Little Talks

Little Talks is a story that follows Error!Sans (Jump!Error or Zen!Error) after the events of Underverse through the next 20 years before the bulk of JumpVerse begins.

## Story Prose

Little Talks - 1

“Now you see- sandy little roach-” said Error, shaking the dirty Sans, bits of sand fell off his clothes. “You've gone and released my friend somewhere I can't reach. You're in very V E R Y big trouble.”

“Released, eh? He said he was abandoned. You don't seem like ya were being a very good friend,” the Sans tilted his brow.

Error released the Sans from the strings, letting him fall before catching his limbs in new bonds. “How freaking rude! You're the one coming into my space stealing my things. What are you supposed to be anyway?” said Error, floating down behind him. Tentatively, he grabbed the dirty Sans's elytron, lifting them to observe the golden wings. At first, he had the idea to rip them off to torture him- but the touch sent a wave of calm over Error. His expression softened- the ERROR signs around him vanished.

“I-I'm a fae!” said the Sans. “Besides- maybe I can be ya friend instead!”

“You?” said Error before he laughed. “Now, now, that's not how friendship works. You can't just offer to replace someone.”

“M-Maybe! But unlike ya other friend, I can consent! Ya can't trap me here in the Anti-Void like ya did him. Wouldn't ya rather have a real friendship? Someone who can willingly come and go?”

Error  zoned out a moment. The wings buzzed before Error let go, swinging the Sans around to face him. “You're trying to trick me. You think if I let you go you'd return? Given you already know my reputation, I have no reason to trust you.”

The dirty Sans gave a cheeky grin. “Ah, that wasn't a no. Sounds to me ya do want a friend! Think I can do a better job than Ink?”

Error growled- he wanted to be upset at the mention of that annoyance. But for some reason he just... couldn't. What was with this guy? Why couldn't he feel angry like he normally did? “... How can I trust you?”

The Sans shrugged. “Give ya my word as a scoundrel!”

“... Ugh whatever. I want to be mad, but-” said Error, before he gave a wide grin, releasing the Sans from the strings. “Get out. Before I change my mind. If you don't return- I swear, I will hunt you down and-”

“KAY THANKS BYE!” said the dirty Sans, a portal opened under him as he dropped through, vanishing completely.

Error blinked. With the Sans gone, his mood boil over again. “B A S T A R D!”

Little Talks – 2

Error spent several days fuming. That roach- he couldn't trust anyone! Why'd he let that damn anomaly free!? He should have killed him!

It sent the glitchy Sans on a rampage, running through the edges of the multiverse, destroying anomalies and AUs freshly sprung from the ether. He wouldn't bother giving them a chance. His rage overtook him, keeping him moving until exhaustion finally emerged.

Error hopped into a random AU at Waterfall. Now he just felt numb. Sitting among the tall grass and the echo flowers, he laid down to take a nap. Before unconsciousness, he swore he'd find that dirty Sans and take revenge.

However, Error found his sleep far more restful than usual. He dreamed of stars, wide open fields, a cool breeze and the sound of the ocean. When he awoke, a pair of golden eyes stared down at him. That dirty Sans.

“AHH!” Error screamed, rolling away and to his feet. He began pulling strings from his eyes. “YOU!”

The Sans blinked, then smiled, before holding up a bottle of whiskey. “Tada! I'm back, see! As promised.”

“Wha-what...” It left Error dumbfounded. He- did he really come back willingly? “ERR, if you were coming back why'd you leave like that!?”

The Sans chuckled and stood. “Didn't want ya to change ya mind.”

Error felt... suddenly flustered, a blush on his cheekbones.

“Ah! Ya think too much. Besides, ya seem fun. I brought the booze. Don't worry, I'll drink first, so ya see it ain't poisoned,” said the fae, whispering the last part before twisting off the cap. He took a long, hardy drink, one: making Error wonder how damn much this guy could drink, and two: “H-HEY! Don't drink it all! Wasn't that for me?!”

The fae Sans stopped after half the bottle was emptied. Error snatched it away- there was that calm feeling again. Ah, fuck it. Error lifted the bottle, attempting to drink the rest in one go. Damn this shit burned- good shit. Maybe... this friendship could be useful after all...

