dreamcrystals | Passive Dream Recording | Pandaemonium spoilers within

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Passive Dream Recording | Pandaemonium spoilers within

Sender: Erichthonios
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive Dream Recording

(Content warnings: implied murder/justifiable homicide, parental death)

"You must have known you could not conceal this from myself and Agdistis forever...as well you know that I cannot allow it to continue."

They are as words, spoken into the blackness of unconsciousness. The voice of a man grown; authoritative... irritated.

"I shall say this but once: release Erichthonios. Else I shall have no choice but to strike you down."

The statement is firm, resolve clear. He means every word he says.

"I would meet my end at the hands of none other. However, ere my time is come, I will have you know the why of it."

A woman's voice replies from the darkness; soft, calm, confident... arrogant.

"...Then you will not desist."

"Once you understand what has driven me this far, you shall see that stopping was never an option."

Darkness ensues for moments longer, and when your eyes open, you see a brilliant sky.

Buildings stretch into the heavens, crystalline panes illuminated by soft glows, the ambient aether enough that none need fear the darkness should they not wish for its presence in their room.

Your small hand does not touch the window, instead ensconced in the dark of your mother's robes. She does not pick you up, but smiles down at you nonetheless. Fair skinned and neat, pale golden-brown hair... the sort of shade one hesitates on whether to call blonde or brunette, even masked, she is beautiful to you.

Your father, dark skinned and cinnabar hair, has a sterner expression. It is from him you take after in appearance, though the hair that brushes into your face is a shade belonging to neither... perhaps more a combination of the two, like vibrant copper.

You feel you have displeased him yet again. Are different, somehow. Broken, somehow. You cling to your mother's robes, half-hiding.

She will go to Pandaemonium, to serve as its Chief Keyward. In time, she will send word for you, and you, still a child, will join her there. A son who loves his mother...

...A son who, a child driven by filial love, unwittingly plays into her hands, aiding in her quest to attain godhood, until your father discovers the truth of her work, and descends unto her secret laboratory to confront her.

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[Ira knows some of this story, but he doesn't catch on to it at first. Perhaps that is because it is a dream, and perhaps because parts of it feel similar. Not that he remembers a lot of his childhood.

But it can be hard to only watch, and he's not sure when he can wake himself up.]

[All fades to darkness once again.

He who dreams feels heavy, as though a great weight is borne upon his wrists and hands... as though he is hanging from them. He cannot see. His eyes will not open. But he hears. He hears as though he from underwater, voices distorted.]

Even a castoff would uphold his pride. Though such an impulse must speak to the overwhelming arrogance of my other half... The name “Hephaistos” shall grow to eclipse yours. None shall remember the deeds of Lahabrea once I fulfill Athena's ambition...and bring Erichthonios's dream to life!

[This voice sounds the same as that of before, if angrier. A male voice. The voice of his father, as he sounded when the dreamer was but a child. He is no longer a child now.]

You speak as if you care a whit for the boy. Why then do you cower behind him?

[This voice, too, is that of his father. His father of the present. Both are his father. Yet, he has only ever had the one.]

There are some desires which must not be realized. Athena would see the world destroyed if it meant she could find hers in the ruins. As for Erichthonios... He knows not what his wish would beget ─ a truth which you have hidden from him. Do you truly believe a father's role is to deceive and manipulate?

[At last, Erichthonios speaks from within his dream]

My...wish...?

[His voice is deeply fatigued, struggling to shake off a forced unconsciousness.]

You would claim the name Hephaistos and call yourself his father, yet you bind his mind and body in dark chains. Your words ─ and your pride ─ ring hollow.

Athena wanted her son by her side, and he desires to return there. What wickedness is there in mending a broken family?

Athena cared naught for Erichthonios, beyond how he could serve her ends. You claim to be acting in his interest, but 'tis plain you are no different.

[As the dreamer struggles to wake from his control within the dream, so to does the dreaming Erichthonios begin to stir.

The dream abruptly ends.]

[Ira awakens, shortly after the dream ends. But some time passes before he responds to it. There is a lot to think about, after all.

Eventually, a message appears in the journal.]

Erichthonios

I may have seen the dream that you had last night.

Are you alright, my friend?

-Ira

I imagine all this talk going around of love reminded me of my parents.

[There is a sluggish but steady pace to his writing that is not at all like his usual self, who normally writes in starts and stops. But it is nevertheless his handwriting.]

[Yeah, Ira's concerned.]

That is one way to put it. And, made a little too real.

Are you at home?

I am venturing out to meet a friend for tea.

Would you like to meet later?

Yes, I would like that.

I admit I was worried.

Thank you, my friend.

I know it is much to take in.

You have, been through a lot. And I know we have spoken of it before, but seeing it is another thing.

Pray accept my apologies.

'Twas never my intent to give you an immersive experience of what I endured.

It is quiet alright.

If I have learned anything about the dreams here, it is that they rarely give anyone a choice, dreamer and observer alike.

