gaster-the-one-and-only

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

[ MEANWHILE, AT AN INDETERMINATE TIME IN THE FUTURE... ]

*... WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING JUST "SHIFTED"?

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Howsit going there cupidity?

A voice, sounding like many all at once, echoes around the man tentatively known as Cupidity.

He is currently unleashing the fullest amount of his energy that he can muster. The alien, destructive energy that has kept him alive all this time. Yes... in this terrible moment, he starts to remember.

He had mentioned it before- the recollection of blackouts and waking up on that beach feeling exhausted. The feeling of being hunted. This was why. He would get caught, and he would blast away whatever had gotten him. That was how he'd survived this long.

But this time... he had been caught whilst undercharged. The lazer light in his eyes wane, and soon, it dissipates entirely. He's left to the mercy of... who is he kidding- there's no mercy here.

The hands... they tear away the fibers making up his physical form, leaving a hollow ghostly husk. A single hand prods at the glow in the center of his chest, as if trying to wade through the excess of energy to get at what lies underneath.

The energy... it was Cupidity's last safeguard against what the hand wanted. The one thing between him and oblivion. The man's thoughts were unraveling, much like his body, but this thought held true in his mind- he must hold onto himself, for as long as he can.

But for as long as he holds on...

The one below seems to grow more and more impatient...

-------

... it's a couple more tense moments before the Warden finally speaks, beating the phone to the punch yet again.

*... you speak of that WAYWARD SOUL. Yes, I am sure of it. I recall, you did not let me finish before. At the beginning of our... conversation.

*I will say it once more- I THANK you, Nu-Sentinel.

*The Archeus is NOT a place for souls to linger. When they leave the mortal plain, they must be ushered down BELOW. So that they may... pass on. They get lost so easy...

Gaster was still rubbing his head as the wave of pain subsides... but he's still left flummoxed by what the Warden says.

*... S-SOULS? WAIT, SO YOU MEAN... T-THAT GUY... HE WAS-

*DEAD.

*A DEAD man. A ghost. Another FIGMENT waiting to disappear.

*With your help, I was FINALLY able to... escort him. You calmed him down. So, I thank you for that.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

What did you do with Cupidity?

*-Y-YEAH, THAT! CUPIDITY! WHERE IS-

*-A-AAGH...

Gaster felt a sudden sharp pain in his head. Oh great, he couldn't help but think. What's brought this on? Was the stress finally getting to him...? No, this was something else. It hurt to think... to think about...

... who was it, again?

Cupidity!

Gaster breaks out into a cold sweat as he starts to realize something. He wasn't sure when it happened, but at some point, as he'd been talking with The Warden... he had completely forgotten about Cupidity.

He's been known to be forgetful, but to this degree? No, this was beyond being absent-minded. The very memory of that man was simply... gone. Just for a brief moment, it was as if Cupidity had never existed.

The name... Gaster was able to recall it with some effort- but to imagine even the simplest details of that man... it hurt to try, but try he did. Alas, all he could muster was more questions. Like...

What color was his jacket?

Did he even wear a jacket?

Or how about his eyes? Did he have those?

... Why couldn't he remember his face...?

Gaster grips his head, grimacing, and he finds himself leaning against the door for support.

And the Warden...

... they had been silent. Their expression was utterly unreadable- but there was no mistaking the ominous aura emanating from them.

... they almost seemed... distracted...?

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 6.666̴͚̇6̴̲̍6̴̗͐6̸̯͒6̷̪̀6̶̰̮͎̊͆̈̓̐͒́6̷̡̠̀̽̎̑̕͝6̸̢͎̻̳̖͖̓͐̆̕6̶͓͎̣͙̬̘̹͐͒̇6̷̪̭̫͈̖͉̄̒̄͗̃6̸̢̢̡̛̯̤̻͍̯̙̖̻͇͚͂̈̔̋̈́̽̽́͐͂̓͝͝6̶͇̝̻̜̭̝̥̦̟̯̔͋͐͒͑̋̑͐̃͗̏͆̕͠͝6̶͉̳̺͎̼̭̱͆͌̔͜6̶̧̭͉̙̻͎̙̪̲̲̭̠̣͓̃̄̀̓͐̕͝6̸͓͙̬͎̮̍̑̀̀͗̇̈́͗́͐̓͘

... meanwhile...

