~~~~~~~~~~~

Error stands in the empty AU, across from the creator, a FIGHT enveloping the two, ignoring the other Stars.

"Error! You don't have to destroy! I came here to offer a truce for you." Error pauses slightly, but Ink sighs in relief.

Thank goodness he didn't attack me.

"Error. I promise to balance. You can wipe out copies as needed, and I'll only create original ideas once a month, once a week at most. Does that sound good?" Error straightens out of his battle stance, crossing the expanse, stopping right in front of the far shorter Ink.

"Up t0 y0u t0 k33p thi5 pr0mi53, 5quid." (Up to you to keep this promise, Squid.) Error speaks, the static in his voice unbearably loud for those who aren't used to it. For Ink, Error is speaking as clearly as he was.

"I will." Error flicks Ink's nasal bone at Ink's response, turning around and heading for an open and white portal.

"Y34h, 5ur3. I'11 b3 in my 4nti-v0id if y0u 5ti11 w4nt t0 fight." (Yeah, sure. I'll be in my anti-void if you still want to fight.) Error steps in, the portal shut behind him.

"That went well!" Ink's sentence spreads through the expanse, Dream coming over.

"Are you sure? He didn't seem to believe you." Ink rolls his eyelights.

"Duh, cause it's on me to keep this promise. I made the promise, not him. He's waiting to see if I'll keep to my word." Dream furrows his brow.

"Why would the destroyer be so doubtful? You're the creator; of course, you keep your promises."

"Let's just say I've given him empty promises before." Dream sighs.

"Why?" Ink shrugs.

"I forget sometimes...and sometimes I was just an asshole." Ink blinks, grabbing a pen and finding an empty part of his scarf.

"Speaking of, need to write this down, somewhere I'll see it." Ink mutters, quickly writing down his promise to Error with a nod. Dream looks at Blue, the blue-clad skeleton bounding over.

"Do you know anything about Error?"

"YEAH, I KNOW A LOT. I WAS STUCK IN WHAT MIGHT AS WELL BE QUARANTINE WITH HIM FOR A WHILE. HE'S WEIRD, BUT KINDA NICE." Dream nods.

"Can you tell me and Ink more about him?"

"SURE, ONCE I'VE DONE THIS ONE THING." Blue bounds over to the open portal, a giant hammer slamming into unsuspecting Sanses, only dusting the copy Sanses.

"I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T ATTACK ERROR PLEASE. OR ELSE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SLAM THE BAN HAMMER, AND WE DON'T WANNA BAN ANY OTHER WORLDS/SANSES, RIGHT?" Blue says this not veiled threat with all the cheer of someone celebrating a holiday. Once Blue is certain the threat to Error is slim, he bounds back over to Ink and Dream, beginning to discuss with them the things he knows.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A brightly colored friend of Geno's skates into the Anti-Void on his heelies, whistling.

"Wow my broseph! This place is as unrad as normal! Why don't you all up n decorate or somethin? Make this place homely my dude!" A black slipper gets thrown at Fresh, who only grins, knowing Error is indeed capable of hearing.

"Woah my dude! C'mon! I got a totes rad invite to an epic c-mas partay by the all up and eternally bleeding broseph Geno!" Error leans over his hammock, looking down at Fresh with a look that says 'leave me the quack alone'.

"4 p4rty invit3? R3411y? I5 thi5 4n0th3r pr4nk 0f y0ur5?" (A party invite? Really? Is this another prank of yours?)

"Nah nah nah! My radical friend all up n wants you te come! N with that rad truce between you n Ink, there isn't a reason not to invite ya!"

"3xc3pt f0r th3 f4ct th3 3ntir3 mu1tiv3r53 kind4 h4t35 m3 f0r d35tr0ying th3ir 4U5." (Except for the fact the entire multiverse kinda hates me for destroying their AUs.) Fresh groans, twirling around in frustration.

"Bro! Your radical crush-" Error ties Fresh's mouth up with strings.

"D0n't 54y hi5 n4m3. I'11 g0 if it'11 m4k3 y0u 5hut up." (Don't say his name. I'll go if it'll make you shut up.) Fresh hands the party invite to Error, heelieing out of the anti-void.

Error looks down at the invite, reading the illegible writing of Geno with relative ease.

Christmas Party

AfterTale's SAVE Screen

All AUs Welcome

December 25th, 2020

Let's celebrate the end of this god forsaken year!

Error releases a soft huff.

So will you be going to the party?

Will you?

It should be different this year.

It doesn't seem like Blue is spiking the nog this year.

It's possible you'll meet your crush, or even your ex. Not sure what I want more.

If you don't go, Fresh will absolutely tell-

"I h4v3n't d3cid3d y3t. I d0n't w4nt t0 g0, but if I d0n't g0, Fr35h wi11 t311 3v3ry0n3 wh0 th3 big b4d d35tr0y3r h45 4 cru5h 0n, 4nd th4t'5 4 c0nv3r54ti0n I d0n't w4nt t0 h4v3...h0w3v3r...533ing my 3x...I d0n't w4nt t0 3v3r 533 him 4g4in." (I haven't decided yet. I don't want to go, but if I don't go, Fresh will tell everyone who the big bad destroyer has a crush on, and that's a conversation I don't want to have...however...seeing my ex...I don't want to ever see him again.)

The voice begin talking amongst themselves, and Error looks himself over.

"B35id35, I d0n't h4v3 4 g00d p4rty 0utfit...4nd my i55u35..." (Besides, I don't have a good party outfit...and my issues...)

Well, the outfit thing can be solved by just doing your normal knitting thing, but your other issues...

Just suck it up for your crush~

You could always just not go I suppose.

Eh, don't worry about it, I bet most skeletons won't attend anyways.

"Y-y34h...I'm p-p05itiv3 th4t G3n0 didn't 4ctu411y m34n 3v3ry0n3." (Y-yeah...I'm p-positive that Geno didn't actually mean everyone.)

