Work Text:
(Cold open: Toriel’s dimly lit car. She is looking at the road with her face scrunched up, hands tight on the steering wheel, Dantz is looking at the road with his arms crossed, Asriel is in the back seat, watching a video with his ear pods in)
Toriel: (Voice strained) Dantz, we will talk about this at home, but, your behavior with Noelle tonight was innapropriate, and disgusting. And you made Noelle fall into something that looked very suggestive. I can’t even explain it it was too disturbing.
Dantz: How? We both were for each other. We agreed on it! And the fall was accidental.
Toriel: I don’t care. Did you think about how the others would react? And you barely even known Noelle.
Dantz: We were friends for 3 years and we’ve been dating for 9 months. How is a kiss on the lips that suggestive for you. (Voice rising) What’s next, a simple hug between me and Noelle and you think that’s-
(A car honks at Toriel and she almost gets in a wreck)
Toriel: Dantz, you just almost got us into a wreck!
Dantz: Well look at this mom. Do you think that I am not ready for any friends yet. That I should just be raised in your shadow!? I am a free spirit in charge of my own life. So let me tell you mom: I am a free spirit!
(Toriel and Dantz’s voice overlap each other as Asriel just has a smile, watching videos on his phone, cut to Mayor Holiday’s car, which is also dimly lighted)
Mayor Holiday: (Sternly) So, Noelle. You went through with Dantz’s kiss.
Noelle: (Blushing, looking down) Yeah… it felt good.
Mayor Holiday: It’s understandable, I know what being a teenager is like because, I lived through it. Now, Noelle. I know you love Dantz but, have you ever felt uncomfortable?
Noelle: (Still blushing) Kind of, but… I kind of like that, uncomfortable feeling. (Noelle loses her blush, assertiveness grows in her tone) But mom, I will tell Dantz if he’s crossed a line or not, and you know how I show that someone might have crossed a line. Susie’s face hasn’t healed yet from me hoofing her. And Dantz has some frostbite scars.
Mayor Holiday: (Still stern) I am not mad at you Noelle. I am surprised. I know you Noelle, and I know Dantz. You both are just 100 percent teenage hormones and from your ages, I am not surprised. What I am worried about is Toriel’s hysterical reaction to this.
Noelle: You’re worried about Mrs. Dreemurr?
Mayor Holiday: Yes. That is affirmative.
(Cut to a side by side of Dantz and Noelle, Dantz is yelling at his mom while Noelle looks out the car window with dreamy eyes)
Dantz & Noelle: We are both lovers.
(Intermission, the intro plays)
(In Noelle’s room, Noelle had just woken up and she is in her pajamas, with a slight blush on her face it is 11:00 AM on New Year’s Day, her phone with a candy cane phonecase is being called, her ringtone is a fast paced Jingle Bells, she reads the caller ID, it says “Dantz” with a heart emoji)
Noelle: (Sleepy) Hey Dantz.
Dantz: (On speaker, booming with energy) Hey Noelle! Wake up! How are you doing?
(Noelle jumps lets out a slight scream, her blush vanishes)
Noelle: (Surprised) Dantz, I had just woke up! Can you call me later?
Dantz: (On speaker) But I have to tell you something!
Noelle: (Flatly) What is it, is your mom about to get you in trouble for something?
Dantz: (On speaker) No, but I have a question. You and me, at Chef e Ristoratore. It’s a few blocks north of QC’s diner. What time would you like to go there?
Noelle: (Back to normal) Um… maybe 7:00 on the… second? I want this day to-
Dantz: (Casually interrupting, on speaker) You want this day to be a day where you can just wake up and put this year on a good note?
(A pencil snap sound effect plays)
Noelle: (Breathes) Dantz… (Agression appears in her tone) Did you just have to interrupt me and read my mind!?
Dantz: (On speaker, whispering) *yes*
(Noelle starts fuming)
Noelle: (Screaming) Oh for the love of God!
(Noelle aggresively throws her phone at her closet door and gets out of her bed and starts aggresively making her bed)
Noelle: (While making her bed) How on God’s good Earth can he just let Dantz read my mind when we are blocks away!?
