kindness

ℐ'll continue to continue to ρяєтєη∂ My life will never єη∂, And flowers never вєη∂ With the яαιηƒαℓℓ.

[dreamsofhope]

bright || open

[datarequiem-blog]

What Alma presented was who he was. There were no façades, no hidden motives and there was something refreshing about his openness and blatant honesty. Sera noticed that not once had she divulged stories about her childhood with anybody other than Kanda for obvious reasons. Another reason, she thought, a bittersweet taste on her tongue, was that she never really had a childhood in the first place. At two, her body was already seven; at seven, she was already classified a young woman. Those years she spent mostly in isolation, dreaming of a blue sky.

There were altruistic reasons behind all the secrets from time to time; for another’s happiness, for another’s comfort, for another’s sake. But for now, she kept her lips pressed shut to not inconvenience them. Their souls carried enough without the extra baggage.

Not wanting to feed to the loneliness and ache within her heart; she focused on the boy as his voice grew more excited, word by word, the warmth began seeping back into her veins. Her smile did not falter, though there was a spark of concern found in soft grey eyes. She couldn’t help but feel the urge to protect him, want to wrap her arms tightly around him and shield him from anything that might ever want to hurt him.

To see and hear Alma wanting to know more caused a slight surprise. He burrowed his warm body beside hers so she could feel his voice vibrating into her when he spoke. She scooted closer to show the entirety of the book in her possession.

❝Of course I will, Alma. There are still certain words that confuse me as well but we’ll pull through together…❞ Her gaze settled on the pages for a long moment until eventually returning to him. ❝Um… I don’t know the answer to how many pictures it has, but the bookstore owner recommended it to me so it must have plenty and I’m sure the city houses some of the ones recorded here. If anything, my guardian has a wonderful garden filled with a huge variety that managed to withstand the frost of the winter. Maybe one day I could get permission to show you?❞ 

Her fingers curled to point an index at a flower that took the shape of a delicate cup of petals, ❝This one is pretty. It says it’s called the camellia. It comes in red, pink, and white but each variety has its own significance…❞

[dreamsofhope]

     His eyes shift from the book to Sera for a moment, amazed that she knows such a person. He remembers winter as something that freezes everything regardless who or what they are-- a heartless thing, person, object? something. Remembering the chilled days during the time winter knocked on the door, Alma feels a shiver run up his spin. If a flower could survive that coldness, no matter what color composed it, it would truly be beautiful in his eyes. He feels a strange... relation to those flowers, an abstract image in his mind now, because he's survived things more painful than the cold. 

     He's glad Sera's warm. 

     With enthusiasm, he nods at her statement. If he makes a good enough impression to the guardian guy, he'd surely let him see! For now though, he shelves those possibilities in the back of his mind to focus on the object before him. His eyes once again focus on the book, dark eyes lit up with wonder. 

     "Camellia," he says softly, testing the new word on his tongue. "Camellia," he repeats with more confidence, "They're all so pretty!" His eyes scan the page intently in an attempt to copy the image into his memory. "I like them all, but I think I like the white ones the most. They look like a clean page in a book, or... or like mayonnaise! Well, mayonnaise is a little yellower because of the eggs and stuff, but it's still kinda white." His eyes shine brightly as he continues to speak in length.

     "I wonder if there's mayonnaise colored flowers! I wonder if they taste as good. Flower mayo sounds like it would be nice, but I haven't really tasted flowers since they're too pretty to eat!

     "Oh, oh, before we continue... Sera, what's your favorite food? Mines mayonnaise though it's more a dressing than anything, I guess. It's still super good and it has all the nutrients a person needs, so it's good for you too! But I wanna know my second friend's--your-- favorite food and I wanna know why." He pauses briefly to inhale, almost as if he's debating whether or not to continue speaking. "I talked to a lot of them, everyday, but they never woke up or said anything back. I did all the talking and I thought that was okay! But when I made my first friend, I had someone to respond to me, and that felt really nice. It felt like someone was actually listening to me! 

"So I hope you keep talking with me more, about many things, especially yourself!" 

[dreamsofhope]

     The mysterious new contraption granted to him by the scientists (they seem nicer than the ones before) never leaves his hand for a moment. The screen, a screen that reacts to his touch, mesmerizes him. He's sure he's spent a few hours just scrolling back and forth between screens because he felt like he had actual power at his finger tips. 

      The first feature he discovers is the camera function. Well, it's the first and the last feature he finds because he never closes out of it. He walks around each (safe) sector taking pictures of everything interesting he encounters, then spends the rest of his time looking through each of the photographs. His eyes are glued to the screen even as he walks around. 

