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[skelepun]

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a single whoopie cushion slowly releases itself into the phone receiver...beep

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[skelepun]

[The legend was well known. A human child, adopted into the monster world -- best friend to the prince, beloved child of the king and queen. The hope for the future of monsters and humans, tragically struck down by an illness that would lead to the demise of the prince as well.

Never in Sans' wildest dreams would he imagine that Chara was that child. Their could, soulless eyes, the malice in their smile, the sin-soaked essence of their soul -- none of it added up to a child anyone could love.

Not even someone as amazing as Toriel.]

And they attacked you? Are you okay?

[So much for calm and collected. He manages to stay even keeled, but there's a rasp to his voice that wasn't there before.]

[inruins]

They did. I approached them, I just... [Others saw it as an old legend, it was simply her life. A part of her life she wondered if she would ever fix, ever mend. A hole that grew worse when she tried to pretend it wasn't there. Tried to patch it hastily only to have it come undone.

Did she deserve to be a mother? Was she the problem? Toriel didn't know, Toriel didn't want to think about any of this.

Her breath hitches somewhat, the boss monster on the verge of letting go. Tears start to spill over against her will. It's clear enough in her voice.] It... it isn't anything serious. Broken fingers at worst.

[skelepun]

Broken fingers... [Sans repeats, incredulous. It's everything he has not to let his voice slip lower, darker, making threats he shouldn't cash. He can't put Papyrus through that. Not a second time.] Tori, this is serious, we gotta get you to the medbay. Where are you, I'm gonna come find you.

[inruins]

I've survived worse, Sans. [She tries to joke but it just is flat and wobbly. This all feels more than surreal at this point.] I've gone to the medbay already. I've taken care of it. I'm- still reeling I suppose.

[skelepun]

[Slowly, Sans sinks back down. It's uncomfortable, chewing on what he knows. Chara struck again, saw another monster and went for the jugular, even their own mother.

That's another thing bothering him. Toriel, the kindest person he's ever met outside his brother, mother to that thing? How?]

What... I mean, what happened?

[inruins]

I saw them on the planet. I... had gone back to look around and I saw them. They called me mom. [She has to pause there for a moment, her voice is rough and tears seem intent on falling whether she likes it or not. Toriel forges on, refusing to completely crumble at that.] I knew it was Chara, I remembered their voice so clearly.

I just approached to be sure, I thought maybe I was mistaken. But it was them, they... were not happy to see me.

[skelepun]

Yeah, well, they're-- [Sans cuts himself off.] --a lot of things.

So they recognized you and still went for it, huh? Tch, I dunno what happened to them, T, but don't go wasting your energy on that one. That kid is just... not worth it.

[inruins]

[Toriel is just quiet for a long moment, beyond the sound of crying and her shaky breath she can't find the right words. Her words are limp, weak as she speaks.] I hope... I hope they don't let their anger hurt them.

If... you don't mind an old woman crying on you, would you still consider finding me?

[skelepun]

Psh, of course I don't mind. [He scrabbles to his feet, bones clacking in haste.] I'll be here all weep, heh... just sit tight. Where can I find you?

[The conversation fills him with more dread than anything else, knowing that Chara is so closely connected and in so many unexpected ways. Still. The old lady -- Toriel -- is a friend. A woman like that, well, she has an integrity a guy like him can't say no to.]

[inruins]

[His joke at least earns a weak wet laugh from the boss monster.] Thank you.

I'm at the aft. Just look for the old woman blocking the walkway. [She tries to joke in turn and it doesn't get very far again.]

[skelepun]

[Whaddya know? There's a familiar clack clack of bony feet right behind her, even before she's finished her sentence. Weird.]

Hey, Tori. [His voice, however, is less familiar. There's a softness to it -- one that, by Sans' memory, she would only have cause to hear while he made that fateful promise so long ago.] Lemme help you with that.

[He plopped down beside her, filing in whatever small sliver of walkable space is left in the narrow hall.]

There. Now nobody's getting through.

