Chapter Text
Whenever he thinks of the days before the prison, Dream only remembers light. Warmth shining down from above. He doesn't remember what the world looks like outside. What creatures once lurked outside these walls. Can't remember what sounds the world used to make.
But he remembers light. Something that he occasionally dreams of when he dares to sleep. He doesn't remember where he got his name but he liked to think it came from these dreams.
Every night and day is the same. It all melts into one continuous cycle. Day after day, week after week. Scratches on the obsidian walls long since given up on. He's been here for thousands of years, what's the point in counting anymore.
Centuries ago, he used to have guards patrolling regularly outside of his prison. Watching them pass by the outskirts of the lava pool that was supposed to prevent him from moving. Hanging off the edge as he watched them and lazily twirling his finger in the substance.
He could walk across it, for sure. He knows that much. Yet he also knows what awaits him outside this room is nothing but resistances. Too many to count. All pushing him back into that same hole.
Dream has long since given up on the outside world and lets the warmth he remembers be his only glimpse.
Nowadays however, there are less guards. No, never any guards. He hasn't seen another being in so long. Just the wail of the creatures called Elder Guardians that lurk below him. Constantly weakening him and never giving him a moment's break.
He has reason to believe he's been forgotten.
This prison could stand forever, never wearing down. With technology inside of it that will never grow outdated. And he himself, an immortal, had no means of dying to escape it.
He wonders if the world outside of here has burnt to ash. If the people he once stood among had gone extinct in their species. He doesn't remember them but he knew they were there.
So weak, so fragile, so easy to use.
Some days, he paced. Slowly trudging around the square that was his cell until his legs began to feel the slightest bit tired. When his mind could no longer entertain himself.
Some days, he wrote. Words in a language he barely remembered, scribbles otherwise. Things that he wanted to remember or pictures he'd draw.
Some days, he slept. It passed the time the quickest. He could force himself into a hibernation that lasted months on end. Never needing to eat.
Not that there was anyone to bring him food.
It was one such time that he awoke to sounds. Strange new sounds that caused his ears to perk and his head to turn this way and that to find the source. He stood up, at first on all fours and then eventually two.
Leaning out of his cell over the lava as the noises got closer. As energy flashed red around him. Gates opened and closed.
Finally a portal before him shimmered with light and for the briefest of moments, he found himself scared.
Backing up into the corner of his cell and hiding behind the lectern that held his writing tools. Crouching down to the smallest size he could manage. Easier when the creatures stepped out of the portal and he could take hold of their small forms.
"This place is so fucking creepy." A voice? Was...was that speaking? He listened in as the others called back. Some making weird noises that made no sense, repeating them like breaths.
"We heard you the first eighty times, Tommy." A sound of something smacking. "You want me to push you into lava? I'll push you into lava."
"Techno, don't push your baby brother into lava. He's not easy to replace."
"We have a perfectly good Tubbo and Ranboo right there."
"FIGHT ME! I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"
"You two, knock it off! This is the last room we have to check and then we can go home and order this place dismantled."
"Honestly Phil, there's nothing here. Just lava and a box."
"Wilbur, I can't help but notice that you didn't mention the bright red eyes staring at us."
"The what-"
Dream saw all the creature's gazes whip to him and he shrunk back further against the wall. His breath quickening. Willing himself to stop that before it gave away his location any further.
"Holy shit, there's actually something down here!"
"How long has it been here?!"
"This place has been abandoned for centuries, hasn't it?"
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down. We're scaring whatever...or whoever it is." The one making that noise seemed to be a leader of the pack. Calming the others down as it stepped forward.
To the edge of the platform across from Dream, cringing with the heat of the lava but not backing away. It bared its teeth at him and he didn't know what to make of it. Was it a threat? A warning? A challenge?
It made motions towards him as well. "Hey come on out! We're not going to hurt you."
He didn't understand its calls but they sounded...calm. Certainly as well he couldn't hide here in the corner forever in the hopes they'd go away. Knowing his luck, they'd be just as immortal as him and would wait him out.
With a final inhale and exhale, breathing once again, he slid out of his corner warily and into the light.
