[IC] Misc. Open Post

[curriculum_fictae]

For various overflow, misc. threads that don't fit on the comms they're for, etc.

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[unhappymedium]

[!

A little astonished]

You can go Within him.

How is he?

[curriculum_fictae]

Y. Yes. I don't - I don't quite know how I'm doing it, just.

[ Well. It's obviously an entity, and the Eye is the most obvious candidate. It's not like he can use Web to follow that golden strand of connection, right? ]

He's recovering. Slowly. But steadily.

[unhappymedium]

That's... that's good...

[Even while caught in the dream's hold, he can still feel some comfort for someone else even if it wars with the compulsion's effect. His words come out hushed, distracted.]

But the Eye. Is it growing stronger?

[curriculum_fictae]

...

[ a sigh. But he nods. ]

I don't think - it's not like the Lonely. The Lonely was eating me. The Eye is just ... filling in some of the gaps.

[unhappymedium]

The gaps that it, or you, want to see.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right.

[ A glance around the scenery. The mirror. The petals. ]

One way or another.

[unhappymedium]

[a note of frustration]

So why this repeat performance? Hasn't it seen enough of this?

[curriculum_fictae]

It's never enough. I don't - I don't have a lot of context, but the one person I'd heard from - they kept having these nightmares. Constantly.

I don't think there's any way out of it.

[unhappymedium]

[His grip on the sink edges tremble as he tries to let go... do anything else.]

V removed the compulsion yet it's still here in this moment. I thought I'd be relieved - just a bit - but...

[curriculum_fictae]

That's - that's because it's not the compulsion. It's the memory of having it.

And even if you couldn't remember, I don't know - I don't know if that would be enough. The Eye knows anyway.

[ He tries to reach out for Subaru's shoulder. ]

[unhappymedium]

...Once, he was the last person I would want to hate me.

[A creak of something stretching, of old and large wood in the wind. A branch bursts from the darkness and meets Martin's hand instead.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin jolts at that, surprised? But he takes the hint for now, drawing his hand back. ]

And now?

[unhappymedium]

And now...

[Subaru doesn't seem to notice or react. He stares at his own reflection, unblinking.]

Aren't you tired?

[It isn't clear if he's asking Martin or himself.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin is silent a moment, uncertain. ]

Of course I am.

[unhappymedium]

[...]

Then... We should sleep.




[The dream shudders.

More tree branches stretch out from around them and crisscross between Martin and Subaru, a veritable fence. Martin can still see the mirror through a shrinking window formed from the sakura, and Subaru's expression and frozen stance doesn't change.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ What the hell -

That's. That's new and it doesn't seem right. Martin cries out, trying o reach through the branches towards him. (Or does the Eye? Or is it both of them together?) ]

[unhappymedium]

[Rejection. Something doesn't want him here and it's high time to make like a tree, Martin. Perhaps it's the Eye but he gets the sense that something is telling him to get out.

When the gap in the branches slips away to growing wood and petals, Subaru's reflection finally shuts his eyes.

Thin, gnarled branches wrap around Martin's wrists and ankles, then snake across his chest to hold him in a tight embrace - before dragging him away into nothing.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Martin sits bolt upright in bed, a strangled cry escaping him before he remembers not to make noise. Another person in bed with him. Other people nearby ...

He shivers all over for a moment, just breathing. ]