[open post - dream big]

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe does not need to sleep every night, and at home he is too busy to do so. But there is less to do here, and he grows bored in the nighttime when there is no chance of seeing any of the few people he likes. And Nina must not have any nightmares on his watch.

He curls up on his bed now, enduring the ache he always feels to be in it alone. Sleeping alone is one of the things he most despises. The only saving grace is that his powers let him make himself sleep instantly. In his youth, he often ended up fighting his thoughts for hours in place of sleep, even when physically exhausted. He wishes Shen Yuan were here, or if not, perhaps Sagramore—not to do anything that would disrespect Shen Yuan, but just to warm Luo Binghe's bed with his presence. But he would prefer almost anyone in the mansion over no one.

He ignores this customary melancholy and forces himself to sleep. He will first check on Nina, to guide her mind towards its best dreams without intruding, as he promised. After that, all dream paths are open to him.

[If you'd like a Luo Binghe dream visitation, please comment with how and where your character is sleeping, and perhaps what might be on their mind. If Luo Binghe does not know the character well, the dream will be more generic. However, he can read thoughts and memories, so feel free to DM the typist if there's anything you'd like Binghe to pick up on. Sweet dreams!]

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[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe waves a hand, and thousands of strands of ink-black hair unfurl past them, barely visible in the void. It is the demonic monster Nu Yuan Chan, which lurks in rivers, waiting to plunge its hair into the flesh of passersby and suck the skin from their bones. It's not as if it could hurt this man in a dream—since it is his own dreamscape, fighting the monster would only mean fighting himself—but Luo Binghe wishes to see if his control extends beyond setting. "If not demonic, then what is the origin of such power?"

[involuntaryturncoat]

It is more difficult to influence the dreams of another, but with his own, it's all but trivial. The strands of hair shift and resolve themselves into harp strings, which float away in gentle strains of music.

"The origin had not been determined in my world. It's an inborn Talent, and not directly connected to other abilities that some think may be related."

[protagonisthalo]

—Wait. An inborn talent¹ of mysterious origin, known to few. Shen Yuan said, People here may try to make use of him—in his own world he was taken advantage of for his specific powers. This must be Aleksander.

"I did not realize who you were. I have no quarrel with you." He can't say they have a mutual friend, since Shen Yuan said he and Aleksander are not true friends, and it also might embarrass Shen Yuan for this man to hear that he charged Luo Binghe with his protection. "There is someone here who cares for you—I respect him."

¹He didn't hear the capital letter.

[involuntaryturncoat]

Asmodean tilts his head curiously. Clearly the harp strings revealed who he was, but... "There are few men here upon whom I would lay the charge of caring for me in any capacity."

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe shakes his head. "It would be compromising his confidence to say. He said that he worried for you, that is all."

[involuntaryturncoat]

Asmodean nods. "Thank you." A brief pause. "If he asks after me, tell him... tell him that I am thinking. And learning. If he doesn't, though, that's fine, I expect nothing less."

A faint hint of wry amusement crosses his otherwise solemn expression. "Nevertheless, I will be warding my dreams from now on."

[protagonisthalo]

"As will I." Luo Binghe narrows his eyes. This man has dark secrets—he knows it from how disturbed he was by the library book. "I did not know there could be someone here with similar powers. It's likely we both have far more power than either of us has demonstrated. In this place, I've found it wise to avoid conflict when possible. I hope you feel the same." He is feeling a touch more territorial than he otherwise would, knowing that this person has caught Shen Yuan's eye.

[involuntaryturncoat]

"I do feel the same," he says carefully. "I have largely gone out of my way to avoid it, in fact. With the unfortunate exception of our first meeting, although I will allow that we were both somewhat thrown by circumstance in that."

[protagonisthalo]

"Yes. Well." It is hard not to feel humiliated remembering how disturbed he was, back then, by the suggestion that he might desire men and not women. At least he did not explain it at the time. "We both spoke from distress." He considers this extremely magnanimous, considering how irritating Aleksander was. "I have not troubled your dreams before, and won't again."

[involuntaryturncoat]

"Nor will I trouble yours," he replies easily. He's not nearly as adept in someone else's dreams, and he's far too cautious to go up against unknown powers on their home turf, at any rate. This has been a good reminder against complacency. He should know that just because the abilities of others here aren't the same as his own, it doesn't preclude some degree of intersection. "Thank you."

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe nods, and unceremoniously exits the dreamscape.