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[ the gesture soothes. her hair is silky and smells nice.
she is nevertheless aching. if you're going to say this always happens to you, that everything you want always slips out of your fingers--well maybe not, but fuck, quite a lot of it does ]
All that work... [ an utter waste. she closes her fingers against his back and heaves a much larger, heavier sigh. ] I never wanted it to be like this. Never to put you in harm's way.
she is nevertheless aching. if you're going to say this always happens to you, that everything you want always slips out of your fingers--well maybe not, but fuck, quite a lot of it does ]
All that work... [ an utter waste. she closes her fingers against his back and heaves a much larger, heavier sigh. ] I never wanted it to be like this. Never to put you in harm's way.
I know... [ in the end, that vial had to go. Research pursuits aside, it was doing more harm than good just by being in her possession. ]
I know that, too. I don't think for one moment that you meant for any of this to happen.
I know that, too. I don't think for one moment that you meant for any of this to happen.
[ Arthur kicks off his shoes too, though it's kind of silly considering his clothes are still dirty with blood and sweat and soaked in places with alcohol. Sorry about your sheets, Dream.
He snuggles close, finding the same to be true of Dream. He's comfortable. Comforting. ]
Mm. Take me to a library, Dream. My home away from home.
[ Right now, he's a viera of simple needs. ]
All else I will defer to you.
He snuggles close, finding the same to be true of Dream. He's comfortable. Comforting. ]
Mm. Take me to a library, Dream. My home away from home.
[ Right now, he's a viera of simple needs. ]
All else I will defer to you.
[ "Don't worry. He's not Henry." could mean SO many things in this context. ]
Oh? Yes, I would love to see it.
Oh? Yes, I would love to see it.
[ of course he would never blame her. he is so perfect. ]
I could feel...... [ the noose tightening ] I could myself fixating on it. Thank you for taking it, Arthur.
[ again, she's squishing her face into his neck ]
I could feel...... [ the noose tightening ] I could myself fixating on it. Thank you for taking it, Arthur.
[ again, she's squishing her face into his neck ]
I'm looking forward to it.
[ And lets be real, it doesn't take him overlong to pass out. He's been through a lot today, and exhaustion claims him quickly. He falls asleep nestled in Dream's arms. ]
[ And lets be real, it doesn't take him overlong to pass out. He's been through a lot today, and exhaustion claims him quickly. He falls asleep nestled in Dream's arms. ]
Of course. You know I'd do anything for you.
[ He draws his fingers through her hair again. She truly is so precious to him. He hopes she knows that. He— ]
I love you, Sprezzatura.
[ He draws his fingers through her hair again. She truly is so precious to him. He hopes she knows that. He— ]
I love you, Sprezzatura.
[The dream itself arrives no differently than the rest. It blooms into the consciousness of the sleeping mind, until the dream is all there is. But this time, Arthur will find himself standing amid a grand library, with aisles that seem to stretch on and on and on, books upon books, the lines of shelving interrupting amber rays of light from windows set into the walls. At the center of this library are large tables, with more books stacked upon them. Places to sit, and read, and study, and to be lost in stories.
It is all very much larger than life, but there is a surreality to it, too. Like all the books here may be changed on a whim; that not all their stories are set in stone. They are transient, but they seem infinite all the same.
Arthur will find himself at the library’s center. Dream descends stairs near what must be an exit (or an entrance?) at the other end to meet him.
This will, of course, be a lucid dream.]
Welcome to my library.
It is all very much larger than life, but there is a surreality to it, too. Like all the books here may be changed on a whim; that not all their stories are set in stone. They are transient, but they seem infinite all the same.
Arthur will find himself at the library’s center. Dream descends stairs near what must be an exit (or an entrance?) at the other end to meet him.
This will, of course, be a lucid dream.]
Welcome to my library.
