foundationmods | Dreamland (round 3)

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round 3

Dreamland (round 3)

[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?]

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[He was already pretty relaxed, leaning most of his weight against Natsuno to the point where they'd both probably lose their balance if one of them shifted wrong; but Anon melts a little further into the embrace, and with them being who they are, they aren't going to shift wrong. That's the saving grace somewhere in the clumsiness of shoulders and elbows that still exists when they get close like this.

He closes his eyes for a few moments and his hand comes up automatically, softly running over the feathers of the wing around him. It's easy to get lost in it, with Natsuno all around him and the wings blotting out the scenery even when they aren't trying to.

They are definitely missing most of this movie.]

... Sometimes it's just hard to see things like that at first. Before I could leave the Underworld, I just really wanted to get out of the mountains. I didn't realize that I never climbed high enough to get a proper view.

Sometimes, you could see the water from there, too.

[He opens one eye just in time to catch Natsuno's funny wing emoting and the smile that results is more than a little silly.]

I've definitely yelled into the ocean a couple of times. You should try it.

[ It's impossible to hide the sharp intake of breath when fingers meet feathers, or the bristling of plume as he settles into the touch. His wings are still pretty new, but he may just be really partial to the whole experience all the same. There really wasn't a chance to put up any physical barriers when it came to them, and even though they've ran through his normal ones (kissing, touching, handholding, cuddling), there's something to be said about embracing a feeling from the start. ]

...we should do that too. The tallest mountain we can find, where we can see the stars and the sea. [ That's soft, but his lips quirk upward to meet Anon's smile. ]

I'd probably need to try yelling first. [ He could probably count on his hands the number of times he's yelled. And most of those were because trying to tell someone they're stupid while fighting with them on the highway in traffic requires you to raise your voice. ]

[For his part, he's just relishing each new sensation -- the expected ones, like the warmth and solidity of Natsuno against him and the tickle of his messy hair and the now-familiar way he smiles when Anon is looking at him; and then the more unusual ones, like the feathers sneaking under his collar and the strange sensation of motion rippling along the wing cradling him in place.

Anon likes all of it, and he's always liked exploring and pushing limits -- with hands and feet and mouth and everything else, even if Natsuno has the advantage of more limbs. He's always been good at reversing advantages, after all.

He reaches up a little to explore more of the feather structure, lengthening his caresses but smoothing down the plumage as he goes.]

Mmhm, I really want to see that. Climb all the way up, and then fly all the way down. I bet the drafts are real nice up there.

[It's really debatable at this point what they'd be looking at, but that's fine. There's an amused noise as he tries to picture Natsuno yelling. It's true, he hasn't heard that yet, has he?]

I can show you, though. Yelling in the mountains is even more fun.

[What if they just Tarzan hollered the whole way. That works too.]

[ There's a more visible reaction this time—his other wing which is out of reach flares to it's complete span before he tucks it tightly in and he leans back and then forward on the branch. It's like he can't decide what position feels best, and he greedily wants them both. ]

Mmhmm... 'm sure they feel good too. [ Drawn out cause someone's doing a real good job of distracting him right now, and his word choice is entirely not by coincidence. ]

I know how. Unless it's different that high up. [ Altitude is a thing, but mostly he's just doing a bad job at hiding up his 5% indignation with 95% fluster at Anon's reaction (the stimulation isn't a nonfactor either). This is why he doesn't sing, ok. ]

[There's a soft little laugh from Anon as he feels the echoed motions of Natsuno fidgeting around -- and of course he caught the other wing flapping outward out of the corner of his eye, showy and honest, and he curls a little closer into the one still draped over his shoulders like the big soft cape they were discussing once upon a time. The last time he had a braid, in fact.

His hand never stops its motion, moving methodically along the wing to tuck up against each line of feathers and the delicate joints, firm and gentle and rhythmic. There's definitely a shade of mischief in the smile Natsuno is getting, though.]

I bet you'll like them just as much as the ones here.

[Nobody here is choosing their words by accident, but also nobody here is watching their word choice. RIP everyone else in and around the tree.]

