Fieri led the skeleton brothers into what appeared to be a library, the walls lined with bookshelves, more lined up in rows taking up half the room, the other half a spacious area with small, angled desks and empty seats nestled next to them, and behind those a large desk with papers, ink wells, and paperweights scattered over it standing guard over a closed door. Fieri walked over to the nearest desk and pulled the seat, a simple stool really, out into the open area. Then another, and another. He sat in one and motioned to the brothers. "Come sit, we have much to discuss."

Sans was glad to see the stools came in different heights, he climbed onto the shorter one while Papyrus perched on the taller.

"To begin with," Fieri began, "the bride of the gods is an old tradition that seems to have fallen out of favor with the gods, even before the war. It was a sign of favor for the mortal chosen, their family blessed by the god they were married to. They acted as the mouthpiece of the god, able to speak directly with them rather than through visions and divination."

"SO WHY DID THEY STOP IF IT WAS SO USEFUL?"

Fieri shook his head, "We don't know. It may have to do with the fact the gods make less decrees than they used to, or it may have had to do with the rising tensions between monsters and humans that led to the war, or it may have just become unfashionable among the gods themselves." Fieri shrugged. "All we know is they became less common over the years until the practice stopped altogether."

"something for me to ask him after the uh… the wedding i guess." Sans fidgeted in his seat. "it feels so weird calling it that when it's not real."

"What do you mean?"

"you said it's just a ceremony, right? it's not a real wedding."

"What wedding isn't just a ceremony?" Fieri paused as he looked between the brothers in confusion, their faces a matching mix of surprise and horror. "The wedding is just as binding and 'real' as any other wedding presided over by any priest."

"so this is for the rest of my life?"

"That we don't know yet."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

"It's strange, you would think a title like that would be a lifetime of service, but it actually varied from case to case. We've only found five detailed bridegrooms so far, one stayed the rest of her life, the other four lasted between a year and seven years."

"so what you're saying is there used to be this thing that happened and was really common but we just have no idea anything about it?"

"The old records are full of instances of the marriages, but no other details. 'On this date so and so was married to our patron god.' We also know that aside from acting as Lord Fiersome's mouthpiece you will also be a figurehead. You will help preside over all the major festivals and to receive any notable sacrifices. Anything else we have found out has only been by scouring through personal journals. I'm afraid you will have to ask Lord Fiersome yourself after the ceremony."

Papyrus gingerly reached out and settle a gloved hand on Sans's shoulder. "ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS? WHAT ABOUT…" Papyrus scooted a little closer and leaned in to whisper, "WHAT ABOUT GRILLBY?"

"what about him?"

"SANS!"

"it's been over a month and i haven't heard a thing from him, papyrus. if he was really serious you'd think he'd have found some way to contact me by now."

Papyrus sighed, "YOU WERE SO HAPPY."

"was i happy yesterday? or the day before? or last week?"

Papyrus averted his orbits, thumbs suddenly twiddling furiously.

"besides, this might not be forever anyway. if this whole bridegroom thing only lasts a year or two maybe he'll wait for me." Sans grinned up at Papyrus.

Papyrus gently patted his shoulder. "I WILL TRY TO FIND HIM AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND ALSO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM."

"thanks bro, that's really sweet of you." Sans turned to Fieri, "so what now?"

"We have two weeks to prepare for the ceremony." Fieri smiled, a glowing orange crack in his dim red flames. "That means going over what to do and say, some ceremonial cleansing," Fieri eyed Sans like the stains on his shirt were personally offensive, "and getting you settled in here at the temple. In fact, I can show you to your room now if you like."

"sure, sounds like a plan." Sans hopped off his stool.

"And will you be spending the night?"

"OF COURSE!"

"why? we got a house, and somebody needs to take care of balboa, i left them on the living room chair."

Papyrus groaned, "SAAAAAAAANS!"

"It's no trouble, we have plenty of guest rooms."

"THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT."

Sans shrugged, Papyrus was an adult and could do whatever he wanted.

"Right this way, then." Fieri led them out of the room, where they nearly bumped into another priest hovering in the doorway.

"Oh, are you finished with the archive room? I'm supposed to be recording today's events…"

Sans squinted at the priest, "… licorice?"

"I'm Basil, actually."

"HELLO BASIL!" Papyrus eagerly took his hand and began shaking it vigorously. "IT'S BEEN SO LONG! HOW ARE YOU? HOW'S THE FAMILY?"

"I'm good, we're all good. Actually Licorice did tell me Sans was here a week ago to get all the gossip."

"wasn't the only reason," Sans grumbled, the barest hint of color blooming on his cheekbones.

"But goodness," Basil continued, "who would have guessed Sans would be Lord Fiersome's chosen!"

"YES, THIS CERTAINLY IS A SURPRISE."

"If we're done here," Fieri said with a voice that sounded very much like he was speaking through gritted teeth despite not having any, "I do believe you have a record to make."

"Yes, of course." Basil nodded at them before slipping into the archive room.

"Your room is right this way." Fieri motioned down the hall before leading on. The bedroom he led them to was very nice, everything carved from dark wood and covered in rich fabrics. Not that there was much to the room: two large windows on either wall in the far corner, a plush looking bed piled high with blankets and pillows, a chest at the foot of it, a dresser, a small bookshelf full of old tomes, a plush looking chair nestled between that and a roaring fireplace. Every surface but the bed was completely empty, not a knickknack or decoration in sight.

Sans wandered around the room, idly touching things here and there. Papyrus stood in the doorway, hands on his hips as he looked around.

"We passed several guest rooms on the way here, you can have your pick. I can show you the bathing chamber as well."

"THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY. WELL, THE BATHING CHAMBER MIGHT BE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN SANS LAST VISITED THE PUBLIC BATHS." Papyrus eyed Sans, who just grinned up at him. "BUT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND ON STAYING THE NIGHT, SANS IS RIGHT."

"i knew it would happen one of these days."

"THERE'S NO NEED WHEN WE LIVE SO CLOSE. SO NOW THAT I SEE YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS I'LL GO HOME. AND TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE. LIKE BALBOA! POOR LITTLE THING SHOULDN'T BE LEFT ON THE CHAIR ALL ALONE."

"yeah, they get lonely easily."

"THEY ALSO AREN'T FOND OF ANYTHING SOFTER THAN FRESHLY TURNED DIRT."

"Oh?" Fieri seemed mildly confused, or perhaps just uninterested. "Whatever you believe would be best."

"I DO BELIEVE IT'S FOR THE BEST. I'LL COME VISIT AGAIN, IS TOMORROW ALRIGHT?"

"Yes, tomorrow's fine."

"I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW, BROTHER." Papyrus leaned down to give Sans a hug.

Sans returned the hug, quietly savoring it before letting go and waving Papyrus off with a forced grin. "see ya, bro."

Papyrus did return the next morning, his arms full of bags stuffed with all manner of things. He stepped into the room to find Sans's bed rumpled but empty. A quick search of the room found Sans wedged between the fireplace and the chair, fast asleep, his head awkwardly propped against the stone, changed into a silk nightshirt and presumably nothing more. Papyrus carefully laid his armload on the floor and shook his head at his brother.

"HONESTLY SANS, YOU'D THINK THE HUGE BED YOU WERE GIVEN WOULD BE A GOOD ENOUGH PLACE TO SLEEP IN."

"huh? wuzzat?" Sans asked groggily as Papyrus picked him up.

"IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP! THE SUN HAS BEEN UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME ALREADY, AN ENTIRE HALF HOUR AT LEAST!"

"oh… heeeeeeeeeeey." Sans yawned and blinked blearily up at Papyrus. "you're here."

"OF COURSE I AM. AND I BROUGHT YOU THINGS!"

"things?"

"YES! THIS ROOM IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT HAS NO PERSONALITY, NO WARMTH."

"there's a fire right there."

"SO I PACKED UP YOUR ROOM AND BROUGHT YOUR FAVORITE THINGS."

"awwww… that's sweet of you."

"AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME UNPACK THEM!"

"sure bro, sounds good."

Papyrus placed Sans on his feet, then started digging through the bags he had brought. He pulled out a plate and presented it to Sans. "FIRST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, FIND A PLACE OF HONOR."

Sans idly scratched his tailbone with one hand and reached for the plate with the other, another yawn stretching his face wide. "place of honor, sure." He looked the room over before shrugging and setting the plate on top of the dresser. Then Papyrus handed over a rock. "hey, it's balboa, hey there little guy." Sans took the rock and held them close to his chest, Balboa gave a happy little grumble. "you sure about this? won't you be lonely without them?"

"I'LL BE FINE! BESIDES, THEY'RE MORE YOUR PET THAN MINE."

"yeah, guess they are, aren't ya balboa? who's a good little rock?" Sans pet Balboa a few times, who responded with a rumble and a few soft squeaks. Sans set them gently on the plate.

"AND YOUR COOL ROCK COLLECTION." Papyrus handed over a pile of pebbles, which Sans had to scramble not to drop any.

"oh, these'll look cool with the books." Sans did actually have fun setting the colorful pebbles on the bookshelf, a few of the bigger ones ended up getting spread to the rest of the room, like the sparkly one that ended up tucked into the hearth's corner. Other mementos got placed in various places as well. A couple tattered toys that survived their childhood only because neither could bear to throw them away ended up guarding Balboa on the dresser, the few books Sans owned were slotted into empty spaces on the bookshelf, and even the horn he sometimes played was pulled out and handed over. Just for fun Sans blew a note on it before setting it aside, leaning it up against the dresser.

Papyrus nodded as he looked around the room, "MUCH BETTER."

"yeah, thanks bro." Sans pulled Papyrus into a hug.

Once he let go, Papyrus stood back and eyed the rest of the room with a critical eye. "HMMM… BETTER, BUT STILL NOT GREAT YET. THESE WALLS ARE SO DRAB." Papyrus touched one of the stone walls. "THERE WON'T BE ANY EASY WAY TO DECORATE THEM. OH! DO YOU THINK THEY'D LET ME PAINT A MURAL?"

Sans shrugged, "maybe? only way to find out is to ask. but you know you don't gotta do that, just this was a huge difference."

"I KNOW, BUT THINK HOW MUCH MORE OF A DIFFERENCE THE GREAT PAPYRUS'S ARTISTIC TOUCH WILL MAKE."

"you're right bro, how could i ever doubt." Sans gave Papyrus a thumbs up.

There was a knock on the door, followed by a priest opening it and poking her long snout in. "Oh! I didn't know you had a guest. I was just sent to, like, make sure you knew breakfast was served."

"great, i'm starved."

"WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T EATEN YET?!"

"i was still asleep when you got here, bro."

"OH, THAT'S TRUE."

"so let's go get some grub."

"SANS! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO WANDERING AROUND IN JUST YOUR NIGHTSHIRT." Papyrus rolled his eyes as he firmly guided Sans over to the dresser. "YOU MAY LIVE HERE FOR NOW, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN TREAT IT LIKE OUR HOUSE."

"i wasn't going to wander around bare boned," Sans said defensively.

The priest slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. "I can totally help you get dressed."

"that's uh… that's not really necessary?"

"Oh it's no problem! Like, a lot of people have trouble figuring out the robes at first." The priest bounced excitedly over to the dresser, chatting excitedly as she explained what each layer was for and how to wear it properly.