WHO: Cassie and Paul WHAT: Dreams~ oh my WHERE: Dreamland and then their respective apartments, and then Cassie's apartment (oh ho ho!) WHEN: IDK. Last night? WARNINGS: Acquatic flirting abounds. Relatively PG-13 with some innuendo at the end but that's about it. NOTES: I got jealous of all the dream logs. Plus I wanted to use this icon.
Like all her dreams recently, Cassie was in the sea, or at least she felt like she was in the sea.
Dreams were curious things and so this strange feeling of being herself and being something else didn’t feel foreign to her. She was weightless here, peaceful. Even with the occasional breeze that stirred the waves above her – or were they stirring her? – everything was calm. The sunlight piercing the darkness of the water made her long for its warmth and she began to move out from the depths. There were no hands, no legs, no limbs to push herself through the ocean but she moved regardless. How was of no concern to her until she reached the shallow beach.
As she lifted herself from the waves she knew a different form was in order. Soon she was able to feel the sunlight drying her hair, feel rather than hear the sighs of the wind as they brushed across all of her bare skin. As the waves pulled back from the shore she saw her feet sink into the sand and, with a laugh of pure delight and wonder, she flicked her foot and watched the sand fly away. Usually she was with her sister – sisters, yes she had several, so many sisters – to be with by the island but today she was by herself and it felt strange and new and wonderful all at once.
She swung her arms around as she spun along the beach, skipping, reveling in the feel of her form once more. One wasn’t preferred over the other but she loved each for their own reasons. Back in the ocean she was safe, protected. She could play with the companions of the sea or she could retreat and hide by herself. But here, standing in shallow waters, she could stand, she could move, she could dance. She could sing, and she opened her mouth and did just that.
The dreams Paul had been experiencing as of late were strange, yes, but eerily enough he had begun to get used to them. The more he just let his slumber be overtaken by the waves, the more natural it felt to him when he appeared there night after night.
But this time was different. He knew who he was, he knew that it was Poseidon who was wielding the golden chariot, the one driven by horses swiftly over the surface of the sea. The raging waves became still as the God passed through, and sea creatures began to rise up out of the brine to follow, captivated by the sight. They followed, dancing along the froth of the water, entranced as Poseidon continued on his journey toward the island. It was there he saw her, the dancing sea nymph he had admired from afar - and now she was alone. He could hear her voice first and foremost, the dulcet tones echoing out across the water and first he paused nearby, the horses smoothly gliding to a stop. He wanted to watch for now. To observe the daughter of Nereus, the one who would soon become his beautiful bride.
Unfortunately, Paul was still slightly conscious within the dream (creating a rather trippy sort of effect) and he knew how this scene would play out. He had seen it before and he wanted to tell Poseidon to just turn around and go away since Amphitrite was going to run. But when he opened his mouth to speak it merely came out as a grumble of protest, and he was shoved to the back of his immortal counterpart’s mind.
She wasn’t so naïve as to not feel the gaze of someone upon her. This was not the first time he had come to watch her, for she had noticed him before even as her sisters surrounded and distracted her. He never dared to come even this close, though, and she wondered if it was because she was alone this day. Her feet hadn’t stopped their delicate steps; her arms hadn’t stilled from their motions. She kept her eyes trained toward him, taking in his appearance even from that great a distance.
He was an unknown, and yet not so. The part that was Cassie, still watching out from under the veil of this vivid dream, swore that he was a friend and more. He was someone to trust and that thought resonated deeply within her.
And yet, how could she? He was trespassing, riding the waves as if he owned them; as if her father and her father’s father hadn’t already laid claim to all the seas under the skies. He was strong, she could tell from here and, with that bold gaze of his, he was daring.
But so was she. Her dance wasn’t shy in the slightest, not today, her voice never faltered. From across the waves her eyes shone bright with a challenge to come closer.
