determinedest | ic inbox

Yeah. Something like that. Like my brain hiccuped.

Can you stop it? Like use determination to make it not happen?

[Or recognize it happening and change your own plans?]

Yeah, that's it. They set you back. It was easier to keep track before there were two of us.

Honestly, I don't know. I've only managed to SAVE over them once. I don't know how it works in other worlds. If you can keep track of when that feeling happens, maybe then you'll have a better chance?

And don't mention this to Chara. If they know you know about it, they might try to set you back, or worse.

Believe me, I'm not telling them anything.

[Especially since them not knowing he knows could come in really handy.]

So what are they? It's pretty clear they're not your twin.

...I don't know.

[Maybe at one point they did, or might have, but it's hard to say now.]

They were human once, I think? Now they call themselves a demon, but I don't know if that's true either. They came to the Underground before I did. They were dead by the time I fell.

I've met demons. They weren't like that.

Are they still dead, then?

I don't think so. Determination can help someone persist after death.

But I don't know what they are now. We used to kind of share a certain insight.

[Along with...certain bodies.]

Like a ghost.

Would you help us? I don't want to hurt them but I really don't want them to hurt Max. But I can't do anything if they'll just undo anything I do.

[They waver for a long time, uncertain. But ultimately, there's really only one choice here, isn't there?

*Will you help?

-No. >Yes.]

I'll help. I don't want to hurt them either, but I don't want to see anyone else go the same way.

I don't think they can set things back if I'm there.

[That little hypothesis is...untested. Maybe it's time to test it.]

Cool, thanks.

Hey, maybe we'll be lucky and they won't do anything.

[Dipper just... isn't going to count on it.]

Maybe.

[If ever a complete lack of conviction could be conveyed purely over text.]

[After Frisk leaves their gift, it's unfortunate that, as the day goes on, no sign of Flowey will appear. Nor will he the next day, or the day after that.

Without much but a windowsill to call his own, the only real indication that the flower has gone back to the Underground will be the next time someone attempts to look up his number. It's not going to be there.

But.

Perhaps, at some point whilst cleaning their room, Frisk will find a small package addressed to them. Clearly, it was intended to be given to them long before...perhaps after a particular talk on time and just what it meant to be them. The book might just be something to think about.

The quote written on the inside of the front cover in sharp, pointed writing certainly is.]

Give up defining yourself - to yourself or to others. You won't die. You will come to life. And don't be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it's their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don't be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.

FRISK. Is the skeleton pranking us across time and space?!

[Followed by a bottle of ketchup being rudely hurled out the window and smashing against the ground below. It is a mess. No one is happy with this. There are like a dozen of these in the room.

They are probably going to be thrown also.]

No! That was my fault!

[They'd been thinking of donating those ketchup bottles to the kitchen.

Welp, looks like Chara found another use for them.]

...You're so weird, Frisk!

[A pause while they withdraw from the window, grab another bottle, hold it out the window.]

I'm using them, okay?! It's for a good cause. Real important.

[They say, and spike it into the fuckign ground]

[Frisk shields their face with their arms, which luckily keeps them from getting a faceful of glass shards from shattered ketchup bottles, but unluckily does not protect them from getting splashed with ketchup.

They are going to smell like ketchup for like a whole day now. Thanks Chara.]

How about instead we just donate them to the kitchen?!

[Chara laughs so hard they're just draped limply over the windowsill. Really making great progress on this "not being an unsympathetic shitlord 24/7" thing. Absolute leaps and bounds.

But hey, maybe Sans will be nicer to them now! They both have the gross lingering aroma of condiments!]

Donate?! Frisk, the kitchens just give you whatever food you want. What's the point?!

[Hauling themselves out of the window again, returning with a bottle again, throwing it again.

...It's just a cheap plastic bottle of Heinz. It sort of whumps sadly against the ground, and that's it. Aww.]

This is much more useful!

The point is that we don't - don't end up covering Wonderland in ketchup!

[At least it's semi-harmless. Well, aside from the potential for people to step in glass or slip on ketchup.]

I'll give them all to Sans or something, okay?!

[Give them all to Sans, Frisk says.

Chara vanishes from the window yet again.

Returns with ALL THE BOTTLES in their arms.

They're gonna do it. They're gonna drop the ketchup nuke.]

Chara...

[They draw their name out slowly, heavy with warning.]

Chara...no.

Chara yes.

[And they lean forward, ready to drop the payload, but... realization flashes in their eyes. Their smile fades in the face of divine inspiration. They stop, clearly and definitely moved by Frisk's warning, ready to Make Some Good Choices for once.

Ha ha, just kidding. They vanish from the window again, and serenity and peace reign for the... few minutes or so that it takes to sprint down to the ground floor and out the door, skidding to a halt with arms laden with bottles and a voice breathless with the Probably Not A Great Sign laughter.

They have. A better idea.]

We're gonna throw these at Sans' window.

No, we're not.

[Frisk dashes forward to intercept like it's a game of ketchup-basketball, arms outstretched to either side.]

It's going to get everywhere and people might think it's something else, and then what happens when it starts molding? We're on the same floor!

[They're carrying Way Too Much Ketchup. Their inventory is overflowing. The bottles clink and jostle as they just from side to side, like it's just a bit of keep-away. It is probably only a matter of time until they drop one.]

It's too late! I've gone mad with power, Frisk! My diabolical ketchup plot cannot be stopped!

You really want our room smelling like ketchup for weeks?

[The ground outside already smells a little bit too much like tomatoes and corn starch.]

The smell's gonna carry!

Frisk. Frisk, my child.

[A patient and parental and soothing tone. The voice of wisdom, of years and years of sage experience.]

Sometimes, in life. We have to make the hard decisions. We must make sacrifices for the greater good.

It'll be totally worth it.

[They announce, as they laugh gleefully and try to careen past Frisk on their Ketchup Spree.]

This is not a sacrifice for the greater good!

[Frisk chases after them desperately even as a few ketchup bottles bounce out from Chara's arms and roll about on the ground. Frisk has to leap over them like they're back in Hotland, timing their complicated dance across the conveyor belts.]

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Whenever you'd like them to find it, really

[4/09, hollered out the window while frisk is minding their damn business outside]

[yelled back after a moment's pause to accommodate a hearty facepalm]

[a moment's contemplative silence, then more shouting]

[wonderland probably hates their collective guts by now because they are ruining a pleasant day]

[THERE ARE NO PLEASANT DAYS ON CHARA'S WATCH]

[why this why anything]

[Because Chara]

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