. As well as all the teasing.]
[Mettaton checks his phone, probably checking the time or for messages or something. A guy like him must be busy pretty much 24/7. It's a good bet that he doesn't have time to get coffee with a near stranger.]
[Sans brightens a little when Mettaton agrees, though. Papyrus keeps telling him that he needs to get out and socialize more, and that just going to bars doesn't count.]
cool. right back this way.
[He turns and leads Mettaton back to his apartment, a few doors down. He keeps one hand on 4 as he climbs the stairs, just in case 4 thinks about darting off again.]
[It's a very modest one-bedroom, right on the edge between okay and crappy. At least it seems to be somewhat clean. It doesn't even smell bad or anything. The kitchen has a small table with chipped edges and two mismatched chairs.]
it's not much, but uh, make yourself at home.
[Sans goes to the coffee pot to turn it on and dump some water into the chamber. Meanwhile 4 realizes that he's back in safety and jumps down from Sans's shoulders, disappearing into the bedroom with a mrrt.]
man, my brother's totally gonna think i'm lying when i tell him mettaton was in my apartment.
[Sans's smile brightens and Mettaton grins back. He turns and begins to lead the way to his apartment and Mettaton follows, pulling his hat down over his face so that no one sees who he is. As he climbs the stairs he instinctively checks around him for cameras- if any paparazzi caught sight of him walking into some random monster's apartment, it would be the headline in the tabloids for weeks. Luckily no one sees him to his knowledge and he slips in, looking curiously around Sans's apartment.
It's actually not as bad as he thought it might be. It's certainly not the Ritz, but he can see its charm. It's cozy. He sits down on one of the mismatched chairs, trying and failing to elegantly tuck his long legs in as he does. He grins as Sans speaks.]
Your brother is a fan, is he? If you want you can give him my autograph as proof that the great Mettaton graced your apartment with his presence!
[Sans chuckles and keeps fussing with the coffee pot.]
heh, i was thinkin' about asking, but i didn't wanna impose. you probably get asked that all the time, yeah? gotta get annoying after awhile. especially when you're just out doing your own thing and rescuing cats.
[Not that he'll refuse it if Mettaton does sign something, but it just seems...really tacky to ask, when Mettaton has already done him a favor. He's never really liked asking for things or owing people.]
[Mettaton laughs, watching Sans idly as he messes with the coffee pot. He leans to the side, head resting on an upturned palm as his shoulders shake gently with his laughter. There's an easy, relaxed air about him now that he doesn't have to worry about cameras, and it comes across in the careless smile that spreads across his face.]
I love giving autographs, actually. If I have the time I can make the message very personal to whoever I am writing it to.
[Sans finally gets the brewer going and turns back to Mettaton, leaning against the counter. His grin widens a bit at Mettaton's change in demeanor. He seems more relaxed, more carefree. Sans wonders if it's stressful, having to be put together all the time. Probably, right?]
yeah? heh, well that'd be real nice of you. he'd absolutely love something like that. cherish it, i'd bet. i can dig out some paper or something in a bit.
[No need to rush. Coffee takes a minute, especially if you can't chug it while it's scalding or risk losing your 1 HP.]
so how's the music career going, anyway? i mean, heh, obviously well. you're in basically all the magazines ever.
You can use the autograph as proof that I was actually here! I'll make it extra exclusive.
[He really should be checking the time, he knows. But the calmness of Sans's apartment and the unexpectedness of it all really makes him want to relish it. He hums a bit thoughtfully.]
I'd say it is going rather well! I'm currently working on a solo album while working on my third one with Blooky and the crew. This one is going to be more Monster oriented! Putting in some good Monster history to educate people! All three- four, of us, are very excited.
[It already seems like it's pretty hard just to make one album. Or hell, just to write a song at all. The idea of doing two at once sounds herculean.]
really? that's cool. there's never really any monster-y music on the radio. heh, except at halloween. it'd be great to hear something monster-themed in the top 40. i know i'm not the only guy who'd appreciate that sorta thing.
[He's heard fellow monsters talking about human pop music that mentions souls and how completely weird and wrong their perception of a soul seems to be. Takes you right out of the song.]
It's a bit difficult to get it all lined up correctly, but I've got a great team and a great band, so we manage rather well.
[Mettaton is always bursting with ideas and Blooky always has the spookiest of tunes, and with Mettaton and Shyren's singing and... that other one there, they're a better team than the robot could have ever imagined.]
Oh yes, that's why we all agreed that's what we wanted to do next. My manager was so jazzed about it- she listened to our first take with stars in her eyes, haha!
[He could go on forever about what he's been working on. But he's been trying to be more conscientious lately, more gracious and not in the blown up way he usually is. So he stops himself from saying more.]
What have you been up to, darling? Has the Surface been treating you well too?
yeah, makes sense. many hands make light work or whatever the saying is.
[He just tends to let other people do all the work. It's a personal preference. And also depression.]
heh, man, that's gonna be so cool. i'll look out for it.
[He doesn't own all of Mettaton's albums but this one sounds like it's gonna be a must.]
me?
[He's openly surprised for a split second, but he covers it by turning back to the coffee pot and starting to pour mugs for them both. He just didn't really expect Mettaton to ask. Mettaton's the kind of guy who likes to talk about himself. Not that Sans would ever really judge anyone for that. It means less work for him, and less instances of having to open up to people.]
it's been good, for the most part. kinda took me awhile to get used to it all.
