Characters involved are: Erine (RED), Midori (ORANGE),
Logged by Midori
The Orphanage, Main Bedroom
This room holds bunk beds on every side, all neatly made and kept as clean as can be done in an Orphanage full of rowdy children. Several doors stand scattered about the edge of this room- leading to several different areas about this quaint, but tiny, Orphanage. One can enter the <m>ain room from here, <P>rimera's room, or <B>illy's Study.
Contents:
Erine
a large gander
It has not been the quietest of nights. Not that it ever is in the orphanage dorm, but last night had seen its fair share of tossing, turning, faint cries and whimpers, which all seemed to be coming from the silent visitor. The first sound anyone had heard her utter were the troubled cries of her, as she endured her troubled sleep. Perhaps it was the shock of hearing her finally utter any sound that made one of the other children fetch Erine. And at least for now, she lies perfectly still, as if in state, once more silent. Tears stream down her face, and her breathing has returned to normal. Is she awake? It is hard to tell.
There's something wrong with the quiet girl, Miss Erine. Is something wrong with her? Is she having a nightmare? Should we wake her? It is remarkable how swiftly children will go on, if given reason to worry. And this night is particularly such a thing, as Erine was roused from a rather distracted sleep by the quiet words of worried children. Odd, too, for no one had even known she had the -ability- to make noises until that point, thinking her to be as mute as one of the previous occupants of this Orphanage before. Let Midori rest, and try to rest, as well... There was really no use in giving any other advice to the children. For having them up all night in whispered rumors would make them all so out of sorts, come the next morning. Yet Erine has found herself spending yet another few hours sitting in the chair beside where Midori rests. And if she is tired, or worn from staying up in such a manner, then it certainly does not seem to be something of concern to her. Rather, she watches. And dares not question if Midori is awake or not, lest she rouse her from a finally calmed sleep.
Midori opens her eyes. The salty dried tears sting at them, and she wipes them groggily as the reality that is this orphanage. For what was the dream? Almost a not-dream, another reality. So lucid that it seemed real. And, what if it were real? If...that was real, and this is some strange dream. Midori would pinch herself, but for the person watching her. That blank wall of static, again. The great smiling ball of good-naturedness. Midori affords her a weak smile. Not just of politeness is it borne. She now knows something she did not before.
If that is real, then this is false, but if this is real... Dreams have been -ever- so strange, recenlty. And while Erine can not state that she has ever experienced this peculiar net of too-real dreams that so many seem to know of, she's certainly heard more than her fair share of rumors of it. And she blinks, smiling at Midori as she wakes--Does that smile -ever- dull? Apparenlty not, despite the hour, despite how she had spent the last few hours awake. Erine's smile seems infallible. And yet, she can not help but look a little confused at the.. Words that are thrown at her mind at Midori's waking thought. "What?" Well, that -is- a bit of an odd thing to be given, after such nightmares as such, "Did you have a strange dream?"
A strange dream. Yes, I did. Or, am I having one now? I suppose both could qualify. Midori nods ever so slightly, and looks up at Erine, eyes returning back to normal, if a little swollen. It _has_ been a long night. Or this is night. It's all so tiresome. Midori sighs slightly, just a short output of breath, and stares at the bunk above her. Such a strange, strange dream. But, it was not real. Because...because...
Well, -that- is something worth a little curiosity, too. "The.. sky, did you say?" Oh, my. How very strange! Erine very much wonders if she managed to get what Midori 'said' correctly. Because, honestly, its not very many children that can claim they've seen one of the countries in the skies. Although.. If nothing else, perhaps.. A child is to be allowed an overactive imagination? So many explanations can be given that Erine's smile does not, for a moment, pause. And she continues speaking, voice held quiet enough to not disturb any other lightly dozing children. "What was it like? And.. you saw your mother there?" If nothing else, talking off a strange dream always helps a little.
Midori only nods, her face reverting back to its almost blank stare, pushing herself up slightly, into a more comfortable position, the pillows supporting her back. > ...like before... < Like before Midori's life was so interrupted. Now she knows why. it was duty. Duty to serve a land she had never seen or heard of. Her father had taken away those things she had held so dear. Because she was not as important. In her mind, she understands that now. In her mind, everything is explained in simplest terms. It was like before. > ...mama...was there...like before... <.
Just like before, just like before. This child obviously has a history of dreaming up random floating kingdoms. Or she's actually been to one. Hum. Well, its a note to track, somewhere deep in Erine's mind, but otherwise.. It is truly not of importance. At least not now, and not truly to her. "That sounds like a lovely dream.." Does anything sound particularly unlovely to Erine, though? "From the way you were tossing and turning, the other children thought you were having a nightmare.. But I'm glad to hear it wasn't terrible." Random words, random comfort. And Erine can grant it all with a smile.
