#this feels a bit like span

[gothearts]

Au designs for some requested characters

[thebirdandhersong]

I don't know if I've told y'all yet (and if I haven't, I've probably Strongly Hinted) but I will be going into education, because that seems to be where God is pointing me towards. Very, very strongly. Specifically English lit. Specifically high school. It turns out that if you pray to the Lord very sheepishly: "Sir, I know this is rather Gideonish of me, but if you want me to do this, please make it so loud and clear that I can't ignore it at all", you oughta be prepared for the Lord to answer in the way He so desires to, in whatever capacity or degree He sees fit. I had my mother, my father, my sister, my family friend, two school friends, an administrator, and two staff members at my workplace come and tell me I should teach in the span of about a week and a half. Some because the topic came up, some without any prompting whatsoever. The chance I had to teach was like nothing else I've experienced -- not a blinding flash of realization, necessarily, but it was good and hard and joyful, and surprisingly so life-giving. And many other things.

[lyculuscaelus]

We’re in one of the oldest fandoms where the canon itself is long lost and the source materials for us to draw inspiration from are those of the earliest fanfics themselves—two of which being commonly accepted as beta canon due to their top quality. Sometimes these fanfics contradict each other due to all sorts of OOCs and inconsistencies which is forcing us to choose our own sources to rely on to draw fanart and write fanfics. Each generation of fanfic writers are introducing more headcanons in their works and sometimes their fanfics of fanfics become so popular that they are prompting new sub-fandoms to emerge, inspiring more people to draw fanart and write fanfics for these fanfics of fanfics. It’s almost as if there is a family tree of fanfics and we’re now reaching the third generation and beyond

[cryptidtumbleweed]

The "falling in love with Hermie the Unworthy" pipeline was the same for us listeners as it was to Normal.

At first it was "who is this kid??" and mild disgust for the goth girl simping

And by the prom we were in love

[spotaus]

New Age AU (A Diplomatic Visit Pt. 2)

And here is the second one! I'm making this post early so I have no clue if y'all liked part 1, but I'm here to throw this one at you anyhow! Just like last time, this is a bit of a long one, and got a few extra scenes thrown in I didn't think of until I was already writing them, so I hope y'all find it fun!

(@ancha-aus, @papiliovolens, @mutzelputz hello again!)

Reaper could admit, the view of Orchard’s capital city was a sight that could fill one with equal parts awe and dread. 

The terrain of Orchard itself was unique. A large kingdom, its sprawling land held all sort of different temperate biomes, each few cities the landscape and its flora and fauna changing wildly. Though, one main feature which he had noticed was how… flat it was. Sanctuary, and his homeland before, had never been very flat nor open. Mountains and hills, rolling valleys which threatened to swallow you for weeks, that was what he was used to. Here, there was no such thing. Beyond the swaths of meager forest, overrun rivers, and meager foliage regrowth, he could practically see to the horizon in every direction. 

That was why, he thought, the capital city seemed so impossibly placed. Cidre, as it had long been called, was different from most cities and townships, if only because it trailed up the edges and top of the only jutting landmark in the entirety of the kingdom. An imposing plateau with smaller hills leading away from it. And atop that plateau perched most of the capital city, as well as the castle itself. 

Reaper had been able to see the entire thing over the thick forests surrounding it from miles out, but it was only as they grew closer and closer that he could truly feel that sense of unease at its appearance. 

An unhealthy growth. From a distance, that was what it appeared to be. There was grandeur to be said about it, large and detailed, but its shape was not sturdy nor traditional in the way one might imagine of a thousands of years old castle may be. Instead, it seemed to twist and curve, walls and edges that jutted up at odd angles and curved in ways that would make any architect’s skin crawl with distaste. Reaper could not call the thing a monolith, nor could he call it an eyesore. It just… felt wrong to look at against the empty, cloudless sky. 

This unease did not seem to improve, even as they rolled through the castle gates and it loomed high above him. Though, now he could see the twisting, awkward shape was due to the stone itself. The brickwork looked less like brickwork, and more like a gorgon had been allowed to look a dying tree in the eyes. It was strange. 

Now, though, he did not have any more time to wonder about the twisted construction of such a strange royal abode. The carriage was rolling to a stop, and his companion was boredly watching out of the window once more. The only thing separating his scathing gaze from the stray soldiers walking alongside their ride was the dark curtain hanging between them. 

“Are you prepared, my High Mage?” Reaper questioned across the cabin. 

Geno twisted to shoot a glance at him, before nodding. 

“Yeah. Ready to get this show on the road.” He muttered. 

If his forward hunch and tapping leg hadn’t been sign enough that he was growing impatient, the knock on the door had him jolting to stand in the confined space. Today he was not yet using his cane, instead jolting to reach the exit almost eagerly. So fast, in fact, that several of the extra cushions which Reaper had insisted he use fell strewn to the floor in his wake. 

It was a swift movement, scooping up the stray items onto his own bench just barely before the door was pushed outward by Geno and the light flooded inside the cabin. Geno practically marched out, once again clearly startling Nimbus who hurried to help and announce him. Peering through the curtain, still shadowed from the invading daylight, Reaper could see that they had a proper greeting prepared. Lines of what seemed to be Nightmare’s royal guard lined either side of the large stairs and entryway to the main doors of the castle. Awaiting his arrival, he assumed. 

There would never be a day in which the attention he commanded didn’t surprise him. He had earned such reverie of course, his kingdom successful, his people happy, and his reign long. Every country knew his name. There may have never been a day in his early life he would’ve imagined such forces gathered to honor him, though. 

A sign escaped him, before he stood. 

Strode to the door.

Stepped out of the carriage, and into the open air yet again.

This was the big entrance. Even if it seemed his titular correspondent would not be meeting them outside, it was still his perfect opportunity to follow his favorite script. The little act which always commanded attention in any place he deemed worthy of his visits. 

Not unlike at the Inn, as he trailed ‘down’ to hover over the floor, that dark, clouded mist formed behind him once again. Though, this time he exuded just a hint, a touch of magic which would weigh on those around him. A miniscule drain which made every soldier sink inwards a bit, suddenly reminded of their own mortality as it drained. Then snapped back into place. The smoke billowed back, then as he came to a stop, it wrapped around his front, shadowing his face and enveloping him for just a moment. Leaking onto the ground, seeping around his companions who stood awaiting him just to his right. 

It then shot back, opening into wide wings. Wide, pure black, wings. 

They settled easily against his back as he stood there. Allowing for a brief moment of his looming presence to be followed by Nimbus’ voice breaking confidently through the silence. Announcing the arrival of King Reaper of Sanctuary. 

The soldiers lined up, those who were not his own and had been merely watching at attention, seemed to react all at once to a signal presented by a human man closer to the doors. They each bowed in respect, moving like a gentle wave until they reached the man who had signaled at first. He, too, bowed. 

“It is an honor to welcome you to the castle, King Reaper.” That was the Trainee. Reaper only tilted his head a bit to look at him. “Our Lion Knight will guide you to where our King awaits.”

The Trainee didn’t bow, only stepped back and away, as the Lion Knight took his place before Reaper. They didn’t exchange any words, only awaiting a simple nod from Reaper before beginning to make his way forward. 

None of the guards raised from their bows, aside from two who hastily moved to open the grand wooden doors which let out into the main halls of the castle. Beyond, Reaper was treated to the sights locked away within this grand and twisted building. 

In the main hall, many doors led away from the space. Straight ahead, where they were walking, was an open hall, on either side of it grand staircases which spiraled up and curved out of sight. Hanging above the hall, and on various other surfaces, were large banners. Each was made of a dark green, almost black, cloth. Each embroidered with the same large, unfamiliar crest. The shield, containing the swirling tree, the sword, the two birds. Reaper had only seen that seal in moments of frustration, when the previous “God-King” would send him unwanted correspondence, desperate for his attention. Always in an obnoxious white-gold wax seal on her lavishly decorated ‘care packages’. He had not, if fact, seen this seal on his meeting correspondence from Nightmare, only on the official documentation granting them permission to enter Orchard. He had to admit, seeing it in such dark colors was jarring, but not unwelcome. Cleansing, even, for his own peace of mind. 

