entranceway | 💔 💔 💔 💔 [Video] 💔 💔 💔 💔

[The video feed opens to a pair of robotic hands pinning a sign to a pillar in the Entrance Hall. This isn’t terribly peculiar since Mettaton has done this quite a lot in the past for his concerts but the subject of this flyer is of a different affair than anyone is accustomed to seeing. It is rather bare in comparison to the almost gaudy things he’s put up before but this one is straight and to the point: a picture of a ghost that some of Wonderland may recognize and the words on the top and bottom of the flyer say in big bold, eye-catching print HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GHOST? Anyone who happens to explore the mansion today will run into a lot of them hung up all over Wonderland.

There’s a couple of seconds as Mettaton adjusts the flyer so it sits perfectly on it and, satisfied, he reaches a hand back to the camera and turns it to face him.]

Hello Wonderland! It’s been awhile since I have posted here, I know, it’s a tragedy that I need to remedy more often, but that’s a problem for later. For now, dear Wonderland, I need your help. You see, in that last event or perhaps a little before it, someone important went missing. And I know some of you knew them, so I will need your help in finding them!

[He says this with a confidence that does not betray the anxiety that has been building in his soul that he has been fervently denying.]

Now I know one of the first questions some of you may ask me is “Is their room empty?” Well. Their room being empty, whether or not it is, doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that they are missing and that I will find them. Any information you have as to where they may be would be incredibly helpful!

[Now Mettaton looks almost imploringly to the camera, but of course he’d never come off as desperate, no, he’s Mettaton! He’d never potentially lose his cool like this.]

So! If any of you have information about the whereabouts of the dear and lovely Napstablook, I am all ears! I will be all over Wonderland and if you have anything at all, respond to this and let me know.

[With a decisive nod he ends the feed.]

((ooc: If you’re feeling an action thread, Mettaton can be found almost all over Wonderland feverishly looking for his dear friend, so feel free to run into his rather desperate search as he denies that Napstablook is gone. Places of note are The Music Room, the Library and probably the entirety of the Second Floor but he can absolutely be found anywhere you wish other than the Forest, which is a closed prompt.))

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[Ah. Hm. Well. It's pretty obvious what happened, no point in telling him that. She feels bad - she liked Napstablook too, and while she doesn't know the family connection, he did share with her about their alternate timelines and the horrors of it all. She wonders if she should even bother to speak up at all, and yet...]

... I'll... look for him, but... until we find him... d-do you need anything?

[Mikan! As helpful as ever, of course, and Mettaton's smile seems a little more genuine than it was in the initial broadcast.]

Them, and thank you darling! I don't think I need much of anything right now, but knowing there are some extra eyes on the look out for them is a balm.

Okay, b-but... please... make sure to take care of yourself. They wouldn't want you to wear yourself out or skip on rest.

[So concerned, as usual. When the truth settles in later her words will mean more than he could ever really say.]

Luckily they won't have to worry too much. I can go up to two weeks of high activity without needing to stop to charge! My battery is very efficient now, you know.

It's n-not just your body battery, though... they'll be concerned about you wearing out your heart and your mind. Those need rest too.

My heart and mind?

[He chuckles a little.]

No, it's quite fine, I can shut down for a few minutes and awake fully refreshed! It's part of the benefit of being synthetic.

[Says the robot who literally almost died a couple of months back thanks to overworking his soul...]

[...he's being stubborn on purpose isn't he.]

... That's not what I mean... and I think you know it.

[A little of column A, a little of column he's-so-deep-in-denial-even-he-doesn't-realize-it B.]

Mikan, dear, really, I'll be just fine. I'll be more fine once I find them, which hopefully won't take too long.

... Is it okay if I check up on you now and then?

[don't make her pull out her SHSL guilt card.]

[He wants to bristle a little. He wants to push her away. But she was there for him after everything with Bill and she has been nothing but kind and compassionate...]

Well. I suppose so, yes. But really you don't need to. I'll find them soon. And everything will be well.

[He sounds like he's trying to comfort her... but she's not the one who wants to hear this, in the end.]

... I'll be there for you, no matter what. I want to be there for you. Whether things are well or otherwise.

That's very sweet of you to say, Mikan. I appreciate it. And I know Napstablook will appreciate it too when they're back.

[Mettaton smiles a bit.]

Maybe when I find them we can all have a quiet moment in the tea rooms together! I think you two are friends, yes?

[Oh Mettaton...]

... Yeah. I liked... like them a lot.

[Maybe it's not for the best that she plays along with his delusion, but she can't bring herself to shatter it.]

They're really nice. They always listen to what I have to say. They always want to help. I want them to be safe and happy, always.

[Mikan continues to be sweet and nice about all of this. Mettaton grins.]

I'm sure they wish the same of you. I don't know if they'll say as much since they're so shy, but I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

[At least he hopes so! If not then this will be a very awkward for all parties involved.]

I should probably get going then. There's still so much of Wonderland to cover after all.

... Good luck, Mettaton.