Error threw the empty bottle aside and forced himself to stand straight. “Alright then... anomaly number... fuck, what do I call you?”

“Well, ya can't call me Sans so... How about Sandy? That works.”

“Sandy, ah... okay,” said Error, feeling the alcohol hit. “So ah.... wanna check out this AU?”

“Sure!” said Sandy, cheerfully with a yellow blush.

Little Talks – 3

Error's first memory after trotting off would be waking in a cellar, covered in the smell of wine with his golden roach sleeping in an empty barrel nearby.

A door opened, pouring in light, making Error squint. He sat up, observing someone in a white robes approach. Someone without a face.

Wait, who was this? Rubbing his skull, it took a moment to recognize the invisible monster. “River Person?”

“How do you know my name?” they spoke softly and curiously.

THUMP! “Ow!” said Sandy, bumping his head inside the barrel.

Error stumbled to his feet. “Why are you in New Home? You're not supposed to be here...”

Sandy hiccuped as he used the barrel as support. “It's a- Swap AU.”

“Is there a reason I shouldn't be here? It is you two who shouldn't be the Queen's cellar drinking sacramental wine.”

“Ah, it is a Swap,” Error folded his arms, “But sacramental wine? Since when has Tori drank wine?”

“Suppose the 'sacramental' implies it's for ritual,” Sandy held up a finger.

“Indeed, but who are you two?” River asked.

But Error wasn't willing to submit control of the conversation. “If you're here, that means you're the royal scientist, and WingDings is the ferryman. Correct?”

“Royal scientist? I suppose-” a gloved hand raised to the hood. “You could describe it that way. I'm Mother River, the High Priestess.”

“High Priestess? Like- a nun?” Error's brow tilted.

“I think I remember, these monsters are highly religious,” said Sandy, coming to stand beside Error.

“Great, zealots. Just what I need,” Error rolled his eyes before pulling blue strings. “Well, time to delete this one too.”

“Whoa, wait, wait- Error!” said Sandy, moving to stand between them. “You're just going to destroy it? Just like that? Don't you want to see more of what this world is about?”

“It doesn't matter what it's about. It's already too different from the original. The real world. It doesn't deserve to exist.” Damn it. Error got a sickening feeling in his gut, and it wasn't from the alcohol. Was his new friend going to stand in the way of his work?

“You're from another world...” Mother River spoke softly.

Little Talks – 4

“Congratulations, you have the mental capacity for context clues. Now, you have one minute to tell me your last words.”

“Error, don't!” said Sandy, looking frantically between them. “Please, not now, not with me- I don't want to see this... Please, let's just go.”

Well... at the very least Sandy wasn't saying not to destroy the AU. Just not  now. With a deep breath, Error let the strings fade and relaxed his shoulders. He didn't want this dirty AU to exist... but he also didn't want to lose the potential for a real friend. He folded his arms and looked away. “Fine, let's go. But I'll be back later, Mother River. So be prepared.”

Passing through one of his portals, Error and Sandy returned to the Anti-Void. Luckily, Sandy seemed eager to put the incident behind them, settling for snacks and spying on the drama of various AUs.

After Sandy left, Error would pull open a window to spy on that Swap AU. Maybe he would give this one a chance, taking time to examine it's code. How interesting- this world was on a trajectory to disappear on it's own.

Gaster was childless, and would remain so. Which meant there would be no Sans and no Papyrus. Chara would kill everyone before the ghost of Frisk wiped them out. No resets, no mercy. Well, this could be interesting to watch. For once, someone else was doing his job for him.

“Error, can you hear me?” It was Mother River. Error had caught her praying in her private chambers. “I await your return. I wish to bargain. Clearly you disapprove of us. How might we please you?”

They were praying to him? Like some kind of god or saint. Flustered, Error changed his view elsewhere. But curiosity got the better of him. Several nights he returned his view to Mother River, to see how she might beg his aid.

She never failed to mention him, no matter what she'd been praying for that day. Perhaps this AU could be interesting after all. Maybe he could have a  little fun with it. Besides, it was doomed to stop existing eventually.

Weeks after his first visit, Error returned, entering Mother River's room as she prayed. He folded his arms and huffed. “A bargain, is it? Tell me, what could you possibly offer that I would care to have?”

