#but absolutely techno would destroy them all after nod nod nod

[techza]

Hulloo, I tried translating the italian parts! i will delete this if it bothers you at all.

Philza and Techno are inseparable, but in an empire surrounded by battle and war it's their weakness. There is no way into their castle that the two wouldn't know about, but Philza proabably needs Techno near him. A spy could take advantage of that detail. During the war Philza's nervous, restless and under great pressure. And he would never hesitate to be at Techno's side. Not when a guard tells him that Techno is looking for him. Not even when it's late at night or taking him to a strange place to discuss war strategies. And they lure a worn out Philza into a trap.

I don't speak Italian, so I really struggled with the third paragraph? I also understood that he'd never leave Techno's side so they're both together when they're trapped, but I thought this made more sense. sorry for any mistakes ;u;

Philza e Techno sono inseparabili, ma in un impero perseguitato da battaglie e guerre saranno i loro più debilitanti. Philza è sicuramente il must-have di Techno, e non c'è modo che io guardi dentro il castello che non conoscono. Una spia in particolare approfitterebbe di quel dettaglio. Durante la guerra nervi e riposo sono sotto forte pressione. E Philza non lascerebbe mai Techno da solo quando una guardia riferisse che lo stava cercando. Nemmeno se fosse un'ora improbabile della notte o qualche strano posto per discutere di strategie di guerra. Spingere un Philza stanco e assonnato in una trappola.

That way, the enemy’s plans could be fulfilled, even attracting the Emperor and forcing him to observe the enemies torturing his partner. Only for revenge or power.

I’m not entirely sure those people would survive the wrath of Technoblade

[dodo-begone]

Could you Not?

Pairing: Techno x Reader

Request: yooo remember a while ago when we were talking abt Techno hiding you from the yandere boys?? that would be hella neat to see ngl —

Word count: 1.9k

Warning: yandere, stockholm syndrome, kidnapping, panic attack at end

A/n: yan!minors are mentioned, that’s why there’s a yandere warning.

The day was predestined to be great; a day full of sunshine and peace. So many potatoes would be tilled, the dog army would grow exponentially and other calming hobbies.

Now let’s be honest, that isn’t the reality of things at all. Nothing is ever nice and simple. Life always needs to throw a curveball at people; keeping them on their feet, on edge for their entire existence. Techno was no exception from this rule. His life had been plagued by tragedy and hardships. It made him calloused and desensitized towards the world and whatever challenges it had to throw at him. Though nothing could have really prepared him for what came next. Well he actually did, in a way. Similar in reasoning yet very different in the reaction and how the problem was presented to him.

Puffy stood at his door, struggling to hold someone the size of her. They were thrashing around, screeching to be released from their confines. She looked exhausted and beyond worried. There were few words to describe her state. Sadness painted her face like clouds painted the sky; it was evident with every feature of her face, every movement of her brow and reddening eyes. Pants escaped her lips and the struggling wasn’t helping her catch the escaping breaths.

The person Puffy was holding wasn’t any better. They looked malnourished, dirty, panicked, stressed. Those were just the obvious and quick observations. There were probably so many other hidden issues with this person. Honestly, Techno didn’t want to deal with them or Puffy. He was absolutely done dealing with people.

He’d have to get over it though, as Puffy asked him to care for this mystery person. She pleaded so much, saying that if they couldn’t stay with him, they’d be in terrible danger. Techno was her only option in protecting this person. There were some horrible people looking for the person in her arms and she couldn’t protect them on her own. Honestly he was only half listening. He really didn’t want to hear about another person’s sob story and how they so desperately needed his help. How they just couldn’t make it without his help. Occasionally Techno nodded or gave a “mhm” to indicate he was listening. Because that’s the polite thing to do, even if you aren’t listening. It shows you are listening and seems polite. Though he should’ve paid a bit more attention because the next thing he knew a fucking child was getting shoved into his arms.

They were so tiny that they could qualify as a child. So frail, too skinny, hair matted and looked too pale for their natural complexion. Horrified couldn’t even describe how he felt; he did not want to be holding this person, they looked so fragile and could be hurt so easily. Plus they were screaming and crying, still fighting to get out your captor’s grip, which was currently him. Distressed and crying people weren’t the most pleasant to be around especially when you’re a seven foot tall, socially awkward piglin hybrid.

Techno tried to return them to Puffy’s possession. She refused, pushing them further into his hold. She kept insisting that he let them stay with him, at least for a little bit. There was little time to prepare a place for them to stay and they needed the constant protection and some care. Techno kept arguing with Puffy, saying that he really didn’t want, need or have the time to care for them.

It wasn’t long when Puffy finally ended the argument with one phrase; “you still owe me an IOU.”

_______________________________________________

“So is this it,” Techno reluctantly asked, gently bouncing the slumbering stranger. It was and wasn’t surprising how worn out they ended up after the argument. Half-way through the arguing and accommodations, they finally calmed and soon fell asleep. Though they were violently shivering; this conversation couldn’t keep going like this. They both looked at them and looked back at each other.

“Yes. Please,” Puffy whispered, gently putting her hand onto their arm. “Please take care of them for now. You don’t have to care for them long. I just-i just need some time to set them up a place and some help. There were few options to go with and you were the best one.”

Silence settled over them once again. Techno sighed, building his resolve to care for another kid. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

Puffy awarded Techno with one of the most relieved smiles he had ever encountered. She was visibly relaxed, not holding herself up like a puppet who’s tense strings were being tugged. “Now get going Puffy,” Techno ushered. “I can take it from here.”

With that, Puffy started her trek back home, through the unforgiving tundra. As Techno watched her walk away, he wondered how she managed it. How she could carry someone the size of herself for god-knows how long.

He couldn’t ponder long. The person in his arms was still out in the harsh cold and definitely not dressed or prepared for weather like this. A very vulnerable position. With that, he opened the door with his foot and brought the two of you inside.

There weren’t many places to lay someone down. The floor was an option, but it was probably super cold. Techno wasn’t too sure, but he also didn’t want to risk it at the moment. Scanning around reveals a small issue; Techno’s reading chair is the only place to sit that isn’t the damn floor. Crackling fire brought his attention to the welcoming presence of the hearth. So either the floor with the fireplace or the chair which was a decent distance from the fireplace. Was it really a question at that point?

Walking over to the fireplace, Techno tried to disturb the person as little as possible. He started to slowly place them onto the ground. They wouldn’t really notice if they were as exhausted as they looked. When they touched the ground, they stirred and groaned at the change in temperature. Swiftly Techno place them on the floor and held his hands up; a way of saying “okay i’m not touching it so it shouldn’t break now- don’t break”. After a few moments of stillness, Techno deemed himself to be in the “all clear”. With that, he walked off to a different part of the house. He had to start setting up a room for his new guest. And get them food and proper clothing-

A ruckus from the living quarters disturbed him. Oh god what was going on now? Without much thought, he ran to the noise. When he arrived, he frantically looked around. He was looking for anything, but more specifically a danger. But it was much the opposite.

There, at his front door, trying to get out like their life depended on it, was that stranger. Well, it wasn’t a stranger. He couldn’t keep forgetting that. It was ______. Though it was hard to do that; they looked so different. Panic seemed to just possess them; their eyes were wide and bloodshot and their face was even paler than he remembered them in their pale state. Which was an odd statement but it was oddly true. He hadn’t thought that you could get any paler, yet here you are proving him wrong.

You two were in a stare off- trying to figure out what to do. It would be somewhat hilarious if the situation wasn’t so serious; a person trying desperately to get out of someone’s house in some of the most comical positions while a seven foot piglin just awkwardly stared from the other side of the room. The semi-trance was broken by you. Tears started to fall down your face, body started to violently shake, and then you started to try and destroy the door with your body.

Techno was holding you in a heartbeat. Once again, you were dangling and struggling to get out of his grasp. Last time it wasn’t his grasp you were trying to escape, but it was all the same in the end. Your crying soon reverted back to sobbing and screams. Flinching, Techno contemplated just dropping you. Yet he couldn’t; you were trying to escape and that wasn’t a good idea.

Carrying you around the house was a challenge; you were swinging what little weight you could and it was working. He barely got to the other end of the room before he got fed up with your little tantrum. Without a second thought, he just dropped you like a bag of potatoes. The moment you hit the ground, you scrambled to get as far away as possible. That leads you to a corner. You kept an eye of him yet curled up so much. He couldn’t tell if it was because you were cold or scared.

“Please let me go back.”

That catches Techno off guard. It was obviously you voice; he wasn’t talking and you were the only other thing that could talk here. Yet it didn’t sound like you. Your voice was now so gravely, scratchy and heavy. Like you hadn’t properly talked in a while. Though your crying definitely wasn’t helping. Even taking that into consideration, you sound way worse than someone who is just crying and occasionally screaming.

“Excuse me,” he mumbles, staring at you. Waiting for you to answer or proof that he was actually imagining stuff. It could’ve easily been a voice though-

“I said please let me go back,” you sniffled, turning to look at him more. Your eyes held such sadness, besides the tears. The yearning in them hurt. It was obvious you were missing something.

“Go back where,” Techno prodded. He tried his best to make it gentle so you wouldn’t close up again. So he slowly sat on the ground with you, scooting towards you as a pace you could easily stop.

“Back to my friends, obviously,” you stated, keeping a steady and guarded eye on Techno. “I want to go back home. Back to Tommy and Tubbo and Ranboo an-and Purpled.” Suddenly you started to cry much harder. So hard it was practically impossible to speak. Only hiccups and gasps left your lips.

“Let me go, I won’t bother you again.” You kept repeating that phrase. Even rephrasing it, but it was muffled. Well not muffled, but extremely hard to hear through your crying. Techno let you keep saying that in hopes you tire of it, yet it seemed to have the opposite effect. You only started to say it more clearly, louder, and more assertively. It was obvious you were bound and determined to go back to wherever the hell you were before.

“Hey kid,” Techno does his best to stop your babbling. The pleads had just digressed to nonsense, so it was more accurate to call that mess babbling. “I can’t do that.”

His answer wasn’t well received. It only made you sadder and madder; you even deployed the puppy dog eyes. You really wanted this.

“It’s not safe with them,” he reiterated. “You look sickly too. Did you not care for yourself with them?”

Silence consumed you; maybe now you were finally thinking more clearly.

A meek “no” left your lips. Realization seemed to hit you, at least somewhat. It was a step forward, and Techno was taking it wholeheartedly. Anything was progress and he just wanted this over. Some of the voices whispered that they wanted you to get better, but he ignored them.

“Then it’s settled. You’re staying here.”

[ramzawrites]

May I request a fic of Ranboo meeting another endermen hybrid, but he's inherited different traits than ranboo?

For example teleporting without pearls, getting annoyed at eye contact, automatically dodging projectiles and a huuuge mouth when angry?

Maybe them teaching each other about things?

Two halves make a whole - Reader and Ranboo

GN

Pairings: none

Characters included: Ranboo, Technoblade, Philza

Warnings: cursing

Series: a request from 🌱🌟 <3

Summary: Y/N has no real idea how they managed to end up in this snow biome. All they know is that they need help or they will freeze to death. Lucky for them they meet another Enderman Hybrid with a soft spot for helping out.

Words count: 2606

Authors Note: I hope this is fine! I’m a bit struggling with writing at the moment so I didn’t take the proper chance yet to proof read it multiple times.

I know you used he in the request but I wasn’t sure enough if you wanted me to use these pronouns since I usually always use GN pronouns. I hope this is fine and if you had hope for he/him I’m sorry! I did remember I never established this and because of this added a rule that if you guys want different pronouns then please make that clear to me.

Y/N rubbed their hands together in front of their mouth, blowing warm air into them that in return turned into a small opaque cloud.

Truth be told they didn’t know how they exactly landed inside this snow biome. They were traveling around like usual, carrying their most necessary things with them only to be overwhelmed by the amount of hostile mobs that appeared around them. Not really having the best gear to fight them off, they had to flee which lead them to this place.

Severely underestimating the climate they had hoped to find a good place to hunker down for a short while to deal with some of their wounds and growing hunger so they could move on again.

It felt like hours had passed until Y/N finally spotted some kind of buildings near a mountain. Maybe if they were lucky the place was empty? Honestly probably not seeing how they could spot light inside the windows but what could they do at this point.

Either talking to potentially dangerous strangers or they had to find something different and seeing how they were shivering and getting more tired they opted to try their luck anyhow.

Once they got closer they did indeed see someone in red robes cutting fire wood while someone else was helping him by putting the next piece of wood on the chopping block around the corner.

The man in the red robes was clearly a Hybrid as well; pink hair, tusks and pig like ears.

The other one seemed to be a Hybrid as well judging by the fact that one half of his body was black and the other white, complete with two different eye colors.

Y/N moved one of their hands off their bicep as they were hugging themself from the cold, waving towards them “Hello, can I talk to you?” They spoke between clattering teeth.

The Pig Hybrid looked up and placed the other end of the netherite axe he was carrying in his palm, making sure to stand as tall and broad as he could. He obviously tried to look as intimidating as possible and it worked.

The tall lanky one looked almost scared as he spotted Y/N, almost hiding behind the other Hybrid which was a tiny bit funny due to their height difference.

“I’m not here to hurt you, I just need help. I’m a bit wounded and need to warm up before I can continue. I’ll make sure to repay you in some sort.” Y/N ranted off.

The two strangers didn’t react, instead the Pig Hybrid seemed to take a better look at Y/N. He looked them up and down only to end up staring them directly into their lilac eyes. A trait they inherited as an Enderman Hybrid but this wasn’t the only thing they inherited.

Now here they were trying their best to look as sympathetic and unthreatening as possible, since they were for a fact pretty harmless, but that man was looking them right in the eyes and this hot fuzzing anger was slowly building up inside them. There are only a few things that they absolutely hated and direct eye contact was one of them.

Y/N bit themself on their tongue trying their best to stay composed but still begun speaking through gritted teeth as they broke the eye contact “I would fucking appreciate it if you wouldn’t look at me like that.”

They were surprised with their own malice but it was just something they had problems controlling.

“So you are an Enderman Hybrid. What are you doing here?” The Pig Hybrid spoke in a monotone voice which only seemed to add to his intimidation.

“Wait, they are an Enderman Hybrid?” This time the other one spoke up, obviously curious about that.

Y/N nodded and looked back towards the two, the Pig Hybrid luckyily was now staring at his axe “Yeah. I am. I can tell you more about myself but I really do need help, please?”

The strangers looked at each other as if they tried to mentally discuss this but got interrupted by a thud. Y/N fell down into the snow. The cold and wounds have finally gotten to them. The two having now a better view of their back saw that two arrows were burrowed in their back as well.

The Pig Hybrid sighed “I really don’t want to deal with that.”

“Then let me, Techno.” The other replied.

Techno raised one of his eyebrows “Really, Ranboo? Is it because they are an Enderman Hybrid as well?”

Ranboo didn’t answer immediately “Perhaps but I can’t let them freeze to death here, just help me get them in my home then I’ll make sure we won’t bother you.”

“You are lucky I’m in a charitable mood.” He answered as he softly put his axe away.

When Y/N awoke they felt horrible. Their whole body was hot and sore but at least they were alive. In fact they were safely laying in a soft bed inside. Inside where though? The room they were in was pretty small but what jumped immediately to their vision was the mismatched green and red carpet. Interesting interior design, then again it reminded them of that other Hybrid with his red and green eyes. Maybe this was his home?

That’s when they remembered their last moments before they collapsed, they suddenly threw away their blanket away and put their feet back on the ground.

Y/N had to find the owners of this home and thank them, well, and find a way to repay them. In truth they said it before but they had nary a diamond or emerald on them.

As they tried to stand up they suddenly felt dizziness cloud their mind forcing them to sit down again, clutching their aching head. Great, looks like they had a fever now as well.

“Oh, uh, you are awake? How- How are you feeling?” The sturdy iron door opened up and the tall lanky one from before walked in. So they were correct. It was his house.

“I didn’t put on a good first expression, huh. Thank you for helping me despite that. I, uh, feel better! My wounds feel better at least, now I just have to deal with this headache and fever but since I’m not freezing to death anymore I should be able to care of that.” Y/N answered “I’m Y/N by the way.”

Their host nodded “I mean that’s expected I suppose. Oh! My name is Ranboo! Uhm, feel free to stay here until your fever dies down. I brought some food with me as well for you. Not sure if you are hungry though.”

Ranboo then presented Y/N with some bread and they felt like they could cry right then and there “Oh, definitely.” Happily they started munching on it as Ranboo awkwardly stood by the side, obviously trying to avert his eyes.

Y/N tried to fill the awkward air with the next best question that came to their mind “So, what do I owe you?”

“Nothing, I would have felt terrible if I didn’t do anything, besides I was kind of curious as well.”

“Curious?”

“I have never met a fellow Enderman Hybrid and I was curious to see what you can do.”

They had to laugh at that a bit. The same was true for Y/N they have never met an Enderman Hybrid since they are pretty rare “You mean what I inherited from Endermen? Like me getting annoyed when people look directly in my eyes? Sorry about that again.”

Ranboo nodded, staring at his hands as he nervously moved them around “Don’t worry about it but yeah things like that. I have some things I can do as well. I can’t touch water at all for example.”

Y/N frowned at that “Oh, that must suck. I fortunately don’t have to deal with that but that does answer one of my questions I always had. Seems like other Hybrids do inherit different things after all.”

“Yeah, that is actually pretty cool! If you feel good enough to get up I could show you what else I can do.”

Y/N continued munching on their bread but tried getting up only for the dizziness to set back in but this time they pushed through “I feel a bit dizzy but fresh air will probably help me. Now I’m curious what else you can do, maybe I can show you my other ability as well.”

The fellow Enderman Hybrid looked at bit worried at Y/N but continued to open up the door for the two oft them. The cold hit Y/N like a brick which made them even more grateful that Ranboo pulled them out of it.

Ranboo walked over to the side of the mountain, getting rid off the snow on top of some dirt. He then made sure that Y/N was watching as he worked on picking the block up.

Normally a grass block would turn into a normal dirt block once you have picked it up but the green grass stayed on when he moved it up towards himself. With a happy sigh he placed the block down at a different place. A satisfied smile on his face.

“I can pick up blocks as if my hands have silk touch, it also calms me down if I do that.”

This time Y/N nodded, absolutely amazed by this “What? No way! Have you ever tried like picking up a spawner?  I heard there is no way for them to not be destroyed! They are so fragile they even break when you use a tool with silk touch!”

“Yeah! I can actually! They turn into a different kind of spawner though.”

Y/N was absolutely bewildered by this in the best possible way “That is so cool! Next to that is my ability pretty mundane I feel like.”

He perked up at that “What is it?”

As an answer Y/N held up their hand in a gesture of “just look”. They turned away from him and looked up head only to disappear into purple particles and appear a good twenty blocks ahead in another spout of purple particles.

This time it was Ranboo’s time to look absolutely amazed by it and let out his own string of words to show his amazement.

Y/N teleported back, surprising Ranboo “Yeah, I was feeling too bad yesterday otherwise I probably wouldn’t have even landed here. Hell, I wouldn’t have been as badly damaged probably.” They felt pretty good about their ability but now it really just worsened their headache which made them clutch their head for the second time.

As a response Ranboo ushered them back into his house where they gratefully sat back down on the soft bed.

Inside Ranboo paced around “Oh! This is so cool! I feel like we both could do amazing things! Together we are one full Enderman! I want to show your abilities to Technoblade and Philza so bad.” He was excitedly rambling his thoughts off which made Y/N laugh.

They laughed so hard that Ranboo noticed how wide their mouth managed to open up. Not only were their eyes similar to that of an Enderman but apparently their mouth as well. You couldn’t have seen it when they were just talking normally so it looked like something they had semi control over. Ranboo couldn’t help but think that Y/N was a tiny bit more Enderman than him. Then again this shouldn’t be a surprise seeing that he was only one part Enderman Hybrid while he didn’t even know what his others is.

“Uh, sorry.” Ranboo rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment once he realized they were laughing at him.

They shook their head “I’m so sorry Ranboo it’s just we only barely know each other and now you wanna show me around to people? I don’t mind of course it just seemed to come out of nowhere.” They stopped laughing feeling a bit bad about it and added “I mean I’m probably just as excited as you are that I have found someone like me. I’m not sure what will happen but I do hope we can be friends!”

After that Ranboo let them rest in peace. Only occasionally coming in asking if they needed anything more. The next few days were similar only that Ranboo and Y/N took a few walks around the place for a bit.

At some point they finally got to know who this Philza was that Ranboo mentioned one time. Next to Technoblade, whom they have only seen once after they collapsed, he seemed to be a nice fellow. Some sort of Bird Hybrid as well.

The irony that they apparently arrived at a place full with Hybrids didn’t get lost on them.

