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anonymonster

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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2024 7:31 am

PROMPT

Menodora enters Haruka's dream after seeing some heavy things in his previous dreamscapes. She wants to figure out what is plaguing her friend.

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2024 7:34 am

xxxxxxxxxxxℓєανє мє ιи тнє αfтєяgℓσω
xxxxxxxxxxx→_тнє ∂єω σf ∂уιиg ѕтαяѕ

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxαи∂ ι ωσυℓ∂ fαℓℓ fяσм уσυя ѕωєєт нєιgнт
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxтσ ρяσνє тнαт αℓℓ ι αм
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxιѕ мєαит тσ вℓєє∂ αи∂ вℓσσм

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxι fєєℓ ιт ιи му ѕcαяѕ

☪
( 胸がはち切れそうで )

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

The breeze as the gondola drifted down the river was a nice departure from the heavy air surrounding it. A dense fog lingered the boat as Meno continued to slowly move the oar every so often. Resting on her other arm was a sleeping Haruka. She wasn’t sure how long it had been since they had entered the dreamscape, but she had a feeling this was related to some other dreams that she had seen of his.

Though she knew not what Haruka had encountered in his life there was a weight resting on his soul. There were often topics of death, which while heavy in it’s self were often portrayed as him dying. Haruka though they had only been friends who knew each other briefly, she worried for him. If this was something that he was thinking about often that it was seeping into his dreams, what exactly happened to him? Or someone he loved?

The fog had intensified and it was a becoming a bit harder to see the river in front of them. Meno raised her hand of the arm that Haruka was sleeping on, and a light shot from her hand to the lantern on the curved front of the gondola. Around them tiny starlight's flickered into existence. Though it was not enough to light their way through the fog it at least gave them the ability to see each other through the grey.

She lowered the hand back to her side and rested it on Haruka’s forearm. Caressing is softly she wondered if he was okay in the waking world. He had been slumped over on her for a bit now, so she was hoping that he was finally able to enter his slumber properly and become active in the dreamscape. There was so much that she wanted to ask him, but she would have to pertain to her normal routine and play like she was just a guide bound to his dream. A route she often had to take so that no one became suspicious of her powers.

Though this may not be a very exciting dream for him. Maybe this would be a chance to put some of the lingering thoughts in subconcious to rest.

____out of concubines: ooc goes here.

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____ᴍᴇɴᴏᴅᴏʀᴀ sᴛᴀʀʟɪɴɢ ☁ ʟᴜɴᴀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss
‼ 〖 location: the river, haruka's dream 〗〖 company: haruka〗〖 outfit | hair 〗

anonymonster

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Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 9:45 am

ＨＡＲＵＫＡ ☁ ＫＯＮＯＫＡＺＥ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＷＩＮＤＵＲＩＡ

"Ngh..."

As Haruka began to come to, he found it difficult to open his eyes. They felt so heavy. His whole body felt so heavy. Brows furrowed in his efforts to awaken, but progress was slowed by a sudden burst of light. Turning away for a moment as he struggled to adjust, the duke of the wind found himself brushing his face against an arm that was not his own. Finally, he found the strength to "awaken," finding himself in someone's arms. The young man was confused at first; where was he? And who was foolish enough to hold him so gently, as if he were worth the effort? It was all so very strange. The scenery, however, was something he'd grown accustomed to. The fog, the gondola...he'd been here before. Many times over by now, to the point where he'd lost count. Every night, for so many nights, he'd wind up here. It was as though it was calling to him, but he was never able to figure out why.

But there was something different about this time. Sparkles like stardust fluttered through the air, and the lantern that normally offered little more than decoration for the boat was lit up for once. Even such brilliance wasn't enough to lift the veil of the fog, but it was enough for Haruka to see his immediate surroundings. I can't yet say I prefer this, though. There was a comfort in the darkness, the feeling that it was swallowing me whole. And I...felt like it should..., he thought as he blankly observed the surrounding area. The makings of a dress that looked as though it was formed of the sky itself caught his attention; ah, that was right. He wasn't alone this time.

"...Menodora?"

