Let's Go In The Garden

[achievementhunter]

Who: Chara, Frisk, and you!
What: Two kids enjoy a classic tale, and a small child decides to intrude on everyone’s personal space.
When: November 13-15th
Where: Near the Storyteller’s Temple, and across the Islets
Warnings: Potential CW for self-harm in the third prompt.


You’ll Find Something Waiting -- 13th

[Just because it’s overcast doesn’t mean that today isn’t still warm. The greatest reprieve to the heat at the height of the day is the ocean breeze sweeping up across the beach and through the trees around the Storyteller’s Temple. It makes for a peaceful area to stop for a while- to sit and think, to wander, to nap. Undoubtedly, a few people would take advantage of this, over the course of the day

Those travelling to and from the islets may hear the voice of one such person relatively close to the mana pool. Their words seem almost practised, spoken in a tone that is almost caught up in what they have to say, almost reverent.]

Yuichi and I are climbing a ladder in the jet-black gloom. Together, we peer into the cauldron of hell. We stare into the bubbling red sea of fire, and the air hitting our faces is so hot it makes us reel…

[A curious person might decide to follow the voice. It wouldn’t take long. And in doing so, they’d come across two children, one reclining against a tree with a well-loved book in hand, carefully holding the pages. The child known as Kidwun continues to read aloud, whilst their Partner….

The child known as Kittu seems to have dozed off. Head in their sibling’s lap, they take no notice of anyone approaching.

Chara does. And whilst their eyes flick up from the pages of the book itself, they continue speaking- continue reading a story that, apparently, they don’t really need the book to read aloud, anymore.]

But the place we are in right now is just too dreadful. It is not a place where two people can make a life together.

Although I had been earnestly daydreaming until then, I suddenly started to laugh. “I see two lovers standing over the edge of the cauldron to hell. Are they contemplating a double suicide? This means their love will end in hell.”

I couldn’t stop laughing.



Right There Where You Left It -- 13 to the 15th

There’s a child with a mission, stalking across the island. Knocking on doors and approaching anyone who doesn’t quite belong in this realm. Not keen on talking with them? Tough, really. If anything, it’s those who seem to be going out of their way to step around them that Chara haunts the most, insistently dogging their heels until they give up, and deal with what the child has to say.

This is their time to shine, after all. Their time, to do what they do best.

“Forgive my intrusion, but may I steal a moment of your time? I would like to ask you a few questions.”

Ignore any signs they’re unwelcome in their continued endeavors to be as invasive as possible.

[[OOC: there’s a handy little OOC post for this; if you haven’t checked it out yet, please do, even if you’d like to thread a conversation!]]


Everything Stays, But It Still Changes -- early mornings, 13th to 15th

If the past six weeks have proven anything, it is that Chara has a weakness they can no longer ignore. Guzma has made mention of it. Connor has made mention of it. More than once, this gap of experience has nearly led to their doom… so perhaps it’s time to do something about it.

Sneaking away from their hut in the early morning, Chara chooses a section of beach that’s not too far from the Storyteller’s temple, but not too close. If they make a serious error, a call for help may still prove fortuitous… and hopefully, no one will stumble across them otherwise. For several minutes, Chara stands at the shoreline. Simply staring out at the waves as they lose themself in thought.

Then they make a face, and pull off their shoes. The knife strapped to their hip follows… and four more after it, stowed away in their pack and carefully hidden from view. The last, important piece? A heart-shaped locket, stowed away in their left shoe. Even if someone were to make their way into their pack without Chara noticing, they wouldn’t find that.

Heaven help them if they did.

And that is all the excuses they have to stall, before avoiding what they must do becomes innate procrastination. Expression still sour, the child steps into the waves, deeper and deeper. When the water reaches their chest, they stop, once again looking about carefully, just to ensure that absolutely no one is watching.

Hours later, they don’t really care. Flopping about in the waves, Chara is clearly making- an attempt at….something. Kicking off the ground and flailing their arms and legs, until they inevitably sink below the surface.

So anyway learning to swim unassisted is going Super Well.

Comments

13th

[scourgingstars]

[Overcast days were when Ardyn most openly ventured out before nightfall; that way it was far easier to contend with the annoyance of daylight. He'd left the islets for the sake of the black bird nesting in the back of his scarf--hopefully edible plantlife would still be easy enough to come by, but he expected things to be a little troublesome for a while yet after that flood.]

[The voice did get his attention, and despite his distaste for the temple Ardyn did let curiosity get the better of him as he sought it out, looking over the pair with a faint and empty smile.]

I find that to be where it most often ends, in fact.

