[Halloween event; open] I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

[justletmewin]

Asriel loved the island.

Maybe not everything about it. The changing layout of the castle will always be a pain in the neck, but it's something he's grown used to. The Graveyard terrified him, but all he had to do is stay away. Everything else about the island is amazing: the gardens. The ballroom. The towers with their giant comfy beds and lovely paintings and beautiful clothes. The variety of colorful birds at the aviary. Even the Edge had an odd sense of beauty about it. Almost... calming. Many of the people were kind and willing to look out for each other, with the not-so-nice residents--the Floweys of the island--few and far between. The literal Flowey on the island didn't seem so bad anymore. Frisk is here--more than one, actually! So is Chara. Even his mother... if Dad ever arrived here and made up with her, it'd be perfect.

He didn't know why he didn't change back into a flower. But he accepted maybe the blind Frisk was right. If an entire month went by without transforming, shouldn't he take it as a sign he got a second chance? Asriel didn't need to hide or be afraid anymore. He can be a kid again. With that revelation, he started gaining the courage to talk to people outside of Chara and Frisk. Learning to make friends. It's almost as if... he'd been reborn here.

Then he figured it out. Every time Asriel touched his chest, he felt nothing. The goat monster recalled the warmth of his own soul, which he still doesn't have to this day. Yet he felt love and compassion. He's still himself.

The castle's magic is literally keeping him alive.

But people come and go from the island, don't they? Some of them never return. It's safe to assume they went back to their own worlds. What'll be there for Asriel if he goes home? (No. This island is my home now. Forever.) He'd be sentenced to a life Underground all alone as Flowey. All his friends... gone. He'd be left with nothing but his memories. But what if he can't keep those either? What if his entire life at the castle is erased? Asriel would've never changed for the better. Never addressed his demons. Never comforted and helped those who needed him. Always be that same helpless child. Always isolating himself from everybody for their own good. Always afraid.

He's sick of it.

He won't let it happen. He won't let everything he loved be taken from him again. He won't give up his love and compassion. He won't be imprisoned back in this hell. Fate won't dare snatch this life away from him. Fate won't dare snatch anything from him.

Asriel Dreemurr: God of Hyperdeath stood in the fog at the Edge, a fanged grin marking his expression. All he had to do is control time on the island... that way, he'll be in charge of who leaves and who stays. Nobody he cares about will vanish. Neither will he. Unfortunately, his magic is too weak to take over the island in his current state... He'll need to get his powers back first.

Nothing a few souls can't fix.

Comments

[mercybutton]

Frisk knows that shape.

It's been years, but they recognize the shaky white outline that makes him up. Asriel is the Hypergod now, huh? Frisk doesn't know if he'd be thrilled or terrified--his dialogue never gave much. Either way they canter up to stand a-ways behind him, their lantern over their shoulder.

"Asriel, hi! Are you doing okay?"

[justletmewin]

Asriel knows that voice.

The Frisk who brought him comfort from what actually seemed like a long time ago... the one who assured him things were different now. Once he collects enough souls to control time, he'll preserve that truth. Nothing will challenge it.

"Frisk..." His voice is deep, belonging to a grown man. "Are you happy on this island?"

[mercybutton]

The voice is even more familiar. The sole focus of so many battles for every run they spared.

And there's a pang of guilt.

"I… yes." They frown--this conversation had taken a steep dive. "Everything and everyone is new. Y… you understand." Both of them. Reset after reset after reset. So many years they spent down there that the Castle may as well have been an alien planet, and there would have been the same bewildering effect.

[justletmewin]

"Then... do you consider this island your home? Do you want to stay here?"

New things, new people. Right when you think you've seen all there is to see, the island surprises you. Nobody will ever be bored.

[mercybutton]

"… uh-huh." Same place. Never the same path to take to where you need to go. People come and go. Yes, this place may as well be a home, especially with so many from the Underground. "Y--no, I don't want to… Asriel, are you okay?"

Because this is going in a very strange direction.

[justletmewin]

"I can make it so. We won't have to leave. People can come and go... but we'll always be here. We won't forget each other. We'll always be friends."

And you won't leave me.

[mercybutton]

Together forever.

This is sounding eerily like the battle. But this time, Frisk hasn't got a [ +SAVE ] to help them.

The staff lowers off their shoulder, held crosswise by both hands. "H… ow?" They've got a suspicion or two, but still. They're used to the Castle being the ruling power here.

taste the rainbow

[itstheend]

So fun fact. This Chara has never seen the Absolute God of Hyperdeath. Well, they have, but they weren't in much condition to be aware at the time; the most they have from then memorywise is an overwhelming impression of rainbow.

