A.R. Hermann

### Favorite Sandwich

Carne Asada Burrito or clam chowder in sourdough bread bow (if you insist a sandwich needs bread) [42]

### Favorite Pizza

Meat lover's with extra cheese, deep dish [41]

### Favorite Poptart Flavor

Wild Berry [57]

**Arial Raavi Hermann**, or simply **A.R. Hermann** or **Hermann**, is the wife of W.D. Gaster and the mother of Sans and Papyrus.

## Conception

Hermann was conceptualized by Trash Queen making a list of all the traits Sans and Papyrus had and crossing out the ones that their father gave them. Trash Queen decided to make her the riverperson because she saw on the internet that "beware the man who speaks in hands" sounded like a scorned lover [18].

## Personality

Hermann is a spazz, full of energy and life [10], taking any opportunity to party, no matter how trivial [46]. Her forwardness and wit contrast her husband's calm, reserved nature, and this seems to have been passed to Papyrus.

## Abilities

### Known Spells

Summoning (soulbound scythe [27])

Attack Augmentation (orange)

Levitation

Energy construct creation

Gravity Magic (telekinesis)

**Combat Training -** Hermann is very good at dodging and when unimpeded, uses her scythe to become a whirlwind of death [50].

### Physical Techniques and Qualities

Bilingual

Cloak physiology - She has also lost her skeletal ability to generate a pregnancy bubble, but she is capable of impregnating another monster [55]

Doesn't need to breathe [44]

4th-Wall Lean - This allows for an enhanced level of awareness of the comic's medium and has no in-universe reason; Trash Queen simply thinks it's fun [58].

### Skills

Music - She finds it easier to play the ukulele than the guitar, sometimes makes up songs on the fly, but has no formal training and can't read sheet music [23]. She is also able to perform Starships by Nicki Minaj, playing the instrumentals on her ukelele and singing and rapping the lyrics [51].

Cooking - Hermann has a very good quiche recipe [48].

## History

### Pre-AFAC

According to Hermann, her ancestors fled from Spain to Mexico where they lived amicably [28] before being forced to flee north during the war and wound up beneath Mount Ebott [5]. However, most of her family's history is forgotten or half-remembered [28]. Her parents were killed in a cave-in when she was a girl [31], the trauma leading to her low HP count in adulthood [56]. She was taken in by the Grillbys for the rest of her childhood and is still close to them today [32].

She met Gaster in the librarby while she was trying to check out "The Cat in the Hat" [30] and got into an argument with him about whether or not he should help her reach it. While Hermann didn't hit it off with Gaster, they did keep running into each other and she noticed how dour he was, and made it her mission to get him to laugh. Over the course of trying, she started developing feelings for him [33], eventually waking upon day and thought "I'm going to husband the fuck out of that nerd" [45]. Eventually Gaster invited her into the Snowdin Woods and she took him ice skating before Gaster kissed her [33]. She got pregnant with Sans accidentally when she and Gaster were still dating, and this lead to the two of them getting married [20]. She was shot and killed accidentally by one of the fallen humans while trying to find Sans [14] and was soon after revived by Gaster's desperate Determination experiments.

However, Hermann's soul took a very long time to reform, so long that Gaster gave up on her. Hermann's being was embedded in her cloak, leaving that as her only physical form. However, she woke up soulless and fell into depression and was so incoherent that not even she couldn't understand herself that she eventually decided to make the confusing speech her persona and became the Riverperson. This had the side effect of disguising herself from anyone who might recognize her [22]. She met Purrgatorio when she was drifting down the river feeling sorry for herself and they picked her up out of curiosity. They were both very lonely at the time and soon became friends [40]. Over the course of the resets, Hermann remained aware of them due to having died already [21].

### Red Echoes

Hermann appears as the Riverperson to Monster Kid and tells him that red echo flowers don't exist and directs him to Waterfall where he can find a purple echo flowers. Later they find Frisk when they are despairing in the MTT Hotel and offers to take them to Monster Kid. Later, when Chara possesses Sans and attacks Frisk and Kid, Hermann steps in to hold them off. Unfortunately, she can't bring herself to kill Sans, so Chara continues going after her before being stopped by the rest of the cast.

She attempts to sneak off after Chara is incapacitated, but the askers rat her out and Gaster learns her identity. She chews him out for what his experiments and when Gaster starts crying, the askers manage to convince her to forgive him. She still tries to leave, thinking herself soulless, but Gaster proves her soul had healed and she agrees to come home to the surface.

