#APJFM character asks

[neroli9]

I kept meaning to ask this and meaning to ask this and meaning to ask-

> He turns around and winks at you. “let’s all take a break."

Is sans?? Talking to us?? Did the "you" just shift from being "you (reader-character perspective)" to being "you (actively reading this, behind the fourth wall)"? The same way we've been able to see into the void through our little device screens, have they also been able to see us in return?

Maybe I'm reading too much into it but that "let's all" felt so emphasized to me-

Sans grins at you. "welcome to the void. it's not great out here, but we'll make it out together."

[neroli9]

I love all three of these pictures individually, but taken as a group I feel like they truly express who APJFM Sans really is! They all show genuine aspects of his character, all hidden from other people to some degree.

One of my favorite comments I ever received on APJFM was:

I don’t think I’ve come across another fic or theory that so closely mirrors how I believe Sans would spiral. Even pulling away the mobster au and the worldbuilding, this feels genuinely like the response Sans would have to the genocide run.

Thank you, not only for the incredible story and all of your dedicated work, but for taking such a thorough and honest look at Sans’ nature.

When I read this, I felt proud that I was able to achieve one of my goals for APJFM, which was exploring all the sides of this character. This included the ones it’s easy to like, like his playfulness and creativity, his kindness and care for others, his brilliance and perceptiveness, the mysteries surrounding him, the sense that he was someone you could rely on, his particular moral code. But it also included the disturbing ones. To me, canon Sans is clearly sadistic, apathetic, controlling, manipulative, calculating, withholding, cruel and violent. (And any honest fic with him as a love interest has to ask, at some point, ‘How is this actually a good idea’?) I feel that way when I look at these pictures. The hyper-capable, dangerous Dead Eyes; the relaxed, playful Sans that Reader knows best, and the Sans who’s been paralyzed by grief, when his hold on reality wasn’t exactly all that strong even before Papyrus died.

This is a wonderful set of portraits -- thank you so much! 🥰

so. at some point during october, while i was brainrotting over @neroli9's APJFM (again, if you're alright with reading very explicit nsfw, cannot recommend this fanfiction enough. if not, trust me, it's not your cup of tea) and i thought about how in her fic, there are vastly different perceptions of her mafia!Sans. and i decided i wanted to do a short series of pieces portraying these very different images of him. you can see all 3 of them below the cut!

Dead Eyes, the freelancing skeleton gangster, feared by even the cruelest gang leaders in New Ebott.

Just Sans, Reader's relaxed content companion enjoying time with his girl after a long day.

And finally, Sans, the haunted man forever grieving the loss of his dear brother.

[neroli9]

Sans of the void, tell me your best joke! (Sorry Papyrus :,)

Sans looks thoughtful. "my best joke, huh? really putting me on the spot. uh, have you heard the one about the rope?" He pauses. "never mind. it's too long. how 'bout a joke about pizza? eh, that one's too cheesy." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "i know a couple of jokes 'bout unemployment, but they need some work. i could go with the one about paper... but it's tearable. maybe the one about the roof?" He makes a dismissive waving gesture. "no good. it's over your head." "Oh! The other Sans told me that one before," Reader says, beaming.

[neroli9]

Question for Sans of the void. You said the human thing is still kinda weird to you. Do you think the attraction/fetish for humans would have been there had your soul been whole? Or do you think it developed in the Sans we know because of his circumstances? Or would the attraction/fetish not have developed if your soul wasn't split, do you think?

Sans' eye sockets widen. "fetish?"

"Um... he was already into humans by the time he met me," Reader explains.

"huh." Sans turns back to the asker, looking disconcerted. "uh, you gotta remember, our knowledge is kinda limited. it took us long enough to figure out she an' the other guy were a thing."

"THAT'S RIGHT! I ONLY REALIZED IT WHEN HE STARTED DREAMING ABOUT HER DEATH MORE THAN HE DREAMED ABOUT MY DEATH!" Papyrus chimes in.

Reader shudders. "That's morbid."

"how am i s'posed to answer like this?" Sans says. "c'mon you two, clear out."

Once they're gone, he turns back to the asker. "okay, well, i stopped caring 'bout all that kinda stuff a long time ago. so all i can tell you is that whatever preferences her sans had, they developed after i got split off. we guessed that papyrus died in that timeline, given how people reacted to seeing him in their dreams, and i am not in the least surprised that the other guy started acting erratically afterwards. so..." He shrugs. "i'd guess it had more to do with his circumstances than his soul getting split up. but i couldn't say for sure."

[neroli9]

how is Gracie coping with the loss of Jack, since we have yet to see it?

Gracie pulls out a handkerchief and wipes tears away from her eyes. For once, she's not wearing any makeup. She hasn't even thought of applying any since Jack's death, six days ago. “I am shattered. Simply shattered," she says quietly. "I can't quite believe it. I still expect him to walk through the door any moment now. 'Fooled you, girly-girl!’ And -- and laughing at me, for thinking anyone could -- anyone could --" Her face scrunches up in pain, and she hides it in her handkerchief again, starting to sob.

