Soul is startled awake by movement. He's still sitting on the floor of the kitchen right where he fell asleep. When was the last time he woke up in the same place as where he feel asleep? One of Soul's legs is bent and crossed in front of him, but the other leg is outstretched and pinned in place under Error's head. Soul didn't have the heart to move.

Error shifts again and groans, rubbing his face with his hand as he comes to. Soul is so excited that he's awake and okay that he can't stop the little twitch in his leg. Error whips his head around to try and figure out what just moved. Dream and Error lock eyes. The Destroyer jumps into action upon seeing one of his biggest enemies and summons a barrage of sharpened bones. Soul squeaks in fright and scrambles away behind the corner of the kitchen island.

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! It's just me," Soul shouts as he ducks behind his makeshift shelter. He intensifies his aura again in the hope that it'll calm Error as much a did earlier.

Error pauses, but doesn't dismiss the bones right away. "SOuL?"

"Yeah.......". Soul cautiously peeks back around the corner at Error. Seeing Soul with Dream's face is unsettling, but Error finally drops his magic. No one else looks at him with that stupidly hopeful face except for Soul.

"YoUr'Re in DreAm?" Error asks, a little confused. He stands up and is surprised when his bones protest a lot less than normal. Error looks down to where he knows a crack had recently splintered his forearm but only finds a faint scratch that will be gone in a few days.

"Yep! Dream is kinda weird, though. He's happy on the outside, but it's really sad and mopey in his head. Dream really misses someone, I guess," Soul says quickly, bouncing up to stand at Error side. "But Dream has really good magic! I used it to heal you!"

"NigHtmAre, proBably," Error mumbles as he flexes his wrist experimentally. He looks up in surprise after processing Soul's other words. "You healed me? Dream's magic healed me? My injuries can't be healed by anyone's magic, Soul. My body won't allow it." Even as Error says it, proof of the contrary is literally all over him.

Soul shrinks away a little at that. He doesn't want to lose Error's friendship over what happened. Error barley lets Soul even touch him, and he's invaded Error's privacy in a terrible way. Soul knows things he shouldn't even if it's only subconsciously. Every Sans he becomes leaves a little something behind. Soul looks away and stares at a jar on the counter as he fiddles with his hands. "I know you don't remember what happed in Candytale after you got there, but-"

"I'M goIng to mUrdeR FreSh," Error hisses, abruptly recalling the AU. He remembers leaving an AU half destroyed when he felt Soul's aura practically shriek at him in a panic. Error knows he saw something that had to have been Soul, but it gets all blurry after that. "I waS.....iN the antiVoid?" Error looks over at Soul in confusion.

Soul has always been under the impression that his hosts can't remember anything from the day that Soul borrows. He's just as confused since Error can remember the antivoid. Soul is also becoming quickly embarrassed since all he did in the antivoid was have a nervous breakdown. "What do you remember?" Soul asks, curious now.

"FeEl liKe I crAshEd, but noT quiTe," Error mumbles. He doesn't yet understand why his last few memories feel like mush. Error looks back down at Soul. How did Soul even get into Dream? He's not supposed to be able to jump willingly. There's not other monster here, either. Who did Soul hitch a ride with?......

Soul can see the exact moment on Error's face when the Destroyer connects the dots. "I-I didn't see anything, I swear," Soul starts blabbering. "Well, I tried my best not too! I didn't go snooping or digging but some of your fights are so scary-"

"NeVeR do thAt aGain," Error says, stepping away from Soul to put space between them. Error can dimly remember touching Soul before everything goes hazy. Despite every instinct he's honed over the long years, Error had decided to trust Soul. He let Soul get closer to him than any of the few others that Error allows near him. Error cherishes his privacy and savors the fact that his decisions are still how his own. Soul shattered that comfort. He feels like Soul just stabbed him in the back. Error confided in Soul about his boundaries, how the littlest touch actually makes him feel, and Soul invaded his privacy anyway. Error feels as if his skin is crawling. He's getting itchy with a stinging pain just with the knowledge of that happened.

"I didn't mean to, Error," Soul begs, "I didn't even know I could, and then you grabbed me, a-and you saved me."

"I...... i'M leavIng." Error has nothing else to say. He opens a portal back to the antivoid. He has to go before he loses it. Error doesn't know if he's about to crash or lash out, but he doesn't want to find out.

"Error?" Soul reaches his hand out, but stops as Error flinches. The Destroyer leaves without another glance back. Soul is left alone standing in that little kitchen.

