Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dream left the rare sleep he got at the grating sound of pistons. Another day, another visit.

He debated not sitting up; his bones were already protesting at the simple prospect of moving. But he wasn’t in the mood to die right now. Sitting up it was. He took care to get away from the pointy stones of the wall to move up, putting his weight on his elbows. He had had enough of those piercing his skin, he didn’t need any more scratches, not now. No thank you.

Sadly, the wall held on without Dream, but the contrary wasn't so true.

Glass shattered on the floor, accompanied by the familiar sound of particles dissolving into the air under the effect of gunpowder. Only one potion? No poison today – at least not yet – only a healthy dose of slowness. No weakness?

The previously raised netherite blocks lowered back down into the floor. Footsteps seemingly echoed in the small room that is Pandora’s vault to its main prisoner. Dream lifted his weary eyes to be met with the sight of Quackity’s manic grin.

Hmm. Weird. Usually, it didn’t appear until blood was pouring; did he sleep through the first part of the session? That didn’t happen often. Thankfully. He sneakily checked his arm; no blood. Well, none fresh enough. Wait, there was some? Did Quackity come back early, before he turned clean?

He lost his thought track as sudden movement in his periphery alerted him of the incoming kick. Left side. He let his body fall with it, relishing the glimpse of Quackity’s grin turning into a frown he caught from his place on the floor.

Always a delight. After all, smiling was Dream’s privilege here, and he would make sure it remained so. Blessed be his mask; he was sure he would not get away with that so easily without it. Nevertheless, Dream braced himself for the next hit as he got back up. His slowed down body failed to evade the hard surface knocking his head down into his knees, effectively reopening every wound on his back. Yowch.

In spite of that previous little bout of rebellion, Dream opposed no resistance to his wrists being bound together by black chains, of which he knew the tint better than his own signature green clothing's by now. He liked how Quackity kept an eye on him while doing so. Especially his legs. Seems he hadn’t liked that kick from a while back. Only now he looks at them. Ha.

“Never too much, never too little. Rebel just enough for them to know to stay careful with you, and more importantly, for you to know to fight, to stay who you are”, the Others had said.

With the bindings in place, Quackity rose back to his full height. He was quite tall from this point of view. “Tsk", he clucked. Dream flinched the smallest bit. "You always distract me.” Quackity picked up the… - book? Yes, it was a book - he had hit Dream with. A book? Had he run out of creative ideas? Or maybe… paper cuts… Oh, please, not again. Not like that.

“Not again? Not again what?” Had he said that out loud? That’s bad. “What are you on about, D- prisoner?” The avian's confused tone turned dangerous towards the end.

“Nothing.” Dream whispered; his mouth was too dry to talk normally these days.

“Really?” Oh crap, now he was interested, Dream thought, as he was painfully lifted by his hair. Or knots, rather. Nope, not the time for such musings. Dream tugged his wings closer ; not even he could see nor touch them, but it brought him comfort. “Are you sure?” Quackity said slowly, his expression turning dark.

“I’m sure.” He answered, more confidently than he felt.

“Oh really? ” They- Quackity. Quackity repeated, widening his eyes in feigned surprise.

“Really.” A distraction, Dream needed a distraction. “Now why don’t you tell me what you have prepared this time?” ‘This time’. Dream was playing it safe. Showing he knew how much time had passed only worked if he was right.

“Haaa. You won’t say anything, will you?” Dream’s hair was released, and he brutally fell back down onto the floor, his legs burning. When had he gotten so high up?

“And it would have been so fun to play with something that makes you plead at the mere thought of it, too.” A kick to the side. His silence must have been answer enough. “But as much as I hate to admit it, that’s not what I’m here for.” He’s not here for his pleads? They’re rare, Dream makes sure of that, but it’s what seems to bring him pleasure; the only thing he seeks besides the revival book. Won’t give it.

Instead, Quackity holds out the book he brought. It’s a book and quill, Dream notes. The same kind as the ones he writes in quite regularly. Maybe thinner. Quackity shakes it in front of his eyes. Dream looks up, his face a blank mask (ha!).

“Take it!” Ah, so it was what he wanted from him. You have to say it, Quackity. One never knew, and doing nothing is always the best option. On top of that, it counts as a rebellion, of an uncommon kind that doesn’t warrant systematic punishment, too.

Dream extended his ruined hand (yep, he sure hadn’t died yet), trying to be quick despite the slowness II, but the book was taken out of his reach. Did he have to chase it-

“Hmm, no. You’ll put blood everywhere. Here.” A splash potion hit his hand. Dream suppressed a hiss at the unexpected feeling of glass exploding into glitter on his wound and retracted his hand to examine it.

The skin tingled and grew back over the flesh. Blood vessels sealed, and near invisible scars became visible again over the intact flesh. A healing potion. His left hand - and his back, and his knees (or lack thereof) - were now the ‘only’ traces remaining of the last session. He probably forgot some parts.

Everything just hurts so much.

“Better. Now you take it.” The book was shoved into his now stiff but intact (what a weird feeling) appendage. “Write. ‘Hi’”

Dream had just received healing. From Quackity. Some would have been thankful, and therefore, obedient.

Dream took his bloodied left index finger to the cover and mimicked writing.

Quackity grabbed it lightning quick. Ow.“No, with the feather! On a page!” Quackity sighed, exasperated, all the while releasing the finger under Dream's watchful gaze. “You’re turning me crazy.”

Dream’s grin grew behind his mask. Nevertheless, he calmly opened the book and took up the quill, not without disturbingly looking into Quackity’s eyes the whole time, of course. He had mastered the art of writing without looking; one occupied themselves however they could in this hellhole.

“‘Hi Technoblade’” Oh, he started dictating right away. Dream was surprised, had Quackity learned something? Not the fact that Dream shouldn’t be messed with, obviously, but still. Satisfied, he started writing.

 Wait.

“Technoblade?” Dream's voice was rough from the turmoil in his mind more than the thirst. He lifted his feather from the paper.

Quackity started smiling his face-splitting grimace again. It annoyed Dream. “Did you finally realize? Yes, you’re writing a message to that pig. You’re gonna call in that favor he owes you and ask for a visit in the prison.” 

“What? No!" This was the worst possible scenario. "You’ll trap him in!” 

Quackity caressed his scar across the face. The one Techno had given him. “Shrewd, aren’t you? But it doesn’t matter. You’ll write that message anyway.”

“No, I refuse!” Dream yelled at the top of his lungs. A sound barely louder than his whispers escaped his lips.

“You refuse?” Dream shivered. “You refuse?” Quackity repeated, stepping closer. Dream defiantly looked straight at him, ignoring the trembling of his hands.

“Did I hear that right?” Quackity rumbled, spreading his white wings in the cell to look threatening.

“You did.” The slowness lost its effect. And so on these words, Dream threw the book and quill towards Quackity’s face. It slid down his nose and thumped on the obsidian of the floor in the loud silence resonating in the cell.

Shiiiing.

Quackity drew his netherite sword from where he stood.

Dream carefully reached with his lips for the small metal plate in his mask. It was there so he could bite onto it to squash grunts of pain before they came out.

The session was on.

Quackity stalked forward, expression somber. And Dream already knew. He knew he would cede. But there were ways to shoot down Quackity’s plan, and for that, he first had to lower the guard he so liked to rise. To do so, he needed to cede in the right manner. And so, when the first slash – across the abdomen, taking care to avoid his mask – came, he took it without a flinch, 'like a champion'. Like Dream does.

Quackity’s characteristic crazed grin came back. “Oh, don’t worry. I made sure I have plenty of time to spare you today.” Ha, ‘spare’. This was a grim affirmation, but Dream could appreciate the irony.

It meant this wouldn’t end quickly.

*****

...And he was right about that. The session was interminably long; he was submitted by the sword, the shears, the pickaxe, the hoe… There was no set pain that would break him. Quackity knew that.

Death was a relief, a rare one to have during a session; the fact that he had died three – three? – times showed how long this one had lasted.

But he had yielded in the end. Such a luxury that was; such a swift – swift? – end would never have happened had it been the revival book he was asked for. He just couldn’t give it. Never. And certainly not to him. Not to them.

“Write.” He had said. And Dream had written, slowly. “Now, sign. With your name. Like you would have done.” As if he didn't do it anymore. And Dream did; he took up the feather and started signing. Slowly. Very slowly. “Oh, come on! Do you want more of the whip?! You can do it faster!” Dream could.

He had written to Techno Quackity’s words, in Quackity’s book, with Quackity’s feather, on Quackity’s terms. And it would be delivered by Quackity.

Quackity turned around, annoyed. He couldn’t do anything to speed Dream up; it had taken all his time to make him agree in the first place. And while he didn’t look, while he was losing focus, certain of Dream’s ‘goodwill’ he had acquired and then enforced for a few hours longer, Dream wrote.

What Quackity didn’t know however, was that Techno would know something was wrong with it. Dream smiled to the floor at that thought.

Because those words weren’t written in ink; they were written in ink and what Quackity had spilled the most of: Dream’s blood.

And Technoblade was the blood god. A piglin hybrid.

Chapter Text

Dream watched as the lava flowed by, popping loudly.

Relief still twisted his face.

Techno will know.

Dream curled up to put his right finger in the hole left by his leg. It rested near the water source, a few blocks away from where he was slumped on his stomach in the middle of the cell. Quackity hadn’t liked him climbing out of the hole by himself after his deadly goodbye today, and so, there goes a leg. Nothing but routine really. Quackity was constant in his inconsistency. You just needed to get used to it.

Easier said than done.

Losing and regrowing limbs was always a weird feeling. And by weird he meant painful – not necessarily physically so. The strange ghost sensation when throwing away the cut off appendage. And especially the sawing itself. That’s part of why he was thankful for losing feeling in his legs early on today. It’s not like he used them much lately anyway.

In any case, he would get the good ol’ pain back soon enough.

As soon as he bled to death.

It always seemed to take ages. Naturally, he took to speeding up the process by hand, when possible. Plus, he had to make sure he died of blood loss. Otherwise, it was a death for nothing.

“Whatever you do, keep what you can. Do not lose anything you won’t get back; it’s the first step to losing yourself.”

Ah. It was cold.

He was fading away.

Dream slumped further on the floor, every part of his body limp. His numb gaze looked past the obsidian, into the void.

Dream bled to death, he thought. Yet another message lost on the SMP as he didn’t have his communicator. Sam had destroyed it.

The afterlife was always so full of energy. Dream spread his intangible arms. Flapped his wings. Oh, how long it had been since he last flew! The last time must have been before- before Tommy’s…  Before he hurt Tommy. Dream’s smile evaporated.

Grey glassy feverish eyes looking up at him with all the fascination and glee in the world-

-he shouldn’t be thinking about that now. He shouldn't. Dream closed his eyes, exaggerating every breath to cover up the sound of children laughter in his ears.

He focused on soaking in the energy of the void. Happy to reconnect with the World a bit. Trying to steer his mind away from thoughts of Tommy. Unsuccessfully, but what do you not know?

…

Techno won’t come, will he?

No, of course he won't. Quackity’s message was already weird; the blood would alert him that nothing good would come of following it. That it wasn’t written according to Dream’s will.

Reassured – truly? – Dream tried to ignore the pull of his spawn point on his soul. Taking as much energy as he could from the void. Energy to fight longer.

Splash.

The water was lukewarm. It still amazed Dream how fresh it stayed; somehow, little blood seemed to fall in there. And the void always cleaned Dream up. So much so it itched sometimes, to be exposed after being caked in hardened blood for so long. Just like now. His pale skin would soon be red again, he numbly remarked.

Following his routine, Dream climbed out of the hole. Checked his 'new' leg; functional, if shooting with the usual amount of agony his legs brought him ever since these days started taking place. The other one worked too; his spine had healed correctly. Ignore the marks.

He still didn’t know where Quackity got that poison from. But it sure was efficient on him. It always had been.

Dragging his leg, Dream crawled forward. Towards the lava.

He didn't have the courage to walk today.

Crawling the distance to get there was still excruciating. And that, even though he had smoothed down the floor. Surprisingly, despite how difficult it is to mine, obsidian was not so hard to smooth. At least satisfyingly so for an uncomfortable cell.

It still bewildered him how Sam had lavacasted - or should he say watercasted? - this whole room just to deprive its prisoner of the smoothness of mined obsidian. Well, it probably was more out of the suspicion that natural obsidian was harder to mine.

A loud pop alerted Dream that he had reached his destination. He sat up against the wall, in what he called his warm corner – when, really, every corner was warm, he just didn't feel it. Unbearably hot, even. After all, the main cell was encased in nothing less than molten rock – and rocks don’t melt that well, if you didn’t know.

Great, he was getting sassy with himself now.

In the meantime, Dream proceeded to lift his legs into the position he took to; neither folded nor extended, to keep most of his skin lax. It was still painful.

Techno won’t come.

Dream shook this thought out of his head. He unraveled the bandages on his cut off leg, putting them on the side. He then approached the leg – not his anymore – to the lava. Watched it catch on fire. And finally, pushed it off the bottom of the cell. It disappeared, brought down (outside the cell-) by the liquid. Only a whiff of the smell of burnt flesh reached his nose.

He took a moment to wonder if Sam could smell it too. Probably not. He would not condone that level of ‘interrogation’, he reassured himself. Like all he’d thought about Sam’s moral boundaries hadn’t been wrong. Like he hadn’t given up the chance to tell him about it times and times again.

Truly, Quackity and Sam were a rare misreading on Dream’s part. He hadn’t believed them so… prompt to this kind of revenge. He knew Sam would have remorse afterwards – if he didn’t already – though the ‘Warden’ persona seemed to mess with his personality. As for Quackity… Honestly, he wasn’t sure of anything anymore. He lacked too much information as to what was happening outside and inside his head to make a judgment.

But enough of that. Dream enveloped his regenerated member in the bandages he had salvaged. It was getting harder, what with the shredding they had had to endure on multiple occasions; what he called bandages were more like short bits of fabric held together by blood. Always blood.

Lifting his orange pants, he covered all his leg up to half his thigh. All the cracks. He replaced some gauze with cleaner pieces he had hidden during Sam- the warden’s last visit.

Dream picked up his book. His third diary. Sam- He was only given books of 100 pages. Books of more than 50 pages couldn’t be put in the inventory; he wanted to make sure Dream couldn’t keep them hidden. Well, not that way. In any case, it’s not like his visitors were particularly interested in short entries speaking of basically nothing.

No, they preferred the other ones he had written in code. Exactly so they would be unable to decipher them. In all honesty, these books were just as useless to them; they only contained thoughts, musings and things to remember. Like his name. So, useless. If only.

But it’s not like he would ever traduce his books for them.

Dream smiled to himself as he picked up his feather and wet its tip in the ink. Not even in their dreams.

Entry n°123

Supposedly the 23^rd_22nd of May 2021

Funny number.

Quackity came twice since the last entry. One for the usual, then to make me write a message to Techno. Using the favor to make him visit. I managed to put some of my blood on it. Techno won’t come.

He threw a potion on my right hand. The nails regrew a bit. Still not all the way though.

I died again. No sign of attenuation from the poison. But I did throw the book in his face; his expression was so satisfying… This memory will serve me well.

Quackity might not come back that soon, if he told the truth. A week, he said.

The water’s still clean. My hair is in tangles. I don’t have the faith to comb it again.

Still no appearance of Sam.

The lava pops loudly in my ears.

Oh, right, and it might not have been two days. I hadn’t died yet when Quackity came the second time.

_____

Entry n°124

Thought to be the 23^rd of May 2021

A potato dropped. It’s been a day.

Quackity hasn’t come. I can comfortably say he should have come; I never got potatoes like that ever since entry n°63. That means he told the truth for once.

I reread my notebook. Polished the cold corner with a good obsidian shard covered in some of my bandages and crystallized blood.

The sound of the lava is annoying me more than usual today.

I tried to get some additional sleep in, to no avail. I was bored enough to untangle my mess of knots all the way. It took me so long I think it’s been 24 hours since my last entry.

Dream looked up, to the ceiling. He didn’t want to write too much; his supply of books may be abundant, but it was a finite resource. He very much doubted Sam would be so generous as to give him some more. Plus, his arms hurt from that drawn-out battle with his hair.

Besides, his sentence was life imprisonment; regardless of the justice of that, he was supposed to be here until he died for good.

And he would most definitely outlive Sam and the members of the server – except maybe Foolish and Philza – unsanitary conditions or not. He would also outlive his supply of (poisoned) potatoes. He would not even know when the others would leave. He might truly stay here until he rotted, all alone – forgotten – and too scared to tempt his fate.

What depressing thoughts.

_____

Entry n°125

Thought to be the 24^th of May 2021

I got potatoes twice. One was fine, the other poisoned.

Still no trace of Quackity. I regret my clock so much right now. At least after it burned, I could somehow keep track of time through Quackity’s visits; now, not knowing how much time passes makes staying still for a day so much worse than during the first few weeks of nothing.

No trace of Sam either. Water still clean.

Techno won’t come, right?

_____

Entry n°126

Thought to be the 25^th of May 2021

No Quackity, no Sam. No change in the water.

I tried to ‘shower’ with the crying obsidian’s purple tears, it took a crazy amount of time, but it worked. Sort of. My hand is violet. At least it occupied me. I had forgotten how quickly I get dirty naturally if I don’t die.

I ate the poisoned potatoes for the first time in a while. I have to eat more often, now that I don’t die. As I suspected, my resistance to poison is terribly high again. It brings back bad memories. It also means poisonous potatoes are officially a better food source for me than regular potatoes. I don’t like that fact.

Honestly, he’d probably have to drink poison straight from a fresh bottle to get the poison effect by now. Even Quackity’s normal spider-eyes-based splash potions never lasted more than a hot ten seconds recently ; he didn't know why he doubted his resistance. Pointless hope it was different, probably.

“You’re not a monster. You just have freakishly high tolerance. We all do. Are we monsters in your eyes?”, they had said.

The Others… Ah, how he missed the old times right now – were they good? No. It was not the past he was nostalgic of. It was of being with Them.

Oh, how he missed Bad too.

And George.

Sapnap…

He missed anyone really. Even Quackity.

Isolation is bad.

_____

Entry n°127

Probably not the 26^th of May 2021

I had to eat the poisoned potato I had left to keep from starving, and there were no new ones. I even died once (neck twisting, a classic. I said no more lava) to spare myself the pain of dying of hunger. I admit, I didn’t want to stop my activities because of the lack of food, but still.

It’s been too long; it seems Sam actions the dispenser manually. Which means I can’t measure time that way, the only way I had left. I actually have no idea which day it is, my measurements from before are probably even more flawed than anticipated. I’ll continue to count though. Like They said, for my sanity.

The void felt strange, but I can’t seem to identify what changed.

No Quackity. No Sam. Water still clean.

_____

Entry n°128

Probably not the 27^th of May 2021

No Quackity. No Sam, no potatoes. Water still clean.

I looked at where my clock used to be all ‘day’. I fell asleep next to the lava. I now know that my hair is still fire resistant, in the sense that it doesn't catch fire.

Good to know; just as depressing as the poison. Sadly, I’m still hot there.

I made some music again. To fill the silence. I didn’t get any better since last time, especially since I couldn’t sing.

I think I’ll get diving into the lava soon. Good resolutions be damned. I need to investigate the void, too…

_____

Entry n°129

Probably not the 28^th of May 2021

I did. Dive in the lava. It feels strangely good. Or maybe not so strangely; this is the best piece of stimulation I got in a while. I even got a glimpse of the outside once – more obsidian, but it’s something!

No. Don’t think about what it means. DON’T BE TEMPTED-

Potatoes fell from the dispenser. Four. Sam had forgotten some then. It means it’s probably been two days since the last drop; surprisingly, I counted well, it seems. My internal clock is on a roll.

No Sam. No Quackity. Water still clean.

You know you don’t deserve it.

_____

Entry n°130

Probably not the 29^th of May 2021

I saw a piece of dust in the water today. Watched it intently for a while. A long while.

It must have been a regular piece of dust. Did I lose some hairs? Is it potato residues?

No Sam. No Quackity. Water, still, clean. I fetched the piece of dust. Exposed it on my lectern. It is, after all, something to note in this cell. Precious, even.

Will I have to spend decades like that? Being excited by dust?

_____

Entry n°131

Probably not the 30^th of May 2021

No Quackity. No Sam. Water still clean.

I tried to communicate again. No success. Even in the void, nothing but energy. Two kinds? One feels foreign. I couldn’t see the others like Tommy said he did. Only illusions...

I started taking off the dried blood. Nothing but obsidian made itself known to me.

The lava is noisy.

The obsidian sticky.

I’m lonely. (And no poet, haha)

Ha.

_____

Entry n°132

Probably not the 31^st of May 2021

Alright, I thought I had just miscalculated, but it’s definitely been more than a week now. Where is Quackity? He wouldn’t give me more time than bargained, never. Did he forget? Did he realize coming here was too much of a pain for nothing?

Did I fight too much?

This was an endless source of worry for Dream. He knew it could happen. Being forgotten. Left behind. And as a prisoner, that is a fate worse than torture, he knew. Corpse had lived it.

Was this the beginning of the end?

Was there no way for him to keep his sanity, at least as long as a human should? Just so he didn’t lead a life shortened by madness.

Like The Veteran. Oh, he didn’t want to end up like The Veteran.

He had vowed not to.

He knew he had had to fight. For no reason but to fight. He wasn’t wrong per se in that; he knew. But was what he knew right?

After all, that belief is what had landed him in prison in the first place.

No, no. He couldn’t have not fought; he would have lost himself. And wasn’t it Dream that Quackity wanted to torture for the revival book?

No. He had been right in fighting. But maybe he should have showed less weakness afterwards. Made his screams more rewarding.

Maybe.

_____

Entry n°133

Thought to not be the 1^st of June 2021

Happy not birthday to you Techno, I guess. Not getting stuck in here is the best gift I can ‘give’ you. So don’t come.

I got a good shard of obsidian. I called it the Shard (creative, I know).

I used it to rid the cold corner of all the blood. A whole block with no brown left. Nothing happened. Something must have changed. It wasn’t like that before.

What have they done? Does this have something to do with the poison? The strange feeling at entry n°11? The two energies in the void? The cell walls themselves?

Is everything okay outside? I have an ominous feeling. I-

His chest felt too tight. Dream’s quill fell to the floor. His book joined it. Then Dream. He clenched his chest, breathing heavily. Did putting it on paper make it feel real?

Something was wrong. He felt himself draining into the floor, the same floor he had so painstakingly uncovered.

‘That’s not good.’ Dream thought.

Black overtook his vision.

_____

Dream emerged slowly. His head was pounding, his chest burning. He had no strength to move, or even to open his eyes.

He stayed there, on the floor. A mass of flesh with no tension.

He didn’t know how long he was like that. Maybe longer than he had been unconscious; it wouldn’t surprise him. When the floor finally stopped tugging at his core - or maybe some time later, he was just so tired -, he got up. Well, on his elbows.

He opened his eyes to vivid light: lava. Blinking stray tears away, he looked around. He was still in the cold corner, in the same cell. His book was uncomfortably digging into his hip.

He felt hollow. And not only because he was hungry.

Deciding to do something about that last part, Dream crawled to where the dispenser was, above the water hole, fighting sleep all the way. He splashed some (clean, it would stay clean) water on his face, then plunged his arm in it to get the potatoes.

He fished five.

He was sure it was five; the only plus side of them being raw was that they didn’t shred easily despite having been soaking for so long.

He had been unconscious for two days and a half. At the very least, he remarked. That should alarm him; but honestly, one or two days less of awareness in this cell were rather welcome. No, it was the state of the World that worried him.

He ate the normal potatoes. Two of them. He debated eating the poisonous ones. He wasn’t full, but he had been starving for a while and raw potatoes – poisoned ones at that – weren’t the best in that context. Plus, he would need them in case he started starving later.

Because for as long as it would be sustainable, there was no way he was visiting the void anymore.

-----

Entry n°134

Thought to not be the 4^th of June 2021

Getting rid of the blood didn’t make anyone come; neither Sam nor Quackity. I’m starting to seriously doubt I’m even being watched anymore.

I started mining a block of crying obsidian near the lava to check. That and the other issue. By hand. I won’t risk my good shard on such a pointless endeavor.

It didn’t drain me when I cleared the blood. This doesn’t bide well.

I tried eating a poisonous potato and then going to the cold corner. Like I thought, it drained me of all that energy I had just gotten. I managed to get away in time, but now I’m back to nearly starving. And even more worried.

I’m continually exhausted. Sleeping only seems to tire me more. I’m worried, but I can’t do anything about it.

The water is still clean.

I’m lonely. I almost wish Techno would really visit. Almost.

_____

Entry n°135

Thought to not be the 5^th of June 2021

I don’t get drained by the cold corner anymore. Did the issue resolve itself? I’m relieved. But I still won’t visit the void until I have no choice.

This morning’s potato didn’t quench my hunger. I’ll have to either starve or kill myself soon.

No Quackity. No Sam. Water still clean.

Actually, Sam just came by! He took one look at me and then threw me a steak. A steak! He even let me keep it to savor later. It was so good! I didn’t finish it, I couldn’t have, but it’ll be a nice change for the next few days.

He made me cover the cold corner in blood again. At least I could do it myself, and I figured the World was ‘better’ beforehand. Sam doesn’t mind the Shard either! He even handed me (handed!) a roll of bandages afterwards. It makes for cool bracelets, I guess?

Dream didn’t dwell on the fact Sam tolerated the specific use of the Shard he had shown him. He didn’t. It’s nothing. Surely, it’s nothing. He mustn’t have seen!

By the way, did he not see the hole in the crying obsidian? I mean, I chose that block for that reason, but still. This seems to confirm he didn’t watch me. Can he not? He used to check before coming in, and I was digging when the pistons started moving.

Sam also said I would get another visitor very soon. I hope it’s Quackity. Please, it wasn’t true when I said I’d like to see Techno!

Yet in all honesty, Dream knew it wasn’t Quackity. There was no need to hide his wounds from their main perpetrator. Except the legs. He didn’t like to see the legs.

It was someone else.

Well, here’s to hoping it would be Bad.

_____

Entry n°136

Thought to not be the 6^th of June 2021

I’m cold. Is it the blood loss?

No one visited. Did I confuse days and nights again? That would mean I met Sam early in the morning, since it was before the potato I thought heralded nighttime.

Did he just lie? Probably not…

Visitors should have to announce themselves in advance; Quackity’s silence would make sense if they were trying to hide their actions from said visitor. Though I don’t see the fresher blood and bandages helping.

If it’s the morning right now, then I’d have to wait a few more hours for visits.

-----

He was right. What he assumed to be a couple of hours later, the tell-tale sound of pistons frantically activating and deactivating resonated in the walls of Pandora’s vault. Dispensers clicked, and the lava curtain started lowering. Dream heard voices, distorted by the echo; unrecognizable.

The netherite blocks rose before he could have a look at the people on the other side from his prone position in front of his – only – furniture. He switched to holding himself up on his hands, straining to see better. Dignity be damned.

The bridge activated. Dream waited, anxiety growing. Please not Techno. Let him not be this stupid.

A shadow grew on the floor in front of him. A large shadow.

He crossed his fingers harder. Please not Techno, anyone but him!

And while he prayed, the shadow grew, and above the blocks was revealed the hulking figure of… Technoblade.

Of fucking course.

Chapter Text

The sound of the pistons was drowning out everything, even the voices in his head. The lava made the air as hot and suffocating as the Nether. The black of the obsidian all around would make a lesser man claustrophobic.

Blood.

And most importantly, Pandora’s vault’s main cell reeked of blood, even from afar. Dream’s blood, Techno thought. He could even taste it on his tongue.

Blood!
E
Are we still hanging out in two days as planned?
Blood everywhere.
Blood for the blood god!

Ah, correction, the pistons almost drowned the voices.

What kind of prison is this!?
Yeah! It’ll be great
Dream’s in here? I just joined.
This looks like hell. Or the Nether, I guess.

Couldn’t they quiet down? He won’t even be able to hear Dream at this rate.

The bridge connected with the cell, yet Techno couldn’t see Dream on the other side; so, he walked forward, bending his head and lowering his knees to fit under the two-blocks high ceiling.

It was a very uncomfortable position. What was it with these humans and making everything no bigger than two blocks?

Blood.

The walls were covered in hardened blood. In the corner with the chest in the back, Techno could tell some had been spilled more recently. Shed this morning?

There was way more blood here than five liters; more than a human body was supposed to contain at any point in time.

How horrifying.

Blood!
I’ll prepare dinner
More!
Saaaaaaaammmm! D:<
Blood for the blood god!
What is this

There was worse, however. Now that he was closer, Techno could tell. The underlying smell… pheromones.

Techno was a piglin hybrid; he had a good nose, but that didn't mean he could tell by instinct whose pheromones these were. He shouldn’t even be able to distinguish them from each other. But he had been taught by Phil. And so, he knew.

Those were pleasure pheromones. An avian was here, recently, and they liked to be.

Blood.

Techno was sure some of the blood was older than that. His upper lip retracted in disgust, showing the teeth in between his tusks.

Blood for the blood god!
Awful.
Where is Dream
Oh, I thought we could just walk around LA
Ew!
You mean E?
E

Techno continued walking, until he was pressed against the netherite blocks. Wait, netherite? He hit it experimentally; yep, blood-covered, but true netherite. Wow, Sam’s rich.

He looked up to find Dream’s mask’s black eyes creepily fixated on him from the floor.

DUH DUH DUH DUH

Stopping in his tracks, Techno waved at him. “Hulloooooo.” 

Dream strained forward in answer, a muted wheeze followed by a coughing fit the only sounds escaping his mouth.

“You okay pal?” Dream’s mask was covered in black cracks. It had the appearance of a school window after a football match during recess. His blond hair had grown longer, although it was hard to tell how much because of the knots. It was losing color, veering white towards the roots.

“Get out! This is- it’s a trap!” Dream’s voice died on each last word, like he was out of breath. “Quackity-” He exhaled without forming anymore words.

 “Well, I feel welcome”, came the obligatory comment. “What about Quackity?” Techno stressed, trying to get Dream's focus.

Blood.

Broken voice? Sucks
 That’s ‘cause you’re not. He literally got you away from the government once before.
Hm, why not. We can buy a bite to eat while out
I feel you Dream
E.
Did he catch a cold?
^In here? Are you stupid?

Dream whispered something, his body language screaming desperation. Techno didn’t manage to catch it above the popping of the lava.

“What?”

The masked man rose his voice with difficulty, stopping on every syllable. “Qua- cki- ty, ly- ing!” His voice fizzed out again. He took a deep breath before continuing. “You- st- uck- in hee-” The sounds were deformed and hard to piece out.

“’Suck’?” Techno rose an eyebrow.

Stuck!
‘You stuck in here’
Quackity was lying?
Who speaks like that?

“Ah no, ‘stuck’! Ahh. Yeah, yeah, no I kind of had a feeling about that. Ya weren’t very subtle in your message.” Really not. Techno recalled the book Phil had brought him. Some letters were written with blood mixed in the ink; Techno smelled it immediately. They were spelling a ‘secret’ message, for him. Honestly, the whole book already felt like it came out of Dream’s blood. At least it was good training for his oversensitive piglin nose.

‘Hi, Technoblade.

I would like for you to visit me in Pandora’s vault’s main cell. You still owe me a favor for saving Carl, right? I would like to discuss it. How about a week from now?

Dream (:    ’

“Ignoring the original message, ’Do not come sri (:’. How did you even manage to pick which letter to put with blood as you were writing? I assume you were watched.” Techno questioned.

Blood.

“That- not-” Dream started, inhaled when he lost his voice and immediately hacked because of the dry air. He stopped trying to speak for a moment in favor of taking a bite out of a potato.

Was that a raw one? Techno didn’t have the time to contemplate on that as Dream cleared his throat. The green Teletubby then rasped in an imitation of a shout: “Why did you come if you knew!?”.

“Well, ya know, I had to check on you. And I need information.”

“What, no! I’m fine-” Techno rose an unimpressed eyebrow. He could count his rival’s ribs below the remains of his formerly orange jumpsuit. The thing was so tattered it could hardly be called garment. “Leave now!” Then Dream must have realized Techno wasn’t going to listen, as he changed targets. “Sam!” The warden was still on the other side of the lava pit.

“Whatever you say, you’re certainly not fine.” Techno said, replacing his mask of indifference. When had it slipped?

Dream ignored him. “Sam!”

Nevertheless, Dream had a point, and so Techno shouted, at the intention of both the prisoner and his warden. “AND IF SAM HEARD YOU ASK FOR IT– which, between us, I very much doubt – I WOULD LIKE HIM TO SEND BACK THE BRIDGE.”

A beat later, he heard Sam’s soft deep voice respond. “Hm, I don’t think I will. I believe you could do with a nice, long stay in here.”

I knew we couldn’t trust authority figures!
Take down the government!
Abuse of power I tell you
Yes, and we could watch the sunset on the beach!
Technonoooo

Techno saw the lava beginning to go down in front of the cell. “SAM I CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THIS FLOWS DOWN WAY QUICKER NOW-”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be an enlightening experience for you. You do tend to have a problem with authority in- in general.”

“No, no. Sam, everyone will tell you that Techno loves authority figures. I LOVE THEM-”

Technolost!
Oh, Dream is here
JFK
^What do you mean, JFK? He has no bow on him!
He does? Isn’t that a bow tie?
*sigh*
L

Blood.

The lava covered the first line of the two-block high gap. “SAM, THIS ISN’T DOING MUCH TO CHANGE MY POLITICAL OPINIONS!” Techno shouted while crouched under the lava. Sam had already disappeared from the other side.

L
Worst joke of the year
L
L
You do know it’ll be at 7:29? This is epic by the way
L
L
L

“Yep, I thought this would happen.” Techno commented calmly after dusting himself. Chat, he knows he is Legendary, there is no need to remind him.

Ha
L
Still going on about that?
 That’s not what it means! *Pouts*

He heard the netherite blocks retract at his back.

Techno turned around to watch as Dream put his head in his hands. Both his wrists were bandaged, with blood seeping into the white gauze making a red stain. Did he- did he slit his wrists?! Techno’s ears rose on his head, his eyebrows furrowing.

Blood.

Soft Techno!
Hmm, what do you think about a picnic on the seashore?
^The hell?
^Don't mind these two
He’s worried!
L
Blood for the blood god!
^That guy’s lost ignore him.
Awww
Softnoblade

“Dream, what happened- what happened here?” Chat, stop it you’re annoying. And wrong. Techno crouched the few blocks to the inner cell with the higher ceiling. He shivered at the sudden fire resistance taking away the heat of the lava. Well, that was that, at least. It explained why Dream didn't seem to be hot in his onesie.

Aren't onesies what babies wear?
Huh, weird question but... how does he poop?
^Ah. True.
E

Dream just turned around and crawled slash slid on his butt to the wall. Hmm, his legs were bandaged awfully tightly too. At least they didn’t seem to be bleeding at the moment.

So, in a nutshell, Dream was tortured (Techno wasn’t blind, and certainly not anosmic), malnourished, stuck in a small burning cell under seemingly constant fire resistance, where he didn’t receive the minimum compassion - not even from Sam apparently - and was prone to suicide.

Damn. For life, they had said.

…

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Techno's already sunken stomach. 

-----

Dream fixed him – or the wall behind him, Techno wasn’t sure – from his corner. He was motionless, like he had gone into shock, exhaling barely pronounced words repeatedly.

Creeeepy
Dream hasn’t changed I see
Sure. 3pm on Monday, meeting at my house?
He’s looking straight through your soul

Deciding that Dream needed space right now, Techno took a moment to stretch – his knees hadn’t asked for such mistreatment – before taking a better look at the cell.

Blood.

There was a chest in the corner, next to a lectern and the cauldron Dream was leaning on, along the left wall. The entirety of the furniture was dyed a brown red by Dream’s blood, with the clear marks of millions of droplets characteristic of splattered liquid. Oh, wait.

On second thought, the top of the chest looked closer to painted, with a fresher iron scent. Dream must have cut his wrists over there. How weird that the blood was spread out like that – voluntarily. Maybe it wasn’t a suicide attempt after all.

But whatever happened, it wasn’t pretty.

In the opposite corner, there was a one block hole filled with water, above which was two barely visible dispensers, placed way out of reach. The one looking down must be what Sam had said would dispense harming potions to “get visitors out of the cell”. Understand: kill them so they respawn outside. Only it wouldn’t work like that for Techno, as he was chosen to be the second ever permanent resident of this cell.

He wasn’t sure he was thankful for that ‘privilege’, looking at the state of the first one.

Phil, be quick
Will he end up like Dream?
That’s perfect!
Nobody can hurt the blood god
TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES

Blood.

Techno moved to check the chest. It was full of books and quills. Some were written in. Techno picked one up; it was heavy. More pages than the usual fifty then; he tried, and yes, he couldn’t put it in his inventory. That might turn out to be a problem. For now, though, he just needed information. And so, he turned towards Dream, who had stopped muttering in favor of pressing his head to the wall to… stare into nothing? Yeah no, Techno was intervening.

“Dream, I need you to write everything you know about this prison. Everything.” Dream silently snatched the book from his hands instead of answering. “Hey, rude.”

Hey, E
Rude, he says
"Silence is my friend, silence is my man. Silence doesn't scrape my throat raw" - Dream, probably
RUdE
Hi!

The mask only looked up for a second. Then two. Three seconds turned into four. And he started writing. While staring.

The hell? What does that look mean?

Techno shot his own look back at Dream; when he backed down, he sat next to him.

Blood.

Techno looked up. The ceiling was just as covered in blood as the rest. Damn, how hard do you have to hit someone for their blood to reach that high?

He counted the blood droplets’ marks. When he lost his count, he moved to following the dripping of the tears of crying obsidian.

One…

You have the time now! Do a Q&A! What's your favorite food?

T- no, 

Q&A, Q&A!
QuEsTiOnS aND AnsWeRs
How old are you?
Is Wilbur really your little brother?

-There, two,

^Nah, Wilbur's older
But Techno says the contrary...
He refuses to acknowledge the truth. Denial is ugly, huh, @Technoblade?
Q&A!

Three...

Blood.

Hey, no pinging!
Come onnnnn

… This is boring.

How can you be bored with us there?! Hmph.

“Hey.” No reaction. “Hey.” More nothing. “Hey, how is it going, roommate?”

“Ugh.” Now that’s a reaction.

“Say, what do you usually do here? ‘Cause I can’t help but notice how there’s not much to – well do.”

“Ugh.”

“Say, can you not drink the water here? Your voice sounded rough, man. Oh, and what was with that potato? Was that raw ? That's not edible.”

“Ugh…”

“Is there even ventilation in here? There must be for you to be alive… Is it from the hole with the dispenser?”

Dream threw the book and quill to the other side of the cell. Not very strongly; it just flapped onto the floor.

“Eh? What are you doing?” Techno asked, blinking.

Dream started crawling away, towards the book. With difficulty.

“Hmm, do you want me to go pick it up for ya?” Dream just faced him, not making any sounds while continuing to pull himself forward.

Dream is just not into this. Haha

“Ooookay I’ll take that as a no. Are you sure?”

Blood.

He’s gonna annoy Dream to death!
Roommates!
Rivals duo content, yayyy
What about usssss
Classic extrovert/introvert interaction
Do I prepare the picnic for us both?
Be brave, Dream. Techno will leave. Eventually.
^Until then we’re gonna enjoy your suffering, muahahaha

“Is that a game? You throw something somewhere then go pick it up? Wait, Dream… Are you a dog?”

“Uuuugh.” Wow, what a cry. It sounded like a death rattle. How unsettling.

I got the chills
This guy is scary really
Nah, I’ll do it
A dog, haha. I wonder if  anyone named theirs 'Dream'

Come to think of it, this was a joke, but there was always a lot of talk about Dream being a hybrid. Like, some people thought he was a sheep, others something like a bat or a cat, because of his strange habit of staring, though that’s probably just the mask.

Phil thought he might be an enderman, what with his strangely strong relation with Ranboo’s other personality and his creepy ability to know exactly when and where somebody was behind his back.

Techno honestly thought he was human. He smelled of nothing more than a regular human. Almost suspiciously so. No trace of animals, not even pets. He never smelled of blaze powder, even after a sleepover with Sapnap. Just… human. And not because he stunk.

Now that he thought about it, Dream’s smell hadn’t changed between before and now. Never. Not even in this cell where showering was deemed too great a luxury.

How suspicious. Maybe there was something more to this.

Dream crossed the middle of the cell. He was so slow. His muscles had almost entirely melted from the lack of exercise and malnutrition; his fingers were white, probably from blood loss.

Techno wanted to help. However, he had an inkling Dream was too proud to welcome it. And pride wasn’t so bad in here; it was something to keep in moments of despair. Techno wouldn’t be helpful enough to be worth throwing it down the drain.

So Techno watched, awkwardly. Dream’s clothes and bandages were gripping the ground, ripping further. They were tainted a bit purple with the crying obsidian. Dream was breathing so heavily Techno could hear it from here.

It was painful to listen to.

Blood.

Overall, it must have taken about half a dozen minutes for Dream to reach the opposing wall. He could respect how he didn't take a break though.

294 seconds
306 seconds!
Oh yes, your classic sandwiches?
What do you mean? I have 5 minutes
300 seconds = 5 minutes, stupid

Six blocks… How the mighty have fallen. 

Techno stared on sadly as Dream picked up the book, knowingly ignoring his spectator. He watched as he sat back, leaning against the wall first so he could move his weight, then carefully repositioning his legs, to be able to write comfortably.

The soft scratching of the quill on the paper started again, mixing with the bubbling of the lava into nice background noise.

Techno’s eyelids were starting to feel heavy; closing his eyes was enough to make him dose off. All those respawns for the prison’s checks had taken their toll.

Seeing as there wasn’t anything to do, Techno decided to let himself rest.

Noooo
K
You guessed it ;) See you!
K
K
Already?
K

He took off his cape to lie down on it, head towards the cauldron. He yawned, showing his teeth in all their glory, and fell asleep as soon as he put his head down.

Byeeeee
K
Alright, see you on Monday
K
K

-----

Techno woke up to somebody pulling his ears.

“OW! Stop it!” He screamed, blindly pushing in the direction he smelled the offender – Dream.

Thump. “Argh.”

What? Was this guy as tough as a crisp? Techno blinked his eyes open.

Lava.

Obsidian. 

Blood.

Oh right, he was in Pandora’s vault.

He was greeted to this acknowledgement by a kick to the face. “Hey!” A weak one. 

Dream’s mask was his only ‘explanation’. That look. Was it supposed to be a glare?

“Give me back my book.” Dream’s voice was rough, but it was leagues better than yesterday.

“Your book? What book?” Techno yawned. He definitely hadn’t slept enough. Hmm, maybe not 'yesterday' yet.

Hi!
Oh, he’s early!
Hello!
How rare that he is early
Already a fight this soon?
Blood for the blood god!

“The one you’re hugging.”

Techno could feel the eyebrow rise. Yeah, it was a skill of his. Dream was annoyed. Techno guessed he had had trouble waking him up as well. He looked down; there was indeed a book in his arms. Oops.

He extended it to Dream, who just took it back jealously while handing him the other one with the ‘prison knowledge’. “Here.”

Techno rubbed the back of his head as he took it. “Sorry, I tend to hug anything that’s close by in my sleep…”  Dream just sent him the look over his shoulder.

“Eh... Can you stop looking at me like that? Since you can talk apparently now.” Techno pointed at his mask. Dream faced him. “Yeah like that.”

“How else do you want me to look at you? The principle of a mask is that it’s an object meant to hide my expression.”

Blood.

He could take it off, no? But Techno knew he wouldn’t take that well. “You have a point.”

Creepy Dream stays?
^You three?
E
Awwwwkwwwwaaaard

Dream shot him the look – that’s how it’ll be referred to from now on – and put his fist forward.

"ThE LoOK"
E

“Open your hand.” Techno did. “Use this.” He dropped two small white cones in Techno’s hand.

“What are these?”

“Nose plugs.”

Curious, Techno put them in. Oh yes, just that lessened the scent of blood significantly. He was a bit miffed to nerf his best sense, but it was more distracting than anything, in here. “Thanks.”

Dream nodded and went away. By slowly crawling.

Very very slowly.

Okay this is getting old.

“Why don’t you walk? I mean, you use your legs from time to time, so you’re not paralyzed…”

“They hurt.”

“Huh okay… Any idea why?”

“Poison.”

“Poison? Wouldn’t that disappear upon respawning?” With how much blood was in the cell, Techno knew he had had to have died quite a bit, if only of blood loss. And looking at how said blood was splattered everywhere, that is not how it happened.

“This one doesn’t.” A poison with the effect of curse of binding III? What kind of terrible shit is that?

The monetization!
Again
He doesn’t understand!

“Well, if you don’t want to hear curses, don’t listen to my thoughts.”

The chat!
He used the chat!
Wow
Since when does he do that?
He did a while ago, what are you talking about

These guys are insufferable. They never stop.

Back to the topic at hand. What was it already?

Poison
Poison
The poison!

Why are they never useful?

Hey!

“Dream, did Quackity poison your legs?” He had said Quackity was lying. Quackity was the one who delivered the message. And most importantly, Quackity was an avian adult with a grudge against Dream.

“…” Dream hesitated. How come?

“Dream?”

“Yeah. It was Quackity…” He said, strangely more sad than angry. How weird. With how he had been acting recently – or not so recently now, he guessed – Techno expected him to shout the name angrily, dissing his tormentor with all his saliva. What happened to that Dream?

“You… changed.”

“…There is just no point to the character anymore.”

“The character?”

“The original plan was to unite the SMP by becoming the villain.” He grumbled angrily, before switching to a dreamy tone. “Have me beaten by everyone so they would finally live together again.” He said, using his arm to illustrate his reverie.

“Original?” Didn’t it work? He is in prison, vanquished by everybody else who now lives in fragile peace, but peace, nevertheless. Techno didn’t stop to question the implications of this being a plan. Later.

“I- I wasn’t meant to be treated like that. I wasn’t meant to do anything to deserve it.” Techno was confused. No one deserves this. “I- I wasn’t- I didn’t mean- I hurt Tommy.”

