Pandemonium | Dream SMP

19. You're a little old to be selling girl scout cookies.

"Holy shit. You really did get something sexy."

Schlatt ogles me as I step in through the front door of the community house, his head peering out from an open doorframe. "Way better than that shitty green sweatshirt."

I hum, not really listening as I go to place my clothes on the kitchen table. I can still feel Niki's hands in my hair. Featherlight and perfectly dainty, smelling of fresh bread.

I'm so out of it that I don't notice Schlatt entering the room, reaching an arm past my shoulder to poke at my bundle of new fabrics.

"Hey, these ain't half bad either." He observes approvingly, lifting up a red crop top. "Can you wear this one next? I like you in red."

"Hey...Schlatt?"

"Hm?"

I lean back, allowing my head to bump against his chest and rest there. Schlatt, never one to miss an opportunity, immediately wraps his arms around my waist, interlocking his fingers against my stomach.

"I realised something today."

"And what was that?"

I rest my hands over his and tilt my head back, observing his bemused expression.

"That you were right."

He snorts, "of course I was. I'm always right." He takes one of my hands in his and runs a thumb across my palm. "So, what was I right about?"

"That I like it here. A lot. And that I want to stay as long as I can."

"And that you can, angel, just as soon as I win this election."

He raises my hand and plants a gentle kiss to my fingers.

"By the way, nice flower crown. Should I start calling you princess from now on?"

"Please don't."

In the days leading up to the ballot drop, I grow increasingly busy. Every morning I perform a perimeter sweep of the community house, searching for traps or trespassers who may wish harm on my employer. Of course, Dream is a prime suspect. Every time I see a flash of green I think it's him lurking in the shadows, only to discover I'd seen a bush or tree. Or, in one case, a creeper.

The afternoons are when Quackity usually visits. He claims it's for business talks, but the lovestruck expression on his face every time he sees Schlatt says otherwise. It sets a strange sensation in my stomach whenever I see the two of them gossiping.

So in an effort to quell this feeling, I start visiting Niki.

Niki is more than happy to have me drop by, even unannounced. When I'm with her all thoughts of Schlatt and Quackity wash away, and I find all I can think about is her. She even invited me to join in on her daily yoga classes when I revealed to her how flexible my joints were.

Everything seemed to be going well till the night before the election rolled around, and I entered my bedroom, ready for another sleepless night, only to find an uninvited guest in my room.

The guest sits in my window, an elbow propped on a knee as he admires the starry sky. His silhouette glows green against the starlight, like an eery spectre. Something otherworldly.

"The election's tomorrow," he hums, acting as if him being here is a completely normal occurrence.

I try my best to act indifferent, but unfortunately for me, his appearance was not a planned one, and as such I currently stand in the open frame of my door, wearing nothing but a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, my wet hair hidden beneath a towel.

Remembering Schlatt sleeps just a few rooms down I quickly close my door and enter the space, crossing to the bed in the corner.

"Is this your last-ditch attempt at an assassination?" I question, taking a seat on the bed. I pull the towel from my head and begin rubbing the pale locks of my hair within it.

"No, it's too late for that, unfortunately. You've been patrolling this place pretty well. Any chance I would have had has been ruined by you."

I knew he was lurking around! It wasn't just my imagination!

"Good to know I'm doing my job well." I give my hair one final ruffle before dropping the towel into my lap. "So what do I owe tonight's visit to, then? You're a little old to be selling girl scout cookies."

Dream chuckles at my words, his shoulders shaking beneath the bulk of his green jacket. "Really? I think I would kill it in a skirt and beret."

I smirk, my cheeks stretching at the mere idea of Dream's tall figure in a little green skirt.

"But seriously," Dream's tone goes flat and so does my smile. It's amazing how fast he can change from charming to callous. "I'm here to give you one last chance."

I tilt my head, bringing my legs up and crossing them under my knees. "Another one? I thought you gave me my last chance two chances ago?"

Dream shrugs, swinging his legs around so he's sat fully within my room, the night sky to his back. "I'm a generous guy. And didn't I already tell you? You suit the SMP well."

"You just don't give up, do you?"

Dream pushes off from the window and crosses over to my bed. He stops when his legs bump into my knees and he leans forward to plant a hand beside me, dipping the mattress.

"Are you really telling me you're not the least bit tempted to ditch the crazy man in the other room to live a comfortable life here?" He says, his voice soft and low. "Once you lose the election tomorrow there'll be no more chances. No more opportunities. L'Manburg won't want you after all the trouble you've caused. The SMP, too. You'll be leaving all the new friends you've made behind. All your new connections." He leans further forward, his blank smile drawing closer. "So I'll ask again: is Schlatt really worth it?"

"Yes."

My answer is immediate. Not an ounce of hesitation in my words.

"Hmm. Okay then." Dream pulls away and straightens up. I blink in surprise. Is that it? Usually, he has more to say to me. No cocky comments about my poor life decisions or condiment preferences? He's really serious about this.

Returning to the open window, the masked man places a hand on the frame. He turns to fix me with one last hidden look. "See you tomorrow, Ares."

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

The moment he hops through the window I jump to my feet and jog over, poking my head outside. There's no sign of him. Not even a ripple in the water. How does he vanish so well? Invisibility potions? Ender pearls? I'll have to learn his secret someday.

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Just wanna say I'm loving everyone's theories about Ares' backstory. It's so funny to me that the moment I mention she has scars on her back everyone's immediate response is "WINGS!" XD