Nightmare Supremacy

It took a while but Nightmare is at this point reasonably sure that the others have finally gotten comfortable in his and his brother's home. He had been nervous about them feeling negatively towards him at his obvious wealth but they had just seemed in awe over any jealousy or envy.

Which is a large relieve.

Even if it had been problematic to get them to agree to change into something more comfortable, much less get them to take a bath. However Nightmare believes it was more a matter of them not understanding it was fine for them to indulge.

He would however prefer it if his brother would stop shooting him these knowign looks. it is honestly unbecoming of him.

At the moment they are showing his... are they friends? Nightmare hopes so. The only other friend he ever had was Dream and Nightmare had not made it easy for the group to like him. But he liekd to believe they had gotten passed that matter.

Dust had eventually gone over to him. Looking a bit nervous as he had stammered out his question about wanting to see more of the place. Nightmare had been shocked but maybe he shouldn't ahve been. Until now Dust had been the one most open to these... time jumps. He had looked at each different place with curiosity and a need to explore.

The chance to expore a nobles home? Nightmare can see the appeal for him. He had agreed easily enough and had invited everyone else along as well, after some small communication issues.

Dream did not have to come along but alas here he is.

They are now walking through their gallery. Nightmare had seen Dsut reach for that magical rectangle before staring at it disappointed. Right, the magic had run out in his little tool. Instead he grabbed this small book and took careful notes or what he saw. Going as far as to stare at something for a longer time before trying to mimic it. Ngihtmare had managed to take a look over his shoulder and while Dust is by no means an expert painter or artist he has some rather impressive skills. At least in mimicing and drawing something with a subject.

If no other time jump were to happen Nightmare would gladly get him the schooling he so clearly craves.

They walk around the hall filled with paintings and Nightmare glances towards Killer and Nightmare knows the other already swiped some of his silverware. But he is more curious to see if he will try to steal anything out of these halls. He can see Killer eye some of the paintings and specifically the canvasses. Thoguht Nightmare doubts he will be able to stick it in his little bag.

Nightmare glances and is happy to see that Cross is managing to relax a little. the kngiht had been very stressed and focussed since they all met. But now in Ngihtmare's own home with protection it seems that the other is finally starting to be able to relax a little.

Nightmare doesn't dare to glance towards Horror. The other looks... cleans up rather well... especially with some nicer clothing... even if it doens't fit the other too well and they had to remain rather lose to fit the other.

It is fine.

And when you think about the devil...

"Nightmare?" the voice is deep as always and his name in that tune always makes him shiver "yðr?"

Nightmare dares to look back and tries not to focus on the other too much but then he sees the old painting.

It is an old one. Back before... the corruption... Back when Nightmare and Dream had still looked like twins. They had been younger and much smaller.

Dream looks over and gets a bittersweet smile on his face.

Nightmare forces himself to appear calm as he speaks. He isn't sure what the other is asking. Maybe just who that is but he may as well get this over with "Correct, C'est moi."

Horror looks confused as he glances towards Dust. Dust looks confused between Nightmare nad the painting before realising that Horror is looking at him questioning. Dust takes out his book and starts looking through it quickly. Nightmare turns to Killer and repeats the same to him in a language he understands. Waiting for them to ask the obvious questions or make the obvious conclusion.

It had been nice. To not be seen as the demon he had been infected by.

Dust manages to find what he is looking for and painfully speaks the following words, clearly not a master but managing with just his wits and little guide "þeim ir ..." he frowns before clearly settling "hann." then he frowns at the painting as he looks back at Nightmare "ce qui s'est passé...?" and he waits.

Nightmare frowns as he considers how to explain this. Dream watches him before speaking for him "Mon frère... est tombé malade..." he sighs before giving a small smile "les années ont passé... c'est devenu pire."

Nightmare steps in, in a figure of speech of course, "Ce n'est plus un problème."

Dust frowns as he repeats some of the words back to himself. Cross looks shocked and looks a lot more unsure.

Killer and Horror just share confused looks but luckily Dream is willing to explain it again in latin to Killer. That Nightmare got sick and that it got worse for a long time before Nightmare got a bit better. Killer jsut looks confused but doesn't truly mention anything. Maybe to him it doenst matter? Nightmare isn't sure from which time Killer is and what people taught him about this curse.

Horror just seems confused and looks lost to Dust but Dust seems fully distracted. Staring down and repeating certain words to himself. Both in French and in his own language.

