fulllifeconsequences

Just... well. During the event... some things that he has done came to light.

As I understand it, he treated Frisk- and by extension, you, very poorly. Even when you had done nothing wrong, he threatened you and made you feel unsafe.

[To say the least. But, saying more than that... she doesn't want to discuss Chara's dying. It's just, too uncomfortable. And she definitely doesn't want to get into the topic of 'I don't actually know whether or not he was justified in murdering you'.]

I simply... wanted to ensure that you are spending time with him of your own free will. And to ensure you know that you do not have to see him at all if you do not want to.

[Oh? Oh. Uh. ...Oh.]

Lots of people did that.

[That's just how adults are. Promising to give you things and swearing they're rooting for you to get your guard down. Never actually coming through for you when you need safety and protection. Bringing down judgment and mockery for every mistake, every broken rule, every bit of misbehaviour. Watching, always watching, and taking whatever part of you they feel entitled to dig into.

That's just... adults.

They can resent it all they want, but... can they really look in the eye of someone who knows best and say all those things that make adults adults are wrong? They scratch the back of their neck, look away.]

He said that he'd change, Mom. He said he'll be different this time. Part of being good - part of being better - means that... that you have to give people the chance to be different, right?

And I would not blame you for an instant if you did not want to spend time with any of them. Just because many people did something does not mean that it is okay that they did so, or that you have to tolerate it.

[Sometimes, you just need to cut people out of your life. Lots of people. Almost an entire kingdom of people, because you're disgusted by all of them and their decisions and just want to go grieve in peace.]

Yes... but I do not think that you should have to do so at the risk of your own safety or peace of mind.

If you are completely certain that you enjoy being around him, and that he does not make you even a little uncomfortable, then there is no problem. Certainly, nothing I learned that he did is new to you.

I simply wanted to be sure.

Ma'am - Mom... I am not entirely sure there is any adult out there who does not make me even a little uncomfortable.

[There's no adult out there who doesn't have the power to do the exact same to them. Shepard could easily be doing it, too. Playing all agreeable and nice until she knows she's got Chara's guard down. Waiting to punish them when she knows they'll really learn from it. Toriel could do it. The moment a child disobeys, won't go to their room, they get a fistful of hurled flame. They get told to leave and never come back. They say a human with a hopeful light in their eyes reminds them of someone, but they also only want to see their wife and son.]

I don't... know if I like him or not. I'm very rarely certain whether I can truly, selflessly care about people, or if I have simply grown so good at manipulation that I've even fooled myself into thinking I'm not just being parasitic. I cannot understand my own feelings at all.

[Maybe they don't have enough SOUL left to really care about people. Maybe at LV8, all they can do is hate or feel apathetic, and nothing else.]

But I think I have to see if he can prove me wrong. I think I have to see if... if people can change, if they only try, or if that's... if it's just what we all grow up to be.

At what point, after all, does someone stop deserving second chances?

[Toriel... doesn't say anything to that. There's nothing she could say, so she just looks down at the ground for a few moments. She knows she's included in it. 'Sorry' doesn't even come close to making up for what she did, and she doesn't want to make Chara have to comfort her, so. She's just going to move on.]

If it helps any, I am certain of it, my child. I have seen how much you care for others.

Things like that are not the kinds of things that someone says, when they are not a caring person with hope for others.

[Really, they may be more forgiving than she is. Certainly, she can think of one or two people who are beyond second chances for her. But... she'd rather not get into that. Doesn't want to talk about it, and doesn't want to ruin what Chara's saying with pointless cynicism.]

Just... please be careful, and let me know if you change your mind.

* IC Inbox

action

action

action

action

action