Nasuada collapsed into a chair, stiff as a board while the Varden's desperate position was clearly on her mind.
Error sat across from her, genuinely concerned as he considered the plight himself. The acrid stench of the spilled concoction wafted over to him, ignored as he pondered if he could personally do anything about it himself.

The screech of chairs and Nasuada's stern voice wrenched him from his thoughts. He glanced over to see her standing, holding her arm out as the cloth around it smoked and disintegrated, Farica scrambling to undo the knots in the back.
Error stared in confusion before he remembered that it was beyond rude to do so. He looked away and hid his face.

"Did it burn you?" Farica inevitably asked as the shuffling lessened. Nasuada probably shook her head.
"What evil is this?" Farica questioned more.
"One of Orrin's foul concoctions. I spilled it in his laboratory." Nasuada answered hoarsely.
"It's a shame to lose such a pretty dress."

Error considered the possibilities before Farica spoke again. "We might as well save as much of the cloth as we can. I'll cut off the the ruined parts and have them burned."

He listened to Nasuada begin pacing, assuming they'd forgotten his presence in the heat of the moment.
"What am I going to wear to court now?"
"Mayhap your linen dress."
"It's too casual to appear in before Orrin and his nobles."
"Give me a chance with it, Ma'am. I'm sure that I can alter it so it's serviceable. By the time I'm done, it'll look twice as grand as this one ever did."
"No-no. It won't work. They'll just laugh at me. It's hard enough to command their respect when I'm dressed properly, much less if I'm wearing patched gowns that advertise our poverty."

A pause. Farica's voice rose up, determined. "It will work, so long as you don't apologise for your appearance. Not only that, I guarantee that the other ladies will be so taken with your new fashion that they'll imitate you. Just you wait and see."

Error heard the door open. "Your mistress wants this burned. Do it in secret and breathe not a word of this to another Soul or you'll have me to answer to."
It wasn't long until Nasuada addressed Farica with admiration. "How would I function without you, Farica?"
"Quite well, I should think."

A few minutes passed as Error listened to what only could be them messing with cloth.
"Are you decent, Nasuada?" He finally dared ask. The gasps from the two women were actually rather entertaining.
"How long have you been there?" Nasuada questioned.
"I'd forgotten he was there, I'm sorry M'lady."
Error chuckled. "It's fine, I've been looking away since I realized what was happening. I'm just impressed I went unnoticed so long. Is it safe for me to look yet?"

"Yes. I'm decent. I apologise for having you wait like that."
Error waved vaguely as he turned around, seeing Nasuada in her hunting frock. "It's fine, you were distracted." He saw the other dress on the floor. He gestured at it. "May I help?"
"You may." Nasuada nodded, then sat cross-legged on the floor as Error joined them, disassembling the dress.

"As for the creating of another dress, I'd like to give it a shot myself." Error struck up conversation as he used a sharpened bone attack as a knife on the stitches.
"But at what cost, if you were to do that?" Nasuada fired back, voice perfectly level.
"None. I've always wanted to make clothing. In fact, I made most of what the rest of the Wyrdaí Islingrya wear now. And I've worn a dress before, they're interesting to me."

"A man? Wearing a dress?" Farica inquired incredulously, even Nasuada pausing in her work.
Error glanced between them. "The gender roles where I'm from aren't as strict.. they're different. And it actually doesn't matter for skeletons; we're technically both genders. It's just that most of us identify as male." He went back to to his work halfway through his statement, not interested in their reactions.

"I had never known that." Nasuada slowly responded. Error shrugged. "Gender isn't important for monsters, not when it doesn't affect if you will be a mother or father. Skeletons are officially hermaphrodites, but given the general anatomy of monsters, anyone can mate with anyone of any race of monster or gender. I can give you an example of this; there's a common pairing between two females, a fish monster and a lizard. Hell, that's not even mentioning those that are actually genderless. Even humans back in the Multiverse would identify as genderless."

A few minutes passed in silence.
"You don't talk often of the Multiverse, though it is quite fascinating."
He paused after Nasuada said that, gazing up at the ceiling.
"I don't like to much." He answered distantly.
"A majority of my time was spent commiting mass genocide on the Multiverse because of a single idiot creating too much."
Farica made a choking sound.

