forthebothofus | [ 12 ] [ closed commentlog ] backdated to dream event

[When Zachariah wakes that morning he almost doesn't want to. His sleep has always been restless. Sleeping beside Abeni has helped it but it's still not what you would call good. Last night was different though. There were no nightmares or restlessness. For once his dreams that night were wonderful.

For a moment he didn't even know it was a dream. When he first awoke he was back in Halis in a room slightly different to his own. There was no fear however, just contentment. When he rolled over there she was, Abeni. She was in perfect health and without a scratch on her. He remembered kissing her forehead gently and watching as she stirred awake. Zachariah held her gaze and then...it ended.

Was that a future? Some kind of a vision? Was it really just a dream? Zachariah wasn't really sure, but the first thing on his mind was to find Abeni.]

[He wouldn't have to look far. Abeni's sitting on the edge of the space they use for a bed, trying to put her boots on as quietly as possible. Her plan had been to go and see if the tree was really there before she told him about it, but if Zachariah is awake, Abeni might as well take him with her.

She flashes him a small affectionate smile.]

Hey you.

[Zachariah sits up and yawns before smiling back at her with just as much affection. Whatever that dream was, it left him feeling great and seeing her smile makes him feel even better.]

Hi there.

[After stretching Zachariah moves beside her and kisses her cheek. Yes he's feeling very affectionate this morning.]

Where you going?

[He wants to tell her about the dream, but if she's about to work on something then he can do it later.]

[Abeni's smile doesn't fade in the slightest. She leans a little against him and starts on the lace of her boot.]

For a walk. I uh... wanted to check something.

[Part of her is wary of how silly it might seem to be looking for something she dreamed about, but it was so vivid and real that Abeni might of believed it happened if she didn't already know otherwise.]

Had a dream and it gave me an idea.

[Well, it's mostly true. Abeni's just skimping out on a few details.]

[He leans back against her.]

A dream? You too?

[Zachariah wonders if hers is anything like his and just what kind of idea she got from hers. Dreams don't seem like the kind of things that would get Abeni up and moving so this has to be important, or at least important to her.]

What kind of idea?

[Maybe he can help her with it.]

Yeah...

[Wait. He had a dream too? Abeni wonders if it was as realistic as hers.]

You were there. We'd built that tree house we joked about a while back.

[She pauses, debating how to word the next part of her explanation.]

And... we were living in it. The whole thing felt kinda real.

[It's extremely rare that Abeni gets shy. Right now is one of those moments.]

Crazy, huh?

[Zachariah smiles at her.]

Not as crazy as you think.

[Compared to his anyway, Abeni's dream is completely normal.]

In my dream I was back in Halis. I woke up in bed and it was like everything was the same. Except, when I rolled over you were there sleeping next to me, like you had always been there.

[Like Abeni's, his dream just felt so real. If he hadn't woken up he would have been convinced that it was. The whole thing makes him want to believe it was more than just that.]

[Abeni puts her hand on his arm and traces her fingers along the skin from elbow to wrist. It's a nice thought, going home with him.]

Sounds like a good dream to me.

[She smiles, a little faintly but definitely there.]

I wish I'd met you before Deadworld.

[Things might of been different.]

[It is, and Zachariah is even more determined to make that happen. He'll never abandon Abeni again. As long as they both live he refuses to leave her side like he did before.]

I thought it was.

[He smiles happily at her.]

Me too, but we can make up for lost time now.

[They're together now, and that's what matters to him.]

[She reaches up to snake an arm around his neck and pull him into a kiss. It's quick, but deep. When she lets him go, Abeni grins.]

I think I've lived more these past few months with you than I have in my whole life.

[Abeni might have mixed feelings on their location, but she's never been happier in her life. She's got no doubt that Zachariah is the reason why.]

[He returns the kiss just as deeply and grins back at her when she pulls away.]

I think I can say the same. I don't remember a time where I was this happy.

[Though he plans to return Abeni to Halis, now more than ever after that dream, it really doesn't matter where they are as long as she's there with him. That's all that matters in the end.]

So...want to find that tree?

[Abeni gets to her feet and turns to face him.]

I'm ready when you are.

[She's already dressed, boots on and ready to go.]

Gimme a second.