[inruins]

[She is only slightly surprised at his sudden entrance, she turns off the MID glancing back at the skeleton.

A slight smile rises to the surface as he just flops down next to her. His presence is a comfort enough to make her start to relax a little bit. She jokes softly back, more genuinely than before.] A blockade has been formed, none shall pass. Not without consulting with the counsel of monsters.

[skelepun]

You must answer we these riddles three.

[Sans' grin stretches wider, trying to ignore the tug in his ribs when he sees the obvious signs of recent tears.]

Riddle number one: what road has the most skeletons haunting it?

[inruins]

[Toriel for her part wipes at her face, trying to find traction in this opposed to her grief. Her fur is wet where tears have fallen, tear tracks leaving odd trails on her face.]

Riddle number two: Why does the goat bleat under a full golden moon?

[skelepun]

Riddle number three: Who won the skeleton beauty contest.

[Sans' grin widens ever slightly, elbowing Toriel in the side gently.]

There, we're all set. Now nobody's gonna get through to the, uh... [He peered down the hall.] Closet? Eh, it's something.

[inruins]

[She laughs very softly at the elbowing. Gently returning it.] We'll expand our claim later. This is a good start for a monster blockade.

[skelepun]

I'll let my brother know we're establishing a new monster territory aboard. He'll be thrilled.

[But with Papyrus comes thoughts of family, and with thoughts of family...]

Oh, uh, hey. I brought you this. [Jamming a hand into his hoodie pocket, Sans pulls out a handkerchief. It's something he nicked from J's makeup bag and there are a few little lip-print kisses on it, but it would do in a pinch.] In case my hilarious jokes stop working.

[inruins]

I'm sure he'll have another riddle or puzzle to help. [The handkerchief softens her expression, she brushes her fingers across the fabric thoughtfully. ] I don't see how they could, but... thank you.

[She folds it over, careful not to smear makeup on her fur as she wipes at her fur.]

[skelepun]

[Watching her dry her eyes, Sans can't help feeling a little lost. He remembers the sadness in her voice that one day behind the door, when the jokes didn't hit as hard and the misery took over. Sans could relate. Sometimes laughing was harder than he cared to admit.

Still, without the door between them, Sans found himself hopelessly out of his depth. Something about that one degree of separation made him a whole lot better at this than when it was face to face.]

... You wanna talk about it?

[inruins]

[The offer is appreciated, Toriel wishes she could verbalize as much now. In the process she manages to smudge some makeup on her fur, not that she notices in the moment.]

I... maybe. I'm not sure. What can I say?

[skelepun]

[Her tone is enough to make his ribs ache. That kid... how could someone like that be the child of someone like her? It doesn't compute.]

It's not your fault, y'know. That they're like this.

[inruins]

[She folds the handkerchief carefully in her lap. Her gaze anywhere but on Sans.]

There are many things that are my fault, Sans. [She unfolds the handkerchief, starting the process a new. Lipstick smearing across the fur of her fingers.]

I couldn't save them. I couldn't help them when they withered away. I... I guess they have a right to hate me. I promised them a better life and I could not give it to them.

[skelepun]

I don't know the whole story, T, but I like to think I know you a little bit.

[It's hard to keep himself from elaborating just how dark he believes the seed of Chara's hate to be, but that's not something Toriel should be burdened with. At least, not now.]

There's no way you didn't do as much as you could.

[inruins]

[Toriel finally looks at Sans, her hands still at work. His belief in her makes her give a thin smile. A smile fake enough it looks like it's something she stole from Sans himself.]

It will never feel like enough. Never. [She takes a slow breath.] I'm a fool, to think they would forgive me for being so... useless then.

[skelepun]

Hey...

[His tone is faintly argumentative, but there's a deep exhaustion there undercutting it. The death of the prince and the adopted fallen human is a classic tale he's plenty familiar with, but knowing his closest friend is the queen of that tragic tale brings a personal component to the old story.]

It's not your fault. Just because they don't get that doesn't mean they're right. And it doesn't justify trying to hurt you, either.