Sam's expression never changes, but she gives Bishop a barely-perceptible nod. She'll do as best she can. Despite the fact that there's a hefty part of her that wants a confrontation with Crimson, she knows this isn't the time or the place.
In large part, she isn't ready, either. And Sam's not stupid enough to bite off more than she can chew. Maybe if she was by herself...but she's not.
"Not all of us, I don't think--" because DropD-Tune can't speak for Bishop, but truth was..."truth be told, Hanako and I at least have...encountered Crimson before, isn't that right?"
Because Sam will be damned if she acts like Crimson's not right there.
"All jokes and snark aside, I didn't come looking for you this time, so..." Sam shrugs at that. She isn't being excessively aggressive or flippant...maybe because she's noticed the white knuckles and the skittishness on Crimson's part. She's not going to make an attempt at provocation.
"I don't really expect an answer, but d'you know why we might've been dragged here?"
[Hanako, thankfully, doesn't catch that brief, silent exchange between Bishop and Sam, his focus still largely on Crimson scowling down from up above. (And honestly, that was probably for the better-- as one of the two people in this group who had actually been here before, he would have been miffed over being treated as a liability!) His eyes never leave the bandstand, taking in every detail of her suspiciously nervous body language, even as he speaks up to answer both Butterfly and Sam's questions.]
Mm... we did. That was when she told us to leave this place and never come back. [A smile crosses his face, bright and cheerful yet nowhere near his eyes, his voice chipper as he adds, specifically to Crimson:] You let us know loud and clear we weren't welcome here, didn't you?
[YEP. STILL SALTY ABOUT ALL OF THAT!! Although it was that sheer power of hers that was keeping him in check at the moment, none too keen to rattle the cage when they only just got here. Still, he folds his arms behind his back, keeping his Sandglass knife in a tight grip of his own (not that it would do much if Crimson had enough of them, but it was still good to be prepared) as he continues to beam amicably in her direction.]
Like the old guy said, if you wanna be left alone, we'll respect that. Really! But...
[The chipper tone of his drops away, dipping to something a bit more low and conspiratorial as the smile on his face follows suit.]
There's been a few people now saying that somebody has been promising them a way to stay in the Dream Sphere forever... and that somebody sounded an awful lot like you.
[He tilts his head, eyes still pinned upon the woman above.]
Even from this distance, it's clear from the twist in Crimson's expression that she's torn. Given all she's done so far and the way every unwelcome guest has been ejected from this dream, it's evident that the last thing she wants to do is encourage them. Refusing to give them any answers at all might have exactly that effect.
The silence that stretches out before she speaks is short but weighty - but she does, at least, eventually speak up.
"You're here because I brought you here. This time." She's going with the diplomatic answer first, it seems. "You were in danger. I intervened. I don't expect a 'thank you'."
Her eyes flit around the group again, as if she's trying to commit their faces to memory. Or searching for something in them. Butterfly and D-Tune she passes over surprisingly quick. Bishop, she lingers on. Hanako...
It's a little discomforting how directly she meets his gaze.
His message conveyed he turns around when he feels her gaze on him, noting how she lingers on Hanako. There is something here he is not getting, and it irks him.
"If what you claim is true. And considering the... distressing nature of that place I am slightly inclined to believe you- if you wanted us gone for good leaving us there would be easy enough."
Of course this COULD be a long con to grow trust... but of that was her game she sure was doing a bad job of it BEFORE now... so he decides to lean more on the simpler explanation, even if his paranoia screams otherwise. It wouldn't be the first time his instinct towards the Worst Option had bit him, so he's at least trying to not give into his worst impuses.
"In that case, you have my thanks." She even gets one of his little bows.
Sam frowns. It's not quite an outright scowl, but it's not exactly friendly, either. More annoyed than anything, really.
Still, Crimson's admitted that she had rescued them. And, well. She sure as hell didn't need to do that. At least one less thorn in her proverbial side, if Crimson hadn't, really.
"Thanks. No, I mean it." Expression aside. She's not usually given to long and flowery speeches, and it'd be suspect if she suddenly belted one out here. The short thanks she does give, then, is honest.
