Chapter Text
I hope Grandpa could figure out whatever the artifact could do, Frisk thought, keeping an ear out for anything important the adults in the meeting might say.
*He’s good at what he does, but I think that it’ll take more than his knowledge of alchemy to crack open its secrets.
Hopefully without actually breaking it in the process, Frisk replied, attention turning to Asgore.
“And as you have heard, the amount of incidents between humans and monsters have gone down since the partial integration began,” Asgore stated, bowing his head toward the rest of the room. “I believe it would be wise to expand the integration efforts. That is why I now request the rights to take up some of the land next to the city.”
*Hmm, this isn’t the first time he has put the idea out there. But I could see that some are a bit more willing to accept that as part of a deal. Use those big brown eyes of yours to help push just a little!
The Red mage looked around the room, though not with Chara’s intention in mind; he just wanted to see what some of the others against their work wanted. To Chara’s expectations, a few of them squirmed when Frisk looked. “That depends on a whole lot of factors…” One started, but trailed off.
“Where would you like to buy the land, and how much? There’s only so much the city could give before you would have to take it to a higher level,” someone stated neutrally. “We also have to take into account whether much of the nearby neighborhoods would be comfortable with living in close contact with monsters - no offense, of course.”
“I understand,” Asgore nodded. “The legal side has changed significantly since my people have lived up here. I simply wish for more to be able to enjoy this as soon as it would be feasible.”
“We know, we know,” a supporter, with an orange accent on her clothing, stated. “We could get you some of the city records by the next meeting if you are that willing.”
“We will need to bring this before the rest of the magocracy first,” someone else grumbled.
*Wow, that sounded rude. The tone, not the contents.
I wonder if the artifact could do something about this… Making some people be nicer for a change.
*If it could, I doubt it would work on certain people. Like you. Or Julian.
Why either of us? Why not just him?
*Because you’d probably overload it with your own. Duh.
Frisk gave a quiet huff. Why must you always make a big show of what you think of me?
*Oh, come on. You know for a fact that it’s true. Besides, someone has to tease you about these things.
The adults around the room all murmured their assent (or dissent in some whispered cases). “I suggest we have a short break before we finish our business here,” a man with yellow accentuating his clothes stated. “Is everyone in agreement?” Pretty much everyone in the room nodded or otherwise showed their support for the notion.
The people closest to the door began to filter out; Frisk gave a small sigh of relief as Asgore held him close to him. “I do wish I could say it would get easier with time, little one,” the boss monster stated, patting Frisk on the shoulder with a gentleness that did not fit his size. “But the truth is it doesn’t. Not truly, at least.”
“I wish people would stop trying to… well, stop you,” Frisk murmured as they began to move their own way out of the meeting room.
“I wish for that as well, Frisk. However, the power to achieve that quickly is out of my reach, so we will have to make do with the power that is within our reach.”
“But you’re already big,” the human boy remarked, looking the king of monsters up and down.
*He means it figuratively.
I know that.
*Wow, a rare sight of you actually understanding halfway decent humor! In a century’s time, you might be able to make a joke that isn’t a terrible pun!
Asgore, on his part, seemed to understand that Frisk was joking. “Oh ho, there are times I wish I could use my size to get that power. But that wouldn’t be fair to any leaders that are not boss monsters, to say the least.”
Frisk nodded, heading toward the refreshment table as soon as he was able to. Unlike last time, Frisk had decided to put his cup into his phone’s dimensional box, where it would be safe until any break in the meeting. He did not want to use the replaceable cups ever again, if he could help it. Thanks for suggesting I put it into my phone inventory.
*You’re welcome. As an acknowledgement of my idea, you should repay my suggestion with filling your cup to the brim.
Not this again!
*It’s either this, or a new argument over something just as important.
What.
*It’s just about how nine is the most powerful number in existence.
“Frisk?” Asgore asked, having caught up with Frisk at the refreshment table. “Has anyone done anything to upset you this time? You’re frowning at nothing.”
