#(the last one is honestly pretty brief and the lesser but warning just in case)

[callioope]

Continuing my reactions to Avatar: The Last Airbender

This post is about Book 3. See my overall impressions and thoughts on Book 1 here. See my thoughts on Book 2 here.

ETA: crap i forgot the keep reading line initially SORRY if anyone saw this before i edited. anyways. please see the tags as a disclaimer before reading. gosh it’s late i need to go to bed.

General

Starting S3 now and dang Katara & Toph have gotten so powerful!!!!!

I literally recorded ZERO reactions from Chapter One through Chapter Twelve. And my first reaction is basically my excitement that Zuko is finally with the Aang crew! But let me try to skim through an episode list to recall my reactions.

You may have already seen my post expressing shock that MARK HAMILL voiced the Fire Lord. Still not over that revelation.

So, ultimately, I binged this show in less than a week. I think I started on Monday? And finished Saturday afternoon. That alone should speak to how much I enjoyed it! 

Aang

Okay, a bit weird to have barely any thoughts under Aang when he’s literally the protagonist, but I think (since I wrote other sections before this) that I touch on some of my thoughts on him under other characters. 

I will say, his journey really intensifies in this season. First, when he awakens after being unconscious for several days and has no idea what’s going on, and is still healing and more helpless than he’s probably ever felt in his life. I did really like his arc in this season, but what a stark contrast to the Aang of Book 1. He has to grow up so fast. I gotta say, a lot of Aang’s journey reminded me just a little of Ender in Ender’s Game. 

I do say this later, but his final decision about how to handle Ozai was amazing. I loved every second of his journey to get there, and I was rooting for him to find a path that felt true to him — and not what everyone else kept telling him he had to do. 

There was one small thing that bothered me, which was that his eventual regaining of the Avatar state did not really seem to come about through intentional action of his own. After he goes down at the end of Book 2, sorta feels like they never even talk about him going into the Avatar state again and he doesn’t until the final moment. That moment doesn’t seem a conscious choice on his part; the scar on his back collides with a rock jutting out and seems to jolt him into the Avatar state. I would have liked to see a little more agency on his part in regards to the Avatar state. 

Sokka

My boy! My boy Sokka! Truly the mother of the group. IDK why they pretended in the beginning that Katara was the mom because it’s definitely Sokka. His maps! His scheduling! He is ridiculous and I love him for it. 

I adored that he got his own training master episode! He got to learn some sword stuff and even got to make a fancy space sword! Everyone else got super powerful with their bending and I’m glad Sokka got his own arc of self-improvement. He has come a LONG way from episode 1. He couldn’t really hold his own at all that early, and now look at him! Planning battle strategies! Taking down the Fire Lord’s air fleet! He’s come so far and I’m so proud!

Oh, you know, I just realized that I didn’t really talk about ships with Sokka in Book 2 but he did continue to have the most active romance arc. It was nice to see Suki return in Book 2, and I am glad we found out what happened to her. I liked Sokka and Suki, I have nothing against it. I was very surprised that so little happened with Toph and Sokka. There did seem to be moments where it seemed like Toph might actually harbor a crush on Sokka, but nothing came of it and she certainly didn’t say anything about it. That felt a little odd to me. Why hint at something but then make nothing of it? 

Katara

Sigh. This is early in the post, but probably one of the last parts of it that I’m actually writing. I’ve definitely been putting it off. Unfortunately most of what I have to say about Katara is about shipping, and I’m really not happy about that, but then it’s what comes to mind over anything else. Which is sort of ironic considering some of her lines in the theater episode...

So in the theatre episode, Aang confronts Katara about how nothing has happened in their relationship after they kissed. She responds by saying she is “confused.” I had some issues with the script here, to be honest. It seems to imply that she’s confused about her feelings for Aang. But she also says that she’s been more focused on the war, and that totally makes sense. I really would support this moment if that’s where they left it: “I don’t have time to think about romance, my mind is preoccupied with the war.” 

But no, they say she is “confused.”

This is pretty baffling to me, and honestly seems to come out of nowhere. Book 1 it was very obvious that both Katara and Aang have feelings for each other, and Book 2 might have backed off a little from that but then we get moments where Katara is so keyed in to Aang’s struggles with the Avatar state and also the only one who can bring him out of it. Now, all of a sudden, she is saying she is confused? Where is this coming from? 

