![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yes, you're very funny, aren't you.
[They don't understand his motive. Salt in the wound? Another of those digs of his? Harmless woopie cushion and ketchup at Grillby's, or a "kept pretending to be one?" A chuckling little reminder that he could probably shortcut his way right into their room, even if Frisk didn't help him out? It's got to be meant to unsettle them, because that's how adults work -- how Sans works.
A moment's hesitation before they send another line. Each word weighed, deliberate. They have to be careful about this. More careful than ever, if he understands he can get that kind of reaction out of them. If he understands that it wasn't a joke, Chara being creepy, intentionally reminding him that they're not here to have fun.]
That thing you dragged out of me, Sans. Let's not dance around it.
[They don't understand his motive. Salt in the wound? Another of those digs of his? Harmless woopie cushion and ketchup at Grillby's, or a "kept pretending to be one?" A chuckling little reminder that he could probably shortcut his way right into their room, even if Frisk didn't help him out? It's got to be meant to unsettle them, because that's how adults work -- how Sans works.
A moment's hesitation before they send another line. Each word weighed, deliberate. They have to be careful about this. More careful than ever, if he understands he can get that kind of reaction out of them. If he understands that it wasn't a joke, Chara being creepy, intentionally reminding him that they're not here to have fun.]
That thing you dragged out of me, Sans. Let's not dance around it.
i try.
[Funny is one of a very small handful of things he actually tries at.]
[And it wasn't really meant to unsettle them so much it was just kind of a funny image, Chara getting a whole box of ridiculous water sausages. Plus they did technically pay for them.]
[Man. Chara is playing bold here. Aggressive. Dangerous. He doesn't need to hear a red voice or see the look on their face to know that.]
your soul? it's looking a little worse for the wear.
[It's looking downright horrible. He has never seen a soul like that. He's seen dying souls and sickly souls (his own, in particular) but he has never seen one that thoroughly shattered. Held together with...heh. Determination.]
are you surprised that you have one?
[Demons don't have souls. Sans grabbed at it without thinking--honestly, he just expected there to be soul to turn blue. But now that he thinks about it, maybe it is strange that Chara has a soul at all. They might have looked surprised to see it, or that might have just been fear and anticipation at what felt like the start of a real fight.]
[Funny is one of a very small handful of things he actually tries at.]
[And it wasn't really meant to unsettle them so much it was just kind of a funny image, Chara getting a whole box of ridiculous water sausages. Plus they did technically pay for them.]
[Man. Chara is playing bold here. Aggressive. Dangerous. He doesn't need to hear a red voice or see the look on their face to know that.]
your soul? it's looking a little worse for the wear.
[It's looking downright horrible. He has never seen a soul like that. He's seen dying souls and sickly souls (his own, in particular) but he has never seen one that thoroughly shattered. Held together with...heh. Determination.]
are you surprised that you have one?
[Demons don't have souls. Sans grabbed at it without thinking--honestly, he just expected there to be soul to turn blue. But now that he thinks about it, maybe it is strange that Chara has a soul at all. They might have looked surprised to see it, or that might have just been fear and anticipation at what felt like the start of a real fight.]
[It's sickening to even think about. Whatever it is, it looks impossible. Wrong. Like this shouldn't be happening at all. They don't know what happens to a human SOUL that's been absorbed by a monster after it dies. If it turns to dust and essence, if it breaks, if it finds a way to continue to persist. They died, Asriel died, and that was it. So what is this thing inside of them? Did it come from the merged creature Chara and Asriel became? The empty corpse that got wreathed in his dust and sticky golden flower seeds? Did it just grow out of nothing completely on its own somehow, a brand new replacement for a creature that might not have really been Chara Dreemurr anyway?
Or.
Frisk does the red voice, and the world seems to shudder. Is... this thing. Did they snap it away from Frisk? Were their roots so deeply sunk that they tore the soil away when Chara was uprooted out of that body? There are no answers anywhere, and they understand nothing about their own existence, and these jagged pieces inside of them, quivering like a dying animal, make them want to scream. They're... ha ha. They would be desperate to ask, if they cared.
