#original error

“I’m the original still, I guess I’m going by Errored. Hate the Au’s and destroy them for fun.” Errored shrugged before looking to his right.

“Hi everyone, You can call me Strings, I come from a universe where everything runs a little differently than the original. Nightmare Cross and I are on the run from Dream and his organization.” Strings, explained, using the hand that wasn’t holding the skeleton’s to his right to gesture.

“I’m Glitch,” the next Error started, “And I come from a multiverse where everyone’s a little crazy, mainly Ink--but I somehow ended up in Strings’ multiverse so I’m also on the run with him.” Glitch looked to his left, the first new skeleton to speak up in the circle.

“Hey, You can call me Viver, my multiverse Ink and I share PTSD from the AntiVoid and treat each other like brothers,” Viver explained,  “That’s about it.” A little grimmer of a multiverse, but it seemed to have a nice ending. Template winced hearing how the AntiVoid had affected him, but all multiverses were different. Even by a small detail as that.

“Hello, other mes’? Error’s?” The next skeleton started, “Ok, bad introductions aside, friends have nicknamed me Star, so I’ll go by that. My multiverse I dated Ink for a while some cheating and weird stuff happened, and now we’re co-parenting a kid that is made from our past battles.”

Weird and out of there, and a kid with the enemy? Defiantly not expected, but once again, it sounded like paying a penny for a dollar. The end seemed to be good, despite all the angsty sadness that was probably rolled into it. The next skeleton quickly picked up where the other left off.

“You all can call me Ru, and my multiverse is… to put it best weird. Cutting a story short, I’m happily dating my boyfriends, or well, all of Nightmare’s gang and Nightmare himself--and have a multiversal truce with the Star sans’.” Ru explained going straight to the chase. Once again weird, but different. A thought of a creator imagined.

“I guess I’m next, Error’s my middle name, so, I’ll just go by my first name, Edwin. Our multiverse sounds… to put it lightly, drastically different from all of yours.” Edwin struggled to explain, looking to the dark skeleton next to him for help.

“The easiest way to explain everything would be to simply say that Edwin and I are best friends, and not long after I was crowned king of our Kingdom, we ran away to get away from the royal life and eventually moved to America.” Edwin’s best friend explained although template had a feeling that wasn’t all they were, “I’m Neil by the way, although from the sounds of it, you all would probably know me better as Nightmare.”

The last person was up, and then time to relax and talk.

“Heya, suppose I could go by balance, in my multiverse Nightmare and Dream are Deities of emotion and Night and I are considered the dads of the gang. Although I parent Fresh more than anyone of ‘Mare’s boys.”

Standing up and clasping his hands together, Template smiled. That went way more smoothly than last time!

“Alright! Feel free to talk to one and another, and when everyone’s ready, cake time!”

It took time and coaxing on Template’s part, but soon everyone was in one group or another talking. Viver and Errored managed to get talking. Ru and Star started talking about “The gang” and things similar to that. Glitch and Strings were flirting and throwing jokes left and right. Then Balance got Edwin to get out of his shell and bit and open up, Neil standing nearby, a string subtly connecting him to Edwin.

Walking over to the more closed off of everyone, Template gently interrupted, “Edwin, Neil! Have you met Glitch and String yet? I think you all would get along pretty well. Oh! And Balance, have you tried talking to Ru and Star? Think they’ve been gossiping about the weird and silly things their gang has done.”

“Alright, see you two.” Balance waved, walking over to the gossiping Error’s quickly joining in with his own stories of their gang and the shenanigans they have pulled.

“Glitch String!” Template yelled out, catching their attention as he gently pulled Edwin and Neil over, “I think the four of you would get along well! I mean, all of you do have a background of running from something or another. Maybe it could be a bonding topic? Oh! I think someone’s calling me over, bye!”

And with that, Template left them be.

“So you guys are on the run too?” Glitch started, leaning back into the couch as he cuddled into Strings who chuckled at him trying to nonchalantly be clingy.

“We used to be,” Neil started, sitting down on the other side of the couch, Edwin sitting a little ways from him, but not too far. Their hands still connected by the string, “Thankfully, Ian- um, Ink is now head of the court and stopped the searches for us.”

“Court? You live in a medieval era?” Strings questioned, happily snuggling back into Glitch. Blatantly showing their love, further confusing Edwin and Neil.

