Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Four years.

It had been four years since Dream had entered this prison, nearly four since the beginning of the torment and abuse.

None of it was meant to happen, it never was.

The prison was intended to be a functioning intimidation tactic at first, just there to scare everyone, maybe even give someone a bit of nightmares with a single night inside.

All Dream really wanted was to scare people, give them a fright, not get himself locked up.

But then the idea formed, it formed, and it latched on and wouldn't let go.

Dream had liked the idea too much, giving people peace if they went too far if they had to go inside.

So he planned, they planned and planned and worked everything out so the prison had the best routine should he have to be locked away eventually.

He knew it would happen eventually, Tommy was so predictable at times.

He had made sure there was a routine, and he had made sure the rooms were in livable condition, maybe a little eerie and dark and not perfectly suitable for an extended stay, but it would work.

Every prisoner would be allowed to wander if on good behavior, it was up to the warden if this rule would stick.

The outside was barred, but Dream had only told Sam to cover, not seal it, it was Sam’s idea to block away the sun.

Dream didn't care at first.

Plus, the idea was he wouldn't even stay long; he would escape with the help of Punz or someone else or just by himself.

Whatever the escape, they would be free after a period of time, carry on the plan, and be free to live on as a monster, or better, a god .

But four years was not the intention, and neither were all the scars and disruption.

Dream did not intend on Quackity breaking, not so soon, not so easily.

Sam was expected, he was easy to pursue and break, Dream could easily do it with a few words and threats, weaponless even.

Dream was not without power, no matter their position or stature.

"Dream?" Dream looked up at the call of their name, feeling weak at the sensation of sun on his skin after so long.

He hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep, the sun had pulled them into the realm of sweet nothing.

Dream made an indigent sound, a sound letting Eret know that he had heard.

Their voice was still raw after so long, not being used for speaking and only screaming, which soon died after Dream stole back their resolve, only making it worse.

Eret loomed over them, dressed in a very large red wide-brimmed hat, the typical sunglasses on, and sporting a beautiful red gown with a coat on.

Even with the sun out, Dream could feel the cold soak into their bones.

The outfit opposed the one Dream wore, the outfit intended for the heat of the prison rather than the cold of the outside.

Dream wasn't allowed anything he could strangle himself with, the shirt just a gray tank top of easy to rip fabric, matching with the gray loose sleep pants that hung well over his feet as he laid down or stood.

Dream's mask was the only thing Dream was allowed to keep, stuck to their face with a spell of binding and old world magic.

Dream refused to give it up, no matter the cuts dug into the sides, the marks from a knife and pickaxe driven under the seal did little to break it.

Slowly, they sat up, squinting their eyes to see properly through the dark glasses given to them for their poor sight.

Ponk had been brought forth, along with Bad, to make sure Dream was able to live outside the prison.

Dream had been out only a week before the signs of isolation had begun to show to the observers.

Dream would wander too close to the prison, desperate for the place, often finding ways to sneak back inside and simply hide within a corner or an unlocked cell in the front.

Dream had been twitchy, every sudden sound making him freak and spiral, but the never ending silence drove him further into insanity.

He would do anything for sound, scream and cry and talk to nothing but air, try and engage anyone in conversation, good or bad, no matter their emotion towards him.

Any interaction got what he wanted, their mind endlessly spiraling as the sun beat down on them.

Truthfully Dream was outside for a week, put back into the prison for a couple months in hopes he would be ready to come out on his own.

Dream was being kept in the front of the prison, still chained down to the place, only removed for a week before firmly settling into the newly built medical wing.

Why it wasn't there before, Dream forgot, knowing it had been in the intended blueprints before handing them to Sam.

But then again, the final build was Sam's and not theirs.

The medical wing became a new home, allowing Dream to be checked often, but most things were locked up to keep him from causing any damage to himself or others.

Physically, Dream had gotten better.

A few trips outside in the sun haveing brought back color to his still pale skin, the veins no longer on display, however he was still malnourished and took hours to eat food.

His teeth had begun to rot, a few already missing from the torture.

Quackity had found that utterly boring, pulling molars and front teeth, getting nowhere if Dream were to talk.

He had stopped after maybe pulling four, Dream now lacking upper canines and a pair of wisdom teeth.

"Dream, I'm here to talk to you about your trial" Dream blinked slowly at Eret's words.

Why would they need a trial? Just throw him back in and be done with him already, there was no point.

"Antfrost, can you help him up? Let's get them into the shade" Eret said, standing up straight, adjusting the coat to close with a tie around the waist.

Dream felt an arm under theirs, helping them to stand as they unevenly stood on their legs.

In the prison, Quackity had loved to rip open their legs and force them to walk with broken bones, making them dance like a puppet without strings.

Dream of course had a limp now, uneven walking pattern and could hardly stand without assistance.

Bad had offered physical therapy, but due to a lack of being able to get someone to work on a possible system or machine for such a thing, Bad had offered to be Dream's temporary caretaker for the time being.

Dream had wanted to deny it, but Eret had told everyone to back up, that they needed to all have a meeting before Dream could even be allowed to get far from the prison.

