Chapter Text
“THIS NEEDS TO BE A DARKER SHADE. YOU CALL THIS VOID BLACK?”
Your right eye twitched as you rearranged the bouquet, drawing out the stems of the flowers once again. “Sir, like I've said a thousand times before,” you plucked the black flowers from their spot and rested them gently on the work table in front of you, “I don't stock colors like this in my store.”
You heard a huff come from the skeleton in front of you - you didn't look up from your work, but you were almost positive that he was standing with his arms crossed.
“HOW DISGRACEFUL. DID YOU NOT LEARN ANYTHING FROM MY LAST VISIT?”
You sighed, closing your eyes to regain your composure. “Apparently Papyrus, I did not.”
Taking the vase, you moved to the back table and brought out your cutters yet again, snipping at the bottom of the stems before placing them gently into another vase filled with cool water. You could hear the tapping of an impatient boot behind you as you worked, but you made no move to increase your pace.
“UNBELIEVABLE! AFTER ALL THE TIMES I HAVE VISITED THIS POOR ESTABLISHMENT, YOU STILL CANNOT GET THIS SIMPLE THING RIGHT,” the clomping of his heavy boots moved away, most likely towards the displays, “PERHAPS YOU REQUIRE A REMODELING. IT IS OBVIOUS YOU NEED SOME ADVICE IN TERMS OF AESTHETICS.”
You stared at the clippers in your hands, wondering morbidly if you could somehow chuck them at the skeleton behind you.
…. but no. He was still a customer. An obnoxious, condescending, overrighteous customer.
You set down the clippers before you did something violent with them and moved back in front of the counter, crossing your arms at the sight of the skeleton picking at one of your yellow daisies. “I require no need for remodeling,” you huffed, flicking his gloved hand, “how's about you leave my shop and go do… whatever it is that you do and let me arrange your bouquet again?”
With high cheekbones and menacing edges, Papyrus was no simple monster. He was fluid, more powerful and significant than all the others you have met. Sockets narrowed into slits, the red light that glowed from within them sharpened his expression, brought out by the crimson scarf wrapped around his wide shoulders. He was staring at you with disgust.
Despite his appearance, however, you found out pretty quickly that he was a complete pushover.
“I mean, I'm sure you have big Royal Guard duties to attend to, right? Why do you let a simple human like me take up your time?” You smirked internally as the sullen look on Papyrus’s face gave way to arrogance. As if on cue, he straightened his spine to his full height and puffed out his chest.
“YOU'RE RIGHT, WHY DO I BOTHER?”
You bit back an insult and allowed the monster to slip past you. His scarf fluttered as he posed dramatically (unnecessarily) in front of your shop door. “I SHALL BE BACK LATER, HUMAN. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE COLORS RIGHT THIS TIME!”
You let out a breath as the door closed, the entrance bell ringing after the skeleton’s departure. Moving back to the counter, you started the flower hunt all over again.
******
Monsters revealed themselves out of the Underground several months ago, and in those several months you became acquainted with Royal Guard Papyrus.
You had been speaking with a customer about some arrangements when he had busted into the shop, declaring his need for a bouquet. You didn’t even have the time to get over the initial shock of his bombastic entrance before he started demanding your attention. Your previous customer quickly made up some excuse and scurried away, leaving you to deal with the ridiculously tall and menacing monster.
Before you had figured him out, Papyrus terrified you - his appearance alone would have made anyone weak of heart soil their pants. His personality added fuel to the fire. However, after his repeated visits, you began to wonder why such a prideful skeleton would even bother continually visiting your meager shop. Sure, you dedicated your life to this small place - a business left behind your late grandfather - but you were certainly no top-tier delivery service. All you did was arrange flowers, and give people a more cheaper and personal alternative compared to the big grocery chains.
So, why did this guy keep coming in, week after week, like clockwork? More importantly, where were all these flowers going to? Or to whom?
You didn’t bother finding an answer to those questions. Papyrus rarely talked about anyone but himself half the time, and when you finally managed to get a word in, he would scold you about your choice in shop decor rather than respond to your inquiries. Regardless of how much he irked you and how unusual his requests were, he still managed to pay you a good sum for each bouquet - for that, at least, you were grateful. And so, the days marched on. Every Wednesday, Papyrus would stroll in and buy flowers from store, leaving you more confused each time.