[That's putting it mildly, but no one needs to know about all the nasty details.]
but i dunno, i think i'm finally settling in. got a job. got my own place, got neighbors, the works. my brother's off at college in between ambassador stuff, and he's having a blast. learning all this new stuff, making a ton of friends. heh, he's happier than i've ever seen him, and that's saying a lot. so yeah. it's been good.
[And if he misses the hell out of Papyrus most days, well, that's neither here nor there. They talk online almost every day, so it's not...it's not like he's lonely or anything.]
[Sans manages to hide his surprise rather well but Mettaton catches it and for a moment feels... rather offended. But to be fair, he does make his living off of his face and talking about himself, so it isn't terribly far off that it could be assumed he isn't much interested in other people.
And, after a split second of internal grumbling, it's not an entirely incorrect thought to have about him. But either way, he decides to let the offense go and instead opts for some laughter.]
Surprised, darling? I'm not always self-absorbed, just sometimes.
[He listens attentively, taking it all in. It all sounds... mundane. It's a completely different world than his. A different perspective of Surface life. There's a part of him that seems rather envious of it all. Which is a surprise since Sans is making coffee that definitely smells like the instant kind and he's rather partial to fresh grounded roasts.
All the same he smiles again.]
With some sugar, darling.
[He taps a finger to the side of his cheek, winks, then laughs.]
I don't like black coffee. It's too bitter for me.
[He blinks. It's not every day someone actually catches him. Then again, it's not every day he lets his guard down when it comes to his own emotions. The Surface and the end of Resets has been dragging him kicking and screaming toward emotional vulnerability and he kind of hates it.]
oh, uh. sorry. just figured, yanno. your life's way more interesting than mine, heh. the most exciting thing that's happened to me all week is my cat getting loose. 'sides, i prefer hearing people talk about themselves anyway.
[No, wait, that's not gonna cut it. Something something genuine apologies something something.]
er, what i mean is, i'm sorry if i offended you.
[God, being a Normal Person is so fucking hard. But at least Mettaton seems willing to move on. And--]
[Was that flirting? It sounded like flirting. Sans is bad at recognizing when someone is flirting, but that sounded like flirting. Hmmmmm.]
heh, monster after my own heart.
[He hasn't been able to drink black coffee since...well, never mind. In any case, he dumps a bit of sugar into Mettaton's, and a bunch of sugar into his own.]
these days i'm more of a latte guy anyway.
[He sets Mettaton's coffee in front of him and then sits down.]
[Most of that sounds like blowing it off, but- oh, that's a genuine apology. Huh. Now it's Mettaton's turn to look surprised.]
Well, thank you darling. I appreciate it. But! No harm, no foul.
[He smirks a bit.]
A monster after your own heart, hm? I must be doing better than I thought.
[Why. Is he flirting. With Sans???? Is this really??? The time????
And yet. Here he is. Being the menace that he is. He doesn't seem all that receptive though so perhaps this isn't as big of a worry as it could be. There's never been anything wrong with harmless flirting, after all.]
You can do some really cute art with lattes, so I approve.
[He sits back in his chair, taking the coffee and drinking a sip. He smiles.]
Ah. Is this monster instant coffee, or human instant coffee?
[Wow, Mettaton barely even knows him, but even he's surprised about a genuine apology from Sans. Maybe he just gives off that vibe of untrustworthiness. Probably. But oh well. Like Mettaton says, no harm no foul.]
heh, okay. good.
[No, yup, he was right, that was flirting, because now Mettaton's doing it again. Wow. Wow? Wow. It's gotta just be a Mettaton thing, right? No one in the world wants to be with Sans. Even Dizzy Bunny, when she was up to her shenanigans, mostly just did it out of desperation. Plus she flirted with everyone. Yeah, okay. It's just Mettaton having some fun. Well, Sans can have some fun too. He levels a lazy grin at Mettaton.]
the joke being that i don't have one. but yeah, you're doing fine.
[That almost makes it sound like a challenge. Oops.]
i saw pictures one time of someone doing skulls with latte art. i can definitely get behind that sorta thing.
[He sips his own once he's noticed that Mettaton approves.]
it's monster coffee. human food's great, but it's kind of a pain in the ass for me. i generally just get monster stuff for simplicity's sake.
[Perhaps it was an unfair judgement on his part to be surprised that he got a genuine apology but when you're surrounded by celebrities (especially human celebrities) genuine apologies are hard to come by. Everyone is so wrapped up in their egos (him being one of them) and it's always a pleasant surprise when things happen differently.]
You don't have a heart? Mm, I highly doubt that Sans. You looked so desperate to find that cat of yours, it looked like your "imaginary heart" was fit to burst with worry.
[He hears a distant jingle of a bell. 4 must be playing with a cat toy. Very apt timing.]
You can't care for something if you don't have a heart. I'm sure you've got a sweet spot somewhere in there, even if you don't show it. Maybe one day you will though.
[He settles more into the chair, crossing his legs.]
Not to imply that you have been anything other than friendly with me though. I appreciate it.
[He's still having a surprisingly good time.]
Yes, that is true. Monster food is so much cleaner in how it goes down. I adore human food but sometimes it is just too solid. Makes you yearn for that classic- magic taste.
[He almost slipped. He almost said "ghost." He must be more relaxed than he thought. Perhaps he should go after he's done with his coffee.]
pfft, i mean, metaphorically, sure. trust me, i don't go around acting like a tough heartless guy. only literally, hehe. don't worry, i've got so many sweet spots, i'm practically a giant cavity.
