Sleep and Some Hotdogs

Sans knocked on the ruins door, but Queen Toriel didn't answer. She was probably upset from last time, thinking the small Frisk thing was a mean joke. It would be better to talk to her in person anyways. He took a shortcut in the ruins and knocked beside her front door. 

"Who is it?" 

"Impossible." 

"What?!" Toriel opened her door. "Impossible." 

Sans waved at her. "Told you. Hello, Queen Toriel. I need to have a little conversation sans knock-knock jokes this time." 

Having detailed conversations was hard. Explaining everything to Papyrus. Now explaining things to Toriel. This time though, he didn't drudge up Flowey or her daughter's essence that complicated FRISK that was now running the barrier. 

"That's . . . uh . . ." Toriel touched her chin, rocking in her chair back and forth. "Six?" 

"Alphys wants to take care of one, maybe two," Sans said. "These kids are all young, Tori. They can't survive out there. Can you handle them?" 

"Four human children?" Toriel sat back in her chair for longer. "That is a lot of children. The ruins are so small. They always want to leave." 

"Not this time. There's no way out. We can leave, not humans," Sans reminded her. "Besides, their other life is bad enough that I don't think that's going to be a problem."

"I would have to fix up my other room, I only have a couple extra beds." Toriel rocked in her chair longer. "If we leave on trips outside of the Ruins and anyone messes with my children, I will not be merciful." 

"Makes sense," Sans agreed. "Well?" 

"I don't mind human children. I am glad to hear someone else likes them too. Four is tough, though. Are you sure no one else wants to take care of them?" 

"Humans have always been on the menu for Monsters, but after this mess. When everyone discovers the truth, they are going to be the main course." Sans shrugged. "I still don't know how many might have snuck through. Could be ten. Could be a hundred. I'm already hearing reports about it, but I'm doing what I can." He yawned. "Can you watch four of them for a little while at least?" 

"Okay," Toriel agreed. "I cannot abandon children in need. But, perhaps you could use some rest yourself?" She smiled as she stood up from her chair. "I have just the right bed for you." She covered her mouth. "Not that I meant you were as small as a child! Um." She raised up her finger. "You said you could use a couple of outfits for your own child? Come, let's get that figured out." 

Sans looked through the mess of children's stuff. She kept most of it in a room labeled for renovation. Most everything was about . . . his size, and a little smaller. Then, he ran into a couple of outfits finally. "There we go. Thanks, Tori. This'll help in the future." 

"Oh, I know. So, Frisk, huh? That's . . ." Toriel rubbed her fingers. "My child was a mother, but she rode inside the soul of her own child? With others. Which is what I saw? So, that's . . . awkward." 

"At first, it kind of is," Sans said as he dug for anything else that might fit. "But, Chance and Frisky are way different. I'll let you meet them one day." He stood up with the clothes. "This is all?" 

"Yes. Oh, I remember that one." She sounded a little sadder. "Very, very small. I was surprised it could move around by itself. It was over 500 years ago though." She looked toward the outfit. "It was often so sick. They must have been just learning how to use conduits. It's . . . it sounds so horrible." She looked toward the clothes Sans was holding. "Your child, Chance, he is quite small." 

"Good thing. It'd be harder for him to ride the dog," he joked. 

"It's much smaller than before," Toriel noticed. "It changed when you did that thing?" 

"Yeah, it did. Some of the dormant genes kicked in." And really. How could he not have even questioned that? Data error was for Frisky because of teleportation, but Chance had already physically been in the Underground.Or maybe, he didn't want to question it. 

Or maybe, he just didn't want to question it. 

"What about his mother, the one I knew? What does she look like now?" Toriel asked. "What does she act like? How is she different than the boy? 

"She's . . ." Sans pointed to himself. "She's got soft hair, really fragile skin, and blue eyes too. But, she's different. She's the part with DETERMINATION," Sans chuckled. "Too dang much, so just be careful if you hear her doing puns or jokes." 

"Why, is she that bad at them?" Toriel asked. 

"It means there is a fight coming." Sans looked at the clothes. A red shirt with yellow stripes, a purple shirt with blue stripes, and a blue shirt with purple stripes. Sans knew Chance would like the last one the best. It looked like his old shirt. "Thanks, Tori." 

