♥ text;

[souldeterminant]

[Sometime during the afternoon, a simple text makes its way onto the network, no picture or video attached.]

 

I'm back from vacation.

Don't worry. It was boring.

-Frisk

[None of which is, precisely, a lie. Thankfully, considering Frisk is just about the worst liar they know.]

[But it's good to be home.]

Comments

[Text]

[gianthobo]

I'm glad. Stop by later if you want another story?

[Text]

[souldeterminant]

[AZ. They're glad his first response isn't asking questions, and honestly? ... another story doesn't sound too bad.]

[Or maybe they can think of a certain someone who'd like to hear the one Frisk already knows.]

Me too.

Can I bring a [--] friend?

[freedom_engineer]

Welcome back, Frisky.

You've been thoroughly missed.

[souldeterminant]

['Frisky' is just unexpected and silly enough to elicit a smile from the child on the other end of the line. Good thing for the medium, them, because it keeps Colin from seeing their expression sober at the rest of the message.]

I know.






[They know.]

private;

[souldeterminant]

[A few moments later:]

Can I talk to you?

[TEXT!!!!!!!!!]

[everyonecanbekind]

I HOPE THAT YOUR VACATION WAS WONDERFUL! I WILL DELIGHT IN SEEING YOU AGAIN WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BE BASKED IN MY GREATNESS!

WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BE SOON?

[ why no, who would ever think for a second that papyrus would want to see his tiny human bff and shower them in kisses who said that ]

[justribbing]

pretty sure nobody could pass up a chance to bask in your presence, bro.
hey, kid, pencil him in when ya can, ok?

text;

[gempathic]

YOU'RE BACK!!!

[ dude no they literally just said that. Steven had it figured a ways back that no, Frisk probably wasn't really vacationing. After a little while he just had to admit to himself that he didn't believe it, even though he also had to admit that it meant he had no idea exactly what was going on with Frisk as a result.

Sans told him Frisk wouldn't be alone while they were doing whatever they were doing, though (going home like he did? something different?).

Something told him that he didn't need to stop believing in that. ]

are you ok? was it good boring or boring boring? it definitely hasnt been boring here, so you missed a lot!

text;

[souldeterminant]

[Steven's unbridled energy somehow carries through text without a hitch, and it finds Frisk stifling a small grin. There's so much earnesty in that YOU'RE BACK that they can't even find it in themself to feel bad this time.]

[They can roll with that.]

I got sick. [They know Sans was telling people that much, at least. And because it's also not a lie:] I slept most of the time. But I'm ok now.

What did I miss?

[Text]

[your_best_friend]

Howdy! Welcome back, Frisk! You should have told little old me where you went. Oh! Was there a spa there?

[Yes, Flowey knew what really happened, but he's playing dumb fpr Frisk's sake.]

[animeisrealright]

Uh

Hi

Um

This is awkward.

[souldeterminant]

Undyne?

[Hello to you, too. Only that's... not the kind of greeting they'd expect from her. In fact, the last time Undyne did awkward, she was temporarily setting aside her bloodlust to brew Frisk a pot of tea. Very temporarily.]

[Oh dear.]

You're here?

[Text]

[bubblywishes]

[The amount of fumbling after Norma reads the message that blipped up on her phone - and promptly dropped said phone in her surprise and...excitement? The emotion is hard to describe - is rather humorous, and Norma's Piplup chirps a giggle, clapping its flippers at its mum's antics. Once she's got the darn this secure, Norma furrows her brows and replies. Gosh, but she hates this thing...]

welcome back!1 can i see ypu?

you

[Text]

[souldeterminant]

[Norma... your typos.]

[Frisk can't tell if she's just really bad at using the keyboard, or if she sent it so quickly that she just didn't care about mistakes. Either way, the urgency in her text is palpable, so they make their response just as fast.]

ok

i'm in a different room now

floor 1 room 9

[Text]

[daughterofursa]

I'm glad you're finally feeling better.

