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D arkness, an oppressive shroud, wrapped around her, each layer growing denser, darker, and seemingly boundless. In this void, her hands existed as phantom entities—she couldn’t see them, yet the sensation of fingers curling and flexing lingered, an intangible presence etched into the fabric of her being.
A slow turn of her head revealed nothing but an endless expanse of obscurity in every direction. It felt as though she were ensnared in a relentless spin, a helpless dance within an abyss of uncertainty.

Where was she?

Her lips parted in an attempt to vocalize her disorientation, but the profound silence swallowed her attempts. No sound echoed in this boundless void, and the eerie quietness only intensified the disconcerting ambiance.

“It’s your fault.”

A haunting whisper sliced through the silence, resonating in the void. Her head jerked in search of the source, a futile attempt to discern the origin of the familiar yet faint voice. "Who's there?" she attempted to voice, but the unanswered question lingered in the silence like a spectral echo.
“It’s your fault. All. Your. Fault. ”
The voice persisted, an accusatory chant that reverberated like a broken record stuck in a nightmarish loop. Intent clung to the repetition, an intent that manifested as a rapid pounding in her chest, an unsettling rhythm that synchronized with the words that refused to dissipate.

In the disorienting darkness, the pieces of a puzzle started to assemble within her mind. Wasn’t that her voice? The whispers seemed to be fragments of her own fears, resurrected in this nebulous realm.

The crimson gaze, full of hate, desperation, and loss, materialized before her. Hate-filled eyes met hers, and her silent pleas for answers reverberated in the void.

“Pretend all you want. But I know better…”

The voice abandoned its whisper, becoming a cacophony that encircled her. Panic surged, prompting her to cover her ears in a futile attempt to silence the relentless accusation. This was more than anxiety; it was an immersive nightmare, a manifestation of dread that surpassed the boundaries of mere dreams.

A force jerked her chin, and her face was pulled forward in a vice-like grip. Though pain eluded her, the experience felt excruciatingly real. Dark brown eyes widened as they met a crimson vision, the right eye replaced by blinding golden light. A glint of silver, something sharp, captured her attention before–

dust.

“I T ' S
A L L
Y O U R
F A U L T !”

