#Catcoded ships

[pinkcreamypeach]

CATCODED😺 SONADOW ❤️ 💙

(15 fps voice) i’m going to line-boil every frame

rahhhhhhghhg i would like to finish it but i must go to work now

they are like silly cats to me

[ancha-aus]

HI!! I am here :D

Okay but exactly! It was just a usual training and Killer actually likes the training by now. It is a way to move and get so much of his energy out of his system and it is always just nightmare and killer and it feels special and as if it is just for him.

Which means HE is special and Killer is at least a little addicted to the attention so he actually works and does the training!

And then he got hit and it was awesome! Only for Nightmare to be completely locked up. even more than usual.

Which would be so werid to Killer. Killer is used to being able to figure people out. to get under their skin. to manage to wriggle his way past the defences and learn. Nightmare... nightmare isn't letting that happen. the most he has gotten was the amused/happy/proud when he did well in training or when he had a very well timed joke. And the pure rage when he made a comment towards ccino. (which shame. because that skeleton is a LOOKER! *killer looks but can't touch*)

And then this happened! Killer was so shocked but that was a direct order and he figures it is better if he listens. but he is thinking. Those tentacles were showing fear. Not rage or just annoyance. Pure fear and a need to defend. Not what killer expected. so he goes back to ask what the fuck was up... and see the moment you just spoke about. and Killer has to actually... reconsider some things.

Probably pays even more attention to the tentacles. See what those do and when. and he probably notices. That while the tentacles tend to defend and be at a ready when others are near. When Ccino is near? They relax. even if nightmare was stressed before.

Just. Killer taking so much more time to learna dn see him as a person. and it backfires because Killer starts to aCTUALLY care for Nightmare. it also helps that nightmare obviously cares about his well being. and evne if nightmare doesn't say it out loud his actions say enough.

(not gonna lie. Kinda ship Ccino and Killer in this one. mostly because they both are the most loyal to Nightmare. and also. Ccino is THE cat guy. He is THE cat charmer (I will get back to this) and killer? Killer is Catcoded. also you get an interesting dynamic becuase killer knows from the getgo that ccino is off limits. and then the feelings set in later (probably liked looking at ccino before but when nightmare gets actually younger more feelings grow) and killer just... has to deal with that.)

Nightmare was going THROUGH it. Ccino had been his suport and his safe space for so long. Since he could remember. For every moment of his life. Ccino helped him when he was sick. When he was sad. Ccino helped him with homework.

Only to find...

Only to find...

That Ccino was stolen... Ccino hadn't been meant to be there...

Ccino was forced to be there... be there for them and forced to be everything for them.

and then... what they had planned FOR him. Waht would ahve happened if Nightmare hadn't acted...

Ngihtmare suddenly fears what would ahve happened if he hadn't grabbe the apple... would dream... did dream agree? Did dream know this all?! Did dream... had dream thought?

probably rememebrs how ccino had been dressed just WEEKS prior at this point. porbably remembers how sad and afraid ccino had been, ccino tried to hide it from Nightmare. but nightmare had thought it were his worries that caused this.

(oh and the cringe was real! Dream is so BAD at romance and Ccino is like the most amazing person ever?! Like? No?!)

Nightmare just not sure what to do. Ccino probbaly finds him like that with the stuff and is just like "Oh... oh nightmare... i didn't... i am sorry you had to read that."

Ngihtmare probably tries to free him right then. He is already convinced he is going to crash and burn anyway. that someone will murder him soon. he wants to at least make sure ccino gets out. that ccino is happy.

Ccino stays. Ccino helps his thrieve. it is hard and difficult but he helps him. and nightmare keeps trying to 'set him free' and ccino keeps chosing to stay.

