"You hungry perhaps?"

Aofil places Flowey down on the table next to the door. They close the door behind them, and making doubly sure that it is locked.

"Hm?" the monster replies after a quick turn of its flowery head. "No, not really. I'm fine, thank you."

"You need some other kind of food? Is that it?" Aofil pries. "Monster food, perhaps?"

"No." Flowey says while shaking his head. "I can eat human food. I've done it before."

Aofil snaps up a thumb. "Right."

"Where, um?" Aofil narrows their eyes in a thought that they never would've imagined they would have to ask. "Where do you want to sit? Near a window?"

Flowey looks around the hallway. His mouth hangs a bit open while a low hum flows freely out of it. "Uuuhhh?" He seems just as baffled by receiving the question as Aofil is asking it. "I don't know? Wherever is close to you? Is that fine with you? I don't want to be clingy."

To try and alleviate the slight and awkward tension that's suddenly present in the air, Flowey waves his vine arms up and down while smiling. "I don't have those kind of vines." he says as a joke.

Neither of them laugh at it.

"You know, not clingy vines? They're not creepy as...well..." Flowey tries again, but this time the waves are like shallow shrugs.

Aofil gets it, but they ain't laughing. Flowey coughs loudly after a couple of awkward seconds.

As he coughs, he looks down on the pot below him. He taps it curiously with one of his leafs. "I'm not really sure how to answer this, actually. I am used to being able to move around freely, you know? Now that I'm in this pot it feels a bit strange. It's like a prison. Not really, because I understand why we have to do it, but still. Nothing that I can fault you for though, Chara, so don't worry about that. It's just me. Even the monsters in the Underground were taken back as they saw a moving flower. Can't imagine what it would do to a human."

Aofil picks up the pot from the table after they've removed their shoes, and hung up their jacket. "Alright, how about the kitchen table? Or maybe the living room? If you need sun that's where you'll be the best off."

Flowey let's a silent "Yeah..." trickle out of him.

Aofil realizes their blunder. "Oh! Right, the Underground. Not much sun there."

"You would know."

"I do." Aofil lies with an innocent smile. "I do. Just slipped my mind, that's all."

"It happens."

Flowey puts up one of his vines over his eyes as the two of them reach the kitchen. The late afternoon sun is blazing hard through the windows, reflecting off the tile floor and metal sink.

"If other humans come around you'll have to be quiet." Aofil instruct as they put Flowey down on the kitchen table. "You can act like a normal flower, right?"

Flowey doesn't answer.

"Right?" Aofil asks again. They turn Flowey's pot around, but his face is gone. It's just a normal flower. They grab a hold of the edge of one of the petals, and shake the run of the mill yellow flower. "Flowey?"

No answer.

Did…did Aofil just imagine it all? Maybe...maybe it really was gas, and not magic? Has Aofil been hallucinating the monster? What kind of name is Flowey, really?

Wow, and all of that about Chara? About them being in a relationship with the king and queen of the monsters? Ha! That's just-

"Good, wasn't it?" Flowey's face returns with a smile. "One time I spent like a week or so just whispering stuff when Asgore was alone in the throne room while disguised as one of his precious flowers. He went insane after just two days!"

Flowey grabs his head while morphing his face to that of the largest figure he created at Aofil's summer home. The face is beyond fear, screaming silently as tears rolls down its face.

"No reason for me to stop though," Flowey continues after shifting his face back to his own. "It just became funnier seeing him break down from the inside. He started to plead with the voices of the kids he'd killed. Started pleading with the voice of his oh so tragic Toriel condemning him. While his two children were screaming at him for not being able to save them he fell down on his big stupid knees, and cried until his armor was completely rusted. His pathetic sobs were heard all the way to the Waterfall! Perhaps even further! I'd love to have seen Toriel's face had she heard him sniveling like her son, but with bigger lungs!"

With a horizontal motion with his leaf over his throat, Flowey puts out his tongue out the side of his mouth and lets it hang for a moment. "Asgore killed himself that night by trying to scoop out the voices with his trident." Flowey scoffs. "And I'm only slightly exaggerating about that."

Flowey looks up from his ramblings only to meet Aofil looking down on him with a baffled expression stretching over every nook and cranny of their face. Flowey quickly sinks down, cowering, as his entire body starts shaking. "S-sorry, Chara! Y-you were talking about how we'll b-bring down the monsters on t-the way here, so I t-thought that..."

Aofil shakes themselves awake while stumbling clumsily on their words. "No...no, it's not that. If anything we can use that against them during the trial. It's just that," Aofil runs their hand in a circular motion over their face, "your face."

"Ah," Flowey shoots back upright while nodding. "Yes, yes. Sorry if I scared you, then. I-it was good though?"

