Luke can, though! Margaret, on top of things as always, orders takeout for all of them. Anise pats the seat next to her, indicating that Luke should sit down. They watch some TV while they wait for their food.
It's nice and peaceful, isn't it, Luke? Aside from the threat of your possible impending death, but you'll manage, as you always have with your life. Besides, you survived this past week, and that's more than what could be said about those who died from the gas leak. (Was there anything you could've done back then, to save them?)
Maybe you'll die before you can help Margaret and Anise, too. (Why does it feel like you already have?)
Eventually, the doorbell rings. Luke, you get up from the couch so that Margaret and Anise can continue to watch the show or movie interrupted, and answer the door. It's the delivery person, holding out the takeout bags.]
[It might also strike Luke as strange that this delivery person knows his name, because it was Margaret who placed the order?
Anyway, the whitewashed delivery man grabs Luke's shoulders.]
Don't grab your phone! Get out of there!
[Margaret and Anise look up from the couch, getting concerned here. Anise speaks up first.]
... Do you know this guy, Luke?
[Is this... an ex? Although for some reason, Luke will get the feeling that something about this delivery man is kind of familiar. There's a guilty feeling attached to him, as well.
Unless he's too baffled to think about any of this.]
[I did think about that but I figured he didn't question it for whatever reason. Listen. He has gas leak brain fog. DID FRENCH EUNHYUK DROP THEIR BURGERS?? IMPORTANT CONTEXT
Also even magic amnesia can't conquer reflexes, so Luke does what any normal person would do if some rando grabbed them and just automatically tries to pry his hand off... HE'LL PUT FRENCH EUNHYUK IN A WRIST LOCK IF HE HAS TO]
Hey, back it up. [Maybe he'd be a little more lenient if it was just him, but Anise and Margaret are right there--and he is, as always, a highly protective guard dog. The flickers of familiarity aren't enough to overpower that, but they're enough, in conjunction with the odd tone, to stop him from booting this dude out on his ass immediately.] What's this about?
[HE'S TRYING TO WAKE LUKE UP BUT HE'S JUST MAKING THINGS WEIRD.]
Oh, no...!
[Well. Maybe... it will be easier to talk Luke into waking up if he doesn't feel like he has to guard his roommates? Dahut can feel those vibes so clearly... Sasuga, Luke, you dumb asshole. STOP TRYING TO PROTECT FIGMENTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION (he doesn't think, since he had also protected figments of his imagination).
Anyway he could probably try to reason with Luke but instead he just tries to will Eunhyuk into sweeping his legs out from under him so he can pick him up and kidnap him.]
[Eunhyuk definitely dropped the takeout bags. Sorry, Luke.
Anyway, Eunhyuk lets out a noise of surprise when he's suddenly in a WRIST LOCK because he did NOTHING wrong. He doesn't even seem to understand why he grabbed Luke by the shoulders.]
Oh, no...!
[He just sounds genuinely so distressed? What's going on?
And yet, despite his distress, he will try to sweep his legs out from under him so he can pick Luke up and kidnap him.
In the background, Margaret and Anise are getting increasingly concerned. Margaret, this time, speaks.]
Luke, do you need me to call the police on this weirdo...?
[WELL I ROLLED A 16 SO I GUESS?? HE PROBABLY MANAGES TO AVOID THIS??? NOW HE'S REALLY GOING TO PUT HIM IN AN ARM LOCK FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY, INCLUDING THIS STRANGER WHO SEEMS CONFUSED BY HIS OWN ACTIONS]
Yeah--tell them it's a wellness incident. [THEY'RE GONNA SEND EUNHYUK OFF TO THE LOONY BIN I TYPED LOOBY]
[DON'T SEND HIM TO THE LOBBY BIN. Also why is it that even when he's piloting a 6ft tall body, he still can't manage to win in a physical fight.
Dahut will try to see just how far his manifestation powers go here and attempt to will a giant net into existing that he can just drop on Luke from above like the hand of god.]
[Margaret nods and begins calling for the police...
And. I'm. I did decide you would have manifestation powers depending on my whims and I can't think of a reason to deny you this, so sure. A giant net drops on Luke, except he still has Eunhyuk in an arm lock so now they're both caught in this net.
