Chapter Text
“Go fish” MD laid down a green number 8 UNO card on the reflective black surface that covered this realm for miles.
“Mexican Dream we’re playing solitaire” Wilbur stared at him with half lidded eyes and a blank expression, stating this in such a monotone unwavering voice Tommy practically had to convince himself it wasn’t Techno.
“I swear to prime I will make fourth canon deaths a thing if you don’t stop summoning UNO cards. At least spend your points on something practical.”
This time it was Schlatt speaking, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers, his ears flicking with annoyance.
Ever since arriving (which had been about a week ago by now, give or take. there wasn’t any way of telling the time and his internal clock wasn’t being any help either) Tommy’s head constantly felt like it was full of cotton. His brain was caught up in everything that’s happened, trying to wrap his mind around it proved exhausting but what else was he supposed to do? He didn’t know how to become a ghost, both Wilbur and Schlatt claiming that it wasn’t completely intentional on their part which didn’t provide much help figuring it out.
(“Did you try the Danny Phantom thing yet?”
“Wil, I very highly doubt that saying ‘going ghost’ will do anything”
“You’ll never know till you try”)
Wilburs voice snapped him back to reality “Toms you’re doing the shaky breath thing again”
“Hm? Oh didn’t notice” that wasn’t a lie, he or someone else often had to catch him before he fully let his thoughts engulf him even before he died. “Anyways—SCHLATT DONT EAT THE CARDS”
Taking advantage of the situation he went back to spacing out, their voices vaguely registering as he sat with his elbow propped on his knee and hand cupping his face to keep it from falling. He felt strangely lethargic as he sat there letting them talk and nervous laughing consuming each angle. It was overwhelming for some reason, his senses seemed to be in overdrive.
.
.
.
“-mmy?”
“Tommy?”
“TOMMY!”
He gets up with a start, there was white walls surrounding him...where the hell was he. Immediately he recognizes Karl? He’s standing over him, his usual bright, obnoxious hoodie had been swapped out for a snowy white jumper exactly the same in style but wiped of all colour. He was in the exact same position as before, no time seeming passed.
“Karl?”
He looked panicked and disheveled, he was fidgeting with his hands and his mouth half-open with concern and the same nervous energy as before.
“Er yeah— Tommy you aren’t supposed to be here in this ti-“ he cut himself off by raising his knuckle to his mouth biting it softly and taking a deep breath “in this universe you are not supposed to be a ghost” Tommy couldn’t help how his eyes lit up at his words, knowing he finally figured it out. He gave Karl a second to catch his breath.
“What… is this place” his voice was shaky and quiet, he didn’t mean for it to come out as panicked or scared but he couldn’t really supply the energy to care about how his tone sounded. “And if it’s for ghosts why are you here too?”
Karl lets out a sigh before answering
“This” he explained “is the Inbetween” Tommy let his expression relax slightly “that explains nothing bitch”.
Karl had let out another nervous chuckle at this, “basically inbetween life and death? I dunno” Tommy processed these words then looked around at the scenery. The room was lit very brightly and was quite clean. “I assume you know a bit about ghosts, since yknow…” Karl trailed off then snapped back quickly “Anywho— most ghosts have these little drawbacks or personal changes. Like how Ghostbur used to melt in the rain” he followed this quite easy, it was simple enough. “You ready to head back?” Tommy took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment, then nodded. Karl let a small smile on his face make through all the panic that had been slowly subsiding. Tommy had only a few experiences with Karl, and he never expected him to have all this sci-fi mystery behind him. Tommy always thought of him as Quackity and Sapnap’s down to earth, hyper, and optimistic fiancé.
“See you soon man”
-
Half-conscious and bloody isn’t a good way to wake up. His wounds and injury’s were the first thing that caught his attention. They weren’t exactly painful, just. There. And he did not like it at all. Fuck everything was coming back to him at once, he has to focus, get it together TommyInnit, you’re a big man. You can’t freak out right now, not when you’ve just gotten back. Air was filtering through his lungs as he hyperventilated, but he wasn’t breathing. Just sucking in air. Prime, that’s weird.
Every little thought was going a thousand miles a minute, he was sure he could hear the disc Mellohi?? which‘d usually be comforting but the nature and tone of the disc was sudden, sharp, and deep, which didn’t comfort his nerves. There was a cat meowing by him, eyes wide and round but completely blacked out similar to Ghostbur.
“Tommy.”
The voice made him flinch automatically, that was Dream. That was Dream's voice and oh god he needs to get out of here. Then a hand touched his shoulder, immediately making him recoil out of disgust.
“Get off me!” This was more of a shriek and cry rather than the threatening tone he was trying to get out. His nails cut into the hand on him, not breaking skin but enough to make the culprit pull away. Dream was stood there, covered in blood and grime his blood. “I didn’t say you could touch me” he hissed in a hushed voice, Tommy’s shoulders were drawn up to his ears and he was standing in a defensive pose. He’s never letting Dream touch him ever again, never again. The sight was horrible. His own dead body not even 5 feet away from him, and the murderer standing opposite in a fake hurt and innocent facade in response to Tommy. “I’m just trying to help Toms”
“Don’t ever fucking call me that again” he spat at him as tears flickered in his eyes without permission. The audacity of this man to fucking pretend to be pained by his reaction. He hates how pathetic he must look, despite being around the same height as the guy he’s much more lanky and less intimidating. Everything about Dream just came off as unnatural, that probably helped with his whole vibe he has, freckles too uniform, eyes just a shade too saturated and wide, face too symmetrical. It’s unsettling to say the least.
He heaved a few sighs before settling against a wall, shutting his eyes tight to try and calm himself. We can do this. This is ok. You are fine.
You are fine.
Let’s just get through this.