#Killer can look safely at ccino and see what he likes nad doesn't like.

[ancha-aus]

Gifted Drabble - NewAgeAU - Required Feelings

Hey @spotaus !! As promised! A little thingie :3 As always. No worries about it being canon canon or not hahah. the end choice is up to you ;)

So Spot and I were talking about Killer and his story and it got me thinking about something we already established would happen and happened.

Mostly Killer's interest in Ccino. Because with everything going on with Killer? That makes that so much more interesting. Especially because Killer is still figuring out who he is after everything and Ccino is pretty much a social chameleon.

You guys ready? So here are some drabbles on pretty much a normal average day for Killer since coming to the castle!

Warnings: unhealthy relationships. slight sexual harrassment (not by the guys in focus but done by a background character.)

Also this got a... bit longer than planned... woops. i schemed too hard.

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

The last two months had been... strange.

Don't misunderstand. the training? brutal. But so good.

Killer never knew that it could be... fun to move and exercise.

He is so used to only running when he is running from the guards. He is so used to fighting only being adrenaline filled movements to keep the guards back so his best friend- ... so Chara could escape.

He is used to having to tug himself in tight places to hide. places that are uncomfortable.

Training with Nightmare is strange and difficult but fun.

The first time they sparred though?

Well... Killer is never afraid obviously. Chara said that being afraid is useless. But as Killer had stoof ready Nightmare had stopped. Tilted his skull at him and shaking his skull.

Killer had been terrified he had failed. Was his stance wrong? Was he not in the right defences postion? what did he do wrong? Please... He can do better.

Nightmar ehad walked over to him and looked at him calmly before saying that he wouldn't hurt him.

Killer had been frozen in place. because he knew that of course. Killer knows there is no use to training by hurting him. He learned that. Nightmare forced him to stop trianing and taking breaks at the start when he noticed that Killer was pushing himself to far. another difference from chara...

Nightmare had pretty much told him that his body didn't seem to agree with Killer. so that they would go back to Killer attacking him and Nightmare just blocking.

They haven't tried to spar yet since.

Killer sighs as he just wanders the halls. It is his thing at the moment.

When he isn't training, eating or sleeping. He likes to wander the grounds and area. explore a bit. Lay in the grass nad think about Ccino.

Sigh...

Ccino...

Killer is still unsure what to do with these... things he feels. He knows what this is of course. A stupid childish crush. Chara told him about them before. That people get stupid when they have tiny crushes. Especially when it is on someone that is way out of their league.

Killer had nobbed because it made sense. Chara would never have someone being out of their league. More that Chara was out of the league the other person was in.

So here he is... having a little crush on someone who is unobtainable.

Which Killer had known since the start so why did his stupid soul decide on this?

But... at the same time...

Killer looks outside as his mind wanders... His soul shifitng from the target to the more normal soul shape. Could you blame him? Ccino is... Ccino. He is so smart and everywhere and always so controlled and just always knows what to do and who is who...

Killer watches the forest in the distance and sighs wishfully... It would be easy.. especially now that he has a bit of gold... Tehy could get on one of the few horses together. and just ride off into the forest. They would keep going until they found a city where they could hide... Ccino and him. Just them...

He leans against the stone and smiles. Killer could show Ccino everything he knows from living in the city. How to get food where and how to dodge people. Ccino would be there for him. Help him and be nice and just... be there.

"Hello Killer."

Killer shotos upright and turns quickly. Only to come face to face with Ccino. Well not face to face as Ccino is a bit shorter but it is close.

Killer feels his body warm up slightly as he coughs to clear his throat of nothing but stupid nerves "Ccino! I didn't hear you." he grins "You sure you aren't a trained spy or guard yourself?"

Ccino tilts his skull and looks slightly amused "Very sure. I think i would notice the training for one." He looks around and looks through the window for a moment "I saw that you were just standing here and was wondering if something was wrong." and Ccino waits.

Oh gods what does he say? that he was just staring outside and thinking about the future they could ahve if they just made a break for it? that is not going to fly. oh fuck why are his hands sweaty.

Killer shrugs as he grins "Me thinking? You should know by now that i never think!" oh please just end him. what is he doing?!

Ccino frowns slightly before shaking his skull. Killer would feel bad about it but he has a tiny smile! That is something! that is something amazing!

Ccino looks back at him and frowns "Are you okay?"

Killer jsut... blinks at him... him... okay? of course he is okay? "Why wouldn't i be okay?"

Ccino keeps frowing as he just looks at him "Because your soul is a little... woobly... I was wondering if you are okay." he looks a lot stricter "If you aren't okay or feeling alright you need to tell us."

Killer however is... well he isn't NOT listening because how can he not listen to him? But Killer is sligthly panicking. of course his soul is woobly. Because his stupid soul is feeling stupid feelings about Ccino which just get worse when Ccino is here and what does he even say?! Wait! distract and redirect! Easy!

killer grins "Checking out my soul? You should take me on a date first."

WRONG DIRECTION! DIFFERENT DIRECTION! DON'T REDIRECT INTO THAT DIRECTION!

Ccino doesn't even blink at his very poor attempt at a flirt "Killer. I am being serious. Are you feeling okay? If you are sick you need to take time to rest and heal before anything else."

Killer snorts nad shrugs "Euh. I would be fine anyway. The king would probably hate me skipping training for something as stupid as me not feeling okay."

Ccino frowns at him "Killer... I know for sure that our king would much prefer you taking your time to heal and feel okay over you hurting yourself or getting sicker by pushing yourself too far."

Killer snorts as he mutters wiht a shrug "You jsut think that because you have priveledges..." which Killer immediantly regrets. it sounded like an insult or rude or whatever it is called.

Ccino shakes his skull as he mutters "No it is..." he sighs as he rubs his skull for a moment before focussing on him again. "Killer. I can assure you. I swear and promise. our king would not react poorly to hearing you are not feeling well." and he gives him this tiny tiny smile.

Killer feels weird and he has so many impulses and thoughts he doens't even know what to do at the moment. his body is unsure and killer jsut stays put as he looks to the side wiht a shrug.

Ccino watches him for a moment but doesn't push further. Instead he just nods as if Killer made any type of sense as he looks down the hall "Were you going to get dinner? it is about time for it."

Killer takes the out wiht both hands as he answers "I was going into that direction." and if he wasn't before he is now!

Ccino nods "Then we can walk together." he starts to turn and looks at him.

Killer feels his hadns get sweaty again. the impulse to hold the other. to just wrap his arms around the other and never let go. The need to pull him back and away. The other need to just sit with him and stare.

He can not be near him now. Ccino is offlimits and Killer is a mess.

Killer finds his voice "You know... now that i think about it... dinner? yeah... i dunno. Not exactly hungry... maybe you have apoint about me not feeling well. I am going back to my room and rest."

Ccino frowns at him but once again nods "okay. If you still feel ill tomorrow just tell one of the maids okay? Take it easy and try to get some sleep." and ccino walks away. towards the area to get food.

Killer rushes back to his room and falls on the bed. He groans long and loud. Why is he like this? why is this so hard and weird and strange?

Why does he never want it to stop.

Even so Killer jsut lays in the bed. feeling his soul slowly calm down from the racing pace it had been going. slowly it calms a calm pace and Killer thinks he slept for a bit.

Killer wakes up of course. He is hungry.

Ugh. this is what he gets for lying and skipping dinner.

Killer groans as he sits upright... he hopes there is some stuff still in the kitchen for him to raid and-

something in here smells delicious?!

Killer looks around and finds a plate of food on his nightstand. It is mashed potatoes with some greenery in it... hotchpotch? with something that looks like a large meatball and there is a tiny note.

