songerein | [CLOSED] Don’t leave me alone at this time

Entry tags:

[CLOSED] Don’t leave me alone at this time

Who: Joshua (

amnesiadragon)
Which: Closed interactive dream
Where: In a small dreamscape constructed by Joshua
What: Joshua has offered to help Ryu master his transformations in a controlled environment
Warnings: As always, potential spoilers for FF16! Also fighting. Any other warnings will be added

[The wide field stretches wide between two cliffs, adorned with rolling hills and distant mountains that reach lazily for the sky. The air carries a refreshing coolness, and the vibrant green grass sways gently in an unseen breeze, dotted with flowers and clover. Look closer and one will find peculiar spots where the once-lush vegetation appears to wither and fade, a stark contrast against the overall beauty of the peaceful land of Rosaria.]

[This recreation of it, at least.]

[At the heart of the dreamscape stands Joshua, the architect of this realm. Perched atop a prominent rock, he surveys the landscape with a sense of quiet contemplation. His eyes, deep and blue as the endless sky, harbor a subtle mix of anticipation and concern. As the sun hangs ahead, casting its warm glow, he awaits Ryu’s arrival.]

[There’s purpose behind this dream. He can take solace in knowing that he has a clear goal. Still, Joshua's hands, usually steady and composed, betray a faint tremor as he contemplates the upcoming challenge. Only a couple of weeks ago, he’d semi-primed for the first time in Songerein while training with Kazuya—and that caused a cascade of problems. He vividly recalls the chaos that ensued, the unintended consequences of unimaginable power on his and Kazuya’s behalf, and a fuzzy aftermath that left him waking in his bed hours later. He was in full control of himself, but it still invited trouble.]

[Would the same thing happen here? Would his hubris cause yet another disaster? All he wants is to help a friend, but such intentions make perfect steppingstones to Hell.]

[He sucks in a deep breath. He has to believe that won’t happen here. That he can keep a handle on the situation as a whole. That if he can help Ryu now, he can prevent another similar situation from arising in the future. Besides, he planned this out. They had the contingency of dreams on their side.]

[It will be okay.]

[Joshua will make sure of it.]

[A sense of tranquility permeates the scene, interrupted only by the occasional rustle of grass or the cry of a wild chocobo (although none are present). The silence, broken by the slowly calming, rhythmic beating of Joshua's heart in his ears, resonates with the dreamscape around him. Home is a comfort, even if it’s only a façade.]

[Sometimes that’s all comfort is.]

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[The strange peace disturbs Kaiser. It doesn't seem to like it very much at all. It struggles and groans, sliding and stopping in place, trying to shake Joshua off, twisting and bellowing.]

[No. No it will not bow to this broken shard of a creature. It will not listen to this weak, pitiful being. It's not earned the respect, it's not earned obedience. The Kaiser doesn't mean to, but given that it's Joshua's dream the feeling it's giving off isn't all that difficult to discern.]

[Ryu is barely hanging on, tired of struggling and tired of fighting. He's mentally slumped over, trying to fight against what he's being swept away in but oddly resigned to it. He feels the strange peace and lifts his head. ... Coexistence? With something like this? Joshua did say that he needed to not be afraid... but it's so hard.]

[Joshua hangs on for dear life, his arms burning with the effort. The situation as a whole is untenable, but latching onto Kaiser like this is by far the most pressing matter that needs addressing.]

[After one particularly nasty jolt, Joshua borrows some of Phoenix's power to use the momentum to help push himself over Kaiser's shoulder where he can flop unceremoniously onto his back. He catches the impression that the dragon doesn't wish to answer to anyone, but, frankly, Joshua doesn't care. This needs to end, and Ryu needs the support.]

[He isn't one to force hands, not with the brute force he's seen others employ, but Joshua has mediated plenty of negotiations. All he has to do is see this as the same. He grabs one of Kaiser's horns, palms infused with dreamotion that carries the same sentiments he'd harbored moments ago, shared and supported by his Eikon.]

Heed my magicks, Dragon. They speak of the potential you both hold.

[Kaiser bucks harder like a wild ~~horse~~ ~~whelk~~ chocobo, rearing up and taking to the sky to try to throw Joshua off. Its response to the dreamotion is to send back two pictures - a man's face and the image of a child behind him.]

[It's tinged with despair and hatred and absolute righteous fury. How could that man do something like that? How disturbed are mortals if they can do something like that? Better to kill rather than watch them become even more depraved. Better to carry out its duty. Better to keep them from hurting each other. It knows how much it hurts Ryu - but it also is him. Not an outside force - this is his own power. No one else can control it. He is a god, and if he keeps wanting to pretend it's not him destroying things, that's his own fault.]

