save_theworld | IC Inbox

[It's the kind of thing that means so much, like hearing "thank you" or "I love you" and feeling joy and pain.

That's the feeling behind the flowers.

They know about the starry 'sky' (hard to miss, really) and this was likely done for the same reason. Something nice, something to remind them of home. While golden this was very much an act of kindness in its own way.

Just....well, you can't see the green if you scribble all over it with red. Perhaps Chara was thinking about this too much in terms of SOUL colors but it was the best way to put it.

Or you could say Sans tried striking a match to provide some light and wound up burning them instead. It clearly wasn't his intention to do so, but with a thing that had both good and bad memories it was bound to happen.

Inevitable, really. Kids like you...

Chara joins Frisk in the dirt and cups one of the flowers in their hands. They remember all the times they've seen these plants. The Fallen Child's expression is tired and a bit melancholy.]

There are just some things research do not help.

[Not uplifting by any means but it is truthful, in a way.]

[He just wanted to make them happy.

He thought they liked them. And maybe... maybe he could've done something else, but he thought they'd like them.

Chara looks as downtrodden as they feel. Maybe- maybe it's for different reasons. Some of them might even be similar; the memories associated with them, the people. Those repeated moments, waking up on the flowerbed. Smells like failure.]

They're still pretty.

[Pretty. Not associated with the best of things, but pretty. He tried really hard, they think. Or maybe it wasn't hard at all.

Still. He thought about them.]

Thanks, Sans.

[It's...well, he ain't real sure what's keeping 'em saying what they're saying. Pity, maybe. 'Cause he made an effort for once in his life, only to be reminded why he should never have bothered. That's...heh, that's what he gets for trying to nail 'em with a surprise.

Why even try.

They're still pretty to look at, easy enough. Even if now all he's managed to do is bring a splash of a horrible reminder down here, so they can look at it every day.]

I gotta...deal with Sorrow, to keep 'em here. 'Long as I'm not makin' any jokes, they're stickin' around.

[He can break that deal. Just as easy.]

[Chara smiles a little bit.

It's not a particularly happy one but it's also nowhere near close to that painted smile they usually wear. Frisk and Sans are right. These flowers are a reminder of something painful. Waking up again and again because something went wrong and those somethings spun off until the Fallen Child couldn't keep track of what they were. All they knew what that they had failed.

And, once upon a time, Chara had laid their own body down on a patch of golden flowers on the Surface. That moment where everything went wrong.

There are some positive aspects, however. Golden flower tea, memories of a family. The patch of flowers where two SOULs slammed into each other and became one.

* Where I met you.

Something to LOVE and love.]

They are beautiful.

[Said to themself and Frisk, mostly, and with a level of sincerity they don't normally allow.]

These flowers grow with very little effort and their seeds stick to everything. Sorrow will have to work extra hours to remove them. [They say it as if the God couldn't get rid of them with a wave of his hand.] So I think we should save him the trouble and keep them.

[They brush a petal with one hand. Sans's gift isn't a hit, but it's not a miss either.]

[Frisk's smile grows warmer, directed Chara's way. More genuine at their Partner's speech; an explanation that's probably meaningless, but it sounds like the right thing to say. They're here now, and it would be such a bother to get rid of them, after all this effort. Not even worth the trouble.

There's one good thing about these flowers. They're looking at it.

Even the worst memory isn't so bad, when they think about it like that.]

Mm. That.

[They look at him, now. The smile is still easy and genuine, and they're still...crouched down in the flowers. Running their fingers across golden petals, collecting pollen on their skin. It's a really good thing that they don't have allergies.]

No more jokes. Flower you going to do that?

[Well, one outta two ain't the worst track record. It's better than Zero. Maybe they don't love the flowers, but Chara seems to be lost in some memory or another - maybe that of the things they so loved. That's what all the stories say, ain't it?

And if Chara's happy, Frisk's happy.

They are beautiful.

He chuckles, faintly. Nice SAVE, kiddo.]

I'll have to seed if I can keep it up.

IC Inbox | Hadriel

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