recolle | [OPEN] I want to find my dream, I want to make it come true

Entry tags:

[OPEN] I want to find my dream, I want to make it come true

WHO: Xiaolang Li & YOU!!
WHERE: DREAMLAND, but also around Recolle
WHEN: All throughout July!
WHAT: The Good, The Bad, and The Shoujo: ~Dream Edition~, aka Xiaolang hates talking about things that bother him so his dreams are gonna do it for him!! Also bonus puppy antics in the real world and having him meet new people for training reasons
WARNINGS: Mentions of murder/suicidal ideations in Mio's prompt, bullying in one of the OU prompts, but nothing else really aside from that? Will edit if that changes! Also cute puppers and blanket warning for cavities/gross fluffy stuff with whatever romantic stuff Sakura's involved in

1) Dreams ☽ The Good

a) in which early canon syaoran is a huge-ass tsun (OU)

[It's a dark night, on a random city street, the streetlights oddly flaring and sparking, as if overloaded with electricity. Xiaolang's standing off to the side, clutching a wound on his right arm, blood slowly seeping into the flowing sleeve of his oddly ornate green robes. He's much younger in appearance, at about ten years old to his normal fourteen, though the serious look remains the same on his face. There's a small tapping of footsteps as a girl around his age comes rushing up, strange wand in hand and decked out in an equally odd heart-themed get-up. It's a rather familiar face, too-- anyone who knows Sakura would be able to tell it's her, despite her younger looks.

She frets for a moment as she looks at the gash, and she pulls a handkerchief out of seemingly nowhere.

"Thanks for your help," she says, tying the lacy square of fabric securely around the bleeding spot on his arm. The smile she sends him is bright, happy, and cheerful, and one can almost see the shoujo bubbles materializing around her.

"I would have never thought of that if you hadn't used your lightning."

Xiaolang looks taken aback by her open gratitude, speechless for a moment as his cheeks color and he looks at a loss of how to respond. Finally, he straightens his back, a stubborn look upon his face, and pulls away from her.

"You still don't have what it takes."

The word are blunt, mean and a bit petulant, and he further drives the point home by turning around to storm away. Sakura looks stunned by his rude behavior, and yells at his retreating back in frustration.

"I don't care what you say! I'm gonna do my best! I WILL collect them all!"]

b) look at the stars, how they shine for you (AU)

[It's a balmy Hong Kong night, and Xiaolang's perched high in the branches of a nearby tree, keeping a cautious eye on the ground below. He's younger and tinier here than he is in most of his memories, about five or six compared to the ten or thirteen in the rest. He doesn't seem too intimidated by the height, more concerned with the girlish squealing and patter of footfalls rushing pass. Four brunette girls, all clearly older than Xiaolang, prove to be the source of the noise, chattering among themselves as they dash past his hiding spot.

"Where did he goooo?"

"He couldn't have gotten far!"

"Leeeeoooo~n! Come back here!"

... wait, Leon? That couldn't have been right.

Whatever questions emerged in his mind were quickly answered by a rustling of leaves nearby, and an older boy, a brunette about twelve or so, emerges on a branch next to him. He heaves a sigh of relief, before finally noticing he has company, and nearly fumbles off the branch.

"X-Xiaolang?! Is this where you've been this whole time? Your sisters have been chasing me for the past hour because they couldn't find you! Why aren't you at the party?"

The younger boy hunches his shoulders as his knees kick at the air beneath him, his face a bit petulant.

"... it's too noisy," he says, quietly and simply. "I'd rather be out here instead."

Leon's quiet as he absorbs this, shifting about on the branch so he can sit, before finally shaking his head and giving him a small smile.

"... I honestly don't blame you. The view is much nicer up here, anyway. You can see the stars so much easier this way."

Xiaolang tilts his head up towards Leon, his face quietly questioning, and he elaborates. "It's hard to see them properly in the city, because of the light pollution. Out here, you can view the planets and the constellations a lot more clearly."

"Constel-lations...?"

Even at such a young age, Xiaolang could pronounce more complicated words with relative ease, and Leon's smile grows in pleasant surprise.

"Yes. They're pictures the stars make in the sky, like a connect the dots book." But his cheeks flush quickly, and he straightens his back, playing with a strand of his hair. "I-I suppose, if you want, I can point a few out to you. You'd be lucky to have an astrology lesson from the great Leon Zhong himself, after all."

Xiaolang looks hesitant for a moment, before he nods gently and inches just a bit closer to the older boy on the branch with him. Taking that as a confirmation, Leon begins pointing out certain spots in the sky, tracing lines between them and pointing out which constellation was which, explaining them to the best of his ability.

The present Xiaolang watches, unseen, from a branch or two over, an unreadable expression on his face. There was something off about this, but he wasn't exactly sure what.]

