Adventures With Noelle and Tina, Part 2
And the sixth chapter is up! I hope you guys enjoy!
...
In the next room, they ran into Cap'n, K_K, and Sweet, who were sitting behind cardboard boxes, selling CD Bagels.
Cap'n grinned when he saw them and waved them over. "Good work, new recruits! You rescued the madamoizel!"
"Huh?" Noelle asked in confusion.
"This is Cap'n, K_K, and Sweet. They're rebels fighting against Queen for the sake of both freedom and good music." Frisk introduced as she led Noelle and Tina to meet the three robots. "They were really worried when they saw you get captured."
"Oh. Um, thanks." Noelle said shyly.
"We're always happy to help someone in need, madamoizel." Cap'n said proudly, tipping an imaginary hat.
"So what are you guys up to?" Frisk asked, smiling.
"We're making some extra money by selling in the city." Sweet explained.
"We gotta make those bucks somehow! Heheh!" Cap'n put in.
Sweet nodded. "Gotta buy new gear!"
"Gotta get new kicks!" Sweet added.
"I wanna be a car." K_K said adorably, not seeming to really follow the conversation.
"Good thinkin', K_K! Gotta have a way to get around!" Sweet said supportively as K_K honked happily.
"I'm sure you'll be a great car, K_K!" Tina said happily, making the tall robot grin.
"Though you lovely madimoyzels will get a special discount from our shop." Cap'n grinned. "Especially YOU." He looked to Noelle.
Noelle slightly moved behind Frisk and both Frisk and Sweet glared at Cap'n. "Leave her alone, Cap!" Sweet said firmly. Seeing the reactions to his flirting, Cap'n wisely backed down with an apology to Noelle, who accepted it.
"Oh, did you see that big statue we made?" K_K asked, changing the subject.
Cap'n sighed. "Building it sucked!"
"Took a lot of scrap." Sweet agreed. "The other job we did was way better!"
"It was big." K_K added.
"What was it?" Frisk asked curiously.
"We're not allowed to tell since it's supposed to be debuted tonight, but it's gonna blow your mind!" Sweet told her.
"It was big." K_K repeated.
"We can't wait to see it!" Tina said supportively, making the three smile.
Frisk nodded with a smile of her own, though privately she worried it'd cause them trouble depending on who asked for it to be made. They talked for a bit longer, then Frisk got a few CD bagels for them and the three said goodbye to their robotic friends before heading off.
...
"Noelle, your Sleep Mist is so cool!" Tina told Noelle happily as Noelle's Sleep Mist soothed two Werewires to sleep, allowing them to be freed.
"Thanks." Noelle said shyly, looking at her paws like she couldn't believe she had done that.
"Man, you're a really powerful mage, Noelle! And I bet Ralsei can teach you more magic when we meet him." Frisk told her.
Noelle smiled. "That sounds really cool!"
The good mood was killed however by the next car puzzle. It was much longer than the others with a short road of the red cars and a much longer road of the yellow cars, still with the five and nine second time lapse on the walk button, and Frisk, Noelle, and Tina had no idea where they were going and were sent back to the beginning countless times. If Tina hadn't been there, Frisk knew she'd be swearing up a storm. She hated traffic, and everyone here apparently drove like morons and didn't care if people were still in the street when the light changed.
And then Frisk realized they had been going the wrong way the whole time and needed to go north rather than south. Finally, finally they made to the other side, but this time it was Noelle's turn to face her nemesis.
Yet another Annoying Mouse Puzzle.
"Looks like another electric wall." Noelle groaned. She cautiously walked across the puzzle, examining the three sets of tiles with turn arrows spaced throughout. Frisk noticed each had their own set of controls. Noelle then cautiously checked the mouse hole at the end. "There's a switch in this hole, which means we're going to have to put something inside. And the "something" just HAS to be mice, doesn't it?"
"Sorry, Noelle. Let me see if I can get this figured out." Frisk told her apologetically.
"And I'll protect you from the mice!" Tina reassured her.
"Thanks again, guys." Noelle said, though she looked a little embarrassed.
"No problem." Frisk smiled. Noelle returned the smile and quickly moved back to the front of the puzzle and Tina went with her, standing in front of her protectively with tiny hands on her hips. Once they were in place, Frisk went to the controls and tried the puzzle, but then realized she was rather bad at it. Each section had to be perfectly placed or the mice would go somewhere she didn't want them to. First the mice ran past them into the path they had just come from, then they rushed at Noelle and Tina, making Noelle scream, and then they went under the laser.