~~~~~~~~~~~ (Note: After this line, there is a continuous description of an anxiety/panic attack. If that kind of thing triggers you, I'd recommend not reading, or reading cautiously. Also, I tried to be as good as possible about describing the attack and such, but I don't think I've ever personally had such an attack, so I don't necessarily know everything about the topic. Sorry if I misrepresented such a situation.)

Error stands frozen just outside the house, feeling his soulbeat slowly speed up.

This was a mistake.

The size of the house, the noise of the party from inside, the soul of his ex, it's all too much.

This was a big mistake.

Error can't feel his body, he is having a hard time breathing.

I'm not ready to face him.

"Hey broski!" Fresh roughly grabs Error's shoulders, pulling the glitchy one into the party, the music so much louder. It's deafening, Error can't hear Fresh, but thankfully, Error got good at reading lips.

'I'll be by the fruit punch!' Error slowly nods, his breathing getting shallower as he tries to make his way to an edge without touching anyone. At one point, he stops breathing, only restarting it when he is safely at the edge. A familiar friend bounds over, but Error can't...he can't.

"ERROR-"

"5-5hut up B1u3. P-p13453." (S-shut up Blue. P-please.) Error trembles in his spot on the couch, hugging his arms close to him, breathing shallowly.

"Error...are you okay?" Error looks at Blue, trying to catch his breath.

"Oh, Hey Error!" Error freezes all movement.

I'm not ready to face him.

"Reaper! You know Error?" Blue responds.

Please... Kill me now Fate.

"Of course, I used to date him. But he could never be what I wanted and ultimately left, stating I was 'being too hard' on him. I think he just didn't actually love me." Error is on his feet in an instant, heading around the mansion, looking for a backdoor to leave out of.

I can't do this. Fresh can do whatever he wants, I need to leave.

"Hey...you don't seem alright." A voice sounds right beside Error, an arm gently leading Error somewhere.

Why can't I see?

"You seem to be knee deep in an anxiety attack." The leader opens a door, cold air blowing onto Error's face. He's then sat down.

"I'll be back in a minute with a few things, okay?" Error does his best to nod, closing his eyes.

I couldn't face him. I'll never be able to face him.

"Woah! Broski! You don't look good!" Error trembles, anger pulsating.

"I-i w0u1dn't 3v3n b3 h3r3 if it w-w3r3n't f0r y0ur 5tupid b14ckm4i1! G0 4h34d 4nd t311 1u5t I h4v3 4 cru5h 0n him f0r 411 I c4r3! I ju5t w4nt t0 g0 h0m3 4nd f0rg3t 411 0f thi5 3v3n h4pp3n3d!" (I-i wouldn't even be here if it w-weren't for your stupid blackmail! Go ahead and tell Lust I have a crush on him for all I care! I just want to go home and forget all of this even happened!) Fresh chuckles softly.

"I dun have ta broski, cause you just told him." Error tilts his head.

"You love me, Error?" The same voice from before, one which Error now recognizes as Lust's, pipes up. Error shivers, not responding.

"You know, I knew Error was pitiful, but to be so pitiful that he can't even confess to his crush right? Wow!" Reaper's grating voice drifts into the air.

"Leave Error alone, can't you see he's having an anxiety attack?"

"So? That just makes him so much more pitiful to me."

"Well, your judgment sucks ass and frankly, your opinions aren't wanted here."

"And why is that, slurpie (slut)?"

"Because Error and you obviously have an unhealthy past and I'd frankly like it if you quacking (fucking) left me and Error alone, you coffee-obsessed emo dog (bitch)." Reaper gasps, and some scuffle happens before Lust sits beside Error.

"Reaper left. How are you feeling?" Error feels his soulbeat slowing down, his breathing coming easier.

"I-i'm impr0ving. N0t g00d...but b3tt3r." (I-i'm improving. Not good...but better.) Lust hums softly.

"I don't know the full story, and I won't pry, but you and Reaper don't seem to have had a clean break."

"N0...w3 didn't." (No...we didn't.)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Blue smiles at Lust and Error sitting on the steps of the porch outside, the two fervently talking about anything and everything, the two receptive and bouncing off each other. It's within ten minutes of meeting Lust and socializing here that Error has allowed the purple skeleton to touch him, something that took Blue months of pleading to be allowed to do.

