R E A L I T Y

Being wrapped up into the safety of Jackle's cloak made them feel as if they'd been made a few days ago once more. Back then when they'd get in trouble with Wizeman for all the stunts they pulled they'd go to him and seek comfort. Even after all the pranks and grief they'd put him through, the older nightmaren would still comfort them. It was a much needed familiar feeling they'd needed recently.

"... Another reason I left honestly. I'd heard a rumor that I was to be remade for having 'too much free spirit'," of course this rumor had come around after they'd discovered the evil that Wizeman was up to. "I'm glad that you and the others are still okay, though I'm sure he took his rage out upon you all."

NiGHTS wasn't even sure what they would do if that was the case. Hell, they weren't even sure what they could do to stop Wizeman at all. Even with Visitors' help they couldn't bring him down completely. The question about Reala has them blinking out of their thoughts before sighing and shaking their head.

"Ha, as if he would risk such a thing. He seems to only visit when he's trying to force me back to Wizeman." Even then Reala hadn't been by recently for that reason lately either. It had been eating a hole of worry into their stomach. They missed their twin dearly but at least this friendly visit with Jackle was easing the pain from that hole a bit.

"Hmm, he does hate that."

It's said with a sigh. NiGHTS isn't so much unlike him. Neither of them were so closed minded to be considered "adequate." Not like Reala. Reala could be considered perfect. He was devoted, did what he was told, and never questioned anything.

To Jackle, it was irritating.

Hearing that answer got his smile to falter just a bit, even if he knew it would be the case. He huffed, pulling back just enough to look at his younger sibling properly.

"I figured. Not that it's really anything new, but they've been working themself into the ground. You know they don't listen to me, so I was hoping you could talk to them, if you happen to ever spot them."

The abrupt change in the situation has Jackle laughing when his little sibling lunges at him for a hug. He wraps his cloak around NiGHTS to hold them securely, the grin on his face never leaving, but becoming much softer rather than intimidating.

"I missed you too, ya little menace."

He says it endearingly. NiGHTS and their twin could be such a pain, but that didn't make him love them any less. He did miss them, hated that they were, though only technically, on opposing sides. Jackle himself didn't care for any of it, he never did. The only thing he cared for was the safety of his, as Visitors call them, family.

"Sorry I don't come to see you as much. It gets hard for me to go anywhere without the old man getting suspicious."

He looks at them, gentle concern visible in him.

"Are you...holding up okay?"

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The laughter was almost like music to them given how long it's been since they'd heard it. Sure, it used to drive them nuts given how they used to think that Jackle had been mocking them but now? Now it was a relief to hear once more. More of a relief was being wrapped up in the other's cloak. It almost made things seem normal. Safe. If only Reala were here.... Not trying to capture them for Wizeman.

NiGHTS giggles at the little nickname since it was true. They did in fact used to be a gremlin of a nightmaren. If there was a way to get into trouble then they'd found it. Especially if they convinced their much more serious twin to join them in the shenanigans. Another little giggle escaped at those memories.

"It's okay... I know exactly how he can get if he thinks something is afoot. I suppose it's my fault that he's suspicious of any of you leaving now after my own departure."

The question does make them sigh a bit and look down before replying, "I've been well mostly, there is no shortage of amusing things for me to discover but... It's also draining to be away." Not only emotionally and mentally but also physically. They were a nightmaren after all.

Jackle keeps them close, keeps them safe. It's been much too long, and there's a pang of guilt he feels that he didn't come by sooner. It was just...very difficult. He's been on rather thin ice with Wizeman ever since he was created. It was only because of his usefulness that he was kept alive all this time. At least, that was Reala's reasoning.

"I'd imagine it is... As long as you're safe though, you're faring better than us. But hey...we're surviving."

A softer laugh left him, meant to be lighthearted despite that statement. Nightmare was their home, yet it wasn't safe for any of them. Not when Wizeman could dismantle and destroy any one of them if he really deemed it so. Such a fate has already come to some of them.

"I...don't suppose Reala has come by recently, have they?"

Knowing the general, he doubted it was the case.

The initial surprise of his younger sibling does make him chuckle. They were hardly fooling anyone, but it was entertaining.

There was a dark air about him to go with his intimidating appearance. The jagged grin was present as always as he stared down at them firmly. In only a moment though, all that faded, and he took on a much more relaxed look, canting his head to the side.

"Nah, don't worry. Just wanted to come visit you, starlight."

Jackle easily could have struck already if he was here for a fight. He was more a stealth hunter. Instead, he seemed genuine, his gaze softening more.

"What, didn't you miss me?"