"I'm so sorry!" Frisk apologized.
"I-It's okay! You can do it, Frisk!" Noelle told her. And Frisk did her best, though she sent the mice at Tina and Noelle much more than she wanted to, kept accidentally pulling the controller down instead of left or right and releasing the mice by mistake, and was half tempted to ask Noelle to freeze the whole damn thing(though she wouldn't because it might hurt the mice), but finally she managed to get the mice in the hole.
"Good job, Frisk!" Noelle praised her, then noticed something. "O-Oh, the forcefield's still up..." She went to the "In" hole and checked it. "D-Did we miss something? H-Hello?"
Frisk came over to look too, then noticed the switch on the other side of the force field. "Uh-oh, I don't think the mouse puzzle solves it at all, but I bet that switch would turn it off. Maybe if I can jump over the force field or go under it..."
"No, Frisk, you'll get hurt!" Tina told her.
"Tina's right, it's too dangerous." Noelle agreed. Her eyes then lit up. "I've got an idea." Getting close to the force field and lifting her arms over it, she cast IceShock, freezing the switch to the ground. The force field immediately disappeared.
"You did it! That was awesome, Noelle!" Frisk cheered.
"Yeah!" Tina agreed happily, giving Noelle a hug.
Noelle grinned. "Thanks, guys! Let's go!"
They passed through an alleyway full of old moldy cheese, trying their best not to step on it. But unfortunately, Frisk brushed against a piece, causing two Maus to rush at them, leading the girls to have to try to capture the agile creatures while mouse shaped bullets were shot at them. Frisk managed to trap one, and the confusing combination of Noelle's screaming and Tina being friendly to the mice baffled the other enough for it to run off. The girls sighed with relief afterward and left the alleyway, leaving cheesy carnage behind them.
...
And then they reached the next room, only to find a dead end, and yet another mouse puzzle. Noelle hurried down the stairs and stepped on the switch, with Tina following right behind her. "Hmm... the switch didn't seem to work?" Noelle said in confusion. Then there was an ominous rumble and the platform shook. Noelle screamed and grabbed onto Tina, who also had grabbed onto Noelle in her own terror. "Frisk! The platform's falling! Quick, help us!"
Frisk gasped and ran to the controls, frantically turning them, then letting the mice out. They hit Noelle, who screamed and jumped back, still holding onto Tina and bringing the little girl with her, landing on the next platform, right on top of the switch. "Frisk! What are you doing! You made me-" she yelled, then realized they were safely on the next platform. "H...Huh? S-sorry, Frisk, you just saved us. I didn't mean to yell."
And then the platform started rumbling yet again. "This platform's falling too! Frisk, whatever you just did, keep doing it!"
"I'm trying!" Frisk yelled and struggled with the controls again. And just as she most needed her concentration, Berdly showed up. "Ah, Frisk, stuck on this puzzle, I see. I thought I heard Noelle calling for help, but... I get what that sound was, Frisk. Your brain must be crying. Poor, sweet Noelle. Where could she be now. Stuck on a puzzle just like this one, no doubt. If only I was there to do it for her. She's but a powerless doe without my help."
"Powerless?!" Noelle gasped, then covered her mouth, not wanting Berdly to hear her.
"She's not powerless." Frisk growled as she fought with the controls. However, despite everything, the platform fell. Noelle could see Frisk's eyes widening in horror as she grabbed Tina, bracing herself for the fall, but then a wave of furry bodies caught them midair, lifting them onto the next platform. Noelle screamed and stumbled back onto the switch, then realized this had helped her progress in the puzzle.
"Though being alone might be better than being with you!" she then heard Berdly taunt Frisk. "Frisk, you would only get in the way! After all, you can't understand Noelle like I can. I am a maestro of emotional intelligence. I can read her feelings like a strategy guide. Which I have NEVER needed by the way." Tina's small fists clenched at this and she glared at Berdly, but before the little girl could say anything, the platform started to move again.
