[02] three lies, one truth

[judicialassistant]

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. ))

Comments

[judicialassistant]

[ At first, it really doesn't look like anything, and Susato doesn't resist, either. She's a little confused at first, and probably didn't even realise she was scratching it. Kazuma might even think it's safe to allow her kimono to fall back over her arm. Just as he'll allow it, however, there is a slight tingling sensation from the scar closer to her shoulder from Halloween.

This sensation continues trailing down her arm, like it is crawling, until the feeling spiders out right around where she had been scratching. The marks that appear there next look very faint, making it hard to tell, but it has a web-like appearance. ]

...?

[chippedsoul]

[It's hard to see in the dim light, but he could definitely see something that should not be there. The look of worry clear in his expression.]

How long has this been here...? [He hears the whistling from the kettle as the water reaches to a boil. What a terrible time for that to happen as he reluctantly leaves Susato's side to continue prepping the tea.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Terrible for him, perhaps. Susato feels rather thankful for the space for the moment as she swallows her surprise, and she is already reaching for her arm to feel it. It doesn't hurt; you could almost mistake it for dry skin...? Has she been neglecting her skin care lately?

She runs her hand along that arm, pushing her sleeve back up and keeps going until she can no longer feel it. At her shoulder, the scar is clearer, but she knows about that one, and by now, Kazuma would, too. ]

This... This was from the night we found Ryunosuke-san at the carnival in the dollhouse, but I've never seen...? [ She trails off, seeming unsure of how to describe the rest. ]

[chippedsoul]

[There's the sound of water pouring. A moment later, Kazuma will returned with a tea tray, setting it on the table. The tea needed some time to soak before he can pour, so for now, he'll take a seat and continue their previous conversation.]

It hasn't gotten better? [Don't mind him, reaching to hold that arm again. It's hard to tell by his stoic nature, but he is starting to stress a little. These nightmares of things that have apparently happened to her, now this strange scar. Definitely worried now.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Rather than get better, that scar seems to have spread, but she finds it difficult to voice that particular observation. She manages to glance longingly at the tea tray, empty cups sitting invitingly next to the kettle, but she still doesn't resist while Kazuma has her arm. She can sense his worry, written clear in the furrow of his brow. ]

It will. It doesn't hurt...

Why, I've hardly noticed it. [ Coming from someone as observant as Susato, that has to mean something. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He hears her, but it only fills him with more doubt. He starts rubbing her arm.]

You'd tell me if it does, won't you? [Or get worse. Even now, he's wondering if there's anything that be done.]

[judicialassistant]

Of course I will.

[ She doesn't even think about it. The response comes automatically, and after a moment, she'll reach for his hand that is rubbing along her arm to hold it in place. Gently, she squeezes, giving him what is hopefully a reassuring smile. ]

Now, will you let me pour our tea or not...?

[chippedsoul]

[He just looks at the hand holding onto his. He hears her words, but unable to give her a response. Instead, he gently pulls her hand, leaning in closer so he can just give her a hug. Was it for himself, or for her? Maybe they both needed it.]

[judicialassistant]

[ It's definitely needed. Susato's eyes widen, and there is a quiet gasp that escapes as she feels air fill her lungs. In the following moment, she stays frozen, the tea forgotten, and in the next, she melts, returning the gesture as her arms wrap around him.

She can feel wetness starting to form at her eyes as she closes them. ]

I love you.

[chippedsoul]

[He rubs her back in a comforting manner. He breathes deeply, holding their embrace.]

I love you as well, and I don't want you to suffer. [A strange turn of events for him to say, all things considered.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato's breath is shaky with relief. Although he shows it every day and she knows, hearing it still feels like something different entirely. There is what feels like a long time, when she doesn't feel like she has to say anything, but then she mumbles against his clothes. ]

I know.

[ ...It's just a bad dream. ]

I don't want you to suffer either. Not anymore.

[ Not ever. ]

[chippedsoul]

Well, I'm not the one suffering at this moment. [He knows she wouldn't let him, but it's not about him right now. His face is pressed into her hair, taking in her fragrance as he kisses her head.]

Talk to me, if you think it'll help. [The tea is probably ready to be pour at this point. With one arm still holding onto her, he's going to start pouring the tea into the cups. A tea pouring a shade of bluish purple.]

