[First part locked to notsogrimreaper] What does it take to love a child?

[mediadarling]

Mettaton doesn't sleep--he doesn't even need to charge these days--but even the greatest showman the castle has ever known needs some quiet time every once in a while. These days, he usually spends it in bed with his boyfriend, Ryoji, which is a great improvement from the days he went off by himself. His own company is wonderful, of course, but adding in Ryoji makes it positively divine.

Tonight, he's paging through a book on fashion through the ages he'd found in the library (fashion through the Middle Ages, it seems--a pity he couldn't find anything more up to date). It's interesting enough, he supposes, but not so interesting that he doesn't notice the cold wind that sweeps through the castle and drops the temperature a good double-handful of degrees.

Automatically, he looks over to his beloved partner--and yelps. Where a handsome black-haired young man had been resting next to him, there's now...an adorable black-haired child.

*

The next morning, castle-dwellers will find Mettaton on a quest: a very different quest than usual, as a matter of fact. Rather than searching out finery, glitter, and sequins, he's on the hunt for warm clothes. Not for him--he barely notices the temperature. Instead, those would be for the child on his back, who's definitely the calmer of the pair. Any tips on where to find said clothes or gifts of sweaters would be very welcome.

Comments

I lied this is the account I'll use

[reaper_in_training]

Pharos had been having a very pleasant... sleep? He doesn't really sleep, exactly, can't do anything a human body can... so rest, he'll say. Floating along somewhere in darkness, in the subconscious of the human until he's needed again. Surely he'll sense the impending danger, and that's when he'll 'wake up' to warn of the coming end.

But that isn't what wakes him. Instead, there's a loud yell at his side. A voice far louder and more dramatic than Minato.

Pharos sits up, blinking to adjust to the light of the room. This... doesn't look like the Dark Hour, nor does this appear to be the room he usually finds himself in. He frowns thoughtfully, then turns his head to the other occupant of the room.

"Oh. Hello."

He has no idea why he's appearing to someone else, but he may as well be polite.

Right you are. <3

[mediadarling]

Bright blue eyes, beauty mark--it's a different voice, but there's no doubt that this is his darling.

All right. All right. Time to settle down. The last thing he wants to do is alarm the love of his life.

And so he puts on a smile (he can't quite manage a brilliant one yet) and says, "Hello, there, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

[reaper_in_training]

Even the voice is slightly similar. It has the same tone as Ryoji’s, just a bit higher-pitched and softer. As soft as the little smile is.

He isn’t alarmed, especially with Mettaton’s careful smile. He doesn’t know much about humans, but when they’re smiling, it’s usually an indication they’re happy. But what does he mean by ‘sweetheart’?

“I am fine. How are you feeling? I didn’t mean to wake you.”

[mediadarling]

In spite of the panic he can't quite tamp down, that soft little smile and soft little voice are doing quite the number on his soul. Ryoji is so adorable--he just wants to cuddle him close and cover him in loving little smooches.

"I wasn't asleep," he says, almost absentmindedly. "And I'm feeling...a little surprised, sweetheart. You weren't quite who I was expecting."

the not-locked part ofc, maybe he can get help from this fucking three-year-old

[trombones]

Sans knew clothes. At least, the clothes around here. Since his t-shirt got ruined a few months back and looking the castle for something else to wear, he got to know what was where.

And he'd be happy to help if he wasn't, you know, also an adorable child.

A small, three-year-old skeleton monster watches Mettaton do whatever the heck he's currently doing on his hunt for clothes. He's quiet for a long time, until finally he shuffles up in an adult-sized blue jacket (clearly drowning in it) within eyesight and tilts his head.

"Hi. Whatcha doing?"

Is he reduced to this. Is he really reduced to this.

[mediadarling]

If Mettaton weren't carrying the love of his life in the form of a child on his back, he would facepalm. Of course. Of course.

"Finding warm clothes in Ry--Pharos' size," he says wearily. "I suppose we should find some for you as well."

prepare

[trombones]

Of course.

"Why?"

