[ Emil runs face-first into an invisible wall and falls onto his ass, clutching his head. But when he gets up again, he's not wet even though he's just wearing jeans and a sweater. But, he doesn't find anything odd about that.
He feels the wall is gone this time, but slowly meets Lalli where he stands in the middle, just in case. ]
Huh?
[ He looks around him and realizes he's not in dream-Sweden anymore, but shrugs. He figures he must be in Finland, here to formally ask Lalli to come visit him. But that's convenient, isn't it? How easy it is to get from here to Östersund; there must be some sort of new bridge or something. Dream logic. ]
I want you to take you to come see my home. It's just over there a little bit!
Hey, when did your Swedish get so good?
[ He grabs Lalli by the wrist and attempts to lead him away... ]
[ He seems to be totally okay with this, and then: ]
The way you say that makes it sound like we're sharing a dream.
[ Emil gives him a quizzical look as if saying duh, this is clearly a figment of Emil's imagination. But he brings Lalli to an island on a lake, where it's summer, and the sun's just started to dip. He doesn't notice, but he's switched into wearing a t-shirt and shorts, simply because it's warm. ]
Well, this is home!
[ There's a house on the island; it's not Emil's house, but for the sake of the dream it's his and he seems not to question where his parents are or why he's suddenly moved out of a more central location to the city. And outside there are frogs croaking, birds cawing, and the occasional breeze fluttering in through the trees. Emil looks so proudly content. ]
[ Lalli doesn't change his clothing, he just refuses to feel hot. It's easy in a dream. He likes layers, whether it's summer or winter. ]
We are, [ he says simply but doesn't bother trying to convince Emil because he seems like he doesn't believe it. It's okay.
Lalli looks at the house, finally letting go of Emil's hand and starts circling the building. It's too big. One person doesn't need this much space. The stone foundation is proper high for this close to the water. ]
It doesn't flood in the spring? [ he asks and gazes at the river. He really likes being surrounded by water, though. ]
[ Emil doesn't know, actually, since it's not his house. And there's a little niggling thought in the back of his mind to tell him just that, but he ignores it; after all, his dream has the perfect solution: ]
We must've bought it in late spring, I don't know yet.
[ See? No need to disrupt his thought bubble. The river where Lalli is standing is teeming full of creatures, frogs and fish and the like, happily coming over to see about the newcomer.
Meanwhile, Emil pops out of the house with a sandwich in his mouth, which he takes out to talk. ]
Thought you could use something to eat. Come in!
[ Guess in his dream, he was expecting company. He never really invites friends over. Seems like his dream is compensating, as he wants to be a good host. ]
[ Proper high foundation, maybe the cellar will flood in the spring. But if the foundation is good, it'll dry up eventually. Lalli eyeballs it curiously. Why is it such a big deal? He doesn't know.
He follows Emil into the house instead, taking off his shoes at the entrance and hangs up his fur lined coat. He likes the painted floor boards. They feel cool under his bare feet. Cool and smooth. ]
Smörgås? [ he asks, and makes sure that word is in Swedish. Because it's an important word and he wants to make sure it's right. ]
[ Okay, Lalli going around and checking out the foundation is a little weird, even for a dream, but honestly Lalli's always kind of a little weird, maybe that's just how Emil's brain is translating it. Could be weirder. ]
Ja, tycker du om smörgås?
[ He realizes he has no idea what the word for this is in Finnish, mostly because when was the last time Emil had bread? Or butter? But that's silly, he eats this all the time, he must've learned the word. He's just forgotten. Leipä or something. Why is he thinking "vahaleipä" and getting a strange phantom taste in his mouth?
Anyway, there's a huge glass window at the dining room, where Emil takes Lalli. They can see a whole expanse of lake from here, and forest on the other side. It gives Emil a calm expression, as he pours Lalli a glass of milk. ]
[ Lalli moves to the window, his fingers pressing on the panels between the glasses as he stares out onto the lake. It's perfect. The violet hue mixing with the perfect blue closer to the shore, spots of green where islands stick out from the expanses of water. Stones like fingertips of ancient water deity. ]
Uh huh! [ he replies with a nod, yes he likes sandwiches. ]
Voileipä.
[ He doesn't really respond to Emil's thoughts but he knows him well enough that he knows he's thinking about it. ]
I just realized I meant smörgåsar... Do you like sandwiches, not do you like sandwich...
[ Emil tries it out, like he does with all Finnish, since it usually sits so awkwardly in his mouth. But this time, he only repeats it once and to him it sounds perfect. He is dreaming. ]
Voilepä.
