[Mettaton sees a text from Frisk and pauses before opening it. They don't know that he knows they know his "little secret". It makes him... less inclined to want to speak to them. But after a moment's debate, he opens it. Shit, he thinks, managing to internalize his thoughts before saying it out loud in front of his current companion.]
[They found a stack of cards written a long time ago. A month ago, they think. There's a post-it note stuck to the top, cheerfully proclaiming - "for Thanksgiving!"
They suppose they should hand them out. There's a...a twinge of something when they look at the topmost one. The one that should go to the bed beside them. The empty bed. Their SOUL starts to...ache.
They swallow. They swallow very, very hard. Screw their eyes shut, blink rapidly. Something's off. Something's different.
They feel...empty. Not empty like they have before.
Worse empty.
They have to make it go away. So they make it go away the only way they can think of. They hand the notes out. Maybe if they do that, it'll go away, and they can feel nothing again. Go back to feeling nothing at all.
So on Thanksgiving Day, Mettaton will find a card beneath his door.
On the outside:]
[And within:]
"Dear Mettaton,
Thank you for listening to me when I told you about how things were before I fell. Not everyone understands. I didn't mean to make you feel guilty for something you didn't do. You did your best to listen.
You've done a lot for me since you came here. I love you a lot, OK?
[When he finds the card, slipped under his door much like Blooky's note had been a few weeks ago, he at first doesn't want to read it. It's silly, but he worries it might be something bad once again, and he doesn't know if he can deal with it right now.
Eventually he does actually read what is on the front of the card and deems it safe to open. When he reads its contents he feels a now familiar swoop of pain and regret. Why would they write this for him if they never cared for him? How could they have written this if they can't feel anything right now?
He resolves to throw it away. After all, if they truly mean what they said in this card, they should say so instead of telling him they don't. Mettaton places the card next to the bouquet that Papyrus gave him a few months ago. He'll throw it away later.
[Whenever Mettaton arrives in his room, he'll find someone's been doodling on his mirror. It's mostly gibberish, but one thing that looks normal-ish is a messy, orange X. Underneath that is some writing.]
Digging where you're not needed or wanted is fun for one but not for everyone. What are you looking for, little robot toy?
[It had been strange, no longer smashing his mirror every day as had been his routine since the beginning of September. He still covers it however, not entirely comfortable with the idea of his Mirror being able to see him at any time. He does, however, peek behind it now and then. If anyone asked, he'd say it was an accident but... truly, he is checking to see if his Other wrote on it.
When he looks this time, he sees writing but instantly knows it is not his mirror who wrote it. It puts him on the defensive immediately, other people's mirrors not leaving the best impression on him the few times he spoke to them. However, he can't take being called a toy without some kind of retort (curse his pride!) so he speaks, removing the blanket from the mirror.]
[They haven't been on the best of terms for a long while now. It doesn't matter, then, if he can't discern who might have left him this gift. There's no note in any case. No indication of who it might be from.
It's a sweater - not striped, of course, but knit with soft yarn in a shade of pale lavender. They had to guess his size, but they had plenty of time, in the hours they spent keeping themself awake, to do little else besides knit and knit and plan.
He doesn't have to know it was them. It won't matter anyway. Even if he figures it out...eventually he won't know.
[They can see Frisk was here before them, too. It's proof, at least, that they're still alive.
Ha ha.
They do actually bother to wrap this present nicely, because they doubt Mettaton would be happy with the "I don't really care" newspaper-wrapping or plastic-bag kind of treatment. They don't sign it, though, just like they don't sign anything else they're giving anyone. He can just assume it's from an adoring fan, maybe.
...
It's one of those "make yourself more rectangular" beauty kits.
Another cardboard cut-out of himself wouldn't fit into the gift box, you see.]
[Bucky's not good at this anymore, but he figures Mettaton knows him well enough by now to know that. They've had a rocky road the past month or so and have a lot they need to talk about, but none of that matters when Christmas rolls around.
He leaves two packages by Mettaton's door. One with the robot's name on it and the other marked for Mini. The first, for his son, is filled with all sorts of random shiny things courtesy of the closet. Forks, rings, cellphones, and even some oddly shaped glittering toys.
The second, Mettaton's, is wrapped in brown, plain paper tied with simple string. Inside, Mettaton will find a black and white diamond encrusted microphone along with a note. He's not sure if it's real or not, the closet again, but he'd tried to find something that Mettaton could use and was nice. The note says, your friendship meant everything to me. i'd like to make it right. - bucky.]
ok I Had to write a reaction to this, don't mind me!!
[Mini is absolutely DELIGHTED with the new gifts, throwing themself into the package immediately, chattering away with nonsense as they play with the glittering toys and throw the forks around.
Mettaton decides to let them make a mess for a bit, as he unwraps the other gift curiously. He's left speechless for a moment as he turns the microphone over in his hand, the diamonds catching the light and shining brilliantly. He's snapped out of his thoughts by a small robotic hand grasping for it and he pulls away, chiding Mini gently as the tiny child pouts.
THE POINT WHERE THEY SEEMED TO SHOW A GENUINE INTEREST IN LEARNING THE ART! BESIDES, THEY CAN'T USE THAT CHEMISTRY SET TO MAKE A COMPLETELY FUNCTIONING BOMB! IF THEY LEARN HOW TO MESS WITH THESE THINGS SAFELY, IT'S BETTER FOR THEM IN THE LONG RUN.
[It's not wrapped or even in a bag. Sans is terrible at giving gifts, especially when the holidays have been so shit, especially when he's exhausted, and especially when gifts have kind of been the last thing on his mind. But, whatever. The thought that counts or something.]
