Sock Slip

[dustless]

The Castle has variation in everything.

Most of the halls have floors of stone, but not all. Some have an unspecified sort of tile, shining and smooth.

There’s one set of four, arranged in a perfect square. They just finished breakfast when the castle decides to let them out into those hallways instead of the ones they’d come from when they’d stepped into the kitchen a little while before.

“The floor’s really shiny,” Chara comments. “I bet someone put a lot of work into washing it.” Frisk is a bit quiet, and doesn’t seem to mind Chara talking, so they’ve gotten into the habit of making little observations about the castle. They slip their hand out of Frisk’s and kneel down to brush their fingertips against the floor.

“Castle magic? It’s...nice...to clean up after everybody’s messes.”

“Oh! It’s cold too.” They slide their fingers up and down a tile. “And sort of slippy? It’s like ice.”

Frisk kneels beside them, testing it with a matching motion. ”Yeah, it is. Better than the stuff outside on the ground, though,” they add. They do like dressing up in different clothes, but they’re not quite as fond of having to dress up in so many layers at once and then have to wriggle out of it all to rest by the fireplaces. Besides, most of the ice outside’s covered in snow and slippy in a way that can be unpleasantly unexpected.

Chara turns their head to the side, giving Frisk a considering look. “I bet if I took my shoes off and ran really fast… I bet I could slide further than you.”

Frisk tilts their head back, pulling an overlong sleeve down over their palm and running their hand over it again. It moves smoothly.



They look back at Chara, grin slowly spreading over their face and an extra flood of warmth growing in their chest. ”You really think so?” They balance themselves on their hands and shoot their legs forward so they’re sitting rather than kneeling. ”We’re only gonna know ‘f we try it, right?” they go on, unlacing their shoes.



Chara chirps out an enthusiastic “Yeah!” and flops back onto the floor to join Frisk in wrestling off their shoes.

That’s precisely what anyone that happens to stumble across that square of halls will find--a pair of children racing sliding laps around the whole thing, giggling and calling encouragement and maybe some silly taunts to each other.

And Chara’s usually winning.

Comments

[demonthatcomes]

It's another moment Chara feels old for their age. They stay in the background, watching the two of them slide across the floor like an indoor non-icy ice rink. Even their doppelganger seems to be having fun. Wouldn't they have liked doing this when they were younger too? Lucky brat got to be with their Frisk again, assuming this is their Frisk.

What happened with theirs? Why don't they see their Frisk on the island? They're aware their Asriel is here, but...

They're not jealous--okay, maybe a little. But they do feel a little sad.

[dustless]

Frisk spots them the first go-round and gives a wave, but the tinier Chara's already out of sight--they decide to follow and do another lap instead of stopping right then and there.

Gives them time to puff out "There's another Chara friend around there! I'm gonna say hi." There's an implicit but you don't need to if you don't want that they may or may not catch.

They pick up their pace until they're back, dramatically dropping to slide on their knees, too, and halting a few feet ahead of them. "Hello!" Their smile is a little small. Frisk can't know their exact thoughts, of course, but they still suspect it's hard to watch. But they are watching. "How're you?"

[buttercup_eater]

Chara gives Frisk a quick nod as they race across the tiles. By now, Chara's already sort of adjusted to there being Other Charas wandering around- it's weird but so's a lot of the castle and there's enough good weirdness to balance it out.

Then Frisk speeds up and Chara has to hustle to catch up with them.

They slide over to where Frisk is kneeling, sit down, and roll onto the floor next to them. The tile feels nice and cool, especially since they've warmed up from sliding around. They lie there huffing in air while watching Frisk and the Other Chara.

They don't really feel like chatting with Other Chara but since Frisk is gonna talk to them, they might as well wait.

"We were racing," Chara says, in between pants, "I'm winning. So far."

[demonthatcomes]

"Hmph. Sounds like you would." What can they say? Chara knows themself. They can be damn competitive and proud of it too. "Are you the Chara who befriended Frisk in their world?"

They're not up for conversation with the other Chara either, but Frisk looks like the happiest they've been for a long time. They didn't want to interfere with that by being too sour to their double. There's something about this particular Chara that's familiar, but they couldn't place their finger on it.

