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[Papyrus smiles briefly at that. Oddly numb and a little subdued as a result as he may be, hearing that normal form of address again is good. Some things are back to normal. Still, he's loitering here for a reason, and this simmering pot of sulphuric acid isn't it]

...So. Brother. I couldn't help, but to notice... Lately... [He looks between Sans, and the open fridge door, and pauses significantly. Leaving space for Sans to see his expression (aiming for solemn and concerned), and maybe fill in the question without Papyrus needing to figure out how to word it normally enough.]

[Sans pulls back out of the fridge with a bag of chips that had gotten lost at the back. He hesitates with a handful halfway to his mouth when he sees the way Papyrus is looking at him, though. That looks like actual concern about something Sans is doing.] What's up?

Well. The speed the fridge empties, it's definitely gone up. Your half of it. [Matter-of-fact concern, without heat of accusation. He doesn't feel as nervous bringing it up as he suspects he normally would be. Sure, he recalls the historical pattern of expressing a concern at Sans, Sans deflecting it and hiding his hurts, Papyrus himself getting frustrated in response... But it's based on old versions of them, and they've gone through a lot of revisions since then. No sense not asking, when he can test the waters and be himself by throwing out a bunch of questions at once.]

So I need to ask... Is anything weird going on with you now? Do you have a secret pet? And... do we need to go shopping more often?

[Sans looks back at the fridge, because of course he hasn't closed it quite yet. Okay, so his side is pretty empty. Okay, so he's grabbed one or two things more than usual from Papyrus's side lately.]

Nah, no secret pets. You know me, when I'm hungry, I eat. [Maybe he should put the chips back? But he's really hungry. He is going to stuff those chips he still has in his hand into his mouth at least.]

Yes, I know you. [Once again, anyway, which is still a positive change of affairs! No matter how aggravating he knows he sometimes finds his brother to be. Like, say, right now.]

Which is part of why, I notice, the not answered parts. [It's awkward, how would he normally react? He'd be exasperated, right? But he's just feeling mildly annoyed at the predictable dodging. Papyrus shakes his head, goes for the counter-dodge with a change in tactics: something resembling honesty?] I'm asking because... Sans, I remember being hungry all the time, and it was terrible? If that's happening...

[Sans was expecting more exasperation and wasn't expecting the direct attempt at sympathizing. That Sans can see, given how many eyes he has, just how empty the refrigerator is yet again while still looking at Papyrus, makes it seem a little pointless to keep dodging. Still, it's Sans, after all--his tone is perfectly casual, as if even if this is a change, it's certainly not a big deal.]

Okay, yeah, maybe I'm kind of hungrier. It just started happening. [Not exactly true, although in this case it's that Sans doesn't quite remember the order of operations here. If, say, someone in this conversation had a perfect, robotic memory, they would remember it starting to increase rapidly in the middle of the personality change. To be fair, Sans had been a little distracted.]

[Another predictable dodge, downplaying all the details of the situation. Papyrus just looks at him, then past him at the same empty sections of the fridge they both know are there.]

Do you maybe mean, you just noticed it happening...? Because I noticed days ago. I-- [He stops, and not only because of the shared not wanting to acknowledge weirdness thing. Mostly, while he doesn't know how he feels about the indifference he'd been feeling about Sans's wellbeing, he's sure he doesn't want to admit to it. Surely it wouldn't help Sans to hear anything like that. He just needs to change the subject, in the sort of way he normally would. What about this situation would he normally get frazzled about...? Oh, right.] I think you should grab that bag of chips! And then close the fridge door, while talking. Human food tends to spoil?? [Seriously, don't leave the door open, it'll just answer that last unanswered question about grocery shopping that much faster.]

[Sans doesn't seem to notice anything off about Papyrus having waited a few days to bring this up--it seems normal enough, especially with everything that happens here, that Papyrus might have just been figuring out his approach or hoping Sans might actually bring it up himself. (Not expecting, Sans is sure, but maybe hoping.) Sans retrieves the chips and kicks the fridge door closed finally.]

I wasn't really keeping track of how much I was eating until the fridge started looking empty. [This is one of the downsides to Sans's grazing habits: he's very used to just grabbing one or two things several times a day instead of making easier to keep track of meals.] Maybe it's been a few days, then.

Oh. You really didn't notice...? [That's a relief, maybe. As long as there's no nefarious reason why Sans isn't noticing. But it at least suggests the hunger's not too bad, not even as pronounced as what Papyrus had felt early on, when nothing seemed to satisfy. A relief his brother's not in secret pain or anything.