Her eyes snapped open, heart and soul pounding in a rapid rhythm. She felt the palpitations echo in her chest, each beat reverberating through her being. Grounding herself, she found solace in the sweating cup before her. Cool water against her fingertips served as an anchor, a lifeline back to reality after the surreal descent into an unexpected nightmare.Ha. Wasn’t coffee supposed to help keep someone awake? Unfortunately it didn’t apply to her. Stars, it didn't even calm her nerves as she hoped it would.
Furrowing her brows, she attempted to grasp the fragments of the dream—those haunting whispers, the accusing gaze, the blinding light. Yet, like fleeting shadows, the details slipped away, leaving her with an unsettling sense of unease before any sense could come of it. Dreams could be elusive, she knew that much; slipping through the grasp of memory, but this wasn’t just any dream—it lingered in her thoughts like a wisp of disquiet, blurred images of what was once unconscious thought. No matter how hard she tried, how hard she focused with her narrowed gaze to seek it out, it wasn’t in her mind’s reach.
She consciously grounded herself at last, coaxing her tense muscles to relax now that she’d given up. "Chill out, Lex. You’re just nervous, that’s all. You’ve been stressed all week; something like this was bound to happen," she reminded herself under soft breath, allowing the calming thought to wash over her.Stress forced a lot of unwelcome things, she’d deduced after personal experience. Like migraines.The internal pep talk worked its magic, and she finally lifted her gaze from the little table, turning her attention to the window right of her. The warm sun, accompanied by several clouds, painted the sky—a blend of summer's lingering warmth and the gentle caress of fall. Lex observed the downtown portion of Ebott buzzing with activity. People were immersed in the simple joys of life—walking, shopping, and relishing the warm sun and cool air, mirroring her own leisurely demeanor.Lex absorbed the vibrant atmosphere, allowing the ebb and flow of daily life to serve as a soothing backdrop. The external world, with its familiar rhythm and seasonal transitions, provided a comforting contrast to the enigmatic dreamscape that lingered in her thoughts.It was the end of July, which marked the last of summer's final embrace and the promise of fall's arrival. The impending season brought with it a palpable energy, with many preparing for the upcoming fall semester and the holidays that would follow. The collective anticipation hung in the air, creating a sense of bustling excitement in the town. Lex's thoughts shifted with that excitement to the underlying reason she’d come to Ebott—college. The significance of the academic pursuit that had brought her here was something she’d dreamed of and worked hard for, especially against the opposition of her parents. The town of Ebott had garnered considerable attention, not solely due to its openness to Monster kind, albeit with certain limitations. The integration of monsters into human society had become a subject of public interest. However, the real catalyst for the surge in Ebott's popularity and population in the past year lay in the exploration of magic.The emergence of the "ambassador" and the willingness of a few monsters to elucidate the intricacies of magic had captivated human curiosity. The once-hidden magic became a beacon, drawing humans toward the desire to rediscover the magic wells within their own souls. The allure of this mystical force had driven an influx of people into Ebott for the purpose of exploring their “lost powers.”Unexpectedly, the town had transformed into a nexus where the boundaries between humans and monsters blurred. Lex contemplated the evolving dynamics, recognizing the town's newfound prominence as a hub for magical discovery and cross-species interaction, except such things did not come without limitations. The immediate acceptance of this magical integration wasn't a universal sentiment, especially considering the skepticism and aversion that accompanied the sudden appearance of monsters from beneath the mountain. The notion of creatures emerging magically—no pun intended—from the depths below the mountain had naturally instilled fear and uncertainty among humans.At fifteen, Lex witnessed the unfolding drama as monsters made their debut on the surface. The initial reactions were far from unanimous acceptance; instead, there was an undercurrent of fear and mistrust toward these towering creatures. She acknowledged the prevalent sentiment, recognizing that her perspective differed from the majority. The national television broadcasts were ablaze with coverage, featuring the "human ambassador" prominently in every interview. The ambassador served as a crucial bridge between the two worlds, attempting to unravel the mysteries surrounding the monsters' arrival and the integration of their magical practices into human society.Lex, caught in the whirlwind of confusion and intrigue, reminisced about that time. The world grappled with the sudden emergence of beings whose names eluded her memory—even the human she could not recall; something starting with an F, perhaps Farley or Fern. The uncertainty of those early days took the world by storm, leaving an indelible mark on history and shaping the trajectory of Ebott's transformation into a town of newfound possibilities; or at least, eventually.
As she settled into town a couple weeks prior, she acknowledged that her understanding of the complex history and the magical integration would likely deepen with time. She was aware of some laws in place for the monsters; they were only allowed to live in Ebott and were required to have special identification to go outside the town, being one of them. While relatively harmless and similar in nature to a driver’s license or a passport, it was still just one law amongst many that subjugated monsters to the little town of Ebott.She expected to learn about said laws once she began her classes in Ebott's first Hope and soul College of Magic. This institution stood at the forefront of the town's popularity, casting a spotlight not only on the monsters surfacing from the mountain but also on the potential harmony between humans and monsterkind through the exploration of soul magic.Soul magic defined their very essence. However, monsters had stated that humans also possessed this magical essence, and in some cases, their soul magic might be even more potent. Years of neglect and disuse had buried this magic deep within the human psyche. The King of Monsters himself had clarified that it was human magic that sealed monsters away, but forgiveness and unity were possible if they could work together, letting magic be the force that bridged the gap between the two species. Despite unacceptance from the majority, the dream of unity through magic resonated not only with those of Ebott but also captured the imagination of people beyond its borders. Before she was seventeen, the announcement of the college coincided with her plans for higher education. This led to a wave of applications from individuals of various ages and backgrounds, each drawn to Hope and Soul College of magic with the shared goal of learning about magic in its entirety.Monsters took on the role of instructors at the college; they were the embodiment of magic, after all, so it was only fitting. Lex, aware of the unique opportunity she had, marveled at the idea of being taught by beings who intimately understood the very essence that made up their lives. The college became a symbol of collaboration and understanding, fostering an environment where humans and monsterkind could come together to explore and embrace the magic that connected them all. Though, she hated to think there would be classes for only humans or monsters. She admitted she’d lied to her parents about that little detail; telling them there would be classes that she’d take that were human only in order to earn their approval, but deep down, she hoped her lie was just that, a lie. Maybe part of her understood the reasoning behind some classes requiring them to be separated, considering students still required their general education and their cultures were vastly different. Yet, it was all the more reason to have the classes together, to learn about one another. What did monsters know about the surface in the past ten years? Had some of them dedicated themselves to the sciences or perhaps mathematics? What about the trades? She’d learned some monsters specialized in certain areas rather than the education-enforced ones.She felt herself drifting off
in thought again before a passing leaf broke her dissociating stare. She blinked her dark brown eyes before sitting up and taking a soft breath to catch up to the present. She lifted her glass, her fingers damp from the slightly sweating glass as she sipped her iced mocha through the small, black straw against the edge. She continued to stare out the window, taking in the scenery outside while she finished the last of her coffee. She glanced at a couple, monster and human, smiling and chatting back and forth between each other. The monster was a tall rabbit with near baby blue fur, tall and lanky, almost awkward if he didn’t seem so pleased with sharing a conversation with the human next to him. The guy beside him, a blonde man who’s clean shaven chin bobbed slightly with his own words, seemed unperturbed and engrossed in whatever their subject entailed. The sight was nice, Lex concluded. Not everyone was completely welcoming of a monster’s company, but Ebott had a decade to get over the nonsense that plagued the rest of the world. Ebott was not perfect, by any means, but it was more than safe to say that monsters were welcomed here. Unfortunately, some people never changed.Lex refocused her attention on the newspaper sitting on the table laid out in front of her, not wanting to spoil her early afternoon with negative thoughts. She’d had enough of those already between her family back home and her future.The journey to gain admission to the college had been demanding, requiring vigorous efforts and navigating through a series of exams, not to mention she had to pass a LoVe ( Level of Violence) exam. Soul magic was the heart of the college's curriculum; it was treated with utmost seriousness and sensitivity. When she’d asked about the details, she’d been told that the exam was to ensure that her soul was eligible. While it confused her further–seeing she had little knowledge as it was–she believed it was so they didn’t just let anyone into the college that could possibly cause issues for both parties. She’d heard inklings about the potential corruption of souls when she went online for information after the fact. The specifics remained elusive, leaving her to wonder if it resembled the gradual deterioration of one's mind, akin to conditions like Alzheimer's, or if it took on a different form altogether. Her inclination leaned toward the latter due to simple ignorance.With a deep sigh, Lex set her empty glass down, her mind dwelling on the commitment she had shown to gain entry into the college. Passing the exams, especially that LoVe exam, were crucial steps in getting her enrollment. The pursuit of understanding drove her, and she was willing to immerse herself in the classes, despite the challenges that lay ahead. Sure, she wasn’t the best test taker, but if magic was as hands on as she expected, she’d pick it up–eventually. After all, she’d always believed in magic. Even now, at twenty-five, she’d claimed all the weird shit in her life was ‘cause of magic.
Like that time her boiling water caught on fire while she was making ramen; it had to be magic. How could water catch on fire? Magic, she noted. Definitely wasn’t an exaggeration following her poorly executed attempt to make ramen.
A chuckle escaped her as she playfully ruffled the newspaper, turning its pages with a deliberate pace. Her dark brown eyes scanned the text carefully, absorbing the information at her thorough speed. Grateful for the serene ambiance of the little café she frequented, Lex appreciated the absence of the loud and obnoxious atmosphere reminiscent of a Starbucks back in her hometown. The quaint pastry and coffee shop provided a tranquil haven for her contemplations on magic and the unfolding mysteries of souls.Lex's fascination with the monsters of Muffet's Pastries and Delights was a testament to her open-mindedness. The first time she’d dropped in, she was surprised that the coffee shop was run by spiders of all things. She wasn’t a fan of normal spiders, but these little helpers were everything but the norm. Miss Muffet herself was something to gawk at, but Lex pushed down that intimidation with hope to welcome the oddity. The efficiency and skill of these small monsters in delivering drinks and food never ceased to amaze her. Rather than being bothered by their presence after some acquaintance, she’d found it captivating, appreciating the unique charm they brought to the quaint pastry and coffee shop.Miss Muffet, the larger, more humanoid spider monster who led this unusual staff, added to the allure with her remarkable taste in both fashion and culinary creations. Her apparel was always luxurious between lace and gothic fabrics to match her cafe. The famous Doughnuts were what made her so popular among both humans and monsters. Lex had grown to be a regular customer in the two weeks she’d spent in Ebott thus far; her addiction to coffee found satisfaction through these eight-legged staff, prompting her to consider a more personal interaction with Miss Muffet.Her visit to Muffet's Pastries and Delights had a specific purpose beyond her usual indulgence in coffee and warm scones. Today, she sought to broach the subject of potential living arrangements with the spider monster. While she wasn't homeless, she recognized the importance of securing a place to live to adhere to the college's requirements. The unexpected stipulation in her acceptance letter mandated that students, especially humans, should reside with a monster for safety reasons. The idea was not just for protection but also for a more immersive learning experience, with monsters actively contributing to the teaching of magic and monitoring of studies and practices at home.Lex acknowledged the ethical considerations behind this requirement, but the reality of coexistence between monsters and humans, even after a few years, proved to be more challenging than anticipated. As a newcomer to the town, Lex faced the task of finding a willing monster companion to meet the college's criteria and ensure her successful integration into the college. There were dorms on campus, that much she knew, but she’d heard they were for upper class students.
Grappling with the prospect of finding a monster willing to take her in, she recognized the challenge of being a stranger seeking a living arrangement. Aware of the necessity to fulfill this requirement for her enrollment, she considered Miss Muffet as her initial and perhaps best option. Their frequent interactions and engaging conversations made the spider monster a familiar face and a potential ally in the endeavor.Sighing, Lex looked up from the newspaper, diverting her attention from the written words to the scene unfolding in the café. Miss Muffet was engaged in conversation at the front counter with a bunny monster, a customer in the process of purchasing a box of pastries. The size of the box, held by the smaller monster, left little room for doubt about its contents. She couldn’t make out their conversation, even if their voices carried. The two monsters spoke in Font, a language only monster’s could speak. While it was said the language was extremely difficult for humans to learn–for reasons unknown to her–she’d wondered if it’d be offered at her college, like Spanish and French classes in highschool.
Not that she had the patience for those then, but she would definitely try to learn Font. The language itself was a make up of sounds rather than words, and it definitely left her curious as to why. Miss Muffet sounded like a soft purr of the wind, while her customer sounded like crunching leaves underfoot.
As Miss Muffet bid farewell with a toothy smile and waved the bunny along, Lex observed the departure of the customer, signaled by the gentle chime of the café's bell above the door.It was at this moment that Miss Muffet noticed Lex's gaze. The spider monster, with her five large, obsidian orbs, acknowledged her returning human customer’s presence. The brief pause in the bustling café provided an opportunity for Lex to approach the subject that weighed heavily on her mind.Lex sat upright, offering a lively wave to Miss Muffet. “Morning, Miss Muffet. Slow morning?” she remarked, placing her newspaper on the table once more.
Miss Muffet's laughter, akin to a cascade of delicate chimes, filled the air as she gracefully swayed, managing a pitcher in one of her eight arms and an ice-filled glass in another. A third arm pressed a delicate hand
to her fangs as she approached. Her smooth and silky furred arms were a soft violet color, matching much of the aesthetic of her pastry shop. “Oh dearie, you must understand it’s only the beginning of the day!” she chimed, her full six-foot-one-inch height commanding attention as she handed Lex another iced mocha with a gracious smile. While it wasn’t the tallest, it was still impressive; she’d once said she was a medium sized monster. All monsters, except a select few, were on the taller and bigger side. “Now, you must forgive me for prying into whatever humans find enjoyment in,” she cooed with a hint of playful annoyance in her tone, “but what in the stars are you doing noseying about in that thing? I see you grappling with it every time you come in. I didn’t think the human cartoons here in Ebott were that captivating!”Lex chuckled, playfully flicking the newspaper as she considered her answer. “Lots of stuff if I can ignore the cartoons,” she replied finally and shared a smile. “Though, I’m looking for more specifics.”Miss Muffet hummed with an upturned smile and narrowed eyes. “Are you a gossiper, dearie? Oh, I do love a good gossip,” she said, hand on her chest, while her spiderlings efficiently took the pitcher away.Shaking her head, Lex looked back at the newspaper with a heavy sigh, allowing herself to slouch back ever so slightly as she crossed her leg over the other. “Unless the newspaper is whispering about an opening somewhere for an HSCM student to take residence, then I’m afraid not,” she said, infusing light cheer into her voice but allowing a hint of disappointment to linger.Miss Muffet tilted her head, her smile shifting slightly with the answer. Her eyes regarded Lex a bit longer before she lifted a hand, holding her chin between a knuckle and thumb, with two arms crossed over her chest and the others on her hips. “Hope and Soul College of Magic?” She confirmed with a glance between Lex and the newspaper. “I see. I was not aware you were a student, dearie.”Lex nodded with a hopeful smile, her gaze meeting Miss Muffet's obsidian-eyed scrutiny. The rhythmic clack of the spider monster's toed heels on the checkered tile echoed through the cafe, creating an oddly comforting background to their conversation.As Lex spoke about her purpose for the visit, Miss Muffet's brow raised in an inquisitive arch. She couldn't help but feel a shiver of doubt creeping up her spine, wondering if this meeting wasn’t going in her favor.
Miss Muffet, momentarily diverting her gaze, allowed her many eyes to wander over the magenta wallpaper adorned with intricate gothic patterns. The shared quiet felt like forever, before her five eyes returned to fixate on Lex's two. “Well, I assumed this would be the case, dearie,” she spoke, and the chime of her voice was soft, apologetic. “Sadly, I don’t think I can house you, if this was your expectation.”A rapid succession of emotions flickered across Lex's face, her heart experiencing a turbulent journey from hopeful anticipation to sinking disappointment. With a soft chuckle, she composed herself, “I understand, really. Even then, I appreciate you and your service. Your cafe is so lovely, and your spiders are wonderfully hardworking.” Lex turned her head to gaze out of the window, using the moment to gather her composure. Her hand gracefully brushed away a few strands of soft, honey-blonde hair that fell from their usual place in her side bangs. The gentle movement bristled her single earring on her left ear.Despite the fanged features that adorned Miss Muffet's face, she managed a soft smile, appreciative of the human’s compliments to herself and her staff. One of her spiderlings landed delicately on her shoulder, leaning in as if attuned to the unspoken nuances of the conversation. Miss Muffet hummed softly, her eyes widening with realization prompted by her companion's suggestion. Her eyes fell on the disappointment on Lex’s face, her smile broader with recalled information.“Tell you what, dearie,” Miss Muffet spoke softly and sweetly, her laughter adding a musical note to the air. Seating herself across from Lex ever so elegantly, she deftly took the newspaper, folding it with practiced ease. “...a little spider told me that there might be a place for you if you’re that desperate.” Giggling, she lifted the folded newspaper behind her, and her spiders whisked in, spiriting it away. Lex watched, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and gratitude. Miss Muffet, eager to share her findings, placed her chin on top of a pair of laced hands to regard the human further.“Really?” Lex asked, attempting to control the excitement and hope in her tone.Muffet was easily aware of it despite the attempt. The spider monster nodded, one of her many hands tracing a swift circle in the air. “Your phone, dearie,” she insisted, “I’d like you to call this number when you find the time, but I do recommend haste,” she began, observing Lex pull out her smartphone with urgency. She giggled softly, “I didn’t mean this instant, dearie, but your excitement is amusing!”Lex playfully rolled her eyes at the jest before smiling and nodding once. “What’s the number?”Muffet proceeded to share the phone number as she picked up the previously emptied glass and sent it away with her spiders. “That number, dearie, belongs to a friend of mine who needs some help around his home. He’s going to be busy coming fall and won’t have the time to take care of everything at his estate. I’m sure he’d be more than willing to make a trade with you,” she cooed, wiggling her spindly fingers at the device in Lex’s hand. “His name is Sans Serif, but he likes to go by Sans the Skeleton most of the time,” she giggled with her pairs of eyes blinking in unison.
Lex saved the number in her phone, labeling the contact as Sans Serif AKA Skeleton. So, he was likely a skeleton monster, Lex thought to herself. It would be weird if he wasn’t, but also amusing even more so. “Thank you so much, Miss Muffet,” Lex expressed her gratitude, looking down at her phone before putting it away. “Does he come here often?” She inquired further, hoping to get an idea of where he liked to visit in case he was willing to meet her before any decision was made.Miss Muffet's sudden laughter, a rich and hearty melody, echoed through the quaint pastry shop, filling the air with an infectious warmth. She shook her head with a playful grace, her obsidian eyes flickering in amusement as a twinkle of windy Font left her lips. “Oh, no, no, no, dearie! He’s too lazy to do such a thing,” she giggled, the sound resembling wind chimes on a breezy day. “Though, his brother often drops by for a lemonade from time to time, and a cousin or two of his enjoy a few of my Doughnuts,” she chuckled, the tinkling laughter weaving into the vibrant tapestry of the cafe. “He would be more willing to go to Grillby’s than visit my intricate shop, though it wouldn't be fitting for him as it is,” she chuckled, raising an elegant eyebrow at the idea.Lex made a mental note of Grillby’s, situated just down the block. Across from it stood the Meta Salon and Spa, if she remembered correctly. She smiled and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you again, Miss Muffet, for your help. This means so much to me, you have no idea.”Miss Muffet, her demeanor a delightful mix of whimsy and kindness, shook her head with a wave of her three-fingered palms. “I believe you are far more deserving of such an offer,” she cooed happily. “No thanks needed, darling…and, it’s on the house today,” she giggled softly as she waved half-heartedly with her hands toward the coffee.Lex arched a thick eyebrow this time, narrowing her eyes playfully as she huffed in mock disbelief. “Miss Muffet never gives away free treats, especially if her customers are regulars,” she chuckled, reaching for her shoulder pack, her fingers deftly navigating its contents as she kept her attempt at a flabbergasted expression with the bat of her long lashes.Muffet huffed in response, her smile retaining its charm as she observed Lex and her purse, a soft flush on her violet cheeks beneath her many eyes. “You have been here too many times,” she countered softly with jest, extending a single palm. “ Half will suffice,” she crooned, the air filled with the melodic harmony of her voice and laughter. “We’ll consider it a student discount ,” she continued with a soft “hue hue” in her laugh.Lex deposited the gold pieces into the spider monster’s hand, the transaction carried out with a mix of routine and appreciation. “I’d still pay full for my favorite spider monsters,” she quipped, the affection evident in her voice.Muffet tucked the gold into her pocket with a practiced motion just as the door's bell rang out, heralding the entrance of two human customers. They marveled at the eclectic decor as they approached the front counter, where Miss Muffet seamlessly transitioned into her role as the gracious hostess.Seizing the moment, Lex finished her second glass of iced mocha, then rose from her seat, bidding farewell to Miss Muffet with a silent wave. The spider monster reciprocated in kind, and Lex stepped out into the streets of Downtown Ebbot. Though she didn’t depart with the exact solution she sought, an opportunity now lay before her. All that remained was to dial that number. She’ll have to come back and thank the spider monster if everything went according to plan.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lex sat on a fancy metal seat outside the front door of Grillby's, between a row of manicured boxwoods. Her left leg was crossed over the other, her right knee slowly bobbing with tense anticipation, her black converse sneakers matching the frantic rhythm. The warm fragrance of greasy comfort food she'd missed so much tempted her, but she refused to enter Ebott's beloved restaurant. She tried to distract herself with passing humans and monsters in the hopes that it would calm her worries. The distinct Font from the random monster talk was peaceful, between the delicate noises of pebbles beneath food and the jingling of bells.

