Asriel: Another day, another chapter! And it's...somewhat laid-back. Not completely, but somewhat. It's, uh...it's a thing. It's a definite thing.

Chara: You utterly failed to sound cool. Congrats, Azzy.

Asriel: I tried my best!

Frisk: Please, don't be so rude. Asriel is way past cool in my opinion.

Chara: You think all of our loved ones are cool, Frisk.

Muffet: Is that so wrong?~

Frisk: SOMEONE gets it!

Chapter Start!

"Frisk. I think it's time we took a break from Mom and Dad for a while." Chara nonchalantly stated one day as he gazed out the window of he and his brothers room.

"What? What makes you say that?" Frisk asked, briefly confused.

"Do I HAVE to say it?" Frisk still stood there confused. Chara sighed as he turned around and plopped on the bed. "Frisk, ever since the events of our expedition, they've been on our case and almost never lets us out of their sight!"

Frisk was getting an idea of what Chara was talking about, though he only folded his arms as a single strand of hair atop his head wiggled slightly to show that he was thinking about it. "Well it's not like they don't have a good reason. Compared to us, Asriel made it off of the island completely unscathed. However, I got a pretty harsh scar and you've lost an arm. I think that might warrant a bit of overprotection from our loving parents, don't you think?"

Chara sighed, running his single hand through his own hair, briefly lifting his poncho to show that the wound has healed by this time, but was still merely a stump now. "I'm not saying that I don't understand why they're like this. But you can't obviously be okay with them just hovering over your head for hours on end, not giving you much privacy...or sunlight. Not to mention their hugs have gotten tighter and longer, like they never want to let us go. Again, I can understand why they feel that way-especially with my case-but they need to lighten up! We don't need hugs that tight every single time we make eye contact!"

Frisk pouted slightly, hugging his arms and lowering his head. "But...but I like Mom and Dad's hugs...they make me feel safe and warm...and fuzzy and snugly..."

"*Sigh*...I know, Frisk. I like their hugs too, truly." Chara rubbed his forehead, looking towards the ceiling. "Okay, I might be acting a bit unreasonable. It's only been like, a week. It'll take a lot longer than tha for them to cool down from something like this. Still, they don't need to baby us so much just because we got a bit hurt!"

"A bit hurt...? Chara...I have a nasty scar, and you're missing a limb. I don't think either of those things can even remotely count as a bit hurt. Cut them a break, would you?" Frisk's lookalike sibling sighed in exasperation as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm only saying it as it is. Since you don't want Alphys to make you a prosthetic arm, you'll just have to bear with their treatment until they calm down on their own time."

Frisk had him there, though it was difficult for him to accept. Chara has been told countless time that he could simply have Alphys make him a prosthetic arm so he wouldn't have to deal with this many hassles as much. But every single time, Chara refuses to take the offer. Whether it was out of a hidden sense of pride or something else entirely, what they know for sure is that he won't sway from this decision. Thus, Asgore and Toriel simply watch him closely in order to somewhat compensate. It was embarrassing, greatly so. But he still chose to deal with it rather than to just get the prosthetic arm that can easily be made for him.

The Dreemurr's are becoming well-known for their kindness...and their stubbornness.

Chara sighed as he looked towards Frisk, who was just playing with the single strand of hair standing upwards atop his head. "I guess this is my new thing now. No matter how much I try to push it down, or how much Mom or Mettaton tries to style my hair differently , it just 'Sproing!' bounces back up, completely uncaring of gravity. Do you think it's a puberty thing?"

"Maybe. They say that kind of hair style is a sure sign of naivety."

"Really?"

"I guess. I mean...anime certainly seems to think that's the case. Though if that really is the case then it definitely suits you."

"How so?"

"Because you're definitely naive."

"Am not!"

"Compared to me and Azzy, yeah you are. I mean, Azzy's pretty naive, but he's still much better off than you are. Guess that goes with being the youngest brother." Chara smirked at Frisk's pouting face, admittedly beginning to feel a little bit better. "Yeah, that's how it works. I'm the cool one, you're the naive one, and Asriel is the cute one."

"Asriel is the middle child and yet he's the cutest? That's incredibly confusing sometimes."

"Are you saying you disagree?"

