(no subject)

[pleasereset]

Who: Asriel, Frisk, and Toriel
When: April 18th
Where: The Garden, and then Toriel's room
What: Two children get poisoned
Warnings: Sick kids being sick



A. In the Gardens

Eating pie in the garden was Asriel's suggestion. It seemed like a fun idea, and it was his favorite place to visit on the Moira. After exploring creepy prisons and accidentally revealing a little too much information about himself, Asriel just wanted to someplace quiet to go, talk, and eat some of the pie that was delivered to him in the mail.

Frisk and him spent the last few minutes talking about whatever topics came to mind - from space to books they've read, to what kind of foods they hated and Toriel made them eat anyway.

The pie slice that Asriel was eating tasted a little weird, but he didn't think much of it at first. But his stomach's starting to hurt. More so than just a usual stomachache.

"Frisk, do you think that pie was...?"

Not made right is what he almost says, but there's a sharp pain and he wraps his arms around his stomach. What's left of his slice falls out of his hand, but when it lands on the floor, small yellow flowers are sticking out.

B. Toriel's Room

The last thing Asriel remembers is being in the garden with Frisk. But when he slowly comes to, the scent of flowers and plants are gone and replaced with a familiar warmth. His throat burns, and there's a loud gasp as he sucks in a painful breath of air. Where's Frisk? Where is he? What happened? are all question that drift through his mind, but it's hard to coherently put any of these questions together with that intense pain in his stomach, and the whole room looking like a blur of colors that refuse to come into focus.

Someone... someone help... help me...

He tries to call out, but the only noise that comes out is a whimper. It's hard to form the right words, hard to think through all the heat and pain and drenched fur. Someone please.

Comments

B

[inruins]

"Shh, hush little one." A cool gentle hand brushes across Asriel's forehead. "You're going to be alright." She gently strokes Asriel's forehead for a moment longer before her hand drops away.

Soon enough a damp towel is settled on Asriel's forehead. "Just rest."

[pleasereset]

Toriel's voice cuts through the pain, the hand on his forehead causes him to twitch before he settles down again. It helps soothe the sudden terror, just knowing that she's there. Even if he doesn't understand (the images of flowers come to mind, but he can't quite grasp it), she's still there and that'll make it okay.

"W..." His throat feels like it's on fire, just trying to make sounds. But he tries for an actual word. "Hurts..."

[inruins]

"I know, my love, I know." She moves to adjust the blanket around the pair of children. Frisk is soundly asleep next to their brother, having finally settled down from their time spent ejecting the flowers from their body. "It will hurt only for awhile." She adjust the towel carefully, not wanting to make her child any more uncomfortable.

"Do you need water?"

[pleasereset]

As the blanket's pulled around him, he then feels another source of warmth near his side. He blinks the water from his eyes, trying to hold back a fresh wave of tears as he recognizes the smaller figure beside him.

Frisk... they got sick. He got sick, the pie was...

The pie was filled with buttercups.

His breath freezes in his throat as he takes in Frisk's appearance, so eerily close to Chara's when they were nearing their final moments. He wants to wake him up just to see if they're still responsive, but he doesn't have enough strength. It's discouraging that he can't even reach over to touch their hand or shoulder.

At Toriel's question, he nods a little desperately.

[inruins]

Toriel leans forward to place a peck against Asriel's snout. "Both of you are going to be alright." The familiarity of the situation isn't lost on Toriel. The scene makes her heart hurt.

She rises without another word, moving to pluck up a water bottle and bring it back to the child. She unscrews the cap, shifting to settle on her knees and cup Asriel's chin in her hand. "Can you sit up on your own Asriel? Or do you need help with the water?"

[pleasereset]

Honestly, he's not really sure. But he'll try anyway, attempting to push down on the mattress to lift himself. Pain shoots through him and room spins a little. It quickly becomes obvious to him that he might need a little help getting all the way up.

[inruins]

Toriel sets aside the bottle for now, moving to gently shift her child into a seated position. Her touch is gentle, measured- some part of her worries she'll make what pain her child is feeling worse. "Here, I'll hold you."

With her free hand she very carefully picks the bottle up from the floor. "I'm going to hold onto the bottle as well, but you can adjust it so you can drink as much as you need." She gives a quiet offer for some control of this situation.

Whenever Asriel reaches up to bring the uncapped water bottle to his lips, Toriel will gently nudge it forward to offer the child some water flow.

A

[gainedlove]

It's a nice moment between the two siblings, laughing and talking and sharing a sweet treat. If nothing else, being brought to the Moria has given them the chance to be normal kids, and Frisk doesn't want to let that go to waste.

