( closed )

[dreamchasing]

Who: Asbel Lhant and Cheria Barnes
When: A few hours after Asbel's arrival
Where: Grace's House Graceshouse
Style: Are we going with brackets? :D;
Status: Closed!

[ It had been a few hours since Hubert and Sophie had brought an unconscious Asbel home with them. Since then, they had managed to get his soaked clothing off of him and get dry clothing on him (with Hubert's help, of course), get him into a bed, and bundle him up. Cheria had been by his side almost the entirety of the time, making certain that his fever wasn't spiking, or that his cold wasn't getting any worse.

She had made one of her rare trips out of the room recently, and returned with a glass of water in case he woke up and needed something to drink. She sat down again by his bedside, brushing aside some of the hair from his forehead to gently place a hand on it, feeling her own forehead with her other hand to determine how his fever was.

... no change, it seemed.

She sighed, sitting back and closing her eyes. She wished he would wake up ... ]

Comments

[protectingwishes]

[As he slept, Asbel had nightmares. He dreamed he was trapped, or that he couldn't find his friends, or save Richard. It was cold here, so very cold. Asbel could feel himself being frozen in place, unable to move his body as the ice encased him. Then suddenly it was warm. There was a light, teasing him to open his eyes.

The images of being alone and helpless began to fade, and in a few moments he could barely remember what the nightmares had been about. There was something warm on top of him; a blanket. He could feel the bed sheets beneath him and then a soft touch against his forehead. Was he in a bed? How did he get here? Where was here?

Asbel stared up at the ceiling through half opened eyes. He could smell something nearby. It was a sweet and familiar fragrance, like someone he knew. Asbel turned his head to look at the figure at the bedside. His throat felt dry, so he spoke softly.]

"...Cheria?"

[dreamchasing]

[ The sound of his voice brought her back to her senses, and she opened her eyes, blinking them slowly a few times before her sights focused on Asbel. A wave a relief washed over her, and it showed on her face as a gentle smile crossed her lips. ]

I'm here, Asbel ...

[ It had been quite a shock when Hubert and Sophie had returned earlier that day with an unconscious Asbel. Shock quickly became worry, though, and Cheria had immediately began ordering people around for the sake of getting Asbel into a warm place. Since then, she had spent most of her time by his side, waiting for him to wake up. ]

How are you feeling?

[ A dumb question, considering it was pretty obvious how he was feeling. Still, it was better to ask that than not say anything at all. ]

[protectingwishes]

[It was Cheria. That was good, it meant he was awake now.]

I'm... I'm fine.

[Asbel tried to sit up, but he still felt incredibly light-headed. He swayed a little before using his elbows to steady himself.]

I had the strangest dream...

[An incredibly vivid dream.]

[dreamchasing]

[ The moment he tried to move, Cheria was standing up and helping him sit up. As soon as he was sitting up in his bed, she sat back down in her seat and handed him the glass of water, making sure he was able to hold it steady before letting go. ]

What was it about?

[protectingwishes]

[He stared at the water in silence for a long time. The glass itself was cold, and soothing in contrast to his head which felt heavy and hot. Asbel took long sips of the water before nursing the glass in his lap.]

I dreamed I was in a courtyard or something, and I was really wet. I was running around looking for Sophie. I found her sleeping on the ground, and then Hubert showed up too. He said I was late and that everyone was waiting for me for months.

I felt... Really sick and then... I woke up.

[He took another sip of the water and smiled as best he could.]

Pretty funny, huh?

[dreamchasing]

[ A small smile came to Cheria's face; a small, uncertain, wary smile. She was going to have to tell him how that wasn't a dream at all, and frankly, Cheria wasn't sure how Asbel would react to that.

He was going to have to accept it, though. ]

Asbel ...

[ Right, just come out and say it. ]

... That wasn't a dream.

[ She stopped at that, waiting for his reaction before she went any further. ]

[protectingwishes]

What?

[Asbel's eyes went wide. That wasn't a dream? But that meant they were were really stuck in an underwater city.]

How? When? Hubert says you've all been here for months, but we were all together just this morning!

[He's mildly flipping out.]

[dreamchasing]

Asbel, calm down!

[ She doesn't need him flipping out in his condition! She puts a hand on his arm, looking at him seriously. ]

Listen, Asbel ... this place, Vatheon. It does a lot of strange things. I'll explain to you what's going on around here, but I need you to stay calm, all right?

[ It was difficult enough to explain it, especially not really knowing which time he came from ... she had already experienced the big things in their world, but she really didn't know what he was doing before this. ]

[protectingwishes]

[How was he supposed to stay calm? They needed to get out of here as soon as possible.]

