Dream -1-

[startraveler]

Sender: Aether
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording

[He's walking through an endless field of flowers. The night sky above his head is glimmering with countless stars and the world is silent, save for a gentle breeze that makes the petals dance in the air.

The traveler continues to walk, careful not to destroy the delicate flowers around him. All of them are exactly the same - white, with one blue petal. He knows he's seen them before, but for some odd reason he can't recall where. Perhaps it's not that important, so he doesn't pay it that much mind.

Suddenly, he spots a figure in the distance. His eyes widen and soon he breaks into a run, not minding the flowers any more.

Lumine!

His voice doesn't seem to reach her, but it doesn't matter. He continues to run towards her - finally, finally after such a long time he's found her. His twin sister, his only family, the person who, to him, means more than the entire universe itself.

Eventually, the distance between them is nothing more than a step and he's all to eager to close it. He wants to hug her, tell her how worried he was, how much he missed her, but he stops in his place when she finally notices him. At first she smiles, soft and bright, like a star in the sky. The traveler smiles back, relieved that his dear sister is just like he remembers her.

And then something changes. Her expression falls, almost as if disappointed.

"You're too late." she says and turns away.

Confused and scared to lose her again, he reaches out to catch her by the hand, but finds himself unable to move from his spot. All he can do is watch her leave and then, when she's no longer in his sight the flowers around turn pitch black, the stars above his head disappear and dread settles in, as if the world is about to end.

The earth beneath his feet then shatters and Aether falls into an endless darkness.]

Comments

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc is well aware of how it feels to have one's dreams broadcast across the city. It's an uncomfortably vulnerable situation, especially since the dream lanterns only seem interesting in broadcasting dreams of a sensitive, emotional nature like this one.

As a viewer who has only known Lumine to be the twin searching for the other, it's also strange to see her turn Aether away like this. But obviously, Aether's feelings matter more here. With that in mind, he reaches out through the lantern:]

Let me know what it is you need after that dream of yours.

[He's not about to assume anything. If Aether wants space, he'll keep his distance. If he wants company, Diluc will be there.]

[startraveler]

[At first he isn't sure what even happened. He wakes up from a nightmare, similar to one that he's seen so many times before, then his eyes widen when he realizes that the lantern has shown his dream to everyone in the entire city.

Aether takes a longer moment to collect himself, before he responds to Diluc in any way.]

I-I...

[Not a great start. As much as Aether doesn't want others to be weighted down with his own problems, his nightmare was just broadcasted, so there's no way for him to hide it now. He can't just say "I"m fine" and hope people will leave it alone.

...He wouldn't leave it alone if he was in their place.]

I'll be okay, but... if you want to come over, then I wouldn't mind some company.

[He lives alone and the quietness of the house makes him feel even more lonely.]

[disdelusioned]

["Wants company" it is.]

I'll be there soon.

[True to his word, Diluc is at Aether's door within the hour. The only reason it takes as long as it does is the fact that he brewed some herbal tea (one of Ori's blends) and poured it into a thermos before heading out the door. He figures his friend could use something warm and soothing, and Diluc is nothing if not prepared.

Upon his arrival, he knocks on the door.]

Aether? It's me.

[startraveler]

[When Aether opens the door, he welcomes Diluc with a soft, albeit a bit awkward smile. It's almost as if the bad dream never happened and truth to be told, Aether is used to nightmares. He's not used to people seeing them, though.

Yet, as much as he's trying to look casual, when looking at his eyes it's clear that he's tired. He didn't get too much sleep tonight.]

Please, come in!

[He opens the door and moves aside to let the other in. His house seems somewhat hollow, considering he lives alone and it's still late at night.]

Would you like some tea?

[zomboii]

[ While actually browsing the network proper is still a bit beyond him, by now he's figured out how to tap on things and produce a result. In this case, he manages to pull up Aether's dream and watch it through to its completion with a mixture of fascination and unease. He doesn't know how all of this has been recorded in the book. He's never seen moving pictures before. He also doesn't quite know the difference between something recorded from a dream and something recorded from reality--so when he sees the look on anguish on the Traveller's face, he assumes that's how Aether is feeling right now.

He doesn't know how to use the network well enough for a call, so he does the next best thing: he goes to Aether's house in person and places his hands against the door (he knows better than to just waltz into someone's house now, thankfully) and calls out: ]

Auh...! Auh?

