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Entry tags:
☁ 001 | Under an Endless Sky
Who: Lyria and YOU
Which: ( Opened ) Passive + Interactive Dream
What: Lyria is experiencing a dream she's had many, many times before.
Warnings: Dark themes including slight mention of torture and imprisonment.
** [ OOC Note: Anyone is welcomed to interact with either parts of the dream, be it the passive or interactive! Should you choose to be apart of the interactive, you will have the option of appearing as your younger self or remaining the same. That is entirely up to the player! ]
⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆
The sound of arguing opens the dream. At first there is muttering coming from an echoing room, and as the vision clears, the scene opens to a vast building of looming towers and dark infrastructure. The voices seem to be getting louder— more demanding.
Three figures stand prominent here, along with a line of soldiers blocking the entrance and exit. The man standing in the room overlooks it from above on a large pedestal, while a woman, her face hard, stands at his side.
"Go on, do it again."
"Stop this, Captain Pommern, she's had enough—!"
"—I said again!"
There is a flash of light from the man's hand, and a young girl screams from below, barreling over and cradling something at her chest. There is a sudden commotion of armor clattering, but eventually the noise goes quiet when Pommern raises his hand above his head, threatening to activate what appears to be a floating crystal cased within a tube. "This is for the Empire, lest you forget! We need these powers! Now, if you please..."
The girl on the ground hesitates, but wordlessly struggles to her knees. She turns her attention to the woman above, who only nods slowly yet solemnly. A frown appears, but eventually with the reluctant coaxing, the small girl will begin to close her eyes.
Suddenly a bright, omnipresent light suddenly glows from her chest, nearly encapsulating the previously dark room. The image of the girl is shown clearly now, as long blue hair appears mangled and unkept at her sides. She seems shuts her eyes tighter, extending her arms out in front of her, and through her sobs she mutters:
"Come forth and grant your power to me... Ifrit!"
The ground beneath her quakes, and as the light begins to dissipate, a large flaming beast appears at its center. Its chest bellowing with fires only to let out a hideous roar that shakes the entire room.
Lyria is seen to be struggling for control underneath, her hands trembling and eyes fluttering with a fresh new layer of tears. Eventually, exhaustion gives in completely just as the flames of Ifrit begin to lash out onto the floors and ceiling. The summon's body flickers with her consciousness dwindling, and soon completely fades out of existence as her body tumbles to the ground once again.
"Huh!? That was it!? Wake her up, we aren't done here!"
"Lyria? Lyria...!!"
And slowly... everything becomes dark.
⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆
[ Darkness.
A cold, barely lightless room greets you as you step into this dream. Glancing around you quickly discover there is nothing to this place; no doors, no furnishing cept a small cot lying on the floor, and only a small square cut out from the ceiling with the night sky in full display.
There is a death-like silence here. The kind that crawls against your skin and slowly takes control.
And on top of all of this, you cannot seem to move from this place. Attached to your ankle is a cold, hard chain connecting you to the floor.
This place isn't without its visitors though, for seated a small distance away is Lyria. Her knees tightly pressed against her chest with arms wrapping around herself protectively. She doesn't seem to notice at first, as her eyes as cast upwards, staring up at the stars above.
Whether you are in the cell next to her, or perhaps in the same one, you soon you may realize ( should you have met Lyria in this world ) she seems younger, her features depicting a child no more than ten years old.
Eventually her gaze breaks away from the stars as she looks towards you, lifeless and void of emotion. When she speaks her words are soft, almost a whisper: ]
Who... are you?
Which: ( Opened ) Passive + Interactive Dream
What: Lyria is experiencing a dream she's had many, many times before.
Warnings: Dark themes including slight mention of torture and imprisonment.
** [ OOC Note: Anyone is welcomed to interact with either parts of the dream, be it the passive or interactive! Should you choose to be apart of the interactive, you will have the option of appearing as your younger self or remaining the same. That is entirely up to the player! ]
The sound of arguing opens the dream. At first there is muttering coming from an echoing room, and as the vision clears, the scene opens to a vast building of looming towers and dark infrastructure. The voices seem to be getting louder— more demanding.
Three figures stand prominent here, along with a line of soldiers blocking the entrance and exit. The man standing in the room overlooks it from above on a large pedestal, while a woman, her face hard, stands at his side.
"Go on, do it again."
"Stop this, Captain Pommern, she's had enough—!"
"—I said again!"
There is a flash of light from the man's hand, and a young girl screams from below, barreling over and cradling something at her chest. There is a sudden commotion of armor clattering, but eventually the noise goes quiet when Pommern raises his hand above his head, threatening to activate what appears to be a floating crystal cased within a tube. "This is for the Empire, lest you forget! We need these powers! Now, if you please..."
The girl on the ground hesitates, but wordlessly struggles to her knees. She turns her attention to the woman above, who only nods slowly yet solemnly. A frown appears, but eventually with the reluctant coaxing, the small girl will begin to close her eyes.
