Aromatherapy

[collectyourfriends]

The gardens are growing again.

Frisk decides to leave their secret base for more than just food, for once. They'd had some Berries planted since before...the de-aging incident.

Predictably, there's not much left on their plots. A few of the Aspear plants have sprouts peeking out of the newly exposed dirt, but nothing else managed to resist the sudden icy weather. Hoenn doesn't have that kind of thing.

Sparks and Needles loiter around them when they set to their task--first, dig up the ruined berries that haven't entirely disintegrated, toss them into a box they brought out, that can be used for making mulch later. Then, just plant what they have left, which is a lot. (More than they should be able to fit into that bag, in fact.)

They're in a relatively secluded area, but it's still out in the gardens, and the claimed space they've got to fix up is huge. They won't exactly welcome visitors, but they've have their time to be angry and upset with their team...they probably won't chase anyone away.

Comments

[itstheend]

Chara's watching the looming fight despite the fact they can feel Frisk's presence coming to the fore in them - they're not inclined to be a peacemaker, because usually not starting anything themself is an effort - when suddenly there is water everywhere.

Everywhere.

Well, not quite everywhere, but it is out of nowhere. They're already at their feet by the time it's over, despite that they've been untouched. Some kind of magic...?

Frisk is pushing at them now, and no, they are not throwing themself between the pokemon. In what world would that end well.

So they simply snap what seems the most appropriate in this situation.

"Watch it!"

[collectyourfriends]

The flood doesn't last long. Sparks grumpily gets back to his feet once more, several feet from his original position, and much, much dirtier. He snarls what was THAT for? holding himself nearly on tiptoe in the sudden marsh.

Needles tells him it was for fun and starts circling Chara, chattering a wild laugh. Look! Look at what she did!

Sparks shakes himself off and huffs at Frisk, steadily making their way over. "What's the problem?" They words are mainly directed at the Manectric, but they glance between all parties.

FUN! Needles repeats, and they give her a flat stare. "That wasn't fun. You messed up the garden."

[itstheend]

"I'm rather sure there's a difference between watering plants and drowning them," Chara says down at Needles, although they know that wasn't the intent. They can't even achieve mock-stern. Small fluffy friendly things are their one weakness... usually.

When they look over at Sparks they can't help a short bark of a laugh, the way he's holding himself as if trying not to touch everything he's touching, and his indignantness in general. Sorry, it looks like they're on Needles's side here.

They can mentally hear their Frisk exhale.

"I think the sequence of events are fairly clear," Chara answers, despite the question not really being directed to them.

[collectyourfriends]

Sparks narrows his eyes and barks back. It's definitely not a laugh. (He'll think it's funny later.)

Needles doesn't looks chastened in the least, skidding to sit by Chara's feet and wiggling her head from side-to-side. Fun fun fun fun fun fun!

Sparks shakes himself off again, grumbling. There's no real answer forthcoming there--there's the reek of static in the air instead.

That smells like a problem. Frisk yanks out his Great Ball. "Come back, we'll deal with this later!" He can dry off inside, and they can avoid uncontrolled shocks hitting everything around. Sparks disappears in a flash of light.

Shaking their head, Frisk turns back to the other two. (Three? Whatever.) "They're not supposed to start battles when they're helping," they answer Chara, staring at Needles again. Needles, for her part, continues to look unrepentant.

[itstheend]

Chara is uncertain of where they stand with Sparks, currently - there's a sort of mutual rivalry going on, perhaps? Only that's not quite right. All the same, their muscles tense at the smell of ozone. They weren't splashed with the water, but that doesn't mean that couldn't be a danger.

And then, suddenly, that particular danger disappears, in a flash of red light, and for a second Chara thinks ERASE as the air seems to crystallise, and they can feel their Frisk surge up and take hold of the thought and forcibly direct it to the ball in the other's hands, an instant transfer of what that is and what it's for and (roughly) how it works.

This happens so fast there's no more than enough time for Chara to pale a little further. Still, their response to bandanna-Frisk is slow in coming because it has to come through gears still snapped into another alignment.

"Do they... habitually do this?"

They saw impressions of it with Hush. Injuries, over and over. A love of the FIGHT.

[collectyourfriends]

The emotion is missed; the long pause is not. Pokémon don't seem to be in most worlds, so they lift the ball and give a quick explanation of "It's his...room," before dropping it back in their bag.

Chara's question draws out a hum. "...Showing off, or fighting each other?" They suppose they can answer both. Frisk supposes they enjoy talking about their home, or at least that it's more interesting than pacing through the castle halls.

