Chapter Text
--- arachnidsGrip [AG] began trolling lostAngel [LA] at 17:22 ---
AG: Hello Noelle ::::)
LA: Augh! Who are you and why do you know my name??
AG: Noelle, calm yourself!
AG: I'm here only for one reason.
AG: I know how to 8ring 8ack Decem8er.
LA: Wait, WHAT???
LA: How do you know her???
AG: P8tience, p8tience.
AG: I can't tell you the full det8ls now, 8ut it all involves one little game.
AG: It comes out in a week, and it's called S8ur8.
LA: Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok wait.
AG: I can't spend all time w8ing, Noelle!
AG: I've got irons in the fire, soooooooo many irons.
LA: Ok wait, I think I've heard of Sburb, it didn't really look like my cup of tea though :P
LA: Are you SURE it can?
AG: Yes, it can!
LA: How?
AG: At some point in the game, you will encounter the Kernelsprite.
AG: The Kernelsprite must be "prototyped" 8y throwing an o8ject into it.
AG: You must prototype it with your sister's guitar.
LA: Wait, WHAT???
LA: I can't just do that!
LA: How on earth do you expect me to break into the graveyard, dig up her guitar and then throw it into there!
LA: This is just impossible! I'm done entertaining you!
AG: Very well, do as you wish, Noelle.
AG: 8ut do know that I'll 8e keeping my eyes on you ::::)
LA: Wow, not creepy at all!
LA: I swear, if this is just Kris playing another prank on me...!
--- lostAngel [LA] blocked arachnidsGrip [AG] ---
--- lostAngel [LA] began pestering arraignedMelody [AM] at 17:30
LA: Kris, were you just playing another one of your pranks on me?
AM: what no
AM: i have no idea what you're talking about
LA: Oh, sure you don't!
AM: no like genuinely what
AM: what just happened
LA: Oh, wait you really don't know?
LA: There was this person, arachnidsGrip or something.
LA: They spoke super weirdly with a bunch of 8's, and told me that they knew how to bring back December.
AM: oh
AM: well that's a scam
LA: Yeah...
LA: Well uh, see you Kris!
--- lostAngel [LA] ceased pestering arraignedMelody at 17:34
Well if that wasn't the most awkward conversation you had ever had in your entire life, you didn't know what. Your name is Noelle Holiday and you are currently sat in your chair, dumbstruck. You remember the countless hours spent in December's room, staring at all of the memories you never got to have. You weren't allowed to be in there, but sometimes, you'd go in there when your mother wasn't home to relive those halcyon days. The scary movies you were too young to watch, but she promised you'd watch together when you were-
Your thought process is interrupted by a stray tear falling from your eye. You instantly attempt to purge all memories of December from your mind. There was no use in crying over her, your mother said. Instead, you had to live on and do everything you could to make her proud. Whenever you looked at the medals in your room, you always remembered December's smile whenever you'd do well against Azzy and Kris in ice hockey. You begin to imagine how what she'd say if she saw everything that you had gone on to accomplish without her, but are interrupted by a torrent of tears. You decide to simply let them flow.
> Be Kris
You are now Kris Dreemurr. You are sat alone on your bed. An uncertain amount of time has passed in-between your conversation with Noelle. You look up at the ceiling, staring blankly. Tomorrow marks the return of your brother, Asriel, from college. You had been preparing immensely for it, and by that you mean you had been downloading a lot of Dragon Blazers rom hacks for him to play while you watched. You begin to think about what you'll do with him, when suddenly you are interrupted by a notification on Pesterchum
> Kris: Get trolled by GC
--- gallowsCalibrator [GC] began trolling arraignedMelody [AM] at 17:51 ---
GC: H3H3H3H3H3H3
AM: m/f; m/h
GC: UH WH4T
AM: male or female; monster or human
GC: 1M F3M4L3 4ND 4 TROLL >:]
AM: ofc you're a troll
AM: that's obvious
AM: anyways i'm male and a human
GC: WHY 4R3 YOU 4SK1NG 4NYW4YS
AM: to see if you're dtf
GC: HUH >:?
AM: dtf
AM: it means down to fuck
AM: i swear people who use dating apps like these are always the stupidest
GC: ??????
