Nobody else seems to think it's weird that Tommy's at the community house or that he wasn't in L'Manberg last night; it doesn't get asked. Or maybe they're just too focused on having the same argument again. Tommy asks Tubbo not to stab him in the back and says that he's just Dream's bitch if he goes through with exile; Tubbo tells Tommy that the votes and feedback came in, that the viewers think Tommy staying would be a liability to L'Manberg. Quackity is visibly torn, supporting Tommy on the merits of not doing whatever Dream says but visibly uncomfortable with Tommy's enthusiasm towards war. Fundy is almost entirely silent but seems to mostly support Tubbo. Tommy tries to propose going to Technoblade again; this is not, everyone feels, a better idea the second time around. Tubbo points out that he promised when he became president to prevent war as much as possible, that almost everyone in L'Manberg has fewer lives left than Dream and his friends do.

Dream's at L'Manberg, waiting for them. They haven't technically come to a decision, but it's not looking good. Tubbo steps forward to speak with Dream.

"Dream, do you have any final… final thoughts?

"Um, no. I just-- I guess I just wanna hear what your decision was, what you guys came to…? What you… you know. I’ve calmed down a little bit over the last uh, last couple days that I had to sit and think about, you know, what happened, what Tommy-- What Tommy did. What Tommy threatened me and… I’ve calmed down a little bit, so I guess I just wanna hear what your decision is." He pauses. "Tubbo, I trust you. I trust-- You know, you’re the best leader that L’Manburg’s ever had. I trust that you… you know. You’ve always made the best decision for L'Manberg as a… you know, a gracious leader. And I trust that whatever decision you came to, was the best one for L'Manberg."

Tubbo laughs. It's hysterical, not a nice laugh.

"I’m sorry, Tommy. I’m sorry, I am-- I am so, so sorry."

"Tubbo? You don't-- You don't have to do this--"

"Dream. I’ve come to the decision… that it'll be best for the nation, the most logical thing to do. For Tommy to be exiled from L'Manberg."

"This is what Dream wants! Why?! Why- Why would-- Why?! Tubbo?"

"When I was swearing, I made a promise. To do what was best for the nation. And right now, Tommy, you, your presence here, is not the best for this nation. Teaming with Technoblade, involving any kind of conflict, starting a war, is not the right way."

"What is the-- How is this the right way?! How are the discs wrong, Tubbo?! Can’t you see?! This has been the thing from the beginning! From the beginning, before L'Manberg--"

"They're just music discs, Tommy. They shouldn't be able to dictate the future of an entire nation!"

"But-- This is-- Our L'Manberg, this is everything, but-- Before everything-- The discs, Tubbo…! What about the discs? You-- Tubbo--"

"The discs don't matter, Tommy! How can you not see that?"

"Well if-- If they don’t matter, Tubbo, if they don’t matter, i-if you have no attachment to things? If you don’t-- If nothing matters, then… Why does any of" --he gestures to L'Manberg-- "any of this matter at all?"

Tubbo doesn't answer, just turns to Dream. "Dream, please detain and escort Tommy out of my country."

"You're my friend!"

"Goodbye, Tommy."

This was always how it was going to go. The watcher's decision may have sealed his fate, but-- there is a question of whether exile is what is actually best for the nation, or what feels like it would be best for the nation, but it's not a surprising decision for Tubbo to come to.

And it could be worse.

Tommy's alive.

Dream escorts Tommy away, pushing and wrestling him back on course whenever he tries to turn back.

Ghostbur follows Tommy; Dream pauses to talk to him. (Unless Jingyan's following as well, he can't hear what's being said.) Apparently it's fine, though; Dream shrugs and continues walking, now with Ghostbur following.

It doesn't take long before they're out of eyeshot of L'Manberg.

Jingyan would very much like to follow, but-- it's probably not in anyone's best interest for him to go now. Neither Tommy's, nor L'Manberg's, nor in last place, his own.

"What is your plan now, Tubbo? Do we support him as best we can?"

"As best as we can, yeah." Sigh. "I don't think he'll want to see me right now, if I'm even allowed to visit, but we can--we can keep preparing. Get better gear, better enchantments, take Dream on as a surprise instead of when he's expecting it and prepared and has the advantage. Act like we're allies with Dream, see if we can get any concessions from him."

He nods. It's a very sensible plan.

He hates it.

That's fair. Tubbo kind of hates it too. Unfortunately, it's the most sensible plan Tubbo's thought of so far.

"Big Q, I have one thing to ask of you. Are you alright to continue on as vice president? 'Cause we need a replacement."

"Alright. I'll be vice president, Tubbo. But we need to take down Dream. I want to be Vice President of a nation with actual power."

"Alright."

"We will defeat Dream, and bring back Tommy." He says it like a promise.