Chapter Text
"Honestly… "
You huffed, blowing a stray hair from your face as you crouched beside the flower display. Carefully, you rearranged a cluster of tulips that had decided to lean in every direction except the one you'd intended.
You nudged one of the stubborn stems upright again.
"There."
It immediately tipped sideways again just as the wind playfully danced around you and the outdoor display stand.
You glared at it.
The tulips seemed almost smug as they once again leaned down and away from the center of the bundle. You were tempted to just pluck all the stubborn flowers from the bouquet, but then your boss would inevitably notice. The flower loving monster has a knack for noticing when a very full bouquet is suddenly a single flower short.
You weren’t sure how he could tell, but it most likely had to do with him having run the shop for the last four years. Good thing you were just the part time help to run the front while he made his masterpieces.
Again you fixed the bundle of tulips until the were all somewhat standing again. It was the best you could do until Asgore was in and could fuss with it later.
Standing, you stretched your arms over your head. Another brisk blow of the wind threatened to make your hair unruly and tickled the windchime hanging from the store’s overhang.
You lowered your arms and dusted your hands off on the tan smock tied around your waist. As you eyed the flowers, making sure they stayed up right.
When they remained still, you smiled brightly.
“See. Isn't that better?”
Bright roses spilled from wooden crates, delicate lilies and the fiesta tulips stood tall among them, and little bundles of baby's breath filled the gaps between pots of early spring greenery.
You had settled out a few potted alpine flowers that had already begun to bloom ; their tiny petals adding splashes of color against the lingering gray of winter
It wasn't quite spring yet. Not really. But Ebott was starting to bloom again.
The town sat in a valley between the towering slopes of Mount Ebott and the shores of a vast alpine lake that almost resembled a gentle sea. The mountain rose high above the town, its snow-capped peaks reflecting in the impossibly blue water below.
It was beautiful.
Almost unnaturally so.
It was one of the many things that attracted you to the gentle town. Well...
That and the university that called Ebott home.
Ebott had grown into a bustling little college town over the years, its streets filled with students for most of the year. Cafés, bookstores, little shops, and restaurants crowded the main streets, their businesses thriving on the constant stream of students who called the town home for four years at a time.
And you were one of them.
Between lectures, studying, and the occasional desperate attempt to remember what sleep felt like, you worked part-time here at Asgore’s flower shop along with doing an occasional odd-job to make ends meet. It wasn't exactly what you'd imagine life would be like when you enrolled at the Ebott University, but you wouldn’t change it.
Another gust of wind made you wince from the chill it still carried.
“Spring,” You muttered as you tried to suppress the shiver that shook you. “Right. Sure. Still feels like winter to me.”
You rubbed your hands together before turning toward the shop. You had just reached for the door when a deep voice called from behind you.
“hey, sweet pea.”
You stopped, glancing around.
At first it seemed like there was no one else nearby. You looked behind you again and finally saw him.
A living skeleton crouched down in front of the flower display you had just fought to make perfect.
Monsters weren’t exactly unusual around Ebott. Not since the Barrier had come down two years ago. You’d seen your fair share around town, and university had introduced you to an even wider variety. Your boss was even a giant, anthropomorphic goat, for crying out loud. After a while, you had learned to stopped questioning things.
But a talking skeleton?
This was a first for you.
If being a skeleton alone was enough of an attention grabber, the way he dressed left you wondering if the monster even had a sense of style at all. He was wearing a blue hoodie, shorts, and pink slippers—like he had just rolled out of his own bed rather than a grave. Two little pinpricks of white light glowed from the hollows of his eye sockets. And then there was his smile. It was somehow both lazy and wide, making it hard to tell if he was genuine or not. But one thing was obvious to you, and that was just how profoundly exhausted he appeared to be.
The skeleton tilted his head.
You tilted yours, mimicking the motion as you pointed towards yourself. “Me?”
He raised an eyebrow—or at least, you assumed that was what the little movement above his eye socket meant.
“huh?”
“You called me sweet pea.”
There was another pause between you. And you swore you could see the faintest blue color the smooth bone of his cheeks as he looked at you. It vanished almost just as quick as you noticed it as he switched his attention back to the flower display, and then back at you again.
“nah.” He pointed toward the bottom shelf to the outdoor display. “was talking to those guys.”
“What?-” You stepped closer towards the monster to see what he was pointing at, and lo-and-behold, it was a small bundle of sweet peas.
You stared at them.
“Oh.”
You couldn't help the little laugh that escaped as heat began to warm your cheeks. You had forgotten those were there. Asgore must have snuck them in before he left to go get supplies.
“My bad, I thought you were talking to me.”
“nah, you're good.”
He gave the little bundle of sweet peas another glance.
“they're good company. better than most people.”
You couldn't help, but gravitate closer to the monster to get a better view of the long stalks of flowers.
“Are they?” You asked with a smile starting form at the corner of your lips.