Killer takes the note and reads it. It is ccino. telling him to take it easy and that he left him a meal for when he feels hungry.

Killer takes the plate. and while the food isn't hot anymore it is still warm. He takes a careful bite. but instead of chewing or swallowing he just waits and feels.

He enver realy had meals with intent before. Killer was never in a position to get those. And most restaurants places he took food from hadn't had a chef that cared enough to put intent in.

THe cooks here put a lot of intent in the food. Of nourishment mostly. the want that they feel good.

Killer didn't feel it right away so he doesn't think the normal cook made it. especially because it was chicken planned for dinner today.

He feels it.

It is weak and so light but it is there. Care. soft care from a magic that killer hadn't felt fully before. But the same care he could see shinign through Ccino's eye lights.

It feels like the magic... holds him. but not like guards grabbed him before. but softer and gentle and if he can break.

Killer only finishes his bite onces he absorbed every last bit the intent. He looks down adn ignores the fact that the goop from his sockets are dripping. that the goop is way more watery than normal.

-----

There are a lot of cats out in the castle.

Killer at first hadn't understood why.

Killer knew the church for nim used the animals as sacrifices. That he had...

Killer however also knew that Nightmare is very against sacrifices. If he learned anything in his four months here it was that. Nightmare hates everything that relates him back to his mother.

The news that nim and ngihtamre had been related... well... Killer will admit he had been looking back on those old fantasies or running away wiht a certain someone much more seriously.

But nightmare hated the old ways. He looked at them with disgust each time they were brought up and tried to make sure no situation happened where they woudl be needed. Killer is unsure what nightmare will do once something needs to happen that require those very things.

Maybe Nightmare will just keep refusing to do it. He seems to be very set on doing that.

Either way.

Cats.

So many of them.

Killer right now stands in a hallway. staring at a very sassy little grey with brown spots creature. The cat looks completely unimpressed with Killer.

Killer... hadn't tried to pet the cats yet. He had been... unsure...

Killer knows what he did. What he has done to these very creatures. The pain he caused their brothers and sisters before. Killer had the feelign the cats knew too. That they knew he was a terrible person who hurt those like them before.

Killer still really wants to go that direciton though... He has training with nightmare and nightmare and him had finally moved unto to sparing and Killer found it fun. He wanted to get all the time to spar that he could.

Killer stares down at the tiny creature "come on bud... I really need to go that direction."

The little grey and brown spotted cat looks unimpressed at him before rolling unto his back. showing that forbidden tummy.

Killer may never have petted a cat but he knows that is a trap. Killer shakes his skull "Can't do buddy... I know you will attack me."

The cat just does a slow blink at Killer. The picture of perfect innocence as he lays there. His eyes seeming to say 'why won't you pet me? aren't i cute? and don't i look soft?'

Killer slowly crouches down near the cat "I mean it bud. I need to go the direction you are blocking. Can you please move?" his hands slowly nears the cat. his hand is shaking lightly.

The cat makes that little mrp noise as he nuzzles the floor. wiggling in place.

Killer ligthly touches the cats side-

and the cat snaps to grab his hand with his little claws and bites it.

Killer yelps "ow! Hey! No fair!" the cat already let go and stands at the end of the hall. Looking very proud of himself before throtting off.

Killer glares as he jumps up "hey no wait!" he knows the library is there and Killer doesn't want the cat to start clawing stuf in there. the library is nightmare's pride and joy! he rushes after the cat "Hey! come back here!"

It takes amoment but he finds the cat and grins "There you are Bite!"

and amused voice "Bite?"

Killer turns around and Ccino is right by his side. Looking intrigued as he looks between Killer and the cat he had finally managed the corner.

Killer blinks and searches for the words "Yeah... Bite.. because he bites."

Ccino hums as he looks at the cat. He easily walks by Killer's side and killer tries not to shiver when their sides brush adn touch. Ccino crouches down and lets the cat sniff his hand for a moment. Ccino titls his skull as Bite just starts headbutting his hand and arm.

Waht a traitor.

Ccino chuckles as he picks Bite up and Bite purrs loudly and Killer swears the cat is staring at him smuggly

Ccino hums as he pets the cats "Sorry she bit you. cats need to learn not to see hands as toys. I think she thought you were trying to play with her."

Killer blinks "Her?"

Ccino nods "Yeah. Bite is a girl."

Oh gods please don't tell Killer that he officially named one of the cats and the name is BITE.

Killer rubs his hand "You sure it was just playing?"

Ccino nods "should be... did she do damage?" he frowns slightly.

Killer blinks and checks himself. No. no damage. huh. he shakes his skull "Nah. she didn't do damage... aside from emotional damage that is."

Ccino snorts and nods "Tehy are good at that. Well. I will take this little trouble maker in that case. You good luck at your training. Take the path behind the armour stand. It will take you right to the triaing area and you wn't be ridiculous late." and ccino opens his arms to let Bite jump out.

Killer shakes his skull "wait i euh... how come all the cats like you so much? are they yours?" he does remember the direction for later.

Ccino tilts his skull "They aren't mine. tehy are all strays... i guess they just like this place and see it as safe." a bit of a guilty smile "I do feed them however... which isn't helping the cat situation."

Killer snorts "must take a lot of money to pay for." maybe he can help a bit? share the costs?

Ccino shakes his skull wiht a smile "doesn't cost me anything. Ngihtmare just makes sure there are supplies for them in the castle." at the shocked look ccino smiles a bit softer "He knows I like them. So our king makes sure that they cna stay." he pets the feline by his feet "And what can i say? they are amazing pest control."

Killer laughs and nods "I can imagine. So how did you get them all to like you cat whisperer?"

Ccino looks amused but must be in a good mood as he decides to share his wisdom "Getting a cat to like you is easy. You just need to respect their boundaries and learn their language."

Killer fucking knew it! Killer grins "You can talk to them?"

Ccino blinks and looks a bit sheepish "oh no i can't. I meant... their body language. Cats communicate a lot with body language. Learn to read that a bit and you will know what a cat is annoyed or wants to be left alone. Then you respect their limits. if you are calm a cat is more likely to like you. and if you let a cat leave when it wants to they are more likely to return to you."

Killer gives a slow nod. huh..

Ccino nods "Etiher way. you got training that started like five minutes ago. Use the pathway i pointed out. See you around Killer." and he turns and leaves.

He turns the corner and Killer rushes after him to say thank you but- he is gone... Ccino must have used one of those pathways that the servants all use.

Bite is still by his side. she is looking at him with the most unimpressed look that Killer has ever seen on a cat.

Killer huffs and crosses his arms "What? it isn't like you would know how to trat a crush."

Bite clearly disagrees as she licks her paw before rubbing herself against his leg before throtting off. Looking confident and happy.

Killer sighs before jumping. shit his training! He rushes towards the armour stands and finds the servants path easily enough as he rushes towards the training room.

------

Killer is not sure if he even wants to be here.

Here, being, this stupid council get together thing.

Killer isn't even sure what it was. Just that there are a bunch of council members and old nobels. Something soemthing about it still being from Nim's time or something and Nightmare needing to deal with it.

Nightmare had asked if Killer had wanted to be there. Get a better feel for what normal guard duty was. So he could better understand why his duty was so much different.

Killer figured that it would be helpful. He had been here for six months now. a full half year. and while his training to be a Knight was progressing nicely he didn't know why it was special.

Nightmare had asked if he wanted to rotate with the guard for a while. to better understand their positions and jobs so he could see why his was different?

Killer had agreed.

and it was so different. His private room for one. but also the special training. the fact tha tnightmare would speka to him one on one and ask for his opinions and thoughts.

Being a knight... being a knigh was kinda like beign a personal guard and advisor in one go. It was a honour. and Killer jsut kinda.. stumbled into it.

