Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dream calls you into his quarters.

You don’t like Dream. You are a part of his “court,” sure. But that is because Sapnap likes you. He does not.

You have seen what he can do to people. He still has those discs on his wall. A trophy of a child.

Sapnap. Sapnap fought them too. But he does not hoard what children owned. He does not seem so satisfied by the fact that L’manburg is little more than a camping site for those who cannot flee far.

But you go to his quartiers, because you know that you are there at his whim.

(Dream) “Hello, Karl. How’s your time with us been?”

Alright?

(You) “It’s been a pleasure, your majesty?”

Dream stares, for a while, and then turns his face away.

(Dream) “That’s unfortunate.”

Prime.

(You) “How come?”

Dream shrugs. Langude. Fluid.

(Dream) “You won’t be staying with us much longer.”

Is that a death threat. Have you just been threatened?”

(Dream) “Calm down, Karl. You’re in no danger.”

The “for now” remains unspoken.

(Dream) “I’ve just promised someone a bride. And, well. You’re the closest I’ve got.”

What.

(Dream) “Don’t worry. Quackity’s promised no harm is to come to you. Then again. We all know what happened to his last lover.”

Prime. Prime protect you. Quackity? He ate Schlatt’s heart, and rules Las Nevadas with an iron fist.

And And Sapnap. You love him. And Dream likes him. Doesn’t he?

(You) “What about Sapnap. You know he loves me.”

Dream scoffs.

(Dream) “He’ll move on. Come on, Karl. Pack your bags.

Chapter Text

Karl comes to you, looking tired.

(You) “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

Karl looks at you.

(Karl) “Dream said he’s sending me to be Quackity’s bride.

What. What the flip.

(You) “Karl. What’s going on?”

He wouldn’t joke like that.

(Karl) “I don’t want to leave you.”

And now tears are budding in his eyes.

(You) “I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. He wouldn’t do that.”

Surely not?

(Karl) “If he thought it would protect you, he would.”

But. Karl’s good for you. He loves you. He cares about other people.

(You) “I can talk to Dream tomorrow. For now, let’s just  go to bed.”

You’ll figure it out.

Karl nods, and you hold him as you go to sleep.

Chapter Text

Sapnap tried. But Dream still refused.

So. You’re going.

Punz nods to you as you leave. He does not care about you. He is Dream’s confidant, and has no patience for the rest of you.

George said goodbye. More emotion than usual. By that, you mean he nodded at you.

You know he doesn’t like you more than he likes Dream, but at least he cared enough to say goodbye in a way that was not something like a theat. That’s what Dream did.

Dream made it clear that if you try to come back, things won’t go well.

Dream knows about this, probably. Knows that Sapnap is going with you as a guard.

Dream seems to know everything. But he has not stopped you.

So you pack up your wardrobe.

You wonder what you will wear on your wedding night. You wish you could escape before then. But Dream would catch you, and either kill you himself, or leave you to Quackity. So you stand straighter, and wait.

Dream has few servants, usually but he has hired people from the village you are staying by at the moment.

Quackity has sent a man named Sam to collect you. He rides inside the carriage with you, and does not question the way Sapnap looks at you. For that you are grateful.

Chapter Text

You pass through several towns. All give you a place to stay for the night, as a service to the king.

They do not do it because they love him, although some certainly do. They do it because they must.

The quarters are not always as good as even the room you had when you were a librarian and not one of Dream’s court. But you have slept outside before.

Sam stays near you most of the time. Sapnap does not kiss you in front of him, but he glares so much you are almost surpised Sam has not asked you what is going on.

Sam is polite. He is quiet. He does not try to do anything other than guard, when the two of you are in a room alone.

(You) “Sam. What are your hobbies?”

He does not take his eyes off the carrige door.

(Sam) “I do not indulge in such things when on assignment.”

Never?

(You) “There is surely some time for it?”

