eswareinmal | Action: but you never tire of dreams

Entry tags:

Action: but you never tire of dreams

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.

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His grip is noticed - Faolan might just feel the scientist's leg muscles tense slightly, as he's grabbed. But his hand isn't kicked away. Beyond that, the scientist gives no sign that he knows Faolan is there.

The talking continues, the two who belong growing more and more agitated at their new colleague, and their new colleague either being ignorant of this or simply not caring. Finally, in a voice carrying noticeable hints of an accent:

"I think you must have stumbled across one too many questions you shouldn't have known the answer to."

Then there's the sound of metal slicing flesh, men gurgling as they choke on their own blood. Two bodies hit the floor, just visible as two of Faolan's scientists through the little pet door. The last one standing seems entirely unperturbed, even as blood drips to the floor from the blade he'd used to end them.

"...kinder that way, I think."

It does make Faolan scared. Scientists killing each other? What if he's next? But he doesn't release his hold. The voice was different than any other scientist. Maybe... Maybe it's someone who wants to help.

He whimpers softly, not sure if he wants to attract attention or not.

He doesn't need to attract any attention to himself. The last scientist standing knows very well that he's here.

Carefully, Faolan's hand is shaken off and the man steps away, out of sight. But only for a minute - then, he returns, and there's the sound of a passcode being entered, and a key card being swiped. A lock "clicks" audibly as it's unlocked. Then, slowly, ponderously, Faolan's cage door will be pushed open and pushed aside. Giles is standing on the other side, covered in blood, but looking down at Faolan with pity in his eyes.

"Computers. Awful things."

He sits down on the hard tiled floor, putting him a bit closer to Faolan's eye level.

"Are you hurt?"

Faolan backs away from the opening door, unsure that it opening is a good thing. But the man's eyes aren't mean. He scoots forward again, the expression in his wide eyes probably a better answer than the nervous shake of his head.

The man watches the boy and his reactions carefully for a few seconds. Then he steps aside, leaving the way out clear, and gestures for Faolan to keep moving forward.

"Out you come. This is no place for a boy. Even a boy with your condition. Especially not a boy with your condition."

Faolan remains small and close to the floor as he exits the room. Where will he be taken now? He whines up at Giles before dropping onto his back, displaying his belly in a show of submission and a plea to be protected.

"Stop that."

But the man sounds tired, more than angry. "You didn't leave by the pet door, this time. I would think that would be sign enough that you can stop acting like someone's pet."

Even so, he does pat the boy's stomach lightly, the closest thing to a belly rub the scientist seems inclined to give.

Encouraged, Faolan rolls over, rising to his knees. He looks his question at the man, then follows it up with words. "No hurt Faolan?"

"No."

This time, it's a gentle pat on the head. "The world is done with hurting you, if I have anything to say about it. If you'll allow me, I'd like for us both to get out of here. I have bad memories of this sort of place myself."

The gentle touch is the last straw and Faolan throws hi,self at Giles, clinging and sobbing.

And the response to this is nothing less than Faolan being folded into a hug, safe and secure. Giles will give Faolan a bit to sob to his heart's content - there's catharsis, in tears, he knows that better than most. And Giles will hug him gently, murmuring soothing things - that he's safe now and that there's no one left to hurt him and he's free now.

But, eventually, he straightens up, picking the boy up as he does so. Giles is tall enough, and Faolan mistreated and abused enough, that he can manage to carry him without too much effort.

"Time to go," he says simply, and off they go down a nameless hallway, one without feature or identifying mark. Giles seems to know where he's going all the same.

Faolan's arms wrap around Giles' neck and he trustingly lays his cheek against the man's shoulder. "Where going?" he asks, voice tired as if he doesn't much care about the answer. He's been down halls like this before, and they rarely seem to go anywhere but other labs.

"Out. Away. It's hard to explain."

Giles doesn't have any specific destination in mind beyond "outside". That seems to be the most important step, at the moment. But he doesn't say as much to Faolan. Faolan, at least, should be able to trust that Giles knows what he's doing. There are a few false starts, where he stumbles into labs, cold rooms containing medical instruments and operating tables with straps and cages. But Giles always backs out as quickly as he can, resuming his search for the exit.

He finally finds a likely looking door at the end of one hallway. Giles tests it and finds it unlocked, and pushes it open very, very slightly. Warm air carrying the scent of grass blows inside, along with the faintest sliver of sunlight. Giles nods in satisfaction, before looking down at Faolan.

"Shield your eyes," he warns, before pushing the door wide open.

Faolan has already averted his eyes by pressing his face to Giles' shoulder. He didn't want to see the labs, and was shivering by the time they reach the exit. In fact, Giles' warning makes him look up curiously, the bright light at once making him whimper and hold Giles tighter in amazement.

"Out?" he asks, wonder in his voice.

"Out," Giles confirms softly, patting Faolan gently on the back. "I assume that's what you want, after all."

And then, keeping the door open with his foot, he steps outside and lets it slam shut behind them with a harsh note of finality. Ahead is a broad driveway empty of vehicles or people, bordered by grass and lit by early evening summer sunlight.

Giles resumes his walking.

Faolan wriggles out of his hold, wanting to feel the grass on his feet. There is air and sun, and grass, and he wants it, oh yes, he wants it.

All the same, he doesn't go far, and returns quickly to Giles' side, slipping his hand into the man's.

And Giles won't have gone far down the path when he returns. He only keeps walking because, well, he thought Faolan might appreciate the exercise in walking on his own a bit.

But he still holds the boy's hand tightly as they go.

"You're free now. Do you see that?"

Faolan looks around at the sun and the green grass, and the strangely vanished building, then back.

"Yes," he answers simply, then moves just a little closer. "Can stay with Giles?"

Giles looks a bit taken aback by the question...but, then he nods, reaching down to hold Faolan's hand, a light enough hold, so that the boy can scamper off again if he wants to.

"If you want. I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to, but...if you want."

Faolan's smile blooms wide and brilliant, and he throws his arms around Giles again.

"Yes! Want Giles to be part of pack!"

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Action: but you never tire of dreams

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