“Hmm?” Well yeah. It’s true that that was what sealed his fate more than destroying L’Manberg or anything like that. After all, Techno was free despite being an anarchist having escaped his execution once, and he was recognized as one of the strongest players of the server just like Dream. He was not more important.

TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES!
Nah you’re better
"Free"
Techno’s the best!
^The return of the three years old?!
Blood for the blood god!

And he 'didn't mean to'? Was he that bad of a sociopath that he didn’t think he'd done anything wrong? That didn’t seem to be the case, but how could he just not know taking everything from Tommy, including his friends, would hurt him? You can’t do something like that involuntarily.

“Yeah, you did.” Techno said, a bit too harshly. Dream lowered his head further.

“I know. I don’t want to talk about it.” Techno wasn’t sure he wanted to either.

He pressed his back to the wall again. Trying to ignore the sounds of Dream crawling with all his strength.

How difficult to judge. But Tommy was living well again already. He seemed back as before. Honestly, except for when he told everyone of his abuse, there were no traces of sequels. Was he just hiding them? That’s worrisome.

Tommy was just… angry from time to time. More than usual. Every time he thought of Dream, he said. Knowing he was in prison didn’t help that anger. Other than that, the only thing Techno noticed is that he refused to let anyone preen his new wings for him. But he did it well by himself, so there were no worries on that side.

Maybe it would be fine to free Dream of the torture. No one deserves that, after all – a painful death, he didn’t say. But not torture (by the equivalent of a government, on top of that). If necessary, Techno would vouch for his exile once he recovers, so Tommy never has to see him again. That seemed a bit cruel, but honestly, Techno was lost. Dream was his friend… At one point, he was everyone’s. Techno’d have to ask Phil.

Suddenly, his stomach grumbled. Thoughts too complex for the morning – was it morning?

“Hmm, do you have anything to eat around here?” He searched for Dream on the floor.

“Take that.” Dream was on the chest. Holding out a piece of steak.

“Huh, thanks.” He’d been thanking Dream a lot recently. Techno went to take the steak and ate it right there. It wasn’t great, an old piece of meat too cooked for his taste, but he wasn’t going to complain. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Dream staring at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Dream looked at the wall until he suddenly snapped to the lava and froze.

“Huh, nerd?”

Dream lifted his finger in front of his ‘mouth’. “Shh” How did he eat, by the way? Techno had never questioned it, but the few times he had seen him eat, was it through the mask?

Techno shook his head and listened closely. Nothing out of the ordinary. Dream pushed against his chest, so he moved away, letting him get down.

As Dream crawled to the middle of the cell, the lava started going down in front of it. Did Dream hear the pistons of the previous door opening?

“Get behind me.”

“Behind you?”

“Quackity’s coming. Don’t draw attention and stay there.”

“What?”

“Come on.” He said, desperation creeping up, still shooting the look. The only one he had. That seemed to be a specialty of his.

Is that a joke?
^I think it is
Flooooooop

It’s not like Techno was burning with the desire to stand forward, but this suspiciously resembled protection.

The lava went down. Techno nonchalantly stood next to the wall when the netherite blocks went up.

On the bridge, he could distinguish not only Quackity, but Sam as well.

“Sam’s there too.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Sam?”

Techno rose an eyebrow. What was with that hopeful tone? Sam’s the one who keeps him in this horrible place! Who put him here even! Does- Does Dream have a screw loose?

Hmm, understandable.

“Hey, Dreeeeaaammm!” Quackity called, scarily joyful. Sam was looming over him, smoke coming out of his gas mask.

Dream started shivering, the cloth on his back trembling minutely the sole indication of it.

Blood.

Techno couldn’t help but stare at the bloodied shears in the avian's hand.

Oh, this wasn’t good. At all.

Entry n°137
Thought to not be the 6^th of June 2021

Techno came. I don’t know what to think about it. He has a lot of questions, but I could already tell I was running too low on energy to speak. Techno doesn’t understand sign language, I have to wait for the potatoes. I'll reserve my steak for him.

I have so many things to ask! But he was interested in information on the prison, so I decided to give him that first. He was already aware he’d get trapped, so he may have a way out? Somebody might come break him out soon, so it is important he has all he needs before then.

I hope Quackity doesn’t come for a while again. Before, I pretty much had nothing to protect; now, there is a lot.

Luckily, Sam had already updated the dispenser (or did it manually), I got two potatoes. Poisoned. So I could talk. I don't know how this would have gone otherwise.

I feel like I sacrificed too much, and at the same time, not enough. Should I just No. I can't let them, there won't be any boundaries if I do. I can't be set free.

Chapter Text

Dream tensed his muscles, trying to quench the trembling of his traitorous limbs.

Sam was here, nothing would happen. There was no need to show fear. There was no need to act, so why was he shivering?

Such thoughts didn’t stop his entire body from flinching at the sudden retraction of the netherite blocks. Techno was right there- The visitors entered under the noise of the retracting bridge.

Dream's gaze naturally started following the scissors in Quackity’s hand. Why weren’t they clean!? Techno was watching, and they were in plain sight of Sam!

Worried, Dream checked where Sam was looking; he was occupied with trying to fit his 2.33 blocks self in the outer cell while staring down (or up, he guessed) a very smug-looking Techno leaning against the back wall with his 2.40bl.

Ting.

Dream didn’t have the time to close his eyes before the flask of a weakness II potion exploded on them. Argh. A slowness potion followed, adding to the discomfort. These days, the ability of his mask to let consumables through didn’t seem so beneficial.

A grunt. It seemed Techno was getting the same treatment behind him. Guilt twisted in Dream's stomach. He could have warned him.

An iron grip tightened around Dream’s forearm, preventing him from allowing the grey liquid to flow away from his face. Before he knew it, he was shackled (again) by the familiar black chains. He tried shaking his head, but it did nothing to clear his gaze any faster. He didn't know why he still bothered to try.

Ah really, it’s not surprising no one splashes themselves like this despite it conserving the original effect more efficiently.

Dream blinked his watering eyes open; he couldn't afford to be distracted. He steeled his gaze at the close-up of Quackity's face he was greeted with.

Releasing his arm, Quackity patted Dream's head softly. “There, there, it’s over.” He said, his disgustingly sweet tone clashing with his hate-filled gaze.

Dream tried to bite him. Although he knew he’d fail, he had to show he was no obedient pet. As expected, Quackity drew back his hand immediately.

He had been bitten once like that; hadn’t liked the surprise. Dream wasn’t even sure he had reached far enough to touch him this time.

With a glare and a disapproving but shaky tutting, Quackity turned to Techno.

Hey, no, it’s here that it’s happening! He had to make him come back. Gosh, had he already forgotten what he’d said about fighting too much? He had someone to protect now, on top of that!

Dream put his leg under where Quackity was stepping. It’d hurt, but if he yowled when he’d put his weight on it-

He skipped above it. He skipped above it. Quackity, the same Quackity who never missed an occasion to hurt him.

Crap, crap, crap! Dream tried to turn, to crawl, to trip him, anything that would stop him.

Quackity just clucked kindly and hit him in the jaw, sending Dream back to the floor, stunned. The avian pressed down with his foot on his neck. “Stay here for now. Don’t worry, I’ll come back to take care of you soon.” He commented lightly.

No…

Dream was stuck. There was no way he could lift his manacles in his current state. He couldn’t even make them slide more than an inch; the obsidian was too hard and uneven here for that. On top of that, his vocal cords didn’t let him make a sound beyond a weak gurgle.

H e should have killed himself earlier, damn it! He should have-

He should have-

-But he hadn't.

Because of that, he was now well and truly stuck.

And Techno was going to pay the price for it.

Dream could only watch as Quackity made his way to a disoriented Techno, unused to negative potion effects. He could only watch as Quackity nodded to Sam, who swiped at the piglin hybrid’s shins backwards. He could only watch as Techno fell to his knees (ankles? His knees didn’t actually touch the floor), arms bent and shackled behind his back. He could only watch.

“Aaaah, it’s great to finally have you at my mercy.” Quackity said slowly, smiling as he mimicked examining his nails.

“At your mercy? Ha, you’re delusional if you think that’s the case-” Quackity hit Techno with the blunt plate of his sword in the blink of an eye. Dream winced as Techno spit a bit of blood to the side. The piglin then straightened, shooting a glare that felt like it could kill Quackity, whose only reaction was to smile wider.

Dream could feel it coming, his stomach having long since sank to his feet. He tried to shout; all he did was erupt into a violent coughing fit. Sam, what are you waiting for?!

“I’m not at your mercy.” Technoblade said. Blood ran at the corner of his mouth.

Quackity, smile getting harsher, took out a shield. He then proceeded to beat Techno up. Down, left, on the head, on the ankles… It was horrible to watch. Everything in Dream was screaming that this wasn’t right, that it shouldn’t be happening. Techno was superior to Quackity. And Sam was not doing anything!

“St- STOP IT!” Everyone froze in the room. “Stop it.” He repeated, his voice strangled, once he realized he had been the one to shout. “He doesn’t have anything to give you that you can obtain that way.” He justified.

“Really? What about my revenge?” Quackity countered with a strained toothy grin, his left eyebrow twitching.

Dream's mind ran a mile a second. “Do you feel like you’re getting it? You trapped him with the help of Sam, Sam is the one who restrained him, and now you’re just beating him up. That’s as far as you get from winning a duel.” Sam…

“Hmm, maybe you’re right.” Quackity commented, tapping his chin with a finger. Dream sighed internally in relief. “But I like beating him up.” He tensed back up.

“Aren’t I enough!? I deserve it, he doesn’t! And I am the one with the Revival Book! What you want!” Dream tried.

“What do you mean, you deserve it?” Techno mumbled.

Dream cringed. “Shut him up”, came the inevitable order. Sam grumbled, yet he immediately silenced Techno with an orange piece of cloth he forced in his mouth with little trouble, despite the piglin hybrid's fervent resistance.

When Quackity turned back around, he looked curious but unconvinced. Dream guessed… it was time he used that card. He looked down, pupils shaking.

*

Cries haunted the halls, a concert of howls of rage, of laughter everyone knew the others heard. It gave him courage. They were in this together.

Then the cries turned into screams of fear, pain and despair.

Until there was no one but him arguing, laughing, raging-

Until there was no one but him.

And the halls fell silent.

*

Dream squared his jaw, gritting his teeth. It had come to that.

'Make their hackles rise. Make them careful.

“He shouldn’t even be watching this.” Dream lowered his head further.

That way you can bargain,

“Put him in another cell, at least during the sessions. In exchange,”

With your obedience an enticing promise.'

“I’ll cooperate. I’ll comply.” I’ll let you hear my screams.

This was a last resort. The single thing he could use his rebellions for. A sacrifice of all that kept him going. But it was worth it.

“You’ll give me the Revival Book?” Quackity asked, surprised.

“No.” I can’t.

Quackity's face darkened, his teeth clenching. “You want me to kill you? Torture him?” He whispered back, turning from hopeful to threatening in the span of a second, his hands fisted at his sides.

 “No.” Dream looked back at Quackity. “If I gave you the Revival Book, you’d kill me anyway. If I gave you the Revival Book, you might as well be killing me and Techno. The only reason we're even in this prison is because I have the Revival Book. If I give it up, then I'm dead and he's probably dead."

There was no Revival Book to give anyway.

Quackity bared his teeth, spreading his wings menacingly. He had no arguments; it was true that he’d kill them, Dream sneered internally.

“However,” Dream took a deep breath. “I can give you your fun.” He was selling himself out. “I can promise to stay here and- and scream for you. To let you do what you want with me, and just scream, bleed, anything. I can… let you have your way.” It was so hard to say.

Even back there, he had never let himself give out that much.

That's what gave all the weight to his proposal, he chuckled. Ironically enough, he felt this bargaining chip was just as important to him as it was to them, if not more. 

It was not supposed to be so hard.

A heavy silence fell on the cell.

Quackity prowled forward carefully. “You mean you’d stop those annoying 'rebellions'?”

“Yes.” Dream enunciated clearly, his tongue sticky in his mouth.

“You do realize it’ll make you easier to break.”

That was the whole problem- and the whole appeal.

“I do.”

“Are you testing my abilities to get you to do my bidding?” Dream just looked at him, swallowing in apprehension.

Quackity put his hand on his chin, thoughtful. “I-, I quite like that.” His manic grin drew itself on his face. “Let’s see how long you’ll resist.”

Dream let out a small sigh.

Indeed, how long?

Quackity came forward, shears in hand. Dream did his best to stop himself from resisting as he was pushed against the floor.

'Showing them you are strong is the best way to end it early.'

Dream crumbled under Quackity’s hand, wincing as he hit the obsidian.

He twisted his neck to look at Techno, face also pressed into the ground on the other side of the cell. He was pointlessly fighting against his captor.

You can get away with anything, don't forget that. The only limit is how much you are willing to take upon yourself.

“Don’t look over there, it’s here that it’s happening.” At the command, Dream began staring at the lava wall again. Like he’d stared at the nether sky back then.

You are what you must protect. Keep yourself sane if you want to protect others. Being crazy is no good. Even for the ones you think you’d save.

They didn't need him to save them. They needed him to disappear.

But he couldn't.

It is not you they want; it’s what you have. Therefore, keep yourself yourself. You will protect what you have better than the ghost of you ever could.

He could not allow them to succeed; t hey had no idea of the consequences.

Quackity aligned the shears with Dream’s right ear.

You need no reason to fight. Just fight; whether it is wrong, whether it is right. It is right for you.

Quackity cut into his outer ear. Dream screamed. Again and again and again. He weakly strained against the legs straddling him. Pushed away the plate he usually bit on. A thought ran in circles in his head.

‘Scream. Scream the pain given to you back to the people.’ The act is over.

Fight so you keep wanting to live. A life led with no will is more painful than a painful one led with will. You can’t end it, so fight.

What can I say? You taught me too well.

I'll use other ways to fight.

-----

Quackity massacred his ear for a while longer, Dream observed. It was weird to watch his body yowl, shout and scream in pain solely in reaction to being wounded and muscle memory.

It hurt. Even from here, Dream felt the suffering of his body, only the slightest bit attenuated by the distance. How the trashing, as light as it was, didn’t help the compression of the bruises he had gotten from waking Techno up earlier.

His wings were flapping wildly, his body trying to use them for protection; only, since they were collision-less, all it brought was the feeling of being passed through by bones, tissues and obsidian.

Dream looked upon the scene from above, for all but himself inside the thrashing masked man. Spectator mode could be a blessing. At least this way, he didn’t have to force the release of the honed control he had over his every muscle. This way, he could give his flesh without giving his mind.

Really?

Still, as he had only ended up in this state as a defense mechanism, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t go and give bunny ears to Quackity, play with his feathers, or even shout the contradictions of his torturers to distract himself from the sad spectacle. He couldn’t even close his eyes or turn away.

Once again, he was reduced to watching. All he had was the meager satisfaction of having fooled Quackity; after all, can it be said it was Dream he was torturing? No. Yes, yes it was.

At least Sam was doing a good job of preventing both him and Techno from watching.

Quackity had now left his ear and nape alone, and was excitedly breaking his spine, from bottom to top. Dream could barely follow his progression, the pain blinding his senses. He was however super aware of how close he was getting to his wings. Knowing he couldn’t touch them didn’t relieve that biting anxiety it brought him ever since twelve years ago.

Once Quackity was satisfied with the state of lethargy of Dream’s body, he leaned down on the back he had so thoroughly broken (Argh!), lowering his head backward to level his gaze with Dream’s tear covered face – although the only traces of that were a few tears having rolled down his neck, mixing with the grey of the weakness potion.

“Dream… What do you think? I got plenty of training to get this skilled you know.” He turned to rest on his belly, arms crossed, still on Dream (aaaargh!). “Do you feel like giving me the revival book now?” He pressed on Dream’s ribs with his elbows – argh, again.

The soulless body didn’t respond, beyond frantic unarticulated sounds. Dream himself didn’t want to; it was true, Quackity had gotten plenty skilled training on him. Now that he didn’t have to get his flashy pain specifically through blood, he could exert to the fullest all the techniques that had ‘only’ gotten grunts out of Dream before. It didn’t change that there was no Revival Book to give. He couldn't just up and get away from this.

Quackity’s smile turned into a scowl. “It’ll take more than that to get to you, huh?” He got up, approaching Techno with light steps.

Dream found himself back in his body in an instant. “What are you doing?” He asked, with his best threatening tone. The trembling undermined his effect.

“Getting a bit of help.” Quackity grinned. “Hey, pig. Do you want to get out of here? Don’t answer, I know it’s a yes.” He said, condescending. “Convince Dream to give me the Revival Book for me.” He cut the gag with his scissors, catching the colar of Techno’s dress shirt to force him up.

Techno didn’t move with Quackity’s prompting, only standing up when he stopped pulling. Dream was split between wanting to applaud him for that perfect rebellion and wanting to scream at him that he wasn’t helping his case.

He distantly registered Sam heading for the lava.

The piglin hybrid was guided by Quackity until he was in front of Dream’s prone form, where Quackity slapped his broad shoulder. Techno shot him a dark look that made him shiver, although the avian suppressed it well.

Techno cleared his throat. “Alright, Dream. You should-” He shook his head no. “absolutely give him-” He did it again, eyes open wide. “-the Revival Book.”

What an idiot. Dream wanted to face-palm.

“Okay no, I’m done playing.” Came the predictable response from Quackity. A pickaxe appeared in his hand.

Techno put his hands up in surrender. “Quack- Quackity, we can talk about this.” Quackity put the pickaxe on his shoulder, a somber smile stuck on his face.

“It wouldn’t have worked anyway-” Techno walked backwards.

Dream needed to stop this. Quackity’s foot was in front of him. Dream latched onto it, putting all his and his manacles’ weight on restraining the avian.

The pickaxe ended up in his upper back, but it was worth it. He contracted his muscles, a futile attempt at keeping the netherite tool embedded in him.

“You! Didn’t you say you’d be obedient?!” Dream clenched his eyes shut. At least he’d won a bit of time for Techno.

“Against letting Techno out of the cell during sessions. This was just a teaser.” He corrected. That part of the deal hadn’t been fulfilled here, after all. He had no reason to hold up his end of the bargain. He kind of regretted giving in when Techno was still there, really. It hadn't been a nice spectacle. Quackity narrowed his eyes at him. Dream just looked back up, his hands still encircling the avian's leg. Sadly, the other one was out of his reach.

In the meantime, Techno had gotten to the back of the cell, near the chest. Dream quickly checked Sam’s situation; he strangely seemed content watching from beside the lava wall. That... wasn't what Dream had expected of him in front of such a showdown.

The pickaxe suddenly being taken out brought him back to the confrontation at hand.

“It wouldn’t have worked anyway, Quackity. I mean, you’ve been trying to get that book for what, 6 months?” Techno defended.

“Seven.” Quackity answered sourly. Wait, seven? But Dream was here since January 20^th.

“See? If he didn’t crack in all this time, me asking wouldn’t have-” Dream stopped listening.

If it had been seven months, and he was here since the end of January…

“It’s August? Not June?” He asked with a small voice. It had been 5 months, right? Right? They were lying. It wasn’t possible. Dream couldn’t have missed two whole months, could he? His internal clock was still in phase according to the potatoes.

The others turned to look at him. Techno was the first to speak. “Dream-”

Sam cut him off. “We’re the 21^st of August, 9 p.m.”

The 21^st of August. From the 20^th of January (11), 28 days of February (39), 31 for March (70), 30 for April (100), 31 of May (131), 30 days of June (161), 31 of July (192), and 21 of August. 213 days.

And he thought it had been 137.

76. He had spent around seventy-six days, seventy-six, unconscious.

“Hmm, happy birthday?” Techno commented.

Right, that meant he was twenty-two now. No, no, focus.

Seventy-six days.

He died after pretty much every session with Quackity, but it didn’t take more than an hour or two to bleed out with the wounds he got. It couldn’t be injury that kept him under for such a long time.

Which left only two possibilities.

Sleeping all of it off to restore lost energy.

And spending that time in the void.

The only reason the void would keep him longer though, is if the World needed his abilities, and his energy, and didn’t get it otherwise. Like the other day.

Dream looked at Sam, his throat too constricted by emotions to let him voice his question.

“Your body stuck around for a while every time. It progressively got worse.” Sam said, having guessed the question he wanted to ask.

The World got worse?

“What- What happened outside?” Dream sought eye contact with everyone around the room. Sam was devoid of any expression, Quackity looked amused, Techno, worried and confused. He stopped on the last one.

“Hum." Techno's eyes unfocused as he listened intently to his chat. "...Do you remember the Egg Bad showed us before- before all this?” Dream nodded slowly, muttering his agreement. It had seemed dangerous. Quackity sighed. “Well- uh, it sort of spread vines everywhere- including in people’s minds, apparently. I was kind of immune, with Chat always rambling in my head.” Quackity, bored, took out a hoe.

“Continue.” Dream encouraged. This didn’t seem good, but he needed more details. Quackity planted his hoe in his back. Dream barely flinched, closing his eyes while spurring Techno on with a sign of his hand.

Techno looked very disturbed as he went back to his explanation.

“Hum, so, there were crimson vines – that’s why we called it the Crimson, too – and Nether blocks in about all center parts of the SMP towards the start of August, and about ten to twelve people infected.” 20 days ago, so before the message, normally. How many times had he died since entry n°123? “With the Pro-Omelette people – including these guys,” Techno specified, angrily glaring at them. “we managed to destroy it a bit later.”

“When?” Was it before or after that crisis with the cold corner? This is probably the reason Sam seemed absent for a while after the writing of the message.

“What?”

“Later, when?” He needed a date. It wouldn’t be very precise, but still.

“Uh, five days ago? Something like that.” Five days ago, so for Dream, on the first of June. It coincided with the day the world started draining him via the cold corner.

It was energy necessary for recovery then, but if that was the case, what about before– or... no.

Destroying the egg did damage the world had to repair. But assuming that, the World shouldn't have needed that energy before the Egg was destroyed... Unless... On the (not) first of April, was that a call for help-

It was a parasite.

Everything made sense. His feeling while first encountering the Egg. The world’s absence of reaction until a lot later. The players’ contamination. The unknown new aura in the void, the time spent unconscious in it… And the draining afterwards. It was a fucking world parasite.

“Did you destroy it?” Dream asked immediately. He had a bad feeling. The draining could have been for repairs of the World, but also for the parasite itself-

“Yeah.” Dream's heart beat frantically. Parasites didn’t necessarily have a physical form. Normal people wouldn’t be able to tell. 

“Did Philza confirm it?” Phil was an admin. If he checked, he should be able to tell…

“Phil? I have no idea. Did he even say anything?” Techno mumbled. Oh no.

“What about your chat?” Maybe the higher beings…

“My chat? What could they know?”

“Did they stop bothering you with it?” Higher beings should be able to tell if an ‘arc’ of the ‘story’ they are watching is over. It is not a foolproof method, as some stories are too ‘original’, but they could be useful…

“Well, I guess not. They are still pestering me asking for omelette right now.” Dream tensed, his vision tunneling. Oh no. “They’re always like that!” Techno defended.

Oh no. This didn’t bode well. At all. What are the chances a bunch of people unaware of the nature of what they were fighting managed to eliminate a being on another plane of existence?

…

Dream needed to see for himself.

He couldn’t do that here, though. He turned towards the lava, not paying attention to the netherite tearing into his back muscles.

“Sam. Sam, I need to get out of here.”

“No.” Sam didn’t elaborate. He didn’t even seem surprised, contrary to Techno.

“It doesn’t have to be for long! Just a few minutes.” Sam’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t need to leave the prison, just this cell! On the bridge- on the bridge is enough! Just a few minutes…” Nothing.

Quackity suddenly erupted into laughter above him. He tore the hoe out, but Dream was feeling too chilled to react. The tool then found its way through the top of his left shoulder. Dream clenched his teeth.

“Sam!” Sam turned away. Quackity laughed harder.

“Why would he let you out!? You’re a threat Dream, a threat he swore to contain! You’re an idiot to think you could convince him otherwise!”

Dream ignored him. He had to get to Sam. It was a question of life and death for the entire server. He didn’t have to negotiate his freedom. Just a few minutes outside would be enough.

“Also, why do you want to get out now? You seemed pretty content with becoming my slave earlier!” Quackity exclaimed. Was that him licking his lips? Sounded like it. A shiver went down Dream’s spine.

He’d have to convince them, wouldn’t he? This wasn't supposed to happen!

It must seem so out of the blue to an outsider. 

Was it now? After all these years.

Did he have to out himself as the World admin? In front of those people?

After so long hiding everything? Hiding himself.

Taking every hurt without ever giving himself away. During Doomsday, with Logstedshire…

Lying through his teeth about his condition. The community house, George’s base…

Wouldn’t it mean Techno’s death? There was no revival book to give.

He’d bring him back… The void isn’t a nice experience.

After all this time… The Others had said…

He didn’t want to. Hide.

It wasn’t safe. Hide everything.

People would take advantage of it. Have taken advantage of it. Years spent in captivity. Used as a thing. All over again?

But the World… The people in it.  He had to do something.

The players could get away. Only the players.

He had to help. He had to.

The silence stretched.

Dream was scared.

Sam broke the spell on the cell by letting out a single comment. “It’s because you’re a World admin, isn’t it?”

Dream whipped his head up, vertigo striking him. He knew? Sam, knew? And he did nothing?

He shook the thought out of his mind. No time for that, it was his chance!

If he already knew… “Yes, the World needs me-”

“That’s exactly why the answer is no.”

…

What?

Dream’s perception of the world came crashing down that day.

Chapter Text

“… What?” was the only sound Dream made.

Techno shared the sentiment. He didn’t know much about World admins; what he did know was that they were a world’s treasure. Its most precious being. They were meant to be cherished… Not restrained and put away.

Oh… Is that why the weather had been so terrible the past few months?

The hell
I thought he was just an admin... Not the WA
They captured the World admin???? Knowingly!?????
…Do they have a death wish?
With a parasite in the wild, he doesn’t want to let him do his job?!
No but, why did Dream let them?

How come chat seemed to know about this? A parasite? Techno was confused.

Sam explained his reasoning. “You’re the World admin. The moment you get out of this cell, you could literally disappear from this dimension to the Far lands in the blink of an eye. I have no guarantee you’d stay here; plenty of reasons why you’d be gone, though.” Does that guy really have such cracked abilities?

Not in this state, he isn’t
He’d need more than being out of the cell for that
The prison is a player-made construction though
I was here

“Wait, had I told you he was a World admin?” Quackity suddenly asked, brows furrowed.

“No. I did some research; the measures you made me take didn’t correspond with admins. They were fit for World admins.” Sam answered.

“Hmm.” The duck didn’t look too happy about Sam doing that.

“Wait, no-” Dream’s voice died in his throat. His head kept swiveling to look at both his captors, regardless of the horrible state of his spine. Pieces of bone were jutting out, for fuck’s sake! He had been screaming his lungs out not five minutes ago, and now he moved like he was perfectly fine. It left a sour taste on the back of Techno’s tongue, and it wasn’t the weakness potion.

He said the **** word!
The monetization nooooooooo

Speaking of, was it really a level II for Techno to have been unable to get out of his restraints, or just push Sam away? Were these made from netherite or something – actually, that was probable, looking at their color. But yeah, it must have been more than weakness II, or he would have broken out of these in the blink of an eye.

Technoblade is a liar!
He lies to himself
Why does Dream need permission to get out, if he's the WA?
What did we say about swearing? Dadza is a bad influence!
Hypocrite! Technocrite!
L

Strangely, while Dream wore manacles sporting a spiked chain, Techno’s hands were held in something akin to a single piece of metal with two ragged holes, from which dangled a loose chain. Looking at how much trouble the masked man had to move his arms, it seems they were too heavy for him, on top of the rest; were Techno’s supposed to be harder? He did have his muscles still.

“You mean…” Dream started, voice low. “The blood, did you- did you really spread it with the goal of cutting me from the World.”

It wasn’t a question. Putting aside how blood could cut off such a connection, that explained why the cell was so thoroughly covered in it, to Techno’s nostrils utmost displeasure. On another note, it was absolutely incredible that the Dream-made nose plugs didn’t budge through Quackity’s tantrum.

He means the beating?
^He means the beating
Tantrum. Really.
Not just any blood, the World admin’s blood!

“Well yeah. Why else would we do that?” Sam responded, with a slightly mocking undertone, while heading towards Techno.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Dream whispered petulantly. “Why wouldn’t you make my incarceration conditions even worse?” Techno could feel Dream’s eyebrows rise – keen senses, you know.

How do you feel an eyebrow rise?
^Don’t bother, he doesn’t
You just guess! And we can’t confirm it! So we believe you!
What's happening here?
E

Sam dragged Techno by the ear – it’s sensible, stop pulling on it all the time! – to the outer cell. Under the masked man’s watchful eyes, he silently (had he not heard?) demonstrated the use of Techno’s chain – he pinned it to the currently lowered leftmost netherite block with a precise hit of his pickaxe on a black nail, while keeping Techno in check by pushing him down with a leg. Techno felt humiliated, but scratching and pushing at the netherite didn’t have any effect.

L
Double L
L
Legendary Loss: LL
LL
Is being stuck to netherite really a bad thing? $-$
^…

Quackity’s face distorted into a crazy smile- “Didn’t you agree you deserve them? Whyever would we need another justification?” -And yep, Techno was right, he was going to spew some awful stuff again.

Wow what a genius
Wooo *Unenthusiastic clapping*
E

Techno wrinkled his nose to the pungent smell of the duck’s pleasure; it only made the smell worse by moving the plugs, so he hurriedly smoothed it down again. What he’d smelled earlier must’ve been quite old if this was what it was derived from. The sweet smell supposed to bring joy was turning repulsive. Techno wouldn’t be able to indulge in sweets for a while.

Too much sweet kills the sweet
E to you too, gentleman
I always wondered how pheromones smell. Is there such a link for every different conveyed emotion?

It was nauseating. “You’re justification enough.” Quackity answered his own question. He meant Dream's acts, right? Techno jumped into the conversation, half because he was scandalized, half for a distraction – what, can you blame him? This smell is atrocious. Is it the true reason why Sam – who currently looks ready to leave at any moment – wears a gas mask? “Hey, I’m pretty sure that’s not what Tommy wanted. Who are you to exact revenge for him this way?”

Quackity jumped on the occasion to gloat. “Oh, this is not revenge. Not even retribution. Well, maybe a bit. But no, this is just planning ahead.”

“Planning ahead? The hell you mean?”

I think we must accept that the monetization is gone.
Nooooooooo
^Is your purpose in life to just say no with exactly 9 o’s at every curse word?
Let’s be frank, it was inevitable
And it’s not even anyone else’s fault this time!

“Dream is dangerous. You both are, if you in a lesser measure.” He sneered. Techno’s ear twitched.

Oh, you-

“Hey, I’ll have you know I’m plenty dangerous.” He reminded with a glare.

Blood for the blood god
Worst insult ever pronounced
Who do you think you are!?
@The_F_R_ya_doin You noticed! My life is complete

Quackity just rose an eyebrow at him. Techno felt insulted by the implication. He still had 40 wither skulls he could use!

Was it forty?
13.333333 withers is NOT good enough
Blood for the blood god!
40? Peasant. Gotta farm some more
*in a deep voice* Doomsday 2: Las Nevadas; in your cinema this summer.
^LUL

Quackity’s second eyebrow joined the first one. “This guy-” The avian pointed at Dream. “is the fucking World admin.”

“Yeah, and?” Techno didn’t see how it made him more dangerous than a powerful anarchist. Honestly, it didn’t change the amount of damage he could do, did it?

He doesn’t know what a World Admin is?
 The weakest World admin is stronger than the strongest admin, for reference.
There is strength and ability to hurt! On that note, Dream seems a bit suicidal/masochistic, whatever the correct term is
^Since he still lives, I’d say masochistic? He didn’t seem in pain during Doomsday. Or maybe he doesn’t feel pain.
Yeah and?

“The fucking World admin is evil. Do you not realize how dangerous that is? He could exterminate us in an instant!” Dream spluttered in the background.

He’s not wrong, per se, but evil?
A World admin can’t be evil. They fundamentally love their World.
^Though they can be twisted by/about people. It happened with others
Imma make a fic of it. It might be quite short tho
Exterminating… I mean, maybe strangers, but weren’t you all invited?

“But he hasn’t, has he?” Techno refuted. “Shouldn’t you ask yourselves why that is? He mustn’t have had a reason to, despite everything. So he’s not dangerous.”

Okay, Techno was running on fumes here. He wasn’t sure he himself believed what he was saying. Hadn’t Dream genuinely tried to kill the others before? Though why would he ever fail then, if he was that strong? But Dream had said it was an act. That he wanted peace.

His only mediocre comfort was chat’s divergent opinions.

He just hasn’t taken the decision yet
See, we’re useful!
Living like this or dying with them… That’s the question
^It wouldn’t just be him dying!
The Dream Dilemma…
^No one cares for NPCs

Quackity massaged his temples. “Okay, let me be clearer. He was a risk, and now he’s not anymore, okay?”

Quackity tortured Dream. If that was not justification enough for Dream to at the very least want to kill him, Techno didn’t know what was. “You’re wrong. You were so paranoid you gave him the perfect reasons to want to harm you. I mean, look at him!”

Quackity looked stunned for about a second. No, they didn’t- “He already had plenty of reasons before!” Quackity claimed, a beat late.

*whispering to neighbor* Bring out the popcorn
…Depends on how much he wants to die really… when, and how. Death by parasite doesn't seem great, but it might be the quickest if they keep being stubborn. Well, assuming he'd die
I mean, he could just die in a corner without affecting anyone else, no?
^Depends on the World’s reaction
Can he even die?

Did Quackity even listen to himself? Techno couldn’t believe this - chat, stop talking about dying, no one is dying.

…Did they imagine containing and torturing Dream would make him less scary? It’s the contrary. The risk now is for him to get out, which is a lot more concrete than a vague possibility of attack while they each lived their lives. How stupid could they be?

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
Blood!
Idiots
Blood for the blood god!

“You didn’t think-”

“If he’s scared of us, he won’t ever want to be near us, despite how much he’ll want revenge!” Quackity talked over him.

“That’s not how it works!”

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

“He won’t ever get out anyway!”

“I WILL-”

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

“YOU NEITHER!”

“I DON’T WANT TO HARM YOU!” Dream suddenly screamed, interrupting their shouting match. Quackity and Sam were shocked into silence. When Dream saw they were listening, he lowered his voice to continue. “I don’t want to harm you. I never have…” He added, voice slightly crazed. Techno could picture his eyes shaking.

He didn’t?
You don’t even know their color.
^Green, obviously.
^There’s no guarantee of that! Is your eye color your favorite one? No!
Can’t they rid Dream of his powers?
^They’d have to kill the World they live in. And even then...

At least it calmed Chat down. “I...” Dream hesitated. “All I’ve ever wanted from you all was to be- be friends.”

And here you say we don’t influence you

“Sure. What about the wars?” Sam asked, seeming calm if disbelieving in his warden role.

“Others started them! I wanted peace, nice peace. Not- not one enforced by a government, just- ‘natural’ peace. Just friends.” Techno could get behind that. A world with no government was a great world.

@BLing_bling It is, so shut up. Green eyes is my headcanon.
Anarchist Dream for real!?
One of us
So he wasn’t the bad guy?
^No one thinks they are
ONE OF US
^He sort of does, no?
ONE OF US
ONE OF US

Oh great. Chat had taken a liking to Dream for real now.

While Techno mourned the quiet, he watched Sam and Quackity turn silent. Techno would be willing to bet his gold their ears were ringing with denial.

Our Techno has learned, noooooo
Crap, it’s not verifiable!
And I am willing to bet you mean less than a nugget of your gold!

Techno would make no comment on that.

Anyway, there were a few elements that didn’t fit Dream wanting peace. Threatening L’Manberg for Tommy’s exile and Doomsday being the most flagrant. Sam outsped him at asking the last one though.

“L’Manberg.” Still so infuriatingly calmly, too. Only his eyebrows had moved.

“What did you want me to do?" Dream said, sounding tired. "They weren’t an open group but didn’t want to disband, they were splitting the community. I needed it taken down, so I started by showing them that if they wanted to split from the rest of the server, they had to split from the server, in hopes they would revoke that.” Was he referencing the obsidian walls?

Dream tried to take a deep breath in the middle of his panting before continuing. “When it wasn’t enough, I tried to make them realize they cared more about each other than a stupid government by weighing Tommy against L’Manberg, and still Tubbo chose to exile Tommy instead of discarding a less than six months old concept!” Dream said angrily.

Dream redemption arc?
Justification: Tubbo is an idiot
^An ******* you mean

Looking at it like that… Well, talking would have been better, but it wasn't so farfetched… Except for what happened with Tommy.

“But in the end, it’s my fault Tommy got thrown to Logstedshire…” Dream completed. Was that guilt? It felt unusual from Dream.

Techno had questions. “Then why did you abuse him in exile? I know he was a bit at the center of all government-y problems in the beginning, but that was not justifiable.” He hated to corner Dream like that, but he just couldn’t make sense of it.

Dream seemed to shrink into himself further. Which was a real feat looking at how squashed up he was.

“squashed” Is he in denial?
^I can’t hold it against him, I can’t even look at it
And he's not the only one
It IS gore
You can stop trying to be kid friendly with such images. Blurring them won’t cut it either

“I-” Dream cleared his voice, coughed a bit and shook his head multiple times. A few drops of blood flew from beneath his mask to join the pool forming on the floor. Techno winced at the size of it; Dream had definitely lost more than a liter by now.

“I- didn’t mean to.” He said, defeated. He talked slowly, articulating the bare minimum. “I- I’m a horrible person. I still don’t know how I managed to hurt him so. But the fact is, I have." He hesitated, lifting his head with difficulty. "...How is he, currently?” He had barely finished that Quackity dug his foot in the back of his head, pressing Dream’s mask against the ground. Dream grunted loudly, letting out a shrill cry upon hitting the floor, tremors going down his wrecked body.

Sulfur.

Suddenly, Techno felt a violent urge to stop Dream from hurting. It felt like how Phil had described his past fatherly instinct. Techno tugged on the manacles with all his might, but the chain didn’t even creak. He loathed netherite so hard right now. The netherite on the chain, of Sam’s tools, of Quackity’s armor.

That’s just protective instinct
Stupid weakness II
Stupid chain
It’s too short… L

Quackity took a step back with a grimace. Was he affected by that strange cry, too? “Don’t ever do that again.” He ordered. Yep, he’d felt something. Sam hadn’t reacted though.

“Sorry!” Dream loudly apologized. Where did all his rebellious spirit go? Why bend now?

That apology reinvigorated Quackity, who kept going, more condescending. “Dream, what did we say about Tommy?”

“’Don’t show your concern, it’s disgusting.’” He recited quietly.

It’s you that’s disgusting, Quackity!
I mean, he IS his abuser…
That’s not how you do rehab!

“Again.”

“It’s disgusting.” He repeated numbly. What the hell!? Why was he like that? He seemed… lifeless.

Nooooooooo
This just isn’t a prison

“Louder.” Quackity began walking on Dream’s back. Blood – and were those pieces of his vertebrae? – was spilling everywhere. It was… surreal. Inhuman.

“It’s- disgus- ting!” Dream grunted, teeth clenched. Did he even feel pain anymore?

This- it had the distinct feel of wrongness. Not just morally wrong; no one should be alive like that. Why hadn’t Dream respawned yet?

“And what do you feel about Tommy?”

“Disgusting feelings.” Quackity hit his lungs through his ribs. Damn, Techno was almost glad Dream didn’t have a spine anymore.

“Be more precise.”

This is-
I have no words
Don’t mind me, throwing up my meal down the toilet
BLOOD

“Worry, friendship, affection-” Quackity cut him off by picking him up by the front of the neck, like a ragdoll. He then stage-whispered in his ear. “You’re right. They’re disgusting. You’re disgusting. Abuser.”

He threw Dream at Techno’s feet. Techno leaned in by reflex, but the chain was too short for even his upper body to come close to Dream’s falling point. The man’s body made squishy wet noises as it bounced on the floor, chain clicking and piercing his flesh, until he came to a stop in front of Techno’s hooves.

Blood for the blood god!
BLOOD
We demand BLOOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

“Monster.” Was Quackity’s last word to the destroyed man – corpse? – as he turned to the other side of the cell. Ah, Dream twitched; he wasn’t dead yet.

“You- Ahhh.” Techno could realistically do nothing against Quackity at the moment. However… he lowered his voice to address the husk of a human at his feet.

“Tommy is doing better. He hasn’t shown any suicidal or self-harming tendencies since coming back from exile-” Quackity glanced angrily at Sam, who took out another potion. Techno hurried. “He’s very angry at you and everyone is what Phil-” The potion exploded at his feet. It turned his body heavy… Turtle master…? There must be some blindness too; he couldn’t see anything.

Techno lost his sense of balance. “Told me-” Thud. Techno crumbled besides Dream, against the wall so as not to crush him further.

Technoooo
Technoblade never dies!
What about our blood?
LL
What kind of potion is this!?

“Take him out.” Quackity.

Unintelligible sounds. A pearl.

A whisper. “Thank-… you.” Dream.

Pistons?

He was being dragged on the floor.

Grunts. Heat. Stone, too hot-

Shiiiing.

…

Shiiiing?-

Cold.

He was on the other side of the bridge. His vision cleared for a second and he caught one last image of the cell.

Dream, impaled on an armor stand’s sword.

Techno lost consciousness.

____

He woke up to more obsidian. Techno felt the contact of his fur-covered skin with the cold; he didn’t have fire resistance anymore.

He blinked to let his eyes adapt to the low light level, to no avail. Piglins are no good at seeing in the dark; after all, it is more useful to not be blinded by lava in the Nether’s crimson forests.

Speaking of, this new cell didn’t seem anywhere near lava. It was no hotter than a summer day, Techno inferred.

Hellooooo
Welcome back with the living!
How are you, sleeping beauty? Feeling comatose?

“Hi, sleeping ‘beauty’.” Sam’s voice came out of nowhere, at the same time the ghost’s mining fatigue procced. But the seasoned warrior that was Techno didn’t show any reaction.

You jumped.
Elder. Guardian. Not ghost
…
Technoliar!
@Crippled_laughter … Are you Sam’s twin?

“… What are we doing here?” He asked the man crouching behind the bars of the room, on the side of the sole light sources. This was most probably a cell.

What? No! We just had the same idea! And I’m not like Sam!
^Hmmm, if you say so
Do you still have a doubt? What else could it be?

“Waiting.” For Quackity to have enough of hurting Dream?

“You’re just going to let him do as he pleases?” Techno pushed himself up with his hands. Huh? He wore a different pair of manacles. These were more classic, with a chain about a third of a blocks length in between the wrists. Most importantly, he was chained on the front of his body, not the back.

Progress, I guess?
Still L

“It’s good intimidation. And it keeps Dream weak.” The piglin hybrid staggered. His head was turning, so he decided to sit on the polished blackstone lining the obsidian wall, leaning forward to see Sam.

You fell against it, you mean.
What is with that habit of making everything “prettier”? We see what happens, and we’re the only ones listening to your thoughts!

You don’t know that, chat. What if a book is also written about him at the same time? People would only have his point of view then!

Speaking of books… “Do you not want the Revival Book?”

“Hmm?” Sam tilted his head. “There exists no Revival Book.” He said with what Techno guessed to be an innocent smile, amused by the ignorant question.

Techno’s superpower reveal: masks have no effect on him!
Predictable.

What? But then why- “Does- Does Quackity know?”

“He does.” Sam said nonchalantly.

“Why is he torturing Dream then?” For nothing but the pleasure of it? He did look like he was enjoying himself exploding Dream’s back.

“To get the power to revive people.”

“You just said it doesn’t exist.” Techno was confused.

“Ah-ah.” He clucked disapprovingly. “I said there was no book granting that power. However, Dream, as a World admin, has that ability.”

“It can’t be passed down, though. Or can it?” Techno really hated how lost he was right now.

It can’t!
One can only be born a World admin!

“It can’t.” Sam confirmed, a small smile in his voice.

“Then why!?” Techno's heartbeat was loud in his ears, pumping blood in his muscles.

“With the revival book, doesn’t the book hold the power?” He said, turning away from the metal door of the cell. “Anyway, enjoy your alone time. These moments will be the only ones you’ll have.” Moments? Plural?

He’s never alone!
We’re here
We’ll haunt him forever, so he’ll never be lonely!

More importantly, what does he mean, the Revival Book holds the power? But such a book is not what made Dream able to resurrect people, apparently. The hell?

Nooooooooo
What, it’s evident

Let’s start back from the beginning. Techno settled cross legged in the first corner he stumbled upon. Which wasn’t too hard exploring from his blackstone bench.

So, there was no Revival Book, but Dream could still resurrect people, because he was the World admin. They’d have no reason to torture him, as that meant this ability could not be given.

But Dream could use it. Just like the book theoretically should have-

Oh.

Yeah, Oh.
I still don’t understand
^You just don’t get how low they’re willing to stoop

They’ll use Dream like an object. Torture him, ‘break’ him, like Quackity had said, to use him like an object, for his capacities.

…
At least he seemed to be holding up well enough
^But he still thinks they want the Revival Book

This is-

Truly inhuman. Horrifying. Worse than cruel. How bad is it going to get?

And Techno wasn’t delusional; it was to protect him that Dream had given in. No matter how stupid that decision was to Techno, it was like for Dream and Tommy.

It would still partly be Techno’s fault if Quackity and Sam succeeded.

*****

“Alright, let me summarize all of this.” Techno said. He would have really liked one of the books and quills of the main cell to note down all that chat told him.

“It is thought that all admins have the potential to become World admins, if they find the World that chose them at birth.”

It’s very rare!
It gets more difficult with every World created and opened
In theory, an admin is born as their World is ‘generated’
Oop, just got here and Imma leave. Not up for class right now
The probabilities to encounter it get lower every time!

“World admins are stronger than regular admins. Any World Admin is more powerful than the best admin, but they are not all on equal footing either.”

