{Handplates chapter references: You look like, Try tapping the glass, A momentary lapse, Waking up, Little Papyrus, Little Sans}

Gaster stood in his lab, holding a clipboard in his hands as his eyes darted across the capsule.
Inside of it was blue-ish liquid, small bubbles of oxygen occasionally dancing up and down the small tube.

“Day XX
Both physical samples have bounded with the soul fragments. Progress so far exceeds expectations. Even the human soul particles seem to have merged with the fragments seamlessly. The vortex of magic around the soul is in constant flux, although it frequently manifests a large nodule on one end.”

Gaster takes a step closer. The little soul was floating evenly, the mass around it being shapeless and see-through.

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“Day XX
The large nodule is becoming a persistent feature. Four smaller tendrils of magic have extended from the main magic mass. These tendrils have been surprisingly constant since they manifested.”

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“Day XX
Each specimen has deformed its physical vortex in the same way. The four longer extrusions have branched into five tiny ones on each end. Am keeping a close eye to see if this trend is exponential.”

It's been several weeks since the development of the specimens. Their last state was strangely similar to one of a human embryo.

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“Day XX
The large nodule without any extremities appears to have developed some kind of partial perforations in a loosely triangular configuration. They somewhat resemble-”

Out of shock, Gaster dropped the clipboard and it loudly fell to the floor. He was too focused on describing the looks of the specimens first before he even realized what his mind had started wandering to.

…eye…sockets…

He attempted to calm his racing thoughts, his gaze fully focused on the specimen in front of him. He buried his hands in the pockets of his coat and took another step closer.

Oh sh-

Gaster pulled his hands back out of his pockets, flailing them around both in panic and anger.

"You're not supposed to look like skeletons!", he exclaimed furiously and somewhat helplessly.

Gaster was aware from the data sets that it was possible that they would end up looking like him but he still hoped that would not be the case with all the precautions he took.

He took another step closer, putting his hands against the tube as he looked up at the little bundle, floating peacefully in the blue glowing liquid.

He did not want to admit it, but it made him feel like his plan was falling more and more apart.
It was as if it was a sign for him to stop.
To just call it and never look back.
It made him slightly more hesitant to…

"You're not supposed to look like me…"

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The room was entirely dark.
The only light source was the blue light that emitted from the tubes that held the specimens. They were now hooked to several sensors and wires so Gaster could monitor their vitals better. Gaster stood in front of them, taking more notes:

"More setbacks after taking shape. The magic mass has become completely inert.
No sign of life, movement, growth, or change from either of them for over a week.
They may as well be calcified magical exhibitions in a particularly macabre museum.
They're no good to me like this – I need them alive. I can't have come this far to give up now.
There must be a way to break them out of this stasis.
There has to be something…"

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Gaster perked up as a beep suddenly echoed through the room. Then he could hear two and they increasingly became more steady.

Is it…

He looked up from his console desk and watched the two skeletons in their tubes for a moment.

They're moving…. they're moving!!!

“They are moving!”, he exclaimed once more with both excitement and happiness.
He slowly rose from his seat, resting his hands on the table in front of him as he leaned closer to the two skeletons.

A strange warmth filled his chest and he felt both proud and…something else he could not quite place yet.

“It worked! I did it!”, he spoke and pushed himself away from the table, quickly walking up to the tubes and pressing against them in sheer excitement.
His one hand was pressed against the one tube, while the other hand rested against the other.

“I did it! They're alive!”, he tiptoed to look at them closer and be more on their eye level, a big smile on his face as he watched them move slightly in their unconscious state.

“You're alive…”, he breathed.
He felt a thousand different emotions right now.

Gaster was both happy and relieved. He was proud that he did it, that they made it but he was also…feeling strangely attached to the small skeletons in front of him.

One could almost say…it was a hint of fatherly love, even if he would never dare to admit that.

Certainly, he was just excited about the scientific breakthrough he had literally just established, right?

His eyes glowed in a vibrant green color as he continued to watch them, the smile never leaving his face.

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The little skeleton felt slightly dizzy as it opened its eyes, everything was blurry for a moment until it saw an endless color of blue.

It looked around for a moment, pressing its small palms against the glass, trying to find a way out.

Confused and slightly panicked, it started thudding against the glass that held it.

Three gentle taps pulled it out of its panicked state and it turned its attention to the right.

Another skeleton, slightly taller and with a slimmer skull stared back at it with a curious gaze.
It reached out towards the glass, tapping it again and then pointing to itself, tilting its head slightly as if asking ‘Are you like me?’.

The smaller skeleton only tilted its head in response, trying to make sense of its surroundings and the individual right in front of it.

Gaster stood there quietly, watching the interaction between the two specimens.
He held a stack of papers in one hand, a mug filled with coffee in the other. He casually took a sip from it, his eyes never leaving the two.

Suddenly, the smaller one's eyes started glowing in a blue color and the taller skeleton's eyes hummed to life in response, emitting a strong and orange glow.

They both looked at each other, hands pressed against the glass that separated them as they glowed in unison.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity and fascination for each other.

What happened right in front of Gaster's eyes fascinated him and he felt a sense of contentment and maybe satisfaction in his chest.

Maybe this project wasn't doomed to fail after all..

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"It's been six hours since I've removed them from the M-D solution, they are clumsy and confused. Fearful. T̶h̶e̶y̶ s̶t̶u̶m̶b̶l̶e̶ a̶n̶d̶ t̶r̶i̶p̶ l̶i̶k̶e̶ c̶h̶i̶l̶

As expected, little experience in non-suspension has led to a difficult adjustment period, particularly regarding ambulatory motion.

It will come in time, I'm sure."

