songerein | OPEN ✫ Dreams and Everything After

Entry tags:

OPEN ✫ Dreams and Everything After

Who: Ryunosuke and OPEN
Which: Open Log
Where: Dream/Various
What: January Catch-All
Warnings: Spoilers for the second case of the first game in the first set of prompts.

I. Of Time Spent Aboard the S.S. Burya open, interactive dream
(Contains SPOILERS for The Great Ace Attorney, Case Two)

( option 1 )
[You wake from a heavy sleep with a dull, throbbing headache to the sight of a moderately furnished room aboard a ship. It's not the rocking of waves that wakes you, nor the pounding of your head-- though the latter does not seem willing to relent any; leaving your head feeling sluggish and heavy. But just outside your door you can hear a commotion taking place. Russian voices exchange words with one another in heavily-accented English. And while you cannot hear the precise words, there is a sense of panic and urgency among them.

Further investigation of your room yields the sight of a heavy wooden wardrobe, a small round dining table, a sturdy writing desk, a book case laden into the wall and a pull cord above your bed that is attached to a bell. There are also several bags, most certainly for storing luggage. It isn't modern by any means, but it is modestly well put together for the time and the quality of the furnishings are quite good.

Should you care to read them, there are also a list of rules and regulations posted on the wall near the book case. Something about not keeping weapons or other dangerous objects. Pets are also strictly forbidden.

That said, it sounds as though the majority of the noise outside is coming from across the hall, should you wish to investigate.]

( option 2 )
[Everything is pitch black. No amount of blinking will help your eyes adjust to this darkness.

But somehow, even though you cannot see them, you know there is someone else here in this space with you. They, however, do not seem to be able to sense you. All your other senses are that much sharper without your eyes to guide you. You can hear the way they anxiously wring their hands together and fidget anxiously. Their breathing is unsteady-- rushed, even. You can feel their sorrow, their anguish, their fear, their uncertainty. And a crushing loneliness, filled with regret.

While there's no signs of where the empty space ends, there's this unshakable feeling that it's closing in around you.

They're not your feelings though. They're his.]

II. Out of Icelation

[Though he wasn't entirely convinced that the town plaza was the best location for this, he knew he couldn't very well focus on practicing what he wanted in his home without creating a whole mess of the place. Or-- more of a mess than he already does. At least out here, there's more than enough open space-- and much lower chances that he might break or destroy something. Not... zero percent chance or anything but. Closer to it, surely. Unfortunately there's also snow. A good deal of it, too.

Nonetheless, he hasn't come empty-handed. He has with him a notebook filled with ideas and observations on dreamotion energy and the more ~mystical~ magical properties of it. It's positively littered with colored tabs at the top, marking different pages. While he's no Susato, he would definitely say he's watched and learned from the best. They focus on the more practical uses for it, but there are mentions of

In this case though, it seems he may be overthinking things more than a little bit. He seems... nervous.

That energy has actually caused the snow around him to nearly stop-- though it's not exactly still either. It seems to be vibrating in place. But his head is in his books at thoughts so much that he hasn't noticed it.]

...compared to law, this should be nothing. [...he sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose.] Maybe not everyone is cut out for this kind of thing.

III. Wildcard

(For anything that doesn't fit into the above prompts. This can be a place for quests or other event-related prompts! You're welcome to bring your own on plot with me at

cloudatlas if you want ideas or a custom made starter!)

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[ In her sleep, her dream lantern begins to glow, and in the next moment, she doesn't know where she is. She is vaguely aware, perhaps, that she has been pulled into someone's dreamscape, but no matter how she blinks, all she can see is the dark. She breathes, and the stale air is almost too much for her -- the loneliness, the uncertainty. Is she going to die in here...?

It feels familiar somehow, but she can't concentrate long enough to place it. When was the last time she felt like this...? ]

Hello...? Is someone there? I can hear you.

[ She reaches in whatever direction she can think of with her hands--at first, gentle, but then she is clamoring and more desperate. She's trying to open the wardrobe--but what is in the way? ...And what is this sense of deja vu? ]

[The space is no different than she remembered it, though it may feel entirely different while navigating it in the dark. The bed, the table-- even the pull cord... they're all there. If she uses them to guide her, she should have no problem reaching the wardrobe.

