Dream 01 || Don't ever let me think, I was never meant to speak

[fishflakes]

Sender: Toge Inumaki
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive Dream Recording (CW: Blood, Implied violence, implied body horror)

[The dream is quiet when it first begins to broadcast…. or, at least, it seems quiet. There is an ambient white noise that is prevalent all around, a dull droning that is both incessant and easy to ignore at once. But if one were to listen carefully, they’ll come to realize that it’s not a white noise at all, but rather, whispering; multiple hushed voices all talking as one, a multitude of different murmured conversations that meld into one incoherent buzz. There is very little light in the dream, the surroundings cast into shadows. In the center of the dream, however, is a small boy.]

[The dream seems to be from the perspective of this small boy. He is sitting with his knees up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them tightly. His shoulders shake as his frame trembles with soft, hitched breaths that could easily be missed amidst the whispered voices. A shadowy figure appears looking to be vaguely like an adult, but there are no defining features to this person other than their humanoid shape. They speak out, louder than the whispering voices.]

A child born with the clan’s seal… He will no doubt possess a great amount of Cursed Energy. The Inumaki Clan has been granted a gift.

[Other shadowy figures begin to appear, all apparently looking down at the small, huddled boy. One by one they speak, talking over the whispered voices.]

He bears the mark? He is just a boy…
Such a cursed child… he must be monitored carefully.
Perhaps the Inumaki Clan will finally gain recognition among the three great sorcerer families!
I feel for his mother, having to raise such a child…

[The shadows shift, fading somewhat to reveal an empty schoolyard. The scenery seems to be faded, as if viewed through a lens or veil. Shadowy figures surround the small boy, though their features are indistinct. They all seem to be laughing mockingly, and one of them speaks up.]

What’s wrong, Toge? Cat got your tongue? If you got a problem with how we play, then say so!

[The other figures laugh, full of jeers and ridicule. The small child who is at the center of the dream ducks his face further into his legs, tugs his knees closer to his chest. He whispers in a small voice.]

Please…

[The shadowy ‘children’ suddenly warp, their forms condensing and stretching oddly, violently. Their laughter quickly turns to screams of horror and cries of pain. Over the screams, another voice is heard.]

Toge, what did you do?! What happened to them?!

[The scenery shifts, this time displaying what looks like a traditional Japanese-style home. There are more shadowy adults, looming like oppressive monoliths. They murmur to one another, each voice speaking out over one other.]

Did you hear? That boy cursed someone again. That poor child’s family…
That power is dangerous! It should be sealed away!
This is to be the heir of the Inumaki Clan? He can barely control his own strength.
Haven’t you learned? You need to control this, or else you’ll just hurt everyone around you.

[The boy covers his ears with his hands, grips his hair.]

I-I didn’t mean to..!

[He pleas quietly, but his words are drowned out by the voices that keep coming.]

Don’t you know better?
Why did you curse them, Toge?
The Inumaki Clan depends on you to carry its name, Toge.
This is why it’s dangerous, Toge.
That boy is dangerous!
You’re dangerous, Toge. You need to—

[The small boy trembles, until finally, he shouts out over the other voices.]

BE QUIET!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!

[His voice rings with Cursed Energy, a sharp note amidst the cacophony of voices and shadows. At once, the voices go silent, and the shadows disintegrate under the force of his voice. Even the droning ambient whispers have fallen silent at the command. All is utterly, completely, perfectly silent.]

[Amidst the silence, the young boy gasps and grips his mouth, coughing into his hands several times. When he pulls his shaking hands away, they are covered in blood. He stares at them for a moment, before he wraps his arms around his middle, quietly sobbing into his legs.]

[When he speaks again, it’s barely above a whisper.]

I’m sorry… I’m sorry…

Comments

[fishflakes]

[It takes some time for Toge to reply, needing some time to collect himself after such a nightmare. And after a moment, a shakily-written reply is sent back.]

Yeah. It was just a nightmare, that's all.

[iracorn]

[It's the response that Ira was expecting if he's being honest. But he's just glad there was one.]

That might be the case, but they seems a lot more visceral here.

I"m here if you need anythin.

[fishflakes]

[Definitely a lot more visceral than he was expecting, even if these kinds of nightmares have happened before. Normally he'd browse his phone or play a game to keep his mind off things and make him tired enough to fall back asleep, but that's not really an option here.]

[So after a pause, he replies to Ira.]

I guess I could use a distraction.