[It's amusing, and kind of nice even, how quickly Mettaton is willing to defend Sans from himself. And he hadn't even meant it as his usual self-deprecation.]
[It's also...kind of nice for someone to call him out on caring about things. He needs to be reminded sometimes.]
glad to hear i've been a gentlemonster. my brother would probably kill me if i was anything less with the famous mettaton.
[Man, this is comfortable. Like having a friend over. Like hanging with Alphys.]
right? i have to sorta mix my own magic in if i wanna eat human food. otherwise it goes right through me. hehe.
A giant cavity, hm? That's an interesting way to describe oneself.
[This is far more comfortable than it has any right to be. But it kind of feels just like what he needed. Maybe he'll take Alphys up on her next invitation to hang out with people as a group.]
A very gentlemonster indeed! Even if you cat is less gentle. How did you come upon that adorable vagrant, anyhow?
[He should be getting ready to leave and yet he leans back in the chair more, taking another long sip of his coffee.]
Right through you?
[He blinks for a moment, confused. Sans isn't a... gho...s...t
Right. His face falls flat.]
Horrible. Horrible wordplay.
[He holds that face for a moment, then a smile breaks through and he shakes his head.]
How does your brother put up with you? Is he as much of a menace as you are?
i'm known for interesting ways of describing things.
[Which is itself an interesting way to describe himself as a pun gremlin.]
he's kind of ornery, but he's gentle unless he's feeling threatened. he must've been spooked about all that big outdoors. which is funny, cause he was a street cat when i found him. sorta. picked him outta a cardboard box in the middle of the rain. can you imagine? i was just walking by and happened to hear him yowling.
[His eyelights go distant for just a moment. Humans can be so...unremarkably callous. Just this casual ability to actively not give a shit about other living things. Is that worse than passively not giving a shit, the way Sans does when he's at his lower points? He doesn't know. That's one of those moral arguments he tries not to get into anymore.]
funny thing is i was just planning on giving him food and shelter for a bit until someone else could adopt him. didn't think i'd be able to handle, uh. looking after a pet. but he just kinda stuck around.
[Anyway, enough waxing nostalgic and vaguely depressing. His grin brightens and he chuckles like an asshole when Mettaton catches the pun.]
yeah, maybe you're right. was kinda hollow.
[He leans back languidly in his chair.] heh, that's a question i ask myself daily. but nah, he's a great guy. his puns are few and far between, but they're actually impressive.
[His eyes soften and he looks back towards the apartment to see 4 rolling on the floor with a toy ball. Such a sweet thing.]
It's surprising that no humans took him in. They love kittens.
[He shakes his head.]
But the world can be so complicated. Perhaps no one had the ability to take care of him until you.
[He turns back to Sans then with a smile.]
And now look at him. Loved, happy, and warm. He was lucky to have you find him.
[A little too sappy? Absolutely. Does Mettaton regret it? Not at all.]
Ugh. Terrible. Terrible! And to think you used to do standup. The audience should have booed you off the stage.
[All of that is said with a teasing tone. If he wasn't on the other side of the table, the way he says it would make it seem that he was gonna give Sans a gentle elbow to the ribs.]
I'm glad that you two get along so well. It's important that family loves each other.
[His soul feels warm at the thought of Napstablook and family.
He happens to glance down at his phone and starts for a moment.]
Oh, gracious, I hadn't realized how much time had passed. Alphys is going to be worried sick about me if I don't text her and head on over. I'm sorry to cut our conversation so short.
[The world is complicated. Humans are strange. He spent too much time thinking about all of that as it is. Instead, he smiles fondly.]
but it's good he got a happy ending. i mean, guess we both did. he's part'f the family now.
[He actually blushes faintly.]
heh, well. just glad i'm doin' right by him.
[It's weird to think of that he's actually doing a good job of taking care of something. Which is hypocritical, since he did pretty damn well taking care of Papyrus when they were growing up.]
[He laughs.]
pfft, i'm pretty sure they did at least once.
[That was half the fun, though.]
heh. i am too.
[He blinks and sits back up, glancing at the clock on the coffee machine.]
oh, damn. i'm sorry, i uh, totally lost track of time. you want a travel mug for the rest of your coffee? i got loads. people keep giving 'em to me.
[Mettaton stares at him for another moment longer before breaking out into a wide smile.]
Well, if you insist...
[He reaches for his side and after a bit of fumbling with his clothes, opens a compartment and pulls out a pen and paper. He scribbles something on it then hands it to the skeleton.]
Here you go, darling. It's my number. You should send me a text so I get yours too. Of course if you don't want my number, that's fine. I signed my name underneath so if you ripped off the number part, you could absolutely sell the autograph for a good buck.
[At first he's not sure what Mettaton is doing, but then he visibly brightens.]
aw, hey, that's nice of you. i can give it to my brother. uh, the autograph part, heh. he'll totally flip.
and, uh...thanks. it's gotta be kinda...well, a risk, i guess. giving your number out to people, i mean. i appreciate it.
[It's...weirdly generous. Weird only in that it makes Sans feel like Mettaton trusts him. It feels undeserved. But then again, it always does. He's not the most trustworthy guy. He could probably sell this number on the internet for way more than even the autograph would go for.]
thank you. it'll be cool to talk to you again sometime.
[Aw, shit. Yeah, Mettaton is definitely flirting with him now. Haha, he probably just does that with everyone though, right? He's Mettaton.]
oh, he's at least a thousand percent better than me in every way.
