Once Upon A Dream (IC)

[Aoiroo]

After the Psion attacked there was a couple of questions but minimal damage so Eve and Etain went home, well more specifically Eve's home. Etain hadn't been to a house so very large before so she kept a curious eye on the inside as Eve helped her navigate to a living room about three times the size of her dorm room and twice the size of the rec room at Parkhurst. There was a long narrow couch in the room and upon Eve's insistance, Etain made herself comfortable by laying down, her small form didn't cover but a fifth of the long couch but it hardly mattered, she was very comfortable no matter what and it wasn't long before she was dozing after the days activities.

[April]

Eve flashed a brief smile as she went upstairs to change into her usual sleepwear. Renard should have the room prepared, she thought to herself slipping into a robe and belting it. Eve also selected a few items out of her wardrobe for Etain to change into; they were of similar height and so they should fit, though Etain would fill them out better the telepath thought, her cheeks flushing.

Going back downstairs with the clothing in hand she noticed Renard standing off to the side with a blanket in hand looking down on the sleeping Etain. The young Martel dismissed her butler with a small gesture; he nodded slightly and handed the blanket to Eve as he withdrew. The look on the telepath's face was tender as she unfurled the blanket and pulled it over her girlfriend's sleeping form.

"Sweet dreams," Eve said brushing a lock of dark hair away from Etain's face as she leaded over and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

[Aoiroo]

GM

When Eve lifted her head she was no longer in the living room, and Etain was no longer her sleeping before her. Instead, she was in a sort of heavy fog which made it hard to determine which way lead where. Her outfit was her combat clothing instead of pajamas as well and any tiredness she felt before was gone as well. The haze seemed to stop in the distance, which seemed to outline buildings, there was music took, light and lyrical wordless ballads that filled the air some almost recognizable classical musics others completely distinct. The music grew clearer even though she didn't move and the mist started to clear around her, or more precisely, it began to join and form around her following the outline. The transformation of the nothing began with shapes forming around her making buildings, then colors, somewhat dank with bits of green here or there then full texture showing the buildings made less of stone in some places more of trees like a large plant planted in a shape. The whole scene came to life in a rush until she she was surrounded by sound, and people.

Their whole look of the new strange place could of easily been found a story book. All around her people moved not noticing or paying any mind. They moved in heavy dresses, and pressed suits stopping occasionally to give greetings then be on their way. To most people who stopped to try and hear the words it'd sound like gibberish, but it was in fact Latin spoke without pretext and in perfect fluency. The whole area seemed to gain more color the more it was observed until it was lit brightly, until it was hard to tell it was made of mist at all just a few moments prior.

[April]

"Wha--?"

Eve blinked in confusion as she took in her surroundings; the style of architecture, the manner of dress, even the language being spoken (Latin of all things!) left her standing there frowning. Must have teleported, she thought, That has to be what the fog was. Strange nobody is commenting though.

The fact that she was garbed in the form fitting outfit she wore as Sage seemed to give weight to her theory; she had been shunted across various dimensions before and found her clothing altered.

And then she spotted Etain.

The white-haired young woman could never mistake anyone else for the dark haired beauty. The way she looked, the way she moved, the way her mind felt, even the sounds she made and scent of her was so thoroughly committed into Eve's perfect memory that there was no mistake that was Etain. Which proved to Eve that she had been teleported.

Maybe this one would prove helpful, the telepath thought as she slipped down the street toward the facsimile of her girlfriend. As she drew up close Eve cleared her throat and spoke with a quiet French-accented soprano, "Forgive the interruption of your revel, but perhaps you could help me?"

[Aoiroo]

Etain didn't respond. In fact she didn't even glance her way as she passed by the white haired psychic. Said passing was a twirl set off by her previous dance partner, a handsome dark skilled boy to another shorter but just as handsome boy in similar Victorian attire. When she passed, there were some slight differences upon closer examination Etain. She was shorter, at least two inches so, and in the cream dress her figure was not as pronounced. Though everything else was near identical as she danced with the next boy to the music, laughing as she did before moving to another partner in a pass. There were several boys present passing her along, but no girls, at least not until a group of them made there way to the edge of the dancing. The front of the group was a girl with bright gold hair in a deep violet gown wearing a smile that was cold even on her pretty face as she met her eyes with Etain,

""

Etain didn't stop immediately, but she spun towards the girl and then met her eyes with her bright smile as the dress stopped moving with her only a few seconds later,

""

The blonde hair girl almost began to scowl but one of her darker haired friends touched her shoulder and whispered in her ear. The blonde girl smiled, though he was more menancing then the cold one,

""

The girls let out a cheerful laugh with this saying and joined the boys in the dance. Etain stayed with them, though through the dancing Etain never met the blondes gaze again as they passed.