[achievementhunter]

[Him. Whilst they aren't particularly pleased in being caught out like this- not by this man- they had been meaning to follow up after... everything, smile fixed

and eyes narrowing considerably the moment his gaze rests on Frisk, however briefly.]

It is simply the way of things. Although, some would say it depends on your definition of love.

[scourgingstars]

Oh?

[He tilted his head at the reactiion, but focused fully on Chara instead as he folded his arms.]

I don't understand what you mean; don't all forms of love inevitably end the same way regardless?

13th

[greatcleavage]

Conveniently, the knock on his door came just as Roy was gearing up to begin work on his own project, so only a moment passes between it and him opening said door to peer out curiously.

"Sure," he said, once the request was made. "In or out? I was headed down to the main island, but I'm hardly on a schedule..."

[achievementhunter]

Ah. This gentleman. They nod their head to him, politely stepping out of his way.

“Whatever is your preference, sir. It won’t take long.”

[greatcleavage]

"I'm in no hurry, and it's a little rude to walk and talk," Roy said, leaning against what passed for the frame of his front door. His mood wasn't the best today, but it was hardly so poor he couldn't put on a friendly face and deal with what was so far a very reasonable request. "What's up?"

13th

[dontkillme]

[He'd only been using the mana pool. He hadn't meant to find them. Hadn't meant to intrude on the life that they'd chosen for themselves.

But... but he hears Chara's voice, and he's overcome with such a painful, overwhelming pang of longing that he can't quite remind himself that he's supposed to stay away. Just... just one little peek. Nobody else is around. It won't get them in trouble.

He ducks behind a tree when he finds them. From a distance, he can see Frisk. They really are here. They look... peaceful. Completely at ease with their head resting in Chara's lap. Chara, too, looks like they've found a moment of quiet. Sharing stories, like... like they used to in the happier times.

It shouldn't hurt. It's horribly selfish that there's a stab of horrible, horrible envy. The picture in front of him is so perfect. Two siblings, two best friends, perfectly happy together. Reciting words that he knows, because he used to be the sibling, the best friend, the one they shared something they loved with, before... ha ha. Well.

It's enough that they're happy.

It's enough.

He whispers to himself, lets himself fill in one tiny blank. Just a bit. Just enough to prove he can tell stories to himself, that he doesn't have to demand it be given to him by anyone else. He doesn't have to take. He doesn't have to intrude.]

...I was certainly no fortune-teller.

[achievementhunter]

[Even if he doesn’t mean for them to, they hear his voice, if not the words. Quiet and small, just like his physical appearance when they look up and catch sight of him. They wonder how it feels for him, to watch someone you love be with a child who isn’t you, and know that you no longer belong there,

Of course, they don’t have to wonder, do they?

Still, they haven’t seen...much of him, since they returned from the caverns. The miserable lump of white fur in the corner of Sans’ cottage that disappeared before they’d really had time to even think of anything to say. When he’d left, Chara couldn’t really find a reason to follow. They had nothing to say, nothing to feel. If he’d yelled and screamed at them during those days, they would have-

Ha ha. They don’t know. Isn’t that terrible? They don’t know what they would have done.

Slowly, they take a hand away from the book, continuing to read as they crook their finger. Rest their palm against the ground beside them. They haven’t seen him in a while. And he’s tiny,

He deserves it.

But he’s tiny.]

I was certainly no fortune-teller.

[dontkillme]

[Is this... a test?

They're the one who made it clear what he was to them now. They made it clear that he'd have his wish, and they'd let go - not of Frisk, but of him. Are they maybe trying to prove how weak his resolve is, always has been? Always backing out of plans at the last second, right? No hard feelings about back then, huh? He knows he's only allowed around when he can make himself useful. When he can be a crutch that can see Chara, alone and bloodstained, out of those caverns. Maybe if he gives in, he only proves to Chara all over again that he's just a needy little leech.

He shakes his head and ducks back behind the tree. They're still reading, he thinks. He - he can't remember all of the next part exactly. Yuichi falls asleep, and she talks about doing dishes or cleaning up or something? He can only really recite the last line with any sort of accuracy:]

I was crying for having been left behind in the night, paralyzed by loneliness.

[He's not going to demand that either of them compromise their happy ending just for him. Chara's right. That's spoiled. That's selfish. That's... that's just proof that he's not the good person he might have tricked people into thinking the prince must have been. He won't interrupt their story, or risk waking Frisk up with his too-loud, too-intrusive voice. But maybe... nobody'll get mad if...

