[network] @determination; Days and stories! [open] Evening 121 video/text

[despiteeverything]

[One of the first things to note is that Frisk looks... brighter, a bit. Happier than they've been for a while.]

According to Miss Luna and Mister, um... [oops they never got his name did they. Thank goodness for usernames.] Mister Asolomons and Mister Rogers, today's January 11th!

We thought it might be a good idea to start our posts with what day it is. After a while it gets hard to tell when each of the days all our posts are on, and how much time's passed between 'em. I know it's really small, but I still think it'll help us all out. If everybody helps it won't be so hard!

I know people've been writing the days on the walls too. If anybody knows what day we're writing for that too, that'd help! That way we can put them both on our posts.

[That's all they seem to have to say in that regard. Onto the next topic. And this one makes them actually delighted, if their expression is anything to go by.]

Um... I saw a kid - a ghost kid, in the library, and they left me one of those cards. It has lots of stories, really good ones!

If anybody wants to listen, I'm gonna read a few!

[They settle back against someone, both of them comfortably resting on a pile of beanbags - most will easily recognize it's Toriel. Frisk begins to read. They make it through three short stories all of different length, although there is definitely a common theme. A story about a shy but kind troll who lived under a bridge, a story about a large fluffy monster helping some children who got lost in the woods, a sea serpent monster who saved and island and loved playing on the beach with the people who lived there.... Those who know Frisk will probably be able to tell why they're so happy about this particular find.

Next to them, Toriel can be seen and sometimes heard, gently correcting any pronunciation errors, encouraging Frisk to drink some water when their throat starts to catch, and occasionally breaking into a mildly concerning coughing fit, turning her head away and making Frisk pause and look back up and over in concern. She always brushes it off with a gentle apology.

Still, after all the hell that the past couple weeks have been, the two are clearly content, and very happy to be so. Even if it's only for the moment.]

[[ooc; replies will be mainly from Frisk, though Toriel threadjacks are entirely possible. I mean she's right there.]]

Comments

@ASolomons; video

[devoutish]

[Alfie's in for the night, so he replies to video with video. His hat is off and his glasses are on, and he's leaning forward to peer at the screen - wondering what the hell that is with Frisk.]

Solomons. Alfie Solomons.

[Alfie, you can't do the James Bond thing; you don't even know who James Bond is.]

@determination, video

[despiteeverything]

[That's their mom, don't be rude.]

Oh!

[Okay, that makes sense now actually. A. Solomons.]

Mister Solomons. [A sheepish sort of grin] Sorry.

[devoutish]

Mm. And you? Didn't get your name.

[despiteeverything]

[Ooops. Although that one's a bit more understandable. Frisk forgets to give their name out unless asked a good 90% of the time.]

I'm Frisk. Sorry I forgot that too.

[devoutish]

Frisk. Right. And with you there, that's...

[Definitely not someone he's met before.]

And probably Toriel next

[despiteeverything]

[Frisk seems more than happy to answer the question.]

That's my mom!

[They angle the tablet a bit over so she can be seen more clearly and Frisk themselves looks up and over, smiling cheerfully and giving her the chance to introduce herself.]

[In person]

[inruins]

[As the stories wind down and the feed ends. Toriel gently brushes her fingers through Frisk's hair fondly. Given the past few days or so, Toriel has so much to say and finds it hard to manage all of it.

Hearing her child read so excitedly and still seem hopeful leaves her soul swelling with pride. Her voice is scratchy when she speaks, but warm.] Frisk, I am so proud of you.

;o;

[despiteeverything]

[It's absolutely not what they would have expected to hear from her. Or from anyone really. And it's enough to make them turn in surprise. Their throat catching a little. After everything that's happened? Even though they've only got maybe half their time left, and Frisk's done nothing to really help advance their progress at all? Even though they couldn't do anything the time she'd been locked outside, or in danger? Even though she found out so much of what Frisk was hiding?

Those aren't the words that come out though. Not quite.]

Really?

[inruins]

Really. [She curls an arm around Frisk, offering her child a gentle hug. Things have been tough to put it lightly, but Frisk keeps persisting, keeps trying. It makes the world of difference to the boss monster.] You keep finding hope where others do not, it only makes me prouder of you, my child.

[despiteeverything]

[Unbidden, some words - though Frisk can't quite completely place where they're from - come back to them.

'If even one person can listen and take comfort, or feel that there's still some sort of hope, then their efforts aren't worthless.'

Their eyes are stinging a bit. They feel a bit awkward - this isn't something to get upset about! But it's hitting on a lot of the big things they've been most insecure about.]

That's... that's really enough?

[Enough to help. Enough to make people happy.]

[inruins]

Yes, yes it is. [She offers Frisk a gentle supportive squeeze.] Even the smallest glimmer can inspire.

[despiteeverything]

I... You really think I can help that way?

[They hesitate.]

I tried, back when we first got here. I tried to do things to help everyone stay determined. But bad stuff kept happening, and everyone was fighting each other, and-

[They not quite gave up. But very close to it. They got wrapped up in their own worries and fears and despairs. They'd not given up themselves, but they'd started to give up on those around them, too distracted by their own pain.

