here for the dreammare

Night as a corrupted kid would be so precious! He can be whatever he wants! (Why would he be himself?)

But also, Dream. Cannot. Handle. This.

Duckling Night, waddling behind Dream everywhere he goes. It sends good shivers up Dream’s leg and he can’t help glancing back at Night toddling along and being overwhelmed by cuteness each time! (He turns forward to calm down, but always turns back around again!! It’s an addicting cycle).

Fox kit, puppy, cat or bunny kitten, are Night’s go to for jumping on furniture and day to day activities.

He loves running around and playing games with Dream like tag or hide and seek in these forms. He loves sitting in Dream’s lap and reading together. Or when Dream carries him around. He loves when Dream pets him and gives him belly rubs and kisses!! Also sitting on Dream’s face (silly for him but therapeutic for Dream lol).

And a little guppy, tadpole, or axolotl Night in the bath tub!! He swims between Dream’s legs, under his arm and around his torso. Every time Night brushes against Dream while darting around in their shared bath, his heart implodes.

Or Night as a fawn or foal, trotting along. As with all his forms but especially this one, he loves laying on Dream, stomach to stomach. Dream loves being laid on and stroking the bridge of Night’s nose.

Opossum Night riding on Dream’s back!

Bat Night hanging upside down from Dream’s arms!

Snake Night wrapped around Dream’s ribcage!

Turtle Night, Dream cradling his shell!

Dream gets overwhelmed by adorableness and gets so much cuteness aggression!!

But when Night’s angry at Dream, he transforms into an owlet!! Dream can’t decide whether to be terrified, guilty for making Night angry, or endeared.

Meanwhile NM who’s an adult just pretending to be a young, skeletal animal. Is constantly teasing Dream. Flicking the tip of his chin with a tail. Walking around and between Dream’s legs, rubbing up against them.

He walks along the edge of buildings and fences and wall, to far for Dream to grab (not that Dream would not totally scale the wall to grab him).

But he’s so small and slippery, Dream can’t catch him!!

NM as a fish, darting out of Dream’s reach. Circling around him like a shark. Dipping low into water.

NM as a young fawn, skipping away, like a lost child away from its herd.

Once he arrived home, he searched up the place and their starting pay is… huh, pretty decent. It would help keep him afloat, and having one job is more convenient than taking random irregular ones… With a heavy sigh, he emailed the person and took the offer. 

His boss was an oddball that had an obsession with cats, maids, and cafés. Hence, the creation of such a business. He was also a person that liked to get really up close and personal in your space, in Nightmare’s opinion. It unsettled him a bit, but nothing he can't handle. Besides, it's decent pay.

[ His face always seems to be shadowed, though must just be the dim lighting in his office… right? An overzealous man with an obsessions for felines, maids, and cafe's. Thus creating the infamous business called Calico, a maid cat café. All of his fixations into one creation, that is surprisingly booming, to a few but really no ones surprise. A quirky yet eerie individual, tries to find the best candidates for his work, and has an eye for people and shiny objects alike. ]

He has a hard time making acquaintances with his co-workers because of his introverted and prickly personality. And was delegated to working at the back of the café to interact less with the customers to avoid him “driving them away”… he doesn't mind much, he gets to take care of cats and have fun with them. No need to interact with people, also, customer service work? Ew. Well, he didn’t have much of a choice anyway.

There were times when they were short-staffed and Nightmare had to take in the role to serve customers. Some were insulted by his attitude, others were constantly trying to touch him, and few actually enjoyed his service. For whatever reason. Don't ask him, he doesn’t want to entertain the reason.

Until one day, it was a rather slow and quiet time, not many customers but they were really short-staffed. Forcing Nightmare to work the register and serve customers, while their single barista works in the back.

