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Grillby knew about the RESETs… Well he doesn’t remember them fully, but he knew enough thanks to Sans’s drunken, depressed ramblings— as sad as that sounds. He would always get some sort of déjà vu and just… know when a reset had happened, he knew enough to not think about the bits and pieces of memories he suddenly had as some figment of his imagination. Still, they’re only fragments of memories he doesn’t truly remember.
Sans would become a frequent customer, right before the human arrived at Snowdin. When there’s only the two of them left in the restaurant, he would get drunk and ramble on about what the human did last run. He would listen to them as he clean up for the day and give some commentary or try to give some advice— Sans would end up laughing bitterly before giving his thanks and actually paying for his drinks. He knew that Sans was getting worse, it doesn’t help that his limited memories make him think the same. Every RESETs he would get worse and worse before pretending to be ‘normal’ and that everything is fine when the human arrived… It hurt his soul to see Sans like that. Still, he couldn’t help, all he can do was give him a drink and lend him an ear, hoping that the human would choose MERCY this run.
They were alone for the night, Sans looking solemn and tired as he nibbled on a chocolate bar; he had started giving Sans spicy chocolate to distract him from drinking too much. Grillby was polishing one of his glasses when Sans spoke up, “I’m gonna try something I never did before… something risky.” Grillby looked up from his work as he gestured for Sans to continue on, “… I’m just so tired, Grillbs… I need them to stop.” Sans’s empty sockets stares at Grillby as tears slowly trails down his face, his body shaking as he rests his head on the counter, trying to cover his face with his folded arms. Grillby can only stare in pity as he reaches over. His warm, fiery hand slowly pets Sans’s head as he weeps silently.
Sans was out like a light after an hour, his body still tense as he sleep. Grillby was closing up the shop and didn’t have the heart to wake him up, he quickly finished the rest of his chores and decided to carry Sans back to his home. He gently scooped up Sans as he put a coat over them, Sans’s face went soft as he tried to snuggle into Grillby’s warm chest, making his soul melt seeing that Sans is comfortable. He went out the door and began to walk towards the Skeleton brothers’ house, he whispered comfort and soft words as they went, trying to keep Sans comfortable. Eventually he reached the brothers’ home and rang the doorbell, waiting for Papyrus to open the door. As they waited, Grillby looked down and stared at Sans’s face, looking vulnerable and tired.
Papyrus finally opened the door and took Sans off his hands. All he could think of was the missing weight against his body as Papyrus apologized profusely for Sans’ misbehavior. He waved Papyrus off before waving him goodnight.
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The human was quickly reaching Snowdin as they left dust in their trail, the Snowdin Canine Unit had fought hard to push the human, to kill them before they could kill anyone else, only to fail and have their SOUL shattered. Snowdin’s monsters hid in fear as they mourned and prayed for those who had yet to come home, some put notes asking for MERCY on their families in their shops. Snowdin, once a peaceful, bustling little town, went quiet for once, waiting for the human to just leave.
The guards from New Home came, announcing that the human had passed and ordered everyone left to quickly evacuate. Grillby quickly packed his essentials before closing his restaurant. He found himself following the group of monsters who were directed by the guards towards a secret entrance deep in Snowdin Forest. He paused and scanned his surroundings only to realize that the skeleton brothers were not here.
Before anyone could react, he parted ways with the group as he headed towards the edge of Snowdin, hoping to catch a glimpse of any of the brothers. He eventually reached the fog and saw a warped shadow of someone in the distance, he hesitated before going in. The shadow grew clear as he continued to approach it… It was Sans.
He felt relief as he rushed over, hoping to bring Sans and his brother to evacuate. He quickly got closer, his hands reaching Sans’s shoulder as he tries to get Sans attention. His face grew in confusion until he noticed something… Sans was clutching a scarf— a red, dusty scarf that trailed weakly in the wind. His soul dropped as he realized what had happened. Sans’s head slowly turned toward Grillby, seemingly already expecting him to be here. “… I have to go— I have to prepare for the human.” Before he could react, Sans teleported away, leaving Grillby alone in the fog.
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RESET
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“… Grillbs! You there?” Grillby was pulled out from his daze. His focus slowly returned, eyes lifting toward Sans. “Thought I lost ya for a sec, bud.” Sans continued to talk as Grillby stared at him… It was just Sans.
Nothing about him was out of place. He looked the same, talked the same, acted the same— it was obviously Sans. He didn’t know why he hesitated for a second, why his SOUL felt like there was something wrong… He ignored it, choosing to serve another glass.
