Chapter Text
Death….was permanent, was it not?
Giving up your soul, sitting in the silence that followed afterwards, all thoughts coming to a quick stop in the solemn pocket of space. The feeling was prominent: emptiness; a long, grown-to warmth, suddenly taken from oneself, an event so heavy it left one to feel almost frigid—emotionless.
The wind suddenly seemed gone, life was still, as if the whole world had just paused all movement in that moment, leaving only a picture-still-like landscape. The ever-so-tall, clad in soft rose tree had stopped its shuddering–all was just silent and almost dead-like. Was this it? Clover had tried to prepare for the emptiness that seemed to swallow the air tightly around him, to understand the consequences of his sacrifice, but sitting there, amongst the view of the Underground’s capital, beneath that uneasily still cherry blossom, reality finally hit him hard like a cold shroud; he wasn’t coming back. Every breath, every small thought, every ghostly blink, and spine-chilling shudder that ceased to exist felt like a piece of him falling off into the abyss, shedding off meaningless time with every futile attempt to accept his fate.
Time felt like it barely progressed as he sat there, legs dangling off the crumbly, old stones of the aged balcony. All was still, all was silent, there was no longer a breath or heartbeat to hear amongst the windless afternoon. Everything seemed to come back to Clover, weighing heavily on his weak chest; his past actions, decisions, those he’d met; he missed it all. Even if he’d done this for the better, chose it himself, did it all for them, was it wrong to regret? Wish for it all back selfishly? To ache from the yearning for who he’d grown close to—considered family?
With heaviness weighing down his chest from the strike of sorrow that had fallen upon him, he’d decided a break from all would be what would help him best. As moments passed, Clover found himself idly wandering the Underground. After all, who knew how much longer there was until just pitch black for him? He might as well adventure in areas he hadn’t gotten the chance to.
Leaving the capital, he mindlessly wandered forward, emotions at an all-time low in his silent state; there wasn’t a lot to do anymore. Ceroba, Starlo, and Martlet were likely consulting Asgore with the soul, and towns felt empty without them. Clover could barely handle it any longer.
He missed them.
Badly.
Passing time the best he could, finding ways to distract his mind from the reality that his life was now, he’d eventually found his way into Waterfall, exploring parts he’d never had the chance to actually see, explore thoroughly; the views were eye-catching, utterly enticing; the watercolour-like shades of blue, purple, and pink that reflected off the miscellaneous stones and rocks in the caverned landscape of Waterfall danced gorgeously amongst the ever twisting loch, leaving for a beautiful sight almost akin to an aurora. However, amongst the beautiful sights, what caught his eye the most wasn’t the scenery or water, but a faded, almost shadowy, red figure hovering near a flower, one with such alluring colour.
Curiosity piqued, he watched in brief silence as he caught true sight of the figure, watching their small movements and noticing the little details of them that worked to only make them seem more captivating in his eyes while they looked over the sea-blue flower. The floral environment contrasted their eyes like sapphire to ruby rings. The sight alone was stunning, and the area too, only seemed to serve in surrounding the figure in pure elegance.
After a few seconds of gazing at the figure, he realized he’d been staring, making haste to break eye contact over them; looking anywhere but their direction as he attempted to figure out whether or not they had seen his less-than-subtle watch. He found himself to be a little nervous as he debated his next actions carefully; would he approach them? Talk to them? Or just watch from a distance?
Desperately hoping the person hadn’t seen his blatant staring to avoid causing even more awkwardness—at least for him—he watched the walls of the cave, looking at the different indents, rock structures, and the soft glowing of multicoloured stones that lined the walls of the structure amongst various bodies of water as he attempted to distract himself. Which, he technically succeeded in as he’d missed the fact that the person—the one he’d just been looking over—seemed closer to him, beside him even; almost looming over his shoulder.
Their sudden close proximity to him worked to make his heart skip a beat; he hadn’t expected them to have noticed him of all people—and ah, well that’s odd, he didn’t have a heart—soul…? Even in being dead, it seemed his body, or at least mind, still had some sort of reaction to the new presence; a seemingly… sweet-looking one at that, they looked soft—warm, like a beautiful, sun-bathed chrysanthemum standing lone amongst a cerulean sky. Oh god, he was getting lost again. Who even was this person?
“Why are you here.” The shadowy figure had spoken, breaking the silence that had been stirring between the two, their voice an odd calm in contrast to Clover’s internal panic. Though even in the seemingly relaxed state they spoke in, Clover couldn’t help but feel there was something a little deeper, colder, hidden in their tone, just below the surface when they’d addressed him. It felt more of a demand rather than a question; he found that choice didn’t seem to be much of an option at the moment.
After that small yet firm statement he’d received from them, his body had almost completely frozen, stiff enough in place he’d sworn he’d been able to feel a salty breeze pass right through him, almost shuddering involuntarily in response.
