Boned

[Kagami]

Despite the teleportation ordeal, the pocket radio survived the transfer with Sans but the thing was that Kagami didn't understand as it felt like she missed something for some reason but can't exactly put her finger on it.

Though, she did see a brief hint of static in Sans' skeletal hands before he left.

"..was that static?" she asked as she pointed to Sans. "That was static! I've always wondered what was going on there!"

When Sans returned, she wondered what just what he slipped through.

"Well, atleast he has a more convenient way of getting across the Underground." she replied before she crossed her arms. "What luck."

Of course, what's holding her back to see what's going on? The gap between Sans' departure and return made it hard to piece things. As much as she could be jealous, she had to remind herself that eventually she would be capable of more than what she has now, however, it doesn't escape her need to get a clue of the unexplained and unknown.

Before long, she would look over to the Tall Man and asked, "Quick question, do you know where Sans went while he was out for a bit? You did say he was transported and well, you were transported sooo there's a running theme here."

 

[Sans]

* A S H O R T C U T . . . T H R O U G H T H E P L A C E B E T W E E N P L A C E S . . . F E W H A V E I T . . .

He looked back and forth between Sans and Kagami as Sans came back. For some reason, his eyes seemed… proud. Sans couldn’t quite comprehend it. It was the most emotion he had ever seen the anomaly ever make over anything, and all because he had this… shortcut thing with him.

What did that mean for him? Was he now like the tall man? Was he corrupted? If he left this mountain, would something happen to him? Or maybe he was overthinking this? He knew the risks of the Code Dimension doing *something* to him, but if he recalled correctly, he had never actually entered the dimension itself so much as used its time tubes, which were meant to be safe. But did he? It was so hard to tell within that place, and even still, was it possible for the dimension to have altered him in some fashion beyond his comprehension?

He continued staring at the slight static around his fingers, his eyeholes narrowing ever so slightly.

 

[Kagami]

"Why the look of worry Sans?" asked Kagami before she continued, "You should be happy because like the Tall Man said, few have it after all."

Of course, she would be writing down things in the meanwhile about what is going on as per her notes. Maybe she should check other places for clues around the Underground and other places.

"You really need to calm down as well. Besides, keep your skull up, alright? Everything will be fine."

 

[Sans]

* i suppose.

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder. Having a power that only a few had was precisely the problem. The anomalies could do anything; they had far more power than most anyone he knew about. If left unchecked… who knew what the tall man could do if he put his mind to it?

Was he now an anomaly? What did that mean for him? Did it mean anything at all? He could just let it not change anything…

He chuckled. * yeah. everything will be fine. you got any more questions?

 

[Kagami]

"Not really unless.. you want to talk about the CORE or anything like that since you know, it possibly could relate to what's going on in the mountain." she suggested. "I mean, if it has anything to do with this place being the way it is and that since I undoubtedly suspect that you have skeletons in your closet. Yes, I'm aware that is a potential pun joke in the mix of this discussion, so sue me."

She paused before she continued, "Not literally though, just another metaphorical phrase."

Kagami snickered a bit and by the sounds of it, she was speeding up her wording and moreso sounding pushy for details, judging that she had that look in her eyes that she will not give in unless she got answers.

"Moreso, as for the Tall Man, how was your life before the transportation incident? Did you have family? How were they like? Anything in particular?"

Looks like someone is getting a serious interrogation.

 

[Sans]

He resisted chuckling at her little accidental pun. He only barely succeeded.

* well, there ain’t much to talk about. the CORE was basically the underground’s main power station, using hotland’s geothermal heat. it’s not, like, haunted or anything.

The Tall Man continued observing the two and, for the first time, seemed to be a little hesitant. Its small, beady eyes stared out into nothing.

* . . . I C A N N O T S A Y . . .

* … huh

 

[Kagami]

Kagami perked up as she asked, "Huh? Cannot say?"

Wow, what is with people today? Or rather these two? For a moment, she narrowed her eyes at Sans before she looked to the Tall Man, continuing, "You can't remember or something else entirely?"

The Beanish was sure there was something else going on. Something of a recurring theme..

"I mean, when you mentioned few could make it through the 'in between of places with a shortcut', and Sans has shown himself to be able to do that even when briefly, then are you two possibly related somehow or what?"

 

[Sans]

* . . . S O M E T H I N G E L S E . . .

The Tall Man stared at her some more, refusing to look Sans in the eye.

* W E ‘ V E B E E N M O L D E D B Y T H E P L A C E B E T W E E N P L A C E S . . .

Sans tightened up. The static around his fingertips shimmered. So it was as he feared. He was corrupted by the Code Dimension, if only slightly. Maybe he needed to contain himself to make sure he didn’t hurt anyone? Then again, the Tall Man had never hurt a soul, but even still, he had no idea just how easily the corruption could spread from prolonged exposure!

He looked at Kagami, a part of him wondering just how much of the code dimensional corruption she had absorbed just by being near him. Would she even appreciate the danger in that?

* i see…

Sans took a few steps away from the others just in case.

 

[Kagami]

So, they aren't just regular monsters? How interesting and how Sans might just be a skeleton, he's, at the same time, not as well. A half-half ordeal in general.

"Yeah, I'll take that at face value." Kagami sighed before she nodded, "Well, anyways, it's a pleasure talking to you, but we're going have to wrap this up and well, head outta here so yeah. Though thanks for the information and your cooperation, it is much appreciated."