He watched as Sans laughed and joked, filling up the silence between the two. He watched as Sans finally stood up, getting ready to leave. “Just put it in my tabs, will ya, Grillbs.” He just nodded and continued on cleaning the counter as he watched Sans leave out the door.
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RESET
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“… Grillby? You still listening?” Grillby was pulled out from his daze. His focus slowly returned, eyes lifting toward Sans. “Thought I lost you back there, bud.” Grillby just shook his head as he continued to clean the table… Was that Sans?
He looked like him, talked like him, acted like him— it was obviously Sans… But somewhere in the back of his SOUL kept on nagging him that it wasn’t… He couldn’t place why, only that the feeling refused to fade no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. He noticed how Sans looked a bit tired— his socket slightly drooping as if he had a hard time sleeping. He served him a drink as if on instinct.
He watched as Sans laughed and joked, filling up the silence between the two despite being tense. He watched as Sans finally stood up, getting ready to leave. “Just put it in my tabs, will ya, Grillbs.” He almost expected Sans to pay, but he just nodded and continued on cleaning the counter as he watched Sans leave out the door.
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RESET
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“… Uuh, Grillby? You okay there?” Grillby was pulled out from his daze. His focus slowly returned, eyes lifting toward Sans. “Thought I lost ya there, bud.” Grillby just shook his head as he continued to clean the table… That wasn’t Sans…?
He looked like him, talked like him, acted like him— it was obviously Sans… But something in his SOUL insisted otherwise. He noticed how Sans’s smile seemed tense and his socket twitched just a bit. It was weird that he couldn’t help but expect Sans to drop some sort of mask, something he doesn’t fully understood— he knew that Sans was acting normal. He couldn’t help but to prepare another drink, expecting Sans to loosen his lips and start recounting something, even if he didn’t know what it was. And yet… none of that happened.
He watched as Sans tried to fill the silence with jokes, but slowly stopped before getting up to leave. “Just put it in my tabs, will ya, Grillbs.” He didn’t know why he expected Sans to pay, even if he never paid. Grillby just nodded and continued on cleaning the counter as he watched Sans leave out the door.
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Sans had brought a human for brunch. His mind won’t stop warning him danger as the human got in, he feels uneasy as everyone else cheered and greeted Sans and the human, Grillby quickly tries to squash down the feelings as Sans direct them to his usual seats.
Sans usually came earlier for his ‘second breakfast’; it was unusual for him to come late… He did his usual pranks and ordered burgers for the both of them. Grillby nodded and left to the back to prepare their food, feeling as if he’s being watched…
His hands wouldn’t stop shaking as he prepared their meals; his instincts kept screaming that the human was dangerous and to stay away from them. Still he has a job to do and he slowly calmed himself before quickly left the back to served their food. He paused a bit when he notice the tense atmosphere between Sans and the human, others noticed and starts whispering with one another
He placed their plate on the table, his composure composed as he quickly leave the two to talk, opting to serve the others rather than getting involved. The conversation visibly grew tense as time went by, until the human abruptly stood up and caused an outburst.
“You remembered when I killed everyone, Sans?”
Grillby stood in shock as the whole restaurant went quiet, everyone staring at their table. Sans’s eyes glowed as he glared at the human. Grillby snapped out of it and quickly ushered everyone out, feeling his soul race as those words echoed in his mind— killed everyone?
The human was busy monologuing when he noticed Sans glanced at him, seemingly stuck on what to do. He quickly gave a thumbs up to Sans, signifying that he’s free to do anything. Sans immediately summoned his attacks, bones and skulls that he have never seen before, pointing them toward the human. The human didn’t appeared to be scared, bored even, just began to speak again. They didn’t get to finish the sentence before Sans fired, killing the human. “Get dunked on! You gross piece of garbage!”
Grillby’s beating soul finally calmed before he approached, trying to assess the damage done to the counter, Sans at least have the decency to look sheepish. “Oh, Grillby. Sorry about the counter, I was really mad.” Grillby sighed as he gave Sans a pointed look. “Yeah, I got enough to pay for the repairs… y’know, if the world doesn’t reset.” Grillby paused at that… reset— why was that word familiar? “… I know. It doesn’t make sense… I know.” Grillby went still as he realized something. Wait—!
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RESET
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“… Hey, Grillby? You with me?” Grillby was pulled out from his daze. His focus slowly returned, eyes lifting toward Sans. “Thought I lost you there for a sec, bud.” Grillby just shook his head as he continued to clean the counter, vision slightly blurry as multiple repeating memories began to pour in… He remembered everything…
He stared at Sans finally realizing it. Sans looked the same, talked the same, acted the same— because it was Sans… just not the Sans he knew. The Sans he knew had already experienced the RESETs multiple times; this one seemed to have only recently started experiencing them a few timelines ago, it’s clear with how he first act, as if he hadn’t experienced them, remembered them. Still, this Sans was suffering the same fate, and that was enough for Grillby to be empathetic and served him a drink.
