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Tommy looks down at the pink little candy in his hand in all of it's circular, striped glory. He hasn't even brought the thing up to his nose and he can smell the strawberry flavoring, and the candy begins to get a little sticky from sitting on his bare hand for so long.
He frowns. Eternal happiness, huh? Doesn't look like it'd last that long, seeing as it sits comfortably in the center of his hand. One tiny little strawberry flavored peppermint is all it takes for Tommy's years worth of depression and trauma to just be wisped away in a flood of happiness and warmth? Sounds unbelievable, he knows. It's probably some drug that'll kill him and make his corpse smell like roses while he's at it. At this point, he wouldn't mind that either.
See, Tommy's getting a little... desperate, so to speak. He's had his fair share of bad feelings for about, mm, let's say most of his life by now, and you know what? Not his cup of tea. Got old real fast. So, really, can anyone really blame him for wanting to finally have his reprieve from the dark thoughts that plague his mind every day? No, no they cannot. Especially since he's not telling anyone.
A hiss interrupts his thoughts, and he turns to the spider on the wall with a soft smile. Shroud has made things a little better, he supposes. Patting the arachnid's head as it crawls onto his lap, he looks back down at the candy one final time before popping it into his mouth, chewing carefully.
For a moment, he doesn't feel anything. Disappointment begins to cut into his brain like a knife to steak. He'd seriously wasted those emeralds on that stupid, lying wandering trader. God, he's such an idio- wait.
Blinking, he grips at the shirt covering his chest, brows furrowing. His stomach feels... lighter. Like the hunger he'd grown so used to has finally been pleased. And his shoulders and chest feel as if a heavy weight have been lifted off of them, no more anxiety to pressure anything. What had he been so anxious about anyways? Well, ah, he can't think of that right now; the candy worked! It actually worked!
Why did he even feel a doubt in his mind? There had been no reason for that trader to lie to him, so why did he think they would? Silly Tommy.
The now strawberry blonde begins to feel a fuzz in his mind. A fuzz that feels like a comfy blanket being wrapped around him by a loved on on a cold, winter morning.
He dreams about a cabin with three other men when he passes out, ignoring the spider fretting over him with a glee-filled smile on his face.
_-_-_-_
Tubbo shrieks as a heavy, hissing weight drops onto his shoulder. As he turns to bat the spider off of his shoulder, he pauses when he sees the red collar around it's... upper body? What's a spider's neck called if it isn't a neck?
Whatever, Tubbo sighs, cradling Shroud in his arms as he frowns down at him. "Now what was that for, big guy? Shouldn't you be with Tommy?" The goat hybrid asks, stroking a bit of hair on top of the spider's not-head. Instead of a verbal response, which Tubbo wasn't really expecting in the first place, all he gets is frantic hissing and vague, yet harsh gestures from the spider.
Now, Tubbo is no entomologist, but he's pretty sure Shroud is trying to tell him something.
"Okay, Shroud, I'm gonna need you to calm down." The spider complies. "Thank you. Now, nod your head if something I say is whatever you're upset about." Shroud nods, and Tubbo nods back with a smile. "Okay! Uh. Good thing." Shroud just stays still, making Tubbo purse his lips. "Okay, so it's a bad thing." A nod. He hums. "It's.. about Tommy?" Another nod, and Tubbo hums, furrowing his brow. "Take me to him."
It doesn't take long to get to Tommy's house, which is just as sad as it usually is. In this case, that's a good thing, seeing as it has no more holes or ruins. Taking a shaky breath, Tubbo opens the creaky door to the dirt shack, peering into the dark entrance to see a form curled up on a ratty old bed with stained sheets. Swallowing, the goat hybrid places a gentle hand on Tommy's shoulder, shaking it with enough hesitance to make the sun bored. "Tommy?" He whispers.
He feels somewhat bad for waking the boy; he looks more at peace than he has in a long while. But when the boy opens his eyes, Tubbo knows there's something wrong. Instead of the sad, dull gray eyes Tubbo's had to grow used to, the eyes he meets are instead a spiral of neon blue and yellow, with irises far too big for their eyes. It's as if the lights flicker on just then, because the brunette begins to notice... a lot of different things, really.
