Come Dreamwalk With Me 7 (Open to anyone on the Loki)
Who: Polly (curious_copycat) and anyone on the Loki
What: Nocturnal Telepathic Shenanigans, Random CR, Drama, Exposition, Crack, Surreal Shite, Whatever You Want.
Where: In Your Head... or Polly's
When: ANY TIME during the plot!
Warnings: They're dreams. Anything--absolutely anything--can happen. Not even the laws of physics apply.
( A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world )
What: Nocturnal Telepathic Shenanigans, Random CR, Drama, Exposition, Crack, Surreal Shite, Whatever You Want.
Where: In Your Head... or Polly's
When: ANY TIME during the plot!
Warnings: They're dreams. Anything--absolutely anything--can happen. Not even the laws of physics apply.
( A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world )
"Someplace... I liked." It didn't take him long to think of such a place. The words hadn't left his mouth before the air around them cooled and changed as the Suite shifted away and disappeared. He was a little sad to see it go, not knowing if he would ever come there again.
And then the comfortable Thor home was gone, replaced with a mountainside trail at dusk. Both ahead of them and behind them were long paths of tens of thousands of vermillion torii. Kiriko stared quietly into the gates leading down the mountain before looking to their side - they were standing in a high-up clearing on the mountainside, the city of Kyoto stretched out below them. A breathtaking sight... At once, Kiriko felt profoundly depressed that such a beauty had been lost to the universe.
"...How about here."
He sighed. This was a different sadness than being removed from Polly's home. This place was truly gone. It was hard for him to imagine he would never see it again, or be able to actually take her there.
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"It's beautiful...!"
She had seen a great many places, both in his own dreams, and in the dreams of her friends, but none quite like this. It seemed particularly suited to a dream, somehow, the way some places were, simply by their nature.
Fascinated, she stepped up to one of the arches, letting her hand rest on the bright surface of it, and she felt an echo of Kiriko's sorrow. This was the only way she could ever walk in this place--it was gone. But, as she always did when she walked in memories, she felt an odd sense of honor. Now that Kiriko had shown it to her, she had become a caretaker of its memory. It would be preserved in her mind, forever, perfect as a fly in amber, and just as precious.
"Where are we?" she asked softly.
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"...We are in Kyoto, a city in my old homeland. A very historic and beautiful place..." He says this with a fondness he's hardly expressed before. He joins her under the gates, running his hand against one of the torii as well. Kanji marked each one, names of the donators etched for what should have been forever on their sides, another loss. But he smiles. It pleases him to be here again.
"...Polly, these gates mark the transition from the unclean to holy ground. Fushimi Inari shrine is just up ahead. Come..." Instead of offering her his hand, he offers her his arm.
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She was so engrossed in her search, it took her a moment to notice his gesture. When she did, it froze her a moment, and then, tentatively, she accepted it, sliding her arm through his.
"Fushimi Inari... Is that a god?" she asked, as they began their trek up the path.
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Walking at an easy pace with her at his side, cheerful now, he continued his explanation with a smile. "Fushimi is one of the eleven wards of Kyoto... Inari is a God, yes." He looked up through the torii, though the trees, to the blue sky. Though he was hardly a religious man, the shrine was one of the few places he truly felt was removed from the rest of the world - spiritual, even sacred. "The God of prosperity and success."
The bushes around them rustled. Of course, he had almost forgotten. "You might find it interesting to know that foxes are his messengers. It is said they bring good luck to the worthy, but trick and bewitch the wicked..."
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"Oh! Alice would like him, then!"
She followed his gaze upward, still half looking for signs of the god's sanctifying influence. The rustle in the bushes drew her attention quickly, watching for the little vulpines.
"Will we meet him in the shrine? He sounds like he would be nice..."
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"...No, we will not meet him. You would not have met a God on my Earth. But perhaps he will still be there, in some other form. I cannot know."
Time and distance have little meaning in a dream. Though the walk down the mountain might have taken hours, the torii soon came to an end, giving way to one single larger torii, and the trees cleared - before them was a Shinto shrine flanked by two fox statues - one male, one female. Passing through the large gate, Kiriko approached the steps slowly and mindfully. Nearby, a fox hurried from the shrine, likely baited there by the tofu offerings inside - or another reason. Besides him, they were alone.