[ Aether are you in there ;A; ]

[rotacalamitas]

[There's a lot about the finer intricacies of the dream that Bennett doesn't get. The symbolism of the stars, the flowers, even the darkness. But he does understand the most important parts. Although he's far from knowing everything about Aether and his quest, he knows the Traveler has been searching for his twin sister, and how important that is to him. Bennett understands that feeling, that fear of losing and being separated from the people he cares about all too well.]

Aether, are you... Okay? Do you need someone to talk to? Or even just be there for you for a bit?

[Bennett wants to be able to support Aether the way he's always support him.]

[startraveler]

[Aether is still awake, but he doesn't realize someone came to visit him... not right away. The house is silent though, so after a moment he hears a noise, small but insistent. Aether blinks and quickly goes over to the door, then opens to check.

Ah.

The traveler smiles softly, awkward, before letting the boy in. The other must have seen the dream, too, right? That must be the reason why he's here so late at night. In that case Aether needs to do his best to look as always. The nightmare shouldn't affect him anyway.

He's had dreams like that before.]

[zomboii]

[ He has no sense of how loud a voice can be, so just be glad he didn't start out by yelling outside your door in the middle of the night, Aether. As it is, the minute Aether opens the door to let him in, his arm lift halfway up in an attempt to latch onto the other teen, before he stops himself. Not all people appreciate being latched onto without warning.

Instead, he starts to sign.

"Are you okay? I saw...in [book]." He summons his journal and points to it rather than actually sign 'book'. The look on his face is concern, raw and plain, regardless of the brave front the Traveller puts up. ]

[startraveler]

[So he was right, the boy saw his dream, but Aether can guess he doesn't understand what it actually means. His smiles softens and he reaches out to the other to pat him lightly on the head. He's not sure if he can convey his feelings now, but he wishes he could assure the boy that he will be fine and there's no need to worry about some silly dream.

Aether gestures for the boy to come in and sit down. The house is kind of empty and silent, but it's only to be expected since the traveler is the only one living here.]

[startraveler]

[He isn't quite sure what to answer. Aether appreciates the concern even if he doesn't feel anyone should be worried about him. It was just a dream and Lumine... is gone from this place. Maybe they'll meet again, but for now he has to accept her absence.

Still, he has no heart to say "no" to Bennett, especially that right now Aether would really prefer not to be alone.]

I'll be okay, don't worry. It was just a dream... [He forces himself to sound casual.] If you'd like to come over, then... I'll make us some tea and we could chat a little.

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc has an inkling of how Aether must be feeling, although he doesn't call attention to it as he steps inside. Having one's nightmares shared is an awkward experience at best, regardless of if the nightmare is a familiar one or not. It's a hazard of living here that he, personally, could do without.

The house is on the empty side, but Diluc doesn't mind. Before he moved in with Ori and Thoma, his living space was as well.]

Thank you, but I actually arrived on the presumption that you'd like some tea, so I brought some. [He hands Aether the thermos.] It's an herbal blend, courtesy of Ori. I find that it helps settle one's nerves.

[Ori has made him drink it to help him sleep on nights where he insisted on staying up late for one reason or another.]

[startraveler]

[Aether blinks, but a soft smile soon warms his features as he accepts the thermos.]

Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you... And I'll have to thank Ori as well.

[He really appreciates all the people he's made friends with here. Even Diluc, this Diluc is a new friend and he's glad to have him.]

I'll pour it into cups for both of us, okay? Or would you like a different tea?

[Aether obviously is not going to touch the topic of the nightmare. He finds it easier to ignore it for now and focus on his friend. A relaxing tea in good company is all he needs.]

[disdelusioned]

[New or old, Diluc considers Aether as one of his friends. That's all that matters, as far as he's concerned.]

I'll let her know when she returns to Reverein. She's currently back home tending to some important things that had been weighing on her.

[Between that and Thoma's dream coma, Diluc's been alone for a few days now. He appreciates this chance for company just as much as Aether does.

He has no intention of asking about the nightmare or urging Aether to talk about it if he would prefer not to. There's nothing to be gained by prying, and he certainly empathizes with wanting to just not think about it for awhile. Diluc's very familiar with that particular coping mechanism.]

I would be happy to share the tea with you, thank you.

[startraveler]

[Aether gives Diluc a surprised look.]

She's back home? Is it really that simple to go back there? [But there's another pressing question.] But if she's gone and you're here, then... does that mean that Thoma is awake?

