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[bonedoggle]

heh, that human has great taste.

[Sans takes the poster and studies the image on it.]

this is, uh, really cool, bro.

did ya have fun?

[spaghettimonster]

I did! It was a challenge.

Staying still for an hour... It's easy if you're napping. But not if you're standing the whole while!

[Or, nearly the whole while. There was a few minute pause, halfway through. A chance to stretch and rattle his bones, spooking a couple of the students even further. But for the most part, he did his best video game npc impression.]

It's thanks to the fortunate twist of evolution. Since humans have internal skeletons... I make a great reference!

[bonedoggle]

i bet you do.

[He chuckles softly.]

so, uh, modeling, is that something you'd wanna keep doing?

[spaghettimonster]

At least for now! Seeing everyone's creations... Contributing to the arts...

Sans, there was such an array of representations of me...!

[Let no one say that Papyrus has become any less enamored with his own greatness, here.]

They invited me back any time!

[bonedoggle]

cool, you'll have to take me to watch a session.

[Sans is pretty sure that's impossible.

The skeleton sits cross legged on the floor.]

is it something you can see yourself doing for a while?

[spaghettimonster]

Only if you promise not to snore.

[He's not going to push for a promise that Sans won't fall asleep. That would be too optimistic even for Papyrus. Especially since, well, it's not an exciting thing, sitting in on a modeling session. Not until the end, when he had the chance to walk around and see just what everyone had made.

But... sitting on the floor? Not on the edge of a bed or something? Wow, brother. Papyrus, at least, is going to lean against the doorway.]

You know, I really think so. I was helping! Really helping! Something I'm good at, and other people can see it!

[Unlike, say, being a sentry. Or a royal guard.]

[bonedoggle]

[The floor is a perfectly good sitting place, don't knock it bro.]

are you saying you'd think i'd fall asleep?

[He feigns offence.]

what ever happened to doing something like the royal guard, though?

[He's curious.]

[spaghettimonster]

Yes!

[As if that's even a question. Sans, of the infamous "sleeping," not napping when bored? Please. But at his brother's question...]

Well... I mean...

[He hesitates, and fidgets, and finally moves to join Sans on the floor. Like it's easier to talk about when they're side by side.]

I don't really want to... fight people.

I asked around! The monster hunters here, they're a little like the guard. They look for dangers. And stop people from getting hurt! But, sometimes, they have to...

[bonedoggle]

wouldn't it be weird for a monster to be a monster hunter?

[But he digresses.]

did you ever want to fight people, bro, or did you just want to help people?

[spaghettimonster]

The perfect kind of weird to inspire your jokes, maybe.

[That is the question, isn't it? Back then... He found excuse after excuse to not actually fight the human.

Oh, he made puzzles as obstacles, because it's tradition. That's just what you do. But when the human didn't seem to enjoy them...? He stopped bothering with all but the best ones. And even though it probably could have killed them... he disabled the most effective obstacle.

But beating them, capturing them... That really wasn't what he'd been after, was it? He just wanted to have somebody interested in the same stuff he was. Somebody he could help out. A friend.]

I do like fighting! Sparring with Undyne was always invigorating. A great challenge!

But that's different. We both agreed to fight! And it wasn't for really harming anybody. Genuinely fighting is... something else.

[bonedoggle]

you're just not the sort, bro.

you never have been.

[He places a hand on Papyrus's knee.]

i'm glad you found something that's better suited for the great papyrus.

[spaghettimonster]

Was it that obvious? Sure, I didn't fight the human. But I had reasons.

[Reasons that made him ill-suited to the royal guard, in anything but a decorative position. His shadow sure drove that point home. Making a lot of noise about being a fighter and a hero didn't amount to anything if his heart wasn't in it... And it really wasn't.

Papyrus sighs, then shakes it off and perks up.]

I'm glad, too! And I'll try other things! There's no reason for me to lock into one option. If I'm going to give up on that dream... I should really explore what else there is!

[bonedoggle]

it kinda was.

[He doesn't elaborate,he doesn't want to dwell on this topic too much.]

maybe you'll find an even better dream if you keep your options open.

[He leans back against the nearest wall.]

and maybe i'll be as lucky as you when looking for a job.

[spaghettimonster]

Yet nobody said a thing to me...

[That's just strange. But, well, whatever. It's neither pressing nor relevant right now.

Instead, Papyrus lets them drop it, and considers his brother.]

Are you looking? I thought... You said something about, finishing your apprenticeship?

[It seems like it would be difficult to do science and work a separate job. And a little silly. With room and board covered, Papyrus can be the breadwinner of the family!]

[bonedoggle]

i did say that, and i still want to! but i'm probably qualified enough to be a lab assistant.

and, actually being in a working lab again would be... uh, nice.

really nice.

[spaghettimonster]

Does that mean you're going to look for a working lab?

[Your brother is ready to cheer you on, if you are! But, wait...]

...What's a working lab? Are there unworking labs...?

[bonedoggle]

i mean a lab that's an actual, y'know, place people go to for work.

[He chuckles.]

not just messing around in dad's lab.

[Has he mentioned that lab? Well, if not, he has now!]

[spaghettimonster]

Pbpbpbt. You were never 'just messing around.' He was the royal scientist! There had to be all kinds of actual work happening.

How else did you generate all that paperwork?

[It might just take two tags for it to be clear what he's mentioning.]

[bonedoggle]

no, not the royal lab, that's the sort of place i'm looking for.

i meant dad's lab here, have i, uh, is this the first time i've mentioned it?

[spaghettimonster]

Our father has a lab here?

[Yes, this is the first time he's mentioned it.]

[bonedoggle]

yeah, it's attached to his room.

[spaghettimonster]

Like that other guy has a whole house in his roo---wait a minute. I don't remember seeing a lab in there. I've been in his room a few times!

[bonedoggle]

it's hidden behind the bookcase, bro.

[spaghettimonster]

...Sans. Are you telling me... our father has a secret lab??? Behind a hidden door???

[And he and Mettaton didn't find it when they were exploring the house?!?]

[bonedoggle]

yea?

i mean, what mad scientist doesn't?

[...Is he joking? It's hard to tell.]