They passed beneath it. The Lion Knight before them, and Reaper, Geno, and Nimbus in single-file just behind him. Being within the castle must’ve meant that they deemed it safe enough to only have one guard stand vigil alongside them. 

As they moved, Reaper kept his skull angle forward, his chin tilted ever so slightly upwards. His gaze, however, wandered worse than a man with memory problems. There was plenty of space, many locations that they passed, but the most striking thing about the interior of this strange place (not to mention the stonework) was the liveliness. 

Following an attack of such magnitude to which their King has reclused himself and a potential Knight stripped of his title, perhaps an existing one dead, Reaper wondered just how these people working within were so jovial. Guards, before they noticed the presence of the Lion Knight and his guests, would be smiling and chatting in the distance, only stopping to bow or salute when they grew near. Servants, both rushing in the halls and resting in the few open servants corridors they were able to pass, seemed contented as they moved, and each stopped to give a bow or curtsey to the Knight. It was curious. 

Not that he believed they should be miserable, but the castle inside felt like something out of an old cult temple still, dark decor, uniforms to match, even sconces which cast dancing shadows across the walls in halls with no windows to the outside. It was just that, as much as the energy within was adding up with all of the cruel, evil, dangerous stories he’d been hearing over the years? The people just… didn’t seem as though they lived and worked every day of their lives within a mile radius of this guy at all times. 

Then again, the letters he’d received hadn’t seemed like the work of a cruel, evil, dangerous King either. 

Through each twist and turn, Reaper saw glimpses of much of the same, until they finally arrived at a large arching door with a royal guard stationed on either side. Perhaps there was a quicker route, or perhaps the royals here did not enjoy making things easier for visitors to their home. Either way, it appeared as a familiar sight. A throne room, long and large, with a tall ceiling that seemed to be a stone-carved canopy, columns along the way not unlike the trunks of trees. A long floor-rug spanned the entire length, and at the very end sat a large, twisting throne. Made of stone, and reaching towards the sky as though seeking sunlight it could not find. 

Reaper idly wondered if Life would appreciate the attempt at replica nature, or if she would find it as unsettling as he did now. 

The Lion Knight led them inside in the same relative silence as before, the door closing behind them as they had fully crossed the threshold. 

That was when Reaper spotted the small group of people at the far end of the room, nearby to the throne. At first, it was three figures, though as they grew closer, one wearing predominantly tan, a color Reaper had not seen much of just yet, bowed to the other two and disappeared through a door nearby to the throne. 

When they finally came to a stop, Reaper wondered if they were being handed off to yet another party to escort them somewhere new. The people stood before him, when they came to a halt and were able to see properly when the Lion Knight stepped to the side, were… small. 

Not to say anything rude, of course, it was simply his best description  he could possibly think of when peering down at these new monsters. 

The one, to the left, was a shorter monster, sporting all black clothing and a cloak’s hood pulled overtop their head. Reaper may have mistaken them for a child, for a brief moment, if it weren’t that he spotted the crescent moon engraved into the golden chain buckle holding their cloak in place near to their shoulders, as well as the mask which obscured their entire face from view. A black panther. The white eyelights staring at him from inside the eyeholes suddenly sparked his memory. Of course. This was the Panther Knight, the one who had once been a proper, high-profile criminal. Reaper hadn’t ever put much thought into it, but he was unusually small in comparison to most skeleton monsters. Even in this kingdom… 

Next to the Panther Knight, now being flanked as the Lion Knight rounded to his other side, was a skeleton just barely taller than the one beside him. Draped in a heavy cloak which matched the dark green and light teal colors of everything else in the castle, printed and sewn with patterns of swirling vines and filigree, and clothes beneath looking like they would last them through a winter storm. A gold chain, not unlike the Panther Knight’s, held the cloak in place and shined with that same crescent moon which claimed this King’s most prized members of his kingdom. They leaned using a cane, one that's end curved into the shape of a perched bird. And most perplexing, was the mask sat atop their skull. 

A white cat mask. Pristine, feline, and obviously carved by the same hand which had created the two big cats beside them. It was just… Reaper had never heard any news of another mask-holder within Orchard. Nightmare, his three knights, and rumors of a Snow Leopard mask being worn and presented to the trainee, though he had not been wearing such a thing earlier. Reaper wasn’t sure at all who might be hidden beneath this white cat mask, nor why they would be here to greet him before their king’s throne. 

“Reaper. It is a relief to see that my Knights were able to escort you and your party through Orchard without delay.” The words came from that small figure, the White Cat, who Reaper was still puzzling over. They held out their hand, it covered by a black glove not unlike Reaper’s own. 

He buffered for a moment. 

My Knights? 

Thank the stars his body didn’t take as long as his mind to process the implications of those words. He gingerly accepted the outstretched hand and shook it firmly. The hand held in his felt frail and small. The bones seemed to sit awkwardly against Reaper’s palm. It was… odd. 

“I am King Nightmare, of Orchard. It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” The voice projected from behind the mask, no doubt magically enhanced. Though, by all accounts, it… sounded boyish. Young. 

Beyond the mask, Reaper could see one eyelight. White, at first glance, and soft purple. It stared up at him where he floated. 

What. The fuck. 

“Yes, your escort was of great help to us as we arrived here, they have my gratitude.” Reaper’s voice spoke, almost running on autopilot as he buffered a bit inside, still trying to rationalize this. Was it a trick? A prank? Had the King had a son somehow? “And as you know, I am King Reaper, ruler of Sanctuary. Your correspondence has been so very promising, it was the least I could do to visit in person.” 

Nightmare, or this monster who claimed to be Nightmare, nodded his head and gently extracted his hand from Reaper’s. As he stepped back, he almost instantly began speaking again. 

“I am eager to begin discussing specifics with you, especially regarding your dire search, but I imagine that first I should give you a tour, and introduce to you my Knight who will be accompanying you during your stay.” He took another step back, twisting so he could look to the Knight to his right, the Panther Knight who had yet to stop staring intensely at Reaper. “I feel that doing business in an unfamiliar place makes tensions rise.” He added on briefly. 

Reaper hummed in agreement, gesturing for this monster to continue. Honestly, he was just… baffled. 

“This is my Panther Knight. He will act as your shadow while you stay here. Ask him for anything you may need, and so long as it is reasonable, it will be done.” He explained briefly, and the Panther Knight bowed his head ever so slightly. “While I do not think there will be any threat to you or your men while you stay here, it is simply best practice that we can give you that assurance.” 

Reaper nodded and blinked down at the new Knight who would be watching over them. This still felt so surreal. 

“Thank you, for the hospitality, Nightmare.” Reaper offered, before his attention briefly was drawn to his back. Right! His party! He gently floated to the side, allowing, now, a better view of the two who had trailed him all the way into the throne room. Geno, it seemed, had been slowly drifting closer to Reaper’s side than his back, while Nimbus seemed startled to have been left without Reaper’s shadow to hide within. 

He took a short breath. 

“I have been accompanied by several of my own soldiers, who will be more than content to remain wherever you see fit to house them, but these two are crucial for your proceedings.” He explained, first gesturing to the demon monster. “Nimbus is my attendant, and as such I may ask him to accompany and serve me throughout my stay.” His tone was matter-of-fact. Nimbus would remain within his sights. “And this is my High Mage, Geno. It is likely he will be by my side through most meetings, but it is imperative he be involved when discussing the search, as we discussed.” 

