I never thought of techno's favor for the sword maybe not meaning enough to ask for a life (ranboo's) but it makes so much sense.
I also think one reason techno hand contacted dream after neither in secret or public was the same they staged their separation, to separate from each other. LIke both techno and dream have very different objectives and priorities after prison, both know that being allies puts a target on techno's and techno's friends backs (as an aside, the poor man saw how they used his horse and later his friend as hostages agaist him and then they wonder why he hates the goverment?) and they're done technically, the favour is over and doomsday too, so there's not really much they can do for each other now, outside of reviving ranboo they're "done" with each other. I think that's also why he didnt went to look for dream, looking after him to ask to revive ranboo could make people suspicious and think they're allies still and if that happens techno's friends might get in danger and as much as he cares for dream, bc he does, the safety of friends like phil is more of a priority for him in the moment. And dream not reviving ranboo for the reasons you point makes so much sense too.
And tbh I think the rivals drifted away bc of this, they just had different objectives and priorities and they didnt coincide anymore and just started to see each other less. They're still good friends, dream calls techno a friend when talking to sam, but they're not in contact anymore. Tbh it's interesting to think of ranboo's death relating to rivalsduo post prison.
Tho I like to think that maybe techno could have sensed that the death godness would bring ranboo back eventually, I don have proofs for this but i wonder if maybe it's possible seeing phil was her husband. Also I really like your essays :D they're really good food for the thought about this server's lore <3
[context]
yup yup yup yup yup… exactly, you get it. It makes so much sense. Techno not reaching out because it endangers him, his animals and most importantly his other friends is so tragic. He’s forced to choose between Phil and Dream, but also I imagine Dream not really giving him a choice of siding with him. So determined to keep his attachments safe…
Makes me wonder what that conversation was like in prison… this is not very character accurate but just some thoughts I’m having:
Dream insisting on a divide: “okay but when I’m out then we’re gonna have to do something so they don’t come after you.”
Techno countering with his deep natured loyalty: “screw that, I can take them. If I have to fight the whole server for you then so be it. You’re my friend Dream, I’m not leaving you to face all of them alone.”
Dream: “They’ll go after Carl again. You know they will… and you have Phil now, you can’t risk his only life… you saw what they did to George. They’ll burn down your house and then you’ll be homeless… No. we need to do something so no one knows we’re friends now. Promise me, you’ll leave me when the time comes.”
And maybe, Techno thought about ignoring there planned divide but then Ranboo was killed and it just proved Dream point that as long as Techno was associated with Dream then Techno and everything he cared about was in danger. And so he made Dream give up the armor and Dream planned for it to happen, expected it, knew it needed to happen for Techno’s sake. And yet maybe part of him, the illogical emotional part, secretly wanted Techno to ignore the plan anyways…
Honestly, if we really think about it, that moment of staged abandonment really set Dream on his tragic trajectory. Techno really was in so many ways the pivotal piece, the difference between Dream being able to heal from prison or not and we should have known from then on where the story was going. That scene set the stage of Dream’s post prison arc, letting the audience know that there would be no healing, happiness, reconciliation. Techno was the symbol of hope, and without him Dream was destined to go down a path of brokenness instead of healing…
And that’s not to say, Techno did anything wrong in the same way I don’t necessarily think Punz did much wrong either. Sometimes you have to make the best choices for yourself and that doesn’t always mean what’s best for your friends. And sometimes you’re faced with impossible choices. Do you protect Dream by not making yourself a target for people to use against him? Or do you risk everything to stand by him?… there is no easy answer.
And as far as agendas, as I’ve said recently I’m not sure Dream had much of a plan post prison. I think he was so focused on just getting out and stuff. So I do think it’s not whether Techno and Dream’s agendas or goals and such aligned but about the dangerous reality of their friendship. And unlike Punz, Techno has people not only at risk but also that would notice him sneaking off to meet Dream or whatever. So it’s best to just cut contact. Just like a friend might do when they move away, cutting themselves from what they can’t have in the hopes it hurts less…. And no idea about lady death. I get the impression that XD was the one involved with the revivals and stuff not her (something that I’m actually gonna cover a bit in my fic) and Phil seems supportive of Techno calling out to Dream to revive Ranboo so yeah I personally don’t think that was likely or plausible.
…ummmm anyways I ramble… got lost in rivals duo I guess lol…. I’m so happy to hear you like my essays <3 <3<3 you can’t see it but I’m smiling very wide :) so thank you.
