#funnily enough none of them really fit with the 'receiving gifts' love language as their primary so that's the only missing one

[nighttimelights-prompted]

What would you say the big 4 Au skelebros Love languages are?

(i got a sudden spike in messages after that last post, thank you all so much! i love to hear what you think about my responses to these prompts, be it in asks, replies, or simply talking in the tags. i quite liked this one and could squeeze it in time-wise amongst the longer ones i’ve got going, so here’s something shorter on this excellent imagine.)

(more on the love languages here, if you’re interested~. note too that these are just my headcanons for their primary love languages - i imagine most/all of them have close seconds that mean a lot to them as well.)

UT Sans: Acts of Service

“For these people, actions speak louder than words.“

After all he knows/has seen of Resets and related time shenanigans, with the way he guides/follows Frisk through the Underground, with the way he looks after his own brother, Acts of Service is absolutely the best fit for classic Sans. The rest means a lot to him as well, but he’s most inclined to and most affected by actions that show just how much you care about him. Not showy ones, by any means - even little things like taking the time to know his brother better and indulging him in a cookoff, or grabbing him his favorite drink before you come over, or washing his spare hoodie he left at your place with your own laundry because you remembered him saying how much he likes the smell of your detergent mixed with that special thing you always smelled of.

UT Papyrus: Quality Time

“This language is all about giving the other person your undivided attention.“

He’s got so many ideas and interests and passions, and he just wants to be able to share them with you. You don’t necessarily have to agree with all of them, but just show your own interest and participate in them with him as you’re able to. He shows his love the best for you the same way, actively making time for you in his absurdly energetic schedule, keeping in touch even when you’re apart to check in on your day, and wanting to share in the little things he loves with you, even if it’s just to catch up on the latest MTT vlogs with you in his arms, or vice versa if you’d like an enormous skeleton to be your little spoon.

UF Sans (aka Red): Acts of Service

“For these people, actions speak louder than words.“

Underfell lives by the darker twist on what could happen when you shove an entire people indefinitely underground with dwindling resources and high tension after a brutal war. Kill or be killed, or at least certainly appear willing and able enough to do so. Words are more or less empty air, easily manipulated - and even when they get to the Surface, that’s a feeling that’s hard to shake with all the vague political promises. So showing him that he matters to you is what’s most valued for him, just as he’ll do little and big things alike to show he cares about you (even going with you to visit those old friends you feel obligated to see that he doesn’t trust one inch, or perhaps taking care of some shady business behind the scenes in a way you may never know of - because he wouldn’t feel the need to tell you, he’d just do it because it would take care of you). So taking care of the trash after waking up one morning before Edge could see he’d forgotten it, or sneaking Edge recipe tips casually by sharing on social media, or simply bringing him some coffee and passing him tools as he works on his latest project - these things mean the world to him.

UF Papyrus (aka Edge): Acts of Service

“For these people, actions speak louder than words.“

For similar reasons to Red regarding the universe they live in, Acts of Service is also the primary love language for Edge. He loves praise, of course, don’t get me (or him) wrong - but when it comes to someone he truly cares about, actions will be the biggest tell for him. The same way he takes on an excess of obvious responsibility and gains renown for both the pride and ability it demonstrates and the safety it affords not only him but Red as well, he’ll work just as hard for your sake without ever vocalizing his ongoing efforts and the reasons behind them. He’ll show up, unannounced, at your place, simply to cook you a meal and appraise the chosen outfit for that Big Thing you have to do. So if you take care of him in turn, showing him more than anything perhaps in the way you set his boots to dry one rainy night when he comes home from a security detail in the early hours of the morning and simply passes out (not that he’d ever admit to overlooking that detail), or in the way you clean up your living area when he comes over because you know the order makes him feel more at ease, or in the way you start teaching yourself how to cook the kinds of savory dishes he prefers… well, that will go over extremely well and be appreciated by him.

US Sans (aka Blue): Words of Affirmation

This language uses words to affirm other people.