She looked to Sans with a knitted brow while she closed her notepad, put away her pencil and stuff, "You already wanting to leave, Sans? Ya know, shake a leg or something like that?"

Kagami didn't seem as concerned as Sans but something about it felt.. off. She may have to address that for later, but regardless, this has been a very interesting exploration despite of some mishaps.

 

[Sans]

* i mean, yeah. i’d like to go visit the rest of my people, you know? i need more people to appreciate my jokes.

He snickered before turning to properly face the Tall Man again. * pleasure seeing you again. don’t go getting into trouble, now.

* Y O U . . . T O O . . .

He swore he saw the anomaly wave within the inky darkness before he turned around to walk away again.

 

[Kagami]

Kagami nodded before she would look to Sans, "I'm going to need my radio back if you don't mind passing it over because it's already been through much in the short while."

She was thinking about the anomaly and she was amused as the results of the interview was more than enough to put her in a better mood overall.

"You know, that Tall Man guy is actually nice to be around with." she mused, "See Sans? It ain't that hard. Just let things play out and everything turns out for the better in the end. Simple win-win situation, ya get me?"

Well, since it played out in her favor in the end.

 

[Sans]

* oh, right. here ya go.

Sans tossed the radio towards Kagami. He winked at her. * well, yeah. see? things did turn out better! and they say you shouldn’t trust your uncle sans.

 

[Kagami]

Kagami caught it in her hands, smiling, however, it wouldn't be long before she asked, "I don't remember that but okay? Though.."

She wondered for a bit as they would traverse towards the exit of Waterfall after leaving the Tall Man behind.

"What was going on with you backing off back there? Were you in a hurry or is it something else entirely?"

By the tone of her voice, she was skeptical if not also somewhat serious especially with how her eyes were narrowed.

"If I have to guess on a 'possible something else' ordeal, it probably has to do with the entire spiel of the 'in between' place the Tall Man was talking about. After all, you were looking kinda worried."

 

[Sans]

* well, i do got places to be. i love my home, but i got friends to visit.

His shoulders slumped a bit. * and, well… you could say that i’m a little worried. it’s not quite something we understand yet.

He had gone through all the theories, took notes on all the ideas, the predictions, everything the greatest minds of monsters, aliens, and men could ever conjure up to explain the Code Dimension, and even then he knew they had only scratched the surface. It seemed like the only times they ever learned anything at all was specifically because some being within it wanted them to know.

He thought of the being that the Tall Man claimed to serve: The Man Who Speaks In Hands. They had never seen anyone like him, and not even the Tall Man was willing to talk about him. From all that they knew, he had never even exited the Code Dimension, so the only way to find him was to go look for him in there and risk every single problem that that entailed, namely corruption.

What would that man even look like after such a long time within the place between places? Would he even be a recognizable entity? Maybe there was a reason he had never left that dimension in all this time.

He was okay. He wasn’t corrupted. He couldn’t be.

If he was, then the galaxy had even more problems forming on its doorstep.

 

[Kagami]

"Sounds like something to investigate but I guess that could wait for now. After all, we've gotten alot from the exploration on its own today." she mused with a shrug. "Besides, there's more than this mountain to explore as there's bigger places to go out there so you know, I'm always on the move regardless."

She wondered as they were traveling as she was silent for a bit before she would put away the pocket radio.

"However, friends. I did hear ya have Papyrus around as a younger brother and that stuff but what about your friends? How are they like? Well, if you don't mind me asking anything."

 

[Sans]

Sans shrugged. * they’re neat. i think you’d like them, if you ever found them. i’m sure they’re wondering where i’m at too, heh.

He still remembered exchanging terrible jokes with Toriel, the former queen of the underground. He missed talking to Alphys about nerdy science stuff– he hoped her relationship with Undyne was going well, since they had just started dating by the time they got out of the underground.

 

[Kagami]

"I'm wondering if there is someone in the group that screams of Booker's sort of ordeal. You know, the naggy, protective type. There's always that type of person around in a group somewhere." she sighed as she rolled her eyes. "Do this, do that, you know the type I'm talking about to an extent."

Her eyes lowered in annoyance before she blinked.

"However, you did better to an extent on backing off from the stereotype of that somewhat, especially when you know how I feel about it so I guess that's a positive? Though, daggone your jokes get at me. Seriously. However, at a time like this, I suppose it's good to have some format of humor and that so yeah."

She shrugged afterwards.

 

[Sans]

* well, one of them’s like a mom. you might like her, heh.

He continued to laugh as Kagami complained about his necessary jokery. * what can i say? i’m a professional prankster. it takes a lot of skill to be this funny.

 

[Kagami]

"The mom?" she asked as she perked up before she sighed. "Alright, who's the mom? Spill the beans, funny bones."

She was embarrassed at the fact that she was speaking about the puns though she couldn't help to chuckle somewhat. Bad puns, why is it bad puns? However, she would have to rate how much of a mom this individual is. Even though not physically facepalming, it was more or so an internal thing.

Well, atleast she could see the exit to Waterfall from nearby.

 

[Sans]

* nah. this can of beans is sealed.

He winked at her again before walking a bit faster, enjoying the feeling of warmth that Hotland always gave him compared to the cold dampness of Waterfall.

* maybe one day i’ll give you a tutoriel on her, though. heh.