Chapter Text
Rule one of working with demons regularly:
Don't stand out.
As George watched people come and go in his business, he learned this firsthand. Every time something happened, or someone disappeared, it was because they caught the attention of some demon or spirit. Someone was just a bit to loud, or stood out, and they would be targeted. Gone the next day or week. Like clockwork.
But George had always been good at blending in, after all, he has been working in The Gates Surveillance for years, longer than anyone else.
The Gates Surveillance is an organization which monitors the demons and other ghouls coming out of the Nether and into the Overworld. It was founded after the Great War, in which both humans and demons alike suffered. Humans were slaughtered at the dozens, and demons got the worse of it. And, as the Nether came to an agreement with the Overworld, the GS was formed. Each and every entity were to be background-checked and searched before coming into the Overworld, per the GS standard. It was a long and tedious process, and the only portals you could come through were the three main ones, the East one, the West one, and "The Central."
"The Central" was named accordingly, being the largest and by-far busiest one. It was the one that the Nether led their attack through, and the one that lead to their defeat, not transformed into a hub. It was grand, polished Blackstone and high ceilings, elegant lights and ornate lanterns lighting the halls a slight blue. The walls were slick and shiny, one could see your reflection in it. The portal itself was huge as well. Stretching from floor to ceiling, the swirling hue of noisy purple was the main attraction of The Central, drawing in humans just to see demons come through. But, it wasn't all glamor.
Demons would have to go through a mandatory search, on both their person and history. Huge paper records filled with names and numbers had to be searched through. God help them if their paper was lost. Then, behind closed doors, they were questioned on what brought them, if they have anything on them, etc. This could take minutes or hours, some taken in for more questioning. If a demon was seen as suspicious, or something didn't check out, they were sent back through. And all of this happened in The Central.
And George worked at The Central.
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It's not like he wanted to, he kind of had no choice.
When the GS first arose, it was chaos. They had to document each demon, control portal entry, open up all three locations, build the hub, staff the hub, and so much more. The GS was in a frenzy, and were hiring as many people as they could.
George was poor and young. He moved out to the city for a job, and had none so far. So when those pink flyers came out, George was all to quick to join the flurry. He signed up for the mountain of paperwork, going about his tasks with great speed. What was a nightmare of papers and documents, became a manageable nightmare. George began to know the walls of papers like the back of his hand. No other people knew where everything was, so George was quickly known as The Librarian. People came to him to find documents, and eventually stopped coming at all when George took all control of the paperwork.
Things were going well, the GS was getting structure, and George was getting paid. That was all that mattered.
Back then, demons were orderly and behaved. But, over time, people begin to learn what they can get away with.
People went missing. Demons were getting by easier. But, the GS was working well, as far as the government knew.
Now, going to work was life and death. The constant threat of going missing or worse, caused people to quit. The GS, in order to cover this up, ordered that there was a fee to quitting, an absurd fee. George couldn't afford to leave, so he learned how to survive.
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It was a pretty calm day at The Central. The place was pretty empty, spare a few demons. It was unnerving; silence was not common here. If he listened closely, he could hear the muffled sound of rain outside. From the back, George heard a sly deep voice approach the counter.
"Dream, #46753298" He was tall and dressed in a green cloak, a white porcelain mask with a childish smile covering his face. He looked down at the person working at the counter, Karl, and handed a small grey card to them.
"George?" Karl spoke, handing the card to him, giving him a knowing glance. Hurry up.
George sped off, walking with his head down to the hall. Papers lined the walls, from floor to ceiling, rows upon rows of cabinets and file holders. George walked down the rows, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Demons have that effect on humans, it causes weakness or fatigue in most. Usually that doesn't effect me.
George found the row he was looking for, climbed up one of the many ladders, and opened the cabinet. Reaching in, he carefully pulled out a sheet of paper, and closed the cabinet back up.
Coming back to the counter, he could hear Dream speak again.
"I come here so often, do we really need to go through this process?" He was leaning over, using his height to tower over the attendant.
"Uh- S-sir I'm going to need you to step back..." Karl was in distress, the effects of being near a powerful demon clear. He was sweating, obviously intimidated by Dream.
George abandoned all reason and stepped in, placing the paper down on the counter and clearing his throat. He looked Dream in the eyes, and calmly stated, "Sorry for the wait."
George walked back to the hall of papers wondering why the fuck he just did that, but was stopped short when he was called to by Dream.
"Excuse me, there seems to be a problem with the paper~" George could hear the smirk in his voice. Bullshit.
