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"200", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "How would the world change if we were all spared one bad decision?\n\nOn the eve of a wedding between a human and a monster, we find out.\n\nCommission for Johnston over on Discord, million thanks to him for helping bring this project to life!\n\nContains: Story Bits\n\n[url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_yellow_flower_in_Dark.jpg]Cover Art Source[/url]\n\n[url=https://discord.gg/GddZvgqXgd]Hey, y'all should join my Discord! It's multifandom, kinky, and queer as fuck.[/url]\n\n[url=https://kimberlyeab.carrd.co/]Visit my website to see where else you can find my work, follow my socials, or support me on Patreon![/url]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "How would the world change if we were all spared one bad decision?

On the eve of a wedding between a human and a monster, we find out.

Commission for Johnston over on Discord, million thanks to him for helping bring this project to life!

Contains: Story Bits

[url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_yellow_flow...]Cover Art Source[/url]

Hey, y'all should join my Discord! It's multifandom, kinky, and queer as fuck.

Visit my website to see where else you can find my work, follow my socials, or support me on Patreon!", "writing": "Chapter Three\n\nWinter had never been a kind season in this region, filled with bristling winds and frigid rain mixed with sleet and snow. It was the time of the year where the child would rarely leave their home, preferring to stay next to the fire and help their mother around the house.\n\nNow, without that house, it was a million times worse. It seemed that the cold was a constant companion, only made bearable by the small fires which they'd managed to make, using what little fuel they could scavenge from these desolate hills.\n\nTheir clothing was little more than tattered scraps at this point. It would've been useless in the summer, but now after months, it felt more like a piece of playacting than a practical article meant to accomplish anything meaningful. \n\nTheir fire was waning and they were practically hunched over it, rubbing their arms in a desperate effort to try and derive what little warmth they could from their frost-nipped body. Yet, it was utterly hopeless, nothing could be done to stop the chattering of their teeth or the growing numbness which seemed to creep up from their toes and fingers.\n\nWere they going to die?\n\nIt felt entirely possible. The night wasn't even half done and it seemed that their fire would fade in an hour, maybe two at most. Their food was gone, having been reduced yesterday, leaving nothing to feed the seemingly infinite pit within their stomach.\n\nInstinctively, the human looked deeper into the cave.\n\nMaybe, there was something further inside, some form of safety. Or at the very least, maybe some dried plant matter to keep the fire going just that much longer. It felt like a hollow dream, hopeless, but what else could they honestly do at this point.\n\nYet, there was something about the depths of the cave which terrified them. It wasn't just the darkness but something deeper and more instinctual than that. This felt like an unease which had been imprinted upon their very soul.\n\nThey drew in a breath and stood up, wobbling upon weak legs as they did so. \n\nWith how fast the cold was building and how deep the hunger had grown, they didn't have time to listen to their fears.\n\nIt was strange, they couldn't recall the cave having run this deep before, yet as they ventured away from the fire, they discovered that it was far larger than they had first assumed. As they began to walk inside, darkness embraced them from every side. It should've been terrifying, yet they still managed to place one foot purposefully in front of the other.\n\n``Hello?'' they called.\n\nBut no one came\n\nWhy would they? They were the only Soul in this mountain. The only Soul for miles around.\n\nThe air started to grow warmer, brushing aside the frigid daggers of winter and replacing them with something downright pleasant. It seemed like a miracle, like God himself said that this child should live. Or maybe they were just dreaming and they were actually succumbing to the elements at this very moment with their mind shielding them from the grim reality of their inevitable end.\n\nYet, regardless of if this was a dream or reality, they continued ahead.\n\nSoon, the air grew so warm that the child's breath stopped curling, the vapour no longer foggy and grey. It got warmer and warmer still until they finally stopped shivering entirely. In fact, it got so warm that they even started to sweat.\n\nAs they drew in a breath through their nose, they could smell something upon the air itself. It was... good... reminding them of something that their mother would've made before the war started. \n\nA pie perhaps?\n\nThe child reached forward, continuing ahead and grasping at the darkness. They were utterly blind, yet it felt like their body instinctively knew the way.\n\nOne foot in front of the other.\n\nUntil...\n\nUntil they suddenly fell forward, tumbling into a pit.\n\n[hr]\n\n``Mom, dad,'' Asriel said, looking away from his plate as he focused his gaze across the table. ``Me and Chara have something to tell you.''\n\nToriel cocked a brow and put down her fork and knife. Asgore popped one last bite of food into his mouth before gesturing for his son to go on.\n\nChara politely sat there, letting Asriel take the lead. They could feel their hands underneath the leather gloves that they currently wore, tensing against the table. They knew it wasn't the most convincing of disguises and they were honestly a little shocked that they hadn't been called out on it yet. \n\nRegardless, they could feel the small band of metal which was currently wrapped around their finger. It was a modest thing, for a royal, yet they enjoyed the modesty. Just a band of coppery gold which fit snugly around their digit.\n\n``Well, me and Chara were talking a couple nights ago,'' Asriel said.\n\nAsgore nodded and looked inquisitively between the two of them. Something was churning inside of his brain and soon his gaze settled upon one of Chara's leather-clad hands. At which point, something seemed to click for him as he offered a thin smile.\n\nToriel seemed a little quicker on the draw, smiling knowingly herself. She met Chara's eye and winked at them. Something which Chara could only respond to with an overly sheepish grin.\n\n``And well...'' Asriel ran a hand through his mop of blonde hair, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. ``We've decided to um...'' He swallowed the nervous lump lodged in his throat. ``Uh...''\n\nChara rolled their eyes, deciding to save him from tripping over himself any longer. ``Asriel proposed to me last night.''\n\nToriel beamed, grinning from ear-to-ear. ``Oh, that's fantastic news, dear.'' She got to her feet and quickly moved around the table, throwing her arms around Asriel. ``About time that you finally put a ring on their finger, young man.''\n\n``Mom!'' Asriel whined, blushing fiercely.\n\nAsgore nodded sagely. ``That's fantastic news.'' He popped a bite of mashed magic into his mouth, talking as he chewed. ``Do you have a date in mind?''\n\nChara shrugged. ``I don't know, I think I'm going to get used to the whole fiance thing first.''\n\nToriel scoffed. ``Hopefully that doesn't take as long as you two getting used to the whole boyfriend-partner dynamic.'' She drew away from Asriel and instead approached Chara, giving them a hug as well. It was vice-like, heavy, practically crushing the human in her warm embrace. ``Because I don't know if I can endure another five-year of waiting.''\n\n``You're literally immortal, mom,'' Asriel groaned.\n\nToriel finally liberated herself from Chara and made her way back around the table, taking a seat and politely folding her hands within her lap. She seemed just brimming with energy, ready to jump up at a moment's notice and lead the charge.\n\nHonestly, it made Chara feel kind of nice, knowing that they could still get that sort of reaction out of her.\n\n``Well, let me know if there is anything that I could do to help,'' Toriel explained, motioning to Chara. ``I don't remember much about human marriage ceremonies but I do recall a little. I can lend you something for the ceremony if you'd like.''\n\n``Lend me something?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.\n\nToriel nodded. ``You know, something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue.'' She tapped the underside of her muzzle. ``I believe that's how that saying goes?''\n\nChara in fact did not know what that meant but they nodded along regardless. They hadn't really gone to a wedding before, having left the surface long before any family or friends had even started to think about tying the knot.\n\n``I uh...'' they rubbed at their arm. ``I might need a refresher on how humans do their weddings.'' They then forced a smile. ``Or even better, how about we just skip all the human nonsense and make it a traditional monster ceremony instead.''\n\nToriel looked like she was about to say something but instead nodded, offering a slightly constrained smile in response. ``I think that sounds lovely.''\n\n``You seem to be taking the news far better than I would've imagined,'' Asriel teased, using his fork to gesture at his father.\n\nAsgore shrugged. ``I'm happy for you two but I also knew that something like this was coming. So, it's pretty easy to keep my emotions in check.''\n\nChara lifted a brow.\n\nAsriel scoffed and got to his feet, turning away from the table and making his way back towards the kitchen for another round of food. ``Is that so?''\n\nAs soon as he had turned away, Asgore absolutely lost his shit, promptly grinning like a child who was in the midst of opening his presents during the holidays. There was the widest smile upon his lips as he looked at Chara, offering them two big thumbs up. He was practically shivering with an ecstatic glee at the announcement.\n\nChara snickered.\n\nAsriel popped his head out of the kitchen and Asgore's expression immediately returned to a neutral equilibrium. Though this didn't stop both Chara and Toriel from silently snickering at one another.\n\n``Want anything from the kitchen?'' Asriel asked, cocking a brow as he looked at the trio.\n\nAsgore shook his head, clearing his throat. ``I'm good.''\n\n``Same,'' Chara called.\n\nToriel nodded in agreement.\n\nAnd with that Asriel returned to the kitchen, once more allowing Asgore to brighten like a Christmas tree. Yet, he kept his voice low, lest he be betrayed by his own emotions. ``Oh Angel, I can't wait to help with planning and floral arrangements and guest lists and...'' He grinned like a child. ``I'm going to make it a national holiday. You have my word on that one.''\n\nToriel shook her head. ``Gorey, they've just announced their engagement, I think we ought to give them a little time to actually enjoy it before we rush to the ceremony.''\n\n``Please do,'' Chara quipped, rolling their eyes. ``I appreciate the enthusiasm but it's only been a couple days. I promise that you'll be the first to know if there are any plans in the works.''\n\nAsriel returned a moment later with a fresh plate in hand, taking a seat once again. He idly poked at it before taking a bite, munching away.\n\n``So, is there any way we can get away with hosting a small ceremony?'' he asked.\n\nChara nodded. ``I'd like that too.''\n\nToriel and Asgore both seemed nervous about this request, glancing at one another. \n\nAsgore sighed. ``I...''\n\n``We'll see if we can keep the guest list down to the double digits,'' Toriel offered. She at least had the decency to look guilty after that ultimatum.\n\n``Double digits?'' Chara asked, scoffing. ``That's small?''\n\n``It is when there is only one heir to the throne,'' Toriel replied.\n\nChara sighed and looked off the side. ``Fair enough.''\n\nThey tried to hide their disdain for the idea but it still very much bled through, threatening to ruin this delicate moment.