#OR see also.. Tommy and Phil move into a house that’s haunted by Wilbur and Wilbur is like family :)

[teddy06writes]

sorry to request yet another one, but you are such an amazing writer. Could I possibly have a romeo and juliet type story where reader is sleepybois sibling and is in love with either poly dream team (dream,George,sapnap) or just george xx

dream x george x sapnap x reader + sleepy boys x sibling!reader

trigger warnings: swearing, yelling, character death, Wilbur being a dumbass

premise: you are one of Philza’s children, and have fought for L’manburg’s independence, we follow your secret romance with the enemy, of course, this tragedy knows no happy ending

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You carefully dropped down over the side of the L’manburg wall, ducking into a roll before standing up and dusting yourself off, starting to sneak away.

A hand clamps around your forearm, pulling you around the side of a tree.

You hold back a yelp, instead turning with a smile, whispering, “Mr. Sapnap we simply must stop meeting like this.”

“And what? You’d have us march through your gates announcing ourselves to your brothers, I think not.” Nick chuckled.

“Well, I suppose that would put a damper on things.” You grinned, pressing a kiss to his lips.

He fit your hand into his, pulling you along as you started for where the others would be waiting, “Especially when they are so against our dear Dream.”

“To be fair, he was against us.” You argued.

“But no more.” The man himself pointed out, stepping out of the shadows, rising his mask enough to press a kiss to your knuckles.

“Because we continued to fight? or Because you wanted an excuse to talk to me without it being over a declaration of war?”

“I believe it was because Tommy gave up his disks,” George offered, leaning in to place a kiss on your cheek, “Hello dearest.”

You sighed, “Phil gave him those disks. They were one of the only things to survive the blast.”

Behind the mask you could tell Dream’s face fell, and he started to turn away, “I- we did what we thought was right.”

“Blowing up my country was what you thought was right?” You challenged, crossing your arms, “You even had the audacity to cheer as my head was separated from my body by the sheer force.”

“Here we go again.” George muttered.

“We didn’t know you then! Things have changed! You and your people are free now!”

“That does not change our history.” You said indigently.

“What about when Sapnap burned the forests? That’s part of your history too yet we don’t see you yelling at him!” Dream exclaimed.

You sighed, “The forests were replanted with his help, and he has shown remorse, and regret over his actions.”

Surprisingly Dream wrapped his arms around you, pulling you flush against his chest, “If that is what I takes to gain your trust, then I am sorry. I hope my past mistakes do not haunt you any longer.”

Reluctantly you wrapped your arms around him, smiling as the other boys joined the embrace.

After a few moment Dream pulled away, “c’mon, we may even have time for a proper date.”

~~

“An election?” You questioned, “But your already the president.”

Wilbur grinned, “But I put myself in that position, if we do it this way everything is fair!”

You glanced down at the papers littering his desk, “Wil I don’t see how this makes things fair, I mean,” You picked up the note book where he’d been witting makeshift ballots, “Closing the ballots early? The people will only have one option! How is that fair?”

“Actually, I’m running as well.”

You turned to see Quackity entering the office, “You? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

The man frowned, “Well, I figure if Wilbur here gets a chance to do it fair why shouldn’t I?”

“We’ll be able to beat him easily.” Your brother quietly assured you.

~~

“You alright love? You seem stressed.” Nick said quietly.

You sighed looking up at the sky, “Wilbur plans to hold an election. He believes we can over take Quackity and Swag 2020, but now Fundy and Niki have made there own party as well.”

George turned, propping himself up on his elbow, “That doesn’t sound good. If he’s already in charge why does he need to be re elected?”  

“We put him on the throne, Tommy, Tubbo, Niki, Fundy and I. He wishes to be there fairly with the support of the people.”

Dream hummed, “Do you think he could win?”

“It’s possible,” You sighed, leaning back against Nick, “But campaigns have been tricky, Tommy managed to dig up Jshlatt. They though he could help, but now he’s trying to make a claim to having a spot on the ballot.”

“I thought he was dead.” George said.

You laced your fingers through his, “Well now he’s just a drunk who’s running for president. God I hope it was just a joke.” You muttered the last part.

The boy shared glances, Nick hazarding, “What happens if someone else wins?”

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t change much for me, technically I hold no office other than managing my brothers and the campaign, it’d shift me further out of public eye, but, I think Wilbur wouldn’t handle it well.”

Dream began to trace shapes into your open palm, “Well, with you in charge of the campaign I doubt your brother will fail.”

You smiled, “Let’s hope so.”

A few hours later, as the sun began to disappear beyond the hills of L’manburg you stood up from the picnic, bidding your lovers farewell, “Wilbur’s meeting starts soon, and I’ll be missed.”

After a few traded kisses you started back through the woods toward L’manburg, sneaking back in through a gap that had never been fixed in the wall, pausing at your house to change back into your L’manburg uniform before hurrying off to the white house.

“Your late!” Tommy called sharply as you entered Wilbur’s office.

“I lost track of time working on the last of the posters.” You pulled the rolled up tubes of paper from the bag you’d grabbed at the house as well.

Wilbur took the tubes as Tommy looked at you skeptically, “Yeah, doing that and what else?”

“Well I was talking to Phil today telling him about the election,” You sat down next to Tubbo, “But not much else.”

Wilbur sighed, dropping a flyer on the table, “We have more important notion to discuss, it would seem that Shlatt is serious about this.”

You grabbed the flyer, looking over the bolded, ‘Shlatt 2020′ and then back at Wilbur, “This can’t be real. I thought you closed the ballot.”

“The people favor him enough to allow him a spot on the ballot.” Tubbo sighed.

“We still stand a chance though,” Tommy said quickly turning to Wilbur, “Right Wil?”

Your older brother hesitated, wavering for a moment, before nodding, “Yes. Yes of course.”

~~

“(y/n) I must ask you some thing.” Wilbur said as the meeting ended and Tommy and Tubbo headed out.

“Yeah?”

“Why do you sneak out?” Your breathing hitched but he continued, “Who are you meeting? What are you hiding? Who do you talk too from- from the SMP lands?” His voice turned to acid at the last words.

“I don’t go anywhere, outside L’manburg. Other than for walks in the forest on occasion.” You lied.

Wilbur examined your face, as if searching for something, “Fine then. Don’t tell me, I will find out sooner or later.”

He strode out of the room, leaving you to pull out your com tablet, privately messaging Dream, ‘it might be a bit before I can see you guys again’

‘:(’

You rolled your eyes quickly typing, ‘Wils getting suspicious, I’m just trying to keep you safe’

‘george also says :(’ Was all you received in reply, so you quickly put the tablet away, heading out of the office and out to the street.

You took a deep breath, looking back at the podium, ballots would be collected tomorrow, and then everything could change.

~~

“Last night, before the last of the ballots were collected, Mr. Quackity of the SWAG 2020 party made an agreement with Mr. Jshlatt of the SHLATT 2020 campaign, that if neither party won the popular vote, they would combine there votes, creating a collation.” WIlbur announced.

From your place to the side of the stage you froze, fear coursing through your veins.

“And so, the combined percentages of SWAG 2020 and SHLATT 2020, bring the coalition to 46% of the popular vote.”

Your heart pounded in your ears, feeling Tommy freeze beside you.

“Which means, the coalition government of SWAG and SHLATT 2020, have won the L’manburg election, by 1%.”

The world seemed to slow as parts of the crowd erupted into cheers, Quackity jumped around on the stage yelling as Wilbur slowly moved away from the podium, out of the corner of your eye, near the back of the stands you see your boyfriends all looking down, but you paid them no mind, instead looking Shlatt dead in the eye as he grinned maliciously at you, before turning to address the crowd.

Wilbur tugged you and Tommy away from the stage, “We’re citizens tonight.”

Shlatt leaned over the podium as you took seats near the front of the crowd, “Well that, was pretty easy.”

You felt your brothers grip your hands, as you stared up at Shlatt.

“You know what I said when I announced this campaign? I said ‘things are gonna change’ I looked every citizen of L’manburg in the eye and I said ‘you listen to me... this place will be a lot different tomorrow.”

He smirked down at you, “So let’s start making that happen. My first decree as president of L’manburg- as EMPEROR! Of this great country!”

Your breathing hitched, “Is to revoke citizenship-! Of TommyInnit, Wilbur Soot, and (Y/n)! Get them out of here!”

Suddenly it seemed as though every weapon in the city was trained on you as Tommy dragged you up out of your seat.

Wilbur was yelling at you to run, but you remained frozen on the spot, turning to look at the podium one last time before following your brothers, only a few steps behind, most of the crowd beginning to disperse

Some one practically screamed your name, and you turned in time for an onslaught of arrows to bury themselves in your body.

The last thing you saw before crumpling to the ground was Dream, Nick and George rushing toward you.

Shlatt strode off the stage, trying to move closer to your body only to be blocked by Dream’s outstretched sword.

He peered around where George had flung himself over you, “I want them out of here as soon as they respawn.”

~~

You woke to someone pressing a damp cloth to your forehead, and excruciating pain spreading throughout your body.

Your eyes flicked open, looking around at the cave you found yourself in, in confusion. When you tried to sit up a gentle hand pushed you back down, “Don’t, you only respawned fully a day ago, you're too weak for that.”

“What’re you doing here?” You groaned.

Technoblade chuckled, “I heard someone say rebellion.”

You looked at him confused for a moment before he elaborated, “This is Pogtopia, cause apparently Wilbur can’t go more than a few months without establishing a new country. Tommy found the cavern after they were ran out of L’manburg. Tubbo is working with Shlatt to hunt you guys down, and Wilbur is trying to start a plan to get the country back.”

“How’d I get here? my bed is all the way in L’manburg.”

Techno grabbed one of the baked potatoes he’d brought up to your room, offering it to you, “That’s the thing I was meanin to ask ya, is there a reasonable explanation as to why it was the Dream Team who brought your body back here? All dramatic and not wantin to leave?”

You face flushed and you turned your head away from him, “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time.” You brother said, moving to lean back against the wall.

You giggled nervously, “I guess it technically started when L’manburg was still fighting for independence...”

You told him of the strange glances during war councils, the way Nick had stopped in his tracks when he saw the way you looked forlorn at the burning wood, the way George found ways to sneak you trinkets signed ‘from someones special’, and the way you were never in any real danger during many battles.

You recalled your first real meeting with Dream after you had gained independence, the way he’d seemed so different then than at the signing of the peace treaty, the way that You’d received help replanting the forests, and the quiet still moments shared by the channel George almost unaware of your being there.

It was the first time you had really spoken about your lovers to anyone, and though it took a weight off your shoulders it added another as Techno subconsciously pulled out his axe and began to sharpen it.

“They wouldn’t hurt me, and the conflict that we shared was between the SMP Lands and L’manburg, not us.” You finished quietly.

Techno looked at you quizzically, “Your telling me Dream, the Dream, Mister Manhunts and smp and god among men Dream, would willingly put away his conflicts, his gains, his leverage, just for you?”

“For all of us.” You said firmly.

“That why he kept Tommy’s disks?”

“Tommy willingly gave up those disks for the country.” You muttered.

Your older brother ignored you, “That why he openly endorsed Shlatt as soon as your back was turned?”

You froze, pushing yourself to sit up, even as it made your head spin, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Shlatt’s key endorsement, you know, the endorsement given to the guy who was suppose to endorse Wil?” He watched as your face fell, before quietly starting out of the room, “I won’t tell either of them, but if Dream loses a life cause you find out it was true, don’t look my way.”

You fished your com tablet out of the pack that was lying next to your cot, ‘we need to talk.’

~~

“(y/n)! Thank god your okay!” Nick exclaimed, throwing his arms around you.

You hugged him back before turning to face Dream, “Why did you endorse Shlatt?”

He opened his mouth to say something but you cut him off, “And I don’t want a denial or an excuse, or- or any of that. I just want to know why you did it. Why you didn’t tell me?”

Shakily Dream pulled off his mask, looking you in the eye, “I didn’t mean to do anything that would hurt you. Technically I never publicly endorsed him, he took a piece of advice and ran with it to the people. If I had known he was going to do that I would’ve never talked to him in the first place. If I had known he was going to exile you, if he was going to take one of your lives I would have killed him where he stood with no hesitation.”

The mask shook his hand, and George gently took it from him, lacing there fingers together encouragingly.

“I know I fucked up talking to him but if he goes near you, or tries to get you exiled further, or anything like that, he’ll be dead. I- I will do what it takes to help you get L’manburg back.”

You bit your lip, still partially holding on to Nick, “Why did you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to add to the stress.”

“Also, you said Wilbur was getting suspicious, and you stopped talking to us for two days.” George pointed out.

You nodded, quietly rubbing at your eyes, “Uh, yeah, uh, so Techno knows.”

Nick stiffened, “What?”

“Technoblade knows about this- uh- us.”

“T- Technoblade, your brother, as in, The Technoblade, Mister violence, and blood god and technoblade never dies,  knows about us?” George gulped.

“He only threatened Dream, so don’t worry?” You said sheepishly.

Nick chuckled, “Wonderful, that means we get out with our heads and Dream gets to fight to the death.”

“I don’t see how that’s fair.” Dream pouted.

“Maybe I just thought it better to threaten you cause I know if I tried to take the other ones you’d come for me anyway.” Techno said, striding into the clearing.

The boys sat there looking at him for a moment before he sighed, turning to you, “You better get back inside ‘fore Wil goes insane. An’ you guys better clear out before Tommy sees you and goes berserk.”

Reluctantly your boyfriends nodded, quickly muttering goodbyes and leaving, only slightly in fear of Techno, and you turned to your brother with a sigh, “He can’t keep me locked up forever.”

“He’s worried. Paranoid even, thinks Shlatts gonna send someone to kill you again,” Techno explained, guiding you back towards one of the entrances of the cavern, “The stress is getting to him.”

~~

The days spent in Pogtopia began to blend together, the only memorable ones being the ones that were spent sneaking out and seeing your lovers, though you never excepted to see one of them within the cavern itself.

You had come down one of the narrow walkways of your new home, and when Tommy had grabbed your wrist, hissing “Dream is here! And he’s going to help Wilbur blow up L’manburg!” you were not nearly prepared to see him handing Wilbur a rather large bag.

Wilbur grinned wickedly, “This is perfect.”

“Wilbur,” Your little brothers voice was shaking, “Give me that tnt.”

Dream drew his sword, holding it up almost lazily in Tommy’s direction, “I’m going to have to step in on this one Tommy.”

You could see him smirking under the mask as you pushed Tommy behind you, “Wilbur what are you doing?”

“What needs to be done.” He said coldly, “If I can’t have Manburg no one can have Manburg!”

“And you think blowing up our home is the right move?” You said cautiously.

There was something different in Wilbur’s eyes, “No survivors.”

Techno watched this from his spot on the wall, “Wilbur I think we need to have a discussion, things like this take time to plan. (Y/n) why don’t you escort our guest out.”

You nodded sharply, starting towards the back of the cavern, “This way green boy.”

As soon as you got outside the cave you grabbed his wrist, shoving him against the rock wall, “What the fuck are you thinking?”

The now lopsided mask reviled his cocky smirk, “Shouldn’t this be the other way around?”

“Shut the fuck up! What are you thinking?”  You hissed.

“I’m helping you get back your L’manburg!” He sounded all too happy about it.

“By siding with him? He’s gone manic Clay! He’s fucking insane!”

Dream winced at the words, “He’s your brother. You have to side with him.”

“My brother is gone. I side with that man because I am loyal to my family, so long as Techno and Tommy are with him I am. If there was ever a time for you two to ever get along it would not be this.” You backed away from him.

“(y/n), I’m just trying to help.”

“I know,” You said softly, turning back to the cave entrance, “I’ll see you soon.”

~~

“Wars tomorrow.” George said quietly.

You nodded, carding your hand through his hair, “That it is.”

The month had passed quickly, and after the incident at the festival, and then Quackity’s meeting with Shlatt you seemed to have blinked and the eve of war was upon you.

You had snuck out, now spending your last night before the world changes again with your boys, huddled up together in one of the castles parapets. (It had been quite a shock to you when Dream dethroned Eret)

“We will be on different sides, how will this even play out?” Nick asked.

“Only time will tell.”

Dream, mask long since forgotten to the side, bit his lip, “(y/n), George, I want you to stay out of the fighting.”

“We can handle ourselves.” You argued.

“It’s George’s job to stay neutral, and you’re on your last life. None of us want to lose you.” He said softly, looking over Nick’s head at you.

“I will fight for my country. No one will stop me.”

“Even if Phil came back and told you not too?” Nick asked with a chuckle.

“Well-” You laughed, “I suppose it would depend.”

A while later, you began to head back to Pogtopia, your boys insisting on walking you back.

Upon reaching the cave you kissed each of them, “Until we see what tomorrow brings.”

They gave similar goodbyes, and you darted back into the cavern.

Coming around the corner someone grabbed your wrist, tugging it hard, and you came face to face with Wilbur, “Where the fuck were you?”

“uh- o- out.” You stuttered.

“Out with your boyfriends?” He taughtened, dragging you down through the cavern, past the new rooms that had been carved out recently, “When were you planning on telling us of this little fling?”

“What are you talking about?” Tears sprung to your eyes.

“Oh I know all about you and Dream and Sapnap and George! You and your fucking betrayal! Why the fuck would you try to betray me? I’m your brother!” He exclaimed, practically throwing you into a newly constructed cage.