All of the creatures let loose sharp noises. Like gasps that he himself could make and he stiffened. Ready to fight if need be.
"...bloody hell, that's a guy!"
"That's a human guy! Like us!"
"Speak for yourself."
"No offense Techno...or Ranboo."
"None taken!"
"A lot taken."
Taking their forms seemed to be winning them over. He had taken on a myriad of their features. Choosing the golden hair from a few, the spots on the face of one. Two legs, two arms, these strange adornments. He rather liked the color the leader wore but also found himself enjoying the hooded cloak another had.
When they looked him directly in the eyes however, he realized a mistake. Only one of them had a single red eye. The rest were a variety of colors. It was easy to come to a conclusion they did not like that.
He could not change what he had chosen just yet. So he did the next best thing. Formed a second face in his grasp and brought it up to hide those eyes.
"...okay, can't tell if he's creepier with or without the smiley face mask."
"WAY CREEPIER!"
The leader of the pack shushed them again. Grabbing Dream's attention as it called out, "Hello! I'm Philza." It gestured to itself. "Do you speak common? Who are you?" It gestured out towards Dream and waited.
It took a few seconds to register that this creature wanted his response. Talking was not something he's done in a long time. Hesitating as he tried to bring back the memories of when he used to.
He coughed raggedly, his throat very unused to what he was attempting to do and he managed repeat back what the leader had said. "Hello. I'm Philza. Do you speak common? Who are you?"
"...is he a fucking parrot-"
"Tommy." One of the creatures smacked another.
"Ooookay, definitely got some sort of language barrier here." The leader made more noises. Rubbing the back of his neck as he did. Looking side to side before turning to talk to the tall mixed color one about something. "Ranboo, do you have any lava proof blocks with you?"
"You...you sure you want to go over there?"
"Can't help the guy out if we don't."
"Phil, come on big man, why the hell do you think he's in here in the first place?! Isn't this place a prison!?"
"Tommy's got a point!"
"Tommy, I highly doubt he's a prisoner. This place hasn't been used for centuries. He might just be a homeless guy who lost his path to the lava." The young ones bickered as the leader took some strange gray objects from the mixed color one.
Its hands glowed, the objects beginning to move on their own and slowly but surely they were set into the lava. Creating a narrow path towards Dream's cell. As it approached, its hand reached out towards him.
Strange appendages stretching out from its back to balance itself and it took Dream too long to recognize them. Wings.
"Come on mate, let's get you out of here."
Dream stared at the hand. Looked to the face of the creature and back down to it. Unsure if he could trust this being. Whatever it wanted it seemed confident in itself.
He understood the gesture of course. A universal sign of 'come with me'. He didn't know why they wanted him. Why he was being offered to go with them but...this was his only chance possibly to finally escape this prison.
Mimicking the gesture, he placed his hand in the creature's. Letting out a startled noise he couldn't help when he felt something odd.
Warmth. Not the heat of the lava, not the stale air around him. That was warmth. Similar to what he remembered, what he dreamed of.
The creature bared its teeth at him again, letting out that unfamiliar noise once more before it pulled him onto the blocks and Dream started to take his first steps towards freedom.
"Philza." The creature repeated as they walked through the portals and twisting hallways. Gesturing to itself but never letting go of Dream's hand.
"Wilbur." Said a tall one, wearing strange glass on its face.
"Techno." The one with large teeth and vibrant hair announced. Was it wearing a second face just as Dream was?
"Ranboo." Offered the mixed creature. A block of strange stuff in its grasp as it walked.
"Tubbo!" A small one. Much younger than the rest probably. Baring its teeth the entire time.
"And I'm Tommy!"
"Just say your name idiot."
"You're the idiot!"
The loud one was definitely a child of some sort.
The one holding his hand gestured back to Dream and the pack grew silent. Waiting for him to do something. He frowned behind his second face, before mimicking the leader. "Philza?" He gestured to himself.
The leader shook its head, an indication of no and then gestured back to itself. "Philza." It repeated and then gestured to Dream.
OH.
It clicked finally, Dream wanting to smack himself upside the head. These were names! That's why they were all saying different things but pointing at themselves! They wanted Dream's name!
