#Nightmare/Lyra

[topazshadowwolf]

Kissing happens in this chapter. And some plot. But mostly kissing.

[2005divorced7times]

Who here fw what ever this is

[somegrumpynerd]

Everyone sleeps in dadmare's bed for the night

Well, almost everyone sleeps

[bleaksqueak]

Distant visions buried in static snow

Read today's pages.

Read from the start

Support artists and the production of this comic

[reddar88]

pick 3 ponys

[hayden-christensen]

HIS DARK MATERIALS: SERIES THREE (December 5 - December 18/26, 2022)

[balladofareader]

I had a thought...that maybe Lyra's dad isn't dead. This may not make sense because I had this thought at night, BUT MAYBE???!!! Like, his face was blown up so, who could tell it was really him?

[nonerrata-myarchives]

No wonder the old man called him ordinary.

I'm so disappointed...

But I see the old man's view now.

[gildead]

@asterismas asked:

"...Gold, right?" Hm. How curious. How come this suspiciously dressed guy knows your name. How come they're asking as if they already know the answer is correct. At least you shouldn't worry; despite the shady appearance, nothing about them suggests they're a threat. If anything, they're keeping their distance...as if they know it might upset you otherwise. "Mind if I take a couple minutes of yer time, kiddo?"

Who are you? We are investigating the case of a missing Pokémon here...

If Gold's a little jumpy at first instinct, it's only because he's been jumped with a similar line of questioning before. It's not anything the suspicious guy's done, per se, but just a prior run-in with police.

Rule number one! 'Whoever did it will come back to the site'.

If his heart could beat, it would be skipping several per second by now. His mind began racing, trying to figure out what he's possibly done.

Oh my... So you must be... the one who did it?

Professor Elm and Lyra aren't here to speak for him anymore. And though Jimmy's in the other room, Gold doesn't know if he has any clue what's happening. It's up to him to speak for himself.

"Am..." He swallows, his throat dry.

"Am I in trouble, s-sir?"

[negativeohio]

We released a new song that's a homage to Vocaloid and Denpa music (and also a early Halloween track in disguise)

[topazshadowwolf]

GoopTales: Part 22, waking up and domestic fluff

And now, they wake up...

Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22(you are here)/34

AO3: Ch 1 (1-4), Ch 2 (4-8), Ch 3 (9-12), Ch 4 (13-16) Ch 5 (17-19), Ch 6 (20-23), Ch 7 (24-27), Ch 8 (28-31), Ch 9 (32-34)

---

Something moving started to pull him from the deeper sleep he had been enjoying. It wasn’t the first time he felt something move while sleeping. It frequently happens; he ignores it and continues to sleep, which is how it usually goes. His tentacles, reacting to the emotions that his dreams stir, are typically what he feels when moving about in bed. 

This was different, though.

It felt like small hands pushing on his back as someone was climbing on him. Soft, hushed voices telling the one who was climbing him confirmed his suspension. Nightmare groaned softly before opening his eye and looking at the little skeletons. Killer continued to climb up on him, settling down in the center of his back, making it hard for Nightmare to see him.

“killer,” Horror hissed softly in a whisper, “you woke him up.”

“i did?” Killer asked without the care of keeping quiet.

“You did,” Nightmare said before yawning. Slowly sitting up, he felt Killer safely slip down onto the bed in a fit of giggles.

“sorry,” Dust said softly.

“No need to apologize. I actually had a pleasant sleep. I hope you four did as well,” Nightmare said as his tendrils curled around the four small skeletons in a hug. “Now, if only I woke up on my own accord and not because some little minion decided to start crawling all over me. A rude awakening by an intrepid mountain climber is a poor start to a day.”

“intepit?” Cross asked.

“In-trep-id,” Nightmare corrected.

“intrepid,” Cross said, trying again.

“There you go, it means fearless or adventurous,” Nightmare explained.

“that’s me!” Killer exclaimed, holding his arms up excitedly.

