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The cage, with human soul and parts. They're the one who's meant to be encaging you. so you wonder, why? Why do they seem more trapped than me?
Kris lumbers weakly to their bed, tired and hapless from the long day.
As they collapse onto the bed, you find yourself lost in thought. Why does this enby have to be the one who has to give up every part of themself? they give up their autonomy, they watch their crush fall in love with another person, they have nothing in their room, nothing to their name except this stupid cage. Its not fair! Do their parents think this is normal?
You thought that It cant have always been like this, when did they stop being themself? It must've been when they lost dess, the guilt overtook them. They distanced themself from others and fractured their relationships. And they stopped wearing anything they wanted. Not even their horns.
You thought about how all they wear is their Brother's hand-me-downs.
You thought about how In the dark worlds, they looked so much happier when they got to wear the things they wanted. They looked so cool in those heels - And even though they keep up the stoic act - they looked like they were Glowing in those heels. And they were a natural at walking in them… like they had practice
You thought about how much ralsei knows about Kris, how they always prioritze their autonomy over everything, how they gave them a closet with any outfit they could ever dream of… there were dresses in their closet. and you thought about what that says about what Kris wants.
You thought about the “spray for the boys”
How it laid untouched.
"they really are in a cage." you thought
…
...
…
you thought about that weird place, man-country.
Something clicked in your mind…
Something else clicked alongside that one.
"I think i finally found a way to do right by you." you thought.
****************************
in the morning, you took extra time roaming around their house.
You were looking for something this time.
In their golden, cozy hallway, you skeeted pass the books, pass their room even,
You made kris feel around on top of the door frame to their Mother's room.
"Lemme see, my mom always put it here; maybe toriel does the same…" you thought.
CLATTER
No fucking way! there! The key! You make Kris pick it up, and quietly-as-they-could unlock their mother's door.
Arright, there ought to be something good in here right? You dig through toriels closet. Robes, church gowns… pistol? I guess thats normal American Suburban mom stuff……. Oh? Toriel! You dog!
…
…
The further you dug, the deeper into the past you got, down into keepsakes from her teenage days, a prom gown, band-tee… yada yada yada… wait, there, there it is.
It was a beautiful blue dress, mid skirt length, fit for a real princess. Albeit a very humble princess.
"… okay, will this even work?" You thought,
You go into the menu, crossing your fingers.
"please let me equip it onto kris…"
It was there, in their inventory, you could actually do it, you could actually make them do it. Maybe, just maybe you could finally do something nice for them If only just this once.
Check - your mother's dress, …You haven't seen it in years.
you hesitate for a second, only a second. You press use.
Will this make them wear it.
For a second, nothing happens. For another second, nothing happens. You hold your breath.
Kris's breathing grows funny. Their head tilts away from the screen unnaturally.
Suddenly Kris's hand jerks into the air and they plant it firmly into their chest, they push past flesh and bone, and grab onto You.
They pull you out, pulling you into their mercy. Holding in stifled pained grunts.
For the first time, you heard Kris speak.
Like really speak. You could read the text box and everything.
“No. …no.” They started, voice broken from a mix of fear, confusion and underuse.
“You- you cannot m… thats not for me, I'm.. This-...” they glared at the dress, clutching tightly onto it. Too tightly, they release it slightly. As if it said something about themself if they held on.
“How did you know I… you, you. i HATE you.” They take a deep breath.” Not only do you have control over me but you just… do whatever the fuck you want… i dont want… to..”
you say "I'm sorry I just wanted to ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶e̶n̶ help."
…
…
But nobody heard,
“why cant you stop interfering with things more then you already have to, why do you always have to mess with my life?! Why do you ca-?! I- i just.” they blabbered, biting back complete utter rage. Barely able to finish a sentence.
They wanted to rip you In half, but they were nothing without you. Why.
If they really didnt wanna wear it then why are they so okay with it in the dark worlds? You thought they'd want this. Guilt twists within you. "Shit, I misjudged this. I'm, I'm sorry Kris."