******
You cursed lowly under your breath as the black dye spilled over the table, dripping onto your fresh apron. Swiping the bottle quickly, you dragged a rag over the mess before it could seep in and stain the wood permanently. Pushing back your chair, you tossed the dirty rags in the trash can by your seat and sighed heavily, crossing your arms in a pout. After almost two hours of unsuccessfully dying petals, you have had enough. Your fingers were covered beyond recognition of the skin color underneath. It looked like you had played in chimney soot.
Now nervously tapping your foot, you glanced back at the flowers that still remained on the desk. There was no doubt that Papyrus would be irritated over your failure, but what could you do? It wasn’t like you enjoyed dying flowers anyways, the process was tedious and unnatural in your opinion. Whatever, you thought abstractly as you picked up a stem with your blackened fingers, I’ll just have to make do.
You brought Papyrus’s thousandth bouquet together with some scarlet roses, snow-white lilies to accent the edges, and beautiful blue sweet peas to bolden the center. For a finishing touch, you added a dark bow to the front of the small vase, clipping here and there to even out the display.
Stepping back, you allowed yourself a smile. Despite the circumstances, you really liked how this vase turned out. Before you could psych yourself out otherwise, you brought your camera back from your workroom and snapped a few pictures. This one would certainly be going onto your business webpage.
To your luck, customer visits had slowed down considerably after you were finished with the bouquet. You spent the rest of the time cleaning up, tending to the rest of the flowers in the shop, and making sure your display flowers were doing alright. You still had your greenhouse to attend to upstairs, and the thought of your growing buds preoccupied your mind for the next hour.
You were so preoccupied that you had almost missed the jingle of the front door opening.
Almost.
Papyrus’s tell-tale stomping betrayed his presence and you groaned internally for about the hundredth time that day in response.
“I HAVE RETURNED, HUMAN. I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE MY BOUQUET FOR ME?”
You peeked from behind the hydrangeas, dead-panning, “Yes, I do.”
Papyrus looked pleased as you walked back sullenly towards the counter, but his smug expression quickly disappeared when he took sight of the flowers in your hand.
It was easy to see where his thoughts were going.
“Um, wait!” you stopped him before he could explode, “let me explain myself before you throw a hissy-fit.”
By some miracle, Papyrus shut his jaw and instead chose to narrow his sockets at you. “YOU BETTER…”
You swallowed, mouth suddenly becoming dry. “Ah. Well, you see… I tried dying some flowers a darker black,” you held up your hand as proof, “but flowers do not naturally come in such dark pigments. I mean, I have some deep violet dahlias but I don’t think they fit the bill this time around… also, why do you always want void black-”
You would’ve continued your rambling to save your ass, but you were abruptly stopped by a gloved hand being placed underneath your own, taking the vase off your arms. You blinked several times, having to comprehend what had just happened. Papyrus had a strange look on his face, almost docile (compared to his usual expressions). You couldn’t really decipher it, however.
Words danced on the tip of your tongue, but the monster spoke up first, “I WILL TAKE THESE. I DO NOT HORRIBLY DESPISE THEM.”
Your jaw dropped. To say you were surprised would be an understatement. You almost started questioning the skeleton. What? The Great and Terrible Papyrus didn’t insult your bouquet for the first time in months? He actually LIKED them?
It took you a few moments to get over your shellshock, and by that time, Papyrus had already moved to the counter, the bite in his voice returning. “WELL? ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STAND THERE?”
You jumped out of your reverie and quickly went behind the desk, pressing the skeleton’s order into the computer. As always, once you rattled off the cost, Papyrus tossed a wad of cash your way, not bothering to get his change back before stomping his way towards the exit.
You stared at the amount, grumbling under your breath. You quickly grabbed change out of the register and scrambled outside.
“Papyrus, wait!” You barely managed to catch up to the long-legged skeleton before he disappeared around the corner of the block. The skeleton whipped his body towards you, looking disgruntled at being stopped.
“WHAT IS IT NOW, HUMAN?” He growled, dipping his frame at the hips just so he could glare at you more closely. You didn’t react to his menacing stance. Instead, you reached out with your free hand and grabbed a red glove, promptly place the exact change into his hand. “I’m sick and tired of you always leaving before I could give it back,” you said, offering him a look before turning back and disappearing into your shop.
You didn’t see his curious expression follow you, but you most certainly felt it.
******