Turning to the other passenger in this dreary boat ride, he found himself cradled by his one time dance partner. It'd been some time since the last time he'd spoken to her, or so he figured. He wasn't really sure how long he'd been here, and it felt as though he'd been in this river for an eternity. It was as if this was where he was meant to be. But why was she here? Watching her face as she gazed upon what she could of the scenery, the duke of the wind surmised that the woman before him lacked the familiarity he had with this place. Sitting himself up properly, concern set in. From what he could recall of this desolate river, it never led to anywhere nice. No, the only destination this place had for them was the end. Always the end.

"Are you...here to see me off, then?"

It was strange; Haruka had done nothing to make himself worthy of such comforts. Especially not with her. He had played his part as dance partner, sure, but after that came a string of failures. He'd been too slow to protect her from the towering royal that interrupted their lesson and too caught up in his sense of duty to aid her when she ran off. Even worse, he couldn't recall ever once doing much for her after the fact. Here, illuminated by her ever-brilliant light as it held back the ever-encroaching fog of darkness, he regretted that.

Still, his eyes stood on her for a moment. It seemed as though they had finally adjusted to the young woman's radiance. Looking upon her properly for the first time, her eyes were particularly agreeable. They shined with every color at once; it was hard to pick out any particular hue, but he felt as though they were all present in her gaze. Her hair had similar properties, but it lacked the same intensity. Looking back out into the nothingness before them, he wondered if she had been brought here by the river itself to mock him. Even at her dimmest, there was a shine to her that Haruka could never hope to even remotely emulate. He was too stained in red to shine.

Haruka turned back to the fog, his still weary gaze attempting to peer further into the abyss. However, it remained hidden to him. Still, it wasn't as though he didn't know where they were going. The exact details were a mystery, even as he tried his best to recall, but he knew one thing for certain: wherever they were going, it was a destination decided by this fog's judgment of his very essence. And that judgment was always absolute.

Location: The river
Company: Menodora
OOC:

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 12:03 pm

xxxxxxxxxxxℓєανє мє ιи тнє αfтєяgℓσω
xxxxxxxxxxx→_тнє ∂єω σf ∂уιиg ѕтαяѕ

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxαи∂ ι ωσυℓ∂ fαℓℓ fяσм уσυя ѕωєєт нєιgнт
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxтσ ρяσνє тнαт αℓℓ ι αм
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxιѕ мєαит тσ вℓєє∂ αи∂ вℓσσм

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxι fєєℓ ιт ιи му ѕcαяѕ

☪
( 胸がはち切れそうで )

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

"Are you...here to see me off, then?"

These words like the surrounding fog weighed quite heavy on her soul. There were several ways that it could be interpreted, a journey, an end, to anyone who did not know better they’d assume the first. Sadly though with her travels into Haruka’s dreams she knew what he meant. Despite the idea of death being a somber topic the idea that Haruka was constantly dreaming of his end worried her. Did he want to die? Was he expecting to die? There was obviously something that she did not know, but was unsure if it was her right to pry.

Her hand gently continued to caress his forearm as he sat up properly. The twinkling starlights illuminated his face. Even in his dream there was this exhaustion that lingered on him. Almost like he was just tired of existing. Which was quite sad to her since he was quite the handsome young man. Menodora though only knowing him a short time wished that she could lift that weight from him. But she would have to figure out the cause first. Based on what knowledge she had of his other dreams she decided to steer the conversation.

“I think that leaving you alone on a boat in a fog is very ill mannered for a princess.” She smiled gently over to him. Meno took her other arm and wrapping it around the forearm that she was caressing. As they continued down the river the scenery was still dreary. “There are some cultures that believe that the passage to the end is traveled on a river.” She looked out to one of the starlight's as it twinkled, descending down between them. “But it’s strange, a journey to the end? Seems a bit counterproductive. All travels need a destination, but another journey needs to start” She laughed lightly, “I know it seems silly, but I don’t believe that there is an end. We continue on, in those we love, the memories we create, the life we lived.”