It had been painful in Eret's eyes, watching Dream hobble around or even crawl about to get around, people having taken delight in watching it as they laughed.

Eret was surprised that Tommy wasn't much there to see it, nor Wilbur or Tubbo or even Ranboo.

Eret wasn't one to think people were horrid, but considering all Dream had done to them, she was a little surprised she didn't see them at the head of a mob for Dream to be locked up again.

"Careful with him, he might need more support" Eret said, following along to help Dream's other side, the sluggish admin looking tired still.

Antfrost slowly helped him walk to the shade, sitting him on a bench and standing beside him.

Eret sat a bit far from him, crossed legs and watching.

"Dream, do you know where you are?" Eret asked, leaning into Dream's line of sight.

Dream nodded, touching their throat before croaking out some words.

"Castle…garden" he managed, Eret nodding.

Eret had wanted Dream to be in a free place, offering her garden space for him to relax for a while.

Sam had almost refused, but people had convinced him it was a good break to take, that Antfrost and Bad would keep an eye on him, and that Eret wouldn't let him get far if they tried.

Eret was still skeptical however, the red vines tethered to Antfrost and Bad had gone away, but Bad still remained dressed in white and black rather than his classical red, Antfrost remaining in an outfit similar in tone, from white to gray and not returning to much color.

"Good, listen," Eret shifted, crossing their legs the other way, boots on display.

"You have a trial coming up, but it's not about your freedom" Dream nodded along with the words, knowing fate was already decided.

Dream had been looked over by Bad and Ponk, but since neither of them was good in the mental field, they had to go so far as contacting someone outside the server.

It was incredibly difficult, seeing as Dream had locked everything down before being in prison, even though it wasn't entirely intentional.

It was a protocol put into place, if Dream couldn't type in a code on a specific date in the allotted time, the server would be on a temporary lockdown until Dream could override it.

It was made in case Dream was incapacitated, infected with a virus by the server, or a war broke out and it had to be locked down heavily till everything was settled.

Dream had done it during the war for L'manburg, during Doomsday, and even during the election.

The first time, Dream had done it by accident, having been incapacitated for a while with overexertion, too busy catering to the others to notice.

During the election, well it was mostly so outside sources couldn't affect the votes, locking down the in and out of travel.

The third time was just to scare people, honestly, it was just for dramatic effect and Dream had reset it right after.

But the four years? Oh, that fucked everything up.

Dream had to spend several hours remembering the code sequence, especially how to turn it off permanently.

Luckily Punz was allowed to help, having a few of Dream's "found" notes from the vaults hidden spaces they had combed for a while.

After that, messages flooded in.

Demands to enter, to leave, for trade, for information, etc, etc.

The four-year-long block had caused many to notice, so far as the Admin council was in the middle of trying to break down the server block with an override.

The first people to enter had been long-standing members of the council, hardly ever showing their faces if even known.

The admin council was very secretive, made of hybrids and mobs and human players, all trying to keep peace from their very hidden server.

Dream had only been a few times in his life, offered a role once, but he had refused, not wanting to be tied to all that so young.

Honestly, the council was somewhat glad, after their investigation yielded that Dream became a tyrant with what little power they had inside the server.

Within the month of freedom from the server block, people had flooded in, panic had spread and many had words of leaving.

It was ill-advised however, considering that a mass exodus could lead to the collapse of the server and that it would be done over a long period of time.

The council had told everyone to wait, that proper communication and transportation from the server would be available for large groups once Dream had been healed enough to allow the process not to kill him.

Of course, that didn't stop people.

Dream was comatose for a week because of the attempt, the server was immediately sent into a temporary lockdown by the council after Dream was taken offline.

People screamed and cried for freedom, riots in the streets sending the world into chaos.

It took days, but the council got control back, saying that the death of the server admin, meant the death of the server and a possible virus leak.

This had everyone's attention.

"You understand what the trial is about, right?" Dream shook his head, once again brought from thought.

"Should I go get the doctor's?" Antfrost asked, leaning down slightly, red eyes watching Dream with an unknown intent, but concern was there.

"No, I think he's just tired is all" Eret said, patting the cat hybrid's shoulder.

Antfrost shrugged, going back to watching Dream and helping them sit up again.

"Dream, I'm going to be very blunt here", Eret explained, moving a little closer.

Eret shifted in their seat, looking uncomfortable.

"Puffy told us about Connor" Dream jolted up, the glasses slipping forward on their nose and causing them to hiss out in sudden pain as sunlight flooded their eyes.

Eret jumped into action, having them lean back and the glasses going back further on the face again.

Antfrost was quick to pin him, dropping the weapons into his inventory.

"Dream, please calm down" Eret begged, flinching at the way the place they were sitting at was now missing.

Things like that had been happening as of often with Dream.

The server had latched on like a child, fickle and easily moody.

Any time Dream had some kind of sudden reaction, something would glitch out or disappear, as if relogged or removed.

Sometimes it changed colors of things, change things into a similar thing, or made it an entirely new thing.

But more often than not, it would make the item disappear.

Especially with Dream not having updated the server in four years.

The council had whispers about them just giving Dream a new server attachment, a smaller one once they were healthy enough, one he would be under watch within.

