crowspace | The Alternate Universe Meme

My darling son was in pain and I wasn't there to comfort him - so I have to apologize anyway.

[He really wants to hug him, despite everything. It's a father's natural instinct, even when they're bitterly fighting.]

[He looks surprised. Shocked even, that Cherry still wants to refer to him like that. After all, they aren't actually related at all- he's not bound by any obligation. His nose wrinkles as he tries to stop himself from leaking everywhere like he's 10 years younger then he is.

And part of him realizes that this attachment is what put them both in this state of pain. Black was right all along- he can't say he regrets it though. Maybe he really is a masochist]

And I'm... sorry I couldn't help you, either.

[Family is family, no matter what they do, no matter what becomes of them. If Cherryblod could shed those ties once he's put them on, they wouldn't have had this argument.]

...Understand if you don't trust me near you, after all that, but you look like you could use a hug right now.

[And despite everything that's hurting him now - it's always his first instinct to comfort the people he loves.

He won't take a step toward Yosuke if he doesn't receive permission. He's a dangerous man who's upset over the loss of his son, after all - feeling threatened would be sensible. But he won't hurt Yosuke.]

[He knows Cherry can fake sweetness. Could take him in his arms and snap his neck with that same smile.

Kinda like Mettaon. Only Mettaton was more honest. But after everything Yosuke doesn't have it in him to deny Cherry. Even as he was just saying the man was dumb for being so trusting. He's a hypocrite himself- I mean, one just had to look over at Will to know that.

So he slowly walks into Cherry's space, resting his forehead on his shoulder]

[Today, Yosuke's trust is well-placed. Cherryblod wraps his arms around Yosuke in a gentle, soothing hug, lightly stroking Yosuke's hair.]

It's all over now. You can let everything out.

[Killing two men can't have been easy for Yosuke, and even though Cherry hates that he did it - he knows Yosuke is on the verge of a breakdown, and it's safer to have one in his arms than anywhere else.]

[Yosuke makes a small whine in his throat, an animal in a trap, entire body shaking. Cherryblod is right, he's at his limits. But instead of crying more he hugs back.

He isn't the only one hurting right now, and how many times had he told Cherryblod to think of himself too? If he can't be at least try to be there for him, then even trying to talk to the man after what he did was pointless.

He's not a child anymore, he can't keep taking and not giving back]

...I'm alive. That should be enough, my dear.

[In another world, Cherryblod's good fortune today restored his hopes that his wife and daughter were alive. In another world, he had already made plans to return with Sigrun to her own world, to have a future there.

In this world, he doesn't have that hope, and the only family he knows for certain is alive is someone he will never truly forgive for their actions.

So though he's trembling badly enough that Yosuke can feel it -

- that's just the way it is, isn't it? This loneliness is something he'll have to live with when he goes home.]

I... I'll make this right. Somehow.

[It's a hollow promise, but he's trying. God he's trying]

...There's nothing for me to return to.

[He's starting to tear up, and his voice quivers, but he tries his hardest to stay steady. He only marginally succeeds.]

My wife and daughter are almost certainly dead, Mettaton is dead, my home is corrupted and dying there wouldn't nearly be the worst thing that could happen to me. I can't go back with you.

[Even not considering what just happened, Yosuke's world is no place for a shrimp.]

It should feel like we won, but... I don't feel like celebrating at all.

We'll figure something out- we're... we're not even really sure what state your world IS in yet, right?

Do you want to look?

The portal's right there. Hold your breath.

[No reason they can't just take a peek.]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Once they know they can decide what to do next]

[The results, after they take a look through the portal:

Red in the water. Skeletal hands and eyes everywhere. Fish that are more bone than fish. More than anything else, a feeling of wrongness you don't have to actually swim in the sea to feel.

Cherryblod sits back on solid ground and takes a deep breath of air.]

...Ah.

[Yosuke is coughing and gagging on the floor, finally gasping loudly- the pressure of being so deep and the surprise at what he saw made his lungs hurt]

[Oh yeah, he forgot that high pressure was a thing that humans react badly to. Oops.]

Are you hurt?

[At least it gives him something else to focus on.]

I-I'm okay-! Just surprised.

...that... didn't look good.

[Well. Momentary distraction gone.]

No, it didn't. Never seen it that bad, even during the war.

We're gonna have to prepare.

[As if the fact that he's going back in is a given here]

What do you mean 'we'?

[Yosuke's not coming.]

You're not doing this alone-!

You can't come.

[Firmly said. Cherryblod rests his hands on Yosuke's shoulders.]

Even not including things like you not being able to breathe underwater - I won't risk what could happen to you there. Refuse to be the cause of any harm to you.

Yeah, well I refuse to sit by why you lose more family!

Do you want me to lose everyone? At least let me know that one person I care for is safe.

[He's practically vibrating in anger... but Cherry is right. He can't even survive down there as is.]

Then... what CAN I do?

Go home. Go hug your mother and your real father, see your partner and your friends again.

[Cherryblod might not have happiness ahead of him, but he wants to know that Yosuke will.]

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