"I haven't found mine yet, assuming I ever see them again."

[dustless]

"Won't be forever!" Frisk sings to the smaller. They could be running a little faster, they've got plenty of practice dodging and fleeing, but they don't see a reason in really kicking it up.

Their eyes snap up to the older Chara, subtly shaking their head and hoping they get don't pursue this out of it. They're reasonably sure which Chara this is by now, and they don't want anyone being nasty to them thanks to...old grudges.

"Don't think so. But I'm glad the castle got me to meet them!"

[buttercup_eater]

Chara's brow wrinkles at the other Chara's question as they shift into a more upright position.

"Um. I don't know," they say, truthfully enough. They don't quite understand this business with the Other Charas and Other Frisks and Other Worlds, honestly, and have just been taking the bits of info they're given at face value. "How're you supposed to know if a Frisk is yours?"

The comment from Frisk earns a bashful grin from Chara.

[demonthatcomes]

Fear not; they won't pursue. It wouldn't be worth it anyway.

"That's a good point." Chara answers. "It's safe to say the only people we're certain about are ourselves. I suppose it can't hurt to be friends with more than one Frisk. They seem to have that charm about them, no matter where they're from."

So this is what they look like when they smile... a genuine smile. A small one of their own curves from their lips at their younger self in what they hope is encouragement.

"I'm glad you two are having fun."

[dustless]

Frisk gives the bigger Chara a quick blep. They're charming, alright! And it slips into another big grin at them both.

"I never woulda thought to race, it was their idea. Do you want to race too?" They pause, exaggeratedly staring at their legs. "You're older, though. Taller. Prob'ly faster..."

[buttercup_eater]

Chara hums a little. Charming, huh. They haven't met many Frisks but they know this one is nice, maybe the nicest person they've ever met. They're the first real friend Chara's ever had, which is one thing they're absolutely sure of.

They mimic Frisk's considering look. "The starting line is where our shoes are," They volunteer, pointing in the direction of said shoes.

[itstheend]

Chara is not looking where they're going.

Or rather, they're looking at their surroundings, and not the floor. Two things happen in quick succession as they step out into the hallway.

1) a striped blur goes by in front of them, and they try to stop

2) they don't stop, but rather skid. They took their (too tight, pinching-at-the toes, do you think we're made of money Chara they'll last for another year stop complaining) shoes off, the laces tying them conscienctiously around their neck.

They unconsciously yelp, and windmill their arms, but it may be too late.

[dustless]

Frisk reacts on pure instinct, trying to stop but also turn in order to help the other-kid-that's-falling.

It doesn't work. They skid as they twist, flinging an arm out in half an attempt to catch them even though they're falling now, too.

It leads to a movement so smooth it almost looks purposeful, legs shooting off to one side and an arm stretching out the other until they land on their chest hard enough to drive the wind out of them completely.

[itstheend]

Chara grabs at Frisk's arm out of pure instinct as they pass, misses, and falls forward, landing chin first on the floor behind them.

They lie there, dazed for a moment, before sitting up. Their mouth tastes of blood - they've bitten their tongue. They shake their head, a hand going to it, and then look up to see a similarly sprawled Frisk.

They get to their feet and move slowly and carefully towards them, cheeks heating and head ducked.

"I am very sorry, Frisk. Are you alright?" They dither about it, and then jerkily extend a stiff, rigid arm to them.

[dustless]

Disoriented, Frisk twitches at the arm heading for them--but only for a moment.

They grab Chara's arm almost as briefly, only enough to pull themselves into sitting up, and then they're pressing their hands against their chest. They've been hurt and they've lost their breath before, but both at the same time is an unusual and especially unpleasant sensation. Frisk manages to get out "'S fine," after a moment. "Fell...fell already a couplea times." That's definitely true, and they've already got some bruises hidden under their pantlegs to prove it.

Seems they've already lost this race. Frisk leans back and swings their legs into criss-cross-applesauce position, peering up. Deep breath, deep breath, getting the air back into their lungs right before they keep on speaking.

"You okay?"