Dantz: (On speaker) Noelle, can you hear me? Hellooo?
(Noelle finishes making her bed and walks to her closet door, she picks up the phone and then goes to her bed and sits on the matress)
Noelle: (Softly) I’m sorry about that. I just got lost in the heat of the moment.
Dantz: (On speaker) Don’t worry Noelle, you’re fine. See you later!
Noelle: (Softly) Bye Dantz.
(Noelle hangs up, she opens her messages app and texts her mom)
Noelle: (Reading to herself) Hey mom, I just got invited to a date from Dantz. Is it okay if I get driven there by you at 6:30 PM tomorrow? It’s at Chef e Restoratore.
(Mayor Holiday texts Noelle a thumbs up)
Noelle: (Breathes, shaking, while blushing) Now I have to call Mrs. Dreemurr.
(Noelle calls Toriel)
Toriel: (On speaker) Hello?
Noelle: Mrs. Dreemurr… is it okay if me and Dantz go on a date at Chef e Restoratore at 7:00 tomorrow?
Toriel: (On speaker, pauses before speaking) Um… Yes that would be fine, actually. Would you mind if me and your mom are going to be there?
Noelle: No, I don’t mind. Please tell Dantz that you’re going to be here. I don’t want him to be too…
Toriel: You don’t want him to be enthusiastic towards you. Honey, I know what Dantz is like so you don’t have to worry.
Noelle: No… I just don’t want him to be too disappointed.
Toriel: Noelle, knowing Dantz’s behavior last night needs me to make sure you don’t get too uncomfortable. I want to be there with your mother tonight, so it will be easier for the two of you.
Noelle: (Forcefully using a lighter voice) Okay. See you later.
Toriel: See you soon Noelle.
(Toriel hangs up, Noelle wipes her forehead, then looking up)
Noelle: (Thinking, blushing) I guess Dantz is the only one who knows… how to get under my skin…
(Noelle looks down and breathes)
(Cut to the afternoon of January 2nd, Toriel and Dantz are going to the hair salon, inside their car, Toriel is giving Dantz a lecture about Noelle)
Toriel: … and Dantz, treat Noelle with respect. She’s not some person to be thrown around like you did at the fireworks scenario. I just hope you know to behave, we are with the Holidays here, you don't want to embarrass them, do you.
Dantz: (Looking down at his phone) No, I don’t want to embarrass them, and I will be nice to Noelle.
Toriel: Good, now remember. Do not accidentally bump into Noelle, and especially don’t make bawdy comments to her. I vividly remember your first comment to her and I still can’t get that out of my head.
Dantz: (Still looking down on his phone, he is texting) Yeah mom, I won’t make bawdy comments.
(Dantz is texting on his phone)
Dantz: (Thinking) Yo, I am about to get the Light Yagami haircut. How about that?
(Dantz sends the text to Susie, Berdly, Dooley, and Peters along with a Light Yagami picture)
Susie: (Reply) Ha! You look so ugly if you had that hair style. Our school would eat you alive! Ha ha!
Berdly: (Reply) Dantz, bold choice but do you think that choice will match your intellect? You know your type of hair won’t match the style, right?
Dooley: (Reply, monotone) You will have worthless results.
Peters: (Reply) Dude you are going to actually try to pull that off? Don’t write my name into your notebook. (Laughing emoji)
(Dantz texts all “Dude I’m serious, I made a bet with myself and I am doing it”)
Toriel: Dantz, before we go to the hair salon… What haircut do you want to get?
Dantz: This.
(Dantz shows Toriel a picture of Light Yagami)
Toriel: (Stunned) You want Light’s hairstyle!? Isn’t he the troubled serial killer in that dark show you watch?
Dantz: Mom, I made a bet with myself that if I got into the Leadership Academy I am going to get that haircut, and I made that bet. Also, I think I look more handsome with that haircut… Wait, don’t pull me out of the Leadership Academy. Please, I did all that hard work to get in there.
Toriel: And I won’t allow you to go anyway. I am going to call them tomorrow and see if I could get your brother in that school.
