Side Plot - Blog Posts
Before the Anger- episode 60, "What is a God? (pt. 1)"
Holy shit Gaster, chill. That went from 5 to 100 in just a few panels.
I am very sparse with physical touch in BTA. That's so that when you see characters physically close to each other, it has more meaning. The reason for the meaning in touch is because in this AU, with no magic and a kill-or-be-killed mindset, being close is a huge vulnerability. So, look out for physical touch in my comics :)
Guys!!! Guess what?! New side story starts today! Here you go:
((Chara was sitting on the window sill of the rounded window in Toriel’s home. It was large enough where she could comfortably fit her entire body, like a chair. As she looked out the window, her skirt and hair pooled over the sides of the sill, she almost looked peaceful. But as Asriel got closer, he could see her twitching mouth and her hands clutching her stomach, as always.))
Lets see where this storyline goes! :)
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Before the Anger side story:
"((She had no Appetite.))"
This is the first relevant side story in BTA. It follows Chara as she first entered the underground and her fear of monsters.
Click "keep reading" to read the full side story :)
(1) Chara had no appetite. She stared at Toriel in the kitchen, who hummed a song and bounced on her feet as she crossed to the stove. The same confusion every time. Chara counted the seconds it took for Toriel to remember that her fire magic no longer worked. Exactly six. Toriel laughed to herself and turned to Chara. “Hey, sweetie, would you like to help me in the kitchen?” Chara knew exactly what was going through Toriel’s mind. “Family bonding”
(2) Chara decided to humour Toriel and joined her in the kitchen. She even pretended to smile and said, “Sure, Mother.” and seeing Toriel’s face light up made Chara’s smile genuine. What a stupid woman. Chara stood beside Toriel, looking up into her piercing eyes. Being this close to such a creature made Chara’s hands tremble, so she made a tight fist.
(3) “Here, child, you can cut up the carrots!” Toriel offered Chara a knife with a big smile. Chara’s hands felt ice cold; the knife, the sharp edges catching the light; Toriel’s disgusting, monstrous grin; her claws grasping the handle. Chara raised a hand to her mouth to cover her disgust and rushed out of the kitchen without a word. Toriel watched her leave, a confused tilt in her head.
(4) That night, Chara didn’t eat. Or the next, or the night after that. Toriel and Asgore were concerned, but being that they didn’t know much about humans, they had assumed Chara had a different diet. And in any case, the other monsters were getting curious about Chara’s existence and wanted answers, so they arranged a QnA at the castle- with Chara’s permission, of course.
(5) Today was the day of the QNA. Chara calmed her nerves and looked out on the crowd full of horrible creatures. She had no appetite. Her stomach ached. Her hands twitched. Her mouth curled into a sickening grin. As she approached the monsters, Asriel finally caught up to her side, out of breath. “Are you excited?” Asriel asked, an innocent squeak in his voice. Chara stroked his soft ear.
(6) Suddenly, Chara felt puny and defenseless against the towering, snarling, grinning monsters. They clawed for answers. Chara’s own breath suffocated her. She could hardly feel her feet as they sprinted toward any semblance of safety. But every corner was unknown, full of terrible surprises. Chara collapsed, finally, on a secluded ledge in Waterfall, curled into a ball of sobs and fear.
(7) Chara heard something behind her and jolted to attack. The second before her fist was about to land, she pulled away. It was only Asriel. Asriel was shaken, but continued toward her anyway, his eyes large with surprise. “Why’d you run away, Chara?” Chara caught her breath, soothed by his childish voice.
(8) “It’s hard to… to be the only one of your kind in a big, scary new world. Can you imagine if you landed in a world with only humans, no friends?” Chara explained. Asriel paused for a moment, then sat down in front of her. “You have me! We are friends, right?” Asriel held his breath as he waited for Chara’s response. Chara smiled and pet Asriel, “Yeah. It’s just you and me against the world, buddy.”
(9) Toriel searched for Chara and Asriel, the worst in her mind. She worried this would happen, with Chara skittish behavior around other monsters. Finally, Toriel found them in Waterfall. When she asked what happened, Asriel stood up and said “Chara and I wanted to go for a swim.” Toriel furrowed her brow. Asriel was only six years old, he had never lied to her before. Asriel clutched Chara’s sleeve with a nervous smile.
Episodes with this side story: 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50
Before the Anger side story:
"((The Monster with No Name))"
I recently finished the first side story, which was just a test and hardly contributed to the episodes themselves. Now that it's done, I'm making a post where you can read it all in one spot instead of having to flick through all of the links.
Click "keep reading" to read the story! ;)
(1) Elaine was nothing but a small, barely-teenage girl when she stormed to Undyne's doorstep in search of refuge. She knocked at the door with the tips of her feet and waited for a response. She waited all night.
(2) Elaine heard footsteps behind her and quickly shot up off the doorstep. An unsuspecting Undyne stepped into her yard to see the young girl standing defiantly.
