#smp techno

kit what the hell is nuance

The Blade.

(The WIP version here)

“Ranboo’s going to die,” Dream whispers after Ranboo leaves one day.

Techno, more than mildly concerned with this statement, turns to face his longtime rival and new friend, tilting his head. “You said that in the exact same tone as ‘I see dead people’, mildly creepy,” he says, but Dream isn’t smiling, isn’t laughing — he looks stricken, and Techno feels the same feeling creep into his own chest. “I mean, to be fair, all of us are going to die. What makes you say that?”

Dream struggles with his own words for a second, swallowing heavily. “He’s— the protagonist,” he finally manages, through gritted teeth and a forced neutral voice, “he’s— the Tommy.”

Ah. It clicks in Techno’s head. He’s never really understood Dream’s fucked up mindset: yes, he loves Greek myths, but he had just been being dramatic when he’d compared Tommy to Theseus. Yes, there had been parallels, but Tommy is a real person, not a mythological character, not a copycat Theseus. Dream hadn’t quite got the memo; it had been his downfall, time and time again, and it looked like it’s consuming him now.

“Ranboo would be a really shitty protagonist,” he says, playing into Dream’s thoughts for a minute, “he’s so socially awkward. Can you imagine him making a heroic speech?”

Dream falters. “Yeah, but he’s—”

“Not to mention, he’s way too tall. It would be so anticlimactic if he tries to fight a villain when he’s literally two feet taller than most people on this server.”

“I... guess, but that still doesn’t—”

“And he’s not a protagonist.” The room goes very, very quiet; Dream stiffens beside him, hands anxiously lacing themselves together, scratching at his scabbed knuckles. “There are no such things as protagonists, Dream, just like there are no villains. Hell, I don’t even buy into the whole corny ‘we are our own protagonists’, because I’m a firm believer that we’re all just guys.”

This last part is so unexpected that Dream is jolted from his unhappy delusions. He snorts, covering his mouth with his hand. “Just guys?” He repeats, finally making proper eye contact.

“Just guys,” Techno agrees, “just guys making decisions and choices. Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t. It’s pretty arrogant to assume any of us are ever gonna be important enough to the universe to be considered antagonists and protagonists.”

Finally, something like amusement touches Dream’s face. “You’re not very good at being comforting,” he says, but he’s not catastrophizing anymore, he’s pulling away from his delusions, Techno thinks he’s pretty good at this, “are you calling me arrogant?”

“Absolutely I am.” Techno smirks, and gets to his feet. “Now, oh great and mighty antagonist in need of a redemption arc or ten, come and help me farm potatoes for dinner tonight.”

It’s a sign of the progress Dream has made when he grins, shaking his head and standing up. “You’re a dick,” he says, and there’s a thinly veiled thank you in there somewhere that Techno acknowledges with an eye roll.

techno: violent outbursts

wilbur: general slutiness

tommy, leaning back: thanks to denial, im immortal!

HAHAHAHAHA

A stressed out Phil: Where the devil is Ranboo?

Techno, looking out the window: Well, it is raining outside... Maybe they melted?