[netbook 01] before roseroot

[astralprojection]

[in the middle of the night, hastily scribbled words come across the netbook with the urgency of someone who really doesn't want to forget something.]

blizzard — cave in the mountains — nearing the peak? campfire dying, supply wagon visible but no one here

important:

sword, snapped, broken glaive stuck in ground

flowers blooming in the snow

glass ball, broken — crystal ball??

tree with unshed leaves

scarf, shimmering thread — looking at this prompted inhuman shrieks in the distance

skull, bestial, tentacles stuck into the eye sockets

orb of light — one of the few sources of warmth in the cold

golden scale, shielding the area from the storm

objects depicting a sun, moon, and half black sun — floating in the blue glow of a staff ending in a dreamcatcher — growing dim — trying to stay lit

[there's a period of time before an addition is added]

Hello— for those who have met me, this is Astrid. I have been known to have prophetic dreams; some straight forward, some less so. This was one of the latter, and I didn't want to forget the details upon waking up.

Unfortunately, I haven't been here long enough to accurately interpret what I've seen. Maybe we can all come together and figure this out? I'm worried it could spell ill fortune.


((ooc: absolutely feel free to threadjack around and discuss among yourselves as necessary!))

Comments

[unheiring]

[In all its fancy, former noble glory.]

They are a golden dragon, Beiwe's former mount. When the two of them were struck by the black sun's attack, Sehul died where he fell, while Beiwe cracked her horns.

... If I am remembering right, that is.

I was clearly awake. Sleep does not come easily some nights. The door is already unlocked.

[astralprojection]

You might be on to something.

I'll be by shortly. Please feel free to note anything else you can think of down in the book for others to read.

[He has no idea if Luca is gonna be like, around, or if he'll have already retreated back upstairs, so he's gonna open the door veeeery quietly to not potentially disturb him from whatever he's up to.]

[unheiring]

[Luca is indeed downstairs, waiting. He already has a glass out, and a number of bottles plucked down for Astrid to choose from. Right now, his hair is down and he might have missed a button while putting on his shirt. But he's here.]

Take your pick. I tried to find the stronger stuff. Unfortunately, that does mean the taste will be abysmal. Fair - [He stifles a yawn.] warning.

[astralprojection]

[Aww, that's nice of him, though Astrid looks a little bit stunlocked for a fraction of a second when he realizes Luca had been waiting. But regardless, he tiredly makes his way over to where Luca's sitting, the dark circles ever present under his eyes that much heavier on this particular night, and settles himself down.

He absolutely reaches for one of the stronger brews, and yes he absolutely will grimace a little at his first taste, and perhaps his second and third, but he also doesn't care right now.]

Thank you.

[Astrid sets his glass down to rub at his temples, letting out a soft sigh.]

I... tend to procrastinate on sleeping. Between stuff like this, and my penchant for ending up wandering into other people's dreams, it gets rather overwhelming more often than not. Hopefully it can be of any help, though.

[unheiring]

[Through his bleary eyes, Luca doesn't notice Astrid's reaction. Or maybe he doesn't care to draw attention to it. Either way, Luca shifts around, plopping into a seat beside Astrid. He palms at his eyes for a moment, then gives a nod of acknowledgement to Astrid's gratitude.]

I can hardly blame you for that. [Hold on, let his mind catch up.] Did you say... you wander into people's dreams?

[People are capable of a great many things where he's from, but that is entirely new to him.]

How does that work?

[astralprojection]

I seem to have some sort of connection to the soul -- my world tends to run on specific elemental affiliations, for those of us who have magical gifts. I can do it consciously, but I try not to, given how invasive it feels. More often than not, I just sort of accidentally wander out of my own generic dreams into others' given the high degree of lucidity I have.

[He taps a finger against his cheek, thinking.]

It's hard, because sometimes I wander into the spirit realm when I'm asleep, too. I'm not sure how it works. The pathways between dreams and the afterlife tend to be very interconnected, and it's easy to get lost along the way.

I don't know. I guess I just have a slippery soul that wanders about. It's one of my many useful party tricks.

[He takes another sip to drown the sarcasm.]

[unheiring]

[It's... a lot to take in, and honestly Luca is a bit too tired to fully process it all. Still, he does manage to blink placidly, and, after a moment, carefully quip:]

And yet you haven't deigned to visit my dreams. So much for leaving a good impression.

