01. recollection

[shuutaa]

[ play.

it feels too real to be a dream.

in fact, it isn't. these are memories; real events that happened in the past. real events that she forgot all about up until now.

rock's body shivers, and she side steps to avoid being hit by embers; there's a fire growing, circling her and trapping her inside.

her face contorts into an expression showing confusion. fear.

and she swears, she can hear the word disappear resonating in her ears, it echoes and it takes over her mind.

her legs bend and she ends up squatting, arms curled around her legs and her face pressed against the fabric of her cloak.

she sobs as quietly as she can. hopefully no one comes around. ]

Comments

why no I am not being creepy by tagging as soon as I see this post nope nope NOT AT ALL

[ryuusei_subaru]

Oh, someone's coming around. In fact, they're dropping in just now. Literally.

You see, Subaru's just walked out of somebody else's memory just a few moments prior, and ended up in the air in this one. It takes him a few moments to realize that he's falling, but once he does, he's screaming.

And then suddenly, moments before he hits the ground, he's gone. Or at least, from visible sight. Could Rock see the odd alien that had managed to just grab at his ankle in the nick of time, turning him into waves to prevent an impact? Or does it simply just look like a random hallucination, an eleven-year old child inexplicably appearing, falling, then vanishing again?

oh no totally not

[shuutaa]

[ oh god, are the voices getting to her now? there was a scream just now --

she turns her head slightly, only far enough so that she can just barely see through the corner of her eye ]

... Someone's there?

[ryuusei_subaru]

There is an audible thump of something hitting the ground next to her, and then suddenly Subaru's lying face down on the floor. He's just there for a few moments before he pushes himself up, eyes still closed to keep the dirt out as he yells out to his invisible alien companion.

"War-Rock-!"

"Hey, it's better than falling splat on the ground from up there, ain't it? Anyways, I wasn't prepared to do that properly, you know, split second timing and all that. I think you got other things to worry about."

Could Rock even hear that second voice?

[shuutaa]

[ ... oh. well. hi there, kid. you're now trapped in a circle of fire with a dark haired girl who was just crying. but now she's not anymore, because crying in front of some kid would seriously worry him, probably.

she clears her throat and pokes him ]

[ryuusei_subaru]

"Uueh?" He starts rubbing the dirt out of his eyes before he actually attempts to respond directly. But when he opens them, he's tempted to shut them tight again, because ouch, that fire is bright.

Instead, he tries to focus on the girl next to him.

"Ah...um...sorry?" Yes. Good beginning, Subaru.

[shuutaa]

... S'fine.

[ she shifts to sit cross-legged and blankly, stares at him ]

Are you okay?

[ryuusei_subaru]

"Un, I am...shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Because. You're in a ring of fire.

Actually, they're both being surprisingly calm about this.

[shuutaa]

[ if she looks calm, then damn, she is doing a great job at pretending she's okay.

she shakes her head. ]

I'm fine. You're the one who fell from nowhere...

[negotiators]

Crying won't help you much.

[shuutaa]

... Ah. I guess it won't, huh?

[negotiators]

Not at all.

[walks a little closer, prowling the perimeter of the flames] There are less painful ways to die than asphyxiation.

[shuutaa]

This isn't me trying to -- [ pauses and breathes in shakily, staring at the fire ]

... The fire looks pretty...

[negotiators]

[i have no sense of aesthetic appreciation and what is this]

[negotiators]

...are you sure about that?

[shuutaa]

... Something happened here. Something with fire, and "disappear", they said.

But I can't remember who or what... Not even why.

[negotiators]

...if I could, I would offer you a wish right now.

[shrug] Unfortunately, it seems that I've lost that power. A shame; I'm sure you have potential.

[shuutaa]

... A wish?

[noplaidshirt]

[At this point, crying kids in the middle of nowhere aren't really so weird anymore.]

Hey, kiddo, you okay?

[shuutaa]

[ a sharp inhale of air, a small cough and she nods her head against her arms. ]

M'fine.

I SHOULD BE ON HIATUS BUT THIS IS JUST PERFECT

[tm_83]

[Flames.
Flames everywhere.
Was this death? Or had he survived, only to be taunted and destroyed by his other brother?
This was the first dream Cilan had entered, after all - garbed in his black Shadow Triad clothes. He'd appeared... like, just behind Rock, trapped in the ring of fire.

He could only chuckle, darkly.]

[shuutaa]

[ the dark chuckles make it to her ears and she goes stiff; her eyes widen a bit, and she turns her head slightly to look behind her ]

... Who are you?

[tm_83]

...
...I'm... nobody. [A traitor. No longer one of the Shadows. Most likely dead. AAAANGST]

[shuutaa]

[ wow way to bring an angst fest man because that's exactly what we needed

have a wary gaze ]

You have to be someone.

[tm_83]

I was. I was quite a 'somebody'. [The dead can't be somebody.] I was one of the Shadow Triad. [A shadow.]

[shuutaa]

[ the flames around them grow hotter, and the ring expands. well, doesn't seem like we'll get out of here soon anyway.

rock settles back into her curled ball position ]

I've never heard of them.