Suddenly a bright, omnipresent light suddenly glows from her chest, nearly encapsulating the previously dark room. The image of the girl is shown clearly now, as long blue hair appears mangled and unkept at her sides. She seems shuts her eyes tighter, extending her arms out in front of her, and through her sobs she mutters:
"Come forth and grant your power to me... Ifrit!"
The ground beneath her quakes, and as the light begins to dissipate, a large flaming beast appears at its center. Its chest bellowing with fires only to let out a hideous roar that shakes the entire room.
Lyria is seen to be struggling for control underneath, her hands trembling and eyes fluttering with a fresh new layer of tears. Eventually, exhaustion gives in completely just as the flames of Ifrit begin to lash out onto the floors and ceiling. The summon's body flickers with her consciousness dwindling, and soon completely fades out of existence as her body tumbles to the ground once again.
"Huh!? That was it!? Wake her up, we aren't done here!"
"Lyria? Lyria...!!"
And slowly... everything becomes dark.
[ Darkness.
A cold, barely lightless room greets you as you step into this dream. Glancing around you quickly discover there is nothing to this place; no doors, no furnishing cept a small cot lying on the floor, and only a small square cut out from the ceiling with the night sky in full display.
There is a death-like silence here. The kind that crawls against your skin and slowly takes control.
And on top of all of this, you cannot seem to move from this place. Attached to your ankle is a cold, hard chain connecting you to the floor.
This place isn't without its visitors though, for seated a small distance away is Lyria. Her knees tightly pressed against her chest with arms wrapping around herself protectively. She doesn't seem to notice at first, as her eyes as cast upwards, staring up at the stars above.
Whether you are in the cell next to her, or perhaps in the same one, you soon you may realize ( should you have met Lyria in this world ) she seems younger, her features depicting a child no more than ten years old.
Eventually her gaze breaks away from the stars as she looks towards you, lifeless and void of emotion. When she speaks her words are soft, almost a whisper: ]
Who... are you?
no subject
A low growl continues to rumble the floor beneath him. ]
[ The flames do not dissipate, rather erupt from either side of Eustace. Their distance far, but the heat radiating from its source powerful and growing. It was through those flames that the outline of the large beast's body clung to the shadows, difficult to spot but ever present. ]
no subject
Doesn't matter.
[He could say a lot, but true to form, he's not. Why does he need to explain to a god who does nothing to protect her when she needed it most? Why does he need to prove anything? It's not going to change anything. So—]
Now shut up and let her wake up.
no subject
The loud, ear-shrieking sound pierces deep into the darkness and further rumbles the ground. Fragments from the floor begin to break off and the slits through the broken pieces shown faintly of light.
The space slowly begins to crumble around them. ]
[ Steady cracks appear in the ground where Eustace stood. Dark flames began to rise from them as they wrap around his ankles like vines. Pulling, tugging him towards the ground. ]
[ The flames grow higher now and completely overtake his form. There was heat, but the fire did not burn at the touch. Instead it raged and expanded, choking and taking all the air within the space with it. It was suffocating. ]
[ The implications are different this time. There is something else... another meaning in its trembles.
Through the flames large wings expanded to their full length from the flickering darkness. Another roar, this time more menacing than the last, completely shattered what was left of the ground before the two of them fall and are completely engulfed in darkness once again.
Falling...
falling...
... and then the vision ends. ]
1/2
But then he grits his teeth and pushes back, cold air and lightning crackling around to create a small barrier. The flames press heavily against it, but he just pushes back, determination fueling his resistance. Even if he knows this is the end, he refuses to falter.
Glaring up through the smoke and flames, the words resonate deep within his mind and soul.
This realm cannot hide you.
You are not meant for this world.
You do not belong here.
The implications are heard loud and clear, and were this a few months ago it would have made him waver. If it was a year ago, it would have been more devastating. Would have made him question, doubt, hesitate.
Heartbreaking.
But not now.
Not anymore.
With the rising flames is his own buildup of anger and defiance, and even as the floor shatters—]
Bahamut!
[—Eustace shouts out with all his might, his body tilting back as everything falls apart and his body descends. He then raises one hand up to the flaming inferno above and raises his middle finger.]
2/2
...
Did he really... Meet with Bahamut?
You do not belong here.
The words still echo loudly in his mind as he continues to look down at Tifa, watching her shoulder rise and fall with her soft, steady breaths as he continues to gently stroke her hair and cheek, stopping only when she stirs.
Maybe he shouldn't be pissing off what is basically his world's god, or a part of it or whatever. But what could it even do here? Nothing, clearly. At least one thing is for certain—he is dead set on proving it wrong.
This world or another, the only place he wishes to be, the only place where he belongs is right here. Right by Tifa's side.
And he won't let a giant lizard get in the way of that.
...
