betheroleplayer | Schoolgirl Crush (for bleatingheart)

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Schoolgirl Crush (for bleatingheart)

[In the past few months, Sans had developed a morning routine, and it went like this.

Every morning he woke up with his eye sockets closed and started to mentally talk himself down. The reset had probably come in the night. There was no use holding false hope or getting worked up about it, it was just the way the world worked. He was going to get up and find himself in his old room down in Snowdin, back before a certain kid (and a certain amazing monster) had ever even entered his life.

And then he opened his eye sockets and found himself in his new room, in the modest house he shared with his brother on the surface, and the rush of relief that flowed through him threatened to rattle his bones apart.

Feet dangling over the edge of his bed, Sans sighed and scratched at his jawbone. He really couldn't keep going on like this, could he? The stress of waiting was going to give him a heart attack, all the more impressive given that he didn't have a heart. What was worse: to spend his whole life dreading a reset that would never come, or to embrace freedom and be caught off guard when he lost it?

Sans glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. It was up to date, but only because Papyrus had come and flipped the old month up a few days ago. He mumbled under his breath as he thought.]

Lessee, it's Saturday... Papyrus was gonna hang out with Frisk and Undyne... They don't need me at work... so what am I gonna do with myself today?

((Hope this looks good to you! I left it as open as I could, so Toriel can enter the scene however you like. Phone call, text, visiting in person, whatever works!))

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[ In the minutes that followed, Toriel stubbornly kept holding onto the phone, determined not to react in any sort of odd way this time when Sans texted back.

And at least for the moment, she triumphed. When the sound jingled from her phone, she neither jolted nor dropped it.

...Not that she ever should have done either of those things in reaction in the first place, but if it took small steps to get past this, then that is what she would do.

Her eyes darted across the screen to read the small text. As it turned out, where she had failed to make any sort of intended invitation in her own messages, Sans was the one leaving such an opening.

There was no reason for her to turn him down. She had been thinking similarly herself, hadn't she? And it wasn't like it was a...

...A what, exactly? Her brows furrowed before she felt her cheeks turn rosy again.

Why on the surface of the earth would she jump to such a conclusion? He clearly said "hang out". So why did her mind jump to... to...

Well, it didn't matter.

Huffing, she banished her the nagging at the back of her mind and clicked out a more prompt reply than the last one. ]

I try to be. ]:)

My, I can imagine. He is quite energetic, is he not? Frisk is much the same way. It is very quiet when they are not here.

I am not busy. I would be delighted, Sans. Did you have anything in particular in mind?

[ Did that sound too... eager, perhaps?

She hesitated for just a bare second longer before sending it and letting out a breath she had not realized she was holding. But there was no sense in worrying about it.

Or so she believed, but she could already feel herself growing nervous at the thought of even just "hanging out". This change in demeanor was becoming an issue. ]

[As soon as Toriel's response came through, Sans sat up straight again, eyes lighting up. Any opportunity to spend time with her was a good one, no matter what they ended up deciding to do. He replied almost immediately, fingers skimming swiftly over the phone screen.]

great! like i said, no plans yet.
want me to swing by so we can cook something up?
haha, and maybe we can cook something up for frisk when they get back.

[He almost hopped up and took one of his "shortcuts" on the spot, but thought better of it. That would have really been pushy. He'd just relax and let her call the shots.

Really, they'd just seen each other only a day or two ago. He shouldn't have been so eager to jump up and see her again. But... that was nothing new, was it? He'd been like that at the door to the Ruins, so Sans supposed nothing had changed.]

[ He was certainly swift with those bony fingers today.

Though the truth was, she was the one who was much slower with it than usual. And this time it wasn't just because of her big paws. Her new phone had a much larger screen to work with than the small buttons on the last one.

Well, regardless of her self-imposed setbacks, she would do her best not to leave him hanging for long again.

