Dance, Dance, REVOLUTION

[determinate]

Who: Frisk and OPEN
What: Come bother Frisk at work!
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: Pizza Planet

[A]

Pizza Planet is a big, kid-themed pizza chain, popular for birthday parties. The Vista City location where Frisk works is attached to the mall, and as such is particularly large and extravagant. There's singing animatronics, sure, but the main attraction is the games.

Frisk's job, today, is to restock all the machines with tickets. They're pretty small for a worker. If not for their employee uniform, complete with a little hat, they could easily blend in with the children shouting joyfully and running from game to game. But for the most part they ignore them, focusing on their work. As fun as that would be, making good friends with any kids from here would cause too many problems. They're not sure they could contain themself, if the topic of music ever came up...

They go quietly from machine to machine, opening up a panel on each with a key and loading in a new roll of tickets. Out on the game floor like this, it's not unusual to get approached by customers.

Honestly, it's not entirely unusual for Frisk to just hand some kids a few tickets here and there either. It's against the rules, but it's not like anyone notices. And it makes people so happy!

[B]

They get a break for lunch, but Frisk doesn't really need the full time. They're used to scarfing down their meals fast, and it's a habit that's never fully faded. So they can be found in their street clothes for part of the afternoon, playing Dance Dance Revolution alone in the corner.

As it happens, they are utterly killing it.

The easier songs have long since ceased to be fun, so now they're working their way down from the hardest options. Some kids stop to watch from time to time, but they're largely heedless of any silent onlookers. Their mind is elsewhere.

Comments

A

[exhumerus]

And then, at some point, Sans will suddenly be there.

Maybe Frisk backs into him, or turns a corner, but his appearance is very immediate. It's hard to dress down for the purposes of blending in when you already act like at total schlub, but as it turns out, he manages to pull off looking like he's from a street gang pretty easily. He might have borrowed some of Greg's clothes without asking. The opposite side of the grunge look from which he is accustomed, but it will do.

The important thing is that he doesn't look like Sans Esqueleto right now. Right now he will settle for 'world's smallest thug.'

Which does sort of make one wonder why he's cornering a five year old in a Pizza Planet, but whatever it'll do. He pulls down his shades to look them over.

"Hey."

[determinate]

Frisk did not expect to run into anybody when they turned that corner, but their reaction is immediate; they practically shoot back a few paces before they can even blink, crouched a little as if anticipating the need to jump.

But it only takes a second to recognize that they're not going to get attacked in Pizza Planet, and besides that, it's Sans. They relax and straighten, smiling at him and shifting their grip on the ticket rolls to wave. What a nice surprise! Even though they told him where to find them, they didn't really expect to see him as soon as this.

...unless, of course, something's wrong? They dart a glance over his shoulder for anyone like the security men from the concert.

[exhumerus]

There doesn't seem to be any security, which is a huge change in pace - it wouldn't have been possible, had Sans left the HQ by normal means. Every time he uses his teleportation ability, he feels like he's cutting the strand of a rope. There's no way to know for certain when it'll snap, so the less often he does things like this, the better.

This has to be worth it, though. At least he hopes.

As least Frisk's positive reaction means he probably won't get nabbed for an attempted kidnapping. He hadn't actually remembered that Pizza Planet was a kids place, which makes this whole thing a bit more awkward. He manages to relax into the situation, though, grinning easily and putting out a hand to shake, his shoulders and posture relaxed.

"Been a while, kiddo. Boss treating you alright?"

Playing it cool.

[determinate]

Frisk's brow creases a little at the lack of security, but they do relax more. However he got rid of them, it's for the best. They just hope he doesn't get into trouble later...

They put the ticket rolls down on the floor and take his hand, nodding. "Yeah. They're nice." Nice enough that they aren't too worried about anyone noticing that they're chatting on work time instead of doing their job. Frankly, this place is eternally chaotic. No one has the time or energy to follow up on what Frisk is doing.

Anyway, this is far more important; they only got the job so they could be here for Sans. "You?" they ask quietly.

[exhumerus]

It's the natural flow of conversation, but how ridiculous that question feels doesn't quite strike him until it's already out there. There is a lot to the answer, there. Him personally? He's fine, for the moment. The bosses aren't actually the ones that keep beating the piss out of him. He scratches his nose.

"That's one hell of a question," he says, a note of exhaustion working its way into his tone. The things going on are many levels of not okay, but he doesn't even know where to start. Some of it is happening to kids not much older than this one. Whom...he still doesn't really know the identity of. "You got time to chat? Don't mean to interrupt..."

B

[nuns4money]

Eda isn't sure why she came to Pizza Planet, she's sure it had something to do with the mall, but for some reason or another comes in. These places freak her out, the animatronics, all the children...

Still she spots a familiar child murdering the Dance Dance Revolution machine. It's Frisky.