Turning around with a faked smile and a nice voice, he put on his best performance yet. "What seems to be the problem?"
"The number is off," Dream pointed to the paper, tilting his head. "It is supposed to be 46753298, not 46753299."
George grabbed the paper with more aggression than necessary and looked. Sure enough, the card had 46753298 and the paper had 46753299. This never happened, ever. George was too careful with the documents at all times to let a mishap happen. George felt nervous, checking the card and paper at least 4 more times.
He glanced upward, and plastered a smile onto his face. "I'm sorry, it seems like there has been a problem in your documents. You will have to come back an-"
Dream had became impossibly tall, pushing out power. George felt his knees tremble as fear and dread climbed up his spine. He couldn't stand to look at the demon any longer, but he couldn't tear away his gaze. "That will be a problem, you see."
Dream reached his hand up to his mask, pulling it off his face slowly. George tried to call for help, but no sound came out. It was like his ears were stuffed with cotton, everything was quiet and loud at the same time. Karl was paralyzed too, no doubt in fear as well. George felt like he was going to throw up
Dream continued, deep voice rattling every bone in his body. "I have very important things to get to."
George watched as Dream's mask slowly came off of his face and felt his vision go blurry. His knees collapsed and he fell to the ground. His conscious faded to black as Dream's laugh rang out.
Chapter 2: 2
Notes:
Heyo, i messed up so it just appeared as a one-shot, m'bad! there will be more chapters, i just suck at Ao3!
We are a firm Karlnapity here, and you can fight me!
also its real late at night, so there might be mistakes!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
George felt his eyes flutter open, consciousness entering him. The light was bright for George. Too bright.
George brought up his hand to block his eyes, but his hand was restrained. His head felt like it was going to explode, like someone was banging pots and pans inside his skull. To his right, he saw Karl still unconscious. His hands and ankles were tied loosely with a thin red rope and his multicolored hoodie was slightly torn. George looked around, his eyes finally adjusting. He was in a seemingly normal room, lying down on a red couch. The room had a few velvet red couches and chairs, and a table in the far corner. There was a door to the left of George, a small keypad right next to it, and a door next to the table.
It was hot, like a dry heat. George could only assume he wasn't in the Overworld.
Doing his best to sit up on the couch, he tried poking Karl with his bound legs. Karl awoke drowsily, going through the same process and realization as George.
"What the honk!?" Karl exclaimed, looking around wildly and pulling on his restraints.
George shushed him gently, speaking in a quieter voice. "Karl. Karl! Listen, panicking will get us nowhere. Let's try to focus on getting out, we don't know when they will come."
Karl nodded, doing his best to hide his fear of being just fucking kidnapped.
George spoke calmly. "This has been happening a lot, we knew already that people were going missing. Dream-" George stopped, shivering at the thought of the demon. "Dream must have taken us for some reason. The fact that we aren't dead yet proves that." Karl nodded, believing, or at least making himself believe, George's logic.
George continued, stating facts. "So, we can see that the door is probably locked, hence the keypad. We both are tied, but I think I can slip out of mine."
"So what can we do?" Karl's lip trembled, speaking quietly.
George looked at the door, weighing his options. He could get out of his ties now, but he would be unable to do anything. He could cause a ruckus, as a distraction, but that could warrant violence towards him and Karl, the last thing he wanted. Reaching a consensus, he spoke to Karl. "We wait."
George's waiting didn't last long, the door opening with a click. His eyes narrowed as he saw the tall figure of Dream walk in, his head ducking under the door. He swapped his green cloak for a simple hoodie. George didn't know how he could wear a hoodie in the heat. He was followed by another demon, slightly short with a white bandanna holding his jet black hair back. His shirt was white with a small fire emblem on it.
"So which one is 'The Librarian'?'" the other man spoke.
Dream looked George in the eyes and pointed, his face unreadable behind the mask. "It's that one, Sapnap. His name's George, I presume?"
George stared at him with fire in his eyes, meeting his gaze. "Why did you kidnap us?"
"Well," Dream said, tilting his head and walking closer. "I wouldn't call it kidnapping~ It was persuasive-"
Sapnap spoke again. "Dream it was totally kidnapping... You take-" He paused. A smile spread across his face. "Georgie here for questioning. I'll stay here to look after the other one."
All attention was directed towards Karl, who was still on the floor and terrified. Dream spoke again, "I don't know why we kept him. He doesn't have any use."
Karl's eyes went wide, fear seeping off of him. Sapnap walked over to him, studying him. "I don't know Dreamie, he's kinda cute." He was smirking, delighted by Karl's response.
