#I wasn't scared in the dream

[dreamsausage]

dream

Had a dream that, after a shower, I realised had a huge bruise across the left side of my body, and some of my skin was transparent and I could see my organs. Me and my family were getting ready to go out for the evening, and by the time we were getting ready to leave the house, my skin had stretched and I could see my intestines poking out. It didn't hurt at all and I kept saying to my parents, "I think there's something wrong. I don't know how I did this." they were mildly concerned. It seemed they were conflicted about whether we should go wherever we were going or take me to hospital first. I woke up leaning on my left.

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Starcrossed

Here we go! the next Drabble :D @spotaus

As the poll ended it gave me two options and I wanted to write a Cross POV. So. Starcrossed :D

First: here Prev: here Next: here

Timewise?

We are about... a Month and like three weeks in. So a month of Nightmare being alone. Three weeks of him being with the gang. about a small week after Killer soul-adopting Nightmare (with Dust adopting Nightmare in the first week as the madlad he is).

Okay? We good timeline wise? okay.

As always, unedited and unbeta'ed. This is not ever going to change unless i one day decide to make a full story of these drabbles and add extra stuff and change the chapters up.

Anyway!

*------------------------*

Cross rubs his face as he continues to walk "Dust."

Dust just hums to let him know he heard.

Cross shoots him a look "He has legs. he can walk." with he, Cross obviously means Nightmare.

Dust doesn't even look at Cross or look in anyway surprised by that sentence. Instead he just keeps walking as he holds Nightmare in his arms "I know."

Cross stares at him but Dust doesn't continue to speak.

He groans "So why isn't he walking?!"

Dust shrugs and instead bounces Nightmare up a bit to enable Dust to have a more secure and stable hold on Nightmare.

Nightmare for his part does not look bothered as he just relaxes against Dust as he looks back over Dust's shoulder and watches other people go about their day.

Cross rubs his face "honestly what is the deal with you and carrying him?"

Dust shoots him an amused look "I want to."

Cross throws his arms and hands out "That can't be the only reason!"

Dust shrugs "Don't need more reasons."

Cross glares at the ground as they continue walking. He looks up and points at a store "This one?"

Dust looks at it and shakes his skull.

Cross groans loudly "What is wrong wit this one?!"

Dust raises a brow "Wrong style."

Cross crosses, heh, his arms as he glances at Dust "You know. this whole clothes shopping thing would be a lot easier if you actually picked a store to enter."

Dust shrugs again "Not good enough." and he gently bonks his skull against Nightmare's.

Cross can't believe this is the same Dust that got his own clothes by walking into the frist store he saw and grabbing the first set of clothes he saw. before calling it a day. Dust's wardrobe was hardly ever actually his size.

Now? The first store was too low quality; then not the right colours; then wrong materials; then too bland; then too sexy, with this one Cross had agreed and questioned why they would need a shirt for a six year old with the words 'lady killer' on them; then to tight and restrictive; and now just 'not good enough'.

When Cross agreed to help Dust get Nightmare new clothes instead of breaking and entering a place wiht Killer he had hoped it would be the less stressful option.

Cross rubs his face "Wiht you being this picky he is never going to get clothes that fit him."

Dust shrugs again and seems fully unbothered. Which may just be because Nightmare primarily still wears his stuff.

Cross doesn't get it. well he kinda does. Babybones are cute nad he also notices the need to take care of him but. It is Nightmare! It is a matter of time before he is an adult again and then none of this will have mattered! Or maybe they will have and then what? How would he recover from this?!

It is best to remind himself that this may be Nightmare and he may be six but Nightmare will one day become that powerful and formidable monster again and so to keep treating him with the respect he deserves!

They walk silently through the twon for a moment and Cross can see that Nightmare is dozing in Dust's hold. completely content and trusting.

Cross shoots a look at Dust. "I just don't get it...."

Dust blinks nad looks over "What?"

Cross feels himself grow warm with embarrassment. He hadn't meant to say it out loud and he says as much.

Dust rolls his eye lights and waits with a raised brow.

Cross grumbles but tries to explain "How can you... treat him like a babybones that easily?"

Dust tilts his skull and glances down at Nightmare before looking back at Cross "Because he is one." the way Dust says it implies it is the obvious answer.

Cross groans as he tries to explain more "But he used to be big and an adult. Or at least look like one? How can you jsut... switch to seeing him as a babybones?"

Dust tilts his skull adn snorts "easy. people change. people you watched grow up or grow older, do you still treat them like kids even though they are adults. because you knew them as kids?"

Cross blinks nad speaks "This is different?"

Dust shakes his skull "I don't agree. it is the same concept. just slightly different. he used to be a child. magic gave him the body and brain of an adult. but his soul was sitll a child and once the magic was gone he is a child again. So you treat him as a child."

Cross frowns as looks to the side "What if he becomes on adult again?"

Dust starts to grin "I mean. that is usually how growing up works."

Cross knows he is blushing again and glares "You know what i meant."

Dust chuckles and shrugs "The same still implies. We will just be lucky we managed to skip the teenage years with him."

Cross wasn't sure what he expected as answer but maybe he should have seen something like this coming. Dust was after all all for this parentship thing they have going on right now... and Dust is a very smart and logical person. Of course he managed to find comparisons to normal day life and managed to accept it more easily. Hell Dust probably has even more examples ready to use if Cross asks for it.

It is still just... difficult to accept for him. Cross will need more time. Luckily none of them seem to mind him lagging behind in this case. Killer had also taken longer than Dust to accept the situation fully, but Killer managed to work it out.

Horror is much chiller about what is going on. He didn't seem surprised at Dust's reaction and even less at Killer joining the 'parent-camp' with Dust.

Maybe there is just something wrong with him... it wouldn't be the first time...

Cross sighs as they stop by the plaza and manage to just see the house that Horror and Killer should be robbing. "well, either way we are soon out of time and will have been unsuccessful" great. the one thing they had to do was get Nightmare a spare outfit. They didn't even need to try shoes and-

Dust freezes "fuck."

Cross turns "what is wrong?" as he says it he sees Dust eye the plaza around them, all while he ducks further and further behind the fountain as Nightmare shakes.

Dust looks around the plaza "Stars. All three." he glares "empty... can't make a break for it using the crowd as cover..."

and a teleport would be too loud and will clue them in on them being here. Fuck indeed.

