Is There Someone I Can Pay To Let Me Go

[wilder]

Who: Zelos Wilder & YOU
What: Take a guess, no really, take a wild guess
When: All throughout the nightmare plot
Where: Dreamland
Rating: PG-13 to R....I sure hope it doesn't get higher than that.

[Hi everyone how has your weekend of nightmares gone? Terribly? Great! Ready for more? No? Too bad.]

[If you're traveling around in the nightmares, you'll come across an area that seems like no one has turned on the lights - it's pitch black and you can't see past that]

[Overall the space gives off a cold feeling. Really cold, like it should be snowing in here. Sound is easy to pick up, in fact it's almost like someone turned up the volume way loud on the world. You can hear your own heartbeat, that small squeak of your sneakers, your own breath. If you have bad lungs? Well now you know. Cut out those cigarettes or inhaling chemicals already! You sound terrible!]

[There doesn't seem to be anyone else around. In fact you get the overwhelming sense that you are nothing short but purely alone and that's the way it always is. ]

[Though, that will probably change real soon now that there are spectators]

[OOC: Same deal as Allen's post a couple days ago. Nightmares will sorta be tailored based on people's desires level of trauma or aspect. You can find out what sort of stuff you can be in for here! Anyone's welcomed!]

Comments

[luthored]

I prefer the term assistant. Let's go with that.

[ She holds out a hand. ]

My name is Lana.

[wilder]

O...kay.

[He doesn't say it meanly, more like he doesn't really comprehend. What's wrong with the term servant?]

[But more surprised he seems is when she holds out her hand. he knows what a handshake is, but people tend not to do them with him. But hey, she apparently doesn't know who he is so maybe that's why! So after a moment of hesitation, he'll smile and shake her hand]

I'm Zelos! It's nice to meet you!

[luthored]

Oh. ...Oh!

[ She can kind of see the resemblance now, but it still seems...surreal. He had mentioned going to the fanciest of parties, though, and this place is certainly fancy. ]

Hi, Zelos. So is there somewhere I should be right now?

[wilder]

[He doesn't really think too much about her exclamation of recognition. Everyone knew who he was. Though her referring to his NAME and not his title sure is something new]

Um, I don't know. I was going to see Mother.

[luthored]

Oh, I think that's where I was going anyway.

[ It's a weak, rushed excuse, but she doesn't know what else she should do right now. Besides, she's curious about what his mother might be like. She can't help it. ]

[wilder]

Really?

Okay, then I can show you the way!

[Since clearly you're lost and confused or something. So he starts walking down the hall. He's trying to keep up with good cheer, though if you look closely there's a bit of anxiety going on too. ]

[luthored]

[ She follows, hopefully not too eager about it, hands clasped in front of her in what she hopes doesn't make her seem anxious, either. She's wondering about what the point of all this is. ]

Are you...excited about today? [ It's a weak fishing attempt, but she doesn't know what else to try. ]

[wilder]

[Yep that question confuses him, it's flipping Tuesday what is is special about today?]

Huh?

[luthored]

Well, you seem a little antsy about something.

[wilder]

[Oh crap, was he that obvious? Chosens aren't supposed to be afraid or antsy. ]

Oh...it's nothing!

[luthored]

Wow, that's a convincing response if I ever did hear one.

[wilder]

[sfdklsdf gets flustered and looks down at his shoes that dig into the carpet some. Why you gotta point it out Lana]

[luthored]

[ Aw, she didn't mean her kidding to be taken so seriously. Feeling bad, she reaches out to touch a hand behind his shoulders. ]

I was just teasing. Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?

[wilder]

[Oh and now she's touching me what is this. It catches him enough by surprise to cause him to jolt just a bit though he doesn't pull away. At the question, he nods]

Yeah, don't worry. It's nothing.

[luthored]

[ And she quickly pulls her own hand away at the jolt, not wanting to make him even more uncomfortable. ]

If you say so.

