idolpro | ao's ideal world (3)

[ the "dog" is gone. in the middle of the field are now four people.

one is Solomon, practically collapsed in the seat of his walker and heaving for breath.

one is a tall, gray-haired man with a looming presence, with a myriad of wounds and a towering set of ichor-encrusted wings, hovering over Solomon with a furrowed brow.

one is Abel, curled up with her head pillowed in the lap of the last.

the fourth, slowly stroking Abel's head, has waist-length hair, is dressed in a plain, undyed linen long-sleeved dress and gloves, wears an even, unreadable expression, and has no mark on her forehead - but otherwise, there’s no mistaking she looks exactly like Ao. ]

Edited 2020-08-08 03:49 (UTC)

-- AO! [ hey guess who has one braincell that's completely fried out and has only one single thought right now. and that one single thought is must talk to sister.

so she's immediately running towards the group, charred body still in her arms. ]

[ Abel's eyes turn on her sharply as she approaches, still a cold, brilliant blue. matchies with sister, who also looks up, as Abel's curls a fist protectively in her skirt. ]

Challah.

[ she stops. a couple of feet away, to stare down at the fake-challah actually. no. "Abel".

her own fists curl into the charred flesh in her arms. her eyes flick back up towards Ao. ]

..... ... I've come to take you back.

[ Abel's eyes fall to the corpse. ]

You should leave us be.

[ you know. challah does make an effort to not let her hurt at those words show on her face. ... she just. sucks at it. and she just blurts out, ]

You're my sister, not hers.

[ Abel

for some reason

starts

giggling?

until the hand in her hair tightens, and she abruptly stops. ]

You are both my sisters. But you are not the only ones.

[ that... is disturbing to watch.

...... ]

I don't know what you're talking about. But that thing isn't real.

What determines what is 'real'? This, too, is a realm created by divinity. You and I walk across it with our own feet. Is it not the same as any other, but for age?

God didn't create this world. And even if he did-- ... even if he did, I wouldn't want you to stay in it. I can't stay here. I don't want to stay here. I want to take you with me.

.... I want you to tell me everything. Everything you haven't told me, everything that you've shielded me from. You already remember don't you? This whole world... I should know it, but I don't. I should know who this is, but I don't. ... I don't even know you at all, but you know everything about me don't you?

[ ...... she's going to set the charred body on the ground. and then just. kneel down beside it in the grass. ]

I'm not leaving without you.

You cannot bring me with you, Challah.

[ she lets go of Abel, who rolls over to reach for the corpse ]

I'll-- [ she starts to retort but

moving on pure reflex, she reaches over the corpse to catch Abel's wrist, in a grip so hard her nails dig into the other's flesh ]

.... don't touch him.

[ Abel grins broadly back at her, an empty, Reaper-like, unconvincing smile ]

He is already dead, sister.

Re: Kaguya & Challah

firstgrave - 2020-08-08 05:45 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Kaguya & Challah

firststone - 2020-08-08 05:52 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Kaguya & Challah

firstgrave - 2020-08-08 06:04 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Kaguya & Challah

firststone - 2020-08-08 06:16 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Kaguya & Challah

firstgrave - 2020-08-08 06:18 (UTC) - Expand

[ Suddenly it's become a party and Solomon looks half dead, there's a weirdo newbie, the pretend Abel is curled up in someone's lap, and the person stroking her hair is... ]

Ao-chan...?

[ . . . Solomon and the main hovering over him get a somewhat wary look. ]

Ao... we've been looking for you.

[ AND THEN CHALLAH GOES RUNNING FOR HER. ]

[ the man scowls briefly at the look, then turns back into a sheepdog and curls up at Solomon's feet as he starts licking his wounds.

she doesn't look up when addressed, still petting Abel's hair as Abel gives a feral look of her own from her lap ]

Was it you who upset her?

[. . . . Okay, so the dog can shapeshift a lot.

She keeps her attention directed onto Ao, though.]

. . . I told her we needed to find you.

We're together as a family once more. You would take that from us?

I would.

Because this right here... is not your family. It's just... a dream. A wish for things to be this way, but... it's not reality. Your real family... is already here.

[ Indicating Challah. ]

And she needs you more than ever.

[ the mark of Cain sears into place on her forehead. ]

The claims you make are too lofty. Are you better than a dream?

Edited 2020-08-08 04:18 (UTC)

[ her lips curl into a stinging blade of a smile ]

And yet, you cannot even tell who you are speaking to.

[ and she laughs, ice cold. ]

Maybe not.

[ She really can't claim to know where she stands in Ao's heart. But if there is one thing she feels has to be true, well... ]

But Challah is. And you deserve better than remaining locked inside your mind. It might seem pleasant right now, but I cannot believe that the producers would allow you to dream peacefully for long. Undoubtedly, it will turn into nothing but a warped nightmare.

. . . We can't just leave you to a fate like that, Ao.

My name is Aclima. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yuuki.

. . .

[ Her brows furrow. ]

You're saying you aren't Cain... our Ao...?

Edited 2020-08-08 04:39 (UTC)

Our eldest sister is resting. I'd rather you not disturb her.

Is that so...? We've come all this way looking for her though, you know? I think you ought to let her out and play.

She's a big girl. She can take a little disturbing.