### Sweet Dreams and Nice Creams

Hermann yells at MWSIH!Gaster when he's making too much noise on the other side of the portal, and when she comes in when MWSIH!Gaster comes through she assumes he is a failed clone of Gaster, having forgotten the nose. She summons AFAC!Gaster and they sit down for a meal. She helps mop up MWSIH!Gaster after he melts from the guilt of nearly killing Toriel. She serenades him while he rests in the bathtub, then tries to amuse him with impressions. She mimics Lucida and MWSIH!Gaster gets upset. After he tells her that his wife is dead and that her dust is wrapped in a bandana, Hermann reveals how she was revived and Gaster immediately recovers.

Hermann's last appearance in this arc is her talking with Lucida about being soulless before she and MWSIH!Gaster return to their AU.

### Extra Dark Chocolate

Hermann is woken up along with Gaster when Frisk asks him to translate Maverick's flashdrive message. During MWSIH's Asriel Dreemurr fight, Hermann uses the interdimensional cellphone that MWSIH!Gaster left to convince Lucida to help MWSIH!Frisk fight Asriel. She watches some of Alphys's security tapes with Gaster before they both leave partway through.

### ¡Eclipse Total!

Hermann's only appearance in this arc is near the end, where she started the musical exorcism of ADC!Chara and mocked Gaster's complicated explanation of the portal's capabilities.

### Drop Down Town

Hermann has yet to make an appearance in this arc.

## Relationships

Boatmaster - parent [31]

Salsa Hermann - Mother [31]

Semi Seriff Gaster - Father-in-law [29]

Century Gothic - Mother-in-law (deceased) [29]

Gaster - Husband

Sans - Son

Papyrus - Son

## Trivia

* She is thus far the only bilingual member of AFAC's cast, speaking Spanish [6] sourced from Google Translate.
* She has an incarnation in Man Who Speaks In Hands that is implied to write graphic romance novels.
* She was able to remember Gaster and the resets because she had died [1] though sometimes she didn't notice [11].
* Her song's lyrics in Sweet Dreams and Nicecreams were written by Rei [2] and are to the tune of Dating Start! [3].
* When she is sad, she starts fading [4].
* Likely celebrates Cinco de Mayo [8] and does celebrate Day of the Dead [9].
* Has the ability to hide her stats [12].
* Her boat, Purrgatorio, lives in the backyard [13].
* She goes by her last name because she thinks her first name is boring [15].
* She sang the Wrong Number Song when Frisk picked up while trying to call Gaster [16].
* When injured, she leaks Determination instead of dust [19].
* Hermann typically floats a few feet off the ground and enjoys being tall for once, considering her previous height of 3-4 feet [26].
* Hermann's life as a dust lich has not been substantially worse than when she was a skeleton and so she never questioned why she regained her soul but did not regain her previous form [26].
* She has ADHD [34].
* While she does listen to her husband's science rants, if he gets to the point where he forgets to eat, she will physically carry him to the table [36].
* Hermann originally made the nesting doll-esque collection of science and joke books for Gaster for Valentine's day. The smallest book contains a folded up love letter to him that tells him how much she cares for him and that her love for him to too big for quantum physics to explain [37]
* Hermann has not slept since she was revived and is afraid to, but doesn't need to. She passes the time while everyone else is asleep by cuddling with Gaster or playing phone games [38].
* Hermann has not considered the fact that because her lifespan is dependent on her supply of Determination, she may be significantly outlived by Gaster or long outlive him [39].
* Hermann's body can be stained and she takes a bath by entering the washing machine [43].
* Hermann prefers coffee to tea [47].
* Hermann loves spicy food and teases those with a low tolerance [49].
* Hermann enjoys a good electric guitar riff since she knows how difficult it is to pull off [52].
* Hermann watches TikTok at night while everyone sleeps sometimes and shows Gaster her favorited ones in the morning. She wears headphones but occasionally her laughter wakes him up [53]
* She has gone on some dates with Gaster to make up for lost time [54].