[It's somewhere between deadpan and exhausted but, hey, at least Luca manages a a half smile.]

It sounds miserable, though. Getting lost, not having control... [He heaves a shoulder in a shrug.] But then, I know a thing or two about that, I suppose.

[astralprojection]

[Elbow on the bar, he slowly raises his glass for a sip as he raises a brow at Luca.]

If I need to enter your dreams in order to show up in them, sounds like I'm not doing a very good job yet of making you think about me.

[It's not said the most flirtatiously, he's just as tired as Luca, but there's some effort there to match the vibe of the remark. But more importantly:]

Something weighing on you?

[unheiring]

Sorry to bring such terrible news upon you. I do hope you'll do better going forward.

[Luca likes to think that it adds just enough levity to their conversation, hell, their lives in general to keep them going. If nothing else, it's far better than what he was doing himself before.

He's quick to wave Astrid's concern off, however.]

No, no. Old wounds, in a manner of speaking. I, at the very least, can claim being free of their influence, if not their memory.

[astralprojection]

[The mischievous glint to Astrid's eyes and slight smirk of the lips as he takes another drink reads very clear: "Bet on it".]

Good, I'm glad of that. Though, I'd have been glad to lend an ear or two if you needed it.

[His ears wiggle a bit in conjunction with his words.]

[unheiring]

[The smirk Luca offers in kind is a welcome embrace of that challenge.

Followed, of course, by a snort. He definitely doesn't think the ear wiggle is cute. Not at all.]

Oh, I am sure if you stuck around, you might get to enjoy my tragic tale. And if not, The Forest will surely drag my skeletons out yet again.

[astralprojection]

We can trade trauma for trauma, like collectible cards.

[He chuckles just a tad, obviously jesting, but also. This place sure do be how it is--]

[unheiring]

[Luca doesn't even try to resist the urge to snort at that.]

I wonder who will end up with the steeper collection.

[astralprojection]

Either way, there's certainly no winning in that game.

[Sip... his nerves have definitely lightened significantly, but he ought to take it slower now.]

...Did you know you missed a button?

[Gonna reach forward with one finger and playfully poke it.]

[unheiring]

[Luca only shakes his head. Astrid is right. If they were going to play that game, long term or otherwise, both of them were going to need a hell of a lot more alcohol than what was in front of them now.

... Though Luca might need more alcohol himself at this rate. He looks at Astrid's finger, the undone button and practically chokes on his drink. His cheeks warm, even as his feathers puff up.]

I - did not know that.

[He reaches down as if to cover it up.]

You realize I was in a hurry for your sake, yes?

[astralprojection]

[Astrid can't help it. The overall reaction is just so endearing and he's had enough alcohol that he straight up laughs, light and warm.]

My apologies. I didn't mean to make you embarrassed.

[Or did he]

[unheiring]

[Luca grits his teeth, even as he's trying so desperately not to smile. Damn this bastard.]

Why do I doubt that?

[astralprojection]

I have never done anything wrong ever, in my life.

[Smiling at him so angelically.]

Do you want me to fix it for you?

[unheiring]

No!

[It comes out closer to a squawk than actual words. Luca hurriedly reaches down and begins fixing the buttons himself. He does have to shift a touch to keep from flashing Astrid in the process but uh. Don't worry about it.]

[astralprojection]

[Astrid makes a point of turning to look up at the ceiling, fluttering his eyelashes as he acts befitting of a respectable gentleman. Allegedly.]

Do let me know when you're finished.

[unheiring]

[And Luca does indeed. Namely by kicking Astrid's chair when it's all said and done. His feathers are still afluff but... there's probably no fixing that, at this point.]

You could have warned me that you were a menace, by the way.

[astralprojection]

[heh heh heh]

Where's the fun in that when you can learn firsthand?

[unheiring]

And where's the fun in tormenting the kind, innocent bartender that let you in after hours, hm?

[astralprojection]

Because your face is very cute when I do.

[INNOCENT. NEVER DONE A WRONG.]

[unheiring]

[Well that shuts him up. Luca can only sputter and gape for a moment, before his feathers promptly bristle upward. He stands with a huff and instead points to the door.]

You - You're feeling better obviously. So it seems high time for you to go home.

[The threat... doesn't exactly carry all the weight it should. Oops!]