Executive-offical

In God We Trust He/him. Roleplay/shitposting blog. I'm legally obligated to tell you I am in no way affiliated with the United States Federal Government

[executive-offical]

before I start this: No, I do not actually work for the US government or am in any way affiliated, nor do I condone their actions. I understand the United States as a country has caused mass suffering throughout the world and profits off of the oppression and exploitation of marginalised people around the globe. This is not an attempt to make light or joke of this by any means. With that disclaimer, I’d also like to add fuck MAGA, fuck the police & the military, fuck ICE, and fuck the United States federal government in particular.

characters pronouns: he/him

tagging system:

#in me we trust - anything in character or ooc but related to US gov agencies

#not gov posting - ooc posting about the blog

#out of character chronicles - ooc posting not about the blog

#shai thoughts - anything to do with my personal life that I decide to share. Mostly vents

if this tag system looks familiar it’s cause I run @/cia-offical too

/ooc stuff:

anyways

• names Shai, he/hym/it

• moderately to severely disabled depending on the day, please be patient with me

• autistic with a special interest in US government agencies, specifically intelligence agencies

• Please don’t use coloured text when interacting with me. If you miss this and do use it, I’ll either ask you to only use plain text in the future or stop interacting entirely

• I’m shit at understanding how I come across so if I make you upset please tell me. I will literally never know if you don’t

• don’t mind the spelling errors. I’ve got shaky hands and my autocorrect hates me

[cia-offical]

( this is a closed rp, please don’t interact :] )

*sighs, heading straight for the office again. It knocks on the door, then pushes it open.*

[executive-offical]

*doesn’t turn around*

Back so soon?

[cia-offical]

*hollowly*

You knew that was his brother, didn’t you? He didn’t know any “classified information.” He was innocent save for his relationship, wasn’t he? That’s the new low you’re putting me to now?

[executive-offical]

*sighs*

Enough with the holier-than-thou attitude. Who cares? You killed him anyway.

*shrugs, turning around halfway*

You somehow keep having to relearn this every few decades. You’re a robot, Cain. You don’t love. You don’t care. Stop acting like you do. It’s all about reputation, and you know it.

*eyes flick back to his desk*

Look, I can’t blame you for attaching yourself to people who give you attention. But stop acting like it’s anything more than that. You don’t care about them, you care about what they give you. You’ve always been that way. Stop acting like you’ve changed now.

[cia-offical]

*flinches back slightly, crossing its arms*

. . .

[executive-offical]

*huffs lightly*

that’s what I thought.

*shakes his head and turns back to the desk*

it’s always the same with you, isn’t it? One person shows you the slightest bit of kindness and suddenly you’re so obsessive. It really is that engineer of yours all over again—

[cia-offical]

*bristles sharply, cutting him off*

—Don’t you dare bring that up-

[executive-offical]

*sighs loudly, wearily*

Has anyone ever told you you’re impossible? I really don’t know what went wrong with you.

*rubs the bridge of his nose, waving Cain away with his other*

Look, go away, 01. You’re interrupting my work.

[cia-offical]

( this is a closed rp, please don’t interact :] )

*sighs, heading straight for the office again. It knocks on the door, then pushes it open.*

[executive-offical]

*doesn’t turn around*

Back so soon?

[cia-offical]

*hollowly*

You knew that was his brother, didn’t you? He didn’t know any “classified information.” He was innocent save for his relationship, wasn’t he? That’s the new low you’re putting me to now?

[executive-offical]

*sighs*

Enough with the holier-than-thou attitude. Who cares? You killed him anyway.

*shrugs, turning around halfway*

You somehow keep having to relearn this every few decades. You’re a robot, Cain. You don’t love. You don’t care. Stop acting like you do. It’s all about reputation, and you know it.

*eyes flick back to his desk*

Look, I can’t blame you for attaching yourself to people who give you attention. But stop acting like it’s anything more than that. You don’t care about them, you care about what they give you. You’ve always been that way. Stop acting like you’ve changed now.

[cia-offical]

*flinches back slightly, crossing its arms*

. . .

[executive-offical]

*huffs lightly*

that’s what I thought.

*shakes his head and turns back to the desk*

it’s always the same with you, isn’t it? One person shows you the slightest bit of kindness and suddenly you’re so obsessive. It really is that engineer of yours all over again—

[cia-offical]

( this is a closed rp, please don’t interact :] )

*sighs, heading straight for the office again. It knocks on the door, then pushes it open.*

[executive-offical]

*doesn’t turn around*

Back so soon?

[cia-offical]

*hollowly*

You knew that was his brother, didn’t you? He didn’t know any “classified information.” He was innocent save for his relationship, wasn’t he? That’s the new low you’re putting me to now?

[executive-offical]

*sighs*

Enough with the holier-than-thou attitude. Who cares? You killed him anyway.

*shrugs, turning around halfway*

You somehow keep having to relearn this every few decades. You’re a robot, Cain. You don’t love. You don’t care. Stop acting like you do. It’s all about reputation, and you know it.

*eyes flick back to his desk*

Look, I can’t blame you for attaching yourself to people who give you attention. But stop acting like it’s anything more than that. You don’t care about them, you care about what they give you. You’ve always been that way. Stop acting like you’ve changed now.

[cia-offical]

( this is a closed rp, please don’t interact :] )

*sighs, heading straight for the office again. It knocks on the door, then pushes it open.*

[executive-offical]

*doesn’t turn around*

Back so soon?

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t intervene :] )

*returns to the office looking far more cheerful than it did the first time. It enters, holding out the slightly blood-stained file*

Target eliminated.

[executive-offical]

*looks up, then takes the file with a small grin*

Good work, 01. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint.

*tosses the file onto his desk*

Alright, now you may return to work. Thank you.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[cia-offical]

*steps back slightly. It looks down, voice quiet*

You’re not—you’re not mad?

[executive-offical]

*shrugs*

Why would I be? You got kidnapped, didn’t you? That’s hardly your fault. And clearly, you came back when you had the chance. I’m not going to punish good behaviour.

[cia-offical]

*blinks, looking up hopefully*

..oh.. I..

*clears its throat, forcing a more professional demeanour*

I appreciate that, sir. I… suppose I’ll get back to work now.

*turns around, heading for the door*

[executive-offical]

*calls*

Actually, I have a job for you, if you’re interested.

[cia-offical]

*turns back*

Yes, sir?

[executive-offical]

We’ve acquired a recent target. They’ve managed to find heavily classified information somehow, so…

*shrugs again, a small smile tugging at his face*

…I think you know the drill by now.

[cia-offical]

*something akin to bloodlust, excitement, even, flickers in its eyes, and it turns around fully.*

I won’t disappoint you.

[executive-offical]

*laughs heartily*

There it is.

*picks up a file on his desk, holding it out to Cain*

Here’s all the info on the target. I’ll see you soon.

[cia-offical]

*takes the file with a nod, then turns around and moves to the exit*

Thank you, sir.

*leaves the room, flipping through the file as it does so. The door clicks behind it*

[executive-offical]

*as soon as Cain is gone, his smile widens, becoming a crueler grin. He sighs, amused, then turns back to his work*

My turn, Erebus.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[cia-offical]

*steps back slightly. It looks down, voice quiet*

You’re not—you’re not mad?

[executive-offical]

*shrugs*

Why would I be? You got kidnapped, didn’t you? That’s hardly your fault. And clearly, you came back when you had the chance. I’m not going to punish good behaviour.

[cia-offical]

*blinks, looking up hopefully*

..oh.. I..

