A most disarming experience

[vamptired]

[Standing in a canvas of almost blinding white, Louis wonders if he was perhaps slain in his sleep.

Such should be his fate. He never expected to regain consciousness again. And if he's without his purifier mask, exposing his face save for the frame coating the outline of his jaw, it would only make sense that his ego be thrust into itself before turning to ash. However, it's far too empty and bright here.

Brow knitted in confusion, Louis wanders the seemingly limitless expanse of white with slow, hesitant steps. Before long, he spots something—or, rather, someone—a ways ahead and grinds to a halt.]

Who . . . ?

Comments

[disarmony]

That's my line.

[ It's coolly returned by Velvet, who stands there with one bandaged arm propped on her hip. She hasn't seen Laphicet, which is the first warning sign that this isn't the dream she'd willingly locked herself into. The other is that things are no longer as idyllic. They're vast, unfamiliar, and this person is a stranger to her. ]

Mind telling me what you're doing here?

[vamptired]

[From this distance, he gets a good look at all of her with one glance. Even though he's never met this woman before (to his knowledge), the curtness of her reply grounds him and unfurls the crease in his brow. His gaze drifts downward, and he answers her softly:]

I wish I knew. Do you . . . know this place?

[disarmony]

I wouldn't call it home. [ She folds her arms over her chest, staring at him unyieldingly. ]

Which tells me this isn't my dream.

[vamptired]

[On his end, he looks more (mildly) confused than anything.]

Your dream . . . ? What makes you say that?

[disarmony]

You're not a familiar face. You're acting as though you've wound up here by some mistake.

It's easy enough to figure out that you don't belong here, among my memories.

[vamptired]

. . . You're right. I shouldn't be here.

Actually, I wasn't sure if I even had the capacity to dream. If that's what this is, how did I end up in yours . . . ?

[disarmony]

Your guess is as good as mine.

[ Her eyes narrow. ]

Who are you, anyway?

[vamptired]

[He straightens. Right, that.]

I'm Louis.

[He'd say that it's nice to meet her, but . . . ]

[disarmony]

Velvet.

[ Wow, this mile-long stare. ]

I'm just gonna be blunt here. You're not a normal human, are you?

[vamptired]

[Wowie. Blunt is fine, though.]

No, I'm not.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that I'm no longer human. I'm a revenant; does that mean anything to you?

[disarmony]

Can't say it does. But then again, I don't think the word "daemon" is going to mean much to you, either.

[ She tilts her head, slowly. ]

No longer human, huh? Was that a choice or a circumstance?

[vamptired]

. . . The circumstances were dire. Many of us had already lost our lives when the choice was made for us.

[disarmony]

Mm. And how was the choice made?

[vamptired]

Before I answer that, are you familiar with horrors?

[disarmony]

... Let's just assume I'm not, if what you're referring to isn't like-- werewolves, monsters, and the like.

[vamptired]

. . . I can't say for certain, but maybe there's a difference.

Simply put, revenants were created from the corpses of the fallen to protect humanity's survivors against horrors. Our purpose shifted following an incident that led to our current situation, but . . . as for me, I awakened as a revenant long after these events.

[disarmony]

... So you were human, died, arose to become this... revenant, but the purpose had changed from protecting what was left of humanity. Do I have that right?

[ She could sound dubious, but it's not as though she hasn't encountered stranger. ]

[vamptired]

[He nods. She's got it in one.]

I understand how difficult it is to believe if you've never heard of revenants before, but it's the truth.

[Speaking of that which they've never heard . . . ]

Can I ask what a daemon is?

[disarmony]

It's a creature-- well, no, it could be anything overwhelmed by malevolence. In my case, I was turned into a therion-- a daemon that devours other daemons for strength.

I'm hardly in the position to judge anyone for a wild tale.

[vamptired]

A daemon that devours other daemons . . .

[If he replaces a few keywords, it becomes understandable enough—though that's probably arrogant of him to think so.]

Then I believe we're both telling the truth. You seem very calm, though.

[disarmony]

I can still tell we're asleep, my brother included. As long as he's safe, that's all that matters.

... Though I'd also rather make sure this isn't a new and permanent arrangement.

[vamptired]

. . . If you don't mind my asking, why is it important for you and your brother to remain asleep?

[disarmony]

[ super, super dryly-- ]

World peace.