1st Nightmare

[isolophobia]

[ A grey skinned, eyebrowless face appears in golden hyper denial. The gold eye that is closest (and both are very close indeed ) is looking the Amber Slice over critically as Pitch is examining this new piece of magic on his person to go along with the little gem now secreted away in the darkness of his robe. ]

--ere pictures and sounds and what-have-you a moment ago. This magic should not be difficult to duplicate.

[ You see, kids, this is how you know you've been alone too long. You start talking to yourself all the time. No, he doesn't realize others can see him. ]

Comments

[redactions]

[ Well ha-ha, flying cars are his measure of Coolness and Pitch's world officially Fails. ]

And wit. We use 'em a lot.

Anyway. Who're you?

[isolophobia]

I am myself. what sort of silly question is that.

[redactions]

You got a name, or should I be makin' one up?

[ There's an edge to the statement, both a joke and not. ]

[isolophobia]

Many have, and so I have gained quite a collection of names over the years. El coco, le croque-mitaine, derr swartze mann, the boogeyman, Pitch Black, etc.

Which do you prefer?

[ They are mostly descriptors anyway, but you get the idea. ]

[redactions]

[ SO MUCH SCEPTICISM, ]

You're the boogeyman?

[isolophobia]

I always rather liked Uncle Gunnysack but then those ridiculous "secret" police mortals, Tonton Macoute, ruined the association.

[Yes, he is the original Sack Man. You may be in awe now. ]

[redactions]

[ A pause, then, ]

Y'know, somethin' tells me if you ask real nice, they might apologise.

[isolophobia]

Hmmm, no doubt they would. If most weren't already dead.

[ I will see your sarcasm, good sir, and raise you some snark. ]

[redactions]

Point still stands.

[ He hums. ]

So how does it work? The scarin' folks thing. You go door t'door?

[isolophobia]

Not usually.

Of late I've taken to finding what showed space is available. Under beds, inside closets, abandoned lots, empty wooded areas. You know, the dark corners that most people forget about.

[redactions]

That sounds kinda [ dumb ] inefficient. Can you delegate? Is there a regulatory organisation for boogeymen? Do y'get a licence to practice?

[ Because bureaucracy is the really terrifying thing, lbr here. ]

Wow that was supposed to say 'SHADOWED space' GJ self

[isolophobia]

You make it sound like there is more than one. I assure you I'm kept busy enough as it is, but now I'm getting curious about what you expect your nightmare experience to entail?

[redactions]

[ Bluntly, ] Somethin' actually scary?

[isolophobia]

[ That actually gets a laugh. its a slightly creepy sound, even if Pitch is actually amused. ]

But that all depends on you.

[redactions]

Well, you're the master of fear or somethin', you tell me.

[isolophobia]

I would have to be next to you to know that.

[ Silly Mortal. ]

Shall we say...I am not at my best.

[redactions]

[ A pause, and then, with genuine curiosity, ]

How come?

[isolophobia]

[ Man, you can almost see him squirm. ]

...Because fear is uncomfortable. So things like hope, dreams and wonder are around to fight fear.