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dream — cw: violence, blood, n gore

[considerable]

( hao doesn't dream too often — or, if he does, he doesn't remember them. this one, though? it's vivid.

every day in the mansion feels even more tedious than the last, boring in a way that even an eight hour day of college classes can barely compare to. at least at school he had extracurriculars to look forward to. baseball games. basement parties. killing monsters and collecting their bounties with a smile on his face.

that's probably why he clings so hard to this dream, determined to stay asleep. the slight squish of the polymer grip at the handle of his baseball bat as he tightens his grip on it feels as real as anything — the splatter of blood as black as tar across his face as he swings the metal spike-laden barrel down against the face of the pathetic demon laying on the ground in front of him, its screams ear-piercing and absolutely fucking delicious. hao can't help but laugh as he continues raining blows down on the creature, again and again, drenching himself in its blood. kind of loving it.

— except for the fact that it doesn't seem to want to give up and kick the bucket. hao's wide, toothy grin starts to fade, anger flashing across his face. ) Fucking die, you piece of shit.

[onlyvibes]

[Gideon is no stranger to violence, in dreams or outside of them. However, he can’t really say he’s a fan, and this is…a lot. Really quite excessive, if you ask him. In general he’s been trying to be careful about altering things in the dreams he’s wandered into here, but this dreamer seems frustrated and Gideon is in a position to help.

With just a thought and a gentle push of his magic he’s able to alter the scene a little. The demon that was screaming a moment ago, is now quiet and still. Seemingly dead, as Hao requested. Except, if he were to look closer he might notice that it’s a dummy. The features are generally the same but it is now and oversized stuffed doll. A toy.

A toy that is now bleeding rainbow glitter instead of crimson blood.]

Is it dead enough?

[considerable]

( hao's hyperfocused, beating the damn thing with his bat over and over again, even a few times after the change happens and — he visibly snaps out of it, the end of his bat resting against the ground, brow furrowed as he tries to understand ... what the fuck is going on here. that was definitely a demon a second ago, and it was definitely wigging the fuck out. and now ...?

he wipes his cheek with the back of his hand, even more baffled when there's just a smear of rainbow glitter when he looks back down at it, taking a few cautious steps back from the creature —

suddenly, there's a voice.

hao flinches (which will piss him off later, thinking about how someone was able to actually catch him off guard — he's supposed to have good instincts for this kind of shit!!) and turns around to face gideon, both hands gripping the neck of his bat, looking ready to swing at any moment. ) Who the —

What the fuck just happened?

[onlyvibes]

[Gideon blinks slowly, glancing from Hao to the demon glitter doll, the very image of guileless bemusement, as though he didn't just have a hand in causing the scene to change.]

It died?

[Very helpful response. And kind of true. In a way. The demon is no longer a living thing. That basically means it died, right? Inasmuch as things can die in dreams, anyway. Gideon feels like it should count.]

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

I am sending a friend of House Targaryen to your charge. Would you accept and give them sanctuary, until this is over?

[onlyvibes]

[it takes him a few minutes to respond because...well...he's kind of grieving at the moment. Again.]

I would certainly try.

[Though the fact that something was actually able to take down Parisa is concerning. She's one of the most powerful people he knows.]

Who is it?

[provoke]

Her name is Sansa Stark, proclaimed Queen in the North, the seventh kingdom of Westeros. She is allied with our house, if not my brother.

She is a wolf in nature, but she is also a woman. It likely serves best to have her protected.

delivery. (backdated to round 1)

[provoke]

[ left at gideon's door is parisa's purse, after its contents have been reviewed for evidence. folded under it is a note from aemond; my sympathies for your loss. ]

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

Hey, congratulations on puncturing the veil between the living and the dead, by the way.

[onlyvibes]

Thanks. It was my first time.

[He really wouldn't consider it within the scope of his powers under normal circumstances.]

[semicharmed]

That answers two of my follow-up questions.

I'd say it's weird that I'm still having so much trouble getting through to spirits [ That doesn't sound right for talking about their fellow guests who've died these past few weeks. "Enspirited people"? "Differently manifested"? ] but I think that's the "game" at work.

delivery.

[semicharmed]

[ At some point in the afternoon, just as Matt's last breath leaves his body, a small golden light appears in his room. It's about the size of a marble, and instantly, it flutters through the air as if on an errand it knows well. Walls and locked doors are no impediment to it, as it isn't strictly solid, and it leaves no trace behind it.

