from the roots

Dreamtale. Nightmare Sans. 18+ only. Please read rules and about before interacting.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

@rcyalblueblastcr has entered your world.

Nightmare was…different. The monster he had been, and the monster he was now were two completely different people. Still Broken. Miserable. But angry. Visceral. Raw. He had lost many things over time, and recent events made him…unstable. He gave a sigh at the feeling of an intruder’s soul, eyes narrowing into mere slits as the intruder wandered into the clearing.

The tree, however, seemed to be more lush than every. Large branches heavy with bright cyan foliage, a single, large fruit hanging just out of reach.

“Why,” he asked the intruder, inspecting claw-like nails, “Have you come here?” The same question, asked a million times, his tail flicking in passive boredom.

[rcyalblueblastcr-archive]

Azul wasn’t quite sure where he ended up. The first thing he knows is that he was back in his timeline, doing patrols around the Snowdin forest but then something caught his attention over the trees and the next thing he knew is he’s in a different timeline. Well, that’s what he thinks because it’s certainly not his own.

The large tree caught his interest and his eye lights shined with curiosity. It’s not like the trees in the Snowdin forest. It’s… well, a different kind of tree. Something that he’d read before but he couldn’t remember what its called.

He took a few steps towards the tree, wanting to see more of it, until he heard the voice and he immediately stopped. He looked over at the source. Ohhhh boy. “O-oh!” He exclaimed and he rubbed the back of his head. “Is this your territory? I didn’t mean to trespass. I just… kinda got a bit lost, I guess.” The small skeleton said as he sheepishly smiled.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

“So I see,” The pointier of the two skeletons didn’t seem at all impressed, gaze flicking up to the trespasser. Well, at least this other monster didn’t seem to be here for selfish, immoral reasons. He relaxed considerably, shoulders slumping as he did so. Though he didn’t lower his guard entirely, he was able to relax a little bit. The little guy didn’t really seem like much of a threat anyways... “You don’t know where you are then? No reason for being here?”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

@rcyalblueblastcr has entered your world.

Nightmare was...different. The monster he had been, and the monster he was now were two completely different people. Still Broken. Miserable. But angry. Visceral. Raw. He had lost many things over time, and recent events made him...unstable. He gave a sigh at the feeling of an intruder’s soul, eyes narrowing into mere slits as the intruder wandered into the clearing.

The tree, however, seemed to be more lush than every. Large branches heavy with bright cyan foliage, a single, large fruit hanging just out of reach.

“Why,” he asked the intruder, inspecting claw-like nails, “Have you come here?” The same question, asked a million times, his tail flicking in passive boredom.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

“You came here, to this world, searching for something. Was it perhaps the Tree of Life? Immortal, growing forever, her branches older than your parent’s parents. Perhaps it was the tree’s son, her guardian, the boy that became a monster. And if not that, perhaps you came for the most prized item of all:

The fruit of dreams.

It hangs low, golden skin glistening, waiting to be devoured. They say it will grant you a single wish — anything at all. But at a terrible cost: the tree and her guardian will die. Many monsters have attempted. But none have prevailed.

Is that why you have come? To prevail?”

Nightmare smiles, black teeth a sharp, grim grin.

[*] You have found the guardian. Will you LIKE this post for a starter, or REBLOG to boost awareness.

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

He was fast, like a snake striking over and over again. But Boss was ever faster, scrambling behind a root that Night sunk massive fangs into. The wood splinters and bark dissolves in his maw, wings flaring as he looses a shrieking roar.

Recognize? No, Boss was a threat! He wanted the last fruit for himself, just like any other mortal! He had to protect the tree had to survive had to live. What was he even babbling? Pull yourself together? Why? He was together!

Another horrible warning of a growl.

Get. Away.

He barely stifled a help as those giant fangs sank into the root he was hiding behind. Stars, stars, he was going to die, he was going to dust here… He hadn’t felt so terrified in years, bones rattling and sweat beading on his brow.

