Work Text:
Klein sat alone on a wooden bench, his hat and coat laid neatly beside him. He was surrounded by a lush, grassy field by a serene lake. Reflected in Klein’s soft brown eyes was a brilliantly blue sky. The trees surrounding him shivered with the wind, as did the lake’s clear water shimmer.
There was nothing in particular for Klein to do here. He simply leaned back and closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax in the atmosphere of nature.
Klein heard quiet steps approaching from his right, yet he did not turn his head, nor open his eyes to acknowledge the sound. Only when he sensed someone sit beside him on the bench, did Klein let out a small sigh.
“Why are you here?” Klein asked.
Being the owner of this dreamspace, Klein did not need to even open his eyes to see the intruder. Beside Klein sat the monocle-wearing Amon. ‘He’ was wearing casual clothing, not unlike the modern clothes ‘He’ usually donned in Dream City.
Hearing his question, Amon smiled and leaned back to observe the sky that Klein was previously looking at. “Humans seem to derive pleasure or comfort from simple things like observing nature, despite the distinct lack of change in it.”
“Not all humans,” Klein corrected. “Some humans do enjoy the beauty of nature, but plenty of others find appeal in different things.”
“Of course, humans have their own differences,” Amon agreed. “However, I mention that example since I was curious if you fell under the category of those who enjoy sightseeing.”
Do I enjoy sightseeing? Klein considered the question, and opened his eyes to look at the scenery. Indeed, it was what most humans would praise as beautiful. He could almost imagine having a picnic with Benson and Melissa during a sunny day like this. It was the type of atmosphere that should evoke a sense of happiness, nostalgia, or thankfulness in him…
“I don’t enjoy it nor do I dislike it.” Klein answered honestly.
Amon hummed, wearing a curious expression as ‘He’ nudged his monocle. “Then why dream of a place like this?”
I suppose it stems from the subconscious desire to find something that stirs up my humanity.. heh, at least I’m still quite self-aware. Klein answered in his heart, but did not say this to Amon. Instead, Klein cleared his throat habitually, and gave Amon a look. “Again, why are you here?”
Klein did not have to ask how Amon got here. He had long since known of the loophole Amon could use to infiltrate Klein’s dreams via Amon’s imprint on the Error pathway’s uniqueness. Klein could naturally prevent Amon from accessing this loophole, but he hadn’t felt the need to since his spirituality as a seer told him that it was very safe.
“I came to check on you.” Amon answered, placing ‘His’ arms to rest on the back of the bench. “To be honest, I’m a bit saddened… the person who taught me the importance of humanity has lost part of his own humanity. I was worried you might feel sad, lonely, or frustrated, but it looks like that wasn’t the case. I’m deeply relieved!”
“...”
Klein snapped his fingers. Just like that, Amon was ejected from the dream.
Sad, lonely, or frustrated? You’re teasing me, aren’t you… Klein concluded that it was a waste of time to keep listening to the mad angel, and began seriously considering patching up the loophole that allowed Amon to sneak into Klein’s dreams.
________________________
In the end, Klein did not patch the loophole.
He was made aware of this lapse in judgement when Amon appeared yet again in another dream, intruding in Klein’s dreamworld living room.
“Mr. Fool,” Amon began, sitting on a sofa across from Klein. ”Would you answer this lowly angel’s humble question?”
Klein lowered the newspaper he was reading and gave Amon an uninterested glance. “What?”
“How do you define humanity?”
Klein pondered about the sincerity of Amon’s question, but decided to answer seriously nonetheless, “a sense of morality and identity borne from one’s experience as a human.”
“So it is impossible for those who are not human to grasp humanity?” Amon asked
“It’s something one has to experience for themself…” Klein paused, recalling the sequence 1 angel, Ludwig, which Lumian, Jenna, Franca, and Anthony took care of. Under their care, Ludwig had grasped many of the virtues of humanity as he attended school and was exposed to a rather domestic lifestyle. “But it is not impossible for a mythical creature to gain humanity… assuming they dedicate themself to the human experience.” Klein added.
After some time, Amon adjusted his posture, nudged ‘His’ monocle, and smiled. “I see.” ‘He’ replied.
Have I really gotten through to him? I doubt it… Klein muttered inwardly, feeling a sense of exasperation.
Unexpectedly, Amon continued, “In that case… I think I’d like to try a new strategy.” ‘He’ stood up and quickly crossed the distance between them before ‘He’ was standing right in front of Klein. ‘His’ towering figure cast a shadow onto Klein. Klein looked up at Amon warily.
Klein furrowed a brow, about to ask Amon what he was doing, when Amon suddenly leaned forward, placing a knee on the plush couch—right in between Klein’s legs. Klein leaned away until his back hit the sofa.
“Will you indulge me, Mr. Fool?” Amon said in a low voice.
“Will you get off of me?” Klein retorted, glaring at Amon.
