Meanwhile...
Throughout her long, long existence, a strange many things became observable constants. From her earliest years as a child on the surface, witnessing the rise and fall of kingdoms. The formation of hatreds and loves that defined eras. The hopes and dreams of peoples rising, only to be snuffed out by ego and malice.
Yet, these were more universal consistencies. In terms of personal constants, no matter the lessons provided to her by her parents when she was young. No matter the will of various tutors, and educators seeking to break the habit. Not even the various loves, nor getting married, nor starting a family had quenched this inescapable truth about herself.
Toriel loathed waiting. Impatience, empowered by a desire to see things done quickly, effectively, properly, was a bane sometimes. It didn't matter much the reason, be it doing something constructive, or deconstructing other things, it burned all the same. Sometimes she used this...tenacity to quell the thoughts in her head. Sometimes she drank to make it silent, at least for a little while.
It was difficult to be crushed by the numbness, by the pain, by the fear, when one was too busy to bother with the feeling. It had defined so much of her rule, this constant action. So much of her life, kept around always remaining busy and focused. Observation, reaction, using the predictable nature of everything to ensure all went properly. As expected.
Yet today had bucked that trend. She didn't know how to process it. Hadn't expected it.
The monster paced, staring out over the cliffs edge. She was somewhere halfway towards the town of Snowdinn. Her impatience had led her here now, unable to simply wait and play things out. Needing...something.
She sought ways to fill the time. Having built, and destroyed a snowman. Pushing her creation over the cliff, merely to sate the desire to see something done. Her focus now, however, was on a house in the distance.
In a way, it reminded her of her home, both the one in the ruins, and the one she once hailed from. It had been...so very long, since she even contemplated that space however. Back then, she was just another monster, as far as anyone knew. Her soul 'unique' but unknown to so many.
She thought about her family, how fuzzy and forgotten their faces were. Toriel tried to recall their names, and couldn't. Sometimes she wondered if they even existed, or if perhaps she'd simply made them up. Then, it turned to what remained of the one she had left.
She thought of her home, and desperately wanted to go back. Guilt swelled, a feeling of self-loathing following for everything she'd done today. Including this.
She wagered, focusing on the moment, that the cottage belonged to someone desperate to get away from civilization. Not that Snowdinn was exactly what she'd call civilization. She wondered if they were an outlaw, a renegade, or a rebel perhaps. Toriel pondered if the resident was one of her old loyalists perhaps? Ousted alongside her.
She contemplated her 'husband' and his actions. She sometimes contemplated returning 'home.' To dismantle this farcicle little state he'd constructed, that his cowardice had ruined. But, remembering her own, she relented.
Her thoughts cycled back to Snowdinn. In her mind, she wondered if Chara would like the little town. If it was safe enough to bring her there?
It was a fair distance from Asgore, even if there were two royal guards there. She knew that all it would take was a conversation, and they'd never harm her daughter. The thoughts on insurrection followed, in fancy.
Toriel dwelled on the thought, though for a different reason. It would likely never be safe with Asgore in power. He might eventually discover her. She contemplated doing something about that, before he could. A funny thought, for one who ran away instead of stopping him when she had the chance.
"This is why I don't stay sober." Toriel grumbled to herself, annoying at all the thinking she was doing. "No...can't..do that. She needs...better than that."
Toriel knew that she shouldn't repeat her past, her bad behavior, and habits. One of which, was drinking. Even if it helped silence her busy mind, it couldn't be worth it anymore.
It was after all, the thing that got her children killed. Sleeping in, instead of waking up early, hungover from a social gathering the night before. Her own nasty habits, costing everything. Pathetic, little failures.
As her thoughts did, they spiraled, and replayed the days events. All of this, all these other thoughts, assuming it was even real, and she hadn't simply snapped, how could it be? After all, how was she supposed to explain, one of her dead children magically showing back up?
The girl acting like nothing happened, wearing some strange green striped shirt. Having...what seemed to be purple in their eyes, when she was sure they were red? It made Toriel feel crazy, even just the eyes. Had she been remembering wrong all this time?
It wasn't like any of their photos were in color, so she couldn't check. Then, she thought to her family from her childhood. And how she couldn't recall them. She thought of waking up, of venturing outside her house. Hearing the sound of coughing, and panicked cries.
