The Stage is Set

The Blue of a Dream pt1

***

Dream comes down the stairs, looking around before frowning. "Where's Blue?"

Cross looks over his quilt, putting his sewing needle down as he quirks a brow bone. "He's over in DreamTale right now." He reaches for his coffee mug before glancing at Dream. "Why do you ask?"

Dream blinks as he looks toward the doorway, he tries not to mind the feelings of worry bubbling in his soul. "Why would he want to be there? Nothing's there anymore." Dream waves at Cross, "Thanks Cross. I'll be back in a little bit."

Dream walks over to the front hallway and grabs his jacket. He takes off his crown, letting his aura out for a moment before slipping on a small bracelet to cancel out his aura again. He slips on his boots and looks into the bowl of keys and portal sheers. Would he need his keys? No, Cross and Ink are here, they'll keep the door unlocked for him. He grabs his scissors before wrapping a blue scarf around his neck. It should be colder in DreamTale now. He's not there to keep it warm, nor does the sun produce heat anymore.

Ink walks over to the couch. He leans on the couch back behind Cross for a moment. He looks over at Dream, making sure that he's fully distracted with getting ready to leave. Ink then stands up and smacks up the back of Cross's skull. He then jumps onto the couch to sit down.

"Ow!" Cross sits up, "What was that for?!" He turns his skull to look up at Ink with a pout. He hates being the youngest sometimes.

"Oreo!" Ink drapes himself over Cross's back. Cross gasps at the nickname, Ink only uses it when he's teasing. "It was supposed to be a secret, remember?"

Cross pauses. "Oh yeah... I forgot."

Ink rolls his pips as he crosses his arms. He rests his skull on the back of Cross's skull. "And I thought I had the memory problems."

"Hey!"

Dream closes the door. He sighs and hopes that the two don't start roughhousing again. They still need to replace the other couch that the two broke last time. He hops down the stairs into the golden sunlight-hued grass. He brushes his hands against his pant legs. Why is he feeling so nervous? He pictures DreamTale firmly in his mind before using his scissors to rip open a portal. Jamming his scissors in the narrow rip, he expands it enough for him to walk through it. He hopes he's nowhere near the stump of the old tree of feelings. He doesn't like that place anymore. Dream takes a breath as he goes through the portal, hoping he doesn't have to stay long in his old AU.

He's never liked it here.

Dream runs a hand over the empty shop wall. It's been so long since he's come here. It's been a long time since he's needed to come here. Out of the two, Nightmare is the only one who still visits. He even had his main base here before the truce. Nightmare and the Moons moved into the DoodleSphere a little bit ago. Dream has had no reason to come back, nor does he ever want to come back here. Too many bad memories. Too many painful things to say that this place was ever good.

"-Well, I'm glad you came."

Dream perks up at the sound of Blue, he climbs up the wall onto the roof. With his bracelet on, his aura is suppressed enough for him to stay hidden. He wonders who Blue is talking to.

"Let's get this over with, Blue. You called me here to talk about what exactly?" Nightmare? What's he doing here?