that's not what we usually mean by 'dance with death'

[cherryblooded]

[That certainly did happen. Cherryblod's not the type of person who will judge one person's value as being more than another's, so he can't say whether it was better or worse than the first week. It came as less of a shock, maybe, but even so...

It's not the kind of thing people usually want to go through alone.

So, after he spends some time in the kitchen preparing (with assistance from Bruce), he'll slip some personalized notes under everyone's doors.]

[Name],
If you'd prefer to spend this time alone, that's fine.
If you'd prefer not to, I've made some food and set it out in the dining hall.
Even if you're just hungry and would rather not talk, feel free to come take some.
But if you'd like the company, we're here for you.
-Cherryblod

[Those arriving in the dining hall will find an assortment of food - a fair number of sandwiches and other, actual meal-like options since most people missed a meal or two, but also a goodly number of desserts. There's tea, as well as coffee for those who favor it.]

Comments

[ratingspoint]

My apologies for everyone's taste, then.

[Chill, Sigrun, he does this to everyone.]

[captainobnoxious]

You're so weird. Is this part of your entertainer thing or were you built this way?

[ratingspoint]

Does it matter? Whatever it is, it leaves an impression, and that's what's important.

[captainobnoxious]

If it's built into you, we can take it out.

[... It's a joke, but honestly she's gonna turn the dial on his chest anyway.]

Is it this?

[ratingspoint]

Oh. My god.

[JESUS CHRIST well that didn't quite have the intended effect, most likely, given that his voice has now dropped by approximately an octave and is suddenly like

really sultry?

like holy shit who unleashed barry white in here]

Why did you think that was a good idea-

[captainobnoxious]

[thaaaaaaat

is highly uncomfortable, she is turning it another way to get rid of that--]

[ratingspoint]

Can. You. Not.

[dear god the other way is not any better in terms of hugely uncanny shit

like 'teenaged girl at a one direction concert' levels of high-pitched is not his idea of a good time

but at least after that he's going to have the common sense to back up a bit

god he's going to be fucking with this thing for the next eternity trying to fix that, thanks]

[captainobnoxious]

[Okay that one was hilarious, she's laughing at him for that.]

I can't believe it! You have such an obvious weakness! It's right there!

[ratingspoint]

Most people don't get close enough to touch me - at least not for any length of time.

[GOD THIS SOUNDS WEIRD AS HELL so much fluctuation holy shit- ]

[captainobnoxious]

And you let me! You're such a fool!

[caaaackling, but honestly she's touched. She'll help him find his voice again if he lets her, grinning widely.]

Come on, you're just making it worse since it's upside down to you. I'll fix my own mistakes. Promise.

[ratingspoint]

More like you're the luckiest person in the world. Get over here, then.

[Whyyyyyyy.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Don't mind if she does.]

Just keep talking until I've hit your sweet spot. Got any other interesting stories to tell?

[ratingspoint]

...You know, if you're going to insist that we're friends and I can tell you absolutely anything, then I trust you to not spread around the fact that...well, not really?

[He kind of laughs a bit when he says it, though the sound is a bit dry.]

Like I said, I grew up in Waterfall, which is pretty but the exact opposite of interesting. I was raised by my cousins on a snail farm, for crying out loud.

Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of plotlines and how to create entertainment for people. But if you're looking for actual stories like yours...you've actually got me beat in that department, darling.

[...You know, somehow he doubts anyone will believe you even if you tell them that, but still.]

[captainobnoxious]

[A... snail farm... Sigrun's pleased that she's got him beat in the stories section though.]

So you're a total snore, huh? I guess not everyone can have the same amazingly interesting life I've lived. And it's pretty amazing.

Why snails? And what're your cousins like? It's weird to hear you talk about family. Are they robots too?

[At least she's getting to hear him talk while she fluctuates his voice in the rightish positions.]

[ratingspoint]

Well, why not snails?

[He asks, like that is an explanation in and of itself.]

My cousins...they're all disasters, to be honest. Though most of them left the farm in Waterfall, because they actually decided they wanted to do something with their lives. One of them is still there, though. I was pretty close to them when we were growing up, but not anymore - I haven't spoken to them in ages.

[...Mettaton, that answered, like, nothing.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Seriously. You didn't even answer if they were robots too.]

That answered nothing, honey. Why aren't you two close anymore?

[ratingspoint]

...Because I knew what I wanted for myself, and they didn't seem to want anything. That's what it comes down to.

[Not that he's bitter or anything.]

Don't get me wrong, they're...important to me. But if they had their way my life and career would have been on hold indefinitely, and that wasn't something I wanted.

I mean, sure, I promised to stay with them after our other cousins left and I went back on that. Fine. But it's not like it's my fault that I got an opportunity to change things for myself and they weren't willing to do the same.

[captainobnoxious]

That's a good reason to leave home, even if it means straining your relations. You've gotta live life while you can.

[Can't force it one way or the other, from the sounds of it. Though Sigrun's not familiar with siblings and all of her cousins are on the same page as her. What's she know?]

I mean, I don't know how safe you guys are in the Underground -- minus the human that's not going so well -- but it's the same kind of thing with my world, you can't just sit by and let things pass you! You've gotta grab it while it can and the second it comes up! That's how I was chosen by my uncle for the mission I'm supposed to do, I showed initiative.

[... That's a nice way to call it.]

And so did you. So you got to be a star. Even if you have a boring life.

[ratingspoint]

My life isn't dull at all now, actually. It's just the sort of thing that I can't imagine you doing.

[It's pretty much performing 24/7, after all.]

I've burned my share of bridges, sure. But it's been worth it - I've never thought that it hasn't been.

[captainobnoxious]

My performances are just different than yours, but what connects them is bloodshed. Everyone loves to hear a good troll hunt story where I'm from and I've got plenty.

[They're not so different after all, Mettaton.

no they're extremely different that just the only similarity]

Next question: Why a snail farm? What's so good about them? Do you eat them or something? Well, not you you, but you know.

[ratingspoint]

Darling, I would have stayed if there was anything good about them. Trust me, snails suck.

But apparently some people eat them. Boss monsters, usually - if anyone else does, I don't know about it.

[captainobnoxious]

What's the difference between a boss monster and everyone else. Are they just stronger or something? Maybe snails are the secret and you just don't realize their sucky, slimy potential.

[Tell her about Homestuck Undertale.]

[ratingspoint]

It's more to do with their souls than the snails. They aren't as powerful as humans, so it's just temporary and they won't stay for too long, but their souls stay around after death.

There are a few of us in each region that are stronger than the others. At least one of the skeletons in the eastern caverns has potential, and there are a lot of members of the Royal Guard in that area. Undyne is in Waterfall - she's the captain of the guard that I mentioned, she'd love you. And where I work...well, there's me, of course. And my creator is pretty good with magic and technology, but she doesn't fight.

We're all pretty powerful, but we've got nothing on boss monsters.

[captainobnoxious]

So humans are the boss monsters of all boss monsters, if we're going by strength and souls and whatnot. That's a weird kind of ranking though.

[... But the snails could be important. Eat some.

Also look, he sounds normal again. More normal. Not... sultry or anything that was highly uncomfortable. Sigrun pats his chest proudly.]

Are they usually your generals then? The kind of people that'd take care of any problem?

[ratingspoint]

[Good! That's good. ...Don't mess with his dial again.]

They're our royalty, actually.