[It's a surreal presentation, to watch from the outside as something happens to you. Is this what it feels like, an "out of body experience?"
Yu's throat constricts as he watches. He can't turn away.
Hands wrapped around his dream self's throat, pushing, squeezing. He --the other 'he'-- struggles and then stops, and Yu feels as though the wind has been knocked out of him. It's a dream. Somehow, he knows it's a dream. And yet the panic that sets in is real, the deep shudder in his soul at having the moment relived.
Something in this dreamscape is bound to break character. To notice the intruder, maybe even acknowledge him. He looks around for what --or who-- that might be.
[ Root is very far from realizing she's in a dream; everything feels sharp, acute, like it's digging at her and burrowing under her skin and she needs to do something.
Her gaze sweeps to the man holding onto Octavian's other arm and turns flinty. She lets go of him in order to put both hands back on the shotgun, grip going smooth and loose in readiness. ]
Wait. Is this who hurt you?
[ She's getting distracted, because someone she likes is injured in front of her and she doesn't know who this is manhandling him. Root has a massive streak of protectiveness and it's a violent one, unhesitating and unflinching to take action. She will absolutely blast this man's face off with a shotgun if Octavian needs her to. ]
(crimson is an uncomfortable color. it agitates, irritates, and it makes all feel so horribly intense, and it makes him unsettled through his roaming of the mansion - not that he shows it, his face vacant as he follows the voices to find the siblings; unknowing of that fact as of now.
the first thing he can notice is how the figure settles in his eyes perfectly, a mix of tones and hues that contrast perfectly with the dance of scarlet that surrounds him, even scott himself.)
(this feels like any other day, as if he passed through this park every day in the way to his dojo, nothing too special at first glance... until he catches a glimpse of that scene. he'd keep walking any other day, but today, for some reason, he finds himself crouching next to her to check the nothingness she is interacting with.)
[ The younger Shigeru startles slightly at the sudden voice. He'll look at Yu with an expression that can only be considered dour his pout evident as he swings back and forth a little. ] It's a school...for kids like me.
I-I don't want to go because it's scary being there alone... [ He's never been away from home by himself before?? ] What if...people make fun of me?
[That was the end of it, the passing of his life, and the full circle downfall of all of his ambitions. Yet, why did he perceive footfalls walking away? There was someone hauling themselves back up by a work table except that work table doubled as the long table with Jinx's effects and characters for the tea party.
His shoulders twitched at the sudden words, not Jinx or the sister or the enforcer. A different voice, a male voice, and who would that be interrupting this final moment of his? Jinx had risen from in front of him, choosing her position finally and seating herself.
Slowly he lifted his head from where his chin had come to rest on chest. He set his hands to the arms of the chair and pushed himself out of it, dragging himself from the corpse that he had once inhabited. He stood, turning to look for the voice and spotting an odd amalgamation of the scenes. A work shop and a burnt out cannery.
He wiped blood from his chin with the back of his hand, turning to look at his own body. Such a morbid scene. ]
What are you doing here? [He noted the puddle of blood that in no way came from him.] We're both dead then. I see.... [Did he, though?]
[ Shigeru will look back at the other, eyes wide because he's never seen anyone like that before?! He looks really cool like a futuristic powerful superhero?! But he frowns from the mention of the school again. ]
It's a school for people with powers...like me. But I-I don't want to go. I don't want to be alone there. What if I can't make any friends?
It doesn't matter. As long as everyone is safe... [ He would sacrifice everything all over again to keep his friends and family safe. The dream is eerily silent too, as if they're in a void, and perhaps they are because that was the state of Malai's soul and now Shigeru's as well. The pain of leaving, the pain of confessing his true feelings to Alex like that. Shigeru might shrink away his eyes, now black and gold, look away from Venti. ]
As if you deserve to know our true nam- [ Malai's bitter retort is cut short by Alai raising his hand once again. The eldritch god fumes, its tentacles flaring out as if to express that rage that its blank face cannot show. Alai leans back on its throne unbothered by its counterpart's reaction. A 'hm' comes from him as he stares down Havemercy with that mask.
He will then motion to himself with that same hand. ] I am the God of Light, Alai and this is The God of Darkness- Malneminous [ A short interjection but Alai continues. ] Malai. [ Said with a slight chiding tone. ] It is a sincere pleasure to make your acquaintance. We do not get visitors aside from Shigeru now. This is a most unexpected turn of events, is it not?
[ Alai will cant its head towards Malai who just growls with annoyance. ] I was never one to talk to those who betrayed me. What is it that a human wants with us both? Something unreasonable and undeserved I'm sure.
[ Alai clicks its tongue. ] Why not simply ask? [ Havemercy will now have both their attentions directed to him now! Enjoy being stared down by two gods! ]
Dying, [Octavian says, to answer what he's doing, even as Silco continues with his observation. Yes, they both appear to be dead, not that Octavian finds it very surprising. Silco had danced around it in their prior conversation, but assuming they were both in fact very dead didn't seem too far off. And now... well.
