MOVED TO @FlNALPOWER

"There's still only one of me-" She tried to correct.

"Do not forget, Alice, I cannot hear you!" Finklestone cut her off, perfectly timed and all. "Now, however, I see my error! You two look nothing alike!"

Alice, meanwhile, has started to just ignore the brain-in-a-jar on the screen to look at what can only be an actually panicking Noelle. She felt extremely bad for stressing her out, causing the meek girl to cringe into herself somewhat. Right, there's really not any reason to drag her into this if she could help it.

"Um, I'm.. sorry about all this." She said, glancing about as she collected her things. This place made no sense to her, but she'd figure it out eventually. "I can manage."

The last thing Alice wanted to do was to get someone so stressed out they're slapping themselves, after all. Which, well, was too late to stop now, so the next best thing would be to get going before it got any worse.

"Now, Alice, I will need you to scour your general location for any similar anomalies to what sent you here!" The doctor explained, as Alice looked this way and that... "If I can fine tune the signal, I may just be able to bring you back to Horrorvale through whatever energy brought you there!"

Which only causes her a light 'ow!' of pain, waving her hand as she finally seems to give up on hurting herself with a defeated sigh. "It's just like last time... I can't wake up..."

It's only then, when her muttering is at it's quietest, that her ears perk at Alice's words and she finally looks back to her... remembering that, nightmare or not, the skeleton girl was lost and, her own stresses put aside, she naturally only wanted to help.

"Um... n-no, I'm sorry. That was an overreaction..." She apologizes, hands clasping together rather tightly as she recomposed herself. "It's just, the last time I had a dre..." She pauses briefly, before correcting. "The last time something this strange happened to me, it ended up being a whole crazy thing. Wasn't expecting more."

While she was explaining her explosive bit of panic & stress, the memories that were once just hazy were becoming sharper in her mind, clearer than they had before, thanks to the situation.

"Oh, really? Maybe I can meet her someday..." She absentmindedly said, giving the phone a few light whacks on it's side as if that would make the device do what she wanted. Given the look on Alice's face after several moments, it clearly hadn't done so. "You know, you think when someone makes a communication device, it would be two-way--"

A sound coming from the 'phone' made the skeleton girl yelp, dropping it as the device buzzed. It seemed, coincidentally enough, she was getting the call she had wanted all the while as the.. as the something came through on video call.

"Ah, young Alice! Do not fear, for it is I: your amazing and intelligent mayor, Dr. Ludwig von Frankenstein!" The.. 'mayor'(?) said on the other end of the phone. "From the view of the sky I am being presented, I take it my fears were correct! An energy anomaly localized entirely within your bedroom was recently detected and I called to inform you that, under no circumstances, should you sleep in your bed!

However! As it appears you have already done so, disregard this warning! Also, you have not picked me up since I started calling! So I will take it upon myself to see you!"

Out came small wing-like extensions from the phone as rockets flared, sending it skidding along the pavement for a short moment before taking flight and practically shoving itself in Noelle's face as it corkscrewed in the air.

"GREAT SCOTT!

Alice! I do not mean to alarm you, but some horrific changes must have occurred from whatever energy transported you to this strange location! Do not worry, for I am sure we can fix this once we have you back safe and sound!"

Her eyes were big & blinking as she was struggling to parse the fact she was hearing 'Frankenstein' and 'energy anomaly' from someone kind of looked like a pickle jar from the angle she was looking, she failed to realize what he meant by 'take it upon himself'.

Leading to another yelp, complete with a slight hop off the ground, as the communicator suddenly rocketed off, only to eventually launch off the ground and right into her face, just short of hitting her.

"EEEK?!" She stumbles backwards, so caught off-guard by the absurdity of this whole situation that she can't even be offended by the brain-in-a-jar referring to her as a 'horrific change'.

She struggles to steady herself, barely managing to keep from falling backwards onto her tail, shock & confusion all over her face.