Yes!
Yay, he got it right

“They’re linked with their World as soon as they ‘meet’, an intangible but unbreakable link. From that point on, they share the World’s state of being; when it hurts, they hurt, when it’s sick, they’re sick, et cetera.”

Yup
No
No

“No?”

They’re trolling, ignore them. Yes that’s it
Those guys are the worst!
No you were right
Nope

“Ok… What else did we say?”

Death!

“Oh, yes. A World admin dies when their World dies, but World admins can die without the World dying. Their mission is to help the World maintain itself, and they exchange energy with it. They resolve ‘bugs’ and ‘anomalies’ by interacting with the code of the server, making the server more ‘attractive’ and ‘protected against outside attacks’. World admins are also the ones managing entry and exit of the World by ‘why listing’ and ‘banning’. A World can only have one World admin at a time, but they can have multiple over their existence.”

Whitelisting
WhiTE, not why
Well, they CAN die...
In one word: whitelisting
They can also blacklist to do the contrary. Or open the server to the public
My god I feel like I’m explaining Internet to my grandfather all over again

“Oh, ‘whitelisting’? How weird. It’s not like they literally write people's names on a white sheet.”

…I’m not explaining that to you
I mean, is he wrong?

“Ah, we agree. Anyway, did I forget anything?”

Origin of their abilities?
No that was all
The source and type

“Right. World admins don’t possess abilities on their own – other than their admin ones; it’s more like they trade for transformations with energy. The World can help except not that much, as it has to keep their integrity. Integrity being different from their natural, original state of being; Worlds wear player works like piercings, it hurts a bit to put them in, they’re proud of them, but it hurts a whole lot more to get lightly hit on a fresh one than on skin. Was that the metaphor?”

Where did they go find something like this really. Well, Techno guessed it was a good way to understand these strange interactions, although he was told ‘pride’ doesn’t really cut it, as it’s more a matter or lifespan; Worlds with ‘nothing’ on them have a higher chance of dying at any given time than Worlds that hold a sentimental value to multidimensional beings such as players.

100/100 Perfect score
Phew, can’t believe he finally understood
We’re extremely useful today, don’t you think ;)

Yes, yes, thank you.

…Techno had never realized humans and hybrids played such an important role. Is that why they were called players, haha? It is true that they were particular existences, able to go from World to World with barely any effort, though the near-death experience wasn’t always very fun.

Who wants to try and explain to him why it’s ‘players’?
^Not me!
^You want your lifelong ban, don't you?
You still scared to switch servers?
Come on, you’re already stuck on one life, nothing worse could happen
^What about turned off natural regeneration
Has anyone died from changing servers?
Isn’t it a bit like dying?
@Absent! …Right, me neither. I like commenting, thank you

A bit like? It just is. Sending your soul to another World while letting your body decay is dying, even if you change your spawn point in the process. Simply ‘respawning’ means you died before.

He didn’t know about anyone not surviving a switch however, so can it really be qualified as a death on the same level as others? Techno had almost dispersed upon arriving on this World; thankfully, Dream had somehow managed to put him back together- wait, did he resurrect him with his admin powers? Is that why Techno had seen the void of the End?

Had he actually died?

NO, TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES!
Dispersing!? Isn’t that a permanent end of existence? Shouldn’t admins be unable to bring back someone whose soul is breaking down!?
TECHNOBLADE HAS AND WILL NEVER DIE
Nah, no World admin could resurrect you from that
Aren't you in hardcore, in any case?

Ah, you reassure me. Right, there’s no way Technoblade would have died. He would be a true dead – unlike Ghostbur, or even Jschlatt – otherwise. Techno nodded his head and ignored the knots twisting his stomach.

Technoblade never dies…
See what happens when we’re not here!
I don’t want to think about it
This reminds me of Philza… What would have happened had you been late by even a second *shivers*

Techno sighed. Too much emotion.

2 hours and 37 minutes to explain this to him! Congratulations, everyone! We’re terrible at teaching!
^Don’t say that…
^Seems there was good reason professors always give their lessons alone
Whelp, goodnight, everybody!
 I wonder how many fell asleep; We’re way less in chat than earlier
^I just ‘shut up since [I] didn’t know anything’, I’m perfectly awake!
Goodnight!
@vicTORYtim …sorry

Two hours and a half. Had Sam forgotten to move him back? …Or was Quackity still not done?

When I think that it’s not even been 1,5% of the time it’d take to break a single obsidian block

Techno was bored. He inspected the cell now that he didn’t have to focus fully on chat to try and piece out what they were saying.

And what was not his surprise when what he discovered was… more obsidian! At least the box was three blocks tall all around, four in the central eight by eight area. But no really, this cell was even barer than Dream’s – there was literally nothing here. No water, no chest, no cauldron… 

Unless you counted the two redstone lamps on the wall with the door and bars; they didn't have much utility though: the back of the cell was so dark Techno fully expected it to allow monsters to spawn. So yeah. There was nothing.

Not even lava.

Well, that last one was good news. It also meant he didn’t get constant fire resistance that made him lose the feeling of his body. Would Dream be surprised to feel his body back once out of here? He’d spent so long under that effect.

…Say, wouldn’t it be possible to just swim out if they had fire resistance? Nah, Dream would have tried…

But he said he deserved to be there…?

Techno would have to ask.

-----

Techno’s stomach rumbled. How much longer would he have to wait here?

He had already had enough alone time, thank you. He’d sorted all his thoughts.

He’d realized Dream mustn’t have his communicator since there was no way he hadn’t died back then, and therefore, he might have died a whole lot more without anybody knowing. Yay.

Sarcasm?

He had a ton of questions, so much he’d forgotten most of them.

And he still had nobody to ask. Except chat…

Say, wasn’t Dream’s hair short before prison?
What effects does long exposition to crying obsidian tears have?
How can one’s hair grow 50 centimeters in 8 months? I envy him.
His mask was cracked, because he lost his connection to the world!?
Why use an armor stand to kill him?
How could he “blow back” Tommy in his current physical state?

-But they were on a wild goose chase. They rose some interesting questions really.

The only problem was they had nobody to ask. Sigh.

Tap. Tap.

Techno’s ear twitched. Footsteps? Finally! Although, despite how happy he was to finally move from here, Techno didn’t budge. He had learned a thing or two from Dream.

So when Sam lowered himself in front of the door, Techno greeted him perfectly apathetically. “Hi. You’re late.”

Good call
Not like it changes much from the usual
Let’s go find Dream!

“Hi.” At the same time, Sam threw a potion through the iron bars. Sat on the ground as he was, Techno couldn’t avoid it. This was getting tiring – and not because of the weakness’ side effect.

While he was trying to shake off the sense of lethargy gaining him – this was not the time! And he had napped not long ago! – he listened to Sam entering the cell.

Not, power nap ?
^ …three years old!?

Sam picked up the chain to Techno’s manacles that was spread across the floor. Feeling it coming, Techno pushed himself up – not fast enough, as he was violently tugged forward after barely rising on his hooves. Prick.

@3yo You changed your pseudo to fit the nickname I gave you!?
Nooooo- wait. Nah this one’s fine

Thank you for approving my choice of insults, Techno thought sarcastically as he walked behind Sam in the corridor of the prison, passing another redstone door to stand in the water breathing dispensing area.

He had learned a lot since he first went down this path yesterday.

Techno had realized the Dream in the cell wasn’t the one he thought he knew from a few months back. Had never truly been.

And he was now chained.

Details.

Chapter Text

Techno obediently stood on the bridge to the main cell as Sam let the lava lower.

It was as painfully slow as the first time.

Well, at least it allowed him time to make conversation.

“How was your day?” He started.

“Hmm. Not great.” Oh, an answer? That was more than he hoped for.

“Really? What happened?”

Sam pointedly rose his eyebrows. “I’ve gotten dumped exponentially more work on.” He said, turning back to his levers. Techno had the distinct feeling the creeper hybrid was talking about his own arrival; he didn’t know why.

Sure you don’t
Didn’t you yourself say “pointedly”?
^Do you not know what second degree is?
Come, on, la-va, come, on, la-va, everyone with me! COME ON, LAVA

“You could just refuse, you know? Your charges can survive without you, no problem.” He half-joked.

Techno humor
At least he tried

Sam threw him a glare over his shoulder. Silence stretched again.

“Say, how long have you been friends with Quackity?” Techno asked all of a sudden. The warden let out a small, displeased noise.

Cute!
^Hum, Ooookayyyy. You weird, you
He's like Dream
^Techno gonna annoy him to death, too!

“We’re not friends.” Sam breathed out in his signature calm tone.

“Come on, you have to be best buddies to support each other in such paranoia!” Techno teased. “Come on! You are, admit it!”

Sam hummed noncommittally.

He then proceeded to keep silent through Techno’s further attempts at discussion.

The lava reached the bottom – or rather, stopped reaching the bottom? In the end, Techno had run out of time to poke Sam about his evil plans.

Don’t worry, you still have a day and a half left to crack him!
^Crack a laugh from him, you mean? Right?
BLOOD

The bridge started without warning, and Techno had to watch his feet to keep from falling. He hurriedly stepped off as soon as it touched the cell, bumping his head, before the flying machine had a chance to go backwards. A pearl exploded on the opposite front corner of the cell, and Sam appeared – he was crouched, probably to avoid suffering the same fate.

The netherite blocks lowered, and Techno checked the ground for Dream as he headed for the inner cell’s higher ceiling.

The green – orange? – Teletubby wasn’t on the floor, though; Techno found him sat on the chest in the corner. His clothes looked decent now, Techno noticed. Dream's head was on his shoulder, arms hugging his middle with his feet tucked between the lectern’s back side and the wall. Was this comfortable?

Somehow, I doubt that
@small-time_angel No no, “crack him”. Like the nuts he is *badum tss *

He wasn’t moving. Was he asleep?

The good question is: is he dead?
Now this is a time when you can ask ‘are you dead’ in all seriousness

Sam came behind Techno and violently pulled his chain. Had he taken a strength potion? Techno had no choice but to step back a block, hitting his head against the ceiling again.

“Hey!” Annoyed, Techno tried to move back to where he was, but Sam held his chain against the netherite blocks and pinned it to them despite Techno straining in the opposite direction. Sam tested its solidity, and satisfied when it resisted him, disappeared in a flurry of portal particles; he’d teleported with yet another ender pearl.

Soon after, the lava came flowing down to cover the front of the cell. Techno watched it until he realized he still felt the heat. Was he not in range of the beacon? Puzzled, he walked towards the inner cell, only to be painfully reminded he was now attached to the floor.

“This thing is too short!” He exclaimed. It was barely long enough to allow him one block and a half of movement, meaning his head could not even reach 3 blocks away by extending his arms! He glared at the few centiblocks of the chain Sam had left as a margin.

Wait, does that mean he was permanently stuck under the low ceiling? What a pain.

In a big cell with a short chain?
I suppose it’s not to protect Dream, so, to prevent you from helping?
Blood will fly

“Be thankful it’s long enough for you to lie down.” Dream remarked, eyeing him. Techno jumped. So, he was alive. And awake. “Your head should be in the beacon range if you do.”

Techno tried. Dream was right; his head, excluding his chin, allowed him to get the fire resistance. He could get it without the chain being completely pulled taut even.

It was still very uncomfortable though. The floor was irregular, hard and terribly hot, so much so that the spikes managed to heat his skin beneath his fur. He experimented a bit as he talked to Dream.

“You okay?” Techno asked lightly. Hmm, lying down on the side seemed to be the best option. He could do it on the netherite, if only the heat didn’t bother him. Maybe if he used his cape to lie down on…

“Hmm? I’m- I’m fine.” Whelp, forgive me, magnificent piece of garment; for the time being, you will be reduced to a blanket.

F for the cape guys
F
Why does he ask for forgiveness from his cape but not us?
F
"I'm fine" - Dream, curled in the corner of a cell covered in his blood

The cape is useful. You’re not. Also, Dream, no way in hell. “Were you talking from experience?”

Nooooooooo. The monetization.
Hey! Did you forget all the helpful knowledge we just gave you!?
No way in hell are you keeping that monetization
The cape is replaceable! We are not!
^We, are not. You, are.
^Damn, F

“Of course not!” Dream vehemently defended himself – was it himself? – with a small disbelieving chuckle. “No one would do something so terrible!” He almost sounded… How to say it? In denial. Like he was remembering exactly that happening to him at the same time.

Plus, he didn’t even question what Techno was talking about. It was from experience. “My god, what did Quackity do to you?”

-sh
Whatever. You already lost that money long ago
^Even the “nooooooooo” guy has given up
Maybe he just knows because he read a lot of fanfiction

“No, no, Quackity did nothing!” Nothing? Ha.

“Was it Sam then?” He asked, playing into Dream’s lie.

“No! No... It was…” Dream murmured lower and lower, before he stopped himself. “It never happened!” He said loudly – well, it was, for him – turning his back to Techno, hugging himself harder. Why did he cut himself? …Was it truly neither Sam nor Quackity who had given him that particular idea?

What had this guy gone through really?

Hell, of course. What else?
Maybe it was other chain shenanigans…
BDSM?

Very funny, chat.

On another note, Techno couldn’t sit well while keeping fire resistance. The best solution seemed to be cross legged on the obsidian, with his right hoof extended on the side if he wanted protection from the heat. Overall, not great, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

The Beggar Blade
L
Says the guy with multiple times his volume in gold
Meh, I thought you were stronger than that
L

This chain resisted Sam with strength II! You can’t say it’s my fault!

We can. Freedom of speech and all that

Haaaa. Techno lied down. If only he had a bell.

Corporate requires you to ring a bell right now. But we'll wait.
Don't forget, we have interests.
Blood for the blood god!

“By the way, how can a fire resistance beacon exist? Such a weak one, too. Is it enough to swim through the lava to the other side?” He asked the ceiling.

The ceiling answered immediately. “No, it’s not. It just cools your body temperature upon getting the effect and regulates heat intake while you have it.” Strange, the ceiling had Dream’s voice.

LUL
LOL
Laughing Out Loud
^THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS!?

“It doesn’t allow you to breathe while in lava, like potent fire resistance would. It can’t even put out flames, if your hair or clothes get on fire.”

“Crappy.” Techno casually remarked, taking care to avoid looking towards Dream.

“The beacon is made of copper. It’s all probably infused by an admin to allow offering of magma creams, fire res’ potions or something in exchange for a low range low duration beacon effect.”

“So much trouble to douse this cell in lava.”

“Right?” Dream murmured, a point of his usual sarcasm peaking through. It reassured Techno immensely. Dream had started to calm down. He’d seemed febrile ever since earlier, looking for things he could answer truthfully.

He could pretend all he wanted; the torture was getting to Dream.

Softnoblade
He was? I’m so emotionally stupid
Is it a side effect of your mysterious power to see through masks?
That's worrisome, no?

A loud splash resounded from Techno’s blind spot, twice. “Wha-”

“Oh, dinner is here.”

Incredible timing. “Oh great, I could use a stack of potatoes or two-”

Swiiiiish. Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish. Plop.  

“...What are you doing?” Dream was lowering himself to the ground, head first.

“Can’t move my legs.” Was Dream’s only explanation.

Techno paused. “Wait, did some of the damage from earlier stick?” Was his spine still all messed up?  It didn’t seem like it from here… Hadn’t he died on that armor stand?

“No, it’s just the poison acting up.” He said, already panting from the effort.

“Acting up? How can poison ‘act up’?” And what did it have to do with suddenly being completely unable to use his legs?

Dream continued to crawl, remaining silent, not even looking at Techno.

…

…

Oooookay, no answer for that one. “What do we have on the menu?”

“Let me see.” Dream hurried. Which consisted in moving his upper body faster against the floor. Doesn’t the rough obsidian hurt his forearms?

“You don’t have to-” Dream seized the ledge of the water hole and pulled himself across the last remaining block in one go. Techno winced in sympathy, but Dream himself didn’t even pause before delving his hand in the water.

“Two raw potatoes.” He assessed.

“Raw? And only two per person?”

I think it’s one per person
You have lava to cook them!
It’s that bad huh

Dream shook his head. “Two in total. But you can have both – I’m not hungry.”

“What? No- you’ve been fed only that for a while, haven’t you? You can’t not be hungry.” He was only skin and bones.

Oh gosh, the steak!

Dream sent him the look. “I have received no potatoes for the whole period Quackity tortured me. Three- I mean, five months.” He said, deadpan except for his small stutter. Yeah, Techno guessed having unknowingly lost two months of your life is hard news to wrap one’s head around.

However… A question escaped Techno’s lips. “How are you still alive?” Not even staying still would- Oh. Right.

Dream looked to the side, only intensifying the look. “I died.” Right. Respawning resets hunger and thirst.

Intensifying what?

To think Dream had to survive by dying.

“Survive by dying” – Technoblade, 2021
Who needs food when you can resurrect!
Is pain better than raw potatoes?
^Potatoes are the best

Oh my god. He’d already died earlier.

Did you just realize that?
He’s slow sometimes

He dies often. There’s no way a single full hunger bar can allow him to recover from the kind of injuries Quackity inflicts upon him. Which means he systematically dies at least once per torture. And every so often in between, of hunger, nothing less.

“How terrible.” Dream shrugged and threw him the potatoes. Techno caught them expertly despite the trash aim. He turned to the lava while Dream was crawling over. He took the smallest of the potatoes, about the size of Dream’s fist – Current fist. Techno felt like sighing.

Blood for the blood god!
This isn’t even good enough to plant

He headed for the lava, intent on roasting it into a delicacy- and was reminded of the chain once more. “I can’t even roast these?! This stupid chain-”

Iron for the blood god!

Full of motivation he tried pulling the chain out, break his manacles, bash the chain against the netherite, the obsidian, but it wouldn’t fucking budge. This was so annoying.

“Dream, can you cook them up near the lava?” He tried, hiding his surprise. Dream had gone back to the cauldron, instead of coming to him like he’d thought. “Wait, maybe it’s not a good idea to have you move around so much in your state.” Despite how quick he was compared to before. Was it the death...?

Does that mean he was in worse shape when you came than he is after dying?
^At least it means he hadn't died for a while
^Which means he was starved.

“No, it’s not.” He answered, a smile in his voice. “Eat them raw. It won’t be the first time, will it?”

It made Techno’s face break into a small grin. How he’d missed that tone!

He bit into his potato. Seeing Dream didn’t have one, he threw the other one his way.

“What are you doing? It’s yours.” The masked man commented, looking at him.

“Don’t you have none?”

“I don’t need to eat.” He deadpanned. “I just died.”

Ah.

“Here.” He threw it back. A little short, but quite strong for his muscle-less arms. The death definitely did some good, as awful as it was to say. “They’re both meant for you anyway. I don’t get any after dying.”

“You don’t?”

“Sam is… very efficient with resources, if you know what I mean.”

“To the point of saving a few potatoes? …But he put so much netherite in his prison?” Techno hit the block he was sitting on to illustrate his point. Dream chuckled a little. “…He doesn’t make any sense, does he?” Techno encouraged.

Techno heard the grin draw itself on his face. Dream let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah!”

The first one in a long while. And certainly not the last.

Awww RivalsDuo
Softnoblade
Awwww, now blood!

_____

“-no! Techno!”

Techno was woken up by someone shaking his shoulders- or more like shaking on his shoulders. Groggy, he opened his eyes to the red glow of the lava.

Hello!
Hi!
Morning stream!
Tired much?

He had talked about farming all day. It was a taxing activity.

The Teletubby whose hands had been fruitlessly applying all their strength to his arms started talking again. “You need to get off the netherite blocks! They’ll rise soon!” Hmm? Techno mindlessly dragged himself towards Dream. Why would- Were they getting visitors?

“Hey, stay near them. You don’t want to be jolted up!” Dream pushed his hands toward the blocks.

Right. The chain.

He didn’t have the time to scoot over before he got pulled up by the pistons pushing the netherite blocks. Well, at least now he was awake- He took a weakness potion in the face.

The great warrior he was crumbled under the effect.

LL
L
That didn’t last long

“Techno!” Dream caught him, trying to guide his head to the floor. Damn, what had they put in there-

-----

Techno woke up again in the tall cold dry cell. Alright, name’s sold. This is now the cold dry cell.

His naming sense didn’t get any better
Welcome back!
How much are we going to have to watch him be unconscious?
Technockedoutblade
^Too long

Honestly, Techno was wondering the same thing. How long had he been unconscious?

1 hour!
1 hour and 14 minutes

Just the length of a splash potion then? Wow, it was an efficient one.

Last time, he was taken out for way longer than that though– Dream had said there having been no second serving of potatoes meant it had been almost nighttime then.

Yesterday, he had gotten back with Dream at 11a.m (according to potato schedule). And he had been knocked out a little after 9 p.m, according to Sam.

The “session” as Dream said had lasted more than 12 hours.

So Techno would probably be here for a while.

12 hours of torture…
Isn’t it boring?
Does Quackity really have that much time? When does he sleep?

What would Quackity do to Dream? What if he cut his limbs? Would they regrow? He had never seen anyone regrow a limb, but at the same time he doubted Quackity wouldn’t have tried.

If he did cut them, it certainly wouldn’t be clean- no, don’t think about that.

What do you want to think about then?

Techno got up. He needed to move. He started pacing. Hmm? There was a weight in his pocket. He fumbled to reach into it – dumb manacles.

It was two potatoes.

Had Dream stuffed these in there while waking him up? How considerate of him.

Techno absentmindedly bit into one. It was hard and tasteless. How had Sam grown these for them all to be so bad?! Techno’s potatoes were a thousand times better, even raw!

That makes a lot of things Sam is bad at
Sam’s no good
Blood!

He angrily mushed the potatoes with his teeth. If only there was lava in this cell. He wasn’t bound to the floor here, so he could’ve cooked them.

Ha, can’t believe he’d gotten to miss lava. He should be happy there wasn’t any, on the contrary.

Haa. There wasn’t anything to do. Guess he’d just train.

-----

Sam came to pick him up a lot earlier than Techno expected. It couldn’t even have been an hour; he hadn’t finished his usual program.

He had barely been allowed to pick up his neatly folded, if torn, dress shirt before being thrown back onto the bridge. By the way, was his cape still in the cell?

F for the cape?
It is, serving as a blood sponge. Hmm, all in all, maybe not too bad a destiny for the Blood god’s cape
F for the shirt

The lava was already lowering. Had Sam hurried because he’d left it to lower?

“Hey, what’s happening?”

“I don’t have time to answer you.” He returned instantly, his tone cold.

“Ookay.” He was definitely in a hurry. Was there an event outside? “Are you pressed for time?”

“That doesn’t concern you.”

“Well, I’d guessed so, but maybe it does Dream. Any warning about what I’m about to find on the other side?”

“I don’t care.” Wow, Sam was violent today. What had happened?

He sent the bridge over so quickly the lava had only barely reached the level of the platform. Damn.

Techno reported his attention onto the cell. That didn’t stop him from catching Sam’s angry mumble. “Who does he think he is, ordering me around?”

Oh-oh, a fight between the two buddies? We’re eating tonight!

Only metaphorically though
Tea?!
Who do you think you are, ordering our Techno around!?

Dream was sitting against the back wall of the cell. He didn’t seem bloody. It would be good news, if it didn’t mean he’d died.

Also, in spite of Techno’s hopes, Sam took the time to come pin his chain down.

No roasted potatoes tonight either.

How utterly tragic
^How tragic indeed

Techno located his cape, stuffed against the wall. He picked it up. It was rumpled, but it miraculously was not bloody.

Truly a miracle, when you look at the state of the cell

Yeah, the same could not be said for the floor. There was a fresh pool of red blood in the center, and some more was sluggishly dripping off the walls and ceilings.

What had Quackity done?

“A grindstone. He brought a grindstone.” Crap, had he said that out loud? Wait, a grindstone?

“What for?”

“He tried to undo the enchants on my mask.” Ah, the thorns that had killed Tommy and then Wilbur. It was truly on his mask then. “And when it didn’t work… Well, you don’t need to know what you can’t guess.”

Wise words
"Don’t traumatize yourself with my trauma" - Dream

...True. What he was imagining was bad enough. It felt callous to ignore it all, though.

He should change the topic. “How come your mask is still intact?” Bad Techno. That’s not a change in subject.

Bad Techno, bad Techno! Bad!
Technobad
Tech! No! Bad! -Phil, probably

“Hmm? I enchanted it myself." Dream said softly, caressing it. "The inscriptions are on the inside, so they can’t be destroyed while I wear it. I put unbreaking 255 on it, so it’s basically unbreakable, especially with thorns VIII on it. It’s got mending, too. Just to flex.” He added. “I have curse of binding IV so it stays with me during and after death, even if in pieces.”

Wow. Techno was blown away. “Isn’t that a bit overkill?”

Damn.
Wow.
That’s a strong World admin for you! Haha.
^You’re joking. No one’s ever seen something like this

Dream sent him the look. “Isn’t it a bit necessary? Do you really think I could’ve kept it on otherwise? In here?”

…There was no need to answer that.

"Why the cracks, though? An esthetic choice? Rocking the prisoner look, by the way."

"Thanks." Dream chuckled. "And no, the white paint just came later. I had never noticed, but seems it doesn't stick well because of that."

Ask him how it’s at all possible!

Alright, only because he was curious himself. “How come you can do all that? Isn’t it hard to create such enchants? And stack them on top of that?”

“Well, I am a strong admin if I do say so myself.” He answered cheekily.

“Ha-ha.”

… It does seem like it
If he did that alone, he’s the strongest admin ever seen!
And it’s even a euphemism!
...There's nowhere he could have bought that, is there.
The understatement of the year goes to… Dream!
But why the cracks?

No, really? That’s enough to justify that? Techno was flabbergasted. Blatant rule breaking, just like that.

Speaking of rules… “How come you could wear that to competitions?”

“I just restricted the targets of the thorns temporarily to pass the tests and during the competition itself.”

“You can do that?”

“I can. Dunno about anyone else, but I can.” Dream was in a joking mood today.

It was nice to see.

-----

This time, Techno had gone to sleep early. And so he was ready for Quackity’s daily visit – how this guy had so much time to invest in this, he wondered.

Dream had pretexted sleepiness to escape his ramblings; Techno was so kind as to save him a bit more time. But he wouldn’t hold back much longer. It was Dream’s last chance to listen to his incredible voice before he got out of prison.

“Incredible voice”
Listen? More like fall asleep to

When he started talking, though, he got thrown a book in the face. It’s crazy how much better Dream had become at throwing things to Techno in such a short time, with the potatoes. Techno didn’t know if he should be offended, he never got very close as a result.

“It’s the info you wanted.” Oh, great! He had finished! Techno was starting to get worried, it was the third day.

Oh, he should probably tell him. “I’ll get you out soon.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“What?”

“Get yourself out first. Take care of yourself.” It was said coldly, but Techno heard it for what it was. Care.

“Aw! You’re so cute when you want to!”

“Shut up.” He said, turning back to the wall. Techno would bet his face was red.

Bet something!
Don’t be like this
I’m taking that bet

Smiling, Techno opened the book. It was filled with notes on the prison’s design, blueprints and drawings of the mechanisms. Even some info about possible loopholes that weren’t accounted for, and theories about what changes Sam had made.

Techno lost himself in reading. He had a limited amount of time, after all.

Let’s see. Dream thought there might be a gap lower than here where mining fatigue was not in effect because there was no room to put an extra Guardi- Phantom.

Ha, he said it!
He was playing with us
ALL THIS TIME

AND – SHUT UP – he thought Sam had a way to see into the cell from the outside? A ‘graphic bug’? What’s that? Is it dangerous?

“Dream, what use are leaves and a composter-”

“It’s a way to exploit our vision to see through walls- ” Dream suddenly turned back around instead of speaking to the obsidian. “They’re coming.”

As previously planned, Techno threw the book to Dream, who slipped it into the chest he was sat on. With how long he took to move forward – feet first, onto the unstable surface of the lectern – and back, he was barely in position when the lava surface became visible.

Behind it, Quackity was smiling with a somber Sam simmering in anger on the side. Try saying that quickly.

Also, Quackity had a saw in his hand.

Whelp. Phil, it’s whenever you want.

Chapter Text

“Uh, Dream? He has a saw.” Techno stage-whispered, without moving his gaze from the threat. A custom weapon. Meaning he shaped it himself without using the crafting system. Just how deeply was Quackity involved in this?

Enough to invest his time into making custom torture tools, apparently
Nah, he probably bought it from somewhere

“I can see that.” Dream replied dully. Was he so shocked he stopped reacting? Techno had to do something.

He ‘saw’ haha
I think he's just tired

“Do you think I can make it fall into the lava?”

“What? No! Why would you even-”

How would you even-
What kind of shitty plan is that
BURN! Blood for the blood god!

“He’s 100% going to cut your limbs with that! And you can’t regrow them, can you?” Regeneration potions could help stick them back on, but the cut had to be clean.

No limbs for the duck!
There’s no way Quackity would cut cleanly, is there?

“I already have.” Techno turned around at the tired tone.

“…You okay, pal?” He asked.

“I’m fine.” Of course. Techno should have expected that answer. “You don’t need to get yourself in trouble for this. Honestly, it’s routine by now.” Techno sighed. This guy could be infuriating.

“This being your definition of routine is worrisome, you know that?”

This = repeatedly losing and regrowing your limbs. Hmm.
Quackity’s timetable = Monday: limbs, Tuesday: limbs, Wednesday: limbs, Thursday: limbs, Friday: limbs, Saturday: limbs, Sunday: Beans.

Dream sighed in turn. “I know, trust me.” Meh. “Do you want to get out of those restraints?” He continued, staring at him with the look.

^“And by now you may have realized that all of this has happened exactly the way it was supposed to.”
Meh indeed.
I don’t believe you~

“What? Well- yes, but what does this have to do with anything?”

“-Then you need to behave yourself, so they lower their guard.”

@ApartmentHobo You got the reference!? Yayyyy
‘Cause that worked so well for you, huh?

“Wait, hey, I’m not sacrificing you so I can get a few more blocks to move around-” Phil would get him out soon anyways. Those restraints wouldn’t block teleportation, would they?

“You’re not. You’ll be way more helpful to me free than not losing my limbs would ever be.” Techno did a double take. He wasn’t touched. He wasn’t. This was sad. “Plus, even if you succeed, it’d barely be for more than a few minutes.” Minutes? Does he mean Techno really couldn’t do anything to even delay that event satisfyingly!? How discouraging.

Don’t deny it, you’re touched. Softnoblade.
‘Ever’, huh?
Techno > having limbs. Everything has been said.
The duck wants a part of the Dream

Should they talk about Dream’s definition of freedom while they were at it? No?

No.
TOO SOON! Too soon
L

“Do you really want me to just… leave you here?” Techno tried to convey that he might not be coming back.

“Yes.” Techno really wasn’t convinced by that plan. But he lost his train of thought when an object passed in front of his eyes; they had run out of time.

“I like what I’m hearing!” Yelled Quackity who had gotten to Dream’s throat the second his pearl landed, having thrown it from the other side of the lowering lava. Techno shot Dream a worried look, to which he got a calm nod in answer.

 “You can’t run away from your problems, not when they have ender pearls” – Technoblade, once

Techno was uneasy. He wanted to do something, yet Dream was right; there was nothing he could do, he realized, as he was effortlessly pulled away by the newly arrived Sam and his strength potion.

In the meantime, Quackity had put his forehead against the top of Dream’s mask, hugging his head and nape in a comforting manner. He talked excitedly, saying he was looking forward to this all day, asking how Dream had been, and completely ignoring Sam’s grumbles in the process.

The only things giving away the true violence of the interaction were the ripples on Dream’s pale skin. “Ready to have some fun with me?”

Techno was repulsed, but it is grudgingly that he turned his back to the scene to get onto the bridge. Sam pinned him to it before teleporting to the other side.

Techno turned and found Quackity sawing Dream’s left arm against the wall. His disgusting words soon covered Dream’s increasingly quiet grunts, that acted like the background music to a gore movie.

Routine, he’d said.

What a way to say hello, yuck!
This is making me sick

It wasn’t clean. Quackity sawed on different parts, at different speeds and angles before deciding to attack right above the elbow. He was still ramming the metal into Dream’s bones when Sam pushed the lever to lower the lava.

Techno’s last vision was of Quackity dragging Dream to the floor by the new stump he’d given him. The shredded arm laid nearby, discarded in a slowly growing pool of blood.

Quackity’s smile was more disturbing than it.

Oooof
What a horrifying sight

A last, raw scream pierced Techno’s heart while getting dragged down the stairs that lead to the lava wall.

He couldn’t help but wonder what had torn such a guttural sound from none other than Dream, who had borne Quackity sawing off his arm in near silence.

-----

Sam came to take Techno out of the dry cold cell what felt like an eternity later. Phil still hadn’t called him back, and Techno was very worried about the state Dream would be in.

There was no way he was fine.

But he will say he is

Thankfully, Techno wasn’t the type to bite his fingernails; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had any left. Just like Dream-

Wait, fingernails? Don’t tell him, Quackity also resorted to that kind of torture? It was quite different for Techno, as his were thicker and the black of his hooves. However, he still didn’t like to imagine what getting them pulled out would feel like. Techno shivered.

Especially with Quackity’s tendencies to be messy he’d noticed, oh god-

Yuck
I’m cringing from the mere thought

Sam opened the door. He tore the chain from the floor – this time, he’d thought to restrain Techno, even in this cell. He then pulled him out, without a word.

Okay, it was now or never. “Do you really allow Quackity to 'damage' your prisoner that much?” Techno asked immediately, following the warden’s brisk pace to walk alongside him.

When he received no answer, he moved on to his next interrogation. “Why the chain? I’m not going to flee, you know? It’d be kinda hard, from what I see.” That was a lie. He was Technoblade, after all.

I think it’s more of a safety measure for the visitors
^I think he knows that
Gasp! He’s lying about lying now!

Not a single reaction from the creep. Huh, creeper. They reached the antechamber. Sam activated the lever that would splash him with water breathing.

Hmmmm, suspicious
I mean, it suits him, especially if Dream is right and he watches the inside of the cell with a glitch continuously

No comment.

Time to switch strategies. “You don’t think he’ll regenerate from the pieces, and it’ll make more Dreams?”

“What?” Sam said, shocked out of his silence by the absurdity of the sentence, probably.

It’d be funny if it became true.
Pfff
What if he thinks it’ll happen?
^In that case, Techno will have freed Dream from that part of the torture

“Ah, see? You do have a tongue! Anyway, why raw potatoes? Only two, by the way?” Techno asked, as Sam followed him through the one by one water tunnel.

He got no answer, so he assumed he wasn't heard. He repeated his question as Sam splashed him with fire resistance for crossing the lava hallway.

“You should be thankful for what you have.” The warden slowly articulated, his tone somber.

“Hmm.” Sam pinned him to the first bridge and launched him through. Techno was left thinking with the flying machine noises covering chat.

Would Sam dare take away all food sources? He’d done it for Dream before. Couldn't he give something at least a bit better? Those raw potatoes were as awful as raw potatoes go. Or maybe he didn't know how to grow them?

Techno passed through the second lava curtain, finding Sam right behind it. Techno addressed him.

“Just a piece of advice. Grow these in the sun, without bonemeal preferably.” Sam groaned. “Don’t plant them too far from water and don’t let weeds-”

Blood.

It was coming from atop the stairs. Techno followed Sam up, seeing the lava surface had already lowered enough to see the cell.

Techno strained his eyes as Sam pinned his chain to the bridge. And there, he caught sight of something. Something worrisome.

Sam returned to his levers with a breath of relief, but Techno was fixated on the object, situated right in front of the netherite blocks, which were dripping with blood.

Blood.

It was a mangled leg, bandages dyed a characteristic red. Cut in the middle of the femur. Techno’s pupils shook.

Urgh! Be right back- *vomits*
Ooof, that gotta have hurt
Does that mean Dream hasn’t died yet?
^Not necessarily. Cut limbs don’t disappear like corpses do.

Techno stood on the front of the bridge as it moved. “Dream?” He called. Nothing.

Sam teleported to be ready to receive him on the other side, deliberately ignoring the bloody mess beside him. In the blink of an eye, he had pinned Techno to the netherite blocks. He was gone before they even lowered.

Sam’s getting better at this.
^Not sure it’s a good thing
^Pretty sure it’s not, actually
L

Techno inspected the cell. He noticed he’d been stuck closer to the center of the cell this time.

There were new splashes of blood drying all around. The arm from earlier wasn’t in its – now barely distinguishable – puddle though. Techno didn’t see Dream either.

The netherite retracted into the floor. And there he was, rolled in fetal position right in front of Techno. “Dream!” He kneeled, hands shaking as he took in the damage.

A cut leg was lying perpendicular on Dream’s attached one. He hadn’t even shaken it off. His right forearm was but a stump from the elbow on. His left shoulder was roughly sewn to the fingers of the rest of the limb it should be connected to. His throat was the deep purple of all the terrible bruises covering his body.

Blood. Techno pushed his nose plugs further into his nostrils to block the smell. He needed to focus.

Isn’t that one too many legs?
This is… dehumanizing
Oh my god
L for the limbs

Techno didn’t know where to start. Dream wasn’t moving; when he checked, he noticed a quick heartbeat. He was still alive, if probably anemic.

I think that’s the least of his problems
He’d be better off dead at this point

At the very least, Dream seemed to be under the influence of a regeneration potion; the bruises were visibly lightening, turning yellow.

Techno decided to tackle that first issue and reached down to tear some of his pants to use as bandages. However, the cloth was sturdy, and with his moist palms, he kept slipping on it.

Calm down, he’ll be fine
L
L
L
Let me guess: it’s because of the heat?

Focused on it as he was, he flinched when Dream’s right stump landed on his hand, spreading blood on it. He looked up to Dream staring straight at him, straining to raise his head.

“D- Dream?” Techno called. He extended a trembling hand towards his mask, slowly. “Are you- Are you okay?” Dream watched it intently. He shuddered away when Techno’s fingers touched his nape. He still lowered his head on Techno’s frozen hand again; he flinched back, and gave up with a sigh, letting his head violently fall back to the floor.

Contact was hard it seemed. Techno didn’t blame him.

Touch-starved + torture?
Poor guy seems to want it, too
L
Techno’s shaken?

“I need to die.” Dream said quietly. Techno barely had the time to register the sentence that Dream had started hammering his healing stub on the hot and rough obsidian. In that manner, it accentuated the bleeding instead of cauterizing the wound.

“What- What are you doing?!” Techno moved to stop Dream by reflex. He barely remembered he shouldn’t touch him at the last moment; Dream still violently winced, and Techno cringed. “Sorry-”

“It’s fine.” Dream cut him. Always fine, was he?

I wanna cry

“I need to reopen my wounds and bleed out.” He continued. “So I can be completely healed through respawning.” He explained, while continuing to calmly mash his flesh into the ground. It was surreal.

Techno decided to disregard his current emotions to first try to understand. “Why?” He croaked. “Doesn’t death just heal every- everything?” His voice failed him. Stupid lump in throat.

Stupid
That’s why writing is great. Ya don’t hear my ugly crying

“It heals the cause of death.” Dream’s voice being that monotonous was making cold sweat drip down Techno’s spine. “Usually, one dies of something that is identified as partly blood loss, so any bleeding or internal wound gets healed. But if you die of hunger despite being hurt, or if a wound has already scabbed over by the time you die, it doesn’t heal.”

A question was burning Techno’s tongue. Dream answered it without Techno having to voice it. “It benefits of the small metabolism acceleration after respawning. But that’s not able to regrow limbs. Hence why I am reopening my wounds while fighting the regeneration.”

All of a sudden, Dream brought his left arm to his mouth, and ripped one of the fingers sewn to it in one movement. Techno winced, but Dream ripped one after the other without stopping. They had started to fuse with his stump because of the healing potion, so Techno understood it was necessary. Really, he did.

He'd really prefer it to not be though.

Can’t blame you
I think I’d prefer not to know about it
I don’t see anything! Anything! At all!

Having finished with the arms, Dream started on his legs. Techno felt dumb, just sitting there watching. He wanted to offer his help, and at the same time, he didn’t. His gaze was blank as he stared through Dream’s left “leg” he was tugging at. Had it fused with the right one it was placed on?

Damn.

He was so going to kill Quackity. Painfully. Sam too.

Blood for the blood god!
BLOOD
Make him pay!

Sadly, it wouldn’t be possible for a while yet. Unless Phil hurried up.

It’s already been more than three days though

Dream seemed to have trouble getting rid of the extra appendage fixed on his. “Do you, huh, want help?” Techno finally managed to ask.

Dream was startled by the sound, like he’d forgotten Techno was even there. He eyed him for a second. He seemed to hesitate. “Hum, can you… maybe find me a good- um, shard of obsidian?” He said uncertainly.

This is so awkward!

Techno felt relieved he wasn’t asked to pull on the limb; yet he felt guilty about it. He turned away from the wet sounds of Dream harming himself to inspect the floor.

Thud. Splish. Thud.. Splish

When he lifted his head again, it was to find Dream had slowed down. He was hitting his right arm anew; right, if the regeneration was still in effect, and it was, it would close the wounds he’d so painfully reopened. Techno hurried, hitting the floor with his fists to release the shard he’d picked.

His tough piglin skin allowed him to avoid cutting himself, and before long, he had gotten out a sharp bit the length of his palms. He handed it to Dream, who tried to bring it to his mask.

Techno didn’t let him. “You want to- separate this, right?” He asked, taking the shard firmly in hand. “I can do it, if you want.” He offered.

Dream seemed reluctant to accept. In the end, he shook his head. “I wouldn’t- I mean I-” He tried.

“You don’t have to justify yourself.” Yeah, on second thought Techno could see where the problem laid in him doing it. So instead, he brought the shard to Dream’s mask and to his surprise, Dream caught it half-way through it. Was that what it looked like when he bit into something? ...But Techno hadn’t cleaned it! Not like he could’ve, but still.

Dream curled like a cat to reach his leg with his mouth, and started slashing the skin. He wasn’t very precise, and the shard wasn’t regular, so it created a lot of small holes he then tore through. His back was trembling under the effort.

Techno stopped watching early on. The sight made him shudder.

It took Dream a few awfully long minutes to finish. Once he did, Techno picked up the arm and leg – the way they were slack and slippery, easily compressed, disgusted him – and threw them towards the lava. He turned away without looking at where they landed; they made his skin crawl.

Without those extra limbs, Dream only had one leg left. He looked so small like that, and he already was too light before. He was regularly hitting his limbs to accelerate the blood loss; it seemed that the regeneration he was given was particularly good for recovering blood, which was forcing Dream to worsen his wounds to guarantee he’d die.

Curse you, Quackity.

“You don’t- have to watch…” Dream murmured. Techno nodded and turned to the side.

Yes, go to ****, Quackity! You *** of a *****, ************* dumb ***** unworthy of the title of a****, you inhuman ****!
^The “nooooooooo” guy??
^He’s joining the dark side!

Wow. And they say he swears a lot? Haha.

Even Dadza’s not at this level
“I try to be kind, but everyone is just too evil”- “nooooooooo” guy, probably
^Do you not know of any other jokes?

Quotes are good jokes.

“Quotes are good jokes – Technoblade” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Blood for the blood god” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Pff. Who is this guy even?

“Less of a legend than you.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Can people stop quoting me for things I didn’t say?” – Sun Tzu, if he was alive today, The Art of War
No contestant of yours, no worries

You don’t help.

Of course we don’t!
^Traitor.
Ya don’t need to know us *ominous hand movements*

No but really, who are you guys?

…
How to explain…?
Ask Dream *vanishes*
… Okay, now he’s looking for distractions

Nooooooo, what are you talking about.

He IS!
LOL
Dream died, it’s all good *Thumbs up*

Techno risked turning his head. It was still strange that chat heard his environment better than himself, when they were the cause of so much ruckus. Dream had indeed stopped moving; he checked: no pulse.

Techno felt bad for letting it happen, not even watching. He felt even worse that this was part of Dream’s routine.

Techno might have to get used to it so he could be of help next time it happened.

Because there would be a next time, wouldn’t there be?

Flattened ears Techno! You better run!

-----

It took a few minutes for Dream’s body to start fading. As expected, the cut off limbs remained where Techno had thrown them, near the lava.

He was regretting not having used more force; they were out of his reach now, unless he wanted to push them off with his hooves. He preferred to put his efforts into reaching his cape that was stuffed under the cauldron, a few blocks away.

You look ridiculous, stretched across the ground like that
You do know Dream’s gonna come back any second now?
^Wait, wasn't he supposed to take a while to respawn?

Splash. Speaking of.

“Hullo.” Techno greeted. Dream got out of the water by tilting over the edge. He seemed to have healed nicely, although he was once again covered in the beaten up orange insult to good looks.

Limmmmmbsssssss
It’s called a prison uniform

Dream then looked at Techno for a beat. “…What are you doing?”

“Reaching for my cape.”

“Wha-” Techno illustrated his point by trying to pull on the cape with his hooves. Dream sighed. “Let me help.” He started walking on all fours – first, limbs, yayyyy, and second, wow, progress! – and meticulously took out the cape he handed back to Techno.

“Thanks.” Techno turned to lie it down on a dry part of the floor.

“How long was I- you know.” Dream asked quietly, not looking into his eyes.

“Hmm, about five minutes or so?”

Yeah, that sounds right
It felt longer since you were being an idiot
That’s way less than the twelve hours Sam had said!

That reminded him, Dream had necessarily died in the first session as well, but it had barely spanned twelve hours itself. Had that issue been resolved?

“Seems like the world is dealing with the parasite well.” Dream thought out loud with a relieved breath as he headed to the lava, passing the closest to Techno he’d ever gone since they were here.

And he noticed that?
^But not the feet?
Techno’s getting desperate too!

“Say, Dream, what even is a ‘parasite’?”

Dream stopped in the process of picking up the leg in front of him. “Hum, first, do you want to eat some of… it?” He asked, pointing at his cut off limbs.

“Ha? Wha- No! I’d rather die than- well maybe not, but in any case, no, ew!” Techno stammered.

“Okay.” Was Dream’s calm answer. Techno didn’t manage to read the emotion in his tone. Was it relief? Worry? Disappointment? He didn’t know.