\n\n``I can assure you that it's not that bad,'' Asgore replied, nodding sagely. ``You'll barely even notice them during your big day.''\n\n``Plus, you'll get more gifts,'' Toriel tried. Yet, even she seemed a little unsure of this point as she looked around their well-furnished and extravagant dining room. At which point, she sighed. ``Not that we really need much more than we already have.''\n\n``It's something we can talk about later,'' Asriel offered.\n\nChara nodded. ``Yeah...''\n\nBoth Toriel and Asgore nodded, silently agreeing to these terms.\n\n[hr]\n\nSix weeks barely felt like enough time for the reality of the situation to settle into place. Yet, day-by-day, Chara was warming up to the idea of marriage. Still, there were barriers that needed to be overcome, hurdles that lingered in the way.\n\nAnd one such hurdle was letting monsters who weren't Toriel or Asgore in on the secret.\n\nSo, here they were outside of the palace, lounging on the street underneath some glimmering lights. It was one of the side streets of Home, far enough away from the castle that things turned from pristine to a little more lived in. Not hostile, by any means, but definitely immersed in far more character than the places that Chara usually went.\n\n``Dude!'' Pizzapants called, clasping his hand around Asriel's and then bumping chests with him. The two guys laughed and then embraced one another, reinforcing the intimate bond of brohood that they had. ``So good to see you.''\n\n``Yeah, good to see you guys too,'' Asriel said, smiling first at Pizzapants and then at the others.\n\nChara loitered at his side, shoving their hands into the pouch on the front of their robes. They kind of just stood there awkwardly, watching as Asriel embraced his friends, one after another. \n\nHis friends... not their friends. They didn't really have friends of their own.\n\nThere was Pizzapants, the dude still looking like a goofball dog even in his twenties. He wore a bright green buttoned-up shirt and a pair of worn jeans, both of which looked like they were a little too large for him. \n\nThen there was Fuse, a red stick of living dynamite with a wick poking out from the top of her head. Her choice of outfit today was a nice blue dress which she twirled around in order to show it off fully.\n\nThen there was Gaster, looking a little frazzled in his white lab coat with dark tired grooves seemingly carved into his boney complexion. He held a tin coffee mug in his hand which he took a sip from.\n\n``Hey Chara,'' Pizzapants then greeted, offering a more constrained smile as he looked at them. ``How are you doing?''\n\n``I'm doing pretty good,'' Chara replied, unsure of what else they could really say. ``How about you?''\n\nPizzapants nodded. ``Pretty good, pretty good.''\n\nThe conversation faded with neither of them really knowing what to say.\n\nChara wasn't the best around other monsters and it seemed that the others kind of instinctively knew as much. They were never rude to them but they had always felt like a hanger on within this friend group, lingering at the fringes and not really being sure what to say or do.\n\n``How about you two? How have you been?'' Asriel cut in, pointing to the other monsters.\n\nFuse smirked and tapped a finger against the spot just under her mouth. ``Pretty good, just landed myself a role in the latest production of All the Good Monsters. I'll be playing the main supporting female character this season.''\n\n``That's amazing!'' Asriel beamed.\n\nChara nodded, offering a nervous smile. ``I love that play.''\n\nFuse seemed taken aback by Chara's response though quickly grinned. ``I didn't know that you were into theatre, dear?''\n\nShit.\n\n``Well, I uh...'' Chara rubbed at their arm. ``I'm mostly interested in the author's work overall. I've read a ton of his novels. Did you know that All the Good Monsters was actually his only stage production.''\n\nFuse shook her head. ``I had no idea.''\n\nAsriel then tilted his muzzle towards Gaster. ``How are things going over at the labs?''\n\nGaster sighed and titled back his head, massaging his temple between his forefinger and thumb. ``Sluggish, painfully sluggish. They still have me looking over baubles and trinkets from the surface instead of doing actual meaningful work.''\n\n``Anything cool?'' Chara asked.\n\nGaster offered a thin smile as he looked back down at them. ``Your...'' He must've noticed Asriel stiffen, at his use of language, as he promptly cleared his throat. ``The human race has an incredible knack for explosives, I can confirm that much.'' \n\nChara smirked. ``They do like blowing each other up.''\n\n``Makes me feel extremely anxious for when we finally get back to the surface,'' Gaster chided, looking at Asriel. ``Speaking of...''\n\nAsriel sighed. ``Mom and dad still haven't decided on your proposals.''\n\nGaster suddenly looked quite dark.\n\n``Look, put in a few more months working at the labs and gain yourself some more recognition first,'' Asriel said, reaching out and placing a reassuring hand upon his shoulder. ``Mom and dad are just looking for some results before they're willing to greenlight whatever you're proposing.''\n\nFuse nodded and bumped into Gaster. ``You wouldn't imagine the number of one-line roles that I had to land before they finally gave me a part worth playing.''\n\n``And it took a lot of work being Saucepants before they finally allowed me to become Pizzapants over at the restaurant,'' Pizzapants offered, shaking his head. ``Just hope that my kids don't have to go through this sort of stuff.''\n\nHe reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a brass container. As he opened it, Chara could spot a row of cigarettes with a lighter next to them. He popped one between his lips and lit the tip, taking in a nice deep drag of the ashen smoke.\n\nFuse looked warily at him and took a step to the side, waving off his offer for a cigarette. She even ensured that she placed a hand overtop of her wick just in case there were any sparks or embers floating in her direction.\n\nGaster, on the other hand, took one and popped it between his fleshless lips, lighting it with a spark of arcane blue magic from his fingertips. He drew in a breath though instead of exhaling, it seemed that the smoke escaped from underneath his lab coat, leaking free from between his ribs.\n\nChara and Asriel waved him off as he instead placed the brass case back into his breast pocket, focusing on his cigarette.\n\n``So, what have you two been busying yourself with?'' Fuse asked, looking at Asriel and then Chara. She flashed a playful smile as she winked at both of them. ``Or is that a state secret?''\n\nAsriel scoffed. ``Oh please, like mom and dad would give us any of the fun stuff to work on. They have me managing the construction of a town out in the Snowlands.''\n\n``Snowdin?'' Pizzapants asked, nodding. ``Heard about that place.''\n\n``Surprised people want to live that far away from the capital,'' Gaster added.\n\nFuse shrugged. ``I mean we already have people working all the way out in the Waterfalls. Makes sense to put a town between them.''\n\n``And I'm working on organizing a parade for the anniversary of King Asgore's ascension,'' Chara added, sighing as they shook their head. ``You wouldn't believe the number of monsters who look at me funny while working on that.''\n\n``I can,'' Pizzapants jabbed. He then winced, having the decency to look a little sheepish about his statement. ``Sorry, sorry, that sounded a lot better in my head. I'm sorry that monsters are giving you a hard time, enby bro.''\n\nYet, it had been said and no one seemed to know what to add to it with a silence settling into place with everyone kind of just loitering around. Every second made Pizzapants look more and more disappointed in himself.\n\nIn the end, Asriel cleared his throat, saving his friend from the depths of despair. ``So, uh... me and Chara have some good news!''\n\nFuse brightened. ``Oh?''\n\nChara nodded and didn't know how to say it. So, they extended their left hand and showed off the ring of golden copper. It glimmered under the light borne from the streetlamps of Home.\n\nIt took a second for everyone to realize what it meant. Though it seemed to hit all three of them at once as Fuse and Pizzapants beamed at the sight of it. Gaster, on the other hand, was a bit more reserved with his smile.\n\n``Congratulations,'' Gaster quipped, nodding towards it. He couldn't help but smirk as he looked at Asriel. ``Honestly, it's about time, Dreemurr.''\n\n``You two have been dating for how long now?'' Fuse teased. ``Five years at this point?''\n\nPizzapants bowed. ``Congrats you two.''\n\n``When's the ceremony?'' Gaster asked.\n\n``We haven't actually figured that out just yet,'' Chara replied, shrugging. ``We only officially did this like six weeks ago. So far, you're the only monster we've told about this except for Asgore and Toriel.''\n\n``As slow as ever,'' Fuse chided. Yet, there was no real bite behind her words.\n\n``How did the old man take it?'' Pizzapants asked, taking a puff of his cigarette. ``Did he absolutely lose his shit?''\n\n``He did when he thought that I wasn't looking,'' Asriel teased.\n\nChara snickered. ``Okay, good, I was hoping that you didn't miss that.''\n\n``Do you need any help with planning or anything?'' Fuse asked, leaning forward in order to take a closer look at the ring. ``I know that me and Violet's shindig wasn't some grand royal wedding but I'm sure that the two of us could give you a few pointers if you need them.''\n\nAsriel nodded. ``That'd be nice.''\n\n``If you need any help from me, you know where to find me,'' Gaster commented, offering a coy little smile. ``Though, unless you need advice on the scientific method or how to draft a research proposal, I'm afraid that this might be a little outside my usual wheelhouse.''\n\nPizzapants nodded. ``Ditto.'' He scoffed, shaking his head. ``Dang, going to have to get myself a plus one for this thing.''\n\n``Shouldn't be a problem for a lady's monster like you,'' Chara ribbed.\n\n``You doubt me,'' Pizzapants said, winking at them. ``But I'll find someone for the date. You have my word.''\n\n``I can provide entertainment,'' Fuse said, batting her lashes. ``I'm a triple threat, you know: acting, singing, and amazing company. Really, I got it all.''\n\n``Modesty was never your strong suit,'' Gaster teased.\n\nYet, before he could continue further, there was a beep from his breast pocket. He sighed as he reached inside and pulled out a small blue geode which chirped once again. Its appearance made him frown as he quickly finished off the rest of his smoke, flicking the discarded butt into the trash.\n\n``Unfortunately, I'm needed back at the lab,'' he grumbled, shaking his head. ``They've probably finished our examination on the latest human samples.''\n\n``See you around, Gaster,'' Asriel said as he tilted his muzzle towards him. \n\nGaster stepped away from the group, moving at a hurried clip as he quickly rounded the corner. Though before he departed, he ensured that he offered the group one last parting wave.\n\n``So, I guess we'll have to hang out some more sometime,'' Fuse said.\n\nChara said nothing until they realized that Fuse was looking at them and not at Asriel. This was... different... to say the least. They were honestly a little taken aback, looking left and then right as if expecting that another secret friend would suddenly materialize behind them. When none had, they immediately flushed, looking back at her.\n\n``That'd be nice,'' they quickly said, grinning sheepishly. ``Always cool to uh... to hang with Azzy's friends.''\n\n``Ain't just Azzy's friends,'' Pizzapants said, making a show of coming over. Though he still had a lit cigarette and its presence made Fuse glare daggers at him, causing him back up once again. ``Known you for a couple years now.'' \n\n``Huh,'' Chara said, wincing as they realized that they'd just said that aloud. This fact made them blush as they held up their hands, waving them back and forth through the air. ``Sorry, just...'' They chuckled nervously, realizing they were dropping the bag. ``That sounds nice, I'd love to hang out with you guys sometime.''