A Connected Dream

Gurashi

Back at the start of August, before everything got super crazy, and while Gurashi was still missing their voice, I forgot to clean up this remarkably sweet log which started as me AFK/asleep in @Tridemon 's meditation room. @Mysrai is very good. Aschwar is very good too. 

<-- Gurashi asleep in meditation chamber, because meditating is hard

A pale, shimmering light from a blown glass chrysanthemum lantern suffuses the room in tranquil amaranthine hues.

 

Tridemon tumbles in from the east.

 

Tridemon flops down onto the ground.

 

The soft sounds of a zither being played and the cry of a crane in flight echo in from somewhere.

 

You have emoted: Gurashi shifts in their spot, mumbling as most of them disappears under another pillow.

 

You think to yourself: ** familiar faded colors, not really much of anything **.

 

You see the following people here:

Tridemon, Gurashi.

 

You think to yourself: // .... ... *somewhere, far, far off - a familiar ripple* .... //.

 

Tridemon settles onto the pillows a little bit more... "Hello."

 

The ripple is suddenly overpowered by a faint wash of heat, the desert wind warm on your face as you slide through a familiar veil and emerge in a city bigger than any you could begin to comprehend.

 

Tridemon blinks.

 

Shifting streets vanish and reappear in new directions, entirely nonsensical and repulsive to those who are unaccustomed to them, yet in your head it is easy. Skipping along you feel the street begin to slip beneath your hooves, but a solid thought of your destination and they re-solidify.

 

You have emoted: Gurashi shifts again beneath the pillows, an arm emerging, bending, then draping at an awkward angle over their head. Still sleeping.

 

Soon, a familiar Row comes into view, and you catch the delightful scent of citrus at your nostrils. For a moment you wonder if you should stop by the Monastery, to offer the Saint some of your new confection, but think better of it when you hear the thuds of training echoing beyond the large doors.

 

Tridemon lets his eyes go unfocused, forsaking physical sight for the moment for clarity of vision elsewhere.

 

You think to yourself: // .... *another far-off ripple, searching, fading as the dreaming continues* ... //.

 

Down a side street, past the kicked over bins, over the low wall, and into a surprisingly well-kept, well-groomed path that is entirely out of place in the squalor of its surroundings. An enormous jackal sits on its haunches, staring down at you from atop a large flight of sandstone stairs, and you hear yet more thuds from within the walled-off villa.

 

You have emoted: Gurashi twitches in their sleep, fingers curling...

 

You think to yourself: ** slowly swirling shades of saffron - familiarity **.

 

With a grin finding its way onto your face, you sneak up the steps and quickly duck behind the nearest pillar in the solarium, the cheerful light of stained glass bending around you and morphing into small butterflies and beetles, moths and caterpillars, all lazily scooting along their merry way.

 

The sound of hard wood crashing upon iron can be heard as the Golden Heart lunges clumsily towards the Scarlet Courtesan, who idly moves His chin to the side, and the Jackal's Staff floating in midair moves to parry the training sword which Aschwar uses, holding the massive tae'dae's strength at bay before shoving them back.

 

You think to yourself: ** heart fluttering - suddenly a wash of concerned violet - quickly returning to shades of burnt orange - present, listening, watching **.

 

They pull back, panting slightly as sweat clearly runs through their fur, and they wipe at their brow with a single forearm. No sooner has their paw passed than a single grass-whistle reed been flung to neatly prick them right between the eyes, causing them to blink and scowl as they shake their head. "No fair! That is cheats!"

 

The call of a cicada welcomes the setting of the sun and the coming night.

 

You blink as you realise this is not spoken in Common, but the rumbling, roaring tongue which you once heard them speak when the Shofet erased the mark from their brow. In this small moment, at least, you hear the call of their heart more than their words.

 

You think to yourself: ** the feeling continues, but stronger now, marked with shades of pink and gold creeping in **.

 

"Yes, My Heart. When you are in a fight, there may be those who cheat. Would you like a whap on the head instead, for not using your stance properly?" The Courtesan laughs as he brandishes five more grass-whistle reeds in His fist, poking out between His fingers like deadly knives. "Or maybe next time I can hit your nose!"

 

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly lets out a small noise, muffled beneath the pillows - a giggle. Still wrapped up in their dreaming, they pull in the previously curled arm and nestling both hands beneath their chin, folding them over their heart.

 

"No! I will do it right this time!" The retort is sudden, but with high spirit, and you watch as the tae'dae carefully shifts their feet apart, holding a sword made of wooden rods strapped together before them carefully. "Oh no, mothie! Do not go in there!" They drop their guard for a moment and look with wide eyes towards the tower in the centre of the villa, raising a paw.

 

In an extremely disorienting movement, the Courtesan turns in place away from you while simultaneously turning towards you as He looks behind Him, and in the moment where His face is briefly aligned with yours, you see Him wink. "Oh? I thought I told--"

 

You think to yourself: ** another fluttering sensation - like falling, but without fear **.

 

"SNEAK ATTACK!" The sharp whistle of training sword through the air can be heard as Aschwar lunges forward with surprising speed, crossing the space between them and Him in but two short steps before bringing the weapon down mightily. Only a moment before it can connect does He reach out and catch the weapon in His palm, turning and offering the tae'dae a breath-taking smile.

 

"Although next time..." The Courtesan reaches out with his free hand and gently touches the soft padding of Aschwar's nose with His forefinger, continuing, "You may not want to yell out 'sneak attack' if you truly wish to catch someone off-guard."

 

You have emoted: Gurashi's entire body shakes in their sleep as they let out another laugh, tail audibly thudding against the cushion they lay upon.

 

The vision dissolves as you feel a giggle escape your mouth and see the pair turn to look towards you, Aschwar's eyes widening in delight while the Courtesan gives you a cheeky, attractive smile. The dream does not last, though, and no sooner have you locked eyes with your friend does it dissolve, drifting away like so many granules of sand upon the sea.

 

With a sigh, you whisper, "Hnn..."

 

You have emoted: Gurashi breathes deeply for a time, hands still curled tightly against their chest.

 

Tridemon lets his eyes focus again, left eye rotating away from opal, looking down at you.

 

You think to yourself: ** grasping at the last few remaining grains of sand, watching them shimmer and eventually tumble into nothingness - familiar washes of blue, and gray **.

 

The depths of the dark of night herald a new beginning, and a new chance to make the world a little better.

It is now the 15th of Roarkian, 566 years after the Coming of Estarra.

There are 23 days until the New Moon

 

You think to yourself: // *sudden, loud, clear - a buzz as if it were right over your shoulder - a sickening sense of satisfaction--* //.

 

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly jolts awake, kicking out a foot and thrusting out their hands, sending pillows flying.

 

You flail about helplessly. <-- awake!