#cutexasxabutton

[goldenbeastkeeper]

@cutexasxabutton

Valor had been ordered to get rid of Spiderman.

That was about all he was sent out of the facility for nowadays: silencing those who were getting in the way of, or coming too close to, the organization and their more secretive projects. He was the most skilled at this point, having gained the highly coveted title of the Golden Spider, so reconnaissance missions were left to less experienced spiders.

This one, however, was different. He'd never faced a foe with powers before, much less ones so similar to his own. It was going to be a challenge, but also . . . interesting.

These were his thoughts as he made his way through the city, jumping from building to building, staying in the shadows. He knew his best chance would come when the superhero was already exhausted, which meant immediately following a fight with some other villain. Long enough time for him to drop his guard, but not long enough for him to disappear.

It meant he would have to wait.

He was very good at waiting.

Tonight was Valor's chance, and he took it. After donning his mask and armor and cape and shifting into spider form, he perched on a wall near the fight, hidden beneath a ledge, watching to see in what direction Spiderman would flee once it was over. Following after him silently.

The fight would be over quickly so long as he could get a bite in. A paralyzed Spiderman wouldn't be able to fight back, after all. So he followed, closer, getting a good angle . . .

And he lunged.

[masterissac]

~*~ @cutexasxabutton ~*~

｡.｡:+* ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ"Uh," Issac shifts his weight from foot to foot as he stares up at the king. He had no trouble getting this far, just teleporting away from any monster that tried to attack him.

He came here to disappear. He expected to die. Wanted to die, just... somewhere his parents wouldn't have to deal with it. Where they would never even have to see his body.

Then the moment came where someone tried to kill him, and survival instincts kicked in. And he ran. Ducking, dodging, and avoiding all the way through the mountain. He's got to find out why he can't just teleport out, so he was trying to make it to the other end. That maybe there's something else to see there that might help.

Three failed suicide attempts now. Three times he got scared of it right before and backed out.

Face to face with the very King that supposedly ordered for any fallen humans to die, it seems like fate isn't letting him back out this time.

｡.｡:+* ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ"Sorry," he says, before again teleporting past, and running as fast as he can manage.

And that's when he comes face to face with the barrier. The scale of this spell is maddening, and he slowly sinks to sit on the floor.

Ah. Ah. He really is trapped. So... it looks like his attempt is going to succeed after all.

｡.｡:+* ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ"Can you at least make it quick?" he asks softly, as he hears footsteps enter the room behind him, "Don't draw it out, if you have any kindness in your heart..."

[goldenbeastkeeper]

The king was taking this extremely well, as far as Valor was concerned. He would have expected more visible shock at the news. But it was instead just the smile. Small, calm. Interesting.

As he mentioned other people being eager to help, though, Valor glanced sidelong at Dr. Gaster. Yes, he'd certainly seen that. He returned his gaze to the king. "There were a few, but I'm still alive, and so are they." Maybe roughed up a little, though. He was trying to protect himself. "So long as there are no further attacks, I'll be fine."

It was Valor's turn to smile as he watched the king just . . . light up at the news that there was now a plan to get out of the Underground that didn't involve killing. And god, hopefully that meant the order to take human souls would be ended. No more deaths. No more killing. Please.

But it wasn't long before that smile slipped. Belos was on his mind still, and . . . Well. The sudden appearance of yet another magical species? He doubted Belos would take kindly to that at all. Especially if he'd had any knowledge whatsoever of the existence of monsters, even if in legends in the human realm.

Would they still be so excited about this if they knew?

He should . . . he should probably warn them. But god he didn't want to lose this in case they thought it too dangerous. He didn't want them to continue killing any humans that fell into the Underground. He didn't want to stop them from attempting to make a portal that could reunite him with Vine and Nova. But he could very well get on King Asgore's bad side if they were to head into that completely and entirely unprepared.

So he hesitated. Uncertain as to what to actually do.

Asgore listens politely as both Valor and Wing Din talk, keeping a small smile fixed on his face, even as the words absolutely shock him.

