inconsequence | ic inbox

[Their smile twists, a deft, wry uptick of one side of their mouth. The unevenness put it askew, softens it in some respects - and darkens it in others. It is not the plastic thing it is typically, but that makes what it is now all the worse.

It makes it worse because it means something.]

Only half-right, Frisk. Kids like me don't end up with kids like you.

[A silence stretches out between them, tense and over-charged...but Frisk is the first to bend, eyes flicking down and away as they wilt inward.]

We're not that different.

The entire world begs to differ.

[The friend Asriel wished he always had! The future of humans and monsters, but better, and earnest, and real! Someone who worms their way into everyone's hearts but does so in a nice way, in a good way, in a way that doesn't ravage their SOULs whole!]

Well, th' world's wrong!

[They curl up, arms around their knees and face hidden against them. Thick curls of hair fall to hide them even further, but nothing is truly secret there.]

We were both...I chose that. I had every chance t' stop.

[They never did learn when to QUIT.]

Did you? Because if I recall, there was never truly a choice in the matter.

[They form a gun-shape with their hands, press the tips of middle and index finger to their temple with a false, bright grin.]

Toriel gets lucky shot in. Boom, you're dead. GAME OVER. You have to stay determined. Don't you? So you keep going. You keep going until Undyne pokes all sorts of little holes through you.

Boom, you're dead. GAME OVER.

But you have to stay determined. So you get up and you keep going.

Asgore skewers you with a giant fork. Boom, you're dead. GAME OVER.

But you have to stay determined.

[Whose memories were those, Frisk? They certainly weren't yours. That was the demon in your head, feeding you lines of dialogue until you got back up off the ground and kept going!

Figured it out yet, Partner?

Escaping from
your purpose
is impossible.]

[It hurts. It hurts and they don't know what to say, can't make the words form in their throat. Fingers dig into the flesh of their arms, nails pressing hard, hard, harder into the skin and they shouldn't do that, shouldn't shouldn't but there's nothing else to do. Doesn't matter.]

N...not your fault.

[They look up again, eyes bright and wet and brow creased in worry and regret.]

It wasn't ever...your fault.

Whose memories forced you to keep going, Frisk? Where was the option to QUIT? Because I certainly did not see any.

[You know precisely why that is, do you not? There are two choices, always. You Continue, or you Reset. The option to QUIT? Why, it simply does not exist.

It never did.]

Not your fault.

[They know Chara didn't want this. No one wanted this, to be dragged back out of that long slumber again and again just to trace the same steps, the same movements over and over.]

[But if not them, then who? What put them into this cycle, what reached out and twisted the world around them into this sick parody of a journey? Was it their own foolish mistake, to go tumbling down into that mountain? Was it fate that chained them into this role?]

[Or was it...?]

[Chara smiles, indulgently. Their idealism borders on naivete at times, does it not?]

If I was to get no rest, why should you either? Creatures like me...wouldn't hesitate to KILL those who get in my way. Over. And over. And over.

[As many times as it takes. RESET. Another monster, another death. RESET. Have things become better? Does Toriel still hurl flames at the child she swore to protect? RESET. Another monster down, dust swirling in a snowy spiral of motes. RESET. They're stepping more darkly now, hurtling forward with the intent to hurt.

RESET.]

If you are so very eager to deny I have anything to do with your journey, Frisk, then I must say: I may as well not exist at all!

[And wouldn't that be a much sweeter subject for everyone?]

That's not true. You helped me.

[Every step. Hints, whispers in their ear as they made their way through. Putting the words together when they didn't know what to say, laying out a foundation for them to build their choices upon. No, Frisk didn't always choose the best path, but...there is only one path where the quiet urging is not present.]

It wasn't any trick. We were stuck, and...you still tried.

But only for the good parts, right? Only for the parts that are Frisk-patented and Frisk-approved!

[No control allowed for this demon! Since when were they the one in control, right? But that is nothing new, is it. No, no, of course not; we cannot trust you to make your own decisions, Chara. We cannot trust you to decide anything for yourself, Chara, can we? You will do what all children do, and you will make a mess of things. They are and never have been in control, and never will be, should their Partner have their way.

Which they will. Of course they will. When the story does not bend to your will, simply rewrite the book!]

[Sometime during the day, Frisk seems to have slipped back into the bedroom while Chara was not around. On their bed has been left a small pile of chocolate kisses, as close to real ones as they could find (without any gross organs hidden inside, what the heckie Savrii), and beside that a hand-made card. Drawn on the front is two red hearts and a familiar yellow star below both of them. Inside reads "Happy Valentines, Chara! I know you don't like real hugs and kisses so I hope these are okay!!!! I love you!!".]

[Oh Frisk, you...sappy summer child. It almost makes it impossible to grow incensed at their entering their room without asking. Almost. They respond promptly.]

A lovely line of x's. So many, in fact, that I believe you may have won a game of tic-tac-toe.

[Their thanks, in short, convoluted as it is.]

[Frisk beams when the message comes in, replying quickly with a light feeling in their chest. Chara liked it!]

but theyre all yours so that means YOU won!!