Anise stares.
Meanwhile, Eunhyuk yells.]
Monsieur Luke, the police aren't real!
[What do you think about this, Luke? Actually, he might vaguely recall that he does know someone (multiple someones) who are French (not this lunatic)...
But also, he sure is in a net right now. Anise gets up, wondering if she should help until the police get here.]
The little blips of familiarity are somehow making this MORE CONFUSING?? THIS IS LIKE IF HE GOT POISONED AT THE HOSPITAL BY TAINTED MEDICINE BUT INSTEAD OF GIVING HIM SPACE TB IT JUST GAVE HIM A FUCKING ACID TRIP
But he sees Anise getting closer, so he's just gonna. I guess. FOCUS ON THAT FOR NOW and his instinctive reaction--]
Well, this is fine. They're both trapped under the net and the police are on the way THIS IS FINE... He'll try to have Eunhyuk face Luke but maybe he's too net-trapped to do anything except vaguely turn in his direction, damn.]
I won't hurt them, I promise! No more nets! Will you please listen...?
[Margaret and Anise will do as Luke says, but Margaret assures Luke that the police are on their way, and he should yell if he needs them for anything. She also makes a point of saying that she wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't do this. She knows you...
I won't hurt them, I promise! No more nets! Will you please listen...?
[Unfortunately, even with.......... interference, the dream goes on. Luke's problems go on! As this happens, he will feel an attack come on—the eternal reminder of what has happened to him and what might one day claim him.]
[I already clicked on this icon once but I still expected it to be gayggles a second time
ANYWAY THANKS LADIES EVEN IF YOU'RE SHADING HIM LIKE THAT!! MARGARET!!! HE'S A (confused static noises) HE CAN HOLD HIS OWN JUST FINE.
Unfortunately for poor french Eunhyuk, too much weirdness has happened, so it's likely that Luke wouldn't believe him either way and he's just focused on, like, trying to pin him to the ground for everyone's safety--but fortunately for Dahyuk, the creeping sensation of pain is an automatic distraction. His breath begins to grow shallow, and unease prickles at the back of his neck.
Already...? Right now?
He doesn't respond to Dahyuk, though his grip on Dahyuk's wrist tightens involuntarily as his attention is pulled inward.]
[THANKS LUKE HE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE HORRORS OF LIVING WITH TERMINAL POISONING.
It takes him a second to calm himself from the shock of emotion that isn't his. Good thing his memory bank is currently magically CYOA deactivated or it'd have truly crashed like 50 times by now! He takes a deep breath, willing Dahyuk to put his hand on the one holding his wrist.]
...I'm sorry, Monsieur Luke.
[What an unfair thing, for him to keep suffering even after his death. Is there really no reprieve anywhere they go? It's starting to seem more and more likely. How grim.]
Things won't be any kinder to you when you wake up. I'm sorry for that, too.
[This is probably a bit jarring to Luke, because Aki did not say in his tag that the net is disappearing, so Luke and Eunhyuk are both still caught in it.
Though in Eunhyuk's face, Luke will see flickers of someone else—someone familiar, with green hair. And perhaps it's this person, rather than Eunhyuk the insane delivery man, who speaks.]
... I'm sorry, Monsieur Luke. Things won't be any kinder to you when you wake up. I'm sorry for that, too.
[Does Luke want to wake up, even if it means having to face this struggle all over again? At least in a dream, even if his guilt continues to haunt him, he doesn't have to confront the other horrors of his past, present, and future. Perhaps, in a dream, he can even start all over, should he die.
Knowing all that, what does he want from his life?]
[THEY'RE REALLY JUST HERE UNDER THIS NET AND LUKE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HE'S SENSATION-SHARING THIS TIME, GOOD LORD.
There's still a lot happening, but in such a different way from the chaotic insanity of a minute ago. Eunhyuk's face flickers, and both of them seem so strangely familiar, but he doesn't know why. He can't think through the tightness in his chest, the poison slowly robbing him of breath and clarity.
Maybe that's why he falters. Why, instead of ignoring this as the ramblings of an obviously insane person, he curls inward slightly, his grip on Dahyuk finally loosening just a bit.]
When I... wake...?