You dug your nails into your palms, “Wilbur, please.”

“I know it was them who disconnected the TNT, who you keep sneaking out to meet, who you were conspiring against me with!” He locked the cage and you caught a glimpse of Techno, leaning against a wall looking down.

“Wil I never conspired against you!”

“We’ll see about that.” He hissed, “You’ll stay here until this is over. I may fail at regaining my L’manburg but I will not fail to kill those men.”

As he strode away you looked to Techno, “Techno what’s going on?”

“I’m sorry.” Was all he managed before hurrying away.

Tears began to stream down your cheeks as you looked around the abandoned alcove of the cavern, there was no getting out of this.

Quietly you pulled your com tablet from your sleeve, sending a messege to Phil, ‘dad I need help, Wil’s gone insane’

~~

You leaned against the bars of the cell, Pogtopia’s few members had long since left for the battle, and you were still here, trapped where Wilbur had left you, none of your boyfriends were responding to your pings, feeling utterly hopeless.

“(y/n)?” A yell echoed through the cavern.

“Phil!” You called desperately, “I’m in here!”

A few moments later your adoptive father appeared in the doorway, shocked upon seeing the locked cage and your tear stained cheeks, “(y/n).”

You nodded as he quickly began to work at the lock, pulling you into an embrace as soon as the cage opened.

“Dad,” You hiccupped, fighting back a new wave of tears, “He’s insane! He’s gonna try to blow up Manburg again! And he’s gonna try to kill them!”

“Who is?” He asked gently.

“Wilbur! He’s gone mad!”

Phil pulled away from you to look you in the eyes, “Are you sure?”

You nodded, sniffling.

Phil took a deep breath, looking around, “Okay, you get down to where they’re fighting, you try to keep Wilbur distracted once it’s over, I’ll try to think of something to stop the tnt.”

You nodded, quickly forcing yourself up, running out of the cavern.

You hurried through the woods, pushing yourself to go faster, making it to the crest of the hill as people flooded out of the van, cheering, people of Pogtopia, L’manburg and the SMP lands alike.

You charged down the hill, not seeing Wilbur standing to the side.

“Dream! Sapnap! George!” You yelled.

They turned to see you running at them, relived to see you okay, still not understanding the cryptic things Wilbur had been saying.

“(Y/n)-” Dream was cut off a yet another arrow planted its self in your back.

“Love?” You whispered, before crumpling to the ground.

They rushed forward, but it was too late, you were gone, and George early screamed, burring his face in an expressionless Nick’s shoulder.

Dream looked up at Wilbur, whos cross bow was still raised, utterly broken, “What the fuck have you done?”

#mcyt x reader #mcyt imagines #dreamwastaken x reader #georgenotfound x reader #sapnap x reader #dream x george x sapnap x reader #dream team x reader #teddy06 writes

[peninkwrites]

wake up. ch 3 of ?

Monsters aren't always hiding in the dark, except when they are.

(CW: dead insects, stalking, paranoia, general horror and a sense of dread, ya know)

crossposted to ao3

Ch 1

Ch 2

Ch 4

~

Tommy makes it back to the house.  He’s shaking, and his feet have gone from burning to numb.  He left… Dream’s gift for the wolves.  Tommy is too tired to worry about hypothermia.

“Tommy?”

Tommy jumps, hitting the wall behind him, one hand pressed to his racing heart.  He didn’t even scream.

Tubbo stares at him with sleepy concern.  “Where’d you go, bossman?”

“G-Got claustrophobic.  Stepped outside, that’s all,” Tommy lies.  Tommy isn’t just trying to save Tubbo from worrying or lying because Dream was so supportive of him telling Tubbo, there’s more to it than that.  If there ever comes a point where he breaks, where he goes with Dream, this way it’ll be easier to lie to Tubbo.  He doesn’t know what he’d do.  Maybe he’d try to hurt Tubbo before he leaves, so Tubbo won’t have to miss him.  Tommy doesn’t realize this, but that sort of plan, the finality of that potential goodbye, he’d be doing exactly what Wilbur had done, just before the 16th.

“You’re shivering like crazy,” Tubbo starts to get up.

“Yeah, it’s cold.  Don’t get up, I’m good.  I’ll… I’ll change into something warmer.  I really just want to go to bed,” Tommy says quickly.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, yeah don’t worry about me,” Tommy waves him off, forcing a shaky smile.

Tubbo frowns, and it’s clear he doesn’t believe him.  “Okay.  You’ll get me if you need me, though, yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah, fine, quit fussing.  You’re so clingy,” Tommy rolls his eyes.

Tubbo gives him a look, more amused than irritated.  “Then I am going back to bed,” he flops back onto his pillow wearily.

Tommy doesn’t sleep.  He has no idea what he’s meant to do, and Wilbur can’t afford his indecisiveness.

He spends the following days in a haze.  He goes where he’s told, he reads that awful book, he debates what his own freedom is worth.  He’s not as good at hiding it as he might hope.

“Let’s go to L’Manberg again!  Just… just to go on a walk.  Have you seen Ranboo’s house yet?” Tubbo is trying not to be pushy, but it’s hard not to be when Tommy rarely leaves the house.  “Or we could talk to Phil, or see if Quackity is around.  Or just walk.  We don’t have to talk to anyone, but I think going outside would be good for you, man.”

Tommy stares down at Dream’s book bitterly.  He still has no idea what he’s supposed to do.  He still hasn’t told Tubbo.  He isn’t planning to.  “...fine.  Fine, let’s go to L’Manberg.”

Tubbo is saying something about Quackity as president.  Something about how little the government actually has to do when there isn’t someone actively trying to invade or destroy them.  Instead he’s been helpful in planning patrols to look for Dream.

“...And I’m actually surprised how many people are just volunteering to help.  Like, Sapnap surprised me at first, but now it sort of makes sense, doesn’t it?  But there’s also Puffy really putting in some effort, and Eret too, did you know Eret has knights?  So them, Puffy, HBomb, even Punz is helping out.  And I don’t even think anyone is paying Punz, unless maybe Eret pays them for being knights?  I dunno how rich Eret could still be, people steal from them all the time and– Tommy?”

“Huh?” Tommy blinks, looking over at him in mild surprise.

“You okay?” Tubbo asks.

“Yeah, yeah, sorry, zoned out there,” Tommy shakes his head.  He’d been too busy scanning the surrounding area, for a white mask sure, but also for particles, a disturbance on the ground, Dream could be moving around the server with an invis potion easily.

“Sorry.  I probably shouldn’t be talking about this stuff,” Tubbo says.

“No, no you’re fine, just… distracted,” Tommy doesn’t admit what he’s been fixating on.  It is not worth repeating, an older haunting; the cruel fact that Dream could be hurting Wilbur right now.  That at present, the only option that seems open to him is a sacrifice.  Him or Wilbur.

It was never going to be Wilbur.

Tommy hasn’t given up, not quite yet, but this dread is sinking its teeth in deeper.  He’ll figure something out.  They’ll catch Dream.  Everyone is looking for him.  It’s only a matter of time, surely.

Surely.

Tubbo looks like he wants to keep questioning him, but he doesn’t.  Tommy is grateful.  Tubbo instead walks ahead into New L’Manberg.

“Hey, I’m gonna check on the bees, okay?  I’ll only be a minute and you can wait outside.  Ranboo will stay with you,” Tubbo waves over the former minutes man with a smile.

“Hey guys,” Ranboo greets them. “What’re we doing today?”

“I dunno yet.  One sec, I’ll be out in a minute,” Tubbo opens the outer door to the apiary.

“You doing okay there, Tommy?” Ranboo looks down at him, earnest as he is worried.

“Wot?” Tommy blinks, turning from the horizon.

“Sorry, you just look a little out of it,” Ranboo almost seems embarrassed.

“Yeah.  Not like I don’t have good reason to be,” Tommy mutters bitterly.

“Yeah, okay, fair enough–”

“What the fuck?!” Tubbo’s shout is muffled through the wood.

“Tubbo?!” Ranboo goes for his axe, shoving his way into the apiary, Tommy in tow, whatever anxieties he has about the bees washed away by fear for Tubbo.

Tubbo stands among the flowers, unharmed.  Scattered around the room are the corpses of every bee in the apiary.  They’re insects, it is not a bloody crime scene, but there are just so many.  Every single one is dead on the ground, like they stopped mid flight and collapsed.

“Tubbo, we should go outside,” Ranboo says quietly.

“What?” Tubbo is staring, miserably captivated.  He looks back to his two friends, his eyes shining as he holds back tears.  It’s the youngest he’s looked to Tommy in a long time.

“Whatever killed them could still be here.  Poison or…” Ranboo remains calm, even as the rest of that sentence hangs unspoken in the air, or Dream.

“Right– Right,” Tubbo wipes his eyes quickly, heading for the door, Tommy jumping back outside quickly before he gets run over.  Tubbo paces, arms folded over his chest, staring down at the grass.  Tommy knows him better.  He’s looking down so he and Ranboo won’t see him cry.

“I am so sorry, Tubbo,” it’s all Tommy can think to say.

“Who the fuck would do something like this?!” Tubbo shouts to the empty sky.  He stops his pacing, a hand pressed to his forehead.  “I know, I know, I’m just– Fuck.”

“I dunno why he– I’m so fucking sorry, man,” Tommy can’t seem to stop.

“You’re… sure it was Dream?” Ranboo asks doubtfully.

“Well, let’s think for a minute, shall we?” Tommy says sarcastically.  “You two show me something you made, something important to you, and a few days later it turns up fucking destroyed.  That’s– That’s textbook.”

“Right…” Ranboo mutters.

“He’s been… you think he’s been following you?” Now Tubbo is distracted from his pains, that single moment of acting his age is replaced by something colder.  He has people to protect.

“Yeah,” Tommy says reluctantly.  He doesn’t have a good answer for this one.  “What else is he doing?”

“Well, I assumed,” Tubbo glances to Ranboo, they share a look.  “I assumed he’s hiding somewhere continuing his experiments with… with Wilbur.”

“Oh,” Tommy feels like he should be angry.  Like Tubbo thinking Dream is off torturing Wilbur isn’t a thought that’s haunted him, like Tubbo thinking that means he isn’t doing everything he can to find Dream.  The fact of the matter is knowing doesn’t save anyone.  “Guess that makes sense.”

“Well, why do you think he’s following you, Tommy?” Tubbo eyes him carefully, not suspicious, merely concerned.

“Because he’d never let me go.  He’d keep an eye on me,” Tommy says.  A dark thought rises, one he knows to be true and feels sick for it.  “In his journal, that creepy fucking book, he said… he said something like once something you have is taken or gone, it’s gone forever.  Which means–” Tommy stops with a shaky inhale.  “I-It means he–”

“He thinks he still has you,” Ranboo supplies quietly.

“Yeah, that,” Tommy thinks back on the night before.  Dream hadn’t been worried in the slightest.  He’d been surprised, maybe inconvenienced, by Tommy resisting him, but not at all concerned.  Like he was still in complete control.  Complete power.  Like he still owns you.   Tommy shivers.

Tommy can’t sleep.  He rarely can sleep anymore, but it still irritates him.  He’s so fucking tired and weak.  Ponk told him he needs to rest, to eat regularly, and do physical therapy for his fucked up leg.  Tommy has managed one of those things from Tubbo all but enforcing meal times for the three of them, Ranboo participating gladly, Tommy less so.  Tommy must sleep some, he drifts, he thinks, but he sleeps so lightly now.  The slightest sound sends him back to awareness with a jolt of terror.

Like it does now.

Nothing goes bump in the night, there is no bang on the door or a whisper from the dark, what makes Tommy stir is a quiet, dull thud.  Tommy sits up, squinting into the dark, panic drowning out drowsiness in an instant.  He almost regrets refusing Tubbo’s offer of a knife to keep under his pillow as he’s left clutching fistfulls of the blankets instead of a weapon.  No figures emerge from the dark, nothing else stirs.  So what woke him?

Tommy continues to frantically scan the room, but nothing changes, the silence presses on save for his panicked breathing.  Tommy sees a shadow on the floor.  He almost jumps before recognizing it.  Tommy’s dread is swept away by relief, the kind of relief that makes him realize how scared he had been.  It’s not Dream.  It’s Dream’s journal.  Tommy carefully keeps it tucked underneath his mattress, and it had fallen on the floor from his restless tossing and turning.  That’s fine, that’s logical.

So why is Tommy scared to reach down and pick it up?

He stares at it, transfixed.  The seconds feel like hours, and still Tommy doesn’t move, he knows time is passing because he still blinks, but other than that, he remains locked on the journal, willing himself to reach down at take it as every instinct tells him that would be a mistake.  He’s waiting.  This is what he does, he waits.

That doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t want Tubbo to know, if he grabbed you now you’d scream and wake up Tubbo.  It doesn’t make sense.

Unless he’s stopped playing that part of the game.  Maybe he wants to kill Tubbo.

Tommy acts while he is distracted by his own thoughts so he can’t stop himself, snatching up the book from the floor, and waiting with held breath, staring down as if still expecting something to emerge.  Nothing happens.  Tommy relaxes a modicum.  The book had fallen open, some of the pages folded from it.  Tommy flattens them back out.  Not out of respect for the book, but simply needing something to do, some change to make him feel in control.  Tommy absentmindedly flips through the pages, knowing he’s not likely to fall back asleep after that moment of adrenaline.  There are always more horrors to peruse, he supposes.  It’s slow going.  Tommy inching through it paragraph by paragraph, stopping every time a sentence unsettles him.  So, often.

The second half of the journal is blank.  Tommy resents those blank pages.  Those pages are for a future he prays he’ll never come to see.  Tommy flips back from the white to the ink.

It smears.

Tommy stops.  He doesn’t move, he doesn’t breathe.  Something breaks.  Not in the room, but within Tommy.  Cold horror like ice in his veins, the surface of his skin covered in pins and needles like he’s trying to escape himself.

The ink is still wet.

He’s still here.

Tommy is too scared to even move his eyes from the black smudge blotting the page and now staining his hand.  But he still searches, he listens for any sound, for breathing other than his own.  He waits for that prickling feeling on the back of his neck to become more acute.  Nothing happens.

Dream wouldn’t have had time to make it up the ladder.  There are no corners to hide behind in an open room.  A logical conclusion turns his fear to cold dread.  Tommy looks over the edge of the bed.

He’s still here.

He has to look, he doesn’t want to, but how can he not look?  What is he meant to do, stay here frozen until morning?  Tommy doesn’t know if he’s gotten braver or if his sanity died with him back in Dream’s vault, but he leans forward.  He doesn’t have a weapon.  He doesn’t have anything.   Just this stupid fucking journal.  Which he now can’t help but raise like leather and paper can be a weapon.  Tommy swings underneath and chucks the book forward into the dark.

It hits the wall, and tumbles uselessly to the floor, and Tommy is left staring at the empty space underneath his bed, his heart beating so hard he can feel it in his throat.

“Oh fuck–” Tommy only has time to hoarsely speak those two words before he leans too far and falls off the bed with a much louder thud.  “Fuck!”

“Tommy?” Now Tubbo wakes, sitting up sharply, hand fumbling in the dark for his axe.

“I’m okay,” Tommy says.  He’s had worse than a few bruises.  Tommy stares at the journal, innocuous and innocent and sinister on the floor.  “A-Actully I’m not okay,” Tommy grabs it, stumbling to his feet.  “I’m not– I’m kind of freaking the fuck out, Tubbo.”

“What?  Why?” Tubbo swings his legs over the side of the bed, axe in hand.

Tommy stops, clutching the book tightly, trying not to think about how the book had been in Dream’s hands mere minutes ago.  “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Tubbo’s tension softens into something gentler.  “Tommy, I can’t like, promise I won’t be mad, but I’m not gonna hurt you, okay?”  He sets aside his axe, knowing Tommy’s eyes are following it as he does.

“O-Okay,” Tommy is still staring at the axe, but his eyes almost look glassy, like he’s not really seeing it.  “I… I saw Dream.  He… he spoke to me.”

“What?” Tubbo scrambles to his feet, grabbing his axe again.  “Where?  When?”

Tommy steps back.  “A few times, really,” he laughs, voice high and panicked.  His lip trembles and his voice falls to a whisper.  “I-I think he was in the house tonight.”

Tubbo visibly pales.  “What?”

“H-He wrote in the journal.  He did, I’m sure of it,” Tommy says softly.

Tubbo is, for a moment, stunned into silence.  Tommy had lied to him.  He’d allowed Dream to follow that close without telling his best friend.  Tubbo is almost angry, but mostly he’s just scared, a horrible breach of privacy and safety in his own home from that monster sneaking around without reproach.  Tubbo doesn’t know what to do with horror from hindsight.  He snaps out of it.  “Fuck– He could be here with invis, goddamnit, Tommy– Drink this the moment I drop this bottle,” Tubbo shoves a bottle of milk into his hands as he rummages in another chest, returning with several splash potions of poison.  “If he’s still fucking here, he’s got to reveal himself or get hurt, ready?” Tubbo scans the cabin.  Tommy nods and Tubbo throws the potions at every wall before downing his own milk.

Tommy still flinches at the sound of the bottles breaking, but the milk staves off the poison so he only felt the initial sting.  The air burns his nose and his eyes, but no one is revealed.  They’re alone.  Tommy feels maybe a tiny bit safer.

