Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You were lonely in the dark apartment. Shadow-like phantoms sleuthed in the dark. you were alone with nothing besides your thoughts for company. In a world without magic, imagination was the closest to magic you could get. Forever stuck at a dead-end job, that sapped any creativity out of your hell-hole you call a life. Even better yet you were still in your pyjamas. Out the window, ghosts of moonlight raked its fingers across the cold glass of the window. Below the city, the stars sang, and the birds grew fallow of song. You couldn’t sleep. You felt hollow… empty inside, like something was missing, yet you didn't know what. Phantoms of depression slithered like sin crawling down your back. You were hollow without anything, or anyone to make you feel whole.

Your apartment was like a vampire’s den with the blackout curtains partially drawn open. Stratus clouds swirled in the ochre light of dawn, like a Vincent van Gogh painting.

The sky outside was like a Canadian sunset of stars. You were alone in a world where everyone seemed happy except you. You lived in the countryside and were glad to have moved away from the city where there wasn’t any pollution to bother you. No memories from the city to bother you. Unfortunately for you, the past has eyes and it seemed to always follow you wherever you went. You worked in the city, although getting there was a hassle. Not everything was sunshine and rainbows you assumed.

Not even the cotton candy clouds outside could cheer your mood. Whenever you felt down your mind drew you back to the moment when you went to Best Buy for a new mouse for your computer after you broke yours after rage quitting to a game you remembered was called 'Ramen Warriors.' In Best Buy one game stood out to you a dating simulator. A choir of angels practically sang as your eyes locked on to the cover. You remembered how the sleek, glossy case of the video game sang to you. It was as if destiny drew you closer. That game was now your favorite. a dating simulator, ‘Bachelors of Belgrave Manor’, a dating game where all the bachelors, for some reason, were skeletons. It was a game of passion, romance, danger and betrayal. It was a game where you could romance a single ‘Verta-bae’ of your choosing. There was no shortage of bone bachelors or bone-friends in the mansion of wonders. The open game case that sat on your desk near your computer, on the case there was about seven skeletons in various poses and outfits inscribed on the cover.

When you first saw it, you knew you had to buy it. Sure, the game was a weird premise. You remembered how you grabbed it out of the case and bought the game with the last of your food money. Now you were living off cheap ramen and SPAM like it was war rations. Quite the profligate weren’t you?

With the long title, you usually just called the game Belgrave Manor. The protagonist, Daisy Hollows, was a naive, ditzy, yet flirty woman. You play as her as she inherits her grandfather’s mansion after she wins the lottery, and has enough money to purchase it back from the evil step-mother who stole it from her. There was even a secret mode you achieve after completing the full game and getting the good ending. It was a mode where you play as the antagonist, (Y/N) Vondoom. You found it funny how the villain had the same name as you, and it was what partially inspired you to buy it.

There was many routes you could go on, there was the harem route where you could seduce all the skeletons of the Belgrave manor. Then there was the villain route you could go on as Daisy, and there was the Evil route you could only do by playing as the villain. It was an ending where you manipulate all the skeletons, and have the choice to either screw them over, or banish them to the shadow realm sending them back to their respective universes.

There was even a hard mode where you could play as the antagonist, Sarah Helborne the two-faced best friend of Daisy. With the last name Helborne you supposed it wasn't a suprise that she was evil. In this mode you play as Sarah who was paid to spy, steal, and exploit the scientific accomplishments of W.D Gaster, exposing his crimes involving human experimentation to the masses. There was even another ending where you could overthrow Daisy as the head of the mansion, and there was another way to achieve this route using the manipulator route by turning the skeletons against Daisy. You flipped the lid to your computer, and the light that elucidated from the computer practically blinded you. It took your eyes a while to adjust. After days and weeks of playing, you still couldn’t complete the ‘Good ending’ on hard mode.

There was a chorus of music as the final dramatic cutscene played. You mentally crossed your fingers, hoping Lady Luck was on your side, unfortunately, she was not. ‘GAME OVER! ENDING 5 BAD END’ You died to Swapfell Sans for the third time during a training heart event. Ignoring your frustration, you looked at the analog clock that hung over the stove in your closet-sized bedroom. 2:05 PM. Your soul dropped to your stomach with a grim feeling.

You were late for work.

You raced to your dresser and fumbled to put on your work uniform, your boss would kill you if she found you late, she already thought you were indolent enough already. As you ran down the fire escape, down the streets, and past the cat-sized rats. The wind was like a serrated blade as it swept over your skin, causing goose flesh to rise on your skin. You ignored getting catcalled by the street hookers with tramp stamps, and the men looking for a good time. Going to the nearest bus stop, you paid and got on. After a long bus ride, you finally made it to the city.

Another job, another day. You weren’t excited for another long day, where your feet would end up killing you one way or another. You were lucky you lived close to your work, near your closet-sized apartment near the hood. You slammed open the door to your work, the door nearly betrayed you by attempting to slam closed and smack you in the face in retaliation. Damn wind. Before you stood your boss.

She lowered her spectacles to scrutinize you with judgmental eyes. You observed as your boss's eyes dropped down to your chest, observing you for any flaws. You thought she was checking you out for a moment. “Ahem.” She said, with a fake cough into his fist. Your eyes slid down to your name tag, it was crooked.

With an awkward chuckle, you straightened your name tag. The job you worked for, you thought, was rather normal. You grabbed your clipboard and straightened the papers by tapping them on your desk. Your job was to assign fairies to people who have recently been isekaied, sort the payroll, do the schedule, and sign out any infractions, sort promotions, do the job interviews for the new recruits, and the paperwork and background checks for said interviews, and hire fairies who were interested in being babysitters for the starstruck weebs who found themselves in a new world. You then started your boring day sorting the files for potential people to be isekaied into some fantastical realm. You couldn’t help but wonder when would it be your turn? Why did all these unsuspecting strangers get to be isekaied into somewhere whether they liked it or not?

“Aren’t you forgetting something? The meeting.” Your boss reminded you coldy. Her words were like poison to your ears. You stiffened your body was a ramrod of stillness. You strode into the meeting room. The table was like a banquet table that stretched around the room in a circle.

You took your place and rolled your shoulders forward, trying to make yourself as small as possible. There was a cornucopia of monsters seated around the table, with a few humans sprinkled in. You felt like the odd man out. There was a PowerPoint presentation ahead, along with diagrams, about new innovative ways to isekai people, with one diagram stating how Truck-Kun wasn’t to be trusted anymore. Honestly, what business did you have here?

You only filled out forms copied from stolen I.D. pamphlets for people who were eligible to be Isekaied. Only those who were miserable, bored, or lonely were acceptable. Anyone who worked in H.R. here wasn’t allowed the same Isekai adventure. You surely weren’t on the list to be isekaied. Hell, your ex co-worker was Truck-Kun, although he worked in a different department called the ‘Direct Isekai Division.’

Truck-kun was the guy who first showed you the ropes when you first started working here from a summer internship. Honestly, how did you end up here? Your only credentials were an apple you drew in high school. You didn’t even have a degree. College? You were nothing more than a dropout.

Many fairies and strange creatures floated above the seats, they twirled their wands boredly. All wore business suits. They made you feel stuffy in their tight fitting suits. However some monsters who worked here looked perfectly normal. Fairy dust twirled down from the wands of the fairies, covering the seats in iridescent glitter that you would be digging your own grave trying to clean. Would it kill the rest of HR to hire a janitor?

Some fairy dust flew your way and got in your nose. It caused you to sneeze. “I’m sure you all are wondering why I called this meeting here today.” A large fairy stepped before everyone, her eyes were caught on you for some reason. “There’s been a meeting to discuss your indolence.” She looked you dead in the eye.

The lights above winked over a bizarre assembly of magical creatures. You felt like the only human here. Indolent. She was calling you lazy. Lazy ha! You worked harder than an ugly stripper, and that was saying something.

A coworker beside you snickered. “Looks like someone's in trouble with Tinky Winky.” Your coworker beside you snickered. “More like Kinky Winky.” Another one said with a guffaw of laughter that somehow went unnoticed.