[It's a robotic dog. The kind that does little flips, makes barking noises, responds to your voice, fetches a little electronic bone--that sort of thing. Everyone likes dogs, right?]
[Attached is a post-it note with the message, figured you needed a friend almost as talented as you. -sans]
12/28 left at his door (Reaction!! I couldn't help this one lol)
[This new gift, left outside Mettaton's door, is initially found by Mini Metta. They promptly lose their mind and let out a screech of binary babble, jumping onto its back and riding it for a full minute before Mettaton comes out to see what's the matter.
When he finally wrangles them and the "dog", he reads the post-it note and grins. Well. Good thing he acknowledged this dog doesn't hold a candle to him. Mini continues to beep happily as they lead their new pet back into the room.]
[Do forgive him for being so late. You could understand if he slept through Christmas, right?]
[Wrapped up in the box is a little care package for Mettaton: A copper bracelet, an incense burner with some lavender incense to burn and instructions on how to use it, and, of course, more flowers. There is a Victorian Christmas card and a note which reads:]
Dear Mettaton,
Thank you so much for helping me get acquainted with Wonderland and the new technologies. I don't think I would have gotten so used to the strangest of residents without your help. You are a most entertaining friend, and I couldn't ask for anything more enchanting.
Merry Christmas from your friend, Dorian Gray
P.S. As I wrapped up my gifts, I remembered that you may not have a sense of smell on account of being a living machine. If you are unable to enjoy the incense, you can give it to someone who can. I won't mind.
[ As much as Darcy might've liked to get everything out in time, Wonderland had a weird way of screwing up her plans. So, after a solid day's sleep, she starts making her rounds - dropping off gifts on each floor while using a little red wagon. In front of Mettaton's door, he'll find a basket that contains:
There's a note dangling from one of the handles that reads:
Hope Wonderland's attempts at holiday cheer didn't go too poorly for you. Here are a few supplies to help get back into the swing of things. Happy Holidays!
[Mettaton gets a lava lamp with built-in speaker for all your music playing needs. Definitely not big enough for a party, but good for personal use. A small tag reads, "Merry ChristMax!"]
[It's certainly a new thing he's never seen before. The lava lamp, at least. He understands the speaker and how it works, but when he finally gets the goop to start moving, he oohs and ahhs as it floats. Mini Metta is also transfixed and they end up losing about half an hour to staring before realizing they should probably not be doing what they are doing. He chuckles a little at the pun, and he places the lava lamp on a special desk with a sparkling microphone, a bouquet of flowers, and a pink scarf he can't bear to put away.]
[Guess who saw the tear with King Mettaton in it? This guy!]
Ah, Mettaton? It seems the tear where you had apperently taken over the world is a lot more dangerous than I first thought. I wouldn't go through it if I were you.
-Don't worry, I've kept my distance from... Er... That.
[Oh great. Mettaton had been hoping not that many people would have seen that particular tear but of COURSE one of the ones who did had to be one of his good friends.]
That warning is a bit late, I'm afraid. I've gone in twice now. I'm glad you didn't go in.
[It's taken Georgia a while to send this message. Partly because she's been busy and while she hates leaving a thread unfollowed, she has higher priorities than Mettaton. Partly because she wanted to be sure of what she's going to say and ask. She's a journalist. She'd rather be in control, if she can pull it off.
[Well that's a surprising text to receive from someone you haven't talked to all that often! But other than it being slightly suspicious, he has no real reason to think anything ill of her intentions, so he shoots back a quick confirmation and sets out to the gardens.
When he gets there he looks around for her, wondering if she got there first or if he'll be waiting for her. When he spots her he walks up, curious.]
Hello there, Georgia! It's a beautiful day for a meeting in the gardens. Is there a particular reason you wanted to set this up?
[ Whenever Mettaton steps out, he'll find a neatly wrapped package dressed up in sparkly purple paper. Inside, he'll find a flashy pattern backpack. Besides the present is also a christmas bouquet, with flowers she picked just for him. On top of the present, there's a cute holiday themed card from Sayaka written in pink ink. ]
Merry Christmas, Mettaton! I hope you have a happy holiday. ♥
[There's an entire box full of Hershey's Kisses--the cookies and cream kind. There's also two bottles of whiskey and an extremely soft and fuzzy pink blanket. Folded into the middle of the blanket is something else--a small stone made of white quartz that's carved into a heart shape. With the stone is a note that reads thank you for saving me.]
[There is also, for some reason, a small bundle of mistletoe. Almost like a suggestion.]
[When Mettaton finds the gift, he grins at the candy. Of course. It's like an inside joke for the two of them now. The whiskey is much appreciated and he eyes it curiously, looking at the proof. The blanket is immediately commandeered by Mini and Mettaton smiles as they roll in it.
The stone makes him stop in his tracks. He holds it delicately in his hands and he feels something swell in his soul that he doesn't care to name. That one he places on a small bedside desk that holds a scarf and a special bouquet of flowers. It feels appropriate to put it there.
The mistletoe, now... that is intriguing in more ways than one. He places a few sprigs into one of his side compartments. Perhaps he'll give Sans a bit of a surprise in the future. He thinks he'd like that.]
[Very messily wrapped outside Mettaton's door is a hot pink (to match his chassis)... taser???
When testing the taser, it apparently doesn't cause electric shock, only a very colorful and sparkling light show. It could even be useful during performances, perhaps? But mostly it's a novelty toy.
It has "MTT" engraved in the side, but no mark of who it's from.]
[There’s a painting left on Mettaton’s doorstep, with a tag that says, ‘Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Turing’
The painting is question is black with plenty of multicolored spotlights streaming through the painting. It appears that this is a homage to Mettaton’s superstar history!]
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