I-

[He looked at Cheria and upon seeing the look on her face, he decided to hold his protests until after he knew what was happening. If he wanted answers he had to listen. Asbel's gaze fell on Cheria's hand on his arm. He could feel it, which meant this was real.]

Okay, Cheria...

[dreamchasing]

Good ... [ Cheria breathed out the word, relieved that Asbel had agreed to it. She knew how stubborn he could be at times ...

She leaned back a little in her seat, allowing the hand on his arm to drop again and rest on the bed beside him. The expression on her face looked a little troubled; she had never had to explain to anyone about this place before, and she admitted that there was still a lot she didn't know for herself. ]

How much were you told? Before you passed out, I mean.

[ If he could remember the "dream" he had of arriving here, then he might have been able to remember what all he had been told. It would give her a starting point. ]

[protectingwishes]

Hubert said that everyone was in this place for a few months and that I was late...

[He paused, not sure he wanted to say what happened next. After a minute of silence he continued.]

He also said that this place was really far away from our planet... Also, Sophie said we could be friends with coral.

[He smiles a little at that. Oh Sophie.]

[dreamchasing]

[ Cheria couldn't help the smile on her own face at that. For all of the awkward questions she could ask, Sophie was definitely a sweetheart, and a wonderful part of their lives. ]

Okay, then ...

[ She took a few more moments to collect her thoughts before speaking again. ]

As I said before, this place is called Vatheon. And yes, Hubert was telling the truth; it has been a month or two since Sophie, Hubert, and I all arrived here. Pascal was here before any of us, though I think she mentioned that she had only been here for a month herself before Sophie and I arrived.

[ She gave Asbel a moment to take in that confirmation before speaking again. ]

Vatheon does some very strange things ... people from different worlds are pulled into this place. None of us really know why, or what purpose we really serve by being here, but we do know that we can't leave willingly. In addition to pulling people in from different worlds, though, Vatheon also tends to do odd things with the timelines that people are from.

For example ... Sophie doesn't know what a Rockgagong is.

[ Cheria shivered as she spoke the word. Yes, she most definitely knew what a Rockgagong was, and she didn't want to think about it, or its butt. It was the best example she could think of at the moment, though. ]

Hubert, Pascal, and I have already experienced the Rockgagong, though.

[ AND AGAIN, SHE STILL DIDN'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT. There was a disgusted look on her face for only a moment before she shook her head and returned to explaining. ]

So there's a chance that some of us may know what's in your future, because we come from further along in our timeline. And vice versa, if you come from further along in any of our timelines. It's ... complicated, really.

[ It made her head hurt to just think about it. ]

[protectingwishes]

[It was a little confusing for Asbel. He'd never really thought about travelling through time or to other planets before. But he knew that if he was from the future, and he said something, it could affect other things.

He smiled at Cheria's reaction to talking about the Rockagong, even though he didn't really understand why it got her so flustered. Asbel looked up at Cheria, suddenly realizing something.]


Sophie doesn't know about the Rockagong? Does that mean she still doesn't have her memories back?

[dreamchasing]

[ Cheria noticed that smile and narrowed her eyes at him in return. What're you laughing at, Asbel? But, he's sick. So she won't say anything. Instead, she focused on his question. ]

Ah ... She mentioned fighting Richard back in Lhant.

[protectingwishes]

Back in Lhant? That means Sophie is...

[Far behind him. He didn't know how to ask Cheria when she was from without giving too much away.]

Zavhert and peaches.

[Yeah those two words should be enough to let Cheria know what time he came from.]

[dreamchasing]

[ At first, Cheria was a little bit confused as to why he was saying those words. Just by looking at him, she didn't think that he was trying to poke fun at her ... but it slowly dawned on her that he was trying to give her a heads up as to where he was from. Cheria pouted for a moment at the memory of what had taken place when they encountered the peach tree, and how the same exact thing had happened here when Sophie found peaches.

... but then, she offered Asbel a sheepish smile and a small shrug. ]

That was a while ago for me.

[ this was kind of awkward, actually ... she knew things that Asbel didn't. While this would ordinarily seem par for the course, in this case, it was a little disturbing. ]

[protectingwishes]

[A while ago? That meant-!]

Cheria! You're from the future?

[Wow. That meant she knew all kinds of stuff he didn't.]

Do I get taller or grow a beard?

[Legit question.]

I apologize for the long wait, husband!! ;w;

[dreamchasing]

[ For several moments, Cheria was taken completely off guard by the question. However, as it sunk in, she found herself growing ... irritated. As usual. She twitched a few times, crossing her arms over her chest. ]

You hear I'm from your future, and that is the first thing you ask?! Un-believeable! I would think that you would want to know about more important things than that!

[ And when she really thought more about it, she had one more thing to add. ]

... How old do you think I am? Are you saying I look old?!