don't worry

・・・we might be only second levels, but we have potential. [ PRE-NiD AU REALA ]

[realitatemkage-blog-deactivated]

The larger smirked at his response. “I see,” he let his words speak for themselves before flexing his claws. “I also specialize in despair. The ever-crushing realization of one’s limitations, the inability to excel due to pathetic abilities, deep-rooted laziness ready for the perfect excuse to never do anything at all… It’s all rather easy, really.”

He folded his arms, thinking of all the several methods he used over the years. “Some of more subtle tactics go a long way, such as letting the Visitor tell themselves what they hate about themselves, then making it appear far worse and impossible to overcome. Inducing guilt is also very useful. If they are guilty enough, they will do anything just to make that nasty feeling go away… it never does if they are too scared to confront the issue,” he smirked deviously. “If you keep them with just the right amount of hope to cling to, but not enough courage, you can keep taking that one’s Ideya for a good while. it’s a slow start, but the finish it worth the hassle. However… there are times where there is not enough time for that. Simply creating a game of ‘it’s my fault they’re suffering,’ or ‘I didn’t save them in time’ works. Or a basic scare for at least one Ideya. In the end, numbers are what matter,” he finished his rambling with a sigh.

[boundbynightmares]

Reala listened attentively to the First Level's description of obtaining Ideya. Indeed, it seemed impractical mainly because he knew there were quicker tactics of obtaining it, but -- perhaps it would inject some sort of enthusiasm for what he did? The Nightmaren had to admit, work had become a slog lately, mainly because he was so busy trying to support NiGHTS that he had little focus actually aimed at what he was doing. Aside from, well, covering NiGHTS. And getting punished, that too.

He nodded thoughtfully in response to that. "Maybe I could try that with one Visitor. To worm my way into their fears instead of drilling down deep straight away, so that way I can keep going for a long while... Usually I'm trying to get enough Ideya for both myself and NiGHTS, so I don't have a whole lot of time." The Second Level shrugged. "I have no lack of confidence in what I do. I know I am one of the top Nightmarens when it comes to collecting Ideya, but..." His shoulders slumped a little bit. "I have to admit, the passion for it has lowered since my creation." He took a quick take at that, and started to shake his hands, "Ah! But only temporarily, and not completely. I still-- I still like doing what I do." That's what he reassured himself, anyway.

[trappedinthenights]

… Well… Not if he doesn’t see me, he won’t. I’ll just go to Nightopia again! He’ll never find me there.

[boundbynightmares]

"He knows that you are outside of Nightmare.

"... Never mind. I'll just collect as much Ideya as I can for you and we can go back together."

[boundbynightmares]

+redideyanightmare & arealnightmaren

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

"If you say so," NiGHTS didn’t want to argue any farther, as it wasn’t quite his place to do so. However, it didn’t mean he didn’t hope for the best in each variant of the Night Dimension he encountered. 

Once again turning the talk into a joke, he moved his fingers into circles, putting them over his eyes. “Careful you don’t end up with glasses, Reala! Those eyes of yours will only get bigger and they’ll go flying off when you do!” he laughed, having played with Visitors that were with glasses, as well as Owl. The poor others had such poor vision.

[boundbynightmares]

Reala's posture relaxed a smidgen at NiGHTS clearly giving up this fight, only to tense up again at the statement about his eyes. Even though it was clearly a joke, he took it a bit too seriously. Such a bristly Nightmaren he was.

"They grow with me," he said, his tone clipped. "If I become a First Level, they'll still fit." Besides, he could use his eyes just fine. He was the greatest of all of Wizeman's Nightmarens. And NiGHTS wasn't in any position to criticize him. It wasn't like he understood Nightmaren growth (or even how to be a proper Nightmaren in general) better than he did. "And I won't need glasses, either. But thank you for the concern."

[nightmarenracer-deactivated2014]

+ boundbynightmares

[nightmarenracer-deactivated2014]

Reala didn’t remember him? What was going on? First NiGHTS and now Reala!?

"I-I’m Sonic! Remember? Wizeman made me to help you capture NiGHTS and we still do it even though he’s dead ‘cause you’re a total butt that misses her!"