Menodora raised her and poked one of the other starlights that spun as if it were dancing. Her smile glowing even brighter as she watched it. “So to answer your question no, I don’t think I will be seeing you off.” She lowered her hand back down and rested it on his. “I think I’d like to see this journey through with you. So that maybe you if you didn’t, you’ll have a reason to keep going.”

All of this topic was heavy, and despite her trying to sound gentle there wasn’t an easy way of making this any softer. She then realized that hadn’t taken his feelings into consideration and looked back to him from the starlights. “That is if you’ll have me? I’m not too strong, but I’m a great support.” Meno asked sheepishly, which was a contrast to how gingerly she had just spoken to him about death.

____out of concubines: ooc goes here.

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____ᴍᴇɴᴏᴅᴏʀᴀ sᴛᴀʀʟɪɴɢ ☁ ʟᴜɴᴀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss
‼ 〖 location: the river, haruka's dream 〗〖 company: haruka〗〖 outfit | hair 〗

anonymonster

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Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 8:00 pm

ＨＡＲＵＫＡ ☁ ＫＯＮＯＫＡＺＥ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＷＩＮＤＵＲＩＡ

Despite the dancing stardust around them, there was no destination in sight as the boat continued to carry Haruka and Menodora down the river. The lights continued to sparkle, following them as the boat slowly went further along its predetermined path, and Haruka once again wondered if he was worthy of such a spotlight.

“I think that leaving you alone on a boat in a fog is very ill mannered for a princess.”

As Menodora began to speak, Haruka felt his attention immediately turn back to her. She was always so nice to him for some reason; he didn't understand it. Had he really been that useful a dance partner? Even if that were the case, it was no reason to treat him so kindly. He hadn't earned that. He didn't deserve that. And yet...he didn't move away. In a way, Haruka had always been selfish, always wanted more than his merits would allow him to have. Weapons didn't require compassion, his father would often say. So why was he allowing her to do as she did with him? While the princess explained her hypothesis on what the river might symbolize, he continued to ponder why she was putting so much effort into him.

Both her arms were wrapped around him now. He turned his head away from her for a moment, his face going red from a sense of shame.

Perhaps he was just tired. Despite being fully cognizant at this point, Haruka's still felt so very heavy. It was as though it had gone through a thousand battles without a moment's rest that was finally feeling the sheer weight of the accumulated burden placed upon it. But Haruka always tried so hard to keep his body in the best shape that he could; had he truly overdone it as much as he felt like he did at present? Or was this the work of the river? It wasn't exactly normal for him to find himself here night after night. And the way that it would always swallow him whole felt so very abnormal. So wrong, but at the same time natural? It was hard to describe. The way Menodora spoke of this place only added to his worry. If this place was to be associated with death, why did it call to him so? And would whatever malicious intent this place had for him now also apply to her? He desperately hoped not.

“So to answer your question no, I don’t think I will be seeing you off. I think I’d like to see this journey through with you. So that maybe you if you didn’t, you’ll have a reason to keep going.”

A reason to keep going?

"I.."

Haruka's eyes went from her's to the speck of light she played with before placing her hand on his own. It was...mesmerizing. The light, that is. The way it danced through the sky reminded him of the way her princess herself moved on the dance floor; wild and free. For a moment while she had spoken to him, Haruka looked back at Menodora, who had been similarly entranced by the dazzling display she had made for them. Ever swiftly did he turn back to the lights, figuring it was unbecoming of him to stare. But as he turned his head, out of the corner of his eye, he saw her turn her attention to him. Haruka hadn't intended to draw her attention away from the lights; he felt bad. They were so pretty, so perfect, and he...was not.

“That is if you’ll have me? I’m not too strong, but I’m a great support.”

Did Haruka have a reason to keep living? He had obligations, of course. He was supposed to fight for his country until his dying day and protect the royal family during their stay at Utopia.
Until my dying day... Something about that chain of words felt off in some way, but Haruka couldn't figure out why. It wasn't as though he wasn't loyal to his nation. So why did he so often allow the river to swallow him? The wind did not obey the waters. The wind creates waves; it does not get controlled by them.

He took a moment to stare into the shrouded emptiness and the various, dazzling lights around the two of them before turning back to Menodora. His hand embraced hers, accepting it.