A tall skeleton monster entered the café, the bell chiming as the door swung open. They looked like someone of importance, if the crown, tailored suit, and glowing wings were to say anything. He looked familiar though, like he'd seen the other on a poster or the news before…

Nightmare sighs and starts his mandatory customer greeting, not bothering to stand straight and instead still leaning on the counter, his voice flat and uninterested, “Welcome to Calico, how can we serve you.”

The voice that responded was gentle, but had an authoritative tinge to it. Like someone used to leading others, imposing their power and large presence. “Greetings to you. One medium coffee, please.”

Hm, how polite for someone so intimidating. Some of the other customers should probably take notes rather than make unnecessary comments about his body. Ugh, whatever, he should focus on his job. 

“ ‘Kay. Anything else?” “That is all.”  “Alright, your order will be ready soon. Follow me.” 

Nightmare brings Dream to an isolated seat, one next to a window with the view of the sidewalk, right across from the flower shop. Nightmare leaves while Dream settles in and enjoys the scenery outside, yet quickly glances at a few of the cats approaching him.

One tabby settles on his foot, loafing on top of his loafers. While another cat, fluffy and black with purple eyes make itself comfortable on his lap, rolling over and seemingly craving attention.

He chuckles and indulges the furry friend while opening his laptop in his other hand. Dream needed a place to wind down, somewhere peaceful and quiet. His office is often busy with people coming in and out, and while he could order them to give him space at certain periods, he doesn’t want to waste time and miss on reports that could be looked over and documents and can be finished in mere minutes. 

So he opts to go somewhere else. It's a good change of pace, he can enjoy some freshly made coffee while indulging in playing with cats from time to time. Although this wasn't a place he'd thought he'd find himself in, there weren’t exactly any other places that had a combo of cats and cafés in one. Well, there was one, but it was much farther from JR, and he'd rather not waste more time travelling there.

But oh, the person at the register was so… cute. He clearly didn't enjoy interacting with people, that much was clear. With a bored tone and perhaps an annoyed gaze. His round lavender eyelights zoning out, that small mouth in a soft faint frown, his short little frame leaning against the counter. It was so... adorable. Wait– he shouldn't be thinking this. Ugh, focus on your work Dream!!

Dream immediately has a small crush on the cute little worker that seemed all too unhappy to be here, which was interesting to figure out why he was working here in the first place. Though it's not hard to assume that the other doesn't have much of a choice because of income, and tolerates it enough if he can spend time with the cats.

Ever since then, Dream would come in and order the same thing, sit in the same spot — if it was unoccupied — and request for the same person to serve him over and over.

Nightmare was undoubtedly… suspicious. 

Why on earth would someone as seemingly high profile as Dream would want to be served by someone with an attitude like him?? Even his other co-workers were surprised that Nightmare of all people was being requested. [ “Treat him nicer Nightmare!! That's JR's CEO!!" ]

He honestly didn't remember at first, nor did he care. Surely this guy had a thing for people with prickly attitudes… Whatever, as long as he doesn't try anything or oogle at him too long, he doesn't care.

Though… he was nicer company than the rest of the previous customers he's served. He was polite, kind, even. He'd ask how Nightmare’s day was, or how the cats have been doing. Just light conversation. 

At first he'd reply sarcastically, flatly. Since he'd expected for it to just be another punchline for another creepy joke, as have all the others have previously been. But they weren't. Just genuine questions, curiosity, intrigue. 

Hmph, Nightmare can’t grasp why his regular customer is being like this. Maybe to get close and catch him off guard. He's pretty sure all CEO's have a secret evil side… Urgh he's not falling for this… 

[ Nightmare likes the attention more than he'd ever admit while alive ]

So soon enough, he indulges Dream’s questions. Replying back, learning little things and more about his customer. Dream’s pet dog Champ, his organisation, his work, and his goals, little indulgences. 

While Dream learns things about him too. His pet chicken, his annoying landlord, the major he's studying, his hobbies, his dreams… Despite Dream's looks, and the air of professionalism, he's quite kind. Capable of getting a chuckle or two out of Nightmare from time to time, even when he looks away to try and hide his laugh with a hand.

