songerein | So close, and still so far...

Who: Martel + YOU
Which: Open Interactive Dream
When: Some day before the music starts on the 25th
What: The "lost love" dream trend is a bit different when you are the lost love.
Warnings: Allusions to death by stabbing. Will add more if needed.

[You're out in a rural area, not a sign of civilization in sight. While you stand in a sunny field, around you are areas of thick forest. Nearby, and completely oblivious to you, Martel walks with a man who has long blue hair tied behind his back and wears some unique armor and a cape. He's been involved in dreams that were broadcast here before, both hers and Kratos'. While Martel is perfectly happy, he is completely awkward and blushing. He'll open his mouth as if he's about to speak, but after nothing comes out he shuts it and looks away in embarrassment. Martel just giggles when this happens; apparently she finds this failure completely charming.

Suddenly and with no warning, everything changes. A thick fog surrounds the area, leaving only Martel in sight. At the exact same moment, she recoils as though she were struck in the stomach. While you're only watching, you can feel a sharp pain in the same spot on your own body, as though you'd been stabbed. An instant later, she's being pulled violently into the trees by an unseen force that seems to be connected to her waist, and you're dragged right along with her. It's impossibly quick, and it only takes seconds before you've lost all sense of location.

As if it weren't confusing enough, Martel tries to reach out with her left hand, only for a ring she was wearing on her ring finger to slip off and disappear into the fog. You can also hear a voice crying out in anguish from the distance, most likely belonging to the man you saw just moments ago.

"Martel!!!"

You both continue to be pulled away, and no matter how long it actually takes, it feels like ages. Finally, you come to an abrupt halt somewhere deep within thick trees, still encompassed in opaque fog. You can still see Martel, and for what it's worth, she can notice you now. But for the moment, she's a bit distracted by what just happened.

She stares in the direction she thinks she came from with a devastated look on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wobbles weakly for a moment before crumpling to the ground. If you pay attention, you may notice that on her left hand around where the ring had been, her skin seems to have started turning into a green crystalline substance. It's growing, but very slowly. It shouldn't be a huge problem any time soon in the dream. Martel hasn't noticed it, or if she has, there's absolutely no reaction. She's still focused on what once was.]

It's...all gone.....

[Maybe try to help her find the ring and/or the man? Or just talk her through it. She seems pretty hopeless at the moment.]

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[Joshua keeps steady as he slowly helps Martel up. Despite her full rise to her feet, he keeps her hand in a gentle grip, loose enough should she wish to move away, but present enough to continue providing support as she sees fit.]

[He offers her a somber smile.]

Pray do not chastise yourself so.

You weren't allowed the opportunity for care. It's hardly your fault.

[He nods, determined.]

There is hope. We can find it. Do you believe that?

[She thinks for a few moments, then tries to steel her expression, though her lips still quiver. Martel turns her gaze to Joshua, stopping just short of nodding herself.]

It's...it's still possible. Yes.

[It looks like she's not doubting herself, even if she's still very unsure of just how possible the ideal outcome really is.]

This fog does complicate things...

So long as you believe it is possible, I will give you my earnest effort, even through the fog.

[His countenance shifts positive--both to help bolster any uncertainty Martel may feel, and to accompany his next words.]

Before we continue, may I ask for your name?

[Martel gives him the ghost of a smile. This is usually a much easier expression for her to make. Leave it to a dream to prevent her from forcing on her preferred mask...]

Thank you.

Oh, of course. I'm Martel Yggdrasill.

Lady Yggdrasill.

[Joshua lowers himself to one knee, head craned low with respect as he bows.]

[It's a brief gesture (they have a ring to find, after all) and he rises back to his full stature quickly, but gracefully.]

I am Joshua Rosfield. It will be my pleasure to help you today.

[She lets out a noise very close to a chuckle, but it's hard to call it that given her general disposition at the moment. But Martel is almost genuinely smiling, at least.]

You don't have to be so formal with me. Just Martel is fine. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Rosfield.

How should we move forward from here?

[Almost is further than they were just a moment ago, and Joshua will take his victories wherever he can.]

[He shakes his head, first.]

If I am to call you by your first name, then I must insist you call me by mine.

[Then, he addresses the bigger issue.]

As for our heading, it will do us well to regain our bearings, then we continue from there.

[He calls forth a small mote of fire that launches into the air and hovers around them in slow circles.]

Is anything about this forest familiar to you?

[Martel nods.]

All right, Joshua.

[She takes some time to examine her surroundings, not that she really needs much. It's so foggy that the only reason she even knows it's a forest and not just a few trees is from the journey she took to get here.]

No, I'm afraid not. There's so little I can see, though.

[He hums in acknowledgement.]

That's all right.

[Joshua directs the orb of fire to hover lower to the ground, where its illumination will have more of an effect. Not much more, granted, but any light is an improvement.]

As confusing as it may be, this is still your dream. If you call forth a path, eventually it will open up to you. You have that control.

[Martel looks into the fog awkwardly, her eyes occasionally darting to another gray spot. She's kind of overwhelmed by this prospect, and it shows.]

But it would still be hard to follow it, wouldn't it? Because of the fog?

[She's trying to properly grasp the concept, really. She just has trouble changing all of her focus at once in a situation.]

[As Martel ponders aloud, Joshua stays silent so as not to interrupt her thoughts. It's only when she's finished that he nods and makes his suggestion.]

To a certain degree, yes.

While it may not be possible to clear the fog completely, you are nevertheless the master of your dream.

Try picking a single area and willing the fog to part for you. It needn't be large. I'll be right here to help.

So close, and still so far...

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