[network] Audio; @snailfan98; Lost child [open] Mid-Day 151

[inruins]

[The audio post begins with a rough cough. When the coughing fit ends a woman's voice speaks up clearly on the edge of panic.]

Please- if you're also in the tunnels, if you see Frisk, contact Enoch or myself immediately. They've run off in the other direction and we cannot find them. We have no time to turn back and search for them fully.

[Enoch's voice is lost in the background from another nasty coughing fit on Toriel's part. At best it sounds like he's trying to comfort her and drag her forward.]

They're likely trying to find their friend Quark. Quark, or those with the boy please keep an eye out for them.

Comments

@ASolomons; audio

[devoutish]

Fucking hell. Quark's fine.

[Well... okay, he's not fine. But he's alive.]

We've got him, and we've got a doctor. He'll be all right.

@snailfan98, audio

[inruins]

[Toriel sounds relieved as best she can given the roughness of her voice and panic still present.] Thank goodness. Thank goodness.

I know Frisk will not believe it until they see it. They must be headed towards where you are.

[devoutish]

A sick kid, alone in the cold? She's not gonna do well. We're at the chapel, far away.

[inruins]

I am more than aware of that. I'm hoping they can find you and find your lot well.

[devoutish]

You're in the tunnels, yeah? We're days away; a week. It's more likely you'll track her down yourselves before she gets to us.

[inruins]

They. Not she, they! [She corrects sharply back, willingness to overlook the assumption dwindling rapidly. Toriel is more than a little emotional in the moment.] Do you not think I've tried? Do you think I'd post to this network if I could find them myself?

WHOOPS I misremembered their location; pretend he just said a day or two away instead of a week away

[devoutish]

[He doesn't understand the correction at all - the concept of gender neutral pronouns is a bit out of his realm of experience, and he'd honestly be a bit skeptical if it were explained to him - but he doesn't bother to question it.]

I don't mean tonight - but tomorrow, and in the days coming. Now that you've put out the call, she's-- they're likely to be found and brought back, by you or someone close to you, before they get anywhere near us.

Gotcha

[inruins]

[Toriel would normally try to explain it- today is just a bad day for her. sorry Alfie Enoch's voice is distant in the background, quelling some of Toriel's anger.]

I see. My apologies for assuming. [One could assume she ended the feed from the lingering silence until her coughing starts again. It takes a moment before Toriel can speak.] We do intend on going to them tomorrow if the weather doesn't hinder our journey. Frisk has survived far worse, but- I worry and I want others to make sure they are well.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie sounds completely unfazed by the anger, and he doesn't try to pick at it, either - he has his limits, and purposefully antagonizing a scared mother would be one of them.]

We're meeting up with another group tomorrow, and splitting ourselves between a few houses. If we happen to run into Frisk, we'll hold onto 'em for you.

[inruins]

Thank you. Thank you for offering- even if you do not find them. [Relief is palatable enough here, be it with her voice shaking somewhat. Scared is about right given the many ways her child could be hurt in the snow or by an anomaly.]

[devoutish]

Mm. Wouldn't want to leave a kid to fend for themselves out here.

[inruins]

They've survived far worse, but I want them to have a chance to be a child. Not to need to be ready for what dangers the world can throw at them so soon. [She doesn't know every detail of Frisk's journey, but she can wager it was not easy or safe.]

[devoutish]

Mm. Hard to find a balance, between preparing them to protect themselves and giving them a proper childhood.

@determination, text, that evening

[despiteeverything]

[When they see this... they feel bad. They feel really bad. They hadn't wanted to scare Toriel this badly. They just... they wanted to help their friend. Even if they could only do a little. Even if they could only be with him. And he'd been so close, he'd been right there

They don't want to worry her, so they... stick to text for now.]

Hi Mom! I made it inside fine. Hope you're doing okay too. :)

[Yeah. .... yeah. Nailed it.]

@snailfan98, text

[inruins]

We are going to be having a discussion later, young one. You scared me senseless today.

[despiteeverything]

[Yeah, they should have known.]

Yes ma'am.

[Not even a "mom." They kind of feel like they don't deserve that right now.]

[inruins]

[Toriel is at least glad Frisk isn't protesting on what is to come. It means they know this was very likely the wrong thing to do. So she hopes.]

Stay safe until we meet again,

Remember, I love you, very dearly. Even when I am upset or frustrated, I will always love you.

[She doesn't want Frisk to forget, not that- not after the panic she felt at losing another child. At possibly never being able to tell her child she loves them again.]

text @Enoch

[warriorscribe]

I'm so glad you're safe, Frisk.

[He almost types "You've worried us a good deal", but they've had enough of that from Toriel. And most of that is Toriel's own worry, breeding extra nervousness and worry in himself.]

I can't say I wouldn't have done the same, were it my own friend. That doesn't make it a particularly wise thing to do.

