#the real mystery is what the fuck drema and blue got going on.

[ancha-aus]

Omg yes More lore!!

OKAY! I love the masks?! That is amazing?!

I love that they went for Owl for Nightmare and the idea that the mask was purposely designed with having in mind that Nightmare was not suposed to grow up?

That is just an extra kick.

But also that it was designed to be sweet and shy and innocent. To be small and to be seen as approchable. Really sells the fact that the twins were raised with very specific goals in mind.

I just imagine the twins getting the mask and at first both likign Nightmare's more because it is cute and looks nice!

But then later. When growing up and in their teens years both liking Dream's more.

Dream would over time see what his mash symbolises and be so proud of it. Like yes. He will be strong and is determined to be the bes tleader. (maybe phoenix after all? Mostly because of the whole rising from the ashes kinda deal? And the ritual was meant to have a death happen. It was kind alike Dream would be reborn by the death of his brother.)

And can also imagine that over time Nightmare would look at his own mask. and only see the reminder of all he lost.

Also yes. All the guys get cat like masks :D Nightmare just likes them and is proud to give them.

I lvoe that Ccino got his so early. The trust in it. and Ccino would know how special it is and how RARE it is for non-royal people to have these type of things. Meanwhile nightmare just wasn't sure how else to show how much he appreciates Ccino.

And his knights!! He knights get their masks once they proof they are loyal. (cross gets his when he stays. when he remains even when nightmare is a teen again. when he proves he isn't going to run and is loyal.)

Okay. but also?! The knights? Having these masks? I assume they would wear the masks on missions.

You just know that Dream would see those masks and know exactly where those came from. WOuld drema be angry that a well loved practise from their family is used like this? That ngihtmare dares to just give these murderers these masks?! That dream can't believe nightmare would do this. give them the same level of love and respect they used to only have for one another? (would it just be another building block in his mind that nightmare isn't fully nightmare? that something else MUST be going on?) ((I just get the feeling that dream is hardcore in denial))

You can go even more symbolic. Like. Ngihtmare could have been wearing his mask when he ran out to defend killer when drema invaded the castle. Maybe a warning shot of Dream's bow and arrow (dream didn't actually aim to hit nightmare) happens to scratch the mask. Maybe enough to make it come undone as well. So the mask falls, a tiny bit damaged now. and Dream just sees his brother.

something something even more about metaphors of how Nightmare was hiding behind his mask in public and how he only showed himself to those he trusted and that Drema used to be included in that group but now that Nightmare went to meet him with a mask on because he can't trust Dream anymore. And something about dream forcing the other to show himself and being able to still see nightmare...

I don't know i was going somewhere with that but i lost my track of mind.

On that note.

ERROR!! :D Error doesn't know what the deal is with the masks!! that is so funny! He just thinks it is a job thing and figures because he is a wizard he doesn't need one.

then nightmare is too shy to just give a mask. maybe he has like multiple made for error and can't decide which one is the best. maybe he had one designed and made and is just unsure how to give it TO error.

Nightmare could be talking aorund it how like. the masks mean you are important and trusted and stuff. THat you are special... and error just nods and thinks he gets it but he thinks it is more of a special/important to the job kinda deal. nightamre means perosnally for him/for the one who gets it made.

Nightmare would eventually gift error the mask of course. and error is probably holding the mask and studying it in awe when maybe ccino walks in and smiles like "I see he got over his nerves and finally gave you a mask."

Error: ... huh? Why would he be nervous?

Ccino laughs: Even if you two are close and both care it is still nerve wrecking to show how much someone means to you. The mask is very special for a reason. You only give that to those closest to you in your soul.

error proceeds to crash because you are saying it means WHAT?!

ccino is the best wingman and he knows it.

Mm, New Age au my beloved (I just knocked out like... a lot of stuff I needed to do, so here's a quick post before I get back to it) oh! And @ancha-aus hiiiii :]

I know I focus a lot on Night but like... Dream! Dream is a huge part of the story!! So here's a tease at wtf has been up with Dream since Night ate the apple.

So... Dream! He was exiled, but he wasn't left on his lonesome. Nightmare contacted a neighboring kingdom that they already had a treaty with, and asked for them to watch over the crown prince, as he was no longer "fit to rule". They'd accepted, and Night shipped him off at the earliest convenience.

Of course, Dream had no clue it was for his own good, so naturally, after lamenting to this other kingdom about what had happened, how everything changed, he garnered pity, and then support, when Nightmare confirmed Dream's story through letters. Though, the kingdom couldn't afford a war, so they just had to stand idly by.

Dream only stayed there a few years, because by the time he was about 17, he'd become good friends with a squire: Blue. Blue worked around the castle, doing all sorts of tasks for the knight training him, but despite his exceptional skill he remained at the level of Squire due to his age. Blue was very devoted to Dream as his friend and self-proclaimed protector. He looked up to Dream, and was positive he would defeat his brother and take back the throne.

And so, when Dream left on his own to gather experience and followers without endangering this kingdom, Blue followed. Blue was never officially Knighted, but their first night in an Inn, alone on the road, start of their journey, Dream honorarily knighted Blue with his power as a prince. (That's why I refer to Blue as a Knight, even tho no one ever *actually* knighted him and he has no affiliations with any kingdoms.)

Dream was picky with who he recruited and when. He and Blue found a nice little abandoned cottage to start their base of operations, and would travel to recruit people they thought would be of value. Dream wasn't versed in espionage or inner-working over the government, but he knew how to talk to crowds. Sway the people. Plus, feeling emotions helped out too. (I like to think that's something the twins have naturally. Dream's grows with Age, and Night (due to lack of training) only has it when he's corrupted and very little hints when he's young.) So over the course of years, Dream gains more and more support. Like a militia among the neighboring countries as well as in Night's kingdom.

Ink and Cross came together. Ink had been looking for a new job, as he was a mercenary (though his talent was really in the arts) and Cross was a soldier who had left the kingdom a few rivers over that crumbled under a coup. Ink liked Dream's energy right from the start and was completely swayed with the idea of getting a lot of easy work for pay. Meanwhile Cross needed a new hope. Despite leaving a crumbling castle with no hope, Dream seemed to be working towards a better future in this kingdom. Of course he joined him, because that meant he'd live to see an era of peace. (<- of course, Cross finds out this kingdom is actually banger and the current king was slowly working through improving each piece of it, ensuring the whole kingdom could thrive one piece at a time.)

Dream never stopped training, and over the years he lost track of just how different Night was. He lost the script, a bit. His childish mind turning Night's actions all those years ago into a conspiracy. He had an echo-chamber of support, with no outside voice (no Nightmare) to remind him of the truth.

This cottage remains their base, and expands into a small town/camp. Nightmare is taken here when Dream kidnaps him from the castle the first time, too. This place is filled with plants and magic and is thriving. The perfect place to find the golden king.