Philza seemed to be excited over Y/N’s teleporting ability as well, also talking about how they could easily annoy and even fight people if they really wanted to. At the point Y/N laughed it off but they were a bit worried that this was one of his first thoughts when he learned of them. Ranboo seemed to be in the same boat. It didn’t help that Philza reiterated this sentiment once he saw how Y/N automatically avoided a flying arrow via teleportation.

Technoblade was a difficult character to deal with. Always sounding monotone and looking as uninterested as possible but it also felt like he was constantly judging them.

This only seemed to lighten once Technoblade asked “So, uh, what is your opinion on governments?”

Ranboo furrowed his brows but seemed to be interested in their answer as well.

Y/N hesitated a bit before answering, clearly confused by this “I’m not- I try to stay away from it? I don’t understand it very well and it usually spells only problems for me so, yeah, I try to stay away from it.”

Though after they answered Ranboo was still tense, staring at Technoblade, his landlord as he had explained.

Technoblade didn’t look Y/N directly in the eyes but he did stare at them with a stern expression “I suppose that is good enough. Continue staying away from it and we won’t have a problem.”

Ranboo let out a deep breath. This must have been more important than Y/N initially thought.

It was only once Y/N and Ranboo were alone they asked him about it. He explained to them that Technoblade and essentially everyone here were anarchists due to different reasons and everyone who aligns themselves with any kind of government isn’t allowed on these premises.

Once Y/N felt good enough to potentially move on, they kind of just didn’t. It hasn’t been a long time yet but Y/N managed to become good friends with Ranboo. In fact they became such good friends he offered to build and extension for Y/N to his house, even if they only wanted to use it as a place to rest between travels.

They also managed to get into Technoblade’s and Philza’s good graces by continuously offering to help them out and getting them good recourses. It didn’t take long for the two to be attached to them as well, so when Ranboo asked them if Y/N could move in with him the two gave them the okay.

Techno did point out though that Y/N had to pay rent as well then. Y/N paid that rent in the form of an amazing Trident specialized for combat.

“Seems like we have two Endermen on our side that like to enchant things, huh” Phil noted once Techno showed him the Trident.

“Don’t get too excited, Phil. It’s just their way of paying rent to me.”

“Aw! You are happy, Techno!”

“I am not. I am miserable. They didn’t give me a perfect gift whatsoever. This is mediocre at best.”

[sabinanotfound]

sbi + reader and reader gets kidnapped bc i like the idea lol

@cr0wbonezz-wr1ting-inc remember this request? well, i rewrote it.

tw: gun usage, knife usage, injuries, fighting, blood, killing (a lot of it, so if you're uncomfortable please don't read)

as you walked in the dark street, the town clock showing midnight, you couldn't help but feel like something was off. maybe you should have been more careful when killing that spy. suddenly you felt someone's presence behind you, and seconds later you heard the sound of a gun being reloaded. this can't be good. you took out your own gun, and risked turning your head ever so slightly to look behind you. that turned out to be a mistake as the person after you now knew you were aware of their presence. you knew this was your only chance, so you turned around and shot your stalker, aiming for the shoulders. however, you missed your shot because they had predicted that you would shoot and dodged it.

"fuck." you cursed under your breath and pulled out a throwing knife, and flung it at the person. finally, you had hit the target, and they backed away, holding their leg and hissing in pain. you saw your opportunity and tried to run, but your way was blocked by two buff guys, and you knew you had no chance now. one of them got a firm grip on your left hand while the other held onto your right. you didn't even try escaping, because now you knew: these were Dream's men, and you knew exactly what they wanted.

they thew you into a black car with tinted windows and shut the doors. with a click, all of them were locked and the vehicle started moving. you tried to keep your eyes open but failed and the last thing you saw before you blacked out was the car finally coming to a stop.

-

you woke up to the sound of loud footsteps that sounded like their owner was pacing the room. you sat up, rubbing your eyes. the footsteps stopped upon seeing you awake, and you finally got the chance to see who it was.

sapnap. of course it was him. one of the founders of Dream Inc. he kneeled beside you and you tried to kick him in the face but something stopped you. you looked around, confused.

"our new invention, like it?" the boy asked cockily but you didn't reply, and stood up to explore. you tried to see what was holding you back from absolutely destroying sapnap's face. apparently, there was an invisible barrier around you.

"what do you want from me?" you asked, not even bothering to look at sapnap.

"isn't it obvious? we want to know where your secret base is, plus won't techno be worried for you? he'll do anything to have you back." you immediately recognized the new voice as george, and when you looked at him, you also saw dream behind him.

"well i'd rather die than tell where it is!" you spat, crossing your arms. you looked persistent, however, a plan was already forming in your head.

-

"dream has y/n," techno said to all the boys gathered around him. "and he promised to let them go if i showed up alone, with a million bucks." he completed, waiting for everyone's reaction.

no one spoke for a second, everyone thinking of a way out of the situation.

“please tell me you have a plan.” ranboo said, and technoblade, despite the situation couldn’t help but smile.

“of course i do. tell Phil we'll be back by dinner."

-

"tommy, hurry the fuck up!" Tubbo whisper-yelled. tommy didn't reply, focusing on the locked door he was trying to open. finally he was successful, and with a small creack the door opened, revealing an empty corridor.

"now, are you sure you don't need our help there?" Tommy asked, but techno shook his head.

"the six of us will be too noticeable. that's why i'm only bringing wilbur with me. you guys will be crucial for the last part of the plan; which is running away with y/n." they all shared encouraging glances, and with that techno and Wilbur started making their way in the maze of underground corridors in the Dream Inc. base.

-

"so that's how it's going to be?" george spoke, an eyebrow raised. "you're not going to tell us?" his voice dropped dangerously low, signifying how badly he needed the information. you pretended to feel a little scared, but in reality it was all a part of your plan.

"fine," you sighed, looking down. "i'll tell you." devilish smiles spread across the three men's faces.

"good. now tell us, where is your little base?"

-

Techno and Wilbur finally arrived at the main entrance where four guards were lined up, clearly bored and exhausted. they took advantage of that, Wilbur immediately shooting two of them while techno tackled one of them to the ground, covering their mouth. he took out a knife and threw it towards the fourth guard, silencing them too.

they continued walking. they bumped into a few more guards that were quickly un-alived and they finally reached the room which they knew was y/n's cell. techno looked at wilbur.

"ready?" he questioned, and wilbur nodded. they burst into the room, and sure enough, there was y/n, but they weren't alone.

"dream." techno spoke, anger laced into his voice.

the other boy just chuckled. "well, well, well. who do we have here?" he asked in a mocking tone, george and sapnap sharing looks behind him.

"let them go." Wilbur said, and dream turned to him.

"why would i? it seems like they're enjoying their stay."

"i'm not!" y/n shouted from their place, but was quickly silenced when george pulled out a knife.

"where is our 1 million? you know, it's not nice to break your promises." Dream continued, his smirk slowly fading, his expression becoming more and more serious.

"i think i forgot it at home... what a pity you can't buy more guns now," techno fake pouted at his rival. "but don't worry, I still brought you something." with that, he firmly punched dream in the stomach, making the boy bend over and hold his abdomen in pain. wilbur quickly tackled george to the ground, and pressed his knife against the boy's neck. there was only sapnap left now, who techno shot in the shoulder, just to make him get out of the way. Wilbur got done with george and they both ran towards where y/n was.

"there is an invisible barrier around me! the remote must be around here." they quickly spoke, knowing that the other guards in the building were probably aware of the situation. dream was also recovering, and he slowly stood up.

"you're such a pig, techno." he said as he pulled out a gun, ready to shoot.

"i know." and with that he threw a knife towards him, but missed.

"i might leave your little friend here alive if you tell me where your secret base is," Dream tried to bargain while defending himself. "but you, my friend, i'm afraid you won't be so lucky." he added once he saw that techno wasn't backing down. and he fired a shot towards the boy, and techno fell to the ground, clutching his leg.

"bye bye, big t." Dream said evilly, but fell to the ground seconds later, blood streaming down his face.

-

"techno! are you alright?" you screamed out, and wilbur finally found the remote, setting you free. you ran to techno, trying to inspect his wound. thankfully, the bullet had missed crucial parts and so it wasn't very bad, but the way techno laid there in pain made your heart ache.

"Wilbur, can we carry him?" the tall boy nodded, concerned for his brother. you carefully picked up techno and started running to the exit, Wilbur guiding you through corridors. Finally you made it out and spotted your other friends in a car.

they quickly got out, trying to help in between questions that you promised to answer later. Wilbur got behind the steering wheel, driving the vehicle away and far from the place you hoped you'd never return to.

-

taglist: @quivvyintheclouds @bozowrites @dysfunctionalcrab @cr0wbonezz-wr1ting-inc @ttakinou

[moonlit-reveriee]

Hey there Moon, if your requests are still open, could you do a C!Techno x Female! Reader who’s a total badass with weapons? Like she’s quick and agile with a bow and sword?

Hope you have a wonderful day/night! ^^

A Lover, and a Fighter

technoblade x fem!reader

this story was really fun to write, and i think it came out pretty cute. thank you for your request, and your patience. i hope you enjoy!

content warning // SFW, mention of drinking alcohol, description of fighting (no mention of blood or injury)

listen to this while you read: Notos by The Oh Hellos

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***this story takes place during & after the revolution against Dante, with the headcanon that Hypixel takes the form of a medieval kingdom within the same universe as the dsmp***

It had been a long time since Techno had visited Hypixel, and even longer since he had taken the time to observe any of the fighters being trained there. He wasn’t surprised to see many unfamiliar faces amongst the crowds battling against Dante. But one figure in particular grabbed his attention.

As he soared through the air, launched upwards by the shockwaves of Dante’s movements, he noticed someone standing on top of a nearby building. A warrior with bow and arrow held upwards to the sky, their aim remaining steady despite the tremors that shook the earth. They leapt to the ground, swiftly pulling out a sword and began chopping down several of Dante’s goons with a single swipe.

Even in the heat of battle, he couldn’t help but be impressed. There was a deadly accuracy to all of their movements. It showed tremendous skill, and dedication to honing their abilities.

Once Dante had been defeated, Techno stayed behind to aid in Hypixel’s recovery. He walked around the battlefield strewn with debris. He shook the hand of every revolutionary he could find, secretly searching for the warrior he had seen upon the rooftops.

After a while, he was able to spot them in the crowds. A woman helping clear rubble from the destroyed community center, familiar bow and sword strapped across her back.

“Thank you for your aid in the revolution”, he said as he approached, offering a hand for her to take. She accepted it with a grip strong enough to rival his own.

“I would do anything to rid Hypixel of Dante’s corruption”, she spoke with confidence. She released his hand and turned her attention back to the rubble, lifting a wooden beam over her shoulder with ease.

“I noticed the way you fought”, he continued, bending over to pick up a piece of broken cobblestone, “you seem very skilled.”

She glanced at him from the side, mouth curving upwards into a very slight smirk.

“That’s quite the compliment coming from the blood god himself.”

“I understand good fighting when I see it”, he said with a shrug. She squinted her eyes at him, almost suspicious.

“It would be foolish of me to turn down such a compliment”, she said as she walked off towards the pile of discarded wood. He chased after her, watching her drop the beam off her shoulders with a heavy thud.

“What is your name?”, he asked when she turned to face him. She paused, quickly looking I’m up and down. She seemed skeptical of his interest in her, and maybe that was fair.

“y/n”, she said, crossing her arms.

“Would you like to duel, y/n?”, he blurted out impulsively. Her eyes widened, noticing the way he was blushing out of embarrassment.

“Are you flirting with me, Sir Blade?”, mischievous grin spreading across her face.

He sputtered, blush deepening on his cheeks while she laughed boisterously.

“Let’s clean up first”, she clapped an armored hand over his shoulder with a loud metal clank, “meet me at the duels arena in a few days.” She walked past him, leaving him to twist around and watch her back as she left.

Techno ended up seeing her again before their duel. Members of the revolution were meeting in a local tavern to celebrate, and he found her lounging in a quiet corner of the bar. Tankard in her hand, she happily watched the other members of the guild drunkenly trip over themselves. He didn’t approach her, at least not at first.

Later in the evening, a man sidled up to her table. Techno couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it seemed like she was trying to politely shoo him away. Clearly drunk out of his mind, he reached out a hand and forcibly cupped her cheek. Techno stood up from his seat, ready to yank the man back by his collar. Before he could, she grabbed his hand and bent his arm backwards behind his head. The man was sent to his knees, wincing in pain.

“I said don’t touch me”, she sneered, “learn to follow my words when I say them nicely.”

She released the man’s hand, allowing him to stumble away with a steely glare. Once he was throughly out of her sight, she turned her attention to where Techno had begun to approach her.

“I appreciate your help, even though it was unneeded”, she sighed heavily.

“Does this happen often?”, he asked.

“Not really”, she said, “I guess the guys here think plate armor is attractive.”

“It’s probably the only clothes they’ve seen a woman in”, he joked. She chuckled lightly, the sound surprisingly sweet compared to her demeanor.

“Would you like a drink?”, she offered once her laughter had subsided.

“Ah, I would”, he sighed, “but let me cover it, I insist.”

“No”, she said firmly, “I’m sure everyone here wants to buy you a drink. Allow it to be me for tonight.”

He raised an eyebrow, noticing the flash of determination in her eye. He gave her a nod, surrendering to her wishes. She bought two pints of honeyed ale, sweet and subtly floral. They drank in comfortable silence, watching the absolutely wasted tavern goers make fools of themselves.

Time passed, and day of their duel arrived. The damage from Dante’s attack had finally been cleared and construction of the destroyed buildings began. Techno felt calm as he strode through the familiar courtyards of Hypixel’s training grounds, which surprised him. For some reason, he expected to be nervous. But at the same time, there was nothing to be nervous about, right? This was just a friendly duel between friends. Just friends who have only known each other for a few days.

His felt his stomach twist. Maybe he was nervous.

When he entering the arena, he found her already waiting for him, clad in a simpler set of armor than the one she wore to fight Dante. She waved her arm upon noticing his entrance, bright and crooked smile on her face.

“Are you ready to duel, Sir Blade?”, she called across the field. Something about that nickname made his heart glow.

“Only if you are, y/n.”

“Oh, I’m ready to get my ass kicked.”

“Hey now”, he retorted playfully, “I think you will put up a good fight.”

“We’ll see”, she shrugged, stretching her arms to warm up the muscles.

“Standard kit?”, he questioned, “diamond armor, sword and bow?”

“As long as it’s not a crossbow. I haven’t figured those fuckers out yet”, she muttered.

He nodded, donning a set of armor to match hers. They took stances at opposite sides of the arena. She already had a bow in hand, arrow cocked and ready. Techno had dueled one on one many times. Some more stress-inducing than other. The anticipation of this fight made his fingers tingle with excitement. A bell began to toll. Standard practice for training duels: on the fourth chime, the fight began.

An arrow whizzed from its string, narrowly missing him as he strafed right and began moving in a wide curve towards her. She switched to her sword, ready to meet his in a clang of metal against metal.

They traded blows almost evenly. While Techno’s sword swung with immense strength behind it, hers was agile and precise. When she landed a hit, it was because she could aim her sword exactly where the armor was weakest. When their swords became interlocked, she made eye contact and grinned wildly. His concentration fell, and she seized the opportunity to disengage and put some distance between them.

From her newfound position, she returned to her bow and began firing shots with a deadly accuracy. When fighting with others around his skill level, Techno liked to wear them down. Hiding and running away, giving him a chance to recover while they chased. Now, however, his strategy was being challenged. Her skill with a bow was outstanding, even at very long distances. There were very few places he could hide that she couldn’t hit.

Their reached a point where the battle was at a stalemate. They had returned to sword combat, a heavy sheen on sweat on their brows. She parried a blow from him, but he pushed back with any remaining strength he had left, sending her staggering back wards. She gritted her teeth, running forwards suddenly with a ferocious scream. It surprised him so much he barely reacted as she slammed into him right at the waist and tackled him to the ground.

He twisted to land on his side, causing her to fall on the ground next to him. They both panted, making no move to stand up.

“I-“, she gasped, “I’ve never done that before.” He huffed out a laugh, propping himself up on his elbows and offering a hand to help her sit up as well.

“That was a good fight”, he said after they’d both caught their breath.

“Thank you”, she said, removing her helmet and wiping away the strands of hair that stuck to her face, “I didn’t expect to win, but a draw is good enough for me… Thank you for giving me the chance.”

“You fight very different from me”, he said while shaking the hair out of his face, “I was curious to see how it would go. You’ll have to show me some of those sword techniques, they’re great.”

She smiled, puffing up a little bit at the praise. Her hand came up to brush away some of the dust that stuck to the side of his face. She seemed to do it subconsciously, because her eyes widened at the realization and she moved her hand away quickly. In a heat of the moment decision he grabbed her hand in midair, holding it in his own. Her eyes met his and the seconds seemed to stretch.

Something drew him, like a magnetic force, to lean in and press a kiss to her lips. It was relatively quick, but it felt so much longer to him. When he pulled away, she blinked at him. Her cheeks were pink, but he was unsure whether it was from the kiss or the fighting.

“I should have asked first, shouldn’t I?”, he said after clearing his throat.

“No, no”, she replied, still slightly dazed, “you’re fine.”

“I don’t know why-“, he stuttered, “I doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to, we can just forget it happened.”

“I-“, she paused, “… I think I’d like to remember it actually.”

The grip on his hand tightened, and Techno felt butterflies in his chest.

“I think my mind’s going a little foggy”, she continued, “could you remind me?”

It took far longer than it should have for his brain to process her words. When the gears finally clicked, a dry laugh escaped his lips.

“Are you flirting with me, dear?”, he retorted.

She laughed, a joyous and melodic sound. He cut her off before she could finish, causing her to giggle against his lips. Sitting in the middle of an empty battle arena, various weapons strewn around them, they allowed themselves to share in each other’s presence and be happy.

───※ ·❆· ※───

AHAHHAHAHA i just wanna say thank you again for this request because it ended up being such a joy to write. it was so fun to write the reader with this kind of personality

plus, it gave me an excuse to give this story a medieval fantasy aesthetic, which, in my humble opinion, is the superior aesthetic for techno

i can’t stress this enough, thank you to every anon who’s submitted a request for being patient with me! i’m trying to get through them chronologically while still giving myself enough of a break that i won’t get overwhelmed or burnt out. regardless of any wait, i hope you enjoyed!

thank you for reading <3

-moonlight

[itskatastrophe-x]

Far Off Places (CH 2)

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3

Word Count : 3,022

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It took a few hours to wake up, but when you did, you sat up in a cold sweat, sharp pains shooting through your ribs, legs, and back. Almost three days of walking and running had taken a huge toll on your body. You scrunched your face in pain and shot a hand to your chest, noticing bandages around your arm and hand. That’s when you were very aware of your surroundings and two other figures in your peripheral. You looked at them in shock, their faces mirroring your same expression. You remembered the one with the wings just as you fell to the ground, but this second person you hadn’t seen. How many people were here, you wondered.

You tried to speak but your throat was raw and all that came out were raspy whispers and coughs. The one with wings looked at the taller one and motioned to a doorway. The taller one nodded and walked away swiftly, coming back seconds later with a bottle of water and another one full of a sparkling pink liquid. He handed you both of them and advised to drink the pink one first and wash it down with the water, explaining it was a health potion. You obliged and gulped it as fast as you could, almost gagging from the taste, and quickly chugged and swished the water after, feeling the effects almost instantly. You thanked them both and handed the bottles back to the boy and he took them back through the doorway, leaving you and the winged man alone. You fiddled with the bandages on your arms for a moment and cleared your throat a couple times before finally speaking.

“Where am I? Who are you? Thank you for the help.” The man lightly chuckled and took off his hat, his hair falling to frame his face. “My name is Philza, but you can call me Phil. The other one is Ranboo, he’s our friend that lives over by the mountain.” His voice had a very thick accent, unlike the boy, Ranboo. You nodded and he continued. “You’re outside of the Dream SMP. I live with Ranboo here with Technoblade. He goes by Techno. He’s currently asleep and we’re not sure when he’ll wake up. You’ve seen our dogs,” he chuckles out, drawing a smile onto your face. You scratch the back of your neck and heat makes its way to your face. “I’m sorry if I woke you. Your dogs made quite the ruckus.” He smiles fondly at you and waves you off. “Oh, don’t worry about it. We’re normally up around that time anyway. Days have been pretty restless lately, what with all the wars and such going on.”

He notices the worry on your face and goes on. “We tend to stay out of things. We’ve been involved too many times and we all like to keep things peaceful. These cabins are essentially a safe place. No one really knows where we live and we’d like to keep it that way. You aren’t here as a spy are you?” You shake your head and look down at your hands, bruises and cuts litter your body, but are slowly fading thanks to the potion from earlier. “No, I uh…” You clear your throat and steel yourself to speak more. “I… I travelled for three days to get here. My homeland was destroyed and I have nowhere to go.”

