“The fear,” Ashswagg says, practically purring the word, “the conquering of fear that you three have just shown me gives me an idea.”
Parrot grits his teeth behind the microphone. He can't help but feel annoyed at all the unnecessary dramatics here. I mean, he'd heard this line, what, twice now? Man…time travel really gave him a headache. Someone should’ve handed him a medal for patience instead of a crown. If Theo were standing here, he’d probably have already cart-bombed this place down to bedrock.
Unfortunately Ashswagg still wasn’t done talking. Tragic.
“You three would be really useful in the Mafia.”
And there it is. The stupidest line he remembers hearing once upon a time. He can’t help but grimace.
No one would try this, in the future. In his time. Not anyone who knew him anyway. Becoming Unstable’s King had at least afforded him that.
The problem was, this was the old Ashswagg. Invis Mafia Ashswagg. This Ash didn’t know the things Parrot had been through. Or that the Parrot standing in front of them at this very moment had already been through all Ashswagg and his Invis Mafia could throw at him, and still Parrot had won.
Meaning this little recruitment speech was just about the most pointless proposition one could try. And honestly, Parrot had just about had enough of it.
Being thrown back in time to the days of working in the Capital City mines under the Mafia’s and Reddoons corruption was already bad enough. Like some twisted rerun of one of Parrot’s worst moments. The worst part being he hadn’t even been early enough to stop Luigi from dying. Instead he’d opened his eyes to Reddoons giving him some stupid spiel about material value. And now he had to stand here and listen to Ashswagg’s dumb recruitment speech all over again?
Nah. He’s done done.
“Who the hell do you think you are!?” He spit at Ash. To his right, Wifies seemed to cringe, and Parrot did his best not to look at them. Instead he tried rolling his eyes. “You know what, screw it, even freaking Lettuce had a better speech than this. This is just sad, bro.”
Wifies was shooting him a look now. Parrot could practically feel the confusion and unease radiating off their player character.
A moment later a private message pops up confirming that.
Which Parrot promptly decides to ignore.
There really wasn’t time to unpack all his trauma right now. (And preferably, there never would be). So if Wifies looked pained at the life-threatening crisis that Parrot had once again walked himself into? Good. A little payback for the months of emotional hell, which his friend had literally blown up in his face for, was justified.
Parrot can at least thank whatever Minecraft gods exist, because for a moment Ash actually paused his nonsense to consider him. Probably, because Ash was taken aback by the absolute vehemence in which Parrot talked, but that was semantics.
However, unfortunately for everyone present, the Minecraft gods clearly didn’t account for Ash’s level of self-absorption and ability to barrel past warning signs. Despite even the Invis players catching on and giving quick glances at each other, Ash still continued to keep this pointless conversation rolling.
“I can offer you a deal. A place here.” Ash tried again, clearly trying to make some dramatic point. “You guys conquered your fear, to steal those diamonds, to free all those people you wanted to free. That’s worth something.”
Ridiculous.
Parrot isn’t listening anymore. He’s too busy mentally calculating that he has about five seconds before he either snaps completely or starts bashing his head against his keyboard.
Apparently Ash didn’t get the memo. He’s still deep into his two-bit salesman’s pitch.
“Join me. I’d even promote you instantly.” He says and looks at the Diamond trims standing behind him. “You could be right there.”
Parrot makes the executive decision that he, in fact, did not want another headache later.
Snapping it is then.
“And why the hell do you think I care about you or your dumb Mafia, Ashswagg.”
Ash stares at him.
And Parrot revels in the feeling of taking the wind out of his sails.
But the brief moment of silence doesn’t last.
“Uh, Parrot,” Dean whispers to him. “I know we aren’t joining and all, but… maybe we should, uh, not yell at the guy who has a bunch of netherite players with maces? Maybe?”
And yeah, Parrot does feel a bit bad for dragging Dean into this mess. It isn’t his fault he’s about to witness a historical crash-out.
Meanwhile, Wifies has clearly noticed there was something very wrong with Parrot. He keeps glancing frantically between the enemies Parrot has chosen to actively piss off, and Parrot himself.
But it’s not like that hadn’t been a recurring theme in the past.
Wifies can cope.
“Nah, im done with this.” Parrot grits out, half to himself.
And suddenly Wifies steps directly between him and Ash, with Wifies clearly positioning himself as a body shield between them.
“Parrot, please, just calm down.”
Several more messages are filling up Parrots screen.