\n\n``You should come out with me and my wife, one of these days,'' Fuse added, winking at them. ``Maybe we could help you with some of your wedding planning?''\n\nChara nodded quickly. ``Sure, I could use the help!''\n\n[hr]\n\nLogically, Chara knew that there was a lot that went into a wedding. It was an event made up of a hundred moving parts, each acting independent of one another. If even a single one broke down then the whole ceremony was at risk of being interrupted. An issue which was only compounded by the fact that this was sadly going to be the biggest wedding of the decade.\n\nYet, it was growing increasingly hard not to feel fatigued, being paraded through meetings and showings, picking out item after item, ensuring that everything from the venue to the arrangements to the choice of main course was absolutely perfect.\n\nThis was an exhausting marathon and Chara could already feel their nerves beginning to fray. It became so hard to focus on the end goal, a life of happiness, when you had some caterer shoving samples in your mouth, or a receptionist asking if you liked the salmon- or rose-coloured napkins better.\n\nWas there honestly a difference? If there was then Chara certainly couldn't tell. And honestly, after three months of doing this, they hardly cared any longer.\n\n``Something the matter, dear?'' Asgore asked.\n\nChara stirred and focused back on the moment, looking at Asgore. He was currently turned away from them, sorting through a collection of white dresses that were on display. There were so many of them, each a little different from the last. The selection might've even approached infinity in terms of volume.\n\n``Just tired,'' Chara replied, shaking their head. ``Didn't realize how much planning went into something like this.''\n\n``A fair amount,'' Asgore said. ``I remember how I almost lost my cool several times when preparing for me and Tori's wedding.'' He offered a thin smile, the exhaustion of the memories painted out within his eyes. ``There was one moment where some event planner was asking if I liked the cyan- or aqua-coloured napkins better.''\n\n``There's a difference?'' Chara chided.\n\nAsgore scoffed. ``That's what I told them. Which then led to a discussion about the importance of each colour and what it represented for this important occasion. I am a patient man but...'' He shook his head. ``My abilities were tested that day.''\n\n``Your mistake,'' Chara stated, snickering. ``I just shut up and picked the salmon ones without questioning it.''\n\nThey got up from their seat and made their way over, taking up position next to Asgore. Carefully, they started to look through the various gowns. All of them felt far too pretty, too stunning for someone like them. They didn't want the pressure of being seen in something like this.\n\n``How about I make you a deal?'' Asgore asked.\n\nChara perked up. ``I'm listening.''\n\n``If we get through picking a dress today then I'll find an excuse to remove you from court for the next few days,'' Asgore chided, offering a sly little smile. ``I'm thinking that there might be some urgent business that needs attending to out in the Snowlands. Should keep you away from all of those event planners and caterers for a little bit.''\n\nChara nodded, unable to stop themself from grinning. ``Did you know that you were always my favourite monarch?''\n\nAsgore chuckled and shook his head, stepping to the side and gesturing to the rack of gowns. ``Tell me that after you've finished picking out a dress, dear. I'm sympathetic but I will not let you slouch on this duty either.''\n\nChara stepped up and started to rifle through the selection, feeling the pristine material against their fingers. Each dress was its own work of art, gorgeous and white. They ranged from extravagant to very extravagant in their design, each seeming to be more priceless than the last.\n\nThe issue was that none of them felt like they were their style. These were items for a person of higher status and greater ambition than them.\n\nWell, isn't that what you are? After all, you are the bride to the Prince of Monsters.\n\nThey winced.\n\nDon't remind me.\n\nThey looked to the side and saw Asgore studying them. He merely smiled, saying nothing that would dare come across as advice.\n\nChara closed their eyes and picked one at random, yanking it off of the rack and holding it out in front of themselves. ``How about this one?''\n\n``A fair choice,'' Asgore commented, offering them a thin smile as he made a show of looking it over. ``Seems like it would fit your form nicely. Though do you really want to show off that much cleavage to the public.'' He flushed. ``Uh... not that you shouldn't just...'' He pursed his lips together and stopped talking, motioning vaguely in some hopeless effort to have the rest of his remarks materialize out of thin air.\n\nChara flushed and turned it around, their eyes growing wide as they took in just how deep the v-cut really was. ``Holy shit. Who would wear this?''\n\nThey quickly placed it back upon the rack, returning their gaze toward the other ones on display. The issue with them all being white is that it was kind of impossible to really tell them apart at a glance, requiring them to take each of them off of the rack and hold them up in order to appraise them properly.\n\nThis was clothes shopping to the extreme, the final evolution of a truly detestable duty.\n\nStupid Asriel getting to wear a stupid suit. They bet that he was already done with all the stuff he needed to get done today and was probably lounging around the apartment.\n\n``So how did you get saddled with dress shopping?'' Chara asked, glancing at Asgore.\n\nAsgore seemed puzzled by this though promptly chuckled, shaking his head. ``I offered to accompany you today.''\n\n``Oh?'' Chara scoffed. ``Why?''\n\n``Because between me and Tori, I've always been the more sentimental monster in our marriage,'' Asgore said, walking over to a chair and settling down upon it. It almost seemed comically small compared to his impressive stature. ``Plus, I knew you could probably use a more tender approach compared to my better half's usual brash attitude.''\n\nChara nodded and selected another dress, lifting it up. Like all the others it was white and extravagant, looking so gaudy and girly. They hated every aspect of it.\n\n``You know, I never thought I'd get to see you in a position like this,'' Asgore went on, looking down at his hands as he tented them together. ``You've come a long way since I first met that hungry child who crushed my flowerbed with their fall.''\n\n``Still salty about that?'' Chara teased.\n\nAsgore shook his head. ``I'd say that I've been gifted with something far nicer in its absence.''\n\nChara felt a pang at his confession, tearing their gaze away from him and focusing on the dresses instead. They idly sorted through them, their mind devoid of any meaningful critiques or feedback on the various designs. This was simply the motions, waiting for something to leap out and impress them.\n\nThough nothing did as they instead reinforced their theory that they really hated clothes shopping.\n\n``Do you ever miss the surface?'' Asgore asked.\n\nChara scoffed. ``I've had enough of humans for one lifetime. They do nothing but bicker and fight and kill one another.'' They realized they were crushing the dress they were currently holding. So, they drew in a breath, settling themself and sparing the poor fabric from an especially gruesome fate. ``Monsters are just better company.''\n\nAsgore nodded. ``I heard that the war ended, you know? At least, if all of the newspapers and junk that flow down here are any indication.''\n\n``They'll find another excuse to have a go at each other,'' Chara replied, snorting with utter disdain. ``Maybe it's for the best that we just stayed down here.'' Though they promptly winced as they realized what they'd just said. And as they looked at Asgore, they could see that his own disposition had darkened at this claim. ``Sorry, I just... I have a lot of baggage.''\n\n``Understandable,'' Asgore replied. He tented his brow and looked deep in thought. The silence was heavy, practically smothering the room in a shroud of his discomfort. ``What were your parents like?''\n\nHe already knew the answer, they'd talked about it at least a hundred times before. So, why was he asking it again?\n\nChara frowned but decided to humour him. ``Dad was a man who lived by the book but he tried his best to provide for me and mom. Worked hard and the whole town loved him.'' Or at least, that's what they thought, their grip tightening once again as reality reared its ugly head. ``Mom was a good mom. Took care of me and...''\n\nKept me safe when push came to shove.\n\nAsgore nodded. ``I'd never want to replace them, you know?''\n\n``You and Toriel did your best,'' Chara replied, smiling at him. ``I guess soon you'll be parents to me too.'' They scoffed and shook their head. ``If you weren't already.''\n\nAsgore smiled.\n\n``Can I ask you a question?'' Chara then asked.\n\nAsgore perked up. ``Of course.''\n\nChara selected yet another dress. It was more tame, moderate in its design. Sure, it was still far more than what they'd normally wear but it was approaching something that they might be comfortable being seen in.\n\n``You need seven souls to break the barrier, correct?'' they asked.\n\nAsgore nodded.\n\n``Why did you never take mine?'' Chara then asked.\n\nAsgore drew in a breath as if he'd been punched right in the gut. As Chara glanced at him, they could see the wide-eyed shock which seemed to dominate him at this moment.\n\n``I...'' Asgore cleared his throat. ``I mean there are two answers to that question; the sentimental and the logical. Which would you like first?''\n\n``Whichever you'd prefer,'' Chara replied.\n\nAsgore nodded. ``Sentimentally, you were a child and it would be wrong of me to do that to a child. The war was a long time ago and I see no reason to continue the traumas which are now generations old. As time went on, you grew on me as a person and you've made my son happy. I enjoy your company immensely, dear, and there is no other way to really put it.''\n\n``You no longer view yourself as being at war with humanity?'' Chara asked.\n\nAsgore shook his head. ``We've been down here for centuries and in that time, humanity has not killed a single monster. Maybe my worldview would change if humanity was still killing us but I desire nothing more than to mend the wounds between us and can only hope that the hatchet will eventually be buried upon our return to the surface.''\n\n``And what is the logical answer?'' Chara then asked.\n\nThey selected another dress, the closest they had managed to find that felt like it was even remotely their style. It was a lovely white, conservative in its trim. Honestly, it felt only a step above their usual attire in terms of pomp and circumstance.\n\nAsgore sighed. ``Taking your Soul would still leaves us six Souls short of actually breaking the barrier. Plus, your union with my son is an amazing way to show the progress that we've made since the trauma of the war. To bring the Prince of Monsters together with a human provides everyone with an example for the future. It'll help them learn and hopefully flourish.''\n\n``Even though humanity might just force you back down here?'' Chara asked.\n\n``You are asking some rather hard questions for an outing dress shopping,'' Asgore grumbled, shaking his head. ``Is this payback for making you do so in the first place?''\n\nChara only smirked at this.\n\nAsgore rolled his eyes. ``My hope is that both of our races can move on and there will be no more conflict in the future. I strive towards this ideal because I am an old man who saw his fair share of conflict in his youth and no longer desire to see it again.''