HoPe
The walk to the library is long and grueling, not to Papyrus or Undyne obviously, but more so then it should be because of lack of sleep. As you walk, although the area you’re going through is scarcely populated, you still feel the stares of all the passersby on you. It seems everyone else does too, except Papyrus thankfully, and the conversations going on between your group seem to dwindle and quiet.
The group finally reaches the library in town, a small place with a large “LIBRARY” sign plastered on the front (you notice it’s actually spelled right). A quick glance in the large windows that take up the majority of the front side shows you there’s not many people in there. That’s good. Asgore probably set something up so there wouldn’t be many people around today.
As you walk in, there’s a lady to greet you at the door, with a strained smile and trying not to make any visible flinch at your appearance. Yeah, Asgore definitely set something up. She greets you rather kindly, and then shows you all to the computers. You come upon a long table with eight computers, and you snag a seat between Toriel and Undyne, while Papyrus seems adamant on getting the seat across from you for some reason, so he ends up sitting next to Alphys.
Everyone else settles in quite quickly and starts to fiddle with the new technology of the computers. Since the Underground had limited resources, the older models of computers that were accessed by monsters before the barrier were adjusted differently then the humans. Humans designed sleeker, stylish devices, while the Underground went in a different direction; bulkier, rougher looking devices that had different intentions then what the humans had.
Sooner rather then later, everyone eventually figures out the basics of working the computer and exploring the internet, of course with a little help from the lady who greeted you earlier. You had already used the computers before, in a different timeline, and you know how they work and how humans have a bunch of weird crap online. Why not look at some of that?
Some time passes, and it seems everyone has found the type of job they want to look for, or at least from what you can tell. You can’t see Papyrus or Alphys’ screen, but knowing Alphys, she’s looking into something that involves science or engineering. Papyrus, on the other hand, seems to be completely fixated on something on his screen. Maybe he found out how many types of pasta there is on the surface? Or maybe he found a model of the red convertible he always wanted?
You should probably start looking for something like a job, so Papyrus isn’t even more disappointed in you then he already is. But what do you look for? Maybe look up some things humans need help with for odd jobs, and how to advertise. You’re probably not actually going to do any of that, or actually GET to do any of that, depending on when this is all RESET.
You notice Papyrus silently ask Alphys something, then they both get up and head somewhere. Nobody else notices, and it’s not really your business to follow them, so you just get back to what you are doing.
You eventually become bored however, and decide to take a look at the books in the library. You head over to the science section, which is surprisingly big for how small the library is. You used to love science, and still do, but ever since… him …you just can’t find it in yourself to actually pursue it. That, and the RESETS that came soon after. You can’t fathom how difficult it would be to do days and days of research over and over because all the progress you made was RESET. So yeah. No science for you.
You skim through the binds of all the books, and are about to grab a book about astronomy, when you hear a shout from the aisle next to yours.
“One HP!?”
That’s definitely Alphys, and unless there’s some other random monster her or Papyrus know about that has 1 HP, they’re talking about you. Probably about your breakdown this morning. Great. Now Alphys knows how messed up you are too. You’re just failing overall, which happens to be something you do a lot.
“S-sorry, it just used to be s-so much higher.” Alphys says, more quietly this time.
“It’s okay! I don’t know how you used to know what Sans’ HP was, but it definitely was once much higher. I don’t know how that happened. I didn’t even know HP could go down until Sans’ did.”
Papyrus is also trying to keep his voice down you realize. Considerate, because you’re in a library, but considering the discussion at hand, that’s probably not the only reason.
You decide to stick around a little longer, now that you are sure they are talking about you, and pretend to focus on looking at the titles of books incase anyone walks by and sees you. You probably shouldn’t be listening, Papyrus didn’t tell you to come for a reason, but being the annoying thing you are, you stay anyways. You really shouldn’t be listening.
“W-well, as you know, young monsters start out with very low HP, as well as ATK and DEF.”
Papyrus nods so Alphys continues, “As they g-grow, the stats become higher. Each different type of monster has a different cap, t-that is to say, a certain number that they reach without any effort necessary. Usually, the HP, ATK, and DEF are completely different number depending on the t-type of monster. F-from there, the monster can continue to train to up their stats, l-like you and Undyne. Most monsters chose not to because it requires a lot of effort to up the cap stats. Training for the ATK and DEF by sparring, or other exercises, c-can increase ATK and DEF. However, most people who train have a very strong willpower and hope for the future because of their strengths. This leads into the HP. HP or HoPe, is a c-combination of both physical training, and actual hope. If you take you and Undyne for example again, both of y-you guys have high HoPe. This is because of both training, and the fact that both of you g-guys had high hopes for the future. You both believed in your capabilities of doing good for others, and that having a positive impact on the future. If that makes sense?”
Papyrus nods again, but more hesitantly, seeming as if he is trying hard tograsp the concept entirely.