Okay, maybe Wifies wouldn’t be coping after all. Parrot thinks. Maybe he never could…
His chest aches.
Wifies eyes are staring into him.
Parrot keeps his eyes pointed away.
Parrot honestly just wasn't sure when exactly Wifies had fully committed to the whole Director persona.
Had it already started by now?
His throat tightens.
Don’t think about it.
Right now, his priority is stepping around Wifies and walking just far enough forward to force him out of his line of sight.
If he can just keep Wifies out of his field of view, he can keep pretending.
So Parrot takes a few steps closer to Ash instead. A move which Ash tilts his head at; perhaps thinking Parrot was going to be more reasonable. As if that would ever happen.
“I could make it worth it, for all of you.” Ash says, leveling his voice at the three of them, Wifies and Dean included.
Logically, Parrot knows that he’s probably about to dig a hole for himself. And yes, he knows that Wifies probably thinks he’s attempting another moral suicide mission. But he doesn't really care about Wifies’ opinion on that right now.
At least yelling at Ash had been a better distraction.
“Why the heck would we join your sinking ship?” Parrot scoffs. “Like bro, you do know what server we're on right now. Your dumb Mafia isn’t going to last.”
That seems to finally hit something, because Ash all but drops the recruitment tone and finally switches to the good ol fashioned threats.
“Watch the way you talk.” Ash says, and one of the Diamond players steps forward. “I can always force you to join, you know.”
“Your delusional bro.”
Ash laughs.
“Oh Parrot, you think I don’t get it?” Ash sneers. “I’ve got you and your little entourage all figured out.”
“No. You really don’t.” Parrot says, before his voice goes to a quiet whisper. “Not that I did either…”
Ash doesn’t seem to hear him.
It doesn’t matter.
Wifies was standing in front of him again…
Staring…
“I think you'll find I can be very persuasive.” Ash mocks. “Fear is an excellent motivator. Control someone’s fear, and you control them.”
“Controlling people…” Parrot echoes, giving Wifies a small side glance. “What an original idea. No one would have thought of that.”
Wifies is still staring directly at him.
Parrot can’t breath.
Looking at them had not been the smartest plan on his part.
Damn it.
Parrot snaps his crosshairs back onto Ash, who has begun talking again.
But Parrot can’t hear anything.
Doesn’t want to feel anything.
Multiple private messages are now popping up onto his screen.
Parrot looks away.
Looks for a reprieve.
However, rage-baiting Ash is the only thing here that has proved to be a distraction.
Priorities.
“Ash,” Parrot starts,“have you just never considered the ticking time bombs that live on this server? They are not going to be controlled.”
“They will. I know what they fear.”
“Oh come on bro. Do you actually think that fear matters to most of them?” Parrot insists. “Seriously, just how long do you think it will take for Spoke to absolutely wreck your operation from the inside out?”
“He will be handled.” Ash says, shrugging him off.
“No shot.” Parrot laughs. “I give it week before he starts living in your walls, just waiting for the chance to stop you. Like everyone else on this server will be.”
“You think just anyone can stop me? Stop us? This?” Ash swoops his character around, as if making a point. “There is no one capable of that.”
Too bad for Ash he’d missed the mark. Parrot was a much better shot.
“No. What I know, for a fact, is that the second Eggchan so much as pops a totem to one of your guys, your whole thing goes up faster than you can say ‘Mace attack.’”
And that seems to rattle Ash somewhat.
“We have guards for that sort of thing.”
“Oh yeah?” Parrot tilts his head at the trims. “For how long?”
“What?”
“Because I’m willing to bet that half your Diamonds are just waiting for the chance to turn on you.” Parrot emphasized, staring down the two Diamond trims behind Ash.
Parrot half wondered if one of them was Quackeinstein…
“What the hell are you talking about?” Ash rebuttals. “Killing me just gets them all killed.”
Parrot laughs.
“And when has mass server casualties ever actually mattered to Spoke or Wemmbu?”
“Clown will take care of-“
“Oh, don’t even get me started on Clown!” Parrot snaps. “Are you kidding me, bro? You think that just because he’s with you now, that this is gonna hold his attention forever? No way. Not a chance.”
“I have an army of-“
“Oh right! The army!” He takes a few steps towards Ash. “Because that totally works against an Orbital Strike Cannon. Yeah. Tell that one to Zam. I’m sure he’d agree.”
“Can you stop interrupting me!?” Ash snaps at him, before suddenly going very calm.
To Ash’s credit, he at least has the threatening aura thing down.