It's definitely different 'cause of the echoes up there. I can get to hear you yell like five times for the price of one.

[One of these days he's definitely going to get Natsuno to accompany some music, by any means at his disposal! Right now, though, they can sing a different tune. Anon leans back a little bit to tuck his face up against the feathers behind him and then hums a little bit; one of those not-quite-kisses that he's starting to get good at teasing with.]

[ Huffing his expression melts into a pout, his cheeks a soft pink. He's very much aware of what his face (and feathers, they're getting poofy again) are doing, but he's powerless to stop it at this point. Or rather he's the type to chase the highs no matter what the cost, and there shouldn't be any secrets between them. It's just embarrassing. ]

Yeah. There's supposed to be good thermals for flying over the ocea— [ There's no way he's finishing that sentence with those faux-not-quite-there kisses. On a good day they can redirect him in a snap, but right now they drive him crazy.

Spreading both his wings (knocking free so many petals and the stray feather in the process sorry everyone below), he makes as much of a play for lift as he can in the tree and then just tackles Anon down on the branch. There's no way either of them are seeing the pond cinema right now, especially since he furls his wings around them in a cocoon afterwards. They can still hear, it's fine. ]

And what about in a cave? Think it's the same thing? [ They might as well be in one right now is his belabored point. Answers are for after he's taken the price for all this teasing in needy, biting kisses. ]

[Well, there's no way Anon is going to resist being bowled over by a whole lot of Natsuno and feathers, particularly since he's much too busy basking in all the expressions crowding onto his face (he has no regrets, none) and all the ways in which he is very successfully derailing the entire conversation. He's already reaching over to cup that blush in his hands when Natsuno moves, so there's just something that sounds like a very unconvincing cross between a yelp and a laugh before everything goes sideways.

They end in a heap on the branch with one of Anon's arms curled against one of the wings, feathers and petals everywhere and his other hand has slipped into Natsuno's hair somewhere in the whole mess. Anon's a little slow to respond anyway, since he's busy spitting out a few flowers at this point--

The kisses, at least, are met with just as much enthusiasm on his end. He lifts himself a little off the branch on his elbow just to get more contact, plastering himself up against Natsuno and giving as good as he gets. That'll be his answer for the moment, back in this familiar and shielded world of their own.

(There's no need for them to watch right now, anyway; the tiresome reel of cases and revisiting them isn't something they need to think about. The timing of this particular distraction is probably a coincidence, but.)]

[ The break this time doesn't come from necessity (touching is still a need at this point), but from the stray words that occasionally slip through their world of sakura blossoms and feathers. Their reunion had been this catalytic thing, and for as much as Natsuno was able to say there was still more that got lost in the mess of everything that day. Hearing about it, about how he died and was then used as some stupid prop in a children's mystery should have been enraging, but all Natsuno feels now is this well of appreciation. He doesn't really know what to do with it (that's been happening a lot lately), but he sure as hell can try.

The kisses slow but don't stop, more deliberate and less sloppy, and slowly trace from lips to edges of a smile, climbing up to black stripes that frame red eyes and back down again. His hands which had been gripped tightly around fabric relax, one finding it's way to brush aside any stray pink strands, bangs (and petals) that might have fallen in the way. He can afford a few words between all of this to explain himself, even if it's whispered between kisses. ]

Hey, I never said thank you. For taking care of Tsubasa for me. For everything.

[There's a soft murmur from Anon when Natsuno slows down and the kisses soften -- it's nonsensical, more of a noise than an attempt at speech, a little curious but not quite questioning; he's too distracted for that, eyes slipping closed when the kisses move up and then blinking open again because it's hard to decide whether to chase the bouquet of sensation or Natsuno's expressions this close.

For the moment, he tilts his head into all the touches and absorbs the words as they come, both from outside their feathery embrace and from Natsuno himself, though he's obviously more focused on the latter. There's a blink or two, a few scattered answering kisses before he answers for real.]

It's something I needed to do for me, too.

