"How's the crowd lookin'?" Schlatt questions, pulling the tie tight around his neck—only to loosen it and try again.

"A lot of people have shown up," I state, watching his trouble with amusement, my hands folded neatly behind my back and freshly pressed suit.

"Good. Good. This is not going to be a speech they'll want to miss- ah! For fucks sake this fuckin' tie!"

He throws his hands up in exasperation and I give a short laugh.

"How are you so bad at knotting your own tie?" I marvel, gesturing for him to step back from the large mirror hung on the office wall. He does so and I step forward, reaching up for his tie.

"Fuck if I know. My hands are too big for this sort of fiddly bullshit."

"Well, it's good to know there's still something you need me for." I hum, and with a swift flick of my fingers, the red fabric is tied.

"What's that s'posed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Are you ready to face the masses? Everyone is already out there waiting."

"Mm, they can wait a few more minutes."

"Oh?"

The man reaches out and gives my tie a small tug, adjusting it around my neck. "You look good in blue," he hums, letting the silk blue tie slip between his fingers. "I still want to see you in red, though. Fuck, I shoulda got you a red tie."

"Then buy me one," I smirk, "Or you could just let me wear your tie?"

Schlatt's nose scrunches up in disapproval. "Fuck no, this is my tie. I was born wearing it and I'm going to die wearing it. Although..." he wiggles his eyebrows, a smirk crossing his lips. "I suppose I could trade it for a kiss."

"Oh, okay! I'll go grab Quackity." I tease.

"Oy!"

I laugh lightly, raising a hand to try and hide my smile. This is nice. It's so quiet here with just us in the office. Sharing our usual banter. But I know it can't last.

"We really should be going now," I say again, stepping away and pulling my suit jacket from the back of a sofa. I throw it over my shoulders, and it sits against my back like a cloak. Not the intended use for a suit jacket, I know, but it was the most comfortable solution I could find while still allowing me full use of my arms should a fight break out and I need to defend my President.

"Fuck..." Schlatt grumbles and I glance back.

"What?"

"How the hell do you make everything you wear look sexy?"

I roll my eyes, "focus, please. You have a crowd to address."

Schlatt hums and complies, passing me as he leaves the office, stealing a few more glances on the way out.

With my trident in hand, I follow the horned man through L'Manburg, up to the wooden podium, where a sizable crowd has gathered, seated on the wooden chairs set out. The cabinet members are already situated on the podium, sat in their own chairs towards the back of the stage. Lined up with their matching suits and coloured ties, they look quite the formidable group. Even Tubbo, who sits meekly to the side, somehow fits in.

Quackity is practically bouncing in his chair as our President approaches the microphone, straightening out his blood-red tie with a wicked grin.

There's a vacant chair beside Fundy, and as I glance to him he smiles awkwardly, his ears perking up. It looks like he saved the seat for me.

I slip in quietly beside him, resting my trident against a shoulder as we await Schlatt's speech. I feel Fundy keep looking my way. His affections are so obvious that I don't know what to do about them. So instead I turn to my right, where George sits, and I almost laugh.

He has his head lolled back, hands resting on his lap. The shades I'd given him now sit on his nose, hiding his eyes beneath the dark lenses. A good thing too, as if they weren't there then everyone would be able to see that the man has fallen sound asleep. All those long hours doing Schlatt's bidding must have finally caught up with him.

"People of L'Manburg!" Schlatt greets the audience, his arms spread wide in a welcoming manner. My eyes snap forward to roam the crowd. There are many faces I now recognise. They all gaze at Schlatt with interest. "The sun rises over another beautiful day in our country. The sun rises on another chapter of history. The next page in the textbook that children will be reading till the end of time."

I raise a brow, impressed. Schlatt has really gotten good at giving speeches. The horned man has always had a knack for public speaking, but recently he's really been stepping up his game. The way he talks when before a crowd never fails to send goosebumps along my arms.