They've learned. Maybe. The whole room is a strange, overlapping mess, but at least a handful of details seem consistent and solid compared to the others.
Octavian touches his face and frowns down at how bloody his hand comes away; he wipes his cleaner sleeve over his cheek and really just makes the whole look worse, but at least he isn't dripping.]
Very nostalgic. [A beat; his death and its circumstances have always made him angry, but his vague awareness of Silco's conversation just now makes him wonder if they have that in common, too. Hm,] How do you feel?
[Oh, she's going for the gun, alright. This deters the taller man not at all; he doesn't even flinch. Octavian doesn't look at him again but plucks at the man's fingers on his arm, peevishly, while he looks at Root instead.]
Hiram. And just the once. [And that isn't an excuse he's making, or anything like that. It was just the one time, and then he was dead, so it wasn't going to happen any further. He isn't sure Root is aware of reality enough right now to pick up on the nuance, but that's fine - she has a shotgun, and he has a not insignificant desire to see her use it.
Just for fun. But, with a glance at the other two,] Not in front of my family. Let me show you the kitchen.
[Hiram is far less opposed to Octavian walking further into the house, after all. The kitchen.]
[ Well, she's not wrong, although only in the most literal sense. But if his suspicions are correct ─ and this world seems to constantly go out of its way to confirm them ─ it's not nearly as simple. ]
[This isn't Octavian's city, that much he knows. It's not red and dusty enough, it's far too quaint and idyllic as he and his brother Sterling roam the streets. The two of them are dressed in the old-fashioned collegiate style, at least as far as they're concerned, identical besides how they wear their hair - Octavian's is longer - and Octavian's glasses. They do not hold hands like the other pair that approaches, but still seem unwilling to be more than a few feet apart at any given time.
Octavian turns to the approaching twins first, while his brother pours over the wares at a stand selling trinkets.]
Yes. I suppose. I do not remember... [he trails off, then shrugs; does it matter if he remembers how they got here? Eh.] Busy town.
[He wonders how long this luck will last. When they really get tenacious, they upgrade to something more and those Sentinels are probably being slowly upgraded as they speak, allow them to fully target anything that isn't fully human. He's not human-- he's... something more? Mutant? That's the right term? But there really is no time to waste, Scott sucking in a deep breath, partly to keep in any noise of pain, and to push himself to keep going.
He can't stay here for long, he doesn't want to endanger the people around him anyway. They don't deserve it, even if they're the ones that ratted him out in the first place. He knows to forgive them, even if he shouldn't. He just has to get away with the help of a toma-- somehow, he knows it's some land animal that can get him across the desert.
As soon as the window opens, Scott takes the chance, rushing forward with that level of speed and dexterity that he didn't know he had. It doesn't feel strange to use the shadows to hide him from view, legs pumping as he makes his way to the stables. He thinks he'll be able to make it, and this time, without Genosha-- without the entire village being destroyed.]
Come on, Summers, almost there... [Is that his name?]
[Meeting another pair of twins isn't such a common occurrence, so Aether gives the two even more of a curious look. His sister notices it and pulls on his hand, then gives him a small smile, as if amused by his curiosity.
Aether then turns to the brother speaking to him.]
You do not remember? [He lets a soft "hm" sound.] Well, I hope you'll remember soon. In the meantime, this town seems to be holding some kind of festival, so there's a lot to see and enjoy.
there is a door, appearing right in front of junpei, whether it appears on a hallway or in the middle of a street or in complete darkness; it's a fairly nondescript door as far as doors go, old, dark wood with a window of coloured glass in the middle, looking very much like on those many detective stories — all it's missing is a sign on the door.
before he has a chance to open it, though, it swings open; a short, dark-skinned girl peers up at him and huffs, ] Why're you just standing there? You know you can just come in. [ she turns to yell over her shoulder, then, ] Charles! He's here! [ then again, to junpei, ] Don't worry, I'm off. Have fun on your date, [ she says with a sharp grin before she brushes past him, purple coat swishing behind her as she rounds the corner, presumably to go down the stairs.
the room itself, visible now to junpei, is not a large one: it is lined by shelves and cabinets full of all manner of things, books, artefacts; a couch is pushed next to the wall, and a mirror stands in the far corner near the window; but right in front of the window, in direct view from the doorway, is a large desk.
sitting on it is charles, staring at junpei in apparent surprise, before his face breaks into a stunningly bright smile.
behind the desk, sitting on a proper chair, is a boy with dark hair and green eyes, dressed in an impeccable suit and looking like he's just stepped out of a 1910s photograph — only he gets up abruptly, without so much as looking at junpei at all. ] Right. I must be off, too. I shall spend the day with Niko. [ he marches the few steps to the mirror before pausing and glancing back at charles. ] I do hope you have fun, Charles.
[ charles, having pushed himself up from where he was perched on the desk, grins. ] Thanks, mate.