You look up at the man, the younger boy now standing next to him, staring at you in wonder and concern, the same concern seen in Phil’s eyes. “I’m still not sure how much I can trust anyone so I won’t say much more, but I lost my home and everyone I know. I’ve come a long way and I need somewhere safe. The person that murdered and burned my home could still be out there, and I need help. I know we’re strangers but I hope to trust you two more. You seem like nice people and, if you’re willing, I’d like to find some help some day to go back and figure out what happened.”

They both stare at you for a while until Phil smiles politely and nods. “Of course! Do you have a name you’d like us to call you?” You think for a minute, not being able to come up with a name to go by so as to keep your real name hidden. Ranboo speaks up a minute later. “We could call you Faer, if that’s ok. As a name it means Traveler.” You smile brightly at the small  name and nod. “I guess that fits, seeing as I am technically a traveler now. I didn’t do much of that back home, so sure, let’s go with that.” They both nod in unison. “Faer,” you say to yourself. A fitting name, short and sweet and it rolled off the tongue nicely. Maybe one day when you knew you could trust them you’d tell them your real name, but for now that nickname would do.

They gave you some supplies, a bed, and some armor and better clothes after you got some rest and pointed you to a good spot to set up your own little home. They also gave you a map of the surrounding areas and gave you a rundown of some of the people that lived in the main cities, but there were so many that you forgot half of them. Ranboo followed you out to pick a spot to settle down, idly chatting about how life was in the area, who to stay away from, where all the farms were, and just general stuff to pass the time. Eventually you ran out of wood so you both ventured into the woods to chop some more.

After a couple hours, your small abode was looking good. It wasn’t anything fancy or as big as Techno or Phil’s houses, but it did the job. All you had to do yet was finish putting walls up inside, decorating, and making it pretty outside. You added some fences to give yourself a front yard, placed torches to liven up the place, and also made a small deck out front facing the aforementioned houses. It took a couple more hours of work to get the inside done, but everything was done around sunset and you were ready to pass out. Phil came over close to the end and said Techno was awake and they would be over soon to welcome you in. You were grateful to have such a warm welcome, but you were still on edge. How well could you trust these people? Sure, they gave you plenty of things and were friendly, but it felt like they were hiding something or were keeping information away from you. The way they would shirk off certain questions or avoid subjects completely was weird. You assumed it was because they didn’t trust you either, so you shrugged it off. You were a stranger to them. A person that ended up passing out on their land, giving them no info on who you were or where you came from. You were lucky you ended up here, though. Hearing some of the stories Ranboo told you made you glad this was the closest on your journey.

Ranboo returned, after leaving to clean himself up, with some flowers, a diamond sword, and a couple emeralds to get you started. After chatting with him for a couple minutes you heard a knock on your front door, signaling the return of Phil. You hopped off of your seat and opened the door to greet him. He had a couple dishes of various kinds of foods piled into his arms, so you gladly took some from him. What you were not prepared for was Techno. You didn’t know what to expect, as Phil had given no description, but the tall half pig, half human standing behind the winged man with a disgruntled look on his face, flowing red cape, and glinting golden crown was absolutely something you weren’t expecting. I mean, you weren’t one to judge, you just had no clue what to expect. Phil walked past you and asked Ranboo for help setting everything up, leaving you with the large man. He gave you a huff and walked past you, cape gently hitting you in the shins as the wind from him walking pushed it out behind him. You stood there, slightly in shock with the door open, as he made himself at home in your new living room. You closed the door and turned around to see him with his head hanging off the back of the couch, eyes closed and arms crossed. He did just wake up, maybe he’s still tired.

The night was going well in your eyes. You and Ranboo were getting along well and you could see why he was saying Phil was very much like a powerful father figure. Techno joined in on some conversations occasionally when he thought he had something to say. You asked him some simple questions but he refused to answer anything. You chalked it up to him not trusting you at all so you let it slide and shrugged it off. Phil had nudged him or elbowed him a few times if he thought he was getting out of line, but you waved it off saying you weren’t bothered. Honestly you weren’t bothered. You had heard worse in your courts back at home, so little phased you at this point. Thinking about your home had apparently made you zone out, because you were brought back to real life when you heard your new name being called. Ranboo had shook your shoulder lightly, concern etched onto his and Phil’s faces, amusement and curiosity finally glinting in Techno’s eyes. You laughed lightly and put a hand to your face, feeling wetness on your cheeks. When had you started crying?

“Faer, are you ok? What’s wrong?” Ranboo’s hand retracted and he stared at you with intense focus, very clearly concerned. You looked down at your empty plate, long forgotten from the hours before during your conversations. You contemplated telling them the truth, second guessed yourself, then shook your head and covered your face with both hands, letting out a short sigh. You knew you would have to tell them eventually, and you supposed now was as good a time as any. You started off at your lineage, being born into a royal family, being sheltered since you were young, your training and lessons. Everything shortened into smaller stories to keep things simplified. Everything leading up to your parents inevitable deaths and you becoming the ruler of a whole kingdom.

Techno had perked at the words “royal family”, finally becoming invested in something and listening closely, asking questions every once in a while. Ranboo and Phil sat in shock as Techno had basically taken over the conversation, you pouring out details as he asked. You weren’t sure why exactly you were letting him get so much out of you, but all of them seemed to relax the more you talked about your past, until finally you reached the downfall of your oversized city. Ranboo had gotten more invested in this, and seemed to want to figure out how it happened as well. He said he was a fan of theories and small details that seemed to be hidden, so he agreed to helping you find the arsonist.

They asked for coordinates so you got up, grabbed all the plates to take them to the kitchen, found your journal, and brought it back to where everyone was sitting. Ranboo’s eyes lit up as he watched you flip through the pages and you caught onto his gaze and smiled. He opened his own bag and brought out a journal silently, smiling the whole time, mentioning how he kept his own journals. You made a mental note to try to ask about them at another point as he put his away. You finally flipped to the page holding info about your kingdom and pulled out a map from between the pages as well, flipping them to face Techno and Phil. They looked over everything and you watched intently as they pointed and flipped, exchanging words every few seconds.

“We can just make a portal,” Techno finally grunts out. “Most of our locations we stay in have portals to each and highways connecting to the main portal by the community house. The only thing we would worry about is having you out and about. Some of the people here… Aren’t so trustworthy.” You think back to your conversation with Ranboo and nod. “Yeah, Ranboo said something about an Egg? What’s that all about?” They all go quiet and you feel like you’ve asked the wrong question. “I’m assuming it’s nothing good, so I won’t press anymore, but if it’s unavoidable then you’ll have to tell me eventually.” Phil speaks up from his side of the table. “Well, all we should tell you now is to not touch the vines, and if you hear anything to let us know right away. Don’t trust any bad thoughts.” You were taken back by that but hesitantly croaked out an ‘ok’ and left it there.

You all spent the last hour together coming up with a plan to get you to your kingdom, what you could look for, and who else you might be able to trust. The date was decided to be set for a week from the present day and you would find two more people, Karl and Sapnap. Ranboo said you would get along well with them and they were people they knew could help that had a lot of knowledge. Karl was a master at problem solving and a time traveler (though he still didn’t know exactly how to control it and only used it when he had to), and Sapnap was born in fire so he knew it well, meaning he might be able to know something from the wreckage. After everything was said and done, you were waving goodbye as they all crossed the snow covered field to their separate homes.

You shut the door and sighed, leaning your back against the solid wood plank, your head also falling back to rest on it, eyes closing as you listened to your breathing and heartbeat. The gentle crackling from the fireplace and torches calmed your nerves more as you pushed off the door and made your way to the kitchen to extinguish some of the lights. After cleaning up and tidying everything, you looked over the living room once more and smiled to yourself, finding your way up the stairs and into your bathroom to wash off and get ready to sleep.

All this alone time gave you time to think about the plans, and the more you thought, the more you doubted this person named Sapnap. You were told he had some kind of fire ability, and seeing as most of your kingdom was set on fire, you didn’t think he was very trustworthy. No matter how far away this place was, he was still suspicious to you. I mean, what were you supposed to think when you got to a random location and on the first day upon arrival you were told that there was someone here with a fire ability? Were you just supposed to trust this stranger immediately, just like that? You didn’t like that thought at all, but you trusted Ranboo and Phil enough already that you figured you should give this Sapnap guy a chance.

And with those last few thoughts, you finished settling in to sleep, finally in a proper bed after three long days. The thick blanket and the flickering light of the last embers in the hearth helped you to drift off to sleep. You made a mental note to write in your journal when you wake up, since you were exhausted and could barely keep your eyes open.

Hot. Burning. Loud crashing. Your eyes snapped open and you were finally aware of your surroundings. Your kingdom around you, burning to the ground, craters dotted the ground. You were surrounded by fire. You screamed out in pain and searched for a safe way out. Why was this happening? No. You knew the answer, you just had to remember. Right? Right! Dreams. You could solve things using your dreams, being thrown back into the middle of situations to see what went wrong. To look over missed details. The only downside was the fact that all your senses still worked. It was like time travelling but without all the paradoxical consequences. Essentially just to play detective.

You ran through the blaze, trying to find a safe path while also looking for clues. There was nothing but destruction, burnt remains, and the smell of burning wood. You finally made it to a clearing where the plaza in front of the castle was, and there in the distance between all the red flames and black smoke, there was a flash of color. It was fast, so you almost missed it, but it was there. Who was that? With that thought alone, you were sprinting in the same direction, not caring about the flames that would kiss your skin or the ember covered logs that would catch your legs. You needed this lead, no matter what kind of pain you went through.

You spent what felt like hours running around. Your legs felt like they were being torn apart, your skin was burning and blistered in a lot of spots, and it was getting too hard to breathe. There was no sign of the green that you saw earlier, so you gave into your body and fell to the brick walkway under you, the rough texture stinging your skin. You closed your eyes, breathing heavily, hoping you would wake up soon. Then you heard it. The sound of feet on the pavement ahead of where you laid. Your body hurt as you lifted your head, vision going fuzzy and dark as the person neared. Green.

[gaybutterflynerd]

Guys theory time: Fundy is going to be how all the plots merge. I mean think about it, in that stream referenced things from many different plots:

Starting out obvious the white smiley face at the end is an obvious nod to the one at the end of Ranboo’s streams. This links it to his plot, and also means with whatever is going on Dream is most likely involved (the other thing that points to this is that this is happening in a “Dream”). Personally I’ve always believed in the Dreamon theory for Ranboo as well so my first instinct is thinking Fundy’s stuff is Dreamon related, but feel free to draw your own conclusions.

In the end screen there’s also the sounds of a slot machine. This is obviously a nod to Quackity’s casino arc. How it will be involved in this is currently unclear (as there were no mentions of Jschlatt, or Quackity), but if I had to make a wild guess it has to do with Wilbur’s resurrection because of...

The “he” the book is warning about is most likely Wilbur. He’s well known for manipulating Fundy, he’s very capable of manipulating Fundy, and based on what Tommy has said he absolutely will destroy everything Fundy loves if he joins him. That last line is also really what points to Wilbur rather than Dream, as if you think about it no matter how many times he betrays those he joins, Dream usually doesn’t turn those who directly help him. This is how Tommy’s plot ties into this.

The writing books to oneself and predicting the future aspect has far too many parallels to Karl’s time travel powers to be a coincidence. Stretching it a bit further his dream space might even be similar to the in between. Personally I’m predicting Karl will play a role in this.

As for the egg... ok I’ve got nothing gonna be honest I haven’t been following it super well and I didn’t really see any obvious connections. Feel free to suggest ideas.

So with that here’s my prediction as to what’s going to happen in Fundy’s arc (keep in mind this is pure speculation and as I said I have no idea how the egg will factor into what happens. The main contents of this post are meant to be the above observations. This is honestly basically fanfic at this point):

Wilbur is going to get revived by Dream (possibly during one of Quackity’s visits), and somehow either one or both of them get out (possibly through the help of Techno and/or Philza, as both were fairly close to him and Techno’s favor). Wilbur is going to seem alright at first, but be secretly plotting his revenge for being revived. Tommy is going to try to warn everyone, but to no avail as when has anyone ever took Tommy at his word (however I’m pretty sure he could manage to convince Ranboo, especially if he’s working with Dream). After revival, one of the first things he’s going to do is try to sweet talk Fundy to his side, as Fundy is in a very vulnerable position right now, and can easily be manipulated by Will. Then somewhere along the line Wilbur is going to show his true colors, and likely betray Dream. Wilbur will have set up an elaborate scheme to destroy everything, and only reveal what’s going on when it’s too late. He will then kill multiple people including Fundy himself (we know he’s going to die at some point due to him getting chased by the Grim Reaper), and personally I think he’s going to be the one who kills Phil as it would just be poetic and Phil is going to die eventually. Karl will try to travel back in time to stop the resurrection, but ultimately fail. With everything being at stake for everyone (Including Techno wanting revenge for Phil) they team up. Dream freaks out, being truly threatened for the first time, and try to use ranboo but fail. Then using his connections to Dreamons in combination with Karl’s powers to try to warn Fundy but only have slight success. However it’s enough for Fundy to leave a weak spot in Wilbur’s plan as an act of defiance, which the server manages to exploit and down Wilbur. However the ending is bittersweet as everything is already destroyed, though then a mysterious portal opens to a new world...

(This is 100% not what’s going to happen but it makes for a good story lol, and I want to see if I’m right about even a fraction of this).

[ray-ray-writings]

Hello!

(In this Drabble it’s if the reader had given birth the Phillpa)

Drabble idea: How protective and caring Techno and Philza were during the reader’s pregnancy with Phillpa(I do hope I spelled that right).

It wouldn’t be the overly over protective type, just rightfully protective type! Its more of carrying the reader down stairs when they are 2+ months along, making sure they don’t walk too much, forcing them to rest much more than usual.

Fretting over and caring for the reader constantly would happen often when it was about 6+ months along.

Just those two being very caring, protective and concerned over the reader while they were pregnant.

I hope you had a wonderful day and great night! Thank you for all your wonderful writing, and I’m wishing you an amazing upcoming week!! 💞💞 /g

Oh boy if you were to be pregnant and give birth to Philippa yourself, they would be so protective of you oh gosh. 

Like I imagine that you and Techno weren’t actively trying to conceive a baby, it was more like “if it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t” type beat. But then it actually happens. I feel like you would miss a period and you would just know because you’ve never missed a period before. You take a trip to Ponk’s because he’s the SMP’s doctor and he confirms your suspicions and you race home to tell Techno the news. I totally feel that Techno doesn’t believe you at first, but then when you don’t say sike, he’s in shock and then he’s over the moon. He literally lifts you up and spins you around before bringing you back down and kissing you over and over again. He’s just so happy that the two of you are going to expand your family. The next night you two invite Philza over for dinner. You two had it all planned, you were going to wait for dessert and Techno would offer him some wine and then you would have just water and when Philza asked about it, because we all know he would def notice a shift in that type of behavior, you would tell him. But of course, nothing really ever goes to plan with your plans. Philza would walk in, greet you guys with hugs and smiles, and the three of you would sit at the table. Then Philza would casually go “What’s the occasion” and Techno wouldn’t be able to hold it in. He spill the beans so fast causing you to just laugh and roll your eyes but nod in confirmation at what Techno had said. Philza would jump up from the table, run to you and wrap you in the biggest and warmest hug. He would then move to Techno and hug him too. Philza would sit back at the table and tears would just be streaming down his face, “My babies are having a baby” he would cry out, just melting the two of you. 

For the rest of the time your preggers, the two are so protective of you. They will literally do anything and everything for you. They’re a bit calmer in the beginning months, but still protective. You never leave the house at night unattended by one of them. All mobs that cross your path are destroyed before they can even agro to you. You don’t have to worry about food or materials because your chests are always being filled by them and they keep on top of that stuff so well. They make sure that you don’t work yourself too hard. If they feel you have been on your feet too long, they will make you sit down and chill out for a while before they let you get back up and get back to what you were doing. 

As you get further along, your tummy obviously grows and they can see your baby bump. The day that they notice, they both cry for a little bit before calming themselves down and begin giving you lots of affection. That day is also the day they begin talking to your baby bump. Techno talks about how amazing the baby is and how proud he is of you for carrying this child and how he can’t believe he’s going to be a dad. Philza talks about how he cannot wait to meet his grandbaby and how happy he is for the two of you and he can’t believe that you two are going to be parents. 

As your belly grows, so does their protectiveness. You know how they would make you sit down for a while? Yeah you’re lucky if they even let you stand up. Every morning, Techno will carry you into the bathroom, help you do your business and then will carry you into the kitchen and make you breakfast and then will carry you into the living room where you sit and hang out with Techno for many hours. You sometimes can sneak away and do things by yourself but when you come back, Techno just looks at you with a cute pout and you somehow feel really bad for leaving him. It’s around this time that you stop going out at night all together, you three have a conversation about it because not only are they worried, but so are you and so you decide it’s best for you and the baby. And then at one point, you stop leaving the house all together. In the early stages, you would make trips to L’Manberg to see Phil and Tommy and them, but as you got ready to pop, the journey was just too long and too rough to make, even if you were a lot closer to the country than you were months ago. Philza will bring things over to keep you entertained because god knows you would have gone absolutely crazy had it not been for the new things Phil brought. 

Sometimes you let out sharp gasps because of a pain that shoots through you due to a kick or something. Philza or Techno are always immediately at your side when these happen, rubbing your tummy soothingly asking you if you're okay. When you catch your breath, you nod and tell them what happened. They would then bend to your stomach and jokingly tell the baby off for hurting you. They also are willing to get you whatever your craving, no matter how weird or how far they have to travel. Techno has literally gone to L’Manberg to Niki’s house in the middle of the night to ask if she had any chocolate cake because you had woken up in the middle of the night with a bad craving for her cake. Niki simply giggles and gives the pigman what he asks for. (I’m going to say for my own selfish purposes that after the third time this happens, Niki just gives Techno a key to the bakery so he can go in whenever he wants and when you hear this, you cry over it because you’re so hormonal and emotional but it’s also just really nice of her). Philza has also received messages asking him to bring over something when he comes over next because you can feel a craving coming on but you don’t need it right away. That being said, Philza always makes the trip the day that you ask because he cares so much about you that he’s willing to do anything for you. 

Just with every step of your pregnancy, they’re there helping you through it. It would be so cute and so nice and wonderful to have these two just fretting it over you and your baby. 

(And thank you! I hope you have a great day as well! Thank you so much for your really sweet words <3)

[fallingappleshurt]

Could you possibly write a SBI FD AU of all of the boys at Christmas. Could be at Christmas or any other time during the winter. Genuinely all I want to read right now. <3

Ty, Anon

Snowy Boys Incorporated (Part 1/2)

Sorry y’all, apparently word limits are a thing but anyways here it is!

Sorry if the flow of this was weird, it jumps from Phil to Tommy to Techno back to Tommy then to Wilbur, I have no excuse

This AU was made my the wonderful @antarctic-bay go check her out! And please keep in mind my writing isn’t canon!

Also the two times French is mentioned I used google translate because I am tired

Anyways hope you enjoy!

Phil parked the car and texted Techno and Wilbur to come help him and Tommy with the tree and ornaments. He turned off the engine and pocketed his phone, hoping Techno and Wilbur had actually moved the furniture to make room for the tree while him and Tommy had actually got the tree and ornaments from a storage unit.

“Phil- Phil! The tree is stuck!” Tommy said, Phil could hear him yanking at the box.

“Hang on, watch the ice,” Phil came around to the trunk of the car, ignoring the snowflakes fluttering down, he saw Tommy trying to shake the box from it’s jammed position.

“How did you manage this?”

“I don’t know!”

“Let me try,” Phil grabbed the sides of the box, trying to slowly wedge it out, but to no avail. “How did you do this?”

“Wh- How is this my fault?” Tommy cried, starting to pull at the box again.

“You’re the one that packed it!”

“What are you guys doing?” Phil looked over to see Techno standing by the car, eyebrow raised.

“Tommy’s shit at packing and got the tree stuck.”

“That sounds like him-”

“Hey!”

“You’re just mad-” Techno was caught off guard by Wilbur coming up behind him, slipping, and knocking them both to the ground.

“Wilbur what the fuck!”

“I slipped!”

“Get off of me!” Phil cackled as Tommy laughed loudly, wheezing at the end.

“That’s what you get for being an asshole! Instant karma!”

Techno responded by grabbing a fist full of snow and throwing it at Tommy, it landed on his chest and he yelped.

“It got in my shirt!”

“Good.”

After Techno and Wilbur had untangled themselves and dusted the snow from their clothes, they started to help them with the tree. They ended up having Techno climb into the car and lower one of the backseats and after much more struggling and wiggling the box they managed to free the tree from its very old, silver chamber.

