Chapter Text
Edge was a prickly and standoff-ish individual, it’s the first thing mutt notices.
The first meet up of all the Aus had been stilled and weird so far for Mutt, everyone walking on conversational eggshells for the past hour with him. Afterwards luckily, with the social performances out of the way and everything settled in, everyone seemed calm and happy so far.
The ballet of speech was interesting to watch. Much different then SwapFell undergrounds’ trademark ‘no useless information’ curt and straight to point speech.
Language seems to unravel in this universe with all the alternatives of himself and his brother, A strangely kind greeting here, a weather complaint there, it’s as if their talking a foreign language to mutts ears and he’s immensely grateful that his milord has taken over negotiations while he observes the others.
The current interrogation is in the kitchen with Blue, Papyrus and his Milord of course. They all have glasses of alcohol except Mutt himself. He's not sure if having a good sense of smell is a ‘papyrus’ thing or if he's special in that way, but the aromatics and blend of overwhelming scents makes mutt think its just him who can smell just how strong the glasses of cocktails were.
papyrus seems to have wine or cider from the sweet fragrance of it, and he thinks he might even be able to smell it across the house. Blue is a surprise although, the stinging tang of whisky mixed in with other smells of maple syrup and chilli pepper. Out of everyone to have a refined sense of taste for alcohol, he wouldn't ever think to pick the happy go lucky little Blue to have such strong tastes.
Surprises of personality and misjudgements of character could be dangerous especially if something were to go off the rails. Mutt mentally marks blue to watch for any new behaviour or other signs.
Finally in the drink list is his own master, partaking in his own favourite pink gin. a familiar pleasing guava to round out the bouquet of alcoholic beverages. He could almost believe he's in muffets bar if he closes his eye sockets long enough.
As much as he'd love to let loose and enjoy himself with everyone; Mutt didn’t accept any alcohol. He wanted to stay clear of any intoxicants in such an unfamiliar environment for him.
The two energetic skeletons beside his master seemed to pay him no mind while they were sipping on their respective drinks and loudly chatting about their brothers. its as if they were overburdened, but happy mothers.
No threat there, mutt decides, most people drinking in his world were not violent individuals, stupid yes, but everyone knows there are consequences if they were to act a fool in muffets' joint. It only makes sense that the strict code of no one fighting indoors were kept here.
Nodding he changes his glance to the couch were stretch and sans were, playing something called ‘super smash bros’ stretch hollering and sans elbowing him and rumbling challenges back. Friendly pokes and prods wasn’t something to raise his hackles over and nor was red, if him loudly snoring in the arm chair was anything to go by.
The only thing that set his alarm bells off is edge.
After the initial greeting edge had been standing the corner of the living room opposite of the front door watching over everything silently, bright red eye lights slowly surveying the area like a cat posed in a stalking stance.
Considering this is mutts first time being around all the au alternatives, the last thing he needs is a new strange social interaction to exist. he’s nerves are already strung on thin ice with all the noise and sensations around him. The loud party sounds of music, talking and new place all combined to feel like broken glass is being grinded across his mind.
Just as time and time again before, when mutt is stressed he turns to his milord for comfort and solid ground, grabbing the corner of his shirt timidly when blue and papyrus are distracted with their own conversation.
Although its his first time being here, This is far from milord’s first time from being around the AUs in such a casual way. Luckily like usual; his master is able to pick up on what mutt is so nervous about. Milord is so gentle and kind to him, whispering lightly to mutt.
“you are nervous about edge watching us, correct?”
A tight nod towards milord to confirm that his suspicions are correct. Milord seems less then surprised from the news, mutt likes to watch from the shadows himself after all, being watched tends to make his spine straighten and jaw clench with nerves.
“Edge is a stick in the mud but he’s just battle hardened like alphys, I promise you. I can bet you He’s just having difficulty in finding a place to be in this party.”
Milord pats mutts hand lightly to help and comfort while giving a understanding smile.
Gladly the comforting gesture works for mutt, it helps him feel at more at ease then he did before. Alpys was just as scary as edge was being now and it sure brings him back now that milord had reminded him of it.
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Alpys was cold when he meets her for the first time. It was in the royal room when mutt was brought along as milord’s ‘family invitation’ to a function with all those higher ups. she stood there blanked face and crossed arms, even being a social function meant to boost moral no one wanted to talk to her.
Afterwards when milord, as brave and confident as he was just strode up to her to ask if the after party was to be at her house. Mutt was braced for the worst outcome but in the end she just nodded with a serious expression but it seemed enough for master, brazenly patting alphys the highest commander on the back before walking away.
At the after party she explained she just finds it hard to relax with so many people around her, much preferring to be by herself and in that mutt could deeply sympathise.
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When mutt looks over to observe edge to see if anything close to as jovial and crass as could be hiding behind that poker face he found himself looking directly at edges eyes. Both fear and a deep discomfort forces him to look away from his face and stare at edges feet making sure edge didn’t take that as a sign mutt disrespected him (or worse). It might also be to make sure that edge doesn’t move any closer to him, but no one needs to know that part.
Mutt sure as hell did bolt up straight when milord nudged him with his shoulder although.
“Talk to him, mutt” milord says encouragingly, a small smile gracing his face as does a small blush.
Perhaps the small master should slow down on his drinks, but even as despotised as milord is, his innate intuition is never wrong. Not to mention he’s both investigated and verified all individuals here, otherwise mutt wouldn’t be allowed within a 1500 meter radius if not.
