Frisk (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gainedlove) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
victory_road2016-09-21 04:25 pm
gainedlove) wrote in victory_road2016-09-21 04:25 pm
You remind me of my child
Who: Frisk, Asriel, and Asgore
Where: Ilex Forest
When: September 21
Summary: Dreemurr family reunions tend to be rather awkward.
Rating: PG
Log:
Frisk is not nervous. They have to tell themself that every morning when they get up, in-between their daily calls to everyone they know, and the carefully omitted truths to just about everyone about very many things. It's exhausting, and though it's all mental it's enough to slow their pace, just enough that they know Asgore is catching up.
They don't think Asriel has any idea. Or if he does, he's steadfastly ignoring the fact just the same way that Frisk is.
It's mid-morning, and the troop of two questionably-human children and a small herd of mis-matched Pokemon have started their hike for the day through the woods. The paths are winding, and double back more than a few times, but both Frisk and Asriel are more than used to layouts like this. And Frisk has even been through here before--it shouldn't take long, and then they'll be one route away from Goldenrod.
They're laughing and talking excitedly about all the things they'll be able to do in a big city like that (wait 'til he sees all the huge buildings!!) when Frisk hears the sound of someone else on the path a ways behind them...someone very large, from the weight of those footsteps. They pause and turn around, frowning a little.
"...did you hear that?"
Where: Ilex Forest
When: September 21
Summary: Dreemurr family reunions tend to be rather awkward.
Rating: PG
Log:
Frisk is not nervous. They have to tell themself that every morning when they get up, in-between their daily calls to everyone they know, and the carefully omitted truths to just about everyone about very many things. It's exhausting, and though it's all mental it's enough to slow their pace, just enough that they know Asgore is catching up.
They don't think Asriel has any idea. Or if he does, he's steadfastly ignoring the fact just the same way that Frisk is.
It's mid-morning, and the troop of two questionably-human children and a small herd of mis-matched Pokemon have started their hike for the day through the woods. The paths are winding, and double back more than a few times, but both Frisk and Asriel are more than used to layouts like this. And Frisk has even been through here before--it shouldn't take long, and then they'll be one route away from Goldenrod.
They're laughing and talking excitedly about all the things they'll be able to do in a big city like that (wait 'til he sees all the huge buildings!!) when Frisk hears the sound of someone else on the path a ways behind them...someone very large, from the weight of those footsteps. They pause and turn around, frowning a little.
"...did you hear that?"
oh boy here we go
That isn't because Asriel is foolish - he knows his Dad was trekking through Union Cave, the last they spoke. He knows where that is now, and it's behind them - behind Azalea Town and its funny Slowpokes, and behind all of the forest they'd gotten through so far. He just doesn't think that Asgore could have caught up with them so quickly. The wonders they keep encountering has him distracted with laughter and happiness, and the prospect of a huge city that's yet to be seen fills him with such excitement, it's hard to think the way things are could change. If he knew Frisk was hurting, that they were exhausted from keeping up lies for him, he'd dwell on the idea of possibly meeting with his father a little more, but as of now...
...As of now, the familiar, heavy weight of those approaching footsteps makes Asriel freeze. He remembers listening for those same steps many, many times. He remembers all the terrible things he's done once they stopped.
Gracie, nestled in his hair as she always is, begins to chirp and trill nervously. What's wrong? What happened??]
...Y...Yeah...[His breath hitches, just a little.] F-Frisk, are we...is someone...
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His children. It's a phrase he never thought he'd be able to utter again - it's twice over more than he deserves. He's done little to warrant Frisk's forgiveness, but he knows by now that they will offer it no matter what. They had no reason to expect any better of him; they have always taken him for what he is. Asriel...
...he has always known what Asriel would have wanted. It's only selfish to fear facing judgement for what he's done.
He tries to keep that in mind, and his thoughts are enough to distract him from the sounds of children up ahead. Maybe, somewhere in the back of his mind, he's not ready to hear them. But that only makes it more of a surprise when he turns a corner to see them down the path - Frisk, and Asriel, a human child now. Just like any of the other human children he's met. Asgore freezes. He's got a Magikarp in his arms, and he unconsciously holds her tighter as he opens his mouth, struggling to find words. Part of him wonders if it wouldn't be better that they go on without seeing him.]