Wilbur grabbed the boxes of ornaments and started up the stairs while Tommy and Techno followed with the tree and Phil locked up the car, listening to his brother's banter and hoping they actually wouldn’t try to race up the stairs.

He was glad to see his brothers more relaxed, they had all been stressed with finals right before break, he had come home from work many nights seeing them with books and papers spread out across the table, empty cups of coffee and energy drink cans littered around.

It was nice to see them fooling around.

Phil entered the apartment and slipped off his shoes, throwing them in the pile, to see Techno dragging the tree out of it’s box while Tommy and Wilbur pulled cobwebs off of ornaments.

They set up the tree in the corner of the room by a window and started to mess with the cords to plug in the lights, after unplugging and replugging every cord they managed to fit the tree lights in.

They started decorating, adding on colorful glass balls and a few candy canes just to be extra even though they knew Wilbur would eat them later.

Phil grabbed his personal favorite ornament, a wooden one with Snoopy and Woodstalk wearing santa hats in the snow, and hung it on the tree. They each had a favorite ornament, Techno’s was a mini violin, Wilbur’s an ornate snowflake, Tommy’s was a glass pickle. They were all hung on the front of the tree where they were easily seen.

They still had some of the little foam ornaments, the kind that are made in elementary school and kept for nostalgia and nostalgia only. Some still had pictures, Phil with an old striped bucket hat that they only let him keep for the first day of school. He missed that hat, it had been lost in a move.

Pulling more from the box, he found a snowman with a picture of Techno, glasses too big for his face, smiling shyly at the camera with paint on his hands. A baby blue foam mitten had a picture of Wilbur, who wasn’t facing the camera, with wild hair and a huge grin on his face as he slapped at a toy keyboard. A fading gingerbread man had a picture of Tommy grinning, eyes squeezed shut with colorful band aids across his face.

He took pictures with his phone and hung them up on the tree, much to his younger brother's annoyance.

Wilbur scrapped old tinsel out of the bottom of the boxes and put a few strands on the tree. Tommy grabbed the bundles of old lights and proceeded to strong them along the walls of the apartment.

“These are the next best things to LED lights,” He said, almost matter-of- factly, Phil just laughed as Tommy attempted to tape some of the wire to the wall. He was eventually able to pull it off after continually yelling at Techno to bring him duct tape and ‘fucking help him or he’d shake the bunk’.

After they had finished setting it up, they turned off all the lights except for the tree and strung ones on the wall. The colorful candy ones shown in the window by the tree and the golden light showed nicely against their white walls.

“The yellow lights kind of look like fireflies,” Techno mused, rubbing at his eyes.

“Maybe in video games, but this is the real world,” Tommy scoffed.

“Aww, are you tired?” Wilbur teased voice raising multiple octaves, “Little Blade need a na-”

Techno shoved Wilbur’s face away, “Shut up Wilbur,” He grumbled.

“When was the last time you slept?” Phil asked.

“Uh,” Techno paused for much longer then necessary, “Can’t remember.”

“Huh, that’s definitely not concerning-”

“I think this looks great!” Tommy interrupted, “Considering half of this stuff was covered in cobwebs!”

Phil nodded, “Oh wait, we forgot the star!” He started digging through one the boxes, his brothers left him to it and sat down on the couch. The star was always Phil’s thing, it was never a spoken rule, just something they had agreed on. Once he found it, Phil placed it on the tree then sat down next to his brothers.

He asked Wilbur about his day and Wilbur told him about finals hell and how every student looked dead or was trying to sleep in the cafeteria.

He turned to the others only to find that Techno and Tommy had already passed out, leaning on each other. Phil nudged Wilbur with his elbow, nodding towards the sleeping pair. They both pulled out their phones, taking pictures.

“Blackmail?” Phil asked, a grin pulling at his lips. Wilbur nodded.

“Blackmail.”

Phil took Techno’s glasses off of his face and set them on the coffee table and Wilbur covered them with a blanket.

The next morning Tommy sat up groggily, his first thought being that he was really hungry, so after untangling his and Techno’s limbs he padded into the kitchen. He started making a bowl of cereal and scrambled eggs, he made them in the lazy way, whisking the eggs with a fork then putting them in the microwave.

Then he remembered that it had been snowing the day before and rushed over to the window. A thick white blanket covered the terrain, sparkling white with soft gray clouds coating the sky. He opened the window and poked at the snow. He squished a fistful in his palm, it was packed, heavy snow.

Perfect for snowball fights.

He was going to destroy his brothers.

He closed the window then went to grab his food and sat at the table. A few minutes later he saw Techno sit up and rub at his eyes, Tommy watched him look around for a moment.

“Glasses are on the coffee table,” He supplied, taking a bite of cereal, Techno gave him a thumbs up then headed into the kitchen, starting to make a cup of coffee.

“Why don’t you eat breakfast?” Tommy asked, Techno looked over at him, glaring at his food.

“Why do you eat breakfast? It’s too early for food,”

“But not too early for coffee?”

“It’s never too early for coffee Tommy.”

Techno sat down across from him, obviously still trying to wake up fully. Just as Tommy was finishing his food Phil emerged from the hallway.

“You guys ready for today?”

“Heh?”

“What’s happening today?”

Phil raised an eyebrow, “Did you forget? We are helping down at the St Francis soup kitchen- my friend is low on people-I told you about this a week ago.”

“I completely forget,” Techno’s response was muffled by the coffee cup.

“Well we gotta be there in like an hour, get moving!”

Tommy put his dishes in the sink and saw Wilbur standing in the hall, staring him down.

“Hey Tommy, didn’t you wanna shower this morning?” He asked, eyes drifting towards the bathroom.

“Wilbur don’t-”

“Tommy-”

“Wilbur don’t-” Tommy’s begging was cut off as Wilbur shot to the side, dove into the bathroom and slammed the door. Tommy rushed over, pounding on the flimsy wood.

“Damn it Wilbur! Open the door!”

He heard the shower start and pounded harder.

“Wilbur you bitch!”

“Tommy it is too early for you to be this loud-” Techno said from the table.

“I’ll be quieter sooner if you help me open the door!”

Techno considered it for a moment then stood up, “Where is that bent coat hanger-”

“For fucks sake-” Phil put a hand on Tommy’s chest then knocked on the door, “Wilbur! You got ten minutes!”

Wilbur’s ‘okay’ was muffled from the door, Tommy sighed, leaning on the door, deciding he would absolutely beat the shit out of his brothers later.

They were running late because of course they were, between the fight for the bathroom, getting the car cleaned off and getting to the soup kitchen in the day before Christmas traffic was not the easier task, at least for the Pandels.

They finally pulled up to the soup kitchen and parked in the back, heading inside. They had barely managed to take off their coats before an employee pulled them into the kitchen.

Tommy was barely able to process what the man said, something about being understaffed, and shoved Tommy next to another boy who was sorting out juice boxes and fruit cups onto trays.

His brothers were being pulled aside to do actual cooking, they had done it before once when Tommy was sick and had to stay home.

After sorting and setting out all of the food along a conveyor belt type thing, Tommy wasn’t really sure what it was, they pulled up a metal covering so people could come get food.

Each person had to pass out different foods to people, Tommy was put at the end of the conveyor belt, handing out christmas cookies. Wilbur was next to him, offering different drinks.

Multiple different people came down the line, filling their plates with food and sitting down in the cafeteria. There was a TV in the corner and a bookshelf, other people milled about, soft chatter against the pots and pans clattering in the kitchen.

Two kids walked through the line with their parents, the girl looked at Wilbur and wrinkled her nose.

“Your hat looks weird,”

Tommy cackled and gave her an extra cookie.

Eventually they shut the windows and started to clean up the kitchen, putting plates and trays into a huge dishwasher, boxing things up in a walk in freezer and handing out non perishables to people as they left.

Tommy leaned against the counter, Techno and Phil were taking off aprons and putting them in a laundry pile, his shoulders loosened. They had helped people, it felt good;

“Just helped some people- feeling good-”

“Just killed a woman, feeling good!” Wilbur cut in, elbowing Tommy in the ribs, he elbowed him back. “Dickhead,”

“Hey! We’re gonna be heading out soon!” Phil called across the kitchen.

“Is there anything else we have planned?” He asked Wilbur.

“We’re making cookies,”

“Why?”

Wilbur shrugged, “Cause Techno got some new recipes from that gang of Lesbians at school.”

Tommy shuttered, “Oh I remember them, they scare me-”

“I thought you said they were cool,” Wilbur interjected, starting to follow Phil out the door.

“They are! But they also scare the shit out of me!”

Wilbur laughed, “As they should.”

Techno was watching Tommy slide around the kitchen in his socks when Phil asked; “Techno, you said you had some new recipes?”

He nodded, “Yeah, the Lesbian group chat gave me some,”

He remembered getting them was an interesting process, he asked them if they knew of any good cookie recipes and they had all started spamming for one girl to get online. When she did get online he asked the question again. She responded in all caps ‘You fucking fuck! Of course I have some! I am a cottagecore lesbian! What do you take me for!’ Then sent him 7 different recipes.

Wilbur snorted, “I still can’t believe you got taken in by a group of lesbians.”

Techno rolled his eyes and sent two of the recipes to Phil, who was preheating the oven.

“Why are we making so many?” Tommy asked, grabbing the baking sheets from the cabinets.

“They are for the neighbors,” Phil said.

“As a gift?”

“As an apology, you guys are fucking loud.”

Techno smiled, getting out the measuring cups and starting to put ingredients into the bowl. One was a recipe for sugar cookies, which is what he and Wilbur were doing, and the other were snickerdoodles which Phil and Tommy were in charge of.

Techno and Wilbur always worked well together, they flowed around each other, passing ingredients and helping each other out. Meanwhile Phil and Tommy had spilled half of the things they were trying to get into the bowl.

As Wilbur and Techno put their cookies in the oven, Phil nudged Tommy.

“Tommy, where is the rest of the butter, you said you grabbed more,”

“I did, I grabbed-”

“Then give it to me,”

Tommy didn’t move, “Hey Phil, remember when I said I had the butter-well- I lied.”

“What!”

“Don’t worry Phil, We still have some over here,” Wilbur passed a stick of butter behind him.

“Do you guys want some help-” Techno asked, biting his tongue, Tommy pushed him away.

“No! We got this!”

So Wilbur and Techno hung out in the living room while Phil and Tommy tried not to kill each other over cookies. It turned out to be for the best though because when they were ready to put their cookies in, Wilbur and Techno’s were done.

The two decorated their cookies with colored sprinkles, the recipe said it was optional but Wilbur had made the excellent point that sprinkles should never be optional.

Once Phil and Tommy’s cookies were done and left out too cool, Techno’s phone buzzed.

[votederpycausemufins]

We’re back with Summoning family! I’m referencing Rustic House Club in this fic, so you might want to go read it, especially the bonus chapter as  it has a bit that leads into this chapter, though it’s not necessary to read.

also ay yo @petrichormeraki ! new chapter!

The moment Jrum had seen Sam, he rushed to the redstoner and attached himself to one of his legs. Grum quickly followed to help pry his younger brother off the man, but Jrum made it as difficult as possible. “I am sorry for my brother. I assume you are Sam?”

“Yeah, that’s me. Can I ask what that was about?”

“Your mask. It resembles that of a creeper in such a way that it makes you resemble someone we are familiar with. Jrum likely saw the mask and presumed you to be him. He is already rather homesick.”

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m happy to help you two. Puffy said you needed help with some redstone?” Sam asked, earning a nod from Grum.

“Correct. We are robots that are powered by redstone. Our circuitry is complex enough that we do not have a way to easily self recharge, thus a charger for us will need to be constructed. Jrum? The blueprints if you please?”

Jrum handed a sheet of paper to Sam. It had various orthographic views of the device as well as interior images and instructions on how to build it. “That’s the tweaked version since our dads could make it smaller.”

Sam looked over the blueprints. “Hmm, yeah, this is gonna be pretty big, but it’s manageable. Do I need to make one for each of you?”

“No, we should be able to share.” Grum replied. “Though two would indeed be a better option, we would not want to force you to do more work, and once we have one charger, the two of us will be able to make a second ourselves without any looming deadline.”

“Alright then, let’s start making this thing.”

Sam took them to an open area which he also explained was where they could build a place to live around the charger. Grum thought that was a good idea as he mapped out the area for Sam and Jrum to start working. Grum also helped out as much as he could, but he had given much of his battery charge to Jrum, and soon it showed.

“You doing okay there?” Sam asked Grum, who’s movements were stuttered and slow. Grum didn’t respond, just continuing to work. “Hey kid? Uh, Jrum I think? Something’s up with your brother.”

Jrum stopped what he was doing and came over, looking at his brother. “Oh… h-he’s in low power mode. I… Grum do you want some of my charge?” Grum didn’t respond. He didn’t want to use any power for it. “Here, let me just connect us up.” Jrum started to pull out a cable, but Grum stopped him. “Don’t. Finish the charger. Instead. I’ll be. Fine.”

Jrum still looked worried, but slowly put the cable away. Sam went back to working, and Jrum almost did as well, but then Grum collapsed, now completely out of power. “No!” Jrum was immediately back at Grum’s side and started shaking him. “Please wake up! P-Please! I don’t want to be alone! W-wake up!”

Sam wanted to comfort the robot, but what just happened showed just how important this project was. So instead he just started working as fast as he could without messing up. Jrum reluctantly joined him after a few minutes, working slowly.

They had almost completed it when Jrum’s movements also became stiff and laggy. Sam paused what he was doing again to be next to Jrum, not wanting to leave him feeling alone. “What. If I. Don’t wake. Up again?” Jrum asked.

Sam gave a comforting hug to the robot. “You will. I promise.”

Jrum slowly hugged the man back. Sam held on until he felt Jrum’s grip loosen, and when he pulled away, Jrum was also completely off, save for the symbol of an empty battery before it disappeared, leaving everything dark.

“Now are you all sure this is a wise decision?” Xisuma asked, admin panel open and ready to send the group of six to Helscraft. 

“Yes! This is probably the last place we have to look!” Tommy shouted at Xisuma, surprising him. “And if we have to fight for them back! So be it!”

Mumbo put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Calm down. This isn’t exactly the first time we’ve lost someone in there. I’m sure if the bots did end up in Helscraft, they’re probably in safe hands.”

Tommy looked over at Grian who gave a sad smile and nodded. “We’ll just need to be a little careful. Last time we were there I got mistaken for someone else, and since that person was the empress of the world, it could happen this time too.”

“Okay, someone good will have the kids, people are going to try and kill Grian, we protect him. Great! Got it! Let’s go!”

Xisuma rolled his eyes but smiled at his newest hermit before sending the group off to the hels dimension.

The group found themselves standing on a small island made of mycelium as well as being on fire. The water surrounding the burning island was a blood red color, though it otherwise looked like water. Mumbo walked over to a chest and pulled out some boats before putting them down. “Alright, we’re heading to that main island in the distance over there.” He pointed. “We’re going to need to find a portal that’s made of something that looks like glowstone, but isn’t. From there we follow a path lined with blue clouds. No questions, just get in the boats.”

The only time Tommy had heard Mumbo that serious was when he was scolding the bots, so he immediately listened and got in a boat, Tubbo getting in behind him. He followed behind the boats Mumbo and Techno were rowing, going towards the main island of the world. Looking at it was a bit jarring. He could tell this was like the hermits’ cowmercial district, but it also looked like it was a part of the SMP with how destroyed and griefed it looked.

Grian led them to a portal that looked like it was made from a golden material with blue magic in the middle. When Tommy went through, he was surprised to see something that looked so much like the standard overworld. Though it resembled a plains biome, something Tommy absolutely hated, it also didn’t with its mint green grass and blue dirt. Trees with light green, blue and navy leaves speckled the land, and unfamiliar mobs roamed the land. There was also one other difference. The place was absolutely freezing. 

“Wh-wh-where a-are w-we?” Tommy chattered out before he was handed a blanket made out of wool. Mumbo had one of his own and was handing out one to each member of the party, save for grian who was using his wings instead. One blanket had been brought for the avian though, and Techno took that one too, as being a piglin already made the overworld chilly, so this was on a different level.

“This is the aether. It’s what they have instead of the nether in Helscraft.” Grian answered. “And while The nether is supposed to be closer to the core of the world, making it much hotter, this place is far up in the air, making it extremely cold. The spawn here has something to make the air here breathable, but outside of this place, you need extra gear to breath for very long as there’s not much oxygen. Fortunately the path we’re going on has something set up, which is why those blue clouds are there. But also do not touch them because it will not end well for you.”

After Grian’s warning, everyone was very careful as they walked the marked path. Beings made of clouds attempted to attack as they walked, but the group had bows that made quick work of the mobs. Finally, as they drew close to the end of the path, a large rustic style mansion stood completely undamaged like the main island had been.

“Alright, now hopefully the bots are there.” Grian said, half under his breath before running towards the mansion. Tommy was the first to run off after him, the others all following behind. Just before they reached the front door, it opened, and Grian walked out.

“Oh! Grian! You came for a visit! How nice!” The second grian spoke before setting down a picnic basket and hugging his double.

“Nice to see you too NPG, but… please tell me you at least thought I would visit.”

The other Grian, NPG, tilted his head. “No, I’m sorry but I didn’t. Was I supposed to know? Did I forget a planned gathering?”

“No… I just… Grum and Jrum… they got k-killed… and their respawn… th-they didn’t show b-back up… w-we thought they m-might be here and…”

“Oh no! That sounds horrible!” NPG covered his mouth in shock. If there’s anything I can do to help, I will. I just need to visit Sense first.” NPG picked up his basket again. “If you want you could come with?”

Mumbo put his hands on Grian’s shoulders. “I don’t think that would be a good idea after their last meeting.”

“What the fuck did this Sense guy do?” Tommy asked, making NPG look over.

“Oh hello! I don’t believe I caught your name.”

“I’m Tommy. These are Tubbo, Philza and Technoblade. Now what about this Sense guy?”

“It is nice to meet you all. Perfect sense is the Hels counterpart to Mumbo here. From what I can tell, the first meeting between him and Grian did not go well at all.”

“How so?” Phil asked, dad instincts cropping up.

“He got extremely handsy with Grian.” Mumbo answered. “To put it lightly, clothes almost came off and Grian was left with a bruise on his neck. After that he tried to kill the both of us along with NPG.”

“Oh I remember seeing that bruise.” Tommy replied. “Now I get why Grian got so upset about my comment about your guy’s love life.”

“I wouldn’t mind meeting the guy.” Phil spoke up. For all we know, he could have some answers about your kids. If he was willing to mess with you before, he could be doing it again.”

“Alright then! Follow me!” NPG started to lead them off before doubling back and grabbing masks for everyone to wear. Once they were on, then NPG started leading the group through the unprotected land. A number of creatures attacked, but the group was relatively safe. 

Eventually they reached a large chasm, the sky below going down for miles, any ground below obscured by clouds. If there even was any ground below. “Okay now this is probably going to be scary for most of you, but what we’re going to do is jump onto this small purple cloud. Once you do, try not to move, there are blue aerclouds below, but it’s not the most fun thing in the world trying to get back to the start. Here, I’ll go first.”

NPG jumped onto the purple cloud and was immediately launched into the sky, rocketing forward until he hit another purple cloud that caused the same effect. He kept at this for a bit before finally landing on another island on top of some while clouds. The robot then turned around to face the others and waved them over.

There was a bit of screaming from some of the group as they were thrown over the chasm by the clouds, glad to be back on solid ground by the end. Once Grian had gotten over - flying instead of using the clouds much to everyone’s dismay - NPG started walking again until they finally reached a clearing. There wasn’t a single mob in sight, but there was a small house made of some unfamiliar wood, similar to what NPG’s mansion had been made with.

“Sense! I’m here to visit again! And I brought some friends!” NPG called out and then there was the rattling of chains coming from inside the building. The group immediately drew weapons, ready to face whatever game out of the building, but they lowered them as someone stepped out.

The man for the most part looked like Mumbo, but there were a number of things that made him different. His hair was much longer and looked matted, with something similar going on with his mustache. He had a blue tie that had stains which Tommy recognized as being from blood. The stains themselves were all near the top of the tie, where a large scar was present on the man’s neck, just above the fabric. His wrists were cuffed, about a foot of chain connecting them and his hands were stained bright red from redstone dust. His feet were in a similar situation, the ankles cuffed and connected, but a much longer chain was also linked to one of the cuffs, leading back into the house. Finally, the man was rather skinny. Mumbo himself was lanky which added to his height, but this man was so thin that some of his bones could be seen and his clothes hung on him loosely.

“Okay! So I got you some beef, though I made sure to soak it in broth all night so it’s nice and soft. I’ve also got some swet gummies that have some essential vitamins as well as some milk and blueberries. And then, once you’ve had all of that, I brought youuuuu” NPG dragged the word out as he slowly pulled something out of the basket. “A candy cane!”