Error then looked Nasuada in the eyes, rolling up his sleeves without a word as he held her gaze. It was the first time he'd uncovered his arms in the presence of a human here. Or dwarf, for that matter.
He refocused on the elegant dress as he felt their eyes on his horribly scarred arms. A glitch briefly shot through him, the sound making them flinch as the black and white rectangles danced on his arms for less than a second.

Then it cleared, revealing the cratered surface of his charcoal bones, flecks of paint hidden in the depths of the scars, cracks littering the greyed arms. It was marred.
"Who did this to you?" Farica whispered.
Error flicked his eyelights to her face.
"Maπ¥ ₱eøp|€." He stated in a low voice- as low as it could be when glitching like that.

They proceeded with a disquieted air, inevitably becoming lost in their own thoughts.
Then the dress gave a slight jerk as Nasuada accidentally sliced through a fringe of bobbin lace. She stared at it with wide eyes as it waved.
Then hysteria seemed to claim her as she started laughing shrilly. A few tears escaped her before she regained sanity. Error watched blankly, having been in her place more times than there were years in Alagaësia's existence.
She traced the length of the bobbin thoughtfully, her face stricken.

Then an amazed laugh escaped her, still similar to that of her hysterics. Farica gazed at her, waiting for an explanation as the woman stood up, dress forgotten.
"Fetch me Trianna this instant. I don't care what she's doing; bring her here." Nasuada ordered Farica. The maid's face tightened, but she curtsied nonetheless. "As you wish, Ma'am." Leaving through the servant's door.
"Thank you." Nasuada whispered after her.

"So." Error glanced down at the dress. "What's going on in that mind of yours, Nasuada?"
"Would it bother you overmuch to wait until Trianna arrives?"
He stood, towering over her as he nudged the dress with his foot. "Nope. So long as I'm here to see it."
"Very well."

She paused, lost in thought. She seemed afraid. Error studied her features before picking up the dress and storing it in his inventory, lifting his hood over his scarred skull before tugging his sleeves back down.

A loud knock rang at the door, startling the both of them before Error turned to face it, moving to Nasuada's side as she smiled. "Enter!"
The door burst open, Trianna striding inside with messy hair and wrinkled clothes; she'd probably just gotten out of bed. "You asked for me, Lady?"

"I did." Nasuada seated herself, examining Trianna, who lifted her chin. Error leaned on the table, curious about what Nasuada had in mind.
"I need to know: What is the most important rule of magic?" She asked. "Our magic?" She corrected, glancing at Error.
A frown spread across Trianna's face. "That whatever you do with magic requires the same amount of energy as it would to do otherwise."
"And what you can do is only limited by your ingenuity and by your knowledge of the ancient language?"
"Other strictures apply, but in general, yes. Lady, why do you ask? These are basic principles of magic that, while not commonly bandied about, I am sure you are familiar with."
"I am. I wished to ensure that I understood them properly."

Nasuada leaned over, looking for the dress only for Error to hand it over, still wondering what she was getting at.
She held it so the lace was visible. "So then, within those limits, you should be able to devise a spell that would allow you to manufacture lace with magic."

A sneer spread across Trianna's face. "Du Vrangr Gata has more important duties than repairing your clothes, Lady. Our art is not so common as to be employed for mere whims. I'm sure that you will find your seamstresses and tailors more than capable of fulfilling your request. Now, if you will excuse me, I-" "Be quiet, woman." Nasuada's voice was dead, and cold. Error felt himself grin at that; it was something he appreciated.

Trianna went mute, completely shocked.
"I see that I must teach Du Vrangr Gata the same lesson that I taught the Council of Elders: I may be young, but I am no child to be patronized. I ask about the lace because if you can manufacture it quickly and easily with magic, then we can support the Varden by selling inexpensive bobbin and needle lace throughout the Empire. Galbatorix's own people will provide the funds we need to survive."

