[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

[systematicsupport]

S-4 is always happy to see one of his friends out and about, and had just been about to give them a cheerful welcome when... they tripped? That's not something Frisk usually does. Maybe they're not feeling well?

Whatever may be happening, S-4 can't help but yell out as Frisk falls into the fountain, rushing to their side to pull them out of the water.

"Frisk? Are you okay? You have to be more careful!"

[mercybutton]

Is that Papyrus' voice? It sounds like it.

"Sorry, sorry! I know."

Except... S-4 might notice that Frisk is suddenly a little older. Slightly deeper voice and different speech pattern??

Frisk steps out of the fountain as he pulls them out, squeezing the water from their hair. "I didn't know you were here, Papyrus."

[systematicsupport]

"It's okay! You don't need to apologize that much..."

S-4 certainly notices the change in Frisk's age, and he's frozen in shock until he hears the mention of Papyrus.

"Oh... you're new here, aren't you? I'm not actually Papyrus. Not really... I guess I'm from your past. You can call me S-4, f-for Sans-Serif Support System."

[mercybutton]

"S-4," they mutter, feeling the word on their tongue. No, it's a name. It doesn't sound right. It doesn't feel right.

They think about it for a second. Sans-Serif… must be his brother.

"Do you like that name?"

[systematicsupport]

"Um... I don't mind it."

That's a question he's used to fielding, but he's still not quite sure what to make of it. It's his purpose, his designation. It explains everything there really is to know about him. It doesn't really matter if he likes it, does it?

"So your name is still Frisk, right?"

[mercybutton]

As long as he's comfortable with it, they are too.

"Yeah, I'm still Frisk."

[systematicsupport]

"Okay. It's nice to meet you. Again, I guess."

He fidgets for a moment before blurting out:

"Are you sure you're okay? Do you need a towel?"

[mercybutton]

Yeah. I'd like- um, like some, thanks.

[systematicsupport]

"I have some in my room. You can follow me."

He takes a few steps in one direction, before he realizes Frisk may need some guidance. Carefully, he lifts up their hand, cradling it in his, before gently starting to tug them along.

[mercybutton]

They follow along just fine- they've had plenty of practice back home on the surface, living with their monster family.

"Thanks."

And after a while... "How big is this place?"

[systematicsupport]

"Y-You're welcome."

At the question, he looks back, then smiles sheepishly.

"It's... really big. I still get lost here sometimes. I-It doesn't help that sometimes rooms change around so you aren't in the same place as before."

[mercybutton]

"It's okay," they say reassuringly. "I'll find my way somehow."

Determination, right?

[systematicsupport]

"Uh-huh. Everyone is able to find their way eventually. And... you're really smart, so it'll be easy."

[mercybutton]

The compliment makes them smile more than it probably should. "Hey, thanks. I think you're pretty clever, too."

And off they keep walking, through the castle. Probably a detour here and there; but Frisk doesn't mind the distance. It's more time to get to know S-4.

[systematicsupport]

"Oh! R-Really? I'm...not as smart as my brother, but I'm good at puzzles, I think..."

He laughs nervously, but there's a hint of how flattered he is, anyways. It takes some time, but eventually, S-4 finds the hallway his room is in. He tugs a little harder on Frisk's hand as he pushes open the door.

"Here it is! I share the room with my brothers. They aren't here right now though."

[mercybutton]

"Brothers?" More than one?"

Yeah, the, uh.... yeah.

[systematicsupport]

"Yes. There's the brother from my world, Sans-Serif, and another Sans from... the future, I think." It gets confusing when he tries to explain it, but there's probably no good way to get the difference across.

[mercybutton]

"Um…"

They decide to just file it down to the most simple forms: His bro, and some other Sans that isn't theirs. Okay.

"I think I get it."

[systematicsupport]

"Oh. I'm glad. I know it's a little strange to think there's more than one of the same person here. But there's a couple copies here and there."

He still half hopes and half fears Sans' real brother will come to the castle.

[mercybutton]

"I believe you," they assure him. "It's just… weird."

[systematicsupport]

"There's a lot of weird things here. But um, it's still nice! Don't worry. Everyone is really friendly, and there's a library, and an art room, and I can play games and draw pictures and read whatever I want!"

Those may sound like pretty simple things, but they're absolutely magical to someone who only got to read whatever Gaster didn't hide from him and draw whatever the other scientists wouldn't ask about in conditioning sessions later.

[mercybutton]

"That sounds pretty cool." They've had plenty of freedom back in the Underground and still living on the surface, but it is still a relief to find that freedom remains even here.

"You sound like you weren't always able to do that?"

[systematicsupport]

"It is. I like it a lot..."

He falls silent for a long moment at the question, fiddling with his fingerbones.

"Not really. There wasn't a lot to read, and some people were kind of scary in the lab."

[mercybutton]

... right. They forgot for a second that this Papyrus came from a lab.

"Does this place have a library?"

[systematicsupport]

He notices that Frisk doesn't ask about the lab, which is strange. Most of the time, people get confused when they hear that. Maybe they were just trying to hide their feelings to be nice?

"It does! It's a really big one. I go there to read a lot."