He waddles a little closer in his clothes. This time, he looks at Ryoji. Mettaton, he understands. His soul is right there, floating in some weird glass tummy thing? He's a weird-looking monster, but he's a monster. The person on his back, though...

Sans squints.

"What's that?"

Good luck playing 20 Questions with toddlers, man.

[reaper_in_training]

Pharos just stares down from his perch on Mettaton's back, smiling faintly. He's definitely hard to figure out. He doesn't feel like a monster, but doesn't feel like a human. In fact, it's hard to tell if he's even there, or at least if his soul is.

He tilts his head at the question.

"I'm Pharos. What are you?"

[darkerstripes]

Toshi is having some quiet time in a comfortable chair he's found with a new book. He hears the familiar cadence of Mettaton's footsteps and looks up in time to see him fussing by, very obviously on a mission. Toshi has never seen the glambot so flustered.

That's when he notices the little boy piggybacking. Okay.

"Mettaton?" He calls out from his spot, standing to meet him halfway.

[mediadarling]

Mettaton is so preoccupied he almost doesn't hear someone calling out his name. It takes him a second to react, but when he lays eyes on who's spoken, he practically sags.

"Oh, Toshi, darling," he calls back. "I don't suppose you could lend me a hand, could you?"

[darkerstripes]

Mettaton looks so relieved to see him, Toshi doesn't even know what to do. It's quite the compliment, and he feels himself softening at the way the monster sags. He's really struggling, isn't he? But Toshi can't quite tell what with.

"Of course, always. What do you need?"

[reaper_in_training]

From his spot on Mettaton's shoulders, Pharos kicks his legs and fidgets, trying to peer over Mettaton's head. Who is he talking to? He doesn't look entirely human, does he?

But Pharos at least knows he should try to be polite, so he offers a nod of greeting.

"I am Pharos. Mettaton is looking for clothes in my side."

He doesn't exactly see the point in changing out of his pajamas, but if Mettaton insists.

[oldmantiger]

...that man is shiny. Literally shiny.

And he's carrying another kid.

At least that means he's probably not dangerous. Real kidnappers don't carry kids that carefully, in his very-definite experience.

He changes course and hastens to catch up to Mettaton and his charge.

"Excuse me? Um..."

Teachers don't normally carry kids, so...maybe this guy is the little kid's parent? Dropping him off at school, like Kotetsu's parents apparently couldn't do?

[mediadarling]

Another child he doesn't recognise. That either means this poor darling has terrible timing, arriving when he has, or, heaven forbid, he's in the same boat as Ryoji. He certainly hopes not.

Either way, it's clear he needs a helping hand. And so Mettaton not only stops, but he lowers himself to one knee to better speak with him, balancing Pharos as carefully as he possibly can.

"Yes, sweetheart?" he asks. "What can I do for you?"

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu's eyes widen in genuine surprise as Mettaton turns around and kneels down. Curiousity, more than anything, gets him to step a little nearer. His gaze roams over the robot - it's probably clear that, wherever he comes from, he's never seen anyone quite like this.

Even the question seems to overwhelm him a little. Because what can anyone do for him, in a situation like this?

He takes a deep breath and bunches up his fists where they're buried in his pockets. But his voice, when it comes out, is small and more than a little hesitant.

"...I don't know where I am? And, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do? And I don't want to get in trouble again."

Maybe Mettaton can at least tell him where to start with all of that.

[reaper_in_training]

Pharos says nothing for a moment, just watching the scared little boy with curiosity. He doesn’t look all that concerned, really. Fear is an expression he’s seen all too often, though not mixed in with so many other feelings.

His smile seems to grow as the boy speaks and as he listens. All of this sounds familiar to him, as he had similar thoughts when he first woke up here. Mettaton will likely try to help, at least, but all Pharos can offer is something like empathy.

“I don’t know where I am or what I’m supposed to do either. But I don’t think you’ll be in trouble. This world doesn’t seem like it’s going to end any time soon.”

That’s… not helpful, Pharos.

[justletmewin]

Here's another child, but one who's been his age his entire time anyway. Asriel recognizes Mettaton but not the small boy on his back, despite looking somewhat familiar. The robot seems to be the only person he's seen so far who hasn't changed...