Dream then proceeded to push the arm off into the lava before bringing the legs with him to the right corner of the cell, where he settled and started undoing the bloody bandages on them. “…You’re really gonna reuse those?”

“It’s easier if I do.”

That’s when Techno noticed the black crack-like marks on his roommate’s soles. …Were those scars from the poison?

“Quackity doesn’t like to see them.” Dream commented, like he’d read his mind. He didn’t continue, but Techno could guess what happened when the duck did see them.

Anger rose underneath his skin. The shear hypocrisy of that man-

Blood for the blood god!
BLOOD!
Blood! Blood! Blood!

-but he couldn’t do anything right now. His end would be terrible; for now Techno calmed down, staring at Dream sadly. He’d get his revenge for him. With him, preferably. 

“Who do you think you’re looking at like that?” Dream said, voice arrogant, without averting his gaze from his task. Was he trying to lighten the mood?

When it only made Techno sadder, he changed the subject. “Anyway, about parasites. They are beings of the void. They’re the only ones able to travel through it, from world to world.

"Not much is known about them; they can take a variety of forms. This one is an egg it seems.

"One characteristic of parasites is their impressive ability to spread through a variety of methods. There exists lots of different... ‘strategies’, beings classified as parasites can use, from manipulating players to creating new dimensions to conquer before spreading to the main world. But whatever the case, their ‘goal’ is always to replace the World conscience.” Dream pushed the leg he’d uncovered into the lava, watching it get dragged underneath the cell by the weight of the molten stone. He picked up the second one.

“The main theory currently is that parasites are World consciences who failed to accumulate the necessary imbalance to be reborn through a Big Bang, because they died early. Therefore, they roam the void between Worlds, searching for a second chance by stealing the body of another World, ‘killing’ them.”

“Wait, wait, wait. ‘Necessary imbalance’? And you can kill a World?” That’s new.

“We say ‘kill’ but it’s more like- like replacing the World conscience by another one? It’s hard to qualify that as a death though because it doesn’t physically affect a World admin at first. It’s just that parasites have pretty much all developed an ability to control the World admin of the World they possess.”

Hum, sorry what? They can control a World admin? Then what about Dream!? Isn’t his World in the process of being overtaken by a parasite!?

“As for the imbalance, how to explain… The Worlds we players have access to are large agglomerations of matter, almost infinite ones. They basically regroup a universe by themselves, if we include the stars around, that are not that far – they’re all at the same distance of the surface, by the way. To create a Big Bang, a World, in the full definition of the term, just needs to crumble on itself.

"The problem is that they have reached an equilibrium; without a perturbation of great enough magnitude, they won’t crumble to start their life cycle. That’s why the majority of ‘new’ Worlds have developed a World conscience, whose goal is to bring just enough attention from us players.

"Players are the only beings able to bring a perturbation to the World; player influence is in the end, the only reason a World can crumble.
But it also delays such an event, which is useful in the beginning, but has an adverse effect once the World is ‘ready’. That’s why most servers are small ones; big servers tend to have trouble closing, like Hypixel, which is pretty much held hostage by its players, or rather, the ones watching over them.” Dream concluded, throwing the second leg into the lava.

“The ones watching over them?” Gods?

“People like your chat.” Ha? You all have such power?

We do? No, I mean, we totally do!
Bow before us, humans!
Does the numeric have that much power?

The hell? “I have so many questions.”

“Then go ahead. We have got time to chat, if nothing else, I believe.”

And so they chatted.

-----

What happened? I couldn’t be here for the last two hours

“I think Phil can’t read.”

Dream hummed from next to the right wall. They were currently lying down next to one another. Well, five blocks apart.

“I wrote to get me out in three days, but it’s been three days. And I’m still here.”

He read three months
Why did you use ancient tongue if he can’t read???
@TimeTM Dream taught Techno about how we’re the superior beings and they just live on our digital waste they turn into new universes. He also categorically refuted being affected by the parasite but didn’t have any good arguments (rather he just kept contradicting himself). …What else?

Chat, he hadn’t said it like that-

“Wait, you mean you don’t have a way out of here anymore!?” Dream pushed himself on his left arm to get a better look at Techno, effectively distracting him from his chat.

“Nah, calm down. Phil’ll get himself together. He got the message, so he knows where I am. He’ll get me out eventually.”

@TimeTM Right, we also learned that the SMP seems to be holding up well against the parasite for now, and that it could endure for about a few months. Oh, and Worlds are suicidal.

Dream sighed. “You do know he’s very old?”

“Yeah. A few centuries?”

“Closer to a millennium.”

Damn
Great-great-great-great…great-great-grandDadza?
Thanks!

“That old?”

“A few days is very short to him. Since you haven’t been with him for that long, he shouldn’t take more than a year, but we just said that won’t do. You do know you’re my only way out of here?”

Once again, given we exclude the option of the world just blowing up the entire spawn area to get you out

“I know. Chat said he read three months tho.”

“Oh. Then three months it is.” He said, sounding exhausted, as he settled back onto the floor. Dream sighed.

“We’ll be best friends by the end of this!”

Dream chuckled quietly. “How could he read months in place of days?”

“Dunno. I used ancient tongue, so maybe he confused the symbols?”

“You sure you’re not the one who did? What’s the symbol for days?”

“A circle for the sun doing half a circle? Wait, you know ancient tongue?”

“I’m an admin.” He deadpanned. “And that symbol uses the moon; it is the symbol for month." He brushed his face, irritated. "Days are two circles linked around a full one to represent the day-night cycle.” He said tiredly, like he’d seen it coming.

“Oh. Oops?”

Dream let out an exasperated breath and pinched his nose through his mask. “At least now we’re sure it’ll be three months.”

Sorry Phil, for saying you can’t read, when it’s just Techno who can’t write

Entry n°140
Thought to be the 24^th of August 2021

Quackity brought back the saw. For some reason, I feel like he’s using a lot of the flashier stuff still, despite me screaming whatever he does – when I remember to. First a grindstone, now the saw. Plus, he cut all my limbs multiple times. He even left not only the legs but an arm, too. He seems to have taken a liking to directly stimulating nerves as well.

The fact he sewed my arm wrong, since it wasn’t so much painful as it was disgusting, makes me think he wanted to get to Techno through this session. And it worked.

He looked at me with such sadness. I fear Techno will do me a Wilbur. I really hope he wants to live enough not to. I should strive to keep him from such sights in the future.

It’s inconvenient how I can’t think when I let myself be overwhelmed by the pain. I should have stopped Quackity from doing this.

For now, I’m passing down to Techno my knowledge about Worlds and everything. The parallels are bothering me. I don’t want Techno to end up like me.

Apparently, Techno wrote to Phil to get him out in three months. Three months… It’ll be hard to protect him for so long. But I’ll do it.

I had forgotten what it was like to be with a friend. I’m just so mad I can’t bear his touch at all. Why do I have to be robbed of that as well? And why only now? It didn’t happen before!

I really hope Techno won’t leave me early. It’ll be hard enough to let him go when the time comes.

Chapter Text

Entry n°141
Thought to be the 25th of August 2021

Sam must have messed something up; instead of getting two potatoes twice, we got them one at a time, like he just got rid of the T-flipflop. In any case, I can’t believe Techno’s luck; he didn’t get a single poisoned potato since those first ones I gave him the steak in exchange of.

I burned two while trying to roast them. This is overworld lava that has been recycling its heat for months, so to cook the potatoes, we have to hold them extremely close to it, but my hands tremble too much from the lack of vitamins, and Techno’s still chained. He said he doesn’t resent me; however, I couldn’t even look at him in the eyes.

I resolved not to try again, unless we get poisoned potatoes.

Sam took Techno out like it is a chore. He doesn’t seem to like the deal I made with Quackity; I may have to add some benefits for him so he lets it be. Maybe spells? But they don’t seem to know how powerful I am as a World Admin.

-

I tried to get Quackity to talk a bit. If he is as sincere as he sounds, they think I’m trash as a World Admin. I mean, with the status of my link with the World, I can’t really prove it, but I’m plenty powerful.

So that’s one thing I hold over their head.

Now that his little ruse trying to crush me with how I felt superior despite being played – still can’t believe I didn’t see it coming, it has happened twice now – is out, Quackity can’t stop bragging about his “great plan”. He talks of breaking me all the time, it’s tiresome. Makes me wish I could sleep during the session.

When is he going to realize it’s just not going to happen like that? Not now that I have someone to protect again, and especially not with the parasite in the wild.

_____

Dream watched Sam take the bridge back out of the cell. When he confirmed he was out of hearing range, he turned back to the elephant in the room.

“… Why are you topless?”

“Didn’t have the time to put my shirt back on.” Techno justified, passing said dress shirt over his arms. The garment was rumpled and incredibly white for a shirt worn almost nonstop for five taxing days. “Sam gets pricklier from day to day; I barely had the time to pick it up.”

Dream’s gaze unfocused. The warden being in a bad mood was a big deal. He didn’t use to get crueler, yet he tended to get more negligent in these situations. And Corpse knew how bad that was.

Techno noticed Dream staring. “What? Jealous of these fine abs?” He teased, highlighting said well-defined muscles with his hand.

They were just normal piglin brute attributes. Dream’s wouldn’t have paled before them just a few months ago; he was in great shape among humans, and even more so if you only compared him to other avians, thank you very much. No, Dream wasn’t jealous of that. Nostalgic, maybe.

When Dream turned his head away to show he was wronged, Techno chuckled and finished dressing back up. It was truly a blessing that his shirt was buttoned on the front. Through some awkward hand movements, he could almost entirely close it despite the manacles, although sadly, he’d still had to rip the inside of the sleeves all the way up to his torso, with the pockets’ flaps’ fabric protecting his privacy. In the end, it wasn’t much of an issue, as it was hot in here, but it did give him somewhat of a rugged look.

Techno left Dream alone while he reinstalled his cape underneath him. Dream had put it away in the chest to protect it from getting stained; it had been a good choice, as today had been particularly bloody. Quackity had decided to renew the ceiling’s blood, for no particular reason – it wasn’t time yet – and, of course, without falling so low as to spread it himself.

So yeah. Particularly bloody. Thankfully, for lack of inspiration, the session hadn’t lasted as long, and the blood had time to merge with the previous layer before Sam brought Techno back.

Looking on with envy at Techno creating a small almost nest-like structure of soft cloth, Dream recalled his first few weeks here, when he still wore his hoodie.

He smiled at the memory of Sam’s face the day he’d gone on clothing strike. How being chased while butt-naked, threatened to put his uniform on, had almost felt like playing with friends. Almost.

Dream’s smile faded.

No, Dream wasn’t jealous of Techno’s build.

…He was jealous of his ability to take off his clothes, though.

Entry n°142
Thought to be the 26th of August 2021

Again, no poisoned potatoes. I’m not complaining. It’s just getting unbearable to look at Techno eating when my own stomach is empty. It’s not painful; yet it still feels worse than that day.

Today’s session was just pure bloodshed. Quackity wasn’t inspired, so he just put the tubes in my carotids and sprayed the ceiling that way. I don’t like this method, it’s uncomfortable, but since it’s quicker than the whip, I cooperated. Of course, Quackity didn’t forgo having his fun for the sake of efficiency. He likes betting with the air on where I am going to fall from the vertigo. Except he added dripstone into the mix this time.

As a result, it took longer. All in all, I think I’m rather going to vomit if I see Techno eat anytime soon.

Too much gutting does that to somebody, I guess.

-

Techno came back shirtless. It was funny how he accused me of being jealous of his abs.

…I find myself missing my green hoodie. And a nest. Or maybe just any not cursed clothes. It’s true I felt pathetic trying to live with those before Techno’s arrival, but I hadn’t felt it as I am now. At least I don’t have to humiliate myself in front of him as long as I die regularly.

Never thought I’d feel that thankful for Quackity killing me. How low have I fallen? After missing his visits, now I am grateful for being pushed to suicide multiple times a day? I feel like my standards have drastically lowered, again.

No, that’s not true. I know they have. I just I don’t have the courage to rise them back up. I can’t go hating Quackity and Sam now, can I? They are right to treat me as they are. I don’t deserve any better.

My first thought being of hating them as a way to redeem myself just emphasizes that.

Plus, I managed to get the entire server to hate me so, and it was on purpose. I am worse than Wilbur, worse than Schlatt.

More than that, I killed Tommy, hurt Tommy, hurt Ghostbur and led a reformed Wilbur to his death.

Feels good to write it again. Prevents me from getting unjustly angry. I think I’ll write it more often, it seems more efficient than rereading my reminder book.

__________

Entry n°143
Thought to be the 27th of August 2021

I tried sitting next to the cauldron while Techno was sleeping in the middle of the cell. I thought it’d be easy, yet feeling the warmth from his 42°C skin from a distance is enough to make me jittery. This is frustrating.

Also, once again, four non-poisoned potatoes. No, the poison I got from Quackity; he tried a few different brews on me. Some were even tasty! Overall, today was but a mild acting session. I’m a pro at this, it was no bother. I might even say it was fun.

I listened to Techno describing his home in the Tundra. He complained about his crops not growing; apparently, I just taught him that Tundras are dry biomes. I want to facepalm.

__________

Entry n°144
Thought to be the 28th of August 2021

According to Techno, the quality of the potatoes has improved. He was all happy and forgot I didn’t need to eat, and I took advantage of that to try a bite before he remembered. I feel guilty, so I’m writing it here. It still felt good to truly eat with him for once though. They’re still bland to me compared to the poison, but I get where he’s coming from. According to him, this is entirely due to Sam following his advice on potato farming.

It was funny watching Techno annoy Sam by bragging endlessly. Since he also complimented him quite well, I let it be. Maybe we’ll get to keep such quality of life in the future.

-

Quackity tried something different today. He just doused me from head to toe in some kind of green mash. It must have been made from that rainforest plant that’s way worse than nettle. And he just watched me tear away at my skin for hours on end, adding more when “needed”. I can’t even train for this!

Worse, he timed his exit so that I hadn’t died again when Techno came. I managed to clear the remains of flesh in the cell, but this is horrible. I’m still itching like crazy. I can’t show such a sorry sight to Techno; the risk he’ll do a Wilbur would rise too much. In the end, I chose to entirely split my mind from my body until Techno gave up and stopped looking.

I had to wait until he started snoring to quietly throw myself into the lava. Despite that, I feel like my skin still itches.

I must say, this is among the worse if not the worst Quackity’s done. He’s starting to use the person I protect in earnest.

It’s worrisome.

_____

Entry n°145
Thought to be the 29th of August 2021

Techno is unusually quiet this morning. I fear he’s caught onto something.

-

False alarm. He’s just exhausted by the heat, and chat doesn’t help. Right, he should sleep more. He’s going back to the rhythm of our ancestors, twelve hours of activity/twelve hours of sleep, that’ll allow him to sustain the irregular temperatures he’s exposed to. He may be a piglin hybrid, but these conditions are not the Nether’s. The bad food source doesn’t help.

It’s kind of sad I’ll go back to being alone most of the time, since Quackity’s sessions happen during his active hours, but he needs it. His simple presence should satisfy me.

Quackity tried dissecting me today. He took a liking to inserting things in the virtual cavities of my body. And leaving them there, naturally. The worst was when he separated the pleural sheets of my lungs and I suffocated to death. The feeling of my lungs all shriveled up like that… He’s getting better. Seeing how my lungs had a weird color, he decided to come back with tools to extract them tomorrow. Well, he won't find anything if he does, since I'd die.

Of course, he left some things in my body. Big things that didn’t kill me, in wounds sealed by a death through blood loss. He’s getting cunning. It’s extremely uncomfortable, and I don’t trust myself not to wake up Techno, so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow, at least.

Sam fixed the dispenser system. We get potatoes two by two at the usual hours. Or he did it manually, but I don’t think that’s the case; the timing between him leaving and the potatoes wasn’t right.

_____

Entry n°146
Thought to be the 30th of August 2021

Quackity continued his dissecting spree; this time, he uncovered my heart, using his saw to get rid of my sternum. He was puzzled before its poisoned state; I thought it’d garner me pity, shock, or even just questions. All I got was more demeaning comments.

In Quackity’s eyes, I am now a monster for real. Not even one hiding in a human body, he said. He took away my tag. My name is now only written in my books. I’ll forget it for sure if it’s like that…

Quackity took advantage of this to explore the state of my lungs. They deteriorated. Not only are the lower lobes affected, but the entire left lung’s circulatory system is black, and up to the middle lobe of the right lung is dyed the same way.

It’s a wonder I can still breathe. There’s even a possibility the torture is delaying the progression of the poison. I might just die if it stops.

The only good thing about this new tendency of Quackity's is that he doesn’t want me screaming while he opens me up. So I can rest during it. Not that I particularly want to, with his hands in my organs.

Techno got terribly angry when he got back. Quackity was still teaching me about how monstruous I am to have a truly blackened heart; Techno managed to get a punch in thanks to his arrogance. I don’t think he understood what Quackity was talking about.

Still, it shouldn’t have been as satisfying as it was. I talked Techno down afterwards, and I managed to restore Quackity’s pride enough Techno didn’t get further restrictions, but it was a close call. I had to apologize to Techno for saying Quackity had gotten him to lower himself to be as feral as an animal.

Techno only acquiesced silently. His sorry gaze makes me think he just understood what I’ve had to do to be as free as I am, and for him to be as free as he is. I tried to defend myself, but I only worsened the situation, I think.
I don’t like it. Should I directly warn him not to do a Wilbur?

*_*_*_*_*

“…What are you reading?” Dream asked from next to the cauldron. He must have just woken up.

Or maybe he’s been watching you ever since you picked up that book

Techno closed the book he was reading next to the lava instantly, like he’d been caught red-handed. He might have been.

He smoothed down the frown that had drawn itself on his face as he devoured it.

“A story.”

Dream must have written it. He would know what he was talking about.

I’m crying
There’s much more to it than that, we all know it

“Which one?”

Techno’s thoughts went back to the book.

The book was about a man who lived the same day again and again, except no one was around him. There were no mirrors, no up, no down, nothing to do, where he was. The sky seemed to change position from time to time. Sometimes he was leaning against it; sometimes it was so high he couldn’t reach it. Other times he sat on it. But it never brought any light.

The food was always the same; he didn’t age, and the food never changed. Whatever he did, the pattern of food distribution would always adapt the same way from one day to another. The people behind it never changed tactics, they never got annoyed. The man came to think there was no one outside.

If he looked at the sky, the weather never changed. Always the same spotless blue sky. And so the man supposed time didn’t pass. That he was stuck on the same day.

The man forgot his own name before his friends’. He didn’t remember much from before here. In the end, he came to think there never was a before, that he never had a name.

The man had tried to escape; the world couldn’t be that small, could it? Yet the walls never kept any trace of his small struggles. They stayed the same, whatever he did with his permanently exhausted body. Not even marking it sticked. The man concluded time didn’t pass.

Once, the ground shook. A side of his world fell, but the outside was just too bright. He found himself back in the same place. So, he concluded there was no outside, and if there was, he’d get back here everyday in any case.

He didn’t know why, but the man didn’t want to escape anymore. All he wanted was rest. Time repeating only meant more time for him to rest.

He didn’t feel bored; he didn’t feel hungry, nor thirsty; he didn’t feel like changing. He didn’t feel anything.

The conclusion of the story was that time hadn’t stopped. The man was in a cell; he had no way of knowing, his body didn’t age, but decades had passed. He couldn’t feel it, just as much as he couldn’t feel the sky. He couldn’t see it, just as much as he couldn’t see outside.

What he thought was the sky was but a map. A map his captor moved around to test him.

The food was always the same goo, the only thing the man’s defective digestive system could endure. He had no need to defecate, because there was nothing in the goo for him to expulse. He only felt like peeing once a day, because his water intake was micro-managed.

Everything, in the man’s thoughts, body and desires, made him inhuman. And that was why specimen WS001 was in a cell, according to his documents. He was studied for how he turned that way despite his genes being ‘normal’.

In the end, the one who wasn’t acknowledged as a human had fallen into a coma, immediately after his cell had been opened by his rescuers; his body and mind couldn’t bear the change in environment.

He himself didn’t even realize it. Because in the only world he knew, in his paradise, he was in a small dark room in which the sky moved, and goo was served twice a day.

It’s such a sad story!

It was well-written, if terribly angsty, with the added detail that the man kept dreaming of the same prison while in a coma. A single question burned Techno’s lips however: Was that how Dream saw his fate in this cell?

“The story about the man that is not a man.” He described.

“Oh.” As expected, Dream knew it. It added to Techno's suspicion that he didn't argue against his description. The Teletubby lowered his head. “Can you give it to me?”

It’s a trap-

Puzzled, Techno tossed him the book. Dream picked it up from the ground – if he’d gotten better at throwing, it wasn’t the same when it came to catching. He turned a few pages, then suddenly, sent it flying into the lava with one wrist movement.

Techno was bewildered. “I should have burned this one sooner.” Dream commented, completely detached.

“But it was good!” Techno shouted, dismayed. He hadn’t finished rereading in between the lines!

His inner English major is resurfacing!
No, Techno, you quit college, remember?

While Techno was wondering what the hell chat was talking about, the masked man just stared at the lava, letting the silence stretch in between them.

“…Dream, I have to ask, is that… how you thought this would end up?”

“Hm? No, of course not.” Techno wanted to let out a breath of relief. He got unnecessarily worried. “In this story, the man dies, doesn’t he? That won’t happen for me.”

Techno tensed. ‘For me’? “What do you mean by that?” Wouldn’t he permanently die of old age, at the very least?

Dream sounded surprised. “Don’t you know? All World admin deaths are suicides.”

“All, as in 100%?” It is strange, but Techno didn’t get why he brought that up. Didn’t Dream commit suicide for every death down here? He’d said Quackity was careful; he always made him kill himself so that it’d never count as a canon death.

Ha? Why would suicide of all causes of deaths get you resurrected in this world? Isn’t that cruel!?

Hm? Ah, it’s because the system doesn’t differentiate between deaths brought upon themselves by the players and the deaths actually desired by the players. So, running out of fire resistance while swimming in lava counted as suicide as much as throwing oneself in it with the desire to die did. Battling mobs counted, too.

Lol, of course that’s the examples that come to mind
LUL
Eh, makes sense
Does that mean dying to a creeper by accident is counted as suicide?
^I mean, one did put themselves where there could be creepers, no?
^Meh, they’re everywhere 0-0 *flashbacks*

A bit twisted, yes. That made him wonder, why was it like that? He was sure he’d asked that question before, but he couldn’t remember the answer.

Does that mean Philza’s death by baby zombie in your hardcore world would have been said to be suicide???
^He was more at risk from the fire aspect of his own sword, so yes, no need to think deeply about it
Everything is suicide then? Doesn’t that mean the percentage of deaths by suicide would be very high in the population regardless?

“Yeah. A World admin can’t die on their World, at least, not soon enough. They have to go commit suicide on another World.” Techno didn’t know they were such sad existences. Immortal until they couldn’t bear living anymore. Yet Techno was more worried about something else.

“Didn’t you say the SMP will die in a few months?” If the world died, wouldn’t Dream follow?

It felt strange to seek a way for him to die. Techno didn’t want that, but he could understand it was an important escape to have.

“No. The World won’t die. It’ll be taken over by a parasite.”

“Isn’t that the same? Won’t the parasite kill you?”

“It can’t reach me down here, even if it wanted to. And it won’t kill the World. Meaning I will survive, down here, with no food, pretty much forever, since this world will get abandoned. Unless I go out, of course, but I don’t have the courage to do so on my own, especially knowing all it could achieve is getting stuck, dragged by my own body, unable to do something as simple as lose consciousness, until this World can finally collapse – and remember, it takes millennia for the best of similar shaped Worlds.” He said, barely pausing to take a breath on the last sentence. He didn’t seem to like talking about it.

Dream looked directly into Techno’s eyes. “I’m too much of a coward to give myself out while I’m still sane enough to do so.” He stated.

Is that what a coward is? I’m not so sure
Scared to give yourself over to the murderer of your World?
Understandable, have a good day
Wait, “to do so”?
Coward! Coward! Dream doesn’t want to live, is that it!?
^Hey, you can’t say that

He concluded with a sigh. “Meaning I will rot here, rendered crazy, having forgotten how to get out, for eternity. And it’s okay.”

Chapter Text

Dream stopped looking at Techno to gaze into the lava, looking like the incarnation of exhaustion. “Meaning I will rot here, rendered crazy, having forgotten how to get out, for eternity.” Dream let out a shaky sigh to calm down. “And it’s okay.” He finished softly.

Okay? Okay??? Eternity is okay!? He just said admins commit suicide before they even get a gauge on their lifespan! What was with this man??? Techno inwardly shouted. Externally however, he was calm.

“Calm”
^I’d say even more: he’s ““calm””
Oh my god he’s already begun rotting in craziness if he means that
He’s not a man… Not anymore

He knew he’d freak Dream out by freaking out and from what he’d observed, it wouldn’t even help Dream come to his senses. There would be a time to deal with this Teletubby’s abondance of issues – a time with Phil. For now, he needed to be rational.

Ah yes, the freaking out plague
Phil to the rescue!

For eternity!???

Rational.

Calm my ass
^Language!
^Huh. My bad, didn’t know Captain America was with us.
^He meant: My America’s ass you are
^LOL
Okay????

Ra-tio-nal. Techno quietly let out a breath. Okay. Is it an exaggeration? Doesn’t sound like one. Is it even possible for him to live for eternity? Wouldn’t the World die and kill him after “a few millennia”? Especially with the parasite.

Wouldn’t he turn to dust after a while?
^Not if he’s alive, no, idiot. Plus he a WA and no one even knows when they get old
Rationallll? Rationaaaaallll? Is this green man rational!? NO!
It’s a “good” parasite. Not a parasitoid

Techno didn’t know, so he resolved to get information the direct way: he asked. “Why eternity-” …and got cut off immediately.

“Opening the server.”

Pff-

Seems like Dream was paying attention.

The orange covered man rambled on. “Currently, the server is closed to non-whitelisted members, for security reasons. I’m the only one able to open it, but the parasite wouldn’t be able to reach me. Meaning once all of you have left, there will be no one to grant this World the necessary imbalance. And people would get to know this is a parasitized World.”

‘Security reasons’? No, there was more important. “Why would it change anything if they know?” He asked. From what Dream had said, nothing really changed between the original world conscience and the parasite.

“Because the parasite uses everything on hand to bring the imbalance. It doesn’t sustain life, nor ‘additional features’; it relies on the World Admin and them bringing other innocent players to die in it. No one would want to break into such a World. Therefore, without a World admin, it’s basically a sealed World.” Techno looked at him with a blank face.

He doesn’t get it, haha
L for Dream
He’s like: and?
L
L
“Sealed? Innocent players? Sustain life? Additional features?”- Techno, not getting anything

Dream sighed. “I feel like I have to explain everything from the beginning for this.”

Sorry Dream, we didn’t get that far with him
Good luck soldier, it’ll be a hard battle
*Thumbs up* *Eats popcorn*

A bit lost, Techno found nothing to say. “That’d be appreciated.”

Only a teeny tiny bit lost

“Alright.” Dream sighed and rubbed his temples. Techno braced himself. It looks like he was in for a good bit of exposition.

Techno, the fourth wall, what did we say about the fourth wall!?
We talk too much, don’t we?
Remind me, was there a clause about the disclosing of the meta? ^^’
^Don’t worry, Dream is going to do it anyways

I still don’t understand the hell you’re saying, you know?

That’s the goal!
Noooooo- Wait we gave up on that. Hell yeah!

“I’m going to tell you what we discovered through research, okay? This is nothing but a well-built theory. Like the theory of evolution.”

“We?”

“Hum… I learned it from-” Dream looked at Techno. “Never mind, we’ll see later.” Ah. Too complicated?

“Ah, I forgot he was an idiot for a moment” – Dream

“Okay. Let’s begin with the beginning. Theory has it that an infinite number of Worlds exist, but we can’t travel to them because they are ‘closed’: no path exists between ‘our’ dimension and the closed worlds. We gain access to them when a higher being ‘tests’ a world, leaving more or less traces – from entire cities to barely a footprint – and leaves it.”

Hmm, close enough
Guess he doesn’t have the entire meta either

Shh, I’m trying to focus.

Shhhh
L
L
E

“Very important that they leave it. No one has met such beings before. They’re different from gods; they’d be somewhat ‘weaker’, but they have abilities gods don’t- it’s complicated. Anyway, after such a being leaves, more or less time has to pass before the World opens. They noticed a rather strong correlation between the amount of effort put into the World by the – they’re called primordial humans – and the amount of time until the World opens; once the other variables have been accounted for, it seems to follow the same principle as the deaths of Worlds. The most recognized theory was that the primordial human must forget the World for it to open to us.”

Wow, almost !
Hey, “they” seem quite good
Wait, does that mean I can just- Oh damn
^You did good stopping there

Techno wondered who the people Dream was talking about were, too. A lot of research must have gone into this theory, yet he’d never heard of them.

“Now, they are called primordial humans because they are all humans and necessary for any kind of player society to settle in a World subsequently. They’re also the ‘first’ players for that matter, except they can travel between closed worlds, but not to open ones.”

“Does that mean they have their own separate societies in the closed Worlds?”

“We have some Worlds that have traces of being servers, yes. Hypixel was a primordial human server before integrating our dimension, for example. That’s why it’s so peculiar.” Dream answered.

~meh
Guess it’d be too much for him to know everything

Hmm, it’s true that through Hypixel, one could have access to new ‘Worlds’ that weren’t so much Worlds as they were plots of void with an island. It is atypical for Worlds to be linked in such manner, too.

“To get back to what I was saying, when the primordial humans leave a World, they also leave behind their – human – bodies, which get possessed by souls quickly after they forget about it. We don’t know the full mechanism behind that.”

Oh, they don’t?
I thought I could learn something
So even they don’t know how [ censored ] create life?
He means deleting the file?

“That’s too bad.” Techno commented. Dream ignored him, deep in thought.

“The beings born that way are called the ‘first humans’, and they quite literally are. All humans descend at one point from those first humans. Of course, Worlds are opened constantly, so there are always new first humans.

“Those humans have different characteristics depending on what the primordial human was like; some are absolute admins – meaning they can do pretty much everything possible on their worlds, and are immortal; basically, they’re in creative mode – others are left without the ability to resurrect, or heal naturally, while some can’t even use the system without permission. They’re born in adult, fit bodies, but don’t have any memories, only instincts and some knowledge of obscure origins.

“Regardless, they all have the ability to open their World – that’s why the primordial humans had to leave, so they’re born to open the World. Except they don’t always know how to; sometimes, it can take thousands of years for them to find they have that capacity.

“While they figure that out is when the World conscience develops; so, depending on how long they take, it’s more or less mature when the World opens. It is theorized primordial humans leave it behind, or it’s a soul that failed to incarnate in the human body; once again, we don’t know.

“First humans aren’t subject to aging until the World opens. Afterwards, even absolute administrators become mortal. However, hardcore players don’t get the ability to revive, etc. Basically, it’s a downgrade for everyone, in exchange for people to talk to. A good deal, all in all.”

Techno guessed Dream was well placed to comment on that. He’d experienced isolation, and if he was already certain, people stuck for thousands of years should agree.

But they didn’t commit suicide?
^You dumb? They’re stuck resurrecting there, except the hardcore players, maybe
EEEEE

“Of course, first humans can reproduce, leading to the “human race” or hybrids if they reproduced with hybrids. Right, because ‘true hybrids’ – although no one calls them that – aren’t human at all. They’re more like variants of native species (what we call mobs); they’re individuals ‘tampered with’ by the Worlds to have the same capabilities as players. You’re a true hybrid for example.”

Yeah, Techno knew that. He was born in the Nether, to a couple of piglins, who hadn’t known what to do with a child that different. He remembered the ostracization. But at the same time, he didn’t envy piglins anymore. Not ever since Phil took him in.

“Of course, the ‘tampering’ isn’t voluntary. Worlds don’t choose the hybrids born on them, and if there are, it’s because of a kind of ‘set’ of mutations; if a being is conceived with a part of them, they will receive the rest from the Worlds. Without that, they might not even be viable. All of that to say it’s no use resenting the World.” Dream eyed him.

Techno was offended. “Hey, I don’t!” Dream just nodded and continued talking. It was troubling not being able to see his emotions in this situation.

Oh? Does your superpower not work anymore?
E
Exposed!

“Okay. Now, about admins. All worlds are ‘linked’ to what we call the void or limbo. In it is where the souls of the dead and yet to be born stay. It is thought that World consciences can ‘find souls’ in there. That’s how they select their World Admin; but they can’t guide the chosen soul, so it reincarnates wherever. Nothing much is known about the timing of the incarnation.

“Admin souls can only incarnate in people of human ascendance, or rather, admin ascendance, simply because the whole incarnating thing is done before the modifications Worlds bring upon true hybrids, in terms of life cycles. 

“Admin bodies are peculiar in that they can stockpile additional directly usable energy in their plasma – namely, chemical energy – which other beings can’t. Of course, that means they have to produce it; oftentimes, the more efficient an admin’s catabolism is, the more powerful they are. Which means breathing lots of oxygen – unlike what we’re doing here – is essential for more energy production, just like a rich diet as they consume more calories to use their powers. Powers that are either the result, for an admin in another world, of giving their energy to the World and manipulating it, or giving it to their World and asking it for help. A World Admin can ask the World for additional energy with what we call commands or spells, which allow for far more powerful effects to be brought upon.”

Techno raised his hand.

Dream looked at him. “What is it?”

“Hum, what’s the ‘catabolism’? And why don’t Worlds help other admins- Actually, never mind, I know why.” It’s just not efficient to sacrifice energy to fulfill the wishes of someone who doesn’t have its best interests at heart, is it?

True!
Not everyone’s altruistic, I guess
Although, wouldn't other admins bring imbalance that way?
^It'd be the same energy the world has given, so no, not necessarily

“The catabolism is like the half of the metabolism that corresponds to the degradation of nutrients to make energy, as opposed to the anabolism – which is the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler precursors.”

“Huh, got it.” It sounded more and more like this prison was made for Dream from the start. Breathing barely recycled air, having virtually nothing to eat… Techno had a strange feeling.

Dream sent him the look but moved on.

“As a result, an admin’s blood, in which the surplus of energy is located, is the place of the exchanges with the World. It, or the plasma, is often used for complex spells – the ones that aren’t textbook. The blood is where all exchanges happen, so when the World gives energy to the admin, it’s through their blood. That’s why painting this cell with my blood disconnects me from the World; no exchanges can take place because the blood collects everything. It can be useful, but here it’s one of the reasons I can’t escape.”

“Hmm. So this is basically a trap designed for World admins.”

Isn’t Dream the one who designed this prison?

“Yeah.” Dream exhaled more than said, deflating. Hm. After a moment, he straightened back up. “Where was I getting at?” He asked. Ah, Techno had thought they’d gotten away from the main subject.

You’d forgotten.

“Parasites?”

“Right.” Dream said, rising his finger, before searching for words. It was nice to see him so excited.

Softnoblade, the comeback!
Are we back to kid friendly?
Awwwww
He’s cute like that. Say it!
^Cute but covered in blood

“So, World Admins are like helpers for the World. They help set up the rules and bring people to the World, they help manage them, make their stay enjoyable by suggesting additional ‘features’… They help the World learn about player societies, how to protect themselves, they can even teach spells to Worlds by having them summon command blocks. They’re extremely useful to Worlds in particular stages of development; oftentimes, Worlds can’t progress until they’ve got a World Admin.”

“Additional features?”

“Hmm, things like communicators? Normally the World chat and whispers are admin abilities; including it in the system is a World admin’s doing.”

“Hm.” Very interesting. Meaning the distinction in announcement of canon deaths and un-canon deaths is Dream’s doing?

Well, once a player canonically dies for the last time, they don’t have a communicator anymore

“Anyway, since they’re necessary, World Admins are basically rendered unable to cease to exist by their Worlds. Meaning the only way they can die on them – even hardcore players, is if the World itself dies.”

“So you can’t die here, even if someone takes your third canon life?”

“Yeah.”

Techno’s eyes widened, and he muttered his conclusion under his breath. “Damn, it’s incredibly lucky Quackity doesn’t know that.” Without the restriction that Dream had to want to die to kill him, Techno was certain the torture would be even worse.

Dream immediately got back to the previous subject as if nothing happened. Uncomfortable, was he? “Now, Worlds’ goal is to ‘die’, to crumble. To do so, they need imbalance only otherworlders, meaning players, can bring them. But their World admins count.

"It’d just take a very long time for them to do it alone. Although immortal, mental health is important, and since Worlds don’t feel much towards anything other than their Admin, it is hard to live only for them in the long run, is what older World Admins say.”

Mental health is important?

Isn’t he a funny one?

At least he knows it
‘I hate to break it to you, but this is NOT self-care’
^Couldn’t have said it better

“So after a few millennia at most, World Admins commit suicide on another World. Oftentimes, they wait for the next World Admin to arrive after asking the World to take one – when they can bear it: players aren’t meant to live that long, especially with no end in sight.

“It is not actually known whether World Admins age very slowly or not at all, as no World Admin has ever died on their live World. Like I said, 100% suicide. Yes, being killed while out of their World counts as suicide, since it was preventable.

“Now, parasites are what can become of a World if it is abandoned by all players – including its World admin, if it has one (either they don’t know they are a World admin, or they decided to leave it behind) – meaning no player lives on it anymore, and more importantly, no player is attached to it anymore, and so it died. It is an important distinction, because for example, 2B2T is still standing despite the massive imbalance because even people who’ve never gone are attached to it as a piece of history, even though most of the buildings players would be attached to got destroyed.

“Parasites are remnants of dead Worlds. Their World Admin died, sometimes because of them, sometimes the other way around, and in the case of parasites, they closed their heart and sook crumbling instead of joining them in the void. They aim to get a body to die with by overtaking another World conscience. In doing so, they relegate the World conscience of the parasitized World to being powerless, and ‘steal’ their World Admin.

“They tend to then try to secure imbalance; they kill all life, as it is easiest to do, and use the World Admin they control to bring the rest of the imbalance through the crafting, trading, duplicating systems used by players – which can take a long time, but is a safe way to go about it and since parasites never reappear, in the sense that no World has been found that- tried this strategy from the get-go, they’re not- wrong to do it- this way.”

Hmm. Not wrong because it works? Techno had a bad feeling in his gut about this.

That’s called hunger

Also, Dream needed to drink something. He sounded like he had trouble articulating.

“So the- world being para- sitized -wouldn’t kill- me, and -me being here -would pre- vent the -World fro- dyin’. That’s why- hah. Haah… hah, huh.” Dream suddenly stopped speaking. He was exhaling weirdly, then started coughing. That’s not what a dry mouth does to someone, is it? “Rrrrr.” Why was he rolling r’s out of nowhere now?

What’s happening to him?
No breath
^Too much, rather
No, that’s not the symptoms of a furred tongue
Weretiger Dream??

“Dream? Are you okay? What’s happening?” Techno tried to get closer, but Dream dissuaded him with a panicked sign of his hand.

He didn’t seem to be choking, no, it was like he simply had no voice anymore. It reminded Techno of when he’d first gotten here; Dream had started hacking and had trouble speaking at first too, until he’d bitten in that potato. Hm. Shouldn’t there be a potato dropping soon?

Yeah it’s about time
At 1a.m, right?

Ah, but even if there was, he couldn’t reach the water hole. He couldn’t even reach the water in the cauldron, for that matter. Was there, once again, nothing he could do?

This is getting tiring
L
L
******* chain
LL
L
LOL

He tugged at the base of the chain for good measure; despite how red it seemed to glow, it was as hard as ever. Techno rose his head back up with a sigh to Dream staring at the lava from way too close. Techno froze.

“Dream?” He asked softly.

The mask snapped in his direction, and after a beat, Dream hurriedly got away from the lava, exhaling quickly before he seemed to realize he didn’t form any words. He made an exasperated noise and started crawling towards the water hole, taking care to go along the walls to avoid Techno.

Techno’s heart was beating very fast. That look… It’d scared him. How many times- how many times must he have dived in to look at it this way?

Return of the superpower?
You’re weird sometimes

He couldn’t even ask Dream right now since he wouldn’t be able to answer. So he once again found himself watching him crawl on the floor.

…

THIS IS LONG
Call me back when he reaches his destination, I’m going out

Was it him or was Dream doing what he could to keep his right side off the floor? Ah, no, it was his imagination.

Not so sure about that
A remnant of last night’s torture?

Splash. Splash…

Perfect timing.

Dream had just reached the chest instead of the water hole like Techno had believed he was aiming at. He strained to open the lid, stuck it open with his head to reach for his book. He quickly wrote something in it and weakly threw it to Techno with the look before heading for the potatoes.

Entry n°147
Thought to be the 31st of August 2021

Techno got up only quite a while after the potato serving. The way he looks at me with worry worries me more. I really fear he’ll do me a Wilbur. I should tell him not to.

I let Techno dig into the things I wrote; it’ll give him something to do, though I’m not that proud of them.

-

I can’t speak anymore. Too exhausted. I was pretty much finished. We can start again tomorrow. ?

Exhausted? As if it was that simple. “Yeah, if you want to.” Techno answered out loud. “But I think I understood everything. Or maybe for a Q&A?”

We raised our Techno well! Except he won't do one of his own!
^You did! Can’t believe a player is that knowledgeable. I think I’ll keep watching
^Welcome to where the blood is shed! Muahaha!

Dream turned his head to nod at him. Great. Because Techno had questions. Like about the speaking issue… and others.

He’d eventually remember them.

*Facepalm*

While Dream was crawling, breathing more heavily than usual, Techno, out of curiosity, checked the left page of the- the diary, he supposed.

You suppose? What else could it be?

It was yesterday’s entry. Techno’s eyes widened at the first few words.

“Dissecting spree”!?
Are we talking live dissecting?!

Techno quickly checked if Dream was watching; he wasn’t. Carefully, he continued. Quackity was really an asshole. No, it wasn’t strong enough of a term to describe him.

He’s a torturer! A murderer! Worse, he pushes him to suicide!
Bastard! (sorry to his mom)
Twisted fucker suits him well, I think
Motherfucker, simply
Inhuman trash?
A bitch destined to die at your hand!
Chat is unhinged.

Techno didn’t know what to do about how Dream believed he’d forget his name. Seems like it wasn’t entirely that he rejected WS001’s fate. Besides that, Dream’s vital organs were poisoned, but not by Quackity? Was it Sam’s doing? Who else could it be? Or maybe it was Quackity, he’d just made him drink it or something? This didn’t give him much information on that side.

Maybe he was already poisoned before being thrown in prison?
Isn’t this poison admin hunters’?
^You know something?

Techno was reassured to see Dream didn’t completely defend Quackity, and that it was mostly a front. Although him being relieved Techno didn’t get how bad Quackity was acting… Why would he not want him to know?

@savant Isn’t that ‘poison’ more of a cancer?
He’s protecting you, no? Since you don’t like hearing about it
He’s trying to keep you out of their sights
He doesn’t want you to know what he has to go through since you can’t do anything about it

Everything you say is just sad. And more importantly, what’s ‘doing a Wilbur’?

No idea
Dying?
^Didn’t Dream kill him? This wouldn’t make any sense
Wasn’t the actual message ‘Wilbur was blown back by Dream into a lava pool’?
Could it be, like, forgetting everything? How does one go about doing that tho
Could it have been the thorns? Why would he be worried about that?
… Did Wilbur commit suicide using Dream?
^Naaaaaah… Why would he, after just coming back to life
Dream is turning back around!

Techno stopped listening to chat at the warning. Unsticking his gaze from the diary entry and resisting the urge to close it, he looked up at Dream getting ready to throw a potato.

Techno caught it. It was particularly small; at least it meant it would be tastier, even if it offered less to eat. Paf!

Someone clip that!
HOME RUN!
Potato farmer takes a potato to the face, it goes wrong
L
Breaking news, the potato has overtaken the master!
LOL

Techno carefully pulled the raw potato from the tusk it got skewered on. He looked at it with a dead gaze. Seeing Dream slightly trembling in the corner of his eyes, he took a deep voice and addressed the vegetable. “You… you’re one daring tubercule!” And he chewed on it aggressively.

Tubercule…!

Dream cackled more than laughed while hugging the floor. It wasn’t loud, and it sounded a bit breathy, but it was heartwarming. Techno kept on eating his potato with a smile.

Softnoblade the comeback
Soft to all but the potato
He’s so cute when he watches Dream enjoying himself
Such a rare moment
^Not so much anymore

Anyway, he threw the first one back to Dream. It should help him get his voice back, if Techno’s intuition was correct.

Dream just stared at Techno in confusion after checking the potato’s position on the floor.

…

“Eat it? It’ll help you talk again, no?”

Dream’s body language traduced his understanding. He lifted his hands but stopped to instead crawl towards Techno, meal in hand. Ah. Techno really should learn sign language, shouldn’t he?

That’d be useful
You have a teacher ready!
Dream’s confused face = usual face = angry face, though?
^Techno’s got a superpower to differentiate them

Techno moved to sit as close to the back of the cell as possible. He debated throwing his book to Dream. He decided against it; they’d have to communicate by throwing it back and forth if he did.

And you want him to get closer
He won’t admit it, will he

He extended the book to Dream when he got close enough, careful not to cover all of it with his hands. The man picked it up, strangely reaching for Techno’s hand. As expected, he flinched upon making contact, but persevered to take the book anyway. He then thrust his fist into Techno’s palm to deposit the potato.

Oh, he’s getting better!
Touch! Oh my god, touch!

Dream turned his back to Techno to write in his diary. Techno looked above his shoulders.

It’d help, except I can’t swallow currently.

“You can’t swallow? Is your tongue paralyzed?”

Dream hesitated. Something like that.

“You won’t tell me anything more, I suppose?”

It is not important.

“I think it is. But if you’re not ready to talk about it, you’re not ready, and I’ll leave it at that.” Techno added. He didn’t want to pressure him, although he had an inkling this was a particularly crucial piece of information.

Oh, could it be because of that that he didn’t talk to Sapnap?

Yeah. There seemed to be quite a few misunderstandings surrounding this Teletubby. Maybe he wasn’t even homeless?