[He's never been one to lucid dream, but is that what this is...? IT WOULD SURE EXPLAIN THE GIANT NET. Which, actually, is starting to bother him now that he's marginally less focused on going "what the fuck"--he doesn't like feeling trapped, especially when he already feels trapped in his own failing body.
(But people don't really die in dreams, do they? They simply... wake up. So what's the harm in lingering a little longer...?)]
[HE'S REALLY STUCK IN A ONE-WAY EFFECT WEEK SHARE AND HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT. NIGHTMARISH!!!
That, too, is something he understands keenly. The feeling of wishing to stay just a little longer, just for one more dream. Letting go hurts. When the reality waiting is so unpleasant, who would want to? When Luke's hold loosens, Dahyuk will reach for his hand so he can hold it between his own. The net is still here.]
I would let you sleep a little longer if I could. I know that it's hard... Waking up is hard. But I reeeally don't think you want me poking around in your head and heart any longer than necessary, right?
[These are private things, he understands. The private thoughts and feelings and life of a very private person. Something he shouldn't be privy to, but is. The least he can do is try to sever it, so more doesn't play out before him.]
Dahyuk repeats real-life Dahut's words, perhaps a bit frenchly, as you probably don't need me to keep copying and pasting them.
It must be tempting to linger, in this dream. But the idea of someone in his mind, seeing all the things he's tried so hard to keep to himself (when he's tried so hard to appear strong)—that likely isn't pleasant either.
[THIS FUCKING NET. ALSO CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE YOUR DOORDASHER GRABBING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS, SHOUTING ABOUT THE POLICE BEING FAKE, AND THEN TENDERLY SAYING ALL THESE THINGS??? PLEASEEEE
Fortunately the idea that this might be a dream offsets some of the weirdness. And it's true that it's a tough choice. Dreams will always be beautiful, and he's a strong proponent of ignorance being bliss. But Luke hates very few things more than he hates being seen--and beyond that, he simply isn't the type to afford himself the kindness of a fantasy.
But he's also too much of a top to just accept all this, so what if he like. Tries to lash out and push Dahyuk out of his dream. Can he do that.]
[Well, Luke can physically push Dahyuk, but all that happens is that Dahyuk stumbles back and falls right onto his butt. He looks like he's in pain now.
Fortunately for real-life Dahut, this does not apply to him. He continues to vibe in Hell, connected to Luke and his dream, and his butt does not hurt.]
[Okay then he does that and is immediately hit with the onset of the attack as karmic retribution for pushing a grass jellybean so meanly, even if he's currently frenchly possessing their local korean]
[RIP sweet Dahyuk, this poor whitewashed Korean in fake China...
Dahut from where he's vibin in Hell is also absolutely not pleased to be dealing with experiencing what Luke's experiencing as he has this attack NO!! GET OUT OF HIS HOUSE.]
Monsieur Luke— [He's fkcin dying... Well, Dahut will finally release the net, at least, reaching out again with poor possessed Eunhyuk to rest his hands on Luke's shoulders.]
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Luke can, though! Margaret, on top of things as always, orders takeout for all of them. Anise pats the seat next to her, indicating that Luke should sit down. They watch some TV while they wait for their food.
It's nice and peaceful, isn't it, Luke? Aside from the threat of your possible impending death, but you'll manage, as you always have with your life. Besides, you survived this past week, and that's more than what could be said about those who died from the gas leak. (Was there anything you could've done back then, to save them?)
Maybe you'll die before you can help Margaret and Anise, too. (Why does it feel like you already have?)
Eventually, the doorbell rings. Luke, you get up from the couch so that Margaret and Anise can continue to watch the show or movie interrupted, and answer the door. It's the delivery person, holding out the takeout bags.]
... Monsieur Luke...?
[Huh. This delivery person doesn't look French.]
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Luke was halfway distracted by his guilt complex but now he's just like ??? OKAY I GUESS,]
Uh--thanks. Let me grab my phone. [He has *pple P*y]
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He will speak with less trepidation now and also try to will this Eunhyuk into grabbing Luke's shoulders.]
Don't grab your phone! Get out of there!
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Anyway, the whitewashed delivery man grabs Luke's shoulders.]
Don't grab your phone! Get out of there!
