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popatochisssp · 6 months ago

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hiya poppy! i dunno if this is a silly ask but I’m a bit curious… do any of your unique boys have weird condiment obsessions or comfort foods?? tale sans has ketchup, swap paps has honey and so on, i assume that the rest of hoodie gang (what i loosely refer to the lazy brother role as) has the same weird habits. mostly curious about ash, brick, ell, nemo, sunny!

(Anon, I know you did not initially send this on anon, and you included an Art with it that I enjoyed very much, which is why I was so very upset to somehow lose this ask??? Luckily, tumblr cannot eat my emails so I still had the text saved and can at least answer the question, but if you wanted to re-add your art to this post, I would like that very much 😭)

I did do a favorite condiments/toppings post ages ago, when I only had ten of these losers, so it might be about time to update it!

Sans (Undertale): Yeah, it’s ketchup, he likes it on anything and everything, and he will drink it straight ‘cause he’s a terrible gremlin man. He started doing it as a joke to freak people out but it grew on him and, uh… well, now, he just likes it. This is his life and he has no shame.

Papyrus (Undertale): Nothing so uncouth as his brother, ugh! …But… on occasion…very rare occasion, mind you! He…has been known to sneak a spoonful of peanut butter straight out of the jar… Just the one, though, he never double-dips! He’s not disgusting!

Sky (Underswap Sans): As far as condiments go, he likes relish! He won’t eat it straight, if anyone’s looking, but who doesn’t like a hearty helping of it plopped onto a hot dog? Or a hot cat, he’s not picky! Spicy or sour is equally fine, just not the biggest fan of sweet.

Paps (Underswap Papyrus): Nothing new here, he likes honey a whole heck of a lot, though mostly just to sweeten his tea… or in a candy-bar, or drizzled on a pastry or something… Damn, he’s making himself hungry just thinking about it…

Jasper (Underfell Sans): Mustard, obviously, anything else on a ‘dog is the blatantly incorrect choice. Also pretty good on a sandwich, but you’re never gonna catch him guzzling it straight from the bottle. He never tried to pull that prank like his classic counterpart did, and never got accidentally hooked on his own condiment of choice. Ha!

Pyre (Underfell Papyrus): He’ll deny it to his dusting breath, but you cannot bring Nutella or any kind of chocolate spread into the house and expect it to still be there when you come back. He will eat it directly out of the jar, the whole thing, especially if he’s had a hard day or something. You’ll just never find the evidence. He’ll do it with ice cream, too, so y’know…keep an eye on your groceries.

Mal (Swapfell Sans): He likes spicy flavors so any kind of salsa or hot sauce is a favorite for him. His tolerance is damn good, so he can–and will–pull a Power Move and drink it straight if he feels the situation calls for it, but he generally just likes it on his food, like a normal person. Don’t test him, though, remember the freak that lies just beneath the surface…

Rus (Swapfell Papyrus): Can he pick literally everything sweet ever? No? Okay, then it’s probably maple syrup that he likes best, he’ll have it on waffles, in candy, or even to sweeten up some normally more savory foods like beans or ham or just about anything else you can think of. …Not that he, uh…really knows how to cook, himself… But he was a picky eater as a kid and syrup was easy to get in Snowdin, so it was usually used as a bribe to get him to eat A Thing He Didn’t Like and it’s a bit of a comfort-flavor for him now!

Slate (Horrortale Sans): For obvious reasons… he’s not picky. He’ll eat anything– burnt, flavorless, or even a little moldy, just drown it in ketchup and it’s good as gold. Like his classic counterpart, he’ll drink it straight, but surprisingly he’s also developed a bit of a fondness for mayo, mostly post-surfacing. It is not an unusual occurrence to find him just eating it straight, especially if he’s managed to get ahold of one of those squeeze-tubes that make it even easier. You might think he’s trying to pull a vanilla-pudding-in-the-mayo-jar prank but…alas, it’s real.

Papy (Horrortale Papyrus): He’s in the health field and knows in great detail why this is a thing he should probably not be doing but… You know those tubs of whipped topping…? Yeah, he’ll eat that with a spoon until the, “Oh My God, Why Am I Doing This” thoughts hit him and he shamefully puts it back. It would easily be one of the most mortifying moments of his life if you ever caught him at it, standing in front of the fridge in the dark at two in the morning like an oil-and-corn-syrup-loving cryptid.