“Oh shit Kinky Winky’s here!” Another one scrambled and pretended to look normal as the C.E.O. strode into the room. Your boss's wife stood before you, the dress she wore was a teletubby purple. ‘Tinker Winda.’ Her name tag read it was your boss's wife. In her strange glitter hooker dress, in her contralto voice that was strangely deep for a fairy. She was humanoid with the wings of a fairy. It was the one chick who always passed her work onto you and got you in trouble for it when you didn’t comply.

The fairy in front of you cleared her throat. “And that’s why the council decided you, dear protagonist, should be our next candidate!” She waved her wand at you in a melodramatic fashion. She gave you a wink. “What me?” You managed to stutter out with surprise. Isekai?What did she mean Isekai? Why did she want to Isekai you of all people? Of all the other candidates she chose you? And why you specifically? Wasn't it against the rules? You flattened yourself against the back of your chair wishing you were invisible already.

“I just stamp paperwork! I’m not… I can’t be Isekaied.” You said. “Of course, my little starstruck starling, you are always welcome to reject my oh so generous request.” She posed dramatically with a hand caressing her hair like Tamaki Suoh. Fluorescent lights hung like spotlights over the meeting room. The spotlight seemed to shine brightest over you making you the center of attention. The lighting made the meeting room feel more like a strip club than a workplace. Why would they reward you instead of punish you for being so-called indolent?

“I’m sorry, Kinky Winky- I mean Tinky Winky- I mean boss!” You stood up abruptly nearly knocking over your chair as you stood abruptly. Your boss looked at you aghast as you left. You were indignant with embarrassment, how could you call your boss her hooker name? Shame on you!

Abashed and heavy with embarrassment, you left to conduct another interview. “I need a minute to myself. I have an interview to conduct.” You moved out the door swiftly. (Two hours later...) “I’m sorry, Sir, you're fired.” You said, bluntly. You sat with your hands folded and under the bridge of your nose as you sat crouched in your seat. Praying, hoping this ex-coworker wouldn’t be angry like the rest… “What!” The pear-shaped fairy shouted indignantly with their hands perched high on their hips. Their voice was weird, deep, like a deranged smoker with a New York accent and a deep-voiced Russian had a baby. It wasn't the voice you expected a fairy to have.

“I’m sorry those heels... their stilettos … and we don't allow those kinds of shoes in the work place... and that dress its a dress code violation. It's a few inches too short.” You admitted honestly. The fairy was waving their tiny arms around with a manic anger. “Son of a Sugar Biscuit! What is this my senior prom?! I work here bustin’ ma’ ass three days a week for eight hours’ an’ you’ 'ave the nerve to fire’ me!” Sparks of magic began to ignite at the tip of their wand. Honestly, she sounded like a drag queen's bad impression of Big Ang.

“I’m sorry, it's office policy… you’ll have to return the wand.” You apologized. Honestly, you weren’t even sure what gender this monster was. Their fairy’s boots were much too sharp and pointed, and were practically stripper heels; also, that dress was much too short. You envied the other workers in the Isekai department in Japan; they got most of the fame and credit, while the Isekai division in your country got next to no recognition.

Your workplace hardly got any funding, and the walls and ceiling were moldy. The walls were falling apart, and you could start to see the cheap insulation and fiberglass spilling out of the cracks in the walls.

“No one insults Nadia Glitter Sparkles and gets away with it!” The fairy waved their wand in a angry circle, and pointed their wand at you. Jets of light shot out the wand with an incandescent light. Purple wisps of magic pierced you like a bullet, though, where was the pain? You closed your eyes, bracing yourself for the pain, when you were consumed by an incandescent light. The spell they used…

It was the same spell used on unsuspecting strangers to Isekai them! A portal of colors coalesced behind you. You sat in horror wishing your fight or flight response was better as a vortex of bright colors swirled behind you. You screamed as you were absorbed by the portal. Twisting colors made you feel sick, neon colors coalesced around you like a carousel. When the portal spat you out, your head hit a rock. You fell into a black sleep.

With heavy and tired eyes, you awoke in a strange meadow. In your ears, you could hear the familiar melody of the opening theme to Belgrave Manor tinkling in your ears. ‘WELCOME PLAYER’ A loud omniscient voice echoes seemingly everywhere at once.
Oh no… Have you been Isekaied?!

(This fic was inspired by the following fics)

'Transported into a shitty dating sim as a shitty villainess who can die at any second?!

By ChocolateandDespair

Lover’s Spat by SilverSnap420

And

Monster Mansion by Matrimony helo_quiet_one

Chapter Text

Vestiges of golden sun framed the bucolic calm of the meadow, plants swayed in the melody of sun. The sun was warm, and the breeze was gentle, so where the F**k where you? This wasn’t any location in the game you were familiar with. Was this retribution for isekaing all those poor innocent souls into harem anime, and deadly rpgs? The grass was a verdant viridian, and said grass in question tickled at your legs. A sea of wildflowers lay before you, larkspur, hollyhock, and daisies… that reminded you daisies! Where was Daisy? She was the main character and you had to find her. No you needed to find her. Your phone vibrated in your pocket. Had it crossed worlds with you?

There was a chiptune jingle that buzzed louder in your pocket, you whipped your head around wildly searching for the source of the sound. You searched your pockets. Instead of a phone what you found was a small compact makeup mirror, when you opened it, a pinging noise emanated out of the device. A handful of iridescent glitter vomited out the mirror. Soon you were covered and draped in glitter.

YOU RECIVED A QUEST Quest 1! Find Daisy. What in the actual-

There was the voice once again, loud and omniscient. It came from somewhere and somehow nowhere at the same time. You couldn’t locate the source of the sound. “WELCOME PLAYER. I AM THE SYSTEM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS YOUR VIRTUAL GUIDE. YOU, MY DEAR ANTAGONIST ARE NOW GIFTED THE ROLE OF THE VILLAIN. BOO! YOUR MISSION SHOULD YOU CHOSE TO ACCEPT IT, IS TO MAKE OUR DEAR PROTAGONIST DAISY ABSOLUTLELY MISRABLE!” You stumbled backwards nearly tripping over a gnarled tree root. ‘What the..?’ Who even was this? What did the voice mean by villain? You didn’t want to be a villain! You didn’t have a single bone for villainy in you. You wanted to protest to argue with whoever was speaking, yet you didn’t want to be seen as crazy for yelling at the sky. There was dew tangled in the grass. The grass felt damp beneath your shoes.

The disembodied voice continued in a booming voice.
‘YOU, MY DEAR ANTAGONIST, MUST THWART ALL DAISY’S GOOD DEEDS! YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO STEAL HER MANSION FROM HER, AS WELL AS HER HAREM OF SUGAR BABIES, I MEAN SUGAR SKULLS- YOU MUST SABBOTAGE ALL HER RELATIONSHIPS AND RUIN THE LIVES OF ALL THE BACHELORS LIVING IN THE BELGRAVE MANSION.’ your posture straightened. You arched your back and brushed the moss off your work clothes.

"I thought it was called manor?" You said incredulously.

Sugar babies? Mansion? Was this some kind of joke? Was this some kind of twisted reality show? “YOUR END GOAL IS TO MAKE DAISY GO BANKRUPT AND STEAL HER MANSION.” The voice continued with theatrical malice. Could skeletons even be considered sugar babies? Was there even a term for male sugar babies?

“YOU MUST STEAL HER FAMILY FORTUNE AMD OBEY THE THREE GOLDEN RULES IN ORDER TO NOT BE ERASED FROM EXISTENCE AND THEREBY TERMINATED FROM EXISTENCE.”

“RULE 1 YOU MUST NOT KILL ANY PLAYERS. DOING SO WILL PUT AN END TO YOUR SHORT, ALREADY MISERABLE LIFE. WHILE RIVALRY IS ENCOURAGED, TRY AND KEEP THE BLOOD SHED TO A MINIMUM, DEAR VILLAIN. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE STEALING HEARTS, NOT LIVES.”