They had talked at length about how this was to be handled. Reaper did not have the information to give through letter, nor would he have. Geno was the only one he deemed capable of dispensing information. They had to be tactical about it. Incase Nightmare chose to use any information they shared against them later on down the line. Reaper had not told him that, of course, but as a ruler, Reaper imagined the message had come across loud and clear. 

“We understand. Nimbus, High Mage Geno, I am happy that you have made the trip at your King’s side. If you require anything at all, ask any of our staff.” And Nightmare tipped his head to them ever so slightly. 

Nimbus bowed in surprise, uttering a quick ‘thank you’ while Geno just crossed his arms and nodded. Reaper wished he could split for council with his Mage, if only to ask him what the hell he thought was going on right now. There was simply no way this was the same monster who had caused such terror in his early years, nor the one attempting such reform across this entire kingdom. He looked, and sounded, as though he were ten. 

“With things settled, we can go ahead to the short tour, then guide you to your rooms for the night. If there are any questions, please ask.” Nightmare said, though as he moved to turn, he did so to the Lion Knight. “Thank you for acting as guide, my Knight. There is a meal in the private dining room, Cross should be there too. Eat, then rest up.” That command was… different. 

Like, not just the orders, which were strangelu kind, but for a moment, the King placed a hand against one of the Lion Knight’s bracer’s on his forearm. The Lion Knight stared down as the King stared up, and he gave one, slow, nod before lumbering away through an entrance behind him. 

The King watched after him, before he finally eased the opposite direction, and gestured for Reaper to join him. 

He figured it might be rude to ask so outright something like ‘why are you so tiny?’, so instead he floated closer to the small ruler and accompanied him as he began to walk, leading him, his two companions, and the Panther Knight away from the throne room with the towering stone canopy so far above. 

.

Nightmare, despite his cane, seemed to be fairly mobile. He was easy to keep pace with, and moved quickly enough that it didn’t feel like the world’s most boring museum tour. Of course, he was familiar with this place, so it seemed that there were, in fact, short-cuts which would expedite movement between locations, and not even servants tunnels either. 

It was actually a bit fascinating. Reaper hadn’t noticed it before, but most of the halls held a slight curve to them. Enough so that it was rare to enter a hallway which you could see the end of it. Like if a bowl of noodles had somehow decided the way to build this building. It was good news for him, though, that he didn’t really fear getting lost within the halls. As dreary as it was, he had yet to suspect any threats laying in wait for him. 

“This is our Main Dining Space.” Nightmare had paused his walking for a moment, and was now looking at a large, closed doorway. 

Moving a bit closer, he knocked on its surface twice. The prompted a squeak from somewhere within and the door swung open a bit to reveal a human. They blinked in surprise, staring down at Nightmare for a second, before seemingly remembering something and quickly bowing to him before raising back up. 

“My King! May I be of service?” They asked hurriedly, seemingly caught off-guard by his presence. 

Nightmare only shook his head and peered past them to see within. 

“No, no, at ease. I was just giving our guests a tour and wanted to allow them to see the space we will be dining in.” Nightmare said easily, and the human seemed to peek past him. 

At spotting Reaper, they seemed to go a bit pale and bow again, hurrying a little ‘of course!’ from their lips as they rushed to throw open the doors. 

Beyond, Reaper did look, was a large room with a very, very long table in the middle. A classic banquet hall set-up. It seemed there were various cleaning carts scattered at the moment, fine dishware and vases of black glass and utensils and even one with flowers on it. Only a small portion of the table was prepared, at the far end, but it seemed like it would be quite beautiful when it was finished. 

“Are those… white lilies?” Reaper questioned out of nowhere, squinting a bit into the room at a cart in the far distance. It was practically a beacon for his attention, seeing as everything else in the room was dark wood or draped in that black and cyan that Nightmare seemed so fond of. 

Honestly, he hadn’t really meant to ask. It had just caught him off-guard.

Out of the corner of his socket, he caught the slightest movement as Nightmare perked up beside him and joined his squint in order to see the far-off flowers. 

“Ah, yes! Orchard does not keep many records on other kingdom’s customs, but I recently learned of the tradition of gifting white lily flowers to newcomers of Sanctuary. I asked for some to be placed among the dining hall as a sort of welcome to you!” He continued looking inside, seemingly glancing around at the growing preparations.

Reaper hummed to himself. A little… stunned. This sort of hospitality was not uncommon, no, most people were formal and made gestures like this upon his visits. Perhaps he just didn’t expect something like this from Orchard. For all their past of hatefulness, cruelty, madness, and obsession, this wasn’t any of that. In fact, the little king had seemed happy to tell him that he had personally asked for the flowers. That tightness in his voice and the way he jumped at the chance to tell him so, that was an excitement all its own. 

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Nightmare.” Reaper praised, unsure of what to truly say to something like that, “May I ask where you sourced them from?” He was just curious at this rate. 

At this question, Nightmare stopped looking at the lilies within the room and shifted so he could look back up at Reaper. His eyelight was a half-circle, probably meaning his cheekbone was cutting into the space as he smiled beneath his mask. 

“Actually, these lilies were all grown and cultivated by our castle gardener! They’re quite talented and have a wide variety of plants growing in our courtyard, especially now that Summer is at its highest.” He explained, sounding pleased, “It’s weird, that our plants and soil still respond best in the heat of the summer day, but it will just take more time to return to a normal harvest schedule…” He seemed to trail off, his eyelight moving off to the side, away from Reaper and toward the stone wall opposite the dining hall. Maybe the garden was that way? 

“Well…” Reaper said, testing the waters in the silence following Nightmare’s quiet words. The small king jolted and looked back to him. “If it wasn’t already planned for the tour, I might request a visit after one of our meetings. A dear friend introduced me to horticulture ages ago and I find flowers to be quite a beautiful sight.” He continued. 

The way Nightmare brought a hand to chin, though Reaper noticed he barely touched the mask, signaled that he was thinking. Again, it took a few breaths. 

“We… should be able to fit in a formal visit. I will have to check in with our gardener to ensure everything is in order, of course.” He voiced. “We can slot it in after our discussion of import aid, it might be most fitting seeing as we will discuss the strangeness with our agriculture here…” He seemed to pause again. Reaper could practically feel the way his mind must’ve been shuffling around the schedule internally. 

He nodded to himself, seemingly pleased with his conclusion after giving it some more thought. Only… 

“Oh! Yes, right. Should you find yourself alone between any of our scheduled meetings, please do feel free to visit it yourself. Do not feel confined in your quarters during those times, I want to make sure you do not feel like a prisoner.” He quickly mentioned, practically stumbling through the words. 

Reaper hadn’t gotten that impression at all. Rather, he was interested to find that Nightmare seemed to have a personal itinerary in which he had already planned out their discussions. Something consistent, he planned things out just like he had in his letters. 

“I will be sure to explore it myself when the opportunity arises then, Nightmare. Thank you.” He agreed easily. He didn’t miss how the King seemed to nod stiffly. As though nervous. 

Why would he be nervous?

“We should keep going.” Nightmare then decided. “Thank you, Gem, please continue in peace.” He said to the servant who was still stood frigidly by the doors. Though, they seemed to ease up when Nightmare spoke to them. 

They were able to close the doors, hiding the room from view once more, before they continued onwards. 

.

“This door leads to our war-room.” Nightmare explained, placing his hand heavily against the door. 

By now, Reaper had seen the kitchens (and had been asked if he or his party had any allergies to watch out for), the library, had gotten a brief glimpse of the courtyard from an upstairs window as they briefly stopped by the smaller medical wing (the larger one was closed while they were conducting inventory), and now they were back downstairs. This door, unlike many others they had seen so far, had a heavy lock sat upon its handle. 

