Soft Reset

[buttercup_eater]

As everything fades away when they die, coming back to life is like seeing everything fading into existence again.

The first thing they're aware of is light, and that they can see, rather than seeing anything in specific.

The second thing they're aware of is sensation, the weight of their limbs pressing into a smooth, stone surface.

Where are they, exactly?

Chara tries to focus, blinking a few times in the hopes of clearing their vision. An empty stone hallway, rather like the one they last died in, with high windows flooding the area with sunlight.

They take a deep breath and try and push themselves into an upright position, only to be hit with a wave of sudden dizziness and have to flop back onto the floor. Okay, that's not good. What happened?

They can remember their SOUL shattering, and laughing so hard their sides were aching. Sans. Bruises. Blood. Theirs? No, not at first. Chasing the other child down unfamiliar hallways. Messy. No EXP increase, no LV.

No partner.

Chara waits a moment, just in case any input is forthcoming, but even after several minutes they remain alone. Once again, they're going to have to do everything themselves.

They manage to sit up with only a minimal amount of dizziness, then lurch to their feet. Minus the dizziness, it's rather like the last time they died and woke up again.

The knife is nearby, again, and they pick it up, again. Their locket is also still hanging from their neck, and they can still feel it faintly beating. But there's also a strange weight in their pocket, and when they slip a hand inside to check- oh. Right. An... alternative version of their locket, they guess.

Gripping the locket tightly, they set out to find their purpose once again.

[As with Frisk's post, this is set three days after their death.]

Comments

[buttercup_eater]

By the time Chara reaches S-4, they've already had a few other encounters and they're quite a sight, even if the dust and blood on their clothes probably isn't fresh. But it's most visible in the way that they walk- stumbling is one way of putting it. But there's a distinctive jerky, stompy edge to their movements. They're walking down the hallway as if they'd dearly like to kick the architecture itself to death.

And when they see the young skeleton, they glare at him as if they'd dearly like to kick him to death as well.

"I was using this hallway, you know," they say.

But they don't do anything. Not immediately.

[systematicsupport]

S-4 almost turns and bolts at the glare, but a glance at a nearby door gets him to hold firm. He's not letting anyone else get hurt. Especially not his brother.

"...I don't care. If you're going anywhere to hurt someone, I need to stop you."

Judging from the state of their clothing, and the way they're stomping down the hallway, it seems they definitely do want to hurt someone.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara just scoffs at S-4's show of bravery- you're a little late, aren't you? they think- but then an idea starts to form into their head. Their glare smooths out into a more pensive expression, although they don't stop staring at S-4.

"Hey. Are you a friend of that other kid? Wears a blue shirt with purple stripes?"

[systematicsupport]

"...Why are you talking about Frisk? What did you do to them?"

He shivers, eyes flickering as his magic gets more intense. If anything happened to them again, if he failed to protect them when he said he would...

[buttercup_eater]

"It's nothing," Chara says, with a shrug. "I happened to run into them earlier. There was a confrontation. I thought as their friend, you would want to be aware."

Seeing the shivering and flickering in the small skeleton, Chara calmly adds, "But you needn't worry. I didn't kill them."

[systematicsupport]

S-4 almost bolts right past Chara at the mention of a confrontation, but just manages to stop himself, waiting and only relaxing slightly when he discovers Frisk isn't dead. He keeps his stance as firm and strong as he can. He was made to protect his brother. He can't give up on that, no matter how afraid he is of what Chara is saying.

"You aren't going to hurt anyone else. I won't let you. Please... leave us alone."

[buttercup_eater]

I won't let you... Chara laughs a little at that. How on earth does he think he's going to stop them? Well,

"So," they say. "You intend to kill me? That would make you the fourth person today, I believe. No. Wait." They pause to think for a moment. "There was a fifth. A little girl. With white hair. But her friends sent her away before she could try."

Chara shrugs, and flashes S-4 a wide smile.

"To be honest. It's getting very repetitive. And I know a lot about repetition. Why don't you stand aside? We can skip the FIGHT. And I can be on my way."

[systematicsupport]

"I don't intend to kill you. I intend to stop you. I would rather not hurt you, unless you plan on hurting my friends."

And the mention of Sophie only steels him further. His fingers twitch, a bone half-materializing in the air.

"I don't care if it's repetitive or not. If you promise you won't hurt anyone here, I will let you go, but if you can't promise that, then I'll have to fight you."

[buttercup_eater]

Chara idly watches the bone bullet as it forms. Well that didn't work.