“RULE TWO YOU MUSTN’T REVEAL THE EXISTENCE OF YOUR WORLD. YOU MUST NOT REVEAL THIS INFORMATION TO EVEN OTHER PLAYERS. FOR TRUE ANONYMITY IS OF TOP PRIORITY TO US, TO GET RID OF ANY EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS. ALL MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO ONCE KNEW YOU HAVE BEEN ERASED. ANY FRIEND YOU HAVE FROM THE REAL WORLD, AS WELL AS ANY FRIENDS YOU HAVE FROM THE REAL WORLD WHO RECENTLY GOT ISEKAIED HERE, THEY ARE NOW YOUR ENEMY.” The voice continued in a flat robotic tone, with a somehow cheerful undertone.

“RULE THREE NO CHEATING OR ALTERING THE CODE. IF YOU ARE FOUND ALTERING THE CODE OR CHEATING IN ANY WAY YOUR EXISTENCE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TERMINED FROM THE GAME. YES WE KNOW ALL THE TRICKS, SO KEEP THINGS FAIR OR SQUARE. REMEMBER THEY’RE A.I YOU AREN’T.”

“RULE FOUR HAVE FUN! THIS IS A GAME AFTER ALL THOUGH THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REAL. MAKE YOURSELF WELCOME YOUR OUR GUEST AFTER ALL. ALTHOUGH AN UNWANTED ONE NONETHELESS. GOOD LUCK PLAYER 2!” Your heart was a drum that pounded in your chest. Was this the system? What did it mean by player two? If you were player two then who was player one? Did that mean there were other ‘players’ here? Also termination? Consequences? This didn’t sound fun! This sounded terrifying. No one told you that you would be dying. Your head was spinning with all the newfound information.

You remembered the glitter that stained the walls in your work, the glitter on the dress of the fairy you fired. The flowers swayed in the gentle breeze and yet all you could think was ‘Glitter… so much glitter…’ as glitter scintillated in the twisted glint of sunlight. Glitter fell off your clothes and pirouetted off you as you straightened out your shirt looking for a distraction for the mess you've stumbled into. You still felt dazed from when that fairy used that spell on you. Your shirt where she blasted you with the spell was still covered in glitter from her wand or were they a him? You wanted to scream. Cry anything.

Yet somehow you thought crying would only make things worse. Why did these things always have to happen to you? Why not the mailman? Or the kind grandma that lived down the road? Why did bad things only have to happen when you least expected it? ‘That blasted fairy! Fluttering about, disrupting my sanctity with her… Sparkles!’ You got up and kicked a rock in your frustration, only for it to end up backfiring and hurting you instead. You hopped in place, clutching your hurt foot in your hand. “OW! ow! ow!” You hissed through grit teeth to no one in particular. When the toe you stubbed finally stopped hurting, you lay on the ground in defeat. You made a snow angel out of the moss and wildflowers around you. As yu lay under the fauna, some pollen from the stamen of a flower fell right into your nose. You already hated it here, and your spring allergies were none to argue with you.

Now, all you had to do was find a way out of here. ‘Inappropriate work attire I told her! And those wings? A health hazard.’ ‘This is all my fault I never should have fired her! It was becoming too much, the glitter, the messes… she even chipped her wand on the first day! She had to go! I gave her three chances and this is how she repays me?’ You thought thinking back to the fairy who banished you here.

You thought your best course of action was to find a city so you began walking and after an hour or two you found a street. A pristine truck rattled down the cracked tarmac. The truck glinted in the light that cascaded down between the parted clouds. The bumper on the back of the truck had a large sticker, ‘Isekai or bust!’ You recognized the truck, no, it can’t be…
Truck-Kun! You were saved! Or not… The sun cast distorted laurels of gold that painted the landscape with the beauty of sunset. You watched as the truck sped towards you in a blizzard of light. The truck careered down the road in a dizzying sunset of color and swerved towards you, almost hitting you. You managed to step away just in time before the truck could hit you. The door to the truck opened, Truck-Kun swung his leg out of the truck, and hopped down to meet you. On his head he wore a denim trucker hat and a cambridge shirt. “Whoops! Sorry, almost missed you pal! You got that ‘needs an Isekai’ vibe about you pal.” Truck-Kun smiled sheepishly with his hand on the back of his neck. He brought his hand to his hat and tilted the brim of his hat upward.

“I’ll try to hit ya better next time pal. Just hold still next time, no one likes a movin’ target.” He smiled warmly, it was unnerving. “Just please don’t give me a bad review on the Seikai app… or tell my boss.” Truck-kun slung an arm around your shoulders. Seikai was an app to rate the service and treatment of whatever fairy or magical entity isekaied you. It was an app that could make or break any career in the Isekai corps.

If you had the app, you’d rate your journey a one-star experience. “So, about mansion stealing, ya got any experience? You're gonna need it pal.” You lifted Truck-kun’s arm off your shoulder. You huffed with annoyance. “Stealing mansions? I process paperwork! I’m not a villain! Truck-Kun why are you acting as if you don’t remember me?” Truck-Kun merely shrugged unconcerned about your outburst as he moved his fingers on the brim of his trucker hat. “Wells… not anymore pal. Whatever life you had is gone now.” He adjusted his hat. You could see beads of perspiration begin to form on Truck-Kun’s neck. It wasn’t even that hot out.

You moved away from him, and held your hand over your eyes like a makeshift visor to block out the melody of sun. It wasn't the best defense from the wrath of the sun though it would have to do. The closer you were to Truck-Kun the more you realized Truck-Kun's scent was an acrid smell of gasoline, and ramen. It was an odd combination, one that didn't sit right with your nostrils. “Suit yourself from what I heard that Daisy! She’s a sweetheart but boy howdy! Get on her bad side and well…” Truck-Kun made a fake exploding sound as he whistled through his lips. He opened and closed his hand for emphasis, mimicking a mock explosion. “And I know they’re technically guys, but from what I heard those skeletons of hers are ruthless. And Daisy? I heard she’s a sweetheart with a mean streak a mile wide, just sayin’.” How was it even possible for someone to be a sweetheart and cruel at the same time? This wasn’t the Daisy you knew! This was someone completely different! And why did Truck-Kun mention Daisy twice?

“Truck-Kun please you have to help me get home somehow! This can’t be my forever! Please, Truck-Kun can’t you at least help me get into the city somehow?” As your ex-coworker turned to step into his semi truck. You grabbed hold of the rail near the metal steps to enter the semi. You gripped the car’s side mirror, and moved your hand from the rail to pull at his sleeve stopping him. “Please…” You begged, pleaded for him to listen. “You helped me when I first interned in the Isekai corps… please remember me! Don’t you remember me? (Y/N)?” You looked up at him with tears beginning to glisten in your eyes. “We work in different departments of the Isekai corporation!” You said timidly. Truck-Kun chuckled darkly. “How could I not? You stole my job, my life, my purpose, my hopes and dreams… all ruined because of you (Y/N)! I’m nothing without any of that, and because of you, and now I’m stuck flattening strangers like road kill. Jobless and forgotten. How could I not forget you? You ruined my life. Besides, I can hardly recognize you without that stack of paperwork in front of your face.” Your knuckles began to turn white as you gripped the side mirror tighter. “Did you really act without thinking of the consequences? Do you ever really stop to care about what your actions do to people? So many fairies and monsters were fired by you and left without a purpose. Did you really ever stop to think what your actions did to them? Did to me? Do you really ever act without caring for anyone besides yourself? You deserve to be the villain of Daisy’s story (Y/N). You were the villain of mine. Go ruin some other chumps life.”

“Truck-Kun I’m sorry… I had no idea. No matter how much you may hate me, I’ll make it up to you! Just get me out of here. You have to get me out of here! I can’t be stuck in a dating game!” You saw as his shoulders slumped forward. “You were the villain of my story (Y/N) and you were the villain of many other people’s stories. Besides, what’s a hero without a villain? It's like having Cinderella without the stepmother.” You both stood silent, as the shrill shriek of wind whistled behind you both. There you both stood in a silent show down on the empty side of the abandoned highway that seemed to stretch for miles. You refused to back down despite the knot of guilt in your stomach. Truck-Kun's eyes dropped to yours. When he saw you wouldn't back down a silent resignation ignited in Truck-Kun's eyes.