Not much, with all the riding, but when you have stopped…

(Sam) “Quackity chose to send me for my dedication to my tasks.”

Hmm.

(You) “I like to read.”

Sam nods.

(Sam) “Anything other than common?”

What a strange question.

(You) “I worked often in Ender, when I was a librarian, but it has been years. I know a couple words in Enchant. I made my own language up as a child, but I have forgotten almost all of it by now.”

Sam nods. You fall to silence once more.

Chapter Text

You arrive at Las Nevadas.

Sam escorts you out of the carriage, into the city. Sapnap and a few other guards follow you.

The city is beautiful. Larger than anywhere you’ve ever been.

(Sam) “The lights go on at night. They look nice.”

There is something almost like pride in his voice.

(Sam) “Well. Let’s keep moving.”

Sam shows you inside the tallest building. Looks a bit like a UFO.

(Sam) “Charlie should be here in a moment. None of you point out he’s not human.”

Hmm?

(You) “Plenty of us aren’t human?”

Not you, but Sam and Sapnap. George. Some of the guards have features that would mark them as something other than completely normal humans.

(Sam) “I don’t know why. But none of you are exactly in a place to help with that.”

You suppose.

(Sam) “If you’re staying, I suppose you could try to help. But Quackity cares about him. I wouldn’t try anything without Quackity’s say-so.”

Seems a bit much.

(Sapnap) “Why does he care so much?”

His voice is bitter. You turn to Sapnap and smile small.

(Sam) “He cares a lot about him.”

And then you see a very green blob approaching.

One of the guards draws their sword.

(Sam) “Put it down. That’s Charlie.”

Hmm.

(Guard) “We’re supposed to pretend that’s human?”

You can probably do that.

(Sam) “You insult him and Quackity will throw you off this tower.”

Maybe you can’t deal with that.

And in the silence you can hear him glooping.

(Charlie) “Hello, Sam from Las Nevadas! Hello, new people!”

(You) “Hi. I’m Karl.”

Charlie nods. His whole body sort of bounces with it.

(Charlie) “Karl from the Wider SMP.”

You-

(You) “I think I belong to Las Nevadas now.”

Sam nods, and you can hear Sapnap huff.

(Charlie) “Oh! Fantastic! I will show you to your room, and then you to your room, and then you to your rooms. Sam, you remember where your room is?”

Sam nods.

(Charlie) “Alright! Everyone follow me.”

Sam breaks off, but the rest of you all head most of the way up the tower. The guards trail behind.

(Charlie) “Your room is here!”

Then he squishes between the crowd he just lead up all this way to take them down again. You wave goodbye to Sapnap.

It hasn’t been horrible, so far. Charlie has a sort of charm, even if he is so clearly sideways from human. The jiggling is a bit disturbing.

Sam is nice enough. SO you’re sure everything will be fine. A monster couldn’t keep men like those in his employ. Could he?

No use in stressing.

You go to bed, and try to calm your raging thoughts.

Chapter Text

You wake to a knock at the door.

Not quite a knock. But close enough.

(Charlie) “Quackity of Las Nevadas would like to see you now!”

Ah.

You don’t have your clothes with you, so you just get out of  bed and run your fingers through your hair, until you look somewhat presentable, then open the door.

(You) “I don’t suppose I’ll have time to change?”

Charlie looks at himself, then back at you.

(Charlie) “Quackity wants you immediately?”

Fine.

(You) “Where are we going?”

Charlie hums, and leads you up to what looks like the very top of the tower, and leads you to a door.

(Charlie) “Right here.”

He turns to leave. You open the door.

You see him. He has a scar slicing through his eye, and his left eye is a pool of black, spattered with gold.

(Quackity) “Sit. Make yourself at home.”

There is the barest trace of warmth in his voice. You comply.

(Quackity) “I know you’re in love with Sapnap.”

Uh!

(You) “How?”

Quackity nods.

