Tra la la. What's my name? ... It doesn't really matter.

"Tra la la... ah, hello again, world,"👤🖐

(About/Rules below👇)

River Person nearly forgets to eat as they eagerly watch Dr.Asterisk observe their art- then remember as soon as their friend continues to eat.

They can't seem to stop smiling, so happy about being on the surface- here with them, and about the smell of the food, the laughter from the two teenagers from the booth, and now- happy about their friend's approval of their art.

"Tra..la la...very fun,"

"Ah, my cheeks...hurt," they sigh softly, "it....truly is the most strangest things...that bring joy...isn't it?"

At the sunny question, their eyes light up.

"Ah, yes, being in here has been lovely, but feeling more sun on my face would be even more lovely; my skin craves the Vitamins."

They then briefly tense up as they notice Dr. Asterisk search for the right currency to use, then let out a perplexed sigh once they see the cash.

"Cash? Money??? ... Of course, I don't know why I thought......," they shake it off and lean close to their friend, speaking quietly.

"Thank you again, all I have is G........ we will not be washing any dishes this evening, hahaha, but that wouldn't have been all bad either...,"

They gaze softly at QC for a moment and then pull out a pen and write a note on a napkin, leaving it next to the cash.

[The first one is mainly of their dear friend(s), Dr.Asterisk, including their golden flower.]

[The second is another doodle of Dr. Asterisk, but momentarily halfway separated.]

River Person swallows their food, for a second, having a difficult time as an emotional lump forms in their throat and more tears drip drop from their eyes as they absorb Dr. Asterisk's sentiments.

Then, at the shining compliment- or at least it's affecting them like one- they can't help but smile shyly, the relentless tears keep flowing.

"I'm.... so, so... very, very much happy that I could brighten things up for you,"

They lean in slightly towards their friend, their face growing warmer and warmer by the second, and they take a drink of their water to prepare themselves for what they say next.

"Ah...and...your darkness.... those shadows that follow you around, aren't scary to me in the slightest, they.... have been feeling like warm blankets to me,"

They chuckle softly, almost nervously so.

"Hope that isn't too cheesy, I feel cheesy...gouda even, haha..,"

They then shyly and slowly reach out to touch their friend's back, leaning in more, giving an awkward side hug, resting their hooded head on their shoulder.

"After our experiments with Flowey, you freed me from so much fear that had been plaguing me; it's taken away such a heavy weight from my shoulders... so, thank you again,"

River Person then closes their eyes and lets out a long, slow, heavy exhale.

They then straighten up, shifting their hands around inside their cloak and take out a somewhat roughened-up booklet, water damage slightly fraying the edges.

They nervously open it, holding it so Dr. Asterisk won't see anything yet, quickly flipping through the pages, then finally settle on two pages and discreetly share it with them.

...

Inside the pages are fairly messy but decently well-done doodles with scrambled commentary scribbled around, colored with glitter pens.

The first one is mainly of Dr.Asterisk, including their golden flower.

The second is another doodle of Dr. Asterisk, but momentarily halfway separated.

The third is of River Person themselves, without their cloak.

Frisk smiles anxiously at their friend.

"I'm sure you have tricks. Thing you can do that you've never really thought much about how you do them. One of the things about being so... out of sync. You see how everything functions a bit more than you'd ever know..."

"Ooh," they murmur softly when they make the creamer seemingly dissappear.

They watch and listen to the Doctor, captivated by them.

"I ...think I know what you mean, well, maybe not exactly, I'm out of my time, so...I got to see and learn about everyone from a different perspective...,"

They then sigh as they think about it.

"But sometimes I feel so...unremarkable, all of my 'tricks'... don't belong to me, they're all...gifts from someone else, the boat, the cloak, the music player, even this... Power to Reset...my life..it's never fully felt like mine,"

They then inhale and shake their head at themselves.

"Mm, sorry, I know that's just the over lasting sadness talking, the...ah, depresso espresso, you know?"

They gently waggle their coffee mug with quiet humor.

"Tra la la, I don't believe I have special tricks like you, but...I do have confidence about other things, ah, like, I enjoy art and making art, I have even drawn you,"

Despite the melancholy in their gaze, they smile warmly at their friend.

"You know how...... you sometimes.. drift in and out, both physically and mentally? I... very much like it when you're.. here, present,"

They shy their gaze away, looking down at their food.

"But I never know when I'll get to see you after you leave, so, I drew you to make sure I wouldn't forget your face,"

"Looking in the mirror wouldn't have been enough,"

[ * Asterisk still seems to go on about the shapes. ]

River Person sighs, uncertain if Dr.Asterisk is actively ignoring their questions or if their mental health was effecting them.

Whatever the case, they give their friend's hand a gentle rub, hoping to keep them mentally present.

They eye the two teens curiously...

Still, they choose not to press the issue right now, they're too hungry, too distracted.

Hastily, they pick up their silverware and begin eating, but their food is still too hot, yet despite the pain, they laugh joyfully.

"Ohhh...haha, ooh, I burned my tongue, but hhhhhhhh..this is really good, I'm so haaaappy," (ಥ _ ಥ)

They wipe tears from their eyes and sip their coffee.

The tears only continue falling. . .

"Ah, tra la la, the creamers saved the day,"

Through the tears, they grin flirtatiously at their friend and playfully tap their gloved fingers against their coffee mug.

"I wouldn't mind seeing one of your tricks,"