[Mettaton leans toward him and Sans sort of panics internally for a moment because he's not actually going to full-on kiss him, is he? The most confusing part of that is that Sans wouldn't even mind. There's some little flicker of warmth inside him that's almost hoping for it, inasmuch as he can really hope for anything at all, ever.]
[It's just a kiss on the cheek, though. Still nice, and easy to carefully interpret it as just a friendly sorta thing between...friends. Which is strange enough. A year ago, he never would have pegged himself as someone who could get along with Mettaton.]
[Friends. What a nice idea.]
heh...right, right.
[He grabs a travel mug from the closet--one of several that advertises the Ebbot Planetarium--and pours the rest of Mettaton's coffee into it. He seals it up and hands it to Mettaton.]
[And with that he makes a quick dash to the door. Before he completely leaves, however, 4 approaches him and he leans down to give the cat a friendly pat. And then, with a silent wink back towards Sans, he disappears out the door.]
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timeasmymeasure
PSL: Sans (punful): Lost Cat
Date: 2018-10-02 01:19 am (UTC)So he's walking down the street as best as he can, trying and failing at making the sound of his heels quiet when he hears a low hissing from ahead of him on the sidewalk. He looks up and sees a black cat with a bent ear, teeth bared at... a stray pumpkin. It swats at it a bit, not quite touching it, and Mettaton watches it idly. It's silly, no doubt about it, and when it bats the pumpkin and the gourd moves a bit causing the cat to hiss louder that gets a good chuckle out of the star.
It's right when he turns to walk away that the cat lashes out at the pumpkin again and sends it rolling. It's a quick succession of actions- the cat leaps backwards and yelps, the star looks back towards the animal in surprise at the sound, and the pumpkin rolls even faster towards the animal. Before Mettaton can comprehend it, there's the faint feeling of claws digging into his clothes and the tug of a weight scrambling up his back as the yowling continues and becomes unpleasantly close.]
HEY! AH!
[He spins around a bit, trying to reach back and grab at the cat currently climbing him like a mountain but the cat is faster and quickly climbs over his collar and scrambles into his coat and then, only then, does it stop moving, shaking where it hides.]
Oh you little mongrel, when I get a hold of you-!
[He's two seconds from tearing the little beastie off of his back when his fingers touch the lump hidden in his coat and it mewls pitifully. He stops there, surprised at how utterly pathetic it sounds. After a moment of quiet muttering he lowers his hands and begins to gently coax the cat out.]
Come out, you little furball, I'm not going to hurt you.
[It takes a bit more prompting and gentle pets through his now admittedly torn up fabric before the cat peeks its head out over his shoulder. Mettaton quickly plucks it out then and holds it out to stare at it critically.
It still looks.... pissed off. Mettaton narrows his eyes and then the cat, while still looking like it swallowed a lemon, lets out another pitiful cry. Mettaton glares at it for a moment and huffs, bringing the cat back to his chest and holding it properly.]
Yes yes, whatever, I'll take care of you for now. Let's see if we can't find out who around here is actually responsible for a menace like you.
[The cat settles into his hands rather quickly, clearly enjoying the gentle warmth of the robot's body as he continues to walk down the sidewalk in the same direction he was heading.]
uwa
Date: 2018-10-04 07:31 pm (UTC)[He's not even actually sure how 4 got out, he just knows he saw a black streak running for the bushes outside, and his first thought was "aw damn shoulda listened and gotten that collar" and then his second thought was "oh fuck, cars."]
[He's been out searching for two hours now, and at this point he's genuinely worried. He never really meant to have a cat, but he's gotten attached. 4 is basically family now. Sans really isn't sure what he'll do if the little guy gets himself killed. Rather, if Sans let the living thing he's supposed to be responsible for get killed.]
[It's kinda familiar.]
[He's trudging down the sidewalk, looking under porches and cars, holding a can of food in one hand and tapping on the lid every now and then. 4 always comes running when he hears the lid pop on a can of wet food, so maybe if he hears it...]
come on, buddy, where'd you go? 4?
no subject
Date: 2018-10-08 01:55 am (UTC)Is this your home? Or this?
[He kind of nudges the cat towards a random dwelling. The cat, in response, attempts to dig its claws into his "flesh" but just manages to make scratches in the metal. Mettaton swats the cat lightly but enough to get a point across. There's an answering hiss and a deepening of claws.]
No! Bad kitty! This is pure chrome plating! It is very expensive and luxurious. No ruining it with all your cuteness.
[Mettaton continues to walk down the street. He huffs and shoves his hands into his pockets.]
You know, you should be grateful that I am spending my precious time on this. I have very important places to be, and better ways to spend my time than chaperoning a lost cat.
[The robot only receives silence and he rolls his eyes. Ugh. Guess he's stuck with this animal longer. It's another couple of minutes of silence when he feels the cat give a start. It wriggles until it's poking its head out of his jacket, ears twitching this way and that. Apparently it hears something else because its eyes widen and its ears stand straight up.]
Oh no. Don't you dare-!
[The cat shoots off his shoulder like a rocket, yowling and meowing furiously as it takes off. Mettaton runs after it in alarm.]
Wait a minute, you do not get to menace me and then run off like nothing! I demand-!
[He turns the corner to see the cat running up to... another Monster. He slows down.]
