[open] Perfect weather for a game of catch.

[gainedlove]

Who: Frisk, Asriel, Chara, and YOU
When: Sssssssometime this month, wibbly wobbly have fun with it
Where: A park in Kauto R1
What: Kids having a picnic, what could be better?
Warnings: Chara, will be updated as needed


It's been a long trip.

Definitions of 'long' are a little variable, but all three children have been anxious to see an end to their travels. It didn't start when they crossed through the Ingress, but long before that.

Someone climbed a mountain for an unhappy reason.

Someone carried a body to a field of golden flowers.

Someone took a long journey, just wanting to live their life.

But now they've come, not to The End, but an end. It's not perfect, not quite what any of them were expecting. But it's better, it's theirs, and...they can stay. What it means to each child, what they think of it and what they have to say, it all varies. But no one and nothing can or will take this from them.

The three of them are gathered together in a park. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming...a blanket is laid out on the grass, and in a cooler drinks and snacks are kept on hand. A few toys lay nearby, but it seems that for now the trio is content enough to relax and talk amongst themselves. Smiles adorn their faces (though one face in particular wears theirs a little sharply), and the scene is...nice. This is nice.

Even if they may not agree, they have long since earned this respite.


(( ooc: Feel free to come and pester the kiddos! Everyone will be responding separately, though there may be threadjacking or some doubling up. Have fun! ))

Comments

[grandpaladin]

"Frisk! My friend!"

Enter a towering man. A towering man who happened to pass by the park a few minutes ago, spotting familiar faces. He kept on going for a little while. Only to double back, bearing a bag from one of the nearby cafes.

Sadly, Frisk is the only one he knows by name. So that's the person he's going to call out to first.

[pleasereset]

Asriel glances up, soda in hand. His eyes meet a very tall man - apparently a friend of Frisk's?

"Howdy there!"

Asriel wasn't the one being addressed, but that doesn't mean he can't offer a friendly greeting.

[grandpaladin]

"Hello!"

Hey, Reinhardt isn't in the business of being picky. He's always been the friendly sort. And apparently, this small being is a friend of Frisk's... which mean he's a friend of Reinhardt's. Immediately.

He hunkers down a bit, so he's not so gigantic.

"I am Reinhardt! And who may you be?"

[pleasereset]

He appreciates the effort Reinhardt is taking to make himself a little shorter. It's always a little intimidating to talk to someone towering over you. Mettaton being Asriel's exception.

"My name's Asriel! I'm Frisk's brother!"

As well as Chara's but he'll let Chara introduce themselves first if they want. Clearly there's a strong family resemblance here.

[gainedlove]

It would be hard to not recognize that booming voice. Frisk turns around towards Reinhardt, and smiles before hopping up to their feet and running over--quite the change from their shy demeanor of late.

"Reinhardt!" They giggle as they run into him and hug him right around the waist--not that someone as small as Frisk is could hope to budge this mountain of a man. "What're you doin' here?"

[grandpaladin]

"Passing through! Oh, and bringing a gift."

He says that with a wink. Because you don't crash a party without bringing a gift. That's just polite.

But as Frisk charges over, he hunkers down, opening up massive arms to scoop them up in a hug. If he weren't still holding the bag, he'd have tossed them into the air.

"How are you!"

[shiro2hero]

He's been overwhelmed since his arrival. Overwhelmed and trying to process this whole thing. Sure, he found the house for everyone, let them sort it all out. Put in for work. But the whole idea of living like a normal person is something he doesn't quite know how to deal with yet.

So.

The park. Just to clear his head.

Except there's a bunch of familiar kids there before him. He hangs back a bit, on a bench, idly watching them.

[gainedlove]

It takes a bit before Frisk notices Shiro out of the corner of their eye. They pause and turn, watching him with a calm, oddly flat expression before the smile faintly and wave to him, beckoning him over. They won't call out--that would be forcing him a bit too hard, probably, and he seems like he might just want to be alone right now. But Frisk still wants to offer the invitation, should he want some company.

[shiro2hero]

Oh. The sad child from the other world. The one he'd gotten into the dog person vs. cat person discussion with. No wonder they looked familiar. He lifts a hand, and waves back, idly.

Then, after a second or two of debate, stands up to wander in their direction.

"Having a good time?"

[pleasereset]

It isn't for a while before Asriel ends up straying a little from Frisk and Chara, thanks to a ball rolling too far from their little picnic area. Without thinking too much about it, Asriel gives chase until he's just a few feet away from where Shiro is sitting.