2) Dreams ☽ The Bad

a) and this is why we don't let family date people from horror canons (AU, tw: mentions of murder and suicidal ideation in the link)

[This dream, unlike many of the others, is something much more recent and familiar-- the surroundings are clearly that of Tribunal Terrace, early at night, and Xiaolang looks no different than he does right now. He's running through the streets, a women's comb still clutched in his hands, eyes darting about in search for someone. It feels like he's dashing about for ages, but he soon finds who he's looking for--a green haired young woman, staring at nothing in particular with a dead, lifeless expression. And, quite frankly, she looks like she's been through hell, signs of stress and sleep deprivation clear on her face and in her body language.

Xiaolang doesn't seem to notice, or if he does, he's putting it aside, calling out her name, lecturing her in frustration when she hardly responds.

"'Hey'? 'Hey'...?

I've been texting you, calling you, all day! Where have you BEEN? I've been looking for you, all over the city, and Leon-- he's not answering his phone either, and Li-Na and I have been worried sick, over the BOTH of you--

What in the world is going on here, Mio?"

"Of course he's not going to answer." Her voice is as dead as her expression. "He can't."

The conversation only goes from bad to worse at a rapid pace, the fragile web of trust that had grown between them shattered to irreparable pieces. Terrible words are traded on both sides, things that couldn't be taken back, and it's rare to see Xiaolang get this emotional about things.

Removed from the whole confrontation is his real self, though, crossing his arms and making a pointed effort to ignore the exchange as it unfolds. It's been in his dreams nearly every night since it's happened, and he wasn't in the mood to deal with it again.]

b) in which early canon syaoran was an absolute MONSTER (OU1 tw: bullying)

[The setting is an empty schoolyard, and it seems like the dream starts right in the middle of a confrontation. A younger Sakura holds herself defensively, looking at Xiaolang with frustrated tears, clearly protecting something on her person as she shouts back at him.

"-- Well, how do YOU know about the Clow Cards anyway?!"

Xiaolang's face, in contrast, is as cool and indifferent as his voice as he brushes off her comment.

"None of YOUR business."

Coming to some sort of internal decision, he grabs onto Sakura's shoulder, expression unflinching and fierce.

"Fine. I'll find the rest of them. But first, give me yours."

"NO!"

The scream is loud and desperate as Sakura slaps his hand away, her hands pressing even more protectively over something in her pocket. Clearly, that wasn't the answer he was looking for, and he shoves her, hard, before making a grab at her hands to pry them away as she tries her best to fight against him.

Meanwhile as this scuffle is going down, the older Xiaolang is watching from behind a tree a small distance away, his fists nearly shaking from quiet rage. Would it be kosher to punch your memory-self in the face? Because he feels very close to doing that right now.]

c) yue judges you in more than one way (OU2)

[This dream cuts right in the middle of some sort of magical battle set on the grounds of a shrine, Sakura (younger as she always is in these memories) dressed in yet another odd outfit, facing off against a mysterious silver haired man with large, feathery wings.

"Now... pursue him! ... Wood!"

Hundreds of leafy vines hungrily burst through the ground to try to encompass the strange man, but the shout of a golden lion with equally feathery wings cuts through desperately.

"NO! ... Wood is...!"

But his warning comes too late, as the vines suddenly turn themselves around and ensnare Sakura in their grasp, hoisting her into the air with a shrill, terrified scream.

"SAKURA!!"

Xiaolang's scream is nearly as loud as hers as he stares in abject horror from down below on the sidelines, unable to do much but watch as the man moves in to peer at her face.

"Wood is another one of Yue's cards... didn't Cerberus tell you that?"

His voice is as cold as his silver eyes as he observes her there, held fast by the woody tendrils.

"Cerberus was only allowed to tell the Chosen One what she needed to know about the cards."

The winged being's head turns to the golden lion-- the Cerberus in question-- as beast looks down in grim resolution.

"And now, Cerberus... this is the end. There is no choice... the disaster is inevitable."]

3) Dreams ☽ The Shoujo

a) princess bride (OU1)

[From the looks of it, this memory is smack dab in the midst of an elementary school play, two little girls (and one little boy) dressed up as typical fairy godmothers about to recite their lines.

"Only the kiss of true love can awaken her."

The person they're speaking to is a rather adorable prince, admiring a sleeping, rosy-faced princess on a fancy bed. But there's something rather familiar about that princess' outfit... and their faces...

"But if you have true love for the princess..."

The 'prince' lowers herself down slowly towards the lips of the slumbering 'princess', inching closer and closer, the color in Sleeping Beauty's face getting redder and redder by the second.

But before anything else happens, the older Xiaolang's going to cut right in on whoever's witnessing it, his skin nearly aflame with how flushed he is, blocking the spectacle from their sight.]

T-THAT'S ENOUGH! Stop watching this!!

b) these are my confessions (OU2)

[This time around, Xiaolang's a little bit older than he is in some of these other memories, roughly eleven or twelve at the most. He's sitting by himself in a bus idling at the station, but something gets him to open the window in a hurry, eyes wide in surprise.

"Sakura...?!"

The girl in question, also a little bit older now, is dashing up to the window with tears springing in her eyes, nearly breathless.

