[That certainly is a reply. As short and enigmatic as all the rest of Sans' half of this exchange. A skeleton could start to think his brother wanted nothing to do with him...
But that's absurd, of course! Sans is clearly just overwhelmed! And who wouldn't be? 'A long time' without Papyrus' greatness to light up his life, to inspire him to surpass his usual avoidant laziness... He must have backslid and then some. And, now, he's delaying their reunion in order to reassess who he wants to be now. Or something.
And to think, just a week ago Papyrus was calling the human and terribly, shamefully confessing to his pride in Sans' accomplishments. It's almost a relief that that's not relevant anymore. Like things are back to their old, frustrating equilibrium.
Except for the part where Sans is still avoiding him. And the part where Papyrus is living with a nervous vampire in a trailer. And the complete lack of snow, ice, spikes, and puzzles with which to occupy himself.
On review, things are almost nothing like their old equilibrium, and that's getting old.
It's the very worst kind of mystery; one that Papyrus can't solve by asking Sans for the answer. Because it wouldn't be much of a mystery if he wasn't keeping it secret. And it wouldn't be so frustrating if Papyrus could just get a hold of him. Perhaps literally. But it's so strange, going so many days without so much as seeing one another. Disconcerting. Maybe even frightening. It would have been easier to be here alone, than to think he had his brother's support, only to find out there's some unspeakable divide between them.
Papyrus doesn't let it interfere with continuing his job. Not too much. If he takes extra walks around the carnival's grounds, it's just to familiarize himself with everywhere messes are likely to accumulate, and not a way of very sneakily searching for a familiar face. Neither does he let it interfere with trying out new and strange foods in the eating hall, or meeting new people as he continues improving his dreamcatcher-creation skills.
The next day, which is actually the sixth day since the beginning of the season, yet another letter arrives in Sans' mailbox. Of course. There's many things that a person can count on Papyrus for, and regular and prompt communication is several of them.
As long as he's alive.]
DEAR PERPETUAL IRRITANT SANS,
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT, AND I'VE DECIDED. I LIKE IT BETTER WHEN YOU TELL JOKES, TO AVOID ANSWERING ME. I KNOW! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE I WROTE THAT EITHER!! BUT AT LEAST SOME OF YOUR JOKES ARE FUNNY? A TINY BIT FUNNY. MICROSCOPICALLY TINY, REALLY.
WHATEVER -THIS- IS, SURELY IT IS NOT MY FAULT! THAT COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN DOUBT!! HOW COULD IT BE??? I AM A VERITABLE FONT OF INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, AND HOPE FOR EVERYBODY... BUT, EVERYONE MAKES THEIR OWN CHOICES. EVEN WHEN THEIR CHOICES ARE BAD. OR INCONVENIENT. AND FRANKLY BEWILDERING???
BUT IT'S STRANGE THAT, NO MATTER HOW LONG I WALK AROUND THE CARNIVAL, I CAN'T FIND YOU NAPPING ANYWHERE? SNOWDIN WAS BIGGER, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE ME HOURS BAC
I SUPPOSE IT MAKES SENSE TO THINK I MIGHT THINK IT'S MY FAULT. AFTER ALL, HOW COULD THIS PLACE CHANGE ANYTHING?? IT'S JUST A CARNIVAL! FULL OF WACKY PEOPLE FROM OTHER WORLDS. AND TIME TRAVEL. AND CLOWNS??? I DON'T THINK CLOWNS MAKE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO FAMILY.
(DO CLOWNS MAKE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO FAMILY)
YOU SAID SORRY IN YOUR FIRST NOTE... BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SORRY FOR. WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY IN ANY WAY BUT GOOD MANNERS!
IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO ANSWER THAT YET... PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE SENDING CRYPTIC HINTS! I'LL SOLVE THIS RIDDLE EVENTUALLY.
- EX? KING PAPYRUS
P.S. DOES IT COUNT AS ABDICATING THE CROWN... WHEN I'M GOING TO USE TIME MAGIC TO GO HOME TO THE SAME TIME I LEFT?