[His next kiss has a little more bite to it, and when he pulls back there's a savage edge to his smile, talking about this particular part of it. It's completely at odds with the way his fingers slip down to cup Natsuno's cheek the way he'd been reaching for from the start, cradling him there.

They're fingers that can tear through flesh and tendon and crack through bone. They hold him delicately, fingertips softly brushing the ends of his hair.]

I would have killed him a hundred, a thousand more times if the Witches allowed it. Because I know his type. He would do it again if he thought it was necessary, and if he could get away with it. So he'll always deserve it.

[It takes a moment after that for the cold light to leave his eyes, but it melts away from his expression when he moves up again into another kiss, soft and drawn out and clinging. The rest of it all is uncharted territory, confusing even for him to put into words, but one thing that isn't present is hesitation. There are no doubts. No second thoughts. There's no looking back at all, because he's looking only at the things that matter.]

[ Natsuno lets himself relax into the touch, settling on top of Anon rather than pressing down like he was before. It might be a little disappointing if he didn't somehow wind up more entwined this way (arms, legs and wings); his hold around Anon warm and secure. He lets out light breaths between the kisses and words, soft and pleased. He's more than happy to let Anon dictate the rhythm now, but it's far from the only thing he's happy about. ]

You always understand me. You never try to tell me it's too much or not worth it. Even when I wasn't there, and even when everyone else was probably annoying and loud you understood me. [ He can only imagine what it was like with the group clamoring about being honorable, just, and all of that garbage. ]

I would have done the same thing. If anyone hurt you I- [ Clinging tighter again. ] I would break them and only when there was nothing left of who they once were—their happiness, their pride, their family, their freedom—then I would kill them. I've done it before, when this Shiki supporter tried to kill Ozaki. I bit him and made him kill the only thing that mattered to him, his stupid fake Shiki family. He wound up killing himself before he could finish the job, though.

I would do it again. But that wouldn't be enough, I think. Not for you, you're... [ He's talked so much that he feels like he's suddenly run out of words. An impassioned kiss might suffice, but he finds what he was searching for at the end: taisetsuna. ]

[He tucks his fingers further into purple hair, so familiar now and warm as the rest of their embrace when he curls his hand deeper into it and tucks some of the flyaway locks behind an ear. They settle closer together, and as before he melts easily into Natsuno's touches, letting himself be gathered in and wrapped up.]

If you have the resolve, and the power to do what you need to do, then it's always worth it. That's the way the world works, and I think they're learning that. Some of them. [there's a bright edge to his smile, like the flash of a blade; it softens the next moment into an expression almost as gentle as his face that night after hanami when they wound up in one whole tangle of lips and hands and hearts] And you.

You're always worth it.

[That's as close as he can come right now to putting together everything else, putting any kind of name to the parts of Natsuno he knows like parts of himself, and holds just about as close; closer than they are now, to the point where he doesn't know if he can separate one from the other anymore. He doesn't remember any point at which it became like this -- it just is.

There will be time and space for looking at that someday. Right now, for once, he holds the gaze when his cheeks flush at both their declarations, but especially at everything Natsuno himself is offering. There's a gleam in his eye as he accepts it, the words and the storm of touches, humming quiet and pleased even though he has no idea what his heart is doing right now.]

Mmm, they'd better learn. All of them. Not to mess with us.

[He has no idea what his heart is doing but his breath is definitely stuttering, something catching in the words as he loses track of what he's saying. He lets himself get lost in the kiss instead, meeting Natsuno as he does so often now that both of them are struggling with words, reaching for him with both hands and looping them about his neck. Give him a minute here because everything is a lot.]

[ Ah he really has lost all his words, they've been taken away like the tide as quickly and as suddenly as they came. This is how things are with them, where he finds himself moving forward, forward, faster, and faster until all of a sudden there's no ground beneath him. But that never matters, because somehow he now has someone to catch him below, or sometimes they fall together landing against all logic safely: in one messy tangle of limbs, feelings, and hearts. Losing his humanity was supposed to make him feel less, and in many ways it has but...

