oliver cheshire is the man of your dreams (poppyseeds) wrote in monte_logs, @ 2012-06-13 20:42:00 |
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Entry tags: | iris, morpheus, ~complete |
log ; morpheus and iris
Characters: Oliver Cheshire (poppyseeds) & Blythe Collins(element_sky)
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 13th sometime in the AM.
Location: Muddy Waters
Rating: PG.
Warnings: None.
Summary: Morpheus and Iris finally meet in this lifetime. Neither of them want a repeat of their former lives.
Opting out of classes for the first half of the summer semester due to travel plans, Blythe had more free time than she’d been used to for months. With her job at Ambrosia and her continued attendance to school clubs being more towards the evenings, her mornings were mostly free and relaxing. She’d even taken to going to Muddy Waters some mornings, grabbing herself a soy chai latte and getting straight into her art. But this morning was a little different as she turned away from the counter and spotted a sight that was familiar but...not. Taking a deep breath, she steeled her nerves and walked over to the round table in the corner where sat a lone figure dedicating his attention to the paperback in his hands. Blythe smiled a little, coming to stand by him. “For class or for leisure?” She asked before pulling out the chair across from him and taking a seat. She took his moment of quiet surprise to glance at the cover. “Ah. Stephen King. Nightmares & Dreamscapes. Why am I not surprised?” ~ Being a double major really was the perfect excuse to avoid going home for the summer. While he didn’t talk about his family much, Oliver actually hated being around his parents, so anyway to stay far away from them was good enough for him. Yes, spending the summer taking classes did suck, but it was better than nothing. At least the weather here seemed a bit more mild than West Virginia, so he could spend more time outdoors without having to worry about having an asthma attack. Thank goodness for small favors. On this particular day he had skated down to one of the local coffee shops, complete with a book he had picked solely on its title. He sat down at a corner table once he purchased his tea and had expected to spend some quality time alone, but then she appeared. “What can I say?” he replied with a small smile. “The title spoke to me.” ~ Snuggling into her seat a little bit and trying to get comfortable, her hair blazoned with green and violet streaks, she tried very subtly to observe him without being awkward. Of course he looked different now, but she couldn’t deny that he was the Morpheus of before. It was like a scent that was his alone, and once it snared her senses she’d known. “Oh I’m sure.” She smirked. “And are the contents equally as catching? I expect you’d find something of interest in Stephen King’s works.” She was comfortable not digging straight into the deeper stuff, about dreams or past lives or anything. She feared coming on too strong more than anything, especially since he was the first person she had met who truly meant something from before. Like old friends meeting up for lunch after being apart for 25 years, they had time to get reacquainted. ~ She wasn’t the only one who looked different. A big difference for the both of them was the obvious lack of wings, something which he was sure she missed as much as him. Though just like she felt with him, there was something oddly familiar about her, something oddly Iris. The whole experience brought back a few instantaneous memories, some of which shouldn’t be repeated in proper company. “So far it’s not bad. Not as good as his other work, but still a bit enjoyable.” Figuring she was going to stay awhile, he dog-eared the corner of his last page and set the book down on the table. Oliver then picked up his oversized mug of Irish Breakfast tea complete with cream and took a long sip, perhaps doing a bit of purposeful stalling. “So what brings you to this local establishment?” ~ “That’s good. Hopefully it’ll pick up.” She offered safely as she raised her own drink to take a sip. It was still a bit too hot for her to enjoy, but the sting didn’t last long and she still felt the taste. When he closed the book, she worried for a moment that maybe she shouldn’t have stayed, but when was she one to question what her gut was telling her? If he could invite himself into her dreams - which wasn’t unwelcome, of course - she figured a spot for coffee wouldn’t do any harm. “I’m without classes for another several weeks.” She said, lightly shrugging. “I have work and clubs in the evening, but until then I have my latte and some blank canvases at my disposal. It’s a nice change of pace, but one does get antsy from time to time.” Blythe cocked her head at Oliver. “How about you? I expect you’re taking quite a few classes this summer yourself.” Then, with a hint of concern which begged familiarity, “You’re not overworking yourself, are you?” ~ “Hopefully.” It was only Stephen King, Iris. Not like he was reading Tolstoy or anything like that, though he would still put that down for you. If he hadn’t wanted you to stay, he would have rudely kept reading and giving you half-assed answers. Really. Oliver wasn’t above doing that rather than simply telling people to leave. “I do have a few classes, but during both summer semesters.” Well. Two the first half and one the second half, so it wasn’t anything too