I know you (do you know me back?) | Closed to justletmewin!

[characlysmic]

 [  Chara's hideout is a squirreled away hiding hole in some long forgotten attic in the castle Well, attic would be generous, it'd be better described as a storage space. Still, its high up and the food and blankets they've taken from rooms and the dining hall are fairly safe. And its comforting to just know they have a place to hide, if they need it. Of course, it's hard when the castle moves things around so often, but their attic doesn't seem to be dissipating anytime soon (doesn't stop them from worrying.)

It does add the very irritating factor of Chara having to freaking refind the goddamn thing every time they want to sleep somewhere safe.

They have their bag again, this time with some quality picture books from the library for a rainy day (if only that other chara could seem them now hah! ....but for real they really wanna avoid em). 

They're completely enthralled in their search, slinking up and down the castle, ducking into rooms when they see one of its other inhabitants and then scurrying out again once they'd past.  They're on edge as always, especially after recent events but perhaps their old friend could sneak up on them? ]

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[justletmewin]

Asriel is wandering around the castle, trying to find the passage to the Underground Lake and having no success. He turns a corner when...

"Ow!" He bumps against someone and falls backwards, holding his head. "I--I'm sorry! Are you oh--kay...?"

It's them. It's definitely them. But what kind of them? He knows what he's done to the other Chara. If it's the same one, he's in some deep water. But... even if they're another Chara... how would they feel about him now? What point in time did they come from? Were they... still mad at him? Regarding the plan?

[characlysmic]

[They recoil with a hiss, hand going to a at this point, very dirty and worn knife at their hip as they prepare to scare off....]

"Asriel?"

Their face flashes with emotion, suprise, fear, awe and then settling into a quirked smile. They aren't mad at all! They could never be mad at their wimpy ol brother.

"I uh..jesus! I didn't know you were here! One of you? 's all very confusing ahaha. [They rub their head, hand slipping off the knife. Knife? What knife? Chara isn't violent and nasty like other humans! Asriel saw nothing. It takes a lot of effort not to tacklehug him on the spot, but they've uh, done some less then monsterly stuff lately. Maybe they don't deserve.... They shake their head quickly to clear it of that thought. He doesn't know! And they're not gonna tell him!

They offer a hand instead, better help the crybaby up. ]

Oh? Pfft. You..you've fallen down haven't you?

[An old quote, but a good one. They were always better at copying others, weren't they?]

[justletmewin]

"Ch-Chara..."

So it wasn't the Chara who he stolen their soul from. And... and it seems like this Chara isn't disgusted with him either. Unless this is a trick? No... Chara wouldn't do it. Not the one from his world. Right?

The events from the past month swirl through the goat child's head, and he takes his best friend's hand before squeezing them into a hug and sobbing. Impulsive? Yes. He's not thinking too clearly at the moment to remember sudden hugs are a bad idea. But dear god is Chara free to push him off if it's too much.

"Chara... it's you... it's really you!"

[characlysmic]

AcK! [They recoil back a little, face flushing but they hesitantly wrap their arms around him as well. There's some awkward back patting. They dunno how hugs work ok!! ]

Um! Y-yeah! It sure is me you dork! What? You get confused with all those fakers around? [Their smile is strained. Why is he crying god help. This is the worst part of their brother. Stop it. Should they hit him or something?

They yank his ear a little. But not to hard, he is a soft fragile boy. ] Hey! Chill out! You're gonna get my sweater wet you dweeb!

[justletmewin]

Asriel cries out as Chara tugs at his ear. A smile curves from his lips and he giggles.

"I'm sorry, Chara." he sniffles. "I just... It's been rough since the last time I saw you. I got pretty messed up."

The goat child wipes his eyes on the sleeves of his sweater.

"What are you doing out here? I missed you so much..."

[characlysmic]

"Um? I could ask you the same thing dork!" [They push him back, squinting at him. Looks like the ear tug worked. Score one for Chara. Seriously though he still looks so sad. Gross.] Woke up in a random castle, couldn't find you or anyone.


[They shrug, looking uncomfortable. No weakness. No weakness.] I've managed. But uh, did you come with Mom or Dad?

