yumemigaoka | June catch-all (and also some of May lmao)

No, I've never seen one like that before. It could...talk, sort of. And you couldn't really look right at it.

[Omen leads the way around a few more corners. It's narrow going, at first, but the passage does open up a little the farther you go.]

Wait, it could talk? Like... in gibberish or actual 'talk' talk? [sir, that's pretty spooky] But not being able to look at it, huh? Now that sounds like a pain to fight.

[Sonic is jogging behind Omen. For all that his personality seems larger than life, he is, as some may put it, a little guy. These small corridors don't actually bother him.

You know what does sort of bother him though?]

Not for nothing, but are we going at this pace because it's dangerous or...?

[He's gotta go fast--]

Uh...it was a little like yelling, in our head? Like it wanted us to look at it. But, um. We couldn't, so.

[Was it a trick? Omen isn't all that sure. He basically never wants to be looked at, so.]

Oh - I don't know. We're not even really going anywhere...?

[What's the rush, the tunnels aren't timing them.]

Well, that seems counter productive. [Sonic please...]

Hmm...

[a part of him is itching to go... but Omen has a good point about them not really going anywhere]

I guess we should head down and check if the water is all cleared up or not. The Torments don't look like they're acting any stranger than normal, so that will be a nice little tidbit to bring back.

Yeah, okay. If we wanna do that...

[He takes a left.]

Shouldn't be all that much longer. Even less if it is still flooded. [...] I am glad the Torments that came out of that thing are normal. I was worried it was gonna be like, a thousand small versions of it.

[Sonic does a little pirouette to double back and follow after Omen when he misses the abrupt turn]

Wow, could you imagine? That just sounds like it would be a huge mess to clean up... The regular swarms that came off that thing are annoying enough to run into.

[he says it all nonchalantly. Sonic knows he can fight them all off, no problem, but even he can recognize that running into an enemy when you take a corner is a jumpscare no one likes. It's cheap! It's unfair!! It's low effort even!!!]

Perfect! Nothing says getting it done like good ol' fashions team work!

Uh - yeah, yeah!

[Omen hasn't been part of a team for ages. He wasn't even really part of the team at that big fight, he just showed up sort of.....near the actual team.

As they walk, the air's starting to feel a little stickier. They haven't actually encountered any flooding yet, but Omen slows a bit.]

Smells like water down here.

[like a small animal (one might even say... a hedgehog), Sonic tilts his head up to sniff the air before nodding]

Yeah, it sorta does. I guess it hasn't completely cleared out yet.

[his ears perk up too, as if trying to listen for the sound of water. In the waking world, it probably wouldn't do much; last time he came through, the water was fairly still so many the Torments were avoiding it too?]

Kinda funny how we can smell it, since this is a dream... [a sudden laugh] Then again, everyone knows what water smells like. Something something the collective unconsciousness of the people.

[he raises both hands and does a little spooky gesture]

WooOOooo!!

Feeling up to go down further?

I don't know, I'm kinda used to it. I spend more time here than awake sometimes.

[Not so much anymore, but for years there, Bruno was practically in the Dream Sphere full-time. It's probably only the rats that kept him from just...stashing his body somewhere and staying forever.]

Yeah, sure. If the water's, uh, just gone down, maybe they haven't even made their way in yet.

[that admission actually causes Sonic to stop short, eyes wide with surprise (but without judgement? How did he manage that?)]

Wait, really? I usually hop in and out; this place is cool and all but there's just some things that can't be replicated, y'know.

You're not on the run from anything, are ya? Do you need help or anything??

[he is not using this as an excuse to delay running into water in these cramped tunnels, where his speed is a disadvantage and his mobility severely hampered. He is not, he is genuinely concerned!

... Okay, he's doing both, but his concern is real!!!]

Uh - n-no! I don't need help. We just met a minute ago anyway, for all you know I'm some kind of criminal.

[Like, just look at him! He's obviously nothing good.]

...

So I hate to be that guy, but most bad guys one [he holds up one finger] don't admit to being a criminal and two [raises second finger] wouldn't turn down getting stuff for free.

[Is that how that works? Sonic says it so confidently, you'd think he was battling a madman shaped like an egg here too... Which, frankly, doesn't sound too ridiculous in a dream. He crosses his arms and starts tapping his foot]

So, big guy, what's the deal?

[Bruno shrugs, a little hard to see with the whole big shadowy cloak thing, and keeps walking.]

There's no deal.