“Okay… okay good, that’s something,” Tubbo is mostly talking to himself as he watches the room.  “That’s step one– Tommy, what exactly did he put in the journal?  Tell me everything he told you.”

Tommy nods.  “He wants me to go back with him, Tubbo.  He said–” Tommy stops, swallowing thickly.  “He said he wants me to go back willingly.  Said the longer I wait the more he’s gonna hurt Wil.”

Tubbo doesn’t actually seem surprised, rather a grim, weary acceptance.  “Of course he did– He’s not gonna have you, Tommy.  And he’s– He’s not stepping foot in my fucking house ever again.”

“And we get Wilbur,” Tommy says imploringly.

Tubbo nods firmly.  “And we get Wilbur.”  He says it with such conviction, Tubbo almost believes himself.

#tddd #wake up. #my writing #horror #insects #ask to tag #as always feedback is cherished <3

[firefly464]

Hello wonderful! I love your writing a ton!! For the Drabble fic on ao3, I was wondering if you could write about SBI, specifically Techno and Phil learning what happened? Ty have a lovely day!!

Oooooo i like this one 👀

lots of hurt/comfort potential :D

ok so in this one we’re gonna pretend that smp!tommy actually grew up with the sbi, and they are actually his family instead of him just showing up in the middle of the woods without any memory. He still probably just appeared in the woods, but he can remember. Also sam and tommy made communicators after tommy complained about the lack of phones because sam is just cool like that 

Original Story - Other Drabbles 

~~~

“Get the fuck away from me!” Tommy cried out, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and anger. He couldn’t help but press himself further into the corner behind him, trying to put as much distance as possible between him and the man in front of him. 

Techno held his hands out, trying to appear as harmless as possible. “Tommy, its ok. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to know why you’re in my house.” 

"Oh, you’re not going to hurt me?” he scoffed slightly “Please. I don’t believe that for a second. What happened to ‘Blood for the blood god?’” 

The man froze, his eyes widening. He had never told anyone other than phil about the voices that haunted his every movement, the voices that were constantly screaming at him, calling for violence. “How... How do you know about that?” 

His younger brother didn’t respond, instead only pushed himself even further back. 

“Tommy, I need you to be honest with me. How do you know about that.” His mind was racing with different explanations, but it all came back to a single thought. 

His fear only grew as the silence stretched out. “Tommy, have you... have you been hearing the voices?” 

“The fuck are you on about?” he muttered quietly. It had none of the fire that used to fill his every word, and his eyes were no longer a vibrant blue. They were dull, void of life. 

Techno stepped closer, placing his hands on Tommy’s shoulders, making him flinch in fear. “Look at me.” He demanded. 

His brother slowly met his gaze. Techno frowned. There was no light of bloodlust in Tommy’s eyes, only a dull emptiness. He took a step back and pulled out his communicator, already typing out a message. The response was almost immediate. 

“What did you do...? Who are you texting?!” Tommy demanded, unable to keep the fear from creeping into his voice. “What the fuck did you say?!” 

“Tommy, take a deep breath. I just messaged phil, that’s it. He’s on his way.” 

“What the fuck?! Why?!” Techno couldn’t help but notice the way that Tommy’s words were now filled with fear and desperation, rather than energy and flame. 

“Because he knows more about this than I do, and I need to figure out what’s going on. We’ll figure this out, ok?” 

~~~

Tommy was still huddled in the corner of his small cave when he heard the door open above him. As voices began to float through the opening that led to the rest of the cottage, he pushed himself further back, trying to disappear.

He knew that he could easily just leave through the small tunnel he had made, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. Maybe it was out of fear, maybe it was because he knew that he had no where else to go. If he tried to run away, he would be alone. 

His thoughts were interrupted by a chipper voice “Tommy! Tommy you- oh dear, you look very sad” 

He glanced up slightly, slightly surprised to find himself face to face with the ghost of his dead brother. “Hi Ghostbur...” he said solemnly. 

There were so many things that he wanted to say in that moment. ‘Why did you leave me. Why did you leave me alone again.’ The words got caught in his throat, leaving him unable to speak. He could only give an empty smile as the ghost handed him a small bottle, filled with powdered blue pigment. 

“Have some blue!” 

Tommy stared at the bottle for a moment, before glancing back up. “Thanks, Ghostbur...” 

“Alright, that’s all well and good, but we need to have a serious talk about this” Techno’s voice came from behind Ghostbur, though Tommy had already reverted his gaze back to the floor. “Tommy, how do you know about the Blood God?” 

He didn’t answer. Instead, he cursed himself for ever opening his mouth. How long had it been since he slipped up? Since he had caused someone to worry like this? 

God, he was so sick and tired of dealing with all of this shit. He just wanted to go home. To his real home. He wanted to see his family again, his parents. It had been years since he had last seen them, and it still felt like an open wound whenever he thought about it. For fuck’s sake, he was supposed to be in university right now, not trying to recover from weeks of exile and isolation. 

“Tommy, its ok. We can help you, I promise.” Phil’s voice could be heard from somewhere else in the small cave, but Tommy kept his gaze trained on the small bottle in his hands. “Just tell us what’s going on, we can help you through this” 

The boy couldn’t help but flinch as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. He hastily pulled back even further, trying to avoid the contact. He shut his eyes in a desperate attempt to keep tears from spilling over. 

“Tommy...” Phil’s voice dripped with pain and grief for his youngest son, “It’s ok, we’re your family. We can help.” 

“No you’re not...” the words escaped him before he could do anything, before he could think twice about what he was saying. 

A small gasp could be heard, though he couldn’t tell who it was from. “What? What are you talking about? Of course we are...” Phil asked softly, though Tommy could hear the hurt in his voice. 

Something snapped inside of him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but suddenly, he could feel as nearly 4 years of pent up pain and frustration came pouring out of him. “No you’re not! You’re not my fucking family, stop fucking acting like it!” The tears that he had tried so hard to keep hidden began to pour out. “My family is gone and I’m never going to fucking see them again” 

“What? Tommy, don’t be silly, we’re right here!” Ghostbur said, in his annoyingly chipper voice. “Here, you seem stressed. Have some more blue,” he said as he held out another small bottle. 

Blue pigment covered the floor as Tommy slapped the bottle away, his eyes alight with raw anger. “I don’t want some bullshit blue powder, I just want to go home!” Ghostbur’s expression filled with confusion, which only served to fuel his anger. “Don’t you fucking dare look at me like that, you already fucking know this shit” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Oh, that’s right, you don’t fucking remember, because you refused to admit that your little brother was gone, and he wasn’t fucking coming back!”  The room fell silent as Tommy took a deep breath, desperately trying to regain his composure. “Because you refused to admit that he chose to leave you, and you blamed me for it instead”

“What are you talking about.” Techno’s voice was low and quiet, the threat in his tone clear as day. “What do you mean he’s gone. What did you do to my brother.” 

Hearing the threat in Techno’s voice seemed to break the dam that Tommy had so carefully built up inside him. What had been pure anger and rage was quickly replaced with pain and sorrow. He could feel as the tears began to pour down his face in a rush, leaving him coughing and sputtering as he tried to breathe. 

Phil took one look at the sobbing boy and quickly rushed over, pulling him into a tight hug. In that moment, it didn’t matter to him what was going on. All he cared about was his son needed him. 

Desperately, Tommy hugged Phil back, his hands clutching the back of phil’s shirt, as if Phil would vanish the moment he let go. 

He wasn’t sure how long they sat like that, with him desperately trying to calm down, and Phil silently comforting him. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours. He didn’t know. 

When he finally calmed down enough, he pulled back and wiped his eyes. “I’m so sorry,” he said softly, “I’m so sorry. I never wanted any of this.” 

“Shh, it’s ok. Why don’t you start from the beginning?” Phil kept his voice calm and steady, silently offering his support. 

With a small nod, Tommy told everyone the story. He explained the swap, explained his old life. He talked about his parents, and his friends. He told them about how he had found himself in this world with no explanation, and how he had destroyed his only hope of ever returning home. He told them about how Wilbur had kicked him out of L’manberg when he had originally found out. 

By the time he was done, he was crying again. And based on the sniffles that he could hear, he was pretty sure Phil was crying as well. 

“So yeah. I’m not your son, or your brother. That Tommy is gone, he has been for years. I- I’m sorry...” 

Before he could even process what was happening, he was engulfed in another hug. However, this time he could feel the arms of not one person, but three. Three separate pairs of arms wrapped around him, offering their support. 

“Tommy, I don’t care what dimension you’re from, or if you don’t really consider us you’re family. You’re still my son, and I still love you unconditionally. Understood?” Phil said quietly. Tommy could only nod slightly in response. 

“You might not remember all the shit you did when we were little, but you’re still the same nerd that tried to steal my sword when you were ten,” Techno’s voice, which was normally deadpan, was now filled with affection for his younger brother. 

Ghostbur was the last one to speak. But when he did, he sounded sad, and filled with regret. “Tommy... I don’t know what Alivebur did to you, or how he treated you, but just know that I’m not him. I’m not going to hurt you, ok? You’re still my baby brother...” 

The four of them were quiet for a while, the only sounds coming from Tommy’s quiet sobs. 