Cross sneaks a look and sees the three skeletons talk and converse casually. the rattling from Nightmare is a sign of pure fear and Cross feels himself grow worried even as he texts Horror and Killer about their emergency.

How... how would they react to Nightmare being a child? Dream had already made it clear that he thought Nightmare was corrupted and none of his brother had remained. What would he do if he saw Nightmare?

Best case scenerio would be him kidnaping Nightmare and locking him away... Worst case just... dusting him. Make sure Nightmare never becomes the powerful being he can be.

Cross notices that they have been seen as Dream looks shocked while Blue waves and starts to shout "Hey! DUst and Cross!" Cross acts as if he didn't hear or noticed them.

Cross stares at Dust "What do we do-"

and Dust just, undoes his own hoody. he pulls it over his head and even ignores the red scarf that falls to the ground next to Nightmare- wait when did Dust put Nightmare down.

Dust puts the hoody on Nightmare with one smooth motion and pulls the hoody up, he next uses the strings to make it tight and tests to make sure it doesn't come off easily.

Dust stares at Nightmare as he quickly puts on the scarf again "You just keep your face and skull against my shoulder and neck okay? Don't glance, don't react. Just act shy or asleep. Nothing will get you." and Dust picks him up again. Nightmare, without a single word, pushes his face into the soft scarf and together with the large hoody there is nothing visible that could be used to indentify him.

Holy shit that is so smart-

"Hey you two! We didn't expect to see you just hanging- what... is that?!" Blue looks beyond excited as he stares at the tiny bundle that is Nightmare. Cross feels his anxiety and panic turn hotter into a raging fire. Dont. get. near. him.

Dust just shoots Blue a look and speaks in a quiet voice "sh. quiet."

Blue gives a sheepish look and speaks much softer "oh. I am sorry. The kiddo is tired?" Dust just nods.

Cross sees his change and nods as well "We were taking a quick break but were going to leave again." he can see Killer and Horror look through the window of the house they are robbing and sees them see their situation.

Blue looks sad but nods "Yeah. I get that-"

Ink interrupts him "How did you two get a child?!"

Dream looks suspicious but doesn't say anything.

Fuck, he can probably feel Nightmare's fear doesn't he? and he wouldn't know it is fear directed at the Stars... Oh no.

Dust raises a brow and doesn't even bother to answer as he starts to take a few steps back, away from the Stars. Cross cna see that Horror is climbing down the side of the house as Killer glares at the Stars.

Ink gasps "I knew it! You two kidnaped a child!" he holds out his hands "Hand the child back and we will find their parents!"

Dust growls as he steps further back.

Cross panics and answers without thinking "We didn't steal him! He is Dust's you idiots!"

dead. silence.

The three Stars look shocked at Cross and Cross can actually see both Horror and Killer also stare at him in shock.

Ink snorts "Really? and who is the other parent?"

Cross huffs "First off, you don't nessesarily need two parents to make a child, learn basic monster biology first before making claims. second, obviously it is" think think think think think just say something! "me." NO NOT THAT!

The silence of before is NOTHING compared to the silence now. Cross is actually sure he can hear a pin drop in one of the stores around them at the moment.

No one moves and it doesn't help that Cross can see both Dust and Nightmare shoot him incredulously glances.

Oh please someone shoot him because Horror even pauses his own climb to shoot him a raised eye brow while Killer is ACTUALLY wiggling his eye brows at him.

Just end him. Please his mind did not work with him. He had just been thinking so much about how everyone had been treating Ngihtmare and how he saw the situation.

Dream is the one who coughs and looks to the side awkwardly "oh. wow. euh... congrats? I didn't realise you two were... you know... an item." please please please please shut up. "and a babybones as well! Wow! That is... unbelieveable!"

Blue nods "Yeah! No one knew!"

Cross still can't find the words and is actually afraid of what he will say next. Dust however shrugs and has managed to pull his face back in his normal bored look "prefer privacy. it is no ones business." and he raises a brow at them.

Blue smiles brightly "of course! We won't tell others. stars knows everyone wants a quiet moment nowadays..."

Dream nods before quickly changing the subject "right! We were just curious what you two were doing out and-" he looks horrifed "Oh stars... you two are on a date! A fmaily date! and we crushed it and interrupted it and we are so sorry!"

Cross suddenly understands why Chara and Gaster would use the reset and overwrite power. please just let him change this moment to have been anything else. please.

Dust hums and shrugs. Not really answering any question.

Dream still looks embarrassed "anyway! we... euh... well... were wondering what you were doing. Now we know that that is great! euh... So... my brother just... doesn't mind this?"

Any embarrassement disappears. Hot rage in his body. Cross glares as his crosses his arms.

Dream sputters but continues "you know... be is so against positivity... and this... this is a beautiful and wonderful thing! Doesn't he...isn't he..." he smiles sheepish.

Cross glares "no. He doesn't. In matter of fact. He is very fine with the situation at hand. very willing to help in a way he can." Cross isn't even lying. While Nightmare doesn't like having been changed back he isn't diffficult anymore and more than happy to stick with Dust, and them all, now. Nightmare is also not fussy when out and about on missions and aside from being grumpy he is a perfect good babybones.

Dust nods "you should stop talking about people you know nothing about." he looks at Cross "lets go. he is tired."

Cross nods and sees Horror sign at Killer to get down as well. Killer shrugs and just lets himself fall from the third floor right into Horror's arms. The two disappear into some side street.

Cross nods and looks at Dust "you first." Cross will just walk behind Dust and make sure the Stars don't get any glimbs near the end.

Dust nods and turns easily as he walks away, Cross can see how Dust changes the hand mid turn and Nightmare sinks a little lower. Making it that his skull doesn't even peak over Dust's shoulder.

They walk away in silence and take many turns to get some distance. As soon as Cross is sure the Stars can't hear or see them he says so. Which causes Dust to nod before sprinting, Cross is quick to follow.

They reach the edge of town in record time and Cross glances back "okay. we are good. we are fine... we got out."

Dsut nods before looking at him very amused "we made a babybones?"

Cross feels himself grow warm for so many reasons as he sputters "I panicked! I am sorry I implied we were- that we did!" he hides his face.

Dust chuckles and pats his shoulder "It is fine."

Cross relaxes and smiles in thanks.

