on reserve @ onepassingnight

[anonfantry]

But I– Don't think I want anybody else to see what I'm dreaming about. That's kind of... Personal. Not to mention, hearing voices–

H-Hey, I mean it! Stop laughing!

...I guess it figures this'd be the one time you don't change your mind. It's not like it's too late, if I haven't even given that back...

Comments

[waterfell]

That's easy. What do you dream of?

[anonfantry]

[ Let's see...

SOLDIER, SOLDIER, SOLDIER, SOLDIER, Tifa, SOLDIER?

Yup, that's pretty much about it. ]

I said that's... Kind of personal.

[ Because knowing he might possibly have to share his dreams with strangers and being asked to admit to them to one willingly are two vastly different animals. ]

[waterfell]

[Tifa's going to be very popular.]

You're kind of cute saying that, but in a little while, I'll be seeing them anyway.

[anonfantry]

[ /sob she's always been popular. ;;

And ouch. Cloud's a little stunned by that sting, but considering how nice she's been up 'til now, he just awkward turtles for a few seconds, filing the offense away under Being Too Sensitive. ]

...Maybe.

[waterfell]

[Nah, he was right the first time. She's done some pretty terrible things by now, and she has a sharp temperament.

She's also simply saying the blunt truth: their dreams will cross, whether either of them seeks it out or tries to stop it. Of course, she also understands not wanting certain parts of oneself to be seen. There's a girl deep inside her that she'd rather not acknowledge at all.]

So what will you do? [This time, the question is simply a question.]

[anonfantry]

I don't know.

[ And that's the truth, for whatever it's worth, even as he reverts to being plainly defensive after his brief, fleeting moment of almost amiable. ]

It's not like I can plan what to dream.

[waterfell]

[Some in her doesn't like that change, that reversion, but she files it away as 'inevitable'.]

You can try. Focus your mind on the things you want it to dwell on. Those thoughts will affect even your dreams.

[anonfantry]

[ The trouble with Cloud and dwelling is that – well, when he's busy with one thing (impossible to choose, though goodness knows he's got plenty to pick from), there's no taking his mind off of it until that one thing is resolved.

He's got the focus part down pat, but thinking of something innocuous is liable to be the insurmountable hurdle, here.

He only sounds thoughtful as he replies. ]

Does that... Usually work for you?

[waterfell]

It can.

[Read: She's ridiculously obsessive.]

Why not try it?

[anonfantry]

I guess it can't hurt.

[ Even if he's failed such seemingly simple tasks spectacularly enough in the past to have his doubts, now. ]

[waterfell]

[See? She's not all bad. It's good advice!]

Start doing it now.

It's what dreaming is anyway: the mind's way to unravel whatever thoughts are lingering in it.

[anonfantry]

[ ...He's liable to be constantly reassessing whether or not he likes her, isn't he. ]

But I haven't thought of anything, yet.

[waterfell]

[Probably.]

Even if you don't tell me them, aren't there things you're always thinking about?

[anonfantry]

Yeah.

[ But those are precisely the things he doesn't want to share! Dilemma. ]

Is there a trick to just not thinking about something you don't wanna dream about?

[waterfell]

With a disciplined mind.

However, a mind can still wander.

[anonfantry]

[ Translation: it's hopeless.

He sighs, but manages to sound grateful enough, in spite of it – hey, it was good advice. ]

Um, thanks, anyway.

[waterfell]

You sound so anxious to avoid all of this. What is it you're afraid of happening?

[anonfantry]

It's not anything (specific) like that.

[waterfell]

It's better than some places. [Like the world she'd been trapped in a few years ago, forced to fight for a cause that had nothing to do with her.]

[anonfantry]

I know.

[ And it's hard not to sound like a little kid who knows he's being lectured (or is about to be). ]

There are a lot of worse places.

[waterfell]

So why not enjoy it while?

[anonfantry]

If I end up there... I'll try.

[waterfell]

Good luck to you, then!

[anonfantry]

Yeah. Thanks.