Killer hadn't even been seriously concidering the job for the first three months he had been here! But then he got curious and figured he could stay and watcha bit longer. just a tiny bit couldn't hurt.

ccino walks by his row of guards and each guard quickly grabs some of the tiny snacks he offers. Ccino stops by a guard that doesn't grab one and gives thema look. the guard notices and eats the snack before ccinoe moves on. Killer grins at him as he grabs his snack and he gets agrin in return before ccino rushes of to take care of the other guards.

it also helps that ccino is here.

Killer is still unsure how ccino is just head of the house and not nightmare's main advisor and right hand. ccino is smart and clearly the most loyal of everyone in the kingdom. How could nightmare only let ccino be head of the house? sure it is a big role but killer doens't think it holds enough respect... but maybe that is just him.

Killer watches the nobel man and woman do their thing. he watches as advisors lean clsoe together to mutter and scheme. mmh. killer will have to point that out later to nightmare. make sure he noticed and knows there may be something brewing with those.

Killer still doens't get why Nightmare doesn't just fire them all. He is the king. he can do that. but someting about not wanting people to revolt or something. taking it step by step to clean it all out.

Euh. Not his job. at least not until he is a full knight.

For now he watches for trouble for Nightmare but everything seems fine... So his sight wanders to Ccino as he weaves through the crowds wiht a practise ease.

Killer is always enchanted by Ccino just. moving with ease and confidence. The way he knows how to move and never bump into anyone. How he gracefully dodges any hands or people stepping back.

Killer still watches of course as Ccino makes his way around the crowd. And he is reasonable near Killer, and Nightmare for that matter as Killer is positioned closest to him, when it happens.

Some nobel person Killer doesn't know who he is or why he is important and he doens't care. Reaches out and grabs Ccino right by the spine and rubs it.

Killer feels his hand for a fist as he moves his hand towards where his knife is stashed.

Ccino manages to twist free, which cna't be comfortable with how he was grabbed and manages to make space "Excuse. I didn't realise i was that close."

Killer has his knife in hand.

The nobel man smirks "If it isn't the pretty skeleton! I must say it is refreshing to still see you here! pretty as always." he looks him up and down and Killer gets ready. There isn't a straight line but Killer could be there within seconds.

"One of the better things of Nim! giving you your job for us all to have something pretty to stare at." the man laughs.

Ccino has a iron hold on his own face as he remains calm "The old king's name should not be spoken. As our own king rules now."

the man smirks before frowning "Though you have let yourself go! Already much fatter than before. such a shame and waste of a pretty face. Though I am sure it would still be fun to have a night together. Especially if we invite some of my business partners-"

And Ngihtmare is there. He grabs the nobel man and throws him across the hall into the wall. Killer can hear bones break and crack form his place.

People gasp and move towards his side but Killer isn't paying attention to that. He seems to be the only one who watches their king and ccino.

Nightmare looks beyond furious. His tentacles are all posed and sharp. ready to strike. He lowers himself and it reminds Killer of the big cats. How they get ready to strike.

A hand on Nightmare's shoulder.

Nightmare turns with a glare but meets ccino's unflinching face. Ccino just shakes his skull at Nightmare.

Ngihtmare breathes heavily and killer cna feel the rage in the air. Is he the only one who notices? because he is already getting sensitive to their king?

Nightmare glances back to the man on the ground and ccino shake shis skull agian. He straightens his spine, killer can see the pitch of pain on his face and nightmare clearly does to as his rage just increases. Ccino shoots him another look. He striaghtens his spine and stands still before looking pointedly atnightmare.

Ngihtmare pants but stands up striaght.

Ccino nods and rolls hsi shoudlers before relaxing them both. Killer can see his hand is still slightly shaking but he forms a fist and forces it still.

Nightmare breaths and his shoulders relax and wiht it his tentacles unsharpen.

Ccino raises a hand and waves it by his face. when his face has gone by his face turned from his frown to a neutral face.

Nightmare takes another deep breath but his face calms down.

Ccino nods and takes a few steps back. his arms and hands hidden behind his back but killer can see them shake slightly.

Ngihtmare walks over ot the nobels "As you should know by now. I do not take kindly to those who dare to threaten those who fall under my employment. I employ them in in trade for their service I keep them safe and comfortable. Yet you dare to enter my home, on my invitation, and threaten those around us? Those who work hard to ensure you have a pleasant evening? you will be removed and stripped of your title. Leave." he waves his hand and returns to his throne but on the way he stops by Killer.

Killer stands ready.

Nightmare mutters "Get Ccino to the healer. You are to make sure he gets there safely and gets to his room safely where he can rest." he eyes the knife that killer still has in his hand and looks appreciative of it. before schooling is face again and nodding. Not once mentioning that he saw the weapon which is very much not part of the normal guard equipment.

Killer nods and bows "Of course my king." and he rushes to ccino's side with a cheerful grin. hiding his own rage under easy company.

He will make sure ccino is fine. Then... when killer earned his right as knight and when he is allowed solo trips... he will make a special trip to the nobel.

after all. if he doesn't have hands he can never make a grab to anyone ever again.

-----

Killer sighs as he pets the cat in his lap. eight months. eight months since his life changed twice over. first wiht chara leaving him behind. abandoning him. and then him taking the deal with nightmare.

So muhc had changed. He had changed.

Killer pets the cat sleeping peacefully in his lap. It is still so strange. That he is still here. He hadn't... he never wanted... it hadn't been the plan to stay.

But after a while. Leaving seemed even worse of an idea.

Killer just dind't like the idea of leaving anymore.

Just until he uncovers the secrets.

Just until he satisfies his curiosity.

Just until he is over his crush.

All three misions failed.

But instead of feeling like it is time to cut his losses and move on. Killer just continues to want to stay here.

Killer sighs as he leans agianst the wall.

very soft steps and Killer grins as he looks over. Ccino turns to corner and tilts his skull at him "Well don't you look cozy." he takes a glance and smiles "I see Bite finally stopped attacking your hand every second."

Killer snorts "nah." he raises his bites covered hand "She just got tired." and he goes back to petting her.

Ccino nods as he walks over "How is your training doing?"

Killer nods "good." and that is the problem. because it is going well. Nightmare told him as much. Killer would soon have his first mission and he is worried.

What if he can't do it?

what if he can do it but doens't want to?

what is he can do it. does it. but dind't want to do it?

is the loyalty he feels... for nightmare? or for the idea that he has to be loyal.

He isn't sure.

Ccino nods "that is good." he tilts his skull at him "excited to be a full knight?"

Killer is feeling ballsy today. reckless even. Killer grins at ccino "What if i don't want to be a knight?"

Ccino doens't flinch and instead tilts his skull "I mean... you would ahve spend a long time training for soemthing you didn't want... so i figured you would have realised earlier."

Killer shrugs "waht if i did? but ust wanted more training?"

Ccino looks a thim and shrugs "I don't believe that. I think you want to be a knight."

Killer glares "And what makes you think that?"

Ccino smiles atiny bit "emotions and intent. If you hadn't wanted it. you wouldn't have tried so hard and made progress this quickly."

Killer blinks and looks forwards "What if i just believed it is what i wanted?"

Ccino shrugs "They yuo have to make a carreer switch."

Killer snorts "Oh yeah. Nightmare is going to be fine with that." he rolls his eyes.

Ccino lokos amused "Yes out king." he stresses the title "Will be fine wiht that."

Killer shoots him a look "oh come on! I knew there is more going on over him just being your king and you just being a loyal servant."

Ccino looks forwards wiht a tiny smile "I have no idea what you are talking about. Only those most trusted by the king would know personal affairs of the king." and he grins.

