Following Rules and Fighting Monsters

In my dream, the world felt like a video game, something like The Hunger Games, mixed with clear inspiration from Resident Evil Requiem, which I had watched someone play the night before. We all knew we were part of something bigger. The world ran on rules.

There were different biomes or levels. Whenever you spawned into a new one, you had to follow its specific rules. The most important rule was simple. Survive.

My partner and I existed in this system together. They understood the rules better. I was more combat oriented. I became, essentially, their bodyguard. The early levels were strange. One was a neighborhood where everything operated on opposite day logic. There were others in between, but I cannot remember them.

The world I last remember was a trail through a wooded desert or something. None the less my partner because kinda silent. I felt like I had gotten the hang of things. People would transform into monsters and then most of the time the rule like avoid movement I would opt to avoid and just use my combat skills to kill the monster in front of me.

There was multiple situations where I would fight something and my partner would do absolutely nothing. Now in most real life situations I lead but I felt kinda left out. They just kept silent and barely moved during encounters.

There was this one time which my partner stayed silent but also didn't help me in a time of need. I nearly died and I was kinda upset.

They told me that they were given a rule which was not to do anything. I argued that the rule meant not to look for a fight. These were obvious monsters who had already attacked us.

We fought about it. Then I learned that one of the monsters I had killed had a human father and brother. They confronted us for revenge. My partner still did nothing. I defeated them too, but I felt humiliated and deeply upset. I left the room we were in and told them I was going to kill myself kinda out of spite of the do nothing rule.

I walked out and screamed in anguish outside. I walked down a hill looking for a wooden stake, like I needed something physical to act on all that emotion.

Instead, I ran into the father and brother again. They told me they were there to avenge Tiny Tim. They weren't monsters and they weren't violent. It was a very civil confrontation. I remember thinking, of course you are. That makes sense.

Then, almost like quitting a game, I forced myself awake.

Post Dream Personal insights:

My partner and I are celebrating our 2nd anniversary this Friday, and I still can’t find a gift for them. It’s not for a lack of trying. I really feel like I’ve already gotten them every type of gift I can think of for previous events like birthdays or Christmas.

I’ve been feeling like I’m the leader in our relationship. Recently, while we were playing a video game, I asked if they had any fandoms or interests I didn’t already know about, hopefully a gift I could get. I already know other things like Batman, Magnus Archives, or art. But they told me they didn't really have anything else, that they enjoyed the stuff I did even if I was the one to introduce them. I feel like I share all my passions with them, no matter how obsessed I get. Whether it's Death Note or introducing them to musicals I love, I’m always eager to show them what excites me.

They don’t object. In fact, they seem to genuinely enjoy spending time with me and my hobbies. But I still feel like I don’t know them well enough. We care deeply for each other, and we rarely, if ever, have relationship drama. So maybe I’m just overthinking, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m kind of steering the relationship, and they’re okay with that, yet I’m not sure if I am. I feel lost and sometimes dumb, even in areas where I’m supposed to be confident. Maybe I just need more affirmation from them.

None the less maybe that's what this dream is about.

While I do have depression, I would never force that onto someone.

Anyone have insights into anything I've mentioned?