[INTRO] they probably hate having to get used to a new place

[mercybutton]

Nooooo.

[aaaaaa. uuuuugh. What bothers them most right now isn't that they're suddenly someplace they don't know and thus are not at home, it's that they're suddenly someplace they don't know and thus is going to bump into literally Every Single Obstruction that exists here. Honestly, they'd be more concerned about being displaced from their family if they weren't annoyed about the prospect of having to get used to a possibly enormous place. Nobody better move the furniture around.

After a solid minute of laying on the ground they sit up. Feels like grass, sounds like water is rushing nearby. A park? Frisk stands up and starts shuffling around, trying to get used to their surroundings, finding one of the paths winding through the gardens. Then they start walking, gaining more confidence, and then-



trip right into a fountain. Curse their recklessness.]

Comments

[trombones]

That's fair. Water sausages in a bun don't hold a candle to actual cooking.

"If you want to," said Sans, shrugging again. "Point being, there's more than one of a few of us here. I know I'm not the only Sans, either."

"From what I can tell, it's not exactly... time-traveling, like you can do. It ain't that. It's more like a bunch of timelines got together in the same place."

[mercybutton]

"Weird," they say, and that's all on the matter as far as they're concerned. They're gonna have to learn the subtleties of all their voices to tell 'em all apart.

"How many from our world… s?"

[trombones]

"No idea."

Sans voice starts to echo as they step inside the castle, though the stone footsteps should make it obvious they're going inside anyway. The bedrooms aren't far off.

"More than a couple, from what I can tell. Somebody told me something about a... 'king' Mettaton?" He makes a face. "Never met 'im."

[mercybutton]

King Mettaton… oh, they know that ending. It wasn't very happy.

"Oh. " Frisk frowns visibly. They always wondered what happened to BP... and alas, the power of a king was too much for Metta to handle healthily. They bury themself further in his hoodie, feeling bad about achieving that end at one point. Getting chewed out by Undyne after… well, it wasn't fun.

"Have you met any one of yourselves…?"

They're tryimg to make conversation.

[trombones]

Sans wouldn't know. Even if it did happen where he came from, he wouldn't remember it. So the whole idea of Mettaton being king to him was... well. He can put together how it might happen, but it's still pretty weird.

"Yeah, one of 'em. He's from a... not-so-happy version of things, so." Sans is quiet for a moment. Then he shrugs. "Think he stole my whoopee cushion, though."

[mercybutton]

"Then you gotta get it back!" They make that motion where you pound your fist into your palm. "Come on, you're the prankster king as far as the Underground is concerned." Revenge!

Frisk loves that whoopee cushion. Don't ask why.

[trombones]

"Heh. I like your style, but nah," Sans says, grin returning. "The other me's been through enough, he can have it. I might as 'im for joint custody, though."

He loves it too, don't worry.

[mercybutton]

"Mleh." They can see his point, though, about givin' the guy a break. Still. Seeing as it remains in the hands of a Sans, they expect that cushion to be placed in various strategic spots around the castle.

Have you ever used rubber chickens?

[You know. The screaming ones.]

[trombones]

"You kidding? What self-respecting comic would I be if I didn't have a dozen rubber chickens in my ribcage?"

And there they are. They come up to the same bedrom the other Frisk led him to a day ago. He gently turns in and let's them go.

"This is one of the bedrooms. I'm just gonna grab a blanket. Next best thing to a towel around here."

[mercybutton]

The thought that Sans keeps a dozen rubber chickens in his ribcage at all times... it fills you with determination. Your dunkle is amazing.

"Okay, as long as no one minds. I don't want someone sleeping with a wet blanket 'cause of me."

[trombones]

HELL YEAH HE IS.

"Nah. They'll dry." Sans yanks the comforter off the bed. "Even if they don't, chances are... anyone who sleeps with this is probably a wet blanket themselves."

Bad-dum-tish. He sets the comforter in Frisk's hands.

[mercybutton]

"I knew it." Wet blanket jokes ahoy.