Sense grabbed at the food and NPG was soon helping the helsmit eat. Grian and Mumbo were absolutely horrified at the scene, and even the group from the SMP were taken aback at the state this man was in. He was so weak, he could barely chew without help, which was very different compared to the evil genius Grian and Mumbo had the displeasure of meeting before.

When Sense was done eating, NPG went back to the basket. “So I know last time you said your dust was wearing out, so I brought you a new piece to play with!” The helsmit’s eyes lit up when NPG handed him a bit of redstone dust. He messed with it a bit before putting it away in his pocket, and then pulling out a death ray and pointing it at Mumbo, who was currently standing closest to him other than NPG.

Tommy took a step closer, drawing his sword and immediately the weapon was pointed at him. However, Sense was still weak and his hand was wobbly. Before he could hold it steady, NPG smacked the ray gun out of his hand and put it in his own inventory. “Bad Sense! Next time you won’t get any candy!”

“Did True do this to him?” Mumbo asked, now even more worried about meeting her to make sure the boys weren’t there.

NPG looked back and tilted his head. “What? Oh no. The new emperor did!”

“I thought you said True was the empress again.” Grian spoke. “You said that Sense got dethroned a few days later. Wouldn’t that be True?”

“Nope! Someone different. In fact I’m his second in command! Or running mate. Either works! He didn’t need one since it wasn’t an election or anything, but he insisted. Oh! We should go talk to him and see if he knows anything! He doesn’t really use any communicator so I have to visit him if anything comes up. But if Jrum and Grum are with him, I’m sure they’re just fine since I talk about them so much to him!”

Before anyone in the group could say anything else, NPG led them away and over to a large campfire. Techno raced to it once he could see it and held his hands out to warm himself. “Oh, you don’t have to do this. This will just take us back to the main island. There’s only really supposed to be one, so it takes you back to where you entered the dimension in, but Xannes made more!”

“Who’s that?”

“Oh, that’s Evil X’s name. I get to call him that because I’m his friend!m Anyway, let’s go!”

The group used the magic of the campfire to pull them back into the overworld. NPG Was almost immediately off running towards the castle, leaving the rest of the group to catch up. They went through a number of halls in the castle before finally getting to a set of large decorated double doors. “Okay, so he’s in here. I’m pretty sure he’ll let you guys come in and say hi and ask your questions, but I don’t want to be rude and assume, so I’m gonna go in there and ask.”

Everyone was perfectly fine with that, getting a moment or two to catch their breaths since none of them were robots like NPG. The door was still cracked open, so everyone was able to hear as he spoke to the emperor, so they listened in as they waited and rested.

“Hi! I just finished visiting Sense!” There was a pause, none of them hearing the emperor. “He managed to make a death ray. I think he kept lying when he said his redstone was wearing out. But he wasn’t able to use it on any of us.” There was another pause, this one much shorter. “Oh! Some friends came to visit! Grian and Mumbo had a question for you and also brought their friends along named Tommy, Tubbo, Philza and Technoblade! They were wondering if they could come in and talk with you.”

Everyone couldn’t help but hold their breath at the pause before a small cheer erupted from NPG and he was almost immediately back at the door. “Okay, he said you can come in and ask him things!”

The robot pushed the door open all the way before running back into the room. Grian watched as his creation sat down in a smaller chair next to a large throne centered against the far wall. Tommy gave a quick laugh at the cheery robot before his gaze moved over to the one sitting in the throne and it suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe. Beside him, Tubbo was having a similar reaction and both Phil and Techno drew their weapons.

Sitting on the throne was a man. His elbow rested on one arm of the throne as his hand pressed against his cheek, holding his head up. His legs were crossed as well, giving him the look of someone who was bored or just didn’t care. A bandana was tied around his face like a bandit, covering his mouth and nose. A single brown eye was visible, starting down towards the group, meanwhile the other eye and the rest of that side of his face was covered with a mask of white porcelain, a simple smiling face carved into it.

“Dream…” Tommy spoke aloud, his voice trembling.

[onecanonlife]

careful son (you got dreamer's plans)

Wilbur gasps back to life with mud between his fingers and rain in his eyes.

Wilbur was dead. Now, he is not. He can't say that he's particularly happy about it.

Unfortunately, the server is still as tumultuous as ever, even with Dream locked away, so it seems that his involvement in things isn't a matter of if, but when.

(Alternatively: the prodigal son returns, and a broken family finally begins to heal. If, that is, the egg doesn't get them all killed first.)

Chapter Word Count: 7,402

Chapter Warnings: swearing, referenced (temporary) character death, slight manipulation

Chapter Summary: In which Wilbur tours the stronghold, meets DreamXD, and watches Tommy and Techno move a few very reluctant inches closer to reconciliation.

(masterlist w/ ao3 links)

(first chapter) (previous chapter) (next chapter)

Chapter Fourteen: wipe the dirt off of your hands (ii)

Phil and Technoblade found the server’s stronghold. Because of course they did. Nevermind that the End is closed off here, the one rule of this server that hasn’t been broken and flaunted in front of everyone’s faces. The one rule that might actually sort of mean something. But evidently it doesn’t mean enough, because Phil and Techno not only found the stronghold, but decided to use it for a secret anarchy base.

When he voices all of this aloud, Phil just shrugs.

“Techno won me over to the whole anarchy thing, a bit,” he says, completely unrepentant. “We wanted a base, and the stronghold was literally right there. Not like anyone else was using it.”

“I really feel like that’s not the point,” Ranboo says weakly. He understands the significance, apparently. “Phil, even I know what a stronghold is.”

“Okay, it’s not nearly as big of a deal as you two are making it out to be,” Phil says, even though he is wrong, completely dead-wrong. “Just, c’mon, I’ll show you how we get there.” He starts walking, heading for the door, and he and Ranboo are given no choice but to follow. “We found an old library in it, lots of books in surprisingly good condition, considering. I haven’t even begun to go through them all. I’m thinking if it’s information on ancient, slightly eldritch beings we’re looking for, that’s our best bet in finding anything.”

“Right,” he says. “Sure. Why not?” He hopes Phil can hear the utter frustration in his voice. The smirk directed his way tells him that Phil did, indeed, hear it. Bastard.

But there’s nothing to do but go with him, at this point. It’s not like he’s going to pass up the chance to see one of these; he’s been in strongholds before, of course, but this feels like it holds more significance, somehow, on a server where the End is forbidden to all. Phil leads them through a convoluted series of passages, hitting buttons that reveal secret doors, and there’s a long hallway of ice, and then more buttons, and the air gets cooler and cooler, musty and still. Old. Tense. Like the rock itself is waiting.

And then, Phil opens up one final door, and a different hallway greets them. One crafted with intent, not carved carelessly out of stone. Bricks placed purposefully, rough though the detailing now is, and the air is stale here, and strangely damp. They’re underwater, then, and he casts Phil a glance. He seems unconcerned, and Wilbur chooses to believe that means that the roof won’t cave in under the pressure of the ocean above.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in one of these,” Ranboo says. His voice is hushed, quiet, almost awestruck.

“It’s not much,” Phil says with a shrug. “Normally wouldn’t bother with it, in a server like this, but like I said, Techno and I wanted a base, and it happened to be close. Not much of use here, but there is a library. More cobwebs than books by now, but a lot of what’s left seems legible, at least. I haven’t gone through most of it. Here, this way.”

Phil keeps walking, and for a moment, Ranboo doesn’t follow. He looks a bit taken aback, perhaps by Phil’s casual attitude toward a place that in any other circumstance, to any other person, might be something approaching sacred.

Wilbur sighs.

“Phil’s just like that,” he murmurs. “Plus, he’s been on dozens of servers. Seen dozens of these. And he’s ancient, too, so there’s that.” He goes along after Phil, and Ranboo, after a second of hesitation, hurries to catch up with him.

“How ancient are we talking here?” he asks.

Wilbur feels his lips twitch upward. “Do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually asked for the exact number,” he says. “Centuries, at least. Maybe a few millennia. No one really quite knows what Phil is. I’m not sure he knows himself.” He shrugs. “Growing up, he was always just our dad. That was enough.”

“Oh.” Ranboo chews on that for a moment, and then nods. “Okay then. That actually explains a couple of things.”

He hums. “How did you come to live by him, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Oh, well, it was after—you know about Doomsday, right? I mean—”

(destruction raining from the sky and the terrifying shriek of withers and his home is gone the history is gone and Friend, Friend is gone, his dearest Friend and Phil knew, he knew, he knew and he did it anyway but only a few minutes later the memory is gone because he does not want to remember this and it is a blessing, being able to forget, because what use is carrying pain that he can do nothing about, what use is holding it close and letting it make a monster of him because even dead he cannot manage to ask for help must keep up the facade but at least let it be a happy one)

(and yet looking back on it, looking back on it now, he feels barely any anger at all. like son, like father, after all)

He smiles tightly. “I know about Doomsday,” he agrees, and then tilts his head. “That’s right, you were—you were living in L’Manberg at the time, weren’t you? I—Ghostbur saw you there.”

“Yeah, I lived there,” Ranboo says. “Right up until it turned into a crater, I guess. But, um, after all of that, Phil knew that I didn’t have anywhere to go, so—I don’t know, I guess he felt bad for me or something? He invited me to stay up here with him and Techno, and I guess I never really left.”

That’s such a uniquely Phil thing to do. Destroy a country, then pick up one of the kids he rendered homeless. Wilbur can imagine exactly how that went.

“Well, I hope you know that you’re not likely to be rid of him now,” he says, and then the two of them step around the corner, and right across the way, there is an open doorway, and even from here, he can see the rows upon rows of bookshelves, some of them half-empty and all of them covered in cobwebs and a thick layer of dust. He glances at Ranboo one last time, and then the two of them step into the room.

He is not one for claustrophobia,

(was not, though now tight spaces and dark rooms remind him of one place and one place only)

but the room feels close, crowded, the shelves towering over him, and even over Ranboo, who has more than a foot of height on him, tall and lanky and half-ender as he is. And more than that, the room feels old, feels weighty, moreso even than the rest of the stronghold, because here are books that must have been written hundreds of years ago, before the server passed into Dream’s hands, that have not been touched since, that have been left to gather dust and mold in an ancient ruin under the sea. In these books are the words of people who came years before him, their words reaching out to grasp the long arm of the future, and it is nothing that he has not seen before, but he never gets used to it. He is no scholar, really, no Technoblade, but he can appreciate this for what it is, can appreciate the history here, the circle that never ends.

(he has always fancied himself as part of a story, has always been able to look outside of himself to see what role the history books will have him play. moments like this only make him more aware of it, more aware that someday, he will be long in the ground and only his words will live on, his words and the words of others, a legacy, a garden growing and fed on the dust that was once him)

(it should already be so. stories are not supposed to be picked up after the last thread is snipped and yet here he is, and the whole narrative has been thrown into disarray)

Phil’s head peers out around one of the shelves.

“Took you long enough,” he says. “We can start anywhere, I suppose. I didn’t get around to cataloging any of this shit, so your guess is as good as mine as to where the important stuff is.”

“Great,” Ranboo says, sounding thoroughly unenthusiastic. “I love having absolutely no idea what we’re looking for.”

“We have to start somewhere,” he says, though looking at the shelves around them, he thinks that Ranboo might have a point. But nonetheless, he grabs a random book off the nearest shelf and opens it, frowning at the mold that dots the pages. But as Phil said, it’s legible, and his eyes scan over faded words, printed in an older dialect that’s just barely understandable.

They split up, each taking a different section. But it only takes a few hours for Wilbur to get frustrated. He’s more patient than this, normally, unless that’s another aspect of himself that he lost somewhere along the line. But he thinks he’s justified—perhaps under normal circumstances, they would have all the time in the world to find the information they need. In normal circumstances, a strategy like this would work. But they don’t have that kind of time. And they especially don’t have that kind of time to search for knowledge that may not even be here at all.

He snaps the book he’s leafing through shut and stands.

“I’m stretching my legs,” he calls, and doesn’t wait for an answer before striding out of the room. Too late, he remembers that they’re still underground, underwater, and the air outside of the library is barely any fresher than the air inside, which does not improve his mood. But a walk might help clear his head, so a walk is what he takes, wandering the corridors as he did in the castle earlier, that same restlessness returning.

It all comes down to a feeling of helplessness, in the end, of powerlessness. He was powerless to stop the Egg. Powerless to save Techno, and then later, powerless to help him. And he is powerless now, skimming through century-old books with barely a hope of a payoff. And yet, it’s all he can do, is the best plan they have, and how is it possible that this is the best plan they have?

He used to be good at this. He has been presenting himself as good at this, pulled on his old general’s strength to present confidence to the others, surety. And yet, here they are, and it’s too soon to give up, he knows, but it’s been a few hours and they have found nothing, and he can’t help but feel like they’re going to continue to find nothing.

You are nothing, and you may as well give it up, give in, throw away yourself for a chance of saving what little you have not already lost, something whispers, and it is not him, and there is translucent red lining the edges of his vision, for if you pass up this chance, who do you have to blame but yourself?

“Shut up,” he mutters. “Shut the fuck up. You’re thousands of chunks away, shut up.”

Distance is no matter to one such as I, and you ought to know better than to hope for it, it says. You ought to know better than to hope for a great many things. Powerless as you are, why not take into your hands the only choice you have left to you, take back your peace and save your brother, save them all from the encroaching choke, save them all and yourself most of—

He steps into another room, and the voice abruptly stops, leaving his head blessedly silent. He catches himself holding his breath, and he releases it all at once.

And then realizes what he’s seeing. It’s a meeting room, clearly, decorated far beyond what an untouched stronghold would look like, and this has Phil’s interior design choices stamped all over it, but—

They’re using the End Portal as a table.

Because that is undoubtedly the End Portal. Even if he hadn’t seen one before, once or twice, on different servers, he would be able to recognize the blocks for what they are: something other, something that belongs to a different place entirely. They fill the room with a low, buzzing hum, and underneath that, there is a melody hovering just beyond his perception, a melody that he doesn’t think he’s ever heard before. He hums, trying to match the notes, and finds that he can’t, that he always lands above or below no matter what pitch he vocalizes. And yet, even still, there is something about it that is eerily comforting.

Perhaps it is simply the way the Egg fell silent as soon as he stepped inside. He appreciates that.

But still. They’re using it as a table.

“Do you like the décor?” Phil asks, amusement clear in his tone. Wilbur doesn’t turn to look at him, but Phil comes up beside him soon enough, and Ranboo trails behind, staring at the portal with wide eyes.

“Is nothing sacred to you?” he asks, and the teasing note comes out naturally.

“Eh,” Phil says, shoulders lifting in a shrug. “You know how it is.”

“I know what that is,” Ranboo says, sounding far, far away. “I know—I know this, I—why do I—?”

(a question: if he could sense the music, human and just barely void-touched as he is, then what must it sound like to one who has the End itself in his veins?)

Ranboo takes one step forward, and then another, until he’s standing right next to the portal-table. One hand hovers above it, and he hesitates before placing it down. Wilbur glances to Phil, wondering if this is a thing they should be stopping, but Phil is staring at Ranboo, head tilted and eyes slightly narrow.

“Have you never seen one of these before?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” Ranboo says, still distant. “Maybe? I don’t think I remember. But I—I don’t know where I come from, but this feels like—”

“Well, it is an End Portal,” Phil agrees. “I wasn’t sure if it was still functional, but I guess that answers that question. You’re probably sensing something from it that we’re not picking up on, with you being half-ender and all.”

“I guess—”

“Why wouldn’t it be functional?” Wilbur interrupts. Maybe that’s not what he should’ve gotten out of that, but he’s satisfied that this is an enderman thing, not something to be concerned over. But that offhand remark, said in that infuriatingly casual way that Phil so often has, draws his attention, because he’s never heard of a non-functional End Portal before. He didn’t think that such a thing was possible; everyone knows that portals are the one sure fixture of almost every server, unable to be tampered with or destroyed by any means.

“Oh, that.” Phil laughs. “There’s an interesting story there, actually. When Techno and I first came through here, we—”

But Phil gets cut off.

Wilbur senses it before he sees that anything is changed: the pressure in the room shifts, suddenly, becoming greater, more. All the hair on the back of his neck stands on end, and the next breath he takes, he gets a lungful of ozone, sharp and electric.  He coughs, and finds that the noise falls strangely flat, and then there is someone hovering over the portal-table. Not standing. Hovering, a good six inches from the table’s surface.

Ranboo stumbles back, and Phil takes several strides forward, arms outstretched as if to shield them both. His cloak twitches, though his wings do not spread.

Wilbur’s not sure what he’s looking at.

They are a person, he thinks. At least, they are person-shaped, though it is somewhat difficult to tell; most of their body is covered in a long green cloak, one that drifts around them despite the stillness of the air. They have no visible feet, and their hands are hidden, if they have them. But under their hood, there is nothing but shadows, and those shadows do not seem to fall across a face. Instead, it is as though they are made of void, black and cold, and he finds himself leaning in, straining to see if there is anything past that, and the hood twitches in his direction and he gets a glimpse of

(twin halos circling circling like a tear in the world and a tear in the void a tear in the nothing and the everything and a circle half filled in and half open and you know something in you knows)

He freezes. His spine locks up. They do not have eyes but they are looking at him, and the only way to describe the feeling is prey studied by a predator. The Egg didn’t make him feel like this. Even Dream didn’t make him feel like this.

(or he did, but it was tainted by darkness, tainted by corruption, a predator studying prey if the predator was malicious rather than just an animal, acting on cruel whim rather than nature and instinct. this is something different. this is something vaster. this is the regard of a)

“The End is closed,” the newcomer says, and Wilbur stiffens further, because their voice echoes and vibrates and buzzes in his skull, but underneath that, underneath all the white noise, the voice sounds like Dream. But that cannot possibly be right. This—person, whatever they are, they are not human, but they are not the same as Dream, do not give off the same impression of oozing corruption, of a black pit at the core, sucking in all light to be snuffed out, stamped upon.

“We weren’t going to the End, mate,” Phil says, calm. “Just talking. Not against the rules to talk, is it?”

“The End is closed,” they repeat, their voice grating and twisting and pulling at the reality around them. Wilbur feels a headache begin to form behind his eyes, a dull throbbing.

“Right, one trick pony, you are,” Phil mutters, and then glances over his shoulder. “This is what I was about to tell you about. Seems there’s someone to enforce the End rule here. They almost took away the portal entirely before Techno and I swore we weren’t gonna use it. Nothing much to worry about, I don’t think. Look,” he tacks on, turning back to them, “we were really just having a chat. Don’t need someone looking over our shoulders for it.”

The hood of the cloak moves again in what might, possibly, be considered a head tilt.

“You may not open the way to the End,” they say. “Not even for his sake.” A hand snakes out of the folds of the cloak, gloved in black, and makes a quick gesture in Ranboo’s direction. Wilbur blinks, hard; the motion is difficult to track, and it’s as if they slice open the very air itself just by moving.

Phil scoffs. “Is that what this is about?” he asks. “Mate. He’s an enderman hybrid, he can’t help but be drawn to it. But he’s not stupid enough to try and go through. You’re not needed here. Promise.”

Ranboo nods in agreement, head bobbing rapidly as he makes a few noises of agreement. Wilbur might be amused by it, if it weren’t for the fact that every inch of his skin feels like a live wire, being in the same room as this thing. He’s not sure why Phil is being so nonchalant about this, as if this is normal. This isn’t normal. Or perhaps he’s the strange one, is overreacting to something that is undoubtedly odd but no reason to worry, but he doesn’t think so. He really, really doesn’t think so.

They drift a few inches back, almost absently.

“He watches from behind your eyes,” they say. “He above all others must not be allowed access. You will forgive my insistence.”

“The fuck does that mean?” Phil asks, and Wilbur wants to echo his confusion, except the Egg was in his head not even ten minutes ago, and he has a sneaking suspicion as to what they might be referring to. The Egg was in his head, but they are not looking at him, he’s sure, because when they were looking at him, he could feel it, just as he could feel Dream’s gaze sliding across him like the touch of a razor and yet not like that at all. And Ranboo has tensed, so perhaps this is directed at him, but Wilbur pushes that aside and steps forward, evading Phil’s outstretched arm, because if no one else is going to ask the questions he wants answered, then he will.

“What the fuck are you?” he says, blunt. Perhaps it’s not the wisest move, but he’s tired and irritated, and when Phil goes to grab his shoulder, he shrugs him off. “No, I’m not—stop that, I’m done with things yanking on my chain. This guy wants to appear in front of us and be all cryptic and shit, I’m not having that. Not today. We don’t have time for this. So what the fuck are you?”

For a moment, they go silent. His breathing is loud in his own ears.