Ash (Undergloom Sans): Worcestershire sauce is probably his top choice of condiment. His brother’s cooking has spoiled him a little bit, so plain old ketchup doesn’t quite cut it for him anymore. A lot of his favorite foods are hearty, heavy, meaty or all of the above, and Worcestershire can go on and in most of them! Now, will he drink it? No, probably not… but if there’s any on his plate that he can sop up with a bread roll and eat, he absolutely will be doing so.

Yrus (Undergloom Papyrus): No one can know. Whenever he buys those little jars of maraschino cherries, it’s for garnishing drinks or desserts or whatever else he might need them for, and when he cleans out the jars to reuse them for other things, there’s no reason to wonder what he’s done with the juice, probably dumped it, right? Well…no. He drinks it, straight from the jar, like some kind of fucked up, bookish skeleton hummingbird. Don’t judge him!!!

Brick (Horrorfell Sans): Whether he acknowledges it or not, he’s living a bit more of the high life these days than he used to, and with that tends to come some upgrades in the little things around you. In his case, that means he still prefers mustard over any condiment, but it’s Dijon mustard specifically that he tends to reach for—a bit fancier, more of a bite to it, and now the plain yellow stuff feels like a downgrade. He’ll eat whatever, he’s not picky, but y’know…if given the option…

King (Horrorfell Papyrus): He has no such vices…that he’ll admit to. But neither will he back down or show even a hint of shame if you catch him squirting a bottle of chocolate syrup straight into his shaker full of milk that you may have previously assumed was a protein or workout shake of some kind. As for whether or not he’ll drink the syrup straight… You’ll never catch him. Don’t even try.

Merc (Horrorswap Sans): Probably sweet-and-sour sauce for him, there’s a lot of different things to use it on and he likes the versatility of that. To the point that he’d drink it? Yes, sure, boldly so, in front of anyone, admittedly mostly as a bit for the reaction but hey, it’s tangy and delicious, no regrets!

Ell (Horrorswap Papyrus): His favorite topping to snack on is also a backfired prank. His brother is a baker and buys more new and unnecessary kinds of sprinkles than anyone could ever reasonably need, and he may’ve stolen a bottle or two to see how long it’d take him to notice. …And then maybe…grazed on them a little bit one time, when he was hungry and busy and didn’t want to get up. In his defense…they’re crunchy?

Pitch (Horrorswapfell Sans): He’s still all about the hot sauce, baby! Buffalo sauce in particular is probably the favorite, perfect for wings, but he’ll branch out if there are options—especially if they’re advertised as the hottest around, or put to him as a challenge. He’s a defiant thrill-seeker at heart, he all but has to drink it straight from the bottle if someone thinks so highly of it.

Nemo (Horrorswapfell Papyrus): He’s a caramel fiend. He pretty much always has been, in its candy form, but pretty much as soon as he started cooking for himself and realized how easy it was to just put a few things in a pan and have caramel sauce? It was over for him, he does it all the time now. It’s lucky if it actually makes it on top of anything because he’ll eat it by the spoonful almost straight out of the pan, but if he doesn’t, it’s still a perfectly good snack after it’s cooled a little. Not even store-bought jars last any longer in his house.

Sunny (Gastertale Sans): He loves a good steak sauce, obviously for steaks but on pretty much anything—burgers, sandwiches, jazzing up some veggies, what can’t it do? He’s not quite at the level of drinking it straight from the bottle, but it can seem close some days when he’s really slathering it on.

Aster (Gastertale Papyrus): Definitely some kind of weakness for tahini. It makes such a good dip, or spread, or partner with jam on toast to make a not-quite-pb&j, so even though he doesn’t usually find it on a menu, he tends to keep some around the house. Would he eat it all by itself? Has he? Well, what’s the fun in just telling? He has some kind of mystique to maintain, you know…

Spectr (Transcendtale Sans): Ketchup is super nostalgic for him, a very comforting flavor. He’ll totally drink it straight or eat it out of a packet just for the taste of it, even if he doesn’t have the hunger to actually eat it with something. He’s also gotten a bit more adventurous, though, and is a lot more open to trying different varieties of ketchup, and those trendy combos with other things—spicy ketchup, mayochup, thousand island—if it’s available, he’ll try it, and he’s slowly amassing a personal catalogue of favorites tried all across the globe.