[itstheend]

Being asked about their health in more than a perfunctory 'can you do this task and even if you say no we might say you're lying anyway' sense is not an experience Chara has had often.

So it takes a moment for it fully register.

"I am fine." The standard answer. Since Frisk is sitting, should they sit too? Chara slowly sinks down to a safe distance in front of them. Legs crossed, hands in lap, back straight as a board. They look down, at their socked feet - one hand goes to the laces looped around their neck and picks at the knot tying them.

"I did not realise the floor was waxed, my apologies."

[dustless]

Chara doesn't look very comfortable. though they haven't decided to turn around and leave. That's good, right?

...Frisk makes themselves look a little smaller by hunching, in case it's not.

"'S okay. Kind of annoying there's not any warning signs or anything. But it's good for sliding on purpose! That's pretty fun. We've been racing." They nod to where the smaller Chara's disappeared.

[itstheend]

Well, they haven't been given any indication that leaving is an allowed thing, at this stage. Interactions are traps; is it any wonder they're a solitary creature?

(In this case that, and that they're not as unkind as they've been lead to believe.)

We've...? They look in the direction the Frisk indicates - they didn't see the other Chara, rather preoccupied by falling. It seems they've cost the other the race. They... don't seem too angry about it, so that's a tentative caution for now. The hunching is odd and they don't know how to interpret it - can only hope it's not bad.

"I did not mean to interrupt." They fiddle with the laces again, pulling their shoes down into their lap for a moment. "If you wish, I shall go."

They start putting their shoes back on, neatly tying up the laces into a tidy bow. There. Skidproof, hopefully.

[dustless]

Frisk can't be sure. This Chara is so tentative about everything they do. Maybe Frisk should be walking on eggshells a little more carefully, but then they wouldn't be getting anything done.

"That's okay, don't worry. I won't keep you." Their fingers twist together on their legs, and they dip their head at the shoes. "But you don't hafta leave. You can even race with us if you feel like it. Though you might fall more. Have a bunch even before you showed up," they add with a small grin.

[itstheend]

Walking on eggshells is what got two of these defeated Charae stuck in a feedback loop of meaningless politeness, so good call on that one.

Chara pauses, their hands still on their shoes. Was doing that, assuming that their presence was unwanted, presumptuous? They can't imagine why the other would want them to stay. They're uninteresting (deliberately so) at best.

"I do not mind falling," they say slowly. If the other wants them to race (otherwise why would they mention it?) then Chara... then Chara will certainly oblige.

They've never been allowed to do this before. The other Frisk looked like they were enjoying themself before the crash, and it's a little bit of a cookie-jar thought.

They tug, and the laces get undone all in one go.

finally throws this tiny in

[buttercup_eater]

This particular Chara has been busy zooming around the rest of the circuit, although they've been trying to go faster since they heard Frisk (and someone else?) slamming into the ground. Not that they're particularly worried- Frisk and them have both already fallen down a couple of times, and they've always come up giggling.

(They'll have bruises later on, but there are worse ways to earn those.)

Chara skids past a corner, twisting their head to get a glimpse of Frisk and a familiar looking child hanging out on the floor, before they have to throw their hands out so they don't slide face first into the wall. Their hands and forearms, alas, smacked into the wall instead.

Leaning against the wall, they call out a breathless greeting: "Hi Frisk! Hi, other me!"

chara party

[dustless]

"Alright!" Frisk hops to their feet just in time for the tinier one to come flying around the corner.

Frisk has to resist calling out a 'careful'. Who are they, Toriel? No, even if they are trying to take care of a Chara. They've already fallen a few times and were fine, even when they think they would've just cried if Frisk were their age on some of them.

"Chara-Chara. You winning this time doesn't count!" they say, sticking the tip of their tongue out. As if they haven't won the majority of the races that happened already.

They hold their arm out for the Chara on the floor to take and pull themselves up. "More's merrier," they say to both. "But, um, d'you want a break for a minute?" they ask the smaller one. (Maybe they are a little more Toriel-y than they think.)

[itstheend]

Oh it's... the first one of them they saw. The one that wouldn't stop poking them. So this is who this Frisk was racing with.