[ She's curious, but interrogating a child just isn't up her alley. So instead she'll follow quietly. ]

[wilder]

[he nods nervously before continuing down the hall. When he reaches his mother's door, he seems to take a deep breath to steel himself before going in there. Once that's through, he puts on his best cheerful face to go in there, opening the door and walking in- but leaving it open so Lana can see]

[Inside there is a blond woman who is sitting by the window, staring out of it. She doesn't seem to make any acknowledgment that her son entered the room except for the slightest bit of tensing]

[Zelos meanwhile does his best to look cheerful and friendly]

Mother!

[luthored]

[ She hangs just outside the door's entrance at first, suddenly feeling like she's intruding. The air feels oppressive, despite Zelos's energetic greeting. She glances around to see if anybody else is around before nervously stepping just inside.

Wow, is there something for her to clean and a way for her to not be conspicuous? ]

[wilder]

[Uh sure I'm sure there's a vase somewhere. Rich people love vases.]

[The woman makes no acknowledgement of his greeting, in fact it almost seems like she's trying to ignore him as he approaches, though still keeping his distance talking at a bright yet normal volume]

Mother, how about we go out to the garden today? The weather is beautiful and I think you'd like the flowers! It'd be nice to go outside, wouldn't it?

[Finally, his mother will respond. Her tone is terse, cold and completely affectionate. More like she's simply talking to a nuisance than a son]

...Please be quiet, your voice echoes and it makes my head hurt.

[Zelos's cheerful demeanor suddenly gives into the anxiety he was showing earlier]

Ah, I'm sorry...

[And the mother continues to ignore him]

[luthored]

[ Sweet Lord, what did she just hear? She can, seriously, hardly believe it. And when she realizes she's staring (maybe gawking), she sets the vase down and quickly moves to the boy's side, once again trying to touch his shoulders. Her smile is so forced. ]

Um, do you want to pick some flowers for your mother? I'll go with you.

[wilder]

[he looks up at Lana, almost surprised that she's still there. Serv-- Assistants almost never interrupt all this. His mother seems a bit relieved at the interruption and lets out a slight sigh. She still doesn't look at her son]

Please take him away. Make sure he doesn't come near my room.

[And Zelos's face falls. yep. It's the same today as it was the days before. Just as he feared it wouldn't be. He'll nod to Lana since she offered]

Okay.

[luthored]

[ Lana can't resist shooting the woman a glare as she tries to guide Zelos around and out of the room. She's doing this for him, not for the mother. But she doubts the older woman will even notice, or care. If it wouldn't have just made things more painful for the boy, Lana would have spoken her mind right then and there.

She's unsure about all of this. She doesn't know if this is really a memory, or if it's supposed to represent something else. Dreams are so unreliable, but whatever it is, it makes her chest hurt as she pulls the door shut once they're out in the hall. Pain, yes, but pity is something she can't even muster, knowing how she herself detested it growing up.

Looking down at the boy, Lana tries holding out her hand again. ]

Do you mind showing me to the garden, too? I'm just all turned around.

[wilder]

[His mother doesn't notice the glare, she continues to go back staring out the window, brooding about her life. Zelos meanwhile follows Lana, his mood is subdue but he doesn't seem overwhelmingly upset- it's a much more accepting sadness. It's been this way for so long that he's gotten used to it]

[He nods at the question. Seeing the hand hold out, he hesitates once again - unsure of what to do. But after the hesitation passes he'll grab onto the hand in the way that's both a desperate cling and a cautious hold. As badly as he wants the affection, he's scared he'll drive it away. ]

This way.

[he'll start leading the way down the hall]

[luthored]

[ She's quick to curl her fingers in, gently holding his hand while following along. Lana can't help but think Clark would be even better in this sort of situation. He would be just as appalled as her, probably more-so. His faith in people was staggering. ]

Do you go to the garden a lot?

[wilder]

[He relaxes a little when her fingers curl around his, feeling a bit safer that she won't pull away. His footsteps as he walks are oddly near silent for a child - he's practiced a lot to make sure his footsteps don't cause his mother to say her head hurts more]

When I can, I like being outside. I'm not allowed to leave the house, but they'll let me go to the garden.

[luthored]

Why can't you leave the house?

[ She assumes it's going to get her another weird look, but she doesn't care. ]

I wasn't told much when I accepted this job.