The process of designing an outfit was often a difficult thing. Or it as simple as looking at bacon and asking if it could be worn. Perhaps just shoes that all looked the same, but some were inexplicably more 'valuable' because of a plastic logo on the side.
Cynicism aside, the girls had stitched together their de facto costume of choice. Repaired, altered, or made new things in some senses. It was a nice sense of deja vu for at least one of them.
It's nice to see some places don't change much across timelines. Outfits, yes. But I wager these may be the final drafts. So, hopefully you approve of their choices dear watchers. I don't, but I'm allowed to be a little judgy sometimes.
Let's get back to it. Between them, Aliza has the easiest time with her attire. She was also the first to wander out of the changing room. Wearing a dress not altogether dissimilar from the one she had gotten from the Non-Human. Only a bit cleaned up.
To begin, it was no longer patchwork in style. It was consistent, remade of finer fabrics, with a soft interior that was more pleasant to the skin than the old burlap thing she was wearing. Which, is...not a pleasant to wear material.
She'd kept the pants, and been given proper shoes that fit a little bit nicer. Simple sneakers, with orange hearts on the sides of them. Further, despite attempts to encourage a change to its color, or to pick something else, she retained the purple color of the dress.
But this wasn't surprising. The one she'd been wearing for the last couple years, was the same dress she came to the underground in. It was also the same one she was wearing the last time she'd seen her mother.
She was afraid that if she abandoned the dress, her mother would be angry with her. And that, if she went home without it, she might be turned away. So she made sure it was functionally the same. Hoping it would appease her parent, when she finally got to go home.
The armor that had been designed for her, was a big comfortably long scarf. It was made of a rainbow of colors. Some of which she had only really seen on TV, and were so much brighter in person.
She couldn't believe that Chara had suggested it to her, and was thrilled when she did. She was more than happy to adopt and wear it. Beyond the base reasoning, she also desperately wanted to appease Chara, hopeful that maybe they could one day be real friends.
When it came to said little monarch, the first thing she'd decided on, was the armor. The jacket, that she'd been gifted by Aliza. When offered, she immediately, and vehemently rejected the idea of getting rid of it. Or making any sort of severe alterations to it. She didn't care if it was 'too big' for her.
It was a gift, and despite its origins as being from the non-human, she only cared that it was a kind action by her counterpart. She never threw a gift away when offered with sincerity. She treasured them, and didn't let them go easily.
A fine example of this could be found in her bedroom at home. There had been a day, where her and Asriel had been drawing. Naturally his art didn't prove to be as much of a success as her own. A bit mediocre in quality. And she'd teased him a little about it, after he'd given it to her.
He wound up wanting to scrap it, but she didn't let that happen. Instead, she stuck it in the corner of a family photo, and settled them in a picture frame. Positioning it to face her bed, directly. So that if she ever had trouble sleeping, they'd be there to greet her.
Onto the topic of the jacket. It had only received some minor alterations. Such as the deltarune being placed on the back of it, shiny and purple, as per her request. She found that the symbol made her feel a little bit more at home. Since she wasn't presently, at home.
But the jacket wasn't the only change. As useful as the outfit she was wearing was, she couldn't help but feel like it had all been to some end by the Non-Human. Afterall, it was magical, but had the ability to get bloody, and stain. Clearly that was a deliberate choice, and it creeped her out. So it had to go, beyond the basic reason that it was bloody and gross.
Her outfit, as it was designed this time, was meant to resemble the one she wore when she first fell into the underground. She replaced the shirt, with a sweater-shirt, given how cold she had felt at...certain times, it seemed like a good idea. But otherwise, it would appear as a dull green sweater, with a polo neck, sort of.
Originally she wanted to design something cool, or striped. But, her motivation was...distinctly different in the here and now. Even the shirt and its coloring were deliberate. The sweater ending up being a little bit longer than she expected. Running to just above her knees, but that was fine in her opinion.
Her decision for this, and the pants she'd kept from before was simple, and also why she picked the Deltarune for the back of the jacket. She hoped that it might be something Toriel, or Asgore would remember. There was a fear in her, not unlike Alizas own, though she did not know that.
A fear bubbling up in anxious moments, afraid of being forgotten by them. That they may have already forgotten her. That she'd have to help remind them, somehow. It was a strange spiral of thoughts, but it made sense to her, in her own worried little mind.