Having him come over was preferable, was it not? This way if she did something embarrassing, it would not be in public. But then again, the one she did not want to embarrass herself in front of yet another time this week was the one who would be with her.

...No. No more silliness. Sans would not judge her. She was the only one having this unreasonable problem with her actions as of late.

Curling the ends of her fingers up, she typed a response. ]

That sounds quite a-pie-ling, Sans. Lettuce do that, then. ]:)

[ Satisfied with her punful reply, she pressed the button to send, glanced up at the clock, and then looked down at her stained apron and plain dress.

He would probably not come over immediately, would he? Maybe she ought to just--just freshen up a bit... wear something nicer, fix any mats in her fur...

Deciding not to question her sudden interest in changing her apparel or messing with her appearance, she set foot off to her bedroom. ]

[It was a shame Sans wasn't privy to this mental back-and-forth Toriel was having. He could have quickly assured her that nothing she could ever do would make him judge her. For now he was still unaware that anything was out of the ordinary.

Toriel's assumption wasn't quite accurate, though: Sans was definitely coming over immediately. As soon as he got her text--well, after he took a moment to snicker at the excellent use of dual puns--he hopped out of his chair and vanished, taking one of his trademark shortcuts through space.

An instant later, the diminutive skeleton appeared on Toriel's front porch, thoroughly startling a squirrel who was sniffing at her birdfeeder. He lifted his hand to knock... and paused. He hadn't really thought about it, but it felt strange, being there with only the two of them. Usually the monsters hung out in groups, and it wasn't often that it was just Sans and Toriel.

But he shook it off after a moment and made himself knock. He was being ridiculous. There was no way Tori was getting worked up over his visit, that was for sure.]

[ On the contrary, Toriel was digging through her wardrobe and fretting over what to wear, of all things.

She may have stopped aging, but she had enough age before that. And for some reason, she could not help but notice how frumpy and unappealing a lot of her clothes seemed to make her look. She was a mother and a teacher and that should not have bothered her, but for a reason she could not put a name to, she did not want to appear matronly.

There were a few new outfits she had bought at a clothing outlet store nearby with a push from her child and a few of their friends---particularly the robot from on TV, Mettaton, she believed his name was. She did not really think that they suited her, but Frisk had been pouty and adamant that she buy something new for herself for a change and she had not been able to resist them.

Perhaps it was worth a try... they were more "in fashion" than her long dresses that were more like robes. And she did not know what sort of things that Sans liked in the first place.

...She should not have even taken that into account anyway. An old boss monster like her had no business trying to appeal to a charming skeleton man.

Her paws flew to her face in embarrassment. Good gracious, was she really trying to impress him somehow? Was that what this was about?

The sudden lump in her throat seemed to resound a blaring "yes".

And then she heard the knock on the front door echo faintly. Flustered, she nearly dropped the clothing she had pulled from her closet as she squawked. ]

C-Coming! I am sorry! Just---give me five minutes!

[ He must have come straight here! Oh, no!

With haste, she grabbed the coral cashmere short-sleeve top with the wrap-around for the waist and the matching darker-shade knee-length skirt with frilly trim along the bottom that went with it and disappeared into the bathroom. On the edge of her mind, she knew it was not really appropriate attire for cooking or baking, but this was the set that the Frisk and their friends approved of the most. Maybe she would not look terrible in it...

Three minutes later, she had miraculously managed to change. And she spared one more minute to curl a few unruly patches of fur upon her forehead. It... it would have to do. She had made the poor guy wait long enough on her doorstep as it was.

Still a bundle of nerves, she hurried out of her room and down the stairs, taking the steps much too quickly for her large feet. And her haphazard carelessness came back to bite her when she slipped over the second to last step and fell forward in a heap of white-furred limbs right into the carpeting in the entrance way. ]

Edited 2015-11-13 05:19 (UTC)

[Sans heard Toriel's voice faintly, and his bony brow furrowed at the flustered tone he seemed to hear in it. Was something wrong? Under the circumstances he had no problem giving her all the time she needed. So he called back to her, hoping to ease her stress.] Okay! I'll just, heh, take five out here.