[Margaret and Anise look up from the couch, getting concerned here. Anise speaks up first.]
... Do you know this guy, Luke?
[Is this... an ex? Although for some reason, Luke will get the feeling that something about this delivery man is kind of familiar. There's a guilty feeling attached to him, as well.
Unless he's too baffled to think about any of this.]
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Also even magic amnesia can't conquer reflexes, so Luke does what any normal person would do if some rando grabbed them and just automatically tries to pry his hand off... HE'LL PUT FRENCH EUNHYUK IN A WRIST LOCK IF HE HAS TO]
Hey, back it up. [Maybe he'd be a little more lenient if it was just him, but Anise and Margaret are right there--and he is, as always, a highly protective guard dog. The flickers of familiarity aren't enough to overpower that, but they're enough, in conjunction with the odd tone, to stop him from booting this dude out on his ass immediately.] What's this about?
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Oh, no...!
[Well. Maybe... it will be easier to talk Luke into waking up if he doesn't feel like he has to guard his roommates? Dahut can feel those vibes so clearly... Sasuga, Luke, you dumb asshole. STOP TRYING TO PROTECT FIGMENTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION (he doesn't think, since he had also protected figments of his imagination).
Anyway he could probably try to reason with Luke but instead he just tries to will Eunhyuk into sweeping his legs out from under him so he can pick him up and kidnap him.]
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Anyway, Eunhyuk lets out a noise of surprise when he's suddenly in a WRIST LOCK because he did NOTHING wrong. He doesn't even seem to understand why he grabbed Luke by the shoulders.]
Oh, no...!
[He just sounds genuinely so distressed? What's going on?
And yet, despite his distress, he will try to sweep his legs out from under him so he can pick Luke up and kidnap him.
In the background, Margaret and Anise are getting increasingly concerned. Margaret, this time, speaks.]
Luke, do you need me to call the police on this weirdo...?
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Yeah--tell them it's a wellness incident. [THEY'RE GONNA SEND EUNHYUK OFF TO THE LOONY BIN I TYPED LOOBY]
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Dahut will try to see just how far his manifestation powers go here and attempt to will a giant net into existing that he can just drop on Luke from above like the hand of god.]
Monsieur Luke, the police aren't real!!
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And. I'm. I did decide you would have manifestation powers depending on my whims and I can't think of a reason to deny you this, so sure. A giant net drops on Luke, except he still has Eunhyuk in an arm lock so now they're both caught in this net.
Anise stares.
Meanwhile, Eunhyuk yells.]
Monsieur Luke, the police aren't real!
[What do you think about this, Luke? Actually, he might vaguely recall that he does know someone (multiple someones) who are French (not this lunatic)...
But also, he sure is in a net right now. Anise gets up, wondering if she should help until the police get here.]
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The little blips of familiarity are somehow making this MORE CONFUSING?? THIS IS LIKE IF HE GOT POISONED AT THE HOSPITAL BY TAINTED MEDICINE BUT INSTEAD OF GIVING HIM SPACE TB IT JUST GAVE HIM A FUCKING ACID TRIP
But he sees Anise getting closer, so he's just gonna. I guess. FOCUS ON THAT FOR NOW and his instinctive reaction--]
Get upstairs, you two!
[GET THE HELL AWAY FROM THIS INSANITY]
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Well, this is fine. They're both trapped under the net and the police are on the way THIS IS FINE... He'll try to have Eunhyuk face Luke but maybe he's too net-trapped to do anything except vaguely turn in his direction, damn.]
I won't hurt them, I promise! No more nets! Will you please listen...?
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But upstairs they go.
Eunhyuk does his best to look at Luke, very seriously.]
I won't hurt them, I promise! No more nets! Will you please listen...?
[Unfortunately, even with.......... interference, the dream goes on. Luke's problems go on! As this happens, he will feel an attack come on—the eternal reminder of what has happened to him and what might one day claim him.]
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ANYWAY THANKS LADIES EVEN IF YOU'RE SHADING HIM LIKE THAT!! MARGARET!!! HE'S A (confused static noises) HE CAN HOLD HIS OWN JUST FINE.
