It's been nearly six months since the monsters broke the barrier and moved out alongside humans. There was a lot of panic when they first surfaced. Suddenly, these things of myth weren't just myths anymore. They're living, sentient beings that want to be given a chance just like everyone else. Maybe it was their calm demeanor that kept us humans from lashing out violently at them. Or maybe it was because they surfaced with a human child that wasn't afraid of them. Either way, they slowly started working their way into the city. Thanks to that adorable child ambassador named Frisk, monsters were starting to gain a little acceptance. The neighborhoods and shops near Mt. Ebott, those that were typically of lower income, were the first to accept monsters rather than turn them away. Since you lived a little closer to the heart of the city, your life wasn't altered all that much by their appearance. It was as if they were still myths. Every so often you would hear hushed whispers that some monsters tried coming further in only to be driven back by the Anti Monster gangs that started to plague the city, but you had never seen one. Certainly never dreamed of working alongside one, either. But fate is a mysterious thing.

—

The professors and other graduate students you work with are usually really nice people. The atmosphere of the Chemistry floor is always really relaxed and filled with laughter. It was something you had grown accustomed to. So when you stepped through the doors of the office and were met with loud voices and angry tones, you were pretty confused and maybe even a little frightened. For a moment you stood there trying to decipher what the professors are going on about. Did someone get fired? No, maybe there was an accident in the lab that caused some research to be lost. That certainly was something that could cause all this tension.

You're drawn from your wandering thoughts by Dr. Lloyd. He seems to be the most angry of the bunch, and his voice is quick to drown out the others. "I can't believe the president would stand for it! To think, those things working along side real scientists. It's disrespectful and sickening," he hisses, rubbing at his temples. A few of the other professors are quick to murmur their agreements before the door on the other side of the office opens suddenly. When the department chair, Dr. Wickman, walks out of his office everyone stops talking immediately. He gazes out at everyone before saying, "You all have work to do, or classes to teach. Go do your jobs."

With that, everyone scatters until it's just you, the secretary, and Dr. Wickman. He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose before motioning for you to follow him into his office. When you're both seated you finally ask the question that's been eating at you. "Dr. Wickman, what was all that about?"

"Well, there's changes taking place here on campus. Some new faculty have been hired that several of the professors, led Dr. Lloyd, don't think should be allowed to work here," he replies slowly. "The university's president has decided that we need to stay by our promise to be an equal opportunity institution. So, the Physics and Engineering departments have each hired a monster."

"That's great!" you reply, honestly happy that the monsters have managed to take another step towards full equality. "I don't understand why people would be upset, though. We can probably learn quite a bit from them! You know, I've been thinking that maybe-"

"Calm down!" Dr. Wickman chuckles, relaxing in his seat. "I'm glad to hear that you are not a biggot. I agree, we could learn a lot from monsters if we work alongside them. Which is why I was going to ask if you'd be willing to hand off the research you're currently working on in exchange for starting a brand new project. One that's entirely your own, mind you. Our department was asked to come up with a research project pertaining to monster magic, and I had no one better in mind to take the job than you."

There's silence as you sit there in utter shock, with your mouth hanging open ever so slightly. This is the chance of a lifetime! Not only would you get to sate your personal curiosity about monsters, but you would also get to finally work on something that came form your own mind. The days of being a glorified lab assistant were now behind you. You couldn't say 'yes' fast enough!

—

As you walk down the halls of the Physics department, you can't help but giggle at the butterflies fluttering around in your stomach. 'It's finally happening,' you think happily to yourself. 'I'm about to meet a real monster! And a nerdy one, at that!' You were excited, yes, but also very nervous. You didn't want to come off as an insensitive jerk, but at the same time you couldn't wait to learn any and everything about monsters. You hoped that you and the monster would get along, which would make working together so much easier.