"Um, Sans?" Toriel sounded a little unsure. "All these different timelines. What . . . happened?" 

"Doesn't matter, it's all over." 

"Yes. But?" She asked. "When Asgore . . . well, what-" 

"Sometimes you took the power back, sometimes a fish overthrew you and banished you here, sometimes I came to live with you when Papyrus died, sometimes Papyrus would be King, sometimes the famous Mettaton would be King, sometimes we made it to the surface, sometimes other stuff happened, and I don't really care about any of it." His voice was probably too firm, but he didn't want to talk about it. At all. He tried to sound more upbeat again. "Thanks, Tori. I'll have my friend Alphys contact you soon." 

"Sorry. It's just overwhelming. There's so much you said." She tried to smile back. "Over a thousand years, and I feel like I've been in the dark." 

"It won't be dark soon anymore," Sans insisted, trying his best to smile. "Not very long and you'll see the skies. Promise. See ya, Tori." 

"See you, Sans." She waved at him. "Oh, and good luck on the committing! I promise, I will not tell another soul about the truth."

-------------------------------------------- 

Chance looked over toward Papyrus. He was busy in another best guard book. He wasn't watching him super careful, but it was still boring. He just sat in the snow, wishing he got to have more than a huge coat and floppy sweater that never fit. The sweater wasn't strong enough for the weather, but the coat was practically a blanket and annoying. 

Papyrus barely even acknowledged him, only looking at him every few minutes. Well, it's not like Chance could go anywhere. He sighed and looked at his ball. Stupid ball. If I could just move this thing. Hm. Funny. For a split second, he thought he saw it scoot. With his mind. Okay, that's not possible.  

Then again, it was almost natural. He looked around, making sure nobody noticed the boring human, and then pointed to the ball. A small amount of blue light arose around it and it scooted again. Slightly. Cool! Wow, conduits couldn't do that. Slowly but steadily, he moved the ball a little more, slowly, until he got it behind the bushes. There, he tried lifting it. 

That was harder. It was heavy. Scooting it on the snow was easier than lifting it. What else am I going to do though? I might as well practice. Imagine if I could start lifting things.  

Then again, his mind drifted back to the question 'why'? He didn't have that before he arrived. He was just a normal kid that people took over. What could have happened to give him that new power? 

"Ah ah, Chance." Papyrus came over toward him, picking up his ball and chain. "You are getting too far away. But, that's okay. It is break time!" He carried him away. "That means we are going to get more library books! Education is important to get ahead in life." 

What? Papyrus actually called him by the name Sans used for him too now? Frisk personally liked the name, and even called himself it now too. But, Papyrus? Well, shoot, he only ever called him a human, a pet, or a prisoner. 

Why was he actually getting a name? 

------------------------------------- 

While Papyrus was dwelling on books in the library, Chance was doing the same thing. 

"Sir?" The librarian tapped on Papyrus' shoulder. "That thing you have on your ball and chain?" 

"Oh, it's fine. Perfectly fine, doesn't bite at all," Papyrus assured her. "Chance is a good boy. No need to be frightened." 

"Okay. Did you know it was reading?" 

"Extra learning is good for it." Papyrus looked at Chance. "He likes education. He's going to be a smart boy!" Papyrus moved over to Chance's ball. "Come, Chance. My break is almost over, and I must always be on alert for intruders." 

Chance put his book down and grinned at him. "You bet, Papyrus." He grabbed a small picture book from the side that was the same color as the book he wanted to check out. "Can I check out a book?" 

"Um, Calculators?" Papyrus scratched his head. 

"Yeah. The world I'm from, every kid is supposed to know a little. And, I am kind of not as knowledgeable?" Chance lied his butt off. 

"Oh. Well, I suppose. Hand me your book." 

"Can I check out more too?" 

"Um? Okay, three," Papyrus settled on. "No more than three." 

"Okay." Chance grabbed the calculator book, but put the book on Human Molecular Biology Theorizing, and Monster Molecular Biology underneath it. These books had to have the answer to what was happening to him. 

-------------------------- 

This is getting ridiculous. Frisky stood up and went beside Sans who was sleeping. Doing nothing but being chained wasn't her idea of a good time, but not being able to do anything was the hard part. Now that they had their little Mercy talk, she felt comfortable enough to do this. She stood beside his booth, grabbed one of his Grillby wrappers and tossed it past his head. 