Nightmare used a tendril to pick the child up, purposefully holding him upside-down, “Yes, that was you, but your actions were still rude. Were they not?”

Killer giggled, “sorry!”

“Why do I doubt that you are?” Nightmare asked, and Killer giggled more as Nightmare set him back down. “Alas, the youth these days have no respect for their elders. Whatever is an old man like me to do?”

“i re-pect you, mr. night,” Cross said quickly before whispering to Horror, “what’s re-pect mean?”

“respect, it means… um…,” Horror put his hand to his chin as he thought. “i know what it means just… um…”

“You are unsure how to define it, or put it into words?” Nightmare asked, and Horror nodded. “Start, and I will help you when you need it.”

“okay, um. it means that you… show uh… well you listen and you…show someone they are important,” Horror said, then looked at Nightmare.

“Exactly. You honor them by listening, doing as they ask, and being polite.” He smiled and patted Horror on the back. “You did well, Horror. You did not need my help after all.”

“thank you, mr. night,” Horror said with a smile.

“i respect you! i just like being silly,” Killer giggled.

“That you do, you little imp,” Nightmare huffed.

To that, Killer gasped and folded his arms, “i’m not an imp! i’m a skeleton!”

“Yes, you are. Come along, babybones. Time for breakfast,” Nightmare said as he stood from his bed.

“oh! oh! can you carry me, pleeeeaaase~?” Killer asked, holding his arms up in the traditional ‘pick me up pose’ all children seem to know naturally.

“me too! please!” Cross said, putting his arms up as well.

“Alright,” he said as he used his tendrils to wrap around those two and lifted them off the bed. Killer giggled and squirmed a little before finally settling into the hold. It amused Nightmare as the youngest, Cross, patted the tendril as if it were alive while whispering, “thank you” to the limb. As Cross continued to gently pet the limb, Nightmare turned his attention to Dust and Horror. “What about you two? Do you want to be carried, as well?”

“yes, please,” Horror replied, and Nightmare curled a tendril around him. Horror simply hugged the limb that held him with a content smile.

Dust was hesitant and fiddled with his fingers for a short moment before he softly muttered, “please?”

And with that, Nightmare lifted him off the bed as well. Just as before, there was a flinch at the initial contact, but Dust soon relaxed and was lifted off the bed. He looked down and around himself, interested in the different angle he now had to view everything. 

Nightmare made his way out of his room to theirs to help them pick out what they would wear and get them ready for the day. Keeping Killer and Cross focused was a struggle, but he could after that good sleep. One at a time, he helped them brush their teeth, Cross needing help with the action to make sure he got all of his teeth, and a tendril around Killer kept him in place long enough to complete the task. Once done and dressed, he walked them down the hall.

“what about you, mr. night? you still have your jammies on!” Cross asked.

“That I do. Once you four are being watched by Lyra, I shall change and brush my teeth,” He explained as they continued on their way. This time, they wanted to walk on their own—Killer and Dust on one side, Horror and Cross on the other side of him. Killer and Horror were holding a tendril in one hand and the other’s hand in the other.

Once they reached the kitchen, he found Lyra at the refrigerator going through its contents. She looked up at Nightmare and the others and smiled. “I hope you do not mind. I decided to make meal plans for the week,” she said, closing the refrigerator door.

“I do not mind at all. I will admit, I was so busy with other things that I just decided on meals when it was time to eat,” Nightmare admitted. “Speaking of meals, I have four little baby bones-”

“i’m not a baby! i’m an intrupid,” Killer started.

“Intrepid,” Nightmare corrected.

“intrepid… umm… oh! climber!” Killer announced.

“you are a babybones,” Horror grinned while patting Killer on the head.

“nuh-uh!” Killer rebutted.

“Alright, no more arguing. All four of you are baby bones, adventurous nature or not. Now, if Lyra is alright with it, I will leave you four in her care as I get myself ready for the day,” Nightmare declared.

