[Gregor's soul lingers, killed by a slashed throat. All he wanted was to serve his purpose, and to provide for the people around him. And yet, he was driven to despair, manipulated by those who preyed on his desire to help, desperate for an iota of control over his own life, and afraid of his loved ones falling as he did.
[Okay well. HE DIDN'T GET TO DO THIS FOR DAHUT SO CONGRATS GREGOR THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S TRYING TO DO THIS. At least he is used to helping people, even if it's not in these circumstances. He approaches carefully, taking in the ideas that resonate.]
[Well damn if that ain't relatable. NOW HE HAS TO LARP THE SIDE OF AN ARGUMENT HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH time to channel Jimothelle. What would she say... Well she's a bully so--]
[Luke's attempts to larp as Jimothelle mean that Yuri, in Gregor's illusion, reaches out to grab him. He's startled, but he doesn't fight her. Perhaps deep down, a part of Gregor wants to believe it, still wants to believe that he can have a better life and even deserve it.
[Yuke carries Gregor in their big, strong arms, through scenes of war and destruction. Eventually, once the surprise wears off, Gregor manages to speak up again.]
—Yuri. Hey, I can...
[It doesn't seem that Gregor is necessarily ashamed, but in the end, he's never been one to leave everything to everyone else. If Yuri, in this illusion, is so determined to help him, he can't leave it all to her to face alone.]
[Gregor is confused, understandably. But his voice fades when a figure appears in the distance of the warzone. Luke will know that this is a woman who has always controlled and, essentially, ruined Gregor's life. She operated on him when he was 14, sees him as her prize experiment and, in a twisted way, her son. (The feeling is not mutual.) When everything fell apart and his corp—he and his allies—was thrown away and ostracized, she evaded all consequences—in fact, she only grew further in power.
Even now, she represents an obstacle that Gregor doesn't know if he has the strength to overcome.]
[Well you see, this kind of person pisses Luke off a lot
So what if he tries to toss Gregor over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and use this shiny new manifestation power to manifest a gun to point at this lady
[Unfortunately, Gregor is deep in the grips of helplessness. Despite what appears to him as a display of badassery on Yuri's part, he tells her, quietly—]
... You should run. I know you didn't want to leave me alone, but she's—if you stay, neither of us is going anywhere.
[YURI HE'S SORRY FOR POSSESSING YOU KIND OF BUT NOT REALLY. It's truly fortunate that Dahut helped him through this already--that he remembers how hard it was to fight off the dream on his end.
That helplessness is a problem, though. Luke can feel it, though it sits strangely on his shoulders. And Luke likes to be kind and warm as much as he can, but he doesn't think that gentleness will get them through this, if that's how Gregor feels around her.]
Then you need to fight too. [His tone his harsh, no-nonsense. He keeps the gun trained on the woman, unwavering.] I can drag you to the door, but you have to walk through it yourself. So help me, and wake up.
My son, I'm waiting. I didn't invest in you to see you choose someone over me.
[Gregor still hasn't quite gained the will to fight this woman, but her words anger him, if nothing else.]
I never asked you to... I never asked for any of it.
[This injustice done to him, the fate he received. And though he remains resigned, he can defy her in his own, smaller ways. Luke will feel that if nothing else, Gregor thinks he can stand on his own.]
I'm not your son.
[And Luke will know, Hermann has always looked down on Gregor and what he became, after they parted ways and he became a Sinner.
"You should at least finish unwrapping what I gave you. That little arm isn’t all there is to it."
[This is such a common theme, isn't it? So many have suffered through a lack of control, forced into violence they never wanted to commit. And Luke has experienced helplessness in his own way, but this is something he's only ever observed from the outside. The violence he's enacted has been by his own hands, regardless of how he feels about the person he's become.]
