[ Eep, she only wanted the ceiling view to change. Maybe she should practice more on specificity. Still, she's amazed at what she just did. She also feels the tug. Whew. ]
I'm... Wow. I'm still so amazed by all of this. And thank you, ma'am.
[ Any signs of approval of a job well done from Lia matters a lot to her. ]
It'll be harder for you to manipulate the Dreamscapes of other people in comparison to your own, or to a so-called 'neutral space'. You might want to do some reading on the topic already, or consult with Tala.
[Standing up, and waiting for Brianna to join her before she's sending the table away with a wave of her hand.
Now she's going to have a cigarette.]
But enough about Dreamwalking for the moment. I need to ask you something important.
[It's an honest question. Surprisingly, Lia tries to NOT use her powers to watch over her ex-lover. She still respects him that much.
That doesn't change the fact that she is concerned, and fully aware of the fact that he's going to do everything that he can to hide away from her when he needs people the most.]
[ She remembers seeing Hikaru seem sad for the first time ever. This affects her. ]
He says he's fine, but we all know that's not true. [ She says that with a small eye roll, but it's more affectionate than annoyed. ]
Hikaru looked really sad though. I'm just happy that he trusts me enough to tell me instead of hiding it. Plus he looked determined to fix it in time so that's something, right?
[Taking some time out to take a few more drags before speaking again.]
You're going to have to be prepared to see more secrets, especially if they happen to be the secrets of the people you're closest to. Sympathetic ties, and all.
[Switching topics now. She doesn't want to say too much about Hikaru, or dwell on him. Too close to home, perhaps?]
[ More secrets? Sympathetic ties? This is getting quite good for her. ]
It's nice how you're checking up on him through me though. If you don't mind me asking, do you see everything or do you only see things from these sympathetic ties?
If you're referring to what might come to you at random, then it usually involves something or someone that you possess a sympathetic link to. However, a Dreamwalker like yourself will need to know how to enter the dreams of a chosen target at will.
[ Her interest peaks at the latter part of what Lia said. Chosen target? Their dreams? At will? Kinda sweet, but she did tell herself that she won't abuse her new...gifts. ]
I didn't know that was possible.
[ A pause, contemplating if she should ask or voice out what's in her head. ]
So you've probably known Hikaru for a while if you share a sympathetic tie to him.
[ To be fair, Brianna thinks that they were like together on past missions a lot or really good buddies - that sort of relationship. ]
[It takes Liandrin a bit of time to respond. Her excuse? She was thumbing out another cigarette, lighting up and taking that first hit.]
He and I were lovers in the past.
[No use in hiding it. She could shield herself, in theory, but Dreamwalking was a tricky thing. If Fate wanted Brianna to know, then the last thing Liandrin could afford to be is dishonest.]
[ Josh comes back out to the porch after excusing himself to the little boys' room. He's got a pitcher of water in one hand and two glasses balanced in the other as he joins Brianna. ]
[ She smiles as Josh comes back out and thanks him. ]
It's no problem! We love having people over. My mom is quite the host, huh?
[ As he puts down the pitcher and the glasses, she takes one glass and pour herself a drink. She takes a small sip. ]
Besides, it's nice being able to spend time with my blademates outside of missions and class. At least I get to do something normal. [ She manages a small laugh at that. Normal. ]
She's great, [ he grins, leaning back into his own seat.
He smiles when she says 'blade mates' and slides out his pack of cigarettes, taking out two and offering her one after he sets the other between his lips.
It's becoming habit now, but he oddly finds that he doesn't mind. ]
What do you do outside of class? [ He doesn't know much about her outside of the little that he does -- which actually isn't much, if he doesn't count their earlier conversation today. ]
Sometimes I go hang out at Haven when the others don't ask to chill at King's Rest. [ He remembers their earlier conversation, ] The guy I told you about -- Rethe, the angel? He spins there. He's really good at it.
[ A beat: ] We should go sometime... [ and then he cants his head to one side. ] What music do you like?
[ Brianna's eyes perk up at the mention of Haven. ]
Ooh, Haven! I've been meaning to check it out but I haven't really found the time or... well, the right company for it. I didn't know you hang out there, and with a Real Angel at that!
[ She laughs and takes a sip of water. ]
But yeah sure, I'd love to go! And uhm, I'm really into a lot of genres, I guess. My favorite is chillwave, though. I default to that when I'm not craving for a specific sound.
And you?
[ Yeah! Getting to know each other! This is great. :3 ]
[ Tapestry. Thread. She repeats it in her head, imagining the real 3D world slowly transforming to the likes of those woven textile art pieces they have hung at home. Then she imagines a still of her family, happily eating dinner, frozen in time as her mom passes her a dish, her siblings telling the family how their day was at school, and herself, playfully teasing Roy. Slowly, their faces and body turn cloth-like, as if applying a filter on them using a photo editing program.
[And it takes significantly longer for the void around them to fill up with glowing, intimately entwined threads of energy - each one a different color, a different length, a different texture. Some thirty 'waking world' minutes later (it only feels like five minutes where they are), the two of them are standing at the center of it, bathed in their scintillating light, surrounded by the quiet rabble of countless whispers.
The beginnings of their own respective threads are now wrapped around their pinkies, and run down to their place within the Dreamscape's Tapestry.]
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