are there dogs inside? [OPEN]

[punful]

Who: Sans and YOU
Where: The True Lab and Rick's Lab
When: Throughout the event
Rating: PG - PG-13, will adjust as needed
Summary: A tiny skeleton walks into a lab. What happens next will warm your heart!
The Story:

A: The Beds - it's easier to bury your head in the sand

So, yanno, this is fine. It's only the third time Wonderland is decided, hey, let's make Sans even smaller than he already is, so at this point he's almost used to it. He even got to keep his memories this time, so that's a plus.

The downside is basically everything else. Not only is he smaller, he's also weaker, and it's not like Sans was ever a particularly strong monster. He's got no magic and no real way to defend himself short of running away, and while the Amalgamates are theoretically harmless, it's awfully easy for one of their weird attacks to knock out that 1 HP.

So Sans did what he does best--he went to sleep and tried to ignore everything.

He's been hiding under one of the beds in the lab's central area, napping on and off for the past few hours, occasionally poking his head out to see if anyone is nearby. Or if any of the Amalgamates are coming to eat him. It's awfully easy to sink into the nonsensical "they're definitely going to eat me" mindset at this age.

B: Puzzles - just another set of ideas

Once that weird old man's post goes up, it becomes apparent what this is all gonna be about. Avoid danger, solve some puzzles, find the macguffin and save your life. It's annoying, but Sans figures this is just about the best scenario that could have possibly happened, given the content of these events. Things could be a hell of a lot worse, and that's given the fact that he's like two feet tall and has occasional bouts of shakiness.

Monsters are pretty good at puzzles, though, and jigsaw puzzles are easier than switch or block puzzles. They're just more time consuming. It doesn't help that he's constantly distracted by watching for Amalgamates, or the weird sensation of being here doing a puzzle and also being somewhere else, slowly dying in a vat.

Still, he's doing his best, and he's generally happy to help anyone else with the puzzles. Collab, bro?

C: Keys - i've got nostalgia running through me and i don't like it

Time to find those keys or whatever. The hallways are more dangerous than the room with all the beds, though, and Sans doesn't know his way around. This is the most he's ever seen of the lab. He's not even sure how accurate the layout is.

No choice, though. He can feel time slowly running out. Gotta find those keys and find his real body, and that means braving the hallways and creepy fogged over rooms. You'd think Alphys had installed smoke machines down here or something.

Hopefully an Amalgamate doesn't show up, right?

D: Bad Memory - and now it follows me every day

Something's been following Sans for a little while now. Something bad. Every time he looks behind him to try and see it, it disappears.

Occasionally his phone rings, but Sans knows better than to answer it. He never met this one, but...call it instinct. A looming sense of dread. By now he's visibly nervous. He's had enough of bad memories lately, and he'd really rather avoid this one.

E: The Vats - i relive it, i relive it

He's made it to the lower lab, and now it's just a matter of finding his body. He's worn out and disheveled and just generally very ready to be done with all this bullshit. There's a lot of vats down here, though, so finding the one with the skeleton in it might take a bit. He's probably also going to need help with that whole "transferring consciousness" thing.

Comments

[punful]

And there he goes giggling again, and since he has to hold onto Mettaton to stay stable, he can't cover his mouth. God, it's a good thing his adult self has so much less in the way of dignity. This is all going to be a lot less embarrassing once he's an adult again and can just not care anymore.

"okay, good."

Sans is pretty sure a fall from this height would kill him.

"yeah, i think the vats are the second part of the event. that and um, this whole kid thing. i saw a few of the amalgamates upstairs too. it's...it's weird, cause it's not really them. right?"

He keeps scanning the vats, searching for anyone that looks skeletal. He's a bit more relaxed now.

"did you meet them before? the amalgamates? did she introduce them to you?"

[mettatonvevo]

Sans has coaxed happiness out of Mettaton and the continued giggles make him hold himself up a little taller than before. He takes measured, steady strides as he also looks around. All in all he feels better than before.

Then Sans mentions the amalgamates and it's like cold water is dumped over his head. Nothing physical changes; Mettaton keeps the same pace he had before, his grip is still firm on Sans's legs. But his face is drawn into a tight line as jealousy coils around his soul.

