Flowey met Toriels gaze for a moment. "Hey, Chara...I think we-"
The girl had a look of realization. "Oh, heh, sorry about the uh, pie." She apologized. "I saw it, and I know you said it was something we were gonna have...so, I just-" The woman stepped towards them. "wanted to make sure it was fine. So, when I saw you going to your room, I figured you were headed to bed, cuz you seemed upset...so uhm, well, then we started talking about baking but uh...um...are you upset?"
The string of childish, nonsensical logic, made Flowey sigh, and facepalm. Toriel stopping in front of them, kneeling down. A pat on her head, and then a hug followed that.
"I'm not mad." Toriel promised.
The hug was a little tight, but Chara embraced her back. "Well, that's good I think. Uh, safe to report it's fine?" She laughed a little. "T-the uh, pie, b-but the hugs nice too."
Toriel didn't answer the question, or whatever thought was being said. It really didn't register. Her eyes closed, watering, wondering if this would vanish the moment she opened her eyes. She could feel the hug, it was...she could feel it, right?
Opening her eyes, she found Chara giving her a concerned look. The Flower sitting in a vase, by a piece of pie. It was all, still there.
"Forgive me, my child...I don't know what came over me." Toriel lied. "And..uhm, it's.." She took note of the ragged clothes, the little injuries and cuts she'd failed to attend to previously. Wrapping her in a feeling of guilt, at the inaction.
"You...you're okay?" Chara more asked, than said.
"I'm alright. Uhm, come inside, won't you?" She requested, rising. "We need to...to get you clothing that's not in such a state, Chara."
"Alright," Chara replied, picking up the flowerpot, and the plate. "Heh." She snickered, glancing at the flower. "That would be pretty funny."
"What would?" Flowey inquired.
"Like, seeing you in a little sweater." The girl suggested. "Oh, we could give it little sleeves for your leaves."
Toriel hummed. "I'm going to have to go through the laundry in my room, and see about outfits." She noted, getting a glance. "I'll check for something like that when I find you an outfit."
The woman suggested, waiting at the top of the staircase for them. She felt some minor amusement, listening to their interaction. Not enough to distract from the overwhelming sensation clouding her every thought, but...a little amusement.
Flowey rolled his eyes. "I really don't need a sweater. I don't get cold."
Chara and Flowey headed up the steps. Toriel moving inside, glancing at them as she started down the hallway. Reaching the room before them, waiting in front of it.
"Oh c'mon. It'll be fun. What do you think?" Chara asked her. "I think he'd look kind of cute, in one of those jackets. Like those little dogs with outfits."
"I'm not a puppy!" He exclaimed in worry. "I'm a Flower."
"Then it's both funny, and cute." Chara assured him.
Toriel didn't respond to the inquiry, rather, she continued to watch and listen. "Give me a moment, please, uhm...play until I return."
The duo headed towards the bedroom. "Okay." The child replied. "You look cool by the way."
"Thank you." Her guardian hummed, while they went to play. Thinking for a second, the woman headed over, and closed the door to the house. A certain shade overtaking her eyes, a distress when they were out of sight. She fidgeted some...it didn't, she didn't understand what was going on.
This was real though, wasn't it? Had she finally just snapped completely? A following question...did it matter?
While Toriel was away, the dynamic duo began to peruse the room proper. Opening drawers, investigating spaces. Finding anything they could find to remain entertained. In the end locating some pieces of paper, and various crayons and colored pencils. Setting down, and beginning on that.
There was something about drawing, in the childs mind. It prevented most other thoughts, drowning out her surroundings. The process lasting some time as she noticed Flowey attempting to mimic her artistic abilities. Which in her humble opinion were on the stunning and brilliant side of mediocre.
Unsurprisingly, Flowey seemed to be having a remarkable difficulty with it at first. Either breaking the crayons, or being unable to hold them with enough force or precision to draw. Even hissing at it once, before she bopped him on the head with purple.
She hummed along to a song she'd forgotten, her mind projecting the image in her head onto the paper. From there, she just traced the lines and scratched in the loose spaces. Her hand moving furiously, her eyes unblinking. Her focus broken only when she got a tap on the shoulder.
"Hey Chara, look!" Flowey said with a positive smile.
The picture provided to her was crude and poorly done. Like a child had drawn it, or, well, a little kid anyways. It seemed to depict the two of them in a garden of Golden Flowers. He was clearly proud of his work. Though she was confused that her representation appeared to have...purple eyes?
"That's neat." She replied plainly.
He frowned some. "I thought I did really well."
"I said it was cool Flowey." She reminded him with a chuckle.
"Tsk, s'not what ya meant." He scanned over his picture. "I know, it's pretty bad."
Chara subconsciously nodded. She felt bad judging it. Honestly, she had no room to, it wasn't like hers was all that amazing. She sighed, pausing her movements.
"Flowey, I'm being serious." She lied. "Honestly, it's great. I mean, that's the garden I woke up in right?" Humming. "And this is...supposed to be me?"