I could definitely see people argue that it’s because she has feelings for Zuko. If I shipped them (I don’t, but I also Get It), I could point to numerous moments in the series as ‘clues/support’ for this ship. Zuko and Katara have a moment at the end of Book 2 where they talk about the loss of their mothers. (“We’re both sad about what happened to our mothers!” not really a foundation for a relationship, but Katara is the most betrayed and distrustful of Zuko when it comes to the idea of letting him join their crew and it is because of this moment. She obviously begins to feel some kind of connection — I’d argue platonic but ship and let ship.) 

And yeah, Zuko and Katara have their bonding adventure, but again I don’t think this has to be read as romantic. Clearly the idea here is that Zuko “understands” a part of Katara that Aang doesn’t — except that in the end, Aang is the one who is right about her. She cannot give in to revenge. It’s not her, and Aang knows that. I mean, they’re both right — Katara had go to on the journey to learn that about herself, and it was important that Zuko was the one who helped her. But still. 

Finally Zuko and Katara go together to face Azula. Again seems like plot is pushing them together for Tension. They definitely work together here and Katara heals him and all that but she’d have healed anyone. (Like yeah if you ship it of course you’re gonna be excited over those moments.)

But.

Like. The thing is. When the dust settles? Zuko and Mai return to each other like moths to a flame. I could believe that Katara might have had feelings for Zuko, but I don’t think he ever returned them. I think it was always Mai for him. 

I don’t really want to fan the flames of ship wars — I’m trying to walk a fine line of “I totally understand why people ship this, but I don’t,” and hopefully I’m succeeding, but I’m sorry if I’m not. 

My main gripe is how the show handled this dynamic. It seemed like they half-heartedly thought about creating a love triangle, but then they didn’t follow through. I don’t particularly like love triangles, so I’m not actually mad that there wasn’t one. But what bothers me is that the Aang and Katara moments are so heavy handed in the beginning, that a sudden subtle take on how Katara feels in Book 3 feels strange. It feels like if she was having feelings for Zuko, it should have been more blatant. The depictions are inconsistent — if the writers were even ever intending for Katara to have feelings for Zuko in the first place.

Like, I really can’t tell if those moments implying Zuko and Katara were intentionally trying to start a love triangle OR if it was just sort of a mistake OR if it was maybe creators trying to address and then negate Zuko and Katara as a ship? I mean it’s weird because the play episode really emphasizes Zuko and Katara but then that play is really supposed to be all levels of inaccurate and get under the characters’ skins. 

So, I don’t know. Obviously we all bring different interpretations to a piece of media and I am by no means saying anything here is a “correct opinion” (because I hate that attitude when it comes to story interpretations). Sorry if you don’t agree, hope I didn’t make anyone mad. Ship what you like! You do you, man. 

On that note, please see further disclaimers about shipping and canon at the end of the “Zuko and Mai” section below.

Toph

Loved how Toph was the first to warm up to Zuko. It made a lot of sense. I mean obviously they were looking for a fire bender to teach Aang and it was like “Hello, powerful fire bender on a silver platter!” but also, Toph is someone who joined the crew later on. The group had to adjust to her, and she probably knows what it feels like to be an outsider. Now, granted, she was never alienated from the group in the same way that Zuko (rightfully) was. But she can also understand Zuko’s position as someone who comes from a wealthy family, the sort of pressure that comes from that. None of this was really addressed explicitly, and it might not have really fit then and there, but it was what I was thinking as she was standing up for Zuko.

Um, and also, on that note? Huge bummer Toph did not get her special bonding adventure with Zuko. Toph, I’m with you on that one! Why did Sokka get two episodes for his? 

Zuko

No “& Iroh” on this post because — Iroh spent much of this season in jail, and then the next half just ??? who knows where. 

So, I believe I stated in the last post how shocked I was at Zuko’s betrayal. Knowing he eventually joins Aang’s crew, it seemed like his time in the prison with Katara would ultimately lead to that, and then NOPE! He has this nice heart to heart about his mother, and then… it really shocked me.

But.

As I watched this season, it became clear that this has to be Zuko’s journey. He has to go back to the Fire Nation. He has to win the approval of his father. He has to get everything he wants in order to realize that it really isn’t what he wants. This is integral to his ultimate revelation and redemption and he couldn’t have stayed truly good without verifying and knowing how empty the win of his father’s approval is.

