[...That was a nice sound, and the Ascian is a little caught by it in turn. If they weren't so close he's sure he wouldn't have been able to hear it, or written it off as something else, which made it that much more arresting, in a way. As though being treated to small details as well as grand ones.

Still, Emet-Selch forces himself to focus (or at least, to share focuses), since this was something he'd become curious about. And definitely a better topic than his own (very assured) non-death from overbond.]

So choosy... that you placed a bet with a complete stranger over it...?

[...Perhaps discussion could be combined with affection(?). Tilting his head this time, he runs his tongue along the underside of Mettaton's jaw before continuing, voice soft.]

Not that I'm criticizing your choice, of course. [A trace smug; Emet-Selch held the contradictory conviction that he was the finest choice someone could make, as well as an absolutely terrible one.] And I admit to being a bit flattered... but why?

[Not just why him, but why no one else before him? How could he be choosy and seemingly arbitrary? The Ascian had seen a bit of what a lack of Bond does to people, at least to witches, and he can't imagine a monster having a better time of it. He wasn't sure how long Mettaton had been in the city, though- but judging from his rabbitine features, he estimated it was at least as long as himself, if not more. Long enough to feel the lack.]