"I... I know how I feel...!"

She thrusts a pink, winged teddy bear up towards him, meeting him halfway as he leans out the bus towards her. The tears are nearly brimming over as she looks at him in earnest, desperate to get her feelings known to him.

"My number one... is YOU, Xiaolang-kun...!"

Of course, with the way she pronounces his name, it sounds more like 'Syaoran' instead, but it's close enough. Quietly, he accepts the bear from her hands, a small, gentle smile breaking across his face as he draws it close to his chest.

"... thank you. Can I call it... Sakura?"

"Can... Can I call mine... Xiaolang...?"

"... yes."

The bus, unfortunately, has terrible romantic timing, and it starts to pull forward, getting Sakura to start chasing after it as it builds up speed.

"I'll come back...!" Xiaolang says, quickly, trying to keep sight of her even as the bus moves, clutching the bear ever closer to him.

"B-But... when?!"

"There... there are things I need to do in Hong Kong...!"

"...when?!"

Sakura's getting further and further away from him, despite how fast she's trying to run to catch up, and Xiaolang shouts out, in a last attempt to say something before they part--

"It'll take a while! Will you wait for me?!"

"... yes...!"

It's the last thing shared between them as her legs give out on speed and the bus drives onward, Xiaolang watching her wave sadly as she becomes a speck in the distance.

But maybe he's not the only one on the bus right now? HM.]

4) Reality ☽ Dog Days Of Summer

[In the waking world, in the meantime, when Xiaolang isn't having people intrude on his memories, he's going to be fairly busy with a birthday gift he just received-- that being a fluffy black and tan pomsky puppy, tentatively named Xun Hui. Taking care of Jasmine had been easy, as she was already grown, properly trained and socialized, but Xun Hui...?

Not so much.

But he had read and prepared the best he could, in terms of dog training books and articles, and one of the things suggested had been to introduce the puppy to at least one hundred people to get him more comfortable around others. So it's for that reason when Xun Hui scampers over to nose at someone in the middle of their walks, regardless of the area or time of day, he doesn't pull him back, only flushing self-consciously as he asks:]

W... Would it be okay to let him smell you for a moment? I'm trying to get him used to new people.

5) ☽ Wildcard

[I'm open for whatever other memories/alternate AUs people want to do! Xiaolang's regain memory list is here, so feel free to do a starter with any one of those, or plot something out with me via plurk @

Urameshi or discord @ #starsugars7982!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Al can typically be found in a park, for one reason or another. Today's stroll was a stress-filled one and it's evident on his face. When he sees the puppy running toward him he smiles gently and talks to the dog]

Awwww, hey there little guy

[his attention shifts to you]

Sure! What's his name?

[Al's troubled face isn't lost on Xiaolang, and he's almost reluctant to let the puppy bother him, in that instance. But the gentle smile on the other boy eases his worries some, and he allows Xun Hui to approach, the little dog sniffing and pawing at this new person. Xiaolang keeps a careful eye on the pup in the meantime, though, making sure he remained on his best behavior.

He glances up as Al addresses him, though, blinking for a moment or two before tightening his hold on the leash.]

Ah-- it's Xun Hui. [Not the most common of dog names, but it's not like Xiaolang was a common name, either] I hope it's not too much of a bother. He's still really young, so...

[Al's face goes blank and blinks for a bit]

Oh, no of course not, I love dogs and...ummm...Hui is cute

[Al pets the puppy, even kneeling down, his smile gets a bit bigger]

Sides, I think I needed something else to think about anyway, My name is Albert, everyone calls me Al though

[Hui sniffs Al's hand for a moment, still a bit cautious of strangers, but accepts the pets, squirming and wiggling to put his front paws upon the boy's lap as he kneels. Xiaolang, in the meantime, keeps his eye on the two, leash wrapped about his hand, ready to gently tug back Xun Hui if he got too eager or worked up. But so far, everything seemed to be going okay...

The name somehow seems to ring a bell, though, but he's not entirely sure why. Someone had mentioned having a brother named Al, but he couldn't remember who. Maybe it was a coincidence? He nods, regardless, at the introduction though.]

I'm Li. [Just going with his last name, since it was easier for people to pronounce, anyway.]Thank you, again, for putting up with him.

Um... maybe it isn't my place to ask, but is everything alright?

[Al just smiles and keeps petting the puppy, trying to get his mind away from his own family issues.

When he asks if everything alright, he almost immediately freezes. Worrying about how easy he must have been to read for him to ask that question. That would have never happened just two years prior. He is starting to question his ability to survive on the streets if he has to.]

Oh...ummm, no problem. Love dogs, they are always happy to see people if treated right.

Well...I'm not happy with what fate dealt me, but I guess that's what everyone says.
So, nothing special

[The 1st part was said with sadness, "but" onward, his voice is cold, almost factual]

[If it helps Al's insecurities any, Xiaolang's just a fairly observant boy, and he's gotten better at picking up little clues in people over time. After what had happened with Mio, it was better now than ever to tune in to what was happening with other people. And if that last bit of what he said was any indication, there was definitely more going on under the surface.]