Not a human? He'd have been inclined to disbelieve Valor- he seems like a perfectly nice man. He wouldn't have assumed him lying, just mistaken in some way.

But Wing Din? Wing Din would never ever make that mistake. Valor is not human.

As that really sinks in, his smile doesn't change, but tension visibly slips from his shoulders. He doesn't have to FIGHT anyone today. Doesn't have to kill.

|👑| ❝Well,❞ he says softly, while starting to pout hot water into the cups with the tea infusers, ❝I'm certainly glad to hear that. We can make sure everyone else learns that too. I'm terribly sorry if any of my people gave you trouble; they're all very eager to help, even though I've asked them not to.❞ |🔥|

It's his burden to bare, not theirs.

Wing Din's further words cause a change in that nice smile, surprise flickering across his face. He exhales softly, closing his eyes.

That's... an actual plan. He's tried to put Wing Din off researching ways to break the barrier recently. He knows his old friend is working himself too hard on that, with little to show for it. But... this is just a search for ideas; it's an actual plan.

Wing Din's mind on this, with an actual starting point?

That could work. And he laughs- a giddy little laugh- giving the pair a much wider grin than the moment before.

Hope is an incredible thing, and one that was in short supply for Asgore.

|👑| ❝Oh, that's AMAZING! You should make that research priority #1, Wing Din!❞ |🔥|

[playertwosquiped]

Yo if I still have any active followers over here, Jere is gonna be on @cutexasxabutton

[goldenbeastkeeper]

@cutexasxabutton

The Golden Spider, as Peter eventually learned the spider trying to kill him was called, only attacked him in specific moments. Usually that was immediately after dealing with some other villain, within a minute or two of the fight's conclusion, if not even shorter a time. Before he had the chance to take his mask off, certainly.

Last time, he'd taken it a step further and attacked during the fight, using the distraction of the other attacker to aid him in his attempt. Two on one was more of an advantage, after all, so long as Valor didn't annoy the other villain enough to also be attacked by them.

This time, though . . . This time was different.

He showed up after a fight again, sure, but it was with a raspy "Spiderman," from the shadows, and the Golden Spider never talked before launching himself at the superhero. He always preferred surprise attacks. His posture wasn't threatening, either, rather shrunk back, expecting to flee should he get a negative reaction.

Actually, he wasn't even wearing his armor. No armor, no cape, no mask. Just a fluffy spider person. A fluffy spider person that was injured, hemolymph dripping from cracks in his chitin and through his fluff.

(Flicker was held behind him, being blocked from view until he could ascertain that they wouldn't be harmed by this superhero he'd only ever fought before.)

[goldenbeastkeeper]

The task was to kill Spiderman. A task Valor had failed multiple times over now. His time was running out. He knew it, and each time he reported to Belos he anticipated his punishment. Usually it was a reduction in food; if he was lucky it was a lashing out. Sometimes it was both. And every single time he walked in there having failed was a disappointed tone that he absolutely hated to hear.

He wondered what his fate was to be as he walked in this time, eyes already downcast - and they could be downcast, because Belos always preferred his Golden Spider to be in human form when they met. It made sense, he supposed; he at least looked more personable in this form, rather than the threat he was in his spider form.

Valor approached where Belos was sitting and knelt down. Even staring down at the floor, he could feel the man's piercing gaze directly on him, as if analyzing him, taking him apart piece by piece and seeing what was underneath.

"Based on your behavior you seem to have failed once more."

The words felt as if they reverberated deeply into his core, tearing at his very being. Valor winced, and he did not lift his head as he said, "He is cunning, and strong. He can anticipate my every move and-"

"Do not make excuses, Valor."

The spider shrunk back. He took a moment. Breathe, collect his thoughts, before trying again. "I- I only mean to say I require more training and time to figure out how to catch him off guard. I am certain that once I do that, he'll be easy to kill." Maybe, even if he escaped his grasp after the bite, he'd still be able to pursue him until the paralysis set in this time.

