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“Hey, Queen?”
*Yes Lancer My New Son Whom I Adore
Queen looked over at Lancer’s reclining deck chair and noticed that the little boy was not smiling as usual. He was actually looking at her very intently (at least as far as she could tell, since he didn’t have visible eyes).
“Do you ever get lonely?”
“LMAO” flashed across Queen’s screen.
*Why Would I Ever Be Lonely
*I Have A Son Now
*That Son Is: You
“Yeah, I know. But I mean, dontcha ever wish you had another Mom or something?” Lancer was still staring at her.
*Why Would I Need: Another Mom
“Well… Dad… he got meaner after my mom disappeared. I think he got lonely.” Lancer shifted. “I don’t want you to get meaner ‘cuz you’re lonely.”
*Do Not Worry My Beloved Child
*I Have No Intention Of Treating You Poorly
*Kingy Wingy Down There Does Not Deserve You
“Yeah, okay.”
Queen could hear the dissatisfaction in Lancer’s voice, but before she could address it, she heard footsteps down the hallway. To her delight, it was Kris! And Susie! And that little goat boy! And…
A big goat woman?
A big… kind of hot goat woman.
Queen hoped her eye screen wasn’t showing anything embarrassing. She stood to greet the Lightners.
“Hey, Queen. Hey, Lancer,” Kris said, smiling.
“Lancer! My man!” Susie fist-bumped the little boy.
“Hey, Susie! Who’s that?” Lancer pointed to the goat woman. “She looks like Peachboy, but bigger. And more purple-y.”
Queen noticed the woman’s garb now—flowing lavender robes with white accents and a white cloak. The Delta Rune symbol was embroidered on the chest of the outfit.
She could feel her system overheating. More quickly than she meant to, she said,
*Yes Kris Please Tell Us Who Is: This Woman
“Queen, meet my mom, Toriel. Mom, this is Queen and Lancer. Queen adopted Lancer the last time we were here,” Kris said, turning to their companion.
Toriel… what a poetic name.
“Uh… Queen?” Susie said.
*What Is It
“You’ve got a heart glowing on your screen. Dunno if that’s a bug or something.”
Queen quickly cleared her screen.
*Apologies
*You Have A: Nice Name
*My Full Name Is Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N
*However
*You May Refer To Me As: Queen
Toriel let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, I thought as much, from what the children were telling me.”
That little laugh had Queen nearly reeling. She met Toriel’s eyes, noticed the beautiful reddish-brown color, and looked away, meeting Lancer’s gaze instead. She didn’t need to see his eyes to know what he was thinking. She looked to Kris and Susie instead, and somehow they both had the same look as Lancer. The other goat boy was just standing and smiling.
Queen decided to move the conversation along.
*So
*What Brings You All Here Again Kris
*It Has Been Barely A Day Since We Last Saw You
Kris shrugged. “Dark World portal opened up right in my house. Crazy, right?”
“Yeah, weird that it happened the day I was sleeping over, huh? It’s like this stuff follows us around,” Susie laughed. “Anyway, we’re actually not the only ones here. This cop from our town is here, too. She went off exploring the town.”
“Yeah, hopefully she hasn’t arrested anyone,” Kris added.
Toriel suddenly looked worried. “You know, I am a bit concerned about leaving Undyne by herself. I think I will go get her. You all stay here.”
Queen hoped for a respite from her overheating system after Toriel left, but if anything, she felt hotter. Before she knew it, she was blurting out the only question on her mind.
*Kris
*Kris Cross Applesauce
*I Have To Ask
*Is Your Mom: Single
Lancer, Susie, and Kris all burst out laughing. The goat boy was even giggling.
“Man, I didn’t think it was gonna work, but you were right, Kris!” Susie chortled.
Kris managed to stop laughing long enough to say, “Yeah, she’s divorced, actually. But she’s not dating anyone right now. Although my skeleton neighbor keeps making comments that make me wonder…”
Queen’s mood immediately deflated.
Kris must have noticed. “I mean, he literally just moved her a few days ago, so he doesn’t even know her that well yet. I think he’s just kidding around.”
*Do You Think I Have: A Chance
“I mean, we brought her here first because we thought you’d like her. And she’s been kind of lonely since she divorced Dad. I thought she might be interested in someone new, I dunno…”
“Make it work, Queen! I have two dads, it’s only fair I get two moms too!” Lancer exclaimed.
*There Is A Problem
“What’s that?” Kris asked.
*I Have Never Dated Before
*How Do I Know: She Likes Me
“What are you looking at me for?” Susie demanded. “I dunno! Nobody likes me that way, I wouldn’t know.”
Kris gave her an incredulous look.
“What?” Susie bared her teeth.
“Nothing.” Queen sensed that Kris was rolling their eyes. “Anyway, it’s probably kinda early to know now… but I think Mom would love to talk to you more.”
*You Mean It
“’Course I do!”
*I Will Have To Look Up Her Search History
*Then I Will Know: What She Likes
“That would be a great start!” the goat boy piped up.
“You should have plenty of time to do that. I think she’s going to want to stay with us while we’re in this next Dark World area,” Kris said.
*Understandable Have A Nice Day
“Yeah, I know Toriel told us to stay here, but it’s been a little bit. I think we should check on them,” Susie said. “Who knows what Undyne’s done by now.”
“See ya, Queen! Bye, Lancer!” Kris called as they walked back down the hallway.
Queen was already formulating a plan in her mind. She didn’t know when she would next see Toriel; she’d noticed Noelle (and Berdly) hadn’t returned with them, so it was possible Toriel wouldn’t come back after the party’s next adventure.
Well… maybe Queen needed to create a reason for Toriel to come back.
She looked at the stairs to the next level of the castle. She wasn’t sure what that boat boy was working on up there, but it might be the perfect place to create a personalized room for Toriel, based on her search history. Surely she’d come back after receiving such a generous gift!
“Queen…?”
Queen looked to Lancer.
*I Believe I Have A “Plan”
“You’re gonna get Toriel to be my mom, too?” Lancer bounced excitedly.
*I Will Do Everything In My Power
*You Will Have Your Second Mom
“Yippee!” Lancer bounced right off his chair. “I’m gonna go with Kris and the others. I’ll make her love me, and then she’ll have to be my mom!”
*Have Fun With That
Queen smiled as Lancer slid down the hallway. He didn’t know it, but he’d really been right on the money when he’d asked her if she was lonely. She wasn’t as lonely as she could have been, but now that she wasn’t focused on opening fountains and mind-controlling her subjects, she’d been at a bit of a loss when it came to what she wanted to do lately.
Now, she had something to focus on.
Queen began walking down the hallway, intending to begin her hunt for Toriel’s search history, the first step in winning her heart.