Natsuno can hear both of their hearts, synced up in the same frantic rhythm, the same flush on their faces. In lieu of words he offers kisses that are slow and soft despite everything else. It's important to him to get across this-this emotion he doesn't dare put a name to yet. There's always tomorrow, because there will be a tomorrow for them, and the day after that and the day after that. And if there wasn't, they would make one.

By the time Anon's done speaking, he's managed to reclaim some of his voice; enough to offer an Mmnn between breaths. A little after that (and many more kisses of course) he finally trusts himself to speak again. ]

They will. Or they'll regret it. [ There's an edge to the statement, but it's also soft and spoken with care. ] We promised right? No more being separated by witches or rules or anything else, even dreams or dreams within a dream.

[ Because he's sure that if he was to fall asleep right now (and there is a drowsy quality to his voice, courtesy of the atmosphere and his own venom) he wouldn't be alone there either. ]

[If you were to ask Anon his favorite place in the worlds, he would be hard-pressed to choose just one. (There was a time when he would have easily named a dozen, spots that were interesting to see and experience but which had very little attached to them, meaningless stops on the way to nowhere.) The sea, the stars of countless worlds, the now-nonexistent room that he and Natsuno didn't-quite share.

Or here: someplace so much smaller but somehow warmer than all of them, where it's so easy for him to forget about every other place, every other person, and anything that's happening right now. Somehow even the end of the island itself seems unimportant in the moment, with Natsuno's kisses drawing them together. It's a dangerous state of unawareness for someone like him. It's a strange thing, to want to stay when he's always been trying to break away.

But it's where he wants to be. And somehow it doesn't feel like staying, but moving forward, faster and farther than he ever has.]

Yeah, we promised. It's important for all our promises. [his smile is easy and dreaming, his arms loosening so he can go back to running a hand through Natsuno's hair] Nothing could keep me away anyway. Witches or dreams or rules, or all the worlds in between. Nobody.

Now that I've found you, I always will.

[ Ahh it's too easy to just close his eyes and really get comfortable, so Natsuno doesn't bother to fight the impulse. That's kinda what they're about anyway, and after some minute shifting to take advantage of the hair caresses he's perfectly content. ]

I can't wait to fulfill them all. [ There's a lot and they're all equally important, aside from being together of course. He makes a happy sound at the rest because there's absolutely no way he could respond adequately in speech at all. Still he can make an attempt, however clumsy he feels like it is. ]

I'm not as strong as you, but I think I'm just as stubborn. So the same goes for me. [ ... ] I don't ever want to be without you, Anon. But I know I won't have to be, not anymore. Together, we're unstoppable.

[Anon makes a soft hum of agreement, truly a sleepy noise now that his caresses and the familiar comforting weight of Natsuno against him are lulling both of them. There will be time, he wants to say, for them to realize Natsuno's potential: he's not as strong yet, but there's so much more time once they snatch it back from the jaws of this Game. Because they will. And no matter what, Anon is going to enjoy watching him grow into his own, and being there every step of the way.

They'll probably get in some useful sparring sessions. Eventually.

But that's a lot of words and a tangle of concepts to worry about later; maybe once they wake and maybe much later, after they've figured out where the current fight lies and how they can get their hands on the future.

For the moment, Anon presses a little kiss to Natsuno's hair and lets the touches and words link and weave around them together here, settling against the wings like a second blanket.]

Mmm... yeah. It's best when we're together.

[He's closed his eyes at this point and is slowly settling in to doze.]

Always. [ It's a short answer, brought about by the call of sleep, but it's fitting enough really. Being together is always the best, and they will always be together from now on. But for now, they can both take an oddly timed nap despite the relative chaos around them.

One of them will wake up when it's time to well, wake up for real (it'll be Anon, Natsuno isn't the quickest to rise unless he's overheating in an onsen). Until then, they can dream within a dream because between dragons, kakigoori, cheetahs, swirly straws and everything else they'll be busy soon enough. ]

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Dreamland (round 3)

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