[video] (Backdated to April 30th)

[gainedlove]

[When Frisk comes onto the network this time, it's with a much less agreeable expression upon their face. Their hair is incredibly rumpled, and they rather look like they just slept in their clothing last night.]

You gotta stop hurting people! It's not fair, he already got punished, an' he didn't DO anything, an' he was hurt an'...!

[Frisk's face screws up, and they're clearly holding back on some frustrated tears.]

H-has anybody seen Rinzler? He was...I-I wanna make sure he's okay.

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[squadgoals]

I'll see you in a few minutes, then.

[Sure enough, a handful of minutes later, there's a gentle knock at the door, and a voice.]

Frisk? It's Shepard. Can I come in?

[gainedlove]

[It takes a few moments before the door swings open, and Frisk looks up at Shepard shyly.]

Um...h'llo.

[They shuffle their feet for a moment before stepping aside to let her in with a small nod.]

[squadgoals]

Hey there.

[She nods back to Frisk, smiling gently, and steps inside. There was only one other Nomo room she'd been in, but it's strangely refreshing to find them all more or less... the same. Shepard makes a bee-line for the couch, and unfolds a napkin on its desk-like arm. Cafeteria muffins.]

I wasn't sure if you liked them or not, but I thought I'd bring a few, just in case you were hungry.

[gainedlove]

[Frisk follows along behind, but they don't take a seat just yet. The offer of muffins is a surprise, and they pause before taking one with a very small smile. They hadn't actually realized how hungry they were until just now.]

Mmm...thank you.

[squadgoals]

[For her part, Shep takes a seat on the floor, cross-legged. Standing above people tended to make her feel like she was threatening them — not a great look, in her opinion, for an already-troubled kid.

She takes a muffin for herself, picking the top off with a degree of care.]

I always eat this part first. Bad habit — my mom always got mad at me for leaving a bunch of muffin bottoms.

[gainedlove]

[Frisk settles to sit next to Shepard, and their smile grows a little.]

I never got muffins a lot b'fore...Mom makes 'em sometimes, though. [They carefully remove the wrapper for theirs, then start nibbling away at the top.]

[squadgoals]

Before you came to the Moira, you mean? [And then after a beat of thought,] Who's your mom? She here, too?

[gainedlove]

Uh-huh. An' Mom's here; her name's Toriel. She's a boss monster.

[You'd think after being here so long Frisk would remember that literally no one else knows about monsters here. And yet...]

[squadgoals]

Toriel? Tall, fluffy, extremely kind? That Toriel? [She's your mom?

Wait what was that last part]

Boss monster?

[gainedlove]

Mm-hmm. I'm adopted.

[You know, just to clarify.]

Yeah. They're real strong for monsters, an' they live a long time.

[squadgoals]

[It's a clarification that's appreciated — I mean, who knows how monster families work?]

I've got to admit, you've got me at a disadvantage, here. I don't think I know anything about monsters at all.

They common, where you're from? Living together side by side with humans, adopting each other?

[gainedlove]

[Frisk nods, nibbling away at their muffin. The distraction is enough that their mood is starting to improve again, and Frisk doesn't mind educating humans about monsters at all.]

Mmm, kinda. They were all stuck underground for a long, long time. Humans forgot about 'em, but then I fell down an' th' Barrier was broken an' ev'ryone could come out. That was...a month ago, b'fore I got here.

[Frisk's smile brightens a little more.]

Not alla th' humans are happy 'bout it, but we're doing okay, I think.

[squadgoals]

Well, you can't please everyone. [She shakes her head ruefully. Just a kid, and already bringing races together. Frisk would make one hell of a peacekeeper, some day.]

Sounds like you did a good thing, though, huh? Bringing the two worlds together?

[gainedlove]

[They do try...but it's not the people that make keeping that happy ending so difficult, sadly.]

Um...I try, I guess. [Frisk ducks their head, blushing with a small little smile.] Mom's the one doin' a lot 'a th' talkin', really. I just try t' help when people get confused.

[squadgoals]

What do they generally get confused with? Monster stuff?

Cultural differences?

...Different holidays?