[mingle] what's the dream and what's the reality?

[lovetheme]

Lately the castle's nights have been very clear and almost warm, even up so high among the clouds as they are. But regardless of the weather, they are generally peaceful nights, and few things seem to stir during them...apart from the castle's inhabitants, be it with late-night roving or with sleep. The dreams, by extension, are at least undisturbed...if maybe not always pleasant. That sort of thing tends to vary by the person, of course.

But now--and for several nights, consecutively--the castle residents may find their dreams starting to take on stranger shapes: memories they've never had, friends that don't usually arrive, strangers they've never seen. These odd impressions might cling and continue to confuse even upon waking, vivid as they were; was it really just a dream, or maybe something more...? Does that newcomer in your dream remember you there too, in the daytime?

Either way, there seems to be an strange energy in the air during these nights. And it's bringing dreams together.

((ooc: And here's the catch-all post for the dream-sharing event! Feel free to top-level with your character's dreams here, or thread around in others! The event should only last about a week, but backtagging is eternal c: The ooc planning post can be found here!))

Comments

[lightofthestars]

"Fear is often lessened when shared between friends. I hope that is true this time. If not, I will be there to waken you."

She hopes that will not be needed, but--nothing is sure.

aaron u sourpuss

[andthebat]

Batman doesn't turn around. Not at first. Not before answering Aaron's question.

"Working. What else?"

He answers Aaron's second question in a similarly unhelpful manner: "Isn't it obvious?"

Then he turns around, and Aaron will be able to get a good look at his face. The Batman looms, all fur and talons and blue eyes assessing Aaron. A young man, the Batman observes, possibly a teenager or in his early twenties. There's something strangely familiar about him; like the face of a person who lives in your neighborhood, but whom you've never actually spoken to.

Batman adds: "...Or haven't you heard of the Batman before?"

[exuviiated]

Well. He certainly doesn't look like any Batman Aaron's ever seen! "Don't you mean Man-Bat? We have one of those running around." But he's albino, and markedly nastier. "...but. Hello, I guess."

He's obviously not the Batman from Aaron's universe, and, even if he had the right mindset into the future (which makes no sense-- he's seventeen, not a twenty-something where did he get that age and it just doesn't make sense.) he still wouldn't measure up to what he's used to. Will be used to.

Aaron takes a few cautious steps forwards. "Why are you down here? This isn't... the nicest place."

[notsogrimreaper]

"I think a bad dream will probably wake me up quickly anyways. But thank you for the offer. It... really does mean a lot that you worry so much."

He shifts from foot to foot, but smiles.

[lightofthestars]

She blushes lightly, but says, "You are...you are dear to me. If there is a way for me to ease your pain, I will take it if I can."

[andthebat]

"This one can. Until you take away his umbrella, anyway." Perfectly reasonable, right?

The Batman gives Frisk a concerned look, then drops onto the roof of the apartment building. The roof is covered with various enormous puddles of water, and Batman has to look around to find a dry spot to put Frisk down on.

"You could stay with Alfred," he suggests, still glancing about. "He'd keep you safe."

[dustless]

Noooooo. They don't quite say this aloud, but it's communicated quite well in how they stubbornly slip out of his arms.

Literally. Like he's trying to hold onto a big ol' pile of slime, or Clayface, maybe. Except they're back to normal as soon as they land in one of those puddles, which are all about knee deep and soaks them to the bone when they splash down. Whatever.

"Maybe I can meet him later. I can keep me safe," they insist from their puddle seat.

[andthebat]

There's a short pause as the guards digest that, before one of them scoffs. "Maybe you're the one who doesn't know him as well as you think," he says.

The second one adds: "You can't expect a beast to forget its nature, can you?"

The first guard nods in agreement, and then turns to the Batman, pointing at the beast with his baton. "Tell her yourself, why don't you? Or are you too much of a coward?"

The guard's moved out of the way, enough for Grune to get a better look at Batman inside the cage. He's not looking at Grune, but his fur is bristled up and his lips are pulled back into a silent snarl.

[regalduchess]

"Like... hmm... a replacement, while the original is unavailable."

[buttercup_eater]

"No..." Chara says. "But. There are some things. That nobody can help you with. Or that nobody will."

Chara places the glass to one side. It probably isn't where it's supposed to be. It's probably just going to be in the way for everybody else. They can't do anything right, can they?

Chara abruptly stands up. "I should go."

[andthebat]

The boy shakes his head, not unkindly. "You don't have to do that," he says, "I'm tougher than most people."

Then he squeezes Grune's hand back; or maybe he's just tightening his grip, because the next moment he's back to running down the street, leading Grune along with him.

"Mom!" he calls out every now and then, followed by "Dad!"

There's no response except for the hum of distant traffic. It seems like the worried crease between the boy's brows won't be going away any time soon.

[lostinmyway]

Grune walks straight up to the cage, as close as she can. She looks up at the Batman for a moment. He seems very scared, and so she gives him a warm smile.

"Hello. It's very nice to see you again."

[lostlegacy]

Her head tilts a little. "Like Gee Girl?"

Can aunties be "foster" parents?

[lostinmyway]

The others look startled. Grune does as well, but unlike the others, she stands up with them.

"Oh, my, but the picnic hasn't even started yet. Don't you want to have a nice meal with everyone?"

[lostinmyway]

Grune runs along with him, her steps as light as if she were dancing.

"Do you know where you were when they got lost?" she asks.

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji's eyes widen.

"Ah... really? I-I mean, you're dear to me as well..."

[lightofthestars]

Her blush deepens. "I am...glad to hear it." She takes in a breath. "I was worried I had--had lost your regard at the dance. It is good this does not seem to be so."

[notsogrimreaper]

"You lost my regard? I... I thought I lost yours."

He lowers his head, immediately ducking into the comfort of his scarf.

"I mean... I would expect you to be terrified of me, with what I can do."

[regalduchess]

"...I suppose."

Oh dear, she does not know who Gee Girl is. But Sophie seems to view her fondly, so that's a good thing.

[lightofthestars]

"It is not what you can do that I fear," she says at once. "I was instead afraid that I had stepped out of my place. I have found it...easier to do so, living here--too easy."

[lostlegacy]

And now she frowns. "Don't you know?"

[regalduchess]

"...I'm afraid not, little one."

[lostlegacy]

"Oh." She pauses, stroking one of the kittens without really noticing.

"You know Gee Girl, right?"

Everyone does, she finds.

[buttercup_eater]

The eyes of Chara's mother roll up so hard the pupils are almost hidden, accompanied by a long-suffering sigh.

"Don't be difficult. It's just a glove."

She reaches across the table and sets the wooden bowl in front of the real Chara, ignoring the way the real Chara presses back in their seat, then reaches over to snatch up Frisk's wrist. Her nails are long and sharp and with an impatient noise Chara's mother sets to prying and clawing at the stitches.

* You should do something. Chara thinks. * Need to move... need to...

[dustless]

"It's important," they repeat, sounding just a little strained.

The stitches are tight, but her nails are up to the task. Frisk's lips pull back, teeth glittering in a grimace. The glove starts to loosen around the wrists, exposing something red.

Do something? "Like what," Frisk asks the air.

They rip their hand back. Literally. There's a tearing noise, and a bit more of the glove comes off, and that weird red is poking out like a flap of loose skin.