Come Dreamwalk With Me (Open Log)

[curious_copycat]

Who: Polly (curious_copycat ) and anyone who feels like it.
What: Nocturnal Telepathic Shenanigans, Random CR, Drama, Exposition, Crack, Surreal Shite, Whatever you want.
Where: In Your Head
When: Tonight
Warnings: A few of Polly's memories might come with her. Beyond that, it depends on the dreams (or nightmares). Anything can happen.
Style: [Action Brackets

Comments

[curious_copycat]

It was only as she crossed into the microcosm of Rorschach's dream, and caught sight of him through the smoke and dust, that she recognized whose it was. Instantly she had started toward him, picking up on his anguish and rage acutely, wanting to reach out, wanting to help. However, it was as though the ground moved beneath her with each step she took, and she found herself making no progress.

As such, a little piece of his nightmare became hers, as she was forced to watch impotently as the people crumbled away, as the arrogant Veidt taunted him... It was only as the red-haired woman--there was only one person it could be--took a swing at him, awakening bad memories and stirring a rage that she barely dared to acknowledge, that Polly found the will to make the ground still beneath her feet.

"STOP!!!"

The girl had flung out her hand at the sight of the little boy flying through the air. Almost before she'd realized she'd called it into existence, there was an airtight metal box roughly the size and shape of a coffin where Rorschach's mother had been, the sounds of screams and banging fists emanating from it.

Was Polly only seeing things, or, a split second before the box had enclosed her, had the abusive woman's red hair become black? Had her eyes become the blue of Polly's own? Had her clothing changed to one of the robes commonly worn by Eternal women?

It didn't matter...

Polly turned and hurried over to where the boy lay at the foot of the outcropping.

"Mr. Rorschach...?"

Because I don't have a little Walter icon yet.

[choppinurdogz]

The little boy opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was bright red hair. Screaming, he scrambled behind the outcropping of rocks.

"I'm sorry," the boy half screamed, half sobbed. "Please don't hurt me!"

Re: Because I don't have a little Walter icon yet.

[curious_copycat]

Rather than follow him, Polly stopped a few feet from the outcropping. She knew from experience that when someone was afraid, the last thing they wanted to do was be chased. Instead, she knelt down where she was (trying to look as non-threatening as possible--not that that was very hard for her) and leaned over a bit, trying to peek around the edge of the rock.

"Don't worry, she can't get to you, now. Mr. Rorschach, do you recognize me...?"

[choppinurdogz]

Walter's eyes peered out at the sound of the voice. The red hair didn't belong to his mother. Immediately overcome by his base emotions, and the unstable state of mind brought on by the dream, he ran forward and embraced her in a hug.

"Polly!"

[curious_copycat]

After a shocked moment, she hugged back, unable to repress a smile. "It's okay." she murmured soothingly, finding herself speaking as she would to a child, even if she knew he really wasn't. "Your mother's locked away, now. She can't ever, ever get out again, not unless we let her."

Turning a bit, she pointed to the metal box behind them.

"See?"

[choppinurdogz]

Walter didn't follow her finger. Instead, he buried his face deeper into Polly's stomach.

"Don't let her out," he screamed, terrified by the prospect of having to face her again. "Don't let her get me again Polly!"

[curious_copycat]

"It's okay, Mr. Rorschach." She stroked his back comfortingly, knowing how he felt. "We won't let her out. She can't hurt you anymore. I promise. She'll never ever come back."

[choppinurdogz]

Walter hugged her tightly. She was the woman who had protected him from that which he feared most. She was his hero.

"Thank you," he said. But it wasn't with the voice of a little boy. In an instant, the person hugging Polly was a man with very familiar clothes. Was powerful. Was unwavering. Was fearless. Was Rorschach.

After a long while, Rorschach realized just how uncomfortable he was. Dream or no. He seperated himself from Polly, but not roughly or forcefully. He simply unwrapped his arms from around her and took two steps back.

"Sorry," he said.

[curious_copycat]

Polly let go of him easily, having expected he might withdraw as soon as she felt him change.

"It's okay, Mr. Rorschach. You're welcome."

There was a strong gust of wind, bringing with it the scent of smoke and decay, and she had to put a hand up to keep her hair out of her eyes. The woman's screams could still be heard emanating from the metal box, and the girl could not repress a wry twist of her mouth that was just a touch too bitter to be called a smile. She knew only too well that screaming like that would only make the air run out sooner...

"Is this what your world was like...?" she asked, looking around.

[choppinurdogz]

Rorschach turned from Polly and looked at the world around him. Everything except the box. The person inside that box died a long time ago. She no longer existed.

"Sometimes," he said flatly.

[curious_copycat]

She walked up to stand beside him, frowning a little sadly. "It's a little like home, really... More smoky, and less quiet... But..."

As if the dream heard her, it started to shift, the land becoming brighter, the smoke becoming dust, buildings rising up around them. Everything had a soft glow about it, from the pale, sunless sky to the crumbling, city stone. But for the occasional sound of falling rock and low moan of wind in the ruins, it was absolutely silent. In some of the structures, the still forms of people could be glimpsed.

"... It's just a little bit like home..."

[choppinurdogz]

Rorschach wasn't surprised by the shifting terrain. He had already seen Polly use her powers, and he had already gathered that this was a dream.

"Looks peaceful," he mused aloud.

[curious_copycat]

Polly shivered.

"It's because we're the only ones not still." Her eyes fixed on a the silhouette of one of her people through a shattered window. "Everyone else is too far gone. I can't wake them up."

[choppinurdogz]

Rorschach shivered too. He didn't know.

"Sorry," he said. Normally he wouldn't apologize for his words and deeds. But this was different.

[curious_copycat]

She gave a pale smile. "It's okay, Mr. Rorschach. It won't always be like this. Someday, I'll make it better, and it'll be... well, whatever it was before this..."

She had never really known it to be any other way... She looked around, not altogether at ease with being out in the middle of a street without knowing which part of her memories they were in...

"I wonder when we are... Before or after them..."

sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry

[choppinurdogz]

"You will," he said confidently. "Will do whatever I can to help."