Dust raises a brow "Killer will never let you live this down."

Cross groans "just end me."

Dust hums "I don't know. I don't think killing the other parent of my child works in my favour." he grins so goddamnit amused.

Cross is never going to hear the end of this.

*-----------------*

First: here Prev: here Next: here

Cross was so close to soul-adopting Nightmare but then the Stars interrupted and Cross panicked.

Also, important. Noticed how Cross only apologised for implying he and Dust made the babybones together? But not that he is a parent? Cross is getting there. It will just take him a while.

[frogayyyy]

we've had fireworks every single night this week. then it'll be halloween and then bonfire night. :/

[arthursfuckinghat]

Let death be a lesson to you.

[thetardisisnotourdivision]

Hey did I ever tell y'all about the time I dreamed that I had a baby daughter called Ellie that began with my finding out I was pregnant and ended on like her third birthday?

I legitimately woke up thinking "I should go check on Ellie" and then realised she was never real and when I tell you I SOBBED. I've been haunted by an implacable sense of loss ever since. Did I travel to another dimension? Wtf happened because that was insane.

[dracdliweht]

Last night i dreamt that caine was fighting a semi corrupted kaufmo and kaufmo grabbed caine's jaw and split it sideways, making a huge cracking sound and spewing blood everywhere. Kaufmo ran off, and Caine was left sitting against the wall, bleeding and panting. And Jax turned into a car

[midnightmah07]

Can I just say that, at least with the few spoilers I got, I am SO GLAD Savanaclaw's chapter in book 7 was not silly at all, like ofc there might've been a few jokes here and there but overall they seemed to treat all the 3 boys seriously as well as their dreams and as a Savanaclaw fan that makes me SOOO HAPPY😭😭😭💙💙💙

[dragon-tamer-1]

Aftermare Week 2024

Day2(6): Destroy(ed)/(Re)Building

Geno was hanging upside-down from the Tree of Feelings, just above where Nightmare was. Nightmare was reading a book he got from the library. Nightmare's thoughts wandered, he couldn't help but think on how the last year went. The villagers, particularly the ones who were very hostile to him, were starting to actually give him a chance. He can't help but to believe that Geno arriving here was the cause of it, though it took a while for this to happen. They still bullied and hurt him after Geno showed up, but Geno had started protecting him. Something that Dream never-... No, it wasn't Dream's fault. Dream didn't know it was happening, or at least didn't know the extent of it. He wished he said something before, now, as things were getting better with both Geno and Dream advocating for the villagers to stop abusing him(he wasn't sure if that's what he'd call it, but Geno insisted that's what they were doing to him). He's incredibly grateful for Geno, even if he went and told Dream after the last time the bad villagers attacked him when he didn't want him to. He couldn't deny that it felt better to have his brother know about it now, though, not after the results that came afterwards.

The villagers no longer unofficially banned him from entering the village with or without his brother(they never said he wasn't allowed but the way they treated him pretty much implied it), some of them were still wary of him, but they were starting to warm up to him it seems. Some of them even apologized for not helping him sooner, they were some of the ones who weren't mean to him, though they never helped much before, if they knew at all. He certainly didn't want to dwell on how many people might not have known what was happening to him, or who knew what was happening and didn't care.

Overall, it's only been good ever since Geno arrived, they even started dating a month ago. Geno still misses his brother, but he's been happy here.

Noticing the position of the sun as being roughly noon, Nightmare was about to ask if Geno wanted to grab a bite to eat for lunch. But before he did, there seemed to be a sudden flash of light. And as soon as the light faded and he could see again, there was what he could only describe as a tear in the air beside Geno. He immediately dropped the book as he jumped up, and Geno, still partially blinded, falls off the branch trying to right himself. Just as Nightmare was about to catch him, the tear started to drag Geno in. He grabs Geno's scarf in one hand and tries to reach for his hand or something to try to keep him from going through the tear. Neither of them know what's on the other side, and they don't want to find out.

Unfortunately, it was not enough. Geno was pulled through, but not before his scarf was pulled from his neck, leaving Nightmare with only his scarf. Nightmare and Geno had one last look at each other, tears in their eyes as they realized this was the last time they'd see each other and horror at what was happening, then the tear in space closed.

Nightmare clutched the scarf as he broke down, and soon after rain clouds have gathered. Dream returned after it started pouring and as soon as he saw how distraught his brother was he ran to him. He nearly slipped on the grass, but caught himself. He noticed Geno was nowhere in sight but his priority is his brother right now.

"Brother, what's wrong? Are you ok? Are you hurt? Where's Geno, I don't see him? Wait, is that his-"

"He- he's gone, he's gone and I-I couldn't- I couldn't *hic* save him. He- I-..."

"Brother, Night, please, slow down. You have to breath, okay? What happened? Geno's gone?"

He took a few deep breaths, and tried to explain what happened, having to pause between sobs. Dream started crying along with him as what happened sank in. Geno, his brother's partner, his friend, the one who ultimately helped both of them in different ways, was gone. He protected his brother when he was unable to, even when he wanted to so bad, but didn't want to pressure his brother when he didn't want to talk to him about what was happening with the villagers. He helped him set firmer boundaries with the villagers, not letting them overwork him like they were, and in the end he and Nightmare were feeling closer than before now that they weren't keeping things from each other. All they could do in this moment was mourn Geno, as they hugged each other in the pouring rain.

~meanwhile~

Geno landed on the other side of the tear very disoriented. Upon trying to stand he noticed that everything was dark, an almost unfamiliar type of dark. He also noticed the familiar glitching over his right eye socket. Then a small presence ran up to him on his blind side and almost knocked him over.

"Agh! What the- Frisk!?"

"You were gone for so long, where were you!?"

"I-"

"Wait, you're crying, are you okay? What happened?"

"Woa-"

"You're not hurt, are you? Where's your scarf?"

"Stop!! What do you care, anyway!?"

"... I'm sorry. I was just... I'll go."

Frisk left to the only patch of grass in the Save Screen, though they were still worried about him. He was gone for so long, and they had no idea what happened to him. They wanted so bad to comfort him right now, as much as they knew that they probably weren't who he wanted near him. They did a lot to him, so they knew he wouldn't trust them. But he's clearly going through something right now.