Killer looks amused "Okay. what if i just become knight to learn all the secrets. and then when i am saticfied i will just leave." he knows he is looking at him smugly.

Ccino tilts his skull amused "Relaly now? When you figure out all the secrets?"

Killer nods "indeed."

Ccino laughs "good luck with that." and he starts walking away.

Killer tilts his skull at him "What is that suposed to mean?!"

Ccino stops and glances backwards "You are a smart cookie. you will figure it out." and he turns around the corner.

At this point Killer knows better than to try and follow ccino. He will be gone before Killer can even get to the corner. probbaly on the other side of the castle already.

Killer keeps forgetting to ask him how he does it.

....

euh.

He will eventually ask him... Maybe...

after all...

He will only leave once he learns all the secrets...

So maybe keeping one or two in tact is a great idea...

You know...

Just because he is curious. And no other reason at all.

[ancha-aus]

hihihihi >:D (and i apologise. it is long... again.)

killer is a slippery snail and he will get out. Always did! It was just to test chara after all (who failed their test btw. very badly >:( ) And because he doens't need to babysit his FAKE bestie anymore he has free time. So sure. He will check out this new god. See what the deal is.

And he feels meh about Dream. He is large and powerful and has this slight crazed look on his face. (Like dreamswap i think maybe?) but then he spots Nightmare and Ccino and holy shit that servant is the most beautiful person he has ever seen...

So he sneaks closer and closer and then just starts talking with him! (and he learns that his name is Ccino and that he has this small sassy smile and seems amused by Killer and Killer is already so in love.) And Killer makes sure to stay respectful. He doesnt want tot he other to dislike him. He would LOVE to hold his hand but killer knows they only met 5 minutes ago and so he just talks with him. learns what he can as quickly as possible before he needs to go hide.

Ccino actually felt charmed. It felt nice how this random noble skeleton seemed honestly interested. and Ccino met a LOT of people at this point. He can point out fake and real interest. He knows when people are only interested in sex. So to have someone talk to him who just looks at him with awe and honest interest? Ccino is happy. And Nightmare? Who sees someone being nice and respectful to ccino? He approves. And then it turns out he is a criminal. Nightmare just frowns because that won't do. what if this guy is captured nad punished? Yeah no that doens't work. He goes to dream and gets his older twin to pardon the guy. Drema shrugs and does it because why not? It makes nightmare happy so of course he will. (Ccino just sadly in his room. Sad because aparently the only person who would be honestly nice and respectful to him is a criminal. That fits. why did he expect anything else?)

Ccino in this version is just so tired and exhausted. He has been kicked down so many times he can't even fully get back up again. Evne with the support and his cheat sheet with the castle. It is too much. there is no break from it. Not until Nightmare one day discovers him hurting after a lashing and nightmare is furious. (before they did it much more sneakily that type of punishment and healing because he had to stay pretty for dream. dream clearly doesn't care about ccino so they don't bother with healing anymore. and ccino's magic is so weak and he is weak so he can't fully recover from his injuries anymore. probbaly leaving very nausty and painful scars) anyway. Nightmare finds out. and pretty much forces ccino to just tell him (part of the slave contract. cant ignore direct orders. so an Order to Tell him the truth? Yeah. Ccino is unhappy about having to share but shares.) and Nightmare is so mad. He goes to dream to get dream to smite those idiots for hurting his bbaysitter. (and then later dream lets it happen AGAIN just to get som guard to like him? Ngihtmare is furious and refuses to speak to drema for months as he just sits with ccino who is so hurt from the lashing. it is one of the few times a small crack appears in the perfect appearance and illusion that dream lives in.)

Ink and Killer is just such a funny friendship. because as you said. cross gave routine and structure while killer just embraced the chaos! (the difference in how ink remembers them? Cross through physical presence while he remembers killer because of their btis and jokes and conversations? Him still doing both actions when neither is there? it is so sweet) and ink protecting killer!! Ink making sure killer is out first because. he can portal? of course he lets killer escape first? that just makes sense? but to killer it means so much more. it means that ink actually cares. that ink wants to make sure killer is safe. Killer isn't used to that but it helps so much and ink never fully knows. and Ink bringing back tiny trinkets for killer!! small little things! Killer holds unto them all. he has so many little random charms and trinkets and everything! (his favourite is this little cat charm. he can't explain why. he just loves it so much)

and yeah i believe that Kilelr would have by now lost any faith he may have had. fully on atheist. Killer doenst believe in godhood and rejects it. But then he and ink come back from a trip and Killer sees how the country is now a military state. and Killer feels so worried and he goes to the old castle and sees it completely gone (the army never found the new tree. that still exists thanks to the small amount of faith ccino had in it and its power) and killer is just... heart broken. Because sure he was just playing around with the idea that he would get money and gold and settle somewehre and then one day come back and he isn't sure like... sneak in to see ccino? Just hang out with him but then also flirt and maybe get somethign? Killer could ahve convinced him to run away with him and bring ccino to this little safe space and and... and sure he wasn't SERIOUS about it (he was) but it was still nice to think about! And now... it is gone... his plan and plans for the future... gone. lets be real. Ink knows a surprising amount about Ccino. Because Killer LOVES talking about his little sweetheart that he plans on wooing. Ink is of course a good supportive best friend but also chaotic so he gives the wildest ideas for killer. (The kidnape option was thought of by ink. but ink also offered 'sending him money' 'sending like a bunch of flowers and gifts like clothes.' and ink's favourite 'let ink paint a naked painting of killer and send that ti him.' These two being best friends is fucking hilarious.)

And these two getting lost all the time is so funny. Like sure they have missions and jobs to do and they get them done. it is just a matter of when because the duo may get lost on another continent in between getting and completing the mission. so they get lost and Ink somehow knows that there should be a tower nearby? something like that? a building?

and they find a VERY tall wizard tower (outer is a mage of the space/sky/nightsky he has to have a tall tower) so they go there and as you said. Ink is one of a kind so Outer knows who he is and invites him inside. okay but the bit that outer calls out that they have guests and ccino immediantly getting up and standing ready. Outer trying to reassure him as soon as he sees him but killer is faster. Killer so happy and rushes over to ccino and twirling him around. ccino is so shocked. why... why is this guy... the criminal of way before happy to see him? Why doe she even remember him? (and oof... that is go good. Ccino made an effort to get healthy. Maybe back when dream first told people to leave ccino alone as king. Maybe ccino back then tried and made the effort to eat a bit more (he just always felt sick adn exhausted and dizzy with how little he ate) and dream noticed and probbaly made some offhand comment about him 'eating again?' or 'i do always find you eating.' and ccino stopped it. Then maybe later much later when they are with outer and outer had been trying to encourage hi to eat (outer saw ccino only eating once a week and very little and it horrified him.) only for tiny dream to see and ask him 'why are you eating again? you never are this much before.' and there goes any healing process AGAIN. (outer has come very close to hitting dream but dream is a child so he won't be he will give him a very strict talking to)) But now Kiler is here nad Killer is so very invested in geting Ccino to be happy and healthy. and it takes so much time but it works. Killer gets him to eat and do some light exercise and they try hobbies together and cino discovers his love for cooking. (which causes ccino to probably start crying because he remembers his parents baking together and it hits so hard) and you are so right. Killer can see that Ccino can't stnad anyone mentioning his appearance. He can't handle it. so Killer just focusses on being there for him.