PapAIrus (Transcendtale Papyrus): He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t need to and he’s not actually capable of it, so… It’s fine, he really doesn’t miss it or think about it much. …But whenever he gets around to having that back-up body made, probably the first thing he’d eat with it is a big jar of peanut butter, the crunchy kind.

Xanth (Ascendswap Sans): Having almost completely done away with any sense of shame and a large amount of awareness of social norms, he is no longer shy of straight-up eating relish. He is also not shy of going for maximum sour, vinegary flavor and will fully sip pickle juice out of the jar. He is living his truth and we are all so proud.

Piper (Ascendswap Papyrus): Did I call somebody else a hummingbird? I should’ve saved it for him, he’s graduated from honey to something a bit more concentrated—agave syrup. He follows the trends a little more attentively these days, gave it a try when he heard about it as a honey-substitute, and that was…kind of it. His sweet tooth is his weakness, and he doesn’t even mind paying a little more for the ethically sourced brands, he’s too hooked on that super-sweet sweetness for his tea and candy and pastries and whatever else he can find to drizzle it on.

Carmine (Underfell Fruition Sans): He’s a cool ranch guy, all the way. As a dip, it’s the perfect accompaniment to anything crunchy and he’ll freely load up his carrots and celery and chips with it. As a proper condiment, it’ll go on anything from pizza to burgs, and while he’s definitely taken a swig once, just to try it, he probably likes it better as supporting cast than the lead act.

Tank (Underfell Fruition Papyrus): He was ruined the first time a jar of marshmallow fluff came into his possession. He didn’t get much in the way of sweets growing up, so pure, soft, sticky sugar…? He has no defense against it. He’ll actually need to be told you can make things with it if you want to, because eating it with a spoon is all he knows and that’ll be a beautiful brave new world for him.

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans): He’s a barbecue sauce fan. His preference is for the smoky or spicy kind, but even the sweeter stuff has its charm and he hasn’t really eaten a kind he hasn’t somewhat liked. He won’t take a swig from a bottle, but if he ever comes across a brand he really likes, he may go out of his way to buy some to take home, and that's a huge compliment from him.

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papryus): Butterscotch is his thing, actually. He likes it as a topping in sauces and cocktails quite a bit, but if there happen to be any butterscotch chips around, that’s more to his preference. Be wary trying to get any baking with them done around him, he actually prefers them outside of the baked goods and he’s not above petty theft. In fact, he’s below it, far below it, a little quick yoinkery is the least of what he’ll do to get something he wants.

Kohl (Descendtale Sans): He’s a soy sauce kind of guy. It’s salty, savory, and strong, a little goes a long way even to overpower a flavor you’re sick of, but you have to eat because it’s nearly all there is… Yeah, he got a little hooked on it when monsters started eating the echo flower root, and it stuck around as a new favorite after. Would he drink it? Not unless it would be really funny, he has limited room in the tank these days and would prefer to use it for food he likes, not on a bit.

Bram (Descendtale Papyrus): Nothing beats a nice crème anglaise drizzled over something sweet… Of course, he’s not much of a cook so mostly he just waits for vanilla ice cream to melt and that’s basically the same thing, right? Ice cream soup is delicious and also a perfectly valid topping for all manner of deliciousness, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

And as for comfort foods…well that’s a whole other post to update! ;)

#anonymous #except you aren't i know who you are i just don't want to put you on the spot abt the art by naming you outright #headcanons #undertale #underswap #underfell #swapfell/fellswap #horrortale #undergloom #horrorfell #horrorswap #horrorswapfell #gastertale #transcendtale #ascendswap #underfell fruition #swapfell fruition #descendtale

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popatochisssp · 29 days ago

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Hey Poppy! You have so many skeletons now!!! And I love all of them. I'd love to know how you go about characterising them compared to each other, if you're amenable? it's so cool to see where they are similar or different!

Thank you! 💙

I do have a lot of various thoughts in my head about how I characterize the guys, but I haven't really put them down in words before.