Of course, the mention of 'costume' finally tipped the scales from Alice being confused yet polite to 'confused and vaguely offended'. Sure, she hadn't gotten her license yet, but she was still training to be a necromancer! Better than a lot of people in town, if you asked her.

"These are just my clothes?" She replied, somewhat indignantly as she checked her pockets nonetheless. Out came a small potion of Flu, a vial of blood, and a doggy treat. The skeleton set those aside on the grass beside her before taking a moment to prod her finger into the fresh, living grass and the dirt beneath it; warm and alive with the sun's rays, something that she really didn't get to experience much. It was way past her bedtime, true, but even the grass around her home wasn't like this when she snuck out during the day...

Either way, she brought her attention back to her pockets, eventually pulling out a device that may or may not have been a phone. It certainly didn't look like any model on the market, even as Alice looked it over.

"I think this only gets Mayor Figglestone back home..."

The newfound tension making her bite her tongue for the moment as Alice started to empty her robe's pockets, even as each item made her face contort into slightly different looks of confusion & concern. She was so distracted staring at the vial of red fluid that she hardly notices Alice testing the grass as if it's her first time seeing it.

"... you and my friend Catti would get along, I think." She finally comments, now doing her best to be as polite as possible and not step on the girl's toes. Even if this was starting to get weirder.

The escalating strangeness shown no better than by the clunky device the witch produced, Noelle unable toe keep herself from tilting her head at the sight of it... that definitely wasn't a normal phone. Looked like it had been handmade in a lab or something.

So Alice followed the other to the sidewalk, even if the other's tone was beginning to strike the skeleton as a bit confusing. The teenager wasn't exactly sure why she was talking like that, though didn't pay that too much mind when there were far more concerning matters to deal with first. Like the place called Hometown. Alice couldn't think of any Hometown on any maps she'd seen before, though smaller places were more often forgotten my calligraphers, after all.

"I was in bed, after making sure Scruffy was fed for the day.. and then.." She trailed off, audible 'plink' of sockets blinking.

Really, that's where her memories ended. She was having some kind of dream, though, and somehow that had bled into the now of here. Alice wasn't entirely sure she wasn't still dreaming, really, with how this place looked so much like there.. looking to the fence near them and giving it a slight shake as if she were trying to see if it would hold. It did, of course, because obviously this wasn't a dream. That would be less concerning.

"Oh, uh.. I'm Alice. Alice Nettle. It's nice to meet you."

Still, she does her best to keep herself composed in front of the other so as to not double down on the potential panic happening.

The witch's name, quite obviously, didn't ring any bells. But, hey, at least it was polite!

"It's nice to meet you, too! My name is Noelle Holiday!" She returned the greeting with a gentle nod, still pondering what to do about this... handing her over the police is what would normally be advisable, but there's no way Undyne or Napstablook are gonna know what to do. Her mother would be the next option, but she's... busy.

Stressing about the inefficiencies of the town to handle something like this is something to do another time. For now, be proactive.

man , this studying thing has been gruelling .

noelle seriously does this all the time ?? PASS !! she'll stick to scraping by . susie had gotten as far as scrawling her name atop the paper and pencilling in a single line from the research book beside her before her attention had wandered . now she's balancing the borrowed pencil on her snout , leaning all the way back in her chair ... making a couple of furtive glances towards the door .

she startles slightly at the intensity of noelle's protest ! the writing utensil topples to the floor and the draconic monster gingerly sits back upright again , blinking owlishly . her expression looks to be faintly pissed off --- but that's more of an unfortunate resting face than any genuine annoyance . not that noelle's to know that ... she leans over to scoop the pencil back up , considering .

" ... yeah ? you're bored , too ?? sorta figured you must actually LIKE this studying crap . 'cuz you , uh , do it so much ... and you're here so often ... and stuff . "

( she always KNEW noelle couldn't be as much of a square as berdly . )

susie's posture eases , and she offers an impish grin , eyes bright . the seeds are planted . now she's just gotta lead noelle a little further astray ... or , y'know . just leave alone , she guesses ? either works !