[ the side of his neck gets warm, and damp. just a little, a sudden pressure release.
she releases a breath into the cut of his collar. and suddenly, Arthus is being hugged, squeezed very tight. tail and all. ]
I love you.
she releases a breath into the cut of his collar. and suddenly, Arthus is being hugged, squeezed very tight. tail and all. ]
I love you.
[ As the library unfolds around him, his first thought is Ah, this reminds me of Gubal, but as the aisles stretch onward and the books pile higher and that strange otherworldly quality seeps through the stacks, he realizes that this is far beyond anything even the famed nation of scholars could conceive of.
Dream's voice tears his eyes away from the shelves for a moment, and the wonder is clear on his face. ]
Dream... 'tis a marvel. I hardly know what to say.
Dream's voice tears his eyes away from the shelves for a moment, and the wonder is clear on his face. ]
Dream... 'tis a marvel. I hardly know what to say.
[ He hugs her back, just as tight. Like he never wants to let her go. ]
I'm so glad you're alright.
I'm so glad you're alright.
[ hears herself make this sound like a whine, but also kind of a wheeze, because this hug is tight. we'll ... it is out in the world now, and she can't take it back!
how did this happen? Theo first, and now Arthur and Herlock. her heart feels far too big for her chest. she turns it over in her mind: I love you. it's such a glorious sound. ]
I love you, Arthur. I love you...
how did this happen? Theo first, and now Arthur and Herlock. her heart feels far too big for her chest. she turns it over in her mind: I love you. it's such a glorious sound. ]
I love you, Arthur. I love you...
[ Oh dear, he broke her. She's stuck on repeat.
It's precious, though, and he can't deny the way his heart soars every time she utters those words. ]
I love you, too. My sky. My love.
It's precious, though, and he can't deny the way his heart soars every time she utters those words. ]
I love you, too. My sky. My love.
[Dream smiles, pleased with Arthur's reaction. He crosses closer, until he can speak without having to rely on his voice being carried across the vast space.]
In this place... Well, in the real Dreaming's library, every story that has ever been told, imagined, or written, exists in these books. Every story that will one day come into existence are somewhere in these pages, too. And that, too, includes the tales belonging to any given individual's life.
[But those are always changing; and thus the transient nature of the books themselves.]
In this place... Well, in the real Dreaming's library, every story that has ever been told, imagined, or written, exists in these books. Every story that will one day come into existence are somewhere in these pages, too. And that, too, includes the tales belonging to any given individual's life.
[But those are always changing; and thus the transient nature of the books themselves.]
[ such a far cry from the woman who held him at an arm's length—even she can hardly believe how easily it comes to her lips. and she doesn't want to stop saying it.
every inch of her feels covered in goosebumps. she could laugh. she could—cry? no, not that one. drops back into his lap so she can look, really look, at his face. ]
Where... Where is she? Is she back?
[ you know who. ]
every inch of her feels covered in goosebumps. she could laugh. she could—cry? no, not that one. drops back into his lap so she can look, really look, at his face. ]
Where... Where is she? Is she back?
[ you know who. ]
[ He does know who. He angles his head, and at some unspoken command, Clover shimmers into being just over his shoulder.
She looks none the worse for wear, though she had to be resummoned altogether so perhaps that's expected. There is the briefest moment of hesitation as she looks at Sprezzatura, a lightning flash of memory playing behind her gaze, but ultimately...
She flits over, resting one tiny hand on either side of Sprezzatura's face. She dips her head, pressing her forehead against the space between Sprezzatura's eyebrows. It's okay, the gesture seems to say. I know it wasn't you. ]
She looks none the worse for wear, though she had to be resummoned altogether so perhaps that's expected. There is the briefest moment of hesitation as she looks at Sprezzatura, a lightning flash of memory playing behind her gaze, but ultimately...
She flits over, resting one tiny hand on either side of Sprezzatura's face. She dips her head, pressing her forehead against the space between Sprezzatura's eyebrows. It's okay, the gesture seems to say. I know it wasn't you. ]
Every story?
