futurology | VIDEO; UN: COOLSKELETON95

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VIDEO; UN: COOLSKELETON95

Hello, everyone!

[And to those who have yet to see a talking, walking skeleton, here you go.]

I wanted to first say good job to everyone who helped the villagers to safety! And also thank you to those who helped protect everyone! Everyone really did their best out there, and I think ALASTAIR will be very proud of us! I know I am. Hopefully now there can be attempts for real peace between the humans and the goblins!

[Although he doesn't agree exactly on the way everything went down, there's no point in bringing that up when he's trying to congratulate everyone.]

I do have another thing I wanted to ask, though.

[He rubs subconsciously at his wrist, and continues.]

I haven't heard from Koltira at all. I've tried calling him a few times, but he isn't answering his phone. So if anyone has seen him in the past few days, please let me know! I am worried about him.

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Oh.

[ Guess Alice ran into him as well. Papyrus feels a little more guilty he let the elf get away at all. ]

But that wasn't really him. That is, it was him but it wasn't him! He doesn't always act like that! It was very unusual!!

Ah.

[ Deep breaths. It's not enough to send her into a panic attack; she's been through much worse. In reality, Koltira was the lesser of evils she encountered. But it's a reminder of why she hates being touched so much and can't really stand others, sometimes. Maybe after all of this and this discussion, a walk is in order.

Yeah, that's it. There are worse things. Is a mantra often tells herself, much worse. ]

He could have hurt other people, Papyrus. [ Frankly, she still stands by the fact better her than that poor woman in the alley. ] Or worse.

...

[ Yeah, Alice is having some strong reactions to this. Maybe she did more than just run into him. He won't ask specifics, since she's obviously having trouble even saying this much. ]

I know. I shouldn't have let him outrun me. But that wasn't the Koltira I know. And I'm not going to give up on him.

[ Alice takes another moment to draw a breath, briefly closing her eyes, using her long dark hair to cover her neck. Years of psychological trauma should have toughen her up, not ripple through her like fingers touching still water. It's taking a lot for her not to scold Papyrus for looking for him.

Even Koltira's words bother Alice

"Let me flee the city."

"You did not listen to me."

There's really no words to describe the anger she's feeling at that moment. She hides it well, she bottles it down below along with anything else. ]

Do not blame yourself for someone else's actions. [ She settles a critical look on him. Now that she has a name to the face, she says it with some unease and a slither of anger. ]

What do you mean that it wasn't the Koltira you know?

[ Even with hiding her anger well, she can't completely take it out of her tone. He knows the sound of someone who's mad, even when they aren't trying to be, because it changes the way every word sounds. ]

I've spent time with him when he wasn't like that. He's usually very careful, and he's laughed with me too! I know it might not seem like it, if that's the only side of him you've seen, but I promise that's not how he always is!

[ She takes it in carefully and continue to chose her words carefully as possible. Papyrus seems like such a good soul, completely empathetic. Alice doesn't want to upset him, but it may be unavoidable in this conversation. She still is angry and yet, at the same time, she knows what it's like to be out of one's mind. But her actions have always been under her control, save the exception of a mild hallucination or two.

She's only acted out violently in order to protect herself. It's odd, she can relate, and yet, she can't fathom it, completely. ]

He still hurt quite a number of people and that's hard to forgive and forget.

[ Still, it makes her wonder. ]

Did he hurt you?

I know.

[Knows Koltira has hurt people. Knows he's hurt other people he considers friends. But had anyone else done the same thing Koltira did, he would do the same thing for them that he's doing now. ]

I don't... expect anyone to just forgive him. But he also hasn't been able to say he's sorry either! And maybe that's still not enough, but I'm not going to turn my back on him.

Sometimes, this is when a friend is what someone needs most. And I'm going to be that friend! ... Once I find him.

[Ugh, and then she asks that. He already lied to Sans about this, and he feels horrible for doing that. Alright, no lying to anyone else either. ]

A little bit. But it wasn't on purpose!

[ Papyrus surely can't be that naive, could he? Will he actually apologize? Alice still doesn't care he attacked her, as long as that one woman escaped. What angers her most is that innocent people were in harm's way. ]

He expressed a wish to flee the city, Papyrus.

[ He clawed his face, he was clearly torn. Alice isn't sure what to think right now and Papyrus is making her consider it, just a little. ]

I'm sure whenever he wants to be found, he'll be found. But there may be others who may not respond well if he shows again, myself included.