He caught it instinctively, which she suspected. He looked toward her. "What are you doing over here?" 

"Helping to guard," she said. "You need help." 

"There's no one coming," he insisted. "Guarding's a waste of time right now, it's fine to catch some Z's." 

"It would be, if you actually slept." Frisky looked toward him. "Go to sleep. I can touch your arm and wake you if anything happens." 

Sans looked a little uncomfortable with her observation. "What do you mean? I sleep all the time. I'm the laziest guy around Snowdin." She wasn't falling for it though. Sans was one of the hardest working Monsters she knew. He was doing a half-sleep thing he mastered so that he could handle the hell her saving and resets caused in his life. And it must have been real hell. He had to eat several times a day just to try and combat the need to sleep too. All because the resets were wrecking him with his one hit point.

"You know, I've never told you I'm sorry about that part," Frisky added as she looked back toward him. "I know that when everything resets, Monsters don't suddenly get their energy back. I know that the weaker the hit points a monster has, the more it affects them. And, I know there have been quite a lot of activity since humans have been down here. Plus, me and . . . I know that my meddling couldn't have been easy on you. So seriously. Get some real rest." 

Sans looked around himself. "Real rest?" 

"If you don't give yourself real rest, then when you are needed, you're going to be too tired," Frisky told him. "No one is invincible." It was true. Before he remembered the resets, he had already been so affected by the interrupting saves and resets that he slept right through Undyne. She never had to worry about talking to him while she was outrunning Undyne, he was always conked out. 

Sans still looked unsure. 

"I promise I shall rattle your bones in seconds," Frisky said. Sans closed his eyes again. After a few minutes, she tossed another Grillby wrapper past his skull. This time, he didn't wake. Good. "Pleasant dreams," she whispered softy. 

Finally. Without needing questions about her world. Without feeling guilt about the genocidal runs. Frisky could finally give her friend Sans what he needed. A real break. Some real rest. After a few minutes, a peculiar thing happened. He was snoring. 

How do skeletons snore? Then again, how do they see with only eye sockets or hear without ears? Close eye sockets without real eyelids. Laugh with no internal organs. Peculiar. As he got louder, someone walked by and called him a lazy bum. 

And he was finally asleep enough for her to take action against that. "Excuse me, Sir, what did you say?" 

"Sans. Always sleeping. Look at you, actually taking up his duty," they pointed at her. 

"I am proud to help him with his duty considering all he has done for me. He is not having me do anything, I insisted upon this. He is one of my dearest friends." 

"Well." The Monster still didn't seem convinced. "He's kind of fun, I'll give ya that, but a dear friend? How dear?" 

"If you get one step closer and wake him up, you will regret it," she said. "He needs sleep. Leave him be." 

"Heh. Oh, is the little chained up human going to fight me?" 

"On the contrary, I really do not like to fight." She winked at him. "I prefer other activities." 

"Oh." She made him blush. "Well, um, I'm married." 

"Yeah, I know." She leaned over the booth, gently grabbed his jacket and drug him over, whispering into his ear. "I know all kinds of things. Like, where and when she shops. Like, where and when you like to eat. I also know at exactly what. Point. I could get away with really flirting with you?" He looked toward her, blushing even harder now. "While she's watching." He started to back away. "So don't wake him up. I act. I don't fight." She winked at him again and watched him leave. 

Good. That took care of one of them. Frisky watched the day though, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. No intruders, Monster or human. Just the same residents. Still, it was quite relaxing to see the sun shine above her. If it got much nicer, the snow might actually start to melt. Of course, it wouldn't melt very far before it got cold again. 

Strange though. Snowdin was supposed to have one of the most vicious climates on her planet next to Hotlands, which is why that area was perfect for Monsters. She felt a little cold, and even a bigger chill at night, but she was still getting some protection from above. 

She had to. Even now, she was standing in the icy snow. And while a little cold, it was nothing that made someone need to go and beg for shoes. More like a chilly sidewalk. That only meant one thing, which also helped to keep her spirits high. 

FRISK was still connected. Even though the connection must have been light, the fact that she wasn't freezing meant at least more than two Frisks made it out, and they were still able to transmit for protection. She looked over toward Sans again. 

