"I'm so tired.. "

We found out later and since possibly during my earlier tumblr years I was just too excited... and my moods reflected my writing hence a character would be different

Plus add i struggle to understand boundaries and social cues it doesn't help

And for my earlier ...horniness I'm so sorry 😞 we found out that my puberty was prolonged in 18 to 22 but I'm 23 and trying to be better

No way. It was the fucking flower...

They stopped in their tracks. If Frisk were here... Frisk would tell them to try and talk... They contemplated this for a moment before deciding to follow through.

They walked over swiftly, before realizing they had no idea what to say. "Uh... Flowey?"

"I've come a long way... I won't attack you. Though... I might take some time to adjust..."

She looked up for a second before taking a deep breath and looking back down.

"But I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't give you a chance."

They looked down at their brother, biting their cheek.

“I mean… After my… uh… Power trip, Frisk forgave me and worked with me… Stuck around for me to get better. And you deserve the same chance.”

"I missed you too, Ri..." She admitted.

When he asked for her to carry him, she tried to hide her surprise. It occured to her that he probably had every reason so be upset with her, though he clearly wasn't. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't want her brother back, want more time with him... So,

Kara paused for a moment before finally bending down to pick him up.

"So uh... Frisk and Kris live with me... The three of us are just... really close siblings, I guess... Frisk and I spent all that time together in the underground, of course we're close, and when Kris moved out of mom's place, they moved in with us... But that's not what..." They trailed off.

"Asriel." She said simply. "Frisk, Kris, get in here!" She called without waitng for Dess's response.

When their other two siblings appeared, Kara held up Asriel for them to see. Frisk looked shocked, which honestly reflected Kara's internal feelings. "I thought..."

Kris just looked entirely confused. "Why do you have a flower?" They asked plainly. Kara always appreciated that about them; they didn't beat around the bush.

"This is Asriel."

Kara said, shaking their head slightly.

"Look, I'm not gonna hang him out to dry... He's Asriel again and I'm not letting that go."

Kara said, frowning as Dess took him from them.

They took a step back, tilting their head up and towards the back of the apartment.

“Kris! Frisk! Get in here!” They called. After the two appeared, Kris seeming a little annoyed, Kara gestured to Asriel. Kris’s annoyance turned into shock. Even Frisk was emoting.

"How..?" Kris started.

@weedy-goat

I present his dess!))

She thought about it for a second being so unphased by seeing other versions of herself.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

They wondered how they themself hadn't met her, if Dess and Asriel had known each other. Maybe there were some timeline hijinks going on, or this could be a different Azzy, even if Asriel remembered a Chara.

Maybe they weren't this Asriel's Chara. As confounding as universe things were, they were kind of just relieved they knew an Asriel, had him in their life at all, given everything they'd both gone through in nearly every timeline. It was like the world had decided happiness wasn't meant for either of them.

They didn't voice any of their other thoughts, though, caught off guard as they were addressed directly, eyes big and wide.

They were mildly startled by the eyes on them. Chara didn't want to be recognized, but they did, at the same time. It was complicated. What if people hated them? Misunderstood them? What if they hurt them? What if people were... kind to them?...

What would they even do then? They were so unused to it, even if Toriel, Asgore, and their son had welcomed them once upon a time. It was hard to internalize all that positivity when nearly all they'd known before and after the Dreemurrs had been pain and fear.

They almost wanted to be scary, so that they wouldn't have to confront all those soft vulnerable feelings they felt.

"... Dess? That's your name, right?" Chara began hesitantly, eyeing her. They knew the answer, but it felt like a natural start to the conversation, a casual pleasantry. Like that was what they thought would be normal to say.

Wherever Chara limped,— with Flowey in hand,— buttercups grew along the ground, each half-wilted.

Still, no matter who the deer gal kneeled to, they couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and over-confidence as a result. It was fun to pretend it was for them.

"Who're you protecting? Me? The flower?... Both?"

As usual, Chara spoke plenty enough for both themself and Asriel, in the midst of the flower's speechlessness.

"Yeah, sure, why not. Prince Chara, at your service. This is my pet, Flowey."

That last part was a joke. They just liked to rile Asriel up.

"This one's grown from special fertilizer. You could say he's a decomposer."

Well, that was ominous. Of course, they refused to elaborate.