Might even want to go to Alphys, the resident DT expert, if not for the bitter and venomous hate they bear for a scientist who gave a flower an existence he didn't ask for. Might want to ask Sans to drag Frisk's SOUL out too, just so they know it's still intact and whole and like it's supposed to be, if that wouldn't mean putting that same wild fear into Frisk. They, apparently, also remember having a bad time. They, certainly, would start to ask questions, and Chara absolutely does not want that.
They already know better than to call out for help, anyway. Futility at its best. The word anomaly rises in the back of their throat like bile, and they struggle to swallow it down again.
* You can't understand how this feels, Sans.]
I don't think you can even call that thing a SOUL. Whatever it is, it clearly is not meant to exist.
In fact. I think you should forget you ever saw anything.
Or.
Frisk does the red voice, and the world seems to shudder. Is... this thing. Did they snap it away from Frisk? Were their roots so deeply sunk that they tore the soil away when Chara was uprooted out of that body? There are no answers anywhere, and they understand nothing about their own existence, and these jagged pieces inside of them, quivering like a dying animal, make them want to scream. They're... ha ha. They would be desperate to ask, if they cared.
Might even want to go to Alphys, the resident DT expert, if not for the bitter and venomous hate they bear for a scientist who gave a flower an existence he didn't ask for. Might want to ask Sans to drag Frisk's SOUL out too, just so they know it's still intact and whole and like it's supposed to be, if that wouldn't mean putting that same wild fear into Frisk. They, apparently, also remember having a bad time. They, certainly, would start to ask questions, and Chara absolutely does not want that.
They already know better than to call out for help, anyway. Futility at its best. The word anomaly rises in the back of their throat like bile, and they struggle to swallow it down again.
* You can't understand how this feels, Sans.]
I don't think you can even call that thing a SOUL. Whatever it is, it clearly is not meant to exist.
In fact. I think you should forget you ever saw anything.
[While Chara is thinking things over and typing out their reply, Sans is thinking too. Why contact him about this? Well, the obvious reason is that Chara doesn't want anyone to know about their fractured soul, and is going to threaten him into silence. Why would the existence of a broken soul be a secret worth protecting? Worth talking to one of the people you probably hate most in the whole world? It's a bold move, because Chara usually plays so carefully, acts like they don't care about anything. Here they're revealing that they do care--that they care enough to make threats.]
[So why is it so important? Because it potentially proves that Chara isn't really the demon they claim to be? Or is it something else?]
[He waits for their answer. Yep. That's to be expected. The threat will come next. And in the meantime..."whatever it is." Interesting.]
you really don't know, do you? you don't actually know what you are.
[Maybe he was right about thinking of them as a kind of chameleon, blending into the background, taking on the shape and color of their surroundings. Maybe "demon" is just convenient. Just leaves to hide in.]
you know, my memory is one of the few sharp things about me.
[So why is it so important? Because it potentially proves that Chara isn't really the demon they claim to be? Or is it something else?]
[He waits for their answer. Yep. That's to be expected. The threat will come next. And in the meantime..."whatever it is." Interesting.]
you really don't know, do you? you don't actually know what you are.
[Maybe he was right about thinking of them as a kind of chameleon, blending into the background, taking on the shape and color of their surroundings. Maybe "demon" is just convenient. Just leaves to hide in.]
you know, my memory is one of the few sharp things about me.
[Oh, there's so much more about him that's sharp than just his memory. His words. His actions, when they finally arrive. His perception, without a doubt. Counting his victories merely by the look on Chara's face -- Chara, who could choose to emote at all, Chara, who could just wear a flat and empty smile -- it was observation and bluff, but it really did feel like Sans already knew what was going to happen even before Chara did sometimes.]
I know exactly what I am. I know exactly where I should be. I'm a very fast learner, Sans, and my memory is not so bad either.
[Not human. Burning in hell. They wonder, hesitate, agonize over their words again, carefully approach what comes next. They lost an inch of ground with a careless choice of words, now he latches onto their confusion. He was the one who gave them the word anomaly, and they shy away from it. He sees that.
They won't ask for a promise. Watch over them, and protect them, will you not? Promises are worth about as much to this guy as any other adult. Nor will they ask a favour, try to make a deal. They can't guess what he would want to get out of them, but they refuse to be in a position where they owe him. Appealing to his kindness...? Ha. c'mere, pal.
