Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Third Dream Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Forwarded to late night

[byakkoyagirl]

[Written; Near night time (Paprika isn't visible as she isn't imposing her image)]

I hope everyone has a good dream tonight.

[It ends there. She won't be answering anyone who tries responding. If anything it's only a precaution, so no one can say she didn't warn them. Even if she didn't make herself obvious - it wouldn't be much of a surprise if

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[destinetofall]

[It could possibly be a bit of both. This was probably one of his more cherished memories. The day when his life changed forever.

The young Alexei moves to the side as his opponent swings his blade and attempts ram him. Alexei trips him up, knocking him down and brings his blade forward, right at his neck. That marked the end of the match, with the crowd cheering for the victor. Alexei straightens up, he looked mildly surprised at his own victory. The announcer was already yelling at the crowd.]

And the winner of this match is, Alexei Denoia! And with his victory, this marks the end of the semi-finals. The challenger will now have to face some of finest knights the Empire has to offer! Can this mere commoner defeat them all and win the grand prize!?

[He glances up at the crowd. So many faces he didn't recognize were cheering for him, faces of people who shared a similar fate as him. He wanted to change the fate they all shared for the better. That's why he was here. He passes over Paprika, pauses.]

...[His expression was unreadable. The announcer tells everyone that there will be a ten minute break before the finals begin and Alexei takes this time to leave the arena for the break room. The atmosphere itself suddenly felt...heavy as he was leaving. The voices of the crowd went dim. It echoed how his younger self was feeling, distant, anxious, contemplating about what he must do. Up to Paprika, if she wants to wait or find him in the break room.]

[byakkoyagirl]

[Well, waiting around would be pretty boring. So Paprika, finishing off her popcorn quickly, stands up and begins to skip-walk around toward the break room. It was a bit hard to discern, but to follow the dreamer was not too hard. A dream always knows where the dreamer is in the space. Takes her about two minutes until she stumbles upon what she thinks could be his general location.]

[destinetofall]

[There are people down these halls near where Alexei's location was, talking about how the competition was going. Most were well dressed individuals, those in Zaphias that were more fortunate.]

"Did you see what that child can do?"
"I can hardly believe it myself. A mere commoner like him, standing up against people with proper training and winning."
"Clearly, they weren't trained well enough to get beaten by someone like him."
"He must have been trained by someone himself, but who on earth would bother to train a simple commoner?"
"What does that child expect to get out of this?"
"I hope that grand prize doesn't go to waste on him."
"You don't find this the least bit exciting to see someone like him go as far as he has?"
"He'll go down by the knights anyway."

[This was all going on outside the break room, where Alexei was sitting quietly on a bench. He was leaned forward, his hands were folded and holding up his head.]

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika quietly breezes through the people, ignoring them as just another part of the dream, until she stumbles upon the break room at last. She peaks her head through the door, wondering if she should say something.]

[destinetofall]

[Annd someone's about to come by and answer that for her.]

"'cuse me miss." [One of the workers was coming by and needed to get pass Paprika.] "Kid, you've got five minutes."

[Alexei looks up at the doorway, seeing them both.] Ah...yes, thank you.

[The man will leave after passing on his message, leaving him with Paprika. He stands, eying her most peculiarly, especially at those wings...There was recognition.]

Who are you?

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika moves out of the way as the man comes in and then peers back to Alexei when he leaves.]

No one important. I saw you fighting and followed you back here. [...That doesn't sound creepy at all :D]

[destinetofall]

Oh? Here to wish me good luck? [Are you his biggest fan? He said it rather lightly, but his tone soon changed to a serious one.]

But how did you get here exactly...?

[byakkoyagirl]

How did I get here? I just told you I followed you back to this room. Or...do you mean how did I get "here". [She speaks as she makes two quotation marks with her fingers.]

[destinetofall]

The latter...those wings give you away.

[byakkoyagirl]

[...She chuckles.]

Not that I was ever really hiding.

[destinetofall]

[...well this particular dream, he has no reason to hide it from her. Still--She could just have been something he fantasized after being in Luceti for so long. He leans up against a wall.]

Well, you heard my name out there, but what about yourself?

[byakkoyagirl]

Right, right. I'm Paprika. It's nice to meet you...Alexei, was it?

[destinetofall]

[He nods] Do you do this often?

[byakkoyagirl]

No, not really. But, I gave a warning so it's okay!

[A very anonymous, not direct in the slightest, warning. But still a warning~!]

[destinetofall]

You did? [What warning? He totally must have looked over it as nothing.

There's the sound of a horn being blown somewhere within the arena.]

...That's the signal. [He moves towards the door.]

[byakkoyagirl]

Oh, okay! [She says quickly, not getting the chance to explain her warning before the horn.] I'll be back in the stands watching!

[With that she leaves the door and quickly runs around the corner of the hall. If Alexei goes the same way he won't even see her there, as she phases back to the other part of the dream.]