*clears its throat, forcing a more professional demeanour*

I appreciate that, sir. I… suppose I’ll get back to work now.

*turns around, heading for the door*

[executive-offical]

*calls*

Actually, I have a job for you, if you’re interested.

[cia-offical]

*turns back*

Yes, sir?

[executive-offical]

We’ve acquired a recent target. They’ve managed to find heavily classified information somehow, so…

*shrugs again, a small smile tugging at his face*

…I think you know the drill by now.

[cia-offical]

*something akin to bloodlust, excitement, even, flickers in its eyes, and it turns around fully.*

I won’t disappoint you.

[executive-offical]

*laughs heartily*

There it is.

*picks up a file on his desk, holding it out to Cain*

Here’s all the info on the target. I’ll see you soon.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[cia-offical]

*steps back slightly. It looks down, voice quiet*

You’re not—you’re not mad?

[executive-offical]

*shrugs*

Why would I be? You got kidnapped, didn’t you? That’s hardly your fault. And clearly, you came back when you had the chance. I’m not going to punish good behaviour.

[cia-offical]

*blinks, looking up hopefully*

..oh.. I..

*clears its throat, forcing a more professional demeanour*

I appreciate that, sir. I… suppose I’ll get back to work now.

*turns around, heading for the door*

[executive-offical]

*calls*

Actually, I have a job for you, if you’re interested.

[cia-offical]

*turns back*

Yes, sir?

[executive-offical]

We’ve acquired a recent target. They’ve managed to find heavily classified information somehow, so…

*shrugs again, a small smile tugging at his face*

…I think you know the drill by now.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[cia-offical]

*steps back slightly. It looks down, voice quiet*

You’re not—you’re not mad?

[executive-offical]

*shrugs*

Why would I be? You got kidnapped, didn’t you? That’s hardly your fault. And clearly, you came back when you had the chance. I’m not going to punish good behaviour.

[cia-offical]

*blinks, looking up hopefully*

..oh.. I..

*clears its throat, forcing a more professional demeanour*

I appreciate that, sir. I… suppose I’ll get back to work now.

*turns around, heading for the door*

[executive-offical]

*calls*

Actually, I have a job for you, if you’re interested.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[cia-offical]

*steps back slightly. It looks down, voice quiet*

You’re not—you’re not mad?

[executive-offical]

*shrugs*

Why would I be? You got kidnapped, didn’t you? That’s hardly your fault. And clearly, you came back when you had the chance. I’m not going to punish good behaviour.

[cia-offical]

( this is an interaction between me and myself, please don’t interrupt :] )

*hurriedly makes its way out of the lair, not daring to look back. It does put on a disguise, but only up until it reaches its destination. Cain stands in front of the office door, trying to stem its shaking, before hesitantly knocking and pushing the door open*

[executive-offical]

*looks up from his desk*

..Welcome back.

[executive-offical]

*watching him curiously in the shadows of his office(?)*

- @nightmare-offical

*picks his head up from the desk, looking around the room with a sigh*

…hello?

[nightmare-offical]

*steps out of the shadows, studying it with a curious expression*

You’re not…like them.

[executive-offical]

*a little startled at first, but quickly regains face*

What?

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head, a bit disconcertingly*

I…can see your fears…distantly…you had nightmares…once…

*repeats*

You’re not like them. The others.

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

..that answers so much, thanks.

*sighs, leaning back in his chair and running an hand through his hair*

Alright, who are you, what do you want, how’d you get here, and who am I not like?

[nightmare-offical]

I’m nightmares.

*shrugs*

I’m always here.

*grins*

You can call me Night if you like nicknames!

But anyway you don’t feel like the others. The other agencies I mean. I was just with the one called Cain.

*puts a hand on its hip*

And that was as expected.

But you don’t feel…entirely like a non-living being.

[executive-offical]

*raises his eyebrows, looking mildly unimpressed*

…okay. Can you leave, please? I have work to do.

[nightmare-offical]

Like I said, I’m always here.

But nah, I’m curious now. Let’s see what I can figure out!

[executive-offical]

*rolls his eyes, ignoring it and merely going back to work*

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah yeah yeah you just sit there…and…

*pauses, abruptly, grinning*

Yeah, now we’re cooking! There’s a war or something! In your old nightmares!

[executive-offical]

*mutters*

A war, huh? Care to elaborate? I’ve been in a lot of those.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, trying to focus*

Yeah sure…there weren’t bombs yet…

[executive-offical]

No bombs yet? That means it musta been… God…

*thinks, under his breath*

before the Great War… that’s when I first broke isolation…

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah..

Let’s see if we can get deeper here, shall we?

You all wore lame suits, my that’s every war.

You fought in it, is that normal for you?

[executive-offical]

What, me personally?

*huffs*

I’m a person in power. I don’t fight.

[nightmare-offical]

You did in this war…your first war…

You sacrificed a lot for it…it made you upset…

And it leaked into your nightmares.

I’m not wrong, pal. I’m never wrong about nightmares. I made ‘em.

[executive-offical]

*falls silent for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head*

*more coldly than before*

Don’t know what war you’re talking about. That doesn’t sound like me.

[nightmare-offical]

Well this whole lifeless robot thing isn’t working for you, do you have a different excuse for me being able to see your nightmares?

Or do you not remember?

I could try to give them to you again if you’ve forgot…

[executive-offical]

*huffs*

or you could leave me alone

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah but then I’d never figure this out! This isn’t normal for me, it’s so exciting! And unless you’re gonna tell me what’s going on here, then I’m just staying put and figuring it out myself.

[executive-offical]

There’s nothing “going on here.” Go away.

[nightmare-offical]

Son, I’ve been around since the creation of nightmares. Because, as you know, that’s what I am.

I think I’d know better than you if something was going on.

*head swivels around until it’s upside down so it can look like this emoji🙃)

Unless you were trying to, you know, keep something from me here.

[executive-offical]

Not your son, not trying to keep anything from you. I have work to do, and you are being a nuisance.

*gestures to the paperwork on his desk*

Leave me be.

[nightmare-offical]

Aaaand if I don’t? Come on, if you’re not keeping anything from me then don’t you want to know why you have fears and had nightmares too?

[executive-offical]

Not really. Not everyone is fucking crazy, y’know.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah sure okay!

*just stands there staring at it*

[executive-offical]

*starts working again uncomfortably, trying to ignore her. After several minutes in silence, he finally speaks up again, much quieter*

You.. said the war.. made me upset. It..

*looks down at his desk, resting his head in his palm*

…when you… brought it up, I got.. angry. I don’t… remember why.

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head*

Oh? Yeah? You’ve got no idea why?

[executive-offical]

*blinks, quickly re-donning his annoyed demeanour*

Well, I assumed it was because you were bothering me.

*pauses again, the edge slipping from his voice*

But I don’t… I think.. I used to be someone.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah I did kind of think that too…

*pauses, thinking about that*

How long have you existed…like this?

[executive-offical]

Since.. the creation of the executive branch, I think. I don’t.. really remember. It’s hazy, back then.

[nightmare-offical]

You’re telling me you think they had robots way back then?

*laughs*

[executive-offical]

*snappily*

Well, I’m here, and I have memories of pre-1800, so I don’t know what you want me to say

[nightmare-offical]

Well yeah but I was there back then too and I would’ve known if there were robots. Maybe you weren’t.

[executive-offical]

Weren’t what?

[nightmare-offical]

*amused*

A robot? What else?

