Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

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[therealbrianna]

[ She manages a small 'Okay.' before closing her eyes. She focuses on the instruction from Lia.

Pulling my soul out of my body... Focus...

She goes back to what she felt during the times when she'd lay in bed in the morning, lazy as fuck, when her mom would wake her up. Her mind would already be up and willing to stand but her body is just lying there, being lazy.

Close enough, I guess? ]

I think... I have an idea of what it'd be like or a start, at least.

[ She wonders if she's on the right track. ]

[takeitinstride]

Good. Now see how that works for you. Feel it through.

[She isn't going to ask. No need, unless it doesn't end up working out.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Minus the sound of her breathing, she's mostly silent.

She's focused on the feeling of her will already up and walking around while her body's still lying down. ]

[takeitinstride]

[And it takes about five minutes before it starts: the spread of Brianna's consciousness throughout the Hallow, swathing the area slowly but surely in black.

She looks on with approval, then gives it a tiny push that Brianna will feel for herself.]

There. Open your eyes now.

[There's a small smile on her face. Back in the real Hallow, the two of them are curled up on the floor, fast asleep.]

[therealbrianna]

[ She opens one eye first, then the other, but she's not so sure if she even opened them as she stares into the complete darkness.

The only figure she can see is Lia. She looks down at where her hands should be, and they seem to be there, as are her legs and feet so...

What... What is this place...

She looks at Lia questioningly. ]

So I guess that worked?

[takeitinstride]

Yes. Note, though, that the Hallow is helping you out this time, as am I. You'll have to practice on your own to be able to do this at will, and on your terms.

[Folding her arms over her chest, looking about.]

Let me show you something.

[She's shutting her eyes and breathing out. The scene instantly changes into a high-class, empty restaurant. It was quite popular back in the 2000s, and it used to be one of Lia's favorite places.]

We might as well relax a little while I give you another lecture.

[therealbrianna]

[ Brianna takes mental notes. Yes, practice. She should probably work on that before she sleeps or as soon as she wakes up so her mind is fresh.

As Lia changes the scene from the dark void to the really nice restaurant, she looks around, taking everything in. She observes the transition of darkness to light. ]

Wow, [ she says with a exhale that clearly expresses how amazed she is. ] ...this place is fancy. Did you "create" this space ma'am?

[takeitinstride]

I did. Patterned it exactly the way its World of Light version looks.

[Taking a seat at her favorite table now. With a single gesture, there are drinks for them both.]

Want some Japanese?

[therealbrianna]

So this place exists out there, huh? It's really nice.

[ She follows Lia to the table and is amazed at what she just did. ]

Uhm, yes actually!

[takeitinstride]

[A mere glance at the table, and it is filling with plate upon plate of Japanese food.]

Eat as much as you like. Drink as much as you like. You'll never get full. You'll never feel sick.

[therealbrianna]

[ That sight, plus what Lia said shocks and amazes her at the same time. ]

Wow, that's... Kinda cool. I've never been a gluttonous one though but I'll take some.

[ A bite of some sashimi, then: ]
This is nice, thank you ma'am.

[takeitinstride]

You're welcome. [Summoning some cigarettes now.] You'll eventually be able to do this for yourself. A word of caution, though: whatever you make out of the Dreamscape will only match what you know. If you have never taken a particular dish, for example, you can bring it out, but it will taste like nothing.

[therealbrianna]

[ Ooh, cigarettes. She could use a stick right now to give her further relaxation.

She tries to mentally conjure a pack of her usual cigarettes, takes a stick as it solidifies and lights it up. ]

That sounds sensible! I'll take note of that.
So what else... [ She tries to think of an appropriate term... ] ...happens here?

[takeitinstride]

In this space? Whatever you and I want, generally. You're welcome to try and create something for yourself, or change the way that this place works. [A beat.] It helps to start with something familiar to you.

[therealbrianna]

[ Whatever I want? Kinda neat. What should she try it on...

A nod, then she thinks of the beautiful scenery that she sees everyday at Falner, especially when she steps out the door of her house or peers out the window in her room. The clear blue sky, the cotton candy clouds. She looks up to see what she's thought of. ]

[takeitinstride]

[There is a slight tug of resistance, and it isn't from Liandrin: it's from the Dreamscape itself.

Nevertheless, it works. Everything around them changes, save for the table they are sitting at.]

Nice work.

[therealbrianna]

[ 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. ]

[takeitinstride]

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.

[Might as well...]

[therealbrianna]

[ She nods, taking mental notes again.

She follows Lia's lead and stands up as well. ]

Okay ma'am, understood.
What do you want to ask me?

[ She's way too relaxed and amazed to wonder what it is. ]

[takeitinstride]

Have you done anything about that Secret yet?

[Liandrin Delacroix Never Beats Around the Bush.]

[therealbrianna]

Uhmmm.... [ She stalls for a bit, clasping her two hands together in front of her. ]

Yeah, I talked to Hikaru for a bit.

[takeitinstride]

And how was he?

[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.]

[therealbrianna]

[ 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?

[takeitinstride]

Ah.

[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?]

[therealbrianna]

[ 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?