...
...
But nobody heard.
Suddenly, they hear the door click and shove You into their pocket in a split second. Simmering down in a micro instant. You don't understand how they could put their act back on so fast.
“Kris? What are you doing in here? We need to get to school.” their mother said, extremely confused,
Kris froze, every fiber in their body was screaming as they turned beet red and beads of sweat formed on their forehead.
Toriel scanned the scene before her,
“Kris? Are you…”
“Oh! Hee hee, That dress AGAIN? What is your little obsession with it Kris?” she said, half-heartedly covering her mouth as she giggled.
Kris's body somehow tensed more than it already had, their hand subconsciously gripped you.
They did NOT want You to hear this.
“Though, I suppose you haven't stolen it in years! This takes me back to your childhood, my child! What were you ever doing with it? Was it not for dress-up with Noelle? but oh, it was much too oversized.” she said affectionately , hand cupping her cheek thoughtfully as she remininisced.
Oh. Definitely now, you were more sure than ever. Back when they were a kid and didn't know how to hide it, of course they'd do that.
No wonder it struck a chord, They're, they're not ready. Not like this. Not in this world.
“Phew, you had your mother scared a burgular found their way in here! Now stop horsing around, my child. It is time for school.”
****
kris ran back to their room, gently closing the door and then violently clobbering you back into the cage.
They really dont want to deal with your shit today. To be honest you can’t blame them.
“Stay put, shit-lips.” they menaced. Cringe little baby
"Whatever. You'll be back, Kris. Nothing plot relevant happens without me present! Have fun at school." you told them.
…
…
But nobody heard.
Kris turns their back to you, you cant help but notice they still held onto that dress, they didn't have to, they said they didn't want to, but they did.
Thinking you weren't able to see, they discreetly tucked it into their drawer.
Eyeing you, they slammed the door.
You were glad you weren't in them. They wouldn't be able to go into a dark fountain today. They could be a kid instead of the fucking… “Cage with human soul and parts.”
Shit's been stressful lately, they deserved this.
They deserved to hang out with Susie normally, to visit Ralsei and bond without needing to worry about anything. Without a plot pushing them forward.
You sigh as Black takes over your vision.
INTERESTING.
VERY,
VERY
INTERESTING.
NONE OF THIS
WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN.
…
YOUR POWER.
IT'S
BREATH-TAKING.
YOU ARE BREATHING
LIFE.
INTO THIS WORLD.
YOUR GRASP,
YOUR UNENDING CURIOSITY,
HAS EXPANDED
MY DELTARUNE.
…
PERHAPS,
PERHAPS I SHOULDN'T
INTERVENE.
NOT YET.
***********************
You are thrusted back into this world, barely able to comprehend what just happened, it is seemingly hours apon hours later, dead into the night. if the night was once young it is now an elderly woman crocheting her 80th granny square that day.
You were just happy you didn't need to spend your time waiting for Kris to come back in this now apparently procedurally generated game.
afterall you had many better things to do, like doomscroll on pinterest. Or doomscroll on youtube,
Kris walks into their room, smiling, blushing, albeit sickly. They barely even acknowledge you exist.
They have cute little braids in their hair. You wonder who gave it to them, you wonder if it's why they're so happy.
They jump into bed, hugging a large pillow as if it were a person. Snuggling their face into it. …They look so comfy.
but they can't sleep. They can't.
They sit up. Staring at their dresser. You can't see their face, but you think even if you could, their expression would be indecipherable.
They've probably been thinking about it all day.
Their hands shake stupidly, and they jerk it quickly to the drawer.
They open it,
They take out the dress.
…
…
They smile.
It fits them perfectly.
Despite being without their soul for hours, now in this dark, blue empty room, they smile brighter than you could ever glow.
Maybe they could be okay.
Their smile here and now convinces you completely.
It doesn't have to be now, but sometime in the future, they could stay like this, and they won't feel the need to hide it anymore.