Reaper gazed at it curiously, and debated asking about the lock, but he had already been so chatty during the tour. He wondered if Nightmare would soon grow sick of the questions, though he seemed so happy to answer each of them. On second thought, maybe it was his own party who might grow tired of his antics. After all, Geno had been shockingly, dutifully, silent for most of the proceedings. Only a small waft of his hand through Reaper’s wings or a curious peep of a hum when Nightmare would mention something magically intriguing, which had only been once so far-

“King Nightmare, why does this room use a magical lock?” 

Ahhh curse him for praising Geno, even within his own mind! It was as though the man could sense his contentment and chose to do something so charmingly frustrating each time. 

While he didn’t fear Nightmare retaliating against his Mage, it was quite the opposite. He feared if the King were to answer one question, Geno might take advantage and ask more, and more, until he struck a nerve. He’d been at the receiving end of Geno’s question barrages before, and it was always a tad overwhelming… Then again, he did miss the early days when Geno would corner him in the parlor and demand answers. Explaining the red marks appearing under his sockets had been an interesting day indeed. Full of ‘it just happens’ from Reaper and ‘but WHY’s from Geno. 

Nightmare seemed to lean in order to properly look at Geno. Obviously he hadn’t been expecting the High Mage to speak, especially not to ask such direct a question. He stared at Geno, and Geno stared back, and they stood there for a moment. 

“It is… mostly because this is where I store defensive plans. Some of the few documents which could truly put this country in danger if I let them escape my sight.” His hand ran idly against the heavy wood. “It’s not a large room, Orchard has never been a place of expansion or outside conflict, it has always been a bubble. However, when I rose to power, it was through… unexpected events, and being unprepared, I feared that our neighbors might have smelled blood in the water and decide to attack and plunder my outer cities.” He sounded… sad. “It never came to that, thankfully, but my fear for such a happening has never quite faded, and as such this room stays here. Storing defense strategies and maps detailing our trade routes.” 

He was… quite honest about that. It seemed like he didn’t want to let them inside, which made plenty of sense to Reaper, especially if it had confidential information which could potentially give someone enough information to be able to topple a kingdom from the inside… 

“That’s… interesting. But can I ask about the lock? It doesn’t seem like a normal enchanted item.” Geno spoke up again.

Reaper only stepped back when his Mage rounded to his front and nearly bumped into him in order to stand just before the closed door. Right next to Nightmare, who seemed a bit shell-shocked by the follow-up. Would Reaper have to swoop in and ask his Mage to not ask questions about such a sensitive piece of their security? It seemed likely, but he was curious to see how Nightmare would deflect this. 

“The- the lock.” He repeated, almost to himself, even though geno just hummed and nodded, peering down at it. “It ah. It was designed by my own royal mage and enlisted the help of a local blacksmith to forge it. I believe they informed me of its creation having been through infusion of intent and predetermined magic signatures with the metal itself?” he sounded confused, and more hesitant about sharing this information with the mage. “It has been quite some time since it was installed, so I’m a bit rusty on the details.” 

Geno glanced back to Nightmare, actually looking at him for the first time since he’d asked the initial question. 

“Infused.” He parroted back. Nightmare nodded to him. “Interesting. We’re going to speak with your mage for one of these meetings, right? Weren’t they an attack-caster?” 

At that, Nightmare’s eyelight seemed to grow a bit bigger. Was it at the mention of his mage? The attacks? That Geno was showing interest in this tour finally? Reaper couldn’t quite tell, though he was amused. 

“Yes, your meeting with them is scheduled for tomorrow, to allow time to discuss our more pressing matters.” he answered that question first. It made sense, Reaper had told Nightmare that it was unlikely they would need much weaponry, as they were a peaceful country, but that his own mage might like to meet his. They had more important things to discuss before a meet-n-greet. “And, as for my Mage, they are very talented in many, many ways. Though, they focus mostly on practical items as well as magical weaponry. They are one of my very valued hidden assets.” 

Geno seemed to take another glance at the lock, before noddin again. 

“I’ll definitely have to ask them where they went to academy. Not a lot of mages can make items like these that actually function as intended.” He voiced, already passing by Reaper again. It seemed like he was finished with his thoughts, or rather had just moved to thinking them rather than speaking on it. Unfortunately, Geno had missed a step in the interaction that Reaper often gave him slack for during their conversations, but which they could not afford to forget now.

As Geno passed him, he stuck out a smokey wing right in his path, which he did in fact pass directly through. His mage let out a startled cough and waved at the black smoke that permeated around his skull, shooting Reaper a confused and slightly offended look. 

Reaper stared back at him, brow furrowed just a bit, and used his head to nod towards where nightmare was watching them in curiosity. 

Geno glared at him for a second. Reaper knew just about how long it would take for Geno to recognize this song and dance. Three seconds or so. That was when he sighed in realization and turned around swiftly, battering Reaper’s smoky wing out of his way without much hesitation. Only when Reaper contentedly retracted his wing did Geno speak.

“Thank you, King Nightmare. For answering my questions.” He said. His tone didn’t hold any of that begrudging energy which he had given to Reaper moments before, and he waited in place, watching for the little King’s reaction. 

Nightmare looked between them for a moment, Geno and Reaper. He seemed even more wide-eyed than before. His hand rose to cover the space of the cat mask where its mouth sat, and no doubt his own sat just behind it. And after a moment, a joyous little noise escaped, not at all hindered or muffled. A quiet snrk followed almost immediately by a giggle. 

Now, in any other situation, this would have made for a good sign. A sign that both visitor and host were becoming more comfortable. Ease between parties would make negotiations much less tense, and humor could be a good backboard to spring off discussions or lighten the blow of a firm ‘no’ later on down the line. Reaper would have probably been happy, in any other circumstance, to learn that Nightmare had a sense of humor, and perhaps he was even charmed by the odd behavior of his Mage as much as Reaper was. But instead this made him immensely worried. 

That was not the voice of a man. Not even a young man. That was a boy. He had been sure, upon arrival, that there had been something different about him. Perhaps he was unwell. Magic tended to retreat inward when a monster grew sick in order to provide more power and strength to the soul. Fire elementals dimmed their flames, soldiers could not summon attacks, skeletons often lost first their external magic such a ectobodies, then eventually their eyelights. Nightmare was missing one already, and he was frail. So, perhaps he was sick. Or, maybe he was hiding his power, concealing it, containing it. For a ploy? To make Reaper more comfortable? He had hoped it was something like that. It seemed it wasn’t. The information piled onto Reaper like a weight in his chest. This was truly just a young boy. Guiding him around the castle, preparing to speak with him on subjects that most young boys couldn’t be bothered to even consider. And now he had shown childish joy at the sight of his own and his Mage’s behavior. The final piece which Reaper could not explain away. 

His mind raced and tripped over itself. Was this… was this somehow the previous King’s son? A ‘Nightmare II’? That would make no sense, though. The first would still have to be around somewhere. Perhaps this boy was a puppet or pawn set in place by the true king? But, no, why would he continue to be led about by a puppet king. Why would they even need a puppet king if the public wasn’t aware of his presence? There had been rumors of an illness in the king, but aside from his frailty he seemed quite healthy. He sensed no death on him. How could a king born over two decades prior still be so young…?

“Forgive me, Reaper. High Mage.” Another slight giggle, before a gentle sign. The lighter tone of Nightmare drew Reaper back out of his thoughts. Thank the gods he had still been watching Geno and had not been turned to the King. “It’s just refreshing to see your camaraderie. And you are very welcome, High Mage. You can ask me any questions you like as well. I just may not be as prepared to answer them as my Mage would be.” 

He sounded happy. Which was great for them. It seemed he was happy with Reaper too. It just… Oh this would not be a fun conversation to have later. 

“None needed, Nightmare. Thank you for the kind gesture.” Reaper spoke for the both of them. “Now, shall we continue? Before my Mage gets any more curious about your very important locks?” He prompted. 

Nightmare nodded in agreement with a confirmation of, “That would be for the best.” Before he started off again down the hall. Reaper took up formation beside him once more.

.

