The Jungle Curry was great. Not as burning hot as you expected. Certain chili ramen actually have a bigger kick than this. But, what it lacked in heat was made up in flavour.

Then reality slapped you right in the rear. Ideally, a human passes motion at least once a day, or every other day.

You… haven’t had the big one in a while. The curry was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

You ran straight to the toilet -- the one that Alphys installed just for you.

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGHHHH!!!

That groan echoed your deep regrets for not taking care of your bowels better.

Papyrus knocked on the door and asked: “ARE YOU ALRIGHT, FRISK?”

You tell him that constipation sucks.

“ON THE SCALE OF LIQUID TO ROCKS, WHAT IS THIS?”

An entire mountain! That's the price you pay for not drinking enough water and not eating enough fiber.

“OH… WORRY NOT! FROM NOW ON, I -- THE GREAT PAPYRUS -- WILL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A HEALTHY DIET.”

“THOUGH I SUGGEST THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO HURRY UP BECAUSE I THINK MISTER MAGUS IS ALREADY STARTING TO GET THE CRAMPS.”

How does he know?!

“BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE GOT PALER.”

Gaaaah! This is going to take some ‘THYME’!

“FRISK!!! NOW’S NOT THE ‘THYME’ FOR SANSYPUNS!”

…………………

“DARN, EVEN I GOT INFECTED BY THAT LAME TOMFOOLERY! THIS IS WHY I SAY WE’RE WASTING PRECIOUS SECONDS!”

Okay, okay.

If it’s that urgent, why not take him to Mom’s house first? Seer shortcuts and all.

“THAT’S A FANTASTIC IDEA! WHERE’S YOUR HOUSE KEY?”

It’s in your pocket, but maybe Papyrus doesn’t need a key if he can use the window. There should be one that’s already broken.

“EXCUSE ME? WHY, I CERTAINLY WASN’T THERE TO BUST A HOLE THROUGH YOUR VIEWING VISTA.”

Heh. You tell that Papyrus has a new contender: it’s none other than Snakeface.

“I SEE, I SEE! WE MUST COMPARE NOTES. EITHER WAY, I SHALL GO PREPARE YOUR NEW AMBASSADORIAL TASK FOR THE NIGHT.”

Ahuh. Tsunderjudge’s new job for you… You know about it.

Off he went. You wonder if you’d need to get any other help other than Papyrus. Chara, maybe? They’re Gungnir after all.

…But they didn’t have a good reputation, if you remember right. Maybe it’s better to let them concentrate on their gardening mission.

You decided to review the details a bit…

The current leader of Gungnir is Persona’s son. He issued Papyrus a challenge. And it’s your job to make Mister DEMON cough up his secret info. Okay. Got it!

You expected to turn the toilet into a spice potpourri, but that somehow didn’t happen. Guess your meal was still being digested. Nonetheless you dumped the consequences of your past decisions down the bowl.

Once that’s done, you washed up and staggered out. You wondered how much time had passed. Hoped that you weren’t too late.

Alphys’ living room had since turned silent. You presume that some had adjourned to your house, while the rest retreated to their respective workshops.

Garamond escorted you to your home via shortcuts. One turn here. Another portal there. And you’ve arrived at home sweet ho--

What the heck?! What’s with that ominous thundercloud vortex circulating over your roof???

You spotted Cenna standing at the front porch, looking up at the phenomenon. You called for her.

“Yo, Frisky,” she said. It lacked her usual sunny style. “Bah. Look at that jerk. Trying to claim your house already.”

Ahuh. Talk about arrogance.

“Either way, Garamond and myself are on standby in case anything goes wrong.”

Heh. Still working even though she’s on ‘forced vacation’?

“Of course. Ain’t gonna let some ol’ ghost prevent me from protecting my baby sibling!”

While stretching her hands, she added: “If that bugger tries to escape, I’ll shoot him down. Meanwhile we’ll try to keep the curious onlookers at bay.”

Yeah. It’s not every day that a house gets a localized storm.

You thanked your sister for the backup and entered your home.

Oh. Wow. Papyrus had taken the time to clean the place up. The only ‘messy’ thing left was the broken window. That’s great because you thought that Mom was going to come back home to a heart-attack of a wreck.

You headed upstairs where the washroom would be. As you climbed up the steps, you heards grunts of agony rumbling from the bathroom door.

