Because Darling, I’m a Nightmare

[redlightgreenlight]

Characters: Valdis and Some Open
Date: April 2584
Location: Aifaran
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: In headers


The Dreaming never seemed to be on her side. Between getting caught in the Fool’s memories and the blatant disregard it had for her own memories, she was very glad when March ended. The rains and flooding weren’t much fun, but she had plenty of opportunities to move forward in this ridiculous world. Valdis didn’t hate it here, quite the contrary in fact, but she still struggled with the adjustment. At least she wasn’t alone, that helped quite a bit, now she just had to find a way to make herself useful. Idleness had never helped her before, so best to face everything head on and do the best she could, even if she hated taking orders instead of giving them.

Comments

The Fool | Outside a Cafe | Arts 4 | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis hadn’t considered the fact that her sketch of the Fool’s attacker would garner as much attention as it had. A few requests later and someone had used that dumb social media thing to promote her style. That was all fine and dandy, until the flowers and letters started to arrive. Valdis had gone to the market to tell the overexcited Erol’a to leave her alone, yet instead, she found herself hiding behind a wooden sculpture that some other artist was trying to sell outside a cafe. Anani trotted down the street, tail high, notably dry considering the recent weather, a small fish in his mouth.

“Did you steal that?” Valdis asked him as he came closer. He purred around his fish, then settled next to her to eat it.

[afoolsgold]

Thus far the attention garnered by Valdis' sketch hasn't brought any negative consequences down upon the Fool's head, but he has nevertheless been hyper-vigilant in the weeks since his assault in the alleyway. And a bit of a ghost; he's been markedly absent from the Dreaming Bridge for weeks.

The wooden sculpture is less a sculpture and more a pillar holding an awning in place. Artful renderings have been engraved into it; wolves at the hunt, birds in flight. A nature motif. Sitting at a low table nearby with a cup of tea clasped between his hands, the Fool regards Valdis with carefully inscrutable amber eyes, his smile light and revealing nothing.

"He did not steal it from me, if that is your concern," he tells her mildly.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis sighs heavily, of all the people to run into, it would have to be the Fool. She peeks around the pillar, and, not seeing her admirer, relaxes a bit and returns her gaze to the delicate looking man.

"I'm less concerned about him stealing from someone like you," she replies, "You'll at least forgive him. Meanwhile, if his thefts are discovered, I could get in trouble with my boss."

Back when she was her own boss, things would have been very different.

"This is beautiful by the way," Valdis adds, tapping her hiding place, "Yours?"

[afoolsgold]

'Man' might be a bit of a stretch, regarding the Fool. He may adopt some masculine terms to describe himself, but the person seated at this table could easily be mistaken for a particularly androgynous woman in a different light; there's a length of beaded jewelry around his neck, at his wrists, and his choice of clothing today more closely resembles a dress with how it drapes him.

He lifts his eyebrows some at her words. "Where is it that you work?" he inquires, then shifts his eyes to the engraving in front of her. There, his smile warms a touch, and he nods. "Yes, it is--and thank you."

[redlightgreenlight]

"I'm a member of the Verdant Sentry," Valdis replies, though she sounds less than enthusiastic, "You know, the people who put thieves and muggers in prison."

Perhaps the last is a bit harsh, and she instantly regrets adding it, it's definitely not fair of her. Not everyone is a warrior forged in fire. She has to be strong and unyielding, but not every does.

"I'm sorry we haven't caught yours yet," she adds, trying to apologize for everything in a single sentence. New subject, she needs a new subject. "The animals are...almost lifelike."

[afoolsgold]

Like a door slamming shut, the Fool's expression grows predictably cool and closed off at those words. The evidence of the beating he took in the alleyway is still present on his features; the bruises have faded, but the cut above his eyebrow is going to leave a scar that will be present for years.

He doesn't respond to her apology immediately, instead taking a sip from his tea. It's easier to allow the subject to change as Valdis wills it. "Yes," he agrees at last, tone still mild... though perhaps not friendly. He looks down at one of his hands, which sports a soft leather glove, and gives his fingers an idle flex. "I suppose I have a peculiar knack for the art."

