In the woods with no one around...

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[The forest is dense enough to inhibit light, leaving a dappled pattern of shadow on the ground as the thin sun filters through the leaves. There are no obvious landmarks, but Mercury walks purposefully, as if she knows the way.

For all her bravado, the distant sound of a waterfall grows no closer; and when she comes to a small pile of rocks, she stops short.

She was here just a moment ago.

Cautiously now, Mercury keeps a wary eye on her surroundings and stays alert to every noise and rustle. To be sure of herself, she slips off one glove and lays it beside the rocks.

Straightening, the senshi moves forward again. But although she seems to make progress, ultimately she finds herself back at the pile yet again - and the glove remains exactly where she left it. She is lost.

Or trapped.]

Comments

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

I'm familiar with everyone.

[ She shrugs and smiles. ]

If you can find the exit. Not so sure the forest wants us to leave.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

That doesn't mean I plan to sit here to wait.

[For one thing, she half expects it to become dangerous.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Do you ever think about just sitting and listening. Ever? At all?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Her answer is simple.]

To the trees? They don't speak to me.

[To the Water, once; but these days, she's forgotten that and simply fashions it to her will.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

They still speak.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Not to me. [She repeats it solely for emphasis; she has little trust in the idea of help from others.]

You can stay here if you want. I'm going on to find the exit.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

[ He nods and brushes his hands off, hiking his pants up a bit as he sits down. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Fine. It's fine. She doesn't need someone's help. She'll find the way out (and he'd better not be expecting her to come back for him once she does). Mercury holds her head high as she walks away, steps measured and strong.

It's about ten minutes later that Mercury returns - from the opposite direction. Another circle. Her expression suggests she won't be amused at anything that points this out.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

[ The Doctor sits, waiting for her to come back, hands folded over one knee. He smiles when she shows back up. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[The smile seems so smug, regardless of his intent, and she moves right on without a second look.

Only to return ten minutes later.

And then to repeat it.

Finally, the third time, still without saying a word to acknowledge her stubbornness, she sits on the ground. She looks somewhat tired by now.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

[ He is twirling a piece of grass around by the time she comes back. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[It only serves to emphasize his patience. Is he trying to provoke her? But by now, though the walking hasn't tired her physically, she's beginning to worry about the way out in earnest. She can't keep doing this, going around and around but always staying in one spot.

Finally, very quietly:]

What did you plan to do?

[She might, might, listen.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Me? Oh, nothing. Talk a bit. Well, no, actually a lot. I tend to ramble...

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I'm not leaving again for awhile, so, if you want to talk, go ahead.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Don't you think there's a reason we're stuck here, Mercury? It's a dense forest, sure, yes, but you should be able to control the landscape of your own dream. But, you're not.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[He sounds unpleasantly like Mars, who always looked for a reason to everything. Mercury knows how powerful Fate can be; but she doesn't want to be ruled by it, either. Wasn't that the point of making their own fate instead?

The Doctor earns himself a questioning look.]

Control this forest?

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

It is your dream!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[But when has she ever been in control of the world around her? Not as a daughter with so many expectations from her parents, not as the girl who had to become a soldier, not as the warrior forced to fight for the Dark Kingdom, not as the drafted soldier in Econtra, not- perhaps not ever. Only while the junior high school was under her influence.]

If it's my dream, isn't it already in my mind? [So how will it change now? Oh, she knows about lucid dreaming of course. But for her?]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd certainly hope so.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[In so many of her dreams, she's told people to be forceful, create the world they want for themselves. She'd claim she's done that in her waking life: struggling against Fate to avoid the one she didn't want.

So why not now? Why is she sitting here, not even willing to go search again?]

This place is different.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

In what way? It's not my head we're in. We'd be talking to Treebeard or another sort of Ent-y fellow if we were in my head.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't plan to summon an Ent, but... ]

You want me to clear away this forest.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Then go on. Do it!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

This forest is different. It's not that simple.

[Read: She's not letting it be. It's a mental block that perhaps isn't her fault, but that also isn't helping her right now.]

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

[ He motions for her to sit down. ]