It wasn't like it would be her first failure as a mother.
A sound like knocking came to her attention, from a tree behind her.
"knock knock." The familiar voice greeted.
Toriel tensed and shifted her posture. Her thoughts dissolving. Her eyes remaining forward, considering what she wanted to say.
"You're late." She noted. "I need to-"
"knock knock." The voice repeated.
Toriel paused, and indulged. "Who is there?"
She turned when she asked this. There beside a tree was a skeleton in a black jacket, wearing sneakers that looked comfortable. A little smile on his face.
"says." The skeleton wandering over.
"Says who?" The goat-lady asked.
"says me, that's who." He replied with a bigger smile than normal.
Despite her state, and despite how terrible she felt. Almost immediately her sour and stoic expression melted. A chuckle, and then an enthusiastic laugh following after.
It managed to make the skeleton chuckle a bit too, as he took a seat. Legs hanging out over the edge of the cliff. Waiting patiently until Toriel stopped her laughter, and sat down beside him.
"Thank you." Toriel hesitated, electing to delay the conversation for a moment. "Sans...why didn't the skeleton mind the wind?"
Sans felt deja vu. "Why?"
"Cuz it went right through him." She said, struggling not to laugh.
Seeing her struggle not to laugh. The sight of it, the enthusiasm being kept back. It made it impossible for him not to give a good snicker himself. The feedback demanding she do the same. Which she did, without fail.
"whoa, you've goat to be kiddin me." Sans joked.
"Did that one tickle your funny bone?" Toriel said, giving him a little nudge between laughter.
"well it's not the only thing." He replied with a toothy grin.
"S-sans!" She covered her mouth despite laughing.
"hey, don't be mad cuz I flirt better." He replied with a shrug.
"Is that right?" She asked, leaning nearer to him. "You know, it is customary to greet someone when you see them again." She added. "I'd say 'greetings this is Toriel,' but you can call me tonight."
"wow." He chuckled back, seeming to blush somehow, making her laugh harder. "That's...amazing.." He replied. "careful, you uh, talk like that and I'm gonna have to follow you home."
"Is that right?" She asked.
"yeah, my old man always told me to follow my dreams." Sans made finger guns, as she stifled a laugh.
The duo continued with jokes of a similar calibur for a minute or two longer, before finally calming down. Their little exchange ending with Sans getting a look over his present company. She seemed off somehow.
She was wearing a hoodie, fairly basic, but functional. With a soft leather jacket overtop of that, alongside dark pants. She still looked a little unkept, yet maintained her proper posture. Something he definitely didn't always have. Yet, unlike their past interactions, she seemed to be somewhat distant.
"so, Tori, you're lookin goat today, what's the occasion?" He asked.
"Huh?" She then smiled some. "Oh, this is just what I had laying around. But thank you." She let out a sad sounding chuckle, before frowning. "You know...you did not...show up for a week. Or answer any of my calls."
This prompted a change in posture from the skeleton. His smile wavering somewhat. He glanced away at that, and sighed.
"yeah. I'm sorry about that. I was workin on something for awhile there. it uh, really took a lot out of me." He thought back to a strange computer. "you'll be happy to know, it ended terribly."
His attempt at making comedy out of the utter tragedy she was unaware of, didn't seem to land. Instead, it prompted a look of concern. He struggled to meet it, only feeling worst, for getting one.
"Your suffering doesn't make me happy, Sans." Toriel commented.
"yeah...I know. sorry." He muttered back. "I uh, noticed you didn't answer the phone either. this morning, I mean. everything okay?"
"First...don't apologize for feeling down." Toriel replied calmly. "I will do my best to be there, anytime you are feeling off." He seemed surprised. "We all need help sometimes. You know?"
"heh. i uh...Yeah, I guess." Sans considered this. "Second?"
"The second...it's...complicated." She hesitated. "Sans, am I...awake right now?"
Sans chuckled. "do you dream about me often?" She didn't laugh. "uhm..." He noticed the concern in her eyes. "Yeah. You're awake, Tori. Why?"
"Never heard that much enthusiasm before." She noted, worriedly.
"I try not to have it. it's a lot of work." His tone returning to normal. "but uh...why do you ask?"
