ximilialog | dreamwalk two

CHARACTERS: Blue, any sleepin folks out there
LOCATION: Someone's subconscious
DATE: Late Oct/Early Nov, pre-mission things
CONTENT: Psychics gon' psychic, dreams gon' dream...it's free dream/memshare real estate
WARNINGS: none in the tl; tagged as needed

It happens one of two ways:

outside

When he sleeps, Blue's subconscious stretches itself outward, instinctively drawn to things familiar to itself: Feelings, imagery, names...bonds already made or half-formed. It's in a Mu's nature to connect in this way, to be linked in thought and emotion, and this happens even in sleeping. The universe he hails from lacks much of the color and diversity and freedoms of others', but there are common lived experiences to be tethered to, for better or worse.

Peril and pain, longing and loss, hope and harmony...while Blue reprocesses his own volume of them, he unconsciously seeks out meaning in those notions which might flicker throughout the station in minds other than his own.

That means a routine recollection or predictable dream comes with something new this time.

inside

The door swings both ways, for when Blue is asleep, he can't consciously keep it locked, can he? So those who have even a passing capability to perceive matters of the mind or heart, be it magic or something more, could find themselves drifting out of their own dreamspace and into his own, where pastel marble floors mold effortlessly with sheer metal surfaces dappled with clouds that shouldn't hold any weight, let alone a person's.

It's where the sky is no sky, but a gaping field of stars not unlike the view outside a station window...save for the massive, red planet crowning the horizon. Beyond it, a pale blue dot no bigger than what Earth's moon would be glimmers in the dark. A lyre's strings are plucked from some unseen place, filling the place as one would fill a vast, empty room, and Soldier Blue stands at the edge of the horizon in his old, familiar vestments and headgear, absorbed in...something...until the shuddering of the dream's veil prompts him to acknowledge the presence passing through.

Red eyes turn to fix on the interloper, unsure of what they are perceiving yet.

This is still simply a dream, after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... It... I think it's earth. Right? It's earth.

But —

[His brow furrows as he floats with his hands in Blue's.]

What're you doing here? How're we here? [Ah, shit. Wait.] Is this a dream?

It is. More yours than mine, I'm certain. [though he does pause a moment to consider the surroundings and how he's influenced it, wondering if it could not be the other way around...

the odds of Newt elbow dropping into his subconscious with such a viscerally horrible memory unchained to the Mu is unlikely, so he nods with more certainty. this is definitely still Newt's space; he's just visiting.]

Something in your psyche must've pulled me here. Your fear, most likely.

Y-yeah, this is definitely a kind of dream I have a lot.

[He admits it a bit shamefully. It's not very badass of him to be a cowering flower in the middle of danger, huh? He probably looked super pathetic. Quickly, he starts scrubbing at his face in an attempt to wipe away the tear tracks that had formed.]

Um...! I — yeah, I'm sorry, dude. I didn't mean to - to pull you into that.

[Blue squeezes the hand he still has hold of, giving Newt a gentle, encouraging look.]

No, you didn't. I don't blame you, so you've nothing to be sorry for. In fact- [he looks back to the planet.] I'm glad...that I was drawn here. To provide some reprieve from the terror.

[nightmares...they have a purpose, but like everything, it's in excess where the trouble lay. he wonders how often Newt must stay huddled alone like that, subject to a creature Blue couldn't have imagined at all on his own. there's no such thing where he's from, after all.

~~he could always erase it, he knows. just like Physis. but that's...not something to entertain right now.~~]

Perhaps if I leave quickly enough...you'll be able to get some rest. [he considers that before looking back to Newt with a more thoughtful look. he's not versed in traversing human dreams, after all; would shaking him into this level of lucidity mean his sleep is done for this cycle?]

[He chuckles weakly.]

... Reprieve's a word for it. Thanks, man.

[He leans in to give him another squeeze, only this time it's less panicked and desperate, but grateful and warm. Sorry, buddy, you're gonna just have to get squeezed to death for a sec here. When he pulls back, he looks cleaner, too; no debris on his shirt, no blood under his nose, and nary a crack on those signature glasses.]

Some rest'll be good. What, uh... what happens when you leave?

Am I gonna remember all this?

[unlike out in the waking world, Blue's much more capable of not just accepting, but reciprocating a hug, which means Newt has to wait a second to get a chance to withdraw - the Mu's gotta get a bit of this kind energy to sustain himself for later, you know!

as for the questions, Blue tilts his head a little and gives it some genuine thought.]

I wonder... Do you often remember your dreams? Perhaps this one being so different is notable enough that you'd recall it.

... Sometimes.

[He says it with his chin tipped down in what seems to be shame.

Mostly because it is. He's been struggling through these things for months now — these weird dreams, followed by weird stretches where he remembers none of it at all. But after a moment, he just offers a small smile instead as he squeezes Blue's shoulder.]

Hey, don't sweat it. You've done more than enough, dude. Sorry if I freaked you out back there! It's not my proudest moment, that whole... almost getting eaten by a monster thing.

[he shakes his head at the apology.]

Your dreams are yours, good and bad. I'm only glad I could help a little bit.

[he hesitates, knowing he'll have to break this connection himself, but he's a little reluctant to do so right away.]

If you do remember...may I ask that you...tell me about your Earth? When we are awake. [he looks back down to the planet.] What it feels like...to live on a planet that is home.

I'd like to hear about it, if it's not too much trouble.

[because the presence of giant fuck-off monsters is a bit of trouble.]

[He smiles at that, breathing in deep, then a soft release of air as he pats Blue's shoulder.]

Sounds like a deal, man. Yeah, I mean — feel free to ask me about whatever.

I'll tell you whatever you wanna know about Earth.

[And maybe more about those giant fuck-off monsters.]

[Blue nods, offering a soft sound of acknowledgment and thanks.

after a beat:] Close your eyes, Newt.

[after he does so, Blue departs, leaving the man and his subconscious to either fall back to a dreamless sleep or stick to lucidity and wake up, none the worse for wear.]

dreamwalk two | ota

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