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[aspearation]

[ Wherever Undyne is, there's a good view of the lake. She's had her ups and downs lately, but at the moment, she's looking very up, with a grin of excessively sharp and almost shark-like teeth. ]

So ALASTAIR doesn't want to lead us. Or help us out on missions. Or do anything even a little bit helpful for us! Maybe if they did, people wouldn't end up dead.

[ There's an I told you so in there somewhere, though she's probably not alone. After talking to Uruz and some of the other more tenured ALASTAIR employees, it seems like they're on their own to keep things together from now on. Those evaluations stung her hard, because she knows she can be part of something better. But this isn't the Underground, and King Asgore's not here to call the shots. And if ALASTAIR won't do it either, then who will? ]

So that means we have to help ourselves. We're gonna have to find a better way of making decisions as a unit. If everyone just does whatever they want, then we're going to keep getting a 6 out of 10! I want 10 out of 10 next time, or maybe even 11 out of 10!

If we work together, we can make it happen and get perfect marks. So, let's hear it! I know there are some other leader types out there. Wasn't someone else asking about that before?! But I already know how I'd do it, but I wanna know how you would do it!

[ Well. It's worthy a try, anyway. If nothing else, Papyrus will probably be proud of her... ]

Comments

[babbylon]

Ah, a soldier. Of course you would think that way. It's that sort of single-mindedness that allows you to perform well on the battlefield.

[It seems like a compliment on the surface, but really it's just another way of saying I'm better than you. At least she's focused, which is more than he can argue for some others he's met here. Certainly an unusual specimen, as well, and that always catches his interest. What could she do with those teeth, he wonders...

Still, it's just a whole lot of mindless noise to him.]

I will do as my Master wishes. Beyond that, I see no point in guiding what amounts to a horde of lemmings.

[aspearation]

I didn't say I was a soldier.

[ What a weirdo. If he's trying to imply anything, it goes right over her head, in favor of assuming he's just not listening, and not actually intending to participate in the discussion. If he just came here to showboat, she's having none of that. ]

If you're looking for me to try and convince you or prove myself to you, I don't have to! I don't care about anyone who isn't interested in helping.

[babbylon]

But I am helping.

[Kind of. Sort of. Look, he's in the middle of his wine time, he's not going to make the sky fall to properly awe into her submission. Though he certainly could. The wave of his hand is unseen but it's practically implied in his dismissive tone anyway.]

Why take it so seriously? Are you that invested in a higher score? For what reason?

[aspearation]

No you're not!

[ She's not even invested in answering his question, because she doesn't have anything more to say on the matter-- she thinks she's made her motivations clear enough. ]

Did your Master tell you to come give me a hard time? Why are you so invested in why I'm so invested? [ A pause, before she concedes, ] We can do better, but not if we're a disorganized mess!

[babbylon]

Because I am interested in those with interesting motivations.

[In other words, yes, definitely showboating. But showboating with purpose.]

[aspearation]

My motivation is doing the right thing, even if we're here against our will. It's making sure nobody has to die when it's not even necessary, and even when it is.

[ There's another moment of hesitation, like she's trying to puzzle the words out, then finally comes out with it. It's hard to make heroic speeches when you haven't had a chance to practice them. ]

It's making sure that whatever I do here, my friends would be proud of it. That our king would be proud of it. So I don't care what you think of who or what I am, or if trying is pointless. Trying is the point! And I'm not going to stop for you or anyone else.

[babbylon]

[This appears to have flipped a certain switch with Gilgamesh. At the very least, he's stopped seeming so breezy about it.]

So you follow a King?

[aspearation]

[ ...what's with that weird shift? She doesn't trust it. ]

Yeah. King Asgore, like I said. What about him?

[babbylon]

What is he like?

[aspearation]

He's kind, and fair, but strong, too. He cares about all monsters. All of them. You could talk to him about anything, but still respect him as a leader.

[ Despite her wariness, there's still a measure of affection in her explanation that speaks to more than just that of a loyal subject. ]

[babbylon]

[It does not go unnoticed. Gilgamesh smiles a little behind the feed.]

Well, that certainly seems like a better reason than just because. I wonder if I might meet him someday, this king of yours.

[aspearation]

Yeah? Who knows, maybe if you're lucky, you will.

[ She's not really sure if she'd like that or not... as much as she'd like having him around, she's not sure how much he'd like being around. Maybe it's for the best that they have no control over it. ]

He'd probably make some sense of this place, anyway.

[babbylon]

[Huffing.]

There's no sense to be made of the nonsensical. Only resignation to the everlasting truth among worlds.

[aspearation]

You're nonsensical! So I guess I should just stop trying to make sense of you!

[ That was supposed to be an insult. ]

[babbylon]

You're right. You should.

[And yet it totally deflates when the other person agrees with you. Almost as if it were done on purpose.]

[aspearation]

Alright then, I will!

[ And yet she's still replying. ]