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It was the gasp that alerted Techno.
Just one small sound in between all the slow falling snowflakes, dancing through the pines of all the spruces in the forest, floating gently to the ground. Muffling any noise. Coating the land around the half-piglin warriors in a layer of white.
Still, he caught it, sensitive ears twitching, head swivelling with blood red eyes towards where the sound came from. Hand going to the enchanted sword at his belt.
He was close to his home. Too close for comfort. The last few visitors hadn’t been kind to him and his kin.
Focused as he was towards where the noise came from, he immediately heard the sound of a lot of snow crunching, coupled with a softened thump. The quiet: “Fuck”, that followed it was also easy to pick up.
A slight frown came to Technos face when he recognized the voice. Even if it sounded gruff and weak.
He hesitated. Snow continued to fall, countless ice crystals swirling around his tall form clad in his signature blood red coat and well used purple shining armor. A light breeze ruffling the pines at the top of the trees.
Techno stepped forward, the layer of white crunching underneath him as he walked through the darkened spruce trunks towards where he heard the noise.
His footfalls were heard, the sound of moving snow and sudden intakes of breaths making his ears twitch. His target was trying to move. It didn’t get far.
Meaning that when he finally breached a clearing in the middle of the wintery forest, he could immediately see the shivering form of a half crouched, half still laying man.
The scuffed green man's head immediately went towards Techno, uncovered emerald eyes with a splotch of gold staring hardened and slightly fearful into blood red ones.
He wore his signature green mantle, immediately allowing Techno to recognize him as Dream. Even with the white smiley mask missing.
The two rivals beheld each other for a moment.
Techno let his eyes wander over the skeletal and bruised form of his former business partner. A slight twitch lifting the left side of his mouth around the small tusks he sported, when he took in the other member of Team Chaos.
Dream looked bad. Plain and simple.
His hair was unkept and wild, the dirty blond strands being longer than Techno remembered, reaching over his shoulders. Dark patches of darker brown and some fresher red still clinging to it.
His skin was pale and wherever Techno looked he could see scars upon scars. With his experiences he knew they weren’t all battle scars. They definitely weren’t. Most of them weren’t.
Dark eye bags and a faint trembling were the only clear signs of exhaustion Dream let show on his face as he wiped the trail of blood leaking slowly but surely from his nose. The familiar scar from their battle marking the nose and cheek, running diagonally up. Still visible after all this time.
Mouth underneath closed in a pinched line, although big gulping half controlled breaths through his nose showed how clearly Dream needed more air. Despite that he still stubbornly blew out exhale after too fast exhale of white steam into the cold forest air.
His clothes were seemingly fresh, looking like his normal spawn clothes. A signature green coat and loose runner pants. Even if small patches of blood and tears were visible on them. They also weren’t made for too long exposure to the wintery atmosphere if one didn’t keep moving.
Something Dream normally did naturally.
Something he didn’t do now.
Trembles of cold and exhaustion wandered over his pretty defenceless form.
Last Techno had heard he had been in prison. From the state of things that hadn’t been all. That had definitely not been all that had happened.
The voices in Technos head went wild, as per usual whenever his rival showed up. Turning into a storm of joyful exclamations and confused and worried comments. Some rather hateful and spiteful ones thrown in every now and then.
The half-piglin did what he did best and ignored them for now. There were more important things to do.
“Heya nerd”, he greeted his green rival. His hand falling from the handle of his blade to the side, posture relaxed.
Techno immediately saw the tension that released from Dreams form. Mistrustful emerald eyes lighting up into something akin to relief.
The blond let himself fall back to the snowy ground, giving up staying on his haunches. Sitting down and opening his mouth to keep on panting much needed air in, also slowing the still steady trickle of his nosebleed. One watchful eye staying on the new arrival.
“He-hey Techno”, came the scratchy voice back, the figure immediately returning to his attempts to calm down his breathing. Body continuing to shiver in a mixture of cold and exhaustion.
For a moment the breaths and movements were the only sounds on the snowy clearing.
