When Alphys woke up, she decided that she was going to go see the River Person again. She wanted to know what they meant about the Echo Flowers. They just repeat anything that you would say to them, right? It's not as if they are capable of making conversation.
Right?
Alphys wasn't sure at this point, but she knew that the River Person wouldn't tell her something unless they had a good reason. They don't usually bother with small talk, or information about themself. Unless, perhaps, she were to ask them... But they barely know each other. Seeing someone often isn't the same as knowing them. She was about to head out the door when she remembered the Amalgamates. She forgot to visit them yesterday.
She went down into her lab carrying the dog food bag and few other odds and ends to give them. As soon as she walked out of the elevator she was tackled by Endogeny.
* "A-ah! Hey I missed you too, s-sorry I wasn't around yesterday. I was c-caught up doing . . ." Her mind drifted to the River Person and their cloak, and the Echo Flower. * "Business . . . A-anyway! I brought food!" She called. Most of the Amalgamates came up to her. As she was giving them each something to eat, she noticed the absence of Mrs. Drake. * "Is she s-still not hungry? T-that's three days in a row . . ." Endogeny started whining, and scratched at the elevator door. Alphys frowned and looked at her feet.
* "Look, guys, I . . . I know you w-want to go b-back to your families, but . . ." They all fell silent and were looking at her. Alphys gulped and wrung her hands together. * "B-but I don't think I'd be able to face them again, a-and - " None of them made a sound as they turned to leave, and soon Alphys was only left with Endogeny who was completely still, looking at her expectantly.
Oh that's right, Endogeny is so big because the Greatest Dog melted. I'd bet he's expecting me to say something, I can't let him be disappointed in me again.
She chose her words carefully.
* "And I don't think you would want to cause y-your families more pain than I have already given them." She glanced up just in time to see Endogeny walk away, tail drooping, before she was even finished speaking.
* "R-right. Well I g-guess I should go then . . ." She stumbled over to the elevator and made her way to River Person.
-
* "Tra la la. Care for a ride in my boat?" Alphys nodded and stepped in, clutching the bag she brought with her to her chest. * "Where would you like to go?" Where Alphys really wanted togo was to where they stopped yesterday. Back to the hidden Echo Flower.
* "Oh, w-well um I-I would like to go to, uh-"
* "Then we're off!" The River Person said cutting her attempted sentence short. Alphys fell silent, feeling the heat rise up around her neck again. She must have taken too long to answer, but the River Person still didn't know where she wanted to go. Should she tell them?
* "Um, e-excuse me, well, I never a-actually finished saying w-where I wanted to g-go?" Much to her distress, the River Person didn't answer her. Instead they turned around and watched her until she looked down at her feet. This day was going horribly, she decided. She began digging around in her bag trying to find her phone. She updated her status on Undernet.
[ugh, i'm having a bad day but at least it will never be as bad as mew mew 2! (≡^∇^≡)]
She giggled to herself, until she noticed the boat had stopped moving again, this time in front of a patch of land. They were in a small tucked away area in Waterfall, with a bench and an echo flower. River Person was sitting on the bench having a little concert with the Echo Flower.
* "O-oh! I'm sorry d-did I keep you waiting?" Alphys rushed out of the boat, careful not to tip it, and went to go sit down next to River Person who shook their head.
* "Good." Alphys sat, quietly enjoying the music and kicking her feet. Yesterday, River Person said that Echo Flowers have an 'interesting' sense of humor. Echo flowers only repeat what everyone says right? Or did the River Person know something she didn't? She wondered if she should ask River Person what they had meant, or if they would even answer her. She sat there long after they had finished their song, chewing on a claw.
* "Ask me."
Alphys stopped, eyes widening. Why were the sudden unexpected questions scaring her so much? She receives countless angry letters almost everyday because of the biggest mistake she had ever made in her life, so something like this should be old news to her.
* "I-I'm sorry I d-don't know what you mean?" River Person was watching her as she smiled nervously.
* "You want to ask me something. You're chewing on your claw." Alphys laughed and turned to better face River Person. She should watch her actions if they are really that easy for others to read.
* "Oh, uh, yes, um . . . What d-did you mean when you said . . . the t-thing about Echo Flowers?" She squeezed her eyes shut waiting for an angry response, or no response at all, and flinched when she heard the Echo Flower repeat the question back, cursing herself for stuttering and pausing. What if she wasn't supposed to ask a question like that in the first place?
Other than the flower, her question was met with silence.
* "I-I'm sorry I s-shouldn't have-"
* "Listen." Insisted the River Person. After the flower relayed the message, they began to hum their song again. After the third time the River Person's song was repeated, Alphys was shocked at the response.
The Echo Flower changed the first three notes. Instead of going up, they went down.
Alphys stared at it. Did she imagine what had just happened?
* "You didn't repeat what I hummed." The River Person told the flower, sternly.
* "You didn't repeat what I hummed." Replied the Echo Flower in an almost mocking tone.
* "That's not my song." Alphys thought the River Person's tone of voice sounded very final.
The Echo Flower didn't respond. It took all of Alphys control not to laugh then and there, and the River Person stood up.
* "I don't usually like leaving my boat. I'm always afraid it will leave without me." The Echo Flower wasn't repeating anything anymore. Alphys stepped onto the boat after the River Person did, and watched as the flower faded out of sight. She thought she heard a small goodbye echo down the narrow passage, but she figured she probably imagined it.
Maybe I can ride the boat tomorrow, too.
The River Person nodded their head, and hummed the rest of the way back.