There’s also an odd scent in the air. No, not from Tsunderjudge. It reminded you of… ionizers? Well, you’re dealing with an ‘electrifying’ personality after all. And it ain’t Mettaton.

Persona was in your room, with Papyrus and a tea set. His red-dyed shadow sat cross-legged inside a pentagram made out of bones.

In this form, Persona looked more demonic than he should. His eyes and mouth were condensed into a pure red light.

Papyrus waved. “YOU’RE FINALLY HERE! I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO BREW A SECOND BATCH OF GOLDENFLOWER TEA TO PASS THE TIME. OUR GUEST OF HONOUR WAS GROWING IMPATIENT.”

Has it really been that long?

“WELL, NOT REALLY. MISTER MAGUS HAD BEEN IN HIS WATER CLOSET FOR ONLY FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO.”

“PLEASE DON’T MIND THE SPOOKY PENTAGRAM BY THE WAY. IT’S PURELY FOR AESTHETICS! I REMEMBERED BEING THOROUGHLY EXCITED WHEN UNCLE GASTER TAUGHT ME TO BUILD A FUNCTIONAL ONE.”

Deep down, you had hoped that the Gram wasn’t decorative. What if Persona stepped out of his bounds and try to hurt you?

Persona chuckled at your fears. “Relax, little child. Winston locked away all but an image. Have you seen that man’s SOUL and body, rigged with witchcraft through and through? He’s the best cage, you could say.”

You tell Persona that you’re rather doubtful. If Mezil -- a weaker Living Victory -- served as such an effective container, then everyone wouldn’t have needed to go through so much trouble to deal with your DEMON possession problem.

“So young, yet so prudent.” He said, “Sit down. Let me take a closer look at the squirt who almost killed me.”

Persona patted the ground outside the bone star. Yup. That’s proof that it’s pure decoration.

Okay Frisk. Bring your ‘A’ Game. No more hesitations.

You sat down next to Papyrus, which was not the spot Persona offered. Without words, you let him know that this is your home turf. You’re the one setting the rules. Not him.

Your actions didn’t go unnoticed. Persona smirked in amusement.

“How cute. Well, I suppose there’s a reason why you’re here. Not only did you steal the Keys of Fate from the Vampire, but you also withstood Chara’s influence.”

Hm? Persona knows about Chara?

“Of course. And I venerate them as a true ancestor. A rightful warrior of my people. They had captured a monster and ascended to godhood: what more can a Gungnir ask for? Yet the narrow-minded cowards of the day resorted to false condemnation.”

“What use is tradition if weakness is all it produces? Those superstitious lot deserved to burn for their ignorance!”

Heh. How ironic. You told him that Chara still consider themselves scrap.

“A terrible shame. They deserve more respect than that.”

Hmm. You need to understand more about what makes this man tick.

“PERSONA,” said Papyrus, “SURELY A GREAT MAN LIKE YOURSELF HAD MANY HONOURS AND TRIBUTES. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE ARATET WELCOMING FEAST?”

Isn’t that too direct, Papyrus?!

“What bold flattery. I do know everything about the Aratet’s customs. But, why should I bother telling you?”

“IT’S SO THAT I COULD COOK THE MOST SCRUMPTIOUS OF MEALS FOR YOUR SON, AIDEN!”

“…Aiden requested it?”

And the DEMON started ‘fufufufu-’ing to himself. Alright, he didn’t actually go ‘fu’, but the sinister snicker had a similar feel.

“All the more why I don’t want to help you. Aiden is one of my best sons. A personal favourite, I might add.”

“Oracle. You seem to be the naive sort. So let me spell it out for you: friendship was never on his mind. The feast was a trap to guarantee his victory.”

Papyrus frowned. “I STILL WANT TO GIVE IT MY BEST.”

“So, it’s about pride in the end? Pitiful.”

You tried to not show it, but in your heart you clenched your fist. Dammit. This guy is an utter piece of shit who’s trying to escalate the situation into a bigger shitstorm.

Nobody takes a shit on Papyrus and gets away with it! Nobody!

Activate intensive diplomatic focus!

> Persona

> Aiden

> Mezil

All names?! Not a great bunch of options. But you can only ask what you know. You have to reveal new paths before you can press any further.

> Persona

Let’s have a bit of icebreaking session.

So Persona, what’s the deal with him? He has the same Mark as the Gungnir founder… but he sure as heck doesn’t act the same. You thought people of the same Mark would behave similarly.

Persona seemed pleased that you’re willing to listen to his story.

