001 [video] [dream | interactive]

[swordandaxe]

[The dream starts out innocently enough.

Richter is standing outside a large, walled-in building, one arm up to block the sun from his eyes as he stares up at the blue sky and the clouds passing by. He's squinting so much his eyes are practically shut.

There's no one around, but a young boy's cheerful, yet slightly sad voice seems to be coming from everywhere. It's quiet and fades as the words are spoken.

"This is the first time you've been outside in quite a long time, isn't it? You never told me how old you were when you first came to Sybak..."

Richter's arm falls and he stares into the sky, eyes watering. It's not immediately obvious if it's because of the bright light or from something else entirely.]

[The sunny field slowly seeps away, leaving a dark enclosed space.

For those who know Richter, the boy in the dark, cold room looks amazingly different. He's much shorter and skinnier, and practically swimming in the labcoat he's wearing. His hair is shorter and barely reaches his shoulders, and he's not wearing glasses. Richter looks like a boy not even out of his teens, though it's hard to tell his exact age in the low light.

The room he's in barely looks to be larger than 20 feet by 20 feet and is lit with a single lamp in the corner. It's obviously a laboratory of some sorts, and Richter is bent over the work bench in the middle of the room, squinting at a complex lab report with tiny scrawled writing that is impossible to read.

Again, the boy's voice comes from everywhere and nowhere, this time cheerful and much younger-sounding.

"I'm Aster! ...Huh? Should I care that you're a half-elf?

"Well that's just stupid! It shouldn't matter if you're a human or an elf or a half-elf!"

Without even looking up, Richter answers, his voice sounds the same as always, a stark contrast to his youthful appearance, "Of course you're supposed to care, idiot. You won't get anywhere making friends with a half-elf."]

[Deep in the forest, Richter frowns and curls up tighter against the tree he's leaning against. His SFC-turned-Dreamberry is clutched in one hand, turned in a such a way that his face is visible in the video.]

[ooc: Both parts of the dream are interactive, so please specify which dream when you comment! ♥]

Comments

Second part o/

[radiantwingedone]

.. It means something negative, to be "half-elf"? [ Even with his sight this room is awkwardly dark. Duke moves to study that lamp. ]

[swordandaxe]

[It's a simple oil lamp, but the wick is getting low and will soon go out.

This time Richter looks up, but he only looks straight ahead at the wall in front of him. That's a voice he wasn't expecting to hear.]

Half-elves are considered inferior. No one cares about our rights.

[radiantwingedone]

Hmn. [ He doesn't have Zelda's ability to create from nothing, as much as it would be useful. He just can't wrap his mind about it.

Which is probably why, after watching the flame for a moment longer, he crafts a small formula to keep a slow, steady consumption of oil, like a wick would. ]

Assuming opinion is such due to human supremacy. Sounds idiotic enough to be thought up by them.

[swordandaxe]

What are you doing over there?

[Richter has turned his head slightly to watch Duke.]

You are correct. Elves don't care about us, but they aren't outright hostile like humans are. Are you not a human as well?

[radiantwingedone]

Even with my vision, this amount of light is poor for reading. [ Yep, thats his explaining as the light grows.

And a glance over his shoulder. ]

Does one have to be outside a problem to see it as such? I do not care for humanity.

[swordandaxe]

Why do you think I wear glasses? I have spent much of my life in this room.

[Even if he's technically not wearing them now. He does appreciate the extra light, but he puts the report down so he can speak to Duke.]

Huh. I see we have something in common.

[radiantwingedone]

Ah. [ He brightens his formula to a little above his comfortable light level - its no where near full daylight strength, because that was painful. ]

There seem to be a few who agree. I cannot imagine many would, if one spends most of their life in a dark laboratory due to them.

[swordandaxe]

[Good, because it's far too dark for that level of brightness to be comfortable.

Richter snorts and shakes his head.]

Ah, but you see, they shut me in here because I was useful. Otherwise I'd have been some street urchin begging for scraps and kindness. I was reminded of that quite often.

[radiantwingedone]

Have a use for, so keep. Cage. Perhaps even attempt to tame... [ Studying the lamp until that becomes a bit painful, then straightening to study the wall. ]

Your humans treated you as those of my world would a monster breed they intended to domesticate.

[swordandaxe]

[Richter reaches up and touches his nose, pausing as he remembers that he isn't wearing his glasses at the moment. He lowers his hand and clenches it into a fist on the workbench.]

I'd be willing to bet they treat the beasts better than they do half-elves.

[radiantwingedone]

... Unknown. Terca Lumireis does not hold another race known as elves, and while I am told that they have long ears and lifespans, they are dissimilar from Kritya. "half-elf" is a term I have only heard here. Kritya and human do not seem capable of reproducing together.