“Tell me, Parrot, do you just not care about the lives of your friends here?” Ash says looking at Wifies and Dean. “Because if you really want to walk out of this alive, you should take this.”
There’s a pause, and Ash throws Parrot an invisibility potion.
Parrot knows Wifies is probably about to spam CoinMonke to trigger the enderpeal stasis. If he hasn't already…
Parrot tilts his head slowly.
Might as well.
“Buddy, I’m the biggest bird on this server.” He laughs. “I really don't give a damn.”
Then Parrot chucks the invisibility potion directly at Ash’s face.
All at once the trimmed players pull out their weapons and converge on him.
One of the Diamonds rushes Parrot.
There’s the pop of an ender pearl landing.
And then-
A minecart instantly explodes next to the Diamond player.
Parrot blinks.
The sheer force had knocked the Diamond away so badly they’d gone flying straight up into the air. Poor bro probably didn't have blast protection.
“What the hell?!” Ash screams. “WHAT WAS THAT?!”
And suddenly a familiar voice cuts cleanly through the chaos.
“Correction,” Theo says calmly from a crater of his own making, “I’m the Biggest Bird!”
And for half a second, nobody processes it.
Then another pearl lands and instantly a minecart explodes next to where Ash had just been standing.
Farther away Parrot sees a fishing rod get pulled. And in the next instant both the rod and Ash are gone.
Unlucky, Parrot thinks.
Around Parrot, the world has turned into explosions. He knows it’s barely been a few moments, but already the terrain is covered in holes.
Any of the remaining Gold trims are scattered, desperately trying to not get blown to smithereens or pop their totems. Meanwhile, the two Diamonds are actively chasing Theo down around the courtyard.
Which has started to imitate Swiss cheese.
Next to him, Wifies sounds like he’s shouting something, but Parrot is completely still.
This hadn’t happened the first time.
Theo shouldn’t even be here.
“You know, not wearing any armor is a pretty dumb move on your bosses part!” Theo taunts. “Especially when I’m around!”
Parrot feels like he can breath again.
“You all should be thanking Parrot.” Theo laughs. “That shot probably would have killed your boss if they hadn’t gotten an invis potion to the face.”
“Theo…” Parrot whispers.
“Hilarious though! Nice shot Parrot!” Theo calls back to him.
And then suddenly Theo is right next to Parrot, geared to the nines, and dropping some extra gear in front of him.
“Come on Parrot, start running!” Theo says imploringly. “How am I supposed to protect the King of Unstable if he just stays standing there?!”
And all at once it clicks.
This is Theo. His Theo. Future Theo.
Which sucks because Parrot realizes exactly what is about to happen.
He whips around, and for the first time dares to look directly at Wifies; who is now staring downwards without moving. Parrot doesn't have to guess that Wifies must be rapidly signaling CoinMonke to pull the stasis.
Which means Parrot doesn't have much time.
“I’m about to get ender-pearled!” he blurts out. “Theo! Meet me! Northern Council!”
Wifies head snaps up towards Parrot. “Parrot what is going on!? Where is-? No, who even is that?”
But Parrot tunes everyone else out, still staring at Theo, who is already spamming more TNT minecarts like a man possessed.
“You got it!” Theo calls back in between another explosion. “I’ll meet up with you soon!”
Tags : unstable smp \ Kings arc \ cartwings duo \ depression \ guilt \ supposed character death \ parrotx22 \ theobaldthebird \ Wemmbu mentioned \ LettuceK \ Ace mentioned \ bargaining \ sad Theo \ Theo thinks Parrot is dead \ contemplating death, you've been warned \ manipulation \
WC 2K
Sitting in that downpour, his shades cracked and his hands aching from pulling back the string of his crossbow, Theo glares down at the makeshift lump of a grave he's built for the bastard. Oroboros' gear lay scattered amongst the sand and usually Theo would take the chance to loot it, to store it away but right now as he turns his gaze to the explosion crater all he wants to do is sit.
And think.
"What the hell was he thinking…" Theo murmrurs under his breath, raking a hand through his blond hair only to realise his helmet is gone. Disgruntled, he snags a diamond one from the litter of Oroboros' gear. Why the commander has — had one is beyond Theo's thoughts right now.
Parrot was dead. There could be no coming back from that explosion. He barely even thought of Wemmbu who could've been caught in it too. All that matters was that scrawny, big brained avian of his.
"Stupid … I never should've left him to find Wemmbu."
