This is My Island in the Sun [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

The Rift wouldn't say it's sorry for the fit it threw the other day, because the Rift never needs to apologize. It is (mostly) perfect, and all of its decisions are well reasoned and just. Obviously. But perhaps it has fallen into a bit of a post-tantrum sulk, because this dream is milder than one might expect. In fact, it's downright nice.

The dreamers will find themselves in an archipelago of small islands - most only a few acres in size - connected by narrow strips of sand or pebbles. The surrounding waters are calm. Little waves lap against the shorelines, and no rising tide will cut the islands off from one another. The islands themselves seem to have been lifted from every climate zone on Earth and several from beyond. Some are tropical, some colder and home to hardy conifers, some mossy and boulder-strewn, some covered in multicolored sand and odd, coral-like trees.

Most of the islands boast some kind of manmade or otherwise non-native structure, be it as small as a bench or as large as a pavilion, though there are no houses or shops to be seen. It's more like parkland, just civilized enough for a nice picnic. Some of the islands even have little grills, and a sufficiently motivated dreamer might be able to rustle up some hot dog or burger fixings if they poke around a bit.

And they'll have an extra pair of eyes to help with their searching, because their beloved dæmons have returned… again. Or perhaps they're being introduced for the first time. Regardless, it's the bi-annual dæmon dream party!

Comments

[apidae]

"Well..." She tilts her head from side to side for a moment. "Simonides was in another dream, a while ago - maybe a month? But it was very different. It was kind of a bad dream, actually." She frowns, and Simonides curls closer, at the memory. She thinks perhaps it's best not to describe it to Tim, and she moves on quickly: "I think they've shown up before that, too, before I was here. So I guess it's like a recurrent thing."

She looks back at him and flashes a little smile. "It's kind of nice, though, I think. Having someone who really gets you. Or... having a piece of yourself to talk to, I guess." She strokes Simonides' fur and he gives a soft little sigh.

[postictal]

It's weird as all fuck is what it is. And frankly? A little unsettling. Zero is him, and she knows everything there is - and for a minute he looks at her with a faint stab of ridiculous pity. Of all the people out there, she had to get saddled with him.

"Huh," he says, tone carefully neutral. If this piece of himself is anything like the other 'pieces' of himself he's run into -

Zero shatters that thought with a sharp caw, diverting Tim back to the dream's present. He threads his way carefully around the tree trunks, eyeing them warily despite how innocuous they might look, and steps out from the trees and into the sun.

He blinks at the shock of standing in the unfiltered sunlight for a moment, on a little strip of beach. The roar and crash of waves is - it's -

It's weirdly nice.

[apidae]

She smiles over at him. "That's better, right?" She walks toward the water, flopping down in the sand to watch the waves. She offers to let Simonides down but he wants to stay on her, as always. He does seem to be heartened by the promise of resting at the seaside at least, and he clambers up around her shoulders and attempts to nest in her hair.

She giggles and dislodges him gently. "Not there," she protests. She settles him into her lap, keeping a comforting hand on him.

She looks back to Tim and Zero. "Come sit if you want," she offers.

[postictal]

He trails after her, sinking to the ground almost as an afterthought. The sting of salt in the air is like something sharp or bladed or prickling, but it's not unpleasant. More attention-demanding is the expanse of water, rippling and seemingly endless, blue-green tides tipped in white.

It's kind of peaceful. Not like the woods at all.

Zero lands awkwardly on the sand, hopping a few times to stand evenly, feathers fluffing. Her eyes are also fixed on the horizon, her head cocked.

"Wow," murmurs Tim. He's not really sure if he can articulate anything more than that.

[apidae]

"Yeah," she agrees. "I've never been near the ocean before. Never got out of Alabama until the rift."

She smiles over at him - it's the same for him, she knows, though it would be pretty apparent even if she didn't.

"Nice when we get dreams like this," she says. "I always try my best to just enjoy them, cause... so many of them aren't nice at all. It's worth just sitting, I think."

And she knows he could really use the rest.

[postictal]

Tim says nothing, just sits there and watches. Gradually he curls his knees up to wrap his arms around him, oddly reminiscent of the scared boy in the hospital room but with none of the trembling and shaken fear to accompany it. He's never seen the ocean. He didn't think he ever would, or could. Even if it's a dream, he won't deny that it's a nice one.

He doesn't mind it, really. He doesn't mind it at all.

Even the company is okay, he thinks. Bee doesn't know about him, and there can't be any harm in it if she doesn't know him, right? They can just sit there like the friends they aren't, not really, but Tim doesn't mind having to pretend either. He always has to pretend. Even with Jay.

Zero lights down his shoulder again, feathers soft against his cheek, and he absently reaches up to stroke her, daring to feel calm for the first time in -

Well. A long time.