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Letting his consciousness wander, he focused in on his favorite treat. He felt the emotions pass through him like a reward for all his hard work, a distress so potent he nearly melted into his chair in delight. It was sharp yet distant, separated from reality; his pet was probably having Nightmare’s namesake.
The emotions felt wild, feral. Uninhibited by the waking world, and he drank it in like the finest wine. Everyday he was reminded of how glad he was to get the thing, so sweet and cute and… filling.
Though recently it had been a bit more skittish around them than they’d like; their own fault, of course. He’d cut its normal food down so he could see if it got any cuddlier without any energy to fight, because as much as they found its shyness endearing, there was only so much of it they were willing to put up with. Unfortunately it had only made the thing snappier and shyer, somehow.
The guardian just wasn’t spending enough time with it, they knew, a little tender care would have it eating out of their hands again, but it was still annoying shortcuts wouldn’t be working. Still, there were things worth the effort— the next wave of negative emotions making that clear as he sunk into the feelings.
“Absolutely exquisite.” He murmured to himself, deep and satisfied. The fear had changed to pain while he was musing though, and he sat up. It didn’t feel like the hunger he’d been slowly getting accustomed to in the last week, and he scowled. Nothing damaged what belonged to him [even the thing itself].
With an annoyed huff, he fell into the ground, letting himself follow the pathways of distress right to where his pet resided when he wasn’t keeping it close: its cell.
The first thing he became aware of, besides the pungent taste of fear in the air, was the sound of chains rattling. When he opened his eye he bore witness to Fresh yanking its body away from him, collar digging into its neck vertebrae, the metal chains wringing with the force. The source of the stinging pain he’d felt earlier. Its eyes looked wild, and he could tell it wasn’t awake enough to put any good show on.
“Darling,” he drawled, something closer to bored than he felt— the words did let a hint of annoyance, just enough its clever little ears would hear.
It let out a keen, stilling, but not getting closer, not even letting its leash slacken. That was enough though, and he took a few leisurely steps towards it. Fresh shook, but didn’t flinch back when he cupped its face in his hands.
“Good boy,” he cooed, rubbing at its cheek with his thumb. It leaned in, almost without thought— though looking into its eyes he could tell it didn’t really want to. “I’ve trained you so well, haven’t I, darling?”
Fresh remained silent, and he tightened his grip the smallest amount. Without another second, it shakily nodded. Its true body squirmed in its eye sockets, like an open wound filled with maggots.
Nightmare wanted to reach in and pull them out, see the panic as it was left bereft of protection. He grinned, because there was nothing stopping him, and did just that.
And semblance of calm instantly faded from his pet as it realized he was reaching in, and it jerked back harshly with a whine. There would be an angry set of bruises around his neck once this was over, but none of that mattered. It probably wasn’t going to be using this body for much longer.
“Shhhhh-“ he shushed, the sound drowned out by the whines and scrape of chains. None of its struggles let it gain any ground on him, the restraints halting even the slightest dream of escape. He continued, “You’re just making this harder for yourself than you need to.”
It just whined again, unable to stop its shaking as he dipped his hand into its eye socket and around its soft body. There was a full body shiver of the host as his hand touched its skin, and he smiled as he begun tugging it out.
Hand between its ‘head,’ or main body, and the bones of its host, he slowly pulled. Each grasping little appendage trying to stop this was given a light pinch, causing delightful little flinches and whimpers to erupt from its main body as it tried to get him to stop while it could still communicate. He’d thought it would get used to handling at this point, from how much he does it; though he can’t say he’s complaining.
“Calm down,” he said, finally pulling it away from the body and cupping it with both hands. Before the host get back up, free of his pet’s control, he stepped on its skull, pressing down until the fragile bone crumbled under his foot and turned to dust. The rest of the body was quick to follow.
His pet was squirming more in his hand, shivering and bleached white. It kept trying to pull into itself— as if shriveling up would somehow get it away from his hands. Charming, if it wasn’t for the fact it made it difficult to hold.
“Didn’t I say ‘calm down,’ pet?” He sighed. Maybe the anger soaked his tone too thoroughly, because it scared the thing into pulling all its limbs together at once, leaving it looking like a squishy little ball. It did finally stop its movement. Or well, most of them— there was still a shiver that permeated it’s tiny frame.
Petting around Fresh’s eye, he considered his options. It could definitely do with a feeding, but he wanted to get back to work. “You’re coming back with me, and if you behave I’ll give you a treat.” He smiled down at its shaking form.
He didn’t know if it heard him, but he’d have to trust so. The thing probably wouldn’t be making any rash moves one way or another— best let it think it had control over when it got fed anyway. Make it feel worse when it didn’t.
Now though, he just had a few hours with his cute little pet. He’d make sure to enjoy this.