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Avant had done a very good job avoiding people in Outertale. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to meet other people, but he wasn’t sure how they would react to a random stranger just showing up in their home. So, stealth mode.
Actually, he’d found a tiny area away from buildings and paths, with a beautiful view of the sky and a bench where he could just sit and enjoy the view. He’d been here for several hours, and he was thinking of going back to the anti-void sometime soon so his brother didn’t get back and find him missing and absolutely lose it trying to find him. But for now, he’d just soak up the gorgeous sky above him. He’d wanted to see the stars so badly when he’d been in the Underground, and now he was going to fully appreciate them.
In fact, he was so distracted by the stars that he didn’t even realize the human child behind him before it was too late.
There was a tug on his sweater, and he whirled around. He froze when he saw the human’s face.
It was not a face he wanted to remember.
The human flinched at his expression, and shrank away.
“I’m sorry,” He blurted out. He held his hand out to shake. “My name is Avant.”
The human hesitated, looked down at his hand, examined it for whoopee cushions, then shook it.
“Do you need something?” Avant asked kindly, trying to remain calm.
The human shook their head, then pointed at him.
Avant pointed at himself, surprised. “Do I need something?”
The human nodded, and Avant smiled tentatively. “No, but thank you for asking.” He expected the human to walk off after this, but the human sat down next to him on the bench. Now he was caught a little off guard. If the human didn’t want anything, why were they still here?
“Er, can I help you with something?” He asked, weakly. He was now both confused and anxious, and the human looking so similar to- well, it didn’t matter.
The human made a writing gesture with their hands. Oh, that was something he understood. “Oh, you want something to write with?” They nodded, and he handed them a notebook and a pencil.
They took the tools and started writing. When they were finished, they turned the page towards him.
Hello, and welcome to Outertale! I’m Frisk, but visitors call me Nova. What universe are you from?
That made him pause. He didn’t think that most other people and universes knew about the whole “Multiverse” thing, but it sounded like this human did. Hmmm…
“I’m from a universe called Aftertale.” He said carefully.
Nova looked thoughtful, then wrote some more. Did my Aftertale counterpart try to kill you?
Avant would have spat out his tea if he happened to be drinking any. He cleared his non-existent throat and swallowed. “Ah, yes.” He looked at them again. “That’s a very blunt question to ask. Do you… do you have many visitors?”
Nova shrugged, then wrote, Not many, but enough to have an idea of what the multiverse is like. You seem nice.
Avant smiled. “Thank you.”
There was an awkward pause for a few moments, then Avant asked, “What was your home like? Before you fell, I mean.”
Nova looked surprised by the question. Why do you ask?
Avant shrugged. “I want to know.”
Nova still looked a little confused, but they looked up at the sky and thought for a bit before writing.
Well, I lived in a red house on the edge of some woods, out in the middle of nowhere practically. It was really pretty, and on clear nights, you could see the moon and stars so clearly. That’s what made me want to go to space in the first place.
Nova smiled up at the sky, clearly lost in thought while Avant read.
“It sounds really cool.” Avant said, flipping the page on the notebook. “Could I try drawing it?”
Nova again looked surprised, but nodded their head and gestured for him to go ahead.
Avant pulled out some pencils and started sketching. When he was done sketching, he pulled out his watercolor and began painting. Nova watched him work with a rapt expression.
Soon, it was done. “What do you think?” Avant asked, holding out the now drying piece of art. Nova nodded their head vigorously, smiling and giving a thumbs up. Avant grinned. “I’m glad you like it.”
Suddenly, a ringing noise rang out, and Nova made a face before opening their communication device.
“Frisk dear, it’s getting late. Come home when you can,” a strong, motherly voice said before hanging up.
Nova sighed, and got up. They waved to Avant, and left.
Avant sat looking at the stars for a few more minutes before bringing out Ink’s paintbrush and closing his eyes, imagined the anti-void. When he opened his eyes, it was to a circle of white against a background of stars.
Time to go home.