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'S okay. Other trainers're comin' by all th' time, you don't gotta--
[And then they turn.]
[It's impossible to miss Asgore, with how large the man is. Again Frisk is struck by the incongruity of a flat face and lack of curling horns, but it's quickly replaced by a wave of panic. He's here already? They haven't had time to get ready, to talk to Asriel about what to do or say, to help him be ready to face this--they freeze and go stiff, eyes normally heavily lidded going wide as they try to think past the circling thoughts in their head.]
1/2
[It sounds like his Dad walking through the flowers in his throne room, listening at the door with Toriel to make sure he and Chara are sleeping, bright-eyed and awake in the morning as he bustles around to make tea. Asriel squeezes Frisk's hand back, trying to take their words to heart to calm his nerves, but it's hard. He's not ready for this. He and Frisk, they haven't talked about it much since Flappy accidentally broadcasted him over the network (and there really is a LOT to discuss), so just the idea of being shoved into a situation with his father, even accidentally, is terrifying.
Unfortunately, accidents never take your own terror into account.
Asriel turns with Frisk, and the moment he catches a glimpse of his father (no fur, no horns, no snout, but the stature and clothes and beard and expression are unmistakable) a strong shiver radiates from the core of his being. His breath catches in his throat. He feels absolutely chilled, and his expression is wide-eyed, pale, and guilty - guilty for lying about who he was here and at home, guilty for every single reset and every ounce of pain he put Asgore through because of his death, guilty for Chara. All of this rises up in his mind, drowning out the soothing sounds of the forest, until he absolutely cannot take it anymore.]
I...I can't...
[His voice is thin, weak, but unmistakably Asriel. Tears sting the corners of his eyes.]
2/2 (he's totally getting chased out of here after you guys respond)
[Gracie shrieks in fear when Asriel pulls away from Frisk, and she clings to his hair for dear life as he does the only thing he can think to do - run away, and run away now. He doesn't get very far before he half trips, half dives into a cluster of nearby bushes, as if the greenery will make Asgore forget he saw him. It's clear he's trying to stay quiet, but Gracie's shouts of "Beh! Flabebe!" are clearly audible, and he's not attempting to shush her.
...Asriel. Honey. No.]
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Asgore is not quick to react. He ought to be used to seeing children flee from him, but he's not. Especially when it's his own son. He brings his hands in closer to his chest, until Splash makes a frustrated gurgle and flaps free of his grip to land on the grass.
Instinct draws his gaze to Frisk, and it's that which snaps him out of it. He should not be looking to them; for all that they have done for monsterkind, they are only a child. They cannot solve all problems, nor should they. Gathering his cape around him, he steps carefully around Splash (who is flopping slowly but steadily after the child herself) towards the underbrush where Asriel has attempted to disappear. Not all the way there, but closer. The last thing he wants is to frighten him further.
(He has to wonder what Asriel knows that's frightened him so badly to begin with.)
His voice manages to hold steady when he speaks, but it's a near thing.]
...Asriel?
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[They can't do this without advice, without guidance. Without--]
[Asgore steps forward, and his attention shifts. It's strange how it can be both shame and relief to not be needed. They turn to Asriel in the bushes as well, stepping forward and reaching out with one hand. They want to say something, but the phantom vines around their throat won't move.]
1/2
It's only Gracie's increasingly frantic cries that get him to open his eyes - and find himself face-to-face with a very disgruntled Stunky.]
Ah-
[It's growling at him. It's growling. Oh, oh no, did he barge in on its home? Did he hit it on accident? He can't remember, he really can't remember and its hackles are raised. Asriel jerks backwards, and the Stunky pounces forward, and he has to push off and scramble to avoid it-]
2/2
[...But now he's fallen right out of the bushes in front of Frisk and Asgore, and he can't find it in him to move or hide or anything. Satisfied, the Stunky sniffs and saunters off.]
...
[Oh gosh oh no what does he do now he's just laying there like an idiot. Chara would be laughing at him so hard right now. He's going to be in huge trouble. All of the trouble. He shouldn't have run. He should say something!
Fortunately for him, Gracie is more than happy to float up towards Asgore and Frisk with a relieved smile.]
Beh, flabebe!