(3) Undyne noticed Elaine's eyebags and, being well acquainted with young, aspiring royal guards begging to be taught, smiled and said, "Have you been here all night?" Elaine stared, stone-faced. "Yes. I need to talk to you."
(4) Undyne titled her head and spoke humorously, "You're not trying to challenge me, are you?" she was referring to Elaine's poor condition; exhausted, dirty, and somewhat wounded. Elaine shook her head. Amused and mildly concerned, Undyne invited the strange girl into her home to chat.
(5) Undyne gestured for Elaine to sit and she awkwardly obliged. "So, a random armless kid I've never met wants to talk. I have to say, I'm intrigued" Undyne said between a laugh, setting her coat and bags on the ground.
(6) "My sister stole my arm prosthetics... and she died with them." Elaine explained. Undyne's tone immediately shifted from lighthearted to serious. She sat across from Elaine and cleared her throat, "Well, I'm sorry for your loss."
(7) “Actually, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about. I ain't got any more family left… You're kind of my last option.” Elaine bounced her leg nervously, intimidated by Undyne's stature. Undyne scoffed and raised her eyebrows, “Well, you must be pretty desperate considering we are strangers.”
(8) Elaine temporarily lost her determined posture and mumbled, “Yeah…” There was silence as they both recollected themselves. Undyne broke the quiet, “I was… in a similar position when I was a kid, about ten. I know you don't want to hear this- I know I didn't- but… you gotta get a caretaker.”
(9) Elaine recoiled subtly. She was dreading those words. Leaning back in her chair, Elaine said, “I don't want some royal stranger taking care of me.” Undyne shook her head, “Nobody does, but-” Undyne paused and quickly raised her hand to her mouth like she thought of something.
(10) “I do know somebody who recently became a caretaker.” Undyne continued, “He's one of the sweetest, most understanding people I've ever met. He's been having trouble even finding somebody to take care of since most children, y’know, run. Kinda like what you're doing.” Elaine sighed, “Okay… and who's this ‘wonderful person’?”
(11) Elaine jumped out of her chair and exclaimed, “PAPYRUS!? He's a caretaker?? When did that- how did that-” Undyne stood up to calm Elaine down. “It was very recently. I can pull some strings with the royal caretakers, easy. But do me a favor and don't mention me to Papyrus when you meet him, okay?”
(12) Seeing as the conversion was finished, Elaine started to leave, but was stopped by Undyne. “Wait,” she said, “I need a name to refer to you as.” Elaine made a dreadful sigh, knowing this question would come up. “Legally? ‘Elaine’. But nobody has ever called me that before.”
(13) “So what do they call you?” Undyne asked. Elaine shook her head and started a list, “Kid, Armless, Trippy, little Jailbird… really anything you can think of. It was the same with my mom and sister. I never even learned what their real names were.” Undyne tilted her head, shocked, “What a strange tradition. What about you? What do you WANT to be called?”
(14) Elaine had a stupid look on her face; brow furrowed, eyes wide. She had never been asked that before. Elaine inhaled, fixed her face, and looked Undyne right in the eye, “Elaine. I want to be called Elaine.”
(15) So she was. All through the process of being assigned the caretaker, people looked right at her and called her “Elaine.” She’d never felt such a feeling before. All the way to Papyrus’s house, hearing the door open, seeing his face. He smiled and said, “Elaine, it’s nice to meet you!”
(16) Elaine and Papyrus had gotten to know each other. Months had passed. They were close, like an older, responsible brother and a found sister. Papyrus wasn’t what Elaine had expected. He didn’t try to be a “father figure”, but his presence brought the same comforting energy anyway. But there was one question Elaine had: why would Papyrus quit being a royal guard?
(17) One day, Elaine had come back from royal guard training with the question burning in her mind. She mustered her courage and asked, “Papyrus, why did you… quit?” He was sitting on the couch and slowly turned to face her, like he had expected it. He sighed, “I assume they’ve taught you all about the Goddess?” Elaine raised her eyebrows. This was not the answer she’d expected.
Episodes with this ((side story)): 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39!
(18) “Of course I know about her. She’s the basis of the entire royal guard!” Although it wasn’t relevant, Elaine felt compelled to say, out of pride, that, “When I was 10, I met her! Well, I think. I’m not sure, but she looked pretty human-like.” Papyrus stood from the couch and smoothed his jacket, “I met her too. Before everyone knew she was the… fallen one. I didn’t have the knowledge I do now and…” Papyrus looked uncomfortable, “Well, let’s just say, if she ever comes back, she’s not gonna be very happy with me. So I left the royal guard. I don’t deserve to protect her.”
Before the Anger- episode 28, "Study"
Passionate Siqua is a rare but fun treat.
((“Actually, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about. I ain't got any more family left… You're kind of my last option.” Elaine bounced her leg nervously, intimidated by Undyne's stature. Undyne scoffed and raised her eyebrows, “Well, you must be pretty desperate considering we are strangers.”))
Are you wondering who Elaine is? Patience please :)
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