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...

[ryuusei_subaru]

"Ah, no, that's the second time that's happened today..."

[And he scratches the back of his head a little sheepishly.] "I've been trying to get to Nuvema Town, but I keep ending up in people's dreams for some reason...this isn't Nuvema Town either, is it?"

[shuutaa]

[ wat. nuvema town? ]

... No, this isn't Nuvema Town. It's... a place far away from Nuvema. [ yeah, really far away ]

[ryuusei_subaru]

[And Subaru sighs.]

"I should have known. Another dream...?"

also btdubs i added you on aim!

[shuutaa]

Something like that --

[ more like a terrible memory, but sure. let's call it a dream.

and before you know it rock notices something falling from above -- a falling pole that's engulfed in flames and she jumps to her feet, pushing the boy out of the way

what a badass ]

yay! :D

[ryuusei_subaru]

"Whoa-"

And he lets out a yelp as he's pushed to the ground, before instinctively curling up as much as he can when he hears the clang of the falling pole.

But wait-is...is she okay?

"M-miss?!"

[negotiators]

Crying won't help you much.

[shuutaa]

[ the pole falls to the ground with a loud clang, and rock manages to push the boy out of the way while saving herself as well.

she pushes off of him and stands up this time, dusting her cloak and extends a hand out to him ]

... Name's Rock. Nice to meet you.

[shuutaa]

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

[ryuusei_subaru]

"War...Rock?" Give him a few seconds, he's still a little dazed. But he does take that hand. "Un, it's good to meet you too...I'm Hoshikawa Subaru."

[negotiators]

Not at all.

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

[shuutaa]

Just Rock.

[ she pulls him up and allows him to regain his balance, and turns around on her heel to face the opposite direction. ]

... M'going to go look around. You can come too, if you want.

[shuutaa]

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

... The fire looks pretty...

[ryuusei_subaru]

It's a few moments before he responds.

"Mmm...I'll follow. It's best to stay together, right?" There's a weak chuckle after that, slightly choked because of all the smoke.

[negotiators]

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

[negotiators]

...are you sure about that?

[shuutaa]

Yeah. Something like that.

[ and so she takes off into the direction of a door, an exit sign letting off sparks of electricity now and then ]

... I can't remember what happened here... [ it's a small murmur, almost under her breath ]

[shuutaa]

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

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