"Eh, of course it's you." Flowey remarked, rolling his eyes. "How can you not tell?"
"My eyes are red." Chara noted.
"Well, there's some red in them." Flowey replied, she looked confused. "Uhm...Chara, your eyes have been getting...purple."
"They have?" She asked, adding. "Really?"
"Yeah you didn't know?" He asked, noticing her get up, looking around. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for a mirror-" She recalled one in the hallway. "you can't be uh-"
She opened the door, noticing Toriel wandering by with some laundry. Pausing briefly to free a hand, and give her a pat on the head, alongside a reassuring smile. Before heading down to the last room of the hallway. Chara hesitated to leave the room, afterwards. She had said she'd be patient and wait, though, she felt the urge to proceed regardless.
"So uhm-" Chara shifted from the topic. "Do you go to the garden often?"
"Huh, yeah." He replied. "It's a nice place."
"So you just like, hang out there?" She asked, sitting back down. "Talk to other Flowers, that sort of thing?"
"No?" He sounded confused. "Chata, I can't speak to the other Flowers, they aren't ya know, alive."
"Well, technically they are." She noted to him with a smug grin.
"You know what I mean." He replied.
"I do, but it's not what you said." She teased, before adding. "But no, it's a cool picture Flowey. When you give it a second glance, ya know, it just really-" She smirked. "Draws, you in."
The Flower shot her a look. "You said you wouldn't do that!"
"Do what?" She asked, still drawing. "It's just a compliment, petals."
"Make puns, you promised just one day without making a single pun." He noted.
"Yeah, but I didn't say that it would be today." She said as he groaned, a laugh slipping her lips in response. "It's just too easy."
He set his picture down. Reaching out to grab another piece of paper. Refusing in that moment to dignify her comment with a response. Save for a little huff, as he peered over, examining her picture with a confused look.
"What...uh...what are you drawing?" Flowey inquired.
"I dunno." She replied. "Just something I keep...seeing. Like an itching in my head, sort of."
Chara dragged the aqua blue across the paper with a few final strokes. Taking a second to finish a flourishing bit of red slipping through a hair bind. Setting down her pencils, contended with the project.
Noticing his glances, she picked it up so he could get a better view of what she'd been tinkering with. It depicted what looked like blue spears flying downwards. Among this, there was the outline of someone standing in the background. Appearing to be wearing a set of armor, with a bright blue streak coming from one of their eyes. Red flowing hair, barely visibly hanging out of a ponytail. Nearly blending with the dark background.
Flower stared with wide eyes at the image. "That...that's..."
"Pretty cool right?" Chara asked, setting it down. "I think they look really awesome, like a true hero."
"More like a real villain." The Flower muttered in a very annoyed tone.
"Huh?" She asked.
"Err, does she, I dunno...look familiar to you at all?" The Flower asked.
"Why do you think it's a she?" Chara asked back, as Flowey shifted some.
The train of thought was interrupted by the creaking of the door. Toriel briefly stepped into the room. She was wearing a large black jacket; over top the hoodie she had been wearing earlier. Chara felt it looked like a tough jacket.
"My child, I'm going to be out for a short while," Toriel explained. "I need to get a few things, and...I need you to remain here until I return."
"Okay, where are you going?" The girl asked. asked.
"I've already set out something to drink, alongside another piece of the pie." The woman deflected. "It's not the healthiest, but...I trust-" She glanced at the flower. "You'll still be here when I return."
Flowery was a smart flower. Capable of understanding all the nuances of conversational patterns, and behaviors. Her words were dripping with a threatening undertone, and her glance suggested his immediate and violent immolation on conditional failure. It was subtle stuff, but he figured it out. Responding...
"D-definitely," Flowey assured her. "Right Chara?"
"Can I go with you?" The girl asked, curiously.
"Not this time, my child. Please just, remain here for a time." Toriel requested, kneeling down for a moment. "I promise I'll be back soon."
The tone felt oddly concerning, Chara briefly hugging her. Holding tight for a second, before Toriel rose. Ending it, and departing down the hall once more. This time going right from the door to the room. The child was curious where she was going, especially needing a jacket. It wasn't like the ruins were that cold.
"She'll be back." Flowey assured her, adding. "And uh, hey, I wanted to ask. You're sure that picture isn't of someone you know?"
She blinked, scanning it over. "I don't believe so. Why, do you know someone like this?"
"No." He replied quickly. "Just, really uh, cool, detailed is all."
"Yeah." She appeared in thought, briefly heading over to open the door. "So, it's yeah, hey, why did she need a jacket?"
He turned, responding. "Well, it is a bit chilly these days."
"I didn't hear the door?" Chara half-asked, peaking around the corners. "Wanna go see what mom's doing?"
"She asked us to stay here for a while," The Flower reminded her. "I think we-"
"Yeah, that sounds pretty boring." She concluded. "Besides, we aren't going to wander off or anything. I mean, she can't have gone too far right?" She suggested while picking up the flowerpot. "Maybe, one of the rooms?"