"Illness? What does he mean? Like... a drain? No that doens't make sense... Soulbreak? no that is fatale especially in this time..." he taps his chin as he stares at the painting "Wait..." He turns quickly between Ngihtamre and the painting "A magic shift but that is..." He shoots upright "Overcharge!! that is overcharge!!!"

He almost shouts it and Nightmare knows this is it. He managed to complete the puzzle and now knows he is cursed. A bad omen for the very future of all who interact with him.

Horror frowns and speaks louder "Dust. Hverr verð at?"

Dust frowns and holds up a hand, his usual wait a moment sign as he starts to quickly search his book. Writing down some words in his little book before struggling through the sentence as he shows Horror the meaning "Fjölkyngi... þykkja mikill... meiða, sótt!" and he waits. Horror reads it for a moment and seems to make his own conclusion as he nods.

"Regin raun." and he nods again.

Dust repeats the words before quickly searching his little book. Horror ends up having to point the right words out.

Dust frowns "What? No? It isn't some god test?! It is..." he looks around and looks disheartend and whatever he is seeing as he hugs the book close "No you guys don't get it..." he glares as he looks down frustrated.

Dream and him share a look as Ngihtmare speaks slowly "Tout va bien. Je vais bien."

Dust shakes his words as he struggles "Non, ce n'est pas bien. mais je" he thinks for a moment "non peux pas expliquer." He looks so frustrated "Je ne connais pas... les paroles." he glares at the book in his hand and seems to take out his tool again. The very magical item he had been using in the beginning to communicate.

Killer leans closer and asks slowly "Ergo... Ego sum iens ut peteret manifesta... maledictus es ut parvulus aut filius dei?"

Nightmare needs a moment before turning confused towards Killer. A child of god? Is he seriously asking that? Why would he even think that?

Killer meanwhile jsut stares at him curiously. Looking completely serious as he waits for his answer.

Dream interrupts "Non est maledictus frater meus!" his brother always had been willing to deny his faith. No matter against who it was.

Killer for his part just nods "Deo proles, quam."

Dust throws his hands up in the air before covering his face. Looking all sorts of done with the situation. Everyone stares at him for a moment before he looks forwards with a focused look. a glare on his face "Fine. Fine! if that is how it is going to be?! Fine! I will MAKE you all understand what the hell is going on and how fucking dangerous it is!" he grabs his bag and marches towards the exit. Some of Ngihtmare's guards go to step in his way but the absolutely furious looks makes them pause "Yeah. that is what i fucking thought. don't fucking try me right now. we are inside a house and no law is in place to stop me!" and he marches out.

Dream looks curiously after him before shooting Nightmare a look. He motions towards the leaving form as if to ask if that is normal. Ngihtmare hsakes his skull. No. That isn't normal.

The next few days were... trying at best. Cross seemed to be nervous and a bit more unsure, most likely his culture was similar to his own and Nightmare feels hurt by it. He wonders if this is how they felt when Nightmare ignored them. Even so this isn't even hafl as bad. As Cross still smiles and talks to him. Just less relaxed and easy than before. a mention about cross being happy this happened in his time makes nightmare realise that there could ahve been a big issue.

Killer just keeps asking him questions about what it is like to be a god. Or the child of one. He also asks him which god is his parent which Nightmare has no answer to. It is a curse. a sign that he is a demon. But the idea of trying to make Killer see that hurts.

Horror has largely remained the same. It is a shame that Nightmare does not share a language with him. Nightmare wonders what the other thinks about all of it and which conclusion he made.

Dust has been... busy. He is writing quickly in his book and seems to be cross references different books, some of which Nightmare recognises from his own library. Dust is always muttering words to himself. Sometimes in Nightmare's own language but more often than not in french. He only stopped doing this once to ask Nightmare for more parchment and ink. Something that he could write on and something he could draw on and with. Nightmare gave him charcoal and some ink bottles and paper as he wished. After that the smaller skeleton has been hard at work it seems. Almost obsessively.

It isn't until later that day that Nightmare gets a glimps into what the other had been working on.

They are in the lounge. Nightmare is reading something as Cross stands guard. Killer is staring at the different trinkets in the room as Horror relaxes on a couch. Nightmare's twin is nearby too, Dream is reading some mail they had been given.

Then Dust walks in. His arms are covered wiht Ink and he has dark marks under his sockets. He is still wearing the same outfit as he was a few days prior. He glances around and speaks confidently "Viens." he looks at Cross, Nightmare and Dream. Then he looks at Killer "Veni." and lastly at Horror "Koma." and he turns around and starts walking. Nightmare can guess they all got the same order and all of them follow the other.