A light breeze ruffled the Earthshaker’s hair, and in his hand was his trident, used to call forth or subdue storms, or shatter rocks. The object was not just a symbol of his own power, but also a symbol of the vast power that the ocean held. He responded to the sea nymph’s greeting silently by locking eyes with her and then he began to advance further, drawn in by her captivating song and dance.
His chariot slowed as he approached, although he didn’t disembark just yet. Instead, he called to her, curiosity present in his tone. Would today be the day? Would she accept his proposal and become his Queen? He could only hope. But no matter what happened in the present, their fate was sealed - the beautiful nymph would soon be his.
“Who do you sing for, lovely sea nereid?” he inquired. “Your sisters shall not join you today?”
Her song died quietly as he spoke, but the melody continued as she hummed thoughtfully through pursued lips. “I need to sing for someone to sing?” she asked, a laugh tugging at her lips and lacing through her words. She wondered if she bruised his pride admitting that she wasn’t singing for him. Never mind who or what she was singing for; it wasn’t for him.
His other question was to be answered more carefully. He stood proudly in his chariot, statuesque and still, but she knew better. One word, one movement, and he would be in motion. He would take chase if he wanted to, and she had to take care so he wouldn’t want me to. “I am never alone as long as I’m with the sea.” Her answer was vague but the edge had a warning. She was alone, yes, there was no way to hide that, but should she wish it, her sisters would come for her. It would be a true test to see if they would come to her aid faster than he could move in his chariot. She wasn’t sure she wished to know the answer.
“What brings you here, Earthshaker?” She had heard his many names whispered on the sea breeze and yet it was strange to think anyone could claim any dominion over the waters she and her family called home. The quakes that rocked the shores of the islands and the floor of her oceans, those she could give him.
Poseidon’s mouth twitched slightly at the response, though he appeared solid as a rock - silent and sure - as he remained in place. She would play coy, he knew as much, but she would be his someday, and together they would share this kingdom.
“You must enjoy the sound of your own voice, as much as I enjoy it,” he replied, completely unabashed. Poseidon was not exactly a humble sort of God. He laughed at the next question, a hearty sound, and with his free hand he gestured broadly to the vast expanse of sea surrounding them.
His bright blue eyes - which may have appeared familiar, for they were shared with his mortal counterpart - twinkled in a show of mirth. “I am free to traverse these waters at my leisure, lovely one,” he said. Bitter as she may be over her father’s unfortunate circumstances, there was no doubt that this realm belonged to Poseidon. They had moved past the age where Cronus ruled, thus, Nereus’ claims were no longer valid. “Is it acceptable that I have come to see you?” he asked with only the slightest air of mockery - more teasing than anything.
She forced back the beginnings of a smile, something akin to a blush coloring her cheeks at the compliment. She turned and broke their stare to look at the trees and the sand and the clouds. Anything but him. Thankfully he was distracting her, gesturing to the seas they called both called their own.
His eyes seemed so familiar but she couldn’t quite place why. It did put her at ease though and his tease was beginning to make her smirk. But she still turned up her nose and gave him a shrug. “You would be the better judge on what was acceptable or not. I can’t imagine why you would deign to see me. I’m only a simple lady of the sea and you...” Once more there was a slight shrug, as he didn’t need to be reminded about who he was, although she half expected him to remind her once more. Still, the way she met his eyes and from her voice, now it was she who was speaking in warring tones of tease and mockery.
He allowed his expression to break from the stoic hold he had forced his features into, but such a thing could not be helped - especially when she was looking at him just so. And teasing him in return. Most dared not attempt such a thing with a God whose stormy mood swings were often mirrored by the natural disasters he caused as a result of his explosive temper. But no, Poseidon smiled because he liked this one - he liked her best of all, his beautiful Amphitrite, his beloved Ami.
