My thoughts had been running circles in my head, trying to piece together what it is Sans could possibly want to talk to me about. Maybe he's got some more expositional advice for me, or maybe just a really long build up to a ridiculous pun. Down to earth speech with a moment of absolute terror? I still can't get over those eyes…

"so i see you've made a new friend, kid," he said. "haven't seen too many ice giants in my lifetime."

"Just this one or all of them? These timelines haven't exactly been the easiest thing to process, especially after Azzy almost destroyed the universe."

He took a bottle of ketchup and didn't hesitate to start chugging it. I guess he's throwing any form of subtlety out the window now. "hehe. i could tell you, but even i don't have the right answer to that question."

"Anyway, you mentioned a shortcut to Grillby's. Where is it?"

Without saying a word, he stopped and extended his hand toward me. Huh, he's still got that whoopee cushion tied to him. I guess it's easier to see when he's not covered in what can only be described as eternal darkness. I slowly reached out and took his hand. "you should probably close your eyes, kid. might see something unsettling."

It was in an instant, but I had heard millions of different sounds. Monsters, humans, and… something completely different. A psychedelic trip, you might be saying, but remember: this is the Underground.

In the blink of an eye, we were at our usual spot at Grillby's, right at the front bar. I gotta say, it never gets any easier when we do that. Lesser Dog is still going at the chess board? He must be really determined to beat himself, as little sense as that makes.

"So, are ya hungry kid? not many food joints left after mettaton relocated," he said. Sans opened his jacket and started downing his usual bottle of ketchup.

"Yeah, we haven't heard much from him for a while. Burgerpants was telling me about some kind of record deal he struck up on the surface."

"he got into the music business? he always did know how to strike the right note with people."

The room let out a collective groan, even with a drum cue from… somewhere. Incidental music seems to follow Sans wherever he goes.

He let out a little chuckle for himself, though it sounded forced. I think he was trying to lighten the mood. Finally, Grillby approached us with his notepad at the ready, still as expressionless as ever. "Hello, you two… shall I put this… to your tab, Sans…?"

"you know it. i'll take the usual fries."

"Okay… and for you… Frisk…?"

I was really thinking it over after I let my burger get cold the first time I was here. I cried for about an hour for that thing. "I'll just have a chocolate milkshake."

"wow, you two sure do have identical tastes."

"You mean Chara and I?"

"duh."

"Oh haha. Say what you want, but getting possessed by the soul of a dead ten-year-old all those years ago may not have been the most pleasant experience, but she really does have great taste in food. Even if half of my diet is pure chocolate now."

Sans put his hand on my shoulder with a rather stern grip. I know he's had a few out of character moments, but this was by far the most "out there" moment, especially since there was no proceeding whoopie cushion flatulence. He turned his head and took a deep breath. "kid, between you and me, i'm still worried about her and her… killer instinct."

I was a little surprised to hear his words, but I couldn't really put into anything other than a raised brow. "Is… is that why you wanted to talk to me?"

"no, this is a separate issue. i trust you, kid. but i find that i'm still working on trusting our mutual acquaintance. ever since we brought her back, i've noticed that she hasn't exactly been tamed. i've seen those tics in her eyes and i'm sure you have too."

That red spark in her eye. It happened every time she took out her knife, especially with malicious intent. Still, we did all we could to prevent her from becoming corrupted again. A second chance at a normal-ish childhood, a family to care for her, friends that will always be by her side, everything she had hoped for ever since that she tumbled down that rabbit hole. I was so confused, angry, and worried, all at the same time by Sans's words. What was his angle?

"You've seen that same tic in Azzy and Toriel," I said. "It's like a Dreemur family trait from what I've seen. I think it might have something to do with the type of magic they use."

"you really think so?"

"I've got no better theories at the moment," I took a deep sigh. "Look, I know you're just looking out for me, but I need you to trust me when I say that Chara is no threat to anyone; a threat to herself maybe, but that's about it."

"kid, all i'm saying is this: be careful, not just around chara."

"I never got to where I am by being paranoid about people, Sans."

His face beaconed with his signature smile again. If that grin of his brought anything to anyone, it definitely gave me relief. I figured I got through to him at least. "whatever you say. better your instinct to trust than mine."

Grillby walked out from the kitchen. "Here… you.. go…" He set down my milkshake and Sans's fries, which were quite literally popping with salt.

"thanks, grill."

I took a sip of the strange drink. It was sweet like chocolate, but it had so many bubbles in it, and it was topped what I assumed were Temmy flakes. I guess Grillby has an import/export service? What else does this guy do?

"ah, just magical as always," Sans said, munching on his fries.

I examined my drink even more and noticed the chocolate bubbles floating away from the glass. From the corner of the room, Lesser Dog stretched his furry neck to try and lick the bubbles as they flew off.

"I really hope magical dogs don't get sick from chocolate like normal dogs do, otherwise I'm probably going to feel pretty guilty about this later."

Sans chuckled as the dog bobbed back and forth for the tasty bubbles. "i guess grillby gave it a little too much shake. it seems like an udderly imperfect drink."

Ugggggggghhhhhhhhhh… "Okay, you forced that one."

He still laughed at his own joke. "anyway, what I wanted talk to you about. pap and undyne have been doing some exploring beyond the mainland down here."

"What did they find, canned spaghetti? I know those two think it's some kind of crime against humanity. Wait, no that's not right. Monsterinity?"

"as amusing as that would be, no. it was an undiscovered part of the underground, or at least the entrance to it."

"How do you know it's undiscovered and not just another town like Snowdin?"

Sans scarfed down his last fry. He looked rather somber at his empty plate and pulled out his secret ketchup bottle. "there was no mention of this place in any of the castle's records and nothing to suggest that it's been under our noses in tori's maps."

I shifted in my seat, head in my hand. It made no sense, how can a whole town or even a whole city, just appear out of nowhere? The Underground just kept finding ways to further suspend my disbelief. "So, it just… appeared somehow, is what you're telling me."

"yep."

When I thought about it, I wondered if Alban is tied to any of that. An ice giant hadn't been seen in ages, and we just happened to stumble into the only one in the middle of the forest. No, it couldn't just be a simple coincidence. Something else was going on, something even beyond Sans's measure of intuition and he knows when shit is going to happen. Wouldn't kill him if he actually did something about it though.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"i don't think i'm the guy you should be asking, kid. i just figured it'd be better if you hear it from it your old pal, sans. undyne and pap would be able to show you where to go."

"What, you just wanted to take me to lunch and have a heart to heart?"

"eh, why not?"

Well, at least he meant well. I could always count on Sans for a free meal and a totally non-expositional conversation. "Well, thank you then."

"no problem, buddy."

Grillby came over and picked up my glass. I didn't want to keep three stooges busy so I got up and headed to the door.

"hey, frisk."

I turned around to him.

"don't be afraid. it's all going tibia okay."

Badum-tss.

"I'm leaving,"I groaned.