Instead of a pale blonde, his friend's hair now has a vague, pinkish hue, along with a cute little strawberry clip taking residence in their locks. Instead of a red cardigan, Tommy now dawns a light pink sweater that's about eight sizes too big, roughly, with hot pink overall-shorts being the only thing showing that Tommy has a body under all of the wool.
The scratchy, stained blanket covers Tommy's legs, but Tubbo can catch stripes of white and pink through the multitude of holes in the cloth. Right, knee-high socks then. Sure.
Before Tubbo can continue his examination, a bright, grinning Tommy jumps into his vision, being his only warning before he's wrapped into a warm hug. "Tubbo!" The voice of a far younger, less traumatized Tommy chirps, hugging Tubbo so tight that it almost hurts. It's from this angle that the brunette can see both a little strawberry sticker on Tommy's cheek and a heart earring in his lobe, which he's assuming has a twin on the other side as well.
It's cute.
It's unsettling.
Hesitantly, Tubbo wraps his arms around his friend. It feels... foreign, hugging the boy. Tommy's usually so flinchy, and touch-starved, that he flinches away at even a tap on the shoulder, God forbid a hug. It's... concerning, that Tommy's the one that initiated it. "Is something wrong, Tubbs?" Tommy asks, pulling away to look at his friend with the happiest smile that the brunette has seen on him in years. "Well..." He chuckles out, awkwardly, before really looking at Tommy.
The blonde- strawberry blonde- looks so undeniably happy. That's usually just not a word used when describing the younger as of late. And, with a quick look-over, he doesn't seem hurt at all. If anything, Tubbo doesn't even think he can find any of the boy's scars. That's... strange, yes, but... Tommy's happy. Tubbo can take what he can get for a bit if it means that.
So, shaking his head, Tubbo just smiles back at his friend. "Nevermind, don't worry about me." He says, instead of voicing any of his many concerns. Tommy grins back with all of teeth, humming happily. "Good! We wouldn't want you to be sad on a special day like this, would we?" He giggles, tapping the older's nose. Blinking, Tubbo tilts his head. "What's today?" He inquires, getting an excited smile in reply (that Tubbo thinks he could grow used to). "Today is the day that I got happy! wAIT WAIT WHAT'S THE DATE I NEED TO MARK IT DOWN-" Tommy shrieks, scrambling around the room to find his communicator and a book and quill.
Biting his lip, Tubbo hesitantly pulls out his own communicator, typing out a message to the main channel for server members.
Tubbo_: so uh
Tubbo_: somethinsg up with tommy 2day
Technoblade: Something's always up with Tommy; just ignore him for long enough and he'll get bored.
Ranboo: Hey
Technoblade: Sigh
The_Eret: what's up with tommy, tubbo?
Tubbo_: this isnt necessarily a bad thing ig
Tubbo_: but hes just
Tubbo_: really happy???
Ph1lza: And thats a bad thing how?
Tubbo_: well, if youd pay more attention PHILZA, i just SAID it wasnt a bad thing
Ph1lza: Right my bad lmao
Technoblade: What do you mean he's "really happy"?
WilburSoot: yeah were a little more focused on that than Phils old age
Ph1lza: Alright! Okay!
Tubbo_: idk hes just??? hold on he just got his communicator
Tubbo_: @tommyinnit
tommyinnit: :D Hi
Ranboo: Hi Tommy!
Ranboo: How are you?
tommyinnit: I'M GREAT!!!!!!
tommyinnit: TODAY'S HAPPY DAY!!!1
QuackityHQ: is it now?
tommyinnit: Yes >:)
The_Eret: how so?
Tubbo_: he told me its cus today is the day he 'got happy'
Ph1lza: Thats kinda depressing sounding lmao
Technoblade: Ever the kindred soul you are, Philza Minecraft.
tommyinnit: TIBBO COME OUTSID EI FOUND A REALL PRETTY BUTTERFLY
Tubbo_: when the fuck did yuo get outside
tommyinnit: Just now >:D
CaptainPuffy: This is adorable, actually
QuackityHQ: dont take advantage of him puffy
CaptainPuffy: .