[April]

Eve took a half step backward, reacting as though she were slapped, it hurt to be ignored. She spent the past 6 years effectively invisible to the world, sometimes by choice (it's rough being eleven years old and out, kids are cruel) but mostly because being the quiet (or mute) girl makes you easy to ignore. That changed when Etain, her Etain, came along and now... now...

The telepaths eyebrows furrowed, an outward mask of anger concealing a damaged heart, as she reached out to grab this Etain by the shoulder, subconsciously forming her blade in her other hand as she did so.

"If you wish to dispense with civility," Eve started, her voice cold, "then I will oblige you..."

[Aoiroo]

Eve's voice fell on deaf ears, and even more something strange happened when she tried to reach out. Vines that straddled the buildings shot through the crowd at lightning speed catching her arm and the rest of her in place while Etain danced away with the partner. No one else reacted to the happening, or even acknowledged it, they just continued dancing, though as they did they began to move downward down the street while the music followed though it hardly made sense as the band was not moving as well.

As they moved, the street seemed to dissolve with them, turning into mist however slowly, it seemed that their direction seemed to follow the path of the street.

[April]

Eve's eyebrows rose up in shock, and the blade she held in her hand dissolved into mist. Something isn't right here, she thought, the first thoughts she had along those lines as she struggled against the vines. They dissolved, eventually, but not before Etain and her entourage had moved further down the street.

When she was able to move, the white haired telepath stalked down the street after the dancing group. She wasn't sure what was going on but she decided that observing might be the wiser course of action. For now.

[Aoiroo]

By the time Eve had caught up to the group, most of the participants and scattered and the buildings had split apart. The mist disappeared and reformed into a whole surroundings as she caught up and eventually found herself at a collusem. Not the collusem though, it was distinctly different in that it was both grey and almost covered completely in moss in some areas, the seating areas in particular almost had a cushion a row creating a strange striping effect. When she looked towards the center she could see a larger group, this however they were almost completely male, they were in a circle cheering and watching a spectale.

Near that center was two entities, a tan skin boy with pointy brown hair in a light flowy shirt and dark green pants, and wearing a light colored layered dress was Etain. The dress itself while not tattered was torn, at the sleeve of her left arm and it was bleeding. She let it hang a little bit as she gripped the sheath of the brass sword she carried in her right. To her side was a taller leaner man with dark green eyes and even darker skin. He wear a victorian shirt with a vested waist coat and matching pants but the appearance of a gentleman didn't hide the almost primal presense he exerted,

""

Etain looked over at the boy but showed no instance of fatigued, her posture was straight and her smile was bright even as it was clear that her left arm was shaking in pain as she moved back into stance,

"

The tan boy smiled as he brought up a two handed sword to Etain's smaller one, there was still a hint of blood on it. Then the fighting started again and the crowd watched and shouted into the match as the two dualed.

[April]

The second time the mist came and her surroundings changed, Eve began to have doubts about her initial theory. She had the sense that something was very, very wrong but she couldn't pin down just what it is. It was like a phantom itch between her shoulder blades.

Initially she was appreciative of the arena she found herself in, admiring the architecture as well as the bizarre décor. There was an energy to the place that seemed to resonate with the young acrobat, and if she wasn't so pressed for answers she might have been inclined to explore a bit. Slipping through the encircling crowd towards its center she noticed Etain once more, wearing an outfit that was different from before (that itch between Eve's shoulder blades began to become more insistent), and holding a sword. The fact that the blade wasn't steel didn't seem to register to the telepath, it looked right.

For the moment Eve was content to watch Etain spar--the mindwalker witnessed the dark haired young woman's skill with a blade before--until she noticed the blood. All Eve could see was the blood, on the dress and on the blade of Etain's opponent. The sanguine hue overwhelmed Eve's vision and something snapped, with an inarticulate cry of rage she lunged at the male, her telekinetic blade flashed into existence and pulsed a malevolent crimson.

