a books the only friend you'll ever need. (closed to voidsir and itstheend)

[characlysmic]

[Every since their unorthodox loss of hearing, Chara has been hanging around the only other adult who seems to know sign. Gaster was a monster, so they've given him the benefit of the doubt in general, despite his insistence on bathing. They've gotten better at reading lips, but their grasp on sign (and perhaps even reading??) have improved under his tutelage. This is absolutely the only reason they've continued hanging around him. Today they continue their studies by dragging a large and incredibly gaudy manga they dug up from the library over to the desk where Gaster was sitting. A small octopus plushie is gently set beside it a moment later.

They don't even stop to say hello, instead flipping to a dogeared page and pointing at a panel with a little half scowl. ]

I dunno this word.

[Its as good a greeting as any. ]

Comments

[voidster]

Absolutely it is. Right. Yes. It's not like they like company or anything!!!

One last scratch of pen on paper before he loses the thought, everything that's on the page he's writing being in shorthand and him still refusing to teach them to read it, and then he turns to see what silly comic they've drug up this time. This is all very routine, and isn't that comforting?

[Announcement.] Possibly they don't know the sign, either. [A-N-N-O-U-N-C-E-M-E-N-T.]

[characlysmic]

Oh? So Ryuji is making an... [ They pause to copy the sign.]] Announcement?

[ They curl their lip. ] Jerk. Announcin' Sae-chan's crush to whole baseball team.

[ They clutch their plush in rage. ]

[voidster]

[Yes, that's right, an announcement.] Progress! He thinks. Either they knew the sign or figured it out from his spelling it... no need to ask, apparently this cartoon book is vitally important.

Crushes. Hah. And don't these characters have strange names?

[That does sound rude of... them?]

COMES IN LIKE WHAT UP I GOT A BIG... bone to pick with you

[itstheend]

So like. Guess who habitually uses the library. Guess. It's one of the few things that can draw them out of whatever room they've picked for the week, a supply of books possibly ranking higher than a supply of food.

They do their best to avoid others while here. Unfortunately, the shelves somewhat block long range view, and they step out of the stacks near Gaster's desk.

Gaster who is near their other self. They start walking towards the pair, stopping a short distance away.

"Doctor." Their tone is cold.

*Chara it's okay.

It isn't.

OH HEC ITS THIS GUY

[characlysmic]

[They don't exactly have the ears to pick up on Chara's quiet approach, or their cold warning to their companion, but they do spot them when they turn the bend, and their smile turns a bit harsher. They quickly shove the manga book under the desk, and then grab the octopus for good measure. Can't let other them know they care about things. ]

Ugh! What'a want. Can't'cha you see I'm busy schooling this nerd guy, weirdo? I don't have time in my schedule for two nerds, so buzz off!

[voidster]

This is why we can't have nice things.

His expression turns bland as he spots them, the older of the two. No encounter with them is a good time, and there's another child in the library. Can they not?

[Good afternoon.]

He'd offer to leave, but... Chara-the-Younger.

[itstheend]

The other child is precisely why can't they not.

"I was not expecting to see you here."

The other Chara's words grab their attention, although they were so focused on Gaster they missed the rapid concealment. They smile.

"What I want is to give you a warning you surely will ignore. He," and they point at Gaster. "Is not safe."

[characlysmic]

Huh? [They don't even have a scowl for that, they just look confused, eyes narrowed. ] Why not? He's been teaching me sign after you know-

[They tap their ears. Still nothing getting in there!! They hope Chara is proud (they know they would be) ]

He's just'a weird nerd. [They pat his shoulder, reaching up a bit to actually touch them. Tall nerd man. ] Besides, you're not safe, and I hang out with you sometimes.

[voidster]

On his part... he simply looks weary. Very, very tired. Such a rare moment of honesty, of something beyond friendly smiles and bland schooled looks.

[Please. Do not do this to them.]

Don't take away the child's only adult friend. They don't seem to have any others. Possibly no friends of their own age, that he's picked up on. So. Please.

[itstheend]

It's strange, but after meeting them young and having been restored (a little dash of green in the red), it didn't occur to Chara that the other was continuing to pay the price. They switch to sign, addressing their other self.

