Dream ✍ 004

[chose_death]

Warning: Javert and Romance? WTF? Blame the recent forced AU.
Effects: Contrary to the video, viewers will not feel satisfied, happy, or elated. They will not feel love. Instead they will first feel anxiety, confusion, anger, breathlessness... then a sated calm. Emotion will match italicized segments.

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[phantomfenton]

*The boy looks serious in a way that he rarely is. The added time to sort out the memories from that previous life had given him confidence that viewing another episode from this man wouldn't start out awkward and progress to all new heights of the same, but he hadn't anticipated a video such as this. Suddenly the return of his former strong loyalty to his real father isn't the anchor he thought it would be

[chose_death]

I was young once.

But flattery won't get you far, Fenton. The difference isn't so great.

[phantomfenton]

*Whenever in doubt, Danny has one backup option that he never leaves behind: sarcasm and ambiguous quips.* You're right, there's not much of a difference.

*The boy shifts position, trying to get comfortable wherever he is. In the next moment he's collected his thoughts enough that he heads for the less-disturbing of the thoughts plaguing him. Of course, this is Danny, so...*

Were those extra memories from when you killed yourself?

[chose_death]

[Javert gives a slight start. Rather than respond in anger, though, Javert's eyes glimmer sharply with dim, hollow amusement.]

Extra? Not quite. But they are. Nothing you haven't already seen.

[phantomfenton]

I thought I recognized them. *There's no hidden joke or humor in that; it's a statement of fact.*

*He pauses again, and this time, his words are quieter. Another question he hadn't intended to ask--this one isn't a quick save, however, but much more of an accident.*

Is it normal to dream of death after you've died?

[chose_death]

[Javert raises a sharp, inscrutable stare to Danny with a flicker of understanding. It is a long while before he responds.]

I hadn't expected to dream at all afterward, but I have grown accustomed to it.

[phantomfenton]

*Soon into the stare Danny's attention snaps back to the present, wondering at the silence. Realizing that his question must have sounded odd, but not catching the knowing glint in the man's eyes, Danny merely frowns, raising his eyebrows questioningly. He doesn't know he's been caught; therefore, the act stays up in a perfect imitation of a teenager asking idle, nonsensical questions.*

Good point, I guess. Score one more for Somarium.

[chose_death]

[Again, the silence stretches on. He slowly folds his arms across his chest.]

So what got you? A nasty fall down the stairs?

[phantomfenton]

Uh... What?

*The question is bewildering enough that he tears his attention away from the wedding, just to focus on it. There's only one meaning that fits--one that unsettles him, to be honest--but the idea of the Inspector magically obtaining mind-reading skills in the last few seconds is so improbable that he hardly blinks. After all, surely he's just being paranoid again.*

Are you asking how I got here, or something? Because I got here through sleeping.

[chose_death]

No, silly boy, how you were killed.

[Javert gives a pause. His eyebrows disappear into his bangs. The boy often couldn't lie through his teeth very well. So could it be that there is truth in what he is saying? Is that possible?]

... Is resurrection commonplace at your home?

[phantomfenton]

*The only reason that Javert has that time to pause with no reaction is because it's still sinking in. As he continues, the boy's eyes snap open wide. The floor seems to have dropped out from under him, and he leans forward, clutching the Dreamberry in a suddenly spasmodic grip.*

How I was killed? Resurrection? *His voice cracks just then, ending that word on a squeak. Questions whirl through his mind, and it's a struggle to sift through them to keep the incriminating ones from getting out.*

What're you talking about, I'm not dead! How'd we even get to this, anyway?!

[chose_death]

[Javert casts a cold, skeptical, intense gaze upon the boy.]

You would not question if it is normal to dream about death after you die unless you knew of others who were dead or you, yourself, are dead. Why you look to me for a sense of normality is a different question completely, and I do not recommend it. But it is your word that will confirm or deny whether I am making a correct assumption.

[The corner of his mouth twitches. Javert smirks.]

You are barely louder than a timid mouse when you lie.

[phantomfenton]

*Danny shoots him a dirty look at the jibe, but the Inspector's gaze has a curious quality that makes it hard to meet. It's as though the man can already see right through him and through the lies, making his attempts to salvage them all the more frustrating.*

That wasn't funny. And I'm not lying! I already told you, I'm not dead--it's someone else I know who is. A friend. *The denial is hurried, but it's also strong. Or at least, it is for the first part: as far as any dead friends are concerned, they weren't in mind when he started.*

*Doesn't even try to keep his gaze up anymore.* Look, just forget I said anything. It was a stupid thing to ask in the first place.

[chose_death]

[At this rate, Javert could beat an owl in a stare down. He gives a low, weary sigh, as if to subconsciously say, "You may have them fooled, but not me. I'll get you to say otherwise one day."]

Choose your words carefully, then, to avoid these... misunderstandings.

Farewell.

[phantomfenton]

Okay, fine. Sorry.

Bye. *And before anything else can happen, he hangs up.*