[network] @determination; Important [open] [cw: event discussion] Morning 131

[despiteeverything]

Um. Hi everybody, it's me.

I was wondering... has anybody seen anything like that thing that was down there before? [a beat] Anybody else?

'cause I have.

[They pause briefly, take a deep breath, and dive in. For those who have been here long enough might recognize Frisk's Ambassador voice.]

Back home, there were monsters that were sorta like that. Um. We called them Amalgamates. They were there because something bad had happened, and they needed help. They weren't actually bad, even if they looked and acted scary. [...] Even if they tried to hurt you.

[Because they can hear those objections already, especially in the wake of Haurchefant's death at its hands. They also don't bring up Alphys' involvement at all, because Frisk doesn't want to give a really bad impression of her to all these people. She hadn't meant for what had happened to happen, and she'd been scared.]

So I think we should figure out how to help out the big anomaly that's down there. It sounded like it was angry. Um... the kind of angry you are when something bad happens and you're hurting. So we need to learn more about it however we can.

[Because boy are they familiar with that particular brand of anger.]

I know it's scary but I think we should. It's important. We can help it then, and stop anybody else from getting hurt.

[That... just about wraps it up. They think.]

Mom and I are gonna put it in the anomaly guide. And... maybe we should think of something else to call it, besides just an anomaly? [Their face suddenly pulls into a disapproving scowl.] If you're gonna call it something mean though, don't.

And please keep telling me or Mom if you learn anything about that anomalies, or the ones we find.

Comments

[rubikscomplex]

big oscillating bastard
i use bastard in the technical sense
god knows that thing was born out of wedlock

[inruins]

Watch your language, Dr House.

[despiteeverything]

[... well now they know.]

That's a mean name isn't it?

[inruins]

Yes it is. Please don't repeat it.

[rubikscomplex]

technical sense, momllusk
you're the one making it a swear

[inruins]

Historical and societal context does not erase itself from a word merely because you've deemed it so.

So no, it still carries the same sting it always has, even if you attempt to neatly wrap it in an acronym.

[rubikscomplex]

awwwww
was mommy a bastard monster child?

[inruins]

Attempting to derail by making accusations isn't the best course of action here.

[rubikscomplex]

you're the one who's talking like it's personal, billy goat's gruff
and questions aren't accusations
unless i missed something
sore spot?

[inruins]

You are a grown man who understands the context and hurtfulness that word can contain. You are teaching it to a child, who need not know it.

And then you try to turn it on me in some attempt to toss barbs and nettles.

I'll repeat myself here, watch your language around Frisk.

[rubikscomplex]

nah

they read the network
they're gonna see worse than that

[inruins]

Read the network or not, I ask of you to mind yourself.

Because they've seen a great many thing, does not mean they need to be exposed to everything at this age.

[rubikscomplex]

are you srs?
lady
they just went through a sadistic hell game
if this is what you're getting your hackles up about
you need to reprioritize

[inruins]

I have many a word to give our 'hosts' if I have my chance to speak with any of them. Do not doubt that Dr. I do not forgive easily nor forget what my child has been through in this place. I am a peaceful woman, but my limits are pushed from being a mere plaything for Admin and her whelp of a cohort.

This started as a polite request from a peer, a fellow hostage of this snowy hellscape, because we are stuck together and rely on one another for survival. There are limited things we can control given these circumstances.

I know you care about the children, even if you enjoy pretending not to for your reputation. I thought given a request, be it an annoyed one on my part you would ignore me or vaguely relent. So, do not mind me if I take what I can control of my child's life and safety seriously.

[rubikscomplex]

you think you have any control here?
we can't even control our own deaths
let alone our own lives
if it's not the admin
it's whatever virus or ai crawled its ass inside this city's system and started tearing it apart
or got put here by some asshole like miller
i'm not going to give you the illusion of control just to make you happy
you want that
go cry to someone who does actually care, mommy

[inruins]

Would you rather be cast out at sea adrift with no sense or semblance of sanity then? To give in to the whims of what cast us here?

You may wish to give up, but I will not. I will not give up on giving my child the best life I can give them, even here, even now. You may call it an illusion, but it is a piece of control we have here. One I shan't give up on merely because the circumstances seem dire.

I have lived through the extermination of my people, I will live through this.

[rubikscomplex]

what cast us here wants us to follow the spiral and dig deep, horns
you're deluding yourself if you think you have control

and boo hoo
poor you
if i had a nickle for every sob story i've heard out of you people
whoever the hell is grabbing us
they've got a real hard-on for hard-luck cases
i'm pretty sure i'm the most average guy here
and that's just freaking wrong

[despiteeverything]

[They... honestly didn't know how to stop these two when stuff like this happened anymore. And were going to just sigh and let it go until- until that.]

Stop it. You don't know what happened.

[No human gets to say that stuff to their mom. Not when they were the ones who did it.]

[rubikscomplex]

lemme guess
humans and monsters once lived together
those were magical times of peace and harmony
and then something happened
maybe a monster kid accidentally killed a human kid
maybe they got into a territory war
whatever
monsters and humans started fighting
the humans slaughtered the monsters
maybe they had better weapons
maybe the monsters just suck balls at fighting except for your "boss monsters"
so the monsters get driven underground
the humans seal them up
and everyone forgets they even exist
until one day
a little orphan kid who heard about the monster myths
climbed up the mountain and fell down into the monster world
GASP
monsters haven't seen humans in
like
decades
but this little brat's special
the specialest of all somehow
and they rescue the monsters from their prison
and peace and harmony fell throughout the land
at least until the next war

[despiteeverything]

[Frisk's face drops ever more into unreadable blankness the further down the page they read. Then dips further into the lightest of frowns.

Beneath the surface, of course, they're furious.]

No. Not even close.

[Their voice is stiff.]

audio

[inruins]

[Moments later, after speaking with Frisk privately. Toriel replies. Her voice is diplomatic and neutral.]

This conversation is over.

Goodbye, Doctor.

[rubikscomplex]

close enough to piss mommy off
so long horns
frisky

[devoutish]

[snort]