|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:33 pm
It was Wednesday night, and Jada had invited Kallichore to come over. It was October 4th, exactly a week after her last visit, and the two of them were going to be trying out that... alternative therapy that they'd discussed, when they were trapped in the mirrorspace. The red senshi had mentioned some kind of... magical vision water, that had helped her to... understand the language that her planet was trying to speak. metaphorically. It had helped grant her peace. Understanding. Jada personally only cared about getting the former. She wanted to stop the nightmares, wanted to make this all come to an end- her dependence on the aids she was using to get through the night. Though, as she'd begun her exploration, her trials, she'd found that some nights she was too mentally and physically tired to even grab the vial that held the water from Kallichore's planet. The crystal that she used to help drain her energy to exhaust herself was half-remembered, but she didn't think that Caedus would be terribly upset with her for having an “off” week. Or at least, she hoped not. She would have to worry about that tomorrow night. Regardless of what happened... she would have to give back her friend's vial at the end of this. He may be getting a lot more energy in the coming weeks. Now, she held out her hand to the senshi of madness, safely locked in one of the guest rooms, just in case something went wrong- they would be returned to where they left, and Kallichore wouldn't have to drag her across the floor, or back to the house, or... at all. Plus, this was the room closest to the library, so if she passed out, Christa would be nice and close to some form of entertainment while Jada tried not to choke on her own vomit. Or worse. But the water- it would be taken on Scylla. It was her homeworld she needed to figure out how to speak to, or... whatever. “Are you ready?” she tried to make her voice bright, almost cheerful, not indicative of the fact that- well. Magical liquids that gave potentially nightmarish visions wasn't exactly something a girl tried every day.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:45 pm
Christa cleared her throat, softening some of the wrinkles on her demure skirt. Jada liked to tease her for dressing like a mousy bookworm, but that's what she was in many ways. Reading glasses were safely tucked away and the mason jar she'd used to gather the water for dreaming was floating in the subspace pocket where it could be kept pristine. Great care was taken in its acquisition and the gray haired woman would do everything in her power to make sure Jada was safe during its administration. This was her purpose in the past. She dare not sully the memories of the one that came before her, who showed her the path to take. "Ready whenever you are. I'm... thrilled, really, to visit Scylla for the first time. I've seen a few homeworlds, but each is so different. I look forward to the... sea spray and ocean breeze." Christa was very well aware Scylla-the-asteroid was unlikely to be a welcoming sort of vacation destination. Scylla-the-asteroid conjured images of savage wildlife and unexplored oceans full of creatures the likes of which no man had ever seen and lived to tell the tale. The Kraken might have slept there, deep in the ocean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:10 pm
"You'll get plenty of sea spray and ocean breeze," Scylla assured her friend with a wry grin, "After this, we'll do as much sea spray and ocean as your little heart can handle. Maybe in the Bahamas- have you ever been to the Bahamas? I think we're definitely taking you to the Bahamas." Nervous talking wasn't usually one of Jada's ticks, but it was clearly prevalent now. "Okay, so I'm ready. My game plan is to go there, get settled, have you read any last minute terms and conditions, and then go on a trip." Hopefully she wasn't making an insulting amount of light to cover her nerves- she knew her face was probably not doing that good a job of hiding her jitters. "Oh-" she reached into her sash, tugging out the vial, and passing it to the other woman. "This is yours. I figure I'll give it back now, in case I totally lose my s**t and tentacles start flying everywhere or I try and jump out the window."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:18 pm
With a flick of her wrist, the years-old henshin pen made its appearance. Her own energy signature, now complete with the energy of her moon, made her presence unmistakably different than that of Scylla's. The last thing Christa wanted was to endanger Scylla's dear family, so she made the transformation as quickly and as quietly as possible. Luminescent tattoos quietly awoke on her skin, eyes lighting the room with a soft cyan glow. Steadying herself, Kallichore gave her comrade a nod. "One thing at a time, Scylla." She understood the nervousness, for she too was terrified that she might not wake up, having drowned or choked or all other manner of death or dismemberment. "...I can't ask a favor like that, but we'll discuss it when you arrive at the end of your journey." The senshi took back the vial, pinning it to the place it usually rested on her hip. Gone for months, but not forgotten, Kallichore knew it was serving a purpose with someone else. That was what the bottle was meant for in the first place. "...it could be helpful, at the end. We'll see. Your strength may prove it unnecessary. I'll make sure you don't jump out a window, though I'm not sure about the tentacle part..." Kallichore tapped her chin, shooting Scylla a smile. "Ready whenever you are."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:35 pm