Belos peered back at him through his mask for several long seconds. Valor hated when he did that. He could never tell what was going to come next, aside from the fact that it usually wasn't anything good.

Finally, he spoke. "Your mentee. You're close to them, are you not?"

Valor looked up, confusion plastered across his face. What did Flicker have to do with . . . ?

"It would be a shame if they disappeared."

Ice cold spread through his entire being like a shock of lightning as he stared up at Belos in terror. "No!"

The man loomed over him, pitch black eye holes in his mask leering. "Then next time Spiderman shows himself, finish the job. Do I make myself clear?"

Valor gulped and dropped his gaze once more. "Yes. I understand."

He never should have let himself get so attached to Flicker. Mentees died all the time. Whether because they themselves couldn't handle the intensity of their training, or because the mentors could no longer handle the constant state of hunger they were kept in and . . . slipped. Valor shuddered at the thought. Now the prey they were sent after? Sure. They were prey, and Valor had partaken himself in particularly desperate moments. But a mentee? He couldn't imagine that. He'd rather starve. Had done so, even, giving Flicker some or all of his own food to alleviate it for them.

Or this could happen. Being used against him. If Valor hadn't gotten so attached to his mentee then the possibility of losing them wouldn't hit nearly so hard. But he had, so it did, and now he was hating himself for it.

"It really would be a shame, honestly," Belos broke Valor out of his thoughts as he mused, picking some odd something or other off his clothes. "They've been doing so well in training. They could even become the Golden Spider themself one day." He shook his head. "To lose such talent . . ."

Valor gritted his teeth, hands clenched. ". . . I won't fail you again."

"Good. I have high expectations of you, Valor."

The spider's words were soft, barely there.

"I know."

-------------------

He watched as Flicker tore into the food they'd been provided for the day. How could Valor not have gotten so attached? None of his fear and anxiety sourced from his mentee, and he'd been tasked with teaching them. Taking care of them. And they were cute, child that they were, in both their appearance and their antics. They were the most positive part of his life.

He wasn't going to beat Spiderman, especially now that he'd seen what he was like when he wasn't holding back. But he couldn't lose Flicker, either.

He knew what he had to do.

There was only one way out, and it was only opened when he was sent out on missions. When it was time for his next his last mission, he would take Flicker with him. And they would never come back.

Between the exhaustion of the fight and the fact that his body was now working on healing the new wounds he'd gotten, Valor was starving, so he did take his full half this time instead of giving Flicker more. Hopefully Belos would allow him the full time to heal before sending him out again, but he had a feeling that if there was anything that might draw Spiderman out before then, that wouldn't be the case.

Luckily, he didn't plan on actually fighting him this time. But he was probably going to have to push through anyone who tried to stop him, and heavens help him if they sent another spider after him. They were all kept in the same facility - it'd be very easy if the alarm was sounded quickly enough. It would be so much easier if he went by himself, pretended to go out on the mission but then never came back, but he wasn't going to leave Flicker here alone. He couldn't leave Flicker alone. They were coming with him.

He took a breath. Later. He'd deal with it later.

. . . But they should probably at least know what to expect.

"Flicker." Murmured, but firm. The child looked up at him, the lower half of their face covered in the remains of their meal. He continued, "Next time that door opens, cling to my back and don't let go."

They shifted back. Obviously this was not what they were expecting. "Are you gonna show me how to do missions?"

There was a faint smile on Valor's face before he shook his head. "No. No, we're . . . We're getting out of here, Flick. We're going somewhere that they won't be able to hurt us anymore. Somewhere there will be far more food to hunt. And no more enclosures. We'll be free."

Flicker looked up at him with such wide eyes Valor had to hold down a cooing warble, though he couldn't stop his head from tilting. "Where is that?" they asked.

"Outside. I don't know where specifically we'll go out there, but we'll figure it out when we get to it, and so long as we're not here we'll be fine. But people might try to fight us, so you've gotta cling to me as tight as you can, alright?"