He's come to grow fond of this strange stoic man. So much so that'd he grow worried when Dream doesn't come to the café for more than a day. Perhaps too caught up in work, or maybe he's injured? He did say his job can be pretty dangerous at times…

The same can be said with Dream. Fretting and wondering over why his favourite maid is unavailable… His co-workers say that they have no clue either, as they aren't particularly close. Their boss is the only one who is updated on his workers' reasons for their absence.

Ah, Dream hopes he's alright. Night seems to be struggling with money, and he can't help but worry if the other is being taken well care of… 

[ Night spending most of his money on Kevin's food, and saves the rest for bills, rent, and emergency vet checkups… he doesn’t eat much, if at all. Often relying on the small free meals provided by the job. ]

Not long after, Dream asks if Nightmare is free during the weekend, and that there's this lovely restaurant that they could go to together. Night becomes flustered, and his brain rewires itself because– Dream?? Asking him out?? Him???

He sputtered and left Dream’s table, which left Dream feeling dejected. Until he saw a little piece of paper tucked hastily under the saucer of his coffee cup. He smiled, his soul fluttering a little. Meanwhile Night is at the back of the kitties room screaming into a pillow.

Ah, the things Dream would do to convince Nightmare to let him at least take off the burden of some things from him. His groceries, his bills, all of it. Just let him handle it please…

But Nightmare doesn’t need it Dream!! He’s an independent person!! He definitely refuses early on in their relationship, because he wants to be able to support himself without someone’s help [ Night not being used to asking or accepting help… ], and he doesn’t want to feel like he’s just leeching off of Dream. [ He isn’t, but a broke college student dating a CEO isn’t a good look on him… ]

Night does have strong opinions on how Dream conducts JR though, especially with the system and the cruel criminal punishments. At first it was a small disagreement, but soon enough it became a full blown argument.

Night leaves Dream’s house angrily and takes public transport back to his apartment, ignoring Dream’s call because he doesn’t want to hear what that man has to say.. Urghh. [ This is perhaps a month after they start dating each other. ]

He arrives at his apartment, rustling through his pockets to find the keys before… “Hey!” someone calls out to Nightmare, and he jumps from surprise, turning to see his– oh, his landlord. Great, what does that old schmuck want now? 

Nightmare’s landlord approaches him, looking impatient and irritated. This can’t be good. “When are you going to pay your rent? It’s been due 2 months now. I’ve been pretty lenient with you because you look cute–” Nightmare internally cringes at that. “–but I can't be without payment for too long, you know this.”

“Ugh, just wait a bit okay? I get my paycheck next week, i’ll pay you then!” Nightmare grumbled, turning and trying to find the right key to his apartment door. It was a bit of an awkward silence, his landlord not having left. “You know..” the old man starts, “you could always pay in a different way…” …what? 

Nightmare feels hands settle on his waist. 

A chill ran up his spine. 

“Wha- No!” He shrieked. Turning to face the man and shoved him off of him. “Get your fucking hands away from me!” He bristled, angry and seething just at the thought of it. He’s done many things in his teenage and college years that he regrets, but he has never, and will never go so low as to sleep with someone for something, not even rent.

Nightmare doesn’t care if he’s struggling, as long as he gets by on his own, that is fine in his books.

“Aw c’mon, don’t be so picky, princess. I can let you off for a few more months if you do it,” the man drawled, in that disgusting leery way. “I said buzz off freak!” They get into a struggle, his landlord having shoved him against the door, Night kicking and yelling. It was terrifying, the space between them was closing in. He was always weaker than other people. 

He hated this.

“Stop right there.” A voice boomed from the other end of the hallway. A voice that he’s come to recognise for so long. Dream.

Rapidly approaching and placing a hand on the landlord’s shoulder, heavy and gripping threateningly. “I suggest you let him go.” The landlord stuttered, easily releasing his hold on Nightmare, backing off.