Frisk blinked slightly, pouring out some of the provided tea while deliberately keeping his cup from being filled. “Sorry, I’m just thinking about something someone told me.”
“Oh? I hope it wasn’t too upsetting. However, every child’s disagreement should be handled in the best manner that they could manage.”
“It’s nothing, and I hope it stays nothing,” Frisk murmured, beginning to drink.
Asgore looked like he was about to reply with something, but one of their supporters walked up to the boss monster. “Excuse me sir, but there’s something I wanted to discuss with you before the next portion of the meeting,” they said.
“Of course,” the king nodded. “I would prefer to stay within eyesight of our ambassador, though.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard for you,” the supporter said lightheartedly, leading Asgore away.
*Now we could discuss the benefits of the number nine in peace! No offense to Dad, though.
Before Frisk could protest against Chara, he felt a sudden poke in his back. “Huh?”
“don’t you know how to greet a friend?” Sans’ low voice said.
Frisk turned around, catching the skeleton in the eye. “Sans? What are you doing here? Why are you here?”
“what? can’t a guy check in on a friend of his, even if it’s in the middle of a series of a history-defining event?” The skeleton replied, reaching for a disposable cup. “not many times you could definitely say that.”
*There’s no reason for anyone to brag about such a specific circumstance.
“besides, i needed a break from my break. and going back to work doesn’t count in this case, otherwise it would render the break from the break redundant,” Sans shrugged, pouring himself a cup of the tea. “as a plus, i hear the tea during these meetings is excellent.”
“You could visit Asgore for some. He personally makes this tea,” the Red mage replied, taking a sip of his own drink.
“i could do that, but that would just dilute the meaning. don’t want to water down such a good-tasting thing, even if i’m not much of a tea drinker myself.”
“Then how do you know that it tastes really good?” Frisk replied, raising an eyebrow.
“hearsay and whatnot. everyone else in the underground likes the taste of golden flower tea, so it shouldn’t be too much to assume that i would also end up liking how it tastes,” Sans said, pulling a ketchup packet from one of his pockets and squeezing its contents in.
*What a disgrace to this tea.
“what’s that expression for?” Sans asked, stirring in the ketchup before taking a small sip. “don’t judge someone for having different tastes from yourself until you’ve tried it for yourself.”
*Nope. Nope nope nope nope! Nope.
At least this is something we both could agree on… Ruining good tea with ketchup…
“hmm, say kid. i’ve heard that you know just a tiny bit more about golden flower tea than the average person,” the short skeleton continued, leaning against the wall. “mind telling me a few things you know about this particular tea?”
“Just that golden flowers originate from a patch of flowers that grew on top of my great-grandpa’s grave,” Frisk shrugged, taking a sip from his cup.
“i read a small bit about the history of the colored flowers,” Sans nodded, taking a long drink from his own cup. “you guys plant flowers on top of where you are put into the ground, specifically the colors of your Souls. which from what i could gather, that would mean that golden flowers are an offshoot of the red flowers and not of the yellow… makes sense to me, considering determination has been known to have something of a golden glow to it.”
“That’s all I really have on the golden flowers,” Frisk said, not mentioning what he remembered that Black Mage said about them.
If Sans saw that he was holding information from him, he made no comment. “sure. what’s the deal with the other colored teas, huh? if you all like golden flower tea so much, then why bother continuing to use any of the other teas?”
Frisk pouted. “Red Soulflower tea is the best one, and I don’t care what any internet test says about it.”
“any reason why?”
The boy took a moment to collect himself. “People say that all of the Soulflower teas give a temporary boost in the trait associated with it. Orange for bravery, and that stuff.”
“Hey, are you supposed to be here?” Someone nearby asked, looking at Sans.
Sans put his cup down and turned away. “looks like my time here is at an end. see you later, kid.”
Frisk blinked as he watched the skeleton walk into the crowd.
*Well, that was weird. What was all that for?