[Frisk had assumed Sans had called to threaten Flowey. Checked his LV somewhere, decided to make boundaries exceedingly clear. Especially now that Papyrus is back. They were ready for Flowey to figure out that they spilled the beans. They were expecting some layer of accusation at their betrayal.]
Sans said I have to help kill the Queen. Then I get my SOUL back. But he also said he doesn't want me to have it back. He thinks I'm just making excuses when I say I can't control myself.
Frisk, you don't want to know what I'd do if I lose the opportunity to get my SOUL back.
[Isn't it strange how one single sentence could be a plea for help, a threat, a warning, and a promise all at once?]
[Frisk has to bite down on their kneejerk reaction to argue against killing the Queen. Nobody needs to do that. As much as everyone here hates her, as much as Frisk understands that she isn't a good person, there has to be another way...]
[... but they think they might see what Sans is doing here. This is dangerous. They wish he never had to get involved. Another misstep, maybe; or maybe it still was the right thing to do. Too late to worry about that now. To be honest, Frisk doesn't know whether or not to believe Flowey when he says he's out of control, either - they've always had a SOUL, a bit battered, held together by forces beyond them, but still theirs. They don't know what it's like.]
[They just... want people to stop dying.]
[Why is that so hard?]
[They don't think Sans would lie about something like this, even if it were just to get Flowey under control. But the implications of him coming to Frisk about it send a chill down their spine.]
[First it was Toriel; then, the human SOULS. Then all of their friends, restoring Frisk's HOPE in their darkest hour. And then - they refused.]
[Would it surprise you to know that Frisk has walked a timeline where you shivered within cold walls of gray? What a creepy face. It wasn't really theirs, but they felt their face muscles shifting, pulling tight into the same horrible thing that brought their SOUL to the surface every time they encountered a monster.]
[Frisk isn't afraid of Flowey. Their Chara isn't. They haven't been for a long time. One didn't want to let go, and the other... if only they had gotten past that comedian.]
[But... he really just can't understand, can he?]
I will.
[What was that about a plea, a promise?] [A part of their SOUL wants it to be a threat and a warning, too.]
Flowey hesitates. Frisk would be right. He CAN'T understand. He WANTS to, but he just can't make it that far. He wants to, and he'll only be able to if he doesn't kill anyone. He wants to, but there's the constant threat of himself sabotaging his only chance to be ASRIEL again.
I'm tired of all these people. I'm tired of all these places. I'm tired of being a flower.]
...
[This is all becoming so overwhelming for Flowey. His face remains horrific, yet it contorts into rage, with him staring for a few seconds longer. Then with an anguished scream, Flowey throws absolutely everything he has at Frisk... only to miss intentionally with every single one. And when he's done...]
[When he's done, all he can do is shake. Frisk may recognize just how Flowey is shaking. Terror. Flowey might not even realize, but he's feeling terror right now. Terror that he might not ever stop being a flower. Terror that he'd do something wrong and ruin his own chances.
[Frisk tenses, prepared to dodge the first volley of projectiles - but they don't come. Seeds whip harmlessly past them, thudding to the floor and surrounding furniture, while Frisk remain entirely unscathed. And they didn't do a single thing.]
[... after a moment, Frisk relaxes. Pushes the light of their SOUL back down. Watches the trembling little golden flower, and kneels closer, cupping their hands softly around his petals. The twist in their chest coils in on itself until it's once more nothing but a gnarled knot in the framework.]
[See, they're a better person than they used to be. They know how hard it is. SOUL, no SOUL, it's difficult to tell what it all really means - but if Flowey can show mercy, feel fear, wish for something with every fiber of his being... what difference does it make? If he wants to be a better person too, he can be. Frisk knows it.]
[They aren't afraid of Flowey. For a lot of reasons, but most of all: because he's still their friend, too.]
[Frisk's head lowers almost close enough to touch foreheads with Flowey, and the corners of their lips pull into a somber upward curve. The display of vulnerability is for their own benefit as much as Flowey's; to remind themself that this picture isn't like before, when eyes filled with LV and grit looked down on a frightened monster dispassionately. It's still them - both of them.]