"It's gonna fall again!" the little girl cried out. The platform shaking under her, Noelle held onto Tina and looked at Frisk. Frisk, who was always so calm, always seemed so strong, so mature that Noelle nearly forgot she was six months younger than her, was completely rattled, fighting to do the puzzle and keep Noelle and Tina safe while Berdly kept making digs at her, then called Noelle a simpleton and a lovestruck girl that wore her heart on her sleeve. Frisk looked like she wanted to punch him, but also looked desperately frightened as she tried to figure out the puzzle.
"Berdly, for once in your life, be fucking quiet and let me solve this puzzle!" Frisk yelled desperately as she continued to work the controls, sending mice everywhere expect where she wanted them to go as Berdly rattled on right in her ear.
Noelle felt determination fill her soul. Frisk and Tina had been the ones to protect her this whole trip, so much like Dess used to. Now it was her turn to protect them.
"Hang onto me, Tina!" she told the little girl and Tina nodded and grabbed on. Noelle quickly used IceShock on the platform controls, freezing it in place, and used it once again to make an ice bridge across the platforms, careful not to hit the mice. She ran across, jumping on each switch along the way. Soon she had the puzzle solved, the words "ILOVEMOUSE," lighting up as it was finished.
"What." Berdly gasped as the bridge went up. Noelle watched from her spot as he glared at Frisk. "How did you... HOW DID YOU SOLVE THAT?" He smirked, sweat beading on his forehead and Noelle could tell that he was rattled, just like the time he had gotten a "B" on a test and was upset he hadn't gotten an A. "Even a broken clock is right once a day. And Frisk, if anyone asks... I solved the puzzle! It's not fair that YOU get the extra credit for a fluke! Get it!? Let NO ONE think otherwise! ESPECIALLY Susie! You KNOW she'd just... lord it over me!" Then he angrily stormed off.
Noelle shakily hurried off the puzzle with Tina. Frisk looked to them worriedly. "Are you guys okay?"
"We're fine." Noelle reassured her as little Tina hugged her sister.
Frisk looked down. "Sorry, guys. I kind of suck with time limits." she said softly. "Good thing you had that IceShock ability, or..."
"It's not your fault, Frisk! That puzzle's hard and Berdly deliberately tried to distract you." Noelle told her. "I can't believe how he's acting... And we weren't in any danger! The one time we did fall... those mice caught us." She smiled a bit as she realized this. The mice she had been so terrified of...maybe they weren't so bad. They had saved her and Tina. "Y'know, I don't think I'm afraid of mice any more. Actually, I think they might be kind of... cute."
Frisk smiled a little, though Noelle could tell she was still preoccupied by what happened. "That's good."
"Are YOU okay?" Noelle asked her.
"Yeah, I just... wish I had done a bit better. I shouldn't have let Berdly get under my skin." she admitted.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Berdly's one of my best friends, but when he gets to babbling about something, it's hard to concentrate on ANYTHING." Noelle said lightly, then sighed. "Though I don't know what's got into him lately. He never used to be like this." She looked down. She knew Berdly was protective of her, but he truly thought she was useless without him? She thought they were friends, was he really doing this for his own ego?
"It might just be how he's dealing with this place." Frisk told her. "He might just be acting extra egotistical because he's worried and scared and doesn't want anyone to know. During that crazy roller coaster fight, he DID seem pretty shaken up when I asked why he was supporting someone who had kidnapped you... So I'm pretty sure he does care, he just has the emotional intelligence of a potato. Granted, he never should have said any of that crap he said on the puzzle. You're really strong, Noelle. I think the only reason he said otherwise was because HE is the one that feels powerless."
Tina nodded. "Miss Brown said sometimes people act mean because they're the ones that feel afraid and want to prove they're tough or cool."
Noelle frowned worriedly. "Do you think Queen's blackmailing him or something?"
"I don't know, but she IS using him." Frisk told her. "We'll have to try to make him see this, and honestly, I think you'd be better at it than me. He doesn't trust me, but I know he trusts you."
Noelle nodded, determined. "You're right. Let's go."
...
The three made their way through an alleyway full of garbage cans and were ambushed by a Poppup and Maus. Frisk blocked the Poppup's ads as Noelle and Tina cooed over the Maus, immediately winning the friendship of both creatures.
But when they arrived in the next room, Berdly was already standing there, though facing the other way as if looking for someone. Noelle stepped up to him, taking a deep breath to soothe her nerves. "Berdly." she said calmly.
Berdly jumped and turned around. "Noelle!? What are you doing with Frisk!?"
"Traveling with her and Tina. They're my friends, just like you are." Noelle reminded him.