Private to Frisk:

I know it's hard to think of it, and I know that repetition will most likely not help, but I cannot stress enough that you ran a great risk of dying. And I know death means little to you, under your conditions, and that you may yet return, but there remains a chance here that you will not. And it does mean something to you it does not for me, because you are a child.

I do not mean it the way Solomons did. Being a child does not make you less than you can prove. There are children your age in my world already taking on the responsibilities of the adults around them.

As a child, you are the future. Your entire life is potential to be found, and someone like you can only grow stronger as you grow into adulthood. Humanity needs kindness and joy like yours. Humanity needs strength like yours. A heart like yours is precious to everyone, monster, human, and whoever else might be represented wherever you go. That is why the chance - that significant chance - that if it stops beating here it will remain stopped forever, cannot be taken lightly even if you are unique among children.

@Ecks | text | afternoon

[ecks]

[It is already too late in the day to leave the school and survive the journey past the open field when Ecks sees this message. Nevertheless she stops what she is doing immediately.]

Which tunnels? When? Which other direction?

@snailfan98, text

[inruins]

[When she and Enoch finally come to a brief stop from walking Toriel sends Ecks direction with her reply.]
I am unsure of where you are, dear. But if you do see Frisk, please tell me.

[ecks]

I am going south from the school. Is it the south tunnels?

@quark; audio

[averytinyparticle]

I'm...I'm so sorry, Miss Toriel.

[His voice is strained in his apology. Clearly, he feels like this is completely his fault. He couldn't come to them, so they decided to come to him. But what if something bad happens again? What if they never make it? Then they'll have died and lose something too, just like he did.]

@snailfan98, audio

[inruins]

[Toriel's voice comes out rough, but soft. Even with her panic, she can stifle it to comfort a child.] You need naught apologize, Quark. You didn't do anything wrong. Frisk is... worried about you and... acting out.

@IAmLegend; video;

[definingfuture]

Are you okay?

@snailfan98, audio

[inruins]

[All the coughing mixed with talking has left her voice scratchy and Toriel has to clear her throat before speaking.]
I'll be fine soon enough. The coughing is just very persistent.

[definingfuture]

So, that's a no?

Is there anything we can do?

[inruins]

I have been checked over by physicians- but at best I can only really rest and hope for things will clear up soon.

[A cold should have faded by now, but Toriel isn't going to mention that. She doesn't want to worry anyone.]

[definingfuture]

You should rest. I know you're worried, but you need to take care of yourself too.

[He's worried anyway. She's right, he can't do much, but he still has concerns.]

[inruins]

I intend to rest when we find somewhere safe to stay for the night. [That much is true, Toriel knows she's going to need the rest if she's to find her child the next day.]

[definingfuture]

Okay. And I'm sure the others will help you look for Frisk. It'll be okay.

[inruins]

It will be. Things will be alright. [She gives a slow exhale before it catches on a cough. Dust comes up as she slows down turning the tablet away from herself. When it tapers off, Enoch helping her. Toriel speaks again.]

My apologies, young man. I had a bit of a coughing spell.

[definingfuture]

Is there someone with you?

[He's worried now. Toriel is obviously more concerned about her child, but Tony thinks she should worry about herself.]

You need to get rest.

[inruins]

Yes. I am traveling with a friend. He's managing to keep this old woman afloat. [She tries to joke, it all falls flat from how tired she sounds.]

I intend to. I need to be together for Frisk.

action

[warriorscribe]

They'll be fine, someone will find them, there are others coming to explore...

[And they can handle themselves, which falls flat with the knowledge that they only have such skill through learning in a way that other humans would not have survived. He keeps that part to himself, doggedly guiding Toriel along through the bitter cold.]

action

[inruins]

What if- what if they attract the attention of an anomaly? Will they be able to outrun it? [Even with the reassurances Toriel keeps looking back in the direction they came from. Worry is sharp on her features her arm looped with Enoch's own as they walk.]

[warriorscribe]

They will, I'm sure they will.

[His own breath into the neck folds of his cloak is a little too ragged for a relatively healthy man exerting himself in the cold - he's clearly worried, too, but trying to soften it for both of them.]

...Anomalies, they hunt by surprise rather than speed. Frisk is an observant child. They will not be so easily ambushed.

[inruins]

They enjoy surprise, but- sometimes the surprise can stun you long enough. [A hand clenches into a fist at her side. The small anomaly that looked like her son comes to mind and leaves her chest tighter than it already was.]

I know they are more than capable, but.. I worry.

[warriorscribe]

I know.

[That's the thing. She's going to worry. This is her child, there's no way she wouldn't. There's nothing he can do to make it easier, but he still has to try.]

I'm worried, too. Confident as I am in them, it would be heartless of us not to worry at all. All we can do is hope for the best.

[All he can do is try to encourage as much of it as he can.]

I'm sorry. I know nothing I say will make it any easier to bear until we know they're safe. I know that fear too well to think otherwise for a moment.