Once she was properly dressed, she put on the jacket. Taking a moment to attach a buckle of sorts around the top of it, near her neck, adjusting it to fit better. It was difficult to keep her arms in it, given that it was...so much larger than she was in the present. So this would make it easier to be worn, and she imagined, a bit cooler.
The idea had come from somewhere in the back of her mind. From something that was like a dream, she could almost imagine in her mind. A scenario of her being some sorceress, befriending a knight in an evil realm. A kindly friend, she didn't remember, that she'd known only briefly. Who wore her jacket, like a cape.
Though, it felt like, and she believed, it was merely an odd dream. The impact of it was felt upon her. Ushering forth this concept into her present reality. Well isn't that sweet?
Alright. A brief check, is in order. To update those keeping track. At least in terms of what the equipment does. For Aliza, the following are now worn by her;
|Armor = Brave Scarf | An rainbow scarf, it feels warm to the touch.
8 Def Effect - Actions becomes more effective
|Outfit = Fine Purple Dress| A well-made purple dress, and black jeans.
Effect - Raises defense as HP lowers
An interesting set of items. Indicative, I believe, of her person. Even if it's in ways she might not understand. Now then, for Chara;
|Amor = Deltarune Parka| A dark parka, it has the deltarune on it.
10 DEF Effect - Raises movement speed
|Outfit = Familiar Sweater| A pair of pants, a dull green sweater.
Effect - Highly lowers cost of 'innate' spells.
A decent collection of things. Not the best, but hey, what can ya do?
Finally set, and ready to go rejoin the others, Chara gave herself a look over in the mirror. It was first time she had done so, since entering the changing room. Having placed the jacket over it, so she didn't have to see herself. And it had an...affect, she wasn't prepared for.
As soon as her purple eyes scanned over her person, she froze. A feeling welling up from somewhere within her, rapidly. She didn't know why, but seeing the outfit together, it made her feel a closer to those she cared about. And like she would never see them again, at the same time.
Losing her will to stand, she took a seat on the bench, nearly falling onto it. Shaking badly, before grabbing one of the long jacket sleeves. Burying her face into it, as she spent the next couple minutes, trying to hold back the strange torrent of emotions.
Her eyes burned, she couldn't understand why was having such a severe response. But it made her increasingly angry with herself. Why was she losing control so badly? Her mind flashed with images of struggling to rise, of the fight. The feeling of her blood spreading across her skin.
She kept her head buried there. Dampening, and muffling the pathetic sobs as best she could, until she got them under control. Until she could shove the rushing thoughts back down.
Recomposed, she rubbed her burning eyes. Sniffled some, and took a few deep breaths. Giving one last glance at her reflection. In it, she saw something beyond what was actually there.
She saw a version of herself, blooming with golden flowers. Rupturing from the points and places she had been stabbed. Places she had been injured. Points that killed her, only for her to rise again. This morbid reflection had dozens more flowers though, things she didn't remember, that she was sure didn't happen.
Her eyes turning away, as the projection coming from her mind began to bleed ink from its eyes, and mouth. Rotting, being consumed by these things. She shook her head, and growled at herself briefly, before heading out of the room.
She didn't want to worry Aliza again, or anyone else for that matter. And she insisted to herself, that she was 'fine.' After all, she couldn't afford to not be. She couldn't fail again.
Taking a minute in the hall, she picked up the bat that she had left there, with the harness. Getting it secured to her person with a little bit of effort. It made the function of the 'cape' a bit more difficult. But, it worked, if nothing else. Though the decision to leave it out there had been to test something.
Whisper spoke. "Sorry about the that."
There had been a soft confirmation as to whether or not Whisper was part of her own subconscious, or the bat. Namely, when it was left outside of the room, while she was getting dressed. And given the lack of presence, it seemed they had both discovered the answer.
Chara muttered back. "It's fine."
"Are you alright?" Whisper asking in concern. "Ya know, maybe we aughta tell someone about these uh...episodes, maybe?"
"No." Chara replied quickly. "Don't...wanna make them worry."
Why the bat was capable of speaking, had access to her memories, and acted as a part of herself was unknown. What was known, was that it appeared to trigger when she wore it. But, that was something that begged investigation at a later point.