Frisk takes off Sans' jacket and gently sets it on the floor, then take the blanket and uses it to vigorously dry their hair. It's gonna end up in a mess with a lot of flyaway later, but lmao whatever.

[trombones]

"Yep."

Sans lets Frisk dry themselves off on their own. He picks up his jacket and turns it over. A little damp now, but he didn't care. For a momet, he's quiet.

"... Hey. Lemme know if this ain't any of my business, but... can I ask about your eyes?"

His tone his a little gentler, less jokey - just to let Frisk know that they don't have to answer if they don't want to. Sans won't push it.

[mercybutton]

[They're still a little bit when he asks. They look up, offset a bit from his actual direction. Frisk looks a but goofy with the big floof blanket draped over the back of their head.

Sans deserves to onow- he's family. They don't plan on spilling everything, but enough for him to get the gist.]

… yeah. Shoot.

[trombones]

Sans nods gratefully - not that Frisk can see it. The goofy look with the gigantic blanket helps ease the situation a little, and he gives a somewhat contented sigh.

"Well. Like I said, you're a little different where I come from. It ain't a bad thing, I'm just not used to it. So, uh. Has it always been like that for you, or did something happen?"

[mercybutton]

"Something happened. It was an accident."

Frisk wraps themself in the big blanket, which slips off their head to fall around their shoulders.

[trombones]

"Oh."

Well, that answered part of it. Sans sits down on the bed. Despite being... you know, a skeleton, somehow the mattress still creaks under his weight.

"What happened?"

[mercybutton]

"Um..." They shuffle their feet. "You know about SAVEs an' RELOADS and stuff, right?"

[trombones]

He's briefly quiet at that.

"Yep. Wouldn't've gave you the key to my room if I didn't." Implying he didn't already suspect it, regardless of whether or not he gave them his key. "I know you got a special ability."

[mercybutton]

"The RESET and RELOADs aren't perfect. Sometimes things slip through." Like how Papyrus thought they looked familiar after a normal reset. "Every time I reload, the hits that kill me stay behind as, um, scars. When I found out, um, I tried not to take anything to the face, but I failed."

They don't know why they stayed blind after a RESET- what made an attack on their eyes so different from the snapping of tendons in the back of their legs, impalement, or dismemberment- maybe it's some "windows to the soul" or magic BS, but they don't mind. They're happy like this. Sure it'd be nice to have their sight back, but not having it doesn't bother Frisk that much.

[trombones]

"... Hmh."

Somehow, he's surprised. He doesn't remember that flower ever dealing with something like that, but maybe he just didn't remember. Or maybe Flowey just got lucky. Again, he's quiet. Then--

"... One of us, I'm guessin'."

Not likely Papyrus. His brother was careful, even in a fight. As for himself... well. He wouldn't know. The kid would have had to really tick him off. But that's another story.

[mercybutton]

"... Yeah."

Definitely not Papyrus- he's way too careful. They don't want to say exactly who it was, because they don't want to ruin any relationships, or worse.

[trombones]

It's not like it was hard to guess. Frisk was among monsters at the time, anybody he knew could have been the reason why. Apparently everybody had attacked Frisk at one point, but he wasn't angry about it. Better to let them all see Frisk for who they were. Then they could change their mind and stop on their own.

It's not exactly what Toriel asked when she asked Sans to watch over them, but hey. Didn't he do a great job protecting them? don't answer that

"None of my business, I guess. Knowing you, I bet you convinced them otherwise the next time around, huh? M'sorry that happened though... your eyes, I mean."

[mercybutton]

"Well, it doesn't bother me too much. It'll probably be a pain getting used to navigating around here, but I think I'll be okay."

Losing something doesn't mean you're broken or incomplete, anyway.

[trombones]

Correct.

"Heh."

Okay, that actually gets Sans smiling. The kid kept on trucking. Of course they would.

"Yep. Still determined. I'm not surprised."

He shakes his head and pulls himself off the bed.

"Alright, well. I'll give ya a hand 'til then. How about it?"