She watched her friend henshin up, felt the bright, vibrant aura wash over her. "The Bahamas aren't a favor, they're a necessity," she assured the other woman as she took her hands. "I have always wanted to rent a private island for a couple weeks, you know?" Probably not- Christa didn't seem the kind of woman to fantasize about private islands. She returned the other senshi's smile, and swung out her hand, clasping the senshi's hand. It took only a moment to orient herself to her world- and they were gone. Between one breath and the next, the autumn air was replaced with a warm breeze, the sound of waves crashing on the rocks. They stood in the White Temple, looking outwards. It was nearing what would be considered "afternoon" on Earth, and while the world had not yet begun to glow, it probably would before this little adventure was over. Jada had figured it out- It could take anywhere from half an hour to about 12 hours. Probably. Maybe. She wasn't the professional- that was... well. Kallichore at least knew what she had been looking for. "Any suggestions on location? There are rooms in the upper floors of the Temple, there's the beach, there's the throne room... Catacombs, if you want an extra creepy adventure. I don't know exactly how this is supposed to work."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:58 pm
The shift from one world to another was always a shocking and unsettling experience, though, blessedly, it only lasted a few moments. It was like being the passenger in a car, knowing that stops and turns were an inevitability, but had no control over when they came. Finding herself standing on an unfamiliar world, Kallichore was almost immediately enchanted. The sweet smell of a warm sea breeze caused her eyes to flutter closed and she breathed deep, reverently, thanking Scylla for granting her passage. Tilted her head to the sky, several lungfulls of oceanic air were appreciated quietly before the senshi could find herself again to reply to her guide. Scylla guided her here. She would help guide Scylla through herself. "....it's beautiful here, Scylla. Grecian... familiar, in a way." A gloved hand reached out as she walked slowly near a stark white pillar. It rose high above her head, supporting the heavy and protective roof. These pillars were larger and more intricate than the kind that adorned the temples back on her moon. Her moon was considerably less wild, less grand. The senshi could appreciate architecture like this, temples like this, care and reverence like this. A society did not erect such elaborate places of worship for its own sake - there was love in these pillars. Kallichore cleared her throat. Task at hand. "My apologies, Scylla. Wherever you think you might be most comfortable. You'll be laying down, to avoid falling. I'll stay with you for as long as it takes." Gingerly did she pull the simple glass mason jar from subspace, the jar containing a clear liquid that looked identical to plain tap water. It moved in just the same way, nothing betraying the intense hallucinogenic properties it possessed. There was barely enough for a cup-and-a-half inside. Kallichore knew from Sibyl's memory that this amount was more than enough to begin the journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:40 am
It always pleased her to watch someone else see Scylla for the first time. Some of the awe that she wondered if she had almost half-lost, she could take it in for just a brief moment in someone else's eyes. It was hard to remember to remain constantly in awe of something beautiful when half the time you blinked and you were remembering the way the blood and ichor looked on otherwise pristine beaches.
"I have wondered how old it all is. The Kraken wasn't really mentioned until the 13th century, but Scylla was 8th century BC? I haven't been able to find any references before Homer. I've thought over and over again about how one world influenced the other- transplants? Survivors? Legands of Atlantis- a port for 'alien' travelers? Sharing technology and knowledge and materials and legends of their powers? Was the Temple inspired by Grecian architecture, or the other way around? Or was it another planet and world entirely, and we just lost any other point of reference?"
Well.
"Um-" she inhaled, considered. "Let's go this way." she led the other senshi into the temple, through the large open audience chamber, and up the stairs into the private areas. "The main room, the one that was Andromache's, it overlooks the Pillar. I figure if there's going to be any crazy dream talking going on, it'll be with the super obvious world plant. Right?"
The liquid she would be drinking seemed so innocuous... innocent. Like water. But even on earth, drugs could look deceptive.
