i'm a new soul; [open]

[amnesiadragon]

Who: Ryu and open!
Which: Depends on prompt!
Where: In Reverein and in dreams!
What: Ryu's shopping and reading! He's also dreaming!
Warnings: Childlike idiocy? Also mention of (child) death, destruction, and general violence in the dream portion.


attention shoppers

Ryu has gone shopping before, but mostly for supplies. Now that he has his own place (at the insistance of a few other people) he has to shop... for the house. This is a kind of shopping he's never had to do before, so when he steps into several stores he feels a bit overwhelmed. You might find him peering curiously at a coffee table as he wonders why people need a whole table for one beverage, or perhaps you might find him staring at a broom, trying to figure out how to hold it... not like a sword. He's never had to clean up after himself in that kind of way, so he has no idea how to use it.

It's not his fault - he's mostly slept either outside or in inns his entire existence. He knows he has to be responsible, but he's just not sure how


learn me a book

Or perhaps you'll find him at the Tree of Stories, sitting and trying to read out a book. He's reading out loud, so it's not hard to find him - though the book he's reading appears to be made for children. ... He's still having trouble with it nonetheless, but he's forging on regardless. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he tries to get through some of the harder words. Should someone approach him he'll look up and smile a little bashfully.

"S - sorry. Was I being too loud?"

He was trying not to - he doesn't want to be inconsiderate! But he's been told that reading things out loud is one of the best ways to work out a word. ... And there's a lot of words he doesn't know.


that empty feeling

But not all of Ryu's time is spent awake. Some of it is spent asleep, and his dreams aren't exactly peaceful. No, this one in fact is quite awful - an empty feeling pervading the whole scene. And what a scene it is.

It's bodies, scattered across the ground in front of him. Close to a dozen of them, with one of them on the ground in front of Ryu. The area around him is foggy, though the remnants of a village seem to be beyond the fog. It's hard to make out anything though, and to those sensitive to nightmare or negative energy, the whole place smells (metaphorically) fishy.

Ryu, for his part, is kicking the corpse in front of him, growling at it. There's an answering growl from within the fog, but he doesn't seem to notice or care.

"Why? Why them?! Why this? Is this what you wanted when you wanted to capture me? Is this - is this what you wanted to get out of it?!" His voice is strained, as if he's been yelling at the dead man for a while. He doesn't seem to notice anyone initially - he's clearly more focused on whatever happened here.

Comments

Attention Shoppers

[crystalized_hope]

[G'raha was relieved that Ryu was finally not sleeping outside somewhere. It may have worked for him in the past, but if you had the option to have your own cottage.... Why not take it? He had just been wandering a little bit when he noticed Ryu out and about. The way he looked at some of the objects... Yeah, it made sense if he wasn't used to it.]

I'm not much for interior design, but I'd be happy to offer you some assistance if need be.

[amnesiadragon]

Oh!

[He looked up and smiled at G'raha. Surely he would be able to figure things out. He seemed smart!]

I was just wondering why people need a whole table for one beverage. Or a table for the kitchen... though I guess it makes sense there if people are eating together like we did in inns.

[crystalized_hope]

Ah-

[So that's what he was thinking. G'raha couldn't help but chuckle slightly in response. Sorry, Ryu.]

It seems you figured that out on your own. Usually, it's not just one beverage. Dining tables are meant to hold meals as well. It's especially important to have the space if you have company or live with someone else.

[amnesiadragon]

Oh... I'm on my own...

[A pet would probably be a good idea.... if he knew how to take care of one. Which he didn't.]

I'm having some trouble making meals, too. I... I'm used to meals being made over a fire.

[Or however the inns did it - probably simple ovens that look very little like what the oven in his house is right now.]

[crystalized_hope]

There's no saying you can't have guests over at some point. Regarding meals, it takes a bit of practice to get better at it. I used to eat food that was easy and quick to make and eat. Needless to say, my diet wasn't exactly healthy. It caused a lot of fussing from Madhuri when she found out about that.

I'm not that best cook, but I have learned quite a bit since I started practicing here. I wouldn't mind helping teach you what I know sometime.

that empty feeling

[b_a_n_g]

Nightmares were scenes that tended to pull him in rather than the dreams of positive energy where dreamotion energy could be produced. There was only one person where he might consistently show up in a happy dream, and that person wasn't this one. So it was only fitting that he found himself pulled into a nightmare of a scene.