“I am Lord of the Sea, tasked with giving a voice to the Earth,” he said with a certain amount of pride, referring to how he, the mighty Hippios, pounded and shook the Earth with his wrath and pleasure; one strike from the trident could split the sea. The Enosikhthon answered to no one, save his brother Zeus. Of course he would remind her, although he was merely humoring her and playing the game. It was a game he enjoyed greatly, part of the reason he had come to see her.
The sunlight glinted off of the golden mane of the horses who pulled his chariot, the waters calm for the time being. “And you, beautiful Amphitrite, are not just what you claim to be. Why merely be a simple lady of the sea when you could be so much more?” Yes, today was the day. He would honor her with a proposal and thus offer her half of his kingdom.
She humored him in turn, playing the part of fawning nymph as she had seen so many others do in his presence. Her lips fell softly with awe, a slight coo carried to his ears by the wind. Of course she knew who he was, who they said he was. And while he was daunting and she was impressed with the stories of his might, she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing so. She also enjoyed the game.
“Oh?” she asked nonchalantly, even as the water about her ankles began to roll towards the shore at a faster speed. Lord of the Sea though he was, she was still a daughter of its depths, and the ocean responded to her in kind. Beneath her calm aura she was wary and so was the water around her, a current picking up strength beneath a placid surface. “Tell me then, Great Poseidon, what more could I be?”
The Rain-God noticed the change in the water’s current, but he remained in place so as not to frighten the precocious nymph. He felt compelled to drive onshore and scoop her up in his arms, to carry her down to the underwater palace they were destined to reside in together, but he did not. While it was true that he would win her heart, he would also not be opposed to chasing her. Wasn’t that part of the game?
“Queen of the Sea, if you desire as much,” Poseidon answered with a regal air about him. “I wish to offer you half of my kingdom. Marry me, Lady of the Sea, and I will give you all you want and more.”
For once, he waited patiently - eagerly anticipating what she would say in response to his proposal.
She was silent but steady, not a twinge or a tremor that would betray her and show the surprise that she felt inside. The only sign was a swell of a wave at his offer and the sound of it crashing against the shore and licking at the sides of his chariot. In the long pause that followed there was only the sound of the water, the call of the gulls, and the rustling of trees in the wind on the island behind her.
“No.” Her answer was soft but crystal clear. It wasn’t spat or screamed, merely said with a slight curve of her mouth. As if she found her answer amusing, or maybe it was the question itself. She was playing a dangerous game, she knew, and her casual air hid a stiffening in her posture. At a moment’s notice she could dive back into the waves.
Poseidon’s calm demeanor faltered for only a moment, visible in the way his eyes widened in surprise. His brow furrowed, not in a steely glare, but a reflection of confusion for just a moment. She had said no? How could this be? He was Lord of the Sea, the mighty Enosikhthon, a savior of ships and a tamer of horses! It was an honor for him to offer a marriage proposal. But then he regained control of himself and slipped back into his noble cloak once more, brushing aside the notion of rejection.
“One day you shall say yes, fair sea nereid,” the God promised. “And I will not give up until you do.” His fingers tightened slightly around the handle of his trident, his chin held high - the stubborn, temperamental, and proud Olympian he was known to be.
Her little smirk only widened slightly as she watched the shock and bewilderment flash across his handsome face. She would have felt bad if not for the tightening of his hands and the resolute look he bore now. So he refused to take no for an answer.
“What makes you think I will say yes?” She wasn’t as stubborn or fearless as he, but she was proud still. The way she lifted her face and met his gaze said as much. “What if I wish to remain a maiden?” She had heard much about the conquests of this god and his brothers like him. She doubted it was really her hand he was asking for.
“You wish to be more than a maiden, lovely Amphitrite,” Poseidon replied easily. “I can give you all that you desire, all that your kind and noble father desires for you as well,” he added, purposely bringing Nereus into the equation. Perhaps a deal could be worked out with the Titan or if not, Poseidon was sure he would become betrothed to Nereus’ daughter regardless.
