death never looked so vibrant

“Ooh, such strong denial. Not to mention a lost perception on the line between dream and reality! It’s far worse than I imagined. The quills are digging into your skull, my friend. I’m afraid we’re going to have to amputate~!”

I’m trying to get back into rping so what do I do??? I make a fanmix for the most ridiculous muse I’ve ever had and cherish with all my heart

art credit | listen

"Oh."

There wasn’t much else for her to say in response to that. Not that she saw immediately pressing, at the very least. She had asked a question, and he had answered, and the vagueness of his rely didn’t bother her too much. That was just how dreams were, sometimes. Without explanation. Without a rhyme or a reason. Simply being what they were.

However, that didn’t mean there was nothing left to be gained here. It had been some time since she’d come to a new dream like this, and Madotsuki intended to savor and absorb every second she could. And this creature, nervous as he was, hadn’t tried to hurt her yet. Moreover, he was actually responding to her, without her initial provocation. It had taken years for that sort of familiarity to happen on her own turf. Perhaps the dreams of others were more open to invitation?

"…where am I?" She expected no real response, and began a small walk around the circled room, hands brushing over toys and chests and velvet curtains alike. "This… isn’t a dream I have often."

He watched her through the corner of his eye, a nagging sense of dread in his mind as her hands wandered over his belongings. Jackle didn't fear any sort of infection from the Lucid, he was far too old to believe in things like cooties--but if she decided that something in here didn't strike her fancy and she willed it away, the Nightmaren wanted to know what it was so it could be replaced. Some of these things were antiques, after all.

"That is because you don't have this kind of dream often. You're in what most people would consider a nightmare." Which wasn't a complete truth, but wasn't a total lie, either. Normally his kind cloaked their lairs in the familiarity of a Visitor's memories, and rarely did they ever see what their nightmare's homes looked like, but Jackle's dominion remained the core of his nightmares regardless. Besides, the less the Lucid knew about his designs and operations, the better.

"Nightmares don't apply to dreamers like you, you know." He smiled, despite himself and his fear. The teasing tone in his voice was a signal that he was calming down, somewhat, and Jackle couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not.

Please enjoy this picture of Jackle’s face.

It’s from this picture.

"You’ve got a funny way of showing it," he complained under his breath, playing with his own sucker-stick.

NiGHTS hummed slightly, not liking the vents of the previous year. “Just a visit…” He looked over with some determination. “You’re not getting any Ideya out of me this year. Sorry~”

"Oh ho... is that so?" Jackle couldn't very well hie the amused tone of his voice, but the raise of his eyes should have shown how impressed he truly was. NiGHTS was always finicky this time of year. It was good he was standing up for himself, as it were.

"Well, that's unfortunate for me, but I suppose I'll just have to work twice as hard this year to make up the revenue." He gave NiGHTS a gentle pat on his head. "But, what must be done will be done. I'm very proud, NiGHTS."

"Ahhh—-owww!" NiGHTS frowned and rubbed at his cheeks. He looked over to his sibling irritably. "Hmph. I’m not sorry. I hate him," the rebel defended his actions like the stubborn Nightmaren he was.

"I’ll turn my cheeks into steel one of these days," he stuck his tongue out at Jackle. 

"If you could have, you would have. Now hush." Satisfied, Jackle leaned back in his chair, pulling the candy-less stick of his lollipop out of his mouth and tossing it over his shoulder. "You know I do it with because I care."

"But this does being me to my next question... was a simple visit all you wanted, or did you want to make sure your Halloween Ideya deposit was still up and running?"

"But pacing is so terribly boring!" NiGHTS complained, giggling slightly at being bonked. "And you know I can’t stand anything boring!"

"Surely you can’t think I’m as bad as Reala. I got these from an old friend’s dream, mind you," the rebel explained with a grin."Besides, I figured you could use something sweet after living with the king of sour himself." The younger crossed his eyes while temporarily creating eyes on his own hands to show off his point. "Never take breaks! I am Wizemaaaaan! I will do nothing!" NiGHTS laughed at his impression childishly.

NiGHTS didn't have to like Wizeman. That was fine. Plenty of people didn't. But NiGHTS had to remember that Jackle was sort of The Boss now, and he had a reputation to uphold. He couldn't allow such dsrespect towards his master in his own lair, and the perpetrator, rebel or loyal or otherwise, would have to be warned.

"NiGHTS." Jackle smiled and spoke through saccharine sweetness as he took his siblings cheeks into his hands... and pulled. Nightmaren shapeshifting was his friend, and Jackle pulled harder and farther until finally letting go, NiGHTS' own chees hitting him in the face with a resounding 'smack'. "Don't do that."

Better then being called 626, something that only happened with Jumba around. Which made sense, as Jumba was his creator. He could call Stitch whatever he wanted really, he had the right too. Usually it was 626, but he made a clear effort to use the name Lilo gave him at adoption, something the experiment greatly appreciated.

“Meega?”

That was a little unexpected. He assumed a nightmare like Jackle would have seen all sorts of strange things, brightly colored talking dogs included. Maybe it was a ploy to try and learn more about his fears? It wasn’t like he would admit them flat out, it would take a lot of force to make him spill the beans.

The bargain sounded good though. He had a few questions he wanted to ask the nightmare himself. Mostly, where in the world did he get that sweet cape!?

“Oketaka…" And he might as well take the chance and go first. “More nightmares like Jackle?”

Jackle couldn't say he was surprised by the question. When giv en the option, that was the question most tended to focus on. If they were smart and over the age of twelve, at least. And little Stitch here was at least one of those things, and as such deserved his answer.

"Why, yes, as a matter of fact. Not like me exactly, oh no, there is only one Jackle the Mantle--but I'm certainly not the only nightmare in this world. My immediate and extended family is just large, I should say. It would be a lonely existence if I were the only one, wouldn't you say? Besides, I can't do the work of a thousand Nightmaren."

What the work was, Jackle wouldn't say. If the little one wanted to know, he would ask in due time.

"And now, I have a question for you, little Stitch... might I know from you are?" He grinned. "The full version, if you would. You're nothing like the normal, human Visitors I get, and dreams do exist on other planets."

Giggling lightly at Jackle’s response, the Nightmaren, hummed playfully. “Is it? The Visitors don’t seem to think so!”

NiGHTS pulled out another sucker for himself, though it was shaped like a rose and as crimson as his shard. Smiling brightly while enjoying his treat, he nodded enthusiastically. “Haha, probably! It’s hard not to get into the season. The Visitors love it! And so do I!”

The rebel leaned back, briefly twirling his candy. “How about you?” 

"Visitors don't tend to think a lot of things at all, you know that." Humans had a tendency to overexcite and burnout over the smallest things in their preparations. A habit NiGHTS was all too quick to adapt to himself. "You could learn to pace yourself some, little one."

Jackle gently bopped his sibling on the head with his lollipop, before popping it back into his mouth. "I'll refrain from asking where you got these. They've been out of stock for what, 500 years or so? Quite a contraband you've whisked up, NiGHTS."

"But, I'll play along. I've been preparing myself for the day like the rest of the crew, as much as I can, at least. There's only so much to be done on Halloween these days."

chill out bruh