[Please stop making him run around like this, he needs to calm down, she says.]
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[And then Asgore's on his knees, half-reaching forward as if he isn't quite sure whether he should. His hand looks strange all over again, blunt soft fingers and naked skin.] Are you alright?
[(Meanwhile, Splash gives a mighty flap of her tail and flops into the bush. She's gonna get that Stunky!)]
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[* That's just a fantasy, isn't it?]
[...no. They need to do this. It's...it's their job, to fix things and make it right. Swallowing and gathering their resolve once again, Frisk steps over and sits down beside Asriel. They reach for his hands to help him back up, offering a sympathetic, kind look. He doesn't have to run, it's okay.]
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He can't hide anymore. He can't run anymore. And, at the same time, he doesn't want to run anymore.
Slowly, slowly, Asriel pushes himself up in a sitting position, head bowed, eyes brimming with frightened tears. He takes Frisk's hand first, holding it tight (not tight enough to hurt, but enough to almost ask, with the gesture, to borrow a bit of their strength. They've always been so strong, Asriel thinks, and he can't help but admire them for it). With his Dad, he's...a bit more hesitant, not because of how strange their hands are (no paws, no claws, no fur), but because he felt guilty. After all he'd done, known and secret, and what he'd just tried to do, did he really deserve to hold his father's hand again? He...didn't seem angry, either, and he had every right to be.]
I...I'm...[He takes a breath. God, he's shaking through and through, like a leaf in the wind, and his voice is weak and small as his other hand reaches out to Asgore.] I'm so...rry...
[They're the only words he can bring himself to say as he reaches towards Asgore, not quite able to take his hand. He. He wants you both - he wants the comfort of the innocent past and the security of the solemn present. He's just scared.]
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Asgore allows his fingers to curl back against his palm as Asriel reaches for Frisk, but he doesn't entirely withdraw. How long have the two of them been here together? They seem quite close. But then, Frisk makes friends with everyone easily, and Asriel took - takes - so quickly to humans...he's thought before that the two of them would have been well-suited.
When Asriel finally reaches back to him, Asgore takes his small hand in his own without hesitation. He has had his hesitations already; for all that he does not deserve this (and he does not), he cannot deny his child asking for him. His voice is already thick with tears when he speaks.]
Oh, Asriel. You have nothing to apologize for.
[And, as far as Asgore knows, he really doesn't.]
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[Their gaze turns to Asgore then, filled with concern for the old king. They know, to an extent, what must be going through his head, the blame he holds close to his chest for his children, and all those that came after. Frisk reaches out and puts one hand on his arm, and smiles for him as well.]
[They don't say anything, just yet. It's not their place.]
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N-No, 'm sorry for, f-for...I lied, I wanted to make sure you were okay b-but I was scared you'd be upset i-if you knew it was m-me, and...and...I pretended to be B-Bob the Temmie and I'm sorry...
[Well. That's not all he sorry about, but this is a start.]
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Perhaps it was thoughtless of him to come so quickly.
He musters up a small smile for Frisk, but it's clear his heart isn't terribly in it, and he turns his attention back to Asriel's tears. Should he...yes, he carefully places his free hand on Asriel's back.]
It is alright. I understand.
[How does Asriel know who Bob the Temmie is anyhow?]no subject
[They know that, but it still feels like they've failed.]
[Turning again to Asriel, they let their thumb rub over the back of his hand--had they arms large enough, they would have already pulled both Dreemurrs into a tight hug.]
I told you he wouldn't be mad...
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Can it really be so simple? Asriel's tears don't stop coming, and he knows that his eyes will be sore later, his new human face blotchy and red for some time, but he can't help it. There's a lot that he feels needs to be talked about, and a lot that can't be talked about, but for now, this is a start, and he'd been so afraid ever since he saw Asgore on the network that now it's left him in a rush, and he's - giddy? Exhausted? Relieved? One of those, or all three.
It's hard, but Asriel attempts a smile for Frisk, for his Dad.] 'M...still sorry...really sorry...
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[There's much more he ought to apologize for. But here, on the forest floor with Asriel already in tears, with Frisk right here, is not the time to explain any of it. He feels a coward all over again for not saying it aloud, but...is it any better to rush mindlessly forward?]