"You can't be FRIENDS with her! You're with Queen and I! That would be double trucies." Berdly protested.
"Berdly, I'm not with..." Noelle started, but Berdly cut her off.
"Worry not, my dearest Noelle! I know what you really want to say."
"You... You do?" Noelle asked in shock, hoping Berdly had finally seen the light.
"Going along with all this... You feel... forced, don't you." Berdly said softly. "It's why you're not with Queen right now."
Noelle smiled. Frisk had been right! Berdly did care about her, did understand her, and maybe the only reason he had said those things was because Queen had been watching. "Berdly... you get it?"
Berdly smiled. "Yes! I do!" But then he shattered Noelle's hopes with his next words. "Frisk and that crazy sister of hers are FORCING you to be on THEIR side!" He glared at Frisk and Tina. "Kidnappers! Frisk, our truce... is OVER!" He withdrew his halberd. "Noelle! This may hurt, but it's to help you!"
"W-Wait, just listen to me! They aren't..." Noelle started, but it was too late.
"I'm not going to let you control her!" Berdly yelled at Frisk before sending a wave of mini tornados at her, though was clearly trying not to hurt Tina. Frisk was hit hard, but stayed on her feet, glaring at Berdly.
"Um, Berdly, I'm glad you're trying to help me..." Noelle started, trying to calm things down and get him to listen, but he was being far too hardheaded.
"No need to thank me, dearest Noelle!" Berdly grinned and Noelle realized she had just accidentally complimented him instead of making him listen.
He then turned to Frisk. "So now that you solved that puzzle by dumb luck, you now think it's your chance to usurp me at my weakest... by taking my most precious thing? Noelle!" he growled.
He shot a bunch of his A+ paper bullets at them and all three girls dodged. "I'd NEVER hurt Noelle, Berdly! She's my friend too!" Frisk protested once Berdly paused his onslaught. "Noelle doesn't WANT to work for Queen! Just ask her yourself!"
"Yeah, Noelle tried to tell you that, but you weren't listening!" Tina told him.
"Frisk and Tina are right! I..." Noelle started, but once again was cut off.
"I know she's only saying that because you're forcing her!" Berdly yelled. "And you might think you can intimidate me, but guess what, Frisk! I have one or more things you will NEVER have!" He signalled and two Werewires obediently flew to his aid. "Behold, Comrades!"
The girls were forced to dodge once again as wind gusts, sparks and wires were shot at them. "That's right, Frisk! Unlike YOU, I have a LOVING TEAM behind me!" Berdly crowed.
"First of all, Queen mind controlled those poor guys, so they're not helping you of their own free will, you're using them! Second, don't insult my friends!" Frisk yelled, clenching her fists.
Noelle put a hand in front of Frisk as a silent calming signal, then stepped forward, taking a deep shaky breath. "I-I got this, Frisk," she told her friend and cast SleepMist, sending the Werewires out of battle.
Berdly looked around frantically. "My... my allies are gone?" he gasped, sounding vulnerable just for a second before shaking his head and standing tall again. "He! They're probably just... Helping Queen search for me!" He glared at Frisk. "S-Shut up, Frisk!"
"I didn't say anything." she pointed out.
"I don't care! I know what you were thinking!" he yelled and fired another wave of wind gusts and rain drop bullets at the girls. Noelle noticed his hands shaking once he finally stopped the attack.
"Berdly, calm down, no one's judging you. I just didn't want us to be attacked, so I cast SleepMist." Noelle told him. "Now listen, I..."
"Why are you doing this?! Turning Noelle against me?! Making her attack her friends?!" Berdly yelled at Frisk, not even acknowledging Noelle's words, and shot more tornados at them, whacking Noelle right in the face.
"Noelle!" Frisk gasped and hurried to check on her, giving her a CD Bagel. She then glared at Berdly. "First of all, that wasn't an attack, Noelle just put them to sleep! And I'm not MAKING Noelle do anything! She's perfectly capable of thinking and acting for herself! Why don't you listen to her! She's your friend! Don't you trust her?! Don't you respect her?!"
Berdly's hands shook. "I..." He then glared at her. "Of course I trust and respect Noelle! How could you say that?! But as her friend, it's also my duty to protect her when she can't protect herself!"
Noelle was angry and frustrated, and for the first time in a long time, let it show. "Then WHY are you hitting me?!"