"She didn't introduce them to me. I met one of them when she released them from the lab and they were free to return to their families. Lemon Bread has Shyren's older sister inside, so sometimes she would accompany us if we performed somewhere relatively close to their home."

He knows it's not really them. And yet, the Lemon Bread here had recognized him and sought him out and they had had as close to a conversation as they could have had. ...He misses how she used to be.

"Of course, you knew about them before the rest of us did. I'm sure this wasn't as big of a shock for you here in that case."

His tone is dry again. Where is Sans's body? This needs to be finished as soon as possible.

[punful]

Made a mistake.

He can hear it in Mettaton's tone the moment he speaks. Made a mistake again, just like upstairs with Chara. He knows they've talked about this before, that Sans had mentioned the Amalgamates in the past, or at least knowing about them. How that had been a sore point for Mettaton. Maybe part of that jealousy thing that keeps cropping up.

Mettaton's tone goes dry and Sans feels his soul curl in on itself. Shouldn't have done this. Shouldn't have let Mettaton pick him up. Haha, "let" him, like he could have actually gotten away if Mettaton had decided to just do it.

No. No, don't do that. Mettaton isn't like that. He would--he wouldn't just--right? That was the whole point of that dream. Mettaton isn't like that, he isn't that cruel.

He knew. Sans knew, Sans stumbled onto something that should have been a secret, should have stayed between Alphys and the Amalgamates. He knew something he shouldn't have known. Doesn't he always? Isn't that just Sans for you, knowing all this wretched stuff he never wanted to know in the first place? Knowing all the goddamn secrets, like he wanted it that way. Like--like things didn't just happen, and he had to make do, had to just sort of live with knowing things he shouldn't have. That people are melted together in a basement somewhere, that time is Resetting and nothing matters, that it turns out the anomaly is just two troubled kids that he seriously fucked over, that it turns out the flower that made his life hell and all but ruined the world is the soulless dead Prince of the Underground, brought back to life with the Amalgamates.

And honestly, how dare he. Having to know some horrible things doesn't even come close to all the shit all these people have gone through.

"sorry."

It just sort of comes out, and he hates it immediately. Didn't even want to say anything. Such an annoying, bratty, talkative, worthless little kid. What's sorry gonna do, anyway? Come on, Sans, sorry doesn't count. You were an accomplice, you knew something horrible and you did nothing. You got to have all this special knowledge. What are you upset about? This wasn't that big a shock for you, after all.

"i'm sorry. i--"

Just shut up, Sans. Didn't learn your lesson with Chara back upstairs, did you? Either shut up or explain it properly before he puts you down and just leaves you here to die or something. Why not face our problems head-on?

"she didn't tell me. she wasn't going to tell me. i, i broke in, and i met endogeny, and, and that's all. it wasn't--she--she didn't pick me over you, okay? it wasn't--it was just my fault, i needed to talk to her and she was hiding and i got desperate, i..."

Ah, that's it, isn't it? Now that distance from before makes sense, now he understands why Mettaton was so aloof. Just like Chara, right? This whole place, this whole event, and then he sees Sans--must have been a pretty shitty reminder, huh? That Alphys trusted Sans with something that she didn't trust Mettaton with. And he'd said before, hadn't he, that he thought Sans was a better friend to her. That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what that old, baffling jealousy was all about.

And then Sans went and made Mettaton help him.

"you're mad at me too. no wonder."

[mettatonvevo]

The small sorry that Sans ekes out is one of the more pitiful things he's heard in his life. There's a small swell of guilt at how quiet it is, how hurt Sans sounds. Mettaton was content to let things just lie on that and fall into silence but then- he keeps talking.

He puts the pieces together. And Mettaton feels shame licking at his heels, creating a lovely cocktail with the guilt. The jealousy continues its slow, languid lap around his soul as the spikes of shame and guilt alternate tormenting him. It coalesces into a spear and it strikes. Mettaton speaks.

"That may not be where she picked you over me, but she already has in other ways. It's clear by your manner with each other; you're better friends with her than me."