Your excitement died down quickly, however, when you couldn't locate the monster. He (or was it a she?) was nowhere to be seen in the Physics building, and none of the people you asked had been helpful. You spent nearly an hour wandering the halls, looking for any sign of the monster. By the time you gave up, it was about a quarter after noon. With a frustrated sigh you decided to go ahead and go get lunch before trying to find the monster again.

The campus cafeteria was usually bursting with people since the food wasn't half bad, not to mention is was conveniently placed almost directly in the middle of campus, but you noticed that one corner seemed void of life. It was a section that was tucked away partially by a wall, but still visible enough for you to tell it was empty. Since you were filled with curiosity, once you had your meal you made your way to the section. Just as you rounded the wall you saw why no one was over here, and it filled you with both excitement and anger.

There was what looked to be a skeletal monster sitting at one of the small tables. You couldn't see much since they had their back turned to you, but the white skull was confirmation enough. After getting over your initial shock you walked over to the table, and stood so that you were looking down at the monster. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" you ask just as they look up from their burger.

The monster was rather comical looking, you had to admit. It's bones weren't the size of a typical human's, instead they were a little thicker, and it's skull bore a wider grin than you could have imagined. You noticed that when you asked permission to sit down, it's smile seemed to widen fractionally.

"Not at all," a low, baritone-like voice replied. You smiled and slid into the seat opposite him, before offering up your hand in greetings. "Thanks! My name's (y/n)." He shook your hand, and you were surprised to find his bones warm. They felt just like the bones of that one skeleton model you studied in high school, but instead of being cold they gave off some warmth.

When he replied, "My name's Sans," you were shocked to see that his mouth didn't move from it's smile. It was like his voice just manifested out of nowhere! 'How fascinating,' you thought to yourself as you started to eat your meal. "So," you started after a moment of silence, "which department were you hired for?"

He seems taken back for a second, his grin lowering at the corners before perking back up. "The Physics department. I'm going to be shadowing an adjunct for now. But how would you know that, if you don't mind me asking."

"I'm a graduate student in the Chemistry department. In fact, I was looking for you earlier! Our department chairs wanted us to get together on a research project," you say excitedly. His.. brow bones? scrunch together for a second before relaxing back into an amused look.

"A graduate student, hu? No offense kid, but I seriously thought you were an undergrad." he chuckles before picking up a fry, and plopping it in his mouth. You're silent for a split second as you watch his teeth separate, and then the fry disappear into the blackness that is his mouth, before you think of a reply.

You place a hand over your heart and feign a hurt look, "I'm insulted! Whatever would make you think that?" Of course, you knew why he made that assumption. You had graduated high school early, and by extension college. You had turned twenty just before getting accepted into graduate school. Needless to say, you looked as if you should still be an undergrad.

"You have way too much energy to be older than twenty. Even though you're dressed nice, you still look like a teenager. And… You have such an innocent look about you. Like you haven't seen how fucked up this world is quite yet," he mumbles before lapsing into silence.

You clear your throat before attempting to break the awkward silence. You blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. "Well, I try to think like a proton and stay positive." When he doesn't say anything, you look up from the table to see him staring at you with wide (well, wider) eyes. You're about to apologize for your terrible science joke when he bursts out laughing. When he leans his head back, still roaring with laughter, you can't help but feel accomplished.

He recovers from his laugher within seconds, and wipes a small, blue tear from he corner of his eye before replying, "You know, I don't usually make chemistry jokes since I'm afraid I wont get a reaction, but I'll make an exception for you." You giggle at his pun, honestly already enjoying his company. It seems like the two of you are going to become great friends. He stops chuckling to try and look at you sternly while saying, "But seriously kid, I'm warning you. I make bad science puns periodically." It's your turn to double over in laughter, to which he follows suit. The tense moment from early is forgotten as you toss puns back and forth for awhile. But alas, you both had to get back to work. Before you two go your opposite ways, you ask to switch contact information, of which he seems more than happy to do. As you walk towards the Chemistry department, you can't keep the spring out of your step or the smile off your face.