Some time later, Geno had gotten up, but still felt defeated. So he was back in the Save Screen, huh? Was this what he deserves? Is this the karma he deserves for not protecting Papyrus that first Genocide route? Doomed to be stuck here with the kid who started it all? To do nothing but watch as Chara continues to Reset and do whatever they want? Is he really not allowed to be happy? Even once?

He shakes these thoughts out of his head for now, he can have another mental/emotional breakdown later. He looks over to Frisk, and regrets what he said earlier. As much as he wants to stay mad at them, his year with Nightmare and his brother Dream has given him a lot of time to process and think over what he's been through, and also think about Frisk and their ability to Reset. He can't help but think how the power could have made it too easy to want to do things again and again. He doesn't think he can forgive them yet, but he can certainly be a bit kinder to them.

He walks over to them and moves to sit beside them.

"Hey, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. You didn't deserve that."

Frisk, surprised, just stared at him for a moment. "What?"

"You didn't deserve to be yelled at for worrying about me. I shouldn't have said that. I was, am still dealing with another loss I just had. To answer your earlier questions, I had been transported to some other world very different than ours. One that seemed to have humans and monsters getting along, well, for the most part. And there were two brothers I met there, they were called Dream and Nightmare. They helped to take care of me, even when I was... stubborn. The reason for me crying was because I had been forcibly taken from there when I had been there for a year and had grown pretty close with the two, especially one of the brothers, Nightmare. I helped them as well, Nightmare was being abused by the villagers there because of a stupid assumption or rumor that they thought was fact. Put a stop to that nonsense, and also got the two brothers to start telling each other these things."

Frisk let him talk about all that happened, and couldn't help but feel both happy and sad for Geno. It seemed like he was able to be happy where he ended up, but the fact he had been dragged back here..., it was so unfair.

Eventually, they both started talking about how they could maybe fix their situation without actually destroying the timeline like Geno was initially planning to do. His time with Dream and Nightmare had given him time to think about what he would've even accomplished by doing so, and how unfair it was to everyone else that he decided their fate for them. So he had decided that he would figure something else out if he was able to come back on his own. Except that was when he was kinda wanting to go back to Papyrus more than hanging out with the brothers.

"Okay, so what can we do about Chara? I think we both can agree they can't be allowed to keep killing everyone."

"Yeah, what about still bringing them here? But I don't know what we could do after that."

"That's a start, at least. Let's see what Sans is up to."

As he says this, he opens up a window to where Sans is, after a moment to remember how he did it in the first place. The window shows Sans in the Judgement Hall, and observing for a while longer reveals that Chara is back to killing the entire Underground. 'Seriously? How many times has this gone on since he was gone? Don't they get bored of doing this over and over?'

There's nothing left to do but wait, Geno remembers that it's easiest to get Sans here while he's unconscious or a Reset happens. And soon enough, Sans gets hit, dies, and then the Reset happens. Geno snaps his fingers, and Sans is in the Save Screen.

Sans was confused, where was he? As he turns around, he remembers where this is. It's been a long time since he was here, and he was starting to worry about Geno with how long it's been without him summoning him into the Save Screen. And, wait, where is his scarf? And last he remembers, he wasn't fond of Frisk, yet he seems to be rather chill with them.

"Heya, been a long time, huh?"

"Yeah, it has been a while, sorry for disapperin' on ya, there was apparently an unplanned vacation I was sent on."

"What? I thought you couldn't leave this place?"

"I thought so too, but whatever it was that transported me there also made it so I was fine. I don't really know how that worked. But then after I had been comfortable there, I was transported back here, and for all I know, I'm still not able to leave here without dying. But, enough about that for now. I wanted to talk to you about how we can stop Chara."

Sans let out a disappointed sigh, "if this is about destroying our timeline, it's still a no."

"Oh, no, no it's not that, actually. Though I guess it can still be a backup if we really can't solve this a different way-"

Frisk decided to speak up, "We're not destroying our timeline, Geno."

"So then, what was this new plan?"

"There isn't much of a fully thought out plan, but first step is to bring Chara here. But we don't know what step two would be because I don't know how we can stop them completely."

"Ah, so we're just brainstorming things, then?"

"Pretty much."

"Hm, well, what if..."

~Timeskip to after the events of Aftertale happen and Geno is on the Surface with everyone(I'm lazy and have to progress to the rest of the story without this basically retelling all of the climax of Aftertale. Just pretend that the end of Aftertale had this kind of background with Geno not attacking Sans after getting Chara and Papyrus into the Save Screen. Also I'm just leaving this in here cause why not XD)~

Geno looked out at the sunset atop Papyrus' shoulders. He can't say that he regrets anything he's done, aside from making things harder on Sans. It's all worth it to see Papyrus again, and knowing that there won't be anymore Resets is very reassuring to him. And this view, as much as he's seen it before, is probably one of the most beautiful sights he's seen of the Surface. It's no view from that hill of the large flower field in the moonlight in the other world he spent a year in, though.

... He misses Nightmare and Dream. He can't help but wonder what they'd think of this. Surely they miss him, too.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, NEW BROTHER? YOU LOOK A LITTLE SAD."

"Oh, it's nothing. I just miss a couple of people is all. You remember the story I told you about the two brothers in the other world I was in?"

"OH, YES. I MAY NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT I KNOW THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. I'M SURE YOU'LL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN SOMEDAY, I JUST KNOW IT!"

"Heh, I'm not sure about that, but I sure hope so."

"NYEHEH!"

As time went by, Geno grew accustomed to life on the Surface alongside his two brothers, Sans and Papyrus. But even as he was happy to finally be by Papyrus' side, he couldn't deny that he missed Nightmare terribly, sometimes to the point he refused to leave his room. He was starting to wonder how he could visit that world. To go back there. The urge to see Nightmare and Dream again only grew as time went on.

So, after a year and a half on the Surface, he starts testing out the limits of his Determination. After all, Determination had kept him from dying and also got him into the Save Screen, so why wouldn't it be able to transport him to a different world? He had to try it or he would never know. So he's in the basement experimenting with Determination, and he mixes an unstable sample of Determination with a stable sample. It has the unfortunate reaction of destabilizing completely and explodes in a blast of piercing white light.

