a dream is a wish your heart makes ( raphael | ada )

[looting]

[ When Raphael stirs, the last thing he remembers is a distant, haunting melody. There are still so many questions... like why the reconstruction, and why do they have to be asleep for it? For how long? He remembers the ten-minute warning, and resisting the lull of sleep--wondering when or if he'd ever wake up, if he gave in. There's no way any of this could mean something good for them, but hey... a guy could dream.

He doesn't stay still for long, though. The morning sun beams on his face, which makes him regret opening his eyes, but nonetheless, he sits up, surrounded in a garden of flowers.

...

He rubs at his eyes. They must be playing tricks on him--and it's about then that he spots his hat a short distance away from where his head had been resting. Running a hand through his hair, he realizes that it really is his; so he reaches for it before a gust of wind kicks up to blow it away.

--Wow.

He clicks his tongue, but wears an amused expression as he goes after it--because of all the mundane things he could have woken up to, this had to be one of the most domestic and uneventful.

...Not that he can complain. He doesn't even realize where he is. It must be some magical place, where a missing hat is the worst of his problems.

Vaguely, he wonders if he's dead; but he intends to find out soon enough. ]

Comments

[occute]

[ she'd fought as hard as she could against the inevitable sleep. Why, she wasn't sure - there was certainly nothing good about Haven, and indefinite unconsciousness might even be preferable to be living there. But, after everything that had happened to her while she was there - everything that had been done to her - she felt the need to rebel. It wasn't in her nature to strike out against anyone, but Yao was an exception. There was no way she would simply roll over and let them do as they pleased, "reconstruction" or otherwise.

But, as always, her will was stronger than her actual ability. Before long, Ada had drifted off into darkness, too; then, strangely, woken up to light.

It wouldn't be the first time Haven had fooled her. Despite the comforting aroma of flowers and the warm sunlight, Ada wakes up with a start, and stands with hesitation, glancing around at her surroundings like they might turn dark and ensnare her at any moment. She pats down her pockets in search of her phone, but finds nothing. It's gone.

Is her brother okay? Are her friends? Those are the pressing questions on her mind. It had always been about them. So, despite her fears, she sets off to find them - or, at least, find answers.

Instead, she finds a hat. As she turns a corner in the garden, it flies straight into her face - and seeing as she was already on edge, it might as well have been a bat. ]

- Uwaaah!

[looting]

[Now there's a familiar sound. Raphael freezes, hand outreached as he catches sight of Ada's sun-colored hair. His expression is neutral at first, just shy of concerned, but the more he takes in the scene, the more his lips curl again--

And he laughs.

It's funny how your own laugh can sound unfamiliar to you--but it's genuine. Something he hasn't achieved in almost a year.]

Nice catch.

[occute]

[ the laughing catches her off guard almost as much as the hat did, but unlike the hat, this one brings her back down to earth a bit. That's Raphael, and this is his hat, not a large bug - but, more importantly, that's Raphael. She controls her flailing enough to grab hold of the wayword cap before it can fly off even further, then immediately rushes over to him. ]

R -- Raphael! You're here, too!

[ unlike him, she seems less amused, though it's due entirely to the circumstances. Concern is apparent in her eyes. ]

Are you all right...?! What's going on?

[looting]

[ Raphael gives a small salute in leiu of tipping his hat--a gesture that feels somewhat empty by comparison, but he won't rush her into giving it back. She seems a bit shaken, and honestly maybe he should be too, yet here he is. Smiling away as usual.

The beautiful surroundings serve as a decent distraction anyway, and he's just starting to notice them. Colorful, lively... Beautiful. The exact opposite of Haven as he remembered it. He could probably sleep for at least a couple more hours here, the atmosphere is so comfortable, but he'll answer her question instead. ]

Don't know. I woke up to the smell of grass, and then my hat got away from me.

[ He figures he doesn't have to explain the next part, since she was here tor it. ]

I won't have to chase you next, will I?

[occute]

[ Ada wishes she could be so carefree. She'd been so panicked before waking up that it carried straight into after waking up, as well; the flowers are beautiful and charming, and she's almost certain that it's all a trap, or something along those lines. As he speaks, she nods - it sounds like the same thing that happened to her happened to him - until he reaches his final comment, at which point it abruptly turns to shaking her head. ]

N-no! I haven't seen anyone but you... [ she's got nowhere to run off to, basically. After a moment, she realizes she's still holding onto his hat, and, somewhat nervously, she holds it towards him. ] I... I know it seems nice here, but I'm worried. I don't want to wander off by myself.

[looting]

[ Raphael takes the hat and gently places it on his head, nodding in thanks. Her words almost make him laugh again, but she manages to control it this time. He can tell she's genuinely concerned, and rightfully so. ]

Like I'd let you do that.

[ A possible trap means they need to stick together. ]

But we will need to wander if we want some answers. Somehow I don't think this is what they meant when they said "reconstruction."

[occute]

[ she gives a stout nod in response. His words definitely comfort her to a degree. Being alone would be much worse than being with someone else - and Raphael ranks highly among people she'd prefer to be stuck with. They'd suffered through those tunnels together before - a sunny field seems like it can't be worse than that.

She hopes not, anyways. ]

Mm... I don't think so, either. It's probably a trap... [ she frowns, nervous. The pessimism is uncharacteristic for her, but even Ada Vessalius has had to face the facts here in Haven by now. ] They've done things like this before. We need to be careful...

[ her eyes linger on him for a moment more, then she glances behind herself, where she came from. ]

I... I don't think there's anything that way, so...

[looting]

[ She doesn't have to tell him twice. He's always careful, no matter what anyone who truly knows him says...! That is, he's not. At all. Nevertheless, he gives a shrug and takes a deep breath. ]

Let's hope you're right.

[ ...As they walk further, it becomes clear that it really is Haven, but... ]

I hardly recognize this place.

[occute]

[ despite the gentle surroundings, she stays close to his side as they walk. Everything seemed like it was there to put them at ease - and that's almost exactly why she doesn't trust it. As they continue - and familiar buildings become recognizable - the sinking feeling in her stomach grows. ]

It... is Haven, isn't it? This couldn't be what they were talking about.

[ it's too cozy. They'd never let the people of Haven rest easy like this. As they walk, she looks for signs of the red poppies or the other dangerous plants that used to grow in the garden, but she doesn't see them. Things just look vaguely overgrown - like the city had been left here for a while, almost. ]

But why...?

[looting]

Hmm.

[Raphael scratches at the back of his head. It's a good question, even though he doesn't know the answer to it. Eventually his hand wanders down to the scar he still feels around his neck, to this day...]

A change of heart, maybe?

[Doubt it.]

Not that it explains why the place is deserted, exactly. I wonder if the others are still in storage...

[occute]

[ the thought is repugnant to her, and she shakes her head faintly, brow creasing with worry. ]

T-that can't be. Why would it just be us...? [ she says in a small voice, uncertain. ] Unless... this really is a test, and they're splitting us up...

[ in which case, she'll be glad she was paired with one of her friends - at least until they make them turn against each other, or whatever awful thing Yao is no doubt planning.

While there aren't exactly any other people milling about, there are, oddly, signs of life in the place - lights on in some buildings, despite the absence of people. Flowers cultivated in windowsills. The faint buzz of a radio on somewhere. ]