She looked at her phone for the third time in 10 minutes. For a Wednesday, it was just past lunchtime. Hopefully, the restaurant behind her won't be as crowded as it had been when she returned to the hotel where she'd been staying for the last two weeks. She'd decided that late afternoon would be a great time to call her possible residence.

Lex's chest rose against her turtleneck as she swallowed in the cool air. The sun shone past the crimson fabric canopy above her. The shade it provided was very appreciated. It wasn't so hot that she couldn't stand in the sun for a few minutes, but sweating from the gentle heat combined with her sleeves would ruin her chances of getting an interview. Even if she had used lavender scented deodorant as a barrier (she wasn't sure whether a monster's sense of smell was as acute as a human's), she didn't want to risk the possibility of anxiousness or heat resulting in a sweat.

She'd forgotten it was still too hot to wear jeans and a sleeved top. In the sake of creating a good first impression, the notion of her skin getting sticky and her clothes bunching was an afterthought. Even with a smidgeon of coldness in the air, it wasn't enough to motivate her pre-fall wardrobe. But she didn't have much of a choice when it came to business casual attire. She'd left home with whatever she felt sufficient for her life at college for the required years, not to mention the fact that she expected to go shopping at least a couple of times for wardrobe improvements. Fidgeting fingers found the slim fabric cuffs of her charcoal colored turtleneck.

Now that she was thinking about it, she wondered whether she had enough time to hurry back to the hotel and change into something different. She didn't, as evidenced by the digital clock on her lock screen. She grumbled gently and slid her phone back into her black canvas denim shoulder bag; she had to suck it up now.

She sighed softly, zipping up her pack as she leaned against the backrest of the metal seat. Her mind repeated the shared phone call between her and the assumed skeleton monster, an internal process of preparation for their in-person encounter.

“Um–” she hesitated, phone pressed to her ear as she found her feet stopping immediately against the carpeted floor of her hotel room. Upon hearing the phone pick up, the baritone response on the other side was a relaxed yet confused greeting. She internally scolded herself for her hesitance, swallowing down her worry as she made a second attempt to respond, hoping the monster on the other end wouldn’t hang up. “Hi, is this Mr. Sans Serif?”

The voice on the other side hummed, as if contemplating whether she was an automated voice trying to sell him or remind him about his car’s extended warranty, or a real person.

“yup.”

“Oh! Wonderful, my name is Lex, and I’m a future student at HSCM,” she said a bit too rapidly. She regarded the stillness on the other end as a sign that she should go on with her plan to contact the skeleton monster. "I know this is a bit sudden," she said, slowing down when she heard the voice on the other end murmur in acknowledgment.

“congrats,” was the reply, though the words had a hint of sarcasm. “so, how do you have my number exactly,
and

why

are you calling me?”

She felt her stomach sink with worry, like if she'd already gone too far. Miss Muffet, on the other hand, had advised to phone this number, hadn't she? She wouldn't have set her up for failure by disregarding the monster's cultural standards. Lex swallowed back her fear as she took a long breath and proceeded with a bit more confidence in her voice, at least as much as she could summon under the unseen gaze behind the phone.

“Apologies, Mr. Serif,” she continued carefully, “I should of mentioned that Miss Muffet had given me your number–”

“ah, why’d she do that?” he replied in a tired sigh, no doubt from the conversation already growing to annoy him. That baritone she’d initially heard was a bit rougher toward the end of his question.

“I’m looking for a place to stay,” Lex said firmly, her head held higher as she got straight to the point of her call. “The college requires all human students to have a residence with monsters in order to safely perform magical practice as well as to better learn and understand magic as a whole.” She could hear the voice go rather silent, and Lex took that opportunity to breathe as she continued with her reason, “I had hoped to ask Miss Muffet for such, but she couldn’t offer me a place. I have lived in Ebott for two weeks, hoping to find someone willing, but I admit I’ve run out of potential options. Miss Muffet was kind enough to suggest your residence. She said you needed help around the estate?”

The voice remained quiet in response to her, but Lex could make out conversation being held beyond the current phone call. She bit the inside of her cheek. “Please, Mr. Serif. It would mean the world. I’d be more than happy to help around the house if that’s what’s needed, as a trade for my stay and an overview of my studies in magic. I can show you all of my test results if it helps–”

“nah, that won’t be necessary, pal.”

Pal? That was informal as fuck, she thought, or he could just be sarcastic sounding again. It was hard to tell with his laid back tone.

“so, Muffet told ya I needed help around the house?” It sounded rhetorical rather than questioning. She could make out the faint muttering of a name and “last time I” before she heard a rough and tired sigh erupt over the phone. “listen, bud, uh…” he seemed to be considering, but further hesitated with a rumble of what she could only assume was Font; a soft tumble of water on rocks; a gentle stream. “...I’ll be honest with ya. we’ve housed a couple to-be-students in the past. not too many really did well here and left before they ever started their first semester. not that I’m tryin’ to compare ya to the last residents but ya may not like it here,” he said at last, the truth evident in his tone.

Lex’s heart sank slightly as she heard his reasoning, but she persisted. “I understand, Mr. Serif, but I

really

want this. I…I’ll respect your wishes if you really don’t think it’ll be good for me but I want to give it a shot. I want to go to this college. I passed all my exams including the important ones that determined my qualifications.” Lex took a deep breath, trying not to let her emotions ride on reasonings and throw her off track. “...perhaps you’d like to meet in person?” she offered with a slimmer of hope. “I have yet to try Grillby’s in the downtown area, and I hear it’s got some of the best burgers. I know this is a bit last minute, but if you could spare some time, I’d really appreciate that.” She hoped the information so graciously handed to her by Miss Muffet would be enough to encourage Sans’s consideration.

There was a grunt and sigh on the other side as Lex waited on baited breath for a response. After the tense silence, heart beat in her ears, a response cut through like a knife. “...alright, alright.” Her eyes widened. “I’ll meet ya there. If ya got questions, have them ready. not trying to rush ya of course, but if my cousins catch a whiff I went to Grillb’s for lunch, they’d throw a fit. more so if I don’t bring anything back for them if they do find out. my bro will be just as mad, heh.”

Lex’s smile widened as she nodded to nothing, before realizing she needed to appreciate the opportunity verbally. “Thank you! Thank you, so, so much,” she laughed, touching her right hand to her chest as she sighed with relief. “What time is good for you?”

“twenty minutes from now, honestly. would rather get this out of the way before word gets out.”

Lex felt her heart race. Twenty minutes? She had that long to prepare mentally and physically? Oh shit, what should she wear?! “O-oh, okay! That works perfectly. See you then Mr. Serif!”

“Sans.”

“Pardon?” she hesitated, her eyes darting back to her phone as she lifted it again. Thank goodness she hadn’t hit “end call” yet.

“it’s just Sans. m’not one for formality all that often, if that’s alright.”

She nodded quickly, hoping all her previous formality hadn’t irked the monster up to this point. “Sorry ‘bout that. Thanks again, Sans.” She heard a grateful hum of approval and understanding before the phone was hung up.

She reprimanded herself for being so nervous in retrospect. How was she meant to create a good first impression if she was acting timid? Sans might have been considerably more accepting under different circumstances, but she didn't want them to think she came from a place where she, like the rest of humans outside Ebott, loathed or feared monsters. She wasn't afraid of monsters; failing them to the point where they didn't like her enough to potentially let her stay was another story. Sans mentioned that other students had previously stayed and then left for reasons unknown to her. Whether it was because they were terrified, reluctant to learn, or the thought of being near monsters was too terrifying for such a long time, she knew she wouldn't be the same. She had put in too much work to allow her foolish innate fear of the unknown to derail her at this point.

