IMAGE ID: Digital art of Dessertrune Rouxls Kaard. He is fuller figured and his hair resembles shaved ice tinged with blue syrup toward the ends, with melting blue drip trails all over his hair. He is looking to the side nervously at an obscured painting of this AU's Spade King as he pushes up the black glasses he has on and is hugging a blue clipboard to his chest. He is also wearing a blue, glittery military-like jacket that flares out greatly towards the bottom to form high-low skirt structure overtop his matching blue dress pants, fading from blue to white at the bottom of the skirt with decorative snowflakes. He also wears shiny black dress shoes and a periwinkle-navy blue gradient frilled cravat. He is in a dark hallway, with a dim blue light around the corner behind him and a large person-shaped shadow in the light bloom on the tile floor. The portrait he is looking at has frost on the glass and silver metal frame where his elbow passes just by it.
The anxiety creeps up and settles in his lungs, needling him with icy sharp panic from within as he fudges the numbers here and there. As he purposefully misreports the budgets. As he offers his undying devotion to the corporation with a smile right to Rex Halberd's face. He can't keep up the facade anymore. He doesn't want to profit from-- Each breath he takes feels like inhaling pure menthol. He can't think about it anymore. Best to keep to his work while Rex is occupied.
Image ID: Digital artwork of Susie in Dessertrune AU form. She's wearing a long, deep berry colored patent leather duster jacket with bronze spikes on one shoulder and an emerald green inside, a berry toned pauldron on the other shoulder with more severe spikes, a black t-shirt with a red, fanged mouth logo on it, tyrian purple colored jeans with rips along the knee and thigh, a pale pink studded belt with a bronze buckle, and deep berry patent leather knee-high combat boots that match her jacket and have similar bronze spikes dotted across the side and back. She is posed with her arms crossed defensively and her back against an invisible support as she looks off to the right with a troubled expression, with her foot behind her on that invisible support as well. Susie has muted red-violet skin and dark maroon messy, shoulder length hair. She also has yellow sclera and bushy eyebrows, as well as smudged black eyeliner and darker dyed parts in her bangs. The background is a gradient that shifts from charcoal black to a deep maroon, with an abstract bright red diamond pattern that comes in from the right and fades out to the left into the middle of the image.
She knows what everyone says behind her back. She's much too aggressive. She'll puncture the dodgeball if you pick her for your team, so best to leave her for last. She's frightening to even sit next to, because she'll bite your face off. And she welcomes the image she's been handed; it's a blessing in disguise. Anything to keep away the swaths of judging eyes from the more vulnerable parts of her.
Image ID: Digital artwork of Ralsei in Dessertrune AU form. He is wearing red oval glasses, a dark emerald green overcoat with slits in the side that are messily patched up with dusty maroon thread, a matching dark emerald green witch's hat with a mint green and strawberry red swirl pattern underneath on the inside of the brim, a scarf that is striped with mint green and strawberry red, a long, grass green skirt that reaches his mid-calf, ankle high brown boots with pink socks poking out at the top, a pink button up shirt with heart-shaped dusty maroon buttons, and a brown belt with a bronze heart-shaped buckle that lays asymmetrically across his hips which also has a small green pouch attached to it. He has cream-colored fur that fades into a deep forest green under the shadow of his hat. He also has red pupils and is brandishing red flame magic in the palm of his right hand. He is posed with his feet shoulder-width apart and his toes pointed inward, one hand on his hip and the other held out palm up. He is set against a dark green, foggy abstract background.
He roams his little castle out in the middle of nowhere, his finger pads trailing gently along the castle library's many tomes. It is lonely. It is quiet... But he knows it won't be for long. So he will wait. And he will wait ever so patiently, for the heroes of legend to arrive.
What's Dessertrune K. Round like? I'm just curious.
allow me to introduce you to c. round first!
(the c in c round stands for cookies 'n cream,)
k. round would be about the same as in base deltarune, just with this sandwich cookie appearance that i can't be bothered to draw as well rn bc its 5 am and also a slightly modified appearance in the "late game" as it were, as with the control crown rouxls places on its head, the k. round breaks through a factory wall which allows the heroes to explore the facilities much more thoroughly than before...
hope you're alright getting some dessertrune lads :'3
Azalea - Take Care of Yourself For Me
Another late night at the office. Why did it always seem Rouxls had to lag behind to finish up the work of the day?
Hah. As if he needed to ask himself, Rouxls thought bitterly as his fingertips pecked at his keyboard with a stewing ire. Rouxls knew why. Mr. Halberd just liked seeing him squirm. Squirm like a cockroach under his massive, hulking boot. Rex often said it was because he was the best in the office but he and Rex both knew Rouxls was barely more competent than any other fool in the workplace. Hell, he was sure even Jevil could pick at this spreadsheet faster than-
Fuck. Goddamnit...!