Mutt braved himself up for a conversation with unknown outcomes and dangers, softly bouncing from one foot to the other while doing so. Finally wringing his hands together he gently and quietly makes his way over to edge.
The others didn’t seem to notice him padding by them; he didn’t know what he’d do if they did. Mutt walks behind the couch where the two were playing smash bros where jeering and cheering both putting up a good fight. Red was awake now too, joining in and siding with sans the two taking turns bagging out stretch. He takes note of the favouritism for later review with his brother.
Edge hasn’t looked away from him once since he exited the kitchen.
When mutt finally stops in front of edge he can’t help but to wring his fingers a little longer, his brain flat lining and grinding together to help think of conversational lines. Mutt only talks when needed so starting a conversation is difficult, like trying to make rusty gears move smoothly with rocks of rust and dust staining the teeth.
“Hello edge.” Mutt eventually squeaks out, looking to the floor while doing so.
“Hello” greets edge; a higher pitched and rougher tone voice then mutt thought he’d have.
Edges’ brow raises in interest of the interaction, most likely not expecting mutt to talk to him after mostly standing in silence next to his brother all evening. Well mutt hopes he enjoys this short hello because he’s officially run out of topics already. Glancing at his lord in the kitchen only has milord ‘shooing’ him with his hands to encourage mutt to talk.
Whether it is pity or a way of breaking the awkward pause edge decides to break the silence himself and says
“As you well seem to know my name is edge, but I’m afraid I don’t know your name at all. I assumed black had a brother as well but he tends to keep information about you closed down, and considering the world both of us come from its not a surprise he does so.”
Mutt knows that milord keeps any and all information to himself but he didn’t know that also extended to him. Then again if this was his world there’d be no need to talk about Mutt, because everyone already knew him.
The way everyone got to know him from snowdin to the city is.....not how he’d prefer to be known.
Mutt is skittish and scared a majority of the time but at home he doesn’t need to scare monsters away with grand gestures of strength, or untethered rage. not with the stories of a mad skeleton who hides during the day and waits for nightfall and stalks the streets of snowdin with loud grating and wiring un-dead dogs, looking for the next victim.
Hah, that’s wild exaggeration.
But the story behind that is for a different time.
Mutt responds with a greeting of his own.
“Yes uh, m’names Mutt. Mutt says sheepishly, scratching the back of his skull meekly. “Milord says that you aren’t too...bad”
What mutt means by bad is unpredictable, loud and unnecessary touchy. He’s only briefly meet the others from a ‘normal’ non fell universes and he’s had his fill of being touched or at least being hugged from behind like he’s not about to have a stroke about how much it all feels.
Gladly, it seems that red and edge seem to be on the same page about touch, only doing handshakes when socially needed but otherwise keeping a safe distance between themselves and the other parties. He hasn’t been offered a hug yet from edge and by god after all the other strange going on socially he can’t be gladder for it. (Seriously, what the hell does raining cats and dogs even mean??)
Edge doesn’t seem to be offended by the short and slightly off subject answer, just continues on as if calling someone bad is a completely normal answer.
“I suppose that depends on what your definition of ‘bad’ is, I’m not as squeaky clean as the others but I don’t go out of my way to be harsh if that’s what you mean.” Edge replies.
That's about right, its kill or be killed in his world but just like his own brother it seems edge also carries the stubbornness to not only be the biggest maddest motherfucker walking the streets, but the kindest of them all too. The world had stripped him of a lot but his sense of justice was never one of them. Milord is the coolest brother.
Unlike his brother although mutt has no idea if edge acts the way he does for the same reason his own milord does. Milord acts the way he does out of spite, he got a shitty world with a shitty upbringing (with no help from him, mutt could’ve done so much better...) it seems milord wants to prove to either himself or everyone around that no matter what, he can still do what’s right in the world. Not just following the orders of a broken queen and attacking everything she points at like the rest of her servants.
That’s probably why milord gets cleaning duty so much.
It shouldn’t comfort mutt so much to hear that edge is similar to milord, especially since their very different people but having those same key details helps mutt ease his shoulders just a tad.
“That’s...a relief to know edge, it wouldn’t do to have a captain off the rails... they have to have clear heads, y’know?” mutt says.
And then edges face does something strange, an eyebrow lift and a squint of his eyes at him.
“I never told you I was captain in the guard. Is your brother captain too?”
Mutt blushes and scratches his face in a bit of the sharp interest from edge. It seems like mutt caught edge off guard with that one even though it was dead easy to piece together that he’s captain in edges own ranks.
“It... wasn’t very hard, you’re standing alone, sure in a “relaxed” way but your arms are still behind your back and your set up with clear sight of the room and exits...unless you’re a combination of paranoid and formal, I know where id put my chips.”
“Also...you’re so stiff, I would’ve thought you were still on duty.” Mutt quickly rambles out.
“Quite observant of you” edge says. He seems to take the words to heart since edge shrugs his shoulders and shakes himself slightly trying to relax out of his military relax position, but it doesn’t help all that much.
Seeing edge shake himself and attempt to relax makes mutts soul ache with sympathy of feeling out of place.
“Do you want...to play the game with the others? It... Might help you unwind?” mutt suggests. It is a party after all; supposedly it’s supposed to be relaxing. Loud parties tend to just wind mutt up further towards panic but he might be able to persuade edge to enjoy it at least.