For some reason, even though the threat of FRISK was gone, he still seemed unable to relax. Hopefully, a good day of some absolute rest would help. He was either yawning, sleeping while standing, or fighting. Even the few jokes he'd managed to do lately didn't seem to change his expression at all. It was more of an act he put on so no one could tell something was bugging him. 

What is bugging you? Of course, he'd never tell her. He kept most of his secrets, just that. Secret. But, at least she managed to get him to get some good rest. She honestly wished she could have had a pillow for him. 

------------------------------ 

"So, how is Sansy?" 

"Resting." 

"Still?" 

"Yes." 

"Oh. Say, do you know when he'll stop by at Grillby's again?" 

Sans' friends were being a bit peculiar. Normally, Sans wasn't bothered much before, but this was like the sixth friend that stopped by to see him. Which was frustrating. "I don't know. At some point, Sir." 

"Oh. Okay. Sorry to disturb you." He left. 

Odd Monsters. Frisk looked toward the sun. It became too cloudy to see it too well, but it looked like the afternoon had been cleared away. Sans was supposed to move over to his second job selling hotdogs soon. Which she didn't want to wake him up for, but she didn't want him getting in trouble either. 

If she jostled his arm awake, he might go into alert mode. Frisky wanted to wake him up softer. But, how do you gently wake up someone like Sans? As she looked at the snow, she had an idea. She picked up a little in her hands and sprinkled it on top of his skull. 

No response. She bent down and sprinkled more snow on his skull. Still no response. Hmm. She bent down and tried to pick up more snow, but felt something on top of her head instead. 

And it wasn't a sprinkle. He was up and laughing at her. 

"There's snow comparison for a snowball on the head," he said. 

Frisky wiped the huge pile of snow off her head. "I think it's about time for your second job." 

"Great." Sans picked up her ball and whistled on the way there. Frisky could easily tell he had gotten the rest he deserved. 

"Hey, Sans, how's it going?" Sans friend from Grillby said as he waved at him. 

"It's going to the hot dog stand," Sans said back. As he arrived at the hot dog stand, he grabbed one. "So. You want one?" 

"Sure." 

"Good. Here. You want another one?" 

Um. Frisky looked at him oddly. Did he just stick a hotdog on her head? "Did you just put a hotdog on my head?" He was amused about it too. Oh no. If there was catsup on that hotdog, it would be a pain to wash. "Catsup?" 

"Sure." 

Sans! Never mind putting him in a good mood, he was now destroying her hair. How was she going to pull that off of her head without help? He wasn't going to help, he was the one who did it. The one who did it, grinning like the devil. Hmm. Weaknesses. Sleep. Food. It didn't take long. "I will make you a deal. I still have a little bit of GOLD in my account. If we stop by a shop tonight, I can make us a cake. With half of it, catsup frosting. If you can get this off my head without losing any catsup in my hair." 

Ooh. Ooh, she had him. If Skeletons could drool. He rubbed his jawbone as he lifted the hotdog slightly. "Well, I liked the deal. But I already lost, so." 

He smeared it. He smeared the ketchup all the way down the sides of her hair. Nooo. 

He chuckled. "Aw, come on. Don't go seeing red now." 

Frisky glared at him, her hands fisted. "Catsup all over in my hair. Great, why stop there? Add mustard and relish while you're at it." 

"Okay." He did just that with the mustard. "Where do you want the relish?" 

"On the sides would be great, just like a hotdog. Got any onions?" 

"You're a strange one." Sans shrugged. "But I like them strange. Cheese?" 

"Squeezable?" 

"You bet." 

"Sure why not. Can you make it wavy in my hair?" Sans was on his guard, she could tell, but he still finished her request. Gloppy strings of cheese fell all over her hair. She still didn't lose her cool. 

"Okay. Seriously, what are you going to do?" Sans asked. "You're covered in condiments. A Monster will try to eat you that way." 

She took a step back. "Advertising. Once Monsters hear me shout just how great a hotdog vendor you are, and how well the condiments stayed on, I'm sure they'll come running." She held her hands up and felt him put her hands down. 

"Hey, no joke, I have to keep this job!" 

Got him. She pretended to slip into the snow and fell all the way down him. Shaking her hair because after that 'accident' she was also dizzy and needed to regain her bearings. "My, that was an unexpected fall." She turned around with her thumb in the air and her left eye closed like an artist judging their painting. "Ooh. Looks like you've been Van Goughed." 

