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A promise of a vacation meant little to such a hardworking man as Dr. Gaster, yet it had gotten to the point where he had noticed a severe decrease in productivity and such a reputation was not befitting of the Royal Scientist. So off he went to a breezy little sea town, built upon a basalt cliff face with easy access to the water if one was willing to bear the chill.
Fog so thick he could tear through it with his filed metacarpals and rain so torrential his bones ached after a short walk were not ideal, yet he managed as he always had.
That was until he started hearing things.
A hauntingly beautiful melody had plagued his dreams every night since he had dared to lie down upon the rather extravagant bed. No words accompanied the tune, yet it seemed to resonate with his very being, beckoning him to search for the source of such treasure.
He had always been a a curious man.
With a creak and a grunt, he had crept out of bed and treaded softly through the dewy grass of the early morning. Sweeping, the blades of saltgrass guided him down a muddy path beckoning him towards the cool sand of the beach below. He walked along where the waves became foam until a shallow tide pool, hidden away, caught his attention. Water trickled down the sides of jagged boulders, like tears of awe for the figure laying just beyond.
A soft, rounded head lead to pristine white bones, a silvery blue fish tail swaying side to side. The merman’s voice rose a few pitches higher, his electric blue eyelights flaring at the sight of his new follower.
Gaster quickly stumbled over, shakily reaching out a hand missing a palm to brush against the translucent scales coating the merman’s form. The merman in turn reached out a webbed hand and latched onto the tall man’s bowler hat. He rubbed the velvety thing between his fingers before placing it on his own head with a giggle.
Gaster couldn’t help but let out a huff of amusement.
Their next meeting, he had brought a piping hot kettle charmed with a short heat-preserving spell and some jam and bread for them to share.
Honestly, he didn’t know where he got the idea, just that the man deserved to experience the most pleasant of experiences with him. The merman let out a happy trill when he saw the doctor approach, warm snacks wrapped nicely in a checkered blanket, resting in a reinforced seaweed basket. He slipped off his rock and waded into the cold waters, daring to see how far the man would go. He gently set the basket down and removed his shoes, rolled his slacks up to the midpoint of his femur, grit his teeth and made his way through the freezing waters. He really would do anything for the creature he had only just met.
He didn’t remember much of their picnic, except for their farewells, when the smaller skeleton gently placed a rusted dagger in his hand and whispered, “Come to the bridge at midnight. Alone.”
And kissed him.
And he found himself, alone, barefoot, still damp from their little swim, and inescapably transfixed by the husband he would soon follow to his demise with. Nothing could take him away from his lover. Nothing would, he would make sure.
“heh, rust looks an awful lot like dried blood, don’t it?” The siren grinned.