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The drink, while delicious, also had a sweet soothing side to it. Like it was something you’d drink before going to sleep. Harlow ate another brownie and sip of of his drink.

“Anything. I’d like to hear anything you’d like to talk about. Choose your favorite study, anything!”

He smiled up to him, holding his cup a little tighter.

“I’m sure anything you talk about will be absolutely fascinating.”

“Alright then”

Gaster took a small bite of the brownie and placed it back down

“I’ll talk about magic theory then.”

“We’ll let’s start with something simple the different branches of magic and how they are tied together and with monster kind. While it does differ between timelines, at least in my world the main soul types were, integrity, perseverance, kindness, justice, patience, and Bravery. Monsters while manifesting these traits in the magic don’t commonly have a strong color to their souls instead taking a muted color that can even appear white. There are some exceptions to this- as well you have to keep in mind most monster actually have more than one trait, The main just manifesting more.”

As he spoke and got more wrapped up in his own thoughts, Gaster began pacing in a tight circle hands moving as if to punctuate and add emphasis to his words.

“Because of this two beings with the same main soul type can manifest very different abilities- and that's ignoring the smaller subcategories within each type, if you really want to get into semantics- technically each individual magic type can be broken again into two different halves and so on and so on. The chance of two monsters manifesting with the same exact magic is astronomically small. However, that's ignoring learned and species subsets magic things that are while not entirely separate aren't really affected by soul types.”

Smiling widely Gaster stopped and turned to Harlow positively buzzing with enthusiasm.

Harlow would eventually finish his treats, making and serving brownies and hot cocoa on a plate a cup. He slid them on the counter next to Gaster and sat down on a stool. He got a brownie and placed it under his jaw. The brownie just… disappeared. No sound or anything.

The skeleton looked up to Gaster to hmsee his blush, his own only sustaining at the sight.

“Cool! … Well, uh…”

His fingers curled a little around his cup.

“W-Would you, uh, would you tell me?”

“Oh, umm thank you”

Grabbing the mug off the counter Gaster tried to calm himself staring down into the swirling mixture.Taking a small sip from it, he sighed his face finally clearing somewhat. Really at His age have such a reaction to some compliments was childish. He was well aware Harlow most like didn’t mean anything by it.

Shaking his head Gaster took a larger drink and placed the mug back down next to his plate and thought for a moment

“Well, what would you like to know about more, If you don’t have  preference it's fine but, well I can talk your ear off both of my fields of study so If you would rather hear about one of the other speak now or forever hold your peace, hehe”

"Hyeheh, it’s no problem. Chemicals were used the make such a beautiful explosive effect. However, mixes of dye are used for the colors, however some color could be seen from the just the chemicals too.”

He didn’t mind Gaster helping out. He went on to continue the components of each mix and how they worked together. He even explained how they looked so beautiful in the light of waterfall and how each bubble would just end up in the right spot.

“Oh, I insist on the compliments, Gaster. You prove me right by saying you’re passionate!! Hyeheh. That’s what I find so charming about you.”

He blushed now, looking away and taking the brownies out. Now he seemed a bit flustered.

“I-I’d love to hear more.”

…

At this point Gaster's, awkward fidgeting had become even more ignited, wrapping and twisting the end around his hands as he became increasingly flustered.  Harlow’s compliment having somewhat stalled any ability gaster had to speak. While listening to Harlow talk about his interests had been entertaining and he really did want to add his own thoughts, about it and about his own work. He just felt too...weird now.

Eridanus always said he didn’t handle flattery very well, granted he wasn’t as shy anymore. But Gaster could feel his face flush even more as his nerves got the better of him.

His face turning more and more purple Gaster struggled to reply or to speak at all … …

When Gaster started talking about his work and how much of a passion he had for it, Harlow could help, but look over as he cooked. It felt… so refreshing to hear someone else feeling just as excited and happy with that they do. He smiled and softly, his own cheeks shading softly to purple as he listened.

“Oh, it’s quite alright, Gaster. Hyeheh, I don’t mind at all. In fact… it was really nice to hear you say those things, ehyeh. It’s nice to hear someone so… passionate about what they love and just speak about it so beautifully.”