(okay but killer and ccino 100% platonically cuddle. Killer also has no trouble telling ccino he loves him but that he doens't need to do anything with that. ccino does admit he doens't feel the same. It is much to early for him to even think about loving someone like that. Killer is okay wiht it as killer just holds the other close. instead killer just asks ccino what he does feel for killer. and ccino has to think for a while before he settles on one thing 'safe'. killer feels safe to him. and killer is so happy and just keeps holding ccino. wiht time killer wants their relationship to grow into love but he knows that ccino isn't ready. so he waits. he is patient and just takes care and hold ccino in the wasys he is allowed. Killer knows ccino may never be ready for any type of relationship and that is also okay iwth killer. as long as he is allowed to do this. which he is.)

And yeah. for the four in the house it is at this point an open secret that ccino is stuck in a magical contract. Killer doesnt know it yet. and he means so well. he asks ccino to just come with him, that it is okay that Outer is good for the twins and can handle them. and over time ccino admits what is wrong with him. that he loves the twins still. that he cares so deeply about them. and then also the fact he is physically unable to leave them. that he will die if he leaves the king's side (reason why ccino didn't in the main story. the contract said he was to remain by the FUTURE KING'S side. and that ended up being nightmare. nightmare of course freed ccino as soon as he found out. but ccino willingly remained by his side.) the twins hear this conversation as well.

(And yeah the twins eavesdrop on EVERYONE. these two have no sense of boundaries or anything. They were NEVER punished for anything. this is a whole change for them to no be allowed everything and to have to learn all the wrong they did.)

And they hear killer talk about getting someone to break the contract. that killer can go search for someone who can breka it. ccino isn't the first person stuck wiht a contract like that and there has to be ways to break it. and ccino just so softly and gently admitting that even if he was free... he doens't think he could leave them. he loves them. Killer mentions that it is unhealthy and will end up killing ccino, killer notices those signs, and ccino just so sad but smiling as he mentions that he knows.

I love the idea that they make a little cafe. That they go to another country and set up shop somewhere. Killer goes out and does jobs to make sure ccino doens't have to worry about money. ccino gets to make food and nice drinks and make people happy. the twins learn more about being responsible and how the normal people live. (nightmare planning on how to get the contract back. so he can break it. even if it breaks his heart to have to say goodbye to ccino. Because nightmare doesn't see why ccino would want to stay with them if he had any other option. Dream being unwilling. he is 13 and hurt and ccino is the ONE constant in his life and he is at his core just a scared and hurt kid. Maybe over time he can learn to be brave enoguh to let ccino go and free him. but he is so afraid that ccino will leave. that it will be another person not actually caring about him at all. that another person only cared and love him because he had power. (ccino wouldn't leave them even if he was free. as mentioned before. his motivation is all centered on love and care. even if they both hurt him he can't just leave them)) And i agree it would be a great ending for their story line in this. the twins helping ccino recover and regaining something that nim took from him. a normal life. ccino would with time be able to recover and heal with killer's help. but it is a rough journey. (and yeah. ccino has no confidence whatsoever but over time killer will help him feel okay again)

Omg that was only the killer and ccino bit. This is gonna be long.

And yes! I went nuts with the Dust bit hihihi.

Dust showing up just after Ccino and the twins. Outer making sure they are not interrupted (the twins try to listen in but can't see what is going on) nad outer looking at dust's soul. and being so gentle about how outer can't help him. how sorry he is but he needs to meet someone who can actualyl help him. and as you said. outer went to the same school as sci and geno. so he references him to geno. Geno will know. and you are right that outer would know. If Geno can't solve this? no one can. (i do think that outer would warn dust. that geno gets intense about magic. that it isn't his fault and that geno is just like that.)

(dust doens't dislike outer like geno. because outer remained respectful and tried to make sure to not overstep dust's boundaries. he asked minimal stuff just about the spell and never mentions the soul aside from how it interacts with the spell and how the spell interacts with the soul. it made dust not feel like an experiment but like a patient. still rough but much better.)

And it makes sense that Geno, and fresha nd error, don't have the private feelng about souls. they were raised by geno and geno raised himself. their parents never had the talk with them about how the souls are a private matter. about how the soul is who they are and all they could ever be. all three just see it as a source of magic and that is it. He tries to respect it but then geno hears about the situation?He HAS to see.... and to see Dust's Kintsugi soul together with the beautiful storm spell around it? Geno is OBSESSED! He wants to know everything! He wants to mess with the soul and prode and poke and it is horribly invasive but he remains strong and powers through it.

because outer is right. geno is a fucking genius about this. geno figures out how the spell works and what is does and how it interacts and how geno will place fail saves to keep the spell running but also to make sure it doesn't harm dust's soul as they work on getting dust's soul strong enough to handle the storm fully.

Dust isn't an idiot. He sees the geno doesn't care at all. he is just the case study. the only thing that matters about him is that he holds the soul and the storm and that is dust dies geno can't study and poke and prod it anymore. so that is why he is being saved. he is a labrat and that is it. it hurts but dust doesn't care. he knows it is either healing and going home. or dying. so whatever what happens. he already was a crime lord before. aparently this is his karma so this is hwat he deserves.

the longer dust remains there the more geno and reaper see the person behind the soul and magic. get to know him. see how smart and sassy he can be. How good he is with horses and how handsome he is. They fall at the same time but reaper figures it out first. and geno only figures it out because reaper pointed it out. Geno just realising he fell in love with this person and only connecting that he is working on this person's soul and magic while sitting there working on the spell and soul as he holds that beautiful fragile soul in his hands and he feels like such an idiot for not figuring it out quicker. but it is fine! Because geno is already healing him! He can just... make it obvious he cares? that he wants a relationship?

and it seems to work! they spend time togehter. they go on dates. geno ends up holding his hand and he isn't shoved away. kisses him feels amazing and then they invite him to spend the night with them and dust is a bit hesitant at first but lets them love him and make love to him afterwards nad it is perfect and great and-

what... what do you mean repaying your debt...?

And you are so right with dust. it is just another dirty deal. it is just another debt he needs to repay. he just endures. sure it is nice none of the actions hurt before or that they never asked him to do... things with others or anythign. but still. for dust there were no feelings of love or attraction behind the actions. He just did what he felt like he had to do because he owned them for their help...

Which really makes reaper and geno relaise how much they messed up. and it takes awhile before they manage to get dust to talk about it (before they foudn the silent and mysterious aspect of him attractive and cool but oh man is it hard to get him to admit anything and share information with them) and tehn they learn dust just saw it as a debt he had to repay. that he agreed because clearly they wanted it and he hoped that would repay it all. that dust doens't like them like that AT all. and that he doens't believe they actually like him. geno tries to reassure him when dust just says something liek "you don't need to act as if you give a shit about me. You already look and touch and prode my soul whenever... what else can you want?" becuase dust already gave everything he had to give... not freely but because he had to. and he just wants to be done with it.

It hurts them a lot but they both know they NEED to let dust go. all those teasured and swet memories they made together? those dates? thos sweet and long loving nights? yeah. aparently? they very much forced dust into those and dust never actually wanted to do any of those actions. they both feel sick about it. (geno feels especially terrible. realising that he messed it up since the very fucking start. just because he couldn't stay respectful about dust's soula dn health? just because he once again couldn't be a normal person when it came to magic. Dust TRUSTED them to help him. and Geno made him feel terrible... and then they boht pretty much harrassed him over and over and over. yeah geno feels sick)

they tried to fix things. show him they do hoenstly love him. that he is important. but nothing works. dust doesn't trust easily and well... they ruined their chance. it hurt s alot. Geno redoes everything about his session work. scraps it all and is so careful and makes sure to only work on the spell and not even look at that beautiful soul. but it is too late. there is no fixing it.

and once they helped dust and made sure he would be fine? they had to let him go. even if it hurts so badly.

