The Past...Faced

[Saber Sloth]

Please remember that Rhodes needs to Shape a Gate, and travel to Sera's Dream, the Gate Shaping in his own Dream is easy and requires no roll, but to get to Sera's Dream it's a wits+wyrd+empathy

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord emerges in an large old house, that looks very familiar. Outside he knows the Los Angeles sun is beating down.

It's a past from long ago. On the walls he sees photos that might be him, but he knows aren't. They look at least fifteen years too young.
Rhodes pauses. This place, his parent's house.... he only came here when fear of loss was running very, very deep. He indulges himself a look into the kitchen. Yes, there they are. His Parents. Would they even recognise him now? Twisted and changed? The son they thought they knew was the Fetch on the walls.

He was a stranger. He could never step back into this existence, even if his vengeance came to fruition. The trail was long-cold.

The Autumn King had a new life, with someone waiting for him.

Rhodes grimaces from the scene and callously rips open a gate to the dream throught he nearest wall, shattering photos and plaster. Sera was nearby. His own fears could wait, as long as they were never forgotten.

  2 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-01 06:15:39		Rhodes rolls 10 to Dream gate: Wits+Emp+Wyrd (10 Again)		8, 5, 7, 4, 6, 8, 2, 7, 1, 5		2 successes

[Seraphina]

Rhodes would recognize the Dreamscape. He’d been there before. But it was different now. It was still night, but it felt lighter. Looking up, where the moon would be, was a swirl of bright colors, blending seamlessly together in the night sky.

The cages were still scattered around, some on pillars, some broken. The ocean was still turbulent, a sign that Sera was still at war something. Most of the trees, that were dead or dying before, were thriving, flowers in every color imaginable grew around them, and highlighted a path. There were even some red ones that looked very familiar.

The path hadn’t been there last time he was here, or had it been? It appeared well traveled, into the forest, dark fog clinging to it the deeper it went. Pink petals could be seen when looked, and they followed the path into the forest.

Which led to old, crumbling stone stairs leading up. But not to a building, but to a door. An old heavy wooden door that appeared to have been heavily barred and locked at one point. Though now there were obvious cracks, through which a dark fog flowed out, covering the stairs and seeping into the area.

As he gets closer, a form appears. Her golden skin picking up bits of moonlight that peaked through the tree tops. Her body clad in a lavender dress flowing around her as her Mantle picked up pieces of fabric. Bare skin visible with the sheer fabric, her long hair down and dancing in the breeze.

[Rhodes]

Slowly, Rhodes wanders from the shore of the beach and through the wood. He was sure there had been a path, but it was overgrown and hidden. The vibrant trees send cold shivers down his back. Verdancy was not something he was a fan of.

The stairs were an interesting touch. It seemed Sera, like him, had a flair for the classical Fae image. Whether a bonding of Seeming, or something similar, was impossible to tell, but it brought a smile to his lips nevertheless.

His own outfit has become a long cloak of Autumn Leaves - red, brown and gold - shimmering and rustling, covering an elegant burgundy suit. He looks up to where the image of beauty stands on the ridge.

"I hope I didn't keep you too long," he says with a smile. "I would hate to be late for an appointment with the Spring Queen."

A smirk tugs at his lips.

[Seraphina]

While part of her was relieved to see him, another part, a private part, wasn’t. She was one step closer to allowing this to happen.

The smile was returned as she made a show of checking a bare wrist, “I was worried you got lost.” She says playfully moving to take his hands. “Being late is a grave insult, best be careful.” Teases the Nix.

“But in all seriousness, no, not long at all.” At least not to her. She could have stayed here all night and would have been fine with it. Why? Cause it meant not allowing the door to be opened.

A deep breath as she glances at the door, “They aren’t full memories, there are still holes here and there. But the ones that are the strongest are the ones you’re going to see. The ones I see night after night.” Finally, she looks to him, “Just remember it was a different time in my life.” She wasn’t that scared girl anymore. Well, there would always be a bit of her past in her.

