#he is worried for his friend as well

[kiuda]

take care of yourself ❤

you too anon and everyone else ❤️❤️

[purble-gaymer]

oh my god (bursts into tears)

[pianokantzart]

Say what you will about E. Gadd, but I think it speaks volumes that when King Boo intercepted Luigi mid-teleportation at the end of Luigi's Mansion 2, the professor was so much more upset that Luigi was gone than he was happy that he had the last piece of The Dark Moon in his possession

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Friends Reunite

It is here! The moment has arrived! @spotaus are you ready friend?!

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

I don't think we need an introduction to this part :3

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

Nightmare watches out from the porch as he waits. They are waiting for Horror to finish putting their tools away.

As they wait Nightmare pulls on his clothes. feeling very nervous.

Killer grins "You look fine nighty."

Nightmare frowns "i guess..." he is wearing some of his new clothes. nice colourful ones. Things he never really wore. warm orange and pink today. it is loose and pretty. with a few nice ribbons as well.

Cross smiles as he helps him check his outfit "aren't you excited to see your friend again? I thought you missed him?"

Nightmare looks down as he rubs his arm "I do... Ccino is nice..." he isn't sure for a moment but tells them anyway "I was actually... When i thought you guys didn't... want to be near me... I had been on my way to him." he figured if there was any safe place for him it would be Ccino's.

Cross hugs him close "I am still so sorry we left you."

Nightmare shurgs and leans into the touch "you came back." that is what matters. they came back.

Horror walks over and rubs his skull and Nightmare leans into the tocuh with a happy sigh. Horror smiles a thim "ready to go little light?"

Nightmare feels embarrased at that new nickname. Sure he got used to Nightlight by now but little light is still new.

Horror chuckles and pets his skull again "ready?"

Nightmare leans into it still and nods "okay." he really wants to see Ccino. see if ccino still sees him as a friend.

after everything

after not visiting for so long.

after... now that he is different.

He doesn't fight it as Killer picks him up and holds him close "You sure you feel okay? Spine fine?"

Nightmare rolls his eye lights and nods "I feel fine." his spine only aches nowadays. Yet none of them seem willing to let him walk around a lot.

Nightmare doenst mind honestly. It is nice to be close to them and be held. like a long hug. it just feels nice and warm and safe.

Cross takes out his knife and cuts the fabric of the universe. a portal opens and cross smiles "ready to go."

And they step through.

The leave the warm autumn air for a chiller spring air and nightmare shivers slightly. Not truly becuase he is cold but mostly because he hadn't expected the sudden change.

Killer just holds him closer.

They are in an alleyway and Nightmare can see both Dust and Cross look around the corner. Nightmare feels so nervous. he tries to get any wrinkles out of his clothes as he waits.

What if Ccino didn't want to meet him again?

What if he was angry?

what if he hated him now?

Dust looks back at them "store is closed as we requested. I don't see anyone near."

Killer looks deeply unhappy but then he looks at Nightmare and sighs "okay. lets do this." still nightmare can feel himself be pulled closer and his face is hidden by killer's shoulder, making it a lot harder to see.

they move around and walk over.

he hears nothing for a while before a familiar voice speaks up.

"Wow you really are quiet..."

That is ccino. Oh no... maybe this was a mistake?

Dust hums "I pride myself on being quiet and unnoticable. I see you wanted to do this meeting after all."

Ccino sounds unamused as he answers "of course i do! But... i can't help but notice i don't see nightmare."

huh. guess killer is hiding himself and nightmare both behind the others.

DUst sounds unbothered "oh he is here. I just need to make sure nothing here could endanger him."

This time ccino actually sounds mad and insulted "I would never bring harm or danger to someone."

a moment of silence before Dust answers sounding very amused "good answer. Then I hope you also understand that all of this will stay between us and a secret from the multiverse as a whole?"

Ccino huffs "obviously."

Dust probably does something like a nod because the next thing he says is just Killer's name.

Nightmare feels killer move and probably step out into the open.

A dead silence around them. Nightmare takes a deep breath and pushes the anxiety down as he pulls back a bit from killer's shoulder and glances at ccino.

Ccino just stares at him. shock clearly on his face as he just takes the sight of him in. But... there is no anger or hurt or hate on his face.

