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

[lightofthestars]

The child's feint might have worked, had they not been in the grip of an Elf who has long trained in battle. She is off-balance for but an instant; a shift and the touch of her free hand to the wall is all she needs to right herself once more.

"There is no sense in struggling," she tells them. "You will not escape me."

[buttercup_eater]

Chara keeps trying for a while regardless, thrashing back and forth in a determined attempt to throw themselves off of Tauriel and down the stairs to freedom. Presently, their movements slow, but instead of ceasing Chara continues to shake uncontrollably, tremors running up and down their spine.

They don't speak, but their breathing grows louder, hissing through Chara's clenched teeth.

[lightofthestars]

Now aware of the child's attempts to escape, Tauriel easily keeps them in place. When the shaking begins, she wonders if they have somehow made themself ill on purpose. If so, she will look over them once they are in the tower. It is not far now, the Belain be praised.

"You know that one who has committed a crime must be punished," she tells them (though she does not think she will achieve anything by it). "It will be easier if you accept your fate."

[buttercup_eater]

Chara themselves isn't sure why they can't stop shaking. In truth it's not really an illness of the body (though there are some bruises and other injuries hidden beneath Chara's hair and clothes) so much as a sickness of the spirit. They want to rip her apart with their bare hands, and Tauriel's words don't help Chara's rancor.

She does achieve something, at least: a scoff.

[lightofthestars]

She does not know how, but that scoff kindles her rage to new heights. The child will be able to feel it in the leashed tightness of her body. She does not act against them, and nor does she speak further.

At last they reach the top of the stairs. There is a level part of the floor, and ahead is a solid wooden door. Her goal now is clear.

chara has a vivid and violent imagination.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara does indeed catch onto the significance of Tauriel's tension, and stares intently downwards. They watch as the steps level off onto a landing, and tilt their head slightly to get a glimpse of a wooden door nearby.

They wonder, dully, how Tauriel's rage is going to manifest once they're outside. Killing Chara may still be on the agenda, though it seems odd that she wouldn't have done so earlier. Perhaps she intends to torture Chara, breaking their bones and beating them black and blue, without allowing them to die. Or maybe she intends to administer justice by slicing off Chara's hands or gouging out their eyes, so they can't swing their knife around or see to aim at a target.

Good lord, child.

[lightofthestars]

She reaches out and turns the handle the heavy door, which opens into two small rooms. In the first is a bed, a table, and only a few other small things. The second is a privy. The window is barred, and that is what first made her think of this use for the tower.

Tauriel walks to the far end of the room. She stops and breathes in. Then she pulls the child from her shoulder, sets them on the ground, and bolts for the door.

Few are fleeter of foot than an elf, but she is taking no chances.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara can't get as good a look at the room as Tauriel does, although they get the impression of an austere little living space, much to their confusion. What, they wonder, is Tauriel looking for here? Then Tauriel comes to a stop and Chara realizes that, whatever it is Tauriel intends, it's going to happen right now.

They feel themselves slip off of Tauriel's shoulder and their feet settle onto the ground, and immediately Chara scrambles back against a windowsill and raises their arms in front of their face.

They're so prepared for a FIGHT that it actually takes them a second to realize what Tauriel's really doing. Red eyes widen, and Chara sprints clumsily after her- but their moment of confusion has given the already sprightly elf a head start.

[lightofthestars]

She crashes the door into its frame hard enough for the sound to echo. Half an instant later, she thrusts the key into its lock and turns it.

That task done, she slides the key into her pocket and takes up her post. She stares straight ahead and readies herself for much shouting.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara flinches at the slamming of the door, skidding to a stop on the worn wooden floor. Locked in. How to get out?

Tauriel won't hear any shouting, but Chara won't be entirely silent. They take a deep breath, back up until they're almost at the window again... then rush forward and slam themselves into the door.

Nothing happens.

So, they back up and try again.

And again.

After six or seven more times, Chara has to concede that a child who'd weigh maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet is not going to be able to break down a locked door made out of half a foot of solid oak. So they pause to glare at the door, panting a little and rubbing their shoulder.

[lightofthestars]

There is the sound of running feet, and then the sound of a body hitting wood. It is loud enough to startle her, but when it comes again and again, it simply becomes noise to her.

Foolish child. Do they not know all they will do is hurt themself?

[dustless]

Even if they managed to take after Chara only a few minutes after they first fled, Frisk has no luck finding them. The castle itself seems to have swallowed them up. Or maybe they're just too exhausted to think about which way Chara probably went properly.