A wonderful dream. A wonderful dream that reached deep into the little girl's deepest regrets and fears, and wrenched them around, to pop up later where she leasts expects them. A dream of something she would not ever choose to. Do we ever choose to dream what we do? Surely, if we dream of something not of our choosing, then it is a nightmare, of sorts? But, what a nightmare. To feel like no other sensation could, the embrace of your mother, just to have it snatched away, and diappear in her arms. Yes, it was a nightmare, of sorts. It is the strangest feeling, the absolute certainty that those sensations are real, then to discover only afterwards their falseness, just a lucid illusion in the wishful mind of a child. > ...I...am all right... < First Sigurd, then Mama. The thought of who could be next scares Midori to death. No, she cannot sleep again, now. Not if he is in there.
Dreams.. Are often very curious things, aren't they? Sometimes one can not even tell if they are supposed to be frightening or distressing or happy or not. Do we chose to dream as much as we simply are fed back what our mind remembers? It is one of those curious things that one may wonder about for eternities and never fully know. Especially with the coming of these dreams which so many people confess to.. That are as real as reality, as rational as a dreaming mind so seldom dares to grasp. "Ah.." Midori wishes to get up? Perhaps that's not the best idea, come to think of it, "Its good that you're all right, but... Still. Its very, very late. Maybe you should rest? I doubt you slept well, with a dream like that..."
Midori sits, her legs danglig out over the edge of the bunk, and regards Erine, with that same almost nonchalant stare, nothing being given away. She has been asleep too long. Even if it is to feel what it is like to stand again, she would do so. After that, let what happens, happen. After all, it is quite the task to make a child sleep, when she is quite intent on not doing so. And she can last for a while, right? Well, perhaps it will not happen again. But, prolonging the calm before the next ordeal is as worthy a task as any in the eyes of the scared child. > ...I...can't go back there... <. And that is that.
And Midori is more than free to stare blankly at Erine. She still responds with nothing less than that perpetual light smile. "Go back.. there? But its.. Just a dream." Hmm, that's not particularly helpful, is it? And it certainly -is- a worthy task to get a child to sleep when she's determined not to... But she'll only do harm to herself by deciding to stay up. After all, eventually one -must- sleep.. Delaying the inevitable at the cost of the hallucinations and weariness and illness that comes with intentional sleeplessness could hardly be worth it. And yet, Erine does understand. "I know that must have been a very odd dream.. But you really shouldn't worry much about it. You probably wont dream of that scene again.. You might not dream at all." Rationally speaking, such is so.
Midori gently pushes herself to the edge of the bed, and silently places her bare feet on the ground. She winces slightly, as the weight on her feet after several days gently distributes and re-accustoms itself. Of course, just a dream. What could you possibly know? Well...I have no idea, thinks Midori. Only static. She stands quietly, making sure not to wake any of the other children. It is...disconcerting. it is night, and Midori does not feel like sleeping at all. Not the kind of stubbornness that a child exhibits when put to bed, but a genuine lack of tiredness, and now a genuine _fear_ of going to sleep. And, Midori can be a very stubborn child, too.
Well, if nothing else, Midori -was- in bed for the last few days while she recovered. If she's ready to be up and about now, then that's entirely fine. And.. Well, Erine can only dole out what she thinks is good advice. It can't be helped if she knows nothing about these too-real dreams. Erine rises with a small sigh, not an unhappy noise as much as it is contemplative, noting lightly, "You really oughtn't.." But, well, there's not much to be done about stubborn children.. Perhaps, if she stays up for a while, she'll eventually give in and rest a little? "But.. If you do want to walk around after being in bed so long.. Would you like to look around the Orphanage? Its a lovely time to look around, with all the children asleep." Oh, well, if you're not going to rest, do you want a tour? Erine can be very odd at times.
Midori looks up at Erine. It's so easy to get distracted away from a person whose thoughts are not vying for your attention. And, how rude of her to not speak. Father hed told her it was impolite to do so to others. Still, it is not required. She nods, and smiles, as if to reassure Erine that it was a nod of enthusiasm, not consent. A new place. Perhaps she could grow to like it. The only way to fins if she will is to look. And look she might, as she takes a pair of tentative steps, and regains her footing, remembering how to walk again on unsteady shambling feet. She turns to face Erine now, and blinks. Forgetting herself, she holds out a hand to hold, and smiles again.
Its impolite to not respond to someone? Perhaps. But Erine doesn't seem to mind any such impropriety in the least. For as long as the child is smiling again, and willing to walk around and look once more.. Then she's getting better. How wonderful! Then its really no trouble at all that she'd rather be up and about at this hour. And Erine can match that little smile, and gladly take Midori's offered hand. "Its a very pretty place.. I do hope you like it." Of course. All of Aquavy is gorgeous. And it very well ought to be, for all the rain it gets. And if Midori comes to like it, then that's wonderful. And if she doesn't, then that's perfectly fine. If nothing else, perhaps Erine will eventually reason out where this little thing came from.. Although, curiosities being what they are.. Its perfectly fine if Erine never comes to know, either. Rather, she can hope to walk out of the orphanage to a lovely dawn.