Is it... [He frowns, debating on whether to ask it, especially now that the NPCs were back, but--]

Is it a Retrospec thing?

[Meanwhile, Xun Hui is happily accepting these pets, and he bumps his small head against Al's hand when he freezes to encourage him again. More pets, human!! He wants them!]

[Al returned to petting Hui, trying to drop the entire matter. When Xiaolang mentioned Retrospec; Al was conflicted, he sighs loudly. Keeps petting the dog, pretending that he didn't hear him. Though his face wasn't exactly warm. Then he suddenly speaks filled with sorrow]

That Obvious?

[He wasn't going to pry if that's not what Al wanted-- after all, this guy was a stranger, and his business certainly wasn't any of his own. Maybe it was just best to let him be, let him continue petting the fluffy puppy and just move on with their lives. But by the tone of the other boy's voice, and the confirmation that he was an app user, he can't help but carry on with it.]

Not really. Retrospec just likes forcing us onto paths we don't exactly want to take.

[Like Mio, for example... not that he's going to bring her up.]

It just seemed like the most logical answer. [A beat, and then--] You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, though.

[Al keeps petting the dog, thinking about it for a bit]

Ya know? Why the hell not? I don't know how many app users are there.

Plus, I need to meet people anyway.

I will answer that question if you answer one of mine.

Do you happen to know Derek Marlowe? If so, what do you know about him?

[The light of recognition is obvious in his eyes as Al brings up Derek, and for a moment, he looks a little stunned. Had Derek done something to this guy? Was this person after him, somehow?]

... I do.

[It's said slowly, carefully, as his eyes search the other boy in mild suspicion.]

He does a residency at Recolle hospital, for oncology. My sister's good friends with his younger brother, and his younger sister is... i-is-- [And his face turns a fairly pretty shade of pink as he struggles to get the last part of that sentence out, too shy to properly articulate what she was to him.] ... someone... very close to me.

[Read: 100% his girlfriend. But now wasn't the time to get embarrassed over technicalities, and his expression sobers up some.]

Why is it that you're asking?

[Al looks at him intently the second there is a hint of recognition. leaving the poor puppy alone as he stands up to look at him in the eye. He tries to talk with a reassuring "I am not crazy" voice]

Look, what I'm about to say is going to sound crazy. But this is Retrospec we are talking about, so please keep an open mind.

That man you are talking about, last month he was Derek Matthews...My older brother.

The only 100% objective piece of proof I have, are texts we sent back and forth in the app. Here, see for yourself.

[Al gets his phone, opens the app showing Li their chats(high school conspiracy nut teacher Derek never met when he attended, App stuff, bickering) and the name shows "Dereck Matthews", his picture exactly as he is now.

AL looks at Li's face. To see if he believes him at all, or will he shove him aside like Derek]

Edited 2018-07-31 03:01 (UTC)

The Disaster....everyone forgetting....? If I fail....

[She would forget him. Anyone that had anything to do with the cards would forget about them. Forget about their most important person. Unless something changed after Wood ensnares her like that, it would seem that she might end up failing. Sakura can't help but to be terrified. Of course since she first remembered hearing what the disaster actually was, she'd been worried, scared of it coming to pass. But she's been trying not to dwell on it with everything else going on.

Sakura pales, eyes wide as she watches.]

This can't....I can't let this happen!

[It's not a nightmare he has often, but whenever he does, it terrifies him to the very core, promising him a night of restless sleep as a result. Unlike the other memory, the one where Sakura seemingly dropped into the abyss, there was no way to know how this one wound up ending. There was no way he could talk to her about it, without compounding upon her fears about this disaster even further. How could he tell her she possibly failed, and could possibly forget him at some point down the line? In the past, he tried not to dwell too heavily upon it either, as it seemed that Retrospec didn't return things of this nature to people, but...

... if they gave Mio back a disease, that was a danger to herself and everyone around her, who says they couldn't do that with a curse, too?

He tries his best not to watch, as he knows where this was going-- Sakura struggling fruitlessly in the vines, helpless to the cruel winged man before her, and his other self unable to rescue her, for whatever reason. It's the same as it's always been, cutting out abruptly before a final decision is made.

But a new voice rings out this time around, snapping his attention back to the scene, and he can feel the blood drain quickly from his skin. That-- that was his Sakura, not the younger other one, and she...

... oh no.

He stands, dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. What can he tell her, when everything's she's feared is laid out bare in front of her? His head ducks, an ashamed expression crossing his face, wondering if it would even be worth it to say anything. As much as he wants to tell her it'll be okay, the evidence here proves otherwise.]

It's a memory. [His voice is quiet, and a little hoarse, his eyes shadowed by his bangs.] I don't know if there's anything we can do to fix it.

