songerein | november catch-all

( the post is free to be used as a wildcard if you like, or hit me up here or on plurk (

denouements) if you'd like a locked starter! also happy to do anything hot-spring related, as I won't be top-leveling there! )

[ The kitchen isn't perfect. It's a little messy, honestly— although perhaps with a family of four that's to be expected. But right now it's bright and warm, filled with the best kind of noise: there's the TV chirping away somewhere in the living room behind her, her parents laughing at something her sister's just said, the sizzling of the pork in the frypan as its aroma fills the room, the scent mingling with that of the curry bubbling in a pot perched on another burner.

She turns away to take in the sight, and with her glasses fogged from the heat of the stovetop, there's something bright and brilliant about it, something almost magical as the haze creates golden halos of light around her family members.

Of course, the one around Kasumi glows the brightest. And yet right now, Sumire doesn't even have it in her to feel jealous or angry about it. It's been a while, after all, since she's seen her family this happy.

It's nice.

She smiles, and Kasumi, as if sensing her gaze, looks up at her and smiles back.

But dreams about her sister can never be nice for long, not even in this place. As the fog clears from her glasses, the sound of a blaring car horn shatters the peace of the room, the piercing screech of vehicle brakes doing nothing to stop the red car from smashing through the window of this second-floor kitchen.

There's a scream and a horrible sound as it collides with Kasumi's body, sending her flying—

—and then silence except for her short, hurried breaths as Sumire sits up in her bed, tears running down her cheeks as she stares into the dark. ]

[ Sumire's not exactly sure how two related concepts can be so vastly different in practice.

It was mere hours after she awoke for the first time in Reverein that she was able to propel herself— and a passenger— up the length of a beanstalk with ribbons that grew magically out of her clothing. And contrary to how she'd heard it could be for some people, it had taken very little effort on her part. Somehow, flying was easy for her, as if she'd known how to do it all along, and just hadn't had the tools.

Perhaps, she'd thought at the time, Dreamotion just came easily to her. After all, both Gina and Futaba seemed impressed at what she'd been able to do.

But if that's the case... this should have been easy too, right?

Which therefore doesn't explain why she's currently sitting at the base of a tree with a piece of fruit in each hand— two halves of what was once the same whole— holding them together with a frown. She's got a headache coming on, and anyone who looks at her for long enough will see blood starting to trickle from her nose just as she releases her hold, a sigh of frustration on her lips as she murmurs to herself. ]

Why won't you work...?

[ Testing out the newly-invented dreamotion cameras, Sumire figured, would be an easy enough task, one made even easier by the fact that she's not opposed to selfies in the slightest. It would be easier if she had a stick, of course, but she's managed to make do, having snapped a few pictures of herself as she's made her way around the place today.

For her newest photo, she's found herself at the Wild Harvest, and the subject of its frame is an easy enough one as she turns the camera to face her and the meal placed on the table in front of her.

Whether your eyes catch the incredible size of the meal— surely far too large for a petite girl like herself?— or not, your attention will probably be drawn to what happens next: Sumire clicks the shutter with a bright smile, and then turns the camera again so she can look at the result, only to find something quite unexpected.

Her face flushes bright red, and she starts fiddling with the contraption, trying to figure out how to delete the picture. ]

[ After her earlier mishap with the Dreamotion camera, Sumire decides it might be easier to take photos of other people after all.

(Realistically, it would probably be easier in general to just give up on the task, but she said she'd help, didn't she? She still wants to do that, regardless of anything else.)

Still, that doesn't mean she'd want to embarrass any of the other dreamers in this place, and so she's very polite about the way she goes around the town, with each request to take a photo followed by a quick explanation about why, and also the apparent risk involved. And so it's not a surprise most people have turned her away. After all, where perhaps there are people who have become used to their dreams becoming almost public knowledge from time to time, she's sure that most people don't necessarily want to make that happen on purpose.

Luckily, she has found someone who is willing to have their photo taken, and so it's with a smile that she sets up a shot— she's hardly more than an amateur at this, but the idea of staging is kind of fun, you know?— and with a call of "say cheese, please!" she takes it.