[ and then he's gone into the mirror, its surface rippling briefly, and it's just charles and junpei left. he wastes no time crossing the floor, reaching for junpei, one hand taking his, his other cupping his cheek. ]
Hey, love. Apparently we've got a date. [ that's vague enough, isn't it — he figures that if this is dream-junpei, then this won't shake the dream too much... and if it's the real him, then the answer should make that obvious. ]
[So, this is different. Junpei has opened a lot of mysterious doors in his life, but at least this one doesn't have a big red number on it and won't lock suddenly behind him— the bar is low. He thinks he's had enough dreams about escaping from locked rooms for a lifetime, lately, so the fact that this is a normal door? Great!
The girl is a surprise. He blinks dumbly at her, because apparently they're friendly but he has no idea what's supposed to be happening here. She's chipper and giving him shit - lightly! - in a way that reminds him of Clover, so in the handful of seconds before she heads out, he thinks, sure—they could probably be friends.
He manages to shuffle into the room before he resumes just kind of standing there dumbly, mostly looking at Charles, but giving things in the room—Edwin included, even if eye contact is apaprently beneath him—a few cursory glances. Oh, Junpei thinks, so he's wandered into another dream. Like Scott's, but Scott hadn't realized it at first, so does Charles...
Well, he'll figure it out. There goes Grumps, and then they're alone in the room. Junpei makes a face.]
Sure, uh, one question. [A beat; well, all of Charles' buddies left, and with that much of the dream is already spoiled, he guesses he won't worry about it,] I didn't think you could sleep...?
[ he doesn't know how he gets there. doesn't know why he's opening a door instead of — something else, except what else could it be, doors are meant to be opened, after all. and octavian is there; of course he's there, where else should he be? he came here knowing he'd be here, didn't he —
except, no, it's all wrong, like there are vines wrapped around his limbs, squeezing him, trying to drag him down into something dark and unpleasant; he opens his mouth to say no, except the scene around him blurs, there's a weight in his hand and he's feeling nothing but cold, a passenger in this dream... at leas unless octavian's voice speaks close to his ear and the whole scene blurs once more.
only, it's not a better scene that unfolds in front of him, now: he looks from octavian on the stool to the body on the floor and feels utterly sick. ]
Not your fault, [ he manages eventually, voice hoarse. ]
The Emperor's Rebirth (FFXIV Endwalker Spoilers) | OPEN
[You are standing in a vast laboratory. The lights are dim, save for the ones shining on massive tanks lining the wall.
One tank contains an immense, muscular figure, slouched forward in a bubbling, glowing liquid. An elf dressed in a jester's motley and opera mask stands with one hand pressed against the glass. He is so fixated on the inert form that at first he doesn't seem to notice you. Then...]
The time has come at last for our once and future Emperor to return.
[He doesn't bother to look at you as he flaps a hand in your direction.]
Be a dear and prepare the chambers, won't you? It will not do for His Majesty to awaken in this tube like some trivial experiment.
[ the dreams are a marvel. different worlds, times, places, all opening up in front of him like a story made real, almost as real as the simulation they've all been placed in. viktor cares little for the memories they hold; instead, he walks from a cobbled street to a beach to a spaceship to here, these deep red streets, eyes wide with genuine wonder.
in his hand, no, under his arm, is his crutch — no, it's a cane, it's a staff, all metal and twisted and beautiful —
and by his side, a large, pinkish-purple creature vaguely resembling a giant axolotl skitters about, sniffs the ground, coughs and makes a dust cloud of red puff up around her. she has been sticking close to him ever since he gained lucidity; but now, she takes off, all of a sudden, until she's made her way to a door, her nose gently pressing on a doorbell.
viktor makes a disapproving noise as he follows. ] No, [ he says, ] We do not want to disturb anyone here. Stop that —
[ except the door opens to a familiar face, and it is not a hand octavian will brush away from the doorbell but the face of this strange creature. viktor, now leaning on a cane and walking with less difficulty than usual despite looking the exact same as ever, sighs as he walks up to the door himself. ]
I apologise for her. [ but octavian is motioning for him to come in, and he finds he would in fact like to do that, instead of continuing to explore mars — which is not very common for him, choosing a family gathering over gathering knowledge... and yet refusing to come in does not even cross his mind.
(well, no, that's a lie. it does, but only very briefly.) ]
[ oh — yes, that's definitely a relieved exhale he heaves just about then, squeezing junpei's hand as his smile turns into something of a half-grimace,. ]
Yeah, neither did I. Apparently they managed, didn't they?
[ if there even is a they — perhaps it's the simulation's code, or the ai, or something else too technological for charles to really understand. what he does understand is this: ]
Like during the reset, yeah? Pretty sure I blacked out then, the same as everyone. [ brightening up, he glances around the agency before his eyes land on junpei again and he smiles, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. ]
Pretty brills, though, innit? I was trying to find you, walked through a couple dreams, ended up here. [ and then, voice softer, ] You doing okay? The dreams haven't been too bad?
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expiationlogs2025-01-13 12:39 pm
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