“sure.” He nodded solemnly. “quiet. good-looking. don't ask for me to do anything.”
His explanation pulled a soft laugh from you. “Okay, I'll give you that last one.”
“see? already getting along.”
You shook your head, smile still in place as you reached out to pluck a stray fallen petals from the stan and pocketed it in your apron.
“Still,” you muttered, and started adjusting some of the greenery, “I really should have known those were there.”
“eh. could've been worse.”
You raised an eyebrow brow at the skeleton monster as you watched him stand up from his crouched position .“How?”
“could've called you a tulip.”
You tilted your head. Was that some kind of joke? You didn't completely get it. “...Why?”
“no reason. just felt like a risky move.”
You rolled your eyes and turned your attention back to the display. Only to notice them.
The tulips.
They were drooping again, refusing to stay standing as the bright red blooms seemed to cave under their own weight.
You stared at them as his last comment finally landed.
Slowly, you glanced back at the skeleton monster.
He was already watching you with perhaps the largest shit eating grin you have ever seen.
“You did that on purpose.”
He blinked, his grin growing. “did what?”
“The tulips.” You pointed out the wilting flowers.
“yeah?”
“They're falling over again.”
The monster's unique white eyelights studied the flowers with an exaggerated consideration.
“huh. they're really laying down on the job.”
Y
ou stared at the tulips for a long moment, wondering if it was even worth fixing again. And though you were tempted to just let them be, you sighed and knelt down again to fix the bundle of stubborn red blooms.
“Seriously, what is their problem?” You fussed as you gathered the offending stems in your hands trying to rearrange them once more.
The skeleton kept watching you, his hand shoved into the pockets of his blue jacket. “guess they've got a flair for the dramatic.”
“They're tulips, not theater majors.” You huffed out as you kept trying to get the flowers to stay upright
“could've fooled me.”
You laughed softly shaking you head, as you pulled away from the flowers finally happy they were stay up–
One of the blooms stubbornly flopped back over.
“Oh you have got to be kidding me!”
A low chuckle sound from beside of you. “looks like they're having a rough patch.”
“Apparently.”
You carefully repositioned the stems again, this time using the surrounding greenery to help support them.
The skeleton remained quiet as he watched you work before pointing toward one of the blooms that was starting to lean again.
“that one's leaning pretty hard.”
“I know.”
“maybe it's trying to get your attention.”
You glanced at him.
“Is that another flower pun?”
“depends.”
“On?”
“did it make you look at me?”
You paused, your face began to heat up and you quickly turned away from the skeletons' bright eyelights. Apparently the strange monster wasn't just trying to just joke around.
“That was smooth.”
“was it?”
“Unfortunately.”
His grin seemed a little more alive.
“i'll take it.”
You shook your head again, trying not to smile as you finished securing the tulips.
“There.” The arrangement finally looked balanced again, without the threat of droopy tulips.
“you should put 'tulip wrangler' on your résumé.” The skeleton suggested as he inspected your work lazily.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
You stood back up, once again dusting your hands off on the apron you wore.
“So, are you actually here to buy something, or did you just come by to talk to the flowers?”
“little of column a. little of column b.” The monster seemed to lazily scan through the different flowers in the woods display.
“Ah. So you weren't just here to defend the tulips.” You hummed as you went to prop open the store's glass door.
“Well if you don't see anything out here, we have some more selections inside.”
You lead the monster into the shop. You slowly walked along the different chilled display cases and pots holding a variety of different flowers used in custom arrangements.
“There's pre-made arrangements, and pretty much any color, size, and fragrances. Is there any particular occasion or a special someone you're getting flowers for?”
You turned to watch the monster as he browsed the selection more slowly as he trailed behind you.
“ honesty, i don't really know what i'm looking for. ”
“That’s okay. Do you know what they're for?”
It took a moment, but skeleton finally answered you, without meeting your gaze. “someone.”
You frowned. Was this guy serious? “Okay… do you know what color they like or maybe if they have a favorite flower?”
“nope.” He looked at you and again you were met with another lazy smile.
You remain quiet, searching the monster's face for any hint that he wasn't being serious and was just pulling a prank– you found none.
“Okay.” You released a heavy sigh as you started scanning the flowers Asgore currently had in stock. “Would you be okay with something simple then? It might be best if you aren't sure what to get.”
He shrugged his shoulders, his hands still buried in the pockets of his jacket. “sure.”
You navigated the shop with ease, heading to different buckets of flowers and greenery. You effortlessly moved towards the more delicate and simplistic of Asgore’s selections all while the skeleton monster lingered just a few steps behind you.
“What about these?” You pulled out a small cluster of delicate blue flowers that almost matched the color of his jacket.
“what're those?” He molded to the bunch of blossoms you had held up.
