Apothecary AU - Nightmare, Killer, & Horror A Lil Dip: Draft
Working on some more mini comic story ideas. I'm mentioning this because this mini comic story draft, has a possible mystery idea that I might be having Nightmare solve in the main story. So I don't know if I'll be keeping this mystery/problem or not. Though you all also get a lil peek at the possible mystery that I'm thinking of having Nightmare solve that'll make him go from a servant to being ranked up to poison taste tester/apothecary ^.^ .
Since these mini stories are just ideas, not all of them maybe used for the final version of the AU. So think of some of these mini story ideas as semi canon. At least until I say something in the future.
Like with this mini story draft, I do like some of the ideas that came to mind while typing it up, but I might change something or just completely scrap a small part of it.
Anyways onto the mini comic story draft! Enjoy!
Nightmare thought as he walked into the bath house. Taking a breath and sighing slightly. Bringing a hand up and lightly rubbing the bone under the thick metal collar around his neck. The heavy metal always put a lot of strain on the top of his sternum, not to mention all the weight his manubrium, clavide, and manubrium carries throughout the day. So much weight pressing down on the bones around his neck and upper rib cage throughout the day. Don’t even get him started with how the weight shifts and changes throughout the day. Pulling, shifting, and pressing up on everything in so many different ways.
It’s so very uncomfortable. Though he doesn’t complain. After all he’s been dealing with this for so long now. No use in complaining over something that he has no control over… Glancing at the basket he worked on undressing himself. There was really only a few times when he even has a moment of relief. Though that is few and far between these rare moments of freedom from the uncomfortable pain. At least the hot water of the springs while making the metal feel heaver and weighing him down in the water, the warmth helps take some of the pain away. Even if only for a short while.
Placing his clothing into the basket. He placed a lid on top and tied his bow to it. Humming as he wrapped a towel around his waist and went past the hanging fabric that acted like a door. Humming as he felt the warm hot spring steam hit his body. Smiling a little as he walked around. Placing his towel on a rock as he went down the carefully carved walk way. The water going up to his waist. Humming to himself at the warmth and waded through the water till he got into a little corner that he likes. Shifting his weight as he sat in a little carved seat behind some rocks, next to the little water fall in the back.
“Aaaah… such a nice way to relax after a long day.” He hummed to himself. Sinking a little more into the water till only his nose and sockets was above. Making little bubbles as he breathed out his mouth. He has found that this little part of the carved rocks has little little nooks that have been carved away by the water itself. While it isn’t much, if he sits just right after sinking down, he can get the back part of the restraints to be hooked and have some of the weight taken off of his body. He hummed to himself and smiled happily.
As he let his body relax he thought about everything going on in the empire walls. Thinking about his task about something strange that was happening within the empire walls. Apparently one of Emperor Gash’s concubine is sick. Showing signs of poisoning and he’s been tasked with finding out the source of poisoning along with whoever is the one that’s poisoned. So far he’s tested every food and drink before the concubine had anything touch her lips. The human concubine Akira is still getting sicker and sicker.
Even with him making each of her means by his own hands, she is still getting worse. As of right now he is… stumped. What could be making her sick and not get any better? He sighed in frustration. Making more bubbles as he rested. Closing his sockets a little. What is the cause? What source is the poison coming from? Maybe he should ask Emperor Gash if it would be alright to spend a day in his ladies room. See if there is any unknown sources of poison that she could be unknowingly coming into contact with? There are many common everyday items that can be quite poisonous under the correct conditions.
He blinked and opened his sockets. “Hm…” Sitting up a little and yawning. He realized that he accidentally fell asleep. “Oh I fell asleep… hmmmm… I don’t want to get out yet…” He grumbled to himself. After all he was not only comfortable, but the warm water was numbing a lot of his pain. Getting out of the water and heading to bed for the day just means that the pain will come back. And he’d rather delay that for as long as he possible could… “Mmm… Hm?” He peeked from around the rock to the entrance as he heard talking.