He remembers Quor'thoth, how he and Alphys's souls reached for each other. How good and right it had felt. How it had felt like he was finally standing on solid ground. That, maybe, he could tell her everything. But he hadn't. And reality had come sweeping in. Because Sans understands her better. Because when she's sad, he just knows what to do. Unlike Mettaton, who pushes and weedles and messes with her. No, Sans just... knows. And will always know. And Mettaton will never understand. He has no right to understand. Not after what he did to her.

"Even if you hadn't broken into her lab for whatever reason, she probably would have told you. You knew her for so long, after all. And you certainly know her better than me."

He practically spits out venom when he says me, bitterness seeping from every seam. He doesn't jostle Sans and continues walking, continues searching. There's a part of him that, in sickly pink words, considers putting Sans down and leaving. Perhaps he should let the skeleton solve his own problems.

But the image of the beach returns, and the sounds of waves roars in his ear and he keeps walking. He looks to the side of one of the vats and for a moment he sees himself. Just himself. Sans sits on his shoulder in the reflection and Mettaton's eyes widen. Right. Distance. It's important.

"...but that doesn't matter now. What's done is done."

You can have her he almost says but his heart cries out, pained, and he can't bring himself to say it. Weak. You're weak, Mettaton! He can practically see him saying that. His tone turns from impassioned anger to... neutral. Empty. Be mindful, Metta. This will take time.

[punful]

Mistake after mistake, and now he's said too much. Because now he's found it, now he's hit the nail on the head, now he's figured it out and he--

He used to like being smart. Remembers being this age, being a kid in general, and knowing the answers to all the hard math problems, remembers someone being impressed that he had the whole periodic table memorized, how they were less impressed when he told them he had a joke for each element. How do elements say hello? Hi-drogen.

It got so inconvenient. It's so goddamn inconvenient, for everyone around him, how he can pick up on things and notice things and put two and two together. It's inconvenient for the kids, it's inconvenient for Mettaton, hell, it's even inconvenient for people from totally different worlds.

Kinda wishes he'd taken the eye-rolling and the mutters of "nerd" more to heart and learned to just shut the fuck up once in awhile. No one cares about any of it anyway. All it does, literally all it does, is make other people look bad.

"i'm not better friends." Something raw creeps into his voice. "i'm--i'm like her. we--we were there for each other when no one else was. we, we deal with things the same way, me and her, we--we cope with things th-the same. w-we went through all kinds of crap together. that doesn't make me better. that--makes me different. it's not--it's not a competition."

He's getting worked up, and it's making him dizzy. Should have kept his dumb little mouth shut.

"we're...ugh." He gives his head a shake, trying to clear his vision. "me and her are like...like...like those caves in waterfall, the little ones, where--you make an echo and it's like it goes forever. we...we need each other like that. to just--get it, and--and sit and watch anime. but you? you're--you're like her papyrus. y-you get her up and moving. th-that's im...important."

He shakes his head again. He's fine. Just a little swimmy, and he's already calming back down, a bit at a time.

"that d-doesn't mean you're less than me. god, no one's less than me. you're mettaton. you're--i don't get it. i never get it. you're mettaton, what--what the heck are you doing comparing yourself to me?"

This is horrible. This is the worst. He feels shaky and drained and god, he just wants his body back, he just wants to feel things normally again, just wants to have some semblance of control over himself again. And then he wants to sleep for three goddamn years and not think about weird, confusing robots who kiss him for a joke one day and turn every drop of passive-aggression at his disposal on him the next.

Wants to ask Mettaton to just put him down, but he's not even sure he can walk at this point.

"and for the record? she didn't. she didn't tell me. the alphys in wonderland never told her sans. he didn't--just leap headfirst into one of her most important secrets. heh, guess, guess that means some sans-es really are better than others."

[mettatonvevo]

we were there for each other when no one else was

And whose fault is that, Mettaton? Whose. Fault. Is. That. Why would Alphys feel like no one was there for her? Hmm. What a conundrum! What a puzzle with no easy solution. A riddle for the ages!

He almost doesn't hear the rest of what Sans says, his ears suddenly ringing. Heh. He even sounds a little like her now, stumbling over his words.

"...That's a high compliment coming from you. To compare me to Papyrus."

