[OPEN] Within You

[songbird_slayer]

Who: Madhuri and You
Which: Interactive Dreamscape, OPEN
What: A Bleeding Heart decided to have a lovely bite. The resulting dreamscape isn't exactly what it seems...
Warnings: N/A, but will update if somehow something happens. Cooties?



One of the louder presences in Reverein had gone quiet. Someone wasn't dancing in the square or shoving something tasty in someone's hands or handing out bread rolls. Someone wasn't knocking a hammer against a freshly-painted sign and getting it ready for affixing to that slowly-growing little shop in the district.

Strangest of all, the smell of something burning seemed to come from one of the treehouses a lot. No fires, thankfully, but there was never any smell of smoke before. It was usually the scent of yeast, of cinnamon, of fresh bread...

Then, one night, the lanterns erupted to life and bloomed into a brand new dream.

Walls of white marble stretched practically out of sight, only giving way to ornate stained glass windows depicting different tales- Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and others- and lush crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, providing warm light.

This world was an elegant ball room, filled wall to wall with pairs of dancers dressed to the nines circling merrily to the music, provided by the band that gave their all to fill the air. Everyone was wearing an ornate masquerade mask, yourself included, but the anonymity didn't stop the merriment as laughter and chatter mingled with the waltz. You could smell the wine being poured, the rich spread of finger foods lining a table to one side. Some of the dancers had decided to pick at some of the fruit, bread and cheeses, but spent no less time conversing with one another. There was a faint, strange sound somewhere else, a rhythmic drumming, but it was gone as soon as it had begun.

At the end of the ballroom, however, a figure rose from her seat. Those who knew her would recognize this person unmistakably as Madhuri, dressed in a ballgown of black and plum, her mask a lacy black with feathers streaking from one side. Her eyes alight with pleasure as she sees you, she cuts a path through the crowd... or rather, the crowd parts as if expecting this, opening the way for her to reach your side.

"I'm thrilled you came! I was hoping you'd answered my invitation." Her eyes deepened in a showy regret as she reached out, brought her hands to both your cheeks. Her voice lowered, hushed, yet even amid the din of the festivities, it was clear as day.

"I was so lonely here, and my card empty. Shall we dance...?"

Comments

[crystalized_hope]

I see... [Timidly rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.] Thank the Twelve that you seem to be doing better.

[He was quiet for a moment as if contemplating whether or not he should speak his mind or not.]

Madhuri, I...

[His feelings weren't exactly hard to tell, but finally acknowledging them out loud made him feel nervous for some reason.]

I hope... it's okay to be a little forward but I... I find myself thinking about you all of the time. Seeing you makes my days feel all the brighter and I... [Sigh.] I guess what I'm trying to say is...

You mean a lot to me. There is nothing else I'd rather do than spend time with you.

[songbird_slayer]

[To think that she actually preferred the arrows... but at least those were temporary and embarrassing rather than feeling nothing and having your body stolen. She shuddered briefly from a chill- she never wanted anything like that again. How many showers did Thancred have after Lahabrea? How many from the Warrior after Fandaniel...? She may need a few, if anything to feel herself again, let every terrible moment wash away down the drains.

But G'raha wanted to get something out. It was okay to be forward, of course; it was only fair after practically everything she did. In the relative privacy of a dreamscape, what happened in here stayed in here.

Yet as he spoke, gods help her, the ballroom was coming back to life. The dancers had continued, the band was playing again but the music was heavy on the lofty, dancing strings and a harp backing. As the color in her face rose, the floral arrangements in that hall burst into renewed bloom with countless, otherworldly butterflies bearing no resemblance to anything presently living dancing among them.

That horrible creature that had stolen her truly had no chance at all. Even Madhuri felt like staggering back and was glad she was seated. But there were thin trails of steam rising from her horns. So composed was she on her very best days, coming from her imprisonment and in a world of her own deepest emotional making, she had no chance.

G'raha Tia had found the ideal place to speak his mind and be forward.]

...

[For a moment, her response was to squeak and hide her face in her hands. Then a giggling, her voice a tad thick from her recent crying.]

Ser Exarch...! You said you're so new at this, yet you always seem to say such wonderful things, and I exert every ounce of will to keep myself from floating...!