strenuous on him. Plus he may or may not have been sneaking into one of the professor’s dreams in order to get hints for the test. No, he wasn’t overworking himself. “No. I’m nice and relaxed this summer.” ~ Catching his tone, that portion of the conversation was over - which was good, because she couldn’t think of any more safe or mundane things to add about a book she’d never read - and she brushed straight into his answers regarding his summer. “That’s nice to hear. Nothing like stress and high temperatures to ruin what should be the nicest time of year.” Really, if she could pick up from the table right now and go traveling with just what she had in her pockets (and tucked in her hair), she would. Staying put in the summer was worst and she didn’t know why everyone didn’t feel that way. Wondering if she should inanely ask him about what classes he was taking or if he was planning on going home at all, she figured maybe she’d ditch some of the formalities and give in to her curiosity. “How are - things? Have you seen much of your family here?” She expected Morpheus’ relations were much like him in privacy, save for the one or two obvious cases to the contrary. ~ Perhaps some other time they could head down to the local bookstore and discuss books there. He didn’t talk about it much, but Oliver did like to read. But that was for another time. “I’m glad it’s not too hot up here. The hot weather has triggered my asthma in the past.” Look at that, Iris. He was sharing something a bit personal with you. At her question, the former Morpheus actually looked around to see if anyone was listening in on them. Once could never be too careful when it came to one’s incarnate identity. “My father and mother are here,” he confessed in a hushed voice. “And one of my brothers. Other than that, I’m don’t know.” ~ Blythe would like that. She liked books, but had grown up on newspapers and magazines and knew more about the civil unrest in Syria than she did popular literature. At the reveal, her eyebrows rose softly. “Asthma. I didn’t know.” Of course not, he hadn’t told her, but it still was a surprise. She thought that if he had his wings in this realm, he wouldn’t get to appreciate them nearly as much with that complication. “I’m sorry. But you’re right, the location is better than most. I expect we wouldn’t have the same chance meeting if this were Florida.” Essentially she was glad he was sharing these things. At the hushed tone, Blythe nodded slowly, comprehending his suspicions. Remembering how he’d asked her to keep his name private before, she knew she shouldn’t say his name or any of his family’s. While those suspicions went a bit beyond what she considered to be normal, it wasn’t hurting anyone to respect his wishes. Dropping her own voice, she responded softly: “That’s good, though, do you think? Are you happy?” She expected the pointed, but vague questions wouldn’t reveal too much and if he thought it did then she wouldn’t take offense if he chose not to answer. ~ Oliver was sadly lacking in the current events. Not because he didn’t care... actually, because he didn’t care much for things that didn’t have an effect on him. It was a piss-poor attitude to have, especially for someone in college, but according to him he had bigger things to worry about right now. Like his family. And the government. Plus keeping his identity a secret. Being a self-centered young adult, problems in Syria took a backseat. He shrugged at the asthma comment. “I have an inhaler, so it’s all good.” Except for the times it wasn’t, but that was why places like the town hospital and Wellness Center existed. “I’m very happy to see them here. I know some people feel differently, but they will always be my true family.” Hypnos and Pasithea were much better parents if you asked him. ~ There would come a point in getting to know each other when they’d have to start acknowledging and appreciating each other’s differences as well as their similarities, both with each other and with their connections. Blythe loved being the typical, social college girl, but every other thought was always on what lay ahead. She hoped, though, in the time leading up to her departure from the school, they could find a middle in these things. Nodding at that, she figured fretting out loud wouldn’t do much more good, though now with this known, she’d be keeping some eye on him. Especially as he didn’t quite elaborate on how bad his asthma could be. “That’s good, it really is.” She agreed earnestly, because he made an excellent point: not everyone was happy to see someone from their pasts, more so if it was family. She hadn’t known about his parents, but she knew his brother was here and to know they’d met comforted her on Oliver’s behalf. “It’s no good to be here alone when you have family you can rely on.” She couldn’t quite say the same, as Oliver and Hera were her two nearest people, but she wasn’t dreadfully upset by it. “Far better than the family in this lifetime?” ~ Finding a balance between their old selves/old world and their new selves/new world certainly was difficult. In coming to Montenegro, Oliver may have been hoping the university would help him with that. So far... well, there was a long way to go. Of course he didn’t elaborate on how bad his asthma could be at times. The last thing Oliver wanted was someone fretting over him, though there was probably a deeper issue there. Wasn’t there with basically everyone on campus? “Yes.” Excuse him while he took another big gulp of tea at her last question. “They never felt as much like family as the Oneiroi. Though I suppose everyone likes to compare things to the firsts in their life.” Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a little hidden meaning in that. ~ It was true. While she had less to hide or worry about in her identity, fusing the two - especially in a place where they were among many in the same boat - became that much harder. And she didn’t even have people around she could once call family like he did. It didn’t matter so much, though, she liked the parents she had in this life. It was too late, though, Blythe was already going to keep a silent, attentive eye. Not so much that she would be broadcasting her concern, but she looked out for those she cared about. Period. Taking a sip of her own drink, happy to find that it was cooled enough to drink comfortably, she didn’t know if Oliver’s little hidden message was deliberate or not or even if he’d meant anything or if she’d even just imagined it. “It tends to be quite a popular topic around here, all those comparisons.” She said cautiously. “I know I’ve certainly dealt with a few of those myself.” Now she was getting a little fidgety. “Any interesting dreams lately?” ~ At least out with the general public, they could just be their current selves. There really wasn’t any pressure to live up to your former name. Here it was quite the opposite. Yet another reason why he liked only a select few knowing he was Morpheus. Just don’t tell him you were doing it and it would all be good! Oh, his hidden message might have been directed at you Iris. After all, some artists did think they were husband and wife in their former positions. “Part of the reason I like to keep things to myself.” That and the government. Definitely the government. “Dreams are always interesting, especially in a place like this.” ~ For the first time in a very long time, Blythe was understanding Oliver’s need for privacy and the intensity of situations like these. This was her first time placing herself in a situation where the current and the former merged with some extensive impact. Something told her that they would have had a meeting like this regardless. More that it was a matter of when, not if. How could she forget? There were more paintings of the two of them together than she had with anyone else. And while she couldn’t pinpoint what exactly had happened before, the feelings she had spoke for themselves. “I can see why.” She conceded. Trying not to look too interested, she glanced around to make sure the conversation remained confidential. “How did you find them? Proximity? Is it much the same as before?” Blame the journalist in her, but she could conjure up a thousand questions. ~ It was sometimes had to tell if things that matter in the former life matter in this one, though he supposed that was all up to the individual. For him, Morpheus was at the core of his being and that wasn’t something he wasn’t going to deny. While he may not have been singing it from the mountain tops, he was Morpheus and perhaps, just perhaps, there were individuals would be be highly interested in that fact. Also, the government, though that was a completely different story. “Do you think something can be familiar, yet completely foreign at the same time?” The statement could be viewed as completely contradictory, but it was the best way he could describe the feelings about his original family. ~ Blythe didn’t think anyone would ever be interested in her alternate identity. Sure, maybe it’d look good on a resume if she was trying to get herself into a career in media or journalism, but she considered that cheating. As much as Iris had all of her many talents and merits, Blythe felt she was just as capable in this lifetime. The closest she could understand that statement would be the moment she saw him not ten minutes ago, but she got the gist of it. If not from personal experience, from observing it in many others. “Yes, I do. Unquestionably. Hera, for instance, is and is not who I remembered. The feeling is the same, and yet not.” And she wasn’t even family from before. ~ If people used their relatives to get cushy jobs, certainly they could use their alternate identities. Morpheus would still argue against it though. People could easily use that to discriminate against her, which wasn’t fair but it still happened. “Is that a good thing she isn’t who you remembered?” While he hadn’t interacted with her much, or many of the Olympians for that matter, her reputation far proceeded her. ~ It was true, as she and Ganymede had discussed the other day, there were people out there who would use their identities not positively but detrimentally. He suffered more than her, obviously, but she’d had a couple odd run-ins. Non-reincarnations would sometimes find the stupidest things to feel intimidated by. “It is, yes.” She admitted to Oliver. “I was afraid of her at first, even if I wasn’t entirely sure who she was or what to expect. I even mentioned it Zeus.” That last bit came with a bite. “Afraid maybe that I’d feel indebted to serve her somehow and not be what I wanted. But I was wrong. I respect her, admire her. The relationship is different, but the same. That’s my story, anyway. Your feelings probably aren’t exactly the same, but I do get your meaning.” ~ See! His paranoia concerning his true self was