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[The reassurance of family connection goes over especially poorly right now, what with that example of a scared and protective father hanging over the whole scene. Papyrus shakes his head to try dispelling it, and reject Sans's answer, and generally push himself to actually answer. He has to push, there's a strong impulse to say never mind and pretend he didn't say anything, but that kind of avoidance of difficulties is all too much like Sans, and... that's the problem, isn't it?]

Because you don't want us?? [He gestures at himself and negative Sans, in case it's not clear enough what he means by 'us'.] You never have!

[The puzzled frown on positive Papyrus's face gives away that he suspects he's included in that 'you', and only starting to grasp what his negative counterpart means by all this. They're both going to disappear to be one Papyrus again sooner or later, aren't they? It's not like anyone's dying for real.]

You're allowed to have negative feelings, y'know. [Positive Sans remains calm. He's aware that that kind of attitude might not actually help, but he can be calm or he can be even more positive, and he's sure that won't help.] Works better when you've got both kinds of emotions, but--you're part of Papyrus. I don't want you to go anywhere.

[He doesn't mention negative Sans, not once. Of course. Negative Sans's expression shifts from startled by this entire conversation to bleak amusement.] Hey, I get it. I wouldn't want me around either. [Not like that, though negative Sans isn't being clear. He died once, he doesn't want that to happen again. But he's got a lot more negativity in him than Papyrus, he's sure of it. Who would want all that around?]

[The monitor's dim red fades to black as he stares blankly back, then swivels - wordlessly - to look at negative Sans. The specification of Papyrus didn't go unheard, there.]

I want both of you around. Unless you're feeling restless, and want to go somewhere else for a while! [In contrast to Sans's calm, positive Papyrus brings a tone of cheer and welcome, and something almost apologetic - or at least a decent imitation of it.] I'm sure I'm not alone in that!

Could have fooled me. [It's a low, tense mutter for negative Papyrus, but still loud enough to hear, in the quiet unpowered basement.] With how he treats himself.

[Negative Sans shoves his hands into his pockets.] That doesn't have anything to do with you. [However Sans feels about himself it doesn't change that Sans cares about Papyrus. It's not even a feeling--negative Sans can't exactly feel positive about it--it's just a fact. He cares about Papyrus, that's how it is. Caring about himself has always been so much more difficult.]

But hey, maybe heading out for a while ain't a bad idea. [He doesn't leave yet, though. He can't decide if he wants to run or he wants to start a fight or what. Maybe he just wants to hear what everyone's gonna say about it.]

Only if you want to! [Positive Papyrus chimes in first, recognizing - mostly thanks to the predictive models - that the idea might have been misconstrued as a hint. It's not worry, but it can serve a little of the social function of it, and hopefully make everything a little better. He emphasizes, with more sincerity:] You're free and welcome.

[The other Papyrus doesn't immediately answer, the tension in his posture not at all defused by Sans's negation - if anything, it's worse. He has to turn his entire misshapen, oversized monitor of a head just to look between the Sanses. Horribly obvious where he's looking. And his emotions keep showing on his face, as the other Papyrus shares the visual of a figure with hands over their mouth that's apparently showing on the monitor's screen. Obvious he's holding something back, too, huh? Fuck it. He remembers why he hasn't said this before, but he's too worked up to say nothing, and maybe that offer to leave includes him.]

You don't... You really don't get it, do you? [He finally demands access to his counterpart's visual feed while they're connected, the better to see what the hell both their brother's expressions are doing.] Why would you want me around, if I'm like you?

Edited 2022-07-03 03:46 (UTC)

[Oh, alright, it's going to be a fight. It's easier when someone else decides for him. (That's usually how he makes his decisions, huh?) Of course, that doesn't mean negative Sans really understands what Papyrus is saying. Oh, sure, the words make sense, but it's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous to suggest that.] Stupid question. It's like askin' what I'd do if the world turned to jell-o. [Outside the realm of possibility. Papyrus isn't like him.] You're not like me, so it doesn't matter.