She searched herself for an answer to this question, for the perfect response. To elaborate things without causing difficulty. It was what she had tried to focus on thinking about, all this time. The words at their base, were simple, obvious, yet difficult to speak.
Toriel persevered.
Toriel examined him. "Whatever we are...we're at least friends, right?" He adjusted himself, and scanned her. "Aren't we?"
"yeah. of course. I-I mean...yeah." He let out a nervous, impulse chuckle. "what's goin on...you're not in trouble are ya?"
"It's not about him. He still doesn't know where I am. Thank you, though." She assured, easing that fear. "I'm...going to tell you some things. But I'd like to ask that you hear me out completely, before you respond."
Sans sat up straighter and nodded. "you know you always have my complete attention."
She felt the urge to say nothing.
"Promise me." She requested.
"oh. okay. Promise." He replied, wondering what this was all about.
As thus. She began.
The initial hesitation began to melt as she spoke to him.
Able to speak about it, she told him everything that had happened, from the start of her day to present. The talk was long in some parts, troubling in others. As she sometimes spiraled into contemplation and guilt, before either pulling herself back, or being pulled back.
The only thing she didn't tell him about was the dream. Unlike the rest it clearly wasn't a real incident that had occurred. The concept of it was a bit maddening, and silly to even consider, not that she could recall it all properly anyway.
It felt like static to contemplate. Like... TXkgcXVlZW4uLi4KeW91Cm1hZGUgYSAKZGVhbC4= She let it go.
She spoke with all the honesty she could muster, even when she began to shiver, her words falling over themselves. Making her look, and sound a bit insane at some points. Something she knew, and that was only made worst by the silence of her peer. Despite her having asked for it, she wished he would interrupt.
However, even when she got nervous, she powered through it. In the end, there was that same silence, shared between both of them. Sans eyes appearing to be gone from their sockets.
The skeleton was thinking things over. Considering everything, as best he could. And the many layers that this problem could result in. The questions it demanded to exist, and the answers it lacked. Beyond the present and practical problems, leaving him conflicted about what he'd been told.
"you're sure...this is your kid?" Sans asked finally.
"If I can be honest. I don't know." She admitted, adding. "I don't...even know if it's real." Her laugh a little maddened, her eyes tearing up. "Sans...I don't know, I don't know. Maybe...heh, maybe I've just...finally lost it?"
He wanted to offer a reassurance, but shifted uncomfortably, taking a bottle of ketchup from his jacket. His mind was still reeling a bit from the concept of it all. He drank the ketchup like it was a soda, beer, or a shot of something. Various curiosities clicking together the hypothetical possibilities, running simulations, conceptual playthroughs of what might happen 'if' certain things transpired.
The kid he'd met along the path was a human, wasn't it? That had to be the same one. Meaning, Toriel wasn't crazy. Afterall, the kid came from the ruins. Though, the idea of it being the kid from the stories he'd heard. A very long-dead human child, THE human child...it sounded ridiculous.
If it was true however, it made what he had planned uncomfortable to him. Not that he had a problem with killing for the sake of everyone, but this time, it didn't feel easy. He looked her over and noted, the only real thing that had stopped him from killing the human then and there, were the jokes. It'd reminded him of Toriel.
"Tori." He tried to find the right words. "hey...I didn't get to tell you bout my day yet."
"Sans..I can't..." She commented, still processing her own thoughts.
Sans debated what he was considering doing. If he told her, then...plan over. The seventh soul, presuming the kid was a full and proper human, would never get out of the ruins. There was no way in hell she'd let that happen, knowing the risks.
If that happened, they'd be right back to square one. Assuming the kid wasn't the source of his other problem. Which, if it were true, was most likely also accurate. Which by itself was a frankly horrifying concept.
He contemplated not telling her, and just...'resolving the problem' as it were. But, if he did that... Sans noted he would never be able to look her in the eyes again. Did it matter? Did anything?
Taking something from his second pocket, he took out a pack of cigarettes. He hadn't had one in a little while, but he needed it now. Lighting one, he offered one to Toriel, his hand shaking. Which she quietly took.
"Thank you." she spoke. "I'm...sorry I'm...with all this."
Sans took a drag and sighed. "fuck." She raised a brow, lighting her own. "so. I was on my way here, to see you." She took a drag, and listened. "and the strangest thing happened." He knew this was his last chance to back down, to 'fix' things. "then, i came across an old pal." But he couldn't. "and a human."