     Too bad his intent interest in his new device causes him to end up entirely lost. It would be one thing to be lost in an urban area-- even unkind strangers could point out simple directions-- but all Alma sees is a dark and damp environment. 

     He turns the screen away from himself to try and illuminate his surroundings, but the light only travels a few feet in front of him. The smallest bit of fear takes a hold of his small form as he calls out, "Hello?" and hears a distant echo of his voice. 

[dreamsofhope]

well i've been very inactive. i'll try and get on top of things now. sorry for the delay!!

[dreamsofhope]

this isn't suppose to happen! || alma & lenalee

     So far at least 10 hours have passed since Alma stepped off the train into an entirely new sector. At first, his gaze directed itself upwards, gazing at the tips of the skyscrapers that reach up further than those at his own sector. Slowly, his eyes went from the clouds to the streets, examining every detail laid out before him: the small cracks on the sidewalk, the displays visible through glass, the moving hunks of metal that zip past, the misplaced skinny trees. 

     He spends hours and hours wandering enthralled. What snaps him out of his excited reverie is the soft rumbling in his stomach. Suddenly, his stomach pains him and his legs lose their momentum. All his childish energy seems to run out in a moment, and he's stuck doubled, clutching his stomach tight, in the middle of a sidewalk. 

     He turns around. He intends on finding his way back to the station by retracing his steps on his wobbly legs. However, familiar landmarks become unfamiliar when, he sees, they're not in the right place. Though the sun begins to dip behind the tall buildings around him, he tries not to lose hope and continues to be hopelessly lost. 

     Eventually, his legs give out from underneath him and he falls face first onto the ground. 

[artipostle-blog]

analogy | ( alma & kanda)

       dreamsofhope​ 

       The appearance and disappearance of familiar faces slowly became somewhat of a routine over the course of one and a half years in the city. The residence of comrades from his own world appeared to be more permanent than the rest this time around, as well. The experience of reconvening with those who he hadn’t seen in a while no longer had the impact that it once did; things were merely picked up where they had been dropped off. 

       Naturally, he assumed that the people from his own background had to arrive from similar windows of time. 

       He hadn’t realized that a simple walk back from his job would prove him otherwise. The sun hardly lingered any longer; the scenery wasn’t fully illuminated, only causing him to doubt his vision further. Within the branches of a small tree, he momentarily believed to see his first and former friend- someone who had no longer lived in the world that he came from. To add, it wasn’t even the same Alma who he had recalled from his final moments. 

      Hues formerly widened became plagued with skepticism that wavered on the line of anger. While his own mind created his own illusions, he couldn’t help but believe that it was a hallucination caused by the city itself. However, navy hues were faced with an illusion that was all too realistic with no lack of authenticity. There were no alterations in the cheerful disposition that the swordsman had recalled bring surrounded by despite dark conditions; even in this unique circumstance, he maintained a familiar, carefree nature. Confusion resonated as well as the emotions that his presence had formerly created only to create something morose.

       Despite feeling partially convinced, lingering doubt remained. How could a being who was long gone appear in the city at a younger age? Then again, the city tended to defy logic frequently. Inevitably, curiosity guided his actions as he approached the tree that his oldest friend had been temporarily residing in. It seemed ridiculous talking to someone in shrubbery, but…

              “…Alma?”

[dreamsofhope]

    More than Alma would like to admit, the city and freedom overwhelmed his smaller body which was accustomed to a few familiar faces within small familiar walls. When his heart seems to almost burst out from his chest and his legs begin to lose their strength, he runs far away from the bustle under tall buildings. He finds the plants welcoming him with quiet whispers, colors surrounding him but not overwhelming his senses. 

    At these times, he releases his feet from his shoes and scales a tree at least twice his size. His nubby nails dig into the uneven bark in a rhythmic beat as his feet rise further off the ground. Small branches help him upwards, but the large and thick branches serve as his destination. He takes a seat among these sturdy wood structures and has his feet dangle off the edge. 

    The bark is sharp, uneven, but holds a certain comfort a cushion would never hold, and the wide leaves provide a cool shade from the sun beating down (the shade of buildings, he finds, is not satisfactory in the slightest). His heartbeat eases into relaxation. His eyes flutter closed. A slight wind brushes past his skin. If freedom gave him anything, it would be the knowledge of the precious touch of nature.

    From below, he hears his name. His eyes flutter back open and he looks down at the person who called him. 

    Confusion contorts his previously lax facial features. The person is familiar-- infinitely familiar-- so familiar he puts a name to it. Yu. But how could that be? How did Yu grow up so quickly and to be so tall? He has no explanation, and he can't deny the voice insisting inside of him. Yu. It's Yu. That face is Yu. 