Techno was the first to speak again. “Didn’t expect you to be here, with being in prison and all”, he exclaimed, his deep voice breaking the silence, him shifting his feet slightly.
The change of position was immediately catalogued by cautious tired eyes, before Dream answered evenly. “Escaped. Had enough.”
“Understandable”, the blood red warrior returned, sight tracking over every single bruise and wound that lingered on his rival’s body. Mind churning in silent thought at all the implications. A small flicker of rage and disgust following them.
He might be bloodthirsty on a bad day, but he still had something like honour and morals. Something the other or others seemed to lack when he looked at all the marks. At all the signs their defenceless prisoner sported. Evidence of their treatment.
There were a lot of marks. Most of them very fresh. Too many of them fresh.
So, with a quiet fire in his gut did Techno go on. “You gonna stay here in the cold or do you have any plans following whatever miraculous escape you just pulled off?”
Dream took a moment to answer, breath finally having calmed down. The trail of blood from his nose also seeming to slow down. He tilted his head in thought for a moment, the gesture alien and so familiar at the same time without the signature mask covering his face.
A heavy breath, akin to a sigh was released, more tension escaping when the green warrior finally seemed to have come to a decision. Head turning to fully face his rival.
“I want to use my favour”, Dream spoke with heavy words. “Give me a safe place where I can rest and recuperate for a day and we’re even.”
The request made something in Techno freeze. Thoughts continuing to run at what he was asked and offered. His life debt lifted for a single day.
He lifted one of his pinkish eyebrows. “Bruh, you need more than a day to clean up the mess you are.”
“I’m not asking for more. One day and I’ll be out of your hair.” Dream reiterated with a serious face.
The half-piglin scoffed. “You misunderstood me.”
The Blood God stepped closer to the still downed man, movements sure and strong. He ignored the flinch the actions caused in the man before him as well as the sudden returning tension in the pale bruised form on the ground.
With a swish of his coat he went down onto his haunches before Dream, edging on the border of each other’s personal space.
“You don’t need to use your favour for just a day of basic human decency. A life debt is worth more than you seem to think.” He offered out a calm hand towards the man so clearly on the brink before him. “I’ll help you out without any favours and debts for today, Dream.”
The green man looked aghast at the outstretched arm. The offered kindness seeming almost alien to him. Still, after a moment to process this, Dream reached out with his own hand, interlocking his with the one that was offered. A weak delighted grin suddenly decorating his scarred open face. Looking unpractised and raw after all the past months.
“I’ll gladly take that then”, he spoke, body relaxing for the utmost time in the span of a few minutes.
Techno nodded. “Can you stand?”
“What kind of a question is that! Of course I can-“ The half-piglin abruptly used the clasped hands to pull his rival up from the cold ground, standing up in a fluid motion and taking the too light body before him with him.
For one moment everything seemed fine.
Then Dream tilted backwards, legs trembling at keeping him upwards. A small pull at their still intertwined hands and the blond fell into the awaiting arms of Techno, holding him up. Letting him lean against his warm body covered in a crimson cape.
“You can stand, you wanted to say?”, the bulkier of the two teased in his deep voice, lighter with humour.
“Shut up bacon”, came the grumbled answer, thin fingers gripping the fluffy mantle desperately for support.
“Whatever you say, nerd.”
-----
The trek home took a bit longer than anticipated, Techno having to keep helping his rival, the other constantly trying to stubbornly prove he could walk just fine, only to almost take a dive into the snow. Again and again.
Safe to say Techno caught Dream more than once from an impromptu faceplant.
But they made it without further incident and now the Blood God had the pleasure to stare down the green man as he sat in an armchair that seemed too huge in comparison to his skeletal form. The fireplace happily crackled away behind him and a stubborn… acquaintance sat before him.
“Just take off your clothes and I can bandage anything that is going on underneath.”
“No!”, came the immediate answer, Dream trying to burrow further under a blanket he had been given to stop the shivering. “I’m fine as is. ”
Techno pinched his eyebrows in annoyance at the antics of the other. “Are you sure? I don’t want you bleeding to death or anything after I dragged you here.”