Why did she have to just belt out it out like that? Even if it hadn't outed how she felt, it definitely made her look like an annoying loon. Just one look at Susie's expression proved that much. Now she looks like a nerd, and the interaction was completely botched...

... or, well, that's what she was thinking until Susie finally responded to her and popped the proverbial bubble of bad thoughts forming over Noelle's head. She didn't sound upset at all!

Maybe a bit... off-the-mark with her interpretation, but not mad.

Noelle can't help the small 'Fahaha' giggle of relief that escapes her at Susie's apparent respect for her supposed lack of studiousness.

She was about to correct her on that, make a case for how nice the library could be if she just gave it a chance. she swears... but, before she has a chance to suggest books Susie my like, or at worst offer to let her play the new Dragon Blazers, she hears her last words.

"Th... the diner?" She stammers, a newfound pinkness decorating her cheeks and the slightest glow to her red nose as she echoed the words back. Susie couldn't possibly mean that as a...?

... no, no she couldn't. But did that really matter? Evident by Noelle hastily packing up her stuff, it didn't.

Before, noticing someone in her periphery at last, everything snapped back to reality with a pop of recognition. The girl staring in utter silence at Noelle for several long moments as she listened to her speak. It took more times than she cared to admit to fully process the words, and, only when she had did Alice remember. . .

"I have. No idea where I am."

Sure, the peak of October was only a couple days in the past, but why would anyone still be in costume? It's not as if there was any trick or treating to be done... that (and their height) did make her wonder if this was someone's lost child. Couldn't be the grocer's, right...?

More thought on that subject would have to wait, though, as the girl finally seemed to stop zoning out & looked at her... only for the answer to make the reindeer's eyes widen in a concerned panic.

"N-no idea...? At all???"

She asked back, though clearly less looking for reaffirming as she was just voicing her own shock. Eyes briefly dart around, looking for anyone else available to help, and sadly finding none. Apprehension is eventually forced to give way to her own generosity, the sudden lump in her throat being swallowed as she turned to the witch.

They'd been spending the last hour or so just lingering outside the gate of the Holiday residence for reasons that escaped them, at least until Noelle finally made her way out.

Huh, they didn't even know she was home.

[ * Directions. ♥️ * No need. ]

Complete with a slow blink, blink of her eyes at them.

"You... don't?" She asks, half to them and half to the universe as the anxiety of the strange situation melted away in place of sheer befuddlement. "Then, um... is there anything you do need? Or want? Because you've been out here for a while now."

The questioning came with her finally opening the gate, reindeer's head tilted to one side. "Did you want a snack? Or to practice on my piano? Or did you come out here to see me? If it's about our notes, you know you could have just texted me, Kris."

" no one can choose who they are in this world . "

" it's a beautiful day outside . "

" i thought you weren't coming today . "

" late again , i see . "

" your unique skillset might help a LOT on this assignment ! "

" you just keep doing your thing , ____ . "

" i'm sure everything will turn out fine ! "

" don't die . "

" you suz , you lose ! "

" uhhh . that's not very reassuring , huh . "

" let me tell you a secret . "

" quiet people piss me off . "

" you think just 'cause you don't say anything , i can't tell EXACTLY what you're thinking ? "

" don't act shocked . you know it's true . "

" how about i get expelled for some REAL carnage ? "

" how do you feel ... about losing your face ? "

" you've got a good mother . it'd be a shame to make her bury her child . "

" if you haven't gotten it by now ... your choices don't matter .