She took a deep breath, her knuckle-white hold on her sleeve cuff loosening as she let the soft wind brush across her face, a reassuring murmur. She'd be OK, whether it happened sooner or later. She'd come this far, she told herself, and she could keep going. Besides, she was excited about the burger she'd heard so much about. It had been a long time since she had something so greasy–wait, would it even

be

greasy? If she remembered properly from her internet research on pieces of monster culture, monster food was prepared using magic; not to mention monsters were primarily vegetarian. Grillby’s was a monster-owned restaurant.

She felt her growing excitement in her chest, unable to help the curious thoughts running wild in her head, before she heard a clearing of the throat at her right.

She jumped, looking up to the waiting figure beside her, eyes wide with astonishment mirroring her stiffening stance. Her gaze was drawn to a skeleton monster larger than the typical human and just as broad, with features that were not quite anatomically accurate to her own skeleton; its contours rounder and grin laxed. Two, half closed eye sockets gazed down at her, and white, burning, spherical lights inside the dark abyss examined her person. His posture shifted with his pink-slippered feet, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his blue-hoodie jacket undone in the middle to expose a white t-shirt. There were noticeable stains on the white fabric behind the jacket, and slightly exposed bones of his clavicle beneath the collar. He wore basketball shorts with a white stripe down the side.

Is this Sans? He looks like he just rolled out of bed and forgot to kick off his house shoes.

Her perusal of his far more casual choice in apparel was pulled away at the sound of her name.

“Lex?” the skeleton questioned with a raised brow bone as his white eyelights danced across her person once more.

She rose a little too fast in astonishment, before immediately and carefully smoothing her shirt of creases and repairing the end of her sleeves after the torture of her fidgeting fingers. She didn’t take the time to address that she was only as tall as his clavicle. "Yes! I'm guessing you're Sans the Skeleton?" She grinned awkwardly and extended her right hand, leaving the other at her side. She'd believed that using the second alias instead of the first would help avoid formality; he'd shown indifference in it during their earlier exchange.

As he withdrew his hand from the convenience of his hoodie pocket, his lazy grin raised ever so little with the elevation of his brow bone. The finger bones were unusually smooth, in contrast to the rough callousness Lex anticipated of bone. What she didn't anticipate after the skeleton's handshake was a buzz on her palm and a jolt against her flesh that raised the hairs on her arm beneath the turtleneck's sleeve. Her abrupt shriek and jerk to wave her minorly injured hand in the air prompted the skeleton in front of her to chuckle in that familiar baritone, now clearer without the phone's crackling to obstruct it.

What the hell just happened?!

"heh, it's just a buzzer," he cracked up gently, his tone lighthearted. He offered you the same laxed smile when the powerful amusement from his trick died--wiping a boney finger beneath his socket to swipe away a blue bead of what she imagined was a magical tear. "Sans the Skeleton, nice to meet ya," he said, nodding and putting his hands back in his hoodie pockets. "hope my introduction wasn't too much of a

shock

to ya, heh."

Oh great, he makes bad puns, too.

Lex couldn’t help smiling a little as she rubbed the playfully assaulted palm with her opposing thumb. “honestly, would you believe me if I said I haven’t had that happen before?”

The skeleton simply shrugged as he regarded her. “

tibia

honest, I’d be more surprised if you’ve had it happen more than once.” He smiled as he motioned with a gentle head jerk toward the front doors of Grillby’s. “wanna head inside and find a seat? don't get too busy at lunch but dinner can be pretty

heated

.”

Am I going to get bullied by terrible puns the entire time we’re meeting? Stars, is this like his job? Not that I’m judging but–

Realizing he was waiting for her, she regained her thoughts and returned a pleasant smile. “That would be nice,” she nodded. “I’m pretty hungry, too. I heard this place is popular downtown,” she
voiced happily as she joined the skeleton’s side.

He propped open the door with a slippered foot and gestured for her to go inside first.

Well, at least he’s a gentleman.

The honey-glow of hanging lights over the bartop across the dining area welcomed her into the cozy ambiance of Grillby's. A jukebox was positioned to the right of the bar top; it appeared vintage and in excellent condition. She wondered whether it was still in use, but she guessed it wasn't because the lights were dark inside the machine, and the music in the diner was coming from somewhere else. A bright pink neon sign with the name of the eatery blinked above it.

Her gaze shifted from the jukebox to the rest of the restaurant, where soft burned sienna walls and the odd ornamental torch atop a booth or on a table top provided a warm, fireside light. There were already a few guests settled in the room, including two big dog monsters–or what she assumed were dogs–dressed in dark cloaks, their eyes covered as they shared a nuzzle with their moist noses. Another duo she remembered from earlier in the day was the near-baby blue bunny and the human.
The scent in the air was just as deliciously potent and alluring than it was outside.

Sans didn’t wait for her to bask in the warm glow of the establishment. He took a seat at the bar, resting sleeved radiuses and ulnas against the surface as he slouched forward. His phalanges rapped gently against the smooth wooden surface beneath his arms as his eyelights regarded the liquor rack on the opposite side of the bar.

Lex eventually joined him, bouncing up and sitting on a burgundy colored cushion. The stools were made with monsters and humans in mind, so she could raise and lower the stool. Thankfully, it was at a decent height to where she could still manage to get on and off of the seat if the need arose. Her hands mingled in her lap, inching their way to her sleeves as she fought the need to push them up to her elbows. She gazed upon several different liquors–human and what she assumed were monster branded–on the rack. Their colors glistened off the ambient glow of the bar’s lights. The labels were hard to make out from where she sat; she didn’t even try to read the labels of the monster brand liquor.

While the pleasant calm was punctuated by the ambient murmur of discussion and the distant clink of dishware, she wasn't sure how to begin their inevitable topic regarding her tenure at the Serifs during college. She was aware that they were short on time. Lex quietly cleared her throat as she turned her head to see the skeletal monster beside her. "So, do you come here often?"

Shit, wait, that sounded–

Her eyes widened as a rumbling chuckle was her response; that soft tumble of water on rocks that was his Font. “heh, pretty forward, aren't ya?” Sans asked with a raised brow bone, his demeanor was relaxed despite her poorly worded attempt at conversation. He grinned slightly at her awkward appearance, but didn't elaborate in his response. "I used to come here a lot. not so much now, with family and all," he acknowledged honestly, his elbows resting on the surface of the bar. "sometimes I get takeout for'em but my bro hates the greasy stuff."

She resisted the need to ask further questions about his family. He'd eventually get there at his own pace. However, she knew he wasn’t trying to stick around for long. "Right. If you're pressured, I'd hate to take up too much of your time away," she murmured, returning her focus to the different bottles. "So if you'd like my questions and for me to answer yours, we can-" She paused at the uplifted, boney hand Sans lifted from the bar top.

Sans shook his skull, boney hand waving off her suggestion. She missed how his eyelights glanced at her chest then up again at her confused look. He sighed, though his teeth never parted. Did he sigh through his nasal bone? “I know you’re trying to respect my time crunch, and honestly, I appreciate it. though, I’ll admit you don’t gotta worry about it. I left early enough to bide my time and hear you out. plus, I haven’t been to Grillb’s in a

hot

minute,” he chuckled, the pun flying over her head. “would hate to rush the reason I get to have a burger for once in a while.”
Lex grinned as she gently relaxed on the bartop, matching his posture. If he didn't want to rush their meeting, as he had stated over the phone, she'd use it to calm her nerves and make small conversation. If all went well, she wanted to know she could be at ease with the person who was allowing her to stay. "I hear they're the best in town," she said as she flipped through a small, rectangular laminated menu. There were a few grimey stains of ketchup on the surface, long hardened over time. “Miss Muffet said it wasn’t her taste, but she told me I should definitely try it if I wanted to get accustomed to Ebott.” "if it ain't fancy," Sans said, "it ain't Muffet's liking." He giggled gently and rolled his eyes, but she knew it wasn't for her, "she doesn't even let me come around with my bro if I ain't wearing a clean shirt," he said.

That made her giggle; her personal experience with stains would have gotten her metaphorically killed if she was discovered walking out in them. When she was alone or just passing time around town, she donned sweatpants and sweatshirts. She did, however, like the turtleneck and blue denim skinny jeans she was wearing this evening. Stars, if she had worn black on black to this meet, her sister would have exploded.

“you good friends with Muffet?” was his following question, satiating his own curiosity on her relationship with the spider monster.

She shrugged, “I’d like to think we are.” Lex smiled at the thought of the spider monster who’d gotten her to this point. “Her cafe is really nice, the coffee is to die for, and her company has been wonderful considering I just moved into the area,” she explained happily. She looked up at the bottles again once she received a nod from Sans.

“I figured that was the case. you're not the only one doing a last minute attempt to secure your enrollment, I promise ya.”

“It’s difficult when you're not sure where to start in a town you’re barely familiar with, let alone those who live there on top of it.”

Sans gave an understanding nod, his finger bones fiddling with his hoodie strings as he twirled and swerved the laced fabric. “met lots of students struggling for the same reasons, and the ones we took in were much like you, save for the fact they were overwhelmed the second day they were staying and high tailed their coccyx out of there.”

“Overwhelmed?” Lex questioned gently, more out of curiosity than worry. Okay, a

little

bit of worry, but mostly because he talked about relatives living with him. She didn’t want to assume they were the reason, though she understood from personal experience that relatives on a general scale were hard to handle on a day to day basis; let alone ones that weren’t your own.

It was San’s turn to shrug as he nodded his head this way and that. “eh, a lot happens in the house,” was his vague reply.

She avoided twitching her fingers on her sleeve cuff (damn the anxious habit) as she gave a silent hum of understanding. She wondered if this was as good a time as ever to push the conversation in the direction of her coming to stay at their estate, but she didn’t want to seem rude either. What if she asked something about his family? That might help elaborate a bit more on what life was like under their roof, even if it was another vague answer. As a plus side, she could express her interest rather than come off as uncertain or afraid in any way.

“If it’s not too personal, you mentioned that your family has lunch together. That must be fun!”

Sans’s sockets narrowed ever so slightly at the implication her latter half of the sentence suggested. If Sans was bothered by the statement, he kept it to himself, before scoffing softly under his breath. "you can say that," he mumbled half heartedly, looking over to the door behind the bar; a sign on the upper part of the wood stated "employee's only."

Her dark brown eyes followed his gaze, before landing back on him.

Another vague answer, but that little expression just then was enough.

Lex arched an eyebrow, wondering if the "fun" she had in mind was either the extreme or the contrary. Based on that distinctive expression, it was most likely the latter. Her lips moved to speak, but she paused and clamped her teeth shut as the door he'd been eyeing from a distance opened with a groan of its hinges. Upon observing the two, a familiar figure approached the bar top, hand tasked with polishing off a tall, crystal clear glass with a black cloth.

