[open] 🔶 more nightmares? that's just life

[noblegarnet]

Who: Ferran, his dreamscape & you!
Which: interactive dream
What: Ferran dreams of his last moments before arriving in Reverein.
Warnings: blood, unhealthy relationships?? (I'll match format!)

A penthouse balcony looks over a lit city late at night, the roar of the freezing wind almost drowning out the distant sound of traffic. But any observers would only have a brief moment to appreciate it before the sudden appearance of two figures in a flash of glittering light: a dark man in a cape, and a teenager in a torn costume with apparent shackles, bleeding heavily from injuries to his shoulder and side. The former, already holding the latter in a tight grip, places a clawed gauntlet over one of the wounds where a faint light begins to glow.

After a few moments, the young man's expression seems to relax from his grimacing, orange eyes staring dully at the night sky as the bleeding slows and eventually stops.

"Why," the man hisses at his ward, his expression tight and brow furrowed deeply behind his eye mask as he continues his healing. Ferran lets out a weak chuckle, apparently unmoved by the sharp tone and look.

"It's funny," he responds with hardly more than a whisper. "I should hate you. I even fantasized about... taking you with me, once."

There's a faint smile on his face, despite the lingering pain and the gravity of his words. The dark markings on his jaw spread further out onto his face, as if to mirror some underlying fracture as he speaks.

"I can't anymore. The thought of you being hurt... I can't stand it..."

He turns his gaze to Onyx, whose expression has changed in an almost unreadible way—but behind the intensity of the clear displeasure, there's shock in the slight widening of his golden eyes.

"I guess you're upset, though. Sorr—"

With a loud crack, Ferran suddenly slumps in his guardian's arms with his eyes open, and his fantastical costume disappears, returning him to his normal appearance in a pair of bloodstained pajamas anyone who met him when he first came to Reverein might recognize.

Still carrying the young man, Onyx gets to his feet, apparently unbothered by any dreamwalkers who may have appeared nearby. When his glowing gaze turns to them, it's barely an acknowledgement.

Comments

[sleightofhans]

[He honestly can't figure out if he's lying or not about that. There's of course, the rather unnecessary show of care, like closing Ferran's eyes with his clean hand, but it's definitely possible that it's just wishful thinking on the young man's part. Nonetheless, Hans' expression doesn't seem to change, taking Onyx's sharp words without flinching as he considers him.]

I'm sure that everything you felt towards him was entirely false, with not a speck of genuine emotion.

[Hans may be be slightly mocking, like he doesn't believe Onyx in that. Or maybe he's just thinking about a certain younger princess that he betrayed--]

Ferran's feelings are nearly impossible to change. [....] As misplaced as they may be.

[noblegarnet]

[Whether Hans believes that sentiment or not, Onyx's sneer doesn't change, either. It's only once the topic returns to Ferran again that his humor seems to disappear, leaving a disdain that's closer to a neutral expression.]

On that, you're likely right. A shame it will end him more painfully than I'd planned.

[sleightofhans]

[.......]

Will it actually be more painful for him? [Hans folds his arms behind his back, tilting his head slightly as he considers this for a moment. Maybe Ferran has already considered that this man actually does not care for him at all. It would make sense why he's speaking like this.

Hans smiles a little, despite everything.]

Does the thought bother you?

[noblegarnet]

[The man shakes his head dismissively, in a way that makes it seem like he's resisting the urge to roll his eyes. As if he would be bothered.]

Quite painful—I only regret I didn't foresee it. But then... nothing in this horrid world is perfect, no matter how long I've planned.

[And how long must Rion have been at this? Ferran may never know, he thinks.]

I simply have no interest in inflicting unnecessary suffering... even if some level of it has been required. It's a waste.

[Sometimes you have to break something to make it into a weapon. One would prefer to keep the remaining pieces whole, however.]

[sleightofhans]

No plan is without its flaws, even when you're on the verge of succeeding.

[Look he knows from experience. You get so close to winning, to having your ambitions fully realized, and then something happens at the very last second and everything comes crashing down. When he fully wakes up from this dream world, he half expects himself to be in chains or maybe even executed. Who knows.]

It's disappointing when it happens.

[noblegarnet]

Disappointing, hm.

[Onyx rises to his full height, looking down at Hans with a gaze that seems far more pointed than before. The idea of this man accepting any attempt to relate... Ferran can't imagine it. It can only go poorly.]

Though perhaps you prefer disappointment over guilt, your highness?

[sleightofhans]

[He watches Onyx as the man stands, carefully keeping his expression neutral despite the focused stare that's being directed straight at him. Is this what Ferran thinks of him? Maybe he should clear things up.]

Now, why would I want that? I would be in a far better position back home if my plan succeeded, instead of wondering what sort of punishment is awaiting me.

[Hans is rather certain that he could deal with whatever guilt he'd have if he succeeded in killing both Anna and Elsa. Just two sacrifices for his bid for power, it's not much really. Then he would finally be a king, something none of his brothers could claim-- not until their father died at least.]

[noblegarnet]

[Onyx simply lifts a brow under his mask at the notion of the prince facing punishment for his failure.]

If you can't even handle a death dealt in self defense without that doubt, you would have hardly been prepared for the consequences of any greater schemes, either way.

[git gud, says zekarion.]

Why don't you tell me about this plan of yours. Surely you invested some effort in it.

[sleightofhans]

[Wow he's never been so insulted in his life.

A frown begins to spread across his face, becoming less pleased as the conversation shifts to his failed bid for power. Also, the assumption that he wouldn't be able to handle the consequences of murder. He folds his arms across his chest, his answer curt and tense.]

I won't bore you with all the details, but I was going to become king by ridding it of its two heirs. Two sisters who were isolated from the world for years... it was a good opportunity to take advantage of.

[Anna being especially easily to manipulate. Spending all those years alone in her castle, she believed in everything he said.]

[noblegarnet]

A classic bid for power... [The man scoffs dismissively, waving the idea off as if it's distasteful to him.] Pointless. What even brought you to seek such a thing? What did you lack that made you feel you could kill to fill the hole it left in you?

[Onyx apparently has no belief that Hans's plot was for the sake of becoming a decent king. He's clearly not the type to believe in the good in people.]

Or did your upbringing simply instill you with the false idea that you deserve special treatment due to the blood you happened to be born with?

[sleightofhans]

[Onyx definitely a hit nerve there, as Hans's mood darkens further, but the anger doesn't manifest itself in a violent manner. Instead, his voice just drops, no longer bothering to keep up any sort of courteous façade. Time to change plans and direct the questioning back to him.]

What's left you so desperate that you took advantage of an orphan-- something that you're responsible for, before corrupting his spirit and leading him to an inevitable and painful death?

[noblegarnet]

[As opposed to Hans's aggravated reaction, Onyx merely laughs. Before the sound stops, he steps closer, suddenly clasping his bloody hand on the prince's shoulder before he leans in, yellow eyes gleaming.]

Ah, your highness. [His eyes narrow, cruel and sharp like the clawed fingers of his gauntlet.] You will never know.

[sleightofhans]

[While a part of him wants to just brush off that hand, Hans doesn't move from his spot, just eyeing the other man with no small amount of contempt. So, is he being all secretive still, or just Ferran himself not knowing anything at all.

Hm. He might have to prod him later, when he's awake.]

It matters little in the end. [It's not like he can do anything about it, assuming if he even wanted to.] I'm not from your world.

[noblegarnet]

I'm glad you agree.

[Although the man leans back to a less uncomfortable distance again, he doesn't remove his hand; his grip only gets tighter.]

Though I think it's time for you to return to your meaningless fantasy realm.