[Open] working your fingers to the bones, cause nobody loves you when you're gone

[coolskeletonnyehntyfive]

Who: Papyrus, Sans, and YOU!
When: March 12th and onwards
Where: Medbay
What: Papyrus had a really bad idea that nearly got himself and Sans killed. Sans put out a call for help. This log is for the general followup/aftermath.
Warnings: Broken bones and hearts, cracked skulls, life draining, will add more if necessary.

((OOC Note: The translator event will affect the skeletons, so anyone tagging in on the 13th will be in for a lively game of charades!))

Comments

[tearmeanewone]

Yeah, 'different' was all it took.

'Different', in this case, referred to her ability to rip open holes in reality and kill people with tornadoes or turrets, but if she'd abused it that might have been a reason to treat her so shamefully. Just existing with it, never being taught how to use it or why, had led to her fighting back.

She sits back in her chair, clearly relieved, and nods faintly with a little smile. "Thank you, Sans." She lets that hang for a moment, watching Papyrus.

"Would you want to help bridge the gap?"

[skelepun]

Vague words are better than specific ones, in Sans' opinion. Safety exists in the space between words, and the larger that space the safer you are. Hard to make trouble for a person you can't pin down.

And as friendly as Elizabeth is, Sans isn't about to toss out that particular life philosophy. So he smiles, as he always does, and brings a hand over his brother's.

"Yeah, if it gives my people a seat at the table. Though I'll be honest, you'd be best off asking after Tori. Er, Toriel." Sans corrects himself. "She's our queen, after all. Kinda has the diplomacy thing down pat."

[tearmeanewone]

"Toriel... Oh! Tall woman, extremely mother-like, horns and ears shaped like a goat's? Yes I've met her," Elizabeth says with a pleased smile, remembering the meeting with great fondness. Clearly Toriel made a good impression on Elizabeth, despite being almost twice her size and not-human.

"I had no idea she was a queen-- she never mentioned anything about it."

Not that there was a good moment to do so during the conversation, so she puts that aside for a moment.

"If you think she might be open to the idea, I'll happily contact her."

[skelepun]

"She wouldn't. I think, technically, she wouldn't really consider herself one anymore." No need to go into her messy divorce -- that's Toriel's story to tell and, as far as Sans is concerned, didn't impact her regal status.

"N' I dunno how she'd feel exactly, but I know she'd be good at it. Toriel would do anything to protect the monsters and humans on this ship, that much I guarantee."

The same could not be said for him, and Sans is sure Elizabeth knows that.

[tearmeanewone]

"Then she sounds like someone I should schedule a meeting with. If anything, it would be a start to bridging this gap we apparently have. And we can prevent it from getting wider, too, before something happens that we can't predict and all hell breaks loose."

She sighs heavily, trying to let all of that go now that she has a lead on the next step. "Have you been reading to him? I brought some new things that just came in..." she says, reaching for her bag.

[skelepun]

Sans is about to murmur in agreement when the subject change drives some new energy into his exhausted bones. He leans forward in the chair a little, eager.

"Uh, not really from books, I've just been reciting the ones I already know." From endless, enthusiastic retellings stretching back to when Papyrus was just a baby bones. "Can I see?"

[tearmeanewone]

"Of course!" Elizabeth pulls her bag onto her lap. "This one is probably the most interesting-- Two Minute Mysteries!" She holds up a thin book, grinning enthusiastically. "You read about a page and a half of text, and then it asks a question at the end. Like who the killer is, where something was hidden... and the answer can be worked out from the evidence in the two pages. I thought it would be great for you two to do together," she hands over the book and dives back into the bag.

"And, in case you both wanted something a little longer, you both strike me as the type for stories about swashbuckling and pirates--" she holds up Treasure Island with another grin. "It's one of my favorites."

[skelepun]

"Sorta like a puzzle? Man... yeah, Pap will..."

Sans can't quite help it, he looks downright bowled over, voice trailing off. The guilt is still there, heady and hard to swallow. He put his brother in danger. Hell, if things had gone any worse, he might've put the crew in danger. But here was Elizabeth, essentially a bridge between the crew and the captains, in charge of their safety, giving his little brother books.

Not just any books, either. Books he'll love. Books Sans can't wait to show him.

Emotion isn't a thing Sans shows often, or ever, and now is no exception. Still. There's a warmth to his voice he's never had occasion to use with Elizabeth. Not out of dislike, but out of rarity.

"Thank you."

[tearmeanewone]

She's been the librarian on the Moira for many months now, and so Elizabeth can tell when a book recommendation has gained traction. It's one of her favorite parts of her job, seeing that spark of excitement, so she seems as warm and enthusiastic as Sans does.

"I love recommending things that I think someone will enjoy. It seemed important to do now more than ever, given you two are a little stuck here for a while," she says with a sympathetic smile. "I hope you and Papyrus like them, let me know if you need anything more and I'll bring it over. But I should probably get back to it." Her job, that is.

[skelepun]

"Heh, yeah. Sorry for keeping you." That said, he doesn't sound that sorry. Gratitude is a better word for it. Laying the books down in a messy stack next to Papyrus's bed, he deigns to get up from out of his chair. His bones creak a little more than they probably should. Sans lost track of how long he's been sitting a while ago.

Still, it seems right to stand. Never much for ceremony, no, but Sans didn't mind observing it if the person in question seemed deserving.

"Thanks again." He held out his hand, offering to help her up. "I'll tell Pap you stopped by once he wakes up."

[tearmeanewone]

"Oh no, I was glad we had a chance to chat," she says, also as more of a pleasantry than an actual reassurance. Elizabeth takes Sans' hand and stands, putting her other hand on top in a warm gesture.

"Tell him I'll be thinking of him and hoping for a quick recovery." She casts a glance at the chairs and then smiles back at Sans. "And maybe fetch a cushion for yourself next time you're up, hm?"

[skelepun]

"Heh, I'll keep that in mind." It'd do his coccyx some good, at least. Letting her hand go, he sits back down, picking up Treasure Island and flipping through to the first place. Swashbuckling, action, adventure -- even if Papyrus can't hear him, he's sure his brother will appreciate it anyway.

"I owe you one." He looks up, eyelights dimming slightly as his voice takes on a more serious edge. "So, if you need a favor, you've got my number."

[tearmeanewone]

A favor could always come in handy, of course, and for a moment Elizabeth considers nodding and tucking that potential treasure away...

But she smiles and pats Sans' shoulder gently. "I gave up debt collection. Just tell me how he likes it, and I'll be happy enough."

With another little reassuring pat, she heads out of the med bay.

[skelepun]

Only after she turns her back does Sans allow his smile to fall by a few degrees. A crease dips between his brow bone, thoughtful.

Hm.