“hey, Grillby, long time no see,” Sans’s baritone chuckle rumbled, his spirits lifting at the sight of the monster who more than likely owned the restaurant, seeing as his name was the same and all that.

Lex had spotted him once during a quick run to the grocery store last week, but she hadn't anticipated the fire-like monster to be the diner's owner. It did, however, seem rather appropriate. His body was completely engulfed in fire; the tailored ebony waistcoat, white long sleeve undershirt and black suit pants were unharmed by the licking flames. He was considerably overdressed, but part of her was attracted to the charm it brought to the diner.

Grillby returned her welcome with a nod of his head as the fire monster lifted a crackling, flame licked hand and adjusted his silver rimmed glasses. She was perplexed as to how those stayed on his face without a nose or ears.

Oh, magic, you do such amazing things.

She imagined it was also because of his power that he didn't feel like a genuine fire up close. Was he able to keep the heat under control?

She deadpanned for a moment when Sans’s earlier pun

finally

made sense.

Grillby focused on Sans first–the short pop and crackle sound of his Font resembling the sound of a bonfire–addressing his remarks solely at the skeleton monster.

Well…this is awkward.

Lex was taken by surprise and a little (only a little) hurt they spoke in what she couldn’t understand. However, Sans’s flush of blue color across his zygomatic arches and the shocked expression piqued her interest to the point she’d ignored the mistake.

Was that a skeleton monster’s way of blushing?

"Sorry, but what did he say?" she asked cautiously, hoping not to intrude on a private chat and sate her curiosity.

Grillby cast a short glance at her, and the shift of a flame on his brow translated into an eyebrow raise, or something similar. She wondered if the expression was a realization, considering his quick transition into English. "Please forgive me. I didn't realize you weren't efficient in Font," his crackling voice confirmed; it was silky but it hinted at the small pops of a burning campfires. "I asked if you two were datemates–"

"

no

, no, we're not," Sans said, injecting quickly and firmly, before clearing his throat. The quick flick of his burning white eye lights found Lex’s cheeks a soft pink, her gaze focused on a specific spot in the far right corner of the diner. Sans sighed, before motioning with his hand toward her, "she's looking for a place to live while attending college. she's going to HSCM."

Grillby hummed, then nodded and apologized for his presumption. "My daughter will be going there as well this fall," he said, gently placing the now-clean glass on the table top with practiced elegance.

Lex's chagrin dissipated as she gazed up at the finely dressed monster. She wasn't sure what datemates were considered in monster society, but after hearing the fire monster's remark, she decided to leave the topic alone. "Oh? Well, maybe we'll see each other, if I can find a place to stay," she joked in a hopeful tone. "In fact, that's why I'm meeting Sans.”

Grillby nodded again and looked between the two. "I won't impede your discussion, then, but I'd be happy to get your orders if you'd like."

She gave Sans a quick once-over, wondering whether he was as embarrassed as she was, but found him laid back like before, with that default grin on his face and slouched posture against the bar.

“sure, that would be nice. in a hurry anyway, you know my bro,” Sans shrugged truthfully. “put it on my tab,” he requested with a grin. Lex wasn’t disappointed that their small talk ended, but she wondered if the element-monster’s unexpected presumption had put the skeleton in an awkward position. She could understand, knowing how many things that made her feel out of place often made her want to hide away in her own space, or in this case, her hotel room. She didn't, however, publicly express her indifference in moving on to the topic that brought them together. They were already on that path originally.

Lex observed as Grillby appeared to give the skeleton a sharp, disapproving stare at his request before turning to face her. He nodded and indicated to provide the orders to him with a frustrated sigh of what could be described as near exhausted patience. Deciding not to indulge herself in the sudden mood shift, Lex took a short glance at the menu before giving him her order. “Burger and fries please. Oh, and is it monster made or human made? I’m aware of the whole magic versus nutrition thing, is all,” she explained calmly.

His expression was understanding as he nodded, despite his initial surprise. “Two chefs, monster and human,” he said simply. “Everything is vegetarian based, however. Is that acceptable?”

“Yeah, that's fine! I’ve had a couple veggie burgers before and haven’t been able to tell the difference. I’m sure it’s just as delicious if the town raves about it,” she said happily with a cheerful smile. Grillby looked content, judging by the little movement of his burning features, but made no additional comments on the matter. She thanked him before he took Sans's order–the same as hers–and disappeared from behind the bar through the employee's only door.

Sans eventually sighed, drawing her attention back to him as he rested on the bar top. "...alright, let's talk about this whole living situation. I’m sure you’re itchin’ about it," he added, his voice becoming more serious. "I have a few questions for you, but if you want, I'll answer yours first.”

Lex felt her anxiety return full force as she gripped the cuff of her sleeve. That little voice in the back of her head questioned if he noticed her playing with her sleeve enough to point it out indirectly. Pushing the thought out of the way, she focused on the rest of what he said. She swallowed her words so she could breathe in and relax. "How many relatives live with you?" she inquired with a curious smile.

"Twelve all together, counting myself," he simply stated.

Her heart began to pound, lips parting in surprise.

Twelve? In the same house?

She felt her cheeks blush slightly as she saw Sans's eyelights fly toward her chest and immediately back up at her eyes. Why was he looking at her–

“You’re put off by that,” he mumbled as if he’d read her thoughts on the matter of his household’s living situation.

Lex shook her head swiftly. She was unaware that her body language interpreted her astonishment as reluctance.

Shit

, she was trying to avoid that. "No, no I'm not actually, just surprised!" She insisted even more as she took another deep breath to relax. When she eventually relaxed, she let out a tiny giggle, saying, "I'm used to large families, if that's any indication. Big family meals, not so much, since my family doesn't do that, but I've been around a lot of relatives over the holidays, and it's very packed."

Sans hummed and gave her the floor once more to ask him questions.

“Are you all skeleton monsters? –not to be rude of course..” she asked sheepishly.

Sans gave a single nod and elaborated further. “yup. though, the house is all male. that cool with you, bud?”

That caused her to pause a little. "All males?" she asked again, getting confirmation when he nodded to her. "You mentioned a brother. Are you mostly siblings or cousins, or...?"

“I got my bro, but my cousins also have their brothers,” he answered, then explained, “didn’t want to separate all of us when we moved.”

That was interesting, Lex thought curiously. That was definitely a full house. “Must be pretty wild. Fights happen often, or arguments?” Her tone was a little kinder. If his past reactions when discussing his family were any indication, he may or may not be enlightening her at this time.

Sans hummed as he forwent the hoodie laces to fiddled with the glass that Grillby had put earlier. He examined it as if hunting for the smallest fragments of leftover mixed drink or perhaps a lipstick smear. “we do,

a lot

, but that’s sort of expected when you’re a bunch of guys in one place.”

She nodded in agreement, even if she hadn't personally experienced it to that extent. "Me and my sister always fought growing up, and still do if there's something we don't agree on; it was just us two," she said, seeking to find some common ground. Lex gazed at Sans, wondering whether his fixation on the spotless glass was an attempt to avoid thinking about his family. "I'm cool with it," she responded, secure in her response as she smiled at him. She'd learned to get along with a bunch of guys and their crazy boy stuff, but she'd basically grown up among guys her entire life since hanging out with ladies didn't suit her nature. This was nothing different, she assured herself.

“you sure?” Sans asked, brow bone raised even more so with disbelief at your statement. “you’re gonna learn a lot about monsters in school, ‘m sure but just wanted to warn ya a lot of them are a bit prickly. if this works out, I’ll set ground rules obviously, but–.”

“Most guys—human or monster—are. Especially ones with ego under their belts and in their pants,” she chuckled and waved his concern away, hoping to show her compliance with the prodding joke.

Sans seemed to appreciate it as he chuckled and rolled his eyelights at the jest, but he seemed to agree by how he nodded. “ain’t that the truth of it. I’m no different when I'm in a rare mood, but as head of the house I try not to fall into their habits.”

She knew he was the one who was in charge, but hearing him say it made her nervous. She needed to impress him or get through to him so he would let her stay after all. She smiled at him, hoping that her body language wouldn't mess everything up for her again. "I'm sure I'll be fine," she said softly. She went on to ask, "What exactly am I expected to do around the house?" Hopefully, by expressing her desire in repaying him for the possibility of allowing her to stay he'll be more receptive to allowing it to go that way.

Sans shifted his head as he thought, then lifted a boney palm to count his phalanges. "You do your own laundry. Please let me know if one of my family members attempts to pressure you into doing theirs. They like to throw their weight around–literally," he stated emphatically. "Some of us are on the bigger side, so they'll try to use that to intimidate ya."

Oh. Oh stars

. That question was addressed for her before she could even ask it. She couldn't tell how much bigger they were until she saw them for herself.

Sans kept on, lifting his middle phalange to count the second expectation. "Every night, the dishes are done. We usually make the last person at the dinner table do the dishes, although the more obstinate members of my family will get away with it regardless of the consequences." Lex sat up straighter as he gestured to her. "It would mean a lot if you could do them if you notice they aren't done. It requires more of you to pick up when someone else is supposed to, but if you can do it, I would like to offer you an allowance to compensate for it every time it occurs."

Lex didn't appear offended by the suggestion. Back home, she'd always had to wash the dishes between her and her sister. The only difference is that there would be a lot more people to tidy up after, but if it was all done in one night, it wouldn't pile up and become worse over time. That was something she could be thankful for. She was taken aback by the offer on the allowance. "You don't have to do that," she said, but was interrupted by San's waving hand.

“nah, don’t let it worry you. got enough G to pay ya for doing more than your share. I admit I’m not proud of dumping my family's chores on you, but it means a lot. I can handle the tough part of setting them straight if you don't mind doing the easy stuff.”

G, as in gold; monster currency. Were these guys secretly loaded?

Lex ignored the notion by biting the inside of her cheek and nodding once. She didn't want to think about money; the stay he was offering was more than enough for her; she was desperate, as Miss Muffet had pointed out to her that late morning. Not to mention that Sans was at least admitting that he didn't like adding duties that weren't hers to her to-do list. She could help if it meant obtaining a place to stay and some spending money (it was difficult to say no to that).

“Alright, Sans, if it helps you have a better conscience about it, I’ll accept an allowance. What else?”

Sans grinned and continued, grateful for her cooperation. "when we get to that point and have the whole house meet you, I'll give you the rundown of house rules, but for now, that's another thing: follow our rules as closely as possible. they're there for a reason, and we can't make an exception for one without also making an exception for someone else."

