It's like a balloon swelling and bursting, and the effect is instantaneous. They burst into tears, trembling fiercely, and something in their SOUL twinges. As flat and dulled as everything's gotten to be, they can't truly shut themself away from something like this. Not completely.

Frisk swallows and shuts their eyes and regrets asking.

"It's okay." The words are soft. They rise from the bed and step closer, slowly. "That's the only thing that's kept me here."

Intervention, and the voices of people who said they would follow.