[All of that, in a moment of time - they are in a dream, after all. The Kaiser dives to try to shake Joshua off. It growls and spins, trying to slam its back into the ground to get rid of this insect. A powerful one, yes - but still a mortal, still an insect.]

Edited 2024-01-09 19:39 (UTC)

[As the images of the man's face and the child linger in his mind from Kaiser's transmission, Joshua holds on. The vision jars him, but he manages to keep his palms ablaze with dreamotion so they can continue their exchange. He'd seen the brutality that humans can unleash on one another. Battlefields where innocence meant nothing except a target for robbery and destruction.]

[He knows all too well, because he'd been there.]

[Kaiser's despair bleeds into Joshua's emotions, calling forth a vivid memory.]

[He's ten years old, laying on the ground, defeated by a beast of an Eikon unknown until that day. As he's sure he's taking his last breath, he's enrobed in an incredible warmth, one he assumes to be a call from the other side. He hadn't been entirely wrong. Phoenix's embrace, ethereal and otherworldly as it rose from the dead, gently lulled him into a healing sleep that night. A sleep that lasted for the next few years.]

[In the present, Joshua tries to convey how that partnership with Phoenix saved him. How if Kaiser and Ryu were to work together, they could do the same. For every child who lost their life in that village, they could save a hundred.]

[He would say more, but Kaiser clearly has other ideas. When it slams into the ground, Joshua loses his grip and is launched across the grass. In his semi-primed state, he's able to quickly call upon a weak barrier to shield him from the hardest strikes, but the impact it still enough to wind him, a tangled mess of flames and feathers.]

[Joshua lays there prone for a few moments before he struggles to rise to his feet.]

[The dragon lands and stares at Joshua. It doesn't want to go, but the warm feelings are stirring Ryu, giving him strength. It's not enough to fight off Kaiser, but it's enough for Kaiser to start getting annoyed internally.]

[Kaiser gets down close to Joshua, huffing. At least its breath doesn't stink, but it's definitely not pleasant. With an annoyed grunt it turns, likely clipping Joshua with its tail, and starts walking off.]

[... Not too far though, as there's no more than a blink before Ryu falls to the ground in a heap.]

[Indignation sparks in Joshua's eyes as Kaiser's tail clips him during its departure. He staggers to his feet, a hand pressed to his side where the impact had landed. Rude.]

That was unnecessary.

[Annoyance shifts quickly to concern when Kaiser disappears and leaves someone far less abrasive in its wake. The stumble turns into a hurried dash, feathers still trailing behind him, as he rushes his friend’s side, concern etched across his features as he checks for any injuries.]

Ryu, speak to me.

[There's no apparent injuries, but it does take a minute or so before Ryu stirs. He blinks slowly as he looks up at Joshua, reaching up towards his friend.]

You're warm...

[Astute observation, Ryu. But he tries to touch Joshua's cheek gently.]

... I'm sorry. It... I hurt you.

[During that minute, Joshua keeps close watch, timing Ryu’s breathing and watching for any signs of further distress. He remains semi-primed, the form and upkeeping the dream slowly taking a toll on him, but not one nearly as rapid or intense as feeding Kazuya’s frenzy into submission.]

[In the interim, Phoenix’s healing flames easily patch up Joshua’s bruises. So when Ryu awakens there is little left to show.]

[All the better to show how sincere Joshua’s chuckle is. The sound is equally eerie and light as his voice continues to echo with the raw power of tapping into his Eikon.]

I am warm, indeed.

[As Ryu rests his hand on his cheek, Joshua places his own so he can hold it in a gentle grip.]

And yet, I’m still here.

[Still alive, and still happily Ryu’s friend.]

[His eyes slowly lose their darkened hue, and the splendor of Phoenix’s plumage retreats until he is only Joshua once more.]

[It’s then that the weight of fatigue hits him, and beneath his palm, Ryu may feel Joshua fight off his body’s resultant shudder, but he remains upright and ready to help his friend.]

Are you hurt?

[He lets out a small sigh of relief. The strange image of Joshua semi-primed is strange, but the power feels... gentle. Not overwhelming, just gentle.]

I'm okay. Just tired...

[He pulls himself to a better sitting position and puts an arm around Joshua to help keep him upright.]

That was... Phoenix? Like my hybrid form, though...

[There's definitely something there, behind the young man that is his friend. Something older and stronger... but Joshua is plenty strong himself.]

I'm okay. It's... my forms takes the damage for me, if that makes sense? Just... takes some energy from me.

[Joshua nods in appreciation for Ryu's consideration as he steadies himself.]

It makes sense.

As you can see, I experience the same.

[He gives a weak smile, but not one devoid of warmth or humor.]

To answer your question, you're right. That was Phoenix. Although it isn't the extent that I can call upon its power.

[If he'd primed all the way, that could've been bad.]

I'm glad I didn't hurt you.