“W-well Asgore and Toriel also have high stats for entirely different purposes. Boss monsters are born with a very high cap, seeing as they are so powerful. N-now we move onto why stats decrease. You can’t lose ATK or DEF based on lack of training or effort, or a-anything like that. T-the only way those decrease is if your HoPe decreases first. U-usually, HoPe only decreases after a sudden traumatic experience, or a very long drawn out time of losing hope. L-losing HP is when you lose hope for the future. Losing HoPe also decreases the other stats because your will is weakened. Now, if we go back to Sans, you s-said his ATK and DEF were also one, right?”
“Yes”
“So his HoPe would explain h-how his ATK and DEF got so weak. But t-the question is how his HoPe got so low. Do you remember if it dropped suddenly or it slowly decreased?”
“Well, it’s actually happened on more than one occasion.” Papyrus says sheepishly. “The first time was when I was still young, and I know that his stats were slowly going down, but I don’t know why. I know there was something… Something important happened…” Papyrus gives a frustrated huff, “I should remember! If it’s that important that Sans started losing HP! Right?!”
‘Yeah’, you think bitterly, ‘But nobody remembers.’
“Well, I don’t know about that, b-but I do know that HoPe dropping slowly usually means the person has been struggling with something for a very long time. W-whatever happened that you don’t remember, was probably the cause of his HoPe dropping. What happened next?”
“W-well,” Papyrus starts, clearly still frustrated with the fact that he can’t remember, “His stats were steadily low for a while. I think it was a five for everything. But, suddenly, this one day comes where I see him, and he just looks tired, and his stats have dropped to one.”
Ah. The day that damn flower gained Determination. It seemed like you had changed over night to Papyrus. But unbeknownst to him, you had actually lived that one day, over and over again, until that flower finally decided to let the timeline get further then a DAY. When he started experimenting with people for weeks on end, then going back to his last SAVE. Just because he was bored. You don’t blame Alphys for that, hell you were even working on that as a side project at one point. She wouldn’t have known about the dust on the flowers.
“T-that probably means there was a traumatic experience that happened, a-and it seems really bad, since b-because of it, he l-lost almost all hope for the future. D-do you have any idea w-what happened?”
“I have no idea…”
Papyrus seems really upset about it, and you want to tell him that it isn’t his fault, and that you’re just messed up, and that you can’t fix what’s already broken. But you’re not even supposed to be listening to this conversation, so you just keep your comments to yourself.
Speaking of not supposed to be listening to this conversation, you should probably leave. The conversation seems to be drawing to an end anyway. You grab the astronomy book you originally set your eyes on, and head back to where Toriel and Undyne are, still at the computers.
You start to feel guilty on the way back. That really wasn’t for you to listen to. Papyrus didn’t invite you for a reason. He spoke quietly for a reason. God, you’re so stupid. Can’t you see when you’re not supposed to be somewhere? And especially since Papyrus didn’t want you to hear what he was saying.
“Sa-Subject 1. What are you doing?”
His voice is cold and hard, sending a shiver down your spine. You shakily stand up from your supposedly good hiding place, behind the metal table used for your examinations. You just wanted to listen about what he was talking about with Asgore.
He places his phone on the counter behind him, and marches over to you, clearly angry with how you eavesdropped. There’s no use in explaining yourself. You messed up and there’s no way out of this. You’re going to be punished.
“I though you were smart.”
Again, the voice is so sharp that you quiver in your place, frozen with fear.
“You even worked with me in the la-“
He cuts himself off and sighs. You know he doesn’t like talking about the past, because he knows he changed from who he used to be.
“You know what? Never mind. You’re obviously incompetent, trying to listen in on my conversation. Did you think you would have gotten away with this?”
Again, he is met by your silence. If you even tried to speak right now, you don’t think you could form proper words.
“I suppose punishment is necessary. Go get Subject 2.”
You mumble under your breath, “no.”
“What was that?”
“i said no! don’t hurt Papyrus!”
You gain more confidence in your ability to speak. You would’ve complied had it been you being punished, but if Papyrus was brought into it… No way.
“Are you telling me what to do? Since when did that happen?”
His voice is oozing with coldness, mocking you for your pathetic attempt at stopping him from what he wants to do. But Papyrus is worth protecting.
“take me instead. don’t hurt Papyrus!”
“I suppose… but only if you take a double dosage of the norm. Otherwise we’ll have to start P-Subject 2 on it-“
You cut him off before he even finishes his sentence. “i’ll do it.”
There’s no way you’re making Papyrus take it. He could be bluffing but your not taking the chance. A double dosage is going to hurt like hell, and will probably be an OD, but it’s worth it to protect Papyrus.
“Fine then. Get on the table.”
He opens a draw and starts preparing the needle filled with the electrifying red of Determination. Then he turns to you and gives you a fake and hollow grin.
“This is what happens when you listen in on someone else’s conversation.”