Dreamscape -- Alphonse Elric

[bloodseal_soul]

Characters: Alphonse Elric, OPEN
When: April 5th - 11th
Where: Inside Al's mind.
Rating: Hard R, likely.
Summary: Al's more messed up than you'd think. But why take my word for it? Come see for yourself. For mindfuck. And kittens.

-- Mark the night you come, 'kay?

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The Kitchen

[bloodseal_soul]

Upon entering Whipstaff the visitor will find themselves in a happy, sunny little kitchen. Alphonse, healthy but as he was mentally when he first arrived in Adstringendum will be cooking a stew, and happily offer the visitor some. Everyone will be greeted warmly, no matter who they are, but as a stranger. If the visitor does choose to have some stew, (or pet one of the kittens wandering around) they'll be treated to any number of warm fuzzy memories from his childhood until present. There will be no resistance if a visitor wants to view one of these.

Thursday

[stalwart_flame]

Skyler looked around, wondering who was he would see in this place. It felt both nice and scary at the same time and the little Pokemon decided there was nothing to do but explore. Shortly he found himself in a kitten-filled kitchen, which told him where he was even before he saw Al. "Al?"

[bloodseal_soul]

Alphonse looked up from the stove, which had something bubbling on it. He was wearing his normal clothes, and a bright smile crossed over his face when he spotted Skyler.

"Ah, hello!" he said politely, and waved him in. "Sit down, okay? I'm making some stew and I really need someone to tell me if it's good. I can't be a good judge of my own cooking!" He tapped the spoon on the side of the pot.

"What do you say?"

[stalwart_flame]

"Sure I will," Skyler replied, cheerfully hopping onto the table. It wasn't his fault that chairs were too small after all. "What are you cooking?"

The Library

[bloodseal_soul]

This room is a gigantic victorian library, with the books clearly categorized and labeled as to what memory they are. Reading one of the books triggers the memory -- they're organized by age, too, so a visitor can quickly access a memory they want to view. Alphonse in the armor guards these, and though he will be polite and sweet, he'll be protective of the more personal memories unless he knows the visitor -- and then he'll react according to whether he's comfortable with that person seeing that particular memory. He will discuss and comment on the memories. Al's especially violent and painful memories are kept in a wing locked off from the rest. Nina's murder, Martel's murder, the attack from the Joker, and Edward's death (among other things) are in there. (Please ask me if you'd like your character to view any of these.)

The Library

[kin_slayer]

He comes here from the river, watching the armor for a moment, before wandering through the rows of books, reading the titles, lingering, fingers trailing over spines as he considers...

Which... which to choose?

[bloodseal_soul]

With a clang of armor, the gigantic suit comes over to Itachi's size, running a gigantic gauntlet over the spines of the books.

"Which one are you looking for?" Al askes, and the lights that make up his eyes regard Itachi soberly. "Something you're curious about?"

Rather than wait for Itachi to choose, the armor reached above his head, plucking a book from childhood memories. The cover is scratched and dark, and the gilded title -- though most of it is rubbed off -- is marked;

Fight with Edward
October 4th, 1905

"You wonder about the river," Al says gently, the light piercing into Itachi's eyes, enough to make him wonder just how much Al knew of his thoughts when they're both inside his mind.

He opens the book and holds it out to him.

"Brother?" he asks. "When is Dad coming back

[kin_slayer]

Itachi sets the book down, considering what he'd seen. Two brothers fighting... Typical. Making up. Typical. Sweet. And that's where the river comes in. Family. Acceptance. Maybe something that draws all things in pain to running water, something that soothes.

"Show me when you lost your body." He looks at the armor, watching, curious if it will comply or comment. Or give him something else to read.

The River

[bloodseal_soul]

One of the doors leads to an indoor garden with a river running through it, with no discernable source. In it they'll find Alphonse as he is now -- however he will be utterly and completely honest with whatever feelings he has towards the visitor without regards for consequences, and will be unable to lie if asked a direct question. Be careful what you ask him, although he won't lie, you might not be happy with the truth.

Thursday night

[kin_slayer]

Itachi had looked around the garden and then, almost unerringly, turned a little aside, gone from the house to the place he suspected would be nearby.

He wasn't disappointed to find the river that confirmed his suspicion, and the blond who sat beside it.

He approaches, silent, stands next to Al, watching the river. When you need to find Al... Just go to water. Even in his mind. It's a curious truism, and Itachi has to wonder how it came about that Al seeks water soon.

Maybe, if he explores the house, he'll find out.

[bloodseal_soul]

Al sat by the water, arms around his knees, staring into the rushing foam. It reflected the moonlight and the stars, and as Itachi came closer, the two young men. As Itachi steps near him, Al reaches out, and runs his hand through the ice cold water, closing his eyes.

Then, without warning, he jumps to his feet, tears in his eyes, and throws his arms around Itachi, pulling him close. He says nothing, just holds onto him for dear life, trembling, head buried in his shoulder.

[kin_slayer]

Surprised Itachi doesn't move, feels the arms wrap around him as he stares past the blond head into icy moonlit water, finally, places a hand on Al's shoulder and tries the disentangle himself.

"Alphonse-kun." His voice is calm, mild, void.

He's not sure if this is a conscious of unconscious Al, but either way it means the boy still clings to him, it's an unfortunate thing to know....

The Hallways

[bloodseal_soul]

If someone does choose to exit the rest of the house, they'll find themselves in a maze of hallways that makes little sense. However, there will be a far-off sound of a child crying. If the visitor follows the crying they'll fairly easily find an eight-year-old Alphonse.

[ooc: To access the Ballroom, characters must go through here and encounter young!Al.]

Re: The Hallways Day 2

[golden_hawke]

Another dream. The first night had been Zelos, and now he was here. It wasn't his dream, that much was certain. Hawke walked on silent, bared feet, pausing when he heard the sound of crying. Someone was crying. He hurried a little more, intent on comforting the child who was in obvious distress.

[bloodseal_soul]

The child was sitting in a dead end, scuffed knees drawn up to his chest, sobbing into them. "Brother," he whimpered, and lifted his tearstained face as Hawke came near. Without a child's usual aversion to strangers, he bounded to his feet and came forward, seeking comfort. It didn't seem to matter who from.

"I'm lost," he hiccupped. "I can't find my big brother...!"

[golden_hawke]

And Hawke, being the kind of person that he was, being raised in a family where comfort and help were exchanged as easily as names, gathered the boy in his arms, purring soothingly against his ear.

"Do not worry, little one. We will find him. Do you remember where you last saw him?"