The growl sent a horrible shudder down him, and he promptly forgot about the noble cause of bringing Night to his senses. He scrambled up and took off at a run, leaping over more roots and ducking low-hanging branches to make his way away from the tree. There was spare covering elsewhere, but hopefully Night wouldn’t stray too far… His soul was pounding as he leapt and rolled over a rock a good hundred yards away, coming to a halt behind it and gasping for breath.

Was he far enough away…?

[thatdarkpath-blog]

The dragon lifted his head, peering into the brush. The intruder was far enough away to no longer be considered a threat, but he was lingering. He would have to remain vigilant! With a snort, he slunk back towards his den, nose twitching at the scent of something...good?

What was that? A few quick snuffles and he determined it was food, tongue lapping up the spilled noodles around the broken glass. Delicious.

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

He tilted his head. No one ever really wanted to hear about how he got to be…well, as he was. To be truthful, most mortals just kinda screamed and ran. Not that he could blame them. Still, he was taken aback by the request.

“It’s a long story…” But he told all of it. From being shunned and attacked for simply being the darker of the two brothers, to the moment he snapped and tried to destroy it all, his time spent in the void, and now – hundreds of years later, brining them to present.

“My soul is…damaged. There isn’t much of it left. Someday I’ll simply stop existing as you know me. Such is my punishment for my avarice.”

Boss listened to it all in silence, his sockets wide. He grew progressively more shocked by the events he was being told of, gripping the covers of that favored blanket tightly. Finally, by the end of it… Well, his own soul just felt… so hurt.

“THAT’S… AWFUL,” he said after a long moment of silence. “THAT’S SO… UNFAIR! ALL YOU WANTED WAS TO BE LIKED! LOVED! FOR SOMEONE TO CARE ABOUT YOU AND BE PROUD OF YOU!”

Sounded a lot like… what he often felt.

“I… I’M SO SORRY. ISN’T THERE… ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? YOU DON’T DESERVE A FATE LIKE THAT! WHY CAN’T DREAM DO SOMETHING?? OR, OR YOUR MOTHER, THE TREE, OR… ISN’T THERE SOMETHING?”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

"Dream is powerful," he responded, "But there is only so much he can do. We may be immortals, but we're not gods. As for my mother, the tree..." he pressed a hand to the bark, smiling fondly. "There is only one thing keeping her alive."

He looked up at the golden fruit, hanging there - tantalizing. "I did this to her. I would ask for nothing more from her than forgiveness. And even if she offered a solution, I would decline it. I earned my fate. I knew what I was doing when I swallowed those apples. I knew there would be consequences. Whether or not I deserve it, well, that's beyond me."

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

The response he received was a low, shuddering growl, eyes narrowing to mere slits. In the darkness it’s nearly impossible to see the black, tarry ooze dripping from his bones – but when he slithers out into the open, it’s all the more apparent.

Run.

There isn’t any semblance of thought as he snapped at Boss. We’re it any lesser of a monster, he’d be dead.

He started to think there was definitely something wrong here, as a growl was the only response. His sockets went dark as Night emerged. The horrible black ooze, all to reminiscent of the other void-goer he knew.

Run.

Yep, he got that. The container of food was dropped, shattering and spilling his carefully-done work all over the ground. He scrambled back just in time to avoid being eaten, orange sweat breaking out from fear.

“N-NIGHT, NIGHT, IT’S ME! P-PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! DON’T YOU RECOGNIZE ME?” he called out desperately, even as he scrambled behind one of the larger roots, adrenaline surging through him.

He wasn’t going to run far. Not like this. He had to get Night back to himself.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

He was fast, like a snake striking over and over again. But Boss was ever faster, scrambling behind a root that Night sunk massive fangs into. The wood splinters and bark dissolves in his maw, wings flaring as he looses a shrieking roar.

Recognize? No, Boss was a threat! He wanted the last fruit for himself, just like any other mortal! He had to protect the tree had to survive had to live. What was he even babbling? Pull yourself together? Why? He was together!

