u/JetsFan2003

*Noelle freezes. It was a voice she hadn't expected to hear, given she was out past midnight.

"M-Mom? I... I should ask the same thing!"

I've been having trouble sleeping ever since the heart attack. A nice nighttime walk helps to soothe the mind, I've found.

...

Now, what about you?

"...I was going out to meet up with Kris...."

*She shrunk down and whispered the last part of her sentence in hushed tones.

"...In... in the old school's supply closet."

*Carol took in a deep breath, before centering herself and pressing on.

You're going to see Susie, aren't you?

*Sheepishly, Noelle turned away.

"Yeah... her and Ralsei. I... I was hoping to talk things over with her again. I..."

*Trembling, Noelle's fists quaked at her side, before she finally gave in.

"...I need advice, mom. I still have feelings for her, and I just found out that Kris also has feelings for her. And... I have no idea how I should navigate this."

*Carol holds mum for a beat, before dropping her shoulders and taking hold of her daughter's hands.

Noelle... let's talk about this over some tea at Tori's place...

...

...

...

*Carol takes a sip of her chamomile as her daughter nervously crosses her legs

...I should've figured that you'd end up this way... especially since it's how your father and I were.

"What... what do you mean?"

Noelle... why do you think our family has been so close to the Dreemurrs? Why do you think I've grown so close to Tori ever since the heart attack?

...

We were in a polycule back in college, dear. It was initially the Dreemurrs and your father, but... I was roommates freshman year with Tori, and... I fell for her. I fell for her hard. And before I knew it, I was brought into the fold. I won't go into detail as to all the debauchery we got up to, but... those were perhaps the happiest years of my life.

Unfortunately... I couldn't let good enough be good enough. Your Aunt Clarice... you hardly knew her, but she was destined to inherit the Holiday political dynasty, but she had a mental break, and went against our father's wishes. She ran off with a trans woman much like you. I more than respected it, hell, it inspired my activism as mayor later on, but it was the nineties, and that would've been political suicide to be in a sapphic relationship, with a trans woman at that. So I was tapped by father to become mayor after graduating.

Unfortunately, being a sapphic in a polycule was probably just as much of a taboo at the time... hell, it probably still would be now. And father said he'd cut me out of the inheritance if I didn't shack up with a man. So... I did. I got together with your father, Tori got together with Gorey, and we just... pretended that the things between us never happened. We just pretended that settling down was just something everyone did.

...

"W-wow...."

"But... what does that have to do with Susie?"

*Carol set down her tea and held tightly onto Noelle's hands.

Noelle... more than anything, I want you to know that if Susie forgives you, then you don't have to choose between her and Kris. You can have both of them in your life. Whether it be as friends, or if it's as something more. My biggest regret is not listening to my heart, and listening to my father instead. Do what makes you happy.

I... it wasn't right of me to put the weight of political appearance on you. You always wanted to be a horror author, I've read those fanfics you've written. Do that. Live the life you want to live with Kris, and if she comes around, Susie.

"But... but mom... what about Politics Bear?"

Oh, Barry? Oh....

*Carol lets off a long, protracted sigh, reflecting on how her life's work was flushed down the drain.

Nothing says you can't make a difference without sacrificing yourself. Become an activist, join a lobbying group, do something low-key and focus on your passion. I... I spent too much of my life trying to force you into a square hole that you don't fit into. I think... with my time winding down... I want you to be happy more than anything.

...

Can you... forgive me for who I was when you were a kid?

*Noelle got up from her seat and wrapped her mother in a tight hug.

"I already have."

You're really trying to lecture me about how East German was "evil?" How mass surveillance and psychological intimidation and disappearing people is bad, apparently? Well what if I want that?! What if I think people deserve that?!?!

Honestly, you and your meek centrist ways have done nothing but frustrate me the entire time I've known you! I don't want to do away with the boot, I want to be the one wearing it!!! Either you're with me, or against me!

...

...You... want... a break?!?!

FAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'LL GIVE YOU A BREAK! I'LL BREAK YOUR ARM! I'LL WRING YOUR NECK! I'LL SNUFF THE LIFE OUT OF YOU AND TURN YOU TO DUST!!! ICH BIN DIE ÜBERFRAU, ICH BIN DIE ÜBERFRAU, ICH BIN DIE ÜBERFRAU!!! JA, JA, JAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

...

Azzy?

Azzy, wake up!

Wake up, Azzy, this isn't funny anymore!

Azzy, please, please, PLEASE!!!

No, no, no, no, NO!!!!!!

"Is it weird that I wish I contracted it again? It *sucked* having to sneak into the bathroom during class to draw your blood (fwahaha that was a bad pun), but that's the closest we've been in a long while. I sometimes wish Catti didn't have the antiviral medication stowed away in her room and I were still a vampire. I miss what we had, Kris...."

Related, you should read "One Bitten, Twice Shy" by tiredandjaded on AO3. Great fic.

I don't know why the album art for Gaucho drew my eye, but I had to redraw it as Kriselle. Also, here's a bonus drawing of Noelle kissing Kris <3

Because wouldn't it be nice if they could be the dog they always wanted to be?

My mom won't stop buying Wonder Bread. It's like she's possessed by some demonic entity, and she's spending all of our savings on the stuff. Breakfast? Wonder Bread toast. Lunch? Wonder Bread sandwich. Dinner? Garlic butter Wonder Bread on the side. Dessert? Wonder Bread bread pudding. I'm going insane, it's all just Wonder Bread!

And the worst part? That forest we used to play in as kids? She's gonna cut it all down! All of it!!! And she won't even give a reason why, she just said "deforestation is sexy." Like, what?????

I don't even know my mother anymore, Krismas. I just want my mommy back....

Her name is Collette LaFollette and she is so pretty, deer women are pretty...

Hey, Kris, maybe singing that song to communicate your angst over thrid-wheeling with your lesbian friends isn't a good idea

My poor little blorbo Kris... =(

It's okay, I've written poly fic of you and your friends to make you happy, little fella...

Based on a fanfic I wrote (same title), Kris finally worked up the courage to ask to form a polycule, and they're all a bit overwhelmed with love!

(And yes, the title is a Cabaret reference)

For u/azoubee , I hope this is what you wanted

Collection of drawings I've made of these two, I am NOT normal about the Weird Route...

The sprites (both old and used) for Noelle in the water are all apparently labeled "matome." My Spanish-speaking friend told me that the phrase "mato me" in Spanish refers to suicide, and sure enough, it does.

This might recontextualize the entire scene if that's what Toby intended. Maybe Noelle wanted to off herself (perhaps in the same way Dess disappeared), and Kris gave her the strength to do so. TBD if she was successful.

Thoughts?

Figured I'd make one more pass of drawing my takes on Asriel (Adelaide) and Dess before Chapter 5 releases and makes my headcanons moot (although of Azzy ends up being a trans woman in canon too I might scream with joy)

Estrogen would've saved her...

Based on my fanfic (A Lost, Lost, Lost Girl). Be warned, sensitive content matter.

Wu-Tang, Go Knicks!