Dream stares at the drink in his hand. Ink had dragged him to a party and left him there a few hours ago. He doesn't even know why he's still here. The music is loud and pounding at his mind. The people weren't much quieter, shouting and stomping and slamming into the walls, drunk and high as they make out with strangers and friends and significant others. He doesn't even know why he allowed Ink to drag him here. The flashing lights and fog covered floor just isn't something he is interested in.

He can feel people's eyes on him, his clothing choice is bright and doesn't fit in at all. The blanket Error had left him now replaces his old one, bringing him a sense of calm that the other had been failing to do.

He takes the last sip of his first drink, setting it down and simply watching the ice clink about, his face propped up on his fist. He doesn't want to look at the humans and monsters surrounding him, having fun that he feels is just out of his reach. When was the last time he had truly laughed? When was the last time he had been able to have fun?

He doesn't remember. It was most likely when Nightmare was still… okay. When they both wore crowns that mattered. Now Dream wears a golden band around his head for nothing. He is no prince. Nightmare on the other hand… well Nightmare had become a king.

Someone sets a glass next to his empty one. He really doesn't want to look up but it would be rude not to, so he does. A human smiles down at him. Her teeth seem to glow white in the lighting and her blonde hair creates a halo around her head, streaks of green amongst the blonde bringing out her own green eyes that dance above the freckles on her cheeks.

Dream can honestly say that he's surprised. Even though he is in a universe where monsters and humans lived together peacefully, no universe was ever without animosity. Besides, he's been here for at least three hours and not even the monsters tried talking to him.

"I saw you were looking a little blue," she says, obviously lying since he can't turn blue "so, I thought you might need some company. May I?"

Dream looks at the seat she points to, right next to him. He doesn't really want company, especially a stranger's, but it might be good for him to talk to people. That is one of the most likely reasons Ink dragged him here. The other is that he's in the mood to be a little shit and just wanted to watch him suffer before growing bored and leaving, forgetting that Dream was even here in the first place. Yeah, the last one is more likely. Still, not only is he here, he stayed, might as well get some use out of it, and if that means making a new friend, then all the better.

He grabs the drink and slides it closer, not yet drinking from it as he gestures to the chair opposite him. She takes the one next to him, setting her own drink on the table. She leans closer, her short dress not hiding much, and Dream leans back into his chair. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea…

"My names Jessye. What's yours?"

Dream looks at her as he introduces himself, just now noticing that there wasn't something right with her gaze. It rubs him the wrong way with how she looks at him, like he's a prize. "Nice to meet you Jessye. I am Dream."

"You sure are a dream." another voice, his in just a slightly deeper tone. He looks to his side and sees Cross, a calm look on his face that for once, isn't obstructed by his scarf. He stands with his thumbs hooked on a steel studded belt, arms bare and ribs showing through his black wife beater.

Scratch the earlier shock out because it's got nothing on what's happening now. When the hell did any of Nightmare's boys get here without Dream noticing? He quickly scans the room, spotting Dust and maybe Killer now that he's looking at something other than his drink. No wonder his nonexistent skin had been crawling, these guys were probably watching him to see what the hell he was doing here. This was just there type of place they would choose to lay low, people don't look closely at others here, no one would even remember them come morning.

"And you are?" Jessye demands, knocking Dream from his shocked staring. She was outright glaring at Cross, straightening up and silently challenging him.

Dream decides that he no longer wants to a part of this and simply starts sipping his new drink, looking between the two people he's found himself stuck between. He can't teleport without his staff, can't do much of any magic without it, and Ink had taken it with him when he left. That asshole had stranded him in an unknown universe, and now the dark Sans's have surrounded him.

"I'm Cross, a friend whose come to pick him up. You should leave."

Dream frowns at Cross. When had they ever been friends? Could they be considered friends with how things are right now? He doesn't know and his mouth is starting to go dry, he takes another drink and looks at Jessye. How's she going to respond?

"Really?" she asks with fake surprise. "I don't think he considers you a friend. Not with the way he looked at you when you said that, so maybe you should leave us be and go back to wherever it is that you crawled from because we are now bffsies and he doesn't need you."

Wow.

He takes another drink, his mouth has become really parched and his cup was almost empty.

That was quite the speech, and she is quite the bitch. Dream doesn't think he wants her as a friend. He tries to say that, but ends up putting the glass down and sliding into his seat slightly. His head is swimming. He knew he had low alcohol tolerance when he wasn't feeling good, but he didn't know that it was this bad, he usually doesn't drink all that much so the sudden hit really got to him.

He looks up as Jessye storms off, having been too lost in his own swirling mind to pay attention to the conversation that those two were having over his fate. Looks like Cross won. He tries looking at the Sans that now controls what happens to him, but his vision swims so badly that everything turns black. The last thing he's aware of is someone picking him up.

…

Dream wakes up in a bed, his senses slowly start to work. He smells spices hanging in the air first. His hearing just barely picks up the light hum of electricity surrounding him. A soft comforter covers him, keeping him warm and calm. As he breathes, he can taste fresh air, locating him on the surface. He feels around with his SOUL, locating and categorising each feeling of hope and happiness that filters through. When he finally finishes appreciating the brilliance of Mother Earth's hopes, he opens his eyes.

A plain ceiling greets him, one he's never seen before. Looking around shows him green walls, a TV, a chair and table, a window, and a lamp and nightstand. On the nightstand rests a bowl of soup with some crackers and a glass next to a pitcher of water.

Dream struggles to sit up, pouring himself a glass of water and downing it when he does. After downing one more glass then pouring a third to sip on, he looks at the food. He grabs a cracker and dips it into the creamy soup, popping it into his mouth and moaning at the flavor. God, Grillby's was the best. He eagerly grabs the soup and the rest of the crackers, ready to eat it all when he notices a note that had been under the bowl.

Written in Comic Sans, which tells him nothing on who really wrote it, it reads;

'Dearest Dream,

You should be more careful on who you accept drinks from, not everyone is out to be your friend, or has your interests in mind. You are lucky that people who care were around to help.

Take care.'

Dream reads it over again, confuse, and takes another bite of soup. Did something happen last night? Is that why he's here and not because he had finally decided that three weeks was too long without sleep? He tries to think back to last night but all he could remember was Ink leaving him at some underground rave party.

He folds the note and places it in a pocket to think on later. Right now, he needs to eat and find Ink. That bastard of a skeleton has his staff.