"To protect you from yourself!" Berdly told her. "To break you out of this!"
"But I don't NEED your protection!" Noelle shouted at him. "I can take care of myself! I don't need YOU to do it for me!"
Berdly's eyes widened and he stumbled back. He looked small and vulnerable, the way he did when he pleaded with her for help because he couldn't understand a homework problem. "You-You don't need me?" he whispered.
"Berdly..." Noelle started, but Berdly turned and fled.
"Berdly, wait!" Noelle called fruitlessly after him. She clenched her fists and looked down. "I was too hard on him, wasn't I?"
Frisk placed her hand on her shoulder, her gaze understanding. "No you weren't. You didn't do anything wrong. You had to make him realize he didn't need to do what he was doing, that you could handle yourself and weren't in any danger. Look, we'll find him, okay? And you can tell him that while you don't need him to have to protect you all the time, you still want him as a friend."
Noelle nodded, taking a deep breath. "O-Okay. You're right. Let's go find him."
...
Frisk's thoughts were heavy as she hit the Save Point, then led Noelle and Tina down the alleyway and across a thankfully blocked off street. In a way, she understood Berdly more now. She knew what it was like to desperately want to prove yourself, to feel needed and wanted. And Noelle looked like she felt horribly guilty, despite that she had said exactly what she needed to, and the truth needed to be told. She hoped all this hadn't torn a rift between Noelle and her friend though.
But bigger problems soon intruded. "Noeeeeelle Honey Where Are You" Queen's voice called from the distance.
"Oh no, here she comes..." Noelle groaned and threw her box over her head.
Queen approached them, though her visor was focused ahead. "Noelle Come Home I Made You A Battery Acid Pie" she called, pulling a bright green pie from somewhere, then noticed Frisk and Tina. "Oh, Frisk Tina Perfect Timing" She moved like she was going to throw the pie, then changed her mind and put it in her inventory. "Have You Seen-"
And then Berdly's voice cut her off. "Oh My Luxurious Quuuueeeeen!"
Queen clutched her head, her expression horrified. "Oh My Circuits Get In The Car"
"Car? What ca..." Frisk started and then a black limousine pulled up, its tires screeching as it came to a stop in front of them. Queen grabbed the three of them and pulled them into the car, making them all cry out. Queen shushed them just as Berdly walked up.
"My Queen! Where are you! I've baked you a Gamer's Delight!" Berdly called, and Frisk looked through the window, noticing he too had baked a battery acid pie. His face looked sad and desperate to please, and her heart ached, memories flashing in her head of when she was younger and tried to work extra hard on her classwork and make nice meals for her parents, hoping it would make them like her and prove to them she was a good daughter. But it hadn't worked.
And Berdly looked just as sad as she had. "Hmm... she's not here..." he murmured, then ran off. She saw the way his shoulders slumped as he did.
Queen sighed in relief and let them get out of the car. "That Was Close"
"Yeah, you almost had someone who cared about you bring you a meal he worked his butt off on." Frisk said angrily.
"Frisk I'm Trying To Humor Him. But You've Dealt With Him. You Know He's Annoying" Queen told her before brushing off the subject. She moved closer to Noelle. "Who Is Your Friend? My Face Recognition Software Does Not Compute Them" She took a step closer and Frisk kept between her, Noelle, and Tina, prepared in case there was a fight, but Queen still didn't seem to recognize Noelle thankfully. "... And Yet Something About Them Seems" She grinned. "Cool. Robotic Even."
"Yeah, they're super cool!" Tina chirped, squeezing Noelle's hand and putting her own tiny little body between Noelle and Queen.
"I Can Tell. Now We Must Drive To Find Noelle" Queen told them. "Everyone Get In The Car."
Not really having any choice, Frisk glanced to Tina and Noelle, and they all got in the car, Noelle and Tina sitting in the back and Frisk up front with Queen.
Queen drove away from the crosswalk, then turned to Frisk. "Frisk Dear Why Don't You Drive For A While? Teenagers Love Driving"
"Queen, I can't drive! I'm fifteen; I don't even have my permit!" Frisk protested.
"Don't Worry As Your Noelle And Tina's Soon To Be Guardian And Adoptive Mother It's My Job To Teach You How To Drive" Queen told her.
Frisk glared at her. "Hey! We never agreed to..." Her eyes then widened as she looked ahead, seeing walking cars zooming right at them. "One way street!"