Dantz: Mom, my brother doesn’t want to go there. Listen to me, I am going to that school no matter what, I want to have a good education, I want to go to a good college, I just want a successful career. I just want a stable life with Noelle.
Toriel: Dantz, you exist to cause chaos. I don’t think wanting stability is a trait of yours.
Dantz: (Turning towards the front) I can’t believe you mom. I got accepted into there. You can’t just pull me out. That’s stupid. They let me enter and you won’t mom. You just think that my whole goal is to play around and cause chaos, that is what you think I am? It’s an aspect mom, there is much more to me than a class clown.
Toriel: Dantz, can you save this for later? We are almost there at the salon, can you please calm down?
Dantz: (Breathes) Fine. I just hope you listened to that.
(The car turns into the salon parking lot)
(Cut to the inside of the salon, the salon looks playful and bright as the nice cream guy waves at Dantz and Toriel)
Nice cream guy: (Cheerful) Welcome! How are you guys doing? And who is the customer ready for a fresh look?
(Dantz walks up to the counter with Toriel)
Dantz: That’s me! I already got a style in mind.
Nice cream guy: (Cheerful) What is it?
(Dantz pulls up a photo of Light Yagami on his phone, Nice cream guy looks at the photo then at Dantz’s frizzy hair)
Nice cream guy: Hm… I am not sure if we could pull that off. But I could give you a pop star swirl like this!
(Nice cream guy pulls up a photo of 2010s Justin Bieber on his phone on a hairstyling app)
Nice cream guy: How about that? It looks like the American remix of Light Yagami!
Dantz: That will be perfect.
(Toriel has a sigh of relief that Dantz won’t exactly look like a villain, Dantz walks to the chair and Nice cream guy puts a hair dressing cape on Dantz, and he starts cutting Dantz’s hair)
Nice cream guy: So, Dantz, spill the sprinkles! Why did you get that haircut?
Dantz: Well, I wanted this haircut because I made a bet with myself that if I got accepted into the Leadership Academy, I will get this haircut, probably because the Leadership Academy might shave my head if I had long hair. Also, I just want to look a bit more handsome. I am going on a date tonight and I want to look handsome.
Nice cream guy: Presentable you say? Just like an ice cream cone presented well.
(Nice cream guy cuts some of Dantz’s hair and shapes it)
Nice cream guy: Almost done, we just have to give you a little layering there and a fringe…
(The nice cream guy shapes Dantz’s hair and he now has a Bieber like hairstyle)
Nice cream guy: And ta-da! How do you like it?
Dantz: I love it!
Nice cream guy: Thank you. Now for a refreshing rinse and you’re all set! After that, I usually give my customers shaved ice, but since your mom told me before hand cold foods aren’t your favorite, so I got a “MTT Glamour bars” here instead? How does that sound to you?
Dantz: It sounds good.
Nice cream guy: Alright. Let’s get rinsing!
(Nice cream guy leads Dantz to the shampoo room, he rinses Dantz’s hair, puts in shampoo, and then rinses it out, he then blow dries Dantz’s hair and walks him out of the salon)
Nice cream guy: Behold! One handsome young man who looks good for his evening.
(Dantz walks out of the salon with his haircut, Toriel smiles, and looking in awe)
Toriel: Dantz, you look so… handsome, dear.
Dantz: Thanks mom, don’t mention it.
Toriel: Nonsense, you look wonderful.
Nice cream guy: Wait!
(Dantz looks at Nice cream guy)
Dantz: Hm?
Nice cream guy: Here you go.
(Nice cream guy hands Dantz an MTT Glamour Bar)
Dantz: (Smiles) Thanks.
Nice cream guy: My pleasure, have a good evening!
(The nice cream guy waves while Dantz and Toriel leave the salon)
(Intermission)
(Cut to the clothing store, it is on the afternoon of January 2nd, right around the time Dantz is getting his haircut, Mayor Holiday and Noelle are shopping for dresses, Noelle walks out of the fitting room door, wearing a red dress that has spaghetti straps and Noelle is blushing)
Noelle: (Self conscious, looking down, blushing) Mom, is it okay if you look for dresses that aren’t quite so… revealing?