...Restitution.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-10 01:05 am (UTC)[Then there's an abrupt, familiar yowl from around the corner and an actual voice answering. Sans pauses, straining to try and hear exactly where the sound came from. There's another meow, and yeah, it's nearby. Sans starts sort of speed-walking for the corner.]
hey, 4, that you, buddy?
[There's a black streak coming around the corner. Sans almost runs, then goes to a crouch so 4 can leap up into his arms. 4 looks a little disheveled, but otherwise alive and unhurt. Sans is instantly grinning again, even as 4 squirms around in his hold and attempts to shred his hoodie.]
heeeyy, there you are, you found me. hey, shh, it's okay. i gotcha.
[He manages to get in a quick hug before 4 squirms his way up and buries himself in the hood of Sans's hoodie. Well, at least there he's not digging in his claws. Sans laughs a little and looks up to see...]
[Oh, wow, okay. It's Mettaton. Sans had no idea the guy even lived around here.]
heya. uh, thanks for finding my cat.
[He kind of figures Mettaton was chasing 4, but he'll give him the benefit of the doubt.]
no subject
Date: 2018-10-15 03:14 am (UTC)He's pretty sure this monster's name is Sans. He sort of recognizes him from the Underground, when he would do stand up at his hotel. His eyes narrow a bit as he kind of takes in his whole demeanor.
Small. Looking a little grungy with an unwashed hoodie. That now looks a little worse what with having claw marks all over it. He's smiling. There's a kind of twinkle in those eye sockets of his that Mettaton is pretty sure he's never seen before. It's kind of cute. Regardless, he realizes that there has been a brief gap of silence after Sans spoke and Mettaton hastens to answer and not make it more awkward.]
It's more like your cat ambushed me into helping him. I was practically kidnapped to do so.
[He huffs a bit but then smiles, tossing his hair out of his face and smirking widely as he poses.]
But! I'm glad to have helped. Mettaton always saves the day! It's just what stars do.
[He relaxes and looks at Sans curiously.]
I suppose you live around here, yes?
no subject
Date: 2018-10-15 10:07 pm (UTC)[He does answer after a beat though, and Sans's smile broadens a little.]
yeah, that sounds like 4. i hope he wasn't too much of a cat-astrophe. heh, but seriously, thank you. he's not supposed to be outdoors.
[Of course he's not gonna actually admit to how worried he was, but there's real gratitude in his tone. Mettaton's an alright guy if he goes around rescuing cats.]
yeah, just a few houses down. [He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.] i didn't know you lived around here too. or you visiting someone? [A beat, then he chuckles.] ah, sorry. i'm bein' nosy. funny considering i don't have one.
[4 gives a grumpy rumble from within Sans's hoodie and Sans reaches back to give him a comforting pat.]
no subject
Date: 2018-10-16 03:03 am (UTC)That was an awful pun, you should be ashamed. As for Four, he was more of an idiot than anything. I found him trying to fight a pumpkin. He lost.
[There's a disparaging tone in there, but a definite undercurrent of amusement too. He's become attached to the cat, it seems.]
I'm visting Alphys, actually. I've been out on tour for awhile now and I promised I'd come see her. I guess it makes sense you live nearby. A lot of monsters still want to live near each other even though we're on the surface.
[This time he ignores the pun, opting to look out over the neighborhood at large.]
no subject
Date: 2018-10-16 11:32 pm (UTC)[He likes that, though. Papyrus's overreactions are great and Toriel's laughter is great, but sometimes it's also nice to get a smirk and a jibe instead. Amused acknowledgement or whatever you want to call it.]
[Sans chuckles again when he hears what 4 was getting up to.]
wow. acts like such a badass, defeated by a pumpkin. now that's shameful. maybe it'll teach him not to run outdoors.
[4 growls again and Sans can feel claws digging against the back of his neck for a moment.]
oh, okay, cool. yeah, i know her. that's nice of you to visit.
[He knows Alphys gets lonely, even with Undyne around. Alphys always seemed to have a pretty deep friendship with Mettaton.]
yeah, i've been here pretty much since the barrier came down. actually, i should probably get back. get this little hellion back indoors.
[He's starting to turn away and frame a nice goodbye and thanks, but then he hesitates. He does kind of owe Mettaton, right?]
hey, if you're not doing anything, you wanna come in? figure i can at least get you a cup of coffee or something, for rescuing my cat and all.
[His apartment is only kind of a mess right now. He's gotten a teensy bit better about that sort of thing since everyone got to the Surface. Plus Papyrus stopped by recently.]
no subject
Date: 2018-10-24 05:24 pm (UTC)Yes, he looked so brave right up until he was scaling my shoulder like a mountain to hide from a gourd.
[He smiles when Sans mentions knowing Alphys. He's pretty sure they're friends as well, even if she has never specified how they met or for how long. When Sans mentions needing to go back he smiles and gets ready to say good bye. This was a good distraction and surprisingly fun despite his clothes being partially ripped.
Then Sans turns around and asks if he wants to come in. What? He wasn't expecting that level of politeness from him. Mettaton blinks for a moment and then pulls his phone from his pocket to check the time. 12:47. He wasn't really supposed to be at Alphys until 1:30 anyway...
To probably both his and Sans's surprise he puts the phone away and smiles.]
Sure, darling! Lead the way. I'd love to see the home of the Great Pumpkin Slayer.
no subject
Date: 2018-10-26 03:14 am (UTC)[He'll have to give 4 some extra treats to make up for the trauma. As well as all the teasing.]
[Mettaton checks his phone, probably checking the time or for messages or something. A guy like him must be busy pretty much 24/7. It's a good bet that he doesn't have time to get coffee with a near stranger.]