That was wrong. Their face fully falls.]

I've been selfish.

@milkevoli; audio - before storytime basically

[brokethefirst]

I think that's a fine idea. Not everyone follows the same calendar as us, but... at the very least, it's something to keep our information straight, so long as we do it right.

As for the second thing... Really, I didn't see anyone like that when I was at the library. The ghost, that is. Maybe they felt, um... safer, just around you. And maybe the stories are a present for that.

@determination, video

[despiteeverything]

Oh, that's right. We'll hafta explain how all our days work 'n stuff. But we gotta get everybody to start doing it. For it to really work...

[Either that or make comments on everyone's posts saying what day it is. Considering this now! They will probably need to do some kind of follow-up in the near future, in any case.

The next part does make them think... and leaves them feeling maybe a little pleased.]

Maybe! Um... I was telling some... others [They aren't sure if Kesara wants the organization of smols to be a publicly-known thing] that maybe there are places here that'll act different around us, since we're kids. Like the school, and I think maybe here at the library now too.

[brokethefirst]

It's a good goal. Though, um... teaching other people a brand new calendar might take a little time, okay? It's a lot of new words and sets of numbers for someone that's never seen it before. Say someone were to tell us that the weeks had 9 days, or that there were 10 months instead of 12. Or that all the days were named really strange, alien terms. It would take a little while to remember, wouldn't it?

But... at least those of us who are familiar with the days and months can keep track on our own, to start with. Then, if people learn how to do it for themselves, they can always join in when they're able.

Does that make sense?

[It's a gentle reworking of Frisk's eagerness - to expect everyone to participate when a good chunk of them were seemingly not even from Earth would be difficult, and she didn't want Frisk's hopes being dashed just because of the time it might take to learn a new culture's timetable.]

I don't think you're wrong at all. There were some children in the public record, right? If the anomalies or ghosts, whatever they are... if they have anything to do with the children that might have lived here, then maybe seeing other children makes them feel less... lonely.

[despiteeverything]

Okay... But still, those of us who can should, otherwise how's anybody gonna learn how the dates here work? And we gotta help 'em in the meantime...

[Hm... they're definitely thinking.

Certain topics are definitely easier than others, though.]

Huh... other kids... Are there maybe other places that might work for that too?

[brokethefirst]

That's right. I don't know how many will try, but... I'll help you, Frisk.

[She never really thought of doing otherwise. It was simple enough, it would help Frisk towards an overall goal, and it would logistically be helpful in the future.]

Well... I know there were a few houses that had children living in them. You can see some on the public record, or find things just for kids when you look around houses.

The toy store might be another option, wouldn't it? At least, most of it.

[despiteeverything]

Hmmm... Mom and I were just there, actually. Um. The other night... January 9th? The dolls moved around if you left 'em alone but I don't remember seeing any ghost kids, or stuff like that.

[They admittedly are a little less keen to be running back to the toy store, given how unnerving that place was in general. Certainly not as nice or welcoming as the library.]

Um... thanks though.

@kingdomkey ; voice

[seekthelight]

[Sora's day had been...rather terrible. He'd only just made it to a building South of the funeral home before lockdown and even as he settled in for the night he couldn't seem to get over what all he had seen earlier in the day.

In an attempt to distract himself he ends up going through network posts and comes across Frisk's. He stays quiet as he listens to the story the other is telling, finding himself relaxing the more he listens until Sora is resting up against one of the walls in the cabin, tablet cradled in his lap.]

...Those are really nice stories.

[despiteeverything]

Mmhmm!

[Frisk grins hugely.]

They're lots better than the ones back home. The ones from the Surface, anyway.

[Because Monster stories were pretty rad. Both the myths and the personal anecdotes that Toriel told them about her parents, and things like that.]

[seekthelight]

From the Surface?

[Frisk is still a bit of an oddity to Sora. He'd only spoken to the other briefly and then there...there had been the dreams. Because Frisk had been there, right?]

[despiteeverything]

[Frisk nods.]

Yeah. Back home, there's the Surface, where humans lived. Or... I guess everybody does now. And then there was the Underground, where monsters were trapped.

[seekthelight]

Why were they split up? Are the monsters bad?

[It's just an honest question and he really doesn't mean any harm by it. It's just sounds like Frisk's world is quite the interesting one.]

[despiteeverything]

No!

[Even if he doesn't mean any harm by it, Frisk sounds shocked and almost offended at the question. Their mom is right there!

And yet the bite is virtually gone from their voice by the next sentence.]

Humans were scared. There was... stuff. That monsters could do, that they couldn't.

Video @Enoch

[warriorscribe]

What a kind spirit. It's as if it wanted you to find some cheer in this place.

[He should take that spirit's ways to heart - every night, it seems, he checks the network and finds something to soothe his anger, but when he wakes up in the morning, he remembers Clayton is dead again, and time is slipping by without any word, and this time he might be gone.

...It's nice to see some comfort right now.]

Those are lovely stories.