He said it and watched them all freeze in their steps. Staring at him with wide eyes. The only one who looked the least bit startled was the one apparently called Techno.
"Ranboo, that make any sense to you?"
"...er...no. Not at all."
"So we can rule out ender language."
"No language I've heard either." Philza? was saying. Shaking his head. They all looked a little bit disappointed. Had his name provoked this reaction? Was Dream a bad word to them?
"Maybe if we try saying a whole bunch of words, he'll pick one out!" Tubbo? offered. Immediately a much sour look came over all of them.
The one called Ranboo growled something that sounded like 'pacifist lifestyle questionable' or something like that.
Yet despite all their looks at what the young one had said, they did not protest further. Letting it constantly spout out random noises as they continued walking. The repetitive noises kept up in the background as Dream focused on their path.
Soon the area was less of a maze. Less portals. Opening up into chambers that held spider webs and the like.
At one point a new sensation caught him. The air shifted, felt colder. When he breathed it in, his lungs burned a little and he almost stopped dead in his tracks. They continued moving however. Not noticing his reaction.
Sounds hit him as well. A strange noise that sounded like metal klinking together repeatedly. The rush of lava-no, not lava. It moved too smoothly. Water? When was the last time he saw water?
Then, as they approached an archway, he saw it.
A glow, a bright light. Nearly blinding and illuminating a vast colorful world beyond this prison.
He let go of Philza's hand. Let out a noise he couldn't contain. Practically a scream if he had to admit it and he tore forward. Burst through the entrance without anything holding him back. No machines, no magic.
No guards.
He stumbled, something he hasn't done in centuries. Hands touched the color that wasn't unlike the one he wore. Felt tingles across his hand as he moved them along the strange pointed things. Grass?
Dream was pretty sure this was grass.
He breathed deep, more scents hitting him. Clean fresh air. No heat of the lava. Pressed his hands into the dirt under the grass and fought back a squeal as his fingers squeezed deep into it.
Brought clumps to his face to examine them as let it fall through his fingers.
"Holy shit, how long has that guy been down there?!"
That sound again, water! He let the dirt fall back to the ground and he tore towards it. Just barely catching himself where the world ended and the water began. It was small, drifting along a path with strange stone structures arching over it.
Without thinking, he reached into the water and yelped when it was cold. Startlingly so but not freezing. When was the last time he felt something so cool?
He tilted his second face back, cupped his hands in the water and he brought it to his lips. Drinking down a handful that practically burned his throat with how refreshing it was. Relief, it felt like relief.
"Pace yourself there," Philza was walking up to him. Gently placing a hand on his shoulder and when he looked to the creature, it made that strange facial expression again. What was that called? It felt...familiar now.
...a smile.
When was the last time he smiled?
Tilting his head back, he stared into the vibrant expanse around him.
Sky.
It was called a sky.
A breeze blew against him.
Wind.
Sunlight.
Alive.
He felt so alive.
For the first time in centuries. Millennia.
Then there was a feeling, overwhelming him. Water dribbling down his face. His hands hesitantly reaching up to touch strange sensation. It came from his eyes, trailing down his chin and splattering against his clothes? Yeah. Clothes.
"You can cry, mate. We're not judging."
"WE'RE TOTALLY JUDGING YOU!"
"TOMMY!"
Dream didn't understand their language. Yet he knew that the leader was telling him this was okay. That what he was doing was something they understood. Good, because he didn't think he could stop it if he tried.
It came faster, harder, he struggled to breathe and he wanted to stop altogether but he couldn't focus. His voice, it broke. A shrill sound coming from him as he wailed. No, howled.
Yelling out to this world that he was free. Finally free.
Free.
"Well that's too much emotion for me today," Techno huffed, watching the strange guy as he wailed. Phil patting him on the back in comfort, rubbing occasionally and whispering that it was okay. He glanced at his siblings, seeing the tears already starting to form in Tubbo's eyes.
A sympathy crier at times.
He reached out to ruffle his brother's hair before he turned. Starting to head back towards their town. Grunting as he adjusted his cape.
"Techno, hey big man, where you going?!" Tommy raced up beside him, all the energy of someone who didn't just traverse miles upon miles to a secluded prison.
