martelsnotmypeach | 2 | dream [1920s AU event]

Warnings: Mithos' sister complex, fluffiness.
Effects: A feeling of peacefulness and contentment.

"Martel!" Mithos called out to a gentle-looking woman with green hair as he walked into their home. "I got my test results back!"

"Did you, Mithos?" the woman, Martel, smiled. "May I see?"

With a cheerful laugh, the boy handed Martel the paper. "Here. I'm sure you'll be happy."

If the smile on her face widening was any indication, she was very happy. "Oh, Mithos," she said, patting him on the head. "You've done such a good job! You're so smart."

"But Martel," Mithos looked up at her with wide eyes. "You're much wiser than I am! You'd do so much better than I do!"

"Perhaps," the woman sighed, "but I couldn't go as far as you, Mithos. Sadly, most people don't think a woman are capable are doing the things a man can. You know that."

This irritated the boy. He looked away from her, to the floor. "But that's not fair! You're just as capable as they are!"

Martel chuckled. "Then it's our job to prove them wrong. You will help me, right, Mithos?"

Mithos nodded furiously, looking back to her. "Of course, Martel! Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you're below me! I promise, I'm going to change this world right alongside you! We're going to create equality for everyone, regardless of gender or anything else!"

"It makes me very happy to hear that..." the smile on Martel's face was kind and gentle, but also somewhat weary.

The blond hugged her tightly, with no intent of letting go quickly. "I love you, Martel..."

Martel hugged him back, so happy that he was there. "I love you too, Mithos... my dear, dear brother."

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When the Dreamberry started broadcasting two voices that were talking to each other, it didn't take long listening to figure out that it was probably a dream. Lloyd never questioned why the Dreamberry did that. It just... did sometimes. He didn't usually listen. They weren't talking to him, after all.

But he'd been stuck in bed for days, only allowed to move briefly with the use of crutches, and he was bored to death. It was either listen or do homework, and he was sick of doing that.

He waited for a minute to make sure the dream had ended, then, on a whim, called back. He didn't know if he'd get the boy or the girl - whose dream was it? - but he didn't care. "I don't get it. What do people think women can't do?"

"Anything."

The responding voice sounded like the boy, but slightly older and more... cynical? Damaged? Either way, it didn't sound like he was as optimistic as he had been in the dream.

"They didn't think she could do anything, just because she was a woman. They thought of her as inferior, just because of the gender she was born as. And then they murdered her, when she was a better person than anyone could ever dream to be..."

Slight laughter could be heard, but it wasn't not the kind of laughter that was easy on the ears.

"...but who are you to listen in on what's mine?"

Edited 2011-05-03 19:00 (UTC)

Lloyd blinked in response, then rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry. Your dream just started playing and I've been stuck by myself for a while and I just... started listening. I'm Lloyd Aurion. What's your name?"

He frowned at the explanation, but... he'd ask about that in a minute.

There was a bit of a pause before an answer came Lloyd's way.

"...Mithos."

"Mithos..." Lloyd echoed the name. Oh yeah. That's right. That was what the girl had called the boy in the dream. So it was the same boy.

Settling himself more comfortably on the pillows propping him up in bed, he turned his attention back to the topic. "That doesn't sound right. I know lots of girls who are better than me at all sorts of things." Especially when it came to school. "They... murdered her? Just because of that??"

"I don't know why they killed her," Mithos admitted, "I don't even know who did it... but it's not like anyone had a real reason to hurt her! She did her best for me and anyone she met...!"

"I'm sorry..." What else could he say to that? "She sounded really nice. I wish I could have met her." It made him briefly wonder what it would have been like to have a sister.

"...and now you can't. No one can."

He was laughing again. Once more, it was an unpleasant sound.

Lloyd didn't know enough to understand the tone of that laugh, but it disturbed him to no end. Blinking in alarm, he cradled the phone closer to his ear, as though somehow that might get him closer to the boy on the other end.

"Mithos? Are you all right?"

Most people didn't laugh about the loss of family.

"She wasn't supposed to die..."

It was all Mithos could manage to get out between bitter, defeated laughter.

That wasn't much better, but at least he wasn't laughing anymore.

"...is there anything I can do?"

"There's nothing anyone can do now. She's dead. I've been living on the streets since her death."

He still seemed very angry, but there was more of an upset tone to his voice now.

"Living on the streets?" That startled Lloyd enough that he sat upright. His leg twinged at the sudden movement, but he ignored it. "What do you mean? Don't you have someplace to live?"

"No."

Mithos' voice now sounded much more distant.

"Why should I want one?"

Edited 2011-05-04 01:50 (UTC)

Of all the responses Lloyd could have expected, that was the last, and it puts him completely off balance. "Because it's... It's home." He fumbled for the words. How did someone explain something that shouldn't need to be explained? "It's someplace to stay that's out of the rain, and you have a bed and food and people to take care of you. What about your parents?"

"I no longer have a home, and I'm doing just fine on my own."

Another pause.

"My parents have been dead for a long time."

"Oh..." He trailed off, not certain what, if anything, he could say to that. He knew from experience how touchy people could be about parents who had died. "My mom died, too..."

Actually, maybe he just shouldn't say anything else.

"How do you get food? Do you have a job?"

He chuckled.

"I have my ways."

Lloyd frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

"So you're okay, then? I mean, if you're hungry, I could get you some food."

"Why would you want to help me?" Mithos' tone was suspicious.

"Why wouldn't I?" In contrast, Lloyd's voice was open and curious. "If someone needs help and there's something I can do, I want to do something to help. Besides, everyone has the right to live, and you need food to do that, right?"

There was a very long bit of silence after that.

"...all right."

Lloyd grinned, even though Mithos couldn't see it. "Great! Where can I-" Wait. No, that wouldn't work. "Damn it, I can't leave the house. I'm not supposed to walk if I can help it, even with my crutches."

He paused, thinking hard. There had to be a way around this. "Hey, can you make it to Espoir?"

Another long bit of silence.

"Yes, I think so."

The grin came back. "Okay, I'll meet you out front!" He gave Mithos the address to his cottage in Espoir, never once thinking that maybe he shouldn't be so open with a stranger. "Dad's out getting some things, so it'll be just you and me."

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2 | dream [1920s AU event]

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