(no subject)

[brightasday]

Character: Monaka Miyama-Uguisu
Fandom: The Miyama-Uguisu Mansion Incident
Player Name: Cyndi

[Monaka should had known better than to look up. She wasn't sure what had happened, but she already felt wary of the situation. Her whole body was drenched in cold water. It soaked right through every layer of clothing she wore, it saturated her hair, and dripped off the tip of her nose. The soft, rhythmic sound of water dripping did not calm Monaka in the slightest. It only made her far too aware that, before she arrived here, she had been in water. She had been too close to the water, perhaps.

Perhaps she had fallen in.

She looked around her, hoping to see something familiar but everything was too new, too shocking. Even the trees seemed odd, maybe it had something to do with the weather? Monaka glanced upward and was instantly rooted to the spot. A man making his way through town tried to speak to her, but Monaka could not hear him. Her eyes were trained on the sight above her head, at the wide expanse of deep blue water, barely held back by some unearthly force.

The sight of it sent a chill down her spine. It reminded her far too much of a time long ago, when she could still see her parents' smile, when she could see them face down and unmoving.

All she could feel was a deep-seated terror as it worked its way through her body, paralyzing her to the spot.]

No... Please, no... [It wasn't directed towards anyone in the area. She held herself tightly, trying hard to push down the fear that had lodged itself into her throat.]

It can't be real... [It was a nightmare after all. The world was closing in all around her, that thin barrier that held back the water was sure to break and then -- and then -- and then --

Monaka held back a sob as she held herself tighter, trying yet failing, to bring herself back together.]

Comments

/o/

[stainedglassreflections]

[ He'd argue it was silver, but that's besides the point. ]

There seems to be houses about, or perhaps the inside of my cloak. It looks like there's a way out.

[ Sion's referencing the line in the sky that goes up, then seems to continue. But he won't point it out, just in case that the sky really is what's bothering her. ]

\o\

[brightasday]

I hadn't noticed... [Which, considering how fixated she was on her fears, came as no surprise. She took a deep breath and chanced a look at her surroundings.

Just as he said, there were buildings and houses about her. She remembered seeing more buildings like these before her parents' death. But what was that other part he said?]

Is there something in your cloak? [She looked back to Sion again. It was better if she just looked at his face and ignored everything else.]

[stainedglassreflections]

At the moment there's me, but if it would make you more comfortable, you can use it so you don't have to look about.

[ There's a big shiny clasp with an emblem holding it put on his left shoulder, so it wouldn't be hard for him to shed it and let her use it.

Even if it weighs twice as much as it ought to because all the water. ]

[brightasday]

[She didn't pick up on the joke right away, but when she did, she relaxed a little more. It helped that he went so far as to offer his cloak as protection, despite its current state. But...]

It would, thank you.

[...She was afraid to reject the offering. The man seemed kind, but, perhaps, he was not as sincere as she hoped. He hadn't shown her anything to be afraid of so far. Maybe it was a good sign? ...It was better to trust him and his kindness rather than to accidentally glance upwards again. She would take her chances.]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ He just smiles and unclasps his cloak. He's not particularly tall - not compared to some of the people he lead - but the cloak would probably trail on the ground far more behind her than it did for him. ]

It's supposed to be too long, which is likely unfortunate in this situation. You can bundle it how you like.

[ While she does that, Sion looks about to see how to get to that line into the 'sky'. ]

[brightasday]

[She holds it close to her person. It was really too big (and heavy) but it did obscure the world around her. It was a small relief.]

Thank you... [She truly meant it. Monaka fumbled with the clasp. Though she had read about cloaks, she hadn't seen one for herself.] ...Who are you?

[stainedglassreflections]

Ahhh...

[ For a moment, Sion isn't exactly sure what to say. This isn't where he ought to be, this isn't Roland, but it also definitely didn't look like anywhere he might be recognized. Sooo... ]

Sion. [ If she fumbles for much more, he'll ask if she needs help. But as it is- ]

And milady's name?

and now with less Okumura!

[brightasday]

[She wouldn't have ever imagined that this man had something to hide. He hadn't given her reason to think otherwise. And she found his company to be good. Far better than the company she had back at the mansion... But hat was before.

She allows herself to look him in the eye for a moment.]

I'm Monaka Miyama. [She seemed to have calmed down a lot through their conversation.]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ Just a slight part of who he is; people tend to act much different when its known he's a king, so he'll just leave it out for now. It doesn't seem like a place where it will mean much anyway. ]

Well then, Lady Miyama, I think I see a way up out of this... area. Would you care for my arm?

[ Its a very refined and rather regal gesture, his slight bow and arm.

Sion has no idea where they are, but he can just be extra polite. ]

[brightasday]

[That was rather polite of him to offer. She bowed back and gently placed her hand on his arm. He really seemed like a good man, especially with how he addressed her and his small offers.

Or, he could be a bad person. But he didn't act bad. ...Yet.

But he could be good.

She was going with "good" for now.]

Are we dreaming? [It seemed as good an explanation as any...]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ He's only a bad person if you ask his best friends. They don't like his overworking habits.

... His best friends or the corrupt nobles who don't like him. Well. Maybe the neighboring countries too.

Never mind, things get complicated fast. ]

It's a new dream, if it is one. But I've never had a dream that was quite this....

[ His sleeve flaps as gestures at... how terribly soaked they both are. ]

wet, without meaning the euphemism.

[brightasday]

[She wouldn't have caught that euphemism even if he had meant it. As such, the very word itself flies over her head.]

I dream of -- of water. Sometimes. [Moving away from that topic now -- ] What do you mean by euphemism? [It must have been related to dreams and dreams about water.] ...What do you dream about?

