Reborn as Error

176 - Passing Meals

Underfell was just a reminder for me to visit other aus. I was doing that already but that encounter with Swad was just a little notice. Anyone could be wandering my multiverse without my knowledge and I wasn't a fan of that. I wasn't saying that to be a protector, I just had the need of wanting to know everything.

I wasn't in any rush to do that. I was just hopping around place to place occasionally, spreading out my time over the course of many days. I made sure to visit Underlust as well and the brothers had my clothes made and ready to take. Happily, I was back in my top, pants, boots, and jacket. I didn't really need the arm warmers anymore since I had no reason. I no longer felt the need to hide my marks or my arms if I wasn't going to be wearing my jacket.

When I got back to Nightmare's domain I knew I needed to address things quickly to avoid issues. I told Nightmare about Swad just so he was aware of what was discussed and as a just in case if it came back to bite me somehow. He was definitely not happy to hear I was talking to Swad but it already done and there wasn't much that could be changed.

I knew he didn't like the winged variant of his brother but the dislike for his brother at first when I had first met him was no where near his dislike of Swad. He hasn't interacted with him much as far as I could remember but he definitely doesn't like him in the slightest. Maybe it's personal or just something he noticed, I don't know and I wasn't going to pry. He was as stubborn as I if he wanted to avoid answering questions.

After settling some things I took Gradient to see Dream. I explained to my growing son that Dream and Ink would be sparring with him from time to time. No more trying to fight random skeletal monsters that I didn't like. I acknowledged that he was getting stronger, I probably just wasn't expecting him to be active and wanting to fight. Then again I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be lazy as a Sans but life was funny like that.

I also just wanted Gradient to be out and about more instead of staying in the negativity filled, heavy aired, domain. I was certain he visited Classic's au since I've heard him head out before on occasion but, he needed more options. Plus I've noticed he's really just watching everyone lately.

Like, intently so.

I don't know what was going on in his head and I didn't feel the need to ask. I feel like I wasn't going to be pleased by the answer, if he was even honest, so I was sparing myself from the effort. I just directed his energy towards a different activity. Hopefully that would work, until he decided to say something... unless he was just so bored that he was watching us for entertainment, I wasn't sure.

One day in particular I was out and about with Dust. Why? I was bored and spotted him leaving the area. He didn't have a mission of any kind, he just wanted to go somewhere for space away from the domain, and Killer. I took him the Outertale.

When I thought of relaxing the spacey au was usually my first thought, even though conflicts also occurred here too. It was pretty quiet, I wasn't sure what time it was with all the stars everywhere but I could only assume it was late.

We went to Grillby's, I had to reassure Dust that we would be fine since I went to that particular location with Gaster and Gradient before. We had no problems then so we shouldn't now. I knew he wasn't the most comfortable around other monsters he didn't know but getting food for free was too tempting for him to pass up.

Turns out we weren't the only ones here. And it wasn't Outer Sans.

Dust and myself blinked in surprise seeing Stretch. Just here. Leaning against a wall by the entrance of Grillby's. Nobody said anything for a bit before Stretch waved.

"Yo."

"Yo? Seriously? That's all you have to say about this?" I questioned but it sounded more like a statement because it was probably true, that's all he had to say.