Another horrible warning of a growl.

Get. Away.

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

It was quiet…

So, so quiet. Normally stale of air and devoid of weather, Nightmare’s little bubble of solitude was even stiller than usual. The birds that normally haunted the tree (and him) were all clustered off away from the tree, and the ground was marred with huge ruts and gouges.

The space under the tree – which had long ago been dug out – looked to have fresh scoring where dirt had been flung haphazardly. And there, in the darkness of the dragons den, glowed two multifaceted eyes.

Boss decided it was high time he visit when not worked to death. He was alert and eager to spend quality time with his… what were they? Could he call them boyfriends by this point? He had brought something with him, a large container of spaghetti, freshly warmed. He had once promised that Night would get to taste it, after all.

“NIGHT! IT’S ME, BOSS,” he called as he approached the tree. Did it seem different than usual? He was probably imagining it. “NIGHT? ARE YOU ASLEEP?”

Careful stepping over roots and dips, until he made his way to the hollow that Night usually slept in. “NIGHT…?” When he saw the eyes, he blinked in surprise. Night was in dragon form… “SOMETHING THE MATTER?”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

The response he received was a low, shuddering growl, eyes narrowing to mere slits. In the darkness it's nearly impossible to see the black, tarry ooze dripping from his bones -- but when he slithers out into the open, it's all the more apparent.

Run.

There isn't any semblance of thought as he snapped at Boss. We're it any lesser of a monster, he'd be dead.

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

“I was, perhaps, at one point in my life. Now I’m more void than I am monster, and any semblance of resemblance is merely a coincidence and is not to be taken into consideration.” He tapped his claws against the bark, scratching little ruts into the tree bark.

“In fact, I’m not entirely sure if I am, at this point, still alive or if I’m merely a husk with a half catatonic soul. Ah well.” And then he came back to the other comment. Him? Learn to be more social? Laughable. “Hmm. You mortals. You value your time together so much. It’s admirable. Trying to make the most of so little. I wonder…is that why Dream enjoys spending so much time with other monsters? Being friendly. Hah.”

“MORE VOID THAN MONSTER?” He tilted his head, straightening up a bit more. He was feeling much better, now that he’d gotten some good sleep. “NOT QUITE ALIVE…? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT HAPPENED? ER, IF IT’S OKAY FOR ME TO ASK THAT…”

He hoped it wasn’t too sensitive a topic. Foot in mouth, Boss, damn it. “WELL, YES, THAT’S PART OF IT. BUT EVEN IF IT WASN’T THAT… WE’RE JUST NATURALLY SOCIABLE. EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN YOU’RE NOT… ALONE… I’M SORRY.”

Foot. In. Mouth. Damn it.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

He tilted his head. No one ever really wanted to hear about how he got to be...well, as he was. To be truthful, most mortals just kinda screamed and ran. Not that he could blame them. Still, he was taken aback by the request.

"It's a long story..." But he told all of it. From being shunned and attacked for simply being the darker of the two brothers, to the moment he snapped and tried to destroy it all, his time spent in the void, and now -- hundreds of years later, brining them to present.

"My soul is...damaged. There isn't much of it left. Someday I'll simply stop existing as you know me. Such is my punishment for my avarice."

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

“I did yes,” He chuckled, “Did you finally catch up to that? The fact is, I am quite primitive in comparison. I know so little about your social synergies. Consider that I am suggesting you kill your captain to get the position you want, and you say you wont because she is your friend.”

He peered down at Boss, “Your kind is so…strange.”

Your kind.

As if he didn’t belong.

“THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU PRIMITIVE!” he insisted, relieved that the topic had changed easily. That line of thinking had made him very… uncomfortable. “IT JUST MAKES YOU… OUT OF THE LOOP. WHICH IS FAIR, SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE ALL YOUR LIFE. YOU COULD LEARN ALL ABOUT THESE SOCIAL THINGS WITH SOME TIME! I COULD EVEN TEACH YOU.”

