Dreamland (round 3)

[foundationmods]

[A strange house of some sort sits in the pitch black nothingness that exists around it. For those just now wandering in, they will be drawn to the building, finding it lit up in a way that it should not be. It's as if the whole area- house, yard, fence, and giant sakura tree- all give off their own light, and the newly-arrived are drawn to it like a moth to the flame.

Inside the boundary of the yard, the familiar faces of those who have passed on already will greet them. Depending on who is asked, they might give an accurate explanation. But even if they don't, one thing is clear: you don't want to leave this place. The area outside feels Dangerous, and it is probably best to stay put.

Fortunately, the house is built in an old style, and there are many rooms to explore. One room on the second floor seems locked, but the rest are open to explore as desired. The standard rooms are easy to find: kitchen, a W.C. and a bathroom, a sitting room of some sort, and a couple bedrooms (with plenty of futons for the dead to use). There are also several tatami mat rooms with nothing in them currently, but it seems like there might be some use for those rooms.

Around the house, perches for birds can be found. No birds are on them currently, though.

Sometimes Watanuki can be found in the house, but most of the time the dead will be left to their own devices. The question is, what will they do here?]

Comments

cw: gore

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow nods]

Anon was... very upset about what happened. He and Doctor Muller got into a row after the doctor tried to revive you with his blood, and I had to split them up. When it came time for the trial, Anon asked Nirrti if he could carry out the execution. Tsubasa was found guilty, and... [Shadow winces a little, thinking about it] Anon flayed him alive. Tore open his ribcage from the back and let his lungs dangle out on either side of his spine. It was horrific. [Though to be fair, Shadow doesn't really seem bothered by it. It WAS horrific... that's just a clinical fact]

1/2

[sotoshini]

[ The surprise is written plain on his face. Anon was upset...?

It's hard to think about, it's impossible to think about because every time he starts the thought just kind of stops, only to start again. Intrinsically his body remembers more than his mind does, and his heartbeat quickens. ]

[sotoshini]

[ It's unclear how long he would have stayed in that state of incomprehension, but the next part about the execution he can react to without any thought at all. That's grown easier over the past couple of weeks. More natural.

Shadow's heard Natsuno chuckle once or twice, during their after trial drinking sessions. But this? This is full on raucous laughter, and he's actually in danger of falling out of the sakura tree. Above all else, it's incredibly pleased. ]

I wish I could have seen it. [ Fang-fulled smile and all. ]

[chaoscontrol]

[Yeah, that's not something Shadow has heard before. But he doesn't really seem to be reacting as if he were concerned. Koide is who he is, and Shadow isn't one to deny that vengeance feels good. He lets him finish before continuing]

It was quite the spectacle. And for some reason... Nirrti took the punishment afterwards instead of Watanuki. [Shadow gives Natsuno a look] I didn't realize you and Anon were so close.

[sotoshini]

[ Reorienting himself on the tree, he makes to rest his face onto his palm until he aborts the motion. Moving again on the branch it's clear that he's moving for the sake of moving until he finally settles onto letting his legs swing off the tree. He doesn't meet Shadow gaze but he's not avoiding it, he's staring off into space not really here at the moment.

A beat or two later, he finally responds. ]

I guess we are. [ Were? No, are. ] We understand each other.

[chaoscontrol]

Mmmm.

[Shadow folds his arms and looks away himself]

I think you're far less obnoxious than he is, but I suppose you two are similar in other ways. I admit, I do not have... those kinds of feelings.

[what kinds of feelings???? SHADOW??]

[sotoshini]

[ The obnoxious comment gets him to snap to Shadow with a look but then he just. freezes. ]

...what.

[chaoscontrol]

Ehn?

[Shadow just regards him with a cool, but somewhat confused, look]

What what? Not even Ann reacted so powerfully to the loss of her friends. It's clear your bond with Anon is something more. Am I wrong?

[sotoshini]

I- [ Even friends makes his mind go blank. They're not friends it's never crossed his mind they even could be- yeah they're something that he will admit is close given their last conversation but anything beyond that is ....???