“Actually, we live in the 1900s, we have some technology, but not a lot. We rely on magic for a lot of things.” Edwin explained, “U-um, are you two dating?”

“Hmm?” Glitch hummed, unsure why the other was so nervous about asking, “No need to be so anxiec, and yeah, we are. Is being gay a big no-no or something for you guys?”

“Y-yeah...” Edwin sighed, looking away.

“Don’t worry, you guys are safe here, I think literally everyone in this room is gay… so. Yeah, we’d be hypocrites otherwise. Ru’s got his boyfriends, and from what I’ve heard Star is married to this guy outer, and he used to be dating Ink-who is also a guy so, you’re plenty safe.”

“Oh thank magic,” Edwin sighed, immediately laying back against Neil, who wrapped his arms around his aid, pressing a soft kiss to his lover’s skull.

-----

With Edwin and Neil finally relaxed and a lot more open about their relationship, Template moved everyone to cake and presents. Everyone sat comfortably in the living room, the dining room a little small for the number of people they had.

Soon everyone was settled, cake set aside for now or eaten, and all the presents were set in the middle. Just as last year, all the names were put in a hat. Once the rules were explained, Template let Errored pick first, starting the white elephant.

“Glitch… ” Errored spoke, “Seriously?! Again?! You were first last time!” He yelled angrily.

“Luck of the draw,” Glitch replied smoothly, grabbing a random present from the middle, finding supplies for battle or training carefully wrapped and put away in a box. “Fuck yeah! Now, this is what I call weapons.” Balance chuckled, mumbling a little something about having help from his gang in picking his gift. Errored eyes lit up.

Next Strings drew, pulling out Ru’s name.

Who quickly stole the supplies. So quick to stealing.

“They were so good,” He dramatically sobbed, before dropping the act and grabbing a new present. A cookbook and knitting supplies. Star gave a small smile. Glitch grumbled as he drew out the next name.

“Edwin.” The aid quickly grabbed the baking and knitting supplies.

“Come on?!” Glitch yelled, getting further frustrated as Strings pulled the tantrum-throwing skeleton into his lap, giggling and patting his head.

Pulling over a new gift using his magic, he tore it open, revealing a simple blue kitted pillow and blanket, Errored gave a short nod. Seemingly proud of his work.

Next was Viver, who grabbed a gift from the middle, get not so useful art supplies that he could probably regift to his Ink.

Then Star’s name was called, and Viver was the new object of torment, Star stealing the supplies for his son. Star groaned. Once again grabbing a gift from the middle.

This time, it was likely from Strings, a carefully sewn doll in Classic’s liking, a bag of clothes of the different Au sans’ in the box with it.

Next Templates’ name was called, and, deciding to try and get the rest of the gifts open, grabbed something new. More art supplies. He looked over to Viver, who gave a small shrug.

Then Strings went. Opening a new one again, he was presented with a carefully tailored suit of armor that had deliberately stitched under clothing. From a chest plate to shoes, it was well made. Whipping his head he looked over to Edwin and Neil, who smiled innocently.

“You guys said you did tailoring and blacksmithing but--DAMN.” Strings spoke enthusiastically, already admiring the detail and care put into it.

Balance’s name was called and he much like many others wanted to steal the suit.

“Nooooo, I’m still admiring it!” String’s whined as it was slowly pulled out of his hands.

“You can admire it when I’m wearing it.” Balance smiled deviously as Strings continued to pout, already grabbing a new present.

The new present wasn’t as big or grand as the literally handcrafted suit of armor, but Ru’s gift was still good. A series of books that he had explained to be invested in--after his Nightmare had gotten him into it--paired with a hot cocoa set and some bagged snacks as well as treats.

The last name to be pulled was Errored, who, despite looking like he wanted to steal the doll, decided to just end everything and pull the last gift from the middle, who could only be from Glitch.

Spiced chocolate, movies, and several extra buttered packets of popcorn. Nothing that Errored wouldn’t be content with.

After many more hours of talking, hanging out, and even more stories being told and shared, Everyone departed. All put back in their rightful multiverse’s. Until they would see each other again the next year.

Template belongs to @unu-nunu-art

OG! Error belongs to @loverofpiggies

Dreamswap Error belongs to @onebizarrekai

Underverse Error belongs to @jakei95

Balance is from my series From memories to trees

Edwin is from my series The King and his Aid

Ru is from my series I should...

Viver is from my series PTSD/ Putting together savorless decisions