Meanwhile, as The Warden speaks to Gaster...

Meanwhile...

... somewhere below...

... someone struggles in the darkness.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 6

Gaster had the presence of mind to retort, but he quickly found himself retreating into his thoughts. He was still trying to wrap his head around The Warden's answer to the "where" question. It was too much of a coincidence to ignore: this place, "The Archeus"... The Warden definitely described it as 'Gray'. If it's the same Gray Gaster was thinking of, some things would start to make sense.

The Gray... that strange, monotone space that Gaster had called home for so long. Gaster understood that those that shared his name lived in spaces very similar. Except, of course, for the tone- their 'Voids', as they called them, were pitch-black, or otherwise similarly oppressive in their atmosphere.

Not The Gray. That place was never so dramatic. It was always neutral... a safe place. At least... he thought it was safe. He could travel to and from it with ease- as simple as holding out his hand, he could open a door, and it could take him seemingly anywhere. And from anywhere, he could always return to the Gray.

That's how the doors worked. From the Gray, to Reality, back to the Gray. Back and forth... so if this "Archeus" was the same Gray as his, that meant that THIS door- the one he had summoned- this was connected to somewhere in Reality. It was never going to take him 'home'. It didn't quite explain why he couldn't open it, but now he feels somewhat fortunate that he can't. You never know what could be behind a random door- he's learned the danger of such curiosity.

Perhaps at one time, he tried to understand it- study it, even. But like many things, that endeavor had fallen to the wayside as he was preoccupied with other matters.

He recalls the man he once was; "Gaster, the stoic researcher". A man who knew so little. A simpler time...

A bit embarrassing to look back on, admittedly.

Now, here was this creature- The Warden- outright patronizing him about this place that he's lived in for as long as he can remember. He ought to be upset; but the man finds himself more confused than anything. Of all things to happen today, a breakdown of his reality was not something he expected. Should he feel... grateful?

No, he's sure he doesn't want to give The Warden that satisfaction. Perhaps he had come to understand how OTHER realities functioned, but when it came to his own, the ignorance was truly bliss. Besides, there was just something off about the figure: their stature, the way they spoke, even the way they looked. But above all, Gaster could tell this much;

That wasn't its face.

Not its real one, anyway. Was it wearing a mask? Does it even know it looks like that...?

A part of him felt- no, knew- that trying to be friendly to this thing would be sheer folly. Gaster had enough experience with two-faced creatures to know the effort would be wasted. But there were still more questions swirling in his mind, frustratingly enough.

Like the way they kept calling him a... "New Sentinel"? He couldn't even begin to imagine what that all entailed- scratch that, he doesn't want to imagine it. Whatever it is, he's certain that's not what he is... right? Maybe... it's all a coincidence? A coincidence, that The Warden would call The Archeus a "Gray" space. A coincidence that The Warden would mistake Gaster for this "Sentinel". A coincidence that they would look like that.

This was just a case of mistaken identity; wrong place, wrong time... after all, what of all he saw before? The beach, the buildings, the weird pawns... none of those exist in the Gray he knew. Come to think of it... where did those things go? Here one minute, then as soon as the Warden shows up, they're gone...

Gone... wait, something else was gone. Someone...

*W-WAIT! WHAT ABOUT-

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

What are echos?

*That is what YOU are.

Again, The Warden responds before the message reads out over the phone's speakers... his mask seems to stare off into space, beyond the horizon.

*Disembodied voices and messages from beyond the Firmament. Prying eyes into this world. A foreign influence. Dangerous.

The Warden almost seems to hiss that last word out- matter of fact, the phone does buzz slightly- but there's a tone of reluctant acceptance in his voice.

*There is naught to be done about it. Here in the Archeus, such barriers are drawn thin, on all sides. It is the NATURE of it. However, never before have the echos been so... loud.

