I wouldn't want to, but truthfully, I don't think I could hide it.
[He chuckles, even though it's not funny.]
I've hidden quite a lot about myself from others, but after seeing everything I have here, it will be difficult forgetting it all and pretending everything is alright. And I don't think I should be expected to forget.
[The only ones that really know what Asriel's been put through is Mettaton, and to a lesser degree Papyrus. It always came back to that planet, didn't it? Every nightmare, every twitch he makes when he hears a loud sound, the way he finds himself growling when he eats or pressing his hands protectively over his ears.
He never told Frisk what he saw. Not Frisk, not Toriel, not Sans either. Especially not Chara.
He doesn't think he can stand the looks on their faces.]
... I don't want to. I can't go back to being my old self, but I can't...
[He shouldn't feel ashamed. It wasn't his fault. But it was humiliating and painful and he doesn't want to feel like that ever again.]
It's just gonna be those looks again like... like they just pity us and I don't want it.
[Mettaton shakes his head, not to say Asriel's wrong, but...]
I'll be there with you. If you don't want to see their faces, then look to mine. Look to Frisk's, or Chara's. Hah...I'm certain that Chara will find a way to avert their eyes for you, hmm?
[With a knife, he's sure. But that's beyond the point.]
We don't have to go back and pretend it's okay. Instead, let's focus on finding a way to heal. If we take it slowly, it will be manageable...
[It's not just their faces. It's how they'll act around him. Asriel already knows he acts weird. He doesn't act like how he's supposed to act. He'd be going back to a world where he never revealed anything about Flowey to any of them, where he'd have to start all over...
Asriel reaches forward and tries to take Mettaton's hand. It was something he felt like he did too often, but it was comforting to have him here. He didn't have to pretend or act like anything was okay, because it wasn't.
It never would be.]
Mmm. Okay... we'll tell them together. I think I'd feel better telling them with you there anyway.
[He doesn't mind that Asriel reaches for his hand, not at all. Mettaton also yearns for physical contact, little that he can benefit from it through actually feeling. He just likes being close to people, ghost or not. He...needs that.
So he would never begrudge Asriel a friend's touch.]
You know I will always be there for you, Asriel. Whatever you need of me, just ask. That is what friends are for, right?
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[He chuckles, even though it's not funny.]
I've hidden quite a lot about myself from others, but after seeing everything I have here, it will be difficult forgetting it all and pretending everything is alright. And I don't think I should be expected to forget.
[Nor should Asriel.]
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He never told Frisk what he saw. Not Frisk, not Toriel, not Sans either. Especially not Chara.
He doesn't think he can stand the looks on their faces.]
... I don't want to. I can't go back to being my old self, but I can't...
[He shouldn't feel ashamed. It wasn't his fault. But it was humiliating and painful and he doesn't want to feel like that ever again.]
It's just gonna be those looks again like... like they just pity us and I don't want it.
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I'll be there with you. If you don't want to see their faces, then look to mine. Look to Frisk's, or Chara's. Hah...I'm certain that Chara will find a way to avert their eyes for you, hmm?
[With a knife, he's sure. But that's beyond the point.]
We don't have to go back and pretend it's okay. Instead, let's focus on finding a way to heal. If we take it slowly, it will be manageable...
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Asriel reaches forward and tries to take Mettaton's hand. It was something he felt like he did too often, but it was comforting to have him here. He didn't have to pretend or act like anything was okay, because it wasn't.
It never would be.]
Mmm. Okay... we'll tell them together. I think I'd feel better telling them with you there anyway.
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That's the spirit!
[He doesn't mind that Asriel reaches for his hand, not at all. Mettaton also yearns for physical contact, little that he can benefit from it through actually feeling. He just likes being close to people, ghost or not. He...needs that.
So he would never begrudge Asriel a friend's touch.]
You know I will always be there for you, Asriel. Whatever you need of me, just ask. That is what friends are for, right?
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Yeah... they are.
[...]
Thanks for being my friend, Mettaton.