"December! December,..."

Upon confirming she had only fainted, Chara exhaled deeply, relieved nothing serious had happened.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

They wondered how they themself hadn't met her, if Dess and Asriel had known each other. Maybe there were some timeline hijinks going on, or this could be a different Azzy, even if Asriel remembered a Chara.

Maybe they weren't this Asriel's Chara. As confounding as universe things were, they were kind of just relieved they knew an Asriel, had him in their life at all, given everything they'd both gone through in nearly every timeline. It was like the world had decided happiness wasn't meant for either of them.

They didn't voice any of their other thoughts, though, caught off guard as they were addressed directly, eyes big and wide.

They were mildly startled by the eyes on them. Chara didn't want to be recognized, but they did, at the same time. It was complicated. What if people hated them? Misunderstood them? What if they hurt them? What if people were... kind to them?...

What would they even do then? They were so unused to it, even if Toriel, Asgore, and their son had welcomed them once upon a time. It was hard to internalize all that positivity when nearly all they'd known before and after the Dreemurrs had been pain and fear.

They almost wanted to be scary, so that they wouldn't have to confront all those soft vulnerable feelings they felt.

"... Dess? That's your name, right?" Chara began hesitantly, eyeing her. They knew the answer, but it felt like a natural start to the conversation, a casual pleasantry. Like that was what they thought would be normal to say.

Wherever Chara limped,— with Flowey in hand,— buttercups grew along the ground, each half-wilted.

Still, no matter who the deer gal kneeled to, they couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and over-confidence as a result. It was fun to pretend it was for them.

"Who're you protecting? Me? The flower?... Both?"

As usual, Chara spoke plenty enough for both themself and Asriel, in the midst of the flower's speechlessness.

"Yeah, sure, why not. Prince Chara, at your service. This is my pet, Flowey."

That last part was a joke. They just liked to rile Asriel up.

"This one's grown from special fertilizer. You could say he's a decomposer."

Well, that was ominous. Of course, they refused to elaborate.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

They wondered how they themself hadn't met her, if Dess and Asriel had known each other. Maybe there were some timeline hijinks going on, or this could be a different Azzy, even if Asriel remembered a Chara.

Maybe they weren't this Asriel's Chara. As confounding as universe things were, they were kind of just relieved they knew an Asriel, had him in their life at all, given everything they'd both gone through in nearly every timeline. It was like the world had decided happiness wasn't meant for either of them.

They didn't voice any of their other thoughts, though, caught off guard as they were addressed directly, eyes big and wide.

They were mildly startled by the eyes on them. Chara didn't want to be recognized, but they did, at the same time. It was complicated. What if people hated them? Misunderstood them? What if they hurt them? What if people were... kind to them?...

What would they even do then? They were so unused to it, even if Toriel, Asgore, and their son had welcomed them once upon a time. It was hard to internalize all that positivity when nearly all they'd known before and after the Dreemurrs had been pain and fear.

They almost wanted to be scary, so that they wouldn't have to confront all those soft vulnerable feelings they felt.

"... Dess? That's your name, right?" Chara began hesitantly, eyeing her. They knew the answer, but it felt like a natural start to the conversation, a casual pleasantry. Like that was what they thought would be normal to say.

Wherever Chara limped,— with Flowey in hand,— buttercups grew along the ground, each half-wilted.

Still, no matter who the deer gal kneeled to, they couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and over-confidence as a result. It was fun to pretend it was for them.

"Who're you protecting? Me? The flower?... Both?"

As usual, Chara spoke plenty enough for both themself and Asriel, in the midst of the flower's speechlessness.

"Yeah, sure, why not. Prince Chara, at your service. This is my pet, Flowey."

That last part was a joke. They just liked to rile Asriel up.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

They wondered how they themself hadn't met her, if Dess and Asriel had known each other. Maybe there were some timeline hijinks going on, or this could be a different Azzy, even if Asriel remembered a Chara.

Maybe they weren't this Asriel's Chara. As confounding as universe things were, they were kind of just relieved they knew an Asriel, had him in their life at all, given everything they'd both gone through in nearly every timeline. It was like the world had decided happiness wasn't meant for either of them.

They didn't voice any of their other thoughts, though, caught off guard as they were addressed directly, eyes big and wide.