    He jumps down from his perch and finds himself now having to look up to see the person's-- Yu's-- face. The second emotion that invades his mind after confusion is elation. A familiar face! No, a familiar face that's somehow really, really cool now!

     "Huh? Yu? How'd you get so big? Wait no, how'd you get so cool looking?" His energy returns and he begins circling the other, taking in all of his grown up features. "Woah! If this is how you look when you're all grown up, then imagine how cool I'd be!" 

[dreamsofhope]

bright || open

[datarequiem-blog]

Grey eyes watched his movements, her smile returning upon her countenance as she caught the infectious pull of his happiness. She couldn’t help but giggle. The boy’s delight was very welcome, yet she would admit that the energy put behind it was somewhat astonishing. He only made a slight pause, less waiting for a response from her and more stopping to fill his lungs back with the oxygen fleeing rapidly at the sudden monologue.

Head canted to the side as sadness flickered across features. There was an abundance of things she did not know in the world, more she was uncertain of, but she recognized how he quickly dismissed the pain he had experienced in his home world. Maybe in his case, it wasn’t intentional but regardless, she could relate, keeping the truth hidden under layers of delicately constructed ignorance, afraid that the toxicity of reality would corrupt the veil she voluntarily kept. She knew better than to ask for clarification.

Belated was her grasp on the fact that Alma was eager to hear her answer to what she thought might have been a rhetorical question. She shifted on her feet, a boot tapping thoughtfully on the ground. After a moment’s decision, the shaman sat upon the grass carefully, setting the book beside her, and removing her shoes with her long socks following shortly after. Pale feet exposed, she hugged her knees as bare toes wiggled playfully. She gave a soft hum of agreement. 

❝You’re absolutely right. It’s been a while since I’ve felt nature like this.❞ It was pleasant; the quiet of the outdoors in comparison to the constant beeping of machines monitoring her vital signs and the hushed whispers of those who manipulated and evaded laws of nature to their advantage. Dark lashes fluttered closed, to think that long ago, she had arrived with fear in her heart. ❝There’s too much sadness in the world. I always figured knowing when to be happy was important… Being able to find comfort in the littlest things.❞

She shifted, opening her book to reveal beautiful illustrations, resting it in her lap. ❝Do you like books, Alma? This one is about flowers. I just bought it today. We could look at it together, if you’d like.❞

[dreamsofhope]

     The kindness shining on her face elicits a feeling of nostalgia within Alma, though his short life experienced only misfortune and pain thus far. This is true save for a few instances (he thinks back onto the angry and unfriendly face rising from the hole in the ground, words outwardly seething venom, but the venom was distilled until it was almost nectar), but the feeling is entirely different. He feels as if a mirror reflects his image; the image, though, is it his own?

     These confusing subjects whirl in his head as he himself twirls around in the grass. Blades are crushed underfoot only to sprout upright again, a testament to the tenacity nature bestowed upon them. He stops spinning and falls down onto his bottom with a dulled thump. The world spins in his eyes, but he finds the turning images fascinating. 

     Upon seeing Sera take a seat with her feet exposed, Alma crawls next to her and takes his seat. "I love books!" he looks at her with an gleeful expression then down at the book. "The books there were around were always so boring, because they never had any good pictures. I saw picture of a guy without skin before and it was kinda scary! I went to sleep that night thinking they'd do the same to me!" He's sure the man's name was 'Anatomy', and the book was all about taking him apart. There was always the sickening thought that the scientists would make a book called 'Alma Karma' detailing all of his body parts too. 

     He shakes his head and discards those grotesque thoughts. "I never seen a book about flowers before! And I never read a book so pretty before either! How many pictures does it have? Can we find some of the flowers in the book here?" He leans on her arm to look at the cover better. "Can we really look at it together? Oh, can you read me the words too? I don't know many."

[dreamsofhope]

unknown amusement || alma & noboru

     Far off on the horizon of small buildings, strange contraptions tower shoot up into the sky. He sees moving parts and hears distant shouts of joy (he can tell  they're of joy because he knows they're not of pain). Continuing to stare up at the large machine, his feet move on their own, guiding him towards the place of interest. 

     His neck hurts by the time he arrives at the entrance, but after one good stretch side to side and the pain is gone. The area greets him with colorful signs and booths and machines and the pleasant scent of food. He's confused as to the function of such a joyful place, but excitement holds him tight. 

     He runs up to the nearest stranger and flashes a wide smile. "Hey! What's this place?"

[tenshouoff]

dreamsofhope

"Shiiiiiiiiiit!"