\n\nChara nodded and turned to face Asgore fully, holding up the dress to their body. They glanced in the mirror as they did so, hoping that something so tame would be fitting for this apparently all-important date.\n\nAsgore seemed taken aback by it, looking like he was about to shake his head. Yet, he paused and studied them closely, taking his time humming and hawing at the dress. It might've even grown on him as he tilted his head to the side as if taking it in from a fresh angle.\n\n``It looks good,'' he finally said, nodding. ``You should go try it on.''\n\nChara grinned and made their way over to the changing rooms.\n\nAsgore suddenly chuckled, making them stop.\n\n``What's up?'' Chara asked.\n\nAsgore shook his head. ``I forgot to mention the selfish reason for not taking your Soul.''\n\n``Oh?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.\n\n``The many grandchildren that I look forward to having in the future,'' Asgore teased, winking at them.\n\nChara sighed and rolled their eyes, slipping into the changing room. ``You're the worst. Did you know that?''\n\n[hr]\n\n``Longest six months of my fucking life,'' Chara groaned, flopping forwards onto the bed. \n\nThey covered themself with the sheets, trying their damnedest to burrow away and avoid having to think about anything wedding related. Honestly, they could go the rest of their life without even reflecting on something like this and they would be happy.\n\nAsriel snorted. ``Just one more day, babe.''\n\n``Just one more day,'' Chara replied. Even they could hear the fatigue in their voice.\n\nThey peaked out from under the covers, seeing that Asriel was looking over some paperwork. His brow was tented as he was crossing out things and scribbling details into the margins. Even from all the way over here, Chara recognized this as the seating arrangement for tomorrow's ceremony.\n\n``Are you still working on that?'' Chara groaned.\n\nAsriel nodded. ``Almost figured it out.''\n\n``You've been at that for like two weeks now,'' Chara replied, huffing. ``Can't you just wing the rest of it and come cuddle with me.''\n\nThey decided to hit him with an especially pathetic pair of puppy dog eyes, batting their lashes and trying to seem especially vulnerable.\n\n``No, I can't just wing the rest of this,'' Asriel growled.\n\nChara flinched at the sharpness of his tone.\n\nAsriel immediately looked guilty, shaking his head. ``Sorry, sorry, it's just... this has been a lot to deal with.''\n\n``The perks of being royalty,'' Chara grumbled.\n\nAsriel sighed. ``Yeah, no kidding.'' He jotted down a couple more things and sunk his pen back into its inkwell. Instead, he got up and ran a hand through his rich blonde hair. ``Fuck it, I'm putting Carol Blizzard and Rudy Holiday next to each other.''\n\n``Don't they hate each other?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.\n\nAsriel snorted. ``Then they'll learn to get along for a couple of hours for the good of the kingdom.'' He went over to the kitchen nook of their apartment, opening one of the cupboards. He yanked out a bottle of red wine, turning to face Chara with it. ``How about a little something to help celebrate actually getting through all of this stupid bullshit.''\n\nChara smirked. ``That sounds lovely.''\n\nAsriel retrieved two glasses and made his way over to the sofa, placing everything down upon the coffee table. It was enough to get Chara to crawl out of bed and make their way over, plopping down in the seat next to him.\n\n``Big day tomorrow,'' Asriel said.\n\nChara nodded and took the bottle, filling each of the glasses with a generous splash of red. ``Going to officially be a Dreemurr.''\n\nAsriel chuckled and took one of the glasses, carefully cradling it in his massive paw. ``Huh, I guess I never put two-and-two together. Mx. Chara Dreemurr... it has a nice ring to it.''\n\n``Surprised you can even pronounce M.. Mix...'' Chara tried out the world.\n\n``Mx?'' Asriel asked, cocking a brow. ``Come one, Chara. It isn't that hard to pronounce.''\n\n``How are you doing that?'' Chara asked.\n\nAsriel smirked. ``Monster magic.'' He held out his glass, offering the rim to Chara. ``To a long and happy life?''\n\nChara grinned and clinked their glass against his. ``To a long and happy life.''\n\nThey then helped themself to a sip, watching as their fiance did the same. He looked so soft in this moment and they couldn't help but lean against him, practically purring as he draped a powerful arm across their shoulders.\n\n``What do you think our future is going to be like?'' Chara asked.\n\nAsriel hummed. ``Mom and dad will probably start to give us a few more official responsibilities to help warm us up to the idea of actually ruling.'' He worked his jaw as if the weight of those responsibilities was suddenly upon his shoulders. ``We aren't kids anymore and I doubt they want us planning parades for the rest of our life.''\n\n``Ruling sounds scary,'' Chara grumbled, trying their best to picture themself upon the throne. The image just wasn't coming together. It just didn't feel right that a human should have a crown in this kind of land. ``I don't know if I can do it.''\n\n``Well, I have some terrible news for you, babe,'' Asriel teased, tilting his head to the side and bonking the top of their head with his cheek. ``You're getting cold feet at what is probably the worst possible time to do so.''\n\nChara sighed. ``I know. I just... I'm human.''\n\n``I haven't noticed,'' Asriel teased.\n\nChara scoffed. ``Don't you think it sends the wrong message to have a human ruling over a people who were wronged by humanity?'' They reached out and brushed their free hand against his arm, feeling the thick wall of fur that made up his body. ``It just feels wrong to me, you know?''\n\n``I mean, it's not like humanity did good by you either,'' Asriel said. ``You're like... an honorary monster in that regard.''\n\n``Is that so?'' Chara asked, scoffing.\n\nAsriel nodded. ``Every human fucked over by humanity is given monster citizenship by default.'' He smirked and puffed out his chest, thumping it with a closed fist. ``At least, that'll be my first decree once I've ascended to the throne.''\n\n``Sounds like a nice decree,'' Chara teased.\n\nThey helped themselves to a sip of wine, enjoying the dry full-bodied flavour of it. It was strange to think that different kinds of magic had distinct flavours but here they were, enjoying it fully. At the very least, thinking about wine saved them from having to think about something wedding related.\n\n``Do you think another human will ever come down here?'' Chara asked.\n\nAsriel frowned. ``I don't know. I mean if it happened once, I don't see any reason that it shouldn't happen again, you know? I just figured that the rules of math and probability state that it's bound to happen again eventually.''\n\n``Sounds like you've been spending too much time around Gaster,'' Chara teased as they nuzzled into him.\n\nAsriel smirked. ``Perhaps.''\n\n``I don't know how I would react to seeing another human,'' Chara admitted, closing their eyes. They could picture them now, a brutish figure with a weapon in hand, ready to strike down the first monster they saw. ``I can't imagine they would be particularly friendly.''\n\n``You were friendly,'' Asriel said.\n\nChara snorted. ``I was scared.''\n\n``And I'm sure that they'll be scared to,'' Asriel replied, squeezing them against him. ``For all you know, it could be another child.''\n\nHe reached up and started to stroke their hand, being tender as he petted them. For such a large figure, he was remarkably gentle in his disposition, not too firm but not too forceful either. He offered just the right amount of affection for their current mood.\n\n``I have some bad news, babe,'' Asriel said.\n\nChara cracked open an eye, frowning. ``What's that?''\n\n``When we take over, we need to be prepared for the possibility of returning to the surface some day,'' Asriel explained, looking towards their window. As Chara followed his gaze, they could see the rocky sky and ice-capped mountains far off in the distance. It was pretty if you ignored the absence of a sun or moon. ``I know that you have baggage but there are a whole people out there who want to see the surface and we might be the rulers who achieve that someday.''\n\nChara was silent, really thinking about that for a moment. They reflected on their childhood and memories of the surface. Their mind went to old family, old friends, a life that they had once lived. It was largely painful, for sure, but there was some good in there, little lights, tiny stars which coloured an otherwise bleak canvas.\n\nIt would be wrong to deny a whole race those little glimmers. For all they knew, things could be totally different in the future.\n\nYou can overcome your fears, right?\n\n...\n\nRight?\n\nChara sighed. ``I'll think about it.''\n\n``I mean you can think about it for a while,'' Asriel said, offering a thin smile. ``First we actually need to get married.''\n\n``Then we need to ascend to the throne,'' Chara stated.\n\n``And then we need to get seven human Souls,'' Asriel added, snickering. ``We have a bit of a list waiting for us, huh?''\n\nChara paused for a good long while, pondering that number. \n\n``Six,'' they finally said.\n\n``Six?'' Asriel asked. He now sounded a little unsure of himself.\n\n``We only need six more,'' Chara chided, looking up at him as they prodded themself in the chest with a finger. ``We already have one.''\n\nAsriel scoffed. ``Seven, I'm not sacrificing my spouse's life.''\n\n``Babe, you better not keep us trapped down here just because you're feeling sentimental about me,'' Chara grumbled. ``I'd be pretty fucking pissed with you.''\n\nAsriel huffed. ``We are not going back to the same argument we had when we were literally ten years old.'' He reached up and bonked their nose with his finger, booping them rather firmly. ``You are not dying for the good of monsterkind, do you understand me?''\n\n``I'll be a martyr for whatever cause I feel like,'' Chara jabbed. Their tone came across far more seriously than they intended. They would've felt guilty about it if they weren't so sure that they were right about this.\n\nAsriel shook his head and decided not to rebut, denying them the argument they so clearly wanted. So, Chara decided not to rebut either, letting the matter settle there and then.\n\nThe silence between them lasted, seeming like it was on the brink of ruining their night. It would truly be a classic Chara moment if they somehow managed to sour the eve of their wedding.\n\nYet, apparently Asriel had a plan to salvage things.\n\n``Do you want to possibly...'' Asriel smirked, blushing as he picked his words carefully. ``Get in some practice for our wedding night?''\n\nChara smirked. ``What kind of practice?''\n\n``Well, you know, practice in...'' Asriel looked towards their bed, biting his lip as he did so. ``In bed?''\n\nChara very much wanted to do that. Though they also very much liked the idea of being an absolute brat as well.\n\n``Nope!'' they beamed, grinning at him. ``You should know by now that I'm saving myself for marriage.''\n\n``Chara!'' Asriel whined, tensing. ``It's been like two weeks. I'm starting to get really pent up over here. I can barely even think straight.''\n\n``Oh, I'm well aware,'' Chara teased. They reached out and placed their hand against the crotch of his robe, grinding their palm into his sheathe. ``And I'm very excited to see what you have in store for me tomorrow.''\n\nThey massaged his anatomy, adoring the way that he tensed and whined, almost sounding feral. It was so obvious that he was desperate and they couldn't help but love every second of it.\n\n``Chara,'' Asriel groaned.\n\nSomething started to harden, the tip poking out of his sheathe. At which point, Chara removed their hand and rested it upon his leg instead.\n\nThey smirked at him before leaning to the side and resting their head against his chest, nuzzling him. ``Save it for tomorrow, hun. I want you to be nice and pent-up for the big day!''\n\n``You're evil,'' Asriel grumbled.\n\nChara snickered. ``Oh, I'm aware.''\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter Three