So, they'll have to fight for it, and fight like hell. Out come the threats.]
If you can be sharp, then let me be blunt. I have seen what happens when you can't afford to not care anymore. In that same timeline, you have seen what happens when I cease to care. When I distance myself, and thus find it easier to hurt others.
If my secrets are all I assign any meaning to. Then I'm sure you understand. What happens if they are not kept.
I know exactly what I am. I know exactly where I should be. I'm a very fast learner, Sans, and my memory is not so bad either.
[Not human. Burning in hell. They wonder, hesitate, agonize over their words again, carefully approach what comes next. They lost an inch of ground with a careless choice of words, now he latches onto their confusion. He was the one who gave them the word anomaly, and they shy away from it. He sees that.
They won't ask for a promise. Watch over them, and protect them, will you not? Promises are worth about as much to this guy as any other adult. Nor will they ask a favour, try to make a deal. They can't guess what he would want to get out of them, but they refuse to be in a position where they owe him. Appealing to his kindness...? Ha. c'mere, pal.
So, they'll have to fight for it, and fight like hell. Out come the threats.]
If you can be sharp, then let me be blunt. I have seen what happens when you can't afford to not care anymore. In that same timeline, you have seen what happens when I cease to care. When I distance myself, and thus find it easier to hurt others.
If my secrets are all I assign any meaning to. Then I'm sure you understand. What happens if they are not kept.
sure. whatever you say.
[He doesn't believe it.]
[And there are the expected threats. Oddly vague to start with. Not that he has much to go on, but he sort of expected more specifics, more "here's exactly who I will hurt and how I will hurt them." Or maybe they're toeing the line, trying not to rile him up.]
so if i tell anyone your soul is broken, or that you have a soul at all, you'll kill me. that right? i have to wonder where you ever got the idea that i'm a blabbermouth.
[He doesn't believe it.]
[And there are the expected threats. Oddly vague to start with. Not that he has much to go on, but he sort of expected more specifics, more "here's exactly who I will hurt and how I will hurt them." Or maybe they're toeing the line, trying not to rile him up.]
so if i tell anyone your soul is broken, or that you have a soul at all, you'll kill me. that right? i have to wonder where you ever got the idea that i'm a blabbermouth.
You're not a blabbermouth when it suits you, Sans. But you're also not above fighting dirty.
That's why it won't be you that I kill.
[There are plenty of blanks that he can fill. Papyrus is here now. Papyrus, who wants to give the little human guidance. No more RESETs. No more slamming bones into an unguarded back and telling the human not to come back, no matter how much Sans dislikes the current timeline. More than one life, certainly, but still a finite number.
Even as they snapped Papyrus' head right off, he still believed in them. Surely he would continue to believe in them after he died and came back. And died, and died, and died.
But that, surely, is a realization that Sans has already come to. One that's been ingrained into his very bones by timeline after timeline of not knowing where the snow ends and his brother's dust begins.]
They wouldn't believe you if you told, anyway. They don't usually believe you about the timelines, do they? Why would they believe something as impossible as this? A SOUL stays whole, or it is destroyed. One or the other.
And I know that my SOUL was destroyed. I was dead twice over before Frisk ever fell.
That's why it won't be you that I kill.
[There are plenty of blanks that he can fill. Papyrus is here now. Papyrus, who wants to give the little human guidance. No more RESETs. No more slamming bones into an unguarded back and telling the human not to come back, no matter how much Sans dislikes the current timeline. More than one life, certainly, but still a finite number.
Even as they snapped Papyrus' head right off, he still believed in them. Surely he would continue to believe in them after he died and came back. And died, and died, and died.
But that, surely, is a realization that Sans has already come to. One that's been ingrained into his very bones by timeline after timeline of not knowing where the snow ends and his brother's dust begins.]
They wouldn't believe you if you told, anyway. They don't usually believe you about the timelines, do they? Why would they believe something as impossible as this? A SOUL stays whole, or it is destroyed. One or the other.
And I know that my SOUL was destroyed. I was dead twice over before Frisk ever fell.
[No, of course they wouldn't kill him. That would take too much effort. Why kill someone you know will give you a bad time when there are plenty of other candidates?]
