Susato Mikotoba 🌸 御琴羽 寿沙都 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
judicialassistant) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
dreamcrystals2023-01-09 08:01 pm
judicialassistant) wrote in dreamcrystals2023-01-09 08:01 pm
[02] three lies, one truth
Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warning: Descriptions of death (specifically: falling/burning, stabbing, freezing, drowning) and the crippling fear that comes with that.
When Susato is first seen, she is nigh unrecognizable. There's only a glimpse of her. Her hair is frazzled, long well past her shoulders, and the white dress she wears, accented by pinks, does not match the grim darkness of the cage she is in. Seconds later, there's a loud metallic clang as the cage is shut.
There's movement like a shaky camera, and you... no, Susato is looking into the eyes of one man who looks almost surprised to see her. As if he hadn't been the one to put her there.
"Mr Vigil?"
The voice is small and cracks like glass over the flames below.
Before he can respond, there's the sound of a lever and a deafening scream as a feeling of terrifying weightlessness takes over your body.
You're falling, and you don't know when you'll stop.
* * * * *
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
When the dream spits you out, you can taste a mixture of blood and dirt as you blink your eyes open. They sting like you've been crying, and when you bring your filthy hands up to look at them, you can see the pink of your kimono sleeves. The loops in your air feel looser and messier than usual as you can feel the terrifying glare of a man before you, bleeding and in chains, and yet no less threatening.
All around you are corpses. You just barely manage to struggle to your feet when he moves to strike you down with alarming quickness, his blade and scythe at his call. Something hard and sharp pierces your stomach as his voice booms:
"You will not tarnish... my brother's memory...!"
You were so close. You can see some of the broken chains you worked so hard at; he was almost free.
But it's too late.
A laughter seems to be coming from the noble in the portrait behind the Reaper, and an eerie red glow bleeds out from the canvas as your consciousness fades.
* * * * *
The laughter transforms into something else, another voice. It is almost pleasant; and the scene is entirely different now. A gorgeous ballroom surrounds you with an air of celebration, you are humbled, taking the man before you in a dance. Here is the face that everyone says you can trust, and yet you can hear suspicious whispers coming from the walls.
Something is wrong.
You feel cold in a way that is inexplicable. Your very core is frozen, and it feels like you will never get warm. suddenly it's a struggle just to move with the music; but eventually you stop listening to that, too.
"Don't struggle." The king pulls you close in what is most certainly a threatening manner. Beneath your gloves, your fingers have already become ice. "Your death is inevitable now. Accept it with grace, and don't scream."
But even if you wanted to, you can't.
Pathetic gurgles escape your throat as ice travels up your chest and your neck. A piece of your white hair falls across your face, but when you go to brush it away, your hands won't move. Nothing will.
There is stillness. For a moment, you have hope, because you can still move your terrified, wide eyes, but soon that too is gone.
* * * * *
In that moment, you're not able to look at anything else.
Your neck is craned upwards and suddenly, the dream has shifted one final time. You're staring at the surface of the freezing cold water from below, unable to breathe, but the Gods above have mercy on you, and it doesn't last long. A glaring white starts to creep into the corners of your vision, filling everything in haze, and the dream ends as suddenly as it began.
* * * * *
[ Back in the comparative comforts of her home, Susato awakes with a start. She gasps for breath like she's just been held underwater, sitting up and gripping at her blankets. For all she knows, they are her lifeline. She is shaking, the faded memories of dreamscapes past rushing back to her, and she feels her arm knock something off the bed she's on.
......All she can do is breathe. ]
(( ooc: tl;dr, just a fun throwback to the fun deaths i've been able to put her through this past year. <3 please assume delayed responses where appropriate/etc. ))
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warning: Descriptions of death (specifically: falling/burning, stabbing, freezing, drowning) and the crippling fear that comes with that.
When Susato is first seen, she is nigh unrecognizable. There's only a glimpse of her. Her hair is frazzled, long well past her shoulders, and the white dress she wears, accented by pinks, does not match the grim darkness of the cage she is in. Seconds later, there's a loud metallic clang as the cage is shut.
"Mr Vigil?"
The voice is small and cracks like glass over the flames below.
