Action: but you never tire of dreams

[ofthebeast]

Characters: Any willing dreamers
Open? Yes
Where: In your minds
When: After the party
What: Part two of the dream plot!
Warnings:


The party went on, with the beast's head on display. A proud, twisted thing. Behind false ruby eyes, it waited. And as the music became slower and the wine less plentiful, it waited still.

Those who had gazed upon it at the ball. Those who had seen it once living in the forest. All heroes who dared to look upon its face and dream still that they would be able to live another day...

There are all sorts of ways of living. In waking. In sleep. Perhaps, now, they would find one in between.

(ooc: Feel free to keep tagging into the party post! Once your characters go home and go to sleep of their own accord, that is when the dreaming will begin. Remember, it is up to you to set up what kind of world your character is trapped in and how best to help them. Plotting post is here, make use of it!

The beast's power will wane once the bulk of the dreamers have escaped his curse. If your character was not at the party but you still want to involve them in the dream plot, that is fine! They can either help get people out or have seen the beast wandering in the woods before it was killed and have caught its attention that way.

Comments

[folklorist]

Darker Dreams

[ It is pitch black and ominous. Those who enter upon this dream will feel the fear and dread in the air like a palpable taste that lingers on ones tongue. It's dark, impossibly so, but everything can be seen clear as day with frightening detail. It's a rainforest. A damp, dark, and above all else eerily silent rainforest. There's nothing but the rustling of leaves as rain sprinkles them with droplets of water. And then there comes the howling and braying of beasts only a few might recognize, because these beasts are only familiar to a place called Luceti. They are terrifying in their own right the size of a horse and running at full speed out of the darkness. But there is something else there even more terrifying, something that scares the beasts. Something large and something demonic. It's red eyes can be seen from the shadows and they're slit like a snake's. And all the while Helios will be running, always running, from both things stumbling and trying to catch his breath but he's never far enough away. He can never get away... ]

Lighter Dreams

[ In this sequence there is a beautiful castle with rich architecture and large stone statues in the Main Hall. There is a garden which the dream shifts to in a matter of a few seconds. It's a large, lush, green garden and standing at its center surrounded by flowers is Helios and a woman with bright long flowing green hair. They both look impossibly happy at the moment. There might be a party going on as well to celebrate something or other. An engagement party or a party to opening up the school perhaps. It shifts with each dream, really, and Helios can't honestly remember how many times he's had this dream before now. ]

Darkly Dreaming

[shadedsunlight]

[Alice has never seen the jungle, but some part of her recognizes it as Luceti. She shudders slightly from unease, something that worries her more because if anything, she does not feel uneasy. It's something she can't afford to feel. Her wings unfold and stretch out - since when could they stretch out fully - before folding back?

Then she hears the braying. They're not dogs, not wolves, but something far more sinister and dark. Monsters, she thinks, and she thinks correctly. Her hand drops down for her knife, gripping the handle tightly as she looks for a route to take. Up into the trees? Deeper into the forest? Think, Alice, think.

When someone runs past her, she turns, needing only a moment to recognize him.]

Helios!

[She shouts after him before giving chase herself. He's afraid. He's running and he's afraid and that scares her because he's not supposed to be. He's not supposed to look like that and she wants to fix that. No one can hurt him, nothing can hurt him. Not while she's here. That was her promise to him.]

[folklorist]

[ It's a nightmare he's had many times before. A nightmare that always ends the same, always ends with the shift hunter bearing down upon him with teeth flashing claws extended. But there's an older, deeper, more dangerous darkness that pervades throughout this dream. And it's that which scares him more. He freezes in his running, skidding to a stop and turning his head sharply around to see Ginia there. His face blanches to something of bone white. No. No. No. She wasn't supposed to be here. No one was ever supposed to be here so why was she now? He looks behind her terrified as those noises and cries get louder and louder. Before he ever answers her he grabs Alice by the wrist and drags her with him. He's out of breath but he still has to run. There's no time to waste now. They needed to hide, even though nothing is safe or can escape him. ]

[shadedsunlight]

[Alice runs with Helios as she's tugged along, only pulling her hand back so her balance is better. She doesn't dare look back as they run, her eyes stay forward as they dodge low hanging branches and vines.]

What are we running from? [She shouts over to him between lungfuls of air. The braying sounds closer as does whatever else is crashing through the jungle behind them. Her hand twitches for her knife, wanting to fight and defend him. She's not used to running, but as he doesn't look like he's stopping any time soon, she keeps up with him.] Can we fight it?