"But that's ridiculous! You can't pay for a war with lace." Trianna objected. Error held in his incredulous chuckle at the profoundly simple idea. Nasuada lifted an eyebrow at the sorceress. "Why not? Women who otherwise could never afford to own lace will leap at the chance to buy ours. Every farmer's wife who longs to appear richer than she is will want it. Even wealthy merchants and nobles will give us their gold because our lace will be finer than any thrown or stitched by human hands. We'll garner a fortune to rival the dwarves'. That is, if you are skilled enough in magic to do what I want."
Trianna tossed her hair proudly. "You doubt my abilities?"
"Can it be done!"

She paused, then reached for the cloth, studying it awhile.
She answered in a subdued voice. "It should be possible, but I'll have to conduct some tests before I know for certain."
"Do so immediately. From now on, this is your most important assignment. And find an experienced lace maker to advise you on the patterns."
"Yes, Lady Nasuada."
Nasuada's voice mellowed. "Good. I also want you to select the brightest members of the Du Vrangr Gata and work with them to invent other magical techniques that will help the Varden. That's your responsibility, not mine."
"Yes, Lady Nasuada."
"Now you are excused. Report back to me tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Lady Nasuada."

The sorceress left. Error started laughing softly, stunned by the woman.
"You are a genius, Nasuada. I didn't know I could respect you more than I did previously, but you've just proven that I can."
"Thank you." She murmured.
"This is my contribution to the Varden." She whispered, then addressed her maid.
"Did I surprise you, Farica?"
"You always do, Ma'am."

"You surprise everyone." Error hummed, glitches adding ethereal notes to his words.

……..

Error was knitting in a nearby chair as Nasuada worked tirelessly in the heat. He wasn't bothered much by it, but he could see the dire effects it had on the humans. So he took it upon himself to knit her a fancy dress that would remain cool. He could tell by the sweat on her face that she needed it.

A sudden clamor erupted outside the door, sending both to their feet as loud voices discussed something just outside her chamber.
"Is this an attack?" Nasuada questioned severely.
"I don't know, I'm wondering the same thing." Error responded just as concerned.
The noise died down.
The door creaked open, Error snapping his hood up as a guard peeked inside.
"There's someone here to see you, M'lady. And he's brought.. a thing."
She shared a worried look with Error, who gazed back from under his hood, face hidden in shadow as the spell laid across it concealed his glowing features.
"Let him in." Nasuada ordered, trusting she was safe.

A human, pale with thin limbs that belied greater strength than usual barged in, dragging a cloaked figure with a burly guard holding their arms, fear on their faces. The stranger kept their head down, mahogany hood hiding their face.
The first person was frantic, half-crazed.
"This thing has stayed in my hotel for two weeks! It claims to be of the Varden, which is why I demanded audience with you rather than the king himself! It has done nothing but disappear for hours at night to return with enough money to feed a small family for a week! I endured this until I saw it lift it's head. I'll not stand and let this monster stay anywhere near me! Not unless I hear proof it is innocent of murder! How else would it obtain that money?"
He stopped, breathing heavily. "My Lady." He added, trying to preserve respect.

Nasuada ignored his spleen, facing the hooded one. "What have you to say for yourself? What are you, and why have you remained hidden here whilst claiming to be of the Varden?"

The stranger glanced to the side, never once looking up. "I don't like what Galbatorix has done. I want him gone… You're the leader of the Varden, are you? I have money. Lots of money. Most came from the Empire. It's easy to get their money when you do what I did."
"What did you do?" Nasuada narrowed her eyes.
A click emanated from the other, a quiet, mournful chuckle following it. "I'd rather not say."

"What is your name?" Nasuada inquired, suspicions rising. The other paused, then said one word. "Threyja." Error blinked under his hood, his mind instantly translating the word of the Ancient Language.
Desire.

"What are you? And why do you hide your face? Are you not human?" Nasuada demanded. The stranger shrugged. "Most humans scream when they see my face."
"Why is that?"
"My face doesn't fit their standard of beauty." They replied vaguely again.