Nightmare slowly raises a hand "hey ccino... it has been a while?"

Ccino shakes before smiling brightly "nightmare! You! It is actually you and you are okay!" then worry "wait are you okay?" he glares at dust "why is he a child?"

Dust shrugs as Cross slowly holds up the old Dreamtale book "yeah... that is a long story... at least as much as we know..."

Ccino looks between them before sighing but then he smiles "guess we can all just sit and talk? I will get the drinks and snacks."

nightmare leans against killer and the stress leaves his body. it is okay. ccino isn't mad. he doesn't hate him.

This is fine.

--

Nightmare pets one of the many cats that had swarmed him. all of them being the cat versions of his dads who all try to nuzzle and clean him.

Nightmare looks abck and notes that his dads are done explaining the situation to ccino. well as much as they know and understand it.

Dust's cat has disappeared a while ago but the other three are making up for it as they refuse to leave his side.

Ccino leans back "that... that is a lot..."

Killer snorts "that is putting it lightly. We have just decided to lay low."

cross smiles "yeah! Out of sight out of mind kinda deal. and it worked because they sned out the news about nightmare!"

ccino nods and seems to get it "meaning no one will bother you guys anymore..." he hold shis cup and frowns "then why? why risk any of it and come here?"

Dust shrugs "ngihtmare wanted to."

ccino blinks before smiling and shooting him a look. only to freeze and snort "you okay?" which makes the others also look over and stare in shock. probably noticing the very familiar looking cats.

nightmare speaks up "I think i need assistance..."

Dust is quick to free him from the cats's clutches but it doesn't discourage them as they just follow him again.

ccino chuckles as he hears the very confused questions about why the cats look like them. ccino shrugs "i don't know why. they just kinda show up here. and i can't exactly risk letting them wander and someone else who visits this universe find them."

which he then smiles brightly "This all does explain the new cat so much!"

nightmare blinks and tilts his skull "new cat?"

ccino grins and goes to the counter. he ducks behind it before removing a cat, dust's cat. then he walks over with noot in his arms but... nightmare frowns. his cat version doens't look so great.

Ccino gently lays it in killer's lap and killer immediantly starts petting it "holy... that is nightmare's cat?"

ccino hums and looks amused "from back when he had the god apples yes. but... about a year and a half ago he just got weaker and weaker and weaker."

nightmare puts it together "when i lost the apples's power."

ccino nods "i don't think Noot is your cat... but the apple's cat." ccino grins again and goes behind the counter for another moment before returning again. holding a very tiny kitten and- that is his own eyes staring back at him.

ccino carefully hands the kitten over to nightmare nad nightmare stares confused at his own cat.

ccino grins "i think that is your actual cat version." moments later dust's cat jumps into their laps as well and cleans the kitten's head for a moment before focussing on nightmare himself.

Nightmare shoots Dust a look to please help but Dust just watches him fondly. Not in any way in a hurry to save him from this very obvious and clear problem.

Killer snorts "The cats love you Night night."

Nightmare feels himself start to blush as Ccino nods "They always did. would follow him around and always gravitate towards him no matter where he sat." Ccino grins "Also when he fell asleep. They would refuse to leave his side."

Killer gasps and grins at Nightmare "Nap time with kitties? And you didn't invite me? I am hurt Nighty." he huffs but still grins "To make up for it... mmmmh... I want one of the kitty cuddle pictures." he holds up his camera.

Nightmare feels so embarrased and glares at Killer "Stop that."

Killer pouts "But you would look so cuuuute!" he says it like a whine and pouts "It is unfair he got to see it and not us!"

Nightmare huffs as he crosses his arms, it is slightly harder with Axe in his lap trying to get pets but he manages, "I was in the adult body back then anyway so it wasn't even cute."

Ccino shrugs "I mean. I must admit it was a very different side of your character that no one seemed aware of." he grins and shrugs afterwards as Ngihtmare stares at his friend with betrayal.

Ccino shrugs at the questioning look thrown his way by the others "I don't have pictures. I don't take picutres of customers that is weird. And even if i did i wouldn't do it of nightmare. too much risk someone finds it and realises he came by here a lot." he shrugs again.