“He’s left me everything," she says, some time later after she's calmed down. “I always thought that -- that I would be so happy if only I was a rich woman. But I'd give back every penny if…" She looks down, wringing her handkerchief in her hands. “He always told me, if something happened to him, I could buy myself a better life, and... and forget all about him, all about this.”

Her face hardens.

“But I'm not going to forget.” 

[neroli9]

Howdy jack, hows the afterlife??? Is it treating you well??? Do the other ghosts know you got dunked on by a tiny skeleton man, lmfaooooo 🤣👌

Jack's ashes are collected in an elegant white urn, placed on a shelf next to a picture of him and Gracie. She's clinging to him, looking admiringly up at him, and he's got his arm around her, grinning as if he doesn't have a care in the world.

Jack is not available for questioning.

[neroli9]

Hey, Jerren, you said you hadn't found any reality in which he kills her yet, but what is the worst thing he has done to her as far as you know?

"I don't generally involve myself in their sordid affairs," Jerren sniffs. "I, of course, have better things to do. It is enough simply to know that they are suffering."

(I'm not taking any more asks -- but if anyone was going to ignore my wishes, it would of course be Jerren.)

[neroli9]

sasha can i offer you a nice durian in these trying times

Sasha takes the durian without a word and holds it to her chest with both arms, apparently insensible to its spikes and scent.

Reader blinks. "She's really not herself right now," she offers weakly. She looks to her sister for an explanation, but Sasha says nothing.

[neroli9]

For Sasha, I know it’s a cold comfort, and probably doesn’t help much… But It will get better. Always darkest before the dawn and all… Every reign has its end one way or another. And for Reader… I temporarily grant you my chainsaw Katana. Being an inter dimensional traveler has its perks. Use it wisely. Protect yourself. It won’t get easier. But it will get better eventually. Hold out hope. Protect the ones you love. Cause someone out there really cares for you. -Neko

Sasha chuckles grimly. "Sure." There's cookie crumbs on her hands, but she doesn't even bother to brush them off. She just slumps over, staring out into nothingness.

"She's really not herself right now," Reader says apologetically. "It's just a wrong day. I think." She inspects the chainsaw katana, a smile breaking over her weary face. "Thank you! I can think of some great uses for this. Look, Sasha! A sword with a chainsaw on it. You could do a lot of damage with that, huh?"

Sasha stares blankly through the katana.

"She's really not herself right now," Reader repeats in a low voice.

[neroli9]

Jerren, do you ever go traveling abroad? Mingle with royals from other countries? What's the world like outside of Ebott and the surface? Are there other 'surfaces' and cities covered with clouds?

Jerren's lips press together into a straight line. "I dislike this question, because it forces me to remember that I have a an author, and furthermore, that this author is not worthy of me. She has literally had years to do the worldbuilding necessary to give full scope to my talents, and allow me to reach my true potential on a global scale. Alas, she is content with imagining New Ebott the center of a painfully improbable world, and focusing her attention on --" He waves his hand dismissively at Reader, still wrapped in her blanket. "Those two wretches." He scowls at the fourth wall. "Lazy hack."

Just then, a seagull shat on jerren’s shirt.

He stares down at himself. "Not again!"

[neroli9]

doubtful that this will reach him, as he's no longer available, but i'd like to give Sans a light pat on the shoulder, and a somber nod of respect.

Reader sighs. "Yeah. Me too." She wraps her blanket around her a little more tightly as Sasha continues nibbling at the cookies, one by one. "I know he wants to be alone, but... I'm worried about him."

[neroli9]

This isn't really a question per se, but i brought blankets and cookies for the Sad Squad and i hope everyone feels better soon

Sasha takes possession of the cookies and eats them mechanically, staring into space the whole time. "I may as well enjoy them while I can," she mumbles.

Reader wraps her blanket around herself and watches her sister. Even with a blanket, she's still shivering.

Sans' location is unknown.

[neroli9]

Hey Jerren, ever met Jerry? I think you two would get along.

Jerren waves dismissively. "I keep him alive just so I can kill him from time to time."

[neroli9]

Here Jerren I have a wonderful gift for you. spoiler alert: its a knife, go die. preferably slowly. and painfully.

Jerren takes the knife, admiring its design and testing its weight in his hand. "Perfect! I do believe a knife figures heavily into some of the later chapters. I'll remember you every time I use it."

[neroli9]

Jerren: big fan of your work. do you take literary inspiration from anyone? your melodramas are always intense and intricately crafted and have a somewhat victor hugo flavor. Lots of tragic irony, lots of prominent motifs. Also, for your current narrative, might I suggest Antigone? And I don't know if you take requests, but there's this great Poe story called "the pit and the pendulum" which I think has great potential for drama and requires very little setup (big hole, big knife).

Jerren touches his hand to his chest and looks down modestly. "Is it too much to compare myself to Shakespeare? No? You're too kind. Because, as far as comparisons between my current narrative and classic works go, I honestly feel that the best one for this portion of the story is Othello. A loving relationship is undermined by manipulation, turning the two against each other and causing misery… Although I will admit, I haven’t found an outcome in which he kills her. Yet.”

[neroli9]

Hey Sans... What's Papyrus's favorite food?

He vanishes.

(Sans is no longer available for questions.)