Reaper stood in the fog and watched the newbie (who cares the kid had been awhile) kicking a corpse. That was an interesting tactic, and he personally wouldn't invest himself in mutilating a dead body. Everyone had their own coping mechanisms he supposed, and this was an interesting take.

Tendrils of black smoke moved through the fog as he emerged from it, tentacles from himself extending to 'feel' across the ground as he approached the boy. He stopped next to the corpse that jerked with each kick and set a armoured booted foot on it. "Kicking a corpse isn't the best way to spend your frustration and grief, boy."

[amnesiadragon]

He looked up at the sight of tentacles and reached for his sword before... a person? seemed to emerge from behind them. The boot on Rasso just made him huff in uncharacteristic annoyance as he raised his gaze to meet Reaper's. He didn't know this person, and this person didn't know him - or his story.

"No, but he deserves it for murdering and torturing villagers." His voice was low and angry, his fists clenched. "If I hadn't blown him to dust I'd have said I hope he rots." He was dreaming, he was... reasonably sure - but that didn't stop the emotions from being there. "He deserves nothing but the worst for all he's done. For making me lose control."

[b_a_n_g]

"Far too common of a story," he reflected, nudging the body there on the ground. It didn't require wailing on it with a foot to add extra insult to injury. "You made it sound like he committed such acts in order to get to you? These were your villagers?"

He cocked his head as he considered the statement of losing control. He found that interesting, and it left open all manner of questions about this one. Everyone had a reason for doing what they did, even if those reasons were inherently bad ones. "And how did he force you to lose control, hmm?"

[amnesiadragon]

"He did do them to get to me - or at least while he was waiting for me to appear. He kidnapped nearly the whole village, took them away... and tortured them for information while he waited." His voice was as flat as he could make it, trying to keep himself calm. "I didn't grow up amongst them, but they were trying to protect me - they were innocent..."

In, out. In, out. Breathe. "He fought me with a construct that was... overwhelming. It nearly killed my entire group in an instant, and the sight of seeing all of them so destroyed it... something inside of me broke. I... I gained a new dragon form but... I can't control it. And every time I get angry it's... difficult to keep from turning into it..."

[b_a_n_g]

That was a tactic that was primarily used by Talon and other guerilla groups looking for certain types of attention. Hostages always drew eyes and ears. It seemed to in this case as much as any other, since apparently this guy had shown up to confront the individual in question. He wasn't about to debate the morality of it. "They were a calculated strategy to draw you out. Some would consider it a risk getting close to or seen by the same people over again."

He didn't know much about what kind of dragon's this boy was talking about, but the tone reminded him faintly of Genji. All angry and seeking a justice that would never satisfy. "Then let it out, boy. You can't hope to control it if you're too busy trying to avoid it."

learn me a book

[oathkeeper]

[Sora just happens to be heading by when he hears someone reading out loud. It perks his interest and he really can't help popping by to see what story the other boy might be reading. He gives him a friendly smile.]

Haha, no! You're doing fine! What story are you reading?

[Does he need a reading buddy???]

[amnesiadragon]

[He looks over at Sora and smiles back, waving at him. He could use a reading buddy, yes!]

It's a story about a big red dog. I'm mostly doing okay... I just keep coming across some words I don't know.

[oathkeeper]

[Whoa, that's got to be the best book in existence. Who doesn't like books about giant red dogs??]

It can be tough if you haven't read the words before! Want some help?

[He'll come and sit down next to the other boy if he's allowed!!]

I'm Sora, by the way. I'm a certified book reader and everything.

[amnesiadragon]

[Right? It's so cute... he wants a big red dog...]

I'm Ryu. I... um. I'm not as old as I look, so there's a lot of words I haven't run into before.

[oathkeeper]

Nice to meet you, Ryu!

[He nods because he has met a lot of people with varying ages and looks.]

Reading takes a lot of practice but the more you read the more you learn the bigger words. You've got to sound them out and sometimes ask what they mean! But once you've got it, you've got it!

[And he doesn't mind being a helper teacher!]

attention shoppers

[soughtrevenge]

[ Estinien is not one for shopping - Tataru has made certain he never has access to the Scions' coffers - but she's not here to stop him from making poor decisions with coin. So, he's taking his time, browsing the shops to see if anything catches his eye that might be of use for either himself or Aymeric. He spots Ryu holding a broom as one might a sword, and it makes him chuckle. ]

I take it you've never used one of those before?