Aofil's mouth instinctively shifts into an impressed frown, "Yeah, it was. I mean, I started to question whether or not you were real."

Flowey nods, "Yeah," but it's reserved. "I've kinda gone through that myself a couple of times," he says under his breath. "But we're together now!" he half shouts. "We're best friends again!"

"And now we're in my house instead of yours," Aofil points out with a guess.

"Can I," Flowey clears his throat. "Can I look around?"

Aofil's brow furrows hard. Not even because of the why, but because of the "How?"

Flowey lifts out a foot shaped from thin vines out of the dirt, "Like this." He wiggles his toes to show them off.

Aofil would rather that he didn't.

They'd rather not him run off on his own too. He might get wise to Aofil not being Chara. For all the slip ups Aofil has done though, it seems that it would take nothing short of a crowbar, or even some earth moving equipment, to convince Flowey otherwise. So that's nice to know. It's not like Flowey will run off or anything. He seems pretty content with this emotional lease he's strung around himself, and handed the reins over to Aofil.

Aofil should still think of some contingency plan, just in case. If they're to have the pastor over, or anyone else for that matter, they're bound to be called Aofil instead of Chara. Aofil might not be able to do enough to derail Flowey's train of thought, but someone else might. Maybe it's better if Aofil put at least some cards on the table with Flowey. A few cards that might give Aofil some leeway should they be called by their own name. Not enough for Flowey to not call Aofil Aofil while it's just the two of them, but perhaps when there's other people around.

They won't be lying. They'll just be postponing the truth until Flowey can handle it. They'll tell Flowey the entire truth eventually.

Oh yes, they will.

"C-Chara?"

Aofil looks over to the weak monster.

"W-why did you do your creepy face just now?" Flowey asks with deep uncertainty tugging his lips back forth between a smile and a scared frown.

"My what?" Aofil returns with an innocent shrug of their shoulders. "No, I was just struck with an idea, that's all."

Flowey doesn't look convinced, but not unconvinced enough to make a scene out of it. "Oh, alright. Something about what you're planning?"

"Yup," Aofil answers quickly. "You wanted to look around a bit, no? Well, feel free. Just don't break anything."

"Oh..." Flowey's posture becomes more relaxed, and his lips cement into a beaming expression. "Y-yeah, I wanted to see how you lived before you came down into the Underground."

"My room is upstairs," Aofil informs with a pair of pointing fingers. Technically they're not lying. "I'll be in the kitchen to make some food. You sure you don't want anything?"

"If it's a hassle for you, then don't bother. I don't really eat much. Not food, that is. Not sun either, but that you already know by now."

Aofil nods. "Fine by me. My house is your house. Just like before, no?"

"Y-yeah, just like before, Chara." Flowey takes one foot out of the dirt. "In a way we've now completed what we set out to do." And the other foot follows shortly after. "We're both on the Surface, together, and the monsters are free."

Aofil stares bewildered at the flower standing on its own two feet. Like a green stick figure with small thorns spread across, and an over sized head. It's strange, to say the least. Doesn't help that the stride the flower is taking reminds Aofil of an old cartoon.

"We're not kids no more though, Chara. Maybe us wanting to free the monsters was nothing more than childish naivety. It's how they were freed a couple of weeks ago, after all. People change, and the monsters have changed quite a lot since they last were on the Surface. Is it perhaps mercy killing you're planning, Chara?"

Aofil twists their lips, as they don't really have a good answer for this question. Hearing it out loud like this. It feels weird, it sounds...wrong to Aofil.

"You might've changed the most though, Chara. I remember you saying that you hated humanity. When I was alone in the Underground I thought you'd be happy as can be when Asgore swore to kill any and all human that fell down after we...died." Flowey halts his foot on the first step up to the second floor. "But I guess six were too many, Chara?"

Aofil's eyes flare up, "Six?" they almost scream in surprise. Six humans? Dead in the Underground? Was that what the pastor was talking about? Six kids killed?

No, the monsters must pay. Aofil will make sure they feel the consequences of what they've done. No hesitation! No more! This will justify what Aofil's planning. The monsters have to know that murder will not go unpunished.

Flowey again averts his eyes, this time in fear. "Y-you still look scary when you're angry, Chara. I'm s-sure that it'll help you though. It will show the monsters that you're determined! That snotty brat will stand no match to you!"

"Who?" Aofil asks.

"F-Frisk!" Flowey turns his head back around. "They were the one that forced me to break the Barrier! They tricked me! They played with my emotions! They made me say things about you I never would've said had I not had those stupid souls inside me. It was their soul! It felt like yours! If I had known that you wanted the monsters still locked up I would've never even thought of breaking the Barrier. I swear! You know me!"