“They're Forget-me-nots.” You inform him with a smile as you gather more of the flower to show him. “They're simple, a nice shade of blue, and are mostly scentless. They pair well in most arrangements. “
You weren't sure, but the longer skeleton monster seemed to gaze at the blooming buds, the softer his facial expression became. It wasn't a dramatic change, just one you happened to notice.
But when his white eyelights met your own eyes, whatever softness that had been there was gone. And the skeleton's face became unreadable with his lazy smile.
“yeah, those are good.”
You nodded and started to gather a few more stems, then reached for a pair of tall, graceful calla lilies from another the bucket by the forget-me-nots.
“And maybe a couple of these with some baby's breath and greens.”
You slipped the lilies between the smaller flowers, their smooth white blooms giving the arrangement a more full and lovely appearance.
“what're those?”
“Calla lilies.”
“they edible?”
What?
You looked at skeleton, and again you couldn't tell if he was being serious or not.
“...Are you asking if the flowers are edible?”
“just making sure.”
“You're not planning on eating them, …are you?”
“depends.”
“On?”
“how hungry I get.”
“Pfft.” Laughter slipped from you naturally. You bent over, having to support yourself with the display shelves. You were careful not to damage any of the flowers as you tried to contain yourself.
“ I…I wouldn't recommend it. Most lilies can be toxic.” You finally managed to answer the skeleton, who was practically beaming now.
“good to know. wouldn't want to be pushing up daisies."
“Youre a weird guy.”
You shook your head and added a few sprigs of greenery, filling out the bouquet a bit more until you were satisfied. It wasn't like Asgore’s arrangements, but you thought it was quite pretty for something you threw together quickly.
You held it out for him to inspect, proud of your work.
“How's that?”
The skeleton eyed the flowers and again, something flashed across his face that you could identify.
And once again, it vanished beneath his smile, though it was smaller this time.
“yeah, that should be good enough.”
“Great, I'll ring you up then!” You carried the fresh bouquet to the checkout counter as the bony monster followed behind lazily.
You set the flowers down and gently secured the stems together before wrapping the bouquet in tan craft paper. You folded the edges neatly, taped everything into place, then tied a small white lace bow around the stems.
“you do this a lot?”
“Only two or three times a week.” You didn't look up as you finished the bow. “School keeps me busy, mostly.”
You gave the ribbon one last adjustment.
“It's an easy job. Forces me to slow down a little.”
“sounds nice.”
You smile softly. “Yeah. It is.”
By the time you turned back to the register, he was already holding out more than enough money to cover the bouquet.
“Oh.”
You quickly counted out the appropriate change and placed it in his waiting palm.
Once the exchange was finished, you held out the bouquet for him.
“Here you go.”
He took it from you carefully, glancing down at the flowers once more.
“thanks.”
“Hope whoever they're for likes them.”
“yeah.”
There was a small pause as his smile faultered.
“me too.”
He turned toward the door, bouquet tucked carefully beneath one arm.
“well, i'll be seein’ ya-” You froze as your name effortlessly slipped from the monster.
“...What?”
He glanced back at you, his non-existent brow raising.
“see ya? you don't expect me to hang around for free comedic relief all day, do ya?”
“No, no,” You rubbed the back of your neck, as you nervously eyed the monster. “I mean—how do you know my name?”
For a moment, he just stared at you.
“uh…your name tag?” He lifted one bony finger and pointed toward your chest.
You followed his gesture and looked down at your chest.
Your name tag was neatly pinned in the center of your chest on your apron.
“Oh.”
A sheepish laugh escaped you as your face turned red. “Right.”
“kinda gave me a head start.”
“Ha ha! It sure did and it's totally not embarrassing at all.” you fought the urge to hit your head against the counter.
“happens to the best of us.” He turned back toward the door, already almost out the the threshold.
Wait. how was it fair he knew your name but you didn't get to know his?
“Hold on a sec-!" You blurted out, already moving away fron the counter to try and chase after the monster
He paused in the middle of the entryway again and looked back over his shoulder. “hmm?”
“What about you?”
“me?”
“What's your name?”
His smile widened.
“sans.”
“Sans?”
“yep. the skeleton. ”
You nodded, committing his name to memory.
Giving him one of your brightest smiles, you waved as he finally parted ways with you.
“Come visit us again, Sans the skeleton!”
“heh. see ya, sweet pea.”
Sweet pea again?
What an odd guy.
You stared out the large window of the shop; idly watching the skeleton as he disappeared down the sidewalk. You couldn't help but wonder whether he had been flirting with you or simply had an exceptionally strange sense of humor.
Probably both.
“ Yeah right.” You shook your head with a quiet laugh before turning back toward the counter.
There was still work to be done.
You had just finished tidying up the counter when the shop door opened again.
“Ah! My apologies for taking so long!”
Asgore stood in the doorway, looking as though he'd just returned from a much longer journey than intended. You smiled as you went to go help him with his bags.
“Welcome back!”
And just like that, the strange skeleton in the blue hoodie was no longer on your mind.