Pandemonium | Dream SMP

64. Meet me at your favourite lookout before the festival starts, winky face.

"Hey, Bad, Ant. There's someone here I'd like to introduce you to." Hbomb says with a friendly wave.

I give a sweet smile, hoping that Schlatt's bad rep hasn't spread as far as the Badlands--wherever that is.

The cat, Antfrost, twitches his whiskers and smiles a feline smile. "Hi there."

"Hello!" Bad beams, his smile as white as his eyes. "I don't think we've met before. Are you new?"

"This is Ares. She's Secretary of Defence. She's also super cool." Hbomb says, slapping me on the back.

My smile tightens as I wait for the sour expressions and looks of disdain.

"Oh! I think I've actually heard of you!" Bad says, his eyes widening.

I flinch.

"You...have?"

"Yeah! You're this awesome warrior woman who fights with a trident, right?"

"Yup! That's her!" Hbomb nods eagerly, cutting me off before I can humble myself down. "Awesome warrior woman."

"You should come visit the Badlands sometime, Ares. We'd be happy to show you around." Ant says, his tail flicking.

My heart settles at their lack of hostility and I find myself genuinely smiling. "I'd like that. Thank you. Maybe when I have a day to myself I'll come visit, then."

"Ooh, I can bake muffins!" Bad proclaims. "Ares, what's your favourite muffin? I'll make it for you!"

"Um, I guess dark chocolate chip? Is...is that a flavour?"

"It is now!"

Hbomb snickers, a sly smirk crawling across his lips.

"Speaking of muffins, where's your boyfriend, Skeppy?"

"Hey, language!" Bad scolds the bearded man, his black cheeks tinging an interesting shade of red. "Skeppy is not my boyfriend!"

"But I bet you wish he was~"

I stare, a little bewildered as the two bicker somewhat playfully over whether Skeppy is Bad's boyfriend or not.

"Skeppy is another member of the Badlands." Ant helpfully explains, catching my pleasant confusion. "Bad totally has a thing for him, but he refuses to admit it."

"Ah." I nod, understanding. "Does Skeppy know?"

"Oh, he knows. But he's kind of a troll and teases Bad about it."

A troll, huh? I know one of those. I think idly, watching as Bad gets fed up with Hbomb and stalks off, fuming. I wonder if I'll see him today. Schlatt only barred Wilbur and Tommy. He said nothing about Dream being banned from the event.

"Oh dear, I guess that's my queue," Ant sweat drops, "Bad doesn't do well with teasing. It was nice meeting you, Ares. Though I expect we'll bump into you again once the festival properly starts."

"You too. I hope Bad isn't too upset." I chuckle, and wave goodbye to the cat as he jogs after Bad's retreating figure, disappearing behind a stall.

"That was mean," I say once Hbomb returns to my side.

He shrugs, a pleased smile on his face that indicates he clearly regrets nothing, and knowing him would probably do it again.

"Hey, the man's in denial. How is that not funny?"

"You're terrible." I laugh lightly.

As I'm chastising Hbomb for his awful sense of humor, I find a pair of antlers suddenly blocking my view.

I reel back in surprise, blinking rapidly.

"Ayyy, Callahan! I didn't know you'd be here. How've you been, man?"

Callahan smiles and fist bumps Hbomb in greeting.

The male--Callahan--wears a brown hood that falls low over his face, almost completely obscuring his bright blue eyes. Red paint is striped across his nose like some kind of native warrior, and the antlers that I had first thought to be extensions of his hood are actually real, and sprout from his temples like branches. I'm sure that if I looked close enough I'd also find a pair of deer ears under that hood.

"Ares, this is Callahan. I bumped into him a few weeks back. He doesn't say much so you'll have to excuse his lack of words."

"Hi," I say, still a little taken aback by his appearance. He's giving me the same vibes as Fundy. And that vibe is that I want to pet him.

Callahan gives a smile that screams mischief, and presses something small into my closed palm before turning and venturing off.

"Well bye then," Hbomb says, miffed by the deer man's behaviour. "Hey, what did he give you?"

"I don't know." I frown, confused as I open my palm to see a folded square of paper. "It's a note, I think."

"Ooh, open it!"

I do as Hbomb says and unfold the square, reading its contents.

"Meet me at your favourite lookout before the festival starts, winky face." H reads aloud.

We both blink.

"Oh. My. God. You're dating Callahan?!"

"What? No!" I exclaim, my ears heating up, "I think Callahan was just the messenger. This note-- This note is from someone else."

Someone who's about to get in trouble for openly contacting me. I think to myself, growing annoyed.

"Ooo, Ares has a secret paramour?" Hbomb smirks, absolutely revelling in this newfound news. "You dirty dog. I should have known. You're way too good looking to be single."

I start to panic a little. Even though I know Hbomb couldn't possibly guess that I'm seeing Dream on the side, if he starts to gossip, then there's no telling how long it'll take for others to start speculating. And if Fundy hears- I don't want him to think that I'm shallow enough to have hopped to the next available guy the moment we broke up.

Even though that is, technically, exactly what I did.

"Hbomb, please don't tell anyone," I whisper, my expression soft and pleading. "I really need you to keep this a secret."

"Hey, relax. I know I'm a bit of a blabbermouth. But even I know a secret when it's worth keeping. Don't you worry about me, Ares. My lips are sealed."

I sigh softly. "Thank you, H. Now I should probably..." I wave the note, a little embarrassed.

"You go for it, girl. You deserve some fun." He winks and it's all I can do to keep from blushing. H makes it sound like I'm sneaking off for a quick romp before the festival begins. Which can I just clarify is not what's about to happen. And if that's what Dream's hoping for, then I'm about to disappoint him greatly.

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Aaaand I'm back, bois and girls and nonbinary babes! Exactly two weeks after I said I'd be gone. And what a lovely break it was. I got new glasses. Adopted three guineapigs (called Goose, Tiger and Bunny), and even got a raise at work! Ah yes, it is nice to be back. And you are going to love the future chapters I have planned :)