“Oh guess I should really get out then.” He blinked in surprise as the fabric moved and Killer and Horror both walked in. “Or not!” He muttered under his breath and quickly moved back. “What horrible timing!” He muttered to himself as he brought his mouth under the water.
Killer laughed a little at Horror. Blinking when he saw the towel resting on the rock. “Heh… think someone decided to go walking about without a towel when they left?” He raised a brow while holding Arch close. Arch cooed and happily squealed out of joy at the warm water.
Horror hummed as he held Mo close. Raising a brow at the other as he looked at the towel. Also holding onto a small rag to clean their backs with. “Or maybe… in rush?” He suggested while walking around and taking his own towel off. Getting into the water while holding Mo close. Mo happily babbling at them while flapping his arms.
The two concubine grin at one another as they took their seats in the water. Holding onto their children as they happily talked. Mo and Arch both splashing the water while Horror worked on trying to clean the two off.
Arch giggled happily as they wiggled around in Killer’s arms. Wanting to get free. “No Arch you aren’t going for a swim in the hot spring water.” Killer chuckled happily while bouncing the baby bones.
Arch and Mo cooed at each other. Both smiling happily at one another and started splashing again. Then they looked to the side. Arch blinked and cooed. “… Ni!” They happily cheered. “Ni-Ni!” Mo basically chanted.
Horror blinked a little. “… since when… were you learning… to talk?” He raised a brow with a small smile. Then blinked in confusion. “Wait… Ni?” He tilted his head slightly.
“Ni… What are you two calling for?” Killer raised a brow. He knows that he’s been teaching Mo and Arch to talk. After all their old enough to start learning.
Nightmare made a quiet sound as he staid in place. ‘Oh geeze… Please don’t find me. I don’t wish to get in trouble for bathing in the same hot spring as the concubines!’ He panicked mentally.
Arch giggled happily and reached over towards the falling water. “Ni! Ni!” They happily cheered.
Horror raised a brow and looked at the little waterfall. Thinking as he carefully stood up and slowly walked over to the large rock that was there. Peering over the top and blinking in surprise when he noticed Nightmare’s skull peeking out of the water. His sockets tightly closed. ‘Did he fall asleep in the water earlier?’ He couldn’t help but chuckle a little. “Um… Nightmare? You awake?” He raised a brow and watched the monster jump in surprise.
Killer raised a brow and looked over. “Wait the apothecary is here?” He was surprised. He looked up at the hanging towel. “Well… I guess that would explain the towel. I mean they are working pretty hard to heal Gash’s concubine.” He pointed out. Thinking for a moment. “Guess he fell asleep after trying to find the source to Concubine Akira’s sickness.
Nightmare slowly looked up at Horror. His skull turning a bright cyan from embarrassment. Slowly sinking more into the water. “Um… H-Hi…” He nervously waved up at him.
Horror blinked and started laughing. “Care to… join us?” He raised a brow while holding a hand out to Nightmare.
Nightmare stared at Horror’s hand for a moment. “Um… Okay. I hope I’m in not too much trouble.” He nervously took Horror’s hand. The large skeleton helping Nightmare stand. The goo covered skeleton made a sound as he got up. “Oh geeze how long have I been napping?!” He shivered at the sudden weight shift on his body. Bringing a hand up and started rubbing the area under the metal collar again. “Oooow…” He grumbled in pain.
Killer thought and watched Nightmare. Horror brought Nightmare over to them. They sat down near Killer and Arch. “You alright?” He raised a brow at Nightmare. Looking at the metal on his body.
“Yes I am fine. I had just sadly been laying down in such a way that these restraints weren’t putting any weight on me for so long that… the sudden reapplication of the weight is making my bones scream.” Nightmare sighed as he sat down. Glancing at Arch. “Hello Arch.” He poked the little baby bones cheek.