[Yes and I am constantly surprised you are that] They don't know the fancy word for it, or even the actual word so: [Thick.]

Honestly they're surprised they're even touching him, but they remember their younger self reaching out for a handshake even if the memory, like all from that time, makes their skin crawl. Perhaps that's not universal. Perhaps they're the horrible aberration here. (There's pride, yes. And something else rather more unpleasant.)

Chara smiles like swordblade as their head and upper body turns to Gaster. [Do what?] Nothing they say will not be the truth.

[characlysmic]

[Oh thank god, they're all signing now. They relax a little, if only that they don't have to keep trying to read lips.

They wave a hand.] Uhhhh because I beat you??

[They're never letting that one go.

They give Gaster a very confused glance.]

What are they even talking about?

[At heart, though loyal, they are still a very paranoid child. Gifts and lessons can mean oweing things after all, they're not naive. ]

[voidster]

[Theoretical happenings.] No, that's obviously an unfamiliar word, whoops. It's clear he's focusing on Chara-the-younger first. [Possibilities, maybes. Things that could happen. Any one of us could be dangerous. I don't want to be, and if I did, I still have next to no magic and cannot give chase.]

Now his white eyelight fixes on the older child. The instigator. His weary look has been tucked away again. He's fine. Everything is fine. [All I want is to sit, read, and work on my equations.]

[itstheend]

Chara laughs, a short, harsh bark. While their voice is back, rawness occurs a great deal more frequently. Their eyes are bright above their teeth.

[Theoretical happenings! What a nice way to say 'that didn't happen, Chara!' There is no could about this.]

And just because someone is incapable of harm currently, does not absolve them of harm done in the past. Just look at leashed Chara! Chara who has tipped their hand a little too much, and kicking themself.

What it comes down to is. The yellow and red in them burn. Flaring and broadly channeled, churning with confusion and all the more dangerous because of it. Because they haven't yet considered how badly a confrontation like this could go for their other self in the end, if the accusation were true. Speaking of, the next sentence is for them.

[I do not trust him, and it is not without reason, and I would recommend you not either.]

They don't trust anybody. And after Kalak, they have a doubled down suspicion of mentors.

[characlysmic]

[They don't know the sign for "theoretical happenings" and they squint instead, hands raised to ask for a definition. But. Ok. Possibilities. They know that one. They wince at Chara's hyenalic response, their own smile tightening. They. They aren't sure what they believe now. They hate their other self as much as the other must back, and trust the words of a human even less but still....

They have never been a trusting person. Could they have been played the fool the entire time. There is conviction in the other Chara's words that are hard to deny, that play to their own secret fears. ]

But why!!

[It slips from their lips a bit more vunerable then they'd have liked, and they warp their own face into a more comfortable snarl.]

I mean, you can't just say things like this without telling me what danger he is!! What is his possibility thing!

[voidster]

[You know that isn't what I meant.] he says, mildly irritated on the outside, and that's probably the second mistake. But. Twisting his words in such a way to mean the worst possible thing... frustrating. They know he didn't deny doing it the first time it came up.

[By 'theoretical happenings', I'm speaking of the future. I don't want to harm them. I don't want to harm anyone, I want to avoid that. I didn't bring myself here, and I only want to enjoy the freedom I have until I leave.]

There. Convincing enough? It's directed at both Charas, really, even if he's looking at the accusing one.

[itstheend]

[Oh! So the past has no effect on the future? Gee!]

Snark attack, close the breaches! They unwittingly echo words spoken by them elsewhere.

[Desire and action are two very different things, Doctor.]

Their head turns back to their other self, smile plastered and cheerful.

[Did you know he, or one of him, took once took over someone's body without consent? He is incapable of that now, of course, but I find that very interesting.]

They are... fairly sure, of this. It was during an event, where all of them were different. But it happened, and part of them, that yellow streak, howls because of it. It happened once. There must be consequence, somehow.

They can feel their Frisk very carefully not saying anything, about themself or Asriel. That's different. They, at least... there's a difference, and they can't put their mental finger on it, and it's maddening in a way that is more than surface-deep - it's vital they know. They need to, or it's another wedge.