[♥] dream.

[tsundyne]

(( OOC: video version here ♥ ))


November 5th, 2009.

It's an ordinary scene, even though the room probably won't look familiar. Pink sheets on the bed, with matching pink pillows all thrown about the floor. A pink lamp, sitting lonely in the corner. It is a room that belongs to one Yukari Takeba, who now sits on the aforementioned bed with her laptop resting on her lap where it belongs. She looks contemplative, staring at the CD in her right hand, but it isn't long before slips it in.

Suddenly, the viewpoint shifts to what can only be described as a first-person view. The room is shown exactly as Yukari sees it; no more, no less, with primary focus being on the laptop's screen.

Her thoughts can even be heard as well, echoing like narration.

I told Fuuka I'd take a look at it. Things are only gonna get crazier, with Mitsuru-senpai being so busy, so I should just do it now . . .

Something about the tone in her thoughts suggests uncertainty. But nevertheless, the video plays, and it takes less than a second for her to recognize it.

I pray that this recording reaches safe hands...

She gasps. Her father -- her father is on the screen. It's this video again . . . and without waiting for her to recover from her reaction, it continues to play.

My employer has become obsessed with a loathsome idea. This experiment should have never even been conceived... That's why I had to interrupt it. However, in doing so, I set free a number of Shadows that are certain to torment future generations. But if I hadn't, the entire world may have paid the price... Please, listen carefully... I cannot stress this enough... You must not hunt the Shadows that have dispersed!

Eiichiro Takeba goes on to describe how the Shadows are all trying to eat one another, with continued stress on not pursuing them -- and Yukari quickly realizes this is the version of the video Ikutsuki never wanted them to see. The original video. Tears begin to form in her eyes, out of anger, out of longing.

At the mention of her name, her eyes widen, hanging on his every word.

There's not much hope for me now. I have just one favor to ask... Whoever finds this... Please... Give my daughter Yukari this message. I know I promised I'd be home soon... and I'm sorry to break that promise... But, I want you to know... Daddy was the happiest man on earth when he was with you. ...I love you, Yukari.

Please take care of yourself...

"Dad?"

At this point, she can't help herself: her voice is unsteady as she calls out to him, as if he were really there. The tears start to fall, and She brings up a hand to wipe them away so she can see the screen better.

" . . . Dad? Daddy!!"

. . . But it's too late. The sound of an explosion, glass breaking, and the screen dissolving into static are all that's left. Her heart sinks and she is left sobbing -- comforted only by the fact that she was right to trust and believe in her dad . . .

---

[Yukari awakens gradually. Despite her dream, it isn't unpleasant, so she doesn't even feel the need to open her eyes. In fact, she'd rather not, knowing that the dream was just broadcast to absolutely everybody. Her eyes are probably still wet too -- maybe even a little red. So instead, she reaches over to her SFC to switch off the video feed; violently, much in the way one would hit snooze on an alarm clock.

Now that it's over with, she wants to just curl up and get some sleep that is actually restful. But instead, she finds herself lying awake.

Thinking . . .]

Comments

video;

[420]

Yukari?

[He's sounding a little hesitant. That sure was a lot to see. He doesn't even get what it was all about, but there is only so many ways you can take sobbing, really.]

video;

[tsundyne]

[And so the awkwardness begins. Fantastic.

To be expected, really, but still . . . when she responds, it's only out of a sense of obligation. Not something she usually feels. In a soft sigh:]

. . . Yeah?

video;

[420]

You alright, sis?

video;

[tsundyne]

[She is quiet for a little bit before answering. The video feed is dark, so it's probably a bit hard to see her face.]

'Course. Just a dream, wasn't it?

[Her sarcasm suggests she knows better.]

video;

[420]

You sure on that? Just cause it was a dream don't mean it can't up and put the fright and sadness on you.

1/2

[tsundyne]

. . .

[Yeah. She's just going to not say anything -- at least not right away. There's just some shuffling and rustling of her bedsheets as she shifts her position.]

video;

[tsundyne]

[Then finally, she rubs at her head and speaks.]

It was a long time ago.

video;

[contemptibility]

[Really, Tiir can't understand the bonds between blood relatives very well. In his opinion, they're all too easily broken.

But it doesn't take a genius to figure out how much Yukari's father meant to her and, well, for the reverse...]

... He seemed to have cared for you a great deal.

video;

[tsundyne]

[Oh, it's Tiir . . .

Her expression doesn't change. Not that it would be easy for him to see it anyway -- considering it's pretty dark in her room. She plans to keep it that way, and in what can only be described as a strained voice, she responds:]

I know. I'm lucky, right?