And they certainly didn't let their share of pie go to waste, either--it's already gone by the time the two of them start to feel ill, though Frisk had noticed their mouth and throat itching painfully after the first few bites. But any discomfort they're in flies out of their mind as soon as Asriel doubles over.

"Asriel!" They wrap an arm around his back, about to ask what's wrong when that bit of yellow catches their eye, and they feel the blood drain out of their face. Oh no, oh no no no no, this isn't good, this is really not good--!

"A...Asriel? How much did Chara eat back then?" What are you supposed to do when you're poisoned? Frisk is sure they were told at some point, but between the panic and a stuffy, cotton-like feeling in their brain they can't quite remember.

[pleasereset]

"W-what?" Oh wow, his throat aches. At first Asriel has no idea why Frisk is bringing up Chara. But his eyes slide over to the pie... to the yellow flowers...

His heart sinks, he knows why it hurts, and for a second a wave of terror completely freezes him in place. No no no, not this, how did they know...?

"F-Frisk, stop-" his voice comes out as choked and strain. A sharp pain travels through him, more intense and spreading through his body. "Don't eat anymore! G-get... get help...!"

[gainedlove]

The sick feeling roiling in Frisk's stomach isn't just from the buttercups, and they kick the offending slice of pie away from them both in a panic. The damage is already done, though, and they shake their head helplessly. "I-I don't know...!"

Their mind races, metaphorical wheels spinning trying to figure out what to do. They balk at the idea of calling Toriel, but what...who...a dizzy wave of nausea blooms and Frisk curls up with a pained groan, their vision blurring with tears.

[pleasereset]

No no no NO-!

Asriel's mind screams out, but he can't do anything other than hold onto Frisk desperately. His throat burns, his stomach aches with such an intense pain that he thinks he might pass out right there.

"Frisk-" it's getting harder to use his voice, "call... call mom. Call mom, Frisk."

It's getting harder to hold onto them now. He doesn't realize it's because he's shivering so hard.

[gainedlove]

Frisk whimpers, leaning reflexively against their brother for support. They don't want to involve Toriel, not with buttercups. It's too close to secrets they've vowed to keep, but they don't know what else to do, and it's Asriel's secret as much as it is Chara's. If he is willing...

They nod and shakily call up Toriel's personal messaging, swallowing thickly before speaking. "Mo--Mom? Come to...to the garden, we need help...!"

[pleasereset]

Contacting Toriel over buttercup poisoning isn't ideal for Asriel either, but he doesn't know who use they could call. And Asriel doesn't want Frisk to die. He doesn't want to die either.

His vision's fading though, and his grip on Frisk is getting much weaker. Before the world goes dark, Asriel helplessly mumbles.

"I'm so sorry, Frisk. I didn't know, I'm so sorry, 'm so sorry..."

Closed to Toriel - 22nd

[pleasereset]

Asriel isn't fully recovered yet, but he's gotten a little more active. Playing, doing a little bit of reading, and talking more, but still sleeping for long hours while the poison leaves his system. And even though he hasn't protested or doesn't seem all that unhappy about staying until he's fully recovered, he can't help but feel a little restless during the times he is awake.

At some point in the afternoon, Asriel's in bed but still half-awake. He can hear Toriel moving about the room, and he's currently giving the door a grumpy, tired glare as if it's the door's fault he's sick and in bed.

"I wish I'd stop being sick so I could do more flying lessons."

Asriel's voice comes out as a loud grumble. It's probably not the first time Toriel's heard the occasional complaint. No child liked being sick after all, but it is the first time he's mentioned anything about flying to Toriel. It doesn't occur to Asriel that didn't mention it before.

Not that Rinzler could give him any lessons anyway due to being in the Hold. But Asriel's going to remain grumpy about it anyway.

[inruins]

Toriel has to admit some relief recovery is on the way for both children. Seeing them slowly returning to their usual behavior is something that makes the sharp tension she has been carrying ease considerably.

"Flying lessons?" Is the question the child earns back, Toriel has to turn from cleaning up around the room to look at her child. Curiosity and concern mingle together quite comfortable over this surprising topic.

[pleasereset]

Asriel wonders for a second if this is something he should be revealing - but the cat monster was already out of the bag, and Asriel's all too eager to talk about his new interest. The switch from grumpy to enthusiastic happens instantly, even if that enthusiasm doesn't match how much he has normally.

"Yeah, Rinzler's teaching me how to pilot! Mom, you should really see it - it's so cool! I got to sit in the cockpit and turn on the ship and everything!"

[inruins]

She withholds her judgement for now, drifting back over to her son. Normally she would be happy to see her child so enthusiastic, but Rinzler's presence in this muddles her response to the news. "How long have you been taking these lessons?"

