[In another time, another place, Chara knows precisely what their response would be to-- this. Anger. Rejection of this offered, pointless return to- what, exactly? Nothing. You don't get that pleasure, from them. You don't get to watch them suffer.
Any other time. Any other place.
Any other person.
But it's Tim.
He can't touch them, but from the corner of their eye, they can still see it; his hand resting on their shoulder, a picture that speaks a thousand words. Like this, far from- the Surface, from society, from the norm, they don't know how to predict what will happen. Would going back now change their fate?
Not really. Aside from adding a few worried, helpless witnesses.] [Somehow, the idea is worse than not being seen at all.] I can't. Not now.
[It feels like they're letting him down. As if they hadn't the moment they answered his call, the desire to warn him away overriding common sense. All it does is add another, ugly pit to their stomach, another iron knot to their throat-- but Chara tries to breathe, slow and deep, as they fight to school their expression into something more neutral.
no subject
Any other time. Any other place.
Any other person.
He can't touch them, but from the corner of their eye, they can still see it; his hand resting on their shoulder, a picture that speaks a thousand words. Like this, far from- the Surface, from society, from the norm, they don't know how to predict what will happen. Would going back now change their fate?
Not really. Aside from adding a few worried, helpless witnesses.]
[Somehow, the idea is worse than not being seen at all.]
I can't. Not now.
[It feels like they're letting him down. As if they hadn't the moment they answered his call, the desire to warn him away overriding common sense. All it does is add another, ugly pit to their stomach, another iron knot to their throat-- but Chara tries to breathe, slow and deep, as they fight to school their expression into something more neutral.
They've already given him enough ammunition.]
But I will.
[You will, will you?]