[And Chara's right. No one would believe him. Sans can think of only one person who would readily believe that a soul could exist in a state like that and, well...]
[Never mind.]
reading you loud and clear, kid.
and while we're setting boundaries, laying cards on the table and all, i want to make something very clear.
[If Chara gets a bold move then so does Sans.]
[And Chara's right. No one would believe him. Sans can think of only one person who would readily believe that a soul could exist in a state like that and, well...]
[Never mind.]
reading you loud and clear, kid.
and while we're setting boundaries, laying cards on the table and all, i want to make something very clear.
[If Chara gets a bold move then so does Sans.]
If you ever kill papyrus, I will kill you.
[There. That's the line. No worlds at stake, no timelines threatened. Just one monster. Different worlds, different rules, a different place he can set the line. Just here. Just this once.]
[He's decided. This time, for the thing that matters most, he will move.]
[There. That's the line. No worlds at stake, no timelines threatened. Just one monster. Different worlds, different rules, a different place he can set the line. Just here. Just this once.]
[He's decided. This time, for the thing that matters most, he will move.]
Edited 2016-03-18 06:40 (UTC)
[There it is! They'd wondered when it'd show up. Comic Sans no longer, in every sense of the phrase.
And, funnily enough, it's a lot of things.
Almost feels like an objective. If X, then Y. Skip the extraneous stuff, skip the puzzles, skip the dialogue. Go right to the final boss. They always knew Papyrus mattered, but the game is different now. What Sans wants to protect has narrowed down. And now Chara knows for certain how to make the absolute worst come crashing down onto them. The wild, oblivion-starved part of them almost wants to rush off and try it here and now, for no real reason beyond the fact that they can. The fact that they know that LV 3 is nowhere near enough to stand a chance, and it'll be as hilarious as intentionally pointing a shield away from Undyne's spears had been. As hilarious as getting dunked on was.
But it's reassurance, somehow, too. Animosity is a certainty. Familiar ground. As easily comprehended and predicted as numbers following a pattern. These terms are much more stable than whatever nebulous truce they had before this. Their secret is about as close to safe as it can get, circumstances being what they are. A Mexican standoff might not seem like any comfort, but that tense, wary mutual deterrence feels much more reliable than anything as breakable as trust.]
Understood. We have both made ourselves perfectly clear.
It's a huge weight off my chest. We understand each other so well, Sans, don't we?
And, funnily enough, it's a lot of things.
Almost feels like an objective. If X, then Y. Skip the extraneous stuff, skip the puzzles, skip the dialogue. Go right to the final boss. They always knew Papyrus mattered, but the game is different now. What Sans wants to protect has narrowed down. And now Chara knows for certain how to make the absolute worst come crashing down onto them. The wild, oblivion-starved part of them almost wants to rush off and try it here and now, for no real reason beyond the fact that they can. The fact that they know that LV 3 is nowhere near enough to stand a chance, and it'll be as hilarious as intentionally pointing a shield away from Undyne's spears had been. As hilarious as getting dunked on was.
But it's reassurance, somehow, too. Animosity is a certainty. Familiar ground. As easily comprehended and predicted as numbers following a pattern. These terms are much more stable than whatever nebulous truce they had before this. Their secret is about as close to safe as it can get, circumstances being what they are. A Mexican standoff might not seem like any comfort, but that tense, wary mutual deterrence feels much more reliable than anything as breakable as trust.]
Understood. We have both made ourselves perfectly clear.
It's a huge weight off my chest. We understand each other so well, Sans, don't we?
oh, sure. birds of a feather, you and me.
[It's almost comforting. Much more comforting than a quiet threat at the bridge, than the perpetually empty threat at the hotel. Those always rang so hollow, even at his most intimidating. "here is some advice for fighting my brother...don't." Except that it doesn't matter, it's empty, because he just vanishes after Papyrus dies. Even Sans isn't sure what he actually does in all that time. Follow the human around? Wallow in his room? Maybe in some distant, early timeline he actually acted, actually tried to save Papyrus, actually went after the anomaly as soon as his brother's dust hit the snow. Wishful thinking, maybe.]