Perching at the edge of the half covered grave, Theo's wings fold against his back as he flexes his hands. Knuckles burnt, fingertips charred from his fire arrows and the mine-carts … more craters left by his own hand.
He should go look. But looking for Parrot's body makes him want to puke. He can't see his friend like that. But then …who else can put Parrot to rest properly? It sure as hell wouldn't be Wemmbu if the damned demon survived using his crappy, half broken elytra.
Pushing himself to shaky feet, armour digging into the soft thin bodysuit that cuts into his diaphragm, Theo drags himself to the edge of sand wall.
Footsteps. Multiple. Theo scrambles to turn to face them, eyes set on the spruce trees. Oroboros must not have been alone.
Fine. So there were more hands that just his that killed Parrot. Maybe if he -
"I wouldn't, if I were you." Comes a nasty voice and Theo tilts his head in a grimace at the sight of that scarred man. War and Sarge stand at the small minecart crater's edge peering down at him, swords ebbing with powerful enchants just like their armour.
Leaning against his blue shulker box where he had nabbed enough material to bury the bastard below, Theo's grip on his own sword wavers. Was there any point? If Parrot truly is dead then what else is left for him? He said he'd protect him. He failed.
"Don't make this any harder than it has to."
Sarge adds, tilting his head enough to scowl at the avian below. Theo inhales sharply, thinking but the more he does the more he feels the fight leaving him. His strength potions wane just like his speed. He wouldn't be able to out run them. He could fight, if he's quick enough he can pop both their totems with another cart …but what would be the point?
Parrot's gone.
"Did you have a hand in this? Is this some …sick joke? Lettuce is killing innocents now?" Theo presses, if he can't fight he can sure as he'll be annoying. He grits his jaw when one of them pearls down and he's grabbed by the upper arm.
"Your armour. Your gear. Everything." Sarge demands.
"Go screw yourself -" Theo begins to say when he's hit square in the gut making him double over hacking. He winces, maybe he has over done it, maybe it's better if he surrenders.
"I'd think carefully. Now, armour and gear." Sarge repeats coldly as War scans the skies with tense shoulders. Theo exhales shakily, hands so painful as he reaches to unbuckle his chest-plate, lifting the netherite armour off himself before unclasping the greaves and kicking off his boots. War steps forwards, grabbing all of it and shoving it into another shulker at his side.
His crossbow is unhooked from the leather harness at his side, tossed away like his quiver of arrows. He gets some sort of light smugness to how War grimaces at the hot arrow tips. Then his sword is yanked free from its sheath and tossed into the same shulker along with his shield and totems and mine carts.
Defenceless. Is this what Parrot felt?
"Move." Sarge growls out, shoving him hard towards the lip of the crater where he hauls himself upwards. He spits on the sand when he stands, blood spreads across the grains. He touches his lip, finding it split and then he realises that that is the taste of copper he hadn't registered yet.
"Lettuce put you up to this? Killing Parrot because what …he was winning the hearts of the world? Your leader is a damn disgrace." Theo mutters, feather's ruffled as he's shoved forwards again.
"Competition is over, Lettuce is king." Sarge smirks to himself as he and War grab Theo by his upper arms, half dragging him onwards away from the cemetery . Away from Parrot.
"You didn't even give him a chance." He mumbles quietly, guilt ebbing in the pit of his stomach at the thought of never finding his friend again. Never being able to give him a proper burial. To say goodbye.
At first, Theo thought they'd just take him to the usual Law prison but they don't. Immediately, tension rises in his body as the three of them advance towards the Northern Council. Confusion washes over Theo's tired body, squinting as they approach quietly in the dead of night. He can't remember how long it took but it was enough for Theo to stew in his guilt and anger.
The moment Lettuce appears on the grand platform, Theo sees red.
"Well done my commanders. It seems some of you are better at following my commands. Shame that Oroboros will not see the rise of a new king come dawn. As for Parrot -"
Theo bristles, clenching his jaw so tight he's certain he's cracking a molar or two. He lunges, completely void of his own safety as he grasps Lettuce by the collar of his cloak.
"You bastard! You killed - you slaughtered him for what? Power?! I should've killed you when I ever had the chance -"
He's struck by the back of the head, his vision tilting as he's grabbed and yanked away from the so called fair king. Lettuce brushes off his collar, ears flicking to Theo's little groan of pain.
"This would've have happened if he just stayed in his lane. If he just let me continue the way I had planned…killing Parrot was not the end goal, I simply needed him gone." Lettuce answers as he tilts Theo's face up towards his own. Whisker's twitching, Lettuce tuts.