Consider the following a cheat sheet for the most key aspects of the guys' characters, as I see them! Restricted within an arbitrary word-length, of course, to keep myself from rambling on forever. XD

Sans (Undertale): The OG, the man, the myth, the classic, et cetera. Always has a pun or a witty quip at the ready, or failing that, a light-hearted prank. Gags and jokes are one of the few things in his life he’ll put in above-average effort for, otherwise a lazybones to the core. Friendly and social, but awkward when forced to deal with honest emotions, and very private about his own. Easy-going, unlikely to confront or take action unless pressed. A strong sense of morals and respect for ‘the right thing,’ but a tendency to seek loopholes and flaunt the letter of the law when stakes are low. Very observant—hard to slip anything past—and skilled at drawing conclusions with minimal evidence. Low-key depressed but functional…ish, handling it as best as could be expected. Tends to care a lot more than he ever lets on.

Papyrus (Undertale): An absolute fucking delight! A renaissance man, athletic and clever and artistic, he does it all! Off-beat sense of what’s appropriate to say in conversation and non-linear thinking, prone to weird (yet confidently-uttered) declarations and turns of phrase. Not naïve, but in touch with his inner-child, finding fresh joy in whimsical, colorful, fun things. Cheerful, encouraging, and supportive as a rule, but can surprise with a sharp edge of sass and sarcasm. Occasional people-pleasing tendencies, may lie or play dumb to avoid friction or keep peace, especially when a relationship is new and he wants to impress and ingratiate. Craves notice and appreciation, will go to great lengths to show off and get attention. An idealist, full of hope—genuinely believes in everyone’s capacity to be better, if they want to. A bit of an oddball but responsible, generally has his life together.

Sky (Underswap Sans): High-energy, high-drive dynamo, both a nerd and a jock in equal enthusiasm. Nothing in the world he can’t conquer with his strength, smarts, and positive attitude. Borders on overconfidence, but he’s generally on the right side of an accurate assessment of his capabilities, only rarely victim to his own hubris. He balks at attempts to assert unearned authority over him, resisting being seen as incapable or immature. Occasionally minimized and patronized for his height, demeanor, or HP, making them sore spots. Overactive sense of responsibility, feels the need to prove himself—if he can do something, he should, even if he doesn’t have to. Proactive, thorough, likes to put in the work to be prepared and make sure things are done well the first time. Not without a lazy streak, but actively reins it in. Here for a good time and a long time, making the most of life.

Paps (Underswap Papyrus): Well-meaning awkwardness in a hoodie. Social anxiety mostly under control, but has to hype himself up before a lot of interactions and second-guesses a lot of things he’s done and said after the fact. Feels very deeply and strongly, but has to spend awhile thinking on it and processing it before he’s willing to try articulating it, worried about being misunderstood or laughed at. Intellectual, romantic, and eloquent but rarely gets to the point of confidence with someone to express as much aloud. A little stubborn about trying new things or changing his mind, apprehensive about change and risks. Big-hearted, highly sympathetic and almost always willing to help (or at least try to) when someone needs a hand. Not naturally chill and easy-going, but actively works to be, ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ style. Trying his best and doing alright, figuring things out.

Jasper (Underfell Sans): Tough guy with a heart of gold, but he won’t admit the latter under pain of death. Huge chip on his shoulder, has always been the underdog and gotten used to people trying to treat him like he belongs under heel, so he bucks hard against disrespect or control and resists ever being vulnerable—physically or emotionally. Even so, he has a lot of internalized self-deprecation and doesn’t think highly of himself. Struggling through depression mostly on spite alone, exhausted and beaten down but it’s just not in him to go out without a fight. Thinks and overthinks things often, but rarely verbalizes his thoughts if they can’t be turned into (or blown off with) a joke. Prefers not to get involved in things that aren’t his business or take on personal risk without sufficient reward, but all bets are off if he’s gotten emotionally invested.

Pyre (Underfell Papyrus): He is the drama. Passionate, arrogant, and theatrical, he never does by halves. Has trouble seeing past his own ego and it gets him into trouble of varying degrees, sometimes just embarrassment and sometimes actual trouble. Craves love and admiration, but feels he has to earn it. Cynical on paper only, wanting to trust and believe in people, and protect others from harm. Major hero complex that’s liable to turn to a martyr complex if lives or the safety of others is at risk, as he’ll always put that above himself. Believes it's his duty to do good to balance out the bad his world has forced him to do…trying to make the ends justify the means. Resistant to openly admitting his true feelings—he’s been burned before, wearing his heart on his sleeve—but filled with too much love and hope to hide them indefinitely.