He mutters, his voice low. After their talk during the flood he understands more now. He understands that bond Sans and Papyrus shared because it is, in many ways, the same bond he and Napstablook share. It's because of this understanding that he knows it's an unfair connection. After all, Papyrus never abandoned Sans willingly. Mettaton, meanwhile, is two for two.

He's wondered this himself. To think that Sans was better than him, more desired than him, in any way had been laughable, and yet he couldn't shake it whenever he would see them interact on the network. Knowing that they were more comfortable with each other than he was with her was almost unbearable. And yet... whose fault is that, Mettaton?

Yours. You should have never gotten close in the first place. Let her go. She has so many better friends here in Wonderland; Ford, Steve, Sans, countless others who care for her. Who never left her. You're better off without-

He shakes his head. He's been silent for too long now. Oh, right, Sans was... talking. How long has he been standing still, looking to the side and staring at a distant reflection?

"That's not true and you know it."

His tone continues to be flat. Hold yourself back. Bury it deep.

"You shouldn't put yourself down like that. It's a disservice to those who care about you."

Just... give him a moment. A minute. He's still getting used to this, to not letting his attachments get the better of him. He's pulling himself back together slowly.

[punful]

"it's true." He looks away, upset with himself. This is quite possibly the worst, most awkward way this conversation could have happened--Mettaton carrying him on his shoulders, both of them surrounded by floating bodies. What an absurd scene.

"people--people like us need people like you."

And it sucks, and it makes you feel like a leech, like you're stealing this person's time, but at the end of the day it's a need. Because Sans and Alphys, respectively, can't pull themselves out of their heads on their own. They're not strong enough. The best they can ever do for each other is provide an ear, figuratively or not, and a distraction. It takes people like Mettaton and Papyrus to actually fish them back out.

But Mettaton's tone hasn't changed. He sounds like he didn't even hear half of what Sans just said. He's stopped walking and is just staring into space, though from this angle, Sans can't see his expression.

"were you even listening...?"

Adults don't listen to bratty kids. They don't have to. And that's a stupid thing to think, because Sans isn't actually a kid. He's just--some annoying bastard spouting a lot of noise.

"sure it's true." He says it as if it's just a given fact, like the sky is blue and rocks are often some shade of gray. "but--but that's not the whole thing, is it? me an' alphys. i don't know--what--what did i do wrong this time? what are you so upset about?"

The jealousy has been there a real long time, but it still doesn't explain why Mettaton is acting so distant. It doesn't explain what's going on now. Sans must have done something.

Or at least some figment of him must have.

"is it...did you have a dream about me? in the last event? i--i had one about you."

[mettatonvevo]

He's having a hard time shoving things aside when Sans is so talkative. He keeps saying things and making Mettaton feel things when all he wants to do is the right thing and pull away. This whole situation is so messy. This is what happens when you care about other people. He understands more and more what he's been talking about now.

Despite it all though, the idea of being needed has always been something Mettaton loved. And it stirs him back just a bit.

"Sans..."

Mettaton sounds pained, like something else, something more than just this conversation is digging at him. He sounds like Mini. Sans sounds like Mini whenever they think they're alone with him and they try to talk, to ask him questions.

Dad, why are things like this?

Dad, you don't have to talk to him.

Dad, please, what did I do wrong?

Mettaton can't bear to look at his reflection anymore. He turns his head away, beginning to walk again at a slow pace. Check the vats. One of them has to have a skeleton in it.

"The event? ...Yes, I suppose there was an event. I didn't think much of it but yes. I did dream about you."

He'd look at Sans curiously if he could but he keeps his eyes on scanning the lab. "What happened in your dream of me?"

[punful]

Mettaton says his name and Sans goes quiet for a bit. He sounds...hurt, like he's struggling with something. Like maybe he's actually going to tell Sans what else is bothering him.

He doesn't. He just keeps walking, and Sans slumps a little on his shoulders. Should have known.

Mettaton's almost as good at dodging as Sans is.

They walk in silence, and Sans figures that's going to be it for the conversation. He scans the vats, desperately hoping they find his body soon. He can't take much more of this. Not Mettaton and not the waning strength of this child body of his.

Mettaton answers, and now it makes a bit more sense. The timing, at least, makes sense--why Mettaton is so different now from the last time they spoke. Though it's probably not the whole story.

