[This isn't the way such things are supposed to go. He should be telling them they're right, that it is their fault. Grinding the verbal heel down and gaining some satisfaction in watching them squirm, because they've already admitted it, so they can't take it back. They're sorry- they did something wrong, and it's been acknowledged.
Instead he compromises, and it-
hardly even feels real. Sometimes-- most of the time, they have no idea what to make of this...man.]
If that's what you want, then- alright.
Even, then.
[They're not so sure they mind, anymore. They look over at him almost shyly, shoulders hunching as they raise up a curled fist. He'd be happy they had, right? Pleased, that they hadn't forgotten.
[The look Chara gives him now is so unlike the expressions they've held in the past that it takes Wade a moment to register that the face actually does belong to Chara, and not an impressive mimic. There's no carefully constructed blankness; no guarded stoic. For one minute moment, they look exactly like the child they would have been if they'd not been plagued by the unknown malaise that afflicted them; a malaise that Wade can easily detect but can only guess as to its origin. The shy look in their eyes now give their features a pleasant, endearing quality, somehow enhanced by their strange and darkly beautiful red eyes.
Wade won't know it for quite some time, and won't admit it for even longer, but this is the exact moment that he falls in love.
A heavy, almost painful feeling rises in his chest, squeezing his heart with such an intensity that it causes tears to spring into his eyes. It's a familiar feeling-- if he'd had to put a name to it, he'd name it Clementine and Jessica. And now, against all odds, against his determination to never give that piece of his heart to another child ever again, Chara has apparently crept in and lay claim to it and, even more surprising, he has given it freely.
He betrays none of this, of course; isn't even fully aware that such a phenomenon has happened. All he knows is that he wants to protect this poor broken child, so much like him in many respects; to let them know that it's safe to let down their defenses and just be a kid sometimes.
And like hell he's leaving them hanging for a fist bump. He raises up his own fist in response, reaching over to rap their knuckles gently together before withdrawing.]
Heh. For a second I thought you forgot our little "everything's cool, bro" signal. Glad to see you didn't.
[He's grateful for the fact that his voice doesn't waver.]
[Involuntarily, a smile curls at their lips. Brief, but lingering just at the corners as they let their hand drop, looking no less comfortable than they did a moment before- more so, if anything.
Their hand doesn't sting and their wrist doesn't itch, and despite everything, the urge to run is gone. It's been so long since this happened, since the tension in their shoulders and neck eased off into a pointed ache, they don't even realize what this actually is.
And for a moment, they have the wildest urge to- simply speak. Tell him something; about their day thus far. About Asriel and what had already happened, what will happen. About Frisk, and the burning clench that accompanies the thought of both.
About...about their favorite book. Or that they really liked the gardens, enough so that they'd bear with the sun if they absolutely had to.
They just feel like telling him something, because a part of them is aware he'll listen. An eager over-enthusiasm to divulge simply because they have the option to, because the option's there.
[There's quite a lot that Wade wants to know. He wants to know about their childhood, about their parents; what sort of hobbies they had back home. Their favorite foods, what they liked to do with their brother and if they ever thought about what they wanted to be when they grew up.
He wants to know the last happy memory they had before they were forced to grow up too quickly.
Wade knows his curiosity is self-serving, an attempt to find a way to connect and empathize with this child in ways that he hasn't already. To find out if their childhood was anything like his.
But to try and get these answers from a kid who balks at even being touched would be foolhardy and rather cruel, and he doesn't want to risk pushing Chara away when they'd already reached something of a tenuous rapport. So those questions will remain inside him, burning in his chest like bad indigestion. He chuckles, settling back on the bed with a nonchalance he finds he has to make an effort to fake.]
Heh. Always gotta make a big production out of everything, don't we? Go on, get outta here. Tibs's probably bursting at the seams to see you anyway. 'less you wanna stick around and see me spoil the mood with a badly-timed fart joke or somethin'.
[It's that simple. Their love of dramatics is something that will never die. Pushing off the bed, they make a show of dusting themself off, dipping down into the slightest of bows.]
I shall preserve the integrity of the mood with my life- I never had the nose for that style of humor.