Mail
But that's absurd, of course! Sans is clearly just overwhelmed! And who wouldn't be? 'A long time' without Papyrus' greatness to light up his life, to inspire him to surpass his usual avoidant laziness... He must have backslid and then some. And, now, he's delaying their reunion in order to reassess who he wants to be now. Or something.
And to think, just a week ago Papyrus was calling the human and terribly, shamefully confessing to his pride in Sans' accomplishments. It's almost a relief that that's not relevant anymore. Like things are back to their old, frustrating equilibrium.
Except for the part where Sans is still avoiding him. And the part where Papyrus is living with a nervous vampire in a trailer. And the complete lack of snow, ice, spikes, and puzzles with which to occupy himself.
On review, things are almost nothing like their old equilibrium, and that's getting old.
It's the very worst kind of mystery; one that Papyrus can't solve by asking Sans for the answer. Because it wouldn't be much of a mystery if he wasn't keeping it secret. And it wouldn't be so frustrating if Papyrus could just get a hold of him. Perhaps literally. But it's so strange, going so many days without so much as seeing one another. Disconcerting. Maybe even frightening. It would have been easier to be here alone, than to think he had his brother's support, only to find out there's some unspeakable divide between them.
Papyrus doesn't let it interfere with continuing his job. Not too much. If he takes extra walks around the carnival's grounds, it's just to familiarize himself with everywhere messes are likely to accumulate, and not a way of very sneakily searching for a familiar face. Neither does he let it interfere with trying out new and strange foods in the eating hall, or meeting new people as he continues improving his dreamcatcher-creation skills.
The next day, which is actually the sixth day since the beginning of the season, yet another letter arrives in Sans' mailbox. Of course. There's many things that a person can count on Papyrus for, and regular and prompt communication is several of them.
As long as he's alive.]
DEAR PERPETUAL IRRITANT SANS,
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT, AND I'VE DECIDED. I LIKE IT BETTER WHEN YOU TELL JOKES, TO AVOID ANSWERING ME. I KNOW! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE I WROTE THAT EITHER!! BUT AT LEAST SOME OF YOUR JOKES ARE FUNNY? A TINY BIT FUNNY. MICROSCOPICALLY TINY, REALLY.
WHATEVER -THIS- IS, SURELY IT IS NOT MY FAULT! THAT COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN DOUBT!! HOW COULD IT BE??? I AM A VERITABLE FONT OF INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, AND HOPE FOR EVERYBODY... BUT, EVERYONE MAKES THEIR OWN CHOICES. EVEN WHEN THEIR CHOICES ARE BAD. OR INCONVENIENT. AND FRANKLY BEWILDERING???
BUT IT'S STRANGE THAT, NO MATTER HOW LONG I WALK AROUND THE CARNIVAL, I CAN'T FIND YOU NAPPING ANYWHERE? SNOWDIN WAS BIGGER, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE ME HOURS BACI SUPPOSE IT MAKES SENSE TO THINK I MIGHT THINK IT'S MY FAULT. AFTER ALL, HOW COULD THIS PLACE CHANGE ANYTHING?? IT'S JUST A CARNIVAL! FULL OF WACKY PEOPLE FROM OTHER WORLDS. AND TIME TRAVEL. AND CLOWNS??? I DON'T THINK CLOWNS MAKE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO FAMILY.
(DO CLOWNS MAKE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO FAMILY)
YOU SAID SORRY IN YOUR FIRST NOTE... BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SORRY FOR. WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY IN ANY WAY BUT GOOD MANNERS!
IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO ANSWER THAT YET... PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE SENDING CRYPTIC HINTS! I'LL SOLVE THIS RIDDLE EVENTUALLY.
- EX? KING PAPYRUS
P.S. DOES IT COUNT AS ABDICATING THE CROWN... WHEN I'M GOING TO USE TIME MAGIC TO GO HOME TO THE SAME TIME I LEFT?