There's a part of Sam that can empathize with the allure of staying in the Dream Sphere for good. When she first became a Dreamer--if she hadn't been offered a chance to come to Yumemigaoka, if she hadn't come to Japan, well. There but for the grace goes she.
"So are you the devil offering it to gullible Dreamers to sell their souls, or did someone put you up to this?" Since Crimson has all but admitted she's at least behind some of the Disturbances--in part.
It's Sam's turn to not expect an answer, but there's no malice in her expression or her tone, now. She can't bring herself to it.
[Hanako merely gives a noncommittal hum in response to Crimson's claim and the rest of the team's thanks-- it's true, what Bishop and Butterfly said, in that she didn't need to do what she did to help them out (it's not like they would have really died or anything), but why she did it now was the more important question here. Was it because they were in danger? Or was it because they had stumbled upon something they weren't meant to see? (Come to think of it... what did they see there? The details felt frustratingly slippery, considering the peril they were in) After all, he'd seen reports about the first venture to find her, the team that had been roasted to bits outside that fiery fortress. Why hadn't she felt the need to rescue them then?
His eyes remain trained on Crimson as she takes in the rest of the team, the way she sizes them all up before settling squarely upon him sending an instinctive shiver of fear down his spine. It was like being pinned by the gaze of an apex predator, and he had to fight his non-Dreamer impulse to look away from her, lest she saw something he didn't want her to see. But... even if she was stronger than he was, by a terrifying amount, he forces himself to meet her stare head on, regardless of his nerves, not willing to show even an edge of weakness among the others. Why she was locked onto him, though, he couldn't say-- was it because he had gotten close to her the last time they were here? Or was it because he was getting a little too close to the truth?]
I'm with D on this one. After all, it seems kinda weird that someone stuck in her own dream world would go and start pulling other folks in if all she wanted was to be left alone, right?
[He gestures with his free hand to the realm around them-- the thick bed of cloying roses, the orange glow to the sky, the towering gazebo-- before continuing on:]
Because... that's what this is, isn't it...? Your own Disturbance? It sure feels the same as the other ones we've been in, anyway.
Don't get used to it. If you throw yourselves facefirst into trouble like that again, I'll just let it happen.
[ ... is what she says, but the immediacy of your arrival here paired with her deeply irritated expression makes you think it's probably not the case. She definitely isn't happy to see any of you here, but it seems like letting whatever was about to happen happen to you would have been the worse case scenario in comparison to just bringing them here to interrogate her.
... this is pretty bad as well, admittedly. Even with her having the high ground, she's outnumbered. ]
And it's not like I want any of your souls, either. I don't know what ideas you're getting, but...
[ . . .
She's still staring right into Hanako's eyes. ]
Is it that bad to offer a choice? Nobody has to say yes.
[Hubert snarls, long fingers twitching on his tome.]
Tch. If someone had offered such a thing to me fifteen years ago I likely would have been first in line. So I know how comforting sleep can be when the real world is out to hurt you. Being tempted is just human nature.
But who I have much less sympathy for is someone selling poison and calling it a cure. And I know poison when I smell it.
[ She frowns at all this but not out of anger or resentment.
She's just kind of sad. And worried. ]
Yeah... that can't actually be good for anyone in the long run. Sure a long time might be okay now and then but... at a certain point it's just escapism, right? That's not going to solve your problems.
[ She notes the way she's staring down Hanako... and her instincts make her take a step in front of him, trying to break Crimson's gaze. ]
To say Sam's concerned about the way Crimson is staring down Hanako--is there something she doesn't know?
Here and now, though, is not the time. But she's making a mental note to try and get in touch with the young man. Later. Privately. She likes to think they at least have something of a small rapport with one another--even if it's her boyfriend who makes a point of grabbing the kid by the face.
She shakes her head a moment as if to clear it, but then nods to Butterfly. Sam doesn't need to reiterate what's already been said--by Butterfly or Bishop. Then again...
"Yeah, but I don't get the feel that you're hiding from anything. That's not you. So. I mean. We've been looking for you. What're you searching for?"