Sweet Aether, the talk was just restarting the server entirely now and getting it over with, resetting so Dream would have more time to heal.

Dream hadn't been able to protest, but many of the original inhabitants had many issues, including Philza, despite his hate for the fellow admin.

Phil had brought up a lot of points, from how it could ruin Dream's body further to it could just make things worse.

Of course, they had thought of this, and said that if people were willing, much of the world would be delegated to people, and Dream would be set into a heavy coma till things were fixed.

It would cause Dream some setbacks, but in the long term, things would be better.

Philza, Technoblade, and even Eret argued, saying that It was Dream's server, and the admin should have a say in what happens.

The council had spoken, before deciding to give a soft update to the server, introducing things slowly, sure Dream would have fits of faintness or bedridden weeks, but it would save the server from a possible system crash.

"Dream?" Dream shifted back onto the bench, hiding their face with their hands.

"Dream, I know it's a little jarring right now, but I need to talk to you about Connor" Eret pressed, Dream only shook their head.

"He's…..Puffy's" Dream whispered out, the words not even right as he grabbed at the bench arm.

"Dream, I know that's not true," Eret said with a sigh, looking down at the arms covered in scars.

Many of them surrounded the skin, having been from live skinning or a clean cut and the limb reattached with potions, or a simple respawn done In time to keep the limb from permanently being removed.

Eret had been horrified when Dream was found with the entire skin of their arm, starting from the elbow, flipped and peeled off like a glove, meticulously skinned to show muscle tissue and fat.

Sam had been entirely horrified to see such a thing as well, nearly throwing up in the blood soaked room.

"Dream, is he just your's?" Eret asked, watching Dream flinch.

Dream hesitated, before giving in and nodding.

He had hated to talk about his biology, knowing it wouldn't make much sense.

He couldn't talk about his anatomy, let alone how Connor was made to others, honestly Connor was a mistake and Dream was not prepared for it.

Connor wasn't meant to happen, it was intended for a soldier, not a child.

Dream had used some spare copper to make a small soldier, intending to toss it should it get too attached or anything.

But Connor happened, a baby before Dream made of copper and Dream couldn't feel more sick.

They know what it means to be made of copper, delicate and a possible liability in the end.

"Just…mine" Dream sighed, rubbing at their face before opening their eyes with the glasses back on their face.

"Okay….okay…." Eret frowned, rubbing at her temples.

"Look, Dream, the council knows about Connor, and have had talks about you having temporary custody of him, just to….just to see if you can change" Eret went on, trying to explain the process and thought behind the statements.

Even through his stutter, Dream could see the hesitation.

Dream blinked as Eret went on, slowly tilting his head.

Okay, Dream was an idiot at times, but not that big of an idiot.

Who gives a tyrant a child?!

Especially when Dream was in jail for child abuse !

"Dream, this is a very important thing, we….the council won't tell us anything, won't tell me anything" Eret went on, taking hold of Dreams wrists, keeping from his twitching hands.

Dream must have made a face, Eret was very quick to let go.

"Dream, if we give you this chance, would you take it?" Eret asked, his voice just above a whisper.

Dream didn't know, Dream didn't want to know.

They didn't want a kid, they never wanted a kid!

This was not what he wanted, no….no this wasn't at all.

Connor was never meant to happen, and Dream had only stuck around long enough to hear Puffy give him a name.

Dream hated himself for even listening, for even making the poor boy.

He would be younger than his peers, he wasn't even sure if there were other children from the other players.

Sure Dream could make more, give a bit of admin magic to get someone else to make a child, but he did not feel like being god should involve forcing a child upon people.

Even if he did it to Puffy, they knew Puffy would at least be willing for a short while.

"I'm not going to guilt you Dream, but….Puffy is talking of leaving the server once your better, and I don't think she intends to take Connor with her" Eret said, standing up, somewhat leaving over Dream, a light breeze picking up in the already cold day.

Dream's head shot up, mouth agape.

"W..what?" They managed to whisper, unsure what they actually heard from the King.

Eret looked…ashamed, flinching back under the absent stare of the tyrant.

"Puffy told me the other day, she…she was really drunk so I have no idea if she meant it at all, but she told me she was tired of raising children, how Connor was too much for her and how Michelle was already a handful and…." Dream seemed to zone out, unable to hear Eret as anything more than cannon fodder.

Michelle? Who was Michelle? What did some random person have to do with Connor?

No, no, Connor didn't matter in this; neither of them did!

Puffy had a job, a single job, just a request from Dream and was supposed to follow it.

Eret looked ashamed.

Dream wished to eat his head, consume the power of a brine blood and lap it up, turn the world red in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Dream, but she said if she left, she would hope you would take charge, Foolish I'm sure would take them if you don't, but…many of us are wanting to leave, and due to Connor being born here, were afraid his code it too much like yours" Dream could only look on in anger.

What was that meant to mean?

Connor wasn't—

No, no that was not what Eret meant.

Eret knew nothing of what Dream was, knew nothing of the things Dream had seen.

"C…c.." Dream felt their voice crack, the air painful to suck down, even with the mask on, it burned coming through their mouth.