And Ccino <3 I adore him so much (which you probably noticed haha)

And yeah. Ccino would have been dealing with so much the whole time. From the first moment he got to that castle, after being taken and watches his family be killed. Ccino got to the castle. knowing it was either Swim or Drown. He HAD to move forwards. He had to keep going and actually try or he would be destroyed. (which. depending on which age he is? Can become even more heartbreaking. Because Nim wouldn't ahve wanted Ccino to be too old. as that could create a moment where dream could see ccino as being higher standing. but too young and ccino would not be old enough for when Dream became an adult. so. If the apple thing happened at 13. Then ccino being like... 7 years older could work? that makes ccino 20 when nightmare eats the apples (and he would ahve been the perfect age for dream's first mate/try out partner)) which means. little 7 year old ccino was taken from his home. and very quickly had to learn how to take care of children and just. be an adult. (ccino having to learn how to take care of children would also work because well... someone would have to take care of dream's children. because it will porbably take a while before twins are born as they are rare)

((there was probably a whole process nim went through and like magic stuff to make sure to check how ccino would look later on. because i agree that ccino is very pretty and good looking. part of what he was selected on))

But then he sees his two charges. the two kiddos he took care of. nightmare a bit more but he also held dream when the pressure got too much. When people kept asking him things or he felt stupid for now learning quickly enough.

The two babies he held. the two kiddos... one now with godlike powers nad terrified and the other enraged. Of course Ccino makes sure they are away from the public. and later stops the fight.

(god. at first dream must have felt so betrayed. thinking that ccino picked nightmare, the one who betrayed all of them, over dream. but then later. I will come back to this later.)

and yes i agree. if ccino hadn't gotten in the way of the attack nightmare would have killed dream. because nightmare doesn't have control over his emotions and the powers. not like dream was taught and even dream was expected to be overwhelmed and kill his twin.

it is only because ccino and nightmare already had such a bond. that there was pure trust and well love between them that nightmare managed to break through the apple's reaction because that is CCINO! DON'T ATTACK CCINO!

and he managed to get control in one move.

And dream!! Drema is also going through it! and yeah i meant after blue adn him run away. dream is getting used to just snuggling and being with blue and as this goes on he starts to think and just... remember stuff. certain comments. things people said. things his mother said. her looking at him with a knowing smile "Ccino is very nice isn't he?" and then one night. Dream just sits up in the middle of the night as things slot into place and dream realises just WHAT the plan had been. and he was too embarrased to tell Blue what the issue is...

it probably isn't until later when dream is a bit older and the idea of the apple corruption takes place. the realisation that ccino had pretty much been his bethrotled. The way those tentacles had sharpened... Ccino had jumped between them. Not knowing if nightmare would even stop. That ccino moved to protect them.

and.... ccino was still there when dream was banished by nightmare- no the apples corruption.

And dream? dream KNOWS nightmare would never. Nightmare loved and adored ccino but not like that! (dream knows nightmare's type and yeah ccino is great nad amazing and real pretty but he isn't nightmare's type) so dream knows that nightmare owuld NEVER do that too ccino. So... why did nightmare 'Keep' ccino? only logical conclusion is that it isn't nightmare. it has to be something corrupting him. something that tricked his gentle brother into betraying dream. someone or something put these lies and worries into nightmare's mind to trick him!

It just keeps building in dream's mind. this imagined enemy. This THING that is doing all of this. because dream can't see that what was before was the rotten part. Because it had been sucha good life! (blue helps break through it a little)

Seeing killer just join his side? with the same goop like tears? Dream thinks he is unto something and thinks he figured it out! He just... needs to free nightmare of the corruption! then they can take back their land and fix everything! it will be like it used to be!

you know who i think fully breaks that illusion? Reaper. because reaper would know the rituals. he would ahv elearned. and he would tell dream in all the details what that apple ritual ACTUALLY does. What nim had almost tricked him into doing. What nightmare had actualyl saved dream from.

Gifted Drabble - NewAgeAU - Understanding

Hey @spotaus !! As promised :3 I got a little something for you!

Your drabble got me thinking and made me consider something. (also i am so sorry if i got the ages wrong. I really tried)

As always. Feel free to use whatever you want from it or just ignore what doesn't fit <3 I am just having fun and it is meant as a gift for you <3 (also to motivate you to keep writing more about it!)