Shall I meet you at the library, as usual?

Yes, I'll be there.

[A time later, Erichthonios arrives at the library. He seeks the other man out promptly thereafter, searching first those places in which they usually run into each other, and on seeing him, approaches without further delay.]

Ira… I hope I have not kept you overlong.

Oh no, not at all.

[And certainly, he hasn't been waiting long. And would probably be here anyway.]

How are you?

[He's not sure how - or if - he should respond to this dream. He's been both parent and child too many times to count.]

[And yet... he feels for the boy. ('Boy', as if he even knows how old Erichthonios is.) Still, he sends the man a message through the journals.]

Just so you're aware, your dream was broadcast to all of us.

Do you wish to speak about it?

[Though he is only beginning to rise later, Erichthonios checks the journals as has become his habit upon waking.

He does not expect to find a message writ to him, least of all one such as the one Naoya writes.

Eyes reading over the page, dread builds in his veins. Oh no. How many saw?]

My thanks for the warning.

[The lettering is not as smooth as it normally would be, this time written by a halting and unsteady hand]

'Tis a difficult matter to discuss.

I know not why the dream broadcast, or where to begin.

[He doesn't want to push. Erichthonios knows some about him, but he doesn't know much about the other's world. Nor does the other know about his. And still...]

Family can be a difficult topic. Especially when it's not as

[He pauses for a moment, thinking of how to continue.]

idyllic as we'd like others to think ours is.

As for 'why', I don't know. This place can be cruel like that. You don't need to tell me anything you don't wish to.

If it helps any... you are not the first nor the last with complicated family problems. Perhaps that's a little sad, but... at least you aren't alone. Even if your circumstances are unique, the feelings aren't.

Truly?

[He had never heard of such discord occurring in his time. Yet, Naoya's words ring of truth. Erichthonios recalls some of that which he has been told. Though it is not the full story, and this much he knows, it is enough for him to trust the other on his word.]

I know not whether such a thing is comforting or disheartening.

[Hopefully there are none too much like him. He knows not a single person he would wish that on.]

I suppose I should start by asking... what is your understanding of what you saw? I have my memories of the events, but others might have a perception different from that which actually occurred.

You were captured by someone who you care about - else you likely wouldn't have dreamed of her. She was pursuing something, likely forbidden. And then another scene... you with your mother, watching a cityscape. With buildings that look of a familiar style to me... but that's likely of no real import.

The rest was somewhat vague. You joining her... and she was likely the person in the first part, pursuing something she should not have.

[There's a lot of impressions of things that he doesn't understand... but they're important to Erichthonios.]

If you'd like to discuss it in person, I do have something I wanted to give you.

You do?

[What... could it be? He does not often receive gifts. Even less so here.]

Mayhap in person is the better way to do it anyhow. Though you have the basics correct already, it gets

[There is a pause as he struggles to settle on a word that appropriately describes what having a father who is in a way two fathers is like.]

complicated.

I do, yes.

I can go to where you are, if you would prefer. It's not too heavy to carry.

[Well. With some difficulty, yes.]

I was thinking of stopping somewhere for tea.

[Tea. The comfort drink. At least for him.]

Mayhap a place specializing in different drinks would also carry that which you prefer?

[The "energy" drink. He remembers.]

Some tea would be good. It would be a good opportunity to use what I've got for you as well.

And it's all right. I don't think a lot of places here carry energy drinks - not in a sit-down setting, at least.

[Were he in a better frame of mind, Erichthonios might have dwelled on coming up with a remedy for the lack of energy-enhancing drinks. But, as it stands at the moment, his mind feels incredibly mired.]

Then we may meet at the one closest to your dwelling.

[Naoya was sick not so long ago. He'll not expect him to traverse far on his account.]

[People recover faster nowadays, Erich. But he's not going to raise the issue if the other doesn't.]

I'll draw you a map to a nearby one.

My thanks.

I shall see you soon.

Of course.

[And Erichthonios will find him there... alongside a rather large wooden chair. Sized appropriately for Erich, in fact.]

Edited 2024-02-23 03:50 (UTC)

[Erichthonios arrives not long thereafter, quietly slipping through the door of the establishment even though he must bend at the waist in order to clear the doorway.

He'd arrived with the intent of taking his order and drinking it while standing, or mayhap taking it to go and drinking it outside. However, it would seem as though his friend has other plans...

Upon sighting the object next to the man, Erichthonios' jaw drops.

A chair. He made this for him?]

Is that... the gift you spoke of?

[...Of course it is. But he cannot help but ask the question anyhow.]

Yes, it is.

[He nods and chuckles. It took some doing, but he still has the knowledge required to build things like this.]

It's only a chair for now, but... you should be able to be comfortable like anyone else. You might have to take it with you from place to place, but you can at least fold up the seat and the front legs follow with it to make it a bit easier to carry.

I... thank you...

[Nigh speechless, he approaches, marveling at the simplicity and convenience of the design. A wooden chair... so much different from the stone typical of Amaurotine design.