His voice rang throughout the walls of the Sector as he darted around corners quickly, desperately trying to evade the things that were chasing them. People had said they were wolves, but he highly doubted that. They were freaking huge! Then again, he hadn’t really seen a wolf in person before, but it was still scary as hell, regardless. He nearly lost his footing as he rounded a corner, leaning forward so that he could touch his hand to the ground to regain his balance before bolting forward.

"Start runnin’, kid!!!" He screamed.

[dreamsofhope]

     The air of the are feels thick to him for some reason. Danger? he wants to think, but he finds that conclusion rather unfounded. What could be so bad about a place where he could run free and make all the friends he wants? 

     Apparently, a lot of things. 

     He sees a stranger frantically appear out from a corner, and then he hears his words. Confusion paints his face until he sees a monstrous form peak out from the corner. Following the stranger that was kind enough to warn him, he runs as fast as his smaller legs can carry him. "What's going on?! Why are those things coming after you?!

[dreamsofhope]

degrees of disappointment || alma & mercutio

[flickerquick]

“my name, you ask?” mercutio’s initial look of curiosity turns into a grin, and he puffs up his chest, a telltale sign that the man is about to launch into another one of his long, poetic speeches. “i go by many names, but the one i was given at birth was mercutio. named after the pagan god mercury, i believe; the one that they say carries letters across the sky. like a phoeban dart, he darted across the clouds and continents of the ancient world, quicker than thought itself…! hah. a bit of a show-off, wasn’t he? wonder where he is now. does he still deliver messages for all those dusty, long-forgotten gods? does he have the energy left to fly at all, when his own status is so diminished?”

and here the man sighs dramatically. “tragic, isn’t it? how far these roman deities have fallen. they had temples built and animals slaughtered in their name, and what are they now? a couple of names in an old history book. nobody today reads about the mighty deeds of ol’ mister mercury. makes you wonder how that must feel like.” he catches himself. if it isn’t for the jovial tone in his voice, one might think that he’s genuinely bitter about all that had been said. “that’s enough. i can’t tell you all my stories before knowing to whom i have the pleasure of speaking. a name for a name, yes?”

[dreamsofhope]

     The man speaks of wondrous things, wondrous concepts-- nothing he's heard before or read before. Alma's attentive bright eyes shine with enthusiasm as he pictures the scene described by this man Mercutio. He wonders about the way this Mercury flies and how he looks like (he concludes: Mercury looks like the Mercutio standing in front of him; it makes sense in his mind).

     Some words pass over his head because the meaning was never taught to him. Things never taught to him were always things deemed unnecessary, but he wonders if they truly are useless now. 

     His heart beats faster in excitement, and he's glad he continued to pursue people. "I'm Alma. Alma Karma! I wish I knew where that name came from, or the story behind it. I wish I could tell you something amazing like you told me!

     "Tell me more about these gods and deities! What are they? I never learned about any of this before. What did they look like? Why were they forgotten? Why did people do stuff for them? Were they that important to them, really?" He pauses to take a breath. "Since you were named after this Mercury person, does that mean you can fly too? Tell me more stories, Mercutio!" 

[godthatsinned-deactivated201503]

"I cannot, for I am too busy finding a job to support myself, and have little free time to spend with you. I am sorry, here have a cake."

Gives chocolate cake. 

Where did he even get it from?

[dreamsofhope]

     "A-are you some sort of god that's big and makes cake out of nothing?" 

[dreamsofhope]

degrees of disappointment || alma & mercutio

     A crowd of people is something Alma has never seen before this day. 

     People, many, many people (each with different faces, different experiences, different destinations) crowd the street, speaking, not speaking, whispering, laughing. An overwhelming sense of glee comes over him at the sight of so many. He wants to greet everyone, the vendors, the buyers, but the mass of people is endless; he doesn't think he'll be able to say hello to them all before nightfall. However, a fact like that won't keep him from trying. 

     While perusing the various stores lining the streets, he runs up to some particularly nice looking people to befriend them. Their eyes, previously soft to each other, harden at the sight of the strange looking young boy, and they walk and disappear into the crowd without another trace. 

     This situation repeats itself over and over again, his heart falling lower each time, until he feels a heavy sensation constricting his chest. He spots one last person and decides this'll be the last one. His frantic sprint has become a weak jog, but he manages to appear in front of the stranger while mustering up what remaining smiles he has left.

     "Hey! What's your name?" 

