Dave Strider (moveslikestridr) wrote in strangergamesrp, @ 2012-07-31 09:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | closed, dave strider, gin charlie, kamizuki izumo, log |
[Log] Relief
Who: Dave Strider, Gin Charlie, Kamizuki Izumo
When: August 1st
Where: The Dorms
What: Dave dreams and wakes to a storm. Who knows what comfort we may find in dark places?
Warnings: None
Open or Closed: Closed
Observable: No
*
Dave dreamed of the summer drought.
The heat was pervasive, leeching. Heat index of a hundred twelve, stay indoors if you can. The daylight was oppressive, the sun pitiless and scorching.
The persistent little weeds on the rooftops had grown into dry and brittle plant skeletons. Sparring at night almost incurred heatstroke, because the days wouldn't cool down. Houston, Texas in the summer had heatwaves only dreamt of in Hell. Dave was glad school was out and spent most of his days lying on his bed, stripped down to boxers and shades, with the blinds pulled and the fan running. He waited for night then rose and moved around listlessly like someone in a fever-dream. Even Bro seemed listless, drained by the extreme heat that would not relent.
Dave wondered some summers if all the world would shrivel up and blow to dust in the hot breezes, following the dust-devils that danced down the roads at noon.
The weathermen predicted slight chances of rain from the high white pufferbellies that drifted along the stagnant skies. The drought monitor rose, dark maroon spreading across the map, and Dave wondered if it could ever rain again.
He knew it had to, but the summer droughts seemed to stretch on into infinity, like tar dripping from the rooftops stretching out like streamers of taffy.
Dave woke to the crack of thunder and the sound of rain pelting the windows. He sat up dazed, disoriented in the dark. This wasn't his bed, didn't smell right. Where was Bro?
Memory came back slowly, and he remembered. He was in the Ludus, in the dorms. He ran his hands through his hair and listened to the miracle of rain. There was no summer drought here, no, not even the same punishing heat, but all the same Dave welcomed the rain. Lightning flashed and thunder growled low and long. Dave shivered a little in the dark. He remembered waking up to the violence of a true Southern thunderstorm in the night, breaking the drought - he'd wake up and steal into the living room, knowing Bro would be up and watching the weather radar. After seeing that, Dave could sleep, knowing someone was up and he was not alone in the wild darkness.
Dave didn't know if Itachi was there or not. The other teenager wasn't much of a comfort, anyway.
Lightning flashed and painted the room in stark light for a second's eternity, and Dave was blind with it. He pushed his covers back and crept out of bed, bare feet soundless on the floorboards. Walking by memory he crossed the room and opened the door. He slipped out into the dim-lit hallway and padded along on the cold tiles.
The hall looked the same as it did every night, eerily quiet and empty. Though there were no windows Dave could still hear the rain and the thunder, and walked along nearly shivering. He didn't really know why, it wasn't like there was going to be Bro in the commons, watching the radar....
He turned the corner and stopped. Gin Charlie and Izumo looked up at him with mild surprise. Something pulled tight in Dave relaxed at the sight of Gin Charlie, standing there with his hand on the hilt of his broadsword, belted at his waist. Dave leaned against the doorframe, and thought maybe he could go back to sleep now.
Gin Charlie nodded to Izumo and walked towards the hall. Dave held still and was surprised when Gin Charlie, in passing, dropped a hand on his head; warm calloused palm cradling the fragile curve of his skull for just a moment. Then it was gone and Gin Charlie was walking down the hall, a silent presence of security.
Dave's eyes prickled. He ignored the urge of tears and instead walked forward. Izumo stood quietly, dressed in loose jeans and that grey hoodie. He held out an arm, and after a moment of hesitation Dave walked right up under it. He laid his head on Izumo's shoulder and stood there quietly while Izumo folded that arm around him. Izumo was warm and solid and very real, and smelled like musk and burnt sandalwood incense. It wasn't that Dave was a kid or afraid it was just...
Lightning flashed, and Dave flinched as the thunder boomed overhead without pause.
Izumo didn't say a word, merely nodded his head towards the couches. He moved and Dave let go, standing for a moment barefoot in the deep shag carpet. Then he followed.
The couch creaked as Izumo sank down on it, curling one leg under him, and reaching for a mug left on the a nearby table. Lightning flickered and Dave caught the silhouette of long slender fingers splayed against the darkness. Then it was gone. Dave could smell the green tea Izumo was drinking, an herbal bitter tang, as he sat down next to Izumo. The short man held his tea and Dave leaned against his shoulder and felt vaguely better about the darkness. It was funny, he thought, how normally he wouldn't have even thought of sitting by Izumo but now in the stormy darkness it...
...it...
Dave sagged slowly into sleep, thoughts unraveling in the steady drumming of the rain.