It's a fair question, she thinks--though again, Sam doesn't really expect an answer. But hey, anything to get her off of her Hanako fixation...
["Is it that bad to offer a choice? Nobody has to say yes."
He stills as Crimson drops her question onto the group like a bomb, the smirk dropping off of his face while her eyes continue to bore into his own. Perhaps what she had said was meant as a general query, but with the way she was looking at him... it felt impossible to shake the chilling feeling that it was directed towards him, specifically. There was no way she could see through him, right? See all the ugly thoughts and emotions and frustrations backing up inside of him, like water in a clogged sink, getting closer and closer to spilling over each day...
"...You've thought about staying here forever too, haven't you?"
He takes in a steadying breath as Butterfly steps into view and breaks his eye contact with Crimson, only half-aware of the reprimands her and Bishop were giving the errant Dreamer. (Although dang, Hubert... what was that about staying professional here again??) Normally, he would have been a bit annoyed to have been blocked off the way that he had, but... he had been about two seconds from pulling his gaze away himself, so in a sense, she had helped him save face.
Sam's question does bring something to mind, though, something he had remembered reading in the files he had borrowed from the DU a while back, and he finally pipes up:]
Y'know... for someone who's so attuned to this place, you of all people should know the dangers of what you're offering to others. I mean... it's pretty irresponsible, isn't it? Giving regular people the means to accidentally wreck the Dream Sphere and all of that.
So yeah, what's your angle here? It feels weird that you're suddenly pulling something like this after all this time.
[ She says that bluntly enough that it's clear there's no room for argument... but her expression twists a bit again. She looks unhappy even having to say that much, but it's clear that if she says nothing there's no chance of her being left alone.
Dreamers are always so troublesome. ]
You can come back and demand answers as many times as you like. I can't explain any more than I already have. But believe it or not, I'm on the same side as you. ... I am a Dreamer, after all.
[ And then takes a step forward, her face softening. ]
That's why we're out here in the first place. Dreamers are supposed to help one another, aren't we? We're all in this together.
You can't tell us anything more... for now, that's okay. But I hope some day you can. Whatever's going on... no one should have to shoulder anything alone.
[ Maybe she's being optimistic, wanting to believe Crimson doesn't actually mean anything bad. But it's just who she is. She wants to extend the branch of good will. ]
D-Tune can't help but snort as Bishop makes his comment about Crimson doing a proper report. She's sure that had Crimson actually wanted to, she would have. A long time ago. To Sam, this means that Crimson doesn't want the DU involved in her business here...or they would be.
To her, it's only logical.
"I gotta say, there are too many questions that aren't answered for anyone to leave you completely alone. I know Chaosbringer's like a terrier--he's not gonna give until he's got the answers he wants. Though what those are...well."
Sam has to shrug at that, because even she's not sure. But she's curious, or else she wouldn't be here, to be honest.
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beautifuldreamermods) wrote2023-06-15 08:30 pm
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In large part, she isn't ready, either. And Sam's not stupid enough to bite off more than she can chew. Maybe if she was by herself...but she's not.
"Not all of us, I don't think--" because DropD-Tune can't speak for Bishop, but truth was..."truth be told, Hanako and I at least have...encountered Crimson before, isn't that right?"
Because Sam will be damned if she acts like Crimson's not right there.
"All jokes and snark aside, I didn't come looking for you this time, so..." Sam shrugs at that. She isn't being excessively aggressive or flippant...maybe because she's noticed the white knuckles and the skittishness on Crimson's part. She's not going to make an attempt at provocation.
"I don't really expect an answer, but d'you know why we might've been dragged here?"
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Mm... we did. That was when she told us to leave this place and never come back. [A smile crosses his face, bright and cheerful yet nowhere near his eyes, his voice chipper as he adds, specifically to Crimson:] You let us know loud and clear we weren't welcome here, didn't you?
[YEP. STILL SALTY ABOUT ALL OF THAT!! Although it was that sheer power of hers that was keeping him in check at the moment, none too keen to rattle the cage when they only just got here. Still, he folds his arms behind his back, keeping his Sandglass knife in a tight grip of his own (not that it would do much if Crimson had enough of them, but it was still good to be prepared) as he continues to beam amicably in her direction.]