(he’s not sure why he’s stuck on this, not sure why he’s stuck on them, for he has tangled with gods and monsters and this being should be no different, really, from what he has dealt with over the past few weeks, should be better, even, since it seems that they are not here to try to kill him or his family, but he looks at them and sees beyond them, sees a break in the world and crack in the code and it is like and not like anything else he has seen before and perhaps they will not find what they need to know in books)

“I am the protector,” they say at length. “A fragment and a failsafe.”

“I didn’t ask what you do,” he says, “I asked what you are.”

“Wil—”

“Stop,” he insists. He’s standing in front of both of them now, and he doesn’t look back, doesn’t take his eyes off the figure floating over the table. “We’ve got some, some otherworldly being in here with us, and you don’t think this could at all be relevant? Please tell me I’m not the only one who realizes who he sounds like.” Without waiting for an answer, he addresses the being again. “What are you? And how are you connected to Dream? You can’t tell me you’re not, I don’t believe it.”

Behind him, Ranboo makes a little sound, like he’s been punched in the gut.

They are silent once again.

And then:

“I am a shadow,” they say. “A shadow of the original. I am what he rejected in his last moment of clarity.”

“What are you—are you trying to say you know Dream? Or that you came from Dream?”

They drift closer. “I am of him but not him. My task is to prevent the worst. The final task he set me. I can do nothing else.”

“Is the ‘he’ in that sentence Dream?” Ranboo asks, a frantic whisper that is very loud. “Is the—I don’t like this, I don’t like this at all. Can we go now? I think we should go now and leave the mysterious floating guy alone.”

“Could you speak in anything but riddles?” he snaps, ignoring him. “I want a straight answer. You haven’t given me one yet.”

They drift closer still, and his skin erupts in gooseflesh, static energy crackling across it. He resists the urge to step back.

(this reminds you of another time another time long ago and this surge of confidence is true truer than any you have experienced yet since they dragged you back into this world by your trailing fingertips and it is true because you remember standing on the walls and facing the ruler of the server and holding your ground for what you believe in for the people you fight for and this is different but it feels the same feels the same and you will not give in not even to a)

They are looking at him, right at him,

(twin halos circle slashing wounds into the world and this is something that was never meant to be)

and they say, “It is not of you to demand of me. I am the protector. That is my task,” but that is not what Wilbur hears, because suddenly, there is something in his head, something poking at his thoughts, but it does not reach in as the Egg did, does not pull at the threads of his mind and attempt to twist them into something new, but rather just exists on the edges, touching but not pressing, and there is a pressure and he doesn’t like it at all but it doesn’t hurt him.

And what they say is not words, but rather impressions, imparted to him all at once, impossible to pick apart, and

(the beginning and the end all wrapped up in one as the universe looks on and this server is a home he will make it a home he did but he is gone and this is what remains of the divine fabric the crown of the world and they wait and wait and the universe looks on and they are nothing but a shell all the love taken by the other and broken corrupted drowned twisted and they wait by their task they do what has been set and only once do they not only once do they act there is a man and he asks and he is cloaked by the universe and the thrall of the empty and time in its mercilessness and that which is inbetween and he asks and the universe says yes so they do not refuse and they drag you back into this world by your trailing fingertips for the better or for the worse and the man is gone and the universe cannot be contained by this but the universe says)

he doesn’t understand a bit of it, but he reels back regardless, and his head feels like fireworks have gone off within it, like a thousand thunderclaps sounding overhead. Hand land on his shoulder, on his arm, and he does not push Phil away this time, nor Ranboo when he suddenly appears on his other side. He blinks the spots from his vision, and looks up. The figure is gone.

“You alright?” Phil asks quietly.

“What the fuck?” he says instead of replying. “Phil, what—what was that?”

“I second that? I would also like to know?” Ranboo says, voice tilting upward.

“I would’ve told you not to mess with them, but I figured you should get it out of your system,” Phil says, still quiet, deadly serious. He stares at the table rather than make eye contact, and Wilbur follows his gaze. The End Portal still hums. “I’ve been around the block enough to know a god when I see one. I don’t know what the fuck this one is or what connection they have to Dream, but all they seem to want to do is make sure that no one goes to the End. Like I said, that’s what I was about to tell you before they showed up. Techno and I had to swear five times over that we wouldn’t use the portal for anything other than decoration before they’d even let us keep it. I figured it was best to leave them the fuck alone.”

“A god?” Ranboo echoes. “Like, an actual god? Divine smiting and all of that?”

Wilbur has never been much of a believer himself. Or at least, not one for worship. Gods may exist, but he’ll pay one homage when he decides it deserves his respect, and that day has never arrived.

But this one

(was in his head and he wanted it gone wanted it gone because he has had enough of things dragging their fingers across his sense of self but this one did not push and more than that it felt familiar almost like)

is important.

“There’s plenty of different kinds of gods,” Phil says, “but essentially, yes.”

“Dream’s not a god, though,” he states flatly. Phil glances at him.

“He’s never felt like one to me,” he agrees. “But I never picked up on the demon thing either, so I probably know fuck-all.”

“This feels important,” he says, and runs his fingers through his hair, trying to settle his nerves. “This feels—fuck, every time I think I’ve got all the pieces laid out, it turns out that I’ve made the framework too short, and there’s components I didn’t even know existed.” He shakes his head. The headache has mostly abated, so that’s something. “I don’t suppose they’d come back if we asked them nicely?”

“Do we want them to come back?” Ranboo asks, his voice rising in pitch even further. “Is that a thing that we want?”

He runs a hand through his hair again and doesn’t reply. Phil doesn’t either, though he’s not sure it’s for the same reason. Because frankly, yes; he wants them to come back. He asked them questions and didn’t understand a word of their answers, and he feels like he’s barely scraped the surface of what’s actually going on here. But one thing has been made clear enough: the nature of the connection between Dream and this being, this god, is uncertain, but the connection exists. And considering everything, that is something that’s relevant to them.

He’s beginning to think that they might get some information out of this after all. But he doubts that it’ll come from any book.

----------

They don’t find anything. They go at it for another few hours, flipping through musty pages until his eyes swim, and they come up with absolutely jack-shit. He wishes he could say that he’s surprised. He decides not to say anything about it at all, because Ranboo is wavering on his feet and Phil’s face is held in tight lines, and his negativity won’t do either of them any good.

“We can try again tomorrow,” Phil says, “but we need to turn it in. It’s been a long fucking day.”

It doesn’t feel like it’s been one day. Doesn’t feel like just this morning, they were marching into the Egg’s chamber, intent on taking it down once and for all. Doesn’t feel like they were chased out less than an hour later, battered and with one less than they started with, Dream escaped and everything gone to shit. It doesn’t feel like one day, and yet, it has been, and it reminds him of the war, at the end, when everything was happening so quickly and there was barely any time to process one event before something else was going wrong.

He doesn’t miss those days.

“How long can we afford to do this, Phil?” he asks, and doesn’t bother to hide his weariness. “How long can we afford to fuck around out here with nothing to show for it? We can’t even be sure that nothing’s happened in the Greater SMP, not with comms down.”

“I wish I had a good answer to that, Wil,” Phil says. “I really do. If you’ve got a better plan, I’m all ears.”

He

(does, perhaps, but it’s not one that Phil will like)

doesn’t, so the rest of the walk back out of the stronghold is made in silence. It’s a relief when they make it to the surface, the cold, biting air fresh on his face. He turns his face into the wind just to feel it, regardless of the sting. Night has fallen, the sun just the barest hint of purple-orange on the western horizon. Overhead, stars twinkle, bright and distant. Techno’s house is lit, now, an orange glow emanating from the windows. Tommy must have gotten a fire going.

Tommy. Right. They’ve left Tommy alone with Techno all afternoon. He’s too tired to be concerned about it right now. The house isn’t burning down, so they’re probably fine.

“I think I’m gonna go home for the night, if that’s okay,” Ranboo says. “I’ll meet up with you guys again in the morning?”

“Sounds good, mate,” Phil says, a bit distractedly; his eyes are roving over the cottage, probably searching for signs of property damage. But Ranboo takes it for agreement, so the kid nods, and then waves awkwardly to him, and then he’s walking across the snow toward the nearest mountain. For the first time, Wilbur realizes that there appears to be a house built into its side, not particularly pretty, but functional.

“With luck, they’re both conked out,” Phil mutters. He gathers his robes around him and heads for the door, and Wilbur trails after him.

Phil opens the door, and they’re greeted with silence. It is not the same silence from before; a fire crackles merrily in the hearth, now, some evidence of life. The house no longer gives an impression of a grave. But there are no voices that he can hear, nothing from the house’s two inhabitants, and perhaps Phil is right and they’re both asleep, but Wilbur doesn’t trust silence.

So as Phil goes over to the fire to stir up the coals, he makes a beeline for the ladder, climbing up as quietly as the creaky old thing will allow. The muttering hits his ears as soon as he pokes his head above the floor, hushed and furious, as if they both want to be shouting but are held back by some unspoken rule, some agreement not to break the peace of the rest of their surroundings. Or maybe that’s bullshit; Tommy isn’t one to care about things like that, after all.

He doesn’t step off the ladder, choosing to hang there for a moment instead, gripping the rungs uneasily. The wood is rough, and vaguely, he wonders if he’ll get splinters.

Technoblade is awake, and more than that, he is aware. That is the first thing his mind locks onto, the fact that his brother looks far better than he did earlier. He is still shaking, but far less, and his eyes are bright and present rather than fogged with pain. He sees no sign of gold, no lingering flickers and flashes of magic, and the relief is heady. He is not yet completely well; the fact that he is still in bed is evidence enough of that. But he is sitting up, and he no longer looks like death warmed over,

(too soon too soon)

and his face is twisted in irritation rather than pain.

Tommy has scooted his emerald block closer to the bed, is leaning forward, feet planted on the floor and hands planted on his knees, all bristling anger, indignation, face flushed and red. He puts Wilbur in mind of a cat, hissing and spitting at the object of his ire, making himself bigger than he truly is.

“—the fuck you want,” he’s saying, and his whisper is harsh, but it’s certainly a whisper. “I don’t fucking—I don’t owe you shit, you got that? I don’t owe you shit, so you can, you can fuck right off, you hear me?”

Techno blinks. “When did I say that, Tommy? Please tell me exactly when I said that,” he says, and—oh. Wilbur gets it now. Because Techno’s voice is quiet and rough, still thick with exhaustion, and he’s probably only a few minutes out from waking up. So, Tommy may be angry, may be positively irate, but whether he’s aware of it or not, he’s holding himself back, refusing to unleash the full force of his fury on someone who has objectively been through hell today.

(and Tommy is brash, and Tommy is loud, and Tommy performs being an irritating little shit like nobody’s business, but above all else, Tommy is good, and Tommy will never admit it, but he is kind, and it is a miracle that it hasn’t been beaten out of him along the way, that despite it all he has managed to keep his spirit, but he is kind, he is. and it is more despite him than because of him, but it is little moments like these that remind Wilbur why he is so proud of him)

“You don’t have to say it,” Tommy bites out. “Mister, mister violence is the only language or whatever the hell, mister vengeance, you’re big on favors and repaying them. But I—I didn’t ask you to do shit, you did that all on your own, so I don’t owe you. I’m saying it right now, I don’t owe you.”

There is an edge to the words. A fear. An expectation. Wilbur doesn’t expect it to hit him as hard as it does, but there is a pang in his chest, and he wonders if this is yet another lesson he imparted on his little brother. To expect no kindness without an ulterior motive.

(that was how he was, in the darkness of the ravine, seeking out the duplicity of everyone around him, even when there was none to be found, but it is one thing to look back and see clearly, now, what he was like, the slope he slid down, the spiral he entered, and another to continue to be confronted with the evidence of the hurt he caused, the hurt he has yet to truly make up for)

(here is a certainty that has not left him: he does not deserve Tommy’s forgiveness. that is another thing that can be attributed to his kindness. the kindness that somehow, between the wars and the country and the shadows, he did not manage to take from him, not like he took so much else)

“I didn’t do it so that you’d owe me,” Techno says. “Give me a little more credit than that.”

“Why should I?” Tommy erupts, though it is the quietest eruption that Wilbur has ever heard from him. “Why—give me one fucking reason why I should believe a word out of your mouth.”

“I don’t lie,” Techno states, flat. “I have no reason to.”

“Oh, right,” Tommy says, “because you’re so fucking honorable. You’re so fucking—I can’t deal with you, you know that? You’re a fucking hypocrite, and I don’t care what your game is. I don’t care. You’re the worst, and I—”

“I don’t want you dead,” Techno says. “That’s it. That’s why I did it, Tommy, simple as that.”

“Bullshit,” Tommy snaps. “Then what the fuck was Doomsday, then? What the fuck was telling me to die like a hero, then? You are just talking complete shit, shit out of your mouth, out of your arse—”

And then, Tommy, cuts off, because Techno tenses, seizing up, a sudden glimmer of gold in his eyes, and he grunts, hands curling into his bed sheets, his face blanking. Tommy moves forward, seemingly on instinct, hands reaching out to steady him, and there is is again, that kindness, that kindness that Tommy would rather die than allow anyone to point out.

The fit subsides, Techno breathing heavily. Tommy lingers for a moment, and then jerks back, scowling, as soon as Techno makes eye contact with him.

“Fuck off,” he mutters.

“At the end of the day,” Techno says, slowly, “it doesn’t really matter whether you believe me or not. I’ve been angry at you, Tommy. I can’t say that I don’t feel like it was justified. I’m sick of—” He closes his eyes, inhaling sharply, and then opens them again. “I’ve said all this before. It doesn’t matter. But I don’t want you dead, and I wasn’t about to let Dream kill you in front of me when I could do somethin’ about it. Between my first life and your third one, it was an easy choice.” He sighs, settling further down on the pillows. “Take it or leave it. I’m not arguin’ this right now.”

Tommy’s mouth works. Several emotions flicker across his face, and Wilbur can only pick out a few of them: disbelief, more anger, but perhaps something that might be hope. Perhaps. But if it is, he doesn’t get the chance to find out, because at that moment, Phil calls up from the base of the ladder.

“Everything okay?” he asks, and that’s right, he’s just been standing here, on the ladder, for the past few minutes. He can see why that would make Phil concerned. But that means that Tommy and Techno are both suddenly made aware of his presence.

“What—how long have you been there?” Tommy sputters, and he shrugs, clambering up the last rung or two and stepping fully into the room.

“Not too long,” he says. “Glad to see you cognizant, Techno.”

It’s all he can think so say, really, though there are a plethora of other statements crowding his mind. That has always been a weakness of his, his inability to allow himself to be emotional when it really counts, his habit of hiding everything beneath layers of deflection and a cool exterior. He and Techno aren’t dissimilar on that front, though Techno has a different way of going about it.

(so here is what he does not say: I’m so glad you’re alright, I saw you die when you’re supposed to be deathless and it terrified me, please never do that again, I know we’re broken and fucked up and maybe we’ll never be what we once were but I can’t imagine a life knowing that you won’t be there when I need you to be, so please, please stay alive)

“Can’t say I’m having a great time with it,” Techno mutters, and he’s definitely falling asleep again. “But thanks. Glad you’re not dead too, Wilbur.”

The ladder creaks again as Phil comes up, and he pauses a moment to survey the room before stepping in, eyebrows raising as he takes in the scene.

“Nobody bleeding or dying?” he asks wryly, and then crosses the floor to perch on the edge of Techno’s bed. “Hey, Tech, how you feeling?”

“Absolutely fantastic,” Techno says. “Top form, point me at the orphans.”

Phil laughs, more relief than anything else, and smooths some of Techno’s hair away from his face. Techno huffs out a sigh, but allows the gesture.

“Great,” Tommy says. “You all get anything, or was this whole thing for nothing?” There’s more hostility in his voice than necessary, though whether it’s genuine or to cover for his earlier emotion, Wilbur can’t tell.

“Nothing yet,” Phil says, unfazed. “We’ll spend the night here, get back at it in the morning. If we still don’t find shit, we’ll discuss where to go from there.”

Tommy crosses his arms, looking away, and he’s displeased at the concept of staying here, Wilbur can tell. So as Phil continues to lean over Techno, he slides over to him, nudging him in the arm. Tommy flinches, and then relaxes, eyeing him up.

“You good?” he murmurs, keeping his voice down.

“Fine,” Tommy replies. “Are we actually going to get anything out of this, or was this a big fucking waste of our time?”

Again, vitriol, and he remembers the conversation between him and Tubbo, overheard and unmentioned. After everything they’ve been through, a separation can’t be easy. On either of them, but especially on Tommy.

(a memory: buzzing excitement at doing something good, at helping, shining compasses, an inscription: Your Tubbo)

“It won’t be a waste of time,” he says, and the plan that’s been formulating in the back of his mind solidifies. It’s not a very good plan. But it’s something, and it’s more than they’ve got. “I’ll make sure of that.”

It is a general’s responsibility to lead his soldiers to victory, after all. And in the case of a half-baked, reckless plan, to take matters into his own hands.

And it is more than the general’s responsibility. It is his. For better, or for worse.

[like-that-one-weird-dog-thing]

tomorrow is a hope, never a promise

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a pillars of bone take on the dream smp events of nov. 16. warnings for graphic depictions of violence, character death(wilbur), suicide/assisted suicide, and sad tubbo

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The ground hisses beneath Tubbo’s feet. His communicator crackles, static screeching. He hears it was never meant to be in such a mournful voice that he nearly cries and then he hears the click of a button and a you did it- and then the whole world is white and ash and ringing in his ears.

-

or: the events of nov. 16 except more family drama

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It goes like this: Tubbo is young, naive, but in no way innocent. He has fought through a war and he fought at a crumbling president dictators side and he has watched his brother leader be killed in front of him four times.

Tubbo is young, but smart. He’s learned everything there is to nether mob based players and he’s watched a land crack beneath a man’s hands and he’s lied and he’s spied.

Tubbo is a boy, a soldier, a liar and a spy.

And so, when he stands on that podium that was once decorated with his brother’s leader’s blood, that still has flakes of that blood if Tubbo looks close enough, breathes deep enough, he sees the way Techno’s hand is clenched on his sword, the way Wilbur is working his way out of the crowd.

He sees this. 

He doesn’t know how to stop it.

It wasn’t hard to figure out that Wilbur still had plans to blow up Manberg L’manberg. Tommy had told him in whispered tones when the sky was dark and alight with stars, had told him about how their his brother had gone off the deep end. Had told him about how he didn’t think that Wilbur could be saved, not after the execution Festival. Not after Manberg had been painted with their his blood. Not after he’d gotten worse.

(Tubbo hadn’t been too certain, then, articles upon articles about piglin based players swirling around his hand, convincing him that if they were just there then maybe Tubbo wouldn’t lose his brother leader friend leader leader leader.

Maybe, if he settled at Wilbur’s side long enough and tried to soothe that aching touch starvation, maybe he could prevent the man’s self detonation.)

His breath quickens. He smiles shakily and keeps spewing shit, eyes tracing the way Wilbur is walking away, the way Wilbur and Techno’s eyes meet and Techno nods and it’s all going too fast and Tubbo is smart, but he’s not smart enough to stop this and his hands clench on the podium before him and.

The fireworks go off.

(they’re not fireworks, though, because Tubbo had sat and watched around a corner as Techno destroyed every last firework he owned, as he shook and broke every last one until they became unusable and unsalvageable.

Techno couldn’t quite hold a crossbow straight, after the execution Festival, Tubbo had found.)

The arrows miss. One hits his shoulder. Tubbo is suddenly on the ground and Tommy is screaming above him and it’s all falling apart.

Techno is screaming at them. There’s something vicious in his voice, in the red eyes that glint from behind his mask, but all Tubbo can seem to focus on as he pushes himself up and ignores the way Tommy is freaking out over him, is the way his grip shakes on the crossbow in his hands.

He’s yelling at Tubbo, at Tommy.

He won’t look at them.

Tommy finally moves from his side, choosing instead to yell at his brother friend ally-turned-enemy. 

Tubbo can’t hear them.

All he hears, instead, is the dinging of his communicator.

Ph1lza has joined the game.

His stomach drops.

Around them, the yelling is silenced, empty and echoing for a beat, and then whispers break out. 

Techno screams at them again, and Tubbo’s head is filled with static.

Tubbo was a boy, a soldier, an advisor and a spy.

Tubbo was naive and kind and young.

Tubbo was smart.

But he couldn’t see any way out of this. Couldn’t think of any way to fix it.

(There’s some part of him that knew that this is how it was always meant to end, since the moment the citizens of L’manberg Manberg turned their backs to Tommy and Wilbur, chased them out. From the moment Tubbo helped them kick the two brothers friends allies out.

Because pigmen and piglins and hoglins all shared one thing, and that was that family was everything and for all that Tommy’s blood bled so much more human to the point that the hostile mob was basically nonexistent, Wilbur’s ran so deep that from the moment Tommy’s blood touched L’manberg’s Manberg’s streets it’s doom was set in stone.