Oh, I'm not, huh? [Negative Papyrus laughs, by some meaning of the word. It's no triumphant nyeh heh heh cackling, but something lower and entirely bitter.] I'm more like you than either of us likes! Why do you think I work so hard to--

Hey. [For the first time in this whole misadventure, positive Papyrus interrupts with careful calm of his own. Loudly enough to be emphatic, something of a warning, that he breaks by smiling again.] I should have said! We're all welcome to stay, and free to go take breathers... Or, we should be! But the door is still... weldy. [He pointedly glances towards the nonfunctional door out of the basement, for all it breaks the view on positive Sans for a second.] Maybe we should wait on this talk until everyone's able to leave on their own power!

[Negative Sans really doesn't like hearing Papyrus laugh like that, which is maybe proving negative Papyrus's point a little. But still. Positive Papyrus's interruption slows Sans down a little, stops him from getting even more worked up, but he still replies.] Yeah, you work hard not to be like me, right? So you're not gonna--

Yeah, maybe unweld the door first. [It's positive Sans's turn to interrupt in the form of agreeing with positive Papyrus here. Neither Sans is trapped right now, but if negative Papyrus got it in his head the wrong way, things could get a lot worse if Papyrus would have to rely on one of the Sanses to get out.] I'm telling you, a dungeon's gonna lower the property values.

I'm sure a good dungeon would be fine! [Positive Papyrus disagrees with amused cheer, taking a step towards the stairs and turning to check his counterpart's willingness to assist or else disconnect.] ...Like a sexy one! With proper decor, and an actual lock on the door. But nothing so rushed and utilitarian.

[The monitor goes dark red again, tension through his posture making it clear that negative Papyrus is still angry about everything happening here. More than that, notif icons flicker around the edges, hinting at the flurry of angry pings he shoots across their connection - demands for this or that, a reminders that disconnecting would mean not generating power between them. Some of it shows up as texts on his screen, at the electronic speed they manage these days. Finally he takes a step towards the stairs as well, glancing back at the Sanses with fists still balled at his sides.]

...You can't unweld a door. All you can do is replace it. [Or parts of it, which doesn't undermine the accusatory metaphor he's drawing here - they can't just erase the stuff the negative halves get up to. He turns the stare on his counterpart, who's agreed enough to gather powered screwdriver and such for removing the door by the hinges rather than dealing with the welding.] And you're still saying, you're not trying to make us go away? Talking over us like that?

[The text flickers across negative Papyrus's screen too quickly for either Sans to read, though it's obvious enough there's some conversation going on between the two Papyruses.

Positive Sans has an infinite level of patience, which is probably good for this. He's as unruffled as he was when he first showed up.] It's not like we never interrupted each other when there was only one of us each.

[Speaking of interrupting, it's negative Sans's turn.] Why are you still mad about that? Other me told you he didn't want to. [It's part a genuine question and part frustration. Negative Sans doesn't expect those kinds of concessions--he's not wanted and he didn't think anyone except positive Papyrus would say otherwise.] Unless you think he's lying. [Unless Papyrus thinks Sans, in general, lies about caring about Papyrus. Which is what's frustrating.]

[The Papyruses have started partway up the staircase, so when negative Papyrus turns to stare at the Sanses and stomp a foot in agitation, some dust shakes loose from a stair.]

I wasn't even talking to you that time!! [Defensive in voice and posture, because he's feeling too much not to feel defensive at a final comment like that - especially on top of the rest of it. But positive Papyrus just sends over the impression of a shrug, too focused on getting tools together to defend himself or fight about it, so negative Papyrus focuses on their brother(s).]

You both do lie plenty... [It's meant as an accusation, one to sting. But that's not really what he's thinking or feeling about, nor the painful point he wants to make.] But no, not lying about that! You both care!! Whatever. [Papyrus scoffs, trying and failing to seem not to care.] He doesn't seem to care about you. Why should I be any different?

You're Papyrus. [This time both Sanses answer at once, because it's the only possible answer. Papyrus is just--Papyrus. Admittedly it's hard for him to articulate, especially split in two. But that's the answer. Papyrus is different from Sans, and that's a good thing.]