A spark of something seemed to ignite in Truck-Kun’s eyes, as he patted your fist on the side view mirror. He sighed. “Look, I don’t wanna be the bad guy. No matter how much I hate you. I’ll do what I can, though you know how Isekai works. Once you're in, you can’t get out.” Truck-Kun slid over to the driver’s seat and patted the seat next to him. The reality of your situation dawned on you as Truck-Kun drove. You watched the scenery past by in a blur of color. You rested your elbow on the window, with your chin rested in the palm of your hand. You were truly stuck here with no way out. “I just can’t believe this… just a dating sim really?” You said with your face shrouded in the palms of your hands. Truck-kun twisted the keys in the ignition, and revved the engine with a jovial whistle. Everything about him was chipper, it was unsettling really…

You barely looked his way as he went more than 200 over the speed limit. The needle on the speedometer looked like it was going to break. How did he even manage to control the car when it was going so fast? The scenery blurred in a flash of colors outside the window as the truck drove further down the empty road. Where was everyone? “Well, look at the bright side! Think of all the hot… uh interesting people you’ll meet! Er, well, skeletons you’ll meet..?” Truck-Kun chided nervously. You crossed your arms, and legs in your seat and glared at him.
“Easy for you to say you’re not the one stuck here.” You huffed indignantly. Truck-Kun merely hummed as he gave you no answer.

“You’re going 200 miles in central Ebott city.” You said blankly. “Two days here and I’m already a criminal.” You signed as you sank further into your seat as you looked at the speedometer. You moved the seatbelt until you were comfortable while fidgeting in your seat. You grimaced as a spring dug into your side. “Don’t worry, I got a permit. And its not so bad being in a dating simulator! You could find the man or monster of your dreams! Or spot the most beautiful truck you’ve ever seen at a garage sale! I love trucks, can’t you tell? That’s kinda the reason why I changed my name to Truck, besides to commit tax evasion of course.” Your ex-coworker said nonchalantly as he adjusted the rearview mirror.

“Anything else you got a permit for, cowboy?” You dare question as Truck-Kun slammed on the breaks, nearly causing your head to slam face-first into the dashboard. Wow he really must hate you, you didn't even notice he did it on purpose, did you? “Murder.” Truck-Kun said cheerfully, responding to your question. “Wha-” Truck-Kun pushed you out of the truck ignoring as your face skidded across the rough tarmac. You flopped out the car like a fish out of water. “Anyways, gotta run! See ya later! Duty calls! Don’t be a stranger! And don’t be keeping any skeletons in your closet kapeesh? Oh! And good luck your gonna need it!” Truck-Kun said hurriedly as he lifted his foot off the break.

“Why’d you leave me with the homeless population in Ebott City?” You said mildly vexed. You felt guilty for all the homeless people shambling around with their cardboard signs and their shopping carts filled with belongings. You wished you could help them if only you had your wallet. “Instead of a joyride, you’ll be getting what I call a pity ride soon, dear protagonist!” You watched as the muffler of the truck coughed with exhaust fumes, and you watched Truck-Kun leave in a cloud of exhaust with a strange mix of resentment churning within you. ‘Now what…’ You thought as your only hope of escaping, Truck-Kun left. He was like an angel in devil’s horns, he was your savior and doom at the same time, and he was gone.

Your thoughts were interupted when a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of you, your jaw almost dropped when you saw her step out of the car in her designer heels. It was Daisy Hollows, the beloved heroine of Belgrave Manor. You heard her heels click on the pavement. “(Y/N)? Shuga’ is that you?” Her voice was saccharine sweet. She had a soft southern drawl that was honey to your ears. “I’m uh… new in town.” You racked your head for excuses. “Ya need a place ta stay, sweetheart? What’s a sugar cube like you doin’ here! You look like your gonna melt in all dis rain.” Wait, what rain? And que rain. Shit. It was raining and you looked like a wet dog.

“C’mon in sugar! I don’t mind you fussyin’ up my seats. You can lift my skirt any time, sugar.” Daisy winked at you. Was she flirting?You felt a blush snake down your neck. “Thank you, Daisy.” You smiled earnestly. “But I’ll pass.” You saw her smile turn into a frown almost instantly. “I insist come. Come with me, darlin'. I'll get chu all fixed up. I owe you afterall.”

There was a dark glint in her eyes. You slowly lifted yourself into the car, wondering where fate would take you next.

Chapter Text

If hell were a woman, her name would be Daisy. In all the bad endings to Belgrave Manor, she’d always make the ending where the player wins hell to achieve. (Well, it was the good ending for you, not her.) You thought her last name should have been Helborne instead of the other villain who teams with (Y/N) Vondoom the character you'd appearently replaced. (Y/N) Vondoom and Sarah were the most hated duo in the game. Daisy was even more difficult to eliminate on Nightmare mode. In the game, you had to get rid of her in a way that didn't rouse suspicion from the skeletons. You remembered how the pandemonium route and the discord route were different from one another. In the pandemonium route, you only turn a few skeletons against each other. In the discord route, you get all the skeletons to turn against each other, even getting them to distrust their own brother. This ending was finally completed when you get them to turn against Daisy as well. There was specific circumstances, and a series of events you needed to complete this route, if failed, then you'd get a game over. You didn't want to go down that path. You ran everything over in your head, reminding yourself of every little minuscule detail that could completely derail the train you call life. Even the faintest mistake, like buying Edge the wrong spaghetti brand, could trigger a game over if your points meter with him was low enough. His game-over sequences were brutal. You shivered, determined to find a way out. You remembered how you couldn't finish either route without guilt haunting you. You had to watch playthroughs on YouTube to finally finish these routes properly without dying. The manipulator route was worse. You didn't want to think about that route ever again, where everyone's true nature was revealed.

You felt dazed and lethargic as Daisy ordered the chauffeur with a serene calm, she advised the chauffeur to hurry back to her home. The way she talked about you made you feel like Daisy was a kid talking about her favorite doll; she talked about you like you were an object and not a person. It made you uncomfortable. Her hair was swept over her shoulders, a river cascading down her back like waves of the ocean. A mermaid wavy-ness of curls fell down her back. Daisy was blonde, paler than a marigold with dyed hair so pale it was almost white. You could smell the cheap French perfume billowing towards you from her wrists. You wondered why she didn’t wear the expensive brands, clearly, she wasn't hurting on money. The Daisy before you seemed to have a flair for the dramatic and expensive. She gave you a wink, which you caught out of the corner of your eye. A wink which you were too embarrassed to reciprocate. She really was a flirt, wasn't she? Minutes passed with a dreadful silence. Thin golden bracelets dangled from Daisy's wrists, made clinking noises as they hit each other whenever she moved her hand. You watched anxiously as she twisted the bracelets around her wrists in circles. Boredom took hold. You noted how the roots of her hair were a cinnamon color and came to the conclusion that her hair was probably dyed. The only thing unattractive about her was the dye job. Her hair looked like a toddler scribbled over her hair with a yellow highlighter. It probably wasn't the permanent type of hair dye, you presumed. The laurel of light that came from the car window framed Daisy’s head like a halo. Her skin was tan, yellow like a peach. You felt like an emu or a naked rat running against a peacock in a beauty contest, sitting next to her. You felt impoverished, and poor, with you in your clothes next to Daisy. Daisy even had concealer on her arms to hide her freckles that reminded you of liver spots that you frequently saw on old people, or farmers with a bad tan. She bought her beauty with make-up and cosmetics to hide the girl who once was underneath. She wore make-up to hide her true self. You can't even tell who the person she once was, she was a shell of her former self just like you, though she hid it in a better way. She used make-up to hide herself, instead of the monster she became inside. She used makeup to hide herself from the hole she dug herself into, and there was no turning back.

