Dream ♠ o15

[defector]

Warnings: Spoilers for the manga, more HTML abuse. o/;;
Dream Effects: Generally loneliness, before it builds up to the overwhelming feeling like you're surrounded by people who care about you.
Filter: From boat_lights, sinnerofdreams, and namelessqueen.

 

 

		“You’re trying to impress someone, aren’t you? Road asks, and he’s ten, but it’s not so much impress   as it is that he wants—needs—to be useful or else he might get thrown away. Dewey wouldn’t want a useless person, after all. And without Dewey, Dominic is nothing.
He’s alone. It repeats itself over and over in his head alone alone alone but now he has Anemone and the world             so it’s okay.
		Fingers flying across the keyboard, his eyes glued to the screen, he’s twenty and he reads word after word: noise         Anemone               the colonel and he’s realized that the colonel can’t be trusted anymore.
And there, that woman’s told him—the truth about everything.   But did he really want to know?   He falls to his knees because because sometimes there are people you shouldn’t believe in.			Because you don’t hack into the records of people you trust.
“And that's why I'll be hoping that you will no longer trust anyone. It's for the best, I assure you,” Vincent tells him, and for a moment Dominic believes him.   —Then he promptly realizes why that’s the most idiotic thing he’s heard yet.
“And so, idiot or not, I’m backing you!” he shouts at Renton, while the other boy simply stares at him. But he hasn’t gone crazy—he’s just  opened his eyes. For real this time. So don’t let this become a mistake.				He’s in Somarium now, and he’s alone. He won’t ever see his world again. Anemone won’t be a part of his life.   alone alone alone Is it still okay?
“You're my friend and I'd like to do something nice for you and see you smile...” Estelle says.
				“So if there is anything that you would like to talk about, I'll listen anytime.” Minato.
“You want me to kick anyone else's ass instead?” “Wha—?” Ken laughs awkwardly. “Well. Omi's not the only person here I wanna see stay safe, you know.”
				By the way, is there anything you wanted for your birthday? — Atsuro.
And then Estelle’s running towards him, before she wraps her arms around his neck   and nobody touches him like that   but he smiles and hugs her back.
Minato holds out a can of soda to him even though Dominic wonders what others even see in him. he let Anemone die Still, he takes it.
And Ken’s less than stellar grammar aside— Youre not alone.   not alone anymore   Dominic smiles. Thank you. —To everyone.

 

---

[Well, that's probably the best dream Dominic, who's reverted back to his normal age by now, has had in a long while. However, he doesn't dwell on it long before picking up his Dreamberry and placing a filter on it. As much as he'd like to shove this dream in Vincent's face, he'd rather the man not know about every one of his friends—even if the filter won't take care of all of his acquaintances.

Still, once he's done, Dominic smiles softly, stroking Gulliver softly.]

Comments

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Yeah. And that's the next thing I want to talk to you about, actually.

[...]

I know you're not going to stay out of this no matter how much I ask you too, so...

[He wishes it didn't have to come to this, because even past all the threats, he now has to consider how he can 'use' his friend. He can't afford to hesitate anymore.]

How much do you know already?

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

I know that the brother that Vincent Nightray has a fixation over is Gilbert Nightray, though he did not appear to be a bad person. Vincent also holds rivalry, if not enmity, towards Xerxes Break, though I've only spoken once to Sharon Rainsworth, who seems to be Break's assistant. [It's not much, but he did avoid speaking with the most 'dangerous' of people. That should be a good thing! :|b]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[...]

That's... more than I thought you'd know, to be honest.

[Still, at least it'll spare him of explaining everything now.]

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

[Blink. Really?

He... honestly just shuffled through the contact list and checked the archives. Little things come a long way, huh?]

I've been careful. Miss Rainsworth, as I've said, is the only one to whom I've actually spoken to.

[He doesn't ask, but his gaze is questioning. Will you tell him more?_?]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Yes, seeing as how that's the point of this entire conversation. o/]

I see. Well, that should save me some time.

[Again—how to start this?]

... You're right when you say that Gilbert isn't a bad person—either that, or he's an extremely talented actor. He's aware of his brother's general flaws, but he seemed genuinely distraught when I informed him of Anemone's murder. However, while he doesn't approve of his brother's actions... given the way he spoke, it appears he intends on standing by his brother. So... he's not exactly an ally.

[He pauses to give Minato some time to let this sink in.]

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

He wants to be able to trust his brother. [Minato nods, giving the indication that Dominic can keep going.]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[He nods back.]

It looks that way. Still, he and I are on friendly terms.

[...]

He's Vincent's biological brother. The two of them were adopted into the Nightray family, according to Elliot Nightray, their foster brother. Before that... they seemed to have served under someone named Jack, who's here in Somarium. I haven't spoken with the man yet, so I can't tell you anything more than that.

However, one thing I do know about their past is that Vincent's red eye is a touchy subject. Apparently, people believed it brought misfortune, so... it didn't bring them much fortune, certainly. I think they were sold to a carnival once or something...

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

...Hm.

It's either a superstition, or it may link off to a past event that happened to him. ...So the brothers were both discarded as children. Was that before Vincent met Jack? If so, do you know why they left Jack and entered the Nightray house?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Before, I believe—and I don't know. I only spoke with Elliot once, so I'm not sure of the details of their adoption. Break might know... but I doubt he'd tell me.

