Papyrus watches the shapes Sans traces during the truncated explanation, rather than watch the side of his brother's head. He doesn't know what Sans means, not really. It doesn't occur to him that widespread death and destruction or personal tragedies might have been involved. Not back in the underground, where people were made of magic and compassion, and it was rare you heard of anything as bad as serious bullying. And yet, and yet.

"That should all sound crazy, but... it doesn't," he admits. "You were here for months before me. They said, on the ship, something about time distortions? I didn't pay them much mind! But now I know, weird time things can happen! And..."

Reading the same books over and over, living his life in a very regimented and scheduled way... that was one thing. But there were still surprises, as frustrating as they could be. Still new things that came into his life. If it felt like nothing was a surprise, if everything was just what he already expected... That would be enough to make almost anybody as apathetic as his brother.

"I do remember you stopped... being serious about anything." It had hurt, and he'd worried, wondering if Sans had changed or if he'd always been that way. Maybe, now, he was getting the answer. "You quit your job, and lazed around the house. At least until I told you to join me in the sentries! And you made bad food and worse jokes, but... you didn't seem to want anything anymore."