Realizing this, I loved it and appreciated the moments we get. Zuko’s visits to Iroh. Even when Zuko is being cruel, you can see how hurt and lost he is. And Iroh gives him the cold shoulder he deserves, even though of course this is breaking Iroh’s heart, too. 

Now, I absolutely must discuss the Fire Kids Beach Party episode! Because as ridiculous as parts of it are, it provides such an important and necessary insight to all four characters (Zuko, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee). You see the privilege that they’re all used to, it’s good that no one knows who they all are. (although maybe a little surprising because Zuko’s scar certainly reveals who he is but anyways.) 

and it’s funny how you almost end up rooting for them before you’re like “no no no. they are bad people doing some bad things.” I mean, almost rooting for them. And sure, the campfire scene is a bit Breakfast Club-y but I do think it’s important. And I just loved the moment Zuko admits he’s angry at himself, how his burst of fire as he says it almost covers it up, it’s so hard for him to say. Fabulous character development going on here, fabulous. 

[Uh, side note, so apparently Zuko is descended from Avatar Roku! This is ridiculous but can we get Zuko calling Aang great-grandfather, mainly to get on his nerves?! O:-) this would amuse me greatly]

And GOSH the catharsis when Zuko finally realizes his father’s approval is not what he wants and not worth it! It’s so well earned. It’s so satisfying. I was so excited and just like, so anticipating Zuko going to meet up with the crew. Zuko practicing his speech in the woods to the frog? Amazing. Endearing. I love him so much. 

And despite that and because of it, I also loved how difficult it was for him to earn their trust. It had to be difficult. It would not be believable if it wasn’t. Every character regarded him exactly as you would expect them to, exactly as he deserved. And Zuko tried so hard to be sincere and contrite, and it was hard for him, but he was doing pretty well all things considered! And still, they distrusted him. Yes. This was good and right. And I loved it. 

AND ANOTHER THING I LOVED was that once that initial barrier was surpassed, Aang actually warmed up to Zuko pretty quickly. This is not surprising; he’d reached out to Zuko in the past. First when Zuko (masked) rescues him, and Aang says they could have been friends. Later, at the end of Book 1 when Zuko again kidnaps him, there’s just a moment… I think when Aang spares him. It’s like, my impression is that Aang can sense that their destinies are connected, and he’s not really sure how but he knows that Zuko is important. Also, I mean, Aang just doesn’t kill people and revenge is not his way. 

Each character getting their own side story with Zuko was also integral to his arc — perhaps moreso, theirs, though. Because it was necessary for them to overcome their distrust and forge the bonds necessary for the Avatar’s crew to function. Bummed he didn’t get one with Toph. Toph was robbed.

And side note, but I really would have like an Aang and Sokka bonding episode? Like, Book 1 is all Aang and Katara and Sokka, but some 1:1 time would have been nice. There was almost a chance when Aang flew Sokka to his father and the water tribe (and at the time I was like, “Oh? Aang and Sokka bonding?!”) But then it was really only a few minutes. But yeah, that said, it does make sense to focus on carving out 1:1 time for Zuko and each member of the crew to ease him into the group.

Sokka: You happy now?

Zuko: I’m never happy.

This made me sad. And also made me go “classic Zuko.”

Every time Zuko was like, “What would uncle say?” And then say the most ridiculous thing? Fantastic. Amazing. Fuel for the fire that was my love for this show.

Zuko and Mai

Mainly the Beach Party episode was important in helping me warm up to Mai. Once Zuko is back in the Fire Nation and they’re together, I was of the mindset that Mai would have to do something pretty big in order for me to enjoy seeing their relationship become canon. This episode is not that episode, but it is an important insight into Mai’s character that explains some of her actions. The fact that she’s basically internalized apathy because she’s been forced to repress her emotions. It wasn’t enough for me but we get more later, this is an important stepping stone. 

It’s also important in establishing just what Zuko and Mai’s dynamic is. It’s a bit shaky in this and they end up breaking up but then they just get back together like immediately (moths to a flame…) In hindsight, I just think they’re behaving like normal teens who care about each other but are still navigating what it means to be in a relationship. At this moment in time, their relationship is not good, but by the end of the show I can believe as they mature that it could be a good relationship.

