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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

[ 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?

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?]

Edited 2012-05-29 20:15 (UTC)

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. ]

Good with plants, I take it? Maybe I should ask her for some pointers. [Black thumb and all, though Grune was helping it improve. She smiles warmly at Helios' tone, so happy to hear and see him like this. It only makes her decision more painful and difficult to decide on, but there's still time.

She looks around at some of the people here as they walk along. She catches a glimpse of Giles talking to someone, Frederic providing music at a grand piano, Elise again, it's a very happy celebration and she feels a bit better when they're finally away from everyone. Ginia walks in silence, admiring the landscape around them.]

I wish I could stay. The Academy would be a nice place to live and work at.

Oh yes, very good with them. She's, ah, more in tune to them than the average gardener to say the least. [ An affectionate laugh as Helios leads them through an archway with overhanging vines sprinkled here and there with vibrant red roses. The field beyond has multitude of plant life scattered throughout it. Roses of all colors are in bundles to the left and daisies and sunflowers and tulips grow on the right. It's a color part of the garden one that he loves walking through in his spare time. At the far left side lies a gazebo with a cushioned bench and stone marble topped table for dining and eating. ] Who says you can't? You, Giles, Frederic. I-I'd love for all of you to s-stay. But, ah, that's a bit selfish isn't it? But I do think all three of you could make a wonderful impression and improvement towards things here. I-I never have enough teachers, you know?

[ He laughs again as he walks through the garden that is far too perfect, far too dream-like in its coloring and lack of imperfections on the plants. But Helios doesn't see it, doesn't want to perhaps. Either way he keeps walking a smile always touching his lips. ]

I hardly think it's selfish if I want to stay. Though I hardly know what I would teach. [Hand-to-hand combat hardly seems appropriate, even framed in the sense of martial arts and discipline. Frederic would certainly have piano covered. Cooking, maybe? Certainly more age appropriate than bartending.] But it would be nice to stay...

[Ginia admires the flowers in all their bright and beautiful perfection, her smile a little sad.] It'd be so easy to stay here forever...

There's plenty of things I think you would be good at! There's always the library that needs looking after too. [ A warm smile. Giles is there after all and Helios thinks the two of them working together would be nice for the both of them.

Helios nods his voice a little airy when he replies next. ] Wouldn't it? I wouldn't mind doing so. I think I will just...for a little while. There's so much that still has to be done after all.

[ He sits down on the bench with a half sigh half laugh. ] No time to rest just yet.

Edited 2012-06-01 00:09 (UTC)

[Still so much to do. It's one thing that can be said about life, there is always more to do. The known things, the unknown, so much to do in an unknown amount of time.

Ginia sits down next to Helios and for a few seconds, she just looks at him, trying her best to memorize him in all his happiness.]

Helios, do you believe I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you?

[ So much more and even when you have nothing left in you to even continue on you still have to try and do it. But those were feelings not felt here, never, Helios in this dream had never touched upon desperation or despair because everything was perfect here.

Helios is slightly taken aback at that question. ] Of course. Why ever would you ask such a thing? [ A laugh. You are acting so very strange you know that? ]

Edited 2012-06-01 00:49 (UTC)

Just... Just making sure you know. [Sometimes Ginia wishes she couldn't lie so easily and with a smile on her face. She leans back on her hands and looks up at the sky, trying to summon up the courage to continue on.]

You should probably go back to the party, I'm sure Elise is looking for you, your other friends too. I can wait here. [Because if she has to ruin things for him, he should get at least once last look at his fiancée.]

Edited 2012-06-01 00:51 (UTC)

You're...acting rather strange. Are you sure everything is alright? [ Because of course he knows that. Ginia is practically family and she's at least family that he knows would never harm him in anyway. ]

Oh! But I-I haven't even shown you the fountain or the maze yet. [ A frown as he looks at her. Something was definitely wrong. But he probably should head back just to check up on everything. He moves to stand up. ] M-Maybe when I get back we can head over there. Do you want me to bring you back anything? Dessert, something to drink?

Yes, I'm sure. [She doesn't even bother to say 'don't worry' because she knows he will.]