He beamed at his own suggestion. It would be delightful to teach Night about these things. Honestly, he wanted to show Night lots of things. He wanted to show Night his whole world. It wasn’t fair, in his mind, that the other skeleton had to stay here all the time while his brother was gallivanting off somewhere. He deserved to experience things. Wonderful things.

That beaming smile faded a bit at Night’s last comment.

“MY KIND?” he repeated. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU ARE MY KIND. WE’RE BOTH SKELETONS.”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

"I was, perhaps, at one point in my life. Now I'm more void than I am monster, and any semblance of resemblance is merely a coincidence and is not to be taken into consideration." He tapped his claws against the bark, scratching little ruts into the tree bark.

"In fact, I'm not entirely sure if I am, at this point, still alive or if I'm merely a husk with a half catatonic soul. Ah well." And then he came back to the other comment. Him? Learn to be more social? Laughable. "Hmm. You mortals. You value your time together so much. It's admirable. Trying to make the most of so little. I wonder...is that why Dream enjoys spending so much time with other monsters? Being friendly. Hah."

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

Nightmare took him back to his world, laying Boss in the soft crook of the earth below his tree. He took care to cover him with the same ratty woolen blanket as before, and climbed out of reach so as not to give the larger skeleton nightmares.

“What is wrong with you?” He cooed to himself, “Falling for a mortal…”

It took a few hours for him to wake up. Four, perhaps five. The flush on his cheeks had darkened a little, more solidly orange. He blinked open his eyes, then started to sit up with a quiet groan.

“URGH… DID I JUST PASS OUT…?” he mumbled to himself, putting a hand to his forehead. He looked down and recognized the blanket at Night’s. He must be at… He looked up… only to see a giant dragon instead of the usual shorter skeleton. Huh. Impressive…

“NIGHT. I DON’T REMEMBER BEING… YOU CARRIED ME HERE? I’M, ER, SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT WASN’T NORMAL…”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

He gives a snort, and a low growl. "It isn't normal, but it's becoming more prevalent. Needless to say, I am concerned my favorite mortal is either falling ill or being worked to death. If it's the latter, I may have to have some words with your captain. Sharp words."

He snapped his teeth.

"Rest."

[aquaticresources]

Suggest a voiceclaim for my muse.

Bonus: tell me why you think it could be fitting for them.

Don’t forget to specify the muse if it’s a multimuse blog!

[thatdarkpath-blog]

It was quiet...

So, so quiet. Normally stale of air and devoid of weather, Nightmare's little bubble of solitude was even stiller than usual. The birds that normally haunted the tree (and him) were all clustered off away from the tree, and the ground was marred with huge ruts and gouges.

The space under the tree -- which had long ago been dug out -- looked to have fresh scoring where dirt had been flung haphazardly. And there, in the darkness of the dragons den, glowed two multifaceted eyes.

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

Nightmare laughed, “You’re her biggest threat. She has hand raised her successor – and she isn’t ready to give up just yet. When will you make your move? I imagine she lives in fear for the day you’ll take her place. You’re both wolves – circling each other, pacing ruts in the snow.”

He tapped his claws on the tree branch, “So…will you draw first blood?”

“BUT I… BUT…” He shook his head, still looking absolutely flabbergasted. “I DON’T WANT TO JUST OVERTHROW HER! I RESPECT HER. SHE’S MY MENTOR. I’M PERFECTLY CONTENT TRAINING UNTIL SHE’S READY TO RETIRE, AND THEN BEING GIVEN HER POSITION FREELY. IT’D BE AN HONOR FOR THAT TO HAPPEN! KILLING HER TO TAKE IT? I WOULDN’T! SHE’S MY FRIEND. I LIKE HER…”

He looked down. “YOU MUST BE MISTAKEN. SHE HAS TO KNOW THAT I WOULDN’T DO THAT. I DON’T KILL UNLESS I HAVE TO, ANYWAY…”

Something processed. A possible distraction, and aside from that something that made him huffy on Night’s behalf.