"...No not really. Asriel is adorable beyond measure."

"Hmph..." Chara huffed. Though before he could continue their conversation, he felt a pair of hands cover his eyes, startling him. He was about to protest the sudden intrusion, but then what felt like two marshmellows pressing against his back. The implications made him blush brighter than usual, and he couldn't bring himself to say anything at the moment. Though the voice snapped him out of it.

"Peek-A-Boo! Guess who!~"

Chara sighed while Frisk giggled at him. "Muffet...?"

"Correct!~" The hands slowly removed themselves from Chara's eyes.

Chara groaned as he turned around while opening his eyes. "Muffet how did you even-" He cut himself off once he could see her.

Muffet was dressing...differently again. She was wearing a short purple skirt with a small slit on both sides. She was kneeling on the bed in front of him, but he could see her wearing black boots that stopped just a few centimeters from her knees, with the laces being made of magic webs. She had what seemed to be black fingerless gloves on all six of her hands. She also wore a short-sleeved white shirt with a single purple spider design right in the center...though the shirt was also short enough to show her bare, slender midriff. Said shirt also had a medium sized ribbon right over the spider insignia. At least she was consistent with her ribbons. Her hair was styled smoothly with a semi-large bang on the left side of her face, the very top of it kept in place with another ribbon. She wasn't dressing very modestly for a fifteen year old girl...but it was getting hotter out, and she did enjoy the heat quite a bit. Also, she was still wearing a genuine sweet smile at seeing Chara.

Chara blushed brightly. It seemed that Muffet's smile was the bow on top.

...Sans would be proud of that one.

"Hello, Chara-Dearie!" She greeted brightly. Her upper right arm gently felt the stump left from Chara's lost limb, her eyes and smile taking a turn for the somber. "How does your arm feel...?"

"It's...it's fine." Chara pulled himself together as he answered her truthfully. "Alphys and Mettaton keep offering to make me a prosthetic, but I don't want it, nor do I need it."

Muffet shook her head, sighing. "Goodness gracious, whatever am I going to do with you, Chara-Dearie...?"

"I think I'm the one who should be asking that. What...what are you even wearing?"

"Yay! You noticed! It's another one of my casual outfits! What do you think?~" She beams while stretching upwards slightly. Chara blushed again and attempted to look away and not give a response. But she caught the blush on his cheeks, and that was all the response she needed. "Oh I knew you would like it!~ I had quite a few to choose from, while I safe an entirely different section for when I'm working directly in the bakery." Muffet smiled. "I have an assortment of...different outfits to wear while I'm working at my bakery. They're all really cute!" Muffet smiled as she folded her middle arms. "I'll be sure to wear a couple when you pass by, to see what you think!~"

"There's no need for you to do that, though..."

"But I want to, and I will!~" Muffet chirped. Chara sighed and simply lets it go. That's usually how her mind works sometimes, in the most simple of terms. "So, Dearie, you'd like to take a bit of a day off from your dear loving parents? Have they become a bit much for you?~"

Chara rubbed his neck, shrugging nonchalantly."I know they mean well. But It's been on a whole different level these past few days. They think that because I've lost a limb that I've become completely incapable of taking care of myself, which is NOT true! I happen to be quite effective at adapting to my situations with time and patience. I might be lacking in the latter...but it's definitely there! I just want some space for a while. Just a little bit."

Muffet pouted a bit, her lower hands on her hips. "Aw...your parents are embarrassing you, Dearie? Well you need not worry, for Miss Muffet is here for you!~" She says while taking Chara by his hand. "Let me whisk you away for the evening, Chara-Dearie! Your parents have confidence in your independence, so long as you let them know where you are, and that you're safe. They're very understanding."

"Yeah...but...what am I supposed to tell them?"

"Nothing, My Child. We heard everything." The children were startled by the voice. Toriel was slowly peaking through the door, as was Asgore and Asriel. Flowey was sitting in his pot atop Asgore's head. Toriel pushes the door open and clasped her paws. "It was not our intention to eavesdrop...nor was it our intention to make you feel helpless. We're just so worried about you because of your loss of a limb...and we can't just force you to get a prosthetic fro Alphys and Mettaton. You seem highly against it for some reason."