[ Now it is Arthur who looks starry-eyed, though not so literally as Dream. tfw you don't have an icon of this emote. ]
This place puts even the Studium to shame.
[ Now it is Arthur who looks starry-eyed, though not so literally as Dream. tfw you don't have an icon of this emote. ]
This place puts even the Studium to shame.
[ —SHIVERS OUT AN EXHALE. judgement is passed. ]
Oh, lapochka.
[ she's going to remember the feeling of crushing her for a very long time. the oni will see to that. but right now, the only one in control of Sprezzatura is Sprezzatura. she cups her hands and brings them up to cradle Clover, if she'll allow it, and press the gentlest kiss to that tiny face ]
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
Oh, lapochka.
[ she's going to remember the feeling of crushing her for a very long time. the oni will see to that. but right now, the only one in control of Sprezzatura is Sprezzatura. she cups her hands and brings them up to cradle Clover, if she'll allow it, and press the gentlest kiss to that tiny face ]
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
[ She does allow it, cuddling into Sprezzatura's hands. Arthur watches the exchange with a muted sort of smile on his face. ]
... When I first met her, she was trying to defend her current summoner from a treasure hunter. She threw herself right in my face, thinking I also meant harm.
... When I first met her, she was trying to defend her current summoner from a treasure hunter. She threw herself right in my face, thinking I also meant harm.
[ she is so small. Mammon, she is so small.
just as with Lan Wangji's rabbits, when Clover cuddles down, she feels her own heart beating fast. she could break her—did break her. it is very hard to move. so she stays still, the cradle of her fingers neither loosening nor tightening. ]
Such brave girl, you. Bravest of anyone.
just as with Lan Wangji's rabbits, when Clover cuddles down, she feels her own heart beating fast. she could break her—did break her. it is very hard to move. so she stays still, the cradle of her fingers neither loosening nor tightening. ]
Such brave girl, you. Bravest of anyone.
She's very brave.
[ He reaches up to curl his fingers around Sprezzatura's hands and the faerie nestled within them. ]
Full glad am I to have both of you returned to me.
[ He reaches up to curl his fingers around Sprezzatura's hands and the faerie nestled within them. ]
Full glad am I to have both of you returned to me.
[no that's too cute!!]
Every story. [Well, he supposes that's not true.] Rather, every story that exists on my plane of the universe. The ones from your world, for example, are not present. Though perhaps they could be, if you share more of them with me, someday.
[Arthur is free to wander about as much as he likes. Dream will follow.]
The Studium?
Every story. [Well, he supposes that's not true.] Rather, every story that exists on my plane of the universe. The ones from your world, for example, are not present. Though perhaps they could be, if you share more of them with me, someday.
[Arthur is free to wander about as much as he likes. Dream will follow.]
The Studium?
Do I take that to mean you've the legend of All Saints' Wake somewhere on these shelves?
[ A bit of teasing. Though as he begins to wander the rows of shelves, he finds himself reaching for Dream's hand. Even here, he craves a bit of warmth. Something to ground him. ]
My mother hails from the island nation of Sharlayan. 'Tis a bastion of knowledge, a nation of scholars. I spent my childhood in a Sharlayan colony on the mainland, and the library there was truly grand. I hear the libraries of the Studium, the foremost academy in Sharlayan proper, made the halls of Gubal seem like a trifle.
[ A bit of teasing. Though as he begins to wander the rows of shelves, he finds himself reaching for Dream's hand. Even here, he craves a bit of warmth. Something to ground him. ]
My mother hails from the island nation of Sharlayan. 'Tis a bastion of knowledge, a nation of scholars. I spent my childhood in a Sharlayan colony on the mainland, and the library there was truly grand. I hear the libraries of the Studium, the foremost academy in Sharlayan proper, made the halls of Gubal seem like a trifle.
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