[He waited patiently, tapping the heels of his sneakers against the porch in a haphazard rhythm that kept changing tempo. A couple of kids holding baseball gear walked by, glancing at him dubiously; he waved pleasantly, and they smiled uncertainly back. It was a nice day, and it was only going to get nicer.

And then came the loud sound from just inside the house, which suspiciously resembled the sound of a large furry monster slipping and falling onto a carpeted floor. Almost unconsciously, Sans teleported forward two feet, just enough to put him on the other side of the front door. Blind shortcuts weren't the safest trick in his repertoire, but his own well-being was the last thing he was thinking about.]

Oh, geez, Tori! [The skeleton rushed forward to assist Toriel, dropping to his knees and reaching out to help her however he could.] You okay there? [A litany of "fall" and "stair" puns marched through his skull, but he crushed them down. No joking around until he was certain she was okay.]

[ Before she had even been able to lift herself up off of the floor and hurry to the door, Sans was abruptly right there in front of the still-closed barrier and at her side before she could scarcely manage a blink of shock in the time lapse between.

Her face instantly flared up upon realizing that he must have heard her tumble unceremoniously into this heap and rushed in to see what was wrong.

Already, she had thoroughly embarrassed herself, and he only just arrived.

Uncharacteristically stammering, she accepted his assistance, holding her head down slightly in hopes of masking red glow beneath the fur on her face. ]

I--I am fine. Fine, thank you. My apologies for startling you, Sans. I merely t-tripped.

[ With his help, she got back up to her feet, one paw smoothing down her skirt.

So much for a good impression.

Mentally trying to fight down her blush, she cleared her throat and tried to cover her nervousness with a light chuckle and a joke. ]

How clumsy of me. It seems like I have fallen for--

[ The pun didn't reach its end. Once she realized what she had been about to say, the heat attacked her face mercilessly once more. ]

W--Well! Anyway, I did not mean to make you wait. If that should happen again, feel free to let yourself in.

[Sans held on tight to Toriel's paws, only releasing them once she was back on her feet and assuring him that she was unhurt. He couldn't help a small sigh of relief that nothing serious had happened.]

Hey, it's alright! You don't have to rush on this lazy bones' account.

[He took a step back from her, giving her a smile... and that bit of distance allowed him to see the new outfit she was wearing. His eye lights dipped down and up in a flash, taking in the pretty cashmere top and the knee-length skirt.

Tori had knees. He had never thought about them before. Obviously he'd known they existed, but catching a glimpse of them past the frilly trim of her skirt was entirely another matter.

And none of this was anything he had any right to be thinking about. His cheekbones glowing a faint blue, he laughed sheepishly, trying to cover his nervousness. Sans and Toriel perhaps had more in common than they realized.]

Heh heh, somebody sure cleaned up nice today. What's the occasion?

[ Regardless of how Sans felt about her haste to answer the door, Toriel was firm in her stance on that matter. And that held even more true for life on the surface. A monster just standing on someone's door step and waiting there might cause suspicion. And she did not want to cause any disturbances in the already fragile relations, much less give Sans any trouble.

It would still take a fair amount of time before things improved. Frisk and the other monsters were doing their best, but such a tense relationship did not heal instantly. ]

It is not polite to make guests wait. I will be more prepared next time.

[ With that, she returned his smile--albeit a bit awkwardly on her part. And she could feel the fading flush of heat slowly growing in intensity again when he gave her a once over.

Oh. Oh, goodness. He noticed.

But hadn't that been what she... wanted? Why did she feel so ruffled by it now? Perhaps she did not really know what she wanted.

Fidgeting with her paws, she gave a nerve-induced chuckle of her own. There was no occasion. At least, not any more than his visit. But she couldn't say that!

