[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]

I'm- [briefly chokes on water] I'm fine!

[The steady, rhythmic downdraft from her wings, even if small, is enough to tell them that whoever is talking to them is a monster. They get out of the fountain, careful not to scrape their legs against the stone or anything.]

Ugh, man.

[prospectornimbat]

Fidget lands beside the kid. It's just polite: don't flap your wings near someone wet and cold. "You just... taking a bath or something?"

[mercybutton]

No, I fell in here. Tripped, actually.

[They squeeze some of the water from their hair, angling their head so an ear faces her.]

[prospectornimbat]

"You, uh, feeling alright?"

That is still a freaky excuse for an ear.

[mercybutton]

[Hey, they're just trying to hear her better.]

A little cold, but I'll be alright.

[prospectornimbat]

"You don't wanna, I dunno. Dry off? You got a room around here, right?"

[mercybutton]

… No? I don't even know where I am.

[prospectornimbat]

"Uh. In a castle, in the sky?" Fidget flaps up in front of the kid's face. "We just went over this."

[mercybutton]

We did?

[They rub the back of their neck. They don't remember a conversation about any floating castles. They don't see her in front of their face, but they do feel the downdraft of her wings brushing against their legs.]

I'm... sorry?? I don't remember.

[prospectornimbat]

...Right.

"You sure you're all right? I mean, you're sounding better, but you're as bad at eye contact as Dust now."

[mercybutton]

Um...

[Boy this is awkward.]

That's 'cause I can't see.

[prospectornimbat]

For a long moment, the only sound from Fidget is the flapping of her wings.

"So... any chance you've got a twin?"

[mercybutton]

"No, I don't think so."

[prospectornimbat]

"Either way, I still spoke to a kid who looks just like you earlier today. Except quieter and able to see me. Nothing? No?"

[mercybutton]

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember hearing you before."

They're starting to get worried about themself now. What's going on? Did they accidentally go through some kind of disassociation at some point and talked to people they can't remember?

[prospectornimbat]

"Are you just a really normal-looking human?" Fidget asks. "Because you're either the first or second one I've met, so maybe I just can't tell?" Which would be awkward, but also way less likely to upset this kid.

[mercybutton]

They're not insulted at all! They're more than used to monsters who aren't used to seeing regular humans.

"Yeah, I'm a human child. My name's Frisk! You are?"

They hold out a hand to shake.

[prospectornimbat]

"Fidget, totally a fully grown nimbat. And, uh, no offense, but I don't do the hand sniffing thing."

[mercybutton]

They have no idea what a nimbat is, but it sounds related to a bat, given the pre-established wings.

Her sentence takes a little bit to click before they realize. "… Oh! Sorry. It's called a handshake. It's a formal greeting in human culture- like this, see?" They demonstrate with their own two arms. "Except this arm-" they wiggle their left, "-would be another person."

[prospectornimbat]

"Oh," says Fidget. "It's just, your arm is longer than me, I think, so that might be a problem."

[mercybutton]

Um… how much longer?

[prospectornimbat]

"Only a little, if you don't count my tail. Which isn't really practically helpful when it comes to height and stuff."

[mercybutton]

Oh. Well, we don't have to.

[They put their arms down.]

So um, Fidget? You said we're on a giant floating castle. It feels like we're in a garden? Plaza?

[prospectornimbat]

"Giant courtyard sort of thing?" Fidget says. "I'm still getting the lay of the land myself. All I can tell you is, don't go in the room with the birds. Scary, singing, cannibal birds."

[mercybutton]

Oh. Um, thanks for the advice.

[They're going to go in there anyway.]

So this is the courtyard? Center of the castle?