deercountry | IN THE GREAT SHIPWRECK OF LIFE (WE ALL FALL DOWN)

Well, I've been looking into it. Knowing things was part of my role last time, so I see no reason to slack off this time around either.

[They smile, it's not a pleasant smile. It's tinged with bitterness and rage. But it's not pointed at Frisk.]

It was created from the fractured mind of a dying little girl, who was born as part of an experiment of a dead woman, to see what happens when you mix Pthumerian blood and Human blood. The dream that everyone was trapped in? Hers.

The woman in there? The woman that preaches forgiveness and mercy while wearing the false colors of a god? She was that dead woman's right hand. She wanted to control that child, to mold her into the perfect puppet with absolutely no regard for her wants or needs beyond the legacy that had been forced on her. She even desired to take revenge against her... or in her name or... something. She talks a big game about understanding grief and guilt but that's only because everything that happened is her fault. Her and her queen, and the other demons that have taken the form of these lovecraftian gods after they squeezed every last inch of suffering from a dying child, all to suit their own ends.

What do you think they deserve? Godhood? The power to toy with the ruins of the world that remains for all eternity?

Because I think they all deserve to d̷̨̞̖̗̺̞̫̠̺̩̩̩͎̐͐͋̇͛̂́̇̀͌̅̋́̇͜͝ͅi̷͕̩̪̹̺̪̽̈́̾̇̈́̃ę̶̨̛̬̣̤͇͚̱͚̞͖͙̲͖̟̌͐̾͊́̂̇͋̓̊̈́͠͝͝. Starting with that pretender in there. [They jerk a thumb back at the church that forced the confession from their throat. Julia Sodder is a stranger to them. But they know what it's like to be used as a prop for people with no regard for who you are or what you want, they know what it's like to know you're a monster and see everything else around you confirming it at every opportunity.

Their other self is a stranger too, but they are starting to understand their grudge.]

( Frisk listens, taking in each of Chara's words - their expression growing more and more grim as Chara continues. To say that it was cruel would be understating things drastically. Once again, they feel like they're hearing a story about the extent of what humans are capable of. Humans were capable of good -- they've seen it here, but they also know that they're capable of horrible things.

After all, they've caused their own share of pain to others. )

No. ( It's an answer that comes easily. ) .... They should be the ones seeking forgiveness from the person they hurt instead of hurting others until they do it instead.

( Frisk can forgive people for hurting them, but they aren't so sure about forgiving people who bring harm to others like she is. They don't know if they can forgive them for hurting Chara, or anyone else who had gone through what they had.

But, they know now -- just like before, when Flowey took control of the power of DETERMINATION and promised to kill them over and over again: )

We're the ones being toyed with now.

Edited 2022-02-27 07:37 (UTC)

[Chara smiles, a touch of their sinister nature bleeding into it. They don't feel like informing Frisk that they were always being toyed with.

But it is true that Chara and Frisk were in their own way toying with the world from their own limited position akin to godhood from their own perspective, and from the perspective of those that could observe the timeline. Chara looks at the sky.]

Then I trust we're of a similar mind about changing that?

I'm more than eager to start with her.

( No, it isn't the same. Perhaps Chara can feel how Frisk withdraws a little at their question. The way Chara seems to want to handle things... It's worrying, but unfortunately not surprising at this point. Frisk worries their bottom lip for a moment before speaking. )

I don't want to hurt her. There has to be another way for both of us to try to stop her.

[In turn, Frisk can probably feel Chara's disappointment at their answer. They let out a sigh.]

Then it's a good thing you're not the only one calling the shots anymore, isn't it? [There's a trace of bite, resentful and cruel to that statement.]

I'm going to kill her. Failing that, I'm going to subject her to every bit of torture she put Julia Sodder through, and everyone else she trapped in her cage. You can help or you can stay out of my way, but I'm not offering mercy to another pretender.

There's another way. ( Frisk says the words immediately. Never mind the disappointment that they feel. ) Not just for her. For you, too.

( They can't just stand by and do nothing after Chara's ben so vocal about their plans. They've already taken that path before once - they themselves can't do it again. Nor do they want Chara to continue to follow that path. )

You mean for you? So you can feel better about saving me from myself? Alleviate the guilt that you feel over decisions that I made?

[They scowl.] Don't pretend your desire to show mercy has anything to do with me. It doesn't.

[They recall another argument, so long ago now. Chronologically it'd be... centuries ago now. For the three that lived in loops, it'd be a fair bit more.