Queen leapt out of the driver's seat into the back with Noelle and Tina. The three girls screamed and Frisk quickly grabbed the wheel, managing to steer out of the way of an oncoming car. "First Lesson Frisk Don't Hit The Cars!" Queen instructed like it wasn't completely obvious that that was exactly what Frisk was trying to do.
"Trust me, I'm doing my best!" Frisk yelled as she managed to swerve out of the way of all the cars, holding the wheel in a white knuckled grip.
"So Much Traffic Isn't It Wonderful" Queen said happily after a moment. "Lightners Love Traffic They Look It Up All The Time" She sighed. "Poor Noelle She Would Love Hitting All These Cars."
"Umm, actually, I... she, um, might not, um..." Noelle said from the back before covering her mouth.
But Queen wasn't suspicious because she already had her attention on other things. "Stop Everything" she gasped, nearly making Frisk wreck the car. "Frisk Get The Banana"
"I'm a little busy here trying to not get us killed or kill anyone else!" Frisk said, but managed to suck up the banana into the car as she swerved to avoid another car. It landed in her lap somehow.
"Potassium" Queen said proudly. "Here Comes A Crossing Get Ready To Stop"
Frisk managed to find the brake and stopped at the crossing, noticing the northern road was jam-packed with cars. "Oh My Circuits It's a Traffic Jam" Queen gasped. "A Dog Must Have Wandered In The Road Again" She turned to Frisk. "Frisk Be A Dear And Go Press The Walk Button."
"Gladly." Frisk told her, just glad to get out of this crazy driving lesson.
Queen smiled. "It's Just Over On The Other Side Of The Road." Frisk looked over the traffic at the Walk button, realizing the only way to get to it would be going through some sketchy alleyway.
"Umm... I'll go, too." Noelle put in.
"Me too!" Tina said.
"No" Queen said firmly, making the girls tense. "You Must Stay..." She smiled. "Until You Hear All My Mixtape."
"O-okay..." Noelle breathed. "Frisk, hurry up, please..." she whispered so Queen couldn't hear.
Frisk glanced around, noticing cars were now behind them, blocking them in. They literally had no choice. Praying Queen wouldn't drive off with Noelle and her sister, she reluctantly stepped out of the car and headed down the alleyway. It was as dark and creepy as it looked from the outside, and as she walked past the dumpster, she felt like someone was watching her.
And it was proven true when the dumpster banged open and someone stuck their head out. It was some sort of puppet man in a suit, with a long nose, slicked back dark hair, white skin, and pink and yellow sunglasses. He grinned widely as some cheesy track played. "HEY EVERY ! IT'S ME!" he announced, his voice glitching wildly. "EV3RY BUDDY 'S FAVORITE [[Number 1 Rated Salesman1997]] SPAM..." His voice glitched again. "SPAMTON G. SPAMTON!" He laughed insanely at absolutely nothing, and then finally noticed Frisk, turning his insane grin her way. "WOAH! IF IT ISN'T A..." He jumped out of the dumpster and walked over to her. "LIGHT nER! HEY-HE Y HEY!"
Some strange tune that pretty much just repeated, "Now's your chance to be a big shot!" played as he posed dramatically. It was actually really catchy and pretty cool, but the way this guy wouldn't stop smiling and switching his stare between her and the sky was still really unnerving.
"LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE [[All Alone On A Late Night?]] Spamton said, making her even more nervous. "ALL YOUR FRIENDS, [[Abandoned you for the slime]] YOU ARE?" He then started shaking and looked down at the ground. "SALES GONE DOWN THE [[Drain]]? LIVING IN A GODDAMN GARBAGE CAN?" His glasses turned dark and he shook harder, and Frisk's fear turned to sympathy. And then he started laughing insanely and punched his dumpster, making her stumble back. He was having some sort of mental breakdown, it was obvious, and she had no clue what the hell she was supposed to do, or if he was dangerous.
"Do you want to talk? Do you need help?" she asked tentatively, hoping it was the right move.
