But if they d-don't believe me, they're just going to think I'm mocking them. I'm gonna make it worse. E-Every time we talk, it just, they yell at me, or, don't want to remember I exist. Interacting with them just, m-makes everything worse.
[It might not be perfect, but she does feel like she... tried, to make contact with them before. Be okay in their presence. But Asriel came and went and reopened too many old wounds. She doesn't know how to approach it now.]
As I said. You can't force them to believe you, but you can believe in yourself that what you say is true. And it is. Even if they yell or are angry, it doesn't change that you are sorry. And maybe one day, they'll listen.
[He gives her shoulder a comforting squeeze.]
Besides, if they resort to violence, you can have me nearby to scoop you up and we can both run like hell.
[She lets out an ugly snort of laughter at the last line. Well, at least he isn't totally on Chara's side. That's nice.]
I just... d-don't want to make everything worse than before. Like, m-make them think I'm mocking them or something, because it's not like that, it's just... y-yknow.
[Like everything she does is One Big Mishap.]
Maybe, uhm... a letter or s-something would be better. I don't know.
[He personally thinks that Chara would do better than that. No matter how much they front, they are not the manipulative beast they say (and think) they are. But, even if they were, Mettaton cares about them AND Alphys. He wants them both to be happy. Even if he's pushing for one side doesn't mean that Alphys is any less important to him.
...Even though he's been pulling away as of late.]
A letter could do nicely! It spares you both a direct confrontation that might escalate things, and it gives you time to clearly dictate what you mean.
[Haha well Chara would do better if they cared enough about her to sacrifice something on their end, but that's literally never going to happen, sooooo...]
[He puts an arm around her shoulders, warm and comforting.]
To be completely fair, a lot of things have happened between now and then. Just remember that you're still a good person, even if you have to apologize sometimes.
[He goes to say "I'm always here for you" but stops himself before the words slip out. Even if he was (which he is) she'll still... she has better friends who could comfort her. Ones she'll keep once she wises up to Mettaton's superfluous place by her side.]
There's a lot of people here in Wonderland who care about you, Alphys. Never forget that.
[She can tell he's trying to calm her down, but he seems... distant. Like he's only doing it because she should fix her mistake. He's angry, isn't he? Of course he is. This sort of thing is something he'd take personally.
He's siding with Chara. He cares about Chara more than her.
It's fine. It's fine! Chara deserves more friends. They've been through a lot worse than she has, and they have more problems than she does, too. It's fine.
So fine.]
... Yeah, I, o-okay. I'll, uhm. I'll t-think about, uh, what to say.
[He's actually pretty happy with this outcome. Even if he's not being as open as he'd like. But that's fine. This is the moment where he pulls away and says good bye, and then continues doing what he has to do. You can see him moving his arms right now-
To wrap her into a bigger hug, apparently. That was not the plan, Mettaton.
He should probably say something to explain this impromptu hug, but he doesn't trust that he won't spill something. He doesn't trust himself not to open his mouth and tell her that he knows that she'll leave him and that it's fine, really, he'll make do without her, so she doesn't have to cling on any longer than she needs.
So he selfishly holds onto her. For just a little longer.]
[He's... oh. Is this reassurance? Maybe he knows she could tell he's not entirely happy with her. Maybe they've just been friends so long that he can tell when she's worried.
She'd like to believe he's that astute to her emotions. That he's paying any attention at all.
So she presses her hands flat against his chassis before curling them up again, leaning her head on his chest. Just take this. As much as he's willing to give. That's all she can ask for, after all, being second best.]
[He holds the hug for awhile. Probably longer than he should have. It certainly doesn't seem innocuous when you hold your best friend for like, a minute straight but he doubts Alphys will say anything.
Even though he kind of hopes she will.
Finally, though, he lets her go, slowly unwinding his arms from around her.]
Well, I suppose I should get going now. I don't want to bother you for too long. Even if that is my job.
[He smiles at her and tries to inject his usual flair into it so it doesn't seem strange or off.]
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[It might not be perfect, but she does feel like she... tried, to make contact with them before. Be okay in their presence. But Asriel came and went and reopened too many old wounds. She doesn't know how to approach it now.]
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[He gives her shoulder a comforting squeeze.]
Besides, if they resort to violence, you can have me nearby to scoop you up and we can both run like hell.
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I just... d-don't want to make everything worse than before. Like, m-make them think I'm mocking them or something, because it's not like that, it's just... y-yknow.
[Like everything she does is One Big Mishap.]
Maybe, uhm... a letter or s-something would be better. I don't know.
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...Even though he's been pulling away as of late.]
A letter could do nicely! It spares you both a direct confrontation that might escalate things, and it gives you time to clearly dictate what you mean.
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I'll... f-figure something out.
[She sighs big, puts her face in her hands.]
... I didn't even, uhm, r-remember. I'm horrible.
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To be completely fair, a lot of things have happened between now and then. Just remember that you're still a good person, even if you have to apologize sometimes.
[He goes to say "I'm always here for you" but stops himself before the words slip out. Even if he was (which he is) she'll still... she has better friends who could comfort her. Ones she'll keep once she wises up to Mettaton's superfluous place by her side.]
There's a lot of people here in Wonderland who care about you, Alphys. Never forget that.
[They can take my place when I'm gone.]
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He's siding with Chara. He cares about Chara more than her.
It's fine. It's fine! Chara deserves more friends. They've been through a lot worse than she has, and they have more problems than she does, too. It's fine.
So fine.]
... Yeah, I, o-okay. I'll, uhm. I'll t-think about, uh, what to say.
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[He's actually pretty happy with this outcome. Even if he's not being as open as he'd like. But that's fine. This is the moment where he pulls away and says good bye, and then continues doing what he has to do. You can see him moving his arms right now-
To wrap her into a bigger hug, apparently. That was not the plan, Mettaton.
He should probably say something to explain this impromptu hug, but he doesn't trust that he won't spill something. He doesn't trust himself not to open his mouth and tell her that he knows that she'll leave him and that it's fine, really, he'll make do without her, so she doesn't have to cling on any longer than she needs.
So he selfishly holds onto her. For just a little longer.]
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She'd like to believe he's that astute to her emotions. That he's paying any attention at all.
So she presses her hands flat against his chassis before curling them up again, leaning her head on his chest. Just take this. As much as he's willing to give. That's all she can ask for, after all, being second best.]
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Even though he kind of hopes she will.
Finally, though, he lets her go, slowly unwinding his arms from around her.]
Well, I suppose I should get going now. I don't want to bother you for too long. Even if that is my job.
[He smiles at her and tries to inject his usual flair into it so it doesn't seem strange or off.]
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[Or at least that both of them have something to think about.]
I'll, uhm... s-see you soon?
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[He says it immediately, even though he knows it is a lie. It's a filthy lie and he hates himself just a little for it.
But it's ok. It will all be ok. Because she has Sans. And Ford. And everyone else who loves and cares about her. It's fine.
She doesn't need him anymore.
He gets up and walks to the door, giving her a small wave as he walks out.]
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