[Aoiroo]

As Eve watched she was ignored as before, but as the blade formed she got closer had she noticed she would of seen that the crowd was looking not at the fight but at her. The man in the waist suit especially had grabbed a cutlass from off the rack and in position jumped and met Eves flight by louging the sword into her abdomen. The crowd parted to let them land as they were on the ground and the man started to push Eve back while saying in a hushed whisper,

""

The Etain took no interest in this spectical cause she was still fighting, the younger man was driving her into a corner, but she was still evading most of his attacks. All that was left was for her to get a strike in, but it was clear that she was wearing down as the blood dripped from the unbounded wound.

[April]

The speed of the waist coated man's attack frightened the telepath even though she managed to turn aside his attacks with her own blade; a blade that was no longer crimson but a blue-tinged green. Eve gave ground quickly, a half-hop backward managing to put a good amount of distance between her and her attacker. That's when she let her blade vanish, the projection of her will quickly unraveled as though it were mist.

"" the white haired acrobat whispered in her native language. There was hurt in her voice and there was moisture in her eyes as she glanced back over toward Etain and her duel. ""

[Aoiroo]

The man in the coat looked at her with his eyes,

""

He glanced over through the crowd at Etain who through the battle had earned several cuts on her dress, but through a clever dodge managed to push through the young mans defense and lodge the edge of the brass blade into his throat. He gasped for a second before stopping and pulling out the blade straightening while the hole began to close,

""

The young man turned to the man in the waist coat who had disappeared from in front of Eve and turned towards him,

""

The man smiled at the young man,

""

Those words echoed as the scene faded into mist, though not completely the collesum remained, except as the mist swirled the seats that were empty were being filled with people of different shapes in colors. There were some in Victorean clothing, others in more Meditorian ensembles, there were a few dressed like ancient greeks as well. There was a dull roar from each area as the mist swirled and instead of one circle there were four set in a perfect area around Eve. Each circle had a different pair of competitors all wearing a different armor with emblem, to the far right was Etain in a cross between armor and weilding two swords against a much larger man with an axe. The simulatainious duals went on without any notice of Eve.

[April]

Sage, on being surrounded by so many armed individuals, formed her blade of focused willpower more on reflex than anything else. She just as quickly dismissed the weapon though; the telepath still wasn't sure where she was (though it was obvious it had something to do with Etain) but she was starting to get a feel for the rules.

Those rules frustrated Eve almost as much as her reaction to them; she had always been in command of herself and her powers but where Etain is concerned that control had eroded. So it was with incredible difficulty that Sage did nothing but watch her girlfriend's duel.

[Aoiroo]

The series of fights had a lot of close calls, but Etain was mostly victorious, mostly. The last fight was against a distinguished looking gentlement in some very nice knight like armor. He finished it really very quickly with a slash of each shoulder which rendered Etain's tendons useless and let her drop the swords. The scene shifted when the fights ended, and instead of the collesum, they were in a large area covered in moss and wood decorations everywhere. Etain was still in her armor but she was sitting with a very beautiful older women as she was playing with a mask completely healed and fine,

""

She smiled as she fiddled with the mask. The women reached out and patted her head lovingly,

""

Etain looked up,

""

""

Etain reached out and hugged the older women,

""

[April]

Eve still wasn't sure about the how, but now that her surprise was wearing off (and with it the feeling of being overwhelmed) her experience delving Singularity's memories allowed her to finally recognize the where. That recognition gave Eve mixed feelings and while she appreciated the glimpse into Etain's past it didn't change the fact that she was an uninvited guest. Delving this deep into someone's mind is about as intimate as one could get, and despite the circumstances (whatever they were) that put Eve here, Eve felt horrified at the intrusion.

"I don't belong here," Eve said aloud though she expected her voice to be ignored as it was before, it was more for her sake than anything else. She looked back at Etain and the other woman, and then stalked away. These private moments were not hers to witness.

[Aoiroo]

GM

As Eve ran away from the scene the mist shifted around her as she moved, they rebuilt themselves into a lush forest that was a bit off. It was off in a way that the colors in it seemed less then natural in their exuberant brightness, but that was not the only thing that was off about them. Laying in wait as she moved closer she could hear them, breathing slightly. As she got closer a part of the forest actually took a step forward and formed into a beast made of bark which let out a low growl.