Nightmare feels a bit smug and smiles a tiny bit "Told you Ccino was great." it takes a moment before his mind fully catches up and he feels embarresed again.

Ccino looks confused as Horror chuckles and shakes his skull "He is six. Nightmare is sitll getting used to some aspects of it."

Ccino blinks and looks curiously "and he was always six?"

Kilelr nods "Yup!! Just our tiny baby moving around a fake adult body made by god magic."

Ccino nods and looks thoughftul before muttering "explains feeling protective at least..."

Cross looks curious "What do you mean?"

Ccino blinsk and shrugs "after like the first visit? I felt very protective over nightmare. which is weird because god and all that. But this information? I guess my soul picked up on the fact there was an actual child in there even if i didn't know..."

Dust frowns "how could that be possible?"

Ccino shrugs again "Maybe it is because i work with animals a lot? I am already sensitive to their needs and theri shenanigans. Maybe it just included this as well. I am not sure." Ccino grins "It is also very new to me."

Cross frowns at him "How come you are this calm about this all? Nightmare visiting and stuff?"

Ccino blinks and shoots nightmare a look. Ngihtmare watches his friend, having wondered the same thing himself but never wanted to call attention to just how strange it had been.

Ccino looks at them "I just... never saw it as my place to question why the gods did what they do. You can try find logic in things sure... but there is no garentee that they would like... use the same logic as we would use. I figured nightmare was doing stuff for a reason and eventually i heard about balance stuff through the gossip and figured it was that." he rubs his cheek. "My biggest worry is honestly keeping the cats out of the cat treats. They are crafty."

Killer laughs and Nightmare watches his family actually relax and enjoy themselves.

See? This is why Nightmare loves Ccino's place. it is nice and peaceful and safe. It was why Nightmare had been planning on coming here after all.

Not that it ever came to that.

Ccino ends up going to the counter and retrieving some cake. Nightmare sits up and stares at the treat. it is his favourite! it is a vanilla cake with some peach frosting.

Ccino grins and gives everyone a piece and Nightmare happily starts eating his.

Ccino puts down a cup and Nightmare reaches for it only to frown "No coffee?"

Ccino laughs "Sorry Nightmare. I figured giving a six year olf caffeine isn't the best choice."

ngihtmare glares nad mutters "technically i am like 556..."

ccino looks unimpressed "Say that to your body, mind, magic and how all of our souls react to the sight of you. enjoy your chocolate milk." and he goes back to giving everyone else their drinks.

Nightmare grumbles but sips it. it is so warm and sweet and nightmare forgets his frustration as he enjoys his treats.

THe shop is warm and nice. it is all so familiar and the treats are just like that. his body relaxes and he feels so warm and happy.

Safe.

He is really safe... isn't he?

his treat is gone before he knows it and he tries to focus on the conversation of the others but it is all just warm and he feels so safe and he had been worried but there was no reason to worry at all.

He yawns and leans back against the large chair he is on. petting one of the cats near him as his sockets slowly close.

--

A soft plof gets their attnetion and they turn only to freeze.

holy shit.

Killer grins as he slowly pulls out his phone.

Nightmare had fallen asleep and has rolled up with some of the cats. One being his kitten version. the goop cat sits by his skull. clenaing him.

Killer aims the phone and siletnly takes a picture. that is 100% going on their picture wall!

Ccino grins and whispers "told you it happens."

Killer finishes taking the pictures and just leans against the chair. Nightmare is sound asleep. clearly the stress was higher than they thoguht it was if he is already this tired again. poor babybones.

Ccino gets to work on cleaning the plates and killer watches as Cross quickly offers the help him. Killer goes to play with the cats for a bit as dust and horror watch over their babybones.

God the cats are all so cute. though he can't pick a favourite. the others relax but it is very quickly time to go.

Dust gets up and mutters "we shoudl go. get him in bed so he can rest."

Ccino looks thorn but nods "Yeah. I get that- oh wait a second! I will be right back." and he rushes off.

Cross frowns "Why didn't he teleport."

Ngihtmare yawns as he rubs his sockets "Ccino can't teleport." he yawns againa s he leans against Dust in his hold "going home?"

Dust nods and nuzzles the tiny skull "That is the plan. you feeling oaky?"