They tilted their head, then nodded. "Okay." This was what their mentor wanted them to do, and it seemed very important, so they would do it. Besides, the thought of a place with more food sounded heavenly. They wanted that. They would listen.

-------------------

Valor ran. He ran as fast as his legs could take him with a smaller spider clutching onto his back, and he ran up the walls and on the ceiling, avoiding as many scientists as he possibly could. Unfortunately genetic modification wasn't the only thing this organization was working with, and there were a few weapons they shot at him with. Most missed, some didn't.

And then they sent out the creatures.

Two other spiders were on his tail, and he heard someone call for some project name that he hadn't heard of before but didn't want to be here for to find out. There was tackling, there was biting, there was clawing, there was blood and hemolymph everywhere. Valor was fighting for his life, and for the life of the child so desperately attempting to remain on him despite all the knocking around.

But, eventually, they made it out, and Valor was quick to scramble somewhere with more cover. He had a tracker - Flicker didn't because they hadn't been allowed outside yet, but Valor did - and he needed that to be out so they couldn't follow them. But he didn't exactly have any tools to do so, so . . . with a pained hiss he shifted back into his more human-looking form - it'd be easier to not have to deal with chitin - and bit into the webbing between his thumb and forefinger, ripping the chip out himself. He crushed it in his teeth and spat out the remains.

Then he took a breath and shifted back to spider; he'd always been warned, if he was injured in one form, not to shift into the other as it would affect the injuries, especially if any were on his second pair of arms that didn't exist in human form, and there were right now. Besides, he'd be able to defend himself better in this form if he needed to.

But as of now they needed to go. And they needed to go somewhere that would be willing to treat creatures like them. Because at this point Valor had sustained enough injuries that he was either going to die of blood loss or get infected if he didn't get treatment soon, and he couldn't let either of those happen when he still had Flicker to take care of.

(They'd gotten caught up in the fight, too. Gashes from where clawed hands tried to rip them away from him. Cracks in their chiton from being slammed into the wall or falling to the floor. They needed treatment, too. Valor needed to move.)

Someone that might have at least some amount of medical experience, that wouldn't freak out at their appearance, that might not be hostile so long as they themselves weren't . . .

There was only one place he could think of that might be something like that.

[goldenbeastkeeper]

This was indeed the king's house.

At least, he assumed the imposing goat monster wearing the crown in front of them was the king. Even though he . . . didn't really seem to be wearing any other kind of regalia that signified his importance in the kingdom. That was . . . weird. Definitely throwing him off.

And the inside of the house was also identical to Toriel's in the ruins. Toriel who . . . was also a goat monster. And greatly enjoyed puns. And . . . hold on.

Was Toriel the queen?

Valor's thoughts were interrupted when the watering can dropped to the ground, and he winced, his ears flicking down. Still! That was a better reaction than most of the previous monsters he'd encountered. It seemed Dr. Gaster's reassurance that no one would attack him when accompanied by the royal scientist extended even to the king, the one who made the order to kill humans in the first place.

He looked to the skeleton for an example of what kind of respectful body language to use in front of the king, because the clash of his outfit and the crown was throwing him off and he needed to know how to act, but . . . there wasn't any. Not any that he could see that was different from anyone else at least. Then again, Dr. Gaster was the royal scientist. Perhaps interacting with him on a fairly regular basis meant they were more friendly with each other.

Or maybe, considering the fact that the king was offering tea and Dr. Gaster considered him one of the nicest people he'd ever met, maybe there . . . wasn't actually any required.

Still, just in case, he at least gave the imposing monster a bow of the head before following the skeleton to the garden.

"I see that . . ." he said, looking around the place. It was beautiful, honestly, especially compared to the drab grays of everywhere else. The sun shining down, lighting up the bright yellow flowers and their green leaves that dominated the place. "He put a garden in his throne room?" What an odd choice. It certainly made it far less intimidating than he'd ever imagined a throne room to be.

The throne room being a garden and the most colorful place in the city, the casual atmosphere, the offer of tea . . . "King Asgore is wildly different from Belos," Valor murmured.