Anyway. [Their gaze turns sharp.] Who messed you up?? I'll beat their ass if they're still around, I swear. Nobody gets to bully you but me

[justletmewin]

"Haha... that sounds like how I ended up here too. I woke up in the garden outside. I was all alone... but I found Frisk! And I found Mom in the castle! And now I found you!"

Asriel's expression turns grave and guilty. Chara doesn't know...?

"...I did. I messed myself up, Chara. I did some really terrible things."

[characlysmic]

Frisk? Oh, uh, the scarf kid! Yeah. They're alright for a human. [Don't talk much. Always good in Charas book.

Asriels expression sours and they fight the urge to pinch his cheeks up smiling again. But no...that'd be creepy right? You shouldn't force a smile (hah!) But why is he looking so glum?]

Impossible. You're way to much of a baby to do anything terrible. [Their brother is ages better then them, any horrors he could commit are probubly trivial. Good ol Azzy, making a stink about nothing again.] Don't tell me I'll have to fight you. I'll have you know I'm a creature of little mercy.

[justletmewin]

"I really did do something bad, though!" Asriel cried. "I--I got turned into the God of Hyperdeath... and he was really creepy and started stealing everyone's souls so he could take over the Island! I... I almost succeeded too... all because I got afraid I'd turn back into a flower--!"

@castle make them god next

[characlysmic]

Um. What? You turned into the.....God of Hyperdeath? That...wait you mean that dumb character you made?!! [Their expression turns gleeful and they clap their hands a little.] The castle can do that? I wanna be the God of Hyperdeath next! Did you have those giant guns that shot rainbows!!


[The guns were the coolest part, obviously. Chara wanted rainbow lasers. They're kind of missing the point here.]

Um. But wasn't Hyperdeath a hero? Pft, maybe power got to his head. You could write a new story about that I bet.

[The flower thing doesn't make any sense at all... Their brother was a goat! Not a flower! He really is getting worked up about nothing.]

Nooooo that's a bad idea crybaby goat says

[justletmewin]

"Y-You don't understand... it was really, really bad..."

The point is, he didn't need to write a story about that. He lived it. He can't stomach the thought of writing Hyperdeath after he's transformed into him twice and he's destroyed the world both times...

"And I... I killed a version of you 'cause I--I wanted to save you..."

[characlysmic]

[There is such a dissonance between them. Chara blinks and grips his shoulder harder. They don't get it, they really don't. Hyperdeath is just a story, their brother should never be a killer. ]

"I don't care." [Words as hard as iron, a promise. They will not hate Asriel even if he killed them. Best Friends Forever means friends even after everything. He must have had a reason to hurt them and they're sure it was a good one. People hurt them all the time, they won't begrudge Asriel for following a trend.]

I trust you Asriel. [They dig a fist into his cheek, shoving their knuckles into the soft fur there.]

Big kids don't cry, you weenie. Suck it up. I'm not gonna get mad so just forget all that stuff ok?

[justletmewin]

Asriel sniffles. Is it strange to feel so much older than your best friend? To have seen things you hope your friend will never see? He admired Chara for being so tough, for dealing with things he didn't understand. Now he just... wants to protect Chara from everything that happened to him. He wanted to be sure Chara never became Flowey. Never end up hurting the people who cared about them the way he did.

And Chara--this one--still loved him. He needed to be strong for their sake.

"O-Okay Chara..."

[characlysmic]

[Chara would have scoffed at the idea that Asriel had to protect them. That was their job, to be all the bad things their brother wasn't and maybe take a little of his goodness and make it it theirs quietly (an almost impossible dream but at this point in time, one they tentatively hoped for).

But they grin wider anyway.] Good! See! I told you.

[They grab his hand and squeeze.] Now, weren't you talking about some kinda game before you got all mopey?

[justletmewin]

Asriel squeezes their hand right back. Chara's grins are quite infectious, and it's starting to make him smile again himself.

"A game? I don't remember... What were we going to play, Chara?"

[characlysmic]

Hm...... [A grin.] I think maybe......we could plaaay..................

[They pause mid sentence, looking down.] Oh hey do you have something on your shirt? [They point at his sweater and then the way kids are like to do, flicks their finger up to his snout. Look if this was a new Asriel they just had to abuse this. They had to. ]

I'd vote tag! You're it first.

[justletmewin]

"Aaaaah!" Asriel giggles, scrambling after his long-lost friend. "Charaaaaaa! No fair!"