"Sure, why not." Dream sighed and shrugged, turning his attention to George again. "Alright! You can come willingly or not willingly!"
"Like FUCK I'll come with you!?" George spat.
Dream just walked over and grabbed the restrained George bridal style. George tried to struggle out of his grasp to no avail, cursing at him. Dream punched in a code, too fast for George to memorize. 139-- The door opened with a click, and Dream left, not bothering to say bye to Sapnap who was busy with Karl.
They sped down a series of halls, George trying to memorize each one, looking for an exit to the hallway hellscape. They eventually stopped at a room, the heavy metal door pushing open.
"Jesus Dream, took you long enough... Bad was trying to talk to me about cursing." In the room was a table, three chairs to the right, one on the left. Two people were already in there, one who wore black and red with white eyes, and the other had golden wings and a beanie.
Dream scoffed. "Shut the fuck up, Quackity. He's here now, that's all that matters." The person in red, presumably Bad, said "language" quietly. He sat George down not-so-gently in the chair and took his spot in the other chair. They all looked at him, studying the small brit. The silence was thick.
Finally, Quackity spoke. "Is this the right person, Dream? The one who 'knows all records and papers?'" Dream nodded.
Quackity continued, turning a coin in his hand. "Well, George, can I call you George?~ There are rumors that there is a person who sorts through and handles all documents. Important ones, real important ones. We could use that information."
"What makes you think I'd tell you shit? Yeah, I'm the person that handles it all, but I assure to you that nothing you guys could do would be as worse as what the GS would do to me." George stated with fake confidence.
Dream, Quackity, and Bad all looked at each other. Dream and Quackity's expressions were unreadable. Bad looked worried and slightly, guilty? Why would he be guilty?
"Guys, it's his job, you can't fault him for that..." Bad spoke quietly.
Dream sighed, looking back at a confused George, and spoke darkly. "George I don't have much patience." George felt the same emotion he felt earlier, the fear and dread, creep up. "Just tell us where they keep the GS Project 34 Documents."
George's blood ran cold and his face dropped. Project 34? "N-no I haven't heard of those... It-It must be for people of higher clea-"
"George," Dream growled. "There is one person, and one person alone who manages all paper documents. You know where they are."
Of course I fucking know where they are. "No! I don't, I'm sorry! I-I can't help you!!" George cried out.
Dream stood up gradually, bringing his hand up to his mask. George was shaking, fear taking him. "FINE! Th-They store them inside the hall of papers, in the cabinets in the back!!" George all but shrieked.
This time Quackity spoke, his tone low. "Aww, a solid lie Georgie~, but we have people on the inside." He smirked and watched as George's eyes widened.
"W-wait I can explain! I-" Tears were falling openly from George's face. "I can't tell you." And with that, George fainted, the intimidation and sheer power radiating off of the demons taking him. Dream cursed and sat down.
"What the fuck Dream? Tone it down next time! We can't question him if he fucking faints." Quackity sighed and got up to leave, turning around to address Bad. "Bad, can you tell Sapnap I'll be back late?" Bad nodded, saying goodbye with a wave.
Dream put his head in his hands once Quackity left, groaning. "What are we going to do Bad? He won't tell shit." Bad looked at him sympathetically, going to stand up.
"Maybe, fear isn't the tactic?" Dream looked up at him. "Try to turn him against the GS?" Dream nodded slowly and went back to laying his head down. Bad closed the door, taking one more look at George and Dream.
Dream dropped unconscious George onto one of the couches. Sapnap had left, leaving just Karl on the floor. He looked horrified.
Dream undid the bindings on George, calling to Karl in the corner. "Don't worry, he's not dead." He punched in the code to the door and left.
Fear isn't the tactic.
Notes:
me me lika da comments!
Chapter 3: 3
Summary:
*shrug*
Notes:
heyo i didn't upload for a while because i was sick, and not in the cool way...
anyway hi
LISTEN I KNOW ITS MOSTLY KARLNAPITY BUT YOU MUST WAIT FOR THE DNF, PLEASE TRUST ME THIS IS DNF, I SW-
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"-eorge! George!"
George awoke suddenly, looking around wildly. Karl jumped back from being at his side and sighed.
"What the honk, you worried me! I tried calling your name and you never even flinched!" Karl looked at George with a worried expression.
George looked around the room he was in. Same red couches and chairs. Still hot as fuck. A small sense of déjà vu. "Karl, did they do anything to you?"
Karl paused. "What? No, uh Sapnap just stayed in here and talked for a bit. What about you? You were taken away and came back unconscious!"
