Dream sensed determination from TommyInnit, but his viewpoint was distorted by not a little despair. And really, why shouldn't it be? They had been so close, twice now. So close to victory.
TommyInnit had had one of the discs in his hand. So close, yet so far. It was starting to feel like nothing they could do would be enough. Dream knew that TommyInnit didn't take losing well.
But they just had to shift their mindset. Sure, they had lost. But they had almost won. They had almost gotten one of the discs twice. Surely that was better than not having done it at all, right? Dream wasn't sure as he watched TommyInnit's mood aura shift between grey determination and navy despair. So close. Teetering on the edge.
What edge was it? Dream wasn't sure. But he didn't think it would be a good thing to tip over. TommyInnit was still a child, really. On the metaphorical mountain, he jumped higher away from depression with each victory, but defeats slid him back further than they would another.
They needed this.
TommyInnit and Tubbo had to do something. That wasn't in question. But what could they do?
They couldn't defeat the other Dream. Then, there was only one choice. If combat failed, diplomacy was the only way.
They were going to accept the trade. Netherite chestplate for TommyInnit's discs.
TommyInnit called the other Dream down, and they met on the path. No more tricks, no more gimmicks. It was over.
TommyInnit stared at his for, and Dream stared too. But no, this couldn't be. After all of this time, they were going to just give up?
No. No, they were not. If he knew TommyInnit at all, then he knew that TommyInnit would not give up. Dream could have said this for certain even if he couldn't see emotions. TommyInnit would never give up, not with Tubbo by his side.
Dream looked down at TommyInnit, frowning behind his mask. He was missing something, then. He must be. Then just what was it? What could be the missing link here?
TommyInnit's mood had shifted to confidence again. He had a plan. What was it?
The trade wasn't fair, not really. The other Dream lost his leverage, and TommyInnit lost his protection. In the aspect of losses, the other Dream was losing more. True, that leverage didn't matter quite as much if you could kill the other, but in the end, discs were harder to get than netherite, weren't they?
But what about what each gained?
The other Dream was gaining protection, a tier up from what he had. And TommyInnit? He was gaining everything. His pride, his self-worth, his connection. Any way you sliced it, this was a bad deal for the other Dream.
Unless you considered outside agents, but so far, no one on this server other than TommyInnit had caused so much trouble that the other Dream couldn't stop them. After all, he was basically a god of PvP. Who could possibly stand up to him, anyway? No one Dream knew.
But TommyInnit tried.
Dream began to hope. They saw something he didn't. They must. What could it be?
TommyInnit dropped the netherite chestplate, and the other Dream dropped the discs, both of them.
Dream tensed up, watching the two faces each other. And... Tubbo?
How had he forgotten? Of course, Tubbo was there, standing in the middle.
The other Dream and TommyInnit walked forward, but Tubbo was already moving.
Dream smiled, his expression mirroring that on his mask, and the other Dream's. Probably the expression underneath his mask, too. He hadn't noticed yet.
As Dream and TommyInnit sprinted forward, TommyInnit suddenly stopped, and turned back.
There it was.
The other Dream didn't look over his shoulder. He already knew what he would find.
He just kept going.
TommyInnit had seen Tubbo grab the discs, and had turned to grab the chestplate. Now it was a race, and TommyInnit was going to win.
TommyInnit grinned triumphantly as he reached out for the chestplate. He was so close. Nothing could stop him now.
Tubbo had already logged out. It was all down to this.
They had won.
Finally, they had won.