"Dream?" Eret asked softly, leaning closer, only for Dream to take a swipe at her.

Eret jumped back, feeling nails cut at her cheek and nearly knocked the glasses off if not for Antfrost quickly grabbing Dream's arm.

"COWARD!" Dream said with gritted teeth, jaw clenched and fire in their eyes, so much that Eret could see it past the mask.

"YOU'RE ALL COWARDS, HE'S A CHILD!" Dream managed to scream, tasting blood in his throat and on his tongue.

His voice burned, raspy and horrid as if he had been smoking for decades.

The heat exposure and the extended smoke inhalation from burning his own self had definitely done damage to his voice.

Eret flinched, backing away somewhat as Dream settled back down on the half bench, grabbing at their shirt with uneven and sharply bitten nail.

"Dream….I know that, but many of us….we aren't well" Eret sighed, taking Dream's hands away from his shirt.

Dream didn't look up, anger in their eyes behind that mask, Eret could practically feel it burn her skin.

"Some of us grew up surrounded by war, we've all been in war, and some of us just….were tired Dream" Eret went on, bringing only thoughts of the others into Dream's head.

From Tommy and Tubbo being children brought in by Wilbur, to Philza and Technoblade having sought retirement so quickly after the war.

But the fighting didn't stop, it drove Dream into insanity, drove them further away and made them insane.

But maybe it was their own fault in the end, they should have made everyone see the light of day sooner.

They should have been a monster sooner.

"We want our freedom, away from you" Eret said, and Dream felt their heart sink.

Dream flinched, hand twitching and grabbing at the discolored gray sweats hanging from his malnourished body.

Dream knew that, Dream of course fucking knew that.

He had figured people were trying to leave, that lock down was intended to be temporary, a joke, a harmless scare.

But to hear the others actually wanted to leave and would be able to.

Dream's chest ached from it.

"Dream, this trial will decide if Connor can even be around you, even if under watch" Eret went on, and Dream only shook their head further, not willing to listen.

They were a monster, this made no sense!

Why give him the kid? Why allow him to even be around a child if he was known for such horrid abuse?

"But it's also a chance for you to be in his life" Dream didn't care, didn't want to care.

Their breath hitched and their heart felt painful and squeezed, lungs having air pressed out.

"I don't know what will happen at the trial, nobody does" Eret rubbed their hands together before shoving them into the pockets of her coat.

Dream hesitated.

Of course Dream had to fucking hesitate.

They didn't want Connor to be around, they have every intention to lie and get back to being the villain, to bring the server together!

None of this should be happening, none of this would have happened if Dream didn't decide to fuck around and find out.

They wanted a copper soldier, not…..not a child who was likely not to make it.

Dream knew what they were, knew how they were made.

Connor….Connor wasn't made the same way as he was.

Connor would have to suffer from being sick or worse.

"Connor won't be there, he will be outside" Eret said, trying to assure Dream everything would be fine, as if Dream had been thinking everything over.

"Dream?" Eret asked, the mask slowly turning towards her.

"Not…not me, never me" Dream spat, venom in his voice.

Connor would never be his child, never be able to live past childhood.

Dream knew better, knew that a child would ruin everything.

If Connor was given, Connor would not make it to see the light.

Chapter Text

Trials, pointless things really.

Dream had seen trials before, and the outcome was always decided beforehand.

Trials were shows, a play to put on to the public for their cry for an answer and justice and democracy and all that shit.

Dream saw no point in it, and it was just stupid.

He had seen kings fall, empires crumble, civilizations wiped away from time and history with an uncomplicated dumping of water on a book.

Dream had enjoyed those days, simple and easy and less of this tripe.

"Remember what I told you?" Punz whispered, helping Dream with their coat.

Dream had been having recent issues with his dexterity and muscle movements, something about needing proper rest and healing before attempting anything physical inducing.

Oh yeah, and Punz was there, mainly playing guard.

Punz had offered to be a temporary guard for the trial, knowing that more people would show up and attempt murder.

Dream didn't mind; maybe a bit of dying and being in a personal limbo might do him some good again.

Punz was wearing some business casual armor, a set of modified netherite chest plates and boots, and a helmet, leaving the legs exposed.

It was just a white button-up and some black slacks as base clothing, compared to the usual hoodie and jeans.

Dream had been dressed of course, in long clothing to cover the scars.

A black turtleneck, a pair of gray slacks, paired with a light coat in case of rain, and some boots, his white hair he refused to cut was pulled back into some braids and a ponytail.

Added with a simple set of dress shoes that were a bit cramped, but obviously on lend like the somewhat loose clothing.

It annoyed them that they knew these clothes before would fit perfectly if they had more to their body weight.

His mask was still on, he refused to take it off.

It was his, all he had left, unable to access his inventory from the previous years with it being locked in a chest in the prison still.

If Sam didn't open it that is.

But that was beside the point in all of the plan.

Things had changed and Dream needed to act without fucking everything up, he needed a way to talk to Punz without being watched, knowing full well he was being kept under lock and key.

Even if Punz was the only one in the room, someone was likely outside the door or even possibly hidden with invisibility.