[He scrambles to find a shirt that he can throw on before lacing his boots on. Fortunately he makes a habit of sleeping in his pants.

Zachariah gets up and stands beside her.]

Alright, let's go.

[Abeni watches him and makes no effort to hide that she's doing so. When he's ready to go, she smiles up at him and zips off down the ladder to the lower level of the stables.]

Is it bad how much I want that tree to be there?

[She shrugs a shoulder.]

I mean it was just a dream.

[But it felt so real.]

[Zachariah doesn't mind her watching. By now she's seen everything he has to offer. It's not like he has anything to hide from her these days.

When she heads out he's right behind her.]

Nah, I don't think so.

[Considering how much he wants his dream to come true he understands.]

It's not like we can live in those stables anyway. Having our own place sounds great to me.

[He's pretty sure they're starting to smell like the animals in the stables anyway.]

[Their own place. Those words ring through her mind and spark more thought than Abeni has ever put to it. Building the tree house to live in would effectively be moving in together. Technically they've been living together for a while now, but the house being away from the rest and something they've built makes it different. Special, really.]

Yeah, you're right.

[The threat of smelling like an animal is a part of why Abeni swims so much.]

C'mon. This way.

[Small smile on her lips, Abeni slips her hand into his and leads him off outside the keep gate and in the direction of the forest. There really aren't any other trees around, and she remembers looking up to the keep from it.

As for the hand holding, Abeni is still shy, more so when there's people around. For the moment, it's just them, so she'll take what she can get.]

[She's not the only one thinking that. Sure they've always slept beside each other as long as they've known each other but that was for a number of different reasons. Survival, familiarity, trust, all the same reasons they followed the same routine in Deadworld. Now though, they're a couple and have plans of building a house together. The thought of it puts butterflies in his stomach.]

I have my moments when I am.

[And it's why he bathes so much.]

Right with you.

[When she slips her hand into his there's a moment of surprise. She's never really held his hand before, not that Zachariah has any complaints about it. With a smile, he gives her hand a squeeze and follows her.

Without a real idea of what tree they're looking for Zachariah just looks for any tree big enough to hold a tree house.]

[It's strange to be holding his hand, more so to of been the one to instigate the action, but Abeni can't help but feel at ease. She always feels better when Zachariah is around, and having him close like this only encourages that good feeling.

Toward the edge of the forest, she pauses, eyes slightly narrowed in concentration as she tries to remember what place on the borderline the tree was.]

For a dream that felt so real, I wish the finer details weren't fading so fast.

[Focusing on a rough point along the treeline, Abeni heads for it.]

[For the most part Zachariah is just following Abeni, looking for trees that might be big enough and strong enough. He's never really built one before so it's all guess work for him.]

Then let's get moving before it all fades.

[He wants this. He wants this because he knows Abeni wants this. Since falling in love with her, actually even before that, he's been working to make her happy. She deserves that if nothing else. If it can bring a smile to her face then Zachariah won't hesitate to do it.]

I don't want it to fade.

[The words are quiet, but audible, spoken before she even realizes she's saying them. Abeni glances at him and then looks toward the Keep.]

[He squeezes her hand again.]

We can just bring it back.

[Zachariah smiles at her. He won't stop until they find this tree now. Until it stops being a dream for her and becomes real.]

[When Abeni looks back at him, she sees that smile and can't help but smile back herself. Squeezing his hand in return, Abeni returns her gaze to the treeline. Part of her is really starting to doubt any of this could be real. It was just a dream, after all.

But then she sees a familiar trunk, leaves that which she knows and branches broad and strong.]

Zack. There it is.

[Not letting go of his hand, Abeni jogs for the tree.]

[Zachariah is right behind her the entire way. When they reach it he just stares at it in awe. So this is the tree she saw, which means her dream really is true, and if hers is true then that gives him hope that his is too.]

It's amazing...

[He's already thinking about the treehouse. Where they should put it. What they're going to need. If there are any carpentry books in the library that can help.]

[Shock hits her. Mouth open and a half grin on her face, Abeni takes a moment to stare at it. She lets his hand go in favor of exploring the tree, walking a wide circle around it. A moment later she's looking for a way to climb it.]

It's... Saints, it's actually real.

[The disbelief is evident in her tone.]

Hey, gimme a boost up..?