But the ship is wont to sway from time to time. The waves seem more turbulent now then they were back then. She'll have to be careful not to let herself be thrown off balance in the dark.

The boards of the wardrobe creak-- but there is no answer. And she'll find that if she does reach it, there is more than a slip of paper holding it shut here. It's no normal lock-- but a set of heavy chains across the front, keeping the door from budging more than the slightest bit.]

[ She can feel the ship sway, and suddenly her understanding of everything changes as she is jostled to the side. She's not inside the wardrobe. The thick air, the way the walls closed in on her... how difficult it was to breathe. She may not be inside the wardrobe, but someone is. ]

Mr Naruhodo...?

[ Then it clicks, as soon as the name is whispered. The last time she felt like this was on the S.S. Burya, and just after Kazuma died.

But her brother isn't dead. Her brother is here, in Reverein, and she clings to that and the deeper bond this place gave them as she slowly made her way to the wardrobe. ]

[ After everything they went through, perhaps "Mr Naruhodo" did feel a tad too formal. She can just barely see the massive chain on the door, but can certainly feel how heavy and thick it is in her hand. Immediately she knows something isn't right. She starts pounding on the wardrobe. ]

Ryunosuke, you have to wake up now. You don't belong in there.

[ It's right around then, as her pounding slows over the next few seconds, that she remembers: she has fire powers. ]

[It's hard to say whether it was her voice that reached him-- or the sound of her fists pounding on the wardrobe but almost immediately afterwards, there are sounds of movement from inside, shuffling around. He sounds dazed and confused, but it's hard to say whether that's because he hasn't figured out what's going on yet or simply because he wasn't expecting her.

Nonetheless, he answers shortly after. His voice is slightly muffled by the wardrobe, but it sounds like he's close to the doors.]

--Susato-san? But why...?

[ Of course it's him, it has to be. Whatever attempt she had made at summoning her inner fire is interrupted, and her fingertips feel icy instead from the cold sea air. That was... bad. Her emotions were making this hard. ]

Why...? Because...

[ Because he didn't kill Kazuma that day. Because of any number of reasons, not all of which she can think of right now, but that doesn't matter. This is a dream. This is his dream. ]

B, Because we still have a legal system to change, back home in Japan, and you can't very well do it from in there. Now hold still. I have to get you out.

[That causes him to go quiet. It's hard to tell what exactly is on his mind, but he takes her words to heart.

He didn't kill Kazuma that day, it's true. In his heart he knows that. And yet that same feeling he'd had that day lingers now, attached to a new set of circumstances. If only he'd been there for Kazuma when he needed him...

But Susato is right here, right now. What help is it if he falters now? If he isn't there for her either?]

...alright. I trust you. Do what you have to do.

[ It is then, hearing his approval, that Susato feels even just a little bit at ease, though his fear is still paralyzing. Through the wardrobe, he will hear the clinking and clattering of the chains for about a minute longer, before she takes a long breath.

Is it worth it to seek a peaceful solution before she turns to a more destructive one? ]

These chains weren't here the last time, you realize. [ She frowns, suspecting that Ryunosuke had something to do with that. ] Have you ever seen the key? ...Do you know if there is one?

Last time...?

[He didn't know about the chains, yet something inside of him understands and accepts it when she mentions them. But why? It's something that requires a bit of quiet thought.]

Oh.

[Thinking over it, something stands out to him. This place was connected to a specific point in his life. But the feeling...]

No. I'm pretty sure they're here because of the last time.

[ ......What does that mean?

It feels like so long ago now. She's supposed to be his judicial assistant, and she can't even be sure. Her feelings, his feelings--it all seems to blend together in a twisted mixing pot. The last time on the S.S. Burya, what happened? ]

When you were arrested? [ She recoils, recalling how she treated him then. ] ...Is that what this is about?

No... I mean--

[There's a painful pause. It's not easy to voice to himself, much less share with others. But it's that exact pained feeling that is tormenting him now. If he doesn't face it, well... there's no way to move forward without doing so.]

...when we learned about the truth of what had happened in this room, I remember thinking that if I'd done something, things might have ended differently. [...] But it's not just "this" moment either. As a best friend I feel like there are a lot of times I wasn't there for Kazuma. Knowing the painful kinds of things he had to endure-- I feel like I've let him down.