[executive-offical]

I don’t know, it sounded like you were trying to imply I wasn’t around then.

*sighs*

I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already said my memories from then are far too hazy to say what I was. Maybe I wasn’t a robot then. I don’t know. I don’t remember.

[nightmare-offical]

Well that was another thing but then I wouldn’t be able to access your fears or glimpse your past nightmares, would I?

*tilts head*

You’re not at all curious?

[executive-offical]

I was but you’re getting on my nerves. Would you just leave me alone already? You’re serving zero purpose, clearly, so go away.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, studying him for a long moment*

You all are surprisingly easy to irritate.

And just because I am not serving your purpose does not mean I’m not serving a purpose, though I did think you could get some discovery, maybe closure, out of this.

*shrugs*

But I’ll-

Well-

I will still be here, I’m always here, but I can make myself disappear if that would put you more at ease.

[executive-offical]

*glares at her, then, after a moment, rolls his eyes and looks back down at his desk*

…whatever. I’ll give you one more chance. You said earlier you could give ‘them’—my nightmares, I guess—back to me if I forgot. Well, clearly, I forgot. So…

*trails off, hands curling into fists against his desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*pauses*

I can…

You would want that?

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

Unless you have some other ways to bring back my memories you can pull out of your ass.

[nightmare-offical]

Hm, well you aren’t asking very nicely.

*looks amused*

[executive-offical]

Because I have a reason to be nice to an invisible stalker who’s literally the embodiment of nightmares.

[nightmare-offical]

*shrugs with a barely perceptible sigh*

Maybe when you’re asking it for something.

[executive-offical]

You came here to “discover my fears” first. I’m just asking you to finish the job you started.

[nightmare-offical]

I did. Yes.

But I can do that without restoring your nightmares to you.

[executive-offical]

I just—

*sighs, leaning his head back against his chair to glare at her*

Listen. You came here, told me that I have nightmares of a war that I supposedly fought in—that I don’t remember—and I am angry and- and bitter about it. For- for some reason that I can’t place. I… I want to remember. But I can’t. You just… talking doesn’t do me any good. So it’s that, or nothing. Just—okay?

*looks away, muttering under his breath*

God, this is such a waste of time…

[nightmare-offical]

*listens, then grows a bit more serious, nods*

Alright.

I don’t know how relaxed you can get in your current form but try to get as close to a sleep-like state if you can, alright?

[executive-offical]

*eyes flick back to it. After a moment, he sighs, letting his head fall against his shoulder*

…fine, okay.

*props an elbow on the armrest of his chair, resting his head in his palm. He closes his eyes, and it seems like what’s mechanised of his body slows or shuts down after a few seconds*

[nightmare-offical]

*steps toward him, hand hovering over his head*

*it’s confused as she tries for a moment to find a source of the memories as this still is not the same as a regular mortal, but after a moment, manages to find the nightmares-unable to see anything else in his mind but the nightmares and fears, leaving the fears as they are, gently tugging them to the surface before stepping back*

That…should do it…

[executive-offical]

*twitches in his sleep briefly, free hand digging into the desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*stands there, completely still*

*on the rare occasion it’s done this, it would let the other sleep and vanish before they awoke*

*this case is different though as she is unsure whether or not he can awaken in this form on his own, and it is interested in this particular mattter, so she stays and watches, curious now, partially within his nightmare but detached from it*

[executive-offical]

*The nightmare is merely flashes of memories. A battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead. Something loud cracks nearby, and the scene changes again. It’s the edge of a forest, overlooking a burning farm. Then another battlefield, this time after. Dying men lay scattered. Their faces, in some way, are rendered non-viewable. Turned away. Covered in flowers. Splashed with soil and blood. Eaten by bugs. Then the battlefield is alive again. There’s a loud bang, followed by ringing. Everything returns to black*

[nightmare-offical]

*observes quietly, not seeming fazed, upset, excited or horrified, simply blank and non-judgmental*

[executive-offical]

*the scene begins to change to an old workshop, focused on a large wooden puppet slumped in the corner. A soldier. It seems to be an extremely well made puppet; the clothing and faux-rifle delicately and precisely matched to be close to realistic. However, the puppet, too, is missing a face. Where it should be is jagged wood, as if it had been torn off in a violent rage. The scene begins to grow static, covered in a burry haze, then fades back to nothing*

[nightmare-offical]

*this does bring visible curiosity to Night’s face only for the briefest of seconds before it fades*

*she examines the doll, silently theorizing its significance*

[executive-offical]

*The scene shifts again. It’s a group of people in what looks like some sort of meeting hall. All the people’s faces are blurry. The puppet from earlier stands in the middle of the group, human sized now and holding a real rifle, pointing it wildly at the men around it. One of the men steps forward, saying something. It sounds like a name. He repeats it, louder. It’s still inaudible. It begins to ring, which grows louder with each passing second. The man raises his voice, shouting the name a third time—*

*—the nightmare abruptly ends. The name is never said.*

*sits up sharply with a gasp, clasping his chest.*

[nightmare-offical]

*blinks, turning to look over at him, still silent*

*after a long moment, tone no longer with its teasing, amused tone*

That is at least some of an answer, isn’t it?

[executive-offical]

I…

*trails off for a moment, taking his hand off his chest to stare at them. He quickly snaps himself out of it, shaking his head and turning back to Night*

…something like that.

[nightmare-offical]

Guess that’s figured out then.

*tone back to normal, raises an eyebrow*

Glad to help.

You’ll be wanting me to fade from your view then? Closest thing I can do to go…which…I already explained as you know.

[executive-offical]

…yeah. I’ve got work to get back to.

[nightmare-offical]

So do I, though technically I’m still doing it as we speak…and I find my work much more interesting than yours but that’s just personal preference then.

*fading*

Bye then! Glad I could help! That was all…certainly something!

If you have any more nightmares you want retrieved or locating your core fear or getting over it or anything like that just, you know, give me a ring!

*laughs then sighs as it vanishes*

[executive-offical]

*stares at where it vanished into for a moment, then back down at his hands. He shakes his head after a moment, getting back to working*

[executive-offical]

*watching him curiously in the shadows of his office(?)*

- @nightmare-offical

*picks his head up from the desk, looking around the room with a sigh*

…hello?

[nightmare-offical]

*steps out of the shadows, studying it with a curious expression*

You’re not…like them.

[executive-offical]

*a little startled at first, but quickly regains face*

What?

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head, a bit disconcertingly*

I…can see your fears…distantly…you had nightmares…once…

*repeats*

You’re not like them. The others.

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

..that answers so much, thanks.

*sighs, leaning back in his chair and running an hand through his hair*

Alright, who are you, what do you want, how’d you get here, and who am I not like?

[nightmare-offical]

I’m nightmares.

*shrugs*

I’m always here.

*grins*

You can call me Night if you like nicknames!

But anyway you don’t feel like the others. The other agencies I mean. I was just with the one called Cain.

*puts a hand on its hip*

And that was as expected.

But you don’t feel…entirely like a non-living being.

[executive-offical]

*raises his eyebrows, looking mildly unimpressed*

…okay. Can you leave, please? I have work to do.

[nightmare-offical]

Like I said, I’m always here.

But nah, I’m curious now. Let’s see what I can figure out!

[executive-offical]

*rolls his eyes, ignoring it and merely going back to work*

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah yeah yeah you just sit there…and…

*pauses, abruptly, grinning*

Yeah, now we’re cooking! There’s a war or something! In your old nightmares!