Toriel flinched, eyes unstably scanning him. "What?"
"they uh, seemed to be lookin for somethin." He chuckled nervously. "dressed up in a jacket...a lot like that one that was near the fireplace, when I visited last." He recalled. "ya know the green one?"
Toriel recalled the green hooded coat, from when she was considering burning the old clothes she still had lying around. Rapidly, things appeared to click in her mind. He noticed it, and then he noticed the next gear click. Concern replacing the look of realization, evolving into...
"You...didn't-" Her dread evident. "Sans...please tell me you didn't-"
"we told each other some jokes. I uh, showed off the old joy buzzer in the hand trick." He told her, while letting out a small cloud of smoke. "helped em out of a jam, actually, and they kept walkin." He assured, adding. "this kid...you said, the eyes are...red?"
Her mind was in a frenzy, scattered and far from properly composed. A dozen emotions cycling. Searching her recent memory, she tried to recall if she mentioned the change of color. Before realizing she must not have, or he wouldn't be asking.
"N-no, I thought they were, but I-" Torie tried to compose herself, her cigarette burning quicker. "but, as we were walking around, they seemed to get-"
"purple?" He asked, noticing her tense. "heh, Tori I uh...got some good news." He smiled hesitantly. "seems, you ain't crazy." The news seeming to make her breath faster, both relieved and tense. "course...they're uh, not in the ruins anymore, but I'm sure-"
"Sans..." She reached out grabbing his arms. "Where was she going?"
"uhhh, by direction...I guess, maybe snowdinn, or grovetown?" He half suggested. "depending on if they take the side road. it uh, neither is all that dangerous though. promise."
"Why would she-" Toriel paused, getting paler than usual somehow. "Him."
The cigarette fell into the snow, as she hurriedly got back to her feet. The skeleton looking confused, as she looked around, before starting off. He tilted his head, vanishing from his location, appearing a little way ahead of her.
"hey, where ya goin?" He asked.
"I'm going to go find her." She declared. "Either...they're looking for me, or...she w-" She growled. "of course...of course, because I didn't say...damn it."
He looked worried, and tried to keep up with her, considering something. "h-hey now. just, just a sec okay?" He appeared in front of her, stopping her. "if this is a thing involving your ex, then you going near town, well, you'll be recognized, right?" He asked, adding. "and correct me if I'm wrong, but you told me your ex had a uh...certain opinion of you, in the murder-y variety?"
"I can't just let her wander out here all alone!?" Toriel declared in worry, and dread. "W-what if something happens to her?" She shook. "I can't...I can't lose my child again. I won't."
Hearing her with that distress in her words, was not a pleasant feeling. Sans wasn't entirely unfamiliar with people in pain, or people afraid. But it was a lot more than he'd prepared for, for the day. It made him feel like he was about to regret something.
"Tori, tell you what, I'll go find em, okay?" He offered. "I can teleport around. find em. either bring em home, or point em in the right direction, yeah?"
"Sans-" She started. "I can't...ask you to do that. I-"
"c'mon, I'm a fairly reliable fella, ain't I?" He gave her a toothier smile than normal. "and...we're uh...something like friends, right?"
"Can you...promise me you'll keep her safe from harm?" Toriel requested.
Sans hesitated. "I ain't...I don't uh usually-"
"Please." She requested, taking his hand. "This is important. I know it's a lot to ask, but...please?"
Sans glanced away, he had never seen her with such big sad eyes before. The skeleton taking a sharp breath. If he was smart, he'd turn it down. He knew that.
If the kid was wandering around...though, he didn't know what'd even happen. But if they were, and did happen to expire, well... 6 human souls had been obtained. Just one more, and they could break the barrier...let everyone out.
Then, he wondered if the king'd be willing to do something like that. To his own kid...if this was actually, that human. Then again, from what he knew, and what she'd said. He felt like he didn't really want the answer to that question.
His attention went back to Toriel, his thoughts refocused. He needed to give her an answer. Promise or not. It didn't matter what he picked. He felt like he'd regret it regardless, so...