"Van what?" He looked at his white shirt and coat. It wasn't the biggest deal to spill catsup, sometimes, but he was smeared in it. Along with the relish, mustard and gloppy cheese. "Frisky?!" 

"What? I slipped." She shrugged her shoulders. 

"You are so dang lucky I didn't meet you much inside FRISK like the others in Snowdin. I might not have kept that promise," Sans said, taking off his jacket and trying to fling a lot of it off. He turned it inside out. "But you also aren't lucky." He moved toward her ball and chain. She quickly went after the same direction. He changed direction, wrapping the inside out jacket around her. 

She was too surprised, she stumbled for real this time, complete with Sans, into the snow. 

"Ha!" he said pointing to her shirt behind her coat. "Wearing the shirt or not, it really was you this time." 

"Actually, these aren't my clothes," she reminded him. "They are yours, so I was still successful. I won this." 

"Did not." 

"Did too." She laughed as he started to tickle her. "That is cheating, that is so against any code!" As she wiggled around though, she noticed something strange. "Sans? I didn't know you had a blue tongue?" 

His tongue? Sans tucked his tongue back in his mouth quickly and got up off the ground. That was weird. "Come on, we need to go home and get redressed. Papyrus is going to kill me when he sees us." 

--------------------------------- 

Chance was laughing. Frisky stood straight up, like a good soldier. Sans just waved. 

"Sup?" 

"Don't sup me, Brother!" Papyrus shouted as he gestured to Frisky and him. "What is that?!" 

"Condiments." 

"They are all over you!" 

"Guess so." 

"Why?" 

Frisky and Sans both pointed at each other. 

"She did it," Sans blamed her. 

"He put a hotdog on my head, Sir. With catsup." 

"She was going to yell for 'advertising' and it could have got me fired." 

"He used his inside-out jacket and got the condiments all over my clothes, Sir." 

"They were messy because she rubbed against me." 

"I slipped. Twas an accident, The Great Papyrus." 

"Twas no accident." 

"Yes, I see." Papyrus covered his skull with his bony hand. "Both of you are to blame!" Chance continued to laugh as he came over and rubbed the catsup off his mom's shirt. "No, no, don't you get dirty too." He moved Chance away. "Go get dressed, and tonight a bath. Each of you!" 

Sans took Frisky upstairs and left her be while he continued back downstairs. 

"Don't even think about sitting down until you are all cleaned up," Papyrus warned him. 

"Pap. Um." 

"No, I don't even want to hear sorry!" 

Sans stuck out his tongue for him to see and then tucked it back away. 

"Uh?" Papyrus' scolding stopped. "Why do you still have a tongue?" 

Sans shrugged. Every once in awhile, it would manifest while he was eating a hot dog or a Grillby's burger. They were so good, it often couldn't help itself. He kept it plenty tucked away for his brother's spaghetti though. Something tasty triggered it, but, he hadn't been eating anything. Not only that, it was still there. 

"Hm. Eating on duty?" 

"Nope." 

"And it's still there?" 

Sans opened his mouth again. The tongue was still there. 

"That doesn't make any sense. What stimulated it?" Papyrus asked. "Why is it still stimulated?" 

"A skeletongue of a question," Sans winked. 

Chance laughed. "Wait. How do Skeletons suddenly have tongues, and then not?" 

Ooh. Sans share a look at Papyrus. Chance didn't know a thing about Skeletons. There was a good chance with the way his body reacted, he was going to become one. "Later." Yeah, reality hit his head again. That had to have been the most fun experience he had ever had with any FRISK with the hotdogs. Since she refused to meet him but one time except in Judgment Hall, he wanted to see if she remembered it. Add at least one new experience, but it was so much better than that. None of FRISK ever tried to take him down in one of his own games.

It was fun. Lots, actually. But, that wouldn't happen again anytime soon. Not once she knew. 

Not once she really became a prisoner forever. 

"Sans? You okay?" 

"Fine. Um. Did you want to switch again?" 

"If you want?" 

"Yeah. The kid is less messy." Sans tried to chuckle. "Come on, Chance. Let's go." 

"But, don't you want a longer break?" Papyrus asked. "Sans?" 

-----------------