Honestly, you were getting tired of car rides. There wasn’t much to do besides look out the window. There was plenty of space in the limo, and you didn’t know why Daisy sat so close to you and why she watched you like a hawk. She chatted with the driver, making elegant gestures with her hands as she talked. Her face wasn’t one that fit riches or royalty; her face belonged to a country girl living on some farm. Her concealer was starting to melt, with the heat making her look like a melting wax candle. Large brown freckles began to appear all over her cheeks as her concealer melted. To you, she looked more like a witch melting like sugar. It was strange how even as her make-up cracked and faded, she was still beautiful. Her dress was made of the finest satin, you felt the smooth, cold fabric brush across your skin as she sat next to you. Her dress was tight-fitting, and with her dress, she looked like a wannabe The Girlfriend from Friday Night Funkin'. Another game in your arsenal of knowledge. Her dress was so short you could almost see her ass, as her dress rode up her thighs whenever she sat. She was the perfect rags-to-riches story. With a fake smile that was brighter than diamonds. Golden tear-shaped earrings that turned whenever she moved her head. Wait, were those diamonds? Yellow diamonds? With your old job, you would have to save a lifetime's worth of paychecks just to afford those. The AC in the limo was like sitting in a refrigerator, and you were tempted to ask the chauffeur for some mittens.

You kept yourself guarded, and choose to ignore Daisy’s attempts at conversation with you. You knew the dangers about Daisy and how she changed for the worse, in the discord route. You watched as she crossed her legs, and watched idly as her leg draped over the other. You watched her leg bounce as she clasped her delicate hands over her knee. The limousine halted. And there it was, Belgrave Manor in all its glory. Magnificent topiaries shaped like animals, and spheres guarded the pathway that wove like a river to the entrance of the mansion. The guy driving the limo rushed out the limo and scrambled to open the door for Daisy, you half expected him to roll out a red carpet for her. He offered her his hand, which she took it delicately, putting on a serene act. Her act was so fake, so fake, in fact, you wanted to call her Barbie. She was practically the queen of plastic. And not queen in the Freddy Mercury way. The chauffeur bowed to you both and opened the silver gates that guarded the mansion solemnly. It was like something out of a Disney movie.

Some ivy grew along the pristine white walls of the Belgrave manor, coiling up the walls like the tail of a snake. All the roses in the courtyard were perfect, and each rose was a different color to represent each skeleton. There was even a gazebo! You followed Daisy like a lost duckling, trailing behind its mother as you and her both walked down the limestone pathway. You admired all the exotic flowers and the fancy lawn ornaments as you passed. Decorations that probably cost more than your clothes. You wanted to touch the hedges that were almost too perfect to be real. You ran your fingers against the grooves engraved in the bricks as you walked. Towards the back garden was a fountain. All the skeletons, each bachelor, was gathered around the fountain, as if they were awaiting your arrival. Was this a staged event? Some of the skeletons gave you cold looks, others barely regarded you at all. Some had too much pride to look at you with anything other than disgust. Others were too prideful to even bestow their gaze upon you, their gaze. You watched as one lanky skeleton who reeked of smoke, took a large swig of barbeque sauce. The others seemed not to notice. Way to ruin the moment, dude. You thought dully at mutt.

“DAISY!” One skeleton with a red scarf boomed gregariously. “We almost thought you wouldn’t make it, kiddo, tibia honest.” Another who you recognized as Sans said. “Hmph, it's not like I care or anything…” Fellswap, Sans grumbled with his arms crossed like a petulant child. “I think it’s the opposite, mi’lord…” “Shut it, mutt!” "I, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE PAPYRUS, HOPES YOUR TRIP WAS SUCCESSFUL. DO NOT LET ME CATCH THIS FILTH INSIDE." 'Wow three seconds here and they already hate me great...' Now how were you supposed to get out here? "Now is that any way to welcome a guest? (N/N) has come a long way." Daisy huffed in her honey-sweet accent, her hands taut high on her hips as the moody skeleton stormed away. "Everyone, I want one of youse, to take her to her room. I wants her to feel welcome, ok sugar?" You found the way Daisy said 'you' strange, though you just chalked it up to her accent. That and her grammar wasn't the best. Then again in the game it was hinted that she failed English in high school. You didn't know which skeleton she called sugar though they all beamed at her words. "MWEH HEH HEH! FEAR NOT MAIDEN FOR I THE MAGNIFICENT SANS WILL TAKE HER TO HER ROOM!" Blue strode forth to you after striking a heroic pose. "So, doll? Whyudya say we're having for dinner? My take Grillby's." A stout skeleton who you knew as Red said gruffly approaching Daisy. "I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST SPAGHETTI!" "TACOS FOR THE MALEFICENT BLACKBERRY!" You left Daisy to face the hurricane of skeletons as Blue dragged you by the wrist to the mansion with a firm grip. Boy, was he strong, though his grip wasn't harsh. You were already dreading meeting the rest when even the friendliest skeletons regarded you coldly.

Chapter Text

Blue’s grip on your wrist was firm yet soft. His phalanges felt cold yet smooth against your skin. The stars in his eyes sparkled with a lovely cerulean. The way he didn’t insult you like the others almost made you think he liked you, even just for a second. Yet beneath his eye sockets he was an enigma. Who was he truly? On the manipulator route, he reveals he’s just like you, and you're both one of the same he even offers a partnership, a deal, if you maintain a high enough relationship with him during that route. His interaction was an easter egg you were surprised to have gotten with your luck. In the bad end to the Discord route, if you fail all his heart events or your relationship goes below - 20, which leads to both Blue and Daisy’s best friend, Sarah, betraying you. Yet even in all routes, Sarah betrayed your favorite character (Y/N) Vondoom. Blue was a beloved character in the fandom and was one of the most popular dateables. He was charming in a narcissistic sort of way, just like Edge, Black, and Mal. There was one main rule you learned when playing the game: it was love or die; there was no friendship route, and in all the routes where you failed to romance someone, your failure would bring you a brutal end. If not all seven heart events were completed, you’d also get a bad ending no matter what you did. As you were led down the grandiose hallway, the gravity situation hit you. There was 1920s wallpaper plastered to the walls, and there was a marble statue that rested on a chiseled roman pillar that guarded the alcoves embedded in the walls. There was something surreal about it all. Something about this place didn’t sit right with you.

You were stuck in a world where romance was the only way to survive, and yet you didn’t know the first thing about romance. The only things about romance you knew were through romance novels, or things you saw in movies and media. You'd never once experienced any romantic love or affection yourself. The placid swirls of the watercolor paintings did little to soothe the growing anxiety that pooled inside you. On the wall hung artificial paintings of bones encased in golden frames. Paintings that only made you feel hollow inside. Hollow like Daisy. The walls seemed pallid and demure compared to the paintings it was a sharp contrast. ‘This is insane…’ you thought quietly. You shivered internally when you remembered that the system said you’d be terminated if you were to break any of the rules of the game. Honestly, what did you do to get put into this bizarre dating game? You became lost in Blue’s tangent as he chattered. You hadn’t heard most of what he’d said. “-HUMAN, THIS IS RED’S ROOM. HE DRINKS MUSTARD, AND IS SMELLY AND CURSES A LOT. AND THIS IS RAZZ’S ROOM.” He turned to you expectantly. Your anxiety jumped, and you stumbled for an answer that never came. Your intuition was bugging you, you felt as though something bad might happen soon.

If you were nervous, Blue didn’t seem to notice. “MWEH HEH HEH! SO YOU ARE THE HUMAN DAISY’S BEEN TELLING US ABOUT! HERE WE HAVE SO MANY COUSINS. THOUGH NONE AS MAGNIFICENT AS THE MAGNIFICENT SANS.” Human? Did he really just call you ‘human’? It really was just like in the game wasn't it? The sheer volume of Blue's voice made you flinch back as you carefully slid your wrist out of Blue’s hand. Blue let go of your wrist in return, pausing to pose dramatically. He flexed his non-existent muscles. You stared speechless at the excitable skeleton, flabbergasted. At least he didn’t hate you. ‘Oh, don’t tell me there’s more.’ You thought with dread. “There’s others?” You questioned cautiously. You needed a moment to catch your breath from your dread. You hadn't managed to unlock all the secret characters due to a sheer lack of luck. “YOU’LL MEET THEM ALL EVENTUALLY.” Blue agreed dismissively. “I thought I already did?” You questioned breathlily. You were out of breath from having to keep up with Blue, with the fast way that he moved it was a surprise you were able to keep up with him in the first place (even if he was the one dragging you). “THESE ROOMS ARE FOR OUR GUESTS.” Guests? You were confused. “Where are the other guests?” You questioned. Blue’s grin widened if possible, exacerbating your anxiety. “YOU’LL FIND OUT EVENTUALLY.” “How are there other guests here? I thought I was the only one?” You pressed for answers. Blue seemed to hesitate for a moment. “WELL, GUESTS NOT EXACTLY LIKE YOU. YOU’RE THE NEW HUMAN DAISY’S BEEN TELLING US ABOUT. THAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL. DAISY SAID TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE OF YOU.” It was then Blue stopped momentarily.

