01 ☂ Video

[restinglichface]

[For someone from a place of slightly more primitive technology, Lup seems to get a handle on her handheld device quickly enough, the elf framing her face perfectly in the screen, mouth curled to the side in a sharp grin. She looks totally in her element, confident and poised despite knowing nothing of this place or of the people who run it.

The one thing she does know is she needs out of here. Pronto.

For those unfortunate residents of Wonderland who know Taako, they may mistake this woman for him considering they share the same identical faces and long, elven ears. Her voice is a little different, naturally, but hey, elves get sick sometimes too, right?]

Now, I don't want to crush your game, but I'm gonna need the name of the nerd who runs this place, because I'm a busy woman who has exactly zero time for this bullshit. I can't fault you for wanting some of the good, ol' Lup brand to sparkle up this place, but it just isn't going to work.

It's not me, it's deffo all you.

And hey-- [She holds up free hand in front of the camera, which certainly looks to be on fire.] If you don't want to come out and face me yourself, I'll just start burning it down. I have a feeling that garden out front is gonna make for a pretty choice blaze. And I've got spell slots to burn, baby.

Your move. [And okay, that ending is slightly marred by the fact she struggles to figure out how to disconnect the call, but still!]

Comments

[determinedest]

Good. 'Cause you always can.

[Call for help, and someone will come. If they can. They add in a stage whisper, an almost confidential undertone complete with a hand upraised to dramatically shield the lower half of their face from the empty side of the room:] I have a shield.

[restinglichface]

[Lup lowers her voice, just to play along, though there's a definite touch of real interest in her tone. Shields have never been her thing, but Lucretia had always been able to make them work. Until...well, that's messy, no need to get into that.]

What kinda shield? You've got my attention.

[determinedest]

This kind.

[They withdraw the metal bar from their pocket, where they always keep it now. It's not so remarkable, at first, but with the gentle depression of some button on the length of it, a round disc of energy blazes to life in a corona of gold.]

[Shepard gave it to them.]

[restinglichface]

That's pretty choice, hun. [Space mom is best mom, apparently.]

It'll probs keep you safe from a lot of the shit that goes on here.

[determinedest]

Sometimes.

[They shut it off almost at once. It never pays to drain the power without much point to it. You can never know when something might creep up on you.]

Do you have anything to keep you safe?

[restinglichface]

Hella magic. [to prove her point, Lup summons fire back to her palm, just so the kid doesn't think to start worrying about her or anything.]

I'll be fine. Done this dance a million times before.

[determinedest]

[She can do magic.]

[The effect on them is immediate and - confusing. A small intake of breath that isn't startled so much as it is elated, crinkling the edges of their mouth, lifting those heavy lids to allow for a shine of dark maroon for a flicker of a moment.]

[And simultaneously, a flinch that wavers their shoulders and has them cringing back. As though struck. As though afraid.]
[And above all - envy.]
[It was one thing to see her holding it to start with. It's another to see her summon it. Like a Boss Monster.]

You're not human.

[restinglichface]

[It's a real rollercoaster of emotions playing along the kid's face, through their body language. Lup's fire stays burning in her hand, but the woman tips her head, watching Frisk curiously. Even through all of the different worlds she's encountered over the last century, has Lup ever got a reaction as peculiar as this one? She doesn't seem to recall it.

Then comes a question so obvious it startles Lup into a bark of a laugh.] Natch. I'm an elf. Didn't the gorgeous ears give it away? [She's happy to turn her head a little, to show off the length of them over the feed.]

[determinedest]

[An elf. Like from Dipper's game. They really do...]

[Well. Of course they exist. They would. It's Wonderland, and just about anything is possible.]

Sorry. The fire, it just - reminded me of someone. [Someone still here. Several someones, in fact. All of whom are distinctly nonhuman and distinctly complicated, particularly in regards to the innocuous child sitting here, trying to smile wider than they have it in them.]

[restinglichface]

[Even better than that silly game, if you were to ask Lup.]

Someone cool?

[determinedest]

[Immediately, they form a pair of winning fingerguns and arrange their features into the utmost of smoldering blue steel looks]

Someone hot.

[restinglichface]

[Well. Frisk is now Lup's favorite person in this awful place, so take that trophy. The elf laughs, delighted, and Wonderland is still terrible, but at least some of the weight on her skinny shoulders seems a little lighter. It doesn't erase her broken heart over her brother, but it helps.]

Nice. Don't know if I ever got your name, kid. I'm Lup, obvs. You're not so bad.

[determinedest]

...

[It shouldn’t feel so strange and wonderful to have your name asked. It shouldn’t at all, but they sit up a little straighter and there’s something a little like - relief when they say it.]

Frisk.

My name is Frisk.

[restinglichface]

[The reaction is noted, even if Lup doesn't completely get it. Seems like a pretty normal exchange to have on her end.]

Frisk, [she repeats, still grinning.] Cute name.

[determinedest]

Not as cool as Lup. [Said with the matter-of-fact ease of someone who undoubtedly and wholeheartedly believes it.]

[restinglichface]

Suck up. [shhh she likes it.]

[determinedest]

[That prompts a grin, brief and earnest and slightly self-assured, a proud flash of teeth. It's gone the next moment, but it certainly was there.]

Don't burn down anything. Okay?

[restinglichface]

[It's nice. Lup's experience in Wonderland hasn't been very long or pleasant, but it's nice to know she's not completely invisible. She shoots a grin back, wide and curling to the right.]

Only if you say please.

[determinedest]

Pretty please.

[Look at that; they've done her one better. Complete with a solemn lift of their chin, wholly deadpan.]

[restinglichface]

[She laughs in response, amused.]

Alright, you twisted my arm. No more arson.

[determinedest]

Thank you.

[The lifting of the corners of their mouth and the earnestness of the pronouncement may seem...out of place. But the answer is genuine.]

It's not so bad here.

[restinglichface]

[Even if it isn't, Lup knows she can't stay.]

I'm sure you're not too far off. I'll chat at you later tho, kid.

[determinedest]

Okay.

[That's...they can wait for that.]

[They'll talk to her later.]