[Sans brightens a little when Mettaton agrees, though. Papyrus keeps telling him that he needs to get out and socialize more, and that just going to bars doesn't count.]
cool. right back this way.
[He turns and leads Mettaton back to his apartment, a few doors down. He keeps one hand on 4 as he climbs the stairs, just in case 4 thinks about darting off again.]
[It's a very modest one-bedroom, right on the edge between okay and crappy. At least it seems to be somewhat clean. It doesn't even smell bad or anything. The kitchen has a small table with chipped edges and two mismatched chairs.]
it's not much, but uh, make yourself at home.
[Sans goes to the coffee pot to turn it on and dump some water into the chamber. Meanwhile 4 realizes that he's back in safety and jumps down from Sans's shoulders, disappearing into the bedroom with a mrrt.]
man, my brother's totally gonna think i'm lying when i tell him mettaton was in my apartment.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-02 02:56 am (UTC)It's actually not as bad as he thought it might be. It's certainly not the Ritz, but he can see its charm. It's cozy. He sits down on one of the mismatched chairs, trying and failing to elegantly tuck his long legs in as he does. He grins as Sans speaks.]
Your brother is a fan, is he? If you want you can give him my autograph as proof that the great Mettaton graced your apartment with his presence!
no subject
Date: 2018-11-17 09:25 pm (UTC)heh, i was thinkin' about asking, but i didn't wanna impose. you probably get asked that all the time, yeah? gotta get annoying after awhile. especially when you're just out doing your own thing and rescuing cats.
[Not that he'll refuse it if Mettaton does sign something, but it just seems...really tacky to ask, when Mettaton has already done him a favor. He's never really liked asking for things or owing people.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-18 04:13 am (UTC)[Mettaton laughs, watching Sans idly as he messes with the coffee pot. He leans to the side, head resting on an upturned palm as his shoulders shake gently with his laughter. There's an easy, relaxed air about him now that he doesn't have to worry about cameras, and it comes across in the careless smile that spreads across his face.]
I love giving autographs, actually. If I have the time I can make the message very personal to whoever I am writing it to.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-18 04:36 am (UTC)yeah? heh, well that'd be real nice of you. he'd absolutely love something like that. cherish it, i'd bet. i can dig out some paper or something in a bit.
[No need to rush. Coffee takes a minute, especially if you can't chug it while it's scalding or risk losing your 1 HP.]
so how's the music career going, anyway? i mean, heh, obviously well. you're in basically all the magazines ever.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-18 05:25 am (UTC)You can use the autograph as proof that I was actually here! I'll make it extra exclusive.
[He really should be checking the time, he knows. But the calmness of Sans's apartment and the unexpectedness of it all really makes him want to relish it. He hums a bit thoughtfully.]
I'd say it is going rather well! I'm currently working on a solo album while working on my third one with Blooky and the crew. This one is going to be more Monster oriented! Putting in some good Monster history to educate people! All three- four, of us, are very excited.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-18 09:16 pm (UTC)[Papyrus is gonna absolutely lose his shit.]
two albums at once? that's gotta be hard.
[It already seems like it's pretty hard just to make one album. Or hell, just to write a song at all. The idea of doing two at once sounds herculean.]
really? that's cool. there's never really any monster-y music on the radio. heh, except at halloween. it'd be great to hear something monster-themed in the top 40. i know i'm not the only guy who'd appreciate that sorta thing.
[He's heard fellow monsters talking about human pop music that mentions souls and how completely weird and wrong their perception of a soul seems to be. Takes you right out of the song.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 04:09 am (UTC)[Mettaton is always bursting with ideas and Blooky always has the spookiest of tunes, and with Mettaton and Shyren's singing and... that other one there, they're a better team than the robot could have ever imagined.]
Oh yes, that's why we all agreed that's what we wanted to do next. My manager was so jazzed about it- she listened to our first take with stars in her eyes, haha!
[He could go on forever about what he's been working on. But he's been trying to be more conscientious lately, more gracious and not in the blown up way he usually is. So he stops himself from saying more.]
What have you been up to, darling? Has the Surface been treating you well too?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 06:06 pm (UTC)[He just tends to let other people do all the work. It's a personal preference. And also depression.]
heh, man, that's gonna be so cool. i'll look out for it.
[He doesn't own all of Mettaton's albums but this one sounds like it's gonna be a must.]
me?
[He's openly surprised for a split second, but he covers it by turning back to the coffee pot and starting to pour mugs for them both. He just didn't really expect Mettaton to ask. Mettaton's the kind of guy who likes to talk about himself. Not that Sans would ever really judge anyone for that. It means less work for him, and less instances of having to open up to people.]
it's been good, for the most part. kinda took me awhile to get used to it all.
[That's putting it mildly, but no one needs to know about all the nasty details.]
but i dunno, i think i'm finally settling in. got a job. got my own place, got neighbors, the works. my brother's off at college in between ambassador stuff, and he's having a blast. learning all this new stuff, making a ton of friends. heh, he's happier than i've ever seen him, and that's saying a lot. so yeah. it's been good.
[And if he misses the hell out of Papyrus most days, well, that's neither here nor there. They talk online almost every day, so it's not...it's not like he's lonely or anything.]
how d'you take your coffee?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 03:36 am (UTC)And, after a split second of internal grumbling, it's not an entirely incorrect thought to have about him. But either way, he decides to let the offense go and instead opts for some laughter.]
