A week later, Dream's POV

Okay, that's plenty. Now what else did Swap say I needed for recipes? Let me check the texts...Gotta be careful though...don't attract attention...

I step cautiously through the store aisles, careful not to enter any aisles full of people. I check my phone, seeing the list Swap gave me of what to fill my kitchen with. He wants me to get on a "healthy or real diet at the very least" as he said. He even gave me recipes that I can make and times to eat at. I grab a few things off of the shelves, examining the brands carefully.

"What are you doing now? Preparing a soup kitchen or something dumb like that?"A cold voice says

I quickly notice a looming darkness and turn to see Nightmare walking closer to me. I quickly back up, feeling my body tense up.

"I-"

"I don't care. Now, you're going to answer my questions and stop messing with my people."He growls, pointing a sharp tentacle at me.

I take another step back, nodding hesitantly. I glance around, seeing that other customers fled and that his gang isn't here.

"Your...people...?"I say hesitantly.

"Yes, you've suddenly made things more complicated with me and my people. They're expressing more resistance than before and it started when you caught one of them's attention somehow. A certain glitch we both know."He says

"Which one?"I ask

"What?"He snaps, narrowing his eye.

"I just want to clarify if you mean Error or Blip. Neither of whom being ones to enjoy being called a glitch from what I hear."I say

"Error obviously."He says, seeming to dismiss my other comment.

"I see....Isn't he your ally? I thought you'd call that trio your people or your gang..."

He sighs, shaking his head and stepping closer.

"Tell me, Dream, how does one go from shooting arrows to chatting with Error? How does someone as pathetic as you get his attention out of nowhere? What did you use to snag his attention? Your aura? Bribery? What was it?"He asks

"I...honestly don't know. I just know that it isn't my aura since I haven't sensed any changes in him like I do with others. He may be immune to it. All I know is he took me one day to silence the voices and satisfy them. Then he started popping up, watching me and asking questions. He started the conversations. It's not like I planned it since I can hardly predict when he is going to drop in. I didn't use any bribery, all we've done is talk."I tell him

"There has to be something."He insists

"I don't know, Bro-Nightmare. I honestly don't. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it's because I respect his work? He has mentioned frustrations that he has had as the destroyer and I've told him that I understand. His work is important to keep balance and keep the multiverse from folding in on itself. Yet he looked at me as if I was crazy for saying that. Or it could be that I keep Ink from messing with UnderNovela or OuterTale. He seems to enjoy those places...It just seems like a series of tests every time he drops a book on my head."I explain, catching myself from calling him Brother.

That would've certainly killed me. I also don't share too many details like how Error taught me how to read, made me a house or how I got his brother back to him. Then he would certainly see me as a threat.

"You....respect him?"He asks, looking shocked.

"Mhm. You have a very strong ally, Nightmare. It's hard not to when he's taking on the job many wouldn't do or appreciate. He handles so much and hardly lets anything get the best of him. He fights Ink for stars sake which I know must be frustrating. And telling by his tear marks, he has turned horrible things into something to empower him...a strength instead of a weakness. I cannot be blamed for respecting him for that. You're very lucky to have him to help you. I'm sure he gives great insight or input for the plans you make together."I say

"Right...together...."He mumbles

"I don't know what he wants out of this or what he sees in me either. I know there has to be something as you said. I'm not that stupid. Everyone I cross paths with wants something. I'd give him it if he told me but he hasn't. But I also don't see how that connects me to your people expressing more resistance. All I can say is that if you're calling Error names that he doesn't like such as a glitch, then he's going to give you problems for disrespecting him. And I can see the other three at least trying to push back a bit if you disrespect them too. If there's no respect in a group then there's going to be resistance. I've seen that cause issues in numerous AUs."I tell him

He hums, thinking for a few moments. I step back as his tentacles sway, feeling quite uncomfortable under his glare. He has never approached me without trying to attack me or been holding any conversation with me before....It's odd.

"Alright then...This was a waste of time then. Don't expect this to happen again. The next time I see you with or without my gang, I'm going to kill you. This was only for any info you could've given me. Do you understand?"He says

I nod and he stomps away quickly. I wait until his dark negativity cannot be sensed anymore and let out a sigh of relief. Then I check the list again, continue shopping and buy what I have so that I can get home ASAP. I quickly grew fond of the self-checkouts as it is a useful option allowing me to do so. I quickly teleport home and lock all the doors or windows before starting to unpack.

