Come Dreamwalk With Me 6 (Open Log. WIDE OPEN)

[curious_copycat]

Who: Polly (curious_copycat )
What: Nocturnal Telepathic Shenanigans, Random CR, Drama, Exposition, Crack, Surreal Shite, Whatever You Want.
Where: In Your Head
When: Tonight. (But latecomers and backtagging are always welcome.)
Warnings: They're dreams. Anything--absolutely anything--can happen. Not even the laws of physics apply.
Notes: Dreamers start the threads

Comments

FFF wittle ickle Genkaku

[cookiecastle]

[There's slight shift in the surroundings as Genkaku sits there. Suddenly the steps the boy is sitting on are facing an absurdly long and steep stairway cut into a thickly forested mountainside. Humid air reverberates here and there with the buzzing of late cicadas hidden their trees. Whishiwhishwhishwhisssssshhhhhhhzzzzzzzz... and then their call fizzles out as if they are too tired to bother singing in this oppressive heat.]

[At first is sounds like cicadas, then perhaps leaves? But no wind is stirring the trees, so that can't be it. No, it's softer... the beating of hundreds of pairs of slick wings. Sure enough, there's an impact of spiritual pressure from somewhere below, and a murder of crows rushes up the mountain towards Genkaku, seeing the safety of the temple's eaves.]

[Not far behind is a fifteen-year old stripped to the waist, running as hard as he can to catch up with those birds, and strangely enough he's able to do a decent job of it too.]

[fuckingslivers]

I don't want anyone to hurt it.

[ he quickly amends the pronoun in retrospect -- it'll be leaving him soon anyway ]

[ those needy eyes are more pleading as they bore a hole into the sleeve of Yoshimori's shoulder ]

[cookiecastle]

[Yoshimori is rubbing the snake's cool, glassy scales and belly with seeking fingers, looking into its little eyes with and murmuring softly.]

His eyes are so cute. Look how he's smelling everything with his tongue! Hehe, that tickles, buddy. Ahaha!

[But at Genkaku's words, his lips make a worried frown.]

Who would hurt it? He's a really nice snake. They won't understand if you just explain it to 'em?

[fuckingslivers]

...Most people hate snakes. They fear them.

[ he shakes his head, standing with a creak of young bones and patting the dust from behind him ]

I must return to my studies. Thank you.

[ but the gratitude doesn't sound as genuine as it does rehearsed ]

[cookiecastle]

I don't? I like them just fine....

[A shocked halt as he processes the boy's words]

Studying?! But it's the middle of summer vacation. That sounds like a drag. Wait, what's your name? I'm Yoshimori. We're practically neighbors. Do you wanna come to my house to hang out?

[fuckingslivers]

[ the slew of worlds and questions is unexpected; his retreating bare footsteps up the shrine stutter as he looks back ]

[ he doesn't like his name; in fact, he downright hates it, but it slips from his mouth a little more quickly than he'd intended, all weighed down by the summer smog; ]

Genkaku.

[ and in a dreamy sort, he tilts his head, and offers up a truth that even the old priest doesn't know ]

-- I've never left here.

[cookiecastle]

Do you want to try it? I'd bring you back, so you won't get lost. You could have dinner with us if you want. My family is kind of dorky though. Just warning you.

[fuckingslivers]

[ he gives a definitive shake to his head, completely certain ]

I need to get back. Shouldn't you be training? The crows are still flying.

[cookiecastle]

[Yoshimori blinks, and then he sees that this is really what the other boy seems determined to do.]

[A little disappointed but not losing hope, he stands with the snake in his hands, and walks towards the stairs a little, and says gently]

I'll take really good care of him, okay?

[cookiecastle]

[And as soon as the words are out of his mouth, Yoshimori looks to his left, and there's another him.]

Wha...?

[He sees black flames flicker around the other Yoshimori, licking up from the edges of his clothes and hair. A glower and a smirk spreads on his twin's face, a sinister light in his eyes. When Yoshimori looks down, the snake is gone. No, it's in the other Yoshimori's hands!]

Hey-- hey, give him back! I have to take care of him!

[cookiecastle]

[The dark Yoshimori-- because that's what he must be, Yoshimori realizes-- just laughs, and bares his teeth.]

I know. I'm takin' care of him.

[And with that, the dark Yoshimori yanks and tugs on the snake, squeezing and twisting it.]

[fuckingslivers]

[ the boy must hear the scuffle, because he turns to cast a gaze over his shoulder ]

[ his mouth tightens, and his brow wrinkles -- but it probably says more about him that he doesn't turn around to try and stop it, only winces and disappears into the dark nothing of the shrine ]

[ he's seen too many of his friends' heads smattered between two rocks, one of them in his own trembling, broken hands ]

[cookiecastle]

[Yoshimori finds he can't move. Can't blink. Can't scream, can't even breathe. He can do nothing but watch in horror as the dark Yoshimori takes the snake's mouth and forces it open. He bites down on the snake's upper jaw, takes the lower jaw into his grip, and just--]

[Rips. All the way down, like a zipper coming undone.]

[The poor little snake's tail is writhing frantically even as it happens, blood, bones, muscles and guts coming apart like silly string and confetti in the other Yoshimori's thick, steady fingers. The blood covers the seal on the right hand, and Yoshimori wants to vomit his guts out.]

[He finally can croak out:]

You're not me...

[fuckingslivers]

[ the parts of the dream that belong to Genkaku palpably sadden ]

[ the wooden buildings creak in grief, the wind passes by in a wail of agony, and the clouds in the sky groan with strife ]

[ the shadows crawl to grey ]

[cookiecastle]

[Yoshimori is yelling now, at the other Yoshimori]

You're not me! You're a fake! Go away, I don't want you! Get out!

[cookiecastle]

[And at the same time, the dark Yoshimori's black flames fill to a huge full zekkai. A buzz saw of harsh violence waiting to happen, a black sphere of raging, screaming, whipping flames around him, at least thirty feet in diameter.]

[Bigger than Masamori's]

[But is that an appropriate thing to feel that twinge of pride in, right now? No no no bad! Yoshimori's stomach churns.]

[The dark Yoshimori's eyes flicker keenly, his tendrils of hair floating in the hot wind around him.]

Cut the bullshit. You know.