"WELL HAVE I GOT A [Specil Deal]] FOR LONELY HEARTS LIKE YOU!" he said proudly, either not hearing or ignoring what she was saying. "IF YOU'VE [[Lost Control Of Your Life]], THEN YOU JUST GOTTA GRAB IT BY THE [Silly Strings]]! WHY BE THE [[Little Sponge]] WHO HATES ITS [$4.99]] LIFE WHEN YOU CAN BE A [[BIG SHOT!]] [[BIG SHOT!]] [[BIG SHOT!]] THAT'S RIGHT! NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A [[BIG SHOT]]! AND I HAVE JUST." He moved closer. "THE THING." He got even closer and Frisk fought to keep herself from backing up. "YOU NEED." A step even closer. "THAT'S..." His glasses then turned dark and he looked down. "[[Hyperlink Blocked]]."
Before Frisk could even answer, he threw himself back a safe distance, laughing insanely again. "YOU WANT IT. YOU WANT [Hyperlink Blocked]], DON'T YOU. WELL HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!" He looked to her. "ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW ME."
"Show you what?" she asked, her voice level.
"YOUR [[HeartShapedObject]]." he answered, fidgeting his fingers.
"Um, my soul? That's kind of personal..."
"YOU'RE LIGHT nER AREN'T YOU?" he asked. "YOU'VE GOT THE [[LIGHT.]] WHY DON'T YOU [[Show it off?]] He began laughing insanely again, but this time his head got bigger, then smaller again, freaking Frisk out as Spamton fell more into his insanity.
"Spamton, it's okay. Just calm down. Let's talk. Why don't we talk?" she pleaded, keeping her voice gentle and calm, trying to hide that she was absolutely terrified right now.
Spamton didn't seem to hear her. "HEY HEY HEY! I'VE NEVER SEEN A [[HeartShapedObject]] LIKE THAT BEFORE. MY EYES ARE [[Burning]] LIKE [[DVD's of ANY movie at Half-price!]] I HAVE A VERY SPECIL [Deal] FOR YOU KID!"
"Why don't you tell me more about it?" Frisk asked, wanting to calm him down.
It was the right call, as he beamed brightly. "THAT'S THE ATTITUDE YOU LITTLE [Slime!]!" He laughed. "DEALS LIKE THIS ONLY COME ONCE IN YOUR [[Ant-sized]] [[Rapidly-shrinking]] LIFE!" His head turned to a massive size. "Enl4rge yourself!"
Frisk leapt out of the way as he shot bullets shaped like words she didn't have time to read from his gaping maw. "Hey, let's not fight. Tell me more about this big deal you promised," she suggested when he stopped his attack, trying to smile.
"BELIEVE IT OR ! I USED TO BE A BIG SHOT. THE BIGGEST! BUT NOW... I NEED A LITTLE [[Genorisity]]." Spamton told her, looking at her expectantly.
"I'm sorry. Do you want to tell me what happened?" Frisk asked gently. She knew he probably wanted money, but she didn't trust him enough to let him know where her wallet was.
She feared he'd attack or try to rob her, but her response made him brighten all the more. "THAT'S RIGHT! AND I DON'T MEAN [[Money]]. I'M A SALESMAN . I WAS NEVER IN IT FOR THE MONEY! Transmit Kromer." With that, he shot dollar signs out his mouth at her, smacking her several times.
"Ow..." she groaned, rubbing her cheek, which had been cut in his attack. "Hey, please quit fighting me! Let's talk more. Tell me more about your job."
"I WAS ONLY EVER IN IT FOR... THE [[Freedom]." He looked down, glasses dark, then brightened again, though it felt false. "TO MAKE YOUR OWN [Deals]. TO CALL YOUR OWN [Shots]. AND SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING, A LITTLE..." He shook, and then his glasses went black again as he struggled with himself. "[Hyperlink Blocked.]" was all he could say. His glasses then went back to normal as he grinned widely. "SOUNDS GOOD. DOESN;T IT?KID? DON'T YOU WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOUR OLD PAL SPAMTON?" He laughed insanely again, though his eyes were desperate and pleading. "TAKE THE DE4L."
"All right." Frisk said gently.
Spamton grinned. 'NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABO4T! YOU GOT [Guts] KID! THAT's [[Discomfort And Abdominal Pain]] IN MY [[Guts]]! PLAY [[Big Games]] WIN [[Big Prizes]]!" He enlarged his head again, shooting bullets at her as his mouth acted like a vacuum, trying to pull her back towards him. Frisk cried out as the force made her hit the ground hard and a bullet struck her in the arm, leaving a burn. She quickly leapt back to her feet, holding her arm.
