Event || Once Upon A Dream

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters who signed-up!
When: May 31st - June 04th
Where: The Dream Width (+ Curti Center & Airships)
What: Event log for the Once Upon A Dream Event! Should your character have their own memory, start your own top-level with said memory. If not, then tag around in other characters's memories! Furthermore, feel free to use the Mingle threads at the Curti Center and in the Airships for non-memory related CR. Please refer to the OOC Post for details and plotting. Plot Memories and the second Airship Mingle will be unlocked on May 25th.
Warnings/Notes: Memories with specific warnings will be marked as such by their players.

Please use the following form for your memory's title line:
CHARACTER'S NAME | MEMORY TITLE | WARNINGS (IF ANY)
We will add links to your memories here as the event progresses!

Mingle: Curti Center | Airships #1 | Airships #2
Plot Memories: The Dream | The Nightmare | The Premonition
Holographic Messages

Adrien Agreste | Then and Now
Aqua | Thorny Pathway | cw: spoiler for kh 0.2
Castor | Lord of the Inferno | cw: fire, mind control
Ena | Zera Hamlet, Reprise | cw: mutilated corpses
Futaba Sakura | Early Days | cw: references to verbal abuse/neglect and auditory hallucinations
Ignis Scientia | For The Life of the Chosen | cw: spoilers, violence, death
Irhya Pendhula | The Parting Glass | cw: violence, amputation
Johnny D'Amico | United Earth Prisoner
Kanji Tatsumi | You're a BOY, you know! | cw: bullying, mild homophobia
Lelouch vi Britannia | Julius Kingsley
Monika | Just Monika | cw: spoilers, possible horror, possible deletion
Nanamo Ul Namo | A Good Memory
Noctis Lucis Caelum | Light of the Crystal | cw: chapter 13 spoilers
Okuyasu Nijimura | Lending a Hand | cw: blood/injuries
Prompto Argentum | I'm not one of your experiments! | cw: episode prompto spoilers
Selphie | The Answer | cw: gore/death
Takashi 'Shiro' Shirogane | The end of the beginning | cw: end of season 2 spoilers
Tidus | A Broken Dream | cw: death, bullying

Comments

[rivieran]

[ Something was off. Monika saw her and acknowledged her - that was good. But her response was a little too much for just recognition. And she was crying...

And now a hug. Oh. Whoever Monika was looking at and talking to, it was not Ena. So she sits there, frozen for a moment, not quite sure how to deal with it. How does she break the news to her that none of this is real? ]

I-I'm fine, yes. And I... appreciate the sentiment, I guess? But we've always been talking directly to each other. [ Her arms hang awkwardly beside her, and after a moment she reaches up to pat Monika awkwardly on the back. Was this how one did the comfort thing? She was always the one being comforted, never the other way around. ] Do you need a moment?

[peninhand]

[ Always been talking directly...? Ah, perhaps that's how she perceived it. Not a bad way to look at things. Or perhaps she was just confused. It didn't matter much regardless. ]

Ahaha, I think I 'll be fine. I just wasn't expecting that, you know?

[ She smiled sweetly and widely before pulling back, giving Ena some room. She hadn't been too invasive now, had she? ]

But truly, I couldn't be happier now. I was not saying the entire truth earlier, you know? I was happy of course, but when i said I couldn't ask for anything more... Well, of course I felt sad knowing I'd forever be trapped here out of your reach. [Tears nearly gone, she tilted her head.] But you saw past my attempts at keeping you from worrying, didn't you? You're so thoughtful and considerate, you've made me the happiest I could ever be. That's why I love you so much.

[rivieran]

[ Ena was somewhat flattered, but wasn't quite expecting the sincere compliments, since they'd only known each other for one cycle of the moon at best. She was about to voice her thanks for the kind words when she drops the L word.

Oh.

The only person who'd ever told her they loved her was her brother, and she would always readily say it back because he was family, of course. Monika, however, was just a bit more than an acquaintance in the grand scheme of things, so her mouth opens, but the right words to say didn't come out.

Reflexively, she could feel her face getting hot. She couldn't help that, though, especially with how pale she was. ]

I-I'm... [ ahem ] I'm glad, Monika. Really. I'm glad to see you're doing alright and everything, but we need to get you out of here. Do you think you're okay with that? W-we'll go together, okay?

[peninhand]

Ahaha, you know it's not possible. I'm trapped, ... --

[ It dawned upon her, she didn't even know her real name yet! She paused, searching... She should be a character file while in this reality, right? And indeed, ere long she located ena.chr in the character folder. ]

... Ena. That's such a cute name. And you're so cute when you're embarrassed too, ehehe~ Gosh, I hope what I said earlier didn't embarrass you too much?

[ She laughed before shifting back on topic. ]

Anyway I guess the trip confused you a bit, huh? We can't leave here. Well, I can't... Maybe you can leave the same way you came? But even if you can, I know you won't leave me here all alone. [She took Ena's hand in her own.] Now that you're here, we can truly be together forever. No more worries, no more sorrows, no more loneliness. There's nothing more we could hope for.

[rivieran]

No! I'm not... I'm not embarrassed at all! [ Her voice slowly rises in clear embarrassment. No one's ever called her name "cute" before, either, and it's just added to her fluster and frustration.