And he notices that Shiro's watching him. He picks up the runaway ball and straightens up.

"Oh um... hi there, mister! You were with our group, right?"

Asriel thinks he's seen him while they were all traveling and exploring anyway. Asriel perks up a little more, suddenly remembering why Shiro looks a somewhat familiar.

"Wait, I think I recognize you... you made friends with one of those big, mean cats!" He remembers that network post, and his expression turns more nervous. "It's... not with you right now, is it?"

[shiro2hero]

He's already holding up his hands in the universal, parental-type gesture of "caught me", when the alien-looking child notices him.

"Yeah, I was. Sorry -- I didn't mean to butt in."

Seemed like the people from the ship were everywhere. Not in a bad way, really. This way, maybe other people could understand the strain of the different world. Suddenly having a more normal life.

He blinks for a second. "What--? Oh! No, he... he stayed behind. I wasn't going to force him to come along, don't worry."

[inconsequence]

A familiar face, naturally, is not necessarily a well-liked or even remotely wanted one. That must be the general assumption; people seldom actively desire that creatures such as themself occupy the same space.

They watch him as he watches them, back ramrod-straight, hands folded neatly in their lap, eyes boring into his silhouette. Their cohorts are observant and to claim otherwise would be a disservice to the pair of them, but they are trusting - entirely too trusting, to a very particular fault.

It does not do to grow complacent as one is being watched.

Assuming he does not speak first, they will do so in his stead:

"Have you something to say, Mr. Shiro?"

[shiro2hero]

He lifts his head from where he'd been staring, letting his mind wander. Just trying to absorb the situation. Adjust. His name makes him blink, and the sudden, familiar voice gets him to turn his head.

That blank look shifts into something closer to a smile.

"Hey. Glad to see you made it."

Genuinely glad, albeit tired, if the lines under his eyes have anything to say about it.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. Sorry."

/deposits lurker program

[notglitching]

Birds, flowers, and parks as a whole don't much fall in Rinzler's range of interest. He's spent most of the time since their arrival scouting the more urban structures of the region: towering skyscrapers and spaceside ports, living quarters and the more distant hallways of the Ingress complex.

Still, if Frisk, Asriel, or Chara happen to wander slightly off from the bright field (or peer, at just the right angle, toward that gap between the trees), they might spot an out-of-place contrast of red against black. Rinzler's perched on a stone wall shaded by some of the taller branches, making no real effort other than the distance to conceal himself. Or to mask his observation of the group sprawled out on the grass. Chara's presence isn't one he'd calculated for, but they don't look particularly hostile toward the rest.

...good. He keeps watching, making no move to interrupt.

>initiated.

[inconsequence]

A familiar figure, no doubt. His hostility is kept to a minimum, as befits everyone. It is unlikely he would be restrained should he be genuinely hostile - though assumptions, as all well know, are unkind things to be made regarding those whom they do not know.

All the same, there are some that may find a silent observer to be - unsettling. Not Frisk, of course; they bear no qualms about Sans's tendencies, neither here nor at home. But others may take umbrage with such a thing.

Others may approach with the casual, dismissive lift of an eyebrow.

"Enjoying the view?"

> check

[notglitching]

Chara's approach isn't difficult to track, and they'll find the opaque helmet slanting slightly to follow them. Rinzler doesn't move from his spot, but there's a quiet uptick to his constant rumble—if they're listening closely enough to catch it. Irritation? Not harsh enough. Curiosity? Maybe.

To their address, he only slants his mask: a query for a query. Is there some reason he shouldn't be?

[pleasereset]

Maybe Asriel's gotten more paranoid about being watched over these past few months, but he does manage to look back. When he doesn't see anything at first, he turns back to Chara and Frisk to continue whatever conversation they're having.

A few minutes later, he glances back again. A red light in the trees should be something startling, but Asriel perks up immediately. If it is Rinzler, there's a moment where he hesitates. Their last conversation was.... well, heavy, to say the least.

Asriel shakes off his nerves and gets up, wandering over to Rinzler's current stalking spot and looking for him. His disk is in plain view, slightly damaged from the planet before.

"Rinzler?"

He hopes it's Rinzler, otherwise this could end badly.

[notglitching]

The low skipping rumble of corruption might be oddly reassuring in this case. Asriel is subject to a brief inspection (no new damage), but it's seconds only before Rinzler drops, landing on the grass in front of the beta with a light thump. Definitely him.