There was the ice again. Freezing his stomach first and then creeping up his spine to settle in his lungs and steal the very wind from them.
Rouxls pushed the keyboard away to bury his face in his hands again. The cheap desk's surface frosted over where his elbows rested upon it. He felt so helpless. He felt so... lost.
He felt frozen in place.
"Lesser Dad!!" piped up a small, high voice, spiking above the low hum of the AC unit that still blew cool air into the lonely, dark office space.
"Lancer?"
Rouxls swiveled around to see the young paint-covered boy standing there in the hallway before the his office. Standing (and ignoring the sound of shattering ice), Rouxls approached the small heir.
"Well yeah, but I wanted to show you a project I just finished!" Lancer grinned mischievously as he grabbed Rouxls's chilly hand suddenly, pulling him along. Rouxls was dumbfounded, jogging lightly to keep up with the energetic lad's pace.
"Lancer, I reallie Must keepeth to mine work--"
"It'll take just a second, Lesser Dad! I promise," Lancer said as he directed a big grin towards the fuddy-duddy assistant. Rouxls only sighed as he pushed up his glasses further on his face. The resulting glare in the lenses only served to amplify Rouxls's severe features.
"Fine. Doux maketh it quicke, though."
And so Lancer picked up the pace. Through dimly lit corridors with only screens displaying all manner of corporate platitudes to light their way and across desolate polished tile one could be sure was cleaned hours ago, Rouxls found himself outside in the muggy, uncomfortable heat of the city air, being led over by hand to the factory which produced that-- smoke. The smoke that came from the mouth of Hell.
Sign of the devil; city on fire...
Rouxls was stirred from his thoughts when he noticed that Lancer had finally let go of his hand to run ahead. Jogging after the boy, Rouxls felt the air leave his lungs again as he looked up at the pristine shapes of still-wet color staining the dingy factory building. It was... graffiti. And it was impossible to ignore. Bright and colorful like a snake, its message was of warning, telling those that viewed it to stay far away. To not eat the candy the artist's own father produced.
"Do you like it? You told me not to eat the candy 'cause it wasn't safe so I thought I should tell everyone else! They should get to be safe from the bad candy, too!" Lancer chirped, bouncing on his heels. The hooded boy's peppy demeanor changed though, once he saw the horror on Rouxls's face.
"L... Lancer," Rouxls breathed weakly as he approached the factory wall, placing a hand beside the grafitti, onto the grime-ridden wall. "Thou- ...Y-you can't- do this... This isn't safe for you, either."
"Wh- But... Lesser Dad, it's just paint!!" Lancer insisted, stepping towards his father's assistant. "And I made sure no one could see me! Plus, I'm not gonna get in that much trouble, Greater Dad'll--"
"Lancer... Please..."
Lancer felt his words die in his throat at the fear in Rouxls's voice. Showing genuine emotion, let alone negative emotion, wasn't quite something Lancer was used to seeing from Rouxls.
"I want you... to be safe from harm. But I- I can't protect you from everything..." Rouxls relented quietly. He turned then, new creases in his brow forming as he met Lancer's shocked gaze. "Especially not with- with big, attention-grabbing spectacles like this, Lancer! Do you know what would happen to you if your father knew--"
"I just... wanted to help..."
Looking on at the downcast young boy, Rouxls sighed, beside himself. He crossed the distance between him and Lancer, bending down to envelop Lancer in a tight hug. Lancer hugged back tight, immediately seeking out the comfort of hiding his face in Rouxls's shoulder as he'd done so many times before.
"I know," Rouxls murmured as he pressed his cheek against Lancer's head. "I know you only wanted to help... But you have to help yourself, too... You have to- look out for yourself, too... There's only so much trouble I can keep you out of..."
"It's not fair..." Lancer lamented, tears coming to his eyes and wetting his Lesser Dad's blazer. "Other people should know the candy's not okay to eat... I-it's bad- not telling them, I mean..."
Rouxls forced his eyes shut as if it could keep his own sea of tears at bay, too. He only hugged Lancer closer, then. "...I know... I... I know..." he yielded. Rouxls pressed a feather-light kiss to his son's head, to comfort the lad. Pulling back just a mite, Rouxls moved to wipe away the tears from Lancer's furry cheeks. "But we can do other things to help... In the meantime..."
Lancer sniffed again, nodding. "Okay..." he sighed.