Her heart began to beat significantly at that point. He discussed holding a meeting for her to meet his family members as if it was inevitable. Did this imply that he had previously contemplated allowing her to stay? He wouldn't be doing all of this if he was still indecisive. She nodded, forceful but understanding. "Of course, I'm capable of doing so.”

"great, that's appreciated," he remarked, noting that he wasn't being sarcastic. He stretched out his fourth phalange. "chores are obviously expected; some things you may need assistance with, or simply delegate to one of us or the others. I don't think you'll be able to reach one of our ceiling fans without some sort of magic, and as far as I know, you aren't using it yet."

With a shake of her head, she agreed. She hadn't yet begun to understand magic, let alone enrolled at the institution.

Sans acknowledged with a murmur and went on, "so, fifth thing," he lifted his thumb bone, "won't be for a while, but we need some yard work done during the summer and seldom the fall. other family members acknowledge it, while others do not, and others have medical conditions that require us to keep a socket on them. It would be great to have some help keeping it up to please the HOA. such as the pool-"

Her dark eyes lit up at that. “You guys have a pool?” Lex asked with tinted excitement in her voice.

“ya, but we don't use it very often, if at all. skeleton monsters can’t swim.”

She felt a stab of pity, only for Sans to dismiss it as if he could see it on her face.

“we don’t really like water too much. we had to learn how to handle water a little as babybones, but we generally sink. the farthest we go is the shallow end. reason that makes it so hard to care for the whole thing; we fall in while cleaning, we’re fucked,” he chuckled half heartedly.

"You mentioned the use of magic during cleaning, wouldn't you just use that?" She inquired, clearly intrigued.

Sans nodded, “we do use it, but accidents still happen. don’t ask me how, they just do.” He hummed and he shrugged, “since you plan to stay, we don’t mind allowing you to swim in it as long as we can work on keepin’ it clean. hot tub included.”

“

And

you have a

hot tub

?” she gasped, glancing over the fact he’d practically given her the “yes” on staying in their home. “Do you guys at least use that?” she asked, a thick eyebrow raised.

Sans chuckled and shrugged. “some of the guys do. Temperature really doesn’t affect us that much, but bubbles feel good on the bones,” he admitted almost sheepishly.

She couldn’t help her own giggle as she nodded her head from side to side in agreement. “Bubbles are nice. They make me feel relaxed any time I ever take a bubble bath, but high pressure bubbles of a jackoozie or a hot tub really make you wanna melt.” Sans seemed to agree with a soft melodic chuckle of water rushing on rocks. His laugh was quite nice, Lex had to admit to herself. Though her thoughts were distracted by the return of Grillby with two plates.

She sat up straight and moved so her plate could rest in front of her place at the bar, and Sans his. Grillby then offered the two drinks, which she happily responded with something he’d recommend.

Sans, on the other hand, asked for ketchup.

Of course, could she judge? She couldn’t eat fries without–

–what the

fuck

.

She watched, mouth agape and eyes wide, as the skeleton opposite her nodded his thanks to the fire monster, popped the lid off the ketchup bottle, and tossed it back to sip the crimson sauce like it was any other drink. She wanted to express her thoughts aloud, but she couldn't find the words.

What on earth? Was that normal?!

Sans finally placed his half-drunk bottle of ketchup on the bar top, smiling contently as he wiped the back of his metacarpals against his teeth, taking away the smear of ketchup on the corner of his lips with a soft glow of blue she couldn’t see. He hummed when he’d realized she’d seen the entire thing, and couldn’t stop himself from his laughter erupting past his maw. This time, she watched as his teeth parted, the dark void in the back of his jaws apparent. She could make out the tiny tips of canines around the flatter teeth, before he returned his default, though shaking, grin. “heh, forgot I gotta

ketchup

with you on some things. that looked weird as hell, I’m sure.”

She only nodded, closing her own mouth as she lifted a finger and pointed it at the ketchup bottle, then at him. “You wanna explain

that

? I mean, ketchup is great and all but–”

“vinegar,” he stated simply with that laxed grin of his, the malleable bone shifting slightly as he smiled proudly for himself. At her continued confusion, he explained, “vinegar is like alcohol…or something similar at least.” Sans held up the ketchup bottle in his boney hand, “if it has vinegar in it, we consider it alcoholic to us. Human alcohol doesn’t affect us as hard as this stuff does, but we can still get drunk if we have too much. cooking oils have it too, from what my bro tells me, but he keeps that stuff locked away so the others don’t get eager when they run out of their own drinks.”

“So you just, what, chug ketchup to get shit faced?” she asked, a little more informal than she wanted, unable to hide her chuckle of disbelief.

Sans smirked and winked his socket, a finger gun pointed her way as he made a click sound within his maw. “bingo.”

“...so are you getting drunk right now?”

“stars no,” Sans huffed, setting his “drink” down to look at his burger and fries, before looking back up at her. “I consider myself a heavyweight, so are a few of my cousins, but that doesn’t mean we just get to go willy nilly on the stuff.” He motioned with his head as Grillby placed down a small double shot glass of blue sparkling liqueur that practically glowed within the decorative glass. It wasn’t something you were familiar with, meaning this was monster stuff by process of elimination. “that there is monster liquor. we can get drunk on it too, since it’s made with vinegar, but light amounts so humans can taste the rest of it. that one is made from concentrated echo flower, right Grillbs?”

The fire monster nodded before disappearing again, leaving her and Sans to discuss the mixed drink placed neatly in front of her.

“I’ve never had–”

“obviously, since you stared at it like it was going to bite you,” Sans chuckled, though eased his teasing at her glare. “consider it a way of me saying–as long as you agree to the rules and help out, as well as let us know when you start your magic studies and all that–” he clawed with the dull end of his index phalange at the bar top, “then you can stay.”

She felt her heart flutter at his words. “Really?” she asked, almost hesitant to believe he was telling her the truth and not pulling her leg. “You’d take me in?”

Sans nodded once. “yeah. we can address the other stuff like moving your things tomorrow.”

Mid sip of her sparkling, blue glowing drink, she sat up and put her drink against the bar top a bit harder than intended. The buzz was something to note, but she was more interested in the fact the skeleton mentioned tomorrow. “We’re moving me tomorrow?”

Sans nodded. “better now than before your semester starts. would like to get used to the place and everyone else living there before all that. trust me, you’ll appreciate the time to settle in,” he mumbled and took a bite out of his burger, then tossed a fry into the void of his mouth.

He had gone through this before, she noted. She nodded in understanding and thanked him, before she picked up her drink again. She swirled the small black straw poking out of the glass, watching the sparkling liquid inside glimmer up at her. “I don’t have a lot, just a couple suitcases and valuables inside those. I didn’t really have much to bring.”

“makes it easier for us then,” he nodded, drinking the condiment once more in a quick swig. After putting it down once more, he continued, “if there is anything you need though, let me or the others know. while I can’t be available tomorrow or day after, I’m sure one of my cousins wouldn’t mind taking you to the store or wherever you wanna go to get what you need. you got my number for it, but I’m not big on texts all the time unless you got a good joke to tell.”

Lex nodded in understanding. She smiled as she was unconsciously sipping the drink in her hands, barely even giving her burger a glance.

Sans noticed, quickly putting his drink down and reaching out to push the drink from her face. “slow down there,” he laughed and quickly vacated her personal space when she pulled the straw away from her lips. “there's a reason Grillby gave you a small straw, pal. you aren’t supposed to drink it down that fast, it can really mess you up and knock you over faster than any human liquor can. Small sips help, and don’t worry about finishing it. it’s on me.”

“All the more reason not to waste,” she noted. However, at his slight glare, even in jest, she didn’t continue drinking it like she’d done prior to him stopping her. Best not push her luck, now.

“I'm serious, don’t worry about it. though, at home, that’s gonna be something to watch out for. I’m sure someone will appreciate you never wasting food, but if there's ever a time you can’t finish what’s on your plate, don’t stress it either. someone will eat it, trust me.”

She appreciated that, even if she didn’t want to go into detail as to why. She sipped cautiously and comfortably at the drink, the soft buzz she was receiving from the monster liquor left her tongue tingling but not in a displeasing way. The taste she couldn’t describe but it had a hint of fruity-ness to it, as well as velvety sweet texture. She definitely considered it a favorite when it came to monster liquor.

“Thanks, Sans, for the opportunity,” she said after a moment of quiet, comfortable silence between the two of them. “This means a shit ton,” she laughed, unable to help her curses now that she was under the influence of such a potent but oh so delicious mixed drink. “I just…I really hope I don’t disappoint you. I’ll do my best, I promise.”