Well, the World IS his home.
Nah he totally is
“You wouldn’t know my house, it goes to another school”!

I’m not ready

Dream wrote in clear letters, although his whole body was trembling. Oh, was Techno too close? He slowly took his head away from Dream’s. Right, he had very much invaded his space.

Also, damn, was his hair always this messy? From up close, it was worse than a bird’s nest, it was like a dragon’s!

Are dragons messier than birds?
Trembling from shame? Fear? Self-hatred?
^No idea, I don’t watch modded
It’s true that the only thing I want to do is comb him

When Techno took a step back, Dream turned around, looking at him with the look. He didn’t move for so long it turned Techno sheepish.

Doesn’t he look cute with his ears flapping around like that?

In the end, Dream just sighed like he was defeated before pulling himself to the cauldron where he settled to sleep.

Hey, isn’t he close enough to hand him your cape this time?

Oh, you’re right! Last attempt had failed horribly because the cape unfolded in the air and almost burned. This time, Techno should be able to place the cape for Dream. Techno made it into a half-a-block long pillow thick enough to protect skin from the rough obsidian, and placed it in front of Dream’s face.

“Here, use it.”

Dream looked at him. He tried to push it back. Techno didn’t let him. “I insist.”

The orange man hesitated while looking at the offered pillow. In the end, he took it carefully and placed it under his head and shoulders.

He let out a shaky sigh upon resting on it.

Techno smiled at the ceiling until he fell asleep.

Awwww
Bye
See you tomorrow!
K

_____

Dream hadn’t been able to talk all morning. Afternoon? Techno was starting to get confused.

It’s the afternoon
Evening rather, no?
What do you mean it’s the middle of the night
Which time zone are they in?
^Huh, I don’t know, another universe’s??
Where are the fanatics when we need them

…And chat wasn’t helping.

I calculated, it’s 9p.m
^The hell? I got 4p.m
I’m at 11 a.m…
Did any of you consider the difference in time zone before applying the formula?
Ha…
Which day are they at, even?
Someone ask Phil!

Can you quiet down? You’re loud. He wouldn’t be able to hear Dream at this rhythm. Again. Although truthfully, the noise from the bridge would be enough to cover his whispers entirely.

LUL
<3 <3
LUL LUL LUL
DinoDance DinoDance DinoDance DinoDance
BigSad

Hm. Thank you.

Techno waited for Sam to go away. Strangely, he was pinned closer to the inside of the cell today. It’d be hard to ‘go to the toilet’ like this. “Hi.”

YouDontSay OnlyYou UWot   DinoDance OnlyYou NotLikeThis TooSpicy     EkkoChest VirtualHug EkkoChest NotLikeThis   DinoDance ResidentSleeper ImTyping NotLikeThis Kappa
WutFace

That guy seemed to have a message to pass. But Techno ignored him in favor of settling down near Dream, who was scraping the blood off of the lectern’s top.

“Hi.” He echoed.

Since that day he’d been sewed all wrong, Dream was always looking fresh when Techno came back – freshly respawned. On one hand, Techno was relieved not to have to see such a horrible spectacle; on the other hand, he always imagined terrible things. Although maybe, even his imagination didn’t come up with things as bad as what was actually happening.

YouDontSay

Techno had noticed Dream liked to do something else, or talk about anything and everything in those moments, to bring the attention elsewhere. Once again, Techno wasn’t sure whose sake it was for.

Free!
@Techno_first_fan … I was going to say I hate you but you’re his first fan…
Yours
Yours
it’s totally for you

Techno had asked Sam about Wilbur earlier; all he said was that Wilbur had realized he’d done wrong, sook to atone, but Dream killed him instead.

Techno had trouble believing that, somehow. So, he resolved to ask the main concerned person, as originally planned, before making a judgement.

Finally!
Couldn’t wait anymore
I think Sam didn’t entirely lie
YES

“So, Dream.” Techno asked the question that was burning his tongue since yesterday. “What is ‘doing a Wilbur’?”

Dream froze.

Chapter Text

Dream pressed his forehead onto the lectern’s top, not making a single sound. His back and shoulders were tense; it was contrasting with his resting position.

Smoke. Techno furrowed his eyebrows. Why was that smell suddenly stronger?

What smell?

Rendered anxious, Techno started babbling to fill the silence. “Sorry, I saw it in your diary the other day. I didn’t read much! Just the entry from the… previous day.” He tried to reassure, ignoring the poignant image his brain had been picturing of that ‘previous day’. Dream sucked in air.

Techno tried to justify himself. “Hum, you have to admit you made it hard to resist! Writing what you had to say on the same page...!”

Techno doesn’t like silence
^Not that kind. He creates funny situations instead!
Yeah, dig your own grave, nice plan
Maybe he thinks you are accusing him of his murder. Though he did do it
^He didn’t, actually
^Ha??? Who’re u to say that???

Techno recalled how Dream had expressed fear Techno would ‘do a Wilbur’. What did Wilbur do – or suffer – that Dream would fear happening? Had Wilbur attacked him? Betrayed him? “Dream… What happened with Wilbur?” Techno reiterated, as softly as he could manage. He needed answers.

Soft as silk boyyyys
It IS curious that Dream of all people would fear Wilbur’s actions. I mean, he came here of all places of his own free will
^I for once I’m starting to doubt he did
^Nah he literally said it himself!

Smoke.

There was no reaction from Dream. He had said he wanted to tell him, so why was he now keeping silent?

*Written. Writing it doesn’t mean he was ready to talk about it though
It was supposed to be on his terms
Come on, spill the beans!

Smoke. The smell was so strong now that Techno covered his nose and looked around for something that caught on fire. “Is something burning?” He asked, confused.

But there was nothing.

Nothing but your nose
Oh, was the smell fire? Carbon dioxide?
^Why not simply smoke :D

 “Damn. How fucked up has my nose gotten that I smell smoke from nothing all the time? How do I stop this?” Techno commented, addressing no one in particular. Turning his head back towards Dream, the smell got bothersome- wait. Dream was trembling.

Could it be
^What?
Does Techno have seizures?
^Does Dream?
I wasn’t farrrr
^*rises eyebrows*

No, it was more than trembling. He was shivering all over, clawing at his sides. His breathing was halting, like he repeatedly tried and failed to hold his breath. Sweat was pearling on his back.

Techno fretted. This was not normal- Could it be what Phil had called a panic attack?

I think it is!
You need to calm him down!
@Badum_tss ‘Kay you win…
Oh no

Hum… Hum, what had Phil said? Right, breathing exercises! Step one was to get Dream to look at him though, and said Dream was currently pressing his face onto the lectern. Even if he turned around, the mask would prevent Techno from seeing if he was any help- no, no time for that.

Techno moved towards the cauldron to try and get into Dream’s field of vision; in doing so, he had no choice but to widen the distance between them. Stupid chain.

He started accompanying his breathing with slow gestures, telling Dream to try and calm his own by mimicking him.

I don’t think he hears you
Stoopid
^We need an emote for the chain!
He’s too out of it...
*eats his nails*

It wasn’t having any effect; he hadn’t even turned his head for that matter.

Techno tried something else. “Dream, can I touch you?”

No answer.

Techno was lost. There was nothing he could do to snap Dream out of it, since touch most likely wouldn’t be welcome, and nothing down here could stimulate smell or taste more than that. Techno was kind of worried he’d hurt Dream if he tried to approach. Was there once again no way he could help?

Shit I’m crying
Try touch anyway
At this point, touch might work

Are you sure? Wouldn’t it just stress him more? He already had trouble with touch under normal circumstances.

In front of him, Dream was whimpering.

“Normal”
He’s hurting himself!
But he seemed to seek it
It’d still be better than staying in that state, no?
I don’t know, I’ve never had one…
^That’s good

Chat was a bit lost as well, it seemed. Techno was agonizing over the dilemma. He wasn’t qualified- And then he noticed it.

He hadn’t smelt it in the context of the cell, but Dream had drawn blood. With his too short nails.

He was burrowing his fingers in the sides of his belly, crushing the exposed tips so hard blood was gushing from the crust covered flesh into the gash his nails had opened on his abdomen.

Techno didn’t need anything else to move forward, extending his hand. He had to stop that. Still, he was careful not to be brusque, approaching from the side in hopes Dream would see it coming.

The man still flinched. Hard.

Techno retrieved his hand, wincing despite being relieved that it had sufficed to get the man to stop making it worse. However, Dream took him by surprise by catching his fingers right as Techno let go.

“Drea-” He didn’t have the time to finish his question before his prison mate threw himself into his arms, desperately curling up against him, still shivering and breathing too fast. Techno reflexively hugged him to prevent him from slipping off, confused. He realized Dream must have been crying, too; his chin was wet against Techno’s shoulder.

Awwww
I ship it!
^Dude
He hasn’t come back yet!

Dream seemed like he was looking at some mirage behind Techno’s back that simply terrified him. He was digging his nails into Techno’s front; it wasn’t painful to him, but he could understand Dream had broken through his own skin with that much force.

Techno tried to unstick one of Dream’s hands so he wouldn’t harm his fingers anymore, but as soon as Techno lifted his arm to do so, Dream started hyperventilating like crazy.

Damn what is he seeing?
^I’m an expert and I can tell: it’s a ghost. LOL
Is it what happened with Wilbur that puts him in this state?
He’s taking awfully long to snap out of it despite the contact

Not knowing anything, Techno just comforted the armful of human on his lap. Guilt was eating at him for having most probably caused the attack, yet he just kept tracing circles on Dream’s back with his palm like Phil used to do while he was a kid. After a bit, he concluded that if it didn’t seem to work, at least it wasn’t making it worse.

Techno talked softly of where and when they were, avoiding sensitive subjects – and there were a lot – to the best of his abilities, all in order to ease Dream back into the grim reality. It was grim, but amazingly – sadly, horribly – enough, it seemed to be less scary to Dream than whatever he was currently seeing.

°*°*°*°*°

“Is something burning? He smells so bad!”

Dream buried his face into his father’s feathers.

Klang. “Shit!”

The cooling sensation would have been nice in the hot bellows of the World if not for what it meant.

“Do you have wood on you?” Plop. Sawing sounds.

‘Is that how it ends?’ Dream wondered, numb. He already knew the answer. He may have been young, but back then already, he knew it was far from the end. Unless he did something about it. But he couldn’t.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A single tear escaped the 9-years-old’s eye. ‘Is that what Mom died for? What Dad died for.’

The last cobblestone blocks his father had placed gave way. For the first time in four years, Dream looked – really looked – at the faces of their- his pursuers.

The first one had no wings – not anymore. He was ugly under his diamond armor; a thot too strong to be disposed of, his father had said.

His subordinate was a young boy who had thin wings of a dull gray. He looked shy, but all Dream now felt while looking at him was disgust. There was undoubtfully a good reason he was here; cowards always did have good reasons.

The third one his father had called the Gambler. That trap… It was her. This innocent-looking young woman’s gamble.

Dream was angry. Yet he was also sad. Resigned. Fearful. The hunters came forward to try and take away his father, the last obstacle in the way to their long-awaited prize.

Dream recalled his father’s last words. He had said to use him. His energy. They hadn’t gotten much to eat recently, so it was the only way. But Dream couldn’t.

Even now, the sight of his dad’s blood under his nails, of the flesh his cramping fingers had already nervously deformed revolted him in a way he couldn’t describe. His father had known he wouldn’t be able to do it, deep down; Dream could see it in his despaired eyes.

Dream knew he was a bad kid. He’d gotten his mom killed. And he had relapsed. He couldn’t even move to accomplish their last wish.

Dream remained frozen, hands in his father’s flesh, while the winners took them away together like a potato sack. They walked, teleported, and Dream clutched ever harder at the cold avian in his arms as the not-so-unfamiliar landscape of a nether roof expanded before his eyes.

No, this wasn’t the end.

It was worse.

And it would be so much more so than nine-year-old Dream thought. Because pain wasn’t all that awaited.

°°°°°

Dream emerged progressively from his panic.

There was a hand on his back – a hot hand. Not his father’s corpse’s.

She was looking at him!

Gravity wasn’t right. He was on his side.

Wings white as the sun-

There was obsidian in front of him. Not the Gambler’s face, not the bars of the cell. Was he in isolation? Oh no. He started breathing faster. How long was he here? How long did he have left- Shit, where was his bread?

Dream pushed himself away with his palms. The wall was cold. He had to find it. He would never hold if he didn’t have the bread with him.

A groan pierced his ringing ears to reach his brain.

Dream looked up to find the worried gaze of a piglin hybrid.

He knew that person. “Tech- no?” He checked, throat constricted.

“Yeah, that’s me you’re skewering, Teletubby.” The other said matter-of-factly.

“Techno?” Dream shakily asked again. He stopped pushing against the cold wall – which he realized was Techno’s chest – and placed a hand upon where the heart should be.

There was a slow heartbeat. Not too slow, just, normal for a piglin. “Yep. Still me, here and alive.” The player answered calmly.

He was – not in isolation. Lava glowed and popped to his left; its red light reflected on the sparse furniture, while crying obsidian dripped all around.

It all came back to Dream drop by drop. He needed to protect Techno. The parasite was still in the wild, but under control. He was in Pandora’s vault. Three months to hold on, under Quackity’s torture.

Relief came crashing over him like a tsunami. There was a plan to escape; Phil would get Techno out, and maybe Dream would eventually get to leave as well, but nevertheless, it was just Quackity.

“Everything is going to be okay.” Techno comforted. Yes, Quackity was kind and naïve. Everything was fine.

He felt like crying.

Techno patted his back. Dream’s heart was still beating wildly; the motion appeased him, strangely enough. He welcomed it. “… Sorry.” He mumbled in Techno’s shoulder. He was embarrassed for burdening him like that out of nowhere. He was supposed to have control over himself!

Still, he didn’t dare break the embrace or anything. He’d longed for any kind of contact this last week and a half – no, these past months. Years? More than that, he knew Techno wouldn’t have continued if it bothered him – it was Techno, after all.

…It didn’t stop Dream from feeling guilty for using him in this manner. But what was he if not a manipulator? All he did was manipulate, even his love was nothing if not manipulation. Dream had recognized that fact when he chose to stay here.

He had wanted to keep himself away.

He’d failed. Even here, he managed to harm people.

…He shouldn’t continue. Techno didn’t deserve that.

Did Quackity?

Dream’s thoughts started spiraling. He should stop.

No, it wasn’t the same.

Techno’s arms were warm. But… why wouldn’t it be?

He should stop. He didn’t want to.

He could hear Techno’s calm heartbeat alongside his speeding one.

It wasn’t right.

Techno was tracing soothing motions on his lower back.

He should stop.

Dream started squirming in Techno’s hold. He wasn’t seeing anything. He had to get away.

When Techno released him, he lamely flopped on his back and put up an arm over his eyes to hide the shame he felt was visible through the mask.

“You alright, man?”

“…” Dream kept silent, breathing hard.

“Do you want a hug?” Techno said, unexpectedly. Hadn’t he said Dream was ‘skewering’ him earlier? Plus, Dream had just fought against it.

“…What?”

“What, what?”

Dream skipped the logical processing. “… Do you… not mind?”

“Of course not, roommate.” He continued softly. Dream wanted to sigh at the nickname. “Tis' but an offer.” Dream hesitated. It was weird. “Come on, I’m the one asking; you know I’m the touchy-feely kind.” Techno did give off those vibes, but not with Dream. Most of the time, they had a teasing friendship or business-like interaction.

Dream was conflicted. Only one thing came to mind to justify that behavior. Was that… Techno’s attempt at manipulating Dream?

…Well, it wasn't like Dream had any right to refuse, was it?

Dream rolled back into Techno’s chest without protesting out loud. Techno chuckled. It’s not like this was a bad deal for Dream. Just the hand on his back calmed him down tremendously. Techno placed his head on Dream’s and sighed.

Incredibly enough, Techno had systematically rested his arms on Dream’s shoulders, or rubbed at his lower back, away from his wings’ junctions, which made it so much more comfortable. Taking advantage of that, Dream spread his wings behind him; the cell wasn’t big enough to stretch them fully in the air, but it felt good to spread them without interference. It’s not that the feeling of passing through flesh and hot obsidian was that bothersome, but these days, it only made him miss genuine contact more.

It didn’t help that his anxious self always put his wings around Techno to check he was here and still not a hallucination. Every time, he wondered which he would prefer. He felt horrible to even hesitate, and even more so because he noticed it randomly – no, it depended on Quackity’s ideas – changed from day to day. His feelings were just that unnatural.

Maybe they weren’t even feelings. He was a monster, through and through, after all.

“What are you thinking about, all gloomy like that?” Techno asked. How did he know he was gloomy? His face was doubly hidden! Was he letting pheromones out? No, he hadn’t been able to since-…

“Is something burning?”

Dream froze. Right, Techno had smelled his pheromones earlier. And the other day, he’d emitted pain pheromones out of nowhere. Did that mean- Had he… designated Techno as flock…? Just like that!? He wasn’t even avian!

…First Wilbur, now Techno? Tommy was an accident as it was more of Tommy picking him as flock than the contrary, he thought it was the same for Wilbur, but it couldn’t be the case here.

How come he’d failed with George and Sapnap, then…? Damn. Why was Dream only able to designate cell mates!?

Should he be worried since not a single one of his flock mates survived long after they got involved with him? Was it just another one of his ‘manipulation methods’? How was he supposed to revoke it though?

“Is it because of what I asked earlier?” Techno said sheepishly. Dream could feel he wasn’t looking at him. He also started tracing circles with a little bit more pressure.

Well, it definitely was because of the pheromone situation-

“You don’t have to talk about it- I understand it’s a hard subject for you, I- uh, I can wait as long as you want-” Techno’s awkward voice faded, like he didn’t know what to say anymore.

Huh? No he wasn’t- He hadn’t particularly planned to out himself as an avian, but he felt he’d be fine with Techno- no, no. Bad Dream. Flock feelings are one-sided, especially inter-species.

Sigh, it was going to be so tiring to sort through his feelings all the time from now on. Was that what Tommy felt? But he already knew he could never trust Dream. It wasn’t ambiguous…

“So Dream, what is ‘doing a Wilbur’?”

Oh. Oh.

Right. That’s what had first taken Dream by surprise- if it could be called surprise. His annoying heart picked up the pace again. At least Techno’s presence calmed him down- sigh.

Dream lifted his head to meet Techno’s cautious and worried gaze. Alright. Just this once. Dream buried his face into Techno’s shirt. Just so he could talk.

“…It’s fine.” Dream closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before diving into his memories. “I’ll start from the beginning. …Wilbur – or rather, Ghostbur – infiltrated the prison with Tommy a- while back. Entry n°66.” Dream recited.

“Suiting entry for the small devil’s entrance.” Techno commented, his usual aloof self, if one ignored the hands in Dream’s hair lightly tugging at the knots in it.

“Pff.” Dream let him. It was nice- a nice distraction, although he was worried to hear Techno maybe hadn’t reconciliated with Tommy as much as he thought- hoped. “I was unconscious – I probably had just died, now that I think back on it – when they got in. From what I understood, Ghostbur tried to get in between Tommy and I when he realized his plan to kill me. I think he knew I was the World Admin.” He hadn’t been able to confirm it since Wilbur lost all his memories, or rather, knowledge, he’d gained as Ghostbur upon resurrection. And Dream didn’t wish to expose himself by questioning him further.

“How come you never seem to know whether you died or not?” Techno asked out of the blue, bewildered.

Dream hesitated. “…At some point, I stopped registering the ‘getting out of the water hole and falling back unconscious’ process. You know, like a trip you do so often you don’t pay anymore attention to it whatsoever. And since I always woke up dry on the ground…” Dream trailed off.

“Hm.” Techno hummed darkly. Dream took it as a signal to get back to his story.

“Anyway, Tommy was invisible and wanted to kill me. However, he revealed his axe too early, and Sam caught sight of him. And I-… I just decided to take the chance to resurrect Wilbur.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. Since I had his soul on hand, all I needed was a bit of flesh to complete the spell.”

“Did you cut Sam’s arm?” Techno asked, his tone full of eagerness. It made Dream smile even though it wasn’t the time.

“Pff- no. I used my own-” He murmured. “Ah.” Dream cringed. He shouldn’t have said that. Now Techno was back to sending him his sad and worried look.

“Hum, so, Wilbur came back. I used the fact that he was a bit lost to threaten Sam with using him to get a canon death, therefore withholding the book from him and Quackity forever – although it was a lie. Tommy saw through it, but him angrily shouting loud and clear I wouldn’t die if killed only made Sam more cautious. In the end, he threw Tommy and Wilbur out, no questions asked.”

“So, nothing happened? How come we’ve never seen Wilbur again then?” Techno wondered.

Dream’s heart clenched. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Oops. S’rry.”

“I... I thought they’d been led out. Only, not even two days later, Quackity took a chained Wilbur to my cell.”

“Your cell, huh?”

“What does one give to somebody they believe doesn’t deserve anything?”

“…A prison cell.” Techno answered, voice low and expression dark.

“Exactly. Therefore, this cell is mine.” Dream said with a smile. He at least needed to believe he belonged here if nowhere else. “Not yours, not Wilbur’s, since Sam only put you here to restrain what you could give me.”

“I’m not sure I agree with that logic.” Techno half-pouted. Since when was this guy so determined to defend him? Or was this Dream’s delusion?

Dream sighed. “Do you want this cell to be yours?”

“I mean, if the prison’s mine, I could free you.” Techno stubbornly said. Dream rose an eyebrow and stared. Techno avoided his gaze.

“That’s what I thought.” Dream concluded. He waited a bit for Techno to contest it again. He didn’t, so he shut his eyes and continued. “So, Wilbur got thrown in my cell with me. He was chained with the same manacles as you on the first day; the only difference was that he had another chain passing in between his legs to further bind his hands. And he had a rubber band around his wings.”

Techno looked at his manacles. If it was the first day manacles, it was the one block one. They didn't have anything to attach a chain on the front, so it must've passed in the wrist holes. “I’m happy that’s not my case. Must’ve hurt.” He sympathized, with a dead tone.

“Wilbur really didn’t move much because of that. Not- not until he was freed a few days later… …But I’m getting ahead of myself.

“At first, he was very- hum, passionate, taking any chance he had to sing praises to my name- frankly, it was embarrassing.” Techno chuckled sadly. He must’ve realized where this was going – Wilbur wasn’t here, after all. He wasn't even alive, for that matter.

“…Quackity liked to make us look at each other while he… did what he had to do.”

Techno rumbled depreciatingly. Dream was surprised to suddenly hear him use piglin language for the first time. It was interesting, but Dream needed to continue. He’d never finish if he stopped now. “I thought it was fine, I mean, I didn’t mind more than that myself; Wilbur on the other hand, was looking worse and worse for wear.”

Images flashed behind his eyelids. He opened his eyes to chase them all away, choosing to stare at the wall instead. Tears threatened to fall.

“A few days later, Quackity asked Wilbur if- if he had ‘thought about what they’d talked about’. I- I had never seen them talk, so I was confused. I think it might have happened while they were out of my cell, outside of the sessions.

“Wilbur told Quackity he had understood. That he had seen. And Quackity freed him from his bindings.”

Dream had been surprised and happy back then.

That hadn’t lasted long.

°°°°°

“I know. I’ve… seen it.” Dream turned to look at Wilbur from where his head was dangling, his muscles unable to hold it up anymore, quartered against the wall as he had been for hours on end. Wilbur looked up at him.

His face was covered in tears and snot. Was it… because of him? But it wasn’t the first time Wilbur watched Quackity’s work. Dream didn’t understand.

“I’ll do it.” Wilbur said, wiping his face. Quackity smirked, satisfied, and undid the manacles on Wilbur in silence. He was now no longer restricted.

Wilbur got up and stretched. Dream was happy for him, but it didn’t chase away his bad premonition. What could Quackity have asked of Wilbur?

Wilbur approached him. Was he promised to be freed if he participated?

But that wasn’t it. “I’m going to free you.” Huh?

“Wha- what?” Dream blurted out, tasting the blood running down his face.

“Free you from me.” Wilbur closed his wet eyes and readied a punch.

Dream’s eyes shook. Flashes of Tommy flying across the cell went through his mind. Wilbur took a step forward, aiming for Dream’s face. At that moment, Dream didn’t think. He threw his head to the side.

Wilbur’s fist softly collided with the wall. He peeked his eyes open, and seemed surprised he was still alive. “Hah!? DO IT PROPERLY!” Quackity screamed from where he had backed away against the left wall.

Wilbur tried again, this time straining himself to look at what he was doing. Dream pulled on his already stretched arm to lower his head, effectively surprising Wilbur, who missed.

“Please, Dream, let me do this.” He whined.

“Why?” Don’t get him wrong, Dream had nothing against Wilbur hurting him like Quackity. But he wasn’t doing it like Quackity right now. “Hit lower! You’re going to kill yourself!”

“I know.” Wilbur told the floor, body tense, hands fisted at his side.

“Then why? Didn’t you say you wanted to live anew?” Dream asked, dismayed.

“I did.” Wilbur said quietly. “But not like this.” Why would Wilbur give up this life when it was the only one he had? Couldn’t he have struck a better deal?

“…What did Quackity tell you?”

“Nothing but the truth.” Quackity interjected, impatient.

Dream addressed Wilbur again. “What did he tell you?”

“I-” Wilbur’s voice sounded strangled. “My- my presence is hurting you.”

Dream was lost for words. “What?” Why was he-

“You’re always acting fine when you’re not! For me! And Quackity hurts you more in exchange!” What, no! This was just Dream manipulating-

“He refuses to kill you because he knows you immensely prefer showing me you’re fine!” Shouldn’t not dying be considered positive? Dream knew otherwise, yet he never imagined Wilbur would come to the same conclusions. And it wasn’t that Quackity didn’t kill him; he never had! Dream simply refused to commit suicide in front of Wilbur! It wouldn’t leave a good impression, especially considering Wilbur’s mental state.

It seemed that plan had backfired.

“That’s not because of you! It’s just me being me!” He said, already knowing it was too vague to do the trick.

Wilbur’s distressed expression morphed into one of resignation. “I don’t believe you.” He said, gaze dead, a small sad smile on his face. He started getting ready to attack again.

Dream glanced at Quackity; he was smirking. Crap, Dream couldn’t reveal the rest was him attempting to manipulate Quackity. It’d get really bad if he did, he’d thought. He’d been wrong-

Dream took the hit with the back of his head, biting his tongue in the process. He needed to think.

“That’s not what I wanted when I brought you back-!”

“-And I’m thankful you did bring me back. Really.” Wilbur said, not expanding on the subject.

-This was the worse that could happen.

Dream dodged another attack by pushing his head left. His muscles were burning. He didn’t hear it anymore, but blood must have been pouring from his neck; his vision had started to darken.

“You needed to apologize to Phil...” He said, tongue furred. He didn’t have the energy to shout anymore.

 “You’ll have to pass it on for me.”

Dream’s eyes widened.

He wanted to retort, to say he would be freed by someone if he endured, that everything would be fine, but his words were stuck in his throat as a slowness potion splashed on him from the left.

It was Quackity. His grin widened under Dream’s gaze.

The bound man turned his head just in time for Wilbur’s attack to land square on his mask.

Dream watched as if in slow motion as the Avian’s body recoiled from the thorns. His feet lifted from the ground, and he flew perfectly at Dream’s eye level to crash into the opposite wall, his light brown wings crushed behind his back, his head thrown back onto the fragile appendages in a violent whiplash.

Twice. It had happened twice.

Wilbur crumbled into a heap on the floor, leaving a trail of feathers stuck to the wall’s asperities with his blood.

Twice.

Dream felt numb as Quackity undid his chains before leaving with a smirk. He just crawled forward, muscles screaming, at a devastatingly low speed. A single thought occupied his mind. He hadn’t hit as strongly as Tommy.

His gaze was fixated on the slight movements of Wilbur’s abdomen and his sluggishly blinking eyes. He hadn’t hit as strongly as Tommy.

His face was turned towards him, and as Dream got close, glazed over eyes opened. He hadn't-!

The idiot smiled. “You’re crying.”

“It’s only blood.” Dream said, voice as firm as he could muster. Dream couldn’t let him know this was just as painful as anything Quackity had ever done to him, if not more. Not after such a sacrifice.

Dream picked up Wilbur’s head. It was covered in blood. The crimson liquid was flowing non-stop from the back of his head, from the blood vessels of his wings, pushed out by the wildly beating powerful heart of the hummingbird.

“Hey, try to calm down.” Dream said. He knew Wilbur didn’t have the kind of experiences he did; he couldn’t slow his heartbeat when hurt badly like Dream could. Even if he knew how, it wouldn’t have been as efficient, his stroke volume being so much higher than Dream’s.

Wilbur realized that. “I wanted to say- I’m sorry.” He took a large breath. His last. “And- Thank- you...”

[Wilbur was blown back into a wall while trying to hurt Dream]

The World made it official. Wilbur was dead, canonically. Outside, thunder was probably rumbling.

Dream let his tears overflow as he silently hugged the dead body of his once friend. Of his latest victim.

This time, there would be no other chance.

°°°°°

Dream once again wiped the tears dripping down his mask with his shirt. He was surprised he had managed to finish. His voice had threatened to fail him countless times.

...It was done. Now Techno knew. He knew Dream had let Wilbur get hurt and die instead of protecting him like he did Techno. Because he’d hesitated to sacrifice just a bit of his leeway.

Well, at the very least, it meant Techno would be able to pass on Wilbur’s apology to Phil.

Chapter Text

Techno looked down at the man in his arms.

…Well, ‘man’.

He wasn’t purely a Man, now, was he?

There weren’t any reasons to doubt anymore; the smells in the cell varied along every change of Dream’s mood, currently. Techno had seriously been scared when the smoke turned to sulfur earlier, which he had deduced meant pain. Perhaps even extreme, extreme pain, since it was usually way too unnoticeable a smell for how much Dream was tortured.

Poor Dream
Smelling like sulfur while in pain? Wouldn’t that repulse everyone around him? Aren’t pheromones supposed to be like crying?
^Don’t some people ‘naturally’ get disgusted by someone’s crying? Not that I condone such behavior
He's not even surprised.

Smoke seemed to be associated with panic. Or just fear? But once again, the underlying scent of smoke after ‘sessions’ was leagues more discreet than Tommy’s violent nose aggressions whenever he got surprised.

Or happy.

Or scared.

Or angry.

…

Tommy was just smelly in general.

Smelly Tommy
Damn Tommy caught a stray
He stinks, you mean. And I only have your thoughts to judge it by
Oof

Nevertheless, Tommy should be in the same age category as Dream. And Wilbur didn’t smell nearly as little at his age.

Is smell linked to age?
^Well, at least among avians. Usually the older they get the less they make themselves known. Though there’s a limit; after all, Phil still emits more than enough for Techno or other avians to perceive.
^Thank you, talkative guy
It's really strange how you talk like you are older than him

Well, Techno didn’t mind; if anything, he welcomed the somewhat calmer pheromones. They were even lighter than that old man Phil’s.

Really, Techno didn’t mind.

I sense a ‘but’
And?

…Except the hybrid in question was currently having a panic attack and did not smell any harsher than a fucking torch in a closet.

A torch in a closet??
Techno seems to swear more when stressed and/or worried
Aren’t you in a closet of sorts?
Is it like saying something tastes likes shit? Like, how do you know what shit tastes like?
Nooooooooo…! Phil… What did you do to our Techno while I had my back turned…?

Techno wasn’t familiar with every pheromone producing hybrid species, but he knew for a fact that Dream’s sense of smell wasn’t more accurate than his, nor notably superior to Phil’s – after all, neither of them had smelled the wither skulls, and those stunk.

Wait, is that why you let Phil spawn most of the withers?
But how did you farm them then
Isn’t that just you?
Had you actually seen it coming
Tommy’s stink > Withers’ stink, lol
^LUL

Hybrid pheromones were meant for peers to understand. So this didn’t make sense. Even more so if one considered how strong the smell had gotten earlier, when Techno had asked about Wilbur. Why would the pheromones calm that much without there being any change to Dream’s condition?

It really didn’t make any sense.

Is he an alien?
How come he never smelled anything other than ‘human’ before?
An ant?

Was it a pheromone disorder?

He’s an acacia!
He’s a Blob. Yes that’s a species. Source: trust me bro
No, guys, I’m sure. He’s a mushroom zombie!

Stop that.

What did we say? He’s a TELETUBBY. Specie: T. homeless
Maybe he got “trained” not to let out much?

Now that’s as interesting as it is horrifying. However, judging by what went down yesterday morning… Techno eyed the corner of the cell, ears down.

What? What went down yesterday morning!?
Ah, right. The hand hiding
What was in that corner? I wasn’t there!
Maybe there’s actually a T. homeless species. You never know, with how they’re named

One more thing in the “Dream’s past, see later” drawer, Techno guessed. As Dream still couldn’t talk this morning, he’d planned to mention it after asking about Wilbur, but- well.

For now, he had to focus on this guy’s recovery.

-----

“You can hate me.” Dream whispered in the silence, taking Techno out of his thoughts.

Well, hate Quackity then
^Do you really think he doesn’t? He can lie, ya know
FINALLY! SOME TALKING AFTER 30 GODDAMN MINUTES-
Awww
And that is how villains are made~

“What?” Where did that come from?

Dream explained himself. “I killed your brother.”

“Sounded like Quackity killing my brother to me.”

Did he… call Wilbur his brother…?
AFTER ALL THIS TIME
Now he only has to admit to being the middle child

“It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me.”

“He wouldn’t have had a- what, a fourth chance – if it weren’t for you, yes.” Techno wasn’t sure Wilbur even deserved such… leniency, after what he’d done. Plus, hadn’t he himself asked for death and received it gratefully?

“It’s my fault he even went down this path.” Dream lamented. Was it lamenting? It sounded like self-hatred to Techno. Dream sat up and looked at the floor in front of him. “If I didn’t exist-” Yep-

How do you know he looks at the floor?
IF you didn’t exist, Techno and Phil would still be wandering (or dead). Tommy would have probably fucked up elsewhere.
Technoblade never dies!
^Wilbur still might have gone down the wrong path, away from his mom
^Skeppy… would be Skeppy :D
^George, Sapnap and Bad would have stayed shunned and isolated
^This World would have stayed closed.

“Hey, that’s quite a big leap there. Nobody talked about your existing. You had to exist to revive him, no?”

“And I had to revive him to kill him.”

Wrong. Try again. Better wording please

“Well yeah-” Techno searched for a suitable thing to say.

“He didn’t say so, but he was probably hating me for inflicting such unnecessary pain on him again.” Dream seemed to be spiraling already.

Is he… searching for reasons to be hated?
Too slow! Search faster!
I know this feeling
^I hope you’re okay now
^Yeah I’m fine! Thanks for the concern.
Is he just projecting his own hatred on others?
Maybe, maybe not

“That doesn’t mean you are his murderer by default. You hadn’t planned for that to happen.”

Wait. Would Dream think himself the default murderer of his hypothetical children, since he’d have brought them to life?

“Regardless, he did it for me.” Dream let out a soulless laugh. “’Sometimes people are bad just for existing.’” He recited softly.

What?
…Is that a weird attempt at avoiding guilt?
^That’s honestly the better scenario…
He needs to get some help ASAP
This doesn’t make any sense, or am I stupid?
^It doesn’t. But you’re probably still stupid
Hm. We need some bloodshed. QUACKITY!

“That’s me.” Dream said, half-crazed. He chuckled before continuing quietly. “All I ever do is manipulate and kill anyway.”

The remanent bitter scent of sulfur surged the smallest bit.

Would anyone other than you even notice it?
^I’m starting to doubt it
I stand by what I said. He’s already lost his mind

Techno calmed his urge to shout how wrong he was to reply softly. “You can’t say that.”

“…Right.” He seemed oddly… sad? Disappointed? Resigned? Techno didn’t know. None of his instincts suited the situation. He decided to push on.

I think he’s disappointed

“You’re Dream.” Techno tried. “You do all sorts of things. Yes, you can be manipulative. Yes, you can and have killed.” Techno had no intention of denying that. He himself had done the same. He just needed Dream to see there was more. “You can also laugh, cry, and get hurt, get killed, get manipulated. You’re a player. Like me, like him, like everyone else.”

Dream scoffed. “I certainly did a great job at manipulating you, didn’t I?” Techno’s ears fell and he frowned.

Dream looked up at him for barely a second. “I guess no one realized.” He said, bittersweet. Then, like he was sharing a universal truth. “I told you. Everything I do, everything I show, is manipulation. Even telling you this is.” Dream turned to start crawling away.

That, I can see. Though as for the goal…

Techno rose an eyebrow. “You crying was?”

Dream gritted his teeth. “To get your pity, to have you forgive me.” Pity? Not so sure. But Techno had to admit his opinion on Dream’s actions had changed since he got here.

“What about the hug?”

“Get you attached. Get used to touch again.” Dream answered, pressing his palms on his, huh, eyes.

Looks weird
How is “getting used to touch again” a gain meant to be obtained by manipulation?
^Doesn’t mean you can’t manipulate someone to touch you
^Affectively?
^Just means you’re good at it

“Prison?”

“Get the server to unite and stop damaging the World.” Right, he’d said that before. Though Techno stood by his opinion that this was closer to self-sacrifice then anything else. Motivated by previous mistakes, yes, but self-sacrifice, nonetheless.

Is anyone who sacrifices themself good though?
^That’s not the question. He’s questioning whether that kind of self-sacrifice could be manipulation
^Well, it was, no? He didn’t do it for everyone to be happy and continue without him, but for them to follow his wishes.
^Which were for them to be happy and continue without him. We’re going on a loop here.
^Is that really what he wanted though?

“Getting me to sit out the ‘sessions’?”

“Making you and Phil amenable to free me, so I can root out the parasite.” Techno’s frown deepened.

“You didn’t even know about the parasite back then.” He pointed out.

“But it was there. My subconscious must have known.” …This was getting farfetched.

“Are you sure you didn’t do it out of guilt from what happened to Wilbur?”

Dream took a shaky breath. “Guilt?” He looked at the ceiling. “Why would I feel guilt?” He asked, cold. Techno felt iffy.

Ha!?
What was that before if not guilt? I’m lost
He’s a great actor. I don’t know what was a play and what wasn’t…

Techno tried another approach. “Why do you feel like you deserve to be here?” Dream had evoked that, multiple times, while defending Techno.

“There are many reasons.” Reasons? There aren’t any justifications for such treatment.

Is he actually a masochist?
All this time, he’d been taking pleasure in his own pain and not other’s!
Techno’s repeating himself
^Everything makes sense! *Crazed detective look*

“Being tortured?” He checked.

Dream sighed contentedly, like he was smiling. “Precisely.” He laid down on the floor, head towards the lava. This guy…

Techno never thought he’d have to explain that torture being unacceptable applied to both parties. Usually, it was only the torturers who had trouble getting that.

Good-old times, when people knew governments were corrupt
What kind of anarchist is he, accepting such dictatorship-like methods?

“Reasons such as?”

“Not manipulating you all.” Dream shot back. It sounded like he thought it was unstoppable. That it would happen if Dream was simply free, or even so much as not in pain.

“…Do you fancy yourself some kind of ‘monster’ systematically succeeding in manipulating everyone?” Dream flinched. Damn, was Techno spot on?

Tikki-

“...Not necessarily succeeding. I certainly do try though.”

“Do you?” Some things seemed more like social relationships built over time than a decades-old super-secret plan.

“Everything ends up as manipulation anyway.” Well, everyone is interconnected, and strong bonds do lead people to make predictable decisions.

*Rises eyebrow*
How the **** did you think of that
Dream didn’t need a psychologist. He needed an English major
^LUL

“Sounds like genuine relations to me.”

Dream turned back to look at him, tense. He retaliated angrily, gritting his teeth. “Haven’t you seen them?”

“Seen who?”

“The people I ‘built relationships with’.” Was he talking about the Dream team? “Can you really believe it was so genuine, when you see how they reacted? For them to realize they’ve been played and be so certain like that, there must have been signs.”

“What signs?”

“I DON’T KNOW!” Dream exploded, fisting his hands on the floor. He nervously got up. “Maybe- maybe it was the mask, my inexplainable reactions to certain things-” Dream put a hand on his forehead, staggering. “Conversation topics, weird behavior patterns… It could be anything.” Techno sat up but stayed silent. This…

Is it like trying to make sense of someone’s betrayal?
Was it actually Dream who needed that therapy session
Instead of blaming them he’s searching within himself what hinted at being toxic?
 “All I am is manipulation. My appearance, my tales, my pain…What I’m currently saying. Everything.” – Dream, god of manipulation

Dream sent one look his way and turned around. “And here I am, doing it all over again.”

What, ‘cause Techno looked sad? Did this guy think he was the center of the whole world’s attention or something?

He… technically is…?
LUL

“You really think you can manipulate me?”

“Me, the Great Technoblade?” – Technoblade, 2021

“Can you deny that I have?”

“Yes.”

“Ha. As if you would have gone so far as to violently blow L’Manberg up in front of its inhabitants, were you alone.”

Techno thought back to his remaining wither skulls.

He’d thought about tearing them all down to make an example, not simply disband them as Dream had done by retreating that early. After all, not a single person died canonically on Doomsday – Jack didn’t count. Wait, had Dream resurrected him too? But Jack hated him- Anyway. “I… honestly might have gone further if you weren’t there.”

Does that mean we could’ve gotten 13 more withers?
…Dream, you party pooper!
Was he forced to retreat because of the pain? …Nah, he would’ve stopped much earlier.

“You wouldn’t have moved quite as early however.” Dream continued, pushing with his arms against the wall to hold himself upright, his back turned to Techno.

“But the results would have been worse.”

Ping pong, the revenge match

“I didn’t want that. And it didn’t happen. See? Manipulation.” As if everything he’d want could only be brought into being by him alone.

Like no one, would ever do something that’s good for him on their own, not even by coincidence
^*cries*

“You didn’t know.”

“And yet everything went according to plan.”

“Did you really want that amount of destruction?” Techno asked – he had a theory he wanted to confirm. “When it must’ve hurt so bad.”

Dream shivered and subconsciously placed a hand on his chest, a bit under his heart. Did he- did he have a scar there? If so, it was even worse than Techno had imagined. “It was inevitable.” He said, his voice calm, his scent of sulfur.

“Would you really have gone that far, had you had a choice?” Techno pushed. He had said it was ‘inevitable’, not ‘necessary’.

Oh, oh! I think Techno’s onto something!
Keep pulling!
Would Dream harbor scars from the World?
^Well, he can. Those ARE physically traumatic events.

Dream turned to send him a heavy look from above his shoulder. “You’ve seen how ‘far’ I can go.” He stated more than asked, his voice full of venom.

“What?”

Dream grunted as he lowered himself to sit in front of the wall. “I know you saw, the night before. Maybe even smelled. The disturbed look on your face came morning was all I needed to realize my mistake didn’t go unnoticed.”

…Did he look disturbed?

“Your… mistake?”

^Now he sure does

“I forgot you took out the nose plugs the other day. I made an impulsive decision. I- No, you don’t want to know.”

“… What kind of ‘impulsive decision’ leads you to chop your own finger off?” Techno muttered. And what did it have to do with their current conversation? “Also, for your information, I do want to know.”

Dream sighed again, having gotten confirmation Techno had noticed the burning flesh smell and missing finger he’d tried to hide. Quite a combination of ‘mistakes’ indeed. “Training.” Dream exhaled, rather than pronounced while massaging his forehead.

…and that he just ousted himself by assuming you knew

Techno looked at him in puzzlement.

Dream scratched his ear, turning away. “…Quackity- Quackity discovered I don’t like it when he tears my fingers away. Nor the aftermath.”

Techno frowned. Just what had Quackity not done yet?

Good things?
^To Dream, yes. To others? No.
Who LIKES to have their fingers TORN OFF???

“I was training.” He said, louder. “Training to be able to manipulate him away from that method.”

“What do you mean?”

Dream sighed, holding his face with both hands. “Quackity seeks pain. He didn’t have the tools two sessions ago, but what do you think happened earlier?”

He brought… THE FINGER CRUSHER
The finger chipper- hand chipper?
Oh
BigSad

Techno stayed silent. Dream brought his hands in front of him. “He came prepared. I- I can’t stop him from doing it a few times. But I can discourage him from continuing.” Dream lifted his gaze. “All it takes is indifference.”

Indifference to having your very fingers torn off?

That’s what I said! abdzhwwn

“For most things, I can just wing it.” That didn’t bode well. “This time, I wanted- I needed to prepare a bit. I wasn’t all that used to not having hands just yet.”

‘wasn’t yet’. Techno felt a headache growing. “You’re telling me you cut off your own finger to be- what, ready to act as if it didn’t matter?”

“Not… ‘cut off’.” Techno lifted a wide gaze. “And not… once.” He admitted while wringing his hands.

Techno felt like throwing up.

Instead, he closed and covered his eyes. “I felt it was something like this.” He took a deep breath. “But that doesn’t mean you are a monster. You’re not.”

“Do you not get it!? I, am ready to tear off my fingers, on my own volition, to manipulate someone to not do just one small thing!”

“You’re just trying to protect yourself.”

“That’s not the way to go about it.”

“You didn’t find anything else though. Am I wrong?”

Dream turned away. “…”

“…Look, most of what you told me today are just occurrences of people doing things you wanted to happen either by coincidence, in virtue of a longstanding bond like me, or through pity, compassion – whatever you named it, except manipulation.” Techno affirmed. “Plus one betrayal.” He remembered. “It doesn’t even seem to be for yourself that you ‘did’ it.”

Techno sat up. “You’re not a monster, Dream.” He finished.

“That’s not what they say.” Dream said harshly, tugging at where his nametag had been, right above where Techno thought L’Manberg had left its imprint on Dream.

When Techno tried to get closer, Dream suddenly got up and went along the wall to the water hole. He fished the potatoes that had fallen earlier he then gave to Techno.

“You should get up. They’re here.” He said.

“Already?” Dream didn’t deign to answer that. “Alright, but I’m not finished. We’re continuing this discussion when I get back.” Techno berated as he moved to take up the two blocks of height he was allowed.

“…”

In that moment, Dream smelled of rain.