“Nothing like that is gonna happen. So let me keep my clothes!” Only the green eyes were still visible, the rest of the body having disappeared under the blanket.
Techno sighed heavily.
For a moment he debated internally what he was going to do, his voices whispering and commentating as usual in a whirlwind. Some suggested just overpowering the other and stripping him like that, but Techno just shook his head at the idea.
Such a move would probably destroy almost any kind of trust Dream had in him at the moment. The other had just stopped flinching at every move and contact. Sometimes even unconsciously moving into an offered warm touch, a small flicker of comfort in his eyes.
Techno hadn’t audibly taken notice of the action, electing to keep quiet to avoid a hassle.
“Listen to Techno mate. He just wants to help you”, a sudden other voice called through the room, making Dream visibly start and both their heads turn to the speaker.
In the doorway the last member of Team Chaos stood. Signature striped hat and green outfit, purple shining armor over it. Burned and damaged grey wings hiked up behind him, useless ever since the fateful day he came to this world. A mark of failure that would last.
“Hi Phil, glad you could join”, drawled Techno. He turned back to his rival, ignoring his friend stepping closer into the room. “Help me get this nerd some medical care.”
Dreams eyes flickered from Philza to Techno, before settling on Philza. The winged man stopped a bit further from the clearly stiff man, leaning against a wall and watching in turn.
“Come on Dream, from what I’ve heard you really need it. We won’t do anything until you let us help you”, the oldest of the three said.
The younger blond huddled further in his blanket. “No.”
“Dream, we’ll be here the rest of the day and the entire night. We’re not budging. You might be a stubborn fellow, but so are we”, Philza went on disapprovingly. Techno nodded along in support.
The mentioned skeletal man pinched his eyes, half to glare and half to think. The conflict and deliberation were obvious to anyone watching. No mask to hide the expressive and still quite young face. Only a blanket lifted up to cover his lower half.
The moments ticked by, as emerald eyes flickered again between the red warrior and the winged survivalist. Forehead scrunched up slightly.
“If you want you can choose one of us to stay and help”, Philza offered soothingly, standing up from his former leaning on position. “Whoever you’re more comfortable with. We won’t take it personally.”
“Says you”, Techno reiterated jokingly, a grin on his face.
Another few moments went by. The Blood God shifted on his feet, immediately catching the attention of a pair of cautious emerald eyes. It made him still for a second, before he went on. Keeping more of their guests focus on him.
Minutes ticked by.
Techno was just about to turn to Philza, the idea of getting some food and drink for all of them on his mind, when a quiet sigh made him halt. He went back to the current target of their care.
With questioning and anticipating expressions did they both watch the protective blanket being lowered. It was put down on the younger blonds lap, bony fingers fidgeting with the seams.
“Made your decision?”, Philza was the first to ask.
Dream nodded, looking to the side, a light frown still on his face.
“Who do you want to leave?”, the winged man went on.
At that prompt Dream looked back up. With a quiet voice he said: “Both… You can both stay.”
Confusion was clear in the other Team Chaos members. They certainly hadn’t expected this.
“You sure?”, Techno asked.
“Yeah. You are… safe.” Dream took a big breath. “At least for now.”
Piercing haunted irises with a splotch of gold met the stare of both of them. “Also, whenever something happened it was always one. Two should stop the process.”
Techno and Phil looked at each other, mirroring the same gaze. Missing the moment that Dream shifted forwards in his arm chair and took off his signature green mantle.
Not missing when the underlying black loose t-shirt was removed, making Philza take a sudden deep breath and Technos flickering fire of rage burn brighter, his thoughts from before further confirmed. Way further than he had ever hoped or expected.
The torso they were met with was skeletal, ribs easy to count underneath pulled taut skin. The stomach concave more than was healthy. Clear signs of starvation in the fatless lean body.
The pale skin was a criss-cross and puzzle of different scars, burning, slashing and stabbing being the most prominent. Although there were certainly more. Discolouring and raising what was once supposed to be smooth skin. Being the marks of wounds that certainly came not from combat. Never in a million years from fighting. At least not from a fair fight.
