Chapter Text
It had been 5 days. And he had yet to find the prisoner. Sam snarled his frustration. It was late, the sun starting to set certainly didn't help. He was too tired to continue the search at night. And who he was now sure was an accomplice, Erlis, had disappeared as suddenly as the hybrid had arrived. The Warden decided to do one more sweep of the area. Lantern in hand, he began walking through the low brush around the prison.
The bushes rustled. And there was a brief flash of gray and red, before it disappeared. "You! Stop!" The hybrid went to chase after the figure, but saw nothing. Stopping near the mansion, he hissed his irritation. There was nobody there. And the sun had sunk below the horizon. And soon mobs would be about. He'd stay the night at the prison he decided. In case the figure was connected. The prisoner needed to be returned to the prison. And the sooner the better.
And behind the cover of night, a newcomer tried to find a place to rest.
----
Dream wakes up on something soft for the first time in ages. His limbs ache and there's a fuzz in his head. But he's aware enough to notice, he's been bandaged and probably administered a potion, his clothes have been changed, he's on a bed, and this room is definitely not his cell. For one, the walls are dark oak, with a carpet and several bookshelves. Lights hang overhead, the stone ceiling oddly comforting. There was no window.
But the figure next to him was most interesting. Sat on a small stool, he squinted, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The unknown being was tall, he'd had to guess near Bad's height, a black spiked tail rested on the ground, black scaled limbs, claws, horns, and ...an ender dragon creature of some sort?The stranger wore a long sleeved gray turtleneck and black pants. The lower face was covered by a soft fabric mask, eyes turned down as clawed digits delicately turned a page. A bookmark slipping in. And the oddity locked eyes with him.
The gaze softened as the player set the book to the side, crouching by his bedside. "HELLO, YOU'RE FINALLY AWAKE." His attention briefly grabbed by the hooked wings. The newcomer didn't shout, but their voice carried, held something large to it.
His head hurt.
"EASY. DRINK THIS." A bottle is passed to him, and a hand goes behind him to prop the ex-prisoner up. "ERLIS IS BREWING MORE IF NEED BE. YOU WILL RECOVER." He choked down the thick regeneration potion. The tang of it is bizarre after raw potatoes. There's authority to the massive hybrid's statement. He's almost reminded of the Warden. But they held no malice.
"Who are you?" He manages to rasp out, voice catching on the end. He cringes, wishing for his mask back to hide behind. The other's dark eyes brighten, fleckle like scales shifting up when a smile. "I AM DRAYS. MY COMRADE IS ERLIS. TOMMYINNIT ASKED US TO HELP YOU."
He decides not to question why Tommy of all people would want to help him. Or really why these people would help him at all. He snorted, "He isn't really rich he won't pay you anyway. And I'm not going to either." He bites out bitterly, "I don't owe you shit."
Drays raises and eyebrow as they recork the used bottle and put it to the side. "WHAT COULD YOU HAVE THAT I WANT."
It isn't a question, a statement, said so simply he sputters. "I'm supposed to believe you broke into secure prison, took me here, healed me, probably after how Tommy spent hours telling you how much of a monster I am, for nothing ? I'm no fool!" He laughs.
"YOU WERE HURT."
Another blunt statement. He's passed a bowl of soup. It's mildly cold, but it still smells like heaven. Dream doesn't eat it.
"What do you want?" He prods again.
"I'VE ANSWERED. NOW YOU. WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
He glares, shoving the spoon in his mouth to avoid answering. He isn't getting answers dragged out of him by some strange dragon and their strange voice. And he certainly isn't going to trust them or this Erlis. It's a trap, he's decided. Some reckoning by the SMP as further punishment. It mattered not. He did what he had to do. And he could take this charade as long as it lasted.
There's a gentle knock on the door, and the smallest enderman he's ever seen slips through. The newcomer wears a petal like skirt and soft tunic. Carrying potions and a wooden box. Drays stands to take the box, and he can't help but note he was correct on the height. Voi nearly brushes the ceiling, silvery horns just only a few inches below the stone.
The enderman waves and chirps. Dream knows the language. But he'll admit his brain is too fried. So the runner just glares, hoping the message is passed that he distrusts them both. Their ears lower, frowning. He ignores the flash of guilt. Drays mutters something, tail briefly brushing against Erlis'. The shorter approaches, handing him a paler potion, squinting he recognizes the color of a strength potion.
"Helps with pain!" They explain in accented common.
"I don't need your fucking potion." He hisses drawing back.
"MANNERS."