But now he's thinking about it again. Now he's remembering it. The glow of the souls, the hum of the machine, the feel of the chair sticking to his bones. Mettaton laughing.

"...it was just a dream. it wasn't really you." He pauses. "whatever you dreamed about me wasn't--me, either."

He shouldn't answer. Shouldn't say another word, shouldn't talk about it at all. Just do what he usually does and tell him nothing.

Except...it helped, with Frisk at least. Talking about it actually helped. Maybe only a little, but...

And Mettaton is the only one here who would understand the significance. He's the only one who knows. The only one Sans was stupid enough to tell.

"i-i..."

He's starting to shake again, and that's just making him dizzy again. He holds on a bit tighter.

"it was--it was when--someone gave me magic. only...you were there. it was you."

[mettatonvevo]

Is Sans trying to comfort him? It wasn't him. Of course it wasn't Sans, Sans can't walk into dreams and yet...

He'd still wanted to text him afterwards. He'd wanted to ask if he was ok. He'd wanted to make sure that he wasn't on a beach and that he wasn't dust in a jar and.

He chose better.

"...Fuck."

It's a little under his "breath", but it's said softly, and with feeling. It slips out unwanted, unwarranted; he should be pretending this means nothing and yet before he can stop himself he rubs a soothing thumb on one of Sans's legs that he's holding onto.

"That's terrible, Sans. I'm sorry."

He won't talk about his dream. Not unless he's asked. And even then, he may not say. Goodness, this lab is gigantic. And Sans doesn't have much time, does he? Not if that shaking is any indication.

On a whim he makes a sharp turn and goes down a different row, cutting across the vats to give a better opportunity to see what bodies are where and cover more ground. He holds Sans tight to make sure he isn't jostled and then relaxes his grip when he's back to a normal walking pace.

softly, but with a lot of feeling,

[punful]

"heh."

He can't help chuckling a little, the abruptness of the curse pulling him back out of the memories.

"my thoughts exactly."

And there goes Mettaton with the comforting touch again. Sans is really starting to get mixed messages here. It's like he's torn between wanting to distance himself and wanting to be there for Sans, and--Sans can't for the life of him figure out why. Maybe Mettaton feels obligated now, after that long talk they had.

What a burden Sans is being. Mettaton is even carrying him, as if to drive the point home.

"it's fine." He shakes his head. "it's getting...yanno, it's getting easier to think about it."

He pauses, because the whole reason he said anything at all was because he expected Mettaton to share his dream as well. That's--that's how these things work. There's a tacit agreement there, or there's supposed to be. He can't be expected to open up to people unless they're willing to step out onto the bridge as well.

God, this must be how people feel trying to get Sans to talk about anything actually important or serious. He thinks he gets why it's so frustrating now.

"what...what about your dream?"

Mettaton turns sharply enough that Sans wobbles a bit on his shoulders. He makes a grumbling sound under his breath. Some warning might have been nice. He looks up, scanning the vats again, and his eyesockets widen.

Well, hey, looks like Mettaton won't have to answer after all.

"there, i see it." He points off at an angle. "one row over, down at the end."

Sure enough, there's a bigger--but still pretty small--skeleton floating in one of the vats. Completely naked, because of course the universe had to screw over Sans one more time for good measure. At least Mettaton can't see his face from this angle.

FUCK!!! [Enter Naked Skeleton Body]

[mettatonvevo]

It's getting easier for him? That's good. No matter where Mettaton stands now, he still feels happy to hear that.

The pause is painfully obvious and his question is poised right before Mettaton moves, which is an unintended dodge but a good one all the same. But... maybe he should... it couldn't... hurt, right? To talk about this one, small thing...

It doesn't matter. There is Sans's body. It takes Mettaton a moment to register what, exactly, he is looking at and then he is struck with the inexplicable urge to... cover Sans's eyes? He feels kind of stupid once he regains his senses, casting his eyes down so he isn't staring at his friend's floating and naked body for any longer than need be.

"Well, you're going to have to direct me in my walking now because I am currently looking at the ground and therefore am not looking ahead."

