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thats not good dying slow sucks
your not tumor heart will just have to stay a mystery!!
your not tumor heart will just have to stay a mystery!!
[There's a ping, and Chara will find their TAB lighting up with what is, perhaps, the most straightforward birthday invitation you've ever seen.
Clearly made in a template, maybe titled "PROFESSIONAL LINES" or something equally boring, it invites you to a "a small birthday celebration" at a new restaurant/bar opening in Kauto's Region 1.
There is a button to RSVP, and the additional option to add a "plus one".
It is signed off simply with "SHEPARD".
Will you attend this crunk-ass fête, this... space jam??]
Clearly made in a template, maybe titled "PROFESSIONAL LINES" or something equally boring, it invites you to a "a small birthday celebration" at a new restaurant/bar opening in Kauto's Region 1.
There is a button to RSVP, and the additional option to add a "plus one".
It is signed off simply with "SHEPARD".
Will you attend this crunk-ass fête, this... space jam??]
[This is...unexpected. The temptation to simply fire off a rude response to "no, never," finds itself crushed beneath the quiet admission that snapping out that knee-jerk reply is liable to get them fired, or demoted, or something along those lines.]
Inviting a child to a bar?
Count me in :)
Inviting a child to a bar?
Count me in :)
[Psuedochild repeatedly shames adult, this and more tonight at 11]
This is a no-win situation.
This is a no-win situation.
Never have truer words been stated.
Are you regretting that decision yet?
Are you regretting that decision yet?
If you insist.
[Time to make sure she regrets it!]
[Time to make sure she regrets it!]
CHARA HONEY.
ARE YOU BUSY? BECAUSE I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT SOMETHING, AND I FIND IT TO BE A SUBJECT I WOULD RATHER DISCUSS IN PERSON.
DO YOU MIND MEETING ME AT MY HOUSE? OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT SUIT YOU BEST.
ARE YOU BUSY? BECAUSE I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT SOMETHING, AND I FIND IT TO BE A SUBJECT I WOULD RATHER DISCUSS IN PERSON.
DO YOU MIND MEETING ME AT MY HOUSE? OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT SUIT YOU BEST.
["Honey." Oh, that's nice. Pleasant for everyone involved, his penchant for cute little pet names, the thin drape of presumably disarming, assumed familiarity over whatever it is he wishes to discuss at length.
In person.
At his house.
That's a joke, right?]
Would not a neutral location be suited best?
In person.
At his house.
That's a joke, right?]
Would not a neutral location be suited best?
I SUPPOSE IF YOU WANT TO TREK FURTHER, I'M AMENABLE TO SUCH. JUST AS LONG AS IT ISN'T DENSELY POPULATED.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
[Clearly he'd prefer it in his house, since he's not exactly interested in discussing the subject at length in public. But if it gets it done, then he's not going to argue. He's weary of discourse on any level.]
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
[Clearly he'd prefer it in his house, since he's not exactly interested in discussing the subject at length in public. But if it gets it done, then he's not going to argue. He's weary of discourse on any level.]
["Densely populated." My, but he's twitchy.]
I'm sure any old place will do.
Something the matter, Mettaton? I thought you favored an audience. Wouldn't it be safer to converse with the hellion with the protection of several protective spectators?
I'm sure any old place will do.
Something the matter, Mettaton? I thought you favored an audience. Wouldn't it be safer to converse with the hellion with the protection of several protective spectators?
EVEN A STAR HAS THINGS THEY WOULD RATHER KEEP OUT OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.
BUT LOOK. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PLAYING THIS GAME. MEET ME OUTSIDE THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GIVING ME A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME.
[Twitchy indeed. Chara likely notices, because they notice everything he doesn't want them to.]
BUT LOOK. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PLAYING THIS GAME. MEET ME OUTSIDE THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GIVING ME A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME.
[Twitchy indeed. Chara likely notices, because they notice everything he doesn't want them to.]
[A moment.
Somehow, they doubt it will be any such thing. Whatever it is, it requires a level of micromanagement that would imply the discussion, whatever it is, is rather of a sensitive and critical nature.
Handing them the ammunition and loading the gun.
How interesting.]
Understood.
I will be there posthaste.
Somehow, they doubt it will be any such thing. Whatever it is, it requires a level of micromanagement that would imply the discussion, whatever it is, is rather of a sensitive and critical nature.
Handing them the ammunition and loading the gun.
How interesting.]
Understood.
I will be there posthaste.
I'LL BE WAITING.
[Better be quick, before he changes his mind.]
[Better be quick, before he changes his mind.]
[Frisk has been conspicuously absent today. There's no sign of violent entry, and their bed was properly made (or as much as they usually ever do), so they don't seem to have been taken against their free will. But at the same time there is no note, physical or in either Chara or Asriel's TAB, as to where they have gone.]
[Certainly abnormal.]
[It's not until approximately nine in the morning that Chara has any indication the Ingress didn't simply whisk them away somewhere.]
im okay sorry
ill be home tonight
[Certainly abnormal.]