[-- A laughable thought. Really laughable.]

video;

[contemptibility]

[Instinctively, for a part of him, it would be so easy to mock her—because she's human.

But—he's past that, isn't he? And truth be told, the other part of him realizes that... well, he might like her.

And so Tiir's silent for a few moments, before quietly—]

Perhaps, for having a parent who loved you...

[He lets out a light breath, smiling ever so faintly.]

But I would hardly call losing a loved one 'lucky'.

video;

[tsundyne]

I was being sarcastic.

[She tells him, unimpressed, as if it hadn't been obvious. But it can be hard to tell, she knows; particularly when she's feeling like this. So she just shrugs it off and continues:]

. . . But at least I got some sleep.

[Finally.]

video;

[contemptibility]

[Calmly—]

You seem to be most of the time.

[He smiles wryly at that.]

You've been avoiding it, then?

video;

[tsundyne]

Can you blame me?

[In the darkness, her lips curl slightly into a smirk. She always knew she couldn't avoid it forever, but it didn't mean she couldn't try.]

[Voice]

[needsmoregreen]

[Bianca doesn't understand the full context of what's going on but one thing is for sure. ...Daddy issues, she understands that so well.]

...It seems like you really care a lot about your dad.

[Voice]

[tsundyne]

. . . Bianca?

[Wow. It takes her a moment to place the voice, and it's enough of a pleasant surprise that there's actually a bit of life in her voice for a moment. Heh. Well, even if it is short-lived, she can still say she's happy to hear from her.]

Haha. How'd you guess?

[Her voice is sarcastic and deadpan; but nevertheless, a bit playful. More than she'd been expecting of herself, considering her mood -- but she's had a long time to move past this.]

[Voice]

[needsmoregreen]

Mhmm, that's me! It's been a while hasn't it? I haven't talked to you in forever sooo...I just wanted to check up on you!

[And that she kind of misses her too. Besides, she wants to cheer her up after the dream she saw anyway. Now might be as good for a time as ever!]

Hm...I thought it might be because your dad really loves you a lot. So I thought it might be the same for you! Once a girl loves her dad, they can't be separated!

[Yup and she knows that really well.]

[Voice]

[tsundyne]

[Bianca's always been really sweet. The gesture doesn't surprise her, nor does her cheerful optimism; though how she could watch something like that and still maintain that attitude, Yukari will never ever know.

Can't be separated, huh . . . ? Really?]

Maybe I didn't love him enough, then. Do ya think that's it?

[She can't help but sound a little annoyed, even though Bianca's intentions are so noble.]

[Voice]

[needsmoregreen]

[Bianca is just stubborn like that. However, when she heard Yukari's words, she was taken aback. That was something she wasn't expecting. Suddenly, her voice went quiet.]

A-Ah, that's not what I meant. I meant...that it seems like your dad loved you a lot and so did you.

[Voice]

[tsundyne]

[. . . Well. Deep down, Yukari had known that's not what she meant. It was probably mean of her to assume such, so she lets out a soft sigh in apology.]

Yeah. Well, you're right about that . . . but I guess it doesn't do much good now.

voice; herp derp i am le late

[bufudine]

[There's a long pause, before...]

Would you like company?

voice; oh no here comes the protag.....

[tsundyne]

[Oh.

Well, she can't say this was unexpected, but there's a bit of a pause from her end as well. Ha . . .]

I thought you'd be asleep.

[Her voice is flatter than usual, void of much emotion; but it might just be because she's still tired. Serph's her friend, so she never really minds his company -- but she doesn't want to admit that she needs it either.]

can't escape them, yuka-tan

[bufudine]

Sometimes I'm awake at this time.

[It's not really an answer to his question.]

A walk may do you good.

[tsundyne]

[At this time of night?

. . . She really isn't sure. She mostly feels like she wants to be alone after so vividly remembering something like this; but then again, she's pretty much alone all the time now. Maybe a change of scenery would be good.

She's obviously not going back to sleep anyway.]

We might as well.

[The forest is kind of creepy at night, though, so she'd really prefer not to have to go all the way there by herself . . .]

[bufudine]

[That's as close to a "yes, I would like company" as he's going to get from Yukari, and that's good enough for Serph.]

I'll meet you outside your dorm.

[Just like that time Yukari had to eat someone--]

[tsundyne]

[N o p e nope we're not going to think about that at all. Luckily, it's an innocent enough suggestion, so she doesn't make that connection right away. She simply nods.

After all, if he's going to put in the effort to come see her anyway, she isn't going to stop him.]

. . . Yeah. Okay.

[. . . Except that means she has to put in the effort of getting dressed and making herself presentable too. Faaantastic.]