Blue’s a little trickier, I’ll admit. He’s incredibly observant, and can pick up on most ways people show their care, and is willing to adapt in a lot of ways himself. In the end, though, I feel that Words of Affirmation just barely wins out in preference. Because he’s so observant, outspoken, and capable, sometimes it’s easy to miss the way that he actively seeks to reaffirm other people in positive ways, and the ways that he, at least internally, hopes to be affirmed. Verbal recognition of his skills and efforts go so incredibly far with Blue. Taking the time to talk through your problems with him affirms his importance in your life to him and your trust in him, and listening and talking through his own troubles - and joys, and more - with him does the same. He’ll happily spend hours talking into the night with you, or meet up over coffee just to share your latest endeavors and experiences.

US Papyrus (aka Stretch): Physical Touch

“To this person, nothing speaks more deeply than appropriate touch.“

Permanence is something Stretch deeply struggles with, his apathy through and after the time shenanigans alongside his chronic anxiety (which he hides well through practice, humor, and an easygoing approach to most people and situations). He’s so tired, though, so just being near someone shows his care, love, and trust - so even if he’s napping (truly napping, not just faking with his eyes closed), he’s near you, and the amount of trust it takes for him to do that around you is staggering by his count - and the same in reverse. Being able to put his arm around you when you’re out, offering a fist bump as a small measure of affirmed support… other small touches to reassure him of your presence, hugs (if you’re really close) when you see him, even just casually sitting on the couch, side-by-side, these little actions show him how much you care… and how much he cares about you.

SF Sans (aka Spike): Physical Touch

“To this person, nothing speaks more deeply than appropriate touch.“

While Spike shares this value with Stretch, it’s for different reasons and under different approaches. Very few people are close in the Swapfell universe, and each person tends to have a nearly-measured value in another’s life. Things relax a little once they make it to the surface, but the same remains true in that outside of generally being on the side of ‘monster’s rights to exist’, monsters only trust and truly value a chosen few. So for Spike, if you’re among those, then that means that him choosing to be in the same room when he doesn’t necessarily have to be (or have some other desired goal or desire in that room) is a clear show of caring. He’ll read or be jotting down notes in the same room as others he cares about, and even if he doesn’t speak to them for hours, he’s very actively showing his care. For those he’s closest with, touch itself is valued to a high level. His few close friends he will touch their shoulder for reassurance, clasp their hand in understanding or even support, or sit side-by-side with them while working out a problem. Behind closed doors and in private, he values hugging as well, adoring when his s/o hugs/kisses him in greeting or goodbye, and spends/enjoys spending a lot of mutual time casually touching his s/o, sitting next to them while working, appreciating when they come behind him and wrap their arms around him in a silent, supportive embrace as he’s sorting through something particularly convoluted. His brother, too, despite his harsh words, receives small touches (hand on the shoulder, a squeeze of the hand, even a hug on occasion) to demonstrate how much Spike cares. And too, of course, his s/o will be able to appreciate (and ideally for Spike, return) a significant amount of intimacy of the decidedly NSFW kind.

As I’ve said previously, his relationship isn’t for the faint of heart, but he does not put up airs to deceive otherwise in the beginning. And again, should you be able and willing to match him wit for wit and will for will in a longlasting and positive way, he will prove to you that it is not a regrettable choice.

SF Papyrus (aka ‘Rus/Russ): Quality Time

“This language is all about giving the other person your undivided attention.“

Intriguingly, Russ is the only one to match UT Papyrus in that his strongest love language is that of quality time. For similar reasons to Underfell of the harsh nature of his home universe, he’s not one to put his greatest stock in words- but neither is he inclined or expecting actions as proof. Instead, with how little he takes for granted (his own life and happiness included), Russ values time spent together the most. This is why he’ll spend time with his brother so frequently even though they don’t always see eye to eye or enjoy all the same activities, because for him he’s expressing his deep care for his brother by spending his time with him regardless. He’s not vocal about this being his love language at all, however - so if you’re his s/o, hopefully you pick up on or naturally match this value of his, because he’ll perceive how much you care for him largely through that aspect of quality time. It’s not a demand for all your time, either, by any means. But spending quiet and busy moments alike with him, listening to him when he decides to share something, taking part in his hobbies (or perhaps more frequently, offering to include him in yours as can apply - especially if you’re able to twist it in a way that better incorporates or acknowledges him), and making the time to spend time alone together… you might as well have just handed him the stars themselves.