The Warden tilts his mask down, looking to Gaster now.

*It is rather... uncouth, for a Sentinel to draw such attention. Your duty ought to require subtlety...

*WH- YOU THINK I WANT STRANGERS WATCHING ME ALL THE TIME?? IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN JUST GO INVISIBLE! SHEESH...

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 5

The Warden's hands float in front of the 'model', pointing to it.

*This portion here- imagine that this represents the 'mortal' plain. The PHYSICAL. Everything that 'exists', exists here.

*Judging by your appearance, Nu-Sentinel, and that device you hold, I assume you frequent this place...

*... AND JUDGING BY YOUR APPEARANCE, I ASSUME YOU DON'T GO THERE AT ALL. ALSO, YOU KEEP CALLING ME THAT, WHAT DO YOU-

*I am GETTING to it. Please save your mortal sarcasm for AFTER the presentation.

*Now, look to this portion... recall the dichotomy. We have here an absence of the 'physical'- a place in which only the SPIRITUAL resides. Nothing 'exists' here.

*In saying that... what does that tell you about where WE are?

Gaster thought hard for a moment. This 'model', as The Warden described it, sounded very familiar- or at least, its 'nature' was recognizable. He recalls the buzzwords thrown about in his time to describe such things, one in particular being prevalent in his mind.

Void. That latter space was the Void, wasn't it? Gaster had almost forgotten the word; or perhaps more accurately, it had lost its meaning over the years. The Voids that Gaster knew were never really empty.

... that being said... his concerns about the model appeared to be founded. Something was missing, something that couldn't be represented in this 'dichotomy'.

How did The Warden put it? 'To know where you are, you must know where you are not?' Gaster finally speaks up; he's starting to realize something.

*... WE'RE IN... NEITHER PLACE...?

*Ah... I am glad to see you are not ENTIRELY unqualified.

*...

Gaster chooses not to deign that with a response.

The Warden stands up straighter, and the model dissipates into the air.

*You are correct. We do not currently reside in EITHER space. Neither existing, nor non-existent... this is a transitory space, OUTSIDE of the two.

*Between Light and Dark... between Life and Death... between these black-and-white principles. A Grey space...

Gaster perks up, unable to contain his surprise.

*... GRAY?

The Warden leans in, recognizing Gaster's expression. Finally, something he knows, he must be thinking.

*Yes, you would know of it. After all, it is where the Sentinel is stationed. Now, you will know it by its true name.

*The ARCHEUS.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Why shouldn’t Gast listen to us? :)

*Because you are very DISTRACTING. Pay attention, Nu-Sentinel.

*EH? I-I'M LISTENING, I'VE BEEN LISTENING! SHEESH!

The phone crackles- a groan?

The Warden straightens up, two more hands having been conjured to aid in his presentation.

*As I said, what I have here is a model of our reality. Note the dichotomous nature of it; The two halves that make up the whole. Opposite, yet inseparably entwined.

*These halves have many names, all in an attempt to describe their nature. Light, and Dark... Life, and Afterlife... Thusly, you will know them as the PHYSICAL, and the SPIRITUAL.

*Now, you wish to know 'where' you are; to know that, you must first understand where you are not.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

If your the warden whos the sherrif

The phone-

*There is none. Listen carefully... and watch closely.

The Warden... spoke to no one in particular. And then, the message spoke out. It took Gaster a moment to realize the order of those events. The implications were eery, but he decides to keep doing what he was doing- staying quiet and letting The Warden explain himself.

The Warden's hands came together, though not quite clasping. Rather, they hovered around each other and began to 'shift'. A motion of some kind, perhaps vibrating- or changing? They became more and more undefined, before transforming into...

... a very... familiar shape.

*... UM. WHAT'S... THAT?

*A model of our reality. Do you not recognize it?

*N-NO, I DO. JUST... UH... IT'S A LITTLE, UH... SIMPLE, ISN'T IT?

... The Warden just stares at Gaster. It's an offended stare. Gaster tugs at his scarf.

