[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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Sidereal, Day 82 (Evening)

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin has been sleeping a lot in the wake of his Lonely exorcism. Improving - oh yes. Changing a bit ... that too. Things are shifting around inside him with the sudden gap that's been left in his existence. And while the Eye can't possibly fill in as much as the Lonely had - it's not here, and the indescribably faint influence he has can only increase so much. He will only ever be the faintest shadow of what Jon or Gertrude are.

But. But there's enough. To drift in his sleep, and See into another's. Back to the partial statement the Eye had consumed from Subaru. ]

[unhappymedium]

[It's been a tiring last few days and drifting off comes easily for all involved. The now-familiar memories scatter past Martin much like the petals, just single panels cut out from a larger life story. But something is different? The experience is less sharp, and less in the moment. The scent of cherry blossoms is strong.

It's that way until they're at the bathroom with the mirror once more with Subaru's back to him.]

...

Again...

[How many times has it been by now?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Maybe not the first night after having the Lonely dragged out of him. Otherwise? Every night. And at least as often as it takes for this to become rote, to become just tiring instead of terrifying. A nightmare zoo with only one nightmare in it.

Martin's apologetic, as he always is at this point. ]

I'm sorry, Subaru.

[ That scent is different though ... did he not notice it before because of the Lonely? Or ... ]

[unhappymedium]

[He lets the silence hang.

I's long enough that it seems like he simply fell back into the memory, and the experience of this moment.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Not so unusual, that. Martin would rather not intrude, but ... ]

I told you before. It's not going to stop. This is the Eye's territory.

[unhappymedium]

[...]

...It feels worse tonight.

[Expression creased with delicate suffering.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin looks surprised, and then. Then not surprised at all. ]

I think. That may be my fault.

[unhappymedium]

Because of the exorcism? Or...?

[curriculum_fictae]

...

I've been using the Eye to contact Molly.

[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?) ]