[judicialassistant]

Mmm. [ The feeling of face against his hair as he kissed her still lingers, but only for a moment longer. In the next, she is looking on with eagerness as the steaming, bluish-purple tea is poured. She leans into him. ]

...I don't want to anger you.

[ It's not worth ruining this moment... ]

[chippedsoul]

And have me worry instead? [He slides a teacup over to her. His other hand moving to rub her back.] Eventually. It doesn't have to be now.

1/2

[judicialassistant]

[ It doesn't have to be now, but should she really continue avoiding it? ...Is that what she's doing?

She reaches for the teacup when it's offered to her, straightening her posture just to take a sip. The soothing tea runs down her throat once she swallows, carrying the faint, sweet taste of berries. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ For a while, she considers staying silent. It is easy to remain in the comfort of each other's company, but eventually, she speaks. ]

You are a good man, Kazuma. And... so is he. [ There were multiple deaths, but surely he can figure out who she means, right...? Last year... ] I only wanted to help him.

[chippedsoul]

. . .I know that. Don't tell him I said that. [He'll do it himself one day, thank you very much. More importantly, he puts down his teacup, deciding it's more important to hold her hand not with the teacup.]

I just wish you would to take better care of yourself. [She cares too much sometimes, to the determent of her own well being.] I know I have no right to say that, but you can't help anyone if you put yourself in constant harm.

[judicialassistant]

. . . It is not constant.

[ You can practically hear the little pout in her voice as she squeezes his hand. She can tell he means well, and that he's kind of right. You can practically see the moment she concedes as well. ]

It is not on purpose, at least. Though when I saw the way his home had frozen over, I knew it could not have meant anything good.

[chippedsoul]

...Right, I investigated as well at the time. [Even if he doesn't like the man, he's not that heartless.] He certainly spewed a lot of unpleasant things about me and my family in that dream. It's a miracle I hadn't just ended it there.

[judicialassistant]

[ End the dream, or end him? Though she knows the former is easier said than done at times. Barok van Zieks certainly did not hold back in her version of events either... She's beginning to realize that the racism may take some time and effort to overcome. ]

Even with your hatred, you managed to get through to him, I suppose. That should not surprise me. [ For a moment, she sounds proud, though she can only make assumptions. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Probably for the best he doesn't further elaborate he nearly wanted to kill the man.]

Sure, with my fist. [There is nothing noble about him having some satisfaction about bullying Barok. Which just happened to help him.] ...He already has to carry the guilt of what he's done, so you don't need to worry that I'll do something.

[He gently rubs her hand, his tea sitting forgotten.] I just want you to take time for yourself. Even at the restaurant, you take on more than necessary.

[judicialassistant]

[ To be fair, it doesn't take long for her to figure out which he meant. It doesn't matter that he has these feelings, it only matters that he's fighting them... Isn't that so?

It doesn't always feel so simple. But for tonight, maybe it could be.

Her eyes glance over to his tea as she is spoiled by his gentle rubs. He should drink that, shouldn't he? But she is forced to respect that he doesn't want this to be about him. She wants to tell him that she wants to make him proud, to ensure that his ventures are successful, even if it no longer pertains to law... but he doesn't want that either. She's pretty sure he doesn't mean to discourage her from working the restaurant, so...

So what can she say? ]

I'm... not sure that I know how to take time for myself. [ Her birthday would have been the first in recent memory. That was... nice. ]

[chippedsoul]

. . .Hm. That makes the two of us. [Really, he's not any better at making time for himself.] But, you were one of the reasons I have this restaurant. Despite everything I did something I wanted, and I'm all the better for it.

[A little part of him occasionally ponders were they together for his happiness or did she genuinely want to be with him? But that isn't a question to ask here. He reaches up to move some hair from her face.] You've always been there for others, it's why you're the best legal aide. Consider then, how would you aide yourself?

[judicialassistant]

How would I aide... myself?

[ It's been a while since she thought about Ryutaro. She imagines herself standing next to "him"—herself, as a lawyer. But it is just a little to difficult to do so. Instead, she wonders what she would be telling Kazuma right now, had their roles been reversed and he had had the nightmare. In fact, hasn't that happened already? ]

. . . I suppose it wouldn't hurt for me to sleep in tomorrow for once. [ 76 beats her into the kitchen on most days, anyway. Maybe she should catch up on some reading... ]

[chippedsoul]

[A small grin, his hand now running through her hair.]

Rest as much as you need to. Take the day off if you like. I'm sure Jack and the others won't mind.