Winter had never been a kind season in this region, filled with bristling winds and frigid rain mixed with sleet and snow. It was the time of the year where the child would rarely leave their home, preferring to stay next to the fire and help their mother around the house.

Now, without that house, it was a million times worse. It seemed that the cold was a constant companion, only made bearable by the small fires which they'd managed to make, using what little fuel they could scavenge from these desolate hills.

Their clothing was little more than tattered scraps at this point. It would've been useless in the summer, but now after months, it felt more like a piece of playacting than a practical article meant to accomplish anything meaningful.

Their fire was waning and they were practically hunched over it, rubbing their arms in a desperate effort to try and derive what little warmth they could from their frost-nipped body. Yet, it was utterly hopeless, nothing could be done to stop the chattering of their teeth or the growing numbness which seemed to creep up from their toes and fingers.

Were they going to die?

It felt entirely possible. The night wasn't even half done and it seemed that their fire would fade in an hour, maybe two at most. Their food was gone, having been reduced yesterday, leaving nothing to feed the seemingly infinite pit within their stomach.

Instinctively, the human looked deeper into the cave.

Maybe, there was something further inside, some form of safety. Or at the very least, maybe some dried plant matter to keep the fire going just that much longer. It felt like a hollow dream, hopeless, but what else could they honestly do at this point.

Yet, there was something about the depths of the cave which terrified them. It wasn't just the darkness but something deeper and more instinctual than that. This felt like an unease which had been imprinted upon their very soul.

They drew in a breath and stood up, wobbling upon weak legs as they did so.

With how fast the cold was building and how deep the hunger had grown, they didn't have time to listen to their fears.

It was strange, they couldn't recall the cave having run this deep before, yet as they ventured away from the fire, they discovered that it was far larger than they had first assumed. As they began to walk inside, darkness embraced them from every side. It should've been terrifying, yet they still managed to place one foot purposefully in front of the other.

``Hello?'' they called.

But no one came

Why would they? They were the only Soul in this mountain. The only Soul for miles around.

The air started to grow warmer, brushing aside the frigid daggers of winter and replacing them with something downright pleasant. It seemed like a miracle, like God himself said that this child should live. Or maybe they were just dreaming and they were actually succumbing to the elements at this very moment with their mind shielding them from the grim reality of their inevitable end.

Yet, regardless of if this was a dream or reality, they continued ahead.

Soon, the air grew so warm that the child's breath stopped curling, the vapour no longer foggy and grey. It got warmer and warmer still until they finally stopped shivering entirely. In fact, it got so warm that they even started to sweat.

As they drew in a breath through their nose, they could smell something upon the air itself. It was... good... reminding them of something that their mother would've made before the war started.

A pie perhaps?

The child reached forward, continuing ahead and grasping at the darkness. They were utterly blind, yet it felt like their body instinctively knew the way.

One foot in front of the other.

Until...

Until they suddenly fell forward, tumbling into a pit.

[hr]

``Mom, dad,'' Asriel said, looking away from his plate as he focused his gaze across the table. ``Me and Chara have something to tell you.''

Toriel cocked a brow and put down her fork and knife. Asgore popped one last bite of food into his mouth before gesturing for his son to go on.

Chara politely sat there, letting Asriel take the lead. They could feel their hands underneath the leather gloves that they currently wore, tensing against the table. They knew it wasn't the most convincing of disguises and they were honestly a little shocked that they hadn't been called out on it yet.

Regardless, they could feel the small band of metal which was currently wrapped around their finger. It was a modest thing, for a royal, yet they enjoyed the modesty. Just a band of coppery gold which fit snugly around their digit.

``Well, me and Chara were talking a couple nights ago,'' Asriel said.

Asgore nodded and looked inquisitively between the two of them. Something was churning inside of his brain and soon his gaze settled upon one of Chara's leather-clad hands. At which point, something seemed to click for him as he offered a thin smile.

Toriel seemed a little quicker on the draw, smiling knowingly herself. She met Chara's eye and winked at them. Something which Chara could only respond to with an overly sheepish grin.

``And well...'' Asriel ran a hand through his mop of blonde hair, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. ``We've decided to um...'' He swallowed the nervous lump lodged in his throat. ``Uh...''

Chara rolled their eyes, deciding to save him from tripping over himself any longer. ``Asriel proposed to me last night.''

Toriel beamed, grinning from ear-to-ear. ``Oh, that's fantastic news, dear.'' She got to her feet and quickly moved around the table, throwing her arms around Asriel. ``About time that you finally put a ring on their finger, young man.''

``Mom!'' Asriel whined, blushing fiercely.

Asgore nodded sagely. ``That's fantastic news.'' He popped a bite of mashed magic into his mouth, talking as he chewed. ``Do you have a date in mind?''

Chara shrugged. ``I don't know, I think I'm going to get used to the whole fiance thing first.''

Toriel scoffed. ``Hopefully that doesn't take as long as you two getting used to the whole boyfriend-partner dynamic.'' She drew away from Asriel and instead approached Chara, giving them a hug as well. It was vice-like, heavy, practically crushing the human in her warm embrace. ``Because I don't know if I can endure another five-year of waiting.''

``You're literally immortal, mom,'' Asriel groaned.

Toriel finally liberated herself from Chara and made her way back around the table, taking a seat and politely folding her hands within her lap. She seemed just brimming with energy, ready to jump up at a moment's notice and lead the charge.

Honestly, it made Chara feel kind of nice, knowing that they could still get that sort of reaction out of her.

``Well, let me know if there is anything that I could do to help,'' Toriel explained, motioning to Chara. ``I don't remember much about human marriage ceremonies but I do recall a little. I can lend you something for the ceremony if you'd like.''

``Lend me something?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.

Toriel nodded. ``You know, something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue.'' She tapped the underside of her muzzle. ``I believe that's how that saying goes?''

Chara in fact did not know what that meant but they nodded along regardless. They hadn't really gone to a wedding before, having left the surface long before any family or friends had even started to think about tying the knot.

``I uh...'' they rubbed at their arm. ``I might need a refresher on how humans do their weddings.'' They then forced a smile. ``Or even better, how about we just skip all the human nonsense and make it a traditional monster ceremony instead.''

Toriel looked like she was about to say something but instead nodded, offering a slightly constrained smile in response. ``I think that sounds lovely.''

``You seem to be taking the news far better than I would've imagined,'' Asriel teased, using his fork to gesture at his father.

Asgore shrugged. ``I'm happy for you two but I also knew that something like this was coming. So, it's pretty easy to keep my emotions in check.''

Chara lifted a brow.

Asriel scoffed and got to his feet, turning away from the table and making his way back towards the kitchen for another round of food. ``Is that so?''

As soon as he had turned away, Asgore absolutely lost his shit, promptly grinning like a child who was in the midst of opening his presents during the holidays. There was the widest smile upon his lips as he looked at Chara, offering them two big thumbs up. He was practically shivering with an ecstatic glee at the announcement.

Chara snickered.

Asriel popped his head out of the kitchen and Asgore's expression immediately returned to a neutral equilibrium. Though this didn't stop both Chara and Toriel from silently snickering at one another.

``Want anything from the kitchen?'' Asriel asked, cocking a brow as he looked at the trio.

Asgore shook his head, clearing his throat. ``I'm good.''

``Same,'' Chara called.

Toriel nodded in agreement.

And with that Asriel returned to the kitchen, once more allowing Asgore to brighten like a Christmas tree. Yet, he kept his voice low, lest he be betrayed by his own emotions. ``Oh Angel, I can't wait to help with planning and floral arrangements and guest lists and...'' He grinned like a child. ``I'm going to make it a national holiday. You have my word on that one.''

Toriel shook her head. ``Gorey, they've just announced their engagement, I think we ought to give them a little time to actually enjoy it before we rush to the ceremony.''

``Please do,'' Chara quipped, rolling their eyes. ``I appreciate the enthusiasm but it's only been a couple days. I promise that you'll be the first to know if there are any plans in the works.''

Asriel returned a moment later with a fresh plate in hand, taking a seat once again. He idly poked at it before taking a bite, munching away.

``So, is there any way we can get away with hosting a small ceremony?'' he asked.

Chara nodded. ``I'd like that too.''

Toriel and Asgore both seemed nervous about this request, glancing at one another.

Asgore sighed. ``I...''

``We'll see if we can keep the guest list down to the double digits,'' Toriel offered. She at least had the decency to look guilty after that ultimatum.

``Double digits?'' Chara asked, scoffing. ``That's small?''