Nightmare hums and nods "Yeah."

Ccino rushes back in and sighs in relieve "oh you guys are still here. good." he joins their side and grins as he holds up a set of keys. just two. Nihgtmare looks up confused but holds out his hand and Ccino places the keys in there. "for emergencies."

Nightmare looks at the keys confused before looking at Ccino.

Dust shoots him a look as well "what is that about?"

Ccino rolls his eye lights "calm down. As i said. It is for emergencies. if anything happens and he needs to hide anywhere. he can come here. I just want him to have his own set of keys in case i am not here." he huffs "I had been planning on giving him a set ages ago but... well... he couldn't visit for a while."

Killer huffs "We have a safe place and home." who the hell does this guy think he is?!

Ccino just looks at him unimpressed "Wasn't your hide out also safe?"

silence.

Ccino sighs as he rubs his face "Look. It is just a backup. just in case he needs to hide somewhere for a while. people won't expect him here."

okay... maybe that can work. Killer still shoots him a glare before nodding "fine." but if this guy even thinks about stealing their babybones...

Nigthmare however smiles a tiny bit "thanks ccino... means a lot..."

Ccino smiles and looks a bit more nervous "Can I hug you goodbye? I get it if you don't want that."

Ngihtmare considers it for a moment but nods as he looks at Dust. Dust watches Ccino for a moment but ends up handing over the tiny babybones.

Ccino just holds and hugs ngihtmare close and shakes slightly "I am so happy you are okay."

Nightmar ehums and seems to think for a moment before speaking "When... when i left the hideout... before they found me again.. I was on my way here."

Ccino blinks and looks surprised as Killer freezes.

He hadn't been making his way to dreamtale. Holy shit they had gotten so lucky that they managed to catch up with him.

Killer can't even be mad or jeaous about it. He feels a bit sad but even that is undeserved. They had deserted him. Left him behind when he was vulnerable. Of course he was trying to get to the one place that could give him shelter and safety.

Ccino laughs and nuzzles the tiny skull "You are always welcome here. You all are. I am happy to be able to call you my friend."

Ngihtamre blinks before smiling brightly. then he turns back and reaches for Dust. Dust immediantly moves forwards and takes their babybones back and only seeing dust holding him again calms Killer fully down.

Killer had never considered that nightmare had been any other end destination but Dreamtale. He had always figured that if they hadn't found Nightmare along the way they would have foudn him there.

Aparently it wouldnt have been that easy.

Nightmare would have gone here. to an AU they hadn't even been aware of. hiding away from preying eyes with someone who had no trouble lying through his teeth to anyone and everyone.

There is no way they would have found him. Not fast enough at least. Not fast enough before Ngihtmare got fully settled and comfortable. counting on someone else but them.

Ccino is unaware of the actual crisis this interaction caused. or maybe he is aware and he is just good at acting as if he doesn't know. He reassures them that he won't tell antoher soul about their visit and if they want to come by just send a message and they can figure it out.

The trip home is silent.

They enter their house and Dust goes straight to the nest where he rolls up with nightmare.

Nightmare looks up at him sleepy and confused "dad?"

and the doubt melted away. Killer fully relaxes and sees his mates do the same thing. Dust smiles nad nuzzles their babybones "Nothing. did you ahve a good day?"

Nightmare nods and yawns again before pushing himself closer to dust "yeah...."

dust hums and nzuzles the tiny skull "How is your spine?"

ngihtmare looks a bit more grumpy as he is kept away from his nap time "it is fine. doesn't hurt."

dust nods and nuzzles him "that is good."

Killer watches his mate and child fall asleep. All is well. their baby is happy and has a friend.

And now that he thinks about it? It is actually really good that they had a back up spot just in case.

Killer does not trust the multiverse with his mates and child.

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

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

SO. TO KICK OFF THE WEEK OF SPECULATION BEFORE THE UPDATE DROPS.

last night i had a bit of a Revelation. literally. i borderline woke up in a cold sweat with this realization. the way i lunged for my laptop to scream at friends... ough. lets get into it

so. i do believe I've made a couple of theory posts about Barnaby not being quite as receptive to his and Wally's "forced" best friendship as Wally - since the show wrote them to be friends instead of it happening naturally. i thought it might be a point of tension for Barn. i thought a lot.