Because Tommy’s blood had run all the way to the roots, and while a pigmen based player may forget this once they were far enough away from what had caused harm to their young, a piglin based player held grudges and rage far more tightly and, well.

L’manberg Manberg had hurt Wilbur’s brothers family friends allies, over and over and over again. There was no escaping this.)

The ground hisses beneath Tubbo’s feet. His communicator crackles, static screeching. He hears it was never meant to be in such a mournful voice that he nearly cries and then he hears the click of a button and a you did it- and then the whole world is white and ash and ringing in his ears.

There’s more screaming, this time, but it’s panicked and Tubbo thinks that just maybe he can hear Dream laughing and his hands shake as he’s dragged up and shake even more as he stares out across the land he had once called his home.

The water runs into the crater and the massive hole bisects the land between them and Techno and Dream and suddenly Tubbo’s ears pop and he can hear everything.

Every eye turns to the gaping hole in the side of the hill. Turns to Wilbur and Phil and Tubbo can hear every word they say and Tommy is screaming, and Tubbo has to yank him back when the sword- such a pretty sword, Tubbo had seen Wilbur sharpening the beautiful blade just this morning- comes out and Wilbur holds it to his own throat and demands for his death.

There’s fire in Tubbo’s shoulder, and his blood flows freely as he restrains Tommy and drags him back. His brother best friend’s panicked shouts for Wilbur! taper off into a wounded and strained, horrified, whisper and their his father Phil does what his second oldest son child kid the man in front of him begs demands.

The sword goes through Wilbur’s chest and the entire world is in sharp, painful focus and a scream of rage bellows from across the crater and then there’s two withers suddenly and Phil has dropped down to the ground, stepped away from Wilbur’s body, and his shirt is soaked with Wilbur’s blood, the edges of his cape and down the front of his pants absolutely drenched in red and-

There’s three seconds, Tubbo can see, before the world will shatter.

“Phil, RUN!” 

Techno falls upon him.

(For all it had always been Techno and Phil, it had been Techno and Wilbur first, twin brothers attached at the hip, and Techno would forever have more loyalty to that brother than to his father.)

The echoing of two blades clash across the land, the withers are loud and screaming and Tubbo’s entire body feels numb. Each time Phil’s and Techno’s blades clash droplets of blood splatter from Phil’s blade because Wilbur’s blood is still wet, and Wilbur is dead, Wilbur is dead, Wilbur is dead.

Tommy breaks from his grip, runs to his father Phil not to help but to stop the fighting and Tubbo can see from here that Tommy’s hands are shaking and his face is white and he clearly doesn’t know what he’s doing and Tubbo aches.

Techno yanks Tommy behind him the moment he’s close enough and Phil falters, finally, fucking finally, sees what is happening, sees the Techno’s eyes are white and black not red like they’re meant to be, sees the rage on Techno’s face, the way he shields Tommy from him.

Phil sees this, backs away slowly one step, and then turns away and runs.

Tubbo could cry with relief.

But there are still withers, and Tommy is on the ground and Wilbur’s body is dripping blood out the side of the room he’s been left in and Tubbo is now the president to a crater and so instead of collapsing he picks up his sword.

Instead, he fights.

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[innittowinit]

Abandoned amusement parks are the best place for young children  (chapter 22)

Fic summary:

Techno, Tommy, Wilbur and Phil have been hanging out at the abandoned amusement park in the woods since they moved in. Techno likes knowing he's definitely alone with his brothers Tommy likes climbing on the old rides Wilbur likes having a place to play his music Phil likes spending time with his younger brothers

That is, until a group of brothers calling themselves the 'dream team' move in down the road. Will the sleepy boys give in and share the park or will they succeed in scaring the new kids off?

Chapter summary:

It's wednesday. Eret was still plauging on their mind's and yet they still had to meet up with the Dream Team

Chapter word count: 2123

AO3

Something just.. wasn’t right.

They had shown up invited this time, had made extra sure they weren’t being threatening (he hadn’t even brought his nerf guns!) and had watched multiple videos on how you're supposed to treat your friends and still, the ‘sleepy bois’ were acting like they didn’t want to be here.

Or maybe it was like 2/4 of the brothers who didn't want to be there. Techno and Wilbur were both acting off, very off. For a while, Dream had panicked that this may have been their fault, that he or his brothers may have done something unintentionally horrible enough to completely destroy the only sembilience of trust they had - but the more he watched them, they seemed more sad than angry, more hurt than annoyed.

The first warning sign had been Wilbur snapping at Dream.

===

While watching Techno play some game about farming on his DS, Wilbur sat braiding a section of his hair. Recently he had been trying to learn from both Niki and various youtube tutorials, the action of doing someone’s hair was strangely relaxing and it often left him a little upset at the fact that he had no sisters. What he did have instead was Techno and -in his opinion- Techno’s hair was far prettier than any of the girl’s in their class.

Braiding got hard and confusing but it calmed him down, the repetitive action felt similar to how he felt while clicking on a fidget toy but slower. It kept his hands busy but he had to keep his mind active to make sure he was keeping it aesthetically pleasing, it was really just a nice way to wind down. Plus! Techno liked it too!

The events of earlier that day still plagued his mind. It hurt so incredibly much to try and accept that someone he had trusted so much would betray them so easily. Was Eret ever their friend? Was it a joke from the beginning? Would there ever be anyone who would want to actually be their friend? It sure as hell didn’t feel like it. Everybody would always say they loved them then leave, just like Eret, just like their parents.

Being with his brother helped though, it reminded him that, despite everything, he had three people who were always going to love him and have his back.

Tommy was always going to be chaotically positive. Phil was always going to be strangely parental. Techno was always going to be his best friend.

As much as he believed that blood was thicker than water, the human body couldn’t survive on it’s blood alone, it needed water too. He had his brothers but friends like Niki were unfortunately far too rare.

The comfort of being alone with his brother was quickly cut short as Dream had approached, clad in a green hoodie and a new mask. It looked hand made, like they had paper mached it around a balloon and drew on the face with a sharpie, there were also a couple stickers stuck to it but they were pretty small and looked like they were from shows that Wilbur hadn’t watched. Still though, he looked happier than the last time they saw him (that wasn’t hard to do though, he had his mask this time.)

“Hey guys” The boy had hummed as he sat down near the twins, pulling his knees up on the bench and holding them close to his chest. “Why’re you alone? We were going to play bulldog in the forest if you want to join in”

Wilbur just stared back at him, talking felt like such a hassle right now, he didn’t even want to deal with it. It was just so exhausting.

“Uhm...so you don’t wanna talk.. That’s fine uh” Dream had spluttered out, clearly not expecting such a non-response from Wilbur who was usually the most eloquent one out of the four brothers. “That’s fine, that’s cool. You don’t need to talk if you dont wanna!”

Wilbur almost felt bad. Almost. It was clear that Dream was making an effort, it was clear he was trying his best, if this had been when they first met Dream would have likely made fun of him for not talking but he had learnt from spending so much time with them that sometimes people just didn’t want to talk. As nice as it was to know he was trying to be helpful, Wilbur really just did not want to talk to anyone right now. In all honesty, he didn’t even want to talk to Techno. All he wanted was to sit silently and braid his brother’s hair.

“So uh” Dream cleared his throat, looking to Techno this time when he finally accepted Wilbur wouldn't be communicating with him. “Do you two wanna play bulldog with us? Phil and Tommy are gonna play”

Techno took one look at Wilbur and shook his head. Personally, he wouldn’t mind playing with them, making some new friends might be nice after everything that had just happened but Wilbur was just very clearly not up for talking to anyone.

Sometimes people were upset, sometimes you just needed some time to strop and get out all the negative emotions. Techno wasn’t in any position to tell Wilbur he couldn’t feel the way he felt.

“Oh? Do you want us to wait until you’re finished with your DS? What’re you playin’?”

Shuffling over on the bench, Dream tried to take a peek at the game, seeing Techno tapping quickly on different buttons as his character farmed some crops. It didn’t look too interesting but hey! He had learnt that he shouldn’t insult people for what they enjoy.

“Jesus fucking Christ Dream!” Wilbur finally snapped, pushing the boy away roughly. Maybe he was being a bit short-tempered and mean, maybe they had specifically set up this day so they wouldn’t end up fighting but god dammit Wilbur was upset and he was absolutely ready to make that everybody else's problem.

“Just go away! We don’t want to play your stupid game!”

It was clear that Dream had been a little upset by what Wilbur had said, staggering back a little and getting up from where he had been sitting. Despite the fact that neither boy could see his face they could somehow still read his expression, maybe because he was overly expressive with his body parts to make up for the covered face.

“Oh um.. Okay I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pressure you”

Techno sighed, giving Dream a sympathetic look as if to say sorry and then giving Wilbur a bit of a stern glance, clearly upset with his brother for getting mad like that.

Wilbur didn’t care.

Techno could furrow his brows all he wanted, Wilbur was mad.

=== The second warning was a passing comment made by Wilbur.

This time, the twins had finally decided to join in with the group, it had been right after everyone else had finished playing Bulldog so they were pretty out of breath, meaning all they were doing was sitting around talking.

Tommy was leading the conversation, hopping around and pointing to all his favourite climbing places, every now and then he’d grab someone by the hand and tug them up to show them something. It felt like he really just could not be tired out. Even so, the boy was good at reading people, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was acting extra energetic because he had noticed his big brothers being upset and wanted to give them the chance to pull back from talking if they felt like it. He was young, yes, but out of all four brothers he was probably the one who was best at understanding his own emotions.

“So over there is the big dipper!” He was jumping up and down as he pointed to a large blue drop tower that was partially under the ground. “It goes up super high but then it goes into this big pit! Sometimes I like to climb to the top and sit there!”

Phil’s eyes went wide “Tommy you what?!”

George wasn’t too interested in this explanation of the rides, if he was being honest, he was just sleepy from doing so much exercise after already walking around all day at school. The boy flopped backwards into the dirt, taking off his sunglasses and folding them besides him as he closed his eyes.

It felt nice to just lay in the sun, his brothers teased him a lot for always being so sleepy (it wasn’t uncommon that he would miss appointments or commitments because he hadn’t set an alarm) but it was just so nice and so relaxing to just ignore the outside world for a moment and think. Sometimes he felt like he’d probably be good at meditating but then again his brother’s would absolutely not leave him to chill out long enough for that.

He had been expecting to be either left alone to doze off in the sun, or for one of his brother’s to tug him up and make him stay awake, what he was not expecting was for Wilbur and Techno to join him in laying down.

“The sun is nice today” Techno had mumbled as he closed his eyes, clearly getting a little more comfortable with the boys than he had been previously.

Understandably, George was shocked to hear him talking but he decided that maybe it would help if he didn’t bring attention to it and make it a big deal, he knew Dream was only able to show his face in their house if everyone made sure not to comment on his birthmark, if they did the mask was always brought back out.

“Yeah..it’s nice but it makes me tired.”

Wilbur nodded,George was right a lot of the time; it felt light and warm, unlike the humid air that had caused him to snap earlier. Honestly he felt a little bad about it, he had obviously hurt Dream and he didn’t even apologise. Phil would surely be disappointed in him if he heard about what happened.

“I don't understand why you guys are trying to be our friends” Wilbur confessed, scooching up a little closer to Techno so he could hold his hand. “I understand liking Phil and Tommy but why us? Nobody likes us. Sometimes I wish you would stop trying, I already know how this is gonna end”

Wilbur rubbed at his eyes with his free hand but it wasn’t like the other two could tell since they had their eyes closed thankfully. George wanted to object, to tell them that they did like them and that this wasn’t going to end how he thought it would but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He didn’t know what Wil meant when he said how it would end and it wasn’t like he could just tell them they were wrong about their previous experiences with people. He ended up pondering what he could say for so long that by the time he had a plan laid out in his mind it had been too long to reply and he had already unknowingly made the decision to just stay quiet.

Dream had heard him though. Dream had seen him rubbing at his eyes. Dream had noticed how he held onto Techno before talking about it.

Something was definitely wrong.

===

Eventually Dream decided that enough was enough.

Today was the day when they would finally talk it out, there should be no upset, no turmoil, no arguments, and yet here they were, upset.

At first, he had been tempted to just call them out in front of everyone but under better thought he realised that was most likely a very very bad idea. He wanted to help, not make things worse.

Instead, he just waited for Tommy to drag his brothers and Phil over to the ‘white house’, saying he had to show them around. It seemed like Techno and Wilbur were planning on staying back so really it was the perfect time to talk to them about it.

Once everyone else had left and was out of ear-shot, Dream made his way back over to the boys, absolutely ready to get yelled at again (which really he didn’t mind if it helped Wilbur feel better). This time though, he didn’t sit down; he just stood in front of them and crossed his arms, wanting them to know he was being serious.

“Wilbur. You’re obviously upset, okay? I understand if you’re mad we’re in your park and we’ll leave if you want us to but can you please just talk to us first?”

Wilbur sighed and rested his head on Techno’s shoulder.

Something wasn't right.

[hollenka99]

The Doctor’s Sons

Summary: This entire clone situation with Ranboo has been occupying Docza’s mind but not for the reasons Techno seems to think.

Warnings: Implied/referenced death

If he was going to be honest, he wasn't particularly paying attention to the conversation going on behind him. He thinks it was about Techno's experience of travelling in the TARDIS with him. Whatever Technoblade and Ranboo were discussing, he was glad the two of them were getting along. This entire cloned offspring situation had thrown him for a loop. It certainly complicated matters. He would rather focus on figuring out how best to placate both sides of the war between the humans and Hath. Although, undeniably, he may have developed a soft spot for Ranboo without entirely meaning to like Techno had. "You will. Won't he, Doctor?" He is brought back to the present. "Hmm?" "Do you think Ranboo'll see any new worlds?" "I suppose so." A warm smile forms on his face. As unsure as he was about these events, there's no doubt he wouldn't mind another friendly face tagging along. "You mean- You mean you'll take me with you?" "Well, can't leave you here, can we?" "Oh! Thank you, thank you, thank you." Ranboo's arms find themselves around the Doctor before he can react. It is too familiar of a feeling. Wilbur stares down at the key his father had handed him moments before. "You're trusting me with your TARDIS?" "Well, better than you stealing one like I did." The force of the hug is not something he is expecting. "Thank you, Dad, thank you! I promise I'll take good care of her." "You'd better. And don't be gone for too long, okay?" With a grin, his son pulls away. "You got it." "Come on, let's get a move on." And like that, Ranboo is rushing off round the corner. For a split second, he could have sworn Tommy was the one leaving his sight. "Careful, there might be traps!" "Kids! They never listen." He can feel Techno glancing at him, face falling as he realises his Time Lord friend isn't so ready for joking around. "Oh, I know that look. You see it a lot where I'm from. Piglins with frowns and smaller versions of themself. You've got Dad Shock." His brows momentarily furrow. "Dad Shock?" "Sudden unexpected fatherhood. Takes a bit of getting used to." Ah. "No, it's not that." "Well, what is it then? Having Ranboo in the TARDIS, is that it? What's he going to do, cramp your style? Like you've got a sports car and he's going to turn it into a people carrier?" Might as well be truthful. "Techno... I've been a father before." "What?" "I lost all that a long time ago, along with everything else." "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me? You talk all the time but you never say anything." "I know. It's just... when I look at him now, I can see them. The hole they left, all the pain that filled it. I just don't know if I can face that everyday." And it's true. If he allowed himself the chance to truly reflect on it, he'd be too preoccupied with all the memories Ranboo had unintentionally caused to resurface.

----- Wilbur appears at the door of the TARDIS with baby Tommy on his hip. He nearly doesn't notice, busy with performing maintenance on the console, but when his eyes catch on his son by the entrance, he happily pauses to face them with wires still in his grip. "Is something up?" "Oh, it's nothing. Just thought you might want to know Tommy's found a new way of getting around so everybody better watch out." He moves so the infant is positioned to stand of his own accord. Crouched, he encourages his brother. "Hey Tommy, you want to show Dad what you can do?" Tommy obliges by taking a number of clumsy steps before collapsing to the floor. Oh forget the wires, so long as he kept them away from the toddler's reach, it wouldn't be a problem. By the time he's taken a step forward, he is going back on his initial reaction. Come to think of it, there was only more work to be done now. His hands weren't entirely clean either. And besides, there was time to celebrate this milestone later. "That's amazing, boys. Guess I need to Tommy-proof the TARDIS now that he's walking. Call for me if you need anything." "Sure. Come on, Tommy." He throws open the doors. "This, boys, is Spica, in the constellation of Virgo. Or, at least, what's left of it because in a few short minutes, it's going to begin collapsing in on itself." "You've taken us to watch a star die?" Wilbur raises an eyebrow. "What's the point in travelling the universe if you can't admire the view every now and again?" He smiles. "We'll stay here for a little while then I'll bring us a few weeks forward so you can both see the supernova at its peak." True to his word, their father soon repositions them so they have a more enticing display to witness. Arms on both of his sons' shoulders, they all marvelled at the sight before them. "One day, when you're both done with the Academy and only if you want to, of course, I will show you the universe. Then, perhaps, you might want to see it for yourself and show me things I've missed. Sound good?" Wilbur, already intrigued by it from a young age but in love with the prospect ever since he faced the vortex in its purest form, beams at him. "Definitely." "Will we get to see more stuff like this? It's really pretty." Tommy asks in a voice that is small yet paradoxically loud. "Oh, you bet. All of time and space with just the three of us. It'll be great." "Tommy, you'll be fine." He reassures the eight year old who was due to be sent to the Time Lord Academy. "But I'll be away for so long. And... and what about the Untempered Schism?" "Yeah, maybe you'll go crazy." "Wilbur." A warning glare. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He throws his hands up, failing to suppress his grin. "It made me want to graduate as soon as possible. Arguably, not the best thing for a kid who had only started his time at school since it made me insufferable as a student but now I'm free to go where I like." "But remember, if you run, there's no shame in that. I did and I haven't really stopped. Honestly, you shouldn't even be exposed to it so young but unfortunately, it's part of growing up for us." "We'll be here for you, whatever happens." "Exactly." Tommy looks between his father and brother. He nods with more confidence than he's had all day. "Alright." When he feels a significant breeze in his living room, he knows something isn't right. His hypothesis gets proven when he sees a fireplace by one of the walls. An opening appears from the fireplace he knows he shouldn't have which reveals Wilbur and a boy with bright orange hair. "Surprise! Sorry to show up uninvited but you're a very difficult man to get ahold of. Don't worry, Tommy was the one who gave me the co-ordinates." "H-Hiya, mate. It's been a while." "Yeah... about that. This is Fundy." Once sat at a table with tea for the adults and biscuits for the kid, Wilbur launches into the story of what he had been up to since leaving home. Including, it would seem, discovering a planet where a branch of humanity's descendants had evolved camouflage abilities, meeting a half-Ichthyoan woman there and staying for her. When Fundy returns to his father's TARDIS, subsequently leaving the range of being in their earshot, the older of the Time Lords puts forward the question that had been bothering him. "Are you going to stay there indefinitely?" Wilbur chuckles. "No. You think I could do that to myself? Nah, I'm there for Sally and Fundy but once he's grown up, I think I'll leave. For now, I've been doing the same sort of thing you did. They barely notice I'm gone most of the time." "I don't think what you're doing is wise." "It'll be a while before I'm 100 and I don't plan to find myself in a situation where I'd risk regeneration any time soon. I have plenty of time to have my hearts broken. No need to rush into it with one of my first serious relationships." "If you're sure, Wilbur..." "I am. Don't worry." "You shouldn't do this." "The time for adventures is over." Wilbur says grimly. "For now, at least. I can't stand by and let our people lose this war, not if I can help in some way. Stay on the sidelines if you want, be there for Tommy. But I need to do this. I don't think I could forgive myself if I didn't do something." "Wil-" "We're meant to only observe, right? All of time and space and we're meant to let histories happen as they were supposed to, never interfering in the slightest. You can't make yourself do that. I can't either. We've made friends but we've also seen the natives of the places we visit get hurt or even die. Sometimes we had the power to prevent it but failed to do so somehow. Well, this is me trying to prevent needless deaths if that's possible. The Daleks can't win. We both know how devastating that would be to the universe. They just can't. It- it's already leaving the universe destroyed in its wake. So I'm not letting that happen, not if I have any say in it. You've made Earth your home and I'm glad you've found a place like that. But... Gallifrey is mine." His eldest son chuckles. "I can't find my Earth if Gallifrey burns right before the rest of the universe does." "I can't... I can't let you do this." "Tommy, Sally and Fundy. Look after them for me. Please. Yourself too, of course. I promise I'll be back in one piece before too long. Same face as well, hopefully." "That's not funny." Wilbur takes his hand, a grin forming. "Like I'd let a Dalek exterminate me. I swear I will be absolutely fine. You have nothing to worry about." He sighs. “Please stay safe.” “Of course.” When Wilbur heads out the door, he reiterates his promises. In a way, he does keep one of them. Wilbur does return in one piece. The only loophole was that it wasn't the way his son intended to do so. He isn't even recognisable to his own family.