[And that brings him into the next topic: Break and Sharon.]

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

How is Elliot Nightray? Will we be able to ask him more without raising any suspicion, or risk having Vincent knowing?

...I've perused through his archives. Xerxes Break talks similarly to Vincent Nightray. [Flattest observation ever. :|]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

I don't really know. He said that he's not very close with the two, but I didn't want to risk digging in too deep, so I don't know what his limits are.

[He smiles lightly.]

I noticed that as well. Just don't say it to his face—he doesn't appreciate being compared to the 'rat', as he calls Vincent.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

We can start with the archives. If Kihara-kun is already involved, then hacking is definitely something that he can do.

[...o7] Got it. Would you consider him as an ally?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

I've given Atsuro his name.

[A pause—]

... Yes. He's an annoying and manipulative bastard who doesn't care about anyone except for Miss Sharon, but... I trust him. More than I should, probably.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

Please keep me updated, if possible.

[So he's Vincent's antithesis while being also a carbon copy.



:|a

okay]

So if nothing else, we are united by a common foe. ...Until he gives us an explicit reason not to, we'll have to make do. He knows Vincent Nightray very well too, correct? So he may also be of best help. Did he tell you much?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Aside from things like 'Vincent is rarely right', which he told me just now? Not really. I doubt he'll tell me any more than he thinks I need to know, for the sake of keeping me as a pawn.

However... I won't deny that he does stand the best of chance of defeating Vincent, and that he does tend to be right. [...] He... predicted Anemone's murder, in a way. I was a fool for not listening to him.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

[......] I see. Have you considered asking him for a chance to talk privately, and discuss both your objectives regarding Vincent?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

No. I guess I'll give that a try the next time I speak to him, though like I said—I'm ultimately just a pawn to him. He'll only consider my thoughts if they prove beneficial to his plan.

[...]

Did you see Miss Sharon's post—the one about Gilbert Nightray and the cards? It was shortly after... Anemone's death.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

If you look at this by a purely objective point of view, being a pawn to him or not wouldn't matter, as long as you also get to achieve your goal. He may know more than us, but it's undeniable that Vincent still has an interest in you, and in a sense, is more willing to speak to you than to Break.

[He nods.] I have. We spoke then, actually, and she did advise me caution when I mentioned knowing you.

[1/2]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, that requires me actually knowing my ultimate goal is. Somehow, I doubt my current 'objectives' would cut it.

While I don't know how much she's aware of, I suspect that Break was the one who got her to mention my name. You and I both know there's no way I could've assisted Gilbert at that time, so the purpose of doing so was simply to provoke Vincent. Whether it worked or not, I don't know. Estelle's still alive, after all.

[He's silent again for a few moments.]

[2/2]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

... In that sense, I'm grateful to Break for opening my eyes. Like I said, he was right—the way I was handling things only got Anemone killed.

Before... I was too focused on not letting the situation escalate that I lost sight of achieving anything. [He smiles.] No doubt that annoyed Break, and consequently, I've given him permission to hit me if I prove that I haven't changed at all since then.

So, I apologize. What I'll be doing from now—such as maintaining contact with Gilbert—will probably place all of you in greater danger.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

Then we'll have to figure that out first. What do you want, other than to keep your friends safe?

I know. I played along for a while, but for a gossiping woman, she is quite sharp too, and started to have doubts on her own as our conversation progressed. Break lied to her about that. They both seem to care a great deal for each other, however, so I'd imagine that they cleared that up between them later.

[...Heh. He cracks a small one himself.] In an odd sense, it looks like we agreed on something. I'm not sure that hitting you would've solved anything, though.

[Okay back to serious.] I understand. ...I can protect myself, though... [He pauses noticeably.] At this point, it may be best if I show you how.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Right now? Trying to make sure Vincent doesn't succeed in the few goals of his that I know.

[He smiles at that, because that's one of the reasons he can't bring himself to hate Break—that care he has for Sharon.] ... Yeah. He really does.

[...]

If you want to. You don't have to prove anything to me, however.

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

Is there any that you know of, other than his unhealthy obsession of trying to harm people close to you in order to get to you?

[He nods.]

I don't, but it's a useful ability in a pinch. It also looks highly dubious if you don't know the circumstances, however, so I'd rather have you informed in advance and not get the wrong idea. Can you please wait here for a minute? I'll have to go retrieve it from my room.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

His main goal, I think, is... [A breath in, and then out.] He wants me to kill him. That's what started this entire mess, actually.

[...? He's suspected that Minato had less than normal abilities, but this is starting to sound a little strange.]

All right...

[carpo-vita.livejournal.com]

[...]

So he wants to break you to his level. [That's twisted, but knowing his objectives is still helpful for them in the long run.]

I'll be right back. [With one last glance backwards, he'll head back down the stairs to the second floor. There's no hurry, but he still rushed a bit.

In a few short minutes the door to the terrace opens again and Minato emerges, back with a white gun holster attached to his belt and a small rubber ball in his left hand.]

Thanks for waiting. [He undoes the hatch and pulls out a silver handgun with his right hand; the letters S.E.E.S. are branded on the side. He then pauses, waiting to see if Dominic has anything to add.]