[INTRO] they probably hate having to get used to a new place

[mercybutton]

Nooooo.

[aaaaaa. uuuuugh. What bothers them most right now isn't that they're suddenly someplace they don't know and thus are not at home, it's that they're suddenly someplace they don't know and thus is going to bump into literally Every Single Obstruction that exists here. Honestly, they'd be more concerned about being displaced from their family if they weren't annoyed about the prospect of having to get used to a possibly enormous place. Nobody better move the furniture around.

After a solid minute of laying on the ground they sit up. Feels like grass, sounds like water is rushing nearby. A park? Frisk stands up and starts shuffling around, trying to get used to their surroundings, finding one of the paths winding through the gardens. Then they start walking, gaining more confidence, and then-



trip right into a fountain. Curse their recklessness.]

Comments

[mercybutton]

"Hey."

Frisk reaches for him. "Give me your hand for a sec."

[justletmewin]

"Huh? Sure..." He takes Frisk's hand.

[mercybutton]

They take his hand, putting their other one over his.

"How stable do you feel?"

[justletmewin]

Tough question. What would it feel like if he started changing back? Would it happen in a blink? Would he lose feeling in his limbs and fall over? Would the transformation be slow and painful, like that one movie he saw with Chara about a human turning into a fly? (Not that he thought being a fly is bad, since plenty of fly monsters lived Underground. The body horror and vomiting looked painful though)

"I don't know. I'm... fine? But I'm not sure if it means anything."

[mercybutton]

"And you've been here for how long?"

[justletmewin]

"I don't know. I haven't been checking the time since the resets." He frowned. "A month? A few weeks? I know it's longer than a few days."

[mercybutton]

"A month's a long time, Asriel. I don't think you'll be going back any time soon. Don't worry, okay? You're fine."

If they're wrong, you get revenge liberties.

[justletmewin]

It... is, isn't it? He didn't want to take chances. But it shouldn't take him this long to maintain his original form without a soul. He pulls Frisk into a tight hug, trembling.

[mercybutton]

And they hug right back, just as tightly. Frisk starts rubbing his back in what they hope is a comforting gesture, reminiscent of the moments after his battle. You're safe, they seem to say.

[justletmewin]

"I hadn't thought of it that way before. I've been worried all this time, but... when you put it that way, you may be right." The back rubbing is easily one of his favorite memories since changing back. He's more than welcome to it again. "Ha ha... no matter what dimension you're from, you really are my best friend."

[mercybutton]

Frisk takes a breath, sighing. They can't agree with him, being his best friend... if he'd knew what kind of things they'd done, he wouldn't be saying that. But it'd also be rude to just flat-out say "no" and would take explaining, so... they choose not to say anything about it.

"You'll be okay."

[justletmewin]

Asriel... did a lot of horrible things. Killed people because he was curious. Killed people simply to see how everyone else would react, if anyone would miss them if they're gone. Killed people because they pissed him off. Killed people because he got bored.

Wiped out his own people to make the Underground his own paradise. Played mind games with them and get a kick out of their self-destruction. He murdered his Frisk again and again because he finally had a new plaything; he punished them for not being Chara, but decided they'd be a good enough replacement... a stranger he didn't feel guilty about killing.

Not having a soul wasn't an excuse. He always had a choice. Always.

Even if he did know the things this Frisk had done, he wouldn't have room to judge. He'd be hurt, yes, but...

[mercybutton]

Frisk had just as much of a choice as him, and they aren't missing their soul.

Frisk releases him gently. "Hey. You were talking about people we could play with?"