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[When the feed clicks on, Mettaton is at the camera, perfectly poised and smiling wide.]

Hello, Wonderland! Sorry for that little hiccup earlier!

[He fluffs his hair a bit, which definitely looks disheveled; an unusual deviation from his usual picture perfect looks.]

I had a small incident with Wonderland's local dream demon BUT! There's no need to fear, darlings, because your strong, amazing hero Mettaton repelled the evil doer! Wonderland is safe and so are the rest of you!

[He smiles, though it falters for just a brief second before he continues.]

Now, let's put this silly incident behind us, shall we? There's no need to worry about any of these shenanigans or torment yourself with worry over me (unless you want to, of course! ♥). I'm sure you'll see my shining face on the network sometime in the future again (minus any and all unauthorized uses of my brand) so I shall let you all return to your daily lives. Bye, darlings~!

[He pauses for a moment, blinks, and then hurriedly gives a cutesy wave and wink to the camera, though it's clear his heart isn't in it. The feed ends there.]

((ooc: Mettaton may respond to network responses but it will probably be sporadic due to the fact that he's feeling really rough right now. For anyone wanting to personally come and check on him, the door will have many latches and locks and Mettaton will not be opening his door for anyone other than close CR, if that. But he's fine. Absolutely fine! Totally.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why?

[It's a simple question, is it not? Why would it be his fault? What makes him a "fool" in his interactions? Bill saw an opportunity, but he sees an opportunity in everyone and everything he sees. He uses people. That's what he does. That's Ford says he does, and Ford...he'd know better than anyone.]

Why is it your fault?

[They keep asking and prodding and Mettaton grits his teeth. Why? Why? It's so obvious to him and Frisk wants so badly to believe in the good in him when it isn't there not beyond anything shallow that is required for a star!

He lets go of them and steps back towards his room.]

If you must know, Frisk, it's because I was the one who first talked to him when he got here. And kept talking to him, despite everyone's warnings and explicitly seeing the damage he's done.

[His voice is low and angry, though all the anger is directed at himself. He doesn't look at Frisk.]

I forged that connection with him, tended to it and kept it going in some fool-hardy effort to save my own ass and there's nothing anyone can say that would change that.

[He dug his own grave. Now he lies in it.]

So?

[Their brows curve down, their lips ironing out into a firm, uncompromising line. Maybe, maybe they're wrong to insist that he should stop this, all of this, but - how could they be? He didn't want to do it. He didn't mean anything terrible to come of it at all.

He's furious with himself. For opening a door and not closing it after. But who's to say it would have stayed close? Couldn't Bill have forced it back open, any time he liked?]

He's...strong. Stronger than anything else here. He could have done anything, he, he still does anything. You couldn't...you can't...control that.

[Their shoulders hike up to their ears, head ducking.]

He's...Ford said he's, that he's like that.

He's good at making you do what he says. Making you think it's your fault. Making you think that it was your idea.

[Their words slice and Mettaton closes his eyes. He still can't look at them. He wants to believe them so badly, feels the words scratching at his walls and he shudders.]

Ford did mention something along those lines.

[His tone is low and tentative. Again he gets this doubled feeling. Frisk's words resonate deeper than he likes and he doesn't think he has the energy to fight left after the initial outburst. It's taking everything he has to imagine himself still in his own body.]

I'm sorry, darling. I... there's a lot for me to process. I'm not thinking too clearly.

[So much has happened and Frisk is trying to help him bless their little soul. He doesn't deserve this.]

It's okay.

[They're trying to do too much. Too much, too fast, and it spills across the floor. Don't make this another mistake. Don't make this another broken promise, another error to be rectified, another person they've destroyed.

Don't make this another relationship that frays and falters, and falls to pieces.]

I'm...sorry. If you wanna be alone, I can...

[Leave, and make sure not to bother him unless he, unless he really wants them to.]

[He doesn't want to be alone. Not at all. But it's not about what he wants. It's about what he needs to do. And he needs to do right by himself and his mirror.]

I appreciate everything you've done for me, darling. Please understand that.

[He wants to reach out. He needs to feel something solid and living but he can't because it's silly and he can't depend on anyone other than himself.]

I should. Probably be alone for now.

[He turns away from them and towards his dark bedroom and tries to not shudder.]

...but I don't have to be alone for forever, all right? Please don't- Ah. ...never mind.

[Begging for someone to come and visit you sometime and not forget about you? Pathetic.]

[He needs to be alone. It's okay. It's understandable, after everything. He needs some time to himself, to affirm his own existence. Anyone would. Maybe - maybe to get used to the sensation of being alone in his own head.

They can't blame him for that. He deserves a break. To give himself a break.]

I can come back. Whenever you want.

[What else are they going to be doing? They'll be worrying about him either way, but at least with the latter they'll be able to worry about him a little less.]

[Whenever you want they say and it lessens the sting of letting them go. It makes the darkness of the room behind him look lighter. It's a promise of a future, of something beyond this well of despair and it is a welcome thought.]

Thank you, Frisk. I'll talk to you later.

[He wants to say more. That means a lot to me, I will remember this, Actually I changed my mind, could you please-.

Instead he settles for a weary smile, hoping against hope that it will convey what he can't find in himself to say as he steps back into the shadows.]

Okay.

[He retreats, and they only linger for a moment longer before departing. They shouldn't impose. Shouldn't press. The most they can do is be there if he needs them. And he can need them, and say if he does.

It's okay.]

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