He gripped your shoulder so tightly you feared it might break. His friendly attitude shifted subtly. “AND JUST SO YOU KNOW (Y/N)...” His wide smile faltered. “DAISY IS ALMOST AS MAGNIFICENT AS ME. SHE’S THE NICEST HUMAN AND DATE MATE, AND SHE HELPS EVERYONE AROUND HER, AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE HER TO SOMETHING LIKE YOU, HUMAN. SO, YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO MAKE HER SAD, WOULD YOU? ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO HER...” You felt a sudden chill slither down your spine as his eye sockets went dark. The stars in his sockets were replaced by a void of hate that dispelled any light. His cheerful demeanor remained even with malice dripping behind his words.

Despite the warmth of the mansion, you felt cold. His stare shivered you to the bone. “Sad, of course not, Daisy has been nothing but kind. Why would I do anything to make her upset?” You managed to somehow stutter out despite your fear. You wondered if this would mark an early end. You watched as with your words, Blue’s smile returned, and he flashed you a charming smile as if he had never threatened you. His smile was blinding yet strained as he lifted his skeletal hand off your shoulders. “GOOD BECAUSE IF YOU EVER DID ANYTHING TO UPSET HER YOU’D BE DEAD WHERE YOU STAND HUMAN.” You felt the knot in your stomach grow tighter. “Wouldn’t you technically be dead where you stand? You are a skeleton; skeletons aren’t exactly known for being alive.”

“FAREWELL, HUMAN.” Was all Blue said as he turned his back to you. You felt relief grow bigger as he left. That was one tragedy avoided. Your heart was a drum in your chest. With a heavy heart, you wanted to scream to curse at whoever trapped you in such a fate. Your thoughts were broken when a compact mirror in your pocket pinged. A rainbow of glitter spat out of the mirror in clouds of ethereal smoke. Oh, and did I mention the glitter? Because it was all over your shirt. Ugh, did your mirror always have to vomit glitter whenever you opened it? This was getting ridiculous. Your patience faded when you heard the sickeningly sweet chiptune melody play. You felt, with even as digital as the jingle was even your mirror seemed to be taunting you. On the screen read ‘QUEST COMPLETED! REWARD 200 GOLD! GAINED 3 SKILL POINTS’ You stared incredulously at the black screen in your mirror. It confused you how it worked similar to a flip phone. What were skill points? Booming and echoing off the walls from the great beyond was the same omnipotent voice as before. The voice almost seemed to sigh at your helplessness. With paranoia, you whipped around searching for the source of the voice. Was it truly real or was it just a figment of your imagination? “YES, DEAR ANTAGONIST, I AM REAL.” Oh, no it could read your thought too? The omniscient voice was a sound you found annoying yet comforting. “I PLAYER AM KNOWN AS THE SYSTEM. I AM THE CODE OF THIS WORLD, THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE GAME'S BEING.” It said with a patronizing tone, enunciating each word as if you were stupid to prove its point. Each word put greater emphasis on the grander, more sinister implications beneath the game and your reasons for being here. “SKILL POINTS CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR JOURNEY IN BECOMING THE QUEEN OF HEARTS! OR PERHAPS THE ULTIMATE HEARTBREAKER, IF YOU WISH, DEAR ANTAGONIST! CHOOSE WISELY, FOR YOUR PATH IS PREDETERMINED BY YOUR CHOICES. HAVE FUN, OH GREAT VILE ONE!”

It was sad how, in a world where skeletons could talk, even the game itself hated you. “USE THE NEW TAB BAR IN YOUR CELLULAR AUTOMATED COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AKA YOUR CACD! OR YOUR CAD FOR SHORT! THOUGH I CALL IT CADDY! TO ACCESS THE STATS CHART, CLICK ON THE MANAGE RELATIONS APP. IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MANAGE AND ACCESS YOUR RELATIONSHIP POINTS WITH OTHER PLAYERS AND CHARACTERS IN THE RELATIONSHIPS TAB! BE AWARE A LOW RELATIONSHIP WITH A ROMANCEABLE CAN TRIGGER A BAD ENDING AND CAUSE A GAME OVER IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP GOES TOO FAR INTO THE NEGATIVE. AND YOU WILL DIE.” You needed a long nap after this. The omniscient voice was devoid of kindness. “TO AID YOUR VILLAINOUS ENDEAVORS, YOU DEAR ANTAGONIST HAVE ACCESS TO THREE CORE SKILLS, CHARISMA, EVASIVENESS, AND PERCEPTION, AND THERE’S OF COURSE INTELLIGENCE TO INHANCE YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROWESS. NOT THAT YOU WOULD KNOW THE MEANING OF BEING INTELIGENT, DEAR VILLAIN.”

You rolled your eyes at nothing as the mirror began to pulsate and vibrate in your hand. “Great, so I get to choose between charming Daisy into stealing her mansion, or outrunning Truck-Kun in case he starts making house calls, or perception for noticing if Daisy’s sugar babies are really made of sugar. Real helpful voice…” You muttered below your breath. “YOU COULD USE SOME CHARISMA. SOME SUGAR IN YOUR WORDS COULD HELP YOU SWEET TALK YOUR WAY INTO VICTORY. YOU'RE AS BITTER AS A FOUL LEMON, DEAR VILLAIN. IF YOU WERE SWEET, INSTEAD OF USING THIS SCARCASM YOU CALL CAMARADERIE, MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY LIKED YOU IN YOUR PAST LIFE AND WOULDN’T HAVE SENT YOU HERE TO BE RID OF YOUR PRESENCE. THIS LIFE IS NO DIFFERENT. CHARISMA CAN CALM AND SWAY EVEN THE HARSHEST SOULS, USE CHARISMA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE, YOU MOST VOLITILE VILLAIN.” Were the codes final words to you before its presence halted and disappeared.

"What happens if I choose not to upgrade my points?" You said almost challenging the system. There was a pause until the system finally spoke again. It was as if it were processing your lack of enthusiasm as malice, a rare occurrence compared to the other players who died here. The mysterious voice’s tone remained firm as if warning you. “YOUR CHOICES WILL DEFINE YOUR VILLAINY. CHOOSE WISELY, FOR THE PATH TO DAISY’S MYSERY, AND YOUR EVENTUAL ESCAPE, DEPENDS ON THESE FOUNDATIONAL ATTRIBUTES. GOOD LUCK, VILLAIN. MAY THE WORST OF FATE BE WITH YOU. REMEMBER YOUR FATE LIES IN YOUR HANDS, IT'S YOUR CHOICE ON WHAT TO DO WITH IT. REMEMBER IT'S LOVE OR DIE.” You sighed as you slid against the wall of the hallway, feeling defeated and drained from everything that had happened today. The weight of your predicament fell over you in a fountain of dread. Everything was a constant reminder of this unwanted reality that had been forced upon you all because you what? Told a fairy they couldn’t wear stripper heels to work? Defeated, you let the mirror slip from your grip as it rolled across the hall. It hit the wall with a clunk.

You turned your head to look down the long corridor of the vestibule that was blanketed in a velvet carpet. You could hear the rancor of sound, and the boisterous chatter emanating from the dining hall. It was separated by what you thought must be the main parlor. You tried to map the layout of the mansion in your head by memory. The layout to Belgrave manor was burned in your head from all the sleepless nights you spent awake playing Belgrave Manor. You spoke alone to nothing, your voice a harsh whisper grating against the airless vestibule. You spoke hoping the mysterious voice would answer. Maybe if you played along and pretended to accept your role as villain, it would be nicer to you? “Right, so villainy, misery, update points, check status, got it. So, where is Daisy anyway? Didn’t you once say finding Daisy was a quest voice?”