Holy shit they are great, so Eda just stares at the kid.

[determinate]

Frisk doesn't actually look up until after they've finished their current song, but once they do they're quick to notice Eda. They brighten; what a nice surprise! It's been a while since they've seen her. They wave with a smile. Come on over and talk, their game is done now!

[nuns4money]

Frisk is adorable and easy to talk to, so Eda comes right on over.

"Hey Frisky, how ya been?"

[determinate]

Frisk flashes a thumbs up. Good!

How about you? they text. Lots of us are gone now. I'm glad you aren't. That meeting was illuminating; they try to keep in contact with lots of people, but they hadn't quite realized that so many rescuers were just...gone. Who knows what happened? Maybe they're with Toriel and those musicians now...

B

[eba02]

There's something nice about being able to go someplace where people are happy. Call it music therapy. Of course, there's an art to going to a kids' restaurant and arcade without looking like a creeper; in J's experience, it usually involves a hoodie and spending a few bucks on arcade games. He picks up on a familiar tune - that's right, Frisk works here, don't they - and heads to the back to find them on the DDR machine, absolutely tearing it up.

He gives a low, impressed whistle when the song finishes. "You know, I can't say I'm surprised."

[determinate]

J! Frisk jumps down off the pad and goes over to greet them, offering a hand in greeting. It's an easy way for them to say hi to their friends that isn't - well, saying hi to their friends. This place is pretty loud anyway.

He likes to dance, doesn't he? They point back towards the pad. Let's do another round! They totally know how to get free plays out of these things.

[eba02]

He shakes their hand, grinning. Yep, this is definitely what he needs as a pick me up. He follows them back to the pad, smiling all the while. "Sounds like a plan. You got any favorites?"

[determinate]

Frisk shakes their head. "You can pick," they say quietly, though it might be hard to hear them over the noise in here. They've run a lot of these songs already; it wouldn't be fair for them to choose one they've practiced a lot.

A

[off_the_edge]

There's some loud, celebratory sound effects from the Limit Bike machine in the corner. Wrapped around the gaudy fibreglass biomechanical-style motorcycle controller is a striking young man with a flashy leather outfit and a flashier haircut; he looks like he's been playing it for hours, mostly because he has has. He's been there since the store opened. There had been a queue for the game a couple of hours back, but they'd long since given it up as a lost cause. The score counter is running out of spaces to put 9s.

"Yeah!" he announces, sitting bolt upright on the bike and pumping the air elaborately while the virtual bike automatically loops through the course again. When he turns to face whoever's near him to get their attention, his face is fierce and perfectly serious, like he's just won a race for real. "Filled out the high scores on another circuit." He taps at the buttons between the handlebars - C L O U D, then combs his fingers through his hair, trying to look offhandedly cool. "Feels like I've been playing this thing forever... like I was born for it. Feel like taking me on?"

[determinate]

Frisk was only lingering nearby because, frankly, this guy has been here since before their shift started and the employees are sort of talking. They were curious!

They didn't really expect to be acknowledged, especially since it seems like no one can tear the man away from his bike game. But beyond looking a little surprised at the address, they shrug and nod. Sure, why not? They clamber up onto the second bike, then look at Cloud expectantly.

[off_the_edge]

It's brief, but Cloud looks surprised, like a schoolboy who hadn't been expecting to be picked for the team. He nods, and gives Frisk a look of sincere appreciation.

"I don't go easy on anyone," he warns, setting up the 2-Player mode. He's never been the type to treat children any differently to how he treats anyone else, and somehow he feels this kid wouldn't appreciate it if he did. While the game loads, he turns towards the kid and asks, "Have you ever played this before? Enemies come at you from the left and right - you have to dodge the projectiles and mow 'em down with the Side Attacks."

Then he pulls the rev on the handlebars in time with the number on the counter that will give him a boost. He is a very good player, instinctively compensating for the quirks of the machine and ruthlessly slaughtering virtual enemies - if he's going to be beaten, he'll need to be talked, distracted or tricked into losing.

[determinate]

Frisk shakes their head and listens to the explanation; they haven't played this one before. It doesn't look like as much fun to do alone, plus it's too loud. Draws a little too much attention.

They play rather like someone who has never played the game before. Their reflexes are obviously excellent, and they're extremely good at dodging the projectiles. They miss the boost, though, and seem like they're a little too focused on dodging to actually strike back at the enemies. Between that and the fact that they're not really one for talking, there's no way they'll win.

Losing doesn't surprise them much. They smile and flash Cloud a thumbs-up. Good job!

A.) If Frisk would care to meet a bandmate/ play games with a monster?

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

“Ah, the ARCADE! Suppose it's as good a place as any to blow off steam, now that that bar won't let me throw darts anymore...”

