Sans was up bright and early. His body and mind complained, and he knew that he needed more sleep to help him heal. He never was an early riser, but he had to make this work for himself and Papyrus. He got dressed into his best lab safe clothing before packing a small bag for Papyrus and taking that and his sleeping brother to the hotel where he would be safe and entertained with the rabbit children. Once Papyrus was settled with them, he headed out to start his trek to the lab. It was still dark in the cave system, and Sans yawned, feeling his sockets droop lower. 4 am, really wasn't his scene, but if he wanted to make it to the lab before 6, it was a necessary evil. Besides, it gave him time to shuffle rather than walk. Help him wake up more. *He could take a nap during his break to keep up with his soul treatment. It was no problem. He needed some damn coffee.* Sans shuffled through the town and past his house. Before long, he was disappearing into the fog between Snowdin and Waterfall.

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By the time he was past the seed pod puzzles, people were starting to wake and head to work. Kudos to them for looking more awake than him still. Sans focused on seeing if Riverperson was up yet because walking was exhausting. It seemed it was his lucky day. "hey rivs... mind if i get a ride to hotland?" Riverperson invited Sans in without another word, and they were headed out. "This is not your waking hour." They noted. "new job." Sans replied as he tried not to doze on himself. There was another stretch of silence before Riverperson gave Sans a warning. One that he wouldn't understand until years later. "Beware the man who speaks in hands." Sans was too tired to really comment back and brushed to off as Riverperson's weirdness. They had always been a unique character, one that Sans was oddly comfortable with. Probably because he and Rivs who had saved him all those years ago when his parents - Don't think about it. Needless to say, he still struggled with the effects of that day. Sans got out with a lazy wave when they made it to Hotland and tried to look less exhausted as he approached the lab doors.

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It was already bustling for 5:34 in the morning. Sans wondered if they slept here. He took a few minutes to take in everything for a second time before he headed for the room he had been in the day before. There was a fresh pot of coffee there, and upon downing a cup, he could feel the energy and magic zap through him, making his soul complain. Some days were really better than others. He couldn't afford a nap now. He needed to establish a good image. The Royal Scientist came in before Sans could think more about it, and for a moment, the two simply stared at each other. "You're early. I wasn't expecting you for another 15 minutes." Sans felt the corners of his mouth rise in response. "i left early so i could get here on time." He responded matter-of-factly. "What of your little brother?" Dr. Gaster asked, and Sans was mildly surprised that he asked. "he's at his babysitters place." Sans reassured him. The doc nodded before making the follow gesture. Sans fell in line behind the older skeleton as he was led to an elevator.

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Dr. Gaster brought the boy to his office. Upon leaving Sans house yesterday, he had grown curious about their situation. He started to look through the archives on his computer, expecting a birth certificate or something of the sort for the boys. There was no such thing, though. Sans and Papyrus weren't in the archives before two years ago when Sans started working a comedy gig. Gaster's curiosity grew. It wasn't often a monster wasn't accounted for. This usually meant that the monster was an enemy of the capitol or the monster was a veteran in hiding. Gaster looked up the deaths from four years ago instead. There had been a human attack if Gaster recalled. All guard and civilian deaths were accounted for, including two unknowns, which Gaster could presume were the parents of the skeleton brothers. There was also a civilian injury. A skeleton child who took soul damage... no name was given, but Gaster could only guess. "what's up, doc?" Gaster looked over to the very skeleton he was thinking about. "I ran a background check on you, as I do with all my employees. Needless to say, the results were... interesting." Sans frowned before his sockets widened.

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Sans should've acounted for this. This wasn't just a comedy routine. Of course there was gonna be a background check. Is this the end..? After he finally got his shot, would this be it? "I would like to do a physical on you to see what exactly you can and cannot handle so that I can assign you to a position accordingly. Until then, you will be working down in my personal lab with me and my assistants. Is that understood?" Sans nearly protested, but quickly snapped his teeth shut and nodded. "yes sir, of course." He replied quickly. Gaster nodded and led him out of the office. "My personal lab is also known as True Lab. Only few people have access to it. That would be you, me, Dr. Felidae, Dr. Vexta, Dr. Muzc, and Dr. Tika. Anyone else down here is to be reported to me directly. True Lab also has a hall that leads straight to the C.O.R.E., you are not allowed to go through there without myself or one of the others being present. That goes for all ongoing projects, actually." Sans nodded along as Gaster went through the rules. Finally, he was in...