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[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.]

[spaghettimonster]

That is a completely valid point! I never thought of it that way... but he made his own clones!

Our father, the mad scientist...

[And then Papyrus, the only one in this family responsible and sane enough to do things like wash the dishes consistently? Since some people might run off in the middle of them to test on some experiment's progress.]

[bonedoggle]

that he did.

[Sans chuckles.]

but as nice as that lab it, it's hardly a real job.

[spaghettimonster]

[So Sans needs a 'real job' as a scientist... But what would that entail? What kind of science would he even be working on...?]

There's all those engineers in the steam district.

[bonedoggle]

that'd be great... if i was an engineer.

[Papy, we need to talk about how most scientists have a field they specialize in.]

but i'm, um, i'm a physicist.

[spaghettimonster]

[How quickly will his eyesockets glaze over... Too much nerd in one conversation.]

Yes, time travel and stuff! But if they're there... There might be other scientists there too?

It's a place to start.

[bonedoggle]

[That's what happens when your little brother is the biggest nerd.]

yeah, uh, there's a university that's interested in dad's work, so we're gonna check that place out.

[spaghettimonster]

[Nerd concentrate...]

But universities are schools! For learning at. Would you two be teaching people about your work...?

[The real question is, do monster scientists need to get their studies peer reviewed?]

[bonedoggle]

yeah-- well, dad would be doing the teachin', i would just be his assistant and, uh, his interpreter.

[Perhaps? Who knows.

Sans scoffs in laughter.]

i mean, can you imagine me as a teacher?

[spaghettimonster]

Well, maybe. You sure know your stuff. And you're good at breaking the mood.

[Papyrus thinks back and really considers what being in a classroom with Professor Sans might be like, and grins.]

I know I wouldn't want to interrupt your classes. Not if it meant running afoul of some prank toy, every time I sat at my desk, for the rest of the week!

[bonedoggle]

i wouldn't do that.

c'mon, papyrus, you make it sound like i'm obsessed with pranks.

[spaghettimonster]

[Pranks are on his mind because it's been a good long while since Papyrus tried his hand at japery.]

What not? It would be a good deterrent! Embarrassing but harmless.

But maybe not the right tone for a university...

[What do people wear in universities? Big flowing robes? Sweater vests? Regular suits...?]

[bonedoggle]

[Sweater vests and suits, probably. Steampunk suits.]

not the right tone at all, bro.

it's higher education, with a bunch of adult students.

[Which makes him consider something...]

i'm probably a little young to teach at a university, anyway, so let's leave it to dad.