[Which means that if Gregor is feeling better Luke's going to put him down and start shooting sorry lady he doesn't have time for your villain speech THIS IS A DREAM ANYWAY IT'S FINE
At least he's aiming for like. Non-vital areas. He's still a good cop even if he's insane]
[Yuke so readily resorting to violence is inspiring, apparently! Seeing Hermann get shot like this disrupts Gregor's thoughts, even as she still struggles to get back up. The shock allows Gregor to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment, and then breathe.
And then, he stabs Hermann with his bug arm. Luke, you are a role model to us all.
Hermann hisses, though somehow, her tone remains calm through the pain.]
Do you really think there's a future for you out there without me?
[She raises a bloody hand to the sky—and it's hard to miss the shadow that now covers Yuke and Gregor. Namely, high in the sky, a giant hand has appeared above their heads.]
[He can have a motorcycle. Better step on it, as more hands appear in the sky above them, ready to either crush them or snatch them, who knows. One slams down where Yuke and Gregor were previously standing.]
I don't know why you think it's that easy—! How am I supposed to do that, huh?!
[Gregor pinches himself, though this doesn't appear to help him. Maybe Yuke can provide better advice on how to wake up from this kind of dream.]
[Wouldn't it be funny if Luke didn't actually know how to ride a motorcycle and this just became a disaster
Unfortunately he's mr. cool agent man so ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEY GET. Hold on to Yuri, Gregor, because she's going to speed like hell. He shouts over the roar of the motor, trying to get them away from the hands. Maybe he'll run Hermann over if this gets too out of hand? Who's to say.]
She's not real! None of this is! You're on the ship, with Rodya, and Arthur, and Margaret-- [WHOOPS don't mind that sharp turn] --remember?
We can't stay in dreams--you have to get back. Focus on that.
[Luke's words strike true. Gregor realizes now—he never wanted to live in this nightmare. Luke is right, and he must return.
To the people he cherishes. That's all both of them can do, isn't it? Whether or not it was a good thing for them to be in these people's lives is something they might feel conflicted over (and yet they are both still people with hearts, and they yearn in their own ways), but it is what it is. Right now, all they can do is look to the future.
As Luke drives, he will see a blue flame flickering ahead on the road. Intuitively, he knows that, against his instincts, he should head into it.]
[Luke pops a wheelie and drives back to start launching grenades
No just kidding. He will be good and get them out of here--even if it's hard.
He still understands Gregor. He doesn't really want to face his failures either. But if they came for them even here in dreams, then doesn't that mean there's nowhere to run?
[Into the fire they go! As Luke will feel, the flames only lick gently at Gregor's (and Yuri's) skin, warming him like an embrace rather than burning him.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
GREGOR
What do you do?]
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It's alright. We'll get you out of here.
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... You shouldn't be here.
[As he sees someone who isn't Luke, but a woman he failed.]
Leave me, Yuri. You'll be better off.
[And Luke will feel his guilt, his regret that he ever allowed her to enter his life when it ended up destroying her.]
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Idiot. I'm not leaving without you.
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It's in your ballpark again, Luke.]
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WELL
YURI IS SO TINY BUT LUKE IS LIKE A HEAD TALLER THAN GREGOR AND STUPID STRONG SO WHAT IF HE JUST SCOOPS GREGOR UP AND TRIES TO LEAVE THAT WAY
this can be a princess carry]
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[Yuke carries Gregor in their big, strong arms, through scenes of war and destruction. Eventually, once the surprise wears off, Gregor manages to speak up again.]
—Yuri. Hey, I can...
[It doesn't seem that Gregor is necessarily ashamed, but in the end, he's never been one to leave everything to everyone else. If Yuri, in this illusion, is so determined to help him, he can't leave it all to her to face alone.]
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Damn Gregor is so nice and accommodating. Imagine if Luke had been like this instead of pinning Dahyuk to the floor like an attack dog.]
If you want to help so badly, then wake up.
[THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR GUILT COMPLEXES AND THEY'RE IN THE WRONG HELL FOR IT.]