... I'm glad I didn't hurt you. I... I really could have.

I... I was really afraid that I was going to. You... I know you knew the danger, it's just...

[He hugs the other a little awkwardly from the side, but the intent is there.]

If you need to, though... call on your power. Don't worry about hurting me. I trust that you won't, anyway.

[He trusts Joshua entirely. There's a connection there, strong and solid.]

I was a little surprised... you think really well on your feet. I know you can fight, but... most people can't fight like that. Even without your power, I mean.

[There's something distant about the way Joshua chuckles after listening to Ryu. As if he's thinking of something far off in time and place. The sound is delicate and it carries its sincerity into his next words.]

If you believe I am talented, then you should see my brother.

He is the warrior between the two of us. By far.

[He looks up and frowns. Hm...]

You shouldn't compare yourself to your brother like that. You're really strong. You should be proud of what you can do.

... Nina does that sometimes. She worries that her sister's better than her. I think she's worried she might be overshadowed by her when we rescue her. But that's not true.

[The chuckle returns with renewed strength as Joshua shakes his head.]

Forgive me, I should have been more clear. I'm proud of my brother and his accomplishments.

[With how his face lights up, it's clear how much Joshua loves Clive.]

We may be two very different people, but he's someone who I strive every day to emulate.

That said, I'm sorry for your friend's worry. It cannot be easy to feel such pressure.

Okay, good. I just... I want you to be proud of what you can do, too.

... You deserve that. You deserve to be celebrated and admired too.

[He nods seriously. He wants Joshua to be proud of what he can do.]

Thank you. As do you, my friend.

[It isn't that Joshua is an insecure man. He knows how powerful he is, he is confident in his skills, and he's humble enough to understand these are not talents to take for granted.]

[Still, Ryu's words make his heart stir. Acknowledgement--genuine, pure praise without any ulterior motive--has a funny way of making even the most self-assured individuals feel valued.]

[Joshua begins to lean back. He makes sure not to move too far away from Ryu, just in case he's still needed.]

Now, let us stand you on your feet.

[He pulls himself up, stretching a little bit. Ah... he's not quite sore, but it's a weird almost-sore feeling. His skin feels a little warmer than usual, but otherwise there's not any effects from Joshua's fire.]

... If you want, we can still practice some - not with our other forms, just like this. ... Though I'd understand if you want the muscle memory rather than doing it in a dream.

Or we could just talk. Or just sit and watch the world.

[As Ryu rises, so does he, albeit slower. His friend may not be sore, but Joshua is feeling the ramifications of his (stupid) actions during that scuffle.]

[With that in mind, he considers Ryu's suggestions carefully.]

I've had my fill of practice for the evening.

[Joshua smiles, but there's no minor undercurrent of truth to his answer.]

More importantly, do you feel that it helped you?

I think so.

[Hm. He does have some things on him, but this is a dream so he's not sure if healing herbs would work.]

... You're a good teacher. I'm not sure I would be able to do this alone.

You are too kind, thank you.

[He'll take the compliment, though.]

We should consider another session somewhere down the line after we've both had time to reflect.

[He pats his friend's shoulder gently and smiles.]

I think that would be helpful. I just... I don't know. I'm not... fully conscious when I'm in there.

That might be a place to start. If I can stay conscious, maybe I can take control.

[Then again it'd mean he'd have to fully experience the horrors he commits while in that form.]

[As much as he’s gotten used to being pat and hugged and subject to many other forms of physical attention, such displays still bring Joshua a pure kind of happiness that he happily indulges in. It’s evident in how his gaze, already soft, relaxes more.]

Then we shall make that our next goal.

Hopefully Kaiser will not hold a grudge against me.

I don't think it holds a grudge against anyone if I don't.

[Since it is him, just a part of his power.]

And you're not the sort of person to do something horrible, so there's nothing to worry about.

I'm just... glad you're on my... side...

[Ugh, he's tired. He leans into Joshua and takes a long, slow breath.]

[Another memory, a fleeting image of young Clive wrapping his arms around an even younger Joshua as he sought his big brother's guidance. How he'd leaned against Clive just as Ryu is leaning into him now. His big brother had been so good to him--he can only hope to continue to emulate the same.]

[Rosaria is known for its flowers. Joshua had always loved that, amongst other things, about his country. The already colorful patches dotting the landscape grow in their vibrancy with the swell in his heart.]

[Joshua reaches up so he can rest a hand on Ryu's head and give his hair a short ruffle. That's what his brother would do.]

And I, yours.

[He pulls his hand away and rests it on Ryu's shoulder.]

But I would be a poor ally--and an even poorer friend--if I allowed you to continue as you are.

Go rest, Ryu. I will see you tomorrow.

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[CLOSED] Don’t leave me alone at this time

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cw: dead children

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