The Royal Wing had been truly interesting. If not just because it seemed to be one of the most elaborate spaces in the entire castle, from doors to wall carvings, to decor, to even plants which seemed to be growing along the ceiling, but also because it was where Nightmare resided, as well as his Knights. They hadn’t spent much time, only passed through, but Nightmare explained that because his Knights had such diverse backgrounds and schedules that differed greatly to the rest of his guard (a clever way to skip about many of their criminal histories) he had chosen to instead room them nearby to himself. Now that much of their training was routine rather than starting, it worked to ensure that he always had someone nearby in case of emergency. 

As they passed through, Reaper spotted that most doors in the hall remained open. Displaying a common room, a music hall with instruments carefully hung on every wall, a big open space which seemed to be pretty desolate, but then there were the closed doors. The ones further back often remained open, people within the castle knew not to occupy the spaces or linger long so there was no need to close them when they weren’t in use, but those closed ones were personal rooms. Four of them on one side, then two on the other. Nightmare claimed using two of his, one sealed for sentimental purposes. The others were then assumed to be those of the knights. Four of them. So that meant that extra room either belonged to the owner of the white cat mask which sat on Nightmare’s skull, or the Trainee who should have been a knight by now. 

…Though, honestly the King’s number of highly trained combatants was some of the least of his worries at the moment. 

Now, they had reached the final stop of the tour. One of the guest halls, where the three of them would be staying for the remainder of their visit. They were given a free pick of their rooms, and Reaper chose one with a balcony which looked out over the courtyard. Below he could see the gorgeous plants growing green under the westward sun. It would provide him fresh air and morning light when he awoke, and a good position to perch or fly off if need be. Which he doubted. 

Geno stationed himself in the next room over. That one was decorated with a sort of mural of all sorts of animals and critters that enveloped an entire wall. When he asked, Nightmare informed them that several rooms and halls deeper within the castle had been lovingly painted and decorated by his artisans. He’s had them for years, and every once in a while they would see fit to retouch a room entirely. Reaper thought it was pleasant, but he knew that Geno had only chosen this room for its table space. No doubt he would be attempting to spell-write within, which Reaper would have to put a stop to. Before an unsuspecting servant decides to pick up one of his unfinished crystals while cleaning and be given an unpleasant brainfreeze from the effects gone wrong. …He was certainly not preparing this due to experience. 

Nimbus had chosen the room across from Geno.one of the rooms with fluffy pillows. He insisted, red-faced, that was not the reason that he chose it when Geno asked, but Reaper and Nightmare both encouraged him to enjoy it, which had made him even redder. 

Nightmare, by that point, seemed a lot more comfortable guiding them, though he also seemed to step more gingerly and idle longer when they stopped. By the time Nightmare parted ways from them, letting them know that servants would be along with their belongings shortly in his wake and that the Panther Knight could show them where they would be meeting for discussions, Reaper had almost forgotten their fourth party member. 

Your Shadow. That was what Nightmare had described him as when they were first introduced, and it was still just as true now, as Reaper waved after Nightmare and sought to see where that Knight had even gone. 

The answer to that query seemed to be that he’d stationed himself right in the space between Reaper and Geno’s doors. Such a small figure, he leaned with his back to the wall and his hood’s shadow shielding the sockets of his mask from view. He was a silent one, and clearly skilled. It was rare that Reaper forgot anything, let alone an entire person trailing him for the past who knew how many hours. 

Reaper peeled his eyes away from the little knight. Just in time, too, as servants rounded the entryway to the hall carrying familiar bags which they had packed. Nimbus worked to direct these servants to place the right belongings into the right rooms. Reaper thanked them as they left. He stood in the hallway, Nimbus busy unpacking his items in his room, and Geno returning to bump his shoulder with his own in question. 

As much as he wanted to wander. To discuss things with Geno. To take a look at these flowers. He couldn’t bring himself to do so. He just… needed a moment to think. In all his years as a ruler, he had never come across a situation so puzzling. 

He told Geno as much, to get a moment of respite, before turning towards his room. Though, he paused in the doorway, peering down at the small Panther Knight.

“Thank you, Sir Panther. Please summon myself when it is time to meet with your King.” He said quietly. 

He was not given a response beyond a sturdy nod of confirmation. 

…That was good enough for him. 

.

These talks had run long into the day, so long, in fact, that it was already almost sunset. Nightmare was already apologizing for how long he had allowed the prior meetings to run, and offering to reschedule the remaining discussion for tomorrow. Apparently he hadn’t planned for the import discussion with the Lion Knight after lunch to have taken so long. The two of them had just grown so invested in explaining how the harsh sunny weather which those old rituals had forced to stay constant had really stunted their production once the normal weather patterns returned. Then, on how they had been slowly working towards fixing those issues by re-introducing crops that were once native, and outsourcing seeds away from those that required the harsh sunlight to germinate. 

Reaper had honestly been fascinated by most of it, just as he had been when Nightmare introduced to him his complex set of trade routes he would like to implement to Sanctuary. Ones that, theoretically, would not compromise the neutrality of the nations between them while still providing safe passage. And just as he had been when nightmare explained one of his newer laws. He had no doubt in his mind that Nightmare (and his subordinates for that matter, he had not expected the Lion Knight to know so much of agriculture) really knew what he was talking about. He was surely no puppet king. But he was also not a normal child. 

“Nightmare, if I may?” Reaper gently interrupted the worried promises of a bright and early morning discussion being arranged if necessary. Nightmare quieted and nodded, prompting Reaper to continue. “I believe it would be best to still have that meeting tonight. If I know my Mage, he will not rest properly without hearing at least an initial verdict regarding our ability to begin the search.” He suggested.

It was true, Geno would be restless. A restless Geno often led to nighttime frustrations and a cranky morning in which he would verbally tempt the gods to strike him where he stood at least once, which Reaper did not think would be a good state of mind for the discussion. He had learned that lesson fairly quickly. 

“Alright. So long as you and your party prefer it that way, then I agree.” He gave in so easily. Reaper suspected he also wished to conclude business for the day and not have any spill over to the next morn. 

“I am sure we will be alright. Though, I must make a request of you that you may not prefer, before we continue with our next meeting.” He said, then. 

It had been dancing at the back of his mind. The burning questions which made him so uncertain ever since he had laid eyes on Nightmare for the first time. He needed them answered. 

Nightmare seemed to hesitate, before prompting him to make his request. 

“I ask you for a discussion. Only the two of us here. Just for a brief few minutes.” He offered evenly. 

That struck a nerve. 

Nightmare, where he sat on the couch across the table in one of the parlors, sunk backwards a bit at the request. Hardly able to hide how reproachful he seemed at the idea. But behind him, that was his biggest shock. 

Nearly literally. The air in the room suddenly felt different, and Reaper thought he heard the snap of something familiar. A haze, hot quick. Electricity magic, or something of the like, an aura permeating from the space behind him where he knew the Panther Knight was stood vigil last he checked. So that was it. He was a talented magic-caster. He had obviously pushed a threshold he was not meant for yet. 

“I understand that you have no reason to trust me, especially with my natural magic. However, I will not allow any more discussion until I am able to have a private talk with you and you alone.” He put his foot down, tone becoming firm in the same way he would worriedly scold Geno. “If it eases your mind, or that of your Knight, then I will not move from this seat. I will not raise a hand, or shift a leg, or even turn my head. I only wish to talk.” 

With those words, Reaper allowed his shadowy wings to dissipate into the air. No longer holding them together, he undoubtedly seemed… smaller. Hopefully less harmful. 

Nightmare stared at him, his one good eyelight a bit smaller than before. Then he glanced past Reaper. To his Knight. For council? For support? 

It seemed like an eternity, as Reaper held himself just as he said he would. He hated to put the ruler into such a position, such undue stress when he had been such a good host thus far. Reaper just… he had to know. 