*------------------------*

Nightmare gets off his horse as he stares at the castle.

Well. His castle now.

He is still not quite used to that. Refering to it with his castle instead of his mother's.

Even after almost 12 months. He still doesn't expect to see himself in the mirror. or maybe the problem is that he expects his old self. The young teen.

The weakling. The failure.

No focus.

He isn't that anymore. He now has the magic. He is the new powerful leader of his land. And he will make this work. Even if he still has no idea what he is doing.

No. He needs to get back and make sure no one tried to rebel against him. That no one tried to hurt Ccino while he was gone.

Nightmare gets off the horse and someone rushes over to take the horse. Nightmare stares at this person and figures out quickly it is the stablehand who has been taking care of the horses.

Nightmare looks over his shoulder and motions the new people to follow him. The set of brothers, the dog monster. and Killer.

Nightmare walks into the castle as he speaks "Some of the other servants will take you to your chambers to rest and clean up. Tomorrow the three of you will join some of my other staff to see what is needed and where you fit. Killer. You will-"

"My liege."

Nightmare blinks and looks over.

Ccino has appeared out of one of the servant secret passages and walks straight towards him. Nightmare can see, and feel, when Ccino takes in the new people and just who they are.

Ccino's face turns a bit harder and Nightmare can feel the annoyance and frustration in the air "My liege!" Ccino smiles brightly as he speaks "Have you eben succesfull in finding a possible knight?"

Killer chuckles behind him and mutters "someone is in trouble~"

Nightmare knows Killer is being sarcastic. But if only Killer knew how right he was.

Nightmare however could never be worried or afraid off Ccino. For him? Maybe. But never because of him. He gives a tiny nod. The only amount of respect their places and ranks allow them when others are near "Ccino." He waves into the direction of the new arrivals "These people will join my workers." He looks at the four new arrivals "This. Is Ccino. He is head of the house." a title that will never pass away from him. Not as long as Nightmare is in charge.

Ccino nods "Pleasure." he looks back at Nightmare "My liege. If you have the time. There is a matter we need to discuss."

Oh yeah. Nightmare is very much in trouble.

Nightmare's voice is still calm as he speaks "Very well. I will meet you in my study after i made sure they go to their chambers."

Ccino feels unamused but he nods with a bow before he leaves the hall with a quick turn.

Nightmare turns back to his new... servants? He never quite liked that word but it works. He turns to his servants and feel his tentacles slowly rise from their position on the ground. They slowly start to idle again as he makes sure the new people learn where their rooms are and where to get food.

He brings Killer to a room more seperate from the others. Beyond the guard positions. Just because Nightmare wants to give him a chance and the fact he doesn't fear him is refreshing doesn't make Nightmare forget how dangerous Killer is.

Fuck this was a mistake.

What if Killer hurts people here?

What if he hurts Ccino?

Killer looks around his room before lounging on the bed "So what is the deal with the other skeleton?" he grins and wiggles his eye brows "Little secret going on there?"

Ngihtmare needs a moment as he wonders what Killer could mean. Then it sinks in and Nightmare feels his tentacles all spasm as he shudders "No." the answer is final and harsh. Killer actually looks surprised.

Nightmare holds his sight and speaks slowly "I will only repeat this once and remember this well. I don't like having to repeat myself." he holds Killer's gaze "Ccino is head of the house. He will remain head of the house. Nothing anyone can say or do will change this." he holds his gaze before straightening himself again as he moves towards the door "Tomorrow we will start training."

Kilelr sputters "We?!"

Nightmare stops and shoots him a look "Obviously. How am I to keep track of your skills and promise if i don't oversee the training myself?" and he leaves the room.

He hurries back through th castle towards his study. Sinking in and out of shadows as his mind, body and soul all know where he wishes to go.

He stops by his study and enters it.

Ccino is already in there. Studying the old masks in the special glass casing.

Nightmare closes the door and Ccino turns to him with a glare "What were you thinking?"