That was unsettling...And that warning....At least I'm safe now.

I start unpacking the groceries and then sit down to read the recipes Swap sent me.

Meanwhile, Error's POV

Hmmm, this book looks interesting.

I pull a book off of the higher shelf and raise my hammock up again, brushing the dust off of the book curiously. I push up my glasses and start reading. But again, it gets interrupted.

"What are you doing in here?"Nightmare asks

I glance down at him and see him with his arms crossed, tapping his foot already.

"DoInG yOuR liBrArY a fAvOr by uSiNg iT. ThErE's pLeNtY t0 reAd iN hErE. AnD sO faR iT hAs jUsT bEen gAtHeRiNg dUsT aNd cObwEbS."I say

I see him frown but then he glanced away and his expression changed. He started to smile and tucked his arms behind his back.

"Well if you're going to be reading in here, why don't I give you a new bookmark?"He suggests

This is...odd. But I'll see what he wants and play along.

I lower my hammock and he steps closer, sliding a folded paper onto the page I was reading. I unfold it, finding a written message signed by Asgoro. I glance at him, seeing the proud look on his face.

"You like it? I went to that Asgoro guy you seem to like so much and told him exactly what to write. He was very smart to obey."He says

I glance at the note, able to translate what it says, then back at him.

"DiD yOu eVeN cHeCk wHaT hE wRoTe?"I ask

"He seemed smart enough to listen to me in order to live so I didn't see the need to check."He says with a shrug.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

"Asg0ro iS mOrE cLeVeR tHaN yOu gIvE hIm cReDit f0r. ThIs iS hiLaRioUs! It's nOtHinG tHaT i ThInk y0u'd tElL hIm t0 wRiTe."I say, unable to stop laughing as he gives me a confused look.

It says "Estimado señor, Hola y le deseo lo mejor. Me han dicho que es fan mío. Bueno, le envío mis condolencias y apoyo por todos los días que tuvo que soportar con el pulpo andante. Ojalá pueda encontrar un día libre de su baba o de su hedor. Se necesita mucha fuerza para lidiar con sus chillidos. -Asgoro" That basically translates to "Dear Sir, Hello and well wishes to you. I am told that you are a fan of me. Well, I send you my condolences and support for all the days you endured with the walking octopus. May you find a day uninfested by his slime or reeking odor. It takes true strength to deal with his screeching. -Asgoro"

I see the anger boiling in Nightmare at being tricked and shake my head.

"YOu cAn'T kiLl hIm sInCe hE iS mY fAvOriTe aNd yOu'Re nOt mEsSiNg wItH mY unDeRnOvElA."I remind him before he starts scheming.

He groans with a roll of his eye and stomp of his foot, clearly desiring to do just that. He stomps away with a huff, shaking my head.

Sometimes it seems like 500 years hasn't passed for him and I'm allied with an immature toddler with anger issues.

I grin, knowing that this one is funny but the one Dream got me is nicer. It doesn't have any complaints or apologies to me about who I'm allied with like the one Nightmare gave me does. Still, they're both from Asgoro so I'll keep them.

Then a thought crosses my mind. Maybe I should give Dream something he likes as well. But what could he want that he likes? He never asks for anything, even if he needs it! He didn't even try to get a home! Hmmm....He does have an interest in exploring AUs but can't because of those damn anomalies seeing him or feeling his aura...They'll bother him even if he tries....But what if they didn't see him? What if they didn't sense his aura? What if he had the chance to experience that? I grin wider at the idea and shut my book. The new idea of a project is forming in my head and it will take a while to get right. I should start now before I get interrupted somehow.

I go to my antivoid, opening code screens and checking any files I have saved of code. I've never tried something like this before so it'll be interesting to test. But it has to work or else giving it to him will be pointless if it can't serve its purpose. I check my notes from observing Dream and the measurements I took in AUs when I first started my investigation into him. I found that anyone within a 50 mile radius of him had fallen under some extent of influence from his aura and the closer they were the stronger it was. Those further away had a slight change in their coode, using smiling for a moment but not exactly knowing why their mood suddenly improved since they didn't see him. But if any anomaly was 51 miles away from him, they weren't affected. Given that much power to reach such a distance, I will have to be careful with what I make. It will certainly need a high tolerance and resistance to contain something that strong without breaking down over time. I grin wider at having something new to craft and explore. Something interesting.

Time to experiment.

TBC