They were mildly startled by the eyes on them. Chara didn't want to be recognized, but they did, at the same time. It was complicated. What if people hated them? Misunderstood them? What if they hurt them? What if people were... kind to them?...

What would they even do then? They were so unused to it, even if Toriel, Asgore, and their son had welcomed them once upon a time. It was hard to internalize all that positivity when nearly all they'd known before and after the Dreemurrs had been pain and fear.

They almost wanted to be scary, so that they wouldn't have to confront all those soft vulnerable feelings they felt.

"... Dess? That's your name, right?" Chara began hesitantly, eyeing her. They knew the answer, but it felt like a natural start to the conversation, a casual pleasantry. Like that was what they thought would be normal to say.

Wherever Chara limped,— with Flowey in hand,— buttercups grew along the ground, each half-wilted.

Still, no matter who the deer gal kneeled to, they couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and over-confidence as a result. It was fun to pretend it was for them.

"Who're you protecting? Me? The flower?... Both?"

As usual, Chara spoke plenty enough for both themself and Asriel, in the midst of the flower's speechlessness.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

They wondered how they themself hadn't met her, if Dess and Asriel had known each other. Maybe there were some timeline hijinks going on, or this could be a different Azzy, even if Asriel remembered a Chara.

Maybe they weren't this Asriel's Chara. As confounding as universe things were, they were kind of just relieved they knew an Asriel, had him in their life at all, given everything they'd both gone through in nearly every timeline. It was like the world had decided happiness wasn't meant for either of them.

They didn't voice any of their other thoughts, though, caught off guard as they were addressed directly, eyes big and wide.

They were mildly startled by the eyes on them. Chara didn't want to be recognized, but they did, at the same time. It was complicated. What if people hated them? Misunderstood them? What if they hurt them? What if people were... kind to them?...

What would they even do then? They were so unused to it, even if Toriel, Asgore, and their son had welcomed them once upon a time. It was hard to internalize all that positivity when nearly all they'd known before and after the Dreemurrs had been pain and fear.

They almost wanted to be scary, so that they wouldn't have to confront all those soft vulnerable feelings they felt.

"... Dess? That's your name, right?" Chara began hesitantly, eyeing her. They knew the answer, but it felt like a natural start to the conversation, a casual pleasantry. Like that was what they thought would be normal to say.

Wherever Chara limped,— with Flowey in hand,— buttercups grew along the ground, each half-wilted.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

"What do you want to tell Dess, anywho?"

They didn't really know Dess, honestly. They knew of her, vaguely. They were awful curious, though.

That other world had only been tiptoed into by Asriel's sibling, peeked at on the sidelines. There had never been a moment in which they'd actually tried to talk to anyone up there, typically sticking to the familiar Underground instead.

It unsettled them to know an Asriel existed out there, growing to adulthood without them while they stayed a dead kid down here in a world with no sunlight. They hoped they'd never accidentally run into that other Asriel; the thought of that Asriel not recognizing or knowing them at all while living the life they'd always wanted,... A world where they'd never existed, none of their sacrifices or struggles known of or remembered by anyone...

None of that mattered, though. Dess wasn't that otherworld Asriel, even if she came from the same place. Chara wondered what she'd be like? They felt wary, but less wary than they might've if Dess was a human.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

They watched the flower squirm about, all sorts of mischevious and amused, before they fiiiinally leaned down, tapping their chin in an exaggerated fashion.

"Hmmm... I dunno if I really wanna carry a stupid flower around... Guess you'll have to convince me! What's in it for me if I babysit you?"

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

Chara shaved away clumped dirt until Flowey was free of the soily prison, admiring their handiwork while they put their knife back in their pocket.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

They'd missed their brother's laughter. They'd missed inspiring something other than fear.

They'd missed the same softness they acted like they'd rather him be without, the sensitivity that made him Asriel.

Truth be told, the best time of their life had been the days before the failed village plan, when they lived with Toriel and Asriel was as much of a softie as Asgore had been.

"... Doing what, specifically? Whaddya got in mind, Azzy?"

Chara let him hop free, observing him with a tilted head and a small, casual smile. Less forced than earlier.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.

"Pot search went fine. Do you like it? Is it... roomy enough? Not really sure what qualifications a good pot meets, given I'm not a flower. Against popular belief, you aren't actually what you eat."