Why has he seen Sans naked or almost naked so often while being in Wonderland???? What a strange happenstance. He'd wonder the same of Sans but to be fair, Mettaton's metal body is essentially always naked. You just don't think it is because the boots give an illusion of dress.

quiet screaming

[punful]

Sans makes a frustrated sound and resists the urge to facepalm.

"come on, metta, it's just bones. don't make this more awkward than it already is..."

This has quite possibly been one of the worst half hours of Sans's life. But at least it's almost over.

"just, ugh, forward two steps, right three steps, and then forward like ten steps or something."

quiet screaming that turns into hushed gurgling

[mettatonvevo]

"It may be just 'bones' to you, but one, you must remember I don't have them, and two, you wear clothes, implying that your body without clothing is considered 'inappropriate' for the general public to see. So I am trying to be respectful of that. If you want me to ogle your naked body then I must say Sans, that's very bold of you."

He sounds more like himself than before, less dry and more characteristic 'dismissive' Mettaton, with a twist of amusement. It is a bit of a surprise to hear Sans call him 'Metta' however. In the entire time they've known each other here, he's always used his full name. Never a nickname. The only people who have called him that are Alphys and Napstablook; maybe Bucky too, though he can't quite remember right now. It's a surprise but... a nice one, he thinks.

Without another word he follows Sans's instructions perfectly, his steps fluid and quick as he positions himself wherever Sans instructed him to go. He looks up at an angle, trying to not look at the vat head on to continue giving Sans some privacy and tries to examine the machine his body is trapped in.

"What is this...?"

aka what sans is doing right now

[punful]

Sans tries to kick Mettaton in the face, but at this angle all he does is sort of whap the side of Mettaton's head with his foot.

"you're making it worse."

This is utterly embarrassing, and Sans literally cannot wait to be back in his body so he can forget that shame and dignity are even a thing. God, imagine if Alphys saw them both right now or overheard any of this. Or Frisk, even. The last thing he needs is to end up on someone's shipping chart.

Mettaton makes it safely to the vat, somehow without even looking up, and Sans gives an exasperated sigh under his breath.

"some kind of suspended animation, i think."

He stares into the vat, frowning slightly. It's surreal, seeing his own body from the outside. God, is he really that small and...fragile-looking? No wonder people want to pick him up all the time. He must look even worse as a kid.

"put me down."

He wants to take a closer look at the control panel. He did this whole song and dance earlier with Tim, but there were buttons on the control panel that he didn't look too hard at last time. He's hoping there's some sort of automatic release. It'd be nice to skip over the part where they have to climb up to the top of the vat and open it.

[mettatonvevo]

Sans gives him a good whap to the side of the head and it startles a small laugh out of the robot.

"I think you mean better Sans. It's what a handsome devil like me does."

To be fair, Mettaton also does not want to end up on Frisk's shipping chart alongside Sans. He's already dodged their probing once and gotten them off any potential scent. They don't need more fuel for the fire.

...don't even get him started on what Alphys would do. Especially as revenge for the blind date with Ford and outing her about it on the Network.

He lifts Sans up gently off his shoulders and places him on the ground. He looks at the control panel curiously.

"Suspended animation? I've never heard of that before."

[punful]

Sans grumbles to himself a bit, but doesn't answer. Quite frankly, he's quietly glad that Mettaton is acting more like himself, even if it's at the expense of Sans's nonexistent dignity. At least it will be nonexistent very soon.

Sans wobbles a little once he's back on the ground, taking a moment to steady himself. He looks over the control panel, examining the buttons and starting to unwind the electrodes from their small chamber.

"it's, um, kind of like when certain animals hibernate. or kinda like when you hibernate a computer, i guess? you make it so that something is just barely alive, that way you can kind of, um, 'suspend' it indefinitely. i don't really know all the...real-world concepts, but it's, it's in books and tv and such."

He glances up at Mettaton for a moment.

"sorry, that's, um. pretty nerdy stuff. the point is, it means you can keep something alive for a really long time while it's essentially just asleep."

It turns out there's an automatic release on the vat, and it's a simple series of button presses to turn it on. That way the vat will just dump is body out once his consciousness has been transferred.

He finds himself looking up at his floating, empty form again, and he presses one hand to the glass.