[dreamsofhope]

like this post for a short to mid length starter! capping at 3

[dreamsofhope]

bright || open

[datarequiem-blog]

Each branch was delicate and yearning to touch the sky. Even after nearly two years in the city, she still recognized how breathtaking the leaves were, light green stars during warm months, and sunset parachuters when the cool breezes started to envelop the world.

Since creation, she had been buried beneath her own soul, and she believed she was beginning to bud again, like a strange flower grown from its own decay. These days she felt as if she was just learning her own name instead of the number she had been assigned. Many labeled her too fragile, already pent up with burdens and caution, but she was hope and unwavering faith, learning from experience that life’s opportunities were fleeting. Despite complicated circumstances, days were infinitely more lovely than dreams. Those similar to her that once lived in the cold shadows of an unforgiving world could bathe in the sun; offered a brand new story to live.

She hummed along, fingers idly tracing the engraved title on the newest book she had in her possession, until a voice brought her to the present. Surprised, the shaman tilted her head to observe the young boy idly. The faintest bit of a glow lingered over pale skin as cheeks flushed. 

❝Ah- Sera? I mean… my name is Sera. I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention.❞ She finally beamed at him, sharing his sentiment in full. ❝What’s your name?❞ She’s lost for a moment and then blinked, glancing down towards his feet, concern overtaking her features. ❝Oh, um, if I’m allowed to ask- Why don’t you have any shoes…? Won’t you hurt your feet?❞

[dreamsofhope]

     A proper response! His hear beats faster as his excitement grows, his kindness finally reciprocated. Sera! The name repeats in his head over and over to engrave it to memory. He remains silent for a few moments after Sera's words, simply basking in the possibility of a new friend, a new friend who shows concern and kindness. 

     "I'm Alma! And I like it better this way," he replies, wiggling his toes in the short grass. "I can feel the ground and it's not cold and it's alive! The grass and the flowers and the bug are all so real, so I wanna feel all of it, y'know?" Quick words are spoken in a single breath. Excitement simply oozes out of his body and radiates around him. He's out of breath, but he doesn't seem too affected by that fact. He simply inhales a large gulp of air and begins speaking again.

     "And if I get hurt, it doesn't hurt badly and it heals quick. A little prick from a torn or two is nothing to what I had to deal with back home. That's the best part!" Thoughts of freedom overtake his thoughts, and he fidgets. The walls aren't whitewashed-- there aren't even any walls! The cold stares of scientists don't greet him every morning, and his body isn't torn limb from limb at least once a day. These facts are so enchanting to him.

     "Don't you agree, Sera? If you don't, just take your shoes off and see!" He backs away slightly and does a few small twirls to prove his point. His balance seems off when he stops, but he never stops smiling brightly.

[godthatsinned-deactivated201503]

"Urgh… training? a lot of training?"

[dreamsofhope]

     "Will you train me then?" 

[godthatsinned-deactivated201503]

“Milk, and a lot of it. Thats all.”

[dreamsofhope]

     "That's all? There has to be more than that!" 

[godthatsinned-deactivated201503]

"…"

So tiny…

[dreamsofhope]

     "You're so huge. What's your secret?" 

[dreamsofhope]

bright || open

     A soft breeze caresses the lush of green growing from the damp ground. Splotches of color-- orange, red, blue, purple, yellow-- ease the bright greenery, creating a balanced harmony of colors. No one piece of the garden overpowers the other; each plant or insect complements and enhances the surroundings as a whole. The sun shines with intensity, but the small breeze and shade of trees tempers the heat. An idyllic setting maintains itself here in the middle of a quiet sector of a larger city. 

     Tufts of taller grass tickle a young boy's nose as he lays, relaxed and at ease, in the thick of the overgrown plants. His nap is cut short by a rising sneeze. The subsequent noise echos in the surrounding air and dazes the boy. Though irritation takes him briefly, his demeanor naturally brightens in no time. Shining eyes look at the same tall grass that woke him, and he laughs at the inherent hilarity of the event. 

     The situation, the whole situation, has little effect on him. Being a test subject and being trapped in a city? Alma Karma feels as if that's an improvement. His horizons expand rather than constrict like many of the other subjects. He has an entire city to explore now! There's no more painful experiments anymore! However, he feels a small inkling of guilt for leaving the sleeping ones behind. No one will come and speak to them now; right now they must be suffering from as much loneliness as he was. But he decides to enjoy the most of his pseudo freedom for all of them. 

     From the corner of his eye, he spots someone walking by. Usually when he approaches someone, they walk faster and brush him off despite all his kind efforts which saddens him. He refuses to give up because of a few people though, so he stands from his position in the grass on his bare feet and runs up to the stranger. A wide smile spreads across his small lips, and he asks brightly, "Hey! What's you're name?"