Schlatt suddenly smirks, and his fluffy ears flicker. "I reckon...our nation needs to expand," He drawls down the microphone, his voice oozing with confidence. A few heads perk up within the crowd. A soft murmuring starts to build up. But Schlatt isn't done yet. I can tell by the glint in his dark eyes that he has more to say. "I reckon we've done our country a great disservice. I reckon we take down the walls, effective immediately."

Tubbo jumps from his chair, eyes wide and fearful. His mouth hangs open as if to protest but nothing comes out. His action is mirrored by a few within the crowd as the murmuring evolves into open exclamations of "What?!" and "You can't do that!".

Unbothered by the protests, Schlatt pulls the microphone in close, his eyes positively alight with twisted glee, and bellows over the crowd, "All citizens of L'Manburg are required to help tear down the walls of this country! Thus ends, the second presidential speech. Let's get to work!"

The feedback is mixed, split almost fifty-fifty. Some voices cry out that this is the wrong thing to do, while others applaud the decision, eager to rid the country of the oppressive black walls. And in truth, I agree with the latter half. I've always felt the walls were too dark and menacing for the country. Casting shadows over the people and land. I understand that it's a big change for most of the residents, who probably looked to the walls for protection. Change is a difficult thing, but this one I'm certain is a good one. Once the walls are down I'm sure they'll see that, too.

"Yeah, baby! Let's tear down the walls!" Quackity cheers, hopping up from his seat excitedly. His face is glowing with excitement.

George jerks awake, looking around with confusion. Quackity, unaware that his colleague had slept through the whole speech, slaps the guy on the shoulder and ushers him along to help.

"Shall we help?" Fundy says, already stood and with a clawed hand offered out to me.

I smile and nod, taking his hand. It's not much bigger than my own, but is surprisingly soft, cushioned by the black paw pads on his palm.

Like a cat's paw! I realise with excitement, my thoughts instantly diverting to the image of a cat. It's been so long since I saw a cat.

Oh dear, I shouldn't have made that connection. Now I won't be able to see Fundy as anything other than a fluffy, ginger cat!

A fluffy cat with big, dark eyes...

I wonder what it would be like to pet him? Would he mind? Probably not. In fact, he might even enjoy it given his attraction to me.

...

Oh dear, Ares. What are you thinking? You're supposed to be pushing him gently away, not encouraging him into your embrace.

"Ares..?" Tubbo's meek little voice has me quickly slip my hand from Fundy's and turn to seek out the boy. His hands are bunched up so tightly within his suit that they've turned white. He looks absolutely distraught!

"I'll...join you in a moment, Fundy," I say, glancing between the two.

Fundy eyes Tubbo before reluctantly nodding and leaving us alone on the podium. The majority of the audience have left their seats and now file towards the walls, some eager to help while others simply watch on, horrified.

"Tubbo, look at me. Remember what I said; You're doing this for Tommy and Wilbur." I say, placing my hands on the boy's shoulders.

"But the wall..." He mumbles, almost on the brink of tears.

"Is just a brick structure," I affirm, determined to not let him wallow in uncertainty. I need him to stay level-headed. "I know it hurts but you need to stay focused. Now you're going to follow the crowd, find a pickaxe, and help pull apart that wall, okay? Do you understand me?"

He nods slowly.

"Good." I pull down my sleeve and rub it over his eyes, removing the glossy sheen from them. "You are the Secretary of State. You are important. You can do this."

"Okay..." he croaks, and with heavy movements follows me down from the podium to the walls.

-------------

Tubbo is trying so hard guys I can't  ;-;

Also oh boy is there a lot of art. Like, a scary amount. So much that I won't be able to fit it all in today's chapter.

From Tename_ae we have this wonderful work!

From ArcticTFurry we have these awesome pieces!

And of course more from our renowned Beluga_Whale42 it's simple but sweet and funny. 

A second piece from TrinityTheAffinity

thbyousuck has done some very interesting abstract art of JSchlatt

And finally a piece from bloomsliu that I adore!