"It's like I said. I don't want it, and I don't need it." I don't deserve it, either. "At any rate, I don't want you to feel like you're doing too much. The problem is...that's exactly what you're doing." Chara deadpanned. "Not that I don't understand why...but I've been losing some breathing room ever since. I would rather you return some of it back to me, please. At least for today."

Asgore rubbed his neck with an awkward smile. "We've been...pretty bad about this, haven't we?"

Chara rolled his eyes. "Let's see...would you consider not allowing me to bathe myself, helping me eat, drink, walk, make my bed, brush my teeth, while I'm still capable of doing ALL of those with one hand...would you call that a bit of smothering? I mean, it's difficult now, but those are things I can still do on my own. I'm used to your usual smothering because that's how you are sometimes, but now you're making me feel utterly incapable of helping myself." He jabbed a thumb to Frisk. "The same goes for Frisk, though it's an easier case for him."

"The scar on his chest is the mark of the long-passed 'Mercy' button. Pretty damn symbolic that it's never gonna go away." Flowey rolled his eyes.

"...Oh dear. Have I really gone too far? I promised myself that I wouldn't do that again..." Toriel gently pawed her face. She then sits on the bed next to Chara and gently pulled him into a hug. "I sincerely apologize, my child. I didn't mean to make you feel oppressed. I know that you're strong, and fully capable of holding onto your independence. It's just...I worry so much about you. Copared to you, Frisk is mostly fine. Don't you remember the last time I've left you completely unsupervised, and it resulted in grave consequences? And grave harm upon yourself?"

The Buttercups...

Chara's expression relaxed, and he sunk into his mother's arms. "Hey...that's not fair...you can't just guilt-trip me with that..."

"I wasn't trying to, dear. I...still have images of that miserable day. That's all." Toriel whispered quietly, nuzzling Chara's cheek. Muffet blinked in astonishment at this slight insight on their past. Chara has always talked about how he and his family get along with one another, but he never divulged to her about his past in truly deep details. Just vague hints and sometimes term she didn't fully understand. Though now with the genuine expression of sorrow from Toriel, she was getting a feeling that their history wasn't always pleasant. Toriel kisses the top of Chara's head, gently smiling. "If you wish to go outside with Muffet...then you may do so. I don't want you to feel like you can't be left by yourself." Toriel looked up towards Muffet. "Do be sure to take care of him, Muffet. I...still worry."

Muffet nodded with a beaming smile. "Of course, Mrs. Dreemurr! He has one arm down, so I'll lend him six of mine so he doesn't go tripping over himself from a lack of balance! Falling on his face wouldn't do him any good! Ouch!"

"Great. I'm glad I can trust you." Toriel nodded as she stood up from her bed and held Frisk and Asriel's hands/paws. "Come, children. You won't believe how amazing the simplicity of the human's foods. They have cinnamon bread!"

"Even bread has been touched by the Cinnamon Gods?! No food is beyond their reach!" Asriel said, his muzzle wide open and his eyes sparkling with glee.

Chara rolled his eyes. "Asriel, there are no Cinnamon Gods. You're being an idiot."

"That's something we can actually agree on." Flowey nodded as Asgore carried away. Asriel pouted, whispering 'non-believers' before they went away to enjoy fresh cinnamon bread.

Chara rolled his eyes and turned to Muffet. "If there's anything I'm glad about when it comes to Asriel, is that he's not completely mature."

"Of course he is, Dearie! He's enjoying his youth!"

A chance at enjoying youth...I took that away, once...

"You have a point, there..." Chara rubbed his neck. "Alright, so where are we going? Hopefully not somewhere that'll get us in trouble if you do something that...suits you."