[ She wouldn't really hesitate stabbing him right now if she saw him again, conflicting feelings aside. ]

It might best to leave him be, for now.

[Sadly, yes, he can be that naive, since most of his life, there's been people looking out for him, and thus leaving him fairly sheltered.

Papyrus does know, however, that people might not react so well if they saw him again. But that's why he needed to find the other before someone more prone to violence did. Even though... even though Koltira said a similar thing to him. Don't follow me. And yet, here he is, trying to do just that.

Alice's reasoning does give him pause, though. Maybe it would be best to leave him be? But... He can't imagine the other is terribly happy right now, and he knows when he's really upset, the last thing he wants to be is alone. Sometimes a break is okay, but most of the time, he'd prefer company.]

... Can I ask something of you?

[ On her end, she's so used to people turning on her, after "helping". All of this -- even after the death of Michel -- is a bitter reminder of how people have acted in her world. Whenever they depart, Alice concludes to herself the safest thing to do is to hole back up with Gintoki.

At least he's trustworthy. ]

Of course you can, Papyrus.

[ She says gently and carefully, actually dreading what he may ask. ]

If you see him, can you let me know before you do anything?

[He's not going to tell her to not attack him, or not defend herself. He can't ask that of someone, if Koltira can't control himself. But at the very least, maybe she'll let him know so he can try and defuse things before they get to that point.]

[ Oh, no.

She wants to tell him that she won't hesitate to attack him, if she's threatened again. Alice glances down to her hands and then back to him. ]

I will try.

[ The way he moved was unpredictable; she couldn't really see a pattern to defend herself from him. And, well, it's hard to defend yourself when you're being strangled. ]

If I'm able to do so. [ Poor Papyrus! Alice hesitates with her next statement- ] He wasn't exactly rational or even in his mind.

I know. He was in pain. People hurt other people when they're in pain.

[He can understand if Alice might not be able to stop herself. Having restraint wasn't something he knew many monsters to have, let alone humans.]

...But thank you for saying you'd try. I know there's a good person in him. Even if doesn't seem like it right now... I know it's there! I know he can listen to me, he did it once. I just need to try harder!

[While somehow, keeping a distance. Sans made him promise that much.]

[ " People hurt other people when they're in pain."

He may as well be talking about Alice, herself; that's an awful reminder of the children she left behind. ]

I wouldn't bother if it weren't for you.

[ But still. ]

There is only so much one can do when another is out of their mind. You did what you could and that's what matters. Allow him distance for a small while and then try again. A friend can help, yes, but sometimes, when we are in pain and out of our minds, the best solution can come from within. We just have to find it.

[ She has a good point, and it's one he never thought of before. Congratulations, Alice! You talked him out of carelessly running into the woods to search for a violent, undead elf. ]

I think you're right. I'll leave him alone a little longer! I hope he gets my messages though.

And Alice...

I believe you'll do the right thing, if the time comes.

[ She just really can't bring herself to scold him or convince him that everything will be fine. It is true -- she wouldn't reconsider what happened if Papyrus didn't tell her.

Naivete aside, sometimes the world could use something more good-natured like Papyrus. She's forgotten what that felt like. ]

Pain may never go away, it takes time to heal properly. Give it some time; if he's a true friend, I'm sure that it will.

[ She feels for Papyrus the most. ]

Don't worry about what I'll do, care for yourself in the mean time. I'll find you should we cross paths again. I'm not entirely reasonable person, it sounds like he could use you.

Don't put yourself down like that, I think you're reasonable enough!

Oh! Speaking of caring for myself!!

Do you know anyone who has any healing magic?

[ A small, sad smile actually make it's way across Alice's face. If he only knew; maybe someday, she'd tell him. Certainly, Alice would feel more comfortable disclosing parts of her past with a skeleton than another person. ]

Mm, I think I may -- the only one I can think of Sieglinde. She would be able to help you. She's young, but she's bright and very talented.

...Oh.

I see. I think she's still sleeping though.

I'm sure there are others! I cannot think of anyone else directly. Truth be told, I don't like doctors that very much. If I'm hurt, I try to ignore it.

[ Which is a very stupid idea. ]

Me too!!!

[ this ISN'T SOMETHING TO BOND OVER PAPYRUS?????? ]

But it's worrying Sans now, so I really ought to have it healed.

Which is why "healers" are slightly better.

[ OF COURSE IT IS. IT'S AN EXCELLENT THING TO BOND OVER. At least he has no skin or blood veins for leaches. Lucky guy. ]

No, we can find someone, so then that Sans doesn't have to worry, alright?