Prompts: Bloody Mouth and Drowning
Character Focus: Imaian and Elatun (New/Characters I haven't shown!)
Character Universes/Books: HiddenVerse/"The Things We Hide" (Same Thing, just has two titles)
Warnings: Drowning, Blood, Death Mention, Forceful Amputation
Additional 'Warning': These are Homestuck OCs, Though they are in a different universe from the cast so you don't have to know that them at all, but there are souls cultural differences as they are Trolls, not humans. Most a tried to address/make sense of subtly so hopefully it won't be too confusing. Only thing I might not have mentioned is that Blood Color is very important. Anyways, hopefully it's still enjoyable and if you have questions, feel free to ask!
Third Person
Blood overflows his mouth and he wants to cry out in objection or as for mercy or something, something, SOMETHING, but he can't speak and her cold, dead eyes peer right into his soul until-

Imaian Nangin likes to think of himself as a rational person and despite the fact that he fully knows it's a dream upon waking up, it doesn't calm him down. In fact, the reality is, he feels worse.

It doesn't matter that it's not real to him, it's the fact that it could be that scares him out of his wits. He's never liked the 'What If' questions. They've always made him more paranoid than he should be.

He finds himself at his washroom's door and starts to fling water in his face. An old habit from when he was sweeps younger that used to help with nightmares.

He looks up at the mirror, staring right into his own dark eyes. A tired and terrified face stares back. He's never liked the answers he gets when he looks in the mirror to see how he's doing. It only reminds him of failures and sorrow.

His black hair that he usually likes to keep straightened and down to his shoulders is now everywhere. A part of him wants to fix it, to look decent, but another doesn't care. There's no one to see but his guardian, and he doesn't usually judge him anyways.

As if he knew he was being thought of, Imaian hears soft clicking of hooves approach the washroom door before hearing a soft 'Thunk' as if asking for his presence. Imaian rubs his eyes, trying to mask the sleep in them and opens it. His lusus stands on the other side, giving a concerned look.

Despite his frightening appearance, as his lusus is a large, goat like creature with bat wings and most just consider some form of chimera, he's found that his lusus has always been much softer in personality. Always checking up on him, only fighting if it's required, usually just oddly shy. Imaian has never minded it.

"I'm okay." Imaian tells his guardian. His words feel stale on his tongue, he's been saying it a lot recently. His increased stress has been influencing his nightmares. Not like he wants to worry his guardian. "Only a nightmare, no real harm."

His lusus is skeptical at that but doesn't argue. He rarely does. Instead, he simply gives a nod of the head and trots out. Imaian can tell it's relucent and that he wants to say more, but he doesn't.

Imaian isn't sure if he's grateful for that, or feeling a bit down that he's got no one to talk to until the morning.

It takes him longer than expected to leave his washroom. It's still dark outside, though he isn't sure how late it is until he boots up his laptop and sees almost no one is online.

Almost. He's surprised to see there is one of his good friends on. It could be that she left her computer on and her application running, but knowing her, Imaian doubts it.

He hesitates before clicking on her tag and typing a message.
-
ellipticalCompere (EC) started trolling lecturingScribe (LS).

EC: ? I$ +#€r€ @n¥ p@r+icul@r r€@$on ¥ou'r€ $+ill @w@k€? ?
(Translation: Is there any particular reason you're still awake?)

LS: {As a matter of fact, there is. You know me. There's always a reason for nearly everything.]
LS: {And if I'm being honest, I'm not in a good mood and I'm extraordinarily tired. So if you don't mind, I'm going to request you lay off your complicated typing quirk. You of all people know how much respect I have for you but I'm really not in a mood for translating right now.]

EC: ? Understood. ?
EC: ? Is it really that hard to understand ?

LS: {Wasn't the whole point of your typing quirk in the first place to be complicated?]

EC: ? Touche. ?
EC: ? But I feel like I've gotten used to it. ?

LS: {Imaian, you're the one who uses it all the time. Of course you've gotten used to it.]

EC: ? I'll give you that one too. ?
EC: ? So, why are you up at this hour? ?

LS: {I think the real question is, why are you? I know your schedule, it's more intense than mine and I'm actively trying to avoid running into the one woman who matters most in this world. Talkshow, revolution, try not to get caught, and whatever free time you have goes to your Matesprite. Day in, day out.]
LS: {It's currently the middle of the night, and here you are, awake when you should be resting and preparing for whatever you have tomorrow.]

EC: ? The Highest Honor just had its season finale, I get to rest from being on the stage all the time for a few months ?

LS: {I did see your show last night. It was one of your best, I'll give you that.]
LS: {But when you're not on stage, you're planning for when you are. You get, what, maybe two hours of extra free time?]

EC: ? ...Three. ?

LS: {My point exactly. Why are you up?]