[His eyes fall to Abeni watching her with amusement. Her excitement is clear as day and it's a joyful thing to see.]

Sure thing.

[He moves behind her, grabbing her waist and lifting her upwards towards some of the higher branches.]

[A few months ago, his hands on her waist would have been strange and a little confusing. These days Abeni feels perfectly at ease with having him that close. She reaches for the branch and pulls herself up, the offers a hand to help him to follow. If she's going to explore this tree and work out what's what, Riah's coming with her.]

C'mon.

[The grin on her face isn't going anywhere.]

[For him, his face would have been beet red for touching her like this. Now it doesn't bother him in the least. He's got his confidence back, at least when he's with her now.

Taking her hand, he scales up the tree until he's beside her on the branch. It takes a moment for him to get his balance, but he does eventually.]

Can't remember the last time I climbed a tree.

[Slowly Abeni stands, one hand on the trunk for balance. She stops there, still smiling as she thinks back.]

Uh... Three years. Cargo I was after got blown off course and landed in a tree.

[She starts along the branch, testing how much weight it can stand before climbing to another.]

Had to get it or I wouldn't get paid.

[Zachariah remains sitting, listening to her while she speaks. At the moment he doesn't quite trust his balance enough to stand in the tree.]

Sounds like a good time.

[He chuckles and watches her. When she moves to another branch, Zachariah finally gets up and carefully follows her.]

Once I had to get a kite. That's about as exciting as it got for me.

[She might of ended up with a few grazes and splinters, but the pay was well worth it.]

Compared to the usual stuff it was pretty fun.

[Abeni didn't have to use a weapon even once. She basically got paid to play. Sure getting down was an issue, but she managed all the same. At the mention of the kite she laughs.]

...I want a kite.

[Good job giving her ideas, Zachariah.]

[This is the first time she really shared a story with him about her past work. It might not be much, but he listens intently all the same. He knows her past isn't exactly a happy one but that doesn't mean he doesn't like knowing more about her.

When she mentions the kite Zachariah laughs.]

Sure I can get you a kite...

[He pauses and grins at her.]

After I get you a house.

[Abeni stops, watching him as her smile changes to something a little more affectionate. Carefully she steps back towards him and, hand on a branch to stop herself from falling, leans to bring a hand to the side of his face and kiss him.

When she breaks away, it's with quiet voice that she speaks.]

I love you.

[Zachariah leans into the kiss. For a moment, he forgets that they're hanging in a tree as he enjoys the moment. Luckily his hands remain gripping the branch and he doesn't fall ass over end out of the tree.

As she pulls away he looks at her through half-lidded eyes that are so full of love.]

I love you too.

[Were they not in a tree, Abeni might of taken that kiss a little further, a little deeper. The look he's giving her does little to encourage her otherwise. Maybe later.

Reluctantly she leans away and drops her hand from his face, still smiling as she turns her attention back to the tree they're in. Abeni motions to the tree beside.]

These two linked the house. I mean it wasn't a big place but... it was ours. Main area was...

[She climbs a step higher to better indicate what she's talking about.]

About here. Faced off toward the keep.

[Then they'll just have to continue once they're no longer in this tree. Zachariah continues to look at her like that a few more moments before sighing happily and returning his mind to the task at hand.

His gaze follows to the tree beside him. Already he's trying to imagine the dimensions and picture what the house would look like. Since Abeni was the one with the dream though, he'll be following whatever blueprints she gives.

He climbs beside her, taking a screwdriver out of his pocket and marking the spot she's talking about so they can find it again.]

I think we're gonna need some rope, or a lot of rope, so we're not climbing through the branches every time.

[That's going to get hard when they start bringing wood up here.]

[Abeni nods. Already she's making a list in her head of everything they'll need to get started. Right now she's just after the basic visual, and to tell him all that she can while the image is still fresh in her mind. She doesn't care if they stray from what she says or go with a completely different design altogether. Abeni wants this to be theirs.]

Yeah... rope would be a good start. Paint or ties or something to mark where we need to cut. Paper too.

[She arches her eyebrow at him.]

How good are you at drawing?

I think we can scrounge that up somewhere here.

[As they stand here it all feels so real to him, her dream as well as his. They may be stuck in this keep with no idea how to get home, but it really feels like they're starting a life together now. No more living in those stables. Now they're making something of their own, their very own home.]