So the actual moment that I was like, “Okay, officially supporting Mai and Zuko now” was when she helps them escape Boiling Rock. I don’t think we’re ever told the full contents of Zuko’s letter to her, but considering what she says to Zuko earlier in this episode, it doesn’t seem likely he explains himself very well. At least not for Mai to understand. And he still isn’t able to explain himself well to her as they talk face to face. Then he locks in a cell and flees! He leaves her again. 

You wouldn’t blame Mai for hating Zuko. You wouldn’t blame her for actively working against him. But is this what happens? No. Not at all. She helps them get away. She betrays Azula for Zuko. Azula!!! Azula who is very powerful and very scary! This is a clear and distinct line in the sand, and … it almost comes out of nowhere, but what it demonstrates is how she really feels about him. She’s decided to trust him and put her faith in him when she really would have been justified in not doing so. 

I’m also going to say that despite some rather odd implications of Zuko and Katara in parts of the series (namely with other characters who really don’t know them), I never feel like Zuko is interested in Katara. I would buy interpretations that Katara might have considered Zuko, the way some parts of her story are portrayed, but I don’t get anything on Zuko’s side and that is all the more reinforced by how he acts around Mai, especially in the end of the series when they’re reunited. 

(Now, that said — because I don’t abide ship wars, ship and let ship, and power to multi-shippers — I can totally 100% see the appeal of shipping Zuko and Katara, and I would contend there is even some canonical implication of it. And I can’t blame people for not totally loving Zuko and Mai. Now, I do think the canonical implications are sort of muddied and confusing, but though I have actually not written it yet, you’ll have read my thoughts there in the Katara section already. OH, and OF COURSE, MORE IMPORTANTLY — ships being canon should not matter! Ship what you love! Who cares if it’s canon! Finding canon justification for ships should not be necessary for shipping! It can be a fun exercise but should never ever be a reason for approving or disapproving of a ship, it’s just a cherry on top!)

Azula

We get some pretty interesting insights into her character this season. I’ve already mentioned the Beach Party episode, and there was some good stuff in there for her. I particularly appreciated the moment that she admitted she knew her mother thought she was a monster, that she even admitted to being a monster, and then admitted that it still hurt anyways. Honestly that’s probably her best moment.

I also thought her breakdown at the end was well done. Mai and Ty Lee’s betrayal just broke her. She probably knows her attitude puts people off, but those two were the only ones she ever really got on with. And it turns out, she really didn’t get on with them, they’d only ever been intimidated and manipulated into being her friends. She has no one, she pushes everyone away. Literally — and it is ultimately her downfall. 

It’s an interesting contrast to her brother. We literally get an episode “Zuko Alone,” and then it turns out the theme of “Azula Alone” is such an integral part of her arc, as well. The last person she has is her father, and he leaves her, too. Sure, he tells her it’s because she’s to stay behind as the new Fire Lord, but honestly Ozai was never truly close to anyone, either. But yeah. Iroh spends a lot of time and effort trying to help Zuko redeem himself. He never tries with Azula? I think, maybe it would have been nice to see him try with her, and be just utterly rebuffed. Now, Zuko also rebuffed him a lot, too. So Azula’s rejection of Iroh would really have to be something. This is the kind of stuff I’d look for in fic. Speaking of fic: I mean, I’d really love Zuko to find his mom, mom to come back, and then maybe some kind of attempt at reparations between mom and Azula. It doesn’t have to work, I just want to see the effort, you know?

Final Thoughts: Ending & Denouement

I loved Aang finding a different way to defeat the Fire Lord. I loved how every past Avatar he talked to was like “no dude just kill him.” And I loved that that was not enough for Aang. He’s pushing himself and ultimately the spirit of the Avatar to think harder, to try harder, to seek a different way. And that mercy was so integral to Aang’s character, and important to his arc that he struggled so much with it. And he’s just a kid! Oh, Aang. And I loved that he was able to find the answer he needed, the fact that it was taking away Ozai’s fire bending. Yes. Perfection.

I was a little disappointed by how little we got post-Ozai’s defeat. I was hoping the epilogue might have shown a little more in the years and decades following. It would have been nice to see glimpses of everyone prospering as they got older. 