[folklorist]

[ They just have to keep running, run and run until their muscles burn and ache and feel like they'll split and tear inside. But it's never enough and now Ginia is here which makes things so much worse. And finally in an outcropping surrounded by dense underbrush and foliage does Helios finally stop. He turns around to face her his eyes watery with tear and fear. ] You're not-! [ His voice cracks as he shakes his head, biting his lip as he does so, and he looks around their current location for anything that might help them now. ] You're not supposed to be here!

[ Can they fight it? No. They can't. Helios has never tried before. The terror and darkness had always been too much for him. He can't stop it even if he tried. ] We...I-I can't.

[ He wrings his hands against dirt stained pants as he looks around for a way out. But the darkness is like an encroaching army. It never stops or yields in its advance to overtake everything in its path. ] W-We have to go. H-He knows you're here. [ Helios sounds so terribly afraid right now and he can't do anything to hide it. ]

[shadedsunlight]

[The humidity of the jungle and their fast pace leaves them both soaked with sweat and stickiness. Alice swats bugs away and brushes her hair out of her eyes as she runs, ignoring her discomfort. She stops when he does, her heart wrenching when she sees how afraid he looks. There's nothing more than she'd like to do than hug him tightly and keep him safe, but that's too much of a distraction. Even as they stand there, she looks around for some safe place to hide at. A tall tree, a gap under some tree roots, a large bush, something.

But she can offer a quick squeeze to his hand. It's tight and reassuring and a silent promise anything that tries to get to him will have to get through her. Alice knows it'll probably result in her death, but she refuses to not do anything.]

Who? Who knows I'm here? What are we facing, Helios, tell me. [There's a cold edge in her voice as she snaps at him, glancing over in the direction they'd come from, the braying of shift hunters still bouncing around the forest.] Let me know so I can protect you!

[folklorist]

[ He almost cowers when Alice snaps at him but the cries of the shift hunters make him bite his lip and finish the job of having him do that. He looks over at Alice with a look of utter desperation which has embedded itself in every fiber of his being. ] Sh-shift, shift hunters. They're c-coming. Y-You have to go. You have to leave.

[ Before they get you too. Helios does not want her to go through what he has gone through in this forest all those months ago. ]

[shadedsunlight]

I'm not leaving you. [She growls out her words as she looks around some more, thinking fast. Whether it's the dream providing what's needed through force of will, her own expectations and preparation for the situation, or other forces at play, Alice draws the machete she had sheathed against her back.]

There's a tree to the left of us, climb. I'll hold them off. [This is not a point to be debated either.]

[folklorist]

No. [ No no no. He is not leaving you to fight them alone. He knows how this is supposed to end for him. Helios is not letting it end the same for her too. ] I-I can't let you f-fight them. Y-You won't... [ he bites his lip and shakes his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Alice won't live otherwise. ]

Please just. Just run. Th-they're not after you.

[shadedsunlight]

I know that. [She remembers Ginia's notes. Shift hunters, attracted to magic, dangerous, kill on sight.] They're going to focus on you no matter what. So I'm going to kill them.

[The constant barking and howling is close enough now, close enough she can hear their massive paws trampling through the underbrush and whipping past low-hanging branches. Alice wishes she had a gun on her as she grips her machete, giving Helios a last glance and sharp order.] MOVE!

[folklorist]

[ Helios flinches and cringes at the sharp order. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't move save but backing away a little towards the nearby tree. His head will turn this way and that as the sounds of the oncoming killers fills the area around them. His hands and body are shaking now, because he knows of the pain, knows how hot it burns and how terrible it is. ] B-But you. I-I can't just let you...

[ He hunches and goes just a little more stiff as the rustling of nearby leaves gets his attention. They're here. ]

[shadedsunlight]

[Alice crouches down into a fighting stance, head turning as she looks this way and that, gauging how close they are and where they're coming from. She knows on some level it's a fight they can't win. They're unprepared, outnumbered, there is nothing and no one that can save them down. Even so, she's not going down without a fight.

She finds herself laughing when she hears Helios' words. Her laughter is quiet at first, then louder until her body is shaking in mirth.] Yes, you can. [It's so obvious, isn't it. So foolishly, stupidly obvious. She turns toward him and pulls the neckline of her shirt down, showing the fact there's no necklace around her neck, no gold or silver pendant.