❝YES, I WOULD SAY SO,❞ Gaster says immediately with a smile, ❝WE'LL SEE YOU IN A MOMENT, SIR.❞

He smiles at Valor, a I told you so look on his face. Because, exactly as he predicted, Asgore immediately jumped to tea when presented with a stranger.

❝THIS WAY THEN,❞ he says to Valor, leading him to the Garden, ❝THIS IS THE THRONE ROOM, ACTUALLY. IT IS ALSO THE GARDEN.❞

He turns around to face Valor with a smile, ❝ASGORE LIKES FLOWERS, IF YOU CAN'T TELL.❞

This room was a garden even before the death of the royal children, but the golden flowers have gradually taken over more and more of it, as Asgore keeps planting them, in some attempt to honor his lost children.

Dr. Gaster can see the logic of it, that planting the very flower that Chara loved so dearly, that Asriel brought back to the underground with seeds stuck to his fur... He can see why Asgore is treating it like memorial.

It makes the throne room feel like a graveyard to him though. It's bad enough that Asriel's ash was lost to the soil here, feeding these very flowers.

[goldenbeastkeeper]

@scientistredacted @cutexasxabutton

(I have a prediction-)

[goldenbeastkeeper]

@cutexasxabutton

Valor had been ordered to get rid of Spiderman.

That was about all he was sent out of the facility for nowadays: silencing those who were getting in the way of, or coming too close to, the organization and their more secretive projects. He was the most skilled at this point, having gained the highly coveted title of the Golden Spider, so reconnaissance missions were left to less experienced spiders.

This one, however, was different. He'd never faced a foe with powers before, much less ones so similar to his own. It was going to be a challenge, but also . . . interesting.

These were his thoughts as he made his way through the city, jumping from building to building, staying in the shadows. He knew his best chance would come when the superhero was already exhausted, which meant immediately following a fight with some other villain. Long enough time for him to drop his guard, but not long enough for him to disappear.

It meant he would have to wait.

He was very good at waiting.

Tonight was Valor's chance, and he took it. After donning his mask and armor and cape and shifting into spider form, he perched on a wall near the fight, hidden beneath a ledge, watching to see in what direction Spiderman would flee once it was over. Following after him silently.

The fight would be over quickly so long as he could get a bite in. A paralyzed Spiderman wouldn't be able to fight back, after all. So he followed, closer, getting a good angle . . .

And he lunged.

[scientistredacted]

He needs friends to help him cope?

Of course he does. But that doesn't mean he deserves those friends. Or that they deserve the hurt that would inevitably come from being his friend. It's just better that he be left to suffer alone.

He can't say that to Asgore though.

Gaster nods when asked about being with Asgore through the whole war. They were very seldom apart, and only were when Asgore went out to fight, and he was staying back in the medics tent at camp.

His gaze falls to their hands as Asgore covers one of them, and he sighs. What's he supposed to say to that? He wants to decline, to get out of here for Asgore's own good.

But how would the King take that? After seemingly assuming that it was something he did that made Gaster stay away... he doesn't want Asgore to feel like it's his fault. It's not. It's all Gaster.

❝... I REALLY DON'T NEED HELP, SIR,❞ is what he settles on, ❝THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN, BUT TRULY, I AM ALRIGHT.❞

Try to consider it from his perspective? Asgore had been trying to; that's why he was concerned about the scientist- the doctor- hating him. He's glad to be reassured that he was wrong about that.

But the explanation Dr. Gaster gives makes his soul ache. The loneliness of being forgotten must be so very painful. The hypothetical he proposed, of Asgore having to introduce himself to a clueless Gerson again...

Oh yes, that's very painful.

But he'd still do it. Still want that old friendship back in his life, in whatever way he could have it. Anything would be better than being completely, and utterly alone in the world.

|👑| ❝I understand,❞ he says softly, ❝you must be hurting a great deal. I understand your avoidance, but... That's all the more reason to not be alone? You must realize that, right? You need friends to help you cope, or...❞ |🔥|

Or despair might get him. Asgore knows- from what Dr. Alphys has told him- that Dr. Gaster is a very determined Monster. That he clawed his way back to existence through that determination.

