"Correcting subject...Toriel..."
Throughout her many years of existence, one thing had illuded her. No matter the lessons provided to her, by her parents as a child. No matter the will of various tutors, and educators. Not even getting married, interacting with countless members of monsterkind, or becoming a mother had quelled it. A horrible, inescapable truth.
Waiting was never her strong suit. Impatience, empowered by a desire to see things done. Even if those things were ultimately deconstructive, or pointless. At least they quelled the thoughts in her head. If only for a moment. It had defined much of her rule, her many different actions. For the better or worst.
The monster pacing, staring out over the cliffs edge, somewhere halfway to the town of Snowdinn. Her impatience had led to a few things around her. To begin, she had built, and destroyed a snowman. Pushing her creation over the cliff, merely to sate the desire to see something done. Her focus now, however, was on a house in the distance.
It reminded her of her own home, which she was a fair distance from. A place she desperately needed to get back to. She couldn't help but think such thoughts, when her eyes spotted a cottage in the far distance. Reminding her of home.
She wagered it belonged to someone desperate to get away from civilization. Not that Snowdinn was exactly what she'd call civilization. She wondered if they were an outlaw, a renegade, or a rebel perhaps. Toriel pondered if the resident was one of her old loyalists perhaps. Ousted alongside her.
Her thoughts cycled back to Snowdinn. In her mind, she wondered if Chara would like the little town. If it was safe enough to bring her there? It was a fair distance from Asgore, even if...there were two royal guards there. She quashed the thought. It would likely never be safe with ASGORE in power. A funny thought, for one who ran away instead of stopping him.
The stray strand of doubt prompting her to grumble to herself. "I'm too sober for this." Judging her compulsion, she added. "No..no, can't...shouldn't do that with Chara around."
The noise in her head was like...garbage noise. Nothing, everything, her own thoughts. Prompting her to consider some things.
Toriel knew that she shouldn't repeat her past, bad behavior, and habits. One of which, was drinking. It was after all, the thing that got her children killed in the past. Sleeping in, instead of waking up early, hungover from a social gathering the night before. Her own nasty habits. Pathetic, little failures.
The day's events had been running around in her head. All of this, all these other thoughts, assuming it was even real. And she hadn't simply snapped. After all, how was she supposed to explain, one of her dead children magically show back up?
Acting like nothing happened. Wearing some strange green striped shirt. Having...what seemed to be purple in their eyes, when she was sure they were red? It made Toriel feel crazy, even just the eyes. Had she been remembering wrong all this time? It wasn't like it would be her first failure as a mother.
Covering one of her eyes, she pressed against her forehead, and sighed, her efforts to calm her mind failing. Letting the makeshift eye cover fall, her one good eye began examining the hand. She briefly dug clawed thumb back into it. Pushing the sharp point, until it bled with a bit of mana. Leaving some dust in her palm, as it healed. The shadows fleeing from beneath her eyes.
Finally, her thoughts were calming some. She wagered...maybe...she had just snapped. That was the only real explanation, right? But if she had...at least- A sound like knocking came to her attention, from a tree behind her.
"knock knock." The familiar voice greeted.
"You're late." She noted. "I need to-"
"knock knock." The voice repeated.
Toriel paused, and indulged. "Who is there?"
"says." The Skeleton wandering over.
"Says who?" The goat-lady asked, glancing at him.
"says me, that's who." He replied with a bigger smile than normal.
Despite her state, and despite how terrible she felt. Almost immediately her sour and stoic expression melted. Becoming a chuckle, and then an enthusiastic laugh. Managing to make him chuckle a bit to, while he took a seat, legs hanging over the edge of the cliffside. Waiting patiently, until Toriel stopping her laughter, and calmed down enough to do the same.
"Something...I should uhm-" Toriel hesitated, deciding to wait just a moment before getting into...things. "Sans..." She began, he glanced. "Why didn't the skeleton mind the wind?"
Sans felt a feeling of deja vu, and asked. "why?"