[Aether can't imagine Diluc leaving a comatose Thoma all alone. If the other is here, then it must mean that either Thoma has awaken or someone else is watching over him. On the other hand, if Ori has been gone for some time and Thoma is still in coma, does that mean Diluc has been alone until now? Did he get a proper rest? Did he eat anything?

Suddenly, the traveler's eyes narrow ever so slightly as he takes a better look at his companion, searching for any signs of exhaustion.]

[rotacalamitas]

Okay. I'll be right over as soon as I can be there.

[And hopefully, doesn't run into any detours or accidents on his way over to Aether's place. What's the worst that can happen this late at night, right?]

[startraveler]

No, there's no need to rush. Just... try to be safe, okay.

[He is now so worried for a completely different reason. But then again, Bennett has been around for a while, surely, this will be all okay?]

[rotacalamitas]

[Safe? Who do you think you're talking to here, Aether? This is Bennett, the king of-- ...Okay, fair point.

Bennett does manage to find his way to Aether's house, albeit later than he'd anticipated. He gives the door to signal his arrival, trying to brush leaves and grass off of his clothes.]

Haaah... Sorry I'm late, Aether. I tried to take the usual route to get here, but I ran into some road construction. Who does road construction this late at night? So I took a detour through some yards to get here instead... Anyway, I'm here now, that's what matters, right?

[zomboii]

Ouh...

[ He nods his head in thanks, but he's not keen on giving up on what he saw just yet. The minute he can get Aether's attention back he holds up his journal and points to an imprint of the expression Aether had worn in the dream on one page, and a near-photographic replica of Lumine on the other.

He points at Lumine's image first, then Aether's. ]

Ah...auh. Uh?

[ He points at the sad expression, then to Aether himself. Why did he feel so sad?? :c ]

[concierto]

[A lot can be said about symbolism in dreams. What do the stars and flowers mean? In most cases, Venti would link such things to beautiful romantic notions of hope, love and wishes coming true across a night sky. But for some reason, all Venti can think of when he sees the dream is something like... dread. Like a secret that's waiting to be revealed which is only deep and cold.]

Aether. If you would...

[Venti's voice reaches out gently. Careful.]

Please tell me where you are.

Sender: Skylark

[inspiteful]

[ ...Truly, Skylark continues to have an impeccable sense of timing. This is the second personal dream (nightmare?) he's seen here, and he still isn't sure how he should respond. Is it okay for him to broach the topic with someone who is (probably???) just an acquaintance? Even if it's out of concern? And he gets the feeling that Aether might try to say it's not a big deal.

He also doesn't know where Aether is staying, though he could fix that if he really wanted to. But... well, he should try to be polite first, and get a feel for how he should approach this, so he sends a message through the journal first. ]

Hey, Aether? You there?

[startraveler]

[The timing for the message is suspicious, yet there is no "Are you okay?" or anything of that sort. Aether isn't sure how to respond at first, but it's possible Skylark didn't see the dream recording and is just asking for a completely different reason.

It's so late though. What else could this be about?]

Hey. Yeah, I am. Did something happen?

[startraveler]

[The gentle tone makes him sigh to himself. If there was anyone right now that he feels he could confine in, even if just a little bit, it's definitely Venti.]

I'm in my house. Would you like o come over or... would you rather meet me somewhere else?

[He's pretty sure the place doesn't really matter as long as they can sit together, unbothered by anyone else. It's still so late at night, so that shouldn't be difficult.]

[startraveler]

[Just as expected from poor Benny, even such a short trip ended in an adventure for him.]

Don't worry about it at all. As long as you're here in ones piece, I'm glad.

[He steps aside from the door to let his companion come in. Then, he reaches out to removed some more leaves stuck to the other boy's clothes or hair.]

You're not hurt, are you?

[startraveler]

[Aether is completely still for a moment, his eyes losing some of its shine. How can he explain family to this boy? How can he explain how much it hurts to lose your only relative, your "home"?

The traveler takes out his own journal and thinks of an image, before showing it to the boy. It pictures Aether and his sister, happy together, holding hands. Then he imagines another scene, almost the same as the one before, except Lumine is gone and he's sad.

Is this enough to explain?]

[concierto]

I'm more than content with coming to you, Aether. But if you wish to be out of your bedsheets right now I won't refuse that either. You can meet me under the largest tree near the main plaza if you'd like.

[Wherever it is, so long as he can find Aether.]