[OPEN] Another Day, Another Week, Another Month, Another Year...

[lonelysmiles]

Who: Alastor and you
Which: Interactive Dream, OPEN
Where: A warped version of Reverein that looks like Hell and Reverein have merged together.
What: Alastor has a legitimate nightmare for the first time since arriving, and it’s of a version of Reverein where him going noctaere led to him becoming as much of a social pariah as he is in Hell.
Warnings: It’s Alastor, and he’s not having a very good night’s sleep.


Reverein sat quietly beneath the glowing red pentagram that turned the sky purple. Demons, fairies, and others went about their business, going in and out of shops, sometimes pausing to chat on the streets. However, there was a nervous tension that buzzed in the air whenever the breeze caught the edge of one of many posters put up around town, prompting some people to glance at the sketch of a terrifying demon with wicked antlers, terrible claws, and a horrifying fanged smile.

BEWARE!!!!!! HIM!! THE RADIO DEMON!!

Wandering into the Residential District, there eventually came a sudden abandoned gap of treehouses and apartment buildings. Things had become overgrown, all of it leading up to a blackened tree that seemed to be slowly scaling a radio tower.

Anyone who attempted the front door would find it unlocked. Not at all surprising given nobody wanted to come anywhere near the occupant or anywhere he might haunt. The door opened to a black void so cold that it froze the very soul, the emptiness stretching into eternity.

And somewhere inside was Alastor.

But Things lurked in the endless dark, patches of blackness darker than the rest of the darkness that moved out of the corner of one’s eye and watched with unseen, unblinking gazes.

Dare you risk it and rouse the tormented dreamer? Or will you move on to the next person’s dream and leave the demon to his demons?

Comments

[systemofadowny]

This might've been a bad idea. Octavia's not part of Devil May Cry and compared to everyone else, she's a civilian. Even so, learning Alastor was in pain meant she wouldn't turn down the chance to try and help. He's weird, but he's a friend. And familiar with looking past the Radio Demon's reputation to see the man behind it.

They shared that quality with each other.

So despite everything, she joined the expedition and offered her songs. So far, she handles dreamotion best through song, so Via's prepared to use that as much as she can. It might help reach out to Alastor, if it's needed.

"Is this a recurring nightmare of his...?"

She can relate, if it is. For now, the goetia is taking out her phone to turn on the flashlight. Hopefully, it can light the way a little bit.

[songbird_slayer]

She shook her head. "I'm not sure. As far as I can tell, it's new. Or, knowing him, something he's kept to himself for a while."

She looked over, and her expression fell. "Until his noctaere incident. The poor deer."

The mistaken dreamscape she'd made still had her feeling guilty, but it was no doubt nothing compared to becoming one of the dreadful noctaeres.

"I'm afraid I'm not terribly versed on... overlords?" That's what Millie called them, anyway.

"I wonder if they all feel like this deep down, like they are truly irredeemable but dripping with regret."

[lonelysmiles]

The light from the cellphone would show Octavia herself or anyone she pointed it at, but when pointed into the darkness, the beam would be swallowed up by the void.

The unseen Things hated the light, despised it. This was a place of darkness, of emptiness...

...of freezing false comfort where the sorrows of the outside world couldn't reach. Where one could lay their head down and let the cold numb away all emotion. No sadness but no joy either.

[systemofadowny]

"He does, at least." Via can't speak for the others; Alastor's the only overlord she's had any real interaction with.

The ineffectiveness of the flashlight isn't so big of a surprise; magical darkness can shut out mundane light sources with ease. Via would need to use some magic of her own - dreamotion, perhaps - if she wanted to light anything. Especially the creeping emotional numbness that threatened to make her feathers stand up.

"Overlords start out as humans who died and went to Hell for their sins. As sinner demons, or just sinners, they accrue enough power to climb up the ranks and usually get a reputation to match. Alastor's includes cannibalism. Most demons fear him."

