Again. Again. For a moment, their expression creases from its default emptiness to something harder, almost stern. They've done this dance before. They've...they've gotten so tired.

Sorry, Asriel.

This is why they hate promises.

"Time doesn't move here. I've been here a year, and I'm still..." Still twelve years old, physically. Their hair is longer, their eyes are a different color, their wardrobe has begun to acquire a hodgepodge variety of gifts people have given them, but -

Ha ha.

It's still you.

"You won't change back."