"Cuz it went right through him." She said, struggling not to laugh.
Seeing her struggle not to laugh. The sight of it, the enthusiasm being kept back. It made it impossible for him not to give a good snicker himself. The feedback loop demanding she do the same. Which she did, without fail.
"whoa, you've goat to be kiddin me." Sans joked.
"Did that one tickle your funny bone?" Toriel said, between laughter.
"wow." He chuckled back, making her laugh harder. "amazing."
When the duo had finally calmed down from their silly exchange, Sans got a look at his present companion. She was wearing a hoodie, fairly basic, but functional. With a soft leather jacket overtop of that. And dark pants. She still looked a little unkept, yet maintained her proper posture. Something he definitely didn't always have.
"so, Tori, you're lookin goat today, what's the occasion?" He asked.
"Huh?" She smiled some. "Just what I had laying around. I didn't...put a skele-ton of effort into it," She let out a sad sounding chuckle, before frowning. "You did not...show up for a week. Or answer any of uh, my calls."
The Skeleton had a bit of guilt to his generally static expression, glancing away from her. "yeah. I'm sorry about that. an old friend called, and uh, I helped out in finishin...some old stuff I was workin on with er. you'll be happy to know, it ended terribly."
His attempt at making comedy out of the utter tragedy she was unaware of, didn't seem to land. Instead, it prompted a look of concern. He struggled to meet it, only feeling worst, for getting one.
"Your suffering doesn't make me happy, Sans." Toriel commented.
"yeah...I know. sorry." He muttered back. "I uh, noticed you didn't answer the phone either. this morning, I mean. everything okay?"
"First...don't apologize for feeling down." Toriel hummed. "Second, I was..." She hesitated. "Sans, am I...awake right now?"
Sans chuckled. "do you dream about me often?" She didn't laugh. "uhm..." He noticed the concern in her eyes. "You're awake, Tori."
"Never heard that much enthusiasm before." She noted.
"I try not to have it. it's a lot of work." His tone returning to normal. "but uh...why do you ask?"
She searched for answers to that question. They were obvious, but difficult to speak. She felt compelled to say nothing...but did...anyways.
Toriel examined him. "We're friends, right?" He scanned her. "Aren't we?"
"yeah. of course." He let out a nervous, impulse chuckle. "what's goin on...you're not in trouble are ya?"
"It's not about him. He still doesn't know where I am. Thank you, though." She assured, easing that fear. "I'm...going to tell you some things. Just...please hear me out, before you respond."
Sans sat up straighter and nodded. "you have my complete attention."
She felt the urge to say nothing.
"Promise me." She requested.
"Promise." He replied, wondering what this was all about.
-
"request...understood..."
-
There was a lot of hesitation, as Toriel told Sans about...everything that had happened in the day. The talk was a bit long, in some parts. The only thing she didn't tell him about, was the strange dream. Unlike the rest, it clearly wasn't real.
As soon
as it entered
her mind,
it was gone.
She spoke with all the honesty she could muster, even when she began to shiver, her words falling over themselves. Making her look, and sound a bit insane at some points. Something she knew, and that was only made worst by the silence of her peer.
However, even when she got nervous, she powered through it. In the end, there was that same silence, but with both of them. Sans eyes appearing to be gone from their sockets. The skeleton thinking things over. Feeling deeply surprised...and conflicted about what he'd been told.
"you're sure...this is your kid?" Sans asked finally.
"I don't know." She admitted, adding. "I don't...even know if it's real." Her laugh a little maddened, her eyes tearing up. "Sans...I don't know, I don't..."
The skeleton shifted uncomfortably, taking a bottle of ketchup from his jacket. He wanted to respond with assurances, however his mind was still reeling a bit from the concept of it all. He drank the ketchup like it was a soda, beer, or a shot of something. Things had already clicked in his mind.
He didn't doubt for a moment that she had encountered a human. Though, the idea of it being the kid from the stories he'd heard. A very long-dead human child, THE human child...it sounded ridiculous.