[Sans asked Frisk to stay away from Flowey. Chara is avoiding them both. But it's their responsibility to do the right thing. If Frisk had the chance to be forgiven by the ones they LOVED, doesn't Flowey, too?]
[Compassion; regret. Frisk knows very well what both of those things are. That's why, if Flowey really can get his own SOUL back... they want to do everything they can to help him.]
[They don't answer his plea, but instead run a thumb soothingly over one of his petals.]
[All of this nurturing... Frisk being there, the closeness, the cradling, the thumb going over and over on the petals... None of it is comforting. BUt minute by minute, as Flowey just trembles in silence, he find himself being calmed more and more and more.
Until he is no longer trembling. He's still silent for a few minutes after that, letting Frisk "pet" his petals like that. Such delicate hands... Hands that would never roughly grab and yank the petals out...
Frisk really IS different than Chara.]
...
Why did you and Chara have to go and tell Sans, anyway? None of this would have ever happened.
[Flowey speaks not with his normal Flowey voice, but the soft tone of Asriel's.]
You could have been the one to have Ozuna offer me my SOUL...
Ozuma. [they correct, gently, their hands finally withdrawing to rest on their knees. Their shoulders hunch apologetically.]
[Frisk really doesn't know if they told Sans anything significant enough to make a difference in whatever conclusion he came to, but knowing him, he probably figured out most it out on his own. They don't deny having talked to him, anyway. A big lazybones though he may be, the guy can give one heck of a persuasive shove.]
[Frisk shrugs, moving to stand back up. Chara has made it clear that they've seen most of the timelines Frisk has, which means Frisk didn't have to say anything. It's a weird question, actually. Does Flowey not know that?]
[Odd. An unsettled feeling nips at Frisk's stomach, but they push past it before they can linger; if Flowey really doesn't know, well, that's Chara's story to tell just as much as it is Frisk's. Probably even moreso.]
a little extra measure might have to take place. But don't worry, I'll try to leave them as unhurt as possible. It's about time we have a talk, anyways.
[Frisk's voice comes as stern as they can make it; if it's their responsibility to keep him in line, they're starting right now. They reach a palm out and make a few waving gestures in midair as if to banish the vine back into the floor.]
[It's right then and there that Flowey just realized he threatened violence on his best friend. Chara. The only person he truly cares about. It's a good thing Frisk is there to call him out on things like this. He puts the vine back in the ground.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Action]
[Frisk had assumed Sans had called to threaten Flowey. Checked his LV somewhere, decided to make boundaries exceedingly clear. Especially now that Papyrus is back. They were ready for Flowey to figure out that they spilled the beans. They were expecting some layer of accusation at their betrayal.]
[They weren't expecting that.]
How?
[And how does Sans know?]
[Action]
Frisk, you don't want to know what I'd do if I lose the opportunity to get my SOUL back.
[Isn't it strange how one single sentence could be a plea for help, a threat, a warning, and a promise all at once?]
[Action]
[... but they think they might see what Sans is doing here. This is dangerous. They wish he never had to get involved. Another misstep, maybe; or maybe it still was the right thing to do. Too late to worry about that now. To be honest, Frisk doesn't know whether or not to believe Flowey when he says he's out of control, either - they've always had a SOUL, a bit battered, held together by forces beyond them, but still theirs. They don't know what it's like.]
[They just... want people to stop dying.]
[Why is that so hard?]
[They don't think Sans would lie about something like this, even if it were just to get Flowey under control. But the implications of him coming to Frisk about it send a chill down their spine.]
Don't. We'll get it back.
[Action]
I had better get that SOUL.
[But what if it had been accompanied by something dangerous? Something like a couple vines and some magic bullets being summoned out of nowhere?]
That's why you have to stop me. That's why you always have to try and stop me! No compassion or regret, hahahaha!
[Action]
[They've done this so many times, Flowey.]
[First it was Toriel; then, the human SOULS. Then all of their friends, restoring Frisk's HOPE in their darkest hour. And then - they refused.]
