Opening my eyes again in casted darkness... (January Catch-all)

[esurientabyss]

🌊Who: He Xuan, and anyone else.
🌊What: Things happening; they're self-explanatory.
🌊When: January.
🌊Where: Varies.
🌊Warnings: Kidnapping, mentions of suicide & forced induction into harems; involvement of violence/murder. Anything else that may occur will be added or adequately warned for in the thread. TGCF spoilers, but since this already deals with memories, that's a requirement, really.



i. gravitation

[ No matter where He Xuan finds himself, whereas it's on the beach or somewhere else, there seems to be some kind of nonsense afoot. Some...feline nonsense at that.

They're all congregating rudely around him and he is essentially helpless to their attacks (cuddles and piling around his feet.)

He practically glares at anyone who catches him in the midst of this. ]

What?

ii. displacement

[ Ghost kings do not get sick, not really. But it doesn't mean that coughing or sneezing is an impossibility for him.

It just so happens he had grabbed something spicy from a restaurant and for some reason found himself sneezing due to some kind of pepper and now he's in the middle of a lake. Soon enough, he's grumbling, extricating himself from the water. What a waste of food. ]

iii. uncharted waters

[ In addition to those, anyone is free to encounter someone who seems to, for all intents and purposes appear to look like He Xuan, and is essence definitely still him. Yet, his appearance clearly differs in subtle ways. His skin isn't so pale, and his ears are not so sharp and he appears a little lost. Feel free to run into him like this, though he will be scrutinizing most people, and there appears to be a sword at his hip, which his hand is hovering on the hilt of. ]

iv. wildcard

[ Self-explanatory...! Open to things that are also not necessarily the above. ]

If you would like to plot with me, I can be reached on plurk @ leyfi, discord @ seraphkingdhaos#8538 and my plotting comment will be here.

Comments

[esurientabyss]

[ "I'm not sure how. If we're unable to leave, we'll have to go to Black Water and ask him to let us leave..."

The man seems unsure about that, though. But, no other ghosts are pursuing them at this time. So, there is that?

"That would require going straight into the Nether Water Manor, however."

So there is...an option. If Trahearne keeps a close gaze on the sea, it will briefly show an image of a lake that appears to be within the forest they just left. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ While Trahearne isn't keeping particular watch over the see, "Nether Water Manor" doesn't sound very inviting at all. He furrows his brow in thought for a moment--none of this seems to be going their way. But what choice do they have? ]

Then we go to Nether Water Manor. [ He stands taller, squaring his shoulders. It's gotten him places in life before. Why not now? ] So long as we stick together, we should be able to manage.

[esurientabyss]

[ Wdym it doesn't sound cozy and welcoming at all?? Jokes aside, the man nods, seeming at least a bit more confident at Trahearne's words.

Something about two heads are better than one. Though, said male looks a little sheepish and says, "We should probably head back into the forest. The place is bound to be on the other side or at least somewhere within it.

...Are you prepared to venture back in?"

What fun, huh? At least the man doesn't sound very excited about it. But, what other choice do they have? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ If there's one thing Trahearne is good at, it's instilling confidence in others. ]

Whether I'm prepared or not has little bearing on what we must do. [ He jerks his head in the direction of the treeline and begins to walk. ]

Wherever it is, we'll find it. I'll be right behind you.

[esurientabyss]

[ Those words are good enough to make the man walk ahead of the two of them. This time when they re-enter, there are no disturbances. It's clear that they are being watched, by shadows which look like actual people more than ghosts or shadows, but they hurry away out of sight as the two venture forwards.

Once they go by past a clearing, there's something else as well: A lake.

This lake seems to be of a similar nature in appearance to the ocean surrounding this island. But, there is something else to it—not only does it reflect the foliage and people (the two of them) around it, it seems to contain something else as well...

The image of a dark, forbidding-looking manor staring right back at them within its depths. Though it is not in their actual, immediate surroundings—just reflected in the lake.

The Earth Master turns to Trahearne and says, "...I believe this is it—the entrance to the manor, that is. Of course, I shall go first."

He begins to step into the water, and within the next moment, he seems to vanish or 'drop' out of thin air. Will Trahearne follow? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne is no stranger to the sensation of being watched, be it the reverent stares of saplings or the eerie sensation he gets when alone in Orr. But so long as the ghosts and shadows don't do anything to harm either of them, he's fine with this.

As they happen upon the lake, his gaze immediately fixes on the reflection of the non-existent manor. Well. He isn't sure what he was expecting, but this certainly wasn't it. He stares at the upside down image, analyzing it, trying to figure out how this all works.