Taking a seat on the edge of the air mattress she'd put on the old frame of Andromache's bed (because lord knew, it would probably be the creepy crawlies and infectious diseases that had survived a thousand years) she breathed out, and let Kallichore see her own vulnerability. "I got this, right? And you got me?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:22 pm
“I wish I knew.” she breathed, gently tracing the curvature of the pillar before pulling her hand away. She would have liked to stay long and examine the temple from top to bottom, taking in the similarities to the much smaller temples present on her own moon. The similarities were too striking to ignore. Perhaps there was an ancient connection between the planets and Earth itself, or between each other? “Much like now, your home is more dignified than your average family domicile. Likewise, your temple is more glorious than the humble little things I’m accustomed to.” It wasn’t intended as a put-down or an insult by any means. Kallichore smiled and turned towards the senshi who brought her here, following dutifully further inside. “...I wonder, Scylla, were we friends in the past?” The room that belonged to Andromache - the Scylla of the past, she came to find - seemed like the perfect place for Dreaming. Overlooking the gargantuan coral pillar in the distance was appropriate. A small stool stood nearby, and this would be where Kallichore sat as Scylla was guided through her dream. The Kraken senshi’s vulnerability was what made her more human, more relatable, than those for professed to be a warrior and little else. The senshi in red took up the stool and set her vigil, pulling the mason jar back out of subspace to present to Scylla. The last thing she wanted to do was drop it on the stone floor by accident while marvelling at the temple’s architecture. “I won’t leave your side, Scylla. That’s my duty to you, as a friend. The Dream may last a few hours, or longer. I’m not sure. I was out for six, myself. I will make sure nothing happens to you, and will be here when you wake up.” As Scylla took her first tentative drink of the liquid, her companion recited the poem she’d learned from the past, describing this very thing. ”To open the Gate, one must be Guided
Drink from the pool and the Moon will Walk with you
Answer for you
Dream for you
Beneath the Castle a great Pool sleeps
From its Waters, your Soul finds Peace..”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:39 pm
"Everything was big on Scylla." the grin was amused, her chuckle small, and nonjudgmental. "The plants, the people, the predators... I guess people just didn't want something coming up out of the sea and swallowing the entire building." Which might have actually been possible, if some of the carvings she had found were accurate. "We didn't build, much. The Temple was it, and the village below. There were the undersea domes, but even those traveled where the Dome went."
She reached out for the mason jar, holding it in her hands for a moment. She could back out of this. It was- this was stupid. She could be taking an actual amazonian spirit trip right now, or something. With a guide, not just the view of the planet beyond as a vague arm.
But sometimes a bit of adventure could be fun. Or horrifically traumatizing. Time would tell, wouldn't it? "YOLO," she chirped with faux cheer to the other reincarnated magical girl. And then she drank, settling back to wait, Kallichore's words the only sound in the room for a long moment. "How long will this take? Is there anything I can point out to you while we wait, or... I didn't bring a bowl in case I puked."
Was she going to puke?
Only from nerves. She hoped. She inhaled, exhaled. Tried to relax.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 6:36 pm
"So," she started, trying to lighten the mood just a little with a terrible joke, "Scylla is like Texas?" She understood, acutely, the fear one could feel, knowing that something was going to happen but lacking the control. Scylla had no control over what she might see, or how horrifying it might be, or whether or not she would become sick. All of those fears were normal, justified. Even as Scylla settled in for the inevitable and anxious wait, Kallichore began to unfasten the belts that held her sleeves to her fuku. "You ease into it slowly. You might see or hear something strange at first before you're fully immersed. You'll be dreaming soon enough, but I will be here to make sure you are safe. If something happens, I'll clean you up." Kallichore knew she wasn't the warmest person on earth, and hardly motherly in the slightest. She was not like Sibyl, who was trusted with the care of the moon's young children. She did not possess that inviting smile or twinkling eyes, but she considered herself trustworthy and a woman of her word. She cradled Scylla's hand in hers while the water worked its magic. "Tell me about the pillar in the distance?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:10 am
"Every time someone mentions Texas, I think of that stupid old country song- All my exes live in Texas... that's whyyy I resiiide in Tennessee." Jada's mockery of a country twang was probaby not very accurate, but the song was understandable enough. She'd always been more piano and harp than actually doing the singing, but mother had said-
A young lady must be well-rounded.
She blinked, her hand twitching on the mattress. Well. She was certainly something. As Kallichore's hand came for her own, Jada swallowed, and clung to it. Possibly overly-tightly, but her fingernails were rounded, no sharp edges. Still, she tried not to dig them in, using the pressure of flesh to try and focus herself.
