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[ It's as if eyes turn inward, piercing. Such is the dreamer's purview when something goes awry, clarity whittling to seek the imperfections, just so. Not Sleep's attention here, but Arthur's. His cognizance betrays him, attempting to draw his knowledge out of safe narrow alleys and out into the open where anything could be possible. Any escape, any violence, from any direction. He can't offer reprieve, he can't dredge this dream or dispel this illusion.
Subaru's intuition coats the rift of his thoughts like a wintersoft sheen and dissipates just as quickly when he recovers. Acknowledgement, perhaps. Of the way out not always being what it seems, and the same deceit could be waiting at the end of either fork in the road.
And within that smoke is a mirror, a world in which Subaru would choose the dream that reflects his wish over a desolated reality. ]
That passage between worlds is something I'm more familiar with navigating. Spiritual entities perform similar feats when trying to avoid detection. If I find one, it might be better to engage with it first to understand it better.
Subaru's intuition coats the rift of his thoughts like a wintersoft sheen and dissipates just as quickly when he recovers. Acknowledgement, perhaps. Of the way out not always being what it seems, and the same deceit could be waiting at the end of either fork in the road.
And within that smoke is a mirror, a world in which Subaru would choose the dream that reflects his wish over a desolated reality. ]
That passage between worlds is something I'm more familiar with navigating. Spiritual entities perform similar feats when trying to avoid detection. If I find one, it might be better to engage with it first to understand it better.
You're stubborn. It's charming. Reckless, but charming.
I kept him alive. Where's my treat?
I kept him alive. Where's my treat?
Subaru-kun, what might your grandmother say, asking a man so brazenly if he'd like to come sleep with you?
Understandably. And I'm a demure and mindful man.
I was about to modestly offer dinner.
I was about to modestly offer dinner.
Not yet. But surely chief Sumeragi won't think the worst of me if I all can serve him is a last-minute dinner.
( And a view of the beautiful monstrous arm in the sample fridge. )
( And a view of the beautiful monstrous arm in the sample fridge. )
( How proactive. How kind. How... suspicious. Excuse the silence for an hour, then, turbulent throughout the Murmur, intensely sing-song - )
Ah, Subaru-kun ♫ 🎶
( You're screwed. )
Ah, Subaru-kun ♫ 🎶
( You're screwed. )
You will host. ( Though he's bringing his damned monstrous arm for rune inspection, sir. )
And you will ensure the little orphanage, hospital, house of agonies and zoo under your roof are all successfully closed off from the public for a day, so I can enjoy a very long — what was it? Nap.
And you will ensure the little orphanage, hospital, house of agonies and zoo under your roof are all successfully closed off from the public for a day, so I can enjoy a very long — what was it? Nap.
Shouldn't that be your prerogative? Winter's coming to an end.
There's no telling the day, but it should be Sumeragi-sensei's birthday soon.
By all means. What will it be?
There's no telling the day, but it should be Sumeragi-sensei's birthday soon.
By all means. What will it be?
[ Inside the void, the stillness makes the way the shadows move more striking. More pieces gather around him in an incoherence of form, feeding meagerly on his shadow. Alarm slinks up into his throat as surely as these bits keep sifting through his fingers, plip, plip, patter.
His lips press together, mind churning with thought. When he kneels, following the vague premonition of the cat's paw pointing, he can sweep some of the sludge up into his hands. Only... it melts quickly, sliding through his fingers.
And he doubts he'll find a serviceable bucket anywhere nearby.
What to do... and Where are you, really?
Knee to the ground and shadow dark from the proximity, Subaru feels cold sweat on his temples. With his free hand, he reaches into his coat pocket for an array of paper talismans. On the backs of the rectangular slips are pentagrams, his mark, and simple runes for invocation. Only the fronts are blank, where anything could be written. Or contained, if he concentrates hard enough on it.
Carefully, he places the edges of the paper to the ground in front of the dark substance. ]
Can you move onto here?
His lips press together, mind churning with thought. When he kneels, following the vague premonition of the cat's paw pointing, he can sweep some of the sludge up into his hands. Only... it melts quickly, sliding through his fingers.
And he doubts he'll find a serviceable bucket anywhere nearby.
What to do... and Where are you, really?
Knee to the ground and shadow dark from the proximity, Subaru feels cold sweat on his temples. With his free hand, he reaches into his coat pocket for an array of paper talismans. On the backs of the rectangular slips are pentagrams, his mark, and simple runes for invocation. Only the fronts are blank, where anything could be written. Or contained, if he concentrates hard enough on it.
Carefully, he places the edges of the paper to the ground in front of the dark substance. ]
Can you move onto here?
It's not that I don't want to hear it, just... Subaru-kun, business just hasn't thrived as much here. Even if we go with the old three months' salary rule, I think you might still be disappointed in your engagement ring.
( It doesn't take a tether to feel out this level of fleeting crackling irritation. )
I'll make up the thirteenth head's expenses. ( One government employee to another. ) But that certainly seems a miserly gift, after Subaru-kun's hard year. I'll have to use my imagination.
( Let fear gently settle down. )
I'll make up the thirteenth head's expenses. ( One government employee to another. ) But that certainly seems a miserly gift, after Subaru-kun's hard year. I'll have to use my imagination.
( Let fear gently settle down. )
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