[ he literally and figuratively pulls her away from the magnetic draw of whatever strangeness is lurking about the doll, but for a moment, river's mind flashes back to a time when she would have dissipated into a cloud of smoke to avoid his touch. she's gotten much better about this in the months that have passed since waking up from the dream, flinching away less often and passively seeking out that physical contact when she holds someone's hand or gives them a hug.
but for a second, just before the thread of magic between her and the doll snaps, when her mind's eye is still open - it's like being right back there again, some instinct within her that feels like it should burst with nowhere to go. her body is a solid, tangible thing and wilhelm is real, right next to her and holding on like an anchor to reality ( or what they're supposed to accept is the "real" real world; she's still not entirely convinced ). ]
Wilhelm.
[ she breaks away from the circle completely, turning to face him as she blinks off the stupor. her right hand rises to clutch the sleeve of his shirt, one more anchor to hold her down as she tries to explain. ]
They're... asleep, or dreaming. Sleepwalking? Dreamwalking?
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but for a second, just before the thread of magic between her and the doll snaps, when her mind's eye is still open - it's like being right back there again, some instinct within her that feels like it should burst with nowhere to go. her body is a solid, tangible thing and wilhelm is real, right next to her and holding on like an anchor to reality ( or what they're supposed to accept is the "real" real world; she's still not entirely convinced ). ]
Wilhelm.
[ she breaks away from the circle completely, turning to face him as she blinks off the stupor. her right hand rises to clutch the sleeve of his shirt, one more anchor to hold her down as she tries to explain. ]
They're... asleep, or dreaming. Sleepwalking? Dreamwalking?
[ something like that. river blinks at him. ]
We have to wake them up. It's time to go home.