(Quackity) “Not trying to deny it. That’s nice. Charlie sees everything.”

Hmm? You thought it might be Sam.

(You) “So. What are you going to do to me?”

You hope it’s not exile. Where would you go, the antiactic empire? But there are plenty of worse fates.

(Quackity) “We are going to negotiate.”

Huh? You suppose that’s good.

(Quackity) “I need a partner to look sweet, and show up to functions and act like they tolerate me. You want to keep Sapnap. I don’t have any objections to you two doing whatever you like in the privacy of this house. Could even work on you two being more public, long as it doesn’t seem to bring any permanent dishonor on my name.”

What?

(You) “You’re not upset?”

Quackity shrugs.

(Quackity) “Love never turns out well for me. I wanted a woman. Better symbol of power. But you seem pretty enough to impress the people, and I’m not interested in trying to break you up with anyone, as long as you can manage to keep from plotting my overthrow.”

He gestures to the city below.

(Quackity) “Your life will be comfortable here. You’ll have your lover, the wealth of the kingdoms. I won’t touch you. We will be sleeping in the same room frequently. You can have the bed to yourself, if you want. You’ll have plenty of time in your own room with Sapnap. I can assign him to be your personal guard.”

He stares at you, hard.

(Quackity) “He does anything you don’t want to you, tell me. I’ll take care of him. Find you another lover.”

Um. 

(You) “I don’t want him dead!”

Quackity shrugs.

(Quackity) “I didn’t want Jschlatt dead for a long time. Till I had enough. I’m not letting it get that far with you. You want him exiled, I can do that. But some things. Some things deserve death.”

He sighs and looks down.

(Quackity) “Hope it never gets that far with you, darling.”

You nod.

(Quackity) “We will be getting married. That kiss has to happen. Sorry. I can take care of the whole thing, if you want.”

You dreamed of a wedding to Sapnap. Not him. He doesn’t seem cruel, not to you, but you certainly don’t want to marry him.

(You) “I-can I have some time to think about it? Talk about it? With Sapnap?”

Quackity nods, his face completely composed.

(Quackity) “Yes. Go right ahead.”

You close the door behind you and let out a huff.

That was not what you were expecting

Chapter Text

You don’t do much for the wedding. Pick out your suit, chose some flower arrangements.

Everything goes well. You toss the bouche, and eat good food, and cake.

Sapnap sits at the table with you, and looks at Quackity. He knows that Quackity has promised that you two can be together, but like this, everyone celebrating your love, you can imagine it would be hard to believe.

You slide your hand into his, and smile. You’ll be fine.

When the wedding is done, you open the presents.

There is so much jewelry, aside from the ring that symbolizes your marriage, which you need to wear to public events.

Foolish made you a golden chain. Sam made you a wind-up bird that sings a song you don’t know. Charlie gave you a tie that Quackity has to wash. Purpled, who Quackity days to avoid, gave you a small rock. You don’t know why it is a wedding gift, but they are nice.

There is candy, and cookware, and-

(You) “Why is there a child’s bed in here?”

You can’t have children.

(Quackity) “Ah. Dream.”

There is a finality in his voice you don’t understand.

(Quackity) “Do you mind if I take this for Charlie? It’s a nice frame, and I’m having some trouble convincing him to sleep in an actual bed.”

You nod.

(You) “Where does he usually sleep?”

Quackity looks away.

(Quackity) “...in the ground?”

What?

(Quackity) “I’m trying to teach him how to be a person. But he’s still working on it.”

You keep most of it. You have no use for this much cookware, so it goes to the kitchens.

You and Sapnap get time alone. To talk, and reassure each other, and kiss.

Quackity gives you gifts, far out for your wedding. They are nice, but you feel guilty sometimes. Until you have to go out with him.

Quackity tells you he is paying you back. But you think, maybe, he is trying to make you happy.

You see him doing it with Charlie, and other people. You do not love Quackity, not really. But you like him.