But they do know Frisk had a brother, and that brother was a boss monster, so they, naturally, assume that this must be what Asriel looks like normally. He must have been the older one, they think.

Frisk's descriptions of his character haven't been anything but glowing, and while they know that that means a certain Frisk positivity factor needs to be adjusted for, that gets him just an inch of the benefit of the doubt, an inch that has the small currently-skeleton approaching him from behind in strangled curiosity.

"I wonder how far down it goes," they say of the Edge. "Perhaps there's nothing there at all."

God of Hyperskittles

[justletmewin]

A small skeleton in familiar clothes. His best friend. One version, anyway. He doesn't know how much they know of him... but in the end, it doesn't matter as long as they're Chara. Aren't they?

"They say anyone who falls off the Edge will disappear. They wake up in the island again three days later. I can't help thinking that... there's always a chance you could jump and never come back. It's too much of a risk, no matter how curious you are."

Asriel turns his head to smile at his skeletal companion.

"Chara. You're not thinking of jumping, are you?"

cw suicidal ideation

[itstheend]

Chara comes up next to him as he talks, although they stay out of arm's reach, looking out into the clouds. Their skull snaps to him at the name and the question, and they bristle, because how does he know? what right has he to know? and they have to forcibly remind themselves that there are other Charas here, with similar fashion choices, that might be similar in other ways. They turn their skull towards the Edge again with some effort.

"What would be the point?" they say, eyelights avoiding him. It's not a no. They kick a rock over the Edge and watch it fall. Do the rocks come back after three days? It wouldn't work by all accounts, even with the proposed possibility of a 'chance'.

It might be nice, though, to not exist for three days. A small vacation from reality. It wouldn't be taking Frisk with them, either, right now. They'd be upset, but they'd get over it. They're always too forgiving.

"You're taller than I thought you'd be," they say, because if they do, they're not doing it in front of him.

[justletmewin]

"You're right. There wouldn't be. Three days without you... is three days too many. I'd hate to lose you again, even if it's temporary."

The last time Chara assured him they'll only be dead for a short time? They've been sweating in agony from buttercups. Asriel knows how much his best friend hates themself; it seems to be universal among all the Charas he met thus far. But Chara isn't in charge this time. This plan is all his.

"I always wondered what I'd be like when I'm grown up. Would I look like my father? Or would I be more like the handsome prince depicted in fairy-tales? But here I am as the living, breathing version of my own fantasy. I wanted to meet the God of Hyperdeath... I didn't expect to become him." He smiles again. "Not that I'm complaining."

[itstheend]

Overfamiliar. Clinging. Their skin scrawls, and they smile. For some reason, it reminds them of a flower.

"My apologies, have we met?" A subtle warning in the words; Chara knows full well they haven't, and is pinning the fact down for him like a butterfly on cork. Don't presume to know them, Frisk-brother.

The God of Hyperdeath. Frisk told them about that, a wry fondness in their words. So he isn't normally like this, then. The castle must have transformed him too. Looks like he got lucky. They've said it before, but:

"It seems like the castle has a sense of humor," they say, flicking at one of their metacarpals with a sharp tik to emphasise the point. You see, it's funny because they who kills monsters should take care to not themself become a monster! Because they're something that should be dead but is walking around as if nothing is wrong! Hilarious.

[justletmewin]

"You in particular? This is our first time. But I know Chara... no matter what dimension they're from, they all have the same things in common."

Best friends forever.

"Maybe. If this transformation is meant to be a joke, I don't see what's funny about it."

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu didn't really react to the sight of Asriel. He'd seen stranger things already in this place. A tall...goat monster? Yeti monster? Either way, compared to some of the other sights populating the castle as of late, Asriel didn't look especially threatening. And besides, he didn't really expect to be seen or regarded otherwise. Virtually no one else had been able to see him, since this strangness had started.

Even so, he nodded at Asriel as he walked over to the Edge, a nod that was more out of habitual politeness than any expectation that it would be returned. Then he moved to stand on the edge itself, staring pensively up into the mist, and yet again trying to psyche himself up to fly.

"Wonder if these clouds ever clear up..."

[justletmewin]

As a god, Asriel can see everything including why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch. So he takes notice of Kotetsu's presence and nods back to acknowledge him. He doesn't recognize this human around the island... this must be one of the newer residents.

"These clouds have been here as long as I remember." he answers. "It's what the Edge has come to be known for, after all."

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu replies without thinking, at first, not entirely registering that he's just been replied to. "Even I know clouds don't work like that. There must be something..."