## References

[2] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/141909782567/i-managed-to-sing-it-in-my-head-you-have-lyrical

[3] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/141911954962/is-there-a-tune-to-hermans-song

[4] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/142054932047/i-noticed-that-in-panel-three-of-the-last-comic

[5] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/142147555462/i-dont-know-if-youve-been-asked-this-before-or

[6] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/142165814417/what-language-does-hermann-speak-in

[7] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/142170274407/if-gaster-and-hermann-had-to-pick-a-smash-bros

[8] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/143903287717/does-anyone-in-the-afac-household-celebrate-cinco

[9] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/143905203717/does-hermann-celebrate-the-day-of-the-dead

[10] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/143905263632/cinco-de-mayo-isnt-even-really-a-mexican-holiday

[11] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/150760761997/could-hermann-remember-the-resets-she-was

[12] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/152330503517/so-far-every-skeleton-has-been-pretty-strong-are

[13] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/152885290842/hi-this-is-my-first-time-asking-and-i-just-wanted

[14] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/155675257232/asgore-and-possible-flicks-aside-what-caused

[15] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/155890436302/why-does-she-prefer-herman-does-she-not-like-the

[16] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/156765625687/ive-asked-this-before-though-im-not-surprised

[17] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/177944270427/what-pokemon-starters-would-the-main-cast-choose

[18] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/178934868637/to-the-creators-of-ar-hermann-because-im-not

[19] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/188778628672/is-it-even-possible-to-kill-hermann-anymore-she

[20] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/170676390347/are-accidental-pregnancies-much-of-a-thing-in-the

[21] http://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/176264638622/how-did-sans-and-herman-remember-gaster-if-he-was

[22] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/614007438745747456/why-did-hermann-develop-the-riverperson-persona

[23] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/619508091546959872/do-anyone-in-this-universe-cast-loves-to

[24] https://.tumblr.com/post/634629590210560000/how-much-hp-does-hermann-have

[25] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/634693483159060480/i-assume-that-hermann-has-gotten-good-at-dodging

[26] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/634769974952673280/my-theory-is-that-herman-didnt-turn-out-like

[27] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/636150942618746881/sorry-if-this-has-already-been-answered-but-what

[28] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/637521222193774592/why-does-hermen-speak-spanish-they-live-in

[29] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/638110770427789312/sogaster-perents

[30] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/638124507679408129/gasters-dad-your-girlfriend-is-stupid-and

[31] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/638379822217920512/well-semi-sucks-what-about-hermanns-parents

[32] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/638405527661068288/since-her-parents-died-when-she-was-young-who

[33] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/640516007344193536/how-did-wd-gaster-actually-end-up-falling-in

[34] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/642547516150349824/also-in-the-same-ask-about-gaster-being-autistic

[35] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/642639710536318976/so-based-on-that-earlier-ask-you-can-only-survive

[36] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/642730320939057152/speaking-of-gaster-and-the-void-does-hermann

[37] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/643814196929282048/i-bet-the-physics-book-inside-a-joke-book-inside-a

[38] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/644092333438255104/does-hermann-need-to-sleep-unlike-everyone-else

[39] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/644160639693160448/given-information-from-an-ask-in-april-12-2020

[40] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/645847586238054400/how-did-hermann-meet-purrgarito

[41] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/655237954294382592/wait-have-answered-the-most-important-question

[42] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/655223429179621376/so-would-a-philly-steak-cheese-also-be-among

[43] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/655513010849316864/can-hermann-stain

[44] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/655613322167779328/hermann-isnt-a-skeleton-anymore-does-she-now

[45] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/658443727695691776/how-did-hermann-realize-she-was-in-love-with

[46] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/660397421434650624/hey-um-if-hermann-was-dead-and-marriage-is-till

[47] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/661199975344226304/how-dozs-the-crew-drink-their-coffeeteahot

[48] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/661200139952799744/what-does-hermann-cook

[49] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/661226952145911808/ooooo-while-were-on-the-topic-of-food-how-much

[50] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/662222795639521280/hermann-has-six-hp-what-use-is-she-in-a-fight

[51] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/668610418782142464/im-sorry-but-how-can-herman-that-ghostly-skele

[52] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/668683409813635072/hermann-likes-rock-music

[53]
https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/674340008951414784/since-hermann-plays-on-her-phone-while-everyone
[54] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/680428965661474816/since-im-bored-and-its-like-nearly-3am-and-i
[55] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/682881252279402496/are-sans-and-papyrus-gonna-get-a-sibling-anytime
[56] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/684574116243718144/so-sans-is-physically-frail-due-to-the-trauma-of
[57] https://askfriskandcompany.tumblr.com/post/685907858687246336/whats-everyones-favorite-poptart-flavors