Hold on, maybe he can still right this because he has no idea to the extent of Anon's yandere in the past 48 hours. ]

Takamaki wouldn't kill anyone, that's different. [ That's all Shadow's talking about right? The execution. ]

[chaoscontrol]

[.... really?

dis boy can't be that dumb.... can he?]

That's... I mean, that's part of it, but... Koide, what I'm saying is, he reacted as if you and he had a... more... deep kind of bond. Than just friendship.

[good fuckin chaos why does he have to do this]

[sotoshini]

[ Yes, this boy is that dumb. ]

...how? [ Regressing to one word answers because, again clearly Shadow just does not understand that Anon is well, Anon and finds that getting vengeance, speaking his mind, and all that good stuff is par for the course. It's not like he left a symbolic item on his corpse or moved into his room or anything like that. plz. ]

[chaoscontrol]

[hoo boy.

Shadow... isn't sure he wants to go there. to this conversation.

like

ever.]

Kiode. He rested by your body all day. He scoured the entire mansion for clues as to your demise. He's staying in your room as we speak.

[DOES HE REALLY HAVE TO SAY IT?? WITH ACTUAL WORDS?]

1/2

[sotoshini]

[ ............................................................... ]

[sotoshini]

I-, we- [ What are pronouns what are words he does not deserve this he's only sixteen and he's cheated death three times but he has no experience with this. He just-

Yeah he's just gonna bolt from the tree and squirrel up high somewhere else. This must be what it feels like if he was to try to step foot into the Vatican in all his vampireness, one part of his mind helpfully supplies. ]

[chaoscontrol]

[HmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMM.

Well then.

That saves Shadow the utter horror of trying to explain relationships to a teenager.

He's just gonna

slide down out of the tree

and slip into the house


goodbye forever]

later

[sotoshini]

[ A while later after Natsuno's tried to get his head around the situation—he still doesnt completely get it but he kind of understands—he comes down from his hiding place to find Shadow.

His expression is his usual stoic, but he is playing with the feathers on his jacket every so often (any season goes in dreamland ok) ]

Shadow, can you do something for me?

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow is sipping sake and reading through what looks like a cookbook? Maybe? He's also calmed down a lot since the uh

treeventure.]

There are limits to what I can tell the living. With that in mind, what can I do for you?

[sotoshini]

I figured. Does a haiku work?

[ Good they can just. Maybe forget that happened. Glancing at the sake but not commenting for now. ]

[chaoscontrol]

A haiku? I guess if it’s vague enough. I can’t tell him it’s from you, though.

[sotoshini]

That's fine. [ That's something he's already worked in. brb rummaging through this house for paper and pen and writing it down. Apparently he's thought this through because it only takes him a few seconds.

There, handing it over in maybe unexpectedly neat handwriting. ]

Here. Vague enough?

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow takes the paper and looks at it. He furrows his brow as he reads it]

... so I expect Anon will know what this means?

[Yeah, Shadow already knows who it's for. Who else would Anon want to send a message to?]

[sotoshini]

Maybe. [ His hands free he toys with the feathers on his jacket again. ]

I've never written poetry before though. If not...I'll wait a bit and try again. Can you give it to him before Monday?

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow nods and puts the paper away]

It's late, now. I'll get it to him tomorrow [ie, sunday], if that's alright with you. That will give me time to memorize it.

[sotoshini]

Whatever you need to do. [ It might be strange hearing such agreeable speech from Natsuno, but he knows how to be polite when the situation calls for it. There's also the recipient and subject matter and the fact that well...clearly there's more to him than what most people caught onto. Then again, he hadn't really made an effort to explain himself except in one obvious exception. ]

...can we drink?

[chaoscontrol]

Even I need a little sleep. [Shadow takes another drink] My body is sleeping right now, and I should... probably sleep here, too. Eventually. [eventually]

You can do what you want here, as long as you don't break anything. [Shadow gestures to one of the cabinets] There's more cups in there. Help yourself.