Don't want to brag, but I can put lines together to make a house.

[He grins playfully at her. Over the years he's gotten quite good at drawing, making his own blueprints and such in his work room back on Hallis.]

[She's decent with a pen, but Abeni's never really taken the time to sit down and try for proper. Anything she's ever drawn has been a rough sketch on the go. Everything she made in Deadworld was from a mental image and never anything written.

Abeni grins back, folds her arms and leans against the trunk of the tree.]

Careful, I'm almost impressed.

[That's a lie. She's definitely impressed.]

[There's a bashful smile on his lips and he scratches the back of his head. Being around her always makes him more self-assured, but he there are times he still feels a bit shy when she compliments him. Still, he loves to impress her.]

We all got our talents.

[She watches him for a few seconds more, still smiling to herself. Abeni loves his new found confidence, even if it's only around her, but the shy side of him still holds its own appeal.]

Yeah...

[Abeni climbs down from the branch she's on, back towards where Zachariah stands. As she passes him, she puts a hand on his arm, touch light and then starts her way in the other direction. She wants to see all that they're working with.]

[The more she watches him, the more he begins to blush. He's still not used to being watched. That's not going to get rid of the smile on his face though.

As she makes her wast past him Zachariah follows. The biggest problem they're going to deal with is getting the wood. There's an axe in the carpentry house, but there will still be a lot of cutting and wood shaping that needs to be done. None of this bothers Zachariah in the least though. He can't wait to get started.]

[The way the branches fall kind of makes it the ideal place for a treehouse. The small smile hasn't left her lips, nor will it for some time. It's rare that Abeni feels this relaxed, completely at ease with everything around her and all that's going on. Not to mention, climbing around a tree is pretty fun.

She doesn't talk much from there, instead focusing on what points she can get to and mentally mapping out the layout of the tree. The ones around it will get a look through later. Eyes on the gloom of the forest, Abeni pauses and leans on a branch.]

We're gonna need light too.

[Zachariah continues to follow her through the trees without saying anything. Really this is her project. She's the one who knows what she wants and where she wants it. All he wants to do is help give it to her. After all, she at least deserves that much. The idea of living with her doesn't exactly turn him off either.]

That might be a bit tricky.

[If only because putting a torch in a tree is a bad idea.]

Maybe we can find some lanterns in the keep.

[She nods, eyes skimming the branches above and around them, already plotting where the best points might be.]

If they've got none, we can always make them. I don't think they're too hard to do.

[And she's sure she saw a book in the library about that.]

Don't want to start a fire. Just a bit of light would be good.

[It's gonna be dark in here at night, after all. Abeni stops there, glancing back at Zachariah.]

Or we could start a fire. Bonfire down the front, away from the trees but still close.

[Zachariah chuckles.]

Why not? We make everything else here.

[It's only a slight exaggeration really. The two of them have become quite the craftsmen since they got here.]

Yeah, burning down our future home might not be a good idea.

[He peers back down at the edge of the forest and nods his head.]

That might work, at least until we get our hands on some lanterns.

[Of all that he says, two words stand out to her. Abeni falls silent, mulling them over and finding that she likes them.]

Our home.

[It's quiet when she says it, barely audible. Abeni makes a thoughtful sound and climbs back down to stand beside him.]

Zack, do you really think we can do this? It's a pretty big task.

[That questions surprises him a little. He's never known Abeni to doubt. With a smile, he slips his hand into hers and squeezes it.]

After everything we've done before, I know we can do this.

[The question is one with two meanings; one, the task of building a home, and two, them actually living together in relatively normal circumstances. His smile and hand squeezing hers is quick to push any worries out of her mind. She slips her other arm around his waist.]

Yes sir.

[Smiling in return, she gives him a loose hug, not wanting to knock one or both of them out of the tree.]

[There is no doubt in his mind that they can do either. Building the house might be a challenge, but it's one that he look forward to doing. As for living with her, well, he's already made up his mind that he'll stay with Abeni forever. This has long moved past a crush, or some unexplained feelings. Zachariah loves her, and nothing will change that.

With another chuckle, he returns the hug and kisses her cheek.]

Then let's get to work ma'am.

[ 12 ] [ closed commentlog ] backdated to dream event

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