One thing that Toriel was not good at was lying. She did not like to do it at all and any attempts at even covering the truth up even a little were botched. For a rather eloquent speaker, she was definitely not "smooth".

But in this case, the full truth was out of the question. ]

Ah, well... there is nothing, event-wise. My child helped me find some new clothing at the human stores. I thought it silly, but I suppose it is a waste not to try them.

[ ...It was not a complete lie. It was mostly truth. That would have to do. ]

[It was funny, in a way, although neither of them could have known it. Both of them were feeling awkward discomfort, but for completely different reasons. Toriel wasn't certain what she wanted; Sans knew exactly what he wanted.

And all the reasons why he couldn't--or shouldn't--have it.

She was clearly uncomfortable with his gaze, so he pulled his eyes away from her, not without some effort.]

Huh, so Frisk helped you pick those out? Kiddo's got good taste. You look nice, Tori.

["Nice" was an incredible understatement. Words like "gorgeous" or "stunning" or "beautiful" seemed more appropriate... But of course he couldn't say that.

Sans turned back to Toriel and gave her a smile, trying to look as natural as he could.]

Hate to ruin such a pretty outfit in the kitchen, though. Maybe we oughtta do something else with the day?

Edited 2015-11-13 22:09 (UTC)

[ His compliment made the blush spread further over her face.

So they didn't look weird on her large frame? They suited her? He approved?

...Well, he did not say that, but it still made her heart flutter. Perhaps it was not a mistake to change her clothing, even if it led to some embarrassment and mishaps.

A rather goofy-looking smile spread over her features.

Really, why should she feel so beside herself and giddy inside over such a small thing? A friend just told her that she looked nice. She said such things about friends all the time. It was not a big deal.

But strangely enough, for some reason she could not fully determine, it felt like it was.

Maybe she would wear clothes like these a little more often... Frisk would surely accompany her to the clothing stores again if she were to ask.

His following response make her blink in surprise, though. While it was rather silly to have dressed up like this knowing that they would be cooking, home was also a safer environment when she was reacting so strangely. But... ]

I would like that.

[ She blurted the response out, but then quickly amended. ]

Erm---that is, if you would like, of course. I am fine with cooking, also.

[Sans tapped his chin thoughtfully before replying.] Cooking's always fun, yeah, but we can do that any time. It's such a nice day, so let's go out. [Hearing how that sounded, he quickly amended:] Y-Y'know, appreciate the surface a bit.

[Slipping his phone out of one pocket, the skeleton skimmed through the starred locations in his map of the area. They lived on the outer edge of a nice city, and there was plenty to do if you knew where to go for it.]

I found a nice restaurant the other day I've been meaning to sink my teeth into again. We could see a human movie, or go to a book store or a music store... What sounds good to you, Tori?

[Really, he had no strong preferences. As long as he was with Toriel, he'd consider the day well spent in the end.]

[ Something was definitely off of its normal balance within her. The moment he said "let's go out", she was certain that her heart skipped a beat. And there was no reason for it to. It did not implying going out as in a "date". Rather, as he was quick to clarify, just going out to enjoy the day.

Yet her mind instantly jumped to "date" before thinking of anything more reasonable or probable.

Toriel tensed. This was... not good. Her brain was filling her with hopefulness for something completely ridiculous. Sans was just a friend, was he not? He would not want to date an old boss monster like her.

But he was very charming. And funny. And a pleasure to talk to and "hang out" with. He was kind and cared a great deal about his brother's happiness. She could always count on him if she needed a hand. He got along great with Frisk, too. And his eye sockets lifted in the most genuinely amused way when he laughed at one of her silly jokes. She could have listened to his laughter forever, even if there were still a door between them.

Perhaps, she... perhaps these feelings were the reason that she had behaved---and felt---so different lately.

As embarrassing as the notion was to consider, she seemed to be harboring feelings for the skeleton man. And those feelings were beyond that of just friendship. Instead, more akin to... a crush?