Like the old guy said, if you wanna be left alone, we'll respect that. Really! But...
[The chipper tone of his drops away, dipping to something a bit more low and conspiratorial as the smile on his face follows suit.]
There's been a few people now saying that somebody has been promising them a way to stay in the Dream Sphere forever... and that somebody sounded an awful lot like you.
[He tilts his head, eyes still pinned upon the woman above.]
Or are we wrong?
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The silence that stretches out before she speaks is short but weighty - but she does, at least, eventually speak up.
"You're here because I brought you here. This time." She's going with the diplomatic answer first, it seems. "You were in danger. I intervened. I don't expect a 'thank you'."
Her eyes flit around the group again, as if she's trying to commit their faces to memory. Or searching for something in them. Butterfly and D-Tune she passes over surprisingly quick. Bishop, she lingers on. Hanako...
It's a little discomforting how directly she meets his gaze.
"Even if I denied it, would you believe me?"
... Not that it seems she plans to.
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"If what you claim is true. And considering the... distressing nature of that place I am slightly inclined to believe you- if you wanted us gone for good leaving us there would be easy enough."
Of course this COULD be a long con to grow trust... but of that was her game she sure was doing a bad job of it BEFORE now... so he decides to lean more on the simpler explanation, even if his paranoia screams otherwise. It wouldn't be the first time his instinct towards the Worst Option had bit him, so he's at least trying to not give into his worst impuses.
"In that case, you have my thanks." She even gets one of his little bows.
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Jiichan has a point. [ Ageha maybe don't........ call him that... this is a serious moment.... ] You didn't have to do that, but you still did.
So you can't be all that bad then, right?
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Still, Crimson's admitted that she had rescued them. And, well. She sure as hell didn't need to do that. At least one less thorn in her proverbial side, if Crimson hadn't, really.
"Thanks. No, I mean it." Expression aside. She's not usually given to long and flowery speeches, and it'd be suspect if she suddenly belted one out here. The short thanks she does give, then, is honest.
There's a part of Sam that can empathize with the allure of staying in the Dream Sphere for good. When she first became a Dreamer--if she hadn't been offered a chance to come to Yumemigaoka, if she hadn't come to Japan, well. There but for the grace goes she.
"So are you the devil offering it to gullible Dreamers to sell their souls, or did someone put you up to this?" Since Crimson has all but admitted she's at least behind some of the Disturbances--in part.
It's Sam's turn to not expect an answer, but there's no malice in her expression or her tone, now. She can't bring herself to it.
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His eyes remain trained on Crimson as she takes in the rest of the team, the way she sizes them all up before settling squarely upon him sending an instinctive shiver of fear down his spine. It was like being pinned by the gaze of an apex predator, and he had to fight his non-Dreamer impulse to look away from her, lest she saw something he didn't want her to see. But... even if she was stronger than he was, by a terrifying amount, he forces himself to meet her stare head on, regardless of his nerves, not willing to show even an edge of weakness among the others. Why she was locked onto him, though, he couldn't say-- was it because he had gotten close to her the last time they were here? Or was it because he was getting a little too close to the truth?]
I'm with D on this one. After all, it seems kinda weird that someone stuck in her own dream world would go and start pulling other folks in if all she wanted was to be left alone, right?
[He gestures with his free hand to the realm around them-- the thick bed of cloying roses, the orange glow to the sky, the towering gazebo-- before continuing on:]
Because... that's what this is, isn't it...? Your own Disturbance? It sure feels the same as the other ones we've been in, anyway.
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[ ... is what she says, but the immediacy of your arrival here paired with her deeply irritated expression makes you think it's probably not the case. She definitely isn't happy to see any of you here, but it seems like letting whatever was about to happen happen to you would have been the worse case scenario in comparison to just bringing them here to interrogate her.
... this is pretty bad as well, admittedly. Even with her having the high ground, she's outnumbered. ]
And it's not like I want any of your souls, either. I don't know what ideas you're getting, but...