"I do not want this world to be encroached with lawless criminals. Thievery. Bullies. Scammers. Idiots who think they know better because of power."
"You're just talking about yourself." Theo spits at him, unfiltered rage and guilt ebbing in his gut.
"…Careful, I might pluck you like a chicken if you keep talking like that." Lettuce smirks softly at the way Theo's wings tuck themselves away firmly.
"Now here's what's going to happen. You're going to do what I say and use a very convenient stasis chamber or else."
Lettuce lets go of Theo's face to turn around, cape swishing in the moonlight as he descends the stairs into the castle. Theo squirms for a moment as Sarge easily pushes him forwards with a sword at his back. With no other choice, Theo walks in after the tyrant. The castle is eerie at night, the candles and fire baskets along the walls cast shadows of their stretched bodies along the walls. The rug of yellow and red runs up the hallways and Theo tries to remember where his and Parrot's living space was but his mind is scrambled.
He's pushed into a room, lit with torches and a single ender pearl stasis chamber lays before him. The bubbles pop from the neatly cut out floor and as Theo peers down the narrow chamber, he wonders if he could be quick enough to dive in and never resurface.
"One pearl. Throw it." Lettuce's voice echoes in his skull as a smooth orb is placed in his hand. Just one. Could be use it to escape? He glances at the windows to find none, just shutters that look like a window with no glass behind them. Just dark stone and chiseled tuff.
There is no way to get to out of this.
Theo exhales as he drops the pearl through the slimy honey coloured rim of the chamber and it splashes once before bobbing in the water.
"Good. Seems like you can listen after all. If only Parrot could do the same."
"Don't talk about him like that." Theo snaps as his gaze shifts to the neatly placed pressure plate that Lettuce uses, sealing his fate into the feline's paws.
"Now now. Don't ruin this. Take him, you know where." Lettuce snaps his fingers and Theo is grabbed roughly by the shoulders and dragged out of the room. Lettuce sighs, touching the end of the rod connecting to the pressure plate before standing up properly. Now he has leverage and Parrot has nothing. Theo has nothing.
"Ace? Let us go."
"Smuggler's Path? This is the cat's biggest idea?" Theo scoffs against the bitting cold that seeps into his bones. He's given nothing but a cloak to huddle into for warmth as he's led onwards. The winding path is miles above the ground, snaking around the mountain where he notices something more. A building or at least an out post.
"This is where we'll be holding you, for the rest of your days." War smirks, a grimace flashes from Theo as he made to trek down into the mouth of the mountain . Heat crawls up his skin quickly as they reach the end of the swooping corridor and he comes face to face with a magnificent room. Well, prison more like.
There's a single lonesome platform in the centre, hung by mighty chains above a sea of bubbling lava. Fantastic.
"Move." War commands, pushing the avian's back as more Law men surround them. He's coaxed forwards by the piercing tip of a sword. "And how exactly -"
He stops as reaches the end of the small bridge, the rest of his life in front of him on that platform. Three Lawmen step forwards, building a one by one bridge and War presses him to follow. It's unstable, the heat of the lava makes Theo's eyes burn as he's bridged across and pushed onto the platform by War, narrowly missing the gap that could've spelt his death.
He gets up quickly only to see the Lawmen breaking the bridge they created and Theo exhales shakily. From here, he can't hear much other than the bubbling lava and the distant howling of snowy wind.
So this is how it ends. Alone and toasty, his own version of hell. With no Parrot beside him. Standing on the platform, with nothing but the wings on his back and the sorrow in his bones, Theobald finally lets himself go. The tears, the shaking of his shoulders, the desperate pleas under his breath that maybe, somehow someway, Parrot could still be alive. Apologies ripple off his tongue. He never should've said yes to training Flame. He should've stayed with Parrot. He doesn't even think Wemmbu could've protected him like he could've.
Minutes turn to hours turn to days. Hunger sets in and he's only given eight pieces of hard bread at the end of every day he spends here. He looses track of time, how could he track it in here with no access to sunlight? Depression and anxiety sets in faster than he expected. But he never acts on it. Maybe this is payment for being such a bad friend he supposes.
Till one moment changes it all. A whistle of an arrow embedded itself at his feet one day. An arrow crafted specifically for him, with a message…
forgot to share this dumb doodle of director!theo lawl,,, concepts of the deutags being the director is pretty popular on twt rn and of Course i had to throw in CARTWINGSSS into the mix
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