QuackityHQ: ...slash jay
Tubbo_: but yeah just uh
Tubbo_: watch out for that ig
Technoblade: Thanks for the heads-up, I guess.
Ranboo: Thank you Tubbo :
Ph1lza: :?
Ranboo: No.
Raising a brow, Techno clicks his communicator shut with a sigh. Something doesn't... quite line up here, he'll admit. He can't say he's too concerned though; it is Tommy. That kid finds himself trouble every other weekend, so there's no doubt that he'll find his way out eventually. Thing is though... him having a weirdly good day isn't really trouble, is it?
Eh, why should Techno care? Little brat's a traitor at heart, he can't let his guard down even if the boy's feeling particularly sweet today. (Techno skillfully ignores that growing part in his heart that yearns to see his little brother again, especially his smile. His smile that he only saw on rare occasions in the month they'd shared together during the boy's exile.)
Shaking his head, he's about to open his communicator again to see if any updates have been made on the boy before a knock rings through his cabin. Assuming it's Ranboo (seeing as he's one of the only people that actually knock on this damn server), he opens the door without hesitance. Again, he was expecting Ranboo, not a blur of pastel pink and hot pink to ram into his chest in an incredibly strong hold. He, Technoblade, the Blood God himself, literally has to step back with a shocked breath to try and get used to the sudden lack of oxygen. Looking down at the smiling Tommy -who's hugging him with the strength of Prime holy shit- he blinks when he sees how genuinely elated the boy is to see him.
Listen, when Tubbo said the boy was happy, he didn't think he meant this happy. The boy smells, and almost looks, like a walking strawberry. Like something unordinarily sweet had just barged into Techno's house instead of his little- instead of Tommy.
"Uh, could ya afford to loosen the hold a bit?" He asks in a strained voice, tapping the boy's shoulder. Since when did Tommy dye his hair pink? The boy just shakes his head, and if anything he just tightens the hug even more. Resigned to his fate, Techno slowly wraps his own arms over the kid's shoulders. "This really isn't fair." He mumbles, making the boy currently crushing his ribs giggle into his chest.
Completely ignoring the part of his brain that preens under the fact that the made his little brother laugh, he huffs, patting the boy's back. "Didn't know ya missed me this much, kid." He jokes, not expecting the nod Tommy gives him, along with an eerily bright grin. "I've missed you so much! Thiisss much!" The boy spreads his arms out wide as if he were a toddler, and Techno blinks. Huh. Alright.
A part of him wants to drag the boy back into a hug, tell him about how he's missed him as well, sit with the boy and read Greek myths to him just like he did when they were kids. That very same part of him is annoying and stupid and should shut the fuck up. "That's nice, Tommy. Why are you here though? And what's with the uh... get up?" He says instead, looking the boy up and down wearily.
Unperturbed by his brother's obvious (is it obvious if it's a lie?) reluctance to talk to him, Tommy just grins. "Because, dummy, I missed you! And I missed Phil, and Wilbur! I missed us! Why did we stop hanging out, anyways? I'm blanking here, give me a hand." Techno doesn't mention how Tommy doesn't answer his second question, just like how he doesn't answer Tommy's.
Instead, he pats the boy's head. "Uh. Wilbur and Phil will be here in a bit if you wanted to wait for them?" God dammit. Why did he say that? Why the fuck did he say that? Fuck you, heart.
He almost doesn't regret his words when the boy grins at him like he lifted up the sun. Almost.
_-_-_-_
Tubbo_: HES GONE
Ranboo: Actually though? How the heck do you lose a whole person.
Tubbo_: SHUT THE HELL YOUR MOUTH
WilburSoot: calm yourselves; Tommy is with us.
The_Eret: i think that makes everyone even more worried, wilbur.