[Text]

[souldeterminant]

Me too.

[...]


Sorry. I didn't mean to worry anyone.

[Video]

[tinyprotector]

[Oh, no you don’t. Yukio isn’t going to let them off the hook that easy. His stern face appears onscreen, but his wobbly lip probably doesn’t help much.]

Why didn’t you say anything to me? I was worried…

[Especially with Sans being so secretive.]

[Video]

[souldeterminant]

[Oh.]

[It's hard to come up with a good answer for that one - mostly because of the person asking it. And even if their nature compels them to deflect rather than lie, Frisk knows firsthand how painful it is to be on that side of the river; they'd, uh, rather spare Yukio that burden. They find themself switching on the feed, because it doesn't feel right to keep responding via text with that face staring them in the eye.]

I'm sorry. I didn't have enough time. [Frisk looks and sounds a little worn out, but for the most part, seems to be in perfect health.] Everything's okay now.

TEXT

[glowygreendeath]

You took a vacation in the middle of a war?

TEXT

[souldeterminant]

[Yeah... doesn't come across too great, does it? Oh well. That's the story and Frisk is sticking to it.]

Yes

But I wish I had come back sooner

[text]

[soundmind]

[Oh, Frisk...she knows they weren't on vacation. She already chewed out Sans for that lame excuse, but at the same time she's glad that he prioritized protecting Frisk's SOUL and keeping drama from exploding.

Not that it stopped it from happening, but that's life.]

Welcome back, I can't imagine scenic Sans' ribs is very exciting anyway.

[text]

[souldeterminant]

[That does give Frisk pause, though not for long. They'd never imagine Maka to have been fooled by an excuse like that; especially when she knows their SOUL inside-out, better than they probably do. And a text like that could blow their cover story, but... it's not like it was strong to begin with.]

It was bonely. [Which actually comes out a bit more depressing than they'd meant it, so they're quick to add:]

But I'm home now.

[Video]

[nojusticeonlyme]

[Oh hey, look who's just discovered how to use the video function! It takes a second, but Death manages to get the camera pointed at himself.]

IT WAS NOT MUCH OF A VACATION, THEN, WAS IT?

[Video]

[souldeterminant]

[That is... a skeleton? And not one of the skeletons Frisk is used to seeing around.]

[Weird.]

[In the interest of politeness, they flip their video function on as well - though there isn't much to see on this side other than an average 11-year-old kid. They don't seem fazed by Death's appearance in the slightest, at least.]

Not really.

[justribbing]

[ He's going to give Frisk a little time to settle in before the onslaught of awful jokes resumes, but, uh. Boy, is he glad to have you back, kid. ]

lemme know how it works out with the new digs, kiddo.

[souldeterminant]

[Glad to be back. In a way that adds another change to the rulebook; they've got a lot to think about, and according to Colin, a lot to talk about. But for now, they, um... feel like talking isn't the solution to this situation. Not quite yet.]

[In either case, they'll be waiting for those terrible puns to fill up their phone again. Their inbox could use a little levity.]

I've goat no complaints.

[Text]

[concasse]

[Young lady you're grounded for 1,000 years.

... Which wouldn't be fair, knowing what he does. Norma woke up him five minutes ago and all Sanji can do is stare at his phone, heart aching and eyes a little teary. He'll be asleep soon, but before then:]

Glad you're back.

[Text]

[souldeterminant]

[... and another.]

[Since Sans returned their phone, no digital stone has been left unturned; Frisk saw Sanji's message, buried beneath the mountain of texts from their Partner. It seemed like... it was in poor taste to answer it, all this time later.]

[Needing a vacation, golly. Frisk is lucky they're all showing MERCY.]

I am too. Sorry it took so long.

[wildcardpotential]

good to hear from you. Did Sans pass my message along? It wasn't really important.

[souldeterminant]

[Ah... whoops. Either Sans told them while they were just a SOUL, or... maybe he forgot.]

Sorry, it must have gotten lost in sanslation.