dreams that make you go hmmm

[h2no]

WHO: archie and lu, maybe others if u wanna tag in
WHERE: helix
WHEN: hmm.
WHAT: So You've Had A Shared Dystopian Nightmare
WARNINGS: probably discussion of violence and death



[firstly, a very important message to the network:]

what the fuck

[secondly, archie goes to helix. he doesn't really want to be at home after what he remembers and feeling so... off, so he goes to helix. probably the only other place he feels safe in.

then he orders about twenty pizzas. at least three are for himself.

finally, another message:] if you know what's up come to helix
see last message for details

Comments

[h2no]

...I don't know. I didn't check. I just didn't want to be at home.

[he groans. not out of frustration, more a quiet, grief-filled sound.]

Of course he was. I didn't see him. I wouldn't have... known him if I did, anyway. [which hurts more than he cares to admit. after a moment, he pulls himself up.] What's the plan?

[fauxmarth]

[she swallows again, looking conflicted. she knows she's right to have told him their friend was there, but she's not sure she should leave it at that; he said he'd been with his family, not...trapped for the length of time they'd been missing him. so there's hope in that much, yes?

at the prompt, she shakes her head vaguely, looking distant.] I...don't know. Not yet, anyway. But once I can talk to Ash...maybe I'll know.

[she gets up, hesitating, focusing back on him and...all the pizza boxes in her peripheral.]

...You should shower. [no offense; you reek.]

[h2no]

[he blinks a little-- that expression the kind of faraway one lucina has. this has been... A Lot.]

Oh. Eugh. I thought that was the trash. I'll do that, then see if you guys need me for anythin'.

[a beat, then:] ...Lemme know if you wanna talk about it. I really am sorry for what happened.

[fauxmarth]

[she hesitates, visibly wrestling with that.]

I...I know. [turning her head away.] I just. I don't...know what to say yet. If it were Darin, he'd know. But...

[but he's busy being tormented by a cult.

and she's here.]

[h2no]

...Yeah.

[he worries his hands for a moment, gritting his teeth.]

I... don't want to go back. If it's gonna make me like that. Make me forget you and everyone else. I don't want to go back to that world. Even though that's where everyone is trapped. Is that bad?

[he runs a hand over his face.]

It feels like it's bad. How did you not forget?

[fauxmarth]

[with certainty:] It's not bad. If we can avoid having to go back there to rescue them...that's not bad at all.

[she doesn't want to risk putting Archie in a situation to turn him the way he was again, and even if he'd insist on helping...she's not so sure she'd have the heart to let him.

thankfully, that may not be her call.

shaking her head:] I don't know. It was like suddenly porting in to one of the other cities, except...I hadn't meant to. I wasn't even near one of the machines when it happened. And there wasn't a chance to wonder on it, because the moment I was there...it was chaos.

[h2no]

Guess so. Feel like I should be there, though.

[of course he does; the same way he figures lucina feels the same. it's a horrible feeling. a strange reversal of the usual pain people porting out brings.]

I had a whole fake life built up in my head, there. That I'd been fighting for so long, teaming up with people I don't know. Losing people I don't know. Arceus, it was fucked up. Felt way too much like being under that stupid rock's influence again.

[he shakes his head with an exhale.]

...Maybe I should note this down. People who were changed as well-- they might struggle to readjust. I can't imagine anyone would like to know how their heads were fucked with.

[fauxmarth]

[her expression grows pained at mention of his past possession. admittedly, it had been in her mind when she saw the pure anger and mistrust in his eyes back then -- as awful as it felt to be on the receiving end of that, she can only imagine what it feels like to know it's happened. to remember what he did...not realizing what he was doing was off at all.

she sighs, after which she moves over, around his chair, and bends to hug him around his shoulders, her forehead resting on the back of his head.

...he really does need a shower.]

It might be why you remember. To help others who do, too...

[h2no]

[he just... won't dwell on it. that's what he tells himself. don't think about it, even though he knows he will. at least this time he didn't do anything... too bad.]

Lucky me, [he says bitterly, then gets up.] I'm gonna go shower before I get arrested for bein' a biohazard, then I'm gonna go into the holosim and punch the shit outta some straw bags until I don't feel like screamin'. You wanna join?

[fauxmarth]

[she withdraws when he starts to get up, hugging her arms to herself. she still looks distant for a beat until she registers the question as a prompt for her to reply.]

Mm-? Oh...I. Maybe. I...I want to find Ashley first. Find out what the plan is. If...there is a plan, I mean.

[h2no]

Yeah.

[.....,,.,,,]

You gonna be okay if there isn't?

[fauxmarth]

I have to be.

[she looks back over at him, her expression strained.]

Because I can't accept leaving them behind. Not after how hard we fought to save this place...and all the promises we all made.

[h2no]

Me too, [he says with a sigh.] I'll catch ya later, Lu. Gimme a shout if anything changes.

[fauxmarth]

[pushing the ghost of a smile, she nods over her shoulder on her way out.]

I'll see you in the training room later.