mallowhallow | Rehearsal 3 (5/22): [Video, from Astralfield]

Current Mood: pissed off
Current Location: His room in Astralfield

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Rehearsal 3 (5/22): [Video, from Astralfield]

[The audio feed gets turned on before the video, meaning that anyone on the network will be subjected to a few moments of black accompanied by grunts and grumbles before the view switches to what looks like a vast expanse of white. A moment later, Victor pulls his head back, looking absolutely furious. As he continues to move back, it's easy to see why -- and to see why he apparently had such trouble turning his communicator on.

He's wrapped up in what is clearly a straitjacket.

Not only that, what is visible of his Astralfield hotel room has a distinctly white and padded look. Victor glares up at the ceiling, then at the chalkboard.]

THIS ISN'T FUNNY, ASTRALFIELD!!

[A beat, then some of the anger leaves his face, replaced by a sort of bone-deep weariness and sadness.]

Could -- c-could someone please come here and free me? The room number is 6988.

I was doing so well too. . .

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Victor?

Are you all right...?

I can be right there.

[Victor's tempted for a moment to snap back something sarcastic, but bites his tongue. He doesn't want to upset a potential rescuer -- and it's not like this is Terra's fault.]

This -- this is just what happens when you have a nightmare in Astralfield.

[He looks at her with tired, hopeful eyes.]

Could you? My arms are s-starting to hurt.

[She's already mentally reviewing the route in her head, moving toward the door to her home as she talks.]

I'm on my way there now.

Thank you. . . Like I said, room number 6988, the big hotel everyone sleeps in -- it's kind of impossible to miss. The door should be open. . .

[When she arrives, she'll find a very padded white hotel room. All of Victor's furnishings are still there, fortunately, and the bathroom was left unaffected by some miracle. Victor himself is sitting on the floor, arms belted securely around himself. Underneath the dingy white jacket he's still wearing his pajamas, though only the bottoms are visible. He's staring at his feet, looking quite depressed overall.]

[It didn't take her long to get there, fortunately, and she's quick to move to his side, trying to work on getting him out of this contraption. What in the world was going on in this District?]

Don't worry. I'll have you out of this in a minute.

[Victor glances up as she comes in, giving her an awkward, painful smile.]

Thank you. . . Waking up like this was -- v-very unpleasant.

[It takes some doing, but she eventually manages to get the arms unbelted.]

I'd imagine so.

You said... this is just what happens in this district? When you have nightmares?

[Oh -- oooh, that's so much better! Victor immediately stretches them out as far as he can, trying to work the kinks from his muscles.

He nods, turning to face her properly.]

I'm afraid so -- the district brings your dreams to life, but -- it doesn't distinguish between good ones and -- bad. I ended up dreaming of an asylum last night, and. . .

[He waves one droopy-sleeved arm to encompass the room.]

That sounds terrible.

[At once, she's glad her own dreams don't come to life. The thought of some dream version of Kefka--scary enough all on his own--coming to life to terrorize this world is downright frightening. At least she hasn't been dreaming of... whatever it was, exactly, that happened to her.]

Are you physically all right? Do you need any healing?

It is. Fortunately I've managed to avoid them for the most part -- I try to think of positive things before I go to sleep every night. Try to -- k-keep away the dark.

[Although that doesn't always work out perfectly either. . .that day with the Alice dream-clone was one of the most messed-up of his life. Just thinking about his makes his heart ache.]

Yes, I'm fine. I don't think this dratted thing did any physical damage.

[He yanks it off him with a passion, throwing it across the room.]

The worst part is, this isn't even the worst dream I could have.

[Terra tries to offer him a reassuring smile. Hopefully, it's a good one. She doesn't have much practice with being the reassuring one.]

That sounds... terrible, Victor. This whole district sounds insane.

[It's good enough for Victor. He sighs, rubbing his arm.]

It is, but -- it's not all bad. I've had some pleasant dreams that have come true. Seeing bouncy mushrooms and bread-and-butterflies my first full day here was nice. And the day I dreamed up the piano. . .

[He smiles for a moment, before dropping back into gloom.]

The true problem with this place is that it can't distinguish between good dreams and bad ones.

Very strange.

[And she needs to get his mind on other things, she realizes.]

You play the piano?

[That'll do the trick -- he looks back up with a little smile.]

Yes, I do. Been playing since I was about six. I've always loved the instrument. . . I'd like to find one for here, but there's not much chance of fitting one through the door, and dream pianos only last a day. I've been meaning to visit Crystalden to see if they have any portable ones, since they're apparently the most technologically advanced.

I haven't been to that district before. Today's my first time out of Orlea, actually. I could go with you, if you wanted to check it out.

Is it?

[Victor lets out a weak little laugh.]

Funny -- when I went to help you was really my first time out of Astralfield.

[He blinks at the sudden offer.]

You would?

[Another smile.]

First time for everything, I suppose.

[And a nod.]

Of course. I'd like to see it too.

Always.

[He grins a little.]

Well, all right then! It would be nicer to see it with a friend. . . I'd probably be too stunned to move if I was on my own.

[He glances down at his attire, and feels a blush coming on.]

Ah -- I just need a bit of time to get changed. . .

Oh, yes, of course.

[She stood up and moved toward the door.]

I'll, ah, just wait for you outside.

I'll be j-just a moment.

[Sudden awkward moment is awkward! Fortunately, it ends more or less once she's outside. Shaking his head, he scrambles to his feet and selects a suit from his dresser. Normally he has a quick shower to start off the day, but he thinks he can forgo that for now, instead just washing his face and hands and brushing his teeth. Pajamas off, clothes on, hair combed, straitjacket in the corner given a final kick for good measure, and he goes to join Terra, ready to go.]

All right then -- shall we?

[Terra had taken a moment to put her hair back in its customary ponytail while she'd waited.]

Let's.

[Victor gives her a smile.]

All right. It should take about the same time for us to get there as it takes us to go to and from Orlea. . .

[He leads the way out of the hotel and around the twisty streets of his district, glancing around a little nervously every so often.]

I do hope nobody's dreamed up any monsters today.

[This gets a small, but confident smile.]

If they did, I'll take care of it.

Well, it could be just about anything. . . I saw someone fighting a hydra once on the network my second day here.

[Fortunately there doesn't seem to be anything like that on the streets today.]

Do you ever have anything like that in Orlea, or is it just -- normal, I suppose?

[She shakes her head.]

I've never seen anything like that, though I saw some people flying a couple of months ago. It's... surprisingly calm and normal. A little more advanced than my world, but I think I'm adjusting.

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