[open] Should'a taken that left at Albuquerque...

[purposefall]

[Frisk isn't sure how they got here, honestly. They've already done what they set out to do, though, so taking some time off to wander wouldn't be so bad...even if it was completely by accident...right? Right.

Just as long as they're home soon before people worry. They don't want to make people worry.

So for now, here, have a new Frisk wandering around the castle, staring curiously at the world with their strange violet eyes. The warmth of the sun...the sky and the breeze...everything....it's all so nice!

It's their first time seeing any of it for real.]

Comments

[dustless]

[There's another human in the gardens! Lying down under a tree, apparently taking a nap, crookedly wearing a paper crown that says THEATER ASSISTANT in pink-and-silver letters.]

[purposefall]

[...

Oh, wow, it's another them! This is weird and cool and wow wow wow wow.

They do what any curious little thing would do when confronted with this: they crouch down nearby and gently poke the other human's shoulder.

Hi, Frisk.]

[dustless]

[They weren't quite asleep, as it turns out--just relaxing. They needed a break.]

[Their eyes open at the first touch, and--] Oh! [They sit up. Frisk wasn't expecting another Frisk to be the one that poked them. The other Frisk needs Flowey's directions, after all.]

...Hi. [Frisk's voice is small, but their grin's rather bigger.]

[purposefall]

Hi!

[They cough slightly - whoops, humming a bit earlier seems to have taken it out of them - and begin signing instead.]

This is different, isn't it!

[dustless]

[It takes Frisk a few moments of staring thought before they respond. They know...some sign language, and most of it's rusty.]

Well, the garden's the same as usual... [They try to sign most of it as well as mouth it clearly, just in case this Frisk is totally deaf. They don't know the sign for 'garden' and end up gesturing around the surrounding area instead.]

...are you new?

[purposefall]

Not deaf! My voice just acts up.

[At the second question, they nod.]

Yes, I just arrived.

[dustless]

Oh! 'Kay. [They don't quite stop signing, though. They need the practice!]

Have people talked--have you been told 'bout what this place is and stuff?

[purposefall]

No, you're the first person I've met.

[They sit down and look at the other Frisk curiously.]

What is this castle?

[regalduchess]

Duchess is, so to say, confused. It's not that she expected (or objected to) the castle becoming a hostel for children, but...

where were their parents?

She trails the child for a minute or two before making herself known.

"Hello, darling. Are you new here?"

A child so small is likely used to looking up.

"--oh, down here, down here."

[purposefall]

[....Oh, no, it's a kitty! A cute, talking kitty that is somehow not a Monster.

But. KITTY!

Frisk does as any child would when confronted with this: they sit down and stare adoringly at the talking kitty.]

Hi! Yes, I'm new!

[regalduchess]

"Welcome to the castle, little one."

Children usually like to pet her; she takes initiative and butts her head up against Frisk's chest, a rumbling purr already revving up in her chest.

"There are many other children here, and I'm sure you will make plenty of friends!"

[purposefall]

[Frisk pauses for a second, expecting the usual itch that comes from their Temmie allergy. This...this is a cat, not a Temmie. They are apparently not allergic to cats along with Temmies.

Great!

So they reach out and pet Duchess gently, smiling.]

Thank you!

[Their voice is tiny and chirpy, and a bit hoarse. They would sign, but...does Duchess even understand sign language? Or read, for that matter?]

[regalduchess]

[Duchess sits still to absorb the petting, purring happily.]

Of course, darling.

[Being a mother gives her the advantage of spotting anything wrong. She gently paws Frisk's mouth, claws velveted and harmless.]

Are you sick?

[purposefall]

[Oh dear.]

No, but my voice acts up a lot.

[They scritch Duchess behind one ear almost apologetically.]

[regalduchess]

No problem, darling.

[She nuzzles their nose.]

After all, cats don't need to speak to communicate; I'll read your body language, if your voice refuses to cooperate.

[mercybutton]

… Someone's singing.