George sighed, debating on how much to tell him. He had worked with Karl for a while and became good friends, even when The Central became living hell. He held a smile and always cheered George up when he could. He deserves to know. "Listen Karl. The GS has some," George stopped, looking around and quieting his voice. "secrets. Secrets that most people in The Central, hell, even in the GS don't know. I don't know if we are being recorded, so I can't tell you much, but they want to know about a really important project."
Karl leaned forward, his eyes widening.
George tapped the spot on the couch next to him, Karl joining him happily. "A really important project that started before the Great War. Something that would have tipped the tides in the Neither's favor. The project documents are well hidden, so they want me to tell them where they are." George finished off with a sigh, getting up to stand.
Karl spoke. "Who are they?"
"Well, that bastard Dream, and some demons named Quackity and Bad..." George thought about the white eyed demon for a moment.
Karl jumped up. "OH! Sapnap was talking about a demon named Quackity!"
George walked around the room, going to the keypad first. 139-- He lazily punched in some numbers, not really trying. The brit walked to the door on the other end of the room, opening it to find a bathroom. At least they are considerate.
"So," Karl piped up, a little bit quieter than before. "Did you tell them? Where the documents were, that is?"
George let out a small laugh. "Do you know what the GS would do if they found me? If they found me and knew I told demons where to find Project 34? I would be dead Karl. Maybe you too. There is nothing that demons could do to wrench the truth out of me, because the GS will do ten times worse."
"This was before you came to work at The Central, but there was a guy. He had worked there for a while, but was paid to find out things for the Nether. The GS caught him. And-"
Karl cut him off. "I get it... I never knew that-"
"That they could be so cruel, so harsh? They wouldn't let us leave our jobs. Those fines were more than you or I could pay." Karl nodded slowly, looking down.
George saw that he went off in a tangent, changing the subject. "Listen, lets focus on getting out of the Nether. It's hot as hell, and we can quit our jobs at The Central afterword. They'll have to let us go."
Karl nodded again, this time looking up, determination in his eyes. "Okay! How?"
"Well, we could try at this keypad. I know it starts with 139, so all we would have to try is, 55 combinations or so?" Karl gave a slight laugh at that. "Or, we can wait until they come back and either guilt them, or trick them. Something tells me that we can not beat them when fighting."
"George, t-that doesn't give us a lot of options."
George sighed. "How did this happen Karl? When did it go wrong?"
Karl sat back down. He put his hands in his hands, holding back his urge to scream or cry. George could hear his muffled voice. "George. You don't think that they will kill us, right? The demons?" George looked over at his friend and sat next to him. They sat like that in silence for a while.
Click. Dream ducked under the door frame, trailing a Sapnap who held two plates. "I don't know what you guys eat, but I got some bread and s-"
"Fuck off." George looked at Dream, who was in the same green hoodie.
Dream raised his pointer finger. "For one, rude. Two: I brought you food ungrateful sh-"
Sapnap cut him off quickly. "There's also muffins! It's Bad's own recipe! I told him to leave the nether wart out of it though."
Karl was lounging on the other side of the room, on one of the armchairs. (Red of course.) He looked at Sapnap with excitement, but cleared it so quick, you might have thought it was your imagination. George shot him a questioning look, but decided that there was more pressing matters. George finally spoke, glaring at the pair of demons. "And why would I eat something poisoned by you demons?"
"Hey hey! I am an Imp, Dream over there is a mess." Dream looked at Sapnap with disdain. "Fine. Dream is a demon. He won't tell us what kind, but I think he's just ashamed."
Dream promptly slapped him, putting down the plates on George's couch. "Just eat. Once your done we have to clear out." George narrowed his eyes, to which Dream responded with: "Your little friends at the GS are looking for you guys."
Notes:
comments are pog and i will 75% of the time respond
no promises ;]
Chapter Text
Hi! it me!
I am actually going on a vacation for, 2-3 weeks!
I WILL KEEP WRITING THIS PLEASE DO NOT CLICK OFF NO-
anyway, more is sure to come! Please be patient with me, and know that I will probably be brainstorming on where the story goes!
Love you all to death, and stay sexy ;]
-Anonymous Enby <3
Notes:
I will delete this once i'm back! or maybe I won't!
Future me is a different person, and they are a bastard!
AugustusMAsky96 on Chapter 1 Fri 04 Jun 2021 11:40AM UTC
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thatoneghostreader on Chapter 4 Fri 11 Jun 2021 11:40PM UTC
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