But...

He looks towards the door inside Frisk just went through, thinking of his previous human child, who looked so similar.

Determination doesn't always last when someone is hurting so much.

|👑| ❝... Of course you were a medic,❞ he shakes his head, ❝that nicely fills in some gaps. Times in the war where, seemingly, there were no medics with my group... It was you. You were always with us, right? You probably saved my life countless times,❞ he reaches across the table, putting a paw on one of Dr. Gaster's hands ❝please, just let me return the favor and help you. You must be lonely.❞ |🔥|

[scientistredacted]

Dr. Gaster doesn't even hesitate to sit at the table with Asgore, having been strong-armed into tea with the king enough times that it's routine.

He'll have to ask again later who Valor was talking about with Belos.

❝I CAN CONFIRM THAT,❞ he says when Valor says that he's not human, ❝HIS SOUL IS WEAKER THAN A HUMAN'S. IT IS STRONGER THAN A MONSTER'S, BUT THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT.❞

He anticipates Asgore's relief at that news, and presses on, hoping to follow it with better news; hope for a way out.

❝AND BY REALM, I BELIEVE HE'S REFERRING TO WHAT I'VE CALLED DIFFERENT UNIVERSES. AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE A PORTAL TO HIS HOME REALM, USING IT AS A PATH OUT OF THE UNDERGROUND. NO MORE KILLING NEEDED.❞

Valor looked up at the ceiling when Dr. Gaster mentioned the sunlight. Oh, how freedom was just out of reach. He could so easily fly up there on his staff . . . but if it was anything like the opening at the Ruins, he knew it wouldn't matter. He'd press up against nothing. Just as stuck as the rest of the monsters.

Ah, he'd said that loud enough to hear? His ears flattened at the question, not because he didn't want to answer it but because Belos was never a fun subject, but the king entered before he could actually respond to it, and he turned all his attention to him.

Valor waited for Dr. Gaster to move to sit before he did (looking for directions - he was incredibly out of his depth here with how he was supposed to be acting in front of this king that was preparing tea for them). In general, actually, he seemed far stiffer in Asgore's presence than he'd been with just Dr. Gaster. As if any wrong word said could result in harm.

He chose his words carefully and spoke slowly. "My name is Valor Firemantle. The discrepancies are because I am not, in fact, a mage. At least not as you know them. I'm not even human. I'm a witch, from another realm entirely, though connected to this one."

[goldenbeastkeeper]

Valor looked up at the ceiling when Dr. Gaster mentioned the sunlight. Oh, how freedom was just out of reach. He could so easily fly up there on his staff . . . but if it was anything like the opening at the Ruins, he knew it wouldn't matter. He'd press up against nothing. Just as stuck as the rest of the monsters.

Ah, he'd said that loud enough to hear? His ears flattened at the question, not because he didn't want to answer it but because Belos was never a fun subject, but the king entered before he could actually respond to it, and he turned all his attention to him.

Valor waited for Dr. Gaster to move to sit before he did (looking for directions - he was incredibly out of his depth here with how he was supposed to be acting in front of this king that was preparing tea for them). In general, actually, he seemed far stiffer in Asgore's presence than he'd been with just Dr. Gaster. As if any wrong word said could result in harm.

He chose his words carefully and spoke slowly. "My name is Valor Firemantle. The discrepancies are because I am not, in fact, a mage. At least not as you know them. I'm not even human. I'm a witch, from another realm entirely, though connected to this one."

This doesn't make sense. That's really the only thing running through his head as he gets the indoor flowers watered, and grabs the stuff for tea. The only way it works at all in his head is if they aren't human at all, but...