What was worse, an Admin could be in the room and Dream wouldn't know because he had his abilities limited to see even weaker than they already were.

"Dream?" Punz whispered, Dream's gloved hand taken in theirs, squeezed softly.

Dream flinched and sucked down air, wide eyes and hidden still behind the mask, unwilling to let the act drop.

"It's only us, I promise you, we have time alone, I made sure" Dream relaxed at those words, letting arms slip around his waist and pull him into a hug.

The comfort, despite the armor, even without all its enchantments and just some simple padding and fortifications like layers, still felt cold.

Dream was slow to wrap their own arms around Punz, loose around his neck even if they desired to somehow strangle anyone before them.

"It's gonna be okay, I'll get you free, we can run so far away they won't find us" Punz promised, giving a squeeze to Dream's body, only for Dream to curl around him.

"No" Dream pulled away, but Punz refused, hands still around Dream.

Dream leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together, hands on Punz's shoulders.

"I can't run anymore, you know that" Dream whispered back, taking a step to the side, Punz following along.

It was small, hardly there but nothing more than shifting weight onto the other leg.

"I know, but we can still try, think of a new plan" Punz whispered back, shifting the weight once again to the other leg.

Dream followed, pressing a little closer to Punz to take his warmth.

"We will, eventually, but right now we need to pretend, remember?" Dream said, stepping slightly to the left, managing to get Punz to follow, a tune inside the mind playing as the two somehow found themselves in a slow, partial dance.

The two idled together, side to side as music played in their minds, Dream's hands still holding Punz's shoulders.

"I remember, offensive?" They asked, tugging on Dream's shirt.

"Yeah….yeah, that sounds good, don't say anything unless asked…..make yourself as invisible and equal as possible" Punz nodded along, sighing and slumping into the crook of Dream's neck.

The helmet prodded at Dream's skin, stuck out like a thumb and weighed heavy on weak bones.

But all in all it was a welcomed weight.

The two seemed to idle for a while, lost to the time and day as the clouds outside began to form.

Before Dream could even mention them leaving, his voice was gone and Punz was pulling away, lingering touches on each other's skin.

"Remember our promise, okay?" Punz whispered, and Dream nodded, a quick glance down to Punz hands.

The gloves he wore, fingerless in nature, were replaced by a similar set of full finger leather gloves Dream wore.

If only Dream could access their items from before, then maybe they could add something to Punz gloves, a bit of metal on the knuckle maybe.

Dream sighed, letting himself be pulled along, Punz closing the door behind them as they left the changing room.

The room was without a camera due to the request of Bad, demanding Dream have a room to change in for privacy.

Sam had disagreed at first, fighting Bad along the way until Ponk stepped in, demanding the same and claiming it should have a table and chair for Dream as well.

Sam became enraged, demanding a reason for such accommodations at first.

When neither could bring him to sense, they brought in the council.

It was how Dream learned a few familiar faces were part of it, apparently some as of recent.

The one and only Hypixel remained, leading the charge with the anarchy leader himself,  Hausemaster.

Those two had taken a diplomatic neutral stance, refusing to give aid themselves unless it was medical attention or possibly to stop a budding war on a non anarchy server.

However, the others, Xisumavoid, even Smajor and Grian took a more heavy stance.

Dream had learned from snippets of what he could gather and from Punz later on, that most of the hermits wanted to aid the server as new and old friends.

It was there Dream realized that the server lockdown had a leak, a horrid leak in the code.

Someone had been able to get information out, and the others had been using it to get outside information.

But was that a good thing? Probably, it meant that more people would know, and someone would be likely to help.

Of course the Admin council was helping, but that also means more allies and more help for the server, including that fucking egg .

Dream could still feel it beating at the server code, like an infested bed, biting at whoever laid in it.

"We're here" Punz said, keeping their voice steady and calm as they stood beside Dream, acting as if he was on a leash.

Dream looked on, a meadow turned into a temporary living space.

It reminded him of war, tents put up and people living bunked up.

From a medical wing to people under watch, running around with their heads chopped off and shouting orders.

Wild and unrestricted.

It lacked the scent of gunpowder and blood, the scent of death and decay and all things horrible.

Punz pulled him along through the camp, eyes occasionally on them.

It was full with assistance, from people helping with food and supplies, acting as if the people couldn't on their own.

Dream wanted to sneer at that pathetic thought, none of these people could understand it at all, how his server was meant to be.

Not everyone was an Admin, few and far between truthfully.

Many were just regular players with an assortment of skills, some very specific.

The hermits had brought their alter codes and gifts, Hypixel skyblock survivors and 2b2t scavengers helping along the way.

Many people had seemed to flock to the place, all their codes linked to Dream's server.

Many flocked to a tent of service, a few of old cults and newer sects.

Dream could only sigh and be dragged along, through the long winding camp to the back, a few more guards not from his server there to watch and protect.

They could feel the stares' on them, watching them, burning up their skin.

Those eyes were looking for openings, ready to strike and kill him.

Drown him out like a wave and hear him scream as if the lava ate his skin again.

They wanted to tear him apart and make his head a centerpiece of tyrants and monsters and toss the body away, should they find use in it once it's left to the enchanters.

