The forest was thick, and beautiful. And their path was marked with a flowing river that ran along it. Visible at certain times. Breaching the forest, into little pools of calm. At one point, Chara had even stepped near. To feel it.
The water of the river was warm on the surface, and cool below it. Flowing in from, and running like a calm stream. She imagined that many people would enjoy swimming in it, and was surprised that there appeared to be none.
But in her imagination, she saw a scenario. Of herself, older than she was. Wearing an outfit that was cool looking. Maybe, she wagered, she would have some cool jacket, or armor. Maybe she'd look like one of those tough gritty private eyes in old tv shows. With a long trench coat, and a cool hat. Of her investigating strange mysteries, discovering lost secrets.
She glanced towards Aliza revealed she simply wasn't sure what she would wear, or do.
"Hey...what kind of clothes do you like?" Chara asked.
"Huh?" Aliza asked, being taken out of her own thoughts.
"Ya know. What's your style." Chara explained.
"Clothes. I guess?" Aliza sounded confused.
Chara snickered, looking over her own. "Like uh, here's a basic. Me, I don't like wearing bloody clothes. It's gross." She tugged on her bloodstained shirt. "It doesn't feel good."
"Y-yeah. It's...eerie. Admittedly." Aliza responded.
"If I'd thought of it, I'd have brought something else, ya know?" Chara pondered. "Not that...there was...really a lot of other options."
Aliza scanned her over. "Is it...cold?"
"Huh?" Chara considered this. "Cuz it's like...damp and wet?"
"Yeah." Aliza replied.
"I mean, sure. But it's fine." Chara assured.
Aliza felt a little bad about the whole thing. Especially that her companion had to sacrifice her poncho so they could continue on. Sure, it was ink stained, but, at least it would have been warm.
Considering this, she removed the long jacket. Stepping over, and throwing it over the shoulders of her counterpart. Chara first flinching at the touch, jerking away, before noticing what had been done. Aliza letting out a breath of hesitation at the flinch.
"Sorry." Aliza said.
"N-no, it's uh...it's cool." Chara said, adding. "I..y-you just caught me off guard, is all." She smiled nervously. "Uhm...do you...not want this?"
Aliza pondered for a moment. She felt like, if she said 'why' even as obvious as it was, the jacket might be rejected. Her counterpart did seem a little stubborn, and clearly didn't want to be perceived as weak. So, she came up with an alternate reason.
"It...looks nicer, on you." Aliza reasoned.
Chara laughed nervously. "Oh..uhm...thanks, partner." She hummed. "Well, I guess...I can keep it. If you're not cold?"
"I'm okay." Aliza assured her.
The air was rather moderate all things considered. Not too hot, and not too cold. She wagered a food stealing child might refer to it as 'just right.' Snickering at her own internal silly joke. Which only seemed to make the other girl look slightly embarrassed.
"Dork." Chara muttered.
She undid her bat briefly. Putting the jacket back on properly. Pushing her arms into the jacket. It was, admittedly, too large for her. But she found that with the top secured and buttoned, it could be held on, easily enough. She pushed back the sleeves some, ensuring her arms could reach out of it.
Aliza stepped over, and helped her get the bat and its straps secured once more. The sheathed weapon slotted on, and still reachable. Even as the ends of the jacket were now dragging across the ground, given its comparative size.
Whisper hummed. "It is warmer, isn't it?" A faint purple light shining beside her.
Chara couldn't help but agree with her own whisper. The jacket was cooling, in an odd sense. But was also warm, as though it was magically adjusting to find a temperature she was comfortable with. She was filled with the desire to Persevere.
The duo progressing down the road, through the woods. Eventually coming to a point, where the road diverted. One seeming to lead to the river, while the other progressed forward. Curious, she started down the path towards the river. Aliza following along, despite seeming confused.
"Shouldn't we...go forward?" Aliza asked.
"Yeah. But, aren't you curious what's down this path?" Chara asked.
Aliza hadn't considered it. Though, as they wandered down, she was just left with more questions regarding it. Namely, they passed what seemed to be various cardboard cutouts. Some appearing to be people clapping, or, monsters anyways. Others appearing to be decorations similar to the various plants that dotted the forest.
One was literally just a crimson flower, not unlike the ones growing beneath some of the trees. Towards the end of it, was a bunch of these things. All shredded up, or scratched up. It appeared someone had gone out of their way to destroy many of them.
Or, in some cases, to just make them a little more disturbing. With one at the center of it all. Appearing to be a cutout of Metta, with a big warm smile, and some sign below. She could barely make out that it said 'Have a wonderful day.'