"Whatever do you mean?! I'm a very mature, well-behaved spider, Dearie! I'm almost offended by your lack of faith in me!" Muffet pouted, though she rolled all five of her eyes. "Though since I'm bringing you along to get you out of the house, I shall be a mature lady and forgive you." She pointed out the open window., being the first one to climb out of it. "Now come along! We've got a place to go, and things do do! Since you wanna get out of the house, you can come with me!~"

"Yeah yeah..." He muttered slightly while slowly following her, looking down with a much brighter blush after she fully climbs out. He was slowly getting a better understanding of how Muffet is already very capable of caring for herself like a mature adult, but it didn't mean that she would be mature ALL of the time. If this was really how she was going to dress casually, then she will if she wants to. He had to remember that 'Little Miss Muffet' wasn't so little anymore. And neither was her 'tuffet', which seems to be the reason why she climbed out so casually, yet greatly making him blush in the process. She certainly didn't speak out against him for looking, even if it was accidental. She had to be doing this on purpose...there was no way that wasn't intentional, and he wasn't going to fall for the 'Lady's First' excuse. But if she did knowingly do so, she perfectly hid it with a mask of adorable obliviousness.

He then remembered that she also gained much amusement in making him blush.

(Later...)

One knows that a city has fully turned for the strange when riding around on a giant spider-muffin is considered a usual thing. That is exactly what's happening right now. Passing humans were simply watching in awe or muttering in slight nervousness as Muffet and Chara rode on top of the former's beloved pet, who was letting it's tongue roll out like it was having the time of it's life. Muffet was riding atop the creature with a rather excited smile, while Chara hung onto her as best as he could with his one arm around her waist. He would have complained about how fast she was going, but she technically wasn't breaking any speed limits...and she seemed to be a pretty effective driver of...giant spiders...is she using that as a technicality? Guess it didn't matter too much in the end, no one was ever hurt.

Though he did admit that having an arm around her stomach made his blush even brighter. It felt so smooth and slender to him. She feels so fragile as well...especially due to those other...instances. But that clearly isn't the same Muffet anymore. She was much stronger now, and she proved that during their expedition. And she also seemed a bit more...adventurous. At least that's what it feels like to him. She's always been a very lively spider, but it's grown a bit. Whatever the case may be, fragile is definitely something she is not. And that was something he could praise. Fragile doesn't dent a techno-magical metal hand like Mettaton's so casually. To be fair, she was had the motivation of being pissed at the moment.

They soon stopped right next to MTT Resort. The large spider-muffin soon vanishes into a puff of smoke and turns into a much smaller spider-muffin. The three of them soon descend to the ground. Chara lands roughly, though manages to shake it off. Muffet lands gracefully, spreading out her lower and upper arms while catching the spider-muffin right in her middle arms. She smiles as she gives it a slight nuzzle, which it affectionately returns. She soon lowers it to the ground and scampers away cheerfully. It could very well take care of itself.

"Did we really have to ride your pet this time?" Chara asked tiredly.

"Of course! We had to mix things up, Dearie! Try something new!~" Muffet clapped with all her hands and them clasped them. "Now now then! Time to do a bit of shopping! Just a little bit! I need to buy a few things for Red as well. I call it a generous offer from her beloved Ribbon Buddy!~"

"You're getting things for Red? That's pretty nice of you. What are you planning to get her?"

"First off, that canine needs a cell phone. Seriously. She still hasn't gotten one, or at least gotten one that works. I want to be able to talk to her privately, the two of us!~"

"Don't you do that already?"

"Walkie Talkie's don't really match up to the terms of privacy, Dearie. The entire Pack uses them, so they're all always listening." Muffet deadpanned. "...You know what? At some point, they need a cell phone too. There's gotta be something more effective for communication than those long-distant howls."

"But howls is how they do things."

"I know that..."

"Wait...what else do you plan on buying Red?"

Muffet blinked softly towards him, giggling. "Oh, that's for me to know and for her to find out...ahuhuhuhu~" Chara didn't think that Red was safe for the moment, wondering what Muffet was planning for the near future. She then lifted her head slightly and tilted it slightly. "Well well well! Look at what we have here! I spy with my five little eyes, three cats!" Chara looked towards where she was pointing to see what she meant. He did indeed see them.

"So...they say this is made of sequin and glue...?" Rasha blinked as she tilted her head at the item before her. A Glamburger of sorts "And...they say it's edible...? It has quite a lot of glitter on it..."

"Somehow yes, it is indeed edbible, dear." Ribras stated with a confirming nod."Though just to be safe...I prefer we don't eat it. No offense to the creator...but I'm just not feeling up to it like I thought I would."