" let's go , freak . "

" that wasn't ENCOURAGEMENT , dumbass !! "

" god , can you walk any slower , or what ? "

" not used to walking around without someone holding your hand ? "

" is it me , or ... is it REALLY dark in there ? "

" why are you so scared ? "

" well , we've worked hard enough . "

" don't scare me like that , dumbass !! "

" we gotta find a way outta here . "

" YOU got us into this mess , YOU get us out ! "

" oh my god . never mind . you have NO idea where you're going . "

" oh , you're not dead . sweet . "

" do not be alarmed ... i am not your enemy . "

" i'm the bad guy ! "

" stay out of this ! "

" (melodramatically) i'll protect you with my life ! "

" it's ever so wonderful to meet you ! "

" i suppose it's just the two of us , then ... "

" i've been waiting here alone my whole life . "

" i hope we can be good friends . "

" would you like me to teach you how to fight ? "

" i've never hugged anyone before ... "

" your choices are important , too . "

" i knew you were a hero the moment i saw you . "

" ho ho ho ... if it isn't my favourite person . "

" psyche ! you're not even in my top FIVE favourite people !! "

" you fools ! you're too late to stop me ! "

" does it look pretty ... ? "

" can i have some of yours ? "

" let's just get this over with . "

" ah , clobbered guys . brings back memories . "

" why are you looking at me like that ?! "

" you REALLY think you know how to be SCARY ? "

" wannabe tough guys like you REALLY piss me off . "

" you wouldn't know scary if it picked you up and bit your face off . "

" puzzles are YOUR job . along with everything else i don't wanna do . "

" why are you asking ME ?! "

" i wanna be as scary as you ! "

" thanks for your feedback ! i'm really feeling scary ! "

" something EXTREMELY dangerous lies ahead ! "

" i can't go home at all because i'm so scared ! "

" yeah , yeah , i am pretty great , huh ? "

" not to downplay your contributions , but you ... didn't actually help at all . "

" that thing was BLOODTHIRSTY !!! "

" those guys were enemies . they're FOR terrorizing . "

" before that , you also ate an innocent person's cake ... "

" whether you like it or not , you're a hero . could you please start acting like one ? "

" from now on , i won't be such a rotten hero anymore . "

" ... i'll just be one of the BAD GUYS instead ! "

" you're going to be on MY team ? "

" so what's your , um , evil plan ? "

" have a little patience , please ... "

" watch your back . AND your front . "

" how's the evil scheming going ? "

" all i ate for breakfast was chalk ! "

" you really shouldn't of pissed me off , man . "

" my dark energy bends the rules of grammar ! "

" thank you so much , loser ! i was having trouble ! "

" all evil plans allocate for delicious treats . "

" are you sure you aren't evil ?! "

" NEVER do something someone else can do FOR you ! "

" am i at fault in any way ? "

" you're really amazing , you know that ... ? "

" we split up 'cuz i'm too EVIL for you . "

" WHAT'S with the lecture ?! "

" if you're jealous , you can be a bad guy , too ... "

" i know the forest like the back of my hand ! "

" i have no idea where i'm going . "

" i'm lost and confused !! "

" bad guys gotta look out for each other . "

" anyone that gets in my way ... gets crushed into dust . "

" you'll have to do what i say ! my wish is YOUR command !!!

" DON'T expect me to do anything but FIGHT . "

" i'm still hungry . "

" it's like nothing i eat here matters . "

" thank you for sharing ! you're a good friend !!! "

" i'm still boost from the juice !!! "

" why are you acting so weird ?! "

" ... what's that green stuff around your mouth ? "

" don't expect me to feel guilty ... when they have to clean you off the floor . "

" if you don't get out of the way ... i'll kill you . "

" why aren't you fighting back ... ? "

" ... you think i CARE ? "

" are we still friends ? "

" yeah , yeah . don't push your luck . "

" what the hell ? your prison cell gets MOSS !? "

" you're more about , uh , grovelling like a total loser . "

" if you tell me what to do ... i'll listen to you . "

" i'm counting on you , ok ? "

" there must be a peaceful solution to all this . "

" oh , spare me the heroics . "

" get away . from my . friend . "