[iracorn]

I can try to offer one. I know the weather isn't the greatest, but I have ways of moving around if you want to be elsewhere.

Otherwise, I am fine just talking here

[fishflakes]

Elsewhere?

Like teleporting or something?

[iracorn]

Yes. Well, something similar.

A way of walking that avoids the elements.

[fishflakes]

So you can teleport to my room right now, if you wanted?

[iracorn]

Since I haven't been there before, no, but somewhere close by. Unless you told me exactly where it was.

I would feel odd coming directly there though.

[fishflakes]

That's actually pretty neat to hear.

But as cool as that sounds, it's okay. I can meet you somewhere if you're offering. I think a walk would be good.

[iracorn]

Of course. Where would you like to meet?

[fishflakes]

Do you mind meeting me by the communal garden area? It’s not far from where I live.

>action

[iracorn]

I can be there shortly.

[And he is, emerging from a corridor at the end of the street and walking towards the garden. The snow seems to have subsided for the time being. At least to something that's not unpleasant to walk in.]

[fishflakes]

[Toge might be a little hard to see out in the darkness of the night, but he can be found further into the garden, crouching down in front of one of the plants and focusing on them, a hand brushing over its leaves. When he hears the crunch of snow as someone approaches, he looks up and nods to the masked man.]

Kombu.

[iracorn]

Hello.

[Ira takes that as a sign to walk over.]

How are the plants taking this weather?

[fishflakes]

Mustard leaf.

[Toge turns back to the plants, gently brushing a little snow off of one of the vegetables. Other than a little snow on them, they look fine to him. At least, they don't look in danger of freezing or rotting.]

[He remains focused on the vegetables, kneeled down on the balls of his feet. But there's a chill surrounding Toge that isn't entirely related to the cool weather outside, a small, isolated patch of frost formed under his feet.]

[iracorn]

Do you need help brushing them off?

[Ira doesn't want to push Toge, but he also isn't going to leave him alone, so he'll come a little closer to be more of a presence. He can sense the chill, and summons a small fire spell to the tips of his fingers to try and add some warmth.]

[fishflakes]

[Toge turns his head to reply, but then pauses, eyes widening as he stares at the fire on Ira's fingertips. He blinks a couple of times, looking from those little flames up to Ira's masked face. Rather than reply with his (limited) words, he points to the fire in Ira's hand, then to the man.]

[Did he do that? Did he just make fire?]

[iracorn]

[Ira looks a little confused at first and then looks down at his magic with a slight smile.]

It's just a small fire spell. I thought the warmth might help.

[fishflakes]

[He gives a baffled look to Ira, because hello?? Dude?? You just made fire in your hands, come on!! But after a moment, he nods.]

Tuna mayo.

[He'll scoot over a little, holding a hand out to Ira's hand as if it were a campfire. With his hand close to it, he can feel the warmth from the fires carefully heating up his hands.]

[iracorn]

[Ira focuses on the spell, allowing some more warmth to come through while maintaining control. Seeing Toge's look, he smiles.]

It's a small fire spell. Usually I would use it to attack, but I've been practicing different uses for it with dreamotion.

[fishflakes]

Ikura...

[Woah, this guy was like... a wizard, or something? That's pretty impressive. Toge holds his hands over the fire for a few more moments, basking in the heat, before he reaches into his pocket to pull out his journal. He flips it to a page that was already pre-written, holding it out for Ira to read.]

Thanks for coming out to meet me. I'll be okay soon, promise.

[iracorn]

[Ira reads the note and smiles.]

Of course. I'm glad I was able to help somewhat.

I wouldn't want to leave you alone after that.

[fishflakes]

[Toge does pause, briefly remembering that dream, before letting out a sigh. Pulling his hands away from the warm fire, Toge takes a moment to write a couple more lines before showing them to Ira.]

I didn't expect a nightmare to affect me that badly.
It's old news at this point, is all. I didn't think this kind of stuff would bother me anymore.

[iracorn]

[Ira nods, understanding.]

I understand. Though sometimes the things we think we're past can come back when we're vulnerable.

And this place has a way of making those nightmares more visceral.

[fishflakes]

Salmon...

[Those words were pretty true, weren't they? Toge sighs, but does appreciate them. Ira's just stating fact, and isn't doing so in a way that's coddling. He can appreciate it. He takes a minute to write out a few words.]

Is this what they mean by facing your fears? Seems a little too literal for me.