They end up going to one of the many spare rooms in the mansion. They walk in and-

There is a large dark board. Dust has papers laying on the desk and what seems to be chalk, where he got that Ngihtmare is not too sure.

Dust just glares at them as he points towards the chairs. The order is clear even without words before he marches over towards the door and kicks it closed.

Dust walks towards the board and starts to write down a few words. He can understand the word for Soul that is writen in a line. Both in French and in Latin. Dust points towards the wrod and waits as he looks at everyone "Understand? Intelligere? Entendre? Comprendre? Vita?" He looks at everyone one by one.

Cross nods and Horror nods as well. Killer looks uncertain as he shrugs. Nightmare nods himself and Dream nods too. They understand he means soul.

Dust frowns as Killer before nodding. "Right. of course. it is too much to ask everyone can read. I am lucky as it is...." he walks back over towards the desk and moves some of the books around. Nightmare takes a glance and sees some antonomy books... both in french and latin. He has notes with words writen on it and underlined. Some lines combining a few of the words, both familiar and unfamiliar to Nightmare.

Dust turns to Killer and points towards the written words "Est anima." He waits as he stares at Killer "Intelligere? Anima?"

Killer blinks before nodding as he points towards his red circle in front of his sternum "Anima." he points towards the blackboard "His verbis omnibus intelliguntur anima?"

Dust needs a moment clearly before nodding "Sic." He turns back towards the board and points towards the first word. 'Soul'. Dust speaks it out loud a few times and Nightmare nods slowly.

Dust nods and then starts to draw on the board. It are two little figures. One is a human. and the other is a simple monster. Dust points towards both the figures and waits for a moment. He sees no confusion before drawing more.

He makes a heart symbol by the human before drawing an upside down heart, a soul symbol, next to the small monster.

He then writes even more words down. Nightmare waits and spots the word meaning Magic. Dust takes the time to make sure Killer understands too.

Dust nods as he lays down the chalk and points towards the little heart and soul symbol and says "Soul."

Wait... is he implying that... humans have souls? Nightmare glances around and sees that everyone looks confused as well. Dust taps on the board to get everyones attention "Soul." He points towards the one by the human "Soul closed. Anima clausus, âme clos, Sál lúka."

He speaks slowly as he writes down under it 'Closed' and an arrow to 'No Magic.' He points at the word 'closed' and repeats the different translations for shut and closed off. He points to the word 'No' which they all kinda know by now means No. and then the 'Magic' which means magic.

So... The heart symbol... means a locked soul? Which means no magic? He asks this off Dust and Dust lights up. He is smiling brightly and agrees easily. Killer shoots him a confused look as Nightmare repeats it in latin for his understanding as Dsut painfully repeats the explanation to Horror.

So... a locked soul means no magic? Still, Dust points towards the normal soul symbol and writes a new word, which he later explains means Open. And that this means there is magic.

Dust turns back to them. He points to himself "A monster." and he repeats the word again in all the different langauges. It means monster? nightmare knows of course that their species is called monsters but there is a second meaning to it. Dust points towards the open soul. "les monstres ont une âme ouverte." before he turns to Horror to repeat it in another language as Nightmare hears Dream quickly translate for Killer.

Dust points to the human figure "Les humains ont des âmes fermées... en général." He shakes his skull at the confused look and just points to the drawing "les humains ont des âmes fermées." Okay. For now they just assume all monsters have magic and all humans don't have magic. and they have different souls because of it?

Dust points towards the open soul and circles the word for magic "les âmes font de la magie." Dream gasps as he covers his mouth. Nightmare agrees. What does he mean? since when? Magic is a gift! Given by god! If the god deems you a bad omen you get punished like... Nightmare was.

Dust ignores the confusion as he once again translates for Horror. Horror is left shocked as well as Dust glances around. He sighs as he speaks to Killer next. Killer tilts his skull and looks intrigued over confused.

Nightmare shakes his skull as he holds a hand "Non. Dieu nous donne de la magie." He needs Dust to know this.

Dust crosses his arms and shakes his skull "Je ne crois pas en Dieu."

Nightmare just stares. What does he mean he doesn't believe in god? What does he mean-

"Et si je ne crois pas ou n'adore pas Dieu, pourquoi me donner de la magie ?"

