tushanshu | Video

[Over the last few days, Midii had watched as more and more individuals mentioned Dreams. She had dismissed her own at first--it wouldn't have been the first time her mind had tampered with the possibilities of events past, present, and/or future--until a particular detail was brought to her attention. Something she hadn't remembered at first, until others mentioned seeing something similar.]

[The yellow jewel in that preteen girl's hand. Or, more specifically, the yellow soul gem.]

[Combined with the knowledge of recent Turtle-wide events, and a theory was beginning to form in her mind. Granted, it fell into line with her previous track of thinking...but it also didn't refute anything. Yet.]

These Dreams...

[A pause. She didn't think she needed to elaborate. By now, anybody paying attention would know.]

The Hatchling Turtles had the power to influence our dreams. I remember. They'd visited us that way in the past. Asti, too.

Is there any chance one of them is doing this? Like the Vision we all saw, only in our sleep.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh... no, I was just... thinking it would sort have been his area. Sorry, Midii.

[She shook her head even before he could get the words out.]

No, you shouldn't be the one who's sorry.

[Of course, if they continue on like this, they'd spend the rest of the conversations arguing over apologies. Best to move on.]

Aside from that, how have you been, Jack?

I've been feeling a lot better the last few weeks, since Zatanna's ritual thing. The heat is bothering me... a little less, now.

[Right. She'd been following along thanks to the radio. And, although she hadn't participated or felt any of the effects from said ritual, she'd paid attention. People talked. Confusion, at first, which slowly faded into something closely resembling gratitude. They felt stronger. Better. More powerful.]

She made you cooler.

Are you kidding, I've been cool since Day 1.

[ Jack no. ]

[Jack n--okay, maybe. Lame as it was, the pun did earn an almost-laugh out of her.]

True.

But...a little help from someone you care about is never a bad thing. No matter how cool you already were.

That's sure the truth. I can't say this isn't going to make things easier, even if that wasn't part of the original plan.

[No, she imagined it wasn't. Judging from what she'd overheard.]

Increasing your strength while trying to find answers. There are far worse ways for plans to go wrong.

[To put it mildly.]

Can I ask...what it's like? [The power. To feel energized; as a baseline human, Midii'd experienced no change at all from the ritual. Maybe it was a little easier for her to get up in the morning, but that was something that could've been achieved by getting more sleep. Or drinking more coffee.]

Definitely.

[ He's thought of a few. ]

It's kind of hard to explain. I guess like... you know how your nose gets stuffed up sometimes, and when it finally clears, you feel like you can smell everything? Like that, but for all your senses.

[It had been a while since Midii was last sick, but that didn't mean she couldn't remember the feeling. It sucked.]

Like...you've been held back for so long, that they had time to build up inside you?

[That was something she could relate to, on a human level.]

How long do you think you were stuffed up for?

[Since returning from the Dream realm? Since first arriving in Keelai? ...or maybe before then?]

Sort of, yeah.

Since we got back to Keeliai, maybe? It's been worse since it got so hot out, but I'm pretty sure that's a problem I have that other people don't, since. Well, Winter.

[She nodded.]

I'm used to rough weather from traveling, but...I can only imagine how hard summers must be for you.

Looking out for me, huh? I appreciate it, Midii.

[For a fleeting moment, she felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks. And averted her gaze.]

You're one of the few friends I have left here, Jack.

I just...want to make sure you're alright.

Not that I don't like being singled out, but... there's a lot of good people here now. Less than there was once, sure, but haven't you made any new friends?

[ He'd honestly thought she'd have made progress by now. ]

[She shook her head reflexively.]

No. I mean yes. I mean--

[Okay, that wasn't working. Stop. She needed to think about her words. Phrasing. So there was no misunderstanding.]

That wasn't what I meant.

I've met new people, yes. What I meant was that you're one of the few friends I have left from before.

Oh, I get it. Yeah, there aren't too many left from back then. Guess that makes you and I old hands, right?

Some of us a little older than others.

[Was that a quip? Look at the influence you have on her, Jack.]

If that's the lead in to an old man joke...

[No lead-in. That was the joke.]

Do I look like somebody who would joke like that?

You sure you want me to answer that?

[ he's teasing ]

[She could tell. And while part of her did struggle with the notion of wanting to know for curiosity's sake....]

No. Not really.

What's that saying? "Sometimes, ignorance is bliss?"

[She usually didn't believe in it, but there were always exceptions to every rule.]

So what have you been up to lately?

[Now, that was a loaded question. She had to stop and think about it for a long moment.]

Deliveries, mostly, I suppose.

Some of the people even stop to tell me stories, when they have the time. It's interesting getting to listen to them. Like the one about the old couple who started a business together years and years ago, back when they were still under the old Emperor's influence. After they came out of it, they decided to keep it going because it was something they did together.

[ Jack smiles. ]

The kedan usually have good stories, but those are the best kinds. It sounds like you're really fitting in, Midii.

Video

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;