"Spamton, c'mon, let's talk some more, okay?" she pleaded when he stopped. "There's no need to attack me."
"DON'T WORRY, KID. I WILL GIVE YOU [Deal Insurance]]." he told her. "ONLY FOR THE LOW, LOW PRICE OF 1000 KROMER. AN AWESOME PRICE. ! AN ABSOLUTELY [[Terrifying]] PRICE. PRICES SO LOW, EVERYONE I KNOW IS [Dead]!" He laughed insanely again.
Frisk shook her head. Yeah, definitely not going to buy anything with THAT sales pitch. "Um, no thank you."
"WHAT!? YOU DOn'T HAVE ENOUGH [Wacky Stacks]!?" he asked, though seemed calmer. "Kid, you're [Killing] me! HAHAHA! HAHAHA!" He looked at her pleadingly. "PLEASE STOP [Killing] ME I WILL GIVE Y OU ANOTHER DEAL. GET BIG AND [Win Wild Prizes]."
His mouth opened wide again and tiny versions of himself flew out of it. If she hadn't been terrified and dodging for her life, she would have thought that was pretty cool. Thankfully, despite her injuries, she was able to dodge them all and wasn't hurt any further. "What is it?" she asked once he'd settled down again.
"DON'T WORRY KIDS I'M AN [HonestMan]" Spamton said. "I JUST NEED YOUR [Account Details] AND THE [Number on theB4ck]! THEN YOU CAN ENJOY 1000 fr3e KROmer."
"First of all, bold of you to assume I HAVE an account." Frisk said, rolling her eyes. "Second, no, even if I did, I know better than to give some stranger my account information."
"WHAT!? YOU DON'T NEED IT!?" Spamton asked in shock, though he also seemed happy as he let out a laugh. "THAT'S A REAL BIGSHOT MOVE, KID! YOU'RE LIKE ME..." He paused. "[Desperate]." He laughed again. "BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT, DON'T WE!? WILD PRIZES, HOTSINGLE, 100 CUSTOMER, AND MOST OF ALL..." He struggled to say what he was so desperately trying to, but his glasses went dark again and he lowered his head. "[Hyperlink Blocked]." He looked to her with a pleading expression, trying to keep up his smile, but shaking like a leaf. "WILL YOU TAKE THE FINAL DEAL!? REMEMBER... THIS IS UP TO YOU! I WON'T FORCE YOU."
"All right. Deal." Frisk said, hoping this would finally get her out of the battle.
Spamton grinned. "THEN A DEAL'S A DEAL! PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU KID!" He stepped back, giving her space. "NOW ONTO THE NEXT STEP... I'LL BE WAITING AT MY [Home-made Storefront Site]]. IN THE [[Trash Area Closed For Repairs.]] COME... ALONE. AND DON'T... FORGET! TO [[Like and Subscribe]]FOR MORE [[Hyperlink Blocked.]]" He laughed again and darted off.
Frisk sighed in relief, glad she had gotten away from that creepy guy. She felt sorry for him, something had obviously gone wrong enough for him to become homeless, lose all his friends, and have a mental breakdown, but there was no doubt he was dangerous to both himself and others, and she had the bruises to prove it. No way was she going to that shop, especially not alone. Though she WOULD tell Ralsei and Susie what was going on. Spamton needed to be watched out for, plus, Ralsei might be able to give him a home in Castletown. Maybe having an actual place to stay instead of a garbage can would help him.
But that was all she could do. She couldn't risk getting her friends hurt.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her shaking, and ate a CD bagel to heal her injuries, then headed up the alleyway. First, she needed to make sure Noelle and Tina were safe, then find Susie and Ralsei and get the fountain sealed before anything bad happened, then she could figure out what to do about the Spamton situation, if she should do anything at all.
One problem at a time.
...
Yeah, I know people are probably going to be upset me about the lack of Spamton Neo, but honestly, Frisk is a cautious person and Spamton comes across as both sketchy and dangerous. She wouldn't go to meet him alone and hide everything from her friends. While Kris is both possessed by the player, who isn't in any real danger and wants the cool fight, not to mention Kris likely is desperate enough to get free that they'd go to Spamton for help anyway, Frisk isn't either of those, and she tends to be rather wary of adults/strangers, so while she'd feel sympathetic, she'd also not trust him, at least not yet. She might end up meeting Spamton in a different way though.