The realization struck her hard. It had been so long since she ever felt anything like this. She had not recognized it.

But... it was silly. He would certainly not be interested in an old woman like her. And to lose his friendship over this new-found awkwardness would indeed be tragic. She had to try to... "play it cool", like he would do. ]

That... that all sounds lovely, Sans. I have been meaning to see more of the city. Perhaps you could show me around?

[ She certainly did not sound as "cool" and collected as she would have liked, but for some reason, singling each thing out ran each scenario through her mind as though it were more like a date when it was not. This was quite a troubling development. ]

[Once again, Sans had no idea of the back and forth dilemma going on in poor Toriel's mind. All he saw was her concerned expression as she considered his suggestions, taking longer than he would have expected to answer. Did he say something wrong? Maybe she would have rather stayed in?

But finally she spoke, sounding a little flustered but mostly normal, and he sighed slightly, relieved that all seemed well.]

You bet, Tori. I've been out there a lot, figuring out the lay of the land. Just follow me, and I'll show ya a real goat time.

[Sans chuckled and gave Toriel a playful wink, then opened the door and stepped aside, holding it open for her to pass through first.]

[ Toriel needed to stay on her toes. The last thing that she wanted to do was make Sans worried or uncomfortable.

However, she was really not accustomed to how to deal with such feelings. Ignoring them seemed next to impossible.

She would... have to make the best of it and hope that he did not find her behavior too off-putting.

His joke helped smooth things over a bit, a genuine laugh bursting free from her. No matter how many times he used that one in different ways, she always found it funny.

It was always easy to forget her troubles when she laughed. He really had brought that magic back into her life and she was grateful for it.

As her laughter tapered off, she quickly grabbed her purse from the chair by near the door and took his invitation to walk through first. And she could not resist returning a with a quip of her own. ]

Well, then, as long as you do not feel too shoehorned into it.

[ The sun outside was radiant and the air was fresh. Perhaps things would be alright, as long as he could keep herself in check. ]

[It really was a lovely day out. Sans tended to rely on his shortcuts to save energy and time, but sometimes it was nice to just walk and enjoy the world. The fresh air, the warmth of the sun... all those things the underground just didn't have. The novelty hadn't worn off yet, and he had a feeling it wouldn't for a long time.

And there was another point in the sunlight's favor: Toriel looked even lovelier in it. He followed her out of the house, her laugh bringing an uncontrollable grin to his face, and locked up behind him. He could spend the entire day just listening to her laugh and be more than content.]

On the contrary, I'm furry excited to get started. I think our first stop is gonna be... this little bookstore I've been checking out. Remember the cookbook I gave you a while ago? That's where I found it.

[ A new fit of chuckles escaped her as she stepped out into the sun, shouldering her purse comfortably on her right arm.

Laughing was effortless with Sans. Since the first knock knock joke she heard upon the door that barred the ruins from the rest of the Underground, she had been unable to resist his sense of humor. Even the dark, hollow loneliness of her life then couldn't overshadow that one simple thing.

And now, there was freedom. Light. Life beyond the ruins.

It would truly be a shame not to enjoy and embrace it, would it not?

Her skirt fluttered slightly with the mild breeze as she turned around, still grinning from ear to ear. ]

A bookstore sounds wonderful! I had been thinking I could use a few new things to read.

[ Truly, the surface was remarkable. She never could have known that so many books existed. They seemed endless.

And she definitely knew the cookbook in question. In fact, that was where the apple pie recipe came from that she made just yesterday. ]

My, if that is where the cookbook came from, then it is a surely worth a visit. I must have tried at least a third of the recipes in there already. You certainly know how to pick them.

... So what you're telling me, Tori...

[Uh-oh. Anyone who had known Sans for more than a few hours recognized that expression. The way his grin widened and his eyes lit up... He had a real stinker of a joke coming, and no one could stop it.]

... is that when it comes to cookbooks...