_____

Techno woke up sore. He was hot.

Dang, he was hot!
Hello!
Hi
And he was hot.

Hi, chat. Techno stretched, reaching a leg into the fire resistance to instantly cool off.

Come on, you can tell us. What happened *-*?

Techno reached to unfold his cape when he noticed it wasn’t his cape he was hugging.

It was Dream.

“… Am I still sleeping?”

We wouldn’t be there if you were, idiot
No, what happened!?
Be patient, he’s just woken up after less than his twelve hours
Awwwww

Techno distinctly remembered going to sleep after fruitlessly trying to convince Dream he was wrong. Nobody said it would be easy, but Techno had still felt down because of the apparent lack of progress.

Well, it couldn’t be helped; Dream couldn’t talk and didn’t want to write after yesterday’s ‘session’. He was focused on playing with his fingers behind his knees, and it honestly made Techno uncomfortable, so they couldn’t really pick up where they left off.

Too much fingers for me
hi
Good morning

That made it all the more surprising that Dream was willingly letting himself be hugged again.

Hi
So you don’t know either?

Suddenly, Dream rolled away. That must have been the quickest Techno had seen him move in the cell. Techno watched him intently as Dream hid his face in his knees.

“…Sorry.” He was probably beetroot red.

Techno chuckled. “What are you sorry for?” Dream huffed. Techno decided to leave him be for now. It seemed he had been thinking, and Techno didn’t want to bring back yesterday’s heavy mood.

Well, almost leave him be. “’Ight, come here.” Techno patted the floor in front of him. “Let me untangle that dragon nest of yours.”

Why do you look like you’re taming a scared cat

Dream wavered. “Come on, I won’t hurt you.” Techno had experience with this kind of thing. Although this might still prove to be a challenge.

Big brother experience
Ah, young Wilbur, Tommy, and mud… A grand love story
^So sad it ended so soon. I wanted Techno to suffer more!

In the end, Dream decided to crawl towards Techno without a word. Was he still too drained to talk much? In any case, he sat awkwardly in front of Techno.

Techno chuckled. “Don’t be like this.” He chided. “Turn around, at least.” Dream did, cautiously. Had he never done this?

He might have never had.
E
He just doesn't want to. Little brother energy, haha
Not everybody has played in the mud before, or gotten cleaned like that. I haven’t. BigSad

In any case, Techno started by massaging his head a bit; Dream was too tense for his liking. At first, Dream flinched every time he touched or stopped touching him. Thankfully, it gradually subsided.

He wasn’t as calm as Techno would have liked, but he started his task regardless, thinking he might get there as the grooming became repetitive.

Was it the respawning? Dream’s hair was extremely tangled, yes; it wasn’t that tight, however. The blood clots smoothly slid off once broken into one strand wide pieces, and the hair itself didn’t form any of those annoying knots that took pushing and pulling repeatedly to undo.

Techno naturally fell into his memories as he worked diligently, chat fading into the background. Dream purred quietly under his fingers.

Techno remembered the first time Phil had brushed him. It must have been not that long after two-years-old Techno was taken out of the Nether. It had taken a long time; even grumpy fifteen-years-old Wilbur had to help.

°°°°°

“Come on, Techno.” Phil pleaded, holding the end of the tub to support his weary back.

In the bath you go!

“No! I don’t want to!” Techno pouted, eyeing the large container. He narrowed his eyes. “This is suspicious.” Phil was nice, but this weird liquid was dangerous. It didn’t have a color, it didn’t smell, it wasn’t viscous; in short, the perfect poison.

It’s ‘water’. Not ‘suspicious’

“I told you, it’s just like the mushroom juice you drink from time to time.” Ha! Techno didn’t believe it. None of his senses confirmed this absurd statement; plus, it was impossible to possess so much of the precious substance. To soak a person in it was simply ridiculous.

“No!” He voiced eloquently.

Awwwww

“Don’t you feel dirty?” Techno sent a glance at his dust and, what was it called? Dirt and grass – covered pink fur. The inspection of the ground today had gone well; it was soft and cold, but it uncomfortably stuck to him way more than the Nether’s rock powder. Techno huffed, discontent. “This will make you clean again.” Phil tried, his piglin syntax more complicated than necessary; to get him used to the new language’s, no doubt.

“I can do it myself!” Techno answered in Mojang. He immediately sat on the floor and started piecing the dirt out of his fur. It annoyingly kept clinging to his hands instead of falling. He heard Phil chuckle then start rummaging through the furniture behind him. He ignored it out of spite. He was resolute to show he was a big boy able to take care of himself.

You’re getting good at this! …Except not

Why wouldn’t it fall!?

“Here.” Phil showed him a strange tool. It looked like a small shovel with the tip covered in spiky hairs. “This is a brush, made with hoglin bristles. Catches the grime.”

TECHNOlogical revolution!

Techno eyed his hand and then the brush with envy. Phil placed it in his grasp, softly laughing. Techno felt his ears lower and redden. He avoided making eye contact to try the brush on his left arm.

It was so soft! He couldn’t even feel the hard wooden surface on his skin. This was so much better than grooming! Phil laughed once more. Techno ignored him and continued brushing. Now, he would get to the end of this!

“Alright, I’m going to make dinner. Finish before our guests get here?” He challenged. Techno nodded vigorously.

So cute!
^I know, right?

Phil disappeared into the kitchen, and the voices in his head instantly multiplied. It was annoying how much there were ever since Phil found him. At least before there was only two having a death match.

We were just fangirl/boying over how cute you are, not dueling!
^You mean we ARE
Hi, I’m here to watch the cutie pie some more
Hello little guy
How does he even understand us if he has trouble with English ? We have subtitles but he doesn't
^Don’t you know? It’s instincts
This cutie…!
He declared war on the water, he’s not cute; he’s dirty!
I heard he’s two, how come he looks twelve?
That’s just how piglins age. Feast your eyes, he’ll be all grown up by next year
^Noooo, really?

‘Yeah, I’ll be big in no time’, Techno thought.

Awwww
Aw
So cute!
Aw

He put his hands over his ears. Of course, it didn’t work. These guys could be a bother.

Annoyed, Techno put more energy into brushing himself diligently.

Awwwww
Aw
And for him, that’s true

What seemed to be a dozen minutes later, he heard a knock on the main door. Was it Wilbur? Phil’s son, he had said, and his future ‘big’ brother. Excited, Techno checked that he was all clean and got up to run towards the entrance.

Techno, your back, you forgot your back!
He’s gonna fall!
Someone go tell Phil!
Already defying authority I see… Good. Muahahah

‘Don’t snitch!’ Techno pleaded. It was unnecessary anyway, he didn’t risk falling. He was just experimenting with a bit of controlled skidding.

Oh, already?
The unconscious modo…The modo unconscious?
^Moderating unconsciousness?
Alright, this chat is now regulated! Filter out, this is meant for ‘awww’s’, nothing else!

Techno reached the kitchen counter in record time and crouched behind it to spy on the door.

“Dad, I’m home!” Someone shouted as the door opened effortlessly. A soft smell of flowers entered as a man – no, a boy – about three heads taller than Techno revealed himself. He had messy deep brown hair, pale skin, and wore strange clothes, like a single piece black suit, under a lighter brown long coat. Other than the fact he didn’t look avian, he seemed to correspond to Phil’s description of Wilbur.

I confirm, it is Wilbur
^Ban him! No spoilers!
Hum…

“Wilbur! Welcome home.” Phil said from behind him. Techno flinched and froze. He couldn’t have hidden right in front of him, right?

You totally have, haha

Techno felt a hand lifting him by the scruff of the neck. He fought his body, which wanted to relax, to keep his eyes open and shyly wave at the guest, now clearly visible. “Hi?”

“Look who came to greet you!” Phil announced cheekily.

Wilbur didn’t look impressed. “Dad, is he one of the strays Mom told me you pick up from time to time?”

“What? No-” Phil spluttered as he let Techno stand on the ground on his own again.

“Oh, is he here?” Asked a woman’s voice. When she came in, Techno found himself looking dumbfoundedly at the tall woman in black. Her eyes were black. Could she be- ?

In an instant, she stood in front of him. “Oh, aren’t you cute!” She exclaimed, pinching his cheeks. Surprised, Techno fought to get away, but was only released once she had copiously tousled his long hair. “A piglin hybrid this time?”

“Yeah. Found him in the Nether. He’s two.”

“Awwwww.”

“Mom--“ Wilbur exclaimed, sounding exasperated. Was she Phil’s wife, who was supposed to drop Wilbur off?

“Oh, I almost forgot! Hello, cute one, I’m Kristin. Goddess of death, but you don’t need to concern yourself with that.” She said quickly.

“-no.” Techno mumbled.

“Hmm?”

“It’s Techno. Not ‘cute one’.” He sulked. Now that he had a true name, he was going to use it, thank you very much.

Awwww

“Oh, right. Techno. Such a pretty name.”

Could have been ‘Pickaxe’ . We avoided the worst

“Phil gave it to me.” He said, showing off his language skills.

She shot a grin at the avian in question, who turned away. “Making progress I see.”

“If only you knew-” Phil started under his breath.

“Hmm?” She hummed threateningly.

Phil shut up.

It seemed the hierarchy in this family was clear.

Mom > Dad. Duly noted.

“...Shouldn’t you be going back, dear?” Phil asked gently, going around the counter to hug her from behind.

Suddenly, she looked sad. “You’re right…” She continued mischievously. “Trying to separate me from my newest adoptive son, are you?”

“No, I-”

“I get it.” She pouted, but it soon morphed into a smile. Their faces were getting closer when something blocked Techno’s view.

“Mom! Dad! Ew! Do this outside!” Wilbur complained. Techno tried to pull what he’d identified as Wilbur’s hands away from his face, but he only got spluttering and laughing as his sole explanations.

Wilbur saving Techno’s innocence
I was worried but he might do well as a big brother

“Alright, alright! Bye, you two! See you soon!” Kristin waved. Then she seemed to hesitate for a second before coming forward. She kissed Wilbur on the forehead and put a hand on Techno’s, getting a grunt from both.

Hahaha
They’re so alike!
^Teenagers

“I’m going to tell goodbye to your father outside!” And she pulled Phil out the door, just like that.

“Bye-” They were already gone.

…

Techno looked up at a sighing Wilbur. “Hello. I’m Techno.” He repeated the greeting Phil had told him to say.

“I’m Wilbur.”

They stared at each other awkwardly.

*In SpongeBob’s voice* Two Hours Later

…

“Hum, are you really a true hybrid?” Wilbur asked.

“Phil said so.”

“Where are you from?”

“Crimson hill n°63.”

“What? I don’t know Piglin language. Yet.” Ah.

“…Then I’m just from the Nether.”

“Huh. Okay.”

…

“Where are you from?” Techno asked, copying what Wilbur said.

“Right here. I was born in this house.”

“Are you avian?” Techno continued, asking the question he was most curious about the answer to.

“Hum, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but yes. I’m a hummingbird.”

It’s a bird that can do stationary flight and eats flower nectar!

“Complicated?” Techno tilted his head.

Awwww

“…As you’ve seen, my biological mother is the goddess of death. I inherited certain characteristics from her.” He pointed at his eye as it momentarily turned black. “That’s why I spend half of my time in her domain.” He said proudly.

Oh. That explained why he wasn’t with Phil before. He was in the realm of the gods! “Wow.” Techno let slip, before hiding his mouth with his hands. Wilbur only laughed.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Phil came in. “I’m back!” He exclaimed, a bit breathless. “Have you two met?” He remarked, seeing them still at the end of the hallway.

“Welcome home.” Wilbur deadpanned.

“Ha, Ha. Very funny.” Phil said. “The stew is heating, so if you’ve gotten to know each other, why don’t we take a look at that fur, Techno?”

Techno put his hands on his hips. “I’m perfectly clean!” Wilbur giggled beside him. “What?” Techno asked with a small voice. He had a bad feeling.

Pfffft-

Wilbur reached a hand behind his head. Techno stopped moving, holding his breath, but Wilbur only put his hand on his fur before showing it to him.

It was covered in dirt. Techno’s ears lowered in embarrassment; he had forgotten his hair and back!

Told ya
Pff, so cute

Phil smiled.  “Alright, let’s go to the bathroom.”

“Not the poison!” Techno shouted, scared.

“The poison?” Wilbur echoed.

“There’s a tub full of a colorless, odorless fluid in there! I’m sure it’s toxic!” Techno vehemently informed him.

“…Isn’t that just water?” Wilbur questioned, raising an eyebrow at Phil who just chuckled.

“It is.”

Wilbur turned back to him. “Are you afraid of water?”

“That’s not water. Water is a rare resource everyone jealously keeps. It doesn’t even stay liquid for long! You can’t have that much of it!” Techno explained.

Phil and Wilbur exchanged a glance. “We’ve got to show him rain. I can’t wait to see the look on his face!”

“’Rain’?” Techno asked. He didn’t know that word.

“It’s when water falls from the sky!” Wilbur said, gesturing to the ceiling. Techno sent him a judgmental look. He wouldn’t fall into such an obvious trap.

Phil changed the subject. “If you don’t want to use the tub, we can just help with brushing your fur.”

Techno wanted to complain, but he knew he couldn’t reach behind himself on his own. Swallowing his pride, he nodded.

Phil smiled. “Also, Wilbur, I see you.” Wilbur flinched from where he was, halfway up the stairs. “Change your clothes and come back down, you’re going to help me.”

Wilbur groaned loudly. “Fine.” He resumed climbing the stairs slowly.

“And hurry up!” Phil shouted after him. A second groan answered him.

The avian turned to Techno. “Okay, come with me. We’re going to do it in the bathroom, it’ll be easier to clean.” Techno followed. He still stayed outside the room until all the poison had been magically emptied into two buckets.

He took off his tunic, pridefully unbothered. He avoided looking at Phil; he was still quite shy despite knowing no player would judge him like the piglins used to.

Phil started brushing the back of his arms while he took care of the dirt on his front. Wilbur joined in some time later, and they all happily chatted while chasing the dust away.

Techno didn’t feel embarrassed anymore.

It took a few hours to turn Techno as clean as the day he was born. A few hours that ended up being the whole evening. The stew had spilled everywhere in the kitchen when they came back.

Chapter Text

“What are you thinking about?”

“Just reminiscing of when I was brushed for the first time. After Phil rescued me from my birth tribe.”

Rescued? I thought “it wasn’t that bad”?

“Oh. Wait- Is it one of the few times Wilbur got to act as a big brother?” Dream asked cheekily. “The anecdote he told us to argue he was older?”

“He is not.” Techno asserted.

Pff
Ha, where has the small Techno wowed by his brother gone?

“Technically, he’s thirteen years older than you.” Dream commented.

That much!?
Technically, more like fourteen. 13 years and 9 months...

“And technically, I’ve been an adult longer.”

“2 more years?”

“Exactly. Therefore, I’m the oldest one.”

“…Phil must’ve been so sad to see you grow up that quickly.”

Honestly, Phil and Techno had kind of a strange relationship because of that. Techno had never gotten to calling him father, and he now considered him more of a savior of sorts than a paternal figure. They were closer to excessively close friends than father and son.

Hum, there are still times where you really do act like father and son
He still considers you his son.
You’re far from being his age tho

“Well, at least he didn’t have to deal with another puberty-undergoing teen.” Techno retorted. “The others were enough on their own.”

“I guess so.” Dream chuckled lightly, voice fading off.

Techno swiped his fingers in the part of Dream’s hair he had finished untangling. It was impossible to tell before, but it was very long. It reached the floor currently.

“Can I get your hair care routine? How did it grow so much?” Techno asked coyly. Dream’s hair had been short, maybe 5 cbl long, back in January.

Dream hesitated. “Oh… Hum, it’s not… suited for you.”

“Why?” Techno questioned, a mix of confused and teasing. Then he had a thought. “Wait, is it because you… respawn so often?”

You mean because he dies so often
Why would death help hair grow?

“…It is.” Dream said quietly. “Respawning boosts hair and nail growth by about 150 times for an hour after respawning.”

Right, not suited for Techno
Too much sacrilege has already been committed
Technoblade never dies…!
And he measured that.

“… How many times have you died for your hair to be, what, about 80cbl long?”

“I- actually have no idea. Hm.” Dream said, tilting his head. “…One respawn would account for a growth of what, on average, 150 cbl per month for one hour? There’s 30 times 24, about… 720 hours in a month, so 150 divided by 720. …A bit more than one fifth of a cbl per respawn.”

“Hum, if you say so.” Math wasn’t his forte.

*Pat pat*
Not mine either
Does someone want to do the actual calculation?

“…Which means 80 times 5 respawns.”

Techno had no words. “Damn.” It was hard to grasp just how much that number meant.

Too much

“More than 400 deaths.” Dream lowered his head. “I… didn’t think it was that many.”

…

And the thing is, looking at the ‘living’ conditions here, it was undoubtedly way more. Plus, this was not accounting the one week of suicide-less torture, while Wilbur was there.

This was beyond what Techno could truly make sense of. Who could imagine what dying more than FOUR HUNDRED times, in seven months, was like? In such circumstances?

Techno couldn’t.

We can’t help with that. Don’t wanna sound cocky, but I never died
^Thankfully you haven’t
^Noooo! You’re kidding! Haha
I wouldn’t be here if I knew
Say, fries or pasta?
^Wrong streamer
^^Fries, of course. Potatoes >>

Oh wait, if nail growth is also boosted, how come Dream’s are always too short- Nevermind. Unless… Well, no hurt in asking.

Didn’t you just learn there could be with the whole Wilbur situation??
Ask about Tommy while you're at it

Techno ignored chat. Sadly, they’d never make progress if Techno stopped asking questions. “I have a question.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s about your nails. Can I?”

“Sure?” Dream said, sounding confused. “You’re going to learn about it sooner rather than later, and you already know about the training anyway.” He murmured.

Oh good, did that mean this was the worse it was going to get?

I have a bad feeling
That’d be great
I think it means the contrary...

“How come your nails never grow but your hair keeps getting longer?”

“Oh. That’s… How to say it?” Dream hesitated, fidgeting. “…Hum, do you know the specifics of the respawning mechanics? Like, how I regrow limbs while others don’t always?”

“No, but I’m interested.” Techno answered quickly. That was one of his first question he had forgotten about.

Oh no, not MORE exposition
Has someone noted down how much Dream’s talked? For someone who can’t talk much, he sure did, and a LOT
Ha, one of THOSE
^Wait, does that mean he just didn’t want to talk earlier!?

“Hm, thought so.” Dream commented grimly. “…Respawning is based on the principle that you can’t be brought back to life in the same state you died in. You would just die again.”

Yes, huh-uh.
Not if you died from cardiac arrest?
^Well, if you’re really brought back to when your heart had already stopped beating but your brain still works… yes you’d die without intervention
Wouldn’t it save a drowning person simply by teleporting them out?
^Not if their heart or brain’s shut down already. Which they have if they died

“Uh, yes, everybody knows that?”

“Just making sure.” He thought Techno was an idiot, or what?

Maybe not you, but some people here…
I don’t blame him

Hey!

“Instead, the system’s based on a ‘spawnpoint’. But contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just a place you respawn at; it’s also a save of a state you were alive in. A spawnpoint is therefore a point in space and time. So when one dies, they’re brought back to then – typically, where and when they slept last, if possible – and their fatal injuries are replaced by the state of the injured area when they last set said spawnpoint.”

“Only the injured area?”

“Um, to be precise, the cause of death is reversed. Dying of blood loss will ensure all external and internal bleeding is stopped by ‘filling’ the wounds with flesh and regenerating the blood and any other damage. But if your nails or hair grew between last time you slept and the time of your death, you’d respawn with their new length.

“Not having a valid spawnpoint will have the same effect except you’d be brought to World spawn. Although, it results in a greater acceleration of your recovery instead of complete return to the previous state, leading more often than not to scars and permanent injuries like limb loss.

“Sleeping while injured will save that state, meaning if one with a would-be permanent injury sleeps in a bed, that injury therefore gets ingrained in their data. No death from this point on will be able to reverse it.”

“Huh, so your hair keeps growing because it’s never a fatal injury?”

“Yeah. Or rather, because it's never damaged beyond its saved state for it to be recognized as such. Since my hair doesn't burn anymore.”

“And your nails don’t because Quackity… cuts the fingers off?” And the count they'd just done didn't consider deaths by lava from before he became fire resistant. Dream had said his hair growing under constant fire resistance had resulted in that immunity pretty early on, but still. Good to know.

Didn't Sam say he used to swim in lava to get attention from him?
^Wait, he had a communicator back then but no one other than Sam saw the messages?
^...Is there some kind of jammer installed? How is that possible?

“…Essentially.” Techno’s guts twisted at Dream’s hesitation. “I can either lose the entire finger-”

-----

“-or get the nails themselves torn off, huh?” Techno repeated what Dream had told him yesterday while pinching the bridge of his nose.

Two guys in a cell~
Five blocks apart ‘cause they’re not gay.

“I mean, I said it because I saw it coming, haha.”

“Damn it, Dream.” Techno sighed. “Now we’re both chained.”

“Roommates forever?” Dream teased. Techno clucked. “Hey, at least I have more room to go around than you.”

“That’s called chain length. And isn’t it too heavy for you anyway?” Judging from afar, it looked like Dream would be able to roam the entire inner cell. His chain was probably too short for him to come close to the lava however. Sam even modified the water hole to contain a waterlogged iron trapdoor activated by a button, just so Dream couldn’t drown himself.

Ultimate unluckiness

“I’ll manage.” Dream shot down. His voice was betraying how aware he was of the problem there.

“Hah… Why would they even do that?”

“To prevent me from committing suicide to regrow my nails.”

“Isn’t tying you to the back of the cell with netherite manacles a bit overkill?”

“Well, it’s the only thing that worked so far.” Dream chuckled.

Um.
D***
…Remind me, how many times have they tried?

“… I am astounded by your determination.” Techno deadpanned. Dream let out another chuckle. This wasn’t something to be proud of!

In the end, Techno had to wait through even more painful sounding crawling as Dream went around the cell to get the potatoes or his diary.

_____

“… Say, can you write for me?”

Techno lifted his head.

“I’m putting blood everywhere doing it like that.”

Techno glanced at the finger-sized fucking bear traps clipped on where Dream's nails should have been. It was the only thing Quackity had come to do today; he had seemed satisfied by Techno’s look of horror and Dream’s visible discomfort as he did it in front of him.

When Dream had protested it went against what they’d agreed on, Quackity simply showed his teeth in a gut-wrenching smile as he said he didn’t need him to scream. That he was only leaving a ‘gift’.

No matter how many times I look at it, oof
How is Dream still coherent with those on?
It stresses me how he clicks them on the floor like nails. Brr
Turn away!

“It’s not like it’s the first time, is it?” He had asked mischievously, looking over his shoulder at Techno. Dream had flinched, even more than when the first ‘accessory’ was put on.

Quackity’s smile had turned even creepier then.

Techno chased the image away. “…Sure.”

“Thanks. Here.” Dream threw him the book and quill. Techno expertly picked it out of the air and opened it on the last used page.

“Let’s see… Entry n°150? That’s today’s, right?” Dream nodded. “We’re already the 4^th of September? Hey, I’ve been here for two weeks!” Techno commented.

Only two weeks…
One sixth of the way there, I guess?
Three months is a long time

“Um, happy incarceration unbirthday, I guess?”

Ha, a D***** princess…!
^But Alice is not a D***** princess .
^Shhhh

“Thanks!” Techno said joyfully. He steadied the book and started writing. “Techno has been here for two weeks… Oh wait, you already wrote that. Okay then, Technoblade is the greatest-”

“Hey!”

Techno laughed. “-his hugs are the best. Sub- scribe. Dot. And here, an autograph, for this big fan of mine.” Techno stylishly signed the page, putting a small drawing of an overworld pig. Dream shook his head, looking as exasperated as he was entertained.

Pff-
Never give Techno a book and quill.
SUBSCRIBE TO TECHNOBLADE!
He doesn’t even know what it means, does he?
Where’s the bell when we need it
...How do you know he's entertained

“Alright, now that the most important has been done, what do you want me to write?” Techno said with a smile.

-----

“…Hey, just thought about it, but wouldn’t head injuries reset your hair?” Techno said while brushing Dream’s hair, for the third time already. He'd just noticed a few broken off hairs that looked the 5 cbl long of before-prison-Dream.

“I don’t get head injuries. ‘Too risky’.”

“What if you’re cut in two?”

“Hmm, I’ve already cut my neck. In such cases, the rest of my body is reset instead. The head’s the center point.” Ah.

It was meant as a theoretical question, but oh well. Experimental proof was good, he supposed.

Not even bothered by the lengths Quackity’s going to anymore, huh?

‘Bothered’ wasn’t the right term. Techno was very much bothered by what he heard. He just wasn’t surprised anymore. It felt lucky that Dream had avoided concussions and the sort due to Quackity misunderstanding his canon life situation.

Darn it, he was starting to think like Dream.

Thought so
None of this is ‘lucky’
^This kind of is? Or do we attribute it to Dream’s manipulation skills?

Techno decided to keep the mood on the lighter side.

The mood was already gloomy from the moment you opened your big mouth
Maybe the tragedy is over?
Depends on how many secrets Dream still has

“Everything so you can grow your hair, huh? Is that a cosmic message?” He joked, sneakily starting to braid the blond-white hair in his hands. It was more white than blond; to be more precise, Dream’s hair lost color towards his roots. Was it the stress?

Or is Dream an old man now?
Next is arthrosis
^Honestly it wouldn’t surprise me…

Nevertheless, it kinda suited him, being the same color as his mask. 

Dream laughed. “Well, I had wanted to try it, so why not? If only it wouldn’t tangle all the time.”

“As a fellow man who tried long hair, I can tell you. You wanna sleep with your hair tied if you want to avoid that!” And maybe in better conditions, with less blood, for example.

“Is that why you’re braiding my hair?” Dream asked innocently.

Techno stopped in his ministrations. “You knew?” He said, faking betrayal. It made Dream chuckle.

“I don’t mind.”

“You know I’m going to do that every time I get back here, right?” He said, chipper.

“… As long as you hide it well.” Oh, it was going to depend on Techno’s hair dirtying skills, huh? He hadn’t shown enough yet, it seemed. Techno hardened his resolution. He’d make it happen!

Techno just likes braiding hair
^Why did he cut his then?
^Not made for potato farming
^But he looked so good back then with that straw hat!
Calling back two-years-old-Techno’s skills

Some time passed in comfortable silence.

Techno watched Dream play with the horrors on his fingers. Techno knew he was quite desensitized to pain. He knew.

Do you?

He really couldn’t understand however. Was this a form of punition? Stimuli? But Techno was right there!

A thought crossed his mind. Even when he had his panic attack about Wilbur, Dream’s nails had been barely half the length they should be, but that was after Quackity had played with cutting his fingers. They should have regenerated, no? “…Um, Dream, I understand for the hair, but what about the nails? Why are they always short even after the respawning boost?”

They should have…
True, I hadn’t thought much of it, but that was after the finger incident

“Oh.” Dream seemed surprised yet remained remarkably calmer than Techno had started fearing the moment he finished his question. “Well, you know how my spawnpoint is in this corner?” Dream pointed to the water hole before commenting lightly. “There was an incident quite early on where Quackity brought a bed to try and leave, um, ‘permanent sequels’- on me. Had you seen Sam’s face~” He said, chuckling at the memory.

“What? What face?” Techno said, subtly looking for more information. Permanent sequels? This didn’t look so good, especially since he said it so fast.

“Subtly”
Trying not to think about what could have happened

“Quackity hadn’t told him his plan, so when Sam came into the cell to him not doing a very good job of keeping me from breaking the bed, he looked so done! I almost escaped that day… Almost purely on reflex.”

“On reflex?”

“…” Dream turned away, ignoring his question. “In the end, I managed to break the bed, but Sam splashed me with potion after potion to keep me alive, and succeeded, knocking me out before setting back my spawnpoint.”

“Oh.” How sad. Techno still noted that this meant there was more Dream didn’t want to tell him.

“Back then, Quackity had… taken my nails with him not too long ago. So my last ‘save’ is with barely any nails at all; I had died a few times still, and he was just testing things out when Sam came in. I was lucky.

“So now my nails are typically almost nonexistent, with the flesh somewhat knitted together, and they grow about a seventh of the way there during the hour after each respawn.”

Damn.

“That must hurt.” Even if the respawning itself didn’t, the accelerated growth alone, while pushing the crust away probably hurt a lot.

Dream shrugged. “Not that much, actually.”

Coming from this guy, Techno doubted that was a general truth, if a truth at all.

____

“Take this.” Sam extended an orange piece of clothing to Techno. He took it, curious.

Upon unfurling it, it turned out to be the ugliest flashy orange onesie Techno had ever seen. Dream’s was actually better looking, with the used parts and faded orange. This one was straight up neon!

Pfff
Haha
Blood for the blood god
Neon Techno!

“Thanks for the mattress!” Techno said, turning back to the bridge.

“Put it on.” Crap.

He’d been caught.

Red-handed. Or dare I say, orange-handed
Blood for the blood god!

Techno decided to play stupid. “What?”

“You stink.” Wha- what? He was flabbergasted. Seriously? That’s what he was going to play at, huh?

Oh-
YOU!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!
BLOOD

“Hey, I’ll have you know I smell perfectly good! Just a bit musky, it’s a change!” Sam just continued to stare intently at him.

We demand blood!
Do you think it’s possible to make a creeper hybrid spontaneously explode?
Just a bit bloody you mean

“This thing stinks!” Techno pointed at it to emphasize what he meant. “There’s no way I’m wearing that. My shirt might be more pink than white because of the crude washing, but this! This…! Just, in your dreams. I have a fashion sense.” No reaction. Techno debated throwing it into the lava, but it would make for a great mattress. Well, greater.

Ah yes
BLOOD

“How much should I bet you won’t bring me back my clothes nor enough of these ones to make a difference? And first, showering would be immensely more helpful than changing clothes.” Going though the water tunnel didn't really work with no soap on hand.

“That’s not an option.” Techno wanted to bash his head in.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!
I like that little vein popping
Blood!
We demand blood! HIS BLOOD!

“This isn’t either! And secondly, you can’t even smell me through your mask!” Techno said, narrowing his eyes. “Wait, are you covering for your best friend?” He tried his hardest not to spit out the words, chasing images of the crazed hybrid from his mind. Sam was a nice devil in comparison.

Blood for the blood god!
BLOOD! Blood for the blood god!
Blood for the blood god! :((((
Blood for the blood god! D:
Sam’s Blood for the blood god!
BLOOD for the blood god!

“He’s not my best friend.” Sam denied, the slightest annoyance making it into his voice. Ooh, he had something!

Blood?
BLOOD!

“Ha, I see, little duck came complaining and the oh so merciful Sam obliged…!” Techno gritted his teeth in front of chat’s onslaught. “That’s it! You’re just his errand boy!” He clapped his hands to add insult to injury.

Sam grunted, sighed, and extended a hand. “Fine, give it back.” He ceded.

“No, I’m keeping it.” Techno said petulantly.

“Hand it over.” Sam set his jaw.

You, HAND YOUR BLOOD. No, lose it painfully!

“Errand boy.”

“Hand it over.” He repeated.

“No. Errand. boy.” He teased one last time. Sam closed his eyes and retracted his hand. He turned around, clenching his fist, and pushed the lever to activate the bridge without giving Techno any warning, but he was used to it by now.

…Fine, this will do
It worked!
A mattress for the blood god!
Sad…

Techno waved the new ‘mattress’ at Dream, who was on the chest, as he was transported over.

He could feel Sam’s dark glare on his back. It only widened his smile.

Ah, this felt great.

True. Can do better tho

_____

“Hey, how long would it take to break out from the inside?”

“…What are you on about?” Dream answered with a delay.

“What? Gotta talk about something.” Techno argued. They’d been silently lying down for what felt like hours already – when it was probably only a few minutes. “And if it can shut up those obnoxious people in chat it’d be great.” He added.

Dream chuckled and decided to humor him. “Depends on how you want to break out.”

“The quickest way.”

“The quickest way is to kill Quackity, then Sam, and use their pearls, potions and the keys to get out before the guards get here, through an extraordinary amount of luck. First try, of course.”

“…Yeah no, as much as I’d love to kill them, I’m not sure I can steal Quackity’s equipment while on the nude and shackled.”

“You wouldn’t be able to steal it at all. It’s curse of vanishing, so unless he gave it to you… yeah.”

“They put curse of vanishing on a perfectly fine netherite set!?”

“For security reasons.” It sure would be problematic if with one kill, the prisoner got the same stuff as the warden. Although there’d still be the issue of lost muscle mass – for all but Techno, of course.

“But… A perfectly enchanted netherite set…!” Techno overacted his dismay. Still, this was sad.

It meant they would vanish when Techno’d raid the prison in two months and a half. He wouldn’t have been against two new sets for his collection.

It would have been nice…
I suppose we’ll only be able to remind them of the loss instead of dangling their stuff in front of their eyes

Although those would have been the tools which pinned Techno’s chain, and pierced Dream’s flesh; maybe it was better if they disappeared. He couldn't deny it would have been nice to use them against their owners though.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

Techno took a deep breath. “Okay, that’s all nice and good, but what about digging a tunnel?”

“Hmm, I had made the calculations before… Let me just-” Dream dove into his chest, digging out book after book. Techno’s gaze couldn’t help but deviate to his hands – the bear traps, manacles and all had been taken off after three days, and his nails had been allowed to regrow.

It had taken Quackity seeing him nonchalantly play with them for that. Not even his otherwise impassive disposition had changed anything.

Techno felt kind of bad about his reaction now. Dream had done that for a purpose; so he wouldn’t so much as flinch when Quackity walked on his hands by the time the wounds started to get infected. Techno had feared the duck would let it fester, but thankfully, that hadn’t been the case.

Brr
It had already gotten quite bad though

No, they were just back to a ‘regular’ rhythm of Techno being taken out every day since yesterday. He didn’t know if he should be relieved or not. Dream was too good, way too good at hiding his pain to decide that.

“Found it!” Dream lifted a book out of the chest. It looked like any other book, but it probably was part of the ones written in code. He had read every other one, except the diaries. “Let’s see.”

Techno waited as he flipped the pages quickly, knowing what he was searching for.

"There! Breaking one obsidian block by hand with the help of the system but Mining fatigue III, it takes 7.7 days.”

“… For one block?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. This is worse than I imagined.”

“I know, right? It’s difficult to picture the time it takes to use the system without the appropriate tools. And that’s not even considering the amount of food – food we do not have – that would be needed for such an endeavor.”

“Wouldn’t it be quicker to do it by hand?”

“Probably. Although it’d be harder, since it means debris to evacuate, on top of trying to maintain a correct width for us to crawl through. You see the hole in the crying obsidian near the lava?”

“Yeah?”

“I started scraping the entire block, yet didn’t even reach 15cbl deep with a hole barely a finger wide. And I had to stop because I couldn’t find any more edges to extract new pieces.” 

"15 cbl? It looks 5 though."

"Oh, then it must have regenerated. That's a good sign."

huh, I don't follow
^If it regenerated it means the World has energy to spare Dream, although it can't reach him

“Ah.”

“Anywho, it’s actually impossible to escape that way.”

Damn.

Damn
You hear that? Everybody back off!
Nooooooooo

This means that hole wasn’t an attempt at a toilet?

…

Techno shamelessly ignored chat. "...How can obsidian regenerate?"

"Well, it's not normal crying obsidian, it's-"

NOOOO, not more exposition...
But it's important
^You sound like my mom

_____

Techno bit into his first potato of the day. What an incredible breakfast.

I can feel the dryness of the potato in your tone

“I really need to talk to Sam about this.” Techno crushed another bit in between his teeth. “If you’re going to eat them raw, potatoes should be fresh. It’s like for bread!”

“Dunno about that.” Dream commented while chewing on his own – poisoned – meal. A potato, as one might guess.

Guys, guys, I bet tomorrow’s meal will be potatoes!
^No shit, Sherlock. The question is how fresh they will be, and how many will be poisoned. ^There's a betting pool for that if you want!
Really? Link?

Techno had discovered that during the whole ‘everybody’s chained’ period; Dream was immune to poisonous potatoes. They were actually more nutritious to him, somehow. That explained why he kept on stockpiling them. Although they didn't get many; only about ten Dream had eaten through back then.

Dream had tried to convince him – without having him try, of course – that the poison made them easier to eat. More moisture, the taste of a good sauce, apparently.

“You, you have no right to say anything.” Techno pointed, narrowing his eyes.

“Hm.” Techno went back to complaining about Sam’s lack of sense. “But they’re really better poisoned.” Dream murmured. Techno pitied him. His sense of taste was, more likely than not, long gone.

He’d offer him a homemade boiled potato as soon as they got out.

_____

Hi!
Hello
Good evening
^Morning!
^Isn’t it around noon for them? Techno’s sleep cycle is very shifted

Techno pushed against the wall to sit up. “Hi.” He said to Dream, who was suspiciously lying down right next to Techno.

“Hi.” He was in his arms, wasn’t he? He’d gotten his hug during the night and then acted like nothing happened again.

Awwww
Aww
UwU
How cute
Gotta talk him out of it!
There’s no shame in hugging!

What happened? Chat was particularly loud today.

ToNIGHT
^No, it’s day
The potatoes just dropped, it can’t be noon
E
E
E
Don’t you have anything else to say
We’re a lot today!
Techno in pink is the best
SUBSCRIBE!
Blood for the blood god
E
A video just dropped about this arc!
Dream redemption arc?
Why doesn’t Dream stream?
^Oh, you, you’re a newbie. He’s not a streamer
E

Techno was already tired.

Heh, subscribed.
The donations… are open!
E
EE
E
Got some free time today
Are you gonna participate in the MCC this time too? From prison?
Where’s Sam so I can break his nose? *angel face*
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
E
All of a sudden-?
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BE QUIET!
What’s happening here?
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

It's not the time!

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
E
Bloofd for the bkod gos !
^Oof, that’s a typo alright

Techno sighed and massaged his temples. The next few hours were going to be painful.

Something touched his shoulder. Techno jumped, but it was only Dream. He hadn’t heard him with all that noise. “You okay?” He asked. Techno barely pieced his words out.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He said, controlling his volume like he’d learned to do in such cases. “Chat is just being loud again. I miss having a bell when it’s like that.”

E
EE
E
e
The bell…
The bell!
E
E
E
Blood
E
E
EE
SUBSCRIBE to TECHNOBLADE
E
E
E
SUBSCRIIIIIIIIIBE
E

“A bell?”

“Hitting it and shouting to subscribe somehow calms them.”

Dream tilted his head at him. He then lifted a finger like he just had an idea. If he said something, Techno didn’t hear.

Because of the goddamn noise.

NOOOOOOOOO
E
E
E
Don’t be so loud!
SUBSCRIBE TO TECHNOBLADE
E
E
E
E
E
e
Is there no one to put emote only???
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
EEE
Euh
eeee
I
Ban them! Ban them allllllllll

Haaaa. Asking the others to calm down only adds to the noise, you know-

Dream shoved a book into his hands. Techno looked at him in puzzlement. In exchange, Dream hit the cauldron with another book he had in hand, and started playing a sort of – yeah it was a melody.

“Sub~scribe~”

Subscribe!
Subscribe, everyone!
SUBSCRIBE TO TECHNOBLADE
Subscribe to the blade!
Subscribe!
Subscribe!
Subscribe!
Subscribe!
Subscribe!
Subscribe!

Techno laughed and joined in.

It worked.

Subscribe!

_____

“How many times will I have to tell you, no, we can’t cultivate our own potatoes!” Techno sighed into the cell, exasperated.

Dream was giggling behind him, while writing in his diary.

“The light is terrible, not even talking about the air quality, and we simply don’t have dirt! I don’t wanna water them with Dream’s blood-”

“Actually, that’d be a good fertilizer-” Techno turned around on him in a second.

“You don’t get to say anything.” Techno narrowed his eyes at him. “Poisoned potato enjoyer.” Techno insulted him – it only made him cackle harder. Dream had taken a liking to that title. Made it seem like some things were actually good in here.

Techno turned back to the lava he’d started addressing like the chat member was there. “…And, as I was saying, you can’t grow plants on full compost! Especially without decomposers in your soil-”

Techno ranted for a very long time that day. Dream liked not being involved in the conversation. Techno mentioning Tommy, if only to quietly tell his chat to shut up about it, was putting a lot of pressure on him. He knew he had to, and was preparing to talk, but... he wasn't sure it wouldn't ruin everything.

Techno looked interested... And the uneasy looks he shot him in those moments only made Dream feel guilty for withdrawing that information from him.

After all, he already knew about Wilbur... And that the same had happened before.

The worst of it he could deduce. The rest... not so much.

But did Dream have the right to defend himself like that when he was clearly the culprit? He had taken Wilbur's end well...

Would he be able to bear the sudden hostility whenever Techno made up his mind? For now, he was looked at with a semblance of pity, but...

Tommy was still his brother.

He didn't even have the right to keep that information from him.

Dream closed his eyes, letting his feather rest on the paper.

Relationships are based on trust.

Trust is based on truth.

Trust, is based on truth. On the belief it will be made light of, in this case.

Dream wanted to live up to Techno's expectations. That would be in his favor, at least... NO!

...

He just really wanted to, he thought, looking at Techno's back bouncing with laughter.

...But when to talk? His stomach was already twisting into knots.

Would there ever be a right time?

Could there be?

__ 3 days later __

“-Phil looked so proud of himself, having the rain concentrate on me. I hated him for a while after that. Needless to say, I despised showers for a long time afterwards. And avoided being outside while it rained.” Techno concluded his anecdote.

You must have been dirtier than now
Baths go brrr

Dream chuckled. Techno smiled and continued braiding his hair in a crown while thinking about what he could tell next. Techno was quite proud of his newly acquired braiding-while-shackled skill.

Truly a Disney princess

Dream tensed, starting to curl slightly, when Techno brushed his nape. He immediately switched to lightly rubbing him, letting the braid he had just started fall. It was important for Dream to be comfortable.

zzzz
Charging anecdote... 65%

Another few minutes passed like that, in a comfortable if a little awkward silence.

Charging anecdote... 99.975%

“...You know, the novel you read, I wrote it for Tommy.” Dream suddenly said, taking Techno by surprise. Dream mentioning Tommy?

Gasp
huh?
WOW
Don't mind me, fell off the stairs
Pff-
LORE!
^Shh!

“It was?” Techno encouraged. Was that why he had tensed? Because he was bracing himself?

Finallyyyyy

“Yeah. He came on the second day I was here. Back then, I tried to apologize. He said he’d come back but I had to write him five novels as homework. And I actually did it. Well, I had nothing else to do.” He justified. He was fidgeting again.

Techno picked up his braid, to not show his interest and pressure him further.

Hmm
I'm all ears!
He did do it?
What does he mean he tried apologizing? Did he lose courage?
^Or maybe it just wasn't accepted.
^It for sure wasn't

“He did come again, you know, a while later. Entry n°45.” Dream looked up and forward in place of to the ceiling, because of the weight of Techno’s hand on his scalp. “A cat came with him. Or at least, that’s what I made him believe. Hope had actually come on her own. She was sent by the World to comfort me... At that point, it could hardly contact me directly anymore, since Sam had already started putting into practice some advice Quackity must have given him.”

A cat?
Why is he mentioning that?
He called her Hope, really. Down here.

“Already? Didn’t you say Quackity didn’t come until entry n°51?”

“Quackity hadn’t visited before then, but the crying obsidian was put in place before- before Sapnap’s visit.”

...Then how did the 'I do it to protect my family' excuse work?

...Sus
Indeed
Dream has hurt plenty of people before
^But not from prison, so it's just vengeance
Not wrong
E

“Ah right. The blocks made in your blood.” Dream had said that on top of preventing the creation of a nether portal, those blocks were created by cooling lava sources - ones he’d probably dived into - with his blood while underneath a piece of true crying obsidian, which conferred them a similar blocking ability, as well as regeneration upon accumulation of energy.

“Yeah.” Dream said, putting an end to the conversation.

This just sounded like sorcery to Techno. Also, to lose that much blood, Techno was sure Dream must have lost quite a bit of time in that drugged daze Sam put him in. One more thing to despise Sam for.

Dream took a deep breath. And then another. Undecided on whether he should continue, probably.

Techno decided to help him. “What happened then? Where’s Hope?” He asked, still massaging his skalp in calm circles, destroying all the work he had previously done.

Another breath. “...The problem with Tommy visiting was, something happened that forced Sam to confine him with me while he checked the prison over. Well, the good thing was, although not much, I got better food for a few days." Dream chuckled alongside Techno.

“...The bad thing was that Tommy was even angrier. He refused to listen to me, and I don’t know why, but he kept asking me for the Revival book. He tried taunting me by saying it didn’t exist, and I couldn’t afford for Sam to learn about it, so I kept saying it did.

“Only Tommy ended up believing me. Now don't misunderstand- That was the plan. What wasn't, is that he started threatening me for it. And he ended up- He- he killed Hope in front of me.” Dream’s voice sounded strangled as he swallowed. “I couldn't do anything. And then- while I was mourning- I screamed at him- I had my guard down and he- ...killed himself on me." A shaky expiration. Dream was trembling now. "Like- Like Wilbur did barely three weeks later.” He sounded like he was crying.

So it is what happened
Was Dream that distracted?

“Oh.” Techno mouthed sadly. So that's how it happened. Tommy had attacked him in a moment of vulnerability he himself had caused. Techno stopped what he was doing in favor of hugging the Teletubby. He looked like he needed the comfort. And to know that Techno wasn't angry with him.

Tommy can be despicable!
Don't forget how much of a **** of **** Dream is tho
Hope... :'(
He should have been able to dodge!

Dream flinched but let the hybrid hug him, his trembling receding a little. “…Sorry. I shouldn’t- I had resolved to tell you-”

“Shh.” Techno shushed him, hugging him harder.

It had happened not once, but twice. In rapid succession, in Dream’s mind. Techno was pretty sure about two months had passed in between those two events, but Dream probably couldn’t count them accurately under Quackity’s torture. 

Tommy had been resurrected as soon as Dream gathered enough force to do so. It had taken three days, a testament to how weakened he had been.