[ . . .
She's still staring right into Hanako's eyes. ]
Is it that bad to offer a choice? Nobody has to say yes.
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Tch. If someone had offered such a thing to me fifteen years ago I likely would have been first in line. So I know how comforting sleep can be when the real world is out to hurt you. Being tempted is just human nature.
But who I have much less sympathy for is someone selling poison and calling it a cure. And I know poison when I smell it.
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She's just kind of sad. And worried. ]
Yeah... that can't actually be good for anyone in the long run. Sure a long time might be okay now and then but... at a certain point it's just escapism, right? That's not going to solve your problems.
[ She notes the way she's staring down Hanako... and her instincts make her take a step in front of him, trying to break Crimson's gaze. ]
...It can't be good for you either, Crimson.
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Here and now, though, is not the time. But she's making a mental note to try and get in touch with the young man. Later. Privately. She likes to think they at least have something of a small rapport with one another--even if it's her boyfriend who makes a point of grabbing the kid by the face.
She shakes her head a moment as if to clear it, but then nods to Butterfly. Sam doesn't need to reiterate what's already been said--by Butterfly or Bishop. Then again...
"Yeah, but I don't get the feel that you're hiding from anything. That's not you. So. I mean. We've been looking for you. What're you searching for?"
It's a fair question, she thinks--though again, Sam doesn't really expect an answer. But hey, anything to get her off of her Hanako fixation...
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He stills as Crimson drops her question onto the group like a bomb, the smirk dropping off of his face while her eyes continue to bore into his own. Perhaps what she had said was meant as a general query, but with the way she was looking at him... it felt impossible to shake the chilling feeling that it was directed towards him, specifically. There was no way she could see through him, right? See all the ugly thoughts and emotions and frustrations backing up inside of him, like water in a clogged sink, getting closer and closer to spilling over each day...
"...You've thought about staying here forever too, haven't you?"
He takes in a steadying breath as Butterfly steps into view and breaks his eye contact with Crimson, only half-aware of the reprimands her and Bishop were giving the errant Dreamer. (Although dang, Hubert... what was that about staying professional here again??) Normally, he would have been a bit annoyed to have been blocked off the way that he had, but... he had been about two seconds from pulling his gaze away himself, so in a sense, she had helped him save face.
Sam's question does bring something to mind, though, something he had remembered reading in the files he had borrowed from the DU a while back, and he finally pipes up:]
Y'know... for someone who's so attuned to this place, you of all people should know the dangers of what you're offering to others. I mean... it's pretty irresponsible, isn't it? Giving regular people the means to accidentally wreck the Dream Sphere and all of that.
So yeah, what's your angle here? It feels weird that you're suddenly pulling something like this after all this time.
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[ She says that bluntly enough that it's clear there's no room for argument... but her expression twists a bit again. She looks unhappy even having to say that much, but it's clear that if she says nothing there's no chance of her being left alone.
Dreamers are always so troublesome. ]
You can come back and demand answers as many times as you like. I can't explain any more than I already have. But believe it or not, I'm on the same side as you. ... I am a Dreamer, after all.
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[DONT CONPLAIN PEOPLE KEEP BOTHERING YOU IF YOURE NOT GONNA TELL THEM SHIT, CRIMSON]
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...You're right. You are.
[ And then takes a step forward, her face softening. ]
That's why we're out here in the first place. Dreamers are supposed to help one another, aren't we? We're all in this together.
You can't tell us anything more... for now, that's okay. But I hope some day you can. Whatever's going on... no one should have to shoulder anything alone.
[ Maybe she's being optimistic, wanting to believe Crimson doesn't actually mean anything bad. But it's just who she is. She wants to extend the branch of good will. ]
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To her, it's only logical.
"I gotta say, there are too many questions that aren't answered for anyone to leave you completely alone. I know Chaosbringer's like a terrier--he's not gonna give until he's got the answers he wants. Though what those are...well."
Sam has to shrug at that, because even she's not sure. But she's curious, or else she wouldn't be here, to be honest.