``It is when there is only one heir to the throne,'' Toriel replied.

Chara sighed and looked off the side. ``Fair enough.''

They tried to hide their disdain for the idea but it still very much bled through, threatening to ruin this delicate moment.

``I can assure you that it's not that bad,'' Asgore replied, nodding sagely. ``You'll barely even notice them during your big day.''

``Plus, you'll get more gifts,'' Toriel tried. Yet, even she seemed a little unsure of this point as she looked around their well-furnished and extravagant dining room. At which point, she sighed. ``Not that we really need much more than we already have.''

``It's something we can talk about later,'' Asriel offered.

Chara nodded. ``Yeah...''

Both Toriel and Asgore nodded, silently agreeing to these terms.

[hr]

Six weeks barely felt like enough time for the reality of the situation to settle into place. Yet, day-by-day, Chara was warming up to the idea of marriage. Still, there were barriers that needed to be overcome, hurdles that lingered in the way.

And one such hurdle was letting monsters who weren't Toriel or Asgore in on the secret.

So, here they were outside of the palace, lounging on the street underneath some glimmering lights. It was one of the side streets of Home, far enough away from the castle that things turned from pristine to a little more lived in. Not hostile, by any means, but definitely immersed in far more character than the places that Chara usually went.

``Dude!'' Pizzapants called, clasping his hand around Asriel's and then bumping chests with him. The two guys laughed and then embraced one another, reinforcing the intimate bond of brohood that they had. ``So good to see you.''

``Yeah, good to see you guys too,'' Asriel said, smiling first at Pizzapants and then at the others.

Chara loitered at his side, shoving their hands into the pouch on the front of their robes. They kind of just stood there awkwardly, watching as Asriel embraced his friends, one after another.

His friends... not their friends. They didn't really have friends of their own.

There was Pizzapants, the dude still looking like a goofball dog even in his twenties. He wore a bright green buttoned-up shirt and a pair of worn jeans, both of which looked like they were a little too large for him.

Then there was Fuse, a red stick of living dynamite with a wick poking out from the top of her head. Her choice of outfit today was a nice blue dress which she twirled around in order to show it off fully.

Then there was Gaster, looking a little frazzled in his white lab coat with dark tired grooves seemingly carved into his boney complexion. He held a tin coffee mug in his hand which he took a sip from.

``Hey Chara,'' Pizzapants then greeted, offering a more constrained smile as he looked at them. ``How are you doing?''

``I'm doing pretty good,'' Chara replied, unsure of what else they could really say. ``How about you?''

Pizzapants nodded. ``Pretty good, pretty good.''

The conversation faded with neither of them really knowing what to say.

Chara wasn't the best around other monsters and it seemed that the others kind of instinctively knew as much. They were never rude to them but they had always felt like a hanger on within this friend group, lingering at the fringes and not really being sure what to say or do.

``How about you two? How have you been?'' Asriel cut in, pointing to the other monsters.

Fuse smirked and tapped a finger against the spot just under her mouth. ``Pretty good, just landed myself a role in the latest production of All the Good Monsters. I'll be playing the main supporting female character this season.''

``That's amazing!'' Asriel beamed.

Chara nodded, offering a nervous smile. ``I love that play.''

Fuse seemed taken aback by Chara's response though quickly grinned. ``I didn't know that you were into theatre, dear?''

Shit.

``Well, I uh...'' Chara rubbed at their arm. ``I'm mostly interested in the author's work overall. I've read a ton of his novels. Did you know that All the Good Monsters was actually his only stage production.''

Fuse shook her head. ``I had no idea.''

Asriel then tilted his muzzle towards Gaster. ``How are things going over at the labs?''

Gaster sighed and titled back his head, massaging his temple between his forefinger and thumb. ``Sluggish, painfully sluggish. They still have me looking over baubles and trinkets from the surface instead of doing actual meaningful work.''

``Anything cool?'' Chara asked.

Gaster offered a thin smile as he looked back down at them. ``Your...'' He must've noticed Asriel stiffen, at his use of language, as he promptly cleared his throat. ``The human race has an incredible knack for explosives, I can confirm that much.''

Chara smirked. ``They do like blowing each other up.''

``Makes me feel extremely anxious for when we finally get back to the surface,'' Gaster chided, looking at Asriel. ``Speaking of...''

Asriel sighed. ``Mom and dad still haven't decided on your proposals.''

Gaster suddenly looked quite dark.

``Look, put in a few more months working at the labs and gain yourself some more recognition first,'' Asriel said, reaching out and placing a reassuring hand upon his shoulder. ``Mom and dad are just looking for some results before they're willing to greenlight whatever you're proposing.''

Fuse nodded and bumped into Gaster. ``You wouldn't imagine the number of one-line roles that I had to land before they finally gave me a part worth playing.''

``And it took a lot of work being Saucepants before they finally allowed me to become Pizzapants over at the restaurant,'' Pizzapants offered, shaking his head. ``Just hope that my kids don't have to go through this sort of stuff.''

He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a brass container. As he opened it, Chara could spot a row of cigarettes with a lighter next to them. He popped one between his lips and lit the tip, taking in a nice deep drag of the ashen smoke.

Fuse looked warily at him and took a step to the side, waving off his offer for a cigarette. She even ensured that she placed a hand overtop of her wick just in case there were any sparks or embers floating in her direction.

Gaster, on the other hand, took one and popped it between his fleshless lips, lighting it with a spark of arcane blue magic from his fingertips. He drew in a breath though instead of exhaling, it seemed that the smoke escaped from underneath his lab coat, leaking free from between his ribs.

Chara and Asriel waved him off as he instead placed the brass case back into his breast pocket, focusing on his cigarette.

``So, what have you two been busying yourself with?'' Fuse asked, looking at Asriel and then Chara. She flashed a playful smile as she winked at both of them. ``Or is that a state secret?''

Asriel scoffed. ``Oh please, like mom and dad would give us any of the fun stuff to work on. They have me managing the construction of a town out in the Snowlands.''

``Snowdin?'' Pizzapants asked, nodding. ``Heard about that place.''

``Surprised people want to live that far away from the capital,'' Gaster added.

Fuse shrugged. ``I mean we already have people working all the way out in the Waterfalls. Makes sense to put a town between them.''

``And I'm working on organizing a parade for the anniversary of King Asgore's ascension,'' Chara added, sighing as they shook their head. ``You wouldn't believe the number of monsters who look at me funny while working on that.''

``I can,'' Pizzapants jabbed. He then winced, having the decency to look a little sheepish about his statement. ``Sorry, sorry, that sounded a lot better in my head. I'm sorry that monsters are giving you a hard time, enby bro.''

Yet, it had been said and no one seemed to know what to add to it with a silence settling into place with everyone kind of just loitering around. Every second made Pizzapants look more and more disappointed in himself.

In the end, Asriel cleared his throat, saving his friend from the depths of despair. ``So, uh... me and Chara have some good news!''

Fuse brightened. ``Oh?''

Chara nodded and didn't know how to say it. So, they extended their left hand and showed off the ring of golden copper. It glimmered under the light borne from the streetlamps of Home.

It took a second for everyone to realize what it meant. Though it seemed to hit all three of them at once as Fuse and Pizzapants beamed at the sight of it. Gaster, on the other hand, was a bit more reserved with his smile.

``Congratulations,'' Gaster quipped, nodding towards it. He couldn't help but smirk as he looked at Asriel. ``Honestly, it's about time, Dreemurr.''

``You two have been dating for how long now?'' Fuse teased. ``Five years at this point?''

Pizzapants bowed. ``Congrats you two.''

``When's the ceremony?'' Gaster asked.

``We haven't actually figured that out just yet,'' Chara replied, shrugging. ``We only officially did this like six weeks ago. So far, you're the only monster we've told about this except for Asgore and Toriel.''

``As slow as ever,'' Fuse chided. Yet, there was no real bite behind her words.

``How did the old man take it?'' Pizzapants asked, taking a puff of his cigarette. ``Did he absolutely lose his shit?''

``He did when he thought that I wasn't looking,'' Asriel teased.

Chara snickered. ``Okay, good, I was hoping that you didn't miss that.''

``Do you need any help with planning or anything?'' Fuse asked, leaning forward in order to take a closer look at the ring. ``I know that me and Violet's shindig wasn't some grand royal wedding but I'm sure that the two of us could give you a few pointers if you need them.''

Asriel nodded. ``That'd be nice.''

``If you need any help from me, you know where to find me,'' Gaster commented, offering a coy little smile. ``Though, unless you need advice on the scientific method or how to draft a research proposal, I'm afraid that this might be a little outside my usual wheelhouse.''

Pizzapants nodded. ``Ditto.'' He scoffed, shaking his head. ``Dang, going to have to get myself a plus one for this thing.''

``Shouldn't be a problem for a lady's monster like you,'' Chara ribbed.

``You doubt me,'' Pizzapants said, winking at them. ``But I'll find someone for the date. You have my word.''

``I can provide entertainment,'' Fuse said, batting her lashes. ``I'm a triple threat, you know: acting, singing, and amazing company. Really, I got it all.''

``Modesty was never your strong suit,'' Gaster teased.

Yet, before he could continue further, there was a beep from his breast pocket. He sighed as he reached inside and pulled out a small blue geode which chirped once again. Its appearance made him frown as he quickly finished off the rest of his smoke, flicking the discarded butt into the trash.

``Unfortunately, I'm needed back at the lab,'' he grumbled, shaking his head. ``They've probably finished our examination on the latest human samples.''

``See you around, Gaster,'' Asriel said as he tilted his muzzle towards him.

Gaster stepped away from the group, moving at a hurried clip as he quickly rounded the corner. Though before he departed, he ensured that he offered the group one last parting wave.

``So, I guess we'll have to hang out some more sometime,'' Fuse said.

Chara said nothing until they realized that Fuse was looking at them and not at Asriel. This was... different... to say the least. They were honestly a little taken aback, looking left and then right as if expecting that another secret friend would suddenly materialize behind them. When none had, they immediately flushed, looking back at her.

``That'd be nice,'' they quickly said, grinning sheepishly. ``Always cool to uh... to hang with Azzy's friends.''