"Mettaton? What's going on?" he asks. "It's gotten cold and everyone's small for some reason."

[mediadarling]

Oh thank goodness, another unaffected person. Asriel may not be a fellow adult, but at this point, Mettaton will take what he can get.

"I wish I could tell you, darling, besides the castle is up to mischief again." He makes an annoyed sound. "I don't suppose you've seen warm clothes around in your size or a little smaller, have you?"

[reaper_in_training]

“This castle seems very mischievous. Probably dangerous, too. I wonder if there was a reason I was brought here.”

Pharos talks half to them and half to himself from his spot on Mettaton’s back, smiling cheerily despite his words. He looks down at the goat creature and giggles.

“He’s looking for clothes for me, by the way. I’m Pharos. Who are you?”

[dustless]

He'll stumble upon Frisk, who's on a similar quest, though not for quite the same reasons. A tiny Chara's holding their hand, bundled up quite well with their own winter clothes, while Frisk themselves still has that blanket. They at least need a real coat.

They give him a wave. "That's Mettaton, he's my uncle an' really cool," Frisk tells them--and then they spot the mop of bluish hair over his shoulder. They don't recognize who it belongs to. Another new person?

[mediadarling]

Mettaton is caught between his usual delight at seeing his nibling and his immediate desire upon seeing Chara, which is to send them through the stratosphere. Given they're a small child now and Frisk is holding their hand (darling why), he doesn't think that second impulse would be well received.

And so he settles for at least managing a smile for Frisk in spite of his stress and ignoring Chara completely.

"Frisk-darling, it's so good to see you! I take it you're on the hunt for warm clothes as well, hm?"

[reaper_in_training]

Pharos isn’t sure what to make of the feelings he can sense radiating off of Mettaton, but he has a feeling this discussion may turn intense after a few moments. He can’t imagine why, when there’s just two small children here. Human children are fairly harmless, from what he knows.

He pokes his head up higher over Mettaton’s shoulder to offer a smile.

“Hello.”

hope it's not too late?

[itstheend]

One of the children here, Kotetsu, mentioned 'a shiny man with black hair'. Chara was, admittedly, picturing someone of oily complexion.

So as they're walking in the halls, (they can't stay in the room they've found, they have to do something, what are they supposed to do, Frisk's 'new chance' means nothing in the here and now) they really don't expect to see a man with black hair. Who is literally shiny.

There's a kid on his back. Chara immediately assumes that they're his kid. There's a coil of something they can't identify in the pit of their gut, and they tamp it down. Inexplicable and therefore unimportant, they think.

Their future self will, on occasion, engage people in one sense or another. Right now they hold their breath and themself against the wall, and try to look like easily overlookable furniture, a life-size porcelain doll.

of course not!

[reaper_in_training]

Chara should feel no shame in their mistake. If Pharos had been told of a shiny man with black hair, he would have assumed ‘shiny’ was some sort of human expression.

Mettaton, oddly enough, seems to not fit in with most ideas he’s received about humans. But Pharos doesn’t at all mind. He seems to tolerate Mettaton well enough, from the way he’s perched on the robot’s shoulders, looking around curiously.

He looks over in Chara’s direction, and unfortunately, with his tendency to be an observer more than a doer, he notices them trying to hide. Tilting his head curiously, he looks for an escape route off Mettaton’s back.

Eventually, he shrugs, knowing he won’t get off a normal way, and fades out of his spot, fading in right beside Chara with an unsettling smile.

“Hello.”

No such thing as too late. <3

[mediadarling]

As soon as Mettaton feels Ryoji-Pharos' weight leave his back, he starts looking around. Already, he's ready to apologise to anyone startled by his darling's sudden change in location--but when he sees exactly who that anyone is...well, it's his turn to be startled. Or possibly panicked.

"Darling, no!" he yells and darts in with the intent to sweep Ryoji into his arms and away from Chara.

He has no idea which Chara this is and he does not care. He's not about to risk one of the most important people in his life. He already lost his dearest nibling to one Chara. He's not letting that happen to someone he loves ever again.