Asgore comes into the garden, the stuff for tea on an ornate golden serving tray that he carries over to a small tea table off to the side in the garden.

|👑| ❝So,❞ he says while taking a seat, expecting the other two to follow suit, ❝Something interesting seems to be going on here.❞ |🔥|

His eyes fix on Valor, taking in his magenta eyes and pointed ears.

|👑| ❝I'd have assumed you a mage, based on the way you look,❞ he draws the words out slowly, ❝but... not only does that not make sense for our current understanding of the surface, but it makes even less sense for Dr. Gaster to have calmly walked you here if that were the case.❞ |🔥|

He pauses for a long moment, busying himself with getting the kettle on a conjured flame.

|👑| ❝Perhaps I should start over, I'm being very rude,❞ he says, ❝My name is Asgore, yours is?❞ |🔥|

[scientistredacted]

❝IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES DOWN HERE THAT GETS SUNLIGHT,❞ Dr. Gaster says quietly, looking up at the many small gaps in the stone above them, and the sun streaming in through them. It's bittersweet, to get these tiny glimpses of the blue sky here, but still feel so far from really seeing it.

Any time it rains on the mountain, Asgore still gets him, because rain falling through and running in small streams across the stone into this room is the closest they can really get to real rain, and Asgore knows that it's his favorite.

It rains in waterfall too, but that's not the same.

❝AND HE'S LOVED GROWING FLOWERS SINCE WE WERE YOUNG. SO, YES, HE PUT A GARDEN IN HIS THRONE ROOM.❞

He looks sidelong at Valor, ❝WHO IS BELOS?❞

This was indeed the king's house.

At least, he assumed the imposing goat monster wearing the crown in front of them was the king. Even though he . . . didn't really seem to be wearing any other kind of regalia that signified his importance in the kingdom. That was . . . weird. Definitely throwing him off.

And the inside of the house was also identical to Toriel's in the ruins. Toriel who . . . was also a goat monster. And greatly enjoyed puns. And . . . hold on.

Was Toriel the queen?

Valor's thoughts were interrupted when the watering can dropped to the ground, and he winced, his ears flicking down. Still! That was a better reaction than most of the previous monsters he'd encountered. It seemed Dr. Gaster's reassurance that no one would attack him when accompanied by the royal scientist extended even to the king, the one who made the order to kill humans in the first place.

He looked to the skeleton for an example of what kind of respectful body language to use in front of the king, because the clash of his outfit and the crown was throwing him off and he needed to know how to act, but . . . there wasn't any. Not any that he could see that was different from anyone else at least. Then again, Dr. Gaster was the royal scientist. Perhaps interacting with him on a fairly regular basis meant they were more friendly with each other.

Or maybe, considering the fact that the king was offering tea and Dr. Gaster considered him one of the nicest people he'd ever met, maybe there . . . wasn't actually any required.

Still, just in case, he at least gave the imposing monster a bow of the head before following the skeleton to the garden.

"I see that . . ." he said, looking around the place. It was beautiful, honestly, especially compared to the drab grays of everywhere else. The sun shining down, lighting up the bright yellow flowers and their green leaves that dominated the place. "He put a garden in his throne room?" What an odd choice. It certainly made it far less intimidating than he'd ever imagined a throne room to be.

The throne room being a garden and the most colorful place in the city, the casual atmosphere, the offer of tea . . . "King Asgore is wildly different from Belos," Valor murmured.

[scientistredacted]

❝YES, I WOULD SAY SO,❞ Gaster says immediately with a smile, ❝WE'LL SEE YOU IN A MOMENT, SIR.❞

He smiles at Valor, a I told you so look on his face. Because, exactly as he predicted, Asgore immediately jumped to tea when presented with a stranger.

❝THIS WAY THEN,❞ he says to Valor, leading him to the Garden, ❝THIS IS THE THRONE ROOM, ACTUALLY. IT IS ALSO THE GARDEN.❞

He turns around to face Valor with a smile, ❝ASGORE LIKES FLOWERS, IF YOU CAN'T TELL.❞

This room was a garden even before the death of the royal children, but the golden flowers have gradually taken over more and more of it, as Asgore keeps planting them, in some attempt to honor his lost children.