Mayor Holiday: (Thoughtful and understanding) Of course Noelle, I want you to be comfortable on your first date. I have some other dresses that I have picked out, knowing you I have chosen some other dresses.
(A montage starts, Noelle wears a green dress with long sleeves)
Noelle: I’m starting to look like Mrs. Dreemurr in this outfit. Maybe another outfit that doesn’t make me look a million years older?
(Noelle puts on a floral maxi dress)
Noelle: Perfect!
(Noelle tries walking in it)
Noelle: This seems fine- woah!
(Noelle trips and falls on the floor, she gets up and wipes her head)
Noelle: Phew, thank god I am not buying and not wearing that.
(Noelle nervously giggles)
(The montage keeps going, showing Noelle in each dress, Noelle is now in the fitting room again, and this time she isn’t coming out to show off an outfit)
Mayor Holiday: Noelle, dear, we don’t have a lot of time to linger here. You have a date to go to. This is not the time to be shopping just to shop.
Noelle: (Annoyed, muffled) Mom, this is not a dress at all! This is piece of clothing is a doorway to impure thoughts! Let me grab something else.
(Noelle stuffs the scandalous dress under the fitting room chair and picks another dress, sounds of fabric rustling can be heard as she puts the dress on, Noelle walks out of the fitting room, wearing a baby blue mini dress with cerulean ends knitted on the sleeves)
Noelle: I think this looks pretty, do you, mom?
Mayor Holiday: Noelle it looks wonderful on you. You look like an angel! That color looks very well on you!
Noelle: So… are we ready to buy it?
Mayor Holiday: Without a doubt.
Noelle: Cool!
(Noelle goes back into the fitting room, the rustling of clothes can be heard as she changes back into her normal clothes)
Noelle: Okay, I’m all set!
(Noelle moves out of the way and Mayor Holiday looks at the piece of fabric stuffed under the fitting room chair in disgust and she chuckles a bit)
Mayor Holiday: (Thinking) I guess Noelle was right, it is too revealing. (Speaking) Hey Noelle, before you walk off, do you mind if you help your mother a bit with putting away the clothing?
Noelle: No, I don’t mind.
(Noelle picks up all of the dresses and hands them to Mayor Holiday, Mayor Holiday walks away)
Noelle: (Thinking to self, blushing) I just wonder what Dantz would be like if I worn THAT.
(Cut to Chef e Restoratore’s outside, Dantz and Toriel are standing by the entrance, Dantz is on his phone, texting, Toriel takes a look at Dantz)
Toriel: Dantz, what are you texting?
Dantz: Mom, I am making sure my education environment is stable.
(Cut to Mayor Holiday and Noelle, who are walking from the town hall, Mayor Holiday recieves a notification from her own phone, she pulls her phone out and her stern demeanor turns into an anxious one)
Mayor Holiday: (Stunned) Oh God!
(Mayor Holiday and Noelle keep walking with Mayor Holiday going back to her stern demanor, cut back to Toriel and Dantz, Dantz puts his phone away and sees Noelle, his expression delighted)
Dantz: Noelle!
(Noelle looks up and sees Dantz, her expression delighted)
Noelle: Dantz!
(Both run at each other full force, both Dantz and Noelle give hugs to each other, meeting in the middle of the walkway)
(Cut to the inside of the restaurant, Dantz spots a familiar rival, Berdly sees Dantz and he gains a smug grin while flipping his pan)
Berdly: Ah, Dantz. If it isn’t the only unemployed Dreemurr. What is it like when you don’t have a job, huh?
Dantz: So what, I do community service. It helps me graduate high school so I won’t have to do it in high school. Unlike you who brags all the time.
Berdly: Bragging? Please, I’m employed, you’re not. Enjoy being broke!
Dantz: Berdly, I’m only thirteen, can you just understand the facts?
Berdly: Nope! Have fun being broke!
(Dantz loses it)
Dantz: Shut up Berdly! I am gonna smash your glasses and stuff your inflated head in the cooking fryer! You, cocky, arrogant…
(Dantz stammers, and Noelle puts a hand on Dantz’s shoulder)
Noelle: Dantz… it’s not worth it getting angry at Berdly.