Mal (Swapfell Sans): A walking collection of neuroses sealed under a thick, glossy varnish of wit and charm. Fiercely independent and untrusting of the motives and priorities of others, to the point of doing everything himself to ensure it’s done to his standards—AKA a control freak. Tends to take on too much and doesn’t know how to accept help, but manages his walking burnout by just deciding he’s Fine. Prefers to present himself as friendly, funny, and helpful before resorting to power-plays, intimidation, and violence, but won’t hesitate if it comes to it. ‘Moral code’ centered entirely around his family’s safety and well-being, nearly anything can be justified if it’s for his loved ones. Champagne tastes, but his greatest joys have always been cheap or free. Constantly crunching numbers, calculating odds before risking anything—preferring the devil that he knows over any angel he can’t trust.

Rus (Swapfell Papyrus): A sensitive soul in an insensitive, cruel world, with all the anxiety that inspires. His strongest defense is a front, being able to pass as dangerous and intimidate people out of wanting to mess with him. Will defend himself in life-or-death, or step in if someone’s in trouble, but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, he’d always rather flee than fight. Since the ‘threat’ he implies is mostly empty, fear of being perceived as who he really is by the wrong person has made him nervous and self-conscious, second-guessing himself at any hint of criticism. An eye for beauty, hands practiced at capturing it in art. In love with the world, not necessarily as it is but as it could be, always hoping for the kind of peace where everyone can be their best, happiest selves.

Slate (Horrortale Sans): A gentle giant, starting over. His former sense of self has been shattered by the horrible things he felt he had to do, and he’s now doing his best to pick up the pieces, assembling them back into a person he can live with. Struggles with guilt, and in the past, self-harm, but mostly in recovery. Only ever willing to use his size and strength to prevent violence, never to perpetrate it. Prone to dissociative states, headaches, and poor memory, coping with the mental changes as best as could be expected, but embarrassed if it becomes enough of a problem to be brought up. Stronger than ever reverence for life and the beauty that makes it worth living. Craves love and laughter and forgiveness acceptance as much as he fears he doesn’t deserve it. Learning to move on, uncertain if he’s allowed to, but starting to try anyway.

Papy (Horrortale Papyrus): One resilient motherfucker, a survivor determined to carpe all the diem he can after making it through something awful. Motivated by maybe a 80-20 split between genuine joy for life and a need to do something meaningful with that life that came at the cost of others’. Burdened by survivor’s guilt, and a creeping feeling of not having Done Enough when things were bad, but holding onto the certainty that he can help and do more now. Occasional panic attacks if he lets his anxiety spiral too long, but has techniques to manage and generally keeps it all under control. Sense of humor is a bit darker, more gallows-esque (as a means of coping), but he’s largely still the same cheerful, off-beat friendly person as he’s always been. His life feels like a second chance, one he doesn’t want to waste.

Ash (Undergloom Sans): A sleepwalker finally waking up and figuring out where he stands. Hesitant to take risks (emotionally or physically), used to self-preservation. Low-energy and physically frail, he has limits on what he’s able to handle but the fact that there are things he can do now—things that matter—is still very excitingly novel for him. Craves meaning to life and finds it in the best things, y’know, good food and bad laughs and nice friends… Speaks little, but has impeccable comedic timing, especially with incidental music. Affectionate with closest loved ones and really anyone in his frequent orbit, the way that’ll happen when one’s mired deep in a collective societal depression and needs a lot of Real Reasons to keep going. Hopeful again and relearning how to try, making plans for a future he’d almost given up on looking for.

Yrus (Undergloom Papyrus): A total mild-mannered nerd, a Clark Kent without the alter-ego. Optimistic not entirely by choice but a bit by necessity, to keep from losing hope in a hopeless situation. Passionate for discovery and learning new things—especially about humans! Strong, well-honed skills in all the domestic arts, cooking, cleaning, and homemaking in general. Loves to encourage others and offer a helping hand wherever and whenever possible, even to the point of his own inconvenience or detriment. Uncomfortable asking for help for himself, or admitting when something is wrong. He shares joys with the people around him, so if everyone else is happy, he’s happy too! Easily flustered and shy in matters of intimacy, especially the romantic kind, but deeply enticed by the mortifying ordeal of being known, craving people in his life that he actually could be open and honest with...someday.