"Well, it broke."

"Y-yes," Flowey whimpers, as if preparing himself to be punished.

"And this Frisk tricked you into doing it?"

"Yes!"

"Is this Frisk, a human?"

Flowey nods. "But they're much weaker than you! You're an adult now! You're much stronger than some kid could ever be! They think they can replace you. They're all smiles and sunshine, nuzzling up to the king and queen! But I know!" Flowey balls one of his leafs up. "I know that they're not the perfect little goody two shoes they make themselves out to be. They've killed before! They've killed everyone before! I just know it, Chara. I could feel it from their soul. Their hunger for dust!"

"And Frisk is now with the king and queen? Are they gonna do something? Start killing again?"

Whatever 'start killing again means'. If the king and queen of the monsters have a psychotic child among them it could be leveraged. To what end would they benefit of having a murderous human child at their side though? Weird. Certainly weird. Perhaps the pastor knows more? He knew about the children that the monsters apparently have murdered, so perhaps he knows a bit more about this Frisk kid.

"No, I don't think so. They went through the Underground befriending everyone. Even our parents!" Flowey wraps a vine around one of the support to the handlebar next to the stairs. His grip tightens, making the wood creak. "Who is this kid trying to replace us? Replace you! Who could ever? You were the hope of the Underground, Chara! Who could ever hold a candle to the hope you brought to the monsters? What you brought to me! If they've all forgotten, then we'll show them just how much it'll hurt to be on your bad side. If they just throw you away at the first sight of another human doing something barely, and remotely close to what you did for them, then we'll show them what happens if they replace their hope for a lesser one! They'll smile as they remember what you were, while cowering at what you've become because of them. Together!"

Flowey catches his breath. "They'll pay." With deep and sharp breaths he huffs angrily. "It was because of them that you died. You just wanted to help, but they couldn't do anything but watch as we died. Pathetic, all of them. Our parents, the ones that we trusted, did nothing as we turned into dust. We cried, and they did nothing! They couldn't do anything when I woke up. I was alone, I was scared, but no one came. No one could save me. No one," Flowey looks up to Aofil. Tears flooding his eyes, and a hopeful smile subduing his frustrated grin. "But you, Chara. You're the only one I care about, because you're the only one that could help me. The only one I could imagine saving me. So long I've been alone with this void inside of me, with the only thing holding me up being you."

"Frisk," Flowey curses. "Frisk didn't even want to touch me. I poured my soul out for them. I gave up everything, but they turned away. They left me to turn back into this!" He looks at his vines wrapped around the wooden pole. "To this useless form!"

"But with you," Flowey whispers as his voice starts to give in. "With you, Chara, I feel so strong. Just like when we were kids. Your determination, I could feel it back then, and I can feel it now as well. It's so comforting, you have no idea. Like the only light I've seen in an eternity. Six human souls, and the entire Underground was nothing compared to what I'm feeling when I'm standing here next to you, Chara."

Flowey releases his grip on the wooden pole. His thorns dug into the wood, leaving behind small holes of exposed flesh. Flowey retracts the vine back into him, and glances over to Aofil, "Sorry, I'm not used to actually feeling emotional. Was it too much, Chara?"

Aofil can't believe the gold mine they've just struck with this monster. Here it is, bleeding its heart out for them. Thinking that Aofil is someone that meant so much for it. Meant everything for this Flowey.

Everything Chara planted, Aofil can reap. And collect however they want.

They're gonna have a harvest unlike anything seen before. Everything that's worth for this monster right now is Aofil, and Aofil will be sure to use that as much as they can.

"Go upstairs and look around, Flowey," Aofil says with a careful tone filled with warmth and comfort. "Take your time."

The comfort pours over Flowey like an overflowing bucket, and he can barely hold himself together, "W-where is your room, Chara? I want to see how you lived before you did with me."

"Straight ahead once you get up there. Door on the..." Aofil pauses to make sure they say the one that wasn't theirs, "right side."

"T-thanks."

"Anytime, Flowey." Aofil gives the monster a tugged smile. "Anytime."

The flower walks up the stair very silly. The steps are up to its head, so its legs must extend to the point of it looking like even worse of a stick figure.

Aofil can't help but giggle to themselves as the reality of something this, for lack of a better word, monstrous of an opportunity will probably never settle in for them.

This flower is gonna be not only an ace up their sleeve, but the entire deck of cards, and then some. And it just keeps on giving! There is literally nothing Aofil can do barring telling it directly that they're not Chara to break it's devotion to them. The contempt stirring inside that flower is nothing short of absolute, and Aofil can aim it wherever they please.