As if summoned by the mere mention of her name Daisy seemingly materized from the archway at the end of the hall. Damasks of flowing silk followed her like a train. Her dress accentuated her beauty. She was ethereal, almost angelic. When did she even have the time to change? She looked different from her melancholy black. Daisy gave you a gentle smile, yet it seemed hollow, warped by distrust and avarice. Daisy moved eloquently towards you with the practiced grace of a swan. Her voice was melodic with the charm of an angel. “Ah, there you are, sweetheart. I was beginning to wonder if you were scare of litl’ ol’ me!~ I’m glad to see the others haven’t scared ya off its been a while since I’ve had any human company. Are ya lost? My home can be confusing without a map. I trust Blue was a good guide?”

Lost? You were honestly trying to avoid any interdimensional incidents before dinner. Yet you couldn’t deny that the air between you both hummed with an unspoken tension. Talking to Daisy was like a game of chess where even the wrong move could mean death, you had to be careful around her. In the dim light, secrets were veiled behind Daisy’s honey colored eyes. Daisy’s eyes slid down the hall to the mirror you dropped. “Oh (Y/N), You shouldn’t have my sugar!~ Is this a gift for me? How thoughtful.” Daisy curtsied down with one free hand to picked up your mirror. She presented it to you like a trophy. You felt your heart drop to your knees. “Daisy wait-” Daisy looked toward you with tearful eyes. Tears began to glisten in her doll-like eyes. She looked like she may cry. “Uh! I just wanted to tell you that you look lovely today!” You stammered out an excuse.

Daisy’s hurt turned into a smile as she tilted her head and smiled gratefully. The waterworks stopped. You had a sinking feeling you would be in trouble with Blue later.

MIRROR HAS BEEN UNEQUIPPED. - 5 defense

“Now (N/N) I do hope you’ll you’ll join us all for dinner.” Daisy clasped your hands in her french manicured nails. As she turned her back on you, she seemed calm with no trace of her initial sadness to be found. Her dress swished behind her theatrically, and her hair slapped you in the face as she turned and you wondered whether you should follow her down the vestibule.

NOW, READER, YOU HAVE A FEW CHOICES, AND CHOOSING WILL IMPACT THE COURSE OF THE STORY. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

A. JOIN EVERYONE FOR DINNER

B. EXPLORE THE MANSION

C. TRY TO GET BACK THE MIRROR FROM DAISY, THOUGH HOW?

D. INCREASE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH A SKELTON OF YOUR CHOICE

THE CHOICES ARE

SANS, RED, EDGE, BLUE, STRETCH, MAL, RUS, RAZZ, MUTT, UNDERTALE GASTER, UNDERSWAP GASTER AKA SHERBERT, UNDERFELL GASTER, UNDERLUST SANS, UNDERLUST PAPYRUS, UNDERLUST GASTER,

AND LASTLY WHAT SKILL POINTS WILL YOU UPGRADE? YOU HAVE THREE TO SPEND.

Chapter Text

All the skeletons sat at a large banquet table. There was no room for silence in the meadow of chatter. As soon as you strode into the room, you could feel everyone's sharp gaze turn to you. Edge's gaze was the most calloused and judgmental out of all the skeletons. His fork bent and snapped in half when he saw you. He was stewing in his wrath and was barely able to contain his unbridled rage when he saw you. There was a doily draped delicately over the mahogany table. You wondered how you'd survive this game; and if game tactics applied to this world. You were a stranger to love. And the hatred most skeletons looked at you with made you feel something deep inside that wasn't love. Discontent would be the best way to describe it.

It was funny how even in a room full of monsters, you still felt alone. Like no one in this world was on your side. Here you had no one but your wits to protect you. All the boisterous chatter stopped when all eye sockets landed upon you, some gave you lustful looks, while some disregarded you entirely. Some stared at you like you were trash. Mutt’s and Red’s twin gold teeth glinted in wicked embers of the dying sun. Tempests of light that were cast by a wand of sunset, that leaked out of the large elegant French windows that framed the back of the room in arches behind the table. The floor was made of marble with swirls of gray and black marbled in the floor. The walls were the color of the finest ivory. And the floors were polished to a pristine perfection, almost as if they were expecting your arrival. Even the silverware was made of the most expensive and lavish silver. Snake plants in ornate vases adorned all corners of the room. Fellswap Sans glare was cast at you. "I THOUGHT DOGS WERE MEANT TO EAT OUTSIDE." He tried to whisper to Swapfell Sans, though he obviously failed. You could hear him from the doorway loud as can be.

"I THOUGHT TRASH WAS MEANT TO BE OUTSIDE." Edge agreed. Sans seemed fast asleep at the table as he used his plate of spaghetti as a pillow. "FEAR NOT COUSINS, FOR I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE BROUGHT FRIENDSHIP SPAGHETTI!!!"; Papyrus, ever the gregarious one, yelled boisterously as he placed a large bowl of spaghetti on the table. The spaghetti was paired with garlic knots, which were obviously burnt. You wondered how the mansion managed to stay clean without a maid, servants, or any staff to keep the mansion tidy. Wine looked at you, scrutinizing you for any imperfections with a calculated look. He swished the wine in his wine glass around boredly. His brother with golden braces looked like he wanted to hide and run away whenever you so happened to glance his way. You just realized there wasn't anywhere for you to sit. Reluctantly, you decided to sit on the floor.

"YOU CAN HAVE MUTT'S BOWL HUMAN." Razz sneered, pointing to a dog bowl on the floor. Flustered and humiliated, you decided to leave; you would skip dinner today. "RAZZ THE TINY HUMAN IS OUR FRIEND!" Papyrus scolded. "Yes, we should get to know the new maid Daisy hired, shouldn't we?~" Purred a suave voice, wearing seductive clothes that exposed most of his spine. Wait maid? Daisy never mentioned anything about you being a maid. Today was going to be a long day.
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You eventually found your way to the guest room. The room was a stark contrast from the sterile office in the Isekai headquarters. At least there you got a whole room to yourself. You dreaded having to share a room with whoever's bed was across the room from yours. At least this place didn't smell like coffee and despair like the paperwork in your department did. Your tiny office would forever be ingrained into your head. You missed it. You've worked most of your life away at the Isekai Corps and never had a life of your own outside of work. On the drawer near the wardrobe were potted mushrooms, with a book about poisonous mushrooms, and forging was sprawled over the dresser next to yours. Was this Sarah Helborne's room? The fairy's final words as she banished you here rang in your ear. Her laughter grated, like a cheese grater to your ears. The haunting flash of light as she hit you with the ghostly echo of 'Have fun, darling! Enjoy your adventure!'

Those words were still new to your ears. And the way the fairy said it with so much bravado irked you. The memory was still fresh in your head. 'This is all my fault I shouldn't have fired them. I fired her for a chipped wand and a few pranks, and this is my retribution?' The tinkling sound of magic roused you from your guilt-inspired reverie. Were you really as bad as Truck-Kun said you were?

THUMP THUMP

Your heart was a drum in your chest. Shadows sleuthed along the blanchette colored walls. Claws of moonlight raked its fingers across the curtains. Ghosts of moonlight framed the lovely contour of your face. Your eyes darted nervously across the room. It was just you in here wasn't it? Before you, with iridescent wings, was the fairy who banished you here! The fear on your features quickly contorted to anger. "What are you doing here?" You challenged the tiny fairy. "Well, well, well! How are things in the mushroom kingdom? You ready to give me my job back (Y/N)?" The deep, strange, accented fairy asked you. "You ready to stop dressing like a stripper?" You retorted. The fairy flew over to you and smacked you in the head with their wand like a strict grandmother. "I'm a fairy, not a passion worker!" The fairy's shrill voice pierced your ears. They'd been so distracted by their anger with you they accidentally used their real voice instead of the manly accent they usually presented themselves with. "Stop with the accent, you and I both know it's fake." You said feeling frustrated. Glitter from what you assumed was fairy dust twirled down from the purple pear-shaped fairy's wings. Honestly, you were tired of glitter. You've been exposed to more glitter than a partygoer at a German sparkle party. The fairy pouted indignantly at your words."Hey, don't be upset, I heard Hooters is hiring. Besides, there's bound to be some guild or strip joint, or fast-food restaurant in need of workers. There's a job listing for the Arby's near work." You said helpfully.