[Whatever this pun was, there was no way it deserved this much buildup.]

... you think I have excellent...

[Here it came...]

... taste?

[If Papyrus had been present, that would have been his cue to stalk off in a huff. Sans just grinned up at Toriel, looking insufferably proud of himself.]

Edited 2015-11-14 16:03 (UTC)

[ She knew what was coming.

And unlike those who would have been prepared to groan or bury their faces in their hands, she waited in anticipation for the inevitable pun, biting at the fur beneath her teeth to keep from laughing prematurely.

She tried to put a paw up to her face to contain herself, but it was futile---as soon as the last bit slipped out, she lost it in a loud snort and a fit of laughter. ]

G---Goodness, Sans! Ahaha! Yes, I would certainly say your taste is---eggcellent!

[ A middle-aged human woman with a bag of groceries gave them a strange look as she walked by, but Toriel couldn't even find it in herself to regain her composure. It must have looked---and sounded---ridiculous to bystanders, but she could not bring herself to care.

Laughter really was just too addictive. ]

[How was this woman so perfect? Sans watched with adoration in his eyes as Toriel burst out laughing once again, that undignified but beautiful sound that could only come from her. He let out a bark of laughter himself at her return volley, marveling once again at their back and forth silliness. He had known other monsters who enjoyed puns, of course, but none who reveled in them like he did, who gave themselves completely over to the laughter. None until her.]

Careful there. You keep egging me on with these compliments and I'll milk it for all I can get!

[Ignoring the woman who passed by--those who couldn't appreciate the joy of laughter weren't worth notice--Sans reached out to take Toriel by the hand as they walked. His small, bony hand was enveloped within her warm, furry paw. If she kept laughing so hard, she might need guidance to stay on the proper path!

At least, that was his excuse. Why didn't he just take her by the elbow? Well...]

[ Garnering a laugh from him only made that pleasant feeling bloom and spread further within her chest.

When it came down to it, was it really any wonder that she found herself attracted to such a monster?

Between another fit of giggle-chuckles that gave way to another boisterous laugh, she tried to catch her breath long enough to respond. ]

Then I suppose I batter keep it up, shall I n--

[ She hadn't expected him to suddenly take her hand. Even amidst laughter and jokes, the feeling of his bony digits taking hold of her large paw overshadowed everything and reminded her of her predicament with her feelings. Heat rapidly rose from her neck up, flushing her face.

Of course, it was not the least bit unpleasant--on the contrary. But as innocent as the gesture surely was, her heart had definitely skipped another beat before taking off like a shot and pounding in her long ears.

This would be a good time to mask over her flustered state with another joke before he became concerned, but she could not think of anything after her voice had cut off. ]

[The instant her voice stopped, Sans knew he'd made a mistake. He glanced up to her lovely face, red with shock and (what must be) discomfort, and the heart that he didn't have stopped dead. Abort! Abort!

He yanked his hand away as if he'd been burned, moving a few paces ahead of Toriel and turning to face her. He pasted a grin on his face and hoped the rest of his expression wasn't giving away his panic.]

Haha, sorry! Did I startle you? Just didn't wanna lose track of you while we were, uh, cooking up those gags. [Sans pointed one thumb behind him.] Anyway, we're gonna turn left on Brook Street, so it's a couple more blocks.

[Turning away from Toriel again, Sans started down the sidewalk again, a little faster than before. Hopefully he'd salvaged things and hadn't completely ruined the day before it even started.

Like she would want to hold a cold, bony hand anyway. Stupid, stupid, stupid.]

[ The heart that had leapt up from the shock abruptly plummeted when Sans swiftly pulled his hand away from her paw. And the warmth that flooded her was abruptly met with a chilling, icy wave of realization.

She thought to reach out and assure him that it was fine, but he was already hurrying in front of her. The damage was already done.