He barely manages to tear his eyes away from the reflection when the Earth Master just...vanishes.

...Okay.

Well. Not like he has anything better to do. So he takes a deep breath and steps into the water after him. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ Once Trahearne has made his way in, he will notice one ominous fact:

The Earth Master is no longer with him. But, fortunately, he is actually within the manor now! It's dark, lit by a few torches along the walls, preventing the darkness of the foundations from being submerged in complete black.

In front of him, there is a hall-way with three intersecting points. Should he go forward, he will see even more at the crossroads.

To the right, there is a door at the end of the hall. To the left, there is just another long hallway that seems to go on...for, like forever, in a foreboding manner.

Of course, right in front of him, there is a set of double-doors, and if he squints in the torch light, there are spots of blood leading towards the doors. Which way does he take? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ The sudden abandonment is alarming to say the least. Trahearne cautiously scans the area, looking for any trace of the man, but finds nothing.

May as well keep going, then. To find whoever it is that can send him back whence he came.

He steels himself and marches towards the crossroads. Each path he considers carefully, but the blood... He frowns. If this was left by the Earth Master, then that means he's in trouble. Even if not, then someone is hurt. So he slowly steps forward, careful not to touch any of the blood, and attempts to open the double doors. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ The area is some kind of wide, open space with a multitude of doors that can be glimpsed here or there, and unsurprisingly also colored black with dull lighting brought from torches. Yet, there seems to be a dais of some sort towards the end of the room, and upon the dais is a golden throne where He Xuan is seated. Behind him stands a man dressed in pure white and a mask, who ends up sliding away into dark curtains fitted behind the throne. ]

So, you're the intruder who has entered into my manor. Have you come to beg to be set free?

[ The small blood trail leads up to the unconscious form of the Earth Master, who lies still before the ghost king. For some reason, it appears that he doesn't seem to recognize Trahearne at this time. Is it the poor lighting? Or some other nonsense reason. Who knows? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ It takes a moment for Trahearne to take this all in. It's a beautiful room, all things considered. And his hunch was correct--the blood did belong to the Earth Master. His eyes follow the trail to him, and his brows knit slightly in worry.

But the bigger surprise is the familiar face on the throne. It takes a moment to find his name while he flips through his catalogue of people.

He tilts his head. ]

He Xuan? [ That guy he stargazed with at the spring dance? Will he always be fated to see him in low lighting conditions?

It gives him a bit of relief--one, knowing that he had not yet again been transported to another world entirely, and two, the familiar face tells him he's still connected to Crescentview. ]

No, I'm not here to beg. I'm...confused, if anything. [ He takes a cautious step forward, opening himself to show that he means no harm. ] Is this...your memory?

[esurientabyss]

[ It takes a moment, as if He Xuan needed to recall something, his gaze still hard and cold on the individual standing before him.

But, eventually there seems to be something different about the way he looks at Trahearne. ]

...A memory. You can call it something like that.

[ He stands up from where he's seated. ]

But, it's not exactly that either. Fortunately for you, it won't take so long. However, the end will always be unpleasant. If you want to close your eyes, even that will be possible in a place like this.

[ He Xuan picks up the unconscious form of the god by his head. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne watches each movement with guarded curiosity.

Still, if he had to--he would say he trusts He Xuan more than...well. More than anything else that's happening in his dream. He's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Surely, there must be a good reason as to why he acts the way he does. ]

Are you going to kill him?

[ It isn't accusatory. Nor is it a tell that he will stop He Xuan if the answer is yes. It's neutral--simply curious. The least he can do is understand why. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ It's true. He Xuan does not act nor react without reason.

Whether he always explains them well, is another story entirely. ]

I am.

[ In this dream, at least. ]

I've let him run around, serve his purpose. But now it's his time...and everyone has a part to play, whether they want to or not. Even the immortals will crumble with ease if you find their one weakness. And I suppose if you're here...

[ It isn't pleasant to watch his hand exert enough strength to crush what it's holding onto in a mere twitch, but that is what happens, and it's instant, with no desire to make it any less so. He lets the motionless body fall back onto the ground, and where they stand, the blood spilling forth, perhaps too much because in the end, most of the floor is covered in it to the point where some of it might be conceived to rise up from the stone by means unknown. ]

...Why don't you take a look at the liquid at your feet? Or don't. This will all end the same soon enough.