"Home."
"Uh-"
"Come along or stay with Phil, I don't care but I want a hot shower and a coffee and to forget we just possibly committed a jailbreak for some ancient being."
"You know dad's gonna bring him home right?"
"Ugh, don't remind me."
"He's practically adopted already."
"UGH!"
Tommy laughed at his outbursts and soon the other siblings fell at their sides. The conversation turning from any mystery the guy from the prison had to the topic of dinner and who would be cooking. Rock, paper, scissors resulting in yelling matches that Techno tried to tune out.
They found their car, parked off the road nearby. Wilbur taking the driver's seat because Techno refused to drive this old ugly van. It served its purpose, don't get him wrong, but he was a sports car kind of guy.
"Should we wait for dad?" Tubbo asked from the furthest backseat. Tommy crawling in beside him. They always let Ranboo have the middle since it had the most space for his lanky legs.
Wilbur shook his head as he turned on the hunk of junk. "He'll probably walk the guy home. Which means he probably expects us to clean up the house for him too." There was a collective groan behind him and he chuckled.
"I CALL MUSIC!"
"NO, IT'S MY TURN!"
"Please for the love of everything don't put on six hours of recorder music again!"
"HEY! I'm in the passenger seat, I pick the music!" Techno interrupted the fight before it could happen. Ignoring the even louder groans that came from that. Tommy muttering about how he always was in the passenger seat.
He leaned forward, pressed the number for his favorite station and classical music began to fill the car and drown out the majority of the brats' noises.
Home was a rather large house in the middle of a city. Standing out against the architecture of modern businesses. Nestled in an old grass lot that had seen better days before the kids got to it. One single huge tree that held a tire swing.
The house itself had three floors. Well three and a half. One haphazardly added on by Phil's hard work and no one truly trusted to hold them. It mostly held storage.
The first floor was picture perfect. A staple of a home in a magazine.
The second floor was chaos incarnate. With the majority of bedrooms being there and thus the teenagers never cleaning up after themselves.
The third floor held Phil's room and any hobbies they had. Most notably an extensive library and a music room.
"Alright, here's the rules!" Wilbur began once he had parked the car in the driveway. Unbuckling and gripping the steering wheel with determination. "We clean up anything we see on the floor, clean the guest room, and we-"
Techno glanced back at the other seats and snorted.
"They're already gone aren't they?" Wilbur asked with a sigh.
"Yep."
"Looks like it's just you and me cleaning then, Tech."
Techno quickly opened the car door and dove out. "I call dinner duty." He called back, barely hearing the gasp behind him.
"BETRAYAL!"
Techno ducked into the house. Narrowly missing something that went flying past and watching his brothers run past screaming. Smirking to himself because he knew they were going to make it hell for Wilbur to clean.
He took off his cape, hung it up on a coatrack alongside the more boring attire. Keeping his shoes on because he simply enjoyed the height his heels gave him. He pulled his long pink hair back into a ponytail and rolled up his sleeves.
Washed his hands and then surfed through the fridge and cabinets for an idea of what he wanted to make.
Ranboo poked his head in at some point. "Do you need help?"
"No, go harass Wil."
"Uh-"
"If he bitches, tell him I bribed you."
"Oh, okay."
Techno chuckled to himself as he began to slice vegetables. Hearing his older brother screech when something fell over in another room. A soup was definitely a safe bet if the guy they had picked up hadn't had a proper meal in forever.
If it was truly an immortal being locked up in there, the thing probably hadn't eaten at all.
He wasn't the type to trust people. Of course, he wore a mask in public and shied away from new interactions. Only really trusted his family and at times that was a thin line that was easily crossed.
It was hard not to struggle with this sort of thing when he was a hybrid. A modern world around him that welcomed them but also scrutinized them.
Strange laws that prevented him from doing basic things that his siblings could. With the exception of Ranboo, who was also a hybrid. Phil could hide wings easily but Techno would have to hide so much more and Ranboo...he'd have to just be invisible.
This guy could be a hybrid like them. The red eyes he had seen weren't normal. Only seen in hybrids but the guy had hidden it behind a mask the moment they had shown any discomfort.
