Chapter Two:

We've Places to Go


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special shout out to Secretlvitale for choosing the font Arvo Pacifico, she wouldn't exist without them.


You sure this is a good idea Partner? We look like a beggar.

Frisk looked down at their clothes. It was true that they were in ribbons, but they didn't want to climb all the way back up the mountain.

Just go back to Snowdin or search my closet for something.

I don't want to go all the way back, we have money, and we'll buy something in town.

If you don't die of exposure first...

What do YOU care?

Good point.

Frisk really should have gotten knew clothes BEFORE they went down the mountain, but they forgot. Now they were traveling through the woods searching for any sign of civilization and freezing. The town with the castle hadn't looked that far from the summit, but boy were they wrong.

We should have gone with Papyrus.

We didn't have a chance, he left without telling anyone. We got money, a FontSearch, and we...ahem...YOU got Determination. What more do you need?

Chara was right. They should really count their blessings. All they needed to do was keep going straight or find a river and they'd be set.

Hey Partner.

What?

Don't fall down any holes.

Shut up.

Finally, they came to a dirt road. They were exhausted, but they did it.

The dirt looked kind of orange or reddish. Whether or not that was a sign that they were heading into a hick town they knew not, but as long as it WAS a town, they were happy.

Oh god, look at the road. I bet we'll be hearing gunshots and revved up trucks any minute now.

Frisk rolled their eyes. Chara could be really stuck up sometimes; they supposed it came from growing up with royalty.

We can judge a town by their friggen' road.

What about the architecture?

The what?

Chara pointed at the houses they were about to come across. They all were made of wood and their paint was peeling like crazy. The dirt road ran in between them and there was no sign of a sidewalk or people for that matter, anywhere.

It looks like a western ghost town...

Stand still for a moment; I wanna see if tumbleweed blows by.

Frisk continued on, stopping at the first house they came across. The lights were on and a truck was in the driveway, but no matter how many times Frisk ran the doorbell, there was no answer.

Looks like someone broke in.

What?

Chara pointed to the door frame. It looked splintered, like someone had tried to force the door open. Turning the knob, Frisk found that it opened easily.

Something bad happened in this town didn't it?

Did Papyrus already clear it out? Damn...

The house was brightly lit and the furniture was surprisingly in good shape. Nothing appeared to be knocked over or out of place. the living room they had walked into had a nice glass coffee table, two couches, and an arm chair sitting against the side of a wooden staircase. No television though.

Okay, it's a hick town.

Told ya'.

The kitchen was just as tidy as the living room; there weren't even any dishes in the sink. The fridge was full of rotten fruit and spoiled milk. Whoever lived here hadn't come back in a long time.

Are there any chips in the cupboard or something? Oooh oooh! Check that ceramic jar thing!

Frisk looked at the large jar and opened the lid. Chocolate chip cookies were inside. Taking a bite, they found they were fine. The lid had kept them at least a LITTLE fresh.

I want one...

Frisk switched with Chara so they could eat the cookies. No one else was going to eat them and it wasn't like they couldn't switch back...

Chara devoured them all in a frenzy like they had the monster candy, then they searched the cupboards and cabinets for food to take with them on their journey. Luckily their inventory could hold a lot, even without Alphys' upgrade.

They stuffed their inventory full of unexpired treats and grabbed some water bottles from the fridge too.

All set! Oooh I bet there are some clothes upstairs!

The excited child raced up the stairs almost taking two at a time. This was just like Spooky Day, no scratch that, this was BETTER than Spooky Day. They could take anything they wanted or needed with NO consequences. NO chance of being caught.

This is awesome!

This is looting.

So? They're probably dead or they moved. You saw the fridge!

Reaching a white door, Chara reared back as a strong stench hit them like a slap in the face.

Definitely dead.

Opening the door they saw it was actually occupied.

"Hello vittle one! Velcome to Arvo Pacifico's emporium!" cried a woman loudly in an Estonian accent. They wore a weird dress the children didn't recognize, but they knew it was a skeleton. Her skin had mostly rotted from her bones and the smell was horrible.

Chara took out their FontSearch and scanned the putrid creature.

Arvo Pacifico: The Swindling Font

Attribute: Normal

Type: Verbal

Arvo Pacifico is a Font infamous for cheating people out of their money and belongings. They will target humans, monsters, Fonts, and have even been seen trying to haggle with monkeys for the things they have stolen. Their font allows them to do this quite efficiently, altering their victim's mind into thinking they're getting a good deal. When dealing with Fonts they prefer to use their wit and charm to seduce them into buying their overpriced wares.

This Font enjoys breaking into homes while residents are away and taking anything of value that they find. Sadly another ability of theirs is being able to tell items worth right away on sight. Many have complained of having priceless heirlooms and paintings stolen, only to find them later at Arvo's shop.

This Font although a Cheshire, does well in jobs that require a salesman's touch. they won't however except any cut less than sixty percent. Incredibly friendly, they've been known to weave tragic stories in order to gain sympathy from difficult customers and they always greet with a smile and respect the creatures that stop at their store regardless of whether or not they are rude or haven't bought anything. They have been known to go the extra mile and have even gone out searching for an item a customer may have requested just to sell it to them, making Arvo Pacifico beloved in richer societies.

There has been major controversy about whether or not the Capture Facility should allow them to open stores and/or keep their stolen wares. Some believe Arvo Pacifico should give the stolen items back, some believe they should be imprisoned, and some believe they should be left alone as it is their nature, like the Font Ransom, to steal. Regardless of anyone's personal stance, it is important to watch your purse around THIS Font.

"Vell, I see you have a FontSearch. You may vant to update it my friends, as information may not be accurate othervise..."

"It's already been updated, thanks."

We need to switch again before she makes you buy something expensive. Remember Broken Baby?

