𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶 𝓢𝓜𝓟 ~ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵

𝓐𝓬𝓽 𝓞𝓷𝓮, 𝓢𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷

*The light is dark, but warm, imitating the glow of a candle. TOMMY, TUBBO, FUNDY and QUACKITY are sitting around a table playing cards. It's obvious from his body language that TOMMY is losing.*

TUBBO: Uno!

TOMMY: I hate it here, you're all cheating.

QUACKITY: No, we're not. You're literally just shit.

*TOMMY jumps to his feet, face annoyed.*

TOMMY: How can you say that, Big Q, you're actually so stupid and bad and dumb and-

*FUNDY laughs in the background as WILBUR and NIKKI enter.*

FUNDY: Ooh, careful Tommy, your dad's here.

TOMMY: Why would you say that when you're the one who's actually his son?

TUBBO: Actually that's a good point.

*FUNDY shrugs.*

WILBUR: Tommy are you being a bad loser again?

TOMMY: I- no.

THE OTHERS: Yes.

NIKKI, faking sadness: I can't believe you started playing without me.

TUBBO: Sorry, Nikki, you were taking too long.

*He chuckles slightly.*

FUNDY, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively: Where have you two been together?

WILBUR: We have been nowhere together. I had some business to attend to and I ran into Nikki on her way back so we walked together.

NIKKI: I was actually talking to Eret.

*There's an uncomfortable pause.*

QUACKITY: Why have you all gone silent, is this some vow you guys took where you randomly just stop talking?

WILBUR, slowly: No. Eret was a good man, once part of L'manberg. During our war for independence, he betrayed us. Trading our lives for a crown.

NIKKI: The guilt consumes him. He regretted it the moment he did it, he told me so-

FUNDY: It doesn't matter if he regrets it, it's done. He's a traitor and a liar. I don't want to think about him.

TOMMY: Nikki, I hate to say it to you, but he was probably lying to you.

*She sighs.*

QUACKITY: So anyway, what's this business you were attending to?

WILBUR, obviously holding something back: There's a new arrival coming soon.

TUBBO: Will they be apart of L'manberg?

WILBUR: We'll see.

NIKKI: Do we know who they are?

WILBUR: Yes. They had actually already been banished from this land, when it was under Dream's rule. I had no say in his return, the green bastard himself called for me, to confirm it.

FUNDY, sarcastically: Oooh the suspense is killing me. Just tell us who it is already.

*WILBUR inhales deeply. He takes off his glasses, polishing them on his sleeve.*

WILBUR: It's Schlatt.

TOMMY: WHAT?! Schlatt's coming back? This is brilliant!

*The others are chattering excitedly.*

WILBUR, aside to TOMMY: I want you to be careful.

TOMMY: What?

WILBUR: I've had dealings with Schlatt before... He's a certain sort of man.

TOMMY: Do you not remember when he used to be here, everything was so fun!

WILBUR: That was before L'manberg. I don't doubt he'll see this city as something else to claim.

TOMMY: He didn't seem like a bad guy...

WILBUR: That's because he's a showman. It's all about appearances with Schlatt.

TOMMY, slightly more humble: Do you really think he'll try and take L'manberg?

WILBUR: I do, yes.

TOMMY: Is this the part where you reveal you already have an elaborate plan to stop him?

WILBUR: I have considered-

QUACKITY, interrupting: Come on fellas, we're playing again.

*WILBUR smiles unconvincingly at him. He nods at TOMMY. The lights fade as the two take their seats.*