...Not to mention. If Sans isn't noticing things like his own snacking rate, he probably hasn't noticed anything awry with Papyrus. Which means he's doing normally enough, and they can focus on solving this mystery, and give himself a chance to maybe return to normal on his own. Papyrus gives the stir as an excuse to glance away for a few seconds, and nods to himself. One thing at a time.]

Well, that's good, then! We'll still want to... do some more shopping, if it keeps up. And maybe get you a mini-fridge...?

I kind of noticed, but, y'know. [Sans shrugs and does not elaborate on what Papyrus should or should not know in an attempt to breeze right by any direct mention of the personality swap and the eclipse.

Sans has been working his way through that bag of chips at an impressive rate, even for him. He reaches in and seems surprised that the bag is now empty before tipping it to get the crumbs (that part, at least, isn't new).] I dunno how I'd even tell if I needed to eat somethin' else now.

[There, he's acknowledged the possibility.]

It would be lying, if I said I hadn't wondered about that! You've, uh... You're still going to that dig site, and stargazing, like normal, right? [Those being the standing theories for other things Sans might be getting energy from, somehow. Outside these relevant parts, he'd be just as content to not acknowledge the last couple weeks. He's not thrilled by that but, y'know shrug off, but Sans taking the conversational initiative to compare their situations like that...? It's really something. At least he'll remember this conversation perfectly, to be more pleased about later.]

Yeah. [Well, when it comes to stargazing, there was that eclipse thing, but if that was messing with him it would have worn off by now, right...? Did he start eating more before or after the eclipse? Before, he thinks.] I went out to that cave a few times. [When he was going between keeping an eye on Papyrus and avoiding him until he started acting normal again. But there are plenty of starts to look at out by the lake, is the point.]

That cave... [Papyrus nods slowly as he echoes the phrase, remembering the one. That place on the edge of the canyon, with nearly no reception, making for a place of sharply echoing silence. The place Sans keeps teleporting off to hide when Papyrus is off - and the place that caused the offness, that one time? The first time it seemed perfectly sensible to put body parts in food. At least he didn't get that far, this time.

...It's really a good thing he isn't feeling things too strongly, or he'd surely react in a big and obvious way, to these memories. As is, he doesn't grimace or shiver or anything. Just switches to shaking his head a few times, tapping the spoon on the pot and letting it continue simmering.]

I can't imagine how going in a cave would make you hungrier... It shouldn't be any different than being in a room. I think...? [Damper, colder, and limited reception, but none of those are things that seem like they'd impact Sans for days later.]</small.

[Sans shrugs, watching Papyrus fuss over that pot as he eyes the refrigerator and the cupboards with a few extra eyes. He could use more than that bag of chips right now, actually.] Dunno, but it can't be stars. Or sunlight. [He even has that sun lamp now, so any sunlight needs should be extra covered. Meanwhile, Sans is just going to sidle over to the bread to grab a couple slices.]

I suppose... if you haven't changed your habits... [Which, he knows full well, Sans just clearly said as much. But he remembers being very attached to those theories, and knows he wouldn't let them go without so much as a skeptical grumble.] I suppose that can't be what's missing. It could be something more obscure...

[In fact, he's sent Sans a list of those obscure craving findings before. He hasn't checked it recently enough to just have it memorized, but it's a short search to bring it up and send the image to Sans's number again. He doesn't even bother pulling out his phone for it, not with it hooked in place within his ribcage, connected so he can access it with only brief distraction.] Check that? But it could always be something very ordinary, what with your diet... You should try eating some multivitamins, too.

[With his normal hands occupied with bread, Sans fishes out his phone with one of his invisible ones.] I forgot human flesh and blood was on this list. [Not that he's worried about that being it, given he's never eaten any to begin with, it's just a reminder that there are people wandering around stuck eating people or starving to death. Gross and unfortunate. But anyway... Well, Sans mentally goes through crossing options off until he's left with emotions and dreams, which he can't really prove one way or another. Can't prove it, but even if he hasn't really let on about it much, he knows he can manipulate emotions. That means it could be related, theoretically.]

Could be something on here. [He says, deliberately vague.] Could be something else. Y'know, they've got vitamins in the shapes of cartoon characters here. [Sans will buy vitamins for children.]

I wish I could forget... [The mention of the human flesh thing gets an overly honest admission and a quick grimace about it. Entirely too relevant to some of the too-vivid memories of late, and something of another concern in the back of his skull. Numb as he still is, he deeply hopes that part wasn't reflective of that Hannibal guy, but was from some other influence. Like a lingering moon thing...]

But cartoons for your health, that sounds right for you. [Because Sans is secretly a cartoon character, or something. Papyrus doesn't actually have a punchline figured out yet, he's winging it for the sake of normalcy.]

