Argsvh how did flowey find out sans regresses too? Was it a case of sans trying it out after he learned flowey did it or was he doing it with paps before that? Caregiver papyrus is everything to me :)
He was doing it before! Neither brother knew (or still know) what age regression actually is, but Papyrus had long since learned the tells that something was off with a person. He has a kind of ‘regressor sixth sense’ like that. Generally when Sans regressed he would get some specific treatment, like being excused from sentry duties or (unfortunately?) eating his brother’s food instead of going to Grillby’s. As you can glean, Sans is a very tired regressor. He also regresses pretty young, just barely reaching 4-5.
Flowey was also regressing before, but it wasn’t…very happy. He was not having a nice time, especially since no one but Papyrus and his mother officially knew of his existence in a lot of timelines, and the latter brought back bad memories. Mostly he unwillingly regressed alone (and would usually just cry) near the entrance to the RUINS. Flowey’s always a pouty crybaby, no matter how old he regresses. Partially due to trauma, partially due to the fact that he refuses to do so any other time. Crying is stupid and for the sentimental, which he is not.
But eventually Flowey slips up and regresses near Snowdin. Papyrus notices something is wrong, since his friend in uncharacteristically terrified and soft-spoken, so he scoops him up to take him back to his house (I’m actually writing a fic about this). Once there, Sans is all “diversity lose! The guy you hate most is also a regressor!” with extreme reluctance. As time goes on, Sans and Flowey’s bond shifts due to their proximity with Papyrus and the fact that their regressed selves…don’t really care about what bad blood they might have. Though they still tease each other (Flowey despises thinking of them as siblings when regressed).
So now Papyrus has two littles instead of one! Though there are difficult days, considering the massive amounts of bottled trauma from each, he still likes doing it. And taking care of someone else can be therapeutic.
