[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

a question bruce will be internally screaming a lot, i am sure.

[andthebat]

Batman looks up just before the guards do, tilting his head slightly in Grune's direction. There's a split-second of recognition before his eyes narrow in obvious displeasure.

(What is she thinking?)

But the guards are quick to notice Grune's approach too, and when she greets them they immediately shift towards her and hold up their weapons. Inside the cage, the Batman averts his gaze.

"State your business," one of the guards says- and oddly, when he speaks the mask over his mouth warps and splits unevenly, revealing a mouth full of pointed teeth.

So am I. orz

[lostinmyway]

Grune's head tilts as she watches him speak. Oh, isn't that a mask?

"I'm here to visit the Batman," she says. "Why is he in there?"

[andthebat]

It's hard to say. The difference between a mask and flesh seems somehow blurred in here.

The guards exchange a glance, and the second one says, with more than a hint of condescension to it, "This is a dangerous animal, ma'am. You'd better stand aside if you care for your own safety." He taps his weapon- a warped looking black baton- against his palm.

[lostinmyway]

She shakes her head. "Oh, no, he's not dangerous. He's very sweet."

If she notices the weapon, she doesn't give any sign of it.

[andthebat]

The guards make various disbelieving sounds, and one of them even fakes a laugh.

"He's a criminal, ma'am. Just like everyone else in Gotham," the second guard says.

The first guard scornfully adds, "You want to turn into a criminal too?"

[lostinmyway]

She shakes her head again to answer the question, then says, "That can't be right. It's very important to learn about people before you decide what they're like. I'm sure if you had a little chat together with your hearts open, you'd all be friends."

[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.

[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."

[andthebat]

The Batman doesn't want to be scared, and he's not sure if he is- but maybe it's there, mixed in with the shame that keeps him from meeting Grune's eyes and the anger that has his talons flexing against the floor of the cage.

He wants to tell Grune to go, get out of here, that he'll be fine, that he can handle this himself. But whenever he tries to speak the words somehow get stuck in his throat, and the only sounds he's able to choke out are growls.

The guards let him embarrass himself for a few moments, producing wretched animal noises instead of words, before one smacks the bars of the cage with a baton. Batman flinches back, the clang echoing through the area.

"Typical," the guard says. "Too mulish to even talk back."

[lostinmyway]

Grune doesn't so much as blink as her friend growls at her. He must be very upset.

She does, however, frown at the man who hits the cage.

"That wasn't very nice at all," she tells him. "You scared him."

[andthebat]

The Batman snarls at the guards, a reaction that is thoroughly ignored.

The guard who hit Batman's cage gives Grune a blank look. "You've seen enough," he tells her. "We'll escort you off the premises."

Both guards take a step forward, and the second guard snatches at Grune's arm. Batman feels his heart pounding in his head and growls again-

"Don't."

It's quiet, and raspy, but he just barely manages to choke out the word.