[April]

Sage eyed her surroundings warily as they shifted, a small part of her hoping that the way out would reveal itself. That hope was dashed as the lush--too lush--forest resolved itself around her and her posture shifted to one that exuded readiness as she moved toward the forest.

When the tree-dog stepped into the open she was ready. Sage noted to herself that she didn't do anything this time (that she was aware of), and now it was more likely that the the tapestry of memories had shifted from a defensive to offensive posture.

Well, I can get offensive too, the snowy haired telepath thought as she dashed toward the bark-beast, telekinetic blade shimmering into existence at the moment she made her precise, slashing attack.

[Aoiroo]

GM

The cut cleared straight through beast made of wood, splitting it assunder. The half pieces fell limp as they seperated, but the did not last long. Faster then any ivy, the wood grew outward on the seperated pieces reforming it's lost parts until no longer one but two dogs made of bark appeared in their place, growling and getting ready to attack.

[April]

The teen telepath's blade snapped out in a blazing arc of pale yellow light, making contact with both bark-dogs. Her assault seemed to have caused only superficial damage, Sage's keen eyes noted, but she was thankful that they didn't split again.

She didn't have much time to investigate why this was the case as they counter attacked. The preternaturally agile girl easily dodged the tree-beasts reprisal, leaping over one creature and sliding under the next, her mental blade deflecting tooth and claw as needed.

Attacking as she leaped over one beast Eve noted with grim satisfaction that it was slightly dazed.

[Aoiroo]

GM

The tree let out a howl, the trees shook with it but nothing seemed to happen until suddenly it was barreling forwards past it's dazed companion. It pushed out a claw hand but missed Eve by a few inches. Still it did not falter and steadied itself for another attack.

[April]

Sage carefully considered her next attack as she maneuvered around the two plant-beasts. She turned aside one attack with the flat of her telekinetic blade, turning it away from her body so it missed her by several inches. The white-haired telepath just wanted to get clear of the forest, the creatures, the whole place. She wanted to be back home, in her bed, cuddled up next to Etain but the last time--mere moments ago--that she tried to end the fight quickly and escape the beast split in two.

With the mindwalker preoccupied with thoughts of where she wanted to be instead of where she was, she failed to get her guard up in time to deflect the tree-beasts reprisal. Still, she managed to twist out of the way to avoid the worst of it, and as she stepped back lightly from her attack she sported a long, thin gash down the length of her left arm.

With a muttered curse, Sage narrowed her green eyes at her attacker. "Defend me," she commanded.

[Aoiroo]

GM

The beast locked eyes with Eve for a few seconds then lowered it's head, it turned towards the other beast and snarled. The beast looked at it for a second then snarled back. It ran forward and the first beast bit into the others neck seemingly tearing into it. For all it looked that the command had worked, however it quickly turned as the beast threw the other beast straight at even. The tree beast didn't lunge at her, but it's body transformed as it got around it. It's twisting vines and branches wrapped around her grabbing each arm and casting her in the solid bark unable to allow her to get free from it's grip. The beasts in front huffed at Eve and stalked forward looking menancingly.

[April]

Eve was a number of things at the moment; angry and confused, trapped and helpless, but the one thing she wasn't was afraid. She shifted her eyes to look at the weapon still in her hand, the glowing blade forged of her willpower was glowing a blood red hue, though there were flickers of blue along the surface.

And dropped it.

The telepath's telekinetic blade fell from her bound hand and unraveled into mist. She turned her attention back to the creatures before her and erased the glare from her face. Instead she merely quirked an eyebrow and asked, "Well, aren't you going to finish it?"

[Aoiroo]

"No,"

The voice echoed throughout the world. The beast stopped and then Etain appeared. She was dressed in what was normal for her, Victorian and old. She looked ready and fresh just like Eve did, and she was frowning. She walked forward as the tree backed away bowing it's head. She looked at Eve, for a second and let out a deep sigh. In her hand a rose appeared, it was white and Etain held it to her nose,

"I am so sorry,"

Stepping forward Etain kissed Eve on the forehead. Hopefully this was distracting enough, because just as quickly the pointy end of the rose end was plunged into Eve's throat.

Then Eve woke up.