[executive-offical]

*mutters*

A war, huh? Care to elaborate? I’ve been in a lot of those.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, trying to focus*

Yeah sure…there weren’t bombs yet…

[executive-offical]

No bombs yet? That means it musta been… God…

*thinks, under his breath*

before the Great War… that’s when I first broke isolation…

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah..

Let’s see if we can get deeper here, shall we?

You all wore lame suits, my that’s every war.

You fought in it, is that normal for you?

[executive-offical]

What, me personally?

*huffs*

I’m a person in power. I don’t fight.

[nightmare-offical]

You did in this war…your first war…

You sacrificed a lot for it…it made you upset…

And it leaked into your nightmares.

I’m not wrong, pal. I’m never wrong about nightmares. I made ‘em.

[executive-offical]

*falls silent for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head*

*more coldly than before*

Don’t know what war you’re talking about. That doesn’t sound like me.

[nightmare-offical]

Well this whole lifeless robot thing isn’t working for you, do you have a different excuse for me being able to see your nightmares?

Or do you not remember?

I could try to give them to you again if you’ve forgot…

[executive-offical]

*huffs*

or you could leave me alone

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah but then I’d never figure this out! This isn’t normal for me, it’s so exciting! And unless you’re gonna tell me what’s going on here, then I’m just staying put and figuring it out myself.

[executive-offical]

There’s nothing “going on here.” Go away.

[nightmare-offical]

Son, I’ve been around since the creation of nightmares. Because, as you know, that’s what I am.

I think I’d know better than you if something was going on.

*head swivels around until it’s upside down so it can look like this emoji🙃)

Unless you were trying to, you know, keep something from me here.

[executive-offical]

Not your son, not trying to keep anything from you. I have work to do, and you are being a nuisance.

*gestures to the paperwork on his desk*

Leave me be.

[nightmare-offical]

Aaaand if I don’t? Come on, if you’re not keeping anything from me then don’t you want to know why you have fears and had nightmares too?

[executive-offical]

Not really. Not everyone is fucking crazy, y’know.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah sure okay!

*just stands there staring at it*

[executive-offical]

*starts working again uncomfortably, trying to ignore her. After several minutes in silence, he finally speaks up again, much quieter*

You.. said the war.. made me upset. It..

*looks down at his desk, resting his head in his palm*

…when you… brought it up, I got.. angry. I don’t… remember why.

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head*

Oh? Yeah? You’ve got no idea why?

[executive-offical]

*blinks, quickly re-donning his annoyed demeanour*

Well, I assumed it was because you were bothering me.

*pauses again, the edge slipping from his voice*

But I don’t… I think.. I used to be someone.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah I did kind of think that too…

*pauses, thinking about that*

How long have you existed…like this?

[executive-offical]

Since.. the creation of the executive branch, I think. I don’t.. really remember. It’s hazy, back then.

[nightmare-offical]

You’re telling me you think they had robots way back then?

*laughs*

[executive-offical]

*snappily*

Well, I’m here, and I have memories of pre-1800, so I don’t know what you want me to say

[nightmare-offical]

Well yeah but I was there back then too and I would’ve known if there were robots. Maybe you weren’t.

[executive-offical]

Weren’t what?

[nightmare-offical]

*amused*

A robot? What else?

[executive-offical]

I don’t know, it sounded like you were trying to imply I wasn’t around then.

*sighs*

I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already said my memories from then are far too hazy to say what I was. Maybe I wasn’t a robot then. I don’t know. I don’t remember.

[nightmare-offical]

Well that was another thing but then I wouldn’t be able to access your fears or glimpse your past nightmares, would I?

*tilts head*

You’re not at all curious?

[executive-offical]

I was but you’re getting on my nerves. Would you just leave me alone already? You’re serving zero purpose, clearly, so go away.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, studying him for a long moment*

You all are surprisingly easy to irritate.

And just because I am not serving your purpose does not mean I’m not serving a purpose, though I did think you could get some discovery, maybe closure, out of this.

*shrugs*

But I’ll-

Well-

I will still be here, I’m always here, but I can make myself disappear if that would put you more at ease.

[executive-offical]

*glares at her, then, after a moment, rolls his eyes and looks back down at his desk*

…whatever. I’ll give you one more chance. You said earlier you could give ‘them’—my nightmares, I guess—back to me if I forgot. Well, clearly, I forgot. So…

*trails off, hands curling into fists against his desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*pauses*

I can…

You would want that?

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

Unless you have some other ways to bring back my memories you can pull out of your ass.

[nightmare-offical]

Hm, well you aren’t asking very nicely.

*looks amused*

[executive-offical]

Because I have a reason to be nice to an invisible stalker who’s literally the embodiment of nightmares.

[nightmare-offical]

*shrugs with a barely perceptible sigh*

Maybe when you’re asking it for something.

[executive-offical]

You came here to “discover my fears” first. I’m just asking you to finish the job you started.

[nightmare-offical]

I did. Yes.

But I can do that without restoring your nightmares to you.

[executive-offical]

I just—

*sighs, leaning his head back against his chair to glare at her*

Listen. You came here, told me that I have nightmares of a war that I supposedly fought in—that I don’t remember—and I am angry and- and bitter about it. For- for some reason that I can’t place. I… I want to remember. But I can’t. You just… talking doesn’t do me any good. So it’s that, or nothing. Just—okay?

*looks away, muttering under his breath*

God, this is such a waste of time…

[nightmare-offical]

*listens, then grows a bit more serious, nods*

Alright.

I don’t know how relaxed you can get in your current form but try to get as close to a sleep-like state if you can, alright?

[executive-offical]

*eyes flick back to it. After a moment, he sighs, letting his head fall against his shoulder*

…fine, okay.

*props an elbow on the armrest of his chair, resting his head in his palm. He closes his eyes, and it seems like what’s mechanised of his body slows or shuts down after a few seconds*

[nightmare-offical]

*steps toward him, hand hovering over his head*

*it’s confused as she tries for a moment to find a source of the memories as this still is not the same as a regular mortal, but after a moment, manages to find the nightmares-unable to see anything else in his mind but the nightmares and fears, leaving the fears as they are, gently tugging them to the surface before stepping back*

That…should do it…

[executive-offical]

*twitches in his sleep briefly, free hand digging into the desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*stands there, completely still*

*on the rare occasion it’s done this, it would let the other sleep and vanish before they awoke*

*this case is different though as she is unsure whether or not he can awaken in this form on his own, and it is interested in this particular mattter, so she stays and watches, curious now, partially within his nightmare but detached from it*

[executive-offical]

*The nightmare is merely flashes of memories. A battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead. Something loud cracks nearby, and the scene changes again. It’s the edge of a forest, overlooking a burning farm. Then another battlefield, this time after. Dying men lay scattered. Their faces, in some way, are rendered non-viewable. Turned away. Covered in flowers. Splashed with soil and blood. Eaten by bugs. Then the battlefield is alive again. There’s a loud bang, followed by ringing. Everything returns to black*

[nightmare-offical]

*observes quietly, not seeming fazed, upset, excited or horrified, simply blank and non-judgmental*

[executive-offical]

*the scene begins to change to an old workshop, focused on a large wooden puppet slumped in the corner. A soldier. It seems to be an extremely well made puppet; the clothing and faux-rifle delicately and precisely matched to be close to realistic. However, the puppet, too, is missing a face. Where it should be is jagged wood, as if it had been torn off in a violent rage. The scene begins to grow static, covered in a burry haze, then fades back to nothing*

[nightmare-offical]

*this does bring visible curiosity to Night’s face only for the briefest of seconds before it fades*

*she examines the doll, silently theorizing its significance*

[executive-offical]

*The scene shifts again. It’s a group of people in what looks like some sort of meeting hall. All the people’s faces are blurry. The puppet from earlier stands in the middle of the group, human sized now and holding a real rifle, pointing it wildly at the men around it. One of the men steps forward, saying something. It sounds like a name. He repeats it, louder. It’s still inaudible. It begins to ring, which grows louder with each passing second. The man raises his voice, shouting the name a third time—*

*—the nightmare abruptly ends. The name is never said.*

*sits up sharply with a gasp, clasping his chest.*

[nightmare-offical]

*blinks, turning to look over at him, still silent*

*after a long moment, tone no longer with its teasing, amused tone*

That is at least some of an answer, isn’t it?