Coming around the corner, she found that Aliza was smiling, while wearing the scarf. Running her fingers across the ends of the soft fabric. The idea for the scarf, had actually come from Chara. Who was presently staring at it, eyes closing briefly.
In truth, it was something that she had wanted. Something bright, to make herself feel better. Something warm, to help her feel better.
However it was clear that Aliza could use something like that. And, given how she had been struggling to come up with ideas, it just felt natural to suggest it. Eyes opening, as she let out an icy breath. Stepping into the lobby proper. Metta was presently not in the room, much to her confusion.
"Where's...Metta?" Chara asked.
Baylor glanced up at her, and smiled some. "He's outside on the phone. Papyrus wanted to talk to him about, who knows what." She shrugged. "But look at you. You're both all decked out now."
"Decked out?" Chara inquired.
"It means you're set up, that you're equipped, prepared. Or, a few other things." Baylor told her. "Everything comfortable?"
"Yeah, thank you." Chara replied. "I..uhm, thanks again."
Aliza examined her. "You look nice."
"You too." Chara said, asking. "The uh...ya know, is it nice?"
"I like it lots." Aliza said, knowing well she was asking about the scarf. "I appreciate it lots."
"Eh, no worries, dork." Chara replied, before wandering over to her. "I guess, uhm, oh and...thanks, Baylor."
The raptor-like woman shrugged. "You said that already kiddo. But hey, no worries, it was my pleasure, kid." She commented. "Wager this is goodbye, until we see each other around at some point."
"Around where?" Chara inquired.
"Town?" Baylor asked.
The purple-eyed girl laughed some. "I'm not...staying here."
Aliza raised a brow. "We aren't?" She tugged on her counterparts sleeve. "They said...the uh...way forward is...dangerous."
"So?" Chara scoffed. "I've gotta get home, and help you too." She considered. "Though, I guess it's...not a bad place for you though."
Baylor tilted her head. "When you say you've gotta get home, whattaya mean kiddo?"
"To my family." Chara said. "I...need to find them."
"Where uh...did you say you hailed from?" Baylor asked, with a worried sort of expression. "Cuz, hon, there's a chance it may not be around anymore."
Chara felt irritated. "Nobody is stronger than my parents." She crossed her arms. "They'll be fine. I know it."
The tailor looked a little stressed at this concept. Clearly trying to find a delicate way to say something. Likely along the lines of 'they may be dead' and 'you may never get to go home' or a variety of other things based on the limited information she had. But, that was interrupted.
Metta opened the door, briefly staring at Chara. With a curious sort of expression. Like he was confused by something, conflicted with some new source of knowledge. But her put on his charming smile, and hid it as quickly as it had manifested. Briefly noticed, none-the-less.
Metta spoke. "Alright you two. Who's hungry?" Aliza raised her hand. "Yes, Aliza?"
Aliza blinked, and said. "O-oh uhm. Well...me?"
Admittedly, the purple eyed girl wanted to get back on the road as soon as possible. But food did sound like a welcome distraction. Further, she noticed how embarrassed Aliza looked, for having raised her hand again. As such, she decided to share in that, by sighing, and raising her own.
"And you as well, I'm guessing?" Metta chuckled some.
Chara shrugged. "Food sounds nice."
"Well then. Guess we're off to acquire some sustenance." Metta suggested, before turning to Baylor. "Thank again, darling."
Baylor just waived dismissively. "It's fine. Ya'll take care, okay?"
"We shall endeavor to do our best." Metta motioned for them to follow. As the trinity of individuals traveled forth, from the shop.
Their destination, a place to eat. Of which there were only a couple locations in town. However, it feels like we're missing some information. So...
A short time earlier...
Heading towards a destination he had not been in some time, the skeleton was gripped with the cold of it all. Each step resulting in the crunch of snow. In truth, he could have just headed straight inside, or closer to his destination. But he needed time to think of what to say.
Was he wandering into a trap from Temmie to be following this train of thought? Manipulated in some fashion? Maybe. But could he afford not to investigate, not to ask?
A lit cigarette hanging in his mouth. Being passively smoked, as he headed towards the looming building ahead of him. A security camera turning on as he got near. Pausing, to stare at it, he waited for the silence to break.