Dream had made this body, formed it with delicate hands and skills he had honed over the centuries.

Dream had switched bodies, this one fresh as of four years ago.

He had used spell after spell from that damned book, keeping the body from decaying as he possessed it, finding that his own soul had changed things as well.

 This body was made of flesh, of blood and possession, slaughtered and changed, altered to be perfect.

But that white hair had been an issue, their own soul having altered the look to match the soul.

Dream's face was molded into that mask, unable to be removed or the body would decay.

Whatever the issue, dream refused to remove the mask from their face, fear and paranoia be damned, nothing would take it away.

"You must be the infamous Dream!" Dream blinked back into reality, looking at a man in a suit.

The sight made him twitch, wanting to take the chair beside the man and bludgeon him into a plup.

It reminded him of Quackity, who would take off his coat before the torture, before the torment and horrific treatment.

Ripping out nails and breaking fingers and pulling bones.

If this body wasn't so ruined, Dream might have kept it a while longer, but now it was only useful to the end of this trial.

"Not much of a talker, I get it, that's a good thing, helps with the trial and all" The man laughed, finger guns and all, an idiotic grin on his face full of white teeth and a few made of amethyst.

Dream didn't bother to respond, eyes able to wander behind the mask in the space.

It was an actual building, meant to hide away all words, padded walls and all for soundproofing.

Walls an absent terracotta color, easy to see between the carpet padded walls. A table and a set of chairs just mindlessly there in the middle as the man leaned against them.

"I just have a few basic questions before tomorrow, a curtsy considering all you've done" He said, his grin malicious in nature it seemed.

His hair was tousled, long and layered in the back, hair curling around his forehead and cheeks.

It was bright blue and faded to seafoam green to a dark color of night, looking like the depths of the ocean.

He smelled of redstone, under his nose a red tint.

Oh great, a redstone sniffer.

Dream hated redstone sniffers, the damn addicts.

"Sit, have some water, they won't allow you anything but it" He said, backing up from the table and kicking the chair out, Dream reaching out and catching it as it nearly was knocked over.

His plain black suit coat was tossed over the back of his own chair, the water on the table looked bubbly.

Dream was not going to touch that, he would rather starve, and he had, just in a much more boring way.

Dream shrugged, sitting down at the table, leaning back with hands in his lap, feeling the way his bones ached in this suit of flesh.

"Now, my name is Codex, I've been an administrator lawyer for a while, so don't worry about things, I'll make it simple." Codex said, tapping away at the table in a mild drum of fingers.

Nervousness, clearly sweating, unable to sit still.

Oh yeah, this man had a line before this.

Dream didn't blame him, he had done redstone and spider eyes and even bone meal for a bit of time during the craze of it all back then.

What century was that anyway? The 10th? Wait what century was he in now……

"SO!" The man slammed a hand down on the table, knocking over the water and startling Dream from their calculations.

Punz didn't flinch, only grabbed at his ax in his inventory, but didn't pull it free yet.

"I'm going to have to ask your bodyguard to leave" Codex said, looking over at Punz, a smile still on his face.

It was wide and bearing teeth, sharp and stained by coffee.

Dream could smell the caffeine from where they sat.

Punz shook their head with a sigh, hands behind their back and narrowing their eyes.

"Afraid I can't, it's for your safety" they explained, glancing towards Dream.

Codex raised a brow, the smile falling slightly with a twitch.

"Not his? Fine then, I'll take your word for it" he shrugged, sitting comfortably in his chair now, leaning back and ankles crossed, stuck out in front of him under the desk, occasionally rocking the chair.

"But remember, everything in this room is confidential, anything shared will be used in trial and against anyone after, remember that" he said, drumming his fingers again.

Punz didn't bother to mention the hypocrisy or conundrum of that statement, choosing to just watch and observe the two as they talked, keeping silent.

Codex looked towards Dream, who was slowly beginning to zone out, bored of the conversation.

"Now, be honest with me Dream, is it true you abandoned Connor?" 

Dream nearly scoffed, straight to the point it seemed.

"Yes," he said, crossing his arms.

He messed with his clothes, adjusting the shirt and the pant legs, the fabric rubbing and catching on the scars that hadn't been healed properly or sealed back up.

Dream needed a healing potion, needed something stronger than modern day, needed his book of old recipes he had so long ago.

He needed the potent shit, not this pathetic thinned out soup of healing.

"Do you wish to care for Connor?" Codex pressed, and Dream could only watch him.

Every twitch, every thrum of shaking limb, looking around with darting eyes and chattering teeth.

Dream didn't have to think long on their answer.

Connor was a liability, he would be in danger should Dream choose to keep him.

Dream in turn would be condemned and sent to the void again should he take the child, danger on the cusp of killing them.

Dream wouldn't admit how Lady Death would probably lock them away back into their realm with the help of other gods.

Their fellow creations, dare to say siblings, would lock them away for their crimes against such a young child.

But Dream had seen war and nether on the overworld, how it took children souls and lives, turning them to ash and corpses on the ground.

"No" Dream said, leaning forward and hands clasped together on the table.