The figure, in seeing his quick pausing once they’d spoken to him, raised an eyebrow curiously. Clover could feel their gaze digging into his back. Cautiously, he turned his head to look at them, albeit a bit nervous after their coldish introduction that was….rather, less like a proper one. Introductions weren’t typically demanding from what he was used to…right?
“I’ll ask again, what business do you have being here.” They repeated, a slight edge of annoyance seeping through into their tone, as if they were holding back to keep the front of seeming composed.
“Are you…also dead?” The words had left Clover's mouth before he could stop them, his shoulders immediately tightening up as he stood awkwardly beside them, shocked by the words his own voice had uttered out.
“Ah, er—I mean, I was just wanderin around! Ha! Hadn’t gotten the chance to really see this wonder of a place, so, thought I’d look!” His voice seemed to leave in nervous pieces, unable to come together in a calm sentence to overpower what he’d said prior, leaving him desperately hoping they’d missed what he had blurted out.
Lifting a hand to sit at the back of his neck to rub at the skin, he let an awkward, almost forced chuckle leave his lips. Though this time, upon his old, habitual response to nervousness, when he didn’t feel the warmth of his hand at his neck, he paused momentarily, brief confusion painting his expression. Then he remembered. No longer was he corporeal, leaving there to be no texture, warmth, or familiar feeling of a hand at his neck. Right….Disappointing.
His small pause was quick as he snapped back to the current moment, awaiting the response anxiously, desperately hoping that they either missed what he’d said or just chose to ignore it.
Well, despite his name representing something tied to luck, never did it hold up to such for him, and right now was absolutely not an exception, because before he could even wish for some mercy from any higher being for what would continue next—even if there wasn’t really any deity he believed in….nor really knew; the opposing side spoke, leaving him to have wished he’d never replied, let alone have come here in the first place.
“Excuse me?” And that was all it took from the other person to have Clover wishing he was dead on the spot—er, out of the situation. Their tone was less than amused when they responded, leaving Clover dreading anything that was possibly said next.
“Did you just—“ They cut themself off, letting out a small sigh, their eyes closing as they processed once more what Clover had said, before tiredly opening them again to look at him, almost disappointedly.
Clover spoke up, interrupting them before they had the chance to finish, a little uncertain on whether or not he should really carry on after what had already slipped from his lips, “…Sorry?” The word had left his mouth hesitantly in a soft, almost hushed tone, and he couldn’t tell whether or not that had worsened the person’s annoyance or if they’d stayed the same.
It ended up seeming to be the former, as their expression had shifted into something more like straight exasperation clouded by the bafflement of the query the cowpoke had asked. “Yes, I am.” The words came out in a slightly huff-like tone, almost a begrudging scoff in reply to the earlier question.
Well, at least the response wasn’t on the too-horrible end, Clover had thought to himself. Though even with such an answer to his question, his curiosity prevailed, leaving him to voice yet another wonder. “So… you're a human too?” He asked, weight shifting lightly to one shoulder as his head followed with a small tilt.
“Do not address me as that.” All of a sudden, their tone went sharp, response quick as they stared at him with almost a snarl, leaving little room to question their words. Seemed they didn’t enjoy his comment. Again.
“I—Sorry…??” He stuttered out in a faint cough, caught off guard by their swift change in demeanour, having expected anything but the reaction they’d had, leaving a mark of disorientation on his face, his thoughts a muddle as he tried, tried his best to plan out a response before speaking, making sure the deliberation was there before words just left unorganized instead.
“Well, uh, is there a name that you’d prefer instead?”
…
Again, silence, and here he really thought he’d managed to think that one out.
“...Well, do you have a name?” He repeated, looking at them with curiosity, still attempting to refrain from getting lost in their gaze, especially with them still staring at him with dwelling irritation.
“Chara. Just. Call me Chara.” They answered almost grudgingly, as if they’d only acknowledged his request to avoid further questioning from Clover, which, in all fairness, was understandable with how many he still would’ve preferred answers to.
Their face turned to the side as their arms had crossed, looking off to the side, as if just trying to pretend the ghost in front of them no longer existed—at least that’s what Clover took it as.
“Well, …Chara, I’m Clover.” He stated in a slow manner, watching Chara’s expression, a hint of worry in his own as he gradually debated whether or not he just flee in the moment with how awkward it felt; however, he thought that to be unlike him, leading to him to an internal fight to keep himself there, not wanting to randomly abandon the newly introduced human; Chara.
Well…maybe they wouldn’t mind if he just took a moment while they weren’t looking, right? After all, they barely knew him, much less seemed like they wanted to, so would they really care if he gave them some space to breathe?
…Possibly for a few hours or so.
…or more.