When he next gains consciousness, the only thing he sees is white, blindingly white nothing. He immediately squeezes his eyes shut, trying to adjust his eyelights to his new and unfamiliar surroundings. "Where am I? How...?" Squinting his eyes open a bit, he slowly realizes he isn't having aftereffects from the blast earlier, but that this is indeed a white void. Completely different than the Save Screen, and yet somehow just as lonely.

"Hello? Is anyone out there!?" He listened as his voice echoed in the space, how big was it? The echoes kept bouncing between invisible walls and only faded about a minute later, was it a minute? It must have been, surely. He tests the "floor," and finds that he's definitely on something solid. And starts wandering in what he thinks is a straight line, hoping to find some kind of, well, anything really.

~Timeskip, Geno is now Error, and doesn't remember anything prior to becoming Error~

It's been four years since Geno had disappeared, and while he still misses him, things are alright. Nightmare and his brother, Dream, now had a proper house near their Tree. Some of the villagers even helped build it with them. It has three bedrooms, one for Dream, one for Nightmare, and a guest bedroom. Though both of them knew the real reason they insisted it had three bedrooms, it was for Geno should he by some miracle come back to them. They knew that, by now, it was less and less likely to happen. Dream had been trying to be positive about the possibility, but even he had doubts, and Nightmare knew that. Nightmare was inconsolable for nearly a month after Geno's disappearance. He also started avoiding the villagers again for a while, too, anxious that they would start going back to how they treated him before Geno was there.

Thankfully, the villagers understood that he was going through a very hard time, and gave him space. Some had also gifted him little treats and notes to try to help comfort him, most were given through Dream though, but there were a few occasions that someone was able to give their gift to him in person. It took a while for Nightmare to get used to the idea that the villagers wouldn't hurt him and put his anxieties to rest on that. He's always seen wearing Geno's scarf, too, it brings him some comfort.

Today was a nice day, the sun was out and it was warm, but not unbearably so. Dream was out entertaining the village children while he was taking a walk and hearing out a villager's issues and trying to help them to solve/deal with them. It was going well before a portal opened up a few feet behind them. Nightmare turned to it and froze. It was like the tear that took Geno away.

Turning back to the villager, he said, "I think we're going to have to talk later, I have to deal with this." The villager nodded and ran off.

The portal was blocky and didn't hold a solid shape, shifting and also had a strange sound coming from it. As he was studying this portal's strangeness, someone came through it! It closed behind them, and the strange sound faded, but didn'tstop. It seemed to also come from the stranger. Looking at the new stranger, they looked so odd, even for a monster. Their bones were black, oh- wait, their fingers were yellow and red, and so was what he could see of their spine. And the legs are also red it seems- Wait, stop staring, it's rude. And they were wearing a red sweater with a midnight blue jacket and black shorts and... black slippers? Actually, no, that's not the weirdest thing someone can wear, and even then, it's not really a problem. The weirdest thing was that their entire figure looked like they were... not fully together?? Their figure had square chunks of them jumping in and out of their body, and the word 'Error' was randomly placed along their body.

He was going to ask them their name and what they wanted when he noticed that they were looking frantically around them, visibly distressed and on the verge of a panic attack. He saw the signs, and having had panic attacks before, knows how to deal with it. He was just going to have to hope that what helped him out of those panic attacks would help this person.

"Hey, it's okay, here, breathe in, two, three, four, hold it in for five seconds, and breathe out for six. Ready?"

He helped the stranger through the panic attack, and thankfully they're now calm. Both of them are now sitting in the grass, Nightmare had guided the other down so that if they were to pass out they wouldn't fall from standing up. They were currently looking at the grass like they had never seen grass before, so that concerned him a bit. The sound seems quieter.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "Uh, hey, how are you doing? Feeling any better?"

They looked up at him, "Y-Yeah, I'm feelin-ng better now, tha-thank you-u. You look v-very ni-ice. Very colorfu-ful."

Nightmare, caught off guard, felt his face heat up. "U-uh, thanks? You're pretty colorful yourself."

"You look kinda-a familiar for some re-reason, but you're the f-first person I've me-met. So I don't kn-ow why I would recogn-nize you."

"I do? That does sound odd, huh? Ah! I had forgotten about introductions. I'm Nightmare, what's your name?"

"Oh, I'm, uhh-uh..." He squinted his eyes in thought as he tried to remember his name. "... Error, that'ssss it. Yeah, my na-name is Err-ror."

"It's nice to meet you, Error. Where did you come from? You were pretty freaked out when you got here."

"I'm n-not too sure? I don't know w-what the place is-s-s, but there's ju-ust, nothing in there? Hold-d-d on I think I can open a port-tal back there? I'm pretty new t-to this though..."

Error concentrates before waving a hand through the air in front of them, and the strange noise that's been there gets stronger again. The portal opens, and Nightmare can only see white. He can't see anything else in there, and looking for a while is starting to hurt his eyelights.

"Is that really what it looks like? It's just white. How long have you been in there?"

"Yeah, it's pre-retty barren, b-but it's kinda al-l I know? I thi-ink? I don't rememb-er anything else bef-fore I woke up there. And I-I don't know how long-ng I've been there, it just felt li-i-ike a very long time? Or was it a short tim-me? I'm not sure..." He closed the portal again.

"Would you like to stay here? We have a spare guest room you can stay in. My brother wouldn't mind you staying as you get used to this place if you do stick around. It's better than white nothing, right?"

"Hmm-mm, I guess I cou-ld. There's s-s-so many colors her-ere, it's... nice, I thin-nk."

Nightmare thought that last statement was a bit odd, but then again, the guy was in an empty white void, for lack of better terms, for however long he was in there. Colors would be a bit of an adjustment to someone who was devoid of most colors.

"Alright, let me guide you there, then. I'm going to have to tell Dream about this. I think you'll like him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's good at making friends. I'm getting the hang of it, but still like to not be around too many people at once. It's this way."

Nightmare waved him over, leading him back to his and Dream's home. On the way back Nightmare couldn't help but think about how Geno first appeared. It's rather odd how two different people managed to arrive in this place from somewhere completely foreign to him. It couldn't be related, right? No, it's just a coincidence.

Soon enough, they arrived. 'Oh, looks like Dream returned from the village early. Better for us, I can tell him everything now than wait until he gets home later.' Nightmare waved at Dream, who waved back.