Finally, a quiet voice cut through the silence. “Thank you...” 

~~~

Im gonna put the taglist in this one because im proud of it. Let me know if I should continue putting the taglist in drabbles, or if i should just keep it to the actual chapters themselves :D

@hismilw @violet--majesty @chiera99 @koi-boye @waffle-time-god @miss-oleum @porkgavor @crafted-dreams @harley-the-pancake @lemonaid-ruru @luminousart @g3rmpy @bee-tubbo @firepowder @boombahey @rayjayo @carry-on-my-wayward-why @echo-delta @star-fruit23

#Philza #ph1lza #tommyinnit #technoblade #Wilbur soot #wilbursoot #sleepyblr #sleepy bois inc #dream smp #mcyt #the real world #my writing

[dreamsmp-au-ideas]

It's late and I'm probably going to regret this in the morning but what about a Paranorman au? It is, of course, going to go severely off the canon media and I'm going to make it so much angstier than it was before.

We're going to have Tubbo seeing and talking to ghosts and stuff. He is going to get bullied and is not having a good time honestly. His uncle showed up and told him about a curse and a few days later he's seeing zombies and whole lot of things.

Also apparently all of his friends but Tommy, Ranboo, Wilbur, and Phil are cursed well then. That's not good for the others.

Schlatt is that uncle who no one really wants to talk to and talks to ghosts as well. Spoilers: He dies early on in the au. Heart attack.

Phil, Techno, Wilbur, and Tommy are the family Tubbo got adopted into and they love each other.

Phil skeptic on ghosts but humors Tubbo on it. He tries to help him move on from the Captain just straight up being gone.

Techno is even more of a skeptic and he kind of wishes that Tubbo would stop with the ghost thing. It doesn't help that he still hears the chat. Why? Well I get to that later.

Tommy is the only one who believes Tubbo and equally gets bullied at school. He goes and just chases anyone who hurts Tubbo though. We get Clingy Duo in this house kids.

I am very tempted to make Wilbur dead just for the angst and the fact that Tubbo can see him and no one believes him hurts. Oh boy that hurts.

On the other hand we can have him alive but we got to go and give him a lot of angst in return. I don't know what. Maybe the death of his girlfriend Sally? Wait shit that's worse.

Quackity, Fundy, Bad, Niki, George, Sapnap, Ponk, Eret, and Ranboo are in this story as well. I'll get to their roles later but let's get to Agatha :)

So I'm thinking we have Dream as Agatha. And this is where the angst really hits.

We start off by everything happening at the Village that went Mad. Everything was good at that village. Everyone was completely normal and there is no magic here! Nope! None at all!

Except Cornelius did. Cornelius had magic and he showed it to Catboy and Robin. He loved them so and he would smile whenever they would go and be in awe of his magic.

Cornelius who was known as a god who reincarnated so many times yet would go and rest with these two. He's truly happy with them.

Then a villager spots them. And then they tell the others.

They mistakenly accuse Robin and Catboy for witchcraft. Cornelius begged and screamed that he was the one who did it and yet they did not listen. Both were hanged.

And that's when rage hit. So much rage hit. And so Cornelius cursed the people who voted for his partner and son's demise. He cursed their descendants and leveled the village.

And in that time, Cornelius grieves.

Next lifetime, he's Hubert. He's working for a noble and man he hates it. He still misses Robin and Catboy, but he found joy in making sure that a teenager was well.

He grew fond of Moon and vowed to protect him. He worked for the noble for a long time and knew what he did behind the painting. He knew.

So he promised Moon that one day, they'll run away from the manor. That one day, they'll run away and they'll never look back. Then they'll make a cabin and will live happily. Away from the noble and the egg.

Then a masquerade happens and Moon makes a mistake. Something that could be brushed off and forgiven quickly.

But the noble isn't one to forgive. He instead led all of his guests down and dragged the Butler with him. Hubert running behind and trying desperately to reach him.

The screams will forever haunt him.

Rage hit again and if he had a clear mind he would have seen that the guests were horrified at what the noble has done.

He didn't though. And so he cursed all who was in the manor, the noble cursed the most and burnt it down.

And in that time, Hubert grieves.

Next lifetime, he's Dream. He's scared to get close to others. Oh so scared. He keeps an arm's distance away and hides himself from the world.

Then he meets three people. A child who is energetic and is mischievous, a man who sings songs and is abut odd, and a father who watches over the two and is protective of them.

For a moment, he lets himself get close. He lets himself be happy with this family and he can heal and maybe he can settle down and-

An arguement happens with the musician and an ex friend of his. Someone spills the a candle over. The house catches fire with his family inside.

Only the person with sunglasses survived. Regret and tears pouring out of their eyes. They didn't mean to. Oh god what had they done.

Rage hits once more and he quietly curses the person. He can't level this town. This town was that family's home.

And so he left. Dream leaves and he apurs in his anger and grief and it grows and grows and he's about to snap and then-

A businessman of all people realized who he was and sealed him away to stop him from leveling the town.

And in that time, Dream grieves.

And in that time, Cornelius, Hubert, Dream grows angry. His rage skills and spills and he wants to make them all pay. They deserve all the suffering that they caused. They deserve it all.

It is now tradition for the family of that businessman to go and read him the tales of all of his lives to stop his rage.

Schlatt was supposed to do it. But alas, he died.

And now the god woke up. And he's in grief. But most of all, he's in rage.

#mcyt #dream smp #dream smp au #paranorman au #tubbo #jschlatt #philza #ph1lza #technoblade #tommyinnit #wilbur soot #dream #dreamwastaken #long post

[onecanonlife]

careful son (you got dreamer's plans)

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

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

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

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

Chapter Word Count: 5,482

Chapter Warnings: swearing, blood, referenced (temporary) character death

Chapter Summary: In which Wilbur overhears a conversation that is not quite meant for him, and then they all set out to pick up Technoblade. It’s not the worst road trip in the world, but it’s not exactly the best, either.

(masterlist w/ ao3 links)

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

Chapter Thirteen: wipe the dirt off of your hands (i)

They settle on two hours as a timeline. Two hours before they leave: he, Phil, Tommy, and Tubbo, the four of them off to the tundra. He’s left the rest of them to decide whether they want to stay in the castle or be among those braving the rest of the server in order to warn the others, to bring anyone who wants to come back with them to their base of operations. Safe and sound, or as much as anyone can be, now.

Two hours. It feels like too long. Dream could be doing anything with that time. The Egg could be doing anything with that time. He feels restless, irritated at the wait, even though he knows it makes sense, knows that pushing everyone too hard too soon will do more harm than good, that two hours, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t very long.

(but isn’t it, though? two hours can change the tide of a battle, can mean the difference between success and failure, life and death, a surrender and a victory)

He finds himself pacing the hallways of the castle.

It’s in greater disrepair than he expected. Almost every room he walks into is coated in dust. No one has stayed here in—months, probably. No one other than Eret, perhaps, and he said he’d been away. It puts him in a strange mood; he remembers this place when it was new, when it was lived in, spilling over with light and movement, and he hated it then, of course, hated what it stood for, what it represented, but it made others happy. Niki, for one; she always liked Eret, despite his efforts to persuade her otherwise. Fundy,

(and the memory is fuzzy, indistinct, because Ghostbur did not want to remember this, did not want to confront his own inadequacy, but Fundy stands in front of him with papers clutched in his hand and he’s saying something about adoption and all that he feels is crushing abandonment, crushing guilt, and it is wiped away in the blue only a moment later but for that moment, he is overwhelmed by the knowledge that he has failed his son, failed him badly enough that he would run to the arms of a traitor, and the word adoption drips like sodden soil, drips like words that die useless on his tongue)

because he always liked Eret too, even though he was there that day, even though he lost a life to his machinations, his betrayal, even though he should have known better. He’s pretty sure he remembers HBomb staying here as well, though he never knew the man well enough to pay attention. But now there is no one, and the castle is empty, and every step he takes feels haunted by ghosts of people that still live.

The castle is a relic. Perhaps he is one, too. A relic of an older time. This server has moved on, has changed so much, and he plays at being the general again, puts on the general’s mask as it is needed, but he doesn’t know if that’s right, if it makes any difference at all, if the general can find his footing in an altered world. How useful is a general that doesn’t know the lay of the land?

(how useful is a general who has not won the war within himself?)

(the part of you that could lead broke a long time ago and you know it and it was not the ravine that did it you were broken before then broken under the weight of a position you did not know how to handle and your shining city stood for freedom stood for those you wanted to protect but it became harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning and you crumpled crumpled like wet paper like the documents that signed your emancipation and meant nothing at all in the end because the ideals fell apart long before you set the final nail in the coffin you built for yourself)

Two hours. Less than that, by now, surely. If Phil were to see him, he’d tell him to rest. Perhaps that’s part of why he’s doing this. Wandering alone. Because if Phil were to see him, he’d tell him to rest,

(hypocrite that he is, because Wilbur knows that Phil is not resting, knows that he’s situated himself at the castle’s highest turret, eyes cast to the distance, shoulders tense and posture still, waiting, a live wire)

but he cannot, cannot dispel the energy that buzzes through him, even though his mind is fogged with exhaustion. He cannot rest, and not least because he doesn’t know what kind of dreams would greet him, what would rise out of the darkness now that he knows precisely what lurks within it.

So he walks. Walks, and walks, and tries not to count the minutes as they pass, walks several laps through the castle’s corridors before the sound of voices breaks him out of his fugue.

“—talking about?” someone says, and it’s Tommy. He slows to a stop outside of a closed door, identical to all the rest but for the fact that there is someone inside.

“I mean it,” comes the reply. Tubbo. His voice is muffled by the barrier between them, but Wilbur can understand him perfectly. And for a moment, he considers moving onward. Whatever they’re discussing, they don’t need him listening in on it.

Instead, he inches closer, and leans against the wall just outside the door. The stone is hard against his back, unforgiving, cold.

“I can do the most good here,” Tubbo continues. “You all don’t need me to come with you to get Technoblade. That’s—Tommy, this is serious, you know?”

“I fucking know,” Tommy snaps. “I don’t see why that means you’ve got to stay behind.”

“Because I can actually help here,” Tubbo replies, his voice rising slightly. “Tommy—listen, Tommy, I know about these kinds of things. Not enough, but some, and I can help. I can try to keep it out. I can put enchantments all over the place and stuff like that, try to make sure it can’t get to us. Try and make it a safe place. That’s something we need right now.” He pauses. “Take Ranboo with you instead, yeah? He lives up there, he’s close with Techno, he should go.”

“I don’t want to leave you here,” Tommy says.

Wilbur closes his eyes. There is more emotion in his voice than this situation alone would warrant, he thinks. More history. More history that he, perhaps, is not privy to. That he hasn’t asked about, that he didn’t want to ask about, because he didn’t want to prod at wounds that have not yet closed. He regrets it, now. Perhaps then he would have context for the crack in Tommy’s voice.

“I know,” Tubbo says, his voice soft. “But you’ve got to. We’ve got to do what we’ve go to do now, big man. You and Wil go get Techno and look at Phil’s books. I’ll be here when you get back.”

He expects strong words from Tommy at that. But instead there is silence. Wilbur strains to hear, leans in closer, but there is nothing.

“This isn’t like then,” Tubbo says after a moment. “We’re both safe. Wilbur won’t let anything happen to you. And nobody here’s gonna let anything happen to me. I’ve got Eret, and Sapnap, and Puffy.”

“Oh, well, if Eret’s here,” Tommy mutters, and Wilbur jerks. Tommy’s voice is choked, wet, and for a second, his instinct is to open the door, to step inside and offer what comfort he can, but his feet feel glued to the floor.

(this is not for you not for you to heal these hurts when the root of the hurt is of you this is them their moment and you are on the outside looking in a trespasser and if you move anywhere it must be to go)

“I thought you forgave Eret,” Tubbo says.

“I do,” Tommy replies. “This is—this isn’t about that, and you know it, I just—”

“I know,” Tubbo says, “I do, I know.”

There is silence after that. A rustle of clothing. And then a few muffled noises. Wilbur knows all too well what it sounds like, someone crying into someone else, allowing themself a moment of grief, of terror, of unbridled emotion. He should leave. Leave them to it. Leave them to this. It’s the least he can do; this is his fault, his fault that they’re involved in this, his fault that they’ve been dragged into conflict once again, his fault that anything terrible happened to them at all. His fault they’re not all still at home, on a server far away, in the house that he and Tommy grew up in and that Tubbo may as well have.

(you took them with you and made soldiers out of them, soldiers out of children. you took them with you and set the weight of the world on their shoulders, and the way their eyes dimmed is because of you. the burn scars on Tubbo’s face, the tremble in Tommy’s fingers that he tries fruitlessly to hide, this is all because of you. you took children and gave them grownups’ clothes and grownups’ weapons and guided their hands to pierce the heart, guided their hands with your own and claimed the blood for yours though it did not change the way their hands were painted, and then you abandoned them, abandoned them to yourself and then, at the last, fully, abandoned them in every way possible, abandoned them to the wolves and the ruins and you should have known better, should have known that even if the land was not important to you it was important to these children, these children you sent to hell with songs on their lips)

(but then, there is this also: they would not have had it any other way. they looked at you with stars in their eyes, and perhaps they were blinded by the fire of you, but they loved you. they loved you then, and they love you still. and they will follow you yet despite it all despite what you have done they will follow you and their eyes are open to what you are and they still follow and it must be for love little though you deserve it it must be for love because love is not about deserving)

He breathes. Puts his back to the wall, and then slides down. Sits. Listens to Tommy cry. Presses his eyes shut, and then presses the palms of his hands to his eyes until spots of color flicker on the back of his eyelids.

He stays there for a long time before lurching to his feet once again.

----------

“I didn’t miss this,” Tommy mutters, rubbing his arms, glaring balefully at Phil as if he controls the weather.

Phil offers a short laugh. Out of all of them, he’s the only one really dressed for the climate; Eret offered them all heavier coats before they left, but there’s heavier coats and then there’s coats meant for a blizzard, and these are not the latter.

“We’ve got some better stuff once we get to the house,” Phil says. “I’ll make us some hot drinks, too.”

“I don’t want your stupid tea,” Tommy says, but he seems mollified.

“I’ll take some tea,” Ranboo says immediately afterward, and Wilbur is having to slowly revise his opinion of this kid. Anxious as all hell, sure. A bit of a pushover, definitely. But he’s got a streak of hardness in him, though he tends to back down upon being challenged. Like right now: Tommy directs his glare toward him, and he apologizes immediately. But he’s a bit of an enigma, this Ranboo. Hidden depths. And Ghostbur liked him, which doesn’t always count for anything, but in this case, he thinks it might.

“Everyone who wants some tea can have some tea,” Phil says, another laugh in his voice. He looks a bit better than he did earlier, though his smile seems strained, his movements rushed, obviously anticipating their arrival at their destination. His wings are hidden again, disguised underneath a thick cloak, and Wilbur hates it all the more, if that’s possible, now that he understands exactly why. He remembers Phil telling him, once, that he disliked keeping his wings under his clothes, that it was uncomfortable, itchy, cramped. And now Phil does it as if it is second nature.

“I wouldn’t mind some tea,” he says softly, and glances away when Phil looks at him.

“Of course, Wil,” Phil says, matching his tone, and then they pass out from under the trees, and Technoblade’s quaint little cottage comes into view.

The windows are dark. No smoke rises from the chimney. It’s a far cry from the last time he saw it, when it seemed to him a bastion against the pervasive chill outside, warm and welcoming, no matter his trepidation about who waited within.

“Well, that’s ominous,” Tommy says, and Wilbur winces.

“Maybe he’s sleeping?” Ranboo tries. “I’ve never lost a life here, but, um, y’know, I used to live on Hypixel. Did some of the arena stuff, respawned a few times. It always made me tired.”

“That’s probably it,” Phil agrees, but his eyes are pinched, and Wilbur can tell that he’s worried. It is an easy thing to read, Phil’s worry. Easy to read, for how common it is. He strains to remember whether this stress he carries with him was nearly as prevalent when they were kids, and he comes up empty.

“Well, let’s go wake him up, then,” Tommy declares, and strides forward with determination, still talking. “I fucking hate this place, it’s such a stupid little house—” Ranboo follows after him, but Wilbur grabs Phil by the arm, delaying him for a second even as he tracks the kids’ progress ahead of them, like they’ll fall into some misfortune if he looks away for a moment.

“You’re worried,” he says.

“Respawn can be tough,” Phil says. “I need to lay eyes on him for myself.”

He knows, of course, what Phil is talking about. He remembers the sensation all too well. Remembers the pain

(in his throat as Punz slashed it, his lifeblood spilling out on his hands as he clutched the wound, his voice silenced, silenced as he tried to breathe but choked on thick copper and it took him a full minute to bleed out on the floor, every second edged with desperate, consuming fear)

(in his back as Punz’s shot sailed true, hit his heart, his vision darkening around the edges as terror flooded him, terror not just for him but for Tommy, for Tommy, his little brother who he never intended to bring down with him)

of dying, and then the void, but not the true void, not the void he remembers all too well,

(not the void that cradled him even as it ate away at all he was)

but a transition, a place both within life and out of it, and a howling second-minute-hour in which he could feel nothing at all. And then, slamming back into consciousness, every nerve burning with the phantom agony of disembodiment, of every cell destroyed and then forced back together, made anew,

(but there was no time to rest no time to work through it because they needed to go needed to run)

gasping back to the living world shaking and barely cognizant.

Respawn can be tough. Is tough. He knows that Techno has experienced it before, if rarely, but that was on different worlds, worlds that do not limit a person’s lives. He has not lost one here. Has not lost one that counted so dearly.

But there is nothing to do now but walk forward.

The house is cold, the fire unlit. Tommy has sobered, and his arms are crossed, almost hugging himself. Ranboo shifts uneasily, gaze flickering around the ground floor, the unlit furnaces, the chests stacked against each other, the windows slanting thin light into the room. Wilbur catches Phil’s eye, and Phil sighs.

“Up here,” he says, and starts up the ladder. He waits a beat before following, something in him oddly reluctant.

He didn’t venture up here, when he visited—how long ago? Not more than two weeks.

(two weeks breathing, two weeks living, and it feels like so, so much longer)

He’s not sure what he was expecting from Techno’s room, but it was probably something like this: chests shoved against the wall, a bell out on display, an emerald block for good measure, bookshelves in every available space. It is very Techno, sparse and yet not, filled with only the things he cares deeply about, cramped but lived-in. But the bed is empty, and it takes a moment for Wilbur to spot where Techno is. When he does, his heart leaps into his throat.

Techno is sitting against the wall, and on first glance, he looks fine. But only on a first glance, because a second tells Wilbur that his breathing is labored, his eyes screwed tightly shut, sweat beading his forehead. His fists are clenched, and fine tremors run through his body, a constant shuddering that must be exhausting.

There is a new scar on his neck. Thick and white.

Ranboo makes a sound, a startled warble. Tommy inhales sharply, and is silent.

Wilbur feels frozen where he stands.

Respawn can be tough. But somehow, this feels like something else.

(his brother is supposed to be invincible unstoppable impervious to pain he is not supposed to be hurt he is not supposed to be hurt and he doesn’t know what to do for something of this magnitude because he knows how to help when the voices get to loud when his voices drown out everything else and give him migraines but this is not that this is deeper than that worse than that)

Phil steps forward, robes swishing as he kneels by Techno’s side. His hands hover, but he does not touch. Wilbur wants to join him, wants to help, but he still can’t make himself move. He’s not sure why this sight has frozen him so; perhaps it’s because he wasn’t prepared for it, even with all his knowledge of the possibilities, even being well aware that no one comes out of losing a life unscathed, ready to jump back into battle, not even Technoblade.

Perhaps there really isn’t anything that can prepare him to see his brother in pain. Even now.

(and the general is useless here, because this is family)

“Hey,” Phil says quietly. “Techno? You awake?”

To his surprise, Techno stirs. Shifts just a bit in place, wincing, and then his eyes crack open. They are dazed, glazed over, the usually piercing red dull and clouded and—

Gold. There is gold in his eyes, too, flickering, flashing, and every time Wilbur catches a glimpse of it, Techno jerks, a convulsion just barely distinguishable from the rest of his shaking. It is a shimmering gold, the same color as the burst of light that hailed his resurrection, that hailed his renewal, that hailed Technoblade never dies, the burst of energy that vibrated in his bones and sent heat skidding across his skin. The light of the totem is in Techno’s eyes, somehow, and it—

It is hurting him.

“Shit,” Phil mutters. “I was worried about this. Techno, can you hear me?”

Techno swallows, his throat bobbing, and Wilbur’s eyes are drawn

(Dream’s axe in his throat and the blood spurts hot and red and he only has a moment to stare at the gaping wound before the sentence comes down and his brother is)

to the scar again. Almost imperceptibly, Techno nods.

“Okay,” Phil says, and his hands finally land, one on Techno’s shoulder and one on his hand, and Techno immediately grasps his fingers in a death grip. Phil winces, but makes no protest. “Okay, you’re gonna be okay, Techno. Not much to do but wait it out, but I can get you some pots that should help. Would that be okay?”