Amon only got closer, ‘His’ face now just a couple inches away. “But it’s part of my new strategy.” He replied simply. Klein could feel the breath of Amon’s words on his face.
Klein wriggled in discomfort. “And this strategy is?” He asked.
Amon smiled. “To have you be a part of my ‘human experience’.”
Klein could not even process this statement before Amon suddenly wrapped his arms around Klein’s neck and nestled His head into Klein’s shoulder.
Klein’s hands froze in midair, and he blinked repeatedly.
Amon, a former king of angels…
was hugging him.
Flustered, Klein summoned his spirituality and ejected Amon from the dream. Immediately, the warmth of Amon hugging him dissipated.
Even though his Clown and Seer instincts had never warned him of danger, he felt deeply unsettled by the event.
What was that…?
_______________________
“May I have this dance?” Klein bowed towards an unfamiliar noble lady.
In this dream, Klein was playing the role of a young count attending a ball. From his experience as Dwayne Dantès, Klein could play the role with ease, enjoying the prepared confections, drinking wine as he socialized with other nobles his age, and finally, waltzing with women.
The noble lady across from him nodded timidly, taking his outstretched hand. The two headed to the center of the room, where many pairs of men and women gathered to dance.
As the music began, Klein and the noble lady danced skillfully, each showing great practice in footwork. Klein closed his eyes as they danced. He felt relaxed. Peaceful. He allowed himself to be immersed in the dream.
His spirituality suddenly stirred in warning, and Klein opened his eyes.
The woman’s black hair was slightly wavier, swaying more freely as the two danced, while a crystal monocle was now mysteriously placed onto her right eye with a gilded chain attached to it. Unlike the shy expression from before, the woman dancing with Klein now had her plum-red lips curled in a beautiful, confident smile.
What am I even supposed to say in this situation… Klein thought helplessly.
A minute of uncomfortable yet elegant dancing passed until the music concluded. Finally, the two separated and bowed to each other, as noble etiquette demanded. Klein watched Amon lift the hem of ‘His’ dress and walk away, suddenly feeling stupefied.
…Why did I even continue the dance?!
________________________
“Mr. Detective, I’m sure you can do better than that~!” Amon shouted, his voice barely carrying along the turbid winds.
The setting of this dream seemed to follow a simple, modern action plot featuring a detective and a phantom thief in a high-intensity midnight chase. Klein played the detective, and he assumed that his main target, the phantom thief, would be played by an illusion conjured up by the dream. Normally, he would be right.
..until someone usurped the role.
Nevertheless, Klein felt an inexplicable urge to play along. So he did.
Not responding to Amon’s jeers, Klein chased Amon across the rooftops. Police sirens blared from below as Amon expertly scaled various buildings to evade Klein, clutching a comically-sized diamond in ‘His’ hand. Klein assumed it came from some high-end museum, reminiscent of those cliche heist movies he was familiar with.
Just as Klein was wondering why there were so many buildings of equal height sitting at perfect phantom thief jumping length, Amon placed a hand on the edge of the building and jumped down, smashing a glass window into pieces as ‘He’ fled into one of the buildings’ interiors.
Klein followed suit, jumping into the desolate office building with a firm grip on his pistol. Amon ran down the hall, ‘His’ torn cape fluttered in the air with each step. Amon turned the corner, and Klein lost sight of ‘Him.’ However, Klein knew that Amon was no-doubt heading for the stair-well.
His theory was quickly proven true. Klein hurried to the stair-well and kicked the door open with a bang! and saw Amon standing there.
Not running, just standing.
Klein immediately pointed his pistol at Amon. “Don’t move.” Klein ordered.
Amon put ‘His’ hands up with a smile, one hand still holding onto the stolen diamond. “Detective, would you be interested in a deal?” Amon asked, his eyes crinkling behind his crow mask–which, of course, had ‘His’ monocle incorporated.
Klein did not respond, but raised a brow.
“You have something I want, if you give it to me, I’ll give this diamond back.” Amon said.
Or I could shoot you and take the diamond. Klein mused, but since he was curious what the real reason Amon had infiltrated his dream was, Klein indulged ‘Him.’ “What is it that you want?”
Amon looked at the diamond in ‘His’ hand and said thoughtfully, “I’ve been thinking, there is something I want to steal a lot more than some shiny rock.”
Amon suddenly stepped forward, leaning close to Klein. Instinctively, Klein leaned back.
“Yes… I think I would like to steal your loneliness,” Amon said, ‘His’ lips curving to reveal a sinister smile.
Klein froze in confusion. Amon took advantage of this to place a diamond in Klein’s hand.
“There! The deal is complete. I’ll bid you adieu… for now.”
Amon backed away and waved like a human before jumping down the center of the stairwell, disappearing from view.
Klein stood there, feeling a sense of shock.
His spirituality told him that Amon had exited the dream.
If Amon had stayed a few moments longer, he might have witnessed the lofty Mr. Fool’s cheeks take on an ever-so-slight reddish hue.