He peeks out from behind the tree again. Doesn't speak, but moves his paw. First, pointing to the two of them. Then, cupping his fingers into a circle. Finally, thumb and pointer up, middle finger out at an angle. Fingerspelling - Chara knows it, surely, because who else taught him the kind of words that a camera with the lens cap on could never record? They'll know that as clumsy and stupid as he is at it, he's asking something:

You OK?]

14th

[the_word_is]

Soon, Maka's actually going to start exploring further. There's a lot of island to discover, and she's qualified for it. But right now, she's poking around on the beach.

And there's Kidwun flailing around in the water.

Maka moves closer, holding her staff at the ready (it's not a scythe, but she can fight with a long stick if she needs to) in case there's an attack. ... or maybe Kidwun is just splashing.

[achievementhunter]

Eventually, they have to stop floundering. Struggling back to their feet as they cough and hack out all the seawater in their lungs. Already, their stomach feels uncomfortably full of disgusting water- lord knows what's been in it.

This really is The Worst thing they have tried to do, and they scowl at nothing in particular...until they catch sight of Maka, and their scowl deepens.

"Can I help you?"

Everything Stays

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet pauses when she sees Chara thrashing in the water, briefly concerned they might be drowning before she sees them come back up. Understanding dawns a few moments later- most monsters who needed to breathe at all learned to swim at some point, for the sake of safety. After all, even those who didn't live in Waterfall would often pass through it on their way to other places, and there was always the risk of falling off a bridge.]

[She stands a little way away on the shore and clears her throat politely to avoid startling them.]

Good morning, dearie.

[achievementhunter]

[She manages to startle them anyway, pulling a flinch from the child before they whirl around, eyes straying to their bag before fixating on Muffet. Nothing's been disturbed...but then, she is a monster.

Stealing probably isn't even in their dictionary.]

Good morning, ma'am.

I'm afraid I am otherwise occupied, if you were looking to discuss something.

but it still changes

[solperierat]

"Hey, hey!"

A tail loops around Chara's chest, hooking under their armpits to tug them up so they can catch a breath with minimal contact, and Ed hovers carefully above them with a concerned and very confused expression.

"You alright, kiddo?"

[achievementhunter]

They're heaved up before they can protest, seizing up and inhaling sharply- only to begin hacking immediately, as their throat fills with saltwater. Wonderful. Amazing. The perfect rescue by one Edward Elric.

Chara can't precisely speak right now, but over the hand covering their mouth, they shoot him a look that makes it's message very clear. Back off.

storytime!!!!

[postictal]

Yet another intrusion upon their privacy. He winces when he draws near, knowing full well that he has no right to, but - he wanted to check on the pair of them. Inseparable as ever, Frisk's head pillowed on Chara's lap, and...

It's like nothing ever went wrong. It's like nothing ever broke, like that awful sound never tore out across the musty cave air as they screamed. It'll be some time before he can look at them, either of them, without seeing that horror all over again.

But that's just business as usual.

He waits for there to be a lull in the recitation before the corner of his mouth twitches, faintly, and he steps fully into view.

"Hey." It's soft - careful not to wake the other child, asleep as they are. "How are they?"

[achievementhunter]

An intrusion it may be, but at the least, it's a welcome one. With Frisk asleep, they have no reason to insist on not pausing, taking a note of the page they're on before letting the book shut.

"They're..." Not okay. But that much is obvious to anyone who knows them well enough- of which both are in the immediate vicinity. Looking down at Frisk's lax position, their brow furrows, lips drawing down. "Tired. They haven't been sleeping."

What they don't say is how they've been out here since it was light enough to see the pages clearly; tucked into their own little corner of the world as Chara read, then reread, Kitchen. Once, twice. This was their third time reading it aloud. Frisk had fallen asleep on the second-last chapter...but it seemed a shame to stop.

"Concerned that they'll forget everything, if they don't pay attention."

storytime!

[catpiper]

[Ren likes a good story as much as any other kid, though the tone of this one is different than books she used to read in the lab and around Tokyo. Though she can't remember how many of them went, she knows the one about bears eating porridge didn't involve a cauldron to hell. The one with the hungry caterpillar didn't either. Or the one about foxes buying mittens.

Probably.

She's not sure what to make the of story being told to the sleepy child in Kidwun's lap, but hearing their voice is a nice. Seeing them with another child, who bears such a resemblance to them it has to be their sibling, elicits a greater feeling of relief. They look okay-both of them. There are no crystals poking out of their skin or distressed expressions that indicate some kind of loss. It's fine. They're fine.

There are two problems now-she wants to listen to the rest of the story and she doesn't want to wake the kid up. There's a big, internal struggle on how to deal with this before she settles on plopping herself on the ground. A few feet away, but she doesn't try to hide her presence. Nor does she try to hide the cat in her arms. He's a good boy though. He'll stay quiet, promise.