"Again, I'm a fairy, not the diabetes wizard, he works in a different department. I'm not going to work at mickey D's where they feed kid's diabete death sandwiches! Besides, I'm, not a freeloader either!" The fairy's stick figure arms were taut on their waist. 'I literally didn't say you were a freeloader...' "You're right you're more like Grimace." They pursed their lips. "How are you enjoying things, Antagonist Chan? Your mushroom kingdom working well for you, peach?" The fairy mocked, gesturing to the potted mushrooms and plants on what you assumed was Sarah's side of the bedroom. You turned your head defiantly as the moonlight caught on the fairy's wings, nearly blinding you. You dove for the window separating you and Sarah's room. You shut the blackout curtains hastily. It was then that realization dawned on you, your brow screwed in anger. You pointed an accusatory finger at the fairy. "Wait, you... you... you did this! You're the one who cursed me with that stupid broken wand!" "Well excuse me, princess!" The fairy rolled their eyes extravagantly at you. The fairy whom you recognized as Nadia flew around you in circles. "Cursed? Besides Darling, I prefer the term 'facilitated a career change.' The fairy said smugly as they picked at the dirt beneath their non-existent nails. "Think of it as early retirement. You're welcome." The fairy flicked the dirt under the pads of their fingers at you. You inhaled deeply when she was gone, you decided you were going to scream into your pillow as loud as you could.

Your hands rested on the bridge of your nose as you tried to regain your composure. The absurdity of this situation was too much for you to bear. You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to ward off an incoming headache. "I'm stuck in a world with giant skeletons and Daisy. And you call this chaos, retirement?" The fairy who you knew as Nadia floated in the air like they were doing the backstroke in a pool. The fairy stopped whatever it was they were doing to shrug nonchalantly. "There's nothing like living life in the fast lane, peach." "Why the sudden nickname?" Nadia shrugged once more. "It's not like we are friends or anything besides you are my boss who just fired me like five hours ago." Five hours? You were only here five hours, and it already felt like you were losing your mind. Nadia seemed unconcerned with your plight. The effeminate fairy seemed unbothered by you. "Well, boss, you were always complaining about how boring being employed was. Not that I can relate since you fired me after all. And not having a job is defiantly not funsies. Now you don't have to worry about not having a job anymore. You're unemployed now! At least you don't have to complain about how boring your life is anymore, now that you're surrounded by bone daddies. Besides, think of it no more TPS reports!" Nadia enthused exuberantly. "Now, instead of being a boring little human, living your lonely boring little life. You get to live a life of adventure and mushrooms! lots and lots of mushrooms... though at least there's luxury! Hey, what's with the long face (Y/N)? Mushrooms with pizza isn't all that bad if that's what your upset about! if you're thinking of living in this room with Sarah. I suggest you move out or get a tent. I heard she's a toxic bestie. She's like obsessed with shrooms and not the good kind." Nadia said matter-of-factly. "Why are you here?" You questioned with suspicion.

"I'm your fairy godmother! Or fairy god father, if you want me to be a dude instead I'm fine with either. I'm your magic babysitter to make sure you don't die from leaving the toaster on, and burning toast like the last guy." You gave Nadia a look of disbelief. "Ugh, can we get a motel reader? This place is starting to give me mushroom fever! And not the good kind." "Is that even a thing? Wait is my evil roomie a stoner?" You wondered. Nadia fans her wand around her dismissively. "No! She's more likely to hit you a brick than a stone silly! Besides, she's not a pothead, and she puts bricks in her pillow I dunno why though. It makes for some pretty killer pillow fights though!" You looked at Nadia incredlously. "Sarah's only growing weed and shrooms to kill Daisy. It's like a garden! The more weeds you have the more likely you are to kill the daisies and flowers in the garden! Oh, and Sarah will only hurt you if you get in her way." Nadia warned. "So, she's trying to win Daisy's favor by getting her high? And Sarah's going to try to do her part as secondary villain, and kill Daisy by getting her addicted to weed? So that she'll overdose on MJ? Sarah's plan to thwart Daisy's good... is turning her into the next Snoop Dog?" "Hey! It's a good side hustle!" The fairy protested indignantly. "It was my next line of career, if the whole office thing didn't work out. It's a good free-lance career. Many friendly customers. Though my parents didn't care for it. Always wondered why." "Sorry fairy I don't want to be starring in the next Pineapple Express movie. Find a way to take me out of here." You said. "Or you'll what? Fire me? Sorry but you don't have a job anymore sweetheart." "Besides winning the game is simple." Nadia said smoothly. You started to feel a headache coming on. "Simple? This is anything but simple." You glanced around the sparsely decorated room that felt cluttered yet bland in comparison to the opulent rooms of the mansion. The heavy velvet curtains and the antique furniture outside felt suffocating. "All you have to do is find true love to win!~" Nadia swooned, twirling in circles as they gushed with joy over the prospect of romance. That was easier said than done.

The duvet on the bed was made of the finest satin, and the blankets were a midnight blue. You picked up your pillow, feeling the smooth silk spread between your fingers. "True love..? How am I supposed to find that in this place?" You said feeling lost. You looked to the pillow with a grimace. "This is worse than approving Isekai applications. At least there I had a stapler." "Besides, I don't know what you're so stressed about, to get someone to love you all you have to do is to get them to show you your bo-" Suddenly a strange, disembodied voice filled the room startling you with a grimace.

"PLAYER 3 HAS JOINED THE GAME."

"PLAYER 1 HAS LEFT THE GAME"

Wait? How could player one leave the game and you couldn't? You look around the room searching for the source of the voice and were disappointed to find you found nothing. First player 1 now player 3? Who even were these people? There were others like you and how could they leave, and you couldn't? You felt envy bubble within you. A part of you still hoped this was all some sort of elaborate prank. The system continued its voice flat and blank with a cheerful undertone that fought against the monotony of its code. "WELCOME PLAYERS TO THE ISEKAI ROMANCE CHALLENGE! A FEW GROUND RULES BEFORE WE CONTINUE. ALRIGHT VILLAINESSES, AND HEROINES, AND NO I DON'T MEAN A JUNKIES NOSE CANDY OR THE KIND OF STUFF YOU SHOVE UP YOUR NOSE LIKE CRAYONS. AHEM! WHAT I MEAN IS AND THICK SAUCY PASSION! YOUR GOAL IS TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF THE ONE SPECIAL VERTA-BAE YOUR SOUL LONGS FOR. YOUR GOAL IS TO GET BONED! OR TO CONVICE ONE OF THE SKELETONS ON A DATE." "FIRST WE HAVE A FEW GROUND RULES BEFORE WE BEGIN. RULE 1. NO DYING. RULE 2. NO CHEATING AND BY THAT I DON'T MEAN PHYSICALLY, AND BESIDES NO ONE IN A RELATIONSHIP LIKES A CHEATER, AND RULE THREE: NO MUSHROOMS! YOU WILL REGRET IT! ABSOLUTLEY NO MUSHROOMS ARE ALLOWED IN THIS CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY NOT ON PIZZA YOU BARBARIANS! ALRIGHT HAVE FUN LADIES AND NON-BINARY DASIES! NOW READY... SET... DATE!!!" Your jaw dropped open in disbelief. Isekai romance challenge what the actual- "NOW DURING THIS GRACE PERIOD YOU PLAYERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO HARM ONE ANOTHER HOWEVER RIVALRY IS STILL ENCOURGED." You groaned internally flopping down onto your claimed bed with your face shoved in the pillow. "DURING THIS PERIOD PLAYERS OF PASSION ALL RELATIONSHIP POINTS INCLUDING FRIENDSHIP POINTS AND ROMANCE POINTS WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY 1! SO, GET GOING PLAYERS! AND REMEMBER REFUSUAL TO PARTICIPATE WILL CAUSE YOUR IMEDIATE TERMINATION FROM LIFE SO NO HARD FEELINGS!" No hard feelings? And what's this about termination? This wasn't fun this was terrifying! A knock at the door broke the tense silence.