Some bruises still stretched far and wide, painting a sickening picture of purple and green. Some looked handshaped, others like blunt objects or maybe boots and punches had repeatedly hit into a defenceless man who was already at his weakest.
A few wounds and bruises were still open, the larger ones slightly bleeding, the hardening crust probably taken off with the shirt. Opening up the way for new glistening drops of red, that shimmered in the flickering light of the fireplace and torches.
“Jesus, mate…”, Philza started.
Dream stared him dead in the eye, unimpressed. “You asked for it.” With those words he went to put on his shirt again, intending to hide what his body had become.
Immediately Techno surged forward, catching a flinching wrist. Stopping the action of Dream, grip loose and careful around bracelet-like faded scars.
“Nothing of that, we just got it off”, he tried to say evenly, attempting to keep his building fury out of his voice. The shrill cacophony of enraged and horrified voices in his head not helping. “First we have to bandage it.”
“Let go Techno.”
The rival did so at Dreams' hard words immediately. Lifting his hands into the open and taking a step back for good measure.
The young blond released a deep breath, attempting to hide the slight trembling of his fingers by letting them fall into his lap, together with the shirt he still gripped tightly. He let his head hang down.
“It’s not that bad, the constant respawns have kept everything in working order and closed most of the wounds. Just give me a few bandages and I can take care of it myself.”
Philza reiterated, horror still palpable in his voice. “Mate, it may not be bad to you but it’s still fucked up.”
“Yeah well, it’s over now.” Quieter, only hearable thanks to Techno’s good senses Dream added. “And it was deserved anyway…”
“Still doesn’t change that it happened!”, Philza tried again, damaged wings half spread out in slight agitation. Voice raised.
Techno immediately noticed how Dream seemed to curl in more, head kept lifted just enough to watch them through a messy curtain of dirty blond hair. Careful. Awaiting. Resigned.
Even though the red warrior shared the sentiment of Philza, this wasn’t the time right now. He knew that. He also wanted to talk about it more, but there were more important things on the agenda. Especially with that reaction.
Techno stepped forward slightly, keeping his hands in plain eyesight. “We’ll deal with this later, first we’ll do something about the mess you are.”
Philza looked with blazing eyes towards the half-piglin, who shook his head in response and tipped it towards their guest.
One second was all it took.
An understanding light entered Philzas eyes. The experienced man calmed down quickly when he noticed the same things Techno had beforehand. Folding his wings back and relaxing his posture slightly.
Crossing his arms in front of his chest and looking away, he said: “Yeah, fine. Later.”
They both witnessed the tension escaping Dream marginally at the words, him lifting his head some more. “Better we get started then”, he mumbled.
It took a bit to find and get an overview of everything, Techno standing to the side and letting the much more handy and soft Philza do it. Dream showed no outward reaction to it, cooperating mostly pretty well with the instructions and requests driven. But still being stubborn in certain parts.
His arms being one of them. He definitely didn't seem to like the idea of anything encircling them.
The process also enabled the blood red warrior to continue to observe and file away every single thing he noticed. Adding it to a growing pile of tinder he would surely light one day for burning retribution, ignited with the steadily flickering flame of anger that was already inside him. His voices egging him on as well. More and more.
He might not have the closest relationship with Dream, but he was still someone he respected. Who he was on an even playing field with. Who shared and showed so many similar traits to Techno himself. Who hadn’t betrayed him once in all their past deals made. Who had helped him often before. Who hadn’t deserved this.
Not that anyone deserved this.
Lost in thought he, along with the preoccupied duo of green, noticed too late when the other member of Technos get-away came. Careful steps being the only warning they got before someone else joined their little meetup.
“Here you guys are!”, the tall lanky figure of a bisected black and white person stepped through the door, having to duck down a bit because of his height. A grass block in his hands. “I was looking for you and…”
With a thump the grass block fell to the ground, red and green heterochromatic eyes locked on fearfully towards their new guest. A slight tremble went through Ranboo as an endermen-like gurgle escaped him. Hands opening and closing, seemingly not knowing what to do.
No one moved for a second as Dream and Ranboo had a staring match filled with all kinds of emotion. Techno and Phil looked between the two with turning heads.