To... prove that they exist? but... why would god work so hard to make just any mortal believe in them?

Dust gives a much shorter version to Horror, Nightmare assumes that it is shorter at least as he uses many less words. Then he looks at Dream and Nightmare as he waits before Dream whispers a translation to Killer. Still in shock as what Dust just claimed.

It makes no sense?

Killer raises a hand and Dsut blinks confused before nodding. Killer speaks excited "Si deos dixeris non magica dare tibi. quomodo eam habes?"

Dust stares at him and Killer has to repeat a words back to him and Dust rushes to the two books and looks through them quickly. Nightmare realises it are two of his books. it is the same story but one in french and one in latin-

Is he using a fictional tale to figure out how to translate from one languge he barely knows to another?

Dust tilts his skull and seems to struggle for words before giving up. He walks towards the board and draws two figures, one male, one female. He makes a little heart sign and draws a much smaller figure.

He points at the bigger figure "Open soul." he points to the little figure "Open soul."

Dream sputters out a question to ask if he means they get it from their parents. Dust nods his agreement.

He is telling them... That magic is not a gift of god. But something that is passed from a parent to their child? And that monsters always have the ability because of their open soul and humans can probably get this through their parents?

Dust waits a moment before looking smug. The next thing he does is erase most of what he draw, just leaving the different words for soul and magic. He next draws a soul shape with little wiggles. He points towards it and speaks about an open soul again. He points towards the little wiggles and waves around it and says magic.

The soul... makes the magic... an open soul makes magic...

Dust next lays down his chalk and holds a hand out. He concentrates and his eye ligths flash before blue aura appears around his hand. His kettle floats over and he lets it float harmlessly around him. Using only one finger to navigate it... He... he doesn't even need to look at it... There is perfect control over his magic.

Nightmare has seen powerful sorcerers with less control than Dust. Nightmare had assumed that Dust had been powerful but he beleived him to use tools and items to cast magic. Much less just this-

If... if Dust is this powerful... and he doesn't even... he said he doesn't believe in god... why would god gift a non believer with magic this powerful? especially as after getting it he still doesn't believe?

Dream however looks very intrigued as he raises his hand. Dust looks amsued but nods to Dream next. Dream decides to ask Dsut why he is telling them this.

Dust looks downright excited as he points to Nightmare "Overcharged!"

What even is that word?

Dust doens't look discouraged as he grabs the kettle. He fills it with some water he pulls from behind the desk and uses magic to heat it up. He points the the kettle "Soul" together with the other words for soul, nightmare would feel annoyed if it wasn't for a good reason. Just because Nightmare is starting to pick up the meaning of the differnet words doens't mean the others are.

Dust raises the water still left in the container before referring to it as magic. He points towards the kettle as it starts to steam "Release."

They all frown as he puts the kettle down and walks towards the board. He points towards the soul and draws more wriggle lines around it before explaining in his best french "normalement. l'âme ouverte libère la magie." He motions towards the kettle and waits for a moment.

So... the soul releasing magic is like a kettle releasing steam?

Dsut focusses on explaning to Horror as Nightmare takes it upon himself to give Killer his translation. Cross just looks intrigued at the different tools and drawings.

Next. Dust draws another soul but... this is different. instead of drawing the wriggles showing magic around the soul he draws them in the soul. Next he draws another soul but it looks... wrong... like it is bulging. Then another, assumingly, soul with even more wriggles and the soul doenst even look like a soul anymore.

Lastly. He pauses for a moment before the draws somethign that has exploded apart wtih the magic wriggles now free and-

...

Nightmare feels hismelf pauses as Dream seems to realise it as well as he covers his mouth in shock. Killer, Cross and Horror seem to have all made the same mistake.

Dust points towards the two middle drawings, the ones with the soul filled up wiht magic and says that same word "Overcharge." then. As if it isn't enough "surcharge, onerem, mjök, molt." He waits for a moment.

He points towards the last drawing before picking up the kettle, the makeshift soul for this lesson, and it truly is a lesson. Dust pushes the top closed and makes sure it remains closed. Next he starts to heat it up again, using magic to keep it away from them. Nightmare can see the kettle start to shake before a burst and steam blows out of the side.

It cracks...

If the pressure gets too high... if the magic in the soul gets too high and it can't get out... the soul cracks...

He rubs his own sternum. Remembering how much his soul had hurt... all those years ago. How he felt full and heavy. How everything felt like too much. Like there had been pressure... Like something needed to leave him...