Chara considers pointing out the sheer stupidity of what the little skeleton intends. Undyne the Undying herself hadn't been able to stop Chara in the end, and if the greatest heroine in the Underground couldn't stop them, what chance did a babyish skeleton have against Chara? But they suspect he wouldn't listen if they pointed this out. He probably thinks he's special, Chara reflects. That he has a chance because he loves his friends that much. Because obviously, everyone else just didn't care enough.

Chara laughs, a bright little laugh. If he won't listen to sense, maybe they can trick him.

"I don't know if that's the wisest course of action," Chara says mildly. "You might want to try something else. Such as looking for Frisk. If you hurry, they might still be alive when you find them."

And then they give S4 a cheery wink. "But you can do what you like."

[systematicsupport]

He doesn't think he's special. Far from it, really. It's because he isn't special that he wants to do this. He's expendable. He doesn't really matter. The only reason he exists is to carry out a purpose, and that is to protect his brother.

He has to succeed at that mission, and if he dies in the process... well, he was a flawed model, and someone better would come around to protect Sans-Serif instead.

Logically, that all makes sense to him. But at the mention of Frisk, logic seems to disappear, leaving emotion to take over. He almost physically recoils from Chara, before stepping forward, eyelights flaring wildly.

"What did you do to them? Where are they?"

The bone materializes further, before simply disappearing. He should fight. He must fight. But he can't. He needs to find Frisk first.

...Everyone else will be safe in the meantime. They have to be.

He gives Chara a glare as a warning.

"Don't touch anyone else. If you do... I won't forgive you."

And then he's gone, running wildly down the hallway, praying he isn't too late.

[dustless]

He will find them. Eventually.

Chara's locked in the tower now. They said to Tauriel that they were going to sleep--they really had planned on it, heading towards the gardens, to the hidden place where they rest, but halfway there they realized maybe they should go tell Sans what happened, that he doesn't have to worry. Even if they're angry and aching and tired, that's important.

So they turned and started going back to where Sans and S-4 and Sans-Serif sleep.

But even they can't keep their body working forever, after all the bad things happening so shortly after their revival (a botched one, they think).

So S-4, when he finally finds them, will find them in a similar state to how Frisk had last seen him; leaning against a nearby door, dozing. Only there's nothing important behind that door.

The blood stopped a long time ago, but there's still a throb where the knife cut along their face, a trail down their cheek and spatters on their shirt.

At least they're alive.

[systematicsupport]

It takes what feels like hours of searching, and by the end of it, S-4 is completely exhausted. He's dragging his feet by the time he makes it back to the hallway of his room, and only gives the door a half glance. It looks undisturbed. Sans-Serif must still be safe...

His gaze travels down the hallway, and a few doors down, Frisk is there, eyes closed... once again covered in blood.

...He can't help it. He screams. He screams out even as he stumbles down the hallway, collapsing down to his knees in front of them, trying to focus his gaze on them through the fat tears in his eyesockets and no this is just like last time...

His hands tremble as he cups Frisk's cheek, sending healing magic to the cut, whatever magic he isn't accidentally expelling through his sobbing. He's crying too hard to realize this time it's actually working.

[dustless]

A like scream bubbles up in their throat, cut off by sheer shock at what's happening--just a moment ago they were half asleep, and now S-4 is there and touching them and oh god he's crying all over the place why--

Frisk falls to their knees too, grabbing at one of his arms so they don't topple over onto him entirely. "S-4! S-4 shh, no, shh, no no no no don't, don't cry, don't, please don't," they plead as their own vision starts blurring again.

[systematicsupport]

His sobs almost drown out the sound of Frisk's voice, but the touch to his arm shocks him enough to silence him slightly, enough to hear their voice. Quickly, he blinks his tears away, trying to focus on the blurry picture in front of him. Frisk is still in front of him, but... their eyes are open.

"Frisk...!" He chokes on another sob, his hand pulling away from them to press to his mouth as his eyesockets widen in shock. They can't really be okay... Is he just seeing things?

[dustless]

Their head bows. "S-4, please...s'okay...don't cry, don't..."

Against their own words, Frisk starts crying in earnest. They sink down and let their hand slide from his arm to his hand and clings to it.

It's been such a long day. They're so tired.

[systematicsupport]

S-4 initially tries to stop his tears, but when Frisk starts crying, he starts up with renewed vigor, quickly pulling Frisk into his arms to keep them safe, just in case Chara came near them again.

