[Action/Video] First dream

[charcoalfeather]

[The recent "request" from Thundercorp still echoed in Rakka's ears. And as ridiculous as it sounded... it was hard to refuse - more manipulation, sure, but what could she do about it? Not go? As much as Locke City showed scorn to the Numbered now, it used to be Rakka's home for the hardest year of her life. In the end, it wasn't a difficult decision to make.

She was going to fight some snakes... whether or not that meant agreeing to Thundercorp's offer. It's the hero thing to do, like in anime!

Which eventually lead to her jumping onto the Network with her phone, sometime later in the day. The screen was small, but at arms length it easily captured Cure Feather's face, filled with determination. Some of the buildings of the business district sat behind her, along with the remains of a newly destroyed snake.]

Hey, it's Rakka, back in Locke again. [She brushes some static-y hair back.] I've been fighting snakes all morning and I'm pretty sure the snakes here are just like the old ones. They look like the old ones did, and I think they fight the same, too.

[She smiled, giving a little laugh.] This is a lot easier then using a stick, though. Hehe....

[....And then she paused. Her gaze slipped away from the screen to look off at...

A path made of little stones, the metal lines - tracks - running up and past her and off into the distance. The dark, windy sky overhead... Everything was gone. There was no Locke City anymore, only this... familiar place.]

W-what.... Oh no...!

[There she was, just standing there a few meters away. There was no other person in the world with those clothes, and those dark, sinbound wings. Rakka's voice caught in her throat and she looked ready to cry.]

Reki! Look out, Reki!

[And before anyone can ask, she's rushes off to tackle some unfortunate person to the ground. Her phone is dropped without a second thought, and fortunately ends the feed there.]

Comments

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Jasmine was back in Locke, and had been watching Rakka's little post on the network when something weird seemed to come over her friend. That told Jasmine she needed to get out and stop her, though she knew she couldn't do it the usual way by flying.

In any case, Jasmine is running around looking for Rakka, trying to find out where the hell she went. And trying to not draw attention to herself all the while.]

[charcoalfeather]

[She wouldn't have very far to look if she knew where Rakka was when she made the post.

By the time she arrives, she should eventually find Rakka around there. She's sitting - more like curled up - against a brick wall, hiding her face under her arms and generally not Being There right now.]

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... Rakka...

[Jasmine doesn't say anymore, she just walks forward and gives her friend a hug. She strokes the other girl's hair, comfortingly, sighing.]

[charcoalfeather]

[The contact seems to set her off like an electric jolt. One moment she's rather still and outwardly calm, but then her head jerks up, face suddenly revealed. Red, puffy eyes staring up at Jasmine.

She sniffled.]

...Jasmine?

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Despite such an extreme reaction, Jasmine greets her with a smile, continuing to hold her.]

Hey Rakka. You're not doing so good, are ya?

[charcoalfeather]

[At least one of them was smiling, because it wasn't Rakka.

She shook her head, slowly conjuring words.]

No... I think... I saw something, Jasmine. She was there.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[She frowned, and nodded.]

Who was it? Who was there, Rakka?

[charcoalfeather]

....Reki.

[The name made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. But she continued. Just breathe, in and out.]

Not my doppelganger... It was the Reki the other me knew.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... I see. Rakka, you know I don't know much about her. But... I'm here for you, if you need to talk.

[And she hugs Rakka gently one more time.]

[charcoalfeather]

None of you do. [Which was mostly Rakka's fault, when it came right down to it. She didn't know much about Reki, the other her's Reki, to begin with. She was an odd woman, a smoker, with some connection to Rakka.

And sin.

She let her head rest against the Precure, continuing to sniffle.]

I don't get it.... she was there, Jasmine. I could see her. S-she needed me.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

...

[Well that confirmed things. Jasmine nodded.]

You were trapped in the memory, then. Rakka, please... let me in. Tell me everything that happened...

[charcoalfeather]

.....

[She made no movement, but still... she eventually began to talk.]

I was just fighting the snakes, and then I decided to make that video with my phone. It was all.... normal, everything was fine. But, but then I blinked, and I was in another world. Someplace... I remember from the other me. And Reki was there.

[...]

She was going to do something bad, Jasmine. I had to stop her.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... Let me guess. She was your friend. You didn't want to fight her.

[And... she's still holding Rakka, and stroking her hair. Trying to be as comforting as possible.]

[charcoalfeather]

She wasn't doing anything wrong, Jasmine. I was trying to save her from... herself.

[A little shrug was all she could make.]

It's kind of complicated.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Yeah, I know. I can only imagine. But... I'm here to listen if you want to try. And if you don't, I understand that too...

[charcoalfeather]

That's the problem: I don't even understand what some of it is supposed to mean.

[Her eyes fall to the ground.]

I-I think I can tell you. But... it's pretty heavy.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Jasmine nodded.]

Just... take it slow. If you have to think a bit to find your words, I understand.

[charcoalfeather]

[It wasn't hard to find the words, but it felt like forever before Rakka could string them together.]

Reki was... another Haibane, like me, the original me. When she first woke up as a Haibane, so many Haibane were there to help her, but Reki was always there the most.

She helped Rakka so much... [a small sigh.] but that wasn't all there was to it.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Jasmine nodded, continuing to listen. Even as Rakka struggled to bring the words together, she was patient.]

I see... what was different about it...?

[charcoalfeather]

[she breathes, in and out.]

...She was sinbound. I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but something terrible must have happened to her, in a previous life, so she had to deal with it then. She was hurt too much, and she wanted to find someone to save her. [Judging from Rakka's expression, she already suspected Jasmine knew what was coming.]

It was me.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... And... were you there for her? Did you try to help her? Or... do you not remember yet?

[charcoalfeather]

I wanted to... I think. I can't remember any times where that Rakka hated her.

She cared a lot about her, I think.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... I see. I can see why it's affected you like that. Lily and Winter have both had memories of people they care about...

[Of course, Jasmine herself? Most of her memories were of antagonistic forces.]

I can understand why that would make you feel regret, though. But... at the very least, she was someone you cherished. You should hold onto that, even if parts of it were painful.

[charcoalfeather]

....She was someone I cherished. I think. I know.

[How lucky for Jasmine that she didnt have to experience such heartbreak.]

I think.... I think I remember all of it turning out okay, though. That means the other me did it.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Yes. Lucky. That's exactly what Jasmine is.

She chuckles and ruffles Rakka's hair a bit.]

I'm glad, Rakka. You're a good person, and... I like to believe that's true of any version of you.