"Agreed." Shamir nodded. "I don't know how Mettaton made edible glitter, but I'm not taking any chances. Anyway, I'm curious about that little cat pampering area Papyrus advertised to us..."

Chara blinked curiously at them. Huh. It looks like they're getting used to Surface life here. Shamir looks pretty well adjusted. He also mentioned Papyrus... He looked up to the ceiling for a bit and sighed. Papyrus...he left himself wide open...just to test me...to prove his faith in me was not misplaced...how many times did I fail that test...? Chara didn't yet realize that these thoughts were continuing to flow into his mind. He was unconsciously aware, but he couldn't bring it to light, not on his own. He shook his head and tried to focus his gaze on Muffet, who was picking out what phone might best suit someone like Red. She took her time, since she wanted to get it just right. Chara could only roll his eyes. Only she would take such an intense focus towards picking a phone. Well...she and Alphys. Only Alphys surpassed her on that accord, but only because she's the one that makes them. Muffet wanted Red's phone to be directly from herself, no one else.

She truly was taking her Ribbon Buddies claim very seriously.

Muffet could see what she was looking for, and grabbed it immediately. "Ahu! This will do! I'll just wrap it up real tight an get it paid for right away!" She turned to Chara with a smile. "Sorry about this, Dearie. But do you mind waiting outside for a bit?~" He shrugged slightly as he soon makes his way outside. She then turned around and could see the other item she was seeking for Red. She smiled wickedly as she rubbed her middle hands together. "Ahuhuhu...excellent...excellent...ahuhuhuhu...~" She then turned to the webbed up box in her top hands. "But first, pay for the phone. She really needs this phone."

While she was still contemplating that, Chara was waiting outside patiently for her. A few human passerbys saw his lack of an arm, and responded with differing degrees of shock, disbelief, and slight amounts of pity. He really didn't mind their looks, it's not like they would understand his predicament...nor would he willingly tell anyone of his predicament. Losing an arm was a price he didn't mind paying. And besides, training with one arm might actually be a challenge. Besides, he's been hurt in worse ways. This was nothing. He could push through this. there was no injury that he wasn't willing to take for the sake of his family and friends. He had to be willing to do that much in order to make up for his wrongdoings in the past.

There was no pain he couldn't bear for them.

The loss of a limb may seem easy for you, but how can you be sure that it isn't hard for them?

As long as they're safe, it really didn't matter how much pain he went through. It's not like he's looking to get hurt. But if that's what happens, then it happens.

"Chara-Dearie! I'm finished!" Muffet called out to him, as too large spiders were carrying the two items she requested away, most likely heading back to her house. "Well then, that's taken care of!"

"Yeah. Whatever it was." Chara was still confused, but he once again shrugged it off. "Anyway, what are we doing next, Muffet?"

Muffet's smile fell a little, and she looked up to Chara while pushing her hair bang away slightly. "...Chara-Dearie. Since your parents aren't here like you wanted, then I'll have to ask them in their place." She started, then her eyes fully saddened. "Chara-Dearie...why won't you take the prosthetic you've been offered?"

Chara sighed while rubbing his hand through his hair. They both sad down on a bench a few feet outside the stores, ignoring all of the passing customers. "Muffet...I told you. I don't want it, and I don't need it."

"Yes. That's how you answered me when your family was there with you. Now it's just me. So how about you tell me the truth? Why won't you take the prosthetic that Alphys is more than capable of constructing for you?" When he still didn't answer, she turned towards him fully and looked him in the eyes. All traces of her mischievous playfulness vanished, now there was just genuine concern. "Chara...I promise not to tell them if you don't want me to. Please...please tell me."

Chara could see the genuine pleading in her eyes, an her lowered his own gaze. "...I can't tell you the full story right now, I'm not ready. But...I did things that I'm not proud of. Lots of things I'm not proud of. it brought my family immeasurable amounts of pain. And I guess that I feel like I deserved to lose an arm over it...and I don't deserve to get a prosthetic one. This is yet another punishment that I feel that I must endure. That's how I feel about it."

"Chara...what could you have possibly done that would cause you to think you deserve a lost limb and don't deserve a replacement...?"

A single rose is dropped onto dust by a heartbroken spider...