Dantz: But his ego though. It’s more inflatable than a balloon. It needs to be stopped.
Noelle: Dantz, he’s just being cocky. Ignore it.
Dantz: Fine. I’ll forget about it.
(A waiter comes up to the front desk, Dantz, Noelle, Mayor Holiday, and Toriel look at him as the waiter looks at Dantz and Noelle)
Waiter: Welcome to Chef e Restoratore is this a table for two?
Mayor Holiday: We have reserved four guests, thank you.
Waiter: Mayor Holiday, it’s a pleasure to see you. And I guess you’re bringing Dantz and Noelle for a date?
Mayor Holiday: Yes, I am.
Waiter: Dantz and Noelle, follow me upstairs)
(Dantz and Noelle go upstairs)
Waiter: And for the parents, I’ll lead you to your booth.
(The waiter leads Toriel and Mayor Holiday to a booth downstairs, Mayor Holiday and Toriel sit in the bright red booth, both Mayor Holiday and Toriel sit down, with Toriel rubbing her temples)
Toriel: (Thinking) Why can’t we be up there with them? Dantz will just ruin this date for Noelle.
(Cut to the screened in upstairs, Dantz and Noelle are sitting at a green metal table with green metal chairs, Dantz has his water bottle on the table, Dantz and Noelle are staring at each other)
Dantz: So, Noelle. The whole winter break was pretty fast, wasn’t it.
Noelle: Yeah, it did.
(Noelle sighs)
Noelle: Just one semester to go.
Dantz: Yeah. I mean, school’s great and all, but, sometimes some of the students are just too crazy for us. But, after this, we have high school!
Noelle: Yeah. It’s exciting but, new classes, and new people, and…
Dantz: You’re worried I might find someone new?
Noelle: (Shaking her head) No, Dantz. I am just… I don’t know what the feeling is. It’s just like… I can’t explain it.
Dantz: (reads Noelle’s mind) You’re worried about getting taken advantage of. You know, I wonder, was that the reason you got homeschooled after the first week of 6th grade?
Noelle: (solemn) … Yes. I admit it, I have trouble with boundaries a lot, and being assertive.
Dantz: (Dantz leans forward) Well, what’s with the trouble being assertive? I mean, I would say I had the same struggle with you but, I took the assertive route and, made friends in unexpected places.
Noelle: Yeah.
(Dantz and Noelle exchange romantic glances at each other, both smile at each other in comfortable silence, the same waiter appears)
Waiter: Good evening again! What drinks do you both want tonight?
(Dantz and Noelle jump, as their realm of intimacy shatters)
Dantz: Oh… I have my own drink. I have ARFID so, my amount of drinks I have is like, smaller than a pea.
Waiter: Don’t worry, I completely understand. We want you to be comfortable. And for you, ma’am?
Noelle: I’d like a glass of water, extra ice please.
Waiter: Got it, and, here are your menus.
(Dantz and Noelle get their menus, Dantz immidiately opens his menu while Noelle looks down, blushing before opening her menu)
(Cut to Toriel and Mayor Holiday at the booth, Mayor Holiday has her stern demeanor and Toriel has her arms crossed, and a snooty expression, loud chatter fills the dining room as a different waiter gives Toriel and Mayor Holiday some drinks)
Waiter #2: One iced tea for you, Mayor Holiday, and one chamomile tea for you ma’am.
(The waiter gives Mayor Holiday the iced tea and Toriel the chamomile tea)
Mayor Holiday: (looks up at the waiter) Thank you.
(Mayor Holiday looks forward at Toriel after Toriel gives the waiter a nod before looking at Mayor Holiday)
Mayor Holiday: (sighs) Sometimes my job is relentless. All the construction permits to keep Hometown growing, it’s just a pain sometimes.
Toriel: (Takes a slow sip from her tea) Yeah, I can agree. Work is stressful after all. You know what just happened at my office today? Someone tried to make a burrito in tinfoil and blew up the microwave. (sighs) And we wouldn’t be getting a new microwave until someone buys a new one that isn’t the boss. I mean, how could I eat my lunch now? I guess it’s cold lunches indefinitely.
