Chapter Text
An errant breeze swept through the porch, disturbing the shapeless metal contraption hanging from the ceiling so it tinkled softly. The wind brought with it the rich smell of tilled earth and vegetation. Salivating, Papyrus stretched his nose towards the field, wondering if he would be graced with another delicious treat soon. The red, watery blobs from yesterday – watermelon, as his host had called it – had hardly filled him up but it had been unlike anything he had ever tasted before.
He shifted in the chair, wincing as the rotting wood splintered and poked through his tights. Like all the furniture in this strange place, the chair was much too small for him, and his hulking body was smushed painfully against the wood. His tailbone ached longingly for the comfort of his new bed.
But his host had said to wait here, so wait he did.
Papyrus nearly jumped out of his metaphorical skin as the door behind him slammed shut.
“HERE WE ARE!” His host, a blurry image of white and blue with splashes of red and yellow, ambled around to stand in front of him. “I THINK THESE WILL HELP A LOT!”
Papyrus made a quizzical noise. Was it more sweets?
“HERE!” The shape leaned forward before hesitating. “MAY I TOUCH YOUR FACE?”
Well that certainly was an odd request! Typically his brother was the only one allowed to approach him, but his host had been very kind to him the last couple days, and the Great Papyrus would be remiss if he did not extend his gratitude by permitting the smallest of gestures! He nodded, a nervous smile painfully tugging at his fused mouth.
His host pressed closer, his white hands pressing something against his face. Papyrus cringed, unused to the strange physical contact. A small weight leaned against his nose bridge, and his host pushed lightly against his temples, smoothing out something thin and sticky against them.
“ALL DONE! HOW DO THOSE FEEL?”
Papyrus hesitantly opened his eyes. His host had stepped to the side, and –
He gasped. The world had transformed. The wash of browns, blacks, and greys had been replaced with crisp images of the surrounding porch. Papyrus couldn’t believe his eyes. Long wooden planks, separated by small dark gaps, lined the floors. Tucked against the house walls were several stone planters, and even from this distance, he spotted tiny sprouts of green peeking from the mounds of soil inside. Hanging from the dark, wooden overhang was the metal contraption that danced gracefully in the wind. It was not a single blob of metal like he had thought, but consisted of long, slender pieces interspersed with vaguely bird-shaped bits that hung from string.
Short black metal rails lined the far edges of the porch, separating it from the massive field of earth and greenery on the other side. Papyrus was agape at how much vegetation there was – it stretched as far as the eye could see! Tall plants, short plants, huge hulking trees. The dazzling sunlight threw them into relief as they waved kindly in the warm breeze, every leaf and shadow visible even from this distance.
He touched his face and was greeted by chilly metal beneath his fingertips. Glasses? He hadn’t seen glasses since – well, the last time he could actually see properly!
“ARE THEY WORKING?” his host asked, barely contained excitement laden in his voice. “THAT PAIR WAS MY BROTHER’S BACK IN THE UNDERGROUND, BUT I WAS UNSURE IF THEY WOULD WORK FOR YOU.”
Papyrus grunted enthusiastically, whipping around to face his host. His elation quickly turned to fear as he caught sight of who he was looking at.
“MRRGH!” he cried out as he clambered out of the chair. “MRRRRGH!”
“OH! ARE YOU OKAY? I KNOW I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, CAN LOOK A BIT FRIGHTENING, BUT –”
“ERGH MRGH!” How did this monster look like him?! He was in overalls and a flower-pattern scarf, and was much shorter than him, but he was undoubtedly identical to himself in every other respect! Was this a trick? Had his brother pulled another ill-conceived prank on him? Had he lost his mind from hunger?
“IT IS OKAY,” his doppelganger soothed, waving his hands in a pacifying manner. “IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU ARE SCARED. I MUST APPEAR MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN BEFORE!”
Though his chest still heaved with anxiety, Papyrus stilled. Did his host not realize that they looked the same? No, he must have made the connection when he had found him days ago.
His host grinned. “YES, THAT IS RIGHT: WORRY NOT! THE GLASSES ARE HELPING YOU TO SEE MY TRUE FORM! NYEH HEH HEH! DO I NOT LOOK STUNNING? DASHING? AMAZING?”
Another painful smile curled across Papyrus’s face as he nodded. It was a compliment of sorts, wasn’t it? Yes, his host was very good-looking! As good-looking as him!
His host stepped forward, kindness visible – actually visible! – in his eyes. “THEY ARE WORKING, RIGHT? THE GLASSES.”
Papyrus nodded vigorously. “MRRF!”
“GOOD! BECAUSE THEY SUIT YOU!”
Although it pained him, his smile stretched even tighter. Even if this was a trick of some sort, his doppelganger sure was nice to him. Nicer than any monster – other than his brother – had been in ages.
So to show his appreciation, he bent down to his host’s height, and throwing as much enthusiasm into it as he could, he threw his arms around him in a giant hug.