[ Scott, you're so lucky Ange likes you. It kind of looks like she's biting down the urge to make some snarky comment here, just to feel like she isn't being put right into the spotlights of this conversation. This feels like the most embarrassing way possible to meet someone..
She sucks in a deep breath, trying to keep any hint of a blush off her cheeks before she glances back over at Scott again. (But only when she's certainly she doesn't look ridiculously flustered in front of someone she doesn't know.) ]
You never told me that your brother was like you too.
[Having immigrated from Germany and being a mutant, Kurt has has definitely had to make strives to fit in. He continues to give her an encouraging smile. Then he flashes one to the other girl, Amanda, who lingers amidst the other dancers.]
It's totally fine. The two of us have been getting our groove on all evening. Amanda won't mind me being on loan for a little bit. And it'll be for a good cause!
[He chuckles sheepishly and waves a hand at the air.]
Stop, you're gonna make blush! ...But you're right. That is the plan, and the dream! Oh man I can't wait, it'll be so romantic! I hope it lasts forever.
Towards! [ Ange replies - though, perhaps unhelpfully, she doesn't seem to further elaborate on any of it. Despite it being very clear that Toph has quite some questions about all of this.
Instead she just continues to tug the girl along, now across solid ground - though there might be a sense that their surroundings are passing quicker than they should be able to in reality. One moment there's a forest surrounding them, then the sandy forest path is replaced with a carefully maintained rose garden, then they're suddenly inside somewhere. It's like the surroundings respond to how hurried Ange is, and maybe even a little bit to Toph's help in allowing the other to move faster - moving at impossible speeds past them to help them get there.
When Ange finally stops, it's in that last place - inside. There's cold stone tiles, the structure of the building like a chapel. She releases her hold on her friend's hand, stepping further forward into the chapel.
Rather than there being an altar in the middle of the chapel, there's something else there. A table with six adults sitting at it - but none of them are moving or breathing. The table is filled with all sorts of candy and pumpkins, like it's a weird Halloween feast.
With sight the reason the adults aren't breathing is pretty obvious. Their stomachs are all ripped open, their guts pulled out of their abdomen enough that they're visibly spilling out, candy jammed between the winding intestines.
Ange is stepping closer towards the sight, and all she tells Toph is: ]
[Okay. Now things have taken a turn for the trippy! Or the trippier? Kurt stares as he tries to make sense of it all. He does try to point at 'his' Alex, as briefly as he appears.]
There! That's what I'm talking about!
[But he focuses his attention on Scott. This seems like a good chance to try to get to the bottom of this.]
[ perhaps there will come a time when he will find the words to say back to octavian — for now, though, there is this: their hands, entwined, something that feels both strange and strangely right for how easy it is, how comfortable. and viktor feels — well, it wouldn't be wrong to draw a comparison to the weightlessness he's felt but once in his life, both physically and metaphorically riding the high of a breakthrough like no other, unprecedented in history...
and somehow, impossibly so, he feels the same kind of lightness, the same kind of happiness right now, standing here, with the feel of octavian's hand in his, secure in the knowledge that the affection he feels is fully reciprocated.
but, right, mars, ] If you don't mind, yes.
[ mind leaving this house, that is — and yet, he must do so eventually, regardless. perhaps it can be easier, if they do it together.
though there is something to do first; with some hesitance, viktor turns to look at the men sitting in the living room. they did react, earlier, so perhaps, perhaps. he will try, regardless, because this may be a dream but that doesn't make this any less important. so, looking at sterling, he says, quiet but sincere, ]
It was good to meet you. I promise I will do my best to... [ to what? take care of octavian? no, he knows he is abysmal at even taking care of himself, and furthermore, octavian is plenty capable of taking care of himself. so, instead, ] To make him happy.
[ there. that he can promise. and then, turning back to octavian, ] Shall we? [ to the side, ] Rio, come.
Y-yeah...they don't build trenches like this for fun.
[What. Who was this guy? How did he even get here, especially if he didn't know where they were. He narrows his eyes and studies Kakashi...something seemed off.]
...who are you? Everybody should already know these things.
[He does know this guy, though. And Aldrip sounded familiar he just couldn't quite place it. Something was definitely off here. He'd almost think spy but Kakashi'd be doing a real shit job of it.]
[Was he in somebody's dream? That didn't feel right. It could be his dream, but things were much calmer than they usually were when he dreamed. He can't shake the feeling that something is off but he's not sure dreams made any sense.]
But now that Levi is studying him, he really doesn't seem like he should be here. Kakashi is, sadly, not too young to be here but the dress is pretty weird. Guys usually weren't out of uniform unless they were going to or getting up from bed. Kakashi looked like he was dressed for bed...did that give credence to the dream theory?]