[This probably is equivalent to her worst nightmare. Or pretty close. In the implications of this. If she fails in this test, then what would happen next, not just to her but everyone else. With everyone forgetting. And it would be all her fault. Because she failed.

Even if Fai didn't figure telling her he remembered that she forgot Syaoran, the idea of it still terrifies her. Makes her desperate enough to be in denial at this. As if there was anything she could actually do with this being a dream. Some sort of memory.

Sakura shakes her head, stepping back. As if putting distance between herself and the scene would somehow stop it.]

A memory. But this would mean that I....

[That she fails. That she would forget him. That everyone would forget. Sakura stumbles then, falling to her knees as she hugs herself, breathing quickening as the implications set in.]

[No. No, no, no, no, NO, this is the reason why he never wanted to tell her, why he'd kept it to himself this whole time--]

SAKURA--!

[He pushes forward, despite himself, despite his shame and distaste and pain of having her find out about this in the worst way possible. There wasn't anything he could do to make this better, nothing he could say, but he'd be damned if he was going to stand to the side and let Sakura have a panic attack in front of him like this. Kneeling quickly in front of her, his hands alighting her shoulder and cheek, trying to draw her focus back to him. The urge to draw her into his arms was strong, to be the one hugging her instead of herself, but he didn't think he deserved the right to do that at the moment. Not when he was inadvertent the cause of this.]

Sakura, please--

[He draws in a breath, wondering what he can say to help, in whatever way possible, even if there really wasn't any way to make this better.]

It's... it's not your fault. You did the best you could.

But this isn't...if I fail then that means. I will, everyone will forget!

[So of course this is making her panic. Making her get all worked up as the realization of the implications of this sinks in. The guilt mingling uncomfortably in her chest along with the upset start of tears. As much as she had tried to push past dwelling and fearing about this, about what she herself recalled, she hadn't entirely forgotten. This just pushed it right back to the surface. In being confronted like this with the implication that she fails.

That because of her, she would forget. Xiaolang would forget. And all the others somehow related to the cards.]

Xiolang-kun, I'd....this means I'd....

[Forget him. She remembers, even in that other life, that she loved him, after all.]

[Helpless. He feels absolutely helpless as she begins to panic further, hating himself so much for being responsible for this. Should he have told her about this from the start? Would it have made things better? With the way she was having a breakdown, it probably wouldn't, but nothing about this situation had a simple solution. The tears beginning to spring in her eyes is enough to make something in his heart snap, and his arm wraps around her back, pulling her gently towards him. He still felt unworthy to hold her, to touch her, after being the cause of this, but he couldn't just let her sit there and cry and not do something about it.

He couldn't let his most precious person deal with this alone.

His expression can't help but crumble as she struggles with her words, his eyes squeezing shut as she brings up what they both already knew in regards to this, but never wanted to say.]

... I know. [His voice is thick as his hand clutches a bit at the fabric of her shirt, trying to keep his breathing even.] I would, too.

[It hurt to say, but it was the truth. They'd both forget about one another if this disaster came to pass, going about their lives as if they never knew one another. The thought of going through life without her there, without her sweet smile, or cheerful disposition...

... no, this wasn't about him. It was about her, and the guilt she was carrying over being responsible for this. It was about everyone else who came in contact with her cards, and their loss of those who were precious to them, too. What could he tell her, to try to bolster her and make any of this alright? He swallows, hard, trying to keep his voice strong and steady for her sake.]

But we don't know how definite this is yet. I don't know if anything changes past this, and maybe-- maybe the other you becomes strong enough to fix this, if it does come to pass. If she becomes stronger than Clow someday, then maybe there's a chance. And I...

[He has to catch his voice from wavering for a moment, before continuing on, softly:]

... even if I forget about you, I'm sure I'll find you once again. I'd fall for you a thousand times, if I had to.

But what if....?

[What if she didn't? What if she couldn't reverse it, fix it again? If she wasn't strong enough, wasn't powerful enough, to be able to stop it. If she forgot him. If he forgot her. Sure, there is probably the loophole that they could meet again after and make new memories together. But that wouldn't be the same? Would it?

She's not sure. They still found each other here. In this life. With their other memories. But even then, if she failed, would that mean they would forget each other here too?]

I don't know how it works. If we forget in those memories, if we forget here too.

[This was a huge burden for anyone to carry. Let alone to place it on a young girl like Sakura who only ever wants to help. Not to cause such grief and upheaval in those she cares about. So of course she is panicked. Terrified if she might fail in this.]

[His teeth grit as the unfinished question lingers in the air, knowing all too well what she was trying to convey. What if that was just a shot in the dark? What if there really was no way to fix things, and that their memories of one another, along with everyone else involved, remained altered forever? But one of the most important things Sakura had taught him was to have faith in things, and even if it felt like there wasn't any way around this, he had to have hope. For her sake, and everyone else's.]

I don't know either. We won't really know ourselves, until our memories tell us otherwise.