[It doesn't have to be that way this time. It's not even hope really, or any sudden willingness to care and act, because at the end of the day, all of this is still impermanent. Papyrus has left Wonderland once already and he might do so again. Even if he doesn't, Sans will leave eventually. The difference is that this timeline, everything in Wonderland--it's all one timeline, and it's all completely self-enclosed. Nothing that happens here has any bearing on the Underground, but it has all the bearing on the future of this timeline.]
[Wonderland is different, and he has to start treating it that way.]
gotta admit, it's kinda nice to agree on something.
[It's almost comforting. Much more comforting than a quiet threat at the bridge, than the perpetually empty threat at the hotel. Those always rang so hollow, even at his most intimidating. "here is some advice for fighting my brother...don't." Except that it doesn't matter, it's empty, because he just vanishes after Papyrus dies. Even Sans isn't sure what he actually does in all that time. Follow the human around? Wallow in his room? Maybe in some distant, early timeline he actually acted, actually tried to save Papyrus, actually went after the anomaly as soon as his brother's dust hit the snow. Wishful thinking, maybe.]
[It doesn't have to be that way this time. It's not even hope really, or any sudden willingness to care and act, because at the end of the day, all of this is still impermanent. Papyrus has left Wonderland once already and he might do so again. Even if he doesn't, Sans will leave eventually. The difference is that this timeline, everything in Wonderland--it's all one timeline, and it's all completely self-enclosed. Nothing that happens here has any bearing on the Underground, but it has all the bearing on the future of this timeline.]
[Wonderland is different, and he has to start treating it that way.]
gotta admit, it's kinda nice to agree on something.
It's about as close as we'll ever get to having fun, huh.
[All this. The wretched, broken thing he pulled out of them. Their moment of dumb, flawed reflex -- aren't they supposed to be in control? -- and his hair-trigger reaction. A stupid box of water sausages in their room, like that's supposed to, what? Make them feel better? They don't feel anything.
How ridiculous that all of this happened because of a pointless impulse. Hey, Chara, maybe you can have your fun too! Maybe you can pretend to be human! Look what happens when you try. You slip up. Remind everyone what you are.
Incomprehensible. Unnatural. Something that should not exist. A threat, a vicious thing, wiping this away as hard as they can with dark, malicious promises to target entirely innocent bystanders. The one last obstacle between everyone and their happiness, stubbornly persisting.
This is guidance too. The answer. Their purpose. The world is still whispering it.]
But, Sans, you know. We agree on an awful lot of things.
[All this. The wretched, broken thing he pulled out of them. Their moment of dumb, flawed reflex -- aren't they supposed to be in control? -- and his hair-trigger reaction. A stupid box of water sausages in their room, like that's supposed to, what? Make them feel better? They don't feel anything.
How ridiculous that all of this happened because of a pointless impulse. Hey, Chara, maybe you can have your fun too! Maybe you can pretend to be human! Look what happens when you try. You slip up. Remind everyone what you are.
Incomprehensible. Unnatural. Something that should not exist. A threat, a vicious thing, wiping this away as hard as they can with dark, malicious promises to target entirely innocent bystanders. The one last obstacle between everyone and their happiness, stubbornly persisting.
This is guidance too. The answer. Their purpose. The world is still whispering it.]
But, Sans, you know. We agree on an awful lot of things.
Edited (what are words what is english) 2016-03-18 19:04 (UTC)
More than you think, actually.
I gave it a real good try, though. Several hundred real good tries, actually, while poor Frisk was snared up in my control. Even you couldn't give me directions. Even your fun little dunks didn't stick.
* It's a beautiful day outside. Nice day today, just like yesterday, and the day before that. Every single page says the exact same thing.
* You tried and you tried, but you just can't reach hell. You just can't find a way to burn.
I gave it a real good try, though. Several hundred real good tries, actually, while poor Frisk was snared up in my control. Even you couldn't give me directions. Even your fun little dunks didn't stick.
* It's a beautiful day outside. Nice day today, just like yesterday, and the day before that. Every single page says the exact same thing.
* You tried and you tried, but you just can't reach hell. You just can't find a way to burn.
Edited 2016-03-18 20:50 (UTC)
Hell has demons. It doesn't have angels.