The restaurant was silent for once, Sans seemingly in the mood to drink and mull around more than telling jokes. He watched as Sans finally stood up, dropping some golds before getting ready to leave. Grillby gave him a questioning glance while Sans just shrugged “Just feeling like paying for once.” Grillby just nodded, eyes never leaving Sans as he watched him leave out the door.
-
Sans had brought Papyrus, the human, and the former Queen of Monsters for brunch… Grillby can only sighs as he prepare himself to interact with them. He silently greets the group as they introduce the former Queen as Toriel, before pulling out his notepad. The human has tried nothing yet so far, but Grillby still can’t help but be wary and put some distance between them. They all managed to place their orders without much fuss, Grillby quickly leaves and head to the back to prepare their meals.
As Grillby starts to flip some patties, his mind began to wonder. This is definitely vastly different from any of the past timelines that he remembered, he could not remember once where Toriel had actually left the Ruins to accompany the human…
But the most prominent question he has on his mind currently is why did he remember the RESETs? He doesn’t quiet understand how he is able to gain the ability to suddenly remember all of this. Is it because the human is starting to do things differently? The human has only ever either spare everyone and free them from the underground, or kills them all leaving dusts behind, but now it seems like they’re trying to do something new, like sparing everyone but Papyrus, or again bringing Toriel out of hiding.
He wanted to tell someone about this, ask them questions, but the only other monsters he can recall having the ability to remember RESETs is a golden flower named Flowey. Sans had talked about him a few times before and now that he had all his memories, he can recall meeting the flower a few times in the span of many timelines. Flowey is unpredictable and had cause his own mischief when he had the power to RESET, so Grillby couldn’t come to him for answers.
Of course there is Sans, but this Sans is not the same one he knew and he doubt that he will reveal anything unlike the previous one. With how unpredictable the timelines are, the human has reset before even finishing the runs, he’s hesitant to say anything. If he’s right that this is a different Sans, this Sans definitely didn’t know that he can learn and remember about the RESETs.
Speaking of Sans, what happened to the Sans he knew? Is he right and that Sans really is replaced, or this really is Sans but somehow have their memories of previous RESETs removed… Is the Sans he knew and grew fond of— the one he spends that same faithful night in every timeline talking, feeling that they had made a deep bond despite him not understanding or remembering fully past RESETs, the skeleton that he had grown attached that his SOUL knows when it’s not him despite not remembering the RESETs— forever gone?
Why does he have these memories now?
A loud crash from the front snapped Grillby back to reality. Shouts and the sound of magic being summoned, loud enough that he can hear it from here— a telltale signs that a messy fight was about to break out. Grillby quickly stop whatever he was doing and rushed to the front, he’ll go back to that topic later but for now he needs to make sure that the customers is safe and his restaurant won’t end up in ruins.
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Grillby gasped in shock as he finally snapped out of daze… Has the world reset? Last timeline Undyne appears and a fight broke out between her and Toriel regarding the human, they managed to calm themselves before he got there, but Grillby still got them out of his restaurant for the disturbance and the broken glass. He heard that Papyrus tried to get them to get along, but something happened and… stars Papyrus was killed!
His eyes immediately snap toward the seat in front of him… Sans is not here this time.
He look towards the clock in front of him… It is closing time— Sans is supposed to be here, snapping him out of his daze and having a drink… It’s unusual for him to act out of his ‘script’. He’s worried now, where did Sans go?
He mind won’t stop thinking about it and he quickly decided to abandon his cleaning to find Sans. Grillby quickly took his coat and rush out towards the door, speed walking to the skeleton brothers house. His mind going miles per minute trying to think what could’ve happened to Sans.
He quickly reach the front of their house, his fist almost reach the door until he heard noises from the inside… It’s Sans! Grillby sighed in relief, his tense body finally relaxed as he heard the muffled conversation between the familiar voice and Papyrus.
Sans is okay, he’s not gone. Grillby slowly backed away from the door, quietly leave to go back cleaning his restaurant. With what happened last few timelines, maybe it’s best for Sans to stay with Papyrus.
Despite everything, despite him knowing that he’s not exactly the same person he knows. It’s still Sans, and he cares about him, more than he should.
