"I need Quackity."

The spoon I'm holding clatters into my cereal bowl, splashing milk down my front. I blink, dumbfounded by Schlatt's abrupt declaration. It had come out of nowhere.

"Oh...well, you know I'm not one to judge, sir," I cough, unable to keep the smile from creeping over my lips.

Schlatt smirks at my words and rests his chin in a hand, amused. "What a rude girl. I'll have you know I need to discuss something with him in regards to the election. Purely business."

"Yes, sir. Of course."

"Ares, are you mocking me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir."

"Oh. I think you do."

Giggling under my breath, I retrieve my fallen spoon and gather the breakfast bowls together, moving to wash them in the little sink of the kitchenette. It's only been an hour since my encounter with George, and as expected the horned man had found my story hilarious. Something about the idea of me accidentally befriending an enemy really amused him.

"I will go and find Quackity for you," I say, slipping my hands into the soapy water alongside the bowls. "But you have to remain here while I'm gone. No wandering off. And please, don't break anything either."

I hear the sound of a chair scraping over cobbles, and moments later a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind, the warm weight of another body pressing against my back. Schlatt leans into me in a relaxed embrace, placing his chin atop my head.

"I do love it when you tell me what to do," He chuckles, his deep laugh sending vibrations through my body. "Does the queen have any other requests of me while she's away?"

"Only to stay out of trouble." I quip, calmly grabbing ahold of his hands—which had begun to sink mischievously past my hips—and placing them back around my waist.

"You're a little late on that one."

I think back to the rally and frown.

"Good point."

Schlatt hums in thought, "I wonder what those British pricks are doing right about now? Heh. Probably crying over how I ruined their campaign."

I falter in my task of washing the dishes, memories from the previous night resurfacing.

"Schlatt?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you running for president?"

There's a brief pause. And then a laugh.

"Ah, Ares. Ares, Ares, Ares. You are quite the comedian." Schlatt muses, removing a hand from my waist to tug playfully at the braid draped over my shoulder. "I'm doing it because I want to."

"I suppose I should have suspected as much," I sigh, "You've never been one to let an opportunity of power slip you by. But did you really have to humiliate Tommy and Wilbur in such a way?"

"Now don't be like that, Ares. Think of the positives." Schlatt coos, twirling the end of my braid around a finger. "Once I win the election, we'll become official citizens of L'Manburg. We can live in the white house together. You can spend every day playing around with that kid, Tubbo. And your furry boyfriend, Fundy. Heck, I'll even give your new pal, George citizenship if you want? You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

I hesitate, considering his words.

He's right. I would like that.

In the short time we've been here I've grown inexplicably attached to the people and places of L'Manburg. To Tubbo and Tommy. Wilbur and Niki. I want to get to know them better. And if Schlatt were president, then there would be plenty of time to do that, without the threat of Dream looming over our shoulders. As president, he'd be practically untouchable.

Drying my hands on a towel, I turn around to face the horned man, his hand breaking away from my hair to rest back against my waist. He gives a small smirk and tilts his head, knowing he's won me over.

"And if you lose the election?" I question softly, brushing a stray hair from his face.

His smirk cracks into a pointed grin.

"We run like hell."

I stifle a laugh, "Ah, yes. That old chestnut. It has worked well for us in the past, hasn't it?"

"That it has." He muses.

A moment of silence passes between us as we simply study each other, remembering all the times we've had to turn tail and run after a plan fell through. We really do get along well, in ways others simply wouldn't understand.

I break the silence first.

"I should leave now if you want that meeting with Quackity before noon," I state, slipping beneath Schlatt's arm and out of his grip. He pouts and leans back to rest against the sink, watching me go.

"Bring me back some whiskey, yeah?" He calls after me as I leave the room.

I don't respond, but shake my head in exasperation. Him and his whiskey. I swear he sneaks that stuff into his protein shakes.

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