Something lunges through the bushes, the air filling with the smell of rotting flesh and meat as the first shift hunters attack. Alice turns and delivers a vicious downward chop with her machete, blood spraying onto her as she drives the blade into the beast's neck.]

Delightful Dreams

[shadedsunlight]

[It's a beautiful garden, one that could rival even Grune's, Ginia thinks as she walks through it toward the center. She's dressed in a light dress, fitting for the occasion, and she's picked up a champagne flute on the walk, the gold liquid lightly swishing with each step. When she sees Helios and the woman next to him, she can only smile happily for him. It's good seeing him look so happy even if she can't shake some strange feeling.

Something feels wrong and she doesn't know why. Maybe it's the champagne.]

I do believe congratulations are in order. [Ginia offers to the pair with a small raise of her glass.]

Baw this is going to be all the sads ):

[folklorist]

[ Helios and the woman turn around when they hear that voice. Elise's mouth turns upward in a bright smile, Helios joins her in mimicking said reaction. They honestly look absolutely perfect for one another and the atmosphere feels entirely too perfect to be real. But, no, it is. It has to be because this is how he remembered her and how she would always be in his mind. Stunning, perfect, everything he needed and wanted and loved. ]

Th-thank you Ginia. I-I appreciate that. We, ah, appreciate your congratulations.

So many sads. :C

[shadedsunlight]

I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting. Aren't you going to introduce her, Helios? [Ginia teases lightly as she smiles at Elise. She's very beautiful and radiates kindness and warmth. There's no doubt she's absolutely perfect for Helios and Helios is perfect for her and they are so blessed to have each other. Everything feels absolutely perfect and Ginia feels blessed to be a part of this special occasion.

Yet she can't shake the uneasy feeling that continues to cling to her. It's not any sense of doom, dread, or danger, but the feeling something is off. There's something wrong with the picture and she can't figure out why. But maybe there's nothing to figure out, maybe it's just a constant state of concern and worry for her friend. On such a beautiful day, she wants everything to be right for Helios and his fiancée.]

):

[folklorist]

[ "I hope you haven't forgotten my name, love." The woman laughs a melodious type of laugh. Helios just sputters a little trying to get his voice to apologize. Instead he concedes to letting Elise introduce herself, whoops, still absentminded as ever. But that's one of the things Elise loves about him.

"It's Elise. Elise Gaita. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. You're one of the people he's talked about a lot. Ginia right?" She offers a small little bow of her head before she gives Ginia a light embrace. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." ]

Ah. I-I'm glad you c-could make it to the opening of the Academy, Ginia.

[ There are familiar and unfamiliar faces in the crowd and throng of people happily chattering away and clinking glasses together as they celebrate this day as well. It's been a long road but well worth it. ] Have you tried any of the desserts? They're absolutely fantastic!

[ And here Elise will laugh and roll her eyes as Helios laughs a little too. "Always with the sweets Helios. Honestly I don't know what I'm going to do with you." Just an amused tone as she turns her head to someone calling out her name. "Oh! It's Felicia. I apologize, you know how she gets if she doesn't see me to make absolutely certain I'm not dying or something like that. I'll let you two catch up. I'll be back in a little while." And with a loving kiss delivered to her soul mate Elise retracts and heads through the crowd. Helios watches her with adoration and nothing but love. It almost flows off of him is palpable waves. He finally turns back to Ginia once Elise is out of sight. ]

It's...nice to, ah, s-see you again. I-I think Giles is somewhere around here. I haven't seen him yet. Are you hungry? C-Can I get you anything?

[shadedsunlight]

[Elise. It's a beautiful name. She smiles and returns the woman's light hug, careful not to spill her drink on the woman. At Elise's words, Ginia laughs lightly and gives Helios a surprised look. Really, he talked about her? She wouldn't have expected that, though Ginia tended to expect very little when it came to her. She knew she was loved by her friends, but it still surprised her to know it.]

Yes, that's right. I'm surprised he's mentioned me. But it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Elise.

[She draws back from the hug and smiles at Helios, offering a bow of her own head.] I wouldn't miss it for the world, Helios. Thank you for inviting me. and yes, I've tried the desserts. Absolutely delicious, my compliments to the chef.

[As Elise excuses herself, Ginia offers a friendly wave and watches her go, turning back to Helios. He's absolutely adorable in love and she's so happy to see it. It's good seeing him so happy.]