A moment later and he looks up at Valdis. His brows draw together into a slight frown; he must ask. "What you saw in my memories... Have you spoken to anyone else about it?" Beyond Devin.

Pepper | Outside a Designer Clothing Shop | Commerce 4 | CW: none

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis had wandered into the designer’s shop just to look. It would be some time before she could afford such clothes, but the designer saw otherwise. Two hours later, Valdis has once again, a little more than she bargained for, but perhaps in a good way. The designer suit was sharp,not suitable for everyday of course, but it would make a good impression and it set off her eyes quite nicely. In some ways, the following offer was quite amusing, though Valdis suspected that modeling in Aifaran would be a bit less cutthroat than on her world.

She had only made it a few yards from the shop when she sighted Pepper. She was about to wave when Anani appeared, yet another stolen fish in his mouth, and launched himself into her arms, making her drop her bags, though thankfully not in a puddle.

[lasergrenades]

Unsurprisingly, Pepper was window shopping. The rains had let up for the moment, and the streets were wet, but the brief glimmers of sunlight made it a nice spring day. Being both white and the only cat in Aifaran, Anani has a way of standing out. If Pepper had somehow missed Valdis, the feline's leap would most certainly have caught her attention.

She couldn't help but giggle at the sight, either. "Why am I not surprised he's a trouble-maker?" Pepper remarked, joining her friend and stooping to collect the bags from the ground. "Looks like you've got a nice haul. Splurging on clothes?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Anani dropped the fish as he turned in Valdis' arms, then he mewed pitifully and stared sadly down at it. Valdis made a short, disgusted noise.

"I think the only one still surprised by what he does is me," she said, "One day he's going to get himself into a spot he can't get out of."

The cat purred, rubbing his cheek against her chin. He was so lucky that he was cute.

"Not really splurging," she replied, "The designer basically threw them at me."

[lasergrenades]

Cats were enigmas. Pepper laughed at the continued antics, reaching out to let Anani sniff her free hand so she could pet him.

"Seriously? That's awesome," she replied with renewed interest in the bags she'd picked up. What she could see of the items suggested they were good quality. "How'd you manage that? Were they spring cleaning?" Can I get something too? was clearly on Pepper's mind, but she was also just excited by designer clothing. "You should see if you can get something to match for Anani," Pepper added, teasing.

[redlightgreenlight]

Anani didn't even bother sniffing Pepper's hand, simply shoved his head under it, trying to mark it with his cheek, purring even more loudly. Valdis sighed, the fluffy creature was friendly and seemed to like everyone, but he was a menace.

"Let's just say that my former career seems to have caught up with me in a way."

Modeling had been simple, because looking pretty and being appreciated for it had been easy. It wasn't exactly a side career that most Sentry members had, but they respected her abilities, so perhaps they wouldn't care too much. As long as that photo sharing didn't become too popular.

First X, Later Devin | At a waterfront park | Meta 1| CW: Violence

[redlightgreenlight]

The rumors over the last three days were making her insane. It seemed as if everywhere she went, natives and dreamfolk alike were surprised to see her ‘again’, and Valdis was beyond certain she hadn’t been to that shop, or that restaurant, or spoken to that person yet today, or the day before. Her frustration only grew as the distance between herself and her imposter grew shorter, but she still hadn’t managed to catch up. Valdis had alerted Devin to the issue, and had been obsessing over it until she heard a rumor of a large black wolf headed to a small park on the outskirts of the city. The rumor of the hound was far more pressing than that of her doppelganger, the description far too close to that of her enemies for comfort.

The park was fairly small, she had been there once before. It had been well maintained, with a lovely pier and gardens, plus a small grassy area with a wooden play structure for children. She approached from downwind, hoping to catch sight of the potential threat before it saw her. She definitely scented Hound in the air, and every muscle in her body tensed, scarlet seeping into her eyes. With the dreams she’d been having, the voices whose sound she would never forget, fear rose easily, though she tried to crush it with rationality.

[psituational]

X, purely coincidentally, was out for a walk. It wasn't something he usually did, and not something he'd ever really seen the point of before. But Aifaran wasn't Alard, and despite the criminal element, it was safe. Over two months, and X hadn't seen any evidence of anyone acting against their character. It was subtle, his paranoia tried to claim; he might not see it yet, but it was there.