How come he was that weak tho. It was before Quackity
^Yeah it's strange
Poor Hope
Animal abuse!

The void hadn’t only done Tommy good, but currently, Techno was sadder that Hope didn’t make it. It was kinda Tommy's fault, the reckless bastard. he was careless. It should have been his last life, had Dream not been kind enough to resurrect him, when Dream himself had been killed twice by the kid, in complete dishonor might he add.

Techno was really flabbergasted by how little hostility Dream showed him, just like he had noticed the first day. Was it beaten out of him or had he honestly only held that much?

He could also be hiding it to gain your favor...

From what Dream told him afterwards, he’d known that cat for a long time; she’d been watching him from afar for years. And he sounded very attached to her. It only added to Techno's confusion.

Later that night, unbeknownst to Techno, blood dripped out of Dream’s mask.

Chapter Text

Entry n°158
Supposed to be the 11^th of September 2021

First entry of the fourth diary. I have officially used 10 books now. I’m going through them too quickly… But I’d rather save these eventful times now than count my words and forget them.

I still flinch when Techno styles my hair; it’s gotten way better than before however. I genuinely like when it does it, especially now, so that's good.

The poison is spreading further. I’m coughing blood from time to time again. I thought I- I didn’t consider this could happen before telling him about Hope… Hiding this over the next few months will be agonizing. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to be able to smell any blood I hide under my mask.

Quackity seems to have forgotten to poison me again despite it having been a while since the last time. I can walk, somewhat painlessly. At least it allows me to help Techno wash his shirt more comfortably, so he doesn’t have to do it in the cauldron.

Just remembering that makes me cringe. I wonder what he’ll say if he learns what’s in there… For now the water is too dirty and he doesn’t have enough leeway to get a good look, so I guess it won’t be until he’s unchained.

Still, it shouldn’t be long until that happens; Sam is getting tired of using pearls to come pin him down. Since he probably doesn’t leave the prison, he must be buying them from someone else. Maybe I could offer him a replenishing stack of pearls? But I don’t want him to always pin Techno down… I should give it more thought.

Infinite pearls Permanent strength Lava flowing like water Alarm system
Conditional curse of vanishing Just enchants? Magic farmland A pickaxe that mines at the same speed regardless of mining fatigue Enchanting custom items so they can be put in the inventory

One problem remains: how to give anything to him without Techno being there… No. It won’t work.

At this point, giving more is exactly what they want. They’ll threaten Techno to get whatever, until I can’t give what they ask me for. Not without getting out.

That’s when they’ll kill Techno. They might even repeat this with Ranboo or Phil or anyone, until they’ve essentially rendered me harmless. Harmless to them, who hold what is dear to me, but the worst weapon in the world, depending on how desperate or out of my mind I am, how they play me.

And I’m too dangerous, more than they realize, to simply let that happen.

No.

Instead, Dream thought, when he got the opportunity, he would have to get them under his thumb.

_____

Dream was still on the chest when the lava surface reached the top of the cell. Techno was already on his feet, although he kept grumbling about the crappy ceiling being too low and dripping all over his painfully washed blouse.

As it had started happening more and more frequently, the netherite blocks lowered early and a pearl came flying in. Sam no longer had the patience to take the bridge himself; nowadays, he pushed Techno on it as soon as it was uncovered, coming to the cell by pearl. Just like he pinned him down in the few seconds before the lava covered the cell, not even letting it stop moving for a moment.

The main cell wasn’t designed to let a prisoner easily move in and out, after all. Techno had even reported hearing Sam complain about it from time to time.

The pearl hit the netherite blocks near the left wall. Dream looked down as usual, yet instead of Sam’s crouching form, his gaze was met with grey pants.

Pants he only knew too well.

“Hi!” An excited voice rang out.

Quackity.

What was he doing here, when Sam hadn’t taken Techno out yet!?

A certain Techno whose surprise had instantly morphed into cold anger. Looking at the red aura oozing from him, his chat was most probably chanting for blood already.

Quackity’s gaze rested on Dream. “What are you doing up there?” He asked, his tone innocent, his face menacing.

Dream crossed his fingers Techno wouldn’t do anything stupid as he quickly lowered himself to the floor. Well, as quickly as possible while being careful not to use his legs.

There was no need to remind Quackity of his oversight.

Maybe if he hid it well enough, the avian would believe the poison’s effects simply lasted longer and longer; and he wouldn’t be wrong, per se. The more one considered eternity, the longer it seemed.

From beneath his eyelids, Dream inspected Quackity’s glint-less eyes.

And he shivered.

Dream had gotten too confident. He should’ve hugged the floor as soon as he heard the redstone door.

Now Quackity was mad.

It was never good when he was mad.

Dream stopped himself from looking Techno’s way, cold sweat dripping down his spine. Why was he still there!?

Quackity placed a block of sand.

It gave Dream pause.

In Quackity's hands, a cactus briefly appeared as he scrolled through his hotbar to reach an empty slot.

…Oh.

The duck hybrid then stalked forward while uncovering a long strap hidden under his vest. Vest which he discarded on the floor, irrespective of the blood that would no doubt get on it.

Wait. No, it wasn’t a strap. Rather… Manacles, linked by a long rubber band. About… one block long, maybe?

Quackity lifted a hand to ask for Dream’s wrist. …Should he fight? Techno was here- The bridge activated.

Untensing, Dream gave his right arm to Quackity, who shackled it with a sharp smile.

Techno was full-on making guttural noises behind him. Strangely, or maybe not so much considering Techno was flock now, it somewhat warmed Dream’s heart.

However, said heart quickly cooled back down at how Quackity, who was facing away from Techno, started genuinely smiling at the same time.

Dream really needed to do something. This couldn’t continue. Quackity was playing with the sole limit of their deal.

Where was Sam?

As if invoked, the creeper appeared in a cloud of purple particles, and as had become routine, took out the nail pinning Techno, who once again tried to look back as he was dragged to the newly arrived platform.

What a familiar sight. Heartbreaking, but familiar.

The aura had dissipated.

After a quick back and forth between the cell and the antechamber, Quackity faced the glaring piglin hybrid as he placed the sticks he’d brought around the four corners of the sand block. They were three blocks tall; Quackity stuck them between the floor and ceiling, making sure they didn’t move. He then turned to Dream with the gaze of a child offered ice cream.

“Today’s going to be quite the show!” Quackity licked his lips as he picked up the rubber band-like restraints, stars now stubbornly glimmering in his eyes at the prospect of the screams he was going to get. “Just look at what I brought. Hum, by the way, do you say two cactus or two cacti?” He asked lightly, his speech sounding forced.

Dream just glared at his cruel grin, withholding a flinch at being held in place against the sand. Quackity did not have to tell Techno the theme of this session. He would get ideas!

Quackity ignored him in favor of dragging the second wrist holder around the four sticks before closing it on Dream’s left arm he had been clenching. The elastic was pulled taut, digging Dream’s shoulders into the sturdy wood he was now hugging.

Dream looked up to find the door closing behind Techno. Just as he let out a small sigh of relief, Quackity tilted his face now sporting dead-looking eyes anew, his smile gone. He was switching between one state and another as quickly as a lunatic.

“What are you relieved for?” He said with a numb tone.

Then, he placed a cactus in between Dream’s stretched arms.

Needles a few centiblocks long appeared into his skin and eyes. Blinded, Dream let out a scream, heedless to the needles tearing into his lips and mouth.

And then it was over.

And it began again, with not so much as a warning word.

Again and again and again.

Each time, Dream screamed as more holes were dug into him by more needles.

Throughout the pain of the cactus being repeatedly destroyed and replaced, as his blood flowed from the entire front of his body, Dream lost the ability to think.

However, one thing resonated through his being, not formulated in words, as he remembered the last image he had of Quackity.

In that moment, he truly looked insane.

-

Quackity clucked in annoyance. “Sam will bring you new clothes and bandages.” He said nonchalantly.

…? Was it over…?

Glass exploded on the floor, not too far away.

“Don’t forget to cover this.” Quackity sneered, disgust clear in his voice. He was probably talking about his naked legs Dream was trying to use to hide his naked body.

Dream knew the cracks reached up to half his thighs by now; they were more than 3 mbl wide for the thicker ones, which were branching into thinner and thinner scars that crisscrossed all over his lower limbs.

Their non-reflexive black made them troubling to look at, as they gave off no feeling of depth.

It was like looking into an abyss, he remembered.

Maybe Dream should be thankful for that; by passing his hand on them, he could feel how they marked slack protrusions here and there. His skin had turned irregular over the course of the sessions.

No doubt Dream’s legs would look even more disgusting were those their natural color.

Swish.

Dream was too slow to perceive the hints for him to avoid Quackity’s kick to his right side. Warm and wet blood pearled out of the needles holes from the cacti he took to the front since his last death. Another kick accompanied it, sending Dream across the cell to land somewhere in its center.

Dream hesitantly started to explore his surroundings with his hands. He couldn’t feel the track he had smoothed down. One would think he had every nook and cranny of the cell memorized; but he had refused to let himself fall so low this early. And he wasn’t blinded that often.

He kind of regretted it now.

Dream’s ears rang loudly as he frantically searched around for something he recognized. How was he supposed to find the lava?

He was in range of the beacon, as he had fire resistance, unless some of that splash potion of Quackity’s had gotten on him. Sadly, that made it impossible for him to locate his position based on the heat. The cell wasn’t so small that he was guaranteed to touch a recognizable element by spreading his arms and legs across, so he stopped moving and listened in, ignoring the ringing.

Lava popped from seemingly everywhere, and tears dropped nearby. Other than that, no hints that someone else was present.

Had he left?

There didn’t seem to be any movement in the cell, but he also hadn’t felt him teleport away.

Choosing to trust in Quackity’s haste, Dream carefully untucked his cramping wings, spreading them slowly despite the painful tingling of blood flowing back into them-

Argh!

-only for a shoe to stamp on his right hand with the whole weight of an avian.

Dream’s stomach sunk. Quackity was there.

He waited with bated breath, anxious, for a nondescript amount of time. Quackity had lifted his foot, and Dream had therefore no idea where he was. There was no sound.

…

Whack!

Dream rolled across the floor, reeling from the hit to his gut. He screamed with a small delay, remembering too late he should.

Quackity cackled from somewhere in front of him. “Oh, this is more fun than I thought!”

Immediately, Dream curled on the floor, pressing his head down and protecting his nape with his hands.

It was a false signal. This wouldn’t end that soon.

Whump! “Wingless waste.” Quackity muttered with a small, disgusted shiver in his voice. Dream flinched, as much from being sent to kiss the floor as from the words themselves.

Oh, it was rare for him to mention anything to do with his open wound-like wing junctions, he noted, detached.

Dream took to the position again, filling the gap under his belly with his knees this time. His scars stretched, but at least he shouldn’t be sent flying anymore.

Whop!

Wham! Whack!

Dream kept returning to his defensive position each time Quackity broke it, whether he’d collided with a wall or scraped against the floor.

Whop! Wham!

Every time.

Whack! Thump. Thud!

He didn’t know how long it continued like that.

Wham!

He was so tired.

Smash! Whump!

He didn’t know when it ended, either.

But it must have.

-

Dream came back to himself in a daze.

The cell was eerily silent. Only the sound of the lava lazily flowing resonated in his head.

He could taste his blood.

Something felt wrong.

The ground was irregular and hot; the air scorching in the indistinct way characteristic of fire resistance. His hair brushed against his ears in ways that made him shiver.

Something felt wrong.

His legs’ scars scraped the obsidian, devoid of any bandages as they were. His wings felt no fabric. Right, his clothes had ran out of durability against the cactus earlier.

Something was wrong.

He couldn’t see anything.

Dream lifted his head, reflexively putting up a hand to block the blood from dripping out of his mask.

Quackity!

Upon that realization, Dream curled back into himself, his heart beating loudly in his ears.

He tried to calm down the way Techno taught him, breathing in and out progressively slower, while trying to keep as silent as possible.

It seemingly took ages for his ears to allow him to listen to the bubbling lava and quietly falling crying obsidian tears again.

Dream didn’t dare hope, but he still didn’t hear Quackity’s breathing, and he hadn’t gotten kicked yet.

He’d have stayed still until Sam arrived if he hadn’t been naked. Quackity didn’t say anything about his scars if it wasn’t to insult him; however, Techno would have questions.

And Dream wasn’t ready to tell him about his childhood nor to bear his anger at being chosen as flock without warning. Talking about Mighty would only make him angrier, if not disgust him – although he didn’t seem to be disgusted by Dream often, unless he was reading all of this wrong and Techno absolutely despised him- Better not to think about that possibility.

All of that to say: Dream needed clothes. And to put clothes on, he needed to see. And to see, he needed to die. But it had been too long since the cactus, which meant he had to either dig his eyes out or put them in the lava.

He’d prefer the lava. Taking off his mask should do the trick, meaning he needed to unstick it. Which meant magic.

…Maybe he’d better simply gouge his-

Taking a deep breath, Dream planted his teeth, through his mask, into his arm.

Grunting, he put more force into it, chasing away every thought until he had separated a sizable piece of flesh he immediately spit out into his right hand. It wasn’t like his mouth wasn’t already full of the taste of his blood.

Panting, Dream carefully placed the small piece onto his leg to not lose it, the bruises an efficient way to locate it.

He took another shallow breath, and dipped his hand into his bleeding wound.

He used the blood to draw the complex runic symbols on his mask that would make it able to ‘relocate’. He couldn’t undo the curse of binding; it’d be too hard to make again from here.

This was the only spell he could use in these… unfavorable conditions, and even then, he had to make it very limited, and with as much physical support as possible. The reason he needed a piece of his flesh was because this spell was meant to adapt the mask to a new face configuration. Dream therefore needed skin under his mask to move it to.

Sighing, he picked up the flesh, biting onto the bloody inside part of it before pushing it with his hand so it passed completely through the mask. He then used his lips to push it forward. As it became the most prominent skin on his face, the mask moved with it; when Dream let go, the mask fell with the disconnected flesh, and Dream accompanied it to the floor, careful not to touch the inside of it.

Now that it was done, Dream turned around toward where his wings had allowed him to identify the entry of the cell was, and in a few aching strides, found himself surrounded in the thick and heavy falling lava. In less than a second, the fire resistance expired, and Dream started burning.

It was hot. A kind of heat he knew, but which couldn’t calm his shivers. The pressure of the melted stone on his face felt comforting. Then Dream opened his eyes, lifted his face and was greeted by a pain he had until now been spared.

The lava was crushing his eyeballs.

Dream was pretty sure he screamed before lowering his head back down, if only judging by the blistering liquid in his mouth.

Well, at least now, he was sure everything would heal.

‘How ironic’, he thought, as his tears and sweat mixed with the lava, creating droplets of stone that vanished at once.

The void was welcoming. More than it had been before. That meant the World was getting better, to Dream’s relief and joy.

He’d take care of the parasite soon, he promised. For now, he let the energy fill his exhausted spiritual body. This had already depleted most of his meager reserves.

Thud.

Dream painfully crashed into the blackstone pushing him into the drop chute. He landed harshly onto the iron trapdoor for the umpteenth time that day, and was greeted by the proccing of an Elder Guardian slowing his body back to his new ‘normal’, as well as by lukewarm water tickling his toes. Blue water.

He could see again.

And on the water was reflected to him something he hadn’t seen in a while. His own face.

Apart from massive eyebags, it wasn’t much different from what he remembered. A little gaunt, yes, but it wasn’t like it was the first time. What felt strange was his hair, white and long, reminder of the time spent here.

Well, it went well with his scars. Dream wondered if it would glitter like them too. It was impossible to tell with only the lava’s red glint.

Shaking himself, Dream collected the ‘mattress’ from the chest, walking there purely for the sentiment of freedom it brought compared to crawling. If only the cell wasn’t so small, he’d have run.

How he missed the air whipping across his face as he crossed biomes one after the other.

Sneering at the marks of curse of binding on the uniform, Dream resigned himself to put it on regardless. This, as dreadful as it was, wasn’t worth staying on the nude, scars exposed for the whole world – Techno – to see.

Dream then looked down at his mask. Sighing, he turned to the ceiling, passed a hand on his face, then picked it up.

The paint had really deteriorated, huh? The white was cracked all over, showing the enchanted black layer underneath that covered the entire thing. He hadn't thought it was that bad from Techno's descriptions.

The smile it had once sported now resembled more of a grimace.

Maybe he should just wipe it all off. Go back to how it was back then. It wasn’t like he’d get any paint to fix it anytime soon.

Dream checked the integrity of the spell on its surface, appreciating his neat handwriting despite everything, examined it all one last time, and pressed it back onto his face.

He took the piece of flesh into his mouth, unsticking it from the mask as it took back its place, turned it with his tongue, and spit it backwards. He threw it in the cauldron as he went over to wash the blood off his mask.

He then sat down and waited for the routine to resume its course like nothing happened.

Again.

_____

“Sorry, he identified the remains of the braid. He says not to bother destroying it because he’ll do it himself-”

“Wait wait wait! …Wait.” Dream stopped in his explanations to look at Techno’s serious face. “You mean we’re hair busted?” He whispered.

…Dream didn’t hold back.

He facepalmed.

_____

“ – thankfully that’s when I arrived, vanquishing the baby zombie in one fell swoop and-”

Dream traced circles on his palm with his feather’s soft side, shivering at the contact, while sitting on the chest.

“- I convinced him to move to a less dangerous world. As you know, I had already been here for two months-”

That’s when Dream spotted it.

“And you gave Phil your approval, or I guess ‘why listed’ him or something.”

Dream got off the chest, going to the water hole.

“Dream?” Techno asked.

“Continue, don’t mind me.”

“Oookay.” Techno dragged the word, before eagerly going back to his story. “All of that to say, a baby zombie was, in the end, what Phil needed to leave that eighteen years-old world. Not my or Wilbur or Tommy’s encouragements, but a baby zombie. Or almost dying, if you will. Damn old man. It's not like we didn't have options-”

Dream reached the water. And there it was.

His second piece of dust.

“- I mean, he did stay in his old world for at least a few centuries, so this one wasn’t that old for him-”

It would join its predecessor on the lectern.

“- chunks got more dangerous the longer we stayed in them however-”

No, he wasn’t looking for distractions, what do you mean?

…

It’s not like it was the third time Techno told that story.

…

(It was.)

_____

Dream leaned onto the wall, closing his eyes to Techno’s rambling. He had stopped trying to quieten him up a long time ago.

“So, to reassure Phil, and finish learning Mojang, I studied language for a bit more than a year in total before I dropped out ‘cause the new World admin had arrived and unceremoniously kicked Phil out.

“Needing to move Worlds was a great excuse to stop studying-”

Sigh.

Soon, Dream would have to do it. His stomach churned as he recalled the results of his ‘test’.

It would work.

But what did it say about him? Both that it was possible, and that he was going to do it?

“-After that, I started travelling with him and we freed some people from some governments together. There was this time-”

He didn’t like what his mind answered him.

Monster.

Dream looked up. Would Techno even have something to say about it?

Could this be justified?

Or was that just a monster’s wish.

...He was relying on Techno too much, wasn’t he?

_____

Techno looked at Sam.

Sam looked at Techno.

Dream was there.

Sam had a pickaxe nonchalantly thrown over his shoulder. The similarities with Quackity made Dream uncomfortable.

Sam turned away, heading for the back of the cell. Where Dream was.

Dream didn’t like how his body told him to run, like he was that skittish child who had just learned that neutral faces were worse than angry ones again. He fought his instincts to look Sam in the eye.

Unconvinced people couldn’t bear the gaze of those they harmed.

So, Dream held on. Because Sam couldn’t be ‘convinced’.

He couldn’t be.

He knew the good of what he let happen, but it wasn’t for nothing that he avoided looking at it, just like he’d been too ashamed to care for Dream at the beginning.

Dream had understood then.

He understood.

Sam walked. He stopped in front of Dream, sizing him up, pupils seemingly shaking. Dream’s clothes had already lost their neon color, taking on the brownish hue of the previous ones. Except for that, they were intact; Quackity hadn’t used any of the more creative things on them yet.

Sam turned away while extending a hand forward, palm down. Dream started wondering what he wanted when a steak fell from it onto him.

He picked it up eagerly. This was a rare occurrence. Maybe Sam had actually started giving in to his guilt, as he had given Techno another ‘mattress’ after he told him Dream had to wear the precedent one. That or Techno was a better swindler than he thought.

Sam walked away in silence to go mine the iron trapdoor in the water source.

Dream nervously looked at Techno. Would he understand what this meant? Couldn’t Sam have done this later, after taking Techno out?

Thankfully, Techno looked clueless. He mustn’t have known what waterboarding was, despite all his trouble with water when younger. This session might honestly be one of the worst for Techno to witness. This reinforced Dream’s motivation to do something.

It was still horrible.

“Why are you doing this?” Techno asked suddenly.

“…Mining the trapdoor?” Sam shot back, sounding exhausted.

“No. You know full well what I’m talking about.”

“And you know full well why I’m doing it.” Sam repeated, like he had said it a hundred times. Maybe he had.

“Letting someone under your watch be tortured?” Techno said, all tense shoulders and clenched fists.

“…”

Sam’s lack of answer would only fuel Techno’s anger. Why didn’t he tell him what he had said to Dream before? This was the best – if not the only – way for Dream to learn.

But Sam kept silent, mining away. And Dream didn’t have the guts to say it himself, because it would be betraying all of Techno's and their efforts.

It was enough that he knew, right?

“You know, I’ve even been too kind.” Techno started again. “You haven’t just let it happen, you encouraged Quackity and did a fair bit of ‘work’ yourself.” Techno sneered. “Where is the just Warden in that? You can’t even look in the eyes of your captive, of your victim. The one you keep neglecting-”

“Techno, stop it.” Dream intervened, uncomfortable. This was just the result of Sam’s doubts, of his own issues. Dream couldn’t hold him accountable for the malaise he himself had given him.

Techno closed his mouth, squaring his jaw, discontent.

Dream looked back to Sam silently mining away. It would take another minute or so before he left the cell at this rate.

Wait. Wasn’t this the opportunity Dream had been waiting for?

Techno was there, but… It was. Sam couldn’t even leave in the middle. It was better than he could have asked for. Dream had known he wouldn’t be able to hide it from Techno; maybe it would finally make him understand just who it was he was pitying.

Taking a deep breath, Dream turned back to the creeper hybrid. “Sam.” He called. “Sam, you should transfer Techno before doing things like this.” From the corner of his eyes, Dream could see Techno whipping his head back towards them, eyes wide. “He’s not stupid. And I won’t keep holding on to a deal that the other party doesn’t care about.”

Sam hummed.

Dream pushed further. “I won’t put up with this toying with limits you’ve been doing.” Faced with Sam’s indifference, Dream felt his bowels knot. This could be dangerous. “What do you think will happen then?” He said quietly.

Dream felt like throwing up.

“What do you think Quackity will do? You’ve seen how he has been lately.” He reminded, almost threatening, fighting his closing throat. “And you should know I can go back on my words. I… am able to stop. At any time.” At least he wanted to believe so.

He could even go further than not screaming. He could commit suicide on a loop – it wasn’t that costly to kill himself – effectively withdrawing any pleasure from Quackity. Turning him into-, into- …Into a drugged person unable to get his dose.

“If I tell him it is because of you…” Dream full-on threatened, leaving his sentence hanging, half for the effect, half because he simply couldn’t continue.

Quackity might not have realized it yet, but he was already dependent on him. Addicted to his pain. His expression of pain.

And all because of Dream.

He hadn’t meant for this to happen. But it sure served him well now.

The trapdoor broke with a loud thud. Then the button, a few seconds later.

“You know how to avoid it.” Dream concluded; his throat too constricted to add anything else.

As for Sam, he simply… left, not even sparing a glance at Techno as he drank his fire resistance and dove into the lava.

Dream himself couldn’t look Techno in the eyes. Instead, he slipped the steak into the chest and backed into the corner, hugging his body that was shivering at the implications of what he had just done.

He felt sick.

“Dream.” Techno started. Dream flinched, hiding his head underneath his arms, although it wouldn’t take any of the punch out of the words that would follow.

…Except none did.

Dream was thankful for that, and at the same time, it scared him out of his mind. He had known this was too drastic, he had resigned himself to it.

It still hurt to be shunned for it.

He hoped it at least hadn’t been for nothing, this time.

*_*_*_*_*_*

Sam hadn’t come. Oh, he had picked Techno up alright, no worries. But on the way back, he hadn’t teleported into the cell to pin him down.

Which meant he wasn’t pinned down.

He could finally roast his potatoes!

What is happening?
^Shhh, he’s rediscovering freedom
^*rises eyebrows*
^Not. a. word.
Is that really what you’re most excited about?

Potatoes he had gone to pick up himself when he saw the look Dream sent the water source.

…Are we all thinking the same thing? :(

Which was something he could do now! He could stand up, he could-

The chain still dangled from his chained wrists, but- oh my god he could sleep in the fire resistance!

…Wooowwwww…
^Shhhhhh!

Techno was excited. Some part of him was telling him he shouldn’t be happy to get not even half of his rights back.

That part of you is us

He’d rather ignore that part.

Techno was happy.

Sadly, I can’t ban the people who are no fun
You do ignore it

And wow, this potato was incredible. It was cooked, roasted, and not raw.

*whispers* Those are synonyms, right?
^*whispers*more or less, yes. He’s losing his mindddd

Techno turned to Dream, intent on sharing this real food with him. The Teletubby had looked exhausted from the moment Techno had gotten in, all arched shoulders and sticking to the walls, and it looked like he had finally succumbed to sleep-

-In the most uncomfortable-looking pose ever. He would 100% get a neck spasm with his head craned back like that, ouch.

Techno wavered. Dream had been very closed off since his conversation – was it blackmail? – with Sam, flinching at every word of Techno’s like he’d punched him. Since then, he hadn’t even gotten close, nor had he claimed his night hug. He had thrown the first set of potatoes directly from the water hole! He hadn’t done that since, like, the first few days!

Techno was kind of worried Dream thought he blamed him for some ridiculous shit like ‘You manipulated him’ ‘You used Quackity against him to get us barely better conditions still not reaching the Geneva fucking suggestion stuff’ or whatever. He had tried to address it, and he did, except it had looked like he had been beating him down instead. All of that for Dream’s attitude to not change a bit.

Can you hear it? Swoosh~ It’s the sound of the joy flying away~
Along with the monetization~

Techno was pretty sure Dream hadn’t registered any of what he’d said. It was like he’d been in a constant panic attack since yesterday, his breathing picking up at random times, his body shaking, and every movement of Techno’s kept track of.

…Had he even slept? Was that why he looked so tired?

Techno had naturally attributed it to the hell Quackity’s visit represented, but could it have been Dream’s own restlessness? It was true that Dream had come back to himself a bit since that ‘session’; he had even given him a thumbs up, to congratulate him on being freed, when it was honestly thanks to Dream’s efforts.

Now that he thought about it, wasn’t it a bit creepy that torture of all things made Dream more… sociable?

And then, the grand reveal: it was cooking sessions, not torture ones
I mean, can you worry about anything other than the pain in that situation? Maybe he simply forgot what he had been scared about
Creeeeepyyyyy

…

He thought he was a monster, and Quackity confirmed it; he feels better for being something definable?
It’s clear that he was feeling guilty for using Quackity, and then he met the guy again, and realized he had no reason to feel anything on behalf of that b******, except utter hate and loathing

…Techno gave up on understanding Dream’s psychology. He wasn’t cut out for this, okay? He was kept in the dark too much, and he couldn’t even protest because it was to protect him from things he felt he’d rather be protected from until he had a way out.

The worst was that he was sure taking some of it on himself would only make it worse for Dream, as Dream's interpretation of Wilbur's stay had proven.

Coward. (Is that what a coward is?)
Phil’s over 1000 years old, surely, he’ll have something, right? Right?
It really doesn’t help that you’re still right in the middle of the trauma

Techno looked at Dream again.

…This couldn’t be comfortable.

Pff
He’s like a broken record

Smoke.

Alright, no, Techno was doing something. He settled down, carefully choosing his spot on the rough obsidian with the support of his hands. He mentally braced himself for the jittery and scared Dream he would soon find, but he had to wake him up.

It is hard to watch when it happens

Instead of which he got a very alert, barely straightened Dream that looked very condescending with his head angled as such.

“Humm… Do you want a roasted potato?” He extended it forward.

Silence.

“I know you don’t eat anything other than your poisonous ones, but I really wanna share that one.”

…

“Pretty please? Just this once.” Techno asked with his cutest impression.

Awww
Aw
What do you mean, aww? He looks like a blushing nuclear weapon!
Come on, Dream, you can’t resist that face!
With the ears down! The ears!

Dream’s hand snaked up hesitantly, his face not moving an inch. Which made for quite the creepy appearance.

Creeeeeepyyyyyy

Dream took the potato… and- …

“Are you… not… gonna eat it?” Techno questioned, confused.

Dream made a sign with his hand. Ah, did he not want Techno to watch? Why? He had no problem savoring his poison in front of him with ridiculous gusto until now.

He’s really miffed about that, isn’t he?

Puzzled, Techno stepped back, turning his back on him. “Is that what you wanted?”

Shuffle. Shuffle.

Seems like it was
Is he a squirrel? Why is he hiding like that?

Techno risked a glance above his shoulder. Dream had huddled in the corner, hiding his face against the chest. He seemed to be eating, so Techno respected his wishes and stopped watching.

How curious.

“It’s-” Dream started; his voice awfully rough. He sounded gruffer than Techno. He stopped there. Ah, had he wanted to hide that from Techno?

Ouch…
Must hurt

“What is it?” Techno teased, encouraging him to talk.

Dream wavered. “It’s delicious...” He ended up whispering.

Techno smiled.

Awwww

“Do you want to learn how to do it?”

And now, an ACTUAL cooking session, haha

*_*_*_*_*_*

Sam sent a sorry, tired glance his way. At least he tried, Dream supposed, while still lifting his head in a sign of discontent.

Quackity was standing on the other side of the lava, gleefully returning Techno’s attention all the while Sam picked up Techno’s chain to stick it to the bridge like nothing had changed.

Dream watched anxiously as Techno was brought closer and closer to the white-winged avian. For now, Quackity was standing off to the side, but it didn’t help Dream’s anxiety. Had Sam told him?

The bridge moved terribly slowly. Block after block, at the loud sound of pistons, while Dream simply sat there.

And then it reached its destination. Techno got off, and Sam unpinned him in a calm and orderly fashion. Techno didn’t do anything Dream feared, not even when Quackity lowered himself to whisper into his ears, which widely flapped up and down at whatever provocation it was.

In the end, Quackity got into the cell without any issue after leaving a message with Sam, and Techno left, unaware of the content of the vial the duck hybrid was flaunting.

Or he was aware, and Dream’s speech yesterday about not standing out had simply worked.

He still felt terrible. It had really sounded like what had pushed Wilbur to- …yeah.

Dream sighed, retreating to the back of the cell.

He massaged his legs on reflex, waiting for the poison to come.

-

“Keep it in.” Quackity said. “It cost me a small fortune, you know?” He smiled innocently, eyes dark.

Dream was crying underneath his mask. All he wanted was to spit out everything Quackity was pouring into his mouth, but he had already tried. Quackity could see the black poison flow out of his mask; it wasn’t worth it, especially considering it then seeped into his face and neck’s skin.

He was thirsty. He had stopped sweating a while ago.

The worse was that Quackity tilted Dream’s head back to do his thing. Dream had to constantly fight to keep from swallowing. Thankfully, the pain and extreme bitterness somewhat helped in that endeavor.

Really, the bitterness was what made his eyes watery. It was awful.

It didn’t make following Quackity’s directives any easier, but at this point Dream was used to it. Haa, should he consider himself lucky the back of his tongue was its only intact part?

But he knew the cause wasn't anything to be grateful for.

Quackity shook the glass bottle for good measure, looking behind Dream to the opening of the cell. Dream tried to distinguish his expression, but keeping his eyes open with this raging fever of his proved more and more difficult.

His hair felt like ice on his skin.

Everything ached, from his head to his legs through his heart and stomach.

Ha, really.

Eating potatoes might be hard for a while. And they were just getting good…

He was hot.

Dream hoped Techno would rant a lot in the next few weeks because talking was not about to be a fun experience, either.

How would he even get rid of the poison on the floor? Would he have to play ‘the floor is lava’ for the foreseeable future? At least there was no risk of it affecting Techno…

So cold…

Quackity had paid this poison a small fortune, he’d said. It was strange that he’d buy a purified version, as the cruder one was… well, cruder.

Maybe he didn’t know, or he learned about the risks. But Dream wanted to believe it was because he didn’t want to see its results, not even on Dream.

It was, after all, all kinds of horrible. Dream’s protrusions were barely the first stages, and he had been exposed to a relatively light version.

The Veteran had experienced it in full.

Dream shivered. Whether it was from the memory or the cold, he didn’t know.

Quackity threw Dream’s head down while ordering him to keep it all in using threat of opening the next bottle – and if one thing was certain, it was that two vials were already… more than enough. So, Dream put more force into his jaw, his teeth numb and gums cramped. He was feeling some of the insidious liquid reaching the sensible inside of his lips again.

His clothes uncomfortably rubbed against him.

Haaaa, not only his tongue, but his entire mouth would soon be dyed black-

Ugh.

His chest ached.

Dream lost his track of thought, blankly looking at Quackity’s dress shoes. What would he say if Dream dyed them black?

Dream curled on himself slightly, his breathing shortening.

The red of the lava reflected on the obsidian danced in front of his eyes, forming swirling patterns that faded into the red of his eyelids, and were they closed?-

Tired.

And oh, he was cold, so cold… The air was hot but he was cold.

Dark.

Cold…

His hair was cold, his blood was warm-

-he was tired-

– one eye closed, so warm…

His chest hurt,

his mouth hurt but it was hot.

His skin was uncomfortable.

The floor was cold as well.

And he was tired.

So…

tired…

Couldn’t he sleep?

if he was tired…

*****

“-ream! Dream!” Techno called. Dream had collapsed as soon as Quackity had let go.

SulfUR-

Dream, baby! BigSad
He looks red. Is it normal that he looks red!?

-SULfur...

Dream’s body felt the same temperature as Techno’s forehead, meaning he was burning up. Being around 42°C was not good for an overworld creature. Grabbing him, Techno decided to bring Dream to the inner cell – well, to the fire resistance; it should help. Hopefully.

He’s turning blue! HE’S TURNING BLUE!
Did you check his pulse? Is it irregular?
The **** is happening here

That’s when he registered that Dream had stopped emitting that sulfur scent.

Shaking, he pressed a hand onto Dream’s carotid, searching for the signs his heart was beating inside the now seemingly heatless body. Nothing.

He tried the wrist.

Nothing.

The other side of the head.

Nothing.

His chest was unmoving.

…Dream was already dead. Before Techno had even gotten the chance to do anything.

Organ failure is no joke, especially with no tools or help
Another victim of the heat
I’m honestly surprised it didn’t happen to you. Is it the piglin blood? I want the same for this summer!

Techno sent a look above his shoulder to see Quackity on the bridge, turning away from him with a smirk.

‘You’re not going to miss the action today.’ He had said. Techno gnashed his teeth as the lava curtain covered his sight.

Damn this b*******! (once again, no offense to Quackity’s mom. For now.)
^Why, is there a level of b*******ery that would make insulting moms a thing?

Sam teleported, turned his back to him, and after a few seconds, went back. It was just a show to keep up appearances, after all.

SAAAAM!
He could help!

Sigh.

Alright. …Let’s be productive.

“Productive”
Alright, we understand. We’ll be angry for you *determined*
BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

What had Quackity done for Dream to come down (too literally for Techno’s liking) with such a fever?

He lifted him up! *Badum tss*
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
Something to do with the black thing everywhere?
How long till he respawns

Dream hadn’t said anything about side effects from the poison other than the black marks, but it could be. Techno eyed the oily liquid that formed puddles near the lava, resolving to purely avoid them until he got more information.

BLOOO- Flop, huh?
^we’re two angry people in a crowd of productive ones *snif*

Information that he wouldn’t get before Dream resurrected. Again.

Face scrunching into a frown, Techno reached for the chest, unfolding the ‘mattress’ and organizing it in a small nest with his cape. He knew by experience that such a thing was the best for comforting.

For avians, Techno
Dream isn’t an avian
^Actually, we don’t know that
^Ha! And what do you suggest became of his wings then, genius?
^…You’re clearly an idiot, but I’ll let you be. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes
^Amen.

Techno sat down, a reasonable distance away from the water hole, and looked at Dream’s body until it vanished a few seconds later.

And reappeared, alive, with a splash.

*****

As soon as he touched the floor, Dream crumbled to his knees, unable and unwilling to put any strength in his legs. The water lapped at his face, covering his nose. Instantly, his eyes blew open. Panicking, he scrambled to get out, already feeling hands on his head, on his neck- Finding a hold on the obsidian ledge, Dream gasped at the air, only to let out a wet gurgle.

He still had the poison in his mouth.

Dream reflexively curled into himself, his throat constricting from the effort of trying to throw up, yet he closed his teeth tightly, ignoring the pain of it adding to the poison’s own algogenic effect.

He couldn’t afford for the poison to get mixed with the water source block. It’d be a disaster.

Blocking his mouth with his shirt-covered hand, he struggled out of the water into a standing position and ran past Techno, letting out muffled gasps from putting weight on his legs in their current state.

Dream pressed on, tears already flowing unbidden. The oxygen passing through his airways felt like fire. As soon as he passed the netherite, he let himself fall, retching, coughing, his throat a bundle of pain that felt so much bigger than him.

Once Dream had thrown up all he could – which wasn’t much, since his stomach was empty – he sat back, taking a deep, painful breath. Looking down, he realized he’d dyed the bottom of his shirt black. Thankfully, it hadn’t seeped through to stain his hands nor his belly yet.

Dream carefully tore the stained part away with trembling hands, throwing it in the lava while half-heartedly lamenting he was the first to damage his new clothes. He was too relieved to have been able to limit the damage to his face-and-maybe-neck. He wiped his face again for good measure; nothing but spit, thankfully.

He hadn’t looked at his reflection, so he didn’t know how bad it was. He wouldn’t truly know until a few days passed, in any case.

Maybe he would never know.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Dream quickly buried this sentiment to turn back to Techno with a fake smile he wouldn’t even see, feeling his fever rear its head. His body was starting to realize the poison it had been fighting against hadn’t been eliminated with the respawn.

“Are you- Are you okay?” Techno asked, lowering himself slowly. He looked like he had been ready to jump to Dream’s side. Seeing that softened his smile into a genuine one.

Techno may normally hide it well, but he was a true worrywart at heart. …For better or worse.

Also, was that a nest? It wasn’t very furnished, they had no pillows but- still.

Dream glanced at it with envy. He had rarely been able to make one for the last two years, for the sake of hiding his race. The best he’d done was a sleeping bag.

Techno took a careful step, crouched. “Dream?”

Right, he had to give an answer. “…I’ll be fine.” He half-lied, his tongue uncomfortably pressing against his palate in the process. Yet instead of the doubtful gaze he had expected, he was met with a horrified gasp and a face full of worry.

… Should he have just owned up to it and used present tense? He hadn’t thought it would make such a difference.

“Dream, your chin…” Techno whispered, extending a shaking hand forward.

What? The skin shouldn’t be black yet, and only the poison in his mouth had been considered ‘absorbed’ in the respawning process, so there shouldn’t be anything left on it…

“It’s all red and swollen.” Techno explained. Ah, so that was why he’d felt his throat was big; it actually was. Well, at least Dream wouldn’t have to detail why he didn’t particularly want to talk at the moment.

Techno sent him a knowing gaze. “Come here.” He patted the cape. Dream hesitated for a second; a nest was a very… private place. Sharing it with someone should be a sign of trust, so Dream wasn’t sure how to interpret Techno’s invitation. “I made it for you.”

Oh.

Had he- had he understood Dream was avian…? What gave it away- Should he- should he deny it?

“I know it doesn’t look like much, but it works really well when people are sick.”

Ah, it was just his avian education showing through, like for the hugs.

Reassured, Dream made a move to get up, only to crumble with a loud (and painful) cry.

Right.

No walking for a while again, he guessed.

Oh, and he had been sitting in a puddle of poison, he remarked, his sight blurry.

Feeling like grumbling, Dream started crawling forward. Techno awkwardly offered his hands to help, and Dream let him lift him up by his middle to settle him in the nest, where Dream curled up silently.

The fire resistance felt good for his fever, although he was still cold. Nothing could remedy that however. He’d previously tried, and even the lava seemed cold to him in this state.

Maybe because it was too hot.

Dream mindlessly rubbed at his legs, which were probably the same red as his throat. Their inflammation had already died down a bit more, as they weren’t nearly as swollen.

He didn’t dare touch his neck however.

“Do you… need something?” Techno asked.

Sleep.

‘No’ Dream mouthed, but no sound came out. He tried shaking his head, only getting the headache of the month in return.

The light was blurry.

Maybe he should-

“Ok.”

-try to speak.

Try… to speak.

He had… He had understood.

Understood-

Ok?

Good. He wouldn’t-

He wouldn’t have to-

Speak.

Speaking would hurt.

It would hurt.

                  He didn’t have to-

Good…

Maybe he should-

should sleep…

…

Swish.

Dream cracked open an eye to see Techno lying beside him.

It was peaceful. Calm.

Strange-

Dream gripped the cape in his hands a little harder.

He was cold, his throat hurt-

How large would the scars be? How much space-

How horrible would it look?

Did he really want to take his mask off?

Off?

But he was hot-

Come on, Dream.

-

Crunch.

Techno was eating.

Dream curled into himself, covering his ears. His throat bobbed painfully.

His saturation and hunger must have reached rock bottom from trying to heal. He probably needed to eat, but at the same time he really didn’t want to try eating anything.

...He wasn't hungry anyway.

Crawling to the lava, shivering and sensitive as he was, would be unbearable…

Dream clenched his eyes shut, trying and failing to keep from swallowing his accumulating saliva.

If only he could go back to sleep-

It hurt.

Why did it hurt so much?

His legs never were as painful as that-

The inflammation was the same.

The- same.

Then why? Why did it hurt so much?

He wanted to go back-

Were his eyes even closed?

Quack- Quackity!

Oh no- Dream tried to get on his belly, muffling a moan at the movement. His skin felt like too much.

Dream!

His neck hurt.

“Dream, it’s okay! Quackity’s not there!”

A voice. It was alarmed, not-

-not mocking.

It wasn’t Quackity’s.

“It’s over!”

Techno?

How- Techno!

Had Sam not taken him out-

Wait- Over?

What’s over?

It was blurry, he couldn’t make out anything…

Couldn’t-

Oh. He had eyes.

Quackity wasn’t there. There. It was just Techno… Tech- no.

It was cold.

Too, cold.

His hand was warm. His thoughts seemed to progress through honey…

Hopefully it would end soon-

-end, soon…

Soon…

-

“-the obsidian?”

Techno?

“Do you even hear me? ‘Cause last time I-”

Who was he talking to?

Was it him?

Dream tried to pay attention to what he was saying.

“-I don’t have my communicator and I’m pretty sure-”

He wasn’t looking at him. Dream pushed himself up onto his – too sensible, too cold – elbow, trying to get the person Techno was addressing into his field of vision.

“Oh! Dream! You’re awake!” He distantly registered, now fully awake.

Because there was somebody standing – no, hovering – in the cell.

Somebody dressed in a green sweatshirt and black pants, wearing a white, smiling mask framed by short, blond hair.

Dream extended a hand forward, a name he had thought he’d never get to say again on the tip of his tongue.

Was it really here? After… all this time?

“X… D?”

What happened?

Chapter Text

A man in green had just appeared. Like, he wasn’t there, and then he was.

XD!
Disturbing
yeah that’s what appearing means
E
DUH DUH DUH… I guess?
Will you finally ask Dream who that guy is?
Yo, god, what’ up?

Well, not just any man in green. His nametag read “DreamXD”.

Mankind will remember. That’s when god descended.
^When The great Blade was counting the droplets falling on his face with the dumbest look ever. Yeah. *nods, nods*
Nametag? You can see it too?
Is he an alarm clock? Why is he dinging like that?
Why is he here tho? Why now?

“Yo, you’re the guy who broke my table!” Techno exclaimed merrily. “Hey, can you teach me how you got through the obsidian? I feel it’d be somewhat useful.”

And that’s what he remembers, of course
Escape time!
Oh, “di-di-di-ding” to you too! (Rude.)
As if.
Ooooh, yeah!
*and fixed it
That wasn’t your table, it was an end portal
^But he had made it his table
“somewhat”

The guy – or was he a god? – just stood there ramrod straight. If you could call that ‘standing’. Techno pushed himself up.

di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-ding

You can’t
**Ding**
That’s called flying
He’s not like Kristin
He’s The World!
^Is that a Jojo reference?
^???
^More like floating
hovering
Escape, escape, escape!
E
Space bar go brr
That’s called spectator mode, Techno. It’s an admin thing
^Is XD an admin?
^… Uh, no- just, listen.

“Yo?” Techno waved his hand in his face. No reaction. “Hey, do you even hear me?”

Ultimate disrespect
L
Blown off by god during a personal visit
Pretty sure it’s an “it”
^Ha?
Yeah, throw him in the lava while you’re at it! Why didn’t he come any SOONER!?
DING
L
XD…
PLEASE STOP THIS SOUND AGRESSION
BLOOD

Techno frowned. Ignoring him, huh? …Unless he just couldn’t talk… How had they communicated that day?

Of course he can’t, he’s got the same- *muffled sounds* Help-!
^Shhhh.
L
And you don’t have your communicator… BigSad
Wait, wouldn’t that guy have one? Is that communicator spam?
L
L

A thought occurred to him. “Last time I communicated by chat… Problem is, I don’t have my communicator and I’m pretty sure you don’t happen to have one you could just… hand me?” Techno tried.

In any case, he has one you can steal
^Yes please! Make it stoooop
DREAM’S AWAKE!
He really doesn’t listen, does he?
DUH DUH DUH DUH
Dream! Is XD you????

