victory_road | FILE 1 | [network/action for New Bark Town] adjusting to a new UI

[NETWORK]

[Frisk frowns into the camera, sitting a ways away from Elm's lab with their backpack in their lap and a worried looking Skiddo hovering over their shoulder. They chew on their lip and look back in the direction of Mom's house before finally speaking up.]

Does anyone know where Mount Ebott is? I...I think I'm lost.

Mom? If you're here, I'm by a lab right now...I made a new friend! His name's Buddy, lemme show you--

[The feed swings around, and now you all have a...very close up view of the Skiddo's face. It sneezes on the lens.]

He's really nice! I think you'll like him, too. He doesn't say a whole lot, though.

Um, okay, bye!

[ACTION]

[Frisk shuts off the feed, and slumps forward over their backpack, the cheerful facade falling away into worry. Buddy bleats and nudges their cheek, but Frisk doesn't respond outside of reaching up a hand to pet the Pokemon.]

[This is really bad. Nothing like this has ever happened before...it doesn't feel like a RESET, but Frisk can't think of anything else that would pull them away like this. And on top of that...]

[Again, Frisk closes their eyes and turns their mental focus inward, reaching and reaching and trying...but they're alone. Nobody came.]

[Frisk sniffles, and buries their face in their arms.]

...I wanna go home...

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Frisk!

[IS IT CHRISTMAS?]

Holy shit, are you really here, kiddo? Like, for real?

[You're not the only newcomer who wants to go home. There's an adult... ish... person with blonde hair ranting and raving as he walks on by, not noticing the kid as he runs his hands through his hair over and over.]

I can't even feel my ears anymore! What sort of sadistic plot eez zis?

[Maybe not Christmas, exactly...]

[Frisk blinks and stares at the feed in confusion. There's something tickling at the back of their mind, like they're trying to remember...but the feeling passes, and they shrug.]

Um...I guess? ...how'd you know my name?

...Oh.

[That's...that's right. Jade didn't remember coming here before she arrived more permanently, either. Dave's face falls a bit, but then he shakes it off.]

We met in...another time, I guess you could say. My name's Dave. Dave Strider.

[That get a much bigger reaction. It's not quite fearful flinch, but Frisk is definitely startled, and nearly loses their grip on the Gear.]

Y-you can--?!

[They stop themself just in time, and fumble to mess with the comm settings before pulling this conversation to private.]

You're Determined? How did--wh-why can't I remember, too?

[Frisk looks up from their little pity party curiously, frowning in confusion. He can't feel his ears...? But it's not even cold out!]

Um, are you okay, mister?

[he pauses, and blushes at being caught in an embarrassing position. He straightens up.]

Ah, not exactly... tell me, are you a local?

Uh, what? What do--oh, no no no, it's not like that. It's not the same kind of save and reset thing as you've got in your world. Or anything like what my world does, either. It's just--kind of a thing?

[WHY DOES HE SUCK AT EXPLAINING SHIT.]

It's more like...everyone's got their own personal save file, here? So sometimes shit gets reset at the individual level but it doesn't affect the other players.

[That...doesn't really make sense, but Frisk doesn't think Dave is lying. They make a sort of worried groan, rocking back and forth for a moment. Buddy sticks his nose into frame, snuffling at their face before chewing on a bit of their hair. Frisk doesn't bother to stop him.]

That's...that's weird. How can that work?

...we're in another world?

[Frisk shakes their head.]

Nuh-uh. I'm from Ebott City.

[Hmmm, he's never heard of it, but that could just be a nearby city.]

I am not supposing you have seen anyone else pass here like myself? Perhaps a princess, or a young boy, or a ravishingly beautiful blonde with perfect eyes like jewels?

[... he's, uh, in love with that last one. case it wasn't clear.]

I dunno how it works, exactly, but yeah. Whole 'nother world. It seems to be a lot safer than most people's worlds, so you don't have to worry about that kind of shit. I mean stuff.

[He pauses, then says:]

Frisk, buddy, your goat is kind of nibbling on your skull there.

[Frisk gives it some serious thought, but after a bit they shake their head with a frown.]

I don't think so. Are they your friends?

[Frisk definitely picked up on that neon flashing 'giant crush' sign, but they're not going to make assumptions about the actual relationship just yet.]

Zey are my team! We appear to have been separated after landing een zis odd place.

Oh. How do we get home? I gotta...there's stuff I gotta do.

[Frisk isn't sure how much Dave knows, but...well, if he has his own timeline to take care of, he must understand, right?]

[--wait, huh?]

What?

[Frisk turns and feels the tug on their hair, and Buddy goes stock still. The tableau is held for a few seconds before Buddy lets the hair fall back out of his mouth, and Frisk laughs.]

[Dave laughs a little, too, a voiceless "hehe" through the nose, but this is sort of an awkward thing for him to address.]

People, uh. Sort of can't get home of their own choosing. But it's okay, time doesn't move at all while you're here, I got several credible reports on the matter. It's like home's on pause while you play around here, you know?

Oh! I got sep'rated from my mom when I got here, too. Did you try callin' on th' phone yet?

[Oh no, this poor child!]

I have, but I have not heard back yet...

[He kneels down a little.]

Are you all by yourself?

[ After these two weeks, Basch has decided video is fine - though he still prefers voice, and.

Is that a child. What should he do. After a while of pondering, he turns on the feed. ]

Your mother is not here.

[ smooth. But he adds: ]

The land is safe.

...

[Frisk looks down at their bag again, a frown tugging at their mouth again as they process that. The idea of being stuck here, away from all their friends and family...being so completely alone...it's not a comfortable feeling. But...if the timeline won't move without them...]

...you're...you're really sure? It won't reset?

[It was slightly worrying that he apparently wasn't the only person lost. It was even more worrying to him that a kid had been caught up in whatever it was that was going on.]

What's your mom's name? I can ask around about her.

[Mission to get back to Edge currently on pause. A child needs help.]

Promise. It'll be like you never left.

[He has his own theories about that, anyway.]

Other people from home might come through from different time points, but that's because of weird shit here, not there. Trust me, I know my way around this stuff.

[Frisk nods...then frowns, shakes their head, and smiles.]

Naw, I've got Buddy!

[The Skiddo's ears flop backwards, and he bleats before leaning against Frisk. The child giggles an little bit and bonks the side of their head lightly against their Pokemon's.]

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FILE 1 | [network/action for New Bark Town] adjusting to a new UI

[Video]

action

[Video] i feel so bad for this rip my heart

[Video] IT'S FINE IT'LL BE FINE

[Video / PRIVATE AS SHIT HELLO]

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[PRIVATE LIKE WE JUST STARTED BOOT CAMP]

[PRIVATE LIKE wait does this mean Undyne is training us now]

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[PRIVATE oh god no Dave wouldn't survive]

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[PRIVATE not even through one suplex? come on, man!]

[PRIVATE he has delicate bird bones Frisk]

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[PRIVATE oh fine you big baby]

[Video]

[PRIVATE thank u 4 understanding his deficiencies]

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