All they need now is to get information out of it. They could just ask it directly to tell everything to them, or-

The doorbell rings, summoning a worried Flowey to the staircase. It looks down as Aofil goes out to answer the door. "H-humans?" it asks.

Aofil nods. "Probably. Stay upstairs for the time being, will you? I don't think they'll hear the sound of your footsteps. Just don't knock anything over, and it should be fine."

"I-if you say so."

"Wait!" Aofil halts Flowey just before it can scurry away again. "If you hear the humans calling me Aofil, that's what my twin was named. So just roll with it. It's their body, after all."

Flowey's eyes shoot wide open, "What?"

"Aofil survived, and I managed to just slip in when I came back as a soul."

"Y-you can do that?"

"My determination eclipsed theirs." Aofil hazards as a guess.

"Ah!" Flowey nods as he starts to understand. "Since you're twins and all, you have the same soul. Like you said when we were kids! You're the better twin though."

"Best part is that it's not even difficult looking myself in the mirror!" Aofil decides to sacrifice a pawn in order to check mate the king. They tug at their cheeks with their hand. "Besides these lines, and whatnot."

"B-but, weren't you and Aofil not the same..." Flowey looks away to the side. "You know?"

They weren't?

Aofil clears their throat. "Yeah, but that's not a problem. They don't suspect a thing."

The doorbell rings twice, with harder presses.

"It's just what happened." Aofil shrugs as nonchalantly as they can. "So we'll roll with it. Alright?"

"S-sure. I can do that," Flowey agrees with a hesitant nod that turns confident after one or two shakes. He blinks with one eye. "Aofil."

Aofil snaps an extended thumb towards the flower along with a proud wink, "Perfect."

Flowey scurries back upstairs, and Aofil shakes their head in disbelief.

Like a damn yoyo.

Aofil opens the door to greet the visitor. "Oh!" They smile widely, and motion with their arm for the human to enter. "Why don't you come in?"

The pastor bows his head, and accepts the invitation. "You've been calling me a lot."

"You haven't been answering a lot," Aofil replies as they close the door behind the pastor.

"I've been busy."

Aofil takes the pastor's coat and hangs it up. "About the monsters?"

"Yes, about the-" The pastor freezes as he meets Aofil's eyes. "A-Aofil?"

They glance up quickly towards the staircase to make sure that the flower isn't there. They might've convinced it, but they still feel like they should lessen the amount of times it hears Aofil being called their real name, just in case.

"Yes?" Aofil replies with an inquisitive eyebrow.

"H-how are you feeling, Aofil?"

Aofil shrugs quickly, "Just dandy. Why do you ask?"

"S-so, it's not about humans?" the pastor asks while standing as if he's ready to bolt out the door without even grabbing his jacket.

"Pardon?"

The pastor moves a step away from the door as he hardens his eyes on Aofil's. "So," he starts before a wide grin forms on his lips, "it's about the monsters? Have you realized what they did? What they've done to your family?"

"You mean about Chara?" Aofil asks while nodding towards the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Yes." The pastor nods eccentrically. "Yes! Oh, and the tea as well."

Aofil takes lead. They fill up some water in the kettle. "So what have you done about the monsters?" they inquire while waiting for the kettle to fill up.

"I'm planning an investigation about the missing children."

Aofil shuts off the water,"Oh!" and shakes the kettle just enough for the lid to fall down with a clonk. "I think I can help a bit with that. I think I can help with much than that even."

"Y-you can?" the pastor stumbles out. He has to wait for Aofil to reach into the top cupboard to get a hold of some teabags though.

"Yeah." They answer as they stretch their arm to the back of the cupboard. "It might even be better if it tells you everything though."

"It?" falls out of the pastor's confused mouth.

"Flowey!" Aofil shouts up the staircase. "Would you kindly come down and tell everything you know to this friend of mine?"

It's quiet. Just long enough for the pastor to start speaking up, but he's silenced, as finally an answer comes from above.

"Y-you sure?"

Aofil turns their head back towards the pastor. They wiggle their eyebrows to him, and then shots up the stairs again, "Yeah, I am. Come down, I'm making some tea."

"Golden Flower?"

"Human tea."

"Ah."

Aofil takes a seat opposite the pastor. They move the dirt filled pot in between them. The pastor again wants to speak up, but he's again silenced by his own stunned shock as Flowey jumps up on the table, and crawls into his pot. He's sunken down a bit, and looks over to Aofil. "T-this might not be a good idea."

Aofil waves their hand and scoffs lightly through their lips. "Nonsense! We all three want the same thing."

Flowey opens his mouth, but he's interrupted by a clean C tone whistle. Aofil shoots out their chairs, and stands up.

"Tea's ready."