[ The chains and lock go quiet as Susato stops cold. She clutches them more tightly now, vaguely aware of the rising temperature in her hands, though nothing ignites. Anger doesn't seem to be the right word to describe it, but tears somehow form in her eyes as she's taken back to that time. ]

You are his best friend, but I am his sister. I was supposed to protect him, feed him information. [ She pulls at the chain hard in frustration. She had never told Ryunosuke any of this either, but she wonders if he had always known she felt the same way. ] That journey... that time aboard the S.S. Burya was some of the hardest in my life.

But Kazuma-sama is alive, Ryunosuke-san. He is here, in Reverein, with you--with us. And I think you will find that he needs us. [ Perhaps more than even he himself realizes. ]

[...she's right. Of course she is. But at the same time there's a fear-- a pain he's held on to that he doesn't know quite how to express. No doubt she carries some of the same burdens as he does, and likely lets them weigh even greater upon herself.]

...yeah. He's here now. With us. But-- before Reverein, there was another place. Somewhere we weren't able to follow him. And I saw fragments of the darkness that he carries with him now from that time.

[That's about as much detail as he really wants to go into. Though he's never once stopped believing in Kazuma, even now, there are still some things that are hard to put to words.]

I wasn't there. I know it's different. But... it doesn't feel different. It still feels like I should have. Like I failed him. I don't-- I don't want to do that ever again.

[ ...The Realm of Stories. Susato's eyes go wide. She knows, because of course she knows. She saw the darkness up close, danced with it, and calling it out into the open when Kazuma was desperate to hide it (from her) was a new level of difficult she never thought she could overcome. It isn't surprising to her at all that Ryunosuke would have figured things out the same way she did, but without knowing for sure... without knowing if he'd even remember any of this when he woke up, she couldn't say. ]

...I know. [ The frustration builds within her. The tears make it harder to see, but as she keeps yanking on the chains, a bright red glow tells her she has finally achieved flame. ] I know. I wasn't there, either, and I will always hate myself for that.

But we're here now, and I have to believe that counts.

[ Her voice shakes. Her vision is blurry, but she is focusing intently, the flame flickering blue against the chains. Finally, it snaps, falling to the ground with a loud metallic clang, echoing in the darkness. ]

So, will you please... please, come out of there already?

[Though he has no way of seeing the expression on her face, he can picture it clearly enough. A part of him feels guilty for helping put that expression on her face. But the truth is that this is a worry they've both shared-- probably for a good while now. It would be smarter to face it directly... together. Looking away or struggling with it on their own wouldn't do them any good. Or at least it probably wouldn't be nearly as effective.]

...yeah, we are. We're here for him now and even if he's still struggling with it... he knows that.

[Ryunosuke has told him as much and he's sure Susato has too.]

I-- alright. Uhm... you might... want to stand back.

[Even for him it wouldn't be enough just to open the doors. But he's probably got enough in him to break out on his own. At least he has to believe that he does.]

[ ...He knows that. Hearing that from Ryunosuke actually serves as a reminder that Kazuma had promised to do better. To remember that he could lean on her sometimes--even though she could be terribly incompetent. Her lips manage to twitch with the beginnings of a smile as she steps back. ]

The lock is broken.

[ He probably heard that, but she'll confirm anyway. ]

...If you rush into me, I can't promise I won't toss you. Perhaps we should count?

[ ...... on three? ]

[It's a good thing she told him, because without the warning, he likely would have flown headfirst into the back of the wardbrobe doors and really gotten himself into trouble. He'd rather not make a fool of himself in his own dream in front of Susato.]

Oh-- right. Then...

[He gives the door a small nudge with the tip of his shoe, pushing it open part way; just to make sure. No more resistance. Or at least the chains that do remain have no intention of stopping him; sliding off as the doors swing open.]

...well. That was easy.

[It's been a while since he's had to scrunch himself up like that for so long. He's pretty happy to be getting out of here.

Long enough that his arch nemesis doesn't cross his mind.

Not until he's stepping out aaand-- effectively falling forward anyway.]

L-leg cramp...