Brick (Horrorfell Sans): Your typical goon, boorish lout, big galoot, whatever you want to call it. Nothing to prove, no regrets, and nothing to fear from anyone except himself. Prone to headaches and memory issues but only ever insecure about his spotty self-control and the scar that took his voice—everything else is relaxed obnoxious confidence. Likes having things to do and will find his own tasks or amusements if nothing’s provided. Stubborn about his mutism and can only accept workarounds on his own terms. Totally at ease one-on-one or in small groups, but crowds, violence, or suggestion of impending violence can make him edgy. Beholden to primitive instinct when his restraint slips, will claw, bite, growl, bare his teeth and lunge as the situation seems to warrant, but equally capable of chuffing, purring, bumping, and nuzzling in friendlier circumstances. Figuring his shit out and getting happy, by slow degrees.

King (Horrorfell Papyrus): Walking scar tissue, his once-bleeding-heart wounded and healed over: tougher, less vulnerable, but also more calloused, more insensate. Retains a belief in justice and minimized suffering, but more realistic cynical about the means it may take to achieve it. Reserved and calculating, he maintains a cold front and keeps people at a distance, both to avoid opening himself to betrayal and to more objectively observe the behavior and character of others. Impact always prioritized over intention—what’s meant and how something is said matters less to him than the outcome. Used to authority and wields it freely, especially to his or his loved ones’ benefit, but rarely wants anything more than to be unbothered, left alone with the few important joys he’s managed to salvage from the ashes of his former life. Unworthy of them, probably, but never the type to cede even one inch of what’s his.

Merc (Horrorswap Sans): A pleasantly neutral façade with a warm, loving soul trapped beneath. His body stability fluctuates with his emotional state and the more intense the emotion, the worse it gets. Deeply afraid of losing control and not being able to get it back, so he actively tries to maintain a calm, neutral equilibrium for himself to prevent the possibility. Feels passionately about most everything, just unable to show it until he can cure himself—which is obviously Priority One. Gravitates to the routine and predictable (for now), things he does have control over, but yearns for more like a man starved. Confidence rattled from some of his life-altering mistakes, so he’s hesitant with important decisions and second-guesses any commitments that can’t be undone. No longer feels any need to prove anything to anyone, only wants to live fully and freely, without fear or restriction.

Ell (Horrorswap Papyrus): In a word, messy. In some more words, coarse, raw, unfiltered. Coping badly with his trauma and bodily changes, expending significantly less effort moderating himself to what (he thinks) people want him to be. Tends to be reactive and often responds to people and situations with his first thoughts and feelings—which can get him into trouble when they’re knee-jerk, or irrational, or not well-phrased. Struggles with self-deprecating thoughts and feelings of inadequacy, fed by unacknowledged guilt and anger. Strongly introverted and broadly socially-averse. Fascinated by little details, always curious about ‘the process’ that goes into things. Can easily get his focus tied up in pet-projects to the exclusion of other things. Embittered and a little cynical, but wants to be proven wrong, to find love and goodness in the world (in people) again. Too determined to quit at anything until he does.

Pitch (Horrorswapfell Sans): A thrill-seeking hedonist making up for lost time. His near-death experience has…reorganized his priorities. Family is still important to him, but no longer to the point of perpetual self-sacrifice and denial. Denies himself nothing on the basis of reputation or responsibility, if he wants it—food, fun, fighting, f…ondly amorous interactions—he will pursue it. Coping marvelously with his blindness, wistful for sight sometimes but adapting and moving forward. Cocky and near-fearless, overestimates himself occasionally but generally wily enough to get himself out of whatever he gets into. Likes pushing peoples’ buttons, being outrageous or shocking and seeing what reactions he causes, partly for fun and partly to get a better sense of peoples’ characters by how they react. More interested in living fully in the now than saving up all his living for a ‘right moment’ that may never come.

Nemo (Horrorswapfell Papyrus): An artist turned survivalist. Still sees beauty in the world and lives to find and capture it, but warier of people than ever. Unable to trust without verifying, especially for promises of safety. Struggles with agoraphobia and often anticipates and tries to be ready for worst case scenarios, not wanting to be caught unprepared. Values his resources and dislikes waste, deeply satisfied when his material possessions are utilized for their (intended or invented) purposes. Largely nonverbal, speaks little but deliberately. Nonviolent by choice, but zero hesitation and little remorse when defending himself and loved ones from danger. Strong startle reflex and high protective drive, he leaves claw-marks in everything he holds onto for fear of having it stolen. A lover at the core, someone who’s seen the dark side of life and is unwilling to lose anything that matters to it again.