Then, he bowed his head - when he did, the crown he wore glittered in the light - in a show of reverence. “I first laid eyes upon you dancing here on this very island,” he said. “My love has only grown over time. You have enraptured me, none of your sisters have done the same, only you.”
He was a tricky one, this god, bringing her father into this. There was a slight widening of her eyes before she squared her shoulders back and turned her nose up. She started walking back closer to the ocean, keeping the god and his chariot still in her line of sight. She hadn’t thought of him asking her father but she knew it would always fall upon her judgment. Nereus wouldn’t force her hand but she didn’t relish the idea of him being approached by this new god of the seas.
His ardent confession made her stop and stare, not realizing at first how much closer she was. She didn’t wish to acknowledge how touched she was by it and words of love only enticed her for a moment before they faded after they were said, reminding her of why she was saying no in the first place. “Your love will fade,” she said firmly, perhaps even with a touch of sadness. If there was one truth this nymph knew about the Olympians, it was that they were fickle. “I hold your attention now but it will not be so always. I would be better staying a maiden, despite what you seem to think and know about my wishes and desires.”
Poseidon disembarked from his chariot while still carrying his trident, now taking the opportunity to move closer since she had moved as well. He expected her to run and was already conjuring up ways to win her favor, to get her to agree to his heartfelt proposal.
“I do not see the future, I admit, but perhaps you are my one and only. I would not feel such a stirring so suddenly if that were not so. Don’t you agree, lovely sea maiden?” he wondered, his eyes full of sincerity. At the end of his question, he dared to take yet another step toward her.
Running was an option; it was always an option. And as she stood in the water, clear blue green waves splashing at her knees, she knew that it wouldn’t take much effort to disappear into the depths. Knowing she could strengthened her resolve. She stayed planted firmly in her sea bed, even as he grew closer and closer. “Perhaps,” was all she could agree. She was lovely, she knew with little conceit, but how or why she invoked sudden longing from him she did not know. “And since you have gazed upon me, have you not desired another?” She hadn’t stepped closer but she was leaning toward him, her curiosity at his answer making bridge the distance between them without realizing.
“I have not,” Poseidon answered honestly, his voice unwavering and sure. “I have returned to this spot, day after day, to watch you dance. Surely you have noticed?” He watched her carefully, expression softening as the gap between them began to get smaller and smaller. His stormy eyes lit up pleasantly, and his rough and gruff demeanor was washed away with the soothing motion of the waves crashing onto the shore.
Boldly, he reached for the nymph, meaning to embrace her and hold her in his arms.
“I have,” she replied airily, for she had noticed, but so had the sisters she was often surrounded by. “But what you do when you leave I do not--” So distracted in her talking that she didn’t notice his move until she felt his fingers brush against her sides, just the beginnings of a caress. Her words broke off into a gasp and she immediately jumped back, both startled at his touch and his audacity to even try.
“You attempt to test my patience, my darling Amphitrite, but what you do not know is that I will wait for you to agree to become my bride,” the sea king stated, and not once would he consider going back on his words. “If you do not say yes today then perhaps you will say yes tomorrow, or the day after that. Time moves along on its own accord, and I have plenty of it.”
He picked his trident back up and stared expectantly at his would-be wife. Now, more than ever, he wanted to wed her, for his palace under the sea was filled with beings of his own creation - but no bride to share them and the vast riches with. “Will you consider my proposal and kiss me goodbye, daughter of Nereus?” he asked, almost in a challenge of sorts.
Her eyes flashed as he spoke. So it was she who was testing his patience? Her lips pressed into a serious, tight little line. She lifted her chin up to watch him go, as if it was she who was dismissing him, taking in his words with a stony expression. He could wait all he wanted. He would be waiting for an eternity as far as she was concerned.
