a spectral latte

[showybusiness]

A: Pre-Show

The resent tall, shiny, sexy robot entertainer of the base seems to be chiding a mug on the counter of the dining area. Not in a mean way, no - his tone suggests a firmness, but a firm encouragement. A soft order, perhaps. Not a command, but a hard suggestion.

He stands, bendy robot arms bent, hands on his hips. A power stance. The stance of a businessman, and superstar, used to giving orders.

"This will be a neat little stage trick! I promise!"

B: Show Time!

As they have been doing intermittently (and without total routine, as the pair have been working on other projects), the pair have taken center "stage" of the dining area. Mettaton sings his usual set - campy high energy song, followed by a softer song about being THE BEST, followed by a softer, sad ballad about being locked in a dungeon (???). His co-star, the large, sheet-like ghost of the base, hums a sorrowful, haunting back melody behind him.

Comments

[showybusiness]

"I know! So I'll always come running to wipe those acidic tears away!"

[napstablook]

"Heh..."

They rose out of the the cup, and, with some small amount of nerves, booped their face against Mettaton's cheek.

[naughty_nurse]

"He spoke really highly of you." Mikan can't help but add, though she decides to leave a few details out so they don't wind up back on Awkwardville. "He, um, he really wants us to get along, I think. If you don't mind...?"

[naughty_nurse]

"I-I hope we can get along, mister Mettaton!"

[napstablook]

Mettaton spoke highly of them? Oh, wow. That made them feel pretty good. And this nice human person seemed to want to... be friends? That was kind of intimidating, but they hoped they could make it work.

"I'd... kind of like that... I'm not the most exciting person, though. Sorry."

[naughty_nurse]

"Th-that's okay! I'm not very exciting either! I spend most of my time in the medbay... but... comparing a ghost to a human... a ghost is ten times more exciting because you exist, I think?"

[soulfriend]

[The flirting might normally catch his attention, but he's so excited at the moment that it goes right over his head. For now. (Also, "putting a rare and special ghost into a mug" is a billion times weirder. When will he ever get used to how fuckin' weird stuff is here?)

Whatever. R O B O T]

I just wanna get a good look at you! Dunno how you feel about showin' off your insides, but I promise I'd be careful if you did! I can put you back together again! Trust me!

. . . You were kiddin' about the ghost thing, right?

[showybusiness]

[ It's not that he's actually flirting - that's just how he talks to everyone. But he's still very pleased with the attention, tossing his hair and leaning against the counter dramatically. The cup ghost is being ignored for now. ]

No. My ghost is my music mixer. But only Dirk is going to be taking a look at my insides - I don't just go around flashing everyone my hard drives!

[napstablook]

"Not... really? Not to me... I'm just... me."

They were the only remaining ghost back home, of course, but that still didn't qualify in their mind. Most people were much more exciting than they were. You didn't have to be Undyne or Mettaton to be cooler than Napstablook.

Humans, in and of themselves, were still pretty novel to this little ghost.

"I mean... you could say that about you too..."

[naughty_nurse]

Naturally this put her on the defensive right away.

"Oh, no no no! I'm really dull! People have actually ignored me... I'm not special."

b

[undyning]

Oh my GOD, will you SHUT UP already you gaudy microwave!!

[ Undyne was trying to eat? Isn't that what you're supposed to do in a dinning area? She didn't order any entertainment to go with her rock sandwich! She adds quickly, not wanting to hurt Napstablook's feelings: ] The ghost can keep playing though. You hear me?!

Keep playing!

[ said... probably more aggressively than she intended, whoops ]

[soulfriend]

Damn, that guy beats me to everythin' . . . 's not my fault I just got here! You're sure? Totally sure?? You're never gonna change your mind? I just want a peek!

[But he's already sighing, half resigned to his fate as that guy who doesn't get to dig into a robot's delicate machinery today.]

Wait, you've gotta be the guy with the farm ghost!

[showybusiness]

[ Hah! It sounds like some angry FOOL with ZERO TASTE IN ANYTHING was yelling. Well, to his ears, booing didn't exist - it was cheering that hadn't matured yet.

So he kept singing. ]

[showybusiness]

[ Mettaton is touched so many folks are curious - but it's expected. He's so shiny and leggy and lovely. ]

That's my Blooky, yes. Are you... an acquaintance?

[soulfriend]

I talked to him inside my head once, if that counts.

[It still sounds crazy just coming out with stuff like that. But why's he hung up on that when he's talking to a robot about a ghost? Underwater? He needs to just get over this kind of thing already; even he realizes that by now.]

I asked him if he was a robot. He told me his bandmate was a robot . . . so unless we've got more than one singing robot around here, it was a safe assumption!

[showybusiness]

Well, that would be me, of course! I'm the base's entertainer. Lacking in equipment, yes, and I'm interested in getting my fingers in many pies, yes... especially if the pies are sunken ships full of jewelry! But that's beside the point, darling! I understand some folks like robots, and if you want to view me as what I am than WHO I am... for now, that's fine. A fan is a fan - who am I to judge?!

[ He giggles. ]

[soulfriend]

Heh, that's the spirit!

[Is that really the spirit?! It cheers Kazuichi up, though.]

Can't help it, man. I'm a mechanic . . . I see a beautiful machine and I've just gotta know what makes it tick! —Or, him. Not that I'm callin' you an it . . . guess it'd help if I knew your name! I'm Kazuichi Souda!

[showybusiness]

Mettaton, darling. I'm here to start spreading my MTT Brand!

[undyning]

[ Oh, it's ON now! Not one to be deterred, Undyne starts throwing balled-up napkins at him and booing like the classless brute she is. They've been cooped up in this underwater fishbowl for so long, and cabin fever makes Undyne stupid, reckless, and destructive. Cruisin' for a bruisin'. You know, just generally obnoxious.

Feel free to smack her or suspend her from the ceiling or both. It would make her day. ]

[showybusiness]

[ With the grace of an enraged goddess, he can keep singing his wordless tune and turn his gaze to her. The usual pink glow in his eyes has faded slightly, making him look less "alive"; he's mildly irritated, like one would be at a troll or a small child being a brat.

But his gaze moves to Napstablook, then back at Undyne. A challenge. Are you really going to hurt Blooky by being an asshole like this? ]

[undyning]

[ THAT'S SO DIRTY. But also effective! Well played, you fabulous microwave. Well played. ]

Crap! Sorry!!!

[napstablook]

"Oh... well... I know what that's like."

They, for their part, didn't sound at all defensive. Just like it was a part of themself that they had accepted. They also didn't at all try to assure her she wasn't. Why bother? She knew herself better than Napstablook knew her. That would be rude.

"I'm glad I got to talk to a nice person anyway..."

[naughty_nurse]

"Oh... you did? ...I'm glad for you, that must be nice."

... She didn't realize that was her. Mikan. Honey.

[napstablook]

"Yeah... you are kind of nice." They gave a hesitant smile. This hadn't turned out to be so bad... fan meet and greets were always scary, but now they could kind of see why Mettaton liked it.

B: + Rosemary Date

[lightbulbvampire]

[Kanaya is wearing her black and red dress today. With freshly applied jade lipstick, Kanaya is ready to Woo The Girl. Said girl being her matesprite, Rose Lalonde. It's been a while since they had a date, and she did say she would go to one of Mettaton's preformances anyway, so this was the perfect opportunity. Sitting at one of the available tables, Kanaya leans over to Rose.]

Sorry for springing this upon you suddenly. I wanted it to be a surprise for you.

[That and she was a little busy with her rabite genocide. She'll make you a fur coat or something to apologize later.]