watch yer step

“It was casual conversation. I dont expect you to do anything. But if you want to get all hostile go ahead on that.” he waved him off. 

“I’ve got enough GP burnin’ a hole in my pockets. Since I’m not gonna use it, I may as well put it to good use,” Solis said, following alongside Hound.

He didn’t think anything of following the other to Grillby’s. It wasn’t the first time that he’d done such a thing and, simply because he wasn’t going to get drunk, it didn’t mean he couldn’t join someone else doing it. He didn’t think of Hound as a protector, far from. If he did fall to that line of thinking, he highly doubted that the other skeleton would appreciate it.

“Please tell me Grillby still makes a good burger and fries. ‘Cause I’m gettin’ that while ya drink yourself under the table.” No, Hound. Solis didn’t expect to buy two drinks to get you loose. “Can afford one for ya too, if you’re up for that.”

          “Well, ‘en, ain’t’cha a rich man on campus.” He said with a grin as his tail swished this and that way in an awkward angle--his tail was broken in many places after all, years of fighting will do that to a monster. 

     Hound knew this place like the back of his hand--er--well--true he can’t see his hand, but that didn’t mean anything right now. Point is he knows where he’s going by the use of his nose, smelling out the joint. 

     But oh there was a smirk on his face as the other spoke about getting him drunk. He even chuckled lightly, maybe he was going to enjoy having this guy around after all, he’d be fun to mess with--and free food and booze? What could go wrong? 

"Last I checked, I was an adult. Cuddle close and I'll make sure you're safe."

Holy shit, was this whole timeline blessed with super olfactory senses? It was amazing to him that he hadn’t been jumped already by someone if that was the case. He vaguely registered that he was being warned again and he knew that it was pretty serious. However, he’d been in such timelines before, glad he could at least teleport out if need be.

Of course…

Teleporting was a fickle thing. If he was in shock, he actually couldn’t actively flee. He was incredibly precise with how he could teleport but it relied heavily on his mental state. If he was in a bad place, he knew he couldn’t get out of it on his own.

The question made him chuckle. “Really now? How about I take ya out for a drink or two then we’ll see how that tail of yours feels.” He shrugged. “I don’t drink myself, too dangerous to be outta my gourd, but I’ll be happy to buy ya a few rounds.”

     Hearing the other’s proposal, Hound couldn’t help but grin a little as he chuckled. He knew his brother wouldn’t be home for a while, and the fact that he was suppose to be on the look out for any and all humans--but a few drinks never hurt a thing. Besides, he wasn’t a light weight by any means. He’d just drink the other to bankruptcy. 

          “S’long as yer ready ta put yer money where yer mouth is, I’ll take a drink from ya anytime.” And the fact that the other would be with him, it would keep him safe from anyone who tried anything funny--best solution all around. 

     He just hoped that Papyrus wouldn’t find this out. 

       “Yes – I know.”        It was always a pain, to leave his brothers side every morning this way. He didn’t enjoy being away from his home, but it was a necessary evil at this point. Without his job and his status, what did he have to offer as protection for himself and his brother?        “I will see you later today then… do try not to fill yourself up on that junk they call ‘food’ at Grillby’s again…” He huffed softly, though only someone who knew him well would catch the near playfulness underneath the otherwise reprimanding tone.

      “Try m’best, Boss.” He was making no promises though, he always loved the taste of a good burger, coupled with some scotch or whiskey and he’d be a happy pup. For now though, he had a grin on his face as he watched the other walk away from him. 

Great. An aggressive one. Just what he needed. His shoulders raised in preparation to flee, mouth turning down somewhat. A tense stance, but nothing aggressive. He didn’t come for a fight.

“just someone passing through,” he said, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. “possibly got a little lost along the way. the name’s red. i’m not looking for any trouble, ok?”

     Shit, it would seem as though he had been a little bit too harsh on the other, no matter, he would understand if Hound were to explain what kinda timeline this was, right? 

“I couldn’t tell you were blind,” Solis admitted, shaking his head. Not that the other skeleton could see it but he wouldn’t be surprised if he could sense it.

As for the fear, it was hard to put more fear into him. Solis was afraid of a lot of things, death being very high on that pole. Though he hated his life and didn’t want to keep going as he was, he hoped that maybe someone could rescue him from it. Things only got murkier as he knew that he got scared each time someone would get too close to him, fearing that his history would just make him a project.

Hells, he was so fucked up.

Solis’s head jerked up as he watched Hound walk away, jogging to catch up to him. “Hey, I never said I was lookin’ for someone to wring my neck. All I want is a bit of fun, that’s all. I don’t mind workin’ for it and it’s not like I haven’t for places like these before.” He laughed softly. “Killin’ can’t be the only thing they do around here.”