Technoblade huffs, and then nods. Again, just slightly. His eyes flicker around the room, half-lidded, and Wilbur’s not even sure that he’s aware they’re all there, except then, his gaze lands on Tommy and stays there. Tommy flinches, face paling, and he edges back toward the ladder, hands clenching and unclenching, like he thinks that Techno is going to leap up and attack him, somehow, in this state.

(but that’s not it at all—this is the attack, seeing him in this way, seeing him weakened, seeing the result of the action he took, because Wilbur knows himself and he knows Tommy, and he knows that for all his efforts, Tommy takes after him in some ways. Tommy internalizes a lot. internalizes blame, takes responsibility for things outside of his control, things with vast, terrible consequences, even as he avoids responsibility for minor faults, things that no one takes much issue with in the first place. he’s strange like that, Tommy, but he knows all too well that Tommy watched Technoblade die in front of him, for him, and decided immediately that it was his fault. he would have done the same thing. has been doing the same thing)

(Dream’s voice, smooth and confident and hated: how many people are gonna have to sacrifice themselves for you before you learn?)

(the answer: at least one more, always one more, but somebody needs to get it through Tommy’s skull that he is worth it, worth a sacrifice, worth everything that people are willing to give him and more. someone needs to tell him, because he doesn’t think he knows)

Technoblade grunts something, short and clipped, and it takes him a second to realize he’s speaking in Piglin. Not for the first time, he regrets his barely rudimentary knowledge of the language. But Phil understands, and something that is just slightly too pained to be a real smile passes across his face. He answers in kind, and Technoblade relaxes marginally. He sighs, eyes falling shut, and he tips forward a bit, resting his head against Phil’s chest. Phil begins carding a hand through his hair, the motion seemingly automatic.

“Any of you have a weakness pot on you?” Phil asks, switching to the common tongue. “Healing and regen will do more harm than good for him right now. Best thing for him to do is sleep through it.”

He certainly doesn’t. Tommy shakes his head mutely. But Ranboo raises a tentative hand.

“I don’t have any on me, but I might have one at my house?” he offers. “I can go see.”

Phil nods. “Thank you, Ranboo,” he says, and Ranboo nods back, climbing down the ladder, casting once last glance at Techno before he goes. The front door opens and shuts a moment later, and the four of them are alone.

“What’s wrong with him, then?” Tommy asks, after a pregnant silence. “I mean. Respawn fucking sucks. But why is he like this?”

He’s trying too hard not to sound concerned. No one in this room is going to fall for it, except maybe Techno, who seems too out of it to be listening at all, really. But Phil doesn’t call him on it, just grimaces.

“I’ve seen it a few times before,” he says lowly. “Various wars I’ve been in. People could use a totem and then die again in their next breath, if they were unlucky. Respawning from that is always difficult, because the magic from the totem doesn’t have time to work its way out of your system, and it’s not the kind of thing that a respawn wipes away. It’s the opposite, actually. So he’s still got that shit raging through him, except now there’s nothing for it to do, so it’s stuck there until it dissipates. And it’s not—it’s not pleasant, from what I’ve seen. That shit’s potent. Not good to have it in you for too long.”

“And there’s nothing we can do about it?” he checks.

“Short of killing him again? No,” Phil says. “Even that might not work. It’s been a few hours, so he should be coming out of the worst of it pretty soon. But until then, he just needs to rest.”

“C’n hear you,” Techno mumbles suddenly. He shifts so that his face is half-visible, and Wilbur’s not sure he remembers the last time he saw his brother look so vulnerable.

(on a stage in front of a crowd, perhaps, perhaps, peer pressure that he knew Techno would be unable to withstand, an impossible situation laid out before him, to blow his cover or not, to blow his cover and ensure the death of he and Tubbo alike, perhaps, perhaps, and which is better, to pull the trigger and save yourself or refuse and damn you both? but Techno made his choice, and he can only imagine what his face was doing, because a mask covered his expression that day, as it did so many of those days, a barrier between him and his brother. a barrier between the man he became, dark and shadowed and laying out plot threads like he thought himself one of the Fates, a man with the power to chose his own archetype, a barrier between that man and the man he strung along in his wake, cold, impersonal, intimidating, distant, and nothing like what he should have been. what they should have been, together)

It is hard to imagine that this man prides himself on being undefeated. Hard to imagine that only hours ago

(and it feels like days, like weeks, like a month)

this man was gleefully engaging Dream in combat, was winning before Dream decided to play dirty, before he dragged Tommy into it, before he took advantage of what he must have known Technoblade would do if Tommy was threatened, if his final life hung in the balance. Because for all his feelings of betrayal, for all his insistence that he’s done, finished with them, finished with trying, finished with involving himself in their troubles when he gets nothing in return, for all of that—

For all of that, Technoblade still cares for them. He knows that. And Technoblade is loyal to those he loves. Despite it all.

(and it is a bitter pill to swallow, after everything, but if Techno did not want to stand by their sides, he would not have come, whether Phil asked it of him or not. but he did. he did, and this is the price, the consequence)

“Yeah? Then can you hear me calling you a bitch?” Tommy says, and absolutely none of his usual bravado makes it into his voice.

Techno huffs, and if he’s going to say anything, it gets interrupted by the door down below opening and closing again, and then the ladder creaking as Ranboo climbs up.

“Weakness potion,” he says, holding it out, and Phil accepts it, handling it where Techno can see it.

“Taking this ought to help, Tech,” he murmurs. “I know it’s not your first choice, but there’s no point in you being awake while your body sorts this shit out.”

Techno flicks his fingers, a gesture that might loosely be interpreted as meaning go ahead, and then he sags, as if even doing that much has taken up all the energy he has left. But Phil takes it as an affirmative, and he guides the flask up to Techno’s lips, and Wilbur looks away as he prods Techno into swallowing its contents. It feels strangely intimate, uncomfortable, like he’s intruding on something private. Which should be a ridiculous thought; this is his father and his brother, and perhaps he’s never seen Techno hurt as bad as this, but he’s seen him hurt, and Phil has taken care of all of them like this at one point or another.

(but you see this and you cannot help but project and perhaps the intimacy discomfits you because it is not for you because you cannot help but imagine it for yourself and come to the conclusion that you do not deserve it would not deserve it if your positions were reversed)

(or perhaps you see this, and you see yourself standing there, doing nothing, not even speaking a word, and you just feel useless)

“He’s out,” Phil says, only a beat later. “He should be better by tomorrow, maybe even tonight if we’re lucky. These things just need to run their course.” He smooths a bit of hair back from Techno’s face, which is more peaceful now, slack in sleep, only a vague tightness to hint at disquiet.

“Um, well that’s good,” Ranboo says. “What do we do until then?”

“What we came here to do,” Phil says, and gets to his feet, lifting Technoblade in his arms in the same motion. It looks a bit awkward; Techno has more than a foot on Phil, but Phil carries him to his bed with apparent ease. “We came here for information, so that’s what we’ll try to find.” He pauses, frowning. “I don’t like leaving him alone in this state, but he should be alright, and we’ll be—”

“I’ll stay with him,” Tommy says.

Wilbur blinks. Tommy scowls. He looks a bit surprised, almost, like he didn’t expect the words to come out of his mouth. But when faced with the attention of the entire room, he doubles down on it.

“Look, someone should make sure he doesn’t keel over again in his sleep, right?” he says. “Not that I care, but it’d be—it’d be downright inconvenient, now, wouldn’t it? So someone oughta stay, and if we’re gonna be looking at, at books and shit, well, that’s not really my thing. Could be, if I wanted to! But y’know, it’s boring, and I have better things to do quite often. Like, like women and shit. So, maybe if you want to be doing research, I’m not—ugh, maybe I’m not the best man to help with that. So I can stay here with him.”

Phil cocks his head, apparently bemused. “I suppose?” he says. “But, Tommy, are you sure—”

“Oh Prime, yes,” Tommy says, and flaps a hand at all of them. “I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t sure, would I? So go and, go and look through all your stupid old man books, and I’ll stay here. Look, he’s even got a seat for me already.” He stalks across the room and throws himself down on the emerald block, pulling his legs up to sit criss-cross. “It’s like it was made for me. An e-mer-ald throne. Go on. Shoo. Fuck right off.”

His cheeks are a bit flushed. Embarrassment, no doubt, at being caught caring about Technoblade, because that’s what this is, deep down. But he’s fidgeting, too, like he’s nervous, though nervous about what, Wilbur isn’t sure. Nervous about being alone in a room with Techno? Maybe, except Techno is out like a light. Nervous about the rest of them confronting him on it? Also maybe, and Phil looks confused enough to push him on it, so Wilbur decides to step in.

“Good of you to volunteer, Tommy,” he says. “Come get us if he starts making odd sounds or something, I suppose.”

Tommy pulls a face. “Odd sounds,” he repeats dubiously. “That right there, I don’t appreciate the way you said that.”

“Ookay,” Phil says. “Right, then. Come get us if you need us, Tommy. Wil, Ranboo, I’ll show you where we’re going.”

Wilbur follows Phil back down the ladder. But not before looking at the scene one last time. Techno in bed, dead to the world. Tommy perched on an emerald block, staring at their brother with intensity, something dark and inscrutable flashing in his eyes. Wilbur wonders at the wisdom of leaving Tommy alone here. There is bad blood between them. Bad blood, despite what Techno just did. And it hurts a bit, having to consider things like this, having to consider the likelihood of his brothers trying to murder each other if they’re left alone together,

(and it is partially his fault, he knows, one more thing to add to the list, the pit looming large in his memories)

but there’s nothing for it now. If he brings his concerns up, Tommy will just buckle down further, his pride rearing up. So Wilbur follows Phil and Ranboo down the ladder, and tries to think positively.

It’s difficult. He’s out of practice at it.

“Alright,” Phil says, and once again, Wilbur is struck by how old he looks, how worn down. “Suppose I’ll show you two the stronghold, then.”

A beat passes.

“The what—”

#mcyt #dsmp #dream smp #dsmp fic #wilbur soot #tommyinnit #tubbo #philza #technoblade #ranboo #/rp #cat writes fic #long post #ending's a little abrupt i think but this one is a two-parter so #alas that's how the cookie crumbles #c!wilbur angst tag

[yourclownpal]

A comprehensive list of all my Ghost au's

this post will be talking about all of the ghost au's ive created or co-created including talking about ghost au's from old fandom's that i am no longer in. if you want to ask about any of my au's my ask box and dm's are always open this includes the hermitcraft au but keep it to a minimum please also if any of the creator's of the characters have said that they arent comfortable with what im making ( with proof ofc) i will edit or delete what is needed to fit in the boundaries also another thing this is a long post if you just want the art go under the cut! this post will discuss how each au works and basic plot stuff about them the fandoms in this post are hermitcraft, epithet erased, and dsmp okay first things first-

my hermitcraft au (what a pity)-

On my old tumblr account I made a few posts about it along with a fanfic which never got finished due to me not wanting to interact with the fandom any more due to personal reasons and also I'm not very good at writing imo but I think I'm ready to talk about it again. Just keep in mind i will most likely not talk about this fandom ever again at least not on here again for personal preference : -) it was about season 6 Grian since he was who i was hyperfixating on at the time, being haunted by the ghosts of Sam and Taurtis, both of them from the old roleplay series' Yandere High School, and Tokyo Soul, and taurtis from Grians old-ish smp Evo. Since I never finished the fanfiction nobody but me and close friends ever got to hear the full story i had planned but now you will i guess. It was mainly just grian stressing about Sam and Taurtis being ghosts and him worrying about being crazy, though he would still join the hippies during the area 77 war he would be significantly more stressed especially when finding out that Sam and Taurtis have been possessing his body during the night, he’s more worried about Sam though because of his track record back in the other servers( yhs and ts) it was going to be that Sam (although death isn't permanent) would go on a killing spree in Grians body which would cause the area 77 guys to put him in the facility to see what's going on with him, and it didn't get further then that. My favorite part of this au much like all of my au’s were the design elements i had for it which i'll have under the cut with the other designs. Now for a rundown of how the ghost physics work in this world, in typical ghost fashion Sam and Taurtis were not able to touch or move anything, but they were able to interact with Grian, him being the only person who could see/hear/or touch them. Their only super natural abilities is being able to possess Grian.

Okay! Time for my Epithet Erased au!: Unlike what a pity this one doesn't have a name or a fanfic to go with it as said before i'm not exactly a writer but i have talked about it a bit before on this account along with posting the designs and general concept but i'll go more in depth here! As said in my original post this au was a co-creation with my best friend and sibling @brocolibean so go check bun out ^^ Unlike ‘What a Pity’ it was more lighthearted and comedy centric because it dealt with a bit more and also the original show is a comedy. This au didn't include the character’s epithets so they are all humans. This will also include talking about house each ghost died so if your uncomfortable hearing about that you might want to skip the ghosts portion Just like the original post I'll separate the story summary into 3 parts with intervals in between to talk about the ghosts. First we have the Banzai boys part of the story. Giovanni, Spike, Dark Star, Crusher, Flame Thrower, Car Crash, and Ben all decide to move into a house together so they could all easily split the rent since its close to their collage, the house, which they get for cheap, is aa very old house with sketchy history. But it's a huge house for cheap so they don't complain they encounter the ghosts very early on living in the house and they swear to figure out how they died so they can get their memory back! The ghosts, Molly, Sylvie, Trixie, and Pheonica have no memory! All they know is that there are ghosts! They are connected to the property of this house but if you where to get something- like perhaps a stone from the property the ghost is still technically attached to it therefore the ghost can go with you anywhere Speaking of- -Phoenicia Fleecity is one of the last ghosts to show herself, her body is found in the overgrown garden flowers growing over her skeleton, she is from the victorian era making her the oldest out of the ghosts though he death is the most mysterious -Molly Blindeff is the first ghost the group meets her decomposed body is found buried in the floorboards of the living room, found when gio decided that the house needed renovation and taking matters into his own hands, she died via blunt force trauma i will not be going into detail here because i'm still thinking of doing something with this au she died in the early 2000’s -Sylvester Ashling is the second ghost to show himself though he didn't want to, his body was found in the bottom of the pond in the backyard of the house in the garden. His body while it was decomposing and falling apart was still intact, bloated from drowning. Again i wont go into detail but this wasn't an accident time of death is unknown -Trixie Roughhouse is the third person to show themselves to the Banzai Blasters she is found in the bushes in the backyard her face disfigured from some sort of explosion unlike the others it seems like it was purely an accident, like sylvie their time of death is unknown Mera Salamin is the collages part time librarian nicknamed “the library witch” she started seeing her ghost after obtaining a neck bow with a blue pendant from a pawnshop she got it cause it was pretty and didn't expect a himbo to come along with it -Indus Tarbella is a ghost who is attached to the pendant and bow Mera wear it used to be his own until he was decapitated wearing it through he was properly buried he has no troublesome memories about what happened even after seeing his body he’s just happy to be with Mera Percival King is a security guard at the college and one of the best at that, she wields a story she got from a pawn shop as its her preferred weapon she takes her job very seriously -Ramsey and Zora both died by the same sword while fighting neither remember who wielded the sword, even after death they hate each other and hate being bound together even more Everyone ends up meeting and finding out they all have ghost hijinks ensue. The way ghosts work in this world is a bit strange I'll admit but it's one of my favorites. The ghosts can interact with the human world(menma style) but

they can only talk to the others who can see them (the Banzai Blasters, mera and percy) and the ghosts can interact with each other ghosts in this au attach themselves to an item or property that has someway to do with their death, the kids in the property, Indus it's the bow, and the sword duo is well, the sword Percy carries. As alluded to from before Gio and the rest of the boys end up carrying a bit of the property with them in the form of friendship bracelets four for each of them which makes 28 different bracelets so the kids can decide who to follow around for the day.i talked about how percy and Mera’s items work enough but i would like to mention that Indus does most of the heavy lifting around the library but becaus enoone else can see indus they assume she’s magical, the glowing pendant doesn't help.

The last two au’s i want to talk about are both dream smp au’s

though i've never talked about them online until now, again thanks to @brocolibean for letting me brain vomit my way through these au’s and helping me out with things i love them please check him out I'll be honest i'm so scared of this fandom so i'm afraid to talk about my au’s please be nice to me Also this is all roleplay and fiction!<3 The first one i'll talking about is the dsmp ghost hunters au Sam runs a company where groups of people hunt ghosts for money! Those groups being Phil, Technoblade, Wilbur,Tommy, Tubbo, and Ranboo Dream, George, Sapnap, Quackity, Karl Bad, ant, Skeppy, and Puffy There’s most likely more but there the only people i can think of at this moment The only canonical ghost being Schlatt This au doesn't have a proper story perse it's more about gags and stuff about the different character fighting over ghosts for money but the story stuff i do have- Sbi family dynamic is real here you can rejoice, Phil adopts Tubbo after his dad (Schlatt) kicks the bucket and fucking dies , Tubbo befriend’s Ranboo some mysterious teen who just desperately needs a job so he- and the rest of the Minecraft family help him get one- though they find out Ranboo isnt as human as he was made out to be and he finds out he’s this worlds version of angels called ender’s and he’s there to protect Tubbo and Tommy which explains why the more violent ghosts start being less violent at the arrival of Ranboo joining their team. Bad isn't human either being a demon his entire group know’s plus quackity. Quackity found out but squirting him with holy water through a water gun but don't worry he promised not to tell anyone; -) Bad and Ranboo know about each other because they see each other as their true forms The minecraft fam found out about Schlatt being a ghost through Tommy- despite Tubbo telling him not to- telling them from calling up and paying for them to investigate their own house saying “technically i didn't tell them” they ended up not getting rid of Schlatt though I'm not going to talk about how the ghosts here work because it's not super important to the plot

The second au is another ghost au where the main characters are ghosts themselves,

like the others its mainly lighthearted and comedic with dark attributes The plot surrounds the sbi family moving into a new house and Tommy finding out it's being haunted by two ghost’s. Those ghosts being Tubbo and Ranboo This au isn't fully figured out but I know that he found out he was haunted by sending a selfie to someone(possibly Drista and Purpled? Since there are only other minors who were part of the dsmp lore? But ultimately idk) and them being like “yo i didn't know you had friends” and him being like “?????” Tubbo died from a boiler exploding and Ranboo died from drowning (which are apparently my two favorite deaths) this also doesn't have an official story? It was just an excuse to make ghost designs with a bit of a story without the commitment As said before it's a sbi au but also a Dadschlatt au cuz I like Dadschlatt au’s. The main story bits i have are background stuff for Tubbo and Ranboo which ill elaborate now The house was originally meant to be just a summer home because it had a large lake in the backyard Ranboo’s family would go there often but that doesn't mean his family liked him very much because of his heterochromia, Vitiligo, and his height his family thought he was strayed from god and drowned him Tubbo died during sleep while Schlatt wasn't home either out drinking or just at work he came home to the house being partially blown up and his son nowhere to be seen he calls Puffy out of fear and she calls the cops. He moves away and most likely starts drinking a bit more. The house gets rebuilt and now the sbi live there hijinks ensue! The ghosts in this au work in a simpler manor only Tommy can see them unless a photo is taken but even then they are blurred, they can float and go through walls and their ability to touch things is limited Ranboo’s memory is worse then Tubbo’s but Tubbo’s isn’t much better.

below the cut will be designs and stuff be safe pal's- there will be minor/cartoony blood-

rip me exposing my old art on this account also i'm ripping these from my fucking amino account that i don't use but still have the password too

gonna do the original what a pity drawins first them ill show a more recent rendition because i hate the old drawings

these are the old drawins i hate them

then,,, i just drew them,,,,, fuck these guys/j

thses are the old sprite edits of these four! trixies design is the only one that really changed

the ded;-; i couldnt fit him on the page

there he is! ft indus and very much alive mera(who i cant figure out how to FUCKING DRAW-)

gay's get wilbur'd/j

they lookin for ghosts

the whole fmaily is here but its quality is shit

these bitches dead! good for them,,, good for them,,,,,,/j/rp

#LET FUCKIGN RE TRY THIUS' #LETS HOPE IT ACTUALLY SHOWS UP IN THE FUCKING TAGS #FUCK #no fucking arounf this time: -/ #long post #au talk #EE Ghost au #hermitcraft au #not maintagging hermitcraft im scared of u bitches/Lh #grian #samgladiator #btw i dont support sam gladiator i think he's a prick #he can go suck a dick/srs #taurtis #yandere high school #tokyo soul #epithet erased #wont tag the characters unless their drawn #molly blyndeff #mera salamin #indus tarbella #dr sylvester ashling #trixie roughouse #phoenica fleecity #zora salazar #ramsey murdoch #dsmp au #dsmp tommy #dsmp tubbo #dsmp ranboo

[theonlygamergost]

As long as I’m with you - Dream SMP

This fanfic came up in my head a while ago, finished it recently and I’m pretty happy with it, the inspiration is how much I love the Techno/ Tommy brothers/friends dynamic.

This fan fiction was corrected by the lovely @im-default