In a way, it feels disrespectful to talk about Alastor like this in his own nightmare. It is common knowledge for a hellborn and relevant to all of this, though. The owl closes her eyes for a moment, channeling her concern and urge to help him into music that begins to fill the air. Even if she can't light up the whole area, just a little bit is the start they need.

"I think...coming to Reverein is the first time in a long time he's been able to make friends. No reputation following him, people and demons from back home willing to give him a chance. Maybe after turning noctaere, he's afraid of things going back to how they were..."

She shakes her head.

"...But they don't have to."

♫ Mine, immaculate dream made breath and skin
I've been waiting for you ♫

[songbird_slayer]

She definitely heard that before. But cannibalism as one of the sins, perhaps THE sin... yeah, she remembers how much he loves venison as a deer demon. That fit. But she had to wonder why he was shaped into a deer upon his arrival in Hell. Maybe it was some form of his punishment, the hunter becoming a prey animal...

Octavia began to conjure a tune and she proceeded only slightly ahead. This place was simply empty. It was precisely as the Scions described a certain end of the universe.

She found the rhythm in that tune and added in backing vocals, harmonious tones to fill and build the song. She would, just in case, keep Via in her peripherals.

and, inadvisably, i am here too

[herewardbound]

"A cannibal. Well, I am in good company." He hadn't met Octavia, but then it wasn't hard to tell who she was and how this particular crowd knew her. After all, the resemblance was... uncanny.

"... Blatant hypocrisy aside, if we're going to be pulling his ass out of the mire of his own self-pity again, I'm going to have a few words to say."

He... couldn't sing. Nor did he particularly care to try. But he could keep a wary eye out for any changes in the surrounding landscape.

[lonelysmiles]

The entrance to the void shut silently behind them.

The Things continued to watch. One of Them eeled its way between them, unseen even when the light was pointed directly at it but freezing to the touch. It continued on its path without pause.

There was no sound save what they made. And the cold. Always the cold.

[systemofadowny]

The darkness is unsettling. Void is the perfect word to describe all of this. Complete emptiness, absent of light, of sound, feeling, life...it's chilling in more ways than one.

Even if it wasn't too late to turn back, Octavia continues to push forward. She knows better than to push ahead of the others; Via's kind of the escort mission target and she will admit that. The least she can do is provide herself and the others with her a little warmth to combat the cold, light to push back the darkness, determination to pierce the emotional numbness. Fortunately, dreamotion can help her do all of that through song.

♫ Signed with a home tattoo,
Happy Birthday to You was created for you

Can't ever keep from falling apart at the seams
Can't I believe you're taking my heart to pieces ♫

[songbird_slayer]

She stuck to the front then. At the very least, the singers would keep Akechi surrounded in what seemed to be working thus far. Even with the icy presence of these unseen things continually brushing against her skin and scales, she had to keep her eyes peeled.

In a break from her backup vocals- she had a bar or two to breathe- she raised her voice:

"Alastor! ...Alastor...?"

Oh, where were you... or was this entire void simply all of you? She wagered it'd be rude to just be walking on or inside him, especially with shoes on.

[herewardbound]

"Alastor!" He suspected that the deer-demon wasn't likely to rise to his call, but it was worth a shot. "We know you're here, so come out." It was too dark to see, but...

Dreamotion could help, maybe. He focused, drew on the faint connection he felt to Reverein...

"Persona." It wasn't much, but it was light- flickering blue flame around the figure of Captain Nemo as it manifested. Hopefully whatever was in here wouldn't take too much offense to the presence.

[lonelysmiles]

The unseen eyes glared.

"They don't like that."

Alastor's voice came from somewhere to their left. It was soft and...flat. Not quite emotionless like during that whole "Tin Man" incident. Simply...tired.

"This is Their home. You need to abide by Their rules."

[songbird_slayer]

"Well, unfortunately for them, I'm a terrible guest. You've been too polite to a toxic host. It's time to get going."

