Encre's POV the next day

"Hey, Encre? I have a question."Jasper says

"Go on."I say as we build snowmen together.

"Do you believe in love?"He asks

"Of course I do. I love all my friends and they love me. Love is all around us. My fathers loved each other and me. And Azure obviously loves Poussiere. It's like believing that the sky is blue, hard not to believe."I say

"So....Does that mean that your lover could be arriving soon?"He asks, adjusting the head.

"Who says that I have a lover?"I ask

"Well...."He says

"Ugh, those rumors in the papers are all wrong. Classique is just a friend that my father also tried to adopt. And the papers about your father-"I begin

"Oh, I know they aren't true. I don't think he's your type and I want you happy with someone fit for you."He says

I chuckle.

"Well, there isn't someone for me."I say

"What?"He says in shock

"I don't believe that there is at least. While I do believe in love, I don't believe in romantic love for myself. It doesn't exactly interest me either anymore after enough poor experiences in the past to show that I'm not fit for it...Or perhaps not what others consider romance. It's....complicated..."I tell him

"Are these experiences also from your days being sent around Asgore and his buddies?"He asks

"....Oui...It was mostly a belief that love meant I could be used as they please, a simple tool. Or I'd face consequences....I was usually just a servant but some specifically requested to own me for their idea of romance. Don't talk. Don't think. Don't feel. Just do what you must to make me happy was the frequent orders given...So I'm not exactly looking for a relationship...It would also feel unfair to devote time to when my friends are missing or suffering..."I explain

"I....understand...But you shouldn't feel guilty for happiness...And those experiences show that they aren't meant to have love. That reflects nothing on you. You definitely deserve someone that makes you feel loved."He says, patting my shoulder.

I smile at him.

"Thanks..."I say

Then I glance at our work.

"What do you think of our...what do you call 'em? Snowmen?"I say

"Yes! They look great! Just you wait! Soon there will be an army of them!"He says

I can't help but laugh, finding him adorable with how proud he looks and poses with a salute.

"Oh, sometimes I wish you'd meet my dad. I think you'd get along great with him given that you remind me of him."I say

"I do?"He says

"You and Suave do. My dad had two sides of him that he frequently shifted between. The composed, formal side like Suave and the goofy, caring, and hyper side like you. When I was little, I made these with my dad and he told me that I have to wait since soon there will be an entire circus-load of them."I say

"A circus?"He asks

"Yea, a circus. He really liked those for some reason and joked that he'd be the ringmaster."I say

"I like the idea of meeting him! Now let's go get some hot coco! Or should I show you what s'mores are?"He says, pulling me by the hands eagerly.

"I don't know what either of those are."I say

"Then let's fix that!"He says, flapping his small wings to pull me faster.

I shake my head, unable to hide my smile. He truly is adorable. Then he gasps, looking shocked.

"Look out!"He yells, tackling me into the snow.

I see an arrow zip past over our heads and hit a tree.

"Are you okay?"He asks worriedly

I nod.

"Are you?"I ask

He nods.

"What was that...? Why would an arrow fire at us?"He wonders as we get up

I dust the snow off of him and he does the same with me. I shrug, walking over to examine the arrow. It is completely made of iron and once pulling it out I see that it has a ruby tip. I recognize the style of crafting....especially the materials with the signature color.

"Uh oh..."I mutter

"What? What is it?"He asks

"My friend Rufous made this...."I say

"The one that was adopted into your family like Suave?"He asks

"Yes...And that he is a skilled blacksmith so I recognize this as his work. That means he or someone he knows fired this and are nearby."I say, then notice a note tied to the arrow.

I pull it off and unroll the note to read it. I frown, shaking my head.

"It just got worse..."I say

"How?"He asks

"I'm excluding all the profanity in this note but it is from him basically saying that he saw the headlines in the papers and hears the rumors spreading."I say

"Oh....Oh no..."He says

"Yeah...He specifically saw a paper depicting Fallacy holding me tight in an unfavorable light....This note seems to be meant to be a warning for you saying that he is coming for me and to have your father keep his hands off of me or face the consequences."I say

"How do you know it's from him?"He asks

"He really took on the role of a brother since my dad adopted him and the note closes with saying that he is coming for his little brother. Then there's the signature R that he goes by...Always too lazy to sign his name."I say, shaking my head.

"Well, I guess that will make the first meeting interesting...I'll be sure to warn my dad...Wait...If the news is spreading so quickly and he saw that, could that mean that your father did too?"He says

"We're doomed if he did. And I am saying that for your father's sake."I say, shaking my head

"Do you...still want hot coco?"He asks

"Sure...Whatever that is..."I say, following him away

Hopefully, it goes better than I think it will...

TBC