"How is Error doing?"

"Better. What about Reaper?"

"Kicked out of the party. Apparently, Geno and Reaper had a massive argument over this, and now Geno is single." Blue chuckles softly.

"Makes sense."

"Do...you know what happened between Reaper and Error?"

"Yes."

"Will...you share?" Blue smiles at Dream, shaking his head.

'It's not my story to share. And I won't betray my friendship with Error for your curiosity."

"..."

"If you want to know, talk to Reaper then come back to me. Or preferably talk to Error at his pace. Reaper would distort much of what happened to suit his narrative about Error." Blue straightens.

"And I'd rather you not believe the horseshiz that damned reaper spills when he talks." Blue smiles, heading back inside.

"Have a good Christmas, Dream." Dream studies Error and Lust for a while longer, watching the two discuss everything from stars, to the science of sex positions and heat magic, to the value of different types of wool and yarn for knitting as well as eco-friendliness.

Honestly, it's amazing the two can keep talking about such things. Eventually, the conversation comes back around.

"What would your favorite activity be for Christmas?"

"5t4rg4zing. Knitting. W4tching Und3rn0v3114. 4 5m411 priv4t3 g3t-t0g3th3r with n0 5tring5 4tt4ch3d." (Stargazing. Knitting. Watching Undernovella. A small private get-together with no strings attached.)

"Was..." Lust can't contain a snort, fighting to get the sentence out, "That a pun?" Error snorted, before falling down the stairs in laughter. Lust slowly follows Error down, barely capable of breathing as he wheezes from laughter. Dream smiles widely, feeling the overwhelming positivity between the two.

I'd rather you not believe the horseshiz that damned reaper spills when he talks.

Dream hums softly.

Blue, there is indeed more to Error that I thought.

Dream slowly steps out, watching the two make snow angels.

"Perhaps it'd be worth it to reach out to Error. About many things." As Dream begins to descend, a familiar and goopy tentacle halts Dream's motion.

"Br-Nightmare?"

"Let him have his Christmas. It's the first one he isn't destroying on and it's the first 'date' for him and Lust. You can satiate your curiosity later." The tentacle turns Dream around, leading him back inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Error catches his breath in the snow, smiling from the heavy laughter he and Lust had.

"Error."

"Hm?"

"What...are we to each other?" Error hums softly, looking at Lust, who looks worried.

"13t'5 t4k3 it 510w, y34? W3 c4n figur3 0ut wh4t w3 m34n 4ft3r w3'v3 5p3nt 10ng 3n0ugh kn0wing 34ch 0th3r, k4y?" (Let's take it slow, yea? We can figure out what we mean after we've spent long enough knowing each other, kay?) Lust sighs softly in relief, smiling, gently intertwining his hand with Error.

"Sure, sounds great." Error relaxes, blinking as the SAVE Screen changes to have an Outertale background, his eyelights shifting into small stars, pointing out the different constellations. Lust smiles softly, repeatedly asking what else Error knows, the two discussing so many star-based ideas.

Eventually, Error hears a soft snore coming from Lust, and quiets down, knitting a scarf with his strings which he has commanded to change colors at will.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lust wakes up in the snow alone, blinking, sitting up. A long and midnight sky with a subtle fade into a sunset and speckled with star scarf falls into his lap and he smiles, feeling the magic from Error humming within.

Error sits in the Anti-Void, watching Lust wake with the scarf, smiling.

"Yo broseph! Told ya it'd work!"

"5hut up, Fr35h." (Shut up, Fresh.) Error mutters the rude statement with a playful smile.

"But th4nk y0u, Fr35h. D35pit3 th3 p4nic 4tt4ck...I h4d fun." (But thank you, Fresh. Despite the panic attack...I had fun.) Fresh grins, heelieing out.

"I know brah!"

Error goes back to watching Lust, who is just hugging the scarf close to him, a soft smile and lavender blush on his face. Error smiles gently, his yellow star freckles showing as he blushes a soft blue.

(2286 words.

Thank you XxAfter_lifexX for requesting this gem.

Now, you probably read my FGOD Error x CORE!Frisk ANGST.

I mentioned I had a plan.

This chapter (hopefully) will appear on Christmas day.

I'm closing requests and completing this book.

I'm not swamped by requests. I'm kinda busy with some books I'm writing outside of this, and I have a few ideas for ships I've fallen in love with and want to write some 30 Day things for.

I'm also intending to start my own OC based storyline that could have some ties to Undertale but doesn't require Undertale knowledge to enjoy.

If you want to see the OC storyline, it'll be posting under my ao3 account just because I kinda get the feeling my OC stuff won't really receive the same love my Undertale stuff will.

This book will obvs remain up. And I won't stop producing FGOD Oneshots (which typically do heavily feature ships outside of the storyline) and I've got books like Wounds Heal, Scars Fade and Almost that both will have overarching stories, ships, or both.

I'll be editing and updating the request chapter Dec 25st, 2020 and I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year, a happy hannukah, a merry kawanza, and whatever else you celebrate or however you celebrate it.