Yes, a wonderful job, indeed. Make your dear friend think that you are upset when you are not, all because you cannot contain this silly crush of yours and get flustered by the smallest things. Brilliant.

Stiffly, she dropped her half-extended hand back to her side. ]

It---it is fine. I am fine. My apologies.

[ ...It was also possible he noticed her turning red and acting strangely and was putting two and two together. He was a smart skeleton, after all. And she was certainly no good at hiding these feelings.

Regardless, she did not want to spoil the day ahead. With some effort, she managed an awkward smile as she picked up the lost pace. ]

How... how fortunate that you know the way, Sans! Peas do guide me. I carrot imagine what I would do without you.

[ Once her own joke caught up with her, she could feel the heat returning to her cheeks just as quickly as it fled.

...The pun was innocent-sounding enough, was it not? Why did everything have to gain a second and more suggestive meaning in her mind now? ]

[Sans almost cringed at the awkward tone in Toriel's voice. He'd totally made things weird, hadn't he? He glanced back nervously as she caught up to him, wishing he had a lip to bite...

And then she punned at him twice in succession, and he felt the tension flow out of his bones like water. His laugh was a bit surprised but very genuine, and he lifted his eye sockets in that way Toriel liked. If they were still trading jokes and laughs, things must be alright.]

Don't worry, Tori, you're not gonna have to find out any time soon. I'll always turnip when you need me. All you have to do is call-iflower.

[Sans grinned and slowed his pace so that he was walking next to Toriel again.] Now let's keep gourd-ing, shall we? We've bean goofing around long enough. [Which of course was a blatant lie. He could never get enough of goofing around with her.]

Edited 2015-11-15 00:39 (UTC)

[ The honest laugh and the look upon his features didn't help the blush on her face subside in the slightest.

But at least they seemed to have moved past... that mishap. She was relieved and at the same time, a little disappointed. Had she not frozen the way she had, they probably still could have been...

Well, it did not matter now. It would seem extremely odd if she were to reach out and take his hand now after that. And the mere thought of doing so was enough to make her ears burn, anyway.

Jokes were a much more comfortable alternative. Her large feet fell into a steady rhythm of walking side-by-side with Sans again. And his following no less than four puns was almost too much to handle. What started off as a chuckle she hid behind a raised paw ballooned with each food pun until she couldn't hold in the loud chortle and howls of laughter that finally fell free from her in a rush. ]

S-Sans! From the way you are cooking them up, I may just artichoke! I cannot ketchup!

[ It did not matter how many passersby looked at them like they were crazy and weird. She always had a good time with Sans and she was not afraid to show it. ]

[Toriel's laughter was truly infectious. True, the majority of the passersby gave the pair odd looks, but several others found themselves chuckling along or at least smiling as they passed. And of course Sans's grin only grew with every laugh he coaxed out of her. The awkwardness was buried under the strength of that unbridled joy.]

Sorry, I just can't help it. When I see a chance to pun, I just...

[He let a beat go by, to heighten the anticipation, and then...]

... must-ard.

[He playfully nudged her with his elbow, then decided to let up a bit so she could catch her breath. A quick glance at his phone confirmed that they were still on the right track, and their turn was coming up soon. He hadn't forgotten his promise: He had a city to show her.]

[ At this rate, she was not going to be able to catch her breath!

But oh, being breathless in this way was certainly something she did not mind. She felt so light---like floating on a cloud.

It was rather remarkable, considering how embarrassed and worried she felt just before the jokes were back in full swing. Laughter was certainly a powerful thing.

And he just kept on bringing the puns. Toriel had to pause for a moment to clutch her stomach until the chortles of laughter finally began to subside again. ]

Goodness, Sans, you certainly have a gift.

[ And one he deemed fit to share with her, amazingly enough. ]

[Turnabout was fair play--Toriel often made Sans feel breathless too. Even though he technically didn't need to breathe, as such. That was just how powerful she was.