And then, if it was true...it made what he had planned uncomfortable to him. Not that he had a problem with killing for the sake of everyone, but... He looked her over and noted, the only real thing that had stopped him from killing the human then and there, were the jokes. It'd reminded him of Toriel.
"Tori." He tried to find the right words. "hey...I didn't get to tell you bout my day yet."
"Sans..I can't..." She commented, sniffling.
"see. I was on my way here. ya know, to hang out with you." He began anyways. "and the strangest thing happened. I came across...this flower, and...a human."
Toriel flinched, eyes unstably scanning him. "What?"
"they uh, seemed to be lookin for somethin." He chuckled nervously. "dressed up in a jacket...a lot like that one that was near the fireplace, when I visited last."
She recalled the purple jacket, from when she was considering burning the old clothes she still had lying around. Things appearing to click in her mind. He noticed it, and then he noticed the next gear click. Concern replacing the look of realization, evolving into...
"You...didn't-" Her dread evident. "Sans...you didn't harm-"
"we told each other some jokes. I uh, showed off the old joy buzzer in the hand trick." He told her. "helped em out of a jam, actually, and they kept walkin." He assured, adding. "this kid...you said, the eyes are...red?"
Her mind was in a frenzy, scattered and far from properly composed. A dozen emotions cycling. Searching her recent memory, she tried to recall if she mentioned the change of color. Before realizing she must not have, or he wouldn't be asking.
Torie replied. "They were...but, as we were walking around, they seemed to get-"
"purple?" He asked, noticing her tense. "heh, Tori I uh...got some good news. seems, you ain't crazy." The news seeming to make her breath faster, looking conflicted. "course...they're uh, not in the ruins anymore, but I'm sure-"
"Sans..." She reached out grabbing his arms. "Where was she going?"
"uhhh, by direction...I guess, snowdinn?" He half suggested. "it uh, ain't that dangerous though. promise."
"Why would she-" Toriel paused, getting paler than usual somehow. "Him..."
Toriel pushed back, getting to her feet. Looking around some. Before starting to walk off. The skeleton let out a sigh, vanishing from where he was. Appearing beside her.
"hey, where ya goin?" He asked.
"I'm going to go find her." She declared. "Either...they're looking for me, or..."
He looked worried at the trail off, considering something. "h-hey now. just, just a sec okay?" He appeared in front of her, stopping her. "if you go near town, you'll be recognized, right?" He asked, adding. "you told me your ex had a uh...certain opinion of you, in the murder-y variety?"
"I can't just let her wander out here all alone!?" Toriel glared some. "W-what if something happens to her?" She shook. "I can't...I can't lose my child again. I won't."
Hearing her with that...distress in her words. He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with people in pain, or people afraid. But it was...a lot more than he'd prepared for, for the day. It made him feel like he was about to regret something.
"Tori, tell you what, I'll go find em, okay?" He offered. "I can teleport around. find em. bring em home."
"Sans-" She started. "I can't...ask you to do that. I-"
"c'mon, I'm a fairly reliable fella, ain't I?" He gave her a toothier smile than normal. "and...we're friends, right?"
"Can you...promise me, you'll keep her safe from harm?" Toriel requested.
Sans hesitated. "I ain't...I don't uh usually-"
"Please." She requested.
The feeling was like a dagger when combined with her big sad eyes. The skeleton taking a sharp breath. If he was smart, he'd turn it down. He knew that. If the kid was wandering around...though, he didn't know that'd even happen, but if they were...they probably had a soul. And to his knowledge, 6 human souls had been obtained. Just one more, and they could break the barrier...let everyone out.
Then, he wondered if the king'd be willing to do something like that. To his own kid...if this was actually, that human. Then again, from what he knew, and what she'd said. He felt like he knew the answer to that.
His attention going back to Toriel, his thoughts coming back to her, as brief as they actually were. Noticing her distress and refocusing his mind. He needed an answer. Promise or not...he knew he'd regret it...but...
