A/N: First story in a while! Just want to say that for this fic, Ozpin and Oscar are in separate bodies. I literally wrote this in one sitting and have no idea if I want to continue. But if I happen to write more, I will share. Enjoy!
-StrawberryMoon-
It was a scene of a ballroom he had never physically been to that frequented Oscar Pine in his dreams. A high-vaulted ceiling appeared to be spinning as the ghostly courtiers danced across the reflective floor. It was like walking across the surface of an ocean at midnight. Dark and reflective, he would see a rose floating farther away from him. Passing through the thick of the crowd was like wading through water; it was impossible to close the distance between them. Then a clock would chime from somewhere and he would forget.
That dream repeated itself intermittently for weeks before he began to remember it in his waking. With the fleeting moon and rising of the sun each day, he retained a piece of the puzzle each time before it formed the scene. The first time he remembered a chunk of it, Oscar sat up in his bed with a bewildered expression. He held on to the memory, wondering where that place was, and why he wanted to see that again.
His head buzzed with indescribable desires as he completed his work on his aunt's farm. The strawberry fields needed mulching and watering, and he was more than incentivized to tend to the rows. The bodies of the fruits were still forming but were showing hints of pink already. The June weather predicted in the almanac gave the future harvest good prospects; he just needed to guide their development until then.
Every so often he would daydream about the memory. Oscar liked to imagine himself in the role of a prominent courtier or high-ranking official who had accepted an invitation to the mysterious palace of his dreams. He might fantasize about being wrapped up in some political intrigue or pursuing some courtly love. Those were the kinds of things that the nobles in the cities did; they donned fine garb for the evening and feasted on fancy finger foods between dances. Who wouldn't want to be in the middle of that excitement?
Yet the fantasy remained internalized. He was just a farmhand. It was impossible for someone of his status to be invited to such an occasion. He belonged to no royal lineage, had no riches, and lacked the proper etiquette to attend any upper-class events. Bluntly put, he was poorly equipped to go anywhere near. Maybe in the future as an employee, he told himself, if just to inch closer to the ideal.
The dream itself, however, became real. As Oscar watered the strawberry fields in a sweltering heat, the haze perhaps triggered a vision. Or maybe it was the tint of red of the strawberries. The rows of plants were replaced by smooth flooring, and ghostly images of elaborately dressed people waltzed around him in a room that closely resembled the place from his dreams. The sun and the heat were replaced by the golden light of a ballroom, chandeliers glittering overhead. He dropped his watering can, afraid that he was having a heat stroke. But when he looked down at where he dropped what he was holding, he saw that his attire had transformed into that of a white tuxedo, lined velvet red from the inside.
"What?…" dumbfounded, he stood on the outskirts of the dancefloor. The lucid imagery left him speechless, unsure of what to do. Beside him stood a man with grayed hair and a green suit, supported by his cane. He first saw a strange mask with gears on it— and then the man turned his head at him.
"Tonight is a special night," he said with an amused smirk, "do you really want to spend this occasion being a wallflower?"
"H-huh?" Oscar took a step back. Was this real, or a hallucination of the heat? Regardless, he responded as though he were actually there. "I can't dance. Don't make me go out there!"
"She's waiting for you," the man gave a cryptic response. His voice was low, and full of meaning. These words meant something to Oscar. As to why he couldn't figure out. "You should go to her."
The interaction was too bizarre for him to continue. Oscar's gaze directed itself back towards the center of the room, moving on its own. And there, that was when he saw the final piece of his puzzle.
Scarlet petals scattered in the air from above and the masked dancers twirled around in a red whirlwind. His hand reached out to touch, only to realize that it was an illusion. When he lowered his gloved hand, across the dance floor, he spotted a girl in a rose petal ballgown. She was about his age, perhaps a couple years older. Her face obscured by a veil and elaborate mask, he only remembered thinking that she looked like a precious rose.
And then, he was back on his aunt's farm and holding an emptied watering can.
-StrawberryMoon-
End Notes: TBC. I was heavily inspired by The Evil Within and Bloodborne, but note that this is not intended to be of the horror genre. I know this is kind of early to be shipping these two, but the ship name is pretty darn cool. Rose Garden? Honestly, I love the names that fandom creates. I'm undecided on how this will develop, but I might include ships like Bumblebee (edit: as an example, still undecided), etc. I don't actually know all the ship names. But I think most of them are adorable. If I think a ship enhances the overall themes of the story, then I will include it but not focus on it.
Also, disclaimer, I don't know a thing about farming. But hey, leave a comment if you have any suggestions/feedback/or you just liked what I pitched in the prologue. I'm definitely interested in sharing more.