[boundbynightmares]

... And now, Reala was narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Master Wizeman is still around, and NiGHTS is within our custody. I don't know you -- and clearly, you don't know me."

[trappedinthenights]

Aww… Come on, Ree-Ree. Cheer up. I didn’t mean to lose all the seeds from the dandelions.

Come on, smile. It makes the whole world go around.

[boundbynightmares]

"That's not what I was referring to, NiGHTS...

"Master Wizeman is going to kill you!"

[nightmarenracer-deactivated2014]

+ boundbynightmares

And here was the face he had known the longest! Well, second longest, but Wizeman couldn’t really count since he was dead and all.

Though like with the NiGHTS from earlier, this Reala seemed off. Different. For starters he wasn’t being a mopey butt. That alone was enough to cause the lower level Nightmaren to hesitate in running over and pestering the elder.

Instead he cocked his head. “Reala?”

[boundbynightmares]

Odd. Reala had never seen a Nightmaren quite like this one. He resembled a mixture between a Second and a First Level. Either he had collected a lot of Ideya, or he was from one of those Nightmares in which Nightmarens were not created equal.

While the Reala Sonic was accustomed to was a higher level than he, the two of them were equal in this instance. With a somewhat twitchy eye, Reala inspected this newcomer.

"Who are you, and how do you know my name?"

[boundbynightmares]

trappedinthenights replied to your post:Your eye looks a bit watery, by the way? I think it needs rubbing.

… I brought dandelions? They’re just as good!

[realitatemkage-blog-deactivated]

At the other’s huffing, he did not back away for move much. He just watched the youth’s reaction, not expecting the smirk. If his alternate stated he was fine, then he was fine. Of course, it was difficult to trust a mere Second Level, given his history with the virtually brainless lot. Keeping a close eye on the other while they practiced wouldn’t be out of line.

Jokingly, he smirked back. “Don’t tell me NiGHTS stole your eyes as Clawz likes to take Visitor’s tongues. Does he have a collection of eyeballs? I didn’t think NiGHTS would be interested in such a hobby.” Finally giving the other version of himself some space, he looked him over. “What is your specialty, alternate? Manipulation? Startling? Despair? Psychosis? Assault? I am familiar with many methods.”

Someone had to show new Nightmaren their skills.

[boundbynightmares]

Of course the First Level didn't back up or give him space. Reala decided to let it go, considering this was indeed a First Level; it wasn't worth the argument. Instead, he addressed what Reala had told him. A joke about stealing eyes? He let out another little huff. "Not quite that literally," was the only response that he decided to grace that with. He would poke fun at NiGHTS for a lot of things, but eye stealing was not one of them. It was a sensitive topic, after all.

He moved on once the First Level finally backed off, and Reala held up his head again with the same amount of pride as before. Certain in his skills this one was. "Despair, mostly. Giving them nothing to hope for." He decided not to mention the fact that assault was difficult for him to do due to the eye trauma that he'd endured. Admitting to his shortcomings was something that Reala did not feel like doing to a First Level that he wanted to impress.

[boundbynightmares]

Your eye looks a bit watery, by the way? I think it needs rubbing.

"… You didn’t, did you?"

[boundbynightmares]

... Next time, I'll bring you a flower! Those won't lose their petals when I bring them here!

"Did you bring any Ideya with you?"

[boundbynightmares]

... It may have lost of its seeds though.

"Wait…"

[boundbynightmares]

I went to Nightopia and saw these really giant dandelions! But... I couldn't bring you one back so I brought I smaller one I found instead!

"… All right then."

[boundbynightmares]

Guess what?

"What?"

[boundbynightmares]

Reaallllaaaaaaaaaaaa!

"NiGHTS? What’s wrong?"

[realitatemkage-blog-deactivated]

He looked closer at the littler’s eyes, catching the nervous tone. Reala narrowed his own. “Not used to it?” the question was an echo of his mind piecing things together. He didn’t enjoy the idea of having something happening to his vision.

"Neither of them? Did NiGHTS get Twinkle Dust in them?" Reala tried to find any of the shimmering glitter of death in in his alternate’s eyes without avail.