[executive-offical]

I…

*trails off for a moment, taking his hand off his chest to stare at them. He quickly snaps himself out of it, shaking his head and turning back to Night*

…something like that.

[nightmare-offical]

Guess that’s figured out then.

*tone back to normal, raises an eyebrow*

Glad to help.

You’ll be wanting me to fade from your view then? Closest thing I can do to go…which…I already explained as you know.

[executive-offical]

…yeah. I’ve got work to get back to.

[executive-offical]

*watching him curiously in the shadows of his office(?)*

- @nightmare-offical

*picks his head up from the desk, looking around the room with a sigh*

…hello?

[nightmare-offical]

*steps out of the shadows, studying it with a curious expression*

You’re not…like them.

[executive-offical]

*a little startled at first, but quickly regains face*

What?

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head, a bit disconcertingly*

I…can see your fears…distantly…you had nightmares…once…

*repeats*

You’re not like them. The others.

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

..that answers so much, thanks.

*sighs, leaning back in his chair and running an hand through his hair*

Alright, who are you, what do you want, how’d you get here, and who am I not like?

[nightmare-offical]

I’m nightmares.

*shrugs*

I’m always here.

*grins*

You can call me Night if you like nicknames!

But anyway you don’t feel like the others. The other agencies I mean. I was just with the one called Cain.

*puts a hand on its hip*

And that was as expected.

But you don’t feel…entirely like a non-living being.

[executive-offical]

*raises his eyebrows, looking mildly unimpressed*

…okay. Can you leave, please? I have work to do.

[nightmare-offical]

Like I said, I’m always here.

But nah, I’m curious now. Let’s see what I can figure out!

[executive-offical]

*rolls his eyes, ignoring it and merely going back to work*

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah yeah yeah you just sit there…and…

*pauses, abruptly, grinning*

Yeah, now we’re cooking! There’s a war or something! In your old nightmares!

[executive-offical]

*mutters*

A war, huh? Care to elaborate? I’ve been in a lot of those.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, trying to focus*

Yeah sure…there weren’t bombs yet…

[executive-offical]

No bombs yet? That means it musta been… God…

*thinks, under his breath*

before the Great War… that’s when I first broke isolation…

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah..

Let’s see if we can get deeper here, shall we?

You all wore lame suits, my that’s every war.

You fought in it, is that normal for you?

[executive-offical]

What, me personally?

*huffs*

I’m a person in power. I don’t fight.

[nightmare-offical]

You did in this war…your first war…

You sacrificed a lot for it…it made you upset…

And it leaked into your nightmares.

I’m not wrong, pal. I’m never wrong about nightmares. I made ‘em.

[executive-offical]

*falls silent for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head*

*more coldly than before*

Don’t know what war you’re talking about. That doesn’t sound like me.

[nightmare-offical]

Well this whole lifeless robot thing isn’t working for you, do you have a different excuse for me being able to see your nightmares?

Or do you not remember?

I could try to give them to you again if you’ve forgot…

[executive-offical]

*huffs*

or you could leave me alone

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah but then I’d never figure this out! This isn’t normal for me, it’s so exciting! And unless you’re gonna tell me what’s going on here, then I’m just staying put and figuring it out myself.

[executive-offical]

There’s nothing “going on here.” Go away.

[nightmare-offical]

Son, I’ve been around since the creation of nightmares. Because, as you know, that’s what I am.

I think I’d know better than you if something was going on.

*head swivels around until it’s upside down so it can look like this emoji🙃)

Unless you were trying to, you know, keep something from me here.

[executive-offical]

Not your son, not trying to keep anything from you. I have work to do, and you are being a nuisance.

*gestures to the paperwork on his desk*

Leave me be.

[nightmare-offical]

Aaaand if I don’t? Come on, if you’re not keeping anything from me then don’t you want to know why you have fears and had nightmares too?

[executive-offical]

Not really. Not everyone is fucking crazy, y’know.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah sure okay!

*just stands there staring at it*

[executive-offical]

*starts working again uncomfortably, trying to ignore her. After several minutes in silence, he finally speaks up again, much quieter*

You.. said the war.. made me upset. It..

*looks down at his desk, resting his head in his palm*

…when you… brought it up, I got.. angry. I don’t… remember why.

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head*

Oh? Yeah? You’ve got no idea why?

[executive-offical]

*blinks, quickly re-donning his annoyed demeanour*

Well, I assumed it was because you were bothering me.

*pauses again, the edge slipping from his voice*

But I don’t… I think.. I used to be someone.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah I did kind of think that too…

*pauses, thinking about that*

How long have you existed…like this?

[executive-offical]

Since.. the creation of the executive branch, I think. I don’t.. really remember. It’s hazy, back then.

[nightmare-offical]

You’re telling me you think they had robots way back then?

*laughs*

[executive-offical]

*snappily*

Well, I’m here, and I have memories of pre-1800, so I don’t know what you want me to say

[nightmare-offical]

Well yeah but I was there back then too and I would’ve known if there were robots. Maybe you weren’t.

[executive-offical]

Weren’t what?

[nightmare-offical]

*amused*

A robot? What else?

[executive-offical]

I don’t know, it sounded like you were trying to imply I wasn’t around then.

*sighs*

I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already said my memories from then are far too hazy to say what I was. Maybe I wasn’t a robot then. I don’t know. I don’t remember.

[nightmare-offical]

Well that was another thing but then I wouldn’t be able to access your fears or glimpse your past nightmares, would I?

*tilts head*

You’re not at all curious?

[executive-offical]

I was but you’re getting on my nerves. Would you just leave me alone already? You’re serving zero purpose, clearly, so go away.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, studying him for a long moment*

You all are surprisingly easy to irritate.

And just because I am not serving your purpose does not mean I’m not serving a purpose, though I did think you could get some discovery, maybe closure, out of this.

*shrugs*

But I’ll-

Well-

I will still be here, I’m always here, but I can make myself disappear if that would put you more at ease.

[executive-offical]

*glares at her, then, after a moment, rolls his eyes and looks back down at his desk*

…whatever. I’ll give you one more chance. You said earlier you could give ‘them’—my nightmares, I guess—back to me if I forgot. Well, clearly, I forgot. So…

*trails off, hands curling into fists against his desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*pauses*

I can…

You would want that?

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

Unless you have some other ways to bring back my memories you can pull out of your ass.

[nightmare-offical]

Hm, well you aren’t asking very nicely.

*looks amused*

[executive-offical]

Because I have a reason to be nice to an invisible stalker who’s literally the embodiment of nightmares.

[nightmare-offical]

*shrugs with a barely perceptible sigh*

Maybe when you’re asking it for something.