Nightmare gets taken back to a year or two prior. When he was still small. When he had cut himself to practise for the ritual. He hadn't been able to sleep and had been nervous about the apple ritual already. He had wanted to practise his part. to perform a blood oath to promise loyalty until death to his twin.

Ccino had caught him with a knife out.

Nightmare blinks back into the here and now as Ccino looks at him expecting with his arms crossed.

Nightmare blinks as he looks to the side for a moment. How is it that even wiht him being taller than Ccino he still feels small compared to him? "They were innocent."

Ccino looks unimpressed as he crosses his arms "Now with less lies."

Nightmare blinks and shoot his traitorous tendrils a look. No doubt they did something to give his little slight lie away. Ccino jsut raises a brow as he taps his foot.

Nightmare speaks again "Most of them were innocent. I didnt want them to get hang for something they did not do."

Ccino hums as he waits "And the murderer?"

Nightmare looks at Ccino "how did you know?"

Ccino sighs but has a small smile on his face. an old fond feeling as ccino looks at him and the tiny part of nightmare that had been stressed relaxes. Ccino just keeps looking slightly amused "There is a reason i told you to get out more. you only hear so many things from people in the castle nightmare. You need to go out to hear everything from everyone. I know who he is because i go to the market sometimes."

nightmare gives aslow nod as he looks away. So Ccino knows that nightmare brought a serial killer home. great.

Ccino sighs and sits on the couch for visitors and Nightmare joins him instead of sitting in his own chair.

Ccino looks at him "Just... tell me what happened. Why did you decide this?"

Ngihtmare looks at his hands. again slightly shocked to see the goop. It never stains anything yet it feels like a reminder. It is dirty. it isn't the holy light the powers promised. it is weird and looks diseased which is fitting for him. someone who betrayed everyone. who betrayed his twin. He may have gone it to protect dream. But even dream doesn't see this.

Where does that leave him?

Ccino's hand rubs his cheek and Nightmare shakes himself out of it. Ccino looks so worried as he rubs his skull "Hey... it is okay... i am not mad at you. I am worried about you. I am sorry if it seemed like i was mad."

Nightmare knows ccino isn't mad at him. Not like that at least. Nightmare can feel that. But he likes that ccino still tells him as much too.

Nightmare sighs as he leans into the gentle hold and touch. Ccino had always been one of the few to hold him. As his and Dream's babysitter it had been his job. But Ccino had always truly cared about them both. The moment that Nightmare could feel emotions he had been shocked by that.

That Ccino held no hatred for him. Not even a little bit. He enver blamed either Nightmare or Dream for his situation.

Nightmare speaks softly "The... kngihts you picked out. they were amazing. They showed much promise and would have made fine warriors."

Ccino hums as he keeps rubbing his skull "But?"

Nightmare sighs "They hated me. Even if with time they would eventually grow loyal and accept their place. They would forever hold resentment towards me for making them come."

Ccino hums and nods "I get it. It were only options Ngihtmare. there will be more people who fit the job."

Nightmare feels another part of him relax. knowing that Ccino still understands him "Killer wasn't afraid."

Ccino hums questioning.

Nightmare speaks slowly "He wasn't afraid. Not of me. Not of his situation. He stood up when near me. He didn't cower and he didn't hide." he sighs as he leans into the hug. He shouldn't need these anymore. He is an adult now and not that awkward young teen anymore. Nightmare shouldn't still count this much on the other "He saw me and didn't hate me. He knew who i was and didn't hate me. It was... new."

Ccino still feels unsure but he holds him still "And that gave you hope? That maybe if soemone didn't start with that hatred they could maybe become truly loyal?"

Ngihtmare shrugs. He isn't quite sure. he didn't think that far ahead. He just didn't want to lose another person who didn't hate him.

Ccino sighs as he keeps rubbing his skull and the back of his neck "I won't say i trust him. Because i don't. And I worry about you. I am scared he will end up hurting you."

Nightmare rolls his eyes as he answers "I have yet to even lose a fight and i had almost no training." all because of his tentacles and his newfoudn power.

