[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!))

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[antitemporal]

Sans-Serif looks up sharply at the sound of S-4's voice. He reaches up to wipe frightened tears from his eyes, the better to see his brother standing there. Even before the next flash of lightning properly illuminates him, he knows who he sees. The little skeleton smiles broadly in relief. "brother!" He tries to hurry over to him, but finds himself wincing instead as the other Sanses each tighten a hand on his wrist, holding him back.

"stay back, bro," says the one in red, glancing up at S-4.

"yeah, we'll protect you!" says the one in blue, fistpumping with his free hand.

Sans-Serif shakes his head fearfully. Of course, he wants his brother to be safe, but...he's scared, and if S-4 is here, that means he doesn't have to be brave. He wants to hold on tight to him, instead, so that whatever's in the dark doesn't get him, too. He finally manages to extend a hand towards S-4, if only because the one in blue is too nice to hold him back too forcibly.

[systematicsupport]

The sound of terror in his brother's voice, and worse, the sight of him being restrained from running to him, is enough to snap S-4 out of his initial confusion and rush forward. He ignores the other two versions of his sibling, wrapping his arms tightly around Sans-Serif, even if he can't hug him back properly.

He feels better having his brother safe against him, but that's not enough to distract him from what the other Sanses are saying to him. He looks between the two of them, confusion returning.

"What are you talking about? I'll protect him. I always do."

It doesn't make sense for his brother to have to take on the role of shield, when he's weak and low on health and especially because he's too frightened. S-4 isn't scared of his purpose. He'll always be brave enough to protect his brother...

[antitemporal]

Fortunately, as soon as S-4 wraps his arms around Sans-Serif, the other Sanses release him as though physically forced away, like two magnets with the same pole. They step back, step away, their gazes fixed on S-4 instead. Sans-Serif, meanwhile, doesn't hesitate to properly return the embrace once he's able to. He huddles in the taller skeleton's arms, his face turned against S-4's ribcage, as though if he ignores these spectres from another time then they can't touch him again.

"no," says the one in blue. His otherwise perpetual smile falters, his bright eyelights dim. "you don't."

"'kill or be killed'," says the one in red, folding his arms tightly over his ribcage. "you'll learn sooner or later." They always do.

Then they both fade into nothing. Sans-Serif lets out a long, shuddering sigh of relief, but it's short-lived. "they'll be back," he mumbles. "or...different thems. there's a lot of thems. and they're all so loud." He still doesn't dare relinquish his grip right away.

[systematicsupport]

S-4 looks between the two of them, hand pressed over Sans-Serif's skull, trying to keep his head turned towards him and not to these Sanses, the ones who must have seen something wrong to be so misguided. They must be suffering... but why do they need to take it out on his brother?

"That's not true! He doesn't have to kill anyone! He doesn't want to anymore! Just leave him alone!"

They fade away a few moments later, soon enough for S-4 to wonder if they actually listened to him, before he hears Sans-Serif's muffled voice.

"They come back? Different... versions of you? Why are they here?"

It doesn't make sense. Did they get pulled to the castle too? But then where did they go now?