[open] do you know why the body is a prison?

[skelepun]

Who: Sans and YOU! Open to literally everyone
When: Between this and the final judgment call on this.
Where: The Hold.
What: There's a skeleton in the dungeon, come let him rattle his bones at u
Warnings: Probably some mention of murder/death/etc! But mostly pretty tame, I imagine. Will edit if that changes.


The hold was incredible. Three solid walls, one semi-solid wall, a bench-bed hybrid that wrecked havoc on his back, and all the down time a skeleton could ask for. It was perfect. The best vacation he's ever had.

It'll be a real bummer once all of it goes away again.

Whatever the kid is up to, they're biding their time. And the few times a stray unpleasant thought passed through his skull, Sans is able to wave them away easily enough. He didn't care for thinking about Chara's dead body, so he didn't think about it. The worrying notion that, perhaps, this reality experienced time differently from what he knew...

Again: not thinking about it. The perfect cure, really.

Of course, he couldn't exactly stop people from visiting him here. With news spreading throughout the ship of what happened, more and more people were reaching out to him with why spelled out across their furrowed brows. Sans wished he could help them, sincerely. It would be a load off both their minds.

Too bad the answer was just too damn huge.

( ooc: feel free to visit sans in the hold any time, either before or after your character has 'cast their vote (or not)' on his fate. woo! )

Comments

[skelepun]

[If Sans is at all bothered by Peter's presence and questions, it doesn't show. Hell, he laughs, sounding very much like someone not locked away for murder.]

Welp, now you know the dark truth. This is what happens to naughty boys and girls who don't laugh at my jokes.

[The unintentional truth in that is enough to make Sans laugh again, a little softer.]

[takeitslow]

[Peter fidgets, picking at his pant leg.]

Yeah, dude. That might be more funny if there wasn't a dead kid involved. Like, I'm not going to get judgy about that kind of thing but laughing doesn't make you look too good. You wouldn't want them adding to the sentence, right? It'd kind of suck for those of us who voted on leniency.

[skelepun]

[Speaking of not laughing at his jokes... though Sans doesn't look particularly vengeful, despite his claims. Sighing, he clacked the back of his skull against the hold walls.

So much for levity.]

Heh, yeah, actually... why did you? I mean, no judgment from me either, kid, and I appreciate the mercy, but I can't say I wasn't surprised.

[takeitslow]

[He shrugs, looking anywhere but at Sans. It's not comfortable to admit how much he understood the need for violence in that situation.]

It was for family, right? Don't know how much different I would have acted if someone had went after my sister. I can't blame you.

[skelepun]

[There were a few technicalities that hampered the For Family defense, but Sans wasn't about to correct them. After all, it was true enough. Papyrus would never be safe while Chara was allowed to live, of that Sans was sure.]

Heh. Your sister the relentlessly trusting type, too?

[There's no judgment in Sans' tone. If anything, he might as well be saying 'relentlessly cool.' His fondness is practically palpable.]

[takeitslow]

[He smiles at his feet, nodding.]

The little one back home is. Weirdos show up at the house and she just wants them to join a tea party. She thinks everyone's just some playmate she hasn't meet yet. The other...

[He's not sure what to say about her, them. There's a lot of differences in the two Wanda's he knows, and he's not quite learned all of them yet. He hesitates, smile slipping.]

Doesn't matter. She could lock herself in her room all day and never so much as look at a stranger. I'm the older one; I'd still worry.

[skelepun]

[From what he knew of Wanda, Sans couldn't help feeling a little surprised at the mention of older. Still, he can't quite help cracking a more genuine grin.]

Oooh, buddy. You're preaching to the choir. [There's a sadness leeching in around his eye sockets, but Sans moves past it quickly enough.] How old's your little sister back home?

[takeitslow]

Like, seven. [He's laughing a little, shaking his head at the floor.] Still at that age where she thinks everything is amazing.

[Deep down he really hopes he doesn't miss her growing out of that while he's stuck up here. But he pushes that thought away. He came here for Sans, not to get depressed.]

You much older than your brother?

[skelepun]

I remember that age... [Sans leans back against the cell wall, looking almost wistful. It's an odd look on him.] Truthfully, man, I don't think my bro ever grew out of that phase. Phalanges crossed your sister's as lucky. Being more like Papyrus is something I can heartily recommend to just about errybody.