Techno turned at the urgent call from his chat. Indeed, Dream had propped himself precariously on one elbow and was looking at DreamXD. A smile taking over his face, Techno greeted him with an internal sigh of relief. “Dream! You’re awake!”

DUH DUH DUH – for real this time
Only sometimes. So be ready for spammin’
Is it because it's a lore stream? Is that why less swearing?
didididiididiididiiiddding
^Hmm, interesting theory

It had been far from a given with how ravaged by fever Dream had been for the past many hours. How lucky that he would wake up now. He even seemed to be coherent! He had given Techno quite the scare earlier, screaming his throat raw shouting and begging for “it” to be over until it turned into garbled sounds that made it seem like he was drowning.

Huh
Wait, what did I miss?
… Was that part taken down?
Ha, only for early birds that one!
^@Neighbor_from_Japan …sus . Unemployed much?

Techno moved forward as Dream extended an arm toward DreamXD. The other arm he used as support was shaking so hard Dream’s head bobbed from side to side.

“X… D?” Dream asked, his understandably hoarse voice traducing both disbelief and wonder. Did he know him?

What, of course he did; he looked exactly like him, Techno mentally facepalmed.

AcTuaLly, that doesn’t guarantee anything
^I do hope it would tho
Gosh I hate it when my roomie just steals my skin you know
^Happens every Tuesday really
^Wouldn’t that be very gross for them…?
It is very gross for US

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d—dd—dii---di---ding

Dream flinched hard the moment the tip of his fingers brushed DreamXD’s. Or XD’s, Techno guessed. Thankfully, Techno managed to catch him right before he faceplanted, in total silence, of course.

Manly yelp, that is
Dream: *wakes up* *faceplants* “I’m fine”

In front of them, the supposed god stopped floating to gracefully land – still so straight his back must hurt. He didn’t move, so Techno reported his attention to his permanent roommate who was desperately trying to push himself up.

“Hey there, man, I don’t think you should be moving that much yet.” Techno said, lying the Teletubby back down. In his haste to move, Dream rewarded him with a palm to the face.

“…Alright. Sitting up it is.” Techno grumbled.

He picked Dream up, propping him against himself so he could see. The teletubby shivered slightly and froze with a gulping sound, but he seemed fine with it, to Techno’s internal relief.

Hey, make the sound stop!
He’s always fine
*Thumbs up*
He’s got a communicator somewhere
Oh come on, listen to us!

“Hiss- bel- uh” Dream said with a final shiver, his head propped back on Techno’s shoulder to pass the message.

“What?” Techno intelligently asked in return.

His belt!
belt!
Chat is just a Dream translator at this point
Take a look at it!

Dream pointed at his healthy-looking counterpart.

Oh damn, in the heart!
You’re mean, Techno. Oof
Oof
I mean…
his. belt. now.
Annnnd that’s a ban~
I cut my sound, what are they saying?

di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-ding

Techno couldn’t see anything though. From here, at least.  

“… Should I move you?” He asked his roommate preemptively. If moving already wasn’t a good idea a month ago when Techno just got here, when it had been quite a while since Dream was last poisoned, here he was just re-poisoned yesterday.

This sentence, man…

Indeed.
I was just about to comment on that
“Never enough poison, muahahahaha!” – Quackity, somewhere
Who’s his dealer really

“I’l-“ A gulp and a shiver. “be fine.” Of course he’d be. Techno clenched his eyes shut. He sighed. Lifting Dream by his middle posed the risk of his legs’ skin stretching with the magic of gravity – sadly, players weren’t immune to it like most blocks. Techno often found himself lamenting this.

You’re stalling
How painful is it that Dream “Crawls Over Pointy Stones” WasTaken stops
and flinches whenever he swallows?
ding- ding- ding-

Techno sighed again, and lifted Dream bridal style, winning himself a sharp intake of breath and a munched-on cry. Really, this guy was too productive for his own good. Although Techno could agree that having a guy with a nametag showcased to the whole world in the middle of a high security cell everyone knows to be his would be cause for concern.

Productiveness incarnate, truly. *Gazes at a pretty much paralyzed person*
Isn’t it sus to try not to be sus
^To be, or not to be, sus.

Wait, nametag? That’d mean DreamXD should have a communicator.

FINALLY!
He really doesn’t listen to us, huh?

Techno sat Dream up against his chest, in his “cold corner”. This dude was crazy to think anywhere in this cell was cold, but better encourage his delusion than try to fight him on it.

No idea what made that block, which was right under crying obsidian, so appealing.

Huh
Ah
Techno, you can talk to us. What happened?
is there some roommate violence going on here
^Duh. He’s literally tortured
The hell are you all on about
It hides his own tears- oh wait he already has a mask

Asking would only result in more exposition. Techno glanced down. Well, if he got an answer at all. Dream’s throat appeared so painfully swollen Techno couldn't fault him for saving his words.

Sad. Maybe it would have devolved into some context on his time here… Would talking about it lighten his burden?

Anyway. Now that he was behind the green sweatshirt guy – calling him DreamXD was just too confusing – he had a perfect view on his communicator, that was, in fact, just clipped onto his belt. Huh.

Yeah huh.
“ding” - XD
Haaaa
E
Just XD is fine, no? ;) hehe

Techno seized the device without bothering to ask for permission from the statue wearing it, and took a look at the screen. It was scrolling quickly through messages while vibrating aggressively. Was that what chat had been hearing? The alarm of this thing? Not that Techno could hear such a soft sound with chat screaming in his ears.

Soft? SOFT??
Recreation time. DING DING DING DING DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-
Even Dream heard it through his (most probably) ringing ears!

He must have selective hearing for him to hear Dream’s voice despite it really.

You realize that now?
^It’s a recurring joke.
Ha so that’s why
You must be more famous for your hearing than your nose at this point
I mean, some people were imitating the sound so it only makes sense you’d treat it as another chat spammer

Mockingly flattening his ears against his head with a hand, Techno turned his attention back to the vibrating object in his hand.

>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava

His mind turned blank.

>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream was burned to a crisp while trying to escape Quackity
>> Dream tried to swim in lava to escape Quackity
>> Dream tried to swim in lava to escape Quacckity
>> Dream tried to swim in lava to escape Quackity
>> Dream tried to swim in lava to escape Quackity
>> Dream tried to swim in lava to escape Quackity
>> Dream was skewered to death by Armor Stand using [Wardens Will]
>> Dream’s skull was met with [Wardens Hammer]
>> Dream bled to death

Were these… the backlog of actual death messages? They… weren’t stopping…!

They came so fast Techno didn’t have the time to register all of the “Dream tried to swim in lava” messages.

There must have been dozens per second.

>>Dream starved to death

Suddenly recovering his spirits, Techno feverishly checked the date in the communicator’s settings. These messages were from March.

March.

>> Dream was shredded by Quackity using [Wardens Torment] and finished by flowing lava
>> Dream drowned

And there were more than twenty messages per day.

...Wouldn’t this add up to even more than four hundred deaths? Dream had said that his hair had turned fire resistant early on, but what was early for him? Techno was reconsidering.

>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
>> Dream tried to swim in lava
…

Those weren’t even “to escape Quackity”.

They were most likely suicide. Outside of sessions. But Dream had said he didn’t do it that much.

Liar
I mean, maybe he stopped, later on, and didn’t deem this worth mentioning

We were talking hundreds of suicides. Actual suicides, not deaths during torture, not that those weren’t bad enough.

Techno closed his eyes. This rabbit hole was never ending, wasn’t it?

>> Dream bled to death
…

*****

Dream kept his saliva in his mouth, doing his best not to swallow. He knew he would have to soon enough, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. It felt like torture. Well, it was.

Just being moved to his current position by Techno had revived his old hatred for poison days to its old glory, if only for a second.

He was too tired to keep it up for long.

Being angry was just so much harder than before.

Sweat rolled down Dream’s face, tickling his nose. Some more rendered his back sticky after his earlier episode. He should be over this.

A crying obsidian tear landed in his hair, making him shiver.

He gulped. Pain.                                                                                                      Pain.

                                   Pain.                                                                                         Pain.

                             PAIN.

Dream blinked the tears away.

This had no right to be this painful. And it lasted longer than could be justified, too, Dream internally grumbled. If only he could faint. Being as resistant as he was a curse down here.

And saliva was already accumulating again, he numbly remarked. Oh, how he was looking forward to getting used to that one. Problem was, it was far from constant. And these kinds were always the hardest to get used to.

Another purple tear fell on him, rolling on his scalp, warmthless.

Dream shook his head. What was he doing, thinking about this in front of XD. He put his ear back against the wall, looking up at the still puppet XD had sent down here. It must have been training for a while to go from learning to speak to sending a dirt puppet outside of its influence.

Dream’s gaze hardened in determination.

Sam could be coming any time now. And Techno was still scrolling on XD’s dinging communicator.

Dream wondered what could be taking so much of his attention-

PAIN.                                                                        Pain.                                                                                    

               Pain.

Pain.

Haa. Dream banished unnecessary thoughts, choosing to focus on the vibrations coming to him through the obsidian.

The air he breathed felt like fire.

He didn’t want to breathe anymore.

But XD was here. The link was gently thrumming, with barely the energy of a gust of wind, but it was here. He couldn’t just ignore it, although feeble as it was, it was useless to them both.

The worse was that even that comforting sensation was slowly fading.

Plop. Dream shivered.

Had it chosen its next World admin? Would they manage to come any time soon? Probably not.

And here it was, looking for him as it was consumed by the Egg.

Should Dream be happy? He was only worried. Worried that XD had come to see him now. Was the situation better? Or had Dream been wrong, and it had devolved into a crisis?

Dream eyed XD intensely. It had stolen his appearance again, barely changing the mask to fit its name; at least it’d had the decency to choose a save where Dream was presentable, he guessed. But what caught Dream’s attention were the red marks he could distinguish on the avatar’s hand.

Dream had taken it for the effect of the lava’s light on skin, but from the side he could see the vein like pattern.

Techno had described those before.

Crimson vines.

On the right hand of the avatar, nothing less.

Dream frowned.

Maybe even more than that.

His usual well-covering clothes impeded Dream from doing a full check. He had known XD wouldn’t be able to subdue the parasite on his own, but this couldn’t be a good sign.

…Why was Techno still hoarding the communicator?

Dream wanted to talk to it too. Desperately.

Or was he… not welcome to do so…?

That’s when a pearl crashed on the floor.

°*°*°*°*°

This was a typical morning for the warden. Sam had woken up at sunrise in the left locker he’d reserved for himself – it was more comfortable than the guard room. He had stretched; put on his armor with practiced ease; made his bed. He then moved to check on the main cell from his composter room.

He had found his prisoners peacefully sleeping next to one another, Dream being ravaged by his usual fever after the regular poisoning.

Sam checked the potatoes dropped correctly at 1a.m, while eating his steak. He was getting tired of those; maybe he should switch back to golden carrots for a while.

A little walk later – really he should have installed speed beacons or something, or at least, made the ceilings higher – he arrived back at the entrance hall.

Opening his ender chest at his guard post, Sam retrieved them. He barely threw the golden food a glance, dumping a stack in his inventory.

Sighing in the hollow halls of his prison, Sam dragged his feet on the obsidian of the way back. The low scraping of his netherite armor against it was the only sound down here, along with the groans of monsters in the walls and the elder guardians’ proccing every six hours. Anything else might cover the alarm if it rang.

Although, to be honest, after all this time and with the self-regenerating crying obsidian – how useful really – Sam wasn’t too worried about that happening.

Sigh.

Quackity wouldn’t be coming until nighttime today.

Sam massaged his temples, closing his eyes to spare his brain the blurriness of his vision. Pushing against the wall he had slumped against, he got up to go to the courtyard.

It was originally built for prisoners to take a stroll into. It had really ended up as his own relaxing space. Sam looked around.

A few flowers, a sophisticated bridge, dirt, grass and some water. Sigh.

Not even a tree nor a false sky, just polished blackstone and lanterns everywhere. He kind of regretted not putting more effort into making it look like the outside, now.

It was depressing to dip his feet into the water only to feel the obsidian constituting the riverbed. What he would give for sand!

But he couldn’t even get out of his own build on his own. Not without calling another guard to take his place.

Sam took off his mask to watch the smoke he produced lazily billow into the air.

Sigh.

He couldn’t risk a repeat of the incident with BadBoyHalo. Thankfully, the parasite infection had resulted in the demon-like man forgetting all about what he’d seen of Dream’s incarceration conditions, but Sam wasn’t dumb.

Letting people have free access to the main cell was dangerous, especially if he wasn’t there. The risk was too high a guard would turn against him, these soft guys. They didn’t recognize the danger Dream represented.

If they learned Dream was the World admin, they might even vouch to free him. But Dream wasn’t necessary to them.

He was just. a. threat.

Sam sneered. Of course, no one saw that. Even Quackity was all too eager to use Dream’s abilities, when really they should be locked away and destroyed. At least he was helping that happen, although he of course knew nothing of it.

The back of Sam’s head turned cold. He chased his prior thoughts away in all haste, forcing his body to remain untense, preparing to greet his... He wasn’t sure what to call him.

𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓶𝓮!

“What is?” He responded to the air in a bored tone.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭!

What’s new?

𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹 𝓲𝓽!

Sam’s eyes widened.

If the World had done as it originally wanted- it would have gone to see Dream.

𝓘𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮.

It was like a cold shower. Sam was up in less than a second, his face morphing in fear. He picked up his mask and then he was running.

𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓸!

“I know that! Stop stressing me out!” Sam said through clenched teeth as he fumbled with his flapping mask straps.

𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭! 𝓘’𝓶 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓮𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱!

Sam strained his jaw as he plunged into the water passage leading to the main cell. He used his riptide trident to propel himself through the second half, but this felt way too slow. He could see XD’s nametag through the wall, and then Technoblade’s.

This was bad.

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓪𝓭! 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓪𝓭!

The parasite sending him his panicked thoughts was not helping.

Sam activated the guard gate lever without stopping. He sprinted through the secret hallway it opened, hitting his head just to be faster. He ran through the pressure plate-powered door ages before it had the chance to close, downing his fire resistance potion as he ran up the stairs to the main cell two at the time.

As soon as he entered the range of the scrambler, Sam’s communicator started ringing. With one look as he drank a strength II, Sam discovered a plethora of death messages. Dream’s death messages.

XD must have brought a copy of Dream’s communicator; Sam was positive he had the original locked down. That parasite was incompetent!

𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓮𝓪𝓼𝔂!? 𝓗𝓾𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓾𝓹!

Ha!

Sam dove in headfirst into the molten rock flowing between him and his target, throwing the empty bottles to the side. As soon as his sight adapted, Sam reared back his arm and threw a pearl that landed him at the opening of the cell, face to face with the intruder. The World.

Heedless to the movement in the cell, Sam scowled and took out his impaling trident. In one, precise throw, he had the incarnation of both his home and all his problems pinned against the wall, one throng piercing all the way through its neck.

As expected, no blood flowed, and the sound was that of dried dirt cracking.

Sam’s communicator was still ringing in one endless high-pitched sound over his panting. It stopped as he opened his mouth to speak.

“You… shouldn’t be here.” Sam thundered, his voice deep and angry. Gone was the fear, erased by all-consuming anger in front of this creature which was menacing what he had come to hold dear.

There was no answer. Not leaving the intruder out of his sight, Sam switched targets.

“Ward.” He addressed Technoblade. “Hand over that communicator. Now.” He hissed, the rage coiling underneath his green skin showing in crackles of white. Sam may not have inherited the ability to self-destroy from his father, but in this instant, his creeper ascendance was more than undeniable.

Tap-tap-tap. Sounds of nails on a screen.

Sam rounded on the source in the blink of an eye, his sword to his neck. “What did you send?” Sam thrummed. The sharpness enchant made a small cut on his throat, and the piglin hybrid lifted his chin with a defiant look.

“Nothing.” Tap. “Until now, that is.” He said with a smile. The words echoed in Sam’s head and then Technoblade was crumbling, holding his stomach against the left wall, groaning with his eyes closed from the kick to his gut.

Sam flitted through the last messages on the communicator. A bell.

Technoblade had asked for a bell. Some of the tension lining Sam’s shoulders unwound.

How stupid.

Clang.

Sam jumped. He turned back to see XD had actually placed a bell on the floor of his prison. It then promptly lost its color to morph into dirt, crumbling around Sam’s trident.

It left a pile of dust, interwoven by red vines. The parasite.

Behind his emotionless face, Sam wanted to laugh. He had almost been had.

The vines twitched and twisted, crawling in Dream’s direction. Dream who pressed himself into the wall harder. Sam’s face hardened.

The blood everywhere, including in the lava, blocked it from here, so Sam couldn’t have a… nice, good talk with him right now, but damn him if he wasn’t going to get it.

For the vines to be able to move around, the Egg must have pierced the obsidian of the prison, unbeknownst to Sam. He clenched his teeth.

This wasn’t part of their deal.

Sam violently ripped his trident from the obsidian it had left a dent into. He dove back into the lava, and with another pearl, he was back outside, where he placed down an ender chest.

𝓘 𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴.

“You.” Sam growled. “Don’t think you’ll get away with this that easily.”

A phantom laugh echoed in his head. Sam squared his jaw. He already didn’t feel his gums anymore.

Sam took out the stack of soul torches he used for this, a flint and steel, and some soul sand. It wouldn’t be fun to sanitize the whole cell.

No, he would have to do the entirety of the prison.

𝓐𝔀, 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓭! 𝓢𝓸𝓸𝓸 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓮!

The playful tone made shivers run along Sam’s back. He hid them by clenching his teeth harder.

Another pearl, and he was back. The vines were barely a block away from Dream, who was frantically trying and failing to get onto the chest. They had accelerated while he wasn’t there, huh. Sam scowled.

He used his trident to pelt the mess of blood vines against the wall, mindful to place them in one netherite block’s space. He then surrounded them with soul torches. Once done, he approached the blue fire to the curiously flowing vines, wrinkling his nose at the shriek they let out. He threw the whole remaining 60 torches on the pile; the shriek reached new heights, but Sam just glared until there was nothing left, the soul fire not leaving any ashes.

It indeed didn’t die as quickly as he would have wished. The thing could have spread spores around; he really had no choice but to sanitize the whole room. Sam examined it with a critical gaze. At least the fire didn’t destroy the blood.

Sighing, Sam picked the torches back up. He unclipped the manacles dangling from his belt and reached for Technoblade who was hovering near the prisoner. When he spotted Sam, he tried to hide his wrists between his back and the wall, refusing to present them with a playful grin.

Meaningless pride. Or maybe a misplaced sense of duty towards the prisoner. Sam clenched his fists, feeling his skin strain further under his anger. After one quick, unforeseen kick to the crotch, the piglin was suddenly more submissive.

Violence strangely worked better with him than the prisoner, but Sam wasn’t going to complain.

Forcing the pig’s arms forward through strength alone, Sam shackled him, pinning his chain to the entrance before going to Dream.

“Maybe you should-” A gasp. “burn the rest-” Dream stuttered, letting Sam restrain his limbs, looping the chain around his knees so he couldn’t walk if he wanted. There was no way to tell if the meager connection the presence of XD’s avatar should have restored had an effect on Dream’s condition, and Sam wasn’t open to risks currently.

“Starting with you.” Sam commented with a pointed stare. “…Do you want me to take Technoblade out?” He asked, remembering what he had learned of Quackity.

“…Please.” Predictable. When he thought about it, Sam found it strange how much Dream was willing to sacrifice just to prevent one Technoblade from seeing him at his lowest. After all, he had said it himself; the hybrid wasn’t stupid. Sam could see it at the grim look on his face when they went down the stairs under the admin’s agonized screams.

For now, Sam pearled back outside, swimming the last few blocks. He activated the lowering of the lava. No shivering feeling crossed his senses; the parasite must have gone back. He probably exhausted all he could steal from the World to talk to him as he ran, through all the layers of obsidian; he most likely returned to hiding his presence.

Sam’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance. He thought he could flee, huh-

He caught himself before he was distracted.

For now, Sam had to decide on his next course of action.

Technoblade, just like Quackity and probably even more so, was immune to the parasite. It would do good to clean him from any spores, however.

Sam still had some lava from another World, the same he used for the prison. It should be enough to burn the spores and wash them off the hybrid if he gave him some fire resistance. Maybe it was time he allowed him that shower, Sam drily chuckled.

Maybe keeping him a few days so Dream wouldn’t be in contact with any breathed or eaten spores would be the safe play. That would also allow Sam to give some strength back to Technoblade through a better diet, by giving him time-sensitive food or something. Hm, it had been a while since he last cooked.

As for Dream… This incident made it clear that once the parasite overtook the World, it would be able to come infect Dream even inside these walls. Of course, it would have no chance of succeeding if Dream was in perfect, or even just good, condition. But that was certainly not the case.

And it shouldn’t be. If Dream was able to resist the parasite, then he’d also be able to escape and now that… would cause a whole other mess.

The others had voted to have him out of the rest of their lives. He had proved time and again he was more than unable to be their World admin, stirring conflict instead of keeping peace.

He should never escape.

But at this rate, Sam wouldn’t be able to keep him imprisoned. The parasite was starting to realize he could enter the prison through the World’s power, and although he couldn’t risk XD getting its hand on Dream before him, he himself wanted to more than anything.

If Dream was overtaken by the parasite, it was game over for Sam. The deal was through if he got such a powerful piece. There would be no peace keeping with the parasite helping him build the World, no reason why life should even be sustained by the Egg on this piece of rock that was also home to Sam and the other members of the SMP.

No, Dream should not escape.

He couldn’t be given the energy to, nor could he be kept vulnerable. Really, Sam had no choice, he reiterated in his mind. Dream needed to die.

Maybe it was time Sam took a more active part in this.

An idea crossed his mind. Quackity had proven that the best way to get to Dream was to play on the fact that he didn’t see them as his captors. For Quackity, it was natural, as he wasn’t. As for Sam, he could play with that. In truth, he had already started.

It only needed to succeed faster.

Sam looked at Dream’s compact form on the other side of the falling lava. He sent the bridge, and with yet another teleportation, contemplated his prisoner.

He was pretty sure his ward was also talking; Sam couldn’t care less.

Dream was shaking, most likely from the pain of the chain digging into the back of his knees. It was honestly impressive how much this… admin had endured. Well, if it could be called enduring when there were now hundreds, maybe even more than a thousand, death messages announcing his suicide.

But none of those deaths were the one Sam was looking for.

He needed a permanent, full death.

Sam needed Dream to realize he could kill himself. It would be hard to force upon him; Dream needed to will it. To will the collapse of his vessel. Of his soul.

However, Dream didn’t seem that eager to die. He knew spells that could achieve that kind of damage. He had already used some, to bring back Tommy and Wilbur to life, according to Sam’s theory.

He had seen it. The awful system Dream implemented stole part of its residents’ souls. And it got worse at each canon death. But Tommy’s vessel hadn’t been given back to him with his life; nor had Wilbur’s. No, their vessel had grown.

If only Sam could measure Dream’s soul, he would be able to confirm it, but according to laws of equivalent exchange that have to be respected for soul manipulation at minor cost, Dream had given them part of his vessel.

If Sam could get Dream to give out the entirety, or even just most of his vessel, he wouldn’t be able to sustain the constant drain of life on his life energy. At least without the World to refill it quickly enough. With nothing for his cells to breathe on, Dream would die. He would die and not come back if he couldn't even contain the energy to do so from such a death; the void couldn’t substitute nor restore his vessel like a connection with the World could.

Sam only hoped XD hadn’t touched anything in the few minutes he had been there. This was already slow enough.

Especially since there weren’t that many ways to push Dream to sacrifice his vessel. Technoblade’s could hardly be damaged, couldn’t it? He was still his best option. Dream was ridiculously attached to him, despite the callousness with which he forced himself to treat him.

Sam needed time to think. And oh, mercy. He had an entire prison to burn.

Nodding to himself, Sam walked back to his pinned down ward, moving him to the bridge. He fixated his gaze to the other side of the lava.

“I think I’ll get you that shower.” He commented.

“Oh, great. Totally what I-”

Then to Dream.

“I’m closing down the prison for a week.” He commented quietly. “No one comes in, no one goes out.”

Sam smiled to himself at the stare he could make out from the corner of his eyes. “Make of this what you will.”

Chapter Text

*°*°*°*°*

It hurt.

It hurt, Dream thought.

*****

It hurt, Techno thought.

Hm! I felt that.
Whelp, a nice end to the lore stream! Alright, everyone file out! Go back to work!

A kick to the intimates, really? Playing dirty now, Sam.

Ouch
Ow
Is it really that painful?
I will never understand men. And I think I prefer I don’t

*****

The chain was pinching some of his skin, on top of pressing on the poisoned tissues of his legs. It hurt.

It hurt. It was just fact.

Admitting it felt like a balm to his mind.

It hurt.

Sam tightened the restrains further, and Dream let out another gasp, barely refraining from screaming what he thought to himself. It hurt.

*****

Techno clenched his fists, gnashing his teeth at Sam’s coldness. If it wasn’t for those damn chains and the fact it would only cause Dream even more harm – and goddess knew he didn’t need that – Techno would punch him right this instant.

He can’t be cold, there’s no heat here LOL
^Just because they don’t feel it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist
I’ll never get used to that expression

“Starting with you.” Sam said, his face neutral except for the barely closing white rifts left by his anger. What an ominous thing to say, considering they had just been talking of burning everything. He wasn’t thinking of cremating Dream alive, was he?

Ha, if only Techno could guarantee his own, full safety, Dream wouldn’t feel like he had to sacrifice himself so. 

No, no. No self-depreciation, please. Bad Techno!

And Dream looked so calm, sitting there.

*****

The panic that had started to settle at the parasite fragment’s elimination came back with a vengeance, twisting Dream’s stomach into something ugly.

Sam could not realize how awful burning him – with soul fire on top of that – would be.

Not even mentioning his overall… situation, Dream’s vessel wasn’t in nearly good enough a shape to withstand it, nor was he an immune streamer. This would hurt. Was there no chance Sam would believe him if he said it was unnecessary? Not that he had enough energy to use admin vision to check, thanks to the poison emptying him out- Oh, this was bad. Maybe burning was better, after all-

“Do you want me to take Technoblade out?”

“… Please.” Dream responded, forcing himself not to jump on the proposition. There was no way he would refuse such an offer in these conditions. This was, maybe in a twisted way, a kind gesture on Sam’s part.

He just had to hope Techno would be returned soon enough. Although maybe staying in another cell altogether would be better for him, Dream was selfish like that.

Sam gave him a sad and condescending look before taking out a pearl. With a woosh of ender particles, he was gone.

Dream let his head fall on his throbbing knees as he tried to reassure himself. It was fine.

Everything would be fine.

Right?

*****

Scrii.

“Huuuh, Dream?” Techno asked, wincing as the manacles he just pulled on brushed his irritated skin from a month of struggling.

Dream lifted his head wearily, letting its weight rest on his knees. Just earlier, he had pretty much blacked out from Techno touching them… At this point, Dream’s pain resistance must have been more mental than physical; it was… strange.

True, I hadn’t noticed
This is- how??
And with the chain too
An endermite! I try for these for forever every time…

Techno was honestly impressed and kind of spooked.

Spooky~
Well, it’s Dream after all.
^Things like that shouldn’t be normalized
Careful!

Scrii. Scrii.

“This little guy would like to have a bite of you, I think.” Techno informed, pointing at the little ‘gift’ Sam had left behind. The small arthropod monster was crawling with a purpose, the end particles of the pearl it had appeared from whooshing around it.

Bees are the cutest arthropod mob.
Come to think of it, shouldn’t have one spawned ages ago?
Aaaaaaaah, a bug!
^Where’s my antivirus LUL

Techno guessed it was about time one sp            awned. If anything, with the number of pearls thrown from this room on a daily basis the five percent chance was either a lie or they were insanely lucky.

Random question. Does Dream taste good?
^Ask the mite. If he doesn’t do anything, it’ll know soon enough…
^Since he’s a WA, I’d say, ‘very much so’, but he’s exhausted so I’m actually curious
Insanely unlucky I’d say. You’ve already been here a month, enough pearls to spawn 3-4 of these things should have been thrown. I’d go crazy with such odds

Hey, no one’s happy to get one of those things.

Not true

These horrors’ mucus was so erosive it dug through clothes and skin alike; they weren’t that hard to get rid of, but you don’t want them touching you.

Enderman farms, have you thought about them?
^The end is inaccessible for them tho

That means they’re all the more dangerous in this situation, doesn’t it? They couldn’t punch it, and Techno was too far to distract the thing- Dream needed to get away. But he was still sat there, hugging his knees. It’d be bad if he didn’t move, no matter how painful that would be in itself! “Dream-”

Wait, could he move at all? He couldn’t get on the chest earlier, and he wasn’t bound yet at that point-

“…Dream?” Techno spoke up, dread starting to pool in his belly. The idiot had lowered his palm to the ground in front of the endermite, who came rushing straight at it as fast as its body architecture allowed. Techno tensed. “What are you doing- Get away!” Dream had picked the mob up, on both palms, holding it up on his knees.

Huh?
I don’t want to see this
Dream, baby! What are you doing!?
Oof- the mucus!
stop that!
NotLikeThis
Seems like he tastes good

Techno was flabbergasted. Barely hesitating, Dream carefully moved the arthropod to his belly, the mucus already melting the skin of his hands.

…This guy had no self-preservation; it was awful.

LUL
I mean, yes?

*°*°*°*°*

Dream’s face softened as soon as he looked up at Techno’s warning. An endermite.

The arthropod-type mob was wiggling its larvae-shaped body to come towards him. It- no, she, was cycling ender particles in a characteristic hypnotic danse. Her thick mucus, in the light of the lava, made her deep purple glisten with shades of red that highlighted her one red eye.

Sam must have spawned this little one with his latest pearl. Dream extended a hand towards her, and she changed trajectory to aim for it. She was so cute.

“Dream?” Techno asked, rising in the octaves. Ah. This would seem weird from an exterior point of view, right. Except, how was Dream supposed to explain?

He couldn’t just go like ‘Oh, I was eaten to death by another endermite a few months ago, and I realized by pure coincidence that they can get rid of the poison they eat and teleport away with. Nah, it’s fine. Time’s short, so if you don’t mind, I’ll let this girl eat me, since dissolving me in her mucus doesn’t work. Isn’t she cute?’

 …Yeah, no way he was doing that.

Dream sighed, gulping his saliva quickly, the poison turning that mindless task into an excruciating experience once again.

Really, what a divine and just as terrible a timing for an endermite to spawn. They only had until the lava lowered… three minutes at most. Now two.

This little one would be killed the moment Sam returned, unless Dream could hide her. Sam wasn’t one to take advantage of her being there, unlike Quackity… And there weren’t that many ways to hide a mob like her in this barren cell.

…Was he really about to inflict this upon himself? If anyone asked, indeed, he was.

Dream left his hand down, palm up, for the endermite to climb on. She did so, settling in with a delighted scrii. Techno’s cry of alarm went in one ear and out the other as Dream smiled, in spite of the mucus starting to erode his hand. Ranboo would be so offended if he saw this- No, don’t think about him.

Dream carefully lifted her up to the top of his knees. She looked at him with her glistening eye full of gratefulness and wonder-

Grey eyes-

Dream’s stomach did an unholy whooping. He clenched his eyes shut before he got swallowed in the memory. What was with him today?

“I… I can’t guarantee you’ll go home.” Dream murmured to the mite. Her eye crinkled as if in understanding, and Dream gave a small smile. “Hide here.” He told her, opening his chest to let her see before lowering the entity onto his belly.

She didn’t protest, squirming only a little to get comfortable. Dream scratched her head with the tip of his finger. He ignored how his palms were now skinless. He also ignored how his shirt had already been dissolved and the rising pain in his middle. He swallowed and it all disappeared for a moment.

None of it was important.

“Are you really going to… leave it there?” Techno asked, sounding both worried, exasperated and a bit febrile for some reason. He had backed up to the wall opposite Dream, near where he was bound, at some point- Could it be that the Great Technoblade feared a small mite?

“What, scared?” Dream asked smugly, keeping an eye on the lava. Any moment now. He brought his knees closer, earning a small warble from the endermite.

“No! Of course not. It’s just- I was taught-”

“Shh.” Dream shushed him. As funny as watching Techno try to justify common sense was, the other side of the cell had become visible, and with it, Sam. Just a few seconds later, the netherite blocks rose as the bridge started its course, the noise making it clear even from Dream’s limited view.

In came Sam, who crouched to Techno’s left, behind the netherite. Dream was rendered uncomfortable by the way he was staring at him, expressionless.

Voicing his thoughts, Techno unnecessarily growled “What are you going to do?”, Sam not paying him any attention whatsoever.

Dream’s body was shivering uncontrollably, even as the pain turned into an afterthought. Sweat pearled over Dream’s face, and he had to once again thank his mask.

Thank it, huh?

Dream swallowed his saliva, tensing his muscles in a vain attempt for protection – it only made it worse. Damn useless reflexes.

And Sam was still staring.

…Dream really didn’t like that gaze. Sam looked… strangely resigned, almost detached. Like he was watching from outside his body, his face stiller than Dream’s clay mask. Then he nodded, and Dream felt his entire body shiver.

Sam turned to the lava, not even looking at Techno as he offered the shower the hybrid had been complaining about not getting for a month straight. “Oh, great. Totally what I was asking about, no really-”

Talking over the hybrid, Sam continued. “I’m closing down the prison for a week.” Techno closed his mouth with a pout to let him be heard. “No one comes in, no one goes out.”

Dream’s eyes shook. What did this mean? A respite? Dream could appreciate the protection from the parasite, as that was clearly the reason, but… Would he not bring Techno back? Was it going to be punishment for XD coming in? Was it going to be… worse?

“Make of this what you will.”

-----

Sam and Techno had left.

There was no use in dwelling on whether he’d be effectively in isolation for the coming week when he had more important things to do, so Dream turned to the small weight on his belly.

“It’s only you and me now, Smite.” Dream murmured, prying his knees from his body to reveal the now named endermite.

Criiii?

“Would you mind helping me out a bit?”

Scrii!

*****

Sam decided to leave a little parting gift for him as well, it seemed. Techno wasn’t very convinced by his concept of a ‘shower’, however.

Going from one burning hell to another
^One without a bell. And we had just gotten one back!
Sam is a lost cause.

Maybe it was only him, but the column of flowing lava in the corner of his cell didn’t really tempt him.

LUL
I don’t think even Sapnap would be
The cell suddenly looks smaller, wouldn’t you say LUL

The bloody thing took up more than a quarter of his oh so comfortable dry cold cell. Now it was a dry hot cell, and they already had that parameter covered, thank you very much.

What was he even supposed to do with this? Go and die?

TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES
Technoblade never dies!
NEVER!
SACRILEGE
TECHNOBLADE NEVER D_ WAIT?CREEPER SPOTTED!
SAMMMMMM

“Alright.”

Techno looked on with a skeptical look at Sam reentering the cell.

“Here.”

Techno caught the pink thing Sam threw him. Soap? He frowned.

“Take this as well.” ‘This’ being a potion to the face. Techno grunted as some of the liquid got into his eyes.

LUL
How generous of you, Sam.
Again.
It’s not poison, is it? I didn’t see the color!

“This is a nasty habit of yours.” Techno complained as he tried wiping the thing off. As a reward, Techno got a second potion to the face. “Argh!” That one was weakness, he was certain. Sam’s self-confidence was at rock bottom or what? He still had these strength two particles, for goodness’ sake!

“In you go.”

“…” The first potion may have been fire resistance, as Techno didn’t feel heat (again), but still… “Are you gonna watch?”

Jajajjaja
LUL
In any case, we are

“Of course.” Sam deadpanned.

“…I’m not getting naked in front of you.” Techno denied.

No?

Sam looked at him like he was stupid. When Techno didn’t move, he sighed and explained himself. “…I’m not asking you to. Go in fully clothed. And through the back.”

Awwww…
Well maybe we’ll get to see this time!

“That’s not how showers work though.”

In summer, for some people, yes it is
^Would they bathe in lava tho?

“You’ll take advantage of this to wash your clothes.” All right, he wasn’t listening. Great. Haa. And now he had his trident out. Shaking his head, Techno got up from the ledge he was sitting on to move towards the lava blade closest to him.

He said through the back! Not that it has a back, but still
For that it’d need a belly LUL
I’m not sure this is a good way to wash clothes
What kind of soap did he give you?

“Through the back, I said.” Sam commented dryly, pointing his trident with more strength in his grip.

Told ya Kappa
Hey, no need to get pointy!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

“You mean directly through the column? Why?”

“Because I said so.” This guy was so tiring to deal with, Techno didn’t know why he bothered.

You don’t really have a choice?

Well, in he went. “Stay in until I tell you to leave. And then do so like you went in. Otherwise it won’t be pretty.” Yessir. Indeed sir. Haaaa. Was this school or what?

No Technoooo ! Don’t cede to oppressionnnnnn
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
*war flashbacks*

At least the shower was comforting, though a bit red.

*-*-*-*

Two hours really was a long time, Dream thought. How come it passed so quickly on some days?

Crii. Crii! Criiiiiii

At least one of them was enjoying themselves here. This must be the best meal Smite had had in a long time. It wasn’t all that frequent to get to eat a World admin, after all, although he made for a poor example currently.

Dream shivered on the floor, his belly feeling oddly cold. It was strange, especially considering that with the procoagulant properties of endermite mucus, he shouldn’t have lost much blood.

He needed to survive until Smite returned to her dimension. So long as she didn’t touch any major blood vessel, he should be fine.

Enough of that.

Dream relaxed his body he had painstakingly lowered earlier, closing his eyes.

His heartbeat needed to get as slow as possible.

Two hours shouldn’t be enough for his face to cave in due to the lack of lower jaw, right?

*-*-*-*

“Here.”

You know, pink suits you in any case
When’s the next lore stream?

“A mushroom stew? That’s a step up. What is it for?” Techno inclined the bowl to watch the liquid slosh around. Hmm, it seemed the right consistency. Crafted from the system? Was that what Sam had been up to in the time since the lava shower?

I didn’t expect that
Where’s the trap?
Sophisticated. Sus.
1,5 hours + to make a single stew…?

“I have no need for your condition to degrade.” Sam answered. So, he did Dream’s? And here the Teletubby believed Sam was neutral. If that didn’t convince him, he was a lost cause.

Healing!
^Nah, Sam’s too stingy
BLOOD
Oh, so you wish for death, I see. Just ask, you know. No need to wait for the parasite, you dip****

“Wow, what a just Warden.” Techno deadpanned.

“Exactly.” Techno scoffed.

Ha!?
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
In A wAy-

“And why couldn’t I just give this to Dream?” He shot back, pissed.

“You won’t see him until I get that bowl back.” And Sam turned around, walking down the corridor, just like that.

Techno passed an arm through the iron bars, pressing his face to them. “What if I don’t drink it?”

Hey, aren’t iron bars easier to break than obsidian?

A small whisper echoed back to him as Sam left his field of vision. “You will.”

*-*-*-*

Dream couldn’t breathe. No, that wasn’t true.

He didn’t know how it was possible, but it felt worse than when Quackity removed his lungs. His chest was rising and falling, air was being supplied, but it didn’t feel like it. He didn’t have any saliva to swallow anymore, and that should have been a nice thing, but it wasn’t.

It felt crazy to him that he still hadn’t reached the ‘maximum pain’ he possibly could, even after all that.

His mind was clear. Awfully clear. He felt blood accumulating where flesh should have been, he felt mucus climbing up and out of his trachea.

He hadn’t been able to see Smite in a while, but ender particles still regularly passed through his field of vision.

His mind was so clear he hadn’t even confused them with Ranboo’s, not even once. He felt… anchored there, so fully in reality it felt like too much.

‘Soon’, he repeated to himself.

And then, exactly 51 drops of crying obsidian tears into the cauldron later, he heard Smite’s cute warble get cut. No particles appeared anymore.

She had been teleported back.

She would be able to live, and that was a relief. The risk she could be killed by Sam beforehand had been ever-present.

Well, with all the World admin meat she’d eaten, she should be able to raise a cute good-sized family of mites without needing to get into anymore danger.

Maybe Mighty had been able to find a partner to do the same.

The image of both endermites’ kids playing gave Dream the strength to grip the shard of obsidian he had picked up after his first death, bring it to his throat, and rip his carotid in half. First his right, then his left.

He started bleeding out rapidly, shivering as the cold feeling settled in. Blood blocked his cut airway, and now he really couldn’t breathe.

Started a painful match between bleeding out and drowning. Of course, the result was already set.

*-*-*-*

Sam looked through his chest in the guard room, happy to find the three stacks of soul sand he had collected in prevision of a day like this one. He should have taken a cow as well, probably. Breaking all that was going to be a bit of a pain. But it had to be done.

The drop chute for Dream’s respawning was going to be the hardest part to sanitize, along with the redstone mechanisms of the prison. Sam was dreading it, and at the same time it was something to do in this bleary existence of his.

Chasing Antfrost and Badboyhalo away just to keep Quackity in the palm of his hands may not have been as profitable as he thought. But they were a liability. A possible source of contamination by the parasite.

Really, Sam was tired of keeping the bloody thing in check.

Nevertheless, it is determined to rid his prison of him that he walked towards its main cell, and the beacon buried near it.

*-*-*-*

Dream didn’t open his eyes when the blackstone rammed into his side, pushing him down the chute to the familiar water source.

He didn’t open them upon hearing the usual splash. Not even when his legs gave out, letting him get hugged by the warm water.

No, he simply lifted his head and took a deep breath of the hot air.

A deep, painless breath. Oh, how incredibly good it felt. Just a moment ago, that act had seemed so unbearable.

And now he felt so blessed to be allowed to breathe.

Oh, how good it felt to be alive.

Savoring the moment, Dream didn’t move. He let his mind wander to how it would be to treat his legs this same way.

Be able to walk, to run. Away from this stifling cell.

What if his heart got treated as well? His lungs?

He would be allowed to be. Unbound from his own twisted existence. Allowed to forget and go back to the innocence of painlessness.

Oh, what an unattainable dream.

The oh-so-familiar sound of an ender pearl exploding forced his eyes open. He was confronted by the endless texture of obsidian.

Sighing a shaky – painless – puff of air, Dream dragged himself out of the water with the weariness of a billion-year-old man.

“Don’t bother.” Came Sam’s voice in a murmur. Dream lifted his head to see him with his bow in hand.

Reflexively, he put a hand over his neck.

The stiff appendage encountered a wooden shaft. His hears barely registered the sound of the water putting out the flame’s effect on his body.

Badum-

His heart gave a weak beat, pushing blood out along the wood of the arrow killing him. The throat, really?

Dream’s dejected gaze landed on Sam’s carefully blank face.

Ha… He couldn’t risk this being a canon death. Thankfully, the projectile hadn’t pierced all the way through his neck and was only held back by flesh, not planted in the obsidian wall. Dream seized its stick with both hands, and pulled it out with a gurgle; then, using the momentum, he planted it back into his heart – or tried to. He hit bone, but this would be enough.

As he was shivering from the familiar cold, Dream’s blood dyed the water he had so carefully kept clear.

Sam better clean that up.

Breathing with difficulty, Dream waited for his brain to stop. The earlier few breaths felt like a dream again. How did it feel, to be painless? How long had it been, since the last time he could say he wasn’t hurting and not be lying?

Looking at himself from above, he saw Sam frowning, and then it all faded to black.

The void, again.

He had just left it, and here he was. Had he already been sent back that quickly? He wasn’t sure.

What had gotten into Sam? He had never killed him before. And this was awfully direct. He did know simply killing him wouldn’t rid him of the parasite? It’d be too easy otherwise.

Even in death, he was still in pain. He would never escape it, would he?

Dream sighed. He longed for that distant dream but in truth, he didn’t remember. He had never known how much of a blessing it was, had never basked in painlessness as he now desired to.

His body started weighing on him again as his spawn point called him. Dream braced himself, and as always, was immediately crushed by the piston keeping him away from ‘his’ bed.

He flopped against the opposite wall, and fell a few blocks, waiting for the familiar lap of water against his skin.

…But it never came.

Instead, he was greeted by the soft sound of sand abruptly stopping his fall. He crumbled into it, his legs burning.

He caught himself with his hands, barely grabbing at the obsidian ledge that should have been at the ceilings’ height. His eyes opened reflexively, only for him to close them again as the surrounding heat made him tear up.

It wasn’t his legs; his whole body was burning. The flames surrounded him, scorching. His skin was boiling, and souls rose from them to pierce him like arrows, letting him hear their voices.

Anything but a bug, please
Hi!
You’re not dead?
D- Dream?
I’m free!
I want to reincarnate as a fox
A streamer?

It was like he was split in hundreds of pieces, collided into without the barrier of flesh while that part of him melted.

Ow
Sorry!

What was happening?

What are you?
Stone?
wouf

Was Sam really… burning him?

DUH DUH DUH DUH
What am I doing here?

His legs weighed a ton, and he breathed true fire this time.

Crack.

Oh!
Hi!
Where is this?
Didn’t know Dream streamed

Through the flames, Dream could only blurrily make out more aflame soul sand where his cell should have been.

Was he finally crazy?

Wow, how did we get here?
Hey, was it possible to burn to death like… this?
Ouch

His skin was tearing off, his wounds instantly cauterized. His mask and clothes were fusing with his body and Dream wanted to scream but couldn’t. Breathing didn’t help.

Smoke is toxic! Or is it just us?
who am i
Bye!
Thank you and sorry

His muscles flexed without his control while the burning part of the pain peaked, and he thought he fell against the wall, the space too small for him to lie down. His fists clenched and his throat felt tight.

His head felt floaty. His skin stopped hurting but the piercing remained, until it was all that was left, intensifying as it went.

Had he died?

Oh who’s this?
hi!
A streamer?
Wait, avian admin, that’s rare
Hello…?
I don’t usually talk in chats but what are you doing?

He didn’t see anything. Was this the void, or had his eyes just burned? Haa, it hurt.

What’s your concept?
I know man, sorry
You’re a World Admin!?
Just passing through!

He needed a better verb, at this point.

Funny one
Chronic pain much?
Wait, are you not a streamer?
Such a shattered soul