text - un: 30hotdoglimit

[stilljustyou]

( For the most part, Frisk has remained quiet on the network. Not for any huge reason in particular. They've always been better at listening, rather than speaking. Perhaps that's why they've chosen to use text at this moment.

Well, whatever their reason may be -- they have something to say now. Flirting's been a way that they've been able to successfully enter the friend zone in the past...! )

Is everyone's parents a baker? Because everyone here is a cutie-pie!

( ... Someone's been eating the chocolates that were handed out. But either way, Frisk's someone who's at a point where they wish well onto others, which is why they don't let it end there: )

Uhm... I know that things can be bad here sometimes, but I hope everyone's Valentine's Day is good and that everyone has someone special to be with.

Comments

[stilljustyou]

How come?

[nilheality]

I am a monster.

[stilljustyou]

That doesn't make you bad.

Monsters can be really nice.

My Mom is a monster.

[nilheality]

[No Frisk, you don't understand. She's a danger!! She--]

Really?

[stilljustyou]

( The next response comes after a while then, and Frisk switches to video. What Nil will see is a rather young looking child offering a small, subtle smile as they hold up a rather childish drawing of Toriel. )

Uh-huh. She looks like this.

She saved me when I needed help.

[nilheality]

I see.

[This child... they seemed so innocent. And it wasn't fair for them to be the only one that divulge a part of themselves.]

[The text feed closes. The video feed opens and there is a silhouette in the distance. Yet despite the distance, a slight sheen of moisture can be gleaned from the reflection on the figure's skin.]

[She takes a few tentative steps, and what Frisk sees is something not quite human. Though, unlike the image, she is fully clothed with a pair of tentacles extending from the shoulders, with a pair of two red eyes (and a hidden third behind the bang) peeking out at them.]

[She doesn't say a word, simply just... gauges their reaction.]

[stilljustyou]

( She switches to video, and Frisk looks on in some surprise before they offer a smile a little softer than before. Considering all the different monsters they've seen, they aren't surprised by what she looks like.

It's funny. In the past, before really getting to know him -- they would have said that a flower they met in the Underground beforehand was far scarier than her. It's someone's actions that decides such things for them. )

It's nice to meet you.

[nilheality]

[She smiles gently. She gauges that this has more to do with the fact that they are innocent and kind as opposed to knowing what she truly is. Even the monster mother looked kindly rather than threatening.]

[But she felt she owed them at least this much. It was only fair.]

Hello. My name is Nil.

[stilljustyou]

Hi, Nil.

( They respond quietly, gently. It's nice to know that she seems more comfortable talking to Frisk than they thought she would be. She seemed kind of scared over text. )

I met a lot of monsters at home. We became really good friends.

[nilheality]

Hmn...

I have met good monsters too. I think... I wanted them to be good... otherwise...

[She would have no hope. No place to belong. But she would be okay with that. There was safety in solitude.]

[Were Frisk anyone other than a young child, she would have difficulty with this. But there was no way of hiding it... and despite what she was, they did seem sincere of wanting to befriend her. Is it because they were both Sleepers? Yes. That must have been it.]

[She paused a moment, noting that Frisk did not introduce themselves yet.]

[stilljustyou]

Were there mean monsters where you're from...?

( They can't help but ask that, if only due to the way that that was phrased. But, they also note the pause. )

Uhm -- I'm Frisk.`

[nilheality]

[She lifted her tentacles in front of her.]

There are.

[She smiles at Frisk. A sad smile that is envious of the world they came from.] The monsters of your world must be very kind indeed, if you can look upon me without fear, Frisk.

[stilljustyou]

... Sometimes, people who look nice can be scary.

( They know that from experience. )

But... any monster that tried to hurt me did it because they thought they had to.

[nilheality]

[She shifts her weight uncomfortably.] Some... do. Some just want to protect themselves. Some are just scared. But not all monsters are that way. There are some that see you as food. As prey. As toys. As things to be used and destroyed. And some are so bad that their very existence hurts the ground, sea, and air with their presence.

[Her tone softens as she addresses Frisk directly.] You have a good heart, Frisk. I would not want to see you come to harm.

I would not want to see you broken or hurt.

So... please. Don't trust monsters.

[stilljustyou]

( Something about what she says causes Frisk to withdraw. They don't respond at first. They know about the possibility of monsters being different in other worlds. Still... even the most dangerous people have had reasons to be who they are. )

... I'm not.

( Frisk responds quietly, looking away from the feed for a second. )

I've done bad things. I've had to learn how to be good again.

[nilheality]

[Nil is so intent that she fails to determine what Frisk means. With further elaboration the squid-girl takes a moment to scrutinize the intention. Her posture softens and her expression lightens.]

...worry not, little one. We have all made mistakes. Some more dire than others. The road toward redemption is often long, and sometimes unreachable, yet we must strive for it nonetheless.

[The voice of experience, perhaps.] Sometimes that's all that we can do.

[Of course, in Nil's mind, she thinks they may have acted naughty, snuck out when they weren't supposed to, or stealed a slice of unattended pie. Simple things that children do, and fear that their guardians may one day discover.]

[stilljustyou]

You sound like Mom.

( It's something that Toriel would say, and that in itself is comforting. Still, it's a bit more difficult to believe in such words when they've seen proof of what they've done here. It's worse when they know that they're not the one suffering for it. )

... What if I can't make up for it?

[nilheality]

[The light in Nil's face fades, but not for Frisk's actions. That question... that is the question she has tried to answer for herself.] Then you do what you can. Help how you can. Live how you can. No matter the cost. No matter how it hurts.

There are... others who never get the chance and we owe it to them to do good with the time we have left.

[stilljustyou]

( Live how they can... It feels like they've been doing that ever since they first fell into the Underground. )

... I know that not giving up can be hard sometimes.

But, I'll keep trying.

[nilheality]

I will too.

[She raised a hand to the omni, as though she was showing him something.]

I didn't used to be a monster, Frisk. I used to be human, like you. What you are seeing is the consequence of using power that isn't mine.

But I'm alive. And with that there's a chance I can make this broken life of mine hasn't been for nothing.

[stilljustyou]

( So, she changed... It seems as though there isn't any actions that don't have consequences. Frisk knows that with the way she spoke, there's a chance that she didn't have the best intentions when she had used her powers. )

... Even though you changed, you're still really nice.

That's what's important.

[nilheality]

[She could feel that comment hit her in the SOUL...]

[It takes her aback for such a while that she stares a while, her lip quivering.]

I... try...

[She tries so hard.]

[stilljustyou]

( They can't help but think of Flowey, who was forced to change. The difference is that Asriel became who he did despite trying to do the right thing. )

It's easy to forget who we are when something bad happens.

[nilheality]

[She takes a moment to absorb that. To let that really sink in. A tentacle is raised to her cheek to rub at her eyes. Yes, they were right, but they were also a child.]

[And children don't need to see grown up problems.]

You are right, Frisk. Thank you. I will try to do what I can.

And you try to do what you can too, alright?

[A soft smile, lonely and sad, but one meant to offer them strength while facing their adversity.]

[stilljustyou]

Okay.

( It almost feels like an agreement to stay DETERMINED. And if Frisk is good at anything, it's not giving up in what they set their mind to. )

Let's work together to be better.

( They offer their own smile -- a little tired, but there's some warmth there all the same. )