She settles on the edge of the bed. "I'd also like to know why you haven't told me until now, young man."

[pleasereset]

"I only took one so far."

Though he quickly picks up on that sternness creeping into Toriel's voice. He flattens himself a little.

"I was going to! ...I just wanted to get a lot better at it first."

[inruins]

Asriel's quick shift is enough to make Toriel's lips quirk faintly. Even now he can read her. "Is it just Rinzler teaching you or are there others instructors?" Even with the sternness a gentle hand reaches out to brush her fingers through his fur. Checking his temperature out of habit by this point.

The fact it was only one lesson at least settled the boss monster some, "Tell me what the lessons entail, please. I'd like to know what my son has gotten himself into."

Closed to Toriel + small fluffy eavesdropper, 4/25

[notglitching]

Asriel's messages had been brief, but distressed. His creator had found out about the flight training he was receiving... and immediately disallowed further instruction. Somehow it didn't take the beta's admission for Rinzler to guess the reason why.

Rinzler had acknowledged the restriction and ended the call—before placing another of his own. A few short texts, requesting a meeting with Toriel. Less than a millicycle later, and the enforcer is standing in the hall outside. Noise rumbles out in its constant whir, circuits burning a little brighter (though the cracks spiraling out from the gap in his left side have yet to really fade). He doesn't hesitate, not really, but there's a moment of calculation. He's communicated with this monster over the phones, but never in person.

And certainly, Rinzler's last meeting with a monster hadn't ended well.

Only one way to find out. (And at least this time, he isn't glitched and caged if it does come to retribution.) One orange-lit hand reaches out to the door control, triggering a soft chime through the room inside. Access requested.

[inruins]

The chime does not go unanswered for long, the door slides open smoothly revealing the very tall boss monster. The resemblance to Asriel becomes clearer in person certainly, much clearer than the brief odd conversations they had over the network. Toriel herself gets a real look at the robotic being, surprised by how loud the whirring coming from him is to some extent.

Her smile is thin lipped and polite, but not hostile. She has a variety of feelings about what Rinzler has done, but they aren't reflected in her now.

"Let us converse outside, the children should be resting now." She smoothly offers in turn, stepping forward to let the door close behind her. Her eyes drift to the cracks, she's able to stifle a frown that wants to rise. Concern mixed with distrust is an strange feeling.

[notglitching]

The similar renders, Rinzler had guessed at. The monster's size is what catches him off-guard. The black helmet angles upward, a little stilted in surprise. He's not sure he agrees with the suggestion—the hallway of Nomo Deck is hardly the most private place to talk. Then again, maybe the monster doesn't expect this to take long.

Either way, Rinzler steps back, helmet dipping in acquiescence. As Toriel's gaze returns to him, his own is downward, already typing into his MID. The words appear over Rinzler's shoulder, projected in bright red lines that match his own circuit lights almost completely.

Removed flight permissions (ID: Asriel).

Why?

[inruins]

"Because, I do not trust you with his safety." She states plainly, crossing her arms over her chest. Her expression is settled to something stern, disapproving.

"The planned trap was unfair, but you have attacked others before and killed someone unaffiliated to the planned attack upon you. I cannot trust you with my child's safety. Not given the violence that seems to follow you."

[notglitching]

Fingers twitch at the accusation, curling slightly through the holographic keyboard of Rinzler's display. He wouldn't hurt Asriel. Wouldn't let the beta be damaged by anyone, not if he could do anything about it. But... there's still that flicker of doubt, that flicker of fear he'd felt when the smaller monster had first stopped visiting him in the hold. The concern that Asriel might have been injured not by chance, but because of Rinzler's enemies.

The violence that follows him.

The helmet bows a little, circuits dim. He won't argue any right to hold her trust. He'd like to argue for a chance to prove himself. But priorities first.

The program's head ducks again, a short dip that taps the point of his mask just above Rinzler's own T-shaped cluster of circuitry. Self-reference. 'I' is a word for those who were meant to choose and act alone, but Rinzler can still reference himself as a unit.

Only problem?

[inruins]

"It is a large enough problem to warrant no further lessons." She states simply back, with lack of a traditional face to watch she watches Rinzler's body language. It says enough to make her expression soften to some degree. "I would mention the fact I was not told of these lessons, but it is a moot point."

"I know you care about Asriel, but he is not safe with you, around you- not when the people on this ship seem intent on attacking you." Toriel elaborates further with a wrinkle of her snout. "I do not know what you have done to earn such ire, but it is dangerous given your behavior mixed with anyone deciding to take law into their own hands against you."