[Unsaid goes the fact that they'll ensure Tibia returns safely; they'll be sure to collect her, wherever she may be. But as they approach the door, Chara slows.
They want to tell him- about their day. About their favorite book. The gardens-]
Asriel was my brother.
[They slip out the door before he gives them a response, daring lost. And the door clicks shut firmly behind them.]
[They're out the door before Wade has a chance to react, though if they risk a glance back at him, they'll be rewarded with a look of surprise and dawning comprehension on his masked face. Wade almost calls after them, his mouth already shaping their name before he decides against such an act. He wouldn't know what to ask them even if they had decided to stay-- they've told him quite an important piece of information already.
Asriel was my brother.
Wade hasn't met the kid that Chara seems to value so highly, but another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place at the same time that it's uncovered even more enigmas to ponder over. Was Asriel their younger brother? Older? Did he look like them and Frisk? Why did Chara talk about him in the past tense?
Wade knows he's probably being silly, placing so much importance on a small bit of information, but Chara had given it willingly. Had seemed to trust him with it, in fact. Had-- if he could be allowed to be a little bit self-indulgent-- actually felt he'd deserved an explanation for their actions; deserved to know why they had been so angry that he'd failed to do what they had asked of him.
Wade sinks back on the bed and places his arms behind his head, tucking this valuable trinket in the safest recesses of his distracted, fractured mind.
As Chara exits the room, they'll be able to find her easily, sitting on the floor in the hallway close to Wade's room and idly making sketches in the dust with her bone. As she looks up and sees the child heading towards her she suddenly straightens, getting to her feet like a soldier at attention, her fingers already at work signing frantic explanations:
Just waiting for you two to finish. Wasn't spying on you. Promise. Wouldn't do that. Not to you.]
[Their heart is already pumping a mile a minute, but Tibia is easy to locate, less of a surprise than they would have expected. It is late, after all- hadn't Wade mentioned that she was tired? They offer her an apologetic smile, waving a hand blithely.]
I trust you.
[They do. In fact...
Glancing back at the door, for a moment, Chara crouches down, waving her closer.]
I have a favor to ask of you, if you don't mind. It is very important.
[Relief suffuses her features, strangely human despite her reptilian appearance. The fact that they're asking her a favor only seems to heighten that relief, and her expression grows sharp and determined even as her claws quickly get to work signing an answer.
Just name it. Anything you want.
Someone might have a little hero worship going on here.]
Has Wade ever told you what a proxy is? [They doubt it, really. Not the typical wordage of day to day business in a castle environment.] It's when you're given permission to act for someone; do something that they can't.
So I'd very much like if you would be my proxy; a secret one. No one else can know, yes?
[A secret. A secret between her and Chara that no one else can know about, not even Wade. Tibia feels her tiny Cubone heart skip a beat. She nods enthusiastically, her eyes bright with curiosity.
[Wonderful. They knew they could count on her; more so than anyone else in this castle. They make a show of looking around to check that the coast is clear (despite already knowing that it is) before raising a hand and crooking their finger.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
achievementhunter) wrote2016-03-01 01:56 pm
no subject
Instead he compromises, and it-
hardly even feels real. Sometimes-- most of the time, they have no idea what to make of this...man.]
If that's what you want, then- alright.
Even, then.
[They're not so sure they mind, anymore. They look over at him almost shyly, shoulders hunching as they raise up a curled fist. He'd be happy they had, right? Pleased, that they hadn't forgotten.
Fist...bump? Maybe?]
no subject
Wade won't know it for quite some time, and won't admit it for even longer, but this is the exact moment that he falls in love.
A heavy, almost painful feeling rises in his chest, squeezing his heart with such an intensity that it causes tears to spring into his eyes. It's a familiar feeling-- if he'd had to put a name to it, he'd name it Clementine and Jessica. And now, against all odds, against his determination to never give that piece of his heart to another child ever again, Chara has apparently crept in and lay claim to it and, even more surprising, he has given it freely.
He betrays none of this, of course; isn't even fully aware that such a phenomenon has happened. All he knows is that he wants to protect this poor broken child, so much like him in many respects; to let them know that it's safe to let down their defenses and just be a kid sometimes.