Needles gets a mock-imperious finger aimed at her face. "She shows off for anyone new. I thought it'd be her digging, not..." the finger is aimed at the marshy ground "...that. Sorry. She didn't get too much of your crop?" They can't tell. It was a lot of water.

For the second half: "Now they do. They haven't been able to battle in a while, and there's no other Trainers here, or we'd go against them instead. And..." Frisk grimaces. "that's why Sparks was...a little too...why he overreacted on the tower when you met. He thought you wanted to because he very much wanted to." As well as the thrown boot, but that goes without saying.

[itstheend]

If Chara were a Pokemon, they would definitely not like being in one of those, no matter how comfortable. Not if there's no way to get out from the inside, or if it'd be possible to be thrown off a cliff or left somewhere, if entering it can be forced. The concept therefore runs sandpaper up their spine, in it's potential for misuse.

"What, are you his parent?"

They have no idea how accurate this is. Their eyes remove themselves from the pokeball and turn to the now extremely muddy garden. Fortunately, the places where Chara had already planted were mostly missed. The next section they were going to, however, is less lucky.

"I see."

The fact the other could have called off Sparks at any time using the just-seen method shifts the context of events a little. A standing by and letting Chara face the consequences of their boot-throwing.

"Well, I would not object to a rematch!" Or even a match, because they're curious about Needles, now.

*Noooooo.

Yessss. It'd be a lot fairer than most of the fights they've been in.

[collectyourfriends]

Frisk would reassure most of Chara's concerns, if they asked, but they're not a mind-reader.

"Not parent. Humans that battle with Pokémon're called 'Trainers', and that's me. Coordinators do Contests--those are...things to show off how Pokémon use their moves, how tough or smart or cute and things they are, but we don't really do that." There are a couple Ribbons stuffed somewhere in their Bag, probably crushed and ruined to the point of not qualifying anymore. No reason to try digging them out.

"Rematch?" Frisk's eyes widen. "...Really?" They would've thought their injuries were enough to discourage them, maybe even terrify them. Chara does keep an eye on Sparks when he's nearby.

Chara is the new N

[itstheend]

Are pokemon people or are they animals? Sparks seemed more like the latter, until 'hearing' his speech in the memory shown to them by Hush, Hush who himself fit into the former as far as they could see. It reminds them of the dogs in Snowdin - mostly the mecha-Pomeranian.

"So they are, in effect, treated as pets?" The word is bright and brittle in tone as they more fully face the other - the thought of rematch falling somewhat to the wayside under this new information that sets old information in a different context. They battle with Pokemon. "Don't tell me - they want to do it, do they?"

Treating people as animals, as pets or playthings or weapons - there's nothing so despicable to Chara. The fact that apparently it's an institution aggravates a great deal. This combined with the pokeball... accurate reassurance might be needed.

"Not under your command, no."

dangit

[collectyourfriends]

"Partners." Tauriel in the Castle and Undyne underground implied they were pets and slaves. Frisk is displeased with this notion, at least with their own, though they've thought--well. They've been thinking about some people they've back met on the surface. But that's not the point right now, Chara's tone in their face. "At least. Mine are family."

Somewhere to the side, Needles is smushing her paws in the mud. Frisk doesn't really care.

"Of course they want to fight. Most of the ones I've met and trained, anyway. Maud doesn't," they remember at the last second. "She just likes to paint."

Hmm. Frisk looks skeptical. "If you...really want to. I'd supervise."

ok so lemme know if you are okay with a fight this went where i wasn't but should have been expectin

[itstheend]

"Partners." Chara's tone is flat and skeptical as they look back towards Needles's industrious mud-smushing (something that looks more inviting than it should - but they're not going to do that in front of someone they're still not on more than gauging terms with).

It's flat and skeptical and with the faintest trace of biteless warning, but it's also, for now, acquiescent. Chara hasn't actually... come across any indication of discomfort from the pokemon, and so the topic is backed off on, if not forgotten.

They have no idea who Maud is - she must be one they haven't seen before. They make a point to avoid people as a general rule, so that's not as much of a surprise as it could be.

*It's not going to do anything!

There's a fundamental error in your reasoning, Frisk, they think, and it's that they have any ulterior goal here other than a fight. They smile at the bandanna'd Frisk, suppressing the neon fluttering in their chest as they say the word.

"Certainly."

Lock it in.

*Chara, I'm in here too!

Their smile doesn't slip sideways, but it does plasticise a little. However, they're not exactly someone to go back on their word, and they can feel their mind shifting into higher gear until something (maybe something feeling a little stolen but how can that be right) clicks.

"However, not at this time. I will notify you. I came here to garden, and I plan to garden."