From that way, it seems. She took that left and focused, her steps more deliberate. As her heels lifted to move forth to another stride, she would mark her trail with small blooms of clover blossoms. She cared about Alastor. Even a bad dream was terrible for a demon who'd once lived as a human who committed so many awful acts.

"Besides, I don't think they'd make good coffee. Not like you."

[herewardbound]

"Well, if we'd been invited over for lunch, you might have a point there. Unfortunately," He looked around, trying to find something in the dark- but the feeble light offered by his Persona was only enough to show the vaguest shapes. This could get bad.

"This is an intervention. You sitting here wallowing is accomplishing exactly shit other than making you feel sorry for yourself."

[systemofadowny]

Octavia's song stops once she hears Alastor's voice. There's a bit of uncertainty in antagonizing the shadows, but he's in here. He's speaking to them. Maybe they can talk him through all of this.

"They can keep the house. I always thought yours would have more color to it."

Even if owl biology helps her see in the dark, the shadows seem content keeping even that much hidden away. Following Madhuri towards the left feels like the right move here.

"I get not wanting to go outside when you're down, but maybe not to this degree. It's a bit much. And that's coming from me."

[lonelysmiles]

There was a glow of red just before Alastor walked close enough for them to see him. His smile was still firmly in place but there were shadows obscuring his eyes. The source of the red glow were the eldritch symbols glowing on a shadowy collar around his neck, a shadow chain disappearing into the void. On his wrists and ankles were shadow manacles and more of the chains. A thick layer of frost decorated his hair, ears, and shoulders, bits of it clinging to his suit in other places to show he'd likely been here long enough to get covered with it.

He paused, an ear twitching backwards and dislodging a bit of the frost. He tilted his head slightly. "Yes, I know. I'll show them out."

He walked between them, smile pleasantly distant.

"This way," he told them though no doorway could be seen. "My, you've wandered in quite a ways." He spared Akechi and the creature he'd summoned a glance. "Do put that away, won't you? I'm really not in the mood for the whole song and dance."

[songbird_slayer]

THERE he was. But... what's with the frost? But it was the resolution to show them out that had her fold her hands and stand stark straight.

"I did say I was a terrible guest, darling."

She innocently canted her head.

"Collars are particularly attractive, but I don't think that's your style. May I ask where you got them? I've got a few complaints for your blacksmith."

[systemofadowny]

Octavia would've remarked about the frost were it not for the constant reminders of the cold. Frosted tips...might look pretty alright on him, even if Alastor would never agree to it normally. A little something to help balance all the red. Instead, it tells her he's been sitting in here long enough to partially freeze.

"You didn't give us much choice." The owl notes with a playful smirk. "I would've gone through an entire playlist or two. You'd probably hate most of it."

She shrugs. "Maybe we should get you a hot chocolate or something. Something to warm you up and stuff."

[herewardbound]

Akechi crossed his arms. "I'm afraid I'm not as familiar with you as the others, but from what I hear you quite enjoy a little song and dance." Not that he was good at either.

He inhaled, and took a shot in the dark. "I can guess, at what you're feeling, however. Wallowing in your own self-loathing isn't helping you, and it certainly isn't helping anyone else, particularly the people who cared enough to make an appearance. I'd really rather not fight, especially since you seem so agreeable at the moment, but I know from experience that people rarely change from positions they've wedged themselves into without getting their asses kicked beforehand." And, after a moment's reflection, he added, "myself included, unfortunately."

[lonelysmiles]

"My own self-loathing isn't the issue."

He didn't elaborate, continuing to walk towards some unseen destination. His steps weren't as smooth or bouncy as normal. It was partially due to being so long in the freezing cold: his joints had frozen up. However, it was like the gait of tired resignation, like a doomed man walking to the gallows.

"And I appreciate the offer, dear, but honestly I'd prefer the chill."

