Free Candy and Discomfort

	Halloween sucks. Well, Halloween sucks if you're an antisocial teenager who's too old for trick-or-treating. It sucks even more if you have to see negative depictions of humans on every lawn. When you live in a monster dominated society, like Kris, you have to get used to the idea that you're species is their version of your monster. As Kris was making his way home from school on the day before Halloween, he happened to run into a group of small monster children.

	On a normal day, these children would just give him the occasional curious stare that Kris had grown accustomed to. However, the spooky spirit of the upcoming holiday caused the children to act with more caution. "Isn't that the human that lives in here?" one child would ask, "We should get out of here, I don't want him to take our souls," another child would chime in. Just like they had promised, they ran. In a sense, Kris felt a form of nostalgia to his own youth. He remembered all the times when he was told scary stories about how humans are beasts that want to take the lives of innocent monsters. It was all in good fun, but it still sticks to Kris like a cancer in the back of his mind.

	Kris turned the for the last time to see the only house that didn't have horrific human depictions, his own. The Dreemurs were probably the only monster family that didn't celebrate Halloween in the whole town. Toriel had always disagreed with the ways humans were portrayed in ghastly ways. Once, she even tried to petition for the holiday to be replaced entirely, but children just love free stuff sweets too much for that to ever happen. When Asriel was still around, Kris had even participated in the festivities, but those days are too far to touch now. Now Kris just settles for the massive discount on candy the day after.

	Putting fond memories aside, it was time to settle down inside and plan for the only saving grace of this holiday, the pranks. Kris was already a master of japes, so an entire day for them was a blessing to the mischievous boy. Perhaps he could even invite Susie this time for even more tomfoolery. There was the basics: Toilet paper and dog shit. Then there's the advanced: Pretending to be a decoration and the severed head trick (tricky for beginners!) In order to pull any of this off though, he needed supplies, and there's a big problem standing in his way. His mother is very observant. Luckily for Kris, Asgore had an appreciation for his hi-jinks. Something about "enjoying youth" is something the old goat would cite. His father would happily assist in the storage of war supplies.

	Now that everything is right in Kris's mind, it's time to stock up, or it would be if his phone didn't go off at that exact moment. The caller ID showed the name of the girl Kris had already wanted to talk to, Susie. With a giddy smile, Kris answered, "Hey, what's up Susie?" Susie responded, "Hey Kris, you busy tomorrow?" Now Kris was really interested. Could Susie share the practical joke virus? Susie continued, "Because if you're not, I have a billion cheesy horror movies we could watch at my place if you're interested." Not quite the thing Kris had wanted to hear, but this was perhaps even better than pranks, a chance for some intimate alone time with his crush. "That sounds cool, Susie. Let's head to your place after school tomorrow." In a more excited tone Susie replied, "Nice! Make sure you bring snacks and shit cuz we're, uh... "out of stuff" here." " Alright. Alright. Let me make a list of what to buy." "You know me too well, man."

	Susie began to list off the various food items she wanted and Kris would quickly scribble it down. Now that the entire page he was writing on was full, he decided it was time to cut the glutton off and hang up. Instead of stocking up for pranks, he was now stocking up for a completely platonic, but maybe not, date. Perhaps if things went really well, he might even "enjoy youth" in a different way. Despite the anticipation for romantic Halloween, Kris was quickly reminded of just how uncomfortable the day made him feel when he waltzed into Sans, the creatively named grocery. There were many "interesting" human pictures in the store, not scary, just very poorly made. "Like the new look kid? My brother handmade all of these," Sans chimed in from behind his nest behind the counter. That explains why they suck so much.

	"Yeah their cool, I guess," Kris spoke. As much as Kris disliked Sans, it probably wouldn't be wise to get on the bad side of the only other guy that can pull off serious pranks in town. Especially not when he had plans tomorrow. "Yeah my bros, pretty talented, huh?" Ignoring his attempt at continuing the conversation, Kris slinked off towards the snack aisle. "Yo, Kris. Your mom also sent you to get last minute candy?" Oh boy, another annoyance. This time it was everyone's favourite two armed dino, MK. "Hey are you going to Noelle's party tomorrow. Everyone in class is gonna be there. Well, everyone but Susie." Noelle's party? This is the first time Kris had heard about a party. Why didn't Kris get invited? He's not that forgettable, is he?

	Kris had taken to long, so MK continued, "No? You should totally come, it'll be fun. I'll, uh see you in class tomorrow, then." Kris could only give a half-assed wave as his thoughts drifted to the the ever-so friendly deer. Why was Kris the last one to hear about this party she was throwing? This is a question that Kris kind of wanted to ignore like he did to most problems, but he knows that it's probably for the best to ask directly at the source to work this out. Kris wasn't going to go to the party regardless, but an invite would have been nice.

	Kris had finally finished picking out the best snacks and cheapest sodas his money could afford and paid for new stash. "Geez kid, I like midnight snacks too, but aren't you going overboard." "Goodbye Sans." "Well I hope it was a GOOD buy and not a BAD buy." After hearing the same joke that he has heard an uncountable amount of times before, Kris began his trek home, this time without any cameos from a familiar face.