Someone had torn up that sign with claw marks. And had taken time to carve into the face of the robots cutout. Scratching out the eyes, and nearly severing the head.
Some writing in the ground appearing to be some rather hateful messages, reading ; 'What a waste of parts.' and 'Papyrus is the only reason anyone tolerates you.' and 'You made a mistake letting people call in.' and finally. 'Nobody will miss you, when the creatures finally kill you.'
The sight of these things, reading them, in hit a nerve somewhere within Chara. Faint memories, of people she couldn't quite remember flowing back to her. Inspiring in her, a profound anger.
She didn't know the robot well. But the concept that someone would go out of their way, merely to threaten and belittle was repulsive. It was the kind of wretched behavior she expected of humanity, not monsterkind. Cruelty, for cruelty's sake.
For Aliza, it felt like a cold reminder of some of the people she had seen, and met. Of the people who wore nice clothes, who came and screamed. Who had police, and armed strangers come and shoo her, and her potential friends away.
Chara dragged her heel across the messages in the dirt. Destroying them completely, and properly. Examining the cutout, she frowned, picking it up, before moving it over, to set alongside some of the others.
"Acting like humans now...disgusting." She muttered, her eyes darkening.
Aliza noted. "I guess...there's uhm...mean people here. Too."
Chara snapped from the thought, taking a breath to calm herself down. Before turning towards her companion. If nothing else, at least Aliza seemed to be one of the exceptions so far. She hoped that...wouldn't change.
"I guess so." Chara managed a smile. "But, that means there's...also good people too." She nodded sagely. "Just gotta be careful of the bad apples, right, cuz-"
There was sound of laughter, echoing down the path towards them. The two turning to face a strange looking monster that seemed to have noticed them. It was something like a floating eye, which looked a little worse for wear. The 'eye' of the creature seeming to open revealing a face proper, alongside a little grin.
"Eh...what are you two?" The Monster asked, hovering, looking them over. "You look...strange."
"We're...leaving, is what we are." Chara responded, taking Alizas hand. "Let's go, Aliza."
Aliza grasped the hand, and nodded. "R-right."
They began away from the river, and from the many defaced cutouts. The monster watching them go for a moment. Before laughing some.
"Didn't like the messages?" The monster asked, Chara paused. "Don't tell me you like that oversized sex toy?" It chuckled again rudely. "Na...I can't imagine anyone liking that mediocre show. Or the cheap effects. All it does is interrupt the news. Something that's actually, important."
Aliza noticed the way her counterpart was gritting her teeth. Clearly trying to avoid turning back, to do something reckless. For a moment she felt Charas hand squeeze hers, before it released tension.
Chara elected to try and ignore the rude commentary. Reminding her a lot, of a place she didn't want to recall. And encounters she'd sooner forget.
Aliza however, could tell it caused her a certain anger. And pulled her hand away, much to her counterparts surprise. Stepping back, and stopping to face the belligerent fellow, who was throwing around cheap insults at someone who wasn't even present to defend themselves.
"You're...a bully." Aliza declared, making them laugh. "I-It's...no wonder you're...here alone." She puffed out her chest, as the defiance radiated, making her eyes shine. "Who would wanna hang out with a jerk like you?"
The monster seemed to grin, a concerning grin.
"Your friend had the right idea." The monster commented. "But, locals tend to know better than to challenge me."
It appeared that Charas outfit, at least blended in with the world. Despite being bloodied, as it was. The world flashing black, and orange. Matching the hues of the environment in some fashion. Astigmatism, had decided to fight.
No sooner than it began, than Chara stepped in from the side, withdrawing her bat. Glaring at the monster. Aliza, at the moment lacked any real weapons, or means to defend herself. Quickly grabbing a stick from the ground. Even if she didn't want to get violent, she wasn't about to back down to a bully.
Chara gripped the bat tightly, and spoke. "Back away. Or I'm going to make you."
The monster however just laughed. As orbs of energy manifested around them. Swinging towards the duo. Aliza working to avoid them, as Chara did the same. Part of the attack drawing near the less prepared of the two for the conflict. A rush of dark moving in the way, as it instead hit the purple eyed-girl. Causing her to stagger some, shielding the other girl from the blow.
As the attack ended, a mixture of things began to flow within the mind of the bat wielding girl. Manifesting in a turn. And a decisive action.
Chara chose to fight.
Aliza chose to defend.
The bat swung out as she neared. The force from it colliding with the monster. Sending it careening to the side. Slamming against some of the underbrush, breaking through several of the defaced cutouts. HP plummeting to a near-death state. Much to the monsters apparent surprise.
