and I went full of curiosity

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[Charles appears on the Plane, an armful of books he collected from the library to begin his preparation for exams]

Oh my, this is all very unexpected to say the least. I must be in my rooms right now, catatonia brought on by indulging too much wine and spirits.

[he takes it all in slightly dazed. A smile creeps up, an inside joke which he finds very amusing]

If this is all a dream, please don't wake me.

[the smile falls away though, as he realizes the person who would understand that joke isn't here]

Oh, but how absolutely intoxicating and beautiful. It seems impossible, all this snow and fog, but not even a cloud in sight.

If only I had a canvas I might try to capture this effect. It's quite exquisite. It would be perfection if there were some flowers to be found. Perhaps a bottle of wine and a good friend as well. Sebastian would be so taken with the peculiarities of this dreamscape. I will have to fill him in as soon as I regain consciousness.

Comments

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Charles!!

[this is all the warning Charles gets before Sebastian takes his books away with one hand, puts Aloysius into Charles's hands with the other, and then links his arm in Charles's]

I have been praying for you to come here for weeks! And here you are. I knew you would be if I tried. Oh, Charles, we'll have such a delightful time here! When I first arrived, there wasn't any snow, just endless stars in the sky and on the ground. If you brush aside the snow, you can see it in the ground. I must show you the bar. It never runs out.

[as all the information he deems important has been delivered, Sebastian will now be (rather happily) pulling Charles along in the direction of the bar]

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[Charles watches his books be taken away, replaced by Aloysius and Sebastian, and it's all so surreal yet commonplace at the same time that he can only smile in amusement. He takes in all this information, commenting on the most important part]

Did you say the bar never runs out?

[and Charles gladly lets himself be dragged along]

I dare say, your sudden presence in my dreams may be a cause for alarm.

[nor does he care to think what Collins and his Freud would say. More importantly, if he can't keep Sebastian out of his dreams, what hope does Charles have of keeping Sebastian out of his rooms while Charles tries to study for exams soon.]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Why would that alarm anyone? I've dreamt of you, and I'd be very disappointed if half of Oxford did not dream of me.

[he delivers this with his typical innocence as he pulls Charles into the bar, sets the books down as far away from possible, and then releases Charles only so he can start looking through the bottles]

I've been wanting to let you try the extraterrestrial ones but I had no idea how I might explain it to you, so I have been holding off until you could arrive here. There's a very nice blue one from... Kasomia IV, I think Straxus said, that tastes like blackberries. You'll love it. And I must tell you about Straxus to spare you the shock if you see him.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[Charles stares briefly at his books, but he's too amused by all of this to pay them any mind for too long. His attention drifts back to Sebastian, as he watches him sort through the bottles]

Extraterrestrial? [laughs] How fantastically ludicrous.

[he takes a seat at the bar, completely amused]

Who or what is Straxus? It sounds Latin.

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

[You like artwork, Charles? You get to meet a prized piece.]

You wish for a canvas?

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[prized art~ he would drool and things, but he just thinks you're a very strikingly handsome boy. He might even use the word epicene]

I do. Would you happen to have one?

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

I can retrieve one.

[Argentine turns and leaves, returning with a canvas and a paint set. He hands them to Charles.] My master loaned this to me, though he said I could keep them if I had developed an interest. However, they would be better in an artist's hands.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

He's from.... he's from somewhere, and he looks like Anthony, only aged about twenty years - maybe more - and he found me --- ahah!

[Sebastian pulls out the bottle]

I suppose it could be Latin. Second declension, do you think? Straxus, Straxī, Straxō, Straxum, Straxe, Straxō, Straxī, Straxī, Straxōrum, Straxīs, Straxōs, Straxī, Straxīs, Straxīs.

I hate Latin. Give me Aloysius back, would you? You may pour the drinks.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

These are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you.

[sooo nice and pretty. He has forgotten his books for the time being, placing them in the snow so he can accept the canvas and paint set. He can't hide his smile at these new gifts.]

Your master sounds extremely generous. Is he an artist?

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

Even in my dreams I'm still forced to care for you. If I believed in such things, I would be forced to berate some higher power. As I don't and this is all a dream, I should at least get us both a drink.

[and so he pours them both a drink from the bottle]

Tell me more about Anthony's long-lost brother. If anyone would have a relative that proved to be an extraterrestrial it would have to be him, wouldn't it? He's always the first to try setting new trends.

[this is all said with a smile, and although it is mocking, it's a mockery that is tinted with fondness]

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

He seems to be, yes. I am still surprised.

[Argentine moves a bit closer, mildly curious.] If I may ask, when you paint I would like to watch.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[looking up at him] It's not a dream, Charles. It's truly real. We can even go back to Oxford, if we like.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

It's always good form for a master to treat his servant well, although that does not mean it is mandatory. You should feel fortunate you have such a kind beneficiary.

[looks back at Argentine, mildly surprised, but still happy for art things and so he's more amused than anything]

I don't see why not. After all, I couldn't paint anything at all without your generosity.

[and so Charles starts painting the Plane as it is now. Stars and fog and snow and things]

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

Now that is too much. How could this possibly be anything but a dream?

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

[He crouches near Charles, enough that he can watch him without hovering over his shoulder.]

Artists that truly enjoy their work seem rare.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[and he just paints]

What a terrible waste that seems. I imagine those types cannot produce anything of worth.

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

[He smiles.]

No, they can't. Only when an artist puts themselves into the work does it come alive.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[he pauses, smiling back at Argentine]

You seem to know a great deal about art for someone who claims he isn't an artist.

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

[He gives a small smile.]

I couldn't make art of my own. I spend my time restoring and repairing old works.

[yetiwillspeak.livejournal.com]

[Emilia was just shuffling along in the background to sneakily grab something from the bar (she's picking up such bad habits; I don't know from who); but then she heard Mummy's! Sebastian's name and so now she is backing up and watching, and wondering where the teddy bear is] ...Ye hast met Sebastian?

[A pause as she considers the next important statment] There is wine here.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I don't know, Charles, that's hardly my area. But it simply isn't a dream. Look, I'll prove it to you.

[holds his hand out]

Take my hand.

[flawless-genius.livejournal.com]

[This is Firesong, dressed in pure white robes covered in delicate pattern that somehow seems to mimic the feathers of his firebird] You know Sebastian?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

Well, there are plenty of flowers in the forest, and there's wine in the bar.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[he's a little baffled by the language. Perhaps he's spent too many nights studying classics, and that type of language has now intruded his dreams] I have, yes. I trust you know something of him, too.

[and then he smiles at this very important statement] Is there really? My subconscious is very kind it seems.

[suchatourist.livejournal.com]

[sorry, he's distracted with the artistry in that robe of yours. He shakes himself out of this stupor]

Hmm? Oh, yes I do.

[back to being distracted by pretty robes]

I beg your pardon, but your robes, they are exquisite. The detail is gorgeous. I've never seen anything of the like.