So what's up beans? A rude child is here and watching them like it's the latest episode of Sesame Street. Let's hear the rest. There better be some cats in this.]

[achievementhunter]

I was certainly no fortune-teller.

[Sorry Ren; there's no cats in this one, though there is plenty of death. Plenty of philosophical discussions regarding it, as well. It's their favorite (and Frisk's as well) for a reason-- relatable in a way that much the two had been exposed to in their lives never could be. They were both Mikage, cast adrift in a world without their Yuuchi; at the very epicenter of death.

At least Chara spins a good tale, voice unfaltering and just dramatic enough to weave the emotions the book recalled from their own experiences. A little too caught up, just yet, to catch sight of their silent guest.]

Yuichi was fast asleep on the sofa. From the smile on his face, he seemed pleased to have fallen asleep before me. He didn't bat an eyelash when I pulled a quilt over him.

I washed the enormous pile of dishes as quietly as possible, and I cried and cried. Of course it wasn't over having to do all those dishes; I was crying for having been left behind in the night, paralyzed by loneliness.

[There's a lull; a three line gap which marks the shift to a new chapter, which is precisely the lull Chara uses to look up. Whilst... surprised, they take their time in looking her over, as well.

No crystals. Maybe Lup found her, before it was too late.]

Greetings.

Everything Stays - 15th

[yallstupid]

[Honestly, it's probably well after the time Chara first starting their poor attempts at swimming that they'll be hauled out of the water by a rather familiar grip. Guzma's far larger than the young child, so chest deep on them is perhaps waist deep or less on a giant such as himself. He holds the youngster by the scruff of their wet sweater, like a gangly prize on a claw machine, and scowls at their sopping wet figure as he drags both their soaking wet behinds out of the sea.

Lord, a swim was not the first thing he wanted to do this morning, thank you. At the very least he has the foresight to fling off his outer layer of clothing - hoodie, sunglasses, socks, and sneakers - into the sand before racing into the cool water. He's tempted to fling them onto the sand like a wet rag, but he resists the urge last second.]

Kid...y'all gonna make me wish that rabbit superglue a pool noodle to your backside real quick. [OR SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS.]

cw: implications of abuse

[achievementhunter]

[Familiar or not does not mean they take it well. For several moments, the only thing Guzma is carrying is a dead weight. A heavy hand on the back of their collar, wrenching them down the hall, and it was only a matter of time before they hit the wall, the floor- the ceiling, perhaps, in their mind's more wilder moments, it had always seemed possible-

When he stops, Guzma may feel a sharp press against his stomach. That would be the knife.]

I would highly recommend removing your hands from my person, mister Guzma.

[Funny, right? That blade is almost as sharp as their smile.]

The 15th! Closed to Drifter and Ignis

[achievementhunter]

[Their exploration of other's abilities had been illuminating, to say the least. With understanding other's gifts came understanding their shortfalls- even those that could potentially cost significant time with communication.

Luckily, Chara isn't the only creative person on the island. It only takes meeting one person with the same concerns, and thus, they had joined together with the Drifter to overcome an understandable issue-

Their ability to communicate with Ignis.

Good thing they have a solution to that (with a grudging amount of assistance from one overpowered rabbit). With said solution in hand, the two scout the island for their person of interest- time to see if this works, after all.

Where you at, Iggy?]

[hyperlit]

[Kidwun will have to be the one to call out on Ignis's behalf - they have learned from experience that he will not know the presence of someone so silent without additional assistance from a third party. Fortunately, the child had formulated a rather ingenious solution.]

[Like Ren, it seems they've a talent for unique solutions to problems.]

[Eventually the Drifter sights the man's distinctive silhouette and points, though that would be the extent of their intervention, to start with. It is a good thing that Kidwun is far more talkative than they in nearly every regard; they will fill the considerable gaps in the Drifter's own communicative means.]

right there where you left it

[tomodachi]

[... So funny story, this isn't actually Crow's residence. This is someone else's place and look, they left a means to get in open and Crow wanted to explore and look at people's stuff.

But he sure opens the door like as if it is his place when he hears the knock and investigates.]

Oh, you're... Kidwun, right? [He's pretty sure that's the name he got told when they met.] What'dya want?

[achievementhunter]

[They happen to be very aware that this is not Crow's residence. In a community as small as this, it's not difficult to pick up the general comings and goings of your neighbors, enough to understand where their placement is entirely off.

He gains a raised brow- but it's not their house, so they don't comment.]

And you are C-R-O-W, correct? [They aren't about to forget that introduction.] I am looking to ask a few questions, if you have the time.