Chapter Text
It’s easy to sneak around lately. Easier than what you remember, in no small part thanks to what I like to call your little stunt, and what you like to call an achievement–
You try to argue with me that freeing monsterkind is an achievement and, of course, my wittiest rebuttal to that is to do the mental equivalent of sticking my tongue out to you. You groan out loud, and I can’t tell if the slight smile that crosses your features is mine or yours, but I take it as a win regardless.
Anyways, as I was saying; the freedom of monsterkind has caused quite the fuss, as is to be expected, in pretty much all aspects of anyone’s life. That is largely the reason why, despite being declared missing just three days ago, you have managed to stay undetected so far. Turns out monsters being real are some big news to most of the planet. You frown. What?
I knew about them. The legends.
Fine, to most of the human population that is above twelve years old. This time it’s your turn to stick your tongue to me, and I roll my eyes. Kind of a hard thing to do when you don’t have eyes to roll, mind you.
You have mine. Is your ever-so-helpful answer. I’m quite aware of that, thank you very much. I just don’t think you’d appreciate it if I did that while you’re trying to find a way to enter this place. Speaking of, why are we even bothering this time? I– yes, of course I know we need a place to stay, but why this one?
Big. Kids go missing in it all the time. What a comforting thought. You huff. Will be easy to sneak by without getting caught, is your line of reasoning.
I still feel some apprehension about this sorry excuse of a plan you have constructed here (Hey!), but I figure that the worst that could happen is that we are found out and have to load our last save. Which is, admittedly, a lot more pleasant than being killed and then having to load our last save.
You smile, which makes you look silly by the way, and I feel how my nervousness gives way to your characteristic warmth, and even more characteristic determination. It’s gonna be okay, you reassure me, and I have no choice but to believe you on that. Alright. I just wish it didn’t have to be a place so full of people– but you do have a point. Multitudes are better for staying undetected.
Okay. So, how are we doing this again?
Sit back and watch, comes your confident reply. I snort. Okay, let’s see.
You stay still for a long moment, attentively watching the entrance of the place. What are we waiting for, exactly?
Before I can prod you again, you spring into action, walking purposefully towards a certain point in the crowd. Your target seems to be a family of five that are very preoccupied with scrolling through their phones, searching for something. Most likely a ticket to enter, if I had to guess. Ah, a Faz-Pass, you supply to me. Whatever that is, then.
Like this is a trick you’ve practiced a thousand times, you get very close to them very quickly, enough to make me almost flinch reflexively, and sneak by just as they scan their weirdly named ticket. I notice you’re careful to not go too fast nor too slow, staying in what is seemingly in a blind spot from the creepy security-robot-thingy. If the family notices you, they do not care to acknowledge you.
Well that was smooth. And also surprisingly easy. You shrug in response.
They don’t really care if people get in for free, so long as they aren’t too obvious about it I guess. You still need a Faz-Pass for basically everything in here, so it’s not like they’re losing money.
I like your funny words, magic child. You stick your tongue out, but don’t think I don’t catch you smiling as you do it.
Okay, okay. Enough fooling around. What are we trying to accomplish here? Just, find a place to stay for the time being?
Basically, you confirm. It's a place with a roof that almost doesn't suck.
That's great and all, but I cannot see a way for us to stay in here for more than two hours before having a head-splitting headache. A particularly loud blare of a horn somewhere in the distance makes me flinch. What was that?
A race starting in Roxy Raceway.
Uh-huh. My point still stands. This hardly seems like a place for rest. Or as much as Disneyland is, I suppose.
Don't worry, you reassure me, I know this place like the back of my hand. I know a couple spots that are generally quiet.
I see. I can only hope these spots are also low on security so we don't get caught, at least. You smile at that.
You worry too much. The security here is no good– besides, I've gotten a lot better at staying undetected thanks to the Underground!
Yes, Frisk, I don't doubt countless resets have honed your skills, but it's still good to worry.
You stay quiet at that, and it takes a beat of you walking for me to realize that you aren't smiling anymore. That's when I realized what I just said. Oh.
…I don't think we should talk about it.
Well, you're the one who brought it up in the first place! I say that, but even I still know I fucked up. Ugh. Sorry, Frisk. I shouldn't have mentioned them.
S’okay. I know you don't mean to upset me.
Before I can catch the thought, it flashes in my mind– and subsequently in yours– the fact that, if anyone had to be upset about what happened in the Underground, it should be me. I can’t help it, besides how selfish that is–
I'm interrupted by you stopping dead in your tracks.
Stop thinking about it, your thoughts are firm. Not angry, not upset. It seems you've entered the “try and make Chara feel better” mode. You frown. I meant it, you know. When I said I forgive you.
I stay silent.
There isn't really anything to forgive either. At least not in my eyes, you keep going. You didn't want to do it either. So, stop that.
I hate how you're so quick to forgive the unforgivable. But more than anything, I hate to upset you, so I force myself to let the issue go. We have better things to worry about right now, anyways.
This place is, as the scientific experts on the matter would say, very fucking weird, I soon find out. You seem amused by my realization. Well, I’m sorry for not being used to seeing robots just act like people so much. Nevermind the fact that it seems there’s barely no human staff on here.
You’ve seen Metatton, you argue with me. I feel the need to remind you that Metatton’s case was different– no, it’s not the same. While Metatton’s body was technically very impressive, his personality, the way he was, came from the fact he was a monster too. But you’re telling me these things are just– pure AI?
It’s really not that unheard of, is your mind-boggling reply. You’re just old.
I mean, I wouldn’t be really that impressed if the little mannequins with wheels were all this place had to offer; those don’t seem particularly more advanced than what I had back in my day. But these… what do you call them again? Glamrocks, yes. That. I’m 90% sure that they’re just people in suits.
You think I’m being hyperbolic, but the way they move and act has me seriously impressed. You chuckle at that. What’s so funny?
You haven’t even talked to them yet!
I don’t like that “yet” you snuck in there. No, I don’t want to talk to them– or to anyone, for that matter. I thought we were here for shelter, not laughs.
C’mon, it’s not like a little bit of fun ever hurt anyone!
And how would you even do that without getting us caught? I don’t think they’ll appreciate a tresspasser, and I’m sure with how advanced they are they must have some way to track if someone is a guest or not. Or facial recognition or something. That could be bad, if they can know that you’re missing– been missing for a while, actually. You make an “eh” sound at that.
I really don’t think that’s gonna be an issue. Like, there must be something, but I’ve been here a lotta times, and more than half of them were without a Faz-Pass. I think as long as you have a guest profile, they don’t care.
‘Sides, like I said, kids go missing all the time here! I frown, and you are quick to reassure me. For like a day or stuff like that, not long. Look, thing is, I think it’ll be okay.
I see. That is… odd, I want to say, but I realize I’ve never been in enough places like these to actually know if it is or isn’t. Whatever. Can we at least find a safe spot to be in before doing anything stupid? You hum.
Not really a need for now, you retort, much to my dismay.
How is it not a need? Is this not why we entered here in the first place?
For now, you repeat. Okay. For now. Go have fun or something, I guess– why are you frowning at that??
I want to have fun with you!
Frisk, it’s inevitable that happens. We literally share a body. Whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it with me whether you like it or not. Though sometimes I wish you didn’t like it as much as you do, truthfully.
Hehe. I like you too, bestie.
This is going to be a long day.