Then the hurt got to an extreme and he started choking on tar like fluid which covered him...

Dust pulls the kettle open and points towards the exploded image he drew before. Waiting.

Dream points towards it "mais c'est bien ça? c'est bien maintenant"

and Dust looks so sad when he shakes his head. He makes a new drawing. One where the soul is still in one piece but with an obvious crack, where some of the wriggles can escape through.

But then he draws the next drawing, the same soul with the same crack, but wriggles still building up in the soul.

The cycle starts again.

dust puts more water in the kettle and starts to heat it up again. Most magic and some steam escapes but he doesn't stop as before. He keeps heating it. and heating it. and heating it.

The kettle explodes.

Dust turns to stare at Nightmare. Nightmare can't find it in himself to look away...

Dust... Dust had panicked... not because he believed Nightmare to be cursed... not because he believed him to be a bad omen... Dust knows about this happening... He knows about what caused it... He knows the ending...

Dream however is up and has both hands on Dust's shoulders. Dsut blinks confused and Cross bristles and glares at Nightmare's twin. Nightmare just feels numb to it.

Dream however demands answers "c'est une maladie?!"

Dust nods "Oui."

Dream shakes slightly "si un médecin l'examinait?"

Dust nods again "même constat."

Dream stares at him "comment pouvons-nous arrêter cela ?"

Dust raises a brow and looks unimpressed "réduire la charge. utiliser la magie." He says it like they are an idiot for not understanding.

Cross asks how Dust knows this and Dust needs a moment longer to understand the different french as Killer looks impatiently for a translation as Horror looks worried and confused himself.

Dust rolls his eyes as he points at himself "Overcharged."

A moment of silence as there is no need for a translation after hearing that word so often in this context.

Dsut... Dust suffers the same faith... but beause he had a doctor check him he knows how to help himself. Meanwhile Nightmare just had the priests tell him he was a demon or cursed and Nim was more than happy to accept that.

Dream has actual tears in his eyes as he hugs Dust close. Muttering thank yous and swearing up and down they will repay him for this. Asking him if Dust can write it all down.

Dust clearly is a bit confused but eventually just waves towards all the notes on the desk. Dream rushes there as he starts carefully collecting things. Talking about how he is going to clal for a doctor to confirm this but that Ngihtamre should use his magic to make sure it doesn't get much worse.

Nightmare watches numbly as Dsut proceeds to try and explain to Killer and Horror the best he can.

Nightmare knows he should help, he is actually fluent in latin and should help with explaining this... but his mind is stuck on the posibility that he isn't cursed. That he didn't anger god by just existing. That he wasn't a failure and ruined something amazing. THat he wasn't dragging Dream into hell with him by existing.

By the end the others seem to understnad and look worried for him. They all try to convince him to use magic as Nightmare considers letting his tendrils out... Those usually take magic to use but they always seemed to bother others. But they are his friends and it seems like they really want to help him. especially after what dust explained.

Nightmare manages to convince them he will but in private. which they accept even if they look very unhappy about it. Horror pats his shoulder and mutters some words "munu heill" and he goes to Dust's side who, honestly? Looks beyond exhausted.

Right... He had been... figuring out how to warn them for days now.

Dust yawns and mutters something, too soft and too much slurred together for Nightmare to make sense off. But he walks over to one of the more comfortable chairs. He sits in it and closes his eyes as he starts to fall asleep.

Cross is nearby and shakes him gentle. trying to convince him to sleep in an actual bed and Ngihtmare goes over to help Cross convince the tiny stubborn skeleton.

Nightmare will have to meet up wiht doctors and verify the information he was just given.

But for now, in the first time for many years.

He truly feels okay to just be and enjoy the presence of those close to him.

It was almost night, the sun was setting on the lake, wrapping everything in a soft light. The surroundings were rather calm, a few people were there with their kids, chatting, waiting, throwing pebbles in the water.

Nightmare was looking down, careful not to trip on the grass with his heels. Dust had appeared in his time, saying that he had something to show him related to his country, France's National Day he said, that apparently appeared long after Nightmare's time. Nightmare followed, rather curious about what they could possibly be celebrating and how. They had stopped at Dust's house before going so that the noble could change clothes to blend in easier, something comfy but still stylish: soft grayish pants, a black turtle neck sweater, a long coat going to his knees, and a pair of heels, as he was used to wearing this type of shoes and quite liked the extra height it gave him. Cross was supposed to come too, but he had promised Killer he would teach him more swordfighting techniques, so Dust and him agreed to go another time, and since it was an annual event Dust could chose a date to travel back to and take Cross with him anytime.