EC: ? I'm starting to get the feeling that you're dodging the question. ?
EC: ? I don't mean to sound childish but I did ask you first. ?
EC: ? Why are you up? ?

LS: {I'm up late all the time. Why are you up?]

EC: ? You said there was a reason. ?
EC: ? I ask again, why are you up? ?

LS: {Isn't it hypocritical to say I'm dodging the question when you're clearly doing the same?]

EC: ? I'm not dodging the question, I just asked you first. ?
-
There's a pause between the two of them, neither sending a message. Imaian almost thinks she's not going to answer until a new message appears. One that stops all train of thought for a brief moment.
-
LS: {We both had nightmares, didn't we?]
-
Imaian hesitates. He almost doesn't say anything, but in the end, something gives.
-
EC: ? Yes. We did. ?

LS: {I have the most peculiar feeling that it was centered around the same thing.]
lecturingScribe (LS) has sent a location.
LS: {Meet me here. Don't worry about paparazzi, I go there all the time and I don't get bothered. Don't worry about money either, I'm paying.]

EC: ? You realize I'm fully capable of paying for myself, right? ?
EC: ? You've watched the show. It's popular, I make money. ?

LS: {You also spend a lot of money due to your obligations and I, in no way mean to brag, I'm literally royalty, Imaian. I'm the second richest troll on this planet. I'm paying.]
LS: {Meet me there in 15.]

lecturingScribe (LS) ceased trolling ellipticalCompere (EC)
-
Imaian huffs and supposes he's not really getting a choice in the matter. Rarely is she so openly blunt and pushy so the fact that she's acting like it now tells Imaian that it's likely a more serious talk than a casual get together.

Though, when he clicks on the link, it surprises him that the location takes him to a small coffee shop, a casual location. It's quite a distance but Imaian does have a large, flying lusus who can easily help him get there at the discussed time. Meeting her there shouldn't be too hard.

A part of him is nervous about it but he knows if he doesn't go, he'll regret it.

The dream still sticks to his mind. He wants it out.

—

Upon first walking it, it's almost immediately obvious why this coffee shop was chosen.

The air smells pleasant and it's warm inside, enough for Imaian to want to shrug off the coat to his slate blue suit. The people there are a mix of both high and low bloods and seem to be mingling in harmony. The place is the embodiment of 'Hearth' in every way, with comfortable arm chairs and couches, genuinely smiling workers, and fuzzy rugs.

Imaian suddenly feels out of place, gripping his suit in a sudden wave of consciousness. He soon snaps out of it when a peppy, aqua blooded worker gets his attention. She grins at him. "Hey, it's Imaian, right? From The Highest Honor? I love your show! I never see talk shows run by high bloods that actually represent famous low bloods!"

"Uh, thanks." As much as Imaian can be charismatic on stage, he's never figured out what to say to praise from fans. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced around.

"Your friend said you'd be coming! She's over there!" The barbrista pointed to the far corner to a table near the window. "She's expecting you! She even pre-ordered you something!"

Imaian thanked her again and quickly made his way over to sit down. She looked over at him and gave a quick smile upon seeing him. "Imaian, long time, no see. Been awhile since we've been face to face."

"You do live in the ocean." Imaian pointed out. When he was met with rolling eyes, he added, "And it's good to see you too, Elatun."

Elatun Jingid was one of the two trolls with royal blood, and she often dressed like it, though that day was more casual. She wore a magenta sundress with a few gold necklaces around her neck and some nice shoes that was it. Her hair, while usually a little more brushed down for management, now was close to its natural state of pure fluffy curls that circled her face. Her symbol was displayed neatly on the corner of her clothes and she had her head propped up by her hand.

She passed him a drink. "It's your favorite. Minus the expresso. Too late for anything serious."

Imaian thanked her for the drink and took a long sip. His fingers drummed on the cup, trying to figure out something to say. As much as he tried, honesty was not his strong suit.

Luckily, Elatun spoke for him. "I'm going to break the ice here and just ask you up front, okay?" Imaian nodded. "You dreamed about her, didn't you? About the Empress?"

Imaian winced but nodded. "Yes... I'm going to guess that you did too?"

Elatun sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Too often for my liking. Although I guess that's what happens when you practically have a death sentence hanging over your head from birth."

"It's not a death sentence."

"No attempted successor has beaten her in hundreds of sweeps, Imaian." Elatun said flatly. "I'd be an idiot for thinking I could. The only thing I could possibly try and do is outsmart her and she's smarter than me." She huffed. "I have three more sweeps before I'm forced to challenge her. I've known this since I was able to think. I've accepted it."

"I told you, I'll find a way out of it. The game-"

"Could take three more sweeps to find." She cut in. "I know you want to find it and try and fix the world or become gods or whatever you were promised it could do, but..." She threw her hands up in the air. "I just don't see a way out of this."

