justdontgiveame | Labyrinthum Inbox

[Chise checked the directions Puck had sent her twice before knocking on the door. She had wanted to be sure, just in case.]

"Puck? Are you home?"

[He had mentioned to come by whenever, but there was the possibility that he was busy...]

[At the knock, Puck sat the cup of coffee he'd made down on the table near his reading nook and headed to the door.]

"Yes, just one moment-"

[The door was unlocked and Puck opened it with a smile.]

"Hello Chise, come in!"

[He wasn't busy enough to refuse company, and motioned for her to come in. The cottage was a pretty standard layout and decorated in a mix of earth tones and dark blues. There's a chair set up near a window, in front of a bookshelf and a blanket draped over it. The cottage was overall cozy, lived in and comfortable.]

[She gave a slight bow as she entered the doorway, looking around the room. It reminded her of her own cottage layout-wise, but... it was decorated differently. Much more of Puck's essence was here, in the little details. Her gaze immediately fell to the bookshelf. It made her smile.] "Thank you. It's quite cozy."

"Ah, do you want me to put my shoes anywhere or...?" [She still wasn't quite sure what the custom was here. It could vary depending on the house's occupants and their culture. She herself had broken from most of her old habits, but she wanted to be polite.]

"No, you're fine!" [Puck answered with a wave as he headed into the kitchen.] "Make yourself comfortable- Would you like something to drink? And thank you, I want it to be as comfortable as it can be, I guess."

[Figuring that meant she was able to keep her shoes on... though 'make yourself comfortable'...? She wasn't entirely sure how to do that... Taking a few hesitant yet light steps into the living area, she settled on sitting in an empty chair.]

"Oh, tea is alright if you have it. Any kind. If not, it isn't a problem." [Her gaze softened at his statement.] "A home away from home, I suppose." [Though she couldn't share the sentiment - after all, the cottage she was living in currently was a house, not home.]

"I know I messaged over the network, but I hope I wasn't interrupting anything..." [Her gaze traveled back to the cozy chair with the blanket, wondering if he had been studying something.]

[Puck worked on making a cup of herbal tea and hummed a bit as he did so.] "Something like that, sure."

[Once the tea was ready, Puck brought Chise the mug and handed it off to her. Getting his coffee, he sat back on his chair and had a drink before he spoke again.] "No, just trying to start a book, but it's being weird." [Puck held up the book so Chise could see the cover- a man with silver hair looking at something off screen. Where the title would be was an illegible scribble. Puck sighed and puts it down.]

"Just as well, really. There's enough going on without needing to add fiction to it. You wanted to talk?"

[Chise stared curiously at the book as the title changed.] "You too? I guess I wasn't expecting it to happen everywhere. It certainly makes reading a challenge."

"Oh, yes..." [She trailed off, unsure of how to start.] "I'm not entirely sure how to ask this... or maybe even what I am trying to figure out but... you mentioned you were quite adept at dream walking?"

[Start with a question. The answer would provide a path upon which she could further follow.]

"It does, but the book isn't going anywhere. So.." [Puck shrugged and had some more of his coffee, his eyes lighting up at the question.] "I am, yes-- I wouldn't have offered to answer questions about it otherwise. I'm a lot of things, but never the type who does something once and considers himself an expert. I take it you've got questions by the way you're asking."

[The mug was sat down.] "Ask away, then. If I don't know something, I'll tell you. Fair enough?"

"Um... yes. That would be appreciated." [She nodded, relaxing a little but still somewhat hesitant. How exactly should she word it...? Taking another sip of tea.] "Is there a difference between dream walking and... visiting someone while you are dreaming and they aren't?"

[Maybe that was the easiest thing to start with. Though she was sure it would breed quite a few questions.]

[Puck arched an eyebrow and put his cup down.] "I don't know how it works in other worlds! But I know for it to be dream walking as I know it, both parties have to be dreaming. Even if they're not aware of it. But no, I've never personally just traveled to visit while someone else is awake. There's a door metaphor somewhere in this."

"That... would make sense, hence why it's in the name." [A blush of embarrassment crossed her face, which she quickly hid behind another sip.] "I had a situation like that. Something like a nightmare for me, but the person I... visited... he didn't remember it when I saw him next. And while it ultimately helped our current dilemma..." [She trailed off, remembering the torrent of emotions she had felt upon waking. Not wanting to relive that a second time.]

"So, from the sounds of it, what we all experienced on a mass scale this past month isn't that unusual if one knows how to dream walk?"

[He nodded.] "It's not common for dream walks to be remembered by both people. I think it's just the nature of the ability, but that's my understanding of it."

[Puck had another drink and looked up as he thought about how to explain it. He looked back to Chise as he answered, having settled on-] "Imagine you know a song. How it's performed and everything. Now imagine someone has shown you that song can be played in a different key and still sound very close to what you're used to. It was unusual enough that I was confused for a few minutes at least.

Usually for me to dream walk, it takes a few different steps. This version cut most of that out and by how I have to use the ability, the new version shouldn't have worked."

“That makes sense. I remember a few of the dream encounters I’ve had here, I wasn’t aware they were even dreams at first. And…” [Some of the dreams were missing from here memory. That much she was sure of.]

“So outside interference sped the process along. Like when someone more proficient in a type of magic lends a hand. …Do you remember hearing a strange humming before falling asleep?” [Maybe it had just been her own imagination… or maybe she was stalling a bit on why she was actually here. But the detail kept coming back to her when she thought back over the past month.]

"Some dreams can feel very real."