(Mayor Holiday takes a long drink from her iced tea, her stern expression softening a little)
Mayor Holiday: Don’t worry Toriel, life can be messy sometimes.
(Cut back to the screened rooftop Noelle has ate her last piece of vegetarian lasagna, and Dantz is a bit stunned at the size of his stray cheese ravioli)
Dantz: Noelle! Check this out! This ravioli looks like a giant made out of cheese!
(Dantz cuts up the ravioli a little, Noelle stares at Dantz with a straight face and then sighs, Dantz eats the ravioli pieces than washes it down by drinking from his water bottle, then Noelle develops a frown, and she looks down)
Dantz: (Tries to use mind reading power) (Thinking) Nope, too foggy (Speaking) Hey Noelle, you good? You’ve got a frown on your face.
Noelle: (Forced cheerfulness) Oh, yeah, I’m fine.
(Noelle’s eyes don’t match her smile, Noelle is sweating)
Dantz: Noelle, I have a feeling you’re not fine.
Noelle: (Firm) Dantz, stop it, I am fine. Sometimes, you just don’t listen.
(Noelle crosses her arms and closes her eyes and looks to her left, showing a closed off posture)
Dantz: (Also firm) Noelle, please, I know you’re not fine, just tell me why.
(Noelle looks forward at Dantz, rage settles in)
Noelle: (Standing up as her chair gets knocked back) Don’t tell me what to do!
(Dantz gets a little shocked and his chair tips over, and he falls out of his chair)
Noelle: (Immediate regret) Oh my God Dantz!
(Noelle runs over to Dantz)
Noelle: Dantz, are you okay?
Dantz: (Gets up) Yeah, I’m fine. Just scraped my arm a little bit.
(Noelle puts Dantz’s chair upright as he sits in it, Noelle sits back in her chair)
Noelle: Dantz, I am so sorry. I just, didn’t like reacting that way.
Dantz: Don’t worry Noelle, you’re fine. Just, why’d you react like that?
Noelle: (sighs, a somber look grows on her face) Fine, do you really want to know?
Dantz: Yes, I do.
Noelle: (Reluctantly) Alright, I’ll tell you. I cannot deal with the feeling of being forced to do things. I had trouble saying no a lot back then, and, I started saying no… too much when I was around 11 or 12. Apparently, some high schooler…
(Noelle’s tone grows more somber)
Noelle: I got used by him, he, made me do things. I was so uncomfortable, but… I can’t say no. He’s so evil, he…
(Noelle’s voice breaks up)
Noelle: (Tearing up) He even threatened my mom… he said if I didn’t do what he asked he will… steal all of my mom’s wealth, and… remove her from her mayoral position.
(Dantz’s face widens with shock)
Dantz: What the heck!? Why in the world would he go after you? He is such an idiot, to emotions, and he didn’t use his brain! He just thought it was a good idea to go against someone who has trouble saying no, and know her mom is the mayor!? What a dummy with a lack of empathy! Is he in jail?
Noelle: (Wipes some tears from her eyes) Yes. (Noelle sniffles a little) I shown my mom the… texts he had been sending me. He’s not going near me for a long time.
(Dantz steps out of his seat, Dantz gestures Noelle to get out of her seat and she steps out, the two give each other a hug)
Noelle: (Still crying) That’s why I set up, so much boundaries. Never again. Never again am I going to get exploited or used, by anyone.
(Noelle still sobs a little)
Dantz: Don’t worry. I have set up boundaries to things too. Not in the reason you did, but, I understand Noelle, I do understand you wanting to protect yourself. I like doing that too.
(Dantz and Noelle step away from their hug)
Noelle: (Breathes, her eyes getting less teary) Thank you, Dantz. I, needed that.
Dantz: You are always welcome, Noelle. Maybe you could try, opening up around me some more. We’ve almost been together for a year. In like 4 months, it’s our, one year uh… “dat-iversary”.
(Noelle chuckles a little)
Noelle: (Wiping a tear) You know Dantz, you always have a way for making me laugh.