[This is really the first time anyone here's asked him so directly. Or...really at all. Why'd it have to be some kid he doesn't even know?]

[Sonic stops following him for a moment before zipping next to him again, the wind he kicks up probably pulling at Omen's cloak like he's doing it himself]

All right, all right. I get it [in a stage whisper to no one and clearly meant to be heard by Omen;] I don't but we'll say I do. [then back at normal volume;] Listen though, if you need help or anything, Ma and I are always willing to lend a hand. We got a new studio opened up in the city - Hybrid Colours - so... Swing by if you need to.

[he huffs a quiet sigh then gives Omen a lopsided smile]

It can get pretty lonely out here in the Dream Sphere. For me, it always helps to know that you have friends you can rely on. [then he grins, all mischief] And I won't tell the the DU on you! Honestly, I have enough homework as it is. There's no way I'm voluntarily giving myself more paperwork on top of that.

Oh, um. Thanks?

[Very weird. Omen's cloak billows up in the wind, but it moves more like creepy shadows than actual cloth.

It's a nice offer and all, but Bruno can't have his actual identity getting tied to his Dreamer activities. Even if the kid wouldn't tell the DU, which...well, maybe he means it. He doesn't seem like much of a schemer. But it's still a risk.]

What, uh...what do you do at the studio?

Hehe~!

[Sonic grins]

We're an art studio! I'd call it a collaboration, but really, mom's the main event. I just help out by helping her get supplies and finding interesting bits of the Dream Sphere to bring back to her.

[he holds out his hands, index and thumbs of both hands extended, to make a frame. In this instance, he frames Omen in a 'picture' for a moment before dropping it]

I'm not the best artist in the world, but it's enough to get a sketch down for her to work off of. You've seen it yourself, right? How different places in the Dream Sphere look a little different too... Guess even if everyone dreams, what they're dreaming about is influenced by what they see in the waking world too.

Oh.

[That...sounds really nice, actually. Bruno likes to draw and paint; he loves art. But if he shows up there now, will this kid make the connection...?

Maybe he'll think about it.]

That sounds cool.

Thanks! [and a cheerful thumbs up too]

Feel free to drop by whenever! It's a gallery too, so there's always someone coming in and out.

Oh, uh. Sure, okay.

[He's gonna have to wait at least two weeks probably. Will the kid forget about meeting him by then?]

...

[who knows... Sonic's memory seems way too selective about what he does and doesn't forget...]

Awkward... [there's that stage whisper again before he smirks and... And basically resets the entire mood. It's like that exchange about the waking world didn't even happen!] Do you know how far down people usually go here? It would be best if we could just clear out the usual areas for everyone.

Don't worry 'bout any fights, I've got us covered! I just need you to point us in the right direction to get outta here if it gets dicey.

......um, right. [Okay then.] Well, not...much farther down, I think. I don't usually see many other people here in general. That's why - well, it's a good place to hang out.

[He stopped himself just short of saying something really pathetic there!]

It's easy to get lost in here too. [nod nod] Probably for the best it's a low traffic area. Can't imagine trying to figure this place out if I was new at this...

Yesh, let's get to it then! [all right, time to face the fear of cold, dark water in a tight enclosed space!]

Right! There's a larger chamber down here...

[Indeed, it opens up a little more as they turn the next bend! It's not a large chamber by any means, especially not now that there's something of a pond taking up the far end, but it is at least a little bigger? The crystals illuminate it okay. Omen sometimes uses the very edges of his prophecy power to light it up a little more, but the glowing eyes feel incriminating; he doesn't do that this time.

Omen tilts his head slightly, hovering near the door.]

Something's...in the water.

[It's not visible or audible just yet, but - something's there.]

[from the doorway, Sonic narrows his eyes at the pool of water at the far end of the room. This is already further into the tunnels of the Necropolis than he could go while the whole anniversary fight was going down...]

Aw man, don't say something like that. That's just asking for trouble.

[he's joking even if it comes off sounding like a complaint. If there's a fight waiting to happen-]

So what sort of powers do you have anyway? Y'know... Just in case a fight breaks out.

Uh...y'know. Rats.

[You know! Rats! Omen's obviously distracted. He tilts his head, and there's a flash of emerald green light beneath the hood of his cloak. He takes a step to the side, reaching out to pull Sonic along with him. His hand seems a lot smaller than you'd expect from a guy of his height.

A few seconds later, a Torment jumps up out of the water! Look at that, he was right!]

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