Yeah, I don't have the Determination to fend her off.

"Very good! Such a vise child! I can see you are in need of some new clothes too. Vell, you've come to right place!"

"Really? You have clothes for children my size?"

"Arvo Pacifico have everything you could possibly need and if I do not, I go find...for small fee of course."

"Or I could go search some more houses," said Frisk looking out the second story window.

"Ah yes, but you von't find better items than vhat Arvo is carrying! You heard the FontSearch did you not? Arvo Pacifico only sells the most valuable, rare, and vell-crafted items! She not sell cheap garbage and silly trinkets!"

She's right.

I know she's right, but...

"I see you are having trouble deciding. Not all of those houses are empty, you know. I have also cleaned a lot of them out already. This the only place you find good vares."

"*Sigh* How much?"

"How much you got? Ha ha ha! I kid, I kid. Let see here...yooou like blue? I have blue shirt for child. Cotton. Good for heat."

"It's Winter."

"Ahh, that's right! Cotton no good then...you need sveater orrrr jacket. Arvo have both."

Jackets have pockets.

"Does the jacket have pockets?"

"Of course! Of course! Vhat is a jacket vithout pockets? It is a sweater! Jacket has two pockets and it is blue, good yes?"

"Yes. Do you have a bag that can carry a lot of things?"

What are you doing?

"I do! I do! Arvo have many bags, many sizes..."

"Do you have one that can kinda fit around my side, not like a fanny pack but-"

We have an big inventory already, we don't need another.

"Ah yes, I know vhat you mean. A purse that is not a purse. Perfect bag to put over shoulder."

"Yeah one of those!"

We HAVE an inventory!

"I have vhat you need. You need new pants too it seems."

"Yeah, just some snow pants or something will be good, something to keep me warm."

FRISK!

"I have those too! Anything else?"

"I don't think so."

"Vell, let's go to shop and see if you change mind. That is vhere items are. I just here to collect."

"Alright cool!"

Frisk and Arvo Pacifico went downstairs and traveled to a what looked like a grocery store. Inside, Frisk could see clothes, toys, kitchenware, paintings, furniture, food, and even pets on display.

"Awww...a puppy!" Frisk looked down into what used to be a ice cream display cabinet to see a cute brown and white puppy with long ears looking up at him, panting happily. It leapt at the glass trying to get to Frisk.

"You like? Found him in empty house, locked in cage. Had to rescue. Purebred King Charles Cavalier puppy."

Frisk opened the broken freezer to pet the puppy. He was as soft as he looked. He licked their hand and jumped around playfully.

It's paws are so tiny...

Frisk had always wanted a dog, but being an orphan they were unable to have one. They couldn't even go to the pet store to look at them.

"King Charles puppy, very cheap. Cheaper than jacket and pants and bag. Hard to feed and no Fonts vant a dog. You are the first human to shop here vithout shooting gun. It vould be nice if he had a home..."

We're not getting a puppy Frisk.

Pretty sure that's MY decision.

WE'RE NOT GETTING A PUPPY FRISK.

"How much is the puppy?"

"One thousand gold...but if you advertise for Arvo, I give away for free. I need more customers and humans make it hard to run business."

"For free?!

WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF A DOG FRISK.

"As I said, too hard to feed. Can't take it for walks because of humans, stinks up shop. Bring in more customers so other pets can go too."

Frisk looked at the puppy, it whimpered trying to reach them, it's paws slipping on the side of the freezer.

It's crying.

DON'T do it!

It's crying though...

"*Whimper*" It sounded like the saddest sound in the world. A storm or mournful violin couldn't have made it any sadder. Frisk could FEEL the loneliness and despair radiating off the tiny puppy.

It needed someone.

It needed THEM.

Frisk!

Frisk no!

"*Whimper* *Whimper*" The puppy continued to whine, it's claws scratching on the side of the freezer as it cried for Frisk.

It was all alone in the world. A world full of selfish people who didn't care about puppies. Only Frisk, someone who knew what it was like to be alone, someone who had always wanted a puppy, could give them the love and care they needed.

The puppy leapt at them, desperate to be picked up. Frisk could almost hear them pleading.

Please...

Please...hug me...

Pick me up...

Love me, please...

I need to have them.

NO YOU DON'T!

I need to have that puppy.

Frisk smiled. "I have friends that aren't human or Fonts. I can tell them about your store. They're in Mt. Ebott."

"The monsters? The barrier, it is gone?"

"Yep! I'm friends with the king too. If you give me the jacket, bag, puppy, and pants for free, I'll take you to Mt. Ebott and ask the king to let you set up shop there!"

Oh, you IDIOT!

Arvo's eyes lit up. "Really?! That's vonderful!"

The human said they would escort her up Mt. Ebott, so what they said about the barrier had to be true. This was the opportunity Arvo had been waiting for; losing a few items was well worth it.

"Here are items. Get dressed and get puppy, then we go."

Frisk nodded and went into the back room to change.

Weren't we saving the world? What happened to THAT?

We can take a detour. It's not gonna die tomorrow...

After they zipped up their jacket, adjusted Papyrus's scarf, and put on their pants, they went back out to get the puppy.

How are we gonna take care of a dog when we're traveling everywhere MORON?

Alphys has dog food we can put in our inventory and we got plenty of water too.

We won't ALWAYS have dog food Frisk, or water for that matter! What makes you think he won't run off as soon as you put him down anyway?

"You won't run off? Will you little guy?"

"Arf!"

Frisk picked up the puppy and cuddled him in their arms, smelling his fur. It smelled like the home they wished they had.

So soft...

"Ve are ready to go?"

"Yep! Let's go see the king!" Frisk put the bag over their shoulder and headed outside with Arvo, smiling happily.