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It was frustrating how even after all this time and training they still couldn't really sense when Jackle was hunting. While before it was something to be admired and looked up to, now it could be extremely dangerous. It wasn't that they couldn't take him in a one on one fight, they've proven before that they could, it was more if he had this element of surprise. If he'd wanted to he could have really harmed them or captured them with great ease.

NiGHTS remained tense and poised to fight or flee as that dark aura remained around their older sibling until it rather suddenly dissolves into one that they're more than comfortable with. It was a feeling they'd been missing sorely and once Jackle confirms this was just a visit they don't even wait for him to finish that question before launching themselves at him to give him a hug.

"Of course I have, you giant blanket!" They missed almost everything and everyone from Nightmare but... Wizeman ruined and tainted a lot of those feelings. Even though it still hurt terribly to be away from their home they knew they couldn't go back. But this little bit of familiar feeling had them shaking slightly as they try to hold back their emotion, just soaking in the joy.

The abrupt change in the situation has Jackle laughing when his little sibling lunges at him for a hug. He wraps his cloak around NiGHTS to hold them securely, the grin on his face never leaving, but becoming much softer rather than intimidating.

"I missed you too, ya little menace."

He says it endearingly. NiGHTS and their twin could be such a pain, but that didn't make him love them any less. He did miss them, hated that they were, though only technically, on opposing sides. Jackle himself didn't care for any of it, he never did. The only thing he cared for was the safety of his, as Visitors call them, family.

"Sorry I don't come to see you as much. It gets hard for me to go anywhere without the old man getting suspicious."

He looks at them, gentle concern visible in him.

"Are you...holding up okay?"

As luck would have it, someone had slipped out of Nightmare with the excuse of a hunting mission. Not a lie, not entirely, but there was something to be done before that was taken care of.

A prized hunter, if not for his frustrating neutrality and lack of a closed mind. Jackle's ability to remain undetected comes in handy at times like these, when he watches his sibling in silence from the point of view of a mere shadow. Seeing them this way doesn't surprise him, but it saddens him nonetheless. Neither of the twins have been well since they separated. He'd like to do something about that.

When he's decided he's had enough, suddenly he's behind NiGHTS, looming over them with an air he brings with him that even darkens the surroundings.

"Boo."

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Once upon a time, NiGHTS had also been a hunter of some skill, able to use their speed to their advantage. However, over time they'd begun to feel too comfortable in their new home. Sure, there were threats and definitely still a reason to be fearful of Wizeman here but it felt like he only bothered to send someone after them if there was a Dreamer with them. Beside that, normally Reala would just come barging up to them with some form of cage or enclosure to lock them up in. So imagine their intense surprise and shock at the sudden voice behind them, the song they'd been playing moments before squeaking off as they 'drop' the flute.

"Uwah!! I mean, you didn't scare me at all Jackle! I knew you were there the whole time!" Nope, he hadn't scared them at all! Not one single bit! They only acted for his sake so he felt like he did good. Hmph! Oh crap wait a minute! "Jackle! Are you here for a fight this time?!" Naturally they immediately grew wary, poised to bolt at the slightest hint of him ready to pull the same stick that their twin did. Reala liked to have witty banter first sometimes and they weren't sure he wouldn't do the same. But then again, he had had ample time to have captured or hurt them already so... Maybe...

The initial surprise of his younger sibling does make him chuckle. They were hardly fooling anyone, but it was entertaining.

There was a dark air about him to go with his intimidating appearance. The jagged grin was present as always as he stared down at them firmly. In only a moment though, all that faded, and he took on a much more relaxed look, canting his head to the side.

"Nah, don't worry. Just wanted to come visit you, starlight."

Jackle easily could have struck already if he was here for a fight. He was more a stealth hunter. Instead, he seemed genuine, his gaze softening more.

"What, didn't you miss me?"

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@blindedreality plotted for a starter

The rogue nightmaren was currently starting at the pond below them, floating idly in the air. They were reminiscing over memories... recalling their past when they still served Wizeman. Back when they were still together with their siblings. Gosh how they missed those simpler times before they discovered their purpose... Before they learned of Wizeman's evil plan. Shaking their head NiGHTS began play their favorite melody upon their invisible flute, trying to drown their sudden depressive thoughts.

As luck would have it, someone had slipped out of Nightmare with the excuse of a hunting mission. Not a lie, not entirely, but there was something to be done before that was taken care of.

A prized hunter, if not for his frustrating neutrality and lack of a closed mind. Jackle's ability to remain undetected comes in handy at times like these, when he watches his sibling in silence from the point of view of a mere shadow. Seeing them this way doesn't surprise him, but it saddens him nonetheless. Neither of the twins have been well since they separated. He'd like to do something about that.

When he's decided he's had enough, suddenly he's behind NiGHTS, looming over them with an air he brings with him that even darkens the surroundings.

"Boo."