“That depends.” he said. “A Mark has multiple facets. Though I share some similarities to my ancestor, that doesn’t mean we’re the exact same.”

“A bolt of lightning can mean swift justice. It can also mean the power of heavens. I wouldn’t know where my ancestor leaned. However, I know where I stand: as a new god who transcends above the ashes of the old.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Wouldn’t that be a phoenix?

“Hah! Good point. Yes, that could have been my Mark if only I had a more gentle spirit.”

A new option appeared.

> Colours.

It’s been a while since you had to guess the colours of a person.

You tell Persona that you’re going to guess his colours.

Let’s see…

Red is a definite.

Green is out of the picture. He admitted to himself that he doesn’t have a gentle spirit. Not Tsundere for sure.

He’s really good with close combat. Very bold and brave. But he also has a strong personal standard. Quite a sense of integrity.

Red - Blue - Orange? Or Red - Orange - Blue?

“Amusing. What do you think you’ll gain by knowing my colours? How futile.”

You smirked. If it’s really so pointless, Persona wouldn’t even acknowledge it. Knowing his colours will give you a better understanding of what he values most. Therefore, get a better deck of cards for this diplomatic skit.

Persona crossed his arms. “I hear that you’re a Triple Red. The ultimate wild card. I’m sure you’ve heard enough lauding at this point, so let me hit that nail down a peg.”

“Your traits are fleeting. Transient. They shift and change to meagre whims. Winston with his judgeful eye couldn’t make any sense of you. A person like that… is dust under my feet!”

Argh! He’s resisting all your Charisma rolls!

You have two more options:

> Aiden

> Mezil

…But Persona isn’t in the mood to answer any of those yet.

Papyrus spoke up. “DUST? THE MORE YOU TRY TO STEP ON THEM, THE MORE THEY FLY. AND THEY’RE EXTREMELY ANNOYING TO CLEAN! ALSO, IF FRISK IS SO FLAPPY IN YOUR EYES… WOULDN’T IT BENEFIT YOU TO BE NICER? MAKE YOUR POINT AND HAVE THEM CHANGE IN YOUR FAVOUR. A DEITY LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.”

Oooooh, it’s the Papyrus reverse psychology at work.

Persona in turn lowered his arms and shifted to a more casual stance.

“Oracle,” he said, “Are you trying to manipulate me?”

“MANIPULATE?” Papyrus replied. “FAR FROM IT! AT LEAST, NOT IN THE SAME SWINDLING MANNER AS YOU THINK. INSTEAD, I’M POINTING OUT THAT THERE’S A MORE BENEFICIAL PATH, EVEN IF THINGS DON'T LOOK LIKE SO AT FIRST.”

“…Are you a salesperson in your day job?”

“NOT AT ALL, SIR! I HAVE MY STANDARDS. IF I AM TO BE A SALESPERSON, I WOULD ONLY DO SO WITH AN HONEST PRODUCT. IT WON’T REST ON MY CONSCIENCE TO USE MY TALENTS FOR AN OPEN SCAM.”

Persona laughed. The light of lightning flashed into your room, but the thunder was only a distant roll…

At least you know that he’s not angry.

He said: “Unbelievable. An oracle with a child’s honesty. Almost a fool. And one that amuses me so.”

“Very well. I’ll indulge. Our young Living Victory may ask whatever they wish.”

Thanks a ton, Papyrus.

> Aiden

Could Persona tell you more about his favourite son? Are they close? What were his hobbies?

…There was silence. Did you touch on a sensitive topic too soon? Nevertheless you mustered your determination to be patient.

In the end, Persona replied: “I wouldn’t know. I was with him for only a while before we parted. Since then, we had never met face to face. I would receive a mail about his progress once a year, if I’m lucky.”

Oh. What kept them separated?

“Politics. Not long after I married my first wife, the land descended into civil war. I was right in the hotspot.”

Then… what stopped Persona from getting help?

“This nation’s government couldn’t provide refuge to her clan. If she applied as an individual, perhaps it would be successful. But, family was important to her. That’s all she had. Meanwhile, I blended together with the rest of the unfortunate tourists stranded at the embassy.

Why not take Aiden with him? Why leave his infant son behind in a warzone?

“Hmph. For my wife, giving the child to me was no less dangerous. There’s no guarantee that a nurse or a stepmother would love Aiden; they could see him as a competitor and do ill toward him. Furthermore, I too would soon engage in a campaign of my own. That’s no condition to raise a child in.”