They swing the pan in their hand for emphasis. An answer that doesn't require conceding ground, and more importantly, allows for a match to occur whenever Chara is next alone.

Frisk buries unseen head in hands.

DANGIT CHILD. and i'm cool with it if you're cool with it. |D

[collectyourfriends]

"Yes." They wouldn't have said so if it wasn't true, Chara. They don't lie that much.

Mercy isn't a natural part of their world or their mind--not yet. They'll take to it once it gets into their head that making something run away isn't the only way to do it. Papyrus was helping with that, back home, but they're still quite the work-in-progress. Respecting ones' opponents isn't the same thing.

So it doesn't occur to them to do much else to prevent this. Why? Battling is natural. It's not common for humans to fight Pokémon, but it isn't unheard of. Most Fighting-Type Gym Leaders do it, in fact. This kid isn't a Leader, but they probably could be, if they wanted. They have that natural spark.

"'Course. Me too." Frisk smiles back, even though the smile Chara's giving them feels a little weird. Their own is definitely smaller. Maybe they're just not very good at it. "Do you have an idea when, or leaving it for eye contact later?" That's usually just for first battles, but they don't know Chara's style. Anticipation for battle is already leaving them forgetting they don't know Frisk's culture in the first place.

yus. pfft, no '!' for this one

[itstheend]

People lie, and moreover, people can be mistaken. Chara's suspicions concerning others tend to lie towards that side of things, the latter somewhat more charitably.

There's a certain appeal of a controllable battle. One on their terms, and yet one that hasn't been hunted down, either. While they've been learning the art of the spare, it is mostly on sufferance. Running and fighting are more their speed.

...someone smiling at one of their patented Chara smiles like that is not really something that happens very often - similarly bladed or nervously mollific, usually - and it does throw them for a small loop.

Their eyes flick to the others on the mention of eye contact, red meeting red. They've met more with that colour here than they ever did on the surface, and maybe it's something about this place that attracts demons - maybe it's a flavour of hell.

"Eye contact," they say with the same flatness that occurs in many of their questions, and to avoid seeming like they have no clue why eye contact would be part of it they follow it up with: "would make it rather hard to set a place and time prior, would it not? As I said, I will notify you, and him, when."

Which is Chara speak for they have no effin idea when. The Castle's whims are infuriatingly unpredictable.

the Red thing isn't official cannon but whatever

[collectyourfriends]

By now, Needles has her head and entire front half deep in the dirt. She'll need a bath later.

"Yes. It--mm." Frisk stares at their face, lost for a split-second until the reality of the situation catches up. No Pokémon means no battles where they're from. Which means Chara's got no idea what they're talking about.

They tap beneath their eye. "That's usually how battles happen. Not in cities usually, but outside. The first time you meet another Trainer, if you look at each other, you fight. It's..." They pause, glancing at the trees, trying to think of a word. "...disrespectful, if you don't. So you do it 'less you can't." As in, nobody has even a sliver of ability or desire to battle left.

"But we've met already, so that isn't...needed. Any time's fine. He'll be glad to." They wouldn't be if Chara came to fight at midnight, but Frisk's 'room' is well-hidden. It won't be a problem.

Chara's got the same eye color as Frisk, they notice again. It's not the most common color out there--they've only met a handful with the same, though everyone knows about Red. The Trainer that took down a massive gang and conquered his region in an impossible amount of time, and disappeared. Everyone's seen his face on TV or on a magazine, even someone who doesn't spend time looking at either of those. Like Frisk.

Hush passed several things along with Frisk--other-Frisk's apology, and it included a word they've never heard. They've been telling Chara about their world, so maybe they can get a fact back. With a small hum, only a few seconds after their last statement, they look back and ask. "What's a demon?"

[itstheend]

People staring at their face is something Chara didn't realise hadn't been happening as much as they remember until this Frisk does it. It's been a while since someone caught glimpse of circles of red and then double-taked, searching for it as if Chara was more a poster than a person, and inevitably not liking what they saw. They didn't miss it.

It does, however, appear to be a demonstration in this case.

And alright, okay. People fight each other every time they make eye contact outside a town. That seems very similar to how things were Underground, from a certain point of view. Only without the use of proxies.

(If they knew, they might suggest midnight just to be a gremlin. As someone whose predilections tend towards the nocturnal by habit, it doesn't occur to them.)

That last sentence captures their full attention - their reflexive thought is they're being led on. They smile and press finger-pads together, and speak, almost as if reciting or reading aloud from a textbook - that sort of bored-cheerful singsong.