And that was why the walk. Harder to be cautious and afraid when you were faced with the natural beauty of a small, well-maintained park. After about ten minutes of peace and fresh air, nothing to be done and nothing to worry about, X could feel the tension rolling off his limbs. This was what he'd always wanted, wasn't it? This sort of atmosphere, this sort of peace, for himself and his family.

That was why the black wolf caught X completely off guard.

It was big, first of all, bigger than X was. It didn't even remotely resemble any of the creatures he'd seen in Aifaran or on the archipelago so far. What it did resemble was a werewolf, and although X tried once again to tell himself this was a different world with different rules, he couldn't help but be keenly aware that they were in a park. Children were playing in the playground over there.

X swallowed and shifted his weight ever so slightly backwards, towards the pier and away from everyone else. "Good dog," he said, echoing Liz's words the first time she'd been cornered by an angry hound. "Nice dog. Please stay a good dog. I'm not very tasty, and I'd make a pretty terrible werewolf. Keep your eyes on me, though, right here. No one else. Just me."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis continued to creep forward, still fighting the panic in her mind. The scent was stronger now, mixed with the scents of children. She could hear them laughing as they played. Perhaps if the Hound didn't know she was here, then it would simply ignore the easy prey that surrounded it.

***

The Hound's head dropped as its hackles rise, lips curling back in a snarl, eyes so brightly scarlet they might have glowed had it been dark enough. It snapped at the air, clearly furious. As X shifted backward, it snarled and lunged, jaws wide open, ready to kill.

***

The sound of snarling launched Valdis into action, the shift couldn't happen quickly enough and she forced more energy into it, ignoring the painful rearrangement of her limbs as she always did. The Hound was going to attack, she had to stop it, had to kill it, at least temporarily until she could figure out what to do. It was difficult to focus on logic, fear mixed with fury at how the Hound had come here, but the fear was stronger than the anger.

[psituational]

Those glinting red eyes were the last thing X registered before the wolf lunged. Well, he thought as the world slowed down around him, damn it.

The wolf's jaws closed on nothing. X had leapt aside at a speed rivalled only by his attacker. Valdis's panic and fury flooded his mind, her drive, her skill; by the time X landed and spun to face the wolf, he was a wolf himself, large and black with a set of glinting red eyes of his own. He snarled once, audible frustration at not being able to read the phantom figment his opponent turned out to be, then flexed his claws into the dirt of the park and sprang.

Everything about the form of the wolf and the powers it possessed was built to kill. Valdis was built to kill. Without X's morality to hold any choices back, claws were out and teeth were bared -- something was damn well going to die in that park before X could be safe again.

[redlightgreenlight]

For an instant, Valdis could've sworn that she saw two Hounds in the park, but the moment she tried to focus on them, one shimmered out of existence, leaving her far more confused than before.

Run, she hissed, projecting her voice to all those present.

Luckily many of the people in the park were already fleeing, unwilling to stick around when such creatures were ready to fight each other. Valdis lunged at the other Hound, crossing the distance in two strides, jaws agape, a roar tearing from her throat, meeting her enemy as he sprang. The idea that the park wasn't the best place for this kind of fight didn't even cross her mind, nor did the fact that she didn't recognize this Hound. Fenrir must have created more and figured out how to send them here. She'd need to end this as quickly as she could.

Leo, Aly | The Beach | CW: none

[redlightgreenlight]

In reality, Keeliai had been long ago, but for her, it had only been a few months since she had promised to teach Leo and Aly how to defend themselves. Leo needed the basics, Aly was more advanced, so she had set aside time for each. She wasn’t concerned about Leo showing up, Aly might be hit or miss, the teen always seemed to be moody and her determination to be independent might make teaching her difficult. But Aly also seemed driven.

She would meet with Leo in the morning before she went to work. No weapons, just basic self defense, he wouldn’t need anything more. Valdis refused to teach him how to kill, it wasn’t a skill he would ever need and she wouldn’t ruin him like that. Valdis waited for him on a large rock that sat halfway in the water.