I know that!! [He throws his hands up in the air, wincing when an agitated hand bumps the monitor on the way up.] And that's not helpful!

[Not that either Sans's tone is that of Sans being a wiseass and saying obvious things in lieu of answers, not that he actually thinks that's what they're doing, but... If he pretends not to get any of it, maybe they'll clarify what he doesn't understand.]

This is stupid. [Negative Sans, of course.] You've always been the only thing that really matters, when you get down to it.

[At this, even positive Papyrus stops readying the tools to instead turn and stare, surprise and skepticism as close to negative as he gets. Negative Papyrus keeps staring as well, his screen lighting up with an image of a Greek temple. Instead of anything in time-appropriate lettering, the temple has SANS written on it. Some of the caryatids are shaped like Papyrus, figures in place of columns to support the weight. One of the statues cracks before the image fades.]

...Are you serious? [His voice and body shake.]

I care about other things, too. [This time it's positive Sans who answers. It seems when it comes to this, though, the two Sanses are in agreement enough that there's a common conversation to be had.

Negative Sans waves a hand, dismissive.] Sure, yeah--I mean, sometimes about all sorts of shit I can't do anything about, or people who are just gonna--look, the point is that I thought about it, and if I have to pick one thing to care about, it's you. If it gets so everything else just--doesn't matter. For whatever reason. You still matter. That's the point.

[The baffled staring from both Papyruses continues, with far more appall in the body language of negative Papyrus.]

But you're the only person you're stuck with forever?? [It's not a threat he'll leave, or a wish to do so... for all that the basement feels too small and crowded all over again.] You... I know you know that!

[He can remember dying, and has bits of Sans's memories of stalking the human after that, a confrontation in the golden hallway. (He remembers bits of dying way more than that, with genuine surprise, betrayal at a flower's bullets - but no other memories of what Sans might have gotten up to then.) He remembers Kassabian's probing questions about how much he pretends things for Sans's sake, remembers that artwork in that first post she made.]

Bad luck for me, right? [Negative Sans says, like it's a joke, though he can't exactly find it funny. Ironic, maybe. But he doesn't disagree. Still, that ironic, bitter joking tone continues.] 'Course, that's less true for us.

[And now positive Sans is looking at his negative counterpart, surprised. It's about as close as he can come to alarm.] Pretty sure you guys need to cool off. Like, maybe out of this basement. So maybe focus on the door--

[Negative Sans barks out a laugh, attention momentarily on his positive self.] Y'know, maybe you're the one who lies more, between the two of us.

[Negative Papyrus watches the back and forth with slight shifts of his monitor, torn between wanting to take the suggestion to leave (and being unable to), wanting to keep venting his fears at his brother(s), and wanting to hear what they're making of all this. Trust Sans to get distracted by metaphysical time confusion, to make it an excuse to argue with himself, instead of... Well, instead what Papyrus had wanted, insofar as any of his sharp words have purpose. Trying to goad Sans into some kind of realization about the ripple effects of self-loathing. It doesn't seem to be working, not unless they're going about it some entirely different way than he did, years back. He doesn't know what to say, what to do.

Behind him, positive Papyrus nods at that reiterated notion of the door, agreement spreading across his face. The way the tension is turning on themselves and each other is palpable even without directly feeling the unpleasantness of it all, and the internal model's various projections how this could go are full of warnings that they're riling each other up further. He turns to the door, lining the tool up with the screws of the door's hinges.]

[Without Papyrus jumping in, it's easy to keep going. Sans is great at arguing with himself. He does that way more than he argues with Papyrus.]

C'mon, seriously, this isn't a good time-- [Positive Sans starts, still calm, but in a slightly more directed manner.]