He walked over and leaned over to the counter, leaning on it a bit.

“Hmm… stories… I’m not sure what to say actually! There’s one I have, but it’s not necessarily a fun story. Uhh… Oh! Well, one time when I was bored and didn’t have work to do, I did learn how to make this pretty cool bubble bomb. You just… toss it and it blows up into a large array of different colored bubbles!”

“That sounds interesting! How did it work?  Did you use different chemicals to tint the bubbles or was it just dye? And wait what type of bubbles were they? hehe, I wouldn't know much about making something like that so forgive me." Gaster was glad Harlow hadn't been put off by his rambling before most people couldn't keep up and the monsters that could tend to find his habit of going off on tangents annoying. Gaster moved closer to Harlow and the counter eager to continue, as well as to help the other monster if need be with the cooking. It took him quite a while to process exactly what the other had said but once he did Gaster began playing with his scarf again fidgeting even more somewhat flustered.

"oh.. you really didn't mind, hehe there's no reason to be so complimentary I'm just passionate about the topic, I'm sure you sound the same once someone gets you started." Still never the less

Harlow smiled, clearly glad that he did infact enjoy sweets.

“That’s good then! I’m planning on making some yummy brownies. Maybe some good hot cocoa with it too.”

He set some water to heat up in a kettle and set aside some of the cocoa mix while getting a pan with the brownie mix.

“That’s alright, don’t trouble youself.”

He smiled and turned back to the oven and counter, putting together the mix and other ingredients.

“Well, ehyeh, I, uh, have degrees in many many fields, but I particularly love Chemistry. It’s just… so intresting to see how two things interact and come together to make something new. They just… connect, as if they understand each other and know what to do.”

“Oh that such an interesting take on it! That's somewhat like how I view studying magic, the effects it has on everything even slight is completely fascinating. Every living thing has some sort of magic to them, even if they can't use. Honestly the fact that monsters are made almost entirely of and can use it is somewhat of a contradiction even if it doesn't seem like much of one on the surface... I mean How is it that we have enough extra magic to summon attacks and for everyday use when it also is being allotted to holding us together...." Gaster continued now on a complete tangent most of his nerves and ill found mood was forgotten thanks to his excitement.

 Being able to talk about what he devoted his life to, and to someone who could at least understand his feeling in principal was freeing. Still "Oh who am I kidding"

Gaster quickly interrupted his own rambling

dear-harlow:

Harlow seemed to giggle sweetly at Gaster just standing there.

“Oh, come on, it’s quite alright, Gaster. Sit wherever you’d like. I’ll make something nice to drink and eat. Have you had any good treats at all since… well, y'know.”

He slipped off his boots and left them at the door, rolling up his pant legs to his knees and walking to the kitchen.

“Hmm, well… There’s nothing much to say really. Ever since the Core’s success, there hasn’t been a need for a large scale project. Do you like sweet stuff?”

He smiled to Gaster as he took out a kettle, some cups, plates and some baking ware.

“Mmm, well, ehyeh, I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m pretty boring sometimes, hyeheh. Uhh… Maybe… Maybe we can talk about it another time? It’s… not exactly easy.”

Harlow’s eyes seemed to darken as they walked forward, his hand squeezing a bit around Gaster’s again. He had to think a moment.

“I… I suppose I have a couple friends scattered about. They’re mainly co-workers from my time as an assistant and now as the Royal Scientist of this timeline, but that’s it.”

He looked up and forced a little smile his way, he seemed to skip the family bit.

“Is there anything you’d like to know specifically?”

They came up a hidden away section with a large colorful waterfall and a house on a hill, built into the cave wall.

“Here it is, home.”

He opened the door and motioned Gaster in with a smile. It was rather small inside, the bedroom, kitchen and living space all shoved into one room. A bed was in one corner, a kitchen in another, a tv in one, and a single seating couch in another.

“Make yourself at home.”

“Oh, Um thank you!” Letting go of Harlow's hand Gaster looked around the small home, while it was quite small especially after staying in the void for so long it had a cozy feel to it. Warm and inviting Compared to the cold silence of the void and the damp conditions of waterfall, Harlow's home seemed like a wonderful little haven.