Dream One 🔥 Unhappy Memories

[disdelusioned]

Sender: Diluc Ragnvindr
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warnings: spoilers for Genshin Impact character stories and webtoon; cw: blood, violence, and death

[The beginning events of the dream happen quickly. A large purple drake descends on a cart and wagon, leaving naught but carnage in its wake. A man with more than a passing resemblence to Diluc emerges from from the wagon, standing against the drake and attacking it with a great and terrible power. Within moments, the beast is ensnared with dark chains. A few moments later, it breaks free and retreats, and the man collapses.

It's at this point that Diluc himself becomes visible in the dream, huddled over the man's body and covered with blood that's not his own. He's younger, a late adolescent, and calls the man "father" as he cries out in grief. The rain starts pouring down, though it does little to wash the stains of red away.

Nearby, a flamboyantly dressed man regards him cooly.]

"You know, Master Diluc, I can't help but wonder if your anger about all this might be a bit misplaced."

[Slowly, Diluc's gaze rises from his father's corpse to look up at him. His expression almost immediately shifts into a sharp glare. The man continues to speak, totally unfazed.]

"You blame the Fatui and the Knights - and me by association - but have you stopped to consider that perhaps it's our dearest father that betrayed you first? You honestly don't believe he accepted this Delusion at the point of a sword or under the duress of a threat, do you?"

[Diluc is on his feet in an instant, grabbing a sword that by all rights shouldn't be there and charging him.]

Take that back!

[He's stopped after only a handful of steps by the same great and terrible power that stopped the drake's advance, this time piercing him through from behind.

At that point, the dream ends as its dreamer wakes up with a start.]

Comments

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc knows of Kainé, but only because he's made it his business to learn the identities of the other dreamwalkers in Reverin. Even then, all he knows about her is that she's the young woman who runs around in her underwear all the time. And he doubts she knows anything about him at all. Hardly the sort of relationship that merits reaching out after witnessing a nightmare, and there's a temptation to ignore the question entirely.

However, there's something about the way she asks it that gives him pause. Her tone is straightforward, lacking in the sort of well-intended-but-ultimately-useless sympathy that he would have expected from a stranger. Or, worse, the trappings of a gossip looking for juicier details. It speaks of someone approaching the topic similarly to how he would, and for that alone he decides to give her the benefit of the doubt and answer her.]

It is. And one I would have rather not shared.

[shithogs]

[Well. She can relate to that much.]

This place doesn't seem to give a shit about what we want shared. Almost seems like the more you want to keep something to yourself, more likely it is that someone's gonna get invited to look right at it.

[It had been that way for her, in that nightmare that had been an amalgamation of so many brutal childhood memories. She had felt trapped at the middle of it, and Tifa had been right alongside her, seeing her at her most vulnerable.

It wasn't her proudest moment.]

But if your being here is any indication, you lived. That's good. Being pissed off can help you survive a lot of bullshit.

[disdelusioned]

[This woman is crass, but Diluc can't deny that he appreciates her frankness. He'll let the language slide. Besides, she's not the first person to swear in his presence, and she won't be the last.]

I did. And it does.

[It's not nearly as explosive as it once was, but the anger is still there. He wouldn't be fighting so hard against corruption and the status quo if he could accept it, after all.]

You sound like you speak from experience, both in having yourself exposed here and in the power of well-honed fury.

[shithogs]

[She's nothing if not direct. Even if the edges are rough, the sentiment seems to be one they share.]

Not this exposed, at least not yet, but I figure it's a matter of time. Still— people have seen shit I would have liked to keep to myself.

[Past pain, her insecurities— she had trouble enough facing those on her own, let alone discussing them with other people.]

It helps to get mad. Makes you stronger. Better than being scared.

[disdelusioned]

I hope that the dream lanterns are kind to you for a good while longer.

[Because being exposed to this degree sucks.

Even though she can't see it, he finds himself nodding along with her logic.]

And better than wallowing in one's circumstances wishing things had turned out differently. The best we can do is use it as a tool to push forward.

Can I have your name?

[shithogs]

Kainé.

[Seems fair enough to offer it, given the personal shit she’d just seen of his, plus he’d asked nicely enough.]

You’re Diluc?

[She’s pretty sure she caught that name in there somewhere.]

[disdelusioned]

I am.

[Only fair that she confirms his name after he asks for hers. It's still feels a bit strange that his reputation doesn't precede him here like it does in Mondstadt, but it's not something he will complain about. It's actually rather nice.]

I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I get the feeling we both would have preferred it to be under different circumstances.

[shithogs]

[She gives a little bit of a snort in response.]

Probably wouldn't be much of one even if they were any different.

[Nobody is ever pleased to meet her.]

But you're not wrong— it's real shitty, the way this place just puts everything on display. Can't even do anything about it because we're fucking asleep when it happens.

[disdelusioned]

[That's an interesting response. And a very telling one.

He respectfully disagrees, but he keeps that thought to himself. They aren't here to interrogate Kainé's self-esteem, and even if they were he's pretty sure she'd tell him to fuck off and terminate the conversation. Which is absolutely fair--he'd be inclined to do the same, albeit in a manner less laden with vulgar language.]

Exactly. But it its what it is, and overall people have been understanding. It doesn't make things much better, but it's better than nothing.

[So he's telling himself, anyway.]

[shithogs]

Think if you say that often enough, you'll start to believe it?

[It's not nearly as accusatory as it could be. Instead, there's an almost honest curiosity at the edge of her voice— the method is one she's been attempting to make use of, as well.

So far, it hasn't been as effective as she would like.]

[disdelusioned]

[An amused hm comes through the lantern at that comment.]

Not at all. But it's the best I have at the moment.

[It's not at all accusatory--it's like seeing like. Diluc appreciates it as such.]

If I come up with something better, I'll be sure to let you know.

[shithogs]

[She can definitely appreciate that approach for what it is, herself.]

Make sure you do. I'll do the same. Until then, guess we're stuck with the half-baked shit.

[Whatever good it might do. Better than nothing, maybe?]

You're alright.

[An assessment, rather than an observation of his well-being after that dream.]

[disdelusioned]

Likewise.

[Did they just kind of become friends???]

Take care of yourself out there. I'm sure I'll see you around.

[shithogs]

[They definitely did.]

Sure you will. Place isn't all that big, after all.

[And she's kind of hard to miss, but she'd never say so herself. Either way, he'll Notice when they meet in person.]

You do the same. Don't let this shit get you down too hard.

[Easier said than done, but you know, whatever. Seems like an appropriate enough sign-off.]