He slowly walks back to his restaurant, shed his coat, and goes back to work. His body move in the familiar routine, swiping back and forth on the counter, cleaning his glasses and mugs until it shines, and sweeping the floor. The lack of the familiar presence only slightly unnerve him, already used to having Sans around him.
He finally finished the chores and was ready to head out. He put on his coat, carefully this time, and locked the doors of the restaurant. His mind still wandered toward Sans— the one he had spent so many late nights with, and the one who was suffering now.
Maybe the Sans he remembered was gone for good. If that was the case, then all he could do was be there for the one who remained.
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RESET
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“… Grillbs? You still there, pal?” Grillby was pulled out from his daze. His focus slowly returned, eyes lifting toward Sans. “Thought I lost ya for a bit there, buddy.” Grillby just shook his head as he continued to clean the counter, Sans is back.
Last timeline was abrupt, the news of the human leaving the Ruins has barely reached him before the world resets. He feels uneasy as he continue to work. Grillby glance at Sans and paused— he looked… hopeful. Still tense and nervous, but there’s a glint in his eyes that shows hope… He have not seen that look in a long while.
He hands instinctively goes to prepare a drink when Sans stopped him “I’ll just have fries.” Grillby paused at that, looking at him confused, but Sans just shrug and smiled at him “Just wanted something different today… Got a feeling things will work out well.”
The restaurant falls into a comfortable silence, both just enjoying each other presence as Sans humming a silent tune while he cleans the counter. He watched as Sans finally stood up, dropping generous amount of golds “Keep the change, thought that I should start paying my tabs” Grillby eyes slightly widen at that, his gaze never leaving Sans as he watched him leave out the door.
It’s strange that Sans is acting optimistic, but he doesn’t think that it’s too much of a bad thing. Maybe things will work out well this time.
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The human— or Frisk as he found out, has freed the Monsters from the Underground. He still doesn’t know how they did it without sacrificing their own SOUL but they did it.
The human acts very different than they do before, almost as if they’re a different person now…
Either way, Monsters are free and slowly starts to settle in a nearby town that while hesitate, welcomes them with open arms. Humans and Monsters still struggles to interact with one another, but with the King’s help and Frisk acting as an ambassador with the help of Toriel. He’s still skeptical with his new found freedom, still somewhat expecting to go wake up again to that night, cleaning up his restaurant.
Still he moved on and made the best of his newfound freedom.
He opened a new restaurant of the same name near the center of the town, regulars and new Monsters frequent his restaurant as Humans often come in out of curiosity. Maybe Sans was right, things are working out well.
Still his mind wanders to a person he once knew, someone he’s almost certain he’ll never be able to see again… He looked at the clock realizing the time, Toriel had made a reservation for a table for the others for dinner after the movie, they should be arriving soon. The door rang as Frisk came running in, it seems that they have arrived on time.
Grillby nodded in greeting as he approached their table, watching as the rest trailed in— Toriel and Sans trading jokes with one another, Papyrus, Undyne, and Alphys talking about the movie they had just watched. He paused when he heard the door ring again, not expecting another guest to come in. He glanced toward the door— his body went still, eyes widening as he saw the figure step inside.
Toriel came up to him with a slight nervous face “I hope you don’t mind having an additional guest.” Frisk came up to the figure and drag him here, gesturing him to introduce himself.
“Uh… My name is Geno, it’s nice to meet you again.” Geno jolt as he realizes his mistakes, a hand reach out to his scarf covering his face with in embarrassment “You, uh probably don’t remember me…”
Without realizing it, molten fire fall onto his cheeks. Geno panicked, confusion and worry plastered all over his face. Grillby just shook his head as a maw form on his face, the restaurant falls into silent as they heard Grillby speaks “… Welcome back…” Geno look at him in shock as tears began to stream down his face. Geno quickly rush towards Grillby, engulfing in his arms soaking the warmth of his fire “I’m so sorry…”
The weight of Sans— no Geno, in his arms felt strange— foreign, yet achingly familiar. Grillby stood there, fire flickering low as the restaurant seemed to fade away, leaving only the quiet rise and fall of Geno’s breath against his chest.
For so long, Grillby had learned how to live with fragments of memories. Knowing without remembering anything. Before becoming aware and briefly experience watching the world RESET, holding onto memories of him. He had made only just made peace with the loss, with the idea that he would never return.
He had told himself that if the Sans he knew was gone, then he would watch over the one who remained. That would have to be enough.
And now— somehow— Geno was here.
Geno’s grip tightened, a broken sound caught in his chest, and Grillby let himself stay there.
Despite everything, things ended up just fine.