dreamcrystals | The Old College Try

Oh, that's easy! I just think of my family! My uncle, my brother, my little boys... anytime I think of them, I'm filled with more energy than a million lightbulbs at once!

[ did she mention her family is awesome because HER FAMILY IS THE BEST, BETTER THAN THE REST ]

Ohhh... so you're one'a those super-moms.

[He smiled a little.]

So I gotta think harder. I need a happier memory! Like...

[Hmmm, give him a minute. Oh! He stopped to think, even scrunched his nose a little as his eyes closed. He and Pochita found a stray burger in the trash. It was still a little warm, and it tasted so good. They hadn't had anything more than bread in weeks...!

A small spark popped before him, and both he and Della would briefly have the warm and familiar sensation of being hugged, but that was it. He cracked an eye open.]

Oh... Oh, hang on, I'm onto somethin'. Keep goin'. Uhh... the boys! Tell me about 'em!

[His mom was very much dead but he could live vicariously a little bit. He wondered what she was like... would she have felt like she had million-lightbulb energy thinking of him?]

[ She's not sure why her bragging about her kids helps him, but she's certainly not going to complain! ]

You won't be able to make me stop! I've got three, they're triplets! Huey's the thinker, can memorize any fact in seconds, and is awesome at getting Junior Woodchuck Badges! Dewey is a great performer, always down to boogie, and has the same love for adventure as I do! Louie is is so sharp, he can see through any con and scheme before bad guys think twice, and he's got a heart bigger than the universe!

[ The warm feeling is just gunna keep on growing - her word of hers is sincere, and she can easily babble about her babies non-stop. ]

[Triplets, only shit. Going from zero to three kids was wild, but he needed to focus. It was a very warm feeling as she spoke and he tried to vaguely recall anything- even just a glimpse- of anything remotely like that.

He brought his hands together and shut his eyes tighter. Come on, come on... she was happy and he could borrow some bit of that happiness! What made him happy!? Did anything make him happy?!

Something was in his hands, and it shocked him into opening his eyes. It was maybe six inches across in all directions, but he found himself holding... an orange ball.]

...Ah!

I did it! I dreamotioned something! A ball of... happy energy, I think!

[ Oblivious to his inner workings, Della has just continued to babble on about her babies. ]

... And then there was the time Dewey took over a complete armada of singing sky pirates! He's got real leadership skills AND vocals, a deadly and powerful combo! And then there was the time he saved the family from a stoned curse in a forbidden golf course -

[ Then she finally seems to realize things are happening and being said. Buh? She blinks a bit, returning to the present. ]

Huh? ... Oh! That's great! Good for you!

[He squeezed the ball and seemed proud of himself. But... what does he do with this thing? Maybe he should hold onto it.]

Whatever happened must've been pretty powerful. You love the hell outta your kids, huh? But the stories sound like stuff outta those adventure books with planes and treasure and all that.

That's just every day for ya?

Oh, you bet! My whole family loves adventures! We go on them every day, all the time! Why, I've been adventuring since I was younger than you!

[ ... She assumes he's young, anyway. You human people and your dang tallness. ]

Aw, man...! I would'a loved goin' treasure-hunting and stoppin' ancient curses and stuff! You even look like you fly planes and get into dogfights and everything, too!

We only get video games for that. ...Unless a devil flies a plane and wants a brawl sometime. But that's not happened yet, and I dunno how to fly a plane.

[ Planes??? OH BOY. If anything, she seems to get even cockier and happier! ]

You have the eyes of wisdom - I am, in fact, the best pilot there's ever been! I take my plane, the Cloudslayer, all over the world for my family! And I've already begun teaching my kids how to fly, and I'd gladly take you under my wing!

[ Pause. Pause. Pause. Then she deflates. ]

... If... there were planes here. Which they don't have here. Which sucks here.

[He canted his head.]

But... dreamotion is about feelin' good and making stuff, right? You can't dream yourself a plane or look for parts?

I heard some people found a power plant out in the woods.

Nah, man, nah! Planes are wayyyy too complicated for that. Look how much time and energy it took for you to make a ball!

Besides, no plane here could ever beat my precious, perfect Cloudslayer.

[ A pause, contemplating... ]

... But maybe one of these days, if I wind up dreaming about it, you can come aboard!

[Maaan but she was loaded with nice mom energy. She could totally make a plane if she wanted! Him? He made a ball. He was made of... Denji energy? Denergy?

He broke out of his momentary distraction.]

...Oh yeah, I remember hearin' about that. You can just dream about whatever, like a video game, and people can just pop in?

Yup! It doesn't happen all the time, but I've gone into dreams before... Like, I went into this dream of a little girl decorating a Christmas tree, and it was sooooo cute!

[ And the mom in said dream was a drunken ass-hat that Della wanted to punch, but let's leave those details out. ]

That's really cool! And the kid knew you were there and everything? Damn, maybe I should think really hard of a good dream...

[He rubbed his chin.]

Sorry, kiddo, I don't think it works like that. We don't exactly get to choose what dreams we share. Believe me, if we could, all of you would be flying planes in my head all the time!

Damn. ...Explains the weird shit that happens in my dreams sometimes. I think I was drowning in a bowl of udon once, and I even like the stuff.

[A pause.]

Yeah, I'm officially hungry. Let's get some udon.

Aw, yeah! All this talk's got my stomach growling! And don't worry about the food, I'll pay for the both of us. No one else pays when you're a friend of Della Duck!

[ Which is why she... usually has no money and is definitely not going to inherit her uncle's bajillions. ]

Hell yeah! I know a place, too.

[He nodded to follow and was on the move. Yeah, that was enough testing for one day. He needed food in him and to think of some sort of plan. Dreamotion was gonna be something to think about and practice... 'cause what if he really could make whatever he wanted if he tried hard enough?]

Guy makes the noodles from scratch and they're freakin' perfect. Feels gourmet but don't cost much.

[ She follows along, now totally distracted by food. Ten years of nothing but black-licorice-flavored oxy-chew has given her a new appreciation for almost everything edible. ]

That sounds awesome! I don't think I've had noodles that sound so good since my last visit to Tokyolk!

[ not a typo. ]

[Toki-what? ...Wait, was that a pun??]

Just don't ask him his process. He goes into nerd mode and it gets complicated. I'm sure some foodie can work it out, but I just wanted to see if I could maybe make some at home if I'm feelin' lazy.

Oh well. I do a little work delivering for the guy sometimes and he lets me eat instead.

No problem there, I'm not exactly great at cooking either. Last time I tried to make some cakes, I set the oven on fire, put one kid into a sugar coma, and gave another one stomach-aches that lasted all night.

Ah... I can make basic stuff, I guess- a roommate I had made sure to push that into my skull- but the most I can make for dessert is my bowl cake.

When I was a kid and Christmas was comin' up or my birthday, I'd get a bowl and some flour, water and a spoonful of sugar. I'm sure it's nowhere close to the real thing, but I couldn't be picky.

[ Record needle scratch. What did she just hear? ]

... Oooh, are we about to enter some super depressing backstory? Cause I've got hugs ready and raring to go.

[He paused and stared at her. You had him at hugs, Della Duck. He scratched the back of his head and looked up in thought.]

I dunno about super depressing, but I had to work a lot as a kid to make ends meet is all. I get a headache thinkin' about all that, though.

I'm not good at storytime, I guess. Sorry.

... Hugs it is!

[ And he's not getting a say in it. She yoinks him by the hand to bring him in for a snuggle, buuut there is a height difference, so he might be forcibly bent downwards. ]

The Old College Try

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