As gentle as his twin would act, he took the other’s hand to see the other eye, trying to see what needed getting used to. “Can you see well enough?” To Reala, this felt like helping a crying Second Level that was fearful of losing their sight forever, or one that had poked it’s eyes harshly. “Visitors will not be frightened by something that cannot see…” 

[boundbynightmares]

Now the mothering was starting to get a bit annoying. Reala huffed. "I can see well enough," he confirmed, his tone a little offended. Just because he was still trying to get used to them, didn't mean he was incapacitated. In fact, he still managed to compensate for NiGHTS even with his vision partially impaired. These just weren't the eyes he was created with, and by the time he'd grown used to not having them, lo and behold he'd gotten replacements.

At the subject of NiGHTS, though, Reala's lips stretched into a bit of a smile, the kind that said that he knew some sort of secret and he liked that. "NiGHTS may've had something to do with it, but that's not quite the reason." It didn't take him long to sober up, and he added with a slight frown, "It's not worth worrying about. It was an injury that has been fixed."

[realitatemkage-blog-deactivated]

"Of course he is. In my world, he and I are twins. We were born with the same amount of power… no more, no less," he raised a brow. NiGHTS may have been stupid, rash, and selfish on several occasions, but Reala did not doubt in his previous partner’s intelligence and strength. They were the top tier, after all. NiGHTS was smart—he was more of a tricky Nightmaren than he was. Reala typically dealt with crushing a Visitor’s hopes from flaws in their reasoning or blind optimism. 

However, poking some fun at the other Nightmaren’s foolishness was always welcome. “Perhaps your NiGHTS may not be.”

Something made him narrow his eyes for a moment. The youth was touching his eyes a lot. It was a little concerning. Second Levels were not as strong, and thus were prone to getting attacked by low-class Lucids or accidentally flying into something and poking their eyes. “…Before we begin…” Reala leaned in a bit closer to the smaller version of himself to get a better look. The general was used to looking out for his younger siblings; it was almost a subconscious movement from so much of it so often. “Is something wrong with your eye?”

[boundbynightmares]

It wasn't so much that the younger Nightmaren didn't believe in NiGHTS as he liked to poke fun at his partner's expense. NiGHTS did the same to Reala, after all, and neither of them showed much regret for it. They both knew it was good-natured and fun, and Reala didn't feel any need to soften the blow for someone who didn't for him. Second Levels or no, the two of them were tough. Besides, what Reala really thought of NiGHTS should've been obvious; after all, he wouldn't be wasting his time with someone he didn't care about.

When his First Level self leaned in, though, he blinked in surprise, tilting his head as the larger of the two of them leaned in with concern. The breach of personal space didn't bother Reala; after all, when he spent so much time with NiGHTS, it was easy to get used to it. What bothered him more was the question, and not because he didn't like the answer, but more so because his other self's asking about it in the first place meant he hadn't done well in covering it up. He gave a closed eye a rub with his palm again. "No, nothing's wrong with it," he answered, though his voice did take on a somewhat nervous tinge. "I'm just not used to it, is all. Neither of them." Obviously indicating both of his eyes there. "I am working on it, though."

[boundbynightmares]

+dualdreamer

[dualdreamer]

-But, Reala’s frown was never threatening to NiGHTS. In fact, by frowning at her, he was only making himself look around fifty times cuter. Not to mention he had to go and huff and cross his arms. Gee, he was adorable. She was resisting the urge to just swoop him up into her arms and run off with him.-

Yes, yes. You’re scary if you want to be, sweetie.

-And she leant down to his height to ruffle her hand against the top of his head. He was too cute!!-

[boundbynightmares]

'Sweetie'? Really? What had Reala done to earn that moniker? It was obviously one that he wasn't pleased with, because he stuck out his bottom lip a bit in irritation. His eye flinched a bit before he continued to grumble.

"I'm not a child Visitor," he insisted, looking as if he was about to bite NiGHTS's arm off if she dared to pet his head again. "Don't call me 'sweetie'. It's practically an insult." No, it wasn't, but Reala was prideful and he didn't give a damn about his size; he knew he was a nasty Nightmaren and no one could tell him otherwise. "Is there something else you want besides babying me?"