He could probably read a room well despite being there for who knows how long.
"Ew soup? It's not that potato stuff you're obsessed with is it?"
He glanced over at Tommy who was leaning on the counter. Not even questioning why the boy had a scribbled word on his face in smeared ink. Or god knows what sticking his hair up like gel.
"I want a sandwich!" He whined dramatically.
"I'll make sandwiches with it too, don't be a baby."
"You're a baby!"
"Smooth comeback there." Normally Tommy would storm off or start a riot with that but instead the teenager was oddly quiet. Just watching Techno work until the older stopped what he was doing and looked to him pointedly. "What's up?"
"...do you...do you think that guy is...like...on the level?"
"Do I think the guy dad adopted is just a homeless guy who needs help or do I think we unleashed an abomination from hell onto society like a plague untouchable?"
It got a laugh out of his little brother and he was glad the little smile that gave him was mostly hidden behind his mask. He pointed to it however and huffed, "I'm not taking this off until that guy proves he won't slit our throats in our sleep."
"I can take him in a fight!"
"You don't even know what powers he has."
"I'm strong!"
"Suuuuure, just keep telling yourself that. One day it'll come true." Tommy launched forward then, grabbing a potato from the cutting board and racing out of the kitchen. Techno let out a somewhat bewildered noise, whirling around to call after him. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO EVEN EAT THAT, WHY WOULD YOU STEAL IT?!"
"TO PISS YOU OFF!"
It was working. He hated to admit it.
He tried to focus back on the food then as time passed. As occasionally he'd hear loud noises and screams. Hear Wilbur yell about how he was getting Dad's belt. A threat that wasn't grounded in anything because their father never even wore regular pants.
At one point he heard the shrill enderman noises from Ranboo that indicated someone had stared at him for too long followed by what he hoped wasn't glass breaking and that was when he heard the door open and close.
Phil's voice softly talking while chaos erupted around him.
"This is it, don't mind the mess. Or the noise. That's normal." Techno snorted, knowing the guy didn't understand a word of what his father was saying but it was natural for Phil to keep talking even in awkward silences.
He waited as he got the soup on the stove before he called out, "PHIL'S HOME." Grinning to himself as panic ensued on the second floor. Phil laughing loudly at the misery of his kids that went into 'hide the mess' mode.
When another crash sounded, Phil excused himself. Rushing up the stairs then as he called to ask what happened.
Techno became instantly aware of his surroundings in intricate detail as the thing...the thing Phil brought home, started to move. At first, it just lingered in the doorway. Looking around at everything. Occasionally reaching out to touch.
Then it started to explore. The living room, the dining room, and now the kitchen. Which had Techno's posture stiffening but he focused on the sandwich prep instead. At times pausing to stir the soup.
It saddled up beside him and watched him. He couldn't read the thing's emotions behind that mask and it annoyed him but he knew he wasn't one to judge. Not when he too was wearing one.
When the thing reached to touch something, he shot his hand out to stop them. Knowing those hands were far too dirty. It flinched back, took several steps back and part of him almost felt bad.
"...here." He finally spoke and motioned for it to follow him to the sink. Holding up his hands and waiting for it to mimic him. It did, albeit slowly and seemed to understand now that when they made gestures it wasn't just for fun.
He slowly grabbed soap, lathered his hands and then rinsed them under water. Watching the thing repeat the motions. Making a strange noise in the back of its throat as it watched the grime fall off.
When it was done, he offered the hand towel and was welcomed with a new noise. Not unlike a purr. The thing apparently like fabrics.
As a reward for doing what he wanted, he reached back into the sandwich pile and grabbed a slice of bread. Offering to the thing to eat. Bread was easy, simple enough the guy could stomach it he was sure.
It held the bread like a treasure. Turning it over and over again in its grasp before looking to Techno with a tilt of the head.
...right, this guy apparently didn't know what bread was.
"...RANBOO!" He barked and startled both the creature and probably everyone in the house. The teen was one of the least messy in the family however, so it was a safe bet that he'd be free to leave the chaos.
Sure enough, the hybrid trotted into the room nervously. Glancing at the thing who still held the bread and then back to Techno.