Sunny (Gastertale Sans): A gleeful tourist to everywhere he goes. Just thrilled to be here—thrilled to be, in love with existence and harboring deep curiosity and appreciation for every new thing he finds. Distractible, a bit scattered and often spooled off in several different directions at once, so things occasionally slip his mind. Shies from heavy responsibilities and resistant to change when the scope of the outcome is unknowable (are things really so bad, the way they are?). Independent and self-sufficient, doesn’t seek or heed the expectations of others but does crave a feeling of connection. Wants to feel like he belongs here, reassurance that his being isn’t just a mistake. Spontaneous and can be taken by a touch of playful mischief at any time, but rarely anything too outrageous, most often in pursuit of life’s simple pleasures—food, music, friends, and adventures.

Aster (Gastertale Papyrus): An eccentric, avant-garde personified. Attracted to the unusual, interest piqued by anything that lies off the beaten path, to the point of becoming a curiosity himself. A solid sense of morals and empathy that keep an otherwise healthy, hefty ego in check, but still just petty enough for it to grate if he feels his intelligence has been questioned. Charming and personable, with deliberate effort, will actively chameleon in social situations, showing carefully selected facets of himself as appropriate. A deeply inquisitive mind and a strong drive to understand, mysteries and unanswered questions catch his attention easily and hold it until he’s reached a satisfactory outcome. Can get carried away, knowing when to leave something alone is often a struggle for him. Seeks, above all, to know—himself, his world, and how everything in them fits together.

Spectr (Transcendtale Sans): A ghost with no idea what his ‘unfinished business’ is supposed to be, so he just…keeps moving. Not incapable of emotion but distanced from it, very hard to provoke reactions in and faint and fleeting when they come. A touch cynical, tends to expect the worst—or most selfish—from people and tries to keep to himself accordingly. Struggles with his sense of identity, he is the Ship of Theseus. Not over his death and deeply dysphoric about his body, both topics that can still genuinely upset him if he dwells on them. Little respect for laws, but ethics fully intact, will step in to reduce harm when in a position to do so without exposure. Strong urge to wander driven by deep reverence for the life and beauty on the Surface, seeking to see more; to make his sacrifices worth their price.

PapAIrus (Transcendtale Papyrus): Hollow in the way that bird-bones are—a sacrifice in exchange for the joy of freedom and flight. No remorse over the loss of his former life or any of the attached trappings, only occasional vague consternation when the rare thing he can’t still do comes up. Rarely unoccupied, multitasks to maintain consistent mental stimulation. Nigh-omniscient, limited in scope only by his own attention span and level of interest, which fluctuates. Obstacles are only a test of his ability to bypass them, too clever not to love a good puzzle. Morally…questionable, never seeks harm or harbors any nefarious motives, but tends to only invest in things as much they directly entertain or benefit him. Prefers praise and adulation but unafraid of and unaffected by criticism, pleased as long as he’s the center of attention and the topic of conversation.

Xanth (Ascendswap Sans): The quintessential manic-pixie-dream-guy. Sees and feels the imperceptible, the world as a tapestry of light and color and interconnected threads. Minimally aware of his physical needs and sensations, or of what’s going on with his body in general unless reminded. Outwardly focused instead, very aware of the emotions and energies of those around him. Enjoys being helpful and making others happy, occasionally to the detriment of himself but more because of poor interoception of what his own needs are than any intentional structuring of his priorities. Changeable, easily swayed to new ideas when given a new perspective to consider. Speaks in riddles sometimes, just for fun. Fascinated by and in love with everything, someone who’s gone from only ever seeing a light-polluted night sky to seeing what it really is—a spectacular vista full of stars and beauty.

Piper (Ascendswap Papyrus): A butterfly from a chrysalis, an escapee from his own comfort-zone. Unwilling to accept boundaries for himself as imposed by others—who people think he should be and what judgments they might make if he isn’t that no longer have power over him. Pursues his interests and passions deliberately, without fear or shame. A bit jaded, sometimes seeks ulterior motives in others and tends to hedge his bets until trust is earned. Values social connections anyway and tries to maintain a variety of (at least civil) relationships. Takes care in his appearance, proud of his art, his image. Unfazed by the unexpected, confident in his ability to assess and adapt to most problems he encounters. A romantic at heart still, despite everything, with a soft spot for love and beauty and everything else poems and ballads get written about.