"heh, you wanna know something kinda funny?"

[mettatonvevo]

Despite some initial wobbling, Sans seems to be very confident around this machine and how it works, so Mettaton lets him do what he needs to do. He figures he's only here as emotional support now anyway.

He hums thoughtfully as he listens to the explanation Sans gives. "No need to apologize, Sans! I asked didn't I?"

What an odd way to keep someone sleeping. But if it works it works. Mettaton isn't going to pretend he knows better here.

"Hm? What is it Sans?"

He looks to the small Sans, his eyes settled on the hand on the vat.

[punful]

The only reason he's feeling even remotely confident about this is because he did it once before, and that really could have gone better. If Tim's reaction to the whole thing was any indication, this transfer is going to be a real doozy.

"i guess..." Usually people don't want to hear about science stuff beyond the most basic of explanations. Especially theoretical science you only really find in science fiction. Mettaton is probably just used to Alphys.

Sans's grin widens somewhat as he watches his body float.

"i never really expected to get that old. yanno? at this age i sorta figured...i mean, everyone kept saying i wouldn't. i wasn't, um, even supposed to survive infancy, i guess. and, the idea that i'd be a grown-up someday, it was...i dunno, i didn't think about it much. but, uh...there i am, huh?"

He taps a finger against the glass.

"i didn't really...try to, either, yanno? i just, um, i dunno. kept being alive."

He takes his hand away and fidgets a little as he realizes what he just said.

"sorry. sorry, that's not funny, is it. i--jeez, i hate this. i hate being a kid. i-it's like i have no filter. okay. okay, um, let's just do this. there's an automatic release thingy on here, so i just switch to the right body and the vat will--spit me out i guess? you might need to catch me. so, so you'd better get over the awkwardness now."

He does his level best not to even look at Mettaton as he unwinds the electrodes the rest of the way and attaches them to the sides of his head. He leans against the vat for a moment as dizziness starts to creep up on him again.

It occurs to him that he's terrified. That might be why he was jabbering away like an idiot.

"okay." He can't quite keep the tremor out of his voice. He looks back at Mettaton. "ready?"

[mettatonvevo]

Mettaton is used to Alphys and her ramblings about science and robotics. In the past he'd definitely be rolling his eyes or tapping his feet to get on with it but he got better about this in time. He wanted to repair things with Alphys, after all, and over time he had come to enjoy her ramblings, even if he didn't understand all of it.

He continues to listen and his eyes soften as Sans talks about his chances. His family. It's sobering to be reminded of how much 1 HP really affected the skeleton. How it shaped his life and how he looks at it. He wants to reach out and put a hand on his shoulder. He wants to do... something for him.

But he shouldn't. He shouldn't do these things and yet... there's something about this moment that makes him feel like this vulnerability won't come this easily again. So he gives Sans a gentle smile, ignoring the twist in his gut that tells him this is Wrong and that he should just be quietly standing by.

"I'm glad you're still here."

Sans apologizes and Mettaton shakes his head. Best not to dwell on what he just said and what Sans said.

"All right. I'll catch you if need be."

He moves to the front of the vat and looks at Sans's body straight on. He hears the tremble in Sans's voice and shoots him a reassuring smile.

"Ready."

1/2

[punful]

He doesn't know how to even respond to what Mettaton says, so...he doesn't. He can't think about that sort of thing right now, the idea that people want him around at all. It just makes him feel unfocused, and if he's unfocused now, he's never going to press the button.

And he really needs to press the button, but his hand hovers over it for longer than is necessary. He's shaking again. What if this just...doesn't work? It worked fine for Tim, but Tim is a human. Humans have brains, and firing neurons, all these electrical signals--the sort of thing that could theoretically be converted to pure electricity and sent from one place to another. Magic and a soul are different. A soul can't just...move from one body to another, unless someone is absorbing it.

What if this whole process just doesn't even work for monsters and Sans just--dies? Or what if something goes wrong and he gets lost somewhere between bodies?

"h-heh."

He's stalling. He grits his teeth for a moment.

"okay. okay, h-here goes...nothing. s-see you in a sec. i guess."

Still stalling. He needs to just--just--

He could die. But he also knows that he will die if he stays in this body until the event ends. And Mettaton will be upset if he dies again, so.

