The two skeletons stood in the clearing, observed by twin entities nearby.
"hey there boss." Sans greeted his brother. "what's up?"
"You know very well what's up Sans." Papyrus hissed. "It's been eight days, and you still haven't recalibrated your puzzles!" He huffed and added. "Are you so incapable that I must do everything for you?"
Their voices were a stark contrast with one another. One sounded somewhere between a movie mobster ever. And the guy working at a store who clearly doesn't care about his job anymore.
The other sounded like an old movie villain combined with...well, the manager who was always having to deal with that lazy guy at the store. At least, that's how Chara interpreted their voices. The girl glancing between them from her hiding spot.
"has it been eight?" Sans asked, nervously tugging on his collar. "feels like seven, if you ask me."
"Yes, it has." His counterpart didn't appear amused. "Everyday, all you do is hang out around your station. What are you even doing?" He growled. "Besides slacking off?"
"uh...checking out the station." Sans offered turning to it. "honestly, ya really get a good view from this angle. looks real nice. wanna see?"
Papyrus groaned, stepping over. "No, I do not. I don't have-" The taller skeleton looked over, Chara hiding again. "oh...it really does look good from this angle."
"told ya." Sans chuckled. "it's like one of them pictures. all fancy and what not."
"It could be a postcard actually. W-wait..." Papyrus snapped from the thought. "you're just trying to distract me." The shorter one laughed nervously. "I don't have time for this." He remarked. "What if a human comes through here, Sans?" He poked the smaller skeleton. "I want to be ready, which means you have to be ready."
"well uh-" Sans paused, and asked, with a raised eye-socket. "did you get new boots?"
"Don't change the subject sans." Papyrus ordered, adding. "But...yes, I did. They're nice right?"
"a lot...redder than the last ones." Sans remarked.
"It's important to change things up now and then. Helps make you look more dignified. You might try it sometime." His brother suggested.
"where'd you hear that?" Sans chuckled.
"Simple, I read it in a self-help book. What was I talking about?" Papyrus asked, appearing to have forgotten.
"you were starting your rounds?" Sans suggested.
Papyrus briefly seemed to fall for it. Before crossing his arms, letting out a warm huff. Somehow...
"Very funny Sans. Now, you listen to me." Papyrus began.
"all ears." Sans interrupted.
"Ugh, just, we have to be the ones to find a human, Sans." He said, sounding fairly serious. "So please, as your brother, do us both this favor." Sans looked conflicted. "Please recalibrate your puzzles. It doesn't have to be right now. But today, at least."
"uhm, yeah, sure thing boss." Sans replied, adding. "i'll uh, put some back-bone into it."
There was a pause, before Papyrus rolled his eyes. "Not going to react to it Sans."
"guess you uh, got thick skin?" Sans joked, his brother sighing. "eh, I'm a bit of a numbskull. but i thought it was a bit of a rib-tickler. heh."
"Oh my god Sans." Papyrus groaned, a second groan coming from somewhere else. "See, even the forest agrees that was bad!"
Chara clasped her hand over Floweys mouth, as well as her own. Stiffling a laugh on her part, and his annoyance on his. Giving her companion a glare.
"eh, c'mon, you're smiling." Sans noted.
"I am, and I hate it." The taller one smiled, and remarked. "Regardless, I'm going to go on patrol now. As for your work-" he glanced around. "put a little more...backbone into it."
Repeating a pun that was already used in any fashion was a bit of a no-go, however, Chara struggled not to laugh at the snarky joke. Her own little laugh drowned out as the taller skeleton laughed a few times. Turning, and starting down the path.
His brother left visibly dumbfounded having heard it, wearing a small smile. Head tilting, as Papyrus strut back into the clearing, letting out a final 'heh' before leaving. This action earning a brief chuckle from the remaining one.
Once he was gone, Sans remarked. "okay. you can come out now." He glanced when he heard a ruckus of laughter coming from the sentry station. "seriously?"