Then, she holds the Dreamotion camera out to the subject of the picture in question, a small, hesitant smile on her face. ]

Um. Just in case, you should check it first. Okay?

[ The Harvest is short a proper waitress these days without Aerith. With that in mind, it’s probably Susato who’s brought Sumire all the food (no judgement!!!) and is now bringing out a drink for her to go with it. (Just water? A pumpkin spice latte to warm her up, perhaps?)

It takes an extra moment for her to notice the flush to Sumire’s cheeks as she fumbles with the camera, but Susato doesn’t make a show of reacting. There’s just an innocent tilt of her head as she sets down the tray at the girl’s table and moves to give her the glass. ]

Oh, are you having trouble?

[After his little incident with the mirrors, he already had a feeling that this world was more than willing to throw anything at him. As much as he didn't want for the world to see his past, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Still, he was nervous when someone asked to take a photo of him.

While knowing the risks, he was fully prepared for anything to happen. Although, he had to admit, taking a photo was a little odd when he wasn't with any of his friends or when it wasn't for a special occasion. For now, he gave an awkward smile before looking back at the girl.]

I don't think I have to. I know that I wasn't really smiling in the photo...

[ Without any games to speak of to throw her attention into, Chiaki has had to do something she never really had to before - venture out on her own, and explore the new world she's found herself in. Even on Jabberwock, she knew what she would find there, and any places she visited, she had company. Now she's on her own in a way she's never been. It's terrifying, but exciting, too.

When she passes by the tree that Sumire is sitting under, it's the fruit in her hands that catches her attention first, and then the trickle blood, and she tries to piece together how these things are related, before realizing that she's been stopped and staring for a few moments now.

Which means she should probably say something, right? It'd be weird if she just kept on walking, now, and maybe this girl needs help. She sounds upset. ]

What are you doing?

[As delightful and curious this land is, it didn't surprise Norimune that there's unpleasant sides to it.

Normally, such a sight might intrigue him. How a human would act—react—in times of joy and despair. But he keep such thoughts to himself, as he debates on writing to this distressed young lady.]

Are you okay, young miss?

[ It's a unique sight, that's for certain. Unnamed's seen people doing a bunch of stuff he hasn't understood before, but trying to fit two pieces of fruit back together as opposed to eating it is a new one. If she wants to fix it, wouldn't tape be better than staring at it really hard...?

At least, that what he wonders right up until he catches a whiff of something coppery and tasty-smelling--and sees the red under her nose. ]

Ouh...!

[ He calls out to Sumire to get her attention as he hurries over, pointing under his own nose and then quickly pointing at hers.

"Blood!" he signs, hands a clumsy flurry of movement. "You hurt?" ]

[ Sumire was definitely grateful, when ordering the food, that the waitress who would be bringing it to her didn't seem particularly judgmental. She's often had to explain her sizeable appetite to people, including to her friends and peers in the Phantom Thieves, and so it's nice to come across someone who doesn't question it.

Because she will indeed eat all of it.

(And oh, she has never had a pumpkin spice latte— but if it was something recommended, she's definitely going to give it a try!)

But right now none of that is on her mind... rather, it's the furthest thing from it, because she's staring in embarrassment at the camera. ]

I. Um. Have you tried one of these Dreamotion cameras before? I was helping out with the testing but... it seems to have... Well, um, it didn't capture a picture of me? Exactly?

[ She holds the camera close to her, as if afraid the woman will try to take a look at the picture. Her cheeks are bright pink. ]

[ Oh, no. She thought she'd done an okay job of explaining what the cameras could potentially do... but it seems she didn't do so properly. She really should let him see it first, right? Just in case... well, there's a chance that the face he was making didn't really matter at all.

She smiles— it's hard to be comforting when you're uncomfortable yourself, but she has to try, right? She's the elder of the two of them, after all. ]

Um... It's hard to explain, but sometimes these cameras show... things we might have dreamed about, instead of the photo we tried to take. So... [ She pauses, rubbing the back of her head as she winces. ] If it's something private, it's best if you see it first, right? And then if you don't want me to see it, we can, um, delete it.