"Hello," they greet their other self in return.

A certain amount of tension has come back into the set of their shoulders, but they take off their shoes all the same. They've already committed to this line of action - they can't back out now. They look at the offered arm, and slowly take it, pulling themself up with one hand while holding their shoes in the other, letting go as soon as they have their balance again.

They walk to leave their shoes at the side of the hall as Frisk speaks to the other Chara. Don't want to have them in the way, after all.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara notices the lack of enthusiasm in the other Chara and it take them a moment to place exactly which one this is. Thinking back to when they met makes them frown but at least this other Chara isn't trying to tell them they're not real again.

They shrug it off, force a bright look back onto their face, and return their attention to Frisk and copying the older kid's blep. "Yes it does~!" they argue, oh-so-very eloquently. Okay, sure, they'd still be winning by a significant margin either way, but they really like winning.

Since they don't have quite enough room to safely build up speed for sliding over, Chara simply trots over to the other kids. And- okay, they are still a bit breathless, but when Frisk expresses concern Chara shakes just their head. "One more! Just one more."

[dustless]

"Was busy!" Finger-wag, still with their tongue stuck out.

They decide to use the time it takes for the older-but-still-little Chara to come back with...spinning. One foot on the floor, using the other to propel them in a dizzy circle. (Not the fastest, they don't want to sabotage themselves hard enough to ram into a wall.)

"One more, 'kay, and then we should find a drink. Line up in a row!" they sing-song.

[itstheend]

Chara watches the back and forth - they get along well - while feeling a little like an outsider here. They watch as Frisk spins, wondering if they should be doing that as well, but before they can reach a decision on it, it's time to line up.

If they put Frisk between them and the other Chara it's... pure coincidence, isn't it?

"Do we count down?"

They didn't mean to say it out loud, but it's there and they can't take it back, and they think it's probably something they should know in any case.

[buttercup_eater]

Privately, Chara has to admit drinks would be a good idea, as long as it's not something like the weird, vinegary punch they sometimes found in the kitchens. Eggnog is much better!

They skip over to where Frisk and the other Chara are lining up, privately feeling a bit relieved to have Frisk between them and the other Chara. They still find that kid kind of... weird.

In response to the other Chara's question, they lean forward with a determined expression and chant "Three!" between grinning teeth.

[dustless]

They hadn't really bothered with counting down before, but it's not a bad idea now that they've got more than just two.

A part of them wants to hunch down, put their hands on the floor, like they're prepping for a sprint--but that's silly, and they're probably going to lose this race to at least one of the Charas even if they try hard. Instead they just shift their feet and continue with a toothy grin. "Two! One! Go!" Frisk sings, and they're off!

[itstheend]

'Kind of weird' is this Chara's MO. It's okay, they've been called worse.

You'll excuse them if the amount of teeth in that grin doesn't reassure.

At the word go they dart forward, and then slow down. They're not the most athletic child in the world, but it's clear they're somewhat deliberately letting the others go ahead, checking their speed whenever they start to pull up and speeding up whenever they fall behind - they don't want to make it seem obvious, because people dislike that too.

This is how you make friends, right? Or at least, fail to make enemies.

[buttercup_eater]

This Chara, meanwhile, is off like a shot the moment they're told, slipping and zooming around like a rabbit on throbbing legs. They're breathing hard and they're too focused on what they're doing to really smile but there's a definite gleam in their eyes. They're in this to win.

They don't pay much attention to the other Chara or Frisk, and especially don't pick up on any deliberate slowing down. Why would anyone do that, after all?

[dustless]

The smallest Chara is so competitive! But they're having fun, so Frisk guesses that's okay.

They blast forward with all their strength down the first hall and around the first corner, taking it so hard they can hear it despite just wearing the socks. They overtake the smallest Chara at least once, but after that they're slowing down, just a bit. They don't want to make the other Chara totally lose their first race--it'd make sense if they did better too, since they weren't just racing for the past...however long.

Carefully, they keep an eye out until last-place-Chara is near enough they can shoot them a grin. "C'mon, or you'll be left in the dust!" they sing.