[Bubbles. Either someone had started a bubble machine or something, because those seemed to be popping up in the air.]

[crystalized_hope]

[Admittedly it had been on his mind for a while. Thoughts he had but wasn't sure if it was appropriate to speak of such things. He was sure deep down, she probably already knew this about him, but to really say it brought a new sense of feeling to it. It made it real. Dreamworld be damned, he was happy and he was sure that the others might be as well knowing that he was living his own life instead of some sort of role figure that he'd molded himself into; though this was probably not what they were expecting from him. Hell, he didn't even expect this himself. It was so unreal that he could feel this way. And yet he often struggled with how to really deal with it.

It felt good to finally let it out, but he also felt uncertain. There was always the chance she didn't feel the same way, though considering everything they've been through, that was unlikely. It didn't stop him from feeling anxious about laying everything bare. Vulnerable even. Seeing the dream resume as if nothing had happened and more at least helped him feel that maybe he didn't make a complete fool of himself.

Hiding her face. That was something he did more oft than she. And yet it was refreshing. Had he managed to get to her the same way she did to him on a daily basis? Face burning as bright as his hair, he let out a relieved chuckle in response.]

I assure you this is a first for me. [One-sided crushes aside.]

[songbird_slayer]

[She needed a minute. But she also needed to say something; for all she spoke to others about being honest and following their gut, she refused to be the person who would hear such things and let them hang as they are. Though the air all but danced around them, though her heart raced, simply having the world express how she was feeling meant nothing if she couldn't put them to words.

Madhuri used the heels of her hands to mop beneath her eyes. She reached out for him, took his hands and entwined fingers for grounding as she more than understood why those she'd spoken to seemed to have a lack of words. She would be an example.]

...I let old memories get the better of me. When I was told I was "nothing" by a deeply horrible person, I grew so firmly, tremendously angry and moved to prove that I meant something. But what actually happened was that - with every thought of that memory, every sting - I was letting it continue to hurt me. I would be lying if I said it bothers me no longer.

I have friends. I've had confidants. But nobody has ever made me feel like I was the opposite of the person that man said that I was, but... something- something worth a damn. Rather than waking up and thinking to myself, "I have a list of things to do and then that's another day dusted," I have... things I can look forward to. Days have started to feel precious to me.

[She lifted her head, met his gaze.]

...How could I possibly not feel that way, knowing my days have you in them? From a little message in the journals to seeing you turning a corner down the way, I too feel little lights clicking on inside. They've become such a wondrous, warm glow.

They're like you, so warm and gentle. So kind. You work too much, but... your language is in acts, what you can do for someone to express that you care. You bear such a love, a passion when you delve into the things you've studied, and it's so contagious. I could listen to it all day. You could read a damn maths book and it'd be the most wonderful thing I've ever heard.

[She laughed quietly, but pulled their hands in close, nuzzled a cheek against them. Her eyes closed. No nightmare monster or malicious force could take away this moment. For all of her words, she wanted to at least make one thing clear while they had all this time alone:]

You mean the world to me... Raha.

[crystalized_hope]

[It felt natural to hold her hand like this now. It was a nice, comforting feeling. He listened to her words before responding back. Everything she said was so welcoming. So this was love. It looked like she wasn't the only one about to float away, feeling so immersed in the moment.

The mention of being told she wasn't anything important rubbed him the wrong way of course. Call it bias or just being a normal, sensible person. No matter how invested in her he was, to know someone made her feel like that angered him a little. There was naught to do about it now, though. All he could do now is prove that she was worth a damn and he would. He would gladly tell her she's beautiful each and every day if it helped her remember that fact. Anything to make her feel happy and loved. Because god damn it, he loved her so much.

And then she said it. He hadn't particularly gone into that part of naming conventions with her just yet, but it was like a cupid arrow threw his chest.

Raha.

It was special to him. Perhaps silly to feel emotional over a name, but after all of her words of love, he was feeling particularly emotional. He was just so damn happy. And so his ears and tail responded in kind. Ears twitching up at the sound of it and then doing a happy wiggle as his tail swayed side to side.]

... Careful, I just might start reading you math books now that I know that. [He won't actually bore you with that.] I love you, Madhuri.