No, calm, calm. Stay on task. Monika is dreaming, and Ena has to get her out of here. She takes a deep breath, and when Monika takes her hand, Ena grasps back tightly with both of hers and looks straight at the other girl. Having nothing to worry about is an enticing idea indeed, but there were things that had to be done and she wasn't going to leave her housemate behind. ]

Listen, Monika. I know it seems like there's no way out here. [ She quickly glances out the window to confirm that there is, indeed, nothing out there. ] But there is. Both you and I will be able to leave, and I promise that. And it depends on you trusting me, okay?

[peninhand]

[ She couldn't help but giggle when Ena was obviously embarrassed, but then paused as she listened to what she had to say. ]

I didn't think you to be such an optimist. [A pause.] But we met after all, after we'd both been lonely for so long. So I suppose you have good reasons to be optimist~

[ She didn't believe for a second they could truly leave-- Was Ena just trying to comfort her? That was so caring... She didn't believe it possible, but she trusted her all the same. ]

Of course I trust you. Man, wouldn't that be amazing if we were in your reality? There is so many things we could do... [She sounded sad and lost her smile for an instant, before beaming once more at Ena.] That sounds like a dream, but if you say it'll happen I trust you.

[rivieran]

[ Ena didn't exactly think of herself as an optimist, but perhaps Monika's perception of her would be distorted in a situation like this. ]

This is the dream, Monika. [ She speaks firmly, not breaking eye contact with her. ] We come from the same reality. It's not my reality, it's our reality. We live in the same place. We see each other every day. [ She pauses for a moment, trying to think of something else to say. ] You have to believe me. I promise. Just... just think about it. Try to remember. You don't have to stay here. You won't stay here, not if I can help it. Okay?

[peninhand]

[ Monika's smile faded upon hearing the words, obviously surprised and not knowing what to think. It... Made no sense. A dream? Remember? ]

Are you... Trying to comfort me?

[ This had to be it, right? She tried forced a smile, but felt as though something was wrong suddenly, as if the place changed. No no no. She couldn't let her perfect ending fade away. ]

Ahaha. Even if it were a dream, then that means you're be part of my dream too, right? Just a figment of my imagination that's taken the shape of my true love and tries to get me back to reality. That's kinda cute. If that's the case, I hope I won't wake up.

[rivieran]

No. [ She speaks firmly. Ena will have to lay out all the facts as best as she can...As best as she can being the key words here, since how exactly the Dream Width works was still somewhat of a mystery to her. Quick note to self: something to research when they return. ]

This isn't a dream in the way you think it's a dream. We're inside the Dream Width. You've succumbed to whatever powers that rule this nebula and are trapped in a dream-like state, and this... [ She lets go of on of her hands to sweep her arm, motioning to the scenery around them. ] is related to you somehow. I am here physically. I'm here to get you. You can't stay here forever, Monika. We have to go back to the airship. [ She returns her other hand to squeeze Monika's hand again. ] We have to go home.

[peninhand]

[ Huh? What was she saying...? And why did it make so much sense? Like a headache, memories flooding back, the reality of this world being exposed for what it was-- ]

Ena...?

[ For the first time she spoke the name as though she recognized her, rather than as though she'd just heard it recently. The Dream Width, Vaikuntha, the Airships... And this place. Her memory. ]

I... [She paused. No. She refused. She was here with her one true love. She couldn't abandon that. She refused to believe it was a memory.] No... Even if that was true... This... This is the happiest I've ever been. [Eyes grew red and teary as she shook her head and looked down. That was everything she had ever wanted. Nothing on Vaikuntha would bring her as much happiness as this. She was no longer constantly questioning the reality of this world, she was no longer lonely and unable to speak freely to anyone. This was perfect.] Aren't we happy here...? Wouldn't you want to stay with me? Even if it's not real, this...

[ She paused and closed her eyes, unable to finish her sentence. Even as the reality of this memory slowly faded, she didn't want to let go of it. But that was wrong, she realized. Ena... What she felt for her at the moment, it wasn't real, was it? Just an effect of the memory. And even if it were real, she didn't deserve to be trapped in such a place forever. ]

[rivieran]

[ Ena tentatively watches the expressions cross Monika's face, and her own expression lights up with hope when she starts to see recognition in her reaction. Oh, she was so close to being successful! ]

It's okay. [ She speaks again with conviction. ] Because you can always find happiness on Vaikuntha, too. [ For a moment her mind starts to wander, wondering what that might be for her... No, concentrate. ]

I... [ Ahem. Ena clears her throat. She felt incredibly awkward saying this, but she knew Monika now would be happy to hear it, and she felt it crucial in breaking her out of the memory. ] I will still be with you when we get back to Vaikuntha. Both of us are still real, even if the scenery around us isn't. You don't have to worry about that. [ She gives her a moment, making sure she's not pressuring her. ] Okay?

[peninhand]

...

[ And lo, the memory vanished instantly as Monika finally came to accept none of it was real. It never had been, regardless of whether they were talking about the memory they had been in or what had occurred back then. But it didn't hurt any less regardless.

How... How had she nearly done it again? She had nearly trapped Ena in a dream forever. Would it have been possible? No matter the answer, she had tried anyway. And horrible as it was, she felt the most sorrowful she had ever been knowing it wouldn't come to pass. She truly was an horrible person who could only hurt others, wasn't she? ]

I... [She looked away, unable to make eye contact with Ena.] I'm so sorry.

[ Repressing tears, Monika would most likely try to avoid Ena and go back to a different airship. She... Wouldn't be able to bear with the guilt and sorrow she felt for a very, very long time. ]