[ He opens the door just a crack so that they get a little bit of the cooling air floating in, and all the sounds from outside of the water lapping on the rocks, the leaves rustling in the wind. It makes Emil feel particularly at ease, though he keeps checking over to make sure Lalli doesn't disappear, as people are wont to do in his dreams. He doesn't know why; he would be content to being in this space by himself, but he'd feel somehow as if he chased Lalli out like he was an unwelcome guest. That's a ridiculous thought. ]
Want to go into town later?
[ He always needs to pick something up, but he frowns as he tries to rank his brain because.... What did he need? ]
[ It's a little too open for Lalli's tastes, this dream space Emil has created. He weaves it so carelessly. Like people do. There are so many dangers out there, though, that could just barge in.
He turns to look at Emil, wondering why he kind of wants to put protections around this space. ]
Sure, we can do that, [ he finds himself saying. ] Unless you want to see my home. [ It's a strange thought. Wanting to show Emil the little place he lives in. ]
[ Emil's already making plans to walk with Lalli around, maybe take him to the mountains (he'd like that, he likes to walk, right?) until he essentially invites Emil over. And... well, for some reason he hadn't expected it of Lalli. His grin is maybe too big for his face. ]
I wanna come see you!
[ Just a month ago, he would've swore up and down that there was no point in going to a country like Finland, a place he thought didn't even have electricity. He thinks he could put up with that for a few weeks to come see Lalli and Tuuri. ]
[ Nodding, Lalli forgets the sandwiches that kind of are not going to fill them up in any case. This is dream after all.
Instead he takes Emil's hand and turns him around, they're on a forest road, weeds are growing both sides of the road and in the middle, dirt packed tight under their feet.
Then suddenly they're in a small block town. Keuruu is a fortress. They walk their way across the streets and into Lalli's little room. ]
[ Wait, how did they get here? Where did Emil's sandwich go? This must be a timeskip in the dream, he thinks. Like a few hours later maybe, and he takes in all the settings of Keuruu. It feels... huge and a little intimidating, with such military presence.
It's a little eerie as well, with no one else on the street in an area that's so populated. "So populated" being a relative term, as Östersund is a population of 750...
He thinks Lalli is joking at first. ]
Like, just your bedroom? How do you get to the kitchen?
[ He takes off his shoes anyway and um, sits on the bed I guess. ]
[ Lalli quirks his brows at the question. The kitchen is right there. On the other side of the room. It's just a sink and one burner though. ]
It's right there, [ he points out and leans against the wall beside the door, watching Emil as he sits on Lalli's bed. He's used to this. There's the communal kitchen where they prepare meals for all of them. But he's used to burning some fish on his own here as well. ]
[ This is supposed to be the kitchen? Emil just assumed there wasn't room in the toilet for a sink. And that the stove was supposed to be the heating device. And. Well. This is just... tiny, but. He does suppose it's military quarters. And... well
Lalli doesn't seem to mind it, and now he feels bad, like he's insulting their way of life. Sort of like when he was shoving a fist down his mouth talking about Danish in front of two Danes. He kind of feels like shoving a fist in his mouth now, and he probably looks it for a second. ]
It's enough space for you, that's all that matters.
[ But now he's not so surprised that Lalli doesn't mind being outside so much... ]
[ Why don't you, Lalli? Go sleep underneath the sky... But Emil won't say anything about that. Actually, it's quite cozy in here, and probably cheap to keep warm in the winter, where he supposes it gets really cold. ]
Do you get to see her a lot? Or no, since you're always working nights?
[ He still thinks that's gotta suck. But at least at home maybe he has other friends... Maybe.
Jury's still out. ]
Man, you're really sticking around for this dream. Usually I think you'd have been gone by now. Guess I must really be thinking about you a lot lately.
[ It's often cold, though. Because the bedrock isn't thick enough. See, it matters a lot.
He shrugs at the questions. ] Almost every day. [ For a little bit before he falls asleep and before he goes out again. They still have most of their evenings free, both of them. Or dinner time.
He's not sure what to tell Emil about that. Because he didn't believe Lalli the first time when he said they're both in his dream. ]
[ Just get a better foundation. Or move to Sweden to the nicely-foundationed house with Emil who will surely be a good host and shower Lalli with welcome. ]
Man, I thought I would have dreamed you more talkative, now that we understand each other.
[ He leans back on the bed, arms crossed behind his head. ]
I always thought I had a lot to tell you but... I guess I already do tell you.
[ Lalli's brows quirk at the idea of Emil coming to visit. Most of Finland is still unpurged. He tries to imagine the Swede staying quiet in the boat while travelling along the river and can't quite imagine it.
He would probably still do it. Lalli knows that much. ]
Boat. Along the river. There's a harbour.
[ Surprisingly he wouldn't mind Emil coming over in the summer. ]
Well, we're pretty good, and I know some guys who want to cleanse something different than the same land they've been trying to chip away at bit by bit for years now.