* This isn't like the Underground, you idiot! In this world, it's kill or be killed!

The words probably carry over faintly to Frisk, in the same way that Asgore's parting words do.]

I'm not Asriel. You can't fix me with a hug.

Stop it. ( Frisk can hear the quiet words - they're just as haunting as when they'd hear Asgore's upon death. The words that Chara's saying now - they're harsh and cold. )

This isn't about me. ( Frisk's focus has been solely on Chara the moment they saw them crying. )

I'm not trying to fix you. I just want to help. This world doesn't have to be kill or be killed.

Edited 2022-02-28 18:28 (UTC)

Bullshit. In what way does it help me for you to try to control what I can and can't do to those who hurt me?

[There's hurt in their words, beyond all the anger. Because this conversation shows that Frisk doesn't trust Chara. That they don't see Chara as an equal capable of making their own choices.]

You don't know anything about this world. Or about what I want, apparently.

I never asked to be in control before, and I don't want to be in control now. But, why can't there be another way?

( They never asked to awaken Chara from death, and they never wanted to be in control of anyone. But, they can't just do nothing and let Chara hurt someone and potentially themselves in the process. )

There's been enough people who have been hurt.

[Speaking of tears, the tears are back and Chara's voice cracks.]

Because I don't want her to receive mercy. There's nothing anyone can do for Julia Sodder anymore, is there? So why the hell should the ones responsible for that be given a second chance? Why do the victims get to die and the perpetrators get a consoling hug even as they try to cut off the hand that feeds it?

I understand your way of thinking, but it's not mine! And it's not your right or responsibility to tell me how to feel!

( They can feel the hurt and pain that Chara says, and Frisk feels themselves open their mouth to speak, only to close it again. As if everything didn't feel overwhelming as it was, it only feels moreso thanks to the hurt that Chara feels now.

The conversation feels like it's spiraled into something Frisk never intended. Their own tears begin to fall, and they sniffle before hurriedly using the sleeve of their shirt to wipe them away.

That isn't what they're saying at all. It was initially an idea, a gentle suggestion. )

... Hurting others stops hurting after a while, but everything feels lonely and empty. ( And oh-so-pointless. ) I just don't want you to hurt - I want to protect you like you've protected me.

But, I know that they need to be stopped.

[There's a twinge of guilt in their expression. They know, in their mind, that Frisk's intentions weren't cruel or controlling. It hurts, being treated like they're irrational or unreasonable for wanting revenge, but they know Frisk just wants to help. And Chara doesn't want to fight them.

They wipe their eyes and put a hand on Frisk's shoulder.]

...I know. I don't want you to gain LOVE. It's painful, like sticking ice against your skin.

But I'm already there, Frisk. I don't know if I could even raise it anymore, but I'm not... trying to. [Not... actively anyway.] It would take an act of cruelty I don't know if I'm even capable of to raise it further.

Killing her won't change me. I promise.

[They were already rotten from the start. So how could it?]

Edited 2022-03-01 02:51 (UTC)

( They don't agree with killing her, but arguing with Chara is hitting a sore spot for them - no matter what good intentions Frisk has. Frisk might be determined, but Chara has stubbornness on their side. At the least, it's a conversation worth bringing up once Chara's had more time to take everything in.

True, this person sounds far more cruel than anyone Frisk has met thus far. She can't keep getting away with what she's been doing and what she has done, but... Frisk can't help but wonder if there's another way.

The touch is comforting, and they wipe away the last of their tears - listening closely to Chara's words. )

... Okay.

( They want to believe that... Chara will continue to stay as they are now. What would be a friendship without that much trust in their words? )

I-- don't want to gain LOVE again either. It could hurt both of us again. It could change the both of us.

There's also corruption to consider. You don't necessarily have to kill to become corrupted in this place.

[They say, pretty bogged down by corruption themselves.

They don't know if they care about what Mother Mercy's plans for this world are. They don't know if they care about this world at all, beyond Frisk. And maybe a few of their "friends."]

We can come up with a plan for that later. For now... there's still the leviathan to deal with. Let's go home.

( Home... Home sounded good. The idea of it is enough to make them feel like a weight's been removed. Home felt safe.

They reach out then, offering a hand for Chara to take. )

... Yeah. Let's go home.

Edited 2022-03-04 02:03 (UTC)

IN THE GREAT SHIPWRECK OF LIFE (WE ALL FALL DOWN) | Open

cw for harm to children, child death

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