You can show me in time. [Maybe one day, when they're really in his world, they can see it together. Giles can come too.] And no, I'm fine, thank you. Feel free to take your time, it's quite nice out here and I'm sure a lot of people want to see you and congratulate you.

[ A small sigh from Helios. He will frown a little as he stands fully and walks around to the other side of the table. ] If you're certain...

[ He's still going to bring you back something to drink at least. It was rather warm out after all. ] I-I'll, um, be back shortly. Y-You can look too if you want.

[Ginia smiles and waves him on, hoping he'll spend his time enjoying himself and not worrying too much about her (she knows better than to expect him to not worry about her at all).

It's sad telling him she'd never hurt him intentionally, yet isn't breaking him out of his dream an intentional act of pain? Even with the best of intentions, she's still deliberately striking at his happiness.]

What would you do, Giles? [She quietly asks out loud, wishing he was here for a second opinion, though he has a hunch he'd do the same. Dreams are wonderful things, but in the end, they're only that. There's a greater world to continue living in. It was as Helios said himself moments ago; no time to rest just yet.

Yet Luceti was almost a dream of its own. It's own isolated pocket of reality, where everything that happened in Luceti had no bearing on anything outside. She learned that going back home, living on another year.

Ginia slump forward and rest her head on her arms. Dammit.]

[ Sometimes living in the world is so much harder than in ones dreams. It's so easy to want to stay because it's so perfect and everything he's hoped for and imagined. Everyone here loves him and supports him. Elise is alive and he's in love with her and everything is just how it should have been. How it was supposed to be. But out there beyond this veil is nothing but pain and broken memories. Is it really so bad that he wants to stay? Selfish maybe and he knows it but he can't seem to care at the moment.

It'll be a good while before Helios returns and in his hands are a plate of food and some more champagne. His smile drops as he sees her in that position and he'll hurry back over. Plate and glass clink against the stone table. ] Ginia?

[It's an oddly comfortable position, though Ginia quickly sits up when she realizes Helios is back. She laughs softly at the food and drinks he brought over - oh, Helios, never change - and smiles.]

I'm fine, I'm fine. Sorry, just resting my head a little. Traveling, alcohol, doesn't mix. [She tries to laugh it off, but it's probably pretty obvious by now things aren't okay. Ginia's no closer to figuring out how to handle things beyond the blunt force of truth, but Helios deserves better than that.]

You should sit down.

[ He doesn't look convinced at Ginia's response because, no, something is wrong. Something is very wrong and on a base level he knows. His mind is trying to tell him because it knows too but he won't let it sink in or seep through. This dream, this protection, it was built out of steel to keep the pain away. But even steel warps under pressure and heat and no defense is perfect.

He sits without a seconds questioning. ] Something is wrong. Wh-what is it? You, you can tell me. I-I'll always help you, you know. S-So there's no need to worry about f-feeling like you're bothering me.

[ A pause as he looks her over. ] Maybe you go inside to rest for a little bit?

No, I'm fine here. [Here is very good because she knows if she delays things any longer, she'll never talk to him. It may not be her dream, but she wants to stay in it almost as badly as he does. She could take care of the library alongside Giles, play duets with Frederic, learn how to garden with Grune, have the life she's always wanted. There is nothing wrong here, everything is beautiful with no pain or suffering. It could be a good life here.

But it wouldn't the right life. It wouldn't be real. They would live on in dreams, but what about reality? What would happen to their bodies as they continued to sleep?]

Helios... I don't know what will happen after this, but you are and always will be someone I admire, respect, and love. You are family, you are my brother. And I'm sorry I have to do this to you. [Her words come out in a rush and she forces herself to meet his eyes and not look away as she reaches up and tugs the neckline of her dress down to properly show the lack of gold around her neck.]

[ He's about to interject when he watches her do that, almost making to look away at the sudden exposure over her showing him her neckline. No. This couldn't be right. She didn't have a necklace? But...Ginia always had one the one he made for her for Christmas. This wasn't real.

