Feeling a tad bit guilty for being so forward--they knew they wouldn’t have wanted someone to hug them like that--Callisto let go of the guy and took the invitation to dig in, snatching the little paper sack back up and digging into it, pulling out one of the few food items in it. It was glittery to te point of looking inedible, but Callisto started in on it anyways.
“What’s your name, mister?” They had to admit, they were pretty curious about this monster. Not too many others had worried much about Callisto’s well-being, and help wasn’t something they’d come by too often in their trip Underground. Besides... Maybe he could be a friend.
While they waited for his answer, they continued to wolf down the burger like it was the first thing they’d eaten in weeks. And to be fair, it was actually the most substantial thing they had eaten that week.
At first he tried to play off the kid’s gratitude - sure he’d risked his job and all, but Burgerpants planned to brush it off like it was nothing. Just a couple burgers and a steak. That cost seven hundred and forty gold in total.
“It’s nothin’-” Then they hugged him. His first instinct was to seize up - his fur stood on end and he held his arms high above them, stock still, gaping down like a catfish. Every muscle in his body was tense and rigid in shock. It wasn’t everyday (or any day honestly) that he was embraced, especially so graciously.
“Uh…Yeah, little buddy.” After a second BP relaxed. His arms lowered, hovering at his sides hesitantly before he completely eased up. It was still awkward of course but it wasn’t so bad. A little affection and appreciation went a long way for a grizzled, exhausted guy like him.
It was a hell of a lot better than getting whacked by his boss with a newspaper, that was for sure.
Patting their head gingerly once, twice, he motioned towards their food. “It’s no problem. Go ahead and dig in, kid. I can stick around for a couple more minutes, make sure dogs don’t try an’ snatch it up or something while you eat.”
Too invested in looking over their notes, Callisto really wasn’t paying any attention to their surroundings until Burgerpants returned with the glittery bag. Glamorous wasn’t a very appetizing smell, but it had their stomach rumbling again. Instead of smiling timidly, Callisto’s thinned face broke out in a wide grin. They were both excited and grateful at the prospect of fresh, warm food.
“I didn’t see that, don’t worry!” They dropped their journal almost instantaneously to accept the food.
“It smells so good, I--oh my gosh, thank you,” Opening the bag, Callisto peered in. It was more food than they’d seen in the last week. On any other day, they wouldn’t have touched any of it, but with as hungry as they were... Well, it felt like this monster had just given them the equivalent of a Thanksgiving dinner. Callisto felt like they might cry. Instead of digging right in, they first closed the back back up and set it atop their journal carefully before wrapping their arms around Burgerpants’s waist in a tight hug. They didn’t think they’d ever be able to thank him enough, let alone repay him. He had risked his job, after all.
“Thank you thank you thank you, mister!”
The sensible half of his brain was telling Burgerpants to stroll right back into the kitchen and forget all about the kid. Let someone else handle them. They’d been taking care of themselves well enough for this long - which, he ruefully had to admit, was not true. And damn, when the scrawny little thing spoke up all abashed and their stomach grumbled, he couldn’t just go back in his word. It was way too late for the ol’ cat to back out by then.
“Okay. Okay, so,” He started, “I’ll hope back in, snag a glamburger and…uh, looks like you’re gonna need more than one little buddy. Alright, um, Alright a few glamburgers the. Yeah, sounds good.”
Soon as he scrambled up a plan BP brought his blunt up to his lips one more time, soothing his anxieties for a second. “I hope this doesn’t end up like last time with those two dumpster girls.”
Mumbling to himself, a habit almost as bad as his smoking, the stressed MTT employee slipped off into the building. Several monsters sauntered inside the resort from time to time. They hardly paid a second glance at Callisto; but just as a moldsmal passed by Burgerpants finally returned after a good twenty minutes. A couple swears later and a ferocious, jiggly scolding later he stood before Callisto once more.
“Um…I got you the food. A couple glamburgers. One fell out when…did you see? When I ran into that guy?“ He held out a glittery doggy bag while babbling. Strange that burgers could smell so…glamorous. "I dropped one. Sorry, little buddy. But! I got a you a steak too. So that should be enough, um…”
Callisto pushed their glasses back up. Frankly, this monster both looked and smelled absolutely disgusting. But he had a kind smile, and he was offering food. Their stomach growled audibly, and they felt their face heat up with embarrassment. They kept their journal clutched close to their chest, and shifted uncomfortably on their feet.
“Food sounds nice,” They tried a sheepish smile. “I mean, I don’t really know what you have, but... Anything sounds good to me.” Three Crab Apples a day for the last couple of days hadn’t been the most pleasant decision Callisto had made on their journey, but rationing food so they could get further was what was most important. Going a day without eating wouldn’t be good for their body or their morale.
The kid took comfort in the fact that Burgerpants looked just as nervous as they felt.
Continued from here: X
@curiositics
Burgerpant’s already drooping eyes squinted, and he inhaled a heavy puff of smoke before exhaling in the direction opposite of the child. He smelled absolutely rank, and looked as disheveled as anyone could guess with just one whiff of the guy.
Sympathy unfurled on his expression; Callisto looked to be in an even worse state than him, if possible. Hell, it was an almost impressive feat, but it only increased his pity for the poor kid. Which he really didn’t want to bother with while on his break. Or ever.
“Damnit…” His conscious won over and after a muttered curse Burgerpants crouched down to eye level with them. “You look horrible. And that’s something comin’ from a guy like me.” In an attempt to be friendly he flashed an awkward smile, revealing his yellowed teeth. “Uh…”
He stood, scratching the back of his neck. His dingy orange fur bristled and he sighed. Damn his conscious; someday he was going to be fired for trying to be a nice guy, he just knew it.
“If you really need some grub, little buddy, I might be able to um…sneak you some food. Gotta be careful so my boss doesn’t catch me, but you look like you could use some burgers or something. Yeah. Um…So you want anything?”
Hurt Meme: “When was the last time you ate, little buddy?” //sardonicstoner ((pls i love callisto so much i can't help it))
@sardonicstoner
“Huh?” They turned, genuinely surprised. Since they’d left Waterfall, they hadn’t done much talking. Or eating, actually. They didn’t have much money, and most of it had already gone to food anyways. They looked a bit thinner than they usually did. Clearly, the change in diet since their departure from the Ruins was taking its toll. Callisto hadn’t been eating as much as they were used to since they’d left Toriel’s care, and apparently it was becoming a visible issue.
Callisto was downright bony. Their glasses slid down their gaunt face a bit as they turned, hollowed eyes looking up at the feline monster. The first thing they noticed was the smoke curling from the blunt between his teeth, and the god-awful smell of weed. They backed up a few steps.
“Uh, well, I had a Crab Apple this morning…?”