Dream was the one who broke it first. He lifted his arm in greeting, only to jank it back down with a painful wince. With a slightly higher voice than normal he said softly: “Hey Ranboo, long time no see.”
The movement made the half-enderman finally look further than the revealed face of someone he feared. Or used to fear. Mismatching eyes trailing over bruises and wounds and ribs and bandages, taking in the big picture.
“What?”, he questioned with a scrunched forehead. Hands stilling at his side.
Techno decided this was the perfect moment to step in. “Yeah, found this nerd in the forest and we’re keeping him for a bit.”
A small squawk of outrage. “You’re not keeping me!”
“Until you can walk normally, yeah we are”, the Blood God said with a shrug, ignoring the angry and embarrassed flush slowly blooming on too pale cheeks. He turned back to Ranboo, adding: “Hope you don’t mind.”
“I- I…”
“Philza, stop, we’ve got better things to discuss now”, Dream said suddenly, trying to pull away from the winged man who kept coming with the bandages. Pulling his arm back to his chest.
“Nah mate, you’re holding still now. I’ll use it while I can.”
A light wrangling in the background occurred, careful and no intention to hurt behind the actions. Just stubbornness meeting stubbornness. One arm being the target of the ministrations, moving around in an attempt to be kept away from the bandages.
Ranboo watched the happenings with a slight open mouth. Disbelief clear at the proceedings.
Techno sidled up to him. “You good?”, he asked. “Any reason you can give me to kick him out?”
The half-enderman took a moment to collect his thoughts. “I- Well, he’s been horrible to Tommy and Tubbo!”, he whisper-shouted to the warrior, keeping an eye on the squabbling green pair.
“Well, both of those have been horrible to me as well, Ranboo. To Phil too. So it really isn’t that big of a deal to me.”
Ranboo looked down with slight disbelief, thinking quickly of something else as the facts just started to click for him.
“He makes death meaningless with his ability to revive people. He could bring back Schlatt or Wilbur, endangering everyone here”, he tried next.
A small moment went by. Dream having calmed down and begrudgingly let Philza continue, while still talking to him with a bit of outrage in his voice. Unoccupied hand moving with his words to underline what he was saying. Other one being wrapped in careful white cloth.
Techno blinked a bit at the new information he just got, looking at his rival. “Didn’t know he could do that...”, he mumbled. With a pinched brow he turned back to the half-enderman.
“But isn’t that largely a good thing? What if someone dies the final time and he’s around then? Problem solved. Two possible bad guys you can kill again in comparison to being able to keep your loved ones. Which is more important?”
The half-piglins thoughts ran when he said this. Blood red eyes flickering over to the green winged man he called his closest friend. “Isn’t it worth it, just in case?”
Ranboo stared down onto his current host. His fellow member of the Syndicate. Mind churning in at the words. Shifting through the things they meant and how that fit with his own outlook. Throwing things back into disarray.
“Ranboo, be honest”, Techno spoke, “has he ever done you harm directly? Is he a danger to you?”
“I- Yes. He killed me when I first world jumped here. Twice.”
Techno snorted at the memory. Remembering the sudden intrusion into a world that wasn’t supposed to be open for the new person's world jump. “Well, let’s be honest, you joined by unusual means. He was probably trying to scare you away. You still have all your canon lives and what’s a bit of killing between friends if it goes fast. He did do it quickly, didn’t he?”
Ranboo flinched at the words, remembering. “Yeah, very quickly. Without effort.”
“Understandable that you’re weary of him then, but look at him”, Techno nodded towards his rival that was now staring at the mutedly talking pair with something similar to suspicion. “He can’t even lift an arm, he’s far from the state of doing you any real harm. And whatever he may have done towards you and the others, he seems to have paid tenfold. Just look at him.”
And Ranboo did, again. Mismatched eyes raking over a clearly abused body, thinking about what he had heard and what he knew. Going over faded memories and circumstances. Trying to bring some calm back into his mental state. Trying to keep back what else he knew. What voices he heard.
