Normally, sans wouldn't take that crap. But he's learned, different alternates needed different variants of pushing and space. Obviously, this topic is one he can't pry into yet.
The rest of the walk to the barrier was more awkward than anything else. There were times that the alternate would try and pick up another conversation, but they never lasted more than a minute or two. Rust supposed that it was partially his fault for the awkward attempts; but what does sans expect after turning their first good conversation into an interrogation?
count it as Petty comeback.
The air buzzed with energy. They were getting closer to the barrier now.
He was aware the alternate was talking, yet he didn't care enough to listen. Instead, he found himself soaking in the energy and vibration from the nearby exit.
He has memories. Memories that were not his own, memories of running through the forest at the foot of a mountain. Memories of excitement and laughter as the foreign host ran through the fallen leaves, higher and higher they climbed. If only they could swing from the trees, yet they let themselves be content with hopping from rock to rock. Soaring over crevasses and small ditches. Never had they felt so alive… so free.
"...this is it. Doesn't look like much but…"
He was pulled from the memory as the loud hum shook the floor ever so slightly.
The barrier, it looked so much like the one back home. But the energy, the aura, it was so different. It felt stronger.
For a moment he just sat, taking in the presence of the magical door that locked monsters away for years at a time. What would the surface be like? Would it be like the memory? Would it be free?
Rust didn't notice when his hand was grabbed, or that he was being pulled closer to the exit. Only when he felt the buzz of electricity pass through his form did he notice he was no longer underground. He wanted to stay. In between the door and the outside world, he wanted to memorize the addictive feeling of the barrier.
The slight breeze moved the leaves above, shaking them loose to slowly float towards the ground. Rays of sunlight poked through branches, illuminating everything in a bronze tinted glow. The songs of the birds echoed all around him, placing him in a world far away from reality. Was this heaven? Was this the magical, peaceful, awe inspiring land of light they had told him of long ago? Was this the place of the foren memory?
Rust let himself be dragged deeper into the trees, completely forgetting of his pain. His arms were no longer heavy, his stomach no longer turned in empty hunger, he no longer felt negative emotion cloud his mind. He was at peace.
"...but we're gonna have to give you and your brother a talk so-"
"I don't have a brother."
Again, the words bleed through his teeth. Sour and filled with lies, with nothing he could do to take them back.
Rust didn't notice Sans had stopped until he nearly tripped over the shorter skeleton.
The other had finally let go of his hand, turning to face him.
"Look, I know you and your doc aren't on good terms at the moment, but that's not who I'm talkin about."
Was he really going that far? Surely if he knows of his family situation he should know that every member besides the Doc and himself had passed.
"Everyone else I've known is dead. Who could you possibly be talking ab-"
Rust stopped, staring at the taller version of himself.
:''...-..we tried to save him, but he was always weaker than you…-..-
It was a miracle that you both survived in the first place…-.-.
...wasn't supposed to happen.-...scientific probability is under 30 percent.-.-.-..." -.-.-:
"As i was saying, everyone here has had to go through a certain set-'
"You're supposed to be dead."
Who the hell is this?
The...taller.him stomped through the crowd, ignoring the occasional "hey" or "excuse you's" as he pushed other monsters aside. Rust wanted to believe what he was seeing was true, that this wasn't some fucked up hallucination, just as the other said, his family was Dead.
Yet as his long lost brother grabbed onto his arm with a steel-like grip, he found it harder and harder to convince himself.
"Pardon us, sans, but I believe we need to have a little chat."
As if to add emphasis, the shorter skeleton proceeds to wave Rust's arm for him before dragging him to a nearby tree.
He could tell Poppy was furious, and rightfully so, it seems they were both lied to.
Rust didn't have any more time to dwell on it as the other yanked him around, when he finally let go of his arm, it was only to start poking him in the chest.
"What is this?! What. Is. THIS. you're supposed to be dead. No. You Have been dead for Years! Is this some sort of sick joke!?"
The other left no room for reply as he continued to yell, drawing attention of others to their talking tree.
"Please, calm down. You're drawing too much attention."
For a second it had worked, the other had gone still, giving him a look- oh. Wait. he screwed up, didn't he?
" down? Calm! You want Me to stay CALM!"
Rust abruptly turned away, determined to get away from another crazy brother and back to the alternates. Alternates who had taken to Staring at them. Great.
"Where in the world do you think you're going!"
Nopenope nope, sooo much nope, he is Not doing this today.
"You know I had hope for you. When we were younger, not once did I think you would take after them, you abandoned me."
No. "no, I am not dealing with this. They told Me that you died. They said your soul was too weak, that they did all they could. But you, you gave up-
His brother attempted to interrupt, but Rust didn't let him.
"And I know, believe me, I'm more than aware that they lied! I would actually love to get to know you, but not if you're gonna continue to yell. Not if you're gonna continue to act like-."
Finally, fucking finally he cut himself off before he could sour the image of the doc anymore.
Poppy seemed to take the hit well, he could feel the other calm down as he walked away from the tree. They both had to doge a few grabby hands and tricky questions as they made their way back to Sans.
Just before he told Sans to continue, Poppy grabbed ahold of his arm, again. He swears if this guy spews out one more stupid accusation-
"I'm sorry, Rusty."
"Pardon?"
Sans continued to watch their conversion in the background, silently prying into their shaky reunion.
"I'm sorry… i just. I don't know, I guess I've just assumed you knew everything. I mean, you just disappeared one day and I could tell everyone was lying to me. I thought you finally found a way out and just left me there."
Rust was going to respond when he caught sight of the short skeleton in the background.
"Uhh, later?"
Poppy took one look over his shoulder, noting the small group of prying monsters.
"later...Apologies, Sans, what was it about this orientation thing you were saying earlier?"
Having the conversation suddenly flip to him musave given the tired skeleton whiplash, seeing as he had struggled a bit to gain his composure.
"r-right-"
Sans cleared his non-existent throat as he looked up to the nearly identical Papri.
"Long story short, we're on the surface, obviously; but with this whole alternate reality bleeding into this world (while our human relations are shaky) is setting the pace back, a lot. There are a few ground rules to cover, but you should be fine. They're all basic common sense after all."
The Papri followed sans as he began walking through the camp, occasionally pointing out places or people; all with basic rules to follow.
"Oh and two more things, avoid the dark patch of forest to the west. There are alternates who seem to be… questionable hanging out over there. And absolutely no magic around the humans. The center of camp is a safe zone, but the closer you get to the border, the more careful you'll have to be. Got it?"
"Sure thing captain!"
"Good. welp, it's dinner time for me, be good fellas."
Poppy didn't bother saying "goodbye", instead he rounded on his shorter counterpart.
"It's been way too long Rusty, let's find a place so you can catch me up on where the heck you've been."
The other grabbed his hand, ignoring the "you know i hate that nickname." and dragging them to a quieter part of camp.