"...I can't tell you. Trust me...you won't think so fondly of me."

"That's not true."

"You don't know that, because you don't know what I did. You wouldn't be so understanding if you did, and I'm not ready to tell you...I just can't right now, Muffet..."

Muffet pouted sadly, knowing that he won't budge further for today. She then scooted closer to him and took him into a hug with all six of her arms. Again, nothing mischievous, but a genuine warm hug. This was the more mature side of her, saved for times like these. "Alright. You don't have to tell me anything else right now, Chara. Just know that if you do find the will to do so...I'll be ready to listen. With chocolate donuts and a nice cup of warm tea. Just for us."

Chara smiled softly, and he wrapped his single arm around her waist. This time they simply embraced one another as gently as they can. though he honestly couldn't help but blush about holding her this way with her current attire. It might take some getting used to if she continues to wear it...but he definitely didn't find it impossible. He closed his eyes as her top two hands gently petted his head. He allowed his self-hating thoughts to wallow away for the moment. It felt...nice. Really nice.

"Thanks for understanding, Muffet..."

(?)

Patience can be a fickle thing. In the hands of a person who can hold large quantities of it, patience can conquer anything. It's not simply the ability to wait, but how to behave while waiting. They say that the two most powerful warriors are time and patience. If you master patience, you master everything.

So what does this girl do when ordered to carry out these cruel orders? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She doesn't feel like participating, and figured that if she just stays idle, the problem will eventually work itself out. And she was right. Because she waited patiently due to the fact that she didn't feel like it was worth her time, someone else came to do it for her. Their fates were not her concern, so she refused to waste valuable energy that can be used for a more important assignment.

Parvos sighed as he rubbed his neck. They were both standing among the corpses of humans and the dust of monsters. Both in which were part of a failing section of this respective guild, so getting rid of them was no fur off his back. In fact, the very last victim was sitting in the corner shivering and fearing for his life. Parvos rolled his eyes as he rubbed his neck in slight aggravation, looking down on the girl before him.

"Listen kid. I like being lazy as much as the next guy, but you can't just sit yourself down in front of your targets because you refuse to follow through with your orders. Ya realize that Ratoveros is gonna punish you for this, right?"

"He can't punish me forever. Eventually he'll stop and focus on something more important. I'll just endure it until he does." She stated dully, staring directly ahead with her chin in her palm and her legs crossed. Even amongst all the darkness and death she was sitting in the center of, she hardly even flinched. it didn't bother her in the slightest, nor did their plight when they reached to her for help. Their plight was not her concern.

Parvos shook his head. "And you don't even care...fair enough. I guess Impassivity suits you rather well. At the very least, take care of this last guy. I'll vouch for you, but only because I'll get yelled at too if I don't." The girl shrugged as she stood up and stared at the last human. She had a cyan blow Glowing RIbbon in her hair, and a Shiny Knife in her hand. She points it at the man in front of her, and he backs up even further against a wall.

"W-Why...? What is wrong with you?! Throughout this entire massacre you just stood there and watched it all happen! And yet you never even flinched!"

"...You do know what impassivity means, right?" The girl responded, lifting up her knife and pointed the sharp end towards him, and it began glowing. "I'm very Patient, so I waited for you all to die so that I would waste less energy in the long-run for more important things. Simply put...none of you are my concern." The glowing knife suddenly extends, piercing the man through the heart and out the wall. He gasped as he retracts it, and he falls over, still gasping for life...and she simply watched him bleed out without a trace of emotion.

Not one.

The man could only close his eyes as the life leaves him, though he considered the girl's eyes even more lifeless than his own. She was so Patient that she didn't care about what happened in front of her, whether they be good things or bad things...it didn't bother her. Only when it directly involves her will she bother to lift a finger...and maybe even then if she still doesn't feel like it. The cat monster said that her trait was about being impassive.

That was almost the same as..apathy.

Asriel: Does anyone else sense a critical lack of self-esteem emitting from Chara...?

Frisk: He's been like that ever since we left the expedition...

Toriel: I do fear that this behavior will continue in the future. But...I'm afraid he will not let us help him. Not right now...

Muffet: Chara-Dearie...I do hope you let us in at some point...we're worried about you.

Chara: Ngh...