Tommy activates the breaks while his father is in the middle of preparing for another trip. "You need to stop running." "Excuse me?" "Wilbur died and it seems like all you can do is jump in your TARDIS for another adventure. You refuse to talk about him, you don't let yourself stay anywhere for long or speak to people unless you absolutely have to, you- you barely even look at me either. Guess what, I miss him too. And trust me, I know I'm the worst with dealing with this sort of thing but at least I'm not acting like everything is fine. You told me it would be a trip or two to help make it easier. Bullshit. Let me go home." "What, so you can fight yourself? No, I don't think so. Over my dead body." "Yeah. Yeah, actually, you know what? I think I might. He was right. This is not the time to hop from planet to planet or from one time period to the next. I'm going home one way or another. Even if I have to sneak back to the TARDIS when your back's turned. It's not like I don't know the co-ordinates." "We are not going back to Gallifrey, it's too dangerous." "You don't have to step out that door when we land but I will." The two of them end up participating in a glaring contest. "One last trip." He offers. "Do you not understand the meaning of 'no'?" "Let me fit in one more then you can go. You can even pick our destination, if you want." With everything he has, he wishes Tommy had stood his ground and insisted on returning home. He wishes he himself hadn’t been so persistent in attempting to keep his remaining child close. At least that way, the young Time Lord wouldn't have been armed with only curses during an unexpected run in with Autons. ---- "It won't stay like that. He'll help you, we both will." "When they died, that part of me died with them. It'll never come back. Not now." "I'll tell you something, Doctor, something I've never told you before. I think you're wrong." The clone of himself with Enderian DNA sprints back into view. "They blasted through the beams. Time to run again? Love the running, yeah?" "Love the running." The pain of his conversation with Techno seemingly erased from his face, he lets adrenaline fuel this next part of the adventure.

[terrible-leviathan]

Okay Okay Okay. So I'm not really done with the second part yet (it got long so I'm separating it into two sort of parts) but I just wanted to get your thoughts (feel free to answer this one privately, just cause I don't know if you wanna spam your problems with this wip)

The cabin in the snow had always been a warm place. Despite the callous legends and myths surrounding its’ inhabitants, the home itself had always been rather…cozy. With polished wood, fuzzy carpets, and the perfect amount of heat radiating from the fireplace, the cabin had always been an oasis; a reprieve from the cruel desert of ice outside.

It supposedly warmed the even the cruelest of hearts. The home allowed Blood Gods to read on plush couches, it allowed Angels of Death to sip hot chocolate by fires, it allowed Endermen Hyrbids to calm down.

It warmed the coldest of souls, and melted the roughest of exteriors.

Except, for apparently, one.

For no fire, and no warmth, could melt the man who wore ice itself as shield.

They were seated around a dinner table, polished acacia with miscellaneous fillings that helplessly tried to disguise the countless knife marks scarring the wood. There were candles on the table, and while they usually provided light, tonight they only served to cast shadows.

Ranboo hadn’t been particularly thrilled when Phil had invited Wilbur to dinner. But he had obliged. He was Phil’s son. He deserved a chance to have dinner with his father.

And apparently his father’s piglin-hybrid roommate, and ender-hybrid neighbor.

Ranboo, of course, had tried to avoid the engagement, but Phil had insisted. Phil had begged. And at the insecurity evident in the eyes of the immortal, at the fear of him of being alone with his son, the worry of rejection prominent in his plea, Ranboo had agreed.

But now, sitting across from Wilbur, with Phil and Techno on his right and left, Ranboo knew he should’ve just said no.

“So, Phil.” Wilbur started, a small smile on his face as aimlessly swirled the dark red drink in his hand, “How’ve you been?”

Phil’s eyes widened, “Oh! I—I’ve been good, Wil, I’ve—uh—I’ve missed you. A lot.”

Wilbur’s eyes softened slightly as he smiled at his father, “I’ve missed you too, Phil.”

A grin formed on Ranboo’s face as something lit up in Phil’s eyes.

“It really is nice to have you back,” Phil whispered, “I don’t—it’s been so long.”

“Yeah,” He whispered, “It has—“ His eyes darted towards Ranboo, “Obviously, though, you’ve been doing well enough.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ranboo questioned.

Wilbur’s eyes widened, as if struck by the fact that Ranboo was addressing him, “Hm? Oh, nothing really, just that I am very happy that Phil found someone to take care of. Someone whose battles he’d be willing to fight. Someone who doesn’t fight their own.

Ranboo’s hand clutched his drink with white knuckles, “I don’t like conflict, that doesn’t mean I need someone else to fight my battles. I don’t get into battles.”

Wilbur scoffed, “You avoid battles. You’re spineless.” He spat the word like a curse, setting down his goblet with a thud. Something inside his eyes dimmed as he said it, fingers curling into tightly wound fists.

Ranboo wanted to let it go. He really did. And he would’ve, too. He would’ve allowed the insult to stay rooted in his mind, untouched and unmoving, yet diligently ignored nonetheless. He would’ve kept smiling and laughing awkwardly, his lips barely stretching into a thin smile, and his eyes barely disguising his discomfort.

He would’ve.

He would’ve done it for Phil.

If Wilbur had just stopped talking, then he would’ve been able to let it go.

But the man always seemed to have so much to say, and so with a twinkle in his eye and a dramatic flourish in his movements, words had kept flowing from his mouth.

“I was thrilled to have dinner with you, Phil,” Wilbur murmured, “Me and you. I thought it was just going to be me and you. I wasn’t surprised to hear you’d invited Techno, of course, why would that possibly come as a surprise at this point? But you didn’t even stop there, no—“ His gaze sharpened on Ranboo once again, “I’m stuck passing the potatoes to a coward.”

“Wilbur,” Phil warned, sighing slightly, “Ranboo hasn’t done anything to you—“

“Exactly!” Wilbur cried, “He hasn’t done anything! He’s just sat there! Staring! He won’t even say anything back to me—“ Wilbur stopped, shaking his head and laughing, “I really do wonder how you and Tubbo get along so well, Tubbo’s far braver than you could ever hope to be, although I don’t even really understand what he sees in you—“

“That’s it!” Ranboo cried, slamming his hands onto the table in front of him. Phil and Techno both jerked their eyes towards him. Phil looked nervous, agitated, whereas Techno looked as if he would rather be anywhere else. Or maybe that was just his normal face. Ranboo could never tell.

Wilbur raised an eyebrow, “Oh is it? That’s it? Tell me, Rahnboo, what it is you’ve had enough of?”

“You, for one,” Ranboo murmured.

Wilbur let out a loud chuckle, “Oh! So the little Enderman has a spine after all, does he? Come on, Ranboo,” His eyes flickered with something, and for a moment Ranboo though he could see sadness. He thought he could see behind a facade of ice, behind the grin of a showman. But just as soon as it had came, it had disappeared.

And Ranboo was still pissed.

“I’m not a coward,” He bit out, “I—I try to be there for my friends, I always try to—“

“You try?” Wilbur repeated, “Tell me, Ranboo, how hard did you try when your so-called ‘friends’ were stuck in a cacophony of fire, when they were being surrounded by a crumbling country, when they were left to the mercy of Phil and Techno? How hard did you try then?”

Ranboo shook his head, “That was different—“

“Was it? You let them get hurt, you allowed the burns to stain their skin and the scars to mar their chests, you—“

“You blew up the country yourself!” Ranboo cried, leaning over towards Wilbur, “I might have let it happen, but at least I didn’t press the button! I wasn’t the one who destroyed what Tommy loved, I wasn't the one who hurt him so badly that he trembles when saying your name, I’m not the one that put Tubbo through so much pain that he can’t even look at one of his old suits without crying—“ Ranboo shook his head, “I might not be perfect, but at least I’m not you!”

A silence drifted over the table. Phil looked up at him with shock, indiscernible emotions lurking behind his eyes. Ranboo knew he should apologize. But for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what for.

Technoblade drummed his hand on the table once, before standing up with an awkward cough, “I’m gonna go get some more meat, I—“

“Oh no, Techno.” Wilbur murmured, head tilted in amusement as a grin stretched across his face, “This little Dinner Party just got a lot more fun. You wouldn’t want to miss the…festivities would you?”

Techno didn’t seem impressed, but his eyes instinctually shot to Phil, and at a pleading glance from his closest friend, he sat back down.

“So you’re personal grievance against me is because I hurt Tommy? Hurt Tubbo?” Wilbur asked with a small grin, “You hate anyone who’s hurt them?”

Ranboo nodded, his eyes steely. He would protect Tommy and Tubbo and Michael with his life. And from what he had seen, Wilbur only wanted to hurt them. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt them, he had to protect the people he cared about.

So he spoke the one word he knew to be true. “Yes.”

For a moment there was silence, and the a brash laugh echoed from inside of Wilbur’s chest. He threw his head back, the cry of laughter seemingly being too much to bear. The rest of them simply watched him in unease, cringing as his chuckles echoed inside the room that now seemed much to small.

Once the trickle of laughs died down, and Wilbur wiped a few nonexistent tears from his eyes, he turned back to Ranboo, an almost victorious smile on his face.

“Hypocrite.” He murmured, “You’re a fucking hypocrite! You are a spineless child who only follows his moral code when it’s convenient for him. You aren’t even a liar, Ranboo—“ He shook his head with a laugh, “You’re just an idiot.”

Wilbur expected that to be the end, as if he had played the final note in his song, tied up the engagement with one last piece of string. But Ranboo’s eyes had darkened, and he was done taking his bullshit.

“AND YOU IDOLIZE TOMMY’S ABUSER!” Ranboo yelled, “You saw what he did to Tommy in exile, you saw what he did to Tubbo! You see what an absolute monster he is, and you don’t care!”

“Of course I care!” Wilbur cried, eyes wide. He stopped speaking immediately, as if ashamed by his own words. Why anyone would be ashamed of caring, Ranboo did not know. But that didn’t stop the trembling man in front of him.

“What I meant to say,” Wilbur rephrased tensely, “Is that I have a code. Dream is the hero. He is the only one who can save us. What he did to Tommy, to Tubbo, to me, is unimportant in the grand scheme of the world. I don’t care if it makes anger pool in my stomach, I don’t care if it makes my vision turn red, I don’t care if it makes my blood feel like lava. I don’t care.” He chuckled, “I can’t care.”

A frown settled onto Ranboo’s face, “Dream has hurt the people you care about, so why the hell do you still idolize him?”

Wilbur chuckled lightly, “The raven should never insult the crow—” He gestured to Phil and Techno around him, “—if they have the same feathers.”

Ranboo shook his head, “What does that even mean? That doesn’t—you’re not making any sense.”

Wilbur chuckled darkly, “I know I’m a monster. I know I’m the bad guy. The villain. But if you believe my adoration for Dream is a sin because he’s ‘hurt people’, then tell me, Ranboo, how can you possibly sit in this house, a contented smile on your face, and laugh and joke and grin with the gods and immortals who’ve hurt the very people you claim to defend?”

Ranboo’s eyes turned to Phil, then to Techno. That was different. Phil and Techno were good. Sure they didn’t get along with Tommy and Tubbo, but they would never hurt him.

Ranboo shook his head, “They would never hurt them the way Dream did. They would never hurt one of them on purpose, they would never kill one of them.”

Techno’s utensils fell from his hands with a clatter.

Ranboo raised a questioning eyebrow at him, as the Blood God had frozen in his seat.

For a moment Wilbur looked shocked, his eyes turned to Techno, almost appalled. Then he jerked his head to Phil, who still looked confused and comfortable, then he moved his gaze back to Techno, and eventually towards Ranboo once again.

“I—wow,” Wilbur murmured, running a hand over his face, “I almost—I almost don’t know what to say—“

Ranboo simply shrank back into his chair as Wilbur cocked his head.

“Do you know about the whole—“ He gestured his hands in a small pop, mouthing the word boom.

“Of course I do,” Ranboo answered easily, “But I don’t blame Techno and Phil for what happened to L’manburg on Doomsday. I don’t hold that against them, and I don’t really even think—“

“No, no, no!” Wilbur said with a laugh, waving him off, “You think I care about that country being blown to bits? Of course not! I don’t care. I never cared. Ever. What I’m talking about it a much smaller boom—“ He chuckled to himself, “But a much more colorful one.”

Ranboo turned towards Techno, whose eyes had darkened.

“Wilbur,” He started, “I don’t really want—“

“OH!” Wilbur cried as his eyes widened, slamming his hands down on the wood and leaning forwards towards Ranboo, “You don’t know!” He cried. It wasn’t a question, it was a realization. A realization that made the hairs on Ranboo’s neck stand up.

He laughed awkwardly, already fearing the answer, “Know what?”

Wilbur shook his head as he ran his hand down his face, “Holy fuck. This is—this is too much,” He turned towards Techno, a laugh bubbling out of his throat, “I—I can’t believe you never told him!”

Techno’s eyes narrowed, “I have told him. Multiple times. But it doesn’t really strike me as polite dinner conversation—”

Wilbur waved Techno off, turning back towards Ranboo.

“Tell me, Ranboo,” He murmured, “What are your thoughts on fireworks?”

MATCH AAA

Genuinely the way I slapped my hand to my mouth so many times cuz HOMEWRECKBUR HOMEWRECKBUR !! Also I just love the way u did the whole buildup to this like u can literally tell how smug of a shit Wilbur is, how awkward and quiet the other people around the table are, and when Ranboo finally snapped like YESS HAVE A SPINE

Tho my only comment to this is it'd be more cool if u would show more of Philza and Techno's reaction especially when certain info gets revealed like the whole abuser thing and to Ranboo snapping cuz this boi rarely even shouts. But other than that, that was an absolute delight to read and I'm so fucking excited for the next part!!

Ranboo: I am against people who have hurt the people I care about. Specifically Tubbo, Michael, and Tommy.

Philza and Techno, who has beat the shit out of Tommy in a pit, who has shot multiple fireworks at Tubbo (and Tommy), who blew up their country just cuz they had a personal agenda against the two teens:

[bellfort3]

High school au prompt #1: The Pissbaby Rumor

Since TommyInnit had started high school a measly two months ago, he had learned three very important things:

1.) Don’t use the third floor bathroom during lunch

2.) Every high school coming-of-age story is right when it comes to football players being absolute bastards

And

3.) Technoblade doesn’t talk often, so you must talk for the both of you when trying to have a conversation with him

So it came as quite a surprise when Tommy walked into Mr. Philza’s classroom after school to find Wilbur bent over at the waist, practically choking from laughing so hard, and Technoblade yelling at him and shoving his phone in his face.

“I’m telling you!” Techno cried, going red in the face. “I recorded it as soon as I heard him start to talk!”

Wilbur spluttered for air. “Do you always just whip out your phone and record whenever Dream starts talking?”

Technoblade ignored the jab and instead started playing said recording from his phone. At first, it was quiet, then the room blew up with the sounds of various voices and eating. Among the clamber of the lunch room, could Tommy hear the unmistakable tea-kettle laugh of varsity point guard, Dream.

“Throwback to when I somehow managed to go to the bathroom in my dream and piss all over my bed while my girlfriend was sleeping next to me and we had just gotten the mattress and had no sheets on it and then I cleaned it up without waking her up and acted like nothing happened.”

Wilbur paused before inhaling very slowly and loudly, just to fall into an obnoxious fit of laughter all over again. Tommy was left speechless in his wake, eyes wide and almost glassy-like as he processed just what he had heard.

“WHAT THE FAWK!” Tommy screamed, voice rising ten octaves and loud enough to shatter glass. Techno winced and made a move to shut the classroom door when it was pushed open and Tubbo strolled in with Niki right behind him.

“TECHNO, TECHNO, Techno, Techno, Techno. Do you realize what this means?! DREAM FUCKING PISSED HIS BED LIKE A FUCKING PISSBABY! Oh my fawking god, what the fawk. What an absolute dipshit-“

Tubbo cocked an eyebrow. “What is this about Dream pissing his bed? Are we talking about Dream WasTaken?”

Wilbur gasped like a fish out of water. “Techno, play the recording again.”

And so he did, and now it was Tubbo’s turn to scream while Nikki winced in second-hand embarrassment.

“Wha-how-DREAM PISSED HIS BED?!? A 17 year old PISSED HIS BED?! How?!” Tubbo spluttered, addressing Technoblade like he had all the answers.

Techno was over the point of this being funny to him. He took a seat in Philza’s abandoned desk chair and propped his feet up on the wooden desk.

“I don’t know the context of it. This is all I have-“

“And this is all we NEED! Techno, Will, do you understand?! We could completely DESTROY Dream’s life with this! Once we somehow get it out to the rest of the school-“

“No, Tommy,” Tommy paused, turning and expecting to find Wilbur as the one telling him off-not Niki. “We will not be doing anything with this recording, and if we do, we are deleting it.”

Tubbo furrowed his brows. “But why? It would be pretty hilarious.”

Wilbur took a deep breath, straightening himself up to his full height. “Niki is right. As much as I dislike Dream and his little sportsman posse, we will not be announcing this information to the public. It’s just not right.”

Tommy went red in the face, all his anger and frustrations boiling to the surface of his skin. “But why? Why, Will, why? Dream and George and that bastard Sapnap have been bullying us around for weeks! Ever since school started, they’ve been shitting on us and the club! This could be our one chance to make them shut up for good!”

Tubbo nodded along, remembering the way Sapnap had knocked into him in the hallway and, more specifically, how he had not apologized. “Yeah!”

Wilbur shook his head. “No,” he said more firmly. “We will not be doing any such thing. It’s morally wrong.”

Techno scoffed from his spot behind the desk, placing his feet back down on the floor.

“Do you have something you would like to say, Technoblade?” Wilbur inquired.

Techno shrugged, eyes shielded beneath his thick flop of pink hair. “I just don’t see the morality behind it? I mean, a kid pissed his bed. It’s not like he was coming out of the closet or anything.”

Wilbur’s left eye twitched. “Techno,” he started. “Are you saying you want to release this video?”

Techno shrugged again. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and set it down on Philza’s desk in front of him. “I’m saying I don’t think morality is a reason not to.”

There was a beat of silence in the classroom, the tension so thick and stifling, it could be cut with a sword.

Then, finally, Wilbur cleared his throat. “Well,” he said. “We have always treated this club as it were a democracy. I don’t see why we don’t treat this matter as such as well. Shall we take a vote?”

There was a quick scuffle as the two younger boys shifted their spots so they stood on either side of Techno and Niki took her rightful place by Wilbur’s side.

Wilbur sighed, taking turns making eye contact with each person stood across from him. Tommy met his gaze with fierce and icy eyes, a determined and almost hungry look devouring his features. Tubbo looked apprehensive, and maybe even a little regretful, meeting Wilbur’s brown eyes. But he stood resolutely, solidifying his position. And Techno. Techno couldn’t even hold his gaze. His beady black eyes flickered up to Wilbur’s then away quickly, like a shy schoolgirl. He glanced at the phone he had left on the desktop.

Wilbur saw the weak link in the chain and didn’t hesiatate to bring the sledgehammer down on it.

“Techno,” He murmured, pulling the teenager’s attention back to him. “You don’t have to do this.”

Techno pursed his lips together in thought.

“Just because it’s not ‘morally wrong’, like you said, doesn’t mean it isn’t just plain wrong. I’m afraid if we do this, if you do this, if you chose to take that video and release to the rest of the school...I’m afraid we may have a bit of a war on our hands. A war we aren’t made to fight! Look at us! Dream and his gang would destroy us in a war of the populace! Us and our little tag team of theatre nerds wouldn’t stand a bloody chance and you know that. Why would you risk that? Why are you even considering it?” Wilbur said, clasping his hands in front of him in a mock plea. “Techno, you can delete the video and act like this never happened.”

An odd sort of fleeting feeling settled over the room, like a summer rain after a funeral. Wilbur searched Techno’s face and felt relief wash over him as he knew he had won.

“Techno! No!” Tommy cried, grabbing onto the older’s shirt sleeve as Techno took a step forward towards Wilbur and Niki’s side. “Techno, please!”

And just like that, Techno stopped talking. The voting was over, the meeting adjourned. While the theatre club meeting was technically supposed to go for another half an hour, no one stopped TommyInnit from storming out of the room in rage. No one stopped Tubbo from running after him either.

A few minutes later, Wilbur turned to Technoblade.

“Thank you,” he said softly. “You made the right choice. The boys may not see it now, but what you did today probably saved the future of this club. I don’t know what I would do if that ever happened.”

Techno didn’t respond.

OMFG I LOVED WRITING THIS!!!! Plz let me know how you feel about it by liking or reposting or commenting whatever! And feel free to leave suggestions for future prompts like this!!:)