ArchivedLogs:Vignette - Residual Strife

Vignette - Residual Strife
Dramatis Personae Dani	2016-01-29 Dani experiences the subconscious backlash of having used her abilities to manipulate the fears and desires of both Ororo and a bear.
Location <XS> Dani's Room - FL3
Dani Moonstar walks barefoot through a heavy fog. Her long straight hair hangs down between her shoulders. She wears a thin silken slip that leaves little of her body to the imagination. In deep contrast to her exposed copper skin, the garment is the color of cream. As the haze begins to dissipate, she finds herself alone in the teacher’s hallway. The cool hardwood floor has been replaced with a plush, chestnut shag. Spreading and curling her toes, she kneads at the thick brown pelt like a tomcat making his bed. Training the pads of her fingers to the wall for balance, she lets out a dreamy gasp, “Oh!” The walls are coated with the same unusual material. “Is it-” Dani leans in to take a closer look, plucking a few strands of the bear’s hair and bringing it up into the light, “How could it-” The hallway around her lets out a wet, agitated snort reminiscent of an aggravated animal. The sound is followed by a distant growl that escalates into a roar at the other end of the hall. “Ororo!” The woman calls. She turns swiftly to run in the direction of the sound. Lean muscled and able-bodied, Dani extends one long leg after the other. No matter how hard she pushes herself, she makes no progress. The hallway extends out forever. “Ororo!” No matter, she cannot give in so long as she can see the woman’s door and hear the rampaging beast behind it. “I want to go home!” Dani passes little Sarah Hendrickson in her torn emerald coat, “Help us!” She stumbles, but continues running past the child and down the corridor. “Ororo!” Dani screams louder. It begins to snow. Irritated, she swats snowflakes away from her face. She’s too distracted to notice at first that as the hallway lengthens, it also narrows. The more distance she puts between herself and her own bedroom door, the tighter the teachers’ hallway becomes until it’s nearly the span of a single doorway, itself. “Ororo!” Dani gasps, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. Claustrophobic panic begins to set in. She brings a hand to clutch at her neck. Spinning around and around, she grabs at the walls. She tears at her own hair and claws at her collarbone and breasts. That’s when her fingers find the sweet, soft fabric of her attire. “No,” she slows, persevering to gain some semblance of control over her breathing. Her next words come out husky and authoritative, “This can not be happening to me.” The woman plants her feet and closes her eyes. Upon reopening them, she comes face to face with the she-bear that she had encountered only days prior. Almost coyly, the animal blinks its chestnut eyelashes at her. Beyond the bear, the hallway has returned to normal. Dani gulps, wetting her chapped lips and nudging her chin up proudly. “The greatest victory in battle,” she explains to the animal, “/The greatest victory in battle/ is not to kill your adversaries, but to touch a living enemy and to walk away.” Watching one another, the two remain still for some time. “I have touched you. I took away your courage,” Dani admits, “And now, you have touched me.” The bear bows its thick neck before clumsily turning around to make its way down the hallway towards the elevator. Danielle wakes up to light from the moon shining in through the open curtains of her bedroom window. Tangled in sheets and blankets, her limbs are covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Sitting up, she first brings both of her hands to clutch at the fabric at her chest. The thick flannel plaid shirt that acts as her nightgown could not be more different than the silken garment from the nightmare. After a moment, she reaches out blindly onto her nightstand. Drowsily, she drags her dream journal into her lap and opens it with the intent to make a new entry.