✦ ⌇ Kris (Genocide AU) ⌇ ✦

Chapter 4 however continues the Weird Route through various scenes. At the church, Kris can speak with various characters, including Noelle who seems to desire to have a private conversation with Kris later. After explaining everything they learned about the shelter to Susie, Kris and Susie are interrupted by Noelle who seems interested in having Kris and Susie over for a study session. When Susie wishes to celebrate their lucky break with a high-five, Kris leaves them hanging due to being too interested in Noelle, to which Susie mentions how much things seem to have taken a "weird route" for Noelle to ask them like that. After church, Kris and Susie can optionally choose to visit Berdly in the hospital, to which only Kris wishes to go into his room. When in there, Kris finds an unconscious Berdly which they can choose to either leave alone, or warm up by interacting with the space heater and changing his hot water bottle. Doing so shows that Berdly relaxes, and insinuates he might be feeling a little better. When exiting the room, Susie asks Kris to be sure he didn't give them the "Bird Flu". After getting to the Holiday Household, everything Proceeds as usual until Kris sets off to investigate December's guitar. At that time, Noelle corners Kris in the upstairs, causing Kris, who had just previously pulled their SOUL out to hide it in the nearest drawer as Noelle says they want to speak with them privately in her room. After Noelle is gone, Kris hurries down stairs to shove the heart in a giftbox until the conversation is over. However, the SOUL escapes by venting out of the room. Traveling through the house's air vents, the SOUL eventually makes its way to Noelle's room to eavesdrop on their conversation. Noelle begins the conversation by rehashing something Kris did without the Player's presence the night before, after sealing the Cyber World Dark Fountain. Noelle said that Kris visited them after taking Berdly to the hospital and that they comforted Noelle by telling her that it was all a silly prank. But when Noelle asks Kris if it's okay if they say something, the player is given the option to tell her too "Proceed". Now in the room, the SOUL can join with Kris again. If the SOUL does not join with Kris quick enough, Kris will escape the room with Noelle, causing the Weird Route to be aborted. If the SOUL joins with Kris, as Noelle is trying to mention the things they told her not to mention to anyone else, Kris covers her mouth. When Noelle asks who they're afraid will hear, the Player may then assert it's presence by selecting "Me". From here, the Player forces Kris to draw closer to Noelle, reading the girl's mind, and basically chanting "Proceed". The Player may then "Equip" Noelle with the thorn representing the Thorn Ring, resulting in an image like broken glass glowing red with the SOUL's power. After this, a distraught and enraged Kris will take the SOUL to the bathroom and shove it in the trashcan before electing to kick the can and harm the SOUL, even at their own expense, only stopping when Asgore, who is visiting the house to help clean it, calls in and asks if they're okay. After this, leaving the Holiday Residence, Asgore gives Kris some hot-chocolate he pilfered from the Holidays. Heading out through Hometown, Susie mentions how upset she is that they didn't get to hang out with Noelle, and felt something strange when Noelle mentioned she wanted to talk to Kris alone, asking what they could talk about that Susie couldn't be included in. The SOUL is given no dialogue options, yet a choice in an empty box. Oddly enough, it stops raining and becomes sunny only during this empty choice, and Susie assumes it didn't have anything to do with her. After this, there's less references to the Weird Route, at least while in the Sanctuary Dark Worlds. When Susie leaves to collect information about the notes to be played on the piano, Ralsei asks if Kris would like to think about what Susie's doing. If the Player refuses to think about her, an option is given to think about Noelle. When doing so, the Player views a small red pixel that, after floating and slightly glowing for a moment, says "Thank you..." in Noelle's voice. Upon returning to Kris, the Player finds Kris on the ground, likely having had a panic attack, Susie tending to them. Susie notices Ralsei wasn't there and scolds him upon returning. When Kris is confronted by the Old Man, asking them where to go, Kris can respond "Nowhere" to which he will mention that it sounds like they're having "Relationship Trouble". During the tea party, the Old Man will mention how Kris seems to just be going through the motions, and tries to help them keep their chin up, telling them that it'll all be better, before offering Kris an apple which they ravenously devour, even part of the core. After sealing the first Dark Fountain, when searching for the combination to the lock on the door to the inner sanctuary, they find a shelf for prayer candles. Susie asks who Kris will pray for as they light a candle, and if the Player chooses "Noelle", Kris will kick the shelf violently. Later, when in the Choir chamber, Susie mentions about the piano and a story she had with one. Susie asks if Kris will keep playing the piano, and if the Player chooses "I will never play again", Kris will bite their own hand to stop the Player's words. In the Final Dark World, after Susie discovers and shatters the final prophecy, Ralsei breaks down into tears. If the Player tells Ralsei "It's okay not to smile", Ralsei will mention that if there is another path besides the one they're on, that it could possibly be worse. Finally, as the night comes to an end, the Fountains are sealed, and Kris returns home to find their mother dancing with Sans, Kris decides to go to bed early when they're called by Mayor Carol, who leaves a message, asking if Kris is going to the festival tomorrow, as Noelle really is looking forward to seeing them there. As the chapter comes to a close, we see an image of that once small, red pixel, having become far larger by comparison...