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It was an unusual breeze, blowing debris and soot southwest of the massive crater that was once L’manburg; broken street lamps, cracked glass from windows, all scattered upon the wasteland. Photos from houses that weren’t able to be retrieved, everything stayed, yet the ones that inhabit the land left.
Wilbur was leaning on a bench, half intact, reminiscing. When he lost L’manburg, he lost a part of himself, when he died, he lost his senses, his touch on reality, his memory. Now, after being revived several times, death was synonymous with the brown haired man.
“You’re going to get scoliosis if you keep sitting like that.” A voice called to him, Wilbur turned slightly.
The new person had a slightly more distinct posh accent, akin to Wilbur’s. The crunch of dirt and boots colliding filled Wilbur’s ears, a duet with the howling winds and the storm seemed to be brewing in upcoming days.
“And you are?” Wilbur said, not even looking from the bench, he couldn’t care much to look anyhow.
“Well, you mentioned me in the L’manburg anthem.” The person said with a slight chuckle.
“Yeah, I mentioned a lot of people..” Wilbur replied back sarcastically.
“I heard there was a special place
Where men could go emancipate
The brutality
And tyranny
Of their rulers.” They started.
“You don’t need to recite the anthem to me.” Wilbur commented, now miffed.
They continued. “Well, this place is real you needn't fret.
With Wilbur, Tommy, Tubbo-“ They said the anthem.
“Fuck Eret.”
“Didn’t think you’d remember me.” Eret said, shifting their round, polarized, purple tinted glasses.
“Eret.” Wilbur blurted out, he didn’t expect Eret to remember the anthem. He turned, Eret had grew, but otherwise looked the same as 18 years ago, simply just longer, curlier hair.
Wilbur sighed. “Eret, What are you doing back here?”
Eret seemed indifferent, their gaze meeting Wilbur’s. “I tend to come back here from time to time.”
“What about you?” Eret added.
Wilbur hesitated for a bit, the last time he was vulnerable to Eret, didn’t go so well. “Dunno, trying to regain some recollection of peace here.”
Eret remained indifferent. “Whatever it is, you’ll find it.”
“You have faith in me?” Wilbur questioned bitterly.
“I’ve always had faith in you.” Eret cut him off quickly, quicker than they initially should.
Wilbur scoffed, blowing a puff of his cigarette., Eret looked at the cigarette, then back at the horizon.
“You still smoke? That stuff can kill you, you know.”
“Not all the time…sometimes.” Wilbur became bashful, standing up, his brown trench-coat blowing in the wind, which started to pick up
Eret looked to Wilbur, “L’manburg had its history, but you did well managing, daffodil.”
“Thanks i-“ Wilbur paused
“-what did you say?”
“You have a daffodil in your hair.” Eret spoke
Wilbur exhaled, taking another puff of his cigarette before taking the flower out
“It suits you.” Eret continued. “I have little knowledge about plants, from what i know. It could be something new for something as old as L’manburg.”
Wilbur let out something a mix of a chuckle and a scoff. “All that over a flower being in my hair?”
“Man, what do i know, i’m just speculating.” Eret shrugged.
"Speculation is all we have in this place," Wilbur said, flicking the cigarette butt away. "What brings you back here? Nostalgia?"
Eret tilted their head. “Not quite, I clean up around here whenever I'm nearby, didn’t expect to see you today, since you rarely visit.”
“Don’t bother, this place is too broken for anything to be done with it.” Wilbur protested with a sigh.
“How do you know?” Eret asked
Wilbur had always given up hope on L’manburg without trying due to the risk of Dream, he never tried.
Wilbur didn’t answer.
Eret reached into their bag and pulled out a small bag of seeds. "Here," they said, handing it to Wilbur. "Maybe you can start with this, if you want i could come more regularly to water it.”
Wilbur stared at the bag, then back at his unlit cigarette. “Uh Thanks.”