Count the bodies like sheep | Open

[oneirism]

Who: Lapis and OTA (+ some closed prompts)
Where: The Meshwork
When: Throughout Chapter 4
Summary: A catch-all for Lapis' dreams!
Restrictions/Warnings: Violence, supernatural spookiness, will add more warnings if anything pops up!

[Just a log for all of Lapis' dream stuff! I'll be doing an ota prompt, but if you want a unique dream just hit me up at Lapis' planning comment or at moonpaper!]

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Sion

[oneirism]

[It's damp and sticky, the old wallpaper on the walls peeling from the humidity, the heat almost unnatural at this time of night. The smell of rotting wood and iron hangs heavily in the air, the smell making Lapis feel sick to her stomach – there's no escape from it, and the sound of distorted groaning and scratching around her only makes it worse.

This spirit is a violent one, one that's already made an attack - her side aches from an old vase being thrown at her and she's certain she's sprained her ankle when the weak floors were forced open under her feet. Her own spirits gather around her protectively, and are the reason why that spirit doesn't try again, just bides its time and hopes to scare Lapis away. But she isn't scared, this is normal. She's used to this.

She has to stop this spirit one way or another, kids have already been badly hurt after coming in here for stupid dares. 'Accidents' it was always claimed, but it's always been more than that. It has to be stopped.

So she coughs, bringing a long, white sleeve to her nose to try and combat the smell – forcing herself deeper into the house. Despite her disgust, she's still as calm and impassive as always. She's far too used to this by now.]

[sunderings]

[ Something calls this place home, here where the air is dank with miasma and moldered vapors, the heat of the day drawn into the woodworking as though it were harvested energy, fuel for whatever spirit it is that claws, groans, and rasps its exasperation at Lapis' presence. It can harm her no further, the Lady in white, and while Sion would much rather be at her side (she is hurt, and it pains him that he cannot support her), he treads before her in silent procession, specter-like himself.

In plainest terms, he is "the bait", unguarded where Lapis is shielded by the ghosts she's befriended. True, he could have chosen to remain within her circle of protection, but then Lapis' injuries would have been sustained for naught—where the spirit they seek might be too weak to set upon Lapis again, Sion is a different story. If he is able to draw the spirit out of hiding, then Lapis will be able to finish her task: laying the revenant to rest.

Giving pause, Sion turns back to catch Lapis' eyes with his own, his expression one of heartache— ]

What tragedy must have befallen a soul, for someone to willfully imprison themselves here?

[ To linger on in the disembodied sounds which seem to coalesce around him, some unseen force pressing in upon his chest until his breathing becomes labored, his body trembling despite himself.

(Good, then, let it fall upon him. The sooner Lapis is able to help the spirit, the better for everyone—both the living and the dead.) ]