[Or if they suddenly forget, but in that case, they won't know what's wrong to begin with. But that thought itself is too painful. Even if he's sure he'd love her again, no matter what, the idea of forgetting everything they've been through up until now is too much. He wants to try to reassure her some how, some way, despite knowing the situation was a heavy one, but how is beyond him.

A flicker of a memory comes to mind, though, of them in a seemingly equal dire situation, his other self struggling to stay conscious while they did... something with the cards. There was something that boy said to her, that eased her worry in that crucial moment, and part of him wonders if it'd work as well now as it did in that other life. His hand moves from her back to tenderly brush away the tears on her cheek, wishing he had some sort of magic to ease this weight from her and make this better.]

No matter what happens, though... I'm sure we'll be alright. I won't let you deal with this alone, I promise.

Until -- then it would be too late.

[Could he really promise that, if he has even less control over this than she does? In her being the one to succeed or fail in Yue's Judgement of her, thus Sakura deciding the fate of their memories and the cards.

Still. Whatever it was, however terrified she might be, he felt the same. If not with him feeling even more helpless over this. So that reassurance that she wouldn't face it alone, that she wasn't now, that was something. Some sort of reassurance. Even in the middle of her terror and panic about their memories. About the weight of this responsibility and realizing she might not pull this off.]

How?

[It's not even this situation that was making him feel helpless, though it certainly compounded things-- it was the inevitability that no matter what they did, they couldn't stop Retrospec from giving them back something like this. If they could turn people green, take their limbs, give them back diseases that could no doubt kill them... enacting a curse like this would be no problem to them. There was no way to prevent it, or put it off... only live in lingering fear that something like this might one day happen.

But it was a might. Xiaolang wasn't an optimist by nature, but he was hoping, somehow, that their memories were wrong, somehow. That the full picture hadn't been revealed yet. And to hear Sakura so downtrodden, so hopeless... he didn't want her to be weighed down by this. He wanted to shoulder the burden somehow, too.

His thumb gently traces her cheekbone, the slightly rougher texture of his calloused skin grazing against it, as he quietly considers how to best answer.]

... I'm not sure. But for you, I'll find a way. Somehow.

[It wasn't the most inspiring of answers, but it was honest. He had to be, after all of this.]

There's no way to tell yet that this definitely came to pass, though. It's hard to tell anything, with how out of context our memories can be. I mean... [And there's a small snort here, the closest Xiaolang can actually come to a laugh--] I used to think my other self hated you. But we both know that wasn't true.

[But it does bring another memory to mind, one that he hadn't thought too heavily on until now, and he glances to the scene behind him, frozen in place. They were clearly younger then, so...]

... and I remembered something else, not too long ago. We were about the same age as we are now, and... [A small smile works it's way upon his face, despite the turmoil within] You-- the other you, that is-- she asked the other me out on a date. So if she was able to do that, so much later after all of this... don't you think she may have succeeded? Or fixed it, somehow?

You thought you hated me?

[Well, sure. He might have been more....indifferent? To her at first when they met, once he'd moved to Recolle from Hong Kong. She hadn't figured on it being that bad though. But he'd said that his other self had wanted the cards? So maybe that was it?

It gives her something else to focus on, at least, for the moment. To help calm her down. To slow her breathing and focus on his voice. On his laugh, his thumb wiping at her cheeks.]

A date?

[Well. When she had given him the bear they had seemed a little older? So maybe he was right? It was just confusing getting memories from all over their timeline. With various context to help make them line up and make sense chronologically. Even if she supposed they had been on what could be considered 'dates' now, together, the idea still makes her cheeks tinge a slight pink.]

[A shadow passes over his eyes as she says that, not wanting to delve into the details of it, but-- maybe it was better this way. If this experience had taught him anything, it was that keeping things hidden from her was going to bite him in the ass, in one way or another. She was already so upset from seeing this particular memory, and to think of her one day remembering the ones where he was so mean and callous towards her, without the context...]

... the way my other self acted, it was hard to think otherwise. He tried to intimidate you, and fight you, when you didn't want to give him your cards, and he... [He bites at his lip carefully, debating whether to say.] He called you 'pathetic'. And said he didn't think you had what it took to collect the cards.

[Just saying it makes a lump of fury build up in his throat, hating the fact that his other self even dared to say such things to her.]

But that's not true in the slightest. You're amazing, and strong, and probably the kindest person that I know-- and he was an idiot to make the other you feel any lesser about herself. I'm sure at some point, though, he realized that himself. And that's probably when he fell for you, too.

[And it's at this point that he realizes just how much he's been revealing, and his cheeks burn slightly. Well, it seemed to be doing the trick in calming her down, anyway, but it was still a bit embarrassing to have said all of that. His heart can't help but do a little skip when she asks about the date, though, the sweet flushed tint to her face only making him turn a darker red himself. What was it about her blushing that just made her ten times more precious than she already was?]