"You're... you're okay. I'm here, I'm going to... I'm so sorry..." His words are like his thoughts, jumbled and incoherent.

[dustless]

That isn't what they wanted--there's a hot stab of anger deep in their chest, they just want things to go right already. And that just makes them sob harder, ugly frustrated-frustrating tears that wracks their already-aching throat.

They're okay, they're fine, they know that, they're always fine even after they get hurt and die, who cares--everyone, everyone suddenly, 'cause they all saw how they screwed up and lost--they don't need care, it's everyone else that's getting hurt and getting scared and almost dying and crying, too, and it needs to stop stop stop stop--

All that rage is kept on the inside. S-4 will only feel them shake a little harder as they curl into him, trying not to just explode, trying to stop their own dumb tears.

It isn't S-4's fault. They cling to the thought as hard as they're clinging to his hand. It's not his fault. They don't need to start screaming, as much as they want to, as much as it'll ruin their throat more--

Maybe then they won't have to deal with the consequences of talking.

...no. That's not fair either.

After a time, Frisk's sniffling and sobs go quieter. It's hard work. But they think they might cry forever if they don't try not to.

"Th-thanks," they finally choke out. "For...that." They wave their free hand at their face, where it doesn't hurt nearly as much.

[systematicsupport]

Even that little bit of extra shaking is enough to worry S-4. He looks down at the human curled up in his arms, eyelights still flaring protectively. He tries to say their name, but he's cut off with a wince as his hand is gripped so tight. He lets out a soft whimper, but it's masked well by his tears.

He wishes he could make them less upset. He knows why they're upset, but he wishes that he could somehow take that burden all on himself. He hates seeing his friends in pain. He knows he was only supposed to protect Sans-Serif, but things have changed since coming to the castle. He's allowed to do what he wants, and what he wants is to protect everyone, but he can't, he know he can't, and that just makes him cry more.

He shakes his head at their mention of thanks.

"It's... nothing. I c-couldn't heal you before, so... so I'm glad it worked." He's glad he wasn't a failure this time.

[dustless]

Before? He'd healed them the only 'before' they can remember--after their first fight.

It takes several seconds (several more waves of quiet tears) before it clicks. Oh, god. Oh god.

"Ssssfour no. N-n-n-nobody can h-heal dead people. 'M sorry. So so sorry."

They let go of his hand and hug him right. "A-an'--an' I p-p-promised I'be be careful, too..." Sheer disgust chokes them to silence. They promised, and Frisk came to him all bloody and messy and crying anyway.

[systematicsupport]

"I... I know. I know. But you were... were still warm, and I thought... I was stupid."

So, so stupid. All he'd done was made Sans hurt even more to see him struggle like that. If he was stronger, he should have been able to fix things, or at least recognize it was impossible to heal Frisk in that state.

"It's... okay. It's okay. You can promise again, right?" S-4 forgives them. S-4 can't do anything but forgive them, when they always forgive him.

child no ;n;

[dustless]

"Y-you shouldnta seen that. 'M sorry."

They want to tell him he's not stupid, not at all, but words are too hard again. Stop crying, stop it, stop it.

What does a promise mean anymore? They already broke it, pretty much immediately.

But they nod. To make S-4 feel better, if nothing else.

[systematicsupport]

"Don't be sorry. It's... my fault. Shouldn't have looked."

He wishes they would stop crying. The more they sob, the more he can feel tears overflow, ribcage tightening with the strain of giving up the excess magic.

"Please... it's okay. You're safe now, r-right?"

[dustless]

S-4...it's never them they're worried about. Not for the right reasons. But he might understand that, too.

They don't understand what they're doing. Not that it'd be any easier to stop if they knew they were hurting him.

Once they can make words again--"Y-yeah. 'M safe. 'M fine. 'M okay, 's okay." They sniffle. "C-can--can I--go to your room, you guys's, 'cause I wanted to talk to Sans, I gotta tell him, an' you too now, Chara's locked inna tower. It's okay."

[systematicsupport]

He would understand that... even if it would hurt to hear. He cares about their well-being. Why doesn't Frisk care as much?

He holds them until they start speaking, and then his grip falters as they explain. "Chara is... gone? They won't hurt anyone?"

He grabs their hand tightly.

"We have to tell them. Right away."

[dustless]

They're gone for now.

...But Frisk isn't going to say that.

"Yeah. Yeah, let's." They squeeze back. "So e-everybody can worry less."

Though they might need a tiny bit of help getting back up. Honestly, they could pass out right there right now.