"Okay. Thank you for understanding, Lancer..." Picking the lad up, Rouxls turned back and carried Lancer in the direction of Halberd Inc.'s main offices. Unbeknownst to the high-level assistant, however, the boy whose head laid so adorably against his shoulder only brainstormed of further, subtler ways to get the message out. To save others from eating the candy. Just as his Lesser Dad saved him.
malius is doing about as well as anyone can in oppressive late stage capitalism :'D they're holding up okay but you have to pay for their services now... they're a lot more exhausted seeming, both in expression and their tone of voice...
almost like burgerpants, they find work to be draining but hey, at least malius is doing what they love right? no way the system they live in forcing them to use their passions as a lucrative venture sucks all enjoyment out of the hobby when it's your main method of survival!! and they're so lucky, aren't they; getting to do what they love and fix what has been harmed... too bad things have been breaking more and more often around here, almost as if each and every item's been made flimsy on purpose... to buy more perhaps?
and for those wondering what candy they're made of, it's cherry tootsie roll! :)
Image ID: Digital artwork of Jevil in Dessertrune AU form. Jevil is posed kneeling on the floor, faced away from the viewer and holding his face with one hand as he looks back straight on at the viewer. He has pinkish purple skin mottled with greenish grey and purple grime, his hair is a deeper purple and is styled into devil horn-like hair, and he has a plus sized figure. He also has pointed ears, thin eyebrows that match his hair, dark purple broken nails, and lime green teeth that match his visible pupil which is a tangle of swirling lines instead of a circle. He is wearing dirty and tattered office wear comprised of a lavender shirt with green grime all over it and part of the visible sleeve missing, an indigo jacket over his right shoulder with matching indigo pants, an emerald green belt with bites taken out of it, purple and green suspenders patterned with lime green abstract shapes, and a dark green tie with a lime green swirl pattern. He is missing his shoes and the soles of his mismatched socks (purple and lime green respectively) are dirtied up to the point of not being able to recognize their color much and they also have holes. There is a green jester hat that looks much like a neon sign superimposed onto his head. The background is a dark room with violet neon-sign-like ducks appearing that look like Jevil's carousel attack. There is an Everyman duck hidden to the left and over Jevil's shoulder.
He's spotted the gang. Oh-ho, how he's been waiting. How delicious it is to know others have freed themselves alongside him. He laughs to the point of near-tears.
okay, looks like people are interested in my AU dessertrune so..... please enjoy the upcoming jumble of words i've strung together to explain this au!
(TRIGGER WARNING - This is a horror AU and will deal with dark and disturbing topics, including gore, murder, and even cannibalism, intended to disturb the viewer. The post will be tagged with the appropriate tags to warn for such things but please do not read if such things will affect you negatively. Please stay safe and enjoy something else that may bring you joy, for you are worth it. 🖤)
Story
There's giggly chattering amongst the more naive and imaginative students of Hometown's school of a world in the shadows made of saccharine enchantment and wonder... Taffy trees and frosted fields and sweet smiles from the saccharine people that inhabit this magical land. How terrible it is to know that their innocent dreams are but sugar coated nightmares.
But all is not lost.
For you see, Legend tells of 3 brave young heroes from the Light banishing the Angel’s Confections from the land which promise to bring ruin to them all. To rid the Dark of its extra Fountain and the curious candies that have sprung up in ostentatious billboards and flashy, loud ads all through the Dark World is the Heroes’ Quest; a quest that may consume them whole.
Locations
Light World
Everything in the Light World is mostly untouched, save for the bunker which sports an odd little sticker for some strange candy... Curious when you consider the sticker's brightness and newness against the bunker's weathered and dilapidated age. Probably just some kid with new stickers wandering where they shouldn't have been.
Dark World
????? - Dark and haunting, this muted pink area sports rock candy jewels that glint strangely in the shadows that bathe the area. Best to keep moving along, judging by the strange iridescent sludge that pool around everywhere here and open mouthed grinning puzzles that seem to giggle quietly at you specifically...
Castle Town - A break from the burnt bubblegum-pink, there is an empty town that surrounds a lonely castle. It is dark, and so very quiet, but completely untouched by the sludge from before. Abandoned? Or, perhaps it is so lonely a location, everyone overlooks it.
Field - A long field of pastel purple grass and luscious strawberry pink-red trees with tall buildings off in the horizon... There’s an overwhelming scent of fruit punch on the breeze and- oh! It seems a “Lancer” has left up signage everywhere, warning others in a childish scrawl to not eat from the candy stalls that advertise so loudly and brightly on every path... "The taste of happiness!" the wrapper proclaims. Upon meeting him, there’s a sense that he is perhaps not the most upstanding child with how much he loves to call himself a villain... But- perhaps he has a point, with how the candy seems to beckon the observer with its bright, happy colors... Would you believe this mischievous young lad?