Nasuada sighed. "Be you some kind of elf?" She asked.
"Too short." Error muttered so only she could hear. The figure tilted their hood in his direction, as if they could hear. They didn't respond.
"Be you.. Ra'zac?" She hesitated, remembering the mention of the creatures before.
"They hiss and click like beetles or birds." Error again whispered. Nothing from the figure.

Nasuada turned and looked Error full on, face thoughtful before she turned to the stranger once more.
"Are you a skeleton?"

Error stiffened as the other's head shot up, from the darkness of the hood a pair of white, purple-tinted pindots stared at her. Then the gloved hands reached up and tugged off the concealing cloth. A Sans peered at them, the two humans backing away in terror.
"How did you know?" He asked in a small voice.

"They're real!" The man wailed, pointing at the skeleton with a trembling hand. Nasuada rose to her feet as the other cringed. "Yes, and they mean no harm. I see it is likely high time we reveal their presence; they have arrived in Alagaësia against their will, and wish to remove Galbatorix from his throne as much as any other. They are honest people; they helped the Varden win in the battle of Farthen Dûr. It is likely this one was lost and afraid of showing his face due to the fear it often receives. Am I correct?" She finally addressed the new skeleton. He nodded, starting to break down. "I thought I was alone…" He whimpered. "I didn't know…."

He collapsed to his kneecaps. "I'm sorry. If I knew there were others..I would have come. It was lonely, so fucking lonely without another familiar face."
Nasuada faced the humans that brought him here. "You are dismissed. You've done the Varden a service bringing him here; thank you."
The thicker man took one look at the skeleton and fled out the door, the smaller pressed against the wall before edging to the door.

"He never hurt you. He was more afraid of you than you him. We're just trying to get by as we are now; we have no ill will against you and the people of Surda as well as the Varden. We just want to live in peace." Error explained in placating tones, keeping his voice as glitch-free as possible.

The man left.

Error stared at the other skeleton while he peered out the door fearfully. Then the newcomer faced him and Nasuada.
"O-okay." He gazed at Error. "How are you, anyway?"
He chuckled sadly. "You would hate me if I told you."
A tortured laugh escaped the other. "Oh really? Because I'm pretty sure I have you beat by a hundred. I'm the fucking slut because of my AU."

Error took a step back subconsciously before taking note of how miserable the other sounded. Nasuada glanced between the two in confusion, but let it continue.
"You're Lust." Error realized, shivering.

"Yeah, I'm that dirty whore. You gonna kick me out of the Varden yet? I'm not even actually in it, I just said that because I believe in it. Heh, I'm disgusting, aren't I?"

Error stared at him, observing the pain displayed before him.
"When did you become like this?"
"Like what?" Lust snapped.
"Resentful."
"Ohoh, resentful? I was always resentful. I never asked for my situation. I never asked for the injections. I never asked for my creation. I asked Ink why.. why we existed so many times. Why I'm the only one it didn't work on. Why I had to see my brother fuck every monster he sees. And you know what that jackass said about that? It was interesting. He was curious. Because he could."

Lust paused in his mini-rant. "I knew doing anything back home would get me killed, and my bro would miss me like hell if that happened, so I couldn't do anything. I was just the slut. That one whore. I wanted Error to destroy my AU, I prayed so many times, but nooooo, he never destroys originals. That fuckin' bastard."

Error felt mixed emotions now. He reached up, causing Lust to pause and regard him angrily.
Then he pulled down his hood.

The reaction was immediate. Lust slammed backwards into the wall in terror, eyelights dead. "You're-"
"Yes. You just called me a bastard to my face."
"I-I-I-"
"I didn't ask for my situation either, believe it or not. And I hate the AU's that beg for death the most. Kills me inside." He glanced at Nasuada, who took a seat. Error followed suit, resuming his position from before, pulling out thin bone attacks to continue knitting.
"There's a limit to how many AU's can exist in the Multiverse." He started, focusing on the black and royal blue dress. "Too many, and they run out of space. They collide. Destroy everything. Ink doesn't know that. Well…"

He looked up for a moment. "He knows. I've told him countless times. He just either doesn't believe it, or doesn't even care. He has no Soul. Why do you think he's so uncaring?" He returned his attention to the knitting.
"I have to clean up after him. However," He paused again, sorrow etching into his face.
"Before he knocked me and my friends- yes, I have friends- into the Void in Outertale, should the Multiverse have overflowed from his endless Creativity, we would have all died horribly by the collapse, any survivors spending eternity in the Void. A fate worse than anything else imaginable. But the Void in Outertale is different. Somehow Ink discovered this and thought to use it to his advantage. To get rid of us for a few years, he thought. Literally his last words to us as he sent us to the Void. Look for ya in a few years…. In doing that, he condemned the entire Multiverse. It's going to collapse."