[songbird_slayer]

"...So what would something warm mean to you, in these circumstances? You can't hole yourself up in here forever, you know. Perhaps Hell is a place of judgment, but your actions thus far in Reverein have done much to prevent this... scenario you've created for yourself here."

A beat as she tapped a horn.

"Nobody's perfect in the slightest. Yet you still are cared for here. You can push and nudge folks like myself away, but you know I still consider you my friend, yes? Whether or not you feel the same."

[systemofadowny]

"Madhuri's right. You're a friend to us. And probably to others, too. Those who knew about you back in Hell, those who didn't, those who know now...you're pretty well liked. You're too sociable to not be."

It also helps that most people in Reverein aren't really shaken up by being around demons.

"Even if some change their minds - I won't pretend it can't happen - you'll still have people who want you to be okay."

[herewardbound]

Akechi inhaled... and acquiesced. Dismissed his Persona. "Look. Alastor. I won't pretend that I know you well enough to care, but other people plainly do. Angel Dust for one. Everyone else here, for another. But someone told me recently..."

He felt, in the back of his mind, a familiar stirring. A sense, if only faintly, of Justice. "It's never too late to start over. So you're in Hell. So what. Who you are doesn't have to be chained down by who you were. That's not some trite bullshit I found on the back of a cereal box, or heard from some priest with too much time on his hands- that's straight from the mouth of one of my victims. Okay? So you can quit martyring yourself or whatever the hell else this is. The only one stopping you is you."

[lonelysmiles]

Alastor came to a sudden stop, frozen completely in place like the deer whose traits he shared.

"You think you have everything all figured out, don't you? That things are just that neat and tidy."

Magic melted the frost, evaporating the water to the point it might as well have never been there. His spine straightened that much more as his ears perked up.

He cast a wide grin over his shoulder at the group, fangs glowing yellow in the darkness as his eyes glowed red.

"You remind me of Charlie."

He summoned his microphone cane, twirling it between his fingers as he laughed, the sound initially hollow before it seemed to tune itself into a properly gay and carefree laugh.

Like a performer warming up before going onstage.

"You do have a point though: The show must go on, and this one goes on into eternity! I hope you enjoy the view from the front row!"

An unseen door opened, flooding the immediate area with light as Alastor stepped out into the world that was both Reverein and Hell. A group of five children (two imps, a hellhound, and a pair of fairies) and two adults (a hellhound and a fairy) had gathered in front of the treehouse, each nervously watching the place.

Alastor's smile shifted to one less threatening and more welcoming. "Hel-!"

All four of the Hellborn outright bolted. The two fairy children hid behind the adult fairy, the man looking rather weak-kneed.

"-lo," Alastor finished wryly. He stepped to one side and gave a sweeping bow, revealing the trio behind him. "I assume you were waiting for my guests! My apologies for forcing you to wait so long! As you can see, they're none the worse for wear for their visit!"

The man swallowed, eyes darting continually back and forth between the trio and the Radio Demon, not wanting to let the latter out of his sight. "Are...are you all right?"

[songbird_slayer]

It was true that he had a reputation to combat that he himself had earned, but that didn't mean he needed to have that here as well. To hear the details from Blitz and the others painted a clearer picture, and even hearing that sharpness, that fear tinged beneath the information... he'd shaken Hell to the core.

But they were asked if they were all right.

"Just fine. Don't mind him, he's a knucklehead but he's a gas! Try his jambalaya. I practically crave it weekly."

She turned and wound her arms around the demon's middle.

"Which reminds me. Same time next week? You know I'm available to listen."

[systemofadowny]

Oh great. Dream people semi-validating Alastor's fears. At the very least, being dream people didn't exactly do that; the real people were the ones standing beside him. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to answer the man's question and try to lighten the mood a little.

"All good here. We just finished a few vocal warm-ups. He and I enjoy singing together and we were trying to figure out which songs the three of us could tackle."

Octavia stands to the other side of Alastor to offer a mirroring hug.

"He's helped me be more confident in my singing."