[It's not what she wants - they both know exactly what Lup would prefer in this moment if given the chance - but it's maybe what she needs most in this moment, a familiar script with questions that tug at her nostalgia. That remind her more of their love than of her current loss, something warm and soft and sweet to help mask some of that pain.

Despite herself, Lup smiles softly while she works with Alphys, pushing a mixing bowl across the counter to the other woman, dry ingredients already measured out and ready to be mixed.]

Nah, not a chance.

[Spoken with all of Lup's usual confidence, like she's never been more sure of anything in her life.]

Koko an' I just couldn't see that for ourselves. We grew up with just each other, y'know, so the idea of adding another person to that mix? No way. Why mess up the good thing we already had going?

[It's more than that, more that Alphys may already understand, the twins' long running trust issues and refusal to genuinely connect with the world. But that's not as easy to say.]

And Barry was cute, sure, but it took me a decade or so to really see him.