GC: SO YOUR3 TH3 KN1GHT??
GC: S3R1OUSLY
AM: idk am i
AM: why does that matter are you dtf yes or no
GC: NO!!
AM: oh ok
AM: bye then
--- arraignedMelody [AM] is now an idle chum! ---
GC: HUH
--- gallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased trolling arraignedMelody [AM] at 18:02 ---
Larping as a weird horny man whenever a stranger contacted you via Pesterchun is one of your side-hobbies
> Kris: Browse desktop
You begin to browse your desktop out of sheer boredom. You remember that mod Asirel was making for Dragon Blazers, adding a bunch of new abilities. You remember only ever using the one that could stop time, mostly because the others were all extremely broken and overpowered. You begin to dig through the files to see if you can find the code that lets you stop time. However, your mother begins to call you down for dinner.
> Kris: Be somebody else
That scene would have been really boring to watch anyways.
Your name is now Susie. You've just woken up from a deep slumber. Your room is as empty as it always is, only your beaten bed, the chair which you usually drape your blanket over, and that poster of that one film you watched that you thought kicked ass. You always loved movies where there was a monster and it got to fuck shit up. You were always secretly disappointed that the monster had to be killed at the end, but really, where else could the story even go? If there's a giant monster killing thousands, the only course of action is to kill it.
You begin to sit up, in somewhat of a daze, no doubt strengthened by the dizzying effect of changing your name 3 times in rapid succession.
> Susie: Scroll Youtube
You begin to scroll on Youtube and try to find some random video of a guy who got bitten by some bug whose name you don't know or care about. Fuck yes, all the juicy, gory details! This is exactly what you wanted.
> Susie: Get interrupted by DP
--- darkPrince [DP] began pestering apocalypseKaiju [AK] 21:22 ---
DP: Have you been talking to Noelle yet?
AK: No why would i
AK: The only time we talked she gave me a pencil
DP: Oh :(
DP: I thought you two would have become better friends sooner
DP: Because I think I finally know what the game is :3
AK: Oh here we fucking go
DP: Do you know of Sburb?
AK: Oh yeah that new game for PC
AK: And this right here proves that its bullshit
DP: Erm, how, exactly?
AK: I don't own a fucking PC how do I play it
DP: I don't know, really. I'm not given that much information, but rest assured, you are still the most important player on the team :3
AK: Quit the bullshit please
AK: I don't even know why I still put up with you
--- apocalypseKaiju [AK] is now an idle chum! ---
DP: Oh
--- darkPrince [DP] ceased pestering apocalypseKaiju [AK] at 21:26 ---
> Susie: Continue scrolling Youtube
You begin to go back to what actually mattered in life, that being, this guy's weird and gory story, the details of which have been graciously omitted.
> Susie: Get interrupted by hunger
Oh, fucking seriously?
Ok, you guess you're hungry, but there's nothing really edible in your room right now. There's that bowl of milk alongside the alleyway near where you live, but you aren't very thirsty right now either.
> Susie: Get interrupted by GC
Ok, is this really it? Your interruption gets interrupted by another interruption. Ok. Sure. Fine.
--- gallowsCalibrator [GC] began trolling apocalypseKaiju [AK] at 21:29 ---
GC: DO YOU KNOW KR1S?
AK: Kinda why
AK: Also who the fuck are you
GC: C4N YOU T3LL H1M TO STOP B31NG HORNY 3ND T4K3 TH1NGS S3R1OUSLY?
AK: Ok first of all
AK: Chill out with the leetspeak I can't read shit
AK: Secondly isn't Kris nonbinary
GC: W41T WH4T
GC: TH3Y TOLD M3 TH3Y W3R3 4 M4N >:?
AK: Ok seriously stop it with the leetspeak I can't fucking read it
GC: OK FINE
GC: IS THIS BETTER?
AK: Yes
AK: Anyways what we're you asking
GC: THEY SAID THEY WERE A MAN BUT NOW THEYRE NON-BINARY?
AK: Oh they we're probably just fucking with you
GC: >:?
GC: HAVE I BEEN OUT-TROLLED?
