Chapter Text
Sans still remembers the day when nominated as the sexist man on- which website was it? Tom blur? Tim bore? Nah, he doesn’t need to remember when he was to be forgotten as well.
Those trophies, memes are still piled up in the closet of his room, along with them, a photo of him and Reigen- that one vote was a surprise, but he didn’t really count on it- he was just dragged into the contest without any warnings- he didn’t even take it serious at all. People have called him to sweep, but all he did was to sleep.
Sans often chuckled to himself as he glanced at that photo of him and Reigen. It was a candid moment, captured backstage during the awards show. Reigen, with his signature confidence, had his arm around Sans, both of them sharing a laugh.
But no matter what, gone are the days, eh? Years later, fandom is fading, less and less people creates for him, he is on the way of being forgotten, as the game, story itself is.
Good thing is, that he can finally take a break from the show, especially the fighting ones that make him bone-tired, and spending more time with his brother, his friends.
Sans had indeed seen the rise and fall of his popularity in the cyber world. As the fanbase for his character dwindled, he found solace in the quiet moments of his life. He no longer had to worry about living up to any expectations or being thrust into the spotlight. Sure, he would throw a talk show or a comedy from time to time, but putting himself constantly under the spotlight is definitely a no- he isn’t like Mettaton, he doesn’t want to be the star, nor would he seek after fame, he only want to be the Sans man himself.
Sans had indeed seen the rise and fall of his popularity in the fanfiction world. As the fanbase for his character dwindled, he found solace in the quiet moments of his life. He no longer had to worry about living up to any expectations or being thrust into the spotlight. Spending more time with Papyrus, he helped his brother run the newly established spaghetti stand, where their delicious dishes brought smiles to the faces of both humans and monsters alike. Sans also rekindled old friendships, enjoying late-night phone calls with Tori, or Alph.
The free time allowed him to take leisurely walks through Snowdin Forest, admiring the peaceful scenery and the gentle snowfall. He even found time to perfect his puns, much to the amusement of his friends.
But can’t say he doesn’t miss the days- when the stupid tale of human falling into cave full of monsters went viral, when the internet buzzed with fan theories and fan art, and especially, when he, Sans, a pile of bones was put under the spotlight of the fandom. Those were the days when every corner of the web seemed to have a piece of his skeletal smile, and he played along with the memes and jokes that made him an internet sensation.
He never understood- how is a pile of bones so darn attractive to humans? Being possibly the top-2 popular character, the brothers are just respectively a lazy skeleton and a spaghetti-loving goofball. People drawing about him having a dinner with them, imagining about getting close to him, and hell, maybe someone is writing about his future life as a fallen king.
It was a complete mystery of the internet, and Sans had long stopped trying to figure it out.
As Sans looked back on his journey from internet sensation to the fallen king of the fandom, he couldn’t help but appreciate the twists and turns his life had taken. The online world was a strange and unpredictable place, where a simple skeleton like him could become a star for reasons. And there he sat, amidst the fading echoes of his once roaring online fame, content in the enigmatic nostalgia of it all. As the fallen king, he had come to accept the whims of the internet and the peculiar allure of his character.
Sans continued to be the laid-back, pun-loving skeleton that fans had fallen in love with. He cherished the moments of connection with his brother, his friends. The photo of Reign and him sharing a laugh backstage remained a cherished memento of those bygone days.
The internet, like life itself, was ever-changing. While the fandom might have waned, leaving behind a quieter online presence, Sans had found his own peace in the midst of the digital whirlwind. He was no longer the “sexiest man” or the top character; he was just Sans, and that was more than enough for him. even he couldn’t fathom.
Though, got to say, even if how annoyed he was about those crazy fans pushing him onto the stage, that wasn’t a bad memory at all, now looking back at it. He did miss some of his fans- though not to the extent where the fans want him. However, he had found a new sense of fulfillment in the simplicity of his current life. It wasn’t about the grand stage or the wild antics of internet fame anymore. It was about enjoying the little moments, the laughter with Papyrus, the peaceful walks in Snowdin Forest, and the warmth of friendships they rekindled.
He didn’t need to be the center of attention or the “sexiest man”, even if the fans crowned him. In his own quiet way, he had become a king in his own realm, the fallen king of a fandom that had moved on to new obsessions.
And so, he sat there, in his room filled with trophies and memes, content in the knowledge that he had once danced in the spotlight of the internet, but had now found solace in the gentle glow of a simpler life. It was a journey he wouldn’t trade for anything, and a tale that would continue to be whispered in the digital archives of the web, a testament to the enigmatic allure of a lazy skeleton named Sans.
Well, he indeed become a fallen king, perhaps, in the future, someone may randomly browse through the Internet archive and find out the bizarre history of humans liking fictional skeletons, but no matter what, he is still Sans, and that is enough.