[Would it surprise you to know that Frisk has walked a timeline where you shivered within cold walls of gray? What a creepy face. It wasn't really theirs, but they felt their face muscles shifting, pulling tight into the same horrible thing that brought their SOUL to the surface every time they encountered a monster.]
[Frisk isn't afraid of Flowey. Their Chara isn't. They haven't been for a long time. One didn't want to let go, and the other... if only they had gotten past that comedian.]
[But... he really just can't understand, can he?]
I will.
[What was that about a plea, a promise?]
[A part of their SOUL wants it to be a threat and a warning, too.]
[But. They won't let it be.]
I'm still going to show MERCY.
[Action] 1/2
...
Flowey hesitates. Frisk would be right. He CAN'T understand. He WANTS to, but he just can't make it that far. He wants to, and he'll only be able to if he doesn't kill anyone. He wants to, but there's the constant threat of himself sabotaging his only chance to be ASRIEL again.
I'm tired of all these people. I'm tired of all these places. I'm tired of being a flower.]
...
[This is all becoming so overwhelming for Flowey. His face remains horrific, yet it contorts into rage, with him staring for a few seconds longer. Then with an anguished scream, Flowey throws absolutely everything he has at Frisk... only to miss intentionally with every single one. And when he's done...]
[Action] 2/2
Damnit, Sans.]
I... I just want to be ASRIEL again...
[Action]
[... after a moment, Frisk relaxes. Pushes the light of their SOUL back down. Watches the trembling little golden flower, and kneels closer, cupping their hands softly around his petals. The twist in their chest coils in on itself until it's once more nothing but a gnarled knot in the framework.]
[See, they're a better person than they used to be. They know how hard it is. SOUL, no SOUL, it's difficult to tell what it all really means - but if Flowey can show mercy, feel fear, wish for something with every fiber of his being... what difference does it make? If he wants to be a better person too, he can be. Frisk knows it.]
[They aren't afraid of Flowey. For a lot of reasons, but most of all: because he's still their friend, too.]
I know. I believe you can do it.
[Action]
...Frisk... This is why I need you here... This is why you have to protect everyone from me... Please don't leave me...
Please don't leave me... Please... don't...
[Action]
[Sans asked Frisk to stay away from Flowey. Chara is avoiding them both. But it's their responsibility to do the right thing. If Frisk had the chance to be forgiven by the ones they LOVED, doesn't Flowey, too?]
[Compassion; regret. Frisk knows very well what both of those things are. That's why, if Flowey really can get his own SOUL back... they want to do everything they can to help him.]
[They don't answer his plea, but instead run a thumb soothingly over one of his petals.]
[Action]
Until he is no longer trembling. He's still silent for a few minutes after that, letting Frisk "pet" his petals like that. Such delicate hands... Hands that would never roughly grab and yank the petals out...
Frisk really IS different than Chara.]
...
Why did you and Chara have to go and tell Sans, anyway? None of this would have ever happened.
[Flowey speaks not with his normal Flowey voice, but the soft tone of Asriel's.]
You could have been the one to have Ozuna offer me my SOUL...
[Action]
[Frisk really doesn't know if they told Sans anything significant enough to make a difference in whatever conclusion he came to, but knowing him, he probably figured out most it out on his own. They don't deny having talked to him, anyway. A big lazybones though he may be, the guy can give one heck of a persuasive shove.]
I didn't know he could. But I believe Sans.
[Action]
But there's one last thing that needs wrapping up. When Flowey speaks next, it's back to his Flowey voice.]
...Frisk, how much have you told Chara about me?
[Action]
Nothing.
[Action]
...But then who told Chara? How do they know I used to be ASRIEL?
[Action]
You could ask them.
[Action]
They've been avoiding me.
[A vine pops up from the ground.]
a little extra measure might have to take place. But don't worry, I'll try to leave them as unhurt as possible. It's about time we have a talk, anyways.
[Action]
[Frisk's voice comes as stern as they can make it; if it's their responsibility to keep him in line, they're starting right now. They reach a palm out and make a few waving gestures in midair as if to banish the vine back into the floor.]
Just talk. No violence. Okay?
[Action]
...I'll try and find a way without violence.