“Okay.” Nightmare finally sighed. 

“My King.” Spoke a voice from behind Reaper. Was that the Panther Knight? His voice was deeper, raspier, than Reaper had expected. Those were the first words he had spoken within Reaper’s vicinity all day. 

Nightmare seemed to look past Reaper with even more worry in his body language than before, but shook his head at the Knight. His hands were clasped against his lap, worrying at the fabric of his cloak. His shoulders seemed tense beneath it. He sat further back on the couch than he had been all day. 

“My Knight, I’ll be okay. You’ll be just outside the door.” Nightmare urged. 

That static feeling did not leave the room, nor did the echo of intent which ghosted across Reaper’s senses. Frustration. Disgust. Fear. Anger. An intent to do harm if harm was done. This knight was deathly loyal. Entirely unwilling to leave his King’s side. Reaper wondered, silently, if it was worth asking the question. 

“I… understand your weariness. Both of you.” He voiced slowly, drawing their attention back to himself. “However, my kingdom has stood for centuries under my rule. Nightmare, if I agree to these treaties, then you will be my first Ally in all my years of ruling. I do not make these decisions lightly. I do not make them uninformed. I do not make them for no reason.” Each word he said calmly, but he allowed emotions to break through to his expression ever so slightly. The guilt he felt for making this request in the first place dancing on his tongue. “There is someone so special to me that I find myself here, in your kingdom of checkered past and silver tongues, attempting to make a deal so that I might ease his sorrows and bring him joy by locating his lost loved one. I will not bring harm to you. I only seek your honesty. So I may know that I am not in cahoots with a God-King of old.”

The silence to follow was almost deafening. 

His fellow King stared at him as though he had grown a second head. The crackling behind him had grown more frequent. This was the only card he could play. 

The silence droned on. Nightmare lowered his head to gaze at his lap. His Knight remained frozen in place. Reaper did not move an inch. 

“My Knight. Leave us.” Nightmare finally instructed. 

His voice was not strong. It came out rather squeaky, in fact, and he did not raise his head. 

The Knight still seemed disgruntled. Frustration bleeding through the static charge in the room. Though, Reaper heard quiet, light steps approach the door that sat somewhere behind him. 

“Don’t move an inch.” The Knight muttered, presumably at Reaper. 

The door clicked closed, and the static energy became muffled as its master left the confines of the four wooden walls. It wasn’t gone, but it was enough-so that Reaper knew the knight was, at the very least, just on the other side of the door. That was good enough. 

He sighed a bit, an apology on his tongue for forcing the Knight from the room, only to be beaten to the chase by the God-King himself. Now looking up from his lap, glaring with his one good eyelight. 

“What were your questions, Reaper?” He demanded, though his voice seemed small. 

Reaper, as promised, did not move. Only closed his sockets for a moment as he drummed up the correct phrasing for what he wanted to ask. How could he… How could he present this without sounding insane?

“Nightmare… Your coronation day. It was your thirteenth birthday.” He stated calmly, voice low. Nightmare did not respond. “I only know because your mother sent me an invitation, offering me to come and see her before she ‘ascended’. To meet her heir. Dream.” He continued, and didn’t miss in the slightest how Nightmare flinched at the name of his sibling. He wondered why that was. “I did not go. I did not care for your mother, to put it lightly, and I swore long ago I would never come to this land. So, I was not there to see you take the crown. I was unaware there was even another prince for the crown to be given to. But, you are twins. So, you must have been thirteen as well.” 

Nightmare’s eyelight had become small in his socket. He muttered a quiet, “Yes. Your point?” but nothing more. 

“I see the ways in which your land is healing. In which you are doing good things to help your people. I see how you are nothing like your mother, just as you claimed in your initial response to my requests. Though, I also see that you are nothing like the ‘tyrant’ who claimed the crown for himself eight years ago. No monstrous magic, no heads severed from bodies, no grown twenty-one year old leading a country.” he took a light breath. “You are Nightmare, but you are no God-King. I wish to know why you are still so young. After all these years.” 

It was true. Reaper had little doubt in his mind that this was that Nightmare. As much as it seemed unlikely. Stranger things had happened to monsters in the past. Reaper wondered if there had been an incident. Eternal youth, perhaps? Nim had always seemed obsessed with her beauty, after all.

Nightmare was still staring at him, seemingly unsure of what to say. 

“Not- not ‘still’ young.” He said, then, his voice barely audible. Reaper watched him, wordlessly. “After my coronation. The ritual of the power transfer from king to king. I finished it. I- I became a God-King. An adult. With a dark magic all over my body. I killed those who needed to be killed, and I learned, and I grew, and I was an accomplished king. I- I was finally figuring everything out.” He stammered. Perhaps he realized Reaper knew. On some level, Reaper kne what was wrong. 

“Many months ago I- I suddenly lost the magic. I became young again. It- it was after we were already in correspondence, and no one- no one knew what was happening. I- I had hoped it would come back before we met, so- so that this opportunity wouldn’t slip through my fingers. But it didn’t- and- and I don’t think it will. So I asked you here despite it.” He bowed his head a bit. 

Reaper stared at him for a moment. A moment of wonder, and confusion, and worry. Intense worry. 

“So… that magic of the God-Kings is now gone. And you… You are thirteen once again?” He recapped, very briefly, receiving a nod. “Yet you still invited me into your home. Your weakened kingdom. Someone who can kill a living soul at just a glancing contact. Someone with a history of war.  …Why risk it?” 

Genuinely, he couldn’t fathom any smart ruler willingly inviting Reaper in when they were weakened even slightly. Now, though. Just after an attack, with only two full Knights at the ready. Even now, sitting alone in this room with him. 

“I- My people! They need this allyship so, so badly. Sanctuary has plentiful harvests and knowledgeable experts, trade would boost our lowering food reserves greatly. And- and not to mention it would open discussion to architects in later discussions. We- we have flooding issues, and I have heard that Sanctuary has ways to prevent those. Ones better than we could hope to conceive of here. And the peace. I promised my people that some day I would be- be able to make their lives easier. Sanctuary has that, and- and if I can show them that it is obtainable, then perhaps they will breath a bit easier.” He hurried, his voice growing into an uneven whisper. “Please. I know that you are only here to search for your Mage’s sibling, and- and I do want to help you find them, but this trade- it- it can’t fall through because of my age or state. I am a fit ruler- I can- I work hard- I-” 

At this, Nightmare seemed to lean forward a bit so that his elbows could rest on his knees and he could clutch his chest slightly. He seemed… afraid. 

Shit. If this young boy was like this for months, that- That would explain the letters in which the diction seemed jolting. The way that the Tiger Knight had potentially gotten slain. The reason the Panther seemed so unwilling to leave him alone here with Reaper, the biggest threat to his health possible. This boy really was running this country all on his own. Magic-less. With a heart of gold. 

Damn did he feel like an asshole for cornering him like this. 

“Nightmare.” Reaper voiced, though he could hear the trembling breath coming from beyond the cat mask which covered his face. “I will not be pulling away from this deal. I will not be overstepping my boundaries again like this. I will, however, extend my years of rule to you, as an apology gift.” 

Nightmare didn’t seem to be able to calm his breathing, but he did raise his head enough that Reaper figured he was okay to continue. 

“You are young. I am not. I am interested in you and the growth you may provide to Orchard in the future. You have no mentor with experience in ruling, so far as I have seen, and if you truly wish for peace for your people then I would like to help see it come to fruition.” He explained, trying his best to gently smile at the boy king. “You do not need to accept this gift, it comes with no price tag, I do not seek to manipulate or influence your decisions. I simply want you to know that I am sincerely sorry for placing you in a position such as this. That was all I wished to ask you, and you may call your Knight back in at any time.” 