Surprised, darling? I'm not always self-absorbed, just sometimes.
[He listens attentively, taking it all in. It all sounds... mundane. It's a completely different world than his. A different perspective of Surface life. There's a part of him that seems rather envious of it all. Which is a surprise since Sans is making coffee that definitely smells like the instant kind and he's rather partial to fresh grounded roasts.
All the same he smiles again.]
With some sugar, darling.
[He taps a finger to the side of his cheek, winks, then laughs.]
I don't like black coffee. It's too bitter for me.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 03:48 am (UTC)oh, uh. sorry. just figured, yanno. your life's way more interesting than mine, heh. the most exciting thing that's happened to me all week is my cat getting loose. 'sides, i prefer hearing people talk about themselves anyway.
[No, wait, that's not gonna cut it. Something something genuine apologies something something.]
er, what i mean is, i'm sorry if i offended you.
[God, being a Normal Person is so fucking hard. But at least Mettaton seems willing to move on. And--]
[Was that flirting? It sounded like flirting. Sans is bad at recognizing when someone is flirting, but that sounded like flirting. Hmmmmm.]
heh, monster after my own heart.
[He hasn't been able to drink black coffee since...well, never mind. In any case, he dumps a bit of sugar into Mettaton's, and a bunch of sugar into his own.]
these days i'm more of a latte guy anyway.
[He sets Mettaton's coffee in front of him and then sits down.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 04:26 am (UTC)Well, thank you darling. I appreciate it. But! No harm, no foul.
[He smirks a bit.]
A monster after your own heart, hm? I must be doing better than I thought.
[Why. Is he flirting. With Sans???? Is this really??? The time????
And yet. Here he is. Being the menace that he is. He doesn't seem all that receptive though so perhaps this isn't as big of a worry as it could be. There's never been anything wrong with harmless flirting, after all.]
You can do some really cute art with lattes, so I approve.
[He sits back in his chair, taking the coffee and drinking a sip. He smiles.]
Ah. Is this monster instant coffee, or human instant coffee?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 04:37 am (UTC)heh, okay. good.
[No, yup, he was right, that was flirting, because now Mettaton's doing it again. Wow. Wow? Wow. It's gotta just be a Mettaton thing, right? No one in the world wants to be with Sans. Even Dizzy Bunny, when she was up to her shenanigans, mostly just did it out of desperation. Plus she flirted with everyone. Yeah, okay. It's just Mettaton having some fun. Well, Sans can have some fun too. He levels a lazy grin at Mettaton.]
the joke being that i don't have one. but yeah, you're doing fine.
[That almost makes it sound like a challenge. Oops.]
i saw pictures one time of someone doing skulls with latte art. i can definitely get behind that sorta thing.
[He sips his own once he's noticed that Mettaton approves.]
it's monster coffee. human food's great, but it's kind of a pain in the ass for me. i generally just get monster stuff for simplicity's sake.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 01:24 pm (UTC)You don't have a heart? Mm, I highly doubt that Sans. You looked so desperate to find that cat of yours, it looked like your "imaginary heart" was fit to burst with worry.
[He hears a distant jingle of a bell. 4 must be playing with a cat toy. Very apt timing.]
You can't care for something if you don't have a heart. I'm sure you've got a sweet spot somewhere in there, even if you don't show it. Maybe one day you will though.
[He settles more into the chair, crossing his legs.]
Not to imply that you have been anything other than friendly with me though. I appreciate it.
[He's still having a surprisingly good time.]
Yes, that is true. Monster food is so much cleaner in how it goes down. I adore human food but sometimes it is just too solid. Makes you yearn for that classic- magic taste.
[He almost slipped. He almost said "ghost." He must be more relaxed than he thought. Perhaps he should go after he's done with his coffee.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 08:27 pm (UTC)[It's amusing, and kind of nice even, how quickly Mettaton is willing to defend Sans from himself. And he hadn't even meant it as his usual self-deprecation.]
[It's also...kind of nice for someone to call him out on caring about things. He needs to be reminded sometimes.]
glad to hear i've been a gentlemonster. my brother would probably kill me if i was anything less with the famous mettaton.
[Man, this is comfortable. Like having a friend over. Like hanging with Alphys.]
right? i have to sorta mix my own magic in if i wanna eat human food. otherwise it goes right through me. hehe.
[He winks at Mettaton.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-30 05:53 pm (UTC)[This is far more comfortable than it has any right to be. But it kind of feels just like what he needed. Maybe he'll take Alphys up on her next invitation to hang out with people as a group.]
A very gentlemonster indeed! Even if you cat is less gentle. How did you come upon that adorable vagrant, anyhow?
[He should be getting ready to leave and yet he leans back in the chair more, taking another long sip of his coffee.]
Right through you?
[He blinks for a moment, confused. Sans isn't a... gho...s...t
Right. His face falls flat.]
Horrible. Horrible wordplay.
[He holds that face for a moment, then a smile breaks through and he shakes his head.]
How does your brother put up with you? Is he as much of a menace as you are?
no subject
Date: 2018-12-01 01:46 am (UTC)[Which is itself an interesting way to describe himself as a pun gremlin.]
he's kind of ornery, but he's gentle unless he's feeling threatened. he must've been spooked about all that big outdoors. which is funny, cause he was a street cat when i found him. sorta. picked him outta a cardboard box in the middle of the rain. can you imagine? i was just walking by and happened to hear him yowling.