"Why?" Codex dared to ask, pressing harder.

Dream hummed, trying to find the words that would gain sympathy, perhaps even mess with the man before them, taunt what little of his mind was there.

"I am…I am a prisoner, after this trial I will go back to my cell, I do not deserve Connor" they said with emphasis, reaching up to mess with their hair.

They needed a new body, a new form, maybe after this trial they would just forego the human skin suit and be themself, monstrous and airy.

"I see…..okay" Codex sighed, potentially hoping for something good to use, but this was fine.

He could use this, he could manage with what little sympathetic nature Dream pretended or seemed to have.

Of course, Dream could only imagine the things inside Codex head.

"If you….were free, would you want Connor?" Codex looked up from his fingers, curling them into a slight fist where the knuckles ran white, nails digging into his palm.

Dream didn't hesitate his answer, glancing behind him at Punz, once again thankful for the mask.

The mask made this so much easier.

"No, I wouldn't" they said, leaning forward, resting chin in palm and elbow on table.

Coded didn't push further, back to drumming his fingers as he thought, leg bouncing and jaw grinding before a tongue came out and licked at his dry lips, swallowing down a ball of spit.

"Last question…" his eyes seemed to light up at his thoughts, at whatever went through his little redstone addled mind.

"Do you think you deserve freedom?" Codex leaned forward with a wide grin.

Dream was a bit caught off guard by the sudden shift, but played along.

He hummed and hawed over it, sucking on his teeth for show sound before leaning back.

"Not yet" he eventually said.

"Not yet?" Codex asked, confusion and curiosity in his voice.

Dream shrugged, trying to keep from smiling.

"I still have some time left, a couple years maybe" Dream explained, wanting to just rattle off all the reasons he wouldn't be able to leave for a good millennium.

He wasn't insane, he knew he was bad, he knew he did bad, but he felt nothing for it.

It wasn't his nature, it wasn't his peoples nature, he just liked the chaos.

His former title and all.

"And if we could shorten those years?" Codex asked, and Dream chuckled.

The sound wasn't loud, but Dream was clearly laughing at the idea.

"Be interesting, maybe I'd get to travel, I know I wouldn't be entirely free, but sure would be nice, maybe I'd settle down with a cottage and a cat and a farm" Dream brushed imaginary dirt off his pants, plucking a hair and tossing it aside with that flick of the wrist.

The table by now was sprinkled in redstone dust from how Coded seemed to crawl all over it in his desperate attempt for Dream to have some kind of mass reaction.

Did these people think him insane? Think they are crazy?

Who knows, but it was a pathetic attempt in the end.

"That's a mighty big idea" Codex said, and Dream shrugged again.

"I have a mighty big thought" Dream didn't look away, eyes locked with Codex but unfortunately the other looked away, unable to see the eyes trying to rip his soul from his body.

Codex let out a laugh, nervous somewhat, but trying to be confident nonetheless.

"I like you, I think this'll work" Codex went to stand, pausing.

"Do you have any questions?" He chose to ask, and Dream once again did the thinking show.

This time with drumming fingers and impatient show, mimicking what they saw before them.

"Not for you, just for the council," Dream explained, and Coded nodded, seemingly calming down from his recent high.

His body seemed to slack, his shoulders relaxed from their bunched up pose, his hair constantly being run through and teeth still grinding.

Potentially withdrawals , Dream surmised with a thought.

"Well I speak sometimes for the council, I am hired by the council for you since nobody was willing to stand for you" Coded chuckled again, and Dream only watched, sitting hunched and relaxed.

"Kinda funny, not one person wants to help you on your own server" 

Dream didn't react, knowing that obviously was a lure for him to react.

Dream glanced back at Punz, feeling eyes on the back of his head and shrugged, smiling with their words.

"Yeah….funny" the smile was prominent in their voice, cocky at best.

"But I guess I have one question than" Dream sighed suddenly, frowning as they leaned on an open palm.

They looked beyond the mask, a blank face as they stared, wide eyes and an unnerving stare.

Eyes bore into the man before him, who was inching towards the door, obviously able to tell the eyes on him wouldn't blink any time soon.

"Ask…ask away" Codex stuttered somewhat, adjusting his shirt collar, adjusting the fabric against his sweaty skin.

Dream narrowed their eyes, a sneer on their lips.

" Why " they demanded with malice, hatred seeping in so much that Punz flinched, but hid it well enough that only Dream caught it from the corner of their eye.

"Why what?" Codex asked, trying to remain calm but nerves were getting to him, snapping each on as the conversation went on.

Be it anger, annoyance, fear, or overall anxiety for his next fix.

Dream almost wanted redstone to taunt him with, make him kneel and beg.

"Why did any of them think I wanted Connor if I gave him up?" Dream asked, trying to word their question better.

It was Codex's turn to shrug.

"Who knows, people tend to change their mind" Codex said, leaning against the door, heavy and made of Iron.

Dream wanted to destroy the damn thing.

Dreamons were known for hating Iron, but it wasn't entirely true.

Modern Dreamons could handle it for a period of time, some even made of the stuff but eventually would succumb to such pain that it inflicted.