"...Here we are, Polly. Fushimi Inari."
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The girl's eyes widened, taking in the colorful symmetry of building with it's stylized statues.
"It's beautiful!"
At the sight of the fox, Polly gasped, pointing after it delightedly, and she tugged Kiriko further forward.
"They really do come here! I wonder what message it's carrying."
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He began to ascend the temple steps, slowly approaching the altar. He had a thought, wondering if Polly would accept or find the idea pointless in a dream. "Hm, Polly? ...Would you like to learn how to pray?"
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His question, however, distracted her. She would have to ask more about these foxes, when they were both awake…
“Pray..?” she echoed. “You mean the thing where you ask gods for things?”
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He gestured for her to follow him, bypassing the purification basin and heading straight towards the altar. From his pocket, he tossed two coins into the offering box. He turned around to look at her.
"There are two different ways to pray at a Shinto Temple. I'll show you both... that is, if you do not object."
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"Not really... Not like that. I mean, I talked to the White Guardian, before he sent me here. And I talked to 'Dite, and some of the other gods who've been here... But it was just like talking to people... even if they are very powerful people."
She trailed along with him, into the shrine, materializing a few credits to slip into the box as well.
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When she put in her offering, he backed away from the altar, having no desire to pray himself. "...I hardly believed in the Gods at home, let alone the ones on Thor. But... there are some times I admit prayer had its uses, regardless of whether or not I believe it will work."
Done with the introduction, he gave Polly some peace, turning his back to head towards the ema. "Ring the bell, Polly, and bow twice - then clap twice to get the God's attention, and make your prayer. Bow before you leave, I'll be waiting outside." Though he still wanted her to give it a try, he left knowing full well she would likely gain nothing from it. He felt a little bit mean demanding a member of a species with no imagination to pray, but her differences had never stopped him from showing her all he could about his world before.
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She looked around a bit, just in case, before edging toward the bell and ringing it. The sound almost startled her, and she hurriedly bowed twice, as directed.
There was another slight hesitation as she clapped her hands, and then she looked around again. Kiriko had said that would get the god's attention, and she half hoped that he would appear.
This would all be much easier if she could see him...
She was silent a moment, then took a breath and spoke in a whisper, the idea that one could pray silently not occurring, as any time she'd spoken with gods on the Thor, she'd talked to them just like anyone.
"I-I don't know where you are... But I guess you can hear me..."
She shifted a little, realizing that she wasn't sure what to ask for. And it felt strange asking things of someone she'd never met.
"Kiriko says you're a god of success... So, I guess... Could you help us? We're trying to make things better... between us. You see, he hurt me... I guess we've both hurt each other... but... we don't want to give up. So... If you could help us... be together... successfully... I'd be very grateful."
She shifted again, uncertain, then bowed again.
"Thank you."
Turning, she went to find Kiriko outside.
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And then, from within the temple, he heard speaking - was she talking to it? He smirked to himself, a bit relieved she had decided to try, though he had forgotten to include that prayer was usually internal. ...And though she was whispering, this was his dream, and he had subconsciously decided he wanted to listen. He had only turned around to see how she was faring and her words were carried by the breeze.
If you could help us be together successfully...
He froze in his place and could only look upon the temple in shock.
And suddenly she was finished and it was too late to turn away and pretend he hadn't noticed. A hand pressed embarrassedly over his mouth, his expression hardened. He felt shameful knowing he had just overheard something he shouldn't have, and yet...
Undecided between relief and guilt, Kiriko averted his gaze as she came out of the temple, still stern-faced. Finally he sighed, burying his hands in his pockets, and mumbled: "I forgot to mention... to keep your prayers silent if there are others present... Polly."
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"O-oh..!"
Had he heard? Was it like a wish? Was she not supposed to tell? She gave a small, puzzled frown. Surely Kiriko hadn't heard the words--she had been sure to whisper softly...
"But how would the god hear me? Is he a telepath, too?"
Reaching his side, she peered up into the doctor's severe expression, uncertain. If he had heard, surely he would be happy...
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