#muffet's

…

“Blue, you’re out of corn!” Razz’s voice came from inside the kitchen. Stopping mid-step, Blue sighed. He knew he had forgotten something. He peeked into the other room to throw Razz the apron he’d just been getting from the laundry. His friend caught it without issue.

“Dammit,” he said. “I’ll rush over to the shop and get some. Anything else we need?”

As he pulled the apron over his head, Razz considered it. “Not for this, but if you don’t mind, pick up some bread I can bring home. The food transports are late again. I’ll pay you back, obviously.”

Blue nodded. “Sure!”

He’d been happy to pay, but Razz wouldn’t let him. It wasn’t too long ago he’d refused to buy food to bring home from the Taleverses at all. Prideful bastard. Waving goodbye, Blue hurried outside, slamming the front door closed behind him.

Rushing through Snowdin didn’t take long. His feet smattered against the snow-covered street, his jeans jacket fluttering behind him, before he came to an abrupt stop in front of the Shop. When he stepped inside, Dogamy’s smile immediately greeted him from behind the counter. Dogaressa and their puppies were there too. As soon as they saw him, the puppies flocked around Blue. He laughed, ruffling their fur as he made his way through the ocean of dog monsters toward the counter.

“Hi!” he greeted happily. “I forgot to buy corn earlier, and Razz wants some bread. As much as possible, please.”

“Sure thing, kiddo!” Dogamy said, ducking into the pantry behind the counter. Blue resisted the urge to roll his eyes at being called a kid. Dogamy had been calling him that since he was a toddler, he couldn’t really blame him, he supposed.

“Snas! Snas!” one of the puppies chanted, holding up her arms and jumping in place. “Rocket!” They didn’t quite understand what a rocket was, but that was what Blue called it, so she did too. Chuckling, Blue hoisted her up in the air. The pup shrieked in joy.

“Aw,” Dogaressa cooed. Her dark eyes glittered. “You’re so cute.”

Blue twitched, is grin wavering for a moment.

He knew.

…

Leaning against the wooden counter, Blue grinned as Grillby handed him another cocktail, this one pink with a small umbrella. He poured half of it into his mouth while the bartender watched in amusement, his flames flickering toward the ceiling. Grillby’s was a fancy bar, with polished wooden tables and dark-painted walls. Quite the contrast to its owner who, while still elegant, fancied pastel blue suits. Firelings hung around the room, serving customers and chatting with each other in Flame.

Blue drank the rest of the sweet-tasting drink before slamming the glass down on the counter. The world spun lightly. Or no, tilted might be more accurate. “Told you I could drink more than you,” he told the Aaron sitting next to him, who looked a bit green from drinking too much.

“…You should leave,” Grillby told the Aaron, staring intently at him. “…I don’t want vomit on my floor.”

At first it looked like he might protest, but then he slammed a hand over his mouth and rushed toward the bathrooms. Now when they were on the Surface, Grillby’s had those, for the rare human customers’ benefits. It had proven quite useful also for monsters during late nights.

Giggling, Blue turned toward his friend. “They never learn,” he chuckled before hiccupping. “’Tiny, adorable Blue can’t drink.’ Another, please?”

“…Rough day?” Grillby asked, curious, as he began mixing liquids with practiced movements. Since it was alcohol, there was no danger for him if he spilled some. He did sell water bottles nowadays, but he didn’t quite like handling even those.

Huffing, Blue shrugged. “The usual. I’m almost through university, and twenty-six, and yet people treat me like I’m a godsdamned child. Not the humans, actually. They’re a lot better at this: probably because they have no idea whether I look young or not. But even Alphys doesn’t seem to realize I’m not a fucking child. Also we need money, but that’s at least only temporary.”

“…That’s rough. Here,” the elemental said, handing him yet another glass. A fancy margarita glass with a yellow liquid in. “…My offer is still standing.”

Yeah, to work part-time as a bartender here. Grillby would pay well, and Blue couldn’t deny it would be good to have some more money, especially now when both he and his brother were studying. The only question was whether he had time. “I’m considering it,” he promised. Grillby was his best friend after all, even more than Alphys and Razz, so working for him seemed fun.

The bell rang in the back of the room, signalling someone had entered. A gasp came from the back of the room as Blue smutted on his new drink.

“Sans!” a familiar voice called out. When Blue turned around it was Bonnie who had spoken. “You shouldn’t drink!”

Without a word, Grillby put down a bottle of whisky next to Blue’s arm. Blue sent him a grateful glance, reaching out to uncork it. Stars. He had never been happier to have Grillby as a friend. He lifted the bottle to his mouth, and drank.

…

The next morning, Blue’s head throbbed violently as he woke up. Groaning, he rolled over, relieved to see a headache pill and a glass of water on the bedtable. His brother was the best. Just as he swallowed, his phone started vibrating. As he picked it up, the light making his eyes hurt, he found he had at least four missed calls from Razz. He yawned as he picked up. “Y’ello?” His voice slurred slightly, mixing up his words.

“Fucking finally, lazyass,” Razz’s voice came through. “It’s eleven AM.”

“S’rry.” Blue rubbed his eyes with his wrist. “What izzit?”

“You called me at two AM demanding I go shopping with you in our ‘Fellverse stores’, as you called them?” Razz sounded highly confused. Likely he had an eyebrow raised as he spoke, and his forehead wrinkled. “Something about being cute? You do realize our fashion isn’t exactly ideal for looking sweet, right?”

Blue’s mouth formed an O as he stared at the dark blue wall of his bedroom. He couldn’t remember any of this, but- “That’s a brilliant idea!” He winced at his own loudness.

“It’s your fucking idea?”

“Drunk me’s,” Blue corrected, “and drunk me’s a genius. When are you free?”

“Saturday?” Razz still sounded just as confused, though some amusement had crept into his tone.

“See you then,” Blue chirped, quieter this time. A bewildered Razz returned the greeting. As he exited the call, Blue grinned, ignoring the headache in favour of pulling up some sites that sold Fell-style clothing.

To hell with being cute.