Also, as I was watching Zuko’s coronation, I was sorta like, “uhh wait that’s a little too easy.” Now we don’t know when that happens so it’s possible some bit of time has lapsed and I’ll take that. But I thought there would have still been some trouble with some of the Fire Nation troops. Some of them would have remained loyal to Ozai. Many of those general had probably committed war crimes and would have needed to be rounded up and put on trial and put in prison. There’d be so much work to do!

That said, I do understand that we want to see our heroes with a happy ending, ultimately. I guess just a simple like “X years later” before the ending scenes would have sufficed for me to be satisfied that enough time had passed for those things to have been dealt with. IDK, I can probably suspend disbelief enough to headcanon that myself. I’m just saying. Some acknowledgement of resolution and reconstruction as a *process over time*, albeit unnecessary, would have been nice to have!

On that note, we don’t actually find out what happens to Azula. Presumably she is also in prison with her father. 

More importantly, we were Robbed of a Zuko and Ursa reunion scene!

[terrible-tulip]

Ronaldo Fryman for the send me a character ask.

WARNING: Unpopular Opinions, ahoy! 

First of all, I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG I JUST HAD SO MANY THOUGHTS ON RONALDO. ENJOY THIS GIF AS AN APOLOGY.

First impression

“Oh man! This guy is such a big nerd! He’s hilarious.”  Or something to that effect.  I can’t really remember my first impression of him at all!  It’s been too long.  But I remember finding him a very interesting guy.  And also amusing.  However, like pretty much all of the cast (until Wanted forced me to give everything in the series a closer look), I only liked him in a way that was just a wee bit above neutral.  I found him entertaining and that was sort of it?  I didn’t put much thought into my thoughts and feelings about the SU cast. 

But I can definitely say he was my favorite Beach City teen until Wanted (damn, Lars).  Why? Because I don’t like conspiracy theory crap.  At all.  It’s one of the reasons why I hate the Undertale fandom’s popular Gaster theory so intensely;  the logic behind it reminds me of conspiracy theories on the paranormal.  I have the misfortunate of living with people who are drawn to conspiracy theories and the like in real life (and are huge Know-Nothing Know-It-Alls), and it puts a strain on our relationship as I am a skeptic at heart.

You’d think this would mean I’d hate Ronaldo, but he is something of a good-natured parody (without the show resorting to giving him a cliche aluminum foil hat) and deconstruction that kind of character, so I actually found him a lot of fun to watch and, gosh darn it, even likable.   I used to watch his episodes a LOT during the worst days of my family’s anti-science conspiracy bullshit.

Impression now

My enjoyment of Ronaldo’s episodes and, to a lesser temporary extent, Ronaldo himself honestly took a hit after the Wanted special.  Part of it is that, for me, Lars dying soon after being caught up in the Gem conflict rendered some of the humor of Ronaldo’s character really… not funny in retrospect.   The other part is that it was sincerely really jarring to rewatch both Lars and Ronaldo’s episodes after “Lars’ Head.”   I’d rewatched the entire show including their episodes so many times, but it was like I was seeing Ronaldo and Lars for the first time, if that makes sense.  So I didn’t know what to think of him for a while there.

It took some time, but I did eventually warm up to him again.  I’m more aware of his flaws this time around, though. Unpopular opinion here, I think their existence actually makes him more likable and interesting.  Before, he was just entertaining and weirdly cathartic.  Now, I can see that he’s a complex and fascinating character that deserves some contemplation over, a character that’s been gradually developing over the course of the series, despite having very few episodes focusing on him. 

Favorite moment

DID SOMEONE ASK FOR AN UNNECESSARY SCENE BREAKDOWN?

The scene where Steven tells Ronaldo the truth about his evidence for snake people is perhaps my absolute favorite scene with Ronaldo to date.  The entire thing is fantastic, starting with Ronaldo’s hilarious, but also kinda sad in context, anime face (he’s so excited to have someone who shares in his beliefs, to have someone who believes in him) and how it absolutely shatters when Steven asks him if he’s sure about snake people.

This is quickly followed by a meaningful callback to “So Many Birthdays.”

Pearl: Steven, are you telling lies?

Ronaldo: Steven, are you having doubts?

This line tells us so much about Ronaldo’s beliefs about what constitutes as lies, especially when parallels are drawn to Pearl’s line asking Steven if he’s telling lies.  In both cases, the answer is yes to a certain extent.  In “So Many Birthdays,” Steven was telling a joke by presenting a fictional scenario, and here Steven knows Ronaldo is wrong about there being snake people.  This little highlight is quickly followed up by his impassioned speech about what “truth” is.