(maybe when dust's homecountry gets invaded or soemthing dust ever returns. even if he dislikes both geno and reaper he knows it is a save land to travel to and settle. so dust returns. and geno and reaper KNOW this. but they have to act as if they don't because they doubt dust will be happy with the tracking spells. maybe error or fresh can run into him! and they eventually do.) ((sidenote. dust deserves to get a job on a ranch. just work with horses to his soul contents.))

and yes! fresh and Error are there too! Dust still helps Fresh with his parasite (which just makes geno feel ever WORSE about how he ended up hurting dust. because dust helped his brother!) and Error just sneaking up on the cool mysterious powerful mage with the horses.

only to learn that dust doens't do magic. Which is so weird to error. error can FEEL you are powerful. why don't you use spells. Dust just shrugs and says he doens't know how. because that is the truth. he doesn't now how to cast. Nightmare helped him learn that nad no nightmare this timeline. Error frowns and watches dust work with the very hostile horse and error is the one who sees how dust makes large progress with actually taming it and is so impressed. Error tells dust that fresh can do that with other animals so maybe they can exchange notes? (error also offers that maybe his own tutors can help teach dust magic stuff? but dust declines. he has enough of one mage messing with his magic. thanks,)

just. dust still getting a relationship/friendship with error. dust and fresh becoming buds over their animal hnadling skills... and yet dust still being so hurt and going back home. because he can't trust geno and reaper. that just hurts.

That Error TRIES to be penpals. but that dust has to shut it down. he sends a message back that error is a great kid and that dust wishes him the best but that after what happened he can't do this. it hurts. he is sorry. he hopes error gets friends who ARE worthy of his friendship because dust isn't.

Error is heartbroken. first with dust leaving and then the rejection. he cries because he had a friend! he finally was able to make a friend who could be a cool extra brother!

(geno feeling even more horrible after learnign all of this)

I feel so bad that i just don't have alot fo say about horror. he just has a chill life! I can't even lie. he sticks with his family and lives a happy life even if it isn't fullfilled in a way it was in the other timeline.

exactly for cross! It isn't the high stress job of before but it enables him to stay busy. work out a bit. and stay in contact with people! all things that are good for him. he enjoys getting his crushes and imagine how things could be. (he never tries. lust was the only one for him) but epic!! Him and the bruh! the bro and bro!! they have to become friends!! and yes i love the idea that it was epic who gave him the future talk in the mian story with frisk and chara. which is why he KNOWS this isn't suposed to be the future that was planned for cross. that was writen in the timeline. but epic holds their friendship very near and dear. he cares a lot about his friend. though maybe epic would still try to fit the pieces together. to make it right again. but that is hard because he doesn't know what the pieces are! (he can look into the future. not the past after all)

i dom't have specific plans for epic hahaha just thought of it as i was typing the reblog hihih

I love that blue got to be a knight. it is sad he had to battle his old mentor to death to get there but he gets his justice! He gets to be the knight he always wanted to be.

(on that side note... 16 year old dream meeting 21 year old knight blue. Maybe dream tries to run away after freeing ccino. feeling like he did one thing correct only to learn ccino will still stay. dream is convinced he messes things up and ruins everything. he just wanted to make one thing right and he messed up somehow again because ccino isn't leaving even when freed.

so dream runs away himself. trying to give them the freedom. he knows now that HE was the problem. he messed everything up by not trusting nighty all those years ago that the ritual was bad news. he just brought more pain and more pain and ruin to everything! He ends up getting stuck or maybe some bandits and blue saves him.

Dream is in love. instantly. Blue is everything he liked before and now even more. because blue saved him. blue doens't even know who dream is and he still saved him!

blue makes sure to set up camp and make sure to check if dream is hurt. adn tehy talk. dream tries to confess he likes him. right away. (that is how the story books go right? a prince/princess is saved by a brave knight. they confess their feelings and get married? happily ever after?) but blue, because blue is a good guy, gently rejects dream.

Dream just breaks. he cries and cries and confesses EVERYTHING to this stranger. how he only makes things worse and how he is a selfish and horrible and he shouldn't BE trusted at all. how he makes everything harder and he only causes bad things to happen.

blue listens in shock. he heard of course of the old king and crown prince going missing... but this? he never expected this? but blue also sees that this is a very hurt kid. Blue does the math... who forces a 13 year old child to grow into an adult? before they even have a chance to become themselves? No wonder dream did those things. he was set up to be one way and wasn't offered another choice. Blue just holds him. holds him and supports him and lets dream cry it out.

at the end blue is gently. says he didn't reject the other becuase he doesn't like him. says that blue is sure that dream is going to be okay and do good. that dream is already a much better person than he used to be because he cares. he is trying to be better. but that blue is just too old for dream. that dream is young and has his whole life ahead of him. no need to lock himself down with a too old guy.

Dream feels a bit better. and goes back home. (his soul very much in love) blue feels better. because this is why he wanted to be a knight. to save people. to help people. blue returns home with more hope to make things better.

I do like the idea that eventually they manage to end up meeting again. all of them. relationships will be different and their future and past will be different. but in the end they all find each other again and slowly get better and healthy. as much as this timeline allows.

Hiiii!!!!! I'm sending this from the main account (curse) because it's easier than making it anon lol- But I'm tagging myself jic ( @spotaus )

So!!!! The thing I was thinking about for New Age that I wanted to send to you was about that alternate ending for the story where Dream gets the apple, but more specifically: What about the side characters? These aren't entirely thought out, but I like to think about the 'what if' being like that episode of My Little Pony where there was no sonic rainboom (and if that reference means nothing then ignore it, hehe!)

Killer goes first! So, Killer *was* caught when Nightmare strolled through town, I'd say about a year/few months after rising to power. Dream, I don't think, would be touring like Nightmare was at that point, because he doesn't have to rebuild anything, so no reason to personally go to the guard camps in the first place to search for knights. He has plenty of guys right here! So, here is when Killer actually slips his cuffs and goes off on his own, the opposite direction of where Chara would have been waiting on him, because even though he knows he can't trust them any more, he also doesn't know where to go. Instead of following, he'll go anywhere they aren't. I like to think that at this realization, he just... keeps living the way that he used to. Moving from town to town, just barely scraping by. That's when he runs into the King's caravan, visiting one of the big port cities, and decides to have some fun. Live a little. And that *does* mean that he sneaks around during the event to see just how close to the king he can get without setting anyone off. And... wow, this is the heir to Nim? It makes sense, but looking at him makes Killer feel sick, he knows what he use to do to please Nim, and he knows what people still do now to please Dream, even when he'll never ever notice them. Eventually he gets fed up with it, and wants to leave, but before he does he notices THE most gorgeous skeleton he's ever seen. So he approaches rapidly, and there's this moment of conversation that no one recognizes that Killer is absolutely NOT supposed to be there. He walked with purpose, so they thought nothing of it, and Ccino assumes he has to be one of the new members of a noble family, so he and Nightmare talk with Killer for a bit. It's a nice this farce for Killer. It isn't until after, when Nightmare mentions he liked that one noble with the funny target soul to Dream, that they find out that he was just. Some guy. Dream puts some people on research, and it comes back that Killer is a criminal. Night asks if they could pardon him, and Dream agrees easily. So, out of nowhere, Killer is free of all previous, and future, transgressions. He doesn't even know it until he's caught again, before being released because of the king. Killer isn't quite sure what to do with himself, so I like to think that his travels eventually lead him to meet Ink! They'd make a great assassin duo, and it gives opportunities for him to be outside the kingdom.

