fulllifeconsequences

Please, do not apologize. Whatever happened, it is not your fault.

...That is something that I think you both have in common, really. Sometimes bad things happen, and it is not anyone's fault.

[It might be Toriel's fault. But that's beside the point.]

You do not need to blame yourselves.

[But they're so good at it, aren't they?

Ha...yeah. They are awfully good at it. They can blame themself so easily. Someone to thrust those consequences upon, because the lack of someone to blame means there's never any outlet, no channel through which their desire for justice can be funneled.]

If one of us goes, the other has to. That's...how it is with us.

[Just like old times, ha ha. But more important is the way things have the possibility to go.]

Just...don't blame yourself either. Okay?

Edited 2016-12-12 05:31 (UTC)

...What... do you mean by that, Frisk?

['If one of them goes, the other has to.' That's... Toriel's not sure she wants to hear the answer. She already doesn't like the implications.

Things are even worse than she'd thought. Aren't they.]

You remember how it was in the library.

[An oblique reference, but they know the must remember. She must, because they remember it very well. It was the moment when things began to turn to something a little better, if only nominally.]

That...never really went away.

...Something happened to you as well. And Chara...

[Of course it never went away. Toriel knew that. Those feelings were still there. They don't disappear so easily. But... she didn't know that it applied here, in this situation.

Chara had lied to her about what happened to them.

It wasn't just a tragic accident.

They needed someone to be there for them, and Toriel had been doing absolutely nothing.

All her fault.

Toriel should probably finish her sentence. But she doesn't really seem to be quite there anymore- eyes unfocused and pointing at the ground, but not looking anywhere near the floor.]

[Frisk doesn't finish it for her. They shouldn't have told her, maybe - but they didn't lay down a SAVE to fall back on. And either way, they don't have the right to take it away from her.

If she wasn't blaming herself before...

Hah.

Guess Frisk really did fit right in before everything went wrong.]

I guess they saw what happened. It was an accident, when I...

[Why are you still talking, Frisk? Shut up, Frisk. You're making everything worse. Their voice shrinks as they lose momentum, and their eyes hood again.]

You...you couldn't have known.

[...Did Frisk say something? Toriel thinks she heard them say something.

It takes a few moments for the words to register in her mind though, to pierce the din of thoughts swirling through her mind, about how this keeps happening, children she tries to watch out for only ever suffer, Frisk and Chara's most recent deaths are just two more to add to the pile, why is it always them, why are they the ones that always have to pay for her mistakes, why does she deserve to still be here, just fine, why-

Stop. Respond to them.]

...Please, do not worry about it. I will be fine.

[Don't need them worrying, or upset. She made them happy for a moment, why does she have to go and ruin that? She already gave them pie, though. Maybe they'd appreciate a hug?

Normally, there's that lingering fear and worry, remembering what happened right before she arrived here when she gets too close to them- and it's still there. But for some reason, it doesn't seem to be a deterrent at all right now, as she takes a knee, reaching out slowly to give them a gentle embrace.]

Edited 2016-12-12 06:36 (UTC)

[They open their mouth to refute the words, because she's not fine, she's not fine at all, but then they -

They have her arms around them. It's something - it's different, it's different, it's so different and they've never felt it like this, not in so long and their heart thuds sickeningly in their chest because it doesn't matter if she's hesitant, if they can tell how she's still not sure what to make of them, how she must be so afraid at the moment, but they set the plate down - gently, set it down - and then, slowly, tremblingly, they -

They hug her back. They're afraid, and she's afraid, and nothing about any of this is okay. But they...they feel safe.

She has them.

She's got them.

There's a new tingle gathering in the corners of their eyes. When they finally speak, it's halting, and the short intake of breath is like a knife to their esophagus, but the words are shaking, agonizing, aching with the sense of longing that has, just for a moment - abated.]

...thank you.

[There. That's better.

Just as she thought, either result works out just fine. Though, this one is admittedly much better than the alternative.

Frisk will be able to leave on a good note! Then she can give Chara their pie, and explain that she's going to go read in the library for a bit- because she is in absolutely no mood to talk about any of this just yet.

She just. Needs a bit of time.]

It is no problem.

[She holds them a bit longer, before letting go- picking her plate back up and standing.]

Please, enjoy the pie. And try not to worry too much about Chara. I am sure that they will come around.

[She's not just...okay again, is she? Ha ha. No. It never works out like that. You don't just progress from a realization like that and then into suddenly being all right.

She retreats, as she inevitably must, and Frisk has to duck their head briefly, bring a sleeve up to the corner of their eyes.

They look back up at her, and they smile, sadly.]

I hope so.

And...[They almost tack it on to the end, "Mom," but they catch themself. Don't. Don't you dare.] ...take care of yourself. Please.

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