Lust gasped, confusion and fear evident in his sockets. Error gave him a mournful look before continuing.
"Although, by some saving grace, by sending us elsewhere, chances making it Alagaësia, he also saved everyone. By sending us here, we have incidentally locked codes with Alagaësia. It's drawing more of us into this world, an example being you. When the final crush happens, it'll send the entire Multiverse of monsters into Alagaësia. Except copies. They're too weak; they'll die. We need to prepare for that; we don't want to know what Galbatorix is capable of when he has access to that kind of power, our power. He needs to be removed, so we can ready Alagaësia for the massive crush of newcomers. Do you understand, Lust?"

He rested his hands in his lap and looked up at the skeleton. "We need to help the Varden."

"How can I believe you? You're the Destroyer." Lust whispered.
"He hasn't destroyed us yet, has he? Error has been quite helpful." Nasuada explained gently.
Error glanced at her after looking at the hidden door. "May I?" He gestured at the pull for summoning the maid. The woman nodded, confused. Error used blue magic to yank it, the ringing distant.

Farica bustled in, looking worried. "Yes, Ma'am?"
"No, it was Error."
"Sir?"
He peered at her, aware of Lust's confusion. "Can you get the others? We have a new addition and I'm still busy explaining a few things."
"Yes, Lord Error, I will do so immediately." She left.

"[)āmπī+, stop calling me Lord!" He muttered irritably.
"It is only out of courtesy, Error."
"£ū¢[{ courtesy, I hate formalities." He sighed, rubbing his skull tiredly. "But besides all of.. that, do you want to join us, Lust? Just don't +øü¢h m€." He stated severely. Lust shook his skull quickly. "I would never. I still place some value on my life."

He glanced at the knitting. "I wouldn't kill you, not if you're actually a decent person. I just have haphephobia. That's why I hate your string of AU's so much… they were the ones I questioned Ink about the most. One thing we have in common. You hate Ink, too." He felt a certain kindness in his Soul as he spoke.

Then the others teleported into the room, holding an alarmed Farica. She fainted into Red's arms. "Shoot funk goshdangit Fresh I funking hate you." Red swore as he caught the woman and glared at the 90's reject. Fresh shrugged, grinning. Nasuada stood. "I specifically asked that you did not teleport others without proper warning first. Now she's unconscious."

Error relieved Red of the human using his strings, placing Farica in another chair. "Hopefully she'll wake up soon, otherwise I'll somehow find Skittles and feed them to Chaos while locking the two of you in a room. After knocking you out."
Red backed away in fear.
"Chaos?" Lust questioned.
"His Axetale Temmie."

Error stood up as well. "My daughter." He corrected.
Conveniently, the door opened and the Temmie stuck her head in. "I heard something happened here earlier- oh! Someone new! Hi!" She entered fully, revealing an unusual dress.
"Chaos, what are you wearing?" Error deadpanned. She beamed, bouncing on her toes.
"I had it for a while, Daddy! I never knew I was gonna be able to wear it, but when we ended up in Tronjhiem it was too cold. Now I can wear a skirt!"
She twirled around, the skirt flying. Error sighed into his hand. "Is it from an anime?" Chaos froze. "Nnoooooo."

Red snorted. "You look like a sheety anime character." Error snapped his gaze to the edgy Sans, Chaos and Fresh staring as well. Red started sweating nervously as he realized his dire situation.
"Okay, okay. Just consider… Nightmare would probably be mad if ya kill me, Dust and Kills will try an'a...avenge me?"
"Brah, ya know what up and happened last time they got all unrad and tried to fight me, yo. Real unrad time." Fresh stated with a grin.
Chaos held up her new dagger, Eldkverst. "Time to go back in the closet, edgy boy."
Red broke. "Funk this, I'm out." He teleported away.

