may he live in interesting times

[voidster]

Gaster and Gaster sitting by the wall, in the hall...

One is solid, the usual skeleton-in-coat-and-sweater form. One is less so, rounded, a torso with no arms or legs. One comes with no accessories. One has a satchel that slipped off his shoulders, a golden wristwatch lying by his base. And one, the properly formed one, has pink runes where eyesockets and nasal bones and mouth should be.

The other cannot think. The world is a haze, thoughts moving at the speed of molasses, bent over and burying his face in his hands. He hasn't moved in quite some time, lacking the will to do anything, and neither has the other. Neither knows what to do, really. They must stay together, and Gaster is ignoring Gaster's signs.

One of him shouldn't exist, let alone two. It's bound to attract attention sooner or later, isn't it?

Comments

[voidster]

He isn't. The mystery goo isn't that liquid, not at the moment.

[It's he who refuses to listen, and you too, I presume. She is not a friend.]

[dustless]

Frisk can't make a sound, but their shoulders move in a way that's obviously a sigh.

"Sure," Frisk says, after a long breath in.

And then they turn around to watch Gaster, and not see the other's signs. They don't feel like arguing about this even more.

"Wonder if you should eat something."

[voidster]

And Runester can only shrug at Frisk. Like he thought. One stubborn child and one stubborn old man.

[Why?]

It's not his body that's in trouble, is it?

[dustless]

"Eating can make you feel better, even...when you're not really hungry. If it's nice food," they add.

There's not much 'nice food' in the castle anymore in their opinion, but if Gaster hasn't really needed to eat, he's probably not tired of the limited selection.

[voidster]

It's nice, eating being optional... especially when half of the menu happens to be cake. Even if you have a sweet tooth, it gets very very old.

They're trying. He should make more of an effort. He just doesn't want to. So exhausting.

[Tomatoes.]

[dustless]

(just give up. i did.)

Tomatoes. "I can get some--can I go?" Asking permission, for once, remembering at the last second that he might not want to be left alone.

[voidster]

Asking permission? He can do that much--let them go. Not demand them to stay and coddle him. Not a child. Since they won't take care of the problem, everything else is frivolous.

[Yes. Anything you want.]

[dustless]

...

Frisk scoots up the bed, leaning over his face.

"'S not--it's what you like, not what I want."

[voidster]

It's not any more pleasant up close, the lackluster face he can manage.

What he likes. What he wants. Ha. Ha.

[Not possible. For you or me.]

[dustless]

It's still something to look at, and for him to look from. Presumably.

"I can't help you go home, or hurt Jackal-Gaster for you, but I can help you with stuff here. I won't go if you don't want."

[voidster]

Why not? Why won't they kill for him?

Because he's done nothing kind or good for them?

[He is destroying me. My mind.] Perhaps he said that already. Should they be watching his decline?

DON'T BE RESPONDING WHEN U HAVE A MIGRAINE NERD

[dustless]

"He's not destroying you. He's making you tired." It's been a long time since he's had to sleep, right? "You just need to rest a lot. You'll be okay later!"

OvO

[voidster]

Tired. Well, he is, in a way. So he can't argue with that. And not having the energy to disagree is only more evidence they may be right. Maybe?

[I hope.] He sinks in on himself a little more, and brushes their fingers with his own for a brief moment. Still feels like bone.

[dustless]

"So...I'm gonna stay," they decide, sinking into the mattress.

"But I'm gonna go get tomatoes. Later. Now you gotta rest and keep resting. You might be able to sleep, or almost-sleep."

[voidster]

If nothing else, he makes a good pillow? A slightly dirty one, that's all. It's the least he can do. He doesn't remember how to find his way into the land of sleep.

He pats at their hand again, for lack of much to say. He's so done disagreeing. [Don't worry.]