River stood. “So, I was not dreaming... Are you a god? Or a devil?”

“Ah-ah,” Error waved a finger. “I'm asking the questions.”

“I will give anything, my soul, my morality; I will sacrifice my own people if it means saving my world.”

Little Talks – 5

Error rubbed his chin. So they had the cut-throat mentality of many Gasters... “Survival at all cost? Truth is I'm not the one you need to be worried about. If I destroy this world or not, it was programmed to die. In 19 years, a human will come who can not be stopped. They will slaughter your people before this world is deleted.”

“Programmed? Do you mean God's will?”

Error laughed and waved his hand. “God? Goodness, no. Well... to be honest I don't really know- who or what programs the AUs. Who ever it is, they've gotten on my nerves, creating all these anomalies...” Pacing the room, Error contemplated. “Say... if there is something behind these abominations, and it does will this world to die- I wonder if I defied that will... I could destroy this AU any time, but-”

Looking back at River, he gave a soft growl. “Maybe I could make an exception. I wonder if this world could be made to survive...”

“Then you will help me?” River's hood tilted.

“Perhaps. Let's see if you can be as ruthless in action as you are in words,” Error gave a devilish grin.

He'd go on to explain to Mother River how far gone their world had become. All across the underground hung a blinding white from above, which had been there since the beginning. “That white is the Anti-Void. Even if you break the barrier, your people will have no where to go.”

And so, he instructed Mother River on things to be done to make their AU more in line with the Classic. And the primary missing pieces were Sans and Papyrus. Stealing the experiment notes from a world called Handplates, Error brought these to Mother River. He'd also show them how to summon data screens like him, so they could learn how other AUs were constructed. After all, he had no intention of holding their hand through the entire process.

This would remain Error's little secret. No one needed to know there was an AU he was protecting, let alone trying to save. Over time, things went on as usual. He'd encounter Ink and Dream, attempting to stop him from doing what he does. This lead to battles, usually ending with himself or the others fleeing before any fatal harm was done.

One day, coming back from his Fellswap AU, he ran face first into Ink.

“Ink. Leave,” Error growled, not in the mood.

“No, wait! This is actually important! Error, you're a dad!”

Little Talks – 6

Error stared blankly as Ink posed, a wide grin and making jazz hands.

“.... What?” He had to have misheard that, right?

“So- it turns out, my tattoos, when hit by certain magic- are be able to create life, under the right circumstances. And after the past couple of fights we've had, it seems like we ended up... creating... something...” said Ink, before pulling up a phone, showing Ink taking a selfie with Dream, who awkwardly held a skeleton baby in his arms... with black bones.

“... W H A T ! ?” Error hissed, his shoulders going tense. He could already feel a crash coming on. “YOU- DID YOU- YOU MADE A BABY BETWEEN US!?”

“Welllll, not exactly. I just sorta... helped it survive. And actually, there's two babies. Surprise!” said Ink, showing an updated picture with a second child, also with black bones. “So, Dream thought it was best I come over and ask if you wanted to meet them. And that you wouldn't like, murder them...”

“NO! GOD DAMN IT, INK-!” said Error, before his vision went dark and his body went into a full crash, taking several moments to reboot. Ink waited the whole while until Error came back to his senses. “No! Keep those filfthy glitches away from me! If I see them, I'll make them unexist!”

“Oh... Hmm...” Ink frowned. “Well, can't say I didn't try. See ya later... I guess...” he said, before splashing a paint portal down and leaping into it.

Error was not well. For the next several hours he spent pacing in his spot in the Anti-Void, thoughts racing. Ink was a nuisance for sure- one he wished he could get rid of. However- he never thought his rival would stoop to something this low.

Sandy appeared, as if knowing his friend was in distress. He barely got out a word before Error- “WHY WOULD HE DO THIS!? I FEEL- SO DISGUSTING- HUMILIATED- INK MADE TWO KIDS BETWEEN US, AS IF I'D WANT-”

“Whoa, whoa, Error, deep breaths. Let's sit down... Tell me exactly what Ink told ya...” said Sandy, always seeming to know what to do.