"You have a daughter.. an adopted daughter?" Lust slowly asked. Chaos lunged, throwing herself into Error's arms. "Yes! And Daddy's the best!" They hugged, the glitch grinning.
"You don't look like a Temmie."
Chaos bent backwards to look at Lust, still clinging to Error. "Blame the Void. Now I can hug Daddy all I want!" She dove back into cuddles, Error chuckling.

Fresh came over and draped a lazy arm behind Error, who paused and glared at him. "Brah, we haven't mentioned dat I'ma ya totes rad glitchy's broski! Wat 'bout dat? No point in keepin' it secret now, yo!"
Error sighed, ignoring him as Nasuada caught his attention silently.
"Yes. We should leave. This will probably take a few hours."

He reached over and placed a single phalange on Lust's shoulder, glitching at the contact before teleporting all of them to their shared wing in Borromeo Castle. It wasn't far from Nasuada's quarters.
Retracting his hand quickly, he dumped everyone to the ground, receiving several complaints.
"You're in luck; we were hoping for more to join us so we have a few spare rooms over here." He explained to Lust without looking, pointing at a few doors. "These are already taken. But those-" He pointed down the hall as he turned around. Red had rejoined the group, looking as inconspicuous as possible.
"are empty." Error finished, staring intently at the edgy skeleton who was sweating bullets.

Then he pointed a red needle at Red, the bone dangerously sharp. "You wouldn't be acting like this if Nightmare were here."
Red avoided meeting his eyelights. "So." He coughed. "What's the new guy's name."
Lust seemed to close in on himself, eyelights winking out.

Error straightened. "You need to remember that no one can help the AU they're from. Just like your own, Red." The other now sent him a glare. "Why the heck would I forget."
"Because he's just as resentful as the rest of you, except he somehow managed to hide it until he reached Alagaësia."
Red glanced at the newcomer, now looking confused. "Well who the heck are ya?"

Lust faced him, grinning ruefully. "I'm that one slut everyone loves and hates. I'm Lust." There was a cruel spite in his words and sneer. "How many times did you call me a whore to my face, Red? How many times have I been told to sleep with a bitch? How many times have I been attacked and called slut in front of everyone, no one bothering to care or help? How can you be deserving of the title of Judge when you're so blinded by your own idiocy? Answer me that, you son of a bitch."

Fresh had backed away, even he looked sullen as he let the other swear freely. Chaos covered her ears, the torn one bleeding slightly as she bit her lip. Red looked mortified, outraged, and disgusted all at once.
"Come on, Lust. I'll show you to a room." Error called, aware of the tension in the air. Lust glared at Red a few seconds longer before whipping his skull away and following Error.

He gave Lust the room across from Geno's and beside his own. He stood as Lust paused just inside the doorway.
"Th-thank you. I never thought anyone would ever give a damn about me… least of all the Destroyer of AU's."
Error tilted his skull at him. "We're both ostracized, aren't we? Infamous for what we do, regardless of choice in the matter."
"I didn't have a choice." Lust whispered.
Error gazed at him forlornly. "Neither did I." He shut the door before Lust could ask what he meant; he didn't want to discuss Fate right now.

He turned to the hallway, staring at the wall for a minute. Then he glanced at the others standing further down, raising a non-existent eyebrow at them. "What are you doing?"
They scattered, Red disappearing into his room as Fresh teleported away in a poof, Chaos charging forward to hug him.
"I'll show Lust the ropes, okay Daddy?"

Error peered at the door behind him. "Just.. give him a minute. Or something. Time. He got hit with a lot.. you know where to find me, sweetie." He ruffled her hair while peeling her off, then teleported back to Nasuada's chamber, to watch over the woman in case she overworked herself and protect her, knitting an elegant dress with which she could cool off in.

He smiled, sitting down across from her as she looked up.
That went better than expected.