*click*
*ding ling ling*
A happenstance pause in conversation seemed to align with the clock striking seven hours past noon. The clock made that sound every hour. Yet something seemed to make everything in the air tilt this time.
"You all forgot."
Chara's eyes looked at Asgore, Toriel, Snowdrake, and Annoying Dog with an eerie emotion. Their irises had the discontent of a soul in hell, yet the serenity of someone who was asleep.
"You said that I would be a welcome part of this home and this kingdom a long time. That I would truly belong. And that exactly one year from the day I fell, you would throw me the most delightful anniversary party, one worth forgetting about parties in the village. You promised. I remember, it was at seven."
Chara took the last bit of pie crust off their plate with their thumb and forefinger and popped it into their mouth. Then with perfect calmness, they observed their plate was clear, and dropped it onto the ground, letting it shatter. Chara was not scolded. All the monsters instead had a look of shock and regret.
"It's.. there's so many things," Asgore stuttered.
"I became so distracted by the events of the day." Toriel explained, trailing off.
"I forgot the very next day after I learned what the anniversary was specifically because it was an adult that told me, but I guess that ain't fair to you." Snowdrake admitted.
Annoying Dog lied on the table and whimpered, not particularly happy.
Would things have turned out this way, if thoughtful monsters like the Loox and Manticore had stuck around and had a chance to remember? Or the monsters hadn't injured Spelling Lizard and sent Annoying Dog to console him, distracting both parents from the day's date?
Asriel returned from his room, with no reptile in tow. "Seven passed, didn't it?" he remarked knowingly. "Chara was afraid you might forget their anniversary. I gave them a present from me this morning. I remembered."
Chara turned their head to look at Asriel for a moment, their lips smoothly transitioning into a smile when they looked at their brother, then sliding back to a more disdainful look when they returned to regarding the others.
Snowdrake looked embarrassed about hearing Chara had received a gift, and felt as though he should at least be sure to give Chara a belated gift. Snowdrake rummaged in his own plumage and produced a small picture frame that he planned to plant on a Gyftrot, but could repurpose for the occasion. He also had a red marker, that he had planned to use for graffiti on that same Gyftrot
"H-happy belated anniversary. You could use this for photos, and draw and customize it and stuff."
Chara's expression did not directly demonstrate forgiveness, but their hands picked up the picture frame. After briefly admiring it, they stowed it in their pocket along with the market. It seemed like acceptance.
Annoying Dog observed this gifting process, and walked across the table to make his own offering. He coughed a couple times, then spat up a shiny red bauble, one he kept in cases of opportunities to play catch.
Chara declined to touch the salivia-drenched orb while it was still damp, but they gave the dog a brief pat on the forehead.
"I will hide this for you, someplace very tricky. You can retrieve it again, and it will be the greatest game of fetch."
Chara then looked at Asgore and Toriel. It was as though the ability of Snowdrake and Annoying Dog to provide at least a belated gift pushed their disappointment in their guardians to the next level. The spouses felt so empty, guilty, and ashamed. Chara had done little to ensure they remembered, but had done everything to ensure their own parents felt like dog residue if they forgot, all year.
"The pie was dinner just because it's dinner time. But for your anniversary you will get a special dessert." Toriel blurted.
"And tea, but with special sea flavoring." Asgore added.
The pair hustled back into the kitchen, where there was a cacophony of rushed noises of preparation.
They re-emerged with their offerings.
Asgore was holding a cup of tea, which was only as hot as the tea that was already being prepared anyway, but was special in its blue-green swirls from a novel flavoring. He set it in front of Chara, having plenty of room for the cup since Chara had obliterated their dining space earlier. "The finest for my child."
Toriel had also had no time to prepare. She had a treat that she had used to cheer Asriel's spirits many a time, but had always served thoroughly cooked. She had no idea that the cooking was what made it safe, only that Asriel preferred them that way. In fact, Asriel's birthday was in just four days, and if that hadn't slipped her mind, she would have already cooked the treat in advance.
"And here are seven buttercups, to go with your tea. You'll love them, my child, they're delicious."
Chara looked at their offerings, seeming to reserve judgment for a moment. Then, first, they took a curt sip of their tea, followed by a deeper sip that showed they liked it. Their lips did not curl with pleasure, but their eyes slightly gleamed.
Then they looked at the lovely buttercups. They were hesitant about the idea of eating flowers, as it was something they hadn't tried before.
Asriel grasped their hand encouragingly. "I can vouch that they taste delightful. You deserve something special, sibling."
Chara smiled at their brother, and ate the first buttercup in one confident bite, which was followed by a surprised, satisfied smile. The buttercup was delicious - but a twisted part of Chara also delighted in destroying something so beautiful so completely.
They snapped the stems of the other six flowers like necks, and ate all of the rest of them too, one by one.
When they had finished, something felt right about it. It was as though although their world seemed to urgently need remaking when the clock first struck seven, but now the way things had gone, perhaps this was a world that had already been remade. Just for Chara.
They stood from their chair to embrace their brother in a warm, endearing hug.
"As long as there is one person I can deeply count on, I think I have place here. Promise me, Asriel?"
Chara's pleading words were all spoken quietly into Asriel's ear while they still embraced, so quiet no one else could hear.
"No matter what. I promise."