Grillby's POV:

When Sans left the bar, I slumped down in relaxation. He had gave me the break of my lifetime. I...

Can finally take a break.

Seriously. All throughout the resets, I never managed to get one break. It always seems like time would slow down and I would forever stay at my shift. It got so lackluster.... I nearly felt my face slump downwards and my firey eyelids closing, but then I stood up straight, none of my customers noticing of course. I got too relaxed... Though, that break does sound dandy, I don't think it's a good idea. The rest of the monsters don't know what's going on, so I shouldn't close it down just for the sake of a break....

The chatter and the jazz playing from my somehow fixed jukebox, makes the environment peaceful. The clanking of the glasses and the screeches of the barstools, make it familiar, yet not the same-old. Somehow, Sans's words made everything have a positive view on it.

The fire that was dimmed in my soul, now burst with energy, and I can feel my surroundings getting visibly brighter, and my arms and body was glowing tremendously. Well, more than usual. Of course, this is always what happens to fire elementals when they experience an emotion. Happiness would make us glow. Anger would make us crackle and pop. Sadness would make us dim. And love....

Well I don't want to dwell on that.

"Yo Grillbys~..... Can ya *hic* geter me anoder glass o beer?" One of the drunkards here asked. I gladly filled up their glass, even though I knew this should be their last one. This hasn't happened before... And I am thankful.

I walk back towards my counter and I start wiping the stain on this one glass that I could never get off.

This glass is now officially part of my bucket list. To clean it.

*ding!*

Ahh, another customer.

"Hi Dad!" Chirps my daughter, Fuku. Never mind, she's not a customer.

"Hello Fuku. How's highschool going?" I lean over the counter, overjoyed that there's change.

"Oh just great Dad! We got let out early for..." Fuku furrowed her eyebrows and rested her right hand underneath her chin while her left hand was holding her right elbow. "Well, I don't know the reason. Our teachers were confused to our principal's orders, but the students were THRILLED!" Fuku cheered.

"That's great! Now I do wonder why she would let you out early..." I had a good feeling what it was, and if I was correct, then I'm surprised Sans doesn't know. Correction, I'm not surprised he doesn't know. He's lazy, and he's not outgoing in the slightest. An introvert at it's finest.

"Well who cares?!" Fuku burst my thought bubble. "I want some delicious food!!!" Fuku enthusiastically exclaimed, and she smiled brightly, which I couldn't help but smile back. 

"Where's your manners?" I teased as I started up the fryer.

"Oh sorry, I think I left them at school..." Fuku joked back.

"Oh well... I guess no double-dipped-cheese-covered-fries-adorned-with-salt." I tossed in the fries.

"Hey! I want the ddccfaws!" Fuku whined still in a playful manner. Oh right, our little acronym for Fuku's favorite snack.

I took out the fries to cool. "Oh all right... But you must sit up straight and act your age." I took the fries and dipped them in cheese twice.

"Fine.... If it's for the ddccfaws, then it's worth it." I finished the fries with the adornment of salt. I moved it over to Fuku, and with her perfect posture and expression, I mentally snickered after what might happen next.

It's been a while since I have seen Fuku mentally, but in reality, it's only been 4 hours. It wasn't fresh on my mind that Fuku would nearly face plant and dig right into the fries, and eat like a mad monster. She loves those things, no joke.

We both laughed, and then my laughter was cut short by the chime of the bell once again.

*ding ding!*

In came Sans....

And a coated woman.

Wait... 

A coated Human.

"Heh. Aspiration... Doesn't that mean to be inspired?" I overheard Sans's deep voice. 

"Nope. It means a hope... or goal." The trench coated human and Sans neared us. The two sat at the bar, next to each other, and next to Fuku.

"So what is your goal? To get out of this mountain I'm assuming?" Sans questioned, which the subject would have offended us monsters, but then the woman answered differently than I expected.

"No way! This place seems foreign, but a great place to set up my goal!" Both Fuku's and I's eyes lit up.

"But... What's your goal?" Sans insisted.

"To make a bar!"

"What?" I questioned.

All three pairs of eyes turned towards me.

"Pardon?" The woman asked politely.

"I, am Grillby, the owner of this fine place." I spoke rather rudely, but I was too into it at the time to pay attention. "I, am a bartender. You," I stood up straight and took off my glasses. "Are going to have some challenge." 

The woman seemed slightly surprised by my actions. 

"Oh wow." She breathed. "You're...." I was expecting a comment from my threat, but instead it was... "You're made out of fire. That's cool!"

I flushed. 

"What?!" I questioned sharply.

"Yeah. You produce so much heat. I find that... just amazing to be honest." Her comment made my red in my fire glow more. She doesn't know that I am threatening her?!

"What?! I thought you were going to comment on my threat!" I put my glasses back on and I furrowed my brows at her.

"Nope. That, I knew, would create conflict. So I instead complimented you." She pulled her hair out of her jacket which revealed a shiny shade of H/C because of my fire and Fuku's. She then pulled out something out of her pocket, and I leaned over to look at what it was, but she set it on the table, and then I read the cover.

"A mixology book?" Sans questioned for me.

"Yeah. That's my job back at the surface, well, more like specialty." The lady bashfully waved off.

Meanwhile, I gawked. 

"Mixology?" I questioned. "You mean, the mixing of ingredients for alcoholic drinks?" 

"Yep!" She nodded.

"But that's really hard isn't it?" I changed my voice so I didn't sound so impressed by her skills, but I think she picked up on it already.

"Sure, but with practice, it came along easy." I then thought this over. If she wants to open up her own bar, she would need to manage the whole place herself! Like me! She would need to run the bar, be a waitress, and cleaning. Surely she can't do all that. 

"Up at the surface, I owned my own bar. I was the bartender and a mixologist!" With my little knowledge of mixology, I knew that mixology was a more advanced approach at being a bartender. Does she know that they are nearly one of the same?

"Isn't mixology and bartending the same thing?" I leaned in and smugly awaited my answer.

"Nope." She popped the 'p'. 

"What?" I lifted my head up in confusion at her correct answer. "Then how are you both?!"

"Simple. I have whiskey, AND cocktails!" She grinned. I glared at her. She was really on my nerves. She can't overrun my business! She's so much better than me! I was never taught mixology, but she has a big book that is filled with recipes! Wait...

"Hmmm...." I was perplexed before to how I could stop the woman, but then it came to me. "How about we pair up?"