Techno recognized the effect the others' presence had on his young friend, adding. “Give him some time. If you are still uncomfortable with him, we’ll figure something out. For now, I ask you to keep quiet about his whereabouts to the others. I think we owe him at least this much human decency.”
“Human decency…”, was mumbled in answer. He turned back to the half-piglin by his side. “Even if he is the reason for all that has happened?”
The half-piglin rolled his eyes at the statement. “Bruh, maybe you should go over all that has happened again. He might be happy to involve himself in almost every skirmish, but even he can’t be the reason for everything. He’s not some all-powerful god with knowledge of all that is going on. Effect and cause are still true in this world.”
A snort escaped Techno. Then he added more seriously: “And even if he is a god, he’s a god that clearly can be beaten. As he seemed to have been quite severely just recently. By myself not long ago as well.”
Ranboo looked up at those words. A decision slowly forming in his mind. Thoughts settling in a new track. “If you say so…”
The half-enderman breathed deeply once.
“I trust you on this.”
-----
“You can’t be serious bacon”, Dream spoke with clear emotion.
His gaze was fixated on the lava pool before him, flinching ever so slightly at ever louder hisses and pops. Kept standing with his arm slung over Technos shoulders, body still weak and not too cooperative in keeping down any potions and gapples to help strengthen and heal it. Splash potions freaking him out slightly.
“Oh, I’m serious Dream, it’s a bit of a leap of faith.”
“It definitely is…”, Dream mumbled, staring down onto molten stone.
Steps came from next to the pair, making a set of emerald eyes jump over to the cause. Looking upon the rest of the group. Philza standing the closest, Ranboo a bit further away. The most surprising fifth member of the group being Niki, who just recently came.
A new outfit worn since the last time the green man had seen her. Hair pink and kept back with a small bun. Demeanor calm and still very focused.
She had changed, same as him.
Their first meeting had been… curious.
She had taken one look at Dream and offered him a pastry. Saying he should fill back up what he lost with a very special glint in her eyes. A sudden hardness and burning fire coming into them. Standing at odds with the helpful and friendly way she acted towards him.
Safe to say Dream had been slightly unnerved by it.
The one bite of the pastry he had managed had been good anyway. Reminding him of simpler times. Past times.
And now they all stood before a pool of lava.
Here Dreams past experiences definitely didn’t seem to help.
Still Techno kept a good grip on the slightly trembling body of his rival, intending to give him the time needed to process everything. The half-piglin had waited long enough for this, he could wait a bit more.
“Why is it again that you want me to jump into lava?”, Dream questioned, voice low.
Techno was fast to answer. “I want to show you something I’ve been working on the last few weeks. Thought it might interest you.”
“And why not just tell me here, now?”
“Cause that wouldn’t be as dramatic”, the half-piglin answered with a slight grin.
Dream huffed, rolling his eyes. “Still such a drama queen.”
“Says you.”
For a second the blond thought, humming slightly. “You know what, you might have a point. Touché.”
Footfalls sounded next to the pair, as Philza stepped close finally. “If you two are done dissing each other, maybe we could get started?”
Dream stiffened at the prospect. Techno of course noticed. So did the rest.
It was Niki who stepped towards the edge, looking at the two rivals. “Maybe we’ll just show how it goes, maybe that will help with the nerves”, she suggested in her soft voice.
“That’s a great idea!”, the winged man replied.
Philza immediately went forward and walked over the edge, wings half flared behind him. Turning while falling, calling: “See you on the other side!” Disappearing under the surface of molten stone.
Dream held his breath while watching, looking intently down. Staring into the burning shifting pool. No death message to be felt. None showing up on Technos communicator.
“See, it’s safe”, Niki added. “Don’t worry, the first time is always the hardest. You’ll get there soon”, she went on soothingly. Then she also took the last few steps and jumped down without hesitation.
Leaving Ranboo as the last remaining. Him fidgeting on the side. “I-I’ll go as well then”, he spoke, before following the others. Jumping and disappearing as well.
Leaving only Techno and Dream.
The latter was still tensed way too much for the half-piglins liking. At least he was a bit calmer than at the first sight of the lava pool. That had been something.