After a few seconds of examining it, looks up, speaking again.]

...Have you placed your order at the counter yet?

Ah, I haven't. I was waiting for you. I didn't want to be impolite.

[He heads over to the counter and orders a green tea. It's simple and he's not going to endure fussing over 'should he be drinking that' if it's a sweet tea or something. He wanders back to the table and sits, waiting for Erichthonios.]

[Erichthonios' trip to the counter has a different outcome. After glancing over the menu for a minute in search of something that is not there, he eventually settles on a spiced 'chai' before returning to their table.]

Apologies for the wait.

It's fine.

[He sips at his tea and closes his eyes for a moment, considering his words.]

Your family situation sounds... complicated.

[Letting out a long breath he opens his eyes and nods to the Ancient.]

Why don't you start at the beginning? If you're comfortable with that.

[Taking his seat, Erichthonios sits with cup cradled in his hands, savoring the warmth it gives, even as Naoya broaches the subject that brought them to this meeting once more.]

…Aye…

[He closes his eyes, a wry smile forming upon his lips.]

Complicated is… a good way to describe it.

[With a long sigh, he spares a moment with head dipped to collect his thoughts.]

My mother… Athena… was a researcher with the Words of Lahabrea. A woman whose intelligence far surpassed even those of her colleagues. Her ambition was to shatter the limitations of our people… of which there are two. Though we may manipulate our bodies to an extent, we remain tied to them in life… and though we are able to create life in its myriad forms, we are thus far incapable of creating a soul.

‘Twas her preoccupation with this conundrum that led her into discussions with my father, Lahabrea. The two spoke on the subject of surpassing limitations often, I gather… ‘Twas my father who first came up with the theory that would become the foundations of the hemitheoi, fusions of mankind and mythic creation, where the strengths of one would mitigate the weaknesses of the other.

Athena encouraged him to develop his theory further, and their conversations eventually developed into something more… after which I was born.

[Here, he pauses, taking a moment to sip his tea before it cools.]

…and yet, although I was born of Athena, a woman of surpassing intellect, and Lahabrea, whose mastery of creation magicks are without peer, I… struggled to master even the most basic of magicks.

His training was harsh… and our relationship frayed early on. Athena was granted oversight of the newly constructed Pandaemonium, and in time sent for me, offering me a position there… I remembered her fondly, and accepted without a second thought…

In hindsight, asking me to come when I was still but a child should have raised more concerns… but I loved my mother without reservation, and so I went. Blindly.

[He keeps his expression neutral as he sips his drink, listening to Erichthonios tell him... essentially his life's story. Interesting.]

I see. So she wanted to become a god.

[As irritating as it might be, he doesn't truly know where new souls come from. He only knows what happens after they die - but there's more people than there used to be. Therefore, new souls must come from somewhere... and the divine is unfortunately the only source he can think of that makes sense.]

Of course you loved your mother unconditionally. Most children do care for their parents, and tend to normalize any abuse or ill treatment at their hands that they encounter. And if she was the sort of person you describe, it would not surprise me if she manipulated you into caring about her above all others.

[He huffs in slight amusement - not at Erichthonios, but... well. It's not a tactic he hasn't used - and recently. Kazuya cares about him - maybe not without question, but enough to make his plan work. In theory. ... Maybe not in practice in his timeline, but...]

Especially if your relationship with your father was frayed... what happened after you went to Pandaemonium?

I sought to help my mother in whatever way I could. Though I often fell asleep... or so I thought.

[To be so determined to be of help, only to be gently told later what a useless boy he was. But he was her useless boy, so somehow... that had made it feel better.]

The last time it happened, I awoke with my wrists sore again... only to...

[He pauses, recalling the event. He'd not heard any of the exchange in the dream at the time. That had only been shown to him much later.]

...to be told that she had died.

'Twas only recently that I was finally told the truth of the matter.

[... Hold up.]

'Again'? Waking up with your wrists sore was a frequent occurrence?

[Erich, no.]

I imagine that was difficult to process, no matter how it was that she treated you.

...Aye.

She was... using me in her experiments. The reason my wrists were sore... 'tis likely because she held my unconscious body suspended in the air via magicks that bound my hands.

Such is what I saw in the memory Lahabrea shared.

... No child deserves to be abused by their parents. And that is... definitely abuse.

[He's been in... rough situations before, but he's been careful to treat his children as well as he can under the circumstances.]

And yet you cared for her. ... Which is understandable. She made you care for her, and the loss of family can hurt even when you have complicated feelings about them.

You aren't wrong for your emotions, Erichthonios. There's nothing wrong with how you feel.

[Maybe he's being soft but... this boy - and he is a boy, even if he's older than Naoya - seems to need it.]

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Passive Dream Recording | Pandaemonium spoilers within

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And another post-hiatus tag for you!

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Sender: Naoya

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He's going to cherish it

uwu Erich...

Re: uwu Erich...

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Returning from hiatus. It is now tl;dr time.

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