It's never a good time. Obviously this isn't a good time, but neither was before this happened, or a few weeks ago, or before we even got here. All that new stuff rattling around in our heads, I know you remember it too, but we can't even remember how many times Papyrus died. It's too many, even when we can remember it. And that's--

Stop. [Positive Sans interrupts, about as close as he can get to dropping his voice into that dead echo without the emotions behind it to really put his back into it. It's not exactly that positive Sans feels distressed by this conversation, it's that he knows this is supposed to be a secret and it should probably stay that way, at least right now.]

...Why stop? [Negative Papyrus, of course, autotuned voice distorted with static. The stop wasn't directed at him, but when he was already wavering on whether to chime in, it's that much harder to voice anything.] It's not just you, you know. I--

[His words cut off with the power tool's activation, a buzzing whir against one of the screws holding the door up. His monitor shifts a little in a reflexive attempt to shoot his counterpart a side glance, but his peripheral vision isn't enough for it, and he settles for a few dozen annoyed pings.

Twice more he starts to vocalize, barely getting a syllable or two of I know out before the sound goes off again. A sullen resentment fills his posture, and his screen fills with static - or maybe a flurry of snow, there's hints of something purple in the center, or maybe something yellow and green.]

[When the power tools drown out the conversation, positive Sans is relieved. Negative Sans glares in positive Papyrus's direction, mostly at his back. It sounds like negative Papyrus is trying to say something about knowing, about it not just being Sans, and that's--something to think about, except for how hard it is to hear himself think over the noise. Fine, if it's going to be like that. Negative Sans vanishes from the basement.]

[Negative Papyrus stiffens as one of his brother(s) leaves, especially given which one. Now he's alone down here, in a way - outnumbered by the nice halves, who clearly are working together to manage the negatives into some kind of inoffensive harmlessness. The static lighting up his screen blanks out like he's closing eyes, and replaces with the dimness of notifications of ongoing processes around the edges, and the occasional text or image in the center.

Right away, that's the literal text of one impulsively flung at the Sanses, the better not to let anyone escape this conversation before he can.

\E1SO WHEN -IS-&A GOOD TIME,&ANYWAY??/

Agitated speed texting means he flings the question in the text whole and sends it immediately, without pruning the formatting to look as if he'd typed out out, which leaves it with those extra details, and it's embarrassing and frustrating to see. Even with Sans able to read it, having seen days on end of that as Papyrus's only way to communicate, it's not the point. He wants to be a skeleton again, even if it takes... even if it takes dying again, winding up underground with only fragments of memories again.

Behind him, the power tool keeps going, between brief pauses to remove screws and deposit them in a container. Apparently the conversation's done, to that guy's mind.]

[Positive Sans reaches for his phone and, seeing the message, looks over at negative Papyrus. The screen in place of a head makes some things easier to notice and some things more difficult. It means Sans can't read his face, but also sometimes he can literally read Papyrus's face. It's complicated.]

first of all nobody should be in a welded shut basement
second of all nothing weird should be happening

[Negative Sans doesn't respond as quickly, but he does eventually.]

hell if i know
never if the other two have anything to say about it

[So apparently negative Sans has decided to go sulk, just judging by the contents to that message.]

[Positive Papyrus pauses as his phone receives those responding texts, tool deliberately still whirring in hand as he focuses on their words and guesses at what might have instigated them. He glances back and up with a skeptical expression at his counterpart.

Negative Papyrus, pointedly and sullenly, doesn't look back. Instead, a brief text exchange shoots back and forth, including things like TEXTING, REALLY? and \E1WHAT DID YOU&EXPECT/ showing on his screen. He crosses his arms, and positive Papyrus turns back to the task of detaching the door's hinges from the wall. Eventually, another text reaches the Sanses.

\E1FINE./

Maybe he's not yet physically going off to sulk as well, given that'll take a little more doing, but emotionally he's already striving to escape this place before any more 'help' can come along to undercut whatever he's trying to accomplish.]

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this brushes up against suicidal ideation though it's not exactly that

it's hard to describe, yeah

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silent tag to give Sans a chance to say a thing before positive Papyrus interrupts w/ [tool sounds]

future combined sans wishes positive papyrus would interrupt with tool noises

he did! ...eventually. everyone later wishes he had sooner, though.

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