Flowey remarked. "I know right. It wasn't that funny."
The flower had a rather annoyed expression, as Chara wandered out. Her eyes bore a particular brightness that propted Sans to raise an eye-socket, somehow. The girl for her part seemed to look more excited, and energized than she had been previously.
"Thanks, Sans." Chara said.
"eh, no worries kid. you should get going though. he might come back, and if he does..." He shrugged. "you'll have to endure more of my hilarious jokes." He then added. "or his, since they're apparently so funny."
Chara examined the skeleton briefly, contemplating asking him about Toriel. However, she doubted he'd know her, and realized they should probably get a move on. Giving a slight wave, the duo headed off, or started to.
"actually, hey..." Sans grabbed her attention again. "hate to bother ya, but can you do me a favor?" He didn't wait for her answer. "I was thinkin...my brothers been a little down lately. He's never seen a human before. and seeing you might just make his day."
Flowey answered. "No way. That'd be suicide."
"heh, let me finish. don't worry, he's not that dangerous." Sans assured. "even if he tries to be. he wouldn't kill ya, afterall." He chuckled, getting a nod from her. "no kiddin. well, thanks a million. I'll catch up with you in a bit."
She watched as the skeleton wandered in the opposite direction. Heading back over the bridge, even squeezing through the space she had. She wondered if he was heading to the ruins.
However, she couldn't think of a reason he would be. Afterall, her mom wouldn't associate with someone like that. She was fairly confident of that. Her eyes returning to the path ahead, as she continued along.
"We're not gonna do that right?" Flowey asked, adding. "Cuz, that may be a bad idea."
"What, no, no...no way." Chara let out an exaggerated sound of dismissal. "I mean...probably not." She shrugged. "I mean, I'm sure he's nice, and cool n stuff, but uh, we still have to find Mom."
"An excellent reason to avoid Papyrus." Flowey nodded, before asking. "Cool?"
"W-well, like...it's a thing people say." Chara explained quickly. "Can't believe you don't know it. Wow."
"W-what, I know what cool means!" He huffed.
"I was just saying, he might be cool. So-" She shrugged.
"Yeah, well, let's just steer clear anyways." He responded.
"I wasn't suggesting we didn't." She replied, glancing away.
"I wasn't suggesting you were." He replied.
"I mean..." Chara glanced back at him. "you sort of were."
"Ugh, whatever. Just, be careful is my point." Flowey grumbled a bit.
Down the path they traversed, coming to another clearing. This one possessing a path that went left, and a path straight ahead. The space possessing a box of some kind with a sign beside it.
It also possessed something shining, and purple. Manifesting at a space beside her. Marking an auto |Save| occurring. She observed the purple save point, wondering about it, curious about it. Yet, the compulsion to touch it wasn't there. She found that strange.
Her focus diverting, noticing that Flowey was glancing at a different unoccupied space.
"Guessing...you see a save point?" She asked.
"Yeah." He replied. "What about you?"
She simply nodded, and stepped over to where he was looking out. Flowey reached out, and touched the space. She noticed the little shine to his red eyes, imagining he had just saved.
She felt curious, however, that they were so close. To her knowledge this was the first time their two save points showed up together. Not that she was upset by it. More that it felt...wrong, somehow. She hoped it wasn't an ill omen.
Stepping over to the chest, she tried to read the sign, but someone had painted over the letters. Leaving a message behind. She tried to grasp it, but couldn't.
"Can you read that?" She asked.
"Huh, the sign?" He peered over. "Uh...it says...two pawns, nearly queen. Golly, that's weird."
"Does it say that's weird, or are you saying that?" She asked.
"Clearly it's me saying that." He said flatly.
"Well I dunno, people leave strange messages around sometimes." She replied a bit defensively.
He smirked some. "Heh. I forget sometimes, that face you make when you're pouting. It's adorable."