“We can do this later as well? I would have shoved you in already, but seeing as what seems to be going on, I elected not to”, Techno offered.
Dream let out a deep breath, relaxing slightly in the bulkier man’s hold. “I’m thankful you didn’t. I would have killed you with my bare hands if you had.”
Techno chuckled deeply. “Good luck with that, you’re as dangerous as a new-born right now.”
A competitive glint came into the blond’s eyes. “You would be surprised”, he mumbled.
“Yeah, yeah, let’s keep the talk about killing each other for later. You ready?”
Dream took another deep breath before nodding. Body stilling finally completely. “I am trusting you in this…”, he murmured softly.
They stepped forward and fell together.
Falling through lava and down into water. Causing no damage at all. Only leaving a very breathless blond and a chuckling pinkette. An emerald glare as an immediate reaction.
“Oh shut up.”
The further boat journey went by fast, Dream staying jittery with adrenaline and nerves. The leap of faith still churning through his mind. Making him fidget with his bony fingers at his bandages, tapping his foot repeatedly.
Dream was however also excited to see what his rival had in store. Knowing the red warrior he kept an expecting eye on his surroundings.
The voices in Technos head were also whispering and talking about what they saw. Mostly being excited as well. Wanting to witness the blond's reaction. Same as the pink man they were chatting inside of.
Swelling in volume when they noticed the bit of wonder creeping forward in emerald eyes when Dream finally saw the familiar stone bricks. “You found a stronghold?”, he asked reverently.
“Yeah, was right around the corner”, Techno said. Following with his rival after the others, who went ahead a bit. Them being slower in their coupled movements.
Abruptly the pair came to a stop when Dream suddenly hit the brakes. One step away from where the stronghold began. Keeping the half-piglin from the inside as well.
Techno tilted his head. “You good?”
Dream took a deep breath, before nodding, turning his face away from his rival. “Yeah, let’s go.”
They stepped inside and right on que Technos communicator vibrated. But not with the achievement he expected. A different one showing up instead, not containing Dreams name.
“You’ve been inside one of these?” he asked.
While blinking blue-green irises the blond grinned slightly. “Maybe”, he answered cheekily.
Techno huffed. “Whatever…”
They stepped through the changed interior of the stronghold, footfalls in sync and echoing. Emerald eyes with a splotch of gold looking around at every detail, something like awe in them. Lighting up the haunted glassy look they had sported before.
The light was at its peak however when entering the table room. Bringing back so much life in seemingly dead orbs.
The blond took in with an astonished face the lanterns, the décor and the warped wood nicely worked into the once bleak room. Giving it flair and style in a way he had never expected to see. Turning something familiar to him into a true architectural jewel. Making a slight smile grace his lips in excitement.
The look let something like pride bloom in Technos chest. This was the reaction he had hoped for, grinning around his tusks. Satisfaction at a mission accomplished.
He let some of the gratification seep into his voice.
“Welcome to the Syndicate Dream.”
The blond continued to stare around, listening only half. Techno continued anyway.
”Here we abhor tyranny and government. Here we love anarchy and freedom.”
The half-piglins grin widened, as he said the last important part. The bit he was sure about now, resolve hardened with all he had witnessed.
“Meaning the entire prison thing works against our ideals quite severely. We might have to do something about that.”
Dream immediately snapped his head to his rival mouth slightly open. Surprise and a smidget of hope in his expressive face.
Techno took note of it with satisfaction. This was going to work out great.
With sure steps he led the weakened blond to the table where the others were already waiting, different emotions clear on their faces. Awaiting the meeting and what was to come of it. What they would do after it.
Finally taking some real action after all this time. Making the motto of their little gathering truly known for the first time.
Techno kept a good grip on his rival as he spoke what he had been holding back for so long. “I’ve been keeping a seat reserved especially for you.”
The green man's expression shifted into an anticipating smirk at that. Mirroring his rival, the two grinned at each other. Dream excited and Techno promising.
This meant future chaos for sure.
Retribution a long time coming soon to be paid out.
Finally.