[executive-offical]

You came here to “discover my fears” first. I’m just asking you to finish the job you started.

[nightmare-offical]

I did. Yes.

But I can do that without restoring your nightmares to you.

[executive-offical]

I just—

*sighs, leaning his head back against his chair to glare at her*

Listen. You came here, told me that I have nightmares of a war that I supposedly fought in—that I don’t remember—and I am angry and- and bitter about it. For- for some reason that I can’t place. I… I want to remember. But I can’t. You just… talking doesn’t do me any good. So it’s that, or nothing. Just—okay?

*looks away, muttering under his breath*

God, this is such a waste of time…

[nightmare-offical]

*listens, then grows a bit more serious, nods*

Alright.

I don’t know how relaxed you can get in your current form but try to get as close to a sleep-like state if you can, alright?

[executive-offical]

*eyes flick back to it. After a moment, he sighs, letting his head fall against his shoulder*

…fine, okay.

*props an elbow on the armrest of his chair, resting his head in his palm. He closes his eyes, and it seems like what’s mechanised of his body slows or shuts down after a few seconds*

[nightmare-offical]

*steps toward him, hand hovering over his head*

*it’s confused as she tries for a moment to find a source of the memories as this still is not the same as a regular mortal, but after a moment, manages to find the nightmares-unable to see anything else in his mind but the nightmares and fears, leaving the fears as they are, gently tugging them to the surface before stepping back*

That…should do it…

[executive-offical]

*twitches in his sleep briefly, free hand digging into the desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*stands there, completely still*

*on the rare occasion it’s done this, it would let the other sleep and vanish before they awoke*

*this case is different though as she is unsure whether or not he can awaken in this form on his own, and it is interested in this particular mattter, so she stays and watches, curious now, partially within his nightmare but detached from it*

[executive-offical]

*The nightmare is merely flashes of memories. A battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead. Something loud cracks nearby, and the scene changes again. It’s the edge of a forest, overlooking a burning farm. Then another battlefield, this time after. Dying men lay scattered. Their faces, in some way, are rendered non-viewable. Turned away. Covered in flowers. Splashed with soil and blood. Eaten by bugs. Then the battlefield is alive again. There’s a loud bang, followed by ringing. Everything returns to black*

[nightmare-offical]

*observes quietly, not seeming fazed, upset, excited or horrified, simply blank and non-judgmental*

[executive-offical]

*the scene begins to change to an old workshop, focused on a large wooden puppet slumped in the corner. A soldier. It seems to be an extremely well made puppet; the clothing and faux-rifle delicately and precisely matched to be close to realistic. However, the puppet, too, is missing a face. Where it should be is jagged wood, as if it had been torn off in a violent rage. The scene begins to grow static, covered in a burry haze, then fades back to nothing*

[nightmare-offical]

*this does bring visible curiosity to Night’s face only for the briefest of seconds before it fades*

*she examines the doll, silently theorizing its significance*

[executive-offical]

*The scene shifts again. It’s a group of people in what looks like some sort of meeting hall. All the people’s faces are blurry. The puppet from earlier stands in the middle of the group, human sized now and holding a real rifle, pointing it wildly at the men around it. One of the men steps forward, saying something. It sounds like a name. He repeats it, louder. It’s still inaudible. It begins to ring, which grows louder with each passing second. The man raises his voice, shouting the name a third time—*

*—the nightmare abruptly ends. The name is never said.*

*sits up sharply with a gasp, clasping his chest.*

[nightmare-offical]

*blinks, turning to look over at him, still silent*

*after a long moment, tone no longer with its teasing, amused tone*

That is at least some of an answer, isn’t it?

[executive-offical]

I…

*trails off for a moment, taking his hand off his chest to stare at them. He quickly snaps himself out of it, shaking his head and turning back to Night*

…something like that.

[executive-offical]

*watching him curiously in the shadows of his office(?)*

- @nightmare-offical

*picks his head up from the desk, looking around the room with a sigh*

…hello?

[nightmare-offical]

*steps out of the shadows, studying it with a curious expression*

You’re not…like them.

[executive-offical]

*a little startled at first, but quickly regains face*

What?

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head, a bit disconcertingly*

I…can see your fears…distantly…you had nightmares…once…

*repeats*

You’re not like them. The others.

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

..that answers so much, thanks.

*sighs, leaning back in his chair and running an hand through his hair*

Alright, who are you, what do you want, how’d you get here, and who am I not like?

[nightmare-offical]

I’m nightmares.

*shrugs*

I’m always here.

*grins*

You can call me Night if you like nicknames!

But anyway you don’t feel like the others. The other agencies I mean. I was just with the one called Cain.

*puts a hand on its hip*

And that was as expected.

But you don’t feel…entirely like a non-living being.

[executive-offical]

*raises his eyebrows, looking mildly unimpressed*

…okay. Can you leave, please? I have work to do.

[nightmare-offical]

Like I said, I’m always here.

But nah, I’m curious now. Let’s see what I can figure out!

[executive-offical]

*rolls his eyes, ignoring it and merely going back to work*

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah yeah yeah you just sit there…and…

*pauses, abruptly, grinning*

Yeah, now we’re cooking! There’s a war or something! In your old nightmares!

[executive-offical]

*mutters*

A war, huh? Care to elaborate? I’ve been in a lot of those.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, trying to focus*

Yeah sure…there weren’t bombs yet…

[executive-offical]

No bombs yet? That means it musta been… God…

*thinks, under his breath*

before the Great War… that’s when I first broke isolation…

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah..

Let’s see if we can get deeper here, shall we?

You all wore lame suits, my that’s every war.

You fought in it, is that normal for you?

[executive-offical]

What, me personally?

*huffs*

I’m a person in power. I don’t fight.

[nightmare-offical]

You did in this war…your first war…

You sacrificed a lot for it…it made you upset…

And it leaked into your nightmares.

I’m not wrong, pal. I’m never wrong about nightmares. I made ‘em.

[executive-offical]

*falls silent for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head*

*more coldly than before*

Don’t know what war you’re talking about. That doesn’t sound like me.

[nightmare-offical]

Well this whole lifeless robot thing isn’t working for you, do you have a different excuse for me being able to see your nightmares?

Or do you not remember?

I could try to give them to you again if you’ve forgot…

[executive-offical]

*huffs*

or you could leave me alone

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah but then I’d never figure this out! This isn’t normal for me, it’s so exciting! And unless you’re gonna tell me what’s going on here, then I’m just staying put and figuring it out myself.

[executive-offical]

There’s nothing “going on here.” Go away.

[nightmare-offical]

Son, I’ve been around since the creation of nightmares. Because, as you know, that’s what I am.

I think I’d know better than you if something was going on.

*head swivels around until it’s upside down so it can look like this emoji🙃)

Unless you were trying to, you know, keep something from me here.

[executive-offical]

Not your son, not trying to keep anything from you. I have work to do, and you are being a nuisance.

*gestures to the paperwork on his desk*

Leave me be.

[nightmare-offical]

Aaaand if I don’t? Come on, if you’re not keeping anything from me then don’t you want to know why you have fears and had nightmares too?

[executive-offical]

Not really. Not everyone is fucking crazy, y’know.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah sure okay!

*just stands there staring at it*

[executive-offical]

*starts working again uncomfortably, trying to ignore her. After several minutes in silence, he finally speaks up again, much quieter*

You.. said the war.. made me upset. It..

*looks down at his desk, resting his head in his palm*

…when you… brought it up, I got.. angry. I don’t… remember why.