Steven: Maybe the truth just isn’t what you thought it was. 

Ronaldo: Sure it is! Don’t get hung up on these minor facts. Truth is about more than that, truth is a feeling in your gut that you know is true! Truth is searching for anything that proves you’re right no matter how small, and holding on to that, no matter what. 

Steven: That kinda sounds like the opposite of truth. 

The expressions used throughout the scene are fantastic, but the gesture Ronaldo makes when talking about holding on to “truth” is especially worth noting for how loving and tender it looks, showing that it’s not just his beliefs that are incredibly important to him, but his dedication to those beliefs.

And then the whole scene gets capped off with:

Ronaldo: I’m really not at the center of anything… I’m nothing.

And then the (Amethyst) Steven cast – which before its unveiling represented his last hope throughout the scene – crumbles away in his hand as he leaves while dragging it behind him, ignoring it completely as it falls apart behind him.

The whole scene is a fantastic first glimpse into why, and to what degree, Ronaldo is so obsessed with the paranormal and conspiracy theories.  It’s the audience’s first warning that he’s so desperately obsessed that he will ultimately prove to be a danger to both himself and others.

((This defining character trait of his is also one of the ways Ronaldo is a foil to the hopeless Lars. Presumably, Ronaldo’s character arc will involve him learning the art of skepticism and how some doubt and skepticism is a good thing while Lars continues his own growth into a more optimistic person))

Idea for a story

AU where Ronaldo was erased from existence after getting too close to the truth and Peedee is the only one who remembers him and has to find a way to bring him back. Meanwhile Ronaldo gains power from beyond the void to allow himself to re-enter reality in brief little ways, like a ghost. 

((It’s a plot bunny I got after reading a certain hate post directed at Ronaldo. It’s also inspired by that one Undertale fan theory I really hate.  What else was I supposed to think when someone says something like “Imagine Steven Universe except Ronaldo doesn’t exist and never did…”?))

Unpopular opinion

In case you haven’t noticed, this entire post is an unpopular opinion,  but here’s another one:  I actually found “Rocknaldo” to be a decent episode.  Not the best, but not terrible either.  It went in a logical direction, everyone’s actions and choices made sense, I felt like the episode had a fantastic lesson about allies (specifically, gate-keeping allies) and the importance of sleep and remembering that one is a human being, and we see Ronaldo’s inability to cope with reality endanger him instead of someone else, which I feel was a much needed reminder that Ronaldo is not trying to be malicious when his obsession over what he perceives as “truth” endangers or hurts people; he suffers from a mental illness that puts both himself and others at risk.

Favorite relationship

Peedee&Ronaldo.  Their brotherly dynamic is enjoyable and interesting.  I wish their relationship got a bit more attention on the show, especially since it seems like both boys are desperate to feel important and special, whether it be in their father’s eyes or in their own eyes.  Another thing I want to see explored more is that Peedee acts like both Ronaldo’s minder and his enabler, most notably in “Keep Beach City Weird,” which is really not healthy but adds both another dimension to their fraternal relationship and a flaw to potentially overcome, which I’d like because it would make them and their relationship as brothers feel more real..

Favorite headcanon

Remember the soaked letter Ronaldo received after Love Letters?  I like to think that the letter was from Jane and that’s how they first got in contact with each other.  

(Edit: I would love to see more character asks)

[nom-the-skel]

[vore] Razz Noms, chapter 10

Slim is pretty devastated. Last chapter!

Tags/warnings: tobacco mention? suicidal thoughts.

[chapter 1][chapter 9][read on AO3]