[His eyelights go distant for just a moment. Humans can be so...unremarkably callous. Just this casual ability to actively not give a shit about other living things. Is that worse than passively not giving a shit, the way Sans does when he's at his lower points? He doesn't know. That's one of those moral arguments he tries not to get into anymore.]
funny thing is i was just planning on giving him food and shelter for a bit until someone else could adopt him. didn't think i'd be able to handle, uh. looking after a pet. but he just kinda stuck around.
[Anyway, enough waxing nostalgic and vaguely depressing. His grin brightens and he chuckles like an asshole when Mettaton catches the pun.]
yeah, maybe you're right. was kinda hollow.
[He leans back languidly in his chair.] heh, that's a question i ask myself daily. but nah, he's a great guy. his puns are few and far between, but they're actually impressive.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-06 04:10 pm (UTC)[His eyes soften and he looks back towards the apartment to see 4 rolling on the floor with a toy ball. Such a sweet thing.]
It's surprising that no humans took him in. They love kittens.
[He shakes his head.]
But the world can be so complicated. Perhaps no one had the ability to take care of him until you.
[He turns back to Sans then with a smile.]
And now look at him. Loved, happy, and warm. He was lucky to have you find him.
[A little too sappy? Absolutely. Does Mettaton regret it? Not at all.]
Ugh. Terrible. Terrible! And to think you used to do standup. The audience should have booed you off the stage.
[All of that is said with a teasing tone. If he wasn't on the other side of the table, the way he says it would make it seem that he was gonna give Sans a gentle elbow to the ribs.]
I'm glad that you two get along so well. It's important that family loves each other.
[His soul feels warm at the thought of Napstablook and family.
He happens to glance down at his phone and starts for a moment.]
Oh, gracious, I hadn't realized how much time had passed. Alphys is going to be worried sick about me if I don't text her and head on over. I'm sorry to cut our conversation so short.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-07 02:35 am (UTC)[The world is complicated. Humans are strange. He spent too much time thinking about all of that as it is. Instead, he smiles fondly.]
but it's good he got a happy ending. i mean, guess we both did. he's part'f the family now.
[He actually blushes faintly.]
heh, well. just glad i'm doin' right by him.
[It's weird to think of that he's actually doing a good job of taking care of something. Which is hypocritical, since he did pretty damn well taking care of Papyrus when they were growing up.]
[He laughs.]
pfft, i'm pretty sure they did at least once.
[That was half the fun, though.]
heh. i am too.
[He blinks and sits back up, glancing at the clock on the coffee machine.]
oh, damn. i'm sorry, i uh, totally lost track of time. you want a travel mug for the rest of your coffee? i got loads. people keep giving 'em to me.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-09 04:57 am (UTC)[He collects his things as fast as possible, donning his hat and coat in a flash. He blinks a bit at Sans's suggestion.]
Oh... are you sure? I don't want to take your things.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-09 11:44 pm (UTC)[It's a tentative suggestion, though his voice is level. It's been surprisingly nice talking to Mettaton and...honestly, he wants to do it again.]
no subject
Date: 2018-12-17 03:56 am (UTC)Well, if you insist...
[He reaches for his side and after a bit of fumbling with his clothes, opens a compartment and pulls out a pen and paper. He scribbles something on it then hands it to the skeleton.]
Here you go, darling. It's my number. You should send me a text so I get yours too. Of course if you don't want my number, that's fine. I signed my name underneath so if you ripped off the number part, you could absolutely sell the autograph for a good buck.
[He winks.]
no subject
Date: 2018-12-17 04:21 am (UTC)aw, hey, that's nice of you. i can give it to my brother. uh, the autograph part, heh. he'll totally flip.
and, uh...thanks. it's gotta be kinda...well, a risk, i guess. giving your number out to people, i mean. i appreciate it.
[It's...weirdly generous. Weird only in that it makes Sans feel like Mettaton trusts him. It feels undeserved. But then again, it always does. He's not the most trustworthy guy. He could probably sell this number on the internet for way more than even the autograph would go for.]
thank you. it'll be cool to talk to you again sometime.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 06:02 am (UTC)[He laughs then and leans forward suddenly, pressing a quick but soft kiss to Sans's cheek.]
I look forward to seeing you again. Now, about that coffee?
[He looks ready to sprint out the door; unsurprising, seeing as his phone is suddenly blowing up with texts.]
no subject
Date: 2018-12-29 11:16 pm (UTC)oh, he's at least a thousand percent better than me in every way.
[Mettaton leans toward him and Sans sort of panics internally for a moment because he's not actually going to full-on kiss him, is he? The most confusing part of that is that Sans wouldn't even mind. There's some little flicker of warmth inside him that's almost hoping for it, inasmuch as he can really hope for anything at all, ever.]
[It's just a kiss on the cheek, though. Still nice, and easy to carefully interpret it as just a friendly sorta thing between...friends. Which is strange enough. A year ago, he never would have pegged himself as someone who could get along with Mettaton.]
[Friends. What a nice idea.]
heh...right, right.
[He grabs a travel mug from the closet--one of several that advertises the Ebbot Planetarium--and pours the rest of Mettaton's coffee into it. He seals it up and hands it to Mettaton.]
be, uh. be seeing you, metta.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 12:11 am (UTC)Until next time, Sans!
[And with that he makes a quick dash to the door. Before he completely leaves, however, 4 approaches him and he leans down to give the cat a friendly pat. And then, with a silent wink back towards Sans, he disappears out the door.]