[ He won't say it's because the first year he went out, there basically wasn't even a danger of meeting a troll, it was such a well-put together organization by now, very established. And there were adventure-seekers in the greater Cleanser group who probably wouldn't mind something a little more... name-staking. ]
Oh, but I guess they won't be able to talk like we're talking now.
[ He means, to the Finnish leaders, though they could all switch to Icelandic, except for Emil really. But he knows most of the Cleansers' Icelandic isn't much better than hey, how are you, and danger! ]
Which means you're going to have to give me Finnish lessons.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He feels the wall is gone this time, but slowly meets Lalli where he stands in the middle, just in case. ]
Huh?
[ He looks around him and realizes he's not in dream-Sweden anymore, but shrugs. He figures he must be in Finland, here to formally ask Lalli to come visit him.
But that's convenient, isn't it? How easy it is to get from here to Östersund; there must be some sort of new bridge or something. Dream logic. ]
I want you to take you to come see my home. It's just over there a little bit!
Hey, when did your Swedish get so good?
[ He grabs Lalli by the wrist and attempts to lead him away... ]
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It takes him a moment to consider it. He really shouldn't leave his safe haven but he doubts that anything will hurt him in Emil's dreams.
So, he finally steps to it after Emil has been yanking at his hand for a while and moving Lalli actually zero centimetres to his desired direction.
Call him curious, he's going to follow the swede, let him direct them towards his supposed home. ]
We're dreaming, [ he says simply as they walk ahead. ] That's why you understand everything I'm saying.
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[ He seems to be totally okay with this, and then: ]
The way you say that makes it sound like we're sharing a dream.
[ Emil gives him a quizzical look as if saying duh, this is clearly a figment of Emil's imagination. But he brings Lalli to an island on a lake, where it's summer, and the sun's just started to dip. He doesn't notice, but he's switched into wearing a t-shirt and shorts, simply because it's warm. ]
Well, this is home!
[ There's a house on the island; it's not Emil's house, but for the sake of the dream it's his and he seems not to question where his parents are or why he's suddenly moved out of a more central location to the city. And outside there are frogs croaking, birds cawing, and the occasional breeze fluttering in through the trees.
Emil looks so proudly content. ]
What do you think?
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We are, [ he says simply but doesn't bother trying to convince Emil because he seems like he doesn't believe it. It's okay.
Lalli looks at the house, finally letting go of Emil's hand and starts circling the building. It's too big. One person doesn't need this much space. The stone foundation is proper high for this close to the water. ]
It doesn't flood in the spring? [ he asks and gazes at the river. He really likes being surrounded by water, though. ]
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We must've bought it in late spring, I don't know yet.
[ See? No need to disrupt his thought bubble. The river where Lalli is standing is teeming full of creatures, frogs and fish and the like, happily coming over to see about the newcomer.
Meanwhile, Emil pops out of the house with a sandwich in his mouth, which he takes out to talk. ]
Thought you could use something to eat. Come in!
[ Guess in his dream, he was expecting company. He never really invites friends over. Seems like his dream is compensating, as he wants to be a good host. ]
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He follows Emil into the house instead, taking off his shoes at the entrance and hangs up his fur lined coat. He likes the painted floor boards. They feel cool under his bare feet. Cool and smooth. ]
Smörgås? [ he asks, and makes sure that word is in Swedish. Because it's an important word and he wants to make sure it's right. ]
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Ja, tycker du om smörgås?
[ He realizes he has no idea what the word for this is in Finnish, mostly because when was the last time Emil had bread? Or butter? But that's silly, he eats this all the time, he must've learned the word. He's just forgotten. Leipä or something. Why is he thinking "vahaleipä" and getting a strange phantom taste in his mouth?
Anyway, there's a huge glass window at the dining room, where Emil takes Lalli. They can see a whole expanse of lake from here, and forest on the other side. It gives Emil a calm expression, as he pours Lalli a glass of milk. ]
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Uh huh! [ he replies with a nod, yes he likes sandwiches. ]
Voileipä.
[ He doesn't really respond to Emil's thoughts but he knows him well enough that he knows he's thinking about it. ]
I just realized I meant smörgåsar... Do you like sandwiches, not do you like sandwich...
Voilepä.
[ He opens the door just a crack so that they get a little bit of the cooling air floating in, and all the sounds from outside of the water lapping on the rocks, the leaves rustling in the wind. It makes Emil feel particularly at ease, though he keeps checking over to make sure Lalli doesn't disappear, as people are wont to do in his dreams. He doesn't know why; he would be content to being in this space by himself, but he'd feel somehow as if he chased Lalli out like he was an unwelcome guest. That's a ridiculous thought. ]
Want to go into town later?