Alphys had given him a hospital gown and ejected him from the door into Hotland. Oh. He hadn’t even realized he was in Hotland. He turned to look at her blankly. Weren’t they going to kill him now? It was the least mercy they could show him. “Your punishment is complete. You’re free to go,” said Alphys. “Your magic should come back in a couple days,” added Undyne. Papyrus stared at them until they closed the door in his face. He thought he might sit down right where he was and wait to dust. Surely he was Falling Down? Couldn’t he get it over with any faster? Hotland was uncomfortably hot, so he started walking toward Waterfall. It didn’t matter where he Fell Down, really. He watched his own feet as he trudged into Waterfall. Walking was as good a way as any to pass the time until he dusted. Nothing mattered now that—nothing mattered now. Nothing mattered, so he didn’t think about it. The next thing he knew, he found himself at his own front door in Snowdin, without even noticing when the swamp and rocks under his bare feet had changed to snow. He didn’t have his key—it was in his jacket pocket—and he couldn’t teleport inside until whatever Undyne had done to him had worn off, so he sat down and leaned against the front door, wishing vaguely for a cigarette. It didn’t matter, and in a distant, intellectual way, he knew he didn’t deserve any comfort. Perhaps this was what it was like to Fall Down. He hoped so, as much as he could hope anything now. After a few moments, the door opened, and he fell backward into the house. He didn’t feel particularly curious about why this had happened until the thought occurred to him that maybe Sans had been waiting here for him all along, he was alive, he was safe, he was—not the one who had opened the door. Lust was leaning over him, the sexy dog standing behind him. Stars, his shorts left nothing to the imagination, and his shirt only covered a couple of his ribs. “Sans?” Papyrus asked, in case maybe Sans was here too after all. Even if it was impossible, it was his first thought that actually mattered to him since… Lust looked at him with pity. “Aw. No. At least, not the Sans you mean.” Papyrus managed to grunt in response, which he thought was pretty considerate of him, because of what a monumental effort it took, before going back to lying on the floor doing nothing until he dusted. “Come on, Slim, you can’t lie halfway inside and half on the doorstep.” Lust took his arm and pulled, dragging him perhaps an inch further inside the house. The sexy dog took his other arm, and between them they managed to pull him far enough to allow the door to close again. Papyrus didn’t resist or react. “Slim…” Lust knelt beside him. “Do you want to change out of those clothes? Take a shower, eat something…?” Papyrus didn’t respond or even look at him. “Slim,” Lust tried again. “I’m sorry about your brother. Honestly. Even though … well, I still didn’t want to see him dead. And even if they have to execute murderers in this world, the way they did it was just needlessly cruel, to both of you. I told them—but—” Lust closed his eyes and sat there solemnly for a long moment, then changed moods. “I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing here.” “No,” said Papyrus, annoyed that Lust talking to him was keeping his mind engaged with reality whether he wanted it to or not. He was pretty sure it was delaying his spontaneously collapsing into dust. “Alphys gave me the keys to your house so I could get into the lab and get back to my own universe,” Lust explained as if he hadn’t objected. “And I was worried about you. They wouldn’t let me see you again, or tell me when you’d be released, but I thought you’d probably come back here. We thought about going looking for you too.” The sexy dog barked in agreement. “Although it’s kinda scary out there.” The dog whined. Papyrus felt a glimmer of anger. “You told her I saved you. You… This is your fault.” “No. It’s not. Razz is the one who tried to kill me. And have you seen how terrifying your Alphys here is? I wasn’t gonna lie to her. Plus I didn’t want you to get tortured to death for crimes you didn’t commit.” Papyrus tried to ignore him again. He had been tortured, worse than he could have ever imagined. If only Sans had killed him before Alphys intervened. If only Sans had killed him the first time, when he could have died happy. And maybe he’d been released without being dusted, but he was certainly still going to dust as a consequence, hopefully sooner rather than later, if Lust would just leave him alone. So it wasn’t much different than being tortured to death—perhaps worse. The sexy dog knelt down too and nuzzled Papyrus’s skull. “You like bones, doggy? I’ve got two hundred and six that I don’t need anymore; you can have a few.” “Come on, Slim, don’t say that,” Lust pleaded. “If you’re gonna stay there on the floor, let’s at least get you a blanket.” The sexy dog found a blanket and spread it over Papyrus. Sans’s phone rang. No, it was the same ring tone, but it was Lust’s phone. Alphys had probably taken Sans’s phone—maybe Undyne would recycle it for someone else to use. Maybe she was going through its data right now. Papyrus