#expensivelotus

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“why do you do that?”

Lotus pulled away from the mirror to regard Cash. “Do what?”

He gestured to his face, circling his sockets. “that.”

Lotus smiled gently. “You don’t like my makeup?”

Cash’s shoulders hunched and he looked away, clearly uncomfortable. “i didn’t say that.”

Leaning closer to the mirror, Lotus applied more purple pigment to the rim of his sockets. A crown of purple lilacs ringed his skull, and his rich robes were a deep purple, embroidered with golden thread, and he’d painted his skull to match. “So you do like it.”

“didn’t say that either,” Cash responded gruffly, fingers toying with a gold coin.

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

The coin stilled. “what’s wrong with what i’m wearing?”

“Nothing, darling. Nothing. I just thought....”

“what?!”

Lotus stood and set down his palette. He looked Cash up and down, thinking. Finally, he turned to his jewelry box and started sorting through it. “Ah—here.” He took Cash’s hands and attached some glittering gold cufflinks to his shirtsleeves. A heavy watchband wrapped his wrist. Lotus surveyed him, tapping his chin contemplatively. Then he returned to the jewelry box and produced a thin gold chain—just a chain, no pendant or ornament attached. Leaning into Cash, he reached around his neck to fasten it.

“There,” he said, resting his hands on Cash’s shoulders and giving a warm squeeze. “You look very handsome.”

Jerking away, Cash eyed the watch. “isn’t this a little....” He eyed Lotus, and fell silent.

“A little what?”

“...isn’t this a little masculine for your tastes?”

Lotus blinked and chuckled, his eyelights dancing in amusement. “I’m a sweet-piece, darling. I am whatever my client wants me to be. I have several suits in addition to my robes. If you’d prefer, I can wear one of those—“

“no! no. i just....” Cash stopped, his brow-bone furrowing. “if it was up to you, what would you wear?”

Lotus shrugged. “Does it matter? This is all for show anyway. If I had my preferences, I’d be at home in my pajamas watching Netflix. A dress. A robe. A suit. They’re all the same. It’s all costumery and cosmetics, darling. Now...are we ready to go?”

That coin bounced between his fingers, the only hint of his restlessness. “yeah, sure. let’s get this over with.”

Lotus took his arm with a proprietary air, and Cash stiffened immediately. “Darling, you need to relax. It’s a wedding. At least pretend to be happy.”

Cash grunted dismissively, but he forced his shoulders to ease. Downstairs, they caught a taxi in front of the hotel and took the short drive over to the reception hall. Cash kept staring out the window, one hand toying restlessly with that coin. Lotus knocked their shoulders together, earning a glare. “It’s only for a few hours. Then we can skip out and pretend you’re happily fucking me against a wall somewhere.”

Cash’s cheekbone colored, but he coughed and looked away. “no one is going to believe we’re fucking.”

“Not with that attitude they’re not—and not if you keep flinching when I touch you.”

“i did not flinch—“

Lotus sighed, then took Cash by the chin and kissed him solidly on the mouth. His good socket went wide, and his jaw unhinged, allowing Lotus to slip his tongue inside. He pressed a hand to the front of Cash’s suit, gripping the silk and feeling the thrumming of his soul under his hand. Magic sparked between them, and Cash slowly relaxed into the kiss, allowing Lotus to guide him. His hands began to rove over Lotus’ form, running up and down his spine and ribcage, squeezing his hips.

The taxi slowed to a stop, and Lotus pulled away. “There. Now you look a little more convincingly debauched. Now, darling—why don’t you pay the man and we can be on our way?”

Lotus smiled while Cash scowled at him. “that was unnecessary.”

“I beg to differ. Are you coming?” Grumbling to himself, Cash followed him out of the cab, brushing himself off. He sighed when Lotus took his arm again but didn’t try to shake him off.

The reception hall was already noisy as monsters from all six universes gathered inside, talking animatedly amongst themselves. Music filled the room, performed live by a group of gathered ghosts from the many universes. Most of the Alphys-es and Undynes were already dancing. Swap Asgore and Tale Toriel were talking in the corner.

Spotting them, Blue came bounding over, his smile forcibly bright. Lotus had to hide a smile behind his hand—Blue looked so flustered, anyone might have assumed it was his wedding. “Have you seen the photographer?” he asked, frantic, “I haven’t seen him anywhere and—“ His sockets widened. “Are you only just getting here?” he asked Cash, “You’re the best man! You should have been here to greet everyone as they arrived! You’re—“

Lotus touched his shoulder, smiling brilliantly. “That’s my fault, I’m afraid. Cash came to pick me up, and I took a while to get ready.”

Blue didn’t look happy with that, but he sighed. “Fine. Can you please make sure the place cards are in the right spot? I think Red’s been switching them around.”

It was pretty obvious what Cash thought of that request, but Lotus just squeezed his hand and agreed. Looking relieved—but still faintly annoyed—Blue ran to the next group of guests. “i’m not checking the place cards.”

“Of course not! We wouldn’t want to take Red’s fun away, now would we? Ah! Here—champagne?”

Cash looked unimpressed, but Lotus foisted a glass on him and murmured into his acoustic meatus. “We can either dance or we can mingle, you grump. We will not sit in the corner and sulk. Make your choice, or I’ll make it for you.”

That earned him a steely glare, to which Lotus responded with a gentle smile and an upraised brow-bone. He huffed and—to Lotus’ shock—set the champagne down and guided him onto the dance floor. “You really don’t want to chat, do you?”

“no,” he said pointedly. “i don’t.”

Lotus shook his head fondly. “Point taken.”