Running a hand over his eyes and hair, Eustace looks towards the door and contemplates going down to check on Lyria. Really it's for the best... He knows he's out of the dream, but was Lyria really released?
Frowning a little, he quietly and carefully moves to leave the bed...]
no subject
She felt Eustace's arms around her, the ice that clung to his body and surroundings, how her feet felt and stung. She remembered pushing back through that door, but... nothing. Nothing else followed.
There was an emptiness tight in her chest when she finally opened her eyes and the first sensation that greeted her was the warmth of something else. Her sheets? She shifted slowly in the bed to confirmed, and breathed out a sigh when she realized she was had woken up.
A dream... it was only a dream. So then why was Eustace...?
Eustace.
He was there, too. Small, but still the same person she knew. Was he alright?
...
There's a small bit commotion that can be heard downstairs when Eustace moves to leave the bed. A few whines and wuffs, but soon those noises return to silence and after a few more moments... a small, quiet knock on the door can be heard from the other end. ]
no subject
As he remained sitting on the edge of the bed, he hears the soft the knock and a light smile forms before he stands to walk over and open the door.]
no subject
He... he was alright.
She exhales- a breath of air she didn't know she was holding in- before her weight shifts uncomfortably.
In her hands, neatly tucked and hidden behind her back (or attempting to) was her pillow. ]
I... I wanted to see if you were okay, and— [ She hesitates with a frown, the mixture of emotions making her unable to continue her sentence.]
no subject
I'm fine.
[A gentle hand goes over her head for an affection head pat.]
...But if you want to stay over...
[He'll step aside, the door opening wider to let her in.]
no subject
No matter where she was... be is in this world, a dream, or even back home... he was always there to save her.
Relief begins to wash away the panic as she hears the door opening a little more, her attention will turn towards it, and then back to Eustace. ]
Can I? Just for tonight...
no subject
[A small nod as he glances back. Tifa is probably stirring about now...]
I'm sure Tifa won't mind. Come.
[And he'll step a little behind her to give her a gentle push from the back.]
no subject
She had slept on this bed before but... this time it felt different.
Gently she will place herself in the middle of the bed while giving a glance to Tifa. This was a safe place, and even as she slept soundly, Lyria could feel the comforting presence beside her.
It had been a long night, and already she could feel her eyelids growing heavy when she turned to look at Eustace from across the room. ]
quietly peeks in here and drops this off-
So she's a bit confused when she feels the weight shift again and it isn't Eustace. Their voices at the door had been quiet, faraway murmurs in her head, so she slowly blinks her eyes open to find a head of blue hair looking away from her and towards the door where she sees Eustace standing.
She can also hear the light padding of tiny paws on the floor, and the other end of the mattress shifting when Clover hops up to curl over Lyria's feet.
A light smile blooms on her lips, and Lyria will feel an arm gently drape over her from behind, and a face bury into her long hair.
And as Eustace takes his spot on the other side of the girl, she'll hear Tifa's voice whisper quietly from behind her.]
It's okay...
[Whatever it is that had scared her, or made her feel lonely... she doesn't have to feel it here. She's safe, and loved, and Tifa hopes that she can sleep soundly knowing that.]
THIS FAMILY
...With all this protection, you won't have anymore nightmares.
[He reaches out and gives Lyria another affectionate headpat before settling in.]
The perfect found family 🎀
And as she moves to fully settle into the bed she gives Tifa's arm a light squeeze with one hand while using the other arm to gently wrap her fingers around Eustace's side. Her back pressed against Tifa and head up against the Eustace.
Tifa's words instantly seem to shut out the last bit of fear Lyria had hanging in the air. She felt calm and completely at peace with the growing warmth around her, but before her eyes completely shut for the night they lingered towards a place she had often watched until she would fall asleep.
The sky.
Through the faint bit of light that streamed through the treehouse's window she could see it, the glistening stars from the sky above. This was it... the night sky she had longed to see and now was able to through the collective assistance of so many of her dear friends. She had always dreamed about what they would look like; those sparkling balls that shined so brightly from so far away. Katalina had tried to describe them to her but nothing could ever quite compare to seeing the real thing.
Lyria was able to enjoy the stars, the sun, the sky... all because of people like Eustace and Tifa who never gave up on her.
The light that outlined the bodies in the room reminded her of the very same stars that were outside. They each shined differently yet ever so brightly in their own way. Each individual dot in the sky forming together to create the most beautiful constellation. ]
You're right... [ She managed to whisper before her eyes drifted closed. ] ... I'm not afraid anymore. I have all of you...
[ The rest of the night was spent in peaceful silence. There was no more nightmares, no more loneliness... only the warm embrace of a found family. Each cuddled lovingly in one another's arms.
Regardless of the hardships and trials that could await them... they were not evident in this room. Not at this time. Only hands which intertwined with one another resembling an unbreakable bond shone the brightest through this darkness.
A bright and beautiful constellation. ]