Before he can respond, there's the sound of a lever and a deafening scream as a feeling of terrifying weightlessness takes over your body.
You're falling, and you don't know when you'll stop.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
All around you are corpses. You just barely manage to struggle to your feet when he moves to strike you down with alarming quickness, his blade and scythe at his call. Something hard and sharp pierces your stomach as his voice booms:
"You will not tarnish... my brother's memory...!"
You were so close. You can see some of the broken chains you worked so hard at; he was almost free.
But it's too late.
A laughter seems to be coming from the noble in the portrait behind the Reaper, and an eerie red glow bleeds out from the canvas as your consciousness fades.
Something is wrong.
You feel cold in a way that is inexplicable. Your very core is frozen, and it feels like you will never get warm. suddenly it's a struggle just to move with the music; but eventually you stop listening to that, too.
"Don't struggle." The king pulls you close in what is most certainly a threatening manner. Beneath your gloves, your fingers have already become ice. "Your death is inevitable now. Accept it with grace, and don't scream."
But even if you wanted to, you can't.
Pathetic gurgles escape your throat as ice travels up your chest and your neck. A piece of your white hair falls across your face, but when you go to brush it away, your hands won't move. Nothing will.
There is stillness. For a moment, you have hope, because you can still move your terrified, wide eyes, but soon that too is gone.
In that moment, you're not able to look at anything else.
Your neck is craned upwards and suddenly, the dream has shifted one final time. You're staring at the surface of the freezing cold water from below, unable to breathe, but the Gods above have mercy on you, and it doesn't last long. A glaring white starts to creep into the corners of your vision, filling everything in haze, and the dream ends as suddenly as it began.
[ Back in the comparative comforts of her home, Susato awakes with a start. She gasps for breath like she's just been held underwater, sitting up and gripping at her blankets. For all she knows, they are her lifeline. She is shaking, the faded memories of dreamscapes past rushing back to her, and she feels her arm knock something off the bed she's on.
......All she can do is breathe. ]
(( ooc: tl;dr, just a fun throwback to the fun deaths i've been able to put her through this past year. <3 please assume delayed responses where appropriate/etc. ))
no subject
... Allow me to express gratitude on his behalf.
[At this point he does finally dismount while keeping the reins in his hand, his iron-heeled boots hitting the cobble heavily. It would be difficult to pull her up from that position, after all. He gives the horse a pointed look. Svalinn pretends not to notice.]
Perhaps the rest might be offered... after we've reached our destination.
no subject
An excellent idea... Here. I will fetch my bag so that it will be easier to carry.
[ Aaand off she goes again. Think this through, Susato.
A while later, the carrots are placed in a very Susato-flavored bag along with any other miscellaneous items that a girl may keep with her, ready for travel.
Though she still has no idea how far they might be going. ]
Um... If I may ask, what IS our destination today, Lord van Zieks?
no subject
The fact that it took her this long to ask again is likely a sign of her trust, though he wonders how much of it is due to her more polite, passive side. He plans to take advantage of whatever the cause, in any case.]
A spot in the wilds. It should take little more than half an hour to reach.
[He can't say any more. It's a SURPRISE.]
I find appreciating the sights of nature at times may help to clear the mind.
no subject
He's trying to help her feel better. ]
I see. I believe you're right.
[ How many days has she spent in the Harvest's garden doing exactly that? ]
Then... will you assist me? [ To climb on... She's ridden a horse all of one time. ]
no subject
Whether she sits sidesaddle or astride, he'll soon climb on himself and sit behind her. He has no idea if she's ever been on a horse, and he'd rather make sure she doesn't end up falling. Thankfully she's small enough to minimize any awkward positioning with the reins or saddle, given the size of steed and rider both.]
Are you ready?
no subject
She takes a breath when she feels his weight behind her, and she makes an attempt to glance back at him, but in the end, she simply nods. ]
...Yes. [ The sooner they get moving, the less nervous she'll feel, actually. Let's do it! ]
today's topic i know nothing about: horses
For some time, he remains quiet and focused on directing them into the woods, alert for any potential disruptions; while he doesn't foresee any danger, he knows this place to be unpredictable, especially the further they move from town. Eventually, though, once he's sure they're both steady and the surroundings are relatively quiet:]
I pray you did not lose too much sleep last night.
i'm ngl to u i googled sidesaddle just to make sure it was what it sounded like
She doesn't say anything at first. She can see birds flying overhead, casting their shadow that glides smoothly over the snowy grass. No reason to play dumb here. ]
Is this about my dream?
we're learning together...!