“U-uhm– Dream– sir–! I didn’t–” Dream cut him off. “Don’t give me that. You were aware you have overstepped someone’s boundaries, yet you still didn’t stop. Having gone as far to force yourself onto him. Are you aware that assault can get you thrown in jail?”

“U-uh I-” “If you know what’s best for you, you will leave. Now.” “Y-yes sir!” The landlord sputtered, scrambling to rush off and run away.

…

“Are you alright?” Dream gently asks, offering his hand to Nightmare. Why did he have to see him like this, so small, so… weak. Urgh, why him…

Nightmare takes his hand, letting himself be helped up. “I’m.. fine.” He sighed out, exhausted from work and the interaction he just had with his landlord not too long ago. Today was a long day.

“...if you say so.” Dream wanted to stay, perhaps to apologise for earlier, during their fight. But he isn’t sure if Nightmare wanted him here in the first place. He didn’t want to overstep.

A small voice called out to him. “Can you… accompany me for tonight? I don’t.. feel safe right now.” Silence. “It’s okay if you don’t want–” Dream’s sockets widened. “N-No I want to. I can stay for the night, there’s no problem.” he agreed, almost desperately.

Nightmare was surprised, but glad at the answer, giving Dream a small tired smile at him. Ah, Dream’s SOUL is beating a bit too fast. He needs to calm down.

They both enter Nightmare’s apartment, and it’s glaringly obvious that… it isn’t the best place. The cabinets are empty, so is the fridge. There’s so much empty space on where furniture should be. There’s no television, there’s a single cardboard box in the middle of what he thinks is supposed to be the living room, perhaps as a table. It’s a small place. There’s a small thin mattress in the one bedroom but no bedframe, with a single pillow and blanket, but there seems to be an indoor coop of sorts?

“Oh yeah, that’s Kevin’s coop.” Kevin..? He hears clucking and his foot is pecked. “Ouch!”

“Kevin!!” Nightmare swiftly picks up the devious chicken. “Sorry about him, he doesn’t like strangers…”

“It’s okay.” So this is the Kevin Nightmare sometimes talks about. Dream thought it was a roommate and... Well, he’s certainly a roommate he supposes.

[ Early on, Dream had thought Kevin was another skeleton roommate, and had gotten quite… iffy about that thought. The idea that Nightmare lived with someone else… he got too ahead of himself. It’s why he kept inviting Nightmare and bringing the other to his home. How silly it all seems now. ]

Nightmare asks if Dream wants to eat anything, since he’ll be ordering take out. “I’m fine with anything, I'm not picky.” And so they eat takeout on the single cardboard box in the living room as their table, sitting and eating silently on the floor.

It was… rather awkward. He stayed to keep Nightmare company, and to make him feel safer. But they still fought earlier, and he wondered if the other was still upset at him.

Dream cleared his throat, stabbing the plastic fork against the cooked chicken. “So… how long have you been living here…?” he asked, keeping the conversation light.

“Hm?” Nightmare looks up from his noodles. “Since I moved out of my parents house. So... three years?” In this condition? 

Dream felt worried. There was hardly any furniture, some of the ceiling lights don't seem to work, and all the utensils Nightmare has are the plastic ones he gets from takeout. Well, aside from the flimsy wooden chopsticks that come with buying noodles.

“Don’t you wish to live somewhere better? Some place nicer?”

Like at his place.

“Meh. I don’t mind. I got this place using my own money, so it’s kind of an achievement for me. Not the greatest, but at least I've got a roof over my head, you know?” Nightmare idly replies, taking in another mouthful of noodles with the chopsticks.

They retire for the night, and Nightmare said he’ll sleep on the floor so Dream could take the bed. “Absolutely not.” “Huh?? Why not? You're my guest aren’t you?” “That may be so, but I cannot have you sleeping on the cold floor, Nightmare.” “Then what do you suggest?”

