one day, you will understand. but that day is not today.

[thepull_mods]

Who: Siren's Port
When: The night of Thursday, October 20th into the morning of Friday, October 21st.
Where: In the mind, in the dreams, in the unconscious of the sleepers.
Summary: The final night.
Warnings: These dreams may be considered not safe for work, with violence, gore, death, underlying sexual themes and other mentions of graphic nature.

Comments

[Reaction, optional open to housemates + NV calls]

[lockandkeyblade]

[When Sora wakes from his nightmare, it's not with a scream or with a jerk. It's the way he wakes from most nightmares: quietly and in the dark.]

[Can't turn on the light. Can't wake Riku and Kairi. Can't sleep either.]

[He doesn't know why he's so worked up. Restless. It's just a dumb dream. Like everybody else's. He... isn't the only one who's seen heartless, or even had a nightmare about the darkness. Not like they could tell it was him from just that, right?]

[But he does feel around blindly for his NV takes a little too long and turns it on to check for messages. He doesn't need to turn on the lamp, and just stubbornly draws up his knees up onto the couch where he's sleeping. He'll make it through the dark like he usually does. With a little light. It'll be enough. ]

[walkthedawn]

[But Riku wakes up anyway, sitting up with a start from the dreams. The Keyblades, the fighting... Sora. He knows. He slips out of bed and goes to look for him. He threads a hand through his hair and tries to fix it back, but he doesn't much care what he looks like right now.

He just wants to be sure he's okay.

He pads out into the living room, nearly tripping over Ebony in the process. He doesn't need a light to see, but Sora's NV light is of some help.]

Sora.

[Riku frowns, going towards his friend.]

You okay?

[lockandkeyblade]

[Despite the noises, Sora's head still jerks up from the NV when Riku comes in, pale white light illuminating a startled teenager.]

Riku.

[He takes him a moment to recover and respond to the question, but when he does, it's supposed to be an easygoing smile.]

Yeah - Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?

[walkthedawn]

I don't know. Seems like this past week's been full of nightmares for everyone.

[He's not dumb, Sora. But he knows it's also not...really comfortable to talk about your own dreams. He hadn't been sure if Xemnas' was his or not. He sits on the sofa beside him.]

[lockandkeyblade]

[He rubs the back of his neck. Some nights Sora's been blessed with a dreamless sleep. Other nights like tonight...]

So ... I guess you had a bunch of nightmares tonight too?

[At least with this question, there's nothing incriminating. For either of them.]

[walkthedawn]

Yeah, you could say that.

[He frowns, leaning back against the sofa.]

A couple of familiar ones the past few nights...though I've dreamed about the darkness before.

[destinysembrace]

[Unlike Riku, she doesn't wake up immediately after the dream. Maybe it's because of her busy hours at work that gives her a deeper sleep, but nonetheless, she's still awake. And very much worried.

She doesn't really want to take chances on checking on Sora immediately, worried she might be disturbing him if he's somehow asleep (or went back to sleep.) So she sends a message just in case, heading for the kitchen instead to arm herself with hot chocolate first as a potential anti-nightmare tonic.]

Are you awake?

[lockandkeyblade]

[The NV lights up in his hand, a small musical chime alerting him to a message. There's something reassuring about seeing that name on his screen.]

[He peers off into the dark, in the direction of Kairi's room, even if he can't see it from where he sits on the couch.]

You too?

[destinysembrace]

[Oh good, he is. She was half hoping he would be. Company is always good on sleepless nights.]

Yup. Hang in there for a sec.

[If he strained his ears enough, he'll hear noises from the kitchen. Give or take a few minutes before she pads into the living room, two mugs in her hands, making her way over.]

Hey. And here I thought you'd go right back to sleep after that last message.

[lockandkeyblade]

Thought about it, but then I thought, 'What if Kairi makes hot cocoa? She's gonna need help to finish it. I can't fall asleep now.'

[The teasing grin means that actually, Kairi bringing him something was a surprise. A welcome relief. And the company even more so, even if it also makes him a bit ...unsettled.]

[He scratches his cheek uncertainly. He knows he can't hide anything from Kairi or Riku, that eventually she's going to figure out that he'd dreamed tonight. Or worse, figure out which one was his. Just like Riku did.]

[He scoots over to make room for her on the couch.]

[destinysembrace]

Oh. Well then, I guess you don't really need this.

[She sets it down on the nearest surface, plunking down on the couch next to him with a grin. Though she's carefully studying his face as well. Her grin softens into something more as she does.]

... but I guess you do, huh? Or the company, at least.

[lockandkeyblade]

Thanks Kairi...

[He takes the mug in his hands, warming his fingers. It smells really good...]

What about work? Wouldn't wanna keep you up if you've got an early day tomorrow.

[destinysembrace]

[She stretches her fingers before her before taking her own mug, settling comfortably on the couch next to him.]

I think I can ask Roxas if I can come in later than usual. To be honest... I kinda doubt all of us got enough sleep last night.

[And she gives him a look, tilting her head.]

[lockandkeyblade]

[A sheepish laugh. Welp. If he wasn't sure about not being able to hide anything from Kairi before, he is now.]

I guess I might've been having a little trouble.

[destinysembrace]

[There's a sigh from her end as she leans her head on his shoulder gently, still cradling her mug.]

... are you feeling okay?

[lockandkeyblade]

[The contact and the warmth are as welcome as the chocolate. Even more so.]

Don't worry about me, Kairi. Like you said to me before, they're just dreams.

[But that doesn't really stop him from thinking about it. It's really hard to stop.]