"Well I do." Imaian cut in. His voice dropped to a whisper. "We've gotten this far with the revolution without her knowing anything. If she hasn't caught onto us this far, then it's possible. If the game doesn't work out, we always have that to fall back on. It's the only choice."

Elatun paused for a long moment. "It might sound selfish of me to say but sometimes I forget that you have just as much to lose as me. Maybe more."

Imaian almost protested but then he stopped. "I guess I do..."

He grabbed his drink and took another sip of it, trying to forget the mental image in his head. Elatun pressed further. "So, what was your dream about exactly? With the Empress?"

Imaian swallowed thickly. He could almost taste the blood in his mouth again. "She... She found out. About everything."

Elatun winced. "That bad, huh?"

Imaian huffed. "She knew about the revolution, the whole 'Using The Highest Honor as a front, pretending to praise her when I'm really plotting her dethroning and pretty much her demise, and..."

Imaian didn't have to say it. They both knew. He put his head in his hands and breathed in slowly. "And about Noachi." He finished. "About my Matesprite and her lime blood. True lime blood."

"...Did she-"

"No." Imaian shook his head. "Luckily, no, that wasn't a part of the dream. She implied that she was going to but the one good thing that I'm grateful for is that she didn't do it right in front of me. But she was still fully ready to punish me."

Elatun raised her eyebrows. "From the look on your face, I'm going to guess she didn't just straight up kill you."

"I wish it was that simple. No, instead, she decided that a suitable punishment for "Not telling the truth" was... To cut out my tongue so I couldn't do it anymore. She did it herself."

Imaian shuddered as he remembered the searing pain as she held him down and slowly sawed his tongue out of his mouth, all while looking him in the eye with the most chillingly calm expression.

"It's definitely the worst dream I've had of her. It felt so real. Like I could physically feel tendons separated from my body in this-this bloody mess and nobody could help me because I couldn't call for help and-!"

Imaian covered his mouth to stop himself from talking, scared of what else he'll say if he doesn't. He slowly rubs his face, trying to release his tension. He suddenly aches for the soft touch of his Matesprite. "...I feel selfish at times. Because I'm not just using every resource I have to track down this damned game for you and Noachi. The limelight is slowly killing me. I don't mind taking charge but being in the public eye for so long? I wasn't built for it. Not long term like this."

"You could quit. There are other ways to simultaneously run and hide a revolution."

"Too much on the line." Imaian crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm hiding Noachi too. The more I advertise my perfectly normal, regular lime blooded Matesprite who in no way is illegal and would be killed on the spot if anyone unfortunate found out, the better. She stays in the right place where she's known as a simple lime blooded troll and nobody will think twice to question it. Gives her an alibi. Why would an Empress-loving talk show host have a true lime Matesprite?"

Elatun was silent for a moment. "You're really good at hiding these sorts of things."

Imaian laughed. "Is lying a good skill to have then?"

"In your situation? Yes."

Imaian paused, then nodded. "Anything to keep Noachi alive. I don't know what I'd do without her."

Elatun took a sip. "Crash and burn."

"Pretty much... I've been talking for too long, what was your dream about?"

Elatun's shoulders tensed briefly, but she rolled her head back and closed her eyes. "What they're always about. Challenging the Empress, losing, slowly bleeding out, the usual. It's funny, you never get used to experiencing your own death, no matter how hard you try."

"Though," she said, rolling her shoulders and facing Imaian again. "This time was worse than usual. After I lost, she threw me out into the ocean and... I started drowning."

Imaian blinked and slowly shifted his eyes swords the gills on her neck. "Isn't that impossible for you?"

"Should be, yes." Elatun nodded. "But... In the dream, it was like even the ocean rejected me. I could no longer breathe in it and my lungs filled up with water and..." She shrugged, looking down. "I died that way."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Imaian said softly. "She really screwed us up, didn't she? We've collectively met her five times and that's all she needed."

Elatun laughed at that. "She's screwed up so many people... One day, karma is going to catch up to her."

"I'm planning on being the driving force for making that karma happen." Imaian told her, leaning forward. "I know you agreed to it before but I want to know with how you're feeling now," he held out his hand. "Are you going to be with me when it happens? Are you still in this?"

Elatun gave him a long look. Then grabbed his hand and shook it. She smiled slightly.

"My life is already in danger regardless of what I do. What do I have to lose? Let's build a new world, Imaian."

"A new world." Imaian echoed.

—————
Really wanted to do some OCs that I've never really written much for so take these two! If you wanna know more about them/have questions then DO ASK I love them greatly.

Anyways, thank you for reading! Two days down, 29 more to go! Be sure to comment any thoughts you have as writing it takes much longer than reading it and I'd really appreciate it and farewell!!

—JustAnAtla̯͋͌n̢̪͘t̖̮̠̪̥̿i̡̡̞͖͆̔̔̽̋̐̆ş̢̠̱͉̟̝͛̍͋̇͆̈́͊̚Writer