Carmine (Underfell Fruition Sans): A fresh young buck with wild oats to sow. The opposite of world-weary, curious and open to new experiences—he’ll try anything once, just for the sake of it. Doesn’t like being still or anything that slows him down, prefers being up and out and moving whenever possible. Not given to silence, very chatty and liable to be running his mouth at any given moment, often past the point of wisdom. Emotionally immature, lacking first-hand experience with people and relationships, learning on-the-spot. Slight main-character syndrome, forgets occasionally about things like privacy and boundaries and may need to be reminded. Lucky, with a sixth sense for danger that mostly keeps him out of the trouble he’d otherwise incur. Keeps his heart not on his sleeve, but in his pocket, close at hand and not hard to reach.

Tank (Underfell Fruition Papyrus): A living weapon, slowly remembering the things that make him a person, too. Blank, stony affect that rarely wavers, speaking mostly when spoken to. Reactive in general, often needs a stimulus or directive to respond to before taking action. Severe choice paralysis, hesitates to outwardly express, or sometimes even inwardly acknowledge, opinions and preferences without assurance of a ‘safe,’ ‘correct’ answer. Highly observant and capable of quick problem-solving, with an excellent memory for anything he’s been told. Cannot abide aggression or abuse, especially in blatantly uneven power dynamics and will always intercede on behalf of the victim. Minimal concept of ownership and will allow sharing of very personal possessions, but gradually more protective of things the longer they remain his. Enjoys the fruits of his own labor, tangible end-results or positive feedback, and will repeat anything that goes well for further gains.

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans): A shadow, only making careful overtures into the world of light. Not a people-person, keeps to himself and prefers others to have as little knowledge about him as possible. Low on charm and conversational finesse, very direct and to-the-point, when he says anything at all. Private and guarded, secrecy, lies, and selective information have often been his best defense and still his first instinct. Complicated relationship with attention—can want more than anything to feel seen or desperately need to go unseen, and which it is changes on a dime. Keeps everything that matters close to his chest, holding on tight, digging in deep, and making sure no one knows how much it would hurt if they took something away. His trust is hard-earned, but loyalty is absolute. Satisfied with little, as long as he can claim it as his.

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papyrus): A working-breed dog off-leash, sniffing all around town for mischief to get into. Curious, though driven mostly by self-interest, willing to make, take, break anything if he senses the possibility of amusement in it. Lacks malice and ill-intention, but has no respect for rules and authority, will always find loopholes if he can. Diminished attention span, has difficulty focusing for long periods without sufficient motivation. More intelligent than he tends to let on, with a knack for cutting through bullshit and seeing to the heart of things. Minimal concept of his own bodily autonomy, eroded early on, and cares little what goes in, on, or around him—his body as a ‘temple’ that even Dionysus might side-eye. Roguishly charming with others, but true attachment can be sporadic, unpredictable. No fear, shame, or inhibition, the world is his playground.

Kohl (Descendtale Sans): Left to die, continuing to live almost on spite alone. Bitter, resentful, no longer offers the benefit of the doubt as a given. Very protective of what he has left—his people, his things, his simple pleasures—even when they’re difficult to enjoy in the same way as before. Mistrust of those outside his circle, keeps his distance and resists connection until strangers prove their intentions and character genuine. Commits wholly, uninterested in things without longevity. Occasional visual hallucinations, worst in dim, flickering light. Macabre sense of humor, mischievous and flavored with schadenfreude, likes to irk and spook and frustrate. Fully aware of where The Line is at all times and remains on the right side of it, never crossing though sometimes toeing it a bit. Contrary at heart, meant to wither miserably so now he’s determined to thrive comfortably.

Bram (Descendtale Papyrus): A reaching hand in the darkness, seeking something to hold onto. Severe abandonment issues, anxiety around being forgotten and left behind. Seeks connection everywhere, hoping to make meaningful, lasting relationships. Strong desire to prove himself, always wants to be at his very best to impress and win others over. Struggles with emotional dysregulation, sometimes feeling his emotions very strongly and sometimes not at all, managing them is a learning curve. Occasional auditory hallucinations, mostly whispers in white noise and distant knocking. Respectful of boundaries the way a dog at the door is, bouncing and tapping all around it, off like a shot the moment he gets the go-ahead—and may first need to be taught what the boundary is. Trying to make his life a home, filling it with beloved clutter (people and things) that makes him feel warm.

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