Wait, pardon? Competitor?

“A king has to have as many offspring as possible,” said Persona. “And one cannot expect a single poor woman to do all the work. Besides, anyone who marries me has the chance for divine blessing. If she produces a Chosen heir, she’d share in her child’s honour.”

No wonder Cenna calls him a cult leader! He even has a harem, just like the Eastern emperors of old!

Just how many kids did he have? Does he even remember them all?

Wait, you’re more interested about why an Aratet would put so much effort into marrying Persona?

Your questions seemed to have tickled Persona’s funny bone.

“That’s prying too much. Child, you may only choose one question. The rest will be considered void.”

> Mezil

> Kids

> Marriage

Multiple choices, but only one path. Sheesh, the pressure.

First and foremost, let’s not bring up the Tsunderjudge yet. They’re a mutual sore point.

Second, you’re sure that Lady Lucy knows the exact number of his offspring. Any personal feelings about them would not be useful to you at all. It’s yet another trap.

Considering Papyrus’ ultimate mission, you should ask more about the marriage.

> Marriage.

YIKES! The rest of the options got zapped out of existence! He really meant ‘just one’.

“Not fooled by sentimentality? You’re already more level-headed than most children of your age.”

“Have you heard about the Asas Asal Ara?”

No…

Papyrus raised his hand. “I HAVE! THAT’S GENOCIDER, THE LEGENDARY HERO, THE ORIGINAL ORIGIN!”

“The Oracle did his homework, I see. You’re right: the Aratet are direct descendants of the Legendary Hero. But, they have one major problem. Although they once had divine blood, they now lack the density required to spawn a strong Chosen.”

> Divine blood.

You tell Persona that you’re missing some key information. What is this ‘divine blood’ anyway?

Pointing straight at your chest, he said: “Willpower. That which dyes your spirit red. ‘Chosen’ is their word for precursors of Living Victories. Immature Reds.”

“Think about it. Who else could lay a claim to the Keys of Fate other than those born of Red? Did you think that any less than divinity could ever turn time’s wheel?”

Well… it IS special. You can’t deny that.

So, the Aratet were not producing Red Majors of their own. Is that right?

“Correct. The number and quality of their Living Victories had declined with each successive generation. They saw it as a sign that they had displeased the gods. And then, I appeared: bearing the Mark of their ancestor.”

“By wedding the lost halves of The Legendary Hero, the Aratet hoped to elevate themselves to worthiness once more. My wife, the blood. Me, the spirit.”

Something poked your curiosity. It may be an inconsequential one, but dang you can’t hold back the urge.

> Marriage details.

When did they get married, and how?

Persona reminisced with nostalgia on his shadowy face. “My matchmaking happened during my secondary years. Sixteen years old. I was in the middle of my studies when an envoy knocked on my door. They came with a photo album of the Aratet’s finest maidens, with a shortlist of recommendations.”

…Wait. Isn’t teenage marriage illegal?

“There’s a leeway for those just two years apart. Romeo and Juliet laws. Nonetheless, I wasn’t prepared to marry. Not yet. I explained to the envoy that I was studying for my final papers. Securing a good tertiary education would benefit Gungnir as a whole.”

“At the same time I wanted to get to know the maidens better. I can’t make my selection based on mere hobbies or family ties. So I wrote a long list of questions for the girls to ponder.”

What kind of questions?

“For example, ‘Do you prefer a man to yourself, or are you willing to share with sisters that you don’t know?’. Or, ‘Who makes the decisions: you or your guardians?’.”

“Some girls are more exclusive than others. They won’t be happy with me. Scheming in-laws are the worst: I need faithful followers and not puppet masters. I won’t let them use their daughter as a tool.”

You didn’t say it out loud, but Persona was strangely considerate to potential mates.

“The year-long exchange reduced the pool of candidates to one maiden. A fine one, she was! The perfect balance of a gentle stream and a burning fire. Meeting her in person was enough for me to marry her on the spot.”

“We had a private acknowledgement in front of our elders. Afterwards, we prepared for the grandest celebration: the Aratet welcoming feast and our wedding ceremony combined.”

“It was an endeavour that would take months. Rather convenient that it was past my birthday and exams. I would be eighteen -- a legal adult -- when I boarded the plane for Aratet lands.”

“There, I was blessed with another surprise: a newborn son. We hit the jackpot of luck. Ah… it was the happiest, most colourful, and grandest day of my life. Nothing compared to that splendour since.”