``Ain't just Azzy's friends,'' Pizzapants said, making a show of coming over. Though he still had a lit cigarette and its presence made Fuse glare daggers at him, causing him back up once again. ``Known you for a couple years now.''

``Huh,'' Chara said, wincing as they realized that they'd just said that aloud. This fact made them blush as they held up their hands, waving them back and forth through the air. ``Sorry, just...'' They chuckled nervously, realizing they were dropping the bag. ``That sounds nice, I'd love to hang out with you guys sometime.''

``You should come out with me and my wife, one of these days,'' Fuse added, winking at them. ``Maybe we could help you with some of your wedding planning?''

Chara nodded quickly. ``Sure, I could use the help!''

[hr]

Logically, Chara knew that there was a lot that went into a wedding. It was an event made up of a hundred moving parts, each acting independent of one another. If even a single one broke down then the whole ceremony was at risk of being interrupted. An issue which was only compounded by the fact that this was sadly going to be the biggest wedding of the decade.

Yet, it was growing increasingly hard not to feel fatigued, being paraded through meetings and showings, picking out item after item, ensuring that everything from the venue to the arrangements to the choice of main course was absolutely perfect.

This was an exhausting marathon and Chara could already feel their nerves beginning to fray. It became so hard to focus on the end goal, a life of happiness, when you had some caterer shoving samples in your mouth, or a receptionist asking if you liked the salmon- or rose-coloured napkins better.

Was there honestly a difference? If there was then Chara certainly couldn't tell. And honestly, after three months of doing this, they hardly cared any longer.

``Something the matter, dear?'' Asgore asked.

Chara stirred and focused back on the moment, looking at Asgore. He was currently turned away from them, sorting through a collection of white dresses that were on display. There were so many of them, each a little different from the last. The selection might've even approached infinity in terms of volume.

``Just tired,'' Chara replied, shaking their head. ``Didn't realize how much planning went into something like this.''

``A fair amount,'' Asgore said. ``I remember how I almost lost my cool several times when preparing for me and Tori's wedding.'' He offered a thin smile, the exhaustion of the memories painted out within his eyes. ``There was one moment where some event planner was asking if I liked the cyan- or aqua-coloured napkins better.''

``There's a difference?'' Chara chided.

Asgore scoffed. ``That's what I told them. Which then led to a discussion about the importance of each colour and what it represented for this important occasion. I am a patient man but...'' He shook his head. ``My abilities were tested that day.''

``Your mistake,'' Chara stated, snickering. ``I just shut up and picked the salmon ones without questioning it.''

They got up from their seat and made their way over, taking up position next to Asgore.  Carefully, they started to look through the various gowns. All of them felt far too pretty, too stunning for someone like them. They didn't want the pressure of being seen in something like this.

``How about I make you a deal?'' Asgore asked.

Chara perked up. ``I'm listening.''

``If we get through picking a dress today then I'll find an excuse to remove you from court for the next few days,'' Asgore chided, offering a sly little smile. ``I'm thinking that there might be some urgent business that needs attending to out in the Snowlands. Should keep you away from all of those event planners and caterers for a little bit.''

Chara nodded, unable to stop themself from grinning. ``Did you know that you were always my favourite monarch?''

Asgore chuckled and shook his head, stepping to the side and gesturing to the rack of gowns. ``Tell me that after you've finished picking out a dress, dear. I'm sympathetic but I will not let you slouch on this duty either.''

Chara stepped up and started to rifle through the selection, feeling the pristine material against their fingers. Each dress was its own work of art, gorgeous and white. They ranged from extravagant to very extravagant in their design, each seeming to be more priceless than the last.

The issue was that none of them felt like they were their style. These were items for a person of higher status and greater ambition than them.

Well, isn't that what you are? After all, you are the bride to the Prince of Monsters.

They winced.

Don't remind me.

They looked to the side and saw Asgore studying them. He merely smiled, saying nothing that would dare come across as advice.

Chara closed their eyes and picked one at random, yanking it off of the rack and holding it out in front of themselves. ``How about this one?''

``A fair choice,'' Asgore commented, offering them a thin smile as he made a show of looking it over. ``Seems like it would fit your form nicely. Though do you really want to show off that much cleavage to the public.'' He flushed. ``Uh... not that you shouldn't just...'' He pursed his lips together and stopped talking, motioning vaguely in some hopeless effort to have the rest of his remarks materialize out of thin air.

Chara flushed and turned it around, their eyes growing wide as they took in just how deep the v-cut really was. ``Holy shit. Who would wear this?''

They quickly placed it back upon the rack, returning their gaze toward the other ones on display. The issue with them all being white is that it was kind of impossible to really tell them apart at a glance, requiring them to take each of them off of the rack and hold them up in order to appraise them properly.

This was clothes shopping to the extreme, the final evolution of a truly detestable duty.

Stupid Asriel getting to wear a stupid suit. They bet that he was already done with all the stuff he needed to get done today and was probably lounging around the apartment.

``So how did you get saddled with dress shopping?'' Chara asked, glancing at Asgore.

Asgore seemed puzzled by this though promptly chuckled, shaking his head. ``I offered to accompany you today.''

``Oh?'' Chara scoffed. ``Why?''

``Because between me and Tori, I've always been the more sentimental monster in our marriage,'' Asgore said, walking over to a chair and settling down upon it. It almost seemed comically small compared to his impressive stature. ``Plus, I knew you could probably use a more tender approach compared to my better half's usual brash attitude.''

Chara nodded and selected another dress, lifting it up. Like all the others it was white and extravagant, looking so gaudy and girly. They hated every aspect of it.

``You know, I never thought I'd get to see you in a position like this,'' Asgore went on, looking down at his hands as he tented them together. ``You've come a long way since I first met that hungry child who crushed my flowerbed with their fall.''

``Still salty about that?'' Chara teased.

Asgore shook his head. ``I'd say that I've been gifted with something far nicer in its absence.''

Chara felt a pang at his confession, tearing their gaze away from him and focusing on the dresses instead. They idly sorted through them, their mind devoid of any meaningful critiques or feedback on the various designs. This was simply the motions, waiting for something to leap out and impress them.

Though nothing did as they instead reinforced their theory that they really hated clothes shopping.

``Do you ever miss the surface?'' Asgore asked.

Chara scoffed. ``I've had enough of humans for one lifetime. They do nothing but bicker and fight and kill one another.'' They realized they were crushing the dress they were currently holding. So, they drew in a breath, settling themself and sparing the poor fabric from an especially gruesome fate. ``Monsters are just better company.''

Asgore nodded. ``I heard that the war ended, you know? At least, if all of the newspapers and junk that flow down here are any indication.''

``They'll find another excuse to have a go at each other,'' Chara replied, snorting with utter disdain. ``Maybe it's for the best that we just stayed down here.'' Though they promptly winced as they realized what they'd just said. And as they looked at Asgore, they could see that his own disposition had darkened at this claim. ``Sorry, I just... I have a lot of baggage.''

``Understandable,'' Asgore replied. He tented his brow and looked deep in thought. The silence was heavy, practically smothering the room in a shroud of his discomfort. ``What were your parents like?''

He already knew the answer, they'd talked about it at least a hundred times before. So, why was he asking it again?

Chara frowned but decided to humour him. ``Dad was a man who lived by the book but he tried his best to provide for me and mom. Worked hard and the whole town loved him.'' Or at least, that's what they thought, their grip tightening once again as reality reared its ugly head. ``Mom was a good mom. Took care of me and...''

Kept me safe when push came to shove.

Asgore nodded. ``I'd never want to replace them, you know?''

``You and Toriel did your best,'' Chara replied, smiling at him. ``I guess soon you'll be parents to me too.'' They scoffed and shook their head. ``If you weren't already.''

Asgore smiled.

``Can I ask you a question?'' Chara then asked.

Asgore perked up. ``Of course.''

Chara selected yet another dress. It was more tame, moderate in its design. Sure, it was still far more than what they'd normally wear but it was approaching something that they might be comfortable being seen in.

``You need seven souls to break the barrier, correct?'' they asked.

Asgore nodded.

``Why did you never take mine?'' Chara then asked.

Asgore drew in a breath as if he'd been punched right in the gut. As Chara glanced at him, they could see the wide-eyed shock which seemed to dominate him at this moment.

``I...'' Asgore cleared his throat. ``I mean there are two answers to that question; the sentimental and the logical. Which would you like first?''

``Whichever you'd prefer,'' Chara replied.

Asgore nodded. ``Sentimentally, you were a child and it would be wrong of me to do that to a child. The war was a long time ago and I see no reason to continue the traumas which are now generations old. As time went on, you grew on me as a person and you've made my son happy. I enjoy your company immensely, dear, and there is no other way to really put it.''

``You no longer view yourself as being at war with humanity?'' Chara asked.

Asgore shook his head. ``We've been down here for centuries and in that time, humanity has not killed a single monster. Maybe my worldview would change if humanity was still killing us but I desire nothing more than to mend the wounds between us and can only hope that the hatchet will eventually be buried upon our return to the surface.''

``And what is the logical answer?'' Chara then asked.

They selected another dress, the closest they had managed to find that felt like it was even remotely their style. It was a lovely white, conservative in its trim. Honestly, it felt only a step above their usual attire in terms of pomp and circumstance.

Asgore sighed. ``Taking your Soul would still leaves us six Souls short of actually breaking the barrier. Plus, your union with my son is an amazing way to show the progress that we've made since the trauma of the war. To bring the Prince of Monsters together with a human provides everyone with an example for the future. It'll help them learn and hopefully flourish.''

``Even though humanity might just force you back down here?'' Chara asked.

``You are asking some rather hard questions for an outing dress shopping,'' Asgore grumbled, shaking his head. ``Is this payback for making you do so in the first place?''

Chara only smirked at this.

Asgore rolled his eyes. ``My hope is that both of our races can move on and there will be no more conflict in the future. I strive towards this ideal because I am an old man who saw his fair share of conflict in his youth and no longer desire to see it again.''

Chara nodded and turned to face Asgore fully, holding up the dress to their body. They glanced in the mirror as they did so, hoping that something so tame would be fitting for this apparently all-important date.

