it's all a dream

[rosestolilies]

Characters: Anyone who wants to participate!
Date: Mid-event.
Summary: All of these individual dreams have combined into one mass dream that the characters have found themselves wandering around in. And it's less than pleasant.
Warnings: Possible violence.

Comments

[ofnobility]

[It's frightening to enter such a quiet dream, after the bizarre and horrifying imagery that her own had contained. It takes her a moment to adjust, to settle, for her heart to stop beating so quickly. The room is barren, and has the still, dead air of a place that has not been lived in. It doesn't feel like a home.

She jumps when she sees the little girl, forces herself to calm down, and it dawns on her who this is.]

Mami-san?

[headedforhope]

[Mami stops her tape duty and turns to Utena. There's confusion and wariness on her face for a moment, but it soon enough smooths out into a bright, childish smile. And yet, it's a blank expression; this Mami doesn't know anyone beyond the borders of her own little world.]

Oh....a guest! [A pause, one which ushers in a brief look of worried distraction. The empty nature of the apartment seems a little more prominent now, heavier somehow, pressing in.] Ah, but I'm not prepared at all to entertain you.....

[ofnobility]

[Mami doesn't recognize her. It shouldn't be surprising, given that she knows by now something is terribly wrong, but it's still jarring.]

Yeah, I guess I am. [She kneels a bit, settling on one knee, so that they are at eye level. There's a steadily growing unease she feels, but she tries to ignore it.] It's okay. I don't mind. [She nods, toward the mirror. It makes her uncomfortable to look at it for too long, but she tries not to let that show. This version of Mami is just a kid, after all.] Do you need help with that? It looks like a pretty big job.

[headedforhope]

[Mami looks from Utena to the mirror and back again. The gold eyes are wide and, for a few moments, full of an unbearable loneliness. But she just shakes her head and smiles more intensely. The sadness bleeds out- or is covered up, one of those.]

Thank you, but it's okay. I can handle it myself.....it's only fair. [and then, appearing to shift gears-] Oh, but I do have some cake. Would you like some?

[She nods to the right. If Utena happens to look over in that direction, there will be a cake there on Mami's curious glass triangle of a table (although there was nothing in that spot a moment ago).

....Well, half of one. Mami looks a little sheepish.]

I already had some earlier- I'm sorry.

[ofnobility]

[Utena looks sympathetic, and after casting another nervous glance to the mirror, nods her head. That's strange...the cake hadn't been there before. But it'd be rude to refuse, and she doesn't want to see that lonely look in Mami's eyes again.]

I'd love to have some cake. [She smiles brightly.] It's very nice of you to offer.

[headedforhope]

Really? [The mirror merely looms, broken and silent, slowly destroying itself. The rate of damage seems to slow at Utena's words, though- a strange, incredibly subtle effect.

A little shy now, Mami reaches to take Utena's sleeve and tug gently.]

I've never had cake with anyone before.

[ofnobility]

Yeah, really. [She glances down at the tug.] You haven't? [That's unusual, she thinks.] Well, [And she stands up, offering Mami her hand.] I shouldn't keep you waiting any longer, right?

[headedforhope]

[Mami looks stunned for a moment by those words, by the outstretched hand. She reaches to take it, but pulls back at the last minute- just brushing the tips of Utena's fingers with her own small ones before turning away and moving toward the table. The rustles of her skirt are a bit too loud in the flat atmosphere of the apartment.

A knife, fork and plate has appeared by the cake.]

[ofnobility]

[Utena is close behind, and gives the cake and utensils a curious look, before sitting down.]

I'll cut the cake, all right? [How old is Mami right now, she wonders. The apartment is sparse, and she hasn't seen any sign of her parents...

She frowns, brandishing the knife, and it slides neatly through the cake.] You can have the first piece.

[headedforhope]

[A polite shake of the head. Her smile takes on an expectant air.]

No, that's all right. You're my guest, so the honor should go to you.

[ofnobility]

[She smiles back, wanting to set Mami (or this version of Mami, anyway) at ease. Utena doesn't understand what's going on, but she seems like a very sad little girl.]

Okay. I'll go first. [She places the slice of cake on a plate, and neatly digs into it with her fork. The urge to glance back to the mirror is strong, but she clamps down hard on that impulse. That mirror is creepy. There's no reason to look at it.]

[headedforhope]

[The cake is fresh, delicious by pretty much anyone's standards. Mami smiles with approval, obviously pleased by Utena's acquiescence. The expression almost seems to make her glow, and the oppressive emptiness surrounding them abates slightly.

Yet as she watches the taller girl, she begins to feel the first slow pangs of nausea....a faintly unsettled feeling in her stomach.]

I hope you like it.

[ofnobility]

I do. [She says this around a bite of cake, remembers her manners at the last second, and swallows before talking again.] Sorry. Do you want any? I can cut you a piece.

[headedforhope]

[For a moment it looks like Mami might say yes, but then her gut does an unpleasant roll and her face falls just a little.] ....No, thank you. I'm okay.

[ofnobility]

[Utena tilts her head, and sets down her fork.] Are you sure? I guess you ate a lot of cake before I got here, huh?

[headedforhope]

Mm? Oh. It's just that....

[Her expression darkens further; the queasy feeling is much stronger now, suddenly. Mami's gaze drops and her hands twist the fabric of her skirt. A quiet rumble off in the distance, almost lost beneath the sound of her voice.]