Tommy was not happy. Though he really didn't seem to have an in-between from happy and angry.
If he wasn't happy, he was depressed or furious. His emotions were extreme, as was evident by the way he had so far spent around two whole minutes ranting about things such as common courtesy and respect.
Even Wilbur was having trouble getting him to stop.
But Wilbur wasn't Tommy's only friend.
"Hold on," Tubbo said carefully. "Let's just hear him out first, whoever he is."
Dream smiled. Dear, dear Tubbo. He wasn't the most level-headed of the group, that was clearly Wilbur.
But he was the most open-minded.
Poor Tubbo.
Where had that come from?
Dream shook his head. No time for that. He was rescuing them now.
"Tubbo is right." Wilbur said after a moment. "Let's hear him out. He may very well have a point."
And Wilbur? He was tense, too tense. Something was wrong. He knew about Technoblade, more than the others did. The problem was that Dream couldn't tell if he was simply worried about L'Manburg in the same way that Dream was, or if there was something more that he knew. Perhaps something Dream didn't, or had forgotten when he lost his memory and not yet recalled.
"Technoblade is an anarchist," Dream began. "He has sworn to destroy all tyranny, and if he thinks that's what's going on here, then you may be in trouble."
"So... But he's still just one man, right?" Fundy asked hesitantly. "I mean, no one alone can cause that much trouble. With the four of us, we could..."
He trailed off as the others turned to look at him. Dream saw his ears wilt slightly as he noticed their grim expressions. At least he didn't have to explain the grave danger they were in.
"Like this, even one well-equipped player could defeat us with just a decent amount of skill," Wilbur said carefully, the first to break the silence. "And Technoblade has more than a decent amount of skill."
"We need better equipment," Tubbo supplied, trying to be helpful.
Wilbur nodded.
"But it won't be enough," Dream said gravely. He had no intention of letting them use some half-baked plan to face the legend himself. They had to come up with a plan, and soon. But what sort of plan would be enough to take care of Technoblade?
It wasn't for nothing that his most famous saying was "Technoblade Never Dies."
"How about an election?" Wilbur suggested. "If it's tyranny that he's against, then we should have no problem if we make it a democratic republic, like it was meant to be."
"Yeah," Tommy said enthusiastically. "And I can be the vice president!"
"I feel like you're missing something," Fundy said. "What about all the people who want to join?"
"Naturally you'll have to let them," Dream said hurriedly, butting into the silence as they all considered it. He would feel much more secure knowing that there were more people on their side to face Technoblade.
Wilbur nodded. He understood. Dream could tell from his eyes.
His eyes. His exposed eyes.
What would it be like to wear your emotions on your face like that?
Dream looked between the four of them. Not a single one had a mask like him.
He reached up to his mask and fingered it, sliding his finger over the embossed and black painted smile, then hooking it underneath. What if he took his mask off? Would it matter, if no one could see him?
And yet, there was a part of him, the majority, if he was being honest, that immediately recoiled from the thought. As if being without a mask was as deadly as a blade.
It could be his overdeveloped combat instinct that was keeping him from removing it.
It was a vital factor to his image. Dream was more than a man, he was...
Well, he was a legend, to some. Not as great at Technoblade, but a legend.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Tubbo asked. "Let's get this done!"