Fuck it.

He presses the button.

2/2

[punful]

His body jolts and vibrates as if a current is passing through him.

It doesn't hurt, but it's intense. The process is strikingly similar to teleporting--a sort of sideways lurch, a tug, a sensation kind of like falling. He feels himself crumple to the floor, and it's almost like fainting, the whole world going instantly dark.

For a second, he's nowhere.

Then he snaps awake inside the vat and flails, because for a split second he can't remember what just happened or where he is or why he's underwater. The vat is already draining liquid away into some kind of vent at the back, and then the outer cylinder lifts rises with the hiss of a seal being broken. About two gallons of liquid spill out onto the floor, and Sans comes with it.

[mettatonvevo]

He hesitates. Mettaton sees the hesitation and considers saying something else. Something more encouraging. But he waits instead. He's said too much already, after all, and once this is done it's done and he can move on.

But Sans speaks again and continues to stall and Mettaton feels a spike of annoyance. Maybe I should walk over there and slam his hand on-

Sans presses the button. He writhes and shakes and Mettaton's eyes widen. Oh goodness, he hadn't thought of the myriad of ways this could go wrong, had he? His body jolts and jerks and Mettaton is unwillingly reminded of... Frisk. Frisk, during their battle, the few times they did not dodge fast enough and his lightning struck them head on. It chills his soul and anything he wanted to say dies in his throat.

The child body crumples to the floor and the reminder becomes more visceral, images of Frisk lying on the stage as stage lights beam down crowd his mind. But he... he never killed them, right? They survived.

Remember they can Reset a small voice in his mind whispers and he shudders. Right. Of course. They had talked about this. They couldn't die and he most definitely...

The vat opens. His attention snaps from the now empty child body to the Sans before him as the hiss slithers through his ears. Liquid pours out and he hesitates. But he's water proof now, isn't he? Fitz made sure of that a couple of events ago. His hesitation lasts for less than a second. Sans crumples ground-wards and Mettaton pushes himself forward, heels squelching against the watery tile below them as he steps into the deluge, kneels and catches his friend in his arms, pulling Sans's head to his chest.

He drags him out of the vat and further onto the floor, Sans's legs dragging a little along the tile as he pulls himself up straight again. "Sans? Sans are you all right? Did it work?"

[punful]

It's like waking up. Like the very particular kind of horror of snapping back to his feet in the golden hallway, the echo of cracking ribs still ringing in his skull, and the human standing before him a few feet away with a vaguely triumphant look on their face, and he can't--he can't be sure, but all he can think is that...

...is that they're kind of a freak.

Someone grabs him and tries to hold him up and there's a horribly weird sensation, kind of like his legs have fallen asleep, despite the fact that he has no muscles or nerves or anything of the sort. He just sort of clings to whoever it is for dear life, shuddering and coughing needlessly. Breathing feels weird, like he forgot to do it for awhile, which--which makes sense, he remembers that that makes sense, and he just--he just needs a second to get his head around the situation. Needs to figure out what's going on.

"sh-shit."

Right. Right, okay. It's an event, he was in some kind of suspended animation, and now he's awake again. Mettaton must be holding onto him. He can't stand quite yet, so he doesn't even bother trying.

"shit." He opens his eyesockets, giving his head a shake to clear liquid out of his skull. "that k-kinda...rattled me."

[mettatonvevo]

Sans clings to Mettaton like a lifeline and the robot does not let him fall. He pulls him flush, taking on the entire weight of his body (which honestly isn't that much- without his clothes Sans is surprisingly light) and he puts a steadying hand on Sans's spine.

Huh. His bones feel surprisingly sturdy for a Monster that could die from a single bullet strike. The sensation pulls him out of his thoughts, out of twisted images of a timeline that wasn't picked and he looks down at Sans as he shakes his head and opens his eyesockets.

"You seem to be ok. That's good."

What an awkward statement, Mettaton! But it's true. He seems to be himself again and Mettaton is quietly grateful for it. The hand that isn't bracing against Sans's back moves to a side latch on his body and opens it, pulling out a handkerchief with MTT embroidered in the corner of it and offers it to the skeleton.