*... AHEH. UH. MM. NEVERMIND.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Warden? Like a jail warden?

The phone speaks out, and Gaster clears his throat.

*... DOESN'T SOUND TOO NONSENSICAL TO ME. JUST SAYING.

*You would allow echoes to speak for you?

*N-NO. JUST... IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT A 'WARDEN' IS, OR WHAT THIS PLACE IS... OR ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

*IF YOU COULD JUST... CLARIFY ALL THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY... HELPFUL?

The Warden seems to sigh, as if reluctant to go through with this line of questioning. But, he opens his hands and leans in.

*Fine. But, I will say again: you should not listen to those messages. For your own safety.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Your shape oddly looks familiar. Styx, is that you goofin around?

Gaster's phone crackles, and the familiar text-to-speech voice calls out, no longer distorted and stuttering.

*HUH? ... OH, GREAT, I'M STILL GETTING THESE... WHAT THE CRAP IS A 'STY'-

*What is that you have there?

*WH- Y-YOU TALKING TO ME? UH. IT'S... MY PHONE??

The Warden face-palms. Gaster's phone crackles again (he's starting to worry if this might be voiding his warranty), and that distorted voice from before comes through.

##... first, they send a trainee, THEN they give him a machine... these must be desperate times...##

There's no way the Warden doesn't hear the phone repeating his thoughts... that's when Gaster realizes that he's being patronized. The condescending tone annoys Gaster somewhat, but he decides not to mention it when he asks:

*IS THERE... SOMETHING WRONG?

The Warden drags his hand down his face and speaks normally.

*... no. I just find it odd that you would bring such a device into a place like this. After all, they have proven to be quite unreliable, constantly attracting... errant signals.

*If you insist on keeping it on your person, then I do suggest you disregard whatever it might 'pick up'. It will be mostly nonsense, anyway.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 4 [ASK BOX OPEN]

Suddenly, the figure spoke- a real voice this time, not from the phone. Yet, it's somehow more cacophonous than the one coming through the phone's speaker. Like a whisper and a shout at the same time... Gaster gets a chill down his spine, but he keeps a stern expression.

*Y-YEAH, OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND YOU! HOW ABOUT MY QUESTION, NOW? WHO ARE YOU?!

The figure... bows.

*My apologies. I did not mean to take such a familiar tone. I mistook you for someone else- it has been too long since the last changing of the guard, you see.

*I am the WARDEN. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Nu-SENTINEL.

Finally, a title to put to the face. But there still seemed to be a case of mistaken identity coloring this conversation... Gaster has half a mind to correct this "Warden", but he gets the feeling he ought to keep his mouth shut. Maybe this misunderstanding could help him get more answers.

*I understand that the 'hand-off' can sometimes be quite... sudden. Do not take offense, but I can see by the way you look at me that you are a 'newcomer'. Tell me, what all do you NOT know?

*... YES?

*... you know... NOTHING?

*... (give me strength)... VERY WELL. I cannot rightly send you back without making sure you understand your duties and responsibilities. You must have more questions for me- ASK AWAY.

[ THE WARDEN can't believe he's taking questions! Gaster holds his phone close- if you have questions, Gaster can't stop them from being relayed! ]

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 3

Much to his regret, Gaster realized the onus was on him to keep this 'conversation' going... assuming this thing could say more than "Thank you". It responded to his confusion- perhaps it could answer some questions? He decides to get the most obvious one out of the way.

*UM... OKAY. WWWWHY ARE YOU THANKING ME...?

There's a pause- the figure had still been pointing at Gaster. It slowly relaxes tilting its 'head'. Almost like it was... confused?

Gaster looks between it and the phone again- did he need to speak into microphone? He considers doing just that, but then the figure responds.

##Sentinel... I thank you for keeping that wayward soul company. They have evaded me for some time- now that they have passed on, I can finally-##

*WOH WOH WOH! HOLD ON, TIME OUT- SENTINELS, WAYWARD SOULS, "PASSED ON"?? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!