~~~~~~~~~~

Techno has never been good with human interactions, so when pushing Tommy’s buttons too far, he decides that seeing the boy like that was never gonna happen again under his supervision... but is he willing to broke the alliance with Dream to save Tommy?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Warning! Angst, past trauma, a bit of fluff 

Enjoy~

Waking up in the hole that was his room underneath Techno’s house was… Rough, it was always cold, and getting out of the blankets wasn’t the most pleasant experience, that's why Techno usually shouted from upstairs to wake up when the warmth of the fire had taken over the cold of the night.

But Techno was always wide awake when Tommy entered the comfortable home above his room, so, out of curiosity, he decided to fight the freezing cold of the morning and get out of bed earlier than usual, hoping to see what Techno was up to before he was awake.

Carefully climbing up, he peeked out the top of the stairs to see the candles and the fireplace were already lit, the dancing shadows on the walls upstairs made Tommy realize how cold it truly was, so after following the trail of warmth, he found no one home.

“B-big T?” he called out, finally getting to the top floor of the house, “Techno?” no one answered, the blonde boy looked around to find the man’s bed already done, like it was never slept in.

As he looked around, his eyes got distracted by the view outside the window: there was a blizzard raging on.

But if there was so much snow coming down, why wasn’t he here? Did Techno go out in the cold?

Getting closer to the glass, he couldn’t help but think about how pretty the snow was, everything was white… soft… cold and… a human?

A figure covered in blue was walking towards the house, the strong wind would reveal hints of red underneath the coat. Not to fret, it wasn’t blood, Techno never went outside without his red iconic cape, it was big, fluffy, and super warm, perfect for cold climates.

Tommy had the privilege of sleeping inside of it once and he had never slept better since.

Though, why was the man walking in a blizzard? And why was he so slow?

A surge of panic rose in the back of his mind when the figure started approaching the door, he wasn't supposed to be there- he was supposed to hide, he was supposed to-

“Good morning Theseus” the freezing air made the fire sway, serving as a dramatic entrance for the half-man half-pig. Closing the door with a bit of force, he snapped Tommy out of his trance: Wrong person, he wasn't supposed to hide from him, was he?

The smiling mask and the green hoodie of his warden still haunted his thoughts, as much as the big man he shared the house with ease the sensation of fear and depression he had felt, that creepy still smile was always watching from the corner of his vision. Yes, it was an illusion… and yet…

“I wasn't expecting you to be up so early “ Techno’s deep voice snapped him out again, bringing him back to the warmth of the fireplace, “Want to have breakfast since we’re both up? I don't mind eating earlier” taking off that huge and wet cape, he minded the blonde no attention, directly passing onto preparing a meal for two.

These moments of the two of them alone reminded him of how much Techno trusted him. When with others he was always on high alert with a sword at hand, ready to strike. But now? He had his back turned, focused on something else, his shoulders were also visibly more relaxed… He acted the same around Phil… And…

Wilbur…

“So are you gonna help me make breakfast? These eggs don't cook themselves y’know” Techno briefly looked over his shoulder to see the blondie froze in place, he wasn't good with people and emotions but it didn't take a degree to see that his thoughts weren't the most pleasant, the boy looked like he saw a ghost.

Tommy shook his thoughts away and started looking for the pan, grabbing milk, cookies, and some bread to toast.

The two had very different breakfast habits, Techno prepared toasts with eggs, no bacon tho, he wasn’t a cannibal, while Tommy ate anything sweet: cookies, cakes, anything goes.

One thing they both agreed on was milk, only because Techno couldn’t cultivate coffee beans himself due to the freezing temperatures.

“Thanks, big T” Techno nodded his head when handing Tommy his warm cup of milk, the sizzling of eggs getting cooked made the walls feel warm, comfortable even.

Taking a sip of the warm liquid, legs close to his chest and arms hugging them, he recalled how the day prior Techno had taught him to milk the cows he was breeding, with the number of inappropriate jokes he had made, Tommy was shocked Techno didn’t kick him out. People underestimated the man’s patience and kindness, of course it was for few to see the sight, and Tommy was grateful he was the lucky one in a million.

They ate in silence, Tommy didn’t go down a rant and talk for the whole breakfast, this time, the boy was happy with the silence, even if his mind was as loud as ever.

Techno took a bite and placed the plate aside, opening the front door to grab some firewood, explaining why he was walking so slow in the storm. Throwing it in the fireplace made sparkles and dust fly around for a few seconds, the man sat down and took another bite, “Why do you still trust Tubbo?” the out of nowhere question made him almost choke on his milk, “He has exiled you and clearly doesn’t care about your feelings nor well-being…” he munched on some more food, covering his mouth before speaking, “Why do you still want to see him?”  

The blonde boy stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace, why wouldn’t he trust Tubbo? “Tubbo is… e-everything I have left...” Techno looked over him confused, “After Dream got my discs, losing the election and Will lost his mind… he is all I have left” dipping for a bit too long a cookie in the warm milk, he slowly munched, thinking back at when he, Wilbur and Tubbo lived in those high black stone walls, before Eret and Fundy, before the war…

“Are you sure you’re not lying to yourself?” It was Tommy’s turn to be confused, “I’m just saying, Phil, Fundy, Quakity, Ranboo, Niki, they were all there for you too…” Techno counted the people on his fingers, making Tommy’s eyes widen a bit, “But they all did turn their back to you” he pointed out, making a tightness appear in the boy’s chest,  “… So are you sure you aren’t holding on to a lie? It doesn’t look like Tubbo cares that much about you-” “HE CARES ABOUT ME!!!” Techno raised a brow at the tone, “Are you sure he truly does?-” Tommy covered his ears, his body crumbling into a ball.

“SHUT UP DREAM YOU DON’T KNOW ME OR TUBBO!!!”

The room stood still, even the fire looked like it stopped moving, Techno shifted in his seat, eyes looking down in front of him. He didn’t mean to push that deep, he didn’t know this was a scar still open … but what preoccupied him the most was:

…

What in the hell did Dream do to this poor kid?

Even if Techno was silent, Tommy heard a million voices shouting nonsense right into his head. Squinting as hard as he could, he started feeling cold, the same humid cold he felt in his tent when he was alone waiting for him to get his items, his creepy smile… his harsh voice… his-

“Theseus...”

He snapped his head up at the man kneeling in front of him, Techno figured that by calling him Tommy it would have only made it worse, so using the nickname only he used seemed a better option…

And it was.

The shadows on the edge of his vision started to disappear, the braided pink hair and the preoccupied gaze made him realize, it was simply Techno… Wait- Techno? Didn’t he just say Drea-

Oh...

The tightness in his chest lightened meanwhile the knot in his throat thickened.

“I- I… I…” Techno’s reassuring smile beamed with light and kindness he had never seen before, “It’s alright Tommy, I’m here” he extended his hand toward the trembling teen, who instead of taking it, threw himself at him, hugging the man tightly.

“I’m sorry Techno!” Tommy buried his face into the soft fabric of Techno’s shirt, staining it with tears.

Techno wasn’t good at this comforting people thing, nor used to physical touch, hell it took his whole being to not jump at the hug. He was still kinda stiff, hesitant of what to do, but for Tommy, even if he was an annoying gremlin, Techno was willing to push all of this aside.

He hugged the blonde boy, caressing soothing circles on his back, “Shhh... It’s ok Tommy, I’m here” he looked up at the ceiling, thinking of how Dream had come searching for him...

~~~~~

“Do you know who killed Theseus, Techno?” he looked at the man, keeping a high guard, “I don’t remember the whole story… but he was killed by the king of the island he was taking refuge in after getting exiled”  Dream’s masks tilted to his crown, and then his red cape.

“Either way” he swung his axe on his shoulder, shrugging at the other man, “I’ll come to collect the favour soon, farewell”

As Techno looked over the green figure walking away, something in the back of his mind started to sound an alarm, this wasn’t going to end well

~~~~~

Tommy’s sobs became quieter, the grip on his white shirt loosened, but the hug was far from over.

“As long as I’m here, Dream won’t hurt you…”

If the admin of the server ever came back to use the favour, it probably will be for Tommy, Techno’s guts were right most of the time, but oh boy did he wish they were wrong right now. He wasn’t sure he was willing to sacrifice the already delicate alliance with Dream for Tommy, he couldn’t decide what to give up, not now, not never.

“... I won’t let him…“

Techno wanted to promise him, but he prefered to stay silent instead of giving half-hope, instead of lying and backstabbing…

...Just like many did to him…

… Just like Tubbo did to Tommy...

#technoblade #tommyinnit #dream smp #dream smp fanfiction #writing #my writing #fanfiction #my fanfiction #sleepyboisinc #mcyt fanfiction #mcyt

[mihidecet]

Sbi&Co d&d AU: Fundy & Niki

AKA: Tibi's MCYT WritingTober, day 23!

SURPRISE!! As for @spout1nk and @awebo 's lovely requests, here is the chapter where we get to meet Fundy and Niki!!

This is also, once again, a fill for @the-only-gamer-gost 's list of prompts!! I got myself another free day aahahah

I do hope you'll like it! And as always, make sure you check out @whatimevendoinhere 's stunning drawings!!! They made art of Fundy and it is so good yall.

It starts like this: the whole gang is looking for a new job to tackle, with Techno, Tommy and Tubbo looking at the town's mission board and Wilbur and Phil needling the town's guard for more high profile tasks.

Half an hour later, a bored and disappointed trio meet up with a radiant Wilbur and an impressed Phil.

They have a job and the pay is five times higher than normal.

Apparently some dumbass has been running around the county, scamming nobles with fake artifacts and cursed precious objects. The nobles are mad, they want their coins back and the scammer in jail - or possibly worse -, and they are willing to pay an embarrassingly high amount of coin for it to be done quickly and quietly. Quietly being the highest requirement.

And that is how the SleepyBois start tracking this infamous scammer down.

First, they find all of the victims.

That alone takes them a while, because nobles are tricky to navigate and scorned nobles are even worse - and somehow these scammed nobles all seem to be not that good people, if the way they treat the adventurers trying to help them is any indication.

Still, one may assume that spending a lot of platinum coins on things that turn out to be fake and haunted might make you a bit … confrontational.

Also, they're going to make a lot of coins out of this job, so it's not like they're going to say anything.

Then, they buy a new, spotless map of the region with about a quarter of their collective coins - “Philza Greenwood we should have accepted the one from the kind old lady.” “You know that was cursed, we’re not doing this again.” - and start writing down every location hit.

It’s not that hard, once they put Tubbo to work, to find a handful of possible towns their target is going to hit.

It's honestly impressive how quickly he's able to narrow their options down, sending Techno and Wilbur out for recon missions to specific locations, guiding the whole team in a weirdly familiar way; straightforward and decisive like Techno, gentle and responsible like Phil, switching between the two attitudes as easy as he breathes.

Wilbur's only seen him like this when he works on his creations before, and it's amazing how quickly he gets over the initial sheepishness and steps into his role.

Everything is good and wonderful and he fits perfectly into the team, and this is just another proof of it.

The only bad thing about the whole situation is how bloody smug Tommy is, since it had been his idea to let Tubbo handle the planning - the kid can gloat, Wilbur's got to give him that, even if he is right in doing that.

Ever since the two childhood best friends had reunited, Tommy has been … more. Not in a bad way - no matter how much Techno jokingly groans about it -, but it's evident how much there was something weighing on the kid's mind before this.

But right now it's not really the best time to think about this.

A couple of nights ago, Tubbo had narrowed the list of possible new noble families that were going to be hit down to a single name. An old timey, very strict and reclusive family, now mainly composed of two grandparents and an impressive array of disowned young adventurers, and workers of all types. Reasons for disowning were many and varied and all a bit ridiculous.

Apparently having a bad temper and even worse record of mistreating everyone around you was the common denominator for all the people being targeted, alongside having an extremely absurd amount of coin.

Phil knows, he's seen it in Wilbur's eyes the moment Tubbo told everyone his deductions, that the tiefling would be more than happy with just letting the scammer go with a slap on the wrist. Everyone is slowly leaning towards that, Phil himself is too, but he's not really going to mention that yet, especially as they're all gearing up to stalk the scammer back to their hideout.

Especially since they can't really let this chance go: the fact that Tubbo was able to narrow their options down to a single family means that if this isn't it, they'll have to start from scratch.

When they leave the tavern, packed light and ready for the expected stealth, it's a couple of hours before dawn.

Everyone is thankfully able to see in the dark - even Tubbo, who is a human like Tommy, since he used his knowledge of glass-making and arcane enchantments to forge himself some night vision goggles - and they move quickly in the shadows, their silhouettes hidden even more due to one of Phil's spells.

This is also the first time Tubbo's bees aren't making any sound - apparently their buzzing is purely aesthetic.

Reaching the family's manor is not hard nor it takes longer than expected, which is quite unusual considering their experiences. Once they reach their destination, they hide near the entrance then Techno vanishes - probably gone inside the main gates to see if their target has already arrived.

About fifteen excruciating minutes later, Techno reappears, one hand already on Tommy's mouth to prevent him from yelping in surprise and reveal their position. The fact that he is perfectly correct in his assumption doesn't prevent him from receiving a swift kick to the shin.

"He's inside. Seems human, dressed like a scammer would be dressed. Or a very extravagant seller. Showing off a floating statue." Techno relies the information as he rubs the now sore spot on his leg, side eyeing a very offended Tommy while Tubbo is red faced almost to the point of tears as he desperately tries not to burst out laughing.

"Good job." Phil confirms, trying very hard to stay focused on the task - this all is extremely useful information, both in case of a possible fight breaking out and because in all the time they've been searching for the scammer, they've had nothing but mixed information from their targets.

One time it's a sweet looking cleric, another time they're a buff half orc, then it's a tiefling with a missing horn- every time something new, but the only constants have been the extravagant clothing choices and them being a magic user.

Wilbur punches the air with gusto, conveying silently what everyone is more or less feeling, and then they resign themselves to some uncertain amount of time of patiently and quietly waiting.

Phil has a spell to hide them again ready for whenever they hear somebody getting close.

Techno takes the time to meditate.

Wilbur is tapping a finger against his leg with his eyes closed, so he's probably writing a song in his mind.

Tubbo is taking notes on his notebook, planning another upgrade for his crossbow.

Tommy is about to vibrate out of his skin.

Everything according to plan.

Then, finally, Phil hears footsteps approaching the gates.

He casts his spell, shadows elongating from the trees they are hiding in, wrapping around them, covering them, fake greenery taking form in front of them- and everyone is instantly on edge.

"Are you sure you don't want a totem? They're good luck! They'll protect you against evil spirits - those old crooks must be beacons for them!" A quick paced voice reached their ears, and Techno's dagger is already out.

A much quieter voice answers - only Phil manages to catch the irritated negative answer, but everyone hears the gates being slammed shut.

There's more footsteps, then their target enters most of their views.

The man - probably? - takes some steps, back straight and shoulders moving with a light chuckle - when his eyes stray towards them.

He blinks once, twice, then his eyes switch colour.

He stops in his tracks.

Raises a hand and gives a quick wave.

"Uhm … cya!" And then he disappears, vanishing into thin air.

Techno curses loudly next to Tommy.

"Wilbur-"

The tiefling stands up and his eyes turn pure black as he raises a hand towards the place where he disappeared, muttering a quick song under his breath before calling out:

"Tubbo!"

A bolt from the kid's crossbow flies in the direction Wilbur's pointing at a split second later.

It flies, but doesn't strike true, barely grazing the scammer's jacket as the man moves out of its way. Right into Techno's thrown dagger which hits him right in the side.

There's a loud, weirdly pitched "shit!" coming from the empty air in the space in front of them, then nothing but the sound of someone fleeing as silently as they can.

Instead of following suit, like one would expect, the rest of the group turns towards Techno, who's holding his dagger - now back into his hand - and mouthing a prayer against the stained blade.

There's a light humm coming from nowhere and everywhere that echoes in Techno's mind for a moment, then he opens his eyes.

"So, do you have him?" Tommy asks, feeling the urge to pursue their target itching under his skin.

"Yup, I've got him. Nice job with the crossbow, Tubbo." Techno answers, shooting a small smile to his short companion, who shakes his weapon proudly.

"It's quite easy to shoot in order to make people move a certain direction, you know, once you know what to do!"

Tracking down the scammer is quite easy now that Techno has cast his tracking spell on him.

They wait for a moment, reconvene, make sure they have everything they need and then they start moving.

They don't have to walk much, as Techno lets them know that their target has stopped moving and they're getting closer extremely quickly.

In the end, it's a small, cute looking wooden house that they reach. It seems small and well kept, with clean windows and bright flowers on the outside. It's a bit hidden amongst a thicker part of the forest, but it gets enough light to be comfortably illuminated.

Wilbur figures the scammer ran and hid here, in hope of either having them lose his tracks or to maybe use a civilian as human shield.

Phil gestures towards the house, to which Techno answers with a decisive nod, so the elf approaches the door and knocks.

"Hello?" A feminine, accented voice answers from behind the door.

"Hi, I'm very sorry to disturb you, we're a group of adventurers looking for a runaway criminal, have you perhaps seen anyone suspicious running around?" There's a beat of silence, then a long, drawn out humm.

"I'm very sorry but I don't think I can help you with that? I was busy baking inside, I haven't seen anyone." The voice answers back, seemingly sheepish and apologetic.

Wilbur takes a step forward, shooting a glance towards a suspicious looking Techno.

"Our apologies, but would you mind letting us rest inside your abode for a little while? We've been out all night looking for clues, and we will pay you for your kindness."

After a slightly longer than expected pause, the sound of keys jingling reachea the team's ears.

"Oh, yes, of course. It's a bit small here, but- We can make it fit."

Phil knows enough Celestial to recognise the accent in the woman's voice; seeing her almost aethereal being open the door cements in Phil's mind the fact that yes, the person in front of him is of Celstial descent - that, and the dusting of silver and golden freckles across her face.

"Oh my, there- there's a lot of you."

Phil gives a sheepish smile, an apology ready on his lips - she is hiding their target, for some reason, but that doesn't mean he's going to be rude about it - but Tommy is already striding towards the entrance.

"We'll be good and squeeze together, promise!" He exclaims, quickly hitting Wilbur in the side with his elbow as he passes him.