[Puck had some more of his coffee.] "I did-- I've heard it a few times, actually. Twice in the labyrinth itself, and a few times since then. Usually in the evenings. By the way you're asking, I'm assuming it reached you, too?"

[Puck liked singing as much as the next fae, but it was weird that it had kept happening.]

Yes. Every night, right before I went to sleep and had one of those dreams. Maybe... that's the part that's skipping steps in the dream walking? [She mused, taking another sip of tea.]

That does make sense. [Puck shrugged.] My own version requires a handful of things, and I saw none of those steps in place. [There was another drink of his coffee.] I wasn't the one who used magic, for example. I also didn't need to go lucid.

I guess we aren't going to get a straightforward answer on this either way... [Not unless someone actually did - but Yuraia, for all her thanks, hadn't quite explained how the sleeping magic had worked. Not that Chise had heard, anyway. She let out a sigh. Might as well stop beating around the bush...]

Um... Puck? You seem to be adept at more than just dream walking. Like back at the Castle, when there were those guards... [Unsure of how she wanted to gather her thoughts.] Well, I don't have my magic now. And I don't know if I will get it back... but... I've been told my specialty is in sleeping magic. Accidentally, I've put quite a few people to sleep with lullabies. But, I'm also awful at making sleeping potions for some reason...

That's usually how it goes, I've found.

[Puck blinked as Chise went into what she actually wanted to ask and smiled before having another drink of his coffee.]

I know sleep magic, yes-- but it's fairly basic, all things considered. I can't sing someone to sleep. [He gave a hum and looked to the side for a moment.] Actually I've never tried, come to think of it. But I usually don't have to. [He looked back to Chise and continued to talk.] Hmm. If your version of sleep magic is more tied to your voice, maybe that's just how you process that branch of magic?

I'm good at singing, for example, and I can write sheet music that can be read. But I'm awful at everything else that goes into composition. Are you wanting to know more about my specific type? I'm fine with questions, like I said.

[He grinned and gestured to his ears with his free hand.]

Go ahead and ask, you don't have to hesitate.

Maybe. There's still so much I don't know about magic, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case...

[She smiled at his offer, relaxing.]

Thank you. I suppose... whatever you are willing to share. On sleep magic, or magic in general. I know it might vary differently from what I'm used to... but it's nice to have someone to talk about it with.

[Puck thought for a moment before he stood and headed into the kitchen.] That's going to be a long talk, so I'll make us some food to go with everything. For the time being, narrow that down- I'm willing to share a lot but I do better with a starting point.

[Once he was in the kitchen, Puck tapped one of his feet on the ground in thought.] What do you want to eat? I think I've got ingredients for a few dishes. But not pizza unfortunately.

That's true... [Asking him to explain everything he knew about sleep magic was a pretty broad subject. Still, where did she want to start? Humming a bit to herself, before his call from the kitchen broke her trail of thought.] Oh... I'm not overly particular. I could subsist on some rice if you had it. [Plus she didn't want him to use up all of his ingredients on her.]

I guess... could you explain a bit more about your particular magic?

I'm not about just subsisting, especially while hosting a guest. [Puck answered flatly. But he did take Chise's idea and run with it. Chopping could be heard as he began to slice vegetables and worked on making 2 servings of omelet rice. As he worked, he spoke.]

My version of sleep magic operates more with will of intent. The magic does put others to sleep, but I have to guide it. I also don't always have to make physical contact, but for our trip to the castle it was the fastest way to get the magic into those guards. My other forms of magic can be directed to other targets, too. If magic is the vehicle, I'm the one driving it.

[Chise nodded out of habit.]

That sounds a bit like how magic works where I come from. Intent - what you want to accomplish and in what form - is important. Though... the magic you use is your own, right? If it's alright for me to ask... [She paused, thinking for a moment.] It's your own store of magic, or is it borrowed from the environment? Mages in my world mostly default to the latter, with the help of Neighbors. I can do both... though I suppose using what's already existing causes less strain.

Oh no, it's all my own magic. I'm the power source as much as I'm the one directing it. Nothing borrowed from nature or anything else. Though having some kind of reserve would be helpful for larger things.

[Puck frowned and adjusted the heat on the stove with a soft] No, let's not burn-- There we are.

[That done, the omurice portions were finished and plated. The stove was turned off and Puck collected the plates to head back into the living room where the table was. He grinned at Chise.] It's ready, give me a minute and I'll get some spoons and napkins.

[The plates were sat down, standard chicken and vegetable fried rice with ketchup and seasonings mixed in, wrapped in a football shaped omelet. Puck had even drawn a little on them with ketchup- a stylized robin with a chef hat.]

[She hummed at his explanation.]

Outside of using what's in the environment, or asking Neighbors for assistance, I'm sort of like that too. Except mine is normally more an overabundance. Since coming here though...

[Trailing off, as she was sure he inferred the rest of what she was going to say. Everyone lost their magic here upon arrival. In that case, she supposed she was lucky that hers hadn't been the only change.]

[Watching curiously as he brought the plates in, a light blush, born from nostalgia and gratefulness, dusted her face as he set one in front of her.] "Omurice!" [A declaration of delight.] "I haven't had one in a long time..." [Was it since going to live in London with Elias? Or longer than that... since she was a child? Either way, she gave Puck a grateful glance.] "Thank you."

Discussions on Dreamwalking (short because I didn't know what Puck's house looked like XD)

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((She can't help compare because she's been to Loki's cottage too XD))

((fair though XD))

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(((Aaaaah the Robin omurice <3 ))