Week 0 || ACT: ATTEND

[foundationmods]

["We will tell you later," they had said. "We need to gather more information." Defer until later, let others investigate.

Truthfully, they had been hoping a solution would materialize on its own. That calling in a team for assistance wouldn't be needed. But time has passed, and the silence has only stretched on longer.

So, when the email comes, telling everyone of an important meeting, it might not be a surprise. After all, this conversation is one that has been a long time coming.

The two who have called the meeting- Solomon and Frisk- have prepared a meeting room for this occasion. It is set up not unlike a lecture hall, with several rows of chairs facing a whiteboard and projector screen. The two O5s are at the front, with Frisk going through one final check to make sure everything is working while Solomon watches. Both will nod to the arrivals, but neither will speak to them.

Once the last few who are coming have found their seats, Solomon will clear his throat to gather everyone's attention.

It is time.]

Comments

[finalring]

Some of them managed to sneak out before I finished constructing the barrier. They're the reason some SCP exist today.

[ THAT IS SAID WAY TOO CHEERFULLY- ]

[homeecspacecop]

[Drew thinks we need to know what a monster is.]

- we need to know what a monster is. [says Chuuta, at the same time as Drew, but thankfully no one else has to deal with the cops talking in unison.]

[foundationmods]

Not all SCPs are monsters, but all monsters are SCPs.

[They say that as if it clears up the point entirely.]

[homeecspacecop]

[...]

So... what's a monster? Are we going to go somewhere that's just full of things that want us to kill each other and then hold trials to execute people every Friday?

[foundationmods]

[Frisk seems to pause for a second, like they are having an internal discussion. Then, they speak up.]

Asgore is a monster. Maybe he should explain it to you all? Even though we've shared a body for like 500 years now, there's things he knows better than I do.

[homeecspacecop]

[They get that, the internal discussion thing. They'll wait, and then nod.]

That would be nice. Thank you.

[foundationmods]

[Frisk's voice seems to shift after that. Their tone is the same, it's not suddenly deeper or anything, but they sound more regal and dignified.]

That Child may be overestimating my abilities here. To me, monsters are just monsters, and humans are just humans.

The difference is in the SOUL. Monster souls and human souls are different. In the house where you first met That Child, the souls there were colored. You remember that, yes? Those are the human souls. Human souls come in a variety of colors and represent the best traits a human has to offer. Kindness, Justice, Perseverance, and so forth.

Monster souls are just grey. They do not carry that significance. Likewise, monster souls cannot normally pass through the barrier on their own, which is why That Child and I cannot go into the Underground looking for Red and Moriarty ourselves.

[homeecspacecop]

[Oh, Drew sees, it's like]

-aliens. Right? You don't mean "terrible things that want to kill us", you just mean "they're not human".

[foundationmods]

In theory, yes. In practice, Monsters and Humans do not get along well. Some of the more temperamental ones might actually want to kill you. But that is not a standard across all monsters, no.

[homeecspacecop]

That's not really any different from going into a group of humans, really.

... why did they get locked up?

[foundationmods]

...ah. Well.

[The voice sounds uncomfortable now.]

We lost the war.

[finalring]

[ he's looking away now, like he just swallowed a bitter pill. ]

[homeecspacecop]

The-- [a war against humans. That's what it probably was.]

... oh. [He hates this.]

Why was there a war?

[le_mat]

[Ren is pondering]

If monsters and SCPs, excluding us, are gray and humans are the only ones that have the colored Souls.

Honestly, it sounds like humans are the deviation, in a way.

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He gives a quiet nod of agreement]

Humans are different from most beings in many worlds - often possessing traits no other group has, why would it be any different here?

[le_mat]

True, it's just weird to see it in such an obvious and direct way and not 'we're special cuz the writer is lazy'.

[homeecspacecop]

I mean, humans are about as boring as you get where we're from. It's kind of weird that they're special in other places, especially if we aren't in an anime right now.

[le_mat]

I mean... we COULD be in an anime right now. That wouldn't even be the weirdest thing we've seen.

[improbablenotimpossible]

[Sherlock gives a faint, sphinx-like smile]

Most writers don't grasp what makes humanity unique.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Dog-san said something like that before, didn't he? That the world was made for SCPs.

[foundationmods]

That may well be. Monsters have existed for a long, long time. Humans less so.

[le_mat]

I see... I'm actually really curious about that. Not right now, of course, this is business. But... maybe some other time?

[He wants to ask so many questions: are humans off shoots of monsters? Are animals something separate? Can soul colors change through personal growth??? Tell him]

[foundationmods]

Of course. Normally This Child is the one who controls our shared body, but if you ask them they will let me have control. It would be nice, to have a conversation with someone.

[He loves Frisk but after 500 years the conversations have gotten a little stale.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[Will also make a note to ask about this later]

[white_camellia]

[...Wait a second here, this might be kind of important.]

Than rather than just disguising our appearance, these masks have some sort of effect on the soul itself?