[For a couple of moments more of Sans's eyes fix on Papyrus than usual. It's a look Papyrus might recognize, at least on Sans's actual face--when he's focusing on some observation or another that he's made. It's maybe a touch more intense with the added halo eyes. But Sans seems to note how Papyrus said that and, for now, let it go. Or at least set it aside for later.]

They've got gummies. It's just like candy. [It's possible Sans will come back with gummy bears instead. Do human vitamins even work on them? Who knows.] Safer'n trying to swallow a battery, probably. [Sans is not a robot that would be a terrible idea.]

[...Yes, Papyrus recognizes that intensity of focus. Whoops. He needs to be more careful about what he says, or how he says it, because that sudden focus looked like Sans is properly paying attention to things now. It's mostly a comfort to see he's okay, in that respect. If a little inconvenient for secrets.]

Yeah, probably! Unless you think your glowing is battery-powered. [Neither of them think that, and it's not like the glowing is fluctuating as Sans eats, is it? That's probably solar-powered, if anything.] But vitamin snacks surely can't hurt! Not being all 'child-safe'.

You want some too? You could top your milkshakes with 'em. [Battery acid and vitamin gummy milkshakes... Sans is just trying to change the topic now.]

That's... not a terrible idea. [A clear deflection, and it's not like Papyrus is forgetting the rest of this conversation any time soon, but the idea itself?] I'm sure the extra nutrients would be helpful... Okay, sure. But you eat them too! And, tell me if it seems to be helping.

[It was easier than usual to stand here and ambush Sans with the concerned questions, but if his brother is actually paying attention to the whatever it is he needs now... All that's really left is shopping for groceries. Papyrus can get a well-rounded bunch of things, some for Sans in sealed containers, and Sans can fill in the rest of what he wants himself.]

[Sans actually follows through on this! He gets real children's vitamin gummies and everything. They look like weird prehistoric cartoon characters from a cartoon Sans can't even find on TV. He looks it up online and harasses Papyrus with it for a little while "so the vitamins can get into character", and also buys Papyrus a bottle for testing on milkshakes.

But Sans wakes up starving that night regardless, and it's not long before he's clattering around in the kitchen because he's out of snacks and actually has to cook something if he wants to eat. Which is terrible. But Sans is pretty sure that Papyrus has been sleeping even less than usual, if anything, so it's not like he has to worry about waking his brother up.]

[Ah, children's cartoons. Papyrus finds himself earnestly rolling his eyes at it all, and generally makes fun of Sans for getting into it... But, he also sends sporadic texts commenting on specific characters and their story arcs, giving away that he's not just indulged a look or two, but is actually watching it. (It's easy to multitask watching it while working, given the mechanical advantages, after all.)

The fridge has a something that's probably unsafe for humans to smell, let alone eat, as the previously simmered acid has been poured into jello molds with a DON'T EAT THIS note on top. If poked, they jiggle with the right consistency. Smells questionable, though.

It's true that Papyrus wasn't asleep, though he had been charging and that's close enough to sleep for him. The sounds of kitchen clatter draw his attention, reminding him both of the probably-finished gelatin experiment - and the ongoing mystery with Sans. Not that midnight snacking is unusual with his brother, but it's good to have more information on how exactly it's going, so he casually saunters into the kitchen, making sure that it is Sans in there and not some home intruder before he offers a greeting.]

Hey, brother. Finding everything okay...? [Both, is Sans okay, and is he finding the food and cooking supplies he need for whatever this is.]

[Sans gives the jello an obligatory wiggle, though he doesn't take it out of the fridge. He's actually here to steal some cheese. He stuffs one slice into his mouth even as he takes a few more out, and so when Papyrus appears, Sans answers with his mouth full.]

Yeah. Making grilled cheese. [Three of them, judging by the amount of cheese he has. The best description for how Sans looks would be "tired", though he's trying to will enough energy into his body to look casual.]

[The light in Papyrus's eyes shifts and brightens a little as he takes in the details of his brother's appearance. Tired, but in that particular casual way. Which is more cause for concern, on the average. It's the middle of a long night, it'd be normal for Sans to be tired and looking tired. Pretending not to be... Papyrus knows very well how that's a sign of hiding something.]

Good choice! Calcium's important. [Bright, cheerful, playing along. And he knows there's new bread, and butter, and clean pans, and everything one might need for making basic sandwiches. But still...] If we need any more ingredients, give me a call! I can always go to a store. [Sans can get there more quickly, with teleporting, but...]

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and now for a short timeskip

now time for Sans to have the "because i've lost control of my life" side of the meme

we're all that meme sometimes

that we are