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head*

Oh? Yeah? You’ve got no idea why?

[executive-offical]

*blinks, quickly re-donning his annoyed demeanour*

Well, I assumed it was because you were bothering me.

*pauses again, the edge slipping from his voice*

But I don’t… I think.. I used to be someone.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah I did kind of think that too…

*pauses, thinking about that*

How long have you existed…like this?

[executive-offical]

Since.. the creation of the executive branch, I think. I don’t.. really remember. It’s hazy, back then.

[nightmare-offical]

You’re telling me you think they had robots way back then?

*laughs*

[executive-offical]

*snappily*

Well, I’m here, and I have memories of pre-1800, so I don’t know what you want me to say

[nightmare-offical]

Well yeah but I was there back then too and I would’ve known if there were robots. Maybe you weren’t.

[executive-offical]

Weren’t what?

[nightmare-offical]

*amused*

A robot? What else?

[executive-offical]

I don’t know, it sounded like you were trying to imply I wasn’t around then.

*sighs*

I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already said my memories from then are far too hazy to say what I was. Maybe I wasn’t a robot then. I don’t know. I don’t remember.

[nightmare-offical]

Well that was another thing but then I wouldn’t be able to access your fears or glimpse your past nightmares, would I?

*tilts head*

You’re not at all curious?

[executive-offical]

I was but you’re getting on my nerves. Would you just leave me alone already? You’re serving zero purpose, clearly, so go away.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, studying him for a long moment*

You all are surprisingly easy to irritate.

And just because I am not serving your purpose does not mean I’m not serving a purpose, though I did think you could get some discovery, maybe closure, out of this.

*shrugs*

But I’ll-

Well-

I will still be here, I’m always here, but I can make myself disappear if that would put you more at ease.

[executive-offical]

*glares at her, then, after a moment, rolls his eyes and looks back down at his desk*

…whatever. I’ll give you one more chance. You said earlier you could give ‘them’—my nightmares, I guess—back to me if I forgot. Well, clearly, I forgot. So…

*trails off, hands curling into fists against his desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*pauses*

I can…

You would want that?

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

Unless you have some other ways to bring back my memories you can pull out of your ass.

[nightmare-offical]

Hm, well you aren’t asking very nicely.

*looks amused*

[executive-offical]

Because I have a reason to be nice to an invisible stalker who’s literally the embodiment of nightmares.

[nightmare-offical]

*shrugs with a barely perceptible sigh*

Maybe when you’re asking it for something.

[executive-offical]

You came here to “discover my fears” first. I’m just asking you to finish the job you started.

[nightmare-offical]

I did. Yes.

But I can do that without restoring your nightmares to you.

[executive-offical]

I just—

*sighs, leaning his head back against his chair to glare at her*

Listen. You came here, told me that I have nightmares of a war that I supposedly fought in—that I don’t remember—and I am angry and- and bitter about it. For- for some reason that I can’t place. I… I want to remember. But I can’t. You just… talking doesn’t do me any good. So it’s that, or nothing. Just—okay?

*looks away, muttering under his breath*

God, this is such a waste of time…

[nightmare-offical]

*listens, then grows a bit more serious, nods*

Alright.

I don’t know how relaxed you can get in your current form but try to get as close to a sleep-like state if you can, alright?

[executive-offical]

*eyes flick back to it. After a moment, he sighs, letting his head fall against his shoulder*

…fine, okay.

*props an elbow on the armrest of his chair, resting his head in his palm. He closes his eyes, and it seems like what’s mechanised of his body slows or shuts down after a few seconds*

[nightmare-offical]

*steps toward him, hand hovering over his head*

*it’s confused as she tries for a moment to find a source of the memories as this still is not the same as a regular mortal, but after a moment, manages to find the nightmares-unable to see anything else in his mind but the nightmares and fears, leaving the fears as they are, gently tugging them to the surface before stepping back*

That…should do it…

[executive-offical]

*twitches in his sleep briefly, free hand digging into the desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*stands there, completely still*

*on the rare occasion it’s done this, it would let the other sleep and vanish before they awoke*

*this case is different though as she is unsure whether or not he can awaken in this form on his own, and it is interested in this particular mattter, so she stays and watches, curious now, partially within his nightmare but detached from it*

[executive-offical]

*The nightmare is merely flashes of memories. A battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead. Something loud cracks nearby, and the scene changes again. It’s the edge of a forest, overlooking a burning farm. Then another battlefield, this time after. Dying men lay scattered. Their faces, in some way, are rendered non-viewable. Turned away. Covered in flowers. Splashed with soil and blood. Eaten by bugs. Then the battlefield is alive again. There’s a loud bang, followed by ringing. Everything returns to black*

[nightmare-offical]

*observes quietly, not seeming fazed, upset, excited or horrified, simply blank and non-judgmental*

[executive-offical]

*the scene begins to change to an old workshop, focused on a large wooden puppet slumped in the corner. A soldier. It seems to be an extremely well made puppet; the clothing and faux-rifle delicately and precisely matched to be close to realistic. However, the puppet, too, is missing a face. Where it should be is jagged wood, as if it had been torn off in a violent rage. The scene begins to grow static, covered in a burry haze, then fades back to nothing*

[nightmare-offical]

*this does bring visible curiosity to Night’s face only for the briefest of seconds before it fades*

*she examines the doll, silently theorizing its significance*

[executive-offical]

*The scene shifts again. It’s a group of people in what looks like some sort of meeting hall. All the people’s faces are blurry. The puppet from earlier stands in the middle of the group, human sized now and holding a real rifle, pointing it wildly at the men around it. One of the men steps forward, saying something. It sounds like a name. He repeats it, louder. It’s still inaudible. It begins to ring, which grows louder with each passing second. The man raises his voice, shouting the name a third time—*

*—the nightmare abruptly ends. The name is never said.*

*sits up sharply with a gasp, clasping his chest.*

[executive-offical]

*watching him curiously in the shadows of his office(?)*

- @nightmare-offical

*picks his head up from the desk, looking around the room with a sigh*

…hello?

[nightmare-offical]

*steps out of the shadows, studying it with a curious expression*

You’re not…like them.

[executive-offical]

*a little startled at first, but quickly regains face*

What?

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head, a bit disconcertingly*

I…can see your fears…distantly…you had nightmares…once…

*repeats*

You’re not like them. The others.

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

..that answers so much, thanks.

*sighs, leaning back in his chair and running an hand through his hair*

Alright, who are you, what do you want, how’d you get here, and who am I not like?

[nightmare-offical]

I’m nightmares.

*shrugs*

I’m always here.

*grins*

You can call me Night if you like nicknames!

But anyway you don’t feel like the others. The other agencies I mean. I was just with the one called Cain.

*puts a hand on its hip*

And that was as expected.

But you don’t feel…entirely like a non-living being.

[executive-offical]

*raises his eyebrows, looking mildly unimpressed*

…okay. Can you leave, please? I have work to do.

[nightmare-offical]

Like I said, I’m always here.

But nah, I’m curious now. Let’s see what I can figure out!

[executive-offical]

*rolls his eyes, ignoring it and merely going back to work*

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah yeah yeah you just sit there…and…

*pauses, abruptly, grinning*

Yeah, now we’re cooking! There’s a war or something! In your old nightmares!

[executive-offical]

*mutters*

A war, huh? Care to elaborate? I’ve been in a lot of those.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, trying to focus*

Yeah sure…there weren’t bombs yet…

[executive-offical]

No bombs yet? That means it musta been… God…

*thinks, under his breath*

before the Great War… that’s when I first broke isolation…

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah..