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[Gregor is confused, understandably. But his voice fades when a figure appears in the distance of the warzone. Luke will know that this is a woman who has always controlled and, essentially, ruined Gregor's life. She operated on him when he was 14, sees him as her prize experiment and, in a twisted way, her son. (The feeling is not mutual.) When everything fell apart and his corp—he and his allies—was thrown away and ostracized, she evaded all consequences—in fact, she only grew further in power.
Even now, she represents an obstacle that Gregor doesn't know if he has the strength to overcome.]
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So what if he tries to toss Gregor over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and use this shiny new manifestation power to manifest a gun to point at this lady
Coldly--]
Get out of the way.
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... You should run. I know you didn't want to leave me alone, but she's—if you stay, neither of us is going anywhere.
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That helplessness is a problem, though. Luke can feel it, though it sits strangely on his shoulders. And Luke likes to be kind and warm as much as he can, but he doesn't think that gentleness will get them through this, if that's how Gregor feels around her.]
Then you need to fight too. [His tone his harsh, no-nonsense. He keeps the gun trained on the woman, unwavering.] I can drag you to the door, but you have to walk through it yourself. So help me, and wake up.
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[Gregor still hasn't quite gained the will to fight this woman, but her words anger him, if nothing else.]
I never asked you to... I never asked for any of it.
[This injustice done to him, the fate he received. And though he remains resigned, he can defy her in his own, smaller ways. Luke will feel that if nothing else, Gregor thinks he can stand on his own.]
I'm not your son.
[And Luke will know, Hermann has always looked down on Gregor and what he became, after they parted ways and he became a Sinner.
That in her eyes, he still won't use his arm to its full potential—an arm that he hates, that makes him a freak and outs him to everyone around him, that can act against his will and kills others when he doesn't want for it to.
This is why he has never felt in control, and this woman is the symbol and cause of it all.
Meanwhile, Hermann turns her gaze to Yuke, who is evidently part of what's getting in her way right now. Maybe Yuke should be removed first.]
1/2
2/2
At least he's aiming for like. Non-vital areas. He's still a good cop even if he's insane]
You can take control now! Wake up!
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And then, he stabs Hermann with his bug arm. Luke, you are a role model to us all.
Hermann hisses, though somehow, her tone remains calm through the pain.]
Do you really think there's a future for you out there without me?
[She raises a bloody hand to the sky—and it's hard to miss the shadow that now covers Yuke and Gregor. Namely, high in the sky, a giant hand has appeared above their heads.]
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Oh, sh--
[UHHHHH WELL HE'S GONNA TRY AND SCOOP GREGOR UP AND START RUNNING LIKE HELL
CAN HE MANIFEST THEM A MOTORCYCLE]
Keep going! Wake up!
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I don't know why you think it's that easy—! How am I supposed to do that, huh?!
[Gregor pinches himself, though this doesn't appear to help him. Maybe Yuke can provide better advice on how to wake up from this kind of dream.]
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Unfortunately he's mr. cool agent man so ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEY GET. Hold on to Yuri, Gregor, because she's going to speed like hell. He shouts over the roar of the motor, trying to get them away from the hands. Maybe he'll run Hermann over if this gets too out of hand? Who's to say.]
She's not real! None of this is! You're on the ship, with Rodya, and Arthur, and Margaret-- [WHOOPS don't mind that sharp turn] --remember?
We can't stay in dreams--you have to get back. Focus on that.
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To the people he cherishes. That's all both of them can do, isn't it? Whether or not it was a good thing for them to be in these people's lives is something they might feel conflicted over (and yet they are both still people with hearts, and they yearn in their own ways), but it is what it is. Right now, all they can do is look to the future.
As Luke drives, he will see a blue flame flickering ahead on the road. Intuitively, he knows that, against his instincts, he should head into it.]
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No just kidding. He will be good and get them out of here--even if it's hard.
He still understands Gregor. He doesn't really want to face his failures either. But if they came for them even here in dreams, then doesn't that mean there's nowhere to run?
He revs the engine, and speeds through.]
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Finally, Gregor wakes up.]