[ Admittedly, Chiaki could have kept on moving and Sumire would never have known, such is her focus on the fruit in her hands. In fact, when the girl's voice addresses her, she startles out of her frustration, looking up in surprise— and slight embarrassment— when she sees someone watching her. ]

O-oh. Um...

[ How exactly does she explain that she's trying and failing to do something that she honestly has no idea is even possible...?

...Truthfully, she supposes.

Sumire holds the two halves of the fruit up toward the girl so that she can see they were originally parts of the same piece, and then lets them fall once more. So far, she hasn't noticed the blood trickling from her nose. ]

I'm, um, trying to use Dreamotion to see if I can put these back together again... but it doesn't seem to be working. I guess I'm not sure if it's even possible, but...

[ She's a little surprised to see the message— it's late enough in the night that for a moment or two she was hoping no one would be awake to see the dream if it was recorded... which the message confirms to her a moment later that it was.

(And she realizes vaguely that she's lucky that she was pulled from her world now, not a few months before when these dreams would have been infinitely more terrifying and confusing.)

It takes her a moment to gather her thoughts enough to reply. ]

I'm okay.
Um, I'm sorry if I woke you up, Mister Norimune.

Oh, it's no trouble. I can always sleep in later.

[Unlike home, he didn't need to wake up at a certain hour. No work or other duties to attend to.]

But since I'm wide awake, we can always pass the time chatting if you wish.

[ Susato would happily recommend anything on the menu! The latte has been pretty popular as of late especially. Next to the glass of water nudged closer to Sumire, there is also a mug of pumpkin spice goodness which still has steam coming from its contents, and she will happily deliver that too, as requested.

Susato is loathe to admit just how curious Sumire's behavior makes her, but since has been raised to be incredibly prim and proper, her attempts to find out what Sumire is hiding aren't terribly overt. There's a mere tilt of Susato's head, though her gaze is pretty direct on the camera. Fortunately for Sumire, she can't see through it. ]

Oh! I... No, I saw the request when I checked early last week, but I'm afraid I haven't got my hands on one yet.

Um, you don't have to show me, but do you mind if I ask what it did capture... exactly?

[ Sumire's focused enough that the call actually startles her; and so for a moment she stares at the newcomer, not quite catching his meaning despite it being perfectly obvious. It takes her a moment or two longer than it should, and she reaches up to her nose, thumbing at the space underneath.

Her eyes widen when her finger comes away bloodied. ]

Oh...! Um... thank you.

[ Perhaps if she wasn't so caught up in her own head, she'd realize that he had made gestures with his hands to communicate and therefore likely couldn't hear her. As it is, though, she continues on: ]

I must have been focusing too hard. I guess that's why my head hurts too...

Thank you so much... I truly appreciate it!

[ The only difficulty here is that unlike her sister, Sumire isn't always great at small talk.

But at the very least... ]

Um... If you have any questions about what you saw, I don't mind answering.

Are you sure?

[Talking about it would help. He knows it from experience.]

If you're fine with it, how about telling me a bit about those people? Your family, I assume?

[He felt bad. He wanted to help her out but he would much rather not let anyone see into his private life. Not when he didn't feel comfortable being so open to people at the moment. Instead, he gave a small frown. Feeling embarrassed, he gave a small nod.]

If I could, that would be good. I'm sorry, there are just some things I would like to keep to myself for now.

[That and he wasn't even sure how she would react if she knew the truth.]

[ It's all good; he's only met one other person who doesn't talk to communicate since arriving in Reverein, and Shigeru isn't deaf like he is; he's mute. It can be frustrating not to hear people sometimes, but up until arriving here, he didn't have people to 'talk' to anyway! So it's just a thign that he deals with, most days happily.

He waves his hands for a second to hold her up, pointing to an ear and shaking his head.

"I am deaf," he signs, before summoning up his journal to repeat the words in printed form (via thought. his writing is....horrible).