Let’s see if we can get deeper here, shall we?

You all wore lame suits, my that’s every war.

You fought in it, is that normal for you?

[executive-offical]

What, me personally?

*huffs*

I’m a person in power. I don’t fight.

[nightmare-offical]

You did in this war…your first war…

You sacrificed a lot for it…it made you upset…

And it leaked into your nightmares.

I’m not wrong, pal. I’m never wrong about nightmares. I made ‘em.

[executive-offical]

*falls silent for a moment, thinking, then shakes his head*

*more coldly than before*

Don’t know what war you’re talking about. That doesn’t sound like me.

[nightmare-offical]

Well this whole lifeless robot thing isn’t working for you, do you have a different excuse for me being able to see your nightmares?

Or do you not remember?

I could try to give them to you again if you’ve forgot…

[executive-offical]

*huffs*

or you could leave me alone

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah but then I’d never figure this out! This isn’t normal for me, it’s so exciting! And unless you’re gonna tell me what’s going on here, then I’m just staying put and figuring it out myself.

[executive-offical]

There’s nothing “going on here.” Go away.

[nightmare-offical]

Son, I’ve been around since the creation of nightmares. Because, as you know, that’s what I am.

I think I’d know better than you if something was going on.

*head swivels around until it’s upside down so it can look like this emoji🙃)

Unless you were trying to, you know, keep something from me here.

[executive-offical]

Not your son, not trying to keep anything from you. I have work to do, and you are being a nuisance.

*gestures to the paperwork on his desk*

Leave me be.

[nightmare-offical]

Aaaand if I don’t? Come on, if you’re not keeping anything from me then don’t you want to know why you have fears and had nightmares too?

[executive-offical]

Not really. Not everyone is fucking crazy, y’know.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah sure okay!

*just stands there staring at it*

[executive-offical]

*starts working again uncomfortably, trying to ignore her. After several minutes in silence, he finally speaks up again, much quieter*

You.. said the war.. made me upset. It..

*looks down at his desk, resting his head in his palm*

…when you… brought it up, I got.. angry. I don’t… remember why.

[nightmare-offical]

*tilts head*

Oh? Yeah? You’ve got no idea why?

[executive-offical]

*blinks, quickly re-donning his annoyed demeanour*

Well, I assumed it was because you were bothering me.

*pauses again, the edge slipping from his voice*

But I don’t… I think.. I used to be someone.

[nightmare-offical]

Yeah I did kind of think that too…

*pauses, thinking about that*

How long have you existed…like this?

[executive-offical]

Since.. the creation of the executive branch, I think. I don’t.. really remember. It’s hazy, back then.

[nightmare-offical]

You’re telling me you think they had robots way back then?

*laughs*

[executive-offical]

*snappily*

Well, I’m here, and I have memories of pre-1800, so I don’t know what you want me to say

[nightmare-offical]

Well yeah but I was there back then too and I would’ve known if there were robots. Maybe you weren’t.

[executive-offical]

Weren’t what?

[nightmare-offical]

*amused*

A robot? What else?

[executive-offical]

I don’t know, it sounded like you were trying to imply I wasn’t around then.

*sighs*

I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already said my memories from then are far too hazy to say what I was. Maybe I wasn’t a robot then. I don’t know. I don’t remember.

[nightmare-offical]

Well that was another thing but then I wouldn’t be able to access your fears or glimpse your past nightmares, would I?

*tilts head*

You’re not at all curious?

[executive-offical]

I was but you’re getting on my nerves. Would you just leave me alone already? You’re serving zero purpose, clearly, so go away.

[nightmare-offical]

*frowns, studying him for a long moment*

You all are surprisingly easy to irritate.

And just because I am not serving your purpose does not mean I’m not serving a purpose, though I did think you could get some discovery, maybe closure, out of this.

*shrugs*

But I’ll-

Well-

I will still be here, I’m always here, but I can make myself disappear if that would put you more at ease.

[executive-offical]

*glares at her, then, after a moment, rolls his eyes and looks back down at his desk*

…whatever. I’ll give you one more chance. You said earlier you could give ‘them’—my nightmares, I guess—back to me if I forgot. Well, clearly, I forgot. So…

*trails off, hands curling into fists against his desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*pauses*

I can…

You would want that?

[executive-offical]

*dryly*

Unless you have some other ways to bring back my memories you can pull out of your ass.

[nightmare-offical]

Hm, well you aren’t asking very nicely.

*looks amused*

[executive-offical]

Because I have a reason to be nice to an invisible stalker who’s literally the embodiment of nightmares.

[nightmare-offical]

*shrugs with a barely perceptible sigh*

Maybe when you’re asking it for something.

[executive-offical]

You came here to “discover my fears” first. I’m just asking you to finish the job you started.

[nightmare-offical]

I did. Yes.

But I can do that without restoring your nightmares to you.

[executive-offical]

I just—

*sighs, leaning his head back against his chair to glare at her*

Listen. You came here, told me that I have nightmares of a war that I supposedly fought in—that I don’t remember—and I am angry and- and bitter about it. For- for some reason that I can’t place. I… I want to remember. But I can’t. You just… talking doesn’t do me any good. So it’s that, or nothing. Just—okay?

*looks away, muttering under his breath*

God, this is such a waste of time…

[nightmare-offical]

*listens, then grows a bit more serious, nods*

Alright.

I don’t know how relaxed you can get in your current form but try to get as close to a sleep-like state if you can, alright?

[executive-offical]

*eyes flick back to it. After a moment, he sighs, letting his head fall against his shoulder*

…fine, okay.

*props an elbow on the armrest of his chair, resting his head in his palm. He closes his eyes, and it seems like what’s mechanised of his body slows or shuts down after a few seconds*

[nightmare-offical]

*steps toward him, hand hovering over his head*

*it’s confused as she tries for a moment to find a source of the memories as this still is not the same as a regular mortal, but after a moment, manages to find the nightmares-unable to see anything else in his mind but the nightmares and fears, leaving the fears as they are, gently tugging them to the surface before stepping back*

That…should do it…

[executive-offical]

*twitches in his sleep briefly, free hand digging into the desk*

[nightmare-offical]

*stands there, completely still*

*on the rare occasion it’s done this, it would let the other sleep and vanish before they awoke*

*this case is different though as she is unsure whether or not he can awaken in this form on his own, and it is interested in this particular mattter, so she stays and watches, curious now, partially within his nightmare but detached from it*

[executive-offical]

*The nightmare is merely flashes of memories. A battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead. Something loud cracks nearby, and the scene changes again. It’s the edge of a forest, overlooking a burning farm. Then another battlefield, this time after. Dying men lay scattered. Their faces, in some way, are rendered non-viewable. Turned away. Covered in flowers. Splashed with soil and blood. Eaten by bugs. Then the battlefield is alive again. There’s a loud bang, followed by ringing. Everything returns to black*

[nightmare-offical]

*observes quietly, not seeming fazed, upset, excited or horrified, simply blank and non-judgmental*

[executive-offical]

*the scene begins to change to an old workshop, focused on a large wooden puppet slumped in the corner. A soldier. It seems to be an extremely well made puppet; the clothing and faux-rifle delicately and precisely matched to be close to realistic. However, the puppet, too, is missing a face. Where it should be is jagged wood, as if it had been torn off in a violent rage. The scene begins to grow static, covered in a burry haze, then fades back to nothing*