"I...I don't know if I would be able to allow otherwise if I wanted to. This river...there is no beginning. Only the end. I do not wish for it to engulf you as well, but if this is the only path for both of us, then...it would seem the only option would be to keep each other company."

As he spoke, he couldn't keep eye contact for long. If there had been another, safer option, he would have pleaded for her to take it. But to enter the river seemed risky at best, if not outright deadly. If this river was truly representative of death, it was unlikely that its waters would lead to anywhere other than the end. I must find a way to keep Menodora from such a fate. I may not know of her life, but I know of her light. I do not wish for it to go out. If an option to help her escape that seemed inescapable for him, he would go through with it in a heartbeat. For now, however, the journey continued. He only hoped that they could find a way for this trip to end differently than the others. And together...perhaps it would.

Location: The river
Company: Menodora
OOC: Outfit

Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:59 pm

xxxxxxxxxxxℓєανє мє ιи тнє αfтєяgℓσω
xxxxxxxxxxx→_тнє ∂єω σf ∂уιиg ѕтαяѕ

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxαи∂ ι ωσυℓ∂ fαℓℓ fяσм уσυя ѕωєєт нєιgнт
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxтσ ρяσνє тнαт αℓℓ ι αм
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxιѕ мєαит тσ вℓєє∂ αи∂ вℓσσм

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxι fєєℓ ιт ιи му ѕcαяѕ

☪
( 胸がはち切れそうで )

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

"I...I don't know if I would be able to allow otherwise if I wanted to. This river...there is no beginning. Only the end. I do not wish for it to engulf you as well, but if this is the only path for both of us, then...it would seem the only option would be to keep each other company."

Menodora lowered her head and listened to him speak of protecting her. It was very kind. Even though the two of them had only met in passing she was glad she had met someone with such a kind disposition. He was just like the knights in her fairy tales, or the princes that swept the princess off their feet. Never caring about the danger that faced them, just wanting to protect those around them. Meno wanted to be like that, she wanted to be brave.

In her life she had been evading the truth of her existence, and these dreams where she got to help those around her, that was her solace. But even in this dream Haruka was true to himself. He though could and should be worried about what this meant, was thinking of her. It was so funny because she knew even in the waking world that he would do the same.

With her hand resting on his she laced her fingers through his. Holding onto it tightly as she returned her gaze back to him. Closing her eyes briefly as she gave him a comforting smile. “You don't have to be a ghost here amongst the living.” Menodora’s words confident as she stood up in the gondola still having her hand locked in his. Her eyes opened as she set her gaze up on him,“You deserve to be loved,” She paused as her other hand raised up and the starlight's began to swirl around it. “And you deserve kindness. Despite what’s been given.”

The starlights gathered in her palm and burst out in a surge of energy. The gondola burst into starlight and glitter and sunk into the surface below. As the fog began to separate the two of them found themselves standing on a cobblestone path. Lush flowers coming into view as a garden now surrounded them. A gazebo with tables and tea set at the end of the garden path. The haze around them disappearing.

Though Meno had directed her words at Haruka, these words rang true for her too. Sometimes they just needed be to said out loud for them to be real.

Her smile still spread on her face as she looked over at the evening tea that had been prepared for them. “Though out journey is only beginning, it might be a good idea to get some refreshments before we embark?” The princess started towards the gazebo, “If you don’t mind being served by someone like me? I did take classes back in Luna.”

____out of concubines: ooc goes here.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

____ᴍᴇɴᴏᴅᴏʀᴀ sᴛᴀʀʟɪɴɢ ☁ ʟᴜɴᴀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss
‼ 〖 location: haruka's dreamscape 〗〖 company: haruka〗〖 outfit | hair 〗

anonymonster

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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:36 pm

ＨＡＲＵＫＡ ☁ ＫＯＮＯＫＡＺＥ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＷＩＮＤＵＲＩＡ

The attentiveness that the Menodora of this fog-filled world showed Haruka felt undeserved, but he nonetheless couldn't stop himself from appreciating it. Was this...his mind's way of showing himself mercy? What made him think he was deserving of mercy? He'd always been told otherwise, and he believed that wholeheartedly for so long. And how could he not? They were words said to him by those who brought him into this earth. Who could have higher opinions of him than his own flesh and blood? Even here, the notion felt absurd. But as he continued to sit with Menodora, so surrounded by her brilliance, maybe it was alright to consider that there was truth in her actions. Maybe...