[ Oh.

It's still dark, but truthfully she'd been quietly nursing a flame in the palm of her hand ever since she mentions the lock having been burned off. She watches as Ryunosuke nudges the door open, taking a step back to give him space, but then hurriedly flings herself forward to catch him when he falls.

Heart definitely skipped a beat. Her upper body strength was slightly better than average, thanks to her practiced tosses, but she's still 16. She can feel him slipping through her arms slowly, but opts to cling for as long as she can, trying to lift him up in an awkward hug.

...She doesn't feel the need to say anything. She is relieved to just have him out of the wardrobe and just be, but it'd probably be a good thing if they could be somewhere else other than a dark, dingy dream steamship. ]

You've picked up a flair for the dramatic, I see.

[ He still doesn't hold a candle to Kazuma or Lord van Zieks, though... they can work on it. ]

[It's so warm. He cannot feel the lingering chill of the dark anymore.

The extinguished flame has nothing to do with the flood of comforting warmth he feels as she clings to him. Her support is enough for him to find his footing and steady himself on his good leg while the other takes a bit of time to let blood start flowing back through. She kept him upright, even when he felt like he was going down-- as she always has. There are no proper words for his gratitude or the happiness he feels having her at his side.

With a soft, breathless laugh he wraps his arms around her and embraces her tightly.

Rather than admit what she already knows-- that it wasn't intentional-- he makes an effort to try making a joke of it instead. Maybe it could help hide at least a little of his own sheepishness.]

...does it suit me?

[ Susato still tries to hold him up and support him, just to be extra certain--even when she sees that he's upright and more or less standing on his own two feet already. Even in a dream, she feels a sense of responsibility towards him, always wanting to make sure he's safe. For whatever it's worth, she can still hear the rain patter on the steamship's windows, only adding to the dreary atmosphere.

Her quiet, nervous laughter rings out as he makes the hug a little less awkward, and the steamship rocks slightly, pushing her into him as she goes to hug him back. ]

I haven't decided. I will have to see more, I think.

[ . . . ]

Are you ready to wake up?

[For a moment he just allows himself to relax into her; closing his eyes and letting the gentle swaying of the ship calm him. It is not the end of his worries, he knows that. He'll always worry. That is part of the nature of caring. But the feeling of hopelessness that had creeped in during the nightmare's attempt at isolating him was gone.

But there is another thing. Something she said earlier had stuck with him. Maybe they both needed this moment. He just needs to be sure she sees it for herself, too.]

Just one last thing... neither of us can control the fact that we weren't there when we wanted to be. So if you can forgive me that much-- then I want you to forgive yourself too. Because I know pretty well how hard you can be on yourself. This wasn't your mistake. And I need you with me now as much as ever.

[He squeezes her gently, resting his forehead atop her head.]

So please don't punish yourself any more than you already have.

. . . . . .

[ For a moment, Susato doesn't know what to say. Tears start to form at her eyes again as he speaks, and how dare he. She should toss him for making her cry, but she's too busy wiping at her eyes. Despite that, she wears a warm smile. ]

Forgiveness must be earned. Only Kazuma-sama can say whether I have or not.

...But thank you, Ryunosuke-san. I will always be at your side when you need me, and even when you don't.

[The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry. If he wasn't so taken aback he would have had the good sense to be nervous as to whether or not he was about to end up tossed.]

...then I guess we're both in the same position.

[It's not as though he truly believes Kazuma wouldn't. No-- he's fairly certain he'd be equally exasperated at the both of them for managing to blame themselves for such a thing. But even so... if Susato intended to carry that responsibility with her, then the least he could do was carry it with her.]

Even when I don't, I will always need you. And I'll be right here with you too. So if you ever need me-- just say so.

[He reaches out and takes her hand once she's dried her eyes.]

[ Before she can talk herself out of it, she moves in for another hug, feeling the hazy mind fog lift as she can slowly feel herself being ejected from the dream. She can feel her grip on him fading, but somehow, she isn't sad about it. ]

I know where you live, at any rate. And you, I.

Don't forget, you will always find me standing steadfastly at your side.

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OPEN ✫ Dreams and Everything After

I-2, w o w i see you chose violence today???

new year, new violence!

1/2

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