text;

[justribbing]

hey, it's sans.

y'know, looking back? it's been pretty interesting.

i mean, look at us. we've got some basic amenities, power, even phones and the best internet you can make banging rocks together. we've got a community and everything, hey! nothing quite like the stale smell of desperation to really bring people together. but i've heard more than one of us ask what this war's really good for. for us.

makes a guy think about something other than starrs for a change. (yeah, see what i did there? you just dated yourself.)

anyway there's an actual point to this. see, being a good little soldier really tuckered the kid out, so frisk's gone on a vacation. some of you probably have questions. before you do, i want you to think about how much pressure kids should take. and maybe, y'know, lay off a little.

i'll keep you posted. see ya.

Comments

Done

[achievementhunter]

The fact of the matter is, you can’t fix anything you don’t know about. Nor can Sans. Or anyone else.

But you don’t actually know anything at all, do you? Trust is hard, and scary, and oh so easy to betray. Which is why none of us should trust you, as you’ve already said. Why put faith in someone who tells you’ll they’ll let you down in one breath, and that they’ll ERASE you in the other?

[Their throat is hot. Raw from speaking for so long, and finally, there’s a pause. Finally, Chara stops. Takes account. Takes their bearings.]

I see no reason to discuss my goals with someone who doesn’t even understand his own. The composition of what makes a world...a community. There is no whole.

Each SOUL is it’s own universe. And until you’ve weighed each of them, until the scales tip, then what would you really know?

[Chara purses their lips. Closes their eyes, for the sake of shutting out the sun’s glare. And it still presses in, searing through their eyelids.]

One.

One SOUL. I found one, singular SOUL, that made a better.

And seeing what you all have in store for it, the things people like you, people like Sans, are willing to allow it to go through, time and time again.

Where’s the better?

[And what’s the point of waiting for a response? There’s no one between Chara and the door; and that’s where they head. Out of sight, out of mind.

They have a bad feeling. And it settles in the back of their throat like bile.]

[freedom_engineer]

Heh... Kid? Is that the best you've got? You've clearly fought before, but you really have no idea how to handle an unusual target.

[As Chara retreats, Colin calls after him.]

Who are you? Kid, if you can't answer that question, you got no business asking a guy like me. The Mrrshan teach mastery of the self to answer that question. The Psilons have devoted a thousand years to the study of the self. Humans... think they've got it all figured out.

Sometimes, though... a kid with a demon is just a kid with a demon, trying to find their way. Lost, ignoring the efforts of people to help because of perceived failings and preconceived notions.

For all your efforts to strike back, you came up short. Next time you wanna hurt someone, scare someone? Do your homework. And believe me kid...

There's a lot of it.

[He turns to look at Sans then, and he frowns, and turns to look at the two pokemon. Poor kids, they never should have had to see all that...]

1/2

[justribbing]

Hey.

[ There's been enough shots fired and verbal carnage here to fill a battlefield with a bloated feast for the flies and carrion birds. ]

Haven't you done enough damage for one day?

2/2

[justribbing]

[ ...



He exhales, or an approximation of as much, given the lack of lungs. Sans rasps both hands over his skull. ]

That wasn't fair. Forget it. But that..?

[ He doesn't so much point in the direction Chara went as gesture loosely with his left hand, a flick or a wave. ]

That's the worst I've seen 'em since the bridge, and the death trap two months ago.

And y'know what? They're right.

Everybody's got somethin' to say about who or what they are or are supposed to be. But when's the last time somebody gave them a goddamn choice, huh? Or Frisk?

[ His laughter sounds hollow, but the way he shoves the blanket off his shoulder is impatient and clumsy. ]

There's just the right way or the highway.

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin looks at Sans... his expression instantly growing tired.]

And my language fails again.

You don't get it, do you? I don't CARE who or what they are. I don't care if they're sinner, saint, demon, or diva.

It's not ABOUT that. You both focus so much on one idle phrase, you miss the entire message...

[He gives Sans a hard look then.]

Life is about choice, but I guess I can't convey what I practice. Just... ignore me, I guess.

[He walks over to Emma and Rio then, crouching.]

[Emma looks up at him a vacant expression on her polygonal face.]

Sorry you two had to see that... really sorry.

[Emma gives a positive chiming sound, and turns her head to nuzzle Rio lightly.]

[justribbing]

Nah, I get it.

[ Colin doesn't care. But Sans does. Because every time something like that happens? Their level of violence gets higher.

Up and up, as they execute their love in exchange for LOVE, they cover up their soul in calluses constructed out of apathy and malevolence until nothing hurts them anymore.

And one day? That kid might go way off the reservation, and it'll be their mom that dies first. And then everyone that ever loved them. And then everybody else. Because that's what happens.

Not every time. Just the worst ones. ]

...

[ Sans should do something about that blanket. Fold it up, maybe. He doesn't.

Rio seems to be engaged in clutching at Emma's awkward angles, putting his whole heart into this nuzzling. Little guy doesn't get much of that affection, and is about as amazed and clingy with it as Frisk used to be. At least he seems much calmer now, but there's a note of resigned regret exuded from his aura. So Chara left, huh? It was too much to hope that they'd come back for him. Then again, they seemed upset.

Exchanging a look with Emma, he disengages in favor of putting his paws on whatever of Colin he can reach. It's ok. ]

He, uh, used to be Chara's. Did I tell you that? ...Welp. I better get lost. Feed the little guy, or something.

[ Sans, don't you fucking dare just try to run out after that kind of exchange, resolve this. ]

[freedom_engineer]

...

[Colin glances at Sans. Somehow, he really doubts that Sans understands the point he was making.]

[He looks back down at Rio, and smiles warmly, all traces of the previous conversational sortie just washing away.]

Thanks, Rio. You're a good kid.

[He crouches then, and starts to scratch the pokemon behind the ears.]

I know it must seem scary. But you're not alone. The one important to you had a plan for you. They've got a very difficult time ahead of them, too. It's not your fault.

If you ever need a friend... Sans will know where you can find me. Emma seems to like you. We'll play with you any time you want.

[He runs his other hand over Emma's head then. The Porygon gives a pleased little chime of agreement, leaning into Colin's hand before lifting her triangular foot to rest it against Rio.]

[Colin looks back at Sans then, still petting Rio's head with gentle, affectionate motions.]

This kid's going to have it rough for a little while. Chara gave him to you, huh? Imagine, the person you think is your everything just hands you off to someone else...

Poor kid's lost and looking for stability. Bring him by to spend time with Emma, would you? He could use all the friends he can get.

[justribbing]

[ Colin would be right.

Thing is, there's no amount of intellectual knowledge that can truly make up for experience in cases like this, and Sans knows people, but nobody quite like Colin or Chara. He doesn't know the first helpful thing when it comes to what makes them tick, so he fumbles in the dark.

Funny that he wants to help them and he can't even see his own problems staring him in the face, but hey, that's what you get when Sans cares. All in all, he'll try, for better or for worse (and usually it's the latter).

Rio certainly seems to appreciate the scratching, the offer and the reassuring words; the aura with which he prefers to communicate with carries a more hopeful and encouraged sentiment. Sans? He's watching, without comment, until Colin addresses him: ]

Not exactly. He was meant for Frisk, but. Uh. I guess he's growin' on me. So, yeah. Ok. Little guy could use a playdate or somethin'. ...Thanks.

I better go. I've got some explaining to do to a few people.