Unfortunately for poor french Eunhyuk, too much weirdness has happened, so it's likely that Luke wouldn't believe him either way and he's just focused on, like, trying to pin him to the ground for everyone's safety--but fortunately for Dahyuk, the creeping sensation of pain is an automatic distraction. His breath begins to grow shallow, and unease prickles at the back of his neck.
Already...? Right now?
He doesn't respond to Dahyuk, though his grip on Dahyuk's wrist tightens involuntarily as his attention is pulled inward.]
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It takes him a second to calm himself from the shock of emotion that isn't his. Good thing his memory bank is currently magically CYOA deactivated or it'd have truly crashed like 50 times by now! He takes a deep breath, willing Dahyuk to put his hand on the one holding his wrist.]
...I'm sorry, Monsieur Luke.
[What an unfair thing, for him to keep suffering even after his death. Is there really no reprieve anywhere they go? It's starting to seem more and more likely. How grim.]
Things won't be any kinder to you when you wake up. I'm sorry for that, too.
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Though in Eunhyuk's face, Luke will see flickers of someone else—someone familiar, with green hair. And perhaps it's this person, rather than Eunhyuk the insane delivery man, who speaks.]
... I'm sorry, Monsieur Luke. Things won't be any kinder to you when you wake up. I'm sorry for that, too.
[Does Luke want to wake up, even if it means having to face this struggle all over again? At least in a dream, even if his guilt continues to haunt him, he doesn't have to confront the other horrors of his past, present, and future. Perhaps, in a dream, he can even start all over, should he die.
Knowing all that, what does he want from his life?]
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There's still a lot happening, but in such a different way from the chaotic insanity of a minute ago. Eunhyuk's face flickers, and both of them seem so strangely familiar, but he doesn't know why. He can't think through the tightness in his chest, the poison slowly robbing him of breath and clarity.
Maybe that's why he falters. Why, instead of ignoring this as the ramblings of an obviously insane person, he curls inward slightly, his grip on Dahyuk finally loosening just a bit.]
When I... wake...?
[He's never been one to lucid dream, but is that what this is...? IT WOULD SURE EXPLAIN THE GIANT NET. Which, actually, is starting to bother him now that he's marginally less focused on going "what the fuck"--he doesn't like feeling trapped, especially when he already feels trapped in his own failing body.
(But people don't really die in dreams, do they? They simply... wake up. So what's the harm in lingering a little longer...?)]
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That, too, is something he understands keenly. The feeling of wishing to stay just a little longer, just for one more dream. Letting go hurts. When the reality waiting is so unpleasant, who would want to? When Luke's hold loosens, Dahyuk will reach for his hand so he can hold it between his own. The net is still here.]
I would let you sleep a little longer if I could. I know that it's hard... Waking up is hard. But I reeeally don't think you want me poking around in your head and heart any longer than necessary, right?
[These are private things, he understands. The private thoughts and feelings and life of a very private person. Something he shouldn't be privy to, but is. The least he can do is try to sever it, so more doesn't play out before him.]
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Dahyuk repeats real-life Dahut's words, perhaps a bit frenchly, as you probably don't need me to keep copying and pasting them.
It must be tempting to linger, in this dream. But the idea of someone in his mind, seeing all the things he's tried so hard to keep to himself (when he's tried so hard to appear strong)—that likely isn't pleasant either.
What does Luke choose?]
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Fortunately the idea that this might be a dream offsets some of the weirdness. And it's true that it's a tough choice. Dreams will always be beautiful, and he's a strong proponent of ignorance being bliss. But Luke hates very few things more than he hates being seen--and beyond that, he simply isn't the type to afford himself the kindness of a fantasy.
But he's also too much of a top to just accept all this, so what if he like. Tries to lash out and push Dahyuk out of his dream. Can he do that.]
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Fortunately for real-life Dahut, this does not apply to him. He continues to vibe in Hell, connected to Luke and his dream, and his butt does not hurt.]
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Dahut from where he's vibin in Hell is also absolutely not pleased to be dealing with experiencing what Luke's experiencing as he has this attack NO!! GET OUT OF HIS HOUSE.]
Monsieur Luke— [He's fkcin dying... Well, Dahut will finally release the net, at least, reaching out again with poor possessed Eunhyuk to rest his hands on Luke's shoulders.]
--Please wake up!
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