The adrenaline of their fear for Sans during the hostage situation and after faded a long while ago. Once, going down some stairs, their legs turned jelly and they had to sit down and take deep breaths. And their face was horribly itchy where the blood was trickling down from the cut, not to mention where it had dried, which added to their general distraction.

But they weren't going to give up. Maybe they considered going to find Sans a few times, but they knew he'd do better if he knew what Chara was doing, had done. (And maybe their frustration was slipping over their fear again.)

By the time they start climbing the tower with Tauriel and Chara at the top, they're wandering completely aimlessly.

[buttercup_eater]

It's strange. Once Chara's had time to catch their breath a little, they feel like their bones are melting, they're so tired. They want to collapse onto the floor and sleep for hours and yet, the rage burning inside them keeps them trembling all over, achingly alert.

As the door won't be budging any time soon, Chara starts to pace around their room instead. They open the door to the privy and stare inside for a moment, but it's just a plain little closet for relieving oneself, nothing useful. The cupboard is also inspected, but opening it up just reveals a few shelves containing spare bedsheets.

In the end, Chara resorts to the window. The bars prevent them from climbing out, but they still begin to test them in various ways- gripping them and trying to shake them, to see if the bars come loose at all, and sticking their skinny arms through them even though just looking at them suggests they're too closely spaced for Chara to fit through.

[lightofthestars]

Tauriel hears the footsteps long before she sees their owner. She frowns; she can tell from their lightness that they must belong to one of the children, but which one?

"Greetings," she calls down as the child nears.

Maybe she can make them leave before they come too close.

[dustless]

They suck in a breath. "Tauriel?" Despite their attempt to sound strong, their voice only comes out ragged.

Frisk's just about climbing up the stairs on all fours at this point. It's a little gross, the dirt on their hands, but the can deal with it.

To the point: "Have...have you...seen Chara?"

[buttercup_eater]

Chara pauses in their actions hearing the sound of Tauriel's voice; they turn to stare at the door, thinking for a moment that she's trying to talk to them, but then they catch the sound of something moving up the stairs. Followed by an indecipherable, yet familiar voice.

Chara doesn't speak up, but they do move quietly towards the door, trying to listen to any ensuing conversation.

[lightofthestars]

As soon as she understands how Frisk is trying to climb the stairs, she runs down to them upon light feet.

"I have, hên vell--are you hurt? What has happened to you?"

Soon she will be able to see for herself, but she cannot wait so long. They sound utterly spent.

[dustless]

As soon as they hear her voice getting closer, they flop to sit on the stairs and groan softly.

"Been running. And my face got...kinda cut. 'M okay. Where are they?"

[buttercup_eater]

From inside the room, Chara reaches the door just as Tauriel starts to bolt down the stairs. They can hear Tauriel speaking- and they wonder what hên vell means, though it's obviously an endearment of some sort- and then that other voice.

It's Frisk. But Chara can't quite make out what they're saying, the other child's voice is so soft and hoarse. So Chara carefully lies onto the floor and presses their ear against the bottom of the door, hoping it'll help. Somehow.

[lightofthestars]

At the sound of their groan, she runs still swifter until she can see Frisk for herself. Her breath catches at the sight of them, for it is clear they have met hardship.

She sits at once by their side and reaches out to wipe their face. "They are in this tower, and they are unable to escape. You have nothing to fear."

[dustless]

Their head jerks up, and they stare past her shoulder. "Not scared," they tell her distractedly. "Gotta...need to talk to them."

So saying, Frisk grabs the railing and start dragging their body up to stand.

[lightofthestars]

She catches them by their shoulders. "Frisk, you are spent. At least wait until you have rested before speaking with them."

If she forbids Frisk from speaking to the other child outright, she knows they will never listen to her. This is better.

[dustless]

Frisk can't help but sag in her grip, despite their blatant frustration about it.

"But I'm--I've been looking," they argue, as if that matters.

[lightofthestars]

Gently, she draws Frisk closer, so they will not fall down the stairs.

"Now your search is at an end. Please rest, hên vell. You are so newly returned to us...."

Her voice wavers, and she must stop speaking.

[dustless]

Frisk would generally be a the slightest bit less blunt, but they're not in the mood or the mindset for subtleties right now. "'M not gonna die 'cause I'm tired." And even with the cut on their face, they're not going to bleed to death, either.

They keep their eyes on the stairs above, just in case. Just in case...something. They don't know. They're upset.