Hrm. [ AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BEDDD ]

Dream lays stiffly on the bed, his wings furled tightly behind him so as to not take up too much space. His legs are off the mattress, him being too tall and the mattress being too small for him. At least the blanket is big enough to cover them both fully. Nightmare grumbles, pulling him closer.

“Night–?” “Oh shush. I’m cold.”

Dream’s body curls around Nightmare’s, the smaller snuggling his face into the other’s chest. Dream’s arms reach to hold Night closer, his wings unfurling to cover them, the warmth reaching Night, calming him. They fall asleep in the dark room, with nothing but the glow of Dream’s wings lighting their surroundings.

[ Dream is lowkey like, damn you live like this?? And Nightmare is like, yeah, this is my entire life. I need that job for money, Dream. ]

Dream insists for Nightmare to live with him, but Nightmare refuses because he doesn’t want to be a burden to Dream.

[ Dream assures him he isn’t. ]

He feels a sense of attachment to the place because he got this place with his own funds, outside any help. So there’s a sense of pride to it. But Dream convinces Nightmare to at least buy him some things for the apartment, and Nightmare sighs before agreeing.

And Dream does buy him things!! He buys Nightmare new furniture; a television, a couch, a proper table to replace the cardboard one. He buys food: restocking the cabinets with cereal, canned food, pasta, soups, filling his fridge with fruits and vegetables.

He buys Nightmare a new, bigger, and better mattress [ with a bedframe! ], more pillows, and a thicker fluffier blanket. He even buys some special lavender scented body wash for him!

Nightmare is frankly overwhelmed. Everything is an upgrade and feels like luxury. The pillows are made of silk and down, along with his giant thick mattress. His cabinets are full for the first time, the vegetables and fruits in the fridge are high quality. The new furniture is well constructed and made to last long, and the body wash is expensive as freak! He checked, this stuff was the real deal. 

He feels eternally grateful but also so awful. He feels like he’s taking too much from Dream even when Dream was the one insisting.

Night does notice that some people came over to install the radiator he never got to buy, and fix the wiring and lights in his apartment. He thought it was his landlord but he hadn’t seen the guy since the last interaction he had with him in front of his door… maybe he feels bad and now he’s finally doing his job??

Well whatever, he’s not complaining…

[ It’s Dream. He bought the entire fucking apartment building to ensure that the landlord never comes close to interacting with Nightmare again. And he can also make sure to service and fix the building up. Installing lights in dark corridors, fixing old ones. Hooking up cameras for security. 

The tenants feel much safer, and apparently they have a new landlord taking over. They’re much better than the last one, though they have never met the man in person… They all wonder who it could be. Not Dream buying the whole complex lol, screw the old landlord!! ]

But anyways, I think maybe a year into the relationship is when Night starts considering living with Dream. He’s comfortable in his apartment now thanks to the other, but he’s also been spending more time at Dream’s place, since Dream liked having him over.

Dream is happy Nightmare is considering it, and soon enough he does live with Dream!! He technically doesn’t have to work at the maid cat café anymore, but still does because he wants to be busy with something at least. Yet he has started to write more novels in his free time.

[ He usually posted stuff on AO3 before meeting Dream, still does, but looks into writing professionally in the future. ]

The public do have suspicions on them both dating. JR’s CEO always going to this one cafe called Calico and constantly being seen with this one maid he always asks for?! Girl the tea is piping hot u gotta spill it!! Lol

It does become pretty obvious they’re dating a few months into it, even more so once Night starts spending more time at Dream’s place. Nightmare having been seen going into the building with Dream and leaving without him. Dream never publicly announces it, because why would he, Nightmare doesn’t like the attention anyway. But the people kinda know now…

One day though, an unfamiliar looking man entered the cafe establishment. Looking rather… bewildered, and annoyed. He approached the counter and slid a piece of paper over to him, Nightmare took it. It was… Dream’s order?? 