Dust. Dust, I think, actually continues to be a crime lord. Because Nightmare didn't hear about the black market from Killer, there's no reason for anyone to try hunting it down now. The weather magic blocker stays up, at least until Dream is usurped, and that's how long he stays in power as a crime lord. A few months after, when the weather returns and the rituals fade? His magic is almost too much. He can hardly move anywhere without causing a tornado or hurricane, until he learns to control himself, which takes at least a week to be able to drain the initial build-up. In that time his soul is shocked back to life fairly often, and he decides he needs to find a mage to deal with this, because if he couldn't be at home before, he can't be *anywhere* now. I actually think that Dust would end up seeking Outer. He's not very well known, but he's a mage of the sky, and that's the kind of thing Dust needs to figure this thing out, or he's going to die and lose out on all he's been working on. Maybe he would come back to get a check-up from Outer when Dream, Night, and Ccino are there and get a nasty surprise. (Dust has a very slight chance of still meeting Geno and Reaper, but I do think their relationship would start up with Dust being a sort of case study for Geno, just like Dust in the usual time is afraid of. He might be able to see his family again someday too, depending on how efficient I want Outer to be with storm magic lol.)

Horror. I actually don't think Horror managed to move into the kingdom. His generation of family slipped into the borders during Nightmare's chaotic start, and with Dream there was none of that. So, they just couldn't ever sneak in to take over that old abandoned settlement. I think they might have set up camp just outside the borders on the unclaimed territory, and tried to help their relatives living inside the kingdom. Horror lives a fine life, he's happy, but his injury has already happened by then, so his family coddles him. No one to train him, so he has to live like that, never really fulfilled (Never meeting Farm for sure)

Cross? Tbh I like the idea that he went off to Reaper's kingdom! Just another refugee, slipping away into the land of peace away from all the chaos and war across the bay. He's happy there, for sure! Maybe he starts to work at someplace with a routine like a restaurant, or joins Reaper's military which is a lot more relaxed. He never really gets to fully complete his independance arc, and never actually meets Lust :(

Bonus!!! Error! Error doesn't run away and end up in Night's kingdom until almost 7 years of Night's rule. Dream barely makes it to five years. So when Error tries to run away, the kingdom he stumbles into is full of chaos, and trying to learn to govern itself amidst what feels like the apocalypse to them. And without a mage contest and a King to get scooped up by? Fresh actually manages to find Error! He gets to give him that big bear hug and tell him to never run away like that again and ask why he did it. And Error gets to tell him he felt forgotten and left behind, and Fresh insists that's not it. That dumb school wasn't for him either, he's sure that when Geno comes to visit, he can teach him a little more. Fresh manages to coax him home, and though he eventually comes clean about his parasite, there's never a resolution to it. Reaper, when they finally meet, can pacify it a bit, but that's all they can do. Error doesn't become a full mage, but Geno teaches him a little and he's still insanely powerful. Just, now a second powerful mage living with Reaper, running around causing havoc.

Okay, those are my thoughts for now! Horror and Cross are a bit shorter because there was less/no Nightmare involvement, and Killer ended up being my golden child as always. Dust is ???? I got a little tired, but you know what I mean haha- Anyways hope you have a good one!!!

AAH!! I love it so much!!

Okay let me just. Get to this :D

And don't worry. I get the reference hihihi

Okay but I LOVE the fact that Killer would have just escaped and make a run for it. Now that i think about it you did mention Killer was just watiing for Chara to save him but would have slipped the cuffs himself. Him just going around and being on his own. Traveling. And then. He sees the NEW KING. and Killer already feeling a little sick for the things that were done in Nim's name. That he did in Nim's name. So he wants to sneak closer and just. Just see how close he can get. Just for fun. No other reason at all.

And as you said. people just didn't mind because well. Killer played the part. He was confident and certain in his movements so people just let him. And Killer seeing and meeting Ccino. There is no rules to stay away. No king that Killer is trying to stay on the good terms off. So he just rushes over to introduce himself and learn the tiny bit he can before he needs to leave. I like the idea that Killer is just smitten at first sight and Ccino feels a bit flattered. There have been nobles before who were interested but they were pushy and grabby. Killer isn't. Killer is just... nice... respectful. Sure he flirsts but he keeps his hands to himself. It is nice.

And then it turns out that Killer was no noble at all but a criminal. I like that Nightmare still wants to pardon him. But in this case it would be because Nightmare SAW that Killer was nice and respectful towards Ccino. So he only sees the freedom as a good reward for the other. (poor Ccino though. Thinks he may finally meet a noble who is nice and actually may be able to interact more with- Nope. a criminal. because of course the only person who would be nice ot Ccino would be a criminal)

OMG Ink and Killer the assassin duo. Glorious.

Also. I think that Killer would eventually learn about the rebellion in the kingdom. And Killer doens't care that the king is gone, he sees that as a good thing. Killer thinks it is a shame the crown prince is gone too as he seemed nice enough. But he regrets not going back and just grabbing Ccino. Because he knows that it is unlikely anyone in that castle survived. So You just have Killer mourning what never was and never got to be.

I like the idea that Killer and Ink eventually come by Outer (why? they got lost and happened upon that) and Killer just SEES Ccino there. Looking so so so tired but alive. and He just grabs him and hugs him and spins him around. A second chance at last. (also if ccino put on a bit of weight. Killer would be shocked that ccino managed ot get even more gorgeous while ccino is self concious about 'letting himself go' instead of the fact that he is healing and FINALLY eating full meals. If ccino is still thin Killer can help the healing process <3)

Killer probably asks Ccino to run away so many times then. To just run off together! The princes can handle themselves now. They are out and one is an adult-ish. Ccino just so tiredly and quietly admiting the slave contract. he can't leave even if he wanted. Then ever softer. that he doesn't want to leave. even if they both hate him... they are still his... ccino loves them.

Killer mentions that it isn't healthy for ccino to love them and ccino just shrugging as he mentions that he was never suposed to hav e along life spam anyway. Killer just holding him. They probbaly have so many heart-to-hearts. ccino would be so much more broken in this one while killer woudl be more put togehter. Ccino just having been kicked down one too many times to get back up fully. And Killer having seen the world more and been out with ink, getting an ACTUAL friend.

(God jsut thought of like. Killer holding ccino and mentioning that killer loves ccino. ccino just so tired muttering that he shouldn't. That ccino is too broken to love or deserve love. Killer doens't agree. He is okay with just being allowed to hold ccino.) Dust!!

FRIEND!! I got THOUGHTS about Dust!

I fully agree wiht him staying a crime lord and just being undefeated. Untill!! The magic disapears and normal weather returns. It getting out of control SO FAST. Dust losing control of the stronger storma dn his soul having had the time it needed to fully grow to be able to handle it better (the two year difference and what it does) Dust is terrified the spell will end up killing him over just knocking him out. (in reality it DOES kill him a few times. It just zaps his soul so harshly it cracks before melting it back togehter. I imagine that Dust's soul, both here and in the real newage story, looks like Kintsugi pots. you know like repaired with gold but here it is like solidified mana which in dust's case is purple)

Anyway, Dust goes searching for a mage to help him. Maybe he finds outer first and outer after checking just shaking his skull. this is too complex for him. He can't do that. He is so sorry... But outer mentions... that there is a genius mage in another land. on another continent. If anyway knows how to help you handle that spell? It is Geno.

Outer writes Dust a note. Like a magical summon adn reference kinda deal wiht a magical seal. To enable Dsut to travel to the heart of the kingdom and request an auditions with the royal mage of reaper. The highest Mage and most powerful mage in the fucking lands. (mage and wizard priviledges. Using one of those seals is SERIOUS business. Because if you use the seal for something not worthy? you lose those seal priviledges.)

Dust travels there. Shows the note and is let in. and gets to meet the royal mage and king of the land. Geno and reaper.

Dust first gives the note. Geno reads it and looks curious. a spell encasing a soul? Sharing power and energy? That is a VERY fascinating concept.