Dream had fun with the villagers' children, but had decided to head back for the day. Once getting back, he realized his brother hadn't returned yet, so he went to get some food ready. He was still learning to cook from Saphire, the village's tavern cook, so it was going to be sandwiches for today. She was nice, and had offered to teach both of the brothers as a way to help them have their own means of providing food for themselves. It was so that neither Dream nor Nightmare had to rely on the villagers' generosity to avoid any possible future issues that came from any of the villagers taking advantage of them.

After making a couple sandwiches, he went outside to wait for Nightmare. He decided to busy himself with tending the flowers in their front garden. A few minutes later, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, and knew instantly it was Nightmare. Looking over to the forest, he saw Nightmare with a new person. He waved back at Nightmare after he waved, but was intrigued by the new person following him.

As they approached, Dream noticed more details about the new guy, including his strange appearance. He seemed rather relaxed before he saw him, but now seemed nervous. He also kept looking around at everything, almost like seeing the world for the first time.

"Hi, brother! Who might this be? Make a new friend?"

"Hi, Dream, this is Error. Error, this is my brother, Dream. He just appeared out of a portal a little while ago. He came from some kind of white void? And I offered for him to stay here instead of wherever that place was. I don't know much about the place, but I can't help but feel like that isn't a good place to live long-term. It's okay if he stays, right?"

Dream blinked in surprise, that was not what he expected, but quickly agreed. "Of course he can stay! Oh, I made some sandwiches, I should make a few more, I hope you like them!" And he ran into the house to make a few more sandwiches, leaving Nightmare and Error outside.

"Is he a-always that energeti-tic?"

"Most times, yeah. Is it too much for you? I can let him know to calm down a bit. He's just excited to meet someone new, is all."

"N-No, I think it's alri-right. Reminds me of-f...." Error pauses, trying to think of what Dream reminded him of.

"... You alright?" Nightmare asked, concerned.

"Hm? Oh, yea-ah, just thought that y-your brother reminded m-e-e of someone, but I don't r-remem-mber who. It's fine, though. Wh-What are these 'sandw-wiches' that he was talking abou-out?"

"Oh, it's a kind of food that consists of different ingredients that is put between two slices of bread, or sandwiched."

"Oh, that's kin-n-nd of cool. I'll try-y them, then."

Nightmare and Error entered the house, and while Dream was making more sandwiches, Nightmare showed their new guest the spare bedroom and pointed out his and Dream's rooms and let him know that if he needs anything at night, he's welcome to let either of them know. Nightmare just hoped that if Geno does show up again somehow, by whatever miracle, he wouldn't mind him giving Error the room he hoped would be Geno's.

He fidgeted with Geno's scarf later, after they had all eaten their fill of sandwiches. Though he will admit Error's method of eating was... unexpected(why did he have five tongues??). But it was a nice early dinner. It had surprised him just how late it was when he brought Error back, though, it didn't seem like it took that long. And there's still the question of what that strange sound that seems to be ever-present around Error. Something he'll have to ask another time.

So this is it! It is done! Ok, there are a couple of ideas I played around with in this. First, Dream and Nightmare have a very slight effect on the weather, if Nightmare and/or Dream are very distraught, it will be cloudy and possibly start raining. If either or both of them are very happy, it will be more sunny, but not hot. The other idea is that the Multiverse is not on a universal timer. A lot of AUs go at different speeds, and it's kinda rare to find any two AUs that are both the same speed and are at the same time of day as each other. And the Anti-Void is already known to be outside of any of that and fluctuates in time.

@bluepallilworld @shinechermont

The only thing I couldn't decide at first was if Error was already able to leave the Anti-Void before coming to Dreamtale, or if it's the first time he's left the Anti-Void. Ultimately, I decided to go the route of him first leaving the Anti-Void into Dreamtale. He will go back every now and then and explore the Multiverse from here, but he will always come back here. He won't realize that the reason is that he subconsciously knows this place was a home to him before he became Error, but that will happen in time.

Also this would have been posted on day 2 if I finished everything on time, but it's now in a kinda limbo where it's both on time but also late XD

[soulaanadelrey]

Does anyone else have precognitive dreams or should I keep that to myself?

[bluntshavingrazor]

Was on holiday to China and went to a knock-off DHMIS themed escape room. The poster advertising it was the Goya painting Saturn Devouring His Son, but with Yellow Guy eating a chunk of unidentifiable meat. The inside of the room was just an empty movie theatre.

[muddiestpath]

Had a dream where I was walking home but could hear over the radio a report that I'd been spotted stumbling in the area with a black eye & a limp? I arrived just as someone (I knew?) was leaving my house looking scared. They were relieved I was ok bc they heard the report too, but as they were talking they got drowned out by the sound of a large crowd(sounding happy). I woke up just as I started to turn to where the noise was coming from.

???

[slightlytoastedbagel]

actually On Your Feet gave us two good things (well. three if you like Realize which I do). Kohane's "it's frustrating" line and the great crack fic idea of Vivid Bad Squad getting cancelled online for skipping school to yell at The Kotaki Taiga as he was about to go back to America.

[charliexclayton]

tell them i wasn't scared - self-para

Continuation of this thread tw: Conor's death word count: 2801

It’s dark out when Charlie wakes. She fights to adjust her eyes to her surroundings and shake off the spell of an uncomfortable sleep. Tense— her body is in fight mode, and she sits up from the position she had fallen asleep in. Underneath her, the floor is hard and for a moment she forgets where she is, who she’s with, why she’s here. It hits her and a sound escapes her mouth. There’s no light, and it smells like smoke, and everything is so eerily quiet that she can hear herself breathe, like sheets of paper tearing.

“Hey,” Conor whispers from across the floor, knocking his booted foot with hers. There’s a click and then his flashlight comes on, briefly blinding Charlie before he sets it down to illuminate the space between them. Charlie goes to speak but chokes back her words as she gets a good look at him. The light casts a hard shadow on most of his face, but when he turns towards her the sheen beneath his eyes betrays that he’s been crying.

“You okay,” she asks, voice hoarse. Conor shrugs, reaches for the backpack at his side and pulls out a water bottle to throw at her. Water flows down easy, and Charlie takes a second to get reacquainted with their location, recalls why they’re here in the first place. The knots on the trees, looking for Steve, the hunter’s cabin. It all feels like she’s woken up into a nightmare, selfishly wishes that she had just stayed asleep where at least she knew what was real and what wasn’t. Tossing the bottle back at Conor, she gives him a look as if to say, answer the question.