Gaster currently transferred his notes and observations from the clipboard to his computer files. He added a couple of more notes and thoughts on the current circumstances, his fingers gliding skillfully across the keyboard:

"They are currently separated, as the nature of their interest in each other is unclear at this point.
I will investigate this more carefully at a later date after they've mastered movement.
They do not appear to understand me or be capable of speech - They may not be truly sentient.

It will be easier if they are not.
It does not matter either way.
The line was crossed long ago.

There is no turning back now."

The silence was suddenly broken by a loud scream.
Gaster flinched and turned towards the source of the sound.

“What the-", he immediately hurried to his feet, walking through the dark hallways with quick steps as he approached the source.
Gaster was highly alert, summoning a couple of bones that rotated around his hand as he got closer to a cell.

The screaming still hasn't stopped. The noise was loud and high-pitched.

“Oh for God's sake.”, said Gaster with an annoyed undertone as he spotted the taller skeleton staring at his detached arm in utter shock and panic, still screaming loudly.

If he had lungs, Gaster would be impressed by the lung capacity but he was mostly irritated that his thoughts and silence have been interrupted by such an unnecessary circumstance.

Gaster put his hand on the reading pad, unlocking the door to the cell. The humming of the lasers immediately stopped and he stepped inside.

“Limb detachment for a skeleton is completely normal and entirely painless, there is absolutely no call for carrying on like this.”, Gaster spoke calmly, crouching down to pick up the arm from the floor.

He looked at the skeleton in front of him: “And you can’t understand me anyway, why am I even bothering to talk to you?”

The screaming continued nevertheless, the skeleton's eyes glowing orange in fear.

“I need to bring the arm close enough to reattach it, stay still-"

Gaster reached out for the small one, but he backed away, crawling further against the wall of the cell.

Gaster growled a little, growing more irritated by the never stopping sound of his screams.

“I am not in the mood for this, stay still.”, Gaster said more urgently but there was no change in the behavior of the skeleton.

“Stay STILL", he finally shouts, using blue magic to momentarily freeze the small one and pin him against the wall.

The screaming abruptly stopped and the small skeleton looked down at Gaster with fear, hyperventilating slightly and tears running out of his eye sockets.

Now that he was quiet again, Gaster felt a small ringing in his ears due to the previous screaming. He appreciated the silence.

Now calmer, he stepped closer to the skeleton: “Once close enough and with proper will…”

Gaster moved the detached forearm to the humerus (upper arm) and with a small little click the arm was attached again: “…the arm reattaches.”

He let the skeleton back down, the tears on his face slowly drying. Satisfied, Gaster stemmed his hands on his waist: “There, no pain, no fuss. Completely unremarkable and entirely undeserving of such attention seeking behavior.”

Gaster sighed and ran his hand over his face: “What a waste of my time. At least the other one’s been quiet so far…”

The small skeleton looked up at Gaster with an unreadable expression.
He suddenly lifted his arms and approached him, attempting to hug Gaster.

Gaster immediately realized his intentions and grabbed both of his small wrists, forcing his arms back down.

The skeleton's gaze saddened as Gaster walked away, reactivating the lasers of the cell and heading back to his office to sit back down again and type:

"The taller one is needier than I'd like. I need to take steps to prevent attachment."

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"Seven hours since removal.
The l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶  smaller one is awake.
I’m surprised both that he's survived outside at all, given his fraility and that he's woken up again so quickly.

He may be harder than I initially thought, which is promising.

I went to observe him in person.
A transcript of my notes follows:

I am keeping distance at first.
He is poking and prodding at the walls and the floor, though he does not come near the forcefield.
Maybe he senses the aura it gives off.

I get the impression he is trying to find a way out.

Perhaps he wants to go back to the suspension?

He has yet to make any sound.
It's preferable to the other one's constant whining and crying.
He may not be capable of it, or he may just be too focused on his exploration."

Gaster took a step closer to the smaller skeleton.
As he heard the footsteps approach, Gaster heard a small alerted gasp before he turned to Gaster and looked at him with an unreadable expression.

His body language both seemed on edge but also as if ready to fight or at least defend himself if the situation asked for it.

“I've come closer and he's caught sight of me. He's wary and suspicious, though still silent.
Obviously, he sees me as a potential threat.
So he's more perceptive than the other one, at least.”

Gaster took another step closer, his eyes flickering between his notepad and the skeleton in his cell.

“I've taken another step closer.
His eyes flared a deep purple color, interlaced with blue and he backed up against the wall.

Another step closer.
His eyes are glowing brighter. I can sense magic gathering within his souls, but he's too y̶o̶u̶n̶g̶  new to know how to make it manifest into an attack.

If he could open his mouth, I'm sure he'd snap at me.

You can't use magic to defend yourself yet, as much as you try.

I wonder what you’ll do if I keep approaching?”

Gaster came even closer.
The skeleton started looking around frantically, trying to desperately find a way to flee or do anything at this point but the cell was empty.

He was cornered.

The small one pressed his back against the wall.

“He is getting quite frantic.”

Suddenly, the skeleton stood up straight.
His whole body was tense and he closed his eyes.

At first, Gaster could barely hear it but there was a rattling coming from the skeleton.

It grew louder, his eyes closed as he tried his best to continue rattling.

The sound of it was loud.

It was almost impressive.

“…He's rattling his bones at me.”

The skeleton lost his balance, falling to the floor with a small thud.
It looked around rather confused.

Gaster couldn't help but snicker a little in response, his head tilted slightly as he observed the small one.

“At that point I decided to leave him be, to attend to other matters.

The two of them differ strikingly in temperament…one docile, one hostile.

Whether that will make things easier or harder, I will have to see.”