“WAIT, DID YOU JUST CALL YOURSELF PRIMITIVE? THAT’S NOT TRUE!”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

“I did yes,” He chuckled, “Did you finally catch up to that? The fact is, I am quite primitive in comparison. I know so little about your social synergies. Consider that I am suggesting you kill your captain to get the position you want, and you say you wont because she is your friend.”

He peered down at Boss, “Your kind is so...strange.”

Your kind.

As if he didn’t belong.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

thegreatandintimidatingboss:

He was lucky Boss remained entirely passed out, otherwise the taller skeleton would’ve had words about sharp teeth anywhere near his prized scarf. It was torn up more than he’d like already.

As it were, he didn’t stir at all as he was lifted, completely limp in Nightmare’s careful grip. He had indeed not been sleeping again, worked for all hours of the day and well into the night sometimes. Hopefully, he just needed rest…

Though the faint orange flush across his cheeks said it might be a bit more severe than just needing some sleep.

Nightmare took him back to his world, laying Boss in the soft crook of the earth below his tree. He took care to cover him with the same ratty woolen blanket as before, and climbed out of reach so as not to give the larger skeleton nightmares.

“What is wrong with you?” He cooed to himself, “Falling for a mortal...”

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

Night chuckled softly, though the sound was a bit strained, “You can see it in her body language. The way she tenses when you’re near, the slight droop to her fins. Why, if she were a primitive creature like me, we might have already fought to death. You have such a naive way of seeing things.”

“WHAT?” He looked more baffled than anything else. He couldn’t believe that. After all, how many times had he and Undyne broke off early from training to go play a duet at the piano? It was one of their best bonding pastimes. The violin and the piano paired so well together that they had adored playing together.

Sure, they hadn’t done it recently, but… and they hadn’t had a cooking session recently either, but… in fact they had been doing nothing but training, but…

“BUT WE’RE FRIENDS,” he repeated blankly. “SHE’S BEEN TRAINING ME SINCE I WAS HALF THIS HEIGHT! I’M HER PRODIGY…”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

Nightmare laughed, “You’re her biggest threat. She has hand raised her successor -- and she isn’t ready to give up just yet. When will you make your move? I imagine she lives in fear for the day you’ll take her place. You’re both wolves -- circling each other, pacing ruts in the snow.”

He tapped his claws on the tree branch, “So...will you draw first blood?”

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

thatdarkpath:

He gave a long, tremendously generous stretch before replying,

“Interesting. She must feel threatened by you.” He doesn’t think much about what he’s said, the spikes along his back flaring as he cracked his neck. “I’m surprised she hasn’t outright killed you.”

That was not the answer he was expecting to get. He frowned slightly, tilting his head. “THREATENED? WHY? I’M HER LIEUTENANT. SHE TRUSTS ME WITH MANY DUTIES! AND SHE WOULD NEVER KILL ME. WE’RE FRIENDS. SHE’S SAVED MY LIFE A FEW TIMES, EVEN.”

[thatdarkpath-blog]

Night chuckled softly, though the sound was a bit strained, “You can see it in her body language. The way she tenses when you’re near, the slight droop to her fins. Why, if she were a primitive creature like me, we might have already fought to death. You have such a naive way of seeing things.”

[thegreatandintimidatingboss]

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME, BUT I FEEL… SORT OF…”

-THUMP-

He’s unconscious on the ground.

Oh dear.

[thatdarkpath-blog]

Night blinked, tail swishing back and forth anxiously. Had Boss not been sleeping again? He sighed, kneeling down to lift him up (impossible, seeing as Boss was taller and bulkier than he was). Well. There was more than one way to manage.

A little bit of stretching, and the sound of bones popping and ichor sizzling, and Nightmare is peering down at Boss, picking him up by the scarf with gentle teeth.