[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

[fatedmahou]

['This entire world is nothing but waste, begging to be disposed of.' That naturally did not sit right with her, but that was hardly a surprise, given who it was coming from. It hit home too closely and triggered a defensive trigger in her.]

... All life... The world around you... It's worth fighting for. Just because you think it's not worth your time, it doesn't mean that's a matter of fact. And by removing him from it... Who's to say that's the better alternative? It's a matter of where you plan on taking him that determines that.

[Ignoring whatever he may do, she walked over towards where the unconscious Ferran now lied. Gently pushing the bangs out of his eyes as if that mattered.]

... I'll find a way to make it better. To make both of our homes better. To bring happiness and joy back somehow. I don't care how many people tell me how foolish it is or impossible it is... [Looking back to Ferran.] He deserves to be happy.

[noblegarnet]

[Onyx's smile fades as he watches the girl, but he makes no moves to prevent her from approaching. The paleness of Ferran's face is all the more apparent from up close; he looks drained and exhausted, even aside from the black fractures, the sweat and blood from the prior events still in the process of drying.

A few moments of silence pass before the man speaks again.]

I pity you.

[The way he says it seems sincere—and though the eye mask and the darkness of the apartment makes it difficult to see, there's something almost genuine in his expression. But would that be the man's true reaction, or is it simply wishful thinking on the dreamer's part?]

Trapped in a hopeless situation with no true escape. Even though you know the truth, you can't help but cling to your hopes. After all... they're all you have left. To let go would mean to acknowledge that there is nothing to live for.

[He gestures towards Ferran with the same movement of his hand.]

People don't get what they deserve.

[fatedmahou]

[She did a quick healing spell to ease any other pain or bruises that Onyx had missed as she took closer note of the fractures. His words hit too close to home. More than she'd like to admit. No, she refused to admit it. Especially not to him of all people.]

I have faith that things will eventually work out so long as I keep working tirelessly for my goals. No matter how hard it may be. The only thing I can do is move forward. I'd rather not focus on the negative things in life when there are so many to drag you down.

I stand by my words.

[noblegarnet]

[For all his crimes, Onyx had apparently healed Ferran as much as was capable; blood loss and the underlying spiritual damage are unfortunately not something that can be remedied so easily. And if nothing else, the young man apparently isn't awake enough to be aware of any pain. The ever-present cracks on his face and his wrists remain unaffected, so dark it's impossible to even tell what they might be made of.

Onyx lets out a hmph.]

If you're lucky, the cruelty of the world will wear you down eventually. But if you're foolish enough to continue denying the reality, you'll simply break, just as he has. That is what happens when you place your faith in the impossible.

[He takes a step closer, his silver heel heavy against the floor.]

Well, then. If all you intend to do is bore me with further idealism, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave.

[fatedmahou]

I have dealt with enough stuff in my life to know that fate can be cruel. However, it's better to hope for a better future than to give into despair. Nothing is impossible. There will always be another way, regardless of how difficult it might be to find another alternative. Where there is a will, there is a way.

[Not bothering to move away from Ferran, but rising to her feet.]

I'm not leaving without him.

[noblegarnet]

[Onyx simply laughs, as if the idea is absurd.]

You can't remove him from his own mind, no matter how hard you try. Even if you could, I doubt it would do what you're hoping for.