«I think I've come to like you, Nightmare»
Immediately, incubus turns to her, body prickling with awareness. «Wh-?»
An interesting effect she has on him, this girl. Always commanding his attention, asking one too many questions, throwing him off-guard with her observations. Disrupting the peace of his realm, always wanting to know too much.
On instinct, Nightmare reaches out to her thoughts. There was no way she'd say something like this, so easily. Especially to the likes of him.
There has to be a catch somewhere. Somewhere behind her easy manner, beneath her pretty thoughts, there will be a sneer. He shouldn't let her words affect him, for these must be spoken in jest. The thought alone makes his insides twist a little(as if in regret), a reaction dream demon decides to store away for later inspection.
But as he searches for any cruel thought, any feeling of amusement at his expense- something else catches his attention. It is like a pearl among the rubble. Like the first blossom on a rose bush.
It's so bright, for a moment he is dazzled.
«Suppose, you're right», - dream demon finally allows.
At this, he is granted a smile. A genuine, warm one, the kind that Role Holders of Heart work so hard for, yet rarely see grace her delicate features. She looks lovely, smiling like this. Unrestrained, with her rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes, with a touch of mischievous green to them.
Nightmare feels warm suddenly. In a mild flutter of wonder, dream demon considers touching her cheek, just to feel how warm the pink hue makes her skin.
Untethered with this sudden idea, he tightens his hold on his pipe instead.
«We've spent quite some time together by now, right?», - Alice wonders aloud, still smiling, still soft. «Seems natural, I will form some attachment towards you too»
At this, his grip on the pipe starts feeling painful. Of course. He should have seen it coming. To be on the receiving end of her attention for one bright moment... Just to be lumped together with the rest.
It is something dream demon always accepted without any complaints. Ever since the start of the game, he never once considered his own participation, content with observing the girl's progress from a safe distance.
The distance she made him cross if their current position was any indication. How many of the residents could say Nightmare allowed them to stand on the same level as him, while in his domain? Not a single soul, for incubus loved this not-so-subtle way of reminding Role Holders how little their position and regalia meant in Dreamrealm.
Yet, here they were, him and this lovely strange foreign girl, standing face to face. When exactly did it come to this?
But there was something incredibly sweet, addicting in being looked at by her, even for a moment. Coming out of the shadows, being seen. How pleasant, this feeling.
How cruel of her to take it all back, remind him so casually that he held no special place for her.
Since when did it bother him?
"I suppose you've gotten used to this world", - he quietly says, resolutely not making eye contact.
"Especially to your realm", - she scans the vast space around them, - "Guess I just needed some time to appreciate the peace and quiet"
"I thought it was quite peaceful at Clocktower", - probably the quietest place in Heart, her current residence.
She laughs, a sound so pretty, he wants to record it, turn it into a melody for a music box. "Julius claims ever since I came, there's a never-ending line of guests at his doorstep"
Nightmare considers this and can't help but agree. More Role Holders find their way to Clocktower these days, ostensibly for work purposes.
She makes them all want to close the distance, doesn't she?
A curious effect she has on them all. A curious one, indeed.
Later, incubus returns back to the Tower of Clover to find it exactly as he left it. His desk covered with stacks of fresh paperwork, leaving no free spot for even a cup. His embroidered jacket still drapes over his leather armchair thrown off his shoulder. Everything looks exactly the same, as it always does.
Yet, something is off. Not inside his office, but within himself.
With a sigh, Nightmare picks up the jacket and puts it on. Much as he liked his Dreamrealm attire, it was a poor match for his current surroundings; here at the Tower he preferred his appearance to be more tailored and precise, as befitted the important position he held there.
The familiar feeling of soft fabric beneath his fingers did little to settle his thoughts.
It is disquieting, this unease. Something he hadn't experienced in such a long time, incubus couldn't remember if he ever felt like this.
A curious sensation, indeed.
Remarkable, on all accounts. Just a single line, and here he is, the powerful lord of two domains, wondering. And wistful thinking was the most dangerous trap of all, wasn't it?
I think I've come to like you.
Such simple words, said with no pretense or playfulness.
Could it be that I- feel the same?