“I’m here,” he says, using his hand to wipe at his face, “so what’s okay anyway?”

The silence between them would have felt peaceful, but the absence of sound was eerier when whatever would break it could break the both of them. A brief reprise, she wonders how long Conor has been bearing the weight of it all.

“It wasn’t always this quiet,” he admits to her, so soft and uncertain, like admitting the hell he had gone through while Charlie slumbered had somehow been his fault.

“It’s not real.” Quiet, fearful, apologetic. “Whatever they said to you, it’s not real.”

“I know.” An unspoken but it doesn’t make it hurt any less hangs in the air. He’s a few years older than her, but here, in this liminal space where time and reality blend, they’re both just kids faced with monsters they never could have imagined existed. Not under their bed, not in the closet, but in their head, the best and worst of hiding places. Smoke fills her nose again.

“Do you smell that?”

“What?” I guess not.

“Nothing, just... still waking up, I guess.” She circles back. If Conor picks up on her unease, he doesn’t say anything. “Did you want to talk about it?” She knows the answer before she’s even asked the questions, knows that whatever haunts Conor is so deeply rooted in his heart that the thought of saying it out loud would shatter whatever memory still exists. It hurts to hurt in Arcadia, made it easier for those things to manipulate your feelings and every thought. Charlie has seen it before, things unspoken somehow known to these creatures, whatever they are.

Conor shakes his head, clears his throat and rummages through his backpack again.

“Are you hungry? Do you want another granola bar?” He waves it around in his hand, shrugs when Charlies silently says no. He unwraps it and takes a bite. It is the only sound in the room, but it’s oddly mundane and comforting. Conor’s deep voice breaks the silence.

“You know you talk in your sleep?”

Unanswered. She raises her knees to her chest and leans across them to stare at him. Roux had said the same thing once, though it had been more out of annoyance than genuine curiosity. Undeterred, Conor stares at her before asking, “Who’s Em?”

She averts her eyes, looks out towards the windows. The sun wouldn’t rise for a few hours still. Nothing and everything, she wants to say. Her eyes land back on Conor and she realizes that perhaps he could use a distraction right now.

“Just this… this girl that I like, I guess, or whatever,” she says, hand absentmindedly playing with her shoelaces. It’s the first time she’s said it out and it nearly knocks the wind out of her. In fact, it’s the first she’s ever admitted she feels like that about another woman. Her throat dries, she feels the need to justify herself. “Not that it would ever work, it’s just a crush.”

He raises an eyebrow and takes another bite of his bar. “Is she here in Arcadia?”

“Does it matter?”

“If she’s here, why would it never work?”

“She’s married to another woman. Was married? Is married? It’s… complicated.”

“What isn’t.  Married to someone here?” She can tell he feels bad for his line of questioning, but somehow this conversation is exactly what they both need. Charlie shakes her head. Conor nods in return and then hums.

“First time?” She looks at him. “Liking a girl, I mean?”

Charlie scoffs out a laugh. It makes Conor smile.

“That obvious, huh? No, she’s not the first. I think… looking back I’ve always felt more for certain women in my life, I just didn’t know what it was until I got here.”

“Well, hindsight is 20/20 with those things. Though Arcadia…” He winces. “…That’s a tough place for a gay awakening. At least mine was watching Brad Pitt undress in Troy.”

It takes a second for the implication to sink in but when it does, Charlie laughs. It’s the kind of laugh she hasn’t let out in weeks and it illicit the same out of Conor. Their laughter dies down and Charlie nods at him. There’s a pregnant pause before Charlie adds, “So we would both enjoy Mr and Mrs Smith for different reasons.”

Laughter bursts out of them both so loudly that it startles Charlie, only makes her laugh harder. She forgets where they are. It’s a rare moment of levity that’s so brief, so peaceful, so light in the heaviness that otherwise clings to both. By the time they quiet down again, Charlie has tears in her eyes and her stomach hurts.

A knock at the door shatters the temporary reality they had created.

“Ignore it,” he says, “They’ve been doing that all night.”

Charlie nods but stands anyway, needing to stretch her cramping legs. She tries to turn the cabin light on, isn’t surprised when nothing happens and so she chooses to click on the light she has clipped to her jacket. The knocking occurs again, increasing in both speed and intensity to the point where Charlie can see the front door shaking with every hit. Suddenly it stops, only for a second, before Charlie is suddenly deafened by the cacophony of hands knocking on every window and doors of the cabin. It makes it feel like the cabin is trembling and she brings her hands up to cover her ears.

“This has been happening all night?” she yells above the noise. Conor is on his feet too, shaking his head no and shining his flashlight across every window. What they see is enough to make her heart drop to her stomach. So many faces, eerily smiling, always fucking smiling, violently hitting the window, revelling in the uncomfortableness that they’re creating.

The cabin is surrounded by so many of these things it makes the hair on the back of her neck crawl. The ground underneath vibrates. Charlie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Behind her, Conor puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

It seems to go on for ages before the noise suddenly stops. Another pass of light at the windows shows the creatures, all but one, have disappeared. A woman, or what appears to be one, Charlie knows all too well she’s nothing human.

‘Charlie, Charlie, Charlie,’ she says, her voice is so velvety, so enticing, it drips like honey into her ears. A sigh crosses Charlie’s lips, it would be so easy to believe. ‘Are you going to let me in? I’m so scared out here. I’m so lonely. You’re lonely too, I could give you everything you want.’

“Whoever she’s trying to be, she’s not real.” Conor voices, unnecessarily perhaps but it does reassure Charlie.

Then a man appears next to the other creature.

‘Conor…’ She feels Conor tense next to her. ‘My offer still stands. Garett’s out here with us. He’d love to see you again.’

The hand on her shoulder tightens and Charlie grabs it with her own hand, turning to face Conor. She grabs his face with her other hand, forces him to make eye contact with her.

“It’s not real,” she repeats back to him.

“They can’t raise the dead,” he says, but it sounds more like a question than a statement.

“They can’t raise the dead,” Charlie replies. Confirmation. Affirmation. Denying the delusions being weaved.

He nods at her, and they match their breathing. Then, the creatures speak in unison, layers upon layers of voices so loud in her ears Charlie wonders if they’re in here with them.