Admittedly, men with only one eye don't always have the best depth perception. Bill hovers at the entrance and turns to the Virgo security detail tailing after him with a toothy grin.

“How's about I win you a prize, Sparky?!”

The newly dubbed 'Sparky' does not look amused.

“More for me.”

Bill Cipher might not always cut the friendliest figure, but he's certainly chatty enough, and the Vandalism in Progress pin on his hat makes it pretty easy to tell who he is affiliated with. Yeah, he'll be the first to admit as unconventional as he is, he likely isn't the first intended target demographic for this shop, but when places like these are attached to malls, it probably wasn't all that odd to have curious onlookers pass on through. He tosses his hat a couple times, debating on if he is really bored enough to indulge before noticing Frisk. Well, they are in a working uniform, obviously they are here to be bothered. He gives a small wave.

“Hey kiddo, I've been told I need to get my energy out in a less 'destructive fashion than I've been doing' and 'dear god, Bill, just go somewhere, anywhere ELSE'. What do you consider fun in this joint?”

[determinate]

Frisk stops up short. They didn't expect to be approached, especially not by an adult man...entirely alone, except for obvious security. He's a musician too, isn't he? This might be a good thing, if he hadn't brought his guards along.

But running or acting weird would make them more noticeable than not. They consider the question with a serious look, turning to glance around the area. Dance Dance Revolution is their personal favorite. But if his previous hobby was destructive, maybe he'd want something that's a little more...semi-destructive. For now, they point to a nearby machine.

Speaking to a stranger in these circumstances isn't something they want to do. It makes something in their chest freeze up. But the guard is right there, and kids who won't talk are weird. Frisk licks their lips, then elaborates in a quiet voice. "Whack-a-mole."

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

Fortunately for Frisk, it looks like the security won't be in their face long, or so Bill is trying to contest.

"-Seriously, Sparks, where am I gonna go? You think I'll be taken out by a couple of twelve year olds? Here! Have some collateral-"

It takes some convincing-- and his phone, and wallet and whatever he had in his pockets,-- but eventually the guard takes up sentry outside the shop, giving Bill a short reprieve of freedom inside. Okay, the man is still technically in the room, not like the mall has doors, but with the ambient arcade noise, he is likely out of earshot a short while at least. SCORE!

Honestly, Bill almost wishes he had a plan more befitting that amount of paranoia, other than the slapdash one he just improvised. Oh well. He follows the child's advice, slipping inside towards the Whack A' Mole game, but if they care to follow him, they'll notice he moves right past the machine to rest in the corner. Games are good and all, but on machines they were just too predictable.

"I'll be honest, kid, I could care less what's in here. Just so long as I'm not out there, capische? I mean yeesh, you'd think people here for our 'protection' would feel less like jailors."

Of course that is assuming Frisk is even listening.

"Don't talk much, do ya?"

[determinate]

They're supposed to be working, but that display was definitely interesting enough that Frisk follows the man, right past all the games and over to a corner without any other kids or parents. And then says that. Their expression remains calm and stoic, but they definitely look at Bill for a long, long moment.

It's like he knows. But how would he know to come find them? They recognize that he's from Sans's band, but would Sans have really told anyone?

They shake their head in the negative. Now, there's no reason to speak. They do type on their phone, though, to show him: They don't let you out much?

B

[charleslee]

Connor hasn't really made a habit of getting to know his fellow rescuers so far, and after noting how many hadn't turned up on Thursday, he's a little hesitant to change that fact. He's just at the mall to get new clothes after an unfortunate climbing accident took out his most comfortable pants when some excited chatter about the kid on the machine in the corner catches his interest. It sounds like the kind of thing he should observe, right?

He's expecting it to be one of the musicians, using some other kind of... Ability given to them by their captors. (He doesn't understand arcade games yet.) So it comes as a bit of a surprise to see Frisk totally winning at this... Game? Connor watches them, slowly coming to understand the game as he watches.

Politely, he waits until the song's over before he speaks. "You're very good."

[determinate]

Oh! Frisk remembers this guy!

They hop off the machine to go over to Connor, smiling. It's good to see him; he's one of the rescuers they've seen the least of since arriving here. Thanks! Do you want to play? They're not sure why he's in Pizza Planet, but hey - they're not gonna judge.

[charleslee]

Connor smiles and puts his hand up, shaking his head. What if he's bad at it? What if he embarrasses himself in front of all these children?

Of course, it is just putting your feet where the screen tells you. That seems simple enough.

"How does it work?" He asks, giving the machine a slightly suspicious look.

[determinate]

Frisk points at the screen, which is currently showing a demo since no one is playing it, and then back at the pad. "Step on the arrows when they come." It doesn't occur to them to tell him that he doesn't need to stomp them; they're small enough that they can jump up and down on it and not really do anything. "It's like dancing."