[Rhodes]

"Of course not.... your Highness..." Rhodes bats back, smiling.

"I found it hard to settle, if I'm honest. This is a lot of anticipation, and for me, unknown," the Flowering takes her hands. "My love, our pasts are a part of us. They shape us; just like fear, or desire. Things to be embraces as habits learned, or stood against as lessons in growth." Her hand is squeezed gently, reassuringly, as he looks up at the door. "There are things I would be shamed to show you. Things that may make you think less of me, when I was not who I have become. Our experiences... our tortures... sometimes leave irreparable scars. And rarely... a miracle finds a way to heal them."

He waits her Sera to lead them to the door. He would not rush this, nor force it.

[Seraphina]

Eyes narrowed playfully, as her lips form a line, “Uh huh.” But she soon smiles.

Then looking down, “I’m sorry about that. I wish it was something I was able to talk about, and not throw you into the unknown.” But words about her past had always escaped her. Maybe it was her hoping if she didn’t talk about it, it would go away. “I suppose I’m hoping for growth, and to move past it. But I’ve never known how.” Maybe she just needed to face it. The squeeze was returned as she looks into his emerald eyes, “I could never think less of you.” Says the Nix with love and conviction. And it dawns on her slowly, if she felt that way, maybe he was being truthful when he said that about her past. Maybe. Either way, she came this far, and it was time to see what happened.

Moving towards the door, the dark fog clinging to her dress and seeming to snake up her legs, she stopped. “I,” she begins, only to pause and straighten her back, “I’ll try and guide us through, but, I don’t know how I’ll react.” Turning to look at him, squeezing his hand once again, “Just remind me you’re there with me if I need it.” If she broke down, if she froze.

The door slowly began to creak open as locks fell away.

[Rhodes]

"Sometimes these things are ineffable," Rhodes says slowly. There is a sad chuckle. "That's because you don't know what they are..." he adds softly.

There is a smile. "Of course I am. I'm right here. And if I have to tear this dream asunder, I will." Her hand is held, firm and cool.

Reaching to the joined hands, he twists a flower from his wrist, and adds it to her hair with a peck on the cheek.

The Dread Lord turns to face the opening door, hands still held and fingers entwining.

[Seraphina]

A shake of her head, “No, I don’t. But I know you’re the man I fell in love with, and that includes whatever may be in your past.” Good luck trying to change her mind.

She hoped he didn’t have to do that. He needed to see what haunted her, even if it meant she lost herself for a few moments.

A shy, yet thankful smile as the flower was added to her hair and the kiss.

Squeezing his hand, a bit harder than before, but looking to cause pain, she moves forward into the blackness behind the door.

There was a brief fall as the darkness began to fade to a soft light. The ground beneath them was scorched, devoid of any life, and appeared to have been in that state for a while.

In front of them was a rundown apartment, cracks in windows, not someplace you would want to stay. Soon the apartment fades away to show a room, just as run down as the outside. The carpet thread bare, the paint peeling and discolored, clothes thrown about the room, in piles on the floor.

And young woman, pale and painfully thin. Bones visible as she moved, but so were the bruises. Some in the state of healing, some fresh, but they covered her. She stood facing a mirror of sorts, placed on top of a dresser, face not visible, until the voice.

A deep male voice pulls the girls attention from the mirror and the head quickly turns to the side, toward the voice.

It was Sera. Or a girl who used to be Sera. The eyes were still blue, though no where near as vibrant and deep as they were now.

The real Sera, standing beside Rhodes had her eyes closed, knowing the scene all too well. Knowing how it was going to play out, her body trembling.

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord could feel Sera's fear. It was palpable.

The hand laced in hers tensed - the other balled into a fist. It was clear what was about to happen here.

Though Sera could not possibly blame herself for this. This must only be the beginning.