Dr. Gaster can see the logic of it, that planting the very flower that Chara loved so dearly, that Asriel brought back to the underground with seeds stuck to his fur... He can see why Asgore is treating it like memorial.

It makes the throne room feel like a graveyard to him though. It's bad enough that Asriel's ash was lost to the soil here, feeding these very flowers.

Asgore doesn't actually spend much time in the house proper. It's much too sad there, the once lively rooms heavy with the emptiness of it all. The absence of his family is loud in its silence.

He can't stand it. He spends most of his time in the Garden, because at least his flowers make him happy.

But he does need to water the potted flowers in the house, which is why he's inside the house- yellow watering can in hand- when Wing Din enters, trailed by-

A human? The can slips out of his paw, and it hits the floor with a heavy thud and a splash, and he stares at the two stunned for a moment. At least partially because- orders be damned- he was pretty sure Wing Din would have killed any human he came across, rather than letting Asgore do it.

And how little sense this makes hits him a second later. Even if Wing Din was actually following the order to leave it to him that Asgore gave, he'd... have any human restrained. He'd have their soul blue and not let go. He'd have knocked them out before coming here.

And he seems much too at ease to have been walking someone to his death. As much as Wing Din might pretend to be desensitized to it, Asgore knows that isn't true. He was a pacifist. He loathed violence. Just because he had to break his values out of desperation doesn't mean he doesn't still hold them.

So something about this has Wing Din convinced that the human doesn't need to die.

Asgore hopes he's right. He's had no time to mentally prepare himself.

|👑| ❝... I feel like,❞ he says slowly while bending over to pick up the dropped watering can, ❝there's something we should talk about over tea? Why don't you two head to the Garden; I'll be right out once I water the flowers.❞ |🔥|

@scientistredacted

[goldenbeastkeeper]

Another of those growling hisses, but otherwise he deigned not to respond. He was making light of him. Making fun of him even! Ohhhhh he hated that.

"Nothing personal," was his response to the question, before he chased. He wasn't going to allow Spiderman the chance to talk and rest this time, no, he was going to jump after and launch attack after attack. Even if he didn't get a bite in, maybe he'd land a hit, and if he was injured then it'd be easier to get more hits in.

|🕸️| ❝What, do you think I'm stupid?❞ Peter says while leaping over to the wall to dodge the attempted trip, clinging to it a few feet up, ❝Or do you not know how to tell when someone is joking?❞ |🕷️|

He looks down at the other Spider guy, trying to figure out what to do here. His best bet might be to bolt, lose the guy, and take off the costume. This guy is attacking Spider-Man. The chances he'd know to attack Peter Parker is basically zero.

But he hesitates to do that, because he doesn't know if this guy is the type to attack random civilians to draw heroes out.

|🕸️| ❝Did I do something to offend you, though? Because this a pretty rude introduction, all things considered.❞ |🕷️|

[goldenbeastkeeper]

Oh, so he was saying these things on purpose. And that? That was infuriating. He didn't appreciate being made light of. He was the most skilled, most successful spider of the lot, and this goody-two-shoes was acting like he wasn't even a threat! He wasn't even fighting back.

The noise he made in his throat was something between a growl and a hiss before he asked, "Do you not understand the situation that you're in?"

He didn't wait for an answer, and this time when he lunged he dropped to the ground and swung his leg in an arc, attempting to kick his legs out from under him.

Peter is moving away, dodging before the guy is even completely past him. He spins about to keep his eyes on the guy.

Who is this? Normally he'd got more of an idea what bad guys want than this, or at least some idea of why they're mad at him. This is a total unknown.

|🕸️| ❝Wow, did you trip or something? You almost ran into me,❞ he says, and if the laugh in his voice wasn't evident before, it definitely is now, ❝Lucky that you missed, huh?❞ |🕷️|

This guy is fast; without his Spidey-sense he'd have already been hit twice now. What does he want?

|🕸️| ❝So, like, can I help you with something?❞ |🕷️|