"Chara!" Flowey exclaimed as she darted from the room. "Just wait for a second would ya!?"
His vines burst out, latched onto the door handle. Stopping her forward momentum, with an 'oof' from her. Falling briefly, while still carrying the flowerpot.
"Hey-" She huffed. "What's that about?"
"This is a bad idea." He remarked, as she gave him a look. "Even if I say no, you're just gonna go anyways, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah." Chara sighed some. "Listen, it's...dumb but. I feel like, I haven't seen her in forever. Ya know?" The flower frowned. "A-and then, when I'm finally home, I can't even talk to her before she leaves somewhere." She huffed. "I wanted to ask about Asriel, and Dad. O-or just anything."
"Why didn't you ask her before?" Flowey asked.
"Because...she looks like she isn't feeling well." The girl explained. "I didn't wanna stress her out a bunch. I...do that enough as it is."
Flowey released his vines. Sighing, and looking away from her. He imagined she would be the death of him, again, given the fight with the ghost he couldn't remember.
"Look, if you really want to run around..at least get a jacket or something." He suggested.
"That's a good idea," Chara responded. "She needed one, so...I might too."
The Flower got a surprised look. "Oh, didn't think you'd agree so-"
"Always helps to have an added layer of defense against our enemies." She noted with a silly smile.
"I was thinking against the cold." The flower responded.
"No need to give me the cold shoulder." She replied. "Well, we know there aren't really any in the room."
"So, we're going to Toriels room?" Flowey guessed, as they started in that direction.
"I see your keen sense of observation hasn't faded." She responded. "Truly it is the gift which continues to provide for us."
"Har, Har, Har." Flowey groaned. "But, that is a terrible idea, and we should in no way pursue it."
"I see your mouth moving, but all I'm hearing is-" She turned on her heel to face the door before them now. "I love that idea Chara. Wow, you're so funny and have friends. We should totally pursue it."
"Chara no." The Flower commanded. "That's not even remotely what I said."
"Not listening, and I don't care." The child declared, opening the door. "Onward, my flower-powered compatriot."
Entering into Toriels room, was like entering an entirely new world. It didn't resemble it the way she remembered it at all. Then again, she could only remember a few random things about it. The place looked like it had been recently cleaned, in some sections. Save for the pile of laundry that had been placed next an area marked 'fold later.'
She noted the desk was littered with bottles glasses, crumpled pieces of paper, the works. The bed hadn't been made, and was terribly out of sorts. And there were a couple bags of trash by the door, that simply hadn't been taken out.
"It's...kinda dirty in here." Chara commented.
"Yeah, that's what happens when you give up." Flowey remarked.
"Give up on what?" She asked.
"Lots of random little things...let's just get a jacket and go. Okay?" He requested.
The next ten or so minutes was spent looking over or through the various clothing in the pile. A dozen or so shirts, pants, shorts, a few dresses. A different set of robes. And then, finally some jackets there-within. As she looked over the pile, she hummed.
"Okay, you go be on lookout in the hall." She requested.
"We're just getting a jacket right?" He asked.
"Well my clothes are a little dirty, and some look like they could fit me." She noted.
Flowey promptly extended his vines, pulling himself towards the door. "Got it."
She rolled her eyes, picking up the flowerpot. Moving him out into the hall. Setting him down, and giving him a sigh. Closing the door and heading back in. Flowey remained there, outside of the room for...about an additional ten or so minutes. Patiently, or impatiently humming some. Looking around as he did so. He kept worrying Toriel would just show up and burn him to death. But it didn't happen.
Finally, the door opened, and Chara stepped back out. Turning, he found that she looked, different than she had before. By quite a bit, given the outfit differences. She was wearing what appeared to be a faded dark red turtleneck style sweater. With a basic set of blue jeans on, that was slightly too big. With a belt running through the loops. But above that, was a faded purple hoodie, with white fluff around the inside of the hood. And her present set of sneakers, 'reinforced' by what seemed to be little wooden plates, and duct-tape.
"So, does it look cool?" She asked.
"Did you try to look cool?" Flowey asked.
"Well...yeah?" She glanced at herself and frowned. "I-I mean, I can go and try-"
"It totally looks awesome." He lied. "Like, real lone...wanderer kinda thing."
"You think so?" She asked, smiling.
"Totally." He replied, also noticing a plain black backpack in her hand. "So, what's that for?"
"You." She noted, adding. "I uh, found it buried in the corner. I took a bunch of old papers, and random junk out of it. Figure...we can put the vase in, ya know, so I can have free hands, and you can come along?"
"Huh, good idea." He admitted. "Easier to watch your back, when I'm literally watching your back, right?"
"Heh." She smiled a very encouraged smile.
It seemed the next phase of their journey was set to begin. The Flower knew, after all, that Toriel wasn't here. And Chara knew she couldn't have left the front door. Meaning the only way they could go, was down the staircase. And he knew exactly, where that would lead.