WilburSoot: tbh? dont really wanna hear you speak xoxo
QuackityHQ: this is perfect for Las Nevadas propaganda
The_Eret: sure if it were anyone but me. bye bitches <3333333
_-_-_-_
Tommy's having the best day! He got to hang out with Tubbo and Ranboo, his family got back together with smiles and no... whatever happened before, and now he's hanging out with Sam and Quackity! Gosh, he hasn't been able to talk to those two in forever. Sam keeps looking at him with a really sad face though- which is ridiculous! What is there to be sad about? Personally, Tommy's having the time of his life. Which isn't saying much, seeing as he can't remember a lot of things.
Quackity said something about a 'Ghostbur' when Tommy mentioned his sudden case of amnesia, but he doesn't know what the means so whatever! All he knows is that, after the first few minutes, he got Sam and Quackity to laugh and smile just like everyone else! Sam even let him pet Fran!!!
Tommy loves his life, even if he can't understand why everyone looks at him weird. Puffy said he was getting the things he deserves though. He isn't sure what that means either, but when he wanders around the server aimlessly and finds old craters or burnt down buildings, he's say that things have improved. Right?
_-_-_-_
It's been a few months since Tommy's discovered happiness, and he's starting to feel a little weird.
He'll start laughing at just about anything, which is good! It's good and healthy to laugh, Puffy said so! But He'll also giggle uncontrollably when someone's talking about something sad, or upsetting. That's... bad to laugh at. He can't help it though! Everything is so... funny! It's all just so nice and funny. He loves laughing.
He still feels a little weird though.
_-_-_-_
People have started distancing themselves from him, he can tell.
That's alright; he always finds his way back to them.
_-_-_-_
He giggles as he walks down the obsidian hallways, and he feels Sam's hands shake from where they're holding him by the wrists. "Oohh it's so toasty in here! I can't way for Wilby and Techie to visit me; they both like warm." He says happily, not hearing the way Sam's breath hitches. "Y...Yeah, Tommy. Techie and Wilby will visit you as often as possible, m'kay? You just need to stay in here for people's safety and happiness. You want everyone to be happy, right?" Sam asks, stopping at a wall of lava and a set of levers.
Tommy nods frantically, a wide grin set on his face. "Of course I do! I love it when people feel as happy as I do! I'll do anything I can to make people happy like me!" He giggles, ignoring how the grip on his wrists have grown painful.
Sam is silent for a moment, before heaving a shaky, almost watery sigh. "Walk with the bridge." Tommy nods with a smile, looking straight forwards as the curtain of molten heat falls, showing the inside of his new room. Oh, and he has a roommate, too! He hasn't seen Dream in forever, he hopes the man's just as happy to see him as Tommy is!!
Skipping along with the bridge, Tommy hops onto the obsidian platform with a grin on his face, turning around to wave excitedly at Sam as the curtain falls once more. He sees the man wave back once before rubbing under his mask. It is a pretty old gas mask; Tommy wouldn't be surprised if stuff got into it every now and then.
With that out of the way, Tommy twirls on his heel to face the disheveled man on the ground, who's looking up at him with wide eyes. "T...Tommy?" Dream asks, flinching as a hand is offered down to him. "Hello again, new roommate!" Tommy chirps, giggling to himself a little as Dream's brow just furrows. "What?" Snorting, Tommy rolls his eyes and plops down onto the ground, ignoring the way the hot obsidian burns the bits of exposed leg his socks and shorts allow. "You don't seem to understand. Silly Dream, so silly." He laughs, and it's a manic sound, Tommy's laugh. Dream can't help but scoot back.
"I'm stuck in here with you now!" The strawberry blonde barks out with more giggles and laughter, leaning in real close. Dream's breath hitches, his hands clenching into fists. "What... did you do to get in here?" The question is hesitant, as if Dream doesn't want to know the answer. Tommy finds that kind of funny; why would you ask something if you don't wanna know the answer? Dream really is silly, Tommy isn't a liar.
He hums though, leaning back onto his hands, unaware of the blisters already forming onto his palms. "They didn't tell me directly, but I heard something about a psycho and stalking. I am not slash am not doing either of those things, so I must've heard the wrong conversation." He shrugs, but Dream feels as if he can't believe the words the teen says.
_-_-_-_
It's been seven years.