The tiefling shoots him a murderous glare, which instantly disappears and turns into a kind smile the instant he realises that the aasimar woman is looking at him questioningly.

"Are you all part of the same group?" She asks as they shuffle in. The house is slightly bigger than expected, with everything looking both very clean and very lived in - books left open on a table, a chair that hasn't been set back, a blanket thrown on an armchair instead of being folded properly. It's homely.

There are a couple of colourful looking birds flying around the place, and they instantly flock to Phil the moment he enters the kitchen - following the woman's instructions. To be fair, there are plenty animals hanging out in the whole house: he's sure he heard a squirrel running in the corridor, and there were a couple of tortoises in the living room.

And then, on the window sill next to the kitchen table there is a fox, sleeping curled up under the sun. Techno, on edge from the tracking and the oncoming social interactions, really envies the tranquil animal.

"Is there anything you need? Something to drink, maybe? I was making some bread, so-" the woman starts, taking out a still smoking loaf. Everyone but Phil is instantly glowing: how often are you offered freshly baked bread? And mostly for free? That really is something special, that must be surely cherished.

And yet, Phil is not looking at the woman - who is still yet to introduce herself - but at the fox. Still sleeping peacefully, after they'd opened a single eye at the sound of strangers entering the room.

"That is very kind of you, miss …?" Wilbur asks, eyes constantly switching between the offered food and the stranger's face.

"Oh, you can call me Niki."

Phil moves closer to the fox with a small smile, one bird still perched on his shoulder, and extends a hand slowly, hoping not to startle the animal.

The fox blinks slowly at the fingers floating right in front of their eyes, then huffs and moves their head so that Phil can start giving them little scratches, tail swishing lazily - all this, while the rest of the team does a round of introductions.

"Niki, your fox is adorable." Phil comments after a moment, while the others are eagerly helping out Niki in finding a knife to cut slices of bread with and honey, which apparently she makes herself.

"Ah yeah, thank you. His name is Fungi." She answers with a small smile, making Phil chuckle. The fox's tail keeps swishing from side to side, probably to convey his appreciation of the continuous pets he's receiving, but one of his front legs seems to not be making any movement. A quick, focused, look confirms his suspicions.

"Oh dear, he seems hurt. Let me heal him for you." Phil comments, worry colouring his tone, as he focuses his intent into the palm of his hand, lightly resting on the injured limb.

As his magic knits back muscle and tissue and blod cells, Phil watches intently as the stab wound shrinks and then disappears. Then, he picks the fox up, cradling him in his arms as Niki gets closer, a look of deep worry on her face - one of the first true emotions she's shown since they got there, Phil notices, which only serves to confirm his suspicions.

"Oh, thank you so much, I'm so very glad, he just keeps getting into messes!"

There's a moment of pause, then Phil starts scratching the fox's chin - his tail starts wagging noticeably quicker.

"Did you know foxes are known for their cunning, but they're actually pretty dumb?" Phil starts, prompting everyone to turn towards him in shock and deep confusion.

Phil merely chuckles.

"You agree, right, little guy? I can see it in your eyes, there's nothing going on in that little brain of yours, right?" He teases, cooing at the little animal before- in a mix of slightly disturbing deformations and a blink-and-you-miss-it transformation - the fox in his arms suddenly enlarges, his limbs elongating and face rounding out.

Now, this would have probably come as a big surprise to akl but instead it looks quite funny because the moment the small fox becomes a human sized man with for ears, all the instantly added weight crashes into Phil and sends them crashing down to the ground.

But since they've all gotten used to a skinchanger moving from their human form to their animal one, one way or another, all that remains is the hilarouns scene of a laughing out loud Phil sprawled on the ground with their red faced, extremely irritated target kneeling on top of him.

"Fuck you, man! That was so mean!"

For a moment everyone is just staring at each other, trying to understand what has happened, until when Techno speaks up.

"Well I guess we found our scammer."

#mcyt writingtober #sbi dnd au #now sbi&co #philza #wilbur soot #ph1lza #tommyinnit #technoblade #fundy #tubbo #nihachu #dnd au #sbi au

[galacticlee3]

so I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the mcyt ghostbuster au by @kirby-itsashowdown and @taroblyticklish

so here’s some random hcs that no one asked for:

- so we have already established that Karl and Sapnap are ghosts but what about the actual ghost of the server?

- so Wilbur lives with Sally and they have Fundy as their kid, but Ghostbur also haunts the same house

- over time, Ghostbur fell in love with Sally and one day he worked up enough energy and courage to possess Wilbur, but Sally knew that it wasn’t him because Ghostbur was a bit more timid and she got really scared (when Ghostbur possesses Wilbur, his eyes roll back into his head and scars show up on his body)

- this happened multiple times before she called punz, at first it was only for a few minutes, but once Ghostbur got the hang of it, he could possess Wilbur for hours, and one night, Sally woke up to Wilbur watching her in her sleep and she finally was like “okay enough of this” and sends fundy away to Phil for a while until she can get it sorted out

-Ghostbur, once captured, gets very emotional and becomes extremely attached to a blue scarf Sally likes to wear in the winter and he wears it all the time (floating blue scarf? You’ve got yourself a Ghostbur.) but his image is very faint, and most of the time he can’t make himself visible, unlike sapnap and Karl

Now onto my favorite topic: clingyduo

- so Tommy and Tubbo are both poltergeists that haunt a water park, and they splash water on people, make people fall over, stop the jets, make the hot tub cold, etc.

- They move around to different places when people try to catch them, so they’re know in the business for being called “The Gemini Twins” because they’re mischievous and opposites but very similar

- When Punz is brought in to bust them, the people failed to mention that it was at a water park, and they just gave him an address

- there’s a bit of a problem

- punz can’t swim

- and so Sapnap came with him for backup, even though he doesn’t usually like to help punz with this kind of stuff, he just wanted to hang around to make sure his friend didn’t die (goals /j)

- Tommy thought it would be funny to throw punz into the pool but Sapnap got to him before he could and air tackled him, which ended up in ghostyduo fighting the spooky eboy and Tommy and Tubbo just ended up getting wrecked while Punz recovered from getting thrown around by a ghost

Other things to mention:

- Niki works in a nursing home and keeps seeing two apparitions, one looks like a demon and the other a sparkly blue reflection whenever she cleans the windows or is near a glass surface

- one time, Niki swore she heard a soft “LANGUAGE” when she was changing out an IV on a patient and the man cursed

-She is close personal friends with Punz and she asks him about it, so he goes and checks it out and he finds Bad and Skeppy retelling stories to people at the facility

- they don’t seem to be causing any harm so he just leaves them there, but on one of the stakeout nights he goes to observe, he hears skeppy telling an old couple about his expeditions with bad before they had ended up together in the same nursing home and bad was super embarrassed by the sound of it

this got really long

Tell me if you want a part 2!

#ghostbuster au #ghostbur #ghostbuster punz #punz #sapnap #tommy #tubbo #badboyhalo #skeppy #nihachu #galactic writes #mcyt

[zombiekillerky]

{Abrupt Awakening} -Sleepyboisinc Fanfic

.The blonde adventurer sighed as he fixed the position of his hat back up straight as he stood up from the wooden floor. The unsettling sound of his back popping was heard shortly after as his hands rested on his hips. He was finally done organizing the mess of things in the chests on the bottom floor of the house. Usually Techno was one to keep things clean and organized from what Phil had remembered. But seeing this mess just activated his OCD and it had to be fixed whether he liked it or not. He knew the warrior he shared the house with wouldn't mind it either. Recalling the times in the past where he has done the same charade if things got to messy for his liking. The blonde took out his small watch out of his front pocket that laid with his compass. A annoyed expression rose on to his face as he watched the big hand land on 4. It took him an hour and a half to organize everything to a somewhat normal arrangement. When he should have been getting ready for his mining trip he wanted to go out on before.

"At least that's done and over with for now... until Tommy starts going through everything when he comes back from his little mission in L'manburg he didn't go in to detail about......*sigh* he's going to dig himself a deeper grave one of these days I swear....that and make me grow gray hair at a faster rate" Philza muttered to himself as he brushed off the dust on his knees from the floor boards. Talking to himself was a small habit he picked up after being left in his own Hardcore world alone for some time. Keeping himself busy as he worked, it started with small tunes and grew in to talking to himself about ideas and other plans. It wasn't as close to Techno's voices though which he prayed would go away for him. But at this rate he prayed his habit wouldn't get that bad.

The blonde adventurer smiled at his work, brushing some hair out of his face before he pushed the last chest back where it belonged with the rest. There was still some day time left that he could work with, doing nothing wasn't something he liked most of the time. Even after Wilbur saying he wanted him to take breaks every now and then before and after his death. Phil couldn't seem to bring himself to do it, always having something to keep his hands busy. It didn't help that Techno always instigated him to do whatever he wanted anyway. Caring but also not stopping him from working at times, it seemed like he couldn't bring himself to tell Phil what to do anyway.

Philza soon raised his head in suspicion, realizing he hasn't heard not one peep from the Blood God himself up stairs. From what he could remember he came in around half the way when Phil was working. Setting down some food for him before heading up stairs, muttering something about potions before he disappeared.

"Maybe he would want to go out on a mining trip, I know he has been wanting some extra xp levels for his enchantments.....But didn't he need netherite as well?...we can figure that out later I'm sure he would want to" Phil said to himself as he sat his watch back in to his pocket. Hearing the metal clink against the compass with the pocket. The blonde shook his head as he slowly made his way to the stairs, climbing them slowly to try and hear if Techno was working. The only way he could tell was if he could hear the annoyed muttering of him as he walked closer like usual when he worked on potions. But the sound of the potions being brewed was all that was heard. Every time Phil stopped on the squeaky steps that's all he could hear as he continued upwards.

But what Philza didn't expect was the soft snores coming from the hybrid. As soon as he came up the stairs he found him, his crown on the table and the red cloak rested on the back of his chair. Head on his forearms which rested on the table in front of the potions. His hair was quite messy and tossed behind him then in the usual spot over his shoulder. A small smirk formed on the blondes face as he took a step forward. He has never seen Techno fallen asleep while working before, the man was so stubborn he forced himself to stay awake while working. The phrase "sleep is for the weak" has always been said when Phil or the others told him to go rest. So much for making any more potions like the hybrid wanted to. The mining trip with Phil would be postponed for a little while until his waking as well.

As Phil walked a couple steps closer he watched Techno's expression change suddenly as he stirred in his sleep. An unfamiliar pained expression appeared as he moved his head to the side. Tossing and turning in his spot as he sat there, muttering things in his sleep. From what the concerned blonde could make out he was saying things like "Blood", "Stay back", "Hurt", "monster". His words made the hairs on Phil's forearms stand as he heard them escape from Techno's mouth. His expressions changed from worried, anger and misery with in seconds. At this rate the blonde had had enough of this act, scaring him and concerning him completely. Wondering what the hybrid might have been dreaming this whole time to make him act like this.

"techno.......techno, mate wake up" Phil softly muttered, not sure if he should wake him or not. The rules were don't wake up a person if they are sleep walking and having a bad dream right? But to no avail Techno did not wake, only a small grunts and a whimpers escaped from his lips as his fists clenched tightly. Showing the muscles in his forearm and bicep from how strong he was clenching. At that rate his nails could cut in to his skin and draw blood. Phil couldn't stand seeing him like this, he couldn't stand any of his sons being scared and in pain like this. It pained him to watch entirely, raising fear within him. Technoblade was one never to show fear or weakness, never to take pity ones give him. He barely ever let Phil take care of him once he got to the age where he could himself. Whatever was wrong he most likely had never said anything nor will he say anything about it once he wakes.

"Techno please mate.....you have to wake up come on now.....you're starting to worry me" Phil said again with his voice louder and shakier then before. Technoblade only stirred some more as he sat there, forcing Phil to come even closer. Right by his side, he could see the sweat on his brow, his jaw clenched. His sharp canines could cut in to his upper lip if they were pressed any tighter then they were at the moment. He hasn't seen this look in forever from what it seemed like, he didn't even look like this when the butcher gang came to get him and bring him back to L'manburg. Phil swallowed the spit gathering in his mouth, his hand reached out toward his best friend and his son sitting there. So many things running through his mind as to why this was happening and what started this. But more questions then answers came as he thought about it more.

"Techno..." His name left Phil's mouth, his hand touched Techno's shoulder softly with a caring touch. With one shake the hybrid's blue and gray eyes flashed open with shock. His left hand ripped off Phil's grasp, his right swung forward and grabbed a hold of his neck. Almost like one of his fighting moves that they have trained before, but Phil has never seen this one.  Technoblade stood up, his figure had always towered over Phil with the couple inches of height he had on him. His actions were quick, making Phil unable to move out of the way as his body was slammed up against the wall. Technoblade's breath was shaky, Phil could see his eyes glazed over with blood lust, fear and rage. Technoblade held him tightly up against the wall with no chance of escape, it was like he didn't even recognize him at the moment. Phil was terrified, this side of Techno has never been shown to him before. Yet it was almost like the real him was trapped, his body was still shaking in fear and confusion. Techno had no idea what was going on and Phil had only frightened him. Something you shouldn't do to a Blood God in the first place.

"Techno! Mate it's me! it's Phil....Philza...please mate calm down.....come on this isn't you and you know it.....it's me!" Phil managed to say, feeling the grip loosen upon him after a couple of seconds. Techno shook his head, the blood lust was settling down with in him as he held his father tightly. Technoblade locked eyes with him as he pinned him up against the wall, seeing the worry and fear with in his icy blue orbs he was amazed by. Technoblade’s grip was dropped, leaving Phil up against the wall in shock. Techno's scarred hands reached up through his messy hair, covering his ears as he heard the voices getting louder and louder. Every step he took back they seemed to get louder and louder with in. What was even going on, what happened, why did he do that!

"Stay on Guard!"

"Danger!"

"Monster!"

"Dadza......you hurt Dadza"

"What did you do"

"Hurt.....monster"

“Dadza....”

Technoblade gripped his head even tighter as he listened to the voices, his breath was shaky as his anxiety flew through the roof. What had he just done, he hurt the one true person he could fully rely on. The one person that could actual trust him, that actually loved him. His true fear was coming true and it terrified him. He truly was a monster.

"I-I......I'm....sorry.....I'm sorry" Techno muttered in shock of himself as he stood there, he needed to leave before he did anything else he would regret. The hybrid's hands were shaking as he turned his body toward the stairs. Planning on making his escape from the house to try and calm himself down. To be alone like he was supposed to this whole time in retirement, to let the voices haunt him like they always do. But before he could even take a couple of steps, the warrior felt two hands on his shoulders. Turning him back around, he couldn't look Phil in the eye. Embarrassment and shame filled him to the brim with anxiety as the cherry on top. What did he want, he could have hurt him badly. He could have done so many things to him when he wasn't thinking. That dream still haunted his memories as he stood there, he wasn't thinking straight and he knew that for a fact. Besides the voices he had always been hearing that is.

"Techno look at me....hey don't be scared, I’m alright" Phil said calmly, his patience with him was something Techno questioned quite often. Feeling like he never deserved his patience in the first place, he never deserved to have Phil by his side either. Technoblade found a small bit of courage to finally face him. Looking back at the icy blue eyes that tended to study him for his emotion he was feeling at the moment. The Icy blue eyes to gave him comfort and a sense that he was concerned and wanted to help him, the eyes that were filled with care and love. The hybrid felt so bad for what he had done, he couldn't understand why he did that in the first place. Why did he lash out when it was only a nightmare, a really bad nightmare at that. What if he had hurt him worse, what if Tommy and Ghostbur was there to see him like that. What if he had hurt them? They were both on one life and technically Ghostbur had none but Phil could handle himself against Techno better then anyone he knew. Beside the green blob homeless man the pig hybrid bullied for not having a specific home to call his

"What's wrong mate?"

"What's wrong Phil?......I don't know I just attacked you and you did nothing wrong....what's wrong Phil is that my worst fear has come true. Why aren't you AFRAID, why aren't you scared of me! I could have hurt you, I could have killed you if I-I didn't stop myself Phil that's what's wrong.... And you ask about me over yourself?" Techno broke down, showing actual raw emotion in his voice as it cracked. His walls breaking down in the moment he has spent so long building up. Phil could tell in his voice he was afraid of many things, he could tell in his eyes and his body language. This was a side he thought he would never see again after the last time many years ago.

"Techno.....I know you wouldn't hurt me......I know you wouldn't have and you should know you wouldn't have either.....are you okay?" Phil asked as he watched his eyes dart around the room, staring at him in confusion. Techno noticed the emphasis in the You specifically as the blonde talked. But the truth was the pig hybrid wasn't even sure about anything at the moment. He seemed to know what to do all the time but truthfully he wasn't sure.

"yeah.....yeah"

"Are you sure.....mate you were talking and stirring in your sleep, what's the matter? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to right now....but you really worried me" Phil asked, showing his true parenting side. Techno watched him, there was no fear in his expression what's so ever. He wasn't even fazed by what happened it seemed like. Techno envied him for that aspect so much yet in no way could he be like that. As Techno looked away he felt himself be pulled closer, Phil's arms wrapped around him slowly, the hug was loose and Phil made sure he wasn't making him uncomfortable. But the fact that Technoblade returned the hug surprised them both. Phil smiled softly as he held on to him, making sure that Techno was alright and felt actually safe.