And like hell he's leaving them hanging for a fist bump. He raises up his own fist in response, reaching over to rap their knuckles gently together before withdrawing.]
Heh. For a second I thought you forgot our little "everything's cool, bro" signal. Glad to see you didn't.
[He's grateful for the fact that his voice doesn't waver.]
no subject
Their hand doesn't sting and their wrist doesn't itch, and despite everything, the urge to run is gone. It's been so long since this happened, since the tension in their shoulders and neck eased off into a pointed ache, they don't even realize what this actually is.
And for a moment, they have the wildest urge to- simply speak. Tell him something; about their day thus far. About Asriel and what had already happened, what will happen. About Frisk, and the burning clench that accompanies the thought of both.
About...about their favorite book. Or that they really liked the gardens, enough so that they'd bear with the sun if they absolutely had to.
They just feel like telling him something, because a part of them is aware he'll listen. An eager over-enthusiasm to divulge simply because they have the option to, because the option's there.
They feel comfortable. And they feel safe.]
We agreed, did we not? I won't forget, Wade.
no subject
He wants to know the last happy memory they had before they were forced to grow up too quickly.
Wade knows his curiosity is self-serving, an attempt to find a way to connect and empathize with this child in ways that he hasn't already. To find out if their childhood was anything like his.
But to try and get these answers from a kid who balks at even being touched would be foolhardy and rather cruel, and he doesn't want to risk pushing Chara away when they'd already reached something of a tenuous rapport. So those questions will remain inside him, burning in his chest like bad indigestion. He chuckles, settling back on the bed with a nonchalance he finds he has to make an effort to fake.]
Heh. Always gotta make a big production out of everything, don't we? Go on, get outta here. Tibs's probably bursting at the seams to see you anyway. 'less you wanna stick around and see me spoil the mood with a badly-timed fart joke or somethin'.
no subject
[It's that simple. Their love of dramatics is something that will never die. Pushing off the bed, they make a show of dusting themself off, dipping down into the slightest of bows.]
I shall preserve the integrity of the mood with my life- I never had the nose for that style of humor.
[Unsaid goes the fact that they'll ensure Tibia returns safely; they'll be sure to collect her, wherever she may be. But as they approach the door, Chara slows.
They want to tell him- about their day. About their favorite book. The gardens-]
Asriel was my brother.
[They slip out the door before he gives them a response, daring lost. And the door clicks shut firmly behind them.]
[1/2]
Asriel was my brother.
Wade hasn't met the kid that Chara seems to value so highly, but another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place at the same time that it's uncovered even more enigmas to ponder over. Was Asriel their younger brother? Older? Did he look like them and Frisk? Why did Chara talk about him in the past tense?
Wade knows he's probably being silly, placing so much importance on a small bit of information, but Chara had given it willingly. Had seemed to trust him with it, in fact. Had-- if he could be allowed to be a little bit self-indulgent-- actually felt he'd deserved an explanation for their actions; deserved to know why they had been so angry that he'd failed to do what they had asked of him.
Wade sinks back on the bed and places his arms behind his head, tucking this valuable trinket in the safest recesses of his distracted, fractured mind.
Asriel was my brother.]
[2/2]
As Chara exits the room, they'll be able to find her easily, sitting on the floor in the hallway close to Wade's room and idly making sketches in the dust with her bone. As she looks up and sees the child heading towards her she suddenly straightens, getting to her feet like a soldier at attention, her fingers already at work signing frantic explanations:
Just waiting for you two to finish. Wasn't spying on you. Promise. Wouldn't do that. Not to you.]
no subject
I trust you.
[They do. In fact...
Glancing back at the door, for a moment, Chara crouches down, waving her closer.]
I have a favor to ask of you, if you don't mind. It is very important.
no subject
Just name it. Anything you want.
Someone might have a little hero worship going on here.]
no subject
Has Wade ever told you what a proxy is? [They doubt it, really. Not the typical wordage of day to day business in a castle environment.] It's when you're given permission to act for someone; do something that they can't.
So I'd very much like if you would be my proxy; a secret one. No one else can know, yes?
no subject
You have her full attention, Chara.]
no subject
A little closer, if you please.]