"I promise." He said seriously. "I know you'll worry anyways, but don't. I'll go find her, maybe get some grub in em. s'all good. we'll all be jokin about it to-marrow, okay?" She laughed a little bit, despite looking no more assured. "c'mon, Tori. I'll sternum into you, before you know it."
She couldn't help but chuckle, managing a smile. "I'm sorry to ask you to do this. But, thank you...you're a good...friend, Sans."
Sans thought to himself, that he wasn't a good friend to anyone. Not in any fashion that mattered, if he was honest. But, he wasn't the kind of guy, to break a promise, normally. Sighing some, he gave a little salute.
"alright, I'm off and check. you aughta go home, in case she shows up." He wagered. "or in case they call. later, yeah?"
With that, he vanished from sight, she froze. Toriel standing in absolute silence for a moment, his suggestion prompting a series of thoughts. Something dawning on her.
She poke. "I...I have a cell phone." She growled at herself. "I cannot believe I forgot that, again."
It wasn't the first time, the woman quickly digging around in her jacket pocket. However, she found that it wasn't there. Patting the various pockets of her outfit, she then glanced around the area she had been. It wasn't there. She realized she may have left it in her robes.
She began to race back towards her home. Trying to remind herself that this was an easy fix, hopefully. That all she needed to do was call, that's it. And then it would be okay.
Though, in the moment, she also felt an intense rage at herself for having both forgotten about it, as well as having forgotten it as well. She felt idiotic to leave something so important alone at her house. Her internal thoughts judging her with a fine barrage of commentary, and self-doubting hatreds.
QSBzaG9ydCB3aGlsZSBhZnRlciB0aGUgdHdvIG1vbnN0ZXJzIGhhZCBsZWZ0LCBhIGZhaW50IHJpbmdpbmcgY291bGQgYmUgaGVhcmQuIFNvbWV3aGVyZSBvdmVyIHRoZSBjbGlmZiwgZG93biwgZG93biwgZG93bi4gVW50aWwgaXQgY2FtZSB0byBhIHBlcmNoIHRoZXJlLCBvdmVybG9va2luZyBldmVyeXRoaW5nLiBUb3JpZWxzIHBob25lIHNpdHRpbmcgb24gdGhpcyBwZXJjaCwgcmluZ2luZyBhYnNlbnRseS4KCkEgc3RyYW5nZXIgc2l0dGluZyBiZXNpZGUgaXQsIGRyYXBlZCBpbiBsb25nIGJsYWNrIHJvYmVzLiBUaGUgc3RyYW5nZXIgcmVhY2hpbmcgb3V0IHRvIHBpY2sgaXQgdXAgd2l0aCBhIHBhbGUgd2hpdGUgbWFnaWMu
The phone rang, and rang, Chara pacing around looking anxious.
She hoped this was actually the correct number. Worried she had somehow gotten it wrong. Despite it being in the phone. Venturing away from the river, already, waiting for it to ring.
Flowey suggested. "She probably just forgot it at home."
"I-it's still ringing." Chara muttered, nervously.
Then, suddenly, the phone made a clicking noise. It had been answered. The girl briefly uncertain what to say.
"Mom?" She asked.
Flowey watched Chara with the phone. He could...barely make out some noise. It was strange, garbage noise. Inaudible, clearly some sort of prank call. But she didn't seem to treat it the same.
"O-oh. I'm sorry isn't t-" She paused, and tilted her head. "Uhm, yes. That's me. Who is this?"
Flowey asked. "Wrong number?"
"What do you mean Waterfall?" Chara asked, sounding confused. "Why is-"
Flowey gave a concerned look. "Chara...what's going on?"
"H-hang on." She requested. "Where is that?"
The sound of static became more pronounced. Flowey attempted to decipher what was being said. Swearing he could hear words, but couldn't seem to make them out. Trying to lean closer to get a better listen.
"What?" Chara asked in alarm. "From who?" The phone clicked off. "Hello?" She asked. "Hello?" She looked over the phone. "I...they hung up."
Flowey gave a confused look. "Who hung up?"
"I-I dunno, but they said mom's in trouble." Chara replied. "We've gotta go!"
"I didn't hear-" He tried to speak, before they started sprinting. "w-wait Chara, hang on."
She didn't listen, as her sense of alarm had spiked. A smiling person...was it, that skeleton? Sans? She felt like an idiot, for not doing something about that guy.
