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I'd like that. There's much and more of my world I would like to see, and the experience would be made all the better with someone dear at my side.
[ He laughs. ]
Truly, you are a man after my own heart.
[ Nevermind that Dream is not technically a man, and more of an anthropomorphized aspect of the universe. It's fine. ]
Truly, you are a man after my own heart.
[ Nevermind that Dream is not technically a man, and more of an anthropomorphized aspect of the universe. It's fine. ]
Oh, my sky...
[ He curls his arms around her to pull her close. ]
That is her doing, too.
[ He curls his arms around her to pull her close. ]
That is her doing, too.
She uses me like puppet, makes me feel everything—my horn, broken. My hand... [ nearly ripped from her wrist, she can't stop seeing it in her mind's eye ] I am being apologizing all day, I wish—
[ stops herself, for a moment seething again. no. no. no, she doesn't wish that. ]
[ stops herself, for a moment seething again. no. no. no, she doesn't wish that. ]
[ He winces a little. Clearly things got so much worse after he first encountered her. He should have gone back for her. He... gods, that does no one any good now, does it? He was hardly in any condition to go another round with her oni. ]
You wish-?
You wish-?
[ if she has her way, he will never know how bad it got. how many people she hunted, how many people just left her, and how many fought back with the real intent to kill if they had to.
that's what she keeps saying she wanted, but the reality of it is not so cut and dry. she's always going to remember the crunch of her arm as Ruggie bit it in two. she's always going to remember Lotor's face twisted up in an intensity of spite she never before ascribed to him. she's always going to remember Alec Brennan's fucking arm around her throat. ]
I wish she never looked at anyone but me. I am sick of swallowing my words to let everyone else say what they think.
that's what she keeps saying she wanted, but the reality of it is not so cut and dry. she's always going to remember the crunch of her arm as Ruggie bit it in two. she's always going to remember Lotor's face twisted up in an intensity of spite she never before ascribed to him. she's always going to remember Alec Brennan's fucking arm around her throat. ]
I wish she never looked at anyone but me. I am sick of swallowing my words to let everyone else say what they think.
[A smile.]
Then, after that, wherever else you would like to go.
[He would like to see what a world like Arthur’s has to offer. Every one is so different, unique.]
And someday, when we are free of this place, you will be able to visit me in the real Dreaming, too.
Then, after that, wherever else you would like to go.
[He would like to see what a world like Arthur’s has to offer. Every one is so different, unique.]
And someday, when we are free of this place, you will be able to visit me in the real Dreaming, too.
[ Oh, he's already thinking of all the places they could go, over all Eorzea and across the seas. Hingashi, Thavnair, and beyond. Arthur longs to see them all. ]
I would like that very much.
[ Any of it, all of it. ]
Though I imagine you're giving me quite an accurate representation of it now.
I would like that very much.
[ Any of it, all of it. ]
Though I imagine you're giving me quite an accurate representation of it now.
[ Would that she were that fortunate. Arthur's own possession has been almost a non-issue since he got here, but he realizes he's one of the lucky ones. ]
My sky... have you not the coins for an exorcism? Mayhap it would be better to be rid of her completely.
My sky... have you not the coins for an exorcism? Mayhap it would be better to be rid of her completely.
[ a vein in her jaw flickers, abject ]
Arthur, do you think Basilisk wins enough tokens for that?
Arthur, do you think Basilisk wins enough tokens for that?
... How many would you need?
[ As if it weren't obvious, he's ready to donate to the cause. ]
[ As if it weren't obvious, he's ready to donate to the cause. ]
And why not? You know I would give you everything I have and more if it would free you from her grasp.
[ He's got the coins, girl. Let him do it! ]
[ He's got the coins, girl. Let him do it! ]
I know! But I can't.
[ she takes his face in her hands, smoothing and coddling, to make him look at her.
or.... to make herself look at him. ]
Do you understand it? If I let her go, then she is out there again. Perhaps something worse will fill me. I can control her. I will.
[ she takes his face in her hands, smoothing and coddling, to make him look at her.
or.... to make herself look at him. ]
Do you understand it? If I let her go, then she is out there again. Perhaps something worse will fill me. I can control her. I will.
[Any and all of it. He would love to see it.]
Yes and no. It is a hollow representation because it is missing an essential few. Mostly, Lucienne, the chief librarian. Or Mervyn, found straightening up every corner of the Dreaming. It is strange, too, not to hear the beating wings of my raven, Matthew.
Yes and no. It is a hollow representation because it is missing an essential few. Mostly, Lucienne, the chief librarian. Or Mervyn, found straightening up every corner of the Dreaming. It is strange, too, not to hear the beating wings of my raven, Matthew.
[ He does look at her, blue eyes searching her face, looking to understand why she does what she does.
And ultimately, he may not like her reasoning, he does understand it. ]
Very well, my sky. But know the offer is open if you should change your mind.
And ultimately, he may not like her reasoning, he does understand it. ]
Very well, my sky. But know the offer is open if you should change your mind.
I see... 'tis missing a bit of life. Something not so easily captured, I must imagine.
[ He will try not to be jealous of the person who acts as the librarian of this place. Talk about a dream job. (Heh.) ]
You've a raven? A familiar of some sort?
[ He will try not to be jealous of the person who acts as the librarian of this place. Talk about a dream job. (Heh.) ]
You've a raven? A familiar of some sort?
Not captured as well as I would like, no.
[And it would make him miss this place too much, when there is not yet a way to really return.]
He is my messenger, able to travel between the waking world and the Dreaming without issue, when I am otherwise busy or unable to do the same. He was once a mortal man, after all; for him, it is a simple task.
[And, well, SINCE MATTHEW ISN'T HERE TO HEAR IT-]
He is also a friend.
[And it would make him miss this place too much, when there is not yet a way to really return.]
He is my messenger, able to travel between the waking world and the Dreaming without issue, when I am otherwise busy or unable to do the same. He was once a mortal man, after all; for him, it is a simple task.
[And, well, SINCE MATTHEW ISN'T HERE TO HEAR IT-]
He is also a friend.
[ not even she can say why she does what she does. you simply have to decide whether she is worth enduring it. ]
I have hated this day. We do not speak of her any more. Let her rot in back of my mind.
I have hated this day. We do not speak of her any more. Let her rot in back of my mind.
[ Then that's no choice at all. She has ever been worth it. ]
Speak of who? [ A gentle tease. He leans in to kiss her again, brief but sweet. ] Then what might make this day better for you? I am yours to command.
Speak of who? [ A gentle tease. He leans in to kiss her again, brief but sweet. ] Then what might make this day better for you? I am yours to command.
[ Dream is being tsun and Arthur doesn't even know it. ]
How does a mortal man become such a creature?
How does a mortal man become such a creature?
Edited 2023-01-27 21:39 (UTC)
[ too good to her. she thumbs his cheeks indulgently. ]
Shoulder massage.
Shoulder massage.
[ A smile. ]
As my lady wishes. Turn around for me.
As my lady wishes. Turn around for me.
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