Dreams with claws

[beccaelizabeth]

I dreamed something beautiful but I'm not sure I could write it up so it's beautiful but I'm going to write it.

There was this guy and he was kind of like Wolverine, except the claws weren't bone. He could sort of astral project, become a being of shadow with claws of opal light. But they could cut through anything.

So he was infamous, a wanderer who turned up places and turned the tide, an adversary you couldn't stop. Nothing to cut, could cut through you. He was the campfire story that could change the course of wars. Sometimes.

So there was this one kingdom, and they were invaded, and it was Bad, and however well the shadow guy fought he was just one guy. He worked to keep the local prince safe, but he was not a shining armour prince, he was more trade and diplomats. So they were surrounded, outnumbered, very much outgunned. And the invader's leader, who was clearly a dick, was like, you know what? Fight each other. Just, fight each other for the fate of the realm.

And everyone knows how that fight will go. I mean one of them is famous for slicing through everyone in his path and the other is famous for, like, a nice wave, maybe looking good in a suit.

But the leader says, claws faces him? The realm is safe today. We'll stop fighting. Watching this is way more fun anyway.

And the prince asks, what if I win? And amid much laughing the leader reckons if the prince wins the realm's safe forever. Like, this he's got to see.

But there's a lot he doesn't know. Like, these campaigns, they're not random causes. Claws turn up a lot of places cause he cares about a lot of people. Like this person here.

So they give the prince a sword and clear a space and they face each other in the centre and the slicing shadow guy is just, like, take your time. You've got this.

And his prince says he's never even used a sword before, he's going to make a mess of this.

So the other guy kneels, and then sits, and then lies down. Like, here's the target, might take a couple of swings, he knows, it's okay.

And the prince stands over him and it is not okay. Because they've known each other like forever. Shadow claws form has a secret, and the secret is he's an astral projection. To do all that he has to leave his body behind and hope it will be safe. There's not many who know that, not many he's trusted, but this prince has been one for like thirty years. He's stood over him before, before things get ultra violent, so he reckons he knows the trick. Any second now, claws!

... any second.

... aaaany time...


But the invaders around them are jeering at them. The leader's evil laughing. Claws on the floor just snaps back, this is what you said, face him. Well, here he is. Deal done. And the leader is like, sure, you've earned your bit of peace. But seriously? You're doing this?

And yeah, seriously, because he's not going to raise a finger against this one man.

So the prince is shaking, and he's more scared now than when he thought he had to fight, and yet they are surrounded and his kingdom's ravaged and he can end this so he raises his sword. He raises it high, and swings, and... thuds into the dirt. Because swords are hard, clearly, so, he'll have another go. Helpful coaching from the wings, ignored by both of them here, just the guy lying on his back on the ground telling the other guy to take his time, it's fine, he'll be here even if he takes chunks out of him first. And that's awful, as he swings again, so he just jerks it back and thud, gets dirt again. And as he starts to raise it a third time...

... see there's so much the invaders do not know. Would not care to know. Would probably think was cute spice to add to the event. Thirty years of history. And two kisses.

The first was because the prince had learned the trick. The astral form. Many had tried, but few had ever. So he was jubilant and swung around to see his teacher and just happy kissed him.

But they are pretty much two souls floating up there naked, form a convention, shaped of pure feeling, and that first kiss? Wow that was more than he had bargained for. A lot more. It was everything.

And the prince, not remotely ready for all that, let that level pop like a dream bubble and went back to his body at once.

And that was fine. Nobody made a thing about that. They were still friends, and now they had this trick in common, and if few could even start it even fewer could hold it for more than a second or two (though that kiss felt like a lot more than a second or two, felt like forever) so he wasn't going to push on any level.

And in thirty years there'd been only one other kiss. And they never talked about that one either, because again, that was a lot (that was their everything), even though they were both flesh right then.

So standing here now, trying to execute one man to save all the rest? He's not missing cause he's nervous, or never swung a sword before. He's missing because thirty years of service and deep friendship and just the twice kissing.

And he cannot leave it there. Whatever the stakes. With his sword still in the dirt hanging over them, the prince falls to his knees to take that third kiss.

And they soar together. Light and shadow, they take off, leave their bodies in the dirt, just step away and fly. The prince shines like a star new born, blinding, and beside him the fighter isn't dark, he's a starry night.

They dance together entwined, and it's not just a kiss, it's not even an offer, it's acceptance, whole and entire, and this isn't just a few seconds jaunt, this is knowing that like this they have eternity.

Two souls, dancing, with forever in their grasp.

What could be worth this?



So, the prince doesn't do it. He does not go back and bring that sword down again. He goes back knowing bodies aren't even the half of it, and he'll spit defiance at anyone who thinks ending what they've got is right.



And you know, that might look selfish.

But he's figured it out. Invaders said safe. Said nothing about how. You know how you get safe from these invaders forever? Bow to their wishes and just let them rule you.

Screw that.



So, the kingdom has the rest of the day, because that's what claws bought them by agreeing, but tomorrow the war starts up again, because their prince thinks there's something more important than survival.

And they are definitely fine with that.





So that was grand and shining and i know I can't make the reader feel it like it felt to dream.



But then there was a coda, where all that was a story, and the story was read by the author's son and his best friend. And they had known each other thirty years. And they kind of recognised, not just descriptions, but some stuff they hadn't talked about. So the author's son, the one who kept on noping, he figures, this could be a thing. This could be a great thing. Why aren't they trying, when this could be a great thing?

And his quiet friend agrees, and they get started on happily ever after.

And somehow a whole convention hall of mostly ladies were cheering them on.



So the dream felt like living the play, and then living the actors, and then like being the cheering audience. So that was neat.




Stories are the only way we have of making other people feel how dreams felt, they're just really clumsy at it.

But it was cool to dream.