Reaper was silent after those words. He had hoped it wouldn’t have gone this badly, though he wasn’t sure what he had been expecting. Some sort of magical reveal of a fake appearance? Some evil mastermind to arrive from the shadows? No, this was just a young royal who gave himself an impossible task: Restoring Orchard. And Reaper had made him reveal a damning truth to him before they were even allies. 

His head justified such a behavior so easily before now. If he is unfit, it could bring enemies to Sanctuary. If he is ill and dies, your contract will carry over to the next ruler, of whom he has no heir. If he is a puppet, you must learn who is pulling the strings lest you back yourself into a corner. You go to war. It all seemed so foolish, looking at him now. This boy was no threat to Reaper. Not so long as they both kept their word from here on out. 

Nightmare shivered and shook as he tried to catch his breath. Reaper thought he heard a breathy countdown repeat a few times, but it could have been his mind playing tricks on him. 

“I- What-” Nightmare breathed out the words quietly. Raising his head a little, Reaper could see his good eyelight was cloudy now. “I- I think I need a recess.” He mumbled. “Dust, you may return!” He called out then, before slapping a hand to the space where his mouth hid beneath his mask. 

Dust must have been the Panther Knight’s true name, then. Reaper’s informants had been right enough with that one.

The knight opened the door less than a moment after Nightmare had said his name, and he strode across the room more quickly than Reaper had seen him move all day. Immediately standing beside where his King still stood, hunched forward. With him flooded that static feeling, a trail of the stuff almost rippling in waves of energy, and- wait… 

The Knight was glaring at him from across the short distance, and that was completely understandable all things considered, but Reaper was much more focused on his surroundings. He hadn’t felt it before but… it was as though he had a thin film of something hovering just away from his bones. More focus towards its presence revealed exactly what it was. An electric field, almost like a booby trap. If Reaper had moved to reach Nightmare? It likely would have signaled to the knight that there was trouble. He would’ve had no problem busting in here to defend his king. He was smart. 

“My King. You okay?” Dust questioned his king, though his eyelights did not stray from Reaper’s position. 

Nightmare only shuddered a bit before nodding. 

“Yes- Yes I’m alright, my Knight. King Reaper only wished to discuss my stature.” He said with a bit of a stutter as he tried again to properly catch his breath. “I- I wish to accompany you to a short recess. We will send for the High Mage while we are away so we may discuss the disappearance.” He insisted. 

Reaper did not put up any qualms about being left alone in the room when the King rose to his feet and hurried out using his cane. His knight followed closely after him, obviously more worried about his charge than leaving Reaper unsupervised. And only when he sensed the electric field had completely dissipated did he dare to shift himself.

He was justified in his actions, he knew so, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel awful about it in the aftermath. 

.

Geno arrived before Nightmare returned. He was escorted by the Trainee, but was the only one to actually enter the room. 

“Well, you look exhausted.” Geno pointed out as he plopped down on the sitting couch right beside him. At least his humor hadn’t faded in these hours of waiting. 

Reaper released a short ‘Ha!’ Before sitting up a little straighter beside his Mage. 

“You truly don’t know the half of it… Regardless, I should try to tighten my loose joints. This is the most valuable discussion of the day.” He joked. 

He caught the way Geno’s head tilted a bit to the side. Reaper was sitting to his right, so regrettably he could only see his bandaged socket, and not the one with his very expressive eyelight. He would survive without it, though. Geno was the one who needed to do the talking this time around. Any and all information shared to Nightmare had to come from Geno first. They had decided it together ages ago, though by now? Reaper was pretty sure Nightmare wouldn’t use the kid against them, even if he had the chance. 

Geno only hummed in acknowledgement, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his scarf, ignoring the crystals and instead moving right for the bright red fabric. The little movement filled the silence with the quiet shff shff of shuffled fabric, but Reaper didn’t mind. It was nice. 

Oh stars, he wished he could lean into Geno’s side right about now and just rest his face along his shoulder… 

The silence persisted for minutes. The two of them just waiting. Quietly. 

Click. 

And just like that, the little King was returned. 

He moved easily past where the two sat to return to his own couch, and much like before, Reaper spotted the Panther Knight, Dust, return to his post near the inside of the door in order to guard them. He… must’ve not messed up that poorly. If he had, that Knight would probably have remained vigil right near Nightmare’s side for this discussion as well. 

Nightmare sat, perched on the very edge of his couch, just as he had for discussions earlier in the day, and the only sign of his previous distress was a little fuzziness to his eyelight. So little that he was positive geno wouldn’t even notice it. 

“Thank you for waiting so patiently for this discussion, High Mage Geno. I got a bit… carried away with discussing other agreements during my prior meetings with King Reaper.” Nightmare’s composure had returned, as well. Good. That was good. His attention was focused solely on Geno now that he spoke. 

“It’s no problem, King Nightmare. I’m actually pretty used to pulling all nighters, and the sun’s barely set.” He said matter-of-factly, scarf idly pinched between his index finger and thumb. “Where do we start?” 

Nightmare raised a finger momentarily, and reached his hand into his cloak. From somewhere within, he produced a small leatherbound journal. On the table between them, among a few decor items, were a few ink pens and inkwells. He dragged a pen and well to set in the space before him, before he flipped open a few pages into the book and looked back up to Geno. 

“Things in our letters were kept vague, in case a message were intercepted by any malicious third parties. As much as I am personally unable to send reinforcements out to aid in the search, I would still like to know the details of this disappearance, as much as you are willing to share.” He explained plainly, “I have quite a few members of my staff who reside from cities all over Orchard and may have contacts who we can direct you to, as well as a few other parties who could lend advice in your search. After, we can discuss your King’s plan to seek this person out, and see for its feasibility.” 

Geno seemed to wait for Nightmare to ready his pen before he sighed. 

“The missing person is my youngest sibling.” he announced first. Reaper saw the way that Nightmare’s grip tightened on his pen, just ever so slightly. “Not long after I was hired by Reaper to be his High Mage and moved to Sanctuary, he was expelled from his magic academy. My other sibling, his older brother, was supposed to be home to pick him up for the weekend, but apparently he wasn’t. Got his dates mixed up.” Geno held the scarf between his fingers tighter, as though he could pinch a hole straight though its sturdy fabric. “By the time my other brother realized and got home, my youngest had left a note on the counter, took the rainy-day coin we had saved up, and… had run away.” 

Nightmare, Reaper didn’t have to see his face to know, was giving Geno a worried stare. A pitying one. No one likes to see a little sibling go missing. 

“You… said you had to move to work for Reaper. Where did you initially live?” Nightmare asked. 

Geno nodded a bit. “Ironfields. The northern border cities, just on the outskirts.” He explained. 

Nightmare jotted that down, before his brow furrowed a little. He seemed confused. 

“You believe that he went missing somewhere here in Orchard? How young was your brother?” It was a fair question. Reaper had been confused all the same when he’d read the initial letter from Fresh. That meant Error had made amazing time in the four days he’d been missing. But… then again, he was supposedly a very capable young man, and both Ironfields and Orchard were fairly flat territories with little resistance so long as one stayed on the roads. 

“Yes. I know-so.” Geno shot back, before reeling himself in a little. “Other brother. He’s a beast-tamer, and he tracked the scent of our youngest over the course of a full week. Only to get to a city not far from here and have the trail run completely cold. He should be fourteen by now.” Reaper always felt awful when geno thought on this moment. He, at that time, was just settling into his new workshop, excitedly filling the room with all sorts of gorgeous crystal spells, and accompanying Reaper to dinners so he could introduce his new High Mage to the rest of his court. He had no idea Fresh was out attempting to track down their a-wol sibling. He wouldn’t know for a time yet. 

“Okay, I understand.” Nightmare confirmed after another moment of jotting. “Do you know the name of the town, or any notable landmarks perhaps?” 

Geno nodded. “No clue on the name, the locals wouldn’t tell a foreigner anything, and my brother can’t read Orchard’s written dialect, but I know that he said the last place the scent led to was a large colosseum arena.” 