Asgore seemed taken aback by it, looking like he was about to shake his head. Yet, he paused and studied them closely, taking his time humming and hawing at the dress. It might've even grown on him as he tilted his head to the side as if taking it in from a fresh angle.

``It looks good,'' he finally said, nodding. ``You should go try it on.''

Chara grinned and made their way over to the changing rooms.

Asgore suddenly chuckled, making them stop.

``What's up?'' Chara asked.

Asgore shook his head. ``I forgot to mention the selfish reason for not taking your Soul.''

``Oh?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.

``The many grandchildren that I look forward to having in the future,'' Asgore teased, winking at them.

Chara sighed and rolled their eyes, slipping into the changing room. ``You're the worst. Did you know that?''

[hr]

``Longest six months of my fucking life,'' Chara groaned, flopping forwards onto the bed.

They covered themself with the sheets, trying their damnedest to burrow away and avoid having to think about anything wedding related. Honestly, they could go the rest of their life without even reflecting on something like this and they would be happy.

Asriel snorted. ``Just one more day, babe.''

``Just one more day,'' Chara replied. Even they could hear the fatigue in their voice.

They peaked out from under the covers, seeing that Asriel was looking over some paperwork. His brow was tented as he was crossing out things and scribbling details into the margins. Even from all the way over here, Chara recognized this as the seating arrangement for tomorrow's ceremony.

``Are you still working on that?'' Chara groaned.

Asriel nodded. ``Almost figured it out.''

``You've been at that for like two weeks now,'' Chara replied, huffing. ``Can't you just wing the rest of it and come cuddle with me.''

They decided to hit him with an especially pathetic pair of puppy dog eyes, batting their lashes and trying to seem especially vulnerable.

``No, I can't just wing the rest of this,'' Asriel growled.

Chara flinched at the sharpness of his tone.

Asriel immediately looked guilty, shaking his head. ``Sorry, sorry, it's just... this has been a lot to deal with.''

``The perks of being royalty,'' Chara grumbled.

Asriel sighed. ``Yeah, no kidding.'' He jotted down a couple more things and sunk his pen back into its inkwell. Instead, he got up and ran a hand through his rich blonde hair. ``Fuck it, I'm putting Carol Blizzard and Rudy Holiday next to each other.''

``Don't they hate each other?'' Chara asked, cocking a brow.

Asriel snorted. ``Then they'll learn to get along for a couple of hours for the good of the kingdom.'' He went over to the kitchen nook of their apartment, opening one of the cupboards. He yanked out a bottle of red wine, turning to face Chara with it. ``How about a little something to help celebrate actually getting through all of this stupid bullshit.''

Chara smirked. ``That sounds lovely.''

Asriel retrieved two glasses and made his way over to the sofa, placing everything down upon the coffee table. It was enough to get Chara to crawl out of bed and make their way over, plopping down in the seat next to him.

``Big day tomorrow,'' Asriel said.

Chara nodded and took the bottle, filling each of the glasses with a generous splash of red. ``Going to officially be a Dreemurr.''

Asriel chuckled and took one of the glasses, carefully cradling it in his massive paw. ``Huh, I guess I never put two-and-two together. Mx. Chara Dreemurr... it has a nice ring to it.''

``Surprised you can even pronounce M.. Mix...'' Chara tried out the world.

``Mx?'' Asriel asked, cocking a brow. ``Come one, Chara. It isn't that hard to pronounce.''

``How are you doing that?'' Chara asked.

Asriel smirked. ``Monster magic.'' He held out his glass, offering the rim to Chara. ``To a long and happy life?''

Chara grinned and clinked their glass against his. ``To a long and happy life.''

They then helped themself to a sip, watching as their fiance did the same. He looked so soft in this moment and they couldn't help but lean against him, practically purring as he draped a powerful arm across their shoulders.

``What do you think our future is going to be like?'' Chara asked.

Asriel hummed. ``Mom and dad will probably start to give us a few more official responsibilities to help warm us up to the idea of actually ruling.'' He worked his jaw as if the weight of those responsibilities was suddenly upon his shoulders. ``We aren't kids anymore and I doubt they want us planning parades for the rest of our life.''

``Ruling sounds scary,'' Chara grumbled, trying their best to picture themself upon the throne. The image just wasn't coming together. It just didn't feel right that a human should have a crown in this kind of land. ``I don't know if I can do it.''

``Well, I have some terrible news for you, babe,'' Asriel teased, tilting his head to the side and bonking the top of their head with his cheek. ``You're getting cold feet at what is probably the worst possible time to do so.''

Chara sighed. ``I know. I just... I'm human.''

``I haven't noticed,'' Asriel teased.

Chara scoffed. ``Don't you think it sends the wrong message to have a human ruling over a people who were wronged by humanity?'' They reached out and brushed their free hand against his arm, feeling the thick wall of fur that made up his body. ``It just feels wrong to me, you know?''

``I mean, it's not like humanity did good by you either,'' Asriel said. ``You're like... an honorary monster in that regard.''

``Is that so?'' Chara asked, scoffing.

Asriel nodded. ``Every human fucked over by humanity is given monster citizenship by default.'' He smirked and puffed out his chest, thumping it with a closed fist. ``At least, that'll be my first decree once I've ascended to the throne.''

``Sounds like a nice decree,'' Chara teased.

They helped themselves to a sip of wine, enjoying the dry full-bodied flavour of it. It was strange to think that different kinds of magic had distinct flavours but here they were, enjoying it fully. At the very least, thinking about wine saved them from having to think about something wedding related.

``Do you think another human will ever come down here?'' Chara asked.

Asriel frowned. ``I don't know. I mean if it happened once, I don't see any reason that it shouldn't happen again, you know? I just figured that the rules of math and probability state that it's bound to happen again eventually.''

``Sounds like you've been spending too much time around Gaster,'' Chara teased as they nuzzled into him.

Asriel smirked. ``Perhaps.''

``I don't know how I would react to seeing another human,'' Chara admitted, closing their eyes. They could picture them now, a brutish figure with a weapon in hand, ready to strike down the first monster they saw. ``I can't imagine they would be particularly friendly.''

``You were friendly,'' Asriel said.

Chara snorted. ``I was scared.''

``And I'm sure that they'll be scared to,'' Asriel replied, squeezing them against him. ``For all you know, it could be another child.''

He reached up and started to stroke their hand, being tender as he petted them. For such a large figure, he was remarkably gentle in his disposition, not too firm but not too forceful either. He offered just the right amount of affection for their current mood.

``I have some bad news, babe,'' Asriel said.

Chara cracked open an eye, frowning. ``What's that?''

``When we take over, we need to be prepared for the possibility of returning to the surface some day,'' Asriel explained, looking towards their window. As Chara followed his gaze, they could see the rocky sky and ice-capped mountains far off in the distance. It was pretty if you ignored the absence of a sun or moon. ``I know that you have baggage but there are a whole people out there who want to see the surface and we might be the rulers who achieve that someday.''

Chara was silent, really thinking about that for a moment. They reflected on their childhood and memories of the surface. Their mind went to old family, old friends, a life that they had once lived. It was largely painful, for sure, but there was some good in there, little lights, tiny stars which coloured an otherwise bleak canvas.

It would be wrong to deny a whole race those little glimmers. For all they knew, things could be totally different in the future.

You can overcome your fears, right?

...

Right?

Chara sighed. ``I'll think about it.''

``I mean you can think about it for a while,'' Asriel said, offering a thin smile. ``First we actually need to get married.''

``Then we need to ascend to the throne,'' Chara stated.

``And then we need to get seven human Souls,'' Asriel added, snickering. ``We have a bit of a list waiting for us, huh?''

Chara paused for a good long while, pondering that number.

``Six,'' they finally said.

``Six?'' Asriel asked. He now sounded a little unsure of himself.

``We only need six more,'' Chara chided, looking up at him as they prodded themself in the chest with a finger. ``We already have one.''

Asriel scoffed. ``Seven, I'm not sacrificing my spouse's life.''

``Babe, you better not keep us trapped down here just because you're feeling sentimental about me,'' Chara grumbled. ``I'd be pretty fucking pissed with you.''

Asriel huffed. ``We are not going back to the same argument we had when we were literally ten years old.'' He reached up and bonked their nose with his finger, booping them rather firmly. ``You are not dying for the good of monsterkind, do you understand me?''

``I'll be a martyr for whatever cause I feel like,'' Chara jabbed. Their tone came across far more seriously than they intended. They would've felt guilty about it if they weren't so sure that they were right about this.

Asriel shook his head and decided not to rebut, denying them the argument they so clearly wanted. So, Chara decided not to rebut either, letting the matter settle there and then.

The silence between them lasted, seeming like it was on the brink of ruining their night. It would truly be a classic Chara moment if they somehow managed to sour the eve of their wedding.

Yet, apparently Asriel had a plan to salvage things.

``Do you want to possibly...'' Asriel smirked, blushing as he picked his words carefully. ``Get in some practice for our wedding night?''

Chara smirked. ``What kind of practice?''

``Well, you know, practice in...'' Asriel looked towards their bed, biting his lip as he did so. ``In bed?''

Chara very much wanted to do that. Though they also very much liked the idea of being an absolute brat as well.

``Nope!'' they beamed, grinning at him. ``You should know by now that I'm saving myself for marriage.''

``Chara!'' Asriel whined, tensing. ``It's been like two weeks. I'm starting to get really pent up over here. I can barely even think straight.''

``Oh, I'm well aware,'' Chara teased. They reached out and placed their hand against the crotch of his robe, grinding their palm into his sheathe. ``And I'm very excited to see what you have in store for me tomorrow.''

They massaged his anatomy, adoring the way that he tensed and whined, almost sounding feral. It was so obvious that he was desperate and they couldn't help but love every second of it.

``Chara,'' Asriel groaned.

Something started to harden, the tip poking out of his sheathe. At which point, Chara removed their hand and rested it upon his leg instead.

They smirked at him before leaning to the side and resting their head against his chest, nuzzling him. ``Save it for tomorrow, hun. I want you to be nice and pent-up for the big day!''

``You're evil,'' Asriel grumbled.

Chara snickered. ``Oh, I'm aware.''

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