The prison has been long since abandoned, and Dream is on his last few potatoes. Crying obsidian drips into puddles just about everywhere, not a speck left black on the floor. The man glances over at Tommy, who hasn't stopped staring at the lava with a bright smile since year two. He doesn't even think the kid has blinked. Well. He isn't a kid anymore, is he?
"Tommy." He croaks, dragging himself to sit next to the boy, who hasn't seemed to have aged a second. "They're not coming. Please, just give up." Dream used to be a horrible person, and what he's about to say may reflect that part of him, but...
He would do anything to see Tommy frown again.
Finally, after literal years, Tommy blinks, glancing over at Dream. His smile stands unwavering. "Alright, you've convinced me!" He giggles, his voice perfectly smooth even though he hasn't spoken or drank anything in a long, long time. Dream blinks, watching as Tommy hops up, and before he can blink, the kid is gone.
He's alone again.
...
Dream prefers being alone than being alone with Tommy.
_-_-_-_
Tubbo sighs as he puts the book he was reading to Michael up. The eight year old insists he doesn't need to be read to sleep anymore, but will cry when Tubbo asks if he wants to skip bedtime stories.
Sitting down on the couch in the main room of the mansion, Tubbo can't help but think on his friend. It's been years since he'd been locked up in the prison, which has been abandoned after both of the prisoners were found dead on the floor. Tubbo just... doesn't feel right about it. He doesn't think they're actually dead.
That could just be the paranoia of... strawberry Tommy getting to him. Tubbo loves Tommy, and he always will. The boy had been his best friend since they were toddlers. But... he still has nightmares of that smile.
He doesn't think Tommy's dead, and that's never going to change.
_-_-_-_
Nihachu: TOMMY
Technoblade: Niki. That is so insensitive, and I don't like that I have to tell you of all people that.
Nihachu: NO- LIKE- HE'S HERE
Ph1lza: Niki...
Ranboo: Guys
Ranboo: She's not joking.
_-_-_-_
Technoblade has never ran faster in his life. As he skirts to a stop on the wooden, rotting prime path, his chest heaves up and down as he stares at his little brother. His baby brother who he thought was dead for five years. His baby brother that doesn't look a day over seventeen.
A familiar weight crashes into his chest, and he looks down to see the familiar grin of Tommy. Of Tommy since the day he'd discovered happiness. Technoblade's never been one to cry; he's only cried twice in his life. Once at his brother's funeral, an once right now.
"Where have you been?" He pleads, holding his little brother tight, and he feels Phil wrap a wing around them and Wilbur place a hand in Tommy's hair. The boy simply grins. "Me and Dream have been hanging out in the prison. I waited for one of you to come visit, but you never did, so I decided to come and visit you guys myself!" At those words, Sam dashes down the Prime Path and to the ruins of the prison, mumbling something under his breath in a panicked tone.
Wilbur stutters, holding his little brother's cheeks and guiding them to look at him. "What do you mean?! You were dead, Techno and I literally saw your corpse!" He cries, and Tommy just giggles. "We weren't dead! Silly Wilbur, I'd never leave you guys." He says, booping his older brother on the nose.
While most of everyone is relieved and happy at the news, Tubbo focuses and the last part of Tommy's sentence with dread pooling in his gut.
_-_-_-_
Accessing the prison is like muscle memory for Sam, even if the thing is so old that it lags every now and then and Sam just has to mine through blocks. Luckily, the Elder Guardian has long since passed away, so he doesn't face much trouble with that. Finally getting to the entrance to the prison cell, Sam flicks the lever down, staring intently at Dream's cell, completely expecting to see an older, starved, and alive Dream.
Once could imagine his surprise, confusion, and dread when he sees Dream's corpse, but not how it was when they'd first discovered the body.
No, this Dream had been beaten to death. Sam hates to admit it, but he thinks he can guess as to who did that.
Taking a shaky breath, he falls to his knees, holding onto the handle of his trident like a lifeline.
He knows that they can't lock Tommy up again, because even if his family did allow it, the boy would just get out again.
Sam hates this server.