Dream gapes as the taller opens the box, pulling out the bandages and wound cleaners. He glares, opening his mouth to object. But the potion is pressed into his hand, and he's too tired to argue. He'll deal with this trick. And if it isn't, well, do the smart thing and gather his strength to run. And-
He doesn't know.
He takes the potion, Erlis pulls his sleeves up, his hands are unwrapped, cleaned and rewrapped. He feels he should be embarrassed, sitting there sulking. But Erlis talks to him, explaining in mixed words, what is happening, like he's never had wounds treated before.
It's oddly nice.
"Do you want a book?" Erlis asks, gesturing to the bookshelves. Like a child, Dream had been restricted to bed rest, and told he could go for a walk this evening. His leg was still healing and would need support. But there was an outside garden he could sit in. Drays mentioned something about "fresh air" and "sun" but the idea of being outside was so unreal, he was sure he was dreaming.
---
Drays crouches through the door and closes it. Shaking void's head and tucking a strand of dark purple hair back. "THIS IS COMPLICATED." Voi finally says in Enderian.
Erlis just laughs a bit, tail flicking. "Of course it is! People always are. Shall we go make a late dinner?" They reply. Their accent is different, more chittery.
Drays sighs, "SETTING MY STASIS CHAMBER. GOING LOOKING FOR GHOST." The pair walk to the entryway, the dragonborn checking the comm link and inventory before opening the door. "I'LL BE BACK AT SUNRISE."
"Stay safe." The taller nods, before slipping out the door. It clicks behind void, the cold night air cut off, returning the crackle of the fire behind them.
Left alone in the cave-like main area, Erlis checked their own commlink. The new message alert flashing at the top.
Tommy whispers to you: Sam is fucking pissed, people are still searching, but it'll probably die down soon. He won't stop.
Erlis whispers to Tommy: Dream woke up. Recovering. Stay safe.
Before turning it off again. Drays won't be back for awhile. But the Warden is worrying. And that was quite a problem wasn't it? The enderman continues to the kitchen, pulling ingredients down from a shelf. The whole server is a mess. The whole reason why there's opted not to interact with everyone when they'd first fallen into the world. Drays had shown great distaste for the little violence they did see, before the two headed far away. But that was a problem for later.
The guest would need some hearty food. They didn't really know the exact nutritional needs of the more humanoid variety. But it probably wasn't that difficult. Actual food for a start. They start the stove,putting a pot of hot water on to boil. Erlis drops a disk in the jukebox as they work, humming along as preparation continues. A distant thunk immediately stops all work, ears flicking up as they drop the knives on the cutting board and race across the rooms and down the hall to their converted bedroom.
Swinging the door open, an audible sigh escapes their throat. Said guest was collapsed on the floor next to the bed. Trying to push himself up on his bad arm of all things. Striding over they reach down, hissing back at Dream's arguments. "Foolish. Foolish. Foolish." They scold. "Your leg is broken!" Words could not describe the frustration, certainly not the still unsteady grasp they have on Common. For what it's worth, he does look properly admonished. As with help the taller is put back on the bed, crossing his arms and refusing to look at them.
Erlis prods at the spots. There's no major reaction, thank the Ancients. Giving the man strength and regen potions was a mistake. He was probably a lightweight. And couldn't feel his own injuries. Decided to make stupid decisions. They'd make a note to reduce the portions given. Unless this was the baseline foolishness.
"Sorry." He mutters. And Erlis just sighs again.
"Do you need...a thing?" They asked.
"...can I have a clock?" Dream asked. The request was odd. But the enderman nodded.
"I'll return soon."
The clock wasn't hard to find. There was one hanging in the hall. And it wasn't an absolute necessity. Making a note to make a new one, they returned. The taller one wasn't really reading, but the effort counted, they supposed. He gratefully took the clock, holding it and watching the main hand slowly tick by.
Strange person, Erlis supposed, returning to the meal.
He'll fit in.
---
Drays is back before Erlis wakes up. The dragonborn is already sitting in the upper living room, working on a map. Quill dipping back in the ink as voi sketches out a lake. "I GAVE HIM A SLEEP POTION. HE WON'T BE UP FOR AWHILE."
"No sign of Ghost?" They ask, stretching out before pulling a piece of bread from their inventory and settling next to their comrade.
"NONE, BUT THE STRANGE RED VINES HAVE GROWN MORE."
"I saw those. They're very strange." They agree.
Drays rolls up the map, before handing it to them. "DO YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE? IT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR ME TO STAY."
The enderman considers it before taking the map. "Sure. I'll pack my supplies. Maybe I'll find Ghost while I'm at it."
And by that afternoon, they were headed back to the main area.