(dreamscape: closed)

[octoroom]

[Frankly, his experiences with the dreamscape have been favourable.

It reminds him of his own ocean. He isn't certain if this is truly the area around him, or how his mind is perceiving it. Nevertheless, when he wakes up (so to speak) in the dreamscape, he's relaxed, floating and keeping himself lifted away from the seabed with pushes of his tentacles. He doesn't truly need to, he's certain he could stay floating even without the motions.

Gradually, he sinks down. He settles on sand and breathes out, bubbles popping in front of his mouth and trailing upward, his gaze following after them languidly. His elbow props on the rock to his left, as though he's sitting in an armchair rather than what would normally be an uncomfortable sea floor. However, things in this dreamscape all tend to feel comfortable.

Fukami, for one, is fine with soaking in the silence aside form the distant sounds of something (fish or voice, he doesn't know) until he has to actually wake up.]

Comments

[undyingly]

[Shiro is still figuring out the dreamscape thing. It's strange, but not unpleasant. On the contrary, there's a calmness to it that he normally doesn't feel since he arrived on this planet -- outside the times he spends with those he's become close to.

Speaking of, one such sea creature is right in front of him, and Shiro's expression lights up.]

Fukami!

[So much for his silence. But Fukami may notice that the voice that calls to him is a strange one, and should he turn to look, it won't be the face of the Shiro he knows that is looking back at him. Instead of the small, slight teenager that Fukami is used to, instead there is a tall, slender man with impressively long hair silvery floating around him.] You're here too!

[octoroom]

[Fukami's eyes flicker open at the sound of his name. It's not the voice he recognises but the intonation, the enthusiasm in it, and his mouth is already shaping the name of who it should belong to before he registers something as--

Odd.

He looks up from his seat, his expression shifting from relaxed to puzzled, a crease between his eyebrows and a twist to his mouth.] ...Shiro? [he'll try the name anyway, cautiously, as he rises to his feet (more or less).]

[undyingly]

[That's a weird reaction, isn't it? Totally a weird reaction, not what he'd expect from Fukami, and he blinks in confusion even as he's nodding.] Of course. Is something wrong?

[What is it Fukami? Does he have something on his face?

And as he lifts a hand to touch his face, he realizes, eyes widening faintly.] Ah. I see. That must be confusing. Sorry, I hadn't noticed.

[octoroom]

[With a push of his tentacles, Fukami floats closer through the water, circling Shiro and frowning. One of his hands moves to keep some of that floating hair from getting in his face before he arrives back in front of Shiro.]

...Is this your original body?

[It's the only conclusion that might make sense. Still. It's strange, to look at him and know the inside is the Shiro he knows but the outside looks so different.

--almost. His facial expressions are the same, and he relaxes gradually.]

[undyingly]

It seems to be. I guess it felt pretty normal. That's probably strange, isn't it?

[Shiro admits sheepishly, ducking his head. He should have noticed, dream or not, that things weren't the way that they had been. He stands still as Fukami circles him now, before offering a smile.]

It's probably weird for you too, isn't it?

[octoroom]

[It's not the exact same smile, but it feels like Shiro-- and that's what's important. So is the way he ducks his head. He exhales a stream of bubbles and folds his arms over his chest.]

You're taller than me. And you have a lot of hair.

[...] That is the strangest part. [And then,] The more you talk, the less strange it is. The way you speak and your expressions are the same as usual.

[undyingly]

Are they?

[Shiro looks undeniably pleased to hear that, that somehow he's still himself despite everything. It's reassuring in a way he didn't expect to need or want reassurance.]

That's good then! I mean, I wouldn't want to seem not like myself, no matter which body I was in. But... what were you dreaming about? Before I showed up?

[octoroom]

Hm...

[Fukami's voice is absentminded and his gaze shifts to the faintly blurry ocean around them.] Nothing. Peace and quiet.

[He looks back to Shiro.]

Well, I suppose that will have to change, now. Shall we swim?

[undyingly]

...hey! I can be quiet if you want. But... swimming sounds like more fun.

[Jeez Fukami. Way to insinuate that he ruined your peace! He's here to improve that peace, because clearly Fukami needs the company to motivate him to do fun things. And explore.]

I haven't done much exploring like this. IT's strange. It all feels so real, even if it all feels strange and surreal too.

[octoroom]

[Fukami gives him a faint smile. Too easy to tease, Shiro. He begins to move, pushing himself with his tentacles.]

It does.

...It's strange to talk to you under the water when it isn't telepathic. [Just communicating how he's, well, used to communicating back where he's from.]

[undyingly]

[He wrinkles his nose up at Fukami -- a look that somehow manages to look at home even on these new features, before he follows along after him.]

Right? IT's nice to be in the water without all the breathing apparatus stuff too. I feel more comfortable.

[And on he half-strolls-half-swims.] So this is how it always is for you.

[octoroom]

More or less, yes. There's no need to communicate through minds where I'm from.

[Fukami turns-- it's a little striking to turn around and the face that's waiting isn't the same (hair, eyes) as the one he's used to, but those expressions are just the same.]

The sea is a little more like this... this blue.

[Ah, he sounds a bit wistful.]

[undyingly]

I think it's easier to just talk, but the communicating directly to each other's minds has its benefits too I guess.

[Reaching across spaces for example. But this is more casual, easier, even if Shiro isn't his usual self. Visually.]

It's pretty like this. It feels friendlier somehow.

[octoroom]

[A tentacle stretches out, curling around a structure of rock that seems somewhat fuzzy, soft around the edges, as though it ought to be in a watercolour painting.]

You might like the sea that I come from.

[The dreamscape has him relaxed, even more than usual.] At the very least, I imagine you would get along with the others that live in Deepsea Town.

[undyingly]

[Shiro smiles at the thought, nodding. He's quieter now, considering it.] I'd like to see where you're from, to meet your friends. It's too bad that I can't. Maybe someday.

[Though who knows how things will turn out here, in this sea that is familiar to none of them.] I'd like to introduce you to my friends too. I think they'd like you a lot.

[octoroom]

[Maybe someday. Fukami thinks he would like to introduce Shiro to the others. They'd likely like him. And it's strange, that he feels a twinge of tension at the thought of meeting Shiro's friends. Hm. That's weird.]

Do you think so?

[he and Kuroh would probably get along just fine, tbh]

[undyingly]

[Really Kuroh and Fukami would get along too well. Shiro may have to be careful to make sure he doesn't get ganged up on for misbehaving. He smiles though and nods, quickly, no hesitation.]

I'm sure of it. Kuroh is the serious sort too. And Neko is really sweet. She's a cat sometimes.

[So you know, animal person. They'd have that in common.]

[octoroom]

Ah, is that so?

[He's thinking of that witch, Chlomaki, from back in his world... but hopefully Shiro's friend is nicer than her. That witch was just too perceptive for his liking.]

I've met several people here who are also animals in some way as well.