- Before it starts, Dust began, it's gonna make quite a lot of noise so if it gets too much you tell me, I brought some noise-canceling headphones, he gestured to his bag.

Nightmare turned his gaze towards his boyfriend, they all learned a bit of English, enough to have small conversations or add some words understood by everyone when they talked in their native language. It was still nice hearing the different dialects though, especially for Dust.

- I will survive, Nightmare answered.

Dust smiled, he would never get bored of hearing their accent when they spoke his language, they had tried working on their pronunciation, but Dust had practically begged them not to, very shyly admitting he found those accents very endearing.

- I sure hope you will, he chuckled, try not to panic when it goes boom then.

Nightmare rolled his eye, though a faint smile appeared on his face.

- Dust, mon cher, I am not going pan-EEHH ?! He shrieked, grabbing Dust's arm for dear life, for a petard exploded next to him.

The kid responsible of the assault cheered at the noise, before rushing elsewhere to make some more noise. Nightmare glared at them as they went, then looked up at Dust who was very much trying to hold a laugh in. His face flushed with a teal color when he noticed he was clasped against him, and he quickly let his boyfriend go, embarrassed by his own reaction.

- ... Pardon...

Dust pat his shoulder with a chuckle.

- Come, it should be calmer over there, he lead him towards a bench, farther from people.

Nightmare followed, glad to distance himself from the group, and sat with Dust as night started to settle properly.

- It should start in a few minutes, when it's dark enough, Dust informed.

- What are they.. célébrer ? The noble asked.

- Celebrating ? Dust corrected, it's the day people took the Bastille, in 1789.

Nightmare frowned, quite confused as to why such an event would become a National Day.

- They took la Bastille ? Why ?

Dust straightened on the bench, ready to give a little class.

- There has been a revolution, he began, because, to put it very simply, the people were very poor, très pauvre, and they were mad that the nobles and clergy had a lot of privileges while they had to pay a lot of taxes, impôts I think it's called ? So they rebelled against the system and the Bastille was like THE symbol of the royal power, and it had weapons. Des armes.

Nightmare slowly nodded as he listened, he was aware the nobility had privileges, as well as the clergy, but to think it led to a complete revolution ? Things must have gotten really bad...

- Did they have what they wanted ? At the end ?

Dust winced, glancing to the side.

- Not really, well, they did for a moment, but other things happened and they ended up killing the king and queen. And many nobles. And later other people but that is another thing. They just cut their head off on the public square.

Nightmare felt a shiver run along his spine as he reflexively brought his hand to his neck. Imagining people's head being cut off in front of a public was... an unsettling thought. He was glad it wouldn't happen during his time, because himself being killed, he could handle the thought, after all he was familiar with near-death experiences with his childhood, but imagining his brother's head falling ? His dear brother being murdered for people's untertainment ? He couldn't bare that thought...

- But... what they celebrate today, it is more the end of a strict regime than killing people, he tried to reassure, seeing his boyfriend's troubled expression.

Nightmare looked back at him, his gaze having drifted away for a moment.

- Nobody will cut your pretty head, he smiled.

Nightmare felt his cheeks warming up, but still he sighed dramatically.

- Pourtant, hélas, my knight is not here to protect me.. !

Dust playfully answered with a bump on his shoulder.

- Hey I can protect you too ! He smiled.

Nightmare couldn't help but snort, amused too. He sure had changed a lot since they first met, and it felt nice to be himself without all those layers.

- Évidemment, je ne doute point- he got cut by a whistling noise followed by a loud bang.

He sharply turned his head towards the lake, and saw strange colorful lights in the sky, in the shapes of what he could only describe as snakes. Another whistling noise, more bangs, and more colors erupted, lighting the night sky in a wonderful painting. He had never seen anything like this before.

- What is it ? He asked, not diverting his gaze from the spectacle.

- Fireworks, or feux d'artifice in French... Dust answered, his own gaze fixated on the amazed face of his partner, beautiful.. isn't it ? He smiled dreamily.

- Yes... Nightmare slowly nodded.

He had seen so much wonderful paintings in his life, so much sculptures and murals and all sort of luxurious art his rank gave him access to, and yet if he had to pick the most beautiful piece, he would have chosen this precise moment with the sky lit up by all those colors...