[Okay there is no way in hell a new transfer would show up like that and talk so casually. So how did this kid get here? And why was he familiar? That name, Aldrip, stuck in the back of his mind too. It was a city, he thinks, and he lived there for awhile...but how could that be? The only city he lived in had been Prehevil and they never stopped in civilization long enough to get used to a place during the war.
But a dream was...his were always nightmares, at least the ones he remembered. This one was too calm for that, they weren't even in the front line trench. But he thinks maybe he hadn't been in the trenches for awhile?
He shakes his head and stands up. Maybe if he sticks with this guy he'll have a better chance to figure it out.]
Sure. This is a common room, everything's laid out pretty normally.
Ugh, not that, I'm talking about this! [and by "this", she spreads her arms wide to gesture their entire surroundings, with isha mimicking the same notion.]
This world you've made up in your oval head isn't real. And you need to wake up before it takes over you or... something. Normally, I wouldn't care to save your butt, but I know you're important to Ekko. And I meant what I said about you being one of us Zaunties. And we don't give up or turn in our own people.
[she drops her arms dead weight at her sides (with isha still with her arms up, looking very determined!!), and cocks her head to the left.]
Soooooooo, wake up already before I make you wake up.
[Isn't it fortunate, to make a choice and immediately have it confirmed as the correct one? Not that Octavian has had any doubts about these feelings for Viktor, or reciprocating them openly, but there's still something to be said for actions speaking louder than words.
Because they could just go and have a walk around, and he would be satisfied with how this has gone. He's more than satisfied already, Viktor's hand in his and the rightness of it. He has no doubts, and yet when Viktor turns to face his family, Octavian spends a split second completely unaware of what he intends to do.
They aren't real, after all, the thing he must continously tell himself to keep himself centered— and yet. And yet. Octavian grips Viktor's hand harder, all but stunned into silence as he speaks to Sterling. The words themselves are sweet, Viktor has already made him happy a dozen times over, of course he'll be able to do that again, but—
It was good to meet you, said to a man who isn't really there, who he can never truly meet, to assure him that he will make Octavian happy. Octavian isn't sure anyone has ever given him anything more meaningful than that; he doubts anyone else ever will.
The figure of Sterling does respond again, raising his glass to Viktor and mouthing something else that isn't entirely audible, but his smile is clear enough. Then he looks at Octavian and winks, and Octavian makes a noise like a little wheeze and looks down and away. Good god, hang on, he needs a moment.
......Okay.] Yes. I did tell you he would like you.
[All of that interaction is proof enough for him, frankly, dream or not. He looks around for Rio then, wiggling his free hand at her— let him pat that big pink head as they finally move to leave the house.
It's dusk outside now, heedless of whatever late evening hour it was supposed to be indoors; everything is even redder in the dimming light. Octavian very studiously doesn't turn back to look at the house until they're a few more houses away, just in case.]
I do not know how robust this replication is... but where would you like to go?
[Ball sockets? Did it curse at him? Rosen can't help but be amused as he attempts to get a better look at this strange tiny creature. He attempts to grab it again but fails since the little fluffy creature is far more agile than it appears. When it becomes clear that Rosen will be unable to catch it without using force, he gives up and decides to observe it instead.
It resembles a small Aos Sí, descendants of the Tuath Dé, the Tribe of the Gods. Although it's too small to be an authentic Sí, it does remind him of one. It has the long ears of one and the slight animalistic features, but this tiny thing lacks the grace of the Sí.]
What are you?
[He reaches over again, hoping to poke at its ears.]
It is the land of dreams. [He explains with a slight smirk.] The dimension from which I can observe mortals' dreams at will.
[Well, not exactly at his leisure. Rosen intentionally leaves out certain context in order to avoid upsetting this dozing dreamer. Things that are a little more devious, particularly in terms of the role of an arkana. It would be a shame if this beautiful dream ended so suddenly just because of his blunders.]
The Dreamscape is a reflection of your world, created by your dreams. While they are not identical, there are some similarities between the two worlds. These parallels are what connect my people to yours, allowing me to travel between your dreams and nightmares as needed.
[Once again, he is skipping on some key details here. The Dream Witch would be cross with him.]
Now tell me, what is the name of this wondrous kingdom?
[Even if there somehow doesn't seem to be anyone around, it's probably safer to just walk, anyway. After all, Clark and his first flight would later be featured in the tabloids as "the Flying Boy of Kansas".]
[And Clark's dream logic reasons that he's always lived on Krypton as one, even though that's not the case in reality.]
You don't remember? You must have run into my parents, then. [More dream logic.] They're...not always sympathetic.
[At least they aren't in this dream or the simulation Clark was once trapped in, since his real parents wanted to end their conflict with other planets and even sent him away to spare him from Krypton's destruction.]
Do you remember where you're from? Are you from Ee-arth? [He's trying to say "Earth".]
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expiationlogs2025-01-13 12:39 pm
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