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
[Beat joins her, his own laugh loud and boisterous. The grin on his face reached ear to ear as they continued to walk, trailing behind Fang as they closed in on their destination.]
I was hella hyped to have him back. Like I knew we was all gonna be okay with 'im 'round.
no subject
Just like last year. ]
Well, where was he hiding?
no subject
[Even he didn't know how to fully explain where Neku had been. Especially considering what had happened to him prior.]
Phones kinda disappeared. Like he straight up didn't exist 'cept for the few of us who remembered him.
[There was a touch of melancholy to his words. With how he looked, a thousand yard stare gracing his features, it was obvious that there was more being left unsaid.]
He was in another city. In Shinjuku. But it was like that place didn't exist for a lotta people either. And he was stuck there, all on his own for three years.
no subject
That she recalls, there had been a lot of talk surrounding the place, most notably a rail station that had opened there that had gained a lot of popularity. To say it just didn't exist for a lot of people... She can't imagine it.
Three years... Three lonely years. ]
...You know, that almost sounds familiar.
no subject
Familiar, huh? Why's that?
no subject
[ Susato is always a little hesitant to breach the topic. She was never there, but perhaps Futaba would have more to say on the matter, someday. ]
Three years is roughly the time Kazuma spent in the Realm of Stories. [ All by himself. Before Reverein. ]
no subject
Same as Phones, huh? [No wonder she had said it was familiar...] But what's this Realm of Stories supposed to be?
no subject
It is a realm that also did not exist for most people, in a way. Certainly not for me.
That I have learned, it is the realm where the Story Eater originates. Those who were pulled in were assigned a role from a story... and they were tasked with restoring that story by someone called the Storyteller.
no subject
This Story Eater dude sure gets around, don't he?
[He says that with a light laugh. Finally they near the lake, but Beat keeps walking along the fringes.]
Well, leas' he ain't there no more, right? And he found you makin' even better for both a' ya.
no subject
With the book to seal the monster still in progress, it is anyone's guess if it will be effective; but Susato certainly plans to do her part. She also hopes that Beat is right. ]
I am glad Phones found you, too. Although that is not his true name, is it?
no subject
He chuckles at her question. Seems like Susato was really starting to understand how his brain worked. Beat shakes his head from side to side.]
Nah. Phones used to wear headphones like those 'fore. [He points to the ones that rest on top of Susato's head.] Tha's why Phones stuck, you know?
[Seems like music wasn't the only thing Beat had to feel connected to his closest friend.]
His name's Neku.
no subject
[ You never know? Everyone dreams.
When Beat indicates the headphones, however, she smiles, cupping a hand over one side. It clearly means a lot to him, and perhaps she's starting to realise what an honour it had been to be able to wear them.
The current song ends as they approach a bench near the water, so she takes the opportunity to lift the headphones off her head with care. He probably wants those back. ]
In fact, I wonder if I should start writing them down. Your names for others... [ Would he allow that? ]
no subject
But for now, he smiles at her as he takes his headphones back when she offers them. Hitting stop on his phone to kill the music, he slings it back around his neck. With a nudge of his head, he motions for her to sit on the bench with him.]
My nicknames? [Now there's a thought.] You can if you wanna. Got a lotta them. Think you can keep up, yo?
[Yes, he assumes they're doing this now.]
no subject
Why, Beat, are you challenging me? [ PLEASE, SHE PRACTICALLY TOOK NOTES FOR A LIVING. To prove her point, she pulls out a notebook, practically from out of nowhere (read: her kimono sleeve), along with a pen. ] You should know by now that I am always up to the task.
[ Her own name would be the most obvious choice for first on the list, shouldn't it? Yet she'll give his friend the honour.
Neku = Phones ]
no subject
Aight, le's get started then!
[He watches as she writes down the first name and sees that it's Neku. Suddenly, he felt warm inside, and maybe a little homesick. If only he could see them again. But he looks up from Susato's notebook to meet her gaze, smiling when she does. He knows that it can get a little lonely without them at times, but he's made friends here too. Good friends like Eustace, Link, and Susato. And so many others.]
Yo, you can't go forgettin' "Loops", aight?
[And until Rhyme and his friends arrive here or if he wakes up back home, he knows he'll be alright.]