*************

Soul isn't sure how long he stood there with his thoughts. It was long enough that his stomach started to growl. Almost robotically, he turns and starts digging through a cupboard. Soul pulls out a large jar of golden disks and pops off the lid, letting the lid clatter to the floor. He can't be bothered to even set it on the counter. Soul pops one of the butterscotch candies into his mouth pins it between his teeth. They're Dream's favorite candy. Instead of sucking on it for a while, Soul immediately crunches down on it like Dream does. Soul carries the jar with him as he walks out of the kitchen.

Soul wanders through the house while occasionally biting down on one of the candies that threaten to crack his teeth. He starts poking around and messing with Dream's stuff in a terrible attempt at not thinking of anything else. What's there to think about? He couldn't possibly be dwelling on that fact that Error hates him now forever and ever. Nope, that can't possibly be it.

The house quickly becomes a mess. Soul pulls out every interesting nick-knack that Dream has collected over the years. Some of the items are so strange that Soul can't figure out what they're meant to be. He finds an odd collection of crystals in a dresser drawer and a half a moldy baguette under a rug. Soul could just take a dive through Dream's memories and learn every little thing about this house in moments, but then it would be over. Soul would be stuck with his thoughts and nothing to do.

Under Dream's bed, Soul finds a box shoved all the way to the back wall. He drags it through the dust and into the light. The box is a mix of odds and ends that don't seem to belong together. Soul pulls out a pretty looking music box first. He winds it up and listens to the nice melody for about a minute before he gets bored with it and sets the music box aside. The next thing Soul pulls out is a photo. He yanks out another butterscotch from the jar and munches on it as he examines the photo. The photo depicts two young skeletons in their teens sitting under a tree. Soul feels a pang of sadness that's not his own.

A loud knocking on the front doors startles Soul. He hurriedly shoves everything back under the bed and totters back onto his feet. Soul picks up the candy jar just before rushing into the living room. Before he can even contemplate who might be at Dream's door, Soul jerks it open. He barely avoids slaming it closed again by instinct. Both of Dream's best friends stand on the door mat. Both of them look worried. That's not right. It's Dream who's supposed to be worrying after them.

"Dream! You didn't meet us at the base today, and we got worried. I'm so glad that you're......." Blue starts off excited and relived, but trails off. Dream is staring at Ink and Blue with dead expression, one hand on the door wheel the other clutches a half-filled jar of candy to his chest.

"Are you okay?" Ink asks incredulously.

Soul stares for another few moments as he tries to figure out what to say. "O-Oh yeah, I'm fine. I must just have lost track of time. I'm sorry for worrying you both." Soul steps back and lets his two 'friends' come inside like any normal person would.

The house is a complete mess. Extra pillows and blankets from a closet are scattered all around the living room. Random pots and pans are stacked up on the kitchen counters and several packs of markers are scattered about underfoot. Ink and Blue are surprised and confused at the mess, slowly looking back at Dream. Soul says nothing, reaching for and eating another butterscotch. He's eaten more than a hundred in the last hour.

"What happened?" Blue asks, completely baffled.

"Did you fight someone in here? What's going on, Dream? This isn't like you," Ink says looking around at the mess.

"........... I think I'm..... just gonna......" Soul uses Dream's magic to open a portal. He quickly ducks through and jumps to the other side, still hanging onto his candy. Soul starts running as soon as his feet hit the ground.

"Dream!?" Blue shouts in surprise. He and Ink leap through the portal before it can close and start to give chase.

Soul's mind is sent into panic mode once again as he gets chased. The candies rattle around in their jar, and Soul can't help a small cry of despair as one bounces out. The thought to call for Error crosses his mind, but Soul quickly dismisses it. Error is mad. Soul doesn't know it he could take if Error decided not to come this time. Ignoring the shouts of Dream's friends, Soul keeps running.

The AU shudders. Soul cries out in shock as he loses his balance and falls. The candy jar shatters. Soul stares at it with an odd detachment, not minding the few shards that pierced his hands.

"The AU! It's-" Ink is cut off as everything goes black. He, Blue, and Dream are all thrown out of the AU as it resets.

Soul finds himself standing alone in a dark void. He's not in Dream anymore, but completely alone. This space feels strange to him, and Soul's thoughts are slow and sluggish. Half a dozen glowing stones are are floating in the otherwise empty space around Soul. They're nearly the size his torso but don't seem to weigh anything. Soul wanders over to the nearest one in curiosity. He can feel a faint swirl of life and emotion from the AU.

For the first time in a while, Soul smiles. He gets to choose.