[He picked at his carpals, sighing.]

N' I dunno, man. Numbers get kinda fuzzy. I'm not sure how old I am, technically speaking. But I looked after the guy when he was a baby bones. At least, until he was old enough to watch my back, too.

Heh, I think he was a more responsible as a ten year old than I am now. [There's an uncomfortable break in Sans' warm tone, as he remembers exactly where he is and the look of disappointment in his brother's face during the trial.] Guess that goes without sayin', though.

[takeitslow]

I'll take your word for it. Still haven't had the chance to meet the guy. If he's like that though, he sounds nice.

[He's holding back a laugh at 'baby bones', but the smile stays and he's focusing his attention back on Sans. He shakes his head again, more firmly.]

Naw, man. I wouldn't call this irresponsible. Part of looking out for him, right? Doing things you know is for their own good. Even when it kind of sucks. Sounds like you got the responsibility well covered.

[skelepun]

[For a moment, Sans looks Peter over. How old was he? Couldn't be older then 20, probably a teenager...

A fresh guilt blossomed under his ribs. None of this was going to matter soon and he didn't strictly need to care what this kid thought about responsibility, but despite himself, well.

Maybe he saw a little of himself in the guy.]

Y'know, I'm not sure that's true. [There's a carefulness there, as if Sans isn't quite sure how to express the thought.] We all do things for our own reasons, but once you've crossed over that line it's hard to go back on it.

Keep that in mind, kid.

[takeitslow]

[Peter's smile thins a little. He's not sure he gets it. He's trying to tell this guy there are somethings that make everything acceptable; doing in the name of family erases any sin. He's trying to make him feel better and this guy is throwing it back.

What's the point of doing something if you're just going to feel guilty after?]

Then you just got to make sure you're ready before you cross it. Know that your reasons are good enough. Sometimes you got to, right?

Are you really going to act like what you did wasn't worth it?

[skelepun]

It's complicated.

[And that answer, almost insultingly simple. Nevertheless, Sans seems committed to it.]

Maybe if I took my time, I could've found another way. A better way. Hard to know now whether I made things better or worse, kid. And maybe I'm too far gone for it to matter, anyway, but you're a kid. Consequences... do exist, even if it might not seem like it.

[Sans isn't sure he even believes what he's saying. Nothing matters, sure, but... it doesn't not matter for everyone. To people like Papyrus, every moment mattered. And in his humble opinion, more people could stand to be like his brother than Sans himself.]

[takeitslow]

What? [Peter hadn't been sure what he was planning coming down here in the first place, but this wasn't it. This was about Sans. About a dead kid and his brother and an attempt for Peter to show some support. This wasn't about him.]

The hell are you talking about man? This is about you. About what you did. I'm trying to be-[He waves his hands around, trying to find the word.] I'm trying to be nice. I just thought you'd want someone at your back about this. I didn't come by for a lecture. You don't have to tell me about consequences.

[There was a part that wanted to add that he wasn't a kid, either. He was months shy of adulthood, more than old enough to have earned more than being called some kid. But he knew arguing the point was the quick way of seeming more childish in the long run.]

[skelepun]

[He holds up both hands, shrugging mildly. Peter's bluster is sort of expected. Nobody likes a lecture, after all.]

My bad, kiddo. Guess this hold time's given me time to ruminate a little.

[takeitslow]

[He lets out a hot sigh, a disgruntled set to his jaw. He's mollified, though, calming as quick as his temper came on.]

You won't be here that long, at least. I'd offer to sneak you in some shit to do, but, you know.

[skelepun]

Heh. Yeah, I know.

[What else was there to say, really? Sans settles back against the wall, wondering how long it would take him to fall asleep if he counted the floor tiles. Again.]

You're a good kid, Peter. I appreciate the visit, I really do.

[takeitslow]

[And to make this conversation reach all the awkward bases, here comes praise. His mouth twitches into a smile, always unable to hide how pleased he is when someone shows him that appreciation.]

Yeah, yeah. I know a dismissal man. Whatever, I'm starving anyway.

[He doesn't look put out by it at all. He stands and stretches, bending after a moment to retrieve the broom.]

You try to keep out of trouble, dude. Don't want to make these visits a regular thing.