[It's not until approximately nine in the morning that Chara has any indication the Ingress didn't simply whisk them away somewhere.]
im okay sorry
ill be home tonight
[Their contact is still in their TAB. Surely that would mean - they're still here. Alive. Well. Everything's fine. Everything's fine, and they're not worried, no. Frisk can take care of themself. They go to their job, they do what's required of them, and it's -
Fine.
If they have trouble sleeping, it's because they always have trouble sleeping. Because nothing is different, and nothing will change.
Wait several minutes after their TAB buzzes with a new message, heart in their throat. Turn it over. Read it. Read it several times. Several more. Set the TAB down, pace the length of the room. Wait, and wait, and wait. And then, at long last - pluck the thing up.
And answer.]
Understood.
Fine.
If they have trouble sleeping, it's because they always have trouble sleeping. Because nothing is different, and nothing will change.
Wait several minutes after their TAB buzzes with a new message, heart in their throat. Turn it over. Read it. Read it several times. Several more. Set the TAB down, pace the length of the room. Wait, and wait, and wait. And then, at long last - pluck the thing up.
And answer.]
Understood.
[The wait isn't as nerve-wracking as it normally is, as Frisk drifts in the high atmosphere. It's...strange. They don't mind, but they don't like that they don't mind. It's not right.]
where are you
did you get powers too?
where are you
did you get powers too?
Other than the power of sarcasm?
[What do they mean powers. What happened to them, and how can they - they can't simply say that nothing went wrong. That nothing ached in the pit of their belly as they waited, and waited. They're a bulwark, unshakable, and they always must be.]
I am in the house.
[They never left.]
[What do they mean powers. What happened to them, and how can they - they can't simply say that nothing went wrong. That nothing ached in the pit of their belly as they waited, and waited. They're a bulwark, unshakable, and they always must be.]
I am in the house.
[They never left.]
i woke up different this morning
i saw other people confused too when i went out
[The next response takes a while. It's hard to form the explanation in a way they think Chara will understand.]
i knew someone on the moira thats like how i am now
my brain is different and i forgot i need to let you know
im sorry
[Or at least, they know they will be once this wears off. If it wears off.]
i saw other people confused too when i went out
[The next response takes a while. It's hard to form the explanation in a way they think Chara will understand.]
i knew someone on the moira thats like how i am now
my brain is different and i forgot i need to let you know
im sorry
[Or at least, they know they will be once this wears off. If it wears off.]
[Nothing to worry about!! Their brain is just different!! No big! No problem! No need to worry!
A hideous peal of laughter tears out from their throat, a bark of mirthless mirth that has them coiled over on the spot, a fist stuffed in their mouth, teeth worrying at one knuckle until it bleeds. It's fine! It's totally fine! It's all fine!]
I see! Your brain is different! No need to worry, then!
[No need to be concerned, if everyone has begun to change, spontaneously, with no hope that they'll be returning to what they were!]
A hideous peal of laughter tears out from their throat, a bark of mirthless mirth that has them coiled over on the spot, a fist stuffed in their mouth, teeth worrying at one knuckle until it bleeds. It's fine! It's totally fine! It's all fine!]
I see! Your brain is different! No need to worry, then!
[No need to be concerned, if everyone has begun to change, spontaneously, with no hope that they'll be returning to what they were!]
[Oh, this is...this must be bad. A crease forms between their eyebrows, and they start their descent down to earth again. They flick on the video feed, not realizing that seeing the receding edge of space might be slightly alarming, nevermind their starkly altered coloration.]
I'm still me, Chara. I'm just thinking differently now. It's...it's hard to explain.
I'm still me, Chara. I'm just thinking differently now. It's...it's hard to explain.
[Okay! So that's! Happening!
Their skin is different, their hair, their eyes - all of it is bizarrely altered, and a thin slice of scarlet iris is visible, briefly, before the feed tips forward and their TAB lands on the floor with a dull clunk.
Another hastily stifled burst of rattling laughter, and they have to clap their hands across their mouth. Stop being so weird, Chara, ha ha!]
If you wanted to follow in Asriel's footsteps, you could have just said so!
Their skin is different, their hair, their eyes - all of it is bizarrely altered, and a thin slice of scarlet iris is visible, briefly, before the feed tips forward and their TAB lands on the floor with a dull clunk.
Another hastily stifled burst of rattling laughter, and they have to clap their hands across their mouth. Stop being so weird, Chara, ha ha!]
If you wanted to follow in Asriel's footsteps, you could have just said so!
What? Like Asriel?
[How are they...does Chara think they're a monster? They don't have fur or claws or the right kind of magic. Why would Chara say that?]
I'm not a monster.
[Simple, plain, to the point. Frisk doesn't even realize anymore there might be a need to embellish, or clarify.]
[How are they...does Chara think they're a monster? They don't have fur or claws or the right kind of magic. Why would Chara say that?]
I'm not a monster.
[Simple, plain, to the point. Frisk doesn't even realize anymore there might be a need to embellish, or clarify.]
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