After a few moments, a voice spoke. "hey...paps."
"Sans." Papyrus replied, hearing a creeping noise from behind him. "Left or right?"
"left." Sans said over the speaker in the camera.
Papyrus turned on his heel. A series of bones erupting in front of him. Stopping a clawed hand that was reaching for him. Catching the arm within it, belonging to a strange creature.
It had what seemed to be an old television for a head. With a body comprised of wires, and metal. Almost in the guise of a bipedal person. The screen flickering, displaying an image. The skeletons glowing mana, called eyes, vanishing as it began. The creature flashing blue, being pulled back. The arm ripped from it, having gotten stuck in the bones.
"Papyrus. What a lovely surprise~" A voice said from the television, like an old mans. "It's been so long, since you came to play with us." the voice became that of a childs. "Hiding behind those walls. You know, if you just let in. You wouldn't have to be afraid."
Papyrus snapped his fingers, bones materializing around the creature. Punching into it from every angle. Causing it to scream, in the voice of the child. Followed by a sobbing whimper.
"Never said I was afraid." Papyrus shrugged. "And, don't bother trying with the screen thing." He tapped his forehead. "We both know I won't fall for it."
"There's that ruthless spirit. But it's different somehow." The creature then began to laugh. "Temmie is right, you've been changing." It snickered. "Is it because of that pretty little robot you-"
The area before the skeleton suddenly burned with light. It seemed their little dissension was being resolved. A series of bones appearing above, plunging down. Violently tearing into the creature, burning some, as he let out a smoke filled breath.
They burned, causing it to wail in pain, before exploding with incredible force. The rupture of power causing the snow nearby to blast into the air. Carried alongside the wind. Knocking the cigarette from Papyrus's mouth. Leaving a large, scorched patch of earth, completely clean of snow and ice where the creature once stood.
Papyrus had a wicked grin on his face for a moment. "Guess I know what I'm doing later."
The snow began to fall again, most having been vaporized in the blast. The security camera pushed back up, out of the ground. And the place it had been hidden. Turning to face him.
Sans voice spoke. "i'll open the door for ya."
"Thanks." Papyrus muttered, putting his hood up, as he started towards the opening door.
Stepping beyond the thresh-hold, he was mildly surprised to find the air inside wasn't all that much warmer than outside. A heater in the center of the room, working overtime to keep the lab from freezing. The interior was a mess of things. Even worst than the last time he'd visited the upper floors of it.
Then again, it had been...years since he'd walked through those doors, with his brother there. Or teleported through. Mainly due to him seeking to avoid having to talk to his brother for very long, the cracks around his eye serving as a permanent reminder as to why.
Most of their interactions were brief. Over text messages, or the camera speakers. Almost always formal, and business related. Papyrus picked up an empty bottle of liquor, and noted the scent of it was whiskey and mustard. Revolting.
A few steps reached his attention. Sans stepping out of the elevator, that was disguised as a bathroom. Papyrus himself, wasn't meant to know of its existence. His sibling had gone great lengths to try and hide it. However, even Sans left now and then. And his curiosity had gotten the better of him one day.
The result was learning a lot of things he wished he hadn't. Alongside a lot of things he simply wished he'd been told about directly. Instead of having them hidden away. He had seen what was hidden below. He knew, everything. Sadly, he also knew, which secret was going to be the topic of the days conversation.
The shorter skeleton was wearing his lab-coat. A pair of glasses, with one lens being broken. A pair of sweatpants that were as dirty as his coat was. And slippers that had once been pink, but had various black and red stains across them.
"hey, paps." Sans greeted, glancing at the dark of the space. "sorry bout the lights. gimme a sec."
"Sans-" Papyrus began.
"just gotta get the light switch goin." Sans chuckled, while trying to flip it. "it's...a little finicky."
He kept flicking it.
Papyrus sighed, and wandered past the old tv, presently monitoring various locations in the underground. None of them appearing to be doing well. A town he had visited only a week ago, smoldering, and devoid of life. The tall skeleton staring at it for a moment, sighing, before moving on.
"Sans. I need to ask you something." Papyrus noticed him continuing to flip the lightswitch. "Sans." The shorter skeleton didn't stop. "Sans!"