"S-shut up. Nerd." She pouted more. "I'm not adorable, I'm awesome. Totally different."
"Uh huh. Whatever." He replied.
"If anything, you're adorable. I mean, you're literally a sunflower." She stated, noticing him snicker. "Jerkface."
Turning with a humph, she focused instead on the chest. Opening it up, she was greeted by a pair of gloves present within. Her expression immediately changed. An involuntary gasp escaping her mouth, upon observing them.
Flowey asked. "You okay?"
Chara felt her chest pounding, as she reached in to pick them up. Ensuring he couldn't see her expression, while looking them over. The moments replayed in her mind, recalling how she'd acted with Alex. She recognized these gloves immediately.
Chara equipped the Tough Gloves. They felt old, a bit worn. But had no dust on them. Somehow that fact made them feel so much worst to wear.
"Worn leather gloves. For five fingered folk." Flowey said, looking at them. "Huh, they look like they'd pack a punch." He added. "You uh, sure you wanna put on someone's gloves?" He asked. "They might come back for them."
"They won't." She muttered quietly, patting herself on the side of the face with them, fixing her smile. "W-which is fine. They're really comfy, and it's kinda cold." She dug out the plastic knife, noting they made holding it a bit uncomfortable. "I wouldn't...want to leave them."
She placed the sharp plastic knife in the box, closing it up.
Flowey sensed something was wrong, but asked. "Not bringing the knife?"
"Seems braver if I don't." She chuckled darkly.
"Well, I guess. I uh...guess I should leave this one be, huh?" Flowey asked, getting a nod. "Okay. Well uhm..." He looked at their two paths forward. "So, left or straight forward?"
Contemplating it for a moment, she adjusted the backpack. Feeling the soft nature of the pink gloves. Feeling the padding of them. Before turning left, curious to see what lay ahead.
Heading directly forward felt like the objectively correct choice, and she sought to explore, afterall. At least a little bit. The steps bringing her to a river of some kind, with a broken fishing pole beside it. There was a photo of some strange creature on the ground there, with words written on the back.
Flowey asked. "What the heck kind of monster is that?"
Chara replied. "The ugly kind." Before blinking. "Oh that's...really mean."
"It's not untrue though." He replied. "What's it say?"
"Call me?" Chara read, turning over the picture, holding it so Flowey could see it. "It says..."
"I dunno if we should do that." Flowey noted. "It's for the best if you don't call rando-what's with that expression?"
Chara suddenly had a revelation. "I have a phone."
"Yeah." He hummed. "You've had one for awhile, right?"
"Flowey...we have a phone. With Toriels number in it." The girl commented, eye twitching. "I have a phone. That can call mom. that I've had with me...this whole time."
"What?" Flowey blinked, and groaned. "Ughhhhhhhhh. I even saw you with it. How did I never think of that?" He asked in irritation. "We're so bad at this!"
"I'm such an idiot." Chara huffed. "I didn't even think about it, after the room."
She moved to pull out the phone, she suddenly heard the sound of a branch breaking, and snow crunching. It prompted a breath of surprise. The world flashing red and dark. Turning she found that a strange bird-like monster was glaring at them.
"And, isn't that wonderful. It's Snowdrake." Flowey remarked, annoyed, and sounding a bit anxious.
|Chara - 24/24 HP| - |Flowey - 20/20 HP|
|Fight| |Actions| |Item| |Mercy|
|Actions| - |Act|
|CHECK| - |LAUGH| - |JOKE| - |HECKLE|
Chara decided to check.
Flowey decided to defend.
Chara checked the bird monster. - Snowdrake - This teen comedian fights to keep a captive audience, with his dark humor.
Flowey moved his vines to protect himself and Chara. Preparing for whatever attack was to come.
"Hey. So. My grief counselor died recently." Snowdrake began. "But, man, he was so good at his job, I don't even care."