But-- mm. Yeah, the other you, she... she said she was working on her omlettes, and asked if he wanted to go with her somewhere, when the weather was nice. That stuffed animal, Cerberus, interrupted them, so I don't know what else happened after that, but... [A gentle smile forms yet again on his face, his eyes full of quiet fondness as he gazes at her.] I know the other me had said yes. So his feelings for you must have been unchanged, too.

But....?

[She did. Didn't she? Which was when she had that Judgement from Yue? Or so she figures. But even so. That still seems so unlike him. At least, the Xiaolang she knows now. The Syaoran she knows he grows into over time, given the comparison between that story and the bus on the way to him leaving for the airport.]

Omelettes? I mean they aren't....too difficult. I could try too. I guess you're right though. That the other....the other us, they were together too. So I guess that much hadn't changed.

[There was something perhaps reassuring about that. In a way.]

[As much as he doesn't want to admit it, the Xiaolang now is much more different than the one she first met in Recolle, too. He also hadn't been the nicest to her, acted completely rude to her... but much like the boy in his memories, she had wormed his way into his heart, somehow, melting it into something for her and her alone. Maybe in that respect, he and Syaoran were the same, after all.

The fingers on her cheek carefully shift to thread through her hair, gently twirling that odd longer strand around one of them in the process.]

I think your omelettes are perfect, actually. You can work on them, if you want to, but I think they're going to be delicious, no matter what.

[But he's glad she's just a little calmer now, a bit more reassured, able to answer him properly without panicking. It was good, too, that he somehow found a loophole around all of this, a means for hope. It not only helped her calm down over the situation, but him as well.

Still, that wasn't exactly the end of it. He got her to calm down, but he's still accountable for triggering this reaction in the first place. He swallows a little, his voice quiet as he starts to speak again.]

... I'm sorry, though. I... should have told you about this sooner. Everything I just told you, and... what you saw as well. I just didn't know how to go about it without worrying you any further. The last thing I ever want to do is to make you hurt.

You -- I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be delicious no matter what if I put in sugar instead of salt or something. But. [Thanks? Yeah. Thanks. She murmurs as much, before she pauses, blinking at his fingers at her cheek like that, at her hair. Something about that just seemed way more calming and intimate than probably most anything more might have been.]

No, it's okay. I'd probably have trouble telling you something like that if it were the other way around.

[He blinks for a moment, that counterarguement poking a hole into his romantic sentiments. Well, he hadn't exactly thought of that, but...]

I...I'd eat it anyway...! Even if it turned out a little strange, I'd still think it'd be good! Nothing that you put your work or care into would be bad!

[XIAOLANG, NO........ but his cheeks burn a brighter red at admitting as much, lapsing into silence as his fingers continue carefully playing with her hair. It was odd, how soothing the feel of those soft strands were for his rapidly hammering heart.]

But... that's the thing. If you knew something like that... I wouldn't want you to hide it from me, either. I'd want you to tell me, even if might hurt. I'd... like to be someone you can trust, no matter how painful the issue might be.

And that's... something I need to work on myself, too. I need to be more honest with you, and work things out with you, instead of keeping it inside like this.

[It's not until that's all said and done that he notices her attention shift to his hand, abruptly realizing a little too late just what he was doing. He begins to pull his touch away, careful about not tugging anything by accident in the process, flustering all the while.]

I-- I'm sorry...!! I d-didn't mean to, um--!!

[Touch her without making sure she was okay with it, maybe? They were still so new to this relationship that it was still a mystery what her boundaries were when it came to this sort of thing. They were fine with hugging, it seemed, but this seemed to be a little more personal that that. Girls did care about their hair, after all!]

I'm pretty sure mistaking something like salt and sugar would make whatever meal taste pretty bad, Xiaolang-kun. Even if I did it.

[She can't help but to give a light chuckle, shaking her head at his insistence that whatever meal she made would turn out good to him. Somehow. It lightens the mood somewhat, which is what she needs in calming down after this.]

Alright. I'll trust you on that then. On telling me more.

[But then he pulls away, making her blink in confusion as he apologizes.]

Eh? Oh, um. N-no, it's okay, Xiaolang-kun.....

[Her laughter, small as it was, baffles him for just a moment, confused over what was so funny. He was being serious, darn it! But the confusion melts way to a small, fluttery feeling within his chest, a kernel of warmth in the fact that he managed to make her giggle in the first place, unintentional as it was. It was a small step forward in bringing her back to her normally cheerful self, and he was grateful for that. Hopefully, with these promises and statements they made, they could remember them outside of their dreams, but...

That aside, there was still the matter with his hand in her hair, and he's nearly pulled back completely when she stops him. Blinking owlishly back, he glances at his fingers, still lingering near her face, and then back at her, although it was hard to keep eye contact with how shy he felt.]

It's... I-I should have asked first, before I...

[He trails off, biting his lip carefully, hand still frozen in place.]

... is it really okay?

[Sabo, who's been giving the small puppy the most adorning of looks, smiles widely at the question.]

Of course.

[He crouches down and reaches out a hand for the puppy to sniff.]