And then he falls silent. His eyes go wide. Because it's only then that it does sink in that the monster standing beside him did, in fact, reply to him.

He whirls around to face Asriel, tapping a finger against his own chest. It takes him a few false starts of stumbling and stammering, but eventually he manages to force out a coherent sentence.

"You can see me?!"

[justletmewin]

"Of course I can." Asriel says matter-of-factly. How odd that no one seemed to know this human existed. But strange things are happening on this island lately; it's best to take advantage of them while he still can. "I assume you also have your soul."

[oldmantiger]

...that's an odd enough question that even Kotetsu, in the midst of his celebrating, can't help but take notice of it. He settles slightly and stares at Asriel with his head slightly tilted. "I...guess so?" How would one go about telling such a thing? With a shrug, he adds: "I mean, in a way, I guess I'm pretty much a walking, talking soul right now." At least in terms of his understanding of the word.

Maybe Asriel is asking because he's worried? So Kotetsu hastens on to add: "But don't worry! I'm not one of those angry ghosts. I'm really just looking for my partner!"

[justletmewin]

Don't worry, Kotetsu. Asriel isn't at all afraid of ghosts. As he's about to find out, there's far worse things to be frightened of.

"There's a way I can help you find your friend."

you can always save this until he has more souls!

[notsogrimreaper]

The castle has been feeling... very strange, lately. Ryoji has had to get used to uncomfortable feelings this month, has had to get used to friends turning into very strange and very dangerous things.

He can feel that happen again, can feel someone he thought was sweet and gentle become twisted by the castle's magic... can feel them get stronger, and can feel an oddly familiar sensation.

He doesn't know what's bringing on that feeling until he reaches the Edge, at which point he notices Asriel. He's... certainly gotten bigger. Odd.

"Asriel-kun? What are you doing out here?"

[justletmewin]

Well, what do you know... it's the other Death. Alas, there can only be room for one. Asriel thinks back on everything Ryoji confessed to him, and the gears are spinning in his head. As the future god of the island, he'll be all powerful... he'll be strong enough to banish Nyx forever. But he'll ensure Ryoji keeps his human body so he'll live the normal life he deserves. Surely it wouldn't break reality much to exorcise the darkness out of someone and leave only the light. Especially for someone who's learned to become so kind and good...

"You and I are kindred spirits, aren't we? We're afraid of turning back into who we used to be."

[notsogrimreaper]

The other Death, indeed. Ryoji was sort of of the opinion that he was actually Death incarnate, and Asriel had just… imagined himself into taking that place, but perhaps he didn’t understand the story entirely. All he knows is that Asriel was dangerous to himself and others when he’s like this. So what is he doing in that form? Speaking so normally? Ryoji frowns softly at the question, looks away.

“I… I suppose you could say that. I would never want this castle to have to suffer under Nyx’s hand again.” Never mind that she wasn’t present; he was still in the Avatar form.

[justletmewin]

"Right. I don't want Flowey to come back, and you don't want Nyx to return. So I have a plan."

Whether or not Ryoji likes this plan is irrelevant. Of course, if he agreed to let Asriel take his soul, it would make his job much easier. But nobody in their right mind wanted to live without a soul; not even Chara loathed themself enough for that. If he's the reincarnation of Nyx, this will be a difficult fight.

"I'm doing everything I can to take over this island. Once I'm in control of the timelines, I'll get to decide who leaves and who stays. Nyx will be permanently banished, and you'll be free to have a normal life here until you pass of old age. It's the way it should be and I'll make it so."

[notsogrimreaper]

“You have a plan? What did you find out?”

At first, he’s excited. The idea of finally ensuring at least one world was safe from Nyx’s destruction is nearly impossible, but the glimmer of hope it provides is enough. He wants to remain in this human form. Even if he’s just a piece of Nyx, even if he doesn’t deserve to be anything more…

But then Asriel explains, and he’s left with suspicion.

“How are you going to take over the island? There’s no one physical to take the throne from… and I can’t die either way. If my physical body is destroyed, I’ll return to Nyx.”

Oh yeah, we can still finish this thread though the event's over. No need to worry. :)

[justletmewin]

Good news: Asriel is not interested in mass murder. Bad news: he still needs their souls. Surely Ryoji had one in spite of Nyx? Especially since he learned compassion...

"Perhaps the island isn't ruled by a physical force. That's why in order to challenge it, I need my powers back so I can change into my final form. But in order to do that... Believe me, it's as unpleasant to me as it's been for everyone else. But I must do it. In order to save everyone..."

He narrows his brows.

"I'll assure you I have NO interest in being Nyx's next vessel in order for this to happen. Nyx will be excluded from my plan entirely."