Sans was jolted from wherever his thoughts had taken him, as the lightswitch suddenly worked. A light up above flickering, before starting on. He laughed a little bit, his smile growing a bit more earnest.
"hey hey, look'it that." Sans motioned. "told you it was workin."
"Sans, we need to talk about the human." Papyrus stated.
"the humans?" Sans snapped his fingers. "right, you got ahold of them yeah?" He laughed nervously. "I'll be honest, Paps. Maybe, it's a little sketchy. B-but, it's gonna fix things. Just gotta-"
"I didn't capture the humans Sans." Papyrus commented, as Sans looked confused. "Nor do I intend to."
"paps, I don't...I don't understand." Sans tiredly rubbed the side of his face. "no, I do, I just..." He trailed some. "listen, I get it. right, it's ethically...a little uh...fucked. but, think about it. if the power of those-"
"Chara Dreemurr." Papyrus said, prompting his brother to pause. "You remember her?"
Sans thought back on it. "I...uhm...yeah. yeah, no...I remember." He shifted uncomfortably. "Tori's kid...the uh, one that...what about her?"
"Did you do something with the body, Sans?" Papyrus asked.
"do something with-" Sans looked confused, and irritated. "what the hell's that mean?"
Papyrus could tell it was going to be pointless to simply move at direct conversation. So instead, the taller skeleton headed over to the display screen. Moving to the keyboard, he began to type with it. Surprising the shorter one. Sans never knew his brother to be the most computer literate, but he was operating it with...surprising deftness.
With a final click, the monitor was set to Golden Grove City. The screen coming to freeze, as the taller skeleton zoomed it in. Resting the focus on the two humans.
Sans wasn't sure what the meaning of this was. But he elected to humor it. Adjusting his glasses, he wandered over and got a better look at the screen. He gave his brother a confused look, unable to determine what the point of this all was. Until Papyrus placed a photo of the Dreemurr family on the screen, beside the image of the two humans.
Namely focusing on one of them. It was then that it clicked. Sans doing their unique version of blinking. Namely, the light of the eyes vanishing and reappearing.
"that uh...that human is very similar looking but-" He noticed his brothers stern look. "it ain't possible."
"Did you resurrect her, like you tried to do, with the others?" Papyrus asked quietly, his brothers eyes going dark. "I know Sans. I know."
"it..how?" Sans looked nervous. "I..."
"I was asked to deliver something to you. You were gone, and figured I'd borrow your shower." Papyrus shrugged. "Not the best hiding place. And not the point." He sighed. "I'm not here to judge for your that Sans. I know you were doing as you were told. And I know you were trying to help, and someone tampered with it." He recounted. "What I need to know, right now, is, is this human, one of your experiments?"
Sans shook his head. "I...no I haven't...even tried in years." He told him. "I...never had a success." He admitted, quietly. "the others and...I couldn't...I just wanted to...Paps...I just wanted to help her ya know?"
The source, the origin for so many of their problems, was a desire to help someone grieving. To keep a kingdom from growing more unstable. To try and avoid a war declaration that might doom them all. Papyrus knew that. He know the thing that kept it going, was the thing that inspired others to push forward through good, and bad ideas. And...despite his anger, he understood.
"I understand brother." Papyrus assured quietly. "But...this is not the time, for that."
"why do you think it's chara?" Sans inquired.
"Because she introduced herself by that name." Papyrus explained. "Moreover. If you listen." He changed the feed to sometime earlier, and played over a few moments of surveillance. "you'll hear it."
There was a conversation between the girls. Not seen directly by the cameras. But overheard. A talk about their actions, learning how to check. And about family. Most of it unaidable.
But a section was heard, when a name was spoken. 'Asriel.' A very specific name. Which, when paired with the context Papyrus would provide, implied something that couldn't be ignored.
It raised questions, and concerns in equal measure. It seemed the girl had a desire to go home. To see her family again. Which in itself, wasn't negative. But, Sans was forced to wonder. Would it be safe to let that happen? How did all this happen? Was it the creatures, or something else? Should he tell Toriel?
Papyrus would stay, and fill him in on what little bit he knew. The duo concluding telling Metta was alright. As he could serve to distract the humans for a bit. At least until they had a better idea of what to do, and what was going on.
They needed answers, before anyone did anything.