Sans relaxed grin stuttered a moment as he glanced at her. He sighed quietly under his breath, before the corners of his grin lifted slightly with his smile as he regarded her gratitude. “no problem, bud.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The rest of the talk went well, with the exception of a few giggles in reaction to some terrible jokes made by Sans. While the rush from her drink (Grillby's famed Echo Flower Cocktail, she later learned) persisted in her system, she felt more comfortable than she had in a long time—not even coffee could compete. She and Sans had spoken between bites of their veggie burgers and fries, and he had been kind enough to offer her some of the ketchup he'd been sipping, so her tepid, dry fries were still savory.When he’d asked what all she knew about monsters in a general sense, the only information she offered was hindered by the gentle, caressing influence of her cocktail. She’d brought up that monsters were made of magic, were vegetarians, spoke in pretty sounds and could come in all shapes and colors. The latter of her explanation made him chuckle in amusement.
After some time to settle and shimmy her half-eaten burger into the to-go bag kindly given by Grillby, Sans offered to walk her back to her hotel. Lex insisted she was fine, and not as shaky as she was an hour earlier–not to mention it was still bright out. Sans disregarded it with a shake of his skull.
“I believe ya when you say you’re fine, but my bro would have my skull if I told him I let you walk back all by yourself, especially if you’re gonna be staying with us from here on out,” Sans explained, holding her gaze with his eyelights, the outer edges sharp with seriousness.
Lex sighed, but agreed to let him walk her back. She reminded herself that even if this town had a majority of kind folk, that didn’t mean others were exempt from taking advantage of her tipsiness–even if it was broad daylight. Plus, she had yet to ask when to expect him and his brother to pick her up tomorrow.
Once they’d stopped outside the lobby doors of the hotel, she decided to ask, “when will you be here tomorrow?” She shifted her white, paper togo bag into her left hand, giving her right the opportunity to pull out her smartphone from the canvas pouch at her midsection. She swiped her fingers across the screen with practiced fluidity as her passcode welcomed her. Finding her alarms, she glanced up at the skeleton monster across from her.
“I’m a late sleeper. though, knowing my bro, he’ll probably wake me up before noon anyway just because of his own excitement,” Sans hummed, the folds of his hoodie shifting with the shrug of his shoulders.
“I thought you didn’t want others to know you’d be meeting me? Unless I misunderstood something somewhere–”
Sans shook his head. “nope, but I did shoot him a text earlier that we’d be housing a student again, once I made up my mind and all. he was pretty excited, said he’d have to get the house cleaned up before we even considered leaving to get you.”Lex tilted her head, “...does he plan to clean the house all night? You mentioned that it was a pretty big place and that some of the others don’t help–”Sans waved off her confusion as he returned that relaxed, default grin of his. “don't think too much about it. my bro is all about that kind of thing, plus, Milord will more than likely help if he’s not drowning in paperwork.”
“Milord is–?”“one of my cousins. you’ll get to meet him tomorrow, if he’s off work.”“Gotcha.” Throughout their chat, she could feel the sun's heat permeate into her black turtleneck, and the sleeves warmed her skin. It wasn't oppressive, but she didn't want to force the hoodie-wearing skeleton in front of her to stay out any longer than necessary in the mild weather. Then again, he had pointed out that temperature wasn’t an issue for him and his cousins. Still, she didn’t want to waste his time. “I’ll set an alarm to make sure I’m up tomorrow and ready.”Sans tilted his head to the left, thinking as his white eye lights moved aimlessly. “how’s 1:30 sound? I’m sure Paps will want to put off lunch so you have the opportunity to eat with us, but you’re not obligated to if you need the time to settle.”Her fingers swiftly clicked and typed on the screen of her smartphone, setting the digital timer for tomorrow at least an hour and a half ahead of the time specified. She concluded by slipping her phone into her back pocket rather than returning it to the canvas pack. "That works for me," she grinned as she extended her hand to the monster, the former welcome becoming an expression of appreciation. "Thanks again for letting me stay with y'all this semester, and hopefully the next if things go well," she said with optimism and confidence.
Sans looked at her hand before reaching with one of his own. He observed her eyes swiftly scanning his metacarpals for the buzzer, but she didn't draw away, indicating she hadn't discovered it a second time. Sans shook her hand once before returning his hand to his hoodie pocket once again.
“‘m sure you’ll do just fine. and as long as our deal holds up, we won’t need to worry ‘bout your stay unless you change your mind or drop out.”“I don’t plan on dropping out. I’ll have to fail everything if I’m leaving that college, and as far as I’m aware, I busted my ass to get into it,” she laughed softly, but the hint of worry was on the edge of her tone.
Sans chuckled in understanding, “like I said, nothing to worry about.” He gave her shoulder a comforting pat. “see ya tomorrow. I should get back before someone questions my brother and hears the news before I can give it.”Lex nodded and smiled as she reached the lobby's massive glass doors. "See ya!" she replied. However, before she could enter the building, she noticed the skeleton monster physically vanish with a single turn of his body. She jumped in astonishment, wide-eyed, as she peered at the empty space where he had formerly been. She blinked several times, trying to make sense of what she had just witnessed.

Did he just…disappear into thin air?

The following morning was an anxiety driven rush. Not only because she was forgetting where some of her things were despite being right in front of her, but the realization that she’d found a place to stay for the fall semester hadn’t set in until now. She blamed that on the smooth, sweet cocktail at Grillby’s last night.
Lex was excited, nervous, and above all stressed to hell and back on what she should wear to meet the Serifs. Was dressing appropriately respectful? Did they even fucking care? Probably not, if what Sans wore last night spoke for itself. She didn’t even think about makeup, not that she found it appealing on her anyway. The chalky, thick products and mess that followed was something she chose to ignore with the little time she had left. She had no one else to blame but herself for sleeping through her alarms. Not even the constant up and over motions of fighting the snooze button every ten minutes was enough to deter her from dreamland.She’d been tossing her clothes left and right ever since she’d crawled out of the shower, towel twirled around her soaked hair. Over her shoulder and blindly hitting or missing her suitcases as she frantically scavenged for her things, she dressed in whatever she deemed comfortable. She hadn’t even touched her hygiene products, but she didn’t have a lot to worry about in that department; she needed a few of those things still. However, her favorite black hoodie was nowhere to be found.“For fucks sake, where did I leave it? Not like I would have left with it; too damn hot still for a full black hoodie of all things–” Lex mumbled under her breath as her thick, brown eyebrows furled in frustrated confusion. She grunted as she flipped herself over the mattress of an unmade hotel bed, the cream colored sheets beneath a rust colored duvet ruffled beneath her as she scrambled to search the other side against the wall. Her dark gray Bad Omens band-tee bunched up her torso as she swung her arm left and right in search of her missing garment. “Come on…hah!”With a triumphant lift, her hoodie came free from the prison between the wall and the king sized bed. She took a deep breath, relaxing now that she had it in her hands. She quickly sat up off the bed and got to her feet, rushing her steps to the suitcase to pack it away with the rest of her unfolded clothes. Her toes curled against the carpet as her mind shifted between what to do next. She didn’t like that her suitcase was unorganized, but she still had other things to pack still, not to mention her still wet hair. Before she realized it, her hands were already attempting to fold clothes. She grumbled a curse under her breath as she pulled her hands away to quickly rush herself to the bathroom and start drying her hair; she didn’t have time to do all that with Sans and his brother on the way.
After 20 minutes of hot gusts on her head and through the ends, her honey-gold hair was dry enough to go through her regimen.
Her hands swirled in the familiar action of twisting her hair, and her teeth clenched lightly against the clip between her lips. Once one hand was free, she took the blunted multi-tooth clip from her mouth and reached back to fasten her hair to her head. Her fingers combing at her temples added volume to her side bangs and curled the hair just above her ears after keeping her golden locks in place to achieve her standard look. She looked at herself in the mirror, moving one way and then the other to appraise herself as her solitary left earring swayed with the motion.
Good enough.
Lex sighed as she quickly brushed her teeth, then cleaned up the rest of the sink area and tossed her products into a large Ziplock to protect from spills. Too many times she had to open a suitcase to soiled garments from busted cans of hairspray or bottled shampoo.
Depositing the Ziplock bag into the larger suitcase on the bed, she pulled all the clothes that missed the opening to fill what room was left. She scolded herself already for not doing this last night. Closing the suitcase, she pulled at the silver zipper, listening to the drawn out ziiip as she sealed the case. She breathed in, then out as she scanned the room for anything else she might have missed in her hustle. She moved about with arms crossed against her chest, chewing on the inside of her cheek as her eyes filtered the room for misplaced clothes or valuables. Nothing left but her phone on the wooden bedside table, her over the shoulder canvas pouch on her pillow, and the charging cord waiting patiently on the floor.
She spared a glance over her shoulder at the dresser on the far wall, making sure nothing was left there either; an old pizza box she’d forgotten to take out and a few water bottles was all she found in her line of sight. The tug at her lips was enough to kick start her excitement once more as she turned toward the suitcases on the second unused bed. Lex double checked the smaller suitcase to make sure her
valuable things–books, sketch pads and her laptop–were still there and ready for the trip. She had three other hoodies in that luggage as well, considering they were limited edition.
Her family thought she was a bit weird for collecting hoodies of all things; she simply countered the point with one about her sister’s excessive amount of brand name shoes.
She zipped up the last of her luggage and moved them off the bed to rest at the end, allowing herself to sit down and reach over to retrieve her phone from the nightstand. She took her charger and gently removed it from the wall outlet, storing it in a small front pocket of her smaller bag. Hunching over, she began clicking her fingers against the screen as she entered her passcode, followed by swiping to find her messages.She pressed her thumb against the chat bubble icon and the message app opened to the last conversation she’d had.

Sans Serif AKA Skeleton

(1:00 PM)

We’ll be there shortly.

(1:10 PM)

Okay! Thanks for letting me know!

Should I meet you guys downstairs?

Lex hadn’t gotten a reply to her most recent question, but she safely assumed what the answer would be. She wasn’t sure who was driving, but something about San’s personality told her he wasn’t the kind to ride around in a car–definitely not the fact that he disappeared in thin air yesterday with zero explanation. She’d have to ask about that neat little trick.With a calming sigh, she reminded herself to just act natural and chillout. She had plenty of time to ask anything that worried her on the way to the estate. She’d be meeting a good part of his family. Thursdays were still considered work days; even if she didn’t meet a few family members, she’d get to know them with time.
But what if they–She shook her head immediately at the impending thought. The soft whisper of past words echoed in her head as she looked out the corner of her eye at a random place in the room. The inside of her bottom lip was pushed between her teeth with recollection.
Don’t waste your time on what people think. Focus on you.

It was difficult for her to hear the wisdom underlying the simple admonition. She'd be living with monsters; if someone wasn't happy with her or didn't like her enough for the appropriate reasons, they might toss her out without her knowing. The agony in her heart, and most likely her hidden soul, informed her how much it ached to think about; she'd miss out on attending her ideal college, learning real magic, and perhaps making some new friends.Her fingers crawled as they searched for the expected sleeves to cover her arms, but they found none. The insight snapped her out of her downward spiral of worried pondering. She sighed gently as she lifted her head, the slight flick of her black earring on the tender place of her jaw prompting her to find something to distract herself with. She looked at her bags.
She’d be fine. Overthinking will only push her into an anxiety attack before she ever leaves this hotel, and she doesn't need Sans and his brother seeing that.
Forcing herself to forget the nervous questions in the back of her head, she smiled as she stood up and checked the room once again to make sure she didn’t leave anything behind. Two minutes later, the vibration of her phone in her black denim jean shorts signaled her of a message.

Sans Serif AKA Skeleton

(1:33 PM)

Here, bud. We’re out front.

Do you need any help?

Lex smiled with her newfound excitement, heart racing in her chest. She typed her reply before shoving her phone into her shorts pockets.

(1:34 PM)

I got most of it
I think

but thank you, though!

Be down in just a second.

Smiling, the giddy feeling caught up to her at last. She did a little victory dance right there in the middle of the hotel room. With a quick turn, she threw on her canvas bag, making sure the strap was comfortable around her front. She slipped her feet into a pair of black sandals, then quickly hurried herself over to grab the prepped and ready suitcase handles awaiting her. Once at the door, she bumped the rest of it open with her hip to give her a wide enough berth to pull her luggage out into the expanse of the hall.
She looked back into the room for the last time, before letting the door close behind her.