[ As he approaches Ryu, he feels it immediately - the presence of a dragon. It's the same feeling he had when he arrived at the Great Work and saw Varshahn with the basket of scales... He keeps the feeling to himself, though. If this young man is dragon-kin, he will be able to sense the presence of the great wyrm's blood flowing through Estinien's veins. ]

[amnesiadragon]

[He looks up at Estinien, his eyes widening. He can definitely sense the presence of another dragon, and he nearly releases his grip on the broom. He can tell that this one is very powerful... should he ask outright?]

[He doesn't really do subtle, after all.]

N... no. I've stayed mostly in inns, and I've seen the people who work there using it, but I've... never used it myself.

[Should he ask? Should he not ask? He hasn't found any other Endless yet despite repeatedly asking... but there's no sense in not asking.]

... This might be a weird question but... are you an Endless? Or... a dragon?

[soughtrevenge]

I'm no Endless or dragon...

[ He pauses, considering how to proceed with this conversation. Certainly, the Scions and others across Eorzea know his history with dragons, the alchemists at the Great Work sensed it immediately upon his arrival... But this young man does not hail from Etheirys. Folding his arms across his chest, Estinien takes a step back, giving Ryu a once over. ]

Yet you can sense it, can't you? [ A pause ] I sensed it in you, as well.

[ But he doesn't quite know what to make of it... Is he a simulacrum like Varshahn? Mayhap his blood has also mingled with a wyrm's? Or is he an Endless, whatever that may be... ]

[amnesiadragon]

[... Oh. Did he offend this person? He didn't mean to... he's just lonely.]

Sorry, I... yes. I can sense it. I didn't mean to be rude, but... I just... wanted to know. I only appeared a few months ago...

I'm an Endless. Or half of one, at least.

[soughtrevenge]

[ The dragoon is far from offended - it takes more than being asked if he is a dragon or something called an Endless - just a bit confused. He shakes his head, small smile on his face. ]

'Tis fine, you have no need to worry.

[ Estinien eyes the broom in Ryu's hands, still being held like a sword... he'll come back to that. Their discussions regarding dragon-kin is far more important than how to properly use a broom. ]

I'm afraid I know not what an Endless is. [ A pause ] I am familiar with dragons, however, as I've fought against them and alongside them in my own world.

That Empty Feeling

[burnttoashes]

[... this scene is, Nuadha supposes, not unlike that which must have been left in the wake of his orders to attack Odanse, and although he never saw the results for himself, there's an uncomfortable familiarity to the entire situation.

Ordinarily, he would say nothing. It's not his place to intervene in the dreams - or memories, as this would appear to be - of another. But the boy's cry of "Is this - is this what you wanted to get out of it?!" strikes an uncomfortable chord within him, and he finds that he can't bring himself to simply walk away, as much as there's a part of him that wishes to.

He's silent for a long moment before at last he speaks.]

... you won't get any answers by doing that.

[amnesiadragon]

[He looks up, his face a mask of pain and frustration, trying to take a breath. He doesn't know who this person is, but they're not an imperial. Not an imperial soldier, at least.]

... He's dead, so... no. I won't.

He should be dust, but he's... not.

[burnttoashes]

["He should be dust, but he's... not." Again the vague sense of discomfort within his chest, though he's careful to keep his expression neutral.]

Dust at your hands, you mean? Or the hands of another?

[A beat.]

Is that what you truly want?

[amnesiadragon]

Mine.

... And it's not what I want at all. Yes, maybe he should have died for what he'd done, but his soldiers... I lost control.

[He gestures to the other bodies lying around. Faceless, nameless... he doesn't know who they are and he never will.]

[burnttoashes]

[Nuadha purses his lips for a moment, considering. He's heard of people losing control of their powers before - can understand exactly how it could happen when one's emotions are running high - but has never experienced it for himself.

If only Baldr were still here... he was always much better at this sort of thing.]

... it's understandable to lose control in a situation such as that. Though I doubt that does much to make you feel better about it when their deaths were not what you sought.

[He goes silent for a moment, looking at the bodies of the soldiers on the ground. That's no small number to send after one boy...]

Why did they seek to capture you?