[ He always needs to pick something up, but he frowns as he tries to rank his brain because.... What did he need? ]
SANDWICHES
He turns to look at Emil, wondering why he kind of wants to put protections around this space. ]
Sure, we can do that, [ he finds himself saying. ] Unless you want to see my home. [ It's a strange thought. Wanting to show Emil the little place he lives in. ]
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I wanna come see you!
[ Just a month ago, he would've swore up and down that there was no point in going to a country like Finland, a place he thought didn't even have electricity. He thinks he could put up with that for a few weeks to come see Lalli and Tuuri. ]
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Instead he takes Emil's hand and turns him around, they're on a forest road, weeds are growing both sides of the road and in the middle, dirt packed tight under their feet.
Then suddenly they're in a small block town. Keuruu is a fortress. They walk their way across the streets and into Lalli's little room. ]
This is where I live.
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It's a little eerie as well, with no one else on the street in an area that's so populated. "So populated" being a relative term, as Östersund is a population of 750...
He thinks Lalli is joking at first. ]
Like, just your bedroom? How do you get to the kitchen?
[ He takes off his shoes anyway and um, sits on the bed I guess. ]
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It's right there, [ he points out and leans against the wall beside the door, watching Emil as he sits on Lalli's bed. He's used to this. There's the communal kitchen where they prepare meals for all of them. But he's used to burning some fish on his own here as well. ]
I guess it's really small.
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Lalli doesn't seem to mind it, and now he feels bad, like he's insulting their way of life. Sort of like when he was shoving a fist down his mouth talking about Danish in front of two Danes. He kind of feels like shoving a fist in his mouth now, and he probably looks it for a second. ]
It's enough space for you, that's all that matters.
[ But now he's not so surprised that Lalli doesn't mind being outside so much... ]
Does Tuuri live close?
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Lalli almost tells him that it's fine. He thinks it's pathetic, too. But he doesn't, instead he shrugs. ]
It's doable. I'm barely here to sleep.
[ He likes it out there, under an open sky. He'd happily sleep out there, too. ]
She has one of these, too.
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Do you get to see her a lot? Or no, since you're always working nights?
[ He still thinks that's gotta suck. But at least at home maybe he has other friends... Maybe.
Jury's still out. ]
Man, you're really sticking around for this dream. Usually I think you'd have been gone by now. Guess I must really be thinking about you a lot lately.
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He shrugs at the questions. ] Almost every day. [ For a little bit before he falls asleep and before he goes out again. They still have most of their evenings free, both of them. Or dinner time.
He's not sure what to tell Emil about that. Because he didn't believe Lalli the first time when he said they're both in his dream. ]
Maybe.
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Man, I thought I would have dreamed you more talkative, now that we understand each other.
[ He leans back on the bed, arms crossed behind his head. ]
I always thought I had a lot to tell you but... I guess I already do tell you.
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... sorry, [ Lalli shrugs and hides a small smile into his high collar. ]
And yeah, you do.
[ Even if they don't communicate with words that much. They've gotten used to talking with hands and expressions. ]
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I would like to come visit you though, sometime.
Maybe in summer, when this is all over.
[ And it'll be a blistering 5 degrees.. ]
I think Tuuri would have to come pick me up at the ship, though.
[ Wait ]
...How do you get home after you get off the ship?
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He would probably still do it. Lalli knows that much. ]
Boat. Along the river. There's a harbour.
[ Surprisingly he wouldn't mind Emil coming over in the summer. ]
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[ And then he sits up. ]
Hey, do you think if we asked, they'd let me bring some Cleansers?
Maybe we can help reclaim some of the land around here. Or make it easier to get here.
[ Not for a selfish reason, he thinks the trade would be good, and maybe the Finns could send over some scouts.. ]
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[ Lalli snorts softly. Reclaiming the land has been slow going. He doesn't really mind, he manages in the silent world too. ]
I think it's partly slow because the forests are everywhere and pretty wet. It's hard to find people who can do that sort of terrain.
[ Or maybe he's just imagining it. Sweden and Norway are all mountains and solid land, Finland is a swamp. ]
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[ He won't say it's because the first year he went out, there basically wasn't even a danger of meeting a troll, it was such a well-put together organization by now, very established. And there were adventure-seekers in the greater Cleanser group who probably wouldn't mind something a little more... name-staking. ]
Oh, but I guess they won't be able to talk like we're talking now.
[ He means, to the Finnish leaders, though they could all switch to Icelandic, except for Emil really. But he knows most of the Cleansers' Icelandic isn't much better than hey, how are you, and danger! ]
Which means you're going to have to give me Finnish lessons.
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