dormes-vous? dormes-vous?

[crittersheep]

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: Pastureland and the world of dreams alike
WHEN: Night 25

Well, that life sure has been slicing, except where it hasn't. It's been a long day. Why not take a night walk? Or lay down and... oh, oh, the dreams are mixing again.

Comments

[pictureimperfect]

...You have things you like to do, don't you? You looked really into the nature walks.

[arrowace]

[ please don't point out that I enjoy things. almost guiltily: ]

That is . . . educational reconnaissance.

[pictureimperfect]

Can't that be both?

[arrowace]

. . . Not . . . for me.

[pictureimperfect]

...Why not?

[arrowace]

I am . . . a ranger. Not a child.

[pictureimperfect]

I don't get it. Playing is for everyone. I know loads of adults that enjoy things. What's a ranger mean?

[arrowace]

A ranger . . . is a guardian of the wilds. Predator of predators. The knife . . . which wields itself.

[pictureimperfect]

Those are the kinds of people that play around the most.

[arrowace]

. . .



No?

[pictureimperfect]

We really do have different experiences.

[arrowace]

. . . Yes.

[pictureimperfect]

...I play a lot. I like being silly, and I like teasing people. I usually get teased back, but if you don't play like that...

I still wanna try to understand. I can't promise I'll always be serious and never be rude, but, can I try?

[arrowace]

[ They can remember a kid not so unlike this, always wanting to play advanced hide-and-seek, telling knock-knock jokes that Mute didn't understand but smiled for anyway, failing not to smile when he would play pranks that made their keeper so god damn furious.

They also remember how hurt he would look when Mute couldn't or wouldn't laugh along, how lonely.

They remember him screaming, weeping, begging Mute not to leave him. ]

That . . . is OK. That is . . . fine, for you. To be rude. To be silly. But I-

[pictureimperfect]

[yeah that's the internal monologue of someone who doesn't have feelings alright. Yata looks so, so hopeful, big wide puppy dog eyes]

It's okay? You don't have to play back! If I'm being too annoying you can still tell me to knock it off. But it's okay?

[arrowace]

It’s OK . . . for you to be rude. But not . . . for you to be near me.

[pictureimperfect]

[If you look closely you can actually pinpoint the second when his heart rips in half]

...........Oh.

[arrowace]

[ cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool ]

. . . Yatagarasu . . . I . . . am . . . also sorry.

[ they put their hand on his head, heavy and steady, but not for long. Then they turn to walk away. ]

[pictureimperfect]

[he wants to lean into that hand. he wants to be selfish and clingy and follow after Mute, pestering them to pay attention to him, to insist that it's too late, Mute already said he could be a brat~ Now you're stuck with him~

But that's no good. That'll just make Mute upset again, and not even in a fun way. Yata's had so much fun running around playing with whoever he wants, having everyone indulge him and tell him he's cute, he's allowed to be a shitty kid, it's his charm point. He got so comfortable with it, but now he's actually hurt this person just because he thought it was funny and they never want to talk to him again.

Is this what the other guy felt? When he couldn't make any friends... Yata had just been jealous that he could talk to anyone, but now he realises oh, this actually fucking sucks.

Watches Mute walk away until he's out of sight.]

...S'okay. It's okay. It's okay.