Astigmatism looked over its attacks expression. It was...telling. The monster letting out a pained growl.
"You hit like a killer." The monster snickered in a pained fashion, before flowing back across the water.
Floating away, as the fight ended. The two gaining no XP, and 10G. Chara glaring at the monster as it floated away, holding the bat in a single hand, before beginning to sheath it.
"You didn't-" Aliza began.
"Just because that monster is a piece of trash, doesn't mean I was gonna kill it." Chara replied, intuiting what she imagined was being implied. "That...that should be a last resort. I'm not...I..."
Aliza felt a little bit guilty for assuming otherwise. But then, she wasn't familiar with any other way to resolve these things. Other than running away, which was her go to on the surface. She noticed the brief stumble of her counterpart, and frowned.
"I'm...sorry. I shouldn't-" Aliza began.
"Hey. Don't...do that. It's fine. Just, if you're gonna stand up to those folks. We'll have to-" Chara sighed. "I dunno, teach you how."
"Okay?" Aliza raised a brow.
Chara shifted, her head felt hot. "Okay. We uh. Let's..." She paused, glancing at the river, and then to the road heading forward. "Uhm, we...okay. Let's just head on for now. And if we get into a fight. I'll...try to avoid fighting. And..." She seemed a little out of sorts. "just. No, should...we? We should do, uhm..."
Aliza felt concerned, nudging the other girl. "You...okay?"
The nudge earned a flinch. "I-I'm fine." Chara assured. "Just...having a bit of trouble thinking is all. I'm alright."
Her inner thoughts were frenzied with dozens of things. And her heart was beating unnaturally fast. She vaguely recalled the nice man she used to visit, discussing it with her. Something about Anxiety attacking her. She wasn't sure what it was called, so internally elected to call it an 'Anxiety Attack' and it wasn't very pleasant.
She wasn't entirely certain why it was happening. Well, she had theories. But her mind was racing too much to remain with one singular concept. As images of her trying to pull herself off the spear. Of the deaths. Of the Non-Human smiling. Of blood came to her. Flashing past, quickly.
Aliza noticed her odd smile. It was unnerving in itself. She reached over, and took Charas hand, prompting the other girl to glance. The bat-wielding girl laughed nervously. Looking embarrassed about whatever was happening.
Aliza nudged. "It's okay. You're okay."
"Right. Yeah. Sorry." Chara apologized instinctively.
"No sorry." Aliza replied, beginning to walk, bringing Chara along with her. "No need."
It was a good thing that Aliza began moving. Because the other girl had entered a state where the concept was a struggle. But, being compelled to get going, seemed to help clear her thoughts some. She tried to remember the things the nice man had said.
Recalling the motions of his hand, as he spoke with them. The girl taking a deep breath, before letting it out. Doing so a few times, until her heartbeat slowed a little.
Compelled forward, the duo gradually came back towards the crossroads space. Which, itself, was occupied by another, more familiar monster. In this case, it was Papyrus. Presently gathering a few of the cardboard cutouts. He glanced over at the pair, and raised an eyesocket, somehow.
"Heya." He greeted, before noticing the way Chara was shaking, looking down the path. "You two...alright?"
Aliza scanned the skeleton. She was still dubious, but he didn't seem like a bad person. She considered this, before answering.
"There was...a bad...person." Aliza commented quietly.
Papyrus hummed a little to himself. Noticing the lack of dust on their person. And only some minor injuries to the girl who had earlier cracked a few puns. He also noticed the jacket had changed wearers. Recalling the reasons he might give someone his jacket, inspired a sigh.
Papyrus spoke. "Well. I was just about to head on ahead. Figured, I'd bring the audience with me." He smiled some, and tugged at a bag that accompanied them. "Maybe bring my sleeping bag too."
The paper bag, indeed bore the words 'Sleeping' on the side. Prompting Aliza to smile some. Although, Chara appeared to be distracted with other thoughts.
"Do uh..." Aliza began, trailing some.
"Why don't you two tag along with me for a bit?" Papyrus offered. "I get lost a lot. So, who knows, maybe you can help my...pathing." He joked.
Chara noticed this, and let out a short laugh. "Cuz, it's a path. Heh."
"I've got a skele-ton of puns. They can't all be humerus. But you can tree, what I was going for." He snickered. "Or, so I beleaf." This prompted a more earnest smile from Chara.
Aliza meanwhile, answered for them. "That would...be nice."
Papyrus gave a motion, and started down the main road with the two. Making a mental note to check whatever had been transpiring on the off path towards the river. If it was what he thought it was, he was going to be...having a word with some folks.