When Persona shared his story, you almost forgot that he’s a jerk of a DEMON. He was once a man who fell in love. Got hitched. Had a baby.

Then, the unhappy things happened. Would his life be different if he wasn’t a Gungnir god?

> Aiden is a Red?

Persona shook his head. “Alas, he was not born a Chosen. Yet, I was far from disappointed; his colours are rarer than any mere Red. In my personal opinion, the marriage plan was a great success. Why? Nothing important.”

That is absolutely totally certainly important info!

“NO,” Papyrus interjected. “HE’S RIGHT. AIDEN’S COLOURS AREN’T IMPORTANT. WE’RE STRAYING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE FEAST!”

Gasp. Another trap?! That’s about as bad as Sans! Maybe worse!

Look at that smug face. No wonder Mezil hates his guts. Literally.

> Aratet Welcoming Feast

No diversions anymore, mister.

“Hmph.” Persona huffed. “Here I hoped that you two would get caught up in the lore. What benefit do I gain for ruining my son’s plans? I want the Magus Association to burn together with the Witch and the Vampire.”

The fate of the world? Giant abomination? Hello?

“If Aiden cannot save the world without the meddlings of wizards, so be it. That monstrosity was created by Magi anyway.”

…Indignation rushed to your head. It took all your determination to remain stoic. No wonder Tsunderjudge had to summon him on the ceramic throne! There is no better place for the doodoobutt he is!

“I know what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your face. Why don’t you ask me why I hate the Vampire so much?

> Bad blood

Yeah. You wanna know. What’s up with the bad blood?

“What if I tell you that The Vampire of Time murdered my family?”

You were taken aback.

“Skeptical, I see. Your disbelief won’t change the truth: Mezil Thyme had killed many of my wives and children. Their deaths were delightfully covered up under the guise of ‘mission casualties’. Ask him yourself, if you dare.”

…You will. Later.

“I -- THE GREAT PAPYRUS -- HAVE A PROPOSAL.”

“Oh?” The DEMON leaned forward, curious. “What does the naive Oracle have to offer?”

Papyrus straightened his back and put on the face of a confident hero. “IF YOU HELP ME IMPRESS YOUR SON WITH THE MOST ACCURATE OF ALL ACCURATE WELCOMING FEASTS, YOU GET TO GO HOME WITH HIM!”

Wait. What? Release Persona out of his prison?!

“PERSONA ISN’T THE ONLY PRISONER, FRISK. MISTER MAGUS IS THE SAME. THEY’VE BEEN CHAINING EACH OTHER ALL THESE YEARS. A SAD, TRAGIC TALE!”

Hmmm if Papyrus puts it that way, it’s true. Both sides spend all their energy in a dumb tug-o-war.

But… Persona would need to possess something. Or someone. Is it really okay to let a guy like him live with his son?

“OF COURSE!” Papyrus replied. “IN THE PAST, PERSONA DIDN’T HAVE THE LUCK TO BE A PROPER FATHER. BUT NOW HE’S GOING TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE: AS A GRANDFATHER TO FOUR LOVELY GRANDCHILDREN!”

“I’M POSITIVELY CERTAIN THAT HE CAN FIND THE GOODNESS IN HIS STANDARDS SO THAT HE WON’T PLUNGE THE NEXT GENERATION INTO A BLOODY BATTLE WITH MISTER MAGUS.”

Why and how exactly? Vengeance is a great motivator.

“FIRST, THEY’RE BOTH GETTING OLD. SECOND, WHAT BETTER VENGEANCE THAN HAVING A FAMILY HAPPIER THAN YOUR ENEMIES!!!”

Persona burst into a complete guffaw. Lightning jumped and jolted to every clap of his hands. You had to cover your ears to dampen some of that awfulness.

Maybe he’s mocking, maybe he’s impressed. Probably both.

“What zany logic you have, said Persona “Yet I agree, Oracle. The Vampire will never have a child to call his own, be it as a human or a Lich. That’s his greatest curse.”

“Fine then. In return for my freedom, I’ll tell you the answer to your riddle. After that… it all depends on you.”

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

Papyrus pulled out his pen and notebook, ready to jot down notes.

So Persona began: “The Aratet welcoming feast consists of seven dishes: one centerpiece, three of the host region’s best cuisines, and three of the guest’s favourites.”

Hang on, three of the GUEST’S favourites?