And there were few joys in life as good as bringing her that laughter, that light, joyful feeling, and knowing he was able to lift her mood.]

Heh, I don't think there's a lot of monsters or humans around who'd agree with you on that one. I'm pretty sure my bro would call it more of a curse.

[As they came toward Brook Street, Sans glanced to the left, their path toward the bookstore. He didn't want to interrupt their conversation, so as he turned, he reached out to gently touch the small of Toriel's back, guiding her in the proper direction. Hopefully that would go over better than if he took her hand again.]

Edited (random tense changes -_-) 2015-11-16 04:18 (UTC)

[ Toriel huffed. She knew that punny humor was not for everyone. Even Frisk would get a little bit exasperated with her at times when she would use them excessively. ]

Nonsense! They lack good taste in jokes, that is all. But at least I am fortunate enough to relish in what they are missing out on.

[ This time, thankfully, she did not completely freeze in shock or jump out of her skin when she felt his bony hand gently turning her in the adjacent direction. And a good thing that he had, or she would have blindly kept going forward. Toriel did not get out much with a child to take care of and teaching classes five days a week and the city was very new and foreign for the most part.

Still, even that light sensation upon her back was enough to set butterflies into a frenzy within her chest. She hoped that it did not show too much in her face. ]

[Sans chuckled at Toriel's smooth return volley, his own chest filling up with warmth. How had he ever gotten lucky enough to meet this amazing woman, so perfect for him in every way he could see? Yes, it was unlikely that things would ever grow deeper than this, but this alone made him happier than he could ever remember being.

Swept up in a small wave of emotion, feeling a bit as if he was walking on air, Sans took a moment to figure out his reply. The warmth crept into his voice as he looked--or rather, gazed up at her.]

I think I'm the fortunate one, Tori. A pun partner like you just can't be beet.

[Belatedly, the skeleton realized that his hand was still resting lightly on Toriel's back. But her faint body heat felt nice through the soft blouse, and she didn't seem to mind it, so he left it where it was. They weren't far from their destination now, so he might as well enjoy the contact while he could.]

[ She didn't miss that warm tone in his voice, which in turn warmed both her face and her heart simultaneously.

Such a charmer, indeed. Sweet and funny in the same breath, even!

Perhaps those butterflies simply were not going to calm down, after all.

Chuckling under her breath, she glanced away shyly. ]

Do not be silly, Sans. You've clearly outgrown the competition.

[ He was not moving his hand even well after they had turned, she noted. But Toriel did not mind. For such a small hand, the feeling of his joints resting along the small of her back was both firm and reassuring. Her nerves did not calm, but there was a giddy, almost childlike happiness mixing in with them.

My, she was certainly in to the roots, was she not? ]

That's tree-ly kind of you to say. Honestly, I find these joking sessions simply di-vine.

[Somehow, it was easier to be honest with Toriel when he cloaked the truth in pun clothing. Almost too easy. Sans needed to be more careful. It was hard to remember when she was so close, looking so happy to be there with him.

He was almost tempted to keep walking when they reached the bookstore, so nice was the feeling of his hand at her back and the rest of her by his side. But he stopped, reluctantly pulling his hand back and turning toward the small shop with its wooden door and eclectically stuffed display window.]

Here we are! After you, Tori. [A tiny wisp of blue magic wrapped around the doorknob, pulling the door open for her to step inside.]

[ Toriel couldn't resist giggling even more with the two-shot pun he returned. It really seemed as though he always had a good one at the ready! She would certainly have to work on hers.

The destination almost came too soon.

How silly a thought, considering she had just been fretting not long ago about the awkwardness that came with recognizing her feelings regarding him.

As he opened the door to the quaint shop with a little 'magic touch', she smiled in gratitude through a demure blush and stepped inside, remarking as she passed him. ]

My, how gentle-bonely of you! Thank you, Sans.

[ Toriel always did appreciate good manners, after all. ]

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Schoolgirl Crush (for bleatingheart)

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