"A demon is a malevolent entity that tempts and tricks people towards being as evil as it is. They are creatures with supernatural abilities and no remorse and their only goal is to cause as much harm as they can before they are sent back to Hell."

And because they have a dramatic steak a mile wide, they pause for the kicker.

"They are often said to have red eyes."

There might be one in this very garden right now.

[collectyourfriends]

Tempting and tricking, evil. Frisk looks...a mixture of amused and bemused. "Sounds Dark. That's a Type," they add, before they forget.

They're interrupted by Needles suddenly flying their way, something shining in her mouth. Look look look! Frisk crouches and takes a glittering stone from her jaws, heedless of the mud.

Needles allows them to admire it for about three seconds before snatching it back and zagging over to Chara. Look look look lookit!

They stand again. "I don't think I'm that. I've never trained a Dark-type. I don't think I have a connection. I'm not from 'Hell'." Frisk is completely earnest here, with the word 'hell' said a touch slowly as another word they've never heard. They wipe their muddy hand on their thigh. "Just Mauville. Are you a demon?"

[itstheend]

Chara can Hear the Capitalisation, but that doesn't give much indication as to what exactly is meant by it. Well yes, it is dark. And 'Type' isn't said with the same sneering backhand venom as they remember certain adults using it, but still puts them in mind of that.

*It's an element, Frisk says and starts to fax over some of the relevant information before a chagrined Chara tells them to stop. Their face has barely any chance to (apparently non-sensically) redden further, before Needles is zigging towards them - the pattern of movement actually trips off less threat-radar than rushing in a straight line would have done, and they automatically glance down at the shine, hands staying by their sides. Look, don't touch.

"Did you know that was there?" It's a somewhat half-baffled, off-guard question. Gems in the food, they know about, but they never thought that might extend to elsewhere in the Castle. Do they just spontaneously form, or did someone drop one?

*Maybe there's more.

They can feel Frisk's curious urge to find out itch at their fingers. Maybe later. Their attention quickly snaps back to the trainer as they start speaking, and their lips tighten upwards - they have to bite back a barking laugh at the way the other says 'hell' as if it's a town... they assume Mauville is a town. It ends up coming out anyway at the final question.

"Boy, am I!"

Shouldn't it be obvious?

[collectyourfriends]

"She's got Pickup. It's an Ability." Should they be telling Chara this? They try not to give advantages in battle--but they're going to fight Sparks, not Needles. It's not like they're going to know what alternate Abilities she could have instead. "Means she's really good at finding things."

Needles is slightly displeased, excitement quieting. She's showing them a thing! And she rears up to plant her small, filthy paws on Chara's leg in an effort to reach their hand. Look! It's the same as touching! (Except with food.) It's a purplish geode! (Not a Geodude. She couldn't pick one of those up.)

Frisk accepts this with a nod, and a quiet, confused hum at their laugh. "You don't seem evil or tempting," they say with a shrug. Dark-types usually aren't, just tricksters with especially unappealing moves and abilities (not just Abilities), so it's natural to them to follow up with "Should I prepare for pranks?"

[itstheend]

Puts them in mind of Nifflers.

Their trousers now mud-covered, they acquiesce and bend down for a closer look, and curl their fingers over it - a flash of dirt-coated purple. An amethyst, they think, wiping across it with their thumb to expose more of the colour.

"Did you know," they tell Needles, "they used to say that stones like this could ward off poisons? Kings and queens tested their food with them." And died anyway, if there genuinely was poison. "A good find." The praise is somewhat awkward - they don't have much cause to give it, but genuine. There's those capitals again, but it is a skill they can acknowledge.

This does somewhat ruin their apparent evil cred, they realise when the bandanna'd one speaks. The mention of pranks somewhat comes out of left field, but they take hold of that too.

"If I were to tell you it would spoil any element of surprise, would it not? That would defeat the purpose."

There. That does it nicely.

[collectyourfriends]

Needles makes a short, sharp noise of surprise. She doesn't care about kings or queens--she's heard it from humans in passing, not commonly--but 'poison' is a word she definitely knows.

She looks at it, back over her shoulder, back to it. Antidote? This?

Frisk is just as fascinated, staring at the gleam in Chara's hand. "Does it work?" A rock that keeps Poison away would be a great hold item, but they noticed their phrasing was unusual.

...they've got a point, Frisk concedes with another quiet nod. They'll be ready if they try anything, probably. They're not particularly worried--they can handle pranks, and they avoid people enough that they're sure anything actually dangerous that's might happen (like the headache-inducing resonance and extreme privacy invasions around human Psychics, or the strange enchantments of Fairy Tale Girls) isn't going to have long stretches of time to effect them.