Older Dreamons, ancient and ancestral, would burn at its touch regardless of possession or true form.

It would burn and harm them, skin forced to boil and them to scream and plead for mercy.

Dream refused to do such an action.

Quackity had always brought in netherite tools, but that was nothing compared to a cage of Iron.

Dream had been in wars far beyond the SMP knows, in history worthy fights and battles and the iron burned bodies and forms left behind could be counted with five hands.

Each one taking years to make new, no matter the material.

"They do understand why I was in that prison, correct?" Dream asked, clenching their jaw, trying to keep from throwing a chair at the iron door.

Something, anything to get it away, it's very presence at his attention now.

"As far as the logs we have from the prison, theft" Codex said.

Dream scoffed, laughing right after with delight and hatred.

Codex froze at the sound, the cackle rioting through the room, like thunder and the crackles of fire.

"Fucking idiot , alright, tell them to look further into things, they'll understand" Dream said, hissing his words as he grabbed and clawed at the table, leaning against it, head slowly sinking to hit it.

Dream felt their mental state slipping, the longer they were with this idiot who didn't know shit, the more they wanted to kill him.

Maybe the prison had done something, shorten their fuse and set them aflame on the world.

"We shall see, have a nice day, Dream" Codex said, knocking on the door for it to be opened.

It followed rather quickly, opening and allowing him to scatter and skitter off to who knows where.

Dream sighed, slowly coming to stand as Punz led the way out.

A few people mingled around, whispering occasionally after taking notice of Dream now.

A few looked away, some people had already done it before Dream entered that room on the edge of the camp.

Whatever they said, Dream wasn't bothering to listen in, it was all nonsense anyway.

Punz led the way back to the edge of camp, leaving the place behind as they walked towards the prison on the other side of a war torn area.

"What the fuck was any of that?" Punz said with a hiss, showing emotion on their face, knitted brow and all.

Dream hummed and shrugged, now standing next to Punz, both equal in their steps and stance.

"From what I could tell, some kind of mind game, you know I love those, a poor one though" Dream said with some semblance of sadness.

"But—" Punz began, but stopped, unsure what to say.

Dream however, went on to speak, eyes constantly scanning the area, watching as Punz looked around, tilting their head very little.

"I think he was intending me to slip up or be crazy, anything to either put me in hot shit or make the world look at me like I'm insane and need to be killed" Dream speculated aloud, yawning as the weight of all of it was pinning down his body.

His eyes felt heavy, his mind light and the sun on his skin felt warm and welcoming, even with the breeze and clouds rolling in above.

"This is so stupid" Punz spat, taking off their helmet.

The mercenary felt suffocated in their clothes, the outfit clearly too much compared to their normal outfit of hoodie and sweats.

"I know, but hey, we'll see how it goes, who knows, maybe you can do some convincing on my behalf" Dream said with a smile, leaning a little closer, but not enough for it to be noticed much.

It was minor, hand twitching towards Punz's as the helmet went away into inventory.

Punz reached out a pinkie, brushing it beside Dream's hand.

"I doubt it, I don't want to seem obvious" Punz sighed, hands coming up to rub at their face before Dream could even dare to grab one.

Dream wanted nothing more than to hold their hands, to lean against them and fall asleep, to sleep away the days in the sun.

That would be nice, but there was work to be done.

"How about a letter, pass it along perhaps?" Dream offered, smile sounding soft, not sharp and powerful, but gentle and kind, words sweet and nice to hear.

"To who? How?" Punz asked, curious of Dream's plan, unafraid to ask questions.

Dream wanted to stop and hug them, to curl around that form and feel the warmth of a hug again.

Maybe before they went back to prison, they could ask for one.

"Is Purpled still cool with you?" Dream asked instead, continuing to walk Prime Path.

"Haven't talked to him in a while, might not like me using him" Punz sighed, rubbing the back of their neck.

Dream bumped shoulders with them, offering a smile under the mask, and even if Punz couldn't see it, knew it was there.

It was a common thing between the two, a nudge of kindness or offering comfort when in public, but in private the two would hug or be closer, just enjoying the company each other brought.

"Spend some time with him, my treat" Dream said, and Punz scoffed, narrowing their eyes with a smile, crossing their arms.

"I am not getting a teenager drunk," Punz said, stopping as Dream did, the two now turned to each other.

"Isn't he an adult by now?" Dream asked, sure the past four years probably brought adulthood by now.

"You really have no concept of life, do you?" Punz asked, and Dream shrugged once again.

It was true, they had no concept of mortal life, humans especially.

But they were sure Purpled was an adult, or was it a principle?

"How long have you known me?" Dream asked this time, and Punz raised a brow.

"A long time" they said, and Dream's grin grew wider, bigger.

"Exactly, have I ever had a concept of life?" They asked, leaning in.

" Touche " Punz chuckled, and Dream lit up, putting on a dramatic tone.

"Oh I love when you speak French " Dream said, unwilling to touch Punz, knowing it could give everything away, but by the other gods did they wish they could.

To hang off them and coddle them with hugs and cuddles, to curl up with books and warmth for days on end after the prison.

"Oh shut the fuck up" Punz laughed, pushing Dream away.