YES SO I'M TOSSING (almost) ALL OF THAT OUT THE WINDOW!

the bios state Barnaby as Wally's best friend multiple times over. it had to be regularly reinforced. their colors were chosen to mark them as friends.

but Barnaby - presumably - can't see the bios, he wouldn't know the scripts. the friendship would be natural from his perspective. how would he know otherwise? even if the relationship started out synthetic, i don't doubt that it became genuine. in the context of their world and perceptions, realistically speaking Barnaby probably wouldn't sense anything wrong.

the reminders to be best friends weren't for Barnaby.

they were for Wally.

i'm starting to suspect that Wally is Barnaby's best friend, but Barnaby isn't Wally's. i think that Wally's "best friend" is Home - or at least Wally has a closer connection to them / Home is more important to Wally than anyone else is.

i remember reading this livestream trivia (from theneighborhoodwatch's doc, if you haven't their resources yet what are you even doing?):

and i assumed it was for Barnaby's side of the relationship. but it's not, is it? it's Wally's? and it makes too much fucking Sense! it fits! i can see it perfectly! i can feel things slotting together in my mind due to this shift in perspective, and i'm scared

Barnaby probably thinks the relationship is natural, just like how he thinks he's a real person in a real world. Wally probably knows that the relationship is a role, just like how he knows he's a puppet in a false reality.

that leaves me wondering how much of it is genuine on Wally's side. i don't doubt that they really are friends, but how deep does that connection go? in the interview, Wally sounded excited/proud about having a best friend, but how much came from a place of feeling, and how much came from a place of Fulfilling The Role? how much of it is performative? how much of it is a mask?

i've been seeing everything differently. Barnaby poses for Wally the most because he has good balance and is good at staying still, not because of favoritism or because he's Wally's best friend. in the 14 (15 including the hidden halloween) audios, Barnaby consistently seeks out Wally and checks in on him. Wally seems more casual about their relationship than Barnaby is.

i'm worried that Wally values Home & You/Us over Barnaby. that Barnaby is second or third place in Wally's heart. that Wally means more to Barnaby than he means to Wally. after all, only one of them needed their relationship to be reinforced on a seemingly regular basis.

i'm confident that Wally cares about / loves Barnaby, but the question is how much? to what extent?

[justaz]

merlin standing to the side watching arthur address camelot, the sun shining on his skin and lighting his hair up as its own crown despite the actual gold resting atop his head, his red cap billowing behind him by the light breeze, his eyes shining with joy, merlin’s freedom spelled across his lips. merlin watching arthur be drowned out by enthusiastic cheers so he laughs and recedes back inside toward merlin, head held high and shoulders squared back, looking even better than the king merlin has shaped him into. merlin falling impossibly deeper into love as arthur returns to his side with a grin after repealing the magic ban

[noonewilleverknowistealkneecaps]

Look they are anxious golden retriever x mental support black cat coded

P. S. Ignore the amount of different signs, it just that i have different signatures for different art accounts on different platforms, confusing i know, i think ill have to unite them sometime soon.

[moeblob]

Look, I just think it's VERY funny and on brand that I thought of an entire premise of colorful characters for half the cast and immediately drew the only one void of color.

[kingkatsuki]

Specifically thinking about long distance relationships today.

So tell me how you and your f/o would first meet online?

[hypogryffin]

i cant believe i wasn't following u b4,,,,,ive just been silently scrolling through your blog for like a solid YEAR and just haven't even noticed????? n e ways what are tha thoughts on literally anyone in p4 being trans bc i live for that 🎤

the way my brain decided that this was asking for pronoun headcanons and did not reread to make sure that was what you were asking before drawing all of this…... well anyways

[artsycooky13]

top 3 fave bbys in the burrito show (bonus SUPER LONG tags on how i feel bout the characters)

[skwtches]

“Absolutely not. I mean, well, after all, he… It was not my… He wanted to leave. Didn't he?”

