Reverie [The Distortionist x reader]

Chapter 17

(Art by thusfeathered on Tumblr)

I'm not as cruel as you see me

The mirrors cracked themselves

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You emerge from the deep, a body leaving darkness to be bathed in the opposite. The sun rays hurt your eyes at first and both your hands are occupied, so shading your vision with your hand can't be done, but you find yourself breathing in the yummy smell of grease and sugar intrinsic to the carnival air standing under the light which is becoming pleasant.

In one of your hands is both your briefcase and the cotton candy you hadn't bitten into. They had materialized at some point while Chris was leading you through the maze of cracked mirrors. The gradient from those to normal mirrors and then to funhouse mirrors happened without you noticing, as did the changing of colors and objects. Stia said the changing of worlds happened either through a fading of the senses or a transition that the world-hopper didn't feel, so it makes sense. You're just a little sad you skipped the part of the funhouse after the mirrors, with colorful rooms and obstacles.

Your other hand holds Christopher's thin palm. It isn't the type of handholding where the fingers entwine. You aren't close like that at all. It was the formal type, only happening because of navigation through the labyrinth. To make that clear, you let go and turn around to look at him straight.

His vision had been searching the open space, taking it all in. His old home. You couldn't imagine how it felt. With your movement, however, his spiral eyes rest on yours. You are reminded of how strange yet wonderful his hypnosis eyes are, a sight to behold, like many other oddities strewn in the randomest nooks of the worlds.

You see his face melt into an ironic smile. "Where do you want to go, milady?" he says with a small bow. "I know every place here. If you want, I could give you a tour..."

Firstly, you look around to see if anyone thinks it's strange to linger by the exit of the funhouse. The colorful tent, more so than many others, attracts the regards of many, and some glances linger on you. Judging it to be just a little out of the norm, you turn away from Chris without a word and start walking. Out of the corner of your eye, you see him follow you, not scared of any light.

"I'm trying not to call attention to ourselves, since others can't see you and all," you murmur to him once he arrives beside you.

"Of course," he agrees, not needing to speak under his breath like you. "My apologies."

"I've agreed to meet up with Stia during the circus's first nightly show," you inform him. "We have until then to do what you'd like."

"What I'd like?" He's taken aback. "Dear, this is for you. I've seen what there is to see a million times."

"I'm not really interested in carnival attractions anymore." You shrug. "Besides, I don't think you've seen them for fun, at least not in a long time. It's not the same if you watch while you're supposed to be working."

"..." His gaze moves to the side, consumed with thoughts. As he is in this state, you examine him. The sun, shining behind him, doesn't make it so his front is shadowed and his outline is bright. In fact, it seems like he has no true depth, no shadows. He's fully a ghost, an astral projection of himself. He's actually incorporeal, except for when you're touching him. To test something, you bring your arm up and extend a finger to poke him. At that moment, he becomes shadowed, outlined richly, a person. Keeping your finger on him, you check to see if anyone else sees him now. Though some people's vision goes to him, they become confused and avert their eyes.