Those words in his head hit him like a ton of bricks and they hurt. Hurt on a level far deeper than just simple heartache or disbelief. He moves away then disbelief and shock on his face. ] N-No that's not...that's not possible. [ It was some sort of trick, wasn't it? Yes that was it. It had to be because desperation to keep away from the truth was so much easier than to accept that this wasn't real. Elise wasn't real, she was dead and not a single one of these people would ever attend a party that never existed. His tone of voice is filled with nothing but sorrow as he utters that single word. ] No.

I'm sorry, Helios. I don't know what's going on, I don't know why I'm here, but this, [She gestures around at the beautiful world around them, her face falling in sadness as she continues to crush his dream.] none of this is real. It's a dream. You told me yourself she's gone.

[ He doesn't know what to say because his mind is just as empty as his heart right now. None of this was real. Elise was gone? Of course she was he was the one responsible...

And at that thought there is a scream. It resounds through the empty garden which is now darkening from overcast and ominous clouds. Helios just snaps his eyes shut in tandem with the scream of whom it belongs to is Elise no doubt. He opens his eyes after the clouds pass and the sun has a chance to peek through once again. His hands are slightly shaking in his lap as he looks lost and confused. ] I. I don't want to leave.

[ It's so selfish to say, so incredibly selfish and stupid. But he likes it here. It doesn't hurt and the pain of reality is never kind or unrelenting. He knows he has to wake up some time though because the real world wouldn't wait for him and he had people to protect and keep out of danger. ]

[Ginia quickly moves to hug him, holding her tight against him even as her own eyes squeeze shut. She doesn't want to see this, doesn't want to see the world fall apart, watch all the beauty crumble away into darkness.]

I know. I know, and god, Helios, I wish you could stay. I wish we all could, in your world, live happily, not worry about everything that's out there. I wish you two could be together, I wish you never had to hurt again. There is so much I would give you if I could.

But this is a dream, Helios. We have to wake up because... because there's still so much to do. [There are still goals to complete, adventures to have, a life to live. As painful as it can be, the real world is out there, slowly passing by as they sit here, dreaming it away.]

I think... I think she would want you to live on too.

[ He flinches almost backs away as she hugs him. There's that familiar dull throbbing in his chest that he lives with everyday of his life. A pain that never manages to go away because of the damage to his soul. And there are tears in his eyes as Ginia speaks those kind words that no one has ever said to him, no one ever would, until now. And that makes it hurt so much more. There's a shaky intake of breath as he tries to fight back those tears but he's just not strong enough to over power the purity and openness that the dreamscape provides. Pure happiness changing into sorrow.

His only reply is barely above a shaky whisper as he bites his lip and silently lets those tears fall freely from his eyes. ] It's so hard th-though.

[ God it's never been easy, no, but it was never as bad when Elise was in his life. And ever since she wasn't it was never the same. There were days were he wondered how he'd get through it, how he would ever manage or survive without her. Utterly bleak and dark and clouded by his own over thinking and harsh thoughts about himself. But he didn't have that here. Everything was so perfect and yet. And yet. It wasn't real, he could waste away in this place happy and content with his falsified life. Or he could share his happiness and make others happy instead. He had to live on because that's what Elise would have wanted. There's a small constricted sob from him as he tries to muffle it against Ginia's shoulder. ]

[Normally Ginia would let him have his space, but right now she holds on to him in a gentle, loving embrace. He is her brother and she needs him to know she cares, that she's here, that she regrets everything she's doing right now but it's also out of love and concern for him.]

I know. I know how hard it can be, I know how sometimes giving up seems so tempting because it means you don't have to hurt anymore, but you have to fight. You have to try because things might just get better.

[She whispers the words to him, their close proximity making it easy for him to hear. Ginia knows she doesn't understand everything he's feeling, that their situations are different, but she knows the pain, of how good it would be to stay in a dream. Live in a world where everything is nice a happy, work in the academy, be with Giles, see all their friends again, it would be so beautiful and good and she wants that too.

It's only a dream, but dreams can come true. They can work for it, find a way to go back to Helios' world, live together. Elise may not be there, it may not be perfect, but they can try.

Her hand comes up to gently stroke the back of Helios' head.]

There's no shame in crying, Helios. It's okay.

Edited 2012-06-12 17:32 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Action: but you never tire of dreams

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject