Audio Log Entry Number Seven
Date: The X of X, year XXXX
Time: 22 hundred hours, 02 minutes, 37 seconds
“Haha... Guess who was just promoted as the new Royal Scientist?”
“I'm amazed, to put it lightly. I didn't think that option would ever be available, not to someone like me. Not that I doubt my own capabilities, but... Hahaha, Royal Scientist? Really? I don't even think it's sunk in yet.”
“The king just came up to me today, and gave me the news. He told me himself. Didn't even send an errand boy or something. I don't even know why he gave me the role of all people. But, well... Here we are, I guess!”
“I have to admit, though, I'm surprised King Papyrus would tell me face-to-face. The man is a puzzle for sure...”
“He gives off different vibes, different impressions. When I think I have him figured out, he does something unexpected. It's my own fault for trying to pin him, and yet I can't help but be a little intrigued.”
“I already gave details to his history. How he's been here as a child, operated on by his own brother, and practically raised here for a good while. Even afterwards, when it was all said and done, he had to come back for his check ups. My knowledge is limited on what exactly he went through. Besides the examinations themselves, I mean. Oh, and the, um... incident with the lava pit.”
“I would occasionally see him in the lab, sure, either with Gaster or Sans, but I never went up to any of them. I'd eavesdrop or watch when I could, but my attention was mostly on my work and either they'd go into a room or walk away not long after I'd notice them. It just... That has to mess with a child's psyche, you know? The trials themselves would be brutal enough, before he's sent to his room to rest it all off, but then to have your own brother be putting you through that pain? And when he looked like that while doing it?”
“....He still comes to check on our progress with the project. Gaster still struggles a bit and tries cutting the king with his words, but it's been growing less hostile. Even so, every time, the King never reacts. He just watches. No matter how harsh or spiteful the words get, King Papyrus doesn't even flinch. I think it bothers Gaster. I think it gets to him even more than the knives cutting into him and the wires shocking him does.”
“I just... I would see this man put up with this, and see just how soulless he actually seems, and yet he still shows signs of... well, being there. Unlike his brother, who behaved as a walking corpse, Papyrus still shows remnants of simply existing. Like he still holds some kind of purpose, whatever that may be. Yet perhaps he himself isn't even sure what that purpose is. It's like something else is driving him, helping him through the motions and leading him.”
“At least, that's just the feeling I get. Why else would he act this way? Hell, why would he even be around at all? But taking all of this into consideration, and his past, you would think someone like that would be a hardened, cruel monster. Someone who would just want to make the world hurt, to make everyone suffer.”
“But the king doesn't even give a remote aura of any of this. For the time he has ruled thus far, he has yet to be unfair to a monster. Never used more force than necessary to establish his rule. He never acts out of anger, impatience, or annoyance. In fact, he's always composed, straight forward, and calm.”
“It's shocking how well the underground is adjusting to these new changes. How everyone accepts him as king without complaint. It's not like they would be able to do anything about it if they disagreed, but usually, at the very least, there would be attempts to stop it.”
“I wouldn't say that King Papyrus was doing all of this out of kindness, though. Or mercy. He just... doesn't seem to have the capability to feel anger anymore, or anything that strongly or fiercely. And yet, I don't think he's lost all feeling entirely. The emotions seem to still be there, but currently, they're only faint echoes of what once was.”
“For instance, he helped my daughter the other day. When she ran into him, he could of done a number of things another monster would of done for sure had a child ran into them. And he's KING, he could of gotten away with anything he wanted.”
“Yet he didn't. He just helped her up, even patted her on the head. Even if a monster hadn't decided to hurt her or scare her, the best reaction anyone could hope for would be to be told to 'get lost' and have them walk away.”
“Was he being genuine, or simply couldn't be bothered to act any other way? I can't say for certain. In a world where it's 'kill or be killed', the former seems very unlikely. He'd have no reason to show such 'weaknesses'. But then again, who in their right mind would consider the king as being 'weak'? He took over the underground singlehandedly. He has strength, and everyone knows it. So even if someone heard or saw what he did, I doubt they'd consider him weak for helping a child. I know I certainly don't.”
“....I don't know why I care so much. Perhaps I feel a certain degree of fascination. I find myself frequently wondering what he could be thinking. Is he spiteful? Is he happy with being king and Gaster finally getting what he deserves? Is he entirely devoid of anything at all? Does he miss his brother?”
“Heh... Not sure where that last question came from. I doubt he does. I mean, why would he? As far as I can tell, if anything, he's probably happy he's gone.”