[Frisk? The angel in the prophecy? The one who made the Underground go empty with six human SOULs and almost every monster SOUL. Maybe they mean Papyrus, Toriel, Asgore? Maybe he'll even think Chara's directing that old prophecy onto themselves, painting them as that angel in the same breath that they call themselves a demon.
May as well leave it vague, see what he has to say.]
[Frisk? The angel in the prophecy? The one who made the Underground go empty with six human SOULs and almost every monster SOUL. Maybe they mean Papyrus, Toriel, Asgore? Maybe he'll even think Chara's directing that old prophecy onto themselves, painting them as that angel in the same breath that they call themselves a demon.
May as well leave it vague, see what he has to say.]
from what i understand of how all that works, demons are just fallen angels. so who's to say?
[Of course he knows what they're referencing, but the point of that whole Prophecy was that it cut both ways. It only ever promised that the Underground would go empty, after all. And it's still an angel either way. Which is telling.]
[Of course he knows what they're referencing, but the point of that whole Prophecy was that it cut both ways. It only ever promised that the Underground would go empty, after all. And it's still an angel either way. Which is telling.]
[Oh! You've fallen down, haven't you?
The first thing Asriel said to an injured human, a long time ago. The first thing Toriel said to one that was bruised but still upright.]
You know. "Sisyphus" is just a little too long of a name to call the demon, but it would fit. I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.
I did not always believe Frisk existed. I thought it was my story. Karmic retribution, long before you made those sins start crawling.
The first thing Asriel said to an injured human, a long time ago. The first thing Toriel said to one that was bruised but still upright.]
You know. "Sisyphus" is just a little too long of a name to call the demon, but it would fit. I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.
I did not always believe Frisk existed. I thought it was my story. Karmic retribution, long before you made those sins start crawling.
Doesn't matter. The first human SOUL the Underground ever saw fell ill and died. Couldn't do much of anything, killing or otherwise.
[Like hell they're breathing a word of the plan to someone who might remember across timelines. Someone who hangs out with Toriel. They just got sick out of nowhere, and of course there wasn't a proper doctor around.]
[Like hell they're breathing a word of the plan to someone who might remember across timelines. Someone who hangs out with Toriel. They just got sick out of nowhere, and of course there wasn't a proper doctor around.]
Much more than you, that's for sure. That name does not show up in the story, and that SOUL has nothing to do with us here and now.
Nor, for that matter, does this. Almost-SOUL.
I'll deal with it myself. You just keep quiet and do nothing. That's what you do best, is it not?
Nor, for that matter, does this. Almost-SOUL.
I'll deal with it myself. You just keep quiet and do nothing. That's what you do best, is it not?
That miserable thing seems to be on the edge of shattering, anyway. Can't be that hard to erase it.
[That's it. Nothing more than that. A complete failure to acknowledge that flower in any way. A secret to protect. They don't know who the flower really is, right?
Sans surely doesn't know the flower's role in the story on the runs that fell in between pacifism and annihilation -- the six SOULs, Asgore's demise, all of that. And on the last timeline, the perfectly happy one... well, Chara's just going to insist that they must not have been there for that one. You're not really Chara, right? Chara's been gone for a long time, haven't they?]
[That's it. Nothing more than that. A complete failure to acknowledge that flower in any way. A secret to protect. They don't know who the flower really is, right?
Sans surely doesn't know the flower's role in the story on the runs that fell in between pacifism and annihilation -- the six SOULs, Asgore's demise, all of that. And on the last timeline, the perfectly happy one... well, Chara's just going to insist that they must not have been there for that one. You're not really Chara, right? Chara's been gone for a long time, haven't they?]
you might not like what comes after that.
[A shattered soul doesn't always get erased, after all. Sans knows a thing or two about that. The smudges of eraser marks, the dents left behind. It's simple: the law of conservation.]
[They don't mention the flower. It's either a dodge, or they consider the flower as unimportant as everything else.]
[A shattered soul doesn't always get erased, after all. Sans knows a thing or two about that. The smudges of eraser marks, the dents left behind. It's simple: the law of conservation.]
[They don't mention the flower. It's either a dodge, or they consider the flower as unimportant as everything else.]
Page 5 of 25