“The kid caught on, I see. Yes. What better way to prove your care, concern, and acceptance than by knowing your guest at this personal a level?”

That means… the feast won’t work if Papyrus doesn’t know Aiden’s favourite foods!

“Exactly. Mind you, my son has all the right to not tell you anything. In the end, he still has the final say.”

Hmph. If that’s the case, the deal is off. You won’t let Persona out of jail.

“Are you certain? Our terms only stated that I was to divulge you the details about the welcoming feast. You didn’t specify that it had to succeed. Is the future Ambassador of Monsters so keen to break their promises?”

Honour, mister. Honour. You’ve dealt with enough Sans-semantics to realise that this too was a trap. The circumstances are far more complex than he makes them out to be. Besides, Mezil himself needs to agree too. And you know he won’t unless there’s a way to guarantee long-lasting peace between both sides.

So yeah. Aiden’s favourite stuff DOES matter! The feast itself is the first chance in centuries at a ceasefire between the Magi and the Gungnir! If Persona already blabbed so much, why stop now?

Papyrus patted you on the back. “FRISK, DON’T GET ANGRY. PERSONA KEPT TO HIS WORD! HE CAN ONLY TELL US WHAT HE KNOWS. IT’S THOROUGHLY UNFAIR OF US TO KEEP HIM LOCKED INSIDE MISTER MAGUS JUST BECAUSE WE WEREN’T SATISFIED.”

Heh, all the more reasons for him to play along. You’re sure that the old ghost wanted to leave Mezil anyway.

Thus you asked him. What will Persona do to Mezil if you refuse to comply with the agreement?

“I’ll just torment him until I either claim his being, or he ends his own life.”

Figures. It’s the same deal when Chara possessed you.

Still ready with his note-jotting tools, Papyrus interjected: “EXCUSE ME, BUT I HAVEN’T ASKED HIM ABOUT THE CENTERPIECE YET.”

The DEMON’s cooperation surprised you. The centerpiece turned out to be deep-fried dumplings.

It does make sense from a historical perspective. Grain is synonymous to life, with wheat being one of the valuable flours. Make a dough out of it, wrap that around a mince of meat from livestock and veggies from the land, and then fry them in animal fat.

What you’d get is the symbol of a land’s bounty: jam packed with valuable calories for the physically active. Not recommended for the sedentary.

You were stuck with the three regional specialities. What would the Dreemurr Nation’s best be anyway? Mom’s pies? You’d need more than that…

The rushing waters of a toilet flush interrupted your thoughts. Looks like someone’s finally done with his business.

“That’s the cue to return to my cell,” said Persona.

“Struggle with all your strength, younglings. Succeed or fail, it makes no difference. I’ll savor every moment!”

The DEMON’s form dissolved into a stream of electrical sparks, running under the door gaps. What followed after was Tsunderjudge going ‘Argh!’ at the other end.

Ouch… Zapping on the way back? That’s one way to spite a prison warden.

Papyrus, ever dutiful and considerate, pushed a luggage bag to the washroom. Wow. Talk about being prepared. Even if Tsunderjudge didn’t rewind time for the curry, he still expected an extended stay away from home.

It’s back to waiting.

Alright Papyrus. Time for some serious talk. You put your best stern principal impression and asked if he’s going to use his Eye again.

“NO,” he replied. “THE GREAT PAPYRUS HAS THE ANSWER TO THIS RIDICULOUS RIDDLE! I DON’T NEED TO USE ANY EXTRA POWER.”

Good. Because he shouldn’t! Concentrate on the healing business. Don’t make the same mistake as the previous timeline.

Speaking of injuries… you lightly touched under your chin. Ugh, that bruise from last Thursday still hurts. It’s reflecting your ego right now.

Is this why Tsunderjudge doesn’t like to do diplomacy? In a way, it’s easier to brand someone a criminal and take out the guns.

“BUT FRISK,” Papyrus frowned, “WE WOULDN’T HAVE ESCAPED FROM THE UNDERGROUND IF YOU HAD RESORTED TO SUCH VIOLENCE.”

Yeah. Been there, done that.

Argh. You ruffled your hair in frustration. That’s why the Surface is all messed up in the first place: lots of humans who demand their own ways.

“CHIN UP, FRISK! AT LEAST WE HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW MISTER MAGUS.”

If he could accept the outcome in the first place…

You plopped on the ground, waiting anxiously for the Tsunderjudge to finish his shower.