Dust doens't like being looked at like the case study. Because it happens RIGHT away. but geno agrees to help. Which means showing the soula dn spell. Dust HATES it but he needs ti. worse is the way that Geno looks fucking excited. He looks THRILLED when Dust shows him the very thing Killing him. (and reviving but Dust doens't know that.)

And that is how it goes. They find him magic dampers to help him control the storm and make it less painful. Then Genoa dn dsut have the magical sessions and soul sessions and Dust feels so exposed and feels ill with being looked at like an experiment but dust NEEDS this. He needs to life and learn to control this stupid storm if he ever wants to see his family again. So he endures.

Worse is that Geno and Reaper still fall in love. Because Dust needs to stay in the castle for his own health reasons. (Dust dropped a few times. His soul starting to give out and had to be revived a few times. so they make sure dust remains close to where the healers and they are to help him back up) Dust still learns his gift and love for horses. He sneaks around. He is still mysterious and aloof. And Geno and Reaper can't help but fall.

Problem? Because of the whole... being looked at like a study case fro the start? I don't think dust will EVER fall for either Geno or Reaepr in this timeline. He can't. Not after what happened. Not after the very thing he fears and hates happening. He can't see them in any other way (in normal Newage dust falls in love BEFORE Geno does his mess up. Meaning that even if it hurt Dust was still in love. Which jsut makes the hurt worse)

Anyway. So Dust doens't love or like Geno and Reaper but knows he owns them so much. So when Geno just starts to feel things for Dust? Dust is even less in a position to say no or decline. Becuase before it was nightmare's treaty on the line. Now? Dust quite literally has a life debt to them both AND they are still helping him recover enough to even be able to life wihtout his magic overcharging and killer himself and everyone around him.

Dust is terrified that if he says no to anything that the support would stop (it wouldn't stop. they would still help him) so... he agrees to it all... It isn't like it is that big of a deal anyway. What is handholding and kissing and making out or even sex compared to them already having seen your soul because you are their science experiment?

Eventually it comes out. Probbaly at the WORST possible moment. Because Reaepr and geno both think the three of them are just dating. Like going WELL dating as they are already sleeping together and everything.

Then geno just says something like "That was perfect" or "That was amazing!" or just that he is so happy.

And dsut wonders and just asks "is... does that mean..." And he frowns and Reaper and Geno are SO SURE Dust will ask if they love him or that he loves them and then "Is the debt repaid?"

It is like a fucking stab through their souls. So after some very pointed questions and Dust realising he messed up and trying to backtrack because damnit aparentyl he wasn't suposed to mention it? but they were kinda joking and talking about marriage and Dust had been nervous because that is a bit far to have to repay but he is only alive because of them so maybe?

Adn it gets out just how Dust saw the relationship. Geno and Reaper are HORRIFIED.

And there is no fixing it. Because Dust is convinced he is just an science experiment and fun past time. There is no convincing him otherwise because that was the reality. ANd it had been the reality for a while.

It does explain to geno and Reaper why Dust would reject any presents or gifts or anything. Dust didn't want to add to his debt and it makes them both sick that that is how he thought about their relationship.

The worst part is... Dust is soon healed. Which means he can leave. and Reaper and Geno don't WANT him to leave because they do love him. hoenstly. And they want to hav eDust with them. Mostly because they just love him but also to make sure that they can prove to him that they hoenstly love him. to prove to him that they honestly care.

But for that they would have to lock him up because Dust WANTS to leave. it is obvious.

In the end Geno adn Reaper just had to let Dust go. (they obviously made sure he got things for the trip and extra money nad gold and had a crystal in case of emergencies if his soul and storm gave him trouble.) they wouldn't let him go without at least making sure he is ready for the trip. Dust muttered about just owning them more and both tried to reassure him there is no debt. (which is what they had been trying since they found out.)

Dust also gets his own horse from them. and he leaves. (geno has SO MANY tracking spells on him. Just because they ARE worried and want to make sure he is okay.)

dust meanwhile? He just goes home. He is mostly cured now. He knows how to handle his spell and storm. So he goes back home. His family is very happy to have him home and he is happy there.

Horror honestly has the least going on with him with this chance. As you said. The family never managed to move in. Or maybe they moved in when Dream lost the crown? but only then.

But as we established. horror woudl never get the chance to grow and become a trusted worker becuase well...everyone was worried about him and so careful with him. Horror is sad aboutit but he loves his family and knows they love him so much and just show they care.

I think Horror woudl always remain with his family. Feeling like he is a burden because he can't do anything to help them. But he is loved and he loves them. And In many ways he is one of the ones with the better faith even if he feels unfulfilled nad aimless and without direction.

Cross is the refuge! He makes his way to reaper's country (and because he is just another refuge and just another person trying to find his way he never got the chance to directly interact with Reaper, Geno or Dust.)

Cross settles and does some odd jobs until he manages to find a more secure job. Maybe he becomes a guard. or maybe. after what happened before he just doens't trust himself with those type of jobs. He can't trust his judgement and doens't want people to connect the dots between the old cross who was the most loyal soldier of xgaster. instead. he just does odd jobs until he finds a good and wellpaying job in the tavern and on the docks as someone who helps thes hips unload (yes cross has two jobs ebcause this boy can not stand staying still and having time for himself and his thoguhts. He wants to keep busy so two jobs) as a result he has a reasonable amount of money for who he is.

I don't think Cross ever falls in love. everyone who flirts with him is a bit TOO direct and makes cross anxious. He of course continues to have many many many crushes but those are just for him to enjoy and talk about with his fellow tavern workers.

I DO however think. It would only be fair that this cross gets to meet epic. another refuge. They hit it off and become besties. Cross deserves the chance to have a bestie. Epic and Cross laugh and hang out. (also. Epic is 100% clairvoyant and keeps talking about how things are all wrong and this shouldn't be this way. epic adores and love shis friend. but he knows this isn't how it is meant to be.) ((on that note. I think Epic should still be in the main story. still the same clairvoyant. the catch is that epic is the same across all the different timelines. the other people change. Epic is just always the same. (same for N lmao). Like how his magic eye plays into it lmao but that is just a random idea))

Error!! OMG! I am so happy for Fresh?! Fresh manages to catch Error, probably causing CHAOS in the already chaotic state of affairs. You just know that the guards were rude and manhandled error. Only for fresh to finally catch up to his little brother and probably USE the parasite power to make sure that whoever touched his little brother can never do that ever again.

Fresh adn Error hug and Fresh just holding Error and just muttering 'thank you gods. thank you for giving him back to him. thank you.' because he is so relieved.

and error. error who was convinced fresha dn geno jsut didn't love him anymore and didn't want him around anymore. being held close as fresh just MURDERED people who hurt him.

Error mentions he doens't understand... he thought they didn't want to deal with error anymore...why else did you both leave?

and fresh just holding error so close because that hurt to hear and he just mutters to error that he loves him so much and he swears he will explain everything to him and why he acted the way he did but fresh reassures him that it was NEVER him. it was never error who did anything wrong. (fresh now also being painfully aware of how he always rejected error when error wanted to hug him or get close. fresh did it to protect his little brother of course but that doesn't chance the fact he still did. Fresh realising just how much he has hurt Error be doing this over and over again.

Dude you thought your killer and dust parts were long ahhaha I am jsut as bad.

I just can't go as far wth horror and cross either because well. as you said. limited options that are realistic for them. because cross didn't get on the boat because of innk and ink was there because of dream planning the revolution (at least partly) so that stops there.

and you mentioned how horror sneaks into the kingdom with his fam to help their fam when it was chaotic with nightmare tkaing over the ruling. which also never happened so they remained locked outside.

okay! That was the reply!! No more holding it hostage :3