Techno offered him a bread slice in return. "Eat this."
"...uh-"
"It's not poisoned. I'm trying to show this thing what food is."
"OH!" Ranboo nodded, smiled and then took a decent bite of the bread. Making sure the thing could see him as he chewed and swallow. Then gestured to it as if to say 'your turn'.
The thing made a curious noise, tilted its mask up a bit and gave a cautious bite.
Then let out a shriek that rattled the windows of the house and nearly burst their eardrums.
Phil came rushing back down the stairs, followed by the remaining hoard of his children. Burst into the kitchen with heavy breaths and his wings outstretched in a tense manner. He looked between the thing happily eating bread and Techno and Ranboo on the floor, both clutching their ears.
"What happened?!" He demanded.
"...WHAT?!" Ranboo asked, seeing his father talking but not able to hear him over the ringing echoing in his temporarily deaf state.
Techno, who was better at lip-reading, scowled. "DON'T GIVE IT ANYMORE BREAD!"
Slowly all sets of eyes looked to the thing, who looked back at them passively. Munching away as though he didn't near deafen everyone around him.
Tommy approached, stupidly brave as always. Holding out his hand with a huff. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you put down the weapon."
"Wilbur you burn that dinner and I'll shove your face so hard in the ground I'll make sure your grandchildren taste dirt." Wilbur rolled his eyes. He could handle soup and sandwiches. He didn't burn every single thing in the kitchen.
Techno was just overreacting.
His brother had been granted leave of kitchen duty by Phil when the headache started. Both he and Ranboo now sat at the dining room table. Icepacks to their temples and the ringing having mostly died down. Enough that they could talk in a normal volume.
Ranboo had his head on the table, warbling pained noises occasionally and Techno would reach out without hesitation to rub circles gently on his scalp.
Techno had a book. Eyes a little cross-eyed from what they could see through the mask but determined to read despite his headache.
"Where's dad?" Tubbo asked as he took a seat across from them, legs kicking out a little from the higher chairs used to accommodate the tall family members. Tommy didn't hesitate to take the spot beside him.
"He dragged the guy away to get a shower or something. I don't know."
Wilbur snorted a little, "Good, that guy stinks." He grabbed plates and bowls from the cabinets. Going to start sorting out everyone's shares. Thankful when Techno pushed Ranboo back down from getting up to help. "Any idea what he is yet Tech? I've never heard even Ranboo screech like that and he's part ghast isn't he?"
"Working on it." Grumbled the other hybrid. Flipping through a few more pages as he rubbed his temple. "So far only one thing is close to matching up but I really rather it not be."
Tommy reached for the book, just to have it yanked away at the last second. "Tell me!"
"Dreamon."
"...demon?" Tubbo asked, confused by the word.
"No, dreamon." Techno sat down the book, sighing. "It's a titan. Sort of."
"Titan?" Tommy asked, the collective now becoming equally confused.
"Primordial."
"Techno, dumb it down." Wilbur called over his shoulder as he started to fill bowls and he could feel his brother's exasperation from across the room.
"Okay, so in ancient ancient history, before people existed, really before the world even existed-there was this ...race? I don't know. Of things call titans. They were made by the universe itself, kind of like the big bang and they were stronger than gods." He paused, most likely for dramatic effect and Wilbur tried not to laugh.
"Some say there were twelve, others thirteen, some say thirty, no one really knows. They had...children? That became gods mostly but there was a few that would give birth to demi-titans. Or mini-titans. Not as strong as them or as big but they were still big and powerful."
"So wait, you're telling us, the guy upstairs taking a bath in our bathtub, is stronger than the gods?"
"Sort of."
"Big man you're blowing my mind-"
"Look, I'm trying to narrow it down better. There's one titan that gave birth to a lot of these things. They were the predecessors to the concept of thought and-"
Wilbur set down a plate in front of Tubbo. "English, Tech."
"Religious texts say that dreamons invented dreams." He simplified, gesturing out with a groan. "Including daydreams!" A pause and he scowled. "Basically these things invented thought outside of the gods."
