"Let's go back there tomorrow, alright?"

Looking down at you with a soft, sweet and all-too-friendly smile, Susie held her hand on your left shoulder, comfortingly as her tone made your body wish to shake with excitement.

Today, after falling into the dark world and saving everyone…

You'd finally made not one, but two friends - Lancer too, arguably. Everyone in that world seemed nicer, compared to the surface at least. Why, even your 'controller' was nicer there, surprisingly.

Her words promised that this would not just be a one off adventure, smile promising adventures, continued friendship as your heart bounced in your chest. Outwardly, of course, you simply stared forward, long hair covering both eyes as usual.

Seconds later, her hand moved back, smile disappearing into that of her usual strong, 'bully' appearance. Once more slipping into the identity she was known as, though, you now knew there was more to her then most.

With a brisk, swift turn to the right, she began barging through the hallway as you noticed the numerous holes covering her cheap trousers - A longshot from the clean, hero-like wear of that in the Dark World. Turning to watch her leave, you felt an urge to wave goodbye, though as always, simply did not.

As she barged onwards, your eyes didn't catch the smile moving back onto her features moments after. Watching silently, she was gone before you could even say goodbye.

Looking back briefly at the cupboard that was 'bigger on the inside', you idly glanced across the corridor, staring at the checkerboard floors. After making sure there was nobody around to yell at you, it was a short walk down the hallway and towards the exiting door.

Noticing how Susie had already gone through, it wasn't hard to assume that she'd either broken it, or Alphys had left it open…Again.

Thinking about it for a few moments, mind withdrawing to thoughts of your brother as you chose to briskly daydream, you decided he'd be happy with your new friend…

Even if she would be someone ordinarily called 'bad news'.

Marching towards the exit door, hand moving to grab at the knob, the ringing from your phone brought you to immediately pause.

Assuming it was probably important, your hand reached into your pocket, idly pondering how much of a miracle it was that nobody had knocked or broken it during your adventures. It was merely a few buttons before the phone was answered, your mother's voice sounding oddly flustered, despite how this wasn't the first time you'd disappeared.

"K…Kris!?"

Patiently waiting, you chose your usual strategy for most 'uncomfortable' conversations. Silence combined with the occasional 'chime in' of something useful - It certainly helped lessons go faster, at least.

"Whatever have you been doing!? I sat in the car waiting for you after school for half an hour…!

"I called and called, but you never picked up…"

Bracing yourself, you already knew what was coming.

The inevitable. The absolute. The end.

"You had your poor mother worried sick!"

There it was.

Guilt.

As always, your mother went straight for the first blow, your mind internally imagining an image of her goat paws clutching the phone and sobbing her eyes out. Entire world, mind, soul, self, her existence annihilated from the mere thought of not knowing where Kris was for five seconds.

…The guilt disappeared shortly after, as annoyance instead took its place. Your first friend…Well, friends, but you knew nobody would believe your magical tales - And what was she doing?

Yelling at you! Again!

…Well it wasn't yelling, more speaking in 'the voice' - The eternal constant of 'I am going to punish you. Be prepared.'

Honestly, though, the guilt felt worse than that time you put a bath bomb in the toilet - It was simply a joke, a quip, a little bit of banter, a segment of trolling, something to tickle the funnybone on a regular basis. She'd probably ground you forever, this time, though every time she did, it'd barely lasted a couple days. Or even hours, usually.

"Kris, I am afraid I am going to have to punish you…"

At this point, you were quite fed up with her having a go at you, especially since she kept trying to 'help you' with making friends. Taking you to functions with people you didn't know, nor would see again - It was hard enough chatting to Asriel, he didn't want any more 'long distance relationships' making life endlessly difficult.

Thinking of it in your mind, you were already certain what to say, though getting the courage to speak it out loud was assuredly an impossibility. You'd always found it nigh impossible to speak against her, she had some sort of 'presence', as Asriel had joked about once. Why, it hadn't even been his idea to go to university originally - He just wanted to study some history on Monsters and magic.

'For being out with my friends, mother?'

…Oops. You'd said that out loud. You were already bracing yourself for a slightly raised tone, part of mum's assortment of cruel and unusual punishment. That of 'The Voice'...

Was it weird you referred to your mum as 'mum' mentally? Probably, though you'd never admit to calling her anything other than 'Mother'. She lost 'mum' privileges after Asriel and Dad left her, and by extension you. Long term, that is.

"...huh?"

"...A friend?

You weren't that surprised at her complete and utter shock, especially at her focusing on the friend part of your sentence. Though, it wouldn't surprising if it was close to how she'd react to it if it started raining oranges or if Asriel suddenly gave up university to bunk at home, or even Asgore suddenly revealing that he never actually liked Toriel and was instead a loud, proud lover of flowers.

Actually, that last one was probably already true.

"You were spending time with…A friend?"

"Yes."

Quiet and straight to the point, without any anger in your tone. Hopefully that would save you from the inevitability of her shock wearing off, though you weren't ever that lucky.

She always remembered.

"Kris…"

Speaking in an almost pleading tone of voice, as if trying to cheer someone up, she continued after a brief pause.

"I will make an exception this time."

It was like some sort of Christmas miracle, despite the endless repetition of the eternally similar, repeated 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. Deep down, you somehow knew despite it being relatively new, it would haunt your existence forever, at every Christmas.

Ultimately nothing bar a Christmas Miracle, or the infamous Kris Dreemurr getting friends, would dare cause the terrifying, fluffy goat mum from the…Ninth goat-mension to backtrack, or give up any ground in an argument.

Dads-gore had tried, only to be divorced - None truly beat the goat mother. Her record was a complete and total success against any and all opponents - None could be spared from her wrath.

Today, though, perhaps she had taken pity on a weak mortal like yourself.

"You can continue your adventures a little longer."

Of course she was too late, though you mumbled out a thanks regardless. Perhaps this would give some time to relax by the pool at least.

"But…"

Here comes the inevitable, you inwardly mumbled…

"You wouldn't want to disappoint your brother, would you?"

What.

He wasn't due for-

"what."

You gave out the only response that could pop into your mind. Asriel wasn't due until next week - He'd already promised he couldn't come any earlier…

Maybe he'd found a way?

Trust Asriel to somehow pleasantly surprise you - It was part of why you could never even muster up anger at him leaving. It always was at someone else, but never him. Asriel was the best older brother you could ask for and did not deserve your anger in the slightest. Ever.

"We'll see you soon, honey."

As if to mess with him further, she simply hung up right then and there. It was as if she knew her child somehow, as if she'd raised them after adoption, for so long that it'd led to the thought that horns would grow upon your head like the rest of your family.

Though, deep down, you still were waiting for those horns. As always, you knew disappointment was entirely inevitable when it came down to it.

Dropping any plans for anything else, you opened the school door and rushed outside, focused on returning home as quickly as possible.

You knew your brother would do the same, if your positions were reversed. Why, he'd probably have some supernatural sense of when you'd arrive. He seemed to always have amazing timing.

Regardless, shoes slamming against the pavement as you barrelled through the unlucky residents faster than Susie, your entire being was focused on one task.

Greeting your brother…

…Maybe even setting up a prank, too, if you were fast enough…