AK: I'm laughing my ass off right now
AK: Wait they we're acting horny that's increadible
AK: Gotta give props to them they did well
--- gallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased trolling apocalypseKaiju [AK] at 21:36 ---
AK: Oh ok bye then
> Susie: Laugh your ass off
This was the funniest shit you've ever seen. Too bad you never really knew who GC was.
> Noelle: Stop crying
You ran out of tears to cry several hours ago.
> Noelle: Check Pesterchum
It looks like somebody is messaging you there
--- darkPrince [DP] began pestering lostAngel [LA] at 19:04 ---
DP: Hello, do not be alarmed
DP: I know it is unusual for strangers to contact others via Pesterchum, but I needed to talk to you
DP: What I say may sound strange, but I am here to be your friend as well :3
LA: This isn't about that game, Sbueb, is it?
DP: How did you know? :O
LA: Ughhhh, it's just AG and their posse!
LA: That or you're on of AG's alts.
DP: Who is AG?
LA: Nope nope nope!
--- lostAngel [LA] is now an idle chum! ---
DP: Hm...
--- darkPrince [DP] ceased pestering lostAngel at 19:08
> Noelle: Wander about house
You get up off of your computer. You've had enough of talking to random people on the internet for now. You get up and begin wandering around the house aimlessly. You enjoy getting to stretch your legs. You remember that your mother had left you some food in the kitchen, as she was going to get home from work later than usual.
> Noelle: Prepare meal
You prepare some spaghetti bolognese in a timely fashion. You notice your mother's katana hanging on the wall. You remember being constantly scared of it as a little kid, even though you knew your mother would never use it on you. You begin to eat your meal when suddenly
> Noelle: Fall asleep
You suddenly fall asleep while eating! Huh? You begin to wake up, in a bed? You're dressed in golden attire and the room looks suspiciously similar to your own. You look up and notice somebody... who looks like Asriel?
> Noelle: Ask Asriel(?) what's going on
You're left too speechless to ask him what's going on. Thankfully, he begins to talk to you
RALSEI: Hello, Noelle! Welcome to Prospit!
RALSEI: I know you probably have a lot of questions right now, and I think I can answer some of them for you! :3
NOELLE: Wait... Are you Asriel?
RALSEI: No, my name is Ralsei!
NOELLE: Oh, uh, ok!
NOELLE: So... Ralsei, you said this was uh... Prospit, where is this?
RALSEI: I'm not entirely sure
RALSEI: It seems to be some sort of land that you visit when you dream
RALSEI: I have personally dreamed here for all my life!
NOELLE: Wait, dreaming, so I'm asleep?
RALSEI: Yes
NOELLE: Wait, but my mother is going to come home soon, and I was just eating too!
NOELLE: How am I going to explain this to her?
RALSEI: Oh. Um
RALSEI: Well, if you try to fall asleep on Prospit, your brain tends to realize what's up and brings you back to the waking world
NOELLE: Alright then, yeah I should probably get back soon.
RALSEI: Ok! Do know that my chumhandle on Pesterchum is darkPrince if you ever need to get in contact with me!
NOELLE: Oh, wait...
NOELLE: You... ok wait.
NOELLE: Huh?
RALSEI: Shouldn't you be going now for your own good?
NOELLE: Oh gosh, yeah, I'll send you a message later, um, Ralsei!
> Noelle: Return to waking world
You didn't even have to try as you were woken up by your front door opening and your mother calling your name. You open your eyes to find your face covered in sauce. Great.
> Noelle: Quickly wipe face off and greet mother
You curse your lack of foresight and grab some kitchen paper from the counter and quickly clean off your face as your mother enters the kitchen.
NOELLE: Hi mom!
CAROL: Noelle, what is this?
NOELLE: Oh, um, I was just eating my dinner!
Your mother could be scary when she was mad (and not the good kind of scary either), but it was clear that she wasn't mad right now
CAROL: Noelle, it's late. You know you shouldn't be eating dinner at a time like this.
NOELLE: I know, I'm sorry, I just lost track of the time!
CAROL: It's alright, just keep this in mind for the future.