"Night terror?"

"mmmh"

"Mate you're alright.....I'm here for you whatever it is alright. I'm not going anywhere just so you know.....if you need to talk about it I'm here"

"I know Phil.......thank you" Technoblade muttered as he took a step back, getting a pat on the shoulder from Phil before they parted ways a little bit. Phil smiled softly as he watched him settle down some. Seeming to now be in thought as he stood there, quickly making his way over toward the potions that have been boiling for forever from what it seemed like.

"Did you need me for something by the way Phil, you came up here for a reason right?" Techno suddenly asked as he removed the bottles from the stand and exchanged them for new water bottles. Breaking Phil from his trance as he stood there on the other side of the room almost. He then realized his question after replaying his words in his head. Watching him grab some golden carrots from the chest for the new set of potions he was making.

"Oh a yeah I was wondering if you wanted to go on a mining trip since it's still daylight out....but since you were asleep I'm not sure if you should be going if you need rest mate"

"nah nah nah I'm fine, I'm fine we can go if you want to Phil it's no problem"

"You sure?"

"Yeah.....I don't think I'm going to be able to go back to sleep any way" Techno replied as he sat the new potions in to his chest to the side. turning back to find Phil staring at him with a small bit of concern written on his face. Techno only smiled as he walked back over, placing his scarred hand on his shoulder to show reassurance.

"Don't worry about me to much.....come on we don't have much daylight left anyway" Technoblade said with a small smile on his face as he started to walk towards the stairs.

"Nah mate I'll always worry about you whether you like it or not, it's a dad thing"

"Yeah I know, now come on I need those xp levels!" Technoblade said as he raced down the stairs, making Phil laugh loudly as he walked to follow him down. Shaking his head slightly as he watched him dig out of the weapons chest his silk better picaxe he owned. Sometimes the pig hybrid did worry him a bit to much. But he didn't want to push his boundaries with him. Knowing Technoblade didn't want him to worry about him anyway.

#sleepy bois family #sleepy bois inc #sleepybois #sleepyboisinc #sleepy bois au #technoblade never dies #technoblade #technothepig #philza minecraft #philza #dadza philza #dadza #dream smp #mcyt #technoblade mcyt #philza mcyt #dreamsmp fanfic #sleepy bois fanfic #sleepyboisinc fanfic #dreamsmp fanfiction #sleepyboisinc fanfiction #technopig #dreamsmp roleplay #dreamsmp mc

[cryptvokeeper]

there were so many important things that went down today and so many character arcs to analyze and here I am just now understanding a facet of a character who's been dead for like over a month

so anyway we interrupt my normal overanalyzing of Tommy and techno to bring you overanalyzing wilbur/ghostbur, brought to you by a mutual im in a discord with giving some hot takes on lmanburg that reframed my entire perspective on Ghostbur HERE WE GO

So like up until now I really havent even liked ghostbur all that much. like i didnt dislike him, I was just sorta neutral on him. Like the way I saw him was more as a tool than as a real character. like okay, c!Wilbur needed to die for plot reasons but streamer wilbur soot still wants an excuse to stream dream smp or talk/make content with his friends so boom; hes a ghost now with no memory of the shitty things he did and no real future impact on the plot. makes sense.

but still looking at him in a vaccuum without that function context, Ghostbur is a really frustrating character! like he disassociates himself from Alivebur to avoid having to face the consequences of his actions, yet still expects to reap the benefits of the good memories and relationships Alivebur had. And all of this would be fine, this lays the groundwork for some really interesting character possibilities, but those never come to fruition! No one ever holds Ghostbur to any sort of accountability. And again, functionally I understand why; Wilbur is dead, and if they just let him go on as normal with relevance and development, then that would be telling the viewer that death has no real consequence in the world of the story, and at that point the three canon deaths rule is basically meaningless. But again, taken without this consideration, its so frustrating.

That’s where the lmanburg hot takes come in.

So I'm paraphrasing here but their take was centered around Wilbur’s statement in the button room that he told Phil; that there was a special place, but its gone now, it no longer exists, LManburg is no longer what it was, the spirit of lmanburg is dead. I guess the thing that really cinches this as a ‘hot take’ for me is that it actually takes Wilbur’s words at face value, cuz ive never really done that. In case I havent made it flagrantly obvious by now, im an idealistic motherfucker, and my readings of narratives tend to skew to the most optimistic interpretation. So I never really internalized or accepted Wilbur’s words as anything other than bullshit from a paranoid lunatic. I simply Do Not Vibe with the idea that the true lmanburg couldn't be brought back somehow. but if you play in that space for a minute, it makes some very pretty parallels between lmanburg and its founder.

Lmanburg is gone, it’s never coming back. All thats left is a pale imitation of itself.

Alivebur is gone, he’s never coming back. All thats left is a pale imitation of himself. 

That’s why he can neither grow nor move on, because as long as people continue to hold onto this belief that lmanburg is still there, theyre also holding onto the idea that Wilbur is still there, and like with Wilbur they only remember the good parts of lmanburg, this idealized place that hasn't been there for a long time, maybe that never existed at all. And not to continue to push my Jacob Geller agenda but his video Control, Anatomy, and the Legacy of the Haunted House does a great job of examining this exact phenomenon of like, the relationship between ghosts and physical structures in media, and how when a place is abandoned or abused by the people who inhabit it the space itself becomes a vengeful spirit. His examples take a much more horror angle to the idea but I feel his basic themes still apply here in a more tragic way; the true lmanburg being gone but its inhabitants desperately trying to keep it together or bring it back, looking at the past through rose-colored glasses and not seeing its flaws, and that very mentality being thrown back at their feet wearing the face of the man who started it all.

do I think this was intentional? hahaha hell no I’m not giving these chucklekfucks that much credit. But I think that intentional or not its a much neater explanation of why Ghostbur is this flat, static ditz of a character, and is much more satisfying to me than what I was working with before. and who knows, maybe i’m wrong and its all intentional. Maybe at some point in the future the writers will start picking up the approximately 60 dangling plot threads they've left lying around and someone will address Philza’s attempts to revive Wilbur, and we’ll get some poignant exchange where Wilbur repeats that “there was a special place” line about himself, urging people to let him go.

Of course that is very fucking depressing for my idealistic ass so maybe I dont hope that’s where it goes, idk. 

#once again not tagging as dream smp #this honestly isnt even my strongest analysis-wise I think I just wanted to finally get out my feelings about ghostbur #because I have feelings about ghostbur #most of them annoyed but some of them sad #dont ask me what the blue sheep symbolizes in this reading of the text #the answer is nothing because again; there is no way these fuckboys put that much thought into what they were writing #thats why im here to do it for them #tagging months later for archiving #dream smp

[pyrobun]

petrichor

relationships: wilbur & techno

characters: wilbur, techno, phil, fundy (mentioned), tommy (mentioned)

tags: canon compliant, angst, hurt/comfort

word count: 2.1k

ao3 link

Wilbur explores a familiar ravine and comes out with more questions than answers.

“Was I the villain in your history?”

Phil was silent for a few seconds. He was standing across from Wilbur, in the center of L’Manberg’s town square. “You… for most of your life, you were the best. However, at some point, you went off the deep end near the end of it,” he said with a note of finality. This conversation is over, it’s best you don’t ask anymore. Those were the words left unspoken. Wilbur already knew that what he did when he was alive was terrible. His peers gave him similar looks whenever he passed by them. Looks of regret, wariness, hostility, hatred, and sorrow.

Wilbur excused himself from his father and decided to go on a walk in order to clear his thoughts. Even though a part of him longed to figure out what happened, he was terrified of finding out. Perhaps it was better to not know what had happened to himself and L’Manberg than to risk remembering and shattering any hopes he had of mending his past relationships.

The sun hung low in the sky as he found himself standing outside of an open cave, deep in the forest. He isn’t sure how he ended up here, having been so deep in thought. My feet must’ve taken a life of their own, he concluded as he stepped into the cave. It was abandoned by someone, he realized as he pored over the dusty chests leaning against the walls. His eyes landed on a stairwell at the back of the room. Steeling himself, he descended underground. A lingering smell of blood and smoke hung in the air, a scent that was all too familiar for reasons he couldn’t remember why.

When he reached the end of the stairs, he was met with a dimly lit ravine. Old torches mounted on the stone walls flickered softly, ready to finally go out at any moment. It couldn’t have been that long since someone was here, Wilbur realized. He grabbed one of the torches hanging on the walls and began exploring.

The narrow chasm brought about a wave of nostalgia as Wilbur stopped in a semi-open area. The floor was littered with specks of gunpowder and there was a fence lining one side, looking deeper into the ravine like a balcony. One of the walls featured carefully drawn out letters carved into the stone. When he moved the torch closer, he realized it was a list of names.

THE PLAN ZONE

GUZZLE BROTHERS:

WILBUR

FUNDY

QUACKITY

TOMMY

NIKI

TECHNOBLADE

EVERY FUCKING ONE

MAN BOIS:

SCHLATT

KARL

DREAM

Wilbur definitely knew who was listed under “Guzzle Brothers,” but the identities of the “Man Bois” eluded him. Thinking too hard about them, especially Schlatt and Dream, made his head hurt, so he turned away and made his way to the bottom of the ravine.

There, he found an entrance to a well lit cave. Inside was tilled dirt void of any seeds or crops. That made sense, though, considering this ravine must’ve been abandoned for quite some time. Multiple people must’ve been living down here, Wilbur realized after taking in how much farmland there was. This was enough to feed at least ten people, give or take. Why would people live here, though, if L’Manberg had enough space for everyone?

He decided not to dwell on that thought and left the cave. To his right was a dead end, so Wilbur ventured left. The faint smell of blood grew stronger as he walked farther down the crevice. Wilbur almost fell face first into a large pit in the ground if not for the shocking sight of dried blood smeared on its walls stopping him in his tracks. His torch fell down into it, illuminating even more dried blood on the floor. A fight had definitely taken place here. But who was fighting?

And why?

What took place in this ravine? It had to have been something awful, judging by the blood. Wilbur couldn’t recall. No, it was more like he didn’t want to remember. Was it really that bad? Perhaps it would be better to forget that he ever came here. However, it was too late now. Questions swirled in his mind, and he grasped out in desperation at the foggy answers. But it was no use, any explanation he had was out of reach.

Sighing in defeat, Wilbur retraced his steps and climbed up the stairwell towards the surface. He wanted nothing more than to return to his small library and curl up by the fireplace while reading Big Q’s Funny Hoots. That’d certainly take his mind off of things.

Someone was standing at the entrance of the cave when he got there, their silhouette casting a large shadow on the dusty floor. Oh, it’s Techno. Wilbur could recognize that trademark pig mask and royal red cape anywhere.

Techno stared at him for a few beats before giving him a curt nod in greeting. “I was wondering if you’d be here.”

“What are you doing here?” Wilbur asked, slightly waving in response. Was Techno one of the people living in the ravine?

“Just here to pick up some stuff I left behind,” his brother shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.

Ah, that explained it. Before Wilbur could stop himself, he blurted out, “What happened down there?”

“Oh, right. Phil told me you didn’t remember anything. I guess it comes with being a ghost and all.”

“I still remember my happy memories,” Wilbur protested. “And besides, you’re taking this whole ghost thing pretty easily. Don’t you wanna know why I’m like this?” Granted, Wilbur didn’t know the reason why himself.

“I’ve seen you die before, and there’s worse things out there,” was all Techno said as he moved to rummage through chests. “Also, there’s no way my loving older brother would miss out on the opportunity to haunt me from his grave.”

Wilbur noted the sarcastic tone in Techno’s voice. The two used to be so close together as kids, but now a thick tension seemed to separate them. Did he mess up with Techno when he was alive, like he did with Fundy and Tommy?

“You didn’t answer my question earlier.” Wilbur crossed his arms and arched a brow, awaiting an answer.

“You said it yourself that you only remember your happy memories. If you forgot about Pogtopia, then I doubt you considered your experience here as something pleasant.” Techno fished out a diamond sword and began inspecting it.

“Pogtopia,” Wilbur echoed, the word familiar yet sour on his tongue. It was a silly sounding name, something Tommy would definitely have come up with whenever they played house. He recalled the names listed under “The Plan Zone.” Were they the ones who lived here? It made the most sense, considering how Techno left some of his belongings behind. And what were they doing down in a ravine of all places? Wilbur’s head throbbed as he stared at the ground, deep in thought.

Techno stood up, items in hand, and began to take his leave. “Let’s have a talk someplace else. I know we both have a lot of explaining to do, but it’s getting dark and I have a lot of horses to feed.”

Wilbur perked up upon hearing this, feeling conflicted. How much did he want to know about what he did when he was alive? Quackity had accused him of blowing up L’Manberg, and with the smell of smoke and traces of gunpowder coming from a ravine he apparently lived in, it was too easy (and too painful) to put two and two together.

“Where are we going?” he asked instead, following Techno out of the cave. Stars dotted the cloudless night sky, though some of them were obscured by the forest’s canopy. Wilbur must’ve been down in the ravine for longer than he thought.

“My old base. I’m in the process of moving out.”

“Moving out? Why? Do you not have a house in L’Manberg? I never see you around.”

“I’m not exactly popular in L’Manberg right now. I’ve never lived there before, either.”

The answer left Wilbur in a more confused state than he was already in. So, he pressed on with his questions. “What’d you do? Was it bad? Wait, did it involve Alivebur? I’m sorry if it did.”

At this, Techno paused and turned to look back at the ghost following him. “You don’t have to apologize, you know. You’re different from ‘Alivebur,’ aren’t you?”

Wilbur nodded. He puffed out his chest a little and said, “But if I want to make up for Alivebur’s mistakes, then it’s best I start apologizing. I think it’s working, anyway. Fundy… looked kind of happy when I gave him back his armor.”

Techno let out a resigned sigh and continued walking. “If you’re really, really sure that you want to know about what happened in L’Manberg, I’ll tell you.”

Wilbur opened his mouth, then closed it again. Was this the right thing to do? He had never been too interested in learning about why L’Manberg was a crater until he stumbled upon the ravine—no, Pogtopia, was it?—and found that list of names and the pit. Wilbur belatedly realized that he was shaking. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, as if his body was subconsciously telling him to stop. But he pressed on. If he wanted to deal with the consequences of his actions, then he had to at least know what they were.

“I’m sure.”

Techno nodded and was silent as he led Wilbur to a small clearing near the edge of the riverbank. He set down his items and sat leaning against a tree, gesturing for his brother to do the same. “First off, how much do you remember?”

“I remember… winning the revolution. Then there was an election that I won. After that—”

“You didn’t win the election,” Techno interrupted. Before Wilbur could comment, he continued. “Schlatt did, and banished you and Tommy.”

He lost? To someone named Schlatt?

That’s right, Schlatt was listed under “Man Bois” on that wall in Pogtopia. So were those people the enemies? He could remember hearing of Karl now, he was the one who lived in the house with the garden near L’Manberg’s podium. Whoever Schlatt and Dream were, though, he couldn’t recall.

Techno was still explaining everything, but Wilbur was hardly paying attention at this point. His mind was in turmoil, fighting a civil war of whether or not it was right to remember. However, Techno’s next words sent him crashing back into reality.

“One day you came back to Pogtopia holding a bunch of TNT. Tommy looked pretty furious next to you, ranting about how you teamed up with Dream to plot the destruction of Manberg.”

“Did we…” Wilbur’s voice was hoarse. “Did we succeed?”

He desperately wished that he didn’t already know the answer.

“...Yeah. You did.”

Wilbur was crying now. He wasn’t sure how long he had kept in those tears, but they flooded out of him, dripping down his pale, semi-transparent face. A face that didn’t belong to someone that was alive anymore. A face that had belonged to someone who blew up his home.

Techno hovered his arm around Wilbur’s shoulder in an awkward attempt at an embrace. He couldn’t exactly touch something that wasn’t corporeal, so it was close enough. Wilbur appreciated the gesture all the same.

The only sound that could be heard for a few minutes were the sounds of a spirit crying.

Eventually Wilbur rubbed his eyes and quietly whispered, “Thank you.”

“What are you going to do now?” Techno hummed softly, trying not to disrupt the silent atmosphere.

“Same thing I’ve always been doing, I guess. Make amends with my son and with my country. Though I suppose it isn’t my country anymore.”

“I think Phil would be proud of you for wanting to make a change, for what it’s worth.”

“It only took me dying a third time.”

Techno laughed. “I’m glad you’re back, though, even if you are a ghost now. Just don’t haunt me or anything, okay?”

Wilbur grinned, wiping away the last of his tears. “No promises.”

His smile faltered as he reminisced about his childhood. Hanging out with his brothers without a care in the world… he could remember a scene like this as if it was just yesterday.

Maybe one day, he could spend time like this with Fundy. The two of them could make small talk about unimportant topics and laugh at jokes that weren’t particularly too funny. They could forget about their troubles, if only for a day.

It wasn’t too late for him to make amends with his family. Wilbur, satisfied with that conclusion, rose to his feet.

He bid Techno goodbye and headed back to L’Manberg. He was going to help rebuild what he destroyed. He was going to stop running and to face his consequences head on. He'd do things right this time.

Then maybe, just maybe, his son would look him in the eyes again, and tell him about how much he loved his father.

#mcyt #mcyt fanfiction #fanfiction #dream smp #technoblade #wilbur soot #ghostbur #my fics