growled at the thought. Lust pulled the phone from his pocket and answered it. “Oh, hi Papyrus. How did you—? Oh, cool. Yes. Yeah, I’m still here. No, I’m fine, but Slim—the other Papyrus—yeah, that’s the one. Well, no, but I don’t want—I’m really worried he’s gonna—hang on a second.” Lust walked away into the kitchen, talking in hushed tones. Presumably he didn’t want Papyrus to overhear him speculating about how he was going to Fall Down at any minute. After a minute, Lust came back out and handed the house keys to the dog. “Lesser, would you go meet Papyrus at the portal? We’ll be fine inside the house.” Really? That was the sexy universe’s Lesser Dog? Huh, thought Papyrus, and then remembered that none of it mattered. Sans was gone, Sans was dead, and he’d killed him himself, he’d killed him twice over, first when he betrayed him and then when he physically … Papyrus felt sick. He refused to throw up, though; whatever was left of Sans was inside him, and if that was the only way he could keep his brother with him, he wasn’t going to let go of it. Suddenly he wished Alphys had let him keep Sans’s bandanna—he’d always worn it, even though it was torn and battle-scarred now. Papyrus was surprised to feel tears run down his skull toward the carpet. That hadn’t happened since they’d ejected him into Hotland. “Oh,” said Lust, noticing. “Don’t cry. No, wait. Maybe do cry. You must have a lot of grief to work through. I know it hurts, but you can’t stay dead inside forever.” “Can if I’m dead outside too.” “Come on, don’t say that.” The door opened and the sexy version of Lesser Dog came back in, followed by another skeleton. For a moment Papyrus felt curious what the unreasonably sexy version of himself looked like, but finding that out wasn’t worth dealing with yet another monster trying to interact with him when all he wanted to do was lie here and dust. He refused to look. “Hello, Sans,” the other Papyrus said. There was a brief clack of bone on bone. “Hello, other me!” Papyrus ignored him. “Come on, other me! We have to pack your things!” “Paps, what? Are we taking him with us?” “You said you didn’t want to leave him here to dust! He’s clearly in no condition to take care of himself, and we can’t stay here in this extremely hazardous world, certainly not until he’s feeling better.” “Yeah, but…” “Oh! If you’re uncomfortable letting him stay with us, I’m sure we can work out other arrangements.” “No, that’s fine, just… I don’t think he wants to come with us.” “Hmm. Well! He can always come back here if he wants to—later! After he’s a bit better! Maybe just for a visit.” “Okay,” Lust conceded. “Slim, we’ll pack up some of your clothes, and if you want anything else we can come back for it, yeah? Come on, Lesser, I think that’s his room over there.” “Collar,” Papyrus croaked. “On the dresser.” He couldn’t leave without the gift from his brother. It would be almost as good a reminder of him as his bandanna would have. “A collar?” said Lust, then mumbled as he climbed the stairs, “I’m the last guy in the Underground to kinkshame ya, but you and your bro were not very good at safe, sane and consensual.” Seeing that Lust and his brother were planning to drag him to their universe, Papyrus gave in and turned his skull to check out the sexy version of himself. His low-riding pants left even less to the imagination than Sans’s shorts, and his shirt—if you could even call it a shirt—ended right below his shoulders. He seemed to have a good deal of ecto-flesh manifest as a matter of course, and his magic was a startling pink. “Nice to meet you, scary me,” said the other Papyrus, striking an unnecessarily sexy pose. “My brother says we can call you Slim. I guess you can call me—” “Pink,” suggested Papyrus, staring at his midriff. “Sure!” The other Papyrus, stuck out his tongue, probably meaning to be cute, in a sexy way. Unfortunately those were just the pieces of ecto-anatomy that Papyrus didn’t want to be reminded of right now, if ever again. He turned his skull away. “Don’t cry,” said Pink. Papyrus hadn’t even noticed he was. “I’m going to help you stand up, okay?” Papyrus didn’t say anything, so Pink pulled him up into a sitting position. Papyrus let him. He didn’t care what they did to him. Maybe it was all a trick and once they got him back to their own territory they would torture him to death. That would be nice. Lust and the dog came back downstairs, the dog hauling a bag of clothes and Lust twirling Papyrus’s collar from his fingers. He came over and fastened it around Papyrus’s neck. “There you go, Slim! Is there anything else you wanna bring right now?” Slim just let his skull tilt a little, savoring the familiar feel of the collar against his bones. Lust took that as a no. “Okay, let’s go.” He and Pink got Papyrus to his feet, draping the blanket over him like a cloak, and started half-carrying him toward the door. He cooperated a little. There was no need to force them to drag him through the snow to the lab. He still hoped they would do him a favor and dust him as vengeance for what he’d done to Lust. But if he was honest, he knew they were just going to try and help him. That would be much more annoying.