	Just like Kris had predicted from the start, Toriel was very curious as to why her son had decided to buy a week's worth of snacks out of the blue. "Oh wait, is this for that party Noelle is throwing. That's very thoughtful of you Kris." Even his mom knew, huh? Was Kris's invite just lost in shipping or something? "Now I know you don't like Halloween much, but I think it's very good for you to go out and socialize. Just like when Asriel was still lived with us." At least Kris had an alibi now because there was no way his mom would allow for him to spend an entire day alone with a female. " Yeah, mom. I can't wait to party and drink non-alcoholic beverages with everyone else." Just like that, everything was set for tomorrow.

	The following school day was just as boring as any other. That was true until a certain Bird decided it was time to fulfill his be an asshole quota for the day. "So, Kris, are you coming to Noelle's party? Oh wait you hate anything that has to do with fun don't you?" Berdly had such a way with words. "It's OK Kris. I'll just have to make up for the lack of you doing anything even remotely interesting. Actually, I'll have to make up for even more if you DO show up." Kris had been utterly defeated by the poet that's named Berdly.

	Kris had now spoken up, "Whatever. I already have plans today anyways." What? Are going through with the ingenious plan of throwing eggs at me again, you neanderthal?" Berdly retorted. "Actually, I have a date tonight, something you'll only get through payments." "Yeah, I'm really jealous of you and Susie." This was going nowhere, and Noelle had just entered this scene of bickering. "Hey Kris, I know you kinda hate Halloween, but I was throwing a party tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to come, and maybe also bring Susie too."

	"What? Come on Noelle. You can't possibly want to invite the two wor-" "Shut up. I wasn't talking to you, was I?" Noelle interrupted. With that, the bird dejectedly walked off. At least Kris hadn't been completely tossed out from the deer's social circle. "Sorry, Noelle, but me and Susie kind of already made plans for today." "Oh. You and Susie are busy. Maybe... maybe next time." "Yeah. Maybe." The bridge that connected the two's friendship was probably just a tightrope now, but at least it still existed.

	That's on issue thoroughly swept under the rug, now onto Susie. She was waiting for her human companion by the classroom entrance when school was over. Kris had just finished packing his things and regrouping with the dragon, "So, we just need to make a quick pit stop at my place to get the goods, then we should be all set." "Nice. You got the good shit right?" "What? Take me for some sort of cheapskate?" "Yes?" This banter continued as the due made their way to the Dreemur residence and then Susie's.

	Today was another day in which Susie's mother would not be home until late. Despite the holiday Susie's house had zero decorations, yet it was still somehow scarier than any house Kris had seen on the way. Kris kept this quip to himself, though. Susie hated when people brought up her state of living. "Hey, Susie? Where's the scary human decorations?" "Human and scary is a combo that does not exist, dude." "Is that an insult towards me?" "You wish, nerd."

	The movies that Susie had were the very typical kind of horror movie you'd find in any bargain bin, Maniacal Human stalks and kills its Monster prey. Kris only frowned slightly when he discovered that almost every single one had a human antagonist. It was a different time he supposed. In those days, it was propaganda. To Susie, they were a buck.

	Kris had already settled in on the suspiciously-stained couch while Susie put on the first flick, a movie called "Goodbye Saturday." It was about a group of teenage monsters going camping for a weekend getaway, but of course that doesn't go as planned. The crazy masked human was there to make sure of that. Susie was stuffing her face with popcorn and laughing at the obviously fake gore. Kris, however, was oddly silent and still.

	Eventually Susie took notice, "Dude, did you even see that clay head explode? Shits hilarious." "Sorry, just thinking." "Oh yeah? 'Bout what?" "Are other humans really this violent?" "Come on, man. It's a crappy horror movie. It's not deep." "Y-yeah. You're right." "Course I am. Now stop "thinking" and watch some kids die." Kris was put at ease, yet the doubt still lingered.

	As the movie went on, they both subconsciously closed the gap between them. This movement was reversed at the very long and awkward sex scene, though. Eventually, the movie ended, and Kris had to piss. "Hey Susie, where's your bathroom?" "Hallway, second door on the right." Kris had finished his business and was now staring at his reflection in the cracked mirror.

	Skin. Human skin. Perhaps Kris could play as one of the psychos that everyone runs from. Kids kind of already do that. Kris has never really cared about living in a human town,but he couldn't say he isn't at least a little curious. Who knows, maybe the silly movies are actually based on real events. Maybe monsters should fear humans.

	"Yo Kris, you giving birth or something?" Susie's voice beckoned from the living room. "Coming," Kris replied. Susie had already started the next movie without him. "What's this one, Sus?" "Something about robots from space I think." This time, Kris sat right next to Susie, almost touching her. The movie was way worse than the last and not good way. The only thing that got a chuckle was the awful looking robot costume, but that's only funny the first time, not for the rest of the hour and a half run time. The good thing about a boring movie, though, is that it allows for conversations to start.

	"You think we'd make good villains?" Kris started. "You already know I'm a great villain, Kris, but you're way too soft to hurt anybody, remember?" "I dunno. The trick-or-treaters out there seem to think I'm gonna take their souls or something." "Oh yeah? Well I make grown men piss their pants." "Fine. We both are terrifying in our own right." "Whatever makes you happy, dude." Kris hadn't related to someone this much since Asriel last visited. Kris had started to lean on Susie. She didn't say anything but a slight grin made its way onto her face as she turned her attention back to the movie. Luckily, no kids ever came to her house for candy. It was just two weirdos watching bad movies and enjoying each other's company, and they couldn't be happier.