His request was met with a slightly arched eyebrow. The fact that he still had the nerve to challenge her so made her frown, and a small one as it still continued to war with the urge to smirk. “Perhaps I will do one, or the other, but not both,” she replied tartly and took bold steps to close the distance between them. A warm hand rested gently on his arm as she turned up her head. Just as her lips would have reached his, a ghost of a kiss, she changed. She didn’t pull away but downward, turning to cool seawater before she could kiss him. The touch on his arm turned cold and then wet, her whole being changed and also fell away far too quickly for him to catch.
As she fell back onto the ocean she laughed softly, teasingly, until the sound being swallowed up by the sea itself. He could not catch her here, and he could not control her. He could come back tomorrow and the next day and she would be nowhere to be found. She could would hide in the waves forever, if she had to. She refused to be his bride.
Just when Poseidon was expecting a parting kiss, Amphitrite became one with the sea. Angrily, he gritted his teeth but also found, somehow, that he was more intrigued than ever. He would find her no matter how far she went, no matter where she hid - even if he had to send creatures of the sea to track her down for him. And that is exactly what he decided to do. She had no power over them, only he did. They answered to him, and he did not care if he had to rally the entire undersea world to his side, he would convince her to marry him.
Still, his frustration made itself known when he raised his arm up, bringing it back down to strike the trident into the sand of the island of Naxos. The earth’s tectonic plates shifted and collided into each other when the points made contact and then, the sea began to churn violently due to the mighty seismic waves following the quake. Quickly, Poseidon jumped into his chariot and took off, the horses traveling at a rapid speed back the way he came, back toward his palace where he would formulate a plan.
He moved to strike the sea with the trident once more, meaning to stir the water in an angry storm on his way, but before the weapon could reach its destination everything went black.
It was Paul who shot up in bed, breathing heavily as a trickle of cold sweat ran down the back of his neck. He looked at the clock, squinting. 4:30 AM. Perfect. He had to be up in two hours anyway, why not just start the day off with a weirdass dream?
He rolled over with a sigh and reached for his phone. The dream was different this time, in a way. Maybe Cassie had the same one? Appearing like a creeper and texting her at all hours was something he wanted to avoid but if she was awake...? Oh, hell. He quickly fired one off to her anyway.
Sleep alright or no? I had another weird one.
Cassie was sitting upright in bed when her phone buzzed with a text message. In the silence and darkness of her room the sound was abrupt and loud, the light bright and almost blinding her. She was tense when she grabbed her phone but relaxed once she saw who it was. She almost started to text but opted to hit the call button. She flopped back onto her bed as she listened to it ring, offering him a sleepy hello once he picked up. “You too? I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.” Her voice was tired, thick with sleep, but she was curious... or maybe the word was unnerved.
“Mmhmm,” Paul answered in the affirmative, sighing as he too fell on his back, one hand covering his eyes. The bedside light had been turned on so the room wasn’t totally pitch black. Since he was awake, he may as well get up early and go for an extra run on the beach and then he’d have time to cook an awesome breakfast. “I had the beard again,” he chuckled softly. “Poseidon was me, I was Poseidon, but I still was...watching everything, if that makes sense. But yeah, he pulled up by the island in his awesome ride and tried to get all up in Amphitrite’s business again. She toyed with him for a bit and then...it was weird, she turned into water. Like became one with the sea. I’ve never seen her do that before. Then I woke up as he was about to cause a tsunami or something. What about you?” He was aware that he was rambling a little but his brain was struggling to catch up to his mouth during this early morning hour.
Paul was a much better morning person than Cassie. Now that he was on the phone she had mentally assigned him to making sure she was awake enough to go to work later. Now that was settled, she didn’t bother to turn on lights or get up, instead turning over in her bed and burying her face in the pillow. Still, as tired as she was, she couldn’t shake the weird feeling the dream left her, and it only worsened as Paul recited it back to her.