Aly, on the other hand, needed to be able to kill. Valdis would guess that the girl already had, but she had never discussed it with her and probably never would. She waited on the beach in the early evening, sitting cross legged, meditating without conversing with the serpent inside her head. It had been oddly silent, not that she was complaining.

Here comes trouble

[wolfishflame]

Aly didn't like to talk about what she'd done Otherside. It wasn't something to boast about, saving her own skin and the skin of her friends. She didn't go out hunting faeries on purpose (well...except for what she was about to do, but that was a completely different situation).

She'd brought her mace with her, and wasn't surprised to see Valdis meditating. She probably ought to do that too, in order to quiet her mind and the swirling emotions she'd been experiencing. Brigid, the werewolf, the only person she'd considered something like a fellow wolf, was gone, and even though they hadn't had a line she'd felt like they might have, if things were different, and they'd been together longer. Losing people so close reminded her of what she was going to do, and that made her hands itch.

The antler knife was still in her belt pouch; she couldn't bear to leave it anywhere else, but she couldn't bear to have it directly on her person. It hurt to hold.

Once she got close enough, she sat down cross-legged, too, and took a deep breath. She'd need to be on top of her game for this.

[redlightgreenlight]

Despite recognizing the soul, Valdis didn't acknowledge the girl's approach. Instead, she kept to her mind, clearing it even as Aly sat and took a breath. She let the silence linger for another ten minutes before saying anything.

"You need to focus," she advised, "No matter who you face, you cannot allow yourself to be distracted as you are now."

[wolfishflame]

"Well, forgive me for having a little on my mind," Aly mumbled. She wasn't sure how much backtalk that Valdis would let her get away with. She knew her limits with sensei, and even then she still liked to push them.

She took another few deep breaths and tried even harder to clear her mind before remembering that was the exact wrong way to do it. Let the thought come, acknowledge it, and let it roll away like water off a stone. Not sensei. Florence. Sensei wasn't half so poetic. Or helpful about that kind of thing.

[redlightgreenlight]

"It's not the thoughts that are the problem," Valdis replied, "It's the emotional attachment to them. Emotions have their place, but they also compromise your ability to fight. Let them go."

Valdis' eyes didn't open as she reflected on her surroundings, her heartbeat, what she knew, logically detaching herself emotionally from Aifaran and all that had happened.

"It won't be easy, but your enemies will take advantage of your emotions if they can. You must acknowledge them without giving in to them."

here comes a lot less trouble maybe

[iseeall]

Valdis seemed to have remembered her promise to help Leo learn how to defend himself, and he was honestly happy about it. His need of her advice/assistance was important enough it survived even the time they'd been back to their own worlds. Of course, it might have come after a rather embarrassing meeting with him crying all over her (again), but he was determined to not let that happen this time.

And of course, brought a couple treats along in case Anani was here. Otherwise, he showed up on the beach on time-much easier than when you had to worry about whole city blocks being destroyed-waving his hand at her. "Hey! Ms. Valdis, I'm here!"

[redlightgreenlight]

Leo's aura was always friendly, even when he was crying all over. His heart was large, his ability to forgive not always wise, but appreciated nonetheless. Valdis looked over at him, unfolding her legs and rising, jumping off the rock and back onto the sandy shore.

"So you are," she said with a smile, "How much fighting have you actually done?"

It would give her an idea of where to start.

[iseeall]

Leo was just that kind of person, but that's why everyone in Libra liked having him around too. Also he did distract Zapp. He did, however pause and look a bit distant as Valdis asked her question.

"Uhhh....does headbutting a guy till his god eye cracked count?" He asked. That was the one of the few times he'd headbutted people to stop them from attacking, though he still himself wasn't sure why that was his first go to attack. Otherwise he wasn't exactly going to admit that one time he'd tried to get his wallet back with a stun baton, only to have it used against him when he chickened out.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis arched a brow, wondering why exactly Leo had decided to use his head as the wrong kind of weapon. She was tempted to ask Klaus just how long Leo had been in the hospital after that particular incident. You didn't mess around with concussions.

"The goal of self-defense is generally to avoid injury," she commented, "So I guess we'll start with the basics."

She looked Leo up and down, he had potential, but she would have her work cut out for her.