(The two laugh together as they walk back to their seats)
(Cut to the red booth, their conversation heavy compared to their lively environment)
Mayor Holiday: (stern) So… Dantz has a… vibrant personality, doesn’t he.
(Toriel forcefully smiles, and starts laughing a little)
Toriel: (Laughing) Oh, vibrant is a total understatement!
(Toriel catches her breath and then slumps a little, a weary swing from her cheerful expression)
Toriel: (Weary) But, Dantz is just being a brick wall with me. I mean, school overwhelms him and all, but, I swear, grappling with Dantz is a challenge. He loves structure, because he wants to know what he is doing but, when I try to get him to engage, he… he barely does anything. He just sits there and starts staring off into the distance. In his own little world, I can tell he knows what to do, but, he is barely motivated. When I tried to get him to do his homework, he decided to just watch me play a snail themed sudoku on my computer. And the incidents, I swear, when I told Dantz to clean his room, instead he made a catipult and launched eggs toward neighboring houses!
(Mayor Holiday listens, and she still keeps her stoic expression, unfazed)
Mayor Holiday: (Calm) Toriel, have you considered being a bit more libertarian with Dantz? I am firm with Noelle but, I don’t make every part of her life orchestrating around me.
(A plate shattering defines the emotion around Toriel)
Toriel: (panicking) But, if I’m not strict with him, how will Dantz behave appropriately? If I’m too leninent with my child, I’m afraid I’ll lose him.
(Mayor Holiday’s eyes narrow)
Mayor Holiday: What do you mean by “lose him”?
Toriel: (Dismissive) You won’t understand. You haven’t lost children before.
Mayor Holiday: (Firmly) Toriel, I am not that cold to not possess empathy, I know what you’re going through.
Toriel: Know what I’m going through!? I have lost 7 human children. Dantz is the only human I have raised this far. I won’t let him slip away too.
Mayor Holiday: Toriel… you’re trying to control Dantz because, you don’t want to lose another child, am I correct?
Toriel: Yes.
(Toriel sighs, she rubs her temples)
Mayor Holiday: You know, that text Dantz sent me, he was afraid you were going to kick him out of the “Leadership Academy” he got rightfully accepted to.
Toriel: Yeah… if I let him into the Leadership Academy, I feel like I am letting him go. Like I’ll lose him, like the other children.
Mayor Holiday: Toriel, that’s not losing another child. You’re witnessing a child growing up. He’s not heading towards danger, he’s heading towards success. Have some faith.
Toriel: (Sighs) Fine.
(Toriel starts texting Dantz)
Toriel: (texting) Dantz, I am sorry for wanting to pull you out of the Leadership Academy. I believe you are capable enough to go there. It was a rash decision of me. You have earned this opportunity, and it is your right to go there.
(Toriel adds three purple hearts to her message, she sends it)
(Cut to Dantz and Noelle, Dantz opens his phone and he smiles)
Noelle: (playfully flirty) Hey Dantz, what is it?
Dantz: (Excited) Toriel is finally letting me into the Leadership Academy! Let’s go!
Noelle: (Face lighting up) Yeah!
(Dantz and Noelle hug)
(Cut to the outside of the restaurant, the characters all walk out with a soft smile on their faces, Mayor Holiday and Toriel are engaged in a conversation)
Toriel: I must say, you are pretty great at helping me connect with Dantz better. His text message back was so… kind. I’ve never seen him be that kind to me before.
Mayor Holiday: Well, practice makes perfect. Besides, you’re son’s going to be 14 in a few months, so you better make those years count.
(Toriel lets out a small laugh, zoom in on Dantz and Noelle who are about a few feet away from Toriel and Mayor Holiday)
Dantz: Hey Noelle, you wanna play tag? If I tag you, you gotta give me the tightest hug that would make my ribs feel crushed with love.
Noelle: Sure, my little cheese connoisseur. You’re on!
(Noelle taps Dantz on the shoulder and Dantz chases Noelle, faint voices come from Dantz and Noelle as the camera slowly pans up to the sky, a shooting star hits a heart constellation with a reindeer shape in the middle)
(The end)