Ccino just holds him tighter "There are more ways someone can hurt you Nightmare."

Nightmare feels the fear of before return. THe idea that somoene would kill Ccino. "If... if him being here makes you feel unsafe i will return him to the guards."

Ccino laughs and shakes his skull "Ngihtmare I am fine. I am not scared for me."

Nightmare keeps holding him as he feels himself start to shake. fears he had been trying to ignore and push away return to the front of his mind "Waht if they realise just how important you are? What if they try to hurt you to hurt me? What if they kill you to hurt me? Ccino maybe it is better if you hide." hide... hide away... out of sight out of mind.

Ccino just rubs his neck "It is okay Nightmare. It is okay. They don't know. and even if they have an idea your reputation adn the past of this country will just make them think I am someone who will be used as sacrifice last. That i will be punished last or least."

Nightmare shakes as he keeps holding the one person who remained "What if they hurt you because of me?"

Ccino is so calm and sure "then it would be on them. Not you. You don't want others to hurt me. It wouldn't be your fualt Nightmare and I will never see it as your fault. It is okay."

Ngihtmare still feels unsure. He made it obviously clear to Killer that Ccino is improtant. Killer is smart and Nightmare has no idea what he could be planning.

Another thought enters his mind. Somethign he had found early on in his ruling.

A very very damning piece of paper. a slave contract.

Nightmare speaks softly "I am sorry you are stuck here..."

Ccino shrugs as he keeps rubbing his back "Not your fault."

Nightmare shakes as he holds him "I.... I can undo it... I can give you back your freedom..."

Ccino had been taken from his home. Sold to the castle with a very clear purpose. First to be a babysitter. and later... well... Drema had been planning to be all powerful and go from young teen to adult in just one ritual. There is a reason Ccino's age had been only 6 years older than them.

Ccino had been suposed to be Dream's from the very start.

Ccino hums "A nice thought. Not that i thought about that contract in a long time. It hardly matters nowadays. Not like I can just leave."

Nightmare feels his grip tighten and his tendrils curl around them. He doesn't want to let go of the one person who cared. The one person he could count on to help him. To give a single shit about Nightmare. But... but how long will it take before Ccino starts hating him? If Nightmare keeps him here?

Nightmare holds him close "I... I can get you a horse... I can give you gold..." He will just use some of the treasury. Ccino deserves it. "I can send some guards with you on your way. You could go wherever you want. Back to your family."

Ccino locks both his arms around his skull and hums softly. an old lullaby and Nightmare stops. The amount of memories almost hurt. It was always Ccino who held him on bad nights. Or when he was sad. Or when everyone pushed him aside again.

Ccino speaks sfotly "Nightmare. When I say i can't leave i don't mean i physically can't leave. It means i don't want to. I decided a while ago i want to stay here Nightmare."

Nightmare shakes but refuses to let go "What... what about your family?" Ccino's fmaily have to love him. Ccino is so amazing. There is no way he isn't missed dearly after he was stolen from them.

Ccino sighs sadly "Nightmare... They have been killed a long time ago. The day i was taken the guards made sure i knew there was nothing to return to. even if i ran." Ngihtmare feels himself freeze. why... why had he thought?

Ccino rubs his skull "It hurt a lot but i accepted a long time ago Nightmare. I accepted that you two were my family now... and well... now it is just you. and it is okay. I am okay with that. I will always support you Nightmare." he grins "You may be older now but i like to think i am still the older brother."

Nightmare feels aprt of himself break as he just sinks fully into Ccino's hold "please don't also leave me." it is weak. it is pathetic. He should be stronger than this. He should have been prepared for this.

Ccino just covers his skull wiht his body and holds him "I am not going anywhere Nightmare. I will be by your side. I swear on my soul."

Nightmare relaxes and lets himself enjoy the comfort he should not need this badly. He enjoys it and can't help but let his eyes slide around the room. His sight finds the masks and remembers.

The masks are the highest honour. only shared with those most special.

He thinks something catlike will fit his older brother.