More words appear: "You okay? Nose is red." ]

[ When Susato makes it clear from her choice of words that she's hardly about to grab the camera (even if her gaze makes it equally as clear that she wants to see), Sumire relaxes a little; she continues to cradle it against her, but she at least does so with only one hand, reaching with the other to grab the glass of water to sip at it, aiming to cure the heat and dry mouth that have suddenly come over her. ]

Um... [ Oh no... how is she meant to explain this? The thoughts like this one are meant to be kept well and truly in her mind—

Then again, she supposes she doesn't have to be specific... ]

It seems that... It's taken a picture of a dream I had last night instead. Which is... um. It's a little embarrassing!!

[ Another sip of water, although this one is more like a gulp. ]

Um... yes, I can do that!

[ The truth is that she's already talked about this incident many times— but rarely as herself. She'd told herself that when it was all over, she would go back to therapy... but then she got brought here, and that hasn't happened. ]

You can probably guess already that that was my family. My mom, my dad, and my older sister. Kasumi. She and I were twins, but

[ The writing stops for quite a while— long enough that he may wonder if she's given up, or maybe even start to write back, but eventually it continues, the handwriting still need, but much shakier: ]

she was always my better in everything we did, no matter what it was. We did gymnastics together, and I had to work so hard to be even half as good as she was. I was always so jealous and frustrated...

Maybe that makes me sound like a really terrible person.

[ She's quick to shake her head. Of course, it's a little concerning that someone who seems so young might have feelings and "things" that he is afraid to share with others— but in reality, she's sure people would say that about her, too. And yet if their situation were reversed, she'd ask exactly the same as him.

So she smiles, and holds out the camera to him, so he can check it. ]

You don't have to apologize, really! We all, um... we all have things that we don't like to talk about, right? I don't want to invade your privacy either, so... if the photo is something you don't want to share, we can just delete it, I promise.

[ Admittedly, she's somewhat mortified. Perhaps if she'd been paying better attention, she could have realized before he had to tell her— at the very least though he doesn't seem to be offended, and she finds herself relaxing, watching as the journal starts to write

(and admittedly gaping a little as it seems to be doing so by itself)

before she looks up at him and nods. She's quick to get out her journal too, writing her answer in as neat a hand as she can manage while responding quickly— she doesn't speak any form of sign, after all, and she's not sure she'd know where to begin expressing herself in such a way.

"I'm okay. I'm so sorry for making you worry!! I think I was focusing too hard on what I was doing, so this happened..." ]

[ There's no offence taken whatsoever♥ He's more than used to it, and after spending the only life he remembers in a world full of other zombies who couldn't communicate, having the ability to do this much is already something he's grateful for. Telling people to write or sign instead of speak and having them understand is no inconvenience whatsoever.

He gives Sumire a smile and then turns his attention to what she's written.

"It OK. I happy you OK. What you doing? With fruit."

He's still curious about that one. ]

Thank you. Hopefully it won't be anything too bad.

[With that, he took in a deep breath. He hoped it wasn't anything serious as he didn't want to relive certain events in his life nor did he want it to ruin his mood. As he took a look at the camera, he found himself staring at said picture.

Well! The image of him hitting his shin wasn't as bad as he thought. Although, there was a hint of embarrassment as he sunk his head into his shoulder as he mumbled a little.]

It's not as bad as I thought but...it's still kind of embarrassing.

[ He's sweet. And, she realizes quickly, he's easy to talk to. Perhaps it's partly just that she's able to write her thoughts out, rather than having to stumble her way through them— not that that's helped her so far while conversing with people via the journals...

Either way, right now it seems to be working. Which, when he asks the next question, is helpful, because her face alone makes her embarrassment clear, her cheeks turning pink as she ponders over how to explain what she's been trying to do.

"This might sound strange," she writes after a long pause, "but I was trying to fix it. You know, with Dreamotion? I'm trying to learn how to heal and I thought this would be a good first step."

It's not a perfect explanation, and she'll address it further if he asks, but for now she thinks it's a good start. ]

[ She's relieved that the expression on his face isn't too distraught— the slight embarrassment, though, she recognizes a mile away, and where any other person might push for him to let them see the picture, if it's only kind of embarrassing, Sumire does no such thing— to the contrary, she makes a deliberate point of not looking toward the camera at all. ]

If it's even a little embarrassing, you don't have to show me. We can delete it and try again... Or, um, we don't have to try again either, if you don't want to. I'm just testing this, so this is good enough feedback too...