It was then that his companion showed him kindness that he would normally deem himself undeserving of. The way her hand wove into his had such a delicate nature to it, and even the firmness in her grip carried a warm sentiment to it. Haruka reciprocated, still wishing to prevent whatever tragedy that normally befell him from taking her too.

“You don't have to be a ghost here amongst the living.”

Menodora's words made Haruka's eyes widen, watching her as she stood up. Their hands were still interlocked, and the duke of the wind sat there for a moment to absorb what she was saying. “You deserve to be loved, and you deserve kindness. Despite what’s been given.” What's been given? Was the Menodora that was with him now aware of his history? Or had his sorrow just been that obvious?

Sorrow...that's not how I'd usually...describe it. So why...?

It was perplexing. His family had been as kind as to bring him into the world; he had no right to an opinion on their treatment of him. And it hadn't been all bad; they had provided him food and shelter. That was more than most weapons got. So why did his heart begin to ache when Menodora said those words? Perhaps the sorrow that the river seemed to radiate with was seeping into his person. Hopefully, the Haruka that existed outside of the river would not let such ideas haunt him. As Menodora spun her hand around, her light gathering around her, Haruka sat there amazed and yet ever confused.

"Menodora, I...I just don't know if I am worth all this...effort."

By the time he finished his sentence, the very world around him changed in a brilliant flash of light. The river disappeared completely, and in its place was a path that led to a gazebo. Gone too was the fog; in its place was a night sky filled with ever-brilliant stars. There was luscious greenery that accompanied the path with beautiful flowers that led to a bountiful garden which preceded the gazebo. It was like the page of a storybook brought to life. It was beautiful. Haruka stood up, looking around in amazement at what Menodora had constructed.

“Though our journey is only beginning, it might be a good idea to get some refreshments before we embark?”

Haruka blinked. Focusing on the gazebo, he realized there was a steaming hot pot of tea on a table with chairs that almost beckoned to them to sit. “If you don’t mind being served by someone like me? I did take classes back in Luna.” So Menodora was from Luna, then. While her homeland and his were far from bitter enemies, surely this was more than a lowly soldier from Winduria, carrying a title attached to his name that he had not earned, had come to deserve. Also of concern to Haruka was how Menodora spoke of herself. She sparkled like the very night sky she'd created, and yet she couldn't seem to escape speaking of herself as if she were lesser. Had his sorrow infected her too...?

"Don't mind? Menodora, that's...that's never been the issue," began Haruka, squeezing ever so lightly on her hand. His dull gray eyes added entire verses to his worry, a concerned twist to his brows as he continued.

"If I've ever made you feel otherwise...I apologize. That was never my intention. To be served by you would be an honor. I am just...unsure such efforts should be wasted on me. I fear for your safety even now, and I want you to be safe."

He might not have followed after her in dance class, his duty to the royal family coming first, but that did not mean that he had not worried about her then and every day since. He hadn't spoken to her much since then, though—not in the world away from the river, at least. Perhaps that was why this Menodora appeared before him, so that he could spend the time with her he wanted to elsewhere here. He wasn't sure if that was enough to make things up to her or if he ever could, but he could at least try. If the river did not have to always exist in this world, then maybe he too could create things in its place. Haruka took a step forward, still holding Menodora's hand with a firm, yet tender grip.

"For now, though, refreshment would not be unappreciated. It would be a welcome change, just as your presence has been."

Haruka took a step forward, still holding Menodora's hand with a firm yet tender grip. He turned back to her, a smile on his face. It was wary, as was he, but carried with it the potential for hope. Haruka knew not what was in store for the two of them in this new world, but perhaps that in itself meant that there was more than one ending to this story.

"Shall we, then?"

Location: The river -> Gazebo
Company: Menodora
OOC: Outfit

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