It's good seeing you too. And is he? [She laughs. What a silly question, of course Giles would be here on this day.] Silly of him to hide from us. And no, I'm fine, thank you though. Don't worry about me, really. [Ginia reaches out to give his shoulder a friendly pat, pausing when she realizes something.

His shoulder is warm. It's almost more surprising because she's so used to him being cold, so used to it she didn't even think otherwise. But he's warm, he's happy, he's in love, his fiancée is here...

And then she remembers. It's only a flicker of a conversation, lingering words and images that stick in her mind, but she remembers. A warm kitchen, their home in Luceti, cups of tea. The admission he'd lost someone dear to him, his fiancée.

Oh god.

Ginia's smile immediately vanishes as she realizes everything.]

[folklorist]

[ Helios laughs at that shaking his head. ] You know him. Not very fond of, ah, b-big parties. [ He gives an apologetic look knowing that Giles came to give him support and for that he's truly grateful. Perhaps the four of them could get together afterwards for their own private little party. ] Are you sure?

[ And then he notices something wrong, amiss, with the way she looks. ] Ginia? Is, is something wrong?

[shadedsunlight]

Wrong? No, not at all, everything is fine. Ah, sorry, I remembered something about work. Don't worry about it. [Ginia quickly lies, slipping a smile back on her face as she tries to put her thoughts back. No, no, it can't be. This is all too real to be a dream. He's so happy, all his friends are here to see him on this happy day, everything is perfect...

But her mind struggles between the reality of what she knows and what she sees and feel. If this is a dream, does she have the right to ruin it for him, to be the one responsible for driving the cold knife of reality into his chest and twist? Pain is all she would bring if she reminds him his fiancée is gone and this is just a dream.

Just a dream. They never are just dreams in fairy tales, are they.]

Giles never was much for parties, no. I'm so lucky he was willing to indulge me when I dragged him to gatherings. And please, I'm fine. [She downs the rest of her glass for some extra courage, then gestures around their location.] Have time to show me around a bit?

[folklorist]

[ He blinks and tilts his head a little. He's not sure he believes you Ginia but he won't pry. The idea that all of this is a dream is beyond him. So deep he is into the want and thought and need for it to be true. It would definitely only end in pain and heartache to hear. But reality is something you can't run from and it's a harsh truth to come to terms with sometimes. ] I honestly don't know how you manage that. You and Elise... [ A laugh as he shakes his head. She's done the same thing more or less once or twice before. Helios motions with his arm off towards the castle. ]

But yes of course! I'd love to. What would you like to see first? The garden is quite big after all. It even has a maze we used to use for Halloween sometimes, back when a friend of my family owned this place. Or perhaps you'd like to see the inside of the castle?

[shadedsunlight]

I think a walk around the garden sounds wonderful. It's so nice out here too. [She vaguely remembers the castle from the tour back in Luceti and she wouldn't mind seeing it again, but the garden is new territory. Either way, she needs somewhere she can talk to him in private and try to figure things out.] It's so beautiful here, Helios. You're so fortunate being able to live here. [That much she can say with sincerity. Maybe one day Giles and her will be able to go back to his world and live out their days there. It's a wish she'll still cling to. If they've managed to make it to other worlds, why not his?]

[folklorist]

Ah thank you for saying so. Elise did most of the gardening. [ Being half dryad she is one of the best gardeners he knows. ] I also helped of course! But you know...she does has a specific way she likes to do things. When it comes to gardening and the like even more so. [ But he says all that with a look of affection and a tone of utter complacency. He can't really get mad or anything like that. Utterly in love? Helios is it. ]

The people living here with me make it all the more fortunate to be able to do so. This castle has been in my family for a very long time. It's...been a few years since I've seen it this populated, actually. [ He'll motion her to follow him then with a wave of his hand. He'll walk slowly through the crowd of people until they all but diminish and they're finally left in peace and quiet. ]

[through_fire_be_reborn]

[[There's a shape in his path as he runs, draped in silk that twists like flames around thin legs, the head of monster with gems for eyes that would be familiar to any who lay trapped in the dreams it had spun for them.]]

[folklorist]

[ It's only when Helios turns back around and sees that flame and creature in his path that he audibly gasps and stops in his tracks. His expression is a mingled look of confusion, horror, and sheer terror as he looks back over his shoulder into the darkness. The sounds of those beasts getting ever so closer to him as he stops in his running. ] W-What?

[through_fire_be_reborn]

[[She says nothing, simply watching, the gem eyes sparkling with inner flame as if in a challenge.

Which do you fear more, Helios?]]