I probably smell of a lot of interesting things, huh? [He tilts his head up towards Xiaolang.] What's his name?

[The puppy scrambles forward at the sight of Sabo's offered hand, nosing at it excitedly as he sniffs. He props a small paw onto his wrist, nudging his nose into his palm as his tail wags so much, he practically wiggles. New human, new human!!

Xiaolang, in the meantime, is keeping a careful eye on the two, in case Xun Hui gets too excitable or mouthy, but there is a slight smile at how eager the puppy is to meet someone new. He can't help but blink for a moment or two at the question, momentarily distracted from watching his dog.]

Ah-- it's Xun Hui. It means 'Swift Splendor'. He's pretty fast, so I thought it was appropriate...

If he's bothering you any, just let me know. He's still really young, so he doesn't have many boundaries just yet.

[Sabo valiantly restrains himself from just picking the puppy up and cuddling him to his chest and instead settles for gently petting him and scritching him behind his ears.]

Swift splendor, huh? Big name to live up to, but I'm sure you're up to it.

[The words are obviously directed at Xun Hui from how his voice gains that higher pitch and softer lilt most people use when talking to cute and fuzzy things.]

Really it's no trouble, I love dogs. I have one myself. Who I probably smell of. [He probably also smell of those dog treats he has in his pocket.] She's two now, but I haven't forgotten the puppy days. [He also remembers being equally sad and relieved when they were over.] So how long have you had this little guy?

[ Unfortunately for Leon, he already knew who those girly screams belonged to. Ever since he was young, those yells have been engraved into his head and he swears that he would be able to pin point them even from miles away.

Almost instinctively, he flinches and feels the urge to run but as soon as he notices that it wasn't himself being chased, it was his younger self, he regained his cool. Better him than me. Is what runs through his mind... even though that said person is technically himself.

Of course, he's still naturally confused as to why he is even here to begin with. As the memory plays out, he continues to watch as his younger self instructs an even smaller Xiaolang how to form constellations with his fingers, he could feel his heart growing warm and a small smile begins to shape his lips. From all the stress that's happened in the previous month, it was a nice change of pace to feel relaxed as he recalls one of his most fondest memories when he was young. ]

Those were sure the days...

[ He says that almost absentmindedly, not really paying attention to anyone else that might be here. ]

[Xiaolang's so focused on the scene unfolding below (and trying to puzzle out the strange feeling he was having), that the sudden voice out of nowhere has him nearly fumbling out of the tree. Looks like some things were hereditary, and these two being easily startled nerds was one of them. He straightens himself out before the older Leon could notice, trying to get his heart rate back to normal. Yet another person intruding into his dreams. At least it was this Leon was walking into, and not something much more personal or painful.

But two can play at this game, and he clears his throat a little before he speaks.]

I'm surprised we were even able to pick out any constellations from there without a telescope.

[Sitting, waiting for a bus ride to start is a pretty boring dream. Li-Na doesn't recognize the town outside the windows of the bus at all, but it's a pretty, picturesque day, and the bus seat is comfortable. So she settles in and waits for the bus to pull away from the stop.

Until Li-Na overhears a conversation between her little brother and his cute girlfriend. Only... she can tell they're speaking Japanese, even though somehow (dream mechanics) she can understand them. She turns around in her seat and peeks between the headrests, not wanting to interrupt this exchange.

It's adorable and tooth-rotting and Li-Na almost jumps out of her seat when the bus starts pulling away from the bus stop. But if she gets up she'll miss Xiaolang and Sakura's conversation, and if she calls out for the driver to stop, Xiaolang will notice. So she simply watches as Xiaolang asks Sakura to wait for him and she promises to do so.

When Xiaolang finally turns around after Sakura fades into the distance, he'll find Li-Na kneeling backwards on her seat the row in front of him, elbows on the headrests, and her chin propped on the heels of her hands. Just... smiling.]

[The expression on his face is melancholy as he settles back into his seat, clutching the precious pink bear to his chest, where his heart was already starting to ache from being parted from her. The reasons why he had to go home were fuzzy and unclear, but he knew they were of great importance, in one way or another. They had to be, if it meant being separated from the one he loved the most...

But something (or rather, someone) catches his eye, and he practically jumps a foot in the air when he realizes his little romantic interlude had an audience. And not just any audience, either-- no, it just had to be his sister, didn't it? His face puffs a red that's a nice contrast with the cute stuffed animal in his arms, and he instinctively presses himself against the back of his seat.]

Y-You-- You didn't SEE all of that, did you?!

[From her smile, the answer was probably yes, but he could hope, right???]

[His hope is, of course, in vain. She slips out of her seat and plops down in the one next to him, before the bus driver can scold her for sitting the wrong way on the moving vehicle.]

I saw enough.

[All of it. She pretty much saw all of it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[OPEN] I want to find my dream, I want to make it come true

4

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

2c

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

4

no subject

no subject

slides in here late with 1-b!!!

I AM ALWAYS HERE FOR HANA TAGS

3-B

no subject

no subject