“okay, mr. night!” Cross said before hugging Nightmare around the legs.

“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. I will have them help with breakfast, and when you get back, we will enjoy a meal together,” Lyra smiled.

It had been long enough that Dust could now eat most of what was given to him without making him sick. And with them helping, that should keep Killer out of trouble and Horror entertained enough not to prank the others. Content they were in good hands, Nightmare started to turn to leave when he felt someone holding one of his tendrils.

Looking down, he saw Dust holding the limb in question. He was near tears as he looked up at Nightmare with a pleading look that said what his voice was failing to say. Dust wanted to come with. When he was alone with the boys, Dust stayed close whenever Nightmare was home. He usually did not initiate physical contact beyond holding a tendril like now, but he did accept it when offered. At this moment, when the others were going over to Lyra to learn what she had planned for breakfast and how they could help, Nightmare considered Dust may have become “clingy.”

What was he to do…

Nightmare will not admit it, but after his troubles as a small child at the hands of adults… he had a soft spot for them. Such young children should be his brother's concern. And yet, Nightmare just had a hard time hurting, emotionally or physically, children. It just felt like bullying.

He just… didn’t like bullying of children…

That dislike only seemed to get stronger the older he got.

But this wouldn’t be bullying… it would be telling Dust he had to wait with the others.

And yet…

He was getting soft…

Those sad eyelights, tears in the corner of his sockets, as the child silently pleaded…

“Dust,” Lyra said as she walked over and knelt down. “Mr. Night just needs to get dressed and cleaned up like you did.”

Dust looked down at the floor and nodded; he understood, but… Nightmare was the first adult to show him kindness and love. After all the anger and hate he had experienced, Dust seemed scared to be away from Nightmare. He felt safe when Nightmare was around and wanted the guardian who was protecting him from “The Doctor” to stay nearby.

“Lyra, I,” Nightmare started, but Lyra shook her head.

“Dust, I have an idea. Can you help me? Nightmare is going to be very hungry by the time he is done, and I do not think I and the other three could make enough food for him without your help,” Lyra said as she held her hand out to him.

“Hmmm, I am feeling rather peckish right now,” Nightmare said thoughtfully.

“I am sure you will be ravenous by the time you return,” Lyra grinned.

“i thought you didn’t hafta eat since you eat emotions!” Killer blurted out. He then gasped, “what about all the times you didn’t eat with us? Was that because… because you didn’t make enough for all of us and you?”

“Well… I require emotions more than food, but I also enjoy food,” Nightmare explained.

“you really need my help?” Dust asked in a whisper to Lyra.

“I do,” She whispered back. “So, will you help us?”

Dust looked up at Nightmare and then back at her with a nod. With that, she extended her hand, and he placed his hand in hers. She then stood and guided him over to the others. Dust looked back momentarily but then focused on where she was guiding him. With the group distracted with breakfast plans, Nightmare turned and left the room to prepare for the day.

…

He could get used to this…

---

next

[findmeinthefallair]

Me a fair bit of the time, honestly

[somegrumpynerd]

Started reading The Bad Wingmen by @topazshadowwolf and @paddie-ut and it utterly possessed me for a few days so I needed to draw some of my favourite bits

[alma-amentet]

Random thought of the day.

Malenia lost some of her early memories, they were never fully restored, as well as her body. And maybe, that was good for her.

In my headcanon ending, Malenia was finally rid of her curse. She could live a happier life she deserved, together with Miquella and Lyra (my Tarnished OC). And those memories didn't bother her much, so she was able to enjoy it more.

Miquella could have still missed and mourned Goldwyn, some other things... Malenia didn't because, even if she remembered, it felt too vague. Just a thought, but not the feeling.

Of course, she felt shame and guilt for failing Miquella, not saving him from Mohg. That was already enough for her (assuming what she's already been through)

[askvaudeville]

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[gigakoops]

I also made a Pride image for @nightmarelyra !