A nod from Nightmare, and he jotted down more into his notebook. “That would be Apricourt, one of our biggest travel hubs. It’s a good location for festivals, but a bad place to lose a traveling companion due to all the foot traffic…” He muttered, almost to himself, “Do you know about how long ago he went missing? If it was just before King Reaper sent his letter, then-”

“About a year and a half? Two?” Geno clutched the scarf’s edge a little tightly as Nightmare’s head shot up from his writing mid-stroke. “I know! I know it’s been a long time. It’s just… my brother didn’t tell me that our youngest was missing until a few months ago. He’s been searching relentlessly all over Orchard and couldn’t find a single hint of him after that day. He thinks our brother is dead, he was searching for dust to bury, but I can’t believe that. He’s okay, somewhere. Right now.” He practically commanded the universe with those last words. As though he would personally rip it apart and find a way to piece it back together if his words weren’t fact. His skull tilted with his chin up, determined, as he looked at Nightmare’s face. 

The king’s eyelight had grown smaller. 

He shot back to his book, writing the final few lines there on the line before he lifted it once more. 

“I- I see… There was only one large event we held during that time, I was busy with matters pertaining to my Knights… but I did hold an event. One that was a big festival, where I invited mages from within the kingdom and outside to audition to become my Royal Mage. I… Orchard has not had one for centuries, and I wanted to right that wrong. Perhaps he was drawn by the allure of the contest?” Nightmare suggested, though he did not sound hopeful. 

Geno hummed. “My brother did say the ground was pretty dirty. The scents got all mixed up, so there were probably a lot of people just there.” he agreed, intently watching as Nightmare wrote in his book. 

“Though, if this was almost two years ago, then your brother would have been twelve. If he was honest with those I placed as judges, then he would have been turned away long before I arrived. I had just passed a law forbidding children under the age of 16 to be hired as workers, or to be used as indentured servants to pay off debt, among other issues. I ensured that no one so young would be exploited by the castle under my rule.” He explained himself, “Although, the judges are still under my employment as magic tutors, and one of my Knights as well as my Royal Mage were present as well. Perhaps, tomorrow, I could gather them so that you could describe your sibling. See if they recall anyone like him.” 

Despite having said he didn’t have resources to spare, Nightmare still offered to arrange meetings. How generous of him. 

Geno seemed to perk up at the sound of that. 

“That would be great. Really.” Geno voiced. 

Nightmare nodded, then tipped the end of the pen up to rest against the nose of his cat mask. A hum. Another tap. 

“If that yields nothing, I might be able to offer you something else to help. It would only work on a small scale, but my Royal Mage recently developed a device which can track a monster’s magical signal from a distance. It is still in early phases, and you would need samples of your brother’s in-tact magic trace, but there is a chance that my Mage would be willing to make your search parties a few to use in the coming weeks.” He added as well. 

Again, how generous of him. Reaper couldn’t imagine this poor kid surviving the harsh reality of Orchard’s past. How was it that he was doing so well now?

“I suppose that is my queue to interject.” Reaper spoke up, and he didn’t miss how Nightmare jolted a bit as he glance to him. He tried not to let it show that it bothered him. How reproachful he’d accidentally made the boy. “My plan to search Orchard was to send out teams of two or three, some of my personal serveilling teams. They would skim through each town, looking for signs of my Mage’s sibling, attempt infiltrate shady locations, anything of the like. They would be under direct orders not to harm your citizens unless a threat to our target.” Reaper explained, “However. It would make things much faster and less suspicious if those tracking spells you mentioned were able to be given out among them.” 

Nightmare stared at him for a few breaths, before noting something in his book. 

“That will entirely depend on the willingness of my mage. They’ve had a very busy past few weeks, so I’ll ask that you respect if they are unwilling to craft any for you. I only brought it up as an additional option.” He voiced his worry. “Though, I have a feeling that worry will be unneeded once he speaks with you, High Mage.” 

Geno nodded again, understanding. 

A silence followed for a few beats. 

“I believe that this is all we can discuss for the night. I will be of no more help to you, since I was not present in the area, but I will have word sent to the parties who may have seen something. We will meet tomorrow after the midday meal, as a group. Though, I do believe the morning meeting between Mages will still be valuable.” Nightmare offered into the quiet. 

Reaper spared a glance to Geno, but his Mage only took a deep breath before nodding quietly. 

“I do agree with your assessment, Nightmare. Your help is very deeply appreciated.” Reaper said. 

“Yes, thank you, King Nightmare.” Geno added. 

Nightmare nodded to the two of them. 

“My Knight, will you escort the King and his Mage back to their rooms? Cross can accompany me to issue summons, then to my quarters.” He requested of the Panther Knight. It seemed the monster would once again become their shadow, which Reaper was honestly a bit grateful for. Keeping a loyal soldier near them at all times, especially one as clever as that? It was a smart move. 

.

“Did you hear him, Reaper? There’s no way my brother could resist a magic contest. One of the judges has to have seen him.” 

[intertexts]

happy minibang!!!! here's my piece for @false-anachronism's extremely good fic :]

[sodaneko]

Love the bingo event but 2 cards for readers vs 6 cards for writers is foul, why not more 😭😭😭

is it really foul or do just have no idea how long it takes to write sth

[peapodsplace]

Hey Baba, it seems like you've been seeing a lot of yucky stuff online right now. A lot of people who aren't remembering their manners and are forgetting that there's people behind a screen. I know you like your screen time but please remember that the world isn't all like that okay? Some people are different online and forget their values and let's remember that these days, algorithms perpously show you things that'll make you upset. Yes, yes it's not very fair, is it sweetheart. Please remember to take some breaks and that the world isn't really like that. It's so important to protect yourself. Yes, silly even if you think you don't deserve it; because you do.

[wttcsms]

horribly short summary of what im trying to accomplish here, but if you were to read a fic featuring character, a soldier honorably discharged and is officially off the battlefield and yet he can’t seem to shake off the war from clinging to his body, and he’s basically a bit of a mess and feels incapable of returning to ordinary life and there’s you, the sweetest thing in the whole world, and he keeps trying to tell you he’s no good and you’re there to help him with everything (and it kills him a bit, to see you wasting your time to help him, and it kills him because he feels like he shouldn’t be the type of person who needs help) and !! just slowburn and falling in love and just read the tags for the vibe ok, who would it be for

[illarian-rambling]

Damn, what if I reworked Starbreaker to be exclusively in Anarac's pov instead of trying to balance 5 new povs in one book?

Thoughts?

[clarabowmp3]

.

[perhapspen]

i don't know what it is about this website that makes it so miserable for me to open

[bunveh]

to this day I cannot believe nobody took this url before me

[glowpuppy]

stop and listen to what the wind whispers to you

[infinitegeli]

sorry if you've answered this before, but what do you think of taco's immidient switch into her viseral hatred of the game post losing mic? do you think its just her trying to get everyone to quit or does she genuinely detest the game for ruining what was her one honest happy relationship (with someone who knew the real her, not to deligate pickle and taco but to me their relationship is much different because of it)

THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING ID HAVE TO REQATCH THE EP TO ANSWER CONFIDENTLY. but anwyays taco is very unreliable and what she says outwardly is almost always taken lightly by me because she contradicts herself a ton and lies a lot to avoid putting herself into vulnerable situations. I don’t think she cares about the other contestants very much and taco has always been a very self serving character. if ae really meant to write her as someone sincerely acting selflessly to preserve the wellbeing of people she hardly ever considers,I would be very very surprised...so the answer is the latter. she’s in her bitter revenge arc..she’s tearing up whatever she thinks ruined things between her and mic…which also happens to include herself as well but that’s not rly relevant rn

[lupinedreaming]

Please tell me I’m not going to watch Aliens this weekend. Please convince me not to. I already rewatched it a few weeks ago