"If you believe in that shit anyway, right?" Tommy reached for the food before the plate was even set down. Stuffing half of the sandwich in his face noisily.
Wilbur got Ranboo to sit up to try and eat before Tommy and Techno started an argument over the purpose of gods. He managed to get a plate in front of the other hybrid as well. Just barely missing his hands as they gesticulated.
Sighing as he placed two more for his father and their guest and then took his own seat.
"SO-wait!"
Tubbo finally interrupted the rising shouting match. Nearly spitting his food everywhere as he did and attention turned towards him. "If this guy is a dreamon...why does he look like us?"
Techno sighed as if his entire explanation went in one ear and out the other. "It can manipulate thought. It doesn't actually look like that, it's making us perceive it as that. It's an illusion sort of."
Wilbur swallowed his spoonful of soup before he dared to ask what was on his mind. "What makes you so sure he's a dreamon?" He met his brother's eyes, the two silent for a moment but he could read the hidden message. Techno was sure, even if he didn't want to be.
"...because, there's only one story in history that links up to that old abandoned prison anymore."
"STORY TIME-"
"Eat your dinner and shut up."
"Aw."
Phil had to admit, it was a bit odd to help a grown man bathe but it was amusing all the same to watch his fascination with the bubbles and faucets. Like when he had to give his kids baths as toddlers. How quickly they became distracted by the mundane.
And it wasn't like the guy wasn't putting effort into doing his part. Mimicking actions Phil did and willingly enduring any new thing that was brought out. He especially seemed to enjoy shampoo and practically purred the entire time Phil helped wash his hair.
Phil tried not to think about how this man had no distinct features of his body from the neck down. That his skin was the color of his face but there was no physical features. Like a ken doll without shaping.
Or a Gumby just human colored.
Well, it at least settled any curiosities he had about this guy being a hybrid or not. He was definitely part something. Perhaps even a whole something. He'd have to ask Techno if he had any leads later.
In the meantime, he hadn't seen anything particularly telling. No greed over jewels or metals. No compulsive habits to move objects. No screeching when stared at too long. The most odd thing was the man's simple curiosity.
The fact he acted like he hadn't seen any of this stuff before.
Yet given the fact that that prison had stood the test of time and immortals existed, Phil couldn't really count that as evidence either.
He reached to drain the water, watching as the guy perked up in fascination. Chuckling as he grabbed a towel, thought better of it and grabbed a second. Sure enough when he handed the first towel over, the guy was immediately examining it.
Letting out little noises here or there as he turned it this way and that. Running it across his face after he sniffed it. Phil raised up his hands under the towel and then went for that messy blond hair.
He could've sworn the guy was purring as he dried it the best he could.
Getting the clothes back on was easier than getting them off. In a blink they were back in place. Phil taking note that the guy could do that. It wasn't too odd. He had that ability as did all of his sons.
Though it could be a waste of energy at times and not worth the hassle.
"We really need something to call you." Phil muttered as the guy adjusted his mask back in place. Hiding away those red eyes again. A low chirp responding to him and it took him a moment to realize that mimicked a bird native to their area. "Don't expect me to name you...or Wilbur. We're rubbish at it-...better yet, you choose your own name. We're all rubbish at it."
He hung up the towels to drip dry and motioned for the guy to follow him. "Come on then, let's get dinner. It smells nice."
A pause and he held up a finger. "No screaming this time okay?"
He was met with a head tilt and he sighed, realizing that was a stupid thing to ask. Shaking his head to himself as he walked downstairs. Feeling the light footsteps behind him.
His sons were talking. Loudly. As usual.
It brought a smile to his face as he took his seat at the table and greeted them.
Watching as the guy stared at them for a long moment. Realizing his mistake a little too late. This guy probably didn't know how to use a chair. He was about to get up when there was a sudden attempt.
It grew very quiet.
Everyone staring at him as he sat much like a dog on the chair and looked around at them.
Tommy, who was closest to him, scooted his chair a little off to the side. Further away and nudged against Tubbo. "I gotta be honest here," He said, grabbing the other half of his sandwich. "I thought Ranboo was going to be the weirdest addition to the family."
Said hybrid at the end of the table could only shrug. "Fair."