The pillar? She looked up, through the window. "The World Pillar. It's coral. I think. Something similar. It supposedly can be seen from anywhere on Scylla, through its branches. I haven't checked. I haven't seen everywhere on Scylla yet. Such a tiny asteroid and yet everything on it is huge. Magic, I guess. Maybe we shrink when we come here and the Kraken's just normal octopus size."
Pillar.
"I think it generates a low kind of... gravity field. The mountains, the floating ones- I don't know you could see them, but if you go look out some of the windows once I'm under, you can. It used to house a massive ecosystem, and -" She could half see it, in those faded secondhand memories. "It was a test of adulthood, to go down there. There was... We sent them out. Stones. I have a necklace of them. It belonged to Andromache- the um- my last.... who I was before?"
As their conversation continued, everything was moving, starting to slowly shift... pulse... and about 20 minutes after she drank the water... everything went. Her grip laxed, and her body went lip and still, her purple eyes open and unfocused, staring blankly at the World Pillar beyond.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:17 pm
She had faded, and then she had dreamed. At first, she had been still, but the world around them had not.
The sun set slowly, and the world sprang to life, even the walls of the temple itself beating out a rhythm of lights, soft and fluttering. Through the windows, the waves had glittered with bioluminescent plants, the coral pillar had shifted and dazzled. There was no true darkness on Scylla, only places where the light was harder to sense.
"Sorrow," Scylla had whispered, and that had been Kallichore's only warning before her power erupted around them, shaking the floor of the room, grasping and reaching and thrashing around the Senshi of the Krakens body. 15 seconds later it had faded away, and the girl on the bed stared onward, unphased. And the night had marched on, broken only twice more by unexpected magical... incidents.
Beyond shaking of limbs, and beading sweat on her brow, the dilation and contraction of pupils, there was no other sign of her dreaming.
It was almost 7 hours later when she sighed, the tension in her body draining, and her eyes closed and opened in a slow blink.
"I have sandpaper in my eyes," she said hoarsely. "Where do I file a complaint?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:36 pm
Kallichore was thankful Scylla was dreaming, for she would otherwise have heard the gasp of surprise when tentacles erupted from the ground suddenly. The senshi didn't leave Scylla's side, but did spend a good few moments perched atop the stool she had been keeping vigil on, to keep away from the reach of the Kraken's limbs. She hadn't expected such a thing, and wondered then if she had done the same thing while dreaming. Thankfully, no one was nearby when she went under. The eruptions aside, the vigil was more or less uneventful. She would sometimes stand to stretch her limbs, for the watch was long, and took some time to comb the room in which they stayed. The culture of Scylla was foreign to her, and incredibly interesting. Kallichore found this venture to be very fulfilling in multiple ways. Scylla herself was learning what she needed to, gods willing, and Kallichore could give back to the people who had helped her through the darkest points in her life. One the Kraken senshi was conscious and aware, it was a relief to hear the humor. "I'll take it up with management. How do you feel? Are you thirsty?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:50 pm
She felt... odd. Everything was sluggish, and her head ached. Her eyes ached. Was she thirsty? Both yes and no- she could still feel the water around her, even though she felt like... She squeezed her eyes together tightly, succumbing to a huge yawn. Her body felt heavy. The yawn felt good, as did the stretch, as she uncurled her body from its ball.
"I- think so?" it would be better to get some hydration, wouldn't it? If nothing else, she could dump some in her eyes. And having come to that determination, it freed her to try and contemplate the senshi's other question.
How was she feeling? Apart from achey and... full? Heavy, and light, and... conflicted. "I... remember it." her voice was still a croak. "I remember it almost more clearly than I do this, but at the same time when I try to focus on it, it already feels..." scrambled?
"I need time." her determination was slow. Dry. "How long was I..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:01 pm
Kallichore did what she could to assist Scylla in sitting up. The body could be quite heavy and cumbersome. She remembered stumbling around after waking from her dream, leaning heavily on the marbled walls. Gentle hands went to Scylla's shoulders to help. "You'll have all the time in the world. Sit with yourself for a little while, then we can get you home. I felt dazed for a few hours after, and I think that's quite normal for such an experience. Your world is quite beautiful, if you don't mind me saying." With a flick of her wrist, Kallichore produced her cellphone, which displayed the current time. She was running a timer to find out an average length, just for curiosity's sake. "...looks to me like... seven hours, roughly. You had quite a journey, Scylla. Welcome back."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
