#fun fact! If Delusion had pressed for the name of Blue's 'sister' he probably would've panicked and said 'Error'

[moonfurthetemmie]

Unlucky Meeting of the DS Verses (Part 3)

There is Yet Another

No warnings, other than Mentioned Karen Encounter and also delusion is trying to help and doesn’t realize that actually he is. not

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Blue was exhausted. He’d had the misfortune to stop in a the produce aisle, off to the side out of the way, near a Karen, and had to spend half an hour trying to escape her wrath.

Okay, it probably wasn’t really half an hour, but it sure felt like it. He just wanted to get some carrots and celery for his soup and go home, he wasn’t trying to block her from her pre-cut mixed fruit platter for her kid’s party. He didn’t care; he just wanted to get his groceries and go home, and this lady had decided she needed to drag him through the dirt for stopping his cart in front of the fruit for sixty seconds.

He got it. He really did. He didn’t have the energy to cut up fruit most of the time, and those pre-sliced fruit things were a godsend. But dear lord.

He finally managed to get out of the store with all of his groceries, and had even made it to his Outertale timeline and was walking home when he heard the familiar woosh of a portal opening overhead.

He glanced up, expecting a traveling bird monster or something, but instead finding Dream gliding over the empty streets of the small town.

He nearly dropped his eggs when Dream spotted him and made his way down, landing in front of him and spreading his wings majestically. Only then did Blue realize this wasn’t the Dream he knew. He was...orange. Way too orange. He held himself more like a lord, and his face was almost perfectly void of emotion, other than a hint of a content smile, and some mild curiosity. And his wings were shedding at…a rather alarming rate. Was he sick? Dream’s wings didn’t shed like that.

“You seem to be having some trouble.”

Blue blinked. “Wh-what? Oh! No, I’m fine, thank you.” He tried for a smile and readjusted his grip on the bag with the eggs. “Er, sorry, but- who are you?”

The strange Dream tilted his head down slightly. “Ah, my apologies. I am Dream, head of Justice Reigns, though judging by your reaction, I take it you know me.” That content smile grew ever so slightly into a dryer one. “Or, at the very least, some variation of me.” He glanced around, as if surveying the area, before looking back to Blue. “Would I be correct in assuming your name is Blue?”

Blue swallowed. “Um…yes. You know some…alternate of me, then?”

‘Dream’ hummed in thought. “Yes…I encountered odd versions of a trio that my organization is attempting to arrest, and I assumed that I had found myself in another multiverse. I attempted to return to mine, but, as you can see, that didn’t quite work out.”

Blue resisted the urge to back up. Despite the soft, comforting feelings the radiant’s aura generated, there was something about this guy that was just a little off.

Blue chuckled nervously. “Well, I think the JR and Dream in this multiverse would be happy to…assist…you…”

The new Dream was giving him a strange look, and Blue trailed off slowly.

“…Are you alright?” ‘Dream’ asked. “You seemed stressed. Is something bothering you?”

“A-ah. I…may have irritated an entitled middle-aged white woman in the grocery store a bit earlier,” Blue said. “I’m just a bit…tired.”

‘Dream’s eyes were piercing. Blue swallowed nervously. He really wanted to get home.

The winged man lowered his voice. “I’m concerned you might be in some sort of trouble. Would you mind if I came with you to make sure you make it home safely?”

Blue felt a lump form in his throat. He did not want this guy to follow him home. He was afraid that he’d follow him even if he said no, though.

The strange Dream noticed his hesitation and said, very gently, “I understand if you’re wary of taking a stranger to your house, but I only wish to help.”

“I…Alright.” Blue swallowed. “It’s, um, just down the street.”

‘Dream’ gave him a slight smile. He offered to help carry some of Blue’s groceries, which was nervously accepted.  

As they walked, Blue mentally berated himself. Why on earth did he agree? He wasn’t that stupid, was he? God, he hoped this guy would leave him alone afterwards. He knew better than to bring strangers home.

The strange clone of Dream seemed to enjoy the otherwise peaceful walk.

“Do you…um…” Blue tried to ignore the feeling that the stranger man’s eyes were boring into his soul. “Do you have…friends, who might also have been brought here?”

The other Dream hummed. “Not that I’m aware,” he said passively. “It’s possible, I suppose. I’m not certain.” His wings twitched. “I should probably visit this multiverse’s Justice Reigns, and ask your Dream if he’s heard anything.”

“I hope anyone that did end up here are alright,” Blue said.

“…Forgive me for the personal question, but do you live with family?”

Blue hesitated. “Er…Yeah. I live with my…sister.” He said, like a liar. “She’s at work currently.” Please don’t ask me what her name is.

“I see.” ‘Dream’ didn’t say anything for the rest of the walk. Blue breathed a sigh of relief.

They reached Blue’s house, without any of the trouble that ‘Dream’ had been afraid of. Blue unlocked the door and turned to the strange Dream. “Thank you for helping with the groceries.” He tried for a smile. It wasn’t as forced as it had been before; probably because he’d been hanging around in the man’s positive aura for a while. “I hope you get home safely.”

‘Dream’ didn’t smile this time. “Thank you. You still seem very anxious, though.” He handed Blue the rest of the groceries. “Would you like someone to stay with you?”

Blue’s throat went dry. He really, really didn’t.

“I-I’ll be fine. Thank you, though.” He went to hurry inside, but felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, that wasn’t as comforting as it was probably supposed to be.

The winged man didn’t move. “I would hate to leave and find out you got hurt because you were alone.”

Blue laughed nervously. “Well, as far as I know, no one’s after me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“I’d feel better knowing there was someone keeping an eye on you,” ‘Dream’ said. “At least until your sister gets home.”

The slightest raised eyebrow, and Blue felt his heart sink.

He never had been a good liar.