Talking things through, Sandy helped Error to see that Ink didn't help these children survive to spite him. Simply that Error had a right to know they existed and if he wanted to be apart of their lives.

“I didn't consent to this...” said Error, head hung and curled up.

Sandy took a deep breath, shoulders slump. “No, ya didn't. So, ya in every right to not be involved. But... Are ya so sure you don't want to be?”

Little Talks – 7

“Of course not! Me, a father? Let alone to those abominations!”

“Ya never thought about being a parent? Hm, well, guess I never thought much about it either...”

Error looked up, tilting his brow. “Well that's normal... wait, I don't think I ever asked if you had a partner...”

A yellow blush, Sandy held up his hands. “Oh! Yes! I do. He's a little... crazy sometimes, very energetic and a little immature but... I love him just the same.”

The glitchy Sans's brow tilted in curiosity. “You're gay?”

“Hehe... Yeah well... let's talk about something else, get ya mind off this whole thing...” Sandy chuckled nervously.

In any case, Ink and Error chose their battles carefully. The existence of Paper Jam and Gradient- Error attempted to put behind him. But it didn't stop Ink from bringing them up whenever he got overly excited.

“I don't want to hear about it,” Error begrudgingly reminded him.

A few times Error caught sight of the children. Ink was intent on showing them around the multiverse, and training them to protect AUs. The few times Error spotted the three of them together, he relented to let them be. It was better that than risk catching... feelings...

One day, the two young boys had gone off on their own adventure. Error picked up on their code, seeing that no guardian was with them... Curious, he followed. Into one of the AUs, they jumped in during a genocide route.

Error shrugged. If they got killed, that was two less things he had to worry about. But... he wasn't the best at keeping secrets. Knowing Ink, he'd eventually ply the truth out of him - that Error watched his sons get killed and didn't to stop it. “Ah... damn it...”

He followed, catching and hanging them in his strings out of sight. The boys protested, but Error shushed them- before showing them the human on a murder spree. “Didn't Ink teach you to check the code before entering an AU? You'd be dead if not for me.”

He'd take them back to the Anti-Void and sent a text to Ink. Error watched over them at a distance before dipping as soon as Ink arrived.

Thank you, Error, read the text message he received afterward.

He couldn't remember Ink ever thanking him. Damn, Ink really loved those kids. And as Error feared, he started to care a little too...

Little Talks – 8

But for Error, he felt it was too late to be involved. Even if he tried, it meant spending more time around Ink, something he wasn't sure he wanted. So Error occupied himself with the usual and his secret Fellswap.

Mother River kidnapped WingDings and forced the creation of six children. But as Error predicted, only Papyrus and Sans survived. He'd bring to Mother River knowledge of powerful weapons to increase their defenses... But would it be enough to stop a human child with the power of RESET...?

In the following years, his friend Sandy also had an incident involving a surprise child. Error couldn't help but feel involved, understanding Sandy's distress.  “I didn't think skeletons could accidentally have children- that is until I met Ink. At least I'm not the only one... So, you going to take the boy or...?”

“Of course... I didn't think it could happen either. We got in a fight and he grabbed me... I pushed him back with my magic and it... just happened. I... I'm taking responsibility for the child...”

“Eh... I expected you would...” Obviously it made Error think of his own absence from Paper Jam and Gradient but... he was grateful Sandy didn't bring it up. Despite the accident, Sandy seemed proud to raise his son.

Though Error and his roach would remain close, Sandy spoke of another man in his life that he'd grown fond of- and eventually married.

Sandy always kept these things vague. Error knew why, as he was the ultimate destroyer. Still, he couldn't help his jealousy. Difficult to deny he had affection for Sandy, but, it was nice to know his friend found happiness.

Sandy would have a daughter too. And unlike the annoyance Error felt when Ink spoke of their kids, there was less pressure when listening to Sandy. His words of joy and admiration filled Error's soul with warmth.

“They're da best kids in da whole multiverse...” said the roach before passing out by the fire they built on an asteroid in Outertale. Error covered him in a blanket and set to lay down as well.

A subtle pain returned. The pain of knowing that Sandy would never truly trust him- never enough to meet his family. All he'd ever know of that life was the look in his friend's eyes. He didn't want to sleep. Sleep meant that when he woke, Sandy would be gone. And he was, once again. But this time, Sandy wouldn't return for many months- which was unusual.