"I promise." He said seriously. "I know you'll worry anyways, but don't. I'll go find em em, maybe get some grub in em. s'all good. we'll all be jokin about it to-marrow, okay?" She laughed a little bit, despite looking no more assured. "c'mon, Tori. I'll sternum into you, before you know it."
She couldn't help but chuckle, managing a smile. "I'm sorry to ask you to do this. But, thank you...you're a good friend Sans."
Sans thought to himself, that he wasn't a good friend to anyone. Not in any fashion that mattered, if he was honest. But, he wasn't the kind of guy, to break a promise. Couldn't, even if he was sure, it was a bad idea not to. Sighing some, he gave a little salute.
"alright, I'm off. you aughta go home, in case she shows up." He wagered. "or in case they call. later Tori."
With that he vanished from sight. Toriel stood silently for a moment after he went. The suggestion prompting a thought to dawn on her. Digging around in her pocket for her cell phone. Only to discover...she didn't have it on her. Searching her memory, she struggled to recall where she'd left it. It couldn't have...she realized she must have left it in her robes.
Turning, she began sprinting back towards her home. She could call, she just...needed to find the phone. Feeling an intense rage at herself, for having left it. Growling, wondering how she could be such an idiot, and overlook something so important. Her internal thoughts judging her, reminding her what a failure she was. What a terrible mother she'd been. Taunting her, that her child would die again, due to her negligence.
Dragging her mind someplace dark, darker, yet darker.
When the two headed off in their own directions. Space distorted, like a glitch in a video game. A strange monochrome monster kid appearing in the place they'd been. Having no arms, and a large grey poncho on. The phone glitching, flickering back into existence, next to the cliffs edge, where it had fallen out of her pocket. The monochrome being watching where Toriel went for a moment, before turning to the phone.
It rang, someone calling that was attempting to derail the experiment. Much as these two were. The monster giving it a soft push off the cliffs edge. "It's best if they give up. Don't you think so?" The monster asked you, before stepping off after the phone. Only to glitch out of existence, the same way it had entered it.
-
"Task successful."
-
The phone rang, and rang, but nobody ever answered. Chara folding, and pocketing the device. Looking a bit worried. Her companion was quick to suggest that Toriel had likely just forgotten it somewhere, or had the ringer off. Or a variety of possible things. Assuring the girl that she wouldn't be ignored for no reason. The duo heading down the only route left to them.
Only barely starting on that road, the phone rang. Gasping, she dug around, fumbling it some. Managing to pull it from her pocket. Putting it to her ear.
"Mom?" She asked.
Flowey watched Chara with the phone. He could...barely make out some noise. It was strange, garbage noise. Inaudible, clearly some sort of prank call. But she didn't seem to treat it the same.
"Is this Chara?" A voice asked.
"Huh...uhm, yeah." She replied, asking. "Who is this?"
"A friend of your mothers." The voice told her. "She asked me to call you. She lost her phone. She's in Waterfall."
"Waterfall?" She asked.
Flowey gave a concerned look. "Chara...what's going on?"
"H-hang on." She requested. "Where is that?"
The voice replied. "There is a town, called Snowdinn. If one proceeds, from there. They will find it." The voice then added. "She left. She seemed in distress...running from...someone?"
"What?" Chara asked in alarm. "From who?"
"A stranger...with a funny smile." The phone clicked.
"Hello?" She asked. "Hello?" She looked over the phone. "I...they hung up."
Flowey gave a confused look. "Who hung up?"
"I-I dunno, but they said mom's in trouble." Chara replied. "We've gotta go."
"I didn't hear-" He tried to speak, before they started sprinting. "w-wait Chara, hang on."
She didn't listen. Her mind was too focused. A smiling person...was it, that skeleton? Sans? She felt like an idiot, for not doing something about that guy. The guilt expanding, with a whisper.
Poor Chara...
She knew he was dangerous.
And she hadn't done
anything to stop him.
At least,
not yet.