[pactmarshal]

[ He winces at the crunch. What this tells him is that He Xuan is more powerful than he thought. Not just in strength--that much is evident--but in dominion. Politics, soft power...or even in ways beyond Trahearne's comprehension. At once he has so much more respect for his acquaintance. He is not to be crossed.

He drops his gaze to his feet, watching in surprise as the blood rises from the floor. It is not out of shock or horror at the sheer amount, but confoundment that it is so much. Blood drips from a lifted foot. It isn't like he can put it anywhere to let it dry, so he simply places it back down in the pool.

He knows the end is coming, but he can't help but lift his head, brows furrowed slightly, and ask-- ]

Why?

[esurientabyss]

[ Incredulous and nonsensical, those are things associated with dreams. At times with no desire for regular logic, nor a want for it.

The dead body sinks into the blood, seeming to meld with it, and disappearing from sight despite the fact it is nowhere deep enough to disappear under normal circumstances.

The blood also reflects nothing like the dark water around these parts, and He Xuan merely steps closer, undeterred himself, before he's standing a few feet away from Trahearne, who has had the misfortune to share this nightmare with him. ]

Why? Why not?

[ He's not one from theatrics, but the man in the mask, in white, emerges from behind He Xuan, and speaks with a smile,

"Centuries ago, a god his morals he did forego,
Looking for respite, for his brother damned by spite,
He came upon a forbidden spell.
Glancing upon a poor man he did not dwell,
In an instant did he condemn him,
Not just for his brother, but to fate's whim.
This man who suffered, while gods prospered—
Is it not only right that he take one's place,
So that he can exact his rightful vengeance?"

The blood rises and crashes into them all, suddenly, and without warning, sprawling what Trahearne can see into black. But if that's not enough, there is a moment where the weight of such ugly, heavy liquid bearing down dissipates, and images come forth. Trahearne sees a man with long black hair, dressed in blue robes, alongside a younger male in white and green ones. The two walk towards the light, while one, meant to be He Xuan seems held back by the darkness, and when that version of himself turns to face Trahearne, the surroundings shatter, edges of black and white falling like broken pieces of glass.

For a moment, that is all that remains of this nightmare, those sharp pieces coming down until Trahearne will find himself vaulted back to the realm of those well awake.

It seems, however, he is blissfully free. If he should wish it, he can seek out He Xuan, who will be eventually found at the beach, or he can try to rest. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Why not, indeed? With that much power and control, why not simply discard others once they've served their purpose?

Trahearne stares, unwavering as He Xuan approaches. Now that he knows, in one manner or another, that this is a dream, he finds himself less scared. The imagery alarms him, the overwhelming sensations of pain and loss tugs at familiar wounds in his own heart. It all comes so quickly, much too fast for him to process anything before he finds the words to ask--

And his eyes snap open, the familiar wood patterns of the wall by his bed, dim in the ambient light greet him. Lingering is the feeling of the weight on him, and he finds that at some point in the night, he'd pulled the covers out of their tuck and wrapped himself in them. Unusual.

He does slip into a shallow sleep afterwards, but the imagery sticks with him, even in his subconsciousness. And when he does give up on sleep as the first rays of the summer sun peek through the trees, he sends one of his flesh golems to He Xuan's abode, along with a letter: ]

He Xuan,

Last night, I had a dream with you in it. It featured things that I have never seen or could have ever possibly conceived of in my life, and I have a suspicion that it was not of my mind, but yours. And that I have been privy to things - painful things, perhaps - that may never come up in normal conversation.

I know we are not close. But know that you're in my thoughts, and if you ever need anything or would like to talk, say the word.

- Trahearne.

[esurientabyss]

[ ...Talk?

At first, He Xuan has nothing to say; nothing to respond with.

He does happen to keep the letter. In all things considered, the nightmare isn't so bad as some others. Or maybe by this time it's something that he feels is true.

But, it seems that others find their way into his various nightmares, ensnared no matter how much He Xuan had originally imagined it would be an easy matter.

Then, this makes him all the more...appreciative of the communication attempt.

Two days later, a letter arrives in turn. ]

Trahearne,

Talking about it may only serve to allow me more time to consider impetuously exacting wrath upon our captor.

I will remember what you have said. And later on, if you feel the urge, you may approach whenever you like.

- He Xuan

[ He Xuan is most certainly incapable of sounding warm in his letters, but the fact he responded and has indicated the man can speak to him...not necessarily about the subject, is his way of acknowledging it. And being appreciative, which he admittedly sucks at being.

Regardless, he leaves it at this for now. ]