That said, he has no plans of being ungentle about it.]
Did you think I hadn't seen it?
[It isn't a question coming out of incredulity, or of judgment; it is a neutral curiosity that his tone conveys well enough.]
I only realized its origins after I awoke early this morning. [It's currently still early, so that may indicate something about the quality of his own sleep.]
no subject
It is not something I meant to hide from you.
...Though I would have preferred it not to be broadcast to others, of course. [ Her journal sure kept her busy... ]
no subject
[It would have been acceptable, certainly, for her to keep her dreams to herself—as long as they were hers alone. Far be it from him to ask invasive questions when he was uninvolved, however much she may have done the same for him. He still can barely bring himself to express his concerns.
Speaking of expressing himself.]
I admit... the memory haunts me, as well.
no subject
She idly strokes Svalinn from where she sits, as if to tell him that he's doing a good job. ]
That day... In that place. [ That awful place, where he was trapped. A place of his own creation. ] I hope you know it was never my intention to fight you.
[ She knows that he thinks her reckless, but hopefully he doesn't think she is foolish enough for that. ]
no subject
It is not in your nature to wish for that.
[She might do a flip or two, and she's certainly willing to stand up to others, but such violence is another matter entirely. He knows this. She's also not stupid enough to seek out a fight she can't win on her own, however much she might try to help otherwise—he knows that too.]
I regret that I could not prevent myself from escalating the confrontation... and the distress it has caused you.
no subject
...If I could tear the page from our journals, render the dream unseen, and spare us both the dramatics, I would.
[ Then again, that probably wouldn't solve anything, and it isn't her nature to run from such things. It doesn't feel right, but she'll let the thought linger in the air until she adds to it, as if to clarify: ]
I just don't want one bad dream to colour our interactions forever.
no subject
I merely feel I have not properly expressed my apologies until now. It seemed an apt moment to do so.
[An unburdening, of sorts, however insignificant. But he doesn't want to make it just about him.]
We don't have to speak further on the matter, if you'd prefer.
no subject
No, it is fine. For what it is worth, I accept your apology, and I appreciate you taking the time to give it. [ and in person, even. ]
...I know At Day's End must keep you quite busy as of late.
no subject
It is the least I should have done.
[But... anyway. A change of topic is what he offered, and she seems to have taken the opportunity, even if it isn't one he's particularly keen on exploring. Not if it's going where he thinks it's going. He manages to keep that reluctance out of his tone, at least, even as he attempts to turn things back to her again.]
As I imagine the Harvest typically keeps you. One must make time for important matters, regardless.
[Even if those important matters might be seen as something frivolous or wasteful to another.]
no subject
As they ride on, despite the mention of work, Susato finds herself mostly at peace. Curious and ever fascinated by her wilderness surroundings. ]
Yes, of course. But I also have an abundance of help at the Harvest... I know Ori and Mr Diluc are no longer with us. That is all I was getting at. I hope things are still running smoothly.
no subject
Well, if she must ask.]
I've decided on a momentary closure whilst in the process of training new employees and making certain our relationships with other providers are maintained.
[Details, details... Diluc did so much of the business side. He's too particular to leave those aspects to anyone else, even if he'll hire people for other means. But he's not going to talk about his feelings regarding the matter right now if he can help it.]
It's no significant trouble.
no subject
I see.
[ That's that, then. She glances about as they pass through the shaded path, with sunlight continuing to trickle in from above. ]
Actually... there is a place I'd like to show you, if you wouldn't mind a brief stop.
no subject
Svalinn's ears perk up, as well.]
Where might that be?
no subject
[ Hm, how does she put this. ]
When Ori woke, there is a grove that appeared here in the Wildlands. It is a serene place that is filled with an energy that feels distinctly like hers.
[ Of course, it is all too easy to say this after she already found her letters. ]
You will understand when we get there. If you'd like to see it, of course.