The Scarlet Forest - The smell of sweet fruit punch fades out into spicy cinnamon as the crimson trees seem to grow brighter. A few fallen leaves float on by with the wind as their vehicle, and the stalls from before disappear... Smaller strip malls and buildings abound here... Though there is a large store that calls to each Darkner that approaches with bright neon signs. “Come and see the new line of Halberd Inc. treats!” the dark-circled greeter cries out with a smile so big it looks like it aches, "New improved formula! 150% more sweetness packed in!!" and the huge line of much too eager Darkners that queue up for a taste of the reformulated sweets cheer cacophonously...
Great Board - The smell of licorice envelopes the air in the Great Board, which in and of itself, is filled to the brim with billboards and bright lights and neon signs and weathered posters out the wazoo. It is a smog ridden area, lit only by the blinding neon lights that guide the way up to the castle. There's a small maze of a city here, before the Factory. It's gritty, and dingy, and it smells like a burning dumpster fire there but it is a small bit of respite before trekking elsewhere... Perhaps one could stop at the Boardway Theater, where there's a quaint little horror musical about a killer barber. Song about having "a little ponman", the Halberd Inc. papers last said.
The Factory - Halberd Inc.'s core production facility. Every facet of it is highly secured, contained, and protected. It employs almost every Darkner in the area, in some form or another. If they do not work in the production line, they work in transportation of the products. If they do not transport Halberd Inc. products, they sell the products. Or advertise. Halberd Inc. is inescapable. Halberd Inc. loves you. Halberd Inc. provides for you. Working for Halberd Inc. is happiness. Don't you want to be happy? Feel all sweet inside? The cagey silver-haired assistant hugging his clipboard a little too tightly too his chest doesn't seem all that happy. Maybe if one presses the stressed man, he'll give up the dark secret of this sordid manufacturer... And, quickly, do inform him of where his adopted(?) son has tarried off to.
Characters
Lightners
Kris - The hero of our tale. A quiet kid, normally. Though, normally not so quiet as when they enter the Dark World. They enter a world of sweets and yet their mouth is taken from them, replaced only with a thin, red smile against the purple of their mixed berry gummy flesh. They have no mouth and they must scream.
Susie - A rude girl that's about as tough as leather. ...Makes sense as to why her hide becomes fruit leather, in the Dark World. About as sweet too, deep down. Hard to convince her away from not just absolutely wolfing down all the free food around her though. But... she does listen to Lancer's warnings, thankfully.
Noelle, Asriel, Alphys, Undyne, Toriel, Asgore, Sans, Papyrus - Unchanged. Speculate on what you'd like with them. Though I have thoughts here and there for "sweets" versions of them.
Darkners
Ralsei - A fluffy boy that smells like toothpaste. He'll correct you that it's spearmint that you're picking up and then offer you some sugar free gum. Or an apple. Or some celery. As a healthy snack.
Lancer - The bad guy! ...Or so he says, as he continues to help you through this strange, saccharine world. Just kind of seems like a little kid that means well... A little, jawbreaker-looking kid, with how round he is and the paint splatters from all the signs he makes all over his clothes. ...Are those meant to be there or not?
Seam - The local shopkeep. This purple rock candy feline knows much about this old world and how very terribly the world has been corrupted since the rise of Halberd Inc. Stay a while to keep out from the not-so-fresh air and ask about all the nitty-gritty details, Seam certainly won't mind.
Rouxls - Rex Halberd's right hand man, a frigid blue raspberry slushie of a Kaard and a yes man if ever there was one. Though, only to keep the peace and his life. He only trusts the CEO of Halberd Inc. as far as he can throw him, now that he knows what the candy contains. (He almost throws up every time he thinks about it.) He wants to see the company crash and burn and run away with Lancer to build anew but he's powerless to do so. Rex owns just about everything Rouxls knows... And if Rex doesn't own it yet, he will. A little help or direction for this hopeless assistant would be appreciated.
Jevil - Must be quite the sucker to have searched this far down in the Factory. This swirling lollipop man with a harlequin smile only laughs uncontrollably as you near the bloodied vat of... candy(?) within the room. He was locked in here a while ago and forgotten for the crime of upsetting the CEO with silly games. He wishes to open your mind, see the real truth of this world... Or kill you in the process. Either or.
King - The Rex Halberd. CEO. Father. Friend. Leader. And the most awful person alive. He has more money than most would ever see in 100 lifetimes. He would dangle his own son off of the roof of his factory building. And he would more than happily consume his own products because, just like his workers and his family, the Darkners' bodies used to create his sweets are nothing more than something for him to use and discard when they have become worthless. Kick this dude's fucking ass.
