Dream a Little Dream of Me

[burnburnburn]

Who: Dilandau and OPEN
Where: Inside Dilandau's dreams, with options to move to the waking world.
When: Days 83-88
Warnings: Torture, much fire, awkward teenage sex dreams, pictures behind cuts 1, 2 and 4.

Note: Dilandau's mental image of himself appears more like his icons, with short hair, no facial scar and appearing to be 15 instead of near 19.


1. A peaceful dream

The two moons hang in the in the night sky above the clouds. Clouds swirl upon the face of the larger, blue moon too, but the continents glimpsed through them would be incredibly familiar to those who know Earth. The air is piercingly cold and very thin, but as is the way of dreams this is only a fact that's known rather than a sensation experienced.

The only other feature in the dream is the metal tower breaching the flowing clouds, attached to the floating fortress that's sailing unseen through their depths. Dilandau's lying on the roof of the tower, wrapped up in his bedding, looking up at the night sky.

It's completely silent and incredibly peaceful.

2. Very symbolic, teenage fire dream

Everything's on fire. There are vague impressions of people running away and screaming as their city burns, but the flames are the only things that are in focus. It's hot in the dream and getting hotter as the fire flares to the rhythm of Dilandau's racing heartbeat.

Dilandau's in the middle of it all, sending fire everywhere. He might be in his guymelef or he might be simply throwing the flames with a gesture, but he's laughing wildly in manic excitement.

He's panting hard, as he's almost ready to release the final, massive of spurt of fire that'll bring the last of this city crashing to the ground.

3. Victorious war dream
A battle rages across an arid plain, waged between two sides using cavalry and infantry armed with swords and bows, and giant suits of armour that charge through the chaos and cut each other down. Their exact formations are vague and ever shifting, except for the red armour charging through it all like a whirlwind of death. This is Dilandau in his element, fast, graceful and completely deadly. Though his opponents challenge him, he quickly cuts through them towards the castle in the distance.

Those who appear might be out on the battlefield in the chaos, perceiving this all from Dilandau's viewpoint or sitting beside Dilandau in his cockpit, despite it being designed for one person in reality.

4. Torture Dream

The room is dark, except for the light focussing on the table onto which Dilandau is strapped. Green, glowing fluids flow through pipes around the room and shadowed machinery hisses steam. Cold-eyes Sorcerers stand around adjusting machinery or holding hypodermic needles. They take no notice as Dilandau begs and screams for help.

The feeling of terror and helplessness pervading this dream is overwhelming.

Comments

[burnburnburn]

No, he won't, but he's sorely tempted to knock her over for that attitude. The pain would be worth it as long as she doesn't throw more barrels at him.

His eyes flicker around for listeners before he leans in and speaks lowly.

"We're going to talk about your little adventure last night." He watches her narrowly for signs that she realises what he means.

[voliere]

Oh, she realizes. Folding her arms across her chest, she braces herself. "What about it?"

[burnburnburn]

His eyes flicker round again.

"I'll tell you what about it when we're off the streets."

[voliere]

Still sour: "Keep in mind that I can and will defend myself if necessary. Where do you want to go?"

[burnburnburn]

He bares his teeth at the threat, though inwardly he's not so dismissive.

"You're going to come back to my house." He points his chin to a house just down the end of the street. "And don't flatter yourself with thoughts that I'm going to try take advantage of you. I've got better things to do with my time."

[voliere]

She wasn't thinking about that at all, in fact, so when he brings it up, she's a little startled. Quietly, she clenches her fists, on the defensive.

"And I have better things to do with mine than listen to a man who thinks entirely too highly of himself ramble at me," Elizabeth says sharply. "Lead the way, Mr. Albatou. I've given you my warning."

[burnburnburn]

He bares his teeth at her, but quickly limps down the street to the front door. His gentlemanliness extends only to holding the door open behind him enough to make sure it doesn't slam into her face. He leads the way into the living room.

"Sit." He lowers himself onto the sofa and does his best not to show that he needed to rest. He doesn't want to seem like anything less than an individual who shouldn't be crossed at any cost.

[voliere]

Elizabeth isn't sure that she wants to sit for similar reasons. She won't let him take advantage of her in any way, sexual or not. Folding her arms across her chest, she stands next to the couch and watches him coolly.

"I'd prefer to stand. Are we done with the theatrics?"

[burnburnburn]

His jaw tightens. He doesn't like her looking down on him one bit.

"For someone who makes a fuss about sounding polite, you've got some rude manners." He levers himself up with a small hiss and stands too so he can look down his nose at her once more.

"What do you remember about last night?" He snaps out the question.

[voliere]

"Rude manners." Hold up a second. "Cheap talk from a thug who only just finished telling a lady that she isn't worth the sexual assault."

She pulls herself to her full height. "And I remember most of it. I do not plan on telling anybody, if that is what you're concerned about."

[burnburnburn]

That earns a massive roll of the eyes. Either she comes from a place where enemy soldiers weren't known to ravish or she's profoundly naive. He assumes the latter.

"Would you rather I'd said I'm thinking of it? Women, the only thing worse to them than hurting their bodies is hurting their pride."

His eyes narrow at her declaration. Those memories are such a large and profound thing to him that it rings wrong when she can simply shrug them off so easily.

"Good, because it was just a dream. If I hear so much as a whisper about the contents you'll be wishing you trapped back in there."

[voliere]

She's bristling with anger, at this point. "You do not frighten me, Mr. Albatou, and I would suggest you cease thinking that you do."

Elizabeth turns to leave, smoothing her skirt down, and sets off for the door. "I have nothing left to say to you. Have a nice day."

[burnburnburn]

Before she can leave, he steps forward and grabs her shoulder. His next words are a hurried hisd.

"If anyone dressed like that appears, don't act like you recognise them, don't tell them what you saw and don't use your powers." Not that he doesn't think she needs to be taken down a notch, but he's got no stomach for how the Sorcerers make women scream.

"You're a prissy, irritating bitch, but you're not bad enough you need to catch their interest."

[voliere]

She doesn't take kindly to him touching her, slapping at his hand as he grabs, but - she takes the warning into account. Elizabeth isn't stupid - what she can remember? She doesn't want to encounter in reality. She'd stay far away.

"Do you really think me so brainless that I'd march right up to them and introduce myself?" Elizabeth bites out, backing away from him. The prissy comment stings, but she clenches her jaw and takes it. "I appreciate the warning."

[burnburnburn]

He lets go of his grip, that he'd kept a tight hold of despite the slapping.

"Good. Now get out of my house."