The figure leans back, as if surprised by Gaster's interjection- but the man wasn't done. Gaster's eyes dart around before a look of realization dawns on his face. His brow furrows, and he points back to the figure accusingly, clenching his fist.

*YOU... YOU'RE THAT "WHATEVER-IT-WAS" FOLLOWING CUPIDITY AROUND! WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM?! WHO ARE YOU!?

The figure is taken aback by Gaster's tone. Almost... offended? But then, they lean in... examining.

They turn away from Gaster, thinking, mumbling. This comes through on the phone.

##They do not recognize me...? Has it been that long...? Or perhaps... ah, that must be it...##

The figure looks back to Gaster, standing taller now... they open their hands.

*... SENTINEL. Can you understand me?

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 2

Gaster was silent a moment, idly blinking as he processed what his phone had just said.

*... THANK... YOU??

##No, thank you.##

The voice speaks with surprising clarity, so much so that it startles Gaster again. He looks between his phone and this figure- and to the hands that are nested in front of it. Floating hands, much like his own, except theirs had fingers.

*UH... NO THANK YOU?

##... no- Thank you.##

*THANK WHO??

##YOU.##

*OH!

Gaster had just realized the voice was talking to him. His phone seems to breath a sigh.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Man of Oil - Pt. 1

... but even staring comes with its own terrors. As Gaster looks to this figure...

Something emerges from the darkness. A white blob, floating in front of its "head", swirling and shifting, Slowly, it started to take shape.

... the phone crackles again, causing Gaster to jump. He hears a voice emanate from it.

##... tha...##

This voice was not the same as for the strangers that sent him messages. This was a new voice- no, it sounded like a dozen voices simultaneously. A cacophony. The voice repeats.

##...nk... y...##

Gaster clutches his phone, his hands shaking. His breathing quickens, as the voice continues to repeat itself.

##... than... ou... thank...##

WIth each repetition, the voice gets clearer, its tone becoming less dissonant. As well, its 'face' starts to come into focus...

... Gaster's eyes widen in shock.

He recognizes this face.

*... YOU'RE...?!

##... thank you.##

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

RUN RUN RUN

The voice on the phone crackles- some strange interference causes the message to come through broken and stuttering, but the intent is clear enough.

Run? Run where? Gaster was frozen in place, stuck between the locked grey door and...

... whatever this was. A dark figure, striking a silhouette as sharp as a shadow, yet just vaguely person-shaped, a bit similar to the pawn ghosts he had seen before. Except this one was taller, much taller; even taller than him.

It seemed to have a reflection in the ground, but this only flummoxed Gaster more- neither he nor the door had any reflection to speak of. It gave the impression they were standing on the surface of a mirror-still lake... or rather, an ocean.

The figure stands there, unmoving. The thought of fleeing again crosses Gaster's mind, but the thought of being chased kept him anchored in place. There was no way he was turning his back on this thing, so... he simply stares.

[gaster-the-one-and-only]

Pull to Open - Pt. 6

Gaster drags a hand down his face, breathing in deep. This was no time to fall into despair- after all, he had kinda-sorta half-promised to get Cupidity out of this place, and by golly, was he going to still try.

*OKAY, OKAY... LET'S JUST ASSUME CUPIDITY'S NOT DEAD, AND THINK ABOUT WHERE WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR HIM. MAYBE I JUST CAN'T SEE HIM WITH ALL THIS RAIN... I'LL START A PERIMETER 50 PACES FROM THE DOOR, THEN A HUNDRED, THEN-

vwooOOOOOOOOM

*AH-GEH.

Suddenly, as Gaster was planning his search, a gust of wind blows by! He presses himself against the door, as if worried it- or he- will be blown away.

It soon subsides... Gaster looks around warily.

The rain has stopped- in fact, the storm is completely gone. The environment has stabilized, the horizon taking on a pure-white tone that meets the pitch-black ground in a gradient.

Gaster can't tell if he feels more or less claustrophobic. But that's besides the point- he's staring directly ahead, his back to the door.

Something draws near.