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

[cryosurgeon]

We have our abilities back here, right? At least I can stitch myself up after they tear me apart. But I don't want you getting hurt for what I did.

[beguiledcard]

... It's easier to stitch up another person than it is to stitch up yourself, right? Besides...

[ There's the tiniest smile. ]

I consider it a worthy cause.

[cryosurgeon]

... why? I don't....

[Why did Takumi hug him? Why did Shadow go through such lengths to try to protect him? Why does Sherlock care for him?]

... no one ever thought I was worth protecting before. No one ever thought I was worth anything, except for one person who threw my life away against my will. Why do any of you care? What did you see in me?

[beguiledcard]

[ His expression softens a bit... ]

... We both dealt with wrongful convictions in our lives. Then, we both killed a person and died in the process. Then, we both got brought back and had to die again...

[ Akira's glad Erhard's second death was at least painless(??? it looked that way, at least), but... it was still a second death. Also, maybe this is what people mean when something feels similar to a shaken soda bottle. He's been holding shit in for a while now, and all after everything he went through. ]

When I was first brought here, while I was already at my absolute lowest point, and after dying painfully, I was thrown against a tree and kicked. I've been called stupid more times than I can count. I felt like I'd lost-... everyone's respect...!

[ He's panting a tiny bit. ]

So, maybe it's selfish... but I feel like you're somebody who-

[ Akira's tired. He might be tearing up a tiny bit. He lets out an exasperated laugh, palm of one hand rubbing at one eye. ]

... gets it? And I'm fucking tired of standing around uselessly. And I care what happens to you, because... I'd started to see you as a friend, all right? And I saw how hard you were trying to teach that asshole with my face.

[cryosurgeon]

[So they really could see through the demons' eyes. Erhard doesn't want to think of how Sherlock must've felt, seeing him throwing himself at Caar. Seeing Akira in distress helps to shake him out of that depressing thought.

They really are so much alike, aren't they? They look like they could be brothers, and their lives... bad enough that he had to suffer so much, but knowing someone else is in this amount of pain twinges something unpleasant in Erhard's chest.

Empathy. This is empathy.

He steps forward and pulls the teen into a gentle hug, reassuring without restraining, in case Akira wants to break away.]

I tried to teach him because I was hoping you were still in there somewhere, seeing what he saw. And... because I missed talking to you. I'm glad to see you again, Akira.

[beguiledcard]

[ His breath catches as he's pulled into the hug, and then it escapes a tiny bit shakily. He hadn't expected that at all...

But, with only a tiny bit of awkward hesitation, he wraps his arms around the opposite form, pressing his face into his shoulder. There's a tense kind of laugh that's a poor attempt at concealing the tiny sob. ]

This isn't how I wanted to see you again. [ tiny sniff ] But, I'm glad to see you again, Erhard...

After you rest, we should talk some more, okay?

[cryosurgeon]

I'd like that.

[Hugs are... good. They're really good. So much better than being alone in a cold cell, or sleeping in an empty bed that still smells faintly of pipe smoke and scotch.]

You don't have to go back to your world. If you stay with me, no matter where I end up, I'll make sure you become a top-notch doctor.

[beguiledcard]

[ His expression softens a bit... and he gives a nod into Erhard's shoulder. ]

And I'd like that.

[ There's a small smile when he does pull away a bit, and it's probably... the most lighthearted one Erhard's seen on him, ever. There's more life and more determination in his eyes. He lets his hands rest on Erhard's shoulder. ]

Let's work together to help people. And change our corner of the Earth for the better, when we get back out there.

[cryosurgeon]

[It's not easy, once again without Sherlock and trapped in a relatively small space with at least three people who hate him. But Akira is still his friend, and somehow Erhard has given the boy who killed out of resentment and despair some measure of hope for the future.

So he does his best to return the smile, a shy but genuine expression not much dulled by the weariness in the rest of his features.]

I'd love to have a vacation first, but I get the feeling we won't have much of a chance. So we'll simply have to work as hard as we can and prove our worth.