No way. It was the fucking flower...

They stopped in their tracks. If Frisk were here... Frisk would tell them to try and talk... They contemplated this for a moment before deciding to follow through.

They walked over swiftly, before realizing they had no idea what to say. "Uh... Flowey?"

"I've come a long way... I won't attack you. Though... I might take some time to adjust..."

She looked up for a second before taking a deep breath and looking back down.

"But I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't give you a chance."

They looked down at their brother, biting their cheek.

“I mean… After my… uh… Power trip, Frisk forgave me and worked with me… Stuck around for me to get better. And you deserve the same chance.”

"I missed you too, Ri..." She admitted.

When he asked for her to carry him, she tried to hide her surprise. It occured to her that he probably had every reason so be upset with her, though he clearly wasn't. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't want her brother back, want more time with him... So,

Kara paused for a moment before finally bending down to pick him up.

"So uh... Frisk and Kris live with me... The three of us are just... really close siblings, I guess... Frisk and I spent all that time together in the underground, of course we're close, and when Kris moved out of mom's place, they moved in with us... But that's not what..." They trailed off.

"Asriel." She said simply. "Frisk, Kris, get in here!" She called without waitng for Dess's response.

When their other two siblings appeared, Kara held up Asriel for them to see. Frisk looked shocked, which honestly reflected Kara's internal feelings. "I thought..."

Kris just looked entirely confused. "Why do you have a flower?" They asked plainly. Kara always appreciated that about them; they didn't beat around the bush.

"This is Asriel."

Kara said, shaking their head slightly.

"Look, I'm not gonna hang him out to dry... He's Asriel again and I'm not letting that go."

Kara said, frowning as Dess took him from them.

@weedy-goat

Been awhile. Didja miss me, crybaby?

"Gimme a break! You'd sound like crap too if you were me." Chara teased back, sticking their tongue out at him.

They've been holding back for a long time, trying to rein themself in, trying to cope with all the loss in their own "brave" way Asriel used to envy, even though it really wasn't all that healthy when you got to the bottom of it. Trying to act like their found family of monsters wasn't the most important thing in the world to them, the only thing that'd ever mattered.

Turning their gaze ahead to peer down the Ruins entry corridor, they frowned, squinting. Hmm...

"Since you're a flower now,... I guess I'd have to put you in a pot somehow, if we wanted to go through there to get to Waterfall,... I mean, I could go through easy! Since I'm not real anymore. I mean, I am,... Sort of, in a way, but not real enough to not be able to phase through walls. But that'd mean you'd have to stay here, and I intend to take you with."

The unsaid version of their words went a little like this, implied, hardly ever spoken: I don't want to leave you alone again. I don't want to lose you again. I want you to come with me.

Chara struggles to catch their breaths, always seeming to wheeze. They barely dodge the pellet. It's been a while since they were in one of these situations.

While their brows furrow, they smile, but it almost looks more like a snarl. Their teeth are stained yellow in places.

"Don't forget what happened the last time you tried this." They threaten. "I was scraping flower off of my shoe for half an hour after."

Chara laughed and laughed and laughed then, smiling until the sides of their mouth stung. It was so funny that they could throw up! It was so funny that they felt sick! It was so funny, so, so funny, so funny.

"Whatever! That doesn't even matter. It was good for him, anyways. Maybe then he'd toughen up and learn to get used to it." Like they had.

Rooting around in the pocket of their brown shorts, Chara withdrew an old pocket knife, racing towards the golden flower to quickly carve at the dirt around it until the plant sat on a hunk of soil, which the child scooped into their hand and held onto, tucking the knife away in their pocket.

Despite all their talk, they'd refused to stomp Flowey out or tug him out of the ground without a dirt base. They'd just packed him an oval of mulch and started walking towards the Ruins. They figured they'd find Toriel's house and get Flowey a proper pot.

As much as they feared facing their adoptive mother again after everything, Asriel's wellbeing took first priority, and they'd like a convenient way to travel the underground with him.

"Now I've got two whiny lame crybabies." Mainly a jab at Flowey as their brown boots crunched over snow, hoping he'd take the bait and feel embarrassed. Maybe the aggravation would distract him and he'd be tempted to defend himself verbally instead of attacking Asriel, or vice versa.