It wasn’t really a slow song, but Cash was more comfortable guiding him through a slow waltz rather than anything more energetic. After the end of the song, Undyne took the mike and bellowed into it—perhaps not realizing she really didn’t need the amplification. “Here they come! The newlyweds themselves! A round of applause for Papyrus and Slim!” She raised a bottle of champagne. “Here’s to you guys! And, Slim? If you break his heart, I’ll break every fucking—“

Edge wrestled her away from the microphone, looking annoyed. Papyrus was blushing profusely, and it looked like Slim couldn’t decide between being offended or amused. Lotus shook his head, chuckling. “Well, the maid of honor hasn’t set the bar very high. You shouldn’t have any trouble with your speech—“

Lotus turned to look at him, and whatever snarky comments he’d wanted to make evaporated when he saw the direction of Cash’s gaze. His eyelight was fixed on Slim, and while his expression was as guarded as ever, he couldn’t hide the tightness in his jaw or the tense set of his shoulders. Lotus knew what pain looked like, and Cash was obviously in pain. “Oh, Cash....”

The grip on his hips tightened immediately. “don’t. don’t say a damn word.”

Still, he couldn’t tear his gaze from Slim. Or his new husband. “I’m sorry.”

Another warning squeeze. “not. one. word.”

Lotus obediently fell silent, and encouraged Cash to start dancing once more. He was stiff, lacking his prior grace. But they danced, until eventually, even Lotus couldn’t see past his apathetic mask. “Shall we take a break?” he asked, “Perhaps get a drink?”

Cash eyed their assigned seats—right next to the newlyweds, of course. He was Slim’s best man, after all. “yeah. let’s toast the happy couple.” He said it without inflection, and Lotus’ soul jumped, wondering what Cash might have planned.

They crossed the dance floor, and Cash flopped into his seat beside Slim. The two of them bumped fists, saying nothing. Lotus eyed them warily, but passed them to hug Papyrus. “Oh, my dear—you look quite handsome!” He held Papyrus at arm’s length to look him up and down. “That suit fits you like a glove. And I adore the lining! A lovely pop of color!”

“THANK YOU FANCY-ME! WE’RE SO GLAD YOU COULD COME!”

Lotus smiled indulgently. “I never miss a party, darling.” He sighed wistfully. “Tell me about the wedding though!”

Papyrus looked a little sheepish, fiddling with the corner of the tablecloth. “IT—um. IT WAS WONDERFUL, OF COURSE! FITTING FOR THE GREAT PAPYRUS AND HIS EQUALLY GREAT SPOUSE! BUT—“ He winced. “We, um. We’re sorry it was so sudden. We wanted all of you to be there, of course, but....”

Lotus patted his hand. “Never fear, darling. We all understand. Planning a wedding is such work. And there’s something so delightfully romantic about eloping!”

Papyrus winced again, looking away. “Not everyone was as understanding....”

Lotus waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about them. It’s your wedding, not theirs. They don’t get to have a say.”

His shoulders relaxed marginally. “THANK YOU, FANCY-ME. THAT’S...that’s what I needed to hear.”

Lotus leaned forward and kissed him on each cheek, cupping his face in his hands. “Any time, darling. Any time.” Only then did he realize he’d lost track of Cash—and Slim. His soul dropped, but he maintained a happy face. “My date seems to have disappeared on me. I’d better go find him before he gets into trouble.”

Papyrus, meanwhile, was eyeing Undyne with growing trepidation as she approached. “GOOD LUCK.”

Lotus surveyed the dance floor but saw no sign of either of them. Dreading the scene he might stumble upon, he started searching the restrooms and coat rooms before heading outside. It was here that he found the two—in a small garden, seated shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the fountain. They spoke softly, and the sound of running water drowned out their words. Only when he got close enough did Lotus manage to hear Cash saying, “—already married. you can’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now.”

Speaking around the sucker in his mouth, Slim said, “no! but...he’s....”

He started to scratch at his wrist, but Cash snatched his hand away and gripped it hard. “he loves you?”

“well...yeah...i guess.”

Cash gave a short, sharp nod. “you love him?”

“...more than anything.”

Cash exhaled slowly and released his hand. “then quit acting like an idiot and let yourself be happy. if he didn’t want you, if he was afraid of all your fell-verse baggage, he wouldn’t have married you, got it?”

Slim nodded slowly, sighing in relief. “yeah. yeah, you’re right.”

“of course i am. now get your ass back in there and dance with your husband.”

Slim chuckled and knocked his shoulder into Cash. “heh. you sure you’re not just eager to get back inside to dance with lotus? you two were getting pretty cozy with each other when we got here. something you want to—?”

Lotus coughed delicately, startling them both. “Slim, dear. It looks like Papyrus might need some help fending off his maid of honor. Would you mind?”

He shook his head sheepishly, looking grateful for the chance to escape. He shot Cash a meaningful look, though, before disappearing back inside. Lotus took his vacated seat. “He has no idea, does he?”

“no. and he never will.”

“No need to look at me like that—I certainly won’t tell him.”

Cash studied him carefully, then grunted and nodded once. “good.” They sat in silence, and Lotus took his hand, starting to project / PEACE / WARMTH / LOVE / —“stop.”

Lotus leaned against him. “I don’t think I will.” He squeezed his hand, running his thumb over the backs of his metacarpals. “You still have a speech to give, darling, and I know this can’t be easy for you. Why resist the little comfort I can offer?”

Cash growled, but he didn’t pull away and he didn’t shake him off. His good socket shuttered closed, and he leaned into Lotus, opening himself to the projections.