When there was no immediate response, the bird monster motioned. This movement of his wings created string of strange crescent shaped magical attacks. They swung, and moved in from the sides all around them.
Chara didn't know why he was attacking, but didn't really care. They arched, prompting her to rush through the gaps to avoid several of them. This inspiring a panicked gasp from the flower.
"C-careful!" Flowey warned, regarding some behind her.
His vines rising like a barrier, stopping some of the attacks from reaching her. Stepping back, enough to be in-between the last two sets of attacks, her soul shone as they passed by. The girl grateful to have avoided injury.
As the attack ended, Chara decided to Joke.
|FLOWEY|
|Fight| |Act| |Item| |Defend|
|ACT|
|CHECK - |F-ACTION| - |JOKE| - |HECKLE|
Flowey used F-Action.
Deducing the possible cause of the attack, Flowey began to clap with his leaves. The clapping actually seemed to work, earning a sense of appreciation from their enemie. - Snowdrake appeared pleased.
Chara attempted to joke. "That was...snow funny." - Snowdrake appeared annoyed at the pun.
"That's what you call a joke?" He chuckled darkly, visibly annoyed. "Pathetic."
The crescents appeared in different waves than before. Forcing her to side-step one. Another managing to hit her, as she yelped in pain. Moving back, as Flowey tugged her arm, stopping an impulsive movement. The last attack narrowly missing her, before it ended.
|Chara - 22/24 HP| - |Flowey - 18/20 HP|
"Huh, look at that. I don't think he liked your joke." Flowey commented, with a nod.
"Thank you Captain Obvious." She replied, annoyed.
"Just saying." He replied.
|ACTIONS| - |MAGIC|
Chara noted the presence of a new spell. The word was something she knew. Though, for a moment she felt confused seeing it there. Before recalling the last moments of the ghost.
|S-Butterfly| - |Intangible|
Chara cast Intangible.
Flowey decided to defend.
Chara cast the unknown spell, eyes shining in tandem with her soul. Magic pulsed through her, rushing through her coat, and across Flowey as well. The Flower looking very surprised, the duo gaining a slightly translucent quality to them. Flowey moving to defend them, all the same, while looking quite confused by what was happening.
"Here's one. Dark humor is like clean water..." Snowdrake said, adding. "not everyone gets it."
The attacks fired out. Chara moving to avoid one, only to stumble into a chain of attacks, due to a feeling of floating. Strangely, but notably, the attack didn't do found that they passed through her.
Despite this she still instinctively moved to avoid them. The sensation of them passing through wasn't terribly pleasant, after all. Once the attack ended, the magical effect flickered, fading. The duo solid once more.
"What was that?" Flowey whispered demandingly.
"I dunno, shut up." She commented back. "Still fighting."
Chara decided to laugh at Snowdrakes joke.
Flowey used F-Action.
Flowey clapped, all the more intense than before. Really demonstrating his enthusiasm for the joke. That he definitely heard, and wasn't too busy being confused to get. Chara meanwhile let out a little laugh to his...grim humor. - Snowdrake actually looked like he was smiling some.
"See, told Dad my jokes were funny." The monster remarked.
Another attack did not follow. The monster seemed fairly appeased, and at this point was visibly considering something. After a moment, Snowdrake decided to tell another joke.
"Why can't orphans get upset at dark humor?" He asked, answering. "Cuz it can't hit home, if you don't have one."
Chara compelled herself to laugh.
Flowey used F-Action.
Chara felt unpleasant regarding that joke, a little hurt by it. Then again, she was just pleased they weren't getting attacked, and chose to let it slide. Forcing herself to chuckle. Fowey clapped all the harder, repeating the action from before.
The color seemed to begin returning to the world as the fight ended.
Snowdrake was contended. "You've all been beautiful. Have a great night."
They got no EXP, and 8G. The monster wandering off now that the 'show' was done. The duo watching him go.
"Those were in very poor taste." Chara noted.
"Yup." Flowey replied.