          “In a timeline like dis one, it’s somethin’ ya come across quite often.” Hell, his younger brother was blind in one of his own sockets, it was something that Hound was use to. “Not like it gives me a disadvantage though.” He grinned lightly. “Could sense ya after all, couldn’t I?” And with that he looked behind himself, seeing that the other was actually following him. 

     Strange, he thought the guy was here for sex, if there was one thing he wouldn’t be finding following him--that would be it. 

          “Nah, like I said people can sense ya wit’ dat scent’cha got, but I do hav’ta warn ya, it’s not fer th’ faint of heart in these parts--ya might come ta regret tryin’ ta sleep ‘round in dis timeline. But’cha can try if dat kinda stuff is what’cha enjoy I guess.” He didn’t really care for such things, he’d never want to be with anyone in this timeline since everyone was out for power, control, and Hound didn’t want that. 

     He was a rather free spirit if he had to be honest, but still loyal to a fault--it was why he gave himself the nickname Hound after all. Still, he’d never want to tie himself down to any of the monster’s in this timeline, especially after what he heard about what happened with his brother--or more accurate--what he found out. 

     But that was for another day. He had a guest and he was wondering one thing. 

       “I believe I could survive missing one meal, Sans…” After-all, he usually stuck to only one a day, if any. How he kept up his magical preserves, nobody knew. It probably had much to do with his higher LV, but— he tried not to think about that.        Boss eyed his smaller brother, feeling an unwelcome swell of affection at the others thoughtfulness. Still, he scoffed, looking around before taking the bag anyways. “Thank you.” He said low, hushed as to keep it private between them both. “Will you actually be heading to work today?” He said dauntingly, a small, nearly softened smirk gracing his features.

     He knew that coming after him like this would be a bit odd to most, but Sans still cared for his brother, and he wanted nothing but the best for him. He knew how dangerous training sessions were after all. 

          “’Course.” There was a hint of a smile on his face even when Papyrus took the bag as his deformed tail wagged a little at the tip as he took a few steps back. 

“Heightened senses”, huh? Solis tilted his head, thinking that this other Sans was more different than he appeared. As most never smelled him coming a mile away, it was always interesting to him when someone appeared that could pique his curiosity.

He shrugged a little. “I’ve been in pretty bad timelines. Hardly doubt that this is gonna be the worst, I’ve already been in the worst. Came out on the other side a bit mangled,” Solis said, letting out a soft breath.

“Not that it matters. I’ll be fine.” Maybe he’d find his end here or someone who just wanted to keep him around for a little while as entertainment. “Appreciate the concern, though. Doubt that anyone’s gonna really care about a scrap like me unless they like what I’m offerin’.”

          “Yeah, heightened senses. Haven’t’cha ever heard of when someone loses a sense the other’s get stronger in it’s place?” He then pointed to his eyes. “Can’t see outta these babies, but I don’ need ta. Can sense and hear from a mile out if not more. That ‘n m’magic helps with sensing people too. So if I wanted ya dead, would’a done it already.” 

     He did want to put fear into the other’s soul, by the way he spoke it didn’t seem like he wanted to live anyway. Hound had to laugh at him. 

          “Maybe ya did come ta th’ righ’ place after all. ‘Cuz with that attitude, yer gunna be dead within th’ week, if not by th’ end of th’ day.” He didn’t have time for this, he warned the guy about how this timeline worked, if he wanted to die than it was his choice, he had a brother to look out for, he wouldn’t die for someone who was already contemplating it. “I’d wish ya good luck, but I think ya already have a goal set in mind as ta how ya want this trip ta end. Nice knowin’ ya.” 

       Annnd, washing your clothes in a city river wasn’t exactly the best idea either. Dre knew this, and so did all of the other Compton natives. Whether or not it was far from the actual city, it was probably a bad idea.        Much like Hound was doing now though, he still liked to escape from the city-scene every once in awhile. He loved his concrete jungle, but it had it’s down-falls.        Mostly it had it’s perks. He wondered which one this guy was – and there was only one way of finding out.        “Y’know…. homeless people piss in that water.” Came his baritone voice, sudden and far away enough that even a magical attack would be too easy for him to dodge. He didn’t know his way around these alternates, but it wasn’t hard to tell that this was one of them.

     Hound didn’t jump when he heard the voice behind him, hell, he could hear and smell him coming up on him, so instead of yelling or jumping, the skeleton just laughed as he kept on cleaning his jacket.