[She looked away from him again, embarrassed as she was for asking such a question. Even if she had shared her own dreams, a man's dreams were his own.]

[stainedglassreflections]

Ahhh.. An euphemism is a nicer way of saying something. Its usually so adults don't scare children. [ or so they can talk about ~adult things~ without the kids understanding it.

His dreams? Ah- ]

I don't remember them very often. [ He knows what they're about though. Asruld- ]

Usually I wake up knowing it was bad or good. [ Or terribly disoriented. ]

[brightasday]

[She doesn't entirely understand, but it was a good enough explanation for now.] Oh... It must work. Especially when children have bad dreams.

[It would have to work. She knew her nightmares wouldn't be as fierce if her parents had been around.]

I wake up with that feeling too... [They already had so much in common.]

[stainedglassreflections]

I think it does - although sometimes they might be upset later. Its... not very far from lying, really.

Ahh, that's unfortunate. [ Which is better, knowing exactly what scared you, or was so terrible, or only knowing vague hints of it? Sion can't tell, but he has some other reasons for not wanting to know exactly what they were. ]

... And this looks like it goes up.

[ Its an elevator. Not that Sion has ever seen one before. ]

[brightasday]

I like it better that way. [Did it sound odd? She hoped that it didn't.] I -- I wouldn't want to remember those things when I wake up. [She could go about her day with only that brief feeling of discomfort rather than the full-blown nightmare. She followed his gaze and found herself craning her neck to try to see just where it would go.]

How far does it go...?

[Monaka had never seen one either. Or maybe she had... but if she did, it had to have been a very long time ago.]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ It looks like it would go allll the way to that weird sky. And maybe - hopefully - further. Never mind that neither have any idea what is further than that.... ]

Knowing exactly what scared you makes it worse? [ He thinks on that. Well, his own reasons for not wanting to remember aside.... ] I can see why that would be so.

It looks like up to, if not past, this dome. Shall we try?

[brightasday]

[She caught a glimpse of the sky, but quickly averted her eyes. ...There was no need to be afraid of water. But the initial response would take over first, time and again.]

Yes. ...The memory of what scared you is gone and you don't have to think about it anymore. [And that was her Gospel Truth. Mr. Sion was certain an interesting man! He understood without her explanation, which impressed her very much. What other things could they talk about and discover! Like this elevator! She would like to try it.]

Maybe we'll have answers if we go?

[stainedglassreflections]

[ Sion has spent a rather large amount of time learning how to read people. ]

It makes sense; but I do know there are sometimes when you need to know what scares you so you can work on that.

[ Like maybe that water dome being a problem. But, hopefully- ]

If we don't have answers, maybe we can find them.

[ But first they have to figure out how to go up.

There's a man who seems to know what they want, because after they've poked about the interior long enough, he asks if they want to go up.

Sion looks to Monaka to decide if this is the good plan or not. Say yes, and the elevator will start moving? Ready? ]

[brightasday]

I understand that as well. ...What scares you, Mr. Sion?

[Should she address him as "Lord Sion"? Or was "Mr. Sion" okay? She was happy with their conversation, though she felt nearly overwhelmed by how much she actually spoke in return.

Would Sion want to talk about his dreams with her? She knew why she was afraid of water, but she also felt it was ... irrational.]

But what if we have a few clues already?

[Yes, they needed to get their priorities straight!

Monaka gives a firm nod in response, but the last thing she expected was for the elevator to actually move. She held on tightly to Sion's arm, her face nearly pressed against him.]

[stainedglassreflections]

Hmmmn. Don't tell my friends- But I'm scared of the dark.

[ He's lying, though. He's not going to tell this girl he's scared of losing himself to something he let into his mind, but as Lucile calls them 'his periods of darkness', its accurate enough. ]

I usually have to set out a light.

[ Sion that was a bad joke to yourself. His smile might be a tiny bit off for a moment - a bit bitter looking, but he's cheer a moment later. ]

Then hopefully a place to dry off and put those clues together?

[ Okay, wobbling but keeping his balance now. That's... odd. ]

[brightasday]

[She absolutely believes him, though. Wouldn't men be a little more reserved with their fears? She wasn't too sure.]

Do you have a lot of lights? [Maybe he had a collection of them?
But, it seemed as if all other conversations could wait.

She was starting to feel a little nauseous with the sudden motion. She hoped it would stop soon...]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ Well, it's good to know he can deflect well- ]

There's at least one in every room that I spend time in - one that no one gets to turn off.

[ Although, she doesn't seem to be doing that well. ]

Would sitting be better? This isn't a carriage, but the movement seems similar enough. [ Just... going up instead of forward. ]

[brightasday]

[It's probably just her... but she thought it was rather sweet that Sion would have a light in every room.

That offer was met with a look of complete gratitude. Monaka hadn't realized that sitting would be an option. She just hoped the elevator would stop soon. If it was going up, it must have meant it was going to try to get to the very top of the building.

That would take them a little too close to the sky... Monaka knelt on the ground. She could only shake her head in response to his comment. Motion in general made her queasy.]

[stainedglassreflections]

[ Well. Technically, it probably wasn't supposed to be. But a surface is a surface, and if they can crouch or kneel on it, then it counts.

Of course, as soaked as they were, it was highly unlikely to be comfortable. Sion makes a face as he joins her on the floor, and starts to pick at his clothing a little to see if it would magically dry faster. No luck, his layers are squelching as he shifts.

It isn't terribly long, but it is still a moderate length of time before the speed seems to change and the elevator slows to a stop. Almost ten minutes- ]