[Open/Mingle] Friends, beauties, castle denizens, lend me your ears

[mediadarling]

Today in the castle, a number of long sheets of paper have gone up in various well-trafficked locations. They all read the same:

ATTENTION BEAUTIES OF THE CASTLE!!
SIGNUPS ARE HERE FOR THE GREATEST SPECTACLE THE CASTLE HAS EVER KNOWN:
THE TALE OF SIR METTATON THE MAGNIFICENT AND HIS DARING QUEST FOR ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE!!
WRITTEN BY METTATON AND RYOJI MOCHIZUKI!
WITH ACTING, SCENERY, COSTUMES, AND MORE BY YOU!!!!
SIGN UP BELOW:

A pen and inkwell have been left on a table beneath each sheet. Anyone able to read the message will note that while Ryoji's name is written in blue and in the extremely tidy script of someone who doesn't write by hand often, Mettaton's name is massive, magenta, and surrounded by hearts.

Nearby, there just might be an enthusiastic robot and/or teenager lingering to see just how this latest project of theirs is going over.

Comments

[notsogrimreaper]

"Anything you want!" Ryoji grins down at the child. It's great to see someone so excited to help.

"You can act with Mettaton-san and I, or maybe work backstage... paint the set... there's a lot of things to be done, so we need anything you want to offer!"

He kneels down to be a bit more on their level.

"But with a smile like yours, I'm pretty sure you should be up on stage. We can't have someone so cute just hanging off to the side!"

[dustless]

"I want to help with everything!"

Flatterer. Their grin gets just a smidgen more shy at that.

"I danced with him once when he sang! And some other TV stuff. But that was my favorite part." Well. They sort of danced. He did his own thing in his dress as they sort of circled around him, waiting for an inevitable FIGHT, and then got into it the second RESET, but whatever.

[mediadarling]

"Now that's exactly what I like to hear!"

Around the corner swoops Mettaton, beaming wide. He'd been checking on another sign-up sheet, but apparently, here is where the most important action is!

"Frisk-darling, if dancing to my singing is what you want to do, then that's exactly what's going to happen!"

[dustless]

They clap. "Great!" They actually might end up feeling a little awkward, but that's later. "But I want to help with other stuff, too. Making stage things."

[notsogrimreaper]

"Oh! That would be nice, too. Maybe you can help me paint the set? Don't put too much pressure on yourself, though, Frisk. We can handle things too."

He can't help but be a little worried. He doesn't want Frisk taking on too many jobs and getting overworked.

[mediadarling]

"That's right, darling," he adds. "Only do as much as you feel like."

His beloved nibling getting tired out because of his and Ryoji's project is the last thing he wants.

[dustless]

"I know! It's you guys--your plan and stuff. But I can do a lot of things."

They fidget with the end of their scarf.

"...and I've been sorta bored."

[notsogrimreaper]

"As long as it's just boredom! We don't want to make you think you have to help us. But you are pretty talented. I know having you on our team would be a big help."

He grins down at Frisk, before glancing at Mettaton.

"Um... Team? Troupe? Is there a word for what we are?"

[mediadarling]

"Hmmm.... I do like the sound of 'troupe.'" He considers the pair of them. "If we're a troupe, then we'll need a name. What do you think, Frisk-darling?"

[dustless]

"Jus' want stuff to do, and this sounds fun," they assure him with a little armpat. Sure, they'd still probably help if it didn't, since they're their friends, but it really does.

The question makes them shuffle on their feet a bit. "...I dunno." (What the hell's a troupe?) They glance around at Mettaton, at the paper, at his very visible signature. "Should maybe have m--mag--magnificent in it?"

[notsogrimreaper]

"It will be a lot of fun!" Ryoji agrees, before turning his attention back to the matter of the name.

"Probably! 'Mettaton's Magnificent Troupe' doesn't really roll of the tongue, though."

He's pretty terrible at naming things... thinking back to his suggestions for the Shadows.

[mediadarling]

"I don't know about that. It does sound rather nice...."

But hmm. He does want to include Frisk and Ryoji, and that doesn't leave much room for them.

He looks between the pair--and smiles. "What about the Stunning Scarf Troupe? I'd have to make one for myself, of course, but that would be no trouble at all."

[dustless]

Hmm. That is not a bad point, if they're honest. "Too many...sounds. Syllables," Frisk agrees, after making sure Mettaton doesn't look too bothered.

"Oh! That sounds cool." Definitely not something they thought of--they're not entirely used to having theirs around their neck, but Ryoji wears his so much, they sort of forgot it was there at all.

[notsogrimreaper]

...Ryoji also looks like he enjoys the idea for the name. More than Frisk's casual happiness, he's absolutely thrilled. Most of the time, Mettaton seems like the more dramatic of the two of them, but right now...

"You should let me knit you one! That would be amazing!"

He's practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

[mediadarling]

And suddenly, for once, Frisk doesn't have the lion's share of his attention.

Mettaton turns to Ryoji, beaming away. "Would you, darling? That would be just the sweetest thing!"

[dustless]

Frisk stares. First of all, they didn't know Ryoji liked knitting. Second...

They distinctly feel like they're missing something.

Hmm. Hmm. They take a neat step back to be out of the way and still get to listen to the pair.

[notsogrimreaper]

Frisk's backing away isn't noticed by Ryoji, who seems pretty overwhelmed by the idea of his scarf being the signature of their troupe.

"I mean, of course I would! It's not really that sweet, just... just wanted to do something for a friend!"

He dearly hopes he isn't blushing.

[mediadarling]

"Oh, don't be silly!" Mettaton tells him. "Of course it's sweet--right, Frisk-darling?"

He glances to his nibling--who seems to have moved off a little. Ah well.

[dustless]

"Yeah. Extra help's always really sweet, Ryoji."

They're staring at him, lips just barely twitching upwards.

[notsogrimreaper]

"Ah, I guess so... I don't think of it as extra help. Anyways, what colour would you want it to be?"

He glances to Frisk, and then quickly looks away when he sees that slight smile. Tell him Frisk isn't thinking what he thinks they're thinking.

[mediadarling]

"Pink, of course!" He stretches out his leg and wiggles the toe of his boot to illustrate, then returns to balancing on both feet.

"Thank you, darling--you're wonderful." Rising a little on his toes, he presses a kiss to Ryoji's cheek.

[dustless]

Frisk's hands press together in front of their face, a silent clap.

They're grinning so widely right now, it's probably not enough to hide it.

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji only goes redder at the kiss to his cheek, covering it with one hand when Mettaton pulls away.

"Um, pink, then. Sure thing. I think I can have that done in a couple days."

He glances back at Frisk and mentally pleads with them to let this go.

[mediadarling]

He beams, at both Ryoji's news and his happiness. "Marvellous! I just know I can count on you."

Then he turns back to Frisk again at last. "And then the Stunning Scarf Troupe can make its worldwide--its worldswide--debut!"

(frick missed this)

[dustless]

Sorry, Ryoji, they just continue to look gleeful--though they tone it down just a tad when they see their uncle looking at them. It can wait a little while, they have a plan to work on.

"Yeah! Gonna be the best thing ever."