RE: Cloudsea - The Chronicle of Alice Van Vaugen
07-14-2017, 04:14 AM
The afternoon turned into evening. Alice floated on her back, staring up into the sky, which was turning some interesting shades of orange and blue and purple. . .
Alice and Qhen floated out in the ocean, staring up at the sky as stars slowly started to come out, and the last sliver of the sun started go go down. . . And Alice desperately tried to ignore the fact that she was now minutely aware of Qhen floating less than an arms length away.
Meanwhile, back at the table, a figment of Alice's mind had just arrived, setting down a large mug of apple juice with a fairly crazy straw in it, a few bottles of varied flavors of barbecue sauce, a glass of ginger ale, and had finished serving a cup of tea that was probably more sugar and milk than tea.
Alice stared up at the stars. It was dark now. And cold. But somehow, the cold of the water did not bother her. Nor did it being dark. Nor the knowledge she had received from Qhen about the kinds of things one can find in deep pools of water. She was... at peace. So at peace- that for a brief moment, she considered what it would really mean if she just... stayed. . . asle-
Qhen floated there, and made no movement or reaction, lest Alice know that Qhen could hear the irregular breathing that came with suppressed crying. PERHAPS Qhen had gone a bit far- but Alice was going to be filling some pretty big shoes someday, Qhen thought. If she couldn't handle stuff like this, she was going to get taken advantage of, just like everybody else who lacks the power to control their own lives. . .
By the time she had calmed down, Qhen and Alice found themselves laying on the beach. The small waves had carried them here, and they continued to just watch the stars, and the moons...
Alice quickly scrambled up and was on her way back to her chair to get that dress-
Qhen bowed deeply when Alice turned around, then reached up and brushed a hand along one of their horns in what Alice was learning was a nervous gesture.
Alice was looking past Qhen. Qhen turned, and saw the roiling storm clouds, and a truly massive wave of water approaching. Qhen looked back to Alice. She was shivering, and Qhen wasn't sure if it was the rapidly dropping temperature, or the incoming destructive wave of water. Qhen was betting on the water. So Qhen did what they thought might help.
The rumbling grew closer. It was now impossibly dark, and the two of them knelt on the ground because they couldn't keep their footing.
Alice's eyes snapped open. Oh god. Her limbs were half asleep again. Who was responsible for them being dumped into her bed like this?! Qhen was just about holding her- A thought, a brief flicker of a memory flashed through her head. Aw crap. Damnit- DAMNIT- Damnit.
She remembered that entire dream. Of course she did. Because she learned how to swim. So the secret to remembering a dream was to teach herself something new while in it. Great. That- That was the last thing she really wanted! Not the swimming part. That's useful- but the REST of it. She looked closely at Qhen, who was- once again, dead asleep, in her bed.
Thinking on it, Alice was now intently aware of the fact that if Qhen had a particularly bad dream on their own, they could probably break her back just by squeezing a little too hard.
Alice listened for a moment. Outside of the quiet noises of Qhen sleeping, she couldn't hear any shuffling in the house. ... She thinks they're alone now. Maybe she could just- No! That would be wrong- But- Nobody has to know! It's just her! . . . And Qhen. Plus she needed- She needed a way to wake them up! Right. This is a perfect plan, considering her arms are pinned, and she learned what happened the last time she tried to shout Qhen awake. So she just leaned in a little bit...
Some days, Alice regrets everything. Right now, she regrets these two. Viss, for being there, apparently the entire time while she thought out this plan and enacted it, and Qhen, who apparently wakes up when VISS says something! Qhen and Alice just stared at each other for a moment, before Qhen very awkwardly opened their arms. Alice rolled away and got up.
Qhen and Viss were now standing outside. Viss was still looking like 'the cat that ate the canary', as it were. Alice is somehow pointedly making an effort to shut out everyone and everything, including Empty and the voices. So it looks like it's just you, Qhen and Viss. What now?
Meanwhile, back at the table, a figment of Alice's mind had just arrived, setting down a large mug of apple juice with a fairly crazy straw in it, a few bottles of varied flavors of barbecue sauce, a glass of ginger ale, and had finished serving a cup of tea that was probably more sugar and milk than tea.
Empty Wrote:( No, you do not appear physically to me, but I am aware of where you are, at all times. Like myself, you are part of the narrative. We are tools, means to an end, so I am made aware. It is nice of you to try and give Alice a break. Certainly, it is no secret that she suffers from some deal of poor stress management. I also like your way of thinking, {typeandkey}. And you're right. It's probably time Alice and Qhen got up. Please. Enjoy your drinks, and the stars, for as long as they last, for we return to the shapeless void when they awake. )
Alice stared up at the stars. It was dark now. And cold. But somehow, the cold of the water did not bother her. Nor did it being dark. Nor the knowledge she had received from Qhen about the kinds of things one can find in deep pools of water. She was... at peace. So at peace- that for a brief moment, she considered what it would really mean if she just... stayed. . . asle-
By the time she had calmed down, Qhen and Alice found themselves laying on the beach. The small waves had carried them here, and they continued to just watch the stars, and the moons...
Alice's eyes snapped open. Oh god. Her limbs were half asleep again. Who was responsible for them being dumped into her bed like this?! Qhen was just about holding her- A thought, a brief flicker of a memory flashed through her head. Aw crap. Damnit- DAMNIT- Damnit.
She remembered that entire dream. Of course she did. Because she learned how to swim. So the secret to remembering a dream was to teach herself something new while in it. Great. That- That was the last thing she really wanted! Not the swimming part. That's useful- but the REST of it. She looked closely at Qhen, who was- once again, dead asleep, in her bed.
Thinking on it, Alice was now intently aware of the fact that if Qhen had a particularly bad dream on their own, they could probably break her back just by squeezing a little too hard.
Alice listened for a moment. Outside of the quiet noises of Qhen sleeping, she couldn't hear any shuffling in the house. ... She thinks they're alone now. Maybe she could just- No! That would be wrong- But- Nobody has to know! It's just her! . . . And Qhen. Plus she needed- She needed a way to wake them up! Right. This is a perfect plan, considering her arms are pinned, and she learned what happened the last time she tried to shout Qhen awake. So she just leaned in a little bit...