‘Lets play a game. Solve this riddle. What is the price to save one life, where for one to live the other must die?’

The answer is so loud in Charlie’s head. Her eyes meet Conor’s and she sees he thinks the exact same thing. Her breaths come out jagged, sharp, and Conor leans his forehead against hers.

“We’re not sacrificing one of us, hey Charlie, look at me, we’re not.”

She nods. There’s that smell of smoke again. Charlie steps back and looks around, something wicked clinging to her.

‘Look it’s simple, we either set this cabin on fire and you both die. Or one of you walks out. You decide but do it quickly.’

Fire. It roars around them suddenly. It’s not real, it’s not real. Conor speaks to her, she can see his lips moving but it’s drowned out by screaming of her mother, raw, echoing, reverberating against all the walls, carried by the flames. It’s her own fear, they’re using her own fear. They’ve never done that before. The heat feels real, and her lips dry.

“Hey,” Conor shakes her and her eyes focus on him. “Charlie, can they do that?”

“I don’t know,” she says, numb.

“It’s not… that’s not possible. They’re lying.” She knows he’s trying to be convincing, but there’s the sharp edge of uncertainty in his voice.

She meets his eyes. “And if they’re not?”

Conor says nothing, looks around them like an answer might present itself out of thin air. But Charlie knows the answer, knows she’d rather die gutted like a fish than burn in the flames. Conor is here because of her, and she would be damned if he died for that, for being a good person. He’s better than her in every way, selfless, level-headed, kind, strong. Arcadia needs him more than it would ever need her. No, Conor wouldn’t die tonight. Not by fire, and not by sacrifice. She remembers what she had said to him on the way here. I think they know me more than I know myself, I think that will be my undoing in the end.

‘One fire burns out another's burning, one pain is lessened by another's anguish.’

“Shut up,” Conor growls out at them.

“Hey, make sure that window is locked,” she says softly. He looks at her quizzically, having watched her make sure of that when they first got here. But he doesn’t question her, why would he?

I’m sorry, she mouths as he turns her back to her. It’s automatic, Charlie spins on her heels, beelines it towards the door. She only has seconds before Conor catches on, knows that he can cross that distance faster than she can unlock the door. The click of the deadbolt is so loud, and Charlie freezes before she can open the door. She doesn’t want to die. The hesitation is at her detriment, and Conor is there in an instant.

“Hey no, you’re not doing that,” he says, just as afraid as she is, hand holding the door shut.

“You’d rather we both die then.”

He steels himself; Charlie can see the cogs turning, knows that like her he doesn’t have enough information to know whether they’re lying or not. That’s the thing about these creatures, she knows that Conor believes just like she does that this is their reality. One of them must die. After a moment, his hand reaches down to the door handle.

“I’ll go then,” he says, so quietly that Charlie almost breaks her neck at the speed she looks at him.

“Like hell you are.” Her hand grabs his on the handle. He looks at her but she doesn’t budge.

“Charlie, don’t.” He says it like he’s right.

“Don’t what? Let you do something stupid? You’re only here because of me.”

Her hand tightens around his. He shakes his head, a sad smile on his face.

“No I’m here because I thought someone was in need of help. And now… someone is in need of help.” The unspoken you is so loud.

‘If Garrett could see you now, he would be so proud.’

“Don’t listen. Conor, step back. Please.” The plea comes out so afraid, so thick with unshed tears. She needs to do this, comes to terms with the fact that it’s her time. There’s a pause. Then his hand turns the deadbolt back to the locked position.

“Okay,” he says, almost too easily, as he steps back. Charlie nods, mostly to herself.

“Lock the door behind me. You’ll be fine until the sun rises. Don’t come out, no matter… no matter what you hear.”

“Okay, Charlie?”

“Yeah?” She turns to face him. His flashlight blinds her.

“I’m sorry.” The light swings towards her. Pain shoots through her head as it makes contact, sends her stumbling into the nearby door. It’s clear that it was meant to knock her out. The taste of blood fills her mouth, but Charlie doesn’t have time to think about it because Conor is already at the door.

Disoriented, she throws herself at him, pushing him back until his legs hit a couch and they topple over to unceremoniously smash over a coffee table. Both of them groan as the wind is knocked out of their lungs. Charlie is the first to stumble back up to a standing position. Conor’s flashlight is somewhere on the floor but there is so little light that Charlie blindly feels for the door.

Conor’s feet trip hers and she falls, hard. Conor crawls over her, she rotates her body and claws at him, snags onto something that breaks open and falls onto the floor. His hands wrap around her wrists. His eyes meet hers illuminated by his flashlight, and both stop fighting. They’re both crying. Neither of them wants this, but both want it more than the alternative. He pulls her back before stepping over her and towards the door. The sound of their breathing fills the room so loudly. Charlie has never felt so afraid fighting to die. The lock clicks and Charlie crawls back up just as Conor opens the door.

“NO,” she screams before jumping onto his back and knocking him to the ground outside, less than a meter from the door. Conor turns then, brings his foot between them and kicks Charlie underneath the ribs back across the threshold of the door. Winded, Charlie struggles to get back up. And it’s just enough time for Conor to stand and walk back towards the door. Through the blur of her tears and pain, Charlie sees smiling figures approaching behind him.

He reaches one last time in her direction, meets her eyes.

“Tell them I wasn’t scared” he utters and then yanks the door shut with such force the cabin trembles. Her inside, him outside. Charlie throws herself against the door, but Conor is holding the door shut by the handle and there's no give. The noises are so disgustingly loud. Conor doesn’t scream. But the groans and the sick sound of flesh ripping make Charlie let out a guttural scream. And then the tension on the door handle releases, his body thumping against the door with finality. Blood seeps in from underneath. Numbly, Charlie clicks the deadbolt back to locked, brings a bloody hand to her mouth and weeps. Next to her, Conor’s amulet, broken in their tussle.  

‘Charlie’ the creatures wail repeatedly. And it sounds just like Conor. Conor, who just died in front of her. Her heads pounds, Charlie passes out.

[thenamessparkplug]

every second i spend not making a twisted psychological horror is a second wasted

[aromanticasterisms]

SHENHE'S WORKING AT WANMIN RESTAURANT??

[ebbarights]

i know we talk a lot of shit about being proud of being ~different~ and nothing is worse than being just like anyone else but if i'm being entirely honest i would give anything to be normal