“It... It was the same,” she murmured before turning slightly so she could be heard and not muffled by her bed sheets. “I mean, I wasn’t Poseidon. I was Amphitrite. That water thing wasn’t weird. I mean, more than weird, I guess. Natural. The most natural thing in the world. She wanted to run but... I guess because I knew it was you, it made her--me stay for a bit.” She blew out air in an unhappy huff. Now she was the one rambling. “I sound like a nutjob.”
“No, you don’t,” Paul assured Cassie, his arm still over his eyes. “I wanted Poseidon to leave because I knew she would run and I didn’t want him to act like a creeper. But I guess things are different back in...ancient Greece,” he said, and he was aware how odd that sounded. “But he didn’t listen to me. Can you...” What the hell was he even trying to ask? If Cassie could turn herself into water the same way Amphitrite could? How ridiculous was that? “...gah, I don’t know,” he finished, slapping his palm over his face. “Want me to make you breakfast since we’re both up? I can just shower and take a minute to not look like hell and then I’m available.”
“Creepers are just the sort of guy girls dug back in the day,” she laughed, the conversation getting weirder and weirder. “Or maybe still is. My sister likes to bring home real class acts over for Thanksgiving.” She waited to hear his question but then he was distracting her with food ideas. Damn him. “Mmm,” she murmured happily before curling over in her blankets. “That sounds so good but would require getting up. Can’t we just call in dead and stay in bed all day?” Never mind that that could be construed all sorts of ways. “And what were you going to ask me?”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Paul laughed, and he turned red at the scandalous images he was conjuring up in his head right then. Yep, he was definitely awake now - and maybe a cold shower would actually do him some good.
He paused, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “In my sort of not awake state - ” Blaming it on that would suffice, “...I was going to ask if you ever tried turning into water. But obviously that was a dumb question. Anyway, if you change your mind about food, let me know.”
“I’m already careful,” she laughed, now realizing what she said and clearly not wanting to take it back.
“Oh!” She should have figured he asked her that out considering the conversation. Maybe she did need to get up. “Oh no, I wish,” she giggled again, more at herself than anything. Really, turning into water. As if that was possible. And even then it wasn’t anything useful. “But let’s eat. I’ll shower, put on something decent and you can come right down?”
Paul was already standing, the phone clenched in one hand while he stretched and held back a yawn. “Alright, sounds good,” he agreed. Good fucking Lord, it was early. He cursed Poseidon for infiltrating his dreams and waking him up at this ungodly hour. “If you fall back asleep before I get there, I’m just letting myself in and spanking you until you wake up.”
Now she was blushing but it earned him a laugh and challenging coo for his efforts. “I’m sorry, was that supposed to be enticing me to get up? Because that just sounds like I should be leaving my key under my welcome mat and wait in bed to see if you follow through.” At this rate breakfast wasn’t going to happen any time soon but she didn’t mind.
“I’ll check under the welcome mat first,” he replied, oh no - Paul was a follow through type of guy! Especially when it came to Cassie. And spanking. She was in heaps of trouble because now breakfast wasn’t going to happen any time soon and they might be late for work but surprise, he didn’t really mind either of those things. “Okay, go shower. I’ll see you soon,” he added, and then he was off. For once, he didn’t feel extremely unsettled about having a dream like that - at least he knew for sure now that there was some connection, and that they could lean on each other to talk out the oddities.
Now if only the random earthquakes would quit.
Cassie hung up the phone and practically bolted to her shower. The dream confused her but she wasn’t unsettled anymore. As much as she wanted to brush it off as merely a dream, she had a sinking feeling it was more than that. But Paul was there, now in the dream as well as out. Together she was sure they’d figure something out.
In the mean time they had other things to do. After her shower she tiptoed to her door and slipped her key under there. Then she tossed her damp towel over her computer chair, slipped between the sheets, and waited for Paul. When she heard the front door open she lifted her head slightly, just to make sure it was him, and then closed her eyes once more, trying to pretend to be fast asleep and trying to force her smirk off her face.