[ The last thing she wants is to make him uncomfortable, after all. She knows how shocking it was to have her own dream shown to her when she first tried using the camera— and if possible, she doesn't want to put anyone else through that. ]

[With that, Ken shook his head. As he gave the camera to her, a small smile appeared.]

You can if you want. I know it's embarrassing but it's not that bad. I've been through experiences that are even worse.

[Despite saying that she didn't want to try again, he wasn't sure. He was still trying to see if he could gain her trust or not. Not only that, if she did want to, it was better than showing her what he really feared deep down.]

[If she stops, he would ask again and plan to leave it. There's no connection between the two of them, beside being in this world and using these curious journals. He's about to put quill to paper, when her writing resume.]

She sounds like a talented young lady. I may be an outsider, but I think it's normal to feel such emotions. Whether it's the most joyous of feelings, or the ugliest of them popping out.

[His observations are ultimately limited, by the directions of his life and by how many humans he can observe in those time.]

Do you hate her?

[ She certainly does not have to be specific. Were it anyone other than sweet, innocent Susato, however, and Sumire might have the imagination running amok... Susato takes a glance about the room, and since she doesn't see anything that needs her immediate attention, she has decided it's OK to stay for a bit until they can sort this out. ]

It's alright.

[ ...... What should she say? She clearly doesn't want to talk about it. ]

Although... um, that is rather amazing, isn't it? I haven't ever heard of a camera that could do that before.

[ He does see her face change colour, and for one brief moment he worries she's hurt or sick--a flushed face is a symptom of those, he's been told. But she doesn't look unhappy, and she keeps writing to him nonetheless. He wants to ask why her face has changed colours, but her explanation comes first.

Fruit >>> face colours (for now).

"Dreamotion can fix? I think only make thing," he imprints, tilting his head. He's never heard of using it to heal anything before... He was under the impression you could only make things appear with it. ]

[ Based on what he says, she gets the feeling that he's offering her a small piece of trust with this. She should be careful, and respectful—

With that in mind, she offers him a bright smile. ]

Um... In that case, what if I tell you an embarrassing story of mine, too? I don't have a picture to show you, but it's the best thing I can offer to a fair trade. If you think it's a good story, I'll look at the picture.

[ She tilts her head as she waits to see if he'll agree. After all, it's hardly fair to expect him to show her his own embarrassing dreams or memories without something in return. And if it will help to show him that he can trust her, then that's even better. ]

[ The question takes her by surprise— and for a moment, it comes hand in hand with anger. As nice as this stranger was being to contact her, he is still a stranger, and for him to ask such a question is truly—

No, she thinks; that's not fair. She invited him to talk about this with her, after all.

And it's a legitimate question. In fact, if she's honest, the only reason it makes her angry is because— ]

Not now... but I think that sometimes I did back then. She was everything I wanted to be. So when she died, I convinced myself it would be better if I had

[ Once again, the writing ends mid-sentence, Sumire frowning as she looks at it in silence for a moment. And this time, when she continues— after a much briefer pause than before— the previous sentence is abandoned in favor of something new: ]

I think back then the person I hated most was me. But I blamed that on her.

[That wasn't what he was expecting. For a moment, he raised an eyebrow before giving a small frown.]

If you want to? You don't have to tell me an embarrassing story if it bothers you. I know it's a fair trade but I don't want to make you uncomfortable.

[That and it wouldn't be polite! Although, he had to admit, it was nice to know that she was taking his own comfort into consideration.]

It just would be wrong.

november catch-all

ooc notes

[open] passive dream recording (P5R spoilers inside, cw in post)

[open] dreamotion practice

[open | dream board] dreams, camera, action!

option 1: a photo of sumire (@ the wild harvest)

option 2: a photo of you?

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Sender: Norimune

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sender: Sumire Yoshizawa

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