You decide to not tell your mother about the strange dream you had and quickly finish eating
> Noelle: Write blogpost about this mess
You decide to try writing a blogpost about whatever just happened. You omit the details of December, however. Your mind keeps wandering back to that strange dream that you had, though. You felt so lucid during it, even more lucid than when you tried to lucid dream when you were younger. The thought of messaging Catti about what has happened briefly crosses your mind, but you discard it. With any luck, she'll see your blogpost and message you about it, thus avoiding having to seek her out in the first place.
Gosh, where does the time go!? It's almost 22:30, you need to get to sleep soon! You quickly finish writing up your blogpost and go into bed.
> Kris: Check blogs for new updates
After eating dinner, you decide to kill some time by checking a bunch of blogs you follow. Only one had updated. It was Noelle's blog... you weren't even sure why you were still following it, it had been months since you and Noelle had an honest conversation where you socialized together not out of pity or necessity. Still, curiosity gets the better of you. She seemed to have posted about whatever she messaged you about, which was odd. She mentioned AG, but also another person named DP? You had no idea what any of this was, but it didn't matter, as a new notification on Pesterchum came through
> Kris: Get trolled by CG
--- carcinoGeneticist [CG] began trolling arraignedMelody [AM] at 21:06 ---
CG: OK SO PLEASE TRY TO LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY I KNOW YOU'RE A STUBBORN LITTLE SHIT WHO IS AS INCORRIGIBLE AS A HEAP OF ROCKS BUT PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING GOD JUST LISTEN
AM: m/f; m/h
CG: YOU SEE, LIKE THAT SHIT. I ALREADY HEARD ABOUT YOUR FUCKING ROLEPLAYING BULLSHIT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FUCKING CONTINUE
AM: that doesn't answer the question
CG: NO FUCKING SHIT
CG: I'M NOT ANSWERING YOUR STUPID FUCKING QUESTIONS, WE BOTH KNOW YOU AREN'T HERE TO DATE PEOPLE
AM: you don't know that
AM: maybe i'm here for my friends but also to have a good time ;)
CG: SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU STUPID FUCKING PILE OF HOOFBEAST EXCREMENT
AM: ok so if you're a stranger messaging other strangers on pesterchum why are you doing it if not to fuck?
CG: OH. MY FUCKING. GOD. I TOLD YOU. TO FUCKING. LISTEN. AND YET. YOU CAN'T EVEN DO THAT!!! ALL YOU FUCKING DO IS KEEP ASKING MEANINGLESS QUESTIONS.
AM: you're kind of a shitty troll tbh
CG: THAT'S ENOUGH FROM YOU. FUCK YOU.
CG: I'M JUST TELLING YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ONE BATCH SO I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR SMARMY FUCKING REPLIES
AM: ok
--- arraignedMelody [AM] is now an idle chum! ---
CG: OK. SO YOU READ NOELLE'S BLOGPOST. YOU AND SHE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY SBURB TOGETHER. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THE GAME FOR A BIT NOW, SO YOU ALREADY KNOW THE DEAL WITH THE SERVER AND CLIENT PLAYERS. NOELLE IS GOING TO BE YOUR SERVER PLAYER, AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE CLIENT PLAYER. YOU KNOW WHAT FUCK WHATEVER I'LL TELL YOU MORE LATER ON
--- carcinoGeneticist [CG] ceased trolling arraignedMelody [AM] at 21:19 ---
That was 11 minutes well spent.
> Kris: Get messaged by Asriel
programmedDoomsday [PD] began pestering arraignedMelody [AM] at 21:10
PD: Heya Kris!
PD: Just texting to let you know that I'm excited to get to be with you tomorrow!
PD: Also I know things haven't been exactly great between our parents but I managed to make a contingency plan.
PD: Mom gave me permission to leave with you if things ever got too heated and then go to the Holidays' house instead to chillax 8)
AM: ok cool
That might be awkward talking to Noelle, but where else were you able to go?
AM: i'm excited to see you too i've missed you
You say you left behind emotions 2 years ago. You can't tell if you're lying or not
PD: I've missed you too!
PD: See you tomorrow 8D
AM: see you
As your heart begins to pound and you shift around in bed, restless for the entire night, you begin to think that maybe you've been lying to yourself. The world would finally go back to normal and would give you back that sweet joy, even if just for a fleeting moment.