open 🔸 missing

[noblegarnet]

Who: Ferran & dreamwalkers
Which: Interactive dream
What: A space that could not feel emptier. A family lived here once.
Warnings: discussion of injury and death?? idk

[The smell of ash, scorched metal and melted plastic lingers in the cool air, even though the fire that decimated the once two-story home has long since ceased. The light that filters past the overcast sky sets the blackened wreck in a dreary but clear light, making obvious the fact that the rest of the well-to-do neighborhood was left untouched.

A 17 year old with short brown hair stands at the end of the driveway, his right arm in a sling and his face the picture of grief. Behind him, leaning against the sedan that brought them both there, stands a tall, older man with striking eyes, his arms folded and expression tinted with mild concern.]

You're certain you want to be here?

[The teen pulls his eyes away from the house, finding a familiar crack to stare at on the sidewalk as he sniffs, then wipes his nose with the back of his uninjured hand and tries to steady his voice.]

I had to see it. If there's anything... [His gaze returns to the building.]

Don't strain yourself.

[With a faint nod, Ferran steps towards the ruins of his home, a determination in his posture despite his clear lack of energy. The man by the car doesn't seem intent on helping or approaching, but maybe another soul who might have found themselves in the dream would find it odd that an injured boy is digging in the collapsed mess of material left from an apparent arson.]

Comments

[lethechained]

[ It's hard to know what exactly is going through Ferran's head, but what she can tell from the outside feels like something of a relief. He seems... better, at least, although Naminé remains somewhat on edge in anticipation of any further emotion on his part.

Still, the shift, when it becomes obvious, is not one that she fails to spot. Hesitantly, the blonde trails after him when he moves with purpose, her eyes on his back and her head tilted faintly in concerned curiosity. About the time realization begins to dawn, his guardian makes an appearance.

Naturally, Naminé's first inclination - after the jolt of surprise and sharp, subsequent turn toward the sound of his voice - is to step between him and Ferran. She almost does, in fact, though in the end her better sense wins out after only a half step in that direction. Her frown is pronounced, but in light of what the man has to say - reluctant though she is to shift her attention, the blonde belatedly looks over at Ferran along one narrow shoulder. ]

... Have you remembered, then?

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran turns towards the two of them soon enough to see that hesitant half step, but neither the dreamer nor the figment of memory respond to it externally. He watches Naminé with an apologetic tilt to his head and brow, a faint breath like a sigh leaving his nose.]

I'm sorry. [He turns his eyes away with some shame, holding the fragment of evidence that spurred him on his path close to his chest.] It's easy to get caught up in all this... I didn't mean for you to have to walk on eggshells like that.

[He was so, so sensitive then. Raw. Ready to snap at every little thing.]

Some of it still feels like it was yesterday. Even when I try to be better than that... you can't help what you dream, I guess.

[He turns his gaze back to Naminé and takes another couple of steps towards her, partly to reassure her; she's understandably cautious in the presence of his guardian even if he's merely standing there observing patiently, and... well, it's never nice to be forgotten by someone you care about.]

I hope I didn't upset you.

[lethechained]

[ Given his apparent recovery of his mind and his lack of overt negative reaction to his guardian, Naminé elects to afford Ferran her focus as he nears her. Her shoulders sink, just a little, though her frown remains even as she listens - after one last perplexed glance Rion's way, that is.

The blonde's already gotten to shaking her head at Ferran's apology right away, even before he elaborated. It's hard not to feel defensive of him at the moment in light of what he mentioned about his friends, figment of the past thought this whole scene might be. ]

Of course not, [ she tells him, although her voice is a bit hushed. ] You didn't do anything wrong. I was just... worried, that's all.

[ But he does have the right of it, that being forgotten stings - it always does, for her, no matter how brief or otherwise meaningless the experience might be. Still, he's at no fault, and she'll stand steadfast on that point. ]

[noblegarnet]

[Rion's amber eyes follow her and meet her gaze without hesitation nor any apparent intent, a mere raise of his brow his response to her glance. She can say and do as she likes; in this memory, the man did little more than wait, so wait he does.]

I have that effect a lot, don't I.

[He gives her a weak smile, a little self-deprecating, a little tired, but genuine underneath.]

Your recklessness does encourage it, [remarks the memory almost casually. Ferran lets out a breath through his nose as his smile fades, but doesn't bother even looking at the dark-haired man. His focus is purely on Naminé... at least, externally.]

Thank you... for being patient. I'll make it up to you somehow after I wake up.

[lethechained]

[ Looking at that smile of his, Naminé hesitates, and yet... the one she gives in return is as honest as it is sympathetic. ]

I... don't want to lie, [ she says, with the gentlest hint of a tease to it, and that's probably all the confirmation that need be said. She means it fondly, that much is clear enough, and presently she adds an encouraging, ] Most of the people I like are good at getting into trouble.

[ So he's in good company, at the very least. Not that Rion counts among them, though, which Naminé's reminded of as the memory speaks. Her lips pull into the faintest of frowns, and she doesn't restrain a glance the figment's way. Still, her attention is back on Ferran quickly enough. ]

You're welcome. [ Yet she says it reluctantly, as if she feels the thanks isn't warranted; with a small effort, she draws her smile back into place. ] As for making it up to me... there's nothing to make up for. But I won't say no if you want to spend time together somewhere that isn't a bad dream.

[noblegarnet]

[Something warm manages to show through his eyes, though he doesn't quite return to a smile of his own. That does sound nice—just them in the dream world he's come to think of as home, enjoying something mundane together. No nightmares, no monsters, no memories come to life.]

Then it's a date.

[The shadow of that man won't disappear from his mind like the dream will in a few short moments, but it will go back to where it belongs, unseen by anyone else... at least for a time.]

[lethechained]

[ That gentle smile of hers shapes into an 'o' of surprise, just for a moment - but the upward curl to her mouth is quick to come back as she nods. That's not the word she would have used for it, but-- ]

See you later, Ferran.

[ Whenever and wherever it is that they get around to it. With that - she'll finally let herself follow the tug of the waking world, too. Perhaps she's only managed to be so much help with this dreaming recollection of his, but... she at least has hope they'll both rest a little easier, now. ]