Reading through this line, something about Rabbit in The Tigger Movie occurred to me: the plan that the gang comes up with in order to spare Tigger’s feelings is one of the few instances where Rabbit isn’t present to take on the leader’s role. Throughout the movie, Rabbit is preoccupied with winter preparations, so much so to the point that he, unlike the others, fails to identify the weight of Tigger’s familial dilemma. When he walks in on the gang dressing up as Tiggers in the “How To Be a Tigger” sequence, he questions what they are doing, but does not stick around for an answer, or even try to take up the leadership mantle like he normally would. In an act that is both unorthodox and so completely in-character, he storms off and away from his companions' harebrained scheme to complete his preparations, but not before ironically proclaiming, “at least I haven't lost sight of what’s important.”

To no one’s surprise, the plan falls through. But to everyone’s shock, Tigger runs away that same night. 

“It was not my fault,” is what Rabbit wants and starts to say after hearing of his friend’s disappearance. The members of the group who congregate at Rabbit’s to request his help don’t blame him for Tigger leaving, and Rabbit knows them well enough to understand they wouldn't suggest such a thing by arriving at his house all at once. But Rabbit still has the reflex to defend himself; to confirm that Tigger leaving was indeed not his doing. The one time Rabbit isn't there to lead his friends–believing they all had “lost sight of what’s important,”–the friend whose crisis the lagomorph missed completely had run off into the cold, dreary night. But it wasn’t his fault. It couldn’t have been his fault. 

“He wanted to leave,” Rabbit says, trying to reason with himself. He tries to justify Tigger leaving, searching for a reason–any reason at all–that doesn’t loop right back around to it being his fault. Because it wasn’t. If Tigger had wanted to leave, what good would it have done for Rabbit to have been present? If the bunny had been there alongside his friends to aid their striped pal in his time of need? Whether or not he could have come up with a different, possibly better plan that didn’t result in the heartbreak of the usually bouncy Tigger did not matter here. Of course Tigger would have left anyway in search of his supposed family. He was simply unpredictable that way, and nobody could predict and stop something unpredictable–not even Rabbit. Tigger had most certainly wanted to leave from the start. “Didn’t he?”

As the members of the gang try to convince a hesitant Rabbit to leave with them in search of Tigger, the guilt racks up. He finds himself struggling more and more to excuse himself from the situation as his friends go on about Tigger whilst he fixes up his winter-proofed home, the sadness visibly present amongst them making it even harder for him to dismiss them. As a look of unease–a flicker of guilt–graces his face, he asks, “what do you need me for? Why don't you go find him yourselves?” 

Pooh simply and earnestly responds with, “but we're just not clever enough, Rabbit.” 

A huge facet of Rabbit’s self-appointed leadership role is that it comes from a place where the persnickety critter truly believes himself to be smarter than the majority of his peers in the Wood. He sees himself as the most capable and responsible, and so takes it upon himself to lead whenever he gets the chance. Here however, he tries to deny the opportunity to take charge of the search party. Perhaps it is mostly due to fear of his already fragile shelter coming apart at the seams while he isn’t around. But perhaps it’s also thanks to the aforementioned guilt that he can’t bring himself to diligently lead his friends in searching for the one who he’d inadvertently let slip away. 

Before he can respond to Pooh, a small voice makes itself heard. Rabbit catches sight of Roo, who just tells him that he misses Tigger. The final nail in the coffin. Here is where Rabbit truly can’t bring himself to deny them his help anymore. Here is where the guilt is finally too profound to excuse. 

Here is where Rabbit decides to lead his friends again. 

[milimeters-morales]

Hobie, looking at old photos: who’s this lady?

Miles: oh that’s my mom when she was like in her early 20’s, she was really into goth stuff… i think she got arrested right after this photo though bc of a protest

Hobie:

Miles: stop giving me that look i’m never letting you near her.

[lilcathsmith]

Greg Sanders in CSI Season 5 - Greatest Hits

[spotaus]

Late Night quick thing (New Age Sillies)

Bad news: That joke post about including Reset + Orchid is definitely not canon. (I legit got sad thinking about Reset being in a universe where Orchid isn't- because their stories are so so intertwined- but Nightmare 100% would NOT risk the whole twins exploding Error's soul thing.)

Good news: This means I COULD include Kane (Reset's older brother who usually dies in timelines where Reset is born) and use it to develope his character a bit more! Also! Perhaps a Blue × Dream kiddo is finally in the stars for me to design?

[tears-of-taelia]