completely justifiable. At least in his mind. “I have no intentions to serve them in this life.” If anyone could understand what it was like to work for the Olympians, it was Iris. Their time in Ancient Greece was spent jetting back and for on the whims of the ruling deities, something which he always secretly hated, but could never change. His place in the pantheon had been decided for him without his consent. “I worry if they knew, I would somehow end up in the same situation.” ~ She nodded, understanding his feelings completely. They had existed in the employment of their betters, but this lifetime provided every opportunity to be whoever they wanted. They’d be fools, she thought, to not run with those opportunities. “A valid fear. But I’ve gotten no impressions from at least Hera that this’ll happen.” Which was good, because until you actually meet the person, you never know what to expect. Some people really held onto whom they were before, acting like this life was their second coming. Others didn’t even want to think about it. “I think you should do what you want.” She agreed, taking another sip of her drink. “Short of committing heinous crimes, of course. Not that I could see you doing that, but stranger things have happened here.” ~ Exactly. Thousands of years of undying servitude to the Olympians seem to be basically all there was to their stories. So much more had actually gone on in their lives, but messengers was basically what they had been reduced to in the public’s eye. Morpheus wanted to be known for much more than that, though at only twenty he wasn’t exactly sure how to achieve such a thing. ‘I suppose I am just being a small bit paranoid.” Only Iris would get such a confession. “I think heinous crimes are more the work of my cousins.” Cousins such as the Phonoi (“murders”) and the Androktasiai (“man-slaughters”), offspring of Eris. The children of Hypnos and Pasithea were basically harmless compared to those children. “But you’re right. Stranger things have happened.” Morpheus then took a brief moment to take another sip of tea, though by now it was starting to go cold. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?” ~ It was the truth - Iris and Morpheus hadn’t been Olympians, Titans, or one of the original, primordial gods, but they were in no way unimportant. It was one of the many reasons Iris as Blythe wanted to achieve everything she dreamed - she could make a difference. She knew Morpheus was more than capable of the same. A half-knowing smile graced her face, leaving the “I thought sos” to the side. “Why is that?” Besides the obvious, of course, but she wondered if there wasn’t more to it. And maybe it would help them peel a little out of this safe zone of a conversation. Laughing, Iris shook her head: “Or my dear, dear sisters.” If any of the Harpies were here, Iris would just about die. It probably explained why she was so understanding of many kinds of people - being related to them could put patience to the test. Sipping her own drink, still warm, she shrugged: “Projects, mostly. One of the editors for Clarion just graduated, so I’m going there today to get settled. How about you?” ~ It was nice to know Iris had such high hopes for him and his possible accomplishments. His idea of making a difference was probably much different than hers and often extended into the dream world. While he currently lacked the self esteem in this world to yet make a difference, he was sure he could make a difference through dreams. Not always a good difference, but a difference none the same. “Just worrying some things don’t change. That’s all,” he answered in a light manner, though something behind his words indicated he wouldn’t be going any further with this conversation. At the mention of Harpies, he may have made a small face. No one likes Harpies. “Thinking about going to the park. Or just taking a nap.” ~ Iris wasn’t going to force Morpheus down any path he didn’t want to travel or wasn’t ready for. She had complete faith in him, and at this point in time she was comfortable with that being the extent of her support. It wasn’t any secret she had a tendency to get involved in the business of others and it usually didn’t end so well. And stepping on Morpheus’ toes - despite her eternal, infernal curiosity - was not how she wanted to go about getting to know him in this life. That included not pursuing the line of questioning she had when he told her “that’s all”. Darn. “If you’re sure.” She said passively, waving it off. Though she did nearly laugh at the face he made. It was true, Harpies weren’t exactly a party favorite. “Sounds like an enviable day you have ahead of you.” She smiled, gathering her things and taking one more sip of her drink. “I hope it goes as well as you plan.” ~ “It’s always an enviable day here at Montenegro,” he joked. Really. Where else in the world could people randomly burst into song or grow flowers on their skin? Not always a good thing, but it certainly did make the town and the university interesting. “I hope your day does too. It was nice seeing you again.” ~ Ha. True. Though she hoped they wouldn’t have to get the weedwackers out any time soon. Unable to stop the smile that overcame her as he said it was nice seeing her again, she reached over and squeezed his hand. “And you. We’ll have to get together again soon. See you later.” With that, she released his hand and nodded a farewell before exiting the cafe. |