Little Talks – Page 9

Not only that, but he hadn't run across Dream or Ink in sometime. Error kept to his usual business- until Ink set upon him as he ate a burger and fries.

“Go away,” he said in a calm monotone. Though, it never worked, it had practically becomes his greeting for the artist Sans.

“Hey, Error, you busy?” said Ink, coming and leaning over him.

Error stared at Ink while shoving the burger in his mouth. Not another word as he chewed. Figured that would be a good enough answer.

“Good!” Ink sat beside him and stole a fry. In the beginning Error would attack Ink for this, but he'd gotten so used to it, seeing it coming. “Actually, I need your help.”

Seemed a good enough opportunity ignore Ink as Error continued to watch a Let's Play of an obscure Russian survival horror game.

“So Dream and I could use your help. There's an AU called Moontale that's pouring a lot of negative energy, and it's polluting other AUs around it. Even the survivors who make it to the Omega Time-”

“I don't care,” Error groaned.

Ink sat up, his face close to Error's, “You will. Because Nightmare is behind it. And if he gets control of Moontale, he'll have enough power to take the whole multiverse. And I think you'd much rather have Dream and I as your enemy.”

The look on Ink's face- he wasn't joking, nor could Error deny Nightmare terrified him. Reluctantly, he agreed, following Ink into Moontale.

Dream and Cross were surprised to see him, but Error insisted he was only there for backup if things got bad.

Well, they got bad. Cross and Epic were both killed in a full scale battle, Nightmare with an army of dark fae and witches, Dream with his own army and volunteers from Omega.

The night before, Sandy had appeared to Error, begging him to be safe and to use the protective magic he'd taught him over the years.

Error would cast the spells Sandy taught it, and would be the one to take on Nightmare's most powerful witch near the end. He barely won, having to bluff his exhaustion until she fled.

Although Nightmare would retreat, the witches remained, preventing Dream from securing the AU. Error would return to his refuge in Outertale, exhausted and ready to put the whole incident behind him.

Little Talks – Page 10

Having seen Sandy in Moontale, he expected an visit from his friend soon. Error waited on their asteroid, wasting hours tinkering with old tech to occupy himself. He wouldn't easily admit how faithfully devoted he felt.

He'd stolen a spaceship, repairing it- anything to keep his mind from thoughts of abandonment. But Sandy did appear again. “Error...”

Error turned to see his friend's arms wrapped around himself, his face dark. He'd been crying.

“Sandy!?” Dropping his tools he rushed to his friend, nearly cupping his face in his hands. He'd never seen Sandy upset before, “What happened?”

Golden eyes slowly rose to meet his before more tears fell. He raised his hands, seeming uncertain what to do.

“... Nightmare... Nightmare killed my husband...”

“W-what? Sandy I- I'm so sorr-”

The fae Sans wrapped his arms around Error, weeping. If it were anyone else Error might have squirmed away. But instead, he embraced his friend tightly. “I'm sorry... I promise, I'll always be here for you...”

The older Error became, the faster the years passed. He grew relaxed, less prone to anger. Unfortunately, his little Fellswap experiment failed. A human with enough Determination couldn't be stopped. Before the world completely crumbled, he returned to find Papyrus, just on the edge of death.

It'd be a shame, putting in all that work to result in nothing. He'd leave Papyrus, wrapped in strings in the Anti-Void so he could be taken to Omega. As for what remained of the AU, Error sensed Mother River there- still working away on something. He let it be, telling himself to check it later.

Another day, another AU. This time a Handplates derivative. Aside from the incomplete code, Error found a new entity that hadn't been there before. A third skeleton child, forgotten by Gaster, left to die in one of the tanks.

It was then Error knew the years had changed him. An immense pity for the creature came over him. Removing her from the tank, he wrapped her in warm towels, taking her back to his home to see if she'd survive. In his distraction, he destroyed the AU and continued on his way.

The girl survived, and grew healthier than expected. Without a lower jaw, Error taught her sign language and named her Cambria. But having a father as a destroyer wouldn't be good for any child. He planned to find a new home for her eventually... and couldn't help but think of the two sons he did have...