[open to all] Room full of people in your head

[applesaucemod]

The rift has gotten bored, and has decided it's time to bring people together for another dream party.

This time, when you find yourself within the dream, you'll be somewhere familiar. Perhaps somewhere you feel safe or at home, some place you miss, or were particularly happy at some point in your life. It might not be the same place every time you come back here, though.

There will also be a door where there didn't use to be one, even if there's no wall to surround it. If you go through this door, you will find yourself in endless simple corridor, lined with unmarked doors. And if you go through them, you'll pay a visit to someone else's room.


[There will monthly Dreaming party post like this. Same procedure as last time. Non-members welcome to tag in!]

Comments

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel looks back at Bruce and waves him in. "Sure thing, cuddles."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce laughs, coming in and shaking his head. He eyes the room with interest, especially the pizzas.

"I'm pretty sure this is a dream. What do you think?"

[has_a_horn]

"Oh, it's definitely a dream." He pushes the plate of little pizzas towards Bruce. "See, there's pizza. That's how you know." In the background, the Journey guy has moved on to slurring out the words of 'More Than a Feeling'.

"That, and I'm the best singer here." He scoots over, allowing Bruce the seat next to him in his little booth, then reaches across to pick up a little pizza for himself. "Well, I usually am, but here it's guaranteed. Unless you've been holding out on me and you're really a rock god."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce laughs, taking one of the pizzas and biting into it. He clears his mouth.

"I've had pizza while awake though. How is dream pizza different?" Bruce challenges. He shakes his head at the rock god comment. "You don't want to hear me sing, not that it actually qualifies as singing."

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel bites into his own little pizza, humming a pleased sound in the back of his throat. "What are you good at? Intruments? Science, of course. Oh, I had a nice flirt with the Hulk last time we met. You remember that? You told me I had pretty eyes." He chuckles, thinking over exactly what it was. "Nice brown, like dust from smashing." He smiles, raising an eyebrow in Bruce's direction. "I might have gone with...hm, like warm honey, but I appreciate the effort."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce groans, a bit embarrassed, but he laughs a bit too.

"I almost never remember being the Other Guy. If his flirting is that cheesy, I'd rather not know," Bruce scoffs, grinning. "Although, you probably should be flattered. Being compared to smashing is definitely a compliment in his books."

[has_a_horn]

"I don't know," He shrugs and leans back into his seat. "So far, he's the better flirt." He redirects his attention back to the horrible singing going on on stage. Yes, Bruce, that was a challenge he just issued. Flirt better than comparing his eyes to falling debris and you win a prize.

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce manages to look both pained and amused by that piece of news. He gives a wry chuckle.

"He's just shameless, that's all," Bruce protests mildly.

Still, he refuses to be outdone by the Other Guy. That's too embarrassing even for him. Bruce considers, knowing that attempting a metaphor of any kind will lead to his humiliation. He looks up at Gabriel through his eyelashes, a bashful smile in place.

"He may be better with words, but I like you more."

Sincerity, he can do.

[has_a_horn]

"Ah, see, that wasn't bad." He chuckles, "And give yourself credit, I think everyone is better with words than the Hulk."

[beastisbeauty]

"He got his point across, though, right?" Bruce teased. "That's what counts."

[has_a_horn]

"There's something to be said for style. You've got a one-up on him there." He takes a bite of pizza, then turns to Bruce, an eyebrow raised. "Where did you show up? You said it was depressing."

[beastisbeauty]

"Um, thanks," Bruce said, surprised. Style was not something he was complimented on very much. "Oh, at my old labs at Culvert University. I'm not sure why I would show up there."

[has_a_horn]

"Maybe it's something to do with familiarity." He nods to the bar around them. "Like an old hangout." Not that this is an old hangout of his, but he can pretend it was.

[beastisbeauty]

"I certainly spent enough time there," Bruce agreed. "It was the closest I ever came to being happy."

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel raises his eyebrows at him, genuinely a little curious about Bruce. "What made it so happy?"

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce considers the question, trying to remember how he felt back then.

"I was doing work that I loved and was good at. I thought my life was finally beginning, that I had a chance at some real success, some real happiness. I had my colleagues' respect and was dating someone I cared for. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I felt safe," Bruce finishes, the last word bitter and ironic.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel nods. "So, what's keeping you from that now?" He points a finger at Bruce, holding him in place with a stare. "And don't say your alter ego."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce shakes his head, smiling ruefully.

"No can do, I'm afraid," he objected. "It's hard to have a career, when you're on the run to keep the military from using your blood and DNA to develop weapons. Competent is also probably not the first word people think of for me."

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel shifts his glance from Bruce to the stage. He can understand the impulse to seek out excuses, but that doesn't mean that he's particularly excited when he hears them. "That's here? This New York?"

[beastisbeauty]

"Now? Age and experience I guess. I can't pretend to be safe, when working for the resistance, knowing what ROMAC does to people. The Other Guy is part of me and always will be. I know that now," Bruce tries to explain. "I think, now, my goal is just making sure I can be useful. I can't think in terms of personal ambition."