Eventually, the little bauble finds Gideon. It winds and dances around him, gentle as a summer breeze but insistent all the same. If he follows it through the halls, the light will direct him to a folded slip of paper with his name on it. ]

I wish I had kissed you.

Matt

delivery, night of 11,14.

[provoke]

[ slipped under the door is a plain envelope with a simple invitation card, with a likewise direct message. on the back, written in legible print that is not aemond's handwriting, is a message: gifts not required! your presence is gift enough.

ooc | this is just for ic reference purposes! regarding the age: the hotd age timeline is a pain in the ass so he's just celebrating it twice. feel free to handwave or thread out as desired! 🔥 ]

delivery. ( seventh of december. )

[provoke]

[ aemond drops gideon's slice of cake personally, because it's been a while since they've interacted in private, but his friend is not in his room when he comes by. this is all right; he leaves gideon a note, writing with a green pen: ]

I just missed you. May this be to your liking.

[ the double meaning escapes him, even long after he's left gideon's room. ]

delivery 🧂

[saltburntmods]

[ A knock at Gideon’s door alerts him to the presence of one Jonty Balfour, who looks a little misplaced and awkward, when he answers. After a beat, he sets a hand on his shoulder. ]

Dear Gideon … you served such a role in those terrible games earlier, in helping us reach those we lost. We cannot thank you enough, but I hope this will ease any, um … parting tensions, as it were.

[ He hands him a box containing one overly expensive, lushly soft pillow. Surprise — it’s actually a plot coin! Enjoy! ]

text; dated 12/20ish

[semicharmed]

You don't happen to know of anybody randomly growing angel wings after that angel/devil party, do you?

[onlyvibes]

What? No.

[and then a beat or two later:]

Why?

[semicharmed]

Just wondering.

[ Matt devotes a moment to serious consideration of whether he can leave it at that.

... Probably not. ]

because I have these wings

text — un: nicknack

[extent]

do u think there's going to be an nye party this place is like rich rich fancy fancy surely there'll be at least fireworks right?

[onlyvibes]

Well, they do seem to like parties. It's hard to imagine them passing up an opportunity like New Years.

[extent]

right?? like surely
SURELY

how else is everyone supposed to get too drunk and kiss ill-advised friends and strangers at midnight!!

delivery; mid-january

[semicharmed]

[ Inside the little cardboard box, there's a bracelet. It seems to be made from a hodgepodge of materials--smooth gemstones, irregularly shaped ones, painted wood beads, a small metal locket--but they're all in warm shades of orange, gold, and pink.

Rather than a note, there's a full page folded small enough to fit in the box. ]

Gideon,

I'm sorry for the delay, but all good things are worth waiting for, right? Here's a charm to help you stay awake.

1. This bracelet has carnelian and citrine as its main stones. They're both great for boosting energy/alertness and for connection with others. The rose quartz is also a connector; it's the stone of unconditional, endless love.

2. The different textures are sort of designed to keep your skin alert, if that makes any sense. I like rolling beads on my bracelets, so that might be a sort of check-in moment with the physical world.

3. The locket contains a lock of Parisa's hair. And I put the memory of kissing you into one of the beads. Not to say that kissing me was so great it's worth staying awake for--if you have other people you'd want to add, let me know and I'll swap something in.

4. In terms of powering the charm, it's designed to draw on dreams and churn them towards wakefulness, like a metaphysical version of "don't let your dreams be dreams." That's intended to both imbue the spell with energy, and to work with the other components to keep you extra awake. PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you end up asleep MORE, and I will adjust the spell.

I've really liked working on this project with you. I love running into you in my dreams, but I hope we make some more memories while you're awake.

Matt

text

[greetingsmortals]

[ With absolutely no warning, thanks to Eunhyuk: ]

ATTENTION!

This Is The Curse Of Bloody Mary! You Must Forward This Message To Ten People, Or She Will Come And Find You And Kill You! She Knows Where You Live. She Will Hang Your Corpse For Everyone To See And Laugh At You. She Will Find You!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!

[onlyvibes]

[This reply comes literally hours later, because he's been asleep.]

No offense, but it really does sound like a joke.

[greetingsmortals]

It Is Not A Joke.