To the address, he offers a quick nod, before tilting his helmet to one side in inquiry. There's no specifics offered, but as well as Asriel knows him, the implied question might not be too hard to guess.

Status?

[gainedlove]

Frisk doesn't notice Rinzler at first, too absorbed in their time with Asriel and Chara, making up for lost time with them both and enjoying this spot of happiness while it lasts. But eventually in their play a toy is thrown a little farther than expected, and Frisk chases after it almost right into the tree line.

"I got it, I got it!" They stoop to grab it, and when they straighten up the red glow startles them for a moment before the recognize the pattern of lights, and the shape attached to it. Frisk blinks, then turns to call back again. "I'll be right back!"

With their family assured they step closer and look up at Rinzler with a fond smile. "What're you doin' hidin' up there?"

[notglitching]

Welp, so much for cover. Or distance, anyway. Rinzler peers down at Frisk, noise rumbling out steadily, and reaches for his TAB readily when prompted. From him, that's practically a friendly wave.

His answer, on the other hand...

Assessing current status.

See also: watching you. Because that's normal.

[mttbrandlegs]

The trip has been long indeed. Mettaton can't say he's happy to have another roadblock when it comes to getting home, but despite his displeasure...he recognizes it's for the best and has decided he'll settle for now.

Thisavrou doesn't seem terrible, and as the children had decided to settle in Kauto, so has he. Without Toriel, he feels more than a little responsible for their well-being, though he's not looking forward to dealing with Chara more often. Their words still do sting terribly.

He happens to be taking a quick cut through the very park where the picnic is set up, and is pleasantly surprised to see all three (though again...not so much when it comes to Chara), and so he draws a little nearer, a smile on his face as he waves and calls out cheerfully:

"Hello, my darlings!! My, it looks like you have the right idea about things!!!"

[pleasereset]

Asriel is very aware of the current tension between Chara and Mettaton, but for Mettaton's sake he doesn't act like he is. The robot gets a warm smile when he approaches, and Asriel will wave at him as soon as he sees him.

"Howdy Mettaton! Want to join us?"

[gainedlove]

"Mettaton!"

Frisk smiles and waves back, turning a little to face him properly. It's easier to put on that happy face now, but there's still a little something of that shy hesitance lurking beneath. For now, though, they swallow it down and cover it with a warm expression, patting an open section of the blanket for Mettaton to sit down.

"Ehe! 'S such a nice day out, me 'n Asriel thought we could have a nice afternoon all together!"

[inconsequence]

Who does look forward to "dealing with" a demon, truly? A cruel thing, a callous thing, something lesser than human or monster. Hellion. Abomination. Waste.

The luxury of relaxation is as alien a prospect as any. Frisk and Asriel are welcome to their indecently boneless sprawls, their laughter, their sharing of a meal. In quiet parallel, there is the rigidity of a spine held too taut, a smile with far too cold an edge, hands folded neatly in a lap - the very furthest thing from "relaxed" that it is possible for a child to be.

And yet, as the encounter is engaged, they will have to give the insufferable tin can this much, in his slim favor: he is wise enough to not target them in solitude. Within speaking and listening distance of their housemates, both very attached to the hunk of metal, no less.

So it seems old dogs can learn new tricks. That certainly makes things interesting, do they not?

And so they meet his gaze steadily, a smile on their face as they answer, simply because they can:

"I will have to disagree, I am afraid." Why, it is a beautiful day outside. Birds are singing, or the alien equivalent of birds are singing, and there are certainly flowers that must be blooming. Perfect weather for a game of catch. "I find this all to be rather a pain in the neck."

Wouldn't you agree, Mettaton?

[mttbrandlegs]

Of course Chara has to be the contrarian of the three--Mettaton more than expected it. But not having seen Frisk for so long, and with the prospect of visiting with Asriel on top of that, he can't be dissuaded by their negative words.

Instead, he moves closer, nodding pleasantly at the invitation to join the group.

"I'm happy to join you, of course!!! And I'm sorry to hear that you are not enjoying yourself, Chara dear, but a little sunlight never hurt! It's good for humans, and pleasant to be in anyway! I'm certain you can bear it for a short while."

And that is all he has to say on their downer response, before he turns his attention to Asriel and Frisk.

"It's been far too long since we've spoken--are you all acclimating alright? Have you found proper lodgings?! Tell me everything!"