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Punz’s old gold chain is too busy twirling around his fingers. Dream stares off into space, not really listening to the meeting he should be dictating, but George and Bad are doing most of the talking, letting their king space off in peace.
Dream should be paying attention to the welfare of his kingdom. His advisors are pitching forward ideas on how to improve the overall infrastructure and health of the people. Something, something, a food recall and several potholes that needed to be filled. Something, something, about a budget. It’s all going way over Dream’s head right now and he can’t be bothered to focus long enough, hence why he has Punz’s old chain. It’ll be returned after the meeting, probably. It’s not like he hadn’t provided Punz with many more to wear.
If he were to be honest, Dream’s bored. The past few years had been rather uneventful, and Dream doesn’t much like monotony. He’d considered stepping down for awhile so he could slip away somewhere new. He’d considered taking up a new job, where he could be an adventurer of some sort, but that thought had come and gone just as quickly as the past few years: in the blink of an eye.
Eye. See. Not see, blind.
Dream chews on the inside of his cheek as his thoughts drift toward the young child that had been crowned prince a few years ago. Dream had become attached. Not attached like the empire princes had been, but there was something endearing about that child. Sure, he’d been panicked and in danger, but he’d treated Dream like a game. The boy, Floaty, as he’d taken to calling him, hadn’t acted with any ounce of respect for Dream’s title or position, instead choosing to toss him around from building to building.
It had been fun. Honestly, after all had ended and Floaty had been adopted, Dream accepted the monotony. The boy had never been his to claim, though he wishes he’d done something about it now. Dream hadn’t said so to his friends and advisors, but he can tell they all feel the same way in that they all miss that stupid gremlin child.
Dream wonders what he’s up to now. The boy would be nearing eighteen at this point, if not already an adult. He’d have come a long way since officially being crowned, and Dream’s even heard he’d come into his responsibilities rather nicely.
Times for the empire had been too busy. The two kingdoms were still allies, but the royal family of the Empire had not been able to make time to meet in person. Dream knows Phil had stepped down, leaving Techno the crowned king. It was a positive change for the kingdom, Dream had heard. Techno’s a good king.
Dream misses all of them. He had tried pushing a few times for some sort of meetup, but nothing had ever come of it. Then, his own advisors had gotten busy as well, dragging him into a world of politics and king shit that he had no choice but to supervise.
Which leads Dream to now: sitting at a table, playing with a gold chain that doesn’t belong to him. Not so subtly, Dream lowers the chain to check the clock on the wall. How had it only been an hour since the meeting started? These meetings tend to go on for a few hours, at least.
Before Dream can groan in agony, the doors to the meeting room open, and an attendant nervously steps in, wearing a smile on her face. Hastily, she bows.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she says to Dream. “You have a visitor. He wishes to meet with you immediately.” Straightening up, she turns to leave.
“Thank you,” Dream says. Setting the chain down on the table, he nudges it toward Bad, who scoops it into his lap. “If you’ll excuse me,” Dream says with a nod. George and Sapnap get up as well. “Bad, I’m putting you in charge of the rest of this meeting. I trust you’ll handle it to my liking.”
The corners of bad’s lip tug downward, but he swallows down a snark before waving Dream off. Dream closes the doors behind him and heaves out a sigh. “Fuck, I thought I’d never get out of there,” he whines to George.
“Language,” comes Bad’s faint cry.
Shaking his head, Dream heads for his throne, sitting himself down in it. He doesn’t bother with appearances, already looking disheveled and bored. Sapnap and George seat themselves on either side of Dream, and they all look expectantly forward. “Send in the visitor?” Dream suggests.
A couple of attendants bow before moving toward the main doors. Before they can open them, the doors burst open with a gush of wind, followed by a very familiar looking boy.
He’s definitely come into his princely nature over the past few years. His hair had grown past his shoulders, and it’s pulled back in a braid, tied off with a gold ribbon. A golden weaved crown is resting neatly on his head, and he wears the colors of his kingdom proudly; a fine suit tailored to fit his body. There’s also a cloak around his shoulders that seems completely wrinkle-resistant, and Dream has to wonder how he flew all the way here without getting a speck of dust on his clothes. All this emphasizes the blue in his eyes.
The boy bows low. “Your Majesty.”
“Prince Tommy Craft of the Empire,” Dream drawls out, bowing his own head in respect. He can’t erase the grin on his face. Seems thinking about someone does work in his favor.
Sometimes.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Dream continues. He stands, wondering what would be appropriate for lunch or if Tommy would rather have tea and make conversation.
Tommy’s blowing wind at Dream, nudging against his mask gently. Turning his head to either side, he can see small gusts settle over Sapnap and George as well. They’re both smiling too.
Before Tommy responds, he begins removing his earrings and tucking them in his inventory. Next, the cloak comes off, which is tossed carelessly at Dream’s feet. The smile fades from Dream’s face, almost like he can predict what’s coming next.
“I’m bored,” Tommy whines. “I want to play.”
Dream lifts a finger to gently chide Tommy on how adults of their status shouldn't play, but before he can get a word out, Tommy jumps into the air and hovers there, sending a large enough gust to knock Dream and his friends back. Dream’s mask flies completely off, landing somewhere to his left.
With a giggle, Tommy throws out a double middle finger before zooming backwards, right out of the castle. “Come catch me, losers!” comes the cry of the prince.
Oh, that is it! With a cackle of his own, Dream jumps to his feet and rushes out after Tommy. He had definitely missed this.
“I’m sorry, what?” Sapnap is trying to focus on running through Tubbo’s cackling. He’d called Tubbo the second he was outside, wanting to make sure everyone knew where their prince was. Of course Tubbo and Ranboo knew, as well as Purpled. Apparently, Tommy had told them he was taking a vacation, and just left. It hadn’t been hard for Tubbo to figure out where Tommy was going.
“Yep,” Tubbo responds. “We’re on the plane right now. You should see Wilbur’s expression, he’s pissed.”
Sapnap wonders if their alliance is about to end. It would be a shame for that, because he rather likes the Craft family. Somewhere behind him, Dream lets out a holler as Tommy throws him up over a wall before zooming away. Tommy would be sad about that too-
“Give me that!” There’s a scuffle on the other end, and Tubbo’s face disappears. Sapnap can see both Techno and Wilbur, and both look completely offended. “Sapnap, you tell Tommy to stay put!” Techno demands. “We’re on our way!”
“Er, easier said than done,” Sapnap says. Next to scream is George. Sapnap winces when he hears the familiar sound of George landing in a dumpster. “Have you ever tried telling him to stay still?”
“If he had invited us along with him in the first place, we wouldn’t have to!” Wilbur growls.
Oh.
Sapnap gets it now.
They’re not mad because Tommy left, they’re mad because Tommy didn’t invite them.
Clingy brothers, to the very end.
“Hey Tommy!” Sapnap calls out. “Your brothers are on-” Sapnap is cut off when Tommy barrels into him, grabbing his communicator out of his hands.
“Tommy!” Wilbur yells, offended.
“Are you bringing the boys?” Tommy asks.
“You would rather have them than us?” Wilbur sniffs. “We’re insulted, Tommy. This is so rude of you. How dare-”
“I’ll see you all in a few hours,” Tommy chirps. “Better get ready, Pelican, because I’ll be gunning for you.” Tommy shuts ends the call and politely hands the device back to Sapnap.
“Than-” Sapnap starts to say. He’s lifted into the air. Not even his powers can save him now.
“Snappy go bye bye!” Tommy waves, then bolts.
Sapnap's screams can be heard all over the city.