But just know this... I don't care what you have been told, but you are not worthless or "nothing". You are so important to me and I'm sure plenty of other people out there. [With their hands close, he leaned in to give hers a soft kiss.] If you ever feel uncertain whether you are worthy of such attention, I will gladly be there to remind you anytime you want. Even if you don't ask for it. I will tell you as many times as you want.

[songbird_slayer]

[She couldn't stop the formed dimple before the failure to hold back a smile. He says to be careful, but she wanted to call his bluff, and maybe she'll even come away knowing her numbers better. She had a business to run in the near future, you see...

Her blush would be heavy competition on who was redder between the two of them when he said he loved her, the music swelling and falling like a wistful sigh as she briefly hid her face again. Had she dreamed of someone saying that to her? Yes. Had that voice sounded like his lately? Yes.

She'd be a big girl, damn it. She raised her face again and felt her eyes burning again. She knew she wasn't nothing, had told herself so many times in the mirror in her weakest moments, but to hear it from the outside meant so much. She'd read in stories about people who fell in love every day, over and over, and she understood now how that felt.

Madhuri nodded. He would remind her, whether or not she asked. That... h-how was he so... so wonderful? She'd cleaned up her face before, but there she was making fresh tracks down her cheeks.]

..And I to you. Here, or back home. I want to remind you, too. I want your story to be a grand and beautiful one. I'll always be in your corner, with everything I've got.

[crystalized_hope]

[He was usually the one to react shyer. So unfamiliar these feelings were to him that it didn't take much to throw him off. By this point, there was no doubt she'd figured that out by now. Right now was a special occasion... And admittedly a satisfying feeling knowing that he wasn't the only one affected by such affection. He reached to caress her face once more, Wiping her tears with his thumb with a gentle smile. He pulled her into a warm embrace.]

My story... has already been blessed with so many wonderful people and adventures. I couldn't ask for more. Though, if I can afford to be a bit selfish for a moment, I wouldn't say no to any new adventures along the way.

[He made the Warrior make a few promises (for the second time) before opening the way for them, but who said that had to be the only adventures he was able to do? After all, Reverein was ripe full of secrets and mysteries to uncover. What better to explore those hidden truths than with somebody he loved?]

[songbird_slayer]

[The embrace was all she ever wanted in this moment. While all wrapped up against him, she could feel a resolve bolstered, something the Heart fought tooth and nail to steal from her. Who would fight the Story Eater? Who would bring the moon back if she was a gray pile of nothingness? She had to keep fighting.]

Now who would I be to deny the "selfish" wish of my love?

[Adventures it is. Truly, he ought to join her on her hunts for meat, because the Wildlands were rife with possibilities... yet...]

...Is it poor form to not wish to wake...? I... I suppose I should get around to waking soon, if anything to greet the new day as a woman freed of that wretched creature, but I'm so comfy here.

[crystalized_hope]

[He would gladly join her for her hunts. If not for the journey, he could at least protect her from any possible trouble. Not that she couldn't defend herself without his help.]

Don't be silly. We could do this just as well awake and with a cup of hot chocolate.

[Or whatever else. Either way, she's welcome whenever and he'd be happy to continue to hold like this back in reality.]

If you wish it, I can come to you the moment I'm out.

[songbird_slayer]

[She uttered a soft and needy moan.]

Hot chocolate sounds so good... I haven't been able to taste anything in days...

[She held him tighter. It was okay. This was just them, nothing big and embarrassing and over the networks. With his offer...]

Yeah. ...Please.

[She'll give herself this and not fight it.]

[crystalized_hope]

[He pressed a kiss it her forehead.]

As you wish. I'll see you soon.

[That unfortunately means that he has to let her go and leave her for now, but with his exit from the dreamscape, he'll make his way over to her place. If he's early enough, he'll even have the hot chocolate ready for her in time.]

[songbird_slayer]

[Her head felt so heavy, her body lead. As she watched him go, the music quieted by her own volition. The fake dance was over. The music, done. What world the Heart had perverted, she would leave behind.

Her own imagination was better, anyway.

With a sigh she bid her body relax, her lantern helpfully gleaming at her waist in its tiny little charm filled with swirling energy. Without control of herself for so long, it would be a while before she woke... but boy would she be glad for the drink.

It would be the tastiest hot chocolate she'd ever sipped.]