The notes are clear, the voice just as so. "If I could / begin to do / something that goes right by you…" The sound falls across the air and leads right into the library, the exact place where they should be quiet, but eh. Rules are loose here.

Beside them sits Flowey, who's reading. An acoustic guitar is propped up nearby. The pair seems rather calm.

[purposefall]

[The music interests them, so a-wandering into the library they go.

And they freeze when they realize what they're seeing. It's another them, and it's Flowey and there's at least one timeline where Flowey came up with everyone, isn't there?

That realization makes them squeak and trot over happily.]

Hi!

[Knowing that there's a timeline where Flowey can be saved....

Blah blah determination.]

[mercybutton]

[Frisk visibly perks up, turning around to face... that awfully familiar voice that sounds an awful lot like a younger-ish them. Oh man, another Frisk? It's not that they mind--they just worry for confusion.]

Oh--oh, hello!

[... something's wrong. Their eyes are blank and they're not quite facing the right way.

Flowey, meanwhile, turns to face Frisk no.3, and a cross of annoyance and mild shock comes across his features. Now he's gonna have to deal with three of them.]

[purposefall]

[Oh...oh. Frisk knows what that means.]

You, um, can't see, can you?

[They cough a bit before looking at Flowey and waving happily. They've been thrown off a bit now, though. This is going to get confusing fast, especially if their voice gives out again.

They rub their throat, trying to will it to continue working.]

[mercybutton]

"No." They look down ashamedly. "I'm sorry."

Flowey sighs lightly, noting the cough and throat-rubbing. "So, when are you from?"

[purposefall]

It's oḱ̠̞a̫-̲ͅa̲̼̫͉̹̯̯͢.̝̹͎ͅ..̻͚͞ͅͅ

[Their eyes widen and they cough again. Not now! Sighing, they hold up one finger in the 'one moment please' gesture before rummaging around for their cell phone.

They proceed to type up their next message.]

Voice gave out. Sorry.

Everyone who wanted out of the Underground is out.

[mercybutton]

"Voice gave out. Sorry," Flowey reads. "Everyone who wanted out of the Underground is out."

"Oh! The pacifist ending, right?" Frisk hon please. Not everyone thinks in the technical terms you do. ... oh well. "M-me too. But... haven't got anyone from home. But that doesn't matter, there's not much difference besides--besides not remembering me being blind."

[fiery_goatmother]

[Even though Asgore is more of a gardener than Toriel ever was, she still finds it restful to walk through the gardens. And so, here she is, out and enjoying the pleasant weather, complete with a sun hat. She's not at all surprised to see Frisk out and walking around as well, but...

...Something is different about this one. This is not a Frisk she's met yet.

But that's hardly anything to stop her from making her way over to them. Any Frisk is dear to her heart right from the get-go.]

My child, are you lost?

[She knows full well that this is a new Frisk to the castle, but it's probably best to keep her greeting simple until she knows a bit more about this particular child.]

[purposefall]

[This Frisk could probably be easily told apart from the others thanks to the purple eyes, yes. It's an odd color, even - no, especially among humans. But in the infinite iterations of the universe or whatever, blah blah blah...

Look. The point is, this is a Frisk, and they rush over happily to Toriel. Even if this isn't the one from their particular iteration of the timeline, this is still Toriel.]

Hi! Yes, I'm lost!

[They sound perfectly content with this fact.]

[fiery_goatmother]

[Yes, this is definitely a different Frisk, but she's hardly one to complain. In fact, she chuckles a bit at their perfect contentedness over being lost. One thing about Frisk seems to be universal: They adapt beautifully to new challenges.

Even though she can sense that something else is different. It can't be magic, can it? She has a sense for these things, but it's definitely odd all the same...]

Well, you do not seem to be at all bothered about it!

[Excuse her twinge of pride here. She's always proud of any Frisk thriving despite the odds. Even if she has absolutely nothing to do with it.]

Have you only just arrived?