Nightmare looks up to the person in front of him, then looks back at the paper, then back at the person. That is Not Dream. It’s certainly Dream’s order, and it is his writing. But the person standing in front of him looks nothing like Dream.

It was Ink lol.

Ink being sent to take Dream’s orders at the cafe and bro is genuinely just like, wtf this is where you’ve been going Dream??? His boss subjecting him to his weird interests LMAO. 

Ink is the only person he trusts with this, and while Ink complains, “I don't get paid enough for this.”

[ He already gets paid a lot, bro just wants to complain. ]

He didn’t even have to agree to it, he just wanted something to grumble about. But also Dream gets mogged for having such a basic freaking order. Like PAINFULLY basic.

“This order is so basic. A black coffee with a dash or cream and sugar?? Boss, you have a fucking coffee machine in your office, the fancy expensive kind too. IT’S LITERARY RIGHT THERE. YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.”  “But Nightmare makes it with love :(“  “Ofmg.”

[ Nightmare often makes his coffee a tad too sweet for his liking, but it's Nightmare who made it, of course he's drinking it. Nightmare being like, "That guy needs more sweetness in his life." DUMPS A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR IN.

But also, Night leaves little doodles when writing Dream's name on the to-go cup. Drawing little hearts and cats around his name. Dream keeps all the cups, cleaned and neatly stacked in the drawer of his desk. Nightmare gets a bit flustered when he learns about this. ]

Finch notices this and is curious as to why Ink is leaving the castle more than usual, considering he would normally just stay in his room or loiter around JR. Finch is like, "My Lord, apologies if I'm intruding, but why is Ink going out so much these days and coming back with coffee? Is your coffee machine broken?"

And Dream having to play it cool like he isn't sending Ink to a maid cat café almost everyday to get his drink from his boyfriend in a cat maid get up "Ah... the place I'm ordering from just makes it different...", and who is Finch to prod his superior?

Nightmare does not like Ink at first though, who is this guy and why does he have Dream’s order… He gets a bit jelly hehe. But it’s all cleared up, they both actually get along pretty well! Despite their perceived dry interactions. 

"$6.08."  "I didn't even give you the order."  "Do you want it or not." 

I see them hanging out outside of work, maybe even meeting Nightmare’s friends along the way too [ Cross & Error ].

ALSO FUNNY IDEA, Blue finding out about Dream’s "thing". He would be SUCH a bastard about it. He’d 1000% use it as blackmail against Dream to get whatever he wants, and Dream was to fulfil those wishes to keep it under wraps. Bro is in SHAMBLES.

"If you don't do this then~ i'll just have to tell everyone about—" "FINE. Fine."

 [ HE’S SUCH A BULLY ABOUT IT HAHA I LOVE HIM ]

Blue visits the accursed cafe just to see what it’s all about, and Nightmare does not like him at all lol.

"What’s your deal? If you're not going to order then leave." "Hm.. so he likes this type of... okay then ♡" 

HE'S SO ANNOYING, he likes visiting Nightmare from time to time just to mess with him, and when Dream comes to the café, Night complains about some guy in blue coming to bother him.

"And he always asks the most random stuff, half of the time he doesn't even order anything!!" Dream, under his breath "Oh no.." 

At some point he has to ask Blue to stop visiting Night because it bothers the other and Blue is like "Sure, but pay me :D"  and Dream is like omfg FINE. He still likes to come in from time to time though, bro does it for the love of the game!!

End of rambling, dear heavens that was long... This isn't the last one by the way, the Sweammare AU's I mean. There's so many more sitting in my documents it's crazyyy...

Anyway have a short comic:

Special thanks to; @pururiru & @dreammareismyjam for helping me make this AU come to life!! You'll mostly likely see these names a lot in these specific posts since I ramble to them a bunch kjksbfksd, hence the creation of so many Sweammare AU's LOL