Lex walked out the double glass doors of the hotel for the last time as she tugged the two luggage over the divot of the door frame. She righted the suitcases with a huff. Her eyes quickly sought for Sans and his brother. He said they were out front, so where–“HUMAN! HELLO!” Shit! She’d nearly leapt out of her own skin at the boisterous voice. Whether it was grabbing her attention or someone else's, she still swiftly shot her gaze in the direction of the sound.
An extraordinarily tall skeleton stood beside a beautiful, scratch free scarlet BMW convertible, far taller than Sans and lankier, too. The top of the vehicle was down, and Lex didn’t need to think too hard on why. They dressed in a spotless, wrinkle-free white t-shirt with "cool dude" in bold lettering on the front; acid wash, jean shorts and red laced boots. She sensed the enthusiasm radiating off the lanky skeleton now that she had noticed them, a red gloved hand waving in the air. The visible bone was thick, long to express his towering height; it was a bit intimidating at first.Her initial trepidation and perplexity vanished as she saw Sans leisurely stumbling out of the convertible's passenger seat, his default grin just as weary today as it was the night before. His white eye lights mirrored her stare, offering Lex a wink with his socket.

So that’s his brother? I’m not surprised he’s so…so tall! Then again most monsters are. Sans did mention some of his cousins were bigger, too.
Guess his brother made good on the expectation he had; he really isn’t a morning per–

Wait, did he sleep in that hoodie?

Ignoring her pressing thought on whether Sans had taken the time to change from the clothes the night before, she smiled, composing her eagerness as she grabbed the two suitcases by the handles. With vigor, she quickly pulled them on either side toward the waiting monsters. Once stopped in front of them, she greeted the tired skeleton on her right with a nod before her attention was snatched up by the much taller of the two.
“YOU MUST BE LEX! MY OLDER BROTHER TOLD ME SO MUCH ABOUT YOU!” The overly loud– very loud, good lord –skeleton spoke with far more enthusiasm than she had anticipated. He held one of those large, gloved hands against his ribcage with pride, smiling in delight with his following introduction. “I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, BUT PAPYRUS WILL BE JUST FINE!”Lex winced slightly at the volume of his voice. She didn’t mind, but she figured it’d take time getting used to; none the wiser, she continued to smile politely up at him. She lifted her hand to exchange her own greeting to him, “It’s very nice to meet you Papyrus!”
Papyrus paused as his brow bones lifted, guilt in his eye lights as she hid that flinch of discomfort. He cleared his throat, before bending slightly at the waist to return the gesture. The red leather creaked as it swallowed her hand within; he gave it a surprisingly gentle shake as his voice lowered in volume. “SANS MENTIONED YOU’D BE STAYING WITH US!”Lex couldn’t help the small frown on her lips. She felt the same twinge of guilt for making him change how he spoke for her convenience, but quickly pushed it down as she confirmed his statement. “Yes, I am. At least, I hope that's okay? I’m going to HSCM in the upcoming weeks–”“AND HUMANS ATTENDING THE INSTITUTION NEED TO BE OBSERVED BY MONSTERS IN ORDER TO SAFELY ENGAGE IN MAGICAL STUDY!” Papyrus happily
recited for her. “DO NOT WORRY, MISS LEX! WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR STUDIES WHEN THE TIME COMES!” Papyrus’s optimism enthused, though his smile faltered in quiet disapproval; it wasn’t directed at her. He stood straight and glanced at his brother, whose tired sockets focused elsewhere. He looked like he was about to fall over.
“THOUGH, FOR NOW I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD NOT KEEP YOU WAITING. THE DRIVE BACK ISN’T LONG, BUT SEEING AS MY BROTHER IS ABOUT TO FALL ASLEEP STANDING WE SHOULD GET YOUR BAGS IN THE CAR!”Lex turned to look at Sans as well, but she only found him shrugging with that smile of his. The blue clad skeleton rolled his skull toward her bags, brow bone raised in question. “you weren’t kiddin’ when you said you didn’t have a lot you brought with ya. that gonna last you all through college?”She nodded confidently as she attempted to help Papyrus load the suitcases into the trunk of his scarlet beauty, though he simply, gently, swiped at her hands for her to let him assist. She chuckled a little at his approving smile, then returned her attention to the shorter of the brothers. “There’s not much I really need,” she explained. “I don’t plan on going back home unless I doom myself,” she joked softly, “I’m sure I’ll buy a new wardrobe at some point, but this is enough.”Sans nodded in understanding, looking over at his brother as the lankier skeleton closed the trunk with ease and batted his gloves together in a show of fulfillment. “well, in the case you do need more,” he hummed as his eyelights found her again, grin growing slightly, “then you’re covered. can’t keep your studies up if you’re not comfortable, so find what suits ya.”A very audible, very displeased groan rumbled out of Papyrus as he facepalmed his skull. “REALLY SANS?! CAN YOU GO FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT ONE OF YOUR PUNS! PLUS, THAT ONE WAS AWFUL!”“heh, sorry bro.”
Lex couldn’t stop herself from snorting under her breath. Despite the playful exchange between the brothers, she appreciated Sans’s offer, smiling as she rolled on her heels, and her hands played with the canvas pouch in her middle. “If you guys are ready, I am as well! I know you mentioned putting off lunch before I came to the house,” she mentioned with her eyes shifting between the tall and short skeleton brothers, “so I’d hate to make others wait on top of you two!”“THAT IS CORRECT, BUT DO NOT CONCERN YOURSELF! I WAS ABLE TO PREP A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE LEFT TO FETCH YOU!” Papyrus boasted, quickly turning on a dime to open the driver’s side door to the backseat of the convertible and motioning her in. “HOW DOES CUCUMBER SANDWICHES SOUND? I’M AWARE NOT ALL HUMANS FOLLOW OUR DIETARY PRACTICES.” Papyrus exclaimed. “I WASN’T SURE WHAT YOU’D FANCY. IF YOU’RE NOT A FAN, THEN YOU’RE WELCOME TO A GRILLED CHEESE! I MADE BOTH SINCE SOME OF THE OTHERS PREFER IT OVER CUCUMBER.”Lex felt her heart swell with appreciation for his consideration of her tastes and even offering something else just in case. She wasn’t the biggest fan of cucumber, but if this kind, enthusiastic monster put anything in front of her, she’d happily eat it just to see him happy. It was definitely a far cry from what she experienced back home. “I’d be more than happy to try both,” she replied as she moved to slide herself into cream colored leather seats. She buckled herself in the middle section of the backseat as Papyrus closed the door, then returned himself to the driver's seat.“IT IS PERFECTLY REASONABLE IF YOU ARE NOT A FAN OF EITHER!” Papyrus enlightened as he buckled himself in with the soft click. He poked at Sans to do the same as he plopped back down into the passenger seat. How were these guys able to even sit in a vehicle made with humans in mind? She wondered if there were monster’s that worked on cars made for them specifically; this one did feel a bit bigger, unless that was just the brothers making her believe so.
“IF YOU DO NOT LIKE ONE OR THE OTHER, THEN I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ACCOMODATE BY MAKING A CULINARY DISH YOU WILL APPRECIATE MORE!” Papyrus explained once more with the rumbling purr of the convertible at the turn of its ignition. He adjusted the rearview mirror before carefully maneuvering the car back out of the space.
“That’s really kind of you to offer,” she thanked, looking out over the back of the car. With the convertibles top down, she knew she'd need to re-clamp her golden ponytail as soon as they got to the home. The wind would be fierce and ruthless, but when she felt the warm sun finally arise in the breadth of the cloud-covered sky, she found herself accepting the rushing gust that would undoubtedly batter her visible flesh on the drive there. “I’m sure I’ll appreciate anything you make! Though I admit I won’t be able to eat monster food as much as I’d love to on a regular basis.”“don’t worry about all that,” Sans finally spoke once they’d pulled out of the hotel parking lot and onto the main road toward the mountain. Storefronts passed as they made their way out of Ebott. “we’re pretty familiar with cooking for humans. remember how I said we had some students before you?”“SANS, THOSE PREVIOUS STUDENTS WERE MUCH PICKIER–AND MESSIER TO BOOT! IT WAS LIKE HAVING TWO REDS IN THE HOUSE!” Papyrus huffed, his original volume the first time she’d greeted him was back in order for him to be heard over the sounds of the car and the wind. “WHILE I’M NORMALLY UNDERSTANDING OF ONE'S PERSONAL COMFORTS, AS WELL AS AVOIDING ADDING MAGICAL INGREDIENTS TO HUMAN FOODS TO MAINTAIN THEIR NUTRITIONAL VALUE, THEIR BEHAVIOR TOWARD OUR COOKING WAS QUITE UNSAVORY!”Sans snorted back a response as he covered his lazy grin. “yeah bro?” he asked over the roar of the wind, his boarding mirth barely hidden as he resisted the urge to point out his brother’s unintentional play on words.Papyrus’s hackles raised as he glared daggers at his brother with silent warning. Based on Sans’s averting lights and leaning against his side of the car with a relaxed smile, it wasn’t a serious offense; this probably happened more often than not between them.Lex chuckled quietly to herself as she combed through her side bangs, wind whipping honey-colored strands across her delicate cheeks. “Don’t worry, Papyrus, I really would like to try everything! I’m not the pickiest, but there are some things I may not like, as I am human. I promise, though, that I’ll never turn your food away if that happens! In the case I don’t like something, I promise I’ll be polite about it,” she spoke over the soft howl of wind. She hated the idea she’d hurt his feelings or appear ungrateful for the time and effort he’d put into cooking for her on top of his eleven relatives.
She knew she wasn’t as picky as the taller brother described for the students before her, but there were a few foods she’d avoid if she had the option. She’d be sure to offer whatever she could to him so he was never having to find out through trial and error what she liked. Perhaps he could possibly change her mind, too, about some foods! Despite her initial uncertainty, cucumber sandwiches sounded interesting, considering their partial bitterness and watery texture paired with elements of a normal sandwich.She missed Papyrus's bright white lights full of gratitude in the reflection of the rear view mirror. Her gaze followed the other cars heading the way they came; buildings faded out of view. She battled to keep her eyes from watering as the cool breeze slammed against her face with the car's newfound speed.
Downtown Ebott began its slow crawl into a blur behind them as the red convertible drove toward the edge of the mountain.
She inhaled the late summer air into her lungs, the warmth of the far star and the cool breeze welcomed her. She was unable to help the lifting of her arms as she reached for the expanding sky above. Her Bad Omens band-tee whipped viciously against her skin despite the pressure of the safety belt across her chest. Lex sighed, unable to stifle her growing laughter. The anxiety she had once felt passed on the very wind that embraced her. She knew it would return when they reached the estate, but for now, she could appreciate the freedom of peace the moment brought her.
Sans glanced over the shoulder of his seat at her, lights in his sockets gentle as he smiled. Chuckling under his breath, he simply shrugged as he focused back on the passing landscape as they drove.