Arch pouted and splashed Nightmare. “AAAA!” They screamed at the poking. Nightmare couldn’t help but laugh a little.
Killer laughed at them. “Want me to clean your back?” He raised a brow.
Nightmare thought. “… If you wish.” He blinked a little.
Horror looked at Nightmare. “You look… so tired.” He pointed out. Sitting next to Nightmare and handed Killer the hand towel.
Nightmare sighed a little. “Yes… I’m just very tired. Trying to find the source of concubine Akira’s poisoning is not easy. Food is not the cause, I’ve been preparing all her meals to take out and possibility of someone else poisoning her food, their clothes have been constantly searched for any hidden poisoned needles none have ever been found.” He rubbed his socket a little. “I am having a hard time finding the cause… I’m hoping to ask Emperor Gash if I could stay in concubine Akira’s room for a day to search it from top to bottom.” He sighed a little.
Horror nodded as he listened. “Yes… Akira’s poisoning… is large mystery.” He leaned back. He hummed slightly. “Lets see… Maybe a plant?” He suggested.
Killer thought as he started scrubbing Nightmare’s back. Or at least scrubbing what he could reach with those annoying restraints in his way. “I mean it’s possible. I know that there are some woods when burned can release poison into the air. Maybe someones cooking some wood that releases that poison? It is turning into the colder time of the year. But if that were the case then wouldn’t concubine Akira’s ladies in waiting also be poisoned?” He raised a brow.
Nightmare hummed in agreement. Thinking about it themselves. If it was any wood that they were burning, that was releasing the poison, then concubine Akira wouldn’t be the only one that be feeling the effects of the poisoning. The ladies in waiting, and anyone that has visited near her chambers would’ve been smelling the smoke and feeling the effects. “Almost everything has the possibility of containing something poisonous in it. Anything can be poisonous in the wrong amounts… especially if there is item that is unknowingly poisoning her. Like that white face powder your ladies in waiting wore when Arch and Mo were born.” He sighed a little.
Killer made a sound at that memory. Frowning a little as he tried to think of something else. Blinking a little as he handed Arch to Nightmare. “Here. Hold onto Arch.”
Nightmare blinked as he held onto Arch. “Oh hello there Arch.” He hummed a little. Bouncing the little skeleton and smiled slightly.
Arch laughed happily. “NI!” He loudly cheered. Wiggling their legs in excitement. They clapped their hands and happily kept wiggling around.
Mo giggled and happily laughed at them. Flapping his arms in excitement.
Nightmare nodded a little. “You both have a lot of energy… You two will be causing a lot of chaos once you learn to walk.” He grinned a little. “You’ll be running around making messes, getting into things you aren’t suppose to be, and don’t even get me started on all the stuff you’ll be trying to shove into your mouths.” He grinned at them. “I’m gonna have to teach you what things you shouldn’t be putting in your mouths so you don’t poison yourselves.”
Horror made a face at Nightmare. Then thought about what he said. “Hmm… Is there… something that one can… ingest… that could… poison someone after a… long time?” He raised a brow.
Nightmare blinked. “Well... Yes there are quite a good number of items that have the possibility of doing that. Kinda like some types of parasites. Some species of parasites can linger in the body for years before ever hatching and finally making one sick.” He thought more about it. “Hmmm… But some of the items that I can think of… she’s missing some symptoms that is associated with those types of poisoning… then again… it is possible that she just merely isn’t showing those symptoms.”
Nightmare smiled a little as he started to play with Mo and Arch. Happily keeping them distracted.
Killer thought about it for a moment. “… Oh! Hey Nightmare… Can a miscarriage cause sickness?” He looked at the apothecary. Placing the hand towel down to the side.
Horror glared at Killer for that question. That is something they are suppose to keep quiet about.
Nightmare quickly looked back at Killer. "What did you just say?" His voice low and socket wide in surprise.