[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]

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."

[mercybutton]

Some things are better kept than told.

"Glad you can read a lot more now." Their tone gains a bit of a negative edge. "It's really important, you know? Stories and stuff."

[systematicsupport]

S-4 nods, though the tone of Frisk's voice makes him frown a bit.

"I like stories a lot. Gaster used to read them to us, but now... now Sans does, and sometimes I can read them. If people want to listen."

[mercybutton]

"I'd love to some time." 'Cause, y'know. They can't read now. Even though Flowey sometimes read to them, he wouldn't always actually read what's on the pages. It'd be a bit refreshing.

[systematicsupport]

“That’d… that’d be very nice! I read to Frisk before, and, and they said I was pretty good!”

Maybe they were just being nice, but S-4 still hopes his reading is enjoyable.

[mercybutton]

"Yeah, sure! Sometime, okay? I'd like to hear it. I mean, I can't even read myself… so, uh, maybe--maybe things would be a little less lonely if you read to me."

[systematicsupport]

“...Y-You shouldn’t have to be too lonely. You’re really nice, so… you should have lots of people to talk to. And to read to you.”

He